I found this on the Ralph Lauren website!  I love it!  Blue and white and plates on the wall....it's so me!  I've always loved Ralph Lauren everything!  My daughter, Lauren, was named because of my love of the Ralph Lauren style!   

I've had this wallpaper for months and now I'm wondering if I can get it up before the HGTV crew comes. I would jump in and do it but the problem is I don't know how to wallpaper! I didn't know how to rewire a chandelier and I taught myself that so I don't know why I'm letting this wallpaper thing intimidate me. Well, that's a lie, I do know why. Back in the 80s I tried to add a wallpaper border to my bathroom. Everything was going along fine and when I was about 3/4 of the way around the room the border starting falling off the wall and before I could get off the ladder it was all on the floor! Now, that I'm older and wiser I think the problem was that I was wallpapering it onto a glossy painted wall!

I saw this rug on sale and Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought it not knowing for sure if it was the right blue to match the wallpaper. I lucked out...it matches perfectly and it was 1/2 off!

See the little night light that looks like a crystal chandelier? I bought that at TJ Maxx for $5.99. When I got it home I remembered that whoever did the electrical in my apartment put ALL the plugs in upside down! It' won't plug in the way it's supposed to, I have to turn it upside down...it just doesn't look right upside down! I guess I need to learn how to change out electrical plugs next! Believe it or not that sounds easier than wallpapering to me!

It's so hot here. We are in the middle of a heat wave and it's supposed to be 100 degrees today! The carpet cleaner is coming Saturday which means I need to start cleaning all the tissues and papers and who knows what else Beau has taken under our beds and shredded. It looks like an explosion went off under there. Our upstairs bedrooms get so hot so the thought of cleaning out under the bed in 100 degree weather does not sound fun!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't already!

UPDATE: Per Laura's request...click here to see where I purchased the wallpaper.

Yesterday I realized that today will be my 400th post so I decided to have a giveaway to celebrate. I went to Marshalls and bought some things that I thought you may like. Actually I bought things I liked and hoped you may like them too. Then I saw that Kim from The Twice Remembered Cottage ~ One Woman's Cottage Life is having the Second Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway and I decided to join in! Above are the items you can win just by leaving a comment. There are 5 items: a small white pitcher, a blue and white plate, rose petal soap, a soy candle, a starfish from my shell collection. Everyone can enter but if you live outside the U.S. I will not be able to send this due to shipping costs but I will send you a decorating magazine (perhaps there is one that you want and can't get in your country?) I will then draw a second name for the items above. The drawing will be on Saturday, May 31st. You have until then to leave a comment and if you don't have a blog, please make sure you include your email address. Even if you've never left a comment before this, you can still enter!

So what do you think about him? You know...Mr Infomercial, Billy Mays! I like him because any man that's into cleaning is a man for me! Besides, he has so much enthusiasm! I was in Bed, Bath and Beyond (another store I love) and saw this Grout Aid hanging there with Billy's smiling face and threw it in the cart. I don't want my home showing up on national TV with dirty grout! So below is the "before picture" with the dirty grout. I tried everything to get this white, including bleach, nothing worked...
until this little marker! It's like white-out for your grout. It was actually fun to do...instant gratification! This was my downstairs powder room, I ran upstairs and did the other bathroom too.
My tile looks like new now! I love it. (btw, this was NOT a paid advertisement) Thanks Billy...You Rock!

I finally painted Lauren's dresser! It's amazing how much better her whole room looks now just by adding this. Before this she had a tall chest of drawers that looked like white laminate. This looks so much better! This "before" picture below is from the add on Craigslist. When I took the mirror off the the frame to paint it there was a date stamped on the back which said July 31, 196? I couldn't read the last number it was either 66 or 68. It's nice to know when this set was made. I actually thought it was older. It hard to see in the photos but the drawers are bowed out which is what I LOVED about this piece. I just have the mirror resting against the wall (not a smart thing to do in earthquake country) until I get it hung up. The lamp was black and I painted it white this weekend. I even added some scented drawer liners in a beautiful green color for her!
Next project for her room is to find something to put her TV on so it's not on top of the dresser! I also want to paint her room. We picked out the green color below (second from top). Her bedding is from Bed, Bath and Beyond. Here's what it looks like (we don't have the plaid pillows because I'm not a huge fan of plaid). She picked out the bedding but I think you can probably tell it's not really my taste. I'm surprised thought that now that it's coming together I'm liking it more. I may try to tackle the paint job this week after work. One of her walls is painted red now so I think I better prime that first. Has anyone ever painted over a red wall before? If so, do I need to prime it?

