the agony of decision...

Sorry for the late post today, mother nature caused an electrical outage last night

just as I was ready to publish. Thankfully, all is well this morning and I can share the

waffling, wavering, wishy-washy, up-in-the-air indecisiveness I go through when it

 comes to decorating my own home. 

I love black kitchens and white kitchens...

kraftmaid.com

bhg.com

I love lively, bold furniture and accessories and neutral, serene rooms...

paloma81.blogspot.com

mydesignchic.com

I love curvy french lines and clean modern lines...

maisonboheme.blogspot.com

savvyhomeblog.blogspot.com

I love bright walls and white walls and moody walls...

jill sorensen

mixandchic.com

desiretoinspire.net

I could go on for days...do you agonize over your home or
tend to be carefree and at ease about your decor?

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
If by chance you're on the fence about which team to
 root for in the Super Bowl, without a doubt...   

GO BRONCOS!!!  :)

fun stuff for friday...

I have a little bit of everything for you today ~  

First, a super exciting, BIG

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

on Monday, you won't want to miss it!!

(BIG Hint: Do you know Lulu & Georgia?)  

Next, I'm thrilled to be included with this awesome group of bloggers for

 The 12  Days of Christmas Tour of Homes  

The fabulous idea is courtesy of Jenny and Lisa, (thanks, ladies!) 

and don't skip the all-important small print at the bottom ~ everyone gets to join in on 

Friday, December 20th! 

I'm still holding out, and haven't broke out the Christmas tunes yet,
but I'll be adding this to my list.
Thanks to Gabrielle @ Design Muse Blog!

I love this Free Printable gift tag here ~ a nice surprise for a neighbor or teacher.
Thanks to Amy @ she wears many hats!

We're going to try this recipe here ~ Sweet Potatoes - Ruth's Chris Style
Thanks to Christy @ The Girl Who Ate Everything and Ruth's Chris!

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
We're going to try and stay toasty - our forecast low tonight is 7, yes 7 degrees!

birthday giveaway & we're on good morning america!

Yes, it's day four of the giveaway for another $25 gift card of your choice, but first...

Our community is all abuzz and thrilled for our neighborhood high school. They put together

 this AMAZING lip dub video of Katy Perry's ROAR, it's gone viral and a clip will be shown

 on Good Morning America on Friday! They were trying to win a concert by Katy Perry at
 school, but it's gone crazy and now they're hoping for a much larger venue with all proceeds
 benefiting the flood victims. It includes all 2,000 students and was done in a single take!
 Detail Boy doesn't go to school here, but we have a lot of friends that do and Mr. Simple is
 a coach here. Check it out, the Lakewood High School Tigers will make you SMILE!

Back to the giveaway...

What: A thank you GIVEAWAY for Simple Details' 2nd Birthday

When: Tuesday AND  Wednesday AND Thursday AND Friday!! 

If you missed day one go here to catch up.

The thank you...a $25 gift card of your choice to:

Pottery Barn, World Market, Ikea, Target, TJ Maxx/Homegoods, West Elm or

Anthropologie

One will be given away each day to randomly chosen winner.

Just leave a separate comment answering a fun question each day.

***If you're a friend or reader that has trouble leaving a comment***

please email me at pzundel22@gmail.com to be included in the giveaway

Today's question: What did you think of the video? :)

All winners to be announced on Sunday, September 29th! 

Good luck and thank you!

XOXO ~ Pam

bad luck at goodwill...

Hope your weekend was fabulous!

 I have something light to ease you back into the week.

I've been getting a little cocky lately after several awesome finds,

even mentioning something to a friend about my 'Craigslist Karma'

well, check this out... 

I loved this mottled, metallic gold lamp shade I recently purchased at Goodwill.

Howdy, Karma!

I about died laughing when I turned the light on and this western scene was revealed.

Chances are good you won't need this tip, but you might check the inside of your shades. :) 

speechless...

It finally happened...I have nothing to say! Ha!
After 433 published posts I'm speechless.

It's 11:22pm and I'm usually just finishing up my post for the next day and 

heading to bed.
Sometimes I plan, if I have a diy to share, but most often I sit down and something
just comes to me. I started a few posts tonight...

2013 Fall Fashion Trends started out with this, which I nixed
when I came to my senses, it's July and 90 degrees! But isn't that cute!!?

