Hide and Seek

Hello!  I hope you are are having a great day.  I woke up this morning angry at my husband who, in my dreams, also decided to start dating my mother while we were married.  Does anyone else do that...get made at people for what they did in your dreams?  I don't know how many times I will wake up and start smacking him beside me!  To ease the pain of the dream, I enjoyed a lovely bowl of Cocoa Crisps and a new bottle of L'Oreal shampoo!  We carpooled to work where were were stopped before we were able to pull into the teacher parking lot and told, "Sir, you are going to have to turn right to drop her off in the student drop off area."  I mean seriously, I have been teaching here for 4 years!  I am filing that one away for a bad day in my later years!


Anyhoo....In the last two weeks, I have been stepping out of my comfort zone.  Starting this blog was a HUGE step for me, and I guess after a little over 3 months of blogging, I bit off a little more.  I have been dabbling in other forms of social networking. 


If you are seeking me, let me show you where all I am hiding:


Facebook:  If you look on the right toolbar, you can now "Like" {twenty}something on Facebook.


Twitter:  If you would like to follow me on Twitter (warning: sometimes I get crazy), you can click the icon on the right toolbar or search Twitter for twentysomethng (notice there is no "i").


Pinterest:  My new obsession!  At this lovely site, you can create "boards" that are just like folders on your computer where you can "pin" pictures of things you like onto different boards that you can rename.  I used to do the same thing to folders on my computer and right click and save.  To follow me on Pinterest, go here.  You can see my boards and repin anything you like or send me stuff you think I would like.  It does a great job of creating a way more visual representation of your style than folders on your computer can do!  My boards are "My Style", "Future Projects", "Recipes", etc.


Stumble Upon:  If you love Pandora or Slacker Radio, you will love Stumble Upon.  It is a website that allows you to click the "Stumble" button and random websites will pop up.  For each site, you click the thumbs up or thumbs down symbol and the page either stays or goes away.  It memorizes your interests and starts feeding you more of what you love!!  Also, anything you like is saved into a "favorite" out in the www, and you can go back to it to find something it showed you.  You have no idea how many new blogs I have found this way.  I have even had some of your blogs "Stumble" onto  my screen.  Very exciting!  To find what I "like" on Stumble Upon, go here.


As always, there is a vicious cycle that could occur.  If you venture outside of your box, you might find that you start stumbling and pinning what you find only to send a tweet letting others know and blogging about it and posting your blog post to Facebook!  See what I mean.  However, it will be a blast, and you will walk away with more eye candy, inspiration and possible friendships than ever!


How about you?  Are you reluctant when comes to trying out these new networks, or are they old news that I just found out about?  Do you think they have staying power, or do you think they are just an new version of the uncool MySpace?

I have an announcement....

If you are reading this and you know me, NO, I am not preggo.  There is no bun in my oven.  I am not even on preheat!  This is bigger.  This is better.  Epic success.


After posting here about my present design dreams, I was bound a determined to find a ladder.  Lucky for me, my grandfather-in-law ran a 40+acre cow and chicken farm for years and has lots of old "farm" stuff.  I told him what I was looking for, and he lined up about EIGHT ladders for me to choose from...for free!  Needless to say, I sized them up and down like Charlie Sheen does his women and brought one home!  Readers, I introduce to you, my shabby AUTHENTIC farm ladder.

It is a 6' ladder.  I know I wasn't looking for an A frame ladder, but hear me out.  This is better.  After a few quick drill turns in reverse, I can take off the hardware and have TWO identical ladders!  This is all that is holding the ladder together.

So, my plans are to take apart the ladder and move them around the house.  I know one will go in my master.  The other will probably rotate around the dining room, the kitchen, the office the guest room, front porch or the entryway. Haha, ok....anywhere!  The only place it can't go is in a bathroom for towels, because there is no wall open for it to prop up on.  That's ok - the bathroom is the most popular place people like to use them anyway.  They will be more fun to utilize in other rooms.

Here are my plans - dry brush one of the ladders white for my bedroom.  I want that shabby-chic-looks-like-I-used-to-be-painted-white-but-I-was-used-on-a-farm-for-40-years look.  I would like to dry brush the other ladder, too, but in a color.  It will have to be a color that fits into my color palette, so I can rotate it around.  I am also thinking that I might make a stencil and dry brush some black numbers on the rungs.

For now, I am just waiting for the weekend to get started.  Ultimately, I am waiting for March 13th.  Yes.  That, my friends, is when daylight savings time starts!!  That means that I will start seeing my house in the daylight again.  I can take pictures for the blog during the week.  I can work on painting projects Monday-Fridays after work as well as the limited time I find on the weekend.  Can I get an a-men?!  I know I am not the only one out there counting down the days!

Please, fill up my comment box with ideas of what to do with my two new ladders.  Colors?  Rooms?  Decorating ideas?  I love getting your inspiration.

Giveaway!

Winner Announced:


According to Random.org, Reginia @ The Not So Modern Family is the winner.

Reginia - I will be emailing you with the code to use to shop.  Congrats!




Are you shopping for lighting, bedding, accessories or furniture?  If so, CSN Stores has all of the above and more.  Check out their website which is linked to over 200 online stores.  Here are a few of my favorites:

I love how the site lets you shop by dollar amount.  To find these scores, I just set the little bar on the left to search for $1-$15 keyword items.  It would be SO easy to spend a gift card here.  Especially with so much free shipping!

