Concrete countertops...hmmm

If you are a budget conscious person considering a kitchen remodel-don't overlook concrete as an option. Well, don't overlook it if you have a handy husband, father, father-in-law, friend that will work for free-etc etc. My cousin has them in her kitchen and they are actually very pretty and sophisticated looking. It's alot of work and a huge mess, but it can save you thousands of dollars. I'm looking at white countertops-I love the Caesarstone Quartz in blizzard white or Silestone White Zeus-but it's getting pretty expensive when I start adding everything up-and I really want nice stainless appliances. One of the largest surface areas in our kitchen will be the bar/counter area. I'm thinking of doing that in concrete. I think it will add a bit of that industrial look I like without going over the top and definitely save some $$$.

here's a couple of links to a crash course in "How to" DIY concrete countertops...

DIY network concrete countertops
Imperfectly Polished blog...

Here are a few pics of "real life" concrete countertops I found on flickr...

several of these countertops came from..decorative accents of virginia..they have a good "real world" gallery of homes they've worked in check it out...

Here's a peek at what I've got going on today...lol..I absolutely love it!

little Roo (aka Big Baby) coloring on the chalkboard in our kitchen-beware parents-- this one draws on all the walls in our house I think he thinks it's all one big chalkboard-something to consider-hahaha

Family time with dad and the elk...

The boys love when Dad comes home. He works 3 weeks and then comes home for 3 weeks. Its much better than how it used to be when he would drive away not knowing when he would have time off again. Now it's a constant and Ezzie (our 5 year old) always makes plans for his "daddy time". He stores things up for us to do-it's cute. Sometimes daddy has his own plans though-hahaha and this time the boys were all about it. It involved finding a standing deer blind and some camouflage stuff. I grew up in the city so hunting isn't really my thing, but up north here it's a holiday. No really-the schools are actually closed on opening day of deer season! Isn't that funny? All the women go shopping out of town while the men head to camp. So, anyway I was on board for a little hunter/shopping adventure with my boys. They can drop me off at Hobby Lobby and I'll fritter away some time! We did have fun! Roo (almost 2) didn't like HL as much as I'd hoped. He started yelling for his "ganky" when we reached the paper section. Oh well. Emm and Ez picked us up and we spent about an hour at a Jay's sporting goods store. It had real animal heads all over the place which delighted the kids-but I was more concerned about the Keen's and North Face stuff. Next we headed over to the Elk Preserve to watch some animals and finished our family day at fun little Mexican restaurant. Then back to Alpena. These really are the best days of our lives.

here's a peek...

I want my Ganky!

cute fuzzy keen boots...

I ended up buying these Keen boots-much more lifestyle appropriate-thinking I can look kinda cute while shoveling 4 ft of snow.

TUESDAY ANYTHING GOES...SPOONFLOWER POWER

HAVE YOU DISCOVERED SPOONFLOWER?

I had seen mention of this great site in other places, but didn't really know what it was. For those of you who haven't heard-it's a wonderful custom fabric site. When browsing through a million things looking for cool boy stuff I determined I'd have to find some fabrics and make a duvet and pillows for the boys room and maybe some curtains. This all is a long way off-but I'm in research mode. So I happened upon SPOONFLOWER-the ultimate in customization. They offer tons of user generated fabrics as well as an opportunity for you to upload your OWN images and create fabric from it! SO COOL! They have weekly themed fabric contests that you can vote on, and if you are so inclined contribute to. FUN!

So if you are struggling with the selection at Joann's--head over to Spoonflower and have a look. It's alot of eye candy too-totally inspiring to pattern junkies like me! The prices are decent too-I mean it IS custom!!!


Here's what you do...

1. HEAD OVER TO SPOONFLOWER...

2. UPLOAD YOUR DESIGNS OR CHOOSE FROM TONS OF USER GENERATED CUTIES...

3. PLACE YOUR ORDER AND THEN...

VOILA!

CUSTOM ROOMS YOUR WAY!

PLEASE EXCUSE MY RUDIMENTARY DRAWINGS...BUT YOU GET THE PICTURE! :)

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR SOME ETSY ARTIST FINDS...FOR THE BOYS!

TUESDAY PRETTY PALETTE...THINGS TO MAKE MOM SMILE

A common sight on Mother's Day is a nice vase filled with beautiful flowers. I thought this image was pretty and the colors I extracted from the photo are as fresh as a spring day!

I also used this palette to digitally color my drawing of a bird and some flowers. It's available in my ETSY shop too-convo me for customization options.

Hope you like...

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR ETSY ARTIST FINDS FOR MOM...

TUESDAY ANYTHING GOES..EASTER STUFF

Well as stated yesterday-I won't be posting on Thursday or Friday this week so I'm packing the things I would normally post on those days into my Monday and Tuesday posts! Today I'm posting some cute Easter children's books I found on Amazon.com. I bought a few of these for the kids to have in their Easter baskets.I finally picked up all their candy today and I'm just needing a few more things! 
My boys are 4 and 1-I just love watching my oldest get so excited about the Easter bunny and learning about Jesus and the baby just toddles around after him like "what am I supposed to do brother?"

I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with family, kids, yummy food and lots of playing! 

I'm also posting a pretty DIY wreath with a link to the directions, a pretty spring girl pic and some digital art.

Hope you like... 

all these and more from Amazon.com
PRETTY DIY WREATH....

via Jones Design Company blog

Click here for a complete tutorial on how to make this sweet little wreath....