Once I get the whole room done, I'll show you. It may not be until June though!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! 

Tonight I sat down with a glass of wine and a new magazine and just had a relaxing evening!   I know what you're thinking...how can I be so relaxed when the HGTV crew will be here to film on Tuesday morning? Well they changed their mind!  Can you believe that!  I had the okay from my boss to take a long lunch hour on Friday to meet the carpet cleaner which I had to call back tonight and cancel!  I had a kennel booked for Beau so he wouldn't bite the camera man's ankles~ I still need to call them and cancel!  I was so stressed out for nothing.  But the good news is that I have 3 full weeks to get prepared!  Yay!  The producer emailed me and said they won't be coming until May 29th or 30th!  A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders!  I am so happy!!!  Now maybe I can get Lauren's dresser painted this weekend.  I know I've been saying that for the last 3 or 4 weeks but I really want to do it this weekend and just get it finished!  

Last night when I was watching American Idol, I realized I didn't have anything prepared for my blog today. There are times when I feel like I have nothing to share but I still feel the need to post every day. I feel like if you all come to visit here I should at least have something for you! I feel like I've showed you just about everything I have, except for Lauren's room and the bathrooms which all are still not finished. Lauren's room has been 3 different color themes since we moved here 4 years ago. Anyway...I realized that maybe I haven't posted a photo (at least for awhile) of my apartment from this view. This is standing on the back step of my patio. You can really see how small my place is in this photo. There are some areas that are cut off of the living room...the armoire (with the TV) is on the left and the sofa is on the right. When you come in the front door (which is straight ahead) you can either go into the kitchen or the very tiny bathroom. My apartment is less than 1000 square feet....teeny tiny but cozy.

Wouldn't hard-wood floors look great in here? My landlord has been adding wood laminate flooring to the other units when the tenants leave rather than replacing the carpet. I told her I would even consider paying a little more on my rent if she put them in my unit!

Last Friday a coworker and I went over to Marshalls on our lunch hour. I found this teapot and when I turned it over to look at the price I could not believe it ~ $7.99. You can click on the photo to enlarge it and see the beautiful detail around the top. Then I found a matching plate with handles...$6.99. Then two mugs $2.99 each! They even have more pieces but I'll get those another time. I just love everything about these...it's probably a good thing they don't have a full set of dishes in this pattern because I wouldn't be able to resist!

Well, I got the word late Friday that I had to do a videotape this past weekend and Fed Ex it to HGTV today! (if you don't know what I'm talking about read last Wed. & Thurs. post if you haven't) So, needless to say, I didn't get much done on Lauren's dresser but I did start it!
I had to take a video tape of me walking around my apartment showing them different things. I decided to set the dining room table and make it look pretty. I found this beautiful vintage lace table square at the flea market on Saturday for only $10.
I found the old picture frame at the thrift store last week for only $2.99. I put it under my tiered dish and put shells all around. I even added starfish on top of the soup bowls (Lauren thought that part of it was a little weird.) I liked it though.
I love the look of the elegance of the crystal and lace mixed with the earthiness of the shells.
Here's a close up of the table cloth! I had purchased other things from this vendor in the past and always seek her out because she has such great prices.

I would like to thank Angela for featuring me (and my yellow walls) on her beautiful blog "Cottage Magpie"!  Please go by and see her series she's doing on color!  

Here are some beautiful photos I found on Flickr. I guess I'm in a pink mood today!

