playing with fire

well, we're still working on our backyard. seems like it's a never ending process. but we're slllooooowwwllllyyy getting there.

we have a good sized backyard. not too big. not too small. it's a space where i can easily utilize every inch without it feeling overcrowded or too spread out.

 just like our home, our back porch, patio and yard are very open, which i love! nothing feels closed off and separated and there's such an easy flow from one area of our space to the next.

so far we've cut down four trees, added some azaleas and gardenias (which add the most wonderful fragrance as you enter our backyard) i've added some hanging baskets to our covered porch. and thrown in some cute accent pieces.  we've added some river rocks to a couple of beds right off the house and added pops of color with flower baskets and potted plants.

with it raining on and off, our sod (the next step in this design) has been put on hold. hopefully we'll be getting it later this week.

but even with the rain and the yard kinda at a stand still, it hasn't kept me from still finding that perfect design that fits what we're looking for.

our next idea is a firepit. this was kevin's idea. but of course, i was totally on board with it. and it wasn't long after the words came out of his mouth, that i logged into my pinterest account to immediately start locating the perfect one for us.

we want an area that will be perfect for hanging out with friends and family by the fire on cool spring and fall evenings but we also want a space that's kid friendly for the nights when we roast marshmallows and load up on s'mores!

needless to say i found thousands several pictures i loved. here are just a few...

love all of the nature surrounding this

built-in seating with great pillows

shade, benches and hanging lights!!!

so cozy yet so open!

great space for entertaining



love the flagstone!

so there are just a few of my ideas....i'll post pics of our whole process from start to finish once we're complete!!

hope you all have a great week!!!

my new..ahem refinished dining room hutch!

remember in this post when i said i was refinishing an entertainment center to reuse in my dining room.

before

well, let me just tell you. i'm 99.9% finished and it looks fabulous!!

i used annie sloan's chalk paint for this project. and this stuff couldn't be easier to work with!! no sanding. no stripping. nothing. you just paint and distress to your liking. easy peasy.

the first coat i put on was called paris grey. now, mind you this was my first time using this paint so i may have put it on a little too thick...but oh well, live and learn. you see the paint thickens as it sits. so the best way, in my opinion, to work with it is to pour some in a small container and mix with a little water. helps the paint go farther...i think. and this stuff ain't cheap. but completely worth it!

the second coat i added was duck egg blue. i (heart) this color. it's the perfect shade of blue for me. not too bright and not too soft. once that dried i distressed it with a sanding block. that's it! i still need to put my clear wax on top to seal and protect it and a mirror is going to be cut for the inside to cover the big hole in the back (you can see where that goes in the picture below) but other than that, it's d.o.n.e!

i also added cute crystal knobs from hobby lobby...two bucks each. you can't beat that! anyway here she is in all her beauty!!



i'm in search of a buffet to go in my dining room now. can't wait to experiment with this paint again!
anything you've refinished that you want to share with me? i love getting ideas and inspiration!!

it's finally here!!!

i'm so excited i can't stand myself. my annie sloan's chalk paint arrived in the mail this weekend!!

 i will be using this paint

paris grey and duck egg

 to transform this entertainment center

(right now it's in our garage)

hopefully into something that looks like this...

or this....

or maybe this....

well it might not look like any of these pictures but it's like one of my friends said, "you will look at it with such a since of accomplishment....you will never look at new furniture the same again". and you know what, i think she's right!!

my first blog post, i'm nervous!

well, i've been "blog stalking" for months now.  trying to get up enough courage to start one of my own. and i thought, "what better time than this". it's the start of a new year and i really want to document the things that go on in our lives. so here it goes...

i'm gonna start by sharing a little obsession of mine...pinterest! can i tell you that i have so many projects, outfits to pull together and recipes to conquer in 2012! let's just say anytime i'm on the computer, my oldest son, ethan says "let me guess, pinterest" and he's usually right! so i want to show you a little about me via some of my "pins" and maybe you can get some idea of my personality!

comfy and cute is key!

love some sparkle!

chocolate, caramel and peanut butter...heaven!

love this style of modern patterns and rustic accents

also preparing for my first chalk paint project. ordering duck egg blue and paris gray for a piece going in my dining room!

well, there you have it...my first post! whew, glad that's behind me. now you may not get me to shut up! :) wishing everyone a happiest new year!

Amanda