House To-Do List

Happy Friday!!  There are so many house projects we want to complete, and so little time.  I'm not getting much farther than the initial “I want to do it” phase.  I can make all kinds of excuses (two of them are upstairs sleeping right now), but that’s neither here nor there. The plan? A to-do list! That will get things moving along right?  Actually this will overwhelm Ernesto, but it's better that I write it out, because, if I was talking to him, he would not listen for more than a few items.

Here’s what you can expect to see us working on this year.  

(I started this list a couple months ago, so some of the tasks are already crossed off the list.  That makes me feel accomplished, so I left them on the list!)

KITCHEN
*  Cabinets professionally painted and new hardware (scheduled for April)

*  New window shades

*  New pendant lights

*  Find Persian/vintage rug

1/2 BATH (MAIN FLOOR)

*  New light and vanity (see plan here)

*  Wallpaper

DINING ROOM

*  Organize/style shelves

*  Add sheepskins to chairs

*  Wax n Feed table

LIVING ROOM

*  New couch

*  Move [now tv stand] nightstands up to my bedroom and find new piece for tv

*  Sew slipcover for ottoman

MASTER BEDROOM

*  Get bed reupholstered (must find fabric first!)

*  Finish painting

*  Build floating frame for Indian tapestry (Ernesto obvs)

*  Put up ceiling medallion and re-wire vintage chandelier

*  Hang artwork

*  Find HUGE rug

OUTSIDE

*  Paint house (color undecided)

*  Install shutters on windows

*  Install patio in back yard (installing going on now-post coming!)

*  Turn weeds back into grass or relay sod

*  Plant bushes/move trees

*  Finish compost pile

*  Gravel under deck

*  Hang new house numbers

*  New front door

*  New porch lights

*  More blue pots

*  New porch swing cushion

MISCELLANEOUS

*  New sconces in stairwell

*  Paint wide horizontal stripes in stairwell

*  New roman shades in 2 bedrooms (purchased but need installed yet)

*  Finish painting spindle beds for boys room

*  Frame artwork [that was found curbside]

A Project + An Aquisition + A Road Trip

            This week was pretty awesome at Casa Espinoza.  The weather was good, so we were outside a lot. Ernesto and I went running, cruised around the zoo with the kids, and made many trips to the playground.  We grilled out and I made my favorite kale soup. We also worked outside in the garden.  Spring is here!

Our back yard is getting an overhaul this year, starting by killing all of the weeds and the few blades of grass that remain after laying sod two years ago.  I hate to point fingers, but Ernesto fertilized the young grass too early and it was all downhill from there.  I don't even want to show you an "after" picture.  This is the "before" and is our goal to get back to.                                                                                                                    

We are going to lay yet another blanket of sod, but prepare the dirt better this time. And we are going to school ourselves in the proper care of bermuda grass. 

My compost bin is FINALLY up and running.  (thanks mi amor!)  After a year of talking about it, and three months with the pallets just sitting under the deck waiting to be constructed, my husband got on it!                                   It's not the prettiest compost bin in the world, but guess what?  It does exactly what it is supposed to. It holds compost.              Also, I wish it was double this size, but beggars can't be choosers.  We have a small yard and this little corner near the deck doesn't take up any of the "living" space, so it's the perfect spot.  Bonus: it's convenient!  I can empty my bucket by just throwing it over the deck into the bin.  Done and done.                            

Hopefully, I will be covering my plants with this gold come Fall!  It really just feels good to not being throwing all of that stuff in our trash can anymore.  It seems like such a waste.  I mean, I am a gardener and we accumulate A LOT of compost in our house.  How can I not?  Have you guys ever thought about composting, or do you already?  I would love to hear any tips! 

In other news...I am happy to report that I was successful in arranging a pick up for the brass chairs from Craigslist...in ASHEVILLE!  Yes, my addiction has reached into its 4th state.  

Please, for a moment, just try to look past the faux leather seats and check out the AWESOMENESS that is the square brass frames!!!  So good!  One thing I will say is that I wish they were solid brass, but maybe that is asking too much.  Still though, I know they are worth a pretty penny.  Im not going to make the same mistake I made with my last set of Milo Baughman dining chairs.  (still kicking myself!) 

In even more exciting news (to us!), we left for Florida this morning at 445AM.  We packed up the car Thursday night and loaded the sleeping kids into the car in their pajamas in the morning.   With coffee in hand, we were off on our first road trip of the year!

Last year my parents rented a little rustic cabin on the Weeki Wachee River in Florida (just north of Tampa) for a month.  We spent a week with them and had such a great time, so when they told us they were renting it again, we planned a visit.   

