Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cleaning out my computer and laughing out loud

I am deleting a bunch of old emails - and came across this - laugh at loud funny - it can go for any country I am sure! ( at least here on the good old North American Continent )

The truest things are the funniest

Happy wknd all

XXX


  A letter to the Canadian Passport office


  Dear Mr. Minister,
  
  I'm in the process of renewing my passport, and still cannot
  believe this.
  How is it that Radio Shack has my address and telephone number
  and knows that I bought a t.v. cable from them back in 1997, and yet, the
  Federal Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date.
  For God sakes, do you guys do this by hand?
  My birth date you have on my social insurance card, and it is on all the
  income tax forms I've filed for the past 30 years. It is on my health
  insurance card, my driver's license, on the last eight fricking passports
  I've had, on all those stupid customs declaration forms I've had to fill out
  before being allowed off the planes over the last 30 years, and all those
  insufferable census forms that are done at election times.
  Would somebody please take note, once and for all, that my mother's name is
  Maryanne, my father's name is Robert and I'd be absolutely astounded if that
  ever changed between now and when I die!!!!!!
  SHIT!
  I apologize, Mr. Minister. I'm really pissed off this morning.
  Between you an' me, I've had enough of this bullshit! You send the
  application to my house, then you ask me for my #%^ address. What is going on?
  You have a gang of Neanderthal assholes workin' there!
  Look at my damn picture. Do I look like Bin Laden? I don't want
  to dig up Yasser Arafat, for shit sakes. I just want to go and park my ass
  on a sandy beach.
  And would someone please tell me, why would you give a shit whether I plan
  on visiting a farm in the next 15 days? If I ever got the urge to do
  something weird to a chicken or a goat, believe you me, I'd sure
  as hell not want to tell anyone!
  Well, I have to go now, 'cause I have to go to the other end of the city and
  get another ^&*%$ copy of my birth certificate, to the tune of $60!!!
  Would it be so complicated to have all the services in the same spot to
  assist in the issuance of a new passport the same day??
  Nooooo, that'd be too damn easy and maybe make sense. You'd
  rather have us running all over the ^%$* place like chickens with our heads
  cut off, then find some idiot to confirm that it's really me on the damn picture
  - you know, the one where we're not allowed to smile?!  ( &^%^& morons )
                     
  Hey, you know why we can't smile? We're totally pissed off!
  Signed - An Irate %$#% Canadian Citizen.
  
  P.S. Remember what I said above about the picture and getting
  someone to confirm that it's me? Well, my family has been in this country
  since 1776,  I have served in the military for something over 30 years and have had
  security clearances up the yingyang.
  I was aide de camp to the lieutenant governor of our province for ten years
  and I have been doing volunteer work for the RCMP for about five years.
  However, I have to get someone 'important' to verify who I am - you know,
  someone like my doctor WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN COMMUNIST
  China and has only been here 4 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Citizen of the world....................

I know, I know - you must be getting sick of seeing these - it's my 4th one now - but the wording is always different, does that count? lol

I took some photos of the process this time -

Here is the dresser drawers painted ASCP Old White - with black stickers in place ( I kind of like this particular contrast - maybe the next one!!! ) I used 4 different sizes of stickers for this one -
Cities of the world - tried to squeeze as many as I could onto this baby - Montreal is my home town
so it was the first one I placed - and then started feeling guilt about the ones I left out - now how ridiculous
is that??????????????? that's why there's little bitty ones places sporadically -
I should really see a doctor I think -


So once those black stickers are all painstakingly put in place - I simply painted over the
entire surface with a diy chalk paint - the color is called Onyx.

Once the top coat is dry ( barely ) I start lifting the sticky letters off - any smudges or little flaws
can be touched up with a small artist brush................... and Voila - you have your subway art.



Now John and I had a debate - I happened to like this just the way it was - I like the clean white
letters against the almost black dresser - crisp -
but I was talked into distressing it -

I cannot express enough how doing this like therapy for me - very very relaxing.



