So excited for what is to come < 3

It's been a year and a half since we moved to Japan. I love it, I'm so thankful, we're blessed to have this opportunity. We are making some changes, and I'm so excited for them. We've been so wrapped up in our business that we really haven't fully enjoyed life or Japan. We had so many orders, so often, that Ian was cutting wood every Saturday and 2-3 days per week...alllll day. That may not sound too shabby, but when he's already working long hours at the Air Force, it was incredibly difficult. Not to mention it was me at the computer, designing, every single day. Weekend? What's a weekend?! Sleep? Forget that.

Our house looked like a makeshift Home Depot, wood and paint stuffed everywhere. Where did we "hide" all of this wood? Hmmm...Behind the couch, behind the piano, under the desk, in closets, cabinets, under our bed....enough wood for all of the signs of Misawa. We had LOTS of orders. "LOTS" does not fully cover it....LOTS. Sawdust? Don't worry, my floors have randomly accumulated mass amounts of that too. My vacuum is ready to quit on me! I rarely got to work on anything for myself, which makes me sad! I have 16k pins on pinterest and I can't find time to make them because I'm making everyone else's haha! So blessed to have the business, so sad for my poor house!

Before we left for Japan, I had a booming business. I used to tease Ian that I was the breadwinner, because I made more than he did! I loved it, I never slept, but I loved it. Living in Japan, it's a whole new ballgame, it's more of a love/hate type deal. You have the fact that Ian and I are in this together and it's not just me and a vinyl business, we are not allowed to ship out our products and when we are hand cutting everything and designing everything ourselves, while our competition is using $1 Daiso/Homac precut wood...it makes our products a bit more expensive and time consuming. I pretty much just internally shut down when my anxiety reaches that lovely tipping point, and it definitely did, over the holidays.

As much as we love it, we can't keep up with demand and we are shutting down for the time being. Onto the good news...I'm excited about it! I will have more time to actually enjoy my husband's presence! Who knew?! For all of the friends and family that have asked us for goodies, yes, we totally plan to continue on for you all! Once we get back to the states and we can have a complete wood shop, with EVERYTHING that we need, we will open back up 100%! Maybe. Hopefuly. Who knows?!

Time to travel Japan, sing to my girls, finish my degrees, sing some more, nerd it up with my wonderful hubby of almost 10 years...what?!...spend some quality time with my drama queen and my diva, enjoy life and probably end with...you guessed it...a good song! We are pretty much in a constant state of "musical" over here. It's just how we roll. By we, I really mean me. I an just puts up with my random singing.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last few years of business, we sincerely appreciate it! We love you all!

Late Night Redo

I had schoolwork to do, dishes in the sink, a floor to mop...but meh, who needs to do those when you can refinish a piece of furniture?! Totally sound thinking, I only had to be up at 5am to start everything I "forgot" to do.

I have had this piece for a few months now. I picked it up at the Cement Factory. I had these grandiose plans of Ian making this amazing coffee table and unfortunately he is just too busy to get it done. So I went with a mission and came out with something that worked! I have no idea if it is supposed to be used as a coffee table or really what it is at all, but it works and it was something like $30. DEAL.

The top opens up and there's storage inside. There was also a rice mat on top, in that indent, but that rice mat and I weren't getting along, so it had to go. 

My original plans were to fill in that indent with wood and stain it, in a herringbone pattern, but again my husband never found the time haha. I have had Annie Sloan paint ready to go for maybe 3 months (but who is counting?!) in Provence and Old White, but recently our Arts & Crafts Center got in the Americana Chalk Paint and I decided to try it! I have to say, it was thinner than Annie Sloan and required a few more coats, not to mention there were more visible streaks. I am not a huge fan, but it will do and it was not horrible!

Here is after two coats of my top color - The coverage is not fabulous:

I decided to paint the bottom in a blue color (Americana Vintage) and the topic gray (Americana Primer). I wanted to attempt a herringbone pattern on the top so I just lightened the gray with Annie Sloan's Old White. 

I'm a lucky duck, my husband helps me with most of my projects. He is precise, so I left the taping to him!

While Ian handled the herringbone pattern, I decided to tackle the hardware. My curent obsession: Anything GOLD. My house looks like it has the Midas touch and I'm totally okay with that. I knew I HAD to paint the hardware gold. Unfortunately the pieces do not come off and are too scrolly to tape off, so hand painting it was! I went to a local store, Homac, and picked up some paint. Well, I thought it was "normal" paint...turns out it's powdered paint. I decided to make it work (said in my best Project Runway voice). I've never worked with it before, but turns out that it has fabulous coverage and stays on really well.