BLOG I'M SO GLAD I FOUND

 Jones Design Company

This is a great blog full of good ideas, graphic design goods, DIY, interiors and mom stuff-she has four kids, a business and blog! Her story sounds alot like mine-self taught, learning as I go, sometimes bumbling, kids playing in the background, super busy and totally happy with the imperfection of it all~The wreath above was from her site and just look at these cute Easter bucket baskets she made for he kiddos-she even stitched up the bunnies-love it! CHECK IT OUT!

via Jones Design Company blog

pretty spring pic of a pretty stylish girl...

called Watercolors via Atlantic-Pacific blog

AND A COUPLE OF QUICK ARTSY THINGS FROM ME TOO....

BIRDS NEST

FARM FRESH EGGS

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR ETSY ARTIST FINDS...

ANYTHING GOES TUESDAY...OUTDOOR TEXTILES!

Gone are the days of cheesy outdoor patio sets reminiscent of your grandmothers Palm Beach trailer court cottage! Today's outdoor fabrics and rugs are beautiful, modern and totally versatile. We are lucky to live in a time when we have so many options available to completely customize our outdoor space as we would our indoor spaces. These fabulous textiles are just as durable as they are pretty! Nice for parents with little ones such as myself who love the option of putting these kid friendly commandos on the front lines inside the house as well! Here's a little round-up of textiles for the outdoors that I just love!

hope you like...

find some of these great fabrics and more from: Ballard, Sunbrella, Ralph Lauren Outdoor, Trina Turk. Outdoorfabrics.com 

There are so many selections i had to stop myself. Find these and many more at these great places:

Ballard

Domestic Modern

Lamps Plus

Dash & Albert

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR WEDNESDAY ETSY ARTIST FINDS-THE GREAT OUTDOORS...

ANYTHING GOES TUESDAY..LOST AND FOUND

Today I'm posting a picture and some ideas I have for a future furniture make-over project! Some people probably can't see the beauty in this chair that was slated for the dumpster-but I love it! It's made well, has just enough curves, claw feet, and it's a rocker! My husband was less than thrilled when I showed up with another furniture refugee but he knows when to choose his battles and just gave me "the look" as he hauled it in the garage! :)  I'm not sure if it'll go in the boys room as a little reading nook chair or in the office as an accent chair. If it ends up in the boys room it'll most certainly have to be orange-Ezzie's signature color! I guess we'll see what happens....

LOST: LITTLE DUMPSTER CHAIR...

FOUND: CUTE LITTLE READING CHAIR...

I'm loving this modern orange and white kinda thing...

 

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR SOME COLORFUL ETSY ARTIST FINDS....

ANYTHING GOES TUESDAY!

I try to organize my blog so that I myself can operate with some semblance of order and productivity! So in order to do this I do certain things on certain days of the week. Those who regularly read this blog probably have that figured out. Mondays--Monday Inspirations-this sets the tone for the week, Wednesday-always Etsy shops and an occasional blog, Thursday Art Additions that's when I post my own work and Fridays are kind-of a toss up but I've been doing mostly Humble Abode posts-things from around our house plus enviable designer rooms from around the blogosphere. But Tuesday-oh Tuesday? I have a page of topics that Tuesday can be about but there's no structure on that day-I just throw in some stuff that goes with my weekly theme.

 So-my point-I have one-I'm gonna call it  ANYTHING GOES TUESDAY! On these days you might find a great picture or a DIY project-whatever has inspired me that doesn't fall into the other categories I've got going on throughout the week.

So today I've got an inspiring St. Patty's day poster, 2 random pics I like and a cool DIY project! I know-tomorrow is St Patty's Day-but It' my ETSY day you see...and there's always alot of content on Wednesdays. As a good Irish girl I've got to pay little homage to the best drinking holiday of the year-plus I'm going to busy at my mom's for a little corned beef and cabbage and perhaps a green beer!--mmmmmm....

hope you like...






awesome right! Beer graphic poster from popchartlab



I think this is so cool...




excerpt from Moby Dick-This made an impression on me for obvious reasons-let's keep the Japanese people in our thoughts and prayers! 


I found this cool little DIY project over on another  blog called the Lettered Cottage. Kevin and Layla Palmer blog about all kinds of interior design stuff! This is a massive site with nearly 7000 followers--including me!!! Perhaps you spotted that cute little Ordinal Dresser from Anthropologie for a whopping $998 on my Monday Inspirations? Well they found it and loved it too and decided to do a DIY version. I was going to do my own-Lord knows I've painted a dresser or two in my day!!! But this is so cute and easy I thought I'd post theirs! Just click on the pic and it'll take you to their blog for the full story. While you're there take a look around-they have great stuff!



Anthropolgie dresser




$40 DIY dresser from the Lettered Cottage

 SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR WEDNESDAY ETSY ARTIST FINDS...

TUESDAY BEAUTIFUL SPACES: ROOMS AWASH IN PINK...

AF week of LOVE continues with a bunch of pretty in pink rooms you'll adore! I also mocked up a little pink inspired space that I would love to relax in and drink champagne with my dog-oh and the hubby and kids too! lol-Now if only the hubs would go for a pink living room! Us girls are always scheming of ways to get a pink room-I don't have a daughter so I'm nearly out of the running-haha-My mom told me today that she is going to paint her bedroom pink while my dad is away in Arizona for a month! Too funny....

Anyway-we are leaving the mild climate of New Orleans for the arctic tundra that is Northern Michigan soon and I've much to do-plus baby Roo turns one tomorrow-WOW! Hope you like scrolling through the pinkness I've found for you today......love, Jen

My pink escape....

CHECK OUT THESE PINK ROOMS...



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SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR A LITTLE BLOG FEATURE AND SOME ETSY ARTIST FINDS!