Friday's in the Garden....pot man

While I am busy fighting working with my less than handy contractor for the One Room Challenge, I thought I would show you "Pot Man".

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I actually had one of these creations on my front porch in California. Since the clay pots are porous, I would need to overwinter it here, in NJ ....and we know that's not happening.

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This one would drive my dog crazy.

If you want to find out how to make one, go here. Have a great weekend!

The One Room Challenge

Welcome to the One Room Challenge. This is an opportunity for DIY-ers and Designers to work in tandem, while finishing a room in their home. Each blogger will be posing their progress every Wednesday... and maybe even a few updates in between. Without further ado.....here are the participants 

As you can only imagine, trying to coordinate posting schedules for a group this large, was nearly impossible...  not to mention the fact that this runs over The Fourth of July and Canada Day. Therefore, unlike the first ORC, each blogger was given the flexibility to work at their own pace as their summer schedule permitted. Some people joined the group as recent as a few days ago! The overall goal is unanimous...to entertain and inspire you with our best attempt! 

Updates: Week 2.... Week 3 ....Week 4.....Week 5....Week 6
Let the games begin....
I will be tackling my master bedroom. It is number 4 on my Home Goals for 2012.  I have procrastinated on this room for four years. just like many of the men I have dated, It has so much potential.

Starting with the positives....I love my Tommy Bahama bed. OK, that is all the nice things I have to say. Here are my annoyances with this part of the room

Here are a few real problems

The light switch is so far away, I fall out of bed when I reach over to turn it off. The swing arms on the fixture are not long enough to be useful. The cords are like that because the outlet is behind the dresser and the cords are too thick and need to be put on an extension cord.

Now for this side of the room

Again, with the positives...I love the ceiling detail and the big window. The pineapple chandelier has potential...again with the potential.

My plan for this side

The final corner....the one that I feel I will be judged over. Yes, people...I have a large television in my bedroom. I also have a few bits of exercise equipment that I don't intend on using. I will not make excuses for the television....I have a ton of excuses for the exercise equipment.

What do I like about this corner....that ehffing tv! In fact, I was never "Tardy for the Wedding" on this baby.
My plan for this corner

I wold make a list...but I don't want that level of accountability. 
One quick pole, before you go....How wold you update this chandelier?

I am open to all your suggestions....except the trash, my husband already voted for that!
Now, let's go check out all the other bloggers, and see what kind of rooms they are working on.
         Chinoiserie Chic                                      My Little Happy Place The Cottage Mix                                             Nana Moon       Design Indulgence                                     Nicole Scott Designs           Everything LEB                                         Pawleys Island Posh             Hodge:Podge                                            The Pink Pagoda      Kim Macumber Interiors                              Powell Brower Home       Lisa Mende Design                                   The Pursuit of Style         Living Savvy                                                 Rue de Emily             Mix & Chic                                                Sadie + Stella  Trapped in North Jersey
Updates: Week 2....Week 3...Week 4....Week 5...Week 6

Please Excuse The Mess

My blog is under construction

Please excuse my mess!

Friday's In the Garden...You're Benched

Hi Everyone, since I already did a lot of work in my garden this week, I wanted to focus on benches. I love the idea of a garden bench, don't you? From far away, you see it....and it is saying, "come on over".

Kew Gardens

I have a bench on my front porch,

but I don't have one out in the yard. Here are a few that caught my eye

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This one is on sale for $2,200. ;-)

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 Do you have a bench in your yard?

How Do You Do?

Starting today, I'm going to hit it "Old School".  When I first started blogging, only 15 months ago.....I wanted to meet people (bloggers). Let's face it, blogging can be quite lonely. Since then, I have developed a nice group of blogger buddies. In fact, I feel so comfortable with "the girls"....I have not reached out to many new people.

So, I'm going to go back to my basic formula for meeting & networking with new people. Here it is;

1. Visit and leave comments on 15 {NEW TO ME} blogs/day. Yes, I did that for weeks on end.
2. Visit and comment on any blog that is new to this blog and takes the time to leave a comment.
3  Follow anyone who has less than 50 followers. Don't you remember what it was like?

