Tag Archives: Home and Garden

I Would Like To Say Thanks

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This post is a shout out to  my oldest daughter Pumpkin Pie, who I had to pick up early from school for being sick.

It all started yesterday morning when she said she did not sleep well because her stomach hurt all night.  We had deep dish pizza the night before so I thought that was contributing to her symptoms.  I did all my nursing assessment stuff and gave her a Tums and sent her off to school.

Little bit and I headed off to Ikea.  I was sitting down to breakfast, drinking coffee when the phone call came from the school nurse.  My pumpkin was having abdominal pain again.  So I had to throw my food away and drive back home.

Long story short, I was right , it was the pizza.  She threw it all up that afternoon.  We were pain free all day till she decided to blow chunks.

Today she feels 100%, and no one else is having any trouble.

Now, why I am saying thank you….

If my pumpkin would not have been sick, I would have stayed at Ikea to buy the things on my list.  I would not have gone to Home Goods instead.  I would have never seen my new gorgeous pillows.

001I am talking about the two blue pillows.  Are they not just the best pillows ever?  I heart them so.

When I decided on the coral quilt (also from Home Goods), I initially was going to get gray sheets, then use black and white for my pillows and a throw.  The bright navy sheets spoke to me one day at Target, and I have to say they are perfect.

When you use colors like blue and coral, you put yourself in a very difficult position.  Although they are popular colors right now, it is hard to find pillows that complement them.  Mr. Kell and I make a modest living, and there is no one sponsoring me to buy stuff from their store.  My pillows had to be less than $25.00.  They also had to have the potential to be used in another room.

Well kids, Home Goods came through.  The blue pillow on the left was only $19.99, and the blue one on the right was $16.99.  I flippin love that store.  I had just been there a week before, and neither of these pillows were there.

The other three pillows were bought at Ikea last year.  They were previously being used on the couch.

I kept thanking my sweet girl for being sick and she just giggled.  I had no plans to go to Home Goods this week, and I may have missed out on my new pillows.

I guess Ikea was just not in the cards yesterday.  That is why I am going today.  I really need some dining room chairs, but I suffer from the “I am cheap” syndrome.

Now all that is left for the bedroom, is curtains, art for behind the bed, and a small glass table to house the computer.

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004Yes, I have a chicken pillow on my bed.

To know me is to love me.

Happy Thursday!

 

Before And After… The Tale Of An Armoire.

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Back in 2008, when I was pregnant with my little bit, my sister Heather moved back to Texas for a year and lived with us.  When she moved back to Seattle, we traded out furniture.  I got the Ikea  armoire, and she took the men’s antique dresser/closet.

The armoire as been sitting naked since then.  I am not a fan of naked furniture.  The armoire will not make another move, so I finally decided to add a little color.

Here is a picture of the before.

057I use this cabinet to hold things that need to be easily accessible to my girls.

Here are a few shots of the after.

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038We had to rehang the doors, and I hose to go with a muted silver hinge I found at Walmart.  Pair that with the simple black knobs from Ikea, and I think it looks pretty darn awesome.

037I like that when I removed the tape for the stripes, it shows a little of the original wood color.  It gives it that rustic look.

I am very happy with the results, and it has motivated me to paint a few more things in the house.

On the list is an old cedar chest, and a chair that I painted years ago, that needs a redo.

Some people take pictures, while some paint on canvas.  I have always felt most creative when I am painting furniture.

Happy Wednesday!

It All Started With A Quilt

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This is how the story begins.

First, you know how you have an idea in your mind of how you want a space to look?  You pin and pin room ideas because you like the walls in this one, or the bedding in that one.  Let’s just say, I have many pins of how I wanted our master bedroom to look.

Mr. Kell and I are not fancy, sophisticated people.  We are more your beer and barbecue kinda kids who like to sit outside in our lawn chairs on the drive way when the weather is warm.  We like to camp.  We are more small town than big city.  With that being said, I wanted our bedroom to be simple, with a manly twist.  I wanted white, and grays, with small pops of color.

Here were some of my ideas…

source

This one was my favorite.  It was bright, but simple.  The white bedding with the black and white pillows and green throw.  So perfect.  To this day, I love to decorate with black and white.  Oh, and the deer heads, that would be an ode to Mr. Kell who loves to hunt.

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Subtle patterns in the pillows, and then BAM, the yellow.  A very happy space, but yet still simple and quiet.

