Liberty State Park

Today, I was inspired to drag out my camera and go on a Photography Excursion. I charged my battery while I took my daughter to school, so that when we came back, I could grab my gear and go. I rambled around backroads for what seemed like hours. My son was content in the backseat with his DVD playing, and I hopped out along and a long to take pictures. Unfortunately, I did not find what I was looking for, and my Compact Flash card filled up rather quickly since I'd forgotten to empty the images before I took off....... As it turned out, my card was filled with images from when I took my sister to Liberty State Park in NYC.....






Manhattan Across the Hudson...


Manhattan Panoramic

Lower Manhattan


World Trade Center - Construction can be seen of the Freedom Tower.

Hopefully I'll find what I'm looking for here in the Country and I'll have more images to share soon! :)



PLEASE KNOW THAT ALL IMAGES ARE PROPERTY OF CATHERINE MCDONALD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ARE PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAWS. I am a Photographer, and as such, these images are my livelihood; they help put the food on the table which nourishes not only myself, but also my children. You do not have Permission to rightclick/download them, copy them, edit them, claim them as your own, or otherwise hug them, squeeze them, or call them George. Any violations will be pursued via legal action.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

I TOTALLY need a chalkboard for my kitchen. I've been pricing around and even contemplating those little stick ons. I saw a blog post somewhere (sorry, I don't remember where exactly, or I'd credit you for the idea - if you did it, feel free to leave a comment & I'll do so. I'm all about giving credit where credit is due....) where someone turned a mirror into a chalkboard and I thought it was just brilliant. When we were in Jersey, there was no Goodwill, so I had to resort to Craigslist for all of my projects. Unfortunately, I never found anything that was worth the drive...or the aggravation of getting on the Turnpike or Parkway, atleast in terms of a mirror.

The other day, I decided to see if there was a Goodwill nearby. Sure enough, one popped up in the next town over. One day, after taking my kids to the doctor, I decided to stop by and see what they had. I was blown away! There were SO many things that could've been worked over so easily. There was this one antique chaise for 20 bucks.......but I didn't get it. My husband would have shot me.

Fortunately, one of the many great finds included a great big (ugly) mirror!!! Apparently it had been sitting there for a while b/c it was marked all the way down to 2 bucks. Woo hoo!!

I brought it home, put down cardboard underneath and got to work....


First I Primed it with Kilz Spray -- btw, does anyone else have the worst luck with Kilz?? Every bottle I've ever used sprays fuzzy like. If that makes sense?

Then I sprayed the wood black, not really caring if I went over the mirror....



Next came the chalkboard paint over the glass area. I distressed it and hung it on the wall to cure...



But I wasn't done...Oh no! The bottom kept bugging me. So, I got out some of my leftover beadboard wallpaper and attached an applique...



After it was all dry, I repainted the bottom black and distressed again.

Et Voila! A chalkboard for my kitchen!




And here's a little closeup of the bottom. I know the image above isn't that great on detail. Still using my Blackberry!

Out with the old, in with the new...

I must preface this post. The images aren't great. All images were taken with my Black Berry -- since we'd just moved, my 5D and all of my equipment were packed away safely--so no pretty pictures. Bear with me, please!


One of the great things about moving is all of the inspiration that comes with moving into a new place!

When we moved into our home here, we were ecstatic about the great big backyard, the open floorplan, and the amount of space. Unfortunately, with this also came HORRIBLE wallpapering. Our dining room had this:



And you don't EVEN want to know what our bathroom & our bedroom looked like. Let's just say irridescent wallpaper is NOT a good thing.

I spent the first few days ripping off all of the old wallpaper. By the time I was done, my poor fingers were raw. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do afterwards since this is a rental and we don't want to spend a lot of $$ on a temporary home. One thing I did know was that I couldn't spend the next however long living with this God awful wallpaper.

I decided to take a trip to Home Depot. Lowes is my lover, but there isn't one nearby....so I have to settle. (((Shhh. Don't tell him!)))

I was walking through the lighting section & spotted a cardboard display of texturized wallpaper on sale for 12 bucks. I remember reading about the beadboard wallpaper on Rhoda's blog. I decided to grab a roll and give it a try. ANYTHING had to be better than what was previously hanging on the walls.

So, I came home and gave it a go in a little corner. It didn't turn out half bad!


I finished the whole dining room - it seriously only took maybe an hour. Of course, I had a little help with a little Mouse. For the record - Mouse is my daughter's nickname. I don't have a little colony of mice running around like Cinderella. Though, if they could sew and clean and do all of my other chores...

After I was done with the dining room, I decided to give this a try in the bathroom. I went back to Home Depot and bought more wallpaper and wooden moulding. I used the corner miter and saw to cut the moulding myself, then I put a coat of primer on. Then caulk around the edges of the sink.





(ignore the linoleum. I HATE it - but, it's a rental. What's a gal to do?)



I *STILL* haven't put my actual paint on...but I'll get around to it. Once the kids are in school next week, I suppose! I can't imagine trying to paint with the Mouse and the Monkey running loose........