So here it is now









DIY sphere sitting on top of the dresser ( idea stolen from Lindsey at Better After ) can be found here!!!

My Citizen of the World.
Tall, Dark and handsome
I love how masculine this piece is - nice change from all the girly
stuff I tend to gravitate towards -

What do you think - should I not have sanded it?
Should I sand it more?
Should I leave it alone?
Do you simply not give a damn either way because you're fed of me posting these
dressers?

You can see the N.Y subway dresser HERE

Have a good one all

XXX

Partying at the following

Homespun Happenings
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.ca
Nutmeg Place
http://www.nutmegplace.com/
Lines Across
http://www.linesacross.com
I should be mopping the floor
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com
Debbie Doos
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com
DIY Home Sweet Home
http://diyhshp.blogspot.ca/
Making the world cuter
http://makingtheworldcuter.com
Keeping it simple
http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.ca/
How to nest for less
http://howtonestforless.com/
Coastal Charm
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.ca
Kammy's Korner
http://www.kammyskorner.com/
My uncommon slice of suburbia
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
Primitive & Proper
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.ca/
Primp
http://www.primpjunktion.com
Uncommon
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/
The D.I.Y Dreamer
http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/
No Minimalist here
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.ca
Beyond the Picket Fence
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.ca/
The Shabby Creek Cottage
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Somewhat Simple
http://www.somewhatsimple.com
Embracing Change
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.ca/
Brambleberry Cottage
http://www.thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.ca/
House of Hepworth
http://www.houseofhepworths.com
From my front porch to yours
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.ca/
Katherine's Corner
http://katherinescorner.com/
At the Picket Fence
http://www.atthepicketfence.com
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/
Miss Mustard Seed
http://missmustardseed.com
The Shabby Nest
http://shabbynest.blogspot.ca/
Decorating Insanity
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/
Funky Junk Interiors
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/07/sns-143-creative-dressers.html


http://thecsiproject.com/2013/03/06/time-to-link-up-for-the-subway-art-challenge/
Visit thecsiproject.com




Friday, May 25, 2012

Mama's going to buy you a ..................

Mockingbird?
Nah
This dresser?
Yes please!

This belongs in a nursery - with a pink chandelier and pink satin drapes
Oh how I would love to stage a room around this piece................


So if you remember I purchased this some time ago


as beautiful as it looks ( to me anyway! ) this dresser was in pretty rough shape - the vendor apologized
for it's condition - but for me this is one of those once in a life time treasures and I would have loved to have
kept it ( I'd like to keep every piece I do - something definitely wrong with the " letting go " process, lol )
so I ended up doing a sort of white wash and ended up with this


the intention was to keep it in my dining room - but you know how things go - something else ended up
in it's place and I just don't have the room for it anymore - so the conversion began once again.

First came a couple of appliques on the 2 small top drawers - and some chrystal knobs for some
" baby bling " ( start them young I always say )


Next came a couple of appliques to cover the original key holes which were in really bad condition -
normally they are a feature I know - but not in this case - the brass fittings were gone and so
they were just messy looking holes -


and that's how the harlequin pattern was born - it just seemed the right thing to do - to follow the pattern
from the appliques.


I painted the handles on the bottom 2 drawers to match the dresser - and added a little stencilling
in the corners.........................

And then?
If that wasn't enough - I started on the top

 leave me alone already! what are you doing to me now????



Around the perimeter of the dresser top - and then distressed

Next I did a mirror - last year I scored 2 Debbie Travis mirrors on sale for 20.00 each - they were
an oak color - but I knew one day I could use them for something - yesterday was the day - and here
is the something I used one of them for


and if I haven't bombarded you with enough photos yet - here are some more



Lookit the legs on this beauty!
Random thought - John says North Americans ( he's from England originally ) always say Lookit -
to which I replied - we certainly do not...............but I've noticed I do say it - hmmm - never noticed
that really - but at least I don't call a housecoat a dressing gown - I mean who calls it that uggghhhh.
" where's my dressing gown Suzan "
" I don't know John - ask your " valet " dear chap "

