Mantel Makeover

One of my favorite features of my living room is my fireplace. Yes, it's true that I have been in my house since March and I still have not used it, but that is beside the point. A fireplace was a major selling point for me in the homes I was considering. There is something so perfect about sitting in your living room watching the snow fall against a mountain rage backdrop while enjoying a roaring fire in the fireplace.

One day (soon) my dream will become a reality, and when it does, I want my fireplace to not only be functional, but pretty.

After repainting the living room, I was shocked to see just how big my fireplace really is. Before, it was painted the same color as the walls so it blended right into everything else. Now, thanks to a fresh color palette, my fireplace is the first thing you notice when you enter the room. I just love it, and when you love something, you do your best to make it shine.

That being said, I knew what I needed to do next. Every great fireplace needs great accents on the mantel. I have been searching for months and just can't find the right pieces, or even ideas. I've searched Pintrest, blogs and a host of other things. I even looked at the home decor used on my favorite sitcoms to see what kinds of things TV characters (I guess technically TV set designers) are doing to decorate. 

After weeks of searching for accent pieces, I found a cute vase that was half off at Hobby Lobby and then went to the flower section to see if there was something trendy but simple I could use to fill it with. Flowers were half off so I went to work - who pays full price for anything at Hobby Lobby? If you do, you shouldn't! Wait a week, it will be on sale.

I probably spent about 45 minutes with the flowers. Flower arrangements look so great online or on TV, but when it comes to actually putting something together myself, well, I just blank and have no idea what to do.

Next up, I decided to combine a few different ideas I found on Pintrest to create a three panel art piece to serve as the backdrop for whatever focal point I decided upon.

Lucky for me, I saved all of the wooden shelves from the built-in bookshelf that was formerly in my living room. They have been sitting in my garage for weeks waiting to be recycled and turned into something useful or interesting. For three of those shelves, today was their lucky day.

I wanted the final product to be comprised of four colors - red, black, grey and white. After all, the whole point of a DIY is not just to save money, but to make something that matches perfectly. First up was a rough coat of red paint.

Then I borrowed a technique I found on Pintrest and used soap on top of the spots that I wanted to keep red. Everything turned out ok in the end, but this technique didn't work as well as I hoped. Either I read the directions wrong, or this technique flat out doesn't work - still not sure which one. 

Next up were coats of black and then a final coat of grey using that same, ineffective soap method.

After I realized the soap thing wasn't going to pan out as planned, I roughed up the layers of color in a few spots with sandpaper in order to get the weathered look that I wanted. Then I added two lines of red on the outer edges of the boards to bring out the color scheme of my living room. 

Next was my most risky part of my project. I used a wall stencil (the most expensive part of my project was the wall stencil - why on earth are those so expensive?) and white spray paint to make a fun pattern on the boards. I used spray paint because I wanted the pattern to be a little blurry in most spots. I wanted it to be weathered and worn, not exact and precise. Plus, I knew that if the spray paint method got out of control, I could just paint over it and try again with a more traditional roller or sponge. Lucky for me, the spray paint worked quite nicely. There were a few spots where the spray paint got away from me, but after sanding down all three panels, it looked much better.

Finally I added a layer of crackle gloss finish. Unfortunately I didn't read the directions close enough because I was supposed to apply it before the paint dried. I didn't really get a cracked effect, but at least it added a little shine, which is what I was originally after anyway.

I didn't have an exact idea in my head of what I wanted the final product to look like, (which was probably for the best) but when it was all said and done, I really liked the final product - especially knowing the whole thing cost me less than $20 and most of the needed items I can use again.

I know the mantel still needs some help. This is just a start. I think I will try to incorporate some hydrangeas (fake of course) on the left side of my DIY art piece. I feel like hydrangeas are really trendy at the moment. Beyond that though, well, I have no idea what I should add next.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Advice to help a sister out?

Living in a Red&Black Tribute

Thanksgiving weekend I started repainting my living room. I knew I wanted to go with a red and black theme in honor of Texas Tech. However, there were a few things to do first. This was my living room on move-in day.

