{st george}

So before I got the dreaded news on Monday morning, I had spent a lovely weekend down in southern Utah with my family.

We were there to celebrate birthdays and also to support and spend time with my grandparents before my grandma started chemo.

On Saturday afternoon we went hiking and after months of cold, drab weather, it was great to feel the warm sun on my face! Here are a few photos from the hike!

Ah, yes! The first application of sunscreen for the year! I was proud to get a teensy bit of a tan too!

Stink beetle scurrying across the red rock. I had to blow on him to get him to hold still for a minute. He lifted his butt to spray right before I got this picture and luckily missed the mist!

Beautiful pools! The water was freezing or we might have jumped in!

the handyman and me

do you see the tiny arch in the picture? it's on the left...

we found this tiny cave and all took turns cramming ourselves into it to take pictures! the one of my brother turned out the best!



All in all, it's been a good week. I had typed "it's been an okay week" first, but really, it's been good.

I feel like I've filled out a million job applications and much to my surprise, I already have an job interview set up for tomorrow morning! Wish me luck!


Thank you for showing your love and support!

I do feel so blessed and know that the Lord has a hand in all that happens.


You're right- everything happens for a reason! :)

{mondays suck}

and today tops them all....I got the news this morning.

It came in the form of a text from my boss telling me to call him...
Then came the phone call that I never dreamed would end up like this.

Oh, and to top it all off, I'm OUT OF TOWN... for work.
So, now I have to find an early flight back home, check out of my hotel that I was supposed to have until Thursday, and figure out what to do with my rental car.

And I can't stop crying...

Really, I never thought this would happen to me. I guess no job, no matter what your position, is not secure in this economy.

So today, after I find a way home, I will be spending the rest of the day on Monster and sending my resume out everywhere.

If you know anyone hiring, let me know!

In the mean time, keep Miss Franklin's song in mind for me

Thanks friends!

{decorating with plates!}

I LOVED doing this segment! Seriously, it was so easy, and the best part?! I found most of these cute dishes at thrift stores for $0.75 to $0.25! Can't wait to put these up on my wall at home!

{million dollar question}

It's the project that launched a thousand emails...

"Shan, where did you get the radiator grill that you used for your jewelry holder?! I've looked all over home depot and they have no idea what I'm talking about!"

In my hastiness as I was posting about the project, I accidentally told you Home Depot, but what I meant to say was Lowes- my bad! They're about $28 (a wee bit pricey) but so worth it!

The other question I get asked at least once a week is "What is the color of your craft room?"It's an Ace Hardware brand paint called "Uptown Girl"

So there you have it!

Have anymore questions? Email me! shans_design@yahoo.com

{newborns}

My cute neighbor & friend asked me if I would take some pictures of her newborn on Monday, and although I was a little nervous (I've never photographed a baby that small!), I said yes! It was good practice & they turned out great! Here are a few of my favorites...

{succulent favors}

I loved making these little succulent favors and they were sooo easy! Seriously, kids could put these together! (Okay, a kid might need some help, but really, this is something anyone can do!)

Here's what you'll need...

-variety of succulents

-small container to replant the succulents (I used 3" terra cotta pots)

-pea gravel or small rocks

-well draining soil

First, I went to Ikea to get my succulents. They have a great variety and are sold in 4" pots for $2.99 or something, which is cheap, considering it cost the same for a 2" pot at Home Depot!

Before I started planting, I white washed my terra cotta pots. I mixed a little bit of white craft paint with some water and painted the pots! I brushed in different directions to get the look I wanted and waited for them to dry! Easy peasy!

Next I started repotting...

The great thing about succulents is that they can be divided easily.

I wanted a variety of plants in each container, so I divided up 3 different plants at a time.

It was as easy as pulling the plant out of the plastic container and pulling them apart (gently, of course, as the stems are very delicate!), and then repotting them in the small, terracotta containers!

Just put a little bit of peat gravel at the bottom of the pot (for good drainage), add a little bit of soil, and then pack your plants in!