Ok a couple of more photos and you can get back to more important things, lol



You have to see me when I'm taking photos - I'm a lousy photographer - but I lean and kneel
as if I am a pro - it's hilarious to see me -
they always look so perfect through the lens when I snap them - and I get all excited and think
" yeah - you're getting this girl "   and they never appear the way they did -
There must be something wrong with my camera, lol
( and btw does anyone else have issues with batteries? My God, I am constantly changing them )

One last time


Now I can tell you - I was in such a rush to show you this - that I couldn't wait until it was
finished - it still needs to be waxed - and I can see the bottom drawer harlequin pattern
has not been sanded yet -
And because beauty is strictly on the outside in this case - here's what lies within...........


She is getting brand new drawer bottoms tomorrow - and then she's ready to go
An antique beauty for a little princess -
This really was labor intensive but now I know what they mean by " labor of love " I loved every moment of this makeover.

Paints used
Annie Sloan
Antoinette
Old White

Hush little baby,
Don't say a word..........................

Have a good weekend all

XXX

She's ready to Party!!!
Nutmeg Place
http://www.nutmegplace.com/
Classy Clutter
http://classyclutter.blogspot.ca/
I heart nap time
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/
It's overflowing
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/
Nifty Thrifty Things
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/
Funky Junk Interiors
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/
I should be mopping the floor
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/
Debbie Doo's
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/
Under the table and dreaming
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
Making the world cuter
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/
DIY Home sweet home
http://diyhshp.blogspot.ca/
Lines Across
http://www.linesacross.com/
Common Ground
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.ca/
Kammy's Korner
http://www.kammyskorner.com/
Our Delightful Home
http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.ca/
Creatively living outside the box
http://blah2beautiful.blogspot.ca/
House of Grace
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.ca/
Not just a housewife
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/
Primitive & Proper
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.ca/
Shades of Amber
http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.ca/
No Minimalist here
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.ca/
Shabby Creek Cottage
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
Somewhat Simple
http://www.somewhatsimple.com/
Beyond the Picket Fence
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.ca/
House of Heworth
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
Thrifty Decorating
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.ca/
Katherine's Corner
http://katherinescorner.com/
At the Picket Fence
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/
Redoux
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/
Common Ground
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.ca/
DIY by Design
http://diybydesign.blogspot.ca/
Days of Chalk and Chocolate
http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.ca/
Miss Mustard Seed
http://missmustardseed.com/
The Shabby Nest
http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.ca/
Finding Fabulous
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
Decorating Insanity
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Good Tears

My daughter called this morning to say:

-Hope you don't mind Mom - I posted your blog to my facebook -

-MIND??? I'm thrilled because learning all the ins and outs of blogging
was a little overwhelming - and have not had a chance yet to navigate
around FB - thanks Ashley

-Also Mom - I've sent an email to Steve and Chris ( interior decorators
who have their own show )
-Hmmm - I don't know about that Ashley
-But Mom - what if they call you - wouldn't that be fabulous?
-They are not going to call me Ashley
-You never know Mom
-OMG - what am I going to wear - I'd better start planning
-They're on hiatus Mom - you have awhile to figure that out

LOL

And I have to post her email - it made me a little weepy -
but it made me smile and feel all mushy inside.
Oh how I love my kids - 
I have friends that used to say that all the time - and I used
to think why do you always have to verbalize that - isn't that
a given? ( although we do say it to each other constantly, I
do not ever think to tell people that I love my kids!!! )
Today I need to verbalize it - shout it out to the world -
let it bounce around the blogmosphere - allow my fingers
to dance on the keyboard with these words.
I Love you Ashley
I Love you Lindsay
I Love you Gordie

