{freckles chick}

Guest bedroom: idea board

2012-01-26T08:28:00.002-07:00

There's a reason why I haven't shared any other parts of our finished basement (other than the guest bathroom & my office nook)--none of them are decorated yet & are looking quite sad.

There's only one solution: get decoratin'. Decorating lets the sad out.

During one of Quinn's naps (in her own crib, thank goodness, though she only power naps for 30 min each time), I threw together an idea board for the guest bedroom. Why? Because it helps me to corral my ideas & see how they work collectively. I had told Mr. FC that all along I was envisioning a "Ralph Lauren aesthetic" (the Parisian flagship store is my favorite) for the guest bedroom. I don't know if I accomplished that but I managed to cobble a mix of styles & metals together: nautical/vintage/Colorado-ness & silver/pewter/aged brass.

It looks like a hot mess.

Mr. Lauren, if you're reading this (which I'm sure you are): Ralphie, forgive me.

1 & 1/2 & 2/3/4/5/6/7
(All basement walls were painted in Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, which I'm too lazy to change right now.)

****************** In other news ***********************

A few weeks ago Mr. FC noted that our child resembles a Monchhichi.

Does that make us bad parents? If you're an '80s baby like myself, you know what I'm sayin':

I think the resemblance is uncanny/adorable/awesome.

Most productive day ever, seriously.

{ Will be back next week with a few home décor updates. }

33

2012-01-18T08:38:00.001-07:00

I turned 33 on the 3rd (of January). I hate to disappoint you but though I'm getting on in years, my sense of humor has not matured at all. Having a birthday right after the holidays usually means people never really remember your birthday/are so over festivities/sometimes give you combined Christmas & birthday gifts (lame). ~~Kidding.~~ Totally serious.

All joking aside, I really don't mind. Low-key is my middle name & I did just that by celebrating quietly with Mr. FC & Quinn. (Hiro was around somewhere but he was too busy unearthing the mammoth bone he got/buried for Christmas.) We've tried a couple restaurant outings with Quinn but she's not a fan yet, so instead Mr. FC brought home sushi from one of our favorite places.

We put the iPod on shuffle & I cracked open a bottle of wine. I snapped this photo because it was not staged at all, promise. I laughed so hard, I almost cried.

For the judge-y folks: I had less than a glass & made sure I was w/in the safe breastfeeding window specified by my midwife/doctor.

Mr. FC spoiled me with a Kindle Touch 3G
(I talked him down from the Kindle Fire--I just want to read books on my Kindle, dammit).

Also, thank you to my in-laws who showered me with giftcards galore, a beautiful bouquet & a lovely scarlet pashmina.
(My family doesn't do birthdays--it's a Buddhist thing/long story.)

All in all, a sweet birthday spent with the three people I love most.
One of them is furry, guess which one (hint: it's not Mr. FC).

{ taken w/ my camera phone, pardon the blurs }

{ Hiro after a snowy romp on my birthday. }

Any other January birthdays out there? Happy Birthday to you all!

Here's to a brilliant year!!

P.S. I'm way behind on my blog reading, my apologies! Hoping to catch up soon. Just know that I appreciate each & every one of your comments. If you're a lurker -- I appreciate you too.

Tarjay hits the bullseye

2012-01-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

{ Awww, thank you so very much to everyone for your super sweet comments on Quinn's 1 Month photo!!!! She gets major creds for really amping up her cuteness factor during that photo shoot.}

I ran in to Target* the other day for stuff (toilet paper, paper towels, the latest issue of People mag**....you know, just the essentials) & couldn't resist racing thru their home décor collection aisle (Quinn was getting fussy....come on girl, mama needs her décor fix). I haven't gotten excited about their last few collections but am really digging this season's***. I'm sure people all over Blogland have posted this, but here are some items that caught my eye:

{See more here }

* In college, when Target started getting fancy, my friends & I would call the one in the ritzy neighborhood "Tarjay" & the one in the not-so-ritzy neighborhood "Targhetto".

** I feel slightly less guilty for reading People. Forget Us Weekly & CNN; if I see it in People then it's like, real news.

*** The opinions above are my own. I was not paid or compensated for posting this. I wish. (Target & People Magazine: call me, mmkay?)

QUINN: 1 MONTH

2012-01-03T13:24:00.002-07:00

To document each monthly milestone of Quinn's first year, we'll be taking photos of her with these lovely monthly stickers from Sticky Bellies. They were a kind gift from my blog friend Carly who is also the brilliant creator (sidenote: I've "known" Carly for years now, since back in our days on the Nest's Decorating & Renovating board). I couldn't be more in love & impressed with her creations & the success of Sticky Bellies. These reusable monthly stickers are so convenient, especially for folks like me who don't have the time/patience to bother with Photoshopping such things on to onesies (besides, they're much more adorable than anything I could've created). Thanks so very much for thinking of our little Quinn, Carly!!

With the hustle & bustle of the holidays, we lagged in taking Quinn's 1 month photo. The girl was 2 weeks late making her arrival into our world, so I'm sensing a trend......... Technically these are pics of Quinn at 1.5 months. Better late than never. =]

"Get me out of this chair..........."

Quinnie Girl~

We loved you from the start but as each day passes, our love for you grows even more. We're bursting at the seams with adoration for you over here.

Things were a bit rough at the beginning, what with your long-awaited arrival & my breastfeeding issues (TMI: my milk didn't come in for 2.5 weeks & so we supplemented with donor milk--thank goodness for that resource). I was an emotional wreck & felt like a failure but was fiercely determined to keep at it. Thankfully, I think we're starting to find our groove.

We hear some newborns are "good sleepers" from the start, but not you, our little firecracker. Up until last week (your 6 weeks mark), you preferred to nurse every 1.5 to 2 hours all day and all night!! You prefer to nap only when one of us wears you (you love the Moby baby sling/wrap). It's the "fourth trimester" phenomenon & is normal at this age says your pediatrician, plus you're so new & this world is a little scary, huh? The sleep training can wait; right now I'm just trying to soak up these moments of being so close to you all the time. They do go by so quickly.

I was one exhausted mama but just when I was coming to terms with our arrangement you gifted me with 4 straight hours of sleep one night last week & have kept that up for a week straight. I'll take it! Thank you, baby girl. You are a truly happy baby (except when you're hungry, then all hell breaks loose). You are getting chubbier & starting to smile at us & coo & babble away now. It melts our hearts like you wouldn't believe--we're helpless little puddles up in here.

Parenting is the hardest thing your daddy & I have ever encountered, but it's true what they say that things do get easier with each day. There are some days when it feels like we're trying to reinvent the wheel (as our dear friend Heather so eloquently puts it). Then, just when we think we're completely incompetent, & that you just might petition for somebody else to be your parents, you gift us with a breakthrough that makes us shake our heads in wonder. Maybe sometimes we don't suck after all.

Love you to the moon & back, Q-tie Pie.

Toodles to 2011

2011-12-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

As we bid adieu to 2011, I thought I'd highlight some of the projects that happened around Casa Freckles Chick this past year. After all, isn't this time of year about reflecting on what was & looking forward to what could be?

Besides me growing & giving birth to a tiny human, here's what also got accomplished around here:

{FRAMED SEAFAN ART}

{DIY LINEN & NAILHEAD CORK BOARD}

{DIY CHANDELIER CANDLE SLEEVES}

{REFURBISHED DRESSER/CHANGING TABLE}

{RUB 'N BUFF FRAMES}

{GUEST BATHROOM}

{KITCHEN UPDATES}

{OFFICE NOOK}

{QUINN'S NURSERY}

(by far, my most favorite accomplishment)

I don't usually set New Year's resolutions because not setting goals means I never fail & that feels awesome why wait till the end of the year for self-improvement? My mantra for 2012 is simple: to enjoy the "now" & be grateful for what I have rather than lusting after what I don't have...........and as always, to remind myself to laugh lots.

What are your resolutions? Any wild New Year's Eve plans?

I plan to indulge in sipping some bubbly whilst curling up with Mr. FC, Quinn & Hiro.

Hopefully Quinn will sleep more than 2 hours at a time tomorrow night. ::fingers crossed::

Wishing you a happy & healthy New Year, my friends!

Thank you for making my 2011 fabulous!

Hey girl.....

2011-12-19T11:45:00.001-07:00

........because I haven't really left the house in weeks (other than errands & one holiday get-together) & because I need a distraction from my sore breastfeeding nipps (I don't think this was what my lactation consultant meant):

{All images plucked from here}

Happy Monday =]

Still here (barely)!

2011-12-01T15:12:00.001-07:00

Sleep-deprived? Check.
Teeth brushed? Can't remember...what day is it?
Sore nipples from breastfeeding? Check. (If things just got weird for you, don't read this other reference to my boobs. Or do. Either way really.)
House in shambles? Check.
Loving our baby girl? Check.

I can't tell you how much your comments on the birth of our Quinn Evie meant to us. I read them during stolen moments at the hospital, during naptime, in the wee hours of the night whilst nursing. You all never cease to amaze me with your sincere kindness. I'm constantly awed that you all take the time out of your day to read this blog of mine. Heart touched, eyes misty.

Baby Bootcamp is kicking our asses but thank goodness for Mr. FC. Teamwork is so important! But all it takes is a sight like these to melt our hearts. This little lady ~~is the reason I missed the Twilight: Breaking Dawn premiere~~ lights up our lives, truly.

{Photos courtesy of our friend Ben of Ben Klaus Photography. Thanks for the fun impromptu session, Benny!}

I thought about turning this one into her birth announcement.

Caption: Forget the onesies, buy effing earplugs.

Love you Quinnie Cakes.

P.S. Thank you to the loverly Cassie for including Quinn's nursery in her This Really Melts My Butter round-up!! What a true honor! How I love & envy that girl (frenemy much?). I do believe she & I were cut from the same cloth. Destined to be Sarcasm Sisters. The Queen Bees of dry humor.

P.P.S. I'm working on writing up Quinn's birth story (thank you to those who've expressed interest in reading it). In an effort to bring balance to this blog, I've also got some home-related posts in the queue & will be back with those as soon as I can get my act together enough to take/edit the accompanying pics.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

* Thanks so much for the adorable lilac flower accessory, Jenna!! Love & miss you!! =]

There's someone we'd like you to meet...........

2011-11-18T22:17:00.014-07:00

Quinn Evie

born on 11.17.11 at 8:13 am
7 lbs, 7 oz

This little lady made quite the debut................
exactly 2 weeks past her estimated due date, after 24 hrs of labor & finally via a C-section.
Thankfully she's very healthy, so perfect (complete with a full head of hair!!), & we've fallen hopelessly head-over-heels in love with her.
Completely captivated.

We owe so much to our incredibly amazing nurse midwives, hospital nurses, & surgical team who helped bring Quinn into this world. They cared for her like she was their own.

Thank you to all of our family & friends for so kindly helping out, without us even having to ask.

Also, thanks to all of you in blogland for reading along, caring & taking the time to leave such thoughtful comments.

We're all doing well! Will be taking some time to get to know our little lady.

See you soon!

P.S. I also owe a round of thank you's to Centsational Girl for including Quinn's nursery in her Best of the Blogosphere round-up & The DIY Showoff for so sweetly featuring Quinn's nursery on her blog! It is such an honor to be mentioned by such lovely & talented bloggers. It's akin to sitting at the popular girls' lunch table for a day. =] Thanks again, Kate & Roeshel!

The Nursery Reveal

2011-11-03T09:06:00.030-06:00

Since today is the little lady's due date (though I'm not feeling any signs of her imminent arrival yet!), I thought it's the perfect time to show you her nursery. From start to finish, I so enjoyed putting together her room. It holds a special place in my heart & was my little haven where I could simply reflect on the past months.

This room is probably never going to look this way ever again (yes, I most definitely did hide the diaper pail & the trash can for these photos) so without further adieu, here is Baby P's nursery.

I hope you love it as much as I do.

If not, well....it doesn't take much to make me cry these days. HA!

{I've put together a source list at the end of this post.}

A favorite poem (I Carry Your Heart With Me by E.E. Cummings) that I've been reading aloud to the Peanut.

A soft, plush friend from our dear neighbors/friends Heather & Jesse.

Thank you SO very much for her chic closet organizer Suzie!! =]

Every Colorado baby needs a pair of Patagonia booties (thank you Nate & Kim!!).