Each 4" pot of Ikea succulents filled about 4-5 of the 3" terra cotta containers.

Oh, and I bought my potting soil at the dollar store!

No, I'm not kidding! It's amazing what you can find there!

I really didn't have to use much of that soil though, because I was able to use a lot of the extra soil from the Ikea pots!

After I planted, I spritzed a them with water, to help the roots take hold in the new soil.

After I finished potting all of them, I tied a little raffia around the top, and used Photoshop to create a little card with care instructions!

{happy birthday red shoes!}

Last Saturday I helped my mom throw a surprise party for her dear friend Bridgette (aka Life in Red Shoes).

We sent out the invitations a few weeks in advance, bought yummy food, made favors, and when the day came, many of her close friends & family arrived to celebrate her birthday!

The plan was for her to meet at my mom's house, where they would drive together to a restaurant for brunch.

She had no clue brunch was actually at my mom's house.

At 10:30 the doorbell rang. She walked in, (we were all hiding in the family room) my mom greeted her, and said, "Come down here really quick so I can show you something..."

and then...

She was shocked, surprised, and happy...even a bit teary, which I think we all were through out the morning!

After hugs and greetings, we sat enjoyed our brunch!

Fresh strawberries & grapes, delicious quiche & sausage, & scrumptious mini blueberry bundt cakes!

As we ate, Bridgette introduced us to her friends.

Then tearfully, she said, "When one door closes, a window opens. You all are the window that opened and let the light back into my life!"

I'm pretty sure that's when the flood gates opened...at least for me!

Bridgette is really one of the neatest women I know. Spunky, funky, & beautiful, inside and out.

It was a wonderful morning full of laughter, good food, and good company.

All good things to feed the soul.

Before our guests left, we made sure they took a little succulent favor to remind them of our fun day!

Happy Birthday Red Shoes! I hope it was a great one!

{thrifty kitchen makeover}

Okay, so as you all know, I'm a sucker for a good deal & a DIY project!

When I saw that my friend Alyssa had refinished her kitchen cabinets, I had to share her project with the rest of you, not just because they turned out so great, but also because her cabinets are laminate!

A lot of times, our starter homes have cheaper cabinets, and while most of us would love to rip 'em out and replace them, the cost of doing so just doesn't make it possible! A lot of you have emailed me and asked how to paint laminate, so when I saw Alyssa's kitchen, I had to share!

Before:

After:

(love the cat hiding spot!)

First, Alyssa did a lot of research before she tackled her project! She found an article from this website extremely helpful, as well as this one, for painting laminate cabinets!

She also gave a few tips:

1. As your a removing your doors/drawers, number them. Especially if you are using the same hardware, if you mix and match, after you are done you may find that things aren't fitting how they should. I just ripped piece of tape and wrote the numbers on them.
2. Make sure you have a BIG work area. We spread out everything in our garage over paint tarps.
3. Don't be too anxious. Most everything I read said to wait 1-2 weeks (sometimes more!) for the paint to "cure". If you put everything back together too soon, because the paint can still be semi sticky, your doors/drawers could possibly stick to the cabinet base and ruin your pain job!
4. Hardware. Don't think that everything you purchase will work for you right out of the package. We had to buy longer screws for our handles than what came with them. We also purchased new door hinges, and tried about 4 different ones before we got one that worked correctly (hint: buy several different types to try, THEN purchase the necessary amount. oops). I think I had to go to the hardware store about 6 different times. Ugh.

Do you have a project you'd like to feature on my site? If so, email me at shans_design@yahoo.com

{thank you}

Seriously, you guys are great.

I can't tell you how much your sympathy means to me.

Thank you for sharing your personal stories. It's amazing to me how attached we as human beings can get to animals. Their love is truly unconditional.

The next few weeks are going to be difficult, but I feel like I'm now more prepared to get through them.

We'll see how she does for the next little while.

Again, thank you.

xo, Shan

{kiki}

Today's post is brought to you by.....

...this girl, Kiki. I tried writing this post yesterday, but couldn't stop crying long enough to clear my eyes so I could actually see the computer.

