guess what i did this wknd?

i made new valances for my kitchen windows!


for close to three years now i've kept the same old lady sheer valances that were inherited with the house up. i'd been wanting to change them and had in mind what i wanted but never came across it. that is until i just happened to take a stroll through the fabric aisle at walmart one day. imagine how excited i was when i saw exactly the striped fabric i had been looking for in not one but two colors (green and red) - both of which would work in the kitchen.

walmart doesn't give out fabric swatches so i left the store with a plan formulated: since the fabric was only $6/yd i'd buy both and decide which to use once i got them home. my mom was coming to visit so i asked her to bring her sewing machine. i did a little sewing in 8th grade home ec so i figured i could tackle the straight seam required by a valance.

on my return trip to walmart i decided to just go with the green stripes instead of getting both. i was so anxious to sew that i forgot about ironing seams. this is where things started to go a little haywire. actually things started going haywire when i cut my fabric with crappy scissors. unfortunately, the good shears were at my mom's house (along with the straight pins and other sewing accoutrements). (now is a good time to tell you that i am a perfectionist and what other ppl will gloss over and plow through i painstakingly agonize over getting it umm...perfect. this is an extremely stressful habit.)

okay so follow me here...we've got jagged fabric edges and me trying to iron a straight seam for the hem and rod pocket. in other words, i was driving myself bananas so my mom took over (thanks!). while she did that i sat at the sewing machine in anticipation. to make this long story shorter, there was an issue with the bobbin case and i COULD NOT SEW MY CURTAINS! you don't understand how disappointed i was. my mom was like it's not working use the hem tape. and i was like NO! I'M GONNA FIX IT! MAMA, I WANNA SEW!!

well, i'm no sewing machine repair person and the manual wasn't any help at all so i resigned myself to using the hem tape. the valances came out not bad at all if i do say so myself. they're a little crooked but i don't think anyone will notice.

working on it

at snail's pace but working on it regardless.

so a while back i posted about ordering fabric swatches for my bedroom curtains.


the first swatch had the look i was really going for but after receiving the swatches the last was the obvious choice. it's the morning glory fabric in gold from amy butler's lotus collection and goes so well with my paint color. i should have the fabric and the lining by tomorrow. hopefully i'll get out this wknd to pick up hardware and sheers.

i ventured out to ikea last friday and picked up a 2x4 expedit bookcase. let me just say that i wasn't happy with my workmanship. putting it together is really a 2-person job. i may at some point take it apart and do it over...and i may not. i also bought some magazine butlers (which i plan to decoupage or cover with contact paper) as well as some ribba picture frames (for my murakami postcards) and these kickass candle lanterns that were marked all the way down to $2 each (i got them in silver but i'll probably spray paint them). i still need to figure out how i want to store my things from grad school (thesis stuff, class notes, etc) and keepsake items. methinks the container store is in my future.

the next project after the curtains will be my nightstands. for a while i had my heart set on having mirrored nightstands. when i first started looking they were only readily available in europe. pieces i found in the states were either outrageously expensive or not at all the look i was going for. now there are plenty of options available from canada but they aren't in my budget right now. being the crafty woman i am i decided i could make my own.

i bought these drawer units from ikea a while back with the intention of covering them with mirror. i've changed my design plan a bit now - instead of all mirror only the drawer fronts will be mirrored (with plexi mirror which is much cheaper than glass) and the rest of the piece will be white lacquer (courtesy of rustoleum). i'm also thinking of doing some sort of pattern with bamboo or regular trim on the drawer fronts. since the drawer units come with casters i'll have to add my own legs. here's what it will kinda sorta of look like.


once the nightstands are done i hope to have enough $$ stashed away to purchase a credenza of some sort to store my drink glasses, fondue sets, etc. (don't ask why that stuff will be in my bedroom.) i like this one from cb2 but i'm keeping my options open (and waiting to see if it goes on sale).

spring fever

i got it bad!

despite my allergies (which aren't so bad today. i guess the claritin finally started kickin' in), i am so distracted by all this beautiful weather we've been having here on the east coast. last wknd i traveled a little ways south for a baby shower and i'm telling you i didn't want to go home. just being outside walking around for no other reason than to enjoy weather had me in a really great mood - not to mention the outdoor dining (nj really needs more outdoor dining).

