What The?

I am all for supporting homemade goods but what the hell is this? A scorpion with green armpit hair and blue balls?
Not for Jack. I can't have anything that strange in the house on account of watching too many PuppetMaster/ Child's Play-like horror movies.

On a lighter note, I am finally sitting down and teaching myself how to sew. Turns out I am kinda ok at it and I really enjoy hand stitching. Still trying to get all my knots down but I am learning quickly with the help of some on-line tutorials.

"So Jenny, what have you made so far" you all ask. The answer, aprons. I have made a crap load of aprons from this apron pattern.
Everyone will be getting aprons here for the next year or so. I also broke down and ordered "sew what? bags!"
I am totally intimidated by this book. I am going to look at the pictures some more before I try and sunglass case. Wish me luck!

My Nicotine Lamp Makeover

For the past month, I have been on the lookout for a pair of lamps at our local Salvation Army. Actually, it has been WAYYY longer than that so when these two lamps popped up I grabbed them off the shelf without thinking twice. Turns out I should have thought twice due to the fact that they were covered in a nice thick layer of nicotine. Yum. I had to scrub them both in the sink and then let them dry for a day. Just in case you wanted to know, you can scrub a lamp with soap and water.

On to the fun part! After long hours of debating what color to paint the lamps, I finally decided on purple. However, I wanted it to be the right shade. Too light and you get this:
I know. Way too Barney the Purple Dinosaur for me. Also, don't ever, EVER, EVER use Krylon paint. I had the worst experience with the can of Rich Plum that I bought. It clogged up and took a lot of coats to cover the lamp...and no Rustoleum is not giving me any money to say that! But look!
Oh my trusty can of RustOleum in Purple! I will never stray again. I followed up the 4 coats of purple with two coats of a spray-on acrylic glaze to make things even shinier...
...and voila! I am pretty sure that I need a longer lamp shade but this was all they had at our local store. What do you guys think? Are you feeling the purple or not? I paired it with the light beige shade to tone it down a little. The white shade was a little too Totally 80's for me. Not to bad for $5 each.

For those of you wondering, the paint sample from the other wall climbed over to this wall and down onto the faux wainscoting. I really like that white *sigh*.

Inspiration Alert!

Design*Sponge just posted this "Sneak Peek" on designer Jessica Helgerson. I am digging her style! What do you guys think?

We already have the tub...just have to paint it.

And that is the look I was thinking of for the sconces!
Love, love, love the hardwood floor color.

I am going to warm LJ up to this by showing him this room...because we have a total of 2 guitars, 1 ukulele, one drum set and 2 amps.
Don't know about the scary woman thing in the middle of the room but I do like the plants and glass bottles. The fixture is pretty cool too.
Photos by Lincoln Barbour

Fun In A Bun

(Sooo this recipe doesn't really involve a bun. Nor is it much of a recipe...more like a cool trick.) Take a piece of bread and roll it flat with a rolling pin. Then spread peanut butter and jelly on the flattened bread and roll it back up. For some reason it is easier to feed this to the little monster without having to cram it into his mouth.



Yes he will eat this after thoroughly inspecting it with his poking finger.

This Is Our Dining Room. This Is Our Dining Room On K. Mack.

Before:

After:

Gone is the non-working gas stove and in its place is a hole in the wall...that now contains the wiring to the attic. The big thing up front is Wade, LJ's brother. Oh yes ladies, he is single and available with or without the sledgehammer.

The second floor of our house is now officially re-wired and ready for action all thanks to Kevin and his band of merry men. They spent all day working in the attic and crawling around in tiny holes like this one.

No really, how many Joseph's can you fit in this hole? None. But one K. Mack fills it up nicely...

Things That Will Never Go On Our Wall

Red Velvet Art Underwear Set Wall Decal ($30)

Happy Birthday Brianna!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Brianna,
Happy Birthday to you!!!

Your present is on the way...as soon as I finish it. Hmmm taking a little bit longer than expected.

