Personal Shopper

My swimming pool patio is in desperate need of some sprucing up.

I'm immediatly commencing, 

"Operation

Pool Area Re-fresh."

These outdoor pillows from

Pier One

are part of the decor plan.

What drew me to them was the bright, golden yellow embroidered flowers

against the red/orange background

and look at the dots,

dots are where it's at.

These pillows will be perfect for the patio chairs.

Speaking of perfect, the price was not so bad either.

$4.79 each
at G.W.
(Goodwill)

The pillows were in perfect,

never been used condition.

It looked like someone purchased 

them from Pier One the day before,

decided they didn't like them,

then dropped them off at G.W.

The only reason I'm making this assumption

 is because the day after purchasing them,

I happen to drop in a Pier One store,

and there they were on display for 

$29.00 each.

I couldn't resist taking a picture after thoroughly inspecting the pillow,

 just to make sure they were exactly like mine.

I'd recognize those dots anywhere.

To continue with "Operation Pool Patio Re-Fresh"

I'm going to need a couple more items and I have  one more thing to say.

Pottery Barn

Dear Personal Shopper,

Please purchase the above items,

platform sectional, 

umbrella, 

gigantic lantern,

deliver them to my G.W. 

where I'll be waiting to transfer them into my possession, 

all at a discounted cost.

Thank you.

Now get on over to 

Coastal Charm,

say hey to Linda,

and see all of the thrifty finds,

and tell her Popcorn sent ya.

Click HERE:

Better After

Every day when I sit down at my computer,

I pull up my Favorite Blog List and

 the blog,

Better After, 

happens to be numero uno on my list.

I'm a "Before" and "After" photo junkie,

and this site is where I get my fix.

From bathrooms to kitchens,

lighting to chairs,

before and after photos are king.

Speaking of chairs,

their latest post titled,

Chair-a-palooza,

features one of my little projects,

along with some other chair makeovers

and even a turquoise chair.  

I love a palooza!

Stop on by

Better After,

plan on staying awhile, 

stalkers are welcome,

but it's always nice to leave a little note,

 and tell them 

"Popcorn" sent you.

The Kitchen Facelift Continues...

The facelift started with the kitchen cabinets

 and it has snowballed to the entire great room.

My next step to rejuvination, 

for my house,

 that is, 

was to re-cover the cornices.

There are 3 windows and a huge sliding door along one side of the room.

The room is 50 feet long and the windows are evenly spaced across the wall.

Here are two of the windows.

Notice the plaid.  

How could you not notice the plaid, right?

Get a closer look.

I even have matching toss pillows,

if you must know.

After a couple of months of deliberating,

I found the perfect fabric and purchased 6 yards.

My husband did his part by removing the cornices 

and I did my part by calling in reinforcements,

The Cuban (Ana)

and her lovely assistant

Guadalupe.

The ladies got straight to work.

They work together like a well oiled machine, 

so as not to disturb their flow,

I stepped aside.

It's the least I could do.

With the intensity of an Olympic Sharp Shooter, The Cuban is meticulous and does not allow for any errors.  

If every dot and every line are not in perfect alignment,

words are mumbled in Spanish,

 and she starts over again. 

She chastized Guadalupe and I for talking,

telling us to "be quiet"

because she couldn't concentrate.

She is hard core.

Somebody needs to tell her she isn't in the Olympics anymore, 

but it is not going to be me. 

 I'll take that abuse for the sake of my decor.

Sacrifices.

When the cornices were complete,

my husband stepped in again for installation,

but not without Ana by his side,

supervising his every move.

The window treatments are still not complete.

Because the room is long,

I have custom ordered panels for each window.

I'm hoping this will help the space acheive a cozier feel.

And besides,

I'm not finished with 

Cuba Libre (Free Cuba) Designs yet.

Maybe I'll just rename my blog, 

Ana Served Daily.

Before:

After:

The Three (or more) Faces of Eve

I've decided to name my hutch.

Meet Eve.

You know, 

like the book and the movie,

The Three Faces of Eve.

The true story of a woman with multiple personalities, although,

 my (Hutch) Eve has been known to exhibit more then 3 personalities.

There is the Eve of Halloween, 

the Eve of Harvest, 

Christmastime Eve, etc.

She gets herself adorned for holidays,

seasons and now parties.

Meet Birthday, 

Color Coordinating Eve.

Dolled up with gum balls, suckers and taffy,

 coordinating with my daughter's birthday cupcake party,

this gal is trendy.

