I get started with the trimming first while Dick is finishing up some work inside.

And meanwhile, the girls are doin’ their thang.

THE VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW

Here’s the view from our bedroom window currently.

The bushes have become overgrown and it’s time for my ANNUAL trimming.

Notice the contraption in the window?

It’s our Bose system, which is normally in our kitchen. This small thing is super portable and puts out great sound for the size. You know this Jane gots to have her music!

Ye-yah!

Here’s the view from the back of the house.

The crap in front of my bushes used to be a garden I had…TWO summers ago.

(We’re planning on getting it started again this spring before the baby comes.)

This last summer, I was so super busy I just let it go, so a ton of overgrown weeds took over.

I get to work, starting at the base.

And work my way to the inside, cutting layers at a time.

One down, one to go.

My house looks so spooky weird from this angle.

Look at the mess I created.

That’s when I call in for backup.

I’m the “aesthetics” crew.

Dick is “clean-up” crew.

So much nicer when we work together.

And, I always get a good view. lol

Before.

After.

Much better.

Don’t they look like mini bamboos rather than one big bush?

THE STONE AREA

We also have a stone area that has overgrown as well.

I mostly need these…

And after I pull all the dead stuff, I just need this…

To blow all the leaves out.

(Yes, changed into a tank top because I was getting hot doing all this work!)

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

You can actually see my Daffodils on the bottom that are ALREADY blossoming!

Spring is coming! So excited!!!

And on the top tier are my Lentil Roses.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

It’s good to prune your trees and bushes.

Makes them feel loved and makes you love them more.

-Jane, Pruner.

So, we got our acrylic paints out.

Now you don’t have to be an artistic prodigy to be able to do this with your child.

All I did was take a pencil and scribble a pattern on the paper.

Then we worked together to color in the spaces.

I used that copper color at first but ended up hating it so I painted over it.

ART is like that. You can change your mind whenever.

After we painted the base, I got inspired by that white swirly blob you see at the lower left corner of the page and we decided to repeat this pattern across the top of the painting.

Then, at the end, we decided to paint the white swirlies with glow in the dark paint.

I let Louise paint the glowing parts.

Turned out pretty cool!

Thanks Louise for inspiring Mommy!

It was great fun!

-Jane, Art Collaborator.

However, I love that messy, wavy hair look that gives you that cute, bed-head look that you often see the Celebrities donning.

Except, getting that messy looktakes work!

Here’s my version of how to get that look.

WHAT YOU NEED

What you’re going to need is a bunch of those pony-tail holders.

I prefer the Goody Ouchless kind, found at any Walmart, Target, Walgreens.

Besides that, you’re going to need some hair spray and a hair dryer…and most of all TIME!

HOW TO GET THAT MESSY LOOK

To start, this works best after you’ve just washed your hair and dried it so that it is ALMOST dry. A little damp is good.

Work in sections. Grab a little bit of hair at a time.

The less hair, the more wavy/curly.

I don’t want curly, I want wavy so I use about a half-inch thick’s worth.

(Does that make sense?)

Now, I use my pointer and middle fingers to wrap the hair in a figure-8 manner around my fingers.

When I get to the end, I slip out my pointer finger and wrap a hair tie around the middle of the hair.

Now, repeat this over and over again, working in little sections all over your head.

In the end, you’ll end up with a head full of knots that make you look like you’re rocking the Bjork look.

I may have to rock this look some time…it’s kinda cute.

Now spray your hair.

Put a dryer to it so that you heat up that hair really good.

Then, go do your make-up, put change your clothes, go about your business for about 20-30 minutes.

This allows your hair to cool down and SET.

The longer you keep it in, the more curly it’s going to get.

Then start to remove the rubber bands.

This look isn’t bad either. Kind of a classic, crazy look.

GET YO BED-HEAD ON!

After I’ve taken all the bands out, the waves are still chunked together so I like to finger through my hair.

Don’t comb through it or brush it, otherwise, it’ll look frizzy.

Now sometimes the bangs of my hair end up looking too frizzy or don’t curl right.

I could go back and fix it by re-wrapping it around my fingers but I’m too lazy today.

