Update on the Floors: Prepping

<center></center>Good news! We started laying floors! Sweet, sweet progress. I could not be happier about this development.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0441.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0441.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Here are the details...<br /><a name="more"></a><br />But first I wanted to clarify a couple of things. A few people have mentioned in the comments sections that they wonder who I'm talking about when I say "we" a lot in my posts. I'm mostly talking about Michael, who pitches in with projects a lot after work and on weekends, and my sister, Ali, who has been a great help whenever I've needed a second pair of hands. I don't have any employees right now and there's no team of little elves over here working behind the scenes that I'm not crediting. I'm being genuine when I say that the projects I'm sharing are doable, often easy and even fun to try. So sorry about any confusion there! I work alone a lot, but when I do get a helper it feels disingenuous to say look at what <i>I </i>did, but I get that that's confusing, so I'll do a better job of saying who did what in the future.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6309.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6309.jpg" /></div><br />Also, my friend <a href="http://vivafullhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Christina</a> introduced me to Jason Millar, who I've mentioned here before. (He's all booked up now, so if I haven't gotten back to you with contact info it's because he's asked me to hold off for a bit :). Jason is a handyman who we have paid hourly to come in now and again and help us on the tricky stuff. This has worked out so, so well. I know nothing about electrical work. I am (well, was) terrified of cutting into a wall. I wouldn't have known how or where to start with laying the floors. In general, Jason comes in, lends us his expertise and occasionally some of his specialized equipment and gets us started on projects and then usually he leaves and we do most of the labor ourselves to save money. This is why things are seemingly slow-going on the reno part of the house. But we're saving money by doing it this way and learning a ton along the way. Like, at this point I've laid the floors for three of the bedrooms and it is so different than I thought it would be. Harder in some ways and easier in others. Prepping for the wood was a pretty epic experience in and of itself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6306.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6306.jpg" /></div><br />Most of the houses in Arizona don't have basements and are built on concrete slabs - which you can't nail wood planks into. There are a couple of options if you're in this boat.<br /><br />1) The first option for us was to use glue-down grade flooring. There are a couple of solid wood lines that are suitable for glueing down, and most laminates and engineered woods can be glued down. We thought a lot about going with a nice engineered option - the kind that is 3/4" thick with solid wood on most of the thick top layer. These can be refinished about as many times as solid wood. The difference is the wood is birch-backed and a little more stable and less sensitive to moisture and weather changes. It's more expensive than solid wood though.<br /><br />The flooring expert I talked to thought it would be tricky for me to install the floors by myself using the glue-down method - especially if I wanted to use completely solid wood (which will have some irregular planks and some curving to some pieces just due to the nature of wood) and not engineered wood (which is going to be pretty consistent and straight). It's hard/impossible to manipulate slightly bowed wood planks using the glue down method. Plus it's expensive glue at around $250-$350 per bucket. We would have needed more than 10 buckets.<br /><br />2) The second option was to use a new sticker-like adhesive underlayment called Elastilon right on top of the concrete. It's a moisture barrier as well, which is really nice. I got a little nervous about installation of the solid wood with this stuff for the same reasons as the glue. It was pricey stuff, and it seemed like it would be tricky to get the hard wood installed right and tight without any nails. I was especially worried about the chevron pattern I want to do in the library. (P.S. John and Sherry over at <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/05/get-on-the-floor/" target="_blank">Young House Love</a> used Elastilon to install their hardwood floors and it looks like they had a pretty easy time of it.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0598.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0598.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />3) The last option is to glue and nail down 5/8" plywood on all the concrete and then install the hardwood planks with a nail gun. We ended up going with this method because it was slightly more cost effective on the front end, and hugely cost effective on the actual floor installment because we could nail the planks down ourselves. Jason was very helpful with the demo process and he also really took charge in installing the plywood subfloors, which were a bit of a nightmare.