Go West, Young Man

OMG OMG OMG YOU'RE HOME!

Two?!

They both do it!  This is how they sleep comfortably.  I just can't believe our luck!

Traveling Man

I went to the Lafayette Flea Market after church on Sunday, and perused their many antique wares.  There were quite a few awesome suitcases I looked at adding to the travel-themed living room, but most were priced higher than I wanted to spend.  The burgundy one I added to my suitcase side table, however, was a mere $12.  Lovely price for a lovely 1940s suitcase!

You can also get a glimpse of the downright gorgeous hand-crocheted throw with soothing yellow, white, and gray squares and a beautiful border.  How this work of art ended up at a thrift store, I will never understand.  But for $3.50, I just couldn't pass up a handmade piece of history.

Couched!

Mike and I started looking at couches a couple of months ago, which resulted in long, drawn out pros and cons conversations, and various lists of why we should or shouldn't spend the money.  We're stumbled upon this couch set at Sofa Mart back in early July, and have been phone stalking it ever since.  We'd call about once a week to see if it was still there, and to see if it had been priced more reasonably (i.e. about $250 less than the price it was currently).  We even offered them such in cash, but to no avail.

Yesterday afternoon I called once again, almost on a whim after my mom sent me couch ideas from World Market.  Love their tables and such, but not sold on their couches.  Spoke to a very nice lady who knew the exact set I was checking on.  "Oh yes!" she exlaimed, "In fact, we really need to get rid of that set this weekend, so I can offer you a better price!  Let me go check on it..."  Five minutes later, she stated it was the exact price that we said, should it go to that, we'd snag it.

So we did!  And apparently, I've learned, got quite a steal since it's Natuzzi, a brand I'd never heard of nor do I really care about except for the fact that it's a big deal we got a floor model on major sale and they have excellent quality and durability (according to the few people I asked about it that would know).  So, sweet!

BAM!  Incredibly comfy seating for 6 people, but even more can join!

Today, I ran to ARC to check on the throw pillow situation, as it is a LOT of gray / lavender / black / blue depending on which angle you're looking from, so I wanted to break it up with some color.  Also moved some wall hangings from their not-so-public spots upstairs, which go with the quasi-vintage-travel theme.  It's amazing how much you can change a room by just moving around things you already have.

I found these small, thin, unbelievably gorgeous pillows for $2!  Each one is made out of a shiny silk material, some with the same shape, but all with a bit different color and style.  And they're very thin, so they don't take away from the comfiness of the plush couch!

Never owned a recliner before...it's heaven.

Also found a tray at ARC since we don't have a coffee table in here now.  I made new coasters by spray painting some tiles I found (50 cents for 10 of them) with paints I already had.  Turns out I also had the protection stickers for the bottom (I keep everything "just in case"; every once in a while that turns out to be a great thing), so we have some nice, colorful coasters (that also gave me a project - which I love) for half a dollar!  Love the crochet throw...not sold on its position here, but don't want the tray to leave marks!  Trade-offs, as my dad would say.

Found another crocheted beauty at ARC as well - how people get rid of these I'll never understand, knowing how much time it takes to make one!  But if you're ever cold, we've got lap blankets aplenty!  One day soon we will recover the BCC (Big Comfy Chair) and ottoman.  One day...

Finally, we realized just how much dog hair we're going to be constantly cleaning off of this micro velvet goodness.  Worth it?

Oh yes.

The greatest thing of all?  Our house is now fully furnished!  No more empty space when you walk in to the library!  Complete with vintage library chairs!  *Squeel*

There is no good way to decorate with dog crates.  Anyone have any suggestions on making them not so glaringly hideous?  I'm going to stain the coffee table to match the mahogany on the vintage chairs.  And I think I've found material for their reupulstery!  Tonic Living has some of the most lovely fabrics.  Now if I can get inspiration for BCC...

I heart nesting.

