deep cleaning

The past two weeks were so stressful...and my room showed it. When I have a lot to do I tend to let other things slide...such as the maintenance of my room.

Case in point (please disregard the awful pictures):

This is how I allowed my room to look like for over two weeks. Finally I got sick of it. Roughly eight hours and a deep cleaning later my room now looks like this:

All the pillows are where they belong and my sofa bed is back to being a sofa (Yes, I know I need a rug...we're working on it).

My closet was awful too. I could not believe how long it took me to clean it out!

Now:

You can actually see the floor and all the boxes I hadn't unpacked yet are unpacked!

This was quite an undertaking...but I'm definitely glad I did it. Now I think twice before I dump clothes on the floor when I remember how long it took me to get my room the way it is now!  

-carlotta

winter wonderland

It was so gorgeous outside today. Freshly fallen snow...

....Narnia? (This is what it looks like down the road)...

...children and...

...dogs playing...

 ...big icicles...

...birds chirping...

...going on walks with your little sister...

...and taking one too many pictures of snow and ice on the trees (I think I have at least 20 pictures of trees from yesterday and today alone).

It definitely is a winter wonderland - and I'm liking it. A lot. 

-carlotta

PS Do you notice anything different about my blog? I added another column! I'm still playing with the layout a bit (for example I'm wondering if my header is too big now...), but I'm really excited about it. Is that a bad thing? I'm not not very HTML savvy...at all...but this post was the best explaining how to do it. I'm so proud of myself that I actually figured out how to do it after countless failed attempts...

sproost

Have you ever heard of sproost.com?

I had seen it floating around but I never really visited it.

Basically it's a quiz that helps you find out what you're design style is. 

I took it many, many times four times (it's addicting) last night and my results were:

1. 38% vintage modern, 38% modern elegance, and 24% rustic revival

2. 75% vintage modern, 25% contemporary

3. 60% vintage modern, 40% cottage chic

4. 80% vintage modern, 20% contemporary

Here are the description and pictures they gave me for numbers 2 and 4...

"Flea Market anyone? You know you are drawn to modern furniture and interiors, and yet you really don't like a space that feels cold and sterile. And who could blame you? And that's why Vintage Modern is so appealing to you. Though the backdrop of the room, the walls and windows, are many times white or monochromatic, the furniture and accessories have the color, shape and texture to bring the warmth into the space. The great thing about Vintage Modern is ease of mixing different styles in the one space. You can have a new modular sofa mixed with a great pair of chairs that your grandmother purchased in the late 1950's and the new and old work appear as though they were destined for each other. What's great is that even if you don't have time for swap meets and garage sales, so many of the pieces from the mid-century were so great that they have been remade and mimicked year after year."

That is totally my style! I like contemporary/modern things but I don't like how minimalistic and cold many of the more modern rooms are...now I know exactly what my style is called. :) 

What is your style? 

-carlotta

ice

Thankfully we still have power...although some here have lost it.

It's still snowing - they're predicting 6-8 inches of snow...tomorrow I would have had a piano competition (it's not really a competition, but that's what they call it), but it's been canceled. I'm glad and not at the same time...part of me just wants to get it over with and the other part of me is glad that I still have a little more time...

-carlotta 

happiness is...

If you missed my post from last week, I've started an every Wednesday post that I'm calling "Happiness Is...". (I list two things that make me happy.) Feel free to write your own "Happiness Is..." post!

...the best bread in the world...my mom's ciabatta bread. It's sooo yummy.

...the 100 I got on my Latin test today! (I apologize for the awful picture).

What does happiness mean to YOU?

-carlotta

goodbye swans

In our upstairs bathroom that we're redoing are (or should I say were) hand painted swans on the walls...I took a few pictures before they were completely covered with primer!

I was a little late taking this picture...can you see the primer on the bottom?

They're cute...but to be honest I wasn't too crazy about them...and the paint was chipping in some parts too.
I am beyond ready for this remodel to be over with...

I should be back by tomorrow!

-carlotta

blogging break

I have so much to do this week, so I'm going to be taking a break from blogging. Well, maybe not a complete break (I love it too much! :)), but I probably won't be posting more than a few pictures.

I will still be updating my Project 365 blog.

Don't worry, though, I should really be back within a week or so!

-carlotta

sleepover

MeMe had her first sleepover last night...she was SO excited.

Of course, when Lilly heard the news, she got so upset because she wanted to come too. She couldn't understand why MeMe got to go and she didn't. When MeMe was packing, Lilly was just sitting on the floor, crying.

I felt sorry for her and asked her if she wanted to have a sleepover in my room. I wish I could have captured the look on her face right then...it got about 10 shades brighter. :)

She grabbed the first backpack she could find and started stuffing clothes into it.

I wanted Lilly to have some fun, so I put some candy out, set up Blue's Clues on my laptop, and put sheets on my sofa bed.

