tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12072251611447702052024-03-12T20:42:03.813-04:00The Move-a-LotsAlison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-43397666744201432312011-11-03T21:50:00.000-04:002011-11-03T21:50:16.256-04:00Movin' OutGuess what? I'm not that great at house design. I know, complete shock, given my half-ass projects and forced ideas just so I'll have something to write about. So, this blog is going to close out. No more updates from me.<br />
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I'll still be blogging on my personal blog over at <a href="http://alitary.blogspot.com/">The Alitary Blog</a> and you're free to join me over there. I will be posting regular life stuff, and on the rare occasion that I do something moderately creative or something I'm proud of, I'll post it. <br />
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Thanks for reading!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-90275995065516534892011-11-02T10:59:00.001-04:002011-11-02T10:59:00.493-04:00Table Fix<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FkR_vf_Jcc/Tq4A6j7LerI/AAAAAAAABAM/GTT3fJkJ-Kk/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>As proud as I was about my <a href="http://movealots.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-new-fall-table.html">dining room table</a> I, of course, messed it up the first night we got it. Celebrating five years of marriage with Lumbrusco, I got a drop of red deliciousness on the table, staining it slightly.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHGIICmuQyY/Tq2_0lq81VI/AAAAAAAABAE/Fni4Bx6UOKg/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHGIICmuQyY/Tq2_0lq81VI/AAAAAAAABAE/Fni4Bx6UOKg/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out, damn'd spot!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Quick fix: sand, paint, lots more layers of shiny stuff to (hopefully) protect it against my clumsiness. I sanded down the stained areas and put a thin layer of paint back on. Let that dry, and put coat after coat of the clear stuff on.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FkR_vf_Jcc/Tq4A6j7LerI/AAAAAAAABAM/GTT3fJkJ-Kk/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FkR_vf_Jcc/Tq4A6j7LerI/AAAAAAAABAM/GTT3fJkJ-Kk/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PS: It's weird to see a closeup of your own hand</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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I did this in my front yard, but had to move the table in when we went to the grocery store because I was afraid someone would think it was out there because it was free and steal it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJ0-onW3oOs/Tq4A7ufBW8I/AAAAAAAABAU/Is2uMUsNDSE/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJ0-onW3oOs/Tq4A7ufBW8I/AAAAAAAABAU/Is2uMUsNDSE/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not free. Do not steal this table</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Permanent fix: Some type of plexiglass or something to go over it. Not sure how it would affix on the table. I don't want to make the edges higher than the middle, but other than some type of adhesive on the corners or edges, I'm kind of at a loss. Ideas? Suggestions?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-72791995905839628682011-10-31T11:37:00.000-04:002011-10-31T11:37:00.555-04:00Cheer me up Monday!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get your week started right with these cute things that made me smile!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gh7QZPrBRSk/TqdkzJ_RpiI/AAAAAAAAA_g/5cwEscPxIP8/s1600/owl+pumpkin+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gh7QZPrBRSk/TqdkzJ_RpiI/AAAAAAAAA_g/5cwEscPxIP8/s200/owl+pumpkin+5.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Check out my sister's new blog, <a href="http://sunbeamyellow.blogspot.com/">Sunbeam Yellow</a>, and <a href="http://sunbeamyellow.blogspot.com/2011/10/owl-pumpkins-what-hoot.html">this owl pumpkin tutorial</a> she posted!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmo-h2fktjg/TqitI2iRNDI/AAAAAAAAA_o/rtzteKoBYpQ/s1600/menagerie_bookend1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rmo-h2fktjg/TqitI2iRNDI/AAAAAAAAA_o/rtzteKoBYpQ/s320/menagerie_bookend1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There is nothing cuter than a fat little hippo. Almost makes me want to drop $58 on a set of two. (from <a href="http://www.serenaandlily.com/Baby/Gifts-Menagerie-Bookends-Hippo">Serena and Lily</a> via <a href="http://www.freshhomeideas.com/fresh-home-blog/2011/10/wanted-menagerie-hippo-bookends/">Fresh Home Blog</a>) Almost.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n73MuaPWxoQ/TqxqiR0Es4I/AAAAAAAAA_0/7wynqSEk2vM/s1600/salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n73MuaPWxoQ/TqxqiR0Es4I/AAAAAAAAA_0/7wynqSEk2vM/s320/salt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> This is from my local <a href="http://www.ihop.com/">IHOP</a> restaurant, but I love the idea of taking a regular picture, cutting out something basic and putting neat-o designed paper behind it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYNaFIKwbcM/Tqy7zrN1tEI/AAAAAAAAA_8/wW4TwT3hOAk/s1600/advent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYNaFIKwbcM/Tqy7zrN1tEI/AAAAAAAAA_8/wW4TwT3hOAk/s1600/advent.png" /></a></div> I've never been a big advent calendar person, but <a href="http://adventwoodencalendar.com/advent-wooden-calendar-boxes.html">this one</a> (similar to one I saw at Target) is cute with little doors that open. Would be fun to put a Hershey's Kiss in each door.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What fun things did YOU discover this weekend?</span> </div>Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-64518059141101064652011-10-17T21:02:00.000-04:002011-10-17T21:11:19.160-04:00Endless PossibilitiesWho doesn't love the idea of a gallery wall? They're pretty much all the rage now, but I love them because it allows me to hang up all the random crap I have on the wall and call it an amazing artistic feat.<br />
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Here's my ideas for what to hang on the wall, and here's a sneak peek at what I already have:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PpCTTJEhrTA/TpzQt2QmDoI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/ksvFPolxVO0/s1600/fifth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PpCTTJEhrTA/TpzQt2QmDoI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/ksvFPolxVO0/s320/fifth.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kGJuo5UiE/TofKbF2V2cI/AAAAAAAAA70/hiZiFQVGYls/s1600/100_1750%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>I'm in love with this idea from Carmel over at <a href="http://ourfifthhouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/piano-keys-and-telling-our-story.html">Our Fifth House</a> and since we are, indeed, the Move-a-Lots, I'd like to put up pictures of all of our houses as we bounce around the county.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kGJuo5UiE/TofKbF2V2cI/AAAAAAAAA70/hiZiFQVGYls/s1600/100_1750%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5kGJuo5UiE/TofKbF2V2cI/AAAAAAAAA70/hiZiFQVGYls/s200/100_1750%255B1%255D.JPG" width="150" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baby Move-a-Lot drawings! His day care teachers have all kinds of arts and crafts they send home with him. Mostly paint smudges, but, as his mother, I love them madly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJNjK-Mejk8/TpzQuVVA_gI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/YMhJp2WScUY/s1600/netoflak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yJNjK-Mejk8/TpzQuVVA_gI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/YMhJp2WScUY/s320/netoflak.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Some cute travel-focused hearts or shapes to frame. Maybe places we've been, where we were all born? Who knows! Inspired by this at <a href="http://nefotlak.blogspot.com/2011/07/goobs-room-place-of-birth-heart-map.html">netoflak</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_KNCYjqWTc/TpzQtcI2NGI/AAAAAAAAA-I/wAk-MU0P70Y/s1600/birdy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_KNCYjqWTc/TpzQtcI2NGI/AAAAAAAAA-I/wAk-MU0P70Y/s200/birdy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Wall decals! I got a groupon for<a href="http://www.dalidecals.com/"> Dali Wall Decals</a>, and I might use it to buy a neat decal to play with on my wall. Maybe a bird escaping from a cage?</div><ul></ul>Here's what I've collected so far:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLK7LE3O2tY/TpzPV7b4hDI/AAAAAAAAA9w/gZXyUsVm1Zw/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLK7LE3O2tY/TpzPV7b4hDI/AAAAAAAAA9w/gZXyUsVm1Zw/s320/049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We love photo booths! Starting with our early dating trip to Rome, but this one is Atlantic City, my post-bar trip. Trying to show off my belly in the top shot, but it pretty much just looks weird.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-af9w34KHJmw/TpzPW8wAI6I/AAAAAAAAA94/FNewEX1X4LY/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-af9w34KHJmw/TpzPW8wAI6I/AAAAAAAAA94/FNewEX1X4LY/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody>
<tr></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hard to see - better photo in the full post, but this is the library where I worked growing up. Photo by my friend and photographer, <a href="http://www.marheinephotography.com/">Richard Marheine</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEZXc0za5DA/TpzPYPTnrbI/AAAAAAAAA-A/tCJqQfumA4s/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mEZXc0za5DA/TpzPYPTnrbI/AAAAAAAAA-A/tCJqQfumA4s/s320/054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A "B" which is our initial. Terribly creative, I know </div><br />
