Avondale Community Yard Sale

5:30 a.m. Saturday morning came wayyyyyy toooooo soon... I felt like I just called it a night at 2:30 a.m. (I did, bc I had a cake pop order that had to be complete after working a dinner shift at the restaurant! Busy bee...) Anyhow, I heard so much about the Avondale Community Yard Sale I felt like I had to suck it up and wake up to join Ordy's family on this annual trip!

I am so glad I went!

For starters, I loved seeing where Ordy's mom grew up. It was the cutest area and her childhood home was so cute. The whole area was quaint and charming. Ordy's mom's sister and friend also went (and we met Ordy's other aunt at the ACYS), and it was a great mini-trip. We started at 6:30 at Ordy's mom's house and didn't get back until 4:30 p.m. I didn't know what to expect, but like everything else in life, I always talk myself into not expecting much {so i'm not disappointed}... it's the weirdest technique. I convince myself that everything is going to be awful, so I will be surprised when it's not! I find it's better than the other way around... especially when it comes to how early i had to wake up! (jk) I had my bff's parents join me since I knew they could appreciate it! I liked the early advantage I had going first thing in the morning, because my bff's mom has the best taste in the world and I knew she might out-spot (ok, so I made up a word...) me and get all the good stuff. I knew she has a great eye for all things amazing, so I could just imagine us running towards the same thing, or her seeing something I wanted and beating me to it! haha jk, thank God none of that happened :) 

So here's what went down:

People Setting Up

$100 mixer... i already have Dolly, otherwise I'd get this!

the lot

my $5 frame (with the original $190 price on the back!!)

i LOVE any kind of glass jar!!

my awesome upside down x-mas tree decoration for $2!! (so happy, it matches 2 i already have!)

how many people does it take to (strategically) place everything in the car??!?!

frame, xmas cone, runner

My rug 

my runner. I love it! (and the purse is sitting on my servers book, Sher- not on the ground. before you say anything)

SO: to wrap it up... I got:

• 5x7 rug with matching runner (to go in my dining room to block off the separate rooms)
• large gold frame (that i'm too scared to ruin by spray painting now that i saw the price!!!!)
• black wicker hamper with b/w damask fabric lining 
• small gold mirror (that I spray painted white already)
• pink christmas cone/tree (that match my 2 silver cones I bought last year after a Christmas sale from Marshall's)
• cute shaped glass jar (that I gave to my sister to use for her son's third birthday party for now)

After all the yard sale madness and a full car you'd think we'd call it a day! Nope, not us. Some more shopping, a stop to the Ace Hardware, and an afternoon lunch in Downtown Decatur and THEN we called it a day :) I had so much fun, and hope I can go every year!

My plans for the gold frame were to make it into a chalkboard, but Ordy convinced me not to "ruin" it and rush to spray paint it white like I do everything else. something about the frame up close and in person is nice enough to leave alone and put in a future house when I won't have high gloss white laquer EVERYTHING... you know, when I grow up?? hahaha

Imagining it as a chalkboard...

I listened to Ordy and decided to leave it alone. I have no current plans for it as of now, but i'm happy I have the lil guy (the frame) haha. 

about to go to white spray paint heaven

My Mirror for $1! (nothing some spray paint can't fix!)

cute frames i've been eyeing at walmart, finally 1/2 off

i have some ideas for the geometric shaped frames.... if i get around to the project! i'll be doing a silhouette project for them of me and *please don't laugh*.... Bandit. hahah i think pet and owner silhouettes are adorable, but i dunno, maybe i'm officially crazy. nutty. bonkers. mad.

still debating on the gold frame's destiny

the dining room with the rug

And this last pic is random, but why not? The living room with the chandelier in the corner... yay or nay? too random?

the living room with the chandelier Mrs. B gave me!

also, my bff's mom gave me the MOST ADORABLE pillow cover EVER. I think i stared at it for a good 30 minutes... wish i was lying... I just kept staring and shrieking because I was about to have my step mom sew me one similar, and no where near as cute! it's so girly i love it! it's got "fruffles"... Thank you, Mrs. B!

Ok, so, I know- I have to make room for more junk... so yard sale this weekend hahaha, i'll let you know how that goes!

The Grand Reveal!!

