The Project Owl

January 12th, 2014

I just want to start this post off by saying I do not take blame for this "good idea".

I will take credit for the domino effect painting my parents living room has caused. So, in a way this is probably all my fault. 

When you get inspired something happens inside of you. The inspiration takes over your mind, and most often, all your practical thoughts about who you are and what you are actually capable of fly out the window. When I see an amazing room re-do on Pinterest all of a sudden I am Nicole Curtis and nothing can stop me. Yikes. This generally leads down a road of torn down walls that you actually can't fix and painted fireplace tiles that look just plain ugly.

My Mom was a victim of an over inspired mind. When I was originally inspired to paint her ugly wood paneling I was over in Europe. I started sending her links to blogs with info so she could take a look at what I was talking about. She ended up really enjoying looking at these amazing transformations so she began following her own little cluster of design blogs. Let me just say that my Mom is very lovely and actually quite good at understanding the difference between what's in style and what's not, but I don't get my creative gene's from her.

My internal red flags should have gone up the moment she started suggesting renovation ideas for her fireplace.

She had been reading her design blogs and stumbled upon people who had painted their fireplace tiles with chalkboard paint instead of going through the work of installing new tiles. In theory this is a great idea....and actually on this and this blog it turned out wonderful. When she suggested this to me I agreed. I thought it was a great solution to fixing her outdated 1990's cream colored tiles. It meant saving money {first bonus} and no physical labor needed from my Dad {second bonus}. I immediately taped off the fireplace and painted a layer of Kilz primer. The picture below is with one coat of white primer. We were instantly excited because just the one coat of white primer made a huge difference. I kept painting.

I had chalkboard paint on hand {third bonus} and it all just seemed so convenient. 

And then this happened.

Maybe a second coat would have saved the day but we didn't even try to get that far.

The moment the black paint hit the tiles it was just all wrong. 

My opinion is that because all of the room is white the black drew too much attention. It took away from the light, airy and open feel of the room and brought a focal point....an ugly one. 

I had gone home that night leaving my mom to sleep on the black tiles and the next day I went to her house and it was white again. My mom hated it so much she made my Dad paint over it with white immediately. We all lost in this reno project. I spent tons of time taping and painting. My dad spent time painting and now needs to spend more time and money installing new tiles. 

We need to lay new tiles because up close this fireplace needs some love. Black paint is still peeking through the corners by the mantle. My Dad didn't do the best job painting so he got white paint on the actual fireplace (it can easily be spray painted but we have to take it apart). Even though the white paint job isn't so great we realized that we can't stray away from white...it looks so nice! 

Someday we will get to the tiling job but for now remember this:

Sometimes your good ideas just need to stay good ideas. 

But then again trial and error sometimes produces the best results!

January 6th. 2014

Well, It was technically in the garage for the last two months because my Mom anticipated much traffic, food, children and animals on her new couch during the holidays. So, they just kept it in the garage for safe keeping…and to give the mice a nice, warm place to sleep. Kidding. {Technically I did check all the crevases before carrying it into the house because some of my Mom's friends scared her into thinking the little mice had found a new home. Sorry friends, no mice.} 

I've been gone for a little while too. Just like the mice I needed a nice, warm place to rest for a while away from craziness. I have too many things going on I don't even have time for projects! Shameful.

I'm trying to remedy that.  

To jog your memory this is what the old couch looked like:

Isn't that just an image of beauty. 

This is the fabric we ended up choosing. Originally we were going to order it from that same website but because my dad works with fabric suppliers we found the exact fabric for much cheaper. Perks of the business :) And this is the final result:

Yes, it's the same couch. Isn't the transformation unreal?

All the cute pillows are from Target, except the black and white one is from IKEA. 

I understand that most people don't have the luxury of being related to a professional upholsterer. The funny part is that my Dad doesn't actually work in the upholstery side of his business, he does other stuff. He just "picked it up along the way", or so he claims. If you're feeling adventurous watch some youtube videos and take a whirl at your own upholstery project. Maybe start with a small chair and work your way up to a couch. You will probably be a much happier person if you start small :) 

Thanks Dad for being a creative genius. It would be a shame if you just kept it all to yourself….that's why we will keep asking and you will keep complaining :) 

December 3rd, 2013

Come on people. I know you understand my dilemma. Have you ever been typing or writing {but who does that these days :)} and stumbled upon this word and just felt totally torn inside on what to do. 

Or maybe I am the only confused person in cyber world. 

Oh well.

After many years of living with this confusion I decided just to google it. Do you ever do that? Live with questions for so long, always wondering, and then finally it dawns on you just to look it up?

{two thoughts. The first one is that I love/am scared that in this day and age "Google" is a verb. The second one is that I have been struggling with than/then for about 10 years..only to have googled it a few weeks ago. Problem solved in about 10 seconds. My life could have been so much easier for the last ten years if i just asked a simple question.}

Let me ease your concerns about using Gray or Grey. Both are correct. The only difference I understand is that "gray" is more common in American grammar and "grey" is more common in English grammar. Some of the sources said "European" grammar but considering English is not the mother tongue of most of Europe I would say these people have some more googling to do :) 

So there you have it friends. Gray or Grey, whatever strikes your fancy, we will accept you and your grammar. 