Luvs Him

I never imagined two dogscould bond to each other as much as we've bonded to them.  It's disgustingly cute.  Their sleeping places may change, but one thing remains they same: they're always within touching distance.  Precious puppies.

All Along the Watch Tower

Marketing at it's Finest

Inside the stall at Jackson's across from Coors Field.  Hottest day of the summer and that's the day we have tickets in the shadeless Rock Pile.  Good times.

Lacquer Red

Told you it wouldn't like anything like the original.

Recovered and put another coat of spray paint on the original chairs.  The material came from a curtain I found at ARC Thrift.

Really like the interesting way it turned out!  Although I do have to say Polycrylic takes WAY longer to dry than the directions state, if the markings from the items on the end are any indication...so frustrating.

Table: Goodwill, $15
3 cans Krylon black spraypaint;
2 cans Rustoleum Glossy Red spraypaint;
& Minwax Polycrylic: about $40
Curtain material: ARC Thrift, $1.50
Chairs: hand-me-down

Not bad for a completely new-looking dining set!  And now I don't have to deal with a dirty glass table top.  It's a win-win.

The Cannons Visit Colorado

What a breath of fresh air this friend is!

Date Night!

Mike and I used a restuarant.com certificate to try Old Santa Fe Mexican food.  Fantastic mango margaritas (almost as good as Mimi's, but not quite).

Real mangos:

 Happy!

 Mike getting "lost" and ending up in downtown Louiseville.  LOVE that town!

 So cute!

We ate dessert at Empire Restaurant and Lounge, classic menu.  Also a fantastic porch setting and great vibe inside.  What a great local find!

 Hence the name...

Mike in his handsome duds:

 Katydid!

Resistance is Futile

"Pet me."

Too Soon

Hobby Lobby, you're insane.

The Lord drives Lincoln

Why wouldn't He?  That's a Navigator, btw.

Told You

Water World

Mike and I played hookie (and by hookie, I mean we legitimately took the day off) and went to Water World!  No photos there (although the people-watching was epic, and I have a super cute suit).  But I thought today's DED was epicly perf.

Best Buds

They literally don't leave each others' sides.

How to Spray Paint

50% Off Saturday at Goodwill resulted in the purchase of a $15 dining table that will look absolutely nothing like this when I'm done with it.

I'd been stalking several on Craigslist, but all of them were at least $100, and most were not solid wood. This bad boy weighs a TON, but is well-made and solid white washed oak.

Which brings me to my next point: how can you take a $15 (or less) piece of furniture and not only make it look awesome, but make it your own?  I figured I've made at least 25 phone calls to my dad asking questions and getting tips the past couple of years since I started scoffing at new furniture and going the recycled route.  So I thought I'd spare you the trouble (and my dad the phone calls - he wouldn't really appreciate it if all you lovely readers started calling him), and make a nice, concise how-to.

1.  What you'll need:

• a well-ventilated area (this is not a suggestion - there's a reason they card you for this stuff)
• drop cloth (old curtains work well too, as long as they're thick)
• a sander (invest in an electric one - they're too cheap to resist)
• paint deglosser (also called liquid sandpaper - this stuff rocks, and goes a long way)
• gloves (for said deglosser)
• old rags (cut up t-shirts work great)
• in some cases, Minwax Polycrilic is handy (for surfaces that will see much use, it is a protective, clear coating)
• a staple gun (ok, you don't really need this, but everyone should own one)
• blue painters tape
• trash bags (handy)
• face mask (in case your significant other is paranoid)
• clothes you're ok with getting stained (spray paint does NOT come out; don't test this)

2.  Spray Paint GTKs (good to knows):

• There are 2 types: satin and glossy.  I think it's pretty obvious what the difference is.  Glossy can sometimes be a pain to get even, but has a shiny finish if that's what you're going for.  Don't be afraid to combine types on multi-surface pieces (i.e. dressers).  Most reds you don't have a choice but to go bold and glossilicious.
• Primer spray paint is a must.  It comes in gray and white usually.  Gray is for dark or bright colors, white is for pastels or...white paint.
• My personal favorite brand is Krylon, which can be found in vast, inexpensive quantities at WalMart and Ace.  Very non-intrusive as far as dust goes, even coating, and super quick drying time (they aren't kidding with the 10 minutes or less).  Rustoleum has an impressive glossy line that probably looks a bit better than Krylon, but I absolutely hate how sticky everything gets when I use it.  It will also turn any skin it touches the color of the paint for 2 days.  So weigh the risks.