When all was finished, I used Annie Sloan Clear Wax to seal it. It's not my favorite piece, it's a bit more busy than I was picturing in my head, but it will do! the room is a tad brighter now and I feel like I've accomplished something....finally.

Rosalynn is 7?! Where did the time go?

It's been almost a week and I'm still in shock. My baby girl is 7 years old. When did that happen?!

Her one want was to have an American Girl Tea Party, so I did the best I could! Japan is a little difficult to make some things happen. It's an amazing place, but sometimes it is challenging to find everything. A big THANK YOU to my Momma who shopped for and shipped me what I needed, to my neighbors who helped with everything else! I love where I live!

Onto the fun. Daddy might have been sneaky and went for something else besides fruit punch, lemonade or tea....I thought it was funny! >>>>>>>>>>>>>



We went with the "normal" American Girl theme. Red, Pink and White stars and funky designs. I was fortunate enough to find little poofy balls at a local store, Daiso along with red tea cups and saucers. I made the bows from Daiso bows and clips. We had mini and full size snacks...we had to include our dollies! My neighbor made the cake...it was soooo cute...and the delicious macaroons! Another neighbor made the matching dresses! How fun! She is the owner and creator of Lil Stitchings....she sells adorable things and really went out of her way to get this perfect. Roz LOVED it and Abby is super jealous. Unfortunately Abby was too sick to enjoy the party :( but she enjoyed some cake the next morning :) We had a hair station and a mommy/dolly bracelet making station. Super cute! Rosalynn was so happy.

 

The best part?! My happy birthday girl!!

 

It wasn't a huge and elaborate party, but it was a fun little party! I'm so glad it's over and done with! Though Rosalynn is already planning her 8th birthday....a STAR WARS party, be proud, Uncle Adam!!

Slow and Steady...& Random Ramblings...

I feel like we take forever to finish things. I guess as long as we finish them, that's all that counts...right?

Our dining room is slowly, very slowly, coming along. My sideboard just needs a good coat of blue paint and dark wax.

In October...ignore the adorable hooligans in the picture

 Changed out my wine chiller for the new coffee maker...(No idea why we chose to live without a Keurig before!)...Notice the awesome plates that sat there for MONTHS.

I added some drapes, actually put something in that blank frame, hung those lonely stacked plates, added a tray that I got from the cement factory (I'm moving away from silver so I intend to paint it gold) and yay for new placemats and table decor...brought to you by good old Crate and Barrel.

After much fuss about a table, we are deciding to redo the one we have since I just can't get what I want here. If you know me well, you know that I've been slightly obsessed with Ana White since Pinterest introduced me to her site, over a year ago. Right before we moved and right before the movers came she posted a table....

http://ana-white.com/2013/05/plans/husky-farmhouse-table
....and I want it. Unfortunately in Japan there are not many options as far as building it, and I knew that coming here so I didn't even try for that exact table and a bench to match. I've gone back and forth between others but I don't want skinny turned legs nor do I want straight legs. We found a table at the furniture store here with turned legs that we could've salvaged just the legs off of (it was cheap), but they were too skinny for what I was going for. I've cried out of frustration...yes, I am pathetic and I do not have a life. Without the options to really go at it and build the table and bench that I want, I will be waiting until we return to the states...sad face. In the meantime, we get to redo what we have and we'll be adding a little extra seating, which I will put together as soon as I sand, stain and paint and fix my very well used table :)

I'm hoping to get this room done in the next few weeks! My first session of classes are almost over for the semester so I can find more time to work on fun stuff!

My projects for the week include:

Redoing this vase...I had been eyeing this guy for a few Cement Factory trips. He sat in the back corner and stared at me, every single time I walked into the "expensive antique room". I don't have another name for that room, so that's what I go with. My plans are to go with white, blue or cream Annie Sloan paint, complete with dark wax...shocking that I would choose those colors, I know. At $20, I thought it was a steal! Better yet, my husband convinced me to go for it...love him and it's original label was $30....score!

I was so excited with my second find, which may seem menial to the average person, but clamps! Woohoo! I had been searching for these little guys....looking in all the wrong places and stores. Now I can finally make my little mason jar lovely. They had smaller ones that I will probably go back for to hang wine bottles with.

Ian's project for the week/weekend?

