Before and after's

Ladies and Gents

This is going to be short and sweet. 

Remember when I told you in the last post that

"spray paint solves all problems"

Its true. 

I Know this table looks like the
 ugliest thing in the world
 but for a $5 steal at the DI, I couldn't leave it behind. 

If you would have seen that anywhere, tell me you wouldn't take it home with you.... 

What about this one?

Lets get a little closer shall we!?

Isn't it beautiful!!!?

No, you're right... Its not. 

Lets do a little "gardening"

If you've been following the blog for a while, you know that my all time favorite spray paint is the 

Valspar brand

Why?.. 

Bye Bye Pretty Flowers!!

Its really not as Green as it looks

Its just the lighting

Add a $1 lamp shade courtesy of the DI 

Annnndd

Easy! 

Same with the Ugly $5 table.

Sand it

Spray it

and

add a few magazines

Put the two spray paint projects together and you've got it set. 

as a side note...
We FINALLY got the tree up and decorated!!

 Red and green this year!!!

CHRISTMAS LOVIN!

Enjoy!

XoXo

Jess

Between The Hedges

Everyone knows about the big SEC Championship
GEORGIA vs. ALABAMA
Game that took place over the weekend....

And if you know boyfriend Clay Jennings

You'll definitely know how big of a fan this guys is of Georgia Football.

What a stud!

He had the AWESOME opportunity to go to the game which also gave me time to realize the following:

How big of a looser I am

and
how much spare time I have when he's not here.

Its awful

However, I did have company while he was away,
Meet..
 CINDER!

Puppy sitting is the best!

With boyfriend gone and nothing but puppy sitting all day, I actually got something done!?

surprise surprise

FACT: This doesn't go to show that when Clay is gone I "actually" have time to do things

FACT: It goes to show that I'm a freak and my only friends are a drill gun and a spray paint can.

I snagged this beauty at the DI for a grand total of 5 bucks!

I'm sure what you're wondering "what I'm supposed to do with a broken closet door?".

let me share a secret with you.

Spray paint solves ALL problems..well Most.

Some days it causes problems... Let me share yet another secret.

Not EVERY project goes as planned.

We had a little spray paint explosion.. I don't know what happened but my life flashed before my eyes.

 Look at thhhaattt! I'm going to hate myself for posting this later, in fact I already do.

I DIDN'T have to impress anyone okay!? give a girl a break! I let myself go.

You'd think the Spray paint had a mind of its own. It did.

All you need now is a few picture frames with your personal photos,

which can also be purchased at the DI Might I add.

Cheap as dirt people, this entire project cost me 10 bucks.

Just use your imagination!

This isn't the best picture.. but you get it right!? 

You can see Bambi lurking in the background. He's not staying there. I have yet to find a placement for him.

XOXO

Jess

Frame the Memories

Remember this big pile of ....?

What about these??

 Put the two together and it actually turns out preetttty dang well.



Observe.

All you'll need goes as follows:

Drill, Anchors, 5 Furring strips 1x4, 1 1x3 Furring strip, 4 Knobs, some Ribbon or Fabric, (BREATH/GASP)

a Foam Brush, Screws, Nails, Saw tooth Hangers, Pictures, Picture Frames and last but certainly not least..Special Walnut stain.

So to put it lightly buy out Lowes, you'll be fine. 

When I got my Furring Strips, I unfortunately didn't measure ...a thing, and just guessed... cause I'm a professional.! and told the helpful man in Lowes to 

"cut it all in half...!"

Yeah don't take that advice.  

Any other day I would have been just fine, because I have my trusty skill saw... however... trusty skill saw isn't so "trusty" .. he bit the dust a couple months ago...

PS. i hope Santa is reading this

Annnyyywayyy.

after returning home and laying it all out.. was when I realized..

"well crap."

My 1x3 furring strip needed to be cut in half twice. in other words it was a good 2 feet to long to represent my "Anchor". 

 So of course I loaded it up and returned to Lowes, (NOTE: I didn't measure at all)  To make a Longer Story shorter, after cutting it and laying out for a second time. it still wasn't the exact length I needed..

So, I did what anyone else would do in my shoes,

Improvised.

This is embarrassing but I was NOT going back to Lowes.