So, I put a hat on it, like I do on most lazy/bad hair days.

So there it is. That’s how Jane gets her BED HEAD on.

OTHER TIPS

If your hair ends up being too curly, just wait and let it relax itself. Or, you can dampen your hair a little bit but too much water and your waves will fall out.

Also, if you don’t want to use the hair-dryer, you can also start with wet hair and sleep in your knots overnight. Lucy likes to do it this way but I don’t like doing this because it’s uncomfortable and you end up with really tight curls. If curly is what you’re looking for though, this would be a great method for you.

So for those of you who have straight hair and want to give yourself that occasional PIZZAZZ, I hope this works for you.

Good luck!

UPDATE: Click HERE for the instructional video.

-Jane, Occassional Bed-Header.

Dick and I decided, who needs SLATS anyway.

Why not just a flat platform, which provides better support anyway!

We pick out the wood we wanted, considering thickness as well.

Then Home Depot will cut it down to size for you, for free.

I wish I had one of these saws at home.

Waiting patiently.

See how excited they are?

Here’s them thumbing through a Kids Room Magazine.

We brought a Caddie that we currently have to haul the platform home.

#1 Because Dick didn’t want the leather in his car to get scratched up.

#2 Because my car is a rear wheel drive and it’s snowing. It’s also too small.

#3 The Caddie has a huge, deep trunk and we love Pimpin’ in the Caddie.

We get a lot of surprised looks when we step out of the Caddie.

People are always expecting to see Old Folk.

-Jane, Caddie Pimptress.

We start with one bed and take out all the pieces.

I’m in charge of reading the instructions and telling everyone what to do.

As Dick points out,

“You ARE the Eng-gin-eer!”

Our powerdrill is not charged so we’re screwing everything in by hand!

Louise to Dick:

“Daddy, can I use YOUR screwdriver? Yours is better!”

Dick is laughing because she first blames the screwdriver rather than her own lack in strength.

“Obviously you thought it was the screwdriver!”

Yep, just like the picture.

The girls helped for a little while but towards the end, it was just me and Dick.

After the first one, assembling the second one was a breeze.

Especially now because the power drill is charged!

Instead of taking a couple of hours, it took like half an hour!

Yipppee!!!

This Jane loves power tools!

I can understand why you men fancy them.

It makes your job so much easier.

Anything to lessen the work load, right?

Watch out! Pregnant woman with a power gun!

After we assembled the frames, I sensed something was amiss.

Where are the SLATS for this slatted twin bed???

The girls are hoping they can just plop the mattress in anyway but as you can see, it wasn’t happening.

I can’t believe the bed doesn’t come with the slats! So ridiculous!

I went to IKEA’s website and apparently, the slates are sold separately at $25/each.

Not to mention we’d have to get them in Gotham City.

Whatevs!

We’re heading to Home Depot to take care of this the next day since they were closed.

This additional bump in the road is quite dissappointing for the girls. Sorry girls!

Still it doesn’t prevent them from going ahead and filling their drawers.

-Jane, Mother of Disappointed Girls.

I can’t just unwind the string so I’m going to have to remove the blades. I had already bought some new blades too so I guess this would be a good time to change them out since I have to take the blades off anyway.

Only thing is how to get to them since they are UNDER the mower.

Good thing we have some ramps from when Dick was doing some maintenance on our cars because this is the only way I can get to the blades.

(Phew, the lawn mower didn’t fall off the side of the ramp!

Kinda close though on the one side.)

Now that I can see under the mower, I discover I need a wrench set to take off the hex nut that is holding the blades in place. Unfortunatly, the wrench set is no where to be found.

RIGHTY TIGHTY, LEFT LOOSEY

This adjustable wrench (I’m guessing that’s what it’s called.) is going to have to do it.

So I’m on on the ground, getting dirty, trying to unscrew this NUT. Confused, because although I understands RIGHTY TIGHTLY LEFTY LOOSEY, this depends on your position with relation to the NUT (looking down the face of the blades or from standing over the top of it).

