Wait... What now?!

I am almost done with the apartment! All that is left are little details. I apparently need to varnish all of the white furniture I have painted. I am quickly learning that white paint likes to get very dirty, and it is scratching in parts! I am very disappointed, but at least it looks cute? I am feeling like I have the forever 21 of decor- It's great until you look up close and see the little flaws. My future projects will be dedicated to touch-ups and improving on the projects that I have already started.

So I got this table for $25 on craigslist. I'll give you some close-up shots, because the details are the best part!

Three coats of satin-finish white paint later, and I was ready to put it in it's new home!

Here is that desk I painted with a fun little shabby-chic chair I DIY-ed last week.

In other news, one of my friends from college came to visit me and we travelled to Niagara Falls! (Which is visually... disturbing for lack of a better term. It is mini vegas, but without the "classy" aspects. Think a wax museum, 3-D theatre, cigar shop, and neon chachskis galore!) But we did win $360 on the penny slots! Yeaaaaa! And I played my first table game- Baccarat. It was SO fun, and I doubled my winnings! (Which I then promptly lost...)

Creative Title?

So this weekend one of my best friends from college is coming to stay with me. Yay! We are going to hang out in Rochester for a few days, and then spend Sunday night in the Canada side of Niagara Falls and do a little gambling!! Does canada have jackpot party? I really hope so.

(Image via Jackpotparty.com)

So, I mentioned previously that I really wanted the white pintuck duvet cover from West Elm. Well, I have a confession- I kind of already have it, just in a different color. I ordered the "sea spray" color as pictured below, but I just didn't love the way it looked in my bedroom. Not to mention, that last year, I didn't have a couch, and so I basically lived on my bed- resulting in spilled coffee stains, red spots from a popsicle incident, and even burns from being left against my heater (whoops).

(Image via West Elm)

But I thought to myself, why buy another one for $125, when I still have a (somewhat) functional version? I saw a blogpost on Younghouselove, where they dyed their dining room chairs with this awesome dye, called iDye, that can just be thrown in the washer. I settled on "gun metal" and went to work!

For precise directions, check out this blogpost on YHL.

The final result was more blue than I intended- but still more grey than the picture shows. The dye did an amazing job. All of the stains (even the burns!) were totally covered, and I am really happy with the way it turned out.

Remember me? Ugly desk? Well, I am no longer ugly! Yay!

Two coats of paint, and a world of difference (at least to me).

I'm embarrassed... but here is what my living room currently looks like. So I have 3 days until Clayton comes, and I gotta get his room (the living room) all set to have guests! Today at four, I am picking up a shabby chic coffee table, which I'll be painting white this week, along with some shabby chic chairs that I have been storing at my friend Becca's house. I can't wait to show you how it turns out!

On another note- this is really getting addicting. As soon as I finish a room, I find a new decorating idea, or design detail that I want to test out. Maybe I can work on the side as an Anthropologie design intern? : ) Eh, a girl can dream!

Escape

So this last Wednesday night, I got the chance to escape Rochester for 24 hours, and venture to the Mirbeau Inn and Spa in Skeneatles Lake. The hotel was designed to make you feel like you were vacationing inside of a Monet painting. It worked, and it was truly one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been to.

This picture is of the hotel restaurant, Savor. I got a beet, goat cheese, balsamic salad, lobster mac and cheese, filet mignon, and spearmint ice cream (It was supposed to be peppermint... it wasn't... it was not good- but the rest of the food was amazing!)

The gardens were designed to look just like one of Monet's waterlily paintings, complete with the turquoise bridge. So gorgeous!

This was the view from outside of our balcony.

I could only take one picture in the spa, well, because I felt like a huge peeping Tom. But it was so beautiful and relaxing. Totally worth the sunburn I got laying out : )

Random Collection of Posts

This post covers some little projects and happenings that were too small to use in their own posting. So, here they are, randomly muddled together to make one rather sizable posting : )

I wanted to show you guys the park that I live in. It's called Highland Park, and it is the most amazing escape in the middle of the city. I could walk around this park for hours, and on many days- I do. I especially love it in early spring, when the magnolia trees and lilacs are in full bloom. Right now, it is mostly green, with some pops of hydrangeas and daisies.

Now, my bathroom really isn't that exciting. What bathroom is? But I did take the dove grey color of my bedroom, and paint the bottom half of the room. The best part of the room? It's mold free! Score.

So this is actually a piece of fabric that I had framed. My mom is a costumer, and has a huge collection of fabric scraps. I found this one in her sewing room, and stole it (sorry mom!!) because I loved the colors and the scene. Isn't it great?

I've also been collecting Mason jars. They are so handy, and add a really cute design detail. I also use them to hold pencils, pens, make up brushes, and cooking ingredients.

