PITA Bookshelves are DONE-ZO!!!!!!!!!!

This whole bookshelf project has been a total PITA [pain-in-the-ass].  Seriously.  Like, I'm not AT ALL KIDDING.

Here's where we started . . . [and for some reason this is the blurriest picture in the whole world]

Our landlord [at work] owns a Christmas Shop that has gone out of business.  He was selling fixtures and I got the total "brain-i-ac" idea to buy these shelves, refinish them, prime them and paint them white for our living room. 

I figured . . . how hard could this be, right? 

Why do I continously do this to myself???!!!!  I always think a home improvement project is 500% simplier and will take about 5% of the time it ALWAYS ends up taking . . .

In future home improvements projects, I'll be better about documenting the progress.  The thought of documenting my progress crossed my mind several times during this project but, honestly, I was just too pissed throughout most of this to stop and take pictures since it took 4 . . . count it . . . 4 . . . weekends to finish these bad boys.  I guess I didn't want to re-live some of the memories  =)

Needless to say . . . I have a new respect for anyone who refinishes furniture.  I also don't see myself doing this again . . . EVER.

Why, do you ask, was it one of the most un-fun things ever??

I didn't count on 2 coats of primer being necessary . . . which, when I look back on, was pretty dumb of me . . . the back of the bookshelves was very DARK blue. . .

I also didn't get the hang of the sander right away . . . so when I was smoothing out the front bottom panel and front top panel, I actually made quite a divet on both shelves and on both panels.  It was SUPER noticiable.  I mean . . . we had valleys all over both shelves and both panels.  At least I was consistent and jacked up both shelves.  =)

Hubby suggested that we use some wood filler to even it back out.  Turns out . . . we needed A LOT of wood filler . . . so after a trip to Lowe's for more and several hours for it to dry . . . sanding re-commenced.  Wood filler worked like a charm.  Those wood filler people are freaking geniuses!!!!!!

We FINALLY were ready to paint . . . and this step, believe it or not, took a lot less time than I thought.  I thought we would be painting for a few hours and it was really only took about 45 minutes for both shelves.  SCORE!!!!  This usually NEVER happens in home-improvement-land so I was beyond THIRLLED!!!!!!

And the last insult to injury . . . just when we thought we were ready to put the actual shelves into the bookcases and start getting all of our crap up out of the floor before Biscuit chewed on all of it . . . we looked and realized that the small front side of the shelf [that would be visible when looking at the bookshelf] needed another coat of paint.  Son of a . . . .

So we painted, waited about an hour . . . and then were able to put up the shelves.  I guess looking at the bright side, at least we still had paint!!  =)  That would have been terrible to run out . . .   

So here are those bad boys . . . in all their semi-gloss glory . . . resting in their new home on either side of the fireplace . . . right side of the fireplace . . .

And left side of the fireplace . . .





Like I said, there was a lot more involved with these than I initially thought . . . but they are done!!! WAHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 And I can FINALLY park in the garage again.  =)  WAHOOO times 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All I've got left to do is to arrange everything on the shelves . . . I'm a little bit of a copy-cat . . . I like to look through the Pottery Barn magazines to see how they've got everything arranged on their bookshelves. . . then I use my non-Pottery-Barn accessories and do my best copy-catting.  I'll follow-up with a post once I've got it looking "Pottery-Barn-Esque"  =)

Christmas Open-House

I love Christmas and Christmas decorations!!!  =)  I'm still working on accumulating decorations . . . get a few more every year . . . but I wanted to give you a tour of what our casa looks like all decked out for Christmas.

So, come on in . . . just be careful not to step on the baby . . .

Here's our mantle . . . waiting for Santa . . . even got Santa's milk mug and cookie plate ready [just have to keep it out of Biscuit's reach]

And our living room Christmas tree . . . decked out mostly in ornaments from my childhood  =)

I love nativities . . . and so here's a close-up of one of the nativities I have sitting on our mantle.  



And the other nativity on our mantle . . . 

And the nativity on one of the bookshelves . . . [sidenote: post on bookshelves coming soon!!]

The Christmas tree in our dining room . . . "the fancy one" . . . with all purple and gold ornaments [It TOTALLY slipped my mind that these are LSU colors when I was accumulating the ornaments. . . so this is a total FAIL from a Bama fan standpoint.]

Our dining room table . . . 

Our kitchen nook . . . aka: where Ada eats  =)

We did not get around to the outside this year . . . but we have B-I-G plans for next year . . . so stay tuned!!  =)

I'll leave you with one more pic of Biscuit . . . just because she is so dang cute!!!  =)  This was at about 4:00AM on a weekday . . . Mommy and Daddy weren't exactly thrilled to be up, but Biscuit sure was!!  =)



Merry Christmas (a little early) from our home to yours . . .



