Monthly Archives: September 2013

09.16.13

Make Monday Matter...read a book

Posted by Christina // 10 Replies

This Monday’s challenge holds a special place in my heart. Mainly because it is something I absolutely love to do…but always find an excuse not to. Usually those excuses revolve around that pesky little thing called time. Always holding me back. Did you know that only 1 in 6 people read at least 12 books a year? Did you know that book buying only makes up 6% of recreational spending? Did you know that 43% of habitual readers participate in volunteer work? That’s right…good people read and there aren’t enough of us.

The last really great book I read was The Host by Stephenie Meyers, and please don’t judge a book by its movie. Speaking of, when does the second Hunger Games movie come out?

Today, I challenge you to start a new book. If books aren’t your thing, then buy someone who does enjoy reading a book. Promote literacy my friend, be a do-gooder.

What was the last good book you read?
Did you watch The Host?
How do you feel about my married name being Christina Gray…hmmm.

09.13.13

Friday favorites...nine one three

Posted by Christina // 2 Replies

Today is going to be a very lucky day. Happy Friday the 13th my friend.

I hope you have a day as beautiful as one of Nataly Novosad’s watercolor paintings. I wish everyday was this beautiful, and I also wish I could make a watercolor painting without it looking like a two-year old spilled their juice. Nataly has mad skills and also paints adorable little animals, her duck painting pretty much melted my heart. Some other things that made me verbally ohhhh…. I seriously want to have a guest room. A fancy one where we could invite people to come to ol’ Missouri for the Gray house bed-and-breakfast experience. Maybe one day. Le sigh. When that day comes, I am taking a cue from Elsie and Emma and making a sweet statement with a welcome cart. I want to come stay with them, pretty much immediately. I have never found another person that makes me think outside of the design-box like Kristin. The best part is I literally love everything the girl does. Take this beyond cute dog bed for example…Asti is super jealous. This makes me so upset that our corn didn’t make it. This just sounds like it is everything good in the world, cheese and corn….yes please. Kevin, you sure know the way to my heart. Now send me corn.

What goods did you find this week?
How are you celebrating Friday the 13th?
Have some corn I can borrow?

09.12.13

The big box reveal....

Posted by Christina // 14 Replies

I showed off all of our estate sale treasures yesterday and at the end of the post I left you with this picture. I told you that it was our splurge of the weekend even though we got it for 40% of the original asking price. We visited the estate sale on Saturday and I immediately fell in love with a few of the pieces in the collection…I asked if they would part it out and explained that they were just what we were looking for to use as wedding centerpieces. They turned us down on Saturday but suggested we come back on Sunday.

We of course came back because there were a ton of vintage Tupperware pieces I had my eyes on and of course I had to know if we would get lucky and talk them into selling us their collection. When we first showed up on Sunday I searched high and low for that big box, and it was nowhere to be found. Heart equals broken. Luckily, the owners recognized us (I may have acted a teensy bit crazy the day before over all those wooden spools and vintage tins) and asked if we were still interested.

We were prepared to get down on our knees and beg them to part it out. We were even ready to buy the whole collection if we could get it at the right price. And get it at the right price we did, the owner immediately gave us a number that we pounced on. Looking back I think they just thought it was sweet that we wanted to use their collection in our wedding, or maybe they just didn’t want to lug that box around anymore….who knows.

Are you dying to know what is in that dang box now? Did I mention I am slightly obsessed with old tins? I did didn’t I. Well, those tins can come in this form too… Yes, we are now the proud owners of 278 tin cans. Holler. In case you are wondering, the Whistle can I am holding was the can I fell head over heels for. We have quite a variety, most I have never even heard of. For the wedding (yes I am giving it all away) we are going to display all the old beer tins at the bar. These guys are going to make their way into the centerpieces. Please someone let me put my head on their shoulder and tell me I am not the only one who would get excited for this. When I look at some of the really old cans, which by the way are heavy as heck, I feel like I have a little piece of history. Cheesy? Don’t care. I bet the original owner would be happy to know that I am already begging Tim to let me build a display wall for all 278 tins.

Do you have any strange collections?
Recognize any of those old cans?
Dare you to drink one of the unopened Weight Watchers.

09.11.13

Why we are estate sale addicts now...

Posted by Christina // 17 Replies

I have always loved a good garage sale. The thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline of scoring a deal. Lots of people have told me that I should try estate sales, but the whole concept sort of freaked me out. Creeping through the junk of someone who has recently passed seemed a little intrusive. Now though, now I see the light. These people need me to snag onto their treasures, so they don’t wind up in a cold, wet, dark basement.

We bought so much stuff. Seriously, I am not sure if this estate sale was just a rare gem full of things I didn’t even know I would love….or if they are all just that good. I am really hoping for the later. Just look at some of these goods, while keeping in mind that we are leaning hard on a “hometown fair” theme for the wedding. I loved some of the old tins so much that I worked them into the mantle. Now when I walk by I stare just a little too long, which makes Tim think I am having a stroke or something. Nope, just admiring old beauty. I have a mild obsession with these old tins now, is there a rehab for that? Just for some hump day fun…I want to play a game. Our biggest purchase was this box. We fell in love on Saturday, and came back on Sunday to see if we could score a deal…and boy did we. So what do you think is in the box? Let’s play twenty questions, ask me anything to help you get to your final guess. This should be fun, this is fun right.

What was your best sale find?
Do you prefer garage sales or estate sales?
What do you think is in that dang box?

09.10.13

DIY update of old treasure

Posted by Christina // 6 Replies

I mentioned yesterday that we went treasure hunting last weekend. Tomorrow I am going to share all of our fun finds but I had to show you my favorite quick update.

When I saw this gem of a glass-platter-thingy…seriously what are these called…I knew it had to come home with me. I love picking up pieces like this because the options are endless. She’s a looker right. With her sweet old country quilt scene. I considered gold leafing the plate and staining the wood, but decided on a more fun approach. I put a quick coat of Pantone’s color of the year around the base and then cut out a cool piece of graphic scrapbook paper. I intended to glue it down but then decided that I would love it more if I could change it up with just a paper cutout. Just look at her makeover. Have you done any quick updates?
Will you ever get sick of Emerald?
What is that thing called seriously?

09.09.13

Make Monday Matter...don't speed

Posted by Christina // 5 Replies

I feel like a whole new woman after this weekend. Totally invigorated and remotivated. I had a really rough last week putting on my management pants, so this week I talked Tim into some “resale retail therapy”. We went to our very first estate sale, and have now declared ourselves addicts.

I can’t wait to tell you about all of our treasures. But first, I want to get this week started on a better foot and Make this Monday Matter. This challenge will be a tough one for me. I will hang my head in shame as I admit that I have a lead foot. It is only because I am perpetually late, which is a whole different story. At least once a day I curse myself for not leaving earlier. Tim thinks I thrive on the pressure and chaos, I think I just like my bed a little too much.

Did you know that car accidents are the number one killer of people ages 4-37. Not to mention those tickets are never cheap. We are all in a rush, but is it really worth the sacrifice. Whether it’s a ticket, insurance claim, injury, or worse…is it worth the few minutes you shave off. Probably not.

Let’s slow down today. Maybe even use a blinker and wave at people who let you in their lane. You may even have time to smell the roses. What a novel idea.

Are you a speedy driver?
Ever gotten out of a ticket?
Anyone else always late?