Because I can’t remember the rule for that, I turn the wrench LEFT with all my might. It doesn’t move. Then I turn it RIGHT with all my might. It still doesn’t move. Ugh. THWARTED AGAIN. What if I tightened it instead of loosening it when I turned it left?

This is the part where quitting and making my husband solve this issue for me would be the standard protocol. However, I know that if I did wait for him to do it, it’ll be a few more days if not week before DICK would actually get to it.

Sorry, no can do. Yard MUST be cut TODAY. Being the do-it-yourselfer that I am and utilizing what little resources I have left, I turn to my neighbor, Ozzy. Ozzy is an Engineer so I know he knows this. I’m an Engineer too but I’ve converted…to ARTism. I’ve lost some of my Engineering smarts.

THE RULE OF ROTATION

Ozzy tells me the rule is, you should be looking down, through the head of the nut (or bolt or screw) and then use the LEFT/RIGHT rules to tighten and loosen. He comes over to assist me because I am lacking the amount of muscle it requires to loosen the NUTS. He also helps me to find the proper tool to take this nut off.

Ozzy removes the blades and string for me and then suggests that I use a GRINDING WHEEL to sharpen my blades instead of putting the new ones on there. I don’t have one so Ozzy lets me use his.

SHARPENING BLADES WITH A GRINDING WHEEL

Talk about DULL! I can’t believe the mower cut any grass at all!

And although they are BLUNT as hell, I  still have enough life on them that I can sharpen them.

No wonder all the grass remnants were getting clumped up around my mower.

Ozzy shows me how to use his grinding wheel that’s in his garage.

It’s actually not that difficult.

(Big thanks to Sharon, Ozzy’s wife, for taking this picture above and below of me learning a new skill, BLADE SHARPENING.)

Seeing sparks fly would probably deter some people but I know they don’t really hurt.

They PRICK and ANNOY but don’t hurt.

It looks a little rough but it’s SHARP and will definitely do the job.

After I finish sharpening three blades, Ozzy graciously puts them back on for me and I’m BACK IN BUSINESS.

Do I have FABULOUS NEIGHBORS or what? Thanks guys!!!

Cutting the grass is SO NICE now. It chops up the the grass so finely and doesn’t get all CLUMPED UP like it was doing.

Oh yeah! Done! Finally!

Yes, it’s these simple things in life that bring me the most JOY.

-Jane, Obsessive Lawn Girl

It’s spring and since it’s still somewhat nice outside and not too hot, I like to do some work around the house.

Not only did the back porch need some lovin’, the front porch does too!

See where I went pressure-washer crazy?

So, I clear out the front porch and get to work.

This area gets super slick when it’s wet and rains. BUSTING your ass on this concrete is not fun. Just ask the kids. LOL. I’ve come close though…it’s like trying to balance on one foot while skating. Arms are flailing!

So, I opt to get this NON-SLICK concrete paint. It’s gritty and thick.

BEFORE

Wow, this area needs it bad!! This is where everyone usually slips.

I start at the opposite end so that I can make my way towards my front door.

AFTER

It only took about 30 minutes to paint this so I’m THRILLED!

I didn’t realize the paint would dry with the strokes. Oh well. Too late now.

It also dries feeling like sandpaper…so NO SLIPPING!

Not sure how long this will last before it starts to get stained again but, whatever, it’s BEAUTIFUL  now.

-Jane, Paint-a-holic

I haven’t painted it in a few years and it’s  been worn by the weather.

I like the DISTRESSED look but I also don’t want my railing to rot.

So, it’s time for a new coat of paint.

Whenever I paint, the girls always love to help.

Lookin’ a little too fabulous to paint, no?

The future’s so bright, I gotta wear my shades.

Eagerness to assist subsides and after I help them finish one side, they had enough and headed off to play on our dead tree that I have not had removed yet. I’m left to finish the rest on my own. What else is new?

Painting fencing is not easy. Too much surface area…there are too many faces of the railing to paint. Look at how dirty my man-hands are. I think man-hands and veins are a sign of a hard worker. I need a mani-pedi BAD!!!

BEFORE AND AFTERS

You know how much this Jane loves BEFORE and AFTERs.