is the "neutral" phase of the gallery wall, and we'll see how it looks before I change to brighter. That's just a few things I've collected to put up. Hope to show you a full post soon!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-15199459712881893792011-10-12T21:42:00.000-04:002011-10-12T21:42:37.245-04:00My New Fall Table!I really wish this post could discuss how fun and awesome it was to do this project, but, I gotta be real. It's me, I'm going to mess it up. So, here's how it went down.<br />
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First, I decided to paint the top of the table white and leave the rest the natural wood color. Later, I would wish I had done the opposite, but only after I had already applied a layer of primer - too late, sucka! So, naturally, I get sooooo excited that I start this project in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room because there's no other possible space in the house that would be more convenient for a project. I find some painter's tape and tape up what I'm not painting. Then, I realize that I should move the table out to the patio, but that I can't get the table out there without taking the legs off.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmyxJEYBZhs/TpY-ulHGRBI/AAAAAAAAA8w/6T6YTyyA-IE/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmyxJEYBZhs/TpY-ulHGRBI/AAAAAAAAA8w/6T6YTyyA-IE/s320/240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got too excited</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So, I break the painter's tape and remove the legs and leave them in said inconvenient place and head downstairs with the table top. I reapply the painter's tape, spread a tarp over the patio, and set the table down.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5XTRITuXBbM/TpY-wCDJpUI/AAAAAAAAA84/0vW9RD_Opkc/s1600/241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5XTRITuXBbM/TpY-wCDJpUI/AAAAAAAAA84/0vW9RD_Opkc/s320/241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paint me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Following the great tutorial on <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/02/how-to-paint-furniture/">Young House Love</a>, I get some oil based white primer and give a coat to the table. Of course, this is me we are talking about so I drip paint all over the tarp while stirring and even fling drops of primer onto the concrete while painting. And, because I don't read directions well, instead of sticking to one coat of primer, I do two. Hopefully not a disaster-maker, but annoying since it added more time to my project. Because....IT RAINED FOR A WEEK AFTER THE PRIMER COATS. I was actually lucky to even get in the primer coats.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc5xC5iu0R8/TpY-0wkasOI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/QiAcKOSWCH8/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc5xC5iu0R8/TpY-0wkasOI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/QiAcKOSWCH8/s200/244.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got skillz with Kilz. You see what I did there?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCUVGzzsRrY/TpY-2b2RwgI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/wZoALbriPPk/s1600/245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCUVGzzsRrY/TpY-2b2RwgI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/wZoALbriPPk/s320/245.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Already looking better with just one primer coat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Back to THD to get some paint. Now, there are a jillion shades of white, so in what is either extreme laziness, extreme indifference, or extreme time-saving, I just get a semi-gloss paint in white base. Besides, how does a paint machine "create" white? Mysteries.....Anyway, the table gets two coats of "white" which looks a lot like the primer, but is easier to stir and smells lots better. I do significantly better at keeping the paint on the table and not so much on the patio. I think it's because the white paint is so much thicker than that stupid oil-based primer. PS, I hate you so much oil-based primer, I left you half full out in the rain. Take that!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Br2rhfhPkOs/TpY-38WcG7I/AAAAAAAAA9g/mAGyTb1laiE/s1600/246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Br2rhfhPkOs/TpY-38WcG7I/AAAAAAAAA9g/mAGyTb1laiE/s320/246.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooooo...coats of white paint.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>With that, all that was left (other than the cleanup that still hasn't happened - eek!) was to put on a coat of Minwax Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finish in “Clear Gloss,” which is for making it shiny and more wipeable. Because, let's face it, I've got a toddler and I'm a huge klutz, and I'm making myself a white table. It has disaster written all over it. Once the shiny stuff was on and try, I put the legs back on and noticed, in typical Mrs. Move-a-Lot fashion, that I had dripped white paint past the painter's tape. Lucky for me, the rest of the table is unfinished (kinda - Mr. M. pointed out there was a definite gloss of some sort, but it looked unfinished to me) so I just used sandpaper to wear down the dried paint. Not ideal, I'm sure, but it works!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kgTczL_sgcM/TpY-lFzz_fI/AAAAAAAAA8A/_hHYawfH8sk/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kgTczL_sgcM/TpY-lFzz_fI/AAAAAAAAA8A/_hHYawfH8sk/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mistakes I sandpapered out of existence</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
To finish, I put it in the middle of my cat fur covered, pukey dining room, and put some fake leaves from Michael's and some pumpkins we got at a nearby pumpkin patch and some candles from our "fake" wedding 4 years ago (don't ask) in the middle to make it look awesome. So, it's an island of awesome amidst a mess, but I just like to peek in on it cause it's so so pretty!<br />
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Here's the before: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LATkXuT58Aw/TnFVjvhtGcI/AAAAAAAAA7E/oFmkH3XXDRY/s1600/227.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LATkXuT58Aw/TnFVjvhtGcI/AAAAAAAAA7E/oFmkH3XXDRY/s320/227.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A definite "before shot"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And here's the "after-the-before-but-before-the-final-after"<br />
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<tr></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_13BQsU_2Gg/TpY-mNMRtzI/AAAAAAAAA8I/_iE-6-imQ8U/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_13BQsU_2Gg/TpY-mNMRtzI/AAAAAAAAA8I/_iE-6-imQ8U/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small but lovely finished product. The table, obviously, not the rest of the dining room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BwWfehH1po/TpY-nCiHoSI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/WAhAgs0Zmro/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BwWfehH1po/TpY-nCiHoSI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/WAhAgs0Zmro/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love baby pumpkins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I know it all looks kinda weird in the middle of the chaos. And without chairs. But, I'm still working out the details. Just happy to have actually finished a product that looks pretty nice!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-87774111451616877192011-10-01T22:11:00.000-04:002011-10-02T21:22:53.337-04:00Dining Room PreviewJust a quick little post about the dining room. Currently, the table is being painted and I'm working on the gallery wall. Neither project is done enough for a whole post, but here's a preview:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5u3JzZhi3g/TofHreEh7VI/AAAAAAAAA7k/Pt_Cx2hTR0k/s1600/100_1745%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5u3JzZhi3g/TofHreEh7VI/AAAAAAAAA7k/Pt_Cx2hTR0k/s320/100_1745%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please note that a tarp never prevents me from spilling paint everywhere anyway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is the table with a coat of primer on it. To be followed by two coats of white paint, to be followed by two coats of some clear stuff that's supposed to be awesome. I am following this tutorial on <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/02/how-to-paint-furniture/">Young House Love</a> for some guidance. Still contemplating some type of top layer or plastic or glass or something, based on the concern of my friend, the <a href="http://thebashionista.blogspot.com/">Bashionista</a>, about little messy toddler hands on my nice white tabletop. Hmmmm.....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKOzS0gtLWQ/TofHxIWDcTI/AAAAAAAAA7o/T5-fFVy8PG0/s1600/100_1757%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKOzS0gtLWQ/TofHxIWDcTI/AAAAAAAAA7o/T5-fFVy8PG0/s320/100_1757%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Au natural</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another in-the-works-project is the gallery wall. I keep going back and forth. I love the look of these unfinished wood frames and mirror ($2.99 and $5.99 at Michaels) that I can put stuff in. Coupled with the white/unfinished table and the white walls, it might make for a nice and neutral dining room. Then, I got to thinking, am I nice and neutral? No, I am not. So now I'm thinking about picking a couple of bold colors (lime green and orange? yellow and orange? why must it be orange?) to paint these frames, and get matching curtains/chair pads to accent. Mr. Move-a-Lot, while he cares very little for my design projects (other than the occasional veto) suggested trying the neutral look, because I can always paint later. Harder to go from painted frames to unfinished. Oh Mr. Move-a-Lot, you are wise.<br />
