Serendipity

From dictionary.com
Serendipity – n.

1.an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

2. good fortune; luck:

A happy accident - what a wonderful thing. 

Well, the china cabinet from the dining room has found a new home - by accident.Yes, it has.
And it is still in our home.

And it I never painted it.

I moved it out of the dining room (because there was just tooooo much furniture in there) and since there was already a built-in china cabinet in the dining room - well, this one had to go.
I moved it into the living room just to get it OUT of the dining room. I needed to start getting that room finished and as long as the china cabinet was in there I wasn't going to be able to finish it. 

So I moved that bad boy (and this thing weighs like a bizilion pounds - seriously) into the living room - just to get it out of the dining room.

It looked like this.

Way toooo crowded. Like I said - it was temporary. 

Or so I thought.

I had to live with it for a few days while I was figuring out what to do with it.

That was when I kept getting the feeling that I kinda, sorta didn't hate it in my living room.

In fact, I was starting to feel it. 

I knew I needed to edit some items out if I was going to keep it - and that was OK because I was really starting to like it.

Finally the room didn't feel HEAVY over on the other side of the room by the fireplace and the built-ins. 

Frankly, it felt balanced. Even. Right.

So I did this.

I moved it down further and took out the console table.

I added a small round table to the right, added the lamp from the console table, and a mirror from the basement. 

I filled the cabinet with pieces of silver, small pewter mirrors, and pieces of white pottery.

Granted, it was hard to get a good shot of it.

But it looks really pretty.

The husband even approves. 

:)

I'm happy.

I'm linkin up with Kendall at Finesse Your Nest

I have a chalkboard problem

I do.

Seriously.

I'm addicted.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step - right?

I have a problem.

Just look.

There are 3 in my kitchen alone. 

Here's one. (please excuse the tools on my Chambers - my husband thinks of it as a catch-all spot - don't get me started - I digress - just look at the chalkboard!)

Here's a better shot of it 

Here's another on the back of my newly re-done island

And these little dollar store gems.

I took this during the painting of the chalkboard paint. 

There is one in the kitchen next to the coffee maker - it has the word "smile" on it.

Although I am generally smiling if I am getting coffee.

Here is another one of the silver trays

Out on my front porch. 

(Oh and I just bought a new door mat today. The fall leaves mat will go away until this autumn.)

This one is in my dining room.

I haven't done my reveal post for the dining room yet because I need one more thing. Consider this a teaser.

This is how that chalkboard started.

*BLEK*

 But - it was $5 at a junk store. 

SCORE!

I sanded it down first

  then I Heirloom'd it

Then sanded it a bit again to rough it up and

then painted on the chalkboard paint

And now I have this in my newly re-done dining room

My son has 4 chalkboard surfaces in his room

This little blue chalkboard that sits by his bed

This sign on his crate is a chalkboard 

This is the other one.

And he has an art easel that is a chalkboard on 1 side. (I didn't make that one though)

I heart chalkboard paint. 

It makes me happy. 

I change the sayings out on the ones in my kitchen every week.

AND I love having that large one in my dining room. I decide on the menu for the week and put it on there and then everyone knows what we are having and when. 

It makes me smile. I'm going to try and find some chalkboard markers tomorrow - they are supposed to be FABULOUS. Here's hoping they have them at Micheal's.

So how about ya'll? Is there any one thing craft wise that you just LURVE?

I'm linking up!
Hodgepodge Friday over at It's a Hodgepodge Life
 

Trash to Treasure Friday Blog Hop at Trash to Treasure Decorating (my favorite kind!)




It's Follow Friday!

I love this blog hop - great way to find new blogs and make new friends!

And remember - I'm going to be doing a giveaway of some GORGEOUS hand-stamped jewelry as soon as I hit 50 followers! Keep checking back!

Little White Stool Re-do

First of all; a confession.

I bought this little stool four years ago when I was pregnant with Max. 

Now, I know what you're thinking...Isn't it a little bit girlie to be in a boys room? Well, yes. But here's the part where I tell you that during my first u/s at 16 wks they told me that he was a she.
And then I went shopping.
And I bought this little quilt covered stool for her room for $5.

Cut to 3 1/2 weeks later and my next u/s and OOPS - he was VERY obviously all boy. 

So this little stool went to live in our basement.

I still liked it though and wouldn't part with it.