Love,

The Josephs

Shopping Vicariously Through My Blog: Gig Art

I love, love, love gig art. It is pretty, bright and always a little out there. Here are some of my favorites...

The animals looking a the UFO are very amusing to me...$9.99

Magnolia Electric Co. at Cricket Press, $20

Poor Of Montreal...if only they hadn't sold their number #1 hit to Outback Steakhouse...$25


StrawBerryLuna had this Decemberists poster for sale. It’s a limited edition of 140 and is now sold out. Whaaa!

Cool, cool Kings of Leon poster at The Decoder Ring, $25

Maggie's Choice cover, priceless...

Coffee at My Table

Slowly but surely our furniture collection is building...waiting to eventually be refinished after the living room is remodeled. $25 at Sane Jane's in Baker City...

100 Ways to Keep Yourself Entertained While Mom Does Dishes

#14. Pull all baby wipes out of little container.


Not the way to start off the day. Inchie is pretending that this is not happening.

Over-rated Albums of 2008-2009

Hey guys! This is actually LJ's post but I will put my two cents in when needed...by the way, so you can tell what is my witty banter, I will keep my thoughts in hmm...orange!)

I've been frustrated lately by all the hype surrounding a few recent releases and I want to warn everyone before they buy in and potentially blow $20. These are going to be in the indie/alternative genre, if you haven't heard of these bands then feel free to expand your listening. (Edit: I used to have Blitzen Trapper and Neko Case on here but decided that while their albums are over hyped, they are still better than these others I've listed.)

#5: My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

I used to love this band and awaited this release with baited breath, however the first single was a letdown and it just got worse from there. The song "Librarian" is exceptionally bothersome, just gimmicky songwriting in my opinion. What happened is my question, "It Still Moves" and "Z" are two of the best albums I've heard and really opened me up to new southern country rock. Go get those but not the new one.

Instead, I recommend the new Kings of Leon, which is a little more mainstream pop rock but also much catchier and enjoyable. Or check out Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. Better songwriting and more creative musically. Jenny Lewis rocks.

#4: TV on the Radio - Dear Science

Way too much hype on this band. Just because they do something differently doesn't make them better. Maybe I'm just weird because I can't appreciate their special style of music, but I'm guessing that you will agree with me if you hear it.

Instead I recommend The Decemberists new album "The Hazards of Love" or their 2006 release "The Crane Wife." They have a great retro feel with excellent songwriting. I LOVE The Decemberists. From their geeky cute front man Colin Meloy to the fact that they incorperate a large whale puppet into their live shows, I can't get enough and am waiting with baited breath for their new album "The Hazards of Love". Jack and I love singing along to the "Mariner's Revenge Song".

#3: Morrissey - Years of Refusal

"I'm throwing my arms around Paris" makes me change the station everytime. It's the same sound but he's running out of ways to make it new and interesting. And the horns? That's just pandering to his new latino fans.

Antony and the Johnsons "The Crying Light" is an album to check out instead (think Morrissey with an even more screwed up sexuality), but if we really want to hear a 1980's icon I think Michael Jackson is performing again. I can't recommend the new Depeche Mode, sorry.

I don't know anything about this album...but I can't stand Antony and the Johnson's (think RuPaul singing the blues).

#2: The Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand

Blech. I enjoyed some earlier songs by the band, but I fail to hear the redeeming qualities of the new stuff. Maybe it's because I haven't been to the live shows where there is vomiting, urination, nudity, band members kissing, power wheels races, fireworks, a chicken, and flaming guitars.

The Cold War Kids have been on my hot list for a while, the new White Stripes is good, both of which you can enjoy without having to see the show.

These guys peed in their own mouths. Sick. Still...I love their song "Veni Vidi Vici" from their previous album. Other than that, they don't get much playtime here.

#1: I don't have a number one yet, how about some submissions from you all? Don't say the upcoming Maggie's Choice album!