> Date: Wed, 23 May 2012 18:43:52 -0400
> From: StevenandChris@CBC.CA
> To: crunchberry_blues@hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: my mom <3 *chances*
>
> Thank you for writing to Steven and Chris!
>
> We have wrapped our current season as of April 2012. Our production
> office staff will be back for our next season starting in September
> 2012. We ask for your patience over the summer months; this email
> account is checked periodically but you may not receive a reply until
> our next season starts.
>
> In the interim, we hope you will check our website, Facebook and Twitter
> accounts to keep up to date with our show!
>
> email: stevenandchris@cbc.ca | web: www.cbc.ca/stevenandchris | twitter:
> @stevenandchris
>
> >>> ashley boyce
>
> dear steve & chris,
>
> OMG i cant believe steve and chris are reading my email!!! (positive
> thinking, i hear it works :D )
>
> let me start off by saying that i absolutely, positively ADORE your
> show! i think that you guys are fantastic! but, today i wanted to talk
> to you about my mom, Suzan, who is an incredibly strong,caring and
> generous person. she would not only give someone the shirt off her back
> if they needed it, but would also insist they take a scarf, or hat to
> accessorize it too! she single handily managed to raise 3 kids on her
> own,with no help, and sacrificed a lot of things along the way to ensure
> that we were all happy.we didnt want for anything growing up.
> but i know my mother wanted something. she wanted to be a decorator.
> really, really badly!
> my sister and i would go to sleep with my mother sitting on one of our
> beds, telling us stories until we fell asleep, and when we would awake,
> well, it would be like waking up in a strangers room, everything
> rearranged, different pictures hanging on the walls, even our beds would
> be moved to the other side of the room. at first it was a little
> unsettling, but after a dozen times you kind of get used to it. i used
> to fall asleep wondering what my room would look like in 8 hours. but
> you know what? i loved every single one she thought up!
> now that weve grown up and flown the coop so to speak, my mother started
> dabbling with decor again, only to find out that like a fine wine, she
> too got better with age! her work is amazing, i think she has found a
> job where she can truly express herself, which would explain why
> everything she touches turns to FABULOUS!
> if its not too much to ask, i would love for you to check out her blog,
> i have a feeling that you would love it! and i know she loves hearing
> feed back, so please, if you love her work, let her know!!! ill be sure
> to hear about it for, oh, lets say the rest of my life!
>
> http://suzyq-vintagous.blogspot.ca/p/before-and-afters.html
> http://suzyq-vintagous.blogspot.ca/
> what she can do!!!
>
>
> yours sincerely and ever loving,
> Ashley






And yes I used to change their rooms around while they slept - who the hell does that?

If John didn't weigh 190 lbs, trust me, I would be changing our room around while he
slept too


XXX

-

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Who says politicians don't have a sense of humour?


apparently no one noticed this until it was on the road -

enough said!!!

have a good day all

xxx

Little Things (petite choses )

I am so thrilled with this makeover - as hesitant as I was to do anything to it at all I am in love with it.

Remember?

and for everyone who loves wood- 
this would be the time for you to walk away - 
no apologies this time - I like it too much!!!


and for the piece de resistance..................drum roll - here she is ( I know I'm bragging but I love it and can't help myself, lol )




 Here are a few close ups of details

God - I love Annie Sloan

I left the wood on top - the contrast looks so pretty


left all the original brass hardware




dollar store stencilling ( this particular stencil is my signature, it goes on every piece I do - 
usually on the back of the furniture ) but they look pretty on the doors, n'est pas?

I haven't done the mirror yet - because I was in such a hurry to take pics and show off.


I didn't touch the wood surface, what do you think - I love it but maybe it should be darker?
Let me know because I'm not sure what to do!

And one of my girlfriends gave me a Paris frame for my birthday - so I downloaded a Paris Subway Map - 
kind of cool?

