2012 January

The end of Google friend connect

January 31, 2012 by Christa @ Stories of a House 2 Comments

Well, Google has decided to disallow and remove Google friend connect for WordPress blogs starting March 1st. So, I am removing the widget on my sidebar. If you have followed me that way please follow via RSS or through Feedburner email subscription. Just click on this little widget in my sidebar:

And you can choose either Google homepage or Google Reader.Or, if you want to get posts in your inbox, just enter your email address and confirm your subscription. Once a post comes through your inbox you can click on the post title to take you to my blog to see the post better on your computer, as well as leave a comment.

Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A quick bathroom mirror facelift

January 19, 2012 by Christa @ Stories of a House 5 Comments

Yesterday, a friend and I completed a project of hers that she has been patiently waiting on me to tackle with her. She found a mirror at a second hand store a couple months ago, and wanted to remove her builder-basic bathroom mirror in order to install something more custom-looking. In our haste, conversation, (and, well, eating the most wonderful salad), we forgot to take a before shot. So, picture a gold and brass frame. We painted it black and did a simple rub-through distress. Now that it’s dry she will swing by to pick it up and hang it in her bath. Just an idea for us all to make use of what we already have or to envision a new finish on something we can pick up for cheap, cheap, cheap.

One of the only good lighting spots in my house is cluttered with packing paper, stuff to be donated, flower girl dresses, and you name it. I even started my very own “GramE” box (a title I will be taking over from my Mother in law someday), where I’ve decided to save some of the girls’ toys and books for my future grandchildren to play with when they come over. How’s that for a 38 year old thinking ahead?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Sometimes you just get stuck…

January 17, 2012 by Christa @ Stories of a House 11 Comments

I don’t think I am alone in the way I cope when there is so much to do. I’m not complaining; it’s just that when I have a lot on my to-do list, such as throwing a bridal shower, trying to be a good matron of honor, raising 3 active and social girls, packing up the house, running a business, working outside the home, etc etc…I tend to want to escape from it all. The bottom line is I am a big-time procrastinator – it’s just once of my quirks. Lately, I’ve been escaping by watching Bravo, and I especially get lost in the train wreck known as “The Housewives.” The rooms with a t.v. in them are the ones that have the most packed. That’s right, so I can watch Bravo. I’m stuck. Sort of like our little one who used to get stuck in the bed…

And like Kate, “I can’t get out all by myself,” or, at least it seems that way at the moment.

Any fellow procrastinators out there?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Ebook winner, and a girly executive desk

January 8, 2012 by Christa @ Stories of a House 27 Comments

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
First, our e-book winner is….

#8: Sharon from Elizabeth and Co., congratulations! I’ll send you your download link soon.

Since we are closing on a new house next month, we are exhausted from pulling all kinds of things out of our current house (such as the built-ins we paid a pretty penny for) and we are also scouring CL to place furniture in spaces with different dimensions. It’s been nuts around here. It will be so nice to downsize and also save money on utilities because we won’t be heating or cooling 20 foot ceilings. I thought I’d share a $60 solid wood desk that I found on CL last week that will be perfect for my new home office.

Here it is, being unloaded.
The owner did a lot of patching with wood filler (a little too much, really), which I had to sand down before painting it.

The top was absolutely beautiful; it just needed to be refinished. Ahhh, love that wood grain.
(I have no idea what it is, though.)

I love the way the top came out; so rich and pretty.

The top has many light and dark wood inlays around the border which are simply gorgeous.

I painted it in Acadia White (an Aura color) and glazed it to bring out the details.
This thing is 6 feet long and will be situated in the middle of my office with a rug underneath.

I kept the original hardware and just painted it black.

The desk will face outward towards the entry of the office,
and I’ll situate two chairs facing the desk with bookcases and storage behind where I sit.

A view of the sides…

I have some finished pieces that are going into Audrey’s shop January 12th which I haven’t shared because between moving, my sister’s wedding in February, and planning her shower in just a few weeks, I’m running in so many different directions! I’ll be back, though

Filed Under: Before and After, Do it Yourself, Family, Finding Furniture, Furniture, Home Decor, My Home, Uncategorized

2011 in review & 1000 followers giveaway

January 5, 2012 by Christa @ Stories of a House 30 Comments

Happy New Year!

When I started my little blog in 2010 I had ZERO expectations. Sure, I wanted to take furniture refinishing to the next level and share it with whomever would have the patience to sit through my ramblings…but I NEVER expected I’d be enjoying friendships with people from all around the world via phone, email, and text. I absolutely love what I do, and I appreciate your friendship, whether you just lurk or directly correspond with me. Thank you so much….muah!

2011 was a year of growth and change for myself and our family. I like to blog about these things here and there because this is my little scrapbook journal (I gave paper scrapbooking the old college try but failed miserably). This isn’t just for my family to read but also for my blog family to get to know me better as a real person, and not just a girl who perpetually has paint in her hair and under her nails. Here’s our 2011 in a nutshell:

* Last week we received final approval on the second home we put an offer on which is just a few doors down from my folks’ house. This transaction took 5 weeks. The other offer we made is still going on 9 months and is dead in the water. God is good; we like this house better, and being so close to Mom and Dad is the most AMAZING blessing ever (along with having my brother and his wife 2 blocks away). So this means we are putting our lovely home on the market and the packing begins. (Anyone wanna come and help; I’ll feed ya!) We look forward to downsizing and cutting expenses, but will greatly miss this home which holds precious memories.

* The girls changed schools. Boy was this ever the 2011 monstrosity. It took about 3 months before the tears subsided, and although they are doing okay, and in spite of being voted class representatives, they aren’t “feeling it.” But, they are really learning a lot. Many times I’ve resorted to saying, “hate me now, thank me later.” I was offered a job as their school nurse, but since I absolutely love the refinishing and working one day/week at the surgery center combo I accepted a substitute school nurse position. I can render aid to playground boo-boos and stay in the loop of what’s happening at the school.

* I was invited to put my furniture in the most adorable boutique, and I move in on January 12th. Email me if you want the location!

* My sister got engaged to the most wonderful man. She waited 32 years and he was worth the wait.

* I am now seeing a personal trainer because I am wearing a strapless dress next month to the aforementioned occasion. Right now my arms are shaking because I did a total of 210 push ups this morning. That was not a typo; thanks, Mark

* We resolved to take more family trips in 2011 and have done pretty well. We did Florida, a Disney cruise with Kevin’s family, camping (twice, with great friends from church community group), and annual passes to Disney. We’ve been to Disney twice in 2 months so far, and the girls cried last night when we came back home. I see another trip in our future, soon.

* I wrote a book! I can’t believe I accomplished it with the help of our friends, Mike and Keeley of European Paint Finishes. Kevin and I truly enjoy their company, and they are a whiz at what they do. Love them!

Well, enough about me and my family…on to the giveaway!

Having 1,000 followers and 2,010 RSS readers is very humbling. If you “like” Stories one way or the other (facebook, Google follower, RSS feed – I’m easy) just leave a comment for any or all of them and I’ll randomly select a wonderful person to receive a download link to our Guide to Furniture Finishes e-book. If you already have the book before the giveaway is over and are selected, I’ll just refund ya

Happy New Year and blessings from above to you ALL!

(Scroll up to the top to click to leave a comment; another WordPress feature I need to figure out…)