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0588.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0588.jpg" /></div><br />You trowel on glue (which is rated to be a moisture barrier, as well, though is much less expensive than the other glue I just mentioned - about $75 a bucket and we needed about six or seven) and then you lay down the plywood sheet and use a gun-like ramset to shoot nails into the concrete using the force of .22 caliber bullets. It was nuts and seriously hard work. This was a good project to get pro help on.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6784.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6784.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xxDSC_0593.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xxDSC_0593.jpg" /></div><br />In the girls' rooms and the landing upstairs we were able to reuse the plywood floors already on the floor. The plywood is old, but level and in good enough shape. I had read online that it is imperative for plywood subfloor to be perfectly smooth and as free of old nails and staples as possible. I cannot even begin to describe what a pain it was to pull out all the staples from the old laminate. Hours and hours of hard, intense labor, bending over and kneeling down and pulling at those staples like mad. It was not fun and not easy because the staples are so long. Jason later told me it's not really that big of a deal and we could have just bent the staples over and hammered the them flat, but you know, whatever. I like to do things the hard way. (*hits head repeatedly on pile of wood boxes*)<br /><br />If you also like to do things the hard way, we found the easiest method to be to tap a long screwdriver into the staple,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6298.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6298.jpg" /></div><br />And then use the hammer to pull the staple out by prying the screwdriver up. All the staples will be installed at an angle, all the same direction and if you pull them out in the same direction it makes the process a little easier and rips up your plywood less.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6301.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6301.jpg" /></div><br />Then we swept and vacuumed and it was time to start the floors, which I'll detail out for you in a separate post.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0444.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0444.jpg" /></div><br />I know a lot of you were on the fence about me taking out the hand-scraped engineered wood and the ceramic tile. I was on the fence too - it was a tough choice that I considered very seriously. And even though we've saved a lot of money by buying the wood prefinished from Lumber Liquidators and installing it ourselves, it still was expensive to buy all this wood, plywood, glue and nails.<br /><br />You'll probably remember that when I decided to pull out the old floors, I was shooting for the stars and wanted a very specific Parisian apartment look to the wood. Classic and traditional looking, but a little more on the worn in side and warm-looking. I had put aside a lot of our savings to try and do this, but when I got the quote of nearly $40,000 for the wood and installation and finishing on site (<i>not</i> including the demo), I just had to let go of the idea. We hit more roadblocks right and left and ultimately I decided to just go with the prefinished white oak solid wood and take the time to install it myself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0418.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0418.jpg" /></div><br />This way I'm still getting a little bit of the look I was hoping for with the finished-on-site wood and have the option to sand and refinish the floors several times down the road, if we want to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0414.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0414.jpg" /></div><br />So far, I'm liking the floors like a 7.5 or an 8 out of 10. The good news is I really like the 3.25" plank width. I think it will be perfect for the chevron pattern we're starting on in the library next week. I'm okay with the stain/wood color (though there are occasional pieces that are more pink than I'd like to have, but you know, that happens with oak). Minus two or three points for the finish though - it's a little too perfect and satin-y. This is what I was worried about with the prefinished route, but I know it'll look great when we get furniture and rugs in here to break up the sea of smooth wood. We're trying to leave just a hair of a gap in some planks just to avoid that tight butcher block look that I want to avoid. And happily there's none of that hollow sound when we walk and I attribute that 100% to Jason's handy work with the subfloors. Dude knows what he is doing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_04161.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_04161.jpg" /></div><br />I'm being nit-picky about the finish though - I really like this wood and I still think it was a good choice to change out the old floors before we settled in to this side of the house. Once the walls are all painted and the trim is back up, I know I'll love the floors even more! I'm really glad we did it.<br /><br />Back to the nail gun!