Yesterday I was shopping (read perusing thrift stores and Goodwill) and stopped by the fabric store. While I was browsing in the remnant section I saw a piece of fabric and INSPIRATION struck. 

I picked up 3/4 of a yard for less than $3.

And I came home and did this

*swooooooon*

I'm in love with this fabric.

Here is Max posing with the dressed UP stool.

I love this.

And this is where she is going to live now.

In the hall bathroom.

Everything in here is still original to the house. I haven't done anything except paint the walls and give the cabinets a fresh coat of Semi-Gloss White.

I think it's a perfect fit. 

Although now I'm toying with the idea of adding a short, pleated skirt...

more than likely...to be continued....

I'm linkin up to

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple

Show off your Stuff party at Fireflies and Jellybeans

Spotlight Yourself at ISVC!


100 ideas under $100 at Beyond the Picket Fence

I'm going to be having a GIVEAWAY very soon. As soon as I hit 50 followers I'll be posting a giveaway of some really unique, hand-stamped jewelry. Check back SOON!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Sand and Water tables are BIG fun

Mother's Day

I am alive

I know I dropped off the face of the Earth for the last week - sorry about that. Last week was a rough one from a mom perspective - then we had a garage sale and Mother's day (which was wonderful, btw).

And then a zillion tornadoes yesterday afternoon/evening. Cuh-razy.
This was 24 miles north of us.

*shudder*
The next two are pictures from a totally different tornado yesterday - this one was further away - north and west of us - maybe 50 miles away.

And some pictures of the hail that fell yesterday.

We had power on and off yesterday evening but we were lucky. Everything missed us. They are telling us we are in for another bumpy afternoon and evening today though.

In happier news -

I ordered new curtain panels and a rug for the dining room. Both have arrived and are in place. 

I'm thrilled. It looks nice. I finally feel like I have a real, true, grown-up room! I have almost everything in place for a *reveal* post! Almost. 

Now I am fixated on mirrored candle sconces. *sigh* It's what I want to go on either side of a large window in my dining room. I want them to be substantial - maybe close to 24" long - mirrored - and I want them to hold tapers. I know what I want. Now the trick is actually finding it. Well, finding it for a reasonable amount of money. I can find it for upwards of $150 EACH. Uh, no. So I'm looking for those. Once I get them I'll do a "reveal" shot. I just want it p.e.r.f.e.c.t. first. 

In other news I ordered the BEST and CUTEST Father's Day gift for the husband yesterday. I'm going to gush about that more later today. This is just a teaser - but you MUST visit this girl's ETSY shop. Seriously. And once you see what I ordered and what she is CUSTOM making for me - you will want one too. I promise!

So I'll post again in a bit. Right now I have to get my crockpot Lasagna going and this dirty house CLEANED.

I have some chalkboard projects I need to post as well! Stay tuned....

Area Rugs

It is time to buy a large area rug for the dining room.

I've been looking several places and have my choices narrowed down. The front runners are all at Overstock.com. 

I've never ordered anything like this from them - only bed linens. 

I'm a bit nervous. 

But you can't beat the $2 shipping - especially on something as large and bulky as a 6'X9' rug. 

So I'm wondering if anyone out there has ever ordered anything large like a rug or furniture from Overstock.com? How'd it work out for you? Were you happy with your purchase? Were the colors true to the picture? Because that is my biggest concern - that I'll love it on my computer screen and it will get here and instead of being soft and understated - it will be graphic and bright. Or the colors will be primary rather than muted. Ah well - maybe it's time to face my fears - right?

Yesterday we spent all day outside. We went to Brickfest - a little yearly festival here in our town. Then we came home and worked in the backyard gardens. 

Yesterday I planted

Lemon Thyme

Sage

Citronella

Chives 

(these were in addition to the regular Thyme, Dill, Rosemary, Basil, and Cilantro I already have going)

I planted

Yellow Squash

Zuchini

Cucumbers

(I already have my tomatoes in the ground)

I planted 

6 large pots of flowers in the back on the patio

3 for the front porch

and 2 hanging baskets for the back (I fill them full of flowers and hang them from our trees in the backyard)

I had the best fun doing it. 

Now I have to finish the front flower beds and transplant some things. Oh and 1 more flower bed in the backyard that is around the base of our large Sycamore tree. I'm transplanting a TON of Irises in there and adding 2 more Hostas. Should be a busy day.