Ready for Football Season

I picked up a new flag just in time for our first game this weekend.  Hook 'Em!

Putting in a Pool

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Last Sunday I headed out to run errands around 9:30am.  It was already 123 degrees outside, I swear.  I stopped by Home Depot on a mission to find some Horsetail Bamboo.  After completely walking the entire outdoor plant section twice, I had no Horsetail but I did have a nice puddle of sweat coming through my t-shirt.  Onward to Target!

I was relying on the Big Box A/C system to cool me down but by now it was almost 145 degrees outside and Target was just no match.  I began getting the items on my list.  Restocking Diet Coke, frozen meals for work lunch, dogs treats, the norm.  Then I saw the summer swim floaty games aisle, or whatever it was called.  I thought, I wonder how much an inflated kiddie pool is?  They had a nice rectangular one that looked just big enough for me to lay in about 8" of water while sunning.  It was $29.99 but I was seriously considering it.  That is, until I saw the glint off a red clearance tag.  It was on a box for the Intex Easy Set 10' pool.  And it was marked down to $39.99.

Yep, into my cart it went.  I honestly didn't even read what it was.  I just saw the happy family on the box and was sold.  Y'all, turns out I basically bought an above ground pool.  It has a filter and pump and the full nine yards.  I took it home and immediately began setting it up because I needed water ASAP.

Within about 20 minutes I had the top ring inflated and was sitting in about an inch of the coolest water ever!  Over the next couple hours it would continue to fill and I would begin floating around in my chair float that I also bought at Target.

Now in my haste, I just slapped the thing down and started filling.  I hadn't mowed in over a week so didn't notice the ground wasn't level.  That would explain the random objects around the pool trying to keep it from tipping over.  Details.

I floated in that pool until the shade started setting over me.  I even lasted through a brief rain sprinkle.  I'm not sure why I didn't get one of these years ago!  After my Sunday Funday with my new above ground pool, I began draining it.  I bailed water into my watering can and used it on the flowers all week and then I eventually used it on the grass itself.  It's so awesome that you can hook a hose up to it and water!  Last night it was empty enough to move to the porch while I mowed.  I'm now going to set it up in a less urgent manner.  I've found a flatter area of the yard, laid a tarp and will begin refilling it on Friday.  I even ordered a cover for it!  Come Saturday I'll install the pump and filter that came with it and it should be good to go for the rest of the summer.  I even bought a little chlorine container that will float around in it.  Now when Pete tells me the weather is going to be 152 degrees, I will just laugh as I float in my new $40 pool.

More Ledge Art

Still haven't spent a dime on my living room picture ledge but I did dig around the house and come up with a few more frames.  I filled them up with some temporary printouts and magazine clippings to help me visualize.  I'll continue to tweak the ledge but at least it's better to look at now.

Living Room Picture Ledge

Way back in 2013, my living room was pretty put together.  I had my nice little 32" TV in a freshly painted armoire and some nice little Chicago Instagram pics framed down the wall.

I also had a lovely plant that I managed to kill in record time.  Fast forward to 2014, I upgraded to a 60" TV with a new IKEA console.  I love that I can actually read words on the screen now!

I also got a lovely Rubber Tree.  It has been dropping leaves lately so don't hold your breath on that lasting forever.  I loved the new set up but have been staring at that wall for 6 months now trying to figure out what to put on the wall.  This weekend I caught up on 6 episodes of Fixer Upper on HGTV and I guess I got inspired.  I went digging around in my garage for something to make.  I came up with the idea to make a picture ledge with a spare 8' 2x3 leftover from my closet remodel.  That and a little leftover white paint and some leftover hardware from my guest room headboard project had me on my way. 

As you can see, I did this project while watching Big Brother.  Go #TeamDonny!  Anyway, it was a pretty easy install.  The shelf is centered on the wall at 64".  I may need to move the TV a smidge because I don't think it's centered.  Sorry for the poor evening lighting.  My iPhone and the recessed canned lights in the house do not mix.

I don't know what art will go up there but I'm working on getting a few prints and a little more color and height variety.  I guess I should start watching more HGTV since it tends to be what motivates me to get things done these days.  I'm pretty hooked on Fixer Upper and last night I caught the first episode of Flip This Block.  I have a new free furniture piece arriving soon that will need a major overhaul so stay tuned for my next adventure.

Hand Me Down Headache?

Last weekend my mom gave me her stacking pots planter.  I'm not sure if this act was a gift or punishment because she didn't seem to like the planter.

Once I figured out the correct order to stack them in, I went and picked up some victims flowers at Calloway's.

I planted them as 483 mosquitoes swarmed my body attempting to deplete my blood supply but I prevailed and it turned out great!

I used nine completely different plants in hopes that surely they wouldn't ALL die. 

Now I just have to carefully water them all using a slow soak technique so that all the water doesn't drain out.  If and when I succeed, then I will thank my mom for this gift. 

The Tools Take Over

It's been three years since I installed this peg board in my garage and I finally decided I out grew it.

I bought two additional panels and a few more hooks.  The original one needed to come down so as to accommodate the two new ones.  And while I had it down, I figured "Why not spray paint it!"  Purple was not my first choice but I already had two cans so I just went with it. 

I played around with the layout in my living room, trying to make sure things were grouped in the most efficient way.  I also tried to paint shadows of the tools in contrasting pink but after 3, I gave up.  Painting on a pegboard with a tiny brush is not fun.

The finished install turned out perfect!  I even have room to grow!  With such a tiny garage, utilizing the wall space for storage helps me cram as much in as possible yet still have it be functional! 

Motivated by Company

It's amazing what the pressure of incoming company can motivate you to finish around your house.  This past weekend I had not one, but two visitors!  They were actually part of a number of visitors that came in town to celebrate one of our friends at a baby shower.  I've slowly been working on getting my guest room reorganized and painted but unfortunately that is still not done.  You'll have to stay tuned.  But I did get some minor electrical work done!

The ceiling fan light fixtures in my guest room and office were the same and they both got upgraded.  Here is what they looked like before.

With eight foot ceilings and a small square footage, there was no reason to have these lighting cans pointing in various directions.  They cast odd shadows around the room and really didn't do their job very well.  I swapped them both out with a single bulb simple dome light.

Obviously this is my office, but it's the exact same as the guest room.  This light works so much better although I'm still trying to find the perfect bulbs for each room.  I'm really having issues around the house coordinating the CFL bulbs...warm white v. bright white v. daylight.  Different rooms look better with different colors and it's been a bit of trial and error with whatever I've had on hand.

Because I was having two guests at the house, I converted the office into a guest bedroom for the weekend thanks to my new air mattress.

I bought it off Amazon for $45.  It's awesome!  It takes about 2 minutes to inflate itself after you plug it in.  Just set it and forget it!  I wasn't really paying attention when pulling out linens or it may have matched a little better.  That's a combo of a couple different bedding sets.

I love that it inflates to the size of a normal queen bed and I don't have to ask guests to sleep a mere 6 inches off the ground.  It was a great buy.  It also folds back into a bag for easy storage.  I also got the blackout shades installed in the guest room similar to the ones in my office.  More on that later.  After I finished those little tweaks to the rooms, I set out some fresh flowers and enjoyed a fabulous weekend with my friends.