*Moooo*cho Bene!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a great weekend(!) ... my son and I joined my husband for a business trip back to our old stomping grounds in Northern Virginia, where we once lived before my husband retired from the Marine Corps ... beautiful area, except for the traffic!  We miss our friends dearly who still live there and were happy to see a few who we haven't seen in years ... what a blast we all had!  The screams and laughter from our kiddos playing was a riot ... Jax loves his new buds!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While there, I a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lso got to go to IKEA ... yippee!  I.love.that.store!  I'd go there quite a bit when we lived in NoVA.  Their prices are more than reasonable, and they have such fun and unique goodies.  A few things managed to come home with me (imagine that) ... the best being a cowhide rug!  You may remember that I've been looking for one for awhile now to add to our dining room.  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, the wait is *ova* ... meet "Elsie" (as affectionately named by my husband).  Elsie needs a larger sisal rug underneath of her, but that's not a priority right now:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjA1CoKlZRf_tfs_6lpqL15TyV1NA3HgamfsrKEnIo-Erlr6c18T9LH9F7xrZz9cGcIFJfMVECadkWfJOTAPpJkj9gOgiXCnwALZAtEVzUic-2U4v1WN1CXfrV4QNtQk5Qaq0uppMyvE/s1600/cowright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjA1CoKlZRf_tfs_6lpqL15TyV1NA3HgamfsrKEnIo-Erlr6c18T9LH9F7xrZz9cGcIFJfMVECadkWfJOTAPpJkj9gOgiXCnwALZAtEVzUic-2U4v1WN1CXfrV4QNtQk5Qaq0uppMyvE/s400/cowright.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Love her shades of caramel and cream:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJRKMbdrMAaPMtQTDNkU55YL1XT8DibblCbgE9mCgEG-tyNGW4nsaSiaLql7sX54QLv5J6g0M9ELqBjUNtZKfk_bhScFoJGrt8vVxDXl9V3Vs7C4BYC7d3VDdlzDsp2Kki2igjJyhJ9c/s1600/cowkitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJRKMbdrMAaPMtQTDNkU55YL1XT8DibblCbgE9mCgEG-tyNGW4nsaSiaLql7sX54QLv5J6g0M9ELqBjUNtZKfk_bhScFoJGrt8vVxDXl9V3Vs7C4BYC7d3VDdlzDsp2Kki2igjJyhJ9c/s400/cowkitchen.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, how she ties in with the tops of the table and buffet.  Annnnd, yes (*hangs head low*) ... I changed out my pillows:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1jRzoB_4NB_PyQzqhC6X6Cml2OBtGY0VNI4QnxbXHEyvZsUGxyh0OPkmGCj3Uwvi9Qo-TN49xsh2zfYcJnOJ2kk1YKtFRn62Uuor7Hpb_tPEVx7hL_Mj4iXHVcn7hJ3neCZRhdrPgH4/s1600/cowchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1jRzoB_4NB_PyQzqhC6X6Cml2OBtGY0VNI4QnxbXHEyvZsUGxyh0OPkmGCj3Uwvi9Qo-TN49xsh2zfYcJnOJ2kk1YKtFRn62Uuor7Hpb_tPEVx7hL_Mj4iXHVcn7hJ3neCZRhdrPgH4/s400/cowchair.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hope she enjoys it here!