So, I re-did my gallery wall, and I am very happy with the result!

When we went to Ikea, I wanted to get a great frame to showcase my letterpress "California Love" print that I showed you guys earlier. However, due to a not-so-surprising mistake on my part, the matting was wayyyyyyyy to large for the print. So, I searched high and low for a great substitute, and just couldn't find anything I was happy with. Then one day, I went to the fabric store, and saw this grey lace. I thought I'd give it a shot, and I really like the way it looks. It also helps to tie in the grey of my bedroom with the blue of the living room.

I never learn. If you know me, you know this. I like to force things. I'm the kinda person that will totally hit the DVD player until it works, or keep trying to hit the nail into the wall, even though it clearly is right in front of a stud. Well, it happened again. I tried to force the glass back into the Ikea frame, it shattered, and I ended up with cuts all over my legs! This picture really doesn't do it justice- there were bloody footprints all over the place. Gory... I know, I'm sorry! Being a nurse has kind of tainted my perception of what is socially acceptable to talk about.

Now... this was annoying. The first time I walked in my apartment, I realized that my fridge was smackdab in the middle of the kitchen. Even worse? There were no other outlets anywhere close, and so the fridge was just eating space, and making the whole kitchen feel awkward. Until I found a solution, I just used a powerstrip as an extension cord, and pushed the fridge over as far as I could.

After painting the kitchen, I purchased a 3-prong extension cord, and nailed it along the detailing in the wall. Pretty sneaky, huh?

When you aren't looking directly at the cord, you would never know it was there. Now the kitchen has much more space, and I do not have to showcase that eyesore of a powerstrip.

I think it is also time that I introduce you to my roommate, Daisy. She is awesome. She is much more of a dog, than a cat. I'll let her prove it to you.

Look, in my defense, most of my friends are gone until August, and I am without a TV and internet, ok?

.... Ok... I know. I'm a little embarrassed for myself, too.

Woah... That's Darker Than I Thought...

Before I show you the makeover, I'll give you a little tour of my kitchen.

This is my view. I think it's pretty : ) I can look out and see some of the gardens of my complex, which really are lovely. I am currently without internet and a TV, so I spend a lot of time exploring my new little neighborhood. Some faces are starting to become familiar, and I must say that this place is awesome for people watching. One of my favorites is "sassy running lady," she is about 40, and runs every night in the same outfit- red lycra (but about three sizes to big) with racing stripes down the side and a nascar flag on the back of her jacket. I also love the Indian couple who sit on a bench outside of my apartment. They are probably in their seventies, and sit on the bench every night from about 6:30-9:00. They just seem so sweet, enjoying each other and the warm nights. I hope that I get to do that with my future person one day.

Back to the kitchen.

I wish I could paint these cabinets. I am not a fan of this color of wood. Maybe I could stain it darker?

CURSE WORDS. I moved my fridge to a different wall... and made these two lovely slits (each about 5 inches long) in my linoleum floor.

I hid it with a placemat and Daisy's dishes. Peace out, deposit.

So I really wanted to have a fun, bright, darker color in my apartment, and the kitchen seemed like just the place to do it. It's hard to tell from the picture... but the color is a deep teal.

I have big plans for those chairs. I want to collect some vintage- looking chairs (all different styles) and whitewash them. I love, love, love the contrast of white and a pop of green against this color.

The plant is from Ammy and Baba (the coolest grandparents ever). It originally came in a froggy vase, but Daisy knocked it over : ( He is in the process of being glued back together.

So, there was a big empty white spot right behind my sink that needed a little decoration. I realized that I had a big mirror that I couldn't find a home for, so I thought "hey! why not test it out?" I *attempted* to hang it- it took two hours, 8 screws, crazy Swedish directions, and endless frustration to realize that, no. No, it is not possible to hang this frame. So for now it is leaning, but I'll win this battle, one day. Anyhoo- I really like the mirror here. I know it is an odd choice, but it really opens up the kitchen, and makes it seem larger. It also reflects the light from the window- so it brightens the space. Win!

A Little Break

I got to escape from Rochester for about 24 hours this weekend- and it was a much needed break! I went down to Canandaigua lake for a mini Kitchen family reunion and Lobsterfest! I had so much fun, and can't remember the last time I laughed that hard. Wadhams clan- I'm officially starting the campaign for Canandaigua 2012- a reunion of the Kitchens and Wadhams. Can you imagine the chaos? It would be so much fun!

I decided that if they were going to be feeding me a ginourmous feast of lobster and steak, I should contribute something tasty. I decided on macaroons- they are so yummy, don't cost too much to make, and can be done in about an hour.