SOURCE LIST

{CRIB} Jenny Lind DaVinci (white, w/ toddler bed conversion rail not pictured)

{CRIB MATTRESS} Naturepedic No-Compromise Organic Cotton Classic 150
{CRIB SKIRT} Tadpoles
{BLANKET} Made by my lovely friend Sara
{CHAIR} Ikea Jennylund w/ washable slipcover (we'll turn the chair into a swivel-rocker eventually)
{OTTOMAN} CB2 Knitted Pouf (grey)
{WOOL & JUTE RUG} Target
{CHANGING TABLE/DRESSER} Craigs List 1950’s dresser (refurbed by Mr. FC & me)
{ART DECO KNOBS} Anthropologie (no longer available but these are similar)
{ANTIQUE GOLD KNOBS} Home Depot
{CHANGING PAD} Serta Organic Contour Pad (a gift from the Peanut's Aunt Tamara!)
{WALL DECAL} Etsy seller Nature Style (custom colors)
{“Q” WALL LETTER} Pottery Barn Kids (espresso)
{ANIMAL PHOTOS} Sharon Montrose
{FRAMES} Target (Rub 'n Buffed by me)
{ACRYLIC BOOK LEDGES} Clear Solutions
{“LA VIE EST BELLE” PRINT} Etsy seller fifiduvie (silver)
{DRAGONFLY HOOK} Anthropologie
{CLOSET ORGANIZER} Koala Baby Closets (a gift from friend/decorpad creator Suzie!)
{DRAPES} Dwell Studio fabric via Tonic Living (“hemmed" by me)

Repurposed items:
{CAPIZ CHANDELIER} repurposed World Market find from 2 yrs ago
{CERAMIC GARDEN STOOL} repurposed $20 Big Lots find from 1+ yr ago
{VINTAGE ORNATE MIRROR} repurposed $10 thrift store find from 2 yrs ago
{GREEK KEY PILLOW} repurposed Z Gallerie find from 2+ yrs ago

Paint:
{WALL PAINT} Benjamin Moore’s Grant Beige color-matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint (eggshell finish)
{DOORS/BASEBOARDS} Benjamin Moore’s White Dove color-matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint (semi-gloss)
{CHANGING TABLE/DRESSER} same paint as doors/baseboards

{ See more Nursery Diaries: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 }

Let's hope the ultrasound was correct & that the Peanut really is a baby girl..........

otherwise a certain baby boy will have to deal with a very girly room for a while.
OK, it's back to drinking raspberry leaf tea, taking evening primrose capsules, & possibly an acupuncture appointment for me to hopefully naturally encourage this little lady to make her debut.
We can't wait to meet her.
=]

Nursery Diaries: Part 5 (sort of)

2011-10-27T07:46:00.001-06:00

Still here. Still prego. Due date is Nov. 3rd though the idea of 11/01/11 for the little lady's birthday is intriguing. Regardless, she's calling the shots from here on out so we shall see.

Her nursery is done (though a room is truly never "done", am I right?) & I'm learning how to use our new fancy camera whilst waiting for this Colorado snow storm to pass so I can take decent pics of the room. Hope to be able to share her nursery with you all next week..........unless the little lady decides to make her debut, of course. Thanks for your patience!

I finally framed our Sharon Montrose animal photos. I've been a fan forever, even before I got impregnated. As for frames, I went with inexpensive Target frames ($10/each). Then seeing these fabulous projects from the eternally awesome & witty Cassie reminded me that I had a tube of Rub 'n Buff (available at most craft stores) sitting in a drawer somewhere. I gave Hiro the side-eye & we both giggled at "Rub 'n Buff" for a while. Once we got that out of our systems, Hiro went outside to chase a squirrel & I got to transforming the frames. My method: wear gloves, work outside (it's smelly stuff initially), wipe down frames with a damp rag, then use a clean old t-shirt to rub 'n buff away to your heart's content. This tiny tube goes a long way. Let frames cure in a well-ventilated area for a few days.

Voila.

{ Rub 'n' Buff in Antique Gold }

A sneak peek at another wall in the Peanut's nursery.

A bit difficult to see in this pic, but the clear acrylic shelves displaying her books are from here
(these are the 24 inchers).

And last, but certainly not least, a dear reader made these darling burp cloths for the Peanut. The fabrics & craftmanship are perfection & she even thoughtfully washed the burp cloths in baby detergent. When I opened the package, I was moved to tears over such a kind, generous, sweet gesture.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Molly!!

These make me grin like a fool every time I see them. I do believe you could take Etsy by storm (you know, in between raising your kiddos & keeping order to an already busy life =] ).

****************************************************************************

P.S. On a different note, I've been experiencing some serious pregnancy heartburn over the past few weeks & my nurse midwife recommended natural papaya pills. Just thought I'd mention these little magical supplements as they've worked wonders for me where Tums & such have failed. (As always, consult your medical practitioner first.)

P.P.S. Also, friends of ours let us borrow the DVD version of "The Happiest Baby On The Block" a few months ago, which we finally got around to watching. Amazing. I don't know if "The Five S's" will work on our little one, but I'm daring to hope..............

Nursery Diaries: Part 4

2011-10-12T09:30:00.006-06:00

Sorry for the lack of posts!

Whoever said that the nesting instinct really kicks in when a prego approaches her due date wasn't lying. I'm 36 weeks now & my nesting instinct has kicked into hyper overdrive. Over the past few days I've cleaned out the fridge, rearranged the pantry, did maintenance on the washer/dryer, laundered & organized the Peanut's clothes, prepared freezer meals for the week after we get home from the hospital, purged old files at work, & cleaned out my car. This is what happens when FC's ~~sober~~ got the nesting bug.

Remember my ideas for the nursery? One of my goals was to repurpose some items we already have which brings me to the ceramic garden stool we had sitting on our deck. It was orginally white but the sun had yellowed it; some of the paint had also chipped off. I wanted to spraypaint it (for that glossy, even finish) a raspberry color but was worried about the off-gassing (spraypaint fumes are horrible). I considered hand-brushing it using no VOC paint but was concerned about an uneven finish & the time-consuming factor. So I called a couple green hardware stores in the Boulder area (no shortage of those around here) & they both suggested sealing the spraypaint with this stuff. Note: Acrylacq is not no VOC; it's low VOC & helps prevent off-gassing. It's not the perfect solution but it comes close. A little pricey for a quart but there's so much left over for future projects.

I spraypainted the ceramic stool, let it cure in our garage for a week (OK, I forgot about it), applied a couple coats of Acrylacq (follow the instructions on the can), and let that cure for a few days.

Regarding my glider/rocker debate..............

I was hesitant to spend beaucoup bucks on a chair that might or might not get use. Some people (friends, family, & bloggers) have told me they can't live without theirs & others said they barely touched their glider/rocker. We also ran into the problem of space; the nursery is small & most upholstered rockers are too mammoth-sized for this space (I'm not a fan of those wooden gliders with the padding due to my decrepit back issues).

So when I stumbled upon two talented bloggers who turned the Ikea Jennylund accent chair into swivel -rockers, I was stoked.

Ikea Jennylund

{All Growed Up's chair turned swivel-rocker}

{Mrs. Wigglebottom's chair turned swivel-rocker}

THANKS A MILLION, LADIES!!

Here's ours (we haven't added the rocking mechanism yet).

This chair's affordable, so comfy, low profile, & I can throw that slipcover in the wash as needed.
Bring on the spit-up & poop explosions.

Also, after googling the crap out of this chair, it's reassuring to see that a lot of bloggers have it in their nurseries, too.

Still chugging along but I think this little lady's room will be ready for a full reveal soon.

{ Read more Nursery Diaries here }

Showered: baby shower #2

2011-10-05T08:52:00.009-06:00

This is the last baby shower post you'll have to put up with, I swear.

This past weekend, my kick-ass girlfriends Christina & Julie, hosted Baby Shower #2 for me & the Peanut. As I've mentioned before, I'm not accustomed to being the center of attention (hey, stop rolling your eyes skeptically) so I was feeling beyond blessed to be surrounded by such amazing ladies. I don't know what I'd do without girlfriends. These ladies are ~~total lushes~~ awesome, through & through. They will make you pee from laughing; a true friend is one who makes me lose control of bodily function.

Julie & Christina incorporated Baby P's nursery colors, raspberry & gold, into the shower scheme. Not easy to find raspberry stuff (fuschia or hot pink are not raspberry hues, dammit).

Invites were ordered from here & I couldn't be happier with them!

Love this bunting Julie created.
Heather said:
"And you can totally turn it into a string bikini post-baby!"

Adorably awesome diaper cake my friend Sara created (she's the one in navy blue polka dots in the group pic below).

Can you tell Mr. FC registered for those brown moccasins on top?

Since the Peanut's a girl, I think he's got high hopes she'll be a total tomboy. Keep dreaming the dream, honey.

Jules said:

"There's like 2 bottles of white wine in that sangria, but don't worry, I diluted it with some orange liquer."

Best friend ever.

This zuchinni cake layered with fruit was to.die.for.

I forgot to take pics of the delicious food spread but it included rustic organic sandwiches from Whole Foods, baked brie en croute, fruit salad, a cheese/cracker plate, & a Napa cabbage salad.

I must have eaten a whole wheel of brie myself.

{ The lovely ladies, minus my friend Sam who arrived later }

L to R (back row): Sara, Kirsten, me, Michelle, Julie (co-hostess, the shower took place at her lovely home), Emily, Christina (co-hostess & new mom herself!)

L to R (front row): Kari, Nikki & daughter Vivian Harper, Heather, Jenny

Chatting about booze, birth control, freezing your eggs, & how someone should really invent "pasties" for portruding pregnant belly buttons. Why should nipples have all the fun?

You know, just the typical baby shower topics.

It was the 2nd day of fall & 80 degree weather be damned, I was determined to wear boots.

(Did anyone else have a problem with spider veins all over your legs during pregnancy?!!)

Michelle (behind me & to the right in the group pic) who has given us soooooo much by way of pristine baby girl hand-me-downs, baby gear, etc. presented me with my favorite onesie of the bunch......................

.........................and also Mr. FC's mug on a mug (in all his hawtness).

It might have been the co-guest of honor at my shower, we all loved it so much:

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our family & friends, currently the nursery looks like this.

Time to start organizing.

Thanks for dropping by! I have some nursery progress posts qeued up & will be back soon with those.

Hope you're not too burned out on baby-related posts yet because that's pretty much what's dominating our lives around here.

~smiley faces & hearts~

Vampy

2011-09-23T09:30:00.002-06:00

I am a 32 y/o woman, about to have a baby, & I am shamelessly looking forward to
Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1.
And it's not just because Edward & Bella finally have "the sex".

Promise.
(Who am I kidding, it's totally the reason I want to see the movie.)

Vampire humor is almost as entertaining as vampire sex.

Almost.

(Not as entertaining as the ridiculous Target Missoni craze though. So weird.)

{ via my Pinterest }

Have a lovely (vampire-free) weekend!
I'm gearing up for another baby shower & we're also hosting out of town guests (my sister-in-law & her boyfriend). Busy but fun!

Showered: baby shower #1

2011-09-20T08:04:00.012-06:00

My amazing co-workers, Maxine & Heather, threw a wonderful work baby shower for me this past weekend. I'm used to being the hostess rather than the hostee (word?) so when a party is given in my honor, I'm just blasted away by the kind gesture. I'm one of those people who feels guilty for being the guest of honor. All these people took time out of their day for me? I was definitely blushing up a storm.

Ready for a bunch of pics of people you don't know? =]

Pearly grey invites with foil baby feet from Papyrus:

Co-hostess Heather (or as I call her, "my legacy" as she's taking over for me when I leave).
She is so dependable, candid, & freaking hilarious. She makes work not feel like work!

The deliciously decadent red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
I was so enamored by this confection........pearlized frosting, sparkling sugar, raspberry roses, the Peanut's monogram and all.

Co-hostess Maxine serving up the cake.
Love this girl. We often joke that we're each other's token Asian friend.
It's like we both win.

The onesie/bib decorating station:

My adorable little helper (that's his mom to the left, one of my favorite coworkers/people).

I've always known that my co-workers were generous but they really went above & beyond for my shower.
Amongst the stuff they gifted us was the car seat we registered for.................

.........and these fabulous ladies also got me the loveliest diaper bag which is en route.
Mr. FC's going to love carrying this chic thing around, HA!!

One of Maxine's gifts was a bundle of thoughtful "freebies" (e.g., babysitting services so Mr. FC & I could have date night, run errands, etc.). I was stoked!!

"OMG, finally it's an ethnic-looking baby on the box......she could totally be mine!"

"Hell yeah I'm getting an epidural!"

These ladies are the best colleagues anyone could ever ask for.

We're a tight-knit bunch. I'm going to miss the comraderie like mad.

It was such good times.
Nothing compares to seeing your co-workers buzzed up on mimosas, trying to decorate onesies & bibs.
Warms my heart.

Edited to add: Thank you so much for all your kind comments!! You're making this preggo chick, who feels like she's currently carrying a bowling ball around, positively glow. I've gotten emails inquiring about my outfit; here are the sources:
sweater dress
boots (stone leather color)
necklace

Nursery Diaries: Part 3

2011-09-13T07:13:00.004-06:00

As I'm at 33 wks in my pregnancy, the race is on to pull the elements of the nursery together. Which is sort of silly as she will most likely sleep in a basinette in our room for the first few weeks.........but then again, I doubt we'll have even one moment to attend to anything besides the Peanut in those early weeks. So, better now than later, right?

