Staging to sell....

Today I accomplished two things...

First, I FINALLY ordered the fabric for my dad's walnut chair (here)​.  I brought home 10 samples of fabric yesterday, draped them over the chair and basically let Brian decide.  I don't know what it is about men...but they always go with the one you believe to be the least practical or appealing.  But I obviously liked it well enough to throw it in the mix and I did value his opinion enough to ask...so that's the one I ordered!  Besides, if it doesn't look good, I can always blame him.

Second, I helped a friend with some work on her house.  She will be moving in a few months and she listed her house with a realtor....and has TWO showings the very first day!  ​

Staging and decluttering is SOOOO important when you are trying to sell a house...and with two kids and a demanding job, it is tough to get a house ready to sell...and then keep it ready to show at a moment's notice.  But she has done a wonderful job!​

Today she called in professional cleaners.  If you are selling your house, having a professional cleaning is a MUST.  It may seem like an unnecessary thing to do, but if you are going to take time to paint and repair and declutter and stage, make sure it is the cleanest it has ever been.  Crud on the baseboards and nasty fuzzies in the corners is not appealing to a buyer.  Some people just can NOT see past the nastiness.

It would be great if we could all live in "staged" houses.  Declutter, get rid of the things we don't REALLY need, get organized....I just truly believe that a cluttered, unorganized home is stress we don't need!  It should be a haven...a place we can relax and enjoy!  ​

Today I am looking at my home with a critical eye...and I see some serious changes that can be made! 

Good thing that fabric won't be in for 4-6 weeks and it is too cold to paint dressers...that gives me time to "declutter." ​

Course a nap sounds good too....​

Words to live by...

"Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them.  Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts...."  Robert Fulghum

I heard someone say one time "how we speak to our children changes WHO they are!"   

And it is true.  As a parent of 4, I know how hard it is to not take our frustrations out on our children, or those close to us.  But speaking unkindly or harshly to our children does nothing but instill fear, frustration and hurt in their minds, spirits and hearts. 

Do you know what fear, frustration and hurt is the foundation of?  ANGER! 

And we wonder why our teenagers and young adults are so ANGRY!   

Try not to speak to your children in harsh, hateful and hurtful tones.  Even in correction and discipline, speak to them with kindness, patience and love.   

Change who they are...for the better!  Isn't that what parenting is all about! 

Painting light fixtures and paddle fans....

See, I'm not even trying to be clever with my titles anymore...just too much brain work!​

When I bought this house 13 years ago, the "bronzed" look was all the rage...not so much now, or at least not to my taste!  I'm more into light, bright and somewhat "modern" looking! 

But who can afford to change out ALL their light fixtures when the old trends sour.  Not me...so it was time to get "creative."​

Paddle fans and dining chandeliers are probably the two biggest expenses in lighting.  And naturally, those are often the most noticeable!  

Since I was somewhat tired of the dining room light and the paddle fan in my office (and both would be expensive to replace), I didn't think I could do much damage if I took a can of spray paint to them...what is the worst that can happen...I have an excuse to buy new ones, right? ​

As with everything I paint, I first cleaned them and then "primed" them.  On metals, I use a metal primer...or even Kilz!  Just spray it on and then after it dries hit it lightly with 0000 steel wool...and then of course tack cloth it well before painting. (ALWAYS TACK BEFORE PAINTING!)

On the dining room light I used gloss black spray paint and the "brushed nickel" spray paint on the shades.  I used blue/grey spray paint on the fan blades...the same color I used on my dresser... and brushed nickel on the body and hardware of the fan.  I also added a new light globe to the paddle fan, just to update it a tad.