When I saw my house for the first time, I knew the built-in bookshelf would be one of the first things to go. It might look ok in the photo, but once you look at it a little closer you realize it's basically Closet Maid shelves that were bolted to the wall and painted brown. 

It took a few months, but I eventually hired a handyman to remove the bookshelf. Because it was bolted into the wall and ceiling, I was a little scared to attempt the removal on my own.

Next it was time to pick paint colors. There are things in life that I am good at, but picking paint colors is not one of them. Praise God for those $3 test cans at Home Depot. 

After getting the opinions of a few friends, I finally decided on just the right shades of red, grey and creme. I also painted the fireplace cover silver to hide the dated gold.

My favorite feature of the room is my magnetic chalkboard wall. You may have already seen it in one of my Christmas posts. I've seen a few designers incorporate this feature into designs on HGTV and I was determined to make it a reality in whatever house I purchased.

I bough the tin cans from Ikea (aka: Heaven). They are supposed to be for kitchens, but they worked great for holding the chalk and erasers. I'm still in the process of collecting unique and meaningful magnets, but I have a pretty good start.

All in all I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out. I still have a lot of finishing touches like art for the walls, outlet covers, and getting a desk to make a workstation area against the red wall. In my ideal world, there is a space in every room to sit and work on my laptop or latest art project. 

I'm no where close to calling the living room a completed project, but I would say I am well on my way.

Redemption Day at Monarch Mountain

This Florida girl is quite comfortable on the water, but when it comes to the snow, not so much. Six years ago I went snowboarding for the first time and broke my arm day one of a two day ski trip. As soon as I hit the ground I knew it was broken and if you know me well, you won't be surprised when I tell you that after a few hours of rest in the lodge I was back out on the slopes that afternoon and the entire following day.

Before you look at that picture of me snowboarding with a broken arm and start thinking I'm at all tough or brave, know that I have not been back on a board since that day.

Thursday night my friend Alicia sent me a text asking if I wanted to go to Monarch with her, her husband Aaron, and a few others. I had planned on spending my Saturday sleeping in, but a day on the mountain sounded a little more exciting so I decided to tag along.

Alicia, Aaron and I debated between snowboarding and skiing for the entire 2 1/2 hour drive to the slopes. The three of us had all snowboarded once before and although I was the only one to break anything, the terrors of the vast number of falls constantly plagued our minds. It wasn't until we were standing in line for rental equipment then we finally decided to snowboard. I wanted redemption, and with new friends Mary and April already on the slopes and practically pros in our eyes, it seemed like the perfect day to try to master this thing! Plus, I knew that although I was slightly better at skiing, it was going to be a rough day no matter what. Strictly for the cool factor, I would rather spend my rough day on a snowboard then on a set of skis.

After some instruction on the bunny slope, it was time to tackle a green trail. Besides falling off the ski lift every single time, the day was going a little more smoothly than I thought. The falling was minimal and it was usually because I would get scared and chicken out. I hate letting my fear get the best of me, but I also hate the feeling of bones cracking. 

At lunch time we headed to the bar to get a good meal. As we stood there looking for a table I heard an "excuse me" from behind and turned around to see Aaron pointing toward the ground. As I looked down I saw this chubby, little boy with a gigantic cookie in his hand. I don't know what it is about kids with cookies that gives them an unspeakable confidence, but it is just so precious. Aaron and I were cracking up about it all day.

Back on the mountain I kept getting frustrated because everything felt so unnatural. Luckily I was quickly reminded that there is nothing natural about strapping a board to your body and throwing yourself down a snow covered mountain.

Honestly, when I just stopped thinking and let my body do what it wanted to do I didn't fall nearly as much, but fortunately and unfortunately for me, my new friend/personal instructor for half the day was really bent on making sure I learned good form, technique, and most importantly that I was actually doing it correctly. Apparently there is a difference between knowing how to snowboard and just getting down the mountain.