Always looking forward,

Frugal Eve is displaying a bit of spring accents, from the dollar store and spray painted branches from her own back yard, 

a small step to gearing up for her Easter accessories.  

Your looking good, Eve.

In this case study,

a hutch with multiple personalities,

is a good thing.

(Not sure who needs more psychoanalysis,

me or Eve?)

A Cupcake Birthday Party.

My daughter hasn't had an actual birthday party,

 in like,

 forever.

So,

 when she asked to celebrate her 9th birthday at home

I asked her to be more elaborate with the details.

My plan of making her write out a party plan,

 to deter her from a home party,

 didn't work.

She had written a plan with a theme,

"A Cupcake Birthday Party"

and there were illustrations.  

The girl meant business.

Fine, then.

First, 

I turned to my Ecuadorian friend,

Guadalupe,

to make 10 aprons,

for the girls to wear and take home.

She made these adorable aprons with pink ruffle trim,

sparkly lavender fabric,

and a satin tie.

The perfect accessory for decorating cupcakes.

When the party goers saw the aprons,

 they let out a collective gasp of excitement!

Guadalupe even made one for me.

My daughter gave me free rein on the color combinations so I used 

this floral, spring table runner as my inspiration for the decor.

 Adorable gum ball machines and candy stars were at each place setting.

 Green stemware held the napkins and candy napkin rings.

I used milk glass vases to hold green, blue and pink cotton candy, 

and candlestick holders for green and blue candies.

My silver candelabra was the centerpiece.

Can't forget the coordinating paper lanterns,

a "must have" when using a silver candelabra.

I baked enough cupcakes for each girl to decorate and take home six.

Here is the Young Canadian.

(probably drawing a hockey stick.)

I found these adorable boxes at Hobby Lobby.

They were the perfect container to send the girls, and their creations, home.

Games were played,

including pin the cherry on the cupcake and 

the best decorated cupcake winner was announced.

Presents were opened,

goodbyes were said,

and one little 9-year old went to bed

saying "thank you"

 and offering a happy smile.

Success.

Canada Vs. U.S.A. - Olympic Men's Hockey.

Canada  3.

U.S.  2.

If you can't beat 'em,

join 'em.

A Canadian Home Tour. (In Arizona)

The Canadian Home Tour continues.

I showed you the Young Canadian's bedroom here.

Now, let's proceed to some other parts of the house.

Upon entering this Arizona home 

you will be greeted by an eclectic mix of 

antique furnishings,

wonderful photographs,

ethnic accessories,

gold, silver, and bronze finishes,

dark/light woods,

 and various textures,

all brought together by the artsy eye of 

The Canadian.

She moves furniture and accessories around constantly.

Last time I visited, 

which wasn't that long ago,

the bookcase was not part of this grouping.

There are new lamps sharing the space with old pieces.

She is a major fan of lamps in the home and

 has influenced my lamp purchases a time or two.

The dining room is home to this antique buffet, along with the dining table and chairs,

which displays more family heirlooms from at least 3 generations past.

This was the centerpiece on the day I stopped to say "hi."

It's highly likely it won't be the same centerpiece the next time I drop in.

In this room, guests are transformed back in time.

There's a big comfy bed,

a dresser and a vanity to satisfy any guest's needs for relaxation.

After a long day of shopping I'm sure this is a nice spot to rest.

Shopping,

 is a favorite hobby of most of the Canadians that have come to visit.

(My kind of people)

Shopping and hockey.

But, 

don't get me started on the hockey.

One of my favorite reasons to love this home,

other than the people,

is that most pieces of furniture,

accessories, photos and art

have a story to tell.

Take this picture for instance.

It hangs above the guest bed

after making it's way through three generations of Canadians

and their bedrooms.

Here's the laundry room,

complete with suitcases,

at the ready,

should immigration come a knockin!

This is above the kitchen cabinets,

and in the hallway, 

  a rack holds walking sticks, 

hand carved by the Canadian's dad,

Joe.

Even the outdoor decor is unique.

This mermaid beauty basks in the Arizona sun.

 I've shown you some of my favorites pieces in this home but the one thing I like and am drawn to the most is this tissue dispenser.

  

Every time I visit I always take it into account.

They may find it missing in the new future.

For now,
their going to need it, 

because you just know,

he has been working overtime since the 

U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team

beat

Canada

5-3!


Have a GREAT day, eh!