The Louis 6 Light Ironwood Chandelier

Have you ever lucked out and been at the right place at the right time? 

The stars align and it's your lucky day? 

It's happened a few times in my life, like the day I met my husband.  Our stars definitely aligned that day. 

OK, just to be clear, this event isn't as life changing as meeting your soul mate, but this was pretty darn good! 

That's how I felt the day walked in to Habitat for Humanity Restore and found this.

Do you recognize this chandelier? 

 I've seen it featured in several shelter magazines the past couple years.  It's still sold by the company on their website.  It's the Louis 6 light Ironwood Chandelier made by Arteriors.

It still had the manufacturer's tag and item number on it so I could research it.
Arteriors Louise 6l Ironwood Chandelier #89314.

It doesn't look so hot sitting on my kitchen counter.

This is the Hab. for Hum. tag that was hanging on the chandelier.  I've been watching this chandelier since last September when it cam into H. and H.  See the date 9/4/10?  It shows a retail price of $2007.  The cheapest I can find this size online is $1,678. 

H.for H. had it originally listed for $800.  50% off is a respectable deal.

Then they marked it down to $250.  85% off and still no takers.

I watched it for months.

I pop in to H. and H. about once a week.  It's on my way home from playing volleyball at the beach. 

Imagine my surprise when I walked in to find this new price tag of $50!

It had just been lowered to the new price that morning.

I don't know why, but I was feeling kind of bold that day and I asked if they would take $40 for it? 

I explained that it had been there for eight months and I was a frequent customer.

AND THEY SAID YES!

I got a $1,600 light fixture for $40. 

I should have bought a lottery ticket that day.

It came with a plug attached.

I've been keeping my eye out for a light fixture for our outdoor pergola.

I'm not used to buying light fixtures that come perfect? 

I'm used to having to tweak them some how, paint them, fix them, re-wire them.

This one came perfect.

Our pergola is black.  The chandelier contrasts nicely with the black metal and coordinates with the existing furniture.  I just hung it up and plugged it in.

The birds liked it immediately.  Hey, no pooping on my chandelier!

I love it!

Summer dinner parties hear we come.

My husband wants to sell it on ebay.

It's my "lucky find" should I sell it?

What would you do?  Keep it or sell?

Thanks for checking it out!

Craig's List Dresser

Here is the finished dresser I bought on Craig's List using Craigs Pro. It's going in my daughter Cami's room.

It started out like this.

It took me about a day to complete the project.

It was missing a piece of molding.  Instead of trying to find matching molding, I just took the small piece off the other side, filled with wood filler and sanded smooth.

I didn't need to sand  the rest of the piece. 

I just gave it a good cleaning with TSP.  It cleans and de-glosses the existing finish.

Prime

I choose to spray paint the dresser.

I added green to the molding on the drawers.

I taped off the drawers with my favorite painter's tape Frog Tape.

Almost done.

I ended up using different pulls and knobs then the originals. 

I had leftovers from my kitchen cabinet painting project.

Here it is in Cami's room placed where her old armoire used to be.  That's why the mirror is so high.  It's leftover from the armoire.  Her room is getting ready for a major makeover as part of her turning 11 Birthday present. 
You don't have to ask me twice to re-do a room!
 Cami wants something a little more sophisticated (she describes her current room as babyish), in turquoise blue, with an almost teenager horse theme?

I'm on it.

The dresser is just the beginning.

I think Cami is going to love going this direction? 

Bright, bold color, no plaid, nothing babyish about this look for a horse loving girl. 

Ralph does it right.

What do you think?

I'll show you how the rest of her room progresses in later posts.

Thanks for checking it out.

Cami's 11th Birthday

My youngest just turned 11.  The family headed to Disney to celebrate the big day! 

The Haunted House was scary.

My what big ears you have.

That's better!  Sometimes less is more.

It seems like yesterday we did number 3.

And number 5.

We also did a family dinner. 

We had to call in reinforcements for cake number 11.

Ellie was a big help at extinguishing the fire.

It was a beautiful evening and we ate outside. 

Grammy and Bucky

 Cami is catching up to Maddie.

Happy Birthday Cami!

Now stop growing!

Thanks for checking it out.

Craigs List Pro. I'm Addicted!

My husband got me an iPhone for our 16 anniversary this past April.  My old phone wouldn't charge anymore and I was due for an upgrade.  You might think this is a strange anniversary present, but it's what I wanted and needed.  We went together and picked it up one Sunday afternoon.  I'm not very "techy" and so far I only have four Apps.  I first heard about this App. on Thrifty Decor Chick and I'm addicted!  It's called Craigs Pro.  

 

It's faster and easier to do searches on my iPhone using this App than it is using my computer. I've already bought two pieces of furniture using my phone.  I like it because you can view items on a photo wall and browse the pictures quickly.

I'm redoing my daughter Cami's room as part of her 11th Birthday present.  she needed a new dresser and I found this one.  The previous owner was asking $125, but she sold it to me for $75.  Solid wood with dove tail construction.  This is the "before" picture.  Me like!  I'll show you the after pictures in a later post.

I sold this armoire on Craig's List to make room for the new dresser.  We've had it since Casey was a baby.  It's perfect for little girl clothes, but not a 5'5" 11 year old.

I put these Container Store shelves inside for baby clothes.  I will miss this armoire, but it's going to a good home, a young family with a 2 year old little girl and another baby girl on the way. 

I found this Bamboo chair and ottoman for Cami's room for $30 this past week. 

The "after" turned out so good I'm trying to talk Cami out of it.  I like it right here in my family room, but it's for Cami.

This is the before. 

I know, scary fabric from the 80's, but look past the dated fabric and check out the great lines of this chair. 

I'll show you the "after" in a later post.

Do you shop and sell on Craig's List?  Or do prefer another source for great deals?

Thanks for checking it out.

The Gift Of An Ordinary Day

I hope all you Mom's out there had a great day.  We went to church this morning and our pastor showed us a great video as part of his message. 

We watched a YouTube video by Katrina Kenison The Gift of an Ordinary Day. 

The joke in our house is that I cry watching Hallmark commercials, but I don't think there was a mom in there with a dry eye after watching this video.  Even some of dads were getting choked up!
 

 Watch it, it's amazing!

Here's my mom with her grandchildren.  Jake, Casey, Sam, and Cami.

 Me and my mom.  She's the best!

Happy Mother's Day!

What's For Lunch?

Today it's tuna salad on a bed of arugula.  I added cannelloni beans, pecans, green apple, red onion, celery, and a little mayo to tuna.  I sliced some cucumbers, an avocado, and some heirloom tomatoes.  Add a little sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and it's ready. 

Quick, easy, and yummy! 

My husband joined me for lunch so that's why I made it pretty. 

If it's just me I don't arrange the plate like this. 

Yes my husband actually eats this and doesn't wonder where the main course is?  When I met him he drank a liter of soda a day and lived on beer and carne asada burritos.  He has totally bought in to eating healthy with me.  It's much harder to eat healthy if your spouse isn't on board.  I'm lucky mine welcomes meals like this.

What did you have for lunch?