Tuesday, October 18, 2011

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!!!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

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!

Friday, October 14, 2011

My new obsession...

Follow Me on Pinterest

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: bing.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?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

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!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Weightloss Wednesday #1

A few months ago I told you my weight loss journey/story. If you didn't read it you can here. I wish today I could tell you that I am 30lbs lighter or have a 15% body fat. But, I can't and that is ok!
But, I can tell you I have had a FABULOUS summer!! Yes, there have been BBQ's and TONS of wonderful, bad for you food. I didn't neglect myself but I didn't over indulge either. Everything in moderation. I also took the summer off from Zumba :( I know I probably shouldn't have. Instead I was running 3x a week with some new gal pals and loved it!
I am proud to say I didn't gain any weight... but I didn't lose any either. I did drop a few more inches. YAY! {insert happy dance}
Next week my son starts school and I am back to my Zumba schedule of MWF and will run TRS until it starts getting too cold. Then I will add two workout DVD's I just orkdered

They should be here Friday and I can't wait to try them out!!!

Now on to my secret weapon.....
I do not workout unless I have eaten a bar or had the shake. When you take one on an empty stomach about 15 minutes before your workout it works magic!!!
I am getting my information right off of Melaleuca's sight for accuracy.

What Makes It Different?
Access turns fat into fuel. Access includes a proprietary fat conversion formula combined with clinically proven* CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) to help you access your stored fat, achieve greater endurance, reduce body fat*, increase muscle tone*, and keep fat off*

Why Is That Important?
Access technology allows you to jump-start and maximize your workout and weight loss potential using a unique technology combination only found in Access.
The original Access technology allows your body to:
  • Access stored body fat faster to fuel your workout
  • Naturally block the energy-sapping effects of adenosine
  • Increase endurance with less fatigue and soreness
With the addition of a clinically proven and patented form of CLA, Access technology also delivers increased fat-loss and body toning benefits*.
This proven technology can help you:
  • Reduce body fat by up to 10%*
  • Improve muscle tone and build lean muscle*
  • Keep fat off and prevent weight regain

It Works Because...
During exercise the body produces adenosine, which slows fat burning and promotes fatigue, soreness, and reduced muscle contraction. The original Access technology developed by Larry Wang, Ph.D., a world-renowned authority on fat metabolism, helps block adenosine so you can more easily convert fat into fuel and increase endurance with less fatigue and soreness associated with exercise.
Access also delivers impressive fat-loss and body toning benefits by leveraging the power of CLA. Access contains the purest form of CLA available. Naturally sourced from safflower, this highly purified CLA is patented and clinically proven.
Reduced body fat, improved muscle tone and weight regain prevention is possible because of the way CLA alters how the body uses fat. By helping the body burn fat more efficiently CLA helps increase fat metabolism, limit fat deposits, reduce the size of fat cells and build lean muscle. Because muscle helps burn fat, the longer you use Access, the more fat loss and body toning benefits you will see.
This remarkable technology is backed by extensive scientific research, including 18 independent clinical studies and more than 75 published articles. The CLA found in Access has over 40 patents or pending patents across the globe.
An impressive research finding is the fact that the CLA in Access works on people of all shapes and activity levels, whether they are normal weight, overweight or obese.
Let Access turn your fat into fuel to fuel your personal weight-loss and fitness victories.

What is CLA?
CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is a natural fatty acid derived from safflower. The CLA in Access naturally changes the way your body utilizes fat to burn fat faster and help keep it off, while improving muscle tone. Its incredible benefits have been documented in 18 independent clinical studies. In addition, CLA contains no stimulants or harsh chemicals, so it doesn't produce the negative side effects common in other "fat burners."

It is clinically proven and patented. 

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at courtney.flipflopsandpearls@gmail.com