must decide on colors.

Ok, think with me. Hall bathroom.  Here's the list of thoughts so far [submitted by creative friend- C. Henry].

Persimmon Red

Potpourri

Ballet Slipper

Oh man, decisions, decisions...

Another Monday.

ok- I don't even know where to begin.
I guess- first my apologies.  quite a few days have passed and boy have I missed being chatty Kathy with all of my lovely followers!
Of course, I have perfectly good reason- because I have not STOPPED all weekend. Like, go- go-go. But boy do I like it!
I've gotten into my groove here in Augusta.  Who would have thought - the weekend that I miss Cleveland, TN so much is that one that truly clicks and brings about new excitement for my Augusta life?  God sure knows what he is doing, huh?
So, Friday was a major renovation day.  The boss let me off work around lunch and I quickly joined Dad at job site #2 for some intense work.  I had help from the wonderful Lana and Morgan and a perfect visit from Tandy.
Things that were accomplished on Friday:  drywall hung and Spackled by Dad. 1 bedroom floor bleached [to remove all things gross from the floor].  Bedroom primed [ceilings and walls].  And on into Saturday... all tack boards removed [from around the base boards- the old strips that held the carpet on. tedious to remove.]  more walls and ceilings primed.  hall bathroom overhauled and walls/ceiling primed, sink/vanity removed, holds puttied, walls sanded [and sanded and sanded], old floor ripped up... Outlet installed in Master bedroom.  [evidently, houses built in the 70's placed outlets on the light fixtures? odd and inconvenient if you ask me.]
Goodness, I could probably go on with this list, but I'm getting exhausted thinking about all that was accomplished.
The good news???  I can see this real faint light at the end of the tunnel. And boy is it a beautiful thing.  I mean, we are talking, hang a little section of drywall, sand some more walls a few times, install 2 toilets and 2 vanity/sinks and then we are ready for paint and floors!!! Man o man.  It's getting good...
Want some pics? [for those of you who follow me on twitter- you may recognize these. sorry for lack of variety]

Hole in the ceiling.  [this happens when someone decides to remove a wall...]

Sweet Mom & Dad- installing a ceiling.

Hall bathroom before. This doesn't do it justice bc this RR was nasty.

Hall Bath- lacking sink & toilet

Hopefully now you feel a bit in the loop. I can't wait to share Before and Afters side by side with the end result.  You are NOT ready.  

Okay, so I just have to share about my Sunday experience. First off, I have started to serve in the Children's ministry at SCC and I am just loving it.  I was in the 2 years old room and boy are those kiddos precious precious. I also spent some time  in the lobby inviting anyone and everyone who looks close to my age to join us in 4:12 [college and career ministry] and now that was fun.... its an odd thing walking up to a stranger and asking them how old they are.  A lady who was greeting Sunday commented after- "What are yall saying to the people- they all walk away smiling?"  My response along with my accomplice Emily- "Girl, they aren't smiling- they are straight laughing at us for how ridiculous we must sound!" Needless to say- I feel like I met some neat folk and are crossing my fingers that they may eventually show up.  Now we did take a group bowling last night and a few that we invited came- big success! The night was full of LAUGHTER and just plain joy.  Okay- you know those girls that do stupid things [or not stupid- maybe mindless?] on purpose to be funny?  Well- I have a tendency to do those- except not on purpose.  You guessed it, went to bowling last night and lost grip of the ball and yes- it went soaring at the people standing behind me. This just so happened to be at a moment that all 5 lanes with SCC were watching me.  My embarrassment overwhelmed me.  I hurried and grabbed the escaping ball, picked it up and literally launched it at the pins as quickly as possible.  When I say launch, I mean exactly what you're thinking- it was like a sloppy throw down the lane.  Miraculously, this throw knocked every remaining pin down and somehow turned in to the play of the night.  Yep, you can't script moves like that.... 

Also, I think I am in love.  Or at least smitten.  Don't that just make yall curious?!  ha...that's all on that subject.

Ok, back up a few hours to iServe.  Perfect evening at Stevens Creek celebrating our volunteers.  Man, it was enough to make you want to donate every ounce of free time to doing something productive at the church. I am blessed. 

Opening act. Rocking some worship time.

Boy am I being unproductive. Signing off for now.... Cheers.

forever proud.

