Vintage desk upcycle and milk paint!

    Baby Keeg, Ab and I loaded into the car and hit the local Deseret Industries! Living in a DIY valley, finding treasures is a rarity! We lucked out! I found this great desk, a matching head and footboard, and fantastic set of shutters! My mind was racing as we crammed our prizes into our small car! We were certainly a sight! 

    

    Milk paint is making such a comeback! I was just about to hit the checkout button and purchase milk paint over the web.... then me, being me thought "I have to try to do this on my own!" I try everything once! It was amazing! I highly recommend the following recipe! I started out with the Martha Stewart recipe, but after 24 hours had few curds. I did a little experimenting and was very pleased! Not to mention I saved so much learning how to create my own!

1 quart skim milk (must be skim!)

1 cup white distilled vinegar

acrylic paint

cheesecloth

strainer

Allow skim milk to reach room temperature. In a large bowl combine milk and vinegar. Let the mixture sit overnight. The next day cover a strainer with cheesecloth and pour milk mix in to separate the whey from the curds. Rinse well and place the curds into a mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Add a few drops of color and continue adding until you reach the desired hue! I got about 2 cups from this recipe. enough for three coats on the desk. Do not mix until you are ready to use. It is important you use it quickly, as it will not store.

    If you have never used this type of paint before.... Be patient take your time and figure out how to apply it. The first coat is very nearly transparent. Making sure your surface is properly sanded and prepped is crucial! It will begin to lift itself off as it dries. So it will just fall off of any unprepped surface. It will not stick to a varnished surface real well. I promise you will love it once you figure it out! If you love that chippy, vintage paint look... this is the paint for you! I used to spend hours painting, sanding, and distressing! This paint does it for you!

   

       I was able to keep a reasonable budget with this project by using what I had on hand! Using a little spray paint and spare buttons, I covered unsightly areas. The original hardwood seat was upholstered. This desk is solid wood. Very sturdy! It has a functioning book rack, and desktop! Made even more fun with a few chalkboards! Perfect for any corner in your home! The desk was finished and sealed with several coats of polyurethane and furniture wax! 

AND.... she's for sale! Available for pick up in Cache County Utah! Asking $100 If you would like more information please email: curiouswisdomlj5@gmail.com

Fall Feelings!

    I am antsy to get my Fall fingers busy! Unfortunately life has been a little too crazy lately! My patience will have to remain intact until next week! My final race of the season is Saturday! It is bittersweet! I have had a triumphant year, but I am ready for a break! My hometown beckons with its annual celebration, and family will join together on Saturday to pay tribute to our amazing legacy!

Next week its so on!

   Until then enjoy this post from the archives!

    After a weekend of sight seeing I had to get home and create! I was feeling a little burned out and not looking forward to the tasks at hand! A trip to the city set me straight! I received so many curious emails and a comment or two asking about the original picture I posted showing the Fall leaf mobile I had created. I am flattered and feel sort of silly because it was so very easy and cost me nada...

Anthropology! 

One word for love! I immediately fell in love with their display! How clever! I came home from our trip craving a new project! My husband, who is a geologist was not as enthused as I hoped he might be about hanging a rock mobile from our ceiling?! Men! 

So many things I would love to tackle!

While it is not rocks...

The leaves add just the right touch!

    I found some old white string and dismantled an old garland I had stashed, the challenge was trying to figure out how to hang the leaves above the stairs to create the cascading look....Last year for my Coke can Snow flakes.. 

    I used handfuls of thumbtacks to hold them to the ceiling....

  Facing that prospect again, and possibly sudden death as I leaned out over the banister?! I looked around until I found this old wire basket we used for Baby K's socks! It was perfect! I think this would look amazing with real leaves...I was just to antsy to go get some:) I also love the look of the string! It creates a great contrast! So there it is ladies!

Easy Peasy! I want to see your creations!

no truffle at all... A tasty post from the archives!

Get your chocolate on!