Biscuit STANDS!!!!!

Biscuit STOOD UP ON HER OWN this morning . . .

I walked out of the living room, where she was playing on the floor, because I needed to get some socks to put on those cute little baby feet before she left with Daddy for school.  I came back into the living room and, lo and behold, I saw this . . .

I was THRILLED that I actually had my camera nearby and actually had the battery charged so that I could capture this "first" on film . . .

I'm so excited for her, but I don't know if I'm quite ready for this . . . I was just getting used to her "military crawling" . . .

Celebrating US!! =)

Harley and I just celebrated 4 years as "The Campbells" on December 1st . . . A lot has happened in 4 years . . . Just a random sampling . . .

2 houses                                                         
1 adopted outside kitty
2 new jobs (1 for each of us)                         
1 bathroom remodel
1 new baby                                                    
6 beach trips
1 new car                                                       
4 Cinco de Mayo Parties
6 different paint projects                               
1 bad haircut (Lynn)
8 states visited                                               
1 lawnmower (how is this thing still going?!?)
1 Bama National Championship                   
3 gas grills
5 weddings attended                                   
84 hosta


"What do you want to be married to me for anyhow?"
"So I can kiss you anytime I want."
~Sweet Home Alabama

Happy Anniversary Baby.  I love you. 

Halloween Part Deux

It's December . . . counting down to Santa . . . and what better to do that than to look at Halloween pics, right??  =)  Yup, I'm behind . . . forgive me . . . going to blame this on being too busy . . .

Without further ado . . . I give you Biscuit as Big Al . . . I'll narrate the photo-shoot for you . . .


Me:  Ada, look, its a pumpkin.  Can Daddy get your picture with the pumpkin?

Ada: Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba . . . [ignores Mommy's pleas and grabs pumpkin]

[Daddy, this is a pumpkin.  It is awesome.  Also, are you checking out these huge ears I've got on.  Why did Mommy do this to me??  Ah well, I'll smile.  She seems pretty into this whole Halloween costume.]



Ada: [You guys are still taking pictures?  Really??  Ok, but I'm going to need some nanners here soon.]

Ada: [Yay!!  I like this view so much more . . . and this pumpkin really helps me with the whole sitting-up-on-my-own thing I've been perfecting here lately . . . ]

Ada:  [I just saw the kitty!!!  And Mommy is over there too!!  And by the way . . . I wonder why I'm the only one around here dressed up like an elephant . . . ]

Ada:  [Daddy, I'm starting to get a little toasty . . . and I may have just made stinks . . . and I would really like it if you would let me hold the camera.]



Ada: Ummmm-BA!!!! [I told you guys . . . waiting for the BCS results is just stressing me out.  Can someone please get me some nanners???]



All this in a matter of about 50 seconds!!  =)

Stay tuned . . . Holiday open house with pics coming up!!!  =)

Racking up on Wrecks

So, to all of those of you that have attempted to keep score, add another tally mark to the wreck column.  I believe that brings the current tally to:

     Wrecks - 5; Avalon - 0

I'd like to preface all of this by saying, this was, again, not my fault.  Although it wasn't my fault, I'm starting to wonder where I picked up this bad car karma.  Seriously.

Let me fill you in . . .

1.  I am minding my own business, backing out of my driveway and BAM - hello, retaining wall.  Ok, this was definitely my fault, [boo-hiss] but the rest of these weren't . . .

2.  I am enjoying a beautiful Friday afternoon on my way home from work, [and out before 5:00 . . . yeah . . . didn't realize how fast I could go from winning to losing] yielding to on-coming traffic and waiting to turn right when BAM, re-ended.  She had insurance.  Car is repaired.  Life continues.

3.  I am beginning another work week on a dismal and cloudy Monday morning.  I'm stopped at a red light waiting for the signal to change and minding my own beeswax.  I happen to glance up and see major-moron coming at me, not braking at all, yapping on his cell phone and BAM, re-ended.  Again.  Seriously.  Throw in my first ambulance ride and you have wreck ^ 3.  Neck is ok.  He had insurance.  Car is repaired.  Life continues.

4.  Hubby and I have just endured the most boring parenthood-preparedness class from 8:00AM to 5:00PM on a SATURDAY.  Yes.  SATURDAY.  I am 7 months pregnant and starving [of course].  We are on our way to my parents house to chow down and visit with my sis and bro-in-law who are in town.  We slow down, see random-civic who needs a break, let them pass and wait for traffic.  Man-in-expensive-SUV is not paying attention and BAM, we are rear-ended and get pushed forward to hit random-civic.  Bummer.  So hungry and it is just sinking in that food will be delayed when B-A-M, we are hit AGAIN by Man-in-expensive-SUV who was hit by breaking-the-light-ginormous-truck and we are pushed back into random-civic.  Cue the tears.  I'm preggers and it occurs to me that food is even further away now that we are in a 4 car pile up.  Preggers and baby are ok.  Food is given to Preggers.  Car is repaired. Life continues.

