DIY-Nesty: Antique Wooden Dresser

I am a glutton for punishment. I will go ahead and admit it. I don't go out of my way to take the hard way but I find myself on it more often than not. Which is why DIY and Ikea are both perfect for me. And thankfully I found a partner in life who not only accepts this, but who also enjoys a little work and is pretty ingenious when it comes to fixing things. A match made in Pinterest heaven.

(Here is the Mr. highlighting some of his handy

capabilities while removing paint)

One day while driving through our neighborhood we came across an estate sale and of course I'm not passing that up. Not only do I love the houses in Historic Grant Park, but I'm also a hunter of off the beaten path treasures. And boy was this worth the stop. We came across several lovely large furniture pieces and saw potential in a four drawer antique dresser (with a great top lift drawer on top!). The paint was peeling pretty badly, and the wooden wheels were on their last leg but there was beauty waiting to be uncovered. We packed it up in a too small car and started our adventure.

 

First step was to remove the paint. We opted for a low fume formula which may have made the process longer but was necessary due to confined space. Then it was good old fashioned scraping and sanding. What was really surprising was that underneath the brown paint, the wood was designed to contrast. Who would hide this:

Then it was a quick staining and glaze coat on the lighter parts to seal in the color variations. Finished out with new hardware and done. 

Super happy with this challenge and especially grateful to Mr. who really brainstormed and executed most of this. Now we have a lovely vintage piece for our home. 

Adult Hood

(Source: Guardian )

These words are very true. One day you wake up and bam, you're an adult. Don't get me wrong - there are many good things about growing up. Gaining the perspective that someimtes it's a good idea to pay someone else to do your taxes or the insight to walk away from your longest friendship because you've never had anything in common with the person are just a few. But there's that sting when you realize that growing up will always be synonymous with letting go. Yeah, news flash, being an adult isn't all eating bacon whenever you want.

 

Some days I find that I can't stand it though. So, I think this weekend I'm going to run around in some sprinklers or eat a bowl of Trix while watching cartoons. I'm taking back some of my childishness, and I encourage you to also! Take back what you've had to give up and throw a little vacation from adulthood. I think you'll find that visiting that place when you were happy and carefree all the time is like tapping into the fountain of youth. Swim in it, guys!

The Happiest 5K: Atlanta Color Run

Last weekend, my husband and I ran our first race! I use race loosely because the competitiveness could be argued, but we made a goal to run our first 5K this year and we made it. And that's one of those things you just have to write about :)

When choosing which 5 K to participate in, the Color Run was a natural choice. I  I first found it last year while still living in Chicago but the online enrollment filled up within the first few days of opening. So it was a sweet victory to participate in Atlanta's this year at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was everything it promised to be, a happy and colorful time.

Check pictures below. And if the pictures aren't enough color for you, check out acrewd's e-boutique to some of our newest spring and summer items.

xoxo, Heather

New Items at acrewd!

Just added a few new fashion finds to the store. Hot new dresses, accessories, and shoes and still more being added.

Also coming soon to acrewd, men's and home sections!

Shop your little hearts out :) 

I Don't Get It?

 

source: the blonde salad

 

Have you ever tried to love something, but just could not? I love SO much about this trench. The color, length, the muted effect of the monochromatic buttons and belt, the perfectly matched accessories, and most...of the tailoring. As much as I want to think that I am attracted to pieces that push the fashion limits (one of my life goals is to travel back to New Zealand to attend the World of Wearable Art awards) I just can't love this coat. Is it a sign that I am getting too old or unfabulous to enjoy a twist on the traditional? Or does this trench remind me too much of this image:

 



What are your thoughts? Is this coat fabulous beyond words an I just don't get it? Do you love it or hate it? Tell me in the comments!

-by: Heather

The United State of Winos and Wannabees

Hosting a wine party is like staking a claim on your level of pretension.

So, we hosted a wine party fit for winos and wannabes of all levels of alcoholism... and it was a great success. The key to hosting a successful wine party is to cater to the connoisseur and the not-so-connoisseurs. You have to give the wannabes incentive to act like a pretentious wine snob and enough quality and knowledge to satiate the true wine snob's hunger. I think we achieved just that.

The Game
I'm convinced that the game was the turning point in our party atmosphere. We researched each wine purchased and recorded the professional tasting notes on a white board. I then created a home made aroma kit so that each participant could pour a bit into tiny cups for reference material. This was a crucial part of our wine tasting because, in my experience, I usually notice that the first sip of wine is fabulous... and not much else. Before I know it, wines are usually being guzzled quickly and my ability to taste any other wine is diminished... which is not the point in a wine tasting (apparently). So, this game incentivized our guests to distinguish between a smoky chocolatey cabernet and a jammy pinot. Perfect.

The Knowledge
I appointed my wonderfully smart significant other to research and retain the knowledge required to talk about each wine's region, grape, and varietal. (I didn't dare tax myself with this responsibility plus I had more creative endeavors, like creating a tasting note board and a food menu.)

The Food
There many components to a dish that can compliment a particular wine, from herbs and spices, to the type of protein, to the oils and vinegars or condiments used. And of course cheeses.  Using our local wine store's catalogue, I was able to come up with a menu that was as progressive as the chosen wines. (FYI Tempranillo goes wonderfully with Trader Joe's chicken tacos.)

The Company
In any party, no matter the dollar spent or the theme produced, the night can go terribly off course if the company is less than superb. We nailed it.

Not to toot my own horn, but as far as winging a wine party, we pulled it off pretty well. You can pretty much do a tasting with anything you put in your mouth. (edibles...you perve) We had some great ideas from our friends about whiskey tastings and beer tastings... and I am HOPING a tequila tasting because we want to see some clothes come off! (err maybe)

Places to Love: Paris on Ponce

Ah.....sweet Paris on Ponce. This is one of those spots in Atlanta that is perfect for a person like me. It has everything (and I mean everything) that you could conceive thrown under one roof - and sometimes spilling out onto an adjoining dock. Antiques, artwork, jewelry, reworked furniture, vintage clothing, a burlesque lounge, endless DIY project supplies and even a squirrel wearing pearls. If you can't find it anywhere else, you can find it here.

One example was the elusive framed chalkboard I searched for to use as a menu for our wedding day. Everywhere I looked this item was out of my price range. Enter Paris on Ponce where we found a beautifully framed etched wood picture in a gold frame. A few layers of Dap and coats of silver and chalkboard spraypaint and voila! Here is our fantastic chalkboard menu for under $20:

Bonus - it's now used to decorate our home.

I often find myself at P on P when I don't have a specific project in mind because - well because it's pretty damn cool. It's the ultimate digger's paradise with so much to titilate the senses. Here are some pictures from our latest excursion to the land of wonderment:

So, if you're in the Atlanta area and you have a project you're working on, looking for inspiration, or just want to see a stuffed wolf wearing a crown you should definitely stop by this in town gem. It's not something you would ever find in the surrounding suburbia and much like the people of this city - it's inspiring, unique and never boring. And our taxidermy is fancy.

Do you have a favorite spot in Atlanta? Where should we go next?