WingBackChairs-PaintedLegs

I bought these chairs on Craigslist in June of this year. 

They are in really good shape and I felt like they were a good color. 

So...I've kept them as is. 

The only debacle is that the legs were a little beat up. 

That was the only thing that needed some love. 

It's craigslist...come one, everything from the list needs some love. 

The solution: PAINT!

Last Saturday morning, I went to the fix it store and bought some paint. 

Rustoleum Oil Based Paint to be exact. Great price, approximately $8.00.

This kind of paint only comes pre-mixed so the color selection is slim.

via: Rust-Oleum

I didn't have any experience with oil based paint prior to this paint job. 

My new advice after working with oil based paint is to do it quickly!

I discovered that painting with this kind of paint is kind of like painting 

your nails. Brush strokes go away, and the enamel dries in a slick luster. 

WOW! I love it.  I didn't even have to sand!

The last recommendation/discovery....

Try to keep it out of your hair! Yikes.

Here is the chair #1 before

After 1 of 4 legs were painted

After 2 legs are painted...so far me likely!

I stepped back to get a better look...yup I'll keep going. 

Now it's time for chair #2

I decided to move this one further out in the room. 

Painting chair legs is a little bit tricky.

Chair #2...after

Now it's time to dry. 

Oil based paint can take up to 3 days to dry. 

Oy! So much for a quick little project. 

The finale to follow. 

Happy Friday. 

LIVING-ROOM...Confusion

This post is for Lauren. 

I sure hope she reads it. 

Lauren, start planning and scheming. 

The end. 

P.S. Lauren call me!

Weekend Happenings....this is a teaser.

Weekend happenings usually take stages to "reveal". You have to put things back together, or take proper photos that shows just exactly how long you slaved away on the project.  Know what I mean?

I had about 4 projects going this weekend.  3 of which I am finished with...1 that will be on going.

As I'm putting together pictures and getting things back in place, I'll leave you with one photo.

Until later...(which will be soon)

Labor Day Weekend - ReCap

Labor Day Weekend 2011 has come and gone. 

It's almost like it was never even here. 

With a blink of an eye, this lovely and well 

expected holiday weekend blew by. 

In a few captured pictures, here's how we spent our weekend. 

Remember those really amazing wedding flowers? 

Well...they died. 

Bummer. 

They were quickly replaced by new bundle of fresh roses. 

Rachel's, a flower shop in Midtown Memphis had a flower happy hour. 

I was mesmerised by the options but stuck with roses. 

Chartreuse, lavender, and hot pink stems to the rescue. 

My family was in town from Kansas. 

It's always good to see Dad, Mom and my brother Patrick. 

When they visit, there is more than likely a hearty dose of food involved. 

Within minutes of their Thursday arrival a trip in the car 

was necessary to pick up some of the Memphis greatest hits. 

On that list is Muddy's Bakeshop for a box of dilicious cupcakes. 

For about a decade, when she comes to my house, Mom packs in 

 things like toilet paper, paper towels, miscellaneous dry goods,  

and those pesky things like soap that she knows I detest buying.

She started doing this when I was in University and has continued to do so....

because...I'm STILL in University.  LOVE IT. 

I hope that someday this might translate into 

bringing things like baby diapers and formula.

But for now, it's things like snickers.

On Friday and Saturday we did some shopping... 

...and home came these giraffe candlestick holders from Anthropologie. 

I think they're "interesting" and fortunately they were marked down! 

I'm glad I waited a little bit longer. Right now they're hanging out in front of  

my Kate Spade (February) print. I have yet to hang

 them as they are a 12 month series. I've got a few more to acquire 

before I really commit to hanging them together. 

On Sunday night, mother nature sent us buckets full of rain. 

The family Redbird tickets went unused. 

Instead....we stayed home and made a family favorite,

MUSHROOM RISOTTO!

Mushroom Risotto = POT OF GOLD

This morning (Monday) my parents loaded 

up their car and back to Kansas they drove. 

It's tough living so far away from your parental units. 

Our time together is always very precious. 

...Pause for a wee tear...

Following their departure I went to work! 

The World's Away outlet, Worlds Apart, had a MEGA SALE today. 

And mega it was.  From the minute the doors opened it was a whirlwind day. 

I spent it with my wonderful boss, Lucy, and two great 

gal pals Thaler, and Lauren. If you've got to work on a holiday,

 it's always fun to do it with great company!

And tonight, after an action packed weekend, I'm ready to jump in the bed. 

Another week of work, lessons, class, homework, and studying is upon us. 

Mega Wedding Fleurs

True Statement:

I absolutely LOVE flowers. 

Having a bundle around the house is such a great touch.  

Whether it is 1 stem or 50, it's a fantastic way to bring 

color and a bit of "fresh" to your home and it's decor. 

This week...it just so happens that I have flowers....everywhere!

I can't stop taking pictures of them...they're so beautiful. 

What a magnificent creation. 

"OH, EM, GEE HILARY"

I'm sure that's what you're saying to yourself. 

I've said it to myself a few times. 

