Failure times two

So sorry for not being around with posts for the last oh... week. Or more. Sorry.

Please note, I have attempted two different crafty projects in this time period.
The first I hinted at in my West Elm Fall Fantasizing last week, it was supposed to be a piece of art for the giant wall in our living room.

I had an old poster frame from Wal-Mart, and picked up this vintage-looking botanical prints at one of my fave stores here in Central Oregon, Casareal. All four were only $5 total. I gave the frame a couple coats of Oil Rubbed Bronze to freshen it up, and things were looking good for new art for the living room!
As I got deeper into the project, I decided to try and 'measure' where I should glue the prints... bad idea.

Needless to say, I messed up on the second one I glued down, and then the paper started separating as I tried to remove it!!! Gah!!! So I gave up and had another glass of wine and watched old episodes of Design Star on HGTV. I think I am going to cut out the cardboard that they are glued on, and maybe mount that on some old wood or something? Or get a canvas? I dunno. I'm sad. So that was Crafty Fail #1. Oh yes there is more...

A few weeks back, I had the brilliant idea to spray paint our plastic trash can in our bathroom. I got a bouquet of sweet peas from the farmers market that were the perfect coral red color, and it was a nice pop in our teal and white bathroom. I love a good chevron print, so I snagged some Heirloom White and Apple Red paint and got to it. I even took a bunch of pics so I could do a great tutorial when my awesome project was complete.

I present you with, Crafty Fail #2... 

From far away, its not too bad. And by not too bad I mean, as soon as I find a new trashcan that isn't crappy plastic, it will be replaced. Here is a quick list of ways I failed for your reading pleasure: 

1. Used spray paint that is not intended for use on plastic. 

2. Used painters tape that is not intended for use on plastic. 

3. Failed to do any sort of measuring, which as indicated in the story above, also spells disaster. 

4. Forgot about said project for a couple days in the warm garage, so when I pulled off the tape, a bit or two of white paint came along with it. 

So thats whats up. Sometimes I suck at crafts, sometimes I kick ass at crafts. 

Any crafty mishaps you care to share? I'd love to hear it. Make me feel better.

The F Word

The word that everyone's been whispering, but no one has truly embraced yet.

FALL. 
 
It's coming. 
And proof is in the Fall West Elm catalog that showed up in our mailbox a few days ago. Of all the home catalogs that we get, West Elm is BY FAR my favorite. I've gone gaga over their Shane Powers Hanging vase here.

As I prepared dinner last night, I cautiously opened the first page of the catalog... and BAM!!

All pictures are property of West Elm, I am just dying over them

Everything about this room is perfection to me. And my love deepened when James said he liked this couch as well. Say WHAT??!! Hiphip hurray! Then he also said I am wearing him down with my incessant design talk. {love him} And have I ever mentioned that my dream house will have a library? Cause it will!

Turn to the next page of the catalog (pg 6)

  

I DIE! Seriously. This room could implant itself in my living room and I would be a happy woman. I am already a happy woman, but it would go next-level happiness.  

Plush Gray sectional? Check. 

Low arching drum shaded lamp? Check. 

Cozy, make-you-wanna-dig-your-toes-in rug? Check. 

Gigantic wall full of sweet vintage details? Check. 

Green-gray door with oak trim? Check. 

The whole catalog is FULL of amazing rooms and fantastic details. James and I poured over the whole thing together, and picked out at least twenty items we want NOW. 

How many will we get now? None. We have Whistler coming up. It is a no-spend time in our lives right now. However, Christmas is coming it's almost fall and I will definitely be splurging on new things. 

This room and its implantation into my brain has also caused me to issue a personal challenge to myself. With this photo as my inspiration, I am going to try and make our living room look similar to this space. In one year. 

GOAL

Here is what our living room looks like today.

It is a large, open space which joins our kitchen and dining room, as well as our entry nook. A hallway runs off it which leads to our bedrooms and bathrooms. The layout of the house is ideal. We are entertainers, and live in our kitchen, so for it to be joined with the living space is perfection.

Looking from kitchen into living room. Entry to the left of the hall.

Here is my list of things-to-accomplish for this space to reach my goal of West Elm perfection:

Paint over 'peanut butter' walls. (They are orange. Our floors, trim, and cabs are oak. Yuck)

Purchase new couches or sectional

Find art or wall covering solution for giant wall behind TV (grasscloth?)

TV console solution (build or refinish something thrifted)

Current console... sweet. Not. But functional lol.

