Sweet Chaos Home: February 2012

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Retail Therapy

Greetings from the House of Mouse! There hasn't been any new evidence of the little critters, so I'm hoping they're shriveled up dead and decomposing as I type this. Sorry for the visual. Hope you weren't eating.

I spent the better part of the weekend tearing down wallpaper. Why does that always sound like fun until I'm so far in that there's no turning back? That darn glue never seems to want to come off! Today I'm going to prime the walls, so hopefully, I'll have some pics for you soon.

Since I'm still suffering from post mouse traumatic stress disorder, I figured a little retail therapy was in order. And, guess what? A few purchases later, I am feeling much better. I'm sure my husband will be thrilled. Wanna see what I got?

First stop: Home Goods.

I found these adorable little pieces to use in my living room cabinets.

I love HG, because you can find so many things for just a few bucks. I could have filled this entire cabinet in one HG trip, but I am exercising restraint :)

Second stop: Anthropologie

Since my mouse friends used my oven mitts as chew toys, I picked up a new pair.

And I couldn't resist this lovely tea towel. (So thankful I had a gift card burning a hole in my pocket!)

They make my ugly oven just a little bit cuter!

I was going to do only white pieces in my living room cabinet, but I brought home one of these plates to try it out.

You probably don't recall, because it's been so long since I've done anything with my living room decor, but the plate picks up a lot of the colors in the fabric I'll be using.

I think I'll live with it for a little while.

I hope you are having a terrific week, and if not... might I suggest a little retail therapy? :)

Friday, February 24, 2012

Uninvited Guests

Thank you so much for all the supportive comments regarding my wing back chair obsession! I'll keep you posted on the hunt.

I must apologize for not responding to every commenter lately. I do try to do that, but life has been a little crazy this week.

Source: lh5.googleusercontent.com via Coleen on Pinterest

My husband was out of town, we're in the throes of potty training, my kids had 100 activities, my ~~babysitters~~ parents were in Hawaii, and I've had uninvited guests staying at my house for days. Maybe they've even been here for weeks. I don't know for sure. They didn't tell me they were coming or even announce that they had arrived. Apparently, they just made themselves at home in my basement. Rude! They used my kitchen island as a lavatory, and ate my oven mitts for a late night snack. Thankfully, I haven't seen them yet, because I'm not sure what I'd do. I'm pretending they look like this...

but, I'm pretty sure they are not that cute. Nor play the banjo.

Luckily, my exterminator came yesterday to help evict them. He's a very friendly guy, but a couple of things about him bother me.

1. He foams at the mouth
2. He tells me things I do NOT want to know. For example, "You better hope they're just the little gray ones. The other ones carry a deadly virus." "You should wear a face mask when you clean up their droppings so you don't inhale the deadly virus." "There were some really large droppings. I think you've got a BIG mouse in here." "I think they're nesting in that dollhouse."

The entire time he was speaking, I was willing him to shut up. Does he not realize that he is paralyzing me with fear? I lie in bed at night imagining some giant rat and all its babies climbing on my face. I will never again set foot in my basement. It is dead to me. So, remember my big plans for the music room down there? Yeah, well. Forget it.

So amid the infestation, fear and chaos of this week, how do I cope? Especially since I've given up yelling at my kids for Lent? Why, find something to destroy, of course.

This wallpaper's been asking for it for 4 years, and yesterday I finally snapped.

No turning back now!

My partners in crime!

So, that's my week in a nutshell! Have a relaxing, rodent-free weekend :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The Wind Beneath My Wing Back Chair Search

I haven't shared this publicly until now, but for the past several months I have had a ~~severe~~ mild obsession with finding wing back chairs. Specifically, I would like two wing backs to use as host and hostess chairs in our dining room.

The following images are largely responsible for fueling my obsession.

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Sweet Chaos on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Sweet Chaos on Pinterest

Source: lavenderandlilies.blogspot.com via Sweet Chaos on Pinterest

Source: smallplacestyle.blogspot.com via Sweet Chaos on Pinterest

Source: harrisondesignassociates.com via Sweet Chaos on Pinterest

Source: decorativedeluxe.blogspot.com via Crystal on Pinterest

The ones I'm envisioning in my space are of the white slipcovered and skirted variety. But, we have 4 boys... and we drink red wine... and we have 4 boys.

When I saw this dining room on Tessa's blog, my heart stopped.

She has my dream chairs! Which, by the way, she found on craigslist. I kind of hate her a little bit. I seriously carry this picture around in my purse just in case I stumble upon some chairs and need to compare.

So, I'm on a mission to find the perfect chairs at the perfect price (dirt cheap) with the perfect fabric (dirt resistant). Stay tuned...

Tell me... what's your latest obsession?

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Gallery Wall Reveal and A Winner

The winner of the Nicole Flint Collection pillow, chosen by random generator, is ...

Sandy

Sandy, please send me your e-mail address so I can make sure you get that sweet pillow!

You won't believe it, but I actually finished a project in one afternoon. (Thank heavens for naptime!) My stairway gallery wall is done. Well, almost. I need to put photos in some of the new frames. But that's the easy part. The tedious process of hanging the frames is complete, and I am proud to say that there is only one unnecessary nail hole in the wall :)

Here it is...

Hope you don't mind the photo overload. I just needed to show it off to someone. I kept saying to my boys, "Let's all take a moment and admire the new wall." They just were not sharing my enthusiasm about it. Gosh, is it so hard to get an "atta girl?"

Here's a trick for getting a gallery wall done quickly. When you lay the frames on the floor to map out the configuration, be sure to put them in a high traffic area. Then say a hundred times "don't step on the frames!" to every person who walks near them. Trust me. It will motivate you to get the frames on the wall pronto!

Also, I cannot recommend my "template" method highly enough.

While it's a bit of effort to trace and cut the templates, it's so much easier to move the paper around and position the frames where you want them.

Just for fun, let's take a look at the overall before and after of this space...

Hope you like it, and if you do, can I get an "atta girl?" :)

Sharing at DIY By Design's Winter Blues Wednesday

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

The Color of Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since today is all about red hearts and red roses, I thought I'd share some red eye candy with you. I don't have much red in my home, but the pops of red in these rooms made my heart beat a little faster.