I don't even know where to start with this post of "before and afters" but I will start by addressing the check points I mainly wanted to address after my "uncozy crisis"

List of things I got done this weekend (aka: in 18 hours)

1. Painted my dining room walls (I went with Grey and LOVE it!) Thursday night after 12 hours of class, determined to have it dry by Friday!
2. I picked up some small "details" to sprinkle in around the place from yard sales and such and think they're GREAT touches. I dunno, you tell me!
3. Redid the outdoor area a little (added an adorable plant- mums, took off the old wreath-- about to put the NEW one up after GNI!!! and swapped out the lights)
4. Swapped my couches. I read in the recent H&G magazine how unpractical love seats are... no one wants to share an intimate couch with someone they hardly know, and no one ever sits on it... you can't have anyone crash on the couch (unless, they're under 4 feet)... and I also just didn't like how "blah" they were... the beige on the white tile- ehhh not so much..
5. I put in the new tables from  the Scott's Antique trip and love them! Just breathes a breath of fresh air to the living room. I'm so glad the modern coffee table is gone!
6. Added a side area in my dining room (i thought it would cramp the area, but with the mirror it actually makes it look bigger)
7. Added stuff to my dining room walls. DON'T JUDGE ME! I couldn't get a hold of the other letters to complete the look- so when you look at the pictures, yes, i understand you're perplexed about the random "T" floating around on a shelf...
8. FINALLY bought a Bigger TV and mounted it above the mantle! It looks so good! Like a real living room, as opposed to the "fake one" i had hahaha. it was just so awkward on the wall before in the right corner of the room taking up so much space and not in a comfortable viewing area. 

Please note: for TRUE before and afters, refer to the previous blog post where I took pictures of the living room area. These are kind of "during" and "after".

And Now For Pictures!!!

Outdoor Lamp Makeover

Yes, I believe my light was from the 1960's when the building was originally built. I also know for a fact that it is yellow from dead moths, not age. Yuck.
The "new" light is actually one I picked up from a yard sale this weekend for a whopping $1.50! It was one of those things that was never on my "list of things to buy", but when I saw it, I knew I had to have it....

proof that it was only 1.50!

It was hard to not be overwhelmed at this point... I had stuff everywhere and couldn't think of anything other than "HOARDER!" and also wish I could just wiggle my nose like sam from bewitched and have everything just fall in its place... or just like Matilda :)

look at this mess!

I think the brown leather couches just make the living room walls pop! And the rug! everything just stands out. I love how big the couches look and almost define my walls. It made me realize how big my living room is, and it's practical space! (obviously, these pictures are with the new coffee tables in both, but i had that glass modern one)

-- those gorgeous roses were my Wed flowers this week :) love the color...

Looking on Craigslist and estate sales/yard sales for "the perfect" shabby chic chandelier. Going to look at one in Dallas, GA tomorrow to replace. Please imagine that I have the letters "E" and "A"!!! JOANN is killin' me! and there isn't one near me... So, I have to just post pictures and hope you understand :)

OK, this makes me the MOST excited! I grabbed the table that WAS in the living room and put it in the hallway of the dining room. I think it was a GREAT idea. there was nothing but a small mirror there earlier. I moved the table, and then finally the mirror.

This is the $8.98 mirror I got. After $10 I made it look amazing! (in my opinion).... (I used gift wrapping paper to cover the mirror so i didn't get overspray all over it...)

I had two random picture frames I had (they were an AWFUL gold color- soooo Jersey) and wanted to paint them high gloss white (like everything else- i'm so boring!) but after i primed it- i fell in love with the matte grey look!!!! I really didn't have an empty space to frame a pic of me, bandit, or ordy- so I turned them into "book ends". I cut out some scrapbook paper with an exacto knife and just stuck them in there and put one on both ends. I know it's not "practical" but it sure is cute!

I got the huge white shelf from a thrift store- it was $20, but it was a certain color sticker so when i checked out it came up to $10!! SCORE! It's so awesome. I ran to hobby lobby and got 3 "crystal" looking knobs for $4 each- only when I went to check out- 50% off! So i got all 3 for $6... I'm a happy camper. I picked up a yard of burlap and THAT was also 50% off... so for $1 I added burlap detail to my little green pieces sprinkled around the house...

The tiles on the left of the tv used to be white and hanging in place of the tv... and Ordy got them for my 23rd birthday (yes, i am that cheesy- i ask for home decorating items for my bday!) and we decided they'd blend in on the white/beige walls... so he had the idea to paint them with the leftover paint from the blue wall behind the couch and create that color on the opposite wall. I'm all about symmetry and thought i'd go nuts with only 4 on one side, but he had a point, soon I'll be adding a shelf for my dvd player on the right. So it'll balance out somehow...

