Before and After

Out with the old, in with the new.  I was getting tired of our damask wallpaper, as it didn't match anything else in our home.  I meant to decorate around it, but that didn't work out too well.  I still think it was super pretty, but it had to go.  I've always heard taking down wallpaper is a nightmare and I was happy we only had half a wall to de-wallpaper.  But it actually wasn't so bad.  We just sprayed some wallpaper remover stuff on there, waited 15 minutes and peeled away.  Sure, there are a few spots on the wall that have a little extra texture now, but it's a textured wall anyway so you can't really tell.  This picture was taken after Aaron ripped off the chair rail and we peeled back a little wallpaper just to see what it was like.

We painted a pretty new color ("aqua bay"), added some paintings, and presto change-o, dining room makeover.  We finally put up our paint by number paintings.  There was some debate (mostly with myself) about the framing of the paintings.  I thought all the different frames would be cute and eclectic - but then again, our home isn't really the most eclectic place.  In the end I decided the paintings themselves were kitschy enough and stuck with the same black frames that house every other picture on our walls.  Gotta keep it consistent girl.  We have a few more paintings to frame, and lots of wall space to expand.  Now that I can compare the before and after, I think the damask looked a little boring.

Fan Love

How awesome and beautiful is my "new" vintage fan?  We found it at the swap meet and Aaron was wonderful enough to snatch it up for me for only $25.  It's in super good condition and it works too!  It's small and I love the color; it's perfect.  The color is inspiring us.  We might paint our newly de-wallpapered dining room wall the same color.  I also got an enamel brooch that is in perfect condition and Aaron got another camera, of course, to add to his ever-growing collection.

Quilt? Check.

Sunday was a good day for a catnap.

Or an afternoon dognap.

It's light and pretty and kinda kitschy.  I love it.

It Was a Slow Thrifing Weekend

I did pick up this cute owl clock.  I haven't checked to see if it works yet, but that really doesn't matter.  I also got a metal wastebasket that is pretty trashed (pun intended).  I tried to clean it, but it was a big chore and I hate the way rubber gloves make my hands smell.   The whole basket is made up of metal flowers, so there are lots of tiny grooves for dirt to get into.  Maybe Mr. Amerine will be so kind as to try to clean it up for me.

We went to an estate sale that sounded promising, but it was a bust.  I got some more vintage buttons, but that's it. Oh, and one more thing:  You never know what you're going to see at the dirt mall.  I guess someone really likes ... Christmas?  And a lot of crap on their car.

This Like Never Happens

Wellington Goes to the Beach

This is how it went.  Welly: "I'm scared.  What is that?  A big bathtub?"

"Well ... OK, I'll try it out.  Here I go ..."

"Whoa!  That water's moving up pretty fast guys, lets get out of here!"

"Whaaaaaaa!  My legs are sinking!  I'm stuck!  Help!"

"Thanks pere, now lets get out of here!"

"Who needs Candied Island?  It's safer at the docks."

Baked Mini Donuts

So fun!  I found a mini donut pan at the swap meet this weekend.  I almost bought one off Amazon a while ago, but a $3 brand new one is even better!   Well, they aren't Krispy Kreme, but they make up for it in cuteness.  And I'm sure they are at least a little healthier because they are baked.  Then dunked in sugar...

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

4 tablespoons butter, melted

- - -

Preheat oven to 350º F.

In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

In another bowl, beat egg to blend with milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir just to moisten.

Spoon into well-greased mini muffin tins. (I put my batter in a measuring cup and carefully poured into each mold in pan)  Fill to just below rim.  Bake in a 350-degree oven until light golden,10 to 12 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

Makes 1 dozen.

*Glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tablespoons milk

Mix ingredients together.

Dip top half of the donut into the glaze, add sprinkles, and place on wire rack to harden.

*Cinnamon-sugar variation

Mix 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Brush doughnut tops with 3 Tablespoons melted butter and roll in sugar/cinnamon.

More Treasures

As far as I'm concerned, I left with the best loot at the swap meet on Saturday.  Eight brooches for only $3 a piece and one for .50 cents?!  Madness I tell you.  Plus I adopted this super cute little pink piggy.  The people I bought it from found it real funny that I wanted it.  I think he deserved a better home.

Childcraft. Sometimes Creepy.

I was going through and editing my collection of photos from our Childcraft books and noticed a few that struck me as odd.  Something just doesn't seem right here:

What's up with all these men trying to give this little girl candy?  The whole set up of the photo is just creepy.  Even the little girl.

Puppets.  A clown.  'Nough said.

Hoot Hoot

I heart owls.  I added the teapot and the super seventies orange owl with vest and bowtie to my collection this weekend.  Oh, swap meet, how I love thee.  I had a nice weekend.  It was my mom's birthday and I had a lot of fun spending time with my family.  I made her a strawberry tart and a blueberry tart for the occasion and they were delish!  I also made her favorite muddy buddies.  I spent all of today cleaning, throwing away dead plants, grocery shopping, sewing together squares for my quilt, baking, doing laundry, and rearranging furniture.  I'm feeling accomplished and very domestic.