Come on Over!

I have a new post up on the NEW SITE!!!! Come by and check it out!

http://www.yearofserendipity.com

Now that the new site’s up, I won’t be posting anything exciting here.  Update your bookmarks and feed readers to follow me at my new home!

Happy Chic

I had some great pictures to show you today (treasure hunting was good to me this weekend), then I left my camera at Clark yesterday with the pictures still on it.  Oh well, I guess I know what I’m posting here Wednesday!

With this flip, people keep asking me “how do you know how to do all this stuff?”  Wanna know a secret?

I don’t.

But I figure it out or make it up.  That’s why I absolutely loved this quote when I came across it on Pinterest.

In other news, did you know that Jonathan Adler now has a budget line for J C Penney??  I’ve swooned over his collections for a while, but that’s all that my wallet would let me do.  Like the amazing non-budget-friendly vignette below.  I think I could die happy with that light in my dining room.  It’s only $395.  Very reasonable considering…..

But now my wallet can be happy too!  I still won’t be getting that light (sadface), but I have my choice of amazingly budget-friendly Jonathan Adler “Happy Chic” pieces.

My office might need these curtains.  It might need to happen in the near future too.

This lamp is kind of amazing.  If my nephew didn’t already have an awesome lamp, I’d require this in his room.

But, thanks to my darling sister, and my impending 29th birthday tomorrow (yes, actual 29th birthday), I am now the proud owner of these Jonathan Adler book ends!

I was originally thinking my office would be their permanent home, but I’m rethinking it.  The white looks so good in the dining room!

images: 1/2/3/4/5

What’s in a Name?

As I’m in the process of re-branding this ol’ blog of mine, I decided it was time to unify my social media identities as well.  You used to be able to find me under @vintageviolet30, but alas she is no more.

On instagram, you’ll now find me under the name YofSerendipity. If you aren’t already following me, you’re totally missing out on some awesome Clark and project sneak peaks like this:

and this

He’s getting sexier by the day!  Seriously, this week’s update on Friday is going to blow your socks so far off!

Twitter’s also been changed to @YofSerendipity as well- pop by and say hello!  And, although my Facebook link hasn’t changed,  you should follow me anyway and we can be besties.

In the near future, I’ll be migrating this blog from yearofserendipity.wordpress.com to simply www.yearofserendipity.com.  I hope you’ll follow me over there!

Wednesday Randomness

I can’t believe it’s Wednesday- I finally feel almost caught up from the weekend.  My weekend was a roadtrip to Atlantic City for my BFF’s bachelorette party.  I’m not much of a drinker, so it’s the late night and LOONG drive that wiped me out.  If you follow me on instagram, you saw my weekend in pics and how much I’m enjoying my new iphone.

YAY, a phone that actually works!  And it has a pretty new case too. (I ended up buying this one)

Aside from my new phone, I have another new favorite:  gel manicures.  This DIYer’s new best friend.

I’m not generally an uber girly girl- I didn’t get my first manicure until college, and pedicure was only a few years ago.  Obviously, being pampered is fun, but I’m cheap, so normally I’ll just do my own nails, especially since I’m so hard on them.  Whether I do them myself or pay a pretty penny, manicures generally only last a few days MAX.  It usually peels of the second I get my hands covered in paint, or I scrape it off inadvertently with sandpaper, or I just chip them by scratching something with my nail, or… you get the idea.

Enter the gel manicure (shelac or whatever brand that salon might carry).  This is my second gel manicure ever (got it done in AC this time) and I’ve loved it both times.  Granted, I’m sure I’ll still kill the manicure sooner than someone who’s a bit more gentle on themselves, but it’s been since Saturday and it’s still looking very pretty- already double the longevity of a normal mani.  So far it’s held up to power tools, sandpaper, paint, and caulk!  I almost want to see what else I can do to them to see how they hold up!

Blog Block

This week has been tough mentally with the flip.  I’ve been going and going and going, but I’m running in water.  It feels like I’ve been laying floors FOREVER, but I’m ecstatic to say that the hall and kitchen are done! (well, with the exception of door transitions and trim, but that’s in progress).  I’m working out my floor ‘tutorial’, but surprise surprise, laying hardwood floors is not easy to spell out, but SOON, I promise!

