Wednesday, March 30, 2011

New Look!

I've been itching for a new look for my blog... I am not sure if I like it... Let me know your thoughts!

E

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Bedroom: I'm insane wall

I've had some ups and downs with my bedroom lately... Some of you may remember my color palette from a previous blog...Well I have made the decision to abandon those colors, after I painted the ceiling purple and the walls gray. I love the colors, and still might try and incorporate some of them, but they really made the room much younger and less lux... But, the room is looing great!

The awesome chandeliers I ordered from Urban Outfitters for my bedroom came in on Friday and I was so excited to hang them, it was the first thing I did yesterday. They are bigger than I though and wanted but they still look good!


But as I was sitting there observing the room, I knew this room was in desperate need of a pattern. Since I haven't been able to find a fabric I like as much as my inspiration fabric... And the fabric I ordered from www.spoonflower.com hasn't come in yet, and I don't think I would want a whole lot of that fabric in the room... I made the decision to do something insane.

I got this idea from a friend of mine, Kim, she did this in her hall and it looks amazing! Kim, got the idea from the Jones Design Company blog (which has the stencil I used). Tank you Kim, I am so glad I did this!

I will say that mine turned out a bit more "organic" than the other two did, but it is that "organic-ness" that is just what was needed in that room... There were so many solid colors and sharp clean lines...It needed something different. So, here we go!

This is the before:


And....after:


Each of these blogs have tips as to how to do this...So here are mine and the supplies that you will need:


- Stencil, From Jones Design Company blog - I used two a paper one for corners and those tricky spots, and a cardboard one for the rest of the wall...
- Level - When I was traceing the pattern onto the wall, I started from the bottom and moved my way up and to the right... So I used the level on the first couple of rows on the bottom and the first two columns on the left. I figured if I make sure the those are straight and level I can work from there.
- Pencil - to trace... make sure you have a good eraser.
- iPod - not pictured but was necessary
- Paint Brush - I think the brush I used was wider than the other two examples... but I was happy with the way that it turned out so I am happy.
- Paint - The best part of this is that I had everything I needed here at home... I just used left over paint from when I painted my accent walls downstairs... It worked perfect!
- Beer - I can be a bit OCD sometimes and want to make everything perfect and often get irritated when it isn't. It usually bothers me, but with this I had to think that the imperfections were part of design...they make it "organic" and beautiful! With a beer in hand I was less concerned about making it perfect, and just had fun with it...
- Time - This took me 8 hours start to finish...That includes cutting out the pattern and clean up.


This was not a hard project at all... it just took some time!

E

Bedroom: Headboard

While I was on the cruise there was dark stained wood everywhere -- doors, table tops, even on the walls and knew that was my inspiration for my headboard!

And, really... It was Casey who did most of the work and thought behind the project So I have to give him the credit for my headboard!

I like to be thrifty when I can, so I knew that I didn't want to go to West Elm and buy a massive headboard... I just wasn't in my budegt... and I couldn't justify spending that kind of money when I knew it was possible to do it for much less with a trip to Lowe's. In total, the headboard cost just about $100.

On trip #1 to Lowe's we picked up two hollow doors...Here are the really cool things:
- The holes for the door knobs are not drilled in them
- No sanding needed
- $26 each
I also picked up some stain and rub on polyurethane... which was another $15 bucks.

My "dining room" was then turned into a shop and we stained the doors....

I think we ended up doing 2 or 3 coats of the stain, and one coat of the polyurethane.

Next there was another trip to Lowe's to get fasteners ($10) and a trip to big lots to get rope light ($20)... Yep this sucker is back lit!

Casey worked his magic, and I stayed out of his hair... but did manage to get this picture in the process..


And here is the final product!


I am so excited with the way that it turned out!

THANK YOU CASEY!!!

E

Spring Time!

It is spring and my house is getting quite the face lift... As you all know I have been working on my bedroom... But, Casey has updated his bedroom a little, I have some new pop art and I got some new outdoor furniture...

Casey has been at his new job for about a month and a half now, and he comes home with some interesting "scraps" if you will... Last week he came home with some of the signage from one of the events they did. As we know Casey is quite creative... and turned that signage into this...


It looks like reclaimed wood, but really it is foam core!

He also came up with this...


These two were apart of the signage but are now my new pop art in my office area! I love the look she is giving him!

I was also in need of some new porch furniture...Last summer as I was trying to enjoy a sunset on my front porch, I managed to fall through the seat of one of these chairs...Wonderful for my self esteem let me tell you... And the other one fell of the front porch and broke. I saw a set at Target that I LOVED and wanted to get, but by the time that I got to Target they were long gone.