</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcGc5mb2Lp90iOMfL0_IEFX4Quw7UQQauqOKlT2c9utB1rck0zFfEspC_MbqCG0LU3UwhtThYtKK9sI9ew1RPxGgUCfYYu5x7Z6XlnOHOQzf1whJE55FcVr72M-Duqf78Xvbt5DrtEoY/s1600/cowleft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcGc5mb2Lp90iOMfL0_IEFX4Quw7UQQauqOKlT2c9utB1rck0zFfEspC_MbqCG0LU3UwhtThYtKK9sI9ew1RPxGgUCfYYu5x7Z6XlnOHOQzf1whJE55FcVr72M-Duqf78Xvbt5DrtEoY/s400/cowleft.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Still looking for the perfect *bling bling* chandelier!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">******</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As an aside ... what fun it was to go back to DC as a tourist.  I worked there for six years and, while I did NOT enjoy the commute, it was pretty neat working at our nation's capital.  One of the law firms where I worked was right across the street from the White House ... talk about an incredible view!  Here's another amazing view ... amazingly *scary,* that is!  Jax and I are about to become a dino snack!  LOL</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxwkxuRhvQ7a8hkxvb-OyvmsbLxRB83VaTwlJAvkwYT2iVD8zEP1zHgof0qpOhnFa6wCG-Mj0PeMpFPzZCLWeaxw615X4p-X-9fpIYZ5Q__ObGRN9cNMZFqfXXZcSJnu5swRaDzOxQ70/s1600/dcdino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxwkxuRhvQ7a8hkxvb-OyvmsbLxRB83VaTwlJAvkwYT2iVD8zEP1zHgof0qpOhnFa6wCG-Mj0PeMpFPzZCLWeaxw615X4p-X-9fpIYZ5Q__ObGRN9cNMZFqfXXZcSJnu5swRaDzOxQ70/s400/dcdino.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hmmm ... think Santa might leave one of these baubles for me under the Christmas tree this year?  Um, yeah, I highly doubt it, too!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KMmxa7IO9pP_YNkQv2wJM0G5NHxvTmfAA6-2zDR6ptLoMIyuy50fni7CR6OPGUYrtz2Tt7OQPeQhZFyiZltEJwg0wKH7stI-sh1HwWVudJGIaF2jF7-qDW6YBSRl27pY-NJiMrMARMU/s1600/dcme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KMmxa7IO9pP_YNkQv2wJM0G5NHxvTmfAA6-2zDR6ptLoMIyuy50fni7CR6OPGUYrtz2Tt7OQPeQhZFyiZltEJwg0wKH7stI-sh1HwWVudJGIaF2jF7-qDW6YBSRl27pY-NJiMrMARMU/s400/dcme.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Looking forward to a tour of the White House next time we travel that way!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhkP-BGefMhb2BDxuWeauY4U2a42YSVQemgHmC5l-vQVDrzQRVH3xZn9bcqjiey7NDh6PyoACxQjGFNABtbH5fCopZbmEOy7742yrQKttp4aPDsG7U6VyM2ACCUDk90mPL3NbBnuzzjA/s1600/dcus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhkP-BGefMhb2BDxuWeauY4U2a42YSVQemgHmC5l-vQVDrzQRVH3xZn9bcqjiey7NDh6PyoACxQjGFNABtbH5fCopZbmEOy7742yrQKttp4aPDsG7U6VyM2ACCUDk90mPL3NbBnuzzjA/s640/dcus1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'll share my other little IKEA goodies next time ... t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">hanks for stopping by!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca </em></strong></span></div>