When I was 3/4 of the way down the trail I stopped to regroup and a girl who had been behind me most of the way stopped and said, "Can I ask you a random question?" I told her to go ahead and ask and then she asked the one question that has haunted me pretty much my entire life, "How old are you?" I told her I was 26 and then as she boarded away looked back to say, "You look really young." I realized then she had probably spent the entire run like I did - watching all the really young kids fly down the slopes so naturally and effortlessly and all the while feeling super impressed, jealous and a little stupid all at the same time. Fortunately for this girl she found out the truth, and once I told her I was 26 and not 7, she was no longer impressed. I went from being awesome to terrible in this girl's eyes in a matter of seconds.

Speaking of kids and their mad skills, at one point this little boy followed us all the way down the mountain with constant advice and direction. He would have been really cute, but when every word is direct toward correcting you, you kind of want to burry his cute little face in the snow.

All in all, even with the shots to the ego, it was a great day! More importantly, it was a day of redemption. I'm not searching eBay for a snowboard just yet, but I think this is a hobby I could get into - maybe 3-4 trips a year. After all, I do live in Colorado now. It may be time to hang up the water sports and trade them in for snow covered mountains.

There we are, me and Alicia in one piece and no trips to the ER!

Where I'm From

Jason Michael Carroll - Where I'm From

(because the video of the Tebow boys singing this isn't on YouTube)

Two months ago, if you asked me, "Are you from the South?" I would have said, "No, I'm from Florida." However, after being a Colorado resident for two years and going back to my hometown for two weeks, I now have to answer the question a little differently. This is where I'm from...

You go to the downtown movie theater and there is one parking spot left. The guy who is much closer to the parking spot takes it, forcing you to park on a side street a few yards away. When you get inside the movie theater the guy is standing at the ticket counter waiting for you to walk in so that he can offer to pay for your ticket because he feels so terrible for taking the last parking spot and making you walk a little further.

After being gone for five years, you still can't leave your parent's house without running into someone you know. Thus, every time you leave the house you feel like you need to dress to impress because the only thing worse than a bad first impression is a bad impression after someone hasn't seen you in a long time. Letting those girls who made you cry in high school find out you moved away and became ugly just can't happen.

Even though you're 26 with a full time job, benefits and a mortgage, your friends' parents still see you as a college freshman.

Your dad tells your mom he will buy her whatever kind of car she wants and she comes home with this.

Your dad tells your brother he will buy him whatever kind of car he wants and they come home with an even bigger Ford pickup.

When tragedy strikes, the girls who wouldn't give you the time of day in high school and who you haven't seen in 10 years, rally around you and offer any support and encouragement they can.

Not loving the Florida Gators is like not loving Jesus.

You go to the local BBQ, you know the person seated in the table next to yours, 80 percent of the people in the restaurant have on camo, and after you pay the bill, the waitress asks if you want a sweet tea to go. 

If you are driving around town for more than 10 minutes you will see someone toeing a horse trailer.

That awkward kid you knew in high school is now your baby brother's mentor and the church golden boy.

Getting away is spending the weekend at the lake house.

Your parent's small group consists of the heart surgeon, the dentist, the judge and the mayor. Once a month they all go to dinner and then to the local theater where they are all season ticket holders.

Jeans and boots are always appropriate attire and there are such things as "nice flip flops."

At the close of his sermon, the pastor prays for Tim Tebow.

You meet your dad for lunch and there are only four restaurant options that are close by.

When someone talks about "Buddy" you have to ask which one? 

The high school baseball star married his high school cheerleading sweetheart. They have a baby and he teaches and coaches baseball at that same high school - you know because he is now your baby brother's coach. You still find that couple intimidating. 

That's Ocala, Florida. 

That's where I'm from. 

My brother is named after my dad.

My cousin is named Pressley - her moma's maiden name. 

The quarterback dated and married the homecoming queen. 

My friend Lindy sleeps on John Deer sheets. 

That YouTube video of Jason Michael Carroll was filmed in my hometown.

It may not sound like much, but it's where I'm from.

Surpr15e!