It was yet another easy road trip with kids.  Sleeping, snacks, and a couple movies made the time go by quickly.  We arrived by noon and were out on the kayaks later that afternoon.  A proper post with TONS of fun pictures will bee coming your way once we get back home! Until then, have a great week!  Adios!                                                

Surviving the Cold in Atlanta

I hope you picked up on the sarcasm in the title.  We are in the middle of a winter storm warning here in Atlanta.  What a joke.  That is the Ohioan talking. With that being said, it has been pretty cold (for Atlanta) so we have been indoors a lot.
We made a trip to IKEA and the boys were facinated with the bunk beds.
 
Of course these would be really practical in their small bedroom, but alas, they will not have them, because I scored those beautiful twin Jenny Lind spindle beds.  Maybe you saw on Instagram, but did I ever even show you guys these here on the bloggy blog?

Yeah, they are goig to be so sweet in the boys room.  I have pics to show.  One has already be transformed with some white paint.
[Still at Ikea] We checked out the GODMORGAN vanity in person for our little downstairs bath (as seen in my bath plan)  and I picked up six of the sheepskins for my dining chairs. They are so soft and cozy!

We played in the bathtub in the middle of the day.

Whole Foods has turned into an outing location for us.  We don't full-on grocery shop here, but there are several things that we like to buy, one being the prepared foods.  While I loaded up my plate, Ernesto tried to supervise these little shoppers.  
It got a little too chaotic.  The lunch crowd was there and having to dodge these little carts.  Mateo filled his cart to the brim with cheeses, Marcelo was loading glass bottles, and papi was ready to walk out before I could even put dressing on my salad.  Literally, he walked out [with Marcelo] and I had to convince Mateo that we did not need all that cheese that he had picked out.   Good times!
 We cuddled like there was no tomorrow.

We hit the Children's Museum downtown.  We should really go here more often.  Ernesto thought buying a membership would ensure that we do.  (we will see) The kids were thouroughly entertained.  They went fishing...

Played in a huge sand box...
 and  painted masterpieces...

They were so worn out, just as I like them!  Guaranteed sleepers they are!  Sleeping beauties!

The boys have been getting in a lot of garbage truck and LEGO time.

Our days don't go buy without some ipad/tv time as well.  They can't even look away.  Must have been watching Wild Kratts.

My mom and dad stopped in a couple days on their way down to Florida for a month!  What snow birds!  (We will be heading down to stay with them in a couple weeks!  Can you say 75 degrees!?)  We lunched  at  Krog Street Market (of course!) and just when we thought we couldn't come up with any new ideas for entertaining the kids....my mom said Bowling!!  YES!!  We all had so much fun!

In other news, we went out on a date last week!!  It's unheard of not too often we get a babysitter (mostly because we don't have one!) But our friends Rob & Fennella volunteered to watch the boys so we could go out with our longtime friends Floyd and Richard.  We met them 15 years ago at our gym when we first moved to Atlanta.  Crazy how time flies!

They had never been to the Krog Street Market and since that is the only place we go these days, we met there.  We chose the new The Cockentrice to sit down and eat.  As described on the website, this restaurant is a "celebration of charcuterie"  delivered by on-site butchers and cheese mongers all while working with locals farmers and daries.

We gobbled up two different boards of deliciousness and a couple bottles of Pinot Noir.

The guys had great seats to the Hawks game...so after eating we Ubered it over to Phillips Arena.  Even though I couldn't care less about basketball we had such a fun night!  Thanks for inviting us guys!!
Life has been good, dispite the "Winter storm."  How are you northerners surviving the cold!  (and I'm not being sarcastic there!)

Thrifting, An Estate Sale and Craigslist

I went to my first estate sale in years, and I kicked myself for all the fun I have missed out on.  The sale was in a mid-century house in the middle of mansions [off Mt Paran Rd-for you Atlantans].  I walked in the house and was immediately saddened to learn that they were tearing the house down to build a.....wait for it....MANSION!  Someone paid $675K just to tear it down.  Such a shame as the house was AWESOME!  

Here are a few teasers, but see the full tour here on Trulia, while it lasts (Im sure it will be taken down soon).

How awesome is that living space?!  Let's move downstairs after dinner to our table in the living room and have a scotch while we discuss politics. UGH! So Mad Men.  So Me!  (not the politics part)   Im totally obsessed now folks.  I really loved the couch pictured above.  It was 103" long and stuffed with down!  So comfy, but would have been a fourtune to recover.  Yes, house was in need of some serious updates, but I would have LOVED to be the one to modernize it.  Anyhoo, house was filled with tons of gems, but many were spoken for/gone by the time we arrived at 1030am.  

