correction on ... A Word of Explanation

Thanks to the eagle eye of a friend ... I have corrected the error ... looks like I put in the year I was born!

So yeah ... he really is 28.

A Word of Explanation

I know at first glance the ticker above will make some of you gasp ... either out of excitement or shock ... so let me first get this out there: WE ARE NOT HAVING A BABY.

That ticker up there is keeping track of Nate - my husband, the "N" of the N&B - and his age. Why? You might ask. Because of this conversation:

N: What you looking at, babe?
B: Oh, just a friend's blog, babe.
N: What's that on the side, with a picture of a baby on it?
B: That is a baby ticker ... it counts down how many month, weeks, or days until your baby is born - or at least until the due date you put in ... whether or not you have actually had the baby is a different story. You can also have tickers for how old your kids are.
N: So why don't you have one for me on our blog?

Lots of laughing out loud by ME takes place, after which I say:

B: You are not serious are you?
N: Why not? You call me babe all the time - its like I am your baby right now.

B: Let me get this straight: You really want one to say Nate is 28 years, X months, and Y days? And you do realize that all of my friends will:

A) now exactly how old you are,

B) at first glance think that we are pregnant, and

C) will think - "wow he is almost 29, they better have a baby before he gets really old."*

And he still wanted me to do it. So there you go. My husband is just a little bit ridiculous ... but he makes me laugh a lot.

* p.s. .... this quote is not meant to offend anyone in my "vast" readership ... "to each his own" on the marriage and baby front ... however, I do admit to sometimes using the "we are old" argument with my husband when we are talking about the future and he makes it sound like we are going on 20 instead of the reality that we are going on 30.

before&after: gray is the new tan

my very first before&after (a la Design*Sponge) ... and boy did i learn a lot! as mentioned before, i had to redo these chairs, but i am happy that i did.

here is what happened:


BEFORE:

two free chairs in great shape from our dear friends Ben and Jill

structurally sound and good shape to them

the cream fabric is a bit worn and well, we all know how hard
it is to keep 'cream' or white looking fresh over time

I REMOVE THE SEAT AND BACK CUSHIONS, PICK OUT FABRIC AND MATCHING PAINT AND THEN GOT RIGHT TO PAINTING ... IN THE EXCITED STATE OF MY FIRST TRUE DIY BEFORE&AFTER I FIGURE "WHO NEEDS SANDING WHEN YOU PAID EXTRA FOR THE FANCY PAINT WITH PRIMER ALREADY IN IT?!"

... AND NOW TO REMOVE THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT PAINTING:

although they looked good - you could scrape the paint off with your finger nail and since these were going to be kitchen chairs for everyday use, i knew i would first be devastated and then annoyed every time we bumped or scratched one of these guys ... and thus the scrapping and sanding began ... this is what you get for rushing ... yes mom, i have learned my lesson

bare and beautiful ... but not as beautiful as they will soon be!

AFTER:

not the best pictures ... but i am really happy how they turned out in real life

(ignore my messy in the background please!)

i chose the light gray of the leaves, which was an accent color
and not one of the main colors of the fabric

i am in love with this fabric ... i got it at JoAnne's for like $5 a yard ... i was going to get some other fabric that i was less enthused about when i came across this! the minute i saw it i knew it was what i was looking for - even though i didn't know it until i saw it.

i like how graphic-y (not a word, but go with it) the floral print is ... very modern and bold and not too girly ... nate likes it too! ... and i like the variation of size, shape, and shade that the flowers come in ... also i love love love yellow but have a hard time picking a shade i like for clothing or decor ... i didn't want anything that had a straight pattern in case i couldn't keep the lines straight and then i would hate that it looked all weird and off ... this worked out perfect!

Next before&after ... two more chairs! different shape and fabric but same paint color - to tie it all together. The cushions are done but the sanding and painting are slow coming ... hopefully in the next two weeks it will get done ... crossing my fingers for good weather and the motivation to just get it done.