3.  The most important step in spray painting any pieces is prep.  And it sucks.  But ensuring that the surface is ready to have paint stick to it for years to come will save you a lot of heart ache (trust me) down the road.  If the piece is wood or metal and fairly flat, use a sander to buff all surfaces to roughness.  If it's an odd material or shape that can't be sanded (like a lamp you have no idea what it's made of, or dresser handles) this is when the deglosser is a life saver.  Please be careful with this stuff - it's not good for your skin, and none of the materials we're using should ever enter your eyes.  

4.  After the piece has been sanded, coat it with the primer of your choice.  Trust me, one can goes a long way.  That being said, it's always better to have too much and return it than too little and have to pause for supplies and come back.  Evenly coat the piece to where it is entirely gray or white.

5.  Let that dry for 10 minutes if using Krylon (or if all else fails, read the directions), and start coating with the color(s) of your choice.  Keep in mind if you're using multi-colors what you'll need to tape off.  This is difficult, and I can't say I have completely mastered the art of avoiding seepage.  But it can look amazing.

6.  Let your piece dry for an hour (or more, depending on stickiness of coats) before handling.  In the case of this table, I will be coating the top with Minwax Polycrylic, which will protect it from water stains which will occur on painted wood.  Krylon also makes protective spray coatings that I've used on a bench outside, and has been impressive so far.  Again, pay attention to satin/glossy.  Helpful hint: the lid of the spray paint can will be shiny if it's glossy and flat if it's satin.

That's it!  I absolutely love spray paint.  Having painted one item by hand, I can honestly say I'll never use anything but.  It comes in a wide variety of colors and types, and dries more quickly and evenly.  Don't be afraid to try wild colors.  Keep in mind it's easy and cheap to simply sand the piece and paint again if you hate it!  My record is 3 different color sets...

Most of all, enjoy!  There's something very zen about spray painting, and almost anything can be spray painted and turned into something else!.  Could also be the fumes.  But when your project is complete and you turned a run down piece of furniture someone dropped off at Goodwill into a piece of art, it's a sense of accomplishment that is incomparable.

The Keebs

Yeah.  We did it again.  I actually went with Kona in to meet several puppies at the Humane Society: Keebler, Ghost, and Pistol.  It was pretty obvious by the massive amount of playing that occurred upon meeting which one was going home with us.  But we were inspired by the name!  Ghost was officially named Keebler, so we now have the Kona Man and the Keebmeister.  Let the nicknames ensue.

 Part Aussie, part Corgi, all love.

She's a Star

So, this is kinda cool...

This program seriously changed my life last year.  Helped me become more healthy, more active, less lazy, and gave me my confidence back.  Not trying to sound like a commercial (ha!) but it's worth every penny, and then some.  It teaches you how to eat and maintain a healthy weight that you want.  Also brought me back down to where I was when I graduated college.  Now there's something of which to be proud.  It is single-handedly responsible for my discovery of discarded skinny clothes at thrift stores for pennies, too.

Yes.  Scapegoat.

Thought: I talk WAY too much with my hands.  Yeesh.

Obsession

He has one.  Also, you can probably guess what color shoes my outfit needed today...

Ruby Red

Seriously awesome thrift store weekend, I hate to sound like a broken record, but seriously.  I found a pair of red cowgirl boots at the Boulder Valley Humane Society Thrift Store.  $9 for amazing leather boots.  Don't tell Dad, but I rocked what he lovingly refers to as the Prairie Slut Look.  ;-)

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