Merry Christmas to ME!

First a big shout out to my 1st public follower - so excited and feeling a lot pressure to give her something to read! Thanks Sarah! 

    ...ps - thanks for cabinet advice!

Like you didn't already know this.....Christmas is around the corner and I cannot wait for my present! I know that probably sounds bad - but I spend a lot of time and money energy on everyone else so I think I can ask for ONE thing! I promise it will actually make things easier for everyone in this house! 

While I see beautiful items on some other Blogger's Santa lists, I can only ask for 1 thing and its THIS!!!

STOP DROOLING! 

I have researched and read and dissected all of the reviews on the other cheap affordable spray painters and most from the big orange box store had HORRIBLE reviews! I stumbled across this one on the Wagner website and then found it on Amazon and holy crap - all good reviews! Further it doesn't look like I will have a broken arm after 10 minutes of using! 

GOOD News and less selfish, I have my first family to donate my furniture too! Thankfully it wont be for a couple of months and I have some time to put the new sprayer to good use! This is fantastic news for obvious reasons, but also because if we get another snow storm and my garage is still filled with furniture I cant park in there!! This is making me slightly unhappy!

Enough about me....

A single mom and her three precious babies, have absolutely nothing to move into their new home! 

Lets see if we cant help them feel at home! 

Merry Christmas all!!!

Floors!!!

 I HAVE to stain my hardwood (currently red oak) to a very dark color. Since I will not be replacing them with something with less grain in the wood - does anyone have any suggestions about a good mix of stain to get that dark almost black floor color??

Thanks!!

Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

2010 Was the year of Turquoise and 2011 will be the year of Honeysuckle! 

I's still a sucker for white and blue, but I have to admit I kind of like it! 

...and since I have a 6 year old that needs a bedroom makeover - I just might love it! 

....SCORE!

Picked up a few more pieces! how delicious is this gate table - only to be outdone by the men's chest!

Collecting a few more and then we will be ready to go!

Paint It Forward Begins

Thanks for coming by! 

Last week there was a day to pay tribute to those, and encourage all, to pay it forward. I started thinking about what I could do to contribute, but honestly I stayed in the house all day and didn't really do anything! 

Fast forward one week later and a box full of kleenex for my running nose, I came across a YouTube video for a local business woman who built her entire business "paying it forward". 

She owns a clean out business "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" that will help seniors and others clean out there homes to downsize with sensitivity. To cut down on disposal costs she GIVES AWAY - yes for FREE, furniture to those who need it! She's amazing! 

I have to admit, before I understood what her grand plan was, I have taken several pieces of furniture off her hands with the intent of refinishing or painting them and keeping them for myself. I took the pieces because I wanted them, not because I NEEDED them. As the pieces sit idle in my garage waiting for me to get busy on them, an idea was born! I will refinish the pieces and donate them to local charities who assist families with getting back on their feet after being homeless. Now I realize people who are in need may be happy to have anything given to them but who doesn't like pretty things????

A simple post on Facebook led me to Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, inc. A non-profit group that does just that! 

I contacted the director and I have already been invited to tour some shelter sites and visit with the Christmas Shoppe that will be opening soon for the holiday season! She seems excited that I am willing to help!

Very excited to begin a new journey painting it forward! If you have any furniture you want to get rid of - I will make room for it! Bring it on over!!! If you want to help and get involved - that's great too! 

Boy do I have my hands full with these 2!