​The trick to painting light fixtures or paddle fans is taking them down and basically taking them apart...once you "disassemble" them, they are easy to paint!  BUT MAKE SURE YOU KEEP ALL THE HARDWARE AND SCREWS!  That is why I have plastic baggies on my materials list.  Any time you take ANYTHING apart, you need to put all the screws and hardware in plastic baggies and make sure you label them!  (Again, just trust me on these things!)  If you have never assembled light fixtures, and you don't feel real comfortable with the thought of getting it all back together, just take LOTS of pictures while you disassemble it.  I did that with my first upholstery job, and it helped a lot!

I found that my swing pergola made the perfect spot to hang the fixtures (with a dog leash) while painting...see, you don't need anything "fancy."​

Note, I also used blue tape on both the fixture and the wires coming out of the ceiling to label what wires went where so I would know how to rewire it...AND DON'T FORGET TO TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE FIXTURE BEFORE TAKING IT DOWN OR PUTTING IT BACK UP!!!​

After 2-3 coats of paint on each of the components, I put 1-2 coats of spray on clear coat, just to give it a durable finish that would allow me to dust and clean them periodically! ​

This easy process allows you to be REAL creative!  It would be fun to paint the fan in your kid's room a fun and funky color...maybe with some interesting design element, like a chevron pattern or polka dots!  Just "think outside the box" and remember my motto...YOU CAN DO IT!  If you don't have the most creative mind, do what I do...Google it!  People post pictures of their projects...and no one is going to be offended if you "copy" their creativity!  It really is the greatest form of flattery! ​

I was kind of sick of my bedside table lamps too...and until I can afford the really awesome crystal lamps at TJMaxx, I got a little creative with those too!

As much as I had tired of this dining room light, it really did turn out great. And it has always been one of my favorite things to decorate during the holidays.  During Christmas it is perfect for the gold shades I painted and the garland and red berries!!  Sometimes, old is good...it just needs a little facelift from time to time!​

A new "before and after" by SIS....

Man oh man...what a difference a day...or just a few hours...can make in NW Arkansas.  Beautiful and warm this morning and now it is too cold to even work on my dressers.  Suppose to be in the 40s tomorrow, with a chance of snow...craziness!​

Anywho, since I can't project outside and I really don't want to do what I NEED to do IN the house because of this "spring fever" bug I have, I thought I would share one of Sister Sarah's projects.  As I have mentioned, Sarah (my oldest daughter) likes to "project" but with two active boys it is tough.  I remember (and MISS) those days!!  That time in your life when you want to be in the garage sanding and painting, but while you are doing that your youngest is locking himself in the dryer or taste-testing your sleeping pills (yes, that would be my youngest grandson!) 

But she does manage to get in a project or two...so I thought I would share this darling little nightstand she did...​

See how a little Kilz and a little paint can make a world of difference!  ​

Great job Sis!!!​

She also used the gel stain I told you about on her bathroom vanity and wall cabinet (see here)...totally awesome transformation. 

Sweet dreams...

I am soooo annoyed.  This is the 3rd or 4th time I have written a witty post, only to accidentally delete it...grrrrrr.  Seriously, this stuff can not be THAT hard.​ So here we go again...only I am certain it won't be near as witty as it was the first time!

​I am always a tad envious of the beautiful bedding displays in magazines and on HGTV....but seriously, who has time to do all that fluffing and stacking and staging in the morning!

As I have mentioned, I have this huge fear that I will be in an accident and people will have to come into my home.  So I make my bed, religiously, every morning.  I sometimes wonder if I was running really late if I would skip making the bed or feeding the dog.  (JUST KIDDING....but it wouldn't hurt her to miss a meal!)​ Good thing I am an early riser!

So I struggled between a desire to live in "Better Homes and Gardens" world, or find a way to have pretty but realistic.  ​I live in a real world...it wins every time!

So I took my grandmother's advise...keep it SIMPLE!  And simple it is.  Super comfy sheets, a down comforter, a pretty blanket and of course the "throw" blanket at the end of the bed for the kitties.  ​

I sleep with FOUR pillows...and I never had decorative throw pillows on my bed until I made all those pillows a few weeks ago and had no where else to put them (here)​ But I keep it simple...no fancy, frilly shams or froofroo-crud.  Seriously, those things just end up on the floor every night! 

