Balance

Balance

How to find it, is the question I've been thinking about lately.  The past year has brought a lot of changes in my life, from starting this blog to going back to work after being a full-time stay-at-home mom for seven years.  I'm so grateful that I have been able to be home with my kids, but I'm also thankful that I've been able to start working more and to contribute financially to my family.  I can do 90% of my job from home, which is a blessing.  Now that summer is here and the kids are home, though, I'm trying to figure out how to work from home and be a mom too.  I know that many of you are work-at-home moms too.  If you have any tips, on making this situation work, I'm all ears.

The coming year is going to bring more change as all three of my girls will be switching from our neighborhood public school to a private school across town in the fall.  While we have loved the public school, our school district is in a severe budget crisis.  This means large class sizes with no aides and things keep getting cut.

 

I think the new school will be great for them, but change can be tough (especially for one of my children).  I'm hoping the transition isn't too difficult for us.  With the added tuition expense, I think I might try to pick up some more work.

 

Please excuse my popping in and out of the blog world this summer as I try to figure this all out.  When I have something to share, I'll be here and I hope to continue to visit your blogs to see what you've been up to.  I have so much admiration for you moms out there who can do it all and you make it look effortless!

 

In other news, we had a great weekend in Aspen.  Here are a couple of my favorite pictures.

Sold!

I just sold this buffet to some buyers who found in on Craigslist.

In case you don't remember, I lovingly painted it with two coats of homemade chalk paint.  Then I sanded it, glazed it, and then rubbed two coats of wax on it.  After all of that, my arm was tired!

I thought it looked pretty good in its shabby chic vintage state.  I almost laughed when the buyer told me she was going to give it a nice coat of black paint as soon as she got home.

Oh well, to each his own.  At least it's sold!

You know I can't resist a good before and after...

BEFORE

Thirteen Years =

3 kids

5 dogs

4 homes, plus some stops along the way

1.5 graduate degrees (that will be 2 this year!)

9 jobs

undisclosed numbers of pounds, wrinkles, and gray hair

lots of adventures

infinite love

After

Happy 13th Anniversary!!!

Another Homemade Chalk Paint Project

I was so excited by how my homemade chalk paint dresser turned out that I had to do another project.  But before I reveal the piece, I wanted to answer a question.  Some commenters asked why you would want to use chalk paint as opposed to regular old latex paint.

Chalk paint is perfect for when you want a piece to have an aged, vintage, or distressed look.  To get a distressed look, I sand around the edges of a piece and other areas that would naturally wear.  Sometimes latex paint doesn't sand off very well.  You also have to wait about 24-hours for latex to cure before sanding.  Chalk paint, on the other hand, sands off very well into a nice, fine dust.  It doesn't peel like latex sometimes does.  It also dries VERY fast and can be sanded as soon as dry.

Chalk paint is also very "sticky" and covers pretty well, meaning you don't have to sand or prime your piece before painting.

If you have any other questions about the paint, let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

This time the victim was a buffet that I found on Craigslist (where else???). 

I have a bunch of Clark and Kensington paint that I got for free at Ace Hardware in Oyster Pearl.  I've been meaning to paint my bedroom is this pretty light gray, but haven't had time.  The color looks very gray in my bedroom, but turned out much lighter on the buffet.  I'm wondering if the addition of Plaster of Paris whitened it?

Anyways, to make your chalk paint, just mix a little water, some Plaster of Paris, and your flat paint.  The consistency of mine was much to thick at first because I added too much P of P.  It was hardening into cement in my bucket.  I just kept adding more water and paint to get it to a more workable consistency.

Here's the final result:

The buffet was missing a knob, so I bought two fleur-de-lis knobs at Hobby Lobby.  They were originally an oil-rubbed bronze color.  I lightened them (and all of the rest of the hardware) with some Rub n Buff.  By the way, Centsational Girl has a good post on Rub n Buff and hardware if you want more info.

After I painted the buffet, I sanded it and gave it a coat of glaze to bring out te details and to get that aged look.

A couple of coats of wax later and here it is:

Linked here:
Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Not Just a Housewife, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Primitive and Proper, Home Stories of A to Z, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tip Junkie, Type A Decorating, http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, Primp,
A Diamond in the Stuff, Restore Interiors, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans,My Simple Home Life,
Addicted 2 Decorating, Just a Girl, Remodelaholic, Miss Mustard Seed, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, Thrifty Decor Chick, Coastal Charm, Serenity Now

Happy 1st Blogiversary!

It's hard to believe that I started this little hobby a year ago. I don't know what I expected when I started Saved by Suzy.

Did I expect that I would make friends from all around the country? 

Did I know that I would end up redecorating my whole house?

Did I expect that almost three hundred people would tune in to see what I had to share?

Did I know that I would become a garage sale and thrift store addict?

