Halloween

As much as Meg really wants to trick or treat this year, she has been unable to find anyone else who's going.  Yeah, that's because they're too old but try telling her that.  So it looks like we will all be home on Halloween night for the first time in many, many years.  I switched up my outdoor decor a bit to reflect my new obsession....Zombies.

It started when I came across this at Lowe's.  Yeah, despite Randy's rolling eyeballs, I HAD to have it.

And if it weren't awesome enough, it does this...

I later found this cute sign at Michael's...

Meg decided to alter the backside thinking it would scare the children...

My girlfriend Michelle bought these for me....

But the ultimate goodie in my zombie collection is a gift from my husband.  In his travels he came across this ...

To say I was excited is an understatement.  My very own Zombie Killer!  (And yes, it's real.)  I'm a bit warped, I know, but you're gonna wanna be my best friend when it all goes down.  *wink*

Public Service Announcement

Now that you've all had a chance to see the fruits of my recent labor, I thought it was a good time to let you all learn from my mistake.   

Never use a plastic foldable stool such as this as a step ladder.

Why?  Because they have a tendency to collapse which can result in this....

Just sayin'.....

Lately...Part 2

After three weeks of an every growing list of painting projects, I can finally say "I'm Done!"  Photos speak volumes so here we go...

The Before -

My halls (three of them) were painted in a mustard yellow color.  You can't tell by this IPhone photo but there are three shades of yellow - one on the upper walls and two on the lower.  I loved the yellow when I painted it 8 years ago but it was time for a change.  

BTW..,the top portrait is Jay's 6 month baby picture. Meg's is the lower one.  I had just started trimming out the woodwork when I snapped this photo.

I planned to paint the upper walls a taupe/gray color with everything below the chair rail white.  After trying out several different paint samples I eventually settled on these from Sherwin Williams.  My halls are now Anew Gray.  My foyer is now Mega Greige.  

The After - 

This is one of two long hallways in my home.  I took all of the photos with my phone so the quality isn't the best but it gets the point across.  I really, really love it.

And here's a view from my foyer looking into the small hall you saw in the first photo.  It's hard to tell with the lighting but the foyer is that darker shade, the halls the lighter.  The blue you see here is where the foyer opens up to the living room which you can see if you look at the mirror. 

This is hall #3, taken from my kitchen looking down towards the laundry room and the "controversial" black door. *wink* 

I know it doesn't look like much but as I said in my previous post, as I started painting the list of things "to paint" kept growing.  Before I knew it, all trim in the public areas of my house had a fresh coat of paint as well as all closets, the front and backs of all hallway doors, and three sets of French doors.  The lower hall walls required four coats of white to cover the yellow.  

I really love how it all turned out and have never been sooooo happy to be done painting...at least until after the new year.  :-)

Lately...

I have been a very busy bee.  What started out as a couple of small painting projects has ballooned into a series of "as long as I'm doing this, I may as well do that" updates.  (That whole "if you give Julie a cookie thing."  *sigh*)

Remember this post?   Well one of my many projects included this....

Meg hates it,  Randy is indifferent, and I LOVE it.  Guess who wins?  *wink*  No more dirty fingerprints going to and from the garage.  (Yes, I also painted the backside.)

I'll share more updates soon.