This post links up to the DIY party over at A Soft Place to Land. It's not completely finished, but it'll do. I'm pretty proud of having done it myself. :)

Off to see the wizard...

I've been a busy girl.

We've spent the past couple of months getting ready for a big, big move. We left the NYC Metro area on July 18th and arrived in the rural heartland of the U.S. 3 days later. It's taken a lot of adjustment....

I still can't wrap my head around how rural things are. We toured the countryside near our home several days ago, and were blown away by the views. What was jumbled highways filled with traffic, never ending suburban sprawl, and forest areas made specifically so that nature wasn't lost in the path of urbanization were all replaced with cornfields, gorgeous old farmhouses and wide open spaces. As far as the eye could see! The air is clean, Farms are everywhere - and to that effect, a huge farmer's market in town!

I do miss the NYC Metro. The food, the culture, the ocean, the shopping (of course!)...and did I mention the food? However, the life we're creating here is so much more substantial. For once, I can leave the back door open, and my my children & dogs can run around freely in the backyard and play as they should. I have visions of jam making and apple picking. Hay rides and farmers markets..... Life is simpler. Life is peaceful. It's everything I never knew I wanted growing up.

I've come full circle now. From growing up in the rural South, to living in Europe, followed by NYC Metro....and now, finally, back to the Country, where it all began.

Life is good. ....It sure is great to be "home."

The Beautiful Guestroom

My sister is flying in from the Chicago area to see me in a month. Up until now, guests have been staying in my daughter's room and she has been banished to the living room. I shouldn't say banished -- she'd sleep down there every night if she could. It means she gets to watch T.V. all night long! ;)

Anyhow, I'm using this as the perfect opportunity to work on my beautiful guestroom.

I've been searching for just the right daybed, and finally hit the jackpot on Craigslist. I've had the bedding (the now discontinued Pottery Barn Ambrosia day bed cover set in white!) for some time now. The bonus of having a daybed is that once guests are gone, the Ambrosia cover will go back on and this will turn into my reading/relaxing room.

I love the this little mattress at Ballard...

Image: Ballard Designs

But I have to say, there's not much else that tops PB Ambrosia set, IMO:


Image: Pottery Barn




I love the neutrality here:


Image: Country Living

and the natural elements incorporated here:

Image: Veranda

Oh but the color here. Peacock, Aqua & Turquoise are my favorite colors. They remind me of a tranquil beach somewhere exotic - in the Caribbean, in the Indian Ocean....And, is that a Sari draped over the bed there?


Image: Coastal Living


Can't you just see yourself relaxing on the porch here, with the salty sea breeze blowing against your face?


Image: Paris Flea Market

Or on the porch here with your best friend?


Image: Robin Stubbert

What about you? What did you put in your beautiful guestroom?

Lazy Weekend Music

I'm a huge fan of anything from the WWII era. Mama served as a WAC on Staten Island during WWII, and Papa (her husband) fought in Italy. There were so many pictures around the house of them in by gone days. Papa, looking quite dapper in his uniform, leaning against an old Studebaker. Mama and Papa on their wedding day. Mama in HER uniform up in Staten Island. I heard so many stories through the years. I used to love to sit on the floor and listen to Mama tell tales from her golden days. I think it's one of the things I miss most about her.

Some time ago, while out running errands, I found a radio station in my car that played 30-40 era music. Oh MY how it brought back memories. I could just close my eyes and see Mama & Papa doing their little dance and song all along with it. It brought me such happiness. I've left my car radio on that station as a nice surprise when I have to run out and run errands.

Today was a particularly nice day, and we have all of the windows open in the house. I'd just come in from running errands, had the music in my head & came in to find it on my radio. The signal was weak, so I did some searching and found it online!! Woo hoo!! Now you can listen to it, too!

WKCR 89.9 FM Columbia University

(You'll need Itunes or Real Player to play this. It doesn't work with Windows Media.)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)



Update: Looks like the Benny Goodman Marathon ended. :( There's still some great Jazz to be hear, though!

Lampalooza

This is my first time getting involved in one of these parties! Nester is having Lampalooza this week & I'm excited to join in!

I found this Chandelier on Craigslist for FREE.



It was tacky bright brass before, very ugly. I got myself a bottle of spray paint & went at it! That hot mess above became this:



And yes, I wired it and hung it all by MYSELF! :)

Dangling starfish also thanks to KariandKijsa! They have the cutest stuff!

Vintage(y) Hardware

I have a project coming up with this:



I got the sideboard for free off of Craig's List. I removed the hardware, primed it & painted it black. As much as I want to like it, I really just don't think the color suits my decor style. I am much more into a neutral color palette. So, this one will be getting a revamp soon.

I had mentioned previously that I really liked the hardware at Anthropologie. However, I saw this post this afternoon and found that similar things could be elsewhere on the web for much, MUCH cheaper!! We don't have a Hobby Lobby in my State, so instead, I decided to check the next best place: Ebay!!

Look!!

$3.45 a pop from 4maltese4!

And what about these?


19 bucks for a set of 4 from GypsyJessy

Wow!

PS - The prints came from my favorite, FAVORITE Etsy seller: KariandKijsa.