Thursday.  Love it.
I am having a day of intense nostalgia.  Just missing my friends from Lee and all of those memories.  I know for everything, there is a season, yet I still love to dwell on those good times.
I know I've mentioned DZT before- well this is "induction week" or "greek week" as us Lee folk call it.  Tonight, a batch of new deltas will be welcomed with open arms into the sisterhood...and of course, I won't be there to be a part.  When I graduated and left those lovely ladies, I left them a piece of my heart.  Serving as their chaplain, biographer, and president will continue to be some of my most cherished moments.

I could share with you a number of picture memories, but this is from one of my most fond nights in the club.  Tap night Spring '10.
Okay- house fun.  It def continues and I hope to see some incredible improvement before the weekend is over!  Like- ready for paint kind of improvement.  If you are reading this and feel prompted to help, I believe some of us will be hard at work tomorrow around lunch time! All hands are welcomed.
So the last few nights, I have been dreaming about the floors in my kitchen as I realize this will be a decision that must be made soon.  One night, my mom told me that without a doubt, my floors were laminate hardwood and my kitchen walls would be a purple/gray.  The next, Dad was showing me the correct way to lay tile!  So what's a girl to do?!  Of course, initially, i think, oo, hardwood type flooring would bring warmth to the place.  But then tile- its durable and great for the wear and tear of a kitchen.  Also...these are my cabinets.

Decisions, decisions.  As always, I'll take any thoughts from you all. Knowing the Baker family- I am sure I will have some entertaining stories to share about the installation of one of the above two...in due time.

worn slap out.

well let me just say. i am Tired [notice the capital T].  I came into this renovation with eyes wide open and excitement in every project, and now, hardly a week into it, my muscles ache, my sinus are upset with me, and by eyes feel a bit puffy!  I went to the house straight from work yesterday, and two hours into painting trim and prying up tack boards, I must have hit a wall.  A large brick, unmoving wall.  My arms weren't doing what I told them to and every time it squatted down, I felt like getting up would certainly be an issue. When Mom & Dad arrived, i quickly saw that they were in the same boat as me.  Regardless, Dad pushed onward, determined to remove the guest toilet and the molded part of the sheet rock behind it.  Bless his heart, Dad walked around hunched over the entire night because standing all the way created too much pain.
The good news?? Check out what arrived yesterday!

I went straight to work loading all of our mess and quickly realized - I am by no means buff and should not try to load such waste.  So I quit.  Mom did prove to be useful in the dumping process...

No pun intended.... lol.
So now for goal setting...
Ceilings: Done by Friday
Sheet rock: kitchen walls and bathroom patches: up Saturday
Prep work for painting: Saturday & Sunday
Painting begins: Monday- Friday [maybe a room a day?]
I know, this is a bit ambitious, but I must see the light at the end of the tunnel!! Of course, I have had a precious friend who felt prompted to help after reading my blog posts! [Thanks Lana!!! I appreciate your sweetness!] SO maybe with a few extra hands, this will actually happen.  And sweet Dustin plans to return so that I have a light switch for every light [that poor chandelier with no switch to it's name]...
I did have a guy come check out my air vents yesterday.  The good news is, he wasn't too bad to look at and just had the kindest eyes... The bad news...it seems my vents are filthy and even show signs of mold...:(  Just add another to-do to the list!
Side not, I was watching the Today show this morning with my morning cup of joe and a designer, Nate Berkus was featured for the home portion of the show.  His spot was focused on old furniture picked up off the side of the road and transformed into something beautiful...exactly what I have sought to achieve with my personal furniture makeovers. [I couldn't find a link online just yet...but evidently he has a show coming out mid-September.] Anyway- got my creative juices flowing.  I have this lovely vanity that needs some TLC- fresh paint and new knobs maybe?  I am thinking a pretty grey and maybe crystal pulls? It has a matching chair to go with it.... and of course this is for my bedroom... Have I mentioned my Martha Stewart bedding [I found on major sale at Macy's]?

As you can see, the colors are white, charcoal, light grey, and green... I have a white bed [that I found at a yard sale and painted...pics to come soon] and am thinking plum walls.  How do y'all feel about this?  Add a nice painted vanity and have a perfect room?
Ok- well the good news is, it's Wednesday- which mean church night- which means no house work tonight! Whoo hoo!!
I guess I am out...

you think you know.

Best. weekend. ever.
Goodness, I don't even know where to begin.
First things first.  I was visited by one of my all time favorite friends, Courtney.