On to the real point of this blog.

GRAY! The most perfect grey. {Did you see that. I switched it up. But, you probably shouldn't do that for confusions sake} 

This ugly room needed some paint. Well, it also needs all the residing items to be thrown away and we need to start with a blank canvas. We're getting there. Baby steps. 

I didn't even show you the third wall. Evidence of my Dad's color blindness or lack of care. Or maybe both. My friend Paige walked up there a few weeks ago and asked if we were deciding what paint color to go with. AH. NO. Sorry. Hate to break it to you. It's years of patch jobs with paint my lovely dad thought matched or, like I said, he didn't care and he just slapped on the wall. Yikes. 

One morning I pulled out my trusty Chatroom by Sherwin Williams and was determined to start to make this room look beautiful again. When you neglect something for 18 years ugly happens. It's just the truth. 

If you are looking for just a great gray color, pleasing to the eye and not too bold, this color is for you. 

Look how good it looks! After a good ten years this room finally has a solid paint color on it. My dad has thrown a bunch of things away, I cleaned some more, and we are well on our way to making this room something worth looking at. 

And yes, we got rid of the T.V. that hasn't worked for the last 5 or 6 years. What a crazy idea. Get rid of broken things?!?! Sometimes in life the easiest changes go by without notice. What do you have sitting around you just need to say goodbye to?

I wanted to show you this picture so you can visualize my thoughts with me :) I left the stairway wall unpainted because it merges with the room at the bottom of the stairs. I wanted to be able to paint the room at the bottom of the stairs all one color, and I wouldn't have accomplished that if I had painted this wall. I plan on choosing a color in the same family as Chatroom, probably lighter, and painting this wall and continuing on into the room below. I also plan on painting the bathroom {you can see the lovely pink/beige in the background} that same lighter gray I choose. I figured this would bring some nice cohesiveness to the whole room.

It is so easy to transform a room with just a simple coat of paint. What do you need to transform today? I am sure you can find a spare 3 hours this week to make something beautiful {or in my case less ugly}. 

I love a work in progress! So much to be excited about!

December 1st, 2013

I recently found this amazing wrapping paper {second thumbnail picture} at Target. When I saw it I knew I needed to buy it. It's a special product for Christmas but the paper isn't too seasonal so I knew I could use it for projects that would sit out all year. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do with it but for $5.00 I couldn't resist. 

Eventually I will use some Mod-podge and embellish a dresser or table with this adorable paper, but for now here are some simple instructions on easy wall art!

I took down some old pictures in my Mom and Dad's house {Hey Gabe and Kelli!] and replaced them with new ones {don't worry Gabe and Kelli, you still made the cut} but this vertical 8x10 didn't have a new picture to hold. I didn't want to force a picture to be vertical so I figured this would be a great chance to use my paper!

I took out the picture and lined it up with the corner of the paper. I traced around the picture with a pen and cut it out. 

Put it in the frame and hang it up! Easy as that! {Don't judge my level-ing abilities :)}

Plus, I really love that the big moose in my Mom's living room ties in with the new wall art :)

You could use any patterned wrapping or craft paper to add a little something to your walls! 

Happy Sunday!

November 24th, 2013

Who doesn't love coconut? 

Well, maybe you don't love coconut but you really should because it's the trendy thing to do.

Clearly that's important...stay with the trends. OK. It's not important but I happen to LOVE coconut so i'm OK with this trend. 

At my work we sell these bars. Kind of like a candy bar but made with natural ingredients and appearing to be healthy. Holy Cow! They are delicious! But, they are $2.75 for the tiny little bar. A lot of my co-workers buy them everyday and it got me thinking that I could totally replicate these bars for much cheaper. My Brain started working, I did some research {Meaning I read the ingredients on the package and figured out how my own ingredients could produce the same product}, and I think I figured it out!

A delicious, simple afternoon snack you don't need to feel guilty about eating. Seriously. This recipe has 4 ingredients, no added sugar {besides what's already in the coconut and chocolate chips}, and simply amazing.

Prep Time: 5 minutes Fridge Time: 1 hour 

Yields about 12 bars

Ingredients:

For the coconut bars:

- 6oz shredded, sweetened coconut {I used one whole bag from Trader Joe's}

- 2 tablespoons coconut oil

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the dipping chocolate:

- 2 cups chocolate chips

-1 tablespoon coconut oil

Directions:

1. In a food processor combine shredded coconut and coconut oil. Pulse on high for 2-5 minutes, until your coconut is slightly moist.

2. Pack the coconut mixture into the bottom of a small pan. I used a bread pan. I recommend the same because it creates a nice thickness for the bars.