Simple is better...I just get out of bed, straighten up the blankets, fluff and stack my pillows and throw the decorative pillows on there (that added an entire 5 seconds to my routine!)​  Seriously, I bet it doesn't take 1 minute to make my bed.

And of course there is Pickles...my panda.  Every girl should have a stuffed critter on her bed ;)​

Down comforters are awesome...super warm in the winter and cool in the summer!  Just make sure you buy one that doesn't have to be dry cleaned.  Any woman with animals, children or a husband should not have ANYTHING on her bed that requires dry cleaning!  I just throw mine in the wash every month or so (or when a cat erps on it) and then dry the heck out of it.  I do the same with my feather pillows!!!  And both my blankets are not only pretty, but very functional and can be tossed in the washing machine!  ​

When my kids were little, they had a fitted sheet and a nice, washable blanket.  No fuss, no muss.  Simple.​

In life and parenting, one of my mottos is "PICK YOUR BATTLES."  I want the bed made, and of course I want it to look nice, but am not willing to "fight a battle" every day to make it all "picture perfect." ​

It is not a battle my kids, or I, are willing to fight....but at least when people come into my home after my accident, they will be impressed that my bed is made!​

If you don't think making your bed makes a difference...try it for 2 weeks....seriously, make yourself make your bed EVERY morning for two weeks.  Trust me...it sets a tone!  And if it takes more than 1 minute, you have too much fluff and froofroo!​

It's OFFICIALLY April!!!!

Only 2 more weeks until the last freeze...and inspite of the numerous storms that rolled through, it turned out to be a pretty great weekend.  I managed to get my pond cleaned out and the rugs to the car wash and we colored eggs and I even started on my newest projects...two more "nasty" dressers!  Not sure what I will do with them, but I think they want to be nursery dressers...so I am going to pretty them up fit for a new baby and then find expectant parents who NEED nursery furniture!!! ​

I managed to get the drawers repaired and put a coat of Kilz on each...but it is Easter and the few who are still here expect a "holiday" dinner.​

So I stuck a ham in the oven and prepared my "go to" holiday casserole...you can find the recipe HERE!  Totally awesome and super easy.  And since we have the eggs we colored yesterday, we have plenty for deviled eggs...a family favorite! ​

I can't even complain about the rain because we need it!  ​And after all, it is SPRING!!!

Hope you had a wonderful and blessed weekend!!​

April showers....

Okay, so it's not quite April....yet.  But today is a reminder that spring brings unpredictable weather.​

I had SOOOO much I thought I needed to do today.  Clean out the pond and install a new pump. Take my area rugs to the car wash.  Finish putting down mulch.  Begin working on the two nasty dressers I brought home (don't ask me what I plan on doing with them!) ​

Nothing that requires being inside on a rainy day.​

Oh wait...yes there is!!!  HAPPY EASTER!  And for the first time in I don't know how long, I have a "want" to color eggs.  Probably the influence of that evil Pinterest...always something sooo cute that I just have to try it.​

Like the "crackle" eggs...or the colorful whites of deviled eggs (a family favorite!)​

So after my teenage daughter returns from mass this afternoon, ​we are going to color Easter eggs. 

And the weather cooperated perfectly with the thing that is MOST important...spending time with my teenager doing something we haven't done since she was a little girl.  ​

I love spring!​ 

And again, HAPPY EASTER...may this weekend be a reminder of what is REALLY important!​

Mulch time!!!

It's getting closer to "spring" so there is soooo much to do before perennials wake from their winter slumber and it is time for the beautiful annuals.  

