Goodwill makeovers....

It is a beautiful day out but I decided it was time I start "showcasing" the Goodwill makeovers.  I must admit I haven't done much because while in a bronchitis/sinus infection induced stupor I "stashed" my Goodwill swag someplace "SAFE."  We still can't find it!! LOL  So after a week of intermittent searching I decided the time had come to move on.  So we are moving on.... I know it will be found and right now there are more important projects to complete so once the boys' bedrooms are finished the search will start again (if its still lost, ha ha!)
First in the line-up of makeovers is this loverly pillow.  I know some of you might like it but it just wasn't our cuppa tea. 

Now the new look! 

You should hear my family clamoring over this pillow... Evan wants his own, Ian wants the number 29 on his, Chris has asked for either number 1 or 72, and Sean, well I don't think he has voiced an opinion.  Oh, yes he has... He thinks that we ought to have 5 pillows with the numbers 1 thru 5 denoting each family member.  Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  I am off to hang sheets on the neighbor's clothesline... She called and left a message this morning saying they would be gone all day so I was more than welcome to come over and use it!  Trust me, that is one of the most thoughtful things she could have done!!  I just heard the washer finishing spinning so its off to hangs linens! 

Now to leave you with a little bit of spring!

Foto Friday: Blue

I would like to say thank you for all the well wishes!! I can say that even though it has been a trying few weeks we are on the mend, both physically and mentally!! For those of you who do not know our little dog Caleb was hit by a car just over a week ago... We do miss him terribly! He was a faithful companion, loving, a friend to all but in his death we learned some valuable life lessons. One of which is our disobedience not only affects us but those around us as well. i.e. Caleb worked his way off his cable to go where he was not allowed, across the road. The result was his death, sad friends, family, and puppy (our other dog!) How often are we disobedient to God yet think our disobediance affects no one else other than ourselves!! Okay off my soapbox!! :)

Now on to Foto Friday... Oh how I've missed this! I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's post in the past weeks... This week it is blue. We have all enjoyed the glorious sunshine, blue skies, and warm temperatures here!!

Blue skies, nothing but blue skies from now on...

Old blue tiles from Europe, cracked yet loved.

Modern French Impressionism.... makes me long for the Mediterranian coast of France. Never seen it the Med anywhere but Italy.  Ah... childhood memories!

Beautiful baby blues.. the only ones in our immediate family!! Don't they just make your swoon!  I know they make me swoon!!!

I love to see how they light up when he laughs!

The building blocks for Chris' 40th birthday cake.  A pyramind of 40 Ding Dongs w/ 40 candles.  Its what he asked for!  I love that man!! 

Please join us over at Rebecca's for more Foto Friday!!

Next week: Yellow!!  Umm I love yellow! and orange, and lime green, and chocolate brown and... Do you think I like color? Ha ha...

A week long break....

I really hate to do this but I am going to have to take the better part of this week off. You see last week I injured my right shoulder/neck (moved something I ought not have... you know how it goes!) and typing aggrevates it! So I am going to give it a little time to heal... I've discovered it really is aggrevating to have to move your whole body to look to the right, ha ha! That will teach me to move insanely large boxes filled w/ books! I mean I have men in the family!! As you can tell patience is not one of my strong points but I am relearning the meaning of the word right now!

So enjoy your week and I will see you in a week (maybe earlier... hee hee!)

A sneak peek...

(view standing in opening to dining room)
Well, we are FINALLY starting to see progress as we settle into our new home. So, I decided it was time to give you a peek at our progress. The books cases are empty for the moment but it feels so good to have a pretty room in which to relax! See the area rug... Thank you very much Goodwill and Becki at infarrantly creative! You had no idea what an impact it would make on our living room, did you? And the lamp? Oil-rubbed bronze from our swag bags! I was surprised at how much Chris LOVES it! He started naming off all kinds of things he would like to see spray painted. I love that man!!