3. Cover pan and place in the fridge for an hour.

4. After an hour pull the pan from the fridge and cut the bars into your desired size. Mine we are about 1 inch x 2 inches. 

5. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil using a double boiler technique. Stir constantly until chocolate is smooth. Dip your coconut bars in the chocolate and place on waxed paper. After all bars are dipped sprinkle shredded coconut on top for decoration. 

**Project Owl Original Recipe

What the coconut should look like after pulsing for 2-5 minutes in the processor:

Pack well into a bread pan:

Home-made double boiler. Small pan filled with water brought to a simmer {med. temp} and heat safe bowl on top filled with chocolate chips and coconut oil. Stir until melted and smooth.

I used a flat whisk because it was easier to get the coconut bars completely covered with chocolate and keep the chocolate looking nice while transferring to the wax paper. 

The chocolate hardening with coconut sprinkled on top.

November 19th, 2013 

You know that feeling when your 13 and you feel that 16 is forever away?  Actually, you are certain it's forever away. Why can't we feel that way now, when it really counts? How can I be 25? I seriously feel like i'm 20. 

This must be a joke.

On to my real point. 

Look at what I found last week at the thrift store: 

AND it was $2.99 = $2.25 after the discount! It's in great condition and doesn't need anything done to make it nice/match! I was so happy.

Everyone needs a globe. Think about it. It easily fits into any design theme and practically it's always good to brush up on some geography. I'm not joking. 

When I was walking around the thrift store last week I was slightly overwhelmed because there was so much stuff. How can we have so much stuff? Maybe you are reading this and you need to commit to buying all your Christmas presents at the second hand stores this year.

I dare you to. And I don't mean be a hipster and buy from the thrift store. I mean let's buy less stuff and fill our homes with less stuff and maybe re-use the stuff we already have and maybe re-use the stuff that other people once had. 

Finally, to end this short and sporadic post some easy dinner ideas this week:

- My sister made this tomato soup with tortellini for me two weeks ago and then I made it Sunday because it's SO easy and delicious. 

- This delicious vegetarian chili has been my go-to meal for the last couple years. 

- Lentil Sloppy Joes....sound a bit scary i'll admit, but totally worth making. Crock pot recipe and completely delicious. 

That's it folks. Pictures to come soon of a room I painted on a whim last week and {Hopefully} an update of the tile I have chosen for the bathroom!!!

November 13th, 2013

For a long time I wondered what a Snickerdoodle was. Sounded kind of like "poodle"and also completely void of chocolate. All around I was unimpressed with the idea of eating one. 

Then, when I finally decided to explore them a bit {for fear I was being too closed minded with the whole rhyming with poodle and noodle and being that it was literally called a snickerdoodle? Really?} I was faced with the word "Cream of tartar".

Again, Really? Why would I want to eat something called "Cream of tartar"? I think if I were the Queen I would gladly eat cream of tartar, but sadly I am just a slightly lost girl wondering and dreaming about snickerdoodles. 

Hello, My name is Courtney and I was a snickerdoodle skeptic and now I have to seek treatment because I can't stop eating snickerdoodles. This is funny and also not a joke. They are the perfect combination of caramel-y, cinnamon-y, and dangerously perfect. I love eating them. 

I'm still not sure about cream of tartar, but I am sure about these cookies {so I will no longer worry if I am fit for the throne :)}. 

Prep Time: 30 Minutes 

  Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Yields about two dozen cookies.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon of salt

2 sticks unsalted butter

1¼ cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

1 teaspoons vanilla extract

For cinnamon-sugar rolling mixture:

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1) In a medium saucepan melt the two sticks of butter {one cup} on medium heat, stirring constantly. The butter will start to bubble, stir until it turns brown and starts to give off a nutty aroma. Remove pan from heat and set aside to cool.

2) In a stand mixer, or by hand, mix together the egg + egg yolk, brown sugar and white sugar until creamed.

3) If you are using a stand mixer turn to a low speed and slowly add the brown butter. Leave the mixer on low the whole time you are adding the butter so it can incorporate smoothly. If you are mixing by hand add a little butter, stir until well combined, repeat. 

4) Add the baking soda, cream of tartar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Stir until well combined. Finally, add the flour and stir until completely incorporated.

5) Chill dough in fridge for 30 minutes.

6) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Form or scoop cookies {I used a 1 1/2 inch cookie scoop} into a small ball and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place cookies 2 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake 9-12 minutes. The bake time will change depending on the size of your cookie and how your oven bakes. Make sure you watch the cookies, as you don't want them to get too brown {just golden brown, and they will be a bit "crackly"}. Remove cookies from oven, let them sit on the sheet for a few minutes, and finally move cookies to a cooling rack. Repeat process with remaining dough. 

Enjoy!

-Courtney

November 11th, 2013

No, I am not using some code word for something magical I just found. 

Well, actually LVT is pretty magical. 