Here is a picture of my ingredients:

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 1/2 cups flaked coconut
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Bake at 375 until toasty : ) (about 12 mins)
• I also like to get crazy and add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon- but be careful. You can't just add the cinnamon to the batter, because it won't spread evenly- you have to mix it in with the vanilla extract, and then it will spread throughout the batter more thoroughly.

The mixing bowl and spoon were a gift from my friend Christina- and I love them!! Thanks X! (She is off in Peru doing good deeds and volunteering her nursing skills- how cool is that?)

Silly me- I tried to be fancy and mix the batter in a cute bowl with a cute spatula.

I learned quickly that I needed a MUCH bigger pot, and these ingredients call for some good old fashioned hand mixin'

Roll those suckers up in ping-pong sized balls

*hint-wash your hands after about every 10 balls or so- otherwise, your hands get

too sticky to make properly shaped little cookies.

While making these fancy treats, I watched this not-so-fancy show. Have you seen "Swamp People"? If you haven't- you really need to. It is hilarious!!! It's about gator hunters in the Atchatfalaya swamp of Louisiana. It's a mix of "Deadliest Catch," "Beverly Hillbillies," "River Monsters," and the male versions of Paula Dean with giant rifles (think deep fried whole bullfrogs and alligator innards). Let's face it- I'm weird. I am fully aware of this fact. And I've always had a fascination swamps and the Cajun lifestyle. See weird? But The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has always been a favorite book of mine, and growing up my favorite parts of Disneyland were New Orleans Square, Adventureland, and Frontierland. So this show is right up my alley.

Twelve minutes later, these puppies were ready to come out of the oven!!

And here is a little teaser for the next post! Next time you see my kitchen... it will be one of these colors. Crazy, I know. But hey, it's my apartment- and I can crazy-paint it however I please : )

Living Room.

Ok- there is seriously no rhyme or reason to how this uploader-thinngy puts up pictures- gr! Anyways, before getting into more apartment re-d0 talk, I wanted to show you guys my latest purchase!

This is Sandy Strong- and she is the mascot of Golisano Childrens Hospital. I really cannot say enough amazing things about the hospital, but I'll try to give you a little example. Most of the time, kids are really afraid to come into the hospital, especially the really little kiddos. One way that nurses and the child life specialists try to help them adjust to their stay in the hospital is to give them little Sandy dolls. Before any procedure (from taking routine vital signs to major surgeries) these little dolls (or really any stuffed animal/doll) are used to show the little ones what we will be doing. We can show them how we will take a blood pressure, how we will change their bandages, etc. This is really helpful in calming them, and allowing them to be a participant in their care. So anyways, I picked up one of these keychains to proudly show my support : ) yay!

Back to the apartment business. So I got this rug at IKEA in Toronto. Fun fact- the US and Canada do not have the same currencies. Who woulda thought, right? Well you probably would have, but I didn't. And my "inexpensive" IKEA trip turned out to be a lot more expensive than I thought due to the exchange rate. Also, I thought that I had remembered an IKEA right across the US/Canadian border at Niagara falls, but the morning that we left, I couldn't seem to find directions to that location, so we drove all the way to the Toronto IKEA- which turned out to be a 4 hour drive due to traffic. And wouldn't you know... right as we finally get out of the bumper-to-bumper Toronto traffic, and are about to cross back into America- we see the other IKEA. But, even with the extra 3 hours of traveling time, it was worth it, and I got lots of fun and cute items :)

I got these couches from a graduating med student. They were an awesome deal, but I need to figure out how to clean them....

So this is a desk that I picked up from craigslist for $25. I plan to DIY it, and eventually it will be used to hold a TV and appleTV that I am hoping to get for my birthday... *hint, hint* : ) Having cable doesn't really make sense for me, because as a nurse, your hours are all over the place, and so I'd never really get to watch anything with consistency. This way, I can stream netflix and hulu, and get all the shows that I want, when I have time to see them!

This picture really disappoints me. The gallery wall looks so much cuter in person! Oh well... I eventually plan to cover almost the entire wall with pictures and art, but I ran out of frames- and I'm very picky about my frames.

I filled my gallery wall with pages from my favorite books (Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, and The Adventures of Huck Finn are displayed so far)

Photos of my favorite people (This is my sister's wedding!! Isn't she the prettiest bride, ever?)

And art from my favorite Esty vendors. This one came from a woman who lives in Arroyo Grande, CA. I found it hilarious that the street that she lives on is Tally Ho! Road. (Well I added the "!" but it seemed like it belonged there)

So, I still have a long way to go. I need to buy some side tables, a coffee table, and more decorations, but I think it will turn out really cute when I'm all done!!