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Hoping to put it together more soon, but wanted to let all 5 of you that read this know that I'm actually moving forward with a project. Exciting, I know!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-44409183941963616752011-09-14T21:44:00.000-04:002011-09-14T21:44:40.810-04:00Big ideas, little roomDon't be scared, but the pictures of my dining room are pretty terrifying. You've been warned:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LATkXuT58Aw/TnFVjvhtGcI/AAAAAAAAA7E/oFmkH3XXDRY/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LATkXuT58Aw/TnFVjvhtGcI/AAAAAAAAA7E/oFmkH3XXDRY/s320/227.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horrible</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4U6M3ViJ-0c/TnFVk57700I/AAAAAAAAA7I/41bU-gaquIg/s1600/228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4U6M3ViJ-0c/TnFVk57700I/AAAAAAAAA7I/41bU-gaquIg/s320/228.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur Culprit named Joey - and why is there a plunger in my dining room?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMQKYNe4s8o/TnFVmGh5kjI/AAAAAAAAA7M/yptnKLPV4b8/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMQKYNe4s8o/TnFVmGh5kjI/AAAAAAAAA7M/yptnKLPV4b8/s320/229.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many chairs can one small room hold?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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See? I told you. Hope you covered the children's eyes. This is what we're working with. It's a tiny room, about 8 feet square with a decent window and an entrance both to our main door and to the galley joke-of-a-kitchen. It also has a tall narrow closet that currently is the only place to house cleaning supplies. There's a weird floral light fixture that's pretty tragic, but belongs to the landlord, and some haphazard shelves about the place. It's got nice light colored floors and white-ish walls. And what do we have in it currently? Let's see, one dining room set, dark wood, which we despise. One kitchen set of light colored wood and a bunch of chairs. Lots and lots of junk. Also, two cats who have completely covered all the chairs in hair/furballs/cat puke. I warned you.<br />
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I've never really used a dining room for the purpose of dining. It's pretty much been a room with a big table in it where I throw textbooks, keys, scarves, shoes, magazines, mail, and anything else that isn't food and/or plates. "Dining" for a busy military couple with two cats, a dog, and a 10-month old usually consists of balancing plates of hot food on our laps or on TV trays as we try to cram in an episode of Modern Family from the DVR and keep the silverware away from Baby Move-a-lot with moderate success.<br />
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But, I have a dream. I have a dream that one day this mess will become a room where a family can get together, talk about their day, and have all the other Campbell's Soup commercial moments that we so desperately deserve. A room where a table is protected from hot plates, where messes get cleaned up right away, and where friends can join us for a glass of wine. Hell, a room to hang up said wine, as well as other interesting things we find along our way.<br />
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Here's my thought: take advantage of the light colored wood kitchen set. Although it's not the right size, it's better than that big honking dark wood set which needs to be completely tossed out. Paint the top of the table a nice glossy white and leave the legs the light wood color. Get white/yellow/natural wood frames and create a gallery wall on the main wall. I like yellow as an accent color. Look for some curtains or fabric with a great bold yellow in them. Get new cushions for the chairs. Move all the junk OUT.<br />
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Here's some inspiration photos:<br />
<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/172103014/" target="_blank"><img 485="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/172103014_Jrgi9puV_c.jpg" width="410 height =" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">thehouseofsmiths.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/cheribec/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Cheri</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/191903335/" target="_blank"><img 521="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/191903335_wvBBC96D_c.jpg" width="350 height =" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">younghouselove.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/elizabethrae/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/188111387/" target="_blank"><img 640="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/188111387_zHjTBDu4_c.jpg" width="427 height =" /></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://simpledwellings.blogspot.com/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">simpledwellings.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/WildwoodCreek/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Wildwood Creek</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
<br />
Can it be done? Only time will well, so stay tuned. In the meantime, give out your thoughts on making this dining room something to enjoy!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-2557440675464070552011-08-08T19:40:00.000-04:002011-08-08T23:37:25.026-04:00Creative Canoe StorageAs some of you might recall, I'm spending my first summer in DC.....in Alabama. Where the military sends me, I shall go. However, I left strict instructions with Mr. Move-a-Lot to take care of everything while I was gone (dog, cats, house, car, baby....and my garden!) So you can guess which one gets ignored (No, it's not the baby.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZrwDMDoFNk/TkBuZIcP9vI/AAAAAAAAA6U/bZxR0GSgCwE/s1600/100_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZrwDMDoFNk/TkBuZIcP9vI/AAAAAAAAA6U/bZxR0GSgCwE/s320/100_1631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I returned for a 24 hour trip last weekend to find my lovely backyarden (It's kind of a back yard, kind of a garden,. Do you see what I did there?) full of weeds, one dead hosta, and that stupid canoe still on the ground. I had left half of it mulched, and a bag of unopened mulch still sat baking in the hot DC sun. <br />
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All I wanted, and have wanted for a while, was to do a little trimming, and to put that canoe somewhere. So, Mr. Move-a-lot dragged out the tools we bought to do this project weeks and weeks ago, and we were off!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lsVCHVVj6_E/TkBuflhdKjI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/jqFgDajR6vU/s1600/100_1632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lsVCHVVj6_E/TkBuflhdKjI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/jqFgDajR6vU/s320/100_1632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drill, Hook Thingies, Yard Clippers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Mr. M went to town on the canoe while I tried to salvage my yard.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzz6ATDr1wI/TkBu81P2IUI/AAAAAAAAA6o/Hj4eUXQFsq0/s1600/100_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yzz6ATDr1wI/TkBu81P2IUI/AAAAAAAAA6o/Hj4eUXQFsq0/s200/100_1636.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hook Things go in the fence</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtIvrThuFrY/TkButayWvNI/AAAAAAAAA6g/uvdCrog4b5s/s1600/100_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xtIvrThuFrY/TkButayWvNI/AAAAAAAAA6g/uvdCrog4b5s/s200/100_1634.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No hope for the hosta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Two quick drills in the fence, and one double-person lift, and the canoe was up off the grass it was smothering and hanging on our fence! I spent some time trimming, and Mr. M. weed-whacked our yarden until it was looking moderately better. I even put that 2nd bag of mulch out (of course, I still need more to finish the whole thing) but it looks much better now, and we are proud of our creative canoe storage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MjIoyydoXYA/TkBvb7gl0oI/AAAAAAAAA64/awF6isGqp3U/s1600/100_1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MjIoyydoXYA/TkBvb7gl0oI/AAAAAAAAA64/awF6isGqp3U/s320/100_1640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now, if only he'd let me paint something pretty on the bottom of the canoe.....<br />
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What's a creative storage solution you've had to invent on the fly???Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-50774612305706602412011-08-02T07:36:00.000-04:002011-08-02T07:37:50.346-04:00Hey, that's my house!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ood4HLB1IKc/S5VxshgC2lI/AAAAAAAAAkA/YG2BchdcpYE/s1600/110_00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ood4HLB1IKc/S5VxshgC2lI/AAAAAAAAAkA/YG2BchdcpYE/s200/110_00.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Yep, there it is! And you can see it yourself on <a href="http://hotpads.com/rentals/107-Eastern-Avenue-Lynn-MA-01902--mgazgmgx64ps#lat=42.4708475714286&lon=-70.9247185714286&zoom=20&previewId=mgazgmgx64ps&previewType=listing&detailsOpen=true&listingTypes=rental,sublet,room,corporate&loan=30,0.0525,0&resultsPerQuad=24">HOTPADS</a><span id="goog_1034164122"></span><span id="goog_1034164123"></span> where it is currently up for rent.<br />
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There is something eerie about seeing a house that you re modeled, brought home your first child, bought for the first time, had holidays in, threw parties in, etc up for grabs on the internet with all the other houses. No pictures could possibly reflect the pain that went into painting over wallpaper and the refreshing sense of pride I got every time I looked at the completed dining room. You wouldn't know that my husband spent most of December tearing up and putting back in the bathroom floor while I desperately tried to make an old bathroom look as modern as possible. No one can tell that I bought 47 different kitchen knobs in an effort to de-flower a kitchen that was covered in flowers. Or how peaceful I was waking up knowing that I could walk to the ocean with my dog and be there in less than 10 minutes. Or how safe I felt knowing the old couple across the street was keeping a protective watch on everything.<br />