     I am so behind! Sweet baby K has been so sick this week and I have been busy keeping her happy. My Valentines prep is suffering! I have finally begun! I am going to share the easiest chocolate truffle recipe with you!  

 For easy peasy chocolate truffles you will need:

16 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup whipping cream
2 tsp almond extract
truffle toppings of your choice!

 In a saucepan bring your cream and almond extract to a simmer. Stir occasionally. Like my spatula?

 Have your chocolate chips ready in a separate bowl.

 Pour cream over chips and let sit for a few minutes then mix.

Oh my ganache!

     You just created ganache! Refrigerate for three to four hours. Once chilled roll into teaspoon size balls and top! This step gets kind of messy so move fast!

Peanut Butter?

 Feeling encouraged? My husband loves peanut butter! Try this awesome recipe! Peanut butter truffles

     While your mixtures cool get to work on your presentation! I love books so I always feel bad when I destroy one! However...creating a book box is always a fun and unique gift! I found a few old books at the D.I. for under a dollar! Start by gluing the pages and back cover together. Once dried trace a square onto the front inside cover, and using a razor blade carefully begin cutting out your box.

Too cute!

    Once I get close to the back cover I start peeking carefully at the pages remaining until I find a neat picture to stop on. This will serve as your box backdrop.

Yum!

    Truffles rolled and topped! I used two coffee filters to line my box and place my truffles in. It turned out darling! I might have to keep one for myself! Keep refrigerated until ready to share! Happy dipping! 

Peppermint log candles...

     I have had these logs kicking around for awhile now. The intent was to turn them into pumpkins. The pumpkin logs I have already made have been holding up real good. Sooo these logs have sat in the backyard making my husband irritable for some time:)

     I cleaned them up. Brought them in and painted them white. I was relieved when the spray paint did not stick to the oil treated logs because it was chilly outside! I painted them with a latex semi gloss instead whilst keeping warm!

     While the paint dried I gathered some random items still not positive what I was doing. I used some old bulbs we had laying around, some jute, and a few bamboo sticks to fashion my wick and flame.

     When the paint was almost there...I am low on patience:) I used red ribbon and a matching red acrylic paint for my peppermint striping effect.

I really like them! They turned out just like I imagined! Good luck!

Dear Santa, about last Saturday.....

Please place Sweet baby K back on the good list!

     When my husband and I learned I was pregnant over two years ago we rode the roller coaster! The usual fear of the change and the  elation of a child of our own.... We have two older children and we would be literally starting over with diapers and all nighters! Fast forward to life with Sweet Baby K! Starting over has its most heart fulfilling moments! We get to experience her milestones together! We are having an absolute riot!

Coke can snowflakes...

   I love to find ideas that suite any budget and ability!  

    Cut your can in half...don't throw the top away just yet! Carefully cut and bend the can into strips. Fold the strips in half to begin your snowflake design! Have fun! I used a white spray paint and iridescent glitter to finish...

 

Hang anywhere using fishing line! Love that stuff!

I am working on something fun with this old window.

    Save the tops of your cans to make a lighted snowflake garland! Carefully snip the pop top off and place light through opening. Use the remaining portion of the tab to secure:)

If the slipper fits...

                                           Fall 2012 Shoe Guide - Runner's World

     I have recovered from my race exactly a week ago today! I feel great and even more encouraged to pursue my fitness goals! My desire to complete the annual 10K race in my hometown has been a long time goal of mine. Years ago a much more naive me believed I could just step on the race course and complete a race...just because! My last place status was the largest slice O humble pie ever! I have wanted to prove to myself ever since that I could do better, accepting the fact that some effort is in fact required!

    A older and wiser me now knows and respects the many obstacles a runner must face in training, during a race, and the recovery. Weeks ago when I began training I joked with a friend how I only had a few minutes to myself each day in between naps, diaper changes and SAHM life in general... "I get five minutes to think each day, and now it is to exercise! I hate exercising!" Funny how the course of training has changed my attitude and having completed my goal has me thinking of life in race form. Sometimes it is just plain hard and we wonder what the heck we are doing! We start out slow carefully approaching the task at hand, then we pick up momentum and gain confidence, finally with the end in sight we know we have survived!