Courtney and I met freshman year at Lee U and went on to share some pretty perfect memories.  We were tap sisters in Delta Zeta Tau and our last semester in, served as president and vice president together.  Unstoppable pair. She's a forever friend.
Anyway. She had the week off and was visiting her fam in Abbeville, SC [yes, hometown to THE Marty Baker] and decided to make the little trek over to see lil ole me. We went out with Stu and his gf Maddie to Rooster's Beak [def recommend. quaint little hole in the wall with wonderful/unique tacos] downtown followed by a movie, just us two- The Switch.  Of course, we were tuckered out after this and called it a night with some girl talk.  In the midst of all this fun, I did give her the grand tour of the new place and she is a fan!  Court is a visionary like me and has an eye for beauty- so her encouragement and opinions came highly appreciated.
Well, after our fun, the work began.  I clocked in around 10:30am Saturday morning.  We continued scraping and painting ceilings.  My two brothers came to assist.  Now- they are precious and mean well, but aren't really keen on the manual labor thing. I think Stu was overwhelmed and Sammy was just not into it.  The two raided my shed and I caught them playing some baseball in the backyard.  They did eventually get to pulling the carpet out of several bedrooms.  [Due to the arrival of Cliff.  He is all guy when it comes to projects like this house and eagerly tackled some tasks.] Now talk about progress.  Of course, with 35 year old carpet comes 35 year old carpet padding.  Talk about disgusting.  It fell apart so easily and had to be persuaded off the floor.    But the good news is, the elderly smell [somewhat] left with the carpet.
After the floor removal, Maddie and I tackled all the closets in the house with a new coat of paint.  What was seemingly a simple task turned into an all day affair.  But the change was incredible!!
Ok, so on to day 2.  Have I mentioned that when we put a contract on the house, Dad was highly considering removing the wall that divides the kitchen and living room?  [He is the risk taker/visionary of the family, as I have mentioned]. Well...his plan came to fruition yesterday...much to my surprise.  We had somewhat ruled the idea out, assuming the wall was load bearing and we'd be bighting off more than we would like to chew.  Then, I had the brilliant idea of inviting my friend Dustin over to help.... he is a contractor.  Well, he and dad got to chatting without me and before you know it, the wall is deemed safe to come down so why not!  Cliff arrived soon after and that wall didn't stand a chance.
Well, with the lose of the wall, we also removed all paneling [which originally, I had planned on painting and embracing] and a couple light switches.  Ergo, we've add to our list of things to do.  Electrical and dry wall hanging.  Perfect.  Don't believe me? Before, during, and after.

Of course, in all honesty, I am thrilled.  The room will exceed expectations.  
Now it's Monday- and I am exhausted! My voice seems to permanently have taken up camp in the hoarse/raspy stage from inhaling the debris and wearing myself out.  And on top of that, muscles I didn't know existed are aching.  So I guess what I am saying is, any faithful readers out there want to contribute to any of the following: physical labor, demolition clean-up, mani/pedi, massage?
Well, back to work.  Side note- Stuart just came to my office and sang a few lines to a song on his heart, after which he said, "Man, the acoustics in this room are incredible". Translation: Man, I love listening to myself sing.  Ah, a day in the life... Like the Real World intro- you think you know, but you have no idea... I think that everyday about living/working with my family...
Ok- enough for now.  Peace.

tgif. bringing down the roof.

So I've debated on if I am going to share renovating pics throughout this whole process or just wait til the end of the big effect of the Before & After's side by side. Of course, I prefer B&A together- but we could be looking at 6 weeks before that point and I just can't imagine you guys waiting that long.... Anyway, while I let that marinate in my mind a little while longer, I'll at least share a sneak peek...

Morgan & I

Morgan helped out with a little ceiling removal and has been quite the trooper.  Somehow, I have managed to be the messiest [that is truly an understatement] ceiling scraper.
Here's the process, we have our garden sprayer, as you see pictured.  Fill that sucker up with hot water and some vinegar [of course, my measurements vary every time- so just use personal interpretation].  Spray an area of the ceiling pretty well then get on the ladder and scrape and spray simultaneously.
Now my personal secret to success is the safety goggles.  [I got them in college for some analysis work I did at a factory.  Tell me you're not impressed].  Well- they may not lead to my success as much as my mess... You see, putting the protective eye ware on somehow made be invincible as I began to spray and scrape directly above my head.  Not one of my brighter ideas, but, efficient.
Of course, I managed better than Mom.  Precious Pat-Pat, she had a difficult time getting started with this project.  It creates a lot of dust and debris and handling that is half the battle. So, I so selflessly lent Mom the cherished eye ware and fetched her a mask to cover her nose and mouth.  Immediately, it's like she forgot how to breath with the barriers covering her face.  Then, she insisted that the goggles impaired her eye sight, and proceed to lose all depth perception and misstep off the ladder.  All of this is not a good combo and led to Ma being put on paint duty.

