My Magical Summer Display

I have to say. I love my summer display this year...It is simple...I added all the things I love...my vintage picnic basket...Red and white ticking...White dishes...









Black and white photos of my family...My favorite glass pedestal...One of my favorite silver clocks I collect...An old bottle I collected along the way...And my favorite red faux flowers...Oh, and plastic silver forks that I kept as a memory of a fun lunch I had with my family, not too long ago...


Simple...yet it says so much...Displays can be of anything...and you can display them any which way you choose...If you dare to take the risk to decorate with things you love...You may come up with something magical...something that uplifts and inspires you...something that makes you smile...Isn't that what decorating is all about? The feeling it creates inside of you?



I chose to tuck my display in my vintage picnic basket...even though you can't see everything immediately...The magic of peeking in to see the treasured pieces is so magically to me...



Each time I pass by my summer display, I smile...I smile because it is a reflection...



A reflection of moments...A reflection of things I love and because it is a reflection of me...



It is a sign to slow down, take a breath and enjoy this summer as though it were the last...


Last chance to say what it is that makes life so beautiful...without even having to say a word... We don't know our path or if tomorrow will ever come...So let's treasure this moment that we know we have for sure and celebrate the simple beauty we have all around us...






So, what would you display...if you threw caution to the wind and just decorated for you?



I dare you to gather all your treasures together and create a display that reflects who you are, who your family is and how grateful you are to have them...


Xo, Meme

{Teen Rooms}

I am super busy with work, remodeling, and redecorating "Middle's" (my name is my middle son...lol) room...Here are a few pics of the process...It is so sad and a little abusive to leave Middle's room like this for...Oh, a little over a month!!!! I know, I know...You should call Child Protective Services on me...I am a bad Mama...;) lol I have been busy and I thought I would get to it...and then life happened...end of school, work and a little procrastination too boot! Hate me!




This room is usually more organized and tidy...Middle is actually one of my best cleaners/organizers I own...I mean have living here...lol...but I think when things are in limbo or out of place...it is never easy to keep tidy...You know what I mean? Maybe a little depressing or a little overwhelming is the word? Do you see that paint can? It sat there for a month...Well, it got moved around for vacuuming and a little horseplay...But it sat in that area...waiting for the "decorator" to get there...Haha! Someone needs to fire her, huh? Or pay her? I don't know which one? BTW, Middle put this shelf in the closet for organization...I was going to donate it...I love how he thinks...my little organizer!


Do you see the stripe under the primed wall? I painted that for him about 4 years ago...Okay, a little tip for you...remember when painting a kid's room, to think about them actually growing up...They do grow! Shocking, I know! lol So, I wish I had thought about it and realized I would have to repaint more sooner than later...


I finally walked passed his room on Sunday and thought you are a horrible mother/decorator if you don't get that paint out and JUST DO IT! So, the guilt trip I played on myself worked!!! Yay!!!! I love when that happens! LOL I just started painting and painting...and before I knew it I had painted two coats!

I was so proud of myself, I even decided to have a margarita towards the end of the process to celebrate...I headed to my "Old Saloon" in our gameroom and mixed one up! I am a pretty good bartender, if I do say so myself...It is convenient to have a Saloon at arm's reach, too...Though I only have a drink or two a month, I mean, week...To keep this girlish figure I got going on lol...I feel like it is Happy Hour whenever the mood hits...lol And I don't have to even get all dolled up! I'm brilliant for building a Saloon in my home...Just pure brilliance! Lol!!!


The paint color is Valspar 5006-1B Notre Dame....It is a gorgeous grey...with a hint of blue...I love how it looks...both morning and night...And it looks great with warm colors, too...


Okay, I am even more of a horrible Mama for shopping the "Eldest's" room for decor...lol I took this art off his walls, like thief in the night...I sure did! I decided to use it here because I loved how the art popped against the grey walls! I promised Eldest that I would get him an even better piece of art...So now I have that on my "Ever Screaming To Do" list...:) I think he didn't really mind...He wasn't attached to it...and he knows I always come through with my promises...especially in the decorating department...lol



See the warm colors pop! I love this art...I purchased it last year at Home Goods for $50 on sale...I am using some dark bamboo shades with some white curtains I got for free from Mama Law (my mother in law)...