*Moooo*cho Bene!

What a great weekend(!) ... my son and I joined my husband for a business trip back to our old stomping grounds in Northern Virginia, where we once lived before my husband retired from the Marine Corps ... beautiful area, except for the traffic!  We miss our friends dearly who still live there and w…

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Thank You, BHG.com !!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just sharing a little fun news ... I was truly thrilled and flattered when the folks at BHG.com contacted me to see if they could include my Fall mantel from last year as part of their 2011 Fall Mantel Inspiration Ideas slideshow!  Of course, I said "YES!"  I loved seeing our little ol' mantel included:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvLED9HJPMKuzPk8T9AsvPEWUqxsQhQI4eeRDevmlco4WZSETUEqxDiLKwK8YkDWe5_8apabNV1bGVXdAzFJAjz4-eW9bQ2c3BOQKw8txc1y7R6jo2tEMQgEYES5rfKEH8LOsuuHruJo/s1600/fallmantel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The excerpt from BHG.com read: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>"A combination of real and </em></span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/topics/arts-and-crafts/faux.htm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>faux</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em> foliage looks beautiful on a fall </em></span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/topics/home-improvement/decor/mantel.htm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>mantel</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>. Becca Bertotti (adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com) created her flower arrangements by tucking real and fake branches into a vase adding pheasant feathers and </em></span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/topics/lawn-and-garden/burlap.htm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>burlap</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em> in the base. To create the garland, Becca strung various size and color wood craft beads onto wire and hung the string at various heights. A few tucked-in lights add glow."</em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The entire slideshow may be found <a href="http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/decorating/fall-mantel-decorating-ideas/#page=11">here</a>.  I loved seeing a few of my blogging buddies' mantels included, as well ... I know you will, too!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you believe we'll all be decking out our mantels for the holidays before we know it?  Yippee!  (Ummm, is that wrong that I'm already looking forward to it?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a fabulous weekend ... stay cool!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div>

Thank You, BHG.com !!

Just sharing a little fun news ... I was truly thrilled and flattered when the folks at BHG.com contacted me to see if they could include my Fall mantel from last year as part of their 2011 Fall Mantel Inspiration Ideas slideshow!  Of course, I said "YES!"  I loved seeing our little ol' mantel inclu…

