Monday, June 23, 2014

#30summerdays Challenge - Last week!

Today is day 23 of the #30summer days challenge with Staples Canada! Are you taking part? You can follow my daily photos on my Instagram account and be sure to tag your own. It's not too late!

 
It's been a great opportunity to capture some special summer moments and I'm grateful to Staples for giving me to opportunity to participate. There is a very fun giveaway with Staples Canada coming at the end. You'll definitely want to come back and check it out!
 
 
I always forget how busy June is. This is my last week of work before summer vacation and I so ready for it to be over. Hope you are all enjoying summer where you are!

Thursday, June 12, 2014

New Outdoor Seating.



We got a new outdoor couch for our back deck! I am thrilled about it because it is going to totally change the way we use the backyard. It feels so much more lounge-like with the couch instead of the table and chairs that we had last summer.


Last summer's set up.

In theory, having a patio table and chairs sounds like a great idea. In reality, I don't actually like to eat outside. You have to truck everything outside, your napkins all blow away, not to mention all the bugs. Maybe I'm being dramatic but I just don't fully get its appeal. I'd actually rather prepare my plate inside then eat off my lap outside. Anyone with me on this?

This summer's set up.

We kept the two armless chairs from last year and moved them so that they sit side by side. The new couch sits adjacent to them. Perfect for conversation.


We were on the hunt for an outdoor sectional for a while. We couldn't really find anything that fit our style and fyi, they are not cheap! I happened to be flipping through the latest Style at Home mag and came across some super cool white outdoor dining chairs. I was surprised to see that the source was Walmart.ca! Who woulda thought? 

This prompted me to check out their website where I found lots of awesome outdoor furniture. Ours is the Golden Beach collection and I subsequently found the same collection on Amazon and ModernFurniture.ca but with a higher price tag.

We ordered a few pieces, intending to make a sectional. When it arrived, we played around with a few arrangements and decided that just the couch worked best with the pieces we already had. Perfect, because this saved us some money when we sent one piece back. Win!

It also came with cushions to run along the armrest but they are the same size as the back cushions so hung off the end a bit, which seemed weird to me. Instead, we are using a couple of outdoor pillows that I picked up from the Threshold line at Target.



It was nice to sit out there on Saturday morning, lounging and having our coffee. I'm thinking I'll be much more inclined to sit out this this summer now that that the table is gone.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The Many Lives of Our Front Door.


I'm stumped with regards to my front door. It's the home's original door and I really like it lot. For efficiency reasons, I've considered replacing it but I really like the charm and I find it suits the home well so it's stayed over the years.

When I first bought the house, I painted the door green.Why, I'm not so sure, since I don't even particularly like green but I really liked how it turned out! It took some time for some others (my parents), but most came to love it. Others not so much. It was pinned a lot on Pinterest so I think some shared in the love!

Next, I decided to paint it a bright peacock blue. It was terrible.

Then, I decided on a soft blue grey. Even worse.

Worst of all, the blue grey paint started bubbling shortly after I painted it and I ended up having to strip the door with some scrapers and a heat gun. I remember that day so well...

It was also back in October so repainting, as the weather was starting to get colder, was not a great idea. Therefore, the bare wood door stayed that way all winter, into the spring and it's still that way today.

 

Now, I'm appealing for your help. Do you have any great front door colors that could work for me? Keeping in mind that I have a charcoal grey trim around the windows, door frame and the porch railing. 

The other option is sanding the door down and staining it. It could look really cool but a bit more work.

I'm seriously at a loss. I need someone to tell me what to do! And while you're at it, I need new house numbers and a door mat :)


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Update on Bunk Room.


We finally made some serious project in what I like to call the "little bedroom with 99 problems". The wallpaper came off, and along with it some of the plaster, which made for lots of patching. We ended up deciding to use a paintable wallpaper to achieve a smoother finish. That decision caused a few bumps along the way.



The first paper we chose had no pattern but wasn't pre-pasted. A couple of strips went up but they were quickly taken down after fighting with too many bubbles and the thinness of the paper showed every little imperfection. Next, we chose a paintable paper with a stripe mimicking wainscoting. Not my ideal choice but better then the alternative floral pattern that was also available. It was awful to put up! It tore very easily and there were imperfections in the paper which made for a ton of waste. Thanks Walmart! 


The thing about paintable wallpaper is that, once you are finished the job of hanging it, you still have to paint it all! We tackled that over the course of two nights, using Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. My favorite crisp white. Here is where the room stands now.


 
Next on the agenda is the trim but it's been far too nice outside the last few days to be indoors painting. It's a job for a rainy day.




Aren't the built in bunks awesome? They are Steph's brainchild and they turned out awesome. I'll do a post about them with the mattresses on, once we get the ladder made and installed. The wall lights are the Ikea Ranarp.


Still need to put up the overhead light, get something on that window and the walls! The fun part.

Monday, June 2, 2014

June Photo A Day Challenge #30SummerDays

It's June! And the best part? It's starting to actually feel like summer, here in PEI. I literally spent all weekend out working on the yard and in my gardens. It's my happy place!

 


Today, I'm very excited to tell you about the #30SummerDays photo challenge that I am taking part in with the help of Staples Canada. I'll be taking my photos with the Canon Powershot S200, which is Wifi enabled, so I can share my photos to Instagram directly from the camera. How convenient!

I'd love it if you took part! Simply use the hashtag #30SummerDays when sharing some of your best summer moments on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Everyday has a new theme, so you can share everyday or pick and choose the ones you like most! Get snapping!

Week 1:


1 – Rabbit, Rabbit! What brings you good luck?
2 – Monday, ugh! What’s keeping you going today?
3 – Who made you smile today?
4 – Look up. What do you see?
5 – #TBT Share a photo from a past summer trip!
6 – National Doughnut Day! Snap a pic celebrating! Or, what did you have instead?!
7 – Saturday! What are you up to?


Week 2

8 – Time to relax before the start of the week. What does relaxing look like to you?
9 – Manic Monday! What’s giving you a case of the Mondays?
10 – Is the sun out? Snap a pic! If not, what’s it like out there?
11 – Get over the hump of the week. How were you productive today?
12 – Treat yourself, it’s almost the weekend!
13 – Friday the 13th! Are you superstitious and ducking for cover, or out and about?
14 – Flag Day! Got one flying in the warm breeze?


Week 3

15 – Happy Father’s Day! Snap a pic or share one of an awesome dad!
16 – Moday motivation. What motivates you?
17 – Got a pet? Share them with the world!
18 – Stretch those legs mid-week and go outside or for a walk. Snap and share!
19 – #OOTD, what are you wearing? Got your summer clothes on?!
20 – Happy Friday! You made it! Smile and say cheese!
21 – HAPPY SUMMER! Take a picture of what summer looks like to you to celebrate!


Week 4

22 – Sunday Pancakes! Do you have a Sunday breakfast routine?
23 – Got those sandals out? What’s your favorite pair?
24 – What made you happy today?
25 – Are the flowers blooming? Take a picture of your favorite!
26 – Wehew, it’s hot out there. How are you cooling down?
27 – Last Friday of the month, what are you up to?
28 – Is today a beach day? Snap a pic and make everyone jealous!


Week 5

29 – Go out for a picnic! Make sure to take a picture!
30 – Last day of June, how are you sending it off?


I'll be sharing some of my photos here as well as on my Instagram account. Follow along and be sure to pop by at the end of the month when I get to give away the same Canon camera that I'll be using for the challenge!