Thompson Family-Life

the process of getting there

I know you've heard me mention many times just how long we've lived in our home (15 years this fall... phew!) and you've seen us go through a short spell where we were looking at homes and then decided to put it off (we thought we were going to be rezoned for our Elementary school, but that fell through). But the idea of moving, having a bigger place - it definitely became more than just "we're moving because of our school situation".

Having some space between now and then, I can tell you the decision to wait was a very, very good decision. We're on a two-more-years plan for now (once Cooper is done with Elementary School - 5th grade - we will be moving for sure because we're not sold on our Middle School. We will either move within Atlanta, or there could be a possibility of moving out of the country where Ethan's boss lives - only time will tell.)

I think it's pretty rare that people stay in one house for any long period of time these days. Gone are the days when people live in their home for thirty, forty years. What's crazy is that our home was built in the 60's and it has had only had TWO home owners! The family before us, and us. Crazy, right?

We live in a world where it's always "on to the next bigger, better thing". That is not to say I haven't had my moments where I wish I was in another house for any number of reasons, but it's been an amazing ride, being in this home. Staying put really allows you to put your money elsewhere, you know? More than anything, it's been quite something seeing the transformations this house has gone through aesthetically.

Remember when people decorated their homes and that one style stayed... for like, decades? Things change so fast now! Our tastes are constantly changing. Mine definitely have. Some of the walls in our home have been painted over two, three times with whatever decorating whim I'm having at that moment. But you know what? That is what makes it all so fun.

It's also... a lot of work. Especially when you DIY pretty much every home project like we do. Last year was the first year in 14 years that we actually PAID someone to paint our walls. I think we creative-types, especially when you're looking at design blogs and you see all of these gorgeous, complete and cohesive home tours - we feel this pressure to have a FINISHED home.

You know what? In 15 years, our home still isn't "FINISHED". I'm not rushing to photograph a home tour. Things are constantly in flux. Always rearranging pictures on the wall. Waiting to find the time to paint that hutch, or this cabinet. Or add wallpaper to that, or paint over that kitchen backsplash. Oh, yeh, and I need to design some decals for said kitchen backsplash... The DIY to-do list is neverending. 

I always feel like there's that thing, and that thing that always needs to be done... but you know.. LIFE happens. School, and homework, and dinner... and, that's okay. : ) I think after 15 years, I'm okay that things aren't "finished" around here. It's a process. And while I do resent that neverending to-do list sometimes, I think having those projects to look forward to is what keeps me going. And when the tasks are (finally) completed, the reward of creating something that no one else has, that is completely unique to your home - well, it's all just plain worth it, right?

I do see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel... things are coming together... and I'm enjoying it, piece by piece by piece.

If you follow Kitschy Digitals on Instagram, you've seen my progress on the boys' room. We decorated it a few years ago because they just started sharing a room, and we wanted it to reflect both boys. It was cute, lots of vintage, fabric cloud decals I made for the walls (see a peek here) - but it was never very functional. It's a very tiny room, and having one twin bed and a full sized bed just didn't work. It was too crowded with not a lot of space to move. We finally took the clouds down and painted the room white, hoping it would make the space feel bigger. And things stayed that way for a while. We finally got our butts in gear a few weeks ago and bought some new furniture (a new bunk bed! opened up SO much space!), donated a ton of decor, and started buying new pieces we knew the boys would love - but would still retain a sense of style and good taste. (fine line isn't it?)

There are (of course) still a few more DIYs to take care of in here (see what I mean?), so once things are fine-tuned in here, I'll take more photos for a proper room tour. I'm happy to report that the boys really seem to love the room! Honestly? They seem to SLEEP better in here! There's something just really cozy about bunk beds. I always wanted a bunk bed growing up but my sister and I never shared a room. I was lying on the bottom bunk one day and I was totally wishing I could sleep in there.

I was saying this on Instagram - it's funny... there really is something to feng shui. The boys always seemed unsettled, and having beds right next to each other - well it just promoted trouble. They were always bugging each other and bickering. With the bunk beds, they can't really touch each other as easily (ha)... they still chat before they go to sleep (which I love) but they seem to drift off to sleep much easier. (phew) This makes for a happy Mommy & Daddy.

