2.28.2012

Master bedroom update.

Lately I have been wondering about the energy of our home and what I can do to improve it. I have a few Feng Shui books that I dug into this morning. It was determined that we had bad energy in our master bedroom which is unacceptable. That is where you need to have positive energy flow. 


One thing I cannot change is the ceiling fan that is supposed to be chopping our energy up. We just installed it this summer for air flow. 


We don't have mirrors in the bedroom. Something I just discovered. This is good for a bedroom because you want the energy to move slowly not bounce around and that is what a mirror does. I learned that the bathroom door needs to stay closed and our bed wasn't placed properly. I have always wanted to change the layout but just couldn't get myself motivated to move it around. 


I read that you should have full vision of the entire room from your bed. 

Old arrangment- fail. Our backs were to the entry.
New arrangement - pass. We can see all!

Your bed should be as far away from the door as possible. 

Old arrangment- fail. It was right next to the door. Oops.
New arrangement - pass. Now in far left corner and door in front right. 




It's good practice to have plants to round out the sharp angles from dresser and chest. You should also have three or five in the master. We have three real plants (all animal friendly). 


See the large palm next to the dresser? I was recently able to get it replaced. My animals LOVE to eat the plants in my house. The grass outside is not enough. So with Home Depots wonderful customer service I learned that if a plant dies within the first year of owning it you can return it and get a new one. Just save your receipt and the planter box it came in! Added bonus - it doesn't have to be the same plant. I opted for the same because I like the height it gave. I don't plan on making this an annual activity but since I am just learning I took advantage of the opportunity!





What have I decorated this room with?
Starting from the top:

  • Ceiling fan from Home Depot
  • Vase=gift. Flowers in it? Dried valentines flowers from our first v-day in 2006!
  • Canvas engagement photo- shutterfly
  • Vase = goodwill find. Flowers in it? From a cute little store in McCloud, CA last July.
  • Our "for decoration only" marriage license and frames from Michaels and JoAnns. 
  • Duvet and shams Pottery Barn's Organic collection on sale last March.
  • Red pillow - BBB
  • Blue blanket - Ikea, has a matching pillow case somewhere...
  • Bedside light - originally from Ikea I got it at Goodwill for a dolla - HOLLA!
  • Rocking chair - belonged to hubby's great grandma.
  • Night stand. I recently inherited this from my grandparents. It was a yellow wood with some old handles. Some sanding, antique white spray paint and new knobs later it matches the dresser.
  • Love Chest from my mom
  • Dog beds on sale from Petco
  • Dogs from OFOSA ;)
Other side of the room

  • All our wedding cards strung with miscellaneous ribbon.
  • Words from Kohls on sale
  • Miscellaneous accesries from Ikea, Home Goods, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Marshalls and JoAnns.
  • Teal futon chair from Ikea. 
  • Plant and pot from Home Depot.

I hope this new energy flow will improve our sleep and relationship! Maybe Delilah will start listening? Wish us luck!

2.27.2012

Paint!

Its amazing how accomplishing one project gets the ball rolling on others you haven't had the motivation to do.

I had monday off for Presidents day. For the longest time I had this OOPS paint from Home Depot and hadn't decided where to put it. Its a very light yellowish white color. In a spur of the moment decision it was determined to go in the office. I felt the beige caused the place where we spend many hours to be dingy.

The paint was Gidden interior. Official disclosure - I hated it. This may have been the reason it was oops paint because it was runny and took me 5 hours to paint a small room. The color is fine but applying the paint was the worst experience ever. It seriously felt like water coloring.

Left new color right old.

Yes, I used painters tape!
I think its a happier color. Now, for some artwork!

In sunlight ohh-ahh

2.24.2012

YHL

Its official. I can die happy. I met my idols John and Sherry Petersik of YHL.


Me, Tam, Sherry and John
Notice our DIY crafts on the table for them to sign. It was a truly surreal experience as I have been following them for about two years now.I don't feel like a creepy blog stalker now that we have been formally introduced!


Now where do you put a signed picture of bloggers? Currently it is on a trial run in my cubicle at work but I feel a little awkward about it. Maybe I will scrapbook it and take it out for sale when its worth millions. Bahaha...




Update:
From the Garden Show site

2.23.2012

Corvallis

The home of the enemy.

And my sister now.

This weekend my mom and I hit up 8- EIGHT- Oregon counties in less than 8 hours. Ikea to Corvallis one afternoon. Dad was only cool enough to come along for 7.