I never expected any of this, but I'm so happy I'm here!!!  More importantly, I'm glad you're here.  If wasn't for all of the sweet, funny, kind, and heartfelt comments, I probably would have thrown in the towel months ago. 

In an effort to better connect with everyone, I want to start publishing more things on my Saved by Suzy Facebook page.  If I have a little comment to share or maybe an article or blog post that I think you might like, I'll be putting these things on Facebook. 

You can find me on Facebook here.

Thanks for sticking around!

Pink Flamingos

If you had asked me what I thought of flamingos a year ago, I probably would have responded that I thought they were kind of creepy with their long scaly legs, beady eyes, and knobby beak.

What do you think of flamingos?  Does it bring to mind Hawaiian shirts or a yard filled with plastic birds?

Source: google.com via Pamela on Pinterest

Kitschy decor?

Source: google.com via Pamela on Pinterest

Pretty colors?

Source: design-seeds.com via Roxanne on Pinterest

Or one of my favorite rooms?

Source: etsy.com via Sara on Pinterest

The more I see flamingos, the more I like them.  Maybe it's my newfound love of all things pink?

If you need a little flamingo in your life (or at least a pop of pink!), I rounded up some pretty items for you.

1/2/3

4/5/6

1/2/3

4/5/6

What do you think?  Are you feeling flamingo?

Homemade Chalk Paint Dresser

There are so many great furniture makeovers using chalk paint.  However, I'm bit too cheap to shell out over $50 for a quart.  I've been thinking about trying to make my own chalk paint, but haven't had the right piece to try it on.

Enter this dresser.  It's perfect for my chalk paint experiment AND my daughter Chloe needs a new dresser.  Double score!!

This is probably the nicest piece of furniture I've picked up at a yard sale.  It's made by Drexel, solid wood (super heavy!), dovetail joints, etc. etc.  It's also in near-perfect condition.

Chloe wanted yellow.  So, I picked up a free quart of Ice Cream Sundae at Ace Hardware in a flat finish.  I had seen different techniques on making chalk paint.  At first I was going to use unsanded grout mixed in with the paint because I had a container of it sitting in my garage.

Luckily, my friend Ange from the Blooming Hydrangea commented that this would make the paint a "chalkboard" - type paint rather than the coveted "chalk" paint.  Instead, I mixed Plaster of Paris with the paint and thinned it with a little water.

I don't have an exact recipe or tutorial for you because I didn't measure anything.  I started by putting a few tablespoons of plaster of paris into a container.  I mixed this with about a tablespoon of water and then added a cup or so of paint and mixed well.  The consistency was similar to yogurt...fairly thick.

As I painted it on, there were glops and bumps.  The paint dries VERY quickly....maybe in twenty minutes or so.  There is no need to wait for the paint to cure.  You can go right ahead and sand as soon as the paint is dry.  Just like everyone says, the paint sanded beautifully into a chalk dust.

I used two coats of Minwax paste wax, which buffed to a subtle shine.

I added some new hardware from Hobby Lobby.

And I have a cute new dresser for my cute little Chloe.

Before:

After:

This is my "After" project for Lisa's Before and After party, which I wasn't supposed to share until the end of the month.  But, I finished it so quickly and was so excited by it that I had to share it now!

Linked here:
Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Not Just a Housewife, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Bella Before and After, Primitive and Proper, Home Stories of A to Z, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tip Junkie, Type A Decorating, http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, Primp,
A Diamond in the Stuff, Restore Interiors, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans,My Simple Home Life,
Addicted 2 Decorating, Just a Girl, Remodelaholic, Miss Mustard Seed, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, Thrifty Decor Chick, Coastal Charm, Junker Newbie, Serenity Now

Happy Mother's Day!

Here are a few mother's day tidbits for you for all of you wonderful moms!
First up, is a bouquet of my favorite flowers, peonies for everyone.

I saw this blog post, "How to Miss a Childhood," from Handsfree Mama and it really hit home with me.  You might enjoy it too.

I recently posted this as a guest for my friend Lisa at Shine Your Light for her "Celebrating Motherhood" series.   In case you missed it, here it is again.  I enjoyed writing the post and it made be think about all of the things that I truly love about being a mother and how fortunate I am to have had a great mother as well.

A little background info.....

Hello everyone!  I'm Suzy and I blog over at Saved by Suzy.  I was thrilled when Lisa asked me to be part of this series.   I've enjoyed getting to know Lisa over the past year or so.  She is an amazing mother and I know that family is very important to both Lisa and I.

On May 22nd, my husband and I will celebrate our thirteenth anniversary.  We have three daughters, ages 9, 7, and 3.

I also have two dogs, a golden retriever and a goldendoodle that I consider my babies too.

What have you found hardest about being a mom?

I think the hardest thing is when I see my kids hurting - either because they are sick, a friend has been mean to them, they are sad, lonely, etc.  It breaks my heart when the girls feel badly and there is nothing I can do about it.  I want to be able to swoop in and fix all of their problems, but I can't. 

