Vintage Wash Tub Beverage Cooler

I’d like you to meet the newest addition to our family.

Isn’t she cute?  She has nice legs.

This vintage wash tub turned beverage cooler was all Nate’s idea.  Most girls get all gushy when their husbands do things like bring them flowers or take out the trash.  Those things will never happen in my house so I will get gushy over his new found love of junk.  Totally better than flowers.  (I would still be head over heels if the trash somehow found it’s way out without my help.  But I’ll totally take junk.)

Nate asked me to be on the look out for a vintage wash tub.  He was with me a couple of weeks ago and we found this wash tub for $30.

It was quite rusty and chippy.  We were debating keeping it that way.  After thinking about it, we decided to make it a little more us. 

Nate purchased a 3M Paint and Rust Stripper and got to sanding.

It turned out all shiny.

I then taped it all up and gave it 2 coats of Valspar’s Red Queen Outdoor paint.  We decided to paint the legs to make it prettier and to help protect it from the elements.  We’ll probably store it inside but we may leave it out every now and then.

Ike likes that it matches his bandana.

Who doesn’t love a quick and easy project that ends with a fun before and after?  No one.

Who’s glad wash tubs are now for booze and not laundry? 

Looking for more booze fun?  Check out our DIY beer tasting flight carrier!

Linking up to: Thrifty Decor Chick 

Vacationing in Green Lake, WI

You know what’s cooler than blogger vacation photos?  Blogger family vacation photos!

Last week Nate and I spent the week with his family in Green Lake, WI.  A week in one house with the in-laws. A form of torture in some countries.  I kid. I kid.  We actually had a great time.

I did learn a few things.

• I’m glad I wasn’t born into the Duggar family. 12 people in one house was plenty.
• Children are loud.  Very, very loud.
• Children are cute.  Very, very cute.
• Pack warm clothes any time you go to a lake.  Even in July.
• We are lucky to be a part of such a great family.

The week was pretty low key.  Nate’s parents rented this house for all us.  (They are very generous.)  The house had 6 bedrooms.  3 1/2 baths.  The decor was interesting.  I should have snapped more photos.  But the house was pretty much always a constant state of chaos.  And loud.  Did I mention children are loud?

Nate and I’s room had a double set of bunk beds and a map wall.  It was a romantic getaway.

Lake life is pretty sweet.  We spent time catching tiny fish.

Well, some fished.  The rest of us played with worms.  Way cooler.

We spent a good chunk of one day on a pontoon boat.  We froze our hineys off but it was still a good time.

Yes, I wore that hello shirt for an entire week.  I may or may not have washed it.

We also used these inflatable kayaks a lot.  Nate and I went daily.  I’m thinking about joining an Olympic rowing team.  I don’t really think Nate was paddling much so I’m sure I’ll qualify.

Ike went with us too.  He had a little bit of a rough vacation.  He’s sort of an only dog.  He doesn’t understand why vacation has to have so many rules and why children are so loud and poke him.  He did enjoy daily long walks and lots of time outside.  He also got to share the bottom bunk with me every night which he loved.  Unlike my back.

Nate and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary while in Green Lake.  We attempted to get a decent photo of us together.  It went well.

We’re pretty much incapable of taking a normal picture.  That’s why the fine gem below is a keeper.  I wish we would have had the Ike man with us but we took it right before dinner one evening.

And I’m still baffled that I’m wearing a jean jacket.  It feels like I’m in high school again.  Except I don’t have braces and my hair isn’t bleached.  Wait.  Should I be wearing a jean jacket? Eh. It was cold.

Do you take family vacations?  Do you love lake life?  Why are children so loud?

Shiny Bathroom Post

Remember our bathroom that we started tiling 17 years ago?  Yeah.  We’ve made no progress.  Go team. 

We are, however, sick of sharing a vanity.  #firstworldcoupleproblems

We hope to hop back on the tiling train this weekend.  Hope being the key word.

We have started to finalize some other plans and today I am going to share with you.  Because that’s what I do.  Overshare.

Our plans include shiny objects.  My favorite. 

I dare you to turn this post into a drinking game.  Drink on “shiny”.  Go.

It all started with this beautiful light.  It is the Pullman Bath Light from Shades of Light.  So shiny.  Shiny. Shiny. Shiny.  (I hope you’re playing the game with coffee.)

The polished nickel finish is shiny but also limited some of my other options.  Oh well.  Shiny for the win.

Shiny lights led to shiny faucets.  Like the Park Avenue Faucet from Pfister Faucets.  I didn’t know a faucet could be so beautiful.  And shiny.  I can’t wait to pet it.

And last but not least.  Shiny mirrors.  We decided on the Gatco 4589S Laurel Avenue Rectangle Wall Mirrors.  The mirrors were a tough decision.  We had originally thought framed mirrors but we later decided that we want to let the tile shine (different from shiny).

Our final decision is shiny hardware for the cabinets.  That, dear readers, is still a work in progress.

Are you a shiny object fan?  Who wants to help us finish tiling?