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Anyway, I can't write more, or I'll cry on my keyboard. I just hope we get some great people living there!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-74266000878140351792011-07-12T09:34:00.000-04:002011-07-12T09:34:46.189-04:00Sweet Hotel LivingGreetings from the Dirty South: Alabama! I'm here for NINE WEEKS for an Air Force School, and while the temperatures outside might be enough to make you cry, the digs are pretty great. Here's my new pad.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-otW1h1OfQGo/ThxLVq9ll5I/AAAAAAAAA5M/Ip7mrjKHZgc/s1600/100_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-otW1h1OfQGo/ThxLVq9ll5I/AAAAAAAAA5M/Ip7mrjKHZgc/s320/100_1575.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Itty Bitty Kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is the little kitchen that comes with all the dishes you need, plus a stovetop and a fridge. I THINK there's a garbage disposal as well. The downside is no oven, which I find I use a lot of as I learn to cook, but that's ok. The single server coffee is pretty sweet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3UFc75NGdI/ThxLkBB5eiI/AAAAAAAAA5U/XFpruUW3Vac/s1600/100_1577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3UFc75NGdI/ThxLkBB5eiI/AAAAAAAAA5U/XFpruUW3Vac/s320/100_1577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfy-ish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My living room consist of this little love seat, desk, flat screen, and nice big window.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4X3sIBD_ELE/ThxKqaiQSqI/AAAAAAAAA40/n_YeipFvzDY/s1600/100_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4X3sIBD_ELE/ThxKqaiQSqI/AAAAAAAAA40/n_YeipFvzDY/s200/100_1569.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7NFqhKapw/ThxKwmlDAAI/AAAAAAAAA44/97ToRTUs41Y/s1600/100_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr7NFqhKapw/ThxKwmlDAAI/AAAAAAAAA44/97ToRTUs41Y/s200/100_1570.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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Bedroom with a nice cushy bed and...another tv! Mr. Move-a-Lot will NOT let me put a TV in our room, for good reason. I watched TV last night and stayed up way too late. Lesson learned. Well, probably not learned. More like "Lesson realized."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlyjFVZhKQ0/ThxLPPoggVI/AAAAAAAAA5I/A5W1hjLjqJQ/s1600/100_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RlyjFVZhKQ0/ThxLPPoggVI/AAAAAAAAA5I/A5W1hjLjqJQ/s320/100_1574.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Walk in closet? Yes, please.<br />
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Here's some of my favorite (and not so favorite) design things already in the room.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sLRKOqRfm3A/ThxLsRscnwI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/-PJjKDX5YQM/s1600/100_1578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sLRKOqRfm3A/ThxLsRscnwI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/-PJjKDX5YQM/s320/100_1578.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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I love this square lamp and the lines carved out of the base. It reminds me of those stones in The Fifth Element. I feel like saying "MULTIPASS" every time I look at it. I am digging the rectangle lampshade that dares to be longer than it is tall. There's a tall one in the living room and a small one in the bedroom<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-khl1nIs_bfU/ThxLzUKCxaI/AAAAAAAAA5c/NRmsBhHzxd4/s1600/100_1579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-khl1nIs_bfU/ThxLzUKCxaI/AAAAAAAAA5c/NRmsBhHzxd4/s320/100_1579.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
These curtains are nice and shimmery and have a slight blue/tan/brown palette that doesn't yell at you, but subtly suggests some color.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iearW_jjaUA/ThxL7YYPRzI/AAAAAAAAA5g/WewDe9ed20Q/s1600/100_1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iearW_jjaUA/ThxL7YYPRzI/AAAAAAAAA5g/WewDe9ed20Q/s320/100_1580.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I love this brown blanket - sleek and shiny.<br />
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What am I NOT ok with? All the pictures of jets. I get it, it's the Air Force, but come on, I'm not even a pilot! Planes planes everywhere.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxsSf-HAPPQ/ThxLclWdloI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/KrTkPhoqMcM/s1600/100_1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxsSf-HAPPQ/ThxLclWdloI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/KrTkPhoqMcM/s200/100_1576.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h9M4li8l0rE/ThxMQoo5YRI/AAAAAAAAA5s/YpY3mtBokmY/s1600/100_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h9M4li8l0rE/ThxMQoo5YRI/AAAAAAAAA5s/YpY3mtBokmY/s200/100_1583.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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I haven't put a lot of personal touches, because I'm still in a "neato it's a hotel!" phase. Which, by the way, the BEST part is that I have a maid come and clean up after me. FOR NINE WEEKS. Heaven. I did put some picture of the Move-a-Lot families out and about.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wDTpIcoUBqc/ThxMIlHRDOI/AAAAAAAAA5o/YvcmgaVi6O0/s1600/100_1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wDTpIcoUBqc/ThxMIlHRDOI/AAAAAAAAA5o/YvcmgaVi6O0/s320/100_1582.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My only real personal touches as of yet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
So, any recommendations for making this place more homey over the next nine week? I'm thinking of putting something OVER the pictures, like a gauzy scarf or something.....any more ideas?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-29153377582227016512011-07-10T05:11:00.000-04:002011-07-10T07:34:17.917-04:00I have a love and I call him Mulch.I can't believe I once didn't know mulch existed. It's delicious smelling, gorgeous, and probably good for plants, but did I mention how pretty it is? I'm currently obsessed with red mulch, which is what I used on the front area of our house (see it <a href="http://movealots.blogspot.com/2011/06/welcome-welcome-area.html">here</a>). I decided to continue this awesomeness in our backyard.<br />
<br />
As I posted <a href="http://movealots.blogspot.com/2011/06/just-take-little-off-top-please.html">earlier this month</a> I've been working on the backyard with some help from the folks. Now that everything was trimmed back, it was ready for some of that beautiful mulch. Here are some before-and-afters to show off my mulch!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6znSTfa4KM/ThfIByryCkI/AAAAAAAAA4g/p5HO7bd_cV4/s1600/100_1550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6znSTfa4KM/ThfIByryCkI/AAAAAAAAA4g/p5HO7bd_cV4/s320/100_1550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHTU4elhoH4/ThfIDf51mVI/AAAAAAAAA4k/YXVkrvuSXVw/s1600/100_1551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHTU4elhoH4/ThfIDf51mVI/AAAAAAAAA4k/YXVkrvuSXVw/s320/100_1551.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Nice, right? Take a look at some more!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ji5F3wk6sE/ThfIFEOgPHI/AAAAAAAAA4o/N6SjKuoPiec/s1600/100_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ji5F3wk6sE/ThfIFEOgPHI/AAAAAAAAA4o/N6SjKuoPiec/s320/100_1552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YV8_bo_21s4/ThfIGAp8TmI/AAAAAAAAA4s/diO5Rq4Znvc/s1600/100_1553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YV8_bo_21s4/ThfIGAp8TmI/AAAAAAAAA4s/diO5Rq4Znvc/s320/100_1553.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Anyway, not that exciting of a post, but I did a little happy mulch dance in my backyard with only my dog as a witness because I was so happy with the outcome.<br />
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Oh yeah, remember this product that I bought to try?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RU-lwklVe3k/ThB244iAaTI/AAAAAAAAA3w/eo8z0yTfDsg/s1600/100_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RU-lwklVe3k/ThB244iAaTI/AAAAAAAAA3w/eo8z0yTfDsg/s200/100_1549.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />
Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is, I'm not being eaten alive by mosquitos anymore. The bad news is that the spray took me by surprise, and my hosta plant was the unfortunate victim here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5utdcIS4RQg/ThfIHwmSNBI/AAAAAAAAA4w/em6cRVHUOio/s1600/100_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5utdcIS4RQg/ThfIHwmSNBI/AAAAAAAAA4w/em6cRVHUOio/s320/100_1554.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moment of silence, please.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This brave little hosta got sprayed and is on its deathbed, but I appreciate his willingness to still provide purple flowers and turns a lovely bright yellow color to give my garden some more UMPH on his way out. We'll miss you, dear friend.Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-49183755268371878102011-07-07T21:18:00.000-04:002011-07-07T21:18:17.831-04:00Scary or Cute? I say Cute!I've been vulturing around wall decals for a while, and frankly, I find most of them cheesy. I am sure they look fabulous in all of your houses, but I haven't seen anything that I really wanted to put on a wall. I'm not into cliche quotes, I don't need hearts all over my walls, you get the idea.<br />