I know how fortunate I am to be feeling pretty good thus far; I'm not taking that for granted at all! My energy level has allowed me to function somewhere between full throttle (i.e., bouncing off walls) & pleasantly productive. Mr. FC keeps reminding me to take it easy. Uh, excuse me, have we met?! Call it the nesting instinct or more likely, call me the type who rarely sits still, it just feels really good to check things off our "Prep For Baby Checklist". So in between doctors's appointments, birthing classes, working, & life we've been plugging away at the nursery any chance we get.......and trying to savor every minute of this journey because it really flies by so quickly. Hope you don't mind these little updates as we plod along versus an instant gratification reveal!

I found this sturdy 1950's real wood dresser on Craigs List a few weeks ago for $75 (which is a deal for our area). It has the perfect dimensions for a changing table with storage to boot. It just looked like it had been hit with the ugly stick too many times.

Nothing a good sand & paint job can't fix.

The only way Mr. FC will allow me to paint currently: outside in the fresh air, with gloves, & lots of water breaks.

I wanted to seal & stainblock the piece so I primed it inside & out.

Not gonna lie, this piece was sort of a beeotch to prime, lots of nooks & crannies.

FYI: we discovered Kilz Clean Start primer (zero VOC) over a year ago & it's our preferred primer.

Pardon the grainy photos. Our camera's been temperamental & pooping out on us lately.

I just love these art deco Anthropologie knobs.

So, I originally replaced all the knobs with them but the overall effect was too......gaudy.

So I toned it down with simple antiqued gold knobs from Home Depot.

One of my favorite details are the knobbly legs.

In other news, I ordered some fabric samples from Tonic Living for the nursery drapes.

I've already picked my favorite. Any guesses? =]

Edited to add: use code RAMBLING for 10% off your Tonic Living order, courtesy of Rambling Renovaters. Thanks so much, Jen!!

More to come in this nursery saga. Please contain your excitement.

I know I'm so stoked, I could just pee.

{ Read more Nursery Diaries here. }

Nursery Diaries: Part 2

2011-09-06T08:15:00.006-06:00

I hope you had a great labor-free Labor Day weekend! Ours kicked off with a fun football-watching-get-together with friends. We are a bunch of University of Iowa alums transplanted to Colorado & we watched the Hawkeyes ass-whoop Tennessee Tech --> sorry, I don't know who their mascot is because, up until Saturday, I didn't know Tennessee Tech even existed.

When I started to write this nursery update, I didn't foresee using "ass-whoop" in the post but hey, never give up hope. I'm an embarassment to the Peanut already.

Speaking of the Peanut, progress has been made in her room. Mr. FC finished the painting, caulking, refinishing a few weeks ago. The walls (formerly a dark grey) got a fresh coat of primer & Benjamin Moore's Grant Beige (color matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint; we took advantage of their paint sale recently).

Grant Beige is truly a gorgeous neutral color. It's a cool beige that leans towards a subtle grey-green undertone. Maybe it's because we chose an eggshell finish, but the color in real life has this lovely luminosity to it.

The doors were already pre-primed so they just got 2 coats of semi-gloss Benjamin Moore's White Dove. We always have a bucket of this paint on hand because it's my go-to white paint; it's a soft yet crisp white that's not too stark on the eyeballs.

Mr. FC sanded, filled nailholes, painted, & caulked the baseboards.

He also switched out all the old outlets to child-safe ones.

On Friday, Mr. FC assembled the Jenny Lind DaVinci crib, which was purchased from here (along with the toddler bed conversion rail). After much research, I found that they have the best price, free shipping, & delivery was hassle-free. This crib has got to be the easiest crib to assemble in the history of the earth. It's very sturdy. WE LOVE IT!

Beer in hand, look of mingled fatherly excitement/apprehension on face...........ready to assemble the crib.

On Sunday, I tackled the blooming branch wall decal (this is the one I purchased). I must have picked the most intricate wall decal ever. The branch had to be applied in three parts & each blossom, petal, bird had to be applied indi-freaking-vidually. I'm very Type A when it comes to this sort of thing, so of course I had to tweak the decal to make sure the branch parts lined up seamlessly & the blossoms looked "natural" in their placement. It took a few hours but I had an absolute blast doing it. Decor dork, party of one..............

I'm kicking myself for not taking pics of each phase so you can see how this blooming branch came to life.

Oh well, here's how it looks:

I didn't want blossom overload, so I applied them sparingly (there's still a third of the blossoms left unused).

We have textured walls so it took a little effort but the decal adhered just fine. If anything, the bumps/ridges give the branch/birds some "life". Mr. FC requested that he get to apply the gold birds because apparently birds are his thing. Who am I to deny a man his delicate gold sparrows?

There's more nursery stuff to share, but I've rambled on long enough.

More to come soon, thanks for following along!

{ To start at the beginning, read Nursery Diaries: Part 1 }

Basement reno: office nook

2011-08-30T07:23:00.004-06:00

To make room for the Peanut, we've moved the former office downstairs to the renovated basement (see my sidebar for pics of that old space). Mr. FC has his own (boring/utilitarian) office where he does some of his enviro consult work, bill paying, & other serious stuff goes down.

I have my little corner nook where I blog, attempt to get crafty, & no serious stuff really goes down. Here is that said nook (I shot the after pics on two different days, obviously some were after my latest BHG issue arrived, ha!):

With the exception of some new things, I tried to work with items I already had.

Here's the source list:

{"desk"} console table Home Goods
{chair} refurbished Craigs List find
{gold silk pillow} Target 3 yrs ago
{acrylic magazine holders} Container Store
{cork board} read about how I made it here
{floating shelf} Target 4 yrs ago
{framed umbrellas print} free from here (Target frame)
{turquoise storage boxes} Container Store
{bone Moroccan box} Home Goods 2 yrs ago
{framed butterfly} Etsy -----> I understand if you're appalled at the thought of harvesting such a live creature for artistic purposes; if it's any consolation, it was humanely harvested (which sounds like an oxymoron, I know).
EDIT: {lamp} Home Goods ~over 1 yr ago

**** The whole basement is painted Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl (color matched in Sherwin Williams' Harmony No VOC paint)

As always, thanks for stopping by!!

(And if you found me via Apartment Therapy ReNest's feature on our kitchen update, welcome!!)

Renovation eye candy

2011-08-25T09:31:00.003-06:00

These fabulous, renovated spaces I stumbled upon sure do get my renovating juices flowing (eww, visual).

Serial renovater Kelly's historic house kitchen has such a smart use of vertical space.
Just look at all those lovely industrial finishes.

Kell, can I call you my blog buddy for life?

BEFORE

AFTER

*************************************************

Another serial renovater, Liz, did this to her kitchen.

Can you believe this is a kitchen in a fix and flip property?!

BEFORE

AFTER

(Also, my jaw dropped when I saw these customized chair slipcovers she painted.)

*************************************************
Hazardous Design's renovated powder room has been popping up in my dreams.

Such unexpected elements that work so harmoniously together.

Not your typical powder room in so many gorgeous & glorious ways.

BEFORE

AFTER

P.S. So, sorry for the tumbleweeds around here.

I'll be back next week with a reveal of my office nook & progress on the nursery.

Love you, mean it.

The winner............

2011-08-21T12:33:00.000-06:00

...........of the Shabby Apple Da Vinci dress giveaway is:

Stacy

Congratulations, Stacy!!

Please email me at freckleschic4 @ gmail dot com with

your shipping address, phone number, & dress size

to claim your prize.

Thank you to Shabby Apple for a fabulous giveaway &

to all of you for entering!

Ikea insanity & kitchen shelves

2011-08-18T10:48:00.002-06:00

We ventured out to the new (only) Ikea here in Colorado two weekends ago. The parking was ridiculous. The crowds were insane. Quite honestly? Once we were roaming the aisles, all the hype was baffling. No need to squabble people, there are enough Ribba frames & slipcovered furniture for all you crazies.

While I woudn't exactly outfit our entire house in the Ikea aesthetic (some of their stuff seems a bit college dorm-ish--even for a cheapo like myself), we were completely blown away by the abundance of storage solutions. Hell, those Swedes seriously know how to make the best of small spaces.

We left with three stainless steel shelves (the EKBY MOSSBY in this size) & three sets of their corresponding brackets (the EKBY BJÄRNUM). They're perfect for above our stove, where we just ripped out half a wall.

Mr. FC was able to drill all the brackets directly into wall studs. These suckers aren't going anywhere & can hold a max of 22 lbs each. Very sturdy. The shelves themselves are wrapped in stainless steel-looking heavy duty "foil" whereas the brackets really are stainless steel (fyi, the screws are not included with the shelves).

(If you're heading to the grocery store, I'm low on flour & sugar.......)

One day I'll have my dream kitchen, but this is just fine for now.
Our kitchen is freakishly small but, believe it or not, very functional.

This new open shelving makes it even more efficient, so I couldn't be happier.

This is how it looked before..................

My counters are really always this bare. Counter space is precious in here.

This surface is flagstone.

Not my first choice, but this is what happens when Freckles Chick compromises with her husband.
He's a geologist. He's partial to rustic surfaces.
Freak.

And a little trip down memory lane............................................

All in all, we're loving this update to the ol' kitchen.

See more of how it's evolved here (including details on the backsplash, floor tiles, etc).

{ Pssst, have you entered the Shabby Apple dress giveaway yet? }

Giveaway: Shabby Apple

2011-08-15T07:51:00.003-06:00

: : : : THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED : : : :

This week's giveaway is sponsored by the fashionable folks at Shabby Apple. One look at their collection will tell you that Shabby Apple showcases dresses that flatter with a vintage flair. Their quest is to bring back a forgotten style principle: a stylish dress is all one needs to make a statement; a one-piece outfit that speaks for itself. Shabby Apple also showcases a line of boutique accessories, vintage-inspired swimwear, and charming tween and girls dresses too.

Shabby Apple asked me to choose a dress for them to give away to a lucky winner. I've chosen the Da Vinci & reviewed the dress myself so I can honestly tell you: this dress is both chic & comfy!

One lucky reader will get the chance to win a Da Vinci of her very own!

To enter:

* Simply go peek at Shabby Apples's dress collection &

leave a comment here telling me what other dress caught your eye.

** Earn a bonus entry by liking Shabby Apple on Facebook.

*** Earn another bonus entry by tweeting about this Shabby Apple giveaway.

Leave me a separate comment for each of the above entry method you've completed.

(Each reader is allowed to enter three times maximum.)

The rules:

* This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

* This giveaway will close on Friday, August 19th, midnight MST.

* The winner will be selected by random.org.

******************************************************************************

Can't wait to win?

Shabby Apple is extending a 10% off coupon code to my readers.

Just enter this code at checkout:

freckles10off
Happy shopping!

*******************************************************************************

Shabby Apple dress review

2011-08-09T07:30:00.009-06:00

I've loved Shabby Apple's charming dress collection ever since they sponsored a giveaway here on my blog not too long ago. To be honest though, I'd never worn their dresses before (just admired them from afar). So I was extremely excited when they asked if I was interested in reviewing one of their dresses. Yes, please.

I chose to review the Da Vinci dress.

Shabby Apple's description of it as "one part sweatshirt, one part puffed-sleeve perfection" won me over.

My honest opinion? The Da Vinci is the most comfortable dress I've put on in recent memory. Don't let the sweatshirt-like pouch pocket fool you, because the soft jersey material has the prettiest subtle sheen; elevates it way above any old sweatshirt in my wardrobe.

I've been calling this dress the sweatshirt's more stylish sister. It's so wonderfully lightweight that it practically floats on my skin, I kid you not. The color is a chic charcoal grey, which is a perennial favorite in my closet (grey is the new black in my book). I truly think this dress could transition from season to season! So far I've only worn it on a breezy summer day, but I'm already imagining pairing it with sleek leather boots for autumn. My favorite part though? The puffed sleeves. They add a sweet flair, just like the drop waist.

Sorry for the Attention Whore pose; just want to show how it looks on.
You'll also have to excuse the baby bump (the pouch pocket helps a little) & the blurry photo.
It was taken in the early morning hours.

I have to clarify that this is not a maternity dress (again, don't let my preggo bump take away from the lovely dress) but it is so versatile that I think it could flatter any body type. Not too shabby, huh?

My tip: The Da Vinci fits generously, so if you prefer a more fitted silhouette, order one size smaller than you'd normally wear. Or consult Shabby Apple's handy fit guide if you're unsure. There's a bit of spandex in the material, which I've discovered helps the dress hold its shape really well.

Stay tuned because you will have the opportunity to win a Da Vinci of your own!

Shabby Apple will be sponsoring a giveaway of this dress to one lucky winner

(as well as a discount code open to all readers of my blog)

on Monday, August 15th, so check back in soon!