It’s so fun to take something old and making it look new again.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Mr. Miagi would be proud.

Yes, I’m pretty pleased with the result.

Except, the girls tried to move my concrete planter and scratched the porch.

Hopefully, some water will just wash that off.

-Jane, Painting Fein.

I outline the edges with a thin brush.

No, I’m not trying to be artsy. The reason for the squigly lines is that the paint drips so I have to follow it with my brush.

Like in life, not every thing seems always perfect at first.

But, you just have to go with the flow.

Then come back to it and fix what you can.

You will make mistakes.

And if you give it your best, everything will turn out fine in the end.

Not bad ey? (I picked up the Canadian “ey” while living in Toronto.)

Now instead of looking like a white eyesore, it looks more like an industrial screen.

Love it!

Plus, the kids can do murals here.

Oh, and I can keep scores for Ping Pong!

-Jane. Lover of Chalkboard Paint.

]]> http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/jane-uses-the-rest-of-the-chalkboard-paint-on-the-garage-door/feed/ 5 http://janeanddick.com/quotes/lets-plant-some-flowers-and-drink-some-wine/ http://janeanddick.com/quotes/lets-plant-some-flowers-and-drink-some-wine/#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:35:17 +0000 Jane http://janeanddick.com/?p=10213 Besides using the chalkboard paint in the girls room, I also used it on our pantry door…an ugly white eyesore.

Originally when I thought to use the chalkboard paint, it was intended for this door.

I wanted to be able to write grocery lists, our favorite wines list, maybe even homeschool while I’m cooking, writing down notes so I won’t forget, etc., etc., etc.

Dick adds a Persian Poem that I find very fitting and LOVE…

Let’s plant some flowers and drink some wine…

My sentiments EXACTLY!

LOVELY and PERFECT for SPRING.

-Jane, Lover of Spring.

I’ve been asking Dick for a couple of weeks now to do the routine maintenance on my riding lawn mower so that I can cut my grass. Similar to cars, lawn mowers require maintenance too.

After waiting and waiting and waiting for Dick to do it, I decided to just SUCK IT UP, GET DIRTY and DO THE DANG JOB MYSELF!

It’s the only way I’m going get my grass cut before it comes up to my knees! Anyway, this is probably Dick’s master plan anyway…wait long enough and I’ll just get sick of waiting and do it myself.

LEARNING FROM THE EXPERTS AND SHOPPING FOR PARTS

I go to Lowe’s, where I bought my Husquevarna 48″ Mulching Riding Lawn Mower, to get the parts I need to do the tune-up.

While I’m picking the brains of the experts who work there on how to do some of this maintenance, the girls are having a good time playing with the lawn mowers.

I used to love pretending I was driving those things when I was a kid too but the excitement lasts for only so long.

The people who work at Lowe’s and Home Depot are a wealth of information. I’ve learned so much on how to do things myself from them! All you have to do is ask! (Best when they’re not busy.)

The gentleman that helped me was the same person who sold me my lawn mower and is a super expert on them. He shows me where everything is and how I remove parts and change them out. AWESOME!

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN A TUNE-UP

So, what’s involve in a tune-up? I’m changing the oil, draining the old gas, changing spark plugs, air filter, and gas filter.

DRAINING & CHANGING THE OIL

You need an oil pan for this so that you have something to catch all the crap that you will then need to properly dispose of.

Now that green screw in the middle must be UP otherwise you will have oil overflowing and it’s NOT pretty!

So, you’re supposed to pull out that cylindrical thing, put a tube on it, and then turn it and then oil should start to drain out. I would have loved to have avoided all the crap oil spewing down the side of my mower but I didn’t have THE TUBE, so I had to find a smaller container to catch the oil to be later transferred to my oil pan.

When your oil is all drained, pour the proper kind and amount required of new engine oil for your mower. It goes right back in where the DIP STICK is.

I wonder how this became an insult…DIP STICK. He’s such a dip stick. I don’t get it.

