The AFTER: Bathroom re-do

I love finishing projects!! Here's my latest.
When Drew and I were engaged back in 2005, the palm tree motif was at its height so I registered for palm tree-themed bathroom decor. Palm tree shower curtain, matching towels and red "sultan" bath rugs to match. We accessorized with palm trees as well and even had a camel. This is the only picture I could find of the old room, but you get the idea.

About the first of this year, I got the itch to change the bathroom and lemme tell ya--it wasn't hard to let go of it all. Actually, we kept the camel. He's a part of the family now. But I changed the rest.
My inspiration was the "blue temple garland" Amy Butler fabric I fell in love with.


I found a gal on Etsy to make me hand towels and a tissue box cover, then I had to search high and low to match the aqua-esque blue colors. I finally found a decent match and I do love the bright shade of blue. Yes, I'm getting another bath towel. So, without doing any major projects, I kept the khaki walls got a new white waffle-weave shower curtain for a spa feel (thanks, boss, for the gift card!!), then accessorized with more blue and green. My friend, who is my best Southern Living At HOME customer, described it as "Very Southern Living." I'll take that as a compliment. A lot of it IS SLAH, actually--the "Acanthus Votive Centerpiece" basket, the green and blue vase/tooth brush holder and the green glass candle holders. I love my SLAH business!!

I love the flowers on the ledge over the tub and the way the white lightens up the room.

I swear, the whole house seems lighter. I get that "aaaaah" feeling when I go in there. Nice.

NEW TABLE!!!!

YES, I got the dining room table and chairs I fell in love with last weekend! Little did I know that Drew had been conspiring all week to surprise me with it today. He came home from work and started telling me, "Ugh, how'd you get that dent in your bumper? Were you planning to tell me?" and I'm all, "WHAT?! No way! Lemme see!" but was slightly suspicious (it being Val Day and all and him coming home empty-handed). So we went outside and, yes, there was a dining room chair on the front porch!!

Inside it came, followed by the remaining seven, then he and Sarah put the table together. All the while, I was absolutely giddy with excitement and anticipation! The chairs instantly looked right at home and the color--both the green paint and the wood--was fantastic in our home. The top has a butcher block effect and the wood color is almost an exact match to our kitchen cabinets. It's awesome. With the leaf in place, it's a square shape and seats eight (two on each side), as seen here.

I LOVE it--that it seats eight comfortably and everyone can still talk and reach the center easily. It's genius. Here's a close-up so you can better see the color of the top and the green hue. I adore the color and the slightly distressed finish--it's so unique!! The black would have been a little too "normal." Bleck!!

And here it is with the leaf stored inside. Isn't that fabulous--that the leaf just disappears?? Oh, and it came with the Lazy Susan, how fun is that?? So most of the time, it will be this size and seat six. We placed the other two chairs alongside the turquoise sideboard. They can also be used as bar stools!

I'm thrilled. I love having eight brand new chairs!! We got it for a steal, too, and from a locally-owned store. I just couldn't be more happy about the whole deal. Thank you, Drew!! Boy, did you fill up my love tank with this one!! :)

I am so in love...

...with this table and chairs!!

Sarah found it for us this weekend. It's from a locally owned and operated furniture store a couple miles from our home and the owner is SO nice. We're in the market for a table and chairs and, although I've seen a few I like, this one seems to have my name on it. It's the new "counter-height" so it's about six inches taller than average and allows you to stand at it. It comes with EIGHT chairs...AND a lazy Susan! And it's green!!! Well, green and a dark wood that will match our kitchen cabinets--and other furniture--beautifully.
My vision has been for a black table and chairs--until I saw this.
Besides the color, which I adore, there's a lot of pros to this set:
1. It has leaf that disappears into the middle of the table, expanding it from a rectangular shape that seats six to a square that seats eight. And no leaf to store!
2. The unique shape means that everyone can reach the table from their spot--eliminating the need to pass dinner items and making it possible to play games together without anyone stretching.
3. The heighth makes it perfect for informal entertaining because you can put munchies on it and people can congregate around and snack.
4. The size and the number of chairs makes it perfect for hosting Bunco (now at my house twice a year) or a scrap-booking group. Or any group! Plenty of space and very comfortable to sit at. It's fun, too, cuz my feet dangle!
5. The price is $600. For the table and EIGHT chairs!! It's a steal.
6. It's from a local store so I'd be supporting a local business instead of a mass retailer or big-box store. Bonus!
7. It's green, slightly "rustic" and very unique. All wood, very well-made and sturdy.
The picture shows it at the angle you'd see it from when you enter our house.