She's been secretly sick for awhile, losing weight, & getting skinnier and skinnier. I say secretly, because other than the weight loss, we really never had any other clues that she had anything wrong with her. She was her sweet, normal self! But a few months ago, she started throwing up, and wasn't eating as much. I took her into our vet, and after an expensive blood and urine test, he couldn't really tell me what was wrong. He didn't even explain what the high levels of protein and globulin's meant on her test. I told him I was worried about her losing weight, but he said that 9lbs was healthy for a cat. So we left.

I still knew something wasn't right. If you have pets, you know them. You know when they aren't acting like themselves, and I knew Kiki didn't feel good.

A month and a half later, it was visible she was thinner, so I took her to another vet. I brought the results from her blood tests and was so happy to finally have a vet that cared enough to explain what everything meant. He did another, small (and inexpensive) blood test to confirm that her protein levels were still high and after a few other tests & an exam, I was told the grim news...

My little, sweet, 3 year old cat has cancer. Lymphosarcoma, to be exact. It is rare for a young cat to get it, but it happens. He felt the tumor on her lymph nodes in her abdomen, and all of the test results and symptoms add up.

I thanked him for explaining everything and left, not really knowing what to do. We could spend a ton of money doing an ultrasound, then a biopsy, and then give her medicine to manage the tumor, but nothing can cure her, and I hate to put her through all that. And to be honest, we just can't spend that much money on something that might only prolong her life for another 6 months.

My heart is broken and it didn't really hit me until last night. Every time I looked at her, I cried. Everything made me cry and I couldn't stop. I felt like I needed to be sedated. Seriously.

Some of you might laugh, thinking how silly I am acting over a cat, but unless you have pets of your own, you couldn't understand what I'm going through. Kiki isn't just my pet, she's like my baby. Other than her brother (who's fine) she's the first cat that has been mine. I bought her, raised her, and take care of her. She is full of personality and is the sweetest cat.

The thought of putting her to sleep makes me bawl all over again. For now we're keeping a close eye on her, and when we can tell she's really sick, we'll take her in.

*sigh* Life is hard like that sometimes. Do any of you have pets that you've had to put down? What helped you cope? Thoughts?

xo, Shan

{today}

Today I am thinking about.....

striped roman shades and bay window seats,

small bathroom makeovers,

and striped accent walls.

{dream}

Do any of you know what dreams mean? Help a sister out, would ya?

Okay, so here are the highlights...

-I'm pregnant in the dream but barely showing and I'm in labor, although I feel no pain.

-My baby is breech (is that how you spell it?), and after talking to people who won't help me, I decide to turn the baby around myself so it won't be breech.

- I leave the hospital, which is in the desert, to pick up my mom.

- My mode of transportation is a helicopter powered by an old school Nintendo controller.

- While flying with my mom, I can't control the helicopter, almost run into huge power lines, and we crash into the water in the Hoover Dam

- We start getting sucked into the dam, but my mom tells me to kick really hard and she rescues us.

- Suddenly I'm at a funky restaurant with friends I've never seen before having a baby shower and making umbrellas.

- I drive myself back to the hospital and the staff asks where I've been. I tell them and they shrug it off.

-I get back into my hospital bed, still pregnant.

- People come to visit me and I push my stomach out because it doesn't look like I'm pregnant, but I am.

- I wait and wait for the baby to deliver, but it never comes and then I wake up.

Thoughts?

(and no, I am not pregnant)

{happy weekend}

I love OK Go

and this video make me happier than a bird with a french fry

Have a great weekend!

{caller #13}

Work was crazy hectic today. It was busier than usual and it seemed that every customer was indecisive. When lunch time arrived I busted out of there before anyone could ask me another question about what hardware, cabinets, or counter-tops.

I was going to meet my mom and aunt downtown for lunch at Gourmandise (which if you have never been, you must go- they have the most scrumptious french pastries you will ever find, outside of France), but on my way there, I realized that I was cutting time too short, and I had to cancel.