Update on the Floors: Prepping

Good news! We started laying floors! Sweet, sweet progress. I could not be happier about this development. Here are the details... But first...

Read more »

DIY: Faux Bois Paint Technique

<center></center>We've talked about it here before, but I could use the reminder myself: It's always best to decorate in layers. Not everything in a room has to get done right away. And usually I like a room that's been decorated slowly, over the course of many years, much more than a room that was done in a week. Ideas and pieces for a space will emerge over time because you'll have the chance to actually live in and use the room.<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Foldingstation.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/Foldingstation.jpg" /></div><br />When <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-laundry-room-redo-and-5000-laundry.html" target="_blank">I redid our laundry room</a>, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the laundry folding tabletop. I went to a stone yard and looked at marble and granite remnants, which were still too expensive for me to get right with, so I bought a piece of MDF and had it cut to fit the top of our new washer/dryer. I thought about painting it a bright color. Then I thought about painting it to match the appliances. Then I thought about doing a faux marbled/malachite pattern with white and gray paint (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/05/faux-stone-diy-idea.html" target="_blank">just like this</a>), but I never got around to doing it. Then I stumbled across <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/01/faux-bois-floors.html" target="_blank">this post from my archives</a> and I remembered how badly I've been wanting to do a faux bois paint treatment. There's not any wood in our laundry room, except for the bamboo chair, so I thought it would be great to have something with an organic element and with lots of movement in the pattern.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0547.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0547.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0563.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0563.jpg" /></div><br />It's crazy how the faux bois pattern addition makes the room feel so much more finished. And I know I always say this, but truly, painting a faux bois pattern is as easy as can be. If you can paint a straight line, you can do this project. Actually, scratch that! If your lines are a bit crooked or wavy - this project is totally perfect for you!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0542.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0542.jpg" /></div><br />Here's how...<br /><a name="more"></a>The first step is to paint your base color. I used a glossy oil-based paint, but you can do any type of finish as long as there are no bumps in the surface.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0436.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0436.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0425.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0425.jpg" /></div><br />Did you notice my handy new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035YLSKE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0035YLSKE&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20">Painter's Pyramids</a> here? They are so genius and help avoid that painted-edges-sticking-to-the-drop-cloth situation. And the best part is they make it so you can paint one side and immediately flip over to paint the other side. The pointy tops don't really leave marks on the surface (they do however hurt, like, SO BAD if you step on them barefoot. Ouch.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0434.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0434.jpg" /></div><br />Once the base coat is fully dry, you mix the paint color you want to use for the "grain" part. If you're using latex paint, you'll want to mix one part paint with one part glaze and one part water. If you're using oil-based paint like I did, you can use a mixture of one part paint with one part paint thinner or Penetrol. It should be very watery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0455.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0455.jpg" /></div><br />I used this slightly metallic Aluminum color by Rustoleum and I really liked it. I think it actually looked a little like mercury glass or liquid chrome and might be really cool for other applications where it hadn't been thinned down. I'm excited to experiment more with the color.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0443.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0443.jpg" /></div><br />Then the most important thing you'll need for this project is a wood grain rocker. You can buy them lots of places online, but Martha Stewart makes <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Martha-Stewart-Living-3-in-Wood-Grain-Rocker-MS-WGR/202592296#.UhMRKGRASXQ" target="_blank">a good and affordable one</a> that's sold at The Home Depot. I don't have a photo of the package here, but I also picked up one of her <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Martha-Stewart-Living-3-Piece-Painting-Comb-Set-MS-PCS/202592298#.UhMRa2RASXQ" target="_blank">strie combs</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0490.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0490.jpg" /></div><br />The approach is very simple. I used a 2" angled brush to paint on a section of thinned paint in long strokes, the size of two or three widths of the wood graining tool. You most definitely wouldn't want to paint the entire surface all at once - you want the glazed/thinned paint to be very wet still while you're doing the faux bois technique. It's important to work in sections, and to do the whole surface in one painting session though so that the lines sort of run together and blur into each other. Also, it's nice that if you do a part that you don't like, just brush right over it and try pulling the paint again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0458.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0458.jpg" /></div><br />I alternated one row of using the wood graining rocker with a row of straight combing using the back edge of the rocking tool or the strie combs I bought (it looks good to alternate the pattern on the strie comb between the widely spaced comb (above) and the tightly space comb you can see in the photos below). Once you've pulled a row, make sure to wipe down your comb or wood grain rocker.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0495.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0495.jpg" /></div><br />The technique for using the rocking tool is very easy - you just pull down and rock back and forth.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0491.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0491.jpg" /></div><br />I tried to mix up the speed of my rocking so there would be some variation in the look of the grain lines with longer and shorter knots.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0505.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0505.jpg" /></div><br />If you're working on a flat surface like I was here, don't forget to paint and pull the comb or rocker down onto the edges as well. This makes the pattern look a little more authentic to the eye.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0509.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0509.jpg" /></div><br />I'm such a fan of how this faux bois tool worked! It was an easy and really satisfying project. This technique would work so well on furniture pieces with really squared off and flat surfaces (hello, <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09063/" target="_blank">IKEA Lack series</a>! I'm looking at you!) and it even wouldn't be that hard to do entire walls once you're comfortable with the technique. And now I'm wishing I had a little powder bath to do in the Valley house. :)<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0514.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0514.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0540.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0540.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0549.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0549.jpg" /></div>

