What's Going on Over Here

Not sure if you remember but we were in the process of remodeling our daughter Isabella's bedroom a while back.  Her theme is Paris, mostly with deep pink, light pink and black.  I promised to post some after pictures.  Well, after all this time it's STILL not completely done, so no pictures of the finished product yet!  My husband has been hunting for the past six or seven weeks so things have been getting done little by little--really little by little.



She has a nice wide spot above her bed that she wants me to do an Eiffel Tower painting, so I finally just started working on that last night on my brand new desk from IKEA.  Here's a peek at the start of it.  The only other thing she requested in the painting was a pink poodle, so I have to find a perfect spot for that as well as add some more detail.  Just wanted to show you the start of it.  The one below is the painting just a little bit futher.  I'm enjoying painting with only two soft lamps lit and Christmas music playing in the background.  Must be the new desk that's making me feel so peaceful or could it be that I  have been reorganizing the office?  Hmmm....it's amazing what getting rid of clutter can do.

Also, my dad built her a homemade bookshelf when I was still pregnant, but it's light periwinkle and soft yellow, so that's also on the project list for me to finish.  I've been sort of procrastinating on this one too, but I want to get moving because she has books and trinkets all over the house that need to go back to their home on the bookshelf.  I'm thinking of painting it white and having the inside back of it deep pink with some black diamond-shapes or some pattern.  On the side that can be seen when you walk in the door I was thinking of adding some black and deep pink and maybe painting or putting a stick-on black chandelier.  Any ideas of what would look cute to funk up the bookcase?  I'd love to hear them.

I also just ordered some materials to make some of my favorite paintings into little glass tile pendants to add some new items into my etsy shop.  Prints are on the horizon too as I got a new Epson printer and Photoshop Elements.  Hopefully I can keep going on all these projects and start the holiday shopping, decorating and cookie-baking as well. 

I hope you'll stop by to see the updated painting and finally her completed bedroom.  Thanks for visiting today!

My Wise Athena

The Halloween festivities have already started around here.  Isabella chose to be the goddess Athena this year and I think she looks so sweet.  She has a love of Greek Mythology thanks to Rick Riordan's books (The Lightning Thief series), so she was thrilled to find an Athena costume.  Friday at school they got to wear their costumes already (the 21st) in preparation for their first school dance of the year, the Halloween Bash.  She had a blast because not only did they have a D.J. in the gym but the cafeteria was full of activities as well like a fun photo booth, a fortune teller and much more. 



This is the first dance that parents are not required to be at because she's at an intermediate school (5-8th).  Exciting for her and her friends, but a little sad for me.  I was going to be a chaperone but decided to have a date night with the husband instead.  It was great to see her when she came home because it was a blast for her. 

Now yesterday for our little nephew Kane's first birthday party, my brother and his wife made it a Halloween party, so we had another dose of costumes and fun.  They really went overboard and put on a great time.  There were little pumpkins for the kids to carve and paint.  They had a monster pinata in the driveway.  We went on a "Great Pumpkin" walk through their neighborhood carrying lit pumpkins with kids and some adults in costumes making lots of noise which really turned out to be fun--many drivers honking horns and neighbors popping outside to wave "hi."  So many little cuties in costumes ranging in age from 7 weeks to 12 years old.  A great night of fun for kids and us grown-ups.

(her "monkey" pumpkin she made for the birthday boy-even has a curly tail in back)

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you all find some fun in the fall holidays like we have so far.

Bedroom Remodel ~ Are We There Yet?

As I mentioned recently, we've decided to remodel our daugher Isabella's bedroom since she hasn't had a change since she turned three and got into the big-girl bed.  She's now ten (and a half!) and she's showing an interest in Paris and pink with touches of black.  I figure the black will make it last into her teen years and won't seem too young then.  Here are some before and after pictures.  Beware:  the before pictures show quite a messy room as she had started letting it go before we took everything out.  I'm almost embarrassed to let you see them.  There are some with old decor and some with just a stripped down room.  As you can see over her bed she already had the Paris itch a while ago and painted that sweet canvas with the Eiffel Tower and charming blue trees.



Here are two I took right after we tore off the oak stained woodwork prior to putting up new white woodwork.  The carpet was already ripped out and the blue stuff you see on the floor is the underlayment for the wood laminate soon to go up. 

Here she is helping Daddy caulk the crown moulding before it gets painted. She can be a great helper. Sometimes.

Finally, the wood laminate floor is going in and she helped with almost the whole thing. 

The floor is finally finished! We're making progress...

Stay tuned for the finished product in a few days.  I'm excited to show you how it's all turned out.  I also can't wait to get her out of our bed--she's a kicker and an elbower (even gave me a bloody nose once in the middle of the night--seriously).

Thanks for visiting and bearing with the long post today.

New Bedroom on the Horizon

Lots of "stuff" going on over here.  First of all, we are in the midst of redoing Isabella's bedroom.  She's now ten and hasn't had a change since she first got her big-girl bed when she was three. 

For some reason, she's obsessed with Paris and the Eiffel Tower so that's going to be somewhat of a theme for her room.  Years ago we started replacing all our oak woodwork with white mouldings, baseboards, etc. and didn't get to her room yet.  Welllll....now we are. 

Last Sunday we tore out the carpet (lots of orange vomit stains from a night of too many Cheetos, Doritos and sour cream and cheddar chips at a cousins house-just won't come clean).  So, we're opting for wood laminate flooring for her.  Looking for a cute area rug--any ideas for some girly rugs that aren't too pricey?  She's still opting for girly colors, mostly pink, maybe some light lavender polka dots on the walls and wants a light blue ceiling to look like the sky. 