my room is completely painted now. i've noticed some spots that could use another coat and the trim needs to be touched up in several places. i blame the colt 45. if i had to do it over again i would shell out the $$ for a professional to get things done in a timely manner but what are you gonna do?

now that the painting is done i'm picking curtains next. actually my mum is gonna make them for me so i ordered some fabric swatches. i've narrowed my choices down to the following:


out of these i have two favorites but we'll see how i feel once i get the swatches.

i'm also selling a bunch of stuff including a dining room set, a desk brand new still in the box, two rugs, lampshades, and pillow shams.


so far i'm going the craigslist route but i may end up having to do another yard sale. i just know i won't get as much money for the items with the yard sale and this stuff is in really good condition. i just need to find the screws for the dining table.

work in progress

so my room is halfway painted

*running man*

my room is halfway pain-TED, my room is halfway pain-TED

i thought it'd be finished in a day but it didn't quite work out that way. it's gonna take another two days and more $ than i anticipated. BUT it'll be worth it once it's done. i ended up picking a ben moore matte finish in amsterdam with behr silver sky semigloss for the trim after seeing this post on AT.


i'm pretty sure i'm gonna end up with a full gallon of paint left over. i went ahead and bought this paint against my wallet's wishes so i'm hoping i can recoup my $ by selling it or bartering with my painter.

anyhoo, i'm displaced from the comfort of my bed for the next couple of days but it's a small price to pay for the completion of a project that has been two years in the making. i'll be sleeping on the couch in the lr until the primer fumes dissipate.

next up will be another great purge followed by a well-executed trip to ikea. i'll probably post my progress.

time 4 sum aksion

(red, u were kinda reaching with the phonetics there bud)

i've been getting on my own nerves lately talking about what i wanna do and what i'm gonna do. the time has come for me to put my money where my mouth is. i've never been one to dive head first all willy nilly into a venture - i'm a planner by nature. but you can only plan so much. there comes a time when you have to bite the bullet and go for it.

first up is getting my bedroom painted. if you've seen my bedroom you know that this is no small feat. my cousin is coming on sunday to work it out for me. that means i have a week to buy a ladder, figure out how much paint i need, pick out a trim color, buy paint and supplies, and decide how much i'm gonna pay my cousin. now, i have been agonizing over paint colors since 2006; i even submitted a post about it on apartment therapy. i've watched countless design shows looking for rooms similar to mine to see how they handled painting slanted ceilings. well, now i'm just going for it. it's only paint (she says nervously).

next up is the backyard. i got an estimate for the sump pump issues and while it's more than i want to pay it's not super duper expensive. we're also gonna get the yard cleaned up and a new fence by the driveway. in this same vein, i am currently looking for a lawnmower. my old lawn guy stopped by this wknd but i had to tell him we won't be using his services this year. it's just too expensive, especially when we can do it ourselves. really after paying him for three months i could've bought a nice mower. so yeah, i'm trying to find a nice self-propelled 20-21 incher. i still have no idea what kind of torque i need but hopefully my internets researching will lead me in the right direction.

third up is the bathroom. in a perfect world we'd have a gut reno that would only take a day or two to finish. in the real world i'm gonna try to get the most important things done (new subfloor, floor tile, new toilet & sink, medicine cabinet, lighting, fan installation, and paint) and save the other stuff (new tub & tile and window) for next year. my mom knows a handyman who's done work for her sisters and my grandma gave me electrician info. ideally i'd like to have this done by june.

so this is what will be occupying my time for the next couple of months. i'll also be attempting to have a more enjoyable social life. and since my sister keeps dissing me i'll have to learn to enjoy rolling solo too (luv u boo!).

do it properly

i was reading back through this here blog and realized i haven't posted a proper entry in a bit. but really unless you guys wanna read about swooning and skipping and permanent grins then i think it best i refrain from posting until i get my mind right. in the meantime, i'll try to talk about other stuff.

i went to visit the tax man last night and he was very good to me. so good that i'm looking into having some work done on my yard and bathroom. and my bedroom *will* be finished by june.

i taped an interview this week with a local radio station to promote my alumnae chapter's fundraiser. it was weird and fun at the same time and i'm kinda nervous about how it'll turn out. i may or may not post up when it will air.

how good was LOST last night?!?! my mind is so blown.