DIY: Faux Bois Paint Technique

We've talked about it here before, but I could use the reminder myself: It's always best to decorate in layers. Not everything in a ...

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Give Away: $500 to The Home Depot!

Today is the very last day to enter to win a laundry room e-design from yours truly which comes with a $5000 Mastercard gift card and a year's supply of Tide. I hope you've entered already (and <a href="https://tideandmaytag.com/" target="_blank">here's the link</a> in case you haven't!).<br /><br />In celebration of the laundry room makeover contest, The Home Depot is giving you a second chance to win something special today - a $500 gift card!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0522copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0522copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />To enter to win the $500 gift card to The Home Depot (which will arrive with a great box of samples from Tide), just leave a comment on this post. I'd love to hear what projects you'd fund with the gift card. I actually picked up some supplies there this weekend and did a little faux bois treatment to <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-laundry-room-redo-and-5000-laundry.html" target="_blank">my laundry folding station</a>. I'm working on the tutorial photos now, so look for that post tomorrow probably.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0539.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/xDSC_0539.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Contest ends Monday, August 26 at midnight. Winner will be contacted via email. Good luck! (And don't forget to enter <a href="https://tideandmaytag.com/" target="_blank">the EXTRA BIG give away here</a>!)<br /><br /><center></center><i>Thanks to The Home Depot and P&G for sponsoring this post series. And thank <b>you</b> for supporting the companies that collaborate with me on LGN posts. :)</i>

Give Away: $500 to The Home Depot!

Today is the very last day to enter to win a laundry room e-design from yours truly which comes with a $5000 Mastercard gift card and a year...

