Month: July 2010

Gimme a Giveaway: Our Humble A{Bowe}d

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*This giveaway is no longer accepting entries, Thank You!*

If you are like I am, you’re constantly searching for great, affordable artwork.  I became quite frustrated with my quest and decided to create my own custom artwork and prints.   I wanted to give one lucky reader one customized 8 inch by 10 inch print from the following options. 

Carved Initials:

Bird Family:

I Love You This Much:

Love Math:

Love Tree:

Want a chance to win?  Here’s how it works:

To Enter:  Comment on this post to tell which print you prefer and the colors you’d like.

Bonus:  Blog, Twitter or Facebook with the giveaway link.  Then, leave another comment including your blog post, Tweet or Facebook link.

Contest Closes:  Monday, July 12, 2010 at 9:00 pm, central time.

Number of Winners:  One!

Ships:  Anywhere in the US of A.

Other Info:  The winner can customize their print with colors, text such as names, family names, dates, and initials, and quantity of birds in the Bird Family print.  Only one entry per e-mail address.  The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Tuesday, July 13th.  Good luck!!

Fruits of Our Labor

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I know I have said before that Ben is obsessed with fruit trees.  In the four years we have been married, he has planted 17 fruit trees throughout our property.  Sadly, because we had a very rough spring, two peach trees and one pear tree died.  Ben is on the search to find replacement trees with no such luck. 

Most of our trees are combination trees.  There is one main trunk with 3 to 5 varying types of fruit grafted on.  We now have 7 cherry trees, 3 apple trees, 3 pear trees, and 2 plum trees.

We have gotten a few pears, apples and cherries from our trees last year, which were the best fruit we’ve had.  I’m most excited for our own cherries.  There are many small cherries so far:

Here’s a close up:

I can’t wait to taste them! 

We have a lot of apples waiting to be made into apple crisp, too:

 Have you planted any trees?  If so, any fruit trees?  What’s your favorite type of tree?

Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Hand-Me-Downs, Oh My!

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Garage and estate sales, second-hand and thrift stores are great places to find cheap pieces of furniture and accent pieces.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my Target; I wouldn’t be a Minnesotan if I didn’t, but sometimes it just doesn’t cut it.  I’m here to show some of my favorite used finds. 

This bench  floats my boat with its dark wood and small size.  This is actually the first piece of furniture Ben and I bought together while browsing a local used furniture shop.  It wasn’t necessarily a fantastic deal, but it was love at first sight, so $60.00 didn’t seem too bad. 

Recently, I started collecting globes.  I love the way they make a room feel.  I found this big guy at a local thrift store for $10.00. 

When I lived in Minnesota, I worked as a real estate agent in Minneapolis selling condominiums.  A couple that lived at my building put three of these Duncan Phyfe chairs by the road for FREE!  I snatched them up right away and we have used them for many larger gatherings.

My aunt has a cast iron match holder similar to this one that I have loved for quite some time.  When I stumbled across this guy at shop in town, I didn’t hesitate buying it.  It’s adorable and useful in its home on our wood chute, right by the fireplace. 

Last summer, my great-aunt gave us some of her old serving dishes, including this footed bowl.  It looks so cute holding our fruit on our kitchen countertops.

I think this mirror is by far the best garage sale deal we’ve ever gotten.  It was kelly green, but we spray painted it black and now it looks almost identical to this mirror that retails for $599.00!

I also bought a slew of large, medium and small glasses from a Minnesota thrift store to use as vases for our June 2006 outdoor wedding.  We had three different vases per table, each with a different type of flower.  It was much more affordable to create three smaller arrangements, rather than one large arrangement.  I’m not very good at arranging several types of flowers in one arrangement, so this was our solution. 

I’ve shared my favorite cheap finds, what are yours?  Any places you swear by if looking for a particular item, say lamps?  Do any have a special meaning or make you think of a certain someone?

This Thing Sucks: Vacuums

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A few years ago, we installed a central vacuüm system.  If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.  It is so choice.  We upgraded from a canister vacuüm, you know, the kind you drag around behind you, smashing into all of your walls on the way?  Yea, we hated it.  And it didn’t clean very well because it was old.  Ben researched central vac systems and decided he could install one in our house.  I was definitely on board.  Anything to make cleaning easier and more enjoyable, right?

Back then, our basement was unfinished, so installing the PVC piping was relatively easy.  Ben ran the ‘plumbing’ and wiring from our predetermined outlets to the vacuüm itself, which is located in our attached garage, cutting down on the noise significantly.

