Holding On...

to Summer. I really don't want to say so long to summer, warm weather, green grass, flowers blooming, birds singing...

We took an unexpected trip to Ft. Myers, Florida. My MIL lives there and was recently hospitalized. Mr. Spouse and I did get a quick drive to the beach for lunch pier side. A little beach music playing and warm ocean breezes offered a chance to reflect on the changes--not in the season but of the years passed. We have traveled many times to Florida with little kids in the back of the van. Now we travel with out schnauzer (he is actually a lot quieter than the kids were!). Now the trips are to take care of problems acquainted with aging parents.

Yes, we have aged too! How can that be?

We were given a chance to view a lily pond while stopped on I-75 due to a traffic accident. Cool view!

I will miss my flowers. The butterfly bush has attracted butterflies daily. I guess the Monarchs will be making their travel south if they haven't already done so. It was cool and rainy this morning (55). Walking the dog will require a jacket soon.

I am attempting to dry some of the colorful hydrangeas. So far...so good. I just clipped them off and placed them in the pitcher with no water. They seem to be drying just fine. For some reason my one hydrangea that puts out blooms is full of buds right now. I hope they can have the opportunity to give me several more blooms to dry.

To autumn...you're coming! My idea of not decorating for Fall will surely keep it from arriving doesn't seem to be working.

A Little Office Update

Our home office really needed an update. It contained furniture that had been painted black, mixed in with some other old pieces. The home office is actually one of our bedrooms--the smallest one on the upper floor.

You can read all about the previous state of the "hot MESS" here!

The Before: My home office has been disguised as a big hot mess! But this summer I have been in a decluttering state of mind. The office was so bad that I usually did all my work either in the recliner or at the dining room table.  I attempted to paint the tall bookcase with Kilz primer but it ended up with a snakeskin effect. (Not what I was looking for at all!) I decided to order a tall white bookcase and a longer bookcase from Target. With the RedCard there is free shipping. This was my inspiration for a desk.

I decided to recycle my old desk instead and painted it with a white enamel. 

The tall bookcase is from Target.

As is the long bookcase (not styled yet).

Mr. Spouse loves flying so I added some prints of airplanes around the room.

I needed space for file folders in an attempt to become a bit more organized!

I ordered two of these from Ikea. I was even successful at assembling these (however I wish they would use some words with the picture directions).

I also found a little metal storage for pencils and a larger area for my Ipad.

This might or might not be the "other side of the room". All set for flying in case you were wondering! I understand there also is an issue with cord arrangement!

All in all, I am much happier with the updates. I have to admit that using the white furniture has made a small room appear larger.

Quick and Easy Meal

I don't know about you--but sometimes I don't feel like spending much time of all in the kitchen! Last night was one of those times. We had a lunch out and we weren't too hungry.

So--what could I throw together quickly and also satisfy our tummies!

I decided to fix a different type of taco salad.

In our local mall there used to be a place in the food court that served a layered type mix. First I crushed some restaurant style chips and placed them in the bottom of our bowls. Added a generous (mostly lettuce in this salad) amount of lettuce, green onions, tomatoes on top.

The "meat" portion was easy!

As usual brown and drain the fat. Add in the spices of your choices. The next time I would make it a little spicier.

More of the chili powder and also some crushed red pepper flakes (next time for sure!) I added about a little water and let it simmer. Then I added a can of chili beans, simmer a few more minutes.

While this was cooking I fixed the taco bowls. Now--as you can tell I haven't been in the kitchen more than a few minutes.

After topping the salad mixture with these goodies--I added cheese, chunky salsa, and sour cream.

Time to eat!

This tastes so much better than the packaged taco seasoning mixes!

Master Bedroom Week 1

Gotta have some ch-ch-ch-changes to the bedroom. Boring, boring, boring.

Everybody Loves Raymond--famous bedroom furniture. Not available. Nope--so over the years I decided to search Craigslist and pick up some of this furniture. Well, we did. We traveled over several nearby states--spending a long Saturday drive to pick up several pieces from different homes. We got the bed and dresser in Kentucky. The armoire in Georgia. The nightstands--I don't remember as we have about four different kinds.

I debated about how to refinish these pieces. I went back and forth between General Finishes gel stain and Annie Sloan Chalk paint. I decided that chalk paint was the way I would go but I would mix my own. So...I ordered Calcium Carbonate from Amazon and waited for it to arrive. I knew I could mix my own in the color I wanted. But--in the time it takes to arrive I did what all of us probably do--I changed my mind. I knew the chalk paint would be much easier because I could work on a couple of pieces at a time and basically have them finished in a day. The drying time was so quick! I had finished other pieces in it.

I liked the look of this but didn't want two toned. Also I really wanted the furniture to look as if it was made this way--smooth finish. I already had the General Finishes in two different shades--Java and Nutmeg. I debated again and again and again before settling on the Java. I have used it before.

When I did the dining room furniture I had read that the sock method of applying was the way to go. Whew--a lot of work. After reading some blogs I accessed via Pinterest one caught my immediate attention. They had used a brush! A regular cheap brush to do their kitchen cabinets. So--I started with the bedside tables using the brush method. I thought if it didn't turn out I could always borrow socks from Mr. Spouse. I dropped by Dollar Tree and purchased several of their brushes. I love them. They are so soft that I figured "why not"?

I liked it! I loved using a brush. It took only two coats (I probably was applying it a little heavier with the brush). So in reality--each project was going to take three days. First coat with drying 24 hours. Second and FINAL coat and letting it dry 24 hours.  Then I could easily apply a couple coats of poly in one day.

I was able to move the bedside tables to our guest room in order to complete those. This didn't disrupt our sleeping arrangements. The smell--not so much!

The next pieces I did were the dresser and armoire. I removed all the drawers to the guest room to work on those. I just had to move the dresser out a bit --but we could still sleep in our bedroom. Same three days of work/drying times.

The last project was the BED. Well--that meant we had to sleep elsewhere. We do have another guest room on the downstairs level to use. I have to admit I hastened the drying time of the bed. I applied the first coat and let it dry 15 hours. Then...I went ahead and applied the second coat late that night. I got up super early the next day and applied two coats of poly. Mr. Spouse didn't have to leave quite so early for work that day so he was able to get the mattress and box springs back on the bed so I could "put everything back together" during that second day.

I am now ready to decorate. I haven't decided what to do. I am just enjoying the minimalist look for now of a darker stained bedroom!