Monday, May 21, 2012

Ummm, yeah...


Miss Addy has pretty much the coolest aunt...ever! Oh wait...that's me. Awkward?? Not if it's true. ;) I've been getting a super-de-duper cute room ready for her over the last few months...
and it's finally done!
So...without further ado...the room!



I love how the wall art pieces turned out (although...I'd be lying if I said I won't be looking for additions). I thrifted all of these for less than $1.99 each...bam! I was going to paint all 3 of the chalk pieces, but the hubs said the colors on the flower basket were too pretty to cover up. Awww.....


Heart-shaped cork board *swoon*! I picked this beauty up from my favorite Salvation Army for only 99 cents...ohmygoodness!! Now...it just needs some pics on it.


My heart skipped when I spotted this embroidered lovely @ the flea market...and at $2...it was a steal! Other thrifty finds...the yellow ginham metal basket was only 50 cents...and I found the Ikea pendant lamp for $2 @ a garage sale a couple years ago.


I needed a little space to set odds & ends...so was thrilled to find this bench @ the flea market for only $25...made out of reclaimed lumber. The mountain scene painting was picked up @ Goodwill for less than $2. I found the cuter-than-cute tea set @ a second-hand store. I especially love it b/c it's not saccarine sweet pink...but my favorite shade of green.


Storage space is pretty limited in this baby-sized room...so I snagged this chippy, white cabinet @ a re-sale shop to solve that problem. For Addy's things, I bought storage boxes w/ lids...and jewelry organizers to hold some of my things (see my accessories story here). The stacking blocks on the floor are something from my childhood...vintage from Germany.


 This bed is pretty much my favorite 'story' of this whole project. One day I was trolling Facebook...as I do (too often)...and a lovely lady from my church posted she was giving away a picket fence twin bed frame. Did you hear that?!? FREE!! I couldn't reply fast enough! Bonus...someone else saw the post and had a free mattress. All we had to buy was a box spring. How amazing! The bedding is a mish-mash of new and thrifted + a vintage chenille bedspread. Another freebie...the nitestand...holds a vintage lamp my mom had bought for me a long time ago (plus thecutestever tiny box of tissues & a bowl full of succulents). Last...but not least...in this corner of the room...a vintage straw bag I discovered @ the Goodwill.


Just one more pic...b/c I am 'completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy' w/ the results. (Just a little play on a quote from one of my most favoritest movies, Pride & Prejudice).

Now...if only she were old enough to stay the nite in her big girl bed. Guess I'll just have to enjoy the room for now...

~Hilary~






Sunday, May 20, 2012

Sunday Snapshots

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1. & 2. Finally had some free time AND nice weather...so I def put it to good use. I have been collecting so many goodies lately on my thrifting adventures...but some of them needed a bit of sprucing...i.e. spray paint. Thankfully...I was able to get it all done!
3. Another "finally"...since I was able to get my knick-knacks painted...I got Miss Addy's room done. Yay! Now...she just needs to get a wee-bit older so she can sleep in her big girl bed @ my house.
4. Say "cheese!" :)
5. & 6. Well...looking @ these pics now...I see they are less than lovely...but they tell a tale nonetheless. I am always was on a serious kick for junk food...the muffins (I don't really even like muffins) and candy dish were a'callin' my name. I think I did a fairly good job of avoiding them, though. ::cheers::

~Hilary~

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Saturday, in the Park...


It was an early one this last Saturday...up @ about 6 a.m. to get ready for church cleaning day. There were only a handful of us there...but we did get a lot accomplished. Windows washed, pews polished...and many, many, many Sunday School rooms cleaned.


Pretty much my accessories for the morning...uggo buggo blue gloves...and Windex (lots & lots of Windex).




The hubs & I rewarded all of our hard work w/ some amazingly delicious fish tacos. I could eat some right now, actually...yumm!


Getting ready to chick flick it up. The hubs agreed to watch The Lucky One w/ me (and Eric & Gina, too). It actually wasn't that bad...and he knows it. ;)


Ooohh...a self-portrait...love! I am ob.sessed w/ my new tee. Just so many colors! Sporting my new sunglasses too...thank you, Target for luring me into purchases I may, or may not need.


Ended the (exhausting) but good day @ Thomas Mitchell Park w/ some KFC...b/c what else do you eat @ a picnic?? After the incredible carb-load...a good ol' game of catch. I even got a new softball glove for the occassion...although...it didn't seem to be working as well as I'd hoped. ::embarassed face::

~Hilary~

Passion for Fashion...and Cupcakes, Too

Got to celebrate my lovely friend Jill a few days ago @ her Dress for Success event...Passion for Fashion.  She has done such an incredible job bringing this organization to the Des Moines market...helping women get the training and clothing they need to make a new start for themselves in the working world. I was happy to see her have a fun, inspirational evening of fashion...and recognition for how far they've come as a team this past year.


I got to start my evening w/ a de.light.ful cupcake from my favorite...Sugar Plums. Thank you Julie for making my frosting dreams come true.


2 lovely ladies...



The event was held at Drake University...my alma mater...kind of weird being back on campus. Although, it has changed quite a bit since I was there. Thought it was pretty cute that someone had left doggie biscuits for the bright blue bulldog (Drake's mascot).

Such a good event for a great friend...way to go, Jill!

~Hilary~



Flea Market Fabulosity

Last week, it was finally here...the What Cheer Flea Market. I'd pretty much been looking forward to it since the last one in October. My posse for this treasure hunt, Sister & Chelsea, were equally excited...although, I feared Chelsea might not be joining us...as she's ready to have another cutie-pie baby very soon. She was a trooper, though...and came along for a flea adventure.