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Then, on a random "I don't really need anything but here I am" trip to Target, I found these little birds-on-a-wire on clearance and immediately pictured our guest room done up in gorgeous tans and browns with big birds where the headboard is supposed to be (and isn't). Of course, I bought them for $10 and found that the big birds on a wire were actually teeny tiny birds on a wire that wouldn't fill an eighth of the space I wanted.<br />
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But fear not! I found a home for them. I love the idea of guests pulling down a cheap little blind and finding a surprise!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Cgk58ygDUM/ThZZ5iJNuUI/AAAAAAAAA4c/FGrteZmH5ag/s1600/100_1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Cgk58ygDUM/ThZZ5iJNuUI/AAAAAAAAA4c/FGrteZmH5ag/s320/100_1564.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What surprise is lurking in this window?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ACbr8BsmMY/ThZZhT9UA_I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/3tttkCe-l_Y/s1600/100_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ACbr8BsmMY/ThZZhT9UA_I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/3tttkCe-l_Y/s320/100_1566.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birdies on a wire!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUhCxlxaJxY/ThZZj_c7SqI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/X5rglhCSATY/s1600/100_1568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uUhCxlxaJxY/ThZZj_c7SqI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/X5rglhCSATY/s320/100_1568.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closeup. I'm in love with these little birds that will watch over my guests.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My concern was that they were a little too creepy in a "we're watching you" sort of way, but I think they are kinda adorable.<br />
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Have you ever done a little surprise in a room for people to discover? Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-5674264364028238582011-07-05T09:50:00.000-04:002011-07-05T09:50:01.248-04:00A Yankee moves South<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inrzn5Lp5IM/ThEddRlWY1I/AAAAAAAAA34/G3s0-zEqmNI/s1600/AlabamaSeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-inrzn5Lp5IM/ThEddRlWY1I/AAAAAAAAA34/G3s0-zEqmNI/s200/AlabamaSeal.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Since I've been in my new place for one month, I figure it's time to move-a-long. Yes, this Move-a-lot is headed to the Dirty South for 9 weeks while I do some Air Force training at Maxwell Air Force Base.<br />
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So, what to take to make myself feel at home? One the list:<br />
<ul><li>A plant</li>
<li>lots of pictures of Mr. and Baby Move-a-Lot</li>
<li>My own comforter and pillow</li>
<li>My little bowl that holds my wedding ring because I'm terrified to wear it when I wash my hands or shower</li>
<li>My laptop (of course!)</li>
</ul> What else should I take? What would YOU take?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-19086537137512329572011-07-03T10:11:00.000-04:002011-07-03T10:11:51.548-04:00Just take a little off the top, pleaseRemember the first shots of my backyard? Well, after a little bit of work on my part, and a whole LOT of work on the part of my dad who came out to DC for a week , the before and after of my back yard now looks a-like so:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWU4HA94Ikw/Te1PUSsKU8I/AAAAAAAAA1w/ZtwlJLwCLE4/s1600/combinedyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWU4HA94Ikw/Te1PUSsKU8I/AAAAAAAAA1w/ZtwlJLwCLE4/s320/combinedyard.jpg" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE: My garden grows too much!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XwXYxYDU-A/ThB2NQaolHI/AAAAAAAAA3s/uUR8dabZZck/s1600/yardupdate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XwXYxYDU-A/ThB2NQaolHI/AAAAAAAAA3s/uUR8dabZZck/s320/yardupdate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER: Looking nice and groomed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Turns out, plants grow better with water. I KNOW! It came as a shock to me as well. But I'm happy to say that after just ONE watering, that big poofy plant (hydrangeas, I hear they are called) bloomed some big poofy purple blooms and stopped looking like a sick plant coughing up purple phlegm. My dad raked out all the leaves from last fall (I'm assuming) that were choking plants and grass all over the place. Then, he went to town with the hedge clippers, especially to the bushes near the back gate. A little weedeating is all the lawn took, so that was pretty fast, although all the trimming and such required a couple big trash bags. Mom and I pulled some vines and lots of dead leaves off the bushes that were dying so that new healthy leaves could come in.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3PtZ2sWETU/ThB3D0m6c1I/AAAAAAAAA30/j6srmp6JKDk/s1600/100_1478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3PtZ2sWETU/ThB3D0m6c1I/AAAAAAAAA30/j6srmp6JKDk/s320/100_1478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My diligent Dad going to town on the plants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I'm trying to get in the habit of watering the plants every day in the morning when I let the dog about before work. And also to stop said dog from sitting on these big ferns to take his morning latrine break. No luck on that front yet. As for the mosquitos, I'm starting cheap, with this stuff. Haven't cracked it open yet, but I'll let everyone know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RU-lwklVe3k/ThB244iAaTI/AAAAAAAAA3w/eo8z0yTfDsg/s1600/100_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RU-lwklVe3k/ThB244iAaTI/AAAAAAAAA3w/eo8z0yTfDsg/s320/100_1549.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please please please work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Future goals for this space: replace the stepping blocks with something bright and cheerful, get a great outdoor mat to cover most of the concrete, work on that mosaic table that I mentioned earlier, and find a place for that stupid canoe that Mr. Move-a-lot doesn't have the heart to toss yet.<br />
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What do you think? A good start, right?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-10655222304671608582011-06-26T21:50:00.000-04:002011-06-26T21:51:57.620-04:00Inspiration from DCMoving from city to city can be taxing, but each city brings with it design inspiration! Here's just a few things I've found that inspire me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRBcQkxd82Q/TfSnL_-BqcI/AAAAAAAAA2M/4xQipmrzRNc/s1600/hckithcen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LRBcQkxd82Q/TfSnL_-BqcI/AAAAAAAAA2M/4xQipmrzRNc/s320/hckithcen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This kitchen makes me want to cook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This (above) is Julia Child's kitchen, current on exhibit at the Smithsonian (you may have seen Amy Adams go visit in in Julie and Julia). I love the green, love the layout, and love love love the hanging pots.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_Mq6muTzow/TgffDBn5tjI/AAAAAAAAA3g/Rhp4EIolFgU/s1600/washington+bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_Mq6muTzow/TgffDBn5tjI/AAAAAAAAA3g/Rhp4EIolFgU/s320/washington+bedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presidentially ethereal</td></tr>
</tbody></table> This one is the actual bedroom of George Washington. We visited his house at Mount Vernon the first weekend we were in DC. I love this white airy look. The walls are actually a light blue, and I'm telling you, this bedroom could be right out of the pages of Elle Decor. Note: He actually died in this room, but I assume they washed that comforter.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3dfktikuOFs/Tgff-OzFXWI/AAAAAAAAA3k/oyIdWRkvuF4/s1600/vd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3dfktikuOFs/Tgff-OzFXWI/AAAAAAAAA3k/oyIdWRkvuF4/s320/vd.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good tip for anyone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My folks have already visited and we went to the Smithsonian American History museum where we saw a lot of war memorabilia. Now, since Mr. Move-a-lot and I are in the military, we pretty much keep our house free and clean of military stuff (separation of house and work!) but I love the look of vintage posters and I love how completely inappropriate this would be in our entryway. Which means I have to have it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AuhtJHtin9M/TgfhA2PwKXI/AAAAAAAAA3o/mHF43X6x0pY/s1600/jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AuhtJHtin9M/TgfhA2PwKXI/AAAAAAAAA3o/mHF43X6x0pY/s320/jacket.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earhart was a browncoat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I love the legend of Amelia Earhart. The mystery, the intrigue, love it. And I also love fashion and the show Firefly which was tragically cancelled. (More about that on my <a href="http://alitary.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-hate-this-feeling.html">personal blog here</a>) But it looks like Amelia was perhaps just forward thinking in her style, cause this jacket is just effing cool. Yeah, it's not really about design per se, but I would wear this in my designed house all the time. <br />
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So, in just a month, I've found a bedroom, a kitchen, a hallway decoration and a jacket to wear. Not too shabby!<br />