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OCD + Chalk Paint =

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ME ... LOL !!  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before long, I'm afraid that everything in our home will be covered in this fabulous paint !!  I've now stepped it up a notch by painting a more "permanent" piece in our home ... the built-in dry bar we added in our breakfast area a couple of years ago!  My goal was to make this look like a seperate piece of furniture ... different from the neighboring kitchen cabinets.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>BEFORE:</strong>  </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPsuk4FqhxXckGs1d9xysr0ESkbLFcsyZdDn5j37otCkuLdwOkwuOKHSzRYju1OxVJv-Pz5mTdlc9GmHCYJbmzqGKXwQaYUBmY9mxBV2DxCOFE_-AcxUPaeirvqDiPzTbMpxnDFvevVw/s1600/drybarb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>AFTER:</strong>  Yippeeeeee.  Lovin' its new *character* </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43LPjNdvMHO-wINuoYdh7Fm_z3v6rfxWUqU8ppxU4ilWgaA39ITWM0r2CBpYbYGFeqju7SoDfHCVxZgm1Y09lwzinurTqlP6ux_TMfay1VQkpMUMGridNYp_Ieib5Iqy2TAoyCQ-zbZw/s1600/drybaroverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">One coat of Old White was followed by almost two coats of Chateaux Grey.  Of course, a bit of distressing was in order:</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJQRDwne9UoObLJC00Hj3txSFjIPzEMtujR1sijdqQYCS7CroVAcuuEcqqQjhbpSTIRJqkLpYppoTE8tFe2KMBXjqRElau_QCK9GSAssrA4wvslbc4y-naLLOZ5s4HR4g7N36A_S4sv4/s1600/drybardistress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Naturally, I had to switch up the counter a bit, too:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OoIpnSify4nhPRbqZGyCozHjOGGFJ3hX9z3lx2dJKQNsvSkgT16Se-McLHY72WmYZUHZG8fspGXCeImi7CWCcplSL05l4TSH9AjVIwFokblxmePLB8RV-FyP1cnAQ-oOGieGUhuSLTE/s1600/drybarside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKldUo1e_4eoncplfnz6H67SPtDiBlCA5GWFd6w10ruDreG1rZsEh4HdwV9ueFLzu-q1dYgGfaikqmK4TafXs8jiHQy_3nDuhCTD3fO1L6r-ft8wVAcQOi1X4YMp71YuwQVfmgAZQ5Yv8/s1600/drybarcheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hwVAr_PGBANeV91-dXR4IIX7zhHw1NYQQwWGC2p2a8w2Glw3b9SHaGJynk_ZNZ8NVvtULVQWwd0rmk0j66S1ShLVoV7L3V7RagnTUHxWXBxJJ_XFmw8c0boTKnC41xhFMOUE_-hO88A/s1600/drybarroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yjy_rpsnPNXcZN7L_UBcmdk_MrpleUa5s7XlaZGiXmReN55sSMIKL_wHr4UqwyUh4cDQVrYB_U4tqMl1rO35ONf5qjklA0fp9HYeJNqjAg7hOBRhZ6Jg1LBrzS-GLI8dBMPnYgZYuNU/s1600/drybargrapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To create my little *faux* menu, I bought an inexpensive piece of black poster board and cut it to fit inside a frame I wasn't using.   I then used my handy dandy chalk ink markers to create a menu:</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCezVJKFBINJMazTdEEjsgoqOMffz8DFYUYTPBkH54p1b9Psa5TM0JzwFFTt_ZJ2wCRH10bYr5HT8wGliea04PcCatbstt0FQkuw5-uxcLMmOr8QkngBi20Ksfl3KLEscIYOtOvRxtMe0/s1600/drybarmenu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soup, anyone?</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Edk_hahE0fwdXQKS5GT7AEvxnMSgGM0YU8o0V5OXQ9ls5B1lc3t8zyINjMkZzBwBQ8mzoX9Fb4MY8AjpiILUDfMZ11URco8WyAoOdIDtBm0DUU3XkPaflbw_pRMmwqMSMLhIGxbYjrU/s1600/drybarsoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may have noticed that I took the glass doors off of the center bump out cabinets.  I love having this as my display area now (I'm on the lookout for fabric or wallpaper to add to the back):</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLl6xS-kSe2-inaDon-mfqidtcvLXPf8QcUYuzWrKadwcHUcGoPKmvb-3mhV4TDC2USchX2Fe28pAsmv1P589D-ODUmr7gif9mWhGfCgLLl7h79tYd1Y96FUwqHDUV55ycm7V8lx_fu7c/s1600/drybartopcab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEFORE:</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ozQaVakKOEOzGEaOuSkSL-oBCItw0X4qdgFMZp6KHxqYWhn9lXHs3cxUW1bZzymIXhEGHyspWfcjW8XfVdJmiKvAVmptPkQW2t6BAlj46f0VK6gkSRM3FugwleeWR-5XjhyphenhyphenDrTkRVQ8/s1600/drybar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>AFTER:</strong>  *Buh-bye* doors!