Anthropologie....

I've discovered Anthropologie.

{Insert long sigh here......}

I'd previously thought it was just a clothing store -- and since I refuse to buy clothes until I lose weight (I have plenty of skinny clothes, ah-thankyou-very-much!), I never paid attention to it. Yes - that means I've been waiting a while......and no, I'm still not motivated. Despite the holes forming in my last fitting pair of jeans...... C'est la vie!

Recently, I've been hearing around the blogosphere about the great home items coming from Anthropologie. I took a look at the website and while I was impressed with what I saw - I was a bit taken back with the prices. Truthfully, I didn't see the point of paying such high prices for something that was mass produced, vintage inspired when something similar -- the authentic version -- could be found via thrifting (and likely for much less). To me, it seemed, if you were going to pay that much, you'd look for the Authentic Version at a Vintage/Antique shop. But, that's just me. And, that was before I actually set FOOT into an Anthropologie.....

So, yesterday, after hearing about the sale on the numbered teacups, I decided it was worth it to go in to my local store and see what all the fuss was about. Oh.my.word. I have to agree that this place could be highly addicting.....They're very clever in their display & ambience. You almost feel as though you're in a vintage shop and that what you see in front of you is an Authentic, limited edition item. Surely the other 5 sitting there just like it are the last ones on Earth??!! Makes resisting temptation very, very difficult!

Their hardware really took my breath away. I must've spent 30 minutes browsing through all of the cabinet pulls, knobs and handles. I found the Snow Field Shower Curtain another blogger had previously purchased. Oh MY!! So gorgeous!!! My mind conjures up an image of an open window in a bathroom on a sunny Summer day; a quiet breeze wafting the scent of sweet honeysuckles in......

.

Then, I found the sales table...so many super cute things!! There were a few aqua lettered plates that I'm not seeing on the website - but alas - no C, K or M. Not even after looking through all 3 stacks. Several Fabric Letters that were cute - but not fitting with my decor -- and, of course, the numbered teacups. My teacups. I had to bring them home!





I made a mental note of everything I wanted to come back for (hardware!!!), picked up a set of the teacups for purchase & quickly made my way out before I found myself in all sorts of trouble.....

This morning, while I was sipping my morning coffee from my brand new #54 teacup, I decided to take a virtual tour around Target's shower curtain section. Low and Behold! I found my breezy honeysuckle shower curtain for a 1/4 of the price!!! Woo hoo!! Of course, it isn't made of Poplin, but you know....the wind coming in through my bathroom window isn't at all selective about the type of fabric it billows. ;) I'll definitely be picking this up on my next trip to Target!

Photo Credits: All images from Anthropologie.

My first post...

Many months ago, I "stumbled upon" a decorating website that changed my life. I had been in a deep depression for a long, long time as my dear Mama had fought a long illness with Alzheimers & had finally succumbed to it some months before. I had shut down. Not being able to talk to Mama, not just after her death - but during her illness - made an enormous hole in my heart and in my soul. Piles and piles of clutter built up around me. While the kitchen stayed clean, as did all of the necessities to keep a healthy home -- dust settled up in layers on the windows. The yards went unattended. Well thought out home cooked meals turned into my wonderful husband cooking 99% of the time. In losing Mama, I had also lost myself and I.simply.stopped.caring.

Somehow this new blog that I'd found, this blog about home, about family, about creating - ignited something inside me. I was hooked! From there, I discovered a great many other blogs, and found myself waking up eagerly each morning with a cup of coffee in hand, ready to soak in whatever new information was put out there by these domestic divas. These women who blogged about home & family evoked this deep sense of comfort inside of me that I'd not felt since before Mama became ill.

Slowly, slowly, I found myself coming alive again. I started first making "mistreatments" Nester Style. I cut up a beautiful red tablecloth I'd found on clearance at Target sometime before and made mistreatments for my living room. Feeling quite empowered, I took myself to the Fabric Store and bought more fabric - and trimmings - and I hot glued it all together and made even more mistreatments! Window after window, I started feeling like my old self again. It felt great!

Slowly, the piles of clutter started dwindling, and out of the chaos emerged a home on the brink of something truly fabulous. With each mistreatment that I hung, with each chair that I slipcovered, with every piece of furniture I painted, I felt myself connecting more and more with my Mama.

Now, Mama wasn't much on decorating, except for holidays. She was pretty set in how her home looked in regards to decor. But she loved to garden. She loved working outdoors. She kept her home clean and tidy -- devoting each Thursday to laundry, each Friday morning to cleaning her little old brick cottage and each Sunday she devoted to God. She was an amazing woman, with an incredible zest for life, God and her family. But make no mistake -- she was also fiery - having that fierce Southern Sass about her - and would've kicked my butt if she'd have seen how I let myself & my home go.

And so, it is here that I begin my blog journey with you: Amongst ever dwindling piles of clutter, deeply abused windows & slipcovered furniture. While my home may be in the Suburbs, I will continue to pay homage to the little, unpretentious, old brick cottage in the pines that so inspires my soul. It is my way of feeling connected to her, even though, I know, she's gone on to a much bigger castle in the sky.