I must say, though, Dad has exceeded all expectations and has put in some dedicated service... then again, ain't that what Dad's are for?!

So there's my lovely first home update.  I am gathering any willing soul to join me tomorrow to [hopefully] put a major dent in our work... so, stay tuned.
Aside from home details, my brothers have been major cute by keeping me informed with funny happenings that would be "great for the blog".  [Remember: age 16 & 23.  So- the awareness they have of how "funny" they are is...special].  I'll weed through their submissions and get back to you with some blog worthy tales.  In the mean time, have a super weekend!!

shout out to Sammy.

Somehow, this week started and I woke up today and its Thursday! I love these kind of weeks.

Of course, I haven't had too many major or exciting events to take place that have been blog worthy.  Let's all face it, my CraigsList friend is hard to top.  Regardless, the show must go on...

Well this week, I have truly been coping with my baby brother going back to school.  After our summer of fun, I just plain miss him during the day. [Obviously, you can see by his photo... I use the term baby loosely. But isn't he precious?]

Sammy goes to school!

[To give Sammy some credit, he isn't really going to school in this hooded Buzz Lightyear bookback.  You can check out that story here> http://securegiveblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/beauty-in-generosity.html]

Well, this whole process with letting him go back to school [11th grade! crazy times] has brought to surface the fact that I am going to miss this kid as my roommate [eer-housemate. ha] when I finally move out.  Our routine of watching Friends in the evening and making fun of Mom or Dad is going to have to come to a terrible halt and I am just not sure that I am looking forward to it.  But, I press on... Let me refer you to my FB status a few weeks back.  But more specifically, Sammy's comment...

AKA- Sammy just may miss me as well.
The other night I had the pleasure of [baby]sitting for the wonderful Waller fam.  I have been with them for years and years and absolutely love it.  Well, when Tandy got home, we got to gabbing about this and that.  She's been one of the faithful LtB readers [Love the Blog for you slow ones] and commented on some of my posts. We discussed the beauty of the pink work space previously mentioned, which simply get me more pumped for my all girl house.  And from here, we carried on to laundry room talk.  I don't know if I have mentioned, but my new laundry room is any woman's dream.  Off the side of the kitchen- large- plenty of shelfing!!  Bliss.  Well Tandy and I discussed laundry baskets and the impact of a cute and easy to use one... Lets all face it. Laundry ain't always fun- so why not try and improve it with a great hamper!?

So- how to pick a hamper.  I love this first one- dividers so that cloths can be organized according to wash. Ideal.  But lets be honest, visually, i get nothing from this one.  

Next we have a good woven, natural looking hamper. Love this look.  Earthy and cozy. But from experience, I do not enjoy the lid on top. This too easily becomes a shelf or table for me... maybe I am unique in this fact... 

Apartment Therapy

So what next? Well, Tandy shared with me her newest laundry room addition... made from the people who make the Scout Bags, we have this Trash Cache which can double as a hamper... 

Bungalow Co

It's collapsible, easy to clean, fashionable, and light weight. Um, yes please!

So- do you have thoughts? Do's and don't for the laundry room??

happy day.

Ah the start of a new week... I have somehow manage to come into this day off a wonderful weekend high, making everything easier from waking up to getting out the door to work.  Something about being refreshed- does a person some good.
Well I don't even know where to begin. You see, I haven't been taking picture of anything worth while, so I feel like that takes away from my post. So I will try to appeal without letting y'all take in the sights.
First things first. House update.  I know you are on the edge of your seats. I certainly have the keys in my hand! We are starting the move in process TODAY [err more the renovation process].  And boy, I could dance all day from the excitement.  The Baker's spent quite some time in HomeDepot on Saturday [Dad is actually a devoted Lowes fan, but I have grown a special liking for Martha Stewart's paint collection- sold at HD- and Mom had noticed some good sales in the paper].  Our plan of action is to start on the ceilings and work our way down.  So, we bought some light fixtures, scrapers for the popcorn, and ceiling paint.  We also found some great [bathroom] mirrors on sales that are going to be a perfect replacement for the current [dated] look.  $30 a piece.  You can't tell me that's not a good deal.  I am actually holding out home for my current kitchen light fixtures.