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2unmznUEDDcGAmspZyK0Kzz-9cICCYZ-0l-fiSAT0knUnSjW-GvfqqI_TQrgpfuyecrK-jT0cBxkZX4V_GtLzmVndgtzRNRRIUlU8e6du1w4X1b0TCax5HU4T-jOQxfVjzymJ1JyUQGg/s1600/drybarside2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2hqxPG9O6SmFE9McLRNCQzX2xGPS8cw0m6TGu5lGFRTYUOBdaImc-HcUNoz50OrSKdkqVPDnnFZRxlyWYGvBfFns0fM5MKH0XS7pCmWh10qwPRYX4xyZUwZW5aLK78JBzhX7dkjJL-M/s1600/drybarcabsside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's fun being able to pull out a few of my white pieces that have been hidden away behind cabinet doors:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-2MVrkWVK0l2-1akFkIjFRGOtj3atwEPG1omKF8XGckEYOmwQCETVON3rA6z2rZD43CySkV9-q_fSR8shGtY9o07aTBMjTNd5DqXThCDhERM1FWGop6X5-4sqJy9DZGxPAZswDf6orw/s1600/drybarcups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpyXMUR0S7LSe970memlBm-KEsJhyekCZtlGf6QEk5KEJz3YyPq-_TyjHs8LzPDU7ygQ9VIHGLrU6tKFoP_JX7Dn0GRhR5W3x1jTYZgLcfgwp6AxLmUzFV0_d7-x_R1wM3fH06Ek1DOs/s1600/drybarcow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I moved this "lazy Susan" to the top of the cabs:</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VK4GkAKiaFxKpHwL3GUR9iDwivyysQbJ2JdX93ck7jemEgHYJYGC7T7AqNmuHxgPKbAiiKPx1LE3SNeY7CROykB2Y8S7Xxjn2t8BrTYgvQxvA_8bnd98giuxy-3utd6LuGhn4LzGFgc/s1600/drybartopwine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, I also added new, inexpensive knobs (from Lowe's):</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32FgMDjCL5-fAc4tMHdoU63Z97pWn-VA8Duaf1ibTgVyAEJragXPmDKg6hkaTwNawEeEQzuesj05dvpPZImRPzOYyn00z5DW9boEGsRN0ECbc7lXPamAg_K3967wrfsELTz8G2qQoRyU/s1600/drybarknob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One last little peek.  I'm still debating what I'll do with the backsplash ... decisions, decisions ....</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3NWTojCiipcye9tBNoYUqwvVYe429fJ3GkiCS09buMYRwMKuibsoM9EM6yJT1lMHlfvajXXekKXG3zGKagmZ4F7WIuLKl5B0zfRS1ojF1uM7AJc0hpnUU7N0Y-cj5UleYYY-yp9f0iQ/s1600/drybarlast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for coming on ova!  Have a fabulous day!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, I'm giving a big blogger "thank you" to Amber and Brad of <a href="http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/2011/07/annie-sloan-chalk-paint-link-party.html">Shades of Amber</a> for featuring my buffet, which I painted with Old White chalk paint.  What fun that they're hosting a chalk paint party every week now!  Uh oh ... this could be trouble.  Be sure and pay them a visit!  They're also hosting a fabulous chalk paint giveaway!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don't forget to swing on by these fun linky parties for lots of inspiration:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/07/amaze-me-monday-33.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BNOTP/<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/07/bathroom-renovation-ordinary-becomes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Metamorphosis Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Shades of Amber/<a href="http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/2011/07/annie-sloan-chalk-paint-link-party.html">Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/2011/07/tuesdays-treasures_19.html">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/wow-us-wednesdays-23.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the Picket Fence/<a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2011/07/welcome-to-inspiration-friday-no-24.html">Inspiration Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">French Country Cottage/<a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/07/feathered-nest-friday_21.html">Feathered Nest Friday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div>