    I have enjoyed the feeling of well being immensely. My body now looks forward to training. I am encouraged to set my goals even higher! This morning my daughters and I wandered out to the road to watch the TOU runners pass by.... I felt it in my heart that I wanted to be a part of what they were doing! Perhaps if I stick to my guns next year will find me in marathon shape?

     Now if I can just get my feet recovered! Rigorous weeks of training have left my feet hammered! I had two pairs of the wrong shoes to train in! I went through the usual breaking in of blisters and debilitating shin splints! The use of potassium daily seemed to help. I am also now in the market for a new running shoe! I found this awesome tutorial on how to determine your arch type:

The Wet Test

Perhaps Santa will come bearing Saucony this year!

Believe everyday is a gift...

    I have received so many sweet emails this morning! Yes! All is well! And no, there will not be a hop this week! I have been suffering from a case of life at it's craziest! I sincerely enjoy my blog and all the fantastic opportunities that are coming and have come my way after many hours, sweat and tears....

It is my five minutes each day

   I would not even no where to begin if you were to ask! Between end of school reports, projects and room parent duties! Redecorating our new awesome trailer! That is a whole different post! Because for $0.00 Yep! I said zero! I was able to revamp the interior! Old flannel sheets make the perfect cozy camping atmosphere! Pics posting soon:) With a little mechanical TLC we will be up and running in no time! Campers beware!

   So there is that! 

    Struggling yet triumphing with my 4HB diet. Triumphant because I have said goodbye to my muffin top! Woot Woot! Struggling because it is hard. The support of my husband has been that needed extra boost! The curious eyes of my children as I wrap my burger in romaine lettuce... When you are raising very impressionable young ladies whom's self esteem and identities are developing  you do not get to say "I m fat!" "I m struggling!" " I feel insecure...." Truthfully I do not feel fat, I just want to feel good! You know what I mean Mamma's!

Sigh

    Coming to grips with the reality check of a lifetime and thankful for promptings! Our eight year old was struck by a teenager on a dirt bike....on her bicycle! Earlier that morning as we sat down to apple pancakes I felt I needed to really rail on my kids about their bike helmets. They have recently entered the "I look stupid in my helmet!" phase. Later that afternoon I hit my knees and tearfully thanked my Father for black and blue knees and torn jeans...

     Sitting down to catch my breath this morning with my spinach and egg salad, Judy Garland crooning in the background I prepare for all that must be accomplished today. 

    Smiling as I replay my sweet husbands 40th birthday which was yesterday. Wondering how on earth I  pulled off yesterday with a work meeting, homemade cheesecake, the wrapping of forty of his favorite things......laughing out loud at the look on the teenage checkers face as my one year old chucked her shoe at him in sporting goods! Steaks on the barbie! Loud honking from passing cars as they read the kids sign "Honk! My dad is 40!" Kissing his sweet face! He is my knight! Loving the laughter...

Life is good 

" I love this crazy, tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful beautiful life!"

    

Sugar and Spice? Really?!

    If eight and a half years ago when handed a precious pink bundle you would have told me little girls are anything but soft and pink I would never have believed you!

What you are looking at are the bar stools from our kitchen counter...

 Yuck! This particular stool is frequented by the third grader! I have re upholstered these stools once already due their straight out nasty state! Kids! Rather than buy new stools that will assuredly suffer the same fate I decided to fix them once again!

    This time I  think a wipe, clean and sanitize friendly surface is in order! I found a shower curtain that just happened to match perfectly and was under $10.00 for both stools! I removed the old fabric and burned it!  Lol! After I cut and formed the shower curtain to fit the seat of the stool I used a small stapler to attach!

Now if I could only cover everything else...