DRAINING THE FUEL AND CHANGING THE FILTER

I think water may have gotten in my gas tank because my cover had somehow blown completely off. Moisture in your gas will totally lock up your Engine and I’m in NO MOOD to send it off the the repair shop, which costs $$$ and takes about 3 weeks! I’ve had this happen before so this time, I’m playing it safe…I’m draining all the gas I left in the mower thru winter.

Since I have to change out the FUEL FILTER anyway, this is a great time to drain it. The fuel filter is attached with these clamps that require some pliers. I can’t find one since Dick took most of our tools out of town so I remember I have my HANDY DANDY LEATHERMAN!

Every woman should have one of these in her purse! The LEATHERMAN is kind of like a HARD-CORE SWISS ARMY KNIFE.

Once I pull those clamps back, I should be able to just detach the tubes.

Have your bucket ready because the gas will start coming!

Once it’s drained, you just replace it with the new filter. So easy! Dirty, but easy.

I’m not sure why this one is smaller but that’s what the dude gave me and it fits.

AIR FILTER

This one is so easy. Just find it and replace it.

That pad gets replaced too.

SPARK PLUGS

Changing SPARK PLUGS sounds like a major job but it’s super easy! (Even on a car it’s not that hard.)

Basically, your spark plug is screwed into the socket where it sits covered by a rubber hosed cap.

Pull off the cap and use a spark plug wrench to unscrew it.

Similar to a tire iron, you’re going to use leverage to start and then loosen the lug nuts.

RIGHT TIGHTLY LEFTY LUCIE.

Remember?

Once it’s loose, it’s just a matter of unscrewing the old one and putting in the new one.

MAINTENANCE DONE

I usually hate doing jobs like these because you get extremely FILTY (totally understandable why mechanics have permanent black fingers).

But, I am so proud of myself for doing this tune-up MYSELF! Yes ladies, don’t wait for your hubby, just get dirty and do it yourself. You’ll feel so good about yourself after you do!

Alright then! All done with maintenance…or so I thought! When I go to crank up my lawn mower, it’ coughs like it wants to start but dies. Dayum! I think we have a battery issue.

All that work and now my mower won’t start.

F#$%ing S#%@ !!!!!

Don’t you hate it when you’re ready to start something, especially after you’ve done all the prep work, only to find that you CAN’T?!??!?! Arghhh!!

To Be Continued…

-Jane: Lawn Mower Maintenance Gal

This was two years ago.

Girlfriend is SUPER-FIERCE with her HAWK. I wish I could rock a HAWK but this Jane’s head is too big for that. Dick would agree, I’m sure.

However, it’s still too cold now and I want to wait. No, she’s determined, so we decide to go short but not that short…for now anyway.

Thelma had found a picture of a short hairstyle she likes and I love it! However, this Jane is NO PROFESSIONAL so I’m weary of how it would turn out with Mom Mommy cutting her hair for her. I have NO IDEA how to cut this hairstyle! It is possible to get it to look similar.

After two weeks of having Thelma mention it to me daily, mulling it over and delaying for as long as I could…I decide that today would be the day.

JANE, NON – PROFFESSIONAL HAIR STYLIST

We’re at my mom’s so all I have are these scissors (which are actually professional-grade) and this comb.

Actually, even if we were’t at my parents, I’m pretty sure this is all I would be using.

After Thelma gets out of the shower, we get started.

BEFORE

DURING

The back.

I cut it a bit too short. Like I said, NOT a professional.

AFTER

It doesn’t look exactly like the picture but does it ever?

One must make adjustments for the person who will be donning the hairstyle.

Plus, it’s going to be a little flatter since we’re not using gel or spray.

I think I did a decent job. Of course, if a PROFESSIONAL did have a good look at it, they’d be like WTF?!?! There is totally no rhyme or reason as to how I cut it and I’m sure it’s uneven in every single way. I fear that if they wind blows it the wrong way, it’s going to just look like a slobbering mess. Let’s hope not.

No matter, my client LOVES it and that’s ALL THAT MATTERS!

-Jane, Non-Professional Haircutter

I know it’s drawn out to a few days but that’s just how these things go. Decorating or redecorating, takes time.

