My Granny

She's gone.

I know, I know, she's in a better place...

But, but, but she's the most beautifully strong woman I ever loved.

She's my grandmom and I am feeling very selfish right now. I am sad for myself.
I am heart-broken that if I ever have children, they will never enjoy the love I felt for having her as a grandmother. The cakes and flan that she made for us. The joy she has when her grandchildren hugs her. Granny's talent for knitting and helping us get a yes, when mom and dad already said, "NO!"

I will miss her sense of style.

I know my grandmother loved all her grandbabies and great/grand-babies. But who will tell me she loves me best, even if she turns around and tells it to the next grandchild. The fact that she was in tune to make me feel so special.

My grandmother's smile, oh so elegantly regal.

Sigh...

(This is one of my all time favorite picture)

Something NEW

Yippee, you will not believe the luck I am having at Home Depot. Great luck.
This particular vanity I have been eyeing at for 6 months. Debating for a cheaper version, but not happy. Wanted a modern looking vanity, but too costly. Then bam!
The vanity that I initially wanted went on sale for 75% percent off! It was originally $199.00 and now $75.00(tax included). Home depot stopped carrying this style. Did I possibly get that lucky? I had to buy it right there and then. It is real wood too, instead of particle wood. Yes!

The downer of it is it is not a complete set, I now have to purchase a vanity top (sink) for it. But with such a huge discount, the vanity top will still be in my budget, yet I actually got the vanity I wanted. Wow, sometimes it is worth the wait!!! Do I get the new modern sink? Or do I get a square sink? Decisions, decisions.

I now need to decide on a new bath tub. I do not want fiber glass, want the old fashion metal over enamel. Last longer without cracks. I need a new toilet too. Hate the thought of sitting on a 20 year old toilet. Ewwwwww

I need to pick out the tiles to go around the tub. I currently like the tumbled stone look in my other bathroom, but I can't do the same tile for this bathroom, can I? The tumbled stone is a neutral color and I like it, but I should be adventurous and pick something else, right? Do I go for the larger 12inch look? It is now just small white tiles but it just feels gross, because I know it is OLD!

Then I have to pick out another tile for the bathroom floor because I knocked out the old tiles. Mainly because it I can't match these tiles to add for the space underneath the vanity. So it was easier to get some new tiles that will help make my vanity , "pop."

Picture this...

This is a painting that Chi Giao gave to me when she was downsizing.
I decided to give this painting a little update.
Instead of the serious gold frame, I modernized it by changing it to silver.
Then I had an old piece of mirror that I tried to cut (score the glass) to the size of the frame. Not successful, the glass cracked. But no worries, I still had another vision. I bought fabric to go with the guest room, the one that has the blue chandelier. It's going to go above the head board. But ah-ha, still nothing is going to waste, I plan on using the painted magnolia for the dining or living room. Without the frame, it looks less serious. I will place it next to something more contemporary to balance old and new.

You see, I am pretty darn proud of myself, I haven't purchase anything new. I have taken gifts from sibling and made it my own. Someone's trash is another person's treasure. Okay, the only new things I decided to buy or tiles, bathroom things (tub, tiles , toilet),roofing and wood for the house. But as for decor, I am not buying anything new until the basics are renovate first.
Ohhh but I want a kitchen island and a new sofa, so badly...Will power....

For the Red , White & Blue

Amanda got to come home for Labor Day. I don't know who was more excited, her parents or Amanda.
It was nice at the airport, all of Amanda's siblings went and her two cousins from Port Arthur. We held the sign to welcome her home. The airport personel was helpful and wanted to direct us to the correct door that "he" was going to come through. It's funny how we condition our selves to think he, instead of she.

After the airport, it was straight to Pho Binh for Chicken Pho for Amanda. (Did you know they put a hard boiled egg in your ga pho?) weird....but yummy...did you know there was dry pho with broth on the side? weirder!

It was exspecially nice to see how Melly and Thomas made some BCG for Amanda. so cute!!!

Inspiration

I have been talking about wanting a white picket fence for the longest time.
However, my house is not the fancy type of house that would make it okay to have a white pickect fence. It is still in suburbia so it may look out of place. I had a vison and I tried to explain it to a friend but they just didn't get what I wanted.

Until I saw a house that did exactly what I want for my home. (Granted my house is only a one story and not as nice as this home, but whatever...)I came across this house when I purchased my wicker chairs.

So, this will be my inspiration..Oh hell what am I saying, I took this picture because I am going to copy it. hee hee

More Doors & Chairs

I am slowly replacing the bedroom doors with updated doors.But before I can get the doors in its position, they have to be painted. Yes, this Labor day was not LABOR free.

I also worked on spray painting these wicker chairs. I added some new cushions and bam, they look brand new. I just purchased an old double rocker for the front porch. I think this project might take more elbow grease to make it look nice. It sure is DIRTY! I hope it will turn out as nice as these wicker shairs. These wicker chairs are for the back yard.

The Door

On Labor day, I did housework. Got the old pink front door painted. It is now red but it will need a lot more paint to get it the perfect red.Right now, it still has the pink peeking through.

Ultimately the house will be painted either gray with white borders or yellow with white borders. Either way, I knew that I ALWAYS wanted a red door so I just went ahead and painted it. Maybe this will motivate me to get the exterior painted faster. Well, if budget permits.