On Friday a friend gave me the most amazing treasure. I still cannot believe I can count this as one of my possessions.

The story starts with a girl named Bailey Knaub. If you are a Broncos fan this name will sound familiar to you. Baily was invited by Tim Tebow and his foundation to attend the Broncos vs. Steelers game and spend some quality time with him before and after the game. If this story is not ringing a bell, I provided a video for your viewing pleasure. This is part of the post-game interview following the Broncos overtime playoff win against the Steelers.

Following this press conference, the media latched on to this story like white on rice. CBS wanted to do a story on Bailey and Tim's foundation so they invited the entire Knaub family to a Broncos practice complete with lunch at the facility and of course a little more hang out time with Tim. 

I guess you are starting to wonder what this has to do with me? Well, I don't know Bailey, but I do know her parents and brother. How? Well, Bailey's sister-in-law Natalie is a very good friend of mine. We work together and seeing as how we are on the very short list of females in the IT Department and are very close in age, it was a fast friendship. I've been to her house for a family BBQ (which is how I know the rest of the Knaub family). Remember this picture from a November blog post? 

Natalie and I ran the Turkey Trot together a few months ago. 

So now that we have the connection all squared away, back to the story...

Because the whole Knaub family was invited to the practice facility, Natalie and her husband Collin obviously jumped at the opportunity. I was excited for them. Not many people get opportunities like this and with all their family and Bailey have been through, they are more than deserving of this special memory. 

Although the Knaub's brainstormed every possibility of me tagging along to meet my man Tim, it just wasn't possible. Natalie did have an idea though. She told me that if it was at all possible, she would get me an autograph. The next day I brought her a football and explicitly explained that I thought the chances of the thing getting signed were a billion to one and that there was no pressure to make it happen. I wasn't going to be upset or disappointed if this didn't pan out as easily as Natalie thought it would. I also had a few questions for Natalie to pass along to Tim: #1 from my list of 10 Things I Would Ask Tim Tebow - Where does he keep the Heisman? 

Unfortunately Natalie was too embarrassed, and didn't ask Tim my #1 question so the mystery lives on - where does he keep that Heisman???

However, on an equally important note - the Knaub family had no Lindsey Vonn sightings both before, during and after the game or at practice the following week. 

Thanks for tracking with me through the bunny trails, now back to the story. The night after the Knaub's meet and greet with Tim, I talked to Natalie on the phone about her day. She asked if I had recently checked my Facebook and since I check the thing once a month at best, of course I had not logged in lately but quickly did so after I got every gory detail of the meeting. 

Natalie tagged be in this photo

The caption read, "Just for you Danielle - more Gatorade!!!"

When Natalie showed me the pictures from the first time Bailey met Tim, I went crazy when I noticed a closet full of Gatorade in the background. It was like looking into a pantry in heaven - wall to wall Gatorade! I was so thrilled Natalie and Collin took a photo just for me of an even BIGGER Gatorade closet! This made my day - until I saw the next picture...

Caption: Danielle, that's your ball he's signing!

As soon as I saw it I just started screaming! I didn't know what to do so I called my friend Megan. Only she could calm me down but at the same time allow me to be utterly beside myself for the appropriate amount of time. 

The next morning, Natalie introduced me to my football signed by my man!

My dad is really obsessed with finding the perfect case for it, but until then it's safely on my bookshelf. 

Don't worry, I'm not sleeping with it or anything crazy like that. The truth is much more pathetic - I sleep with Pupup, the stuffed animal I've slept with every nice since I was born. The last thing I need is Pupup getting jealous. :) 

And one more thing before I sign off - TODAY ELWAY NAMED TEBOW THE STARTING QB FOR THE 2012 SEASON!

Sibling Photo Shoot

Christmas Eve was the first time my brothers and I had all been in the same room in a full year! Crazy! About a week before my trip to Florida I was taking inventory of the photos on my desk at work and realized the most recent photo I have of my brothers and me is from my college graduation 2 1/2 years ago. I was well overdue for a new family photo. There was just one tiny hurtle - my brothers hate photos! I mean HATE!

