Music

Do you guys remember this music sheet table I did a few months ago?  Well, it sold within 2 days of being at the shop, so I figured... lets do it again right!  If it works, why change it?

I started with this:

And ended with this:

A little paint and ModPodge can really work wonders.

JUMP out of the Water!

Last week we decided it was time for us to go visit daddy in San Diego.  I mean, why should he be the only one that gets to see the beach every week?  I ventured the dreaded airplane ride with a 2 year old... which went better then I expected and spent 4 days on a mini vacation with my family.  

On a side note, have you ever noticed how when you get on a plane with a two year old every one avoids you like the plague?!  You would think we had 3 heads and horrible B.O.!  The poor guy who got on the plane last was stuck with the one seat left.  Yep, the one right next to me:)  Sorry guy. 

Anyway, we spent a couple of days on the beach which is always so fun.  Luci chased the waves and the birds for hours.  I just love a kid in sunglasses, don't you!?

Just a girl enjoying the view, drinkin her sippy cup.

Then, we took a day and went to SeaWorld.  There were tons of animals to interact with and shows to see:

But we spent the majority of our time with the dolphins.  Luci thought they were AMAZING.  She still talks about how they splashed her with their tails and JUMPED out of the water!  

And, she got to touch one!  I practically had to rip her away from them.  

We finally convinced her to leave by buying her a toy dolphin, but as you can see from this picture she was not pleased with leaving them.  I think she would have spent the night there if we let her.

My Crazy Life

Being in this business is amazing.  Things are constantly changing which makes it SO much fun... but at the same time it is hard to keep up some days.  Since my space is changing on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis I thought I would update you all on what things are looking like as of late.  

I love this crazy life I live.  Sometimes I have to stop and thank God for all the opportunities He has provided.  How many people really get to do what they love??

It's not work when you love doing it.

A Splash of Coral

If you haven't noticed, I am trying to take The Dented Lampshade into a beachy direction.  I love coral and blue and have been pushing to get some fun, unique furniture in there to reflect that. This little table had some raw wood that really needed something.  A stain, a painting, just SOMETHING.

I decided to go with a white wash or dry brush on the body and then bring in the color on the doors.  It's shabby chic meats beachy.  I feel like I stepped out of the box with this piece but really love how it turned out.  The two styles combined so nicely!

Cheers.

Another Fork in the Road

Life has taken me on an amazing twist of events in the past few years.  I went from being an insurance agent to owning my very own tiny shop and working with an estate sale company. 

Well, once again the roller coaster has taken another crazy spin on me.  This one has some good and some bad.  You see, my AMAZING husband works hard.  I mean really hard.  He is the type of employee that you would kill for.  He is smart, kind, fair, and the kind of guy who rises to the top quickly.  People go to him for the answers, even if he's not the most experienced.  He works long hours and jumps through hoops because his work ethic is IMPECCABLE... I wish I could say the same for myself lol!

Well, his boss has put him on a project that is hard, possibly the hardest they have right now, and he is feeling the pressure. With this new responsibility comes travel.  He has always traveled, but for the past 2 months he has been gone Monday through Friday every week.  When this all started we thought it would only be for 4 to 6 weeks so I was willing to just grin and bear it.  I mean, how hard can it be to be a single mom working 2 jobs.... Right???  I put on my big girl pants and got down to business.  Drop Luci at day care, go to work, pick Luci up, feed her, wash her, put her to bed, work on the shop until all hours of the night, repeat.

Well, when we approached week 7 of this lifestyle we realized the 4 weeks really meant until this project is finished, which could be a while.  This is when I realized that being a single mom with 2 jobs just wasn't going to cut it any more.  I mean, I am pretty good at juggling but this was getting ridiculous.  So with a very heavy heart, I had to quit my job at Prestige Estate Services.  

I loved this job.  Don't get me wrong, there were things that were not so pleasant... like finding dead cats and horrible spiders but it was fun, and interesting, and my coworkers were amazing.  Unfortunately the reality is: my family, my sanity, and my shop come first, and I was teetering on the edge of sanity. 