Our central vacuüm system consists of four outlets, one vacuüm, one 30 foot hose, and attachment heads.  We opted not to install dustpan receptacles in our kitchen because we just get the vacuüm hose out and clean the whole house at once.

We have one centrally located vacuüm hook up on each level.

You can see an extra outlet at the end of the hall, to the left of the door.

The central outlet in the basement is hidden in the toe kick of our entertainment center:

Our 30 foot hose reaches most areas, but not quite all, so we installed one additional outlet at the south end of each level.

The vacuüm hose package we purchased includes the hose, a rug cleaning head, a hardwood cleaning head, and several small brushes and crevice tools.  This vacuüm makes cleaning the miles of trim a breeze because of the reach of the hose.  Vacuuming the stairs has never been easier, either thanks to the light weight hose.  No more lugging a heavy vacuüm up and down the stairs.  No more changing bags, just dumping the 12 gallon canister occasionally.  And, it is easily stored in a small hall closet with other cleaning supplies.

Helpful Hint:  To help decide the length of hose you need, keep your furniture placement in mind.  That will shorten the reach of your hose.

Where’d Ya Get That?

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Here’s a source list for items in our house.  If you have questions about anything, just ask!

Living Room:

Paint: Wicker Chair by Olympic and Behr’s Vermont Cream color matched in Wal-Mart’s Colorplace brand    Rug: Flor  Sofa: HOM Furniture    Chairs: Dolce Lounge Chair from Target    End Tables: Dror by Target    Lamps:  TJ Maxx    Curtains:  Target    Throw Blanket:  TJ Maxx    Pillow Covers: Hand Sewn Fabric from Joann    Bird Candleholder:  Target    Picture Frames:  Wal-Mart, Target, Michael’s    Artwork:  Custom made by me    Front Door:  Home Depot    Floors:  Original Red Oak Hardwood

Living Room Other Side:

Rocking Chair:  Lay-Z-Boy (is now in the basement)    Desk:  Repainted hand-me-down    Desk Chair:  Target    Black Picture Frame:  Target    Large Frame:  Target 

Chair:  Hom Furniture     Mirror:  Garage Sale-only $5.00!    Candle Sconces:  Linens N Things    Pillow:  I made it.  Here’s how.

Entertainment Center:

Entertainment Center:  Custom Built by Ben    Door Hardware:  Home Depot Modern Bar    TV:  32″ Vizio from Costco    Silver Picture Frames:  TJ Maxx    B Monogram:  Target    Candle Holders:  Target    Clock:  Restoration Hardware on Ebay    Tall Blue Vase:  Crate and Barrel  Short Blue Vase:  TJ Maxx    Wooden Sculpture:  Target    Magazine Files:  IKEA painted Green    Books:  Used, Barnes and Noble    Print:  Made by Me    Hour Glass:  CB2

Dining Room:

 

Paint:  Mistinted version of Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage (The paint is from Wal Mart and they used the light base. The formula for one gallon is B-37, E-39.5, and T-37.  This is the color used in our basement, too. It can look more green in some light) and Behr’s Vermont Cream-both color matched at Wal-Mart    Dining Table:  DIY Table    Chairs:  World Market    Rug:  Flor    Curtains:  Hand Sewn from Fabric From Hancock Fabrics    Fruit Bowl:  Thrift Store    Plates:  Linens N Things and Target    Candle Sticks:  Target    Light Fixture:  CB2   Curtain Rod:  Wal-Mart    Floors:  Original Red Oak Hardwood

Guest Bedroom:

Paint:  Restoration Hardware’s Sea Green, color matched to Behr and Behr’s Vermont Cream    Headboard:  Free from an apartment tenant    Floral Bedding:  Ross    Sheets:  Linens N Things    Blue King Pillows:  TJ Maxx    Striped Pillow:  Hand Sewn from Fabric from Joann    Picture Frame:  From my Great Grandma    Photo:  Forsyth Park Fountain taken on our Honeymoon in Savannah, GA    White Nightstand:  Built by Ben    Lamp:  Target    Clock:  World Market    Candle Sconces:  Bed, Bath and Beyond    Curtains:  Wal-Mart    Curtain Rod:  Target    Apothecary Jar of Shells:  Michael’s     Pendant:  DIY with coffee filters  

Guest Bedroom Other Side:

Mirror:  Found in the Trash-from Target    Bedside Carafe:  Two Glasses from World Market    Shell:  Target    Artwork in the Hall:  Family Tree made by Me

Main Bathroom:

Paint:  Behr’s Vermont Cream and Restoration Hardware’s Lilac    Vanity:  Built by Ben out of Maple    Drawer Pulls:  Home Depot    Countertop:  Giallo San Francsico Granite Remnant    Vessel Sink and Faucet:  E bay    Mirror:  Reused from Remodel    Light Fixtures:  Home Depot    Picture, Frame and Mat:   Michael’s    Glass Box:  World Market    Soap Pump:  Target    Lotion:  Bath and Body Works    Candles and Jars:  Target  Purple Towels:  Target    White Towels:  Linens N Things   

Main Bathroom Shower:

White and Grey Marble Tile (also on floors):  Home Depot    Faucet:  Delta at Home Depot    Shower Curtain:  Target    Towel Bar and Toilet Paper Holder:  Home Depot

Master Bedroom:

 

Paint:  Restoration Hardware’s Bay Laurel and Behr’s Vermont Cream   Bed:  Custom Built by Ben    Coverlet:  IKEA    Pillow Shams:  Linens N Things    Throw Pillow:  Hand Embroidered by Me    Nightstand:  IKEA    Lamps:  Home Depot    Clock:  World Market    Pictures:  E Bay    Picture Frames:  Michael’s    Curtains:  Wal-Mart    Curtain Rods:  Wal-Mart   

Master Bedroom Other Side:

 

Mirror:  Michael’s    Upholstered Bench:  HOM Furniture

Master Bathroom:

Paint:  Behr’s Vermont Cream and Restoration Hardware’s Bay Laurel    Curtains:  Wal-Mart    Floors:  Absolute Black and White Marble from Home Depot    Toilet:  Kohler Highline from Home Depot    Vanity:  Built by Ben    Countertop:  Galaxy Black Remnant Ben Finished    Shower Curtain:  Target   Towels:  Target    Towel Bar and Toilet Paper Holder:  Home Depot    Clock:  Gift 

Boy’s Bedroom:

Paint:  Ralph Lauren’s Riesling and Behr’s Vermont Cream    Crib:  Garage Sale    Dresser:  Hand Me Down    Curtains:  Wal Mart    Curtain Rods:  Home Depot    Crib Blanket:  Crocheted by Me    Sheets:  Target    Crib Skirt:  Target    Rocking Chair:  Family chair    Storage Bin:  Tuesday Mornings    Mobile:  Made by Me    Owl:  Made by Me    Silhouette:  Made by Me    E and V:  Hobby Lobby    Pillows:  Made by Me

 Bed:  Hand Me Down Painted Red    Bedding:  Target    Stuffed Animals:  Kohl’s     Pillows:  Hand sewn by me      Footprint Art:  Inked Feet of my Boys    Artwork:  Canvas Painted by Me    Bookshelf:  Hand Me Down   

Office:

Paint:  Benjamin Moore’s Raisin and Behr’s Vermont Cream    Cabinets and Shelving:  Custom Built by Ben    Countertops:  Brazilian Cherry and Carrera Marble    Desk Chair:  IKEA   Desk Lamp:  Target    Storage Boxes and Magazine Files:  IKEA    Curtains:  Hand Sewn from Fabric from Hancock Fabrics    White Marble Vases:  Restoration Hardware    Small Blue Vase:  Target    Little Bird:  Felt Pincushion from Etsy    Picture Frames on Shelves:  Target    Map Frame:  Michael’s    Map:  Art.com    Light Fixture:  Home Depot    Magnetic Tins:  IKEA   

Office Bookshelves: 

 

Chair:  Target    Accent Table:  Target    Picture Frame on Table:  Target   White Vase:  Target (was a reed diffuser)    Storage Boxes:  IKEA    Brown Frames:  Hobby Lobby   Art in Brown Frames:  My modern portraits   Drawing Figure:  IKEA    Rose Candle Holders:  Michael’s, Big Lots and Ross    Bird Art:  Custom Painted by Me    Orange Clock:  Hobby Lobby    Wire Buildings:  Target    Butterfly Artwork:  Custom Made by Me    Globes:  Garage Sales and Target    Vacation Jars:  Hobby Lobby filled with vacation items    Books:  Barnes and Noble, Thrift Stores and Garage Sales