Refreshing Summer Treats started with this inspiration
from Pinterest, but I couldn't get the link to work to even check out the recipe.
But doesn't it look yummy!!?

anightowlblog.com

Purchasing in bulk with friends started out with my newest Craigslist purchase,
 but I knew it could be better if I'd planned and taken photos of a few other things 'we' own.
But, aren't you wondering what we share?

 
Simply black and white started out because I loved this pretty font,
 but I decided you've probably seen enough Pinterest photos of black and white rooms.
But wouldn't it make a fun intro?

There you have it, not completely speechless, just tired...

I'll be back tomorrow! :)

catching up...

I'm taking a couple days off to get things in order around here.

We were home all of five minutes over the weekend and needless to say

my diy projects are starting to stack up...literally!

Four on my dining room table...

I did finish new cushions for the wicker settee, there is an unfinished lamp project,

two Ikea boxes with Barometer Lamps needing assembled and painted, and on top of

 those are two large shelf brackets for a diy I've been trying to figure out how to tackle,

 I noticed them at Home Depot the other day and I think they might be the ticket!

 I'm excited but will try very hard NOT start a new project until these are finished!

My back deck is good for a laugh...

This is nothing, there are more chairs on the grass in line to be painted, it was so gusty

all day I couldn't get to them. We were gifted a set of four big, cushy chairs when my

 parents recently bought new ones. I wasn't sure if it would look ok, six BIG chairs seemed

 like overkill, but after playing with arrangements I think they're going to be really nice. First

on the list is getting all of them painted black to coordinate with the rest of our deck furniture.

Mr. Simple said, "These are great, let's invite some friends over!"

Wow, what a perspective to look that mess and think, 'This is perfectly inviting let's have a BBQ!' 

The good news is I crossed my three window boxes off the list today!

Also, I kept forgetting to tell you all, remember the black secretary I found

on Craigslist and transformed, I sold it awhile back for $400.

And, Mary Ann @ Classic Casual Home, one of the nicest bloggers and a talented designer,
is having a giveaway today you don't want to miss, stop by here, it's for a wonderful cause! 

One more thing ~ thank you, thank you, thank you

 for stopping by my little part of the www.

 I truly appreciate all of your support and kindness!   

keeping my head above water...

Thanks for really confusing me helping me out with the decision for the buffet and hutch

color yesterday, of course, it couldn't have been closer:

Black - 12

White - 11

Greige - 1 

And, a couple were as indecisive as I am and didn't vote.

Since I haven't had time to start I'm still mulling it over.

Way back in February, I had started working on four children's rooms for

my client. Well, life got in the way...spring break, end of school activities,

 summer vacation, back to school...you know how it goes...but we're back at it!
 Carpet and paint were finished last week and my goal is to have all four rooms finished
 for them by the end of this week! 

Remember this combination...
(that cute nailhead stool went back, before I even showed it to them the nailheads were popping out.)  

This was my shopping list as I headed out for the day...

(is it just me or do you like to see what other people have on their lists?)

Can't wait to show you some photos next week! :)

Don't forget the 3 weeks of  projects...
I'll be back tomorrow with another easy diy for Week #2. 

If you missed my monogram tote bag from Week #1 check it out here.

Off to ponder the hutch color...some more! :)

election inspired decor...

In honor of Election Day 2012...

Ha! I tricked you if you thought I was dishing about politics, not a chance I'd go there! 

But I did vote, and mr. simple aka political junkie reads me endless articles makes sure I'm well informed 

daily throughout the year...election or not.

facebook.com

hiya papaya photography via house of turquoise

ces.ncsu.edu

hearthhomemag.co.uk

shelbystar.com

countrydesignhome.com

www2.ljworld.com

room-galleries.myhomeideas.com

www2.ljworld.com

homestoriesatoz.com

mom-de-plume.com

mattersofstyleblog.com

kidsvotingnc.org

houzz.com 

scholastic.com

indulgy.com

Have a wonderful day, friends!

If you enjoyed this post, you might like these...

fall inspired decor... here

back to school inspired decor... here

fresh fruit inspired decor... here

mother's day inspired decor... here

easter inspired decor... here

every action has consequences...