* The opinions above are my own. Trust me, I would not have posted my review if I wasn't 100% satisfied with the dress.

The winner............

2011-08-06T23:15:00.001-06:00

.........of the UPrinting.com giveaway is:

Emily

Congratulations Emily!

Please send me your email (see sidebar) to claim your prize.

Thanks again to the folks at UPrinting.com for a great giveaway!

Crap going on around our house

2011-08-03T08:04:00.005-06:00

The goings-on around our house during the past week or so...........and none of them are 100% completed, so I have no pretty "afters" to post yet. I guess this is a shameless post to fill the void until there are bonafide "afters" to show.

Knocked out half a (non load-bearing) wall between our kitchen & the dining nook. Our tiny kitchen has been going thru little updates to get us by until we can do a full-blown renovation:

Mr. FC painted the nursery walls (formerly the office), refinished the baseboards, & painted the closet doors/entry door/door frame a fresh white. More to come in a later post!

While he painted, I finally pulled together my basement office nook.

Just waiting for the next sunny day to take photos, as it's too shady by the time I get home from work. Here's a terrible sneak peek:

Remember those basement window wells he worked so hard on?

Well, here are the early stages of making them more child-safe (we'll stain the rails to match the rest of the well).

  My daily CraigsList stalkings resulted in a couple of great finds.We scored a sturdy (100% wood) vintage dresser that I am refurbishing to resemble the changing table in my nursery inspiration board.
Also scored a used B.O.B. all-terrain stroller for a song. It's only a year-old & in impeccable condition. Perfect for strolls & hikes with baby & dog.
And to prove that while we're spending a ton of time prepping for the Peanut's arrival, we haven't forgotten our furry baby Hiro. Since he's getting on in years, we installed a double-paned doggie door for his peeing pleasure. He's LOVING it. Much better than the old chintzy one that I (used to) fit through.I call this "The Wall of Hiro":

Meanwhile, our friend Julie found this sweet, old guy while she was out for a run. He had escaped from his yard & was wandering on a busy street, dehydrated & disoriented; she happened to be near our house so she brought him by. He had no ID other than a rabies tag. Mr. FC took a break from painting to track down the owner, which took some sleuthing via the rabies tag & vet records (Wyoming!). We found out his name is Max, is 10 yrs old, has epilepsy, & his owner recently moved to Colorado. The owner came to claim him & told us he was quite the escape artist & figured the microchip implant Max got was sufficient.  Get the poor guy adequate tags, Idiot Dogowner!!
We're also dog-sitting this slobbery sweetheart for our friends Jeremy & Michelle. She's been mixing her copious amounts of drool with the renovation dust.  I've been cleaning like mad. She's a good girl though.Why the long face, Lola?

So there's my wild ramblings on what's going on in our little corner of the world.

What are you all up to?

{ Psssst, don't forget to enter the UPrinting.com giveaway! }

Giveaway: UPrinting.com

2011-08-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

: : : : THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED : : : :

This week's giveaway is sponsored by the fabulous folks at UPrinting.com :

To say that UPrinting.com can meet all your professional & personal printing needs is an understatement. Is there anything they can't print?! I'm eyeing their stretched canvas printing service myself. Business cards, canvas prints, posters, invitations, banners, calendars, greeting cards.........if you can think of it, they can print it.

The giveaway:

a lucky reader will win one (1) rolled canvas print *

To enter:

* Leave a comment telling us what you would have printed on your very own rolled canvas piece. Simple as that!

The rules:

* One entry per reader

* Please leave an email address in your comment so that we can contact you if you've won.

* Limited to US residents 18 years old and above only

* Past winners of a UPrinting giveaway in the last six months are not eligible, sorry!

* This giveaway will close at 5 pm MST on Friday, August 5th, 2011.

* The winner will be selected by random.org.

Good luck to all!

* rolled canvas print details:
size 16” x 20”
image of winner's choosing with the option of 2-inch border or no border
one business day turnaround time & free shipping
Check out UPrinting.com for more details about canvas sizes.

This canvas printing giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given for hosting.

Nursery Diaries: Part 1

2011-07-26T07:35:00.012-06:00

Sorry for yet another baby post but this one's décor related, I promise.

Feel free to skip over it if you don't like babies.

Baby hater. =]

Here's my plan for Freckles Chicklet's nursery (thanks Shannon, for that moniker).

Mr. FC has deferred the design to me; he's accepted that there's no getting around the girly vibes.

Poor Mr. FC & his masculinity (what's left of it anyway).

My intentions:

* an airy, ethereal room of ivory & gold grounded by accents of vibrant raspberry & rich charcoal (the room's small, approx. 10 ft x 12 ft)

* create a room she can grow with so transitional pieces are key (a crib that converts to a toddler bed, a dresser that has changing table capabilities, neutral/timeless colors)

* stick to a budget by repurposing some things we already have/finding worthy knockoffs/refurbishing thrifty finds

The details if you're curious:

{1} We've ordered the Jenny Lind DaVinci crib (non drop side). Its' vintage look & versatility has always appealed to me. It's finish is non-toxic, lead free, and phthalate free of course. We also got the affordable conversion rail so that, when the time comes, the crib can be converted to a toddler bed. I really love white/ivory crib bedding (this is a crude mock-up I did). We'll see how it holds up to those midnight baby poop explosions.

{2} I've been a fan of Sharon Montrose's animal photos for a while, & we've chosen two of her adorable prints to frame. (Sidenote: a reader questioned the humanity of such animal photography on my original post way back when; to which I responded with the photographer's assurance here.) The Rainbow Connection print is a fun Etsy find. I like Muppets. My mom couldn't pry me away from Miss Piggy when I was a tot. Still can't.

{3} Avid reader that I am, I'd love to pass this habit on to the little Peanut. Would love to recreate this wall-mounted book rack for less. The wall-mount feature is ideal as floor space is limited.

{4} Some sort of ottoman to prop up tired toes would be nice. This tufted piece got rave reviews, the charcoal linen is versatile, AND it also has storage space. (I stumbled across this piece whilst assembling this idea board weeks ago, but lately it seems to be cropping up all over the blogosphere!)

{5} A cushy rug to cover our hardwood floor is crucial. I'm not sold on this one but I do like the chevron texture & sandy gold color.

{6} I'm torn about getting a glider/rocker. Obviously I won't know for a little bit if baby girl will be the rocking type, so I'm hesitant to spend beaucoup bucks on a fancy rocking chair. From talking to our friends & family, apparently some babies love to be rocked & others don't. Regardless, it would be smart to have a comfy seat nearby so we shall see. Why are upholstered armchairs and gliders so damn expensive?!

{7} I'd like to bring in our ceramic garden stool to use as a side table. It's round, compact, & stable. It's currently white so there's a new coat or two of raspberry paint (no VOC) in its future.

{8} A changing table in a classic style that can offer storage (and later be used just as a dresser) is on the wishlist. Been stalking Craig's List for something similar that I can refurbish or maybe we'll try to find a knockoff of the pricey one pictured. Either way, my plan is to replace the hardware with these art deco knobs that I bought last year for no apparent reason.

{9} I found this $10 ornate gold mirror at a thrift store two years ago. Too frilly for the rest of our home but just right for a nursery, I'm thinking.

{10} The walls will be painted a cool taupe color with a hint of gold undertone---> Mr. FC just did this last weekend. This might sound drab for a nursery, but I guess we're just not candy-colored walls people (I'm a huge advocate of bringing in color with accessories). Plus, baby toys are bright enough so there won't be any shortage of color, I'm sure.

{11} Ever since we installed recessed lighting throughout, our old white capiz chandelier that used to be in our master bedroom needs a new home so there we go.

{12} To add some whimsy to the wall, a blooming branch wall decal is a possibility. I love this particular one for its gold birds & fuschia blooms, which fit right in with the color scheme. If that doesn't work out, maybe a stencil pattern of some sort? Edit: the decal pictured above can be found here.

I know...........it is a bit silly of me to put so much thought into a nursery when she won't even know the difference for a while (the plan is for her to sleep by our bed in her basinette for those early days). Yes, I won't give a flying flip as to how the space looks once I'm up at all ungodly hours with a newborn. And yes, the most important element in the nursery is her & everything else pales in comparison. I can't deny it though: putting together a space just for her is a constant source of comfort & joy. Aw, all the things that wine used to do; how I miss you, my friend (no offense, Peanut).

Now, does anyone have any advice when it comes to a rocker/glider/chair discussion?

Is anyone snorting at the idea of pristine white linens & poop explosions?

Does anyone think my idea board is ludicrous for a nursery?

Me too. But I'm totally doing it.

The winner....

2011-07-25T08:35:00.001-06:00

........of the Light World $25 gift code giveaway is:

Michele P.

Congratulations Michele!

Expect an email from the Light World folks shortly in order to claim your prize.

Enjoy!

Thank you to all for participating in the giveaway!

Giveaway: Light World

2011-07-19T07:46:00.003-06:00

: : : : : : THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED : : : : : :

I've got a great giveaway for you today, sponsored by the folks at Light World! Their virtual showroom offers endless lighting and design options to their customers at a click of a button, from chandeliers to pendants to lamps to ceiling medallions to mirrors.....and that's just the the tip of the design iceberg. Whether your style is modern, traditional, or transitional, you just might find what you're looking for at Light World. The best part? Shipping is always free on all orders. Score.

Here are just a few of the delicious design items that caught my eye:

The giveaway:

The generous Light World folks are offering up a $25 gift code for one lucky winner to use on their site.

To enter:

* Leave me a comment with the word LIGHT.

* Earn a bonus entry by Liking Light World on Facebook or by Following Light World on Twitter.

* Leave me a separate comment for each of the above entry method that you've completed.

The rules:

* Limited to two entries maximum per reader.

* This giveaway will close on Saturday, July 23rd, 2011 @ 5pm MST.

* The winner will be selected by random.org and announced the next day.

Good luck to all!

Found out.................

2011-07-13T07:56:00.002-06:00

..............the peanut is a :

What crossed my mind: A sweet baby girl! Hope she's not a wine-loving lush like her mom. (Kidding.)

What crossed Mr. FC's mind: A sweet baby girl! Time to buy weapons to use on her future boyfriends. Hope she's not a wine-loving lush like her mom. (Not really kidding.)

All joking aside, we are ecstatic.

Baby girl, we are just awed by you. Utterly enamored.

Pure love & devotion over here.

( Ohhhhhh how I'm looking forward to her nursery. )

Basement reno: completed guest bathroom

2011-07-07T08:13:00.016-06:00

I don't know why it's taken me forever to post about the completed basement/guest bathroom, but here it is. Sorry it took me so long to get my act together (I blame the peanut, the little stinker) & I hope the finished product doesn't disappoint. The construction dust has finally settled, the room's gotten a thorough cleaning, & I finally got the last details to fall into place. It's a small windowless bathroom, so we did our best to keep it light, simple, & budget-friendly.

First the pics, then the details & breakdown (at bottom of post).

Here are a buttload of photos, prepare yourselves:

We strayed from my original idea board a bit, much to my chagrin, but oh well. I didn't dwell on the changes too much............just for a few ~~months~~ weeks . I'm referring to:

* {my beloved side-by-side sconces} Due to the original plumbing, the sink had to be placed in a very specific spot......which meant the mirror had to be centered above it..........which meant there wouldn't be room for the sconces on either side (no matter the size of the mirror). We contemplated repositioning the plumbing but couldn't justify the cost of concrete cutting, etc.

* {the gorgeous beaded, beveled, budget mirror} No wonder it was so inexpensive. Once it was hung, we noticed that the bottom half had a defect where it warped our reflection. The effect was vertigo-inducing so we nixed it. It was also a bit too glam for Mr. FC's taste (eye roll, big sigh) so we went with a more traditional mirror.

* {my plan for a custom shower curtain} I have no excuse except that time got away from us & we had to buy a shower curtain pronto for overnight guests. I'd like to eventually have a custom-made shower curtain but that can wait.

* {the beadboard paneling} It was too cottage-y for us, so the plan is to eventually add board & batten. Rainy day(s) project perhaps?

THE DETAILS

(sorry I don't have the energy to plug in all the prices but let me know if you need specifics, I'll be happy to provide them!) :

toilet & sink: Kohler Memoirs (Home Depot)
bathtub: Kohler (Home Depot)

mirror: Home Depot

light: Bellacor --> sconces be damned, I really do love the nautical look of this fixture!
faucet: Symmons (the Carrington in chrome)
tiles: Crossville Ceramic Co from The Great Indoors, 6x24 planks (color: Lead) promo $9/sq ft (originally $14/sq ft)
floor grout: Lowe's (warm gray)
white subway tiles: Daltile from Home Depot
accent tiles: a mix of honed carrara marble, polished Calcutta marble, & aqua/grey sea-glasss from Bedrosian's, Denver location ($10.50/sq ft sheet)

faux bois hand towel: West Elm

shower curtain/liner: Target's Fieldcrest Luxury line

curtain hooks: Target

bath rug: Dwell Studio for Target

framed seafan: DIY, details here

bath accessories (vanity tray, jar): Target
soap dispenser: Target

beaded glass vase: drinking glass from Anthropologie

soy candle: Anthropologie (smells like clementines, yum)

wall color: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl color matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint (painted eons ago)

See more of our basement reno journey here.
Click here to see our other bathroom reno.