Moving on..

FACT: Measure and Pre Drill

Oh THAT is obscured...!! BUT!! Its on the back no one can see it!

SO FAR:

Laid out 4 of the 1x4's

Pre drilled 1x 3's

and Screwed/ Anchored them all together

Walllahhhhh

You're crazy if you think that's finished, That's about as finished as my hair.... and or my cleaning job of my living room....

I cropped out the mess of a house I had to spare you.

be thankful

You're about to view one of my favorite pictures of all time:

Not only because this is my all time favorite stain, but because if you look beyond the

yellow can and my chipped nail polish you'll see:

a handsome boyfriend Clay J in the background!

hhaha I couldnt help but point that out.

xoxo

After a nice stain job is the best part,

Just add the finishing touches.

These hooks I got for a steal!!

The round ones were a whopping 97 cents.. I know, Breaking the bank.

I was pushing it with the bigger ones at the price of $1.20... Yikes

It was worth it.

Hit the DI for some hidious picture frames!?... MMK!

Those babies were just a hit!!!

However, "House rules" and Pretty picture of a random neighboorhood had to go..

+ Add some spray paint and personal pictures.. you've got yourself a masterpiece. +

Ignore: The dr pepper, wrappers, bags, purse... ya know what..

 just ignore everything in this picture.

Its embarassing.

BEFORE

MUUUCCCHHH BETTTTERRRR

AFTER:

No.. I know its not centered in the picture, Before you judge me... Let me assure you that is fixed.

ENJOY!

Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!!!

XOXO!

Jess

Back In Business!

After a long break... I guess long is an understatement.. After a: extra long extensive MIA period

I'm back in business.

and man does it feel good!

Once again Ladies and Gents, Its that time of year again:

The smell of Cinnamon as you enter the stores
mad house
head aches
gas lights
decorations
pine trees
Rudolf
and EVERY radio station is nothing but Christmas tunes..

... Yeah that about sums it up.

Now I'm sure all of you have been frantically shopping for the fam and friends, decorating the house and constantly checking the bank account.

well stop.

I teamed up with Bambi last night, and we made quite the decor for under 20 bones

this is the first decoration I have up for the season.. don't judge me. I'm doing better than last year by a whole week!

I was first inspired by Bambie's brother...

Isn't he a stud!? ...

well..

I'm sure you've all seen on pinterest, facebook, and other blogs the

"reindeer silhouette"

I give credit to all of them.

It literally takes 10 min guys, do it.

However my advice to you is not to attempt to draw Bambie's brother (seen above)

We did NOT get along.

If you think you can take him on.. by all means, go for it.

all the supplies you need are:

1. Canvas $3 (currently on sale at Micheal's, I stocked up)

 

2. Elmers Glue $1

3. Glitter! $4, this is the best part of this project

Choose whatever color you want.

and of course your reindeer wither it be Bambies brother or any other member of his family... a silhouette is all we're goin for here.. it doesn't need to be a masterpiece.

I'll prove it.

This is the glue and glitter in process, if you look close you'll see Bambi and I had a rough go, especially around the ear...

yikes..

that's kinda embarrassing now that i look at it.

You get it right?

Step1: Draw up your own personal Bambi friend/ or you can trace

Step2: Line the Elmers glue around your tracing, Make sure you put it a little bit outside your pen/pencil markings so it doesn't show in the finished project. 

Step3: Pour a good amount of glitter throughout the picture, I did the glitter and glue in sections so that the glue didn't dry before I started glittering.

Continue step 2 and 3 until finished.

AND!!!..... (Que the music)

Buuuut dooo youuu recalllllll the most fammmmousss reeiinnndeerrr offfffff alllllll

No.. he's not Rudolf but he's pretty famous in my eyes.

and he looks A LOT better than I do.

its fine.

Good Luck Guys!!! Let me know how it goes!!!

I'm proud to announce:

I've cracked open these babies again... Stay tuned

Looking forward to sharing what this pile turns out to be!

xoxo!

Jess

!!On the Horizon!!

Well My friends, Its been TO long.

I'm pleased to announce that I have fully re couped from the

13.1

over a month ago!

And I'm ready to get back in the game!

