East Bedroom Re-do...BEFORE!!!

Above are before pictures of the "Beach" room re-do.  However, I forgot to take a before picture of the white wall behind the bed.  Other than that (I had already painted the wall a sandy taupe color) and forgot to get a picture before I painted that wall.  All the STUFF was Derek's getting ready to move to Show Low, AZ.  So the room looks like a disaster...normally Derek is a "neat-nik" like myself...and normally his room is pretty clean...until the last week before he moved out!

"AFTER" Pictures...

This Chair I found on-line...for the desk!

The twin bed as well as a Full-sized in the bedroom.

Before's and After's of my bedside table...

The three pictures above are "Before" pictures of the nightstand with the first coat of finish remover.  You paint it on and scrape it off...kind of a gooey, messy procedure, however, I was out on the back patio so it was fine.

Step 2 is "whitewashing the pieces with a watered-down off white paint.  Once it is dry, then you sand the edges of the top and drawers to give it an 'older' look, with a fine grit sandpaper.

Step 3 is another coat of whitewash and once it is dry then you do a little more sanding.  I used some of the brown furniture oil that you get to "hide scratches" and wiped that over the surfaces to give it an "older look".   Once that is dry,  Step 4 you spray paint a couple of coats of clear polyurethane to protect the finish and keep it from yellowing.

Step 5 is the FINISHED PRODUCT.  I'm please with it! :)

Furniture I loved at a boutique in Florida...

I loved the look of this furniture in a little gift store Anna took me into in Florida (Flagler Beach), so when it came to refinishing a bedside table for my "beachy" bedroom, I tried to "copy" the look without much direction but just figuring out how it was possibly done.  I'm super pleased with how it turned out...as you will see in a bit!  I first took a picture of the night stand and then took pictures of the Stages of redoing it.  I just kept working with it til I got the look I wanted, however, I'm always anxious to get something done right away so it took me just a couple days...just waiting hours between coats! ha ha

This One Worked!!! "AFTER"

I recovered my glider rocker with "ribbons" of waves (thats what it looked like to me) and thought it would go good in my "Beach Bedroom" redo...I'm happy with how it turned out and it really wasn't too difficult! 

OK I am complaining OUTLOUD!!!

I am trying to upload pictures on here...and yes, you can see two measly little "BEFORE" pictures of my glider rocker...which btw has been recovered now on its fourth turn.  However, since the "BLOGGER" program changed it's ways...it has given me nothing but problems when it comes to downloading/uploading pictures to my blog!  Is it me?  Is it our "older" computer?  Its VERY frustrating to say the least!  I have gotten these two pictures on here in the past 40 minutes!  It used to be MUCH quicker and MUCH less frustrating.  I don't know what the issue is, but that is one of the reasons I haven't been posting very much on here because of the frustration I am having with the program.  It used to be such a "breeze"...am I doing something wrong???  Tell me your thoughts on the "new" program here please!  Thank you...it's time for bed now.

Where to Begin?????? It's Been Too Long!!!

So, I can't dwell on what I haven't done on here or how far behind I have become, or that little nagging thought..."when is the last time you blogged?"  Or, a lovely daughter that lets me know it's been like 'forever' since I posted anything on here...but here goes...and I must say, this won't all be in order as that takes too much thought and trying to figure out what and when....So, I'll just begin and hope I can get started here again!

Cute Doll House...

 The finished product with a hand-crank elevator up to the top floor (the red box).

Daniel & Malia's teacher (they both are teacher's)

One at the Charter school and one at the High school,

have two little girls...Malia has taken care of them several

times and Daniel has housesat their house & 2 labradoodles

a few times...most recently just before Christmas.  This doll house

was in a box in a whole bunch of pieces!!!  He asked Daniel if he'd

put it together for them (he'd pay him) while they were gone!  "yeah,

no problem"...Daniel brought the whole thing over (in pieces) and

asked if we'd help him get it together, he was completely frustrated!

So, back to STEP 1:  I helped, Tom helped, and Daniel helped,

and 3 hours later this beautiful little (BIG for a little girl) house

was together in one piece.  Merry Christmas girls!