Thanks Sandy!!!
 And one last time

ASCP - old white - 1 coat -


Ok - bragging is all done for the day - on to the next thing
Promise I'll be more humble next time

FIN!!!
XXX

Partying with
Between naps on the Porch
http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.ca/2012/05/buffalo-check-curtains-for-office.html
Domestically Speaking
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2012/05/127th-power-of-paint-party-dip-dyed.html
House of Grace
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.ca/
Not just a housewife
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/
Elizabeth and Co.
http://www.elizabethandco.blogspot.ca/
My uncommon slice of Suburbia
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
Creatively living..........outside the box
http://blah2beautiful.blogspot.ca/2012/05/tell-it-to-me-tuesday-21-and-features.html
How to nest for less
http://howtonestforless.com/2012/05/21/just-a-party-with-my-peeps-15/
A Diamond in the stuff
http://adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.ca/
Primitive & Proper
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.ca/
Shades of Amber
http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.ca/
The Shabby Creek Cottage
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.ca/
Beyond the picket fence
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.ca/
No Minimalist here
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.ca/
House of Hepworth
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
Thrifty Decorating
http://thriftydecorating-nikkiw.blogspot.ca/
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/
Decorating Insanity
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/
Miss Mustard Seed
http://missmustardseed.com/
The Shabby Nest
http://shabbynest.blogspot.ca/
The Grant Life
http://www.thegrantlife.com/2012/05/500-follower-blog-versary-giveaway.html
I should be mopping the floor
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/

Monday, May 21, 2012

Dinner Parties

I love setting tables - I mean I really really love doing it - I usually start the night before and try different settings until I get it just right...............

and usually it involves a lot of white - and silvers with touches of black and lots of candles
( I've had a few mishaps with candles believe me - one night a mini bonfire started on the
table which someone put out with a bottle of wine, lol )
and I painstakingly arrange my napkins for the most part like this

For the ladies


and Gentlemen


normally it would be a white shirt and black tie - ( my white napkins must have been
dirty lol )

wine glasses usually hold a quotation - or a poem - each one different for each guest.............
I get by with a little help from my friends
I[m gonna try with a little help from my friends
I eat pie with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends
I'm gonna fly with a little help from my friends
etc.................
and name tags sometimes include a little trivia on the back of the card


if anyone is interested in the men's shirt tutorial - you can find it here ( super easy - just a little
time consuming!!! )

http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/14-shirt/

makes me want to have a party.
soon.

XXX

Linking to:
Debbie Doos
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/05/picnic-basket-planter-newbie-party-started.html
Common Ground
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.ca/2012/05/monday-marketplace-13.html
I should be mopping the floors
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2012/05/mop-it-up-mondays-17.html
Between naps on the porch
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.ca/2012/05/buffalo-check-curtains-for-office.html
How to nest for less
http://howtonestforless.com/2012/05/21/just-a-party-with-my-peeps-15/
Simply Klassic home
http://www.simplyklassichome.com/2012/05/simply-klassic-sunday-and-features.html
Making the world cuter
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/05/making-the-world-cuter-monday-may-21-2012/
Our delightful home
http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.ca/2012/05/live-show-me-what-you-got-linky-party_21.html



I'm dreaming of...................

this

750.00 on Craigs List

in Paris Gray and White -

and this

350.00
silver leafed

this has become an obsession - checking out Craigs list and Kijiji - I used to type in 100.00
which is aproximately my budget to purchase something to restore ( sometimes a little more -
sometimes a little less ) but lately I'm just looking at everything....................and drooling on a
constant basis...............

Time to start the day though - and back to reality -

Have a good day all..............
XXX

Sunday, May 20, 2012

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood

A tour of our 'hood -  mostly rowhouses - built in the late 1800's - sooo charming
This is what I get to look at when we take Soda out for her walks





I LOVE this door - WOW


















hey you - get OUT of my neighbourhood -
one of these things is not like the other!!!!


He says: What the hell are you taking a picture of that for?
I say: Because I find it charming
He says: Your followers will think you're weird
I say: Ah - but I am weird John and they know it
He says: Do you seriously find this charming?
I say: Yup, I seriously do - I would make this a potting shed/workshop
He says: I would have it demolished
I say: Over my dead body
Soda says: can you please stop this nonsense - I want to walk

Soda about to pee on neighbors lamp post



our back ally



  



be it ever so humble - we're now back home
If I didn't have so much furniture to redo I'd invite you in
for a cup of tea, ( glass of wine? )
XXX