A Basket of Inspiration

As some of you may have seen, the picture to the right is the same one I used last year for my Spring picture. I have been obsessed with this image from Martha Stewart for over a year.

I have searched and waited until I could replicate it somehow. Alas, this beautiful basket is a very hard shape to find and the bunny shape did not come out until this year at A.C.Moore.

But I have pulled together my version of this amazing image.

I can not stop looking at it and my heart is happy!

Have a great day!

emb

From my clans to yours..Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

I am almost 100 % Irish. My family comes from the three follow clans:

Moore Coat of Arms:

McCloskey Coat of Arms:

King Coat of Arms:

I have been said to have the map of Ireland on my face! Many of my extended family live in Ireland. I only have met them when they are visiting the states. It is a dream of mine to visit the place where my grandparents called homeland. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

**Thanks for the idea and Happy St. Patrick's Day to QBS!

Current Loves.

I love my new bag and wallet. I think it is a cute pairing. The bag is faux crocodile oilcloth with a brown lining that I actually got from Hallmark. It is super soft. I paired it with this super cute brown giraffe print wallet from Target. I love cute looks for less$$!

Looky! Looky! A $15 Chandelier Makeover!

I stumbled across this pitiful chandelier at a local thrift store. Upon closer inspection, I realized it had great bones but noticed some electrical components would have to be replaced.

With a $5 price tag, I thought I'd take it home. I needed a mental break from finishing my mantel project so yesterday I took some time to work on this chandelier.

First, I needed to test the wiring and once that was sound,I could replace what needed replacing. Luckily the wiring was fine and I ended up replacing all five keyless sockets (you know the part where you stick the lightbulb!)

I used Krylon gloss in Smoke Gray with Valspar hi-gloss in Aluminum.

Luckily, I had inherited a glass chandelier from my husband's grandmother (which unfortunately met is untimely demise this summer due to five little sets of curious hands) that I had salvaged the crystals from.

Here is the result ( this picture is taken hanging in my kitchen).

This chandelier will find it's new home in our master bath after it recieves new covers for the candle base and wiring(maybe some shades).

All together I spent $5 on the chandelier and around $10 for the keyless sockets and paint. I am extremely happy with the result and will enjoy this pretty bauble when I soak in the tub!

Thomas the Tank Diaper Cake..of course!

I love Saucy over at Saucy Sprinkles (formerly known as bloggedy, blog, blog). When I found out my friend was having twins I had to give Saucy's diaper cake a try. I followed her tutorial here.

My friend had two little boys which makes her a mom to four boys under the age of five (Go Big Families!) I used a Thomas theme and it was fairly easy to do. I love how it turned out! I hope my friend loves it too!

Another Sneak Peek Kitchen Cabinets

Here is a sneak peek on our kitchen cabinets! I wanted to join in on The Nester's linky day.

I added three different mouldings to the sofffit and painted it.....with chalkboard paint!

Honestly, I did start out with a semi gloss enamel, but it really was too shiny with our recessed lights. I still have to add undercabinet lightening, knobs, as well as moulding to the bottom of the cabinet but that has to wait until after the white subway tile is installed as the backsplash.

I will post the whole kitchen transformation when it is complete with before/ after pictures!

I love chalkboard paint!!!!

A Birthday for A Great Cat!

"Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You!" Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

Sneak Peek

This is the project, I have been a slave to for the last month or so. It is still not complete as I have to finish priming, painting and caulking the piece as well as the two bookcases on either side( that will be another post as well as a before/ during pics.)

For now, imagine a small area of brick with a fireplace opening.

In other areas of the house, I have been obsessed with dark stairs fashioning a neutral jute runner. I have started to paint our staircase as well , promising again more pictures!

I have finished painting my kitchen cabinets black (thanks to The Nester's sister and Tory Spelling's old kitchen for inspiration)! We are shopping for a countertop so as soon we have a more complete project I will post about that soon.

We have been in our home alittle over a year and it has been nothing but projects, projects, projects around here!

Have a great day!

EMB