We were going to "antique" them, by sanding them down, only we got parts of the tin shining through and it made it look black and dirty... so we kept them just blue.

After tonight, the door will have a new wreath!

Thanks for coming! I will upload more pictures once I do more to the place! I had to just finish it up before the girls came over tonight- and I'm so pleased!!

It's SO cozy!

OMG, I Think I'm Going Insane...

I realllllly want to tackle this project in my dining room.

I want to do this because:

1. The area I want to tackle is small enough
2. I am that insane enough to attempt it...

The original pictures are from: DIYShowOff's blog

- and it's actually my DREAM OFFICE/CRAFT ROOM!!! I can't WAIT to have a house and make this my own- with my own personal touches!

MY DREAM OFFICE/CRAFT ROOM!!! 

Be Still My Heart...

I can't wait to be this organized

***Speaking of organized, my interior designer friend Alaina from Recycled Interiors, has an adorable little cabin with an organized craft room that I'm so jealous of!!! 

Back to DIYShowoff... I'm going insane. Going absolutely nuts how bad I want a room to be able to do this in... Saved in "one day" file under "dream house"....

As I was looking at the pictures- I realized, holy cow- I should do the template instead of wall paper! yes, it'll take forever, but I have a few weekends I can devote to it... It's SO worth it!! plus, my dining room is so small. Surely, it won't be that bad... We shall see...

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

Blue

or

Grey

(for the background of the faux wallpaper/pattern in the dining room)

Uh-Oh... Bit By the Redecorating Bug...AGAIN.

I know, I know... I really need to stop and focus my energy on other things... like school perhaps? But I can't help it. Enough is enough. I caved. I realized I hate how I spend 95% of my time upstairs. I'm NEVER downstairs! The 5% I am downstairs it's to use the kitchen- not the living room. Well, that got me thinking, what makes my living room so unlivable?? I've always known I reject my downstairs, but it was confirmed by a friend who didn't want to watch a movie here because it was "uncozy". *GASP* Uncozy has always been a bad, bad, bad word growing up in my "cozy" household... It was used to describe New York alleys, and freezing floors with no socks on... how could a Parast have an uncozy living room??? I immediately started brain storming uncozy features:

1. Large, white marble tile flooring. I HATE carpet. I vowed to never have carpet because of the filth that gets trapped in them and we fail to see. So, I have white marble floors and as open as it makes the place, I don't know if the trade off for being uncozy was worth it... I bought a big brown rug to add warmth but it seems like that's not enough
2. Modern furniture. I have 2 really nice couches that were given to me by my sister and her husband a few years back that I know weren't cheap and I LOVE them, but they're just so uninviting (to anyone other than Bandit). Bandit isn't allowed on them because they're so nice, but I know his hair doesn't just float to the top... he obviously sneaks on when I'm away. I wonder if I need a darker brown...
3. The color scheme: chocolate and brown. I know this color scheme was/is huge and I just went with it. But now I'm so over it and am debating to just sell everything and start fresh, or work with everything. I have a baby blue wall that I recently painted about 2 months ago, and the accent wall on the fireplace is brown... so I wonder how impractical changing would be... 
4. The layout. I can't do much with the door/stairs/fireplace/laundry room doors... so I'm limited to seating arrangements and tv. I just decided my 32" tv was way too small for the living room and too random on a side wall, so I sold it today to get a bigger one to place on my mantle. The 32" looked awkward on the big shelf so I'm looking to get something that would be a better match. I'm not big on tv (NEVER watch anything) but I hate that a lot of my friends are and I can't offer them comfortable entertainment. So, for all the friends that have come over and voiced their opinions, I'm listening :)

So those are some things to consider. I'm trying SO hard not to act spontaneously and do the whole make over tonight... I asked Ordy Boy to bring his drill just in case hahaha. 

Here are the only pictures (please excuse the graininess- phone pics!!!) I have of my living room, but they are from when I first moved in. So the rug is different (the new one is brown with baby blue and beige leaf pattern) and a few other stuff. I swapped the brown recliner with the bookshelf from the picture so that's different. 

