My Sexy Bedroom Makeover

I'm finished! Finally! No seriously....this has been a long time coming. I bought the bedding to re-do this room in late 2005. But never started the project. Then I finally started painting it in February 2007. Remember this post? Okay so I am a world class procrastinator. Don't act like you didn't already know that.

Ready for the pics? But first check out the before shots here to see what an incredible transformation this truly is. Even I can't believe it.

Here's the bedding that started the whole thing. I can't take a good enough picture of it to show just how gorgeous it is. It's a beautiful silky material. The butterflies and dragonflies have a sequin in the middle which just makes it sparkle.
Dontcha love the sexy little tassels? I've never spent this much money on bedding before. But I decided it was time for me to splurge a little. I love love love love it!!I probably should've ironed those wrinkled sheets. But then I wouldn't be me if I did that..... Everything in here is different except the furniture. And if I could afford that splurge, it'd be replaced, too. The carpet will stay until Mia comes home. I have plans for that adoption tax credit. And it involves new carpet. LOL!
This is one of my favorite things in the room. Well, all of these things are my favorites. That's the beauty of my new boudoir. But I do really love waking up and seeing this every morning. It helps remind me of why I keep going.

Faith, Hope, and Love. All very important things to remember in this adoption adventure.

The print on the shelf is very Asian looking and says "Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience." Hmmm.... that seems fitting. I love the beaded lamps. When I first saw them I couldn't decide if they were sexy or trashy. Either way... I wanted 'em.

Did you notice I painted the ceiling a deep golden color? I love it. But it was hell to do.

Only two of the walls have the stenciled dragonflies and butterflies to match the bedding.
My sexy new ceiling fan. It kinda matches the chair. If you noticed, the window blinds keep with the same kind of texture.

I knew when I saw these stone plaques that I had to have them. Read my very first post on this blog and you'll see why. I think it was fate.

So there you have it. The longest bedroom makeover in history. But it's finally done. Time to move on to the next project!

Kitchen Pics

First, this is the lovely gift I found waiting in the mail for me earlier this week. It traveled halfway around the world all the way from Australia! I just love the idea of that. The package was so beautifully wrapped, I almost didn't want to open it. Almost. Lee-Anne is so thoughtful she even tied it with ribbon in my favorite colors! Way to pay attention, girl.

She sent a sweet book for Mia's library and these cute little bibs. I love them both but my favorite is the pink and green ladybug one, of course. Thanks so much Lee-Anne! You're far too generous...but thank you for thinking of me. It made me smile. I'll be reminded of you every time I read this book or use one of these bibs (on myself as I'm drooling in my wheelchair at the nursing home still waiting for Mia!) LOL!

Here are the stencil pics as promised. I used leftover paint from the kitchen cabinets. It ties the colors together perfectly. Yes, I know the fleur de lis design is upside down. I did that on purpose. I liked it better that way. My kitchen has taken on more of a Tuscan look and I didn't want it to look too "ooh la la francais". But I loved the scroll design. So easy solution.... flip it upside down. Voila'. Oops....that's french, isn't it? LOL!

Check this out! Perfect for me, no? I saw it and just had to have it. Plus the colors match almost exactly.

This used to hang there but I never liked the matte color. It turned out much too purple up against the sun dried tomato color of the cabinets. So I'm having it re-matted with a green and will hang it in the dining room. You can also see one of the transitional colors on the wall behind it. That's the phase I was going through when I couldn't figure out the room.

Notice the new mugs, Mamacita? I copied her. She bought new dishes and posted a pic on her blog. They matched my new kitchen so I ran out and got them, too. Unfortunately, that means I now have 3 different sets of tableware. Time to downsize that a bit, I think.

I even did a stencil by the sink. Hmmm... just noticed that everything on the left side of the window sill was a gift from another blogger. Small world. Who knew starting this blog would lead me to so many new kitchen accessories? LOL!

So this is the reason why I want a new granite counter top. The pink C*orian is beautiful but was much better suited to the old style of my kitchen. It just isn't working for me anymore.

I think a nice black granite with some gold in it would be perfect. Dontcha think? I only have this one long counter top (about 26 sq ft) so I don't think it'd be too bad cost wise. What do you guys think? Black granite or something else?

This is the old look. The counter top matched the pink and green shabby chic thing I had going. This pic was taken right after I had the ceramic tile floor installed. Which is what set off the whole transformation of the kitchen. I thought when I picked the floor that it was pink enough to work. But in fact, it turned out to be way too dramatic and bold for that cottage look.