this week i dreamed that i was rapping "bitties in the bk lounge" over the phone with one of my crushes and that aretha franklin was wearing one of my sweaters :(

and last but not least, i went shopping in bklyn a couple of weeks ago at an undisclosed location with some friends. i got these hot shoes for only $30. actually i got two pairs of hot shoes for $30 each. i would share where the store is but kristy said she would cut me if i did.

killing you hoes

so after a lovely saturday evening of bootleg dvds and coconut rum, i returned home to a mouse in my kitchen. my intention was to reset all the clocks in the kitchen (two microwaves - don't ask - and the stove). however, while i was resetting the first microwave clock i heard a shuffle and in my peripheral vision i saw the foul rodent zip into an undetectable-by-the-human-eye opening in the stove. IN THE STOVE!! the one we (we=my mama...don't ask!) use to cook our meals! needless to say i never made it over to change the last two clocks.

i was so disgusted i stayed in my room all day sunday. i avoided the kitchen at all costs (i did finally have to eat and i don't eat in my room because umm hello?!). but then i swore i heard something crawling around in the walls. umm...eww.

now, i've read on apartment therapy recently about other ppl dealing with their own tiny marsupial issues...bandying about humane ways of ridding their homes of these nasty little creatures. pardon my french but fuck that! somebody's got to die! right now i'm all about the d-con and i am not above leaving bodies around the perimeter to send a message to the rest of little homie's crew. i'd get a cat if we all weren't allergic. i'd really like to call an exterminator (my ss's fine exterminator in particular) but we'll see how the d-con works first.

who's bad?

eurobad!

link courtesy of design*sponge

my devastatingly exciting life

after yawning throughout cardio on saturday morning, the ladies joked that i must have been out all night partying. really i had been up until almost 3am trying to finish book 5 of harry potter (i actually finished after i got home from class). after sharing this with the class my instructor deadpanned, "we need to work on getting you out the house."

i could go into a long diatribe about how there's nothing to do here and the crowds suck and blah blah blah. but the truth of the matter is i don't particularly care to go out unless it's to socialize with ppl i already know and i'm not really into spending money for a mediocre time. i'm cheap and the last thing i need is to waste my money on wackness.

anyhoo, this entry is about me finishing book 5. i started book six and i'm excited because i have NO idea what happens. i've seen all the movies so i had a pretty good idea of what happens in books 1-5 - book six is completely new. i've avoided spoilers from everywhere (even the office...thanks schrute! i had to change the channel) and i hope to finish up with it this week or next.

other things i did this wknd:
-watched degrassi (is it wrong to lust after 20 yr olds?)
-shopped for my halloween costume
-impromptu philly trip (what's the big deal about tony luke's anyway?)
-started & finished the rise (it's for a book discussion)
-attended a pie crust technique class at williams sonoma (the pie wasn't great but i'll be attempting my own from scratch this holiday season)
-stopped laverne's oil light from flashing
-bought a framed matisse print for $5 at a yard sale (it's going up over the sofa)
-tried on a lovely coat that i will covet until it goes on sale and will no longer be available in my size.

and laverne passed inspection this morning (clap for her © mizrahi)

envy

there are three houses that i pass during my daily commute that i continually lust over. two are new construction while the third is facelift project. all three of them have what i want for my home - stone facing. all day i dream about composite siding and stone veneer...new columns for the porch flanked by planters filled with azaleas in the spring and mums in the fall...soft green grass and solar lights lining the driveway.

don't even get me started on my backyard - i have visions of grandeur.

the front landscaping was completed last week on one of the new construction homes. this morning they were laying gravel for the driveway. i wonder if it will be asphalt or pavers.

but yes all these things i want for my home are mostly aesthetic. once we get the bones in good shape we can work on the rest. i am considering whoring myself out to finance all these projects so hol-ler!

sick in the head

i'm contemplating buying $55/gallon paint. what's really on my bird?

but it's not just any paint, this stuff goes on with one coat (which means i'll use less), has low vocs (which means it won't smell too bad), and it's washable. it's been getting rave reviews and i am seriously thinking about buying it.

i called a new landscaping guy today. last year my friend's dad cut our lawns and he offered to do it again this year but he hasn't called me yet like he said he would. in the meantime, my front lawn looks like a jungle and the back lawn is sparse and weedy. the back lawn also needs to be leveled. the new guy said he'd stop by today to take a look and call me in the evening to discuss what needs to be done and how much it'll cost.

in other news, i'm so excited about lost tonight. maybe i'll watch it in my room instead of the living room. can't wait!