Update On Painted Blue Porch

Hi Everyone.  Hope the new week is starting out great for all of you.

Just wanted to show a little update to the new painted pretty blue porch.  You can see the post on the painted porch here.

Painted the ugly cement porch blue over the week end and it needed a new rug.

Found this cute yellow and white one at Home Goods.

Yep I am liking the way it sets off the blue porch and brings out the yellow in the front cottage door.

Gotta Love Home Goods.  Only $9.99 for this great rug.

Have a great start to the new week.  It was so pretty today.  Sunshine and 80.  Gorgeous summer time weather for us.
Have a wonderful week.
Kris
:)

When Is A Porch Just A Porch And When Is A Porch Just Pretty

While I was out watering I

 looked at my front porch and thought to myself wow it is so boring and no character or personality to it.  I have all these pretty flowers, a yellow front door that screams summer and then this cement porch that is just, well a cement porch.

This porch is nothing special actually pretty dull and boring.  I hate to use this word but just Ugly!

This porch needs a little pizzaz to show off the chippy bench and flowers. 

Step One:  Power washed the porch and steps.

Then went to Home Depot and found some Behr restoration paint for decks and porches.

This is the product we used.  I was in no way given any compensation for showing you this. I wish Behr would since I use so much of their paints LOL!  We just loved how easy it went on and how well it covered.  So wanted to show you what we used.

I had yellow in mind with the yellow front door but could not get this product in yellow so went with Colony Blue that is almost the same color as the Vintage Cottage Nest Door with planter.  No primmer needed with this product which saved a step of having to prime the cement. This porch paint is just applied onto a clean

 dry surface.

This is the first coat.  It went on very easy and then we let it dry for a few hours before the final coat.
Pretty easy peasy to get a little bit nicer look on the porch.

There you have it.  Just a easy little spruce up to a dull cement front porch.
I need to find a cute rug now.  I will be off to HomeGoods and Target to see what I might find.

Love how the painted porch sets off the chippy bench.

Summer Bike Rental is available.

Oh how I love summer.

Just a little FYI before I say good bye.  There is a lovely family of baby sparrows living in my birdhouse.  I hear their little voices chirping in there.

This is Dad he watches intently to what is going on around his little family.  He is pretty good and leaves the roof of the birdhouse to sit on the roof of our home while I water.  Then when I am done he is back to guarding his wife and new babies.
Love all the new life in the summer garden.

Have a good Sunday and great start to the new week.
Kris
:)

Parties this week:
Show and Share with Linda Coastal Charm
Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty
Amaze Me Mondays with Cindy

Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger

Susan from Must Love Junk, and myself wanted to do a regular feature on our blogs, something unique that hasn't been done before.   So we came up with an idea to 'spotlight the real life behind the blogger' in a more personal way.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland, and we thought it would be fun to bring you a closer look at the person behind the blog.

Every week on Saturday we will spotlight a blogger and have them tell us a little bit about themselves and their blogs.  You will be able to see and read about each of the bloggers on both Susan's and my blog. 

Mary from My dogs My Garden And Mary
June 7

This week's spotlight is of Mary from My Dogs My Garden and Mary blog.  Mary is fairly new to blogland and has a beautiful blog.  So after getting to know Mary in Spotlight please hop over to check our her blog.  Mary has become a very good friend to me and my blog.  You will love getting to know her.

First, I would like to thank Kris from "JUNK CHIC COTTAGE" for featuring me today as part of her Saturday Spotlight:  "LIFE BEHIND THE BLOGGER SERIES".  I feel so honored to be asked since I am so new to blogging.

My name is Mary Ferguson of mydogsmygardenandmary.  I was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia.  My mother was visiting her sister and the farm where she was born, when mom went into labor before she was due and I made my early entrance.  My parents were living in Cleveland, Ohio.

Every summer I would spend my vacation between my Aunt Nell's house and the farm in Springwood, Virginia.  Oh, what fun I had and the wonderful memories with my cousins, swimming in the James River, picking cherries and playing all day.