What came as the biggest surprise to you in your motherhood?

I was never a baby or a child lover growing up.  I didn't like babysitting or holding babies like other girls I knew.  When I was a teenager, I thought I would never want to be a mom.  I thought it was more important to have a high-status, high-paying career.  However, this all changed as soon as I had my first daughter.  Of course, I knew that I would love her, but I was surprised at the overwhelming depth of that love.  I thought it would be easy to leave her at daycare while I worked as an attorney.  In fact, this ended up being one of the most difficult things ever.  So difficult, that I ended up quitting my job when my second daughter was born.

What is your greatest wish for your children?

I hope that I can teach my children to be happy, independent adults.  In other words, I hope that I am teaching them to make good choices and the skills to live a happy and productive life doing the things that they want to do when they are grown up.  I would settle for them being happy and healthy!

How has motherhood changed you?

I used to be a very Type A, perfectionist, driven, organized-type person.  I think I've become much more relaxed.  Before children dishes in the sink or clothes left on the floor would have driven me crazy.  Now things are left undone, the house is not always clean and life is not always perfect, but now I'm OK with that.   I've been making a conscious effort to focus on the things that really matter (my family!) and let the little things go.

In what way(s) do you aspire to be like your mom?

My mom has so many good qualities.  She is selfless and will do anything to help anybody.  She is a very hard worker and always wants to be the best she can be.  I don't think I've ever seen her slack or not try.  When I think of my mom, I think of a smart, kind, and giving lady.  I hope that is how people remember me.

How would you spend your ideal Mother's Day?

I would love to be together with all of my family.  My sister lives in New York and just had her first baby in February, who I've not met in person yet.  My brother and sister-in-law live near my parents in Minnesota.  They have a seventh-grade son.  My grandma is still living in Minnesota too.  My mother-in-law lives my my husband's sister and her family in Missouri.  So it is a rare occasion when we are all together. 

Two years ago, my side of the family was all together in Mexico and it is one of my most favorite memories.  Maybe we could all have a Mother's Day get-together in Mexico?!?!?

Thanks again for having me visit today Lisa!  I hope I didn't overwhelm all of your readers with this post filled with family pictures.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I Did It!

Sorry for the little hiatus in blog posting last week.  I have been busy with work and all of the end-of-school stuff with the girls.  I have been feeling very stressed!!!

I ran a half-marathon this morning and now I feel like I can conquer anything (as long as it doesn't require any more running!) that comes my way.

The half-marathon was in Palisade, Colorado and the course was breathtaking!  Even though I only live about half-an-hour from Palisade, I rarely go there.  The main street has a bunch of cute galleries and cafes.   Palisade is also known for its peaches and grapes.   The race followed the Colorado river and then wound through the orchards and vineyards. 

I've run a bunch of half marathons and this was definitely one of the toughest and slowest ones I've run! The course was much hillier than I expected. Becuase I haven't been running as much as usual,  I wasn't expecting to get a personal best record. My only goal was to finish under to hours and I did...just barely...one hour and 59 minutes.

Color My World Features

Oooops...I'm a day late getting these features out.  I'm sorry!  Thank you for following our Color My World series and thanks to you that participated in the link party.

June & Bear is on the right track with her teal blue and pink dining room.  I love the rug she just picked up at Overstock.  It's an indoor/outdoor rug, which is a blessing when you have messy little ones!

Rindy Mae did a great job of incorporating Sea Turtle green into her nursery.  You'll have to check out the post for more photos.  The room is FILLED with darling DIY projects.

Thanks again to everyone who participated!

An Aqua Buffet

Last summer I found this buffet on Craigslist.  Yes, that would be approximately one year ago.

I love this style, but it was in really bad shape.  The top was peeling.

Big K helped me put a new top on.  I'm not sure why he's wearing a necklack and Chloe looks like she's being tortured.

I got the buffet painted last fall.  And then it sat...and sat...and sat....without it's hardware back on, only waiting for some final touches.

I finally put a glaze on, rub and buffed the hardware, and put it back on last weekend.

I think this buffet is so pretty and wish I had a spot to put it, but I don't.  After I finished it, I listed it on Craigslist and it sold almost immediately.  At least I've cleared out some space in my garage!!

Linked here:
Today's Creative Blog, Sugar Bee Crafts, Not Just a Housewife, Reasons to Skip the Housework, Bella Before and After, Primitive and Proper, Home Stories of A to Z, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tip Junkie, Type A Decorating, http://sistersstuff.blogspot.com/, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, Primp,
A Diamond in the Stuff, Restore Interiors, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans,My Simple Home Life,
Addicted 2 Decorating, Just a Girl, Remodelaholic, Miss Mustard Seed, Finding Fabulous, Tatertots and Jello, Under the Table and Dreaming, Thrifty Decor Chick, Coastal Charm, Junker Newbie, Serenity Now