20 or so minutes later, after packing every imaginable thing, she was ready. She knocked on my door and when I opened it, she acted like she hadn't see me in years. When she saw that I had put out candy, made up the bed for her, and set up Blue's Clues, she almost went ballistic (in a good way)...it was kind of funny! :)

We hung out, watched a couple tv shows on my computer (all of which she picked out), and read a book or two.

She fell asleep pretty well, but was in and out of bed a lot to get drinks of water. Of course every time she woke up I woke up too...She normally isn't like that but I think she was just excited about the 'sleepover'. :)

She asked me several times this morning if the sleepover was over (she wanted it to last longer) and when I said yes she responded with, "But whenever YOU have friends ova they stay longa!" Ah the life of living with an almost four year old.

-carlotta

PS MeMe had a lot of fun at her sleepover...I'm glad that the first night by herself away from home went well!

our poor backyard

Either we have some huge moles in our yard...

...or we have a backhoe tearing up our yard.

We found out that there was a pipe leaking and the plumbers (? I'm not quite sure if that's the right name for them...) are fixing it today.

We have a hole in our fence...

Our poor, poor backyard... They're sad that our backyard is being torn up too.

He even had to restrain himself from crying! (Just kidding...)

-carlotta

done!

I am finally done with exams! I am so happy! I celebrated by making my (first) chocolate pie...it turned out okay...I was slightly mad at myself when I saw this recipe for a Mocha Silk Pie over at Pioneer Woman's blog...it looks a lot easier and yummier than the one I made! ;) I think I'm going to try it next time.

So now that exams are over I should have a little more time for blogging...

But for now I'll leave you with the unedited gorgeousness (is that a word?) of the night sky.

-carlotta

happiness is...

I'm going to start doing a "Happiness Is..." post once a week...I'm going to post two things that make me happy.

Happiness is...

...these sweet girls. Check out how MeMe dressed Lilly today...MeMe was the mom and Lilly was her baby named Elizabeth.

...truffles and chocolate covered espresso beans (if you look on the bottom left you can see the boxes of said espresso beans). I think I could eat both all day long. They have been my constant companions studying for exams. :)

What are two things that make YOU happy this week?

Feel free to write a post of your own for "Happiness Is..."!

-carlotta

wordless wednesday

-carlotta

bathroom

This is what our bathroom looks like right now...I didn't realize how much I depended on it before! I'll admit that I've walked in there (many times) to look in the mirror/wash my hands...I don't think this mess would do the job!

Oh, I read yesterday in this month's issue of House Beautiful that they're predicting that grey will be one of the new 'it' colors in home decorating...especially grey pared with white (click here to read our plans (it's in the second half of the post) for our bathroom)...we will have one trendy bathroom!

There will be one happy girl in this house when the bathroom is finished, that's for sure! :)

-carlotta

oak hill designs

Remember when I won the gift card to Oak Hill Designs? Now I'm trying to figure out what to buy...there are so many wonderful choices it's hard to decide!

Here are a few of my favorites...

(I apologize for the small picture)

Petite Hand Stamped Initial Pendant

Sterling Silver Hand Stamped Custom Necklace

Custom Hand Stamped Dog Tag Necklace

I am able to choose between the silver ball chain and the leather cord...I'm definitely going to go with the leather cord but I can't decide which pendant! Which one is your favorite? I could use some advice... :)

-carlotta

tids and tads

I'm sorry I haven't been a very diligent blogger lately...I have exams this week and a piano competition coming up...I've been pretty busy with that.

Last night a friend spent the night...she was going to sit through my science class as she might be taking the same class as me next year...well I wasn't able to login so we couldn't get to class (I take it online)...I'm still not able to get in which is REALLY frustrating as

a) I missed class today

b) I have exams this week that I need to login to take

c) My friend wasn't able to see what the class is like

I hope I'm able to get in soon!

When we were supposed to be in class (I gave up on trying to login) we went shopping...I felt a little guilty but I really did try everything to get in.

The weather was so nice today...I think it got up to 65...I am ready for spring! It was soo nice not to have to bundle up!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Monday!

-carlotta

summer

Summer.

Sigh.

I cannot wait for it.

Going on trips, swimming, no school, being able to sleep in practically everyday...

It sounds like heaven right now, in the midst of exam week in January.

I love early summer mornings, when it is still cooled down from the night.

The birds chirping in the trees, a gentle wind, the smell of coffee brewing, a beautiful sunrise...

Everything seems so simple in the summer. There are no tests to worry about, no deadlines to make...

Is there anyone else dreaming of summer? I'm tired of winter. ;)

-carlotta

Sorry I haven't posted today...it's been kind of a stressful day from studying to finding out that my teacher gave me a wrong grade in science.

I should be back by tomorrow...

I'll update my Project 365 blog tomorrow too - sorry I didn't do it today.

Good night!

-carlotta

haiti

Honestly, the first place I heard about the earthquake in Haiti was through the blog world. I think it had happened about 1 or 2 days before I heard about it...