I think this utter distain stems from the fact that my parents made us do the Olan Mills photo shoot every year when we were growing up. Every year like clockwork my mom dressed us up in matching outfits fit for Easter Sunday, piled us in the car, and drove us across town to have what seemed like an endless photo shoot with some stranger trying to make us laugh while awkwardly positioning us on furry blankets and in front of crazy, dreamlike backgrounds. I swear, it was easier for my mom to get us to the dentist than it was that dreaded Olan Mills appointment. I think the biggest problem was that the whole thing was so far from who we really were. We would never on a normal day dress like that or pose and act like that. It's just awkward.

In fact, one year me and my brothers put up such a fight that half way through the why do we have to wear this? argument, my mom gave up and told us to put on our baseball uniforms instead. That is probably the best sibling photo we have because it's real! That is what we were really wearing several nights out of the week for most of our lives.

So back to a few days after Christmas 2011 - I needed new photos and it was now or never. With Josh back at school, J.J. working in the afternoons, and Sam's social life, we had a small window of time where everyone would be at the house. I spent the day looking for places in our yard that might produce decent shots and then looking through stock photo families in search of cute yet natural poses. That's the other problem, all of our sibling photos that my mom takes are SUPER awkward. We aren't even touching each other and sometimes we are so far apart it looks like we are posing for completely different photos. It's terrible. I was determined to get a good picture, or at least a decent one that wasn't 2 1/2 years old.

So for your enjoyment and my selfishness I present to you...Sibling Photo Day!

First up, me and baby brother Josh.
Name: Joshua Louis LaSelva
Age: 15
Occupation: high school Sophomore
Interests: church youth group, his new girlfriend Lily aka: the former governor's granddaughter, and currently living his dream of playing baseball for Forest High School

When it came to Sibling Photo Day, Josh was the most compliant, probably because the final Olan Mills torture session occurred before he could talk or fight back, or know what was going on.

Next up, middle child Sam. 

Name: Samuel Ross LaSelva

Age: 19 when we took the photos, but 20 as of yesterday

Occupation: Sophomore at the University of Central Florida - Go Knights!

Interests: playing the guitar and piano (but refuses to showcase his talents if any family member is within a 10 mile radius) weekend excursions, and all of those things college boys do that parents would rather not know about

Sam had a have a few cigarettes to mellow himself out enough to consent to his photo shoot. Even then, we only managed to get two pictures out of him.

Last but not least, eldest son J.J.

Name: John Joseph LaSelva Jr.

Age: 21

Occupation: student at Central Florida College - formerly known as Central Florida Community College and one of my alma matters. In addition to making all B's last semester J.J. interns for a guy named Buddy Martin and his local radio show. If you know sports, Buddy's name may sound a little familiar. 

Interests: the Dan Patrick Show, the Atlanta Braves, the Miami Hurricanes, the Buffalo Bills, any NBA game that does not involve someone who was at any time married to a Kardashian, some random county's soccer team that I have never heard of...ok, let's just say I can't remember the last time I had a conversation with him that did not include sports.

J.J. pretty much hated his life for the entire 30 minutes it took us to do the photos with just me and him and the ones of all of the siblings together. He might have been thinking of ways to kill me while these photos were being snapped. 

All together now...

Careful not to leave him out, my mom got a few quick shots of me with my cat Sebastian. I would love to be holding him, but this is the closest he would let me get to him for the entirety of the 2 weeks I spent in Florida. He hid from me for the first 3 days I was there. Apparently he has memory problems because he could not remember me - ME, the person who rescued him from the pound, or even worse, the possibility of ending up in a commercial featuring Sarah McLachlan, gave him a home, and raised him from infancy. After all of that I leave him with my parents and come home to a cat that treats me like a burglar. 

This concludes Sibling Photo Day 2011.

LaSelva Christmas

I'm really behind on blogging but so many cool things have happened in the last few weeks that I just can't bring myself to skip the entries entirely. So will you come with me on a journey back in time? Rewind to Christmas 2011. Ready...go...