5.  And to the present . . . again, minding my own beeswax, headed into the parking lot to pick up Biscuit from school when BAM, I am side-swiped by speeding black chevy truck about 75% of the way through my turn and then am hit on the hood and roof of my car with random flying mailbox.  Yes.  You read that right . . . random flying mailbox. Shoulder and wrist are both x-rayed and ok.  I opted out of the ambulance ride and just let the hubby take me.  Car is being repaired . . . and was surprisingly not totaled. 

Needless to say . . . I'm a little gun-shy about driving.  Let's just say that if you offer to come pick me up, I won't turn you down!   =)

Can anyone beat my # of wrecks??  Surely someone out that plays "bumper cars" as much as me, right?!?  =)

Low on the Priority List

I personally feel like the concept of having an elastic band wrapped around your entire head seems uncomfortable.  I don't want to make Biscuits uncomfortable on purpose . . . although sometimes I wonder where comfort is on her priority list.  I mean . . .

Example #1 - You should see how she sleeps!  She is on her tummy with her booty pointed up so high in the air that it is nearly at a 45 degree angle! 

Example #2 - When she is getting the ol' die-dee changed, she SLAMS her feet into the changing table.  A lot of times, her feet are hitting the sides of the changing table [which are wood].  I feel like that would hurt . . . but she just giggles and tries to roll over before I can get the die-dee fastened onto that tiny tooshie.

Example #3 - Nearly every time she gets a bottle, she runs her hands over her head and tugs at her tiny tufts of hair.  I know she is a busy little thing . . . and I think that just eating is too BORING, so she has to busy herself with another activity. 

So . . . case in point.  The baby bow.  Is this adorable OR cruel-and-unusual-punishment both in comfort and self-esteem??

Exhibit A



 Exhibit B



Exhibit C


Funny side note . . . she looks THRILLED in every pic with a headband!  =)  Silly Biscuit . . .

Playing Catch-up: Halloween Happenings

I'm behind on my holidays.  Biscuit actually wore a Thanksgiving outfit to school today and I'm just now posting Halloween pics.  Ah well . . . I'm going to go ahead and continue to use the "rookie parent" excuse along with the lack of sleep that daylight savings time has gifted me.  =)

Biscuit was Big Al [University of Alabama's mascot] for Halloween.  It has floppy ears.  It has a trunk that serves as a snapped-on, not-going-anywhere chew toy.  It is soft and fuzzy.  Basically, it's the cutest thing ever.  There is a slight chance I'm biased. . . so, you be the judge . . .

Also, Auntie Denise sent a few fall inspired outfits in care packages . . . so here is the little model herself . . .

Weekend Outcome

Although not as ambitious as I set out to be, we did have an extremely productive and pleasant weekend.  Here's how we measured up:           

1. Put the baby swing in the attic [Biscuit has figured out how to grab the support sides of the swing and stop the seat from actually swinging, thus making the swing pointless.] UPDATE:  The fussiness that reared its ugly head Sat morning was calmed by a nap in the swing.  Go Figure.  Looks like the trusty and dependable friend I have in the baby swing is sticking around . . . so, baby swing, continue to make yourself at home in my living room.  =)
2. Put loveseat in the kitchen back out onto to deck.
3. Clean kitchen floor/Vacuum rug in kitchen
4. Continue teaching Tom that his food is now in the dining room [out of reach from Biscuit]
5. Fold/Put away laundry
6. Put away fall/Halloween decorations
7. Finish baby-proofing kitchen cabinets/Install cabinet safety hardware Being the de-clutterer that I am, I threw away said instructions . . . so searching for a downloadable version this morning . . .   =)
8. Clean the Master bathroom
9. Watch the AL/Miss State game [and watch Harley grill]

10. Set up food/water/litter box for Lil Debbie in the garage [starting to get cold out - and she sleeps in the garage when its too cold out]

11. Sand the new shelves [more details to come!!]   Apparently there is an adapter that we need to attach the sandpaper.  Said adapter was missing.  Hubby went to Lowe's to buy said adapter and glued it back on . . . must wait for it to cure . . . so, sanding this weekend = FAIL
12. Dye my hair I chose the bubble bath and early bed time . . . so my roots still look scandalous this morning

13.  Took 2.5 hour nap on Saturday

14.  Played dinosaur magnets [Thanks Nanny - they taste good too!!]

15.  Took cute cheerleader pics of Biscuit [Here we go Brownies, Here we go!  Woof Woof!!  Thanks for the adorable outfit Aunt Karen!!]