Here is a peek at his new room...We purchased the sofa (futon) last year for $399 @ Walmart.com and picked it up at the store...I was not a fan of futons...But the Middle bugged me about it until I just gave in...I liked this one because looked decent and was comfortable...I think teen rooms should be more about them and their likes...You slowly have to start letting go of your pipe dream and let their taste evolve. It also is a way for them to express themselves more...Middle picked the color (he did fabulous, huh?) and the futon...agreed on the art and blinds...We are looking for a desk...preferably the armoire style...So we can close the mess and have peace...:) The lamp may stay in here, as well...I stole that from another room too...That table I dug out of my neighbor's trash...{Hi, Michella...I am the creepy neighbor who digs through your crap late at night!} We may be painting it...and adding hardware...More to come on middle's new room...

More photos of his room to come! So, what do you think so far?

Xo, Meme

A Before And After

Have you checked out my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Giveaway? Well, hurry...it ends May 26th!!!



I fluffed a little this past weekend...in between sewing slipcovers for a client and getting "My Baby" ready for a dance {he looked so handsome}...I call it multitasking...Others may call it ADD... l say potatoe, You say potahto! ;)


It is so hard to get a good shot above the cabinets..it took my 30 minutes to get this one...lol...because I don't have a great camera {okay, a better camera...because I am grateful for what I have {always}), my ceilings are 10 foot and the lighting in the kitchen is fluorescent...which needs to be addressed, as well...slowly but surely we chug along...

I am not a big fan of stuff above cabinetry...I say the less the better...But my space above the cabinets are soo big I have to. If I were going to live here longer, I would get custom cabinets put in and bring it up to the ceiling or at least close to. But I am not going to be here that long and the value of the house is not worth doing it. I have thought about adding height to it like The Lettered Cottage did here...Which is totally doable!

I also plan on painting the {ugly...I mean,} honey oak cabinets...maybe with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint {Old White}. I also want to talk Mr. Screaming Meme into adding some beadboard to the kitchen walls...just on that wall above the cabinets and one on the other side...not all the way around the kitchen...It will have depth and character...and tie in well with the built in hutch we created....


Remember this photo of my faux flowers I bought @ Hobby Lobby?



{Before}....Well, since I showed it last...;)...I change my decor a lot...My MIL {Momma Law} hates to visit because it is different every time she comes...Hey, I am a designer, after all...I have to create, change & evolve...That is what designers and decorators do, right? ;)



{After}....I love my white dishes...My favorite things I own...


{Before}...
Okay, I found this old frame last week @ Goodwill...I loved it and knew I would paint over the artwork with chalkboard paint...It was a little tarnished and discolored...so I cleaned it up a little and refinished it with Stencil Magic Paint Creme...Wonderful stuff! Used it on this project, as well!




{After}...
I just rubbed it on in circles with a stencil brush...It really made a world of difference, huh?


I need to paint one more coat of chalkboard paint...I will add that to my list for next weekend!




I will reveal the other side soon...

Here is "My Baby" and his friend before the banquet/dance! :)

XoXo, Meme

Collections From My Heart....

Make sure to sign up for my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Giveaway here!


Collections...I love collecting things that mean something to me...Some of my favorite collections are white dishes, books, clocks, keys, old photos, canes, umbrellas...

Decorate With Meaning...I decorate with things that have meaning to me and my family...For instance, I am a proud Texan...I try to bring things in that remind me to be grateful of that...I don't have cowboys and spurs everywhere...I like to bring in subtle things that interpret Texas...:) Stars and Rustic accents...A few good examples are my Old Saloon Bar in my game room and an old potting bench I found in Mr. Screaming Meme's home town...It is "concocted" out of old pieces of farm homes and furniture in the area...I loved it sooo much, I made him load it up on our old SUV and drive it a million miles back home, in a wind storm...lol BECAUSE it had meaning to me...and represented our past, present and future all in one! The old trunk was a piece I had found many moons ago in Amarillo, TX...I was surprised because it had my father's initials CLP on the side! I knew it was meant to be mine...I used it as a coffee table, end table, a bench and at the foot of my bed... Oddly that old, beat up trunk fit into the potting bench I drug home! It was a perfect fit! Like it was meant to be...I still get choked up, if I think about the symbolism of it...In life, we are all trying to match up and connect, as best as we can...and there are moments and connections in life that are magically right and perfect...Like it was always meant to be... White Touches...I try and bring a lot of it in to my design through pillows, slip covers, white quilt (on my bed), dishes, platters, frames and such...I think white calms the design down...So you may have outrageous decor and furnishings going on and the white balances it all out...so you can appreciate that wild, outrageous piece more... My plate wall reveal coming soon...:) XoXo, Screaming Meme

Chairs Galore...