Okay, envision with me.  Painting this mostly white - maybe a fresh accent color to coordinate with the wall color?  There are actually two of these.  And I just figure, what have I got to lose.  Thoughts?  

So, say these two lights are in the kitchen part of the room, I need to add a fixture over the dining area that is going to flow smoothly with this retro feel.  I love the idea of a large shade like this one.

Just some ideas.  Anyone know where to find this look [for an affordable cost of course]?
On to the office news.  Today, Stu came in singing an opera selection.  And I know y'all don't believe all the off-the-wall moments we have each day, so I am trying my hardest to capture some video footage. There is simply nothing like it.  Sometimes, I get overwhelmed by how special working in a family business can be.  [Pre-blogging, I actually caught Stu doing the electric slide- with music- in the hallway.  I later learned that this was influenced by the playlist at his Chinese restaurant lunch spot that day. no words.]
Needless to say, not a day goes by that I don't praise God for laughter in my life. Thank goodness for joy rooted in Him, huh?
Last office story- Fridays, we have the pleasure of having the big man himself in the office- Dad. [church office is closed Fridays.]  So last Friday, Dad came with excitement for his new purchase; a housing unit for our server.  [SecureGive is a software company]. Background on Dad- he is a risk taker and passionate about anything he does.  Sometimes, he is so intelligent, he loses a grasp on reality/common sense. Well, he roped Sammy into helping [the younger brother.  equally as entertaining as Stu] and somehow they took up camp in the floor of my office.  Well, after an hour passed, they declared that this was not an easy take.

I enjoyed the company, but of course only watched from afar.  So after this pic, Sammy & co. gave up and I felt obliged to help Daddy out.  I joined him on the floor and took one look at the server and one at the box he was constructing and was immediately confused.  You see, the two were completely different size scales, the server being twice the size. I asked Dad what the point was, he proudly answered the server goes inside the box.  Yea, not happening.  Precious Dad was so defeated.  Not only had we put in all the time [and money] taking it apart and shipping it back was also costly.  Aside from Dad's down-spirits, Mom and I enjoyed quite the laugh!
So, let this be a lesson to all.
I guess I am out.  It's time to show my new home some TLC
p.s.- Tonight's agenda, take the ceiling down. Stay tuned tomorrow for success stories.  ha.

if i could do it again.

We are oh-so-close to the weekend... i can't hardly wait!  

It's somehow been a busy day- one of those where I just don't know where it went!  And its left me without any creative juices to my name.  Of course, I must give the people what they want! Ergo, I am still blogging an entry for the day. 

I am dealing with a few post-college blues this week [among everything else] as it seems so many freshman have been moving into their dorms or are making their way to school in the coming days.  So, I thought, as a way to pay tribute, I would share with you all a picture from my very first day at Lee University.  Of course, Abby and I were super cool and coordinated all of our bedding. Little did we know that would be the first day of the best year ever.  If I could do it again....  

  

I packed my lunch today, determined to cut costs and calories at the same time.  Of course, when 11:45 rolled around, my turkey sandwich didn't look so tasty.  And Stu just had to come in and invite me to  join his crew.  So I went [with what is affectionately going to be called by me the Lunch Club- just because it's cool to have a crew to go to lunch with, right Stu?] to this wonderful new Japanese place.  Let's just say, I made the right choice.  I tried to take a picture of the group, but realized how creepy it appeared to do it without asking.  And boys always tend to dislike photographs, so maybe next time.

So back to work and I was reading through some influential church blogs.  I came across this quote on one: "a church "for" the culture engages the culture in order to transform it."  I thought the line perfectly captured what I am passionate about and so, decided to share that with you  all.  You're welcome.
Speaking of you all, I ran into one of my biggest [and only] fans at Target last night.  Oddly enough, she quoted me from my blog and knew more about my recent life than my mom does.  So thank you Paula.  She did point out her disappointment in me for missing a few "before" pictures.  And so I just needed to go ahead with a disclaimer that I have quite a few projects coming up wherein you will have to visualize on your own what the before picture looked like. I didn't realize I'd become a famous blogger so quickly and would need pics!!
Well I have a love for yellow accessories these days [for some reason, I just can't bring myself to consider yellow walls though].  So, here's a touch of yellow for the new couch! I got the dotted fabric on sale at Hancock and recovered an old old pillow.  The yellow flower is cut out of scraps of felt we had laying around.  I sewed the petals together and pinch the center to give them depth.  There are three flowers and I actually just pinned them to the pillow.

