A Little Revamping

While my last post was on purging (and gaining) accessories for our home, today's post is on purging and gaining attitudes and activities for our lives.

Every so often, we decide that something has to change, even if just by a small measure. The full potential of happiness that a family can share together isn't happening as much as it could be in so many homes. Good, educational and bonding activities have been pushed to the side and have been firmly placed with forms of media, work, people who bring a negative shadow to your life, stress, mind numbing addictions... every now and then it is time to decide what needs to be lessened in the home.



Hours, timelines and rules often need to be set on the internet, cell phone and the video games usage.

By purging certain activities,we have more room for learning and growth as individuals and families. Less frustration with lagging controllers, frustrated gaming, slow modems, keeping up with other's updates and your own clever updates, deciphering texts, weary eyes and carpal tunnel, bored and lonely kids, sad,lonely and angry partners. All things that can be changed with a press of a button. A willingness to change.



There are too many important things in this life... Why would anyone want to throw those away on something that will not mean anything in the end?

"The American Journal of Psychiatry published an editorial claiming that internet addiction met the criterion for a mental disorder and called on the American Psychiatric Association to officially list it as such", read about it HERE.


The Quarantined

Are you interested in your family's internet/twitter/facebook/blogging/gaming/texting addiction level? Rob Kalin "rokali", former Etsy ceo and Etsy creator posted the link in the forums to this internet addiction test. Answer honestly!



We as a family have decided to put on the pause button in a major life changing way so that we can open our eyes and see what is missing. With all of our free time and cleared heads, there will be more time for creating lasting memories that matter.


There is no device connected

If you are looking to make changes in your media addicted family, please check out this news article and the video game widow's site, GamingSucks.com. It can be a long, lonely and painful journey, but it is one that must be taken. If you need further inspiration from a more spiritual source that may help you see the core of the problem, then check out this wonderful talk by David Bednar entitled "Things As They Really Are". text version, video version, audio versions.


Cafepress Button

Purging Pretties

I have a problem. I admit it. I pulled a vintage armchair from IN FRONT of the dumpster the other day. I am in love with it. The fabric, the form... sure there are some loose springs, and I have no room for a chair, and the fabric (which I LOVE!!) is yucky and holey anyways... but it was free and I wanted to do a simple (ie. no sewing/no piping) reupholstery project. Also, (this is the REALLY funny part...) My husband, ALSO pulled an office chair from in front of the dumpster... he came home with it- all his own idea, no nagging wife asking him to get it (but honey, we NEED a new office chair *eyelash batting*). Anyone have any good tutorial links to share on upholstering not only a chair (yes, I do have a staple gun and upholstery tacks), but an OFFICE chair in which staples cannot be used? I found these links so far, but I need visuals! Repair Home, The Cut Cloth (GREAT tutorial).



Oh, and look what I found (didn't buy) on Craigslist the other day. I can't put it up since I am an apt dweller... but who would of thought an all black crystal chandy could look so charming? Wouldn't it look darling in this lovely green and black alligator room?



Now, for the purging part of my post.

I found the IKEA mammut table at a garage sale about 2 weeks ago for a STEAL. It looked quite adorable (and totally functional) as a coffee table in my living room. It lasted a couple of days until my toddler totally broke one whole leg clean off! So what do I do... That leg isn't going back in... too far shredded. Do I find a roundish table at Goodwill and glue the top down to the base? Do I mount it to the boys wall as some sort of modern design?



Also,. living in a cramped apartment with 4 people and a dog can be a challange at times. When you have to twist your body and do backbends and have ninja-like agility just to walk down the hallway or enter into your pantry... you know it is time to purge some serious stuff. But I donate to Goodwill ON A REGULAR BASIS. Whenever I take something home, I get rid of something. I have totally organized and purged the kids room of clothes/toys... but how do I make the kitchen/pantry work/living areas? (The shelf we DO have in the pantry needs to be removed b/c it's blocking the water valve and such... warned by firemen to clear it out!) I think I need someone who isn't attached to MY STUFF to come in and clear it out. Aye, this may take a while to figure out, but I will try and take photos of the process.

New Moon Trailer/ Pretty Black, Red and White Rooms

........


My little ones have been whiny as all get out for the last several days, poor little upset stomaches, but I have been trying not to pull my hair out from frustration!



So, when I saw these little black, red and white rooms (so Twilight appropriate), and the OFFICIAL New Moon trailer and the Volterra scene stills in video form... it made me forget my troubles for a couple of mouth watering moments. What a way to mix my loves, decor and Twilight.

Enjoy!


Red Mirror Elle




Set Design Thinking




Jeweled Ambrosia Copper Red Prism Twilight Necklace

ps... I have tons of new Twilight jewelry, and am adding more daily, so don't forget to check it out HERE!!!



Brian McCarty Elle


Cozy Desk Elle


Modern Red Black and White


Charming and inviting red and white home


Red and White Country


Oriental Influence

Lamps Need Jewels Too

For Nester's Lampapalooza linky party, I decided to compile my lamp pics and add some new ones. I love chandaliers, but living in an apartment limits that love of mine...

