So I downloaded a trial version of the Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite 5. Man is it cool. Also hard to figure out at times, but I'm really getting the hang of it. Too bad it's like $600 to buy. Oh well, I think I'm going to get a cheaper, probably less cool version eventually. Anyway, I'm ready to reveal my best ever design board, both aesthetically and technologically. Here it is with a product breakdown below:

Silver Lamp Bases - Walmart $25
Lamp Shades - Amazon.com $20
Pintuck Duvet Cover in Sea Spray - West Elm $120
White Windows Headboard - West Elm $300
Polished Chrome and Glass Side Tables - CB2 $120
Creme Shag Rug - Home Depot $120
White Picture Frames - Ikea $20
Custom Sentimental Pictures (see below) - Cost of printing (0.13 each)
Space Needle Metal Sculpture - Chiasso, $28
Flower Candle Holders - Z Gallerie $6.50
White Leaning Mirror - Ikea $99
Drum Lamp - Amazon.com $111
Vases - Online (haven't found the right ones yet)
Creme Accent Chair - Target $130
Dresser - Refinished by Yours Truly 2009 - Free
Total = ~$1600 (my dad MAY make the nightstands... we'll see!)

Isn't it awesome how well I can crop things with Photoshop!??! It's so much sleeker and easier to visualize. A lot of this stuff, especially the paint color, was taken from the original MB design board made by Michelle (see earlier post).


So the other cool thing I am doing with Paintshop is editing the sentimental pictures I'd like to frame to make them a little fancier and professional looking. I'd like to frame a picture of where we met, a picture of where we got engaged, and a picture from our wedding. Here's what I've done so far:

I need to take a new picture of the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, WA so I can edit it similarly (because I am anal they all need to be black and white with a pop of color). That's where we got engaged (read about it HERE).
I'm pretty stoked about this program and hope to come up with some more project ideas (like a new banner for my blog!) before my trial runs out!!!

Today I went to the Scrapbook Expo with my Mom and Sister and it was pretty inspiring - some very cute ideas for crafts. And it was nice to have some girlie family time. Then I met up with some of the science teachers from Sylvester and we (they) brainstormed up some pretty progressive grading ideas, as well as some very unique science notebooking strategies. These are very intelligent (and lovely, humorous) people. My hope is that I can ease my way into the curriculum at my new school, then slowly rock the boat with these mind-boggling approaches. I am excited to go into my 2nd year of teaching with a much more confident view of my teaching abilities and how I want to teach my students. Very exciting! Related: My classroom is really getting there, thanks to the school die-cut machine and some fabric - can't wait to post pictures. It is SO organized and colorful. Label Makers are as great as I had imagined them to be!

Well, another beautiful Wednesday in the Radiance community. I have gone through yet another gallon of paint and have yet another unfinished room. Who would have thought that it would take MORE than a gallon to do 2 closets (granted, our master closet is nearly the size of my childhood bedroom, but the point still remains)??

Regardless, I am enjoying my day. My quest to have the most organized classroom of the 2010-2011 school year is well underway and has motivated me to attempt to organize our home as well. I added a weekly whiteboard calendar below our monthly calendar in the office and divided it into 2 sections - cleaning chores and meals. Shall we rename this board "Lindsay's 2 Least Favorite Things to Do"? Perhaps. However, one of my MOST favorite things to do is check things of a list. So, it makes chores and cooking more enjoyable. For now. Also, it's already helped to totally get rid of the following conversation we have many nights:

John: "What are you cooking for dinner?"
Lindsay: "I don't know. I hate cooking."
John: "Want me to pick something up on the way home?" OR "Want to make that frozen pizza we have?"
Lindsay: "Yes."

Thus, saving us money.

I really have to thank my MOM for reminding me that "Now is the time to get into a cleaning routine" and "No, you can't just wash all your clothes together." She also had the genius idea to buy an industrial-sized dust mop for the hardwood floor, and now that I have a two-footer it takes me only a few minutes to sweep up the downstairs!

I ran across a beautiful blog the other day, Second Street East, made by a young woman named Michelle. She isn't one of those professional bloggers but has super cute style and mentioned that she is considering going into interior design. She was offering to make free design boards for practice and feedback, so I hit her up, told her about my style, and showed her my ghetto board. She created this, which I think is lovely and much more polished than what I create:

She included a price/website breakdown as well. AND, I need to mention that she did this all in a matter of hours. This is a great place for me to start. Some of the pieces are a bit too expensive (ahem, buying a sofa for $500 when our living room sectional was $750), but I love her style and will definitely keep this feel to it.

I think I feel a need to paint all the walls a dramatic, dark color because you can get away with it here without it being too dark, and because I lived my whole life in a White Wonderland. However, colors like she suggested are beautiful and noticeable enough to really change the room. We will see!


Well, that's all for now. I will do the big Guest Room Reveal once John figures out how to install a new light fixture... :)