Momma's Old Lamps: Make Over

So sorry for the delay... Christmas was a whirlwind, but wonderful. So excited to accomplish more projects this year. :) Here are my first two lamp projects. 

Lamps are fun because they are a super easy presto-chango! A little spray paint and a new shade can bring your lamp zooming out of the 70's and into 2013. 

After having a yard sale back in October with my mom and sister, my mom was left with these beauties. 

No one wanted them, so I decided to see if I could give them some new life. :) Starting with the brass one, I whipped out my favorite Rustoleum "Kona Brown" and went to town. Now I would normally spray paint a lamp, but in this case I had the brown left from the Vanity Victory so I just brushed it on. Bought a $14 lampshade from Meijer and viola! It is in my family room and I get so many compliments on it now! 

So it was on to the "pretty" porcelain lamp, with the brown seventies flowers. 

Not my style... 

I noticed that it had some flat surface areas and I had recently discovered the joys of chalkboard SPRAY paint... yes SPRAY paint! How fun is that!!

I had been looking for a way to jazz up my new office, so I thought- that would be a great way to jot notes to myself when and add some warm lighting to the fluorescents we have now.  

Then I bought a $10 white canvas lampshade from World Market and decided to try my hand at painting it. the night I had time, I realized I didn't have painters tape. Because of my impatience I decided to paint it anyway. So... its not perfect, but its fun. In the wall close by is the painting I did at Pinot's Palette a few weeks ago. Together they jazz up the office. :)

  

Project in Short:

- Two free lamps from Momma

- Two lamp shades: $24

- Chalkboard Spray Paint and leftover paint $8

Total for two lover-ly lamps with new life! : $34 

Pondering Paper...

Today I am pondering paper. To go or not to go back to a paper planner for 2013?? BLASPHEMY!!.. I know, right? I mean I of all people will tell you how I CANNOT live without my iphone and the beauty of  amazing apps!! SIDE NOTE: One that you need this time of year is Better Christmas List.  Keeps me on track with WHAT, HOW MUCH and WHERE this time of year. :) And I have been using a blackberry or iphone for my calendar since 2005!! But between changing jobs and changing devices... I have missed some appts., duplicated items and basically just gotten fed up with my digital calendars. Seems I am not the only one....The Washington Post featured this article in December of last year...

Gadgets got your schedule scattered? Maybe it’s time to go back to paper.

Sometimes my heart just longs for this...

Ah yes, the old school planner. Nothing like the day you get your new planner and new pack of markers. HEAVEN!

So... just to explain what has brought on this agony- and what has pushed me over the edge is this...
My work computer is ALWAYS a virtual desktop. The home base is somewhere in IN or OH and all I know is that I cannot sync any other calendars with my desktop Outlook. Now, I can hear you techies already... "but it all integrates fine on your iphone!" Ah- so true. But...
1. It is not convenient to look at my phone when setting up a work meeting that may or may not overlap with something personal.
2. There is no way to "blow up" the screen on my iphone to see a lovely months view with all of my calendars in one place. I NEED this.
3. Finally, I think it will just help me to feel grounded.

I will keep you posted on how this goes and if it lasts!

***As I was writing this I heard the news about the school shooting in Connecticut. Just sicking and scary- how do parents ever send their kids to school. Scares me to death and the fact that my husband is an administrator in a high school where I know everyday he would risk his life to save a child... ugh. Why does it have to be this way??

Blessings to all of you.
Julie

UPDATE 12/17/2012....
Thanks to my sister I found this website and I may or may not have just SQUEALED with excitement. :) I am getting this planer and doing it up AHS style! WHOOP WHOOP... I'll update again when it's here!! And here is someone who make me feel like I am not alone! http://www.erincondren.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=1156&products_id=3499

UPDATE 1/14/2013...
It's here, I've used it.. and here's the scoop...PLEASING PLANNER.

A Cozy "Come on In"

One room that was important to me to update ASAP was our Front Room (Living Room, Sitting Room... whatever you may say it to be) We now call it the "Green Room" :) Whatever you call it it was the first space guests see when they enter our house.
I had tried to hang pictures and add curtains for color, but it just DID NOT feel cozy. I know a rug would bring warmth, but my hubby loves the floors and begged me not to cover them. Plus, we love to sit in this space on Sunday mornings while the kiddos race cars across the floor. (Team Torzewski time)
Adding color helped me to feel more at home and in my opinion added a LOT of warmth to the room. Here are some panoramic views... Don't mind the hubby eye candy! ;)

This is just after I painted, so there are many more fun projects to come before this room is complete. However, just the color did wonders for me loving the space. It also inspired me to extend some coziness into the foyer, which was completely PLAIN- except the lovely lighting fixture -ack! This will change soon enough- promise!