Last year I worked for a homebuilder and all they used in bathrooms, laundry rooms and mud rooms was LVT. That's Luxury Vinyl Tile. I thought this stuff was amazing. They were building these huge, beautiful homes and putting vinyl tile in. Vinyl Tile in a fancy home? What?!?! Hold on.

The thing is it looked so good. 

When my sister started building her home last year I was really excited that she got to use this product. She ended up going with a beige basket weave pattern in her laundry room and bathrooms. It looks amazing. It is inexpensive and durable.

This summer I started dreaming of doing a quick and easy re-do on the upstairs bathroom in my parents house.

The thing is this bathroom is scary. 

The first problem is that it's old. Somehow it seems like time has flown by but this bathroom is about 18 years old. The second problem is that this bathroom is currently inhabited by a 16 year old boy who has a lovely heart but wouldn't clean to save his life. He is spoiled and lazy, only caring about killing ducks and deer {scary if you ask me}, but like I said he has a good heart. {sorry Jack, you are lazy}.

I wanted to show pictures of this bathroom so you would understand the urgency I feel in quickly making over this room, but the pictures actually make it look nice?!?!?! Ok I don't mean nice like "look at my beautiful, pristine new home", but more like you don't need to sanitize yourself after entering this room {and I suggest you do}. Here is a little look at my inspiration:

I think it helps that everything is white, appearing to be clean. This room needs a coat of paint, new floor, new faucets/hardware, and something done with that large mirror in a bad way. It also needs the layers of dirt cleaned off before I start this project. Looks like I drew the short straw. 

Have you been checking out the nice wall art? Wait until you see this next one:

This beauty has been hanging there for at least 15 years. I am not kidding. We need some help, people.

Add new wall art to my previous list.

Remember how I said LVT is a cheaper, more durable option before? Well, those are true statements but I am struggling a bit finding the best price. My sister confirmed the type she has {I want the same, just gray} and it's this one here, but no one will post a price. It is most likely due to the manufacturer so I have to get quotes from each company before I know who is cheaper.

I plan on laying the tile in a checkered fashion. Just trust me. 

So, my search is on. 

I will update you with any changes {and when I find the best deal!}

November 7th, 2013

Another week, another 25% off Tuesday's, and more obsessions added to my life. 

I would say I feel guilty about loving the thrift store so much, but i feel more excited about the imagination and inspiration I receive from going there. 

So, no. I don't feel guilty about buying pictures of deer that make you wonder what's wrong with my brain.

This is my deer. He was $6.00 and $4.50 after the discount. I love him. The only problem is the pinks and blues in the picture. My plan is to take some white paint and white wash the picture a bit {minus the deer}. I think I can do it in a way that keeps the rustic feel of the picture but get's rid of those bad colors. 

When I first walked past these pictures I thought "$7.99, what a rip off!" Then, I walked past them again and realized that together they would be $11.99 after the discount. I love them just the way they are and I feel like they have a really nice, eclectic feel. They look a little old but also like something I could buy now, and I could see them hanging in many different rooms/designs. They just feel very versatile. 

Lastly, I picked up this adorable gold framed mirror for $3.99, $3 after the discount. I just thought it was so cute and easy to work into any design. 

I love all this weeks finds! I will make sure to update you as soon as these finds have a "home" within my home!

What have you found recently?

November 5th, 2013

....and by dirty secret's I mean if you get it on your face, hair, clothes, legs, arms, grass!, feet, socks, floor, carpet, and windows it's not coming out. 

Someone should have warned me. 

A few weeks ago when I started this project {below} a few things were said to me:

My Dad was walking out of the door on his way to Hawaii giving me instructions {not detailed} but suggestions that went a little something like this, "Courtney, the primer is oil-based so you need to you use mineral spirits to clean the brushes, don't mess it up" and "Courtney, this is a lot of work make sure you do it right."

Last time I checked those weren't helpful directions. 

But because I am SOOOOO very awesome I had a lot of confidence in myself so I dug right into the project. 

Now that I am past the primer stage my Dad was right about one thing:

*This project was a ton of work!*

AND... the word "mineral spirits" still haunts me. 

So, let's start at the beginning of our beloved oil-based primer. 

Why do we prime? 

Primer act's as the middle man between your object {in this case a wall} and your paint. In my situation my wall was real, knotty wood that LOVES to let moisture in. I really had no choice but to prime. I needed to use oil-based primer to block any moisture that wanted to get in through the walls. If you are painting a potentially moisture-filled area oil- based primer is a non-negotiable. The nice man at the hardware store said real wood can still produce sap {moisture} so real wood needs oil-based primer. If you are painting dark walls or fake wood doors PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do yourself a favor and use latex or water-based primer. 

Does it matter the brand of primer I use?

It doesn't really mater. I used Kilz and I would highly recommend this product. It is well know, well liked, and works really well. It's a bit expensive but at the end of the day a little extra money is worth a better result. 

You mentioned mineral spirits. What in the world is a mineral spirit? Is it something you drink? 