I bought two prints from etsy artists a while back--one with a cute weiner dog looking out a window at the Eiffel Tower by DJ Rogers Fine Art.   Isn't he a doll?

I also bought this print by one of my favorite artists, Karen Fields called "Bistro Paris Dress."  We've framed it in black to give it a bit more of a grown-up look since we want this room to last through the teenage years. 

Also, I fell in love with this personalized canvas with her initial "I" and Paris details as well from the shop Owen and the Princess.

I want to post before and after pictures when it's all finished.  We still have to lay the floor (just the underlayment blue stuff is down so far), paint the walls, ceiling, install and paint white new baseboards, trim around windows, doors and new closet doors.  Oh, and find new bedding!  So, we're going to be pretty busy the next week or so.  Hubby wants to get it done before he goes hunting (I think so he doesn't feel so guilty leaving us so often). 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Who do you Adore?

I have always wanted a little girl, even when I was a little girl.  When I played with dolls, they were only girl babies and I dreamed of having my own little girl one day.  I worried that I might not be able to have my own baby.  I'm adopted and hoped I would be so lucky as to give birth to my own baby.   I'll be honest when I was pregnant I hoped it would be a girl (of course I wanted a healthy baby and would've been happy no matter what).  The day she was born made me feel like the luckiest girl alive.  My dream came true--a little girl entered my life, the one I had been hoping for since forever.



She's now ten, but she's still my baby, and she's my everything.  This is probably why so much of my art is on the girly side and why when I title my paintings, I think of the love I have for my daughter, Isabella.

This recent painting I finished is called "I Adore You" because I know what it feels like to be completely enamored by a sweet little girl.  When I think of the women who can't have babies, like I once worried about, I feel crushed for them.  I hope all my gushing in this post doesn't make anyone feel bad about where they are in their lives.  Not my intention at all.

I just wanted to share this painting and tell you my inspiration behind many of my girly creations. 

Who's that person in your life that you simply adore?

My Babe Back to School

Today was a big day for us as Isabella entered fifth grade, which may not seem like a big deal to most, but this is a new school--it's a 5th - 8th grade building.  Yep, I know, pretty young for "middle school" which they really call intermediate school. 

Kids are growing up too fast, and I worry that entering 5th grade in such a bigger school setting will make her grow up even faster!  They do say they still follow an elementary model, with having the same teacher for core classes and only switching for band, art, phy ed and foreign language.  HOWEVER, if they ride the bus, they actually ride with high schoolers!  What?!  I can't see my little ten-year-old on a bus with high schoolers.  Luckily I work part-time and I can drop her off in the morning.



Report for the day was a good one though which was reassuring.  She had a great experience on her first day in her new school and she's very excited for the rest of the adventure coming ahead, like starting the flute and taking foreign language (exploring Spanish, German and Mandarin).

So, I guess I need to just relax and let her enjoy all
her new experiences and opportunities and make sure she's still my one and only baby at home.

August Break - My Two Babies

Here are my two snuggly babies getting cozy on the couch. 

Loving Instagram - August Break

Just found Instagram on our ipod touch and I love how I can alter the pictures to look vintage, black and white or any of the other options. 

This is my sweet daughter Isabella who typically DOES NOT like me taking pictures of her, but maybe because it was ipod related she cooperated!

Looking forward to a sunny Sunday here in Wisconsin*

Look at that Smile!

Monday morning and I'm continuing with August Break 2011 in which other bloggers share a photo a day, Monday - Friday based on the blog Notes on Unravelling the Heart, by Susannah Conway.

A sweet picture of my daughter Isabella as a chubby little baby (who is now 10).  This is one of my favorite pics of her because she is smiling so big and looks so full of joy. 

 Look at that full-mouth smile!



Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl

Today is my daughter's 10th birthday.  I know it's cliche, but wow, does time fly.  I keep telling her I'm not going to let her get any older--she doesn't like that at all--she wants to grow up fast just like the rest of us probably did when we were younger.  I absolutely loved the baby stage with her, so I'm having a hard time seeing her grow and change into a young woman.  I know young woman sounds a bit odd for a ten-year-old, but she's no longer my little chubby baby with tons of sweet rolls all over.  She's closer to young woman than baby now, though she says she will always be my baby.



Isabella, I wish you love, joy, laughter, happiness, silliness, strength, inspiration, motivation and the confidence to be yourself and to do what is true for you.

I'll be honest I worry a lot about what the future holds for her.  I don't ever want her to feel deep sadness, but I know that's not realistic.  I pray that she makes the right choices when big ones come up for her as she approaches her teen years.  I know worrying is a waste of time.  I think I know that.  So I try to live now and enjoy every sweet (and frustrating) moment I have with her.  She makes me smile, laugh and has brought such breathtaking joy to my life.  I'm so lucky to be her mom and be with her to celebrate her 10th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl !

You Make Me Smile

I just finished this colorful painting and titled it, "You Make Me Smile."  I was inpired by the song "You Make Me Smile" by Uncle Kracker as I was driving home from work today.  Then in turn I thought of my daughter Isabella who will be turning 10 on Tuesday because she truly does make me smile.  (Not always of course--she's quite a spitfire).  But I have truly noticed that I have so much more joy in my life since she's been in it.  I have become a MUCH calmer person.  She's taught me to live in the moment and that it is fun to play board games and color silly pictures with her.  She's also taught me how important it is to really listen to a person and look them in the eyes when they are telling you something, even if it might only  be about a game they played at recess.  I'll admit I get quite sad when I realize how old she's getting because I LOVE babies and she's so far from that stage now.  However, each new age gives us new things to experience and learn about life with her.

When I think of how lucky I am to be her mommy and have her as my daughter, I feel so blessed.  It kind of makes all the other fears, worries and anxieties seem a bit smaller.