Still I walked away this gorgeous Karastan wool rug for $35.  $35!!!!!!

It measures 6x9 and is like new.  Now, I don't necessarily have a space for this, but how could I not buy it when it is worth so much more? The colors are so sweet, it would be great in a little girls room.   (Lucy?- ok actually I don't think I can part with it yet, but let me know if you are interested) 

Also , I could not grab this brass planter fast enough.  It's big!  And it needs to house my fiddle leaf fig...just as soon as I find one at a non-ridiculous price. 

  

Vintage copper canister set for $10?  Uh, yes.   Also scored 3 glass Christmas trees 

I was scared to take Ernesto with me for fear he might veto something I wanted, but he was happy looking around (he loved the house too!) and he found a new leaf blower for himself so he was happy.  Someone else was pretty happy too. 

While at Goodwill one night, I spotted this gorgeous feather filled sofa in great condition (minus fabric).  SOLD!  Ugh.  I had already imagined it in my living room with navy velvet and cream welting around the cushions. 

Next I found this chinoiserie wood mirror and my heart went thump thump.  Not sold, but I got tired of thinking "where could I put that?"  Im kicking myself now.  Dumb girl.  That could have eaisly been snuck into the attic until I found the perfect spot.  And you always do find a spot if you love it. 

Moving on to Craigslist.  I still have not sold Mateo's campaign bed and chest, which really surprises me.  It has been listed for several weeks, but I have not giving up hope.  I don't really care though, if not sold in the next month, I will donate the bed and probably saw the chest in half so it can fit in a closet.  Waste not want not.

In a more pressing issue, I am trying to negotiate a Craigslist [score of the century] pickup in another state which is proving to be harder than I would like.   My correspondant is dragging his feet a bit, but Im hoping I can sweet talk him into it or as a last resort, offer him a serious bribe.

Are you ready to see it?

Don't curl you nose up yet my friends. It is hard to tell, but these ugly ducklings are actually......wait for it....

The same as these Milo Baughman brass dining chairs.  They are wearing a bad faux leather disguise, but I recognized them instantly.  I can't stop thinking about them.  And the price is right!  I will keep you posted on how this pans out.

What have you guys scored lately?  I would love to hear.

Craigslist calling Atlantans!!

I think the best way to welcome myself back to the ATL is by doing a little craigslist stalking and I couldn't resist sharing with you the things I don't have room for....I hope one of you do. 

You can't go wrong with these classic cane/chrome italian chairs. I'm sure you can get them down from the $225 they are asking for all six. 

I love this vintage wood/faux bamboo dining set although what I really want are just the chairs. $275. Again, work out a deal. 

Set of seven mid century Thayer Coggins dining chairs for $275- that's a good price!

Mid century high boy for $200

Although a horrible pic, this mid century long dresser looks like its in great condition and it's only $150

This cool mid century floor lamp is only $40

Beautiful mid century desk $75- whaaaa? Great price.  Maybe the top is laminate?  

Love love loving this beautiful mint condition mid century sofa....if only it was not white. $375 is great for a like-new sofa, but I would still try to offer less.

Look at the pattern too. Ugh! My mind is racing...maybe I could put covers on the cushions to child-proof for a few years., ha!

Really cute  charcoal gray loveseat for $250 - I think it's new, but def has that clean lined mid century look. 

These two Hollywood Regency club chairs are cute and if the gray velvet is in good condition these would be a steal for $125

Beautiful Broyhill dining table with six chairs.  Polish this up and change the fabric on the chairs. Simple and $300. Done and done! 

If these two night stands/tables aren't really red as shown in the pic, I would be interested.  If they are red? Paint!  Love the square simple lines and the huge brass hardware is icing on the cake.  Both for  $225. 

This set of 6 vintage Thonet Cantilever chairs is pretty awesome and for $300 a good deal.  I would prefer them with a wood table as opposed the glass one they are pictured with...

What do you think? Do any of these strike your fancy?

I am making room for one think I found a few days ago while still in San Diego.  It's a huge wood dining table on a brass base.  I am going to pick it up tomorrow and I can't wait to shine that brass up until it sparkles! 

It will fit  my [6] dining chairs around it, so I am pretty happy.  I have been using my $60 stand-in dining table for a couple years now (also from Craigslist) and while it has been functional, it never was my style.  

I'll share pics as soon as it's in place.