Making Progress...Step by Step!

I made pies for Christmas Dinner...

 2 pumpkin pies, 1 blueberry pie, 1 apple pie, 1 coconut cream pie and 1 chocolate cream pie...

 Ron & JoAnn, Malia, Daniel and Tom ready to chow...December 24th, 2010

JoAnn, Malia, Tom and Daniel.  We were invited to Bogue's for Christmas Day dinner, but Daniel had to work on Christmas and Malia already had other plans.  Derek joined us a little later when he got off work.  I took my camera on Christmas Day to Bogue's and forgot to take pictures, so I'm glad to have these.  We had pies for our Christmas Dinner at home and I was to bring pies to Christmas Day Dinner at Bogue's.  It was a lovely day there as well.  Christmas Time just makes me love family time and together time.  I love all the pretty lights, the togetherness and music..."it's the best time of the year"...as the song goes!!!!  We were only missing our Anna and Zane :( PS:  the pies turned out good.

Oodles of Christmas Cookies...

This year I made cookies/treats to give out, but didn't have Malia home to help me and so I did them all in ONE day...needless to say, I was tired of making cookies, but it's still fun and even nicer to give them out to friends.  I was happier yet when it was all done and I could look at the result of a "days work" and a job well done! :) :)

Seeing the pretty lights with our worker girls...

 The lights down at the London Bridge and the English Village are synchronized to Christmas Music.  So pretty.  Our girls, Tamara & Barbara were staying with us and after their gospel meeting they and the kids
were all at the gospel meeting, went down to see the display. 

 Back- L-R.  Austin, Derek, Daniel   Front:  L-R JoLena, Barbara, Tamara & Taylor (Derek's g/f)

The Flag with the light shining on it on the London Bridge.  My Camera does not take very good night
pictures.  But it's fun to have the great memories of good times together with friends and family.

Daniel Got Recruited to Play in the School Basketball Game...

 Daniel at the left getting a drink! 

Playing for the Royal's #2

Out on the floor!

 Tiger's is the other Charter School Mascot.  The Royal's is a brand new team and they don't have a mascot yet!

 Daniel playing...

The SAD score!!! At the end of the game!  The principal called Daniel into her office on Tuesday and asked if he had to work that night..."well, no", "are you in shape physically?" "Well, yeah, I think so"...well, we need you to fill in for the basketball game tonight....here's a jersey."    It's a brand new team...a couple kids were out and another boy didn't have good enough grades to play...so Daniel got recruited to play and they put him in to play 3 of the 4 quarters.  Unfortunately, they played a team that is 2nd in the division...And believe it or not 3 kids (two other boys) were also recruited for the night....what a fright!  But Daniel had fun.  He thought they'd probably just have him warm the bench...but he played most of the game.  Check out his shoes...lol :)  They're his work tennis shoes...Vans.  It's so funny...cuz' everyone has these fancy smancy shoes and Daniel's wearing his old holey black work shoes!  Oh well, it's about having fun and doing what you can to help out!  So "mission accomplished"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"GO DAWGS"

Someone in our house (should I say 'someones') still love those Huskies up in Washington State
even though we are Arizonans!!!  So, that someone....aka Tom...got his creative juices flowing yesterday
and today...and yes, just another way to use spray paint!!!  LOL :-)  Grabbed a bunch of the landscaping
rock and started painting away...so when you're NOT sleeping at night...I guess your mind starts thinking
of things like this to do...Any who are HUSKY fans (GO U of W)...that tomorrow (Saturday) is the Apple
Cup!!!!   So, GO DAWGS!!!!! (By the way...this is in our front yard!!!  An older gentlemen walked by and
asked Tom "Who are the Dawgs????"  Guess in Arizona you may have to explain!!!! ha ha

Some more December FUN!

 Fresh Blueberry "mini" muffins...lasted just for a day!  Good while they lasted!

I just got the little "latte", "mocha", "cappucino" & "espresso"...little plates-in-a-rack
from our new store in town called Kirklands...a neat home decorating store reasonably priced!