And lastly, the house update [i know you are all on pins and needles wondering whats next].  Possible possession of the house [as a renter] Sunday.  keep those fingers crossed!

chao for now!

midweek blues [and teals, greens, & whites]

happy wednesday.
For me, I have been suffering the middle of the week blues.  With a couple hiccups here at the office today [leading to a few tension moments] I've been easily distracted.
Apart from that, another obstacle has leaped in the way of our house closing.  And we aren't talking little one.  We are talking a 6 week set back.  Let's recap the timeline we've been working with:
Original Closing Date: July 30
resched to Aug 6th.
to Aug. 10th
to Aug. 11th
to now... Sept 22nd-ish?
BUT, I will move onward with my "glass-half full" [or at least a quarter full] outlook.
We are hoping to have possession of the house Monday and "rent" until closing.  Renovations can begin [as long as I maintain the possibility that something can still go wrong and I could lose that which is invested.]  AKA... paint walls and ceilings- sure.  Floors- eh, wait until we close.  Meaning there is a possibility the home will continue to smell, well, elderly for a few more weeks.  But, hey, what a great conversation piece [thanks C. Henry for that observation].
So, why don't we pick up this gloomy entry with another DIY project?
Well, since the start of this home-owner endeavor, I have been searching CraigsList [well, now CraigsLook], Goodwill, eBay, yard sales, etc for cheap fixer uppers.  I found this chair at the local Goodwill, price marked was $8 and all furniture was 50% off.  So, $4- new chair!

Had left over paint from a friend [thanks Maddie], sanded this sucker down, and used scrap material I had to simply staple down to the old cushion.  Of course, adorned with the pillow I shared yesterday, this is an adorable duo.  Can't wait to find a place for it.

And of course, I will leave on a shout out to my life group.  We had a sweet cook-out last night with burgers, cupcakes, corn hole, heat, and gabbing.  The boys were precious to share their likes [more-so dislikes] in womens fashions while us girl discussed our stance on my recent jury duty.
Trends that were voted down by the boys include [but not limited to]:

boots & short   /////   rompers   /////   gaucho pants

The boys opinions were appreciated for their simplicity and function.  With 2 brother's, I have always enjoyed  their tendency to be conservative.  
Anyway- love the small group.  Can't wait til next week.  And now I guess I am off to finish the day strong.
peace.

timing is everything.

The saga continues.  Yesterday afternoon, I was cleared to close on the beloved house tomorrow! Of course, heaven forbid this be easy, the seller needs a few extra days with her memories and wants to close Monday.  A whole week away.  So, ask me next week if I am a homeowner.
[Granted, I can't blame the lady.  She has lived in this home with her family since the mid 70's.  And in hindsight, what is a few more days....]
Now, I have had a few more moments of creativity these days, which has led to several nights of sewing.  I included my big ottoman yesterday, and today, its the small ottoman that was also thrown into the sale from the pj-wearing lady on CraigsList [bless her].  I forgot to take a before pic- but picture a dirty brown cube.  Here's an action shot and the finished product.

Now, I got this fabric from the remnants bin at Curtain Call here in Augusta.  I believe it was $2.50 for the bag, which had more than enough to cover this.  Its a sturdy fabric perfect for a project like this one that may receive some wear-and-tear.
From there, I went on to make a coordinating throw pillow.

These fabrics were simply scraps from old projects that I am so excited to be able to include in my new living room! And the pillow is one we've had for years and years that I recovered- though I did have to add a little extra batting to get the fullness. [the throw pillow matches a chair re-do I have. reveal to come soon]  I hope these projects are of some inspiration to you.  I am no seamstress [by any means] but have learned a few things from Mom. Anyone could do these projects though. 

Well- I must wrap up my work day and get on out of the office.  Tonight is Tuesday night. Meaning Life Group night.  You remember- the people that sure make my life fun here in Augusta! love having a group that loves Jesus [and loves Stevens Creek Church] and loves to have fun/laugh.  Ah- at the end of the day, I have to count my blessing and understand that God has purpose in everything [even delayed closing dates]...

*disclaimer: i am no professional photographer.  please enjoy my photos via iPhone for what they are- casual snapshots.  

proud citizen.

Can't believe it's Monday. And, can't believe the weekend is already over! Let me just bring you up to speed.
Friday- I had every intention of paying some wonderful Atl friends [from LeeU] a visit.  Of course, at the last possible moment, my cousin Abby called and insisted on paying me a visit instead. [abby's brother lives in town, so I wasn't the sole reason for her visit.  and she was accompanied by the gparents and aunt/uncle].
So began the weekend of family time.