 Refinish drop leaf table

Gorgeous but we have enough oak. It needs to be black.

 Paint interior doors greenish-gray and add moulding detail (or find vintage door w/glass panes for pantry)

I like this color, Behr Witch Hazel

Replace gigantic floral chair 

Chair not good. Not at all. And not comfy so re-upholstery is not an option.

 New Rug

Refinish coffee table

Accessorize

Find fantasy lamp

I love the idea of sliding a small pallet on casters under the coffee table like in the room on pg 41. (can't find the image online) Sigh. I'm in dream-land right now. 

Anyway, I obviously have a Looooooong ways to go but I work better under pressure. Only 365 days left in the living room challenge. I welcome any suggestions, but be gentle. We are living with furniture from combining households, and we aren't bazillionaires. Our house is comfy and not perfect, we upgrade when we can afford it. We have pets. Our furniture shows it.

Whew. Serious biz I am putting myself into right now. But a year is a long time. And goal-setting helps me achieve results. 

Alright kids, wish me luck. I'm off to work on an art project for the giant wall. 

{Day Off} Mt. Hood

Hi friends! Oh my gosh, summer kicks my boo-tay! Between working and working more enjoying my free time, the time is just flying by! But on the flip side,  our Whistler trip is just a few weeks away! {Grins} Its going to be amazing.

James and I managed to get a day off together last week, and we decided to take a day trip to Mt. Hood Skibowl with a couple friends for some downhill mountain biking.

Mt. Hood from Hwy 26, headed west

Getting closer! Hood from the SE side

Over several rivers and through a lot of woods, and we arrived at our destination, Mt. Hood Skibowl. Ski Bowl is the smallest resort on Mt. Hood, but features killer night skiing in the winter, and lots of thrilling adventures in the summer months! They have a half-mile long alpine slide which is hella fun, as well as lots of other activities. We chose the $30 all day mountain biking pass. Its pretty simple, you ride a chairlift up, a lift tech loads/unloads your bike for you, and you rally downhill as fast as possible!

Looking at the hill from the parking lot. Alpine slide is under the lift on the left.

Our bikes

Chairlift silly time

The Alpine slide riders get off at a mid-point, us downhillers ride to the top.

Mt. Hood, and Skibowl's historic warming hut

The boy crew rolling down the road

We made as many laps as our bodies could handle, on the three downhill trails Ski Bowl offers. The group fave was called 'Fire Hydrant' and is a steep, and technical descent. Near the bottom there are several freeride areas, one with lots of man-made ladders, and another with gap jumps and table tops. Sorry for the lack of riding pics, we were having too much fun to stop and take photos.

I did stop mid-ride to lay down in the flowers and snap this shot of Mt. Hood. The wildflowers are EVERYWHERE on Hood right now, and I love this mountain so much I had to stop and capture the beauty.

We had an awesome day of riding, and capped it off with some brews and snacks at Mt. Hood Brewing Co.,  in Government Camp. I didn't take any pics here either, but enjoyed a pint of Cloud Cap Amber on nitro, and Cascadia Pale Ale.

Even though James and I haven't been having many days off together lately, its nice that we can get outta dodge for just a day, and have a great time regardless.

Any fun day trips you've taken lately? Downhill extreme mountain biking? Let's hear all about it!
Check out what else we've done on our day's off.

Upcycled Candle Holder

Ok, raise your hand if you LOVE Chobani Greek Yogurt.

Thats what I thought. The stuff is the bomb! (no one is paying me to say this, I really just eat a lot of the stuff)
So I bought a cute lantern at Pier 1 on clearance the other day, and picked out a delectable Cilantro Citrus green candle to go along with it.

Summer Refreshment

One of my fave things about summertime is impromtu gatherings of friends, and easy to throw together sides to bring along!! This is my favorite summer side, and its simple! You probably already have all the ingredients!

Watermelon Mint Salad
Ingredients:
Seedless watermelon (I used half of a large one)
Fresh Mint
(optional) margarita

Meet Sully

World, meet Sully.

Sully came to us via a stork the mailman, via Tortoise Loves Donkey, a sweet lil Etsy shop. I spoke of Sully's upcoming arrival at our house over here.

{Day Off} Sparks Lake

James and I had a day off together finally.
We taught 'beer class' at work this morning and took a nice nap, then drove up the Cascade Lakes Highway with Sammy and our canoe, destination: Sparks Lake. I'll let the pictures do the talking today.

En route