Graduation picture

After graduation and living in the cold Midwest, until I was 21, I wanted to go where it was warm - so being very adventurous my girlfriend and I hit the road for sunny California.  We had so much fun traveling across country and seeing the sights. I got a great job in Los Angeles and met my Prince Charming and got married.

But that only lasted 8 years and then we divorced.  We had a wonderful son, Shaun who lives in Los Gatos, CA along with his daughter Kelly.  Kelly will be 12 in October and of course is grandma's girl.

Kelly and Shaun in Hawaii having a wonderful hamburger.

I was a stay-at-home mom until Shaun turned 5 years old and then I had to go to work to support my son and father.  Eventually I worked my way up to Director of Sales and Catering in the hotel industry for 14 years.  I have to say I loved my jobs and my career path took me to many famous places and a introduction to a wealth of interesting people.  Met President Ford and numerous entertainers that stayed at the hotel.

My home is a little yellow cottage in Fullerton, CA, and was built in 1955.  My room mates are, Waldo - a Border Collie and Lili a Dalmatian/Lab mix.  Both of my dogs were rescued and are my best friends.

Waldo and Lili taking a nap

Waiting for their dinner - looks like they are starving LOL

Opportunity knocked on my door to go and work for a large manufacturing company that made

fabricating equipment.  They offered me the position of Trade Show Manager and Meeting Planner.  I also managed their Travel Department and set-up all in house shows, trade shows, and all employees and customers travel arrangements.  Through this job I was able to travel to many countries and throughout the United States.

I was appointed the first woman chairperson for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Metal Forming Association for exhibits.  I felt very honored to hold this position since it was a "good old boys industry", yea for women!

My employment lasted over 19 years and then I was laid off due to 9/11 and the very slow economy.  150 jobs were lost due to many of our customers losing their businesses.  I then settled into retirement (which I hated) so I threw myself into gardening and re-decorating my home.  But, after 4 months I needed to go back to work as I was so bored.  I had a little craft business "Fergies Fineries" , which I did very well, but I missed being around people.  So back to hotel sales for 5 more years.  I have to say I loved my job, and was very happy meeting people and traveling again.

But as fate would have it I became very ill and ended up the the hospital with pneumonia, kidney failure, asthma and bronchitis.  WOW was I ever sick!  But I got well only to find out that I now had COPD.  You know that commercial with the elephant is sitting on your chest - well when that hits you, you have to take it easy and rest.

My hydrangea's in bloom - very early this year - the white ones are the mopheads

Again, here we go  - I was so bored and my dearest friend Phyllis from"aroundthehouse" got me interested in reading her blog and a few others.  Loved reading all the blogs but I didn't know how to post.  One day Phyllis came over and we sat down at my computer and spent hours teaching me how to post.  I can truly say that I love this terrific journey, meeting so many wonderful, caring people.  I have only been posting for 16 months and I can't image not blogging.  It has renewed my interest in so many interesting things.

My dinning and living rooms

Just a few of my roses that the wind and HOT weather didn't destroy along with Feverfew flowers.  I like the Feverfew flowers as fillers for my bouquets.

Again, thank you Kris for Spotlighting me on "LIFE BEHIND THE BLOGGERS SERIES"


Thank you Mary for sharing your personal side with us.  Love Waldo and Lili they are too adorable.  Now that you have gotten to know Mary please hop over to Susan's blog and meet another wonderful blogger Donna Distressed Donna Down Home.
Have a great Saturday everyone.
Kris
:)

Milk and Cream Company

Happy Middle of the Week.   

I went to a show a few weeks ago with a friend and I found this sign that I absolutely fell in love with.  I originally bought it to come home and be put on my kitchen island but it was too big.  So that started a whole thing to find a place for it.  

I was determined since I loved it so much.

This is the sign.  I just fell hard for it the minute I saw it and knew I needed to add this to my french farmhouse kitchen.  It was just so big and I do not have a lot of wall space left in my kitchen.

This is how this wall use to look which I loved but I needed wall space for that sign.  I took the flower drying rack down and the birdhouse and old frame.

I had Terry put the sign up on this wall for me.  Oh how I love that man.  He has tools and knows how to use them. LOL!