Thanks for dropping by!

DIY candle sleeves

2011-06-27T07:13:00.002-06:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! We attended a lovely wedding in Denver & I realized:

a) Weddings are not as fun sober.

b) I'm not as fun sober.

I recently made a subtle/easy update to our dining room chandelier. Though I would love to replace our current one (a clearance item from Home Depot) with a statement-making fixture (this one's fun), I can't really justify it at the moment. The current fixture functions and blends in just fine with our current aesthetics.

So I just customized ours a bit with more interesting candle sleeves which took mere minutes. Inexpensive (unlike these, chic as they are) & not at all permanent, so I won't feel guilty if the urge to change it up strikes (it inevitably always does). Inspired by Jeannine's project, I measured scrap book paper that I already had, cut, attached the sleeves, & instead of a glue stick, I used matte tape to join the seams; it's practically invisible.

DISCLAIMER: Depending on the bulb wattage/type of paper/length of time you leave your light on, you might want to be attentive of any potential flammable hazards.

Subtle, I know (did I mention I'm color-phobic) but I like it enough for now. I guess not even a light fixture can escape my grasp. This must be why I'm not allowed over at any of our friends' houses, or so I tell myself. No worries, I'll just keep driving by their homes. Slowly. At night. Every night. Whilst peering through any window I can. Stalking is like really time-consuming though.

Appreciation & peonies

2011-06-21T07:17:00.006-06:00

You, my friends, sure know how to make this girl's heart burst with happiness. I can't tell you how blessed I felt to read your well wishes. Your sincerity puts me over the moon. I don't know what I did to deserve such kind, wonderful-spirited readers. Thank you for your friendship & readership. Know that I read and appreciate every single comment you leave on this humble blog of mine.

On a different note, mind if I share a shot of the Whole Foods peonies Mr. FC surprised me with last week?

They were tight little pink balls (giggle) & literally bloomed into these luscious beauties overnight.

Isn't that so sweet, you could just vomit?

Dear Mr. FC, you are definitely awesome.

Now quit being so romantical-like, you're scaring us both.

P.S. Some of you asked how I am feeling; thank you so much for asking. I'm feeling great! I was lucky enough to skip the so-called morning sickness/nausea phase entirely (there's still plenty of time left, I guess). Again, what did I do to deserve that bit of good fortune???? Other than the sheer exhaustion in the 1st/early 2nd trimester, I am loving being pregnant. I'm getting a kick out of feeling the peanut's tiny fluttery kicks. Also, thanks to prenatal Pilates/yoga, my lower back & discs are in good shape so far; I highly recommend them for anyone pregnant or not. And no particularly "weird" food cravings yet........unless your definition of weird encompasses microwave popcorn garnished with French onion dip (then we are now in a blog fight).

P.P.S. Not to get inappropriate (when has my blog ever been appropriate, let's be real), but pregnancy has spun my boobs out of control (well for me, anything's an improvement). I no longer look like I'm smuggling raisins.

P.P.P.S. If that image also makes you want to vomit, just scroll back up & stare at the peonies for a bit. You guys are the best.

What are your favorite blooms?

Anyone lucky enough to have your own peony bush?

(We tried but failed. Darn dry, Colorado clay soil.)

Oh baby......

2011-06-13T06:25:00.013-06:00

.................with our next ~~little~~ big "project".

We are so stoked about our little peanut.

Words can't fully describe our emotions but they're somewhere in the realm of euphoric.

My fellow design lovers, I will try my best to not turn this into a 24-hr baby blog. To each their own (there are plenty of bloggers out there fulfilling that niche) but it's just not me--famous last words, huh? Perhaps I'm speaking too soon, but I'll try to not infiltrate this blog with weekly photos of my naked expanding belly and/or tales of dirty diapers. After all, just because we might find our little peanut cute, doesn't mean everyone else will.......bwahaha!

So, it will be business as usual around here. That being said, I hope you'll indulge me if I do post something baby-related every once in a while! I'd like to somehow strike a balance between design-related posts & life/baby posts. Meanwhile, I hope we can convince our photographer friend Ben to do an awkward photo shoot like this one with us. Awesome.

Our wonderful family & friends' joy have us marveling. Not only have they bestowed their wholehearted support/wisdom upon us, they've also made us laugh during this journey into unknown territory (for us).

This e-card, from my friend Jen, made me spew my non-alcoholic beverage all over the 'puter screen (love it):

I can also hear the collective sigh of relief over how, now, I won't be able to make any wine-drinking jokes.
At least for a while.

It's like we all win, really.

Happy Birthday, Hiro

2011-06-07T08:48:00.005-06:00

Dear Mom & Dad,

It's f***ing amazing that you've kept me alive for this long. Except for that one vodka mishap (not your fault, I know), I've been spoiled & pampered rotten.
Here's to another year of that.

You guys don't suck.

Licks,

Hiro

P.S. THANK YOU to Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest for featuring our home on their 10 Whole House Renovations You Can Follow Along!! We are so honored (what amazing company we are in, wow!). And a warm welcome to any new readers who found us via that feature! **I owe it to an Anonymous reader for letting me know, so thank you, Anonymous =]

Any other pooches out there who are in the June birthday month club?

A cork board & nekked Pilates

2011-05-18T07:44:00.004-06:00

I have approximately 92 items on my To Do List. What's not on that list: sprucing up a bulletin board.

But I totally did it anyway. Because it was more entertaining than #17 on the To Do List (scrape paint off door hinges) & #4 (get blinds for atrium window so neighbors don't have to put up with me in my underwear doing my Pilates workout) .

Just kidding about the Pilates in my underwear.......I actually do Pilates nekked. 'S okay, I clean the mat after every use. So......

Inspired by Bryn's cork board (which was inspired by Erika's), I made a mini version of my own. I skipped the spray adhesive part ~~because the lady at Michael's thought I looked shifty & wouldn't sell me any~~ which worked out just fine. <---------- from naked Pilates to inspiring bloggers to glue-sniffing assumptions, that is my best segue ever.

The spruced up board will hang in my newly defined office nook. We recently moved the former office downstairs to the finished basement, where Mr. FC (who works from home part of the week) has his own legit office & I (who really only need a horizontal surface so I can blog/keep up correspondences/search YouTube for inappropriately funny videos) get to make this nook my small corner of the world.

More on this nook and the finished basement soon (just waiting for some small finishing touches).

P.S. Someone needs to cut me off from linen & nailhead trim; all the rooms in my house are starting to look same-sies.

P.P.S. And here is an example of one of those aforementioned YouTube videos.

Checking things off my To Do List is awesome.

April loves

2011-05-03T07:43:00.015-06:00

If anyone is still here, I owe you a giant thank you for sticking around during my overly long blog break. You fill my heart with rainbows & pretty butterflies. As much as I missed blogging, it was refreshing to spend time away from the virtual world. Though every day was full of hustle & bustle, I was thankful for every bit of it.

How do I say this modestly............... I'm, like, really popular in real life. People just clamor for me. Bwahaha.

But enough about me, let's talk more about.................me. I have some fun posts in the queue but have yet to upload the relevant pics. Meanwhile, here are some things I enjoyed in April. Pointless & silly filler post? Guilty as charged.
____________________________________________________________________

*TOSH.O*

(Inappropriate humor...........yes, please. He's Mr. FC Version 2.0)

*NON-SKANKY FINDS (SKANKS SCARE ME)*

I haven't popped into Express in a while (the skankified mannequins in their display windows scare me), but was recently pleasantly surprised. I quickly scooped up these items:

knot necklace, sandals, chiffon blouse

*SESAME SEAWEED RICE CHIPS*

These will make you cheat on your potato chips. You might make these rice chips your mistress.

I bought ~~their entire inventory~~ mine at Whole Foods.

*BURBERRY TOUCH*

I'm not a perfume wearer but fell in love with this scent when I "borrowed" a spritz from a friend.

According to Burberry, it has notes of black currant, dewberry, pink peppercorn, orange, rose oil, tuberose, jasmine, Madonna Lilly, peach, raspberry, vanilla, and cedarwood.

According to me, it has fresh notes of deliciousness, floral without being overpowering.

*THE ROYAL WEDDING*

Did I think the media circus surrounding the event was ridiculous? Yes.

Did that stop me from streaming video of the wedding coverage to my work computer on Friday? No.

I think they're brilliant & lovely.

*poster from here & e-card from here

*SPEAKING OF WEDDINGS.......*

We attended a lovely wedding for our friends Kevin & Jacinda.
I touched her gorgeous dress a lawt. It was like a delicate whipped cream confection.

I almost ate it.

*METHOD GRAPEFRUIT ALL PURPOSE/SURFACE CLEANER*

I'm a cleaning products whore (not to be confused with "skanks", see NON-SKANKY FINDS above), but I can honestly say that this stuff is awesome. I've used it on mirror, marble, laminate, porcelain, & painted wood. I don't want to get all enviro-preachy (I know how annoying it is when bloggers get all self-righteous about stuff), but this cleaner is an all-around good guy. Plus, it smells so zesty you could eat it (but don't).

*LOOK AT MY BLOOMERS*

We inherited an apple tree (some sort of Granny Smith hybrid) & a plum blossom tree when we bought our house 4 yrs ago, but they didn't bloom until last year.

I think our pruning did them some good because they're blooming again now--even more abundantly!

*TUNES OF THE MOMENT*

Am loving Blind Pilot, especially this song! Not so much for the topic per se, but more for the melody & clever lyrics.

* I did not receive any perks for blogging about the above products. But if you're offering, OK. I have to put food on the table for Hiro somehow & he really likes his expensive organic hippie dogfood.

break

2011-02-14T07:47:00.010-07:00

{ image plucked from here via Good Girl Gone Glad }

Bracing myself against a towering mountain of pesky deadlines, massive home projects & a bevy of social commitments.

I won't bore you with the specifics nor am I complaining.

Life is splendid.

It's just that this blog is only a small part of it.
(I mean that in the most gracious possible way; no offense to my dear readers).
I wish I was one of those bloggers who can balance life & a blog so seamlessly, but I'm not.

I'm just taking a bit of a break to give the other parts of life my 110%.

I know what you're thinking: Uh, I thought you were already on a break, what with your pathetic one post per week.

Ha!

And, awkwaaaaaaard.

I wish I had guest bloggers lined up for you, but I'm not that organized so I apologize.
Honestly, what did you expect from someone who loves her copious vats of wine?
(No, this little "break" is not a euphemism for "FC goes to rehab".)
Crap! This is how rumors get started. Forget I said that.

I'm also hoping to catch up on reading your awesome blogs in the interim.

See you soon!

A lip-smacking *mwah* to you,
~ FC ~

P.S. Hiro finally ventured downstairs to check out the basement renovation goings-ons. There was a lot of drilling & sawing happening so we gave The Hairy Bastard protective ear gear. They complement his glowing eyes.

seafan(tastic) #2

2011-02-07T07:36:00.005-07:00

How is everyone this Monday morning? I'm suffering from a post-SuperBowl queso/chips/ribs/hummus hangover. Our friends hosted a great gameday get-together (yay Packers).

Us being us, we brought organic blue corn chips, carrot chips & hummus. It being Boulder County, so did everyone else.

Anyway, before we resigned ourselves to gorging on food & watching the SuperBowl (& PuppyBowl), I assembled some art for the basement/guest bathroom. It's nothing totally original as it's similar to what I did for our upstairs bathroom. Obviously I love seafans, perhaps because we're so landlocked here in Colorado. This time I went in a slightly different direction: another species of seafan & a contrasting color.

A coat of white spraypaint accentuates the webbing & veins. It looks a bit like lace, yes?

