Seeing stripes.

I have a love/hate relationship with painting, as I'm sure most people do. I like picking colors (came dangerously close to hyperventilating in the Valspar section at the local big box). OK, but I love planning accent walls (failed miserably with the chalk level, laser level, and meter stick). But seriously-- I can't get enough of actually getting the paint on the walls (I have paint in places I don't even care to mention).


So, basically, I have a hate/hate relationship with painting. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who encourages my creativity and puts up with my ever-changing mind. He's the only reason I didn't completely lose my you-know-what when tackling our striped room. 


Here was my inspiration:  

(source)

I decided on one wall of stripes (to preserve my sanity) in one of our guest rooms. I started with a plan, piece of scrap paper, and Nordic Blue by Valspar. 

I added a level and a meter stick to the mix. It didn't go so well at first-- then the vino started flowing, and I didn't care so much about straight lines. As I was marking/taping stripes, Mr. Willi was painting the boring walls. 

                                      

Got the stripes taped, double checked to make sure I was keeping the correct pattern. 

Had a little mishap with some visible pencil marks, but after a quick swipe with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, the room was done!

Please excuse the iPhone photos-- Nordic Blue is less blueberry shake, and more icy with gray undertones. Overall, I'm super happy {dare I say, impressed} with how this room turned out!

A few notes-to-self on this endeavor: 

• Use a pencil with much lighter lead. 
• Don't paint sample colors on a potential accent wall (had to repaint this wall white before I even got started).
• Don't let Amwilli paint near the ceiling, or in corners.
• Don't stress over stripes! It all looks straight enough in the end :)

Stay tuned-- more adventures in paint to come!

Constructing Casa Willi

Way back in September we put an offer on this and crossed our fingers...

                           

Slowly but surely, this ugly little patch of grass started to take shape...

                           

                           

I knew we were in business when the frame started going up!

                           

                           

                          

                          

                                       

Got our roof on just in time for the random snowstorm this past winter {random only because we didn't really have a winter this year}.

                             

Back to unseasonably warm temps... and pretty sunsets...

                                           

                                           

Let the exterior beautification begin!

                                           

                                

                                

                                            

                              

From a patch of dirt to a house all in about 5 months {November - April}. I normally consider myself a pretty patient person, but this process really tested my limits. We've been in for about a week and now the real fun begins. I've got a list of projects a mile long, and way too many hours of HGTV under my belt for my own good ☺

I'm excited to make this little house a home sweet home for us. 

Spring break-- finally!

This spring break certainly won't be without the obligatory "reclining time" -- but I'd like to make the most of this wonderful little week by finally getting to do all the mundane things I never have time for...

You'll notice no mention of "eat at a {insert fabulous restaurant}" or "weekend away to {insert fabulous location}." We're staycationing it up this year in effort to stockpile funds for a future Casa Willi. Saving like a miser has its good days and bad days!  

Happy spring break to all the teachers out there-- and good luck in the home stretch once school's back in!

2.

Thank you for the ridiculously exciting, refreshing, crazy, loving, bizarre, PERFECT past two years. 

I'm a very lucky girl ♥

Love Day Overload

Happy Valentine's Day!

DIY gifting

Two of my very favorite people, Mr. and Mrs. M, are new homeowners and I am completely uninspired when it comes to housewarming gifts. Sadly, plants and booze are my go-to gifts. 

For this occasion, a bottle of vino or a succulent just weren't up to snuff. Sometimes, the best way to say "yay!" is with a little homespun goodness, so I grabbed my camera and the dog and we were off on a walk to find some significant digits. 

The neighborhood was a serious disappointment when it came to sevens, so I had to take matters into my own hands... 

                                                                                                

Address plate...

Parking strip...

It's a little weird walking around, taking photos of other people's things. I expected someone to come out of their house and start squawking at me {part of the reason I brought the Teeb along}. Here's the finished project:

(please forgive the wonky iPhone photo)

Mr. and Mrs. M-- I hope your new home gives you years of happiness and memories-- and I can't wait to completely overstay my welcome! ♥♥

Banana bread brown sugar pancakes

Another Pinterest recipe success!

Brown sugar banana bread pancakes with vanilla glaze. Ridiculously delicious. 

I started with the recipe here. I made some substitutions out of necessity... 

• oat flour instead of whole wheat flour {the Mister is gluten-free}
• 2 bananas instead of 3 bananas {thats all I had}
• cream instead of milk {milk decided to check out early. blechh}
• this glaze instead of the vanilla maple {I loathe syrup} 

These pancakes are the real deal, and oh so easy to make. I'm tinkering with the idea of turning them into  cupcakes. The batter is fluffy yet dense {which doesn't make all that much sense, but I don't know how else to explain it}. It reminds me of the little pieces of heaven from Baked and Wired. Mmm... pardon me while I drool a little. 

If you're a pancake lover and/or banana bread lover, these are a must. Get going!