Bohemian Classic

I took a "what is your homestyle test" or something like that from HomeGoods recently and these were my results:

 

"Bohemian Classic

You have a refined sensibility and bring a sense of history and tradition into your decor. You appreciate how symmetrical arrangements and beautiful, well-crafted pieces create a solid foundation to a room. But you like to shake up this restraint with objects and accessories that express your personality and your love of other cultures. 

You value order. You feel happiest if your home is well organized. You understand that when your house is in order, your mind feels clearer.

 Rather than a lot of meaningless objects or overly-designed items, you are happier with a few well-placed things. Your home is your respite from a busy life. Try to avoid letting things into your home that you don't really love."

First of all, I've ALWAYS wanted to be called "Bohemian."  I don't think anyone in my real life would EVER call me that, but if this little quiz wants to,  I'm not going to argue.  ;) 

 

The "You value order.  You feel happiest if your home is well organized." made me laugh out loud. Because....... have you seen my refrigerator lately? 

 

 That's right.  I have a cleaning schedule.

 

No I'm not ocd about a clean house, ok maybe a little, but I wasn't always like this, I promise!  Ask my mom!  Ask my roommates in college!  But it's gotten worse as I've gotten older. Has anyone else had this happen?  

 

 So a chore chart helps me only do one thing of night instead of turning into a mad woman tornadoing through the house at 10pm because WHAT IF SOMEONE COMES OVER IN THE MORNING AND THE HOUSE ISN'T PERFECT?!

 

It helps me let go of things.  Well, all except one a night.  And for right now, that works. 

 

 Speaking of, it's wednesday and I have to fold the laundry now. ;)

 

Take the homegoods quiz for yourself here:  What's Your Style?

 

Caldwell Country

My friend Christine is awesome.  We experienced an amazing Coldplay concert together this summer.  (I promise to frame the tickets for you as promised soon.....)  

Well, she also shared with me her favorite bible verse...... and wanted a sign.....

She's from Caldwell, TX so I figured something classic country would suit her fancy.  I'm giving it to her tomorrow so we'll see. ;)

  I cut and nailed the back to mimick a barn door. 

It's a beautiful verse and I hope she likes it!

Little snippets of inspiration

White vases are all over pinterest lately.  Have you noticed?

Also pretty little entry ways...bookshelves and endless ideas for inspiration.

                                

I love the deer in the above photo.  Very Nells Hill's inspiration. 

Well I snapped the photos below as I was walking out of a family member's house lately.  It is an area that seperates the entry way and the dining room.     How adorable! 

 

I wish I had better photos...the countdown is on until the iphone5 is bought!

P.S. tomorrow is the first day of school.  wish us luck!!! :  )

Through the tunnel

I love books, words, writing, reading and everything in that category. 

Recently, I submitted a book review to an Austin magazine and it was published for the August edition.  I am beyond honored, elated and excited.   

Struggling through some things in the last few months I set some goals to really start doing things that I love.  One has been reading and writing more, along with a lot more of the painting, restoring and building.

So this feels like I have traveled through a long tunnel and made it to the other side. It's a small step, but one of many that I never could have imagined a few months ago. 

It's a new school year....if you're a student, a parent, teacher, or in the working world, set new goals for yourself.  Reach beyond yourself.  It's worth it.  You're worth it. 

More signs

Here are a few more signs I've made lately.  Most are from inspiration from friends with favorite songs, bible verses and sayings.  :)

All of these are for sale....as soon as get my etsy shop up and running, which will be in 2 days. For reals.   ;)

Name Board Galore

I did not make a pencil for myself.  I made a name board as I experimented with modge podge this summer.   (love the final result,  HATE modge podge with a passion, but willing to use it again.  Clearly not that passionate.)

Here ya go!

*Just like the pencils, I do make custom name boards.  Please email adrienneleigh83@gmail.com for details!

:)

Sharpened Pencils!

Teachers don't get pretty things.  We don't get big laptops with even bigger screens to sit at a nice big desk like some engineers I know of *cough cough*.   We don't get metal name plates outside our office door, (right now there's a name tag outside mine but it's the wrong teachers name, and we (who have the priviledge of being in a portable building) get the joy of sharing a washroom with 3rd graders.

le sigh..

This is not a complaining post, I promise. I LOVE my job and acknowledge all of those things come with the territory.

It's just emphasizing that the cool things teachers have in their rooms they make! and create! and buy from other teachers!

I saw a few teachers with these cools signs with their names on them in the shape of pencils last year and thought, hey I can do that!  So this summer I've been making pencils for lots of teacher friends!

If you want one just email me :) adrienneleigh83@gmail.com

And if my wonderful father in law ever ventures to this site, I'll have him send me the pic of the Aggie one I did for him because it was my favorite.  I also need a pic of my SIL because her's was awesome too.

:)

*If you know a teacher who would be interested in one of these adorable signs, let me know.  I custom make them and can specify colors, sizes, designs and prices (hint: they're cheap)*

Sweet Little Sasha

Apparently I blinked and over a week went by! You know what that means...school's here!

Our old apartment complex had a trash chute on the 3rd floor where we lived (which most people decided the chute was too difficult and it became more of a trash room) and this resulted in me being able to collect a few "treasures" while we lived there....one man's trash or something like that....

But these two, perfect condition little ikea side tables were in there one day and I snatched them right up.  These are the types of things  I always love for my classroom at school, but hate spending money on. 

Everything about them are great; they work great, are not wobbly, but it seems sweet little Sasha who owned them before me had a great time with some markers in her room one day (she was probably in time out when this happened, let's be honest).

 With a little sanding, two coats of killz and beautiful olive green color these will  be a great addition to the classroom! 

Hug your Favorite Librarian Day

What memories do you have of your elementary school librarian?

I remember mine, not her name (oops!), but that she would dress up every year in a silly costume and get in a pretend bath tub to provide an example of what NOT to do with your library book. She would also always faithfully read to us every week (something many librarians apparently don't see the need to do anymore).

And she held firm to the rule that if your library stick falls out and there's a book in your hand, that's the book you HAVE to take.  (I ended up with an Amelia Bedelia book I was very unhappy about as a third grader).

As an elementary school teacher myself, I can look back with fondness and appreciation for all that our librarian did for us.  I've seen some horrible librarians in my few short years as an educator. Stories I will save for another post. .

 Being a librarian has become a lost art:

~creating a love of books and of reading in children

~ the ability to help teachers with special projects

~staying abreast of the newest children's literature as well as being able to teach and let children attach to old, classic characters

All of this takes skills. Mad ones.

And there's one lady I've had the priviledge watch do this for most of my life.  My Mom.  She's probably the best elementary librarian I'll ever see, and I say that without any biased.

Her library is small, but when you walk in you can see and feel Mom's warmth, decorating style and meticulous detail in every inch of that space. (she can also recall the name and author of pretty much any childrens book by me just asking, "sooo, remember that book, with that girl, and that house, and.....")

So even though I painted over every other pinterest painting I made this summer,  I used a garden sign idea from it that I knew would be perfect for her library. (it took a long time to paint this one)  She hung it this week as she is preparing for the start of the school year.  It's right at the entrance of her library. (I'll have to take pictures and show you the full room at some point)

So the moral of this post is less about these cool signs, and more about awesome librarians.  So go hug yours today.  :)

Doggy Diner

My sweet friend Laci, also the owner of Cash's best friend: a boxer named Lambo, requested I make her a Doggy Diner sign that she could hang over where Lambo eats. (that way she wouldn't have to clean the wall as much.)

  If you know anything about boxers, they're pretty slobbery; and as loveable as he is, Lambo is no exception.

Remember all the signs that I had painted from things I saw on pinterest?  Well, I put killz on ALL OF THEM and decided to start over with some fresh signs of my own. 

So here is the sign! :)  I put it over Cash's bowl, but you get the picture.  I think I'm going to make Cash one too. 

Only his will say something to the effect of "I will not eat trash.  I will not eat trash.  I will not eat trash." 


HAPPY FRIDAY!

Entry way

I showed you the little postcard holder from First Monday the other day.   I've made a few additions to the entry way and wanted to share the finished result!


I made the sign a few days ago and with some final screws, I think it turned out beautifully.
The verse was a special verse we used at our wedding :)


The flowers are from my dear friend Laura's bridal shower earlier this spring. 

And the table addition now gives us a place to put our keys! :)

Coffee Table....FINISHED!

Back in this  post a few weeks ago I mentioned a coffee table I had begun to redo.....But then got distracted by puppies, naturally.

I visited a great new store in Cypress, TX called The Prickly Pair Collections that is filled with tons of treasures. A lot of the antique furniture there features the use of chalk paint and wax, which is a new technique to me.  I immediately thought this would be PERFECT for the wooden edge of the coffee table.

So we bought the paint, wax, of course the wax brush, and got to work:

 

It took me two coats to get the coverage I wanted on the wood with this paint. But we bought the small bottle and didn't even use half.  It goes a long way.  

                                   Below, I'm applying the wax,  this is after I sanded the edges to get the 

                                                                antiqued look I wanted.

With new screws,  buffing of the wax and transportation to the new apt, we have our completed coffee table!

THAT Dog.

He's cute.  He's adorable.  He's snuggly.  He's big.  He's fun.  He's Cash, our chocolate lab.  So many things could be said about this funny little guy.

UP until now.


The move has done him in.

My personality filled snuggle bear has turned into a complete temper tantrum throwing, trash eating, hair clip stealing, dumbbell weight grabbing monster.  


And mostly, it's directed at ME.  I'm still on summer vacation and he's gotten used to (ahem, spoiled) with all this time together and has become a complete year and a half old mama's boy.

He constantly wants my attention, reactions and to be in or on top of whatever I'm doing.   Whether its painting, washing dishes, trying to make the bed or hanging pictures.

                                                    (just for the record those are cole's legs)

Has anyone else's dog reacted to moving like this????