THELMA & LOUISE’S ROOM

The girls share a queen platform bed that I pushed up to the wall to make it more “loungy”. It also makes the room look more spacious.

We had a comforter that actually goes with the decor so I’m super excited about this. This makes my project even less costly than I thought!

I also had found two of their dresses that I thought looked good on the walls but, after I added the custom designs on the walls…I found it be too much, so I removed them.

BEFORE

AFTER

Much better.

I’m sorry the green always looks different. It constantly changes in my house too! So weird. Warmer and more yellowy in the day, and more cold, techno green in the evening. And then changes every color in between if it’s sunny or cloudy outside.

I am LOVING their room. I love it more than my room now. My room is SO BLAH but repainting that one is not easy. The furniture is too heavy for me to move around by myself so I’m less motivated to start that project.

I think I’m going to move into this room instead. Every time I walk by it, I just have to look in and smile. I LOVE LVOE LOVE it! Makes me all giddy inside.

Dick likes it as well and agrees that our room is so drab and boring now. Well, do I hear someone volunteering to HELP me???

EXPENSES

So, basically, besides all the hours of work I put into it, cost wise, here’s roughly what I spent:

TOTAL $145!!

Not bad for a new room.

You know, when you do something yourself, you love it THAT MUCH MORE!

That’s why I love my house so much!!

-Jane, Girls Room Redecorator.

]]> http://janeanddick.com/artsy-fartsy/finally-the-finished-painted-techno-colored-girls-room/feed/ 8 http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/recycling-things-i-already-have-to-accessorize-the-room/ http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/recycling-things-i-already-have-to-accessorize-the-room/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:08:12 +0000 Jane http://janeanddick.com/?p=9513 Most of the stuff I’m using to accessorize  is stuff I already have. Like on some of those decorating shows on HGTV (I love those!) I decide to use stuff that is around my house because I have plenty.

You remember I painted the tray. The picture is of Dick’s late Grandmother. The candles came from my office where Dick had kicked out my nice decorations with his cluttered CDs. (Click HERE to be reminded of the chaos.)

The glass blown purse was in my bathroom.

The cherry blossom came from my mom’s house.

She has plenty of stuff so I relieve her of some of it.

I love CHERRY BLOSSOMS!!

The vase I already had and the tray is other one that I just painted.

The crystal looking, green plastic pieces I bought at Walmart for $3.

DECORATIVE CUSTOM PILLOWS

I decide that it would be too expensive and difficult to find throw pillows to match the room so I head to JoAnn’s to see what I can find.

I find this silken fabric that is just BEAUTIFUL and even has some cherry blossoms on it!

(And it’s on sale…30% off!!!)

I solicit my mom to sew me some simple pillows. Of course, I want them NOW so I can see how they fit in the room. My mom only had time to do the magenta and blue ones and because she’s doing me a favor, I can’t exactly crack the whip to get them all done. I’m at Fanny Mae’s mercy.

Thanks Mom, the pillows look awesome. Love you!!

PARTIALLY FINISHED

So, here’s a sneak peak of the partially finished room.

This Jane is LOVING how the room turned out.

Still a WORK IN PROGRESS and waiting on my GREEN PILLOWS, need to add  some last finishing touches, and then there’s the CLOSET!!

Spring cleaning is definitely in order here. We need to sort through all the clothes the girls have and get rid of all the ones they don’t fit.

-Jane, Do-it-Yourself Decorator

]]> http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/recycling-things-i-already-have-to-accessorize-the-room/feed/ 0 http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/introducing-color-3-i-stray-from-the-brochure-and-go-hot/ http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/introducing-color-3-i-stray-from-the-brochure-and-go-hot/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:31:14 +0000 Jane http://janeanddick.com/?p=9444 After painting first two colors (Hep Green and Reflecting Pool), I notice that the colors on my walls are turning out darker than the ones in the brochure. However, I’m still DETERMINED to pull this room together and make it FABULOUS for my girls.

The girl’s room is low lit so that’s why the colors are coming out darker on my walls. This is why I take it step by step. You have to make decisions that change according to your circumstances. You cannot predict these things…especially if you do it the way I do it….which is to WING IT!