Fast forward to the other night, and I was walking through Target and what did I see?! The outdoor furniture that I have been wanting for a year! AND it was on sale... So, I got it! And, I think it looks great, and so comfy!


I am ready for spectacular sunsets now!

E

Friday, March 11, 2011

DDD what do you mean to me?

I've been asked to speak to the Vanderbilt Chapter of Delta Delta Delta about what the sorority means to me post college...

So, I thought what a better place than my blog to write my speech..

Thinking back to college and all the experiences I had in Tri Delta I didn't think it could get much better. I had some of my best friends by my side, girls that I could trust and confide in, someone was always there with a hug if I needed it. And there was always something to do, fraternity party or Sex in the City marathon. I just knew that these were my best friends and would one day be the brides maids in my wedding, they would always be there for me, and there was no way we were going to be pulled apart...

Then we graduated...and some moved away...some went back home...some went back to school...some got married...and we quickly found ourselves at different places in life.

I, moved to Nashville... I knew 2 people in this whole city, my best friend from 3rd grade, and a girl I was in youth group with in Colorado. I moved here with out a job, with out a network, and with out a clue.

The first place I turned to was the Nashville Alumni Chapter of Tri Delta. I remembered how much DDD did for me in college, and thought that maybe just maybe I could meet some new friends. I was just in luck they were having a young alum get together, so I went. And, ended up meeting some of the most important women in my life. Now, let me tell you the first night I met these girls I was not sure what I was getting myself into...I was a Tri Delta at Nebraska, and these girls went to southern schools...I wasn't quite sure what to make of them. I'd never been to a horse race...I didn't wear pearls...At Nebraska, we watched football and wore t-shirts and jeans.

The 5 of us, Lauren, Kim, Liz, Emily and myself decided that we were going to get together for happy hour each month, we invited other young alums and the group grew and grew...there were 35 of us at one point. For me these monthly get togethers were what got me through my, very trying, first year in Nashville. These girls encouraged me, supported me, loved me, celebrated with me, cried with me...

See, I move here with out a job...I found temporary work at Starbucks, but wasn't doing what I wanted to be doing. I went on interview after interview and it still took me a year to get a job. With out these women I doubt I would have survived my first 6 months in Nashville. They sent me job leads, put me in contact with hiring managers, and most importantly they kept my spirits up.

We as a young alum group have been through so much in the past 4 years, there have been engagements, weddings, and babies, there have been break ups, loss of jobs and girls moving away. And, yet we are there for each other through thick and thin. These are the girls that I do life with. Girls that I can turn to, when I am having a rough day or when I have good news and want to celebrate!

I'm not saying that my sorority sisters from college aren't important in my life, because they are. We are just not as close as we once were.

I am sure the girls that are going to be listening to this will be rolling their eyes with the next statement, because, well I did the same thing... But the DDD has meant more to me post college than it did while I was in college.

Being a Tri Delta is more than 4 years in college... it is a lifetime membership, and something I am so so grateful for!

E

Thursday, March 10, 2011

HELP

I am looking for a new location for our Nashville Huskers to meet... and am not finding much! If anyone has any ideas let me know!

Here is what we are looking for!

Background of the Nashville Huskers:

This group was formed in September of 2009. Our fist watch party was for the Nebraska vs. VA Tech, we were expecting 20 people to show up and had over 80 people come to watch the game. Attendance grew as word got out. The Alumni Association did not assist in the development of this group in 2009. However, we started working with the Alumni Association in 2010 and anticipate further assistance in promoting this watch site location for the 2011 season.


The Ideal watch site location will have/be:

- Centrally Located

- Sufficient parking

- Sufficient number of TV’s

- Sufficient space for 50-100 people

- Food

- Family Friendly (There are families with young kids)

- Smoke Free


What a watch site location can expect from Nashville Huskers:

- On average Nashville has 100 people show up each week. However, there will be some weeks that there are closer to 150 -200 people and other weeks were there are closer to 25 people. The biggest factor is the game time.

- As soon as I hear about game times and TV stations I will let the location know.

- We will promote the location on Message Boards, Websites, and in E-mails.

- The location will be the Official home of the Nashville Huskers and THE place to watch Husker Football in Nashville.


What Nashvillians for Nebraska would like from a watch site location:
- For the Nebraska game to be shown with sound every week.
- For the Nebraska games to have priority over other games that are on at the same time. (Example: Say Tennessee and Nebraska play at the same time. The Nebraska game will be on the big screen and will be shown with sound.)
- If for some reason the Nebraska game would not be able to be shown the location needs to give 5 days advanced notice, so other arrangements can be made.


IF YOU KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT WORK, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!


E