garage sale coffee table

My mom scored this coffee table for 5 BUCKS!!! She was driving down her street and stopped to talk with one of her neighbors who was starting to pack up her garage sale when she spotted this beauty. So she asked how much and her friend said she was asking $25 for it but just wanted it gone at this point. She thought about it for a sec and asked my Mom is she would pay 5! Heck yes!!!
Her 90s Hunter Green and lighter oak top was just not doing it for me. I went to my stash of spray paint to see what I had...sitting right in front was a brand new can of Ocean Breeze I had picked up at Walmart for $2! PERFECT! I grabbed the can, a can of Minwax in Dark Walnut and the polyurethane in clear plus sand paper, and a few foam brushes and headed outside!!!

Here she is drying in the front yard!!! I am in LOVE!!!

I did a little experimenting {which can be scary}. 

I sealed the top of the table first while the stain was still a little damp and then the legs. Which left a perfect amount of brown on the Ocean Breeze. Toning it down just enough!!!

painted house

This is what our house looked like when we moved in a few years ago.

Hidden by layers of trees and bushes...

Step one: Remove two larger than life pine trees

I thought these babies had birds living in them...

but, no...

an entire eco system

including BATS! YIKES!

Looking better, but just wait...

Step two: Remove largest bushes across the front of the house...

I am sensing this baby is really going to stand out...

But, I love that the house is now visible 

and 

the bugs and spider populations just decreased drastically!!! 

Best of all...lots and lots of SUNLIGHT!!!

This girl will never turn down a fresh burst of Vitamin D! 

Now to get rid of the BLUE...

Step three: paint door black

I just love me a black door, especially for Halloween!

Step four: paint trim white and house brown. 

{I don't have the name colors but I will find them and add them to the post}

AAAWWWWW! 

Much better! 

I love driving up to my house now!!! 

We are done this summer with outside projects....

but, the projects continue in the Spring with...

change direction of stairs to straight out

change light fixture

new windows 

flower beds 

window boxes

shutters

stone walk way to street

basketball hoop down

{sad day for the Hubs bc he played on this hoop growing up}

new fence

Do the projects ever stop? Probably not! But, I love seeing our house become our home!

My new obsession...

Oh, My Goodness! 

Can we say Eye Candy OVERLOAD!!

I absolutely love it and can't quite get enough! 

I received my invite into "the club" a few months ago 

and 

I have "pinned" anything and everything...

so I thought...

But, the pins just keep coming 

and I find things to pin daily. 

It is a fabulous place to keep 

gift ideas

projects

inspirations 

quotes

meal ideas

....

what ever my little brain can think of. 

Here are just a few ideas for Halloween I am ogling over... 

Source: tiffcreativeoutlet.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: bing.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: designvagabond.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Are you on Pinterest? Who are some of your favorite gals to follow? What are some of your favorite things to pin?

Quiet Books

Sorry for the unexpected hiatus from my blog! I didn't realize how rapped up I got in the fabulous weather! Needless to say that it is SNOWING right now!! That's right SNOWING! So here I am back on the ole' blog-a-roo.
I found the most fabulous blog today as I was getting my Pinterest fix. It caught my eye because I have started looking for quiet book ideas. Boy, oh boy, does she have ideas!!!

I had a quiet book my Grandmother made me and I remember spending tons of time playing with it. Especially during Sacrament Meeting. It always seemed to pass the time quickly {as I am sure my Mom loved having me occupied}
To this day I am not sure where it ended up and have been wanting to make one for my kids. Now the task doesn't seem so daunting with this fabulous blog!
I think I might even have to try my trusty Silhouette with this project!