Magge's Choice? Maybe Most Underrated Album...but my vote for Most Overrated Album goes to Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses. C'mon! 10 years in the making and that is all you got? At least we have even more proof that red-heads can not pull off braids.

Let There Be Light

We are finishing up on the bath tear-down tonight and the questions are already coming from the guys. How many lights do you want? Where do you want them? What color are you painting the walls? Where do you want the fan? Are you sure you want all white? Don't you think that will be somewhat "institutional"? What is for dinner?

Oh yes. The fun part begins and I am feeling a little overwhelmed. LJ offers no feedback in the decor department and often times hates what I plan on doing until he sees it all come together. Hmm what to do, what to do? I am going to turn it over to you guys for feedback. Let's start with my recent inspirations...

I like white. In the bathroom it makes it feel clean and fresh but on the same note, I plan on breaking up the all white theme with some stained wood, plants, and other odds and ends. I am going for a look that you won't see in a typical bathroom. Keep your fingers crossed!

I have been searching for lighting that would go with what I am trying to do and I think I found some interesting options. Here are some that I like but don't know if I will use...

Bathroom Lighting Ideas - by mowe34 on Polyvore.com

I love the look of the Pottery Barn sconces (they match the dining room pendant lamps) but I am not sure if they are meant to be used in the bathroom. What do you guys think?

No the Clampetts Don't Live There...

But K. Mack was here again this weekend. This is now our front lawn.
Do you remember to which room this lovely contraption goes to? I will give you a hint...we hit our heads on it ALL THE TIME.

If you guessed the kitchen then you are 100% right...if you said bathroom then you must have been looking at the half of toilet next to the magneficent hood. We will get to that later. The hood looked like this in the kitchen...
And now...

Hmm one step closer to a bright and sunny kitchen!

I am also trying to figure out what to do with the dining room. LJ came home to a very large paint sample that I got carried away with...I didn't like it at first but I am warming up to the "atrium white" color that I used. It is much warmer in person.
I thought about using a beige on the top half of the wainscoting with the white on the bottom but we will eventually pull it all out. I really do like the white in here...stops it from being so cave-like. What do you guys think about a full wall of white?

K. Mack Attacks!

A friend of our family's (affectionately now know as K. Mack) showed up early Saturday morning to help us tear out our bathroom. In previous conversations, we found out that he lists working on old Victorian mansions as his "hobby". Our kinda guy! While our house is hardly a mansion, he did get really excited when he saw our place and now shares our enthusiasm with the potential of it.

Plus, the man is a crazy work horse.

Our plan (strike that MY plan) was to start in the bathroom upstairs, gut it, see what was where, and draw up plans. Then I was planning on going to Home Depot the next day to place a tile order and get the ball rolling.

We didn't quite get that far. Instead, we worked on this:
I can hear my father cringing at the sight of this electrical box...wait Pop...how about this..
Just so you all don't think we are complete piggly-wigglies, I remembered to start taking pics AFTER we started tearing in to the ceiling and walls. The exposed wire you see hanging down at the top of the left side of the picture is a hot wire. Thank god K. Mack is a licensed electician with really cool toys that tell you when wires are HOT! I, of course, ran around testing everything with the pointy tester thing (or a induction tester as LJ just informed me) .

By the end of the afternoon, he had the box squared away and we were left with open spots on our breaker panel, the cardboard ceiling taken down, the weird little boarded up room torn apart, and a potentially dangerous non-vented-celullose-heaped basement bathroom fan gone.
Whew-hoo! On to the bath...when we last left it it looked like this...

Now it looks like this...I just noticed that the curtains are still up. Go figure.
We got the tub out...which we found was only painted "lemon meringue" on one side...
...and the paint-puckered vanity is now gone...
...and this lovely wiring job is now what is left standing from behind the mirror. We stopped right about there due to the fact that it was 7 pm. Time flies when you are having fun! Stay tuned for more!