Before, After, and In-between....

I am crazy...I know you know that already. My family does too. Now they see it more and more often...this house...I am in project heaven...or crazy-ville, whatever you call it- I call it the first. I am spending time (for better or worse- depends on who you ask around here), on design blogs- thrifty find blogs, paint your crap blogs, and whatever else that I can find to decorate this house on.
Here are some things I have done recently:
Taken these...

Took some brown spray paint...

Added some white paint...Viola!
I have more things to add around them, but for now they sit there.
On Monday, since it was near 100 degrees and going outside to do anything sounded absurd, I thought I would put myself to work inside...so I did this...
I know I never had a "before" of this bathroom, but just imagine a pure white room, without any decorations whatsoever...boring!
So, I used the 1/2 gallon paint from my old house- this was the color of my kitchen there- sort of a limey green color (looks better in person- so come see it!), and added a few little touches...
I bought the frame on clearance at Target ($1.48), the vase and ribbon I had- and the tulip bunch at JoAnn's for $2. The shelf was in my old kitchen. Since we hung the shelf kinda high, I felt like something should go on the back of the toilet...think...think...I wanted to use something I already had- and I remembered this rusty chrome basket that we used in our old house to hold our toiletries...a little brown spray paint (this stuff is soooo nice), and there you have it! I have yet to fill it- trying to come up with just the right thing...
After getting this room done that same day, Leah and I created this for Celeste's room:
One canvas from JoAnn's ($5.99), scrapbook paper I had, and embellishments I had....so cute on her yellow wall! Modpodge is a wonderful thing!

I have always loved Hobby Lobby- but now I love it even more, because I found this jar there for $4 and created this little frame with the pear and paper I found there too! I spray painted the frame, cut out the pear (much harder than it sounds), hot glued it on the paper and sat in on the cabinet! Seriously, I love it! (it looks crooked, but that was just the angle of me taking the pic).
My bedroom gets so bright in the mornings, and the windows only had blinds, so thanks to Target and some cute ribbon, we now have these:
Since my friend Tina was coming over for dinner on Tuesday, and it was going to be even hotter outside, I thought I should just go ahead and paint my bathroom...
Remember the before?...
Not terrible, just so white- (on a side note, did you notice the tulip picture is now in the downstairs bath- this I got from my girl Jennifer when she moved, and just love)....and now, the after...
The color is "chocolate cocoa", and I fell in love with it at Home Depot- didn't even bring home the sample, just a quick decision, and here it is...I am in love!

The metal circle I picked up at JoAnn's in their outdoor 70% off stuff- I think it was $5 and thought it would be perfect there- I was right!
I added "avocado green" rugs and towels, courtesy of Target, to complete this look:
(the register vent will soon be repainted, so ignore that!)
Hung a simple white towel next to the soaking tub (that we have yet to use). I think I am going to hang molding in a square above the tub...but that is a later date project.
This little jar I picked up at Kohl's right after we went into contract on the house, as a little something I knew I would use somewhere...it holds bobby pins, if you are interested...and this lotion is my ultimate fav....it is simply wonderful.
Dana hung our degrees in the office, and our family Script Ortman my parents got us for Christmas last year- and I spray pained the clock- it was oak...now it's black, and while Dana was hammering nails in to hang the sign, it fell and the glass broke- funny thing...we like it even better!
Now, for the "in-between"- some yard sale finds....
The plate stand $1, the brown frame $2, (it's in amazing condition- I might not even do anything to it), the white frame .50 cents, and the chair .50 cents... I am sooo looking forward to doing things to these things..BUT, the best find of all, I am saving for a huge reveal...stay tuned...better yet, come help!

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th...

We were lucky enough to celebrate our Nation's Independence for 3 days this year! Good times were had by all!!
On Friday night, we headed out to our favorite small town, where they were having a huge festival in celebration!! Dana was asked to be in the "dunk tank"- for a fundraiser for the cheerleaders- I can't believe he said he would! I think it was part guilt for having to resign after teaching there just one year- but for whatever reason- he did it! They loved it and our kids got to dunk him several times, too! The kids got snow cones, and though I really, really, really wanted that funnel cake, we waited too long and the line was FOREVER, so we left without one...boo!!
But, we still had fun, and the kids watched the fireworks from the top of the van- we parked a little far away so we could get out fast- good thing, because EVERYONE in a small town comes out for the fireworks!










On Saturday, the kids played outside in the sprinkler for the first time this year- and they loved it- the we went to our parade and then to fireworks later that night- they rocked!! I mean- they were awesome!! SO much better than I thought they would be- and we had fantastic seats! It only took us 40 minutes to get home- and we live roughly a mile from the site!! Whoo hoo!! The kiddos had a blast at them- the only downside was the heat at the parade- it was brutal- the weather here has been HOT, and HUMID, did I mention, the heat and humidity- well, if I didn't, let me tell you, it was HOT, HUMID, and not so fun...but we survived!









Then came the actual 4th of July! My brother turned 37 this year!! No way- this is huge- he is now way closer to 40 than me!! For just over a month, he is 3 years older than me, and I love it! I feel much younger for those few weeks!! Sean always has a fantastic cookout, complete with fireworks for his birthday- we never miss- it is a highlight celebration we look forward to all year- we love it! We love Sean, Steph and the girls and always have a wonderful time with them- this year was no different- we ate amazing food- this year he made BBQ ribs, and so many desserts, I was in heaven! The kids had a watermelon seed spitting contest, root beer floats, sparklers, glow sticks- they were so happy!
I forgot to post about Celeste's short hair- but if you hadn't noticed...you can see it now!












Sean's firework display was FANTASTIC! I don't even want to know how much he spent on them- I am sure Stephanie doesn't either!! But, even so- they were so good, and I loved sitting out listening to the sounds of them- I love this country, and am Proud to be an American!

These are a few...

Of my "new" favorite things...at the new house...

The new/old entertainment stand with the flat screen and family photos I haven't had out in a long time...I love pictures!
Our new couch from a really nice home I found on Craigslist- half price- gotta love that! Oh, and that chaise is one comfortable seat- we take turns!
Wallflowers from Bath and Body- this one is Coconut Vanilla- oh so wonderful- I have these all over my house- different scents, but so wonderful- I love a fresh smelling house!
My wonderful message board...I kept this from my friend, Jennifer when she moved to Idaho 2 years ago- she had it in her kitchen and I was determined to have it in mine one day- it was the first thing we hung the day we moved in- I am in LOVE with this thing! I keep adding new magnets to it, so each day it looks different, but I think for sure I could not live without it! Thanks, Jennifer!!
This lamp we got as a wedding gift 12 years ago- it was black with a solid black shade- we kept in on our desk for years and years...well, I spray painted it white and added fabric for a new shade and now it is on the stand near my bed...
Here is a better look at the fabric- I can't figure out whether or not to use the ribbon, so for now I haven't added it.I am working on a few other things at the moment- so I will keep posting about those- but today I am enjoying these "new" things!!