I have found a few chairs that I am going to try to incorporate into my home. If they don't make the cut. They will be sold to Craig, you know, the guy with all those lists! ;) I am hoping they work, though. I need chairs to be able to finish a few rooms. I am pretty sure the french chair will be great as a vanity chair or a side chair in my romantic garden inspired boudoir.

French chair {after}: Painted Martha Stewart's Robin's Egg Blue & Valspar's Sugar & Cream and glazed with Briwax Light Brown. Briwax is a great product to use...painted or wood...On painted pieces, uses as a glaze to age the look of the furniture and to protect it from elements. The 2 schoolhouse chairs will be tested in my Old Saloon Gameroom. I will mix a few more odd chairs for a laid back Saloon-y feel. I may even paint numbers on the backs for a little more fun and whimsy. I have an antique table that belonged to my mother, when she was a newly wed. She passed away when I was a teenager. I inherited it in 2006 from my Great Uncle. It means so much to have a piece of her furniture. Since, furniture and design is my passion. It hasn't been used in my home, yet. So, I have decided to use it as a game table for family games and my crafting. It is an oak table, I do plan on staining it darker or painting it.

Schoolhouse chairs {after}: Restore A Finish in dark walnut...I bought it at Home Depot.






I am the world's worst about getting before photos. I promise that I will practice learning that one. It is fun to see the before and afters...I have some that are more like "during or after"...lol


The lighter chair is a before and the darker one is the during. I added a few coats of the Restore A Finish to achieve the shade I wanted. I used a lint free cloth to rub it on. Super duper easy!



French chair {during}: I lightly sanded the finish and had already taken the tapestry fabric off and had started painting it. That is Emily (Emme) , our 1 1/2 yr old golden retriever. She and the two other girls, Charlee Girl and Bella, are like our babies... She is a lot of help, can't you tell? ;)



French Chair {during}: Before I added the Briwax to tone down the brightness of the paint. I actually waited a few days for the paint to dry completely.


Xo, Meme

Confessions & Real Life

Life is full of surprises... Some good, some bad and some just plain ole' ugly! ;) I had a little of all three last weekend!

I went to a garage sale next door on Saturday. I hadn't planned on getting out of the house...Well, mostly because my hair was sticking up everywhere and I had make up running down my face from the night before. Which is usually not like me, I am usually good at washing my face and pulling my lovely lady locks back for a good night's sleep and a easy morning...Nothing worse than being startled at your own image in the mirror, am I right? Lol! Okay, so I got lazy and had sniff way too many fumes the night before and maybe had a glass or three of wine too boot! Hate me! ;) Probably not the best idea to of locked myself in the garage with paint & stain fumes & wine. ;) What a party, I tell you! You missed out on a lot of fun! I was working on my french chair and 2 schoolhouse chairs I had found at my local thrift store a few weeks ago. I was having a ball! Talking to my BFF with my phone tied around my head, sipping wine and painting away! You know you all have concocted your cell phones around your head...right? We all do it...right??? ;) I usually act like I just washed my hair...I twist my towel on top of my head and tuck my cell phone in...lol I actually do think I really am getting away with something! If you are my neighbor and are lucky enough to catch me in the act, you have seen me dodge you...as I am running to the mailbox or to car to grab something. I do act casual and stay calm, turning my head ever so slightly...so you can't see the cell phone hanging out....lol hahahaahaa!...Sometimes I like to get fancy and wrap a pretty scarf around my head tightly and tuck it in...That is usually only when I have guests or feeling kinda' pretty! :) lol Tape? I never thought of that one! I'll add that to my emergency hands free concoction list! So, anyway I was planning on finishing up my projects and fluffing my nest a little. But I looked out the window and saw a garage sale going on next door...I spotted a huge, crazy piece of something that looked like it was up my alley...all chippy, rusty, and old...Dang it, I hate when this happens! I panicked...Do I risk letting the world seeing me this way? All for a garage sale and a possible crazy piece of junk? And then I had a weird thought pop into my head...I thought thank goodness I am not famous, I would be the one you see on the cover of those horrid magazines! I always feel so bad for those girls...even though I am glad they are normal and from this world. ;) So, I ran to my bathroom and washed my face and put my rat's nest of hair in a hat and a sweet little sundress to look like I was planning on being so what productive...I mean it was 10 am by then! lol I actually pulled myself together very quickly. Which is good to know for other emergencies, such as this. I walked leisurely over. I didn't want them to think that I had my eye on something. I circled around this crazy piece of something...I thought what is it? Then it hit me...It was vintage bird cage! They wanted $15 for it...As I looked away and around to make sure there wasn't any other vultures lurking...I pretended to be looking at something else...And then like the angels singing down from heaven...I heard a soft voice..."We can go lower"...Lower, I thought?...I would of actually paid more for this crazy piece of something...It was a voice of a niece of my elderly neighbors...Yes, I prey on the elderly, okay?...I mean come on, it was a garage sale! lol I went over to talk to my neighbors about this bird cage...She said she had bought it 43 yrs ago on their honeymoon. My heart dropped and I got all mushy...I hate when that happens at garage sales...lol I said.."Well, I have to have it...what a beautiful story!" I paid full price because of that story, well actually $13...because I was a little short on cash... Yes, life is full of surprises. I loved that Saturday, I ended up finishing my chairs and fluffing my nest...but best of all, I heard a beautiful love story about two lovebirds beginning their lives together! I will always remember it when I look at my $13 bird cage... I will be showing off my chairs tomorrow...Now, I am off to find my favorite towel and my cell phone and call my BFF! Xo, Meme