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Now the story gets good.  It was just supposed to be a quick trip to Homegoods, to look at the ceramics and to see if there were any grey quilts.  I bypassed the throw pillows because holy crap I would need a room just for pillows.

Anywhoo…

I was not looking for it, but it just jumped out and grabbed me from nowhere.  I could not ignore it.  I could not say no.

160It is a very bright coral. How could I say no.  The color is so fabulous.

Now to figure out what to do with the rest of the room.

A Quick Kitchen Valence

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Mr. Kell and I rent, so I am limited when it comes to decorating.  No painting which actually is fine by me, because I have become a lover of builders cream/white.  Everything looks good with it.

I have been trying to find a way to add some color to my kitchen besides all my colorful pottery, and came upon a fabric swatch at Walmart.

I have since bought every swatch at both Walmart’s near my house.

I have a window above my sink that I love to look out of.  The sun rises at the back of my house, and when the sun is out, it is so pretty to look out and see my green grass, our fire pit, and the tire swing.  It gets me so excited for Spring.

005Here is the window at the worst part of the day to take a picture.  I have to take a moment to tell you I tried everything with my camera, and with some photo magic, but this is all I got.

Anywhoo, it is such a lovely space full of things that scream Necole.  Like the multi-vitamins?  They are all a part of my new years resolution to take care of me.

At first, I wanted to just hang a rope and clip the fabric to the rope like a small curtain.  When I tried it, it took away too much of the light which is what I truly loved about the window.

When I was standing on the counter I noticed a piece of molding on top of the cabinets and I had a super great idea.

I could wrap the fabric around the molding, and with some command strips, could just stick the molding over the blinds.

Genius!

That is exactly what I did.  I cut the fabric slightly larger than the molding and just hot glued it to the molding itself.  I figured I could easily replace the molding if we move, so no harm no foul.

016I am so crazy happy with the results.  I love everything about it.  I loved it so much, I did the same thing to some molding that was already hanging on the blinds on another window by the kitchen table.

My kitchen is turning into such a colorful and happy place.

Next to tackle is the wall space above the cabinets.  I am thinking big bowls and old trays.

Six Things I Am Loving Right Now

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collage
  1. I have 5 old domino magazines from long ago, and I love sitting in my closet looking through them.  I pretty much have the pages memorized.  It was such a good magazine.
  2. I have said it before, bendy straws rock.  How can you not get giddy and smile when you get one?  I ask you how?
  3. A Starbucks decaf caramel macchiato is my go to drink.  I like to think I am Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.
  4. I just bought a few more throw pillows to add to my collection in the living room.  I decided to add ones to mix and match, instead of buying all new pillows.
  5. TOMS really needs to restock these shoes.  I must have them.  I am fixing to make a super purchase. Four pairs of TOMS.  I cannot wait to see which ones my girls pick out.
  6. I love a good canvas tote.  I really like all the hand painted ones I have been seeing on other blogs and Pinterest.  You cannot go wrong with Napoleon.  Watching him dance just makes me happy.  It can make me smile when I am having a crappy day.  That, and getting a nice tasty bass.

I hope you guys have a happy day!!!

 

It Was Not A Good Idea

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When only one person is working in your family, it is not a good idea to go to Home Goods. Especially since you were cancelled for being in overtime.  Sometimes though when you were able to go to Target without any children or your husband, you want to extend your time of bliss, and you decide to stop at Home Goods.

I really want a rug and a chair, also, I want to add some orange to our living room.  So I walked in.

Big mistake…. Big…. Huge……

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071

069The lamps were sick!  Thank goodness I do not have a table to put one on.

Then there were pillows.  Oh the pillows!  I want all new pillows for the couch.  I plan on using the old ones in the bedroom.

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Last but certainly not least, I found a rug.  Too bad it was $150.

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It would look so pretty in the room.

It was nice to get the chance to walk around and window shop without my girls.  The only thing that was missing was my skinny peppermint mocha.

Have a happy day!

Re-vamp An Old Picture

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I have a picture that my sister painted that sits on a shelf in the living room.  The problem is, it is unfinished.  The sides of the canvas are not painted.

036So, while I was out hitting the craft stores the other day, I found some ribbon tape, and had a great idea.

040I added the tape to the sides of the canvas, and viola!

042It adds just enough funk to make me happy.

Now all I can think about is what else I can use the tape on.