That was my formula for meeting people. I am so grateful to the lovely group of blogger buddies that I have. However, recently, my daughter and I were having a conversation about branching out and being open to "new friends"......because I love her....I'll do it too! In fact, I'll introduce you to some of my "new friends" along the way. Will you join me?

Pink & Orange in the Garden....My Lowe's Challenge

Happy Monday! It was a busy weekend around here. About a week ago, I received my first Lowe's Garden Challenge in the mail. I did have advanced notice, via e-mail, about the topic....."Furniture Fun".

The Lowe's sponsored mission: To enhance your outdoor space with a new creative piece or even refurbish something you already have into something truly eye--catching.

Seriously? This is a no-brainer for me....remember when I told you about my tired adirondack chairs? Here they are

Wait, you need to see all the dirt close up

Yup, these babies have been piled up in the corner of my yard for the last....um, maybe 9 years?

This is good for the "refurbish" part of the challenge....but I want to create something new..TOO! A quick trip (ok, maybe several trips later) to Lowe's, and I came home with these:

2 small plant stands with (2) 11.5" ceramic saucer.

4 Deck mounted metal Tiki Torches

And 2 bamboo Tiki Torches

Armed with my color palette and a mask....I began to create new pieces

First up, the saucer.....I primed and painted the bottom white

This was my second attempt, so the sides are pink....but this is the correct order. Using peel and stick letters, press your initials into the center of the dish, spray with pink paint, and remove letters

Spraying to plant stand green, and you have a monogram cocktail table. This would be perfect for a garden wedding.

Next, the deck mounted Tiki Torches....I don't have a deck. Using a hack saw, I cut off the bottom cleats and removed the metal caps along with the oil canister

A coat of spray paint....and you have a beverage holder for your yard

Lastly, just a simple coat of white paint for the bamboo Tiki Torches....you know how I love white in the garden

Put it all together....and this is how it looks

I hope this gives you a few ideas on ways to have "Furniture Fun" in your garden. For even more ideas, be sure to check out Lowe's Creative Ideas....or go here to subscribe. Next time, there will be a chance for you to win a Lowe's Gift Card!

I'm Out Early

Hi everyone. This week and month have been crazy around here. I won't bore you with all the details, but I am taking a few days off......just from blogging; Motherhood never rests. Apparently there is a certain 8th grade girl.....whom I love more than the entire world....and she is graduating!

I don't remember my 8th grade graduation taking over the entire family....boy have things changed for today's teen. The graduation has not been our major focus....it has been the 8th grade formal dance. Yes, formal....as in a ridicules amount of money (for the second time) on a dress and shoes that will never fit or be appropriate again. There was a formal holiday dance last December. My daughter has grown a couple of inches taller and one shoe size since then. 

I won't complain any more because she is totally worth all the effort. I just wish it was casual attire

I will be back on Monday with my first Lowe's Garden Challenge. Before I go, let me ask you this...how many trips does it take to find the perfect dress? Tell me your shopping stories, it will make me feel better about mine.

Randomness

Are your kids still in school? Mine are, and the requests are getting ridicules. Yesterday, I got the last minute request that my son needed a green shirt (don't have one), and my daughter needed a black one AND a white one for Field Day. Three shirts for two kids on one day. I ran to Kohl's and grabbed all three from the boy's department...they can use them as nightshirts, later.

Later that evening, I TRIED to prepare and label my kids water bottles for Field Day. Six water bottles later.....NOT ONE TOP that actually fit one of the bottom bottles we have. Where are the tops? I ran to Bed  Bath & Beyond and picked up two new water bottles. When I returned home, I threw away ALL THE OTHER BOTTLE PARTS! There, I showed them..... By the way, Field Day was rained out.

Onto far more interesting things....my friend Rebecca, from Older and Wisor, is doing a week long series of gift wrapping with craft paper

I met Rebecca during the 31 day challenge. She did 31 days of gift wrapping. Seriously, you must check it out here.

And speaking of 31 days.....The Nester is recruiting reminding bloggers to start thinking about

It was the hardest....BEST thing I have ever done. I met so many new friends along the way. I'll be doing it again....will you join me?