Again, where else would I have found this other than Ana White? I had my heart set on another coffee table, but I just couldn't picture it in a "coastal cottage/farmhouse" home. I saw this one and it was perfect! I have this thing for turned legs and candlesticks. Ian insists that he is going to learn how to turn wood...because he apparently needs one more awesome skill under his belt. Knowing that we wouldn't be able to find chunky turned legs like that in Japan, we headed to the Cement Factory (same trip as the vase) and picked up some slightly thinner and slightly less turned table legs that we will use for our coffee table. We're working with what we have available. If the table legs don't work, we will have to figure something else out. I cannot wait to see what Ian comes up with.

A random bit that I have been working on and improving....me! I joined Weight Watchers a bit ago and have been losing weight ever so slowly, yay. I figure that I better get on a program so I'm not losing too quickly, since I'm not fantastic at pacing myself. It's working and I'm happy about it :) Slowly, but surely, everything is coming together!

The 2014 Overhaul

 

There's so much of my life that I want to overhaul for 2014. Not to say that I am not already blessed, but if we're being honest here...I'm not where I want to be nor am I who I want to be. I can speak for everyone in this household, we all feel the same way. Time for some changes. The saying is "New Year, New You", right? Time to take control.

My number one issue....technology. Yep, I will freely admit that I have been one of those who gets together with their friends so we could all pinterest and facebook on our phones the whole time. Since noticing this, at the beginning of 2013, I vowed to change it....and I have....just not completely. When your phone, tablet or computer get in the way of you actually living life in the real world, you have a problem. I will admit it, Ian and I argued about this not more than 2 weeks ago. I believe it was me saying, "You never put that damn thing (tablet) down!". It's true, of myself more than I'd like to admit too. We have greatly decreased our electronics usage and what do you know, we're...wait for it...happier and more connected! I challenge everyone to do the same. You honestly don't realize how much time you spend online or on apps until you put the electronics down. If you aren't attached to your phone already, good for you! I aspire to be like you in 2014. I am getting there, and it's marvelous :)

  I care too much what others think. I'm guilty of being a people pleaser. I would do anything for anyone...well almost anything, this people pleaser did have her limits. Towards the end of the year I was stretched so thin that I suffered, Ian suffered, the girls suffered, friendships suffered and the business suffered. Nothing went smoothly and I felt like my life was a wreck...not a happy place to be in. I had a fantastically craptastic attitude from about October 15th until this morning when I woke up with the will to change. I was miserable, critical, rude...not my normal bubbly and happy self. It's hard not to be cynical and mean when you feel like you're never doing enough. Let's face it, you can't please everyone. I used to be the type where I would post that we're not taking orders and taking a vacation (which we're on right now), but if someone messaged me I would appease them by doing their order right away. I have some none too thrilled with me people right now, but I refuse to work on our much due vacation time. It's "me time", darnit!

I'm a lot of things and not all of them are good in every situation or easy to take in all the time. I'm loud, obnoxious, nerdy, I speak way before I think, I act long before I use my brain, I'm passionate about everything I believe in, I think outside the box, I'm far from perfect and my all time favorite...I'm too much. All things I've been criticized for....all very true, especially the first four haha. I'm proudly obnoxious and nerdy, I'll admit that. I need to learn how to weed out the "friends" from the actual friends. I've never been good at this....ever. I was never gifted the fantastic ability of foresight, nor was it something I picked up along the way. Some things I need to scale back on so I can make quality friends: I trust others....recklessly. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt....always. I believe that there is good in everyone. I'm an open book so others can learn from my experiences and the crazy life I've lived (most have NO idea haha). The moral of the story in my long nonsensical paragraph: I have realized that I am who I am and that's not going to change. What is going to change, however, is the way that I decide who becomes an integral part of my life and who I allow to remain close to me. I am sure this sounds mean, but not all are worthy. I will also be a better friend to those who are worthy :)

 Lastly, I need to finish the stuff I start. Which goes hand in hand with me putting myself and my family before others. Let us view what happens when I put everyone else first:


 My lovely incomplete and very bare mantel.

That was SUPPOSED to be a wine bar, until Ian's Keurig placement somehow transformed it into an incomplete coffee bar. Notice the frame of nothing, the not painted buffet, the horribly staged coffee bar accessories, the plates that need to be hung up on that wall but I can't because, oh wait...

 ....I need to actually paint it first. Though this tape that has been up for a few days adds a bit of character. Another project awaiting completion.

Even better....how about my empty, lonely, frame. I at least painted it, burlap matted the frame and hung it...that counts for something, right?

