This time last year

 Not a blog about furniture, but something so much more exciting......

This time last year I was sitting in a hospital bed waiting, and waiting, and then waiting some more. I had gone to the doctor around the 20th of June, 6 months pregnant, for my monthly check up. I was told that I had super high blood pressure and advised to go over to the hospital right away....just to get looked at a little better. I was there with my (then) 4 year old daughter, and was told to maybe have someone come to get her just because I could be there for the day. 

On our walk over to the hospital, I called my husband to have him come, it seemed that only I knew how serious this was. I had just the weekend before watched the episode of a million kids and counting ;-) and saw that she had to have her baby so early because of her blood pressure. I was super frightened. 

We were left with so many unanswered questions.....everyday! I never knew I long I would be there, and nobody could seem to figure out why my blood pressure was so high, and why they couldn't get it down. The head of the NICU came to discuss with me the possible medical issues I might come across if my daughter would be born then, I was 28 weeks gestation. 

I was there 2 weeks before they told me that I would be living there indefinitely, until the day came to deliver. I was on COMPLETE bed rest with 24 hour monitoring.....it SUCKED!!!

Through this time,  my husband was opening up a business, it was summer time, and he had 2 kids to take care of now on his own! (He did fantastic)

Long story short.....after almost a month in the hospital......Gabriella Reese was born!

She was a WHOPPING 2lb.11oz.

she looked like a baby monkey
I know, sounds mean, but she was a cute baby monkey haha

the smallest hand I had ever held

looked so peaceful

not the best picture of me, but this post is about her lol!

Gabriella continued to thrive and was just a miracle! She came home a month later, thanks to the fantastic nurses! She was 4 pounds when she came home

my little cross eyed girl

anyway, almost one year later.....

that hands not so little anymore!

that's some expression, huh?

Gabriella is now almost 18 pounds! Starting to walk, and you would never know how the start of her precious little life was so rough! I'm very blessed and she is the sunshine in my life! Today I am starting to plan her 1st birthday party!!

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Pretty or Practical??

I found this chair Friday on Craigslist.....for FREE!!

I LOVE THE SHAPE OF THIS CHAIR!

 Of course, only I could see the fantastic potential with this piece, but I was SO excited about it!
Originally I planned to re-stain the wood about the same color, so I began sanding off the old.
There was either years of nastiness build up, or years of wax build up and it was a TASK  to remove the old stain! I ended up using a mouse sander and fell in love with the colors of the wood, and the look of it with some of the stain left in the grooves. It reminded me of beautiful, worn leather!
So, I got Minwax polycrylic gloss clear coat (which I chose because I needed it for another project) and it just brought out the beauty even more :-)

And this is what the end result is....

I LOVE THE COLOR! DID I SAY THAT ALREADY??

I re-did this chair with full intentions on selling it, but I just think it's too cute!
I know, 3 kids and 2 dogs....white???
So it pretty, but not practical!

AGAIN....BEFORE AND AFTER

Oh, and I whipped together a matching pillow
doesn't fit the chair, but looks great on the couch!

Friday while on my search, I also found this great trunk for $10!
I plan to turn it into a table or a cute trunk for the end of the bed :)

If you have any ideas for this, leave me comment!

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NOT YOUR GRANDPA'S CHAIR

before...beautiful gold fabric

When I was asked if I would be able to reupholster this chair it was described to me as "a grandpa chair." As soon as I saw it, I was so excited to have the opportunity to make it look like a fabulous "modern" chair! I thought that it would be great to take away the pillow back and make it a smooth back and also, instead of having a separate cushion seat, to make it all one piece. I love the shape of this chair and would love to find something like this for my house!

When the fabric was brought to me I had to chuckle....I had a swatch of it in my purse for some of my chairs! I replaced the cushions and put all new padding on it and painted it with a satin finish Valspar black paint.

I have to say that this is my proudest work to date!

AFTER

I HAVE BETTER PICTURES THAT I WILL POST TONIGHT
BUT COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE REVEAL!

A big thanks to Kerrie for allowing me to give this beauty new life!

Linking up:

 Best DIY Projects of 2011 Contest

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SOMETHING TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY {a desk makeover}

AFTER

Since I began this desk, my ideas of colors and looks have changes a million times! Well I finally decided I needed a little sunshine! The original pulls don't match anymore, so I am in search of the perfect pulls. The drawer front are made from fabric that I Mod Podged to the drawers, I think it adds personality :-)! I still need to put a coat of Polycrylic on the desk to give it a beautiful glossy look.....but I thought it was finally ready for a preview! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think or if you have an idea for drawer pulls!

BEFORE

To see some of the steps of this makeover click HERE

sorry that I forgot to take pictures once I started to sand :-(

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A quick look at my first chairs...a before & after

free find crying out for a new look......or the trash

So I saved the chairs and gave them a makeover!

(to see the process click here)

BEFORE

AFTER

(almost finished)

I can't wait to post some more before and afters. I've been working all weekend on a desk and finally have started painting it. Hopefully will be able to reveal tomorrow!

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what I'm working on today......

I got this desk for $20 off of Craigslist a few weeks ago and I seem to be able to work on it only about 20 minutes here and there. 

(not bad for 20 bucks)

I started stripping the (hideous faux marble) paint off of the top and knew I wanted to stain it right away instead of painting it.

(the spindle like wood trim was the worst part!)

Then I sanded the top and the back (because I'm impatient and needed to see what it would look like before I stripped the rest)

SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT FAKE MARBLE TOP....DON'T YA THINK??

Today I started stripping the paint off of the drawers and the rest of the desk. I began to sand them and hopefully I will have them all sanded and prepared to start finishing them by the end of the day!

I plan to stain the top with a dark stain (haven't picked it out yet)

and the desk with a shade of sweet potato orange and the trim is a nice cream color.

I'm going to look for some new drawer pulls also....maybe I could find some cool vintage ones :-)

I'LL UPDATE YOU AS I GO!!

PICS TO COME SOON

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!

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collection of past projects

Hand crochet diaper cover

fun crochet hats

Burp cloths

TUTU'S

1st Halloween! Ghost :-)

baby leg warmers

crochet baby leg warmers

(socks made into baby leg warmers)

Paintings

(A painting I saw on The Nate Show and HAD  to do!)

my son wanted a Harley Davidson room!

 Tag blankies and blankets

 Easter Pillowcase Dresses

(excited to make the girls coordinating dresses!)

Linking up:

Family Ever After

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