With the expansion of my shop, I was actually making up the money we would be loosing, so really this just made sense.  So there you have it.  I am officially self employed!!!  AHHHHH, that is scary.  I hope my new boss will take it easy on me:)

But truth be told, I miss my hubby. 


P.S.  Today is the last day to vote for the Epic Room Makeover and I would be FOREVER grateful if you would hop on over and vote for my basement!  Just click on the picture below and vote for #22.  THANKS!

Hanging Chair

My latest creation.

All of my fellow "Barnies" (the other vendors at The Barn) have been SO supportive of my decision to expand.  My very sweet friend Beth saw my mad crazy dash to get enough stuff together to fill the space and took mercy on me.  She had a bunch of stuff hanging around in her garage that she had planned to re-do and she sold it to me for basically NOTHING.  THANK YOU BETH!  

She had this adorable chippy chair but the legs were all broken. I was going to try and repair them but it was SO not going to happen.  My very creative hubby suggested turning it into a hanging plant stand.  I thought it was BRILLIANT.

He is so creative isn't he!?

I know you guys are sick of hearing about it but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE it if you would vote again today.  All you have to do is click on the image below and vote for #22.  You can vote once a day until September 14th and I am trying to muster up as many votes as possible!

Be Loved

Hope you all have a lovely week:)

And in case you had a little extra time today, hop on over to Mandi's blog and vote for my basement #22.  Thanks again!!

VOTE VOTE VOTE:)

Just wanted to send you a quick reminder... I need votes:)  Go vote for #22, because Luci Rae needs a way cooler playroom in her basement!  You guys are the best.  You can vote once a day until September 14th... and I could use all the help I can get!

Just click on the image below and vote for #22:

MANDI, PLEASE HELP!!!

Dear Peeps,

I am writing you this letter as a huge PLEA for help.  Today is the day that voting begins for the epic room makeover that Mandi at Vintage Revivals is giving away.  I need YOUR help.  Seriously.  Let me remind you why:

My very sad chair/side table/printer table/guest room:

The crazy hole in the ceiling where speakers used to be, the random rugs everywhere hiding the missing carpet and the ceiling fan that no longer works... 

Oh, and don't forget the dog kennel/side table that ads a bit of class:

These sad antlers that need a home:

Oh, and poor Luci Rae's play room... This girl is WAY to creative and fun to have this as her playroom!

I'm sorry you had to see all of that, but sometimes the truth is ugly... and in this case VERY ugly.  I desperately need you all to hop over and VOTE VOTE VOTE for my room!  I am literally on my knees begging!

You can vote once a day from now until September 14th.  All you have to do is click on this picture:

And vote for me!!  My link is #22 and titled Epically Ugly and in Need of Mandiliciousness.  Plus, wouldn't you love to see the awesomeness Mandi would come up with???!!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
Sincerely,
Traci's horribly ugly basement

Random Hunks of Wood

I have been collecting random hunks of wood.  I wasn't really sure why to be honest.  There is just some part of me that hates to throw something away if I feel it might be useful.  Well, this is one time I was right.  I took these random hunks of wood/old table leaves:

And turned them into chalkboards and art:

See, those trees didn't have to die in vain.

Now everybody go hug a tree.

Beachy Bench

This whole forgetting to take a before picture thing is really getting out of hand.  You will just have to accept me for who I am I guess... A mushy brain.  

Ok, with that said, I did happen to find this picture and if you notice at the very top you can see the bench... sort of.  At least you can see the color of the wood before hand.  The top was a fake leather that had a big old rip in it.  We have had it forever.  The rip happened when my dog went nuts over a thunderstorm and jumped up on it.  Bad dog:)  

Well, we didn't have a place for it anymore and the fact is, it was dated.  SO, instead of tossing it out, I upcycled.  I wanted to go light and beachy.  You tell me, did I accomplish that? 

Not so dated anymore now is it!

And in case you are wondering what the heck I was going to do with that hunk of wood in the before picture, tune in on Wed. and I will show you:)