Ha, can you see my hands..........

seafan: ebay seller Wagners ($16 for a 12x10 seafan, free shipping)

shadowbox: Michael's ($10 during a 50% off sale)

white spraypaint: leftover from previous projects ("free")

*I refrained from clipping the stem b/c I like the organic look of it.*
*The seafan is held in place by a strip of black double-sided tape. It's virtually invisible.*
________________________________________________

total = ~ $26

Not bad, considering Restoration Expensiveware (as my blog friend Kim calls it) is asking $550 for theirs (what.the.eff. for reals):

Basement reno: shower tiles

2011-02-01T07:34:00.007-07:00

We decided against both of the tiles I originally posted about here. :::giving you the side-eye::: Let's pretend that post never happened. Edited to add: the mosaic accent tiles are NOT the ones some have mentioned seeing at Home Depot, but they are very similar =]

Though I wanted a shower similar to this stunning carrara marble beauty (so jealous of you, Jeannine!) and it was ironically within our budget, in the end we decided on tiles that are a better fit for us:

1) With a marble vanity/slate floor (upstairs bathroom) and marble backsplash (kitchen) we already choose to seal 2x/year, the thought of yet another sealing job was not too appealing.
2) This basement bathroom will also be the guest bathroom. We felt a bit guilty asking guests to squeegee/maintain those carrara marble tiles after every use........and we get a lot of overnight guests......a lawt. It's like a freaking hotel up in here (dear family & friends: love you, mean it).
3) We kept envisioning any future offspring drawing on those precious marble tiles with those crazy bath crayons or zooming toys across the marble's etch-prone surface........which almost led to a minor conniption on my part. (Note to family: I'm not growing a human yet so calm down).

All those reasons led us to this (excuse the lighting, we're working on it):

A shower worthy of the glossy pages of House Beautiful that I originally envisioned? Well, no. A shower that we can splash in, live in, and love without worrying too much? Most importantly yes.

subway tiles: Home Depot (.88/tile)
tile border/trim: Home Depot ($1.88/piece) --------> So stoked I pushed for these. It's like crown moulding for subway tiles. Love!
accent tiles (a mix of honed carrara marble, polished Calcutta marble, & aqua/grey sea-glass): Bedrosian's, Denver location ($10.50/sq ft sheet)
paint: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl color matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint

* The placement of the glass tiles/cubby might seem a bit off but it was due to logistical reasons of which I won't bore you with.
* This tile combo was inspired by Aubrey & Lindsay's beautiful shower.

liquid therapy (not wine)

2011-01-27T08:50:00.010-07:00

I've been a little under the weather so lately there's nothing better than homemade chicken noodle soup. Somehow I can always muster up just enough energy to throw together my quick version; call it FC's Lazy Soup b~~ecause FC drinks too much wine whilst cooking & forgets to follow a recipe~~ if you will. My version is hardly gourmet nor ground-breaking but it beats gross, salty soup from a can (it's also ready in just minutes since there's no need to make your own broth). You real chefs out there will probably scoff at my shortcuts, but I promise there are no shortcuts on flavor.

I rarely measure when I cook ~~because FC drinks too much wine whilst cooking & forgets to follow a recipe~~ so I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Chop veggies (2 celery stalks, 3 carrots).
Saute in extra virgin olive oil (if you call it EVOO, I will punch you) for 7 minutes, medium heat (I like my veggies slightly crunchy).
Shred chicken (discard skin & bones).
Add broth (2 boxes), chicken, uncooked egg noodles (~2 cups), & herbs/seasoning (~1 tsp each) to sauteed veggies.
Simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Most importantly, let your sous chef help you clean up food bits:

Oddly enough, I find that making my own chicken noodle soup is therapeutic in itself. Something about chopping the crisp veggies, pulling the tender chicken from the bone, and breathing in the aroma of broth & herbs, I suppose. Here's to curling up with a simmering bowl of therapy.

P.S. On my wishlist (for making soups & such): a Le Creuset dutch oven. I asked for a dutch oven for my birthday but Mr. FC couldn't stop snickering long enough to get me one. =[

Back next week with more basement reno updates & some projects I've been working on.

Thanks for stopping by!

books & a bell jar

2011-01-18T07:32:00.003-07:00

The other day, I popped into Restoration Hardware to look for bathroom hardware and spotted these stripped paperbacks (center; sorry can't seem to find the actual books on their site):

So simple. So perfect for a bookworm like me. However, $29 for a small crusty bundle of books (granted they're probably found treasures from some French flea market)?!

Making my own version took 15 minutes.

My adulation and respect for books runs deep, so I felt absurdly wicked for tearing the covers off these. To expose more of the string binding the pages, I scraped away the paper & glue using an exacto knife (wear protective gloves & scrape away from you, please......Freckles Chick is not down with lawsuits).

These books are circa 1952 so they're sort of vintagey-old.
If you were born in 1952........never mind about the old part. Also, you might be a collectible! Yay!

This display is probably not everyone's cup of tea but it's very much mine.

Mr. FC's reaction after I tore the covers off: "I liked the covers."

vintage paperbacks: $8 (local vintage bookstore)
bell jar/cloche: $8 (HomeGoods)
cake stand: already owned (will eventually replace with a wooden base if I can find one)
jute twine: $3/roll (Home Depot)

Basement reno: the toilet, sink, & faucet

2011-01-12T07:16:00.005-07:00

We are a few steps closer to having a fully functioning guest bathroom. The toilet, sink, and faucet are all installed and working properly. I am so excited to have a second bathroom, it's ridiculous. Consider this my official open invite for all of you to come over to sit on our toilet and wash your hands in our sink using the faucet I am hopelessly in love with.

Only if you want to.

Come on, it'll be fun.

I'll provide tapas and sangria. Some of you will have to hang out in the tub though. There's only so much room in here. Don't worry, after a few glasses of my potent sangria you won't even feel your feet to know you're standing in a bathtub. That is my heartfelt promise to you.

The faucet was a bit of a splurge for us but it is so worth it.

Gorgeous appearance and works like a dream. No regrets here.

OK...................one more:

toilet & sink: Kohler Memoirs (Home Depot)
faucet: Symmons (the Carrington in chrome)
tiles: click here to read more
wall color: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl color matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint

Also, thank you for your supportive comments regarding the bathroom tiles in my previous post!

You make my heart smile.

Basement reno: bathroom floor

2011-01-10T07:00:00.004-07:00

Fellow renovaters might agree: decision-making while trying to adhere to a budget is complex. Do we plunk down a nice chunk of change for something we really covet or do we convince ourselves to settle for the practical option?

We didn't want to sacrifice style for practicality........but we also have to face the fact that this isn't our forever home, so high-end designs choices (such as these hexagon carrara marble tiles I'm still obsessed with) don't necessarily have to happen now. This bathroom has to be tough enough to withstand an 80 lb dog who has a penchant for hiding/scuffling in the bathroom during thunderstorms, and it could possibly be a kids' bathroom down the road.

So we chose a textured ceramic tile (durability + no sealing necessary = yay) in a plank size. I know this look isn't for everyone (and I hope I don't sound defensive in my explanation above) but we are pretty pleased with the final product.

The tiles are still a bit dusty so the texture doesn't translate well, but there's a subtle concrete look to the planks. Is our house the place where gray tiles go to die, as we also installed it in the upstairs bathroom and the kitchen? Some might call it safe, but I call it consistency. <------- insert sarcasm font here

wall color: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl color matched in Sherwin Williams Harmony No VOC paint
tiles: Crossville Ceramic Co from The Great Indoors, 6 x 24 planks (color: Lead) promo $9/sq ft (originally $14/sq ft)
grout: Lowe's (warm gray)

Come on over!

2011-01-07T07:25:00.004-07:00

Today I am honored to be guest posting on one of my favorite blogs Hi Sugarplum (a must-read every morning whilst I sip my coffee). My girl Cassie so kindly invited me to round out 2010 by partaking in her Best of the Best series (to say I am amongst lovely, talented company is an understatement). I would love for you to join me as I share a near and dear holiday tradition, my favorite project and my most surprising (albeit silliest) post of 2010!

Cassie: Thank you so much for inviting me over! Considering that we are sarcasm sisters and I constantly dream about your kitchen backsplash tiles, I am thrilled beyond belief. Suffice it to say, I feel naked without your blog. I *heart* you more than cupcakes!!

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

This room turns me on

2010-12-31T11:21:00.005-07:00

I could marry this room, I love it that much.

It's actor/comedian Joel McHale's living room featured in the Dec 2010 InStyle (read more about it here), which I read beachside during our trip. I think I shouted "YES!" to noone in particular, tore out the page, sandwiched it between my cardigans for the trip home--surprised it survived-- and scanned it upon unpacking my suitcase.

As Sara would say: Amazeballs!

Amazeballs indeed.

Even if you don't love it, I'm going to tell you why I love it.

You know, because I love making everything about me. Only half joking.

Happy New Year's Eve/New Year, my friends! Here's to celebrating new beginnings!

If I can manage to stay up until midnight, that's cause for celebration in itself.
I know, right? I don't just aim high, I aim for the stars.

facelift

2010-12-28T07:57:00.002-07:00

You might have noticed that I've had some work done........on my blog, I mean! My blog!

The mastermind behind my new blog design is the sensational Lindsey of Sweet Simplicity Designs (thanks for the rec, Joi!). Lindsey is so talented in what she does and was amazingly attuned to my requests--and patient! She was able to do the near impossible: make sense of the jumbled mess of ideas constantly jostling around inside my head. Her prices are incredibly reasonable, too. If you're looking for a chic new blog look, look no further than Sweet Simplicity. Lindsey: thank you so much for working with me and much love to you!

***************************************************************

In other goings-ons, I finally joined Twitter. After posting my first blurb, I shouted "I twittered!" to the dog. He gave me a look that clearly was all "It's I tweeted, genius."

So if you're interested in following my long periods of awkward silence and/or reading unfinished tweets I accidentally posted, let's tweet (posted in my blog sidebar). The more the merrier. I can't think of a better way to use 140 characters!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to continue resisting Facebook.

I hope your holiday was very merry!
We didn't have a white Christmas (60 degrees & sunny) but it was cozy all the same.

Basement reno: walls & stuff

2010-12-20T11:00:00.006-07:00

How do you bloggers do it? Juggling kiddos, jobs, and reno projects while still blogging regularly? We don't even have offspring and I can barely manage ONE blog post every week and a half. However you manage it, bravo my friends, bravo.

I swear I'm not trying to hold out on you when it comes to basement reno progress photos. I'm grateful you're even still interested after all this time. I truly haven't had the time to organize the gazillion pics we've snapped of the process. And for a while, there honestly wasn't enough noticeable progress to actually document.

Renovating a completely unfinished basement is quite the journey, littered with headaches and decisions (duh). The planning stages alone were enough to make me lose it, but that's because I'm so impatient ~~that this one time I~~ ~~got yelled at in a yoga class for speeding thru the poses~~.

Anyway, here's where we're at so far ----> warning: a crapload of pics coming up. I'm posting so many because I don't want to forget how far this space has progressed (and also to prove to our friends & families that we really do have a basement--HA!).

I tried to group the pics so that you can see each area 's progression:

unfinished --> framed --> drywall --> painted (Benjamin Moore Gray Owl)

{ hallway looking into family room }

{ office }
( I wanted to get a picture of me perched on our old toilet whilst peering thru the window, but a) Mr. FC ran away muttering something about "work to do" & b) I couldn't figure out the self-timer on our camera.)

{ guest room }

{ bathroom }

{ family room }

{ family room -- other side }

{ one of the new windows }

Insulation, soundproofing clips, & drywall.....lots & lots of it.

Mr. FC had to help re-route some plumbing which included cutting into concrete.

The Hairy Monster's exhausted.

Having to keep tabs on the contractors & the new smells (in addition to his regular squirrel-patrolling duties) is tough:

Are you still with me? Yeah, me neither. =]

Next up: installing the baseboards & tiling the bathroom.

Peek into more of the basement project here.

Basement reno: tile talk

2010-12-09T07:52:00.005-07:00

As I type this, I'm trying to ignore the thick layer of drywall dust that's settled on every surface in the upper level of our home, despite our contractors' best efforts. I swear that even Hiro could be mistaken for a white dog at this point. Oh well, inhaling residual drywall dust can't possibly lead to any health repurcussions, right? Right? Y'all?!

Anyway, now there are walls in our once unfinished basement. Walls! Like I uttered yesterday: "We got walls and sh*t!" (FC fact #12: Sometimes, I have a potty mouth.)

Moving on. I *think* we've chosen our shower tiles. You might recall that the original plan was to install grey-blue glass tiles. Easier said than done; we had a difficult time agreeing on anything we saw. We came to the reluctant conclusion that the glass tiles we envisioned might overwhlem our small, windowless basement bathroom (we're aiming for light & airy).

I was hoping to avoid big box stores when it came to tiles--just wanted something "unique", you know? Well wouldn't you know it, on one serendipitous day at Home Depot there was a display of honed carrara marble subway tiles with an inset of mosaic glass tiles in cool grey-blue tones. Here they are laid out on our kitchen table:

My pride's a bit wounded, as I had no part in dreaming up this combo since HD did all the creative work. Light & airy? Check. Classic (cararra marble)? Check. A touch of retro-modern (glass tiles)? Check. The FCs all love it? Sweet nectar of life, we've finally agreed on something.