Aren't these little guys above funny? They're a set of vintage shot glasses I found at a flea market on the way home from Florida. They were too unique to pass up.

I found this large scale vintage fabric (below) a while back and finally stretched it around a large painter's canvas, and added it to this wall. This arrangement is still in flux.. but it's getting there (you don't want to know how many holes I've strategically covered - I'm not much for forethought in hanging pictures... i just start banging away with a hammer and nails.. and then, you know, regret it later.)

I'm always keeping my eyes open for special finds when I'm at thrift stores, flea markets and antique stores (and you know the virtual aisles of ebay and etsy). We've donated A LOT of things over the past year, and I've been pretty successful at only bringing home what I really, really love, and what will play a good part of a bigger aesthetically pleasing picture. I'm a knick-knack junkie, but I'm getting better. ; ) Oh, and that hutch up there? "Needs a coat of coral paint" has been on the DIY to-do for a while now. 

I'll try to list all of the sources of things below - bare in mind that many of these items are vintage that I can't really source.

And speaking of DIY to-do's... how about you? What to-do's do you have? Our boys' last day of school is tomorrow. Woot! Looking forward to getting outside and attacking some projects while they play. Share with me your projects. I want to hear! Let's see if we can scratch these babies off our lists!

Here's some of mine:

- paint two hutches

- paint tile backsplash in kitchen (ugly images on tiles). Design retro vinyl decals for said tiles.

- remove rust from craigslist outdoor chair finds (I've heard naval jelly works great!), spraypaint, make cushions from vinyl fabric

- paint and attach mid-century wooden legs to the boys' bookshelf find

- paint mid-century headboard that you thrifted two years ago (!!!) for master bedroom

- hang lighting

Sources: mid-century cat pattern: my "Groovy Kitty" digital kit // coral and turquoise "gumball" lamps: Urban Outfitters // white dresser: Stolmen unit from IKEA // white floating shelves: IKEA // bedding: IKEA // donut pillows: designed by Heidi Kenney for Kid Robot // large print in the boys' room: by Lily Scratchy // picture frames: IKEA // cloud pillow & polka-dot brown round chair: Land of Nod (chair was from a few years ago) // bunk bed: IKEA, painted yellow by me // french fry pillow: Society66.com // crocheted lion: made by me // black and white clock: IKEA // white wire baskets: IKEA // minecraft sword: handmade by my husband & son // Warhol Campbell's Soup cans: been hoarding these since they came out at Target last year! // polka-dot bear: handmade by me // handmade elephant: aliceapple // Spirited Away print: Society66.com // 2013 calendar: Misako Mimoko // painting of Ramona by friend Leigh Slingluff // three dolls in last photo: here

brokenhearted

I had a post scheduled for today about collections, but after reading about the tragedy and suffering happening in Oklahoma, it feels enormously trivial to talk about material things, when all I can think about are those that are suffering. I'm heartbroken for these families and worried for new storms coming (with family and friends of our own in possible harm's way). When huge natural disasters happen like these, it really makes you feel small, and thankful that we're able to enjoy every day that we're given. Because we really are, very, very, small in this big, big world. Human life is so, so fragile. I know, like many of you, I'll be holding onto my children with more fierceness than I already do.

just call me Frenchy

The pink is back! If you've been following my blog since last year, you'll remember my pink here from here, here and here. I knew I wanted to do it again this summer. I think it will become a rite of passage once the boys are out of school every year. I don't feel comfortable wearing it pink during the school year because, well, I don't want the boys to be harrassed by other kids with "Why does your Mom have pink hair?!". The girls might like it (Princess Hair!!!), but boys are notorious for heckling. (at least the little stinker boys are. >:(

My boys are pretty indifferent to it. It's like, "Mom's got pink hair... moving on..." Like, no biggie. 