I feel like I'm in a bubble. We don't have TV (not because we're forced to - my parents made that decision before I was born), I don't get out too terribly much...We do get the local newspaper, but for some reason Haiti never really made the headlines until this morning. So much for reporting on world news...

Sometimes it's really easy to live in a bubble. You stay pretty sheltered from most things...it's easy to live in your own little world.

Of course I knew about Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the attack on the World Trade Center...

To some people (myself included), it's horrible to finally find out what's going on, but it doesn't really change our little world. These tragedies are happening far away, nothing is affecting us. We have warm, cozy homes, plenty of food, a wardrobe full of clothes (verses the clothes on our backs like most people in Haiti have right now)...

It is truly awful what these poor people are going through.

So many of them no longer have warm, cozy homes. They don't have plenty of food. They don't have a wardrobe full of clothes.

So many are dying.

So many children no longer have parents.

So many parents no long have children.

We are so blessed.

Praying for all those in this terrible earthquake.

-carlotta

cramming

I am cramming for exams I have to take next week...I probably should have started studying earlier...I have NO clue how I'm going remember all this information!

I'll be glad when next week is over...

-carlotta

webkinz

It's crazy how much Lilly knows about the computer. She knows how to go from nothing started up on the computer to my brother's Webkinz account. And she isn't even four.

Crazy.

-carlotta

wow

I won my very first giveaway today - I could not believe it! It was actually a giveway in 'disguise'...I just commented and I got picked to win a $50 gift certificate to Oak Hill Designs!

Wow.

-carlotta

wordless wednesday

-carlotta

GAH!

I had a post all written out and I KNOW I published it yesterday but it never came up.

Sorry about that!

sarge

(Click here to read Sarge's "story")

-carlotta

pbteen love

I know I've expressed my (great) love for PBTeen...a lot...but I found some more things that I just can't not show you. :)

I really, really, really, really, really, really like this room. I like it so much I almost wish I had seen this before I saw the inspiration for my room. I like it that much. Of course I'm REALLY happy with my room right now, but I still REALLY love this room.

This room feels so light and airy...I love how the bedspread adds some interest.

These hooks are just so adorable! I can picture hanging my scarves or purses from them...too cute! This room just looks so cozy. I love the little brown side room - the whole room just looks like a great place to unwind.

I love the white and black in this bedroom and the subtle touches of green are just perfect.

I love the flower garlands...so pretty and girly. They add a really nice feel in the room.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

-carlotta

finally!

I finally have a click clack futon/sofa bed (not really sure how to describe it) for my room! I have been looking every. single. day. for a sleeper sofa, convertible sofa, click clack futon on Craigslist.

Now, after many months of searching, I have finally found one!

I liked this one from Target, but I wasn't willing to pay $160 for something that probably won't last longer than a few years.

Yesterday I was browsing Craigslist and found the same one from Target. The sellers were asking $100 for it (they said it was like new), but they were willing to go lower on the price. I emailed them and we scheduled to meet this morning so we could take a look at it.

So this morning my mom and I took a look at it...10 minutes and $75 later we drove off with it!

It needed a little bit a cleaning, but nothing some mild bleach and a rag couldn't cure.

If you look closely (or you can click on the picture to enlarge it) you can see that it's tufted...I love it!

I'm really happy with it...and I got it for half the price they're selling it at Target!

And finally I'm not embarrassed to show that part of my room. :)

In other terms of news, we're redoing the upstairs bathroom. This is one of the rooms we hadn't tackled during the renovations this summer. The toilet, bathTUB (not the shower!), and sink functioned, but they weren't in the best condition.

Here's what they've (the guys) done so far...

Something tells me they're having fun ripping out everything.

Of course, now we're down to 1 1/2 bathrooms.

The plan has changed since this post I wrote back in October. If you remember, we were going to go with a pink, but the blue tile (which we're keeping - it's in pretty good shape and it would be a lot of work to rip out) it didn't really fit. So we'll be doing white tile all around the tub, at least 3/4 of the way up the wall. Then on the right, where the sink and toilet will be, we'll do a sort of wainscoting with the tile - about 1/2 up the wall.

We've decided we'll do a light grey for the walls with hot pink accents, since it fits with the blue tile better (and because I LOVE grey :)). I am SO excited! I've always wanted to paint a room grey. I think it will look really good with the pink.

I can't wait to see how this room turns out! I'll keep you posted. :)

-carlotta

"photo shoot"

I use the term "photo shoot" lightly as I am by no means a professional photographer...it might be something I'd like to do someday but definitely not now.

Yesterday I was feeling in a "photography" (I don't think that's even a word...) mood so I fixed MeMe's hair and started snapping away.

Here are some of the results...

I love these shots...it was really cold outside yesterday but I made MeMe come outside for 30 seconds for a couple shots. She couldn't stop laughing because she was so cold.

It's a toss up...but I think this one is my very favorite of all the pictures.

You can't just pose the whole time...you have to have a silly picture!

-carlotta