From Drab to Fab on a budget

Historic building in downtown Durant that was doomed to be condemned

 has now got a new leash on life!  

 

Entryway

 

Kitchen

Old wooden sign from the original Main Street Cafe bought at a local garage sale for $20. 

 

Custom cabinets and black onyx granite. The color on the cabinets is Balsam. The island was a one of a kind find in Canton, Tx.

 

The stone wall was originally all brick which, unfortunately, couldn't be saved due to major deterioration. I loved the contrast of the rough textured walls against the softness of the light kitchen cabinets so we opted for an old world stone.

The masterbedroom.  

 

Our favorite old lady, Miss Madge in her favorite spot in the entire apartment.

 

I love soft romantic mood lighting for a bedroom and table lamps and can lights just can't acheive that. So, I had these beautiful one-light chandeliers installed as an option for more low key lighting. They give off a soft light with magnificent shadows along the walls and ceiling. Just what I was looking for!

A bathroom has to look clean and sleek for me to feel comfortable in it and white everywhere screams "clean and posh". The contrast with the dark chestnut doors just adds to the drama of the whole apartment. 

 

I am a reflective person and so it only seemed appropriate to display my collection of garage-sale mirrors in my bathroom where I'm getting ready for the day. Looking myself in the mirror for an hour or so during my morning routine of make-up, hair, etc, symbollically allows me to reflect upon who I am and what I need to be for others today.

 

 

A collage of old frames, again collected from garage sales, frame up some of our family photos and moto.

My sons' room is everything I hoped it would turn out to be and more. I look at my sons and wonder what wild adventures they will run into today, tomorrow and when they're grown and it's a bittersweet thought. I hope they run to see the world one day and are a hero to many. I hired a young artist, Jesse Ellsworth, to paint a map on his entire wall with the quote from Hellen Keller, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." I hope that inspires them to live life to the fullest without compromising their morals and standards. 

 

A collection of vintage license plates from all over the country frame up the doorway to the boys' bathroom.

 

My 2 youngest daughter's room.

 

My art studio is my sanctuary. This is where I come to get away from the world and release my stress and creative desires into my work.

 

There is so much natural light in this apartment that most of the time the lights in the house stay off. I love the feel of the airy texture from the windows on the yogurt-colored walls of my art studio and adjoining living room.  

 

 

My little knick-knack corner where I keep my unique finds that have been orphaned over time from flea markets, garage sales and antique shops.

 

I repurposed an old pair of child ballet slipper into a fun inspirational piece using old lace, earring clips, cardstock and glitter. (Inspiration found on pinterest).

Throughout the entire loft the ceiling are 12 feet high giving plenty of head room and making the space feel even more open and inviting.

 

 

We also own the children's boutique, The Glittering Door, just below the loft on Main Street. Again, Jesse Ellsworth painted our door and welcome sign.

 

Lots and lots of unique items here for your little trendsetters!

Some of our happy customers modeling their fabulous attire in the parade this past fall. Don't they look adorable?!

 

I hope you enjoyed the tour through our pride and joy. This has definitely been a labor of love and we are so happy to say one of Downtown Durant's finest historic buildings has a fresh start with lots of years to create even more historic memories.
XOXO,
C

Our come-what-may Day...

I have to take time away from the TV screen and away from the drama of this messed up world to focus on and post some uplifting joyous news in the Mason household.
As you know, we have been trying to adopt a sweet little boy by the name of George (now known as Newman) ever since he was laid in our arms on January 19th, 2012.

He was just 3 weeks old at the time (born the day after Christmas) and we were so nervous and excited to invite this little bundle of boy into our home and hearts, not REALLY knowing with assurity that he would be ours forever. We tried to keep our hearts at a "safe distance" so as not to get hurt if he were to go back to his birth family.
But our efforts were futile.


He stole our hearts from the first precious moments he spent with us. And we were undeniably 100% smitten!
With every passing day, we fell more in love with his little personality. We had regular meetings with his family every Tuesday.


With every meeting I was so afraid that they would also be falling so very deeply in love with him and begin to want him back and eventually ask for him. We had to remind ourselves that the Lord's hand was in this and that whatever His will is, is what would come. So, come what may...
After months of not knowing his fate and if he'd be able to be adopted by us, even after his parents signed their rights over, we were told in October that adoption was emminent.
Then, our warm October left.

Thanksgiving came and went.

Santa visited our home and filled stockings and the New Year came.

We celebrated his first birthday in January and then, January was gone.


The same thing happened with February, here and then vanished.
 