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What inspires you in YOUR city??Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-10781137186170339652011-06-22T12:10:00.000-04:002011-06-22T12:10:01.068-04:00Hanging Paintings Like A Grownup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjAC1Vn5VGU/TK4wWr189iI/AAAAAAAAAsc/RndcNMMDCLM/s1600/100_0577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sjAC1Vn5VGU/TK4wWr189iI/AAAAAAAAAsc/RndcNMMDCLM/s320/100_0577.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Remember seeing <a href="http://alitary.blogspot.com/2010/10/house-design-part-3.html">these on my personal blog</a>? Well to make Avery feel at home, I decided to hang them up in our new townhouse this weekend.<br />
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But, I decided it was time to act like a grownup, and instead of randomly nailing the pictures up, then taking them down, adjusting the nails, putting them back up, taking them back down, adjusting the nails, putting them back up (you get the idea) I actually used tools to help me out. Now, this is not a new concept, as it's how most normal, more patient people hang pictures, but here's what I did.<br />
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First, I took some old paper that the movers had wrapped dishes in, grabbed a painting, and traced the shape of the painting onto the paper. I did this 5 times, since I had 5 paintings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4B9zcO3aI0/Tf4v_gSDs9I/AAAAAAAAA24/55oVa0BywhA/s1600/100_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4B9zcO3aI0/Tf4v_gSDs9I/AAAAAAAAA24/55oVa0BywhA/s320/100_1515.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting my pattern</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Next, I took some tape and my pieces of paper up to the nursery and hung them up on the wall, making my adjustments as necessary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEKKSnMFOUw/Tf4wDPpyVBI/AAAAAAAAA3A/DCvaxMs_Wk0/s1600/100_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pEKKSnMFOUw/Tf4wDPpyVBI/AAAAAAAAA3A/DCvaxMs_Wk0/s320/100_1517.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would be the most boring nursery ever is these stayed up</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Then, I measure the back of the painting so I would know where a nail would actually hit, marked that on a piece of paper and then used that paper to measure where a nail should be put into the wall on the paper that was hanging up.<br />
<br />
Then, I nailed in two nails in each piece of paper. Sure, each painting can be balanced with one nail, but two is perfect for two reasons: 1) you can use a level to make the two nails completely even and 2) especially when you are hanging paintings in a pattern, with TWO nails, you can slide the paintings left and right (assuming there isn't a specific hole the nail has to go in on the back of the paintings) to adjust for distances between paintings. I usually nailed in one nail, and then used a level to mark where the next nail should go. The level has holes in it for that purpose. I KNOW! GENIUS! Wish I had thought of it first.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJHQ98HW70I/Tf4wJE6lCiI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/pygQJP0FSVw/s1600/100_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJHQ98HW70I/Tf4wJE6lCiI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/pygQJP0FSVw/s320/100_1523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levels with holes in them. Mind. Blown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The paper comes off, the nails stay in, the painting goes up. Of course, it's me, so there's nothing that's PERFECT, but minor adjustments were easy (tilting nails and one the rare occasion, taking one out and adjusting) and then sliding the paintings left and right to make them an even distance from each other.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7OFZ3AK-h8w/Tf4wH9SCA8I/AAAAAAAAA3U/lJPXRUvw4OA/s1600/100_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7OFZ3AK-h8w/Tf4wH9SCA8I/AAAAAAAAA3U/lJPXRUvw4OA/s320/100_1522.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eek. Not quite perfect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And, after all that adjusting, we have a good looking wall above the changing table! My favorite part, other than the fact that I did these myself for Avery, is that they face his crib, so he can sit up and see them when he wakes up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNI7C52YRRM/Tf4wLbjTYwI/AAAAAAAAA3c/DJW3dgMYOpk/s1600/100_1524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNI7C52YRRM/Tf4wLbjTYwI/AAAAAAAAA3c/DJW3dgMYOpk/s320/100_1524.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I promise the paintings are straight on the wall. I'm standing all crooked.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
What fun wall projects have you tried recently?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-44057587212223436422011-06-20T10:48:00.000-04:002011-06-22T18:14:02.078-04:00A Welcome Welcome AreaIt's hard to enjoy coming home to your house when the front of your house is U-G-L-Y. And has no alibi. I'm completely aware I've made that joke before. I can't help it. It just come out of me.<br />
<br />
Here's the front of our townhouse. Old mulch, dying plants, really says "come on in!" right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHMjG7Bh8vI/Tf38K6M-KPI/AAAAAAAAA2g/ryoOjdjj7Fo/s1600/100_1476.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHMjG7Bh8vI/Tf38K6M-KPI/AAAAAAAAA2g/ryoOjdjj7Fo/s320/100_1476.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sad little front yard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So, I went with my parents, who were out for the week, to THD (The Home Depot - we spend so much there, I'm allowed to give it a nickname). Had to make a few trips because AFTER my dad put 6 bags of mulch on our cart, we realized we couldn't get 6 bags of mulch in a car with 3 people, 1 baby, and a stroller. Lucky for us, we realized we couldn't do it before we bought the mulch. We bought some...um....red pointy flowers. And some....yellow flowers. You see I'm great with flower names. I'm what you call a pro. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LIBDzOVesHE/Tf37v7rHIfI/AAAAAAAAA2c/Of3PZrhaumM/s1600/100_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LIBDzOVesHE/Tf37v7rHIfI/AAAAAAAAA2c/Of3PZrhaumM/s320/100_1514.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow marigolds and red...um..stickleface flowers. That's what I'm calling them</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHMjG7Bh8vI/Tf38K6M-KPI/AAAAAAAAA2g/ryoOjdjj7Fo/s1600/100_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Also picked up several bags of EarthGro Red mulch. I had no idea there were so many colors of mulch! I didn't know mulch existed until a few years ago. I opted NOT to go with Sierra Red, which looked TOO red. Can't piss off the Homeowner's Association (see below) and although I love love love color, it was a bit much. The plain Red looked just bright enough to go with my red and yellow flowers.<br />
<br />
First, mom and I laid out the flowers to get an idea of what they would look like and of our spacing. Ok, truthfully, we were just getting them out of the trunk, but it was a way to start to see how it would all look. There were four blooms in each pot, and Mom informed me we could actually pull them out of their pots and separated them. No, Ali, they aren't connected. Huh, go figure. I just quadrupled my flowers! We laid them out to see the picture even better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEL84DeNXXo/Tf3907So-kI/AAAAAAAAA2k/jC_KEinnwl0/s1600/100_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEL84DeNXXo/Tf3907So-kI/AAAAAAAAA2k/jC_KEinnwl0/s320/100_1482.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks like some type of mass flower suicide.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Then came the digging! I hurt my shoulder last week, so I was trying to dig with my nondominant hand while in an arm sling and Mom was plowing away with the trowel. There were a TON of roots in the old mulch, so this was a much more annoying task than I had hoped. But once we got all the flowers in, it was starting to look pretty darn fabulous.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt-onW0DSdA/Tf3-ZfSYllI/AAAAAAAAA2o/A_s2YHQBjYA/s1600/100_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jt-onW0DSdA/Tf3-ZfSYllI/AAAAAAAAA2o/A_s2YHQBjYA/s320/100_1486.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Getting pretty darn fabulous.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Then it was mulch time. Three bags didn't get us the whole way, but man, did it make a difference! It's like going from black and white to color.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-arS1vtypFLE/Tf3-1Uub7DI/AAAAAAAAA2s/2HqsMWXqwfY/s1600/100_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-arS1vtypFLE/Tf3-1Uub7DI/AAAAAAAAA2s/2HqsMWXqwfY/s320/100_1487.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a difference some red makes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Another trip to THD and another three bags of mulch later and we are looking niiiice. I also trimmed back the bushes a bit so I could actually GET at my hose. (There's a joke in there somewhere)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uotbP6HP2vE/Tf3-9I1lIBI/AAAAAAAAA2w/DC8Wa8wY3Ow/s1600/100_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uotbP6HP2vE/Tf3-9I1lIBI/AAAAAAAAA2w/DC8Wa8wY3Ow/s320/100_1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much welcome-ier!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Now an interesting thing is that big ugly trash can. We bought it and then, based on the advice of the neighbor to our RIGHT, bought a pretty white gate to put right in front of it so it can still sit in this very convenient location, but isn't visible from the front. If we had a corner unit, we'd put it around the side of the house, but we do not. So, we had a white gate (still wrapped in plastic) sitting out there just waiting to be installed when we heard a knock at the door. Our very anal, lonely neighbor to our LEFT came to our door and the conversation went a-like this:<br />