Aside from family weekend- I worked hard on some pieces for the new home. Remember the quaint home I visited a few weeks ago to pick up my CraigsList purchases?  Well, here is the ottoman they threw in.

All it needed was a little bit of TLC.  Mom and I found this awesome drapery fabric on sale at Hancock fabric.  Originally close to $20 a yard, we purchased it for about $6.  I bought enough to cover this piece with extra for something else in the room.  I enjoyed the fabric enough for it to be an inspiration/spring board for the rest of the designing [and it matches the two pink end tables I already painted].

Easy easy project!! With much satisfaction in the end...

Speaking of the house- I am sure you also remember it has not been the most predictable process.  Well I got word today that we should be able to close Wednesday [as in 2 days from now!].  Please, send up a prayer for me that all goes smoothly.  As patient as I am, there is only so much waiting this girl can do.

Which brings me to my last major event of this posted.  Today, I participated in my American duty to assists the court systems with my opinions on the fate of those in question AKA jury duty.  I reported bright and early [well, 9:45am] dressed in business casual attire [cute flowy skirt, v-neck t, and summer scarf] with my coffee cup in hand.  For some reason, waking up proved to be IMPOSSIBLE today...even with all the excitement of jury duty! [sadly enough, I am not being sarcastic].  Well, I was running a bit late, zipped into a parking spot and rushed in the doors.  They checked me for weapons and I had to pull out all electronics from my purse.  I asked the guard sweetly if he would take care of my phone.  He looked at me like an idiot as he said I was allowed to hold onto it. [who knew! i am here on official business! no place for cell phones and tweets- so i thought]. Guard directed me upstairs to a jury holding room, where they explained what would be expected of us and took role.  Yes, I was the last one to arrive.  From there, we waited...and waited as I listened to everyone around me complain about being there and missing "work".  How dare they- we are privileged citizens! The group was soon ushered into the courtroom where the judge swore us in and had us each introduce ourselves and share fun facts about our lives, much like the first day of school.  It was obvious that I was the only one in my phase of life.  And it quickly became evident that they did not value my opinion as much as the rest of the gang.  So, after a little background information on the case [which i would not have been a good candidate for anyway- my mind was already made up about the guy being tried], I was released from court.  As I shook the judges hand on my way out the door, I was proud to be a member of Columbia County.  Boy, I hope they call be back to be on a jury.  I am very opinionated.  And have a lot to offer.  

[true story- i tried to take pictures for you guys to no avail.  sorry.  you know how these things are]

pink bliss.

Well. I am not gonna lie. Today started out on a rough foot.  It seems we have hit some... miscommunication with the lenders involved in my new home situation.  After a few deep breaths- I found myself reminded that, in the grand scheme of things, this will only be a minor set back and there is simply no point in sweating the small stuff.  Ah- life lessons.  Thank goodness God is in control.
Well,  I know I have previously mentioned that with my recent graduation, I am [for the first time in four years] planting my [semi-permanent] roots back in my hometown.  This transition has been bittersweet- but made easy by some new special friends.  We met/ came together through Stevens Creek Church and have just decided to form our own little life group! Well- now we make it a point to meet once a week and share some dinner and laughs [and even an intense game or two].

Last night- we had a group favorite: breakfast night.  always fun. with waffles, eggs, bacon- the works! its nights like these that make the work week just right.  Love it. 

On to what is really working through my brain today: decorating [well-what else would it have been?].  I am an avid blog reader these days, and as it turns out, there are many out-of-country bloggers that have evoked inspiration and creativity in me and boy am I excited.  Today, I stumbled across a blogger in Germany who has created a home that would perfectly suit me.  I want to highlight her kitchen though. Between the lighting and the table, I am in girly-lovely-kitchen heaven.  This [what I believe to be] oil clothe covered table is ideal for my table situation and I am looking forward to trying to mimic the idea. 

The Yvestown Blog

No worries, I'll keep you posted with what I come up with... In the same blog, I found this lovely pink office. This office space is the epitome of what I envision in my spare bedroom.   The soft color is a balance of pretty and color without being overwhelming.  

I am in love.  Who knew that I could have a kindred spirit all the way in Germany... 

[Side note. I've mentioned my older brother Stu. And I shared his doodle-err-master piece yesterday.  Well, in college, he took German as his foreign language.  Now, on any-given day, we get to experience Stu's gruff, "German" accent - which to me sounds more like an old man with a frog in his throat- say one of the 3 lines he knows in German. Maybe his influence is what draws me into German design.]