So, instead of dining on a smoked turkey frisco panini, I settled for a greek salad and drove to a nearby park to eat. As I finished my salad, I realized the park was right behind the offices of a local radio station, where I just happened to win a prize a few weeks earlier.

Call me Lady Luck, but for some reason, I've been pretty dang lucky when calling into radio stations.

It all started when I was 9. I called into Radio Disney and won tickets to the circus.

After that I was hooked.

Speed dial became my best friend and the thrill of hearing "You're caller 13!" never got old. I've won tickets to concerts, haunted houses, cd's, movies, movie premieres, gift certificates, etc. One time, I even called in to a radio station to have a dream expert tell me what my reoccurring dream meant, only to have my boss at the time (who happened to be listening to the same radio station) recognize my voice (even though I had used an alias and told them my name was Jamie), and heard me say that I hated my job... live on the radio, (which of course, he asked about the minute I sat down in my office) thus giving me the last nudge I needed to quit and find a new job, which I did. (That, my friends, is a story for another day...maybe). Although that time I didn't really win anything monetary, the realization of what I needed to do (i.e. quit) was priceless!

Then a few months ago, I called a local news radio station to see if they knew why traffic was at a complete stop. I dialed and the phone rang, and before I could even ask why I-15 was totally backed up the woman on the other end of the phone answered and said, "Hi! You're the winner! What's your name?" Stunned and frantically thinking that I dialed the wrong number, I answered with "Uh...this is Shannon..." and began thinking, "Oh crap...what if they ask for answer to some special question?", but luckily for me, the woman on the other end just said, "Congratulations! You can pick up your package anytime next week!"

Package? I was so caught up in the accidental win, that I didn't dare ask what I had one. I was in suspense all weekend, thinking of what my winning "package" entailed! Movie passes? Maybe a two night stay at a local inn? Ooooh! Or better yet, a vacation package?!

My mind was crazy with anticipation, and Monday afternoon I drove to the station to claim my prize.

I approached the receptionist with confidence, telling her my name and that I was there to pick up my package. She left for a minute to retrieve it, but came back with nothing. She looked every where, called different departments and stations, but still she couldn't find it. Then she asked me what I had won, and I couldn't tell her, because I didn't know. I felt like she was looking at me thinking, "Yeah right lady! You think you can just walk in here and say you've won a prize and expect us to give it to you when you don't even know what it is?!" I felt dumb, but I left her my email address and she said she'd send out a few emails to see if she could track my prize down, and I left sorely disappointed.

A few days later, I got an email stating that they found my prize and that I could pick it up at my earliest convenience. Victory! I scrolled down to see what I had won and held my breath. I...had... won...a package of Bag Balm products....

I let out a huge sigh of disappointment.

"Whoop-dee-freakin-do! Where was my vacation? Where was my weekend getaway? And what the crap is Bag Balm?!"

Disappointed, I didn't even go back to claim my prize. I had been spoiled by prizes past, and the balm just wasn't good enough for me.

After that, winning prizes on the radio just didn't seem that thrilling anymore. Maybe I had won too many, and the urge to dial just didn't come like it used to, or maybe it was because I wasn't winning anymore. Calls that were once answered "you're the winner!" where now answered with a quick "Sorry! Try again!", and soon I didn't even bother calling. Maybe karma was trying to teach me a lesson after I dissed my last prize.

I almost forgot about the thrill of winning, until a few weeks ago. I was driving home from work, getting my groove on to a particularly great play list of music. The DJ was playing all of my favorite songs, back to back, allowing me to have a private dance party in my car. Grateful, I dialed up the radio station. It rang and the DJ answered, probably thinking I wanted to request a song, but instead I thanked him for playing such a great set and that after a hard day at work, it was nice to have some fun booty shakin' music to bounce to! (Since really, that is all I do when I "dance" in my car...that and bob my head back and fourth.) I guess I flattered the DJ because instead of just saying thank you, he said, "You know what? I'm gonna give you something! Let's see...how about a tanning pass and a movie?"