• PRIZE: A $15 gift card towards any purchase in any of the CSN Stores.
• TO ENTER: Follow my blog and comment on this post with the words “Pick me!  Pick me!” and…
• BONUS QUESTION: … tell me about the best luck you have ever had winning something before.  Was it a raffle ticket or maybe a scratch-off?
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Wednesday, March 2nd at 9pm EST
• NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: Anyone anywhere.
• FINE PRINT: One entry per e-mail address is permitted. The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Wednesday as an update to this post. I will also e-mail the winner if your profile is linked to an e-mail address.  If the winner doesn't claim the prize within 48 hours, we draw again!  Good luck…

D.U.I. - Dreaming Under the Influence {of NyQuil}

I haven't left the couch in 31 hours, and I have already called for a sub for tomorrow.  


Q:  How did I catch whatever it is I have?  
A:  Maybe it was spending the weekend with over 300 high schoolers at a Student Council leadership convention where I got about 10 hours of total sleep.  


Q:  What have I been doing between my self-induced NyQuil comas?
A:  Gathering inspiration for my next few projects.


I simply must have a ladder.  I have my E.I. on the look out as well as Rusty and Reginia.  I look at every old farmhouse I pass on the way to work to see if they have one propped up outside.  I will knock and make an offer.  Here are a few I like:

I believe what I really want is called an orchard ladder.  I would also love an old library ladder.  I want it to be wooden, not an A-frame and aged looking.  I have hopes of putting it in my bedroom and draping scarves and ties over it.  It would also look great in a bathroom to house towels.  Any ideas where to find one?


I am also going to tackle the guest bedroom this summer.  I saw this headboard and fell in love.

Again, I pass several dilapidated barns that are falling over on my way to work.  When I am in the truck and it is daylight out, I am going to knock with cash in hand.  I think four or five pieces will do.  Do you think I am kidding?!!


And wouldn't this bedding just look great next to that rough wood?

I can't wait to try the tutorial and create it for around 30 bucks!


I almost have enough empty frames gathered to do my frame collage.  I am drawing off of these images for inspiration.

I am thinking of wrapping them around the corner of my master bedroom where my reading chair is and end up above my mantle.  Since my walls are Gray Matters, I think that a punchy, mustard accent color would look great mixed in with some clean white ones.


I also found this today.  I am thinking it is a must to make for a large empty spot on a wall.  My dining room is needing something since I couldn't get that clock I saw.

In this picture, the design isn't colored.  It is just the color of the toilet paper rolls.  I am thinking I would spray mine to make it more accented in the room.


So - my biggest question has to do with the headboard.  What word should I write on it?  It is for a guest room, so "love" might not be the right word.  Should it say "sleep" or "dream" or maybe a word in French...give me some ideas!


*Also, I added a little picture in my sidebar with the paint colors in my home, so far.  I am painting the kitchen this weekend, and am still staring at the sample spots on the wall....

Wordless Wednesday

I needed a Wordless Wednesday...

Make An Ikea Ribba Frame A Shadow Box

Remember when I went on an Ikea binge here?.  Well, I stocked up on some white Ribba frames.  I picked up some 4x6 and 5x7 frames to sprinkle around the nest and use in projects.  For a week, they have been sitting in the yellow Ikea bag that is stashed behind my couch.  I wasn't sure what was going to go in them until I came home from the Scott Antique Market with these finds.

I decided to frame them.  My challenge was finding a frame deep enough to allow for 1/4"-1/2" thick items to sit behind some glass.  Even my Ribba frames weren't cutting it.

This is when I thought to turn the Ribba into a shadow box.  It was so simple.  I am sure there probably even better ways out there, but this is what worked for me.

1.  Take some foam, mounting tape.
2.  Cut into skinny strips that are no larger than the lip of your frame.
3.  Place glass into the frame.
4.  In the center of each side of the frame, stack 4 or 5 pieces of mounting 
     tape directly on the glass to create desired thickness.

To assist in supporting the weight of the metal items I wanted to mount, I chose to mount the items directly to the hard backing of the frame.  This meant that I needed to cover the back in some scrapbook paper.

Using the same mounting tape, I affixed the skeleton keys to the scrapbook paper and popped my frame together.  Here is my finished product.

These Ribba frames are legit!  They run $2.99 or $4.99 for the 4x6 or 5x7.  Plus, they come with a mat.  Don't want the mat?  Pull it out to change your 4x6 to a 5x7 and the 5x7 to (almost) an 8x10.  I know I will be picking up some more of these next time I am at Ikea.  I am thinking I will find uses from them everywhere.


What could you see shadow boxing in a Ribba?


*Want to see what went in one of my 5x7 Ribba frames?  Click here for the dry erase love letter tutorial.

For Your Eyes Only

For over three hours on Saturday, Reginia at The Not So Modern Family and I wove up and down the aisles of Scott Antique Market in South Atlanta.  We are armed with a little cash and our cameras.  We walked away with a few things and tons of inspiration.  Let your eyes enjoy:

Shutters.  Shutters.  And.  More.  Shutters!

Wanted this for my dining room ... so bad!

Letter Graveyard.  They started at $20.

What's up with me a nude women?!  This thing was about 7' tall.
I love it...I could do without the crack, though.

Creative storage.

Storage or future light fixtures.

I bought a similar fixture as the top one at a thrift store last week for $2.99.
Notice the PB looking fixture on the bottom?  It had a $650 price tag!

Ladders were everywhere.  I am dying to find one in my price range.

What did I buy?

I picked up these old numbers and skeleton keys for under $15.00.  I plan to shadow box them.  The 2003 represents when our two hearts became one...dude, and it's not even Valentine's Day!  

What about you guys?  Do you like to shop to buy or shop for inspiration or both?  Would you have been able to walk away from all of this eye candy and only spend 15 bones?