We brought the 'big rig' for this trip...all of us felt the itch to buy. Good thing, too...b/c Chelsea made the day by finally buying a big piece of furniture (she found one last time that was sobeautiful...but didn't buy).


Boxes & boxes of lovelies like this. Oh my...so much rusty goodness! Things really just aren't made this beautifully anymore...


Sisters!!


A much-welcomed peanut butter & chocolate shake after a morning of buying...and trapsing through the mud (did I mention it had rained 4 inches 2 nites b/f this??). Crazy business!



What's the big deal? Just a dude cruising town on his riding lawn mower. He was very observant of traffic laws. :)



Chelsea's our own little diva...queen-bee chair & an ooh-la-la fan. J/k...she is just really a great sport posing for all my pics.


Broke out my favorite new-to-me tie-dye tee from Salvation Army for the day. I had a lot of color happening...including my crazy-patterned cross-body bag.



It never fails to amaze me how creative and talented people are. Taking everyday, cast-off items and making the most beautiful things w/ them. The wind chimes made from a mish-mash of vintage items...amaze. We've all seen the lids to pots discarded at the thrift store...or the bin of silverware...never to be used by anyone. Well...this lovely lady put her thinking cap on and made sweet 'music' w/ them. The tiny village made up of this'n'that items...so magical.


Some tired (and muddy) feet after a great day. Thanks, again, for the fun, ladies!

~Hilary~

**P.S...pics of my treasures to come.

Sunday Snapshots

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1. Lunch @ Maid-Rite...had the original and a side of cheese curds. Mmmm....
2. Finally time to plant some flowers. The weather's been so back-and-forth...I didn't want to plant too soon. Might have to replace some of the ones I planted, though...they don't seem to be doing too well. ::sad face::
3. De.light.ful vintage hair clippy I scored for a mere $2 @ the What Cheer Flea Market. Yay!


*Happy Mother's Day!*


~Hilary~

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Dreams

Throw your
dreams into space
like a kite,
and you do not
know what it
will bring back,
a new life,
a new friend,
a new love,
a new country.
--Anais Nin


When I started this blog...I was sure no one would read it. Surprise! Some folks actually do. I'm so happy to have found an outlet for my ramblings, projects, whathaveyou's. The responses that I get on my posts make me so happy...like a little gift in my e-mail inbox. :) 

Technology has made it easier than ever to connect w/ people outside of our everyday scope of life. Facebook, Instagram, Blogger are just a few examples I use on a daily basis to "meet" new people and see the beauty they're experiencing.

The biggest thing I take away from all the quotes, stories, and images is...inspiration. If I'm having a bad day...or just need a fresh perspective...there's always something new to pull from.

So...thanks for sharing, everyone!


~Hilary~


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Running Late...


...all the time! I'm not really sure when it started...but there just came a point in my
life when it became impossible for me to
be on time. To anything.

I always have the best intentions of arriving on time to, let's just use work as an example...
but then I get side-tracked...
by just.about.anything. I mean...I will find myself doing housework to bypass getting ready for work. Now that's just not normal...

I'm even late to things I look forward to...
movies, dinner...you name it. Idk why I have this problem...but it's like I can't beat it. No matter how much extra time I afford myself...it just gets taken up by something else. So there I find myself...still LATE!

Everytime I think about my extreme tardiness...one thing comes to mind. The ohsohilarious monologue by Mr. Travis Birkenstock in the movie Clueless.



That makes it all good...right?!? :)

~Hilary~







Monday, May 7, 2012

Sunday Snapshots

This post should be called "weekend snapshots"...I didn't really have enough pics from Sunday to warrant blogging about...

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1. French toast for b'fast w/ blackberries & whipped cream. The blackberries were my "healthy" addition to the dish...and were very delicious!
2. Mexican for lunch for this group. Good, good, good! Especially Miss Addy practically drinking the guac...she loves that stuff!
3. And...b/c there wasn't enough food in the day...some apps @ Perkins after another inventory at work. (I might have enjoyed some french silk pie, as well...)
4. Decided I needed a bit of healthiness after Saturday's binge-fest...so a yogurt parfait was in order. More blackberries!
5. Outfit for church...I l.o.v.e. it! All the clothes involved in this ensemble are from Old Navy...yay! Necklace: vintage; ring: Francesca's.

~Hilary~

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Couscous Salad

Trying to eat right is a constant source of contention in my life. I know that I feel so much better when I'm taking in the right kind of foods and exercising...but there's always that part of me that wants to be l.a.z.y...and to eat nothing but junk. Frosting, anyone?

Our C.S.A. is starting up in a couple weeks...so I've been trying to prepare myself for the onslaught of fruit & veggies that will be happening very soon. I'm adding both to all my meals (forthemostpart). In reality...it's actually pretty tasty to have these fresh additions. So why does it seem so difficult?

Last nite...I wanted a tasty side to accompany a roasted chicken. Unfortunately...our first attempt at cooking a whole chicken yielded less-than-wonderful results (as in...less than cooked). So...the couscous salad I had prepared ended up being the star of the meal.

I started w/ a box of couscous...it took 10 minutes to prepare (5 mins to boil the water, 5 mins to add couscous and let sit). In the mean time...I diced 3 mini sweet peppers, 2 tomatoes, 1 avocado, a bit of red onion...and (from my very own herb garden) about 2 tbsp. of basil. I also squeezed 1/2 a lime and added a pinch each of salt & pepper. Once the couscous was "fluffed"...I added all the delectable veggies, tossed...and enjoyed!



I pretty much loved everything about this yummy salad! It was healthy...and flavorful. Whodathunkit? What made it even better? Serving it in this rad zodiac print Pyrex bowl from my great grandma. Much love, Pyrex!

Can't wait for my next veggie adventure...

~Hilary~