I was thrilled! Karma was smiling upon me once again! I hadn't even called to win anything, but my compliment literally paid off!

Maybe my good luck is back, but to be honest, I haven't really tested it since. I'm saving that for Vegas. Okay, not really....

...I did however, pick up my tanning pass and movie prize today after lunch....just in case.

{weekend thrifting}

Last weekend was mahvelous! I met up with my friend Shelley (who I hadn't seen in forever) and we hit up a few of our favorite thrift stores!

Usually when I go thrifting, I like to go alone, because let's be honest, I don't want to compete with a friend for a great find! (Oh no she di-ent!)

On the other hand, I have no problem with racing a stranger for dibs on a funky chandelier. True story for another day.

I was excited to go shopping with Shelly though, because she has a great eye. Sometimes when I go thrifting, I'll see something that I like, but I'm not sure how to use it or where to put it, and she always has great ideas!

Our first stop was Real Deals. If you have never been, you're missing out. Look up the nearest location right now. You'll thank me later. If you aren't blessed enough to live near one, start your own franchise! Your city and local thrifty divas will thank you!

After Real Deals, we headed over to the nearest DI, which is where we both saw this baby...

Remember how I said I like to go thrifting alone? This is why.

It was love at first sight for both of us. I could see the wheels turning in Shelley's head as she inspected the headboard, imagining where she would put it, and how cute it would look in her house.

Unfortunately, I was doing the same thing.

Technically her hand was on it first, so I waited for her to say the words "I'll take it!" and find the nearest worker to put a SOLD tag on it. We both drooled over it for awhile, took some pictures, and contemplated about what we could do with it and where we would put it, but ultimately we ended up leaving it there. Neither of us had a good place for it (it was a full size), but as I walked away I said a silent prayer that she (the headboard, not Shelley) would end up in a good home.

Our next stop was Home Again in Sugar House.

I love this store! It's one of those places you have to browse around for awhile, and just take it all in. There are so many things in there that get the creative juices in me flowing (I secretly took a few pictures & jotted down a few notes for future projects!)

After hitting up a few other stores, and after Shelley introduced me to a fantastic Thai restaurant which had the most delicious curry I've ever had, our last stop was to another DI.

Remember my despair when I realized the headboard we found at the first DI was too big for my house? Well, karma was good to us, and we found another lovely, twin size headboard!! Not just the headboard though...oh no, this had a matching footboard!

And the best part?

There were TWO of them! No fighting over it. No slipping the other person an extra $20 so they'd let you have it for yourself. Nothing. And with no price tags on them, I asked if they'd take $15 a set, which they happily obliged.

We both walked away happy. And they fit in my car....barely.

our loot (except for the suitcase- that was from a recent business trip)

I'm so excited to share my ideas for the headboard! But that will have to wait for another post!

P.S. A reader recently spotted me at a local thrift store, but I didn't know it until she left a comment on here saying she saw me! I love to meet new friends, so if you ever spot me, don't be shy! Say hi!

(Unless of course I'm racing you for a funky chandelier...in that case, may the best...or should I say fastest gal win!)

Just kidding...please do say hi! :)

{keepin' it real}

I've been going through what one might call, a bit of a mid-blogging crisis this past month. When I started this blog, it was basically a journal for me. A place to write about little projects I was working on, life happenings, and basically anything I wanted. Then people started reading my blog and soon, 15 readers turned into 300+. I began to think that because my blogs title is "Design Gal" that I should only blog about design related stuff, so that is what I did, but after months of posting only about design, I got burnt out.

Don't get me wrong. I love designing. It is my hobby, my occupation, and my life. But it isn't the only thing going on in my life. That is why I haven't blogged in awhile. I have loads projects that I am working on that I need to post about, but I just needed a break to find...me and my blogging voice.

And I think I've found it.

So while I still am going to post about projects and lovely designs, I'm also going to start throwing in a little of my personal life. You know...posts about my family, friends, daily activities, and the occasional youtube video. A jambalaya of my life experiences and stories.

And I hope you'll join me *grin*