So, as far as the tree goes I was inspired by a branch with some hooks on Pinterest...

I sell Vinyl just like this, but when I had left over chocolate paint from another project (Firing Up the Fireplace- coming soon) I just decided to go for it and paint this tree free handed.

After stepping back, I felt like it needed more branches...

Finally finished...

Here is how it looks from the "Green Room"... I love the contrast. (again- don't mind the lamp with no lamp shade... yet another fun project to come!) But we aren't done yet!

I found some really cool rod iron hooks from Anthropologie, just $8 a piece. I couldn't resist! So I added them throughout the tree and finally did you some of my Uppercase Living Vinyl to personalize it a bit....

 Project complete ... Quicked and Cozy!! Hope you like it. :)

Would you hang you coat please?? 

Be back later this week with a couple more fun projects from the "Green Room"

Vanity Victory

One of the first things that can date your house is the vanities in the bathroom. Old wood look with old hardware does not make me smile.
But it does give me a quicked project to take on and that is exciting!

Goal: giving the bathroom a new look- FAST!
I tackled this one the second week we were in our house. A quick trip to the home store for my favorite quick cover Rustoleum paint and some new hardware and viola! No sanding required. :)

Master Bathroom

Guest Bathroom

Project in Short:

- Brushed Nickel hardware for both bathrooms, $40

- Rustoleum paint in Kona Brown, $10 - lasted through both vanities with some to spare!

*quick FYI- this color goes on with a purple tint, but don't freak out- it changes when it dries. ;) Its a little scary- but promise it turns out great! :)

Quicked Cool Idea: Double Rearview

QUICKED COOL!!

Continuing with the theme of "travel" since many of us may spend a few hours in the car this holiday season... Quicked Cool Idea #2 is the Safety First "View of Two" Mirror.

I love this Mommy Tool, because I have major motion sickness issues, and one wrong turn while driving will make me sick for hours. So this straps onto your visor and in one quick glance I can see both babes. Awe! ANother bonus is that when one (or both) are screaming "MOOMMMMMMYYY" while I am driving, I can quickly look back to be make sure there is no emergency. (which of course, all of us moms know, there is usually not ;)

Sweet Sleeping Babes

One thing- it does hang down a bit so I probably wouldn't recommend it for those who are tall. (My husband moves it when he drives my car) 

But, if you are a mom with more than one kiddo to look back at- this is a safe and easy way to do it. In my opinion, a QUICKED COOL IDEA!

Cozy Coozie

So, you may have noticed my completed look above. (love to Meredith at With a Side of Insulin, who cropped my pic since I don't have Photoshop :)
I absolutely LOVE my new coozie made by an UBER talented friend from high school, Melissa Payne. This super cozy "coozie" was designed by Melissa- I just requested the colors I was looking for. I love that once it is wrapped around my morning coffee each day, its the perfect definition of "Quicked Cozy" The coffee is my instant gratification and the coozie gets me feeling warm and cozy.

Plus, its super portable! Once you are finished you can toss it in your purse, or stick it in your coat pocket for tomorrow! I use it to stop my cold drinks from sweating and like I said it just gives me the warm fuzzies every time I use it!!

You can see all of Melissa's awesome designs at Chiisana Hana (means Little Flower) 

She also makes the most fabulous hats for the kiddos... 
here are some fun ones!

These are the kiddos of a friend and fellow blogger Carrie Early at Confessions of a Full-Time Mom (yet another Assumption shout-out!). Carrie is constantly cracking me up on her blog and is super crafty too. :) She made these costumes for her kiddos and the added the AWESOME hat by 

Melissa at Chiisana Hana.

Here are some more great hats from Melissa at Chiisana Hana.

The Octopus is one of my favorites! She is so creative- nothing like homemade for Christmas gifts!! 

Well I wanted to thank Melissa one more time for helping me to create the perfect definition of Quicked  Cozy. I love it!!

I better get shopping! :) Join me at  Chiisana Hana.

See you soon!

Armoire Amore

My first project when moving into the new house was to find an armoire that I could fix up. One of the only things I wish i could change at our new place is the size of the master bedroom closet. I had been spoiled being in newer homes the last two moves and had LARGE master closets. This one was going to force me to rearrange! So, I figured the bedroom was large enough to hold a nice armoire that would give me more storage. So off to Craigslist I went!
After a week or so of searching I found this armoire for $100, and negotiated the price to $80.