OCD + Chalk Paint =

ME ... LOL !!  Before long, I'm afraid that everything in our home will be covered in this fabulous paint !!  I've now stepped it up a notch by painting a more "permanent" piece in our home ... the built-in dry bar we added in our breakfast area a couple of years ago!  My goal was to make this look …

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Thanks, Kristin !!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to send a huge thank you to the lovely and talented, Kristin, at <a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a>. Somehow, I won a giveaway that she graciously hosted, and I received her package today!  Inside was a beautiful handcrafted pillow cover, along with sweet smelling lavender sachets ... all created by Kristin (and available at her fabulous Etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/uncommonlinens">Uncommon Linens</a>)!  Needless to say, I immediately found a spot for my "new" pillow, and her sachets are now making my drawers (pun intended) smell oh-so-good!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfh6AG5LLbUTQng6lxRkfJXuWynmma_Vlqmd20N_M4ik1IlAEYtCp29PwKfqmPonFevr_94-GLHa1PPASfa8kpYVQMm8JTlXjqdiAPmLMNwNYzqlq6nh7Mno41l1mBX8afY80mmY0cfE/s1600/kpillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks, Kristin !!  xoxo</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful weekend !!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Thanks, Kristin !!

I want to send a huge thank you to the lovely and talented, Kristin, at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia. Somehow, I won a giveaway that she graciously hosted, and I received her package today!  Inside was a beautiful handcrafted pillow cover, along with sweet smelling lavender sachets ... all created …

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Spreading the Love ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's right, folks ... for those of us who have become addicted to AS's chalk paint, we know that a little goes a long way.  And, after I painted my accent chest Old White/Chateaux Grey (seen <a href="http://adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com/2011/07/le-chateaux.html">here</a>), I certainly couldn't let the rest of the paint go to waste, now could I?!  Sooooo ... I closed my eyes and let my paint brush lead me to my next project.  </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was then that I found myself in our kitchen ... staring at the island, which I've loved being Antique White ... hadn't even thought about changing the color, but we all know how that goes.  Before I knew it, the first stroke of Chateaux Grey (which really should be called Chateaux *Green*) had applied itself.  Then came the clear wax, followed by some distressing:</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEFORE:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTo3RDTvdTbAmMDQD5b8TUYPmzEEt53vOtISpOH2F13eXYbWNUOJPzaur9o2j8bPxjdHSplAEy-0nqs_wvGFkswuG6ibwI_ITdn3osa-sz_ciNFP4ZwR7xkDcQ5rBDLlj5iDABCJsi9o/s1600/kitchendoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AFTER:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuINtAQ4x8LUi27hSKB_HKoAsiieX5dJg2bQcmggs9Xb1NSDdiAZ-A5kTvNTbmDGbM0M6XkU0EKDmMYZ5dEseQq0DYuBUS9y8uVKyL9P76ACLfD3Lt__AsSFmByWGsvIbk4e2BGl4hL-o/s1600/islandafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60FON-0leMv3C47_-JHmqN-0OJxZVMbJFo0ahU2pWnvcrgGPoGxWAorKriHMhR4Q0E_VQIT75S3KI0OtftVG4ZdAfIssVhVm9PSre_TZd4ZSm8UUs4UsAGYLffbFcCfXswccMSJsw0L4/s1600/islandafter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Love the white peeking through:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3i1lhsTPNcIf8SWciCtJ6XGvxyhuOpHMt5vc_AMsMPORZZ8wOHxo7IEHn2x9W6PeSYkhBWIJe_n02x1lwmCtmnf7BjTKOslOf41miGOgXk9Nfpbw03HpSzseJfgqwz7GjzQ_YrP8_hk/s1600/islandclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAPBRJg6jr288dvzkckzDpHzYFiFJ0TRLHphIJmge8p-ufo0XRfzd3VaeE6HzBb0LCeRaLk13iKw013r9WbGGNBRa4_PceVdmXKq2VmHktpe3IGcBeV2bM7lwNyKZ9zFOf9B3c0RZoEU/s1600/islandafterfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm on the hunt for new, fun knobs, as well.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bGVhvgOsYb2sDUICB1OTQz4WNlMQvidevmjO-dkLKd2HM2QWRvyUGBwchezKz7BH-RxHBZWXPvs_bk4s7E4qA666_k5NNiCGVDI8BS_TpJhR6mTDQbPGj4OJc6N0Riq86O9wCcrb_Lg/s1600/islandafterknob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Roo (from Dollar General) got a splash of Old White on his frame to bounce better off of the Chateaux Grey:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpeO0g0FmavVxdDprA_Kj-fKWvAcq98ElGUIP768BFCFXE7QV8Cxv5Z5pjoKpkX_bjJPkuSBXICtCXao4WT4riKYyJrQccIUEjnoVfwz28BsVf2rbVGHqfYmzBbs9OkwiHhpDLJL9XlE/s1600/islandroo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While my husband loves it, he mentioned that it did darken the kitchen up a bit ... to which I responded (in my best Wicked Witch of the West voice), "never fear, my dear, lest you forget that Mama's got *big* plans for some of the kitchen cabinets ?! Mwah ha ha ...."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgtar4JqX4IjXUDYL8_3ERljmkNl4OnP8SLyd1MuJ0cFzEA3JOcHkvIcCAXG4BPiSC3s6Cqz0acQFjxCf806ErnGEuUSra_N-_02XCuu8jCDJYtbkXLzyoYJdf6A6iQJS9j0ASl8WJBs/s1600/witch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(dipity.com)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, by now, you guys know that I like odd numbers ... this makes two pieces that I've painted Chateaux Grey.  You know what that means, right?  Please come back soon so that I may show you the third piece!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As always, thanks for stopping by ... I'm off to play at these wonderful linky parties:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/07/amaze-me-monday-32.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Shades of Amber/<a href="http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/2011/07/annie-sloan-chalk-paint-linky-party.html">AS Chalk Paint Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/wow-us-wednesdays-22-and-features.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At the Picket Fence/<a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2011/07/welcome-to-inspiration-friday-no-23.html">Inspiration Friday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Becca</span></em></strong></div>