   

Or here's a view of awesome. This is the start of my gallery wall. Don't you just love how it has highlighted our room...for the last 2 weeks...leaning up against the wall it should be hung on, incredibly incomplete. I need to paint that clock, finish my state cutouts, vinyl that window, paint that box and make it into a family quote sign, frame some pictures....the list is never-ending.

This is my year of doing (in all aspects of life) not just talking, since I have a knack for leaving things the way they are. Game on, 2014.

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Maybe that was a little early....as it's only December 31st here, December 30th where most everyone we love is located. Still, Welcome 2014! I hope everyone had an amazing 2013 and we pray that 2014 brings everyone joy.

2013 was an awesome roller coaster for the Sharp Family, over here. Our year in review:

-Abby turned 2

-We're moving to Japan! I don't want to go! My family, my friends...NOOOO!

-We're not going to Japan, no way, no how...YAY!

-We're moving to Japan! This time I'm researching and now I'm excited...beyond excited! This will be an amazing adventure, I'm accepting of this awesome opportunity.

-We're not moving to Japan :( Darn medical clearance.

-Wait, what?! We're moving to Japan! Two months out and you decide to clear us? But but but...you told us no, Air Force! Oh whatever, I'm again excited!

-Scramble time! The amount of things you need to check off in order to move to a foreign country seems like such a larger task when you have such a short time to do it!

-After a long while away from home, we got to go back to Cali on our way to Japan!

-Disneyland with my Grandpa! Disney was always fun growing up. We might as well have worked and lived there we went so much, but it was always more fun when Grandma and Grandpa were with us. You know, to torture on Autopia. Having kids now, I understand this. It's the one time you don't HAVE to ride with your crazy children who cannot drive on a track...no whiplash! It's glorious! You just get to wave with an evil smile as your child whisks the grandparents away for their special car ride of doom.
So the conversation with my Mom went something like this, not verbatim, my memory is not that awesome...
Me: Mom, Grandpa NEEDS to come with us.
Mom: I agree, but I don't think we'll be able to get him to come with us. I've asked him many times before.
Me: I will ask him. He will come.
Mom: Okay, you do that. (Sarcasm filling her voice here, like yeeeah, goood luck!)
Moving on to my next email conversation with my Grandpa, the incredibly shortened version....
Me: Grandpa, we would love for you to come with us to Disneyland.
Grandpa: Okay, sounds fun.
Lesson of the day, always send the grandchildren in on the mission. Parents love their children, but grandparents can't say no to their grandchildren.
Side story - My Grandpa is the man I truly looked up to growing up and the man I still look up to now. When I'd stay a week with my Grandparents during the summer my grandma would set aside a night that we were to go out to eat where she liked but he never said yes to. Her words, "He can't say no to you, so you ask him to go eat at _____. Remember to smile!", then she'd send me in to ask and we'd leave shortly after to the restaurant of her choice (my choice was usually another day) haha. I plan on using this tactic later on in life with my mother. Fool proof.

-13 hours of flying? No problem! My kid were angels! No joke....angels! They played on their tablets (Nabi tablets for the win!) and I sat there reading incredibly inappropriate novels. You know, the ones you angle away from everyone else around you...just in case there's someone looking over your shoulder. No, not 50 Shades of awful writing...yes, there, I said it, let the gasps of shock begin as I'm apparently one of the only women who feels this way.

-New house! New cars! Added friends! New life in Japan!

-Rozzy turned 6!

-Ian and I found that "thing" that further bonds us as a couple...decorating! He builds my vision, I paint and decorate it. Can't ask for much more than that!

^^^ Just a few snippets! It was such a fun and fast paced year!

Our bucket list for 2014 has everything to do with making this house a home!
-Build a new kitchen table
-Redo my Japanese hutch!
-Redo my Japanese buffet table
-Build a coffee table
-Build a castle bed
-Lose weight -Travel around Japan with the girls!
-Paint paint paint the inside of my house
-Get more organized

...and well, that's it. I'm sure I will add to it. Looking at that list I realize just how old I've gotten. Fun times out with the friends....to decorating!

Long story short, happy new year! I can't believe another one has come and gone! Here's to everyone's resolutions sticking!