I really wish I had half the guts as most designers do to experiment with color (in places other than my office haha). I realized, I'm single (not married) now and it would be BEST to get to do whatever I want before I have a husband to run ideas by!!! I mean, now is the time to get away with a pink throw pillow (NEVER thought I'd hear myself say that, but for design purposes and nail polish- I can manage pink...) but that's just an example. Just saying, while I'm young and "free" I should experiment! Before I have to go into "neutral" world hahaha. I mean what husband would allow my adorable, chic rose pillows?? (It adds such a soft touch to the masculine chair!!)  I might as well get all my "glamorous" out of my system... haha

Another "staple" that I love (that I'd like to work around) is my amazing beige mirror. 

So far, I have beige "modern" couches, a brown leather recliner, a glass "modern" coffee table, a beige studded mirror, and brown damask drapes + rug that I spent more money than I'd like to ditch so soon. I guess I need to accept the living room and just do small changes to make me happy (different tv over mantle, rearrange...) or do what I always do and go drastic. Ha, I honestly don't have time to even be thinking about this right now, I can't believe I'm even blogging instead of reading... I know one person who's going to yell at me for this! 

In a dream world, I would love this (I'm still researching):

and this for my dining room:

Any suggestions/ideas? I know I am blessed to know design savvy friends... am I wasting time? To be honest, I'm probably going to do something, and it is more than likely GOING to be drastic... so might as well shoot me suggestions/pictures/etc! I'd love to see any ideas that I've missed!

CB2 Giveaway

Soooooo, we all know how much i LOVE to decorate my place... well, imagine what I could do with $10,000 at CB2!!! I would give anything to win (and I'm trying to fight the negative urges saying how silly it is and the chances of winning are slim...) and decided why not? i'll enter. i'm not saying i have the best place, but that's not what the contest is about! plus with $10g i can make it pretty stinking amazing! I'd LOVE for you to vote for me and my room!!!

Go Vote!

Room Makeover!

Ok, before I show ANY pictures- please keep in mind- it isn't 100% FINISHED!!! I'd say maybe about 85% but there are at least 4 things I'd like to have done before I can say it's finished! (They're small things, don't worry, just haven't found the right stuff yet)

I redecorate my room about twice a year, it doesn't seem like a lot- but the type of renovation is so extensive that even twice a year becomes exhausting. Once I get a room idea though, I can't shake it and I must do it. The decorating bug hits hard. And fast. I'll get the itch to redecorate on a Thursday, and it'll be completely done by Sunday- latest. We're talking MAJOR room changes from paint to furniture to bedding... I can't believe the styles I've gone through. I've only been in my house for 2 years and this is the 4th time I have repainted my bedroom walls- I start worrying about the thickness and gunk on them! Luckily, I don't have anyone to frown down upon my redecorating habits because I am so efficient I do everything alone- painting at 3 a.m., moving, hauling furniture upstairs, rearranging desks- all by myself. Ordy Boy has one strong gf- it's kind of embarrassing.

**Before Ordy flew out to Denver, he helped take down my old canopy bed and place the panels securely on the walls, that I could not do alone!**

This room redo was inspired by the panels I got from the antique store (remember, the yellow reversible ones?) and although my room was already black white and yellow, I decided I could lighten up the monochromatic scale with some grey on the walls and a face lift on my walls... Enough yapping, here are some pictures...

In case you forgot- the BEFORE

Already overwhelming! (only 1 wall painted grey)

Panels on damask side

Decided to paint other walls

Right about the time i got overwhelmed...

Thank God for a huge window...less painting

SUCH a mess!!!!

 I was sooooo over it last night. My room was a mess, the halls were cluttered, and the living room was in shambles- not to mention my temporary storage room- the office! It was so overwhelming! SO typical of me to start a project right when school starts (or around finals...)

Here are some "around the room" shots in order so you can see what the room looks like from one side to another (if you even care)!

I love how "fresh" and clean it is. It was such a joy to take a shower (forget what it looked like) and step into a hotel-like sleeping area. I am looking for some shabby chic sconces to complete that hotel feel... something like these:

No rush though, for now I love the simplicity of my room.


My favorite part is my new little vanity/desk area with adorable silver porcelain stool!

The original idea was to have a wall full of white assorted mirrors on the grey- but that's all I have for now, I kind of like how simple and uncluttered it is... who knows if i add any more... recognize the one on the left? it's the gold one i got from the estate sale!

Here's a a final pic of Bandit this morning at 8 a.m. (he's NOT a morning person- thank goodness... I don't think I could handle a playful pup early in the morning)...