More of the old kitchen and all the stencil I painted over. The walls were sponge painted in a sage green. It was hard painting over all that. It took soooooo long to do. It broke my heart a little. All that work...gone. But it was time for a change. It had been this way for almost 10 years.

I really loved my old kitchen but it was definitely time for a new look. I love the new style! It's so warm and cozy in there. It's almost complete. I have a new light fixture that should be hung soon and then I'll need to re-paint the ceiling and do some other touch up. But unless I get a new counter top, it'll be done. Finally.....

Random Bullet Posting

• I stenciled a border in my kitchen last weekend. It's beautiful. I love it! I'll have to take some pics to share. I'm almost done with all the decorating in that room. Except that I really want a granite countertop. Maybe. I'm having a hard time justifying it cuz I just put a C*orian countertop in a couple years ago. And they're not cheap either. But I don't like it anymore. I want granite. We'll see.



• I'm tired this week. I've realized lately that I wake up a lot during the night. I think Griffey wakes me up some of the time. He jumps down off the bed in the middle of the night, he chews on himself and just generally makes noise. Which I think may be waking me up. I don't think I'd be able to survive co-sleeping with Mia. Gawd.. let's hope she does okay in her crib. Or I'm in big trouble.



• My new year's resolution is going well. I'm kicking ass! But my weight is fluctuating from day to day. And yes, I know I'm not supposed to weigh every day. But I do anyway. Yesterday was the end of week three and I was down 11.5 lbs so far. But today I was down 13.5 lbs. So I guess it's somewhere in that vicinity. Woo Hoo!



• I got a nice surprise in the mail from a far away land. I'll have to post a pic of my wonderful new bibs and storybook for Mia. Some people are just so thoughtful!



• Work was long yesterday. Had to search a house for stolen property. It was one of those places where you just can't believe a human being would lay down their head. Nasty. Dirty. Clutter everywhere. Disgusting basement with just an aisleway to walk through cuz of all the junk piled up. Got cat hair all over my winter coat cuz they had several. The occupants were nice enough to smoke the whole time we were there, too. Just an all around pleasant experience. Oh wait... I forgot to mention how me and another female detective got to carry a huge ass heavy subwoofer thru the basement maze and up a flight of stairs. And I chose to wear heels yesterday. Yeah... some days my job is just loads of fun.



• I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. I live for the weekends!



• I've got a hair appointment on Saturday. Long overdue. My gray is showing. Yikes.



• That's all I got tonight, people. Aren't ya glad you sat through that? LOL!

Birthday Stitches..... I Mean Wishes

The littlest T had a collision with a bookshelf yesterday that resulted in a trip to the hospital and 30 stitches. Click over to my sister's blog for the whole story. We went to see the Bee*Movie this afternoon. Teagan's face looks even worse today. He's got quite a shiner. Poor baby.

Not sure how I'll deal with my baby gushing blood. I expect it'll happen at some point. I know I'm trained to handle emergencies and all. Just not real confident in how I'll handle my own. Maybe I'll wrap Mia in bubble wrap until she's 20.

And as if her weekend wasn't exciting enough....
today's my sister's birthday!

Happy Birthday Carla!

* I've Got An Announcement To Make!!!! *

No ...not me!!

I'm going to be an aunt again!! For the fifth time. ( I think my sister may have been dropped on her head as a child. LOL! ) But seriously.... she's always wanted five children. So this was intentional.

Our new addition is expected in August. Any suggestions for another good name that starts with the letter T?

* Edited to add:
We already have a Tanner, Travis, Tatum and Teagan.
My current faves are Tahlia, Tori, and Tea' (pronounced tay-uh).
We absolutely adore our three boys....
but can you tell I'm really hoping to have a little sister? LOL!

I've Got Mail

I got a very interesting piece of mail today. This was all it said for the return address. And this is what I found inside. A portrait of yours truly. I hope she doesn't actually think my head is that big.
So I called to tell her thanks for drawing me a picture. And this is the conversation we had.

Tatum: I can make another picture to mail you. What else do you like?
Me: Hmmmm....I don't know.
Tatum: Well, I know you like penguins. But what else? Like what about butterflies? Or ladybugs?
Me: Oh yeah...I really like ladybugs.
Tatum: Okay. I'll make you a picture with stickers on it. With ladybug stickers.
Me: Oh no...you don't have to use your ladybug stickers for me.
Tatum: Well, I don't have any ladybug stickers.
Me: Uhhhhhhhh okay.
Tatum: Who delivered your mail?
Me: The mailman.
Tatum: Ohhhhhhhh. Well, Teagan pee'd in my room.

Conversation is always interesting with a 5 year old.