I have a lot of updating to do don't worry, we'll keep it to a minimum that way we can get back to the

slivers

nails

hammers

drill

and

PROJECTS

Yes ladies and gents that is a balded "S"

Be excited, because I AM!

In my time of absence I promise I haven't been slacking!

I've had a lot of IDEAS running through my head as far as projects go!

While soaking up the sun with an ice cold dp A lot struck my mind but it quickly disappeared by splashes of the pool and

my goal to reach a golden brown this summer..-Fail .. getting there!

Along with the summer sun, our break has been full of trips and family time

Husband went on a trip down to Lake Powell (yes without me)  with some of his friends for a bachelor party!

 and ...IIIIIII... went for the exact opposite effect.. I headed to IDAHO! to visit the grandparents .. Yippeeee!!! Be Jealous!

Fact is.. my Grandpa is cooler than yours, I was that lucky girl on the back of his Harley!

It was nice to "get out"

Here is a few fun facts about Idaho:

The only gas station for MILES is in snow ville, by the one and only name :

 "Welcome to the Middle of Nowhere"

They don't believe in mirrors there... just signs that make you feel OH SO GOOD!!!

"Well now, Aint you Purdy"

While exiting the gas station, there is a sign that says the following (I kid you not)

Idaho: 254 Miles

Salt Lake: 367 Miles

Hell: 3 feet

I assure you I legitimately ran out of that gas station

Husband and I both made it home safe n sound

We've officially started thinking about what our "sad little front garden" needs

(sad is an understatement)

Regardless

we're proud to announce, the Bascom Family Has a FIRE PIT!

Remember way back when, when I posted those embarrassing pictures of our sad little house? and there was that picture of a "sad excuse of a tree"... let me refresh your memory....

AHHHHH so pretttyyy!!! TWIG...

Well...We pulled the twig, and dug a lovely hole, and is now Officially

The "fire pit"

Pictures to come!

Our yard is slowly but surly coming together...

Along with Yard work came family get together and a lot of vitamin D!

Project on the horizon stay tuned!

# 1 6 8 0

13.1 mile day

5:00 am - Alarm goes off

5:05- Husband finally nudges me awake letting me know my alarm had been going off for 5 min

5:06- a few anti morning person words run through my mind

5:45- Leave the house

by 6:00- the gitter bugs kicked in

Nervous as ever!

7:00 sharp the race begins!

-No. I wasn't wearing a swimming cap. just and overly large head band-

Each mile seemed to be getting longer and harder as would any other half..

By mile 8 my legs started to cramp and my thighs started to burn,

I wanted more than anything to walk

But each person that ran by me kept asking "whose

CDH

I immediately got a smile on my face and said

"My Mom"

and pushed harder.

I was running with an angel today.

This race was for her.

Not only was the race dedicated to her..

The night before I Made a list of some of the most important people in my life and dedicated each mile to them, and told myself I would think about them that entire mile.

To tell you the truth..it may be cheesy.. but that is what got me through this race

 It was with me the whole time. Each mile marker I'd pull it out and see who it was that would be cheering me on in my head,

(If you cant read my chicken scratch handwriting)

Mile 1: Jake Bascom (Hubs)

Mile 2: Ron Hale (Daddio)

Mile 3: Candice Bement (Sister)

Mile 4: Heather Barrus (Sister)

Mile 5: Aly Hale (Step Mom)

Mile 6: Jared, Parks, J (Brothers)

Mile 7: Entire Bascom Family

Mile 8: Entire Hale Family

Mile 9: Sandy and Phee Richter (Amazing Friends)

Mile 10: Tay and Corb Mtcalf (Amazing Friends)

Mile 11: Anytime Fitness Gym (bless)

Mile 12: Amazing Friends and Support

Mile 13: MYSELF

Not going to lie, this race kicked my butt

and I speed walked half of the 12th Mile due to

calf cramps and jello legs

I wanted more than ever to run through that finish line

I was talking to my mile number 3 (Candice Bement) a few days before, asking for advice about racing and the last thing she said to me was

"The BEST feeling is crossing that finish line!! Don't Quit!!"

And Boy was she right...

(over on the far right in black)

13.1 Complete!!

First Race

Seriously one of the greatest experiences of my life

Salt Lake Half Marathon 2012!