GOING LIGHT PINK. STILL HOPEFUL.

I decide to go light for the third color given the dark lighting circumstances.

The RUBY SHADE was too purple and I feared it would come off extremely dark. The ZANY PINK is also a bit dark with a tinge of yellow so with my tungsten lighting, it would surely come out looking like a Salmon Pink…which would make me reconsider the whole TECHNO color thing and do something drastic.

I go with this light pink called HOPEFUL. So fitting…

NOT!!

HOPEFUL turned out to be the most DREADFUL color. I was so disgusted by it I immediately ran back to the Sherwin Williams hoping they can just add some color and fix it. I felt super stupid because the guy working there was just telling me how they won’t let you come back and be like, it was the wrong color. You have to pay for another thing of paint. And look who’s back after only 15 minutes.

I found a color I like, named HOT. I ask the guy if he would be able to just add some color to the HOPEFUL pink and turn it into the HOT pink. He tells me it’s impossible because the base on the HOPEFUL is a white base and the base on the HOT is a dark base. Great.

I ask him to do the best he can to change it. After 4 times, the color changed from the lower right hand corner sample, going counter clockwise, getting gradually darker, and ending up with the lower left hand color. Shit. That ain’t gonna do it. Ok fine! I’ll buy another quart! I get the HOT pink.

You would think I would learn the second time and not just wing it on the color but I am now beyond HOPEFUL, I’m HOT. I run home to try my new color.

ACCESSORIZING: THE TRAYS

Because this third color is there for accents, I decide to paint the coat-hanger shelf thing with my new HOT color. In my excitement to see if I have found my answer to this design project that I’ve taken on, I forgot to take before pics. Here’s the after:

Yes, I think it’s a winner!

I paint an old red tray that I have from buying something at Armani with the same HOT color.

OMG, looks so great against the blue.

Some more accesories…

THE LAMP

The girls already had a lamp in their room that was actually, very similar to that purple RUBY SHADE from the brochure but now that I changed it to HOT, we make the lamp HOT.

I must say I really like the HOT pink color. It’s a very nice magenta with a HOT twist. Love it.

-Jane, Fan of HOT pink.

]]> http://janeanddick.com/do-it-yourself/introducing-color-3-i-stray-from-the-brochure-and-go-hot/feed/ 0 http://janeanddick.com/artsy-fartsy/introducing-color-2-from-hep-green-to-reflecting-pool/ http://janeanddick.com/artsy-fartsy/introducing-color-2-from-hep-green-to-reflecting-pool/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:03:36 +0000 Jane http://janeanddick.com/?p=9428 After painting two coats of Sherwin William’s Hep Green Techno Color on the walls, I am very concerned. It’s TOO YELLOW GREEN.  It looks nothing like the brochure.

Calm down. It’s ok. Maybe you just have to get used to it. Plus, it’s time for the next color.

REFLECTING POOL

My projects are always a work in progress with VERY LITTLE PLANNING. I have to take it one step at a time because I don’t really know how it’s going to turn out. I haven’t decided how I’m going to add the accent colors. I like the pattern they used in the brochure where the blue is two opposing triangles. So, I adapt it for my room and decide to put the same design on either side of the window.

The triangles are painted with a light blue that is named REFLECTING POOL.

It’s a very pretty blue. I’m SUPER EXCITED!

TAPING OFF

First, I have to measure my space so I can pinpoint the middle. This involves a measuring tape, a pencil, paint tape and remembering my geometry from my teenage years. I locate the midpoint and tape off the area with lines extending to the wall and window.

I then paint the inside of the triangles with the Reflecting Pool Blue. And because I can’t wait to see how it turns out, I bring out my hair dryer.

I pull off the tape hoping that I haven’t made a huge mistake with my decision to go TECHNO COLOR.

The green continues to change it’s shade according to how much light is shining thru the window, if it’s daytime or nighttime, if the interior lights are turned on or not.

Ok, not bad. But, I’m not loving it. The two opposing walls are blank and there’s definitely more work to be done. We’re not finished yet.