First things First. Please don't drink this stuff, you will die. And I like you. I want you alive.

A really annoying part of oil-based paint is the smell- It is hard to paint for long periods of time because it literally makes you light headed. BUT, the worst part of oil-based paint is CLEANING UP AFTER!! OH man. You can't wash the brushes with water because the paint is oil-based and it will coagulate on your brush. You have to use mineral spirits {a type of paint thinner} to clean your brushes. Please don't use water, I promise it won't work {I tried because I too didn't believe this sad fact, goodbye paint brush. In the trash you go.}

Not only is this a special solution there is also a special method to use when cleaning. No one really told me this and I never really asked or really thought about it so I just did what made sense. I poured some solution into a cup and rinsed the brushes off, dumped the solution out in the corner of the lawn and then put some more solution in the cup to give the brushes a final clean {and then dumped that solution on the grass too. Don't tell}. I thought this was a great plan because I was really getting the brushes clean. WELL, mineral spirits is a chemical. A strong chemical to be exact and it kills things- i.e. the grass.

In retrospect this makes perfect sense but in the present time, while cleaning the brushes, I gave no thought to the toxic nature of this solution. Here is a picture to help you visualize how to clean your brushes {really I am just trying to protect your parents grass}:

Fill two plastic containers half full with mineral spirits. As you can see I have a piece of cardboard under my cups in case I spilled. I didn't need any more stains or things dying. When you are done painting place your brushes in cup #1. Swish them around a little bit and then walk away for an hour or so. After an hour or so move the brushes to container #2 for a second wash. They can sit in container #2 for as long as you like- you just need your paint brush to be completely dry before you use it again. After a few hours {mostly because I walked away and forgot about my paint brushes} I laid the brushes out on the cardboard and let them dry.

In regards to the container you put your oil-based paint in, there is no point in trying to clean this. Allow it to dry completely and re-fill the container again the next time you paint. Your container will start to form layers of dried paint and if you need to, at the end of your painting you can chip the paint away. 

How do I clean my roller?

Great question. You don't. If you plan on rolling again the next day you can wrap your roller in a plastic bag, so it doesn't dry out, and the roller should work great. If the paint is dried out at all this won't work, so you need to throw it away and use a new roller. In a way rolling brings some relief to the cleaning process because you are allowed to throw it away and your laziness is not evident in this part of the process. 

As for the rolling pan just let it dry out and re-use with the dried paint next time.

How do I clean my body and face after it get's splattered in oil-based paint from the roller?

Good Luck. 

Start enjoying the splattered paint look?

Make sure you wear pants and a long shirt when painting {I didn't so I had lovely white lines and spots on my arms and legs}. You can use mineral spirits to get the paint of your skin but again, this stuff is toxic. I used it a bit on my arms but made sure to wash, with soap, thoroughly after. I had a little rash form, nothing serious, but if you have super sensitive skin I would suggest staying away from coming into contact with it.

Well, I think I have thoroughly filled your mind with things to think about. PLEASE ask if you have any more questions about primer, painting, oil-based paint, making smart decisions, keeping your parents loving you after you destroy stuff :) please just ask!

-Courtney 

October 30th, 2013

Here's a new level of "cheap":

shopping at the thrift store only on Tuesday's because everything is 25% off. OK. Seriously this is true....why would I buy full priced thrift store items if I don't have to? 

My Mom and I headed over to Unique Thrift Store in Crystal, MN yesterday. I swear this is the mother of all thrift stores. It's ridiculously huge, full, and swarming with people. They also have a great furniture section and everything is nicely organized and labeled...something you rarely find in a thrift store. We didn't really have an agenda of items we wanted but here are a few things we found:

The black thing is actually a chalkboard and it was $1.99 and after 25% off this means $1.50!!

The two people pictures are weird. OK, they are totally strange and maybe on the verge of ugly? But here's the deal. My parent's live in my Mom's Aunt and Uncle's old house. My great Aunt and Uncle lived there for ages and then my Mom and Dad bought it over 30 years ago. When we were walking through the picture isle yesterday this lovely Man and Woman caught my eye. My Mom thought they were hilarious because her Aunt had these same pictures hanging in her living room the whole time they lived there. We thought it was only right to bring them back into the house. I have a great plan to use them during Christmas...so don't call me crazy yet...I will be back in December with pictures of how this Man and Woman make my mom's mantle perfect for the Holidays! :) Plus $4.50 for a little fun is well worth it. 

Here is a quick little Thanksgiving decor I put together with our thrift store find! 

Lastly I found this high chair. No, i'm not having a baby {sorry Mom and Dad} but I just thought it was too cute to pass up....and $2.99 before the discount! I thought it would be a super fun project to sand and paint and make it nice and clean again! 