Well.  That's enough for now. This was my little break from my sales associate world.  Ah, I can just dream of a day when I can research design and dream all day.... 

one piece at a time.

Last night we celebrated Dad's 49th Birthday!  Family dinner style.  I have a precious family, so nights like these are always memorable.  Last night, my older brother took the cake with his one-of-a-kind homemade birthday card.  Its adorned with a portrait of him and Dad golfing. Stu is actually portrayed as a giant next to dad with gold hair and a lime green v-neck (which he would never wear in real life).

Believe it or not, Stu is 23.  Precious, huh?
Through this buying house journey, I would say  I have learned a lot.  Even though it's not all said and done, we've made incredible progress.  I can now educate you on interest rates, mortgages, home insurance, school loans, sewing drapes, piking paint colors, and the list goes on.  And on.  As I mentioned earlier, I have also become an avid DIY project-er.  So the adventure has only just begun.
I have been shoppings Craigs List, well, everyday, three times a day.  In need of living room furniture, I have been extremely frustrated with the fact that everyone selling their old couches thinks their product is gold plated or something and wants to sell it for an arm and a leg.  Well, I finally came across a link for something that seemed extremely nice and well priced.  The posted included words like "smoke free", "newly cleaned","couldn't tell we had two children", "new", etc. Upon sending the link to my parents (who were in FL at the time), they called back immediately, insisting that I get over to the house ASAP and buy the furniture. So i enlisted my co-worker Lisa to join me in my trek across town (you just never know what you're getting yourself into with these things) and called my big brother Stu to meet us there with his truck in tow.
Well... Lisa and I arrived on the scene first.  The house was... not in the nicest neighborhood.  And the front porch was adorned with 4 young adults.  Smoking.  Lisa and I lapped the neighborhood, stalling until Stu was closer (in case we needed protection or something).  When we finally gained the nerve to pull up, we were greeted by a lady in her upper 20's rocking her pj's.  Mind you, it is about lunch time.  And she is expecting me.  She warns us that "the house is a mess and we are moving in two days".  Mess was not quite the word I would have used.  I would have picked a stronger term like, wreck. Or turmoil.  Or atrocious.  Regardless, the couches that I came to see were buried under boxes and children's clothes.  She quickly made room for Lisa and I to test out [of course, we sit on the edge of the seats for fear of the unknown].  Stu then showed up with a look of terror on his face.  I tend to be a "glass half full" kind of girl and saw loads of potential in the pieces. Not to mention, I tend to be frugal. So somehow [against what Stu would call my better judgement], we purchased and loaded the living room furniture with the help of our new smoking, pajama friends.  Turns out the "newly cleaned" meant they ran the seat covers through the washing machine.  Surprisingly, this worked and eliminated all affects of 2 children, which were def NOT eliminated from the rest of the house.  I really wish I took pictures.  That would make this post a lot more affective.  BUT, i did take before and after pics of the end tables they threw in.

Before.  You can't tell, but the color actually seems like a dirty cream. 

After.  1 can of Ballet Slipper Pink.  

There are two of these and boy am I excited to get them into my new living room.
Okay, I could go on, but work is calling my name and it appears that I have gotten quite wordy.  And I know from experience, the best part of blogs is typically the pics.  So, I'm out!

deciding to open the next chapter.

I finally too the plunge.  I have been reading enough blogs lately on my hunt for the perfect posts, I decided it was only fair to share my own personal life endeavors via a blog.  So here it begins.

I have recently moved back home to start a new life for myself.  The journey has been full of emotion (like most things in my life).  Living with mom and dad (pictured above) again after 4 wonderful years of freedom was a quick downer.  Don't get me wrong, I am certain my family knows how to have fun better than the average family.  But there is a difference between family fun and family roommates.  I am convinced mom and dad made a pact to be overbearing (in the least negative form of the word) so that I may not become comfortable living at home.
Well... it worked.  Say hello to a first time home owner! Want to see the place?

This home was built in the mid 70's and has stayed true to it's original roots.  I will most certainly have my hands full as we will be gutting the floors, ceilings, and even some walls to give the place a total makeover.  I am 100% ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. Of course, the creative wheels in my mind are rolling with all the wonderful DIY projects I've come up with (all of which I will be keeping you posted on).  I am envisioning a home that is a perfect balance of cheerfulness, peace, and girl.
I found this sentiment on a blog I've been following [CarrieCan].  These are words that I plan to live by on the weeks to come.