tackling the big beige wall.

going from this--------------------------------------to this.

here are all the supplies/tools i needed.

step 1: edge the room

step 2: starting at the corner measure the width of the stripes down the wall. you may want to make one wider than the other...i did.

step 3: starting in the top corner find the angle you prefer. i used 45 degrees. using the corner as a staring point measure down at an angle the desired length. at the end of that line measure down the wall with the same spacing as you did in the corner. use your level to make the marks across the whole wall at equal distances apart.

step 4: connect marks with tape.

step 5: paint over the tape with the main wall color. this color is the lighter of the two and for me, the thicker stripe.

step 6: peel off tape after each stripe is completed. i did this so i could correct the inevitable bleeding that occurs no matter which tape you use. i used an eyebrow brush to clean up the edges!

step 7: keep going! it took me about 16 hours!!

decor! i love home goods. picked these up, painted them, and added them to my display of mis·cel·la·ne·ousobjects.

found this there too. wasn't sure how it would go, but my theory is....if you love it, make it work!

i always practice my layouts on the floor before putting anything on the wall.

the misc. wall also has vintage soda cans, barn wood frames, folded magazine lanterns*, and fabric lucky charms*.

* = i made it!

picked up these new pillow covers during my trip to japan at franc franc. je t'aime!

happy first birthday today mo! you were a wee one here.

a quart of paint and a whole new look.

remodel advice...work with what you've got.

take a look at these westerny pieces. the bookcase and the coffee table belong to my roomie. she gave me permission to paint them so i ran over to lowes, picked out the perfect quart of greenish blue aqua and got painting! the new color made a big difference!





the bookcase is actually the same color as the table....but the lighting makes them look different. (fixed the pic...this color is now more accurate)


i also bought new knobs at anthro for an added touch of charm. they don't necessarily match...but that's how i like it.

redondo condo before.

here are the before pics of my condo.





i totally cringe looking at some of the photos of the condo in its early stages.






these are all the BEFORE pics. looking forward to showing you all the during and afters!

best friends and husbands.

(when typing if i ever mention my "best friend" i am referring to either one of 3 guys or one of ten girls....so it's safe to say when i talk about them their anonymity is safe.)

last week i got a text from my best friend's husband. (i love getting these...especially this one) i try really hard to become friends with my bestie's spouse(s) because if they like hanging out with me, it means i get to see my best friend more! i'd like to think i do a pretty good job of winning over the significant others...maybe it's wishful thinking. anyways...back to the text. it said, "kmoore! what are you up to? my wife could use a ladies night out. let me know you're up for it. but don't tell her!" seriously...i was so excited. you see, she is a new mom and i don't really see her too often...and the thought of taking her out made me really happy. how cute is he?! secretly setting up a night for her to take a break....so awesome. so i texted her to see if she was free on friday. she was! surprise surprise...lol. we set up tentative plans, then a funny thing happened. another gal asked her to go out for a ladies night on the same night. her husband had texted a few girls in hopes that one of us would be free...and quite a few of us jumped at the chance to take her out. she thought it seemed a little too coincidental that several people would ask her to go out on the same night. she immediately interrogated her husband, "did you put them up to this?!" he tried to fib but he eventually came clean. her initial thought was, "i don't need you to ask people to hang out with me!" and that's the truth...but she often doesn't ask because she assumes we all have plans or other things to do. the funny thing was, regardless of plans or other commitments, we would all drop them to spend a night with her. and contrary to her assumption...we too are all sitting around on friday nights wishing we were doing something with the girls. so it ended up being 5 married women (all of whom have one or multiple children around the age of 2) and myself. it was really fun to listen in on the conversations of young moms. conversation ranged from purchasing breast milk to boycotting the women's retreat at their church. i really did not have much to contribute in terms of conversation this evening. i did however gain a lot of appreciation for my single life. one of the girls said, "what i wouldn't give for a lazy day to lay around and do nothing but eat a digiorno pizza!" and i was thinking, yeah, those nights are really nice. turns out those nights come to a stop when you become a mom! lesson of the night: don't assume that because she has "grown up" commitments, that she doesn't have time for a night out. i shouldn't need a reminder to make plans...and even though we are in different places in our lives...we still need each other! it took this night for me to realize, i have something to offer her: i can provide her with a lazy degiorno night anytime!

i must say. my friends have married some pretty awesome guys. when i turned 28 i got a husband rental voucher which i redeemed for crown moulding installation (i know, crazy huh). you see, while i am very independent, there are some things i do need help with. i've decided that for every birthday that i am still single i should receive an increased amount of rental husband days. and i am extending this to all friends' husbands instead of just this one (who by the way is a jack of all trades...and i appreciate his help very much! he's helped me move twice to boot!). so chances are, if you are married to one of my best friends, you will be helping me out at some point this year...ha. it's not even the grand gestures that go noticed. one of my best's husbands texts me after each time i hang out with her. the last text read, "you're a good friend to (insert best friend's name). i appreciate that." i don't know why i feel like this, but so often i trick myself into believing that my friends don't need me anymore, or that we no longer have anything in common. then we get together and i realize how wrong i actually am. another great friend told me, "stop underestimating your friendships...you will always be the same person to them." those were some pretty great words.

final thoughts on the subject: who needs a husband when you can have the collective talents of all of your friends' husbands?! i mean, i figure when i get married, they may not be as generous! just kidding. i am so thankful that god has blessed by girlfriends with such amazing men...it only sets the bar that much higher for my (potential) future hubby.

the end.