I think it would jazz up the whole living area! I've got a lot of green already, but plenty of taupe and paprika, too. It would be a nice blend.
As a point of comparison, here's the table and chairs I fell in love with in Globe. It seats six and is around $1,000 (maybe $1,200??).

Thoughts? Opinions?

My new find: Uppercase Living!!

I LOVE the idea of having inspirational or heart-warming quotes on the walls of my home! It adds a certain personal touch that I adore.
I've seen the idea in many magazines and decorating books--but didn't know it was available to "the public" (or at such affordable prices) until I was invited to an "Uppercase Living" open house last night at my Cookie Lee upline's house. All the higher-ups have gorgeous homes and they're all WAY into Uppercase Living so I knew the company had to be a winner.

YES, I am a direct sales addict--you know my philosophy: I'd rather give my money to a woman with a home-based business than to a big box retailer. They call me a "party girl" because I go to virtually EVERY home party I'm invited to! :) This particular rep has been with UCL for two years and was the FIRST rep in Arizona!!
The thing about UCL is that, for a small amount of money, you can literally transform the look of a space, a room--or your entire home! It makes it so personal and unique! Your home can literally "speak" to the people that visit. The images can be applied to walls (even textured ones), wood, glass, tin...almost any smooth surface.
Words can accentuate a piece of furniture, offer a "welcome" message in your entryway or accent a wall.

My first purchase was a simple "Welcome" to go in the niche above our engagement portrait right when you walk in the front door. Next I want the "Live well, laugh often, love much" for above the big entertainment niche in the livingroom.
They also offer a large variety of small accents for projects or gifts, many of them seasonal.

I love the idea of applying them to a tile for a decorative accent as well. The possibilites are endless!!
This is probably my favorite idea, perfect for a wedding or house-warming gift or "just because." People love personalized gifts!! Buy the wood, some paint, the applique and ribbon and you have a one-of-a-kind gift for less than $25!

All the expressions, words, images and letters come in an assortment of sizes and a lovely variety of colors--from earth tones to pastels!
You can even do custom messages--I created one that says "Nice only goes so far." It's so cool and adds so much to your home. Of course I'll be hosting an "Uppercase Living" open house in February! :) As a rep to three direct sales companies, I like playing the part of hostess every so often, and this company is definitely my new favorite.
If you're local and would like to attend, let me know and I'll make sure you're invited!! :)
If you're as excited about this as I am, I'll give you the code for my friend's web site so you can see the catalog and even play with a custom message.
Hope to see you at my open house!!

I am LOVING polka dots!!

Ok, so my "new thing" is polka dots. I've always liked them...they're playful, girly and FUN! But when I started looking for partyware for my birthday, I ran across these polka dot plates and napkins at Target, on clearance. Then I said to myself, "Well, there ya go! Polka dots is my theme!" Low and behold, I found even more at a different Target, then even napkins that said "30th" to match...and polka dot pajama pants to wear TO the party!
Here you can see the plates and the polka dot cake...AND the frame of my family in Florida, IN their polka dot pajamas so they were represented at the party!

Here's me, my sister-in-law, my boss and my friend from church at my party. That's the only polka dot top I own so believe me, I'm on the hunt for more!

Well, once you're onto something, you see it everywhere so now I realize that I'm not the only one who likes them!! In fact, there's a really neat blog about moms who make polka dot crafts!! It's http://www.polkadotmom.com/ They feature new polka dot crafts and the moms who make them.
To shop for polka dot items for kids and moms, their marketplace is http://www.polkadotmarket.blogspot.com/ There's links to some really cute stuff in there!! You know I love supporting other moms with home-based businesses so it's a great find!
Of course now I'm trying to figure out how to have a Polka Dot Christmas. I'm on my way cuz I've been collecting polka dot "stuff." I've got two cups and saucers, a small plate, a cute bowl and four dinner plates. Now I want to find polka dot ribbon for the Christmas tree, a polka dot tree skirt, polka dot fabric for a table runner and ribbon to make these cute ribbon garlands I saw in a magazine. Oh, and wrapping paper.
So I'll keep you posted and take pictures once I've found what I need. Stay tuned--it's gonna be one spotty dotty Christmas!!