Design Dilemma

I am slowly trying to decorate my "cute little loft" and I'm having a small dilemma.  I have wall a space between two windows that desperately needs something, but my realistic step father informed me I can't put any nails in it.  So, time to get crafty.  Here's a picture of the space..

The keyboard will be gone, along with all of the ugly cords (probably should have made that look a little nicer, oh well) and I would love to put an entry way table in it's place.  So I have a couple of ideas for the space, let me know what you think.

I think this is adorable, my mom said sometime like "that is the most hideous idea you've ever had".  I like the messy, randomness of it.. obviously Dawn does not feel the same way.  I found this picture here Well actually I found it on pinterest... if you're not on pinterest, get off my blog RIGHT NOW and sign up for an account!

Here is idea number two.. but it's incredibly expensive.  Anywhere from $10-$100 apiece for those things.  Still it's a really cute idea.  Here's the blog where I found them.

Third idea.. a little more sophisticated. I found this idea here.

#4.. Love this idea.. maybe a pearly white color?  Click here for the original post.  So if you have a free minute, leave me a comment with which one you like! 

2012

How was your 2011?  Mine was pretty baller.  (for all of you not from the hood that means awesome.  Well, at least I think that's what it means).  I am ready to tackle 2012.  Here are some 2011 pictures.. since I haven't updated this blog in 200 years.

Glo Tan grand opening

Easter Cardinals game with the McGlasson family

Celebrating a successful pampered chef party August 2011

Summertime

Glo Tan Cardinals game

Mom's birthday August

Kurt and Connie's birthday October

Chicago!

Beauty and the Beast.. Christmas gift from Grandma Shirley

So let's not talk about my 2011 new years resolutions.. it's best if we just ignore that I probably didn't complete one of them.  I have been wanting to journal for a long time.. usually I start a journal for like 3 days (tops) then quit.  So this year I'm taking cheating.  It asks you a question and you answer it!  Seems simple enough!

In 2012 I will be more responsible, be nice to everyone and do one awesome thing a month.  I'll check back in soon, I'm having a couple decorating dilemmas.

This summer so far..

Sweet HOT summertime!  It has been a busy busy busy summer.  So last time I posted I made a list of things I wanted to do.  I have managed to cross one thing off that list!!  Being the procrastinator that I am, that's a pretty big deal.  My Grandma Shirley (who is now on Facebook so she might actually read this one) and I went to the Confluence tower in Hartford.  The tower was pretty cool but if you don't like history don't waste your time.  If we didn't have a good tour guide I wouldn't have enjoyed it at all. Grandma and I actually went back to watch fireworks from the third level.  Here is a picture of the view before it got dark and the fireworks started.

 

Fathers day at the Emshousen/Stiverson house was pretty cool.  Madison insisted on hand making cards this year:

Happy Farter's day to you!

And she also made Kurt his favorite cookies:

Just in case anyone forgot who the cookies were for :)

And Kurt kept trying to catch the grill on fire:

But it was good to get all of the dads together and as always, the food was great!  Ok I have been working so hard on decorating my apartment.  I have been working on this thing over my bed for so long!  It is finally finished and hanging with a big thanks to Kurt.  Here are are pictures of the journey from toilet paper rolls to canvas board.

 

It doesn't look quite as good as the one I was trying to duplicate but I'm really happy with it.  I've been feeling a little crafty lately.  I found a tutorial on this blog called Two Girls Being Crafty (love love the blog) on how to make cute little coasters!  So I took a shot at it and I was very pleased. I think they make such an inexpensive, cute little gift. 

I just did a wedding this past weekend at the Gateway Center in Collinsville and in my opinion, the decor was the perfect for a fun summer wedding.  Their colors were bright orange, yellow and green.  Adorable!

 

Congratulations Michael and Ashley!  Now back to my home decor.  I found some cute little finds I want to share.

 I found this little gem at Bed Bath and Beyond in the clearance section.  I also purchased a new light to replace the one up there already.  Just waiting for someone to come hang it for me *cough cough Kurt cough cough* and I got this bowl to replace the one that was on my coffee table but didn't make it after the fall

Cute, right?

I died a little inside when this happened :'(

All in all it's been a good summer so far.  A little of this and that.