Then I ran into a problem. I was looking at pictures of wooden high chairs online just for some inspiration and I came across this exact high chair. It appears to be an antique and they are all over eBay for $50-$150. The thing is for them to be worth that much they actually have to sell... If they are just on eBay that doesn't necessarily make it valuable. I am not interested in selling mine but I feel like it's never good to paint an antique. What do you think? Is is destroying history if I slap some yellow paint and cute cushions on it? I would love to hear your opinions!

There are many great thrift stores in the twin cities....be crazy! And show me your finds for goodness sakes! You better believe I will be back with more finds next week {It may be fate that my work scheduled me off on Tuesday's for the month of November!!} 

-Courtney 

October 28th, 2013

I realized this weekend it's probably a good thing that I am not a homeowner. 

Let me tell you why: The moment you make something beautiful in your house the adjacent rooms look horrible. Once the paint was up on the walls in my parents living room every other room is screaming "help!!!". This is not a problem because I am allowed {and funded :)} to work on the other rooms, but my mind is in constant daydream mode. 

Maybe I do need a house. Just think of how much my husband would love me if I spent all our money on paint and sandpaper!

Here is a little peek at the room. It's still very much a work in progress.

Old Room:

New Room:

Old Room {YIKES!!!!}:

New Room:

Here is a look at my agenda:

1) I have switched around the placement of the desk in hopes of making the room feel more spacious. Something needs to be done with the desk because it sticks out like a very ugly sore thumb, but the computer needs to stay {as requested by my mother} so I will think of something!

2) None of the other furniture items will be coming back in the room {bookshelf or little black cabinet} because this room needed some major de-cluttering.

3) I added the black leather chair in hopes of creating more seating. Can't decide if it's too bulky or a smaller chair would look better?

4) We have changed out the curtains, and those are staying. We love them! But those lovely ruffly curtains above the small windows will be burned. Well, thrown away at the very least and nothing will be taking their place...just nice clean lines to look at! No ruffles. 

5) The fireplace tile will be changing. As you can probably notice I didn't tape around the tile in hopes that the paint lines would make my dad move a little faster in removing it. No luck yet, but when it's in progress I will be sure to let you know about it! 

6) And the final eye sore is the big, ugly couch...that has so much coffee, wine, baby throw up, drool, probably dog pee, and many other nasty things it should also be burned. But, we are not burning it. We are keeping it. Originally I was not in support of this idea but due to the fact that my Father is incredibly gifted in reupholstery we decided it was most cost effective just to reupholster it. Below are the two fabric options we have narrowed in on:

They look slightly denim in this picture but they are actually just a light and dark grey. We will most likely go for the dark grey, in hopes of hiding the future coffee, wine, and baby throw up spills. :)

Hope you feel inspired today!

October 25th, 2013

I have tried to deny this for a long time, but the reality of this skill of mine seems to daily be challenged {meaning lot's of opportunity to use said skill is always upon me}....I love to shop. 

Oh shoot. It's true. 

I LOVE to shop. Shop for food. Shop for clothes. Shop for presents. Shop for furniture. Shop for throw pillows. I really really really really like to shop for throw pillows. I am extraordinarily blessed because I personally can't fund all these shopping loves of mine but when I get to work on a room for my mom she let's me buy all these fun things for her {with her money}. I think i'm in a dream world. 

We were recently in target picking out new curtains and some various accessories for her new room {finished paint picture will be up soon}. She mentioned to me about Target's new app, "cartwheel". I had never heard of this before so we downloaded it and now my life is changed forever. Seriously. 

Cartwheel is an app where each week Target offers special deals on their own brands {primarily}. You save coupons into your "cartwheel" and when you are at checkout they scan the barcode in your app and you save, but you can only save on coupons that you have actually placed in your cartwheel. There are many categories where you can save. So, if you know you need new curtains you can go into "browse", "home", and look and see if they have a coupon for curtains. Picture examples below:

1) How the App looks when you open it

2) All the different sections of Cartwheel. The only categories that are super important are "my cartwheel" {where you see the coupons you have} and "browse", where you look for coupons.

3) What it looks like when you open "browse" and I personally clicked on "home".

4) What inside of "home" looks like. I was looking for curtains and I found 20% off window panels and drapes. Just click on the coupon and it will prompt you to "add". The best part of this screen shot is that my mom's face is in the corner of the drapes and linens coupon because she redeemed them! ha.

5) What the screen looks like when you click on the coupon you want. Just click "Add". You can see at the very top of this picture it says "18 of 18 offers". This means that I already have all the 18 coupons I am allowed. If I want to add the curtains I have to go back to my cartwheel and remove a coupon. The more you use the app the more coupon spots open up. I started with 16 and because I have used the App two times more spots opened up for me. 

6) This is what the "my cartwheel" screen looks like. This is the screen you need to present at checkout so they can scan your barcode. This is also where you go to remove coupons you don't want any longer. 

This same process is repeated for everything you want to save in your cartwheel. Specialty items like home goods, clothing and shoes tend to be a better discount {20-25% off} and food is usually all 5% off. I love this. I am always going to buy bread, milk, cheese, yogurt, avocados, fruit, etc. and if I can save an extra 5% on those items I already buy, sign me up! 

