50 Projects: 52 Weeks (24. Teal Squares)

Because we just had to make our cans of Oops! paints go as far as they can, you're probably going to see a slew of projects with the same colors over and over. Don't judge. This was a hand-made floating shelf/cube thingy that I bought at Goodwill for $2.99. At first, I tried to sand and stain it. Horrible idea because the stain didn't take well.

It's the teal paint from our bedroom and it's a pretty fun display for Steve's (massive) collection of (empty) beer bottles.

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (23. The Blue Light Special)

Repurposed from a stand-up cheapie metal lamp, I pulled apart the cord and shade, bought a can of spray paint in an almost Grecian Blue, spray painted the light and hung it upside down. Voila! $3.50 for the spray paint and now we have a sweet pendant lamp.

Healthy Brownies

Hmm...made these tonight as a healthy "treat." It's good but I have mixed feelings about it. I didn't have the walnuts that it called out for and I don't have a food processor (just a horrific 1970's mustard-colored blender which makes terrible grinding noises while in use); the consistency could've been a little smoother and I think it could've been sweeter actually. 

The marble effect was done by using part of the egg and agave mixture drizzled over the top. Anyone have any suggestions?? Go for it! Here's the recipe. Get creative! (PS. You CANNOT taste the black beans, FYI...Steve didn't know at all! Oh, and they are Gluten-Free!)

My First Clothing Vintage

This might not seem like a big deal, but I've never bought vintage before. Actually, it was a stab in the dark, really.

This piece is under the label "Le Petite." It's most likely a synthetic polyester-type material and is white with little navy squares.

It's a "Division of Leslie Fay, Inc." Doing a little research helped me figure out that the piece has to be from 1959-April 1982 based on the company's name. It changed after 1982 to The Leslie Fay Company. Elizabeth, I could use your expertise! 

I hope to modify the bottom hem a bit since it's so short or find a way to wear it with some sort of pencil skirt or belt. Or both. Fun stuff!

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (22. A Long Time Painted: Color in Our Lives)

The Bedroom Wall

The Bath

The Living Room

Steve and I painted one wall in each room. I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but I decided to include photos from all three. We needed color in our lives. We knew we would be living in the apartment for at least another year and decided [what the hey?!] and why not paint one wall in each room. We can think Home Depot for the Oops! paints that we bought because we saved (we calculated it, dorky, I know!) at least $60 on paint and supplies. We bought $5 gallon buckets of paint that were rejected in their Oops stash in the colors we wanted anyway. We have plenty of extra paint and plenty of other projects, too. Here's to a little color!

50 Projects: 52 Weeks (21. Sunset at Devil's Lake: A Two-Piece Wedding Landscape)

For the beautiful bride and groom. Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, WI. I've been working on perfecting reflections and water. It's a challenge to paint, but I love the way this one turned out. 

Congratulations, Mike and Jen!

Big Baby

This is the newest addition to our micro-sized apartment: Teal'C [pronounced Tealk]. He's mostly Siberian Husky with maybe about 10% Malamute. Teal'C has a very stubborn, very lovable personality. The first 48 hours we had him (pre-neuter); he didn't sleep, nap, or blink. He would just bark and talk and pace and be generally obnoxious. He went after the cat in the middle of the night (subsequently, cat on my face in the middle of the night...what a sight to behold!). Teal'C is loyal and pretty goofy. He isn't aggressive and he's learning a little bit each day. Plus. We figured out how to break him. He gets AT LEAST two 4-mile runs (on a bicycle, mind you) a day. It completely obliterates his energy level and he's less prone to terrorizing Frank, the cat.

Now Steve doesn't have to sleep on the couch anymore. Baby steps. And he's a big baby.