**** Photos of aforementioned walls to come next week. =]

Cabo

2010-12-01T07:46:00.002-07:00

We snuck away to Cabo San Lucas last week, along with our fabulous friends, Jeremy & Michelle. Made sure we kept cellphone/computer usage to a minimum..............going unplugged, I tell you, it's the key to true relaxation. Our days were spent swimming in the Sea of Cortez, snorkeling amongst the schools of rainbow-colored fish, digging our toes in the sand, and lazily lounging by the pool. The hours were whittled away, reading every magazine one could find at the resort shop, imbibing fresh mojitos & bellinis, & surfing the turquoise waves (OK, that was Mr. FC, not me). The toughest decision we ever had to make was where to eat: a beachfront restaurant or one of the bistros scattered on the sand? Ah, we could get used to this.....we are so thankful for this rejuvenating Cabo experience.

We managed to find the Iowa v. Ohio St game......just in time to see the Hawks lose =[

Fresh-from-that-morning locally caught fish.

Dinner on the beach.

If you celebrated Thanksgiving, I hope yours was a joyous one.
What am I thankful for? The little things in life, our health, family, & friends.

And last but certainly not least, you all, my amazing readers.

Your support via comments, emails, & simply reading gives me such hope and happiness.

I am indebted to your kindness. =]

{ Stay tuned.....I have some basement reno pics to share soon! }

Basement reno: bathroom faucet

2010-11-18T07:33:00.007-07:00

Until I actually have room reveals to blog about regarding our basement reno, I'll just blog about crap we bought for those rooms. =] The bathroom faucet arrived.

Initially, I fell in love with this version, but I was determined to find one that was kinder to our wallets.

So we went with the Symmons Carrington faucet from Home Depot:

It can be specially ordered from them. Ours arrived last week and I must say, it's even better-looking in person. However, the "HOT" button was broken into little pieces, which led to an awkward phone call I had with Symmons customer service ("Hi there, I'm calling about my hot knob.").
Only awkward to me, perhaps.

We'll see how it functions, but right now we're very pleased with the faucet.
Things are finally starting to fall into place!
Have a lovely weekend!

Waldo (I'm a fan)

2010-11-09T07:34:00.002-07:00

Can you tell that I raided our renovation supplies to make my Halloween costume:

That is white duct tape from Mr. FC's supply closet, y'all. And a rice crispy treat in my right hand (priorities). Presumptuous of me to say, but if you ever thought I might be someone you'd like to meet in real life, think again. If you've never thought that, then never mind.

Things I learned:

1. No one sells red and white striped tops for women, perhaps for fear of being mistaken for Waldo (Wally to the British). Or a candycane. So I made one using a red tee & white duct tape.
2. Don't tape your shirt before putting it on (the shirt won't stretch to make room for your, uh, "girls").
3. "My stripes are tight." Don't tape your shirt if you plan to eat a lot. I like to eat. A lot.
4. Who needs wine when you can get buzzed up thanks to the duct tape fumes wafting from your Waldo shirt.
5. An alarming number of people don't know who Waldo is. What. I got a lot of "Who's Waldo?" and I was all "No, where's Waldo?" It was all very confusing.
6. You'll be glad to know that my costume didn't hinder my Halloween beer pong capabilities at all. If you're appalled that a bunch of supposedly sophisticated 30-somethings still play beer pong, don't fret.......there were absolutely no kegstands.
7. For once, I didn't have the sluttiest costume. Though someone did refer to me as Waldo's whore. I *think* it was Mr. FC.
8. Rice crispy treats dyed black are a fun surprise at a Halloween party (they sort of sparkle).
9. That black food coloring is not such a fun surprise once you've gone to the bathroom the next day. In fact, it's downright alarming.
10. Hiro's not a fan of Waldo. He's still peering at me suspiciously.

** No, we did not hang out in the garage all night. The party was in my friend Julie's immaculate, tastefully decorated house. The garage was for beer pong purposes only. We're considerate like that.
** Those few minutes you just spent reading this ridiculous post of mine? Sorry that you won't ever get those minutes back. =[

Serena & Sarcasm

2010-10-26T07:38:00.005-06:00

I've been dreaming of the Oly Serena Capiz Drum pendant for months.

Can someone please invent a knockoff of this gorgeousness for folks like myself who ~~married for stupid love and not money because I was naive~~ are frugal?

I spotted the Serena at my local HW Home for a cool $2,850.00. Damn.

It's times like these where I'll glare at Mr. FC and mutter: "I should have married rich."

And Mr. FC's all: "Who's Rich?"

True convo. For realsies.

What item are you coveting for your home right now?

If you've got loads of money and have everything you want, well then, good for you..........

also, let's be friends!

P.S. I really do love my husband. I guess.

The winner.............

2010-10-25T08:58:00.000-06:00

..........of the maple tree wall decal from OrqueShaw's Walldecors is commenter #30:

Congratulations, Anna!
Pop over to her witty blog An Inch of Gray to see her beautiful home, fantastic decor projects, and read her hilarious family anecdotes!

Anna, please email me with your shipping info and your choice of colors

(choose one option for tree trunk & up to 2 colors for the leaves from the color chart):

freckleschick4 at yahoo dot com

{ Thank you to all for participating and

check back in a month for another giveaway from OrqueShaw's Walldecors! }

scary/"high"larious

2010-10-21T07:37:00.005-06:00

Uh.......................okay, no.

Halloween or not.

(available here)

Found while I was searching for shower curtains. My orginal plan might be foiled because the fabric isn't quite wide enough for a shower curtain. Obviously, measurements are not exactly my forte.

Speaking of shower curtains & such:

1. Am I the only paranoid one who has to check behind the shower curtain before I go to bed (especially if Mr. FC's out of town)? In college, one of my girlfriends actually did find someone hiding behind hers once (albeit he had passed out & thus "forgot" to leave when the party was over).

2. I love all your comments always but the best one was left by Anonymous on my bathroom board post (I had forgotten about this lovely little comment until my friend Jenna, who found it as amusing as I did, kindly reminded me of it):

OK, then.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends! =]

{{{{ Don't forget to enter the OrqueShaw's wall decal giveaway! }}}}

Giveaway: OrqueShaw's Walldecors tree decal

2010-10-18T07:26:00.005-06:00

:::: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ::::

I am so pleased to welcome back OrqueShaw's Walldecors for yet another tree decal giveaway! I have their golden branches in our bedroom and cannot say enough great things about them.

OrqueShaw's shop is brimming with fabulous wall decals for any room (check back frequently for new designs). These are such a fun and inexpensive way to add a unique decor element to your walls. So much easier than painting or stenciling, right? Choose from a plethora of pretty designs, application takes just minutes, and (if you tire of it) removal is a snap without doing any damage to your walls.

On to the giveaway: one randomly chosen winner will receive this lovely sprawling maple tree decal (from the color chart below, the winner will get to choose a trunk color & 1 to 2 colors for the leaves ). A tree that's truly for all seasons!

To enter:

* Leave a comment with the word MAPLE.
* Earn a bonus entry by linking to this giveaway on your blog or Tweeting about it!
* Leave me a SEPARATE COMMENT for each of the above entry method that you've completed.

The rules:
* Limited to two entries maximum per reader.
* This giveaway is open to the lower 48 states only.
* This giveaway will close on Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 @ midnight MST.
* The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on Monday.

Good luck to all!

Would love your vote!

2010-10-14T19:06:00.009-06:00

My friend Joi is a finalist in the St. Louis Magazine "Living Space of the Year"contest! If you don't already know, she's the Queen of Craigs List treasures. A Diva of DIY. Utterly unique and chic when it comes to style. You'd have to look no further than her blog to see what I'm talking about. A snippet:

As if this weren't enough, the girl has to go and have an incredibly kind heart and a gorgeous, generous spirit. What I'm trying to say is, I want to hate her but just can't. =] We go way back as blog friends, as she was one of my original readers back when I had, like, four. Which meant that she was responsible for 25% of the comments, HA! One of these days we'll meet up in person so we can thrift and gab our hearts out, I swear. She can bestow upon me her chic creativity & I can weird her out with my humor. It's like we all win......

I hope you'll be so kind as to show your support by voting for her amazing home.

It literally takes just seconds, I promise (voting closes Friday, Oct. 15 at 11:59pm CST).

Thank you for taking the time to vote! Your support is so appreciated!!

Basement reno: bathroom board

2010-10-13T07:36:00.005-06:00

I'm wanting a timeless bathroom imbued with modern touches. Shades of grey with a pop of vibrant color. And hopefully all on a budget. This is my vision..............

paint: Benjamin Moore Vapor Trails & BM White Dove
sconces: Pottery Barn Sussex
pedestal sink & toilet: Kohler Memoirs (Lowe's)
faucet: Home Depot
shower fixtures: not pictured (haven't decided yet)
tiles: searching for these blue-grey glass & carrara marble mosaic tiles in real life
mirror: read about it here
tongue & groove beadboard: probably also from a big box store
chevron towels: World Market
shower curtain fabric: Pottery Barn Gabrielle Jacquard (love this burnt orange pattern w/ the dots of slate-blue but not sure about the weight/weave)

* I've given up on the sink of my dreams because of the dimensions (it's too wide) and the pricetag (I'm too cheap).
* I am still clueless on flooring for this bathroom. Do you have any suggestions?

Hopefully this will go as smoothly as the upstairs bathrom renovation. <------ Ok, that? Probably just jinxed myself.

Now off to make all this talk a reality. I cannot wait to get our hands on this space!

This & that

2010-10-11T07:22:00.008-06:00

Once again, sorry for the sparse posting. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, I know.....What have I been up to lately? Trying to squeeze in having a life around the basement reno by reuniting with my wine country girlfriends for an evening of wine in Denver, then hosting a baby shower for some other dear friends, all in the same weekend. Right. Ambitious FC. (Then I promptly came down with an awful stomach bug, so I've been kneeling in front of the toilet. Really, I should've just laid down a towel and a pillow; would've been much easier!)

The baby shower had a fantastic turnout -- over 30 guests in attendance. The weather gods smiled down on us that day with perfect weather, so that allowed some breathing room. I'm not much of a decorater when it comes to parties, so don't laugh, all you stylish baby shower hosts. As usual, I was running around like a madwoman amped to an inch of her life on coffee, so here are the handful of pics I managed to get:

Remember this chalkboard? It definitely gets used!

These wrens were inspired by this darling nursery:

P.S. I'm realizing that I never did a recap of my Napa trip.....well, I say "Napa" but we were really more in Sonoma but we still jokingly refer to it as our Napa trip. As in, "Hey, remember when we went to Napa but really had fun in Sonoma? Sweet!" I was horrible about taking photos during the trip and so I've been waiting to compile pics from some of the other gals. There is this one pic though (taken by my fabulous friend Tina who's currently training for the NYC marathon):

Sooooo....this pic is not confusing at all. Obviously.

P.P.S. On a different note, the email question I seem to get the most is "What are the paint colors throughout your home?". So until I have a chance to add a thorough home tour tab at the top of my blog (does the year 2012 work for you............), I've taken the shortcut approach. I've listed the paint color/brand under each of the room pics on my sidebar. Hope this helps & happy painting!!

unicorns, etc.

2010-09-23T07:25:00.004-06:00

Holy shiznit you all, that is a unicorn. What.

Pier 1, you got to give FC some warning before you do stuff like this.

There is only so much trippiness she can tolerate; even she has her limits.

P.S. I feel sad for the unicorn. Also, now I want a Shetland pony.

P.P.S. I have been a bad, bad, bad blogger lately. Waaaay behind on my blog reading (breaking one of my steadfast rules breaks my heart). =o[ Forgive me because I will catch up soon!!

Basement reno: mirror, mirror (soon to be) on the wall

2010-09-20T09:33:00.006-06:00

We can check one more element for the basement reno off our list: the bathroom mirror. During a stop at Lowe's to peruse their bathtub offerings, I decided to be the helpful wife by leaving Mr. FC to fend for himself. I'm like a bird; just show me a pretty shiny anything and I'll hop after you in an instant. I can't tell you how many times we've gotten separated in stores because I've wandered off and Mr. FC has to text "WHERE ARE YOU?!".

This gorgeous mirror (the only one left) was propped precariously against the wall at the end of the aisle, forgotten and forlorn.
Me: This is perfect! Is it too girly for you?
Mr. FC: (bit wary) A little......
Me: It's only $23, orginally $90.......
Mr. FC: Sold.

Beveled edges & pewter rivets......hello, darlings.

(Reminds me of the gorgeous mirrors I've always coveted from my friend Joi's bathroom!)

Hope you had a lovely weekend =]

Basement reno: well, well, well

2010-09-07T07:42:00.002-06:00

Disclaimer: I'm not the type of blogger who posts about every little thing when it comes to a renovation (really, do you care about every stupid drywall piece we looked at?). I feel that you all (is anyone still here?!) deserve a proper before & after of the major basement projects when that time comes. Also, Mr. FC is doing a lot of the reno along with our wonderful general contractor (read: keeps costs down) on top of his day job, so that might mean periods of silence when it comes to talking about the basement reno. Thanks for understanding and for dropping by so faithfully!