Spreading the Love ...

That's right, folks ... for those of us who have become addicted to AS's chalk paint, we know that a little goes a long way.  And, after I painted my accent chest Old White/Chateaux Grey (seen here), I certainly couldn't let the rest of the paint go to waste, now could I?!  Sooooo ... I closed my ey…

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Le Chateaux ...

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!  We had a fun-filled weekend, for sure!  Let's see, we </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">hosted a small gathering to celebrate my sweet and handsome hubby's birthday:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span>  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U7vGiEiBGagxPaVy-r6u2GHwDm6RluEVU5LxfhHEq9pDSCYP_k-7s4SiootUpMAIBqzGK710WQ_WUb4sx888gb_QNZpVGmkmX6ytXWl92pUrFcVECXXbDnmwCbwoLup2Q9TXZk5cRhg/s1600/johnbday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">ate WAY too much:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss9-sXGOqkzLKkl5cggxI1BU6i6SsmsUJIYyZ84rtn773c14X37sLH0rUc8BDQ5VaaJrgWNP2gy_NTSEGYEDZ1dVhfDJNCEVVMsr9Sf-fpGzvyve0gj-ZOCV-KBzlwDIrYXPqC6xG4PQ/s1600/johnfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and played on the beach with awesome friends (Jax loved "flying" into the water) ... oh to be young and "simple" again:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXdkD6Si0ObICvQ3HzOQ1SvqIIRcEIu3VQkiY_ZpEmGbon8L58HOj9TXxP5eq5pB1La0AykKEeWlWaZ-MT8pTa47HlSro_voANNT74yKSNskgmlEbl_59DiPqj2wk9Vjg7SkQvaqWw7Y/s1600/johnjax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm sure you'll agree that it went by much too quickly!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I must give a *HA-UGE* thank you to all of you who commiserated with me by admitting that, you too, also suffer from "DJS" in my recent <a href="http://adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com/2011/06/do-you-suffer-from-djs.html">post</a> !!  I'm just glad that we can all suffer together ... aren't you?  I look forward to sharing many other decorating ailments in the future (as well as my made up Chinese proverbs)!  LOL</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm keeping it simple today by sharing another chalk paint redo.  Some of you will gasp when you see that I painted over such a pretty piece (in fact, I was almost afraid to share the before pic); however, as much as I loved it, the parrots needed to fly back into the woods. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPg_PBypvvSnAGJAUYa9TG-Unu0xr321d3GW5Bqt4sVz0I4WQQn6oxYB0LR6gV716a68thQN4hnhDpROHwJz1mg8fWRZaeWwlHQV-LQF1O3m87CEb6d0_OGMWX_d5lhASDqXxC53vOs3c/s1600/birdbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After adding a coat of AS Old White, I then added two coats of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chateaux Grey.   </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMvVnsOHzoC08Vtx7Kk34QzuMGacbcxe4hjnPrvfmGsoihooyg6ZE0AdptESTZSBMU2rIP8t-nQ2E5Fo1RSvQngi2cIs1VmgVOUbQPl8NY_YvdJ-wLoEDRemTmrHdekjloiIa7tXwOog/s1600/chestoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even though it's called "grey," it really is more green, which is why I chose it ... I wanted to compliment the green in my accent chairs; which, I'm not sure why I did that because I have a tiny feeling that these chairs will be moved, covered or magically disappear before my very eyes in the near future:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpsG4q5-GfpofPUkwbKn2zm9SHTqBLp62T4MvdYXjFqoWQNIahLyTLWrPRZkfEsSj-YUa4oorgZIUt9Qg9jNnyyDRM5kFnEW2tZmmudhOcTu8uk_zIvm81Q54hWPQaZEd6PotS3k4SFs/s1600/chestchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Of