Monthly Archives: March 2011
Dance Party @ The Fox
Great seats at the GirlTalk show…
with…
fabulous friends…
makes one killer evening.
We had a blast at GirlTalk …
and so did the rest of the sold out show.
Check out GirlTalk’s latest album, All Day, free for download.
If you like to dance, you won’t be disappointed.
Easy update to the hallway light
Our poor old hallway light. Boy, was he ugly. It only seemed kind to spruce it up with the rest of our hallway updates.
So on one of my ten trips to Home Depot this week, I bought a new glass light cover to replace the dated one for $12.
I love how the white frosted glass really pops against of wood panel ceilings.
Then I got thinking about the Rub ‘n Buff I bought for my mirror update and realized I could use it to change the color of the actual light fixture.
I know that brass is considered a classic and is having a comeback, but personally is not for me.
I spent about 10 minutes giving it a quick paint and buff … and ta-da!!
The light now looks fresh and works with the rest of our home. It makes me very happy to be able to reuse the light fixture. Not only it saves me money, it’s nice to reuse the original pieces in the home.
Now that I have this under my belt, the other brassy ceiling lights in my house better watch out. I am coming for you next!
Project Total
Glass Bulb – $12.00
Rub n’ Buff* – $4.00
GRAND TOTAL – $16.00
*I used about a 1/20th of the tube for this project
Feline Friday: Technicolor Loki
Photos taken with Hipstamatic app on iPhone 4.
Helga Viking Lens, Ina’s 1969 & Pistil Film, No Flash
The Kumquat Diaries, Vol. 2
Continuing my quest to use all my kumquat tree’s bounty, I whipped up some liqueur, number 10 on my list.
I chose to go with vodka, but the recipe’s author, the Cottage Smallholder, also recommends using gin.
Difficulty:
Easy
Ingredients:
750mL bottle of good vodka or gin
300g (roughly 40-50) kumquats
100g granulated sugar
Directions:
- Open your bottle of vodka or gin, and pour out 1/4 of the bottle into a pitcher or measuring cup.
- Slowly remove the rind of your kumquats. Avoid the bitter pith.
- Add the rind to your bottle.
- Next, add the sugar.
- Top the bottle off with remaining alcohol and screw on the top.
- Let the bottle rest on its side and turn daily until all the sugar dissolves.
- Put the bottle in a cabinet or dark spot for two years.
Thoughts:
Waiting two years to taste the liqueur does seem excessive, but citrus liqueurs need time to develop. As far as I am concerned, it will just make it more special to use. I plan on making a gin version too so I can compare. I also think I will take the Cottage Smallholder’s advice and make a batch every year. Could be great for holiday gifts!
My take on a gilded mirror
In our quest to finish up the hallway, I have been working on the finishing touches like our little neglected mirror.
I picked up this thrifted mirror for about $5 in college. I painted it a bright red and it’s pretty much remained the same since. It’s a cool piece with it’s aged glass, hexagon shape and funky plastic frame. Yep, that’s right – plastic frame.
Last week, I painted the frame a shiny green to give it a quick update. Although I loved the color, the high gloss unfortunately made the piece look super cheap.
In order to cut that plasticly look, I picked up some Rub ‘n Buff silver leaf wax at the craft store for a couple bucks.
With a small brush you just paint on the wax. Then you buff it with a clean cloth until you get the right look. This stuff dries fast so focus on painting the reliefs and crevices first. Only add a small touch to the rest so there is some texture to the piece.
Here’s a comparison of the two different finishes – silver leaf vs. high gloss.
Although the high gloss was fun, I personally think I like this aged, gilded look much better. It gives it weight which the high gloss sorely lacked.
What do you think?
Check it! Watch us on Bath Crashers Monday Night on DIY Network
Ever wondered who really gets ambushed by Matt Muenster on DIY Network’s Bath Crashers?
Well, you are reading about two of them.
That’s right.
Nate and I were ambushed early one Saturday morning with a camera crew recording every moment on high def film.
(Nate working on a build with our contractor Doug Tolson.)
For those who haven’t heard of the show here’s a summary. Matt hangs around home improvement stores until he finds a homeowner with a bathroom in need of major help. He then follows the homeowner home and overhauls the bathroom in three days.
(That’s us on the final day. Don’t we look tired?)
Our episode, Urban Bamboo Bath, will air next Monday night. Here’s the summary of our episode to give you a little preview.
To see the whole transformation of our bathroom, watch or set your DVR’s to DIY Network on Monday, March 28 at 9:00pm ET/ 6:00pm PT. Please check your cable provider though – it may run at a slightly different time.
Next week after the episode airs, I’ll share some perspective of the whole experience plus a bunch of photos!
A little vinegar
With another big storm hitting Northern California last weekend, we focused on making the final touches on the hallway.
One of the most rewarding was cleaning the crusty old cabinet door hinges.
I soaked them in a mixture of water and white vinegar for a couple minutes before scrubbing them down with a wire brush and steel wool.
The whole project took me about an hour and look at the result! The power of vinegar is extraordinarily.
