Dining Alfresco

One of my TBC's that I really wanted to finish was my little bistro area in the back yard.  The original footprint was just a little too small.

September 2011

You could only get two chairs out there and they were always being shoved on to the grass. This year I took the opportunity to move out all of the rocks and put down weed blocker. It took forever but finally we have a useable patio. We've had the chair set forever. I think Costco still carries them though.

My mint went crazy this year!

I love sitting out under the lights and enjoying the evening.

You have to enjoy Seattle summers while they last.

Cheers!

Snazying Up a Boring Refrigerator

Like many people out there I have a boring, white, builder basic fridge.

I could replace it with a stainless steel pretty but honestly, I don't feel like shelling out cash for a new refrigerator when this one is basically new. 

A few dozen photos and some sticky tack later I had this instead.

I've been doing some major closet clean outs this month and I found dozens of extra prints from vacations and what not so I figured, why not put them somewhere I can see them.

Now my kitchen is happy! I love looking at them and reminiscing.

Even if you bought prints it would probably be the easiest, cheapest, and least damaging appliance upgrade out there. 

I've been feeling very motivated lately so things are actually getting done around here! Maybe it is this beautiful summer weather? 

Cheers!

Warning: Front Yard Disaster Area

The horrible truth? I haven't touched the front yard since we had the trees taken down last October. 

The very notion of starting is utterly overwhelming.

But it is starting to attack people who are trying to visit so I'm just going to have to suck it up and start working.

The main reason it has taken so long (besides the fact that I hate yard work) is that we didn't have the funds to landscape last November. That, and I told myself it is best to plant in the fall, which is totally true right?

 Well, fall is approaching and If I want to get any planting done I need to clear this up.

I've decided for my own sanity (and wallet) to only do as much yard work as can fill our 96 gallon yard waste bin a week. So, probably a slow process but at least it is a start.  Thankfully the laurel hedge hides most of this from the street so I don't feel quite so bad about being "that neighbor".

I'll let you know how it goes.

Please tell me I am not the only one who dreads yard work.

Cheers!

Holes? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Holes!

And neither do my ceilings!

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Now that they are off my TBC list I am that much closer to starting a new project! I have to say this has been the best and worst thing ever. I know exactly what needs to be done but I don't always want to do them. However, it is holding me more accountable than anything else ever has. I am itching to start a few projects I have lined up so I have been pushing hard on getting things done.

How well do you hold yourself accountable? I'm terrible (in all aspects of life not just house projects) but I am working on it.

Cheers!

A New Screen Door and Another Check

Ok, so this wasn't technically on the To Be Completed list but it needed to happen. When I fixed the screen door two years ago I didn't actually finish it (yeah, not a surprise really). I never put the trim back to secure the screen and eventually it came apart. So for a year I had a screen door with no screen. Not exactly serving its purpose. This time when I stapled on my screening I actually added the trim (you can see the thin trim on the back of the screen but not the front).

Now the screen will stay put!

I used the same paint left over from the front door (Ben Moore in Wales Green). Originally I wanted to paint it a bright citrus but Daniel nixed it. Oh well, this is fun and cheery too!

 I am also happy to report that my painted rug is holding up quite nicely.  I am thinking of repainting both porches but for now they got a good washing and we are calling it done.

Slowly ticking off the boxes. Now I want to paint the back door. What do you think? Super high gloss black? Deep dark blue? A rich mocha? All I know is I want it dark.

Cheers!

 

Where Do You Put Your Drink?

The less space you have the more crafty you need to be. Our Library is ridiculously small so when I stumbled on this pin I knew I had to try it.

I had some scrap 1X5 boards lying around from door frames so I used what I had. The whole project is super simple. Cut three boards the same length. Nail them together and there you have it. I spray painted mine a navy blue to tie in the pillows.

You could easily do something bright and fun or just stain it if you prefer the more rustic look.

Simple and easy and mostly free. My kind of project.  We've used the cuff a few weeks now and it is very sturdy. Norman can even jump up on the couch and nothing happens (which happens often). Now it makes me want to re-upholster the couch (funny how that happens right?)

Cheers!

Summer Chalkboard

With temps in the high 80's I figured it was time to change out the chalkboard on the front porch. I used this as my template.

I searched quite a bit for a quote or something but this one kept coming back.

Simple, just like summer should be.  Now if only it would get like 10 degrees cooler I might actually be able to enjoy it!

Cheers!