Any way my sister needed her bed and my desk so we performed a delivery

View from sis's place
Yes that is the truck and a horse trailer in the city delivering the mattress
Delivery parents
"Dont mess with me"
"HI"
Cool swirl
Lilah found a stick
My dogs are kinda cute

2.22.2012

Craft time

In honor of YHL coming to PDX my dear friend TamTam and I wanted to do an art project for them to sign. We himmed and hawwed at the possibilities of what DIY craft we could accomplish on a monday after work. We were going to make a chevron painting or some food color art, but then I brilliantly thought of the idea that OBVIOUSLY we were going to take a picture of our HEREOS. Or as I truly refer to them in real life "My People". So if you take a picture you need a frame correct?


*Light bulb*


Tam had already created her frame the day before and I decided to copy her idea. We went to JoAnns where they were having a 50% off deal on picture frames. Brand new 5x7 for 4 bucks? Sold. Got a mat for the back and brought them home. 


Tam is an excellent antiquer so she had already scouted some amazing antique wall paper for other purposes. I cut it out about a half inch from the edge of the frame so it could wrap all the way around to the back and front. Then modge podged the frame and attached the paper. Insert Jeopardy waiting music here. 


Ta-da! 


We are thinking that hopefully they will sign the matting with something like


"Alisha and Tam, we really need interns to live with us, want to move to Richmond?"


Heck yea man!


 But truly I am going to be so honored to meet these inspirational people who have taught me so much and influenced my decorating capabilities.



2.20.2012

Pinterest food completions

I am one of the many Pinterest obsessed individuals out there. Not to mention I drool over the food pictures on there. Lately I have taken on two mouthwatering recipes.

Sticky buns. Look good. I was sad that they aren't from scratch. Pre packaged biscuits, syrup, cinnamon and brown sugar is all you need.
http://stamps4fun.blogspot.com/2011/10/traditions.html/
Mine

Then I made lasagna

Cooked noodles

Fresh onion

Italian sausage

Pressed garlic
All together in a sauce

Ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan
 Yummy Lasagna. On our first date to the Old Spaghetti Factory for Freshman homecoming hubby ordered "lasaGna" for years I thought he didn't know how to pronounce it right.

As a side I had to try the Hasselback bread.
http://pinterest.com/pin/73746512617969868/
Mine
 I used smoked Gouda. Delicious!
 As this recipe was from scratch I was much happier with it and will most likely make it again. I am a sucker for anything garlicy.


2.18.2012

365 Days

Is how long our little family has been living in this beautiful home!

Dweet loves moving strictly for the use of boxes

Bye bye apartment living!
So many things have happened this years. From changing the front door hardware on move in day, to new fridge, washer and dryer and tearing down the view blocking wall.

All within the first seven days!

Then we painted our master bedroom. I had the hardest time picking a color and hubby isn't any help. I ask "do you like this color?" he grunts "yeah" so it's all on me. I had a few swatches picked out but hadn't settled yet. I saw a commercial for 50% off and immediately went and randomly picked Sherin Williams Spa. It's a little bright but I like it. I guilted hubby to help paint! Yay for teamwork. I will eventually paint the bathroom the same color but a waiting for the new cabinet instillation.
Staged


New mattress. 
New blinds in the master.



Replaced the brass light fixtures for more "us" lights from ikea and home depot.

Mom and I painted the trim of the house.



Hubby and his dad built the beautiful entertainment enter. The house came with one that we weren't particularly fond of. To be honest it was gone the first night too. The bonus was that it has a mini fridge spot. Necessary 5 feet from the normal sized fridge of course.
Staged house, notice the bar to the right. Gorgeous right?
So we lived with this for a few months.



TOP
Bottom
Added a gallery of where we have been.


When the end of summer rolled around we got a leak. Its the weirdest thing and only drips when its NOT raining...Luckily for us Oregon has more rainy days than not. Sadly its coming out of our hood over the stove and its really weird. Who has leaks when its sunny? These people do.

When we moved in we noticed the lawn border was upside down, so hubs and I turned them over.

We tried to complete the rock to lawn makeover. Again still in progress.

Not to mention adopting two dogs! Whew. I hadn't realized all we accomplished this year. Can't wait to see what the future brings!

Mandatory end of post animal pics!!
Lilah's new and hopefully last splint!!


Dweet studying hard for mid-terms
Sharing is caring
Caught red handed! Making a mess

Delilah has taken over Dude's bed