Weekend Clutter

Isn't it the worst when you have plans to work on refinishing a dresser that your friend is so patiently waiting for (Hi Krista, I haven't forgotten!) and end up getting distracted by organizing/purging the closets in your house?  In my defense, the closets were beyond 2 years overdue & the thrift store is getting a nice pile of donations this week.   That means that the main areas of my house are now uncluttered and I can properly focus, right? Let's go with that. In the theme of clearing clutter, here are 3 random things that occupied my brain this weekend:

1.  This runner from Dash and Albert

I ordered a 2'x3' rug to see if this could work as a runner for my stairs.  It's been a while since I talked about them here, but my plans are still the same and starting to move forward.  I debated going without a carpet, but with the way the kittens tear up the stairs and the amount of times I've almost fell down them, we need the traction.  For now, I'm eagerly awaiting my 'sample' rug's arrival!  image via Wayfair.com

2.  I'm obsessed Amanda Wachob's floral tattoos.  Seriously amazing.

I want my next tattoo to be art, not just a pretty picture, and holy cow, is that her expertise!  According to her site, she's not taking any new appointments, so currently, having her as my artist is a delightful fantasy.  Do yourself a favor if you're a tattoo fan and go check out her AMAZING art!  image via www.amandawachob.com

3.  I missed the boat in signing up for this semester's upholstery class at the Eliot School, so now I'm trying to figure out how to learn how to reuholster this chair before my 30 Before 30 deadline (April 30th) without butchering it or it costing an arm and a leg.  Ideas?

And now that both my house and my mind are clutter free (HA!) I'm off to paint a living room and stalk a few flip vendors for install dates (ahem countertop and windows).  Hope your week is off to a good start!

Flying High

#5 on my 30 Before 30 list is: "Swing on a flying trapeze" Check!

A few months ago, a living social deal popped into my inbox that I couldn't refuse- a 2 hour flying trapeze class at TSNY Beantown.  I'd never done anything like this before, it sounded exciting AND I could check an item off my list!

Yesterday, in the first 'major' snow of the season, my sister and I ventured out in the ice and pseudo-plowed roads to risk our lives in another way (of course when I say risk our lives, I mean that we were completely harnessed in and safe, but the real danger was our hearts beating out our chests or an adrenaline overdose...)

I'm surprised I was able to jump off the platform that first time.

With your toes at the edge, you're supposed to lean forward (eek!) and jump on their command.... but oh it is fun once you do!

They taught us some pretty cool tricks like hanging from your knees, a backflip dismount (sounds impressive, no?), and how to do a catch!  One of the fantastic teachers, Keira was the rock star catcher- that takes some skill!

We had a blast, got an adrenaline high, and now have sore knees from the bar, but it was totally worth it!  If you have something like this in your vicinity, I'd highly recommend it.  Pun intended.

Plus I can now say that I've done a flip off of a flying trapeze.  No big.

Did you do anything exciting this weekend?

Really People?

Sometime people suck, you know that?  Not you guys, but other people.  People who do this:

Yes that is the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore's only truck- stolen & burned.... with donations inside.  I reiterate- Really people??

If you've been reading here a while, you've heard me mentioned the ReStore more than a few times.  It is a wondrous place filled with potential projects and gems just waiting for a new life.  My personal ReStore rescues have included a countertop for my basement work area, an industrial light (also for the basement which is... um... still "in progress"),

a light for Clark the fliphouse,

recycled paint for the aforementioned flip as well as my own kitchen,

a sweet midcentury end table that was purchased to stage said flip but has since found it's way into Hubby's office (for $11),

AND my newest find from last week, a delightful floral painting.  I tried to walk away from it, but I just couldn't.  It's just HAPPY!  Probably just a school project (dated 1980), it's certainly not worth more than the $8 I spent, but I'd give it an A!

It's been moving from room to room this past week looking for the perfect home, and I think I may have finally found the perfect spot above my nightstand.  Once I 100% decide, it'll get hung on the wall.

We've shockingly  donated even more to the restore than I've purchased.  Any usable/resellable building materials, supplies, home supplies etc that were left-over from our first flip or our kitchen reno were happily donated.  All the ReStore proceeds go to local Habitat for Humanity projects.  I get rid of stuff I can't use, or buy fun stuff that I can use, and an awesome charity befits.  It's a win, win in my book!

I hope you'll consider helping the ReStore get back on the road- they're collecting donations for a new, less barbequed, truck through Go Fund Me.  Even if you can't donate, please share the link and stick it to those sucky people who did this in the first place!  And pop over to their facebook page and show your support!

(I apologize for the solicitation, I'm just so disgusted by the fact that this happened that I had to try and help)

truck image via Worcester Telegram & Gazette