THE CUSTOM SHELF

This custom shelf was built by the previous owner of this house. It was also a girl’s room. I had emptied the two lower shelves because the girls had their clothes overflowing in those spaces. The shelf is too white and I decide this too will be painted Reflecting Pool Blue.

I LAHV-LAHV-LAHV the blue on the shelf. Oh, and by the way, I use MATTE paint for EVERY COLOR IN THE ROOM. I just wanted a muted, comfy feel…especially since we’re already going TECHNO. Balance, ying yang. I don’t know the formal or technical ways of designers for color and placement so I just go with my natural instinct.

Slowly but surely, this room is coming together. I hope. The jury is still out on if I like the green or not.

-Jane, Fan of Reflecting Pool Blue.

]]> http://janeanddick.com/artsy-fartsy/introducing-color-2-from-hep-green-to-reflecting-pool/feed/ 2 http://janeanddick.com/random-stuff/easy-at-home-hair-coloring-with-sallys-products/ http://janeanddick.com/random-stuff/easy-at-home-hair-coloring-with-sallys-products/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:46:46 +0000 Jane http://janeanddick.com/?p=5524 I started dying my hair when I was in college. I HATED my original hair color and wanted look different so started coloring my hair. It’s been all kinds of crazy shades of black, brown, red, orange, and even blond highlights.

Although I used to get it professionally done, this is extremely pricey for one with hair as long as mine ($200-$300 for a cut and color). Also, with the amount of time that it takes to be in the salon, a good 2-3 hours for a cut and color, I would rather do it myself at home so that I can do other things around the house while I’m waiting for the color to absorb.

I go to my local Sally’s Beauty Supply store to get what I need.

My hair color has faded from the sun. It’s like an orangish color. It’s not that bad but it’s winter and I want to go darker. My roots are also about 2 inches out. I almost resorted to black but decided against it. Just couldn’t do it.

I color my hair like every 2-3 months. Not very often because it’s quite a lot of chemicals. I don’t have any gray but I hate my original dark boring brownish-black hair. I’m really a red head at heart and want to do a dark red that is very similar to my usual CHERRY BLACK.

Typically, I buy Wella hair coloring products but this time, the Manager at Sally’s recommended that I try using a Clairol Professional dark brown semi-permanent (instead of permanent) color that will coat the already warm tone that I have. That way, I still have the red but much darker. Sure, why not? Let’s try something new. It’s the only way to find out.

At home, these are the items I will need to do my at-home hair coloring.

The mixing bottle. The color. The developer. A old T-shirt you don’t care about. Intense conditioner. A comb. Gloves.

Lucy has graciously agreed to be photographer to document this.

BEFORE

When you dye your hair, it is recommended that it is done when your hair has not been washed first. My hair has been under a hat all day and true to “before” pictures, I’m looking hideous. Hopefully, this will make the “after” look all the more amazing.

FIRST

I’m not confused, I’m just trying not to spill any of this on me or the floor.

This particular Clairol Professional color requires equal parts of color and developer.

SECOND

There is no real rhyme or reason as to how I apply the color. I basically work in layers, massaging the color thoroughly into my hair with my fingers. I also continuously comb (Make sure your hair is combed out thoroughly or this will HURT!) through my hair that I just applied the color to so that I can make sure it’s coated and even spread.

It looks (and sounds) like I’m squirting ketchup all over my head.

I’m am by NO MEANS a professional. This is a very messy job so try not to squirt this stuff everywhere. It may stain but not if you wipe it up quickly.

So, Clairol seems to have less color than my Wella. Crap! I’m scraping everything I can get out of the bottle.

THIRD

After a thorough combing to make sure the color is spread evenly, I put my hair up in a bun. Now it’s time to wait…45 minutes.

THE FINALE

After you wash all the color out of your hair, apply conditioner thoroughly or your hair is going to be super dry.

The final result.

Here’s the BEFORE/AFTER.

I’d say that’s QUITE an improvement.

I really like this color. Will have to remember this one.

All it took was my time and $6.75 for the color and developer. I’d say that’s pretty DAMN good for a new hair-coloring.

-Jane, Non-professional At-home Hair Colorist

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