Twirl and Take A Bow Linky Party

Making lists makes me happy. Please, tell me that I am not the only one?!?

My hubby might say that I am a control freak…and I might not disagree.

I love being able to cross items off when they are finished. I have even been known to write things on the list after I've done them just so I could cross it off.

So in order to wrap my head around all 125 wonderful links we had last week and pick a few to feature…I made a list of categories.

But first, the lovely and talented co-hosts...

~Leslie from House on the Way~

~Karin from Art is Beauty~

~Brooke from Designed by BH~

~Tammy from Deja Vue Designs~

~Robin from All Things Heart and Home~

~Trina from A Few Miner Adjustments~

“Hey You Guys”… A Halloween Mantel

Who doesn’t love jewels?

Whether it be jewels to wear on your neck and ears or jewels to hide in your pocket, from the Fratelli’s, in order to save your house…jewels are amazing.

~It's a Whole New Party!~

Add Your Link ~ It Shows Up On 6 Blogs~

I'm so excited to announce that I'm a new co-host at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party! I have teamed up with five other terrific bloggers to bring you an amazing party! 

The best part is that when you add your link below, it will show up on a 6 different blogs. That means more exposure for you and a better party for everyone!

The Three Amighosts….

Growing up was a lot of fun for me. I had these 2 girl-friends. We have known each other our entire lives. 

We all only lived about 2 blocks from each other and way back then....we were inseparable.

The corner of Prichard and Cayuta Ave was right in the middle of our houses. Each of us came from a different direction so of course, that is where we would meet to walk to school together.

Guest Post from Black and White Obsession

I am so excited today! I invited Trisha, from Black and White Obsession, over for some lemonade and she said yes. Not only did she say yes, but she brought her own furniture! 

I really wish that it was still warm out, so I could make a few Miner adjustments to some of my outdoor furniture now. Instead though, please pull up a "bench" and get ready to be inspired.  Oh, and if you would like a spooky idea for a Halloween costume check out her Lego Man.

Thanks, Trisha for hanging out today!

Breathing New Life into a Dingy and Faded Patio Bench

Hi! I’m Trisha D. from Black and White Obsession where I blog about remodeling our smelly 100+ year home, random DIY projects and the occasional life story here and there. 

Trina graciously invited me to trade blogs since she showed off her ahead of the curve Christmas Planning. And today I’m here to talk about salvaging a bench which was previously destined for garbage day.





Enter exhibit A:

If you could peel your eyes away from its disgusting presence you may have noticed some tile saw residue, lots of scratches and dents, and some good ‘ol garden dirt. Nothing a little spray paint and power washing soapy and water couldn't fix.

After cleaning every square inch, it was time to let it catch a few rays (aka sundry) while I gathered a few supplies: spray paint and an old cardboard box.

Since our outdoor color scheme is Peacock Teal what I like to call the color and Lime Green, I chose Rust-Oleum’s Ultra Cover 2x’s in the gorgeous Satin Lagoon. Since the bench lives outside, I also picked up a can of Clear Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover 2X Satin Clear (the same finish as the colored spray paint) to protect it from fading.  I cannot rave enough about this paint, it really covers 2x’s he surface area, dries quickly and can be used on a wide variety of surfaces and I’m not even paid to say that (Rustoleum call me, I love you)!!

Box Photo Source

I’m sure if you’ve ever read anything about spray painting anything, everyone will tell you thin and even coats. I’m not here to tell you any different. Just hang in there with each coat because it will look gorgeous in no time.

Check your can for time between applications which is usually very short. With this piece, by the time I was done lightly misting, I barely had time to go inside and fetch a glass of lemonade (it was a warm summer day). Just don’t wait too long- like my wandering tendencies, because then you may have to wait a full 24 hours for the next application.

When you’re all done with the top and allow the paint to fully dry, I could only stand a couple hours, flip it over and finish the underside.

When you’re finished, it should look like a whole new bench:

For more photos and a lot more blabbering, feel free to stop by and check out the original bench transformation.

I hope you enjoyed this quick update. 

Thank you, Trina, for having me!

An Experiment in Silence

Yesterday when I woke up I decided to do a little experiment. 

All of my boys were awake and downstairs, so I got ready for the day. Then I wrote a note for my family that said…

“Today I am doing an experiment in silence.

I will answer any questions that are asked.

That’s it.”

I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately. 

I've been working on minimizing the clutter in my life…not just the physical clutter, but the psychological clutter too.

This post from becomingminimalist.com sang to me the other day and it was just the push I needed to try this.