Window Shopping

I had high hopes of a productive weekend. It’s now Monday afternoon and the to-do list is no shorter than it was on Friday. Oh well, every once and awhile we all need a lazy weekend…there will always be time for projects.

During my unproductive weekend, I did some major “window” shopping on my local Craigslist. I have openly admitted my addiction to c-list, (first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem, right?) but honestly how can you not with such amazing deals. I found some of my most prized possessions on Craigslist…

my beloved dining room chairs

my big boy, Brutis

baby girl, Brindi

I am on a strict budget these days, so browsing is all I can do, but I wanted to share with you some of the great things available in the Pittsburgh area right now. If you’re local, maybe you can steal an item or two (and let me come visit) and if you’re not local, I hope it encourages you to take a peek at your own cities Craigslist. 

On to the goods:

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($10) I envision this brass chandy painted glossy navy blue or bright white, maybe even jute wrapped, but what sold me on this item are the great lines and globe light bulbs. I might actually have to break the budget on this one. 

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($495) Way out of my price range, but this dresser is really beautiful. I love the Paris grey (aspc?) color and I am a sucker for drawers behind a door! 

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($45) I know there are some die hard fans of old rulers and especially the folding versions. Here are a great set of 5, all different sizes, for $45 dollars. Bonus: there are some pretty snazzy projects out in blog land with old rulers, like this side table or this amazing mirror. 

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($70) With a little sanding and a nice new stain finish, these two wooden filing cabinets could be a great addition to an office. The great thing about having two is that you can use them as a base for a custom desk top made from old pallets or salvaged wood, and at 35 bucks a piece, you can’t go wrong! 

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($85) I love this chest of drawers from 1840, it is in great shape and I don’t think it needs anything but a great tablescape. I see this in an entry way with a large mirror, a great lamp and fresh flowers. 

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($80) Craigslist is a great place for funky pieces and this is a great example. I usually don’t like papasan chairs, but I think this would be a great chair for a boys bedroom or kids playroom. The shape and canvas seat are very kid-friendly, but the leather accents makes the chair something you can be proud to show off. 

Did anyone actually have a productive weekend that I can live vicariously through? How about a great Craigslist purchase?

Wall Photo Gallery

HELLO SEPTEMBER! Really, it’s September already? Well, time certainly flies but I am so ready for fall this year. What can I say, I am a jeans and cardigan kind of gal and I welcome the cooler weather and fewer mosquitoes! 

I’m already side tracked…what was the point of this post again? Gallery walls, right. I’ve been lusting over gallery walls for some time, but wasn’t sure where to start our own. I entertained the idea of creating one in our bedroom, but once I decided to re-vamp our tiny dining room, I knew a gallery wall would be the perfect fit. 

Here are some of the photos I’ve kept around for inspiration:

 Pottery Barn (via)

Eric Cohler Designs (via)

Young House Love (via)

Ikea 2012 Catalog (via)

I decided to keep all of my frames black and print my pictures in black and white to keep uniformity even though the frames are different sizes and shapes. Some frames have mats included and others don’t. Now onto the picture selection (this was actually the hardest part in my opinion.) The hubs and I had an awkward experience when looking for our last house that made us promise to practice self control in the self portraits we had in the house. I swear the couple had hung every single image their wedding photographer took in their house. I'm sorry, it's weird.

magazine cutouts

in progress

To get the shape and spacing, we used a real classy technique. We ripped out pages form the local newspaper magazine to the size of the frames and frog taped (obsessed) them into position. A few picture nails and some leveling later, we were finished. We intend to update, add, and swap images and frames over time but here is what we came up with. I’m super happy with it.

Viola!

I am a bit shocked that some of the frames aren't completely crooked! Ha.

Anyone ever experience a house that had far too many personal pictures strewn about? Have a gallery wall of you own? How do you pick and choose the pictures to include? 

Hometown Tourist & Birthday Girl

Prantl's Birthday cake from my wonderful Mother-in-law

July is always a busy month, ten years ago it was packed full of summer swim meets and days at the pool. Now it is a little more work and a lot less play, but every year when July rolls around, I find it is full of great memories.

My parents came to visit a few weekends ago and I always love when they come. Not only is it great to see them, but it gives me an excuse to be a tourist in my own city. On Saturday the hubs, my parents, and I drove over to the SouthSide and grabbed lunch outside at the Double Wide Grill (yum!) Then we made our way over to the Univ. of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning. Sounds like a snooze fest, I know, but it is an amazing place. I heard at least three people mention Hogwarts while in the main study room. The CoL (its 6:30 am, I am not typing it out people!) is a must see in Pittsburgh not only for Harry Potter fans but also to anyone who wants to be taken away to 27 countries, via working classrooms decorated to represent the country.

Hogwarts

The Yugoslav Room

The Czechoslovak Classroom "Truth Prevails"

The Greek Room

On Sunday, we took my parents to one of my favorite places, the Phipps Conservatory. I forgot to bring my camera but we had a great day and that place is amazingly beautiful. Phipps is also on my list of must see places in Pitt. 

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Overall, we had a great weekend with the parentals and I am already thinking of places to go for the next time they visit! 

The next weekend was one of my favorite times of the year, my birthday! It was a big one this year as I celebrated a quarter century of life and I wanted to do something. A big party was out of the question for a few reasons, although I love to host a party and birthdays, I don't like having my own b-day party (weird, I know) and I would need more friends in the area (Party of 5 may have been a hit show, but I don’t think it constitutes as a big bash.) Last minute the hubs and I decided to take our wonderful friends up on an offer to use their cabin in Deep Creek, MD and had a getaway, just the two of us and the puppykids! We had a great time biking, running, hiking, kayaking, etc. We even got the babies back into some water and to our surprise they jumped right in and were swimming machines. 

Deep Creek, MD

Hiking with the dogs at Deep Creek State Park

The puppykids enjoying the water

With so much excitement in July, you’re probably wondering, but J what will you do the rest of summer? Not to worry! We still have a family beach vacation in a few weeks and I am determined to finish (well, start and finish) my DIY TO DO list! Stay tuned because later this week I will be divulging my list, full of light fixtures, wedding pictures, and tackling our love deprived dining room! 

Do you have a favorite “tourist” spot in your hometown? Have any great weekend getaway spots? Let me know, I am always looking to add places to my travel bucketlist!