tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40330041146792530132024-03-13T04:26:02.698-07:00On a Walmart WalletJoin me on my journey to decorate my house, feed my family and indulge in my hobbies on a VERY tight budget.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09139820193128606564noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033004114679253013.post-76178129470302213432010-11-28T08:17:00.000-08:002010-11-29T15:46:03.700-08:00Rustic Christmas WreathIt's getting chilly outside. Time for Christmas decorations! This year I thought I'd try my hand at making a wreath for the front door. Completely inspired by my <a href="http://onawalmartwallet.blogspot.com/2010/11/procrastination-can-pay-off.html">Autumn Wreath</a>.<br />
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I picked up a few things from Hobby Lobby the other day. They were having all of their Christmas stuff 50% off so I had to get some. Since this was only my second wreath, I wasn't sure what I was doing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ5_a7yzYI/AAAAAAAAFGM/PtewDE3HerA/s1600/IMG_3391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ5_a7yzYI/AAAAAAAAFGM/PtewDE3HerA/s400/IMG_3391.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both;">I wanted it to have a chilly, rustic feel. I tried to keep the color pallette simple. There were SO many colors and elements to choose from. I almost got overwhelmed. But I just focused on my vision. I sat there in the aisle of Hobby Lobby with my wreath and was practically designing it right there. I placed the hollies and pine cones right on top. Added the icicles. I kept playing around with various things until I thought it looked complete.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ7Z1h-woI/AAAAAAAAFGU/TGoMrUZjadc/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ7Z1h-woI/AAAAAAAAFGU/TGoMrUZjadc/s400/IMG_3392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I took out my handy little glue gun and fired it up. I added each element a few at a time. Once it looked good I'd adhere it right in place. After a few glue gun burns and kid interruptions I completed it fairly quickly.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ6SbGhoEI/AAAAAAAAFGQ/qGurruwLjiM/s1600/IMG_3393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ6SbGhoEI/AAAAAAAAFGQ/qGurruwLjiM/s400/IMG_3393.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I put it up outside on my door. It looks a little sparse to me but I'm thinking that's what the rustic feel is all about?? I don't know. It's not perfect, but I like it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ4Zi26EII/AAAAAAAAFGA/KCsLfeTlemo/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TPJ4Zi26EII/AAAAAAAAFGA/KCsLfeTlemo/s400/IMG_3397.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Cost:</span></u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Wreath: $2.00</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Star: $3.00</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>7 ice branches: $3.50</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>2 Pine cones: $2.27</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Silver Spruce: $1.00</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Red Hollies: $2.50</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Total cost: $ 14.27</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Linking to:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dCf7e8UPkSU/S7z5iw0G19I/AAAAAAAAI80/IKWFxa4lUvk/s1600/button4bmp-1.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://thegirlcreative.blogspot.com/search/label/Just%20Something%20I%20Whipped%20Up" target="_blank"><img alt="The Girl Creative" src="http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq286/happielife32/JSIWU_BUTTON.png" /></a></center>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09139820193128606564noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033004114679253013.post-2335701604768515262010-11-13T14:42:00.000-08:002010-11-14T06:23:46.718-08:00Procrastination Can Pay Off!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was meaning to make an Autumn Wreath for several weeks but something else on the To Do list kept getting in the way. I finally made my way to Michael's a few days after Halloween. They were having some huge mark downs on the fall stuff. So I picked some things up and tried my hand at making a wreath. My very first time!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here you can see our extremely boring front door. Oh how I wish I could paint it!! Or even just have the kick plate replaced with one that matches our door handle. And a new mat. Those things will happen...Eventually.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8OCnv4bTI/AAAAAAAAFA8/M0y2ypLuYYI/s1600/IMG_3185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8OCnv4bTI/AAAAAAAAFA8/M0y2ypLuYYI/s640/IMG_3185.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since we live in Texas I thought it would be neat to add a star to the middle of the wreath. I hot glued the star first, then added the leaves a few at a time.