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S'mores on the Front Porch

<script src="http://static.fmpub.net/zone/5708" type="text/javascript"></script><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Brought to you by Energizer®. Click <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fbs.serving-sys.com%2FBurstingPipe%2FadServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dtf%26c%3D20%26mc%3Dclick%26pli%3D7404867%26PluID%3D0%26ord%3D%5Btimestamp%5D&k4=6622&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">here</a></span> to learn more about Energizer® Portable Lights with Light Fusion Technology.</i></span><br /><br />When we first moved into the Valley house, I was frustrated by the number of exterior doors and mini-porches here. It seemed silly and inefficient. I still wish our exits were consolidated, but I have a new appreciation for our side porch, which is in front of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-plank-walls-and-painted-mudroom.html" target="_blank">the mudroom</a> and next to the garage. We've been using this space so much lately and I think it's starting to look pretty cute:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XADSC_0449.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XADSC_0449.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaaDSC_0422.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/aaaDSC_0422.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Here's the full rundown on our little porch makeover...<br /><a name="more"></a>Remember what this spaced looked like before?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6556.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6556.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6555.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6555.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Pretty sad. It looks so much more lived in now! Adding just a little bit of furniture and some pots with pretty plants made a huge difference.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DDSC_0434.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DDSC_0434.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0456.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0456.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0508.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0508.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />My favorite is our new blue porch swing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0444.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0444.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>We live close to a lot of family members now, so we find ourselves having impromptu gatherings a few times a week.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo sDSC_0566.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/sDSC_0566.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0504.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0504.jpg" /></div><br />My mom was in town a couple days ago and we were having unseasonably cool weather, so Heather picked up Grimaldi's pizzas and we made s'mores on the newly furnished front porch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0516.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0516.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0538.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0538.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Energizer had recently invited me to try out their new outdoor lanterns, so I pulled them out for our little s'mores party. We live in a really quiet private neighborhood where there aren't a ton of street lights. We love how dark it gets here (hello, star gazing!), except for when we want to have friends over for s'mores and scooter-riding. :) <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fbs.serving-sys.com%2FBurstingPipe%2FadServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dtf%26c%3D20%26mc%3Dclick%26pli%3D7404867%26PluID%3D0%26ord%3D%5Btimestamp%5D&k4=6622&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">Their newly designed lights</a> were super helpful for task and general lighting, and I like that they run on LED technology. I'm sure we'll be taking these lights on our next camping trip.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0620.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0620.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The pop-up lantern ended up being our favorite to use. The kids took turns hanging it from their scooters while they zipped around the culdesac. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0417.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0417.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We needed some extra seating on the porch for the s'mores party, so I pulled out the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/vintage-lounge-chairs.html" target="_blank">Kagan style wire chairs</a> that I bought in Williamsburg. It's pretty low on the priority list at this point, but I'd really love to strip these and paint them a dark peacock blue to play off the porch swing color.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0454.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0454.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0442.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0442.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, I randomly found a pair of vintage wire chairs on Craigslist that look a lot like my wire chairs, except with much lower backs. I think the two pairs look great sitting together. The new pair is a bright white, which I like and will keep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0459.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0459.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Won't those taller chairs look great in a glossy peacock blue? The trio of colors with the neon yellow stools from Target will be fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0572.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0572.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The new swing was also a Craigslist find. A couple in Mesa builds these swings together <a href="http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3964308165.html" target="_blank">and sells them</a> (painted and with hardware) for about $100. All I had to do was hang ours! It's really cute and fits perfectly in front of the mudroom window on our porch.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0467.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0467.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another lucky Craigslist find was this chiminea for $40. My mom and Gracie helped me paint it white, which I liked better than the terracotta finish. I think it makes it look a little more California-Spanish style in the white.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6609.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6609.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0430.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0430.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm completely in love with the chiminea. I really like that the access to the fire is smaller than a traditional open fire pit. It feels a little safer with all these kids running around (though we always have at least one adult on fire-watching duty to keep the situation as safe as possible)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0550.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0550.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0486.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The chiminea fire makes the yummiest, chewiest toasted marshmallows. Throw a little dove chocolate or Nutella in the mix and I'm in heaven.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0596.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0596.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo fDSC_0582.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/fDSC_0582.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bDSC_0555.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/bDSC_0555.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a busy month since moving to Arizona, but I keep telling Michael that it feels like the day is 32 hours long here. In New York it felt like there were only about 12 hours to have. Now there's more than enough time to get all the work done, and plenty left over for the fun stuff. Suddenly nights and weekends are ours again - and it feels so good.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0600.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0600.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_0549.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/vDSC_0549.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0629.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0629.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Thanks to Energizer® for sponsoring this post. And thank you for supporting the companies that help me run LGN. Click <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fbs.serving-sys.com%2FBurstingPipe%2FadServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dtf%26c%3D20%26mc%3Dclick%26pli%3D7404867%26PluID%3D0%26ord%3D%5Btimestamp%5D&k4=6622&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">here</a></span> to learn more about Energizer® Portable Lights with Light Fusion Technology.</i></span></div>

S'mores on the Front Porch

Brought to you by Energizer®. Click  here  to learn more about Energizer® Portable Lights with Light Fusion Technology. When we first moved ...

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