Gussied Up...Screaming Meme Style

I made some pillows for my new sectional sofa...What do you think?
I plan on making a few more when I find the right fabric...
The sectional was a sofa that I literally drooled over for a year...
Yes, a whole year!...lol I am quite sure there are a few drool stains and
claw marks from me having to be drug off of her...

The know I was the talk around the water cooler at that furniture store...
A girl knows when she has found her soul sofa...Am I right, girls?
It was originally a little too expensive (okay A LOT)!...A little too steep for the
Ole' Screaming Memers budget...So I would visit her, when I
was in the neighborhood...I would plop down on her and take my sweaty
shoes off and wallow my feet all in her cushions...

(The small lamps I stole from my son's room...I have been out lamp shopping for weeks...I sure hope I find 2 matching lamps soon...Or Gussy Girl will be in the dark...lol My son has asked for them back ever so nicely...I don't think I can hold them for ransom much longer...lol )

I know it may sound weird....But I even think she may of lit up, when I walked through the doors...Uh huh! Lit up like a Christmas tree, she did...:) She had me at hello... I even named her Gussy! Gussy is a cowgirl's name...perfect for this sofa all decked out in nail heads and a warm, rustic velvety microfiber and I could see her all "Gussied Up" with a white slip cover...Every pretty girl needs a party dress, right? ;) Anyone who reads this blog knows I name my most treasured pieces... and rename people I love... (I have even renamed a few of my blog friends along the way... You know you are special to me, when I give you a name...right, Lou Lou?) Even though she was not really mine...I still named her...Because she belonged to me in my heart...I didn't even need to purchase her to feel that way... So, one fateful day, I giddied up on in to see Gussy Girl...Only to find she was GONE! Oh, my heart sank and I thought to myself...I should of saved up and bought her... But I was too cheap to even do that...lol I just touched her and walked away... No wonder she lit up...she probably thought to herself, "She will buy me this time... She has had her sweaty feet in my cushions and even french kissed (drooled) me a few times...She is here to take me home!"Only to be used and abused again... I guess I am a player, huh? lol So I turned the corner only to see her in the clearance section...What? She is marked down? Gussy? No body puts Baby, I mean Gussy Girl, in the corner! (a quote from one of my favorite movies of all times, Dirty Dancing...lol) I quickly went over to see her worth...She was half off... Though I didn't really have the money...I purchased her that fateful day... So now she sits in my living room...She is wallowed in and loved on everyday by all of the Screaming Memes in the house...and a few Screaming doggies, as well... I have plans to slip cover Gussy in a white duck fabric and piping....I finally got around to making some pillows for her...I thought the black and cream trellis pattern would look great on her...:)... And I even made her 2 robin's egg blue chenille pillows...She is sooo full of herself lately...lol She now is wanting a creamy fur pillow...What is next? Tattoos and ear gages? They grow up so fast...lol The trellis pattern reminded me of the curvature on the top of the Alamo...I loved the modern take on that...Because Gussy Girl's arms have a modern feel...I wanted to do something that would tie the rustic and modern together...So it was a perfect choice, don't you think? The robin's egg blue was a new color brought into the room...I have a lot of warm colors...I wanted to add something unexpected and new...I have a few more tricks put my sleeve in this room...I hope you stop in from time to time to see my progress...:) Are you doing anything fun this weekend to your home? Let me know? I love to get inspired by all of your projects! XoXo, Screaming Meme