b&a no. 4

After years about hearing about the amazing antiquing trips my mom would take every spring in fall with her friends and sister, i finally got to go with her this past spring to Round Top. I went excited and with unintentionally high expectations, and was completely blown away. My mom warned me that everyone's first time to this antique far is overwhelming, and suggested not buying anything and simply trying to take in the miles, and miles and miles of tents filled to the brim. It was such a blast, and I kept feeling like I found this secret.

I kept thinking, "so THIS is where people get all the good stuff." And it's true; people literally come from all over the world to explore here. The cool coffee shop you like to go to with the amazing style? I promise you, whoever decorated went to Round Top.

Though I mostly just walked around and took in the sites of gorgeous antiques, fun flea market finds, and straight up weird stuff and junk- I did come home with a few fun little treasures. Namely: two lamps, a vintage pillow, a dress, a coupe sweet flower pins, and a giant metal letter "R."

It was love at first site:

After living with my college roommate Sarah-I-love-lighting-Satterlee for four years, I gained a love and appreciation for truly well lit rooms. So naturally, I did like any other crafty girl would do with a giant metal letter "R"- I spray painted it gold and put some lights in it.

Yes, we now have a giant glowing golden metal "R" in our apt, and we think it rocks. Now we just need to find a giant metal "K" (if you ever see one, let me know, please!). Also, there are now big plans in the works for the rest of that wall which looks a little naked behind all that giant golden glowy-ness.

goodbye swoop

so for as long as i've know ross, he's had a certain signature look. his look includes polo shirts, sperrys, large aviator-style sunglasses, and his crowning glory- the 'frat swoop.'

it turns out that ross was rocking the frat swoop long before his days of kappa sigma. in fact, he had never had a buzz cut in his entire life. there was even a point in high school when all of his best friends agreed to shave their heads on a particular night. the next day everyone in the group came to school with freshly shaved heads...and ross showed up with a mere trim...and his vanity intact.

when ross found out he would for sure be going to officer training this summer, we decided that it might be the right time to get his first new hair style. so, without further ado, for anyone who is interested to see, may i present to you...the haircut of ross franklin:

just moments before the big hair cut. trying not to act nervous.

cutting the first snip.

a new man!

ross' first words when he saw himself in the mirror were, "i look...mean."

i think he looks like a g.i.joe, which will be perfect for when he heads off for the air force officer training this summer.

we both thought it would be way weirder than it actually was, and i actually really like it.

with that said, i'm still really looking forward to the swoop's return :)

b&a no. 3 (for you, mom!)

also per request of my mom, here are some b&a pictures of the study makeover that took place last week. it's been really grey and rainy here, which makes for great staying-inside-and-working-on-projects weather... and i only took one before picture for fear the photos of the awful red would break my camera...

{before}

{after}

some cape cod artwork & a baylor bear = instant happiness

the paper clip sketch on the left is my mom's from a college art class. 

she got a B+... but tina, i would give you an A!

handmade pillows, inspired by chuval, are my new favorite hobby.

fun, easy, unique, pretty, and cheap.  so long, pre-made pillows. you are too lame. 

ross doesn't love the tiny flags. but they make studying more fun, right?

literally stole that clock from my parents house before they moved.  like, i packed it in my suitcase in between layers of clothing. sorry mom! kind of, hehe

b&a no. 2

when my parent's moved out of the kingwood house after living in it for over 20 years, there was much to be sorted and cleaned out. every closet, cabinet, and corner had to be emptied, and even the buildup of clutter that defined our attic had to be reckoned with.  since i was usually off galavanting around texas working on wedding plans and moving out of waco and into bcs, i just got to play with all the salvaged treasures.  old frames, my mom & grandpa's long forgotten paintings and sketches, and even furniture are now valued and showcased in our tiny first home.  art work aside, everything else we found & inherited was in major need of an update.  which leads me to my second official before and after (as requested by my silly mom), the chinese screen: 

{before}

{after}

people are starting to make fun of me at work for always having paint somewhere on my body. 

haha; such is my life.

b&a no. 1

i've been feeling pretty crafty lately.  before & afters on designsponge are my absolute favorites and they've inspired me for sometime now. 

mine generally involve finding something tired or not-too-pretty and 

sprucing it up with fun colors.  

so, here goes before & after number one:

{before}

{after}

i found the little table at a resale shop and haggled (!!!) the price down to $10.  

then i used left over sandpaper, primer, light green paint, and & chalkboard paint.

next, i lined the shelves with scrapbook paper via mod podge. 

finally, i filled the shelves with books and favorite finds from 

antique stores in waco & kingwood...

plus the tiny deer my sister mailed me from california, just to be silly.

grand total: about $13 

now we just need a little lamp, to help with

that freakishly bad lighting in there. 

guess well just have to go to target...