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8N9FCVemI/AAAAAAAAFA4/mhzlkDt_LRE/s1600/IMG_3184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8N9FCVemI/AAAAAAAAFA4/mhzlkDt_LRE/s400/IMG_3184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At first I thought I would decorate only one side. It just didn't look right. Nobody in the family liked it. It MUST be symmetrical! So off I went to Michaels to find another matching leaf vine. I was hoping I wasn't too late!! You know how those things happen. Someone else buys the very last one. Or they discontinue it. Or it's 35 degrees out and they bring out the bathing suits...</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Qyn15pXI/AAAAAAAAFBA/ufCTRPp2OaE/s1600/IMG_3187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Qyn15pXI/AAAAAAAAFBA/ufCTRPp2OaE/s400/IMG_3187.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, I played around with it and added some more leaves to the other side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8S7fMnREI/AAAAAAAAFBE/ptUEusPxXUA/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8S7fMnREI/AAAAAAAAFBE/ptUEusPxXUA/s640/IMG_3223.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ahhh, much better!!</span> </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8TMe0IlQI/AAAAAAAAFBM/kBokDbefqyQ/s1600/IMG_3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8TMe0IlQI/AAAAAAAAFBM/kBokDbefqyQ/s640/IMG_3225.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I didn't spend $80 on a premade one. :)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Next I'll be attempting to make a Christmas one.</span><br />
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</span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Costs:</span></u></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wreath: $4.00</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Star: $3.00</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Leaf Vines $4.50</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pumpkins 0.99</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Final cost: $12.49</span></strong></div></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09139820193128606564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033004114679253013.post-2869940406666448032010-11-08T06:33:00.000-08:002010-11-14T06:51:31.860-08:00The Best White Chicken Chili<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am not a huge fan of chili. But my husband forced me to try out some mild chili when we were at a function that had a chili cook-off. My favorite was the white chicken chili. The cook had the recipe written next to the pot. I'm not sure if this was legal, but I took the liberty of taking a photo of it so we could make some at home. I HAD to have it and I was desperate!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_0FBavHnI/AAAAAAAAFDA/pBEIauGgDNc/s1600/IMG_3182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_0FBavHnI/AAAAAAAAFDA/pBEIauGgDNc/s400/IMG_3182.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I think we ended up tweaking it a bit and then he found us a recipe online. We make it as soon as the cold weather approaches. It's so good with some fresh french bread or some homemade Garlic bread. Mmmm.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_0aT3B3WI/AAAAAAAAFDE/vvwC9a9McAQ/s1600/IMG_3183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_0aT3B3WI/AAAAAAAAFDE/vvwC9a9McAQ/s400/IMG_3183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I love to add TONS of cilantro to mine. We like to change it up a bit. This time my hubby added some avocados and it was to die for!!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_0qX_zubI/AAAAAAAAFDI/8mG9ptUFBfs/s1600/IMG_3181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_0qX_zubI/AAAAAAAAFDI/8mG9ptUFBfs/s400/IMG_3181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It makes for a great breakfast the next morning. And lunch and dinner. It gets better as the days go on!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><u>White Chicken Chili</u></span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<strong><u>Ingredients:</u></strong><br />
2 cups diced onions<br />
2 cups diced celery <br />
5 garlic cloves, chopped <br />
1/2 cup vegetable oil <br />
1 pound chicken breast, cooked and diced <br />
8 cups water <br />
1 bay leaf <br />
1 (7-ounce) can chopped green chilies <br />
1/2 teaspoon oregano <br />
1/2 teaspoon cumin <br />
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard <br />
1/2 teaspoon basil <br />
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning <br />
1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning<br />
1/3 of a 7-ounce can chipotle in adobo, chopped <br />
4 tablespoons chicken base <br />
1 jalapeno, chopped<br />
2 pounds white beans, soaked overnight <br />
1/2 cup heavy cream <br />
16 ounces sour cream <br />
1 bunch cilantro, chopped <br />
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<strong><u>Directions</u></strong> <br />