This year, like every other year, I flew to Florida for the holidays. Don't get too excited, it's the opposite of glamourous. I was born and raised in Florida and my whole family (parents, 3 brothers, and grandma) all live there. I'm just lucky enough to call one of the most desired vacation spots home.

For the first time ever I flew on Christmas Eve. I was prepared for the absolute worst and the entire week before Christmas, scenes from Home Alone were playing on repeat in my mind. I could just see myself racing from gate to gate with crowds of people and Run Run Rudolph playing over the speakers.

I was completely prepared for the worst travel day of my life that could quite possibly end with me sleeping on a terminal floor or standing at a ticket counter begging the poor airline representative to find me a flight to Florida.

"I have to find a way to get home to my son" - but in this case "family" not "son."

To my pleasant surprise, my travels were quite the opposite of terrible. In fact, it was one of the most pleasant travel experiences I've ever had, even though I flew American Airlines (my most hated airline). First off, security was a breeze. Second, there was barely anyone in the airports. Third, everyone was so relaxed and pleasant.

I was in the last boarding group on my flight from Dallas to Orlando (boo). Because it costs a billion dollars to check a bag now days, in my experience, by the time the final group boards there usually isn't much space left in the overhead compartments. No surprise that was the case for me. However, instead of the usual response of people being passive aggressive and sometimes just flat out aggressive about the fact that you are holding up the other passengers trying to board or God forbid moving their coat (that shouldn't be in the overhead anyway) to make room for your bag, when the lady behind me saw I was looking for room for my suitcase, she stood up to try and find an open space and then mentioned there was one a few rows in front of me. Then the guy in front of me stood up, took his bag out of the overhead compartment, moved his bag to the compartment a few rows in front of us, and then put mine in the open space above my seat! I was so shocked that I just kept saying thank you over and over again. I still can't believe how nice and helpful everyone was.

Obviously once I exited the plane in Orlando, that's when the shoving and yelling started, but that's my usual welcome home greeting - people in Central Florida are not exactly the kindest folks. Plus, I'm fully convinced Orlando International Airport breed insanity.

My mom and brother Sam picked me up from the airport and we pulled into our driveway in Ocala somewhere around 9pm with dinner ready and waiting on the table. Christmas Eve dinner is a big deal for our family. Every year we have seafood. It's an Italian tradition (I know I'm super white, but my Dad is actually full blood Italian so we were raised with some Italian traditions). The meal includes 7 kinds of fish and it brings good luck.

Christmas morning was a little bit of a slow start compared to every other year. I was pretty jet lagged and now that the youngest LaSelva is 15, most of the excitement of Christmas morning has drained from the holiday. The big excitement this day was that it was the first time the entire family was together since last Christmas - a whole year!

We got started around 10am, which is perfect if you ask me. It meant for the first time ever I didn't spend half of the festivities covered in a blanket, curled up in a corner beside the tree dozing in and out of consciousness. I am not a morning person!

Most of our gifts were pretty predictable. We usually provide each other with pretty detailed lists, but there were a few surprises.

The box I made for Josh.

A hat I bought for J.J. - it wasn't on his list but I found it and thought he would love it. Luckily I was right!

The family gift this year was a ping pong table. Dad hid it behind some wood in the garage until the dramatic unveiling after all other gifts had been opened.

Besides the fact that it was 80 degrees on Christmas day, (no complaints here) there were a few more parts of our day that were extremely stereotypical of a Florida Christmas. Sam's big gift was a surfboard and Mom surprised Dad with a fruit cocktail tree - several trees that have been grafted together so that multiple types of tropical fruit grow on the same tree.

After playing with our presents for a few hours we had our Christmas day late lunch/early dinner of ham and "the fix'ns." Then around 3:00 I laid down for a nap. I woke up around 9:00! When I walked into the dark living room my mom said she figured I was probably tired so she let me sleep - all day! I talked to her for about an hour and then went and laid back down.

Merry Christmas to me - a day where a spent more time asleep then awake!