Chinoiserie Brass Chest

Look what I purchased!

I purchased this cute small brass chest of drawers from Craigs List for $125. I love the Chinoiserie / Hollywood Regency look to it. Its currently sitting in my basement (the pictures above are from the Craigs List post) because I don't really have a place for it in my condo. I know, right? Purchasing furniture without a place to put it is kind of like hoarding. I'm sure if I wasn't so cheap I'd be a hoarder!

Anyway it was so pretty and sparkly and full of oriental brass goodness I couldn't pass it up. I think I'm at my limit of Chinoiserie furniture I can have in my condo. If I have more than one piece in a room in my small condo it'll start feeling like a bad theme instead of good Chinoiserie. This beauty will probably go live in the office / my son's bedroom or maybe replace the newish brass bar cart in the dining room. (I don't think I've shown you that yet). I think it's too big for the dining room though but will try it out to see. If all else fails I will turn around and sell it on eBay. (My pile of furniture to sell on Craigs List or eBay is growing by the day. I really need to stop purchasing and start selling!)

I'm still feeling under the weather and don't want to carry this bad boy up 3 flights of stairs and move furniture around to make it fit. I'll do that another day.

So what about you? Did you buy anything new this weekend?

Campaign Roll Top Desk

Have you ever seen something like this? I really love it. The desk is for sale on Craig's List for $250. I did a little Googling and couldn't find out anything about it. Too bad it won't work in my office. I need a big flat surface so I can set up a sewing machine or do other arts and crafts.

Seriously?

I cannot believe that I'm sick again. I landed in the ER on Tuesday it was so bad. I'm home, off work and feeling nauseous, headachey, and cranky. I hate taking time off work. That whole no work = no money thing is a bummer. And I only work 3 afternoons a week so its not like work stresses me out or is difficult or anything. Plus I don't like to feel like I'm a flake and can't be counted on to show up when I'm supposed to. Agh! Grumpy.

I've made no progress with doing the finishing touches on my kitchen. Or taking pictures for you of the new paint and green accents I've added so far. I am pleased that I put everything back in the kitchen. It took a couple days to get the pantry back in place. I went through all my food, tossed a couple expired items and donated a bag of things I shouldn't be eating to the food pantry. Everything got wiped down and organized as I put it away.

I have a couple items to spray paint. Yea! warm enough weather for spray painting. However I've been sick during the dry weather and over the weekend its supposed to rain. So maybe it'll get done next weekend.

My son comes home from college in 4 weeks. I want to have the kitchen done.  I still have to clear out his room that I've been using as a dumping/storage room for the last 5 months he's been gone. And my bedroom is full of furniture to sell on Craigs List. I gotta get my hustle on.

Rug and Updates

Sorry for the radio silence this month. I've been under the weather and not doing much. However I'm feeling better now. I'm painting the kitchen this weekend. I'm on the second coat of paint. I really dislike painting. It's such an easy and cheap change to your space. But I'm a messy painter. My wonderful brother is helping (well actually doing) all the cutting in. Painting around the cabinets and countertop made me very nervous. I'm glad for the help. I'll have pictures probably on Wednesday once everything is put back and I have good light for picture taking.

In the meantime, I'm dreaming of this rug.

It's a 10'x13' for sale on Craigs List. It would look great with my new to me living room furniture. I haven't showed my changes to you yet because I'm still tweaking things. My two new chairs are the same vibrant blue as the rug. The rug is $600 which for me is a small fortune to spend on just about anything. Remember I'm a bargain shopper extraordinaire (aka cheap). But I'm seriously debating purchasing it. What a statement piece. And I would finally have a platform for adding pink into the room. I'd love a sophisticated pink and blue room.

What do you think of the rug?

Thai Peanut Chicken and Rice

I was home by myself this weekend so I thought I'd try something new to eat. I LOVE Thai peanut sauce. I made up this quick meal using the recipe for the peanut sauce from here found via Pinterest.

I changed up the sauce a little by doubling the peanut butter. The sauce was way too oily and overpowered by sesame, even with double the amount of peanut butter. Blah. It's not a keeper.

The rest was simple. White rice and sauteed chicken breast tossed with the sauce topped by the sesame seeds. I continue my quest for quick and tasty peanut sauce.

Budos Band

I saw a reference to this band on another blog and had to check them out. They were described as "funky, groovy, instrumental afro-pop". I spent an hour or two downloading and listening to their music. Give it a listen, I think you'll enjoy it!




One of the comments about this song on YouTube was, "Sounds like the glorious soundtrack to a 70's film about hairy men driving fast cars, shagging chicks and punching bad dudes in the mouth. And it's one of the most amazing things I've ever heard." And I have to agree!

Kitchen Inspiration

Life is conspiring against me. For the second weekend in a row I can't paint the kitchen as I have other commitments. But NEXT weekend is the one, no matter what! I know its Easter weekend but I'm not going anywhere and will have Friday - Monday available to paint.

I thought since I can't paint this weekend, I'll share a little kitchen inspiration for my redo. Just to refresh your memory my kitchen has cherry wood cabinets and will have aqua paint with green accents. Here are the before pictures and my plans. To check out more of my inspiration you can view my Pinterest Kitchen Board here.

via Corbis Images

Retro Kitchen via The Kitchen Designers

Studio 26 Homes

via House Beautiful

by Loop Designs

Divine Kitchens

source unknown