day 150: brace face

I am still plugging along on my Project 365. Today was day ONE HUNDRED FIFTY! My little ticker on the site that keeps me motivated tells me I am currently 40% complete. I can hardly believe it. I am so, so happy I've made it this far. I love looking back on each month to see what was going on. I get such a kick out of viewing the little thumbnails and remembering certain events. If you've ever considered doing a Project 365, I highly recommend the site I'm using. Super easy to use. And lots of nice people.

Today's photo will definitely be fun to look back on. Especially in, oh...about 20-24 months. When these little brackets and wires have completed their duty. And are finally removed. It will be so much fun to see the before and after.

And speaking of before and after's, I'm currently working on a project that is actually turning out really well. If I do say so myself. And I'm doing it without the help of my partner in crime. As he is still in other parts of the world. Fighting pirates. Or some other such nonsense. Leaving me to "carry on" with our projects as a solo act. When I am clearly much better as a duet. But give me a few more days. And I'll be back to reveal my latest creation.

Before and After: The Little Ballerina's Book Shelf

It's still project central over here. Just downshifted into slow gear while BSD is away. But there is one project that is basically complete that I can't wait to share. So here goes.

One of the goals of our redecorating is to gain some sort of organization. As I've said a million times. I am not an organized person. Put that together with a young ballerina who loves to play with all-things-small-parts and you get one big-fat-mess. That mommy has to either clean up. Or shut the door so she can't see it.

Finally fed up with this chore, BSD and I decided both ballerinas needed a desk in their rooms. We were all set, thanks to a dear friend who took the ballerinas for the night, to drive four hours each way to IKEA to get each girl a desk. At the very last minute, BSD said, "I don't think a desk is the answer."

*crap*

So...we scrapped our overnight trip to DC and made it a local date night instead. Stopping off at a local furniture store along the way. Where I spotted this fun shelving piece.

I love this piece. But I have no space nor place for it. I just tucked it away in my head as FUN! And $2,000. And off we went to dinner.


Weeks passed. I cleaned up many toyswithmanyparts. Many times. Until BSD, pumped up by his recent hallway project success,  finally told me, "Find some baskets. And I'll build a storage unit for LB."


That was the plan. Until one day I stopped by my favorite Habitat for Humanity store. And I stopped short. In front of this.

Are you with me? Do you see where this is going?


If not, that's OK. BSD didn't either. He thought I was just dragging home another piece of junk to clutter up his precious garage.


Not this time. This time I had a clear vision. I was motivated. I got right to work. But still wound up needing BSD to bail me out on the finishing paint layers. Because I am a lousy painter. I don't know WHY I can't paint well. But I can't. And BSD thinks I am ridiculous for being paint-impaired.


ANYWAY...


That doo-doo brown, faux wood grain piece of ugliness became this oh-so-fun, Steven Shell inspired storage shelf for the Little Ballerina.

And the best part was all I had to buy was a second matching tote on the bottom right. Luckily Target still carries that pattern because these fit perfectly. And now house her American Girl doll clothes in one. And her Barbies in the other. The upper purple tote holds all her Barbie clothes. Although it's a bit overflowing.


And the VERY best part??! LB helped me organize it like this over a month ago. And I pinky swear that I did NOT clean it up before taking this picture today. She is keeping it clean HERSELF! *snoopy dance*

I still need to finish hanging the art on the wall above it. But I can't seem to locate the poster I bought over 3 years ago that I want to put there. hmmm...imagine that.


Oh, and I have to tell you about that drawing. I got it from my neighbor. It was a wedding gift from the artist to my friend's husband and his first wife (who sadly passed away). The artist now fetches a pretty penny for her works. Everyone in my family hates the picture. I love it. Before I hung it up in her room, LB told me, "That scares me." I thought perfect! It kind of looks like the person is in jail. Hopefully, it will scare her straight!

Mother's Day

It was another year of BSD being away on Mother's Day. And the ballerinas stepping up to the plate. They served me breakfast in bed. And for the first year ever my toast was actually toasted! *woot*

I spent the afternoon helping at the Big Ballerina's ballet performance at a retirement home. I got a little choked up walking into the building. Thinking how sweet it is for these girls to do this. And how much BB loves dancing for this audience. Made me think of my mom. So I told BB these were all her grandmas today. It made my heart swell when the girls were done. And they rushed out of the dressing room. "To socialize" with the audience.

In the evening we ate sushi on the beach. And BB danced.

 This time....

For her real grandma.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Ten on Ten - May 2012

I have had many thoughts bouncing around in my head that I've wanted to write about. But they just won't come yet. I know I'll feel better if I write about them. But I'm not there yet. I need to sit with them for a while longer.

In the meantime, I've been oohhing and aahhing over some gorgeous photography out there. Studying it. Trying to figure out how. How did they do that. How can I do that. Or rather. How can I incorporate that into my vision. The deflating answer is always the same. Learn Photoshop.

blech.

I.do.not.have.the.patience.for.Photoshop.

So instead. I share with you my non-edited-in-photoshop Ten on Ten set. Did you join in this month? I can't wait to see what your day looked like. Mine was uneventful. Busy. But uneventful. Kind of like it like that though.

.........

Can you read this?

How 'bout now?

Yes, please. One of each.

Spinach break

cotton ball clouds

coming and going

cute shop

young 

and restless

and killing time

Check out more Ten on Ten sets here.