Alan, the pool boy.

Not quite enough pool time, but I'm working on it.  Oh and just to make your day better:

:)

It's already June?!?!

Where has the time gone?  I mean, it's June 2nd!  I feel like yesterday it was January.  Is this what it feels like to get older?  Anyway, I figured it was time for a post.  Since all of my New Years Resolutions went down the drain (I am a procrastinator at heart)  I've made a list of things to do before 2012.  But they are actually fun things so I'm sure I'll be a lot more likely to complete them.  Here we go in no particular order:

1. Geocaching I know I am not usually down with the outdoors and getting dirty, but after a recent 4 wheel riding experience, I am ready to try new things.  And this looks so fun!  Check it out if you don't know what it is!

2.  I want to point to a spot on a map of Illinois and just go there.  I don't know, it just sounds fun.

3.  Take a tour of the Confluence Tower in Hartford.  I know my mother has some moral opposition to going, but it looks really cool!

4.  Go on some sort of Segway Tour!

5.  An Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. 

6.  Go to a tanning convention in Austin, Texas this summer.  I can't seem to find a tanning convention happening near Austin this summer, but I know that is the only way I'll get off work in order to visit my cousin.  So, I'm still going to put it on my list even though it's probably not going to happen :)

I'll get back to you in six months and let you know if these played out like my new years resolutions did :)

I babysat Violet this weekend, here is a quick picture of how cute she is.

Ummm what else.. I am making a really cute picture thing to go over my bed so I can hopefully lose my headboard and get some euro pillows.  I found it on this blog called Just a Girl she is my favorite!  Here is the article, and the picture is below.  It's made out of toilet paper rolls (free) and I bought the canvas board on sale at Michales for $12.50.  You can't beat a cute wall piece under $15.  I'll let you know how it goes.. hopefully mine looks as cute as hers.

.If I find out I love toilet paper rolls as a medium, I want to tackle this baby..

That would be adorable on my bare front door.  The salon is still going great, I am finishing out my wedding I have already booked then hopefully selling my chair covers.  That's really all that's worth writing about my life right now, EXCEPT how much I am loving living by myself.  I am very content right now :)

Hello faithful readers!  Sorry I have left you hanging (what else is new?!?)!  I feel like there is nothing important enough going on in my life to write about but I'll give you a little update and post some pictures.  I was looking through the pictures on my phone the other evening and thinking about how interesting my life is. Day to day I don't think about it but I'm pretty lucky.  I have a great family and a tanning salon that take up all of my time.  Glo has grown so much just from the few months we have been open.  We have hired more staff than we planned to or thought we would have to, and we're so much busier than I thought we would be just starting off.  Here is me and one of my worker girls, Fran.  Love her! (not that I don't love the rest of you but I don't have any pictures with you)

It is so awesome. Most evenings we are completely booked up to where a client has to have an appointment to tan.  We can only hope our success continues.  It is so funny to look through pictures of when we first opened.. it looked so bare!  Here is a timeline of our accessory wall.  I didn't take pictures to really document the change but it works!

I just thought this was interesting.  Our lotion wall has went from pretty bare to packed.  Check it out:

beginning

current

So anyway, the tanning salon is bumpin.  Next big news:  Madison turns 9 on Monday!  Where has the time gone? I remember when she was just a little girl who called me "kaka".  Now she is just as cute and can correctly pronounce my name.  I love spending time with you, Madison you are such a joy.  I am so happy you're my little sister!

We had cupcakes and a small surprise party for Madison Saturday at out monthly ladie's breakfast at Caffe Avaniti in Edwardsville.  Love getting the whole gang together to catch up.  We missed you Melissa, Barb, Adrienne and Jayden!   (and you guys missed out on some awesome cupcakes!)

Stephanie is taking her HESI exam at Lewis and Clark tomorrow to try to get in the nursing program.  Good luck Steph!  Bradley and his cute girlfriend went to her Senior Prom yesterday.  I am trying to locate a picture but can't seem to find one yet, next post I'll make sure to include it.  Next on the list is my apartment.  I haven't had time to take any recent pictures but right after I got my stuff moved in I snapped some shots.  Excuse the messiness and random boxes.  I'll post more recent pictures as soon as I get a chance!

There is a little something to hold you over!