Nothing fancy, right? My main goal when looking for things on Craigslist are:

1. Is it solid wood? THIS is why I love old furniture. Everything seems to be made of particle board 

these days and solid wood is so much better!!

2. A classic design. I prefer straight edges and things that will look modern once painted. 

3. Function! Make sure all the drawers and doors work properly! Don't commit to buying anything until you see, touch and feel. Sometime people will tell you something is solid wood or functional when its not! I love Craigslist but you can't trust everyone. It's basically an online yard sale... So check it out before buying!

Ok, moving on. I used a flat white paint I had in the garage and just started painting. Let me remind you- I'm impatient, so I don't sand. So far, if you use the right paint- it works out fine! Here is it after the first 2 coats:

Moving along, I decided it needed a little something extra. I had some Uppercase Living birch trees that I had purchased for our last house (house #3) and never used. If you aren't familiar, Uppercase Living is high quality vinyl decor that once it adheres looks like paint. Basically, it's not the cheaper stickers you can get at retail store. Check out the link above if interested. There are pre-made and custom options.
Here is just one tree....

And here are the rest:

Project goal: More clothes storage space in the master bedroom.

Project in short:

Armoire $80

Vinyl Uppercase Living Birch Trees: $40

Total: $120

Pretty pleased! Let me know what you think!

Quicked Cool Idea: Tupperware for cereal turns LIFESAVER

QUICKED COOL!!
This is something I found on Pinterest - it was listed in one of those long lists of organization tip from Good Housekeeping.  The perfect idea for a garbage can in your car.. a plastic cereal container!!  I implemented this a few months ago and it works seamlessly in the "Momma Van." Do it today- you will be glad you did!

Here is mine (Red top) tucked neatly between the the two seats. :)

Creating my "Create Space"

Alrighty- I am only about a month late getting started, but here it is... QUICKED COZY!

As many of you know I recently moved into a new house, so I have been hard at work on MANY new QUICKED COZY projects. This house was is DIRE need of some coziness. Although I understand the philosophy behind painting your entire house "neutral" to help it sell; being surrounded by an off-white-cream color throughout my home makes me shiver. There was so much to be done. 

One of the first projects I wanted to complete was my very own "Create Space." I had not had the space for this in our previous house, and boy was I excited! Now, this is a work in progress and I am sure this space will morph over time, but it feels good to have gotten this far. THE GOAL: a organized, open space for mommy to create.
This is what I started with....

Outside of painting the walls gray (this will come in a future post) and buying a couple cabinets from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Love this place by the way), I basically threw everything I considered "crafty" or "office-y" in this space. Now, this next picture is not so much the WOW factor that I like, but I share it because it was just enough zen to get me started on this blog! I could not even focus when my create space was a disaster.

So here it is... 

 Like I said, not  a super-shocking before and after, but just enough to free my creativity a bit, and get me started. I basically used every plastic organizer with drawers I already had, and made sure everything had its place: scrapbooking, painting, pictures, cards, office supplies, etc. Then after realizing that I would constantly need paper towels, it dawned on me to try and find an old paper towel holder and some spice racks and "spice" them up! After searching Craigslist and finding exactly what I was looking for - for a whopping $8- I added the spice with my favorite Rustoleum spray paints - I had some fun color to add to the walls. (they also coordinate perfectly with the decor in the rest of the basement, but we will get to that another day.
This shelving project serves many great purposes: 
- I can see what paint colors I have and what I may need
- I can access them easily
- It holds the paper towells
- It adds a pop of "color" to the walls
- BUT THE BONUS:  My little chillens can no longer reach them!- YIPPEE!

Finally, I needed something to proclaim that this was a "Create Space." So while my sweet hubby hung the shelves securely for me... Side Note: If I would have hung them, I would have done it the easiest, quickest way possible- hence this blog's name...(you will learn that I am not very patient) and they would have fallen the first time I grabbed a paper towell! 

I began scanning what I had that may complete the space. I noticed some little cork boards that I had gotten years ago in a package with some larger ones that I used for another project. There were just enough to spell what I needed. So, I started cutting out some scrapbook paper to state- CREATE. Finally,  I attached the letters to the cork with clear push pins and hammered a small nail right through each cork board. VIOLA! 

So project in short:

Spice racks: $8 on Craigslist

Spray Paint, 3 colors: approx. $12

Cork boards and letters: FREE 

Total: $20

Ability to clear my mind enough to start blogging... ah, priceless!! ;)

So excited to begin this journey - hope you will join me!! 

Here we go!

Stay tuned... www.quickedcozy.com is going live on October 31! :) See you then!