Little Lumberjack

After tossing around a few ideas for Grady's Halloween costume this year, I finally committed to my original idea...a lumberjack!  Update: here are some pics of the costume on Halloween night!


Soon, this little long-haired dude...

...will button up the flannel, snap on his suspenders, "grow" a beard, grab his axe, & set off into the forest (err...Elm, Cedar, & Douglas Streets) on his quest for candy.  I cannot wait to put this costume together!

 

1.  Play Axe from Party City
2. "Beard" hat - numerous vendors on Etsy...(I'm having a friend make mine).
3. Suspenders - borrowing from a friend, but she found them on Amazon.
4. Jeans - we'll just use something he already has.
5. Flannel shirt from Herbergers
6. Boys' Mappe Winter Boots at Walmart
7. Awesome satchel to hold all that candy - via Pinterest (we'll probably end up with a thrift store find).

New Curtains!

A couple of weekends ago, after attending Junk Bonanza, I wandered out of Ikea with the curtains I'd been eying for at least a couple of years.  Since the closest Ikea is 100ish miles away, I've only been there a handful of times in the last couple of years.  This is the first time those particular curtains have actually been in stock when I've been there!

A couple of befores/afters for ya!

Living Room 1 year ago:

Living Room now:

Dining Room last fall:

Dining Room now:

Dining Room now:

So nice & bright now - I LOVE!

A hole in the wall...

The first spring that we were in our house we bought new windows.  Three years later, & after last weekend, we only have one left to put in!  After installing the new window & painting & putting up the trim, I can finally call the kitchen complete.  Hopefully we'll get the last window replaced in the attic before the snow flies.  It feels good my friends!

First, dad (grandpa) set out trying to remove the old storm window that had been painted on too many times to count.  It took a little time, but the old window came out & the new one slid in pretty easily.

Grandpa's best helper couldn't stay out of the action!

Watch closely Grady...someday you'll be doing this stuff for your mom!

This is what the old trim looked like before scraping & sanding it.  A couple of hours later I finally had it smooth enough to prime & paint.  Elbow grease.

Ta-da!  A window that not only looks pretty, but (Bonus!) functions too!  I'll post pictures of the completed kitchen soon.

 
It's been SO nice to be able to open all of the windows now that the weather has cooled off a little...no more windows that are painted shut!  :)

My head is in the clouds...er, attic.

I've been daydreaming a lot lately about finishing off our attic (this winter?).  Our house was built in 1945 and somehow, in 67 years, none of the previous owners have touched the space.  I have mixed feelings about that...it is a good thing because we don't have to undo anyone else's work, but not so good in the fact that in the 4 years we've lived here, we haven't been able to use the space for anything but a dumping ground (hoard?).

I've slowly been mentally filing away ideas for what I want the space to end up as...I'm thinking a happy & cheerful master bedroom with two walk-in closets, and a reading niche on the landing with plenty of shelves for my book collection.  (Don't worry...there will still be more than enough storage under the eaves.)

Without further ado, I introduce my "happy place" mood board...I can't wait to curl up with a good book...

 

Details:

1. Capiz Chandelier from World Market (purchased 7 years ago).
2. You are my sunshine original art.
3. Exposed brick chimney...I'll mount my tv in front of this.
4. Assorted pillows from Etsy found months ago.
5. Dwell Studio Mandala bedding.  Pretty sure it's discontinued.
6. Merete curtains in "bleached" by Ikea.
7. Barometer lamp from Ikea.
8. Custom built doors made from windows from my cousin's house.
9. Slipcovered reading chairs.
10. Fun accessories...antlers & Billy Balls perhaps?!
11. Stenciled wood floor.

And finally (not for the faint of heart), a photo of the attic's current state.  Good Lord.

Is it possible to work that kind of magic this winter?!  I'm not sure, but I'm going to try...

A little Labor...goes a long way.

This Labor Day weekend I found a little bit of time to roll up my sleeves & finish a project I've been waiting for inspiration on for a little over a year.  Last summer I picked up this little booster chair at a garage sale for $5.  It was sturdy, unique, cheap, and kind of cute (in a country/vintage/well-worn way).  I have been debating for a year whether to paint it AND reupholster the seat cover, or leave the wood as-is and just re-do the seat.  My indecisiveness had to come to an end...soooo...I asked the three year old what I should do!  He said, "paint it orange".  We compromised, and ended up deciding on Rustoleum's Satin Lagoon...a dark teal color.  For the seat, I used a scrap of green and white fabric left over from a pillow I sewed for Grady's room.  Grady loves his new chair...I love it...Grandma loves it...Eli rolled his eyes at me.  You just can't impress some people.  Haha!

I especially LOVE how it looks sitting at the table in the dining room...a happy burst of blue!