<br />
Guy: Hi there, I see you bought a gate. I presume you mean to put it here? <i>(indicates the front of our trash cans)</i><br />
<br />
Me: Ummm...can I not?<br />
<br />
Guy: Well, I don't know if Brian<i> (owner of house we are renting)</i> informed you, but there is a Housing Association and there are bylaws about installing gates. Here is a copy of the bylaws <i>(hands over giant stapled document).</i> I'm on the board <i>(a little TOO proud of this fact) </i>and if you want to install this, please submit us a letter telling us what you're installing and why.<br />
<br />
Me:<i> (has no words, but is thinking "if I can't put my gate up, please enjoy the view of my trash can")</i><br />
<br />
So I completely understand that you don't want someone putting up a gate or fence or sign that has a big marijuana plant on it, but this is a bit much. I guess we'll be submitting that letter soon.<br />
<br />
Anyway, left to do on the front: more mulching on some bushes along the side, taking off our house numbers and re-painting them, and filling in the empty spaces with some big pots with flowers or some hanging flowers on hooks or something.<br />
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What do you think?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-78720035965500674972011-06-13T10:18:00.000-04:002011-06-13T10:18:00.774-04:00Shower curtain first - all else follows!Perhaps you remember <a href="http://alitary.blogspot.com/2011/02/finished-bathroom.html">this post</a> on my personal blog about how I redid the bathroom in our old house in Massachusetts. Or perhaps you remember it being featured on <a href="http://www.freshhomeblog.com/">Fresh Home Blog</a> (yay!)<br />
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I have found that the EASIEST way to make a bathroom your own and begin the design process is to pick a shower curtain. Luckily, there are ridiculously awesome shower curtains to be found everywhere. I think of a shower curtain as a huge piece of art that I can actually afford and don't have to buy a frame for. And can get wet. And folds up nicely. What could be more fantastic??<br />
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We are renting a house now, and inherited this not-so-cute bathroom with peeling striped wallpaper and fabulous (sarcasm here) vanity with that fake marble look. El gross. Oh yeah, and a wallpaper border that people seemed to be obsessed with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xt8Gq3v9Gfg/TfDXTEjef6I/AAAAAAAAA2E/KQdvv63KR-8/s1600/100_1465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xt8Gq3v9Gfg/TfDXTEjef6I/AAAAAAAAA2E/KQdvv63KR-8/s320/100_1465.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original. Um...ew.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm pretty sure I can sweet talk the landlord into letting me peel and paint at my own expense (hello, makes your bathroom nicer for free!), but wasn't sure where I'd want to go with color. So, I relied on my "shower curtain first, all else follows" rule to give me an idea of the color scheme I might want to choose.<br />
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I picked up this awesome, bright, floral (but not TOO floral - this is the bathroom my husband gets ready in in the morning!) curtain from Room Essentials at Target (on clearance for $10.48!). I was walking around Target and even though I promised Jon that I wouldn't do any decorating stuff for a few months until we got settled, I saw this on the clearance end-of-aisle shelf and couldn't resist! Big yellow and black flowers - gorgeous. It's called "Pineapple flower".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmji_Uup5mE/TfDXUd8VpDI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Hk0lV7hhih4/s1600/100_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmji_Uup5mE/TfDXUd8VpDI/AAAAAAAAA2I/Hk0lV7hhih4/s320/100_1470.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom "art"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So now the bathroom looks even worse because the flowers and stripes are clashy. And not in a good "I think I'm a designer" clashy. BUT, if I waited to post pictures until every room was done....this would be a boring blog. If I had my way, I would paint the bathroom the dark color - black or navy of whatever it is (haven't decided) but that's probably too dark for the landlord (although he IS in Honduras....). Neutral is going to have to be the way to go. Crap....now that I'm typing this, maybe I should have picked a curtain with a more neutral color floating in it. NO NO, I'm sticking with the flowers. I'll find something.<br />
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Recommendations? Perhaps just a white on the walls?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-49986546589395649822011-06-08T11:20:00.000-04:002011-06-08T11:20:17.427-04:00Who needs a closet, anyway?<span id="internal-source-marker_0.2793608080135419" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I don’t have a lot of dreams, but one of them is to have a proper place to put my phone/bag/purse/keys/hat when I come into my house. Before we moved here, I couldn’t remember what our foyer looked like, but hoped it was big enough to put together a table station just for that purpose. Alas, it was not to be. The foyer is simply too narrow for even the slimmest of tables to be useful and not be in our way as we walk through. But I have an idea.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The closet: This is our “hall closet” right inside our front door</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aXRoKMrOL28/Tep8FXfXzoI/AAAAAAAAA1s/7WmBxdzu1Pw/s1600/closet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aXRoKMrOL28/Tep8FXfXzoI/AAAAAAAAA1s/7WmBxdzu1Pw/s320/closet.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal: Create a great out-of-the-way dump station for all of our stuff.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The plan: Remove the closet doors and find a table to go inside for all of our junk. Build a boot box to put shoes and make sure there are enough hangers/hooks for our uniforms. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The big problem is that I want to put a charging station there for our phones (which don’t work too well in our house anyway, thanks Sprint!) BUT there’s no outlet close by. Our solution would have to be running something out of the closet, over the front door, and into the dining room. Hmmmm……</span>Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-37837554593896775032011-06-06T12:52:00.000-04:002011-06-06T18:07:16.218-04:00A Little Garden All For Me<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.9605402909087282" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s summer in DC! Just ask the thermometer who is currently taking a nap under a shade tree. Whew, it’s hot and humid, but I’m excited to have a cute little outdoor area in our new townhouse. It’s small, much to my dog’s dismay, but it’s already got a lot of great plants and a teeny tiny yard that maybe I can even manage!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The yard:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWU4HA94Ikw/Te1PUSsKU8I/AAAAAAAAA1w/ZtwlJLwCLE4/s1600/combinedyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWU4HA94Ikw/Te1PUSsKU8I/AAAAAAAAA1w/ZtwlJLwCLE4/s320/combinedyard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">That's right, be jealous of my mad Paint editing skillz</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The goal: A Moroccan themed paradise that I’ll want to lounge in while I drink some tea and read a book. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The plan at the moment: Rake up the old leaves, cut back the current plants, and really see what we are working with. I’d like to buy some cute sparkly something-or-others to hang off the branches from my neighbors’ trees. A couple of cushioned bright colored chaise loungers and a mosaic table (perhaps a DIY project like <a href="http://www.freshhomeideas.com/DIY-Projects/Outdoor-Projects/how-to-make-a-mosaic-flower-pot">this one from Fresh Home</a> ). And an outdoor rug/mat. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Any recommendations? Also – how do I keep the mosquitos at bay in this new paradise?? They are killer!</span></div>Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-17197603203757217062011-06-02T18:48:00.000-04:002011-06-02T18:48:44.072-04:00Moving Right Along<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vr2d7uw7EF4/TegTK5OCYII/AAAAAAAAA1Y/7a_0ZsBF9FM/s1600/wyomissing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vr2d7uw7EF4/TegTK5OCYII/AAAAAAAAA1Y/7a_0ZsBF9FM/s1600/wyomissing.jpg" t8="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new townhouse!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The worst thing about being a Move-a-lot? The actual moving. Sure, the packing sucks, the cleaning sucks, and trying to renovate a 111-year old house at the last minute REALLY sucks. But I also hate the driving, the physical act of moving me, a baby, two cats, a dog, and, oh yeah, a husband from one state through many more states to another state. This trip didn’t fail to provide endless amounts of what is now entertainment, but at the time was not-so-funny.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The plan: leave Boston Wednesday morning, stay overnight in Philly, get to new townhouse nice and fresh early Thursday afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The reality: We left late Saturday afternoon, around 4, after throwing in a whirlwind of last minute DIY projects involving our house. No worries, we’ll get to the other side of New York (a 4-hour trip) and just stop at a Motel 6 (pet-friendly!) for the night and make a longer journey the next day. Easy breezy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Except our 4-hour trip to New York found us, 7 hours later, driving through what I imagine is Spanish Harlem in a two car + UHaul caravan, completely lost. I managed to stay in good spirits, however, as I decided it was an excellent opportunity to turn myself into an aggressive driver as I cut off taxis and yelled profanities along with the best of them. Completely exhausted, we just wanted to get to our stopping point, so once we were out of there, we called the Motel 6 to find that they were all booked (holiday weekend) and that the only one available was even further away. What can ya do? We plodded on.