Garage door makeover

While my mom and dad are here I'm going to post some stuff I don't think a lot of you have seen.  This one is for Suzanne:)

All Summer long I have wanted to redo my garage entry door. I saw it on Just a Girl  and I knew it was the one redo that I could fit in my schedule.

Before

After

Voila! New and improved. I have to admit it was kind of a pain. I skipped the priming step, which was really silly of me! So I had to do several touch ups and then polyurethaned it several times, so the paint wouldn't come off. I got the vinyl letters from Shelley Smith of Wonderfully Wordy. It's one of the easiest and best redo's I've seen online. I LOVE love the look of it and it makes me happy every time I drive in my garage. Which is what a redo is about right??

Have a blessed day!

And we're off!

My sweet folks are in town for the next 9 days, so to thoroughly break them in, we headed off to the Mall of America.  While my momma took forever in Forever 21 my dad and I bonded on a bench outside the store.  I love this picture of us.  He really doesn't like getting his picture taken...so I'm going to cherish this one. 

Oh and while I'm sitting here I might as well show you my cute necklace and...

bracelet I got from Claire's. 

I got my hat there too.  They have some super cute stuff and it's cheap.  Gotta love that.  Who's says it's only for teenie boppers!

Let me tell you what I love about my mom and dad.  They are two of the most precious people ever.  They are beyond loving and kind, super generous and unconditional.  And they are soooo easy to entertain.

Here's my momma all excited about the fancy hand dryers at IKEA.  It really lit her up like a Christmas tree.  I think that's where I get my enthusiasm for life.  They just thoroughly enjoy the littlest things.

Riding the escalator up into the IKEA store.  They SAW me taking their picture yet neither of them...

would make eye contact with me.  Isn't that hilarious!!

 {loved that paper light}

My mom oohed and ahhed all over the store.  Showing my dad just what they needed.  Oh to be wealthy and have the ability to spoil them rotten all the time.  I'd love that.  It's so much more fun to do that with people who really appreciate the littlest things.

Had to take a picture of me in an all white room.  It's really pretty, but sooo not me.  I'd have to jazz it up with some colorful pillows and a fun throw.  Maybe a painting or two...ha!


So I'm taking a little breather while they're here. Keep reading though. I'm going to repost some stuff you might have missed. Hope you all have a great week:)

Have a blessed day.

YES I'm sitting in a cemetery!

There is an old church out in the country that I have driven by for years.  Every time I pass it I say to myself  I WILL PAINT THAT CHURCH....someday.  So when my friend Michelle said she wanted to sit out in the country and paint, my mind went straight to that spot.

So amongst the crow calls and old tombstones we sat and painted, and I have to tell you it rates high on my days to remember.  I have a special place in my heart for old cemeteries.  When I was pregnant with Big Chick we lived near one and I would take daily walks through it. 

It was so peaceful.  I would think about the lives of those that once lived and I prayed over my unborn child...completely caught up in how life is one big giant circle.  I know that may sound creepy to some of you, but it's not to me.  As much as I love my life and don't want to die anytime soon...death doesn't really scare me.  I know that someday when I die Heaven is my home.  It's got to be better than anything on this earth anyway...so nothing to fear but the unknown I suppose.

Michelle had a really pretty spot.  She wanted to paint the trees and field.  It was her first time painting since junior high...yay:)  I'm so proud of her for trying.  I guess painting can be a little intimidating, the fear of messing it up etc...  But I really believe that we are all artists on the inside if we just try.


I had no idea that I loved painting until I was in college.  I studied Occupational Therapy and our teacher used various art projects to teach us how to break things down into steps for our patients.  It was so exciting to create something...to try and capture beauty.  I just fell in love with it.  I started painting anything I could.  Eventually I took a few community ed classes, but oh how I wish I would have went to art school.  My community ed teacher did tell me that if I had went to art school I probably wouldn't be able to tap into my whimsical childlike art style.  She said that is something that trained artists can't really do, so in that instance I'm glad I missed it because I like my simple style...it suits me;)

So here's Michelle's masterpiece.  I think she could have sat there all day:)  We would have too if there were bathrooms, food and...

SOCKS! 

Seriously what was I thinking...burrrrr!!!  Oh and don't look at my toe nails that is one area I'm super lazy in;)

So now I can finally say I've painted my church.  I know it's the first of many.  I absolutely love them.  Feels good to cross that off my to-do list.  Is there something you've been putting off for a someday??

Have a blessed day.



My magic paint wand

Do you ever say yes...when you really want to say no??   One of my least favorite things to do is furniture.  However there is a satisfaction in taking something ugly and making it look new.  That's about the only fun thing in it though:) 


My friend Missy asked me to redo her son's bedroom furniture.  It was your basic oak paneled 1970's variety...oh and throw in a streetside piece of crap desk and there you have it:)  Wave your magic paint wand and make it sparkle...ha!  Normally I get really nervous.  I am not a detail person EXCEPT when I do work for someone else and then I'm a crazy perfectionist.  But doing it for friends who love me and have complete faith in me made all the difference.  I didn't totally stress out.

Doesn't that look daunting!!!

So I got busy sanding, priming, filling, painting, painting, distressing and sealing...whew!  And oh the sweet reward is finally seeing...

the finished product.  All sparkly and just like new.  It was almost worth it!

Have a blessed day.