I LOVE this app! There are no catches or fee's or secret agenda's here {well, except that Target wants you to shop there but I already do! So, it's a good deal for me!}. You have to sign up using Facebook {the only downside if you ask me} and make sure when you sign up you turn off cartwheels access to your facebook account. It's a safe app they will just post on your feed that you bought something using cartwheel, and personally I don't need everyone seeing what I purchase! If you have any questions, let me know! I have mastered this app by now :) 

October 10th, 2013

A while back I posted that I was excited to try these potatoes from Cara at biggirlssmallkitchen.com someday soon. Well, I tried them. OH MY. They are amazing. Perfect texture and flavor. They go well with breakfast or dinner. Please try them? 

This recipe is extremely simple. So, if you are short on time {or skill :)} you can make these!

I used these colorful potatoes I found at Trader Joe's. The recipe recommends Yukon Gold Potatoes but after making them numerous times with various types of potatoes I have found the type is really not important. But if you look at my potatoes and Cara's, her's are WAY prettier....I think the blue makes them look not as nice but don't be fooled, they taste amazing. Be wild. Choose whatever you like! I noticed she JUST posted this same recipe using sweet potatoes and adding some sausage. Check those out too. 

Dice them up into bite sized cubes.

Boil them until tender and drain.

Add the spices right into the pot, close the lid, and shake like crazy.

Spread the Potatoes flat on a baking sheet and bake! No frying! 

Finished product: Soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside.

Pair with eggs for breakfast, grilled avocado and tomato sandwich for lunch or a nice bean burger for dinner. 

Recipe and specific directions can be found here! 

Happy Eating :)

September 30th, 2013

Don't worry the moose is fake but I really did turn 25. I'm not old. I'm not young. There lies the problem. What am I? Too old to be confused about the things I am passionate about but too young to have it all figured out? This is a hard age. 

On to the real point of this blog.

I've been gone.

I see a lot of bloggers posting, "I know you've missed me, sorry I have been gone but i'm back!" Well, I have been gone but you probably didn't miss me.  And I don't know if I am back. I am probably back but all I know is 4 1/2 months of touring the world with a band is not conducive for blogging. I tried but I couldn't do it. I was too tired, too distracted, and completely uninspired for baking and projects (mostly because I was just too tired).

We have been back in Minnesota for two weeks and here's what I have so far:

1) A new job {That I love}

2) A new house

3) A broken fixed car  (five months of sitting didn't do wonders for the old breaks) 

4) A Moose 

5) A half painted room {and lot's of inspiration} 

6) A new rug {I wanted to round my list off at #5 but I am so excited about my rug} We moved into our new house, I looked at all my stuff and realized I was seriously missing happiness in my design. Yellow rug it is. Plus today if you spend $75 or more on target.com you get $10 dollars off. I am not promoting spending unnecessary money....but just saying :) 

Here is a little peak at my current project inspiration:

This is my Mom and Dad's living room. They have a beautiful house but for some reason we have all just lived with this room for a really long time. It's not lovely. Well, some of their neighbors feel that painting real wood is a crime and they love this room. We don't feel the same. These lovely people inspired me with their INSANE room transformation. How could I not paint my parents room after seeing that?

I'm thinking white and lots of it. And the moose. Most definitely the moose. I will let you know how this goes. 

July 31st, 2013

This really is a love story, take a look at these beauties....oh right...terrifying.

well, the love part comes later. Promise. 

Last year Ben and I lived in a little apartment right off of France Ave. We loved living in an apartment for so many reasons, but one of my favorites was the huge dumpster in the basement. Seriously.

Because it was so big and accessible people would throw away everything. You can't really do this in your house...well you can try but then your house looks like a junk yard....and if that's your thing please don't let my opinions change your life style :) Back to my point. In an apartment people feel free...so they just junk up the trash area with everything they don't want. For me this was a dream.

One day Ben ran into these terrifying side tables. Really. They had huge gouges in them, they were incredibly dirty, and really there wasn't too much to like.

I had hope in them. I grabbed these babies as fast as possible in hopes the original owners wouldn't see the grin on my face as I carried them to my car. 

The first step to this process is removing your drawer hardware {with a simple screw driver} and sanding the crap out of your piece. Sorry. It's just true. If your piece is not as beat up as mine, you don't need to work so hard. For me hard-core sanding was a non-negotiable. I had stickers on the top of one of the dressers and I tried to work out as many of the scratches as possible. My tables were in pretty rough shape so I was never able to get all the marks out. I used some wood putty but this didn't make a huge difference. When refurbishing furniture sometimes the "loved" parts of the piece make it more special.

After sanding your furniture take lysol wipes or wet paper towels and clean your items as well as you can. It's important that the wood shavings and dust are completely clean so your paint can go on smoothly. 