16.  Introduced Biscuit to Minnie Mouse - instant BFFs

Hope you had a productive and enjoyable weekend too!! Happy Monday Everybody!!  Hope you are having a terrific start to your week!!  =)

Ambitious To-Do List

I've got an ambitious to-do list for this weekend . . . which is funny because on Monday I swore that I was doing nothing this weekend since we actually do not have anything planned.  Funny how the productive/task-oriented side of my brain takes over the couch potato side!!  =)

Here's the list . . . I'll let you know how much of this actually pans out  =)
[Sidenote . . . some items are very little items . . . I like to be able to cross stuff off of the list so building in a couple "little items" makes me feel more productive . . . and Harley is not aware that this list exists .  . yet . . . ]

1. Put the baby swing in the attic [Biscuit has figured out how to grab the support sides of the swing and stop the seat from actually swinging, thus making the swing pointless.]
2. Put loveseat in the kitchen back out onto to deck.
3. Clean kitchen floor/Vacuum rug in kitchen
4. Continue teaching Tom that his food is now in the dining room [out of reach from Biscuit]
5. Fold/Put away laundry
6. Put away fall/Halloween decorations
7. Finish baby-proofing kitchen cabinets/Install cabinet safety hardware
8. Clean the Master bathroom
9. Watch the AL/Miss State game [and watch Harley grill]
10. Set up food/water/litter box for Lil Debbie in the garage [starting to get cold out - and she sleeps in the garage when its too cold out]
11. Sand the new shelves [more details to come!!]
12. Dye my hair

So, like I said, I've got my work cut out for me!!  =)  My personal favorite is #9 . . . I should be able to get this one done!!

How many do you think I can knock out??

Currently Obsessed With . . . .

. . . Anne Hathaway's hair in "Love and Other Drugs" . . . [definitely the best part of the movie]

. . . Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha . . . [I wait all year for it - and its totally worth it!]

. . . Built-In Bookshelves . . . [I've got plans for you, living room!!]

. . . Live garland to decorate my house/porch for Christmas . . . [very Courier & Ives]



My Laundry Lair

I do A LOT of laundry = A LOT of time loading, unloading, sorting, folding, fluffing . . . you get the picture, right? :) So, in order to enjoy this whole process more, I had a lightning bolt strike my brain - I'll decorate my "Laundry Lair"in a fantastic, cheery, unique, girly way!!

Watching all of the HGTV shows and listening to advice from Decorators or Realtors, everyone is always saying to "maintain a neutral color palette". I get it - and I agree - about 95% of the time. I say that though . . . because I'm pursuing a very non-neutral, very personal-choice for my "Laundry Lair". . . Let me lay it all out for you . . .

Le Inspiration:

I love love love Marilyn Monroe. Always have. Even when I was little and there was a magazine article about her in either Ladies' Home Journal or People, I would pick it up and my mom would always toss it in the cart. Ms Monroe fascinates me. I have always wanted to decorate a room and pay homage to my fav classic movie star - and now I have the perfect place to do this - "My Laundry Lair"

Le Wall Color:

Here is the color I've eyed. [On a side note, I know Benjamin Moore is expensive, but BM and I go way back. After a terrible experience with another paint, BM came through for me and has NEVER, EVER even THOUGHT to make me apply more than 1 COAT . . . and so because of this, I'm hooked. BM - you are worth every penny for the very over-priced gallon!!]

Le Wall Decor:

I'm sure that everyone has seen Marilyn prints when wandering through Old Time Pottery, Kirkland's, Pier One, Target, etc. I'm going to pick up a few . . . here are a couple of my all-time-favorites I'm going to try to hunt down . . .Ballerina Pics . . . The Ambassador Hotel . . . Thoughtfulness . . .

Le Lighting:

There is a cheap-o light on the ceiling in there right now . . . It works, but is ain't pretty.  To keep with the theme of cheery and girly, I'm actually thinking about a DIY light project . . . I've seen where these creative people go and buy a second-hand light and transform it into a unique piece with spray paint.  I freakin' LOVE spray paint . . . so I'm thinking that I should try this.  I'm thinking about maybe a bright purple light fixture . . . I'll keep you posted!  :)


Anybody else deck out a "Laundry Lair"?

Crazy Clocks

I have a clock in every single room of my house.  Seriously.  Even the garage.  I like knowing what time it is. 

Biscuit does not share a love of clocks like me.  In fact, I'm nearly positive that when we got her out of the crib Sunday morning, she looked at the little pink and white stripe clock on her dresser and gave it the raspberries. 

So . . . bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we were up at 4:10AM . . . chewing on keys and chugging coffee as fast as possible. 

But . . . I do need to give credit where credit is due.  She may be catching onto my love of clocks.  She bumped back her morning giggles this morning to 4:50AM.  :) 

Silly mommy . . . you should have known that Biscuits don't do Daylight Savings time.