I get very one-track-minded with projects, and with the magnitude of flip house projects, I’m more one-tracked than usual.  My own house’s projects are suffering and I’ve been constantly at a loss of what to write here that’s not centered on the flip.  Maybe you can help though!  What do you like seeing here or what do you NOT like seeing here?  I know you guys like DIY’s the best, but I can’t DIY all the time, so what else tickles your fancy?  Would you want to see others’ DIY projects that I come across online, or do you like (or not like) when I show you an awesome room that I’ve pinned?  Tell me what keeps you coming back!

Hopefully I can start a few series posts and pull myself out of this mental rut.

Check back tomorrow for Clark the flip house’s Week 4 update!!

image via typographyserved via pinterest

Springing Forward

New England is once again having a spring identity crisis.  The birds are chirping and it’s supposed to be in the mid 50’s…. Too bad everything’s still covered in a foot of snow from Friday!  I’ll take what I can get, though- I LOVE spring!

Not that I’m wishing the time away (because I certainly need every second I have to get Clark the flip house ready to be sold!), but for the past 6 months I’ve been counting the days until March 18th- next monday!  It’s a trivial reason, I’ll 100% admit it.  It’s the day I can upgrade to an iphone 5 without having to pay an arm and a leg!  I’ve been living through the worst cell phone on the planet (true story) for almost 2 years now, I’m surprised I haven’t thrown it out the window!

In sheer excitement for my future phone, I started looking at cases yesterday.  I’ve bought prints from Society6 in the past, but I had forgotten that they offer most of their prints in iphone cases as well- a design geek’s dream!

They have some seriously amazing iphone cases with art prints and typography:

but I’m so drawn to these simpler, yet still graphic ones:

Although I loooooove the look of these cases, I’m torn about needing a beefier case to protect the phone.  I haven’t ruled out buying a beefier case then adding some pizazz to it myself, but until then, I’ll ogle over these. So many options, what’s a girl to do?!

cases via Society6: 1/2/3/4/5/6

Who’s the Boss?

Well, I hope to be, because exciting things are happening!

Firstly, I’m participating in the new Blogging e-course from Holly Becker (of Decor8) called Blog Boss.  It starts today and I’m rather excited.  The classes tag line is “Be you own Blog CEO and Editor in Chief.  Learn how to run a blog that will result in success, happy feeling, more readers, and amazing content (all while wearing your bunny slippers!)”  Sounds fun right?  Some of you might remember that I’ve taken one of her e-courses before (Blogging Your Way 2.0) and it was a blast and SO helpful, so this class is certain not to disappoint!  What does this mean for you?  Why, a better blog to read, of course. I hope you’re ready!

The second exciting thing is that I’m working with a website designer to completely revamp this little corner of blog-land and make it AWESOME.  When the new site goes live, it’ll mean a shift to yearofserendipity.com and off of yearofserendipity.wordpress.com, but I’ll let you know when to expect that change.  I’m just excited to know that it’s in the works!

And since I can’t just have a post with all words and no pictures:

Clark is elated to have the demo pile out of his living room and into the driveway (this is the view from the living room)

And I’m elated to have a pretty new piece of jewelry.  I/Hubby bought me a beautiful Alex & Ani Bracelet (I bought it, but a gift card to Bloomingdale’s that Hubby won at his work’s holiday party and gave to me funded it- Thanks Hubby!)  It’s a style I haven’t seen before and I absolutely LOVE it!

Happy Monday!

Womp Womp

My plan for today’s post was to show you the updates that I made to Hubby’s office for his big 3-0 birthday this past Friday, buuuut the technology upgrades (i.e. a 2nd computer monitor) have been giving me nothing but headaches.  I just wanted to purchase a 2nd one of his current monitor (discontinued naturally), but lets just say, it’s been more of a challenge than expected.  I’ve already exchanged 1 model and we’ll probably do another exchange…. apples to apples it is not (even though the *#@!-ing model numbers are the same).  When I get it all worked out, I’ll post the results (and my missteps when the wounds aren’t so fresh).

