12 by 2012: Update

I am ever so slowly making progress on my 12 by 2012 goals. Latest goal reached? Goal #10.

Paint my 2' x 4' canvas that I've been avoiding

I've had this image pinned since I first signed up for Pinterest - so like, five or six months ago? I was itching to create something similar, but using a Bible verse. After seeing Elise's painting a couple of weeks ago, I knew that it was time to stop procrastinating. I already had found the verse that I wanted to use, so the only thing that was stopping me was... nothing! It was time to take out the paint!

Here's what I came up with:

As much as I loved how my inspiration photo took the words from edge to edge and really filled the canvas, I wanted to make sure that the whole verse was legible. I used Matthew 5:14 - it's such a special verse and it's really encouraging. It's so nice to see when I go into the living room. Here's a closer peek:

I started by priming my canvas with a mixture of white acrylic paint and water. Once that was dried, I just winged it. Didn't plan where the words would go, didn't make sure my lines were straight, nothing - just grabbed the paintbrush and started. I wanted a loose, flowing, organic looking verse, so I just dabbed my brush in paint and wrote a word or two. After I was done, I went over the whole verse in black paint again. 

The painting is exactly what was missing in our living room. The space one the sofa was so bare before, since I was waiting for the perfect piece. Now it's a whole lot more complete!

The look of our living room is really starting to come together. Each element seems a lot more cohesive now, which is a big sigh of relief. I was tired of the student hodgepodge special. Now it's a little more grown up!

Hope you enjoyed a peek at the latest happens in our home! Yay for checking off another 12 by 2012!

Happy Monday!

Twelve by 2012: Update

Time for this week's 12 by 2012 update! 

I'm plugging away at all of my goals (click here to read my list of fun goals to accomplish by 2012) and slowly making progress. It's time to pick up the pace... only seven and a half weeks left of 2011. How crazy is that?! I did get to check one goal off of my list, though:

#2 - Use my manicure/pedicure gift certificate before it expires

I took a trip to Sydney with Mom on the weekend and had a little time at the nail salon. It's called Darling... isn't that darling?! I got a metallic teal on my toes, and these shades on my nails:

Bare it in Trafalgar Square by Opi

Bring on the Bling by Opi

I got a pretty nude shade with a bling finger on each hand. I think it's going to be my go-to now... I love having one nail different. And... the pedicure! I could go every week. Aaah. Totally relaxing. Other than giggling out loud when she was pumicing the bottom of my foot, I loved every minute. Thanks, Dan, for the birthday spoilage - too bad it took me 12 months to get to use it!

Happy Thursday!

Twelve by 2012: Update

Since a couple of weeks have passed since my original post (can you believe it?!), I thought that it was about time for me to share my 12 by 2012 progress with you. I know you must be itching for an update, so here you go! :)

I chose twelve fun goals to achieve before 2012, since we all have loads of serious goals to deal with. So far, one of my goals is entirely accomplished:

#5 - get rid of twelve things in my closet

I've been purging, and I definitely came up with more than twelve items to get rid of. I have a grocery bag full of donations in our car's trunk, ready to take to the thrift store. I also have a smaller bag to take to a consignment shop. It has a pair of camel-coloured dress pants (for the job that I no longer have), a cute pink belt (that I never wore) and that fun black and white polka dot cardigan in the photo. It the cutest sweater ever, but it has those dolman (I think that's what they're called?!) sleeves that don't come up to your armpits which are just not flattering on me. When I wrote the word armpits, it reminded me of elementary school - I wrote armpit in my journal (don't ask me what the reason was) and my teacher corrected me. She said that armpit wasn't a proper word, it was a slang word for underarm. I remember being totally disgusted and thought, "Who says underarm?" She wasn't my favourite teacher in the world.

I'm making a dent on some of my other goals, and barely starting others, but I can check one more goal off my list by the end of this week. I'll share the details next week - it'll have cute pics, too!

Happy Thursday!

Twelve by 2012

I'm world's best procrastinator, so I was eager to jump onboard with this challenge. Danni from Oh, Hello Friend has organized a fun little project: 12 goals accomplished by 2012. Seems reasonable, right? It's a little less daunting than a 24 before 25, since I only have a little over a month until my birthday. Twelve sounds like a walk in the park! Not only that, but tt's fun to make a list and give and receive encouragement to achieve those goals!

I'm choosing twelve fun goals since we all have more than enough serious goals that we set for ourselves. Here we go!

My Twelve Goals by 2012

1. Bake or cook twelve recipes and deliver them to friends or neighbours
2. Use my manicure/pedicure gift certificate before it expires
3. Wear heels at least twice a week
4. Write all of my Christmas cards before November 25
5. Get rid of twelve items in my closet
6. Participate in the Christmas farmers' market
7. Host a games night every two weeks at our place
8. Call or text my friends more often
9. Organize a cookie exchange
10. Paint my 2' x 4' canvas that I've been avoiding
11. Start a weekly pizza night tradition
12. Read twelve books of the Bible

How do those goals sound? Are you ready to take any of them on? Do share!

I'm linking up on Danni's post - check out some of the other goals!