End Table Re-do

So here's an old endtable that I found at a consignment shop. I've been lookin for the perfect piece for a long time to put in a big space between the leather couches in our living room.  I thought this would work, but I'm still not sold yet. The finished product is up for sale on craigslist if anyone is interested. Make me an offer!

Finished piece:  painted espresso brown, black glaze finish over top of paint.  Top piece is tile porcelain.

Dresser project

Ok... last post today, I promise!  Here is my new piece that I can't wait to start on.  I found it on Craigslist from a couple who had just sold their house and are moving.  Preliminary plans:  paint it, disstress it, add glaze, and perhaps new handles on the top and bottom.  I"m not sure the color yet. Check out the gorgeous glass knobs & the fantastic lines in the drawers! Finished project coming soon!

Craiglist Find!

Whilst waiting for the paint to dry on my new bathroom vanity, I found this fantastic coffee table on Craigslist for $20!  

I loved that it was real wood and not that fake particle board stuff, but I wasn't loving the light oak color. This was the color I was trying to get rid of in the bathroom!  So I decided to paint it turquoise. Turquoise?  I bet you think I'm crazy, but I had a plan in my head.  The first step was to sand this baby down to remove the previous finish. I then primed it using a tinted primer, and then painted it Valspar Latex - Sprig.

The next morning, after the paint had dried, I distressed it using my sandpaper block.  Distressing means making the piece look antiqued- chipping away some paint and "roughing" it up a little bit.  The last step was to add a glaze to give it a bit of shine. I wanted it to match the shine in a picture in my living room.  Here is the finished table - all finished! 

Check out the distressed parts where the oak color comes through!  Isn't the iridescent shine beautiful?  I think it looks gorgeous with this picture hanging in the living room.



Total Cost:  Craiglist Table - $20

Paint from Lowes  (Sample Sizes on sale ) - $2.97

Iridescent Glaze - already had

Total:  $22.97

Blog Premise: CHANGED!

Hello!  So I've decided that the premise of my blog needs to change. Obviously, I'm not a dedicated blogger because it is usually a couple months between each post.  I've decided instead, to devote this blog to share with you my new-found hobby!

This past week, I've been on spring break.  I had a week off from work and decided that I needed some kind of project to keep my from spending the endless hours in front on the television.  After searching a few well-known blogs about home decorating, I thought I would try my hand at refinishing our bathroom.  Well... this small project led to a week of treasure-hunting on craigslist and at Goodwill.  I now have a gorgeous bathroom (pics to come) a new coffee table and a gorgeous end table - all for extremely cheap!  I've always been a semi-crafty person, but I think I've just uncovered a new talent that now prohibits Wes from parking in the garage! 

Here was my first project to tackle: 

There isn't anything wrong with our hallway bathroom. I was just quite tired of the manufactured oak cabinet and the unfinished mirror. We didn't have any handles on it either and I think those add so much!  At this point, I had already removed the cabinet fronts and hardware.  I sanded down the vanity, painted  all parts with a tinted laxtex primer, and then finished with 2 coats of a deep expresso paint.   Wes helped me install fixtures on the cabinets and the vanity was finished! 

I then bought two boards of MDF and had Wes use his saw to angle the corners to the right dimensions. I primed, painted, and then hung with liquid nails. Here is a finished picture (minus a few touch-ups)  It was hard to takea  good picture becaue of the poor lightning - that is the next thing that is to be changed.  The new handles on the vanity are brushed nickel. They just look bronze because of the lighting.

Waffles

Let me start off by saying that I don't really enjoy most breakfast foods. I hate waffles, pancakes, french toast, syrup, cereal, milk etc. The only thing I eat for breakfast is usually eggs. So, this morning (because I'm such a great wife) I wanted to make my husband waffles. He got up early to watch a big soccer game that was on tv and I thought I would make him some breakfast. He LOVES waffles. Actually, he loves almost everything that I hate. Anyway, this was my first attempt at making waffles and my first time using the waffle iron we received for our wedding.

Apparently, I'm not a good waffle maker. The first mix I made stuck all over the pan. I wish I would have taken pictures to show you all. It took me 15 minutes to unstick the gooey yet burnt waffle from both sides of the pan. So I tried again and they were... well eh. I don't eat them so I guess I didn't get the consistency right. They were either too mushy or too burnt or they cooked too fast or weren't cooked enough. Anyway, my husband semi-enjoyed his morning of waffles & soccer.

On another note, tonight I'm going to the Carrie Underwood concert at Wells-Fargo. My friend Katie bought me tickets for my birthday back in June. We are going to eat at Gateway Market first, then head over. It should be a fun night! My 1/2 birthday is tomorrow, by the way!

I'm becoming a real blogger!

I've read several blogs lately where people actually get paid to blog. This was one of the many conversations at dinner tonight. Wes and I ate at Los Cabos Mexican Restauarant - one of my favorites - Here was our fabulous dining couple...

And here is our leftover dinner. Trust me, it tasted much better than it looks!



