My dream house

I've always wanted to live in an older house and fix it up. I know it is a lot of extra work and money and stuff, so my real estate guru suggested I just build a new house to look like an old one...GENIUS RIGHT??
So hubby and I were watching that cute movie Marley and Me and saw the house of our dreams

I love charming houses. This one would be nice too:

Alsop Hall

Bradbourne Hall

 

Catton Hall

 

Fenney Bentley Old Hall

This is probably my FAVORITE:

Harlington Hall

Kings Newton Hall

 

Norbury Hall

I found these while I was browsing Pride and Prejudice Cottages. It is my dream to live in one of these houses or to build one of my own.

Where would you want to live?

Secrets of the dirt room....

Last night we were all curled up by the fire drinking hot chocolate when Julie says to us, "let's go look at old stuff in the dirt room". We bring a box of her dead grandpa's stuff up and start going through it. This is what we found:

See he used to sell for Norcrest fine China and left his kids all his extras when he died. Here's what I chose to keep:

how adorable are these Mr. and Mrs. salt and pepper shakers??

and an authentic oil wick lamp. I had to keep it because there's no way my kids would ever know what these used to look like in real life!

Tyler of course kept this:

it's probably grumpy...

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!
Ok, Grosgrain is my new favorite dress designer!! She has all these incredible designs that I love!!!

FRUSTRATION

Today has been one of those frustrating sewing days. It's 10:24 and I'm still not done with a skirt that should have taken 2 hours. bleh. I guess it's what you get for experimenting and making your own pattern, but still!!!
I just needed to vent out all the problems I was having:
1) the darts are puckering
2) not tight enough around my legs (otherwise it's not a pencil skirt)
3) fabric is fraying ALL OVER THE PLACE. I wish I had a picture of the string mess all over the carpet and my clothes, especially my black socks.

Oh well. I will pick it up another day and fix it. I just have the mind set to finish the projects I start the day I start them. I hate walking away from a project because I'm nervous I won't get to it again. Even though the fabric was cheap, I've spent like 4 hours on this stupid thing. Ever heard of escalation of commitment? It's the concept that people will continue to follow a course even if it isn't the best one because of all the effort/cost/time that person has invested in the project. I think I suffer from this MAJORLY!! I would be much more productive if I just put it away when I'm struggling and then come back.
I am proud of myself though because I did take a donut break because man was I craving a sprinkle donut:)

On a more happy note, let's see some cute pencil skirts...

 

 J Crew

 

Banana Republic

 

 

 

Forever 21

That's what my gorgeous fabric is supposed to transform into. I guess I'm just too impatient!!!

http://kenziepoo.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway-holiday-gift-package.html

This is what I want from the giveaway!!!

Also, look how cute this mobile is!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

We enjoyed TWO Thanksgivings!!! It was awesome:) Our cousin posted about how she picked the table decorations on her blog here

Mod Podge Obsession

I have been following this great blog called Mod Podge Rocks. You may remember my first attempt at decopaging from this post here. Well, I've been at it again!!

 

I got these as a gift from my friend who I was helping move. They were cream craft boards and as soon as I saw them I knew what to do with them!! The first one was for my kitchen to coordinate my burnt orange bookshelf and also my rugs, the second was for my younger sister's dorm room:)

Thank you Mod Podge for your inspiration and craftiness!!!

(sorry for the bad picture quality...our basement apt doesn't have the best lighting:))