course, I pulled out my sandpaper and distressed it a bit here and there to expose the Old White (is chalk paint the easiest to distress or what?!):</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0U-1-kwqT2V3UBae7L5NvX8MliSZA1byCIqZcgC2knJSUFVfaXUBBPSQD7wGDJ1-Ir5jOFTe53Rt8OWF7Op_1yHH8s-v3ieJAnSxf-B7zWxs3prZhwvQO65m3zFcSkFqVGnit7XJwdM/s1600/chestdistress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then painted the hardware Old White and then added a bit of Gold Leaf Rub 'n Buff:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdooRQ_hhITgbJClZNzY3oKrow_MZDmc61qu3dVKvbpwgK8B61BC5kEpVsbogQ-bgBbS4Nsy2xrW4CYuVkP8UszWWG3p3Ux-5hC8Xgu3w_Y_MCecif4AHBxH-fgPEqgb_P-f4IwpqVmlo/s1600/chestknob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love how it changes colors, depending on the light.  I'm hoping that you can see how it looks more green here:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqSnsLPAYetARsLkrNgY_It5IniCoaDrHdlWpuWVS1TfUxtUsX0V-r3J-FV6aB9LoUV8ji1LnibPhkiZ4dQbSrT-jU-t9z9OSQKpzlubIt8dUN2E5e2MkuDxAbESZP2OZ_wDPlBF0csE/s1600/chestgreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">versus how it looks more grey from this angle: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMMCYG5V5oyoFwWv1RPPVjV53r55jJH76S3boarw_AS3zzxQsv_mnhQAqCN_5W5Rt5j3_bqUnuaepi7SXGeNdPUzn7r5pD2Ajq0K-UZPdEyfn7pSgNNem3rPxTgS4EC3l_d_g-mTZS0Y/s1600/chestside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm enjoying the new look ... again, sorry parrots ... enjoy your freedom!  And, while my paintbrush is still wet, I'm going to take a peek around and see what else needs a facelift.  Hmmmmmm ???</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a great day!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm off to party at these fabulous blogs:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dittle Dattle/<a href="http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/2011/07/amaze-me-monday-31.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DittleDattle+%28Dittle+Dattle%29">Amaze Me Monday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">BNOTP/<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/07/patriotic-porch-for-4th-of-july-welcome.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Metamorphosis Monday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/wow-us-wednesdays-21.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Miss Mustard Seed/<a href="http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2011/07/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link.html">Furniture Feature Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thrifty Decor Chick/<a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/before-and-after-goodwill-table.html">Before and After Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Shades of Amber/<a href="http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/2011/07/annie-sloan-chalk-paint-linky-party.html">AS Chalk Paint Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Perfectly Imperfect/<a href="http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/2011/07/all-things-furniture-features-and-link-party-4.html">All Things Furniture</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Le Chateaux ...

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!  We had a fun-filled weekend, for sure!  Let's see, we hosted a small gathering to celebrate my sweet and handsome hubby's birthday:  ate WAY too much:and played on the beach with awesome friends (Jax loved "flying" into the water) ... oh to be young and "si…

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