Tomorrow is the Flea Market. I can hardly wait! I'm going early so I come home and paint Lauren's dresser! Enough procrastinating!

Have a great weekend!

I've found out since my last post that I need to submit a video that shows my whole home and someone has to ask me a bunch of questions that they have provided! I think I feel the need to go buy a new outfit to wear, get my hair and nails done, eyebrows waxed, clean the whole house, hire a carpet cleaner, find someone to video tape me, buy new towels for the bathroom, buy fresh flowers, make sure the dog doesn't bark....Am I forgetting anything??? LAUREN...GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM! This is not going to be easy!

From the video they decide if you are HGTV material (they didn't really say that, those are my words.) Boy will that be a letdown not to get chosen after all that!

Those of you that have been reading my blog awhile may remember this photo from last year.  I also had put this on HGTV's Rate My Space about the same time and yesterday I got this email: Hi Cindy,

My name is xxxxx, I am a Producer for HGTV's new upcoming show, "Rate My Space." This show is based on the website, which I know you are already familiar with. We found your outdoor room a good possibility for an Inspiration Location, or in other words, someone who got it right!!

There is more to the email but I'm not sure how much I should share.  I'll be talking to the Producer on Friday to find out more about this.  

I have on ongoing struggle every morning with breakfast. I'm the type of person that NEEDS breakfast every morning or else my blood sugar drops and I get light-headed and I feel sick...hypoglycemic...that's me! I love bagels and cream cheese, bacon and eggs, breakfast burritos with lots of cheese but I can't eat that every morning anymore even though that's what I crave. I end up eating instant oatmeal out of a styrofoam cup that I make when I get to work every morning. I am so sick of instant oatmeal!
I'm not much of a yogurt lover but if I can have yogurt with fruit and a little granola it's a whole other story. It tastes even better when it looks pretty (really it does). I had to get up early yesterday to have time to make this and eat it before work but it was worth it! Well worth it...it made Monday morning feel special! Lauren loved it too but this is her favorite way to eat strawberries. Standing in the kitchen with a can of whipped cream in one hand and a berry in the other.

Debbie~My Vintage Daydreams and Rue's Peanut Butter and Jelly Life gave me this award. Thank you both so much. I know I'm a party pooper because I'm not going to pass it on...I hope you forgive me!

I have a wicker chair addiction! It's something I have a hard time not buying when I see a good price on them at the thrift stores. I was going to sell this one on Craigslist but I moved some things around and it found a new home in my dining room. I asked Lauren if it looked okay there and she said "No, it looks stupid, no one is going to sit over there!" She just doesn't get it. I told her I don't care if someone sits there...does it look good? She shook her head no! Oh well, I like it. I found this soup tureen at the Goodwill for $8 minus 30% off! I sat it next to my other soup tureen. Did I need it...no... but I wanted it!
Debbie ~ My Vintage Daydreams sent me this beautiful bowl below. She also sent me some beautiful desk accessories but I took those to work for my desk. Thanks Debbie I love all the gifts!

I am so excited!  I am featured on "Today's Creative Blog"!   Oh and the way Kim wrote about me is amazing....all I could think is "is that really me she's talking about????"  I'm going to proudly put her little blinkie on my sidebar!!!!  Thank you Kim!  You made my day!

My little Cecil Brunner climbing roses are now blooming. They are so cute because they are so little. I wanted to pick all the little buds and dry them but I decided I would like to see it in full bloom more. I have it growing on an arbor I put in the corner to give more shade to a hydrangea I have planted below it.

