Freakin Out!

In addition to my 10th wedding anniversary this weekend I have my 20
year High School Reunion! Not to mention Father's Day... Things are
too hectic to do anything but blog on the go today. Next week I will
share some new room transformation photos!

Have a great day!

Rachel
901.827.0009

Sent from my iPhone

Time Flies: Part One

Do you know what you were doing 10 years ago today? I sure remember what I was doing... You see, it was 10 years ago today that I proposed to my husband. Yes, I proposed to Che (pronounced "Chay")! It went a little somthin' like this... "Um, I was thinking, do you still want to get married?" Of course he had his back turned to me at the time and I caught us both completely off guard with that little question!

Here is the back story. I hated Che when I first met him. I thought he was overly confident and worked the dining room like a seasoned politician. Yep, he was my new boss at the restaurant where I had recently started working. He says he fell for me the first time he saw me, but I think he thought I was just a dumb hick from Tennessee. I didn't trust him, so I decided I was going to be his new best friend...DUM, DUM, DUM...

For 2 and 1/2 years he was my best friend. He wanted more, I didn't. People always thought there was something going on, but they were wrong. Slowly, I began to realize that I couldn't stop thinking about him. I consulted him for every decision I made. I felt guilty if I went out on a date with another guy. Then, he went home to Argentina for two weeks... That nearly sent me over the edge! And so began our 4 day engagement!

Tune in on Saturday to hear the details of that little fiasco! Maybe I will even share a photo or two!

Product Love

I have discovered the coolest tool...

First let me ask you, don't you just hate it when you are spraying something fairly small and you have to let one side dry before you can spray the back side and wait for it to dry? And what about when you are trying to spray each of the four sides without messing up what you already have done?

Well, no more! I first saw this product featured on the show "Cool Tools". As soon as I saw it I started looking for it. For a few months I looked, I asked, I begged for the stores to start carrying it. Finally when I least expected it, I discovered it in my local Sherwin Williams. The angels sang, the birds were chirping and yes, there was a heavenly light shining down on............ (drum roll please)................................

(photos courtesy of www.painterspyramid.com)

Yes, The Painter's Pyramids are all that and a bag-o-chips!

Look at all these cool uses! I actually used them when painting a small, but heavy Butcher's Block! The best $5 this girl has spent!
You can actually paint one side of a flat object and immediately flip it over and paint the back side and four sides! Only one dry time!
Luuuhve it! Of course it works just as well if you are brushing too.
Try them and tell me what you think.


Check out this video on www.youtube.com

Happy Painting!

Garage Sale Goodies

So what do you think? Do you like it? I think it looks fab-ooh. I bought this table at a garage sale for $5. It was in fine shape, but the last thing I need in my house is a cherry or mahogony (that's another post). So I decided (after making sure that it was a cheap knock off instead of something valuable) to paint it.
I almost forgot to take a "before" picture, can you tell? I had already begun sanding and de-glossing when I remembered to pull out the camera. One of these days it will become second nature to get those before shots (I hope).

One of the best parts of this table makeover is that I found the paint in the "oops pile" at my neighborhood Porter. I think I paid $2 for a quart. Did you notice the "faux drawer"? Why do they insist on faking me out so? It even had a handle on it! Is it just me or is that really annoying? It would have been really easy for for them to just put a real flippin' drawer on this, right? In case you haven't noticed, I hate faux drawers! Maybe it's because I think it shows a lack of imagination by the maker. Most likely it's because I am the idiot that constantly tries to open said drawer. Yep, that's me! I can know that it won't open, but will forget and grab the handle to open the stupid thing! Laugh all you want, I bet there are a few of you who share my dirty little habit... Come on, own up people! :-)
Since I planned on keeping this little gem, I decided to remove the hardware and cover the faux drawer with a FREE wallpaper sample I had. I think it turned out really well, but I did this back in September and now I am ready to change it up a bit (don't tell Che). You see, it is almost exactly the color of my living room and I am soooooo sick of my living room (a future post). Since I have 10 other thrift store finds awaitning tranformation, and countless walls that need serious love (thanks to the boys and the stupid dog) who knows when I will actually follow up on that thought! :-)

As always, thanks for stopping by and please check out my new favorite blogger here. She's having a Goodwill Party and you check out all the talented ladies attending!

Thrift Store Trash to Treasure

Check out this thrift store find! Pretty nasty, huh? This little lady was GROSS on the outside but had great bones and her insides were nearly pristine! It was an old dressing table (I am guessing from the 20's or 30's).

Unfortunately the mirror that had been attached at one time was MIA. In the long run it really didn't matter 'cause I bought it for a client who wanted a petite "lady's desk" for her daughter's room. As soon as I saw it, I just had to get it. For $25 I wasn't going to wait to see if the client wanted it. It was sitting on the sidewalk in front of a junk store I frequent and two other vultures were eying it as well. Check out this close up of the old girl...
There was a ton of superficial water damage on her top, but can't you see the potential? Don't you just love her? As it turned out, the client loved her too and told me what she wanted done... VOILA!

As it turned out, my client decided at the last minute to let me sell it at an art fair. She knew that we would be able to find something else before her December deadline and was worried that her daughter's long legs may soon outgrow the old lady. I chose to use the original brass hardware because I really liked the natural patina, but it would also be really pretty with those delicate glass knobs. What do you think? Do you have a trash to treasure story you would like to share?

P.S. Be sure you check out Jen's Thrift Store Makeovers here!

What Inspires You?

Inspiration comes in many forms. How and where do you find yours? I often find mine on our family outings.

We love to "go exploring". We love to explore antique and junk stores, but we also love the architectural details of old or unique buildings. Last weekend we visited our favorite Farmer's Market (in downtown Memphis) and we stumbled across the coolest antique store! Hubs and I both got so excited when we saw it!



The store had the most amazing architectural salvage I have ever seen gathered under one roof. I really wish Hubs had been more snap happy with the camera so I could show you more of the antique doors, mirrors, knobs... Well, you get the idea!

Some more eye candy from another outing...
I just love the natural patina of old buildings...