I'm going to be organized and on top of it this year!!
Sound familiar?
A couple years ago we had guests that arrived a few days before Christmas and left
 a few days after, I knew I had to be super organized in order to enjoy the visit.
 I remember baking cookies, sledding, going ice skating on Christmas Eve day.
It was fun and relaxing...no last minute trips to the mall for something cute to wear,
grabbing stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve, marathon gift wrapping at midnight,
 then making pie crusts for Christmas dinner....
Sound familiar?

I found this great list and already feel good about focusing on actions that will lead
 to a month I'll look forward to.

12 things to do this November to get Ready...

Kelly from the The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking
did a great job putting together this doable list of 12 items here.


sayyestohoboken.com

If I tell you I'm going to do it, and have to be accountable
chances improve that I'll follow through, here's where I'm at on the list...

1.  I'll commit to something this weekend.
2.  I did it once and it was so nice to have it off the list early.
3. Salon appointment is booked - priorities!
4. HA!
5.  I'm going to try.
6. Done - Annual Girlfriend Party (Dec. 4th), theme and invites decided.
7. Easy, I can start adding items to my grocery list every week this month.
8. Great idea and so simple, I just wouldn't have thought of it.
9. This is Mr. Simple's area - I'll suggest it.
10. BIG - I'm going to do it this weekend.
11. Great idea, if it's on the calendar that's key for us.
12. Highly unlikely I'll have time for this! :)

Check out Kelly's list and let me know if you're up for the challenge with me?

yes, she's allowed...

For those of you who asked,

 here's our spoiled Rio and her Scooby Doo blankie in our

desperate for a makeover bedroom, which I wouldn't have shown you,

 but since I'm a good sport, here you go!

(It's on the update list, maybe after the holidays.)

If you missed yesterday's post and you're curious what this is about

you can get the scoop here.

Have a great weekend friends, 

hope someone spoils you up good! 

(When Detail Boy was younger and he'd spend the night at my parent's house he would

 come home and say, "They spoil me up good." and that's where our saying originated from.)  

mystery project...

In the midst of my big projects,

 I was inspired by a famous designer to do one of my favorite quick and easy diys.

I got carried away and added a couple more extra details than I'd originally planned.

Here are a few of my mystery supplies...

Balls from the Dollar Store

Leopard Print Table Runner

Remember this $7 Goodwill Lamp that got a new shade and was painted pink.

That's all I'm sharing for now, any ideas???

Here's a peek at Detail Boy's bedroom progress...
He's working hard putting all the Ikea pieces together for us.
The painting is finished, except for a charming 1938 radiator...ugh!
  

Measuring and lining up the hardware.

And, another bit of randomness, Home Depot has these popular Fiddle Leaf Figs for $10!

Stop by tomorrow for the mystery project reveal!

summer bucket list

Today, our first day of summer vacation, and we're not wasting a day crossing an item
 off of our summer bucket list!

via

Our kitchen chalkboard...

We're having a Paintball Birthday Bash, including a sleepover with teenage boys...
that's what you mom's of cute little guys have to look forward to! :)

Tomorrow we'll be crossing off a Colorado Rockies' game,
there will be more throughout the summer as my boys are big fans.

Did you notice I get to meet a blogging friend in person?!
Cathy couldn't be sweeter or more fun, I can't wait to meet her.

I'm hoping to carve out a little time to start on my next project,
stop by on Monday and I'll give you the scoop.

Have the BEST weekend,
go cross something off your summer bucket list!

weekend update...

Ugly door, no more!!

I'm a lucky girl!

 Once I started scraping the paint came off of that specific board perfectly,

to think it had been like that for probably a year!

I sanded it a bit, gave the entire door a fresh coat and did a happy dance!

Motivated to get another little project off the list,

I gave this black clock a quick coat of gold paint.

I removed it from the bookcase when I did the update for spring and

the boys couldn't live without it, so this is how it looked... (in real life vs. blog photo)

Better and off the list!



We (actually, mr. simple) sanded and cleaned the deck for a fresh coat of stain. 

While I was outside I noticed this terra cotta colored pedestal in need of freshening.

  A little navajo white paint thinned with water and a light sanding...

We fit in a trip downtown for dinner on Saturday night,

the Women's Final Four Tournament was here and the 16th Street Mall was hopping!

Tomorrow a new addition to the kitchen...here's a clue, it's big and bold!