Source: hazedaffection.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: michellearmas.bigcartel.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: michellearmas.bigcartel.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: flickr.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: petitealma.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com via Christina on Pinterest
Source: madebygirl.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Seemingly everything this year has been in reverse for me. First it was what I termed “Reverse Seasonal Effective Disorder” what with the horrendous heat and subsequent stuck-inside-all-day-and-we-are-going-bonkers hysteria that followed it. And now it seems that I have Fall Cleaning — instead of spring cleaning. It must be the insanely crisp, delightful weather, but I am on an all-out spree to clean up this house and get it shipshape for fall. So far, I’ve cleaned out three trash-bags full of clothes out of my closet alone. I’ve also cleaned up & organized my pantry cabinet as well as the laundry room. However, lest you think my house is spotless and perfect (ha), it still manages to look like Hiroshima every day.
I’ve also been working to get my office in order as it frequently becomes the dumping ground for whatever I don’t want to put away/throw away/file away. As I shot the photos in here, I realized that maybe part of the reason I don’t want to spend any time in here, as well as the anxiety this room seems to induce, might be due in part to the electric coral color I painted it. And I realized instantly that I am over it. I loved it when I first painted it, but wow – so so over it. And these photos only make it look MORE electric than it is in real life. Gahhh.
I think I need something more soothing, huh? I do love my pretty painting from Pippin+Pearl in here, though.
Also, I’m amazed at the way that all colors seem to be sucked into this coral color unless it’s a strongly contrasting white or black.
But despite the electric coral (that MUST GO), I’m feeling much more organized. My supplies are at hand and are easily accessible. I also delight in my collection of fabulous glitter. 
I am obsessed with my melamine trays. I love how they seem to instantly organize anything. I use them in the office, the kitchen, and I’m getting my lucite ones in the next couple of weeks. Cannot wait to show you guys!
Over the past few months, I’ve been buying up these white square cubes from Michael’s when they go on 50% off (such a deal). You can mix & match them to any combination that you need. I use mine for envelopes, ribbons, magazines, shipping supplies, and more. Oh, and notice how I’ve had those bamboo chairs forever and I still have not found The Fabric to reupholster the seat cushions. ::sigh::
So now I think I have another project in mind once things slow down a little over here – Operation Repaint the Office. Maybe something like a pale grey? Or Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage?
What do you think? What color would you paint this room?
This past weekend we attended Uptown Kids‘ first anniversary birthday bash, where they teamed up with Prevent Blindness Oklahoma. In addition to a crazy awesome carnival (complete with petting zoo!), the kids also got to paint a canvas which will then be auctioned off in a couple of weeks to raise money for Prevent Blindness. How cool is that?
Jude was in hog heaven getting to paint his little canvas, which got me to thinking, “Why don’t we ever do stuff like this at home?”
Oh yeah. My anal-retentiveness about having to clean up one.more.mess. That’s why. :-
But c’mon – I was an art major, for pete’s sake! Can I not deal with a little mess to give my child a whole lotta joy?
So it was off to Hobby Lobby we went, to pick up the couple of supplies we didn’t already have. I have a ridiculous amount of art supplies left over from my OU School of Art days. All we were lacking were canvases, really, and a couple of tubes of paint that I was out of. If you want to do this at home, remember that places like Hobby Lobby frequently run major promotions on art supplies. All canvases, for example, were 30% off this week. Another idea is to go to a thrift store and buy up ugly paintings and let your kiddos just paint like crazy over them.
Hobby Lobby also sells giant packs of cheapo brushes that you don’t have to feel bad about ruining.
Keep in mind that if you choose to use acrylics (like I do), either strip your kid down to his skivvies or put them in clothes you don’t mind ruining. You will not be able to get the acrylic paint out of clothes. Ever. Trust me on this one.
I covered the kitchen table with an oil cloth splat mat that I had and taped it securely to the table so we wouldn’t have one of those “OMG” moments when one of us inadvertently pulls the tablecloth & all its painterly contents onto the floor. A few dixie cups were filled with water & placed within sturdy plastic cups (again, to minimize spillage). Then I let him have at it – and I did too!
I forgot how awesomely cathartic painting is. And for Jude, he was so stinkin’ proud of himself as he swirled the paint around his 2 canvases. The first one he used the brushes on. But the second one, he studiously applied the paint w/ a palette knife (my personal favorite method).
Et voila! Fabulous art for the upstairs! And he’s so proud of his work, he couldn’t wait to show Simon when he walked in the door last night.
How about you? Do you indulge your kiddos in high-mess-potential projects? I feel inspired to try new ones now!
Recent interior faves. I’ll admit it – I’m feeling a little dry on inspiration these days. Overexposure? Maybe. I guess I just want to see something fresh and new.
Source: chiccheapnursery.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: vivafullhouse.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: mydesignchic.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: twolia.com via Rachel on Pinterest
Source: dwellerswithoutdecorators.blogspot.com via Rachel on Pinterest
You guys. I can’t help it. I’m feeling the itch. I really need to pick up a paintbrush. As we have discussed ad nauseum here, I really have no idea what to do with this random bonus room we have. It was originally a hallway. The people we bought the house from basically knocked a wall out and finished out the empty space under the roof. They added two dormer windows as well. It really changed the entire upstairs from a dark, dismal hallway to a big open fun space.
A space I have no idea what to do with. And I have no idea why that photo turned out so small (above).
So my wheels start spinning. I really don’t like how this enormous room is such a mishmash.Basically we’re using it as a storage facility or a REALLY BIG hallway. Can I not figure out a way to make it attractive? Cohesive? Using mostly things we already have? A place we would want to hang out? I envision it as a kid-friendly, yet still functional and attractive living room. Somewhere that kids can still play and toys can roam free. ha!
I wrote out a list of words that I want to describe this room in no particular order:
I started pulling inspiration photos and I noticed a trend. I really like stripes, the color blue, and particularly navy paired with white. As an added bonus, we already have most of these things in these colors. In fact, we have this enormous navy rug in the guest bedroom that would work pretty nicely. Hmmm.
I started getting a little nervous as I was brainstorming my master plan. Simon kinda wanted me to put on the brakes after all the painting I did earlier in the year. I imagined that bringing this up to my husband would go something like this:
But in reality, it was more like this.
Look how handsome he is. How understanding. How glowing. He then noticed the rug that was previously in the guest room laying in the bonus room. I said, “please don’t go look into the guest bedroom and see the ridiculous mess I made getting the rug out from under the bed all by myself, taking up 2 days to accomplish because the bed was so heavy and I am so stupid to move it by myself.”
I know. It looked so pretty, didn’t it, hon? Remember how the guest bedroom looked like this?
Well, uh, now it looks like this:
This is me:
No way! You are the best! You love me! You really love me!
There’s nothing better than having my hubs on board for my crazy schemes.
So. All that silliness to say, I’m launching into this project, but I’m really excited about it. Thank you to Simon for letting me have another go at painting!
Pinterest
Pinterest
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT