Impossible is No Longer Impossible!

I did it!  I finally finished my project for the challenge, just in time!  I have to be honest with you...when I first took the challenge of re-doing my kitchen table I really didn't think it would be all that impossible...I just needed a kick in the pants to get it done.  Boy was I wrong!  It wasn't impossible, but there were moments right up until  the very end that I thought it was going to be an ultimate FAIL!!

I knew I wanted something unique for this table that would be the center piece for the dining room, but I wasn't quite sure which direction I wanted to go in.  That was until I spied me some bold Tangerine!

I have to admit as excited as I was, I was also frightened that I might be making a HUGE mistake!  I started with the chairs in a more subtle, but very distressed look...

This was also my first attempt at making my own chalk paint {to learn more about this process click here}. 

I decided that I wanted to do the table with tangerine legs and a white top.  Well, this is where I almost gave up :(  I finished the table after so much hard work and brought it inside.  WOW was it blinding!  It just did not look right!!  My sweet husband walked in and very politely said, "Ummm so do you like it?" while secretly praying I would say "No" ha ha!  Lucky for him I did :)

Sorry I have no photos ~ I was way too eager to get that thing out of the house! 

I was back at the drawing board and really didn't want to start this project all over again.  In my head I knew that the table would work if I painting the white part of the chairs the same blue as my hutch, but I just did not have the energy to re-paint all of those chairs!  So I decided to re-paint the top of the table blue and guess what?  It was the perfect solution!! Get ready for picture overload...

I only wanted to very lightly distress the table so it had a much cleaner feel - for this reason I chose not use the Chalk Paint Recipe I just used regular old primer and paint for the table and I am very happy with that decision.

So what do you think?

How about you all?  Are you taking the challenge?  If so let me know so I can take a peak at your projects :)

I will be linking up to the following parties...

http://www.thriftydecorchick.com; http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://todayscreativeblog.net/;http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/; http://www.thegunnysack.com; http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com; http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://space46.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/; http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/ ; http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com ; http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com; http://www.tipjunkie.com; http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/; http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com; http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com/; http://www.tipjunkie.com; http://howtonestforless.com

It Stinks in Here!

If you have a little of this...

 or this...

or a couple of these...

in your home, like I do, then this post is for you!

Ok, so I am a little obsessed with a clean smelling home, but I also have 2 dogs, a kids still in diapers and I LOVE to cook...which doesn't always go hand in hand.

For instance ~ I make yummy Tastes Like Lasagna Soup {which by the way is the best soup ever!!} for the family, clean dishes, go to bed, head to church the next day and when we return (with guests) I walk in the door and want to die with embarrassment!  All I can think about is that they are probably looking for any excuse to run out of our house because they can't possibly hold their breath any longer!  Why is it that some smells just take over the house!!

The only thing that is worse to me than left over food smell is a bad air freshener.  I will spend an hour in the candle isle with my daughter smelling all the candles and walk away with the perfect candle only to light it at home and have my dear husband walk in and say, "what is that smell?!!" 

I have recently Pinned a couple interesting alternatives to making a house smell fresh. 

First I thought I would try out this tea light in coffee idea.  Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck with this method.  I was super bummed because I LOVE the smell of coffee.  But only by the time my tea light was almost burnt out, could I finally get a little whiff of coffee.  I would go through a million tea lights this way.

So I thought I would give this DIY plug in a try. 

I am happy to report that it worked like a charm!  I bought some Peppermint oil and put it in there with a little water and plugged it in and whalah!  Our house now smells fresh and inviting!  Also, a little side fact, peppermint is hated by these little guys...

How about you all?  Do you have any tricks to keeping a fresh smelling home?

P.S. This post will be featured at Mom's Fun Money this week. While you are there make sure to check out her fabulous giveaway that ends soon...you could win concert tickets!!

And I will be linking up to the following parties...

http://www.thriftydecorchick.com; http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://todayscreativeblog.net/;http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/; http://www.thegunnysack.com; http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com; http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://space46.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/; http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/ ; http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com ; http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com; http://www.tipjunkie.com; http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/; http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com; http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com/; http://howtonestforless.com

Painting Laminate

Imitation can be just as beautiful as the real thing...

Angelina Jolie/Octomom

Ummmmm, well almost ;-)

 

However; when it comes to furniture, imitation can look nearly identical to the real thing.

Now that this end table has been painted you can't even tell what type of wood it is.  I think it looks just as beautiful as if I had made over a solid oak table. 

I picked this table because I liked all of the beautiful designs and I even liked the knobs (with a little coat of Rustoleum), it also didn't hurt that it was only $10!

Here is the ugly little laminate table in all her glory before her blue paint...

I painted the laminate wood the same way that I do solid wood.  I lightly sanded it and applied 2 coats of really good primer.  (You will have real struggles painting laminate if you do not prime it first).  After the primer was dry I just painted away :-)

I also distressed this piece lightly the same way I would have if it was real wood (just a few scuffs with some sand paper).  I also applied a little bit of glaze for slight antiquing.

So what do you think? 

Moral of the story...just because you don't have an Angelia Jolie original, doesn't mean it should get thrown to the curb!

P.S. This post will be featured at Mom's Fun Money this week.

And I will be linking up to the following parties...

http://www.thriftydecorchick.com; http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://todayscreativeblog.net/;http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/; http://www.thegunnysack.com; http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com; http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://space46.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/; http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/ ; http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com ; http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com; http://www.tipjunkie.com; http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/; http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com; http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com/

Pinterest Love

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!  I just wanted to start off the week by showing some of my recent Pinterest favorites.  

via

I absolutely LOVE these stools! 

via

I just love the color combinations in this room...it makes me feel so happy!

via

The colors in this room are to die for!  I love the overlapping colors on the wall and that light is fabulous! 

I Think I Can...I Think I Can...

So you always know that when I have been MIA for a few days that I am working on a big project.  Well, it is no exception this week!  I am exhausted and completely understand why this is called the Impossibilities Challenge!

I knew my horrible black table would take some work, but I am really starting to wonder what I have gotten myself into...

I have one chair complete and 5 in progress, taking up our entire garage. I love the results so far, but I am really praying it all turns out how I have envisioned because I really don't want to have to start this project over again!  I can handle painting, but I am not a fan of stripping - I'm talking about paint people, however I would probably go pole dance instead of stripping paint at this point ok not really...
P.S. If you want a funny stripping story you have to read this story at 551 East Furniture Design it is down right funny!

I am really stressing because my dear husband is not a fan of the chairs :-(
Then when I mentioned my plans for the table our conversation went something like this...

Me: "Really, you don't like the chairs!?  Just wait until you see the table, I think you will love it!" 

Brian: "What color are you painting the table?"

Me: "mentions secret color ;-)"

Brian:  "REALLY?????  HMMMM...."

Me: "I promise it will look great once the kitchen cabinets are painted!"

Brian: "Ok" and there wasn't even an eye roll here! 

I gotta love him!  He listens to me whine and complain about how much I have to do, while knowing I create my own chaos. 

So now my goal is to prove to that this table is going to look fabulous!  I am really going out of my comfort zone on this one and I am not sure if it is going to pay off.

My goal today is to completely finish the chairs and hopefully get started on the darn table.  I will show you the reveal soon! If you don't see a reveal on this post in the next week, you can just assume that it went horribly wrong and my husband was right.  We will just pretend it never happened and my family may be sitting on the floor to eat for the next 6 months.

DIY Chalk Paint Review

I finally did it!  I made my own Chalk Paint!  I have been dying to get my hands on some ASCP, but haven't wanted to cough up the money.  I have seen so many recipes for making your own chalk paint, but just haven't done it yet. 

Yesterday I was debating on what I want to do with painting my kitchen table and really wanted to use chalk paint instead of regular.  That is when I remembered this recipe from the The Liz Marie Blog...I happened to have everything on hand to try it and decided to give it a whirl.  What do you think?

 This was the ultimate test for this DIY recipe because this is what the I was working with...

I stripped the black paint from the seat of the chair in order to stain it and I left the rest black.  I know that with Chalk Paint that you are not supposed to have to use a primer, so this was the ultimate test going from black to white, with no primer.  {I also like the mixture of the brown and black underneath with the distressing}.

I am happy to say that I got this look from only two coats of paint!  My favorite part was that there was no dripping! I absolutely hate painting things like these chairs with designs and curves, where I tend to get a lot of dripping.  It also dries very quickly, which is fabulous for n impatient person like me!

The main thing about this recipe of Chalk Paint is that it is a little gritty from the tile grout, so it does require sanding when you are complete.  It didn't bother me with this piece, since I was planning on heavily distressing it anyway. 

I am not sure if the paint would hold up to being stored, so I only mixed a cup at a time in a separate container.  I didn't use even close to a full cup of paint for this chair.