I love dressing up my lamps. They need love and I need to give it, so we make a great team. As my readers may know, I decorate on a sheer whim. So, due to my lack of planning I do not like to do things that cannot be easily undone. So, for my projects, they are just simple little alterations that can be taken down and reused again later.

My fabric covered lampshade (complete with Nester tassel), tutorial HERE:



Vintage Brooch Spring Shade:



Vintage Beaded Collar and Brooch Shade sitting in a painted drawer:



Hanging Lamp (my newest):



For this, I used to have an adorable star paper lantern here (shown below), the kind you can buy with the hanging bulb. But over the years, it got destroyed (so sad) and so I had to do a quick redo. I found a Goodwill shade for $2. Cleaned it up, jimmied it to the hanging cord, pinned a red and white polka dotted ribbon around it and added a silver plastic Sherriff's Star. I think my son will love it when he gets home from his playdate with Daddy. (pics of the boys room redo will be coming soon)

Star Paper Lamp (his nursery used to be so cute!)

Family Time:Trip Down Memory Lane

The weather was absolutely perfect last week, a Texas rarity. We met with friends to take the little train ride along the Trinity River. (I love how sort of great my hair looks before the train ride, and at the end of the day... it turns into a flat, yucky, sweaty ponytail!)

We saw turtles sunbathing under the city overpasses.

City Nature

Cement Waterfall

Homelessness

Functional Art

Robotic Graffiti (background of train, it was quite cute, actually, click on pic to zoom)

Later in the day, we met up with the hubs for a trip to Fort Worth Water Gardens. I loved this place as a kid. Then, about 5 years ago next month, a little girl fell in. Her father, brother and friend all died trying to rescue her. Since then, there has been a solemn feeling when you walk that watery grave. A small memorial has been added for the 4 who died and the water depth and pressure and suction have been greatly reduced to prevent further tragedy that would make rescue impossible.





In the past week, I have been thrifting and painting like you wouldn't believe. I also got in tons of new goodies for jewelry for my shop, JeweledAmbrosia, so stay tuned...

Some Things on My Mind

Tonight, while snacking on copius amounts of [lightly] salted pretzels (following a strawberry and chocolate sundae, naturally), we watched The Visitor. It was really an incredible movie, funny, sweet, sad, touching, frustrating, a good mix of it all.


Spock pin by the pink samurai

And, while I love the blockbusters like Star Trek (please don't tell me I am the only one who really liked Spock more than Kirk... and seriously, Kirk and his daddy looked almost identical!) a good indie film is almost more gratifying. So, go and Netflix it!



Also, A Print a Day released her online mag, Parasol a week or so ago, so if you haven't checked it out, go and download it HERE! It is free and inspiring. In her next mag Parasol Review, I even have a little short story in there, but it isn't out just yet.



Design wise, what is on my mind this week? Area rugs. I'm thinking jute, shag, black and white, buttercream, flokati, pale yellow and creme stripes... oh the decisions, esp when on a budget (and 2 toddlers and a dog narrows it down even more). But that is for another post.

Sunday, I gave a talk in church about Forgiveness. It went really well and I was grateful for the opportunity to speak. It is always uplifting to have to teach something that you know you need to hear. If you would like a copy of my talk (well, the jist of it anyways) you can see it HERE. It was largely inspired by the talks “I Will Remember Your Sins No More” by President Boyd K Packer in May 2006 and “Remember Lot’s Wife" by Jeffrey R. Holland in Jan 2009 (or read only version). Great talks, you should check them out (esp the last one if you are married, it's EXCELLENT!)

Take care little peaches,

I Found It!

After about a year of looking for the perfect desk for me, I found it on Craigslist 2 weeks ago! It was a bargain, for it is all real wood, no veneer here. It rained every time we tried to arrange a time to pick it up, and it was an hours drive, but hey, I have it now and am oh so happy!

I love that there is a nice hutch that I can place little treasures and change the theme throughout the year as I am known to do.

Of course, it will need a paint job one day, but that can wait for a while.



Our old desk was so bad, that it literally fell to pieces when we pulled it away from the wall! I took the nasty, ugly drawer, took off the roller caster slide things, sanded it down and painted it red! Now, it serves as a little storage box thing on top of my desk! Like it?

So, for my Craigslist perusing friends, I found excellent tips on Small Notebook that will help you! Are you tired of clicking on post after post only to see that same Aztec print couch and brassy art deco marble top dresser? Well, with Craig's Toolbox function, the photos automatically pop up so you just keep browsing (only if you have Firefox as your browser). Seriously, this shaves hours off of your hunting.



Here is my little Goodwill chalkboard/corkboard shelf I painted and hung. It's my little inspiration board for now.



I found The Lettered Cottage blog today and it's great! It is a husband/wife design consulting team and they also make handmade decor as well. Today, they are offering a giveaway of a Hudson Goods pillow. If I were to choose which one I would want, it would be the red stars one. It was a toss up between that and the blue star one though! Which is your favorite pillow?

They have some great items, I esp love the vintage fork and spoon chandelier!

I'm really glad to have found the blog of true designers and Hudson Goods has some interesting "behind the scenes" posts as well on their blog. Go and take a peek.



And oh, I LOVE this room, found on flickr from Domino mag. Totally my inspiration at the moment!