Because my tables were not the most beautiful to start, and they still had marks on them, I decided that some wallpaper would be a nice addition to my tables. It would add a little something special to the appearance and double up as a way to hide some of the marks. I ended up buying pre-pasted wallpaper border because my surface area was small. I was just covering the drawers so I only needed the pattern to stretch that far. If you want to cover a big area you may need to lash out and buy the full wallpaper.

I first started off by taking a crayon and on the back side of my wallpaper mark exactly where the paper would cover. This was very simple for me because my drawer happened to have a lip on it so my crayon caught exactly where I needed to cut. After sketching your lines cut out the wallpaper.

There will be directions on your wallpaper, but they should be similar to mine. I soaked my wallpaper in a bowl of water for 1-2 minutes {to activate the glue}.

After the wallpaper soaks you pull it from the water and fold your paper in half so glue side to glue side is touching and can continue activate. Allow it to sit for another couple minutes. I found a lovely "bugs life" backpack from about 11 years ago in my parents garage and let my wallpaper hang out there and activate. You can place it anywhere clean :)

After the glue is done activating you pull the wallpaper back apart and lay it flat on your well cleaned surface. I gently pushed out any bubbles and straightened the wallpaper where necessary. Repeat this process until all your drawers are done and set project aside to dry.

While my drawers dried I moved on to spray painting the other parts. I prefer Rust-Oleum spray paint and in this situation I used Glossy Dark Gray. My tables took two coats of spray paint.

The drawer pulls on my tables were also in some rough shape. The dressers are the exact same frame and accents but for some reason the drawers are different. On one of the drawers it had slightly ornate pulls and it sounded like too much of a commitment to find new pulls that fit exactly the same. The only problem was the old pulls were extremely ugly. I ended up spraying them with Rust-Oleum's Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint and I LOVE the finished product. 

You can spray paint on a Trader Joe's bag or.....

....Your dad's lawn. He will love you for it. Promise. 

But maybe you should just take the extra ten seconds and rip open a TJ's bag.

Not that I know any of this from personal experience.

After my wallpaper was dry I spray painted my drawers. 

I recommend spraying a top coat.. something that protects from water and  scratches. I have read a lot of blogs and this seems to be an all around favorite top coat. I sometimes just use a clear spray paint or you can be lazy {like me 99% of the time} and just not use a top coat :) I would highly recommend using a top coat on this project because of the wallpaper, It will just help keep everything in place.

After all your painting is done put your drawer pulls back on and you are done!

The finished product:

Hope you are thinking of all the furniture you own you can cover in wallpaper!

July 23rd, 2013

You know when you experience things that are so incredible it's hard to put them into words? That's most days of tour for me. 

How do I tell you about setting up our crazy stage trailer day after day, performing our show for hundreds of people, then preaching to these people about who Jesus really is. He is not just some impersonal life force or some guy who is telling you all the right and wrong things to do or even someone that is disappointed in you {hello, perfectionist over here. That's something I am still learning everyday}. You never look back when you meet Jesus because it's just not possible...it's too amazing....it's too life altering, life giving....hard, most definitely {we are human of course}...but it's so freeing to give your life to an almighty God and watch your life turn into something spectacular. 

Please hear me right. He isn't a genie. A relationship with Him takes work and devotion and sometimes extreme faith in the unknown....but you won't regret it.

So, because my daily experiences {that matter} are incredibly difficult to describe, here are some pictures of the things that don't matter but are easier to capture with a photo {but are sweet life experiences nonetheless}.  

our first show in the center of Kavajë, Albania....which happened to be across the street from a mosque...you could say they weren't super fans of our message :) 

driving through Croatia

Pogradec, Albania

You could say this is my new obsession. I can't get enough of this water. I drink lime/lemon LaCroix sparkling water at home or the Trader Joe's version. I don't drink soda {because of the sugar mostly} and there is something so amazing about flavored sparkling water that is totally natural...no fake sugar or real sugar!! When I found this water in Albania I was in heaven!

We cook most of our meals because feeding 20 people get's expensive! Albanian mini markets have some great produce! 

The view from my bedroom in Berat, Albania.

Our first day off after 11 concerts in Pogradec! 

We walked a super steep hill in Berat to get to a castle...the castle was super dumb and we just ended up being over heated and disappointed. Ha. Guess being adventurous doesn't always mean your adventure is a good one :) 

My wedding ring stored in an ibuprofen container. Our stage set up and tear down is so labor intensive the tiny pave diamonds on my band kept popping out! Three down so far and I don't want to loose more! 

The side of the highway on our way to Pogradec!

Iced coffee in Tirana, Albania. {It was good, but I miss my coffee from home in a bad way}

Dear owners of Mystery Burger: If you are selling any products involving meat, "mystery" should most definitely not be in your title. #lostintranslation #reason999whyIdonteatmeat {But I do have some crazy good ice cream in my left hand}. Elbansan, Albania

Every time I log onto instagram I get bombarded with these three little munchkins that make me miss home. 

On our way to Germany tomorrow!