Perennials are plants that return every year....annuals are just what it says...annual.  You have to plant them every year.  Over the years I filled my beds with perennials (hostas, liriope, vinca minor) and have plant most of my annual flowers into pots and containers. ​

But before they wake or I can plant, there is much to be done!  This year I put compost in the beds.  Many people don't realize that most cities actually sell or give away compost.  It pays HUGE to check with your city and see if they provide compost soil.  I bought a truck load for $20 just for showing proof that I am a resident.  That is MAJOR cheap compared to buying it by the bag.  I try to put compost in my beds about every other year...just to enrich the soil.

I also buy all my mulch in bulk, by the trailer or truck load.  Today I paid $25 a yard for mulch. (A pickup will hold 1-2 yards)

Now here is where I will give gardening advise...skip the pretty red or black mulches.  Years ago my impatiens would grow to 2-3' tall...absolutely beautiful.  About 6 years ago they really started struggling and I started having trouble with "crown rot" on my beloved hostas.  After a little research I found that many gardeners were pointing the finger at the "dyed" mulches that are so popular.  Seems it MAY have an adverse affect on the soil, which in turn affects the smaller annual plants and possibly the tender perennials like hostas.  So now I stick to straight up natural cedar mulch.  To each his own, but honestly, I'm not taking any chances.  And since I  witnessed a significant problem with my plants since I started using red mulch, I decided not to risk it again.  ​

It is still too early to put tender annuals in the ground, but it is NOT too early to start preparing your beds!  Get busy!​

And don't forget...pots and containers are a great way to add a little color to your yard, big or small, without a lot of work or maintenance!​

Swing into spring...

NOW is the time to do this project...too stinking hot in the summer and you will want to enjoy it during the lazy days of summer!​

View fullsize

I have built 5 of these swing pergolas...two at my house, one at my daughter's first home, one at her current home and one for a neighbor.  It is not a difficult project to built but one that requires two sets of hands and a little muscle!  ​And with everything, patience!!!

I have posted a tutorial HERE​.  It is not a terribly difficult project and one I think most DIYers could easily manage.

View fullsize

This is the SUPER sized pergola I built onto my house about 11 years ago...I won't even begin to tell you how it is constructed...but I can promise you, if the house is blown away, it will probably still be standing!  And notice the wisteria canopy...seriously, that stuff is CRAZY!​

Container planting!!!

Snow was blowing yesterday but we are less than a month from the last freeze date in our region....I CAN'T WAIT!!!  ​

Tomorrow I will be sharing a VERY long tutorial on building a perfect swing pergola for your yard...but today I wanted to share my container plantings...you could actually start these inside, if you have space, and transfer them outside once the risk of freeze has passed!​

Last year I decided my days of crawling around in the dirt planting flowers were over.  So I began collecting pots and anything I thought would make a great planter...be creative!!!  Think outside the box!  Pots are great but so are wash tubs and old patio grills and crocks!  As long as it has a little drain hole in the bottom, or can have one added, it will work.  I fill the bottom 2" with rock (yard rocks are great), then add "cheap" soil, then put the more expensive "planting soil" in the top 4".  Most annual plants don't root much deeper than that!​

View fullsize

This is by far my favorite!  Ferns with impatiens and caladiums.  Any ole' fern, punch a few little impatiens in the soil around it and then stick some caladium bulbs into the soil.  By June it will be in full bloom and super easy to water and maintain.  If the planters are small, you can actually hack the fern in 1/2 or 1/4 and split it among several planters. 

Here are a few pictures of a few other planters!  ​On old tea server, old pots I sprayed with colorful spray paint, new pots in interesting shapes...use your imagination.  I found an old grill that is very odd...but will make a perfect planter this year.

If you have looked at my Yardscapes page, you know I love flower gardening...especially hostas.  But I love the color of annuals so rather than fill my flower beds with tender plants that take a lot of time and water, I am filling colorful planters with an assortment of flowers and scattering them around my flower beds...beautiful! And sooo easy to maintain when the weather turns brutally hot!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize