Sewing machine desk--PROJECT

I'm so excited to show you guys my latest project! Spencer and I bought this used desk for $10 a couple of months ago. It sat around my parents house for a couple of weeks until I decided what color I wanted to paint it. I knew I wanted it blue, but once I went to pick out the paint color it seems like there were ENDLESS choices of the color blue! I finally found my match and painted away one Saturday afternoon. I was able to finish the entire thing that weekend because it was labor day weekend. I was able to finish it early that Monday.

Here is the desk before sanding:

I sanded it pretty well. There was a little bit of water damage on the top, after sanding it you would have never known it was there!

Here's the desk after sanding everything. I wanted to make sure there was a rough texture on all the surfaces I wanted to paint so that the paint would stick.

Here's my color! LOVE it! I might have to paint something else this color.

After painting it I waited a day until I started to antique and rough up the edges. I tried to antique it the same day I painted it, but the paint just wasn't dry enough. I also didn't want to make it TOO antiqued looking so I went light on the sanding. I think I did just the perfect amount for what I was wanting.

The third day I finished antiquing it and then took the desk outside and coated it in this satin sealer. I practically used the entire can. I thought it was going to leave it semi-glossy, but it put a rough texture on it. It did shimmer in the sun though. I thought the texture was a little weird at first, but I really love it now. It's not glossy and it's not flat, it's kind of between the two.

Here is the finished product! The picture doesn't do it justice. I'll have to pictures of it in our apartment.

So I've decided I love transforming furniture. I've actually already got a bunch of other furniture that needs painted. I just have to go pick out the paint. I think it's going to be my new hobby. I love seeing potential in an old piece of neglected furniture. Hope you guys liked the transformation. It's seriously cute in our apartment. You should see the gold frame I bought last weekend that's hanging above it now. SERIOUSLY. It's gorgeous! Stay tuned for pictures, once I take them. : ) Thanks for following!

          ~Nat

Destin

In August my family got to take a trip to Destin, Florida to visit my sister and her husband, and Spencer's brother's family. YES...We both have family in Destin! How lucky are we?!? Unfortunately my sister and her husband will be moving to Virginia at the end of the year. Lucky for us, we'll have excuses to visit both places then! We'll still have connections in Destin. : )

We left Wednesday night and traveled all night to make it there by Thursday morning. We got to my sister's house and crashed for a couple of hours. Then we got up, showered and got ready for the day.

First we stopped at an Air Force museum.

Then we went shopping on the military base and then went bowling!

Yeah that's right! I won't show you the scores of the other games though. ; )

Then we met up with Jake and Dana at a little park in the middle of a shopping center.

Spencer and niece Katherine.

Jake and Porter--Cutest picture!!

Day 2 was beach day! Even though it rained everyday we were in Destin (which has been the case for the last 3 years) we made our way to the beach!

Clear water!

And here comes the storm...

Look how cute!

You can clearly see where it was already raining.

While it was storming at the beach we went over to Bass Pro and shopped around for a bit. We also headed to the candy shop where we stop for some sugary treats every time we are in Destin.

A couple of hours later we met Jake, Dana and the girls at McGuires for some good eatin'! This has become another one of our Destin traditions. We love McGuires! : )

This stuff is ridiculous. Who needs the bread?! All I want is that honey butter!

AMAZING! I ate off my burger for the next 2 or 3 days!

Our waitress wasn't the best photographer, but at least we got a picture! This is after I lightened it up and messed with the exposure.

Why so serious?? LOL...he was loving that ketchup!

 Then we head back to the house for some pictionary.

That concludes our second day in Fort Walton/Destin!

Day 3 we woke up "early" and went and got us some fresh Krispy Kreme donuts.

Then we went to Jake's special ops base. We went kayaking and explored a little island. It was really fun and an awesome workout for your arms.

At this point we were just soaking wet. You would hit waves from the wake of boats driving by and get soaked.

Stephen beat us there.

Yolo board.

After exploring for a bit we all head back to drop our kayaks off. We stopped and refueled quickly and head to Navarro beach. It was super cloudy when we got there, but by the end of the day it was perfectly beautiful outside!

Look what Spence caught this year! How does he do it??! I do not know.

I love my mommy and daddy!

Then it started to clear up outside...it was the perfect afternoon!

THE.PERFECT.BEACH.DAY. Look at that sun shining through!

After the beach that day Spencer, Stephen and I got to go with Jake up to the base where he works. He took us on a little tour of his special ops building and others close by. That was pretty cool. It just makes you respect those who serve in the military THAT much more. Lots of hard work and dedication go into their jobs every day.

That pretty much sums up our Destin trip! We all had tons of fun and we were able to cram lots of activities into just the couple of days we were there! Thanks for following!

Stay tuned for a project I finished a few weeks ago! : )

~Nat