Saute onion, celery, and garlic in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. In a large stockpot add chicken, water, bay leaf, chiles, oregano, cumin, dry mustard, basil, Old Bay, Cajun seasoning, chipotle, chicken base, and pickled jalapeno and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add the drained beans and heavy cream and simmer for 1 hour, or until the beans are tender. Garnish soup with cilantro and sour cream.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09139820193128606564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4033004114679253013.post-32347102326567222702010-11-01T15:00:00.000-07:002010-11-18T06:19:44.482-08:00Garage Sale Desk<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>This is my first ever refinishing job. Please don't laugh. Snickering is okay though because I'm used to my kids doing it to me. ;)</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On Friday I was on my way home from dropping the kids off at school. I saw a Garage sale sign in my neighborhood. I've been looking for dressers and a desk to refinish but hadn't try a garage sale in a while. </span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I saw this desk sitting there and thought, "Oh I have to have it!!". But guilt took over and I drove away alone. As I saw it in the rear view mirror I got a bit sad. So I made a U-turn and then made a deal.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;"><em>(You can click on the images for larger photos. But please excuse the blurry ones. My camera is in the process of a slow, painful death.)</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Ya1EF8RI/AAAAAAAAFBo/VOekrBjBBBQ/s1600/IMG_3064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Ya1EF8RI/AAAAAAAAFBo/VOekrBjBBBQ/s400/IMG_3064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was marked, "Antique Desk $40". I only had $32 cash in my purse. I've never negotiated before so I was a bit nervous. I simply asked her if she would take $30 for it. She said yes!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Yebg6IJI/AAAAAAAAFBs/-4qtQJbG2Dg/s1600/IMG_3065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Yebg6IJI/AAAAAAAAFBs/-4qtQJbG2Dg/s400/IMG_3065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I absolutely LOVE the marks and old nasty dirt it has. While I was refinishing it I caught whiff of that "old house" smell. How could you not like that smell? :)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Yh1MgheI/AAAAAAAAFBw/Fc4zqyx_Pbg/s1600/IMG_3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8Yh1MgheI/AAAAAAAAFBw/Fc4zqyx_Pbg/s400/IMG_3066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I knew immediately that I wanted to paint it white. But I wasn't sure if it should be distressed or give it a few good coats of shiny white. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8b52YY2HI/AAAAAAAAFB0/djLggTfx1Fg/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8b52YY2HI/AAAAAAAAFB0/djLggTfx1Fg/s400/IMG_3238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">As I was sanding it, I let it "speak" to me. She was begging me to leave the top as it so she can show off her age. And distress the body in white paint.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8b-dw0rII/AAAAAAAAFB4/p47tz8t3IUA/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8b-dw0rII/AAAAAAAAFB4/p47tz8t3IUA/s400/IMG_3233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> I had no idea what I was doing since I've never done it before.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8caXjPT7I/AAAAAAAAFCA/lOn_yCsZyv0/s1600/IMG_3232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8caXjPT7I/AAAAAAAAFCA/lOn_yCsZyv0/s640/IMG_3232.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I sanded her down while admiring her curves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8cd-u9AOI/AAAAAAAAFCE/SmJerQbjaGs/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8cd-u9AOI/AAAAAAAAFCE/SmJerQbjaGs/s400/IMG_3245.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I gave her a quick coat and let it dry. I sanded again and them left it as is. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8cgt3H1OI/AAAAAAAAFCI/OElrn_Oz4LI/s1600/IMG_3246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN8cgt3H1OI/AAAAAAAAFCI/OElrn_Oz4LI/s400/IMG_3246.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm pretty happy with it. I just need to decide if the top should have a clear varnish coat on it? Or leave her naked. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_jzHmV25I/AAAAAAAAFCg/k_CyMUiilwU/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TN_jzHmV25I/AAAAAAAAFCg/k_CyMUiilwU/s400/IMG_3243.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TOU1gweQONI/AAAAAAAAFD4/JrDT9edjSlE/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JlYwJCvxJac/TOU1gweQONI/AAAAAAAAFD4/JrDT9edjSlE/s400/IMG_3297.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">What do you think? I'd love to hear your suggestions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><u><strong>Costs:</strong></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Vintage Desk: $30</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Sandpaper laying in the Garage: Free</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Leftover white Paint: Free</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><strong>Final cost: $30</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Linking to:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a border="0" href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/blog%20design/transformation-thursday-button2.png" /></a></div>Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09139820193128606564noreply@blogger.com2