The poor hubs, the kitty and I are sneezing like crazy!

Somehow, it's worth it.  

A peony in the late summer/early fall is a rare thing to come by. 

I was wishing for some and voila, there they were. 

So...wondering where they came from? 

Wondering...if this is what your house looks like, what did the church look like? 

Looking into the Narthex from the Nave.

This bundle came from one of the isle (pew) decorations. 

Looking into the Nave from the Narthex. 

The pew arrangements were moved for the Sunday morning services. 

The arches, alter flowers and pillar candle flowers stayed up. 

These were by far the most beautiful wedding flowers I've ever seen.

It looked like a scene from a Hollywood movie or from Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine. 

To go with the beautiful flowers, the male guests were adorned in their black tie

 finest and the ladies in the summer  2011 runway gowns and cocktail dresses. 

The bride wore a lace gown with a creme to light pink ombre underneath, with a light pink sash cascading down the back of her dress. I've not checked their line, but I'm pretty sure it was Vera Wang. 

The bridesmaids wore navy dresses that were oh so flattering on all TWELVE of them! 

The flowers they carried matched that of the church flowers.  

The multiple camera crews wisely documented every smile, ribbon, tear and flower stem. 

The homily was one to remember, the music was divine. 

I sure hope this bride and groom LOVED their wedding and never forget it. 

Of all the weddings I've been part of, this one is for sure one for the books!

Cake Plates

I have a thing for dishes. 

A serious...thing. 

What I need is to either get rid of some or get more storage. 

Instead...I'm going to talk about my interest in these dishes. 

photos: Rosanna Inc. 

AND THESE.....

via: Kate Spade

Considering these plates both come in sets of 4, are the same price and also have an optional cake stand, which interpretation do you like better?

Book Club

Sunday night was the beginning of a fabulous new book club. When aren't books or clubs fabulous? Never. Since moving to Memphis it has been difficult to find a group of gal pals to be friends with. Upon evaluation, most of our friends in Memphis are either above 65 or below 13.  I felt like it was time, after 5 years in town, to grow a group of friends.  So...I invited 8 young women that I know through various arenas and that are in my approximate age group (22-32) to come. I don't know any of them very well, nor did they know one another.  It was a chance to bring various opinions and perspectives to the table. On Sunday night 6 of us gathered and discussed what a scallywag Ernest Hemingway was. I don't believe there is really any ever debate over this factoid. The premier book- The Paris Wife, A New York Times Bestseller about the life of Hadley Hemingway. A must read. Within our group we have a banker, a teacher, a speech therapist, a realtor, an artist/interior designer, a social worker, ME (whatever, I am), and a university senior. Many opinions, many perspectives, many big voices came to the table. 

And on the table was...

My Kate Spade wedding china. 

I haven't used my wedding dishes for quite some time. 

It was fun to have a reason to get them out.

A touch of Kate Spade and Jonathan Adler

Not French, but definitely stylish. 

Just before the gals arrived, I had a quite moment to sit down and have a sip of wine. 

I was so very, very excited. 

Dinner Menu: 

Wine...duh

Mesculine green salad with cherry tomatoes, champagne dressing

Mushroom and shrimp risotto (Balthazar NYC recipe)

French tea cakes for dessert

Within our group we have an upcoming wedding and in the spring will have a baby amongst us. 

Many things to plan with and around, but our next selected book is "The Help". We do live in Memphis for Pete's sake. Jackson is just down the road. 

7 Days - 20 Photos

On Friday night, Handsome hid under the blue velvet couch in the sunroom

On Saturday, I went to see "The Help" with Katherine, Elizabeth, and Ellen. 

Seeing this movie just up the road from Jackson, MS 

in Memphis was really something. 

It looked an awful lot like my new 'ville. 

New Tervis Tumblers for the Dow Wards. 

Though our wedding day was nearing 6 years ago, it's still like a honeymoon. 

I'm addicted...get over it.

Something to celebrate with friends and drinks...

On Sunday my friend, Elizabeth graduated from The University of Memphis magna cum from the university honors college.  Yes, I like being around extra smart people who have good things to say. 

Hi...this is me in my Warby Parker glasses. 

They're awesome. 

An orange velvet chair in my co workers office. 

A late breakfast/lunch on my desk at work.

Don't worry, more food followed. 

Straws, like that of Kate Spade.  

A demi bev after work on Monday.

I'm loving our house. 

I switched lampshades. 

Orange silk for white parchment. 

This shade is silver on the inside, shhhh don't tell. 

You can see a little bit of the silver undercoat from this perspective. 

Elvis' vigil was on Monday.

Something to put on the ol' bucket list. 

A new Elle Decor arrived this week. 

That's always exciting. 

Lunch on Wednesday. 

Yum...Lean Cuisine

A Kate Spade print on the side table next to my desk. 

Can't forget my love for this guy. 

He's Handsome!

Now for the biggest event of the week...

My friends Melissa and Scott had a baby on Monday!

Welcome Clarabella!

This week was has flown by with not many words, just pictures. 

The weekend is nearly here! 

Take some pictures.