P.S.  I used grey grout because that is what I had on hand and there was no change in color to my paint.  I also used an Eggshell paint because I didn't have Flat on hand and it worked out just fine.

How about you guys, have you tried this recipe or any other ones?  How did you feel abou it?

Linking up to these fabulous parties...

http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/
; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://todayscreativeblog.net/;http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/; http://www.thegunnysack.com; http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com; http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://space46.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/; http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/ ; http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com ; http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com; http://www.tipjunkie.com; http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/; http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com; http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com/

Pinterest Inspired Bathroom

Finally my mini bathroom makeover is complete!  I swear it has been completely done except for the last thing for 2 weeks and it has been making me crazy! 

Due to the joys of renting I did not paint, but just might do that anyway in the near future because it would really change the feel of this room...anyway...this room came together from some of my favorite Pinterest inspirations. Click on the link below each photo to be taken to the original source :-)

Here is the before...it seriously hurts my eyes to look at these photos!

you gotta love the kid's medicine cup on the counter and all ;-)

 

 Now to the after...

Much better right? The dark counters and horrible wood still make me cringe, but working within the limitations I feel it has come a long way.

Now on to the details...

Anthropology Inspired Q-tip Flowers

Vases in Frames

These frames are my favorite part and they are so cheap and easy to make!

Baskets

free printable

Towel Hangers

I was doing really well up to this point and I had a goal in my head that I wanted to do everything in this bathroom by myself {yes I am working on my pride issues ;-)} unfortunately by this point I needed my patient husband's help.  I think he pretty much waits in the other room waiting for me to call his name.

Even though he won't admit it, I know he actually likes when he has to come rescue me...at least that is what I tell myself so that I don't feel so guilty dragging him in to all my projects!

I was so excited because I hung this shelf with 4 anchors and all and it was even perfectly centered - yes, I realize I am a little pathetic that hanging a shelf its a major accomplishment for me.  But, I am not kidding you something always goes wrong!  I can paint a hutch without a care in the world, but when it comes to being handy I have real issues! And it was no exception in this case :(

While admiring my skills I placed my jars on top of the shelf and low and behold it leaned like crazy!  It was super weak :(  Unfortunately there were no studs where this shelf was placed and just couldn't support the weight of these jars. 

My husband had to come to the rescue again and amazingly he had a super cute idea!  Don't worry I didn't tell him it was "super cute."  He had the idea to use eye bolts with strong metal anchors behind them and tie to the additional eye bolts connected to the shelf.  I had some twine left over from my frames with vases and figured this would be the perfect thing to use!  I absolutely love the character that it brings to the shelf!

I apologize for the poor lighting and pictures.  Do you know how hard it is to get a good photo using a crummy camera in a bathroom with only a tiny window and horrible lighting!? 

I will be linking up to these fabulous parties...

http://www.thriftydecorchick.com; http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/ ; http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/ http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ ; http://goodbyecityhellosuburbs.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.lilluna.com/ ; http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/ ; http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/ ; http://733blog.blogspot.com/ ; http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/; http://www.somewhatsimple.com/ ; http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.houseofhepworths.com/ ; http://rhinestonebeagle.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/ ; http://alliemakes.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com/

; http://whipperberry.com/ ; http://www.missmustardseed.com/ ; http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/ ; http://www.atthepicketfence.com/ ; http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/ ; http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/ ; http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/; http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ ; http://niftythriftythings.blogspot.com/ ; http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.bystephanielynn.com/ ; http://www.iheartnaptime.net/ ; http://www.flamingotoes.com/ ; http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
; http://sweetpeasandbb.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.laughloveandcraft.com/ ; http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/ ; http://www.remodelaholic.com/ ; http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/; http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/ ; http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com; http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com ; http://kissedbyafrog.blogspot.com/ ; http://www.happyhourprojects.com/ ; http://www.homemakerinheels.com/ ; http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/; http://littlebighouseontheprairie1.blogspot.com/; http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/; http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com; http://todayscreativeblog.net/;http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/; http://www.thegunnysack.com; http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com; http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/; http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com; http://space46.blogspot.com; http://www.itsoverflowing.com/; http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/ ; http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com ; http://www.herecomesthesun-kelly.blogspot.com; http://www.tipjunkie.com; http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/; http://junkintheirtrunk.blogspot.com; http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com/; http://howtonestforless.com; http://www.mom4realky.blogspot.com