A little rearranging and I now have my new Milk and Cream sign.  I had a few old creamery bottles to add up on the shelf.

The old creamery bottles are aqua blue to add a little pop of color to the shelf.

After I did up this post I found this great Farm Fresh milk crate with the antique bottles and holder from a little shop I frequent.  So now I have this new piece to add to the vignette.

I was just admiring Kelly from The Essence of Home's crate collection and I was telling her how I have been looking for a unique vintage milk crate myself. If you did not see Kelly's post on her fabulous crates you can go here.  Good Karma for me after leaving Kelly that comment on her post,  I found this one today.

Found a new place for the little chippy ladder made into a flower drying rack.
I am happy I could relocate this ladder drying rack to another place in the kitchen.  Love to dry flowers on this unique piece.

Fits right in over my kitchen sink.

Hope your week is going great.  Please come back on Saturday for Spotlight.  Susan and I have two special bloggers for you to get to know.
Thanks for your visits.
Kris
:)

NBC's Today Show On Line Magazine Feature

Hi Everyone.  I was approached by Jennifer Kantor that writes for NBC's Today Show on Line Magazine to feature my laundry room.  She was featuring fun and efficient ways to do have your laundry room and she asked if she could feature my laundry room.  I was honored to be asked and of course said yes.  Here is a clip of the feature.  

Hey Death, Taxes and Laundry all happen so why not have a space that is bright cheery and efficient to do it in RIGHT?!

Organizing

Get inspired: 6 tips for a more efficient laundry room

Jennifer KantorTODAY contributor

April 21, 2014 at 1:29 PM ET

Cleaning clothes isn't anyone's idea of a good time. Besides the tedious sorting and folding, laundry rooms tend to be in cramped corners of the home that haven't seen an ounce of attention since move-in day. But it doesn't have to be that way. These bloggers transformed their laundry nooks into a thing of beauty by adding serious organization, lots of light, clever storage and chic accessories. Read on for tips on how you can do the same.

Use every inch of space

A Beautiful Mess

"A Beautiful Mess" blogger Elsie Larson transformed the empty area next to her washer/dryer into an ingenious laundry basket shelf and ironing spot. Wire metal shelf bins, like these from West Elm, hold everything else. 

Stock up on closed storage

View Along the Way

Keep messy laundry supplies, random socks and other miscellaneous items stored behind a closed cabinet, as Kelly Marzka, "View Along the Way" blogger, does in her laundry room. If that's not an option in your home, a shelf-hiding curtain or lidded container, like this one from Crate & Barrel, should do the trick.

 Label everything

I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Baskets are great—until they become junk bins. "I Should Be Mopping the Floor" blogger Kristi Dominguez avoids that mess by storing orphaned socks, hats, cleaning supplies, warranty manuals and sunscreen in labeled locker baskets. 

Designate a place to fold

Picasa / Centstational Gril

Take a cue from "Centsational Girl" blogger Kate Riley, whose light and lovely laundry room features a plain white laminate counter top for fresh-from-the-dryer folding. "Just that 2' x 4' amount of space makes all the difference in the world," she says. Short on square footage? Try Neatfreak's Triple Sorter Hamper, which allows you to fold and iron with the ironing board on top, then transport clothes to the dresser in three detachable bags.

Let there be light

Remodelando la Casa

Whimsical chandeliers perk up dark, dreary laundry rooms, while mirrors reflect and amplify whatever natural light is available. Add both, like "Remodelando La Casa" blogger Cristina Garay did, and the laundry room will be a pillar of light. Here's one trick: Hang a mirror directly across from a window, as Garay did, to create the illusion of another mirror and a bigger, brighter space.

Make it your own

Junk Chic Cottage

We decorate living rooms, bedrooms and other areas in the home to reflect our personal style, and treating the laundry room the same way will help create a positive, efficient atmosphere. "Junk Chic Cottage" blogger Kris Vavra blended distressed accents with functional elements to reflect her vintage aesthetic. Take some time to bring in your own taste to the laundry room and you might feel better about spending time there.