Since this was my first time bleaching in a year or so, I knew it would take a couple bleachings to get it light enough to really hold the color. The first time I bleached and dyed it pink last year, it didn't get to it's fullest brightest until that second bleaching, but I did get this same peachy-pink which I do really love. The only thing about this time around is that it didn't dye evenly (as you can see from that orange patch at the top of my head!). I used Special Effects dye this time instead of the Directions brand I used last year. I do love the "Cupcake" color I used this time, but I have no idea why it didn't dye evenly. I knew some of the orange from would still show through, but not this badly. I dyed it yesterday and today with the pink, leaving it on for 2 and 3 hours both times and the color just doesn't seem to want to grab around my roots.

Luckily, it doesn't look too bad and has an "ombre" affect. So I'll just say I did it on purpose to be trendy. ; ) A lot of people that do pink are so put off by the "salmon" colors you sometimes get, but I love them. It's kind of a natural progression from the natural copper red I usually do. I do look forward to bleaching again in a few weeks (to give my hair a break). Upon the second bleaching last year, it looked incredible. Total even coverage and the pink was BAH-RIGHT!! Like day-glo. Hoping I can tone that down slightly. That is when you get the REAL looks in public. I actually went out today with hardly a look with this salmony/darker pink. I'll be sure to take new photos when the new pink is done.

My hair is finally getting to one length - quite a change from the super short style I had. And I think I'll keep it bob length for a while. The growing out process hasn't been too painful... only when I wait too long to get a cut and it starts getting mullet-y in the back (you short haired folks know what I'm talking about). I've finally given up the good fight on having bangs after all these years. I almost always have bangs cut and literally THE DAY OF THE CUT, I'm already pinning them back. I should buy stock in bobby pins. So, the big-bang-growout of 2013 has officially begun. And I'm hoping for good. I wish I was lucky enough to have lush, thick, Bettie Page style bangs, but having two cowlicks and wispy hair, bangs just don't ever stay put for me. (boo.)

Isn't the shirt cute? It's vintage from Highland Row Antiques here in Atlanta. It was actually a shirt dress that I asked my Mother-in-Law to shorten for me. The sunglasses are just for fun because I can't actually see with them on! Need a prescription. So I put them on just for you. ; ) But I like them so much I might consider having lenses put in! I did the same thing with another cheap pair from Urban Outfitters and it has worked great. These are "designer knock-offs" from ebay. I think I spent less than $10 on them. Thank-you to whoever tipped me off on these! Pinterest? Can't remember!

I'll have more pink updates soon. I know you're waiting with bated breath.

Lenore: Vintage Style

These were taken the day I took these photos. I found this little vintage dress at a thrift store many, many months ago. This is my most favorite item of clothing that I've found for her. So cute! Love the sixties styling... those buttons! I was so happy to see her dressed in this when her Mom brought her over. I'm so glad Ellyn enjoys these little vintage numbers I find for Lenore. She even wore it to a Kentucky Derby party they went to! I die from the cute. Even though I know I'm helping them out when I keep her, I have to say that I'm coming out even better in this deal. Toddler snuggles? Playing dress up in girly outfits? Hello, baby fix? Check, check, check. I feel pretty darn lucky. What a sweetheart.

nice press!

UK based Mollie Makes has been so good to me and to Kitschy Digitals! I absolutely love working with them... in fact, I'm working on some fun projects for them as we speak. If you haven't checked it out already, it's a gorgeous magazine - they do such a fantastic job with it, with so many topics covered - from crafts, to home interiors inspiration, travel and more.

I was so honored that my home studio was included in their special HOME issue (I was shocked to see myself on the cover!) If you are a sucker for beautiful and colorful interiors, this is a MUST buy! I'm a little late sharing this with you, so it's been hard to find still in stores, but I heard it's still available at some Joann's and Barnes and Noble stores in some states over the past few weeks. You can also subscribe to the US edition of the magazine here and it's also available in digital format.

They also featured Kitschy Digitals designer, Heather Davulcu, and her gorgeous Downton Abbey Embroidery Patterns in their newest issue. Congrats to Heather!