You are not going to believe this!!!!

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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.  

Earlier this week Rue posted that she got this same email and I was so excited for her. I never expected it to happen to me too!  According to Rue, I would have to appear on TV if I choose to do this. AGHHHH....it's out of my comfort level but I'll do it. 

I even stopped at Home Depot on my way home from work yesterday and bought a huge box of Miracle Grow!  It's time to get this garden in tip-top shape!  Actually I think it looks a lot better now than when this photo was taken last year but I still have some work to do! 

I let you know more after I talk to the Producer tomorrow!

Mirror Makeover II - Another Technique

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This is another technique I use to paint my mirrors. The photo above is the "after" I didn't take a "before" picture but it was a glitzy gold. I bought this mirror on sale for $15 at Marshalls. First step is to spray paint it white.
Put a small amount of some craft paint in a bowl.  I used Folk Art brand in "Nutmeg" Add water to the paint to dilute it.
Paint a small area of the frame with the glaze (watered-down paint mixture). Wipe off the excess until there is just the right amount left to your liking. I use a paper towel but you could also use a rag.

If you get too much paint down in the crevices push the paper towel down with the back of the paint brush to remove some.
After this dried I used the same technique I showed you last week with the Rub 'n Buff to add some more color to the high areas. Click here to see that.
That's it! All done!  You can use this technique on a lot of different things...furniture, lamps, frames, etc.

If you have any questions, I'll answer them in the comments section.

Breakfast and Awards!

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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!

Happy Monday!

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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!

It was a hot weekend here...in the mid to high 80s and I didn't feel like painting Lauren's dresser in the heat. I don't mind the painting part but I hate the prep work! Hopefully I'll get to it next weekend.

I'm going to be posting another version of a mirror makeover this week. It will be a different technique than I showed you previously.

Have a great Monday!

WOW WOW WOW!

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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!

Also, I would love to say welcome to those of you who are visiting here for the first time!  I'm glad you stopped by and I would love to get to know you so please feel free to leave a comment! 

Backyard Blooms

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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.

Fuchsias were my favorite flowers when I was little. I like them because they looked like little ballerinas (and I like to pop the buds which used to make my mom mad.)


This is a great year for my roses!

I hope everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! I'll be painting Lauren's dresser tomorrow. She just found a sleigh bed on Craigslist last night and we are going to look at it tonight. Looks like I may have yet another project after the dresser!

It's been really cold here all week (in the 50s) but it's supposed to be around 80 degrees this weekend...YAY!

French Lace Roses

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This is one of my favorite roses. It's called French Lace and is used often in bridal bouquets.  The buds start out a blush pink and turn to a creamy white once the flower is fully bloomed. This rose bush was so full with blooms that it was leaning over with the weight of them so I had to pick this huge bouquet.

I placed them my coffee table and sat down on the sofa and realized it was a view I had to share with you!

A Perfect Meal

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I had to share this great recipe with you!  It's Asian Chicken Salad with Snap Peas and Bok Choy.  It is soooo good!  This is will be the perfect dinner on those hot summer evenings that I know are just around the corner.  The flavors are just amazing but I LOVE anything with fresh ginger in it.  It calls for ponzu which is something I never even heard of but it's just a citrus flavored soy sauce and can be found with the soy sauces in the grocery store.  
I love to find recipes that are healthy and taste good. This one is a keeper!   I didn't add cucumber because Lauren hates cucumber but I think it would have even been better with it.   Click here for the recipe.

The Mirror Makeover

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Someone asked how I paint my mirrors so here are the easy steps. First take the mirror out of the frame. Usually there are little metal things that you can just bend up and the mirror will come out. Be careful the edges of the mirror are usually sharp!
First paint the back of the mirror. You may think that this isn't important but it is. If you don't paint the rim area where the mirror sits you will see the old color through the reflection in the mirror...I learned this the hard way! I use Flat Krylon Spray Paint either in White or Dover White.
Let it dry and then turn it over. It dries really fast! Now spray the front and let that dry.

Now comes the fun part. I use Rub 'n Buff which you can buy at most hobby shops. It comes in a lot of different colors. I used a combination of Spanish Copper and Autumn Gold for this mirror.

Put a VERY small amount of Rub 'n Buff on the very tip of your index finger and lightly rub over the some of the high edges of your mirror. You are adding paint but you are creating the effect of paint that has worn off so put it in places where paint would naturally wear off over time.
A little of this paint goes a long way. You may want to practice on something else before you use this so you get the feel of it.
Put the mirror back in and you're finished!

Garage Sale Finds

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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!

Rate this blog

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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!

Thanks!

Update: I've had a lot of questions about the rating system. It's 1 - 10 with 10 being the highest (best) score.

Teacups and my next project

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I found these teacups on eBay last week. I thought they would be perfect to hang in my new hutch. There were only 6 of them so I hung three on each side.

I also draped a lace napkin in the center. I just loved the layered look it gives to my hutch

Below is my project for this weekend. It's a dresser I bought off of Craigslist for Lauren's room. It won't be painted white...she insisted that it not look like all my furniture. I'll be painting it cream...for some reason she seemed okay with that. I love the bowed drawers on this piece. Another weekend painting furniture...the end must be near!

My Mirrored Staircase

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This project has been a long one but patience is paying off, it's starting to fill in pretty good now. Most of these mirrors started off as gold plastic frames that I've painted white and most were under $5. They really bring a lot of light to a dark staircase and a lot of character to a 1960-something apartment.

Garden Roses

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The roses in my garden are blooming like crazy now! I think I should have planted a wider variety of colors but I'm really drawn to the soft peachy-pinks and pinkish-white roses so that's what I planted. I had to rip out my huge daisy bush last weekend to make room for two tomato plants! Home-grown tomatoes are a must for us! My daughter and I so look forward to tomato sandwiches and pasta pomodoro. It's like a summer ritual for us now! Okay...back to the roses! I ended up taking this bouquet to work so I can enjoy it all day long. I still have my grocery store roses at home to enjoy.

There is something so satisfying about going out in the garden in the early morning, with the birds singing to cut fresh flowers from your garden! It was a few minutes of pure bliss before my 35 minute commute to work.

Oh, I almost forgot. Remember my excitement with the Google thing? Well it was short lived. I'm no longer #4 ....I'm now all the way down on PAGE 3! Oh well, it was exciting while it lasted and at least I have a screen shot of it!

A tassel and tips!

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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!

The birdcage makeover

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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.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

This is what is looked like before I painted it.  Beau was so curious about this when I brought it home, I put him in there to take the picture.  He doesn't look very happy, does he?
You won't believe what I paid for this...only $9.99!  What a deal!
I thought this would be the perfect cage for a canary so I went to the pet store and bought one.  Beau would not stop barking and the bird kept sticking half his body out trying to escape.  It was a stressful 24 hours.  I ended up taking the canary back.  Luckily they refunded my money and now it will be used for decorative purposes only.