The Ugly Duckling

I have had this ugly Goodwill beach painting in my garage for ages. I was going to just paint the frame and blow up something huge and frame it, but I bought a can of chalkboard paint for my lonely spot in the kitchen--- so I decided to use it.
The frame is really ornate close up and I just painted a on thick coat of white paint. Then, the next day, I used a sponge roller and painted 2 coats of the chalkboard paint directly on the lovely(haha) beach painting All joking aside, the beach print was actually kinda cute with the white frame. Whatever the frame detailing was made of cracked in some places once the paint was dry. I was thrilled! Now it looks even older! I sanded off the paint to reveal a little of the original finish and voila!
We hung this chalkboard in the pantry hallway where our original slate chalkboard once lived. Mr. Hughes felt it was much too heavy with Baby Hughes bumping around, and after I saw how it was hung, I had to agree. I prefer the slate, but I am sure that I can find a home for it in our new Inspiration Room. I am trying that name on for awhile. The Harry Potter fan in me wants to call it the Room of Requirement... we can find anything in there! Let's see what Mr. Hughes has to say about it.

I found a couple of other blogs that turned ugly art into great looking chalkboards, go and visit them: living better together and twice remembered.

So what became of my need for something for my lonely spot in the kitchen? Well, damask designs left me a comment and told me to try etsy to find a chalkboard decal that suited my style. And I found one!

I bought it from Spellitoutdesigns. Mr. Hughes helped me to apply it and it wasn't too difficult for 2 people. And even though it is not magnetic, Baby Hughes will surely enjoy it when the time comes. For now, it will probably be my weekly project memo board.

shared at Sixty-fifth Avenue

This is my mother's day

Well, it is official. Baby Hughes is 1! I can't believe that one year ago at 3:17 am this little man came into our lives. After 18+ hours of labor, he came right on time, on our due date. This past year has been so amazing. Even though I loved him from the instant I found out that I was pregnant, I have never been the same since I saw the shocked look in his blue eyes when he was born. I was in love! "They" always say to enjoy the time because it goes by so fast, and it truly, truly does. For instance from this at 3 days old:

to this 3 days ago:

So, since this is primarily a blog about my obsession with vintage treasures and all things home related, I thought I would share some photos from Baby Hughes' nursery. This is the growth chart that Mr. Hughes made. We need it...he started at 22 inches and he is off the height charts!
One of the scrapbook paper plaques I made.
His cute bedding from Land of Nod. I am not usually so "themey" but I really loved the argyle and the animals were so cute that I had to have it.
Some book racks that Mr. Hughes made (isn't he so wonderful and handy?!)
The alphabet lines 2 of his walls. We just enlarged and printed out a font we liked and tacked them on the wall.

And, the project that took the longest for Mr. Hughes to complete. The changing table. It took him forever to sand and paint it. But, it turned our wonderful and I think we seriously paid only $50 for it.
I would love to show you more photos of his room, but we can't find the photo files right now. Now, I am off to bed so I can wake up early and spend my day off with my 1 year old!

Idea Overload!

Isn't this a lovely planter? You can buy it off of Mecox Gardens for a hefty price or you can make one yourself for much, much less and add to your ever growing list of projects like we did. Each project we start exponentially adds additional projects. I just keep coming up with more and more ideas...it is like I am breeding project rabbits! And, this isn't the week to add anything else because this is Baby Hughes' birthday week and we have alot of company coming this weekend to celebrate his 1st birthday. But, the wheels keep turning... for instance, I have decided that I don't like that the back of our front door is white, so I am going to paint it...what color? I don't know yet. And, we have had our Dash and Albert runners for the stairs for months and the nasty carpet remains. And, since Mr. Hughes moved his office into the library (doesn't that sound nicer than bonus room?) I have a bedroom filled with stuff. Stuff that needs to be taken to Goodwill. Stuff that needs to be put away. Stuff that is destined to become something. Stuff that needs to move so we can have our craft room , or whatever we decide to call it. Yes, all of that is on the list too. But, you know what? I have to put that list on hold this week and enjoy what I have left of 11 months, week 4. Because it really does fly by. And he deserves a nice party for the cranky week he is having (the 2nd tooth is a monster along with his 1st ever diaper rash.) And the company will just have to get over the fact that the home tour ends downstairs. Baby Hughes will get his cake and I will get to celebrate that I have been a mommy to my happy little guy for a whole year.

I am blushing...

The other day I received my very 1st blog award from Susan at Peanut Petunia.
Thanks so much, Susan! I was so excited! I still am! I think I screamed the news to Mr. Hughes. I think Mr. Hughes thinks I am a little silly with the whole blogging business, but it keeps me out of trouble(sometimes!) I actually would have blogged earlier and passed on the love if our stupid wireless connection wasn't giving us grief last night! I hate it when technology doesn't work the way it is supposed to.

Well, here our the 5 ladies I would like to share the love with. Go visit their blogs, they are all so talented and entertaining! Oh, and don't forget to visit Susan too!
Rachel at alittlebitvintage She has been so supportive as I have started this blog.
Tara at blondiensc Great taste and a funny, funny lady!
Kristen at domesticease Great supporter of all us bloggers and her blogazine is so informative.
Marie at emmacallsmemama Loves black and white like me. Check out her schoolroom!
Beth at oldtymemarketplace
I believe we may be junky sisters. She has great finds!
There are many others too and I may sound mushy, but I really thank all of you readers out there. Every time I see that I have a new follower, I feel even more creative!

On another note, we have been busy outside the house working on the deck and landscaping. And, more importantly, we moved Mr. Hughes' office into our library. Have I mentioned that Mr. Hughes works out of our home and watches the adorable Baby Hughes while I am at work? Well, now they have much more room and it gives us a chance to create..... OUR CRAFT ROOM!!! YES! I am excited! But, I want to think of another name than "craft room." It makes me think of cinnamon brooms in the middle of the mall. So, do any of you ladies have any ideas?
Well, hope to show you some progress soon.

Spicy!

Okay, lately I have a problem. I am having a hard time throwing away these:

Is it because Baby Hughes is getting ready to turn one? Is it because I don't want to add to the landfills? I am not sure. We recycle so I guess they wouldn't end up in a heap. But I have been washing and keeping these baby food jars for about a month. I have decided that I will use these to sort my beads and other small craft supplies. Mr. Hughes (the upcycler) uses them to hold roasted red peppers for sandwiches. Then, I decided that they would be perfect for spices. And, if you only knew how many times that I have rearranged our spices and the different "systems" that I have for them.... Plus, we just happened to have this really cool old metal caddy. So, I made a spice rack and here it is:



It was pretty simple, just time consuming painting the lids. I spray painted the lids with primer and then covered them in Heirloom White. I cleaned the remaining glue and "fresh by" date off the jars with googone. Then, Mr. Hughes printed me some labels and I used my new circle puncher to punch them out and stuck them on the lids. I put the label for the caddy on magnet sheet so it would stick without being permanent. I sprayed the labels and magnet sheet with a clear coat to protect them from liquids before I put them on the jars and caddy. Then, I added the spices and rearranged the interior of 3 cabinets (okay, that isn't a "have to" but it was one of my steps!) If you happen to like my labels, here is a download that Mr. Hughes set up. It is a large pdf file and it may take awhile to download. We printed them on full sheet labels and cut punched them out with a 1.5 inch circle punch. Well, mommy duty calls! Have a great evening!