I've moved!

And you can come visit me at my new home --> http://aesthetics79.wordpress.com. Look forward to seeing you there!

2009 Australian Vacation

I know these are long overdue!

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Coupon Clipping

I am not one to collect coupons, but times are a hard financially these days, that it just makes sense to use coupons. I haven't graduated to that avid coupon collector status where I have my own wallet for coupons that are organized by items, however whenever I am about to do a project, I frequently like to search the web for coupons that can help me stretch that dollar further.

Anyway I wanted to share with you some coupons, that I find handy, which I hope you will too.

• Hobby Lobby (Luv, luv, luv their coupons!)
• Michaels (expires July 18, 2009, but they usually have a special coupon every week)
• JoAnn Fabric & Craft Stores - coupon 1 & coupon 2 (same with Michaels and Hobby Lobby who regularly have online coupons.

Those are my favorites but if you search online for coupons, you wil usually find some great ones out there. Sometimes you might have to sign up to regularly receive coupons which can be great too, if you can withstand the junk mail, but thats a small price to pay when you're saving big!

A coupon for good measure!

New Old Light Fixture

Well, I knew I couldn't stay away for long, and I have so many things I want to share. I have been able to do a lot more crafty and creative things, and I'm glad I took the time to pursue them. Sometimes you just have to purposefully make time to do things ya know!? So I have let a few projects out of my head, but there are still a few needing to come out. I can't wait to share those with you.

Over the weekend, I decided that I wasn't going to spend a bunch of money buying new light fixtures, because 1) they are expensive and 2) they are expensive! So instead of going the expensive route, I decided that I would paint our brass pendant light that hangs over our kitchen counter. I love these lights from Pottery Barn. They have a very farmhouse vintage feel to them. I like the clear bell shaped glass and the black tinge on the fixture and I wanted to replicate that with our pendant light. The final product is this:

So I didn't get the clear pendant shade, but that is something I can always purchase down the road. I still like my new old light!

Turning an old light fixture new again

What you will need:

• Light fixture
• Medium grade sand paper or steel wool
• Metal primer (I used Rust-Oleum White Clean Metal Primer)
• Metal paint for the fixture (I used Rust-Oleum Textured Paint in Black)
• Metal high heat paint for shade (I used Rust-Oleum HIgh Heat Paint in White)
• Paint tape
• Clean cloth or paper towels

Instructions:

1) Detach fixture from ceiling/wall. Make sure your electricity is off. I got scolded for not doing this, my bad!

2) Detach fixture from shade and light bulb.

3) Clean fixture and shade thoroughly with cloth and water making sure there isn't any paper or cloth towel residue left over.

4) Cover wiring with painters tape.

5) Lightly sand fixture and shade just enough for the paint to adhere to it. You will need to reclean both the fixture and shade to remove any sanding residue.

6) Lay the fixture on a drop cloth of some sort, I actually used a large garbage bag. Lay the shade on a separate drop cloth and away from the fixture. You don't want paint from either of them to spray on each other.

7) Prime the fixture and shade with the primer and let dry as per instructions on the can.

Word to the wise, spray the can at least 10 inches away from the object otherwise you will get clumpy paint if you stand too close to the object with a spray can (I learnt this lesson!).

8) After the primer has dried, paint the fixture and shade respectively depending on what color you want for each, but remember to make sure that the paint you use for the shade is heat resistent.

9) Once both pieces are dry enought to handle, you can put them all together et voila!

I am going to tackle our ugly brass chandelier next!

Sabbatical/Hiatus

I'm back! But not for long. The vacation was AWESOME. I had the best time being a tourist in my own home but better still, I had the best time being with my family. I've been back for a few weeks now and I have a lot on my plan. And I've decided to devote some time to being creative (or trying to). Therefore, I've decided to take a hiatus from the blog. So it will be put on hold for a bit while I can get all these ideas on my head into action.

Be back soon!

I say adieu!

For now that is.  With only 7 days left until I leave for Australia, I have much things to do and prepare.  So I won't be blogging between now and when I leave.  However I might be blogging while I'm on vacay, it all depends.  See you all soon!

Trying to look half decent on my travels

So I only have about 2 and a half weeks left until I leave for Australia *scream*.  And I have no clothes to wear!!!  Well yes I have clothes to wear but, you know how it is when you go on a vacation, you buy a few new things to wear so you feel somewhat good about yourself when you're on your vacation.  But I need help!  I have a few ideas of what kinds of clothing to bring with me but I don't want to over-do it so I need help with a few essential pieces.  Items that I can dress up or dress down.  We are going to be gone for 2 weeks and the weather in Melbourne (Aust.) is in the low 60's right now as they are in their fall season.  

Here is what I have so far:

White capris

Khaki capris

Dressy top for going out to dinner

Red bubble vest

Black Cardigan

Jeans

What I am yet to buy:

Black Ballet Flats (bought)

All purpose Jacket

Black Capris

Black long sleeve cotton knit top

White long sleeve cotton knit top

Thank goodness for Old Navy!

So how does that look?  I know I've got a lot of basic colors but I figured I can just accesorise with colorful things.  

Help!  What other things do you think I need?  I didn't count undies, pj's, etc. to that list because that's pretty much a given!