Saturday I got up early because I had to have Lauren at a friend's house at 7:30AM because she was going to do some volunteer work with a friend and his family. Usually I would just throw on some sweats and drop her off quickly and hope that no one sees me but this was the first time I was going to meet his mom so I had to get showered and look presentable. Once I dropped her off I sure didn't feel like just going home to clean house so I decided to go hit some garage sales. I found this mirror to add to the stairway wall for only $5. Someone recently asked how I paint these so I'll be showing you that later this week.
I also found this battenburg lace tablecloth for $5. It's not old, just a reproduction made in China type of tablecloth but for $5 I couldn't pass it up! It looked like someone had used it once and never washed it. It had coffee cup rings and various other stains on it but I figured I could get them out with a good soak and I was right...they all came out.
I usually don't like battenburg lace because it never lays flat once you wash it. I ironed and ironed and it still puckers. I'm probably too much of a perfectionist! I also got four placemats for $1 each but when I got them home I realized there were two different types of placemats not a full set. I may use them to make pillows.

I didn't get Lauren's dresser painted this weekend...in fact I didn't even start it! Well, I bought the paint for it but that's as far as I got. I plan to do it this coming weekend...hopefully!

Also, thanks to all of you who rated my blog over the weekend! The response was overwhelming! I really appreciate it!

I have a favor to ask... and only if you want to... can you click here and rate my blog. I've only had 5 people rate me and it's been on this site forever (thank you to whoever those 5 were). Please be honest with your vote!

I really love to buy things that other bloggers make. When I saw The Nester's tassels I knew I had to have one. I couldn't find one on her etsy shop that matched my blue and white decor so I asked if she takes special orders....and she does! Isn't it adorable! I have it hanging on my entertainment armoire (it replaced the one I had that was falling apart). If you haven't visited her blog you must! She has so many wonderful ideas that she shares!

I also wanted to share this email I received the other day for the top 40 tips for a better life in 2008! I have no idea what happened to #40, there was only 39 when I received it. I think #40 should be "Start a blog, if haven't already" I know having a blog has made my life better! Look at all the wonderful friends I've made from all over the world! Getting to know you all has really enriched my life.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did...

Tips for a Better Life - 2008
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and PRAYER. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water... Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. FORGIVE EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING!

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. GOD (or inner truth, for those who aren't religious) heals almost everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to Death!!!)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!

I love birdcages and I've always wanted a BIG birdcage. It was over a year ago when I wrote about running through the flea market looking for a birdcage I had seen there the previous month.  I was going to pay $100 for it!  What was I thinking!  Anyway, that birdcage was very similar to this one I found at a thrift store recently.
I was so excited when I saw this!  I lugged it up to the cash register and my mind was swirling with ideas of what I could turn it into!  I ended up painting it white (of course) and then antiquing it with some rust color Rub N Buff paint.   I added some silk hydrangeas, roses, ribbons and a little dove on top.

Labels: makeovers, thrift store finds

Happy Friday everyone!  I took a vacation day today to paint my living room but it's supposed to be 85 degrees today so I decided not to.  Instead I'm just having a leisurely day off, maybe I'll even go visit some thrift stores!

Earlier this week I came home to find two packages waiting for me. First was a gift from Joy at Cupids Charm. She sent me this beautiful necklace she made! I just love it.
The next package was from Mary ~Little Red House, an assortment of blue and white linens!

Thank you both! You are so kind!

The next gift I got last night while I was looking at my site meter stats. I realized that a lot of people are finding my blog by doing Google searches for "painting furniture" I got really curious so I typed in "painting furniture" on Google and this is what I found...I come up number 4 on the list.. ME! LITTLE ME! I'M #4! Look who's above me...HGTV, Martha Stewart, and Do it yourself.com! Wow...I can't tell you how shocked I was! I had to call my mom and dad to tell them and we were all giggling on the phone! I still don't believe it! I consider this a gift from all of you because if you didn't continually come back to visit my blog I would have never made it this high on this search! So thanks to all of you! You can click on the photo below to enlarge it...I'm really there!

Also, I have a great makeover project I'll share with you next week. I found such a great deal on something and I've already painted it white. It's my favorite project so far (but I say that with each project I do). It's not as big as the armoire and hutch but I'm so in love with it! How's that for leading you on...Check back on Monday!

I've been getting a lot of questions left in my comments lately and most of the time I can't respond back because there was no email address left. So, I decided to open this post up to answer any of your questions. If you leave a question here I'll update this post and add it to the bottom.