So I found out that my friend Melissa has a blog too! We are going to become bloggers together. Maybe someday we will be paid the big bucks to write about our lives! :) I wrote yesterday about decorating our house for Christmas and here are a few pictures. Sorry the quality isn't the best - we've lost our digital camera (Wes did actually) so the pictures were taken on my palm and they aren't the greatest. I'm in LOVE with my pink Christmas tree. I set it up in the basement and it has my Hallmark Barbie Collection ornaments on it. Yes, I love Barbie. I loved it so much that my mom had to take them away from me because I was too old to play with them. So now I do the next best thing... collect the ornaments! My grandma gave me my first piece when I was 10 and now I have 2 collections going. I love them and my pink tree! Maybe someday our main Christmas tree will be full of them!

Shopped Til I Dropped!

As crazy as it is, I think Black Friday is a blast. I do know the criticism against this tradition, but to me, Black Friday signifies the beginning of the Christmas season - which is my favorite. Wes and his dad went to Wal-Mart at midnight - along with several thousand other shoppers. Wes reported that it took 30 minutes to just walk across the store and that the lines to check out were into way back into the electronic section. They got a few small things that they were seeking and weren't really looking for any big ticket items.


When I woke up around 7, I went to Target with Darla, Lynna, Wes & Giovanni. By then, it had pretty much cleared out, but most of the deals were still available. Then we headed to Jordan Creek Mall to shop. Once again, it was crowded, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I bought a pair of cute purple flats at Younkers for $16 - orignally $60. Score!!

I'll post some pictures as soon as Wes and I find our camera. It was taken on a fishing trip and apparently never returned. I decorated our house all Christmasy and I think it looks pretty great!

Wowza!

Yikes! It's been a REALLY long time since I last did a post. I guess I'm not cut out for this blog thing. Well, to catch you all up since last time I wrote.... not a lot of new has happened. Wes and I close to our 5 month anniversary (awww) and have never been happier. Work is going great and I absolutely love my students that I have this year.

As I write, Wes and his dad are actually at Wal-Mart participating and snatching up Black Friday deals. The last couple of years have almost become a tradition for shopping. Because Wes always has to work on the Friday after Thanksgiving, his family has come up to Des Moines to share it with us. The last 2 years have been great and this year is not exception. We eat, watch movies, and then scour the Des Moines Register Ads while making a list of potential Christmas gifts to purchase. Now, to be honest, many of the things I wrote down were clothing items and most of them caught my eye. I'm not getting up insanely early to buy stuff for myself, but I will definitely be making a trip to Younkers tomorrow to use my $10 off coupon. Wes and his dad will be going back to Wal-Mart at 5am for some early purchases. Not my cup of tea.

On a completely different note, I think I have decided to set a goal to run a half marathon. It has been something I've wanted to do for a while and many of my friends have blogged about their experiences. However, I'm a VERY beginning runner, so I am quite apprehensive about the prospect of the distance just because right now I can't run even a mile without feeling like I'm going to die. Anyone out there want to train with me???

Well, I'll end this by saying that I promise it won't be 4 months until I post again. I guess I feel silly writing on this if no one is reading it. So, if you are, let me know!

Iowa State Fair Time!

Hello! So here is my second post and so far I don't have any followers :( I hope that changes very soon! I think I will post some pictures tonight and maybe people will flock to see how interesting me life is.

So I love the Iowa State Fair! It brings back memories from when I was a young 4-Her in the Garryowen Guys and Gals 4-H Club. None of my projects ever made it to the state fair, but I did get several honorable mentions. I guess that counts for something! Anyway, I LOVE walking around, watching the Bill Riley Talent Show, perusing through the livestock barns, enjoying some tasty food, and of course... people watching! Last year, Wes and I sat on a bench across from the grandstand for probably an hour or two and just watched people walk by. There are sure some interesting people out there. I bet people say that when I walk by though :)

Last night Wes and I went to the Newsboys & MercyMe concert with a group from our church. It was a very spiritual experience. This was the 2nd Christian concert I've been too (Casting Crowns was the first) and I hope to be able to go to many many more. At the end of the concert, MercyMe performed their famous, "I Can Only Imagine" and I had tears in my eyes. Across the screen were pictures of people and their loved ones they've lost. It is such a moving and emotional song. The concert was fabulous despite the HEAT! Here are a few pictures of us all sweaty at the concert.

Here are some things you should know about me before you start reading my new blog:

1. You may know me as Rose Donovan because I just got married! Wes & I tied the knot on July 3rd and it has been a great month of married life!

2. I love my job! I teach Middle School Social Studies/English in Des Moines, IA. I will try not to write a ton about my job, but sometimes it's hard because it is so important to me!

3. I'm a new homeowner in WDM and am enjoying the new experiences that it brings.

4. I have the best friends anyone could ask for.... but I love meeting new people. If you are following my posts...let's hang out!

Well, I guess you didn't HAVE to know those things, but I'm new at this. Add my blog.... you won't regret it!