Then, came a new face to the scene. A new adoption-worker who managed get done in a matter of days what was taking our lawyer over 6 months to do even with all of DHS hounding him.
Within a couple of weeks, we had a court date. But the week crawled by like a snail trying to make it's way through stale peanut butter on a windy day. And of course, my mind was running over-time with all the things that could go wrong before this date could get here.
But, nothing happened. No gloom and doom took over. No malice made its way through our lives to spoil our plans. And...
Yesterday was it - our magical come-what-may day! Despite our lawyer being nearly an hour late, we are happy to report all went off without a hitch!! He's officially, 100%, legally OURS. (Truly, he's been ours from the start but having that piece of paper sealed and stamped with the State of Oklahoma's approval really does something for the nerves).


A big THANK YOU goes out to all those who helped make this adoption possible. To the DHS workers (Scott Richard, Gracie Robertson, Deana Phillips, Cody Battles) for calling us when there were so many other families just as deserving as we were waiting for a child just as special as Newman is. To our families for sticking by us and supporting us through not one, but two previously failed adoption attempts that left us heart-broken and weary, to say the least. To Newman's birth mother, for making the ultimate sacrifice for her child. I cannot imagine how hard this must have been for her. To the rest of Newman's family spread out all over Oklahoma for trusting us to raise this little spirit of God up right, in the ways of the Lord. We promise to do our very best and to provide for him in life all he needs to grow up to be the stellar young man we see him as! To Lisa, the lawyer's secretary who busted her tail doing all the lawyer's bidding in record time and hung in the balances waiting on everyone else. And yes, even the lawyer, as slow and complacent as he was, because without him, it wouldn't really have happened.

Wordless Wednesday

The Tuesday Transcriber

"The Haunting"

I know you're there -
the hair on my neck makes me aware.
Invisible atmosphere you dare not share
surrounds you everywhere.
Never a word you say,
as the daylight fades
and seems to stray from your face,
and you remain elusive as always.
You love me from afar
even with all my scars,
as bizarre as they are,
and I am forever your shining star.
But what is it you really want?
A nonchalant jaunt you taunt
and with imaginary courage flaunt
at me your face that still haunts.
I long for a touch-
so much; maybe too much?
The lost sensation is a crutch
to which I willingly clutch.
Dare I search in the dark
for a hidden mark,
a spark in this amusement park
on which I wittingly embark?
Would I find you there?
Or just feel your stare
in the air of your recumbent lair,
and remain to stay your memory's heir?

Modest Monday: Spring/Summer 2013: What to Expect

If you're wondering if that Chevron shirt you bought last season is going to be a faux pas this season, read on. I'll bring you up-to-date on what's hot and what's not for Spring and Summer 2013 (according to glamour.com).

1990's GRUNGE - leather and all. Mixing mesh with leather, t-shirts with chains, holey jeans and converse is all "A Go!" this Spring and Summer.

RETRO 1960s - I will admit, most of this trend is not so much alluring as it is eye-catching, but in a not-so-good way (as in the first photo here). However, there are a few peices that I am finding cute (like the 2nd photo) and even a bit flirtatious - as in flirting with my closet (3rd photo).

 

STRIPES - Very in! Big thick stripes to tiny pinstripes, horizontal, vertical, slanted, choppy and mixed with other prints, it doesn't matter. This trend includes your chevron shirt! (You chose well, my friend, in that stellar purchase). And chevron looks to be hanging around for awhile, considering it's EVERYWHERE!

 

BLACK AND WHITE - This combo is probably never going out of style. It's a classic look that just can't be beat. And the bold color difference is slimming in most cases.

 

DENIM - again, think 90s. Mixing and matching the shades of demin seems to perfectly acceptable as well (which I personally find hard to wrap my brain around).

COLORED CHINOS - yes, even for guys!

RUFFLES - The bigger the better! And more IS more this season.

METALLICS - we're not talking a hint of metallic either. This is the make-you-look-away-because-it's-blinding-you metallic! The shinier, the more aluminum foil-ish, the better! From clothes, shoes, purses and make-up, metals are dominating.

FLORAL PRINTED ANYTHING - pants, shirts, shoes, dresses, purses! Bring on that floral pattern.

 

CHECKERED PATTERNS - Checkered is coming in with a vengeance whether you like it or not. It's not necessarily always going to come in the from of taxi cab checks either, big stripes to form checks will also work.

BERMUDA SHORTS!!! - You have no idea how excited I am about this trend making a comeback! I've always worn them, so I guess it really didn't matter but now that it means I'm in style, it's a BONUS!

 COLOR BLOCK- always been in style but is really taking a dominant stance on the runways.

FLATS AND LOW HEELS - my feet may thank me this season!

ANNNDDD:  if you're looking for something to really make you stand out (or spice up a sexy date night), try these new underlash accents by Chanel.

 

Combine any of these trends with another one listed (such as 1960s fashion with metallic beading or a black and white color-block dress) and you can't go wrong. They're doing it all over the runways.

Have fun creating your unique style with the 2013 trend list!

Muah!