Our Labor Day weekend was all about the basement window wells. My primary concern with our basement renovation is that I don't want the final space to feel like a basement, you know? So this means lots of recessed lighting (to come) and pushing the window wells outward to help eliminate that claustrophobic feeling.

It's backbreaking work, digging. I should know because.......well, I watched from the sidelines, but I can practically feel how brutal the digging must have been. If you've ever taken a shovel to dry, rocky, clay-ish Colorado soil, then you know what I mean. It took the two guys Mr. FC hired two days to do the majority of the digging--they were phenomenal. Along with our general contractor, Mr. FC dug some more, lined the wells with landscape fabric (to keep the weeds & such out), shoveled in load after load of gravel, heaved pressure-treated 6in x6in x 8ft wood pieces into place, and hammered away until his body was numb. It's a good thing we only have two window wells.

I don't usually talk all mushy about Mr. FC. We're not a mushy, sappy sort of couple. Though he rarely reads this blog, I just want to give him a shout-out. He is the architect behind our renovations. What he doesn't already know, he learns. His day job is in the corporate world but he doesn't mind doing manual labor and such ~~because sometimes he's cheap~~. Without him, we'd still be sitting in a house smelling of dog pee, mice poop, and suspiciously like a meth lab all rolled into one. Bravo, babes, bravo. I can't think of anyone I'd rather vacuum up mice poop with, seriously.

P.S. Look what I found: a list I made as soon as we were handed the keys to our fixer-upper (circa 2007). Have I ever mentioned that one of the first things we did was swab the walls with a meth lab testing kit for meth residue? (Why we didn't do this before we actually closed on the house is beyond me.) We just wanted to be absolutely sure, as there were a few weird signs (metallic odor noone could quite place, dodgey-looking previous owner, decrepit house, leftover Bunsen burner). The results were negative. Awesome.

P.P.S. Just kidding about the Bunsen burner.

The wall

2010-08-30T06:22:00.015-06:00

As we push on with our basement renovation, there's little time for much else around here. So sorry for the lack of posts! Last week, I finally tackled the empty wall in our master bedroom. The best part (or the laziest part, not quite sure) was that I worked with what I had laying about the house.

{Pardon the lighting, it was a cloudy day in 'Rado.}

The details:

* I've had the framed photos sitting in my closet forever. On the left is Hiro from his trip to the Sand Dunes six years ago; on the right is Mr. FC & me at the Devil's Punch Bowl in Oregon 10 years ago. These were before our digital camera days, and I didn't have the orginal negatives. So I took them to Kinko's, scanned and enlarged them, and printed them there on photo paper. They turned out pretty well considering they're scanned images (I adore the bluebird sky evident in both of the photos).

* The "antiqued" mirror was an impulse buy from Home Goods (marked down to $10 due to the smallest chipped corner). It also waited in my closet for eons.

* Remember my DIY framed lyrics from our wedding? Anyone? Bueller? They finally saw the light of day.

* Manzanita branch courtesy of the fireplace mantel in our LR. I just tied a nearly invisibile strand of Mr. FC's fishing line around the branches and hung it on a couple of strategically placed nails. Hmmmm, maybe I'll add an empty frame around the branch.......or spraypaint it a snappy color. What do you think?

* Sadly, no bra on the chair. It's laundry day. You know, in case you werere wondering (cough*ahem*Emily*cough).

Thanks for still dropping by this quiet little corner of mine.

Watch out for the tumbleweeds. =]

Chinoiserie

2010-08-23T16:08:00.109-06:00

chinoiserie (chi·noi·serie): A style reflecting Chinese influence or Asian motifs through use of elaborate decoration and intricate patterns. Literally translated from French as "Chinese-esque," this style of decorative art was especially popular in the mid-18th century.

House Beautiful (Andrew Raquet)

I am in love with chinoiserie. I can thank my mother for this.

Storytime........When most kids were likely having OJ, pancakes, and sausage links for breakfast, my mother served us café au lait, jam-smeared baguette, and delicate Chinese dumplings.

I was already a weird kid and my mother didn't help matters.

She was raised in a country where remnants of French colonial rule were still visible in the architecture and culture; and in a family where British colonial influence still showed up in the form of afternoon tea. It wasn't extraordinary to have Vietnamese tea and spring rolls alongside flaky, buttery croissants as my afterschool snack. Nor was it strange to devour milky, foamy French coffee and savory Chinese dumplings for breakfast. I was a ten yr old kid sipping so-called growth-stunting coffee (but at 5'5, I'm gargantuan in comparison to other women in my family).

Windsor Smith

There is still a triptych in my mother's foyer depicting the Indochine countryside, dotted with various scenes (inlaid with mother of pearl, gold leaf, and lacquered to a fine shine). The Asian version of toile, if you will. Flanking her front stoop are a pair of dutiful alabaster Foo dogs, forever leering at the neighbors. She still has a slippery coverlet on her bed, displaying an embroidered cacophany of peonies, branches, and birds, not unlike this famed wallpaper:

Michael S. Smith

Mom knew what she was doing and still does. Don't get me started on the big ass gilded Buddha in her entryway's alcove.

(I swear, I'm going somewhere with this.)

It's no wonder that I was instantly infatuated when I stumbled upon Chinoiserie Chic. Echoes of my childhood home and a flood of fun décor memories ensued.

Click on over for the onslaught of eye candy:

Further affirmation that some of us inevitably return to our roots, in some way or another.

And you? Has your childhood home and/or family influenced your décor style?

The winner............

2010-08-16T16:11:00.006-06:00

..........of the tree decal from OrqueShaw's Walldecors is commenter #20:

Congratulations, 3 Bundles for Me!

I hope you and your three wonderful kiddos enjoy your new tree decal from OrqueShaw's Walldecors!

Please email me with your shipping info and your choice of colors

(choose one color for tree trunk/bark & up to 2 colors for the blossoms from the color chart):

freckleschick4 at yahoo dot com

{ Thank you to all for participating! }

mishmash

2010-08-11T07:25:00.005-06:00

I usually refrain from posting collections of photos I see on the Old World Wide Web (there are plenty of blogs out there that fulfill this niche and they do it well), but I just couldn't help myself today. Here are some images I can't get out of my head on this Wednesday:

An image from a benefit at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. The manzanitas hanging from the ceiling, the parchment signs, the ghost chiavaris, all those candles!! I adore this setup for all its eerie beauty.

Empty frames never looked so good (can't remember the source, my apologies):

I'm fascinated by Sharon Montrose's animal photos (plucked from Aubrey & Lindsay's Blog).

I love that she uses a simple white background to allow the animal's beauty and personality to shine.

By now, I'm sure you've seen Mila's Daydreams (plucked from Rambling Renovators). Magical. Charming. Simply amazing. Look closely because Mila's mom, Adele, creates these "dreams" out of fabrics & various household acoutrements. Not only is Mila a beautiful baby, she's apparently a sound sleeper too.

Even Mr. FC was enamored: "That is some trippy shiznit."

And for some more cuteness, here.

Incorporate some sloth into your lives (plucked from Door Sixteen) . You're welcome.

How's that for a random/weird post?

You don't have to say it. I know what you're thinking.
As my best friend says, I'm as nutty as squirrel poo.

Happy Wednesday. The weekend's just around the corner!

{ { { Pssst! Have you entered the Walldecors giveaway yet? } } }

Giveaway: OrqueShaw's Walldecors

2010-08-09T07:40:00.004-06:00

::::::::: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED :::::::::

I am thrilled to introduce this week's giveaway.........please welcome back OrqueShaw's Walldecors! You might remember my love for their wall decals from this post about the gorgeous golden branches in our bedroom and of course from their first giveaway.

OrqueShaw's shop is overflowing with inspiring wall decals for any room (new designs are added frequently). These are such a chic and versatile way to add a unique decor element to your walls (a fabulous alternative to painting--renters rejoice!). Choose from a plethora of pretty designs, application takes just minutes, and (if you tire of it) removal is a snap without doing any damage to your walls.

On to the giveaway: one randomly chosen winner will receive this charmingly whimsical tree decal (you get to choose your trunk color & select 1 to 2 colors for the flowers from the color chart below). How perfect would this be in a playroom? A nursery/child's room? A fun & quirky mudroom or gardening shed? The possibilities abound.

To enter:
* Leave a comment with the words TREE ME.
* Earn a bonus entry by telling me which wall decal from the Orqueshaw's Walldecors shop is your favorite?
* Leave me a separate comment for each of the above entry method that you've completed.

The rules:
* Limited to two entries maximum per reader.
* This giveaway will close on Sunday, August 15th, 2010 @ 5pm MST.
* The winner will be selected by random.org and announced the next day.

Good luck to all!

Inception, deception, and an impulse buy

2010-08-05T07:49:00.005-06:00

Sorry, but I don't have much to report that's home-related. We had another round of houseguests over this past weekend (my wonderful mother-in-law and her equally wonderful husband) and it's always fun to act like tourists & see our city through an out-of-towner's eyes.

Together, we saw Inception this past weekend. Have you seen it yet? love. Love. LOVE'D IT! I'm not much of a sci-fi/psychological/action movie person nor a huge fan of Leo D but this movie blew us all away! The underlying love story was a nice touch, but the special effects and impeccable casting were the real stars. Seriously, go see it. It will astound you.

I am not an impulse shopper. An item has to have a designated place before I actually decide to buy it. But I couldn't help snapping up this sunburst at Home Goods ($30).

Do I really need another sunburst mirror? Probably not. It reminds me of this room by Phoebe Howard and I really can't part with it. Don't worry, I'll get Mr. FC nice and drunk before I sneak it into the house, then I'll be all "What, that thing? It's been there a while. Remember, you were with me when I bought it." He'll give me the side-eye and mutter, "I'm pretty sure that thing's new.......but I'm sorta drunk.......maybe I was there when she bought it."

Harmless deception. This is why our marriage works.
Also, just thought I'd share some light summer reading currently by my bedside. I read to help me fall asleep so, though it took me a couple months, I just finished these books by Sarah Addison Allen. I'm completely charmed by her work. Her novels sort of balance precariously between light summer reading, moody short stories, and.......well, a culinary magazine. Reading her books will make you hungry, I promise. It's certainly not heavy stuff by any means but it's not fluffy chick lit either. I love her writing more for the fact that her characters are real and flawed, yet there's a whimsical "Southern superstition and magic" laced into her stories.

Any good movies/books/impulse buys you've encountered this summer?

Modern Bird Studios Giveaway winner is..........

2010-08-02T06:29:00.006-06:00

.................. Jen from Let's Make It Ours!

(Jen's blog is full of inspiration and adventures in renos, crafting, and the life of a lovely bustling family.

Check it out!)

Congratulations Jen!
You are the winner of a 12" x 12" personalized piece from the fabulous Modern Bird Studios (valued at $215).

Please email me at freckleschick4 @ yahoo dot com for details on receiving your piece. =]

*******************************************************************************************************************************************

If you're not the lucky winner, not to worry.

Modern Bird Studios is offering a 15% off discount code to all of you wonderful readers:

FRECKLES

(expires 8/8/10)

*******************************************************************************************************************************************

Thanks to all for participating!

And of course, a huge thanks to the amazing folks at Modern Bird Studios for sponsoring this stellar giveaway!

Rehydrated and rejuvenated

2010-07-28T07:39:00.008-06:00

Whew.

I'm back from Napa/Sonoma, properly rehydrated and recovering from the debauchery. My abs are sore from laughing so hard every single minute and I've finally fully regained my voice. I was never in a sorority but I think I got a good glimpse of that lifestyle on this trip.

I am so thankful to have spent such quality time with these amazing women. One could not have asked for a more talented, hilarious, genuine, strong, beautiful bunch of women. All in all, a phenomenal time! Slowly shuffling back to normalcy. Though the other day, I did have a sudden urge to "swirl" my glass of water to admire its "legs".........

Thank you for taking the time to leave such hilarious comments on my pre-trip post! I read them after a fabulous day of wine tasting and it made me wish I had fellow bloggers on our trip!

Hands down the best comment EVER: Oh Anonymous. Thanks for the laugh whether that was your intention or not.
I'm naming my first child after you.

In other news, I'm turning my attention to the basement bathroom. Once it's framed out and drywalled by the contractor, we'll be able to get our hands on it. Our intentions for the space down there is for it to be a guest ensuite (in theory), albeit small. Classic. Clean. Minimalism. I'm coveting these pedestal sinks (storage won't be an issue as there will be a recessed medicine cabinet and a linen closet). I love how they toe the line between classic (the sink/basin) and modern (the chrome legs). While the pricetags aren't too bad, I'm not entirely stoked by their $$$$.

{source}

Any strong opinions towards these?

Has anyone seen a similar vanity look for less? Thanks so much for your help!

It's great to be back! Really. =]