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then, we were driving along in our slow little train and an SUV gets between my husband and U-Haul and myself, apparently drafting off of my husband. Sadly, I had used up my cell phone battery completely, so I had no way of communicating with Mr. Move-a-Lot. I noticed that I was decreasing my speed, and figured that he was slowing down so this SUV would get tired of drafting and just go around. Pretty soon we were going 40 in a 55 and SUV was happy to oblige our slower speed. I couldn’t really see Mr. Move-a-Lot, but the SUV put on his blinker to exit, and just when I was saying “Thank Goodness”, I noticed Mr. Move-a-Lot was exiting as well. In fact, the SUV followed my husband off the exit, turn right with him, and followed him onto a dark off-road next to a closed lumber factory of some sort. Mr. M pulled into the factory and this SUV pulled off the road. The driver got out and opened what appeared to be his trunk, hood, and doors and just stood next to his car staring at my husband and I (I pulled up behind Mr. M.). Hubby gets out of his car and comes to my window with a map. I immediately say “Who the F is this guy?” and Mr. M says he doesn’t know and tries to show me something on a map. Well, I wasn’t so much in the mood to get murdered or held up, so I told him to put the stupid map away, get in his car and high tail it out of there, which he did. For the next 20 minutes, I came up with various scenarios as to what was going on. He was probably a sex trafficker and thought Jon had child prostitutes in his U-Haul and was waiting for a hand off. I probably should have gotten his license plate and called him in and then I would be a big freakin’ hero. But, I was tired, hungry, and had a baby and a zoo in my car, so we just drove on. A bit disarming, though.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So, at 2:30 we rolled into the junkiest Motel 6 you’ve ever seen, but, hey, they take pets and we have them, so who cares? Three trips into the dirty hotel room later, we are ready to completely pass out when Baby Move-a-Lot announces he’s quite well-rested and in need of food and entertainment. No problem, a bottle of formula will zonk him out. Oh wait, there’s no more formula in the diaper bag? It’s packed somewhere in our U-Haul you say? There’s no shutting this kid up without formula? FANTASTIC. At 4:30 in the morning, as Mr. M and I have passed the 22 hour mark for being awake, Baby M decides he’s ready to snooze. How kind of the young prince. We completely pass out amidst a set of freaked out dog and cats.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thankfully the next day was uneventful. It took some work to pull the cats out from under the Motel 6 bed (and who wants to go around digging under a Motel 6 bed?). But, a few short hours later we pulled into the parking lot of our townhouse in Alexandria. The smell of new carpet greeting us, not to mention the smell of 90 degree humid weather, as we happily carried in our things, all laid down on the floor, and took a nap.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What’s YOUR funnest (worst) moving experience?</span>Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-87081022778661799272011-05-27T11:35:00.000-04:002011-05-27T11:35:30.794-04:00Last Photo of Boston HouseAfter many delays, we are actually going to leave Boston tomorrow and head to our new life/house/job in DC! Here's a quick photo of a room that was once a garish yellow. Now, white trim, walls, curtains, ceiling. What a room of possibility! It took all I had not to go in in the middle of the night and paint it or color on the walls or something.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNMh_-mfyq8/Td_Em9EDG6I/AAAAAAAAA1U/g3IX5k0Isy4/s1600/100_1434%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNMh_-mfyq8/Td_Em9EDG6I/AAAAAAAAA1U/g3IX5k0Isy4/s400/100_1434%255B1%255D.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go nuts in here, renters!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Won't post again until we have internet access in DC - happy Memorial Day!!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-8424549565110223252011-05-24T09:39:00.000-04:002011-05-24T09:39:00.369-04:00What looks worse than a dirty door?How about a dirty door that you paint bright white but don't properly prime so the paint peels off in giant sheets?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3zCdp2ijm8/TdHR-i8hsUI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/5eUA_4Zkwt4/s1600/100_1382%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3zCdp2ijm8/TdHR-i8hsUI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/5eUA_4Zkwt4/s320/100_1382%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, renters don't like these doors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I thought to myself "wouldn't it be nice if these gross faded doors were a nice bright white?" Well, it probably would be if I hadn't just gone nuts with the white paint and put three layers on. Of course, the first time the door gets nicked, the paint layers peel off. Now there is something oddly cathartic about peeling big layers of paint. Kind of like trying to peel an apple in one long strip. But after a couple of hours of peeling paint off with my newly manicured fingers and trying to scrape it all out of the lovely molding, the joy of peeling is over.<br />
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So, I did the right thing (the second time around). I used TSP on the door to clean it off, then did soem test patches with 80-grit sandpaper. I did tests where I sanded slightly, sanded hard, sanded over paint that wouldn't peel off, and paint that had completely peeled off (i.e. the original paint). Then, I tested each patch with a layer of oil-based primer to see how well it bonded.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek8hOTan5lI/Tdk5bW8b7YI/AAAAAAAAA1M/Peh19fUs_QM/s1600/100_1418%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek8hOTan5lI/Tdk5bW8b7YI/AAAAAAAAA1M/Peh19fUs_QM/s320/100_1418%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test patches</td></tr>
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Turns out, all the patches worked out great, so I went to work on the whole door, lightly sanding to get some grit, and then putting two light coats of the oil based primer (I used KILZ) on top. I thought about putting a couple of coats of white paint on top of that, but the primer is white, the door looks great, and why go too far? Going too far too fast got me into this mess to begin with. The doors are back to pretty again!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Niuggaj4Lco/Tdk5hFar_xI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/Nb0HI2z7vIU/s1600/100_1416%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Niuggaj4Lco/Tdk5hFar_xI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/Nb0HI2z7vIU/s320/100_1416%255B1%255D.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay, pretty white door. Now if I had time to change that yellow wall color...</td></tr>
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Time wasted, lesson learned! What's a DIY mistake you've learned from?Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-62374638248506920012011-05-23T11:15:00.000-04:002011-05-23T11:15:00.547-04:00Thinking Inside the Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMEcC5UthT8/TdiANK_i04I/AAAAAAAAA1I/x3jxxuWJbCY/s1600/100_1387%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tMEcC5UthT8/TdiANK_i04I/AAAAAAAAA1I/x3jxxuWJbCY/s320/100_1387%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Moving = lots of empty boxes = temporary playpens.Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207225161144770205.post-80905569762301734532011-05-20T09:43:00.000-04:002011-05-20T09:43:00.441-04:00Friday Tip Day<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lnyzEwzGBk/TdHUIIcYxhI/AAAAAAAAA0c/wndLRb1bmLk/s1600/laughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lnyzEwzGBk/TdHUIIcYxhI/AAAAAAAAA0c/wndLRb1bmLk/s320/laughing.jpg" width="320" /></a>Making a house a home is a daunting task, especially when you haven't stayed in one house for more than two years in the last decade. Since 2001, I've been through an apartment in college, a dorm room in Army training, a house in Germany, a warehouse in Turkey, an apartment in Germany, a trailer in Iraq, a tent in Kuwait, another house in Germany, an apartment in Boston, a rented house in Boston, and finally a purchased house in Boston.<br />
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But the easiest thing to make your house is home is to prove that you own it by putting pictures up. Photos of places, friends, and family make any room feel like any of the other places you've called home.<br />
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My favorite picture is one taken by Mr. Move-a-lot's sister at our wedding. A total random moment caught in a dance we were making up on a spot to a song we picked that morning. It reminds us that even when we don't know what we're doing, we're pretty happy. Our faces are all squinted up and weird looking, but who cares! It's blown up and framed and currently in a truck headed to Washington DC!<br />
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Have a picture-filled weekend!Alison Beachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07768497171306750427noreply@blogger.com0