(front door view)

You know how I sometimes reference our dogs... Well the behemoth you see in front of the sofa is Lily, our "puppy!" And no she is not standing on anything aside from the carpet, big moose of a dog that she is. At 22 months old she hasn't reached her full size. A couple more inches, a few more pounds and another year will bring her to maturity! Who knew that a Newfoundland/Malamute mix stayed "puppies" for 3 years? We didn't but we sure do love her just the same (I say this now when I am not frustrated beyond belief with her! ha ha)

Does anyone have any ideas for window treatments? I DO NOT LIKE THESE DRAPES! I know we have a table and sofa in front of the window but just couldn't figure out how to make it work any other way. We wanted a defined "entry way" plus open access to our room and the dining room. I really appreciate any ideas you might have.

ORB....my new love

Can you believe two posts in one day? Well, I couldn't wait... ORB (oil rubbed bronze) now ranks right up there with my two favorite metals, nickle and chrome. It's the sophisticated older sister! Remember this?


Well, she is now this...

Now what do I do for new trim? Hubby likes the shade so it will stay for the moment. Any suggestions? The colors in the room are aqua, chocolate brown, and a hint of orang or red plus the green recliner. Oh and lots of wood tones!

The Goods....

Well I'm a little slow in getting these pictures taken but better late than never right! Note to self: do not take pictures while sneezing and/or coughing. After a wonderful day of shopping, I came down with a cold... a miserable, achy all over, sneeze-your-head-off, eyes watering, stuffy head, deep chest cough COLD! But I'm feeling so much better now plus the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the lambs are bleating!

Now for the initial unveil! These are all the goodies I brought home. Some are additions to collections, some will find new purpose, and some items will have new life breathed into them. The sweaters were size large, men's wool sweaters but I've already started the felting process to make a purse, felt flowers, and maybe a pillow or two.


The two brown chairs will be striped and the mirror is for our bedroom (if you can see it for all the clutter in the garage/aka overflow area! Thank goodness it will ALL be gone in a few short weeks!! Aren't garage sales wonderful!?!)


This rug is to be used in either living room or boys bedroom. (imagine this a chocolate brown)

And if that wasn't enough I would like to thank the sponsors who graciously offered their products for the SWAG BAG! OH do I have plans for these... Back, child, back, I say! These go in Mom's crafting stash but I'm sure I can be persuaded to share, wink, wink.








And to think I was going to purchase some of the ORB spray paint but held off! Now I will be able to transform this little beauty!! On a side note, does anyone else know what their Goodwill's policy on brass is? Apparently this lamp was not to have been out on the shelf for sale as it is brass. We found it sitting back behind all the other lamps with no price tag. After a brief chat with the pricing manager we got it for $12 including shade but were told it was not to have been out on display as it was brass. Do certain items get shipped to other stores for resale? I know our store is nice but it definitely does NOT have the selection (or quality) of items as ones in certain neighborhoods of Indianapolis.



I can't wait to see what everyone else does with their finds! I will most definitely keep you posted on the "makeovers" of each treasure. And to think garage sale season is almost upon us... After having gone 5 years with NO garage sales what wil the summer hold for us?

A Glorious day...

Yesterday was a glorious day despite leaden skies... Okay I must interrupt my previously scheduled post in order to strangle an irreverent teenager!!! The insolent poop just asked if someone had pity on me and became a follower. Now back to waxing poetic. Oop the moment is gone...

But seriously as I was saying... Yesterday was the Goodwill Shop and Hop graciously hosted by Becki of Infarrantly Creative and Sarah of Thrifty Decor Chick. Delightful ladies from all over Indiana and Kentucky made the trek into Indianapolis to spend an afternoon of dining and shopping. To be honest, I was a bit trepiditious to spend the afternoon away from the comfort of my family amongst women whose thrifting and decorating acumen leave me in awe. Yep, I was feeling pretty intimidated but took the plunge! Let me just say that I can away from the afternoon refreshed invigorated and excited about new projects ahead. And what a group of ladies!! Let's just leave it at I can't wait to get the list of everyone's blogs or a repeat event!! In the next few weeks you will see reviews featuring the products from our SWAG bags as well "before" and "after" posts of an afternoon of finds!



In the meantime here is sneak peek of possible bathroom decor. Hmm, what to do with what was once a Harley Davidson bathroom without painting?