The Weekend of Awesome: In a Nutshell

When we first got word that we were FOR SURE going to Japan, (the back and forth was insane and emotionally draining), I began to research. If you read my last post you know that I was not very happy about the idea of living in Japan. Something then caught my eye...."The Cement Factory". Wait what? Why would people post about making cement? Wow, this is what there is to do in Japan...so much to look forward to! Then I stopped being a judgmental B and looked into it. It's a antique and junk store! Whoa, yes, my kind of place! One thing or another happened and almost 6 months later I finally asked and slightly badgered a few friends, so they'd go with me! Let me just say, I thought Japan was fun and awesome before...now...it's official, Ian can PCS, but I'm not leaving. Ever. All joking aside, here it is, in all of it's cementy glory:

Don't let the industrial and harsh exterior fool you, for inside all that you will find is treasure! Okay, maybe a lot of junk and some treasures, but you will find some treasures. They had everything there, and by everything I legitimately mean it...everything. Ever thought about putting a giant concrete hippo in your front yard? No worries, there's one for you there. Decor not suitable for eyes under 18? They've got you covered! Clocks, a giant framed crab (he must've tasted awesome), printed screens, shutters, industrial tables, beer coolers, decor decor decor, electronics, cds, books, scooters and most importantly...antiques! I meant it when I said that they have everything there. There are 5 or 6 rooms that each have different things in them, so there's A LOT to look through and to look under. Imagine a junkyard, but inside. You have now mentally pictured the Cement Factory. Now this establishment is no place for littles to be running around. There's so much that could fall on them, so I recommend leaving your children at home or at least bringing your spouse so he/she can watch the younglings outside. I warn you, the stairs in one of the rooms...don't bother going up them unless your life is not at all important to you. I lovingly blame this trek up the stairs on Racheal ;) Her wondering mind led to a comical scene of three women tip toeing above what seemed to be nothing but a thin board holding us up. Not to mention wobbly steep steps up to the board of nothing floor. It was an adventure in of itself.

What did you find there? I will tell you, or show you rather. Our trip yielded all 3 of us some awesome finds...So awesome that we bought sooo much we had to come back to pick up the rest, twice. Two trips in the van looked like this, the third one was too dark haha:

We may have stocked up and cleared out the place. Soo much potential and redoing fun! Here are the pieces that I scored! This sideboard brought me to a happy place! Envision this: Annie Sloan Old White paint and dark wax, accentuating all of that gorgeous detail! Yes, oh the potential!! Don't mind the randomness happening on the top of this awesome sideboard, just enjoy it's beauty! The entire thing cost me...wait for it, $30. The ginormous frame sitting atop it's gorgeousness? $5. Technically I got it for $25, since they threw in a $5 vase as well for free. Awesome folks there, I'm telling you. The frame...oh that frame. I don't have to do anything to it. It's character, years of wear, everything shows through and it is beyond perfect the way it is.

 

My next piece...Not as old, but I love it's design and potential. I'm in between paint colors, so I'm not sure what direction I will take with it just yet, but I am replacing the hardware and changing it's overall look. The price on this bad boy? $30 or $35, I cannot remember, either way...a steal! Again, ignore the decorating nonsense going on in there, I'm trying to figure out what is going to go where.

The pieces are so well constructed, solid and sturdy! You seriously couldn't ask for more awesome potential for $70 total! I'm on a mission to find a tall Tansu chest, tea crates (my decorating dream for YEARS), other odds and ends, a silk screen, shutters...oh the list is never ending! I am so blessed to have a hubby who is completely on board with my madness...and one who searches out home projects he can complete himself to aid me in my never-ending decorating obsession.

If you are like me and googled "Cement Factory Misawa", "Cement Factory Japan" and "Cement Factory Hachinohe" relentlessly, then here are some directions for you! Easy peasy...
The Cement Factory Coordinates: 40.476497 141.415758
Take the toll road to Central Hach, the same way you'd go to get to Coco's and Sega World. Turn RIGHT at the Docomo onto the 104, it's before you reach central Hach, before the KFC, restaurants and what not.
Go until it T's off and you can only go right or left...make another RIGHT. This will keep you on the 104.
Again, go for a bit until it T's again! This time make a LEFT. Past the pachinko parlor...it seems like a bit, but you're going the right way! You will turn left onto the 104, again.
Go all the way up the windy road until you see the very tall building in the very first picture, on your right.
 Side Note: If you don't know how to get to Central Hach. Go out the POL gate and go straight until you see the toll road bridge. Turn left before that bridge and hop onto the toll road. It's past Homac, past Universe...you will see it. The tolls are 350Y each way.

We really hope that everyone had a fantastical Thanksgiving weekend!