…and since I’m very frustrated and feeling inspirationally drained, let’s all cheer up to Surprised Kitty. An oldie but a goodie. I dare you not to smile.

Sherdog and J-Boom

I’m about to go all weird-fan-girl on you.  Be warned.

My fave bloggers, Sherry and John Petersik (aka Sherdog and J-Boom), the masterminds of the blog Young House Love, were in town last night for the signing of their new book.  (If you don’t read their blog already, what are you waiting for? Go! You’ll thank me!).

Well, I was a little excited to meet them (be it ever so briefly).  They write their blog like they’re writing to their bff, so they make you feel like a part of their lives.  Have you met my friend Sherry?  Oh, wait, even I haven’t met my friend Sherry (well, up until she signed my book).  Mom and I (since I coerced her to start reading their blog too) have had conversations about what John and Sherry are up to like we really know them.  Hm, that sounds a little creepy now that I typed it, but I’ll stick with it.

Mom was able to get there before me and score us an AWESOME spot in line and make a few friends. Thanks Mom!

Before they started signing, they gave a few quick DIY tips for your home or holiday gifts.

They are precisely as cute and awesomely awesome (yup, I said it) in person as they are on their blog.  Here Sherry’s posing for John with 2 ceramic owls they just signed.  Work those owls Sherdog!  Tyra would be proud.

They were so sweet to take pics with everyone, too.  I think I was shaking, hope I wasn’t too awkward.  (thanks, nor’easter for my messy hair)

Before they started signing, Sherry mentioned her love of this wall of paper mache animals, so I just had to take a pic in her honor.

It sucks that they got to experience our city in such crappy weather, but I hope they’ll come back in the Spring when Boston really shines!

(go buy the book here)

Instant Grassification

I learned a few things this past weekend.

1. Our lawn measures precisely 10 feet by 17 feet.  Larger than I actually thought.
2. Digging up said 170 sf of lawn is very tiring.
3. Landscapers have a tough job.

Have you figured out what we did yet?  Here’s a hint.

Remember when we removed a big bush from the front yard and left a big patch of dirt?

Well, we never planted grass since it was in the heat of the summer.  And then the weeds took over.  Instead of mowing the lawn, we were mowing the weeds.  They were green, but not exactly the effect we were going for.  Hubby and I agreed that if we were going to plant more grass, we might as well get a fresh start and plant sod.  You don’t get lawns much smaller than ours, so sod was a great way to get instant gratification grassification.

Before we could get to the fun part (the results obviously), we had to do the hard work- digging up the existing lawn.  And all the rocks that were in our way.

I neglected to get a picture of the rock pile before we moved it, but there were approximately a dozen football-sized rocks that I pulled out of the lawn this weekend alone (I had pulled out more rocks during the bush removal earlier in the summer).

So we started digging and raking up all that was green.

I raked the dirt to smooth it out and eliminate the hump where the rocks used to party, then Hubby spread some of the starter fertilizer.

The easiest and most rewarding part was putting down the sod itself.  Hubby watched a how to video on youtube in preparation.  What did we do before the internet??

After we rolled it all out, we trimmed the edges where our yard wasn’t perfectly square and around the rock wall.  Instant yard, just add sod!

I love it even more when I look back to a year and a half ago when the front yard looked like this.

Now the lawn looks like it’s about twice the size as it used to be!  Considering how small our yard actually is, making it look as large as possible maximizes the space.  Hubby’s in love with the new lush green lawn.  Mother nature is even on our side right now and has rained every day since we planted, ensuring that we don’t kill it right away.

So here are the logistics.  We got the sod at Home Depot surprisingly.  In early fall, they get sod deliveries on select Saturday mornings.  (Call ahead to check)  They only get a limited supply, so going early was key.  We went at 7am and were told that normally they’re out before noon.  Since the pieces are 2’x5′, we needed 17 pieces to cover our 170sf dirt pile.  At $5 a piece, the sod cost us less than $90.  If you include the starter fertilizer and the lawn bags, our brand new lawn cost $120.  Not too shabby!