 

 

 

My Blank Canvas

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We started moving into our new home yesterday, and there is still so much to do.  I highly recommend making lists, one for the new house, and one for the old house when you are moving.  I am guaranteed to forget something.  We have two weeks to move from the old house to the new one, so I am taking the day off today to clean, pack, and paint.

Moving is very stressful.  Paying three mortgages in a matter of 4 weeks is even more stressful.  I know deep down inside it is all going to work out.  A few years ago I would never have believed it.  I would have been screaming, yelling, crying, and driving my children and husband crazy.  I am doing my best to control myself.  I am not someone who internalizes her feelings.  I am the person who expresses her feelings so she does not end up with an ulcer.  There are good and bad to both.

Anywho, as I was moving boxes into the house, the ideas starting pouring in.  Since we rent, I am unable to go all crazy on the house, but I most certainly can decorate.  I am a very lucky woman who has a husband who really does not care what I do with our living spaces.  He just wants a comfy chair and a nice pillow.  I so heart him.

I took a few pictures of the rooms I wanted to start with.

This is the guest/girls bathroom.  You can see it right when you walk into the house, and because of this, I will probably not make it look too girly.

This is the entry way.  I swear it takes up the whole house.  Boy do I have plans for this space.  Opposite of the wall you see here, is a wall with two arched recessed areas for artwork.  There are so many possibilities, that my mind is reeling.

This is the dining room.  The tile in the house is not what I would have chosen, but it is better than linoleum.  If we end up buying this house, it will be wood.  Anywho, I am not a formal dining room kind of gal, but I would like this room to look put together.  The only time it will be used is for birthdays, holidays, and when the friends come over to eat, and get their butt kicked in croquet.

This is the kitchen.  I am standing in the living room.  My favorite part is how none of the appliances match!  See that fridge?  It is a super fancy samsung that is all digital.  You can program the temperature of the freezer and fridge.  I do not even know what the temperature is supposed to be.  I am used to just turning a dial to normal.  It has a wine rack inside, so I guess I will have to buy a few bottles, you know, so the rack does not feel like it is useless.

As you can see, it is a simple builder grade home with a ton of possibilities.  My plan is to introduce tons of color.  I want our house to scream HAPPY when you walk inside.  I want it to be inviting and comfy.  I want guests to know they can sit back and relax, as long as they take their shoes off at the door, because the carpet is brand new.

I hope you will tune in to see what I have planned.

Gotta go, it is time to blow up Pinterest.

Happy Tuesday!

Battle Cry

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Here is my battle cry.

I want that ugly camping chair my husband watches sports in gone!

Did you hear it?

If not, I will say it again.

I want that ugly camping chair my husband watches sports in gone!

It is not funny anymore.  It is ugly.

Every time I put it in the garage, it finds its place right back in our living room.

He has resorted to using my decorative pillows on our couch as a seat cushion.

It is time to buy a new chair.

Two problems.

  1. I am cheap.
  2. I am cheap.

I have a hard time spending large amounts of money on things for our house, especially since we rent.  Now, I know that the furniture will move with us, but I still have that apartment mentality that I will just buy new furniture when I buy a home.

I have owned a home, and I did not buy any new furniture then.

If I do not buy a new chair soon, the husband may find a matching ottoman.

Lordy B.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have been scouring the internet for ideas, and these area few ideas I have come up with.

via target.com

via apartmenttherapy.com

via vintagerevivals.blogspot.com

found via pinterest unable to locate original

I want something with color and character.  We have a large leather sectional that takes up most of the room, but there is a corner next to the fireplace where the chair would fit perfectly.  I want something that screams Necole.

So far, everything I like is way over my budget.  To be honest, I have not really even set a budget.

I love each of the chairs above, and really want to incorporate one of the looks in the living room.

I think my best bet will be to start craiglisting to see what pops up.

I have my fingers crossed that I will find something.

I may even try to reupholster.  Who knows.

What I do know, is that I need to get crackalakin before the husband decides to start sitting in a plastic lawn bed.

Wouldn’t that be lovely.

Signed,

Desperatelyinneedofchairmama

My Nook

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If I ever had the chance to build a home, it would have a small sitting area off the main entrance. This would be the library/nook/sitting room. I have many ideas on how I would like it to look. It would also house the family computer, because I need a quiet place to blog and play on Pinterest.

Here is one example on how I would furnish and decorate the room.

Nook

If you cannot tell, I really do not like things that match.

What would you put in your nook?