Tonight as I got ready for bed, I went about turning off lights, locking locks, latching doors... I stopped and took a serious look around. In the dimly lit glow of my kitchen looking into my living room, I asked myself, "How did I get here?"
I mean, I know what happened, I know what I willingly gave up, I know what disappeared from my life, I know what I've accomplished (I think). But looking back at these last two years of my life, how that time began, to what it has become now, I am in awe of where it has led me; The people it has led me to.
So much has happened during this time. I have grown, I have learned, I have evolved.
Sometimes, it takes a strong look at a physical place to really see the measure of what you've accomplished.
I went from this:
To this:
It's not much, nor is it by any means "perfect", but it is mine. None of it existed at the time the first photo was taken. I moved in with a bed, my clothes and books. I have found every piece of furniture I own, most of it I've refinished, a lot of it for free...and thankfully I can now look at this room, my home and my life with pride, because I worked for every single minute and every single inch.
But mostly?
I just feel blessed.
I feel like all of the hard decisions I have been faced with, the gut instincts I didn't ignore and all of the choices I made, brought me to this very moment, this place in my life where I can take a look around and feel as though I am right where I need to be. I am surrounded by people that I love and that love me in return. I am treated with kindness and respect. The people in my life do generous and thoughtful things for me, and appreciate me when I do the same for them. I like who I am and the person I have become.
And I guess that's a hell of a lot. More than some might ever get, you know?
But only on you. I realize this isn't much of a consolation, but I knew you would be comforted with the knowledge that every other area of my life is being attended to, but I miss you so! I'd far rather hide in here and play all day (which is not even close to an exaggeration), but I have been busy as all get out making hay and donuts.
I do, however, have a few glimpses into my recent projects. Let's see, I painted my living room and am so happy that's done. The color is Beach Blanket by Valspar. I got the sample during Valspar's free sample promo a few months back:
What do you think? I am SO in love with it. Annnnnd...it reminds me of the color you were helping me try and find back in this post from this photo:
'Cept my new color is a bit more green hued than that room. It has more gray notes to it. It also makes me really happy to end up buying a gallon as a result of their free sample giveaway, to feel like I'm reciprocating not just taking advantage of, if that makes any sense. I'm kind of sappy.
I haven't had time to do much in the way of "staging", not that my living room is one of those spaces that staging would really help, but you work with what'chu got, yanno? I love it 100 times more than I did. At the moment the only thing that drives me bat shit is the TV. :: Le Sigh:: I usually watch stuff on my laptop anyway so I can't really obsess over the small stuff. Well. I can and do, but I try not to.
I'll post more photos later, but for now, you can see the color at least and some of the pieces I finished. I am still trying to decide if I want to paint my white chair's legs and the table next to it. I bought the table with every intention of painting it until I got the chair and thought it needed a friend with that same shade of dark brown in common. I also realize the scale is a bit off and I have to ignore that until I have a bigger budget. Or any budget for that matter. I've been working with free or dirt cheap pieces and about the only thing I pay for is paint. I will tell you though, since I started using an industrial paint sprayer, it's a brave new world. Which reminds me, you can get your lolz on with this gem:
At least with my ability to laugh at myself, I'll never be truly lonely, right?
So where was I? Oh yes, projects. I also finished my bathroom, which I'll also cover soon, but that went a little like this:
I love it SO much more. It feels so much bigger, calmer, more serene. Oh, and in case you're thinking it, no, I am not painting these rooms again, or every 2 years as some of my friends are theorizing. I haven't even blogged my bedroom or kitchen and by the time I get around to it, I will be on its second make-over.
I also took care of these nesting tables that I absolutely adore:
if you love my pillows, you can get your own pair: Layla Grayce
I love the inlay and planned to paint the inside of them white, similar to my beloved Greenwich tables by oomph that I love so much:
At nearly $1,500 a pop, I will quite merrily settle for my own version for the cost of a quart of paint. Which actually got me the equivalent of 2 gallons of paint in this case - but that's another story and you know better than to get me going on a shiny thing.
Initially I was going to go a bit darker green, especially after seeing, coveting and wanting to replicate Natty's lovely green dresser:
Then I decided to let them sit it out a bit, get comfy in their new skin...and now I kind of like them the way they are. Of course, I'll change my mind in a week and want to paint them navy. I wish I were kidding. I painted the inside panels of my IKEA Billy bookcases (what a fiasco that was!) and by the time I had finished I decided maybe my accent color should be navy, not pink so my LR didn't feel so watermelony and estrogen filled. I am NOT changing it. Nope. Nuh uh.
It's hard being a girl that can never just relax and be happy with what she has.
Then I knocked out Lilly's chair and it's side table and unfortunately only have the shittiest of before photos for you:
But the after is considerably better:
When I first put it back in its spot, Lilly gave me a look as if to say, "Wait, it's white, am I really allowed to sit on it?"
It went kind of like this:
Not unlike the look my friends give me when they glance back and forth between myself and my white couch. Outside of our little world here where we're all crazy with our slip covered white couches, people think we're kind of insane. You do realize this, don't you?
For now, I gave Lilly a step stool to get up to her bed and she loves it.
I'm still trying to decide how to arrange the room long-term. It's wide open to the kitchen/dining room so I don't have very many options. I thought of somehow partitioning it, or maybe putting up a folding screen, but I'm not too worried about it at the moment. I'm too busy busting out more of these things:
OH! P to the Ssssss! Who is rip, roaring and ready to go for Sunday?
I set up a Facebook group in which to confine our gushing about Eric Northman, so if you'd like to join just clicky clicky and ask to get in. The posts are private so only members can see them.
I know it's not my usual bag, but after watching this on How My Heart Behaves I felt a sudden and intense urge to share it with anyone that I possibly could.
Some things just do that to me.
And now, not only do I want to make a thousand paper cranes, but I want to listen to this song on repeat for eleventy hours.
Congratulations to The Cozy Project giveaway winner from our last post: Julie Hackel
Please send your mailing address and cozy of choice from The Cozy Project's store to chrissalovesya@gmail.com
As a special "Thank you" to The Design Junkie readers, Jen is giving you a coupon code for FREE SHIPPING through next Friday, June 24th, 5PM EST using the code: DESIGNJUNKIE at checkout.
* If you're interested in having The Design Junkie host a giveaway for your Etsy store or company, please send me an email with a link to your website, store or Facebook page and I will get back to you regarding scheduling and any related information. xo, Chrissa
