Country Modern On a Budget

Welcome To My Humble Home

I have lived in many places so its hard to make a place feel like home when you are always moving! It seems whenever I get settled its time to load up and leave again! Finally I am in my home state California. My wonderful in-laws found us a cute little house in Long Beach. When we moved in it was a mess. Carpets were pulled (there were amazing ORIGINAL cherry hardwoods under the sick carpet ) the inside was painted by yours truly, hundreds of pounds of trash was dumped from the backyard. I hired a gardener and spent hours planting. Finally I feel like this little home is somewhat complete. So here are a few afters.

Table:  from As-is at ikea when we were first married for like $60 bucks.

 Chairs: ikea

Hutch: From the 1920's my husbands great-grandmothers.

Curtains- Ikea fabric purchased for $2.99/yd, each panel used 3.5 yds of fabric

Table center piece: flea market find

I love this hutch, not only is it made by hand and has so many details, but it can hold all my special things. I keep my jewelery box inside, nick knacks from my travels and books that my kids can't look at w/o supervision.

The bowl is from the 1960's and its fiberglass- I purchased this in kentucky at a indoor swap for $6 bucks. Metal balls are also from the 60's purchased somewhere in ohio for a few dollars.

The Boys room.

Cole is the only one that sleeps in the bed, Jett still like to sleep on his "Tiny Bed" which is a little mattress on the floor beside my bed.

I had you put a rug down because the wood was damaged underneath. I spent hours using acetone to remove old paint splatters from the wood (you can still see tiny white flecks on the wood)

Bed: Vintage, found it on craigslist for $50 bucks

Rug: Swapmeet $10

Since homes in the 1940's do not have storage I purchased billy bookshelves in the AS Is for $40/ bookshelf

I love how easy it is to pick up their room cause you just throw everything on the shelves.

Again, I purchased fabric at Ikea (I only buy the fabric that's on sale) for 1.99/yd.

The white box is a old find  from a old ship that I painted white and use it for their costumes and props (paid $10 at a flea market)

This is my "Entry Way" I needed storage so I purchased 2 short bookshelves (Walmart $15/piece)

Lamp: Ikea

Mirror Vintage (from a family member)
Coat Rack: Vintage $18 (Swapmeet)

Boots: My gardening go to, from Henry Bendel

Lamp: 60's Swap Spaghetti lamp a gift from my old friend Paul Frank.

Chair: Ikea

Pillow: I made them, from the NeNe California home collection (available soon)

We painted the fireplace white to make the grey wall color stand out.

Since I rarely use the fireplace I placed Mexican candles and light them when I have guests over.

Curtains: Ikea fabric, handmade

Couch: I hate this couch, I get my new leather sectional next week!

Pillows: NeNe Home

Table: Found in a trash

Lamp: Home Goods, clearance $15.00!

Modern Side Table: Swapmeet $28.00

My Mantel is very simple: Sunburst Mirror from Target $29 plus gold spray paint $3

Art is from Goodwill in AR, I paid $3/ painting.

Well Thats my house!

XO

J.W.

How to avoid the hard core bowl cut

I love a kid with a good cut. If you can't cut your kids hair them just let it go.. the worst thing you can do is take your kid to a cool cuts or kiddie cut palace. You will be posting "When bad cuts happen to good kids" on facebook if you take them to one of these joints. Here are some examples:

The "Flat" top

The little boy cut

.. And the sweet bowl cut

I have never allowed anyone to touch my kids hair. I think this might have to do with my control issues, but also cause people can't cut hair!! It is very easy to cut your babes hair with some easy steps.

First off I only like to cut hair when it is dry, wet hair is slippery and when you dry it shrinks and you can't see what the actual cut looks like. Are you following?

Second, don't use kitchen scissors. I like the $15 conair ones from target.

Third- Start with the front and work your way to the back, you need to start with a guide for the length. I cut the front part or the bangs and see how the hair lays and go from there.

Fourth- Always cut vertically, this allows the hair to lay evenly and it give the tapered look. Doing this will eliminate all horizontal "strips" in the hair.

I recently cuts Coles hair. I wanted a simple euro grown out faux hawk with some edge. I first had to remove all the dreads that were in his hair, this process took about 2 hours.

 I then dried his hair and started cutting the front. I think I took about 4 inches off the top and all but 1.5'' off the sides.. Since I cut so much hair he lost all his blonde ends and his hair looked really muddy and dull. So I mixed some bleach with some 20 vol and applied it only on the longer part of his hair for about 5-7 min.. I love bleach, it adds texture and can transform a cut. I rinsed and added some wax and this is what we ended up with.

This is such a easy look to achieve. Don't be afraid, it is very simple and can save you a ton of money. Cutting your own babies hair is a lot less traumatizing then taking him to some scary stranger with bad breath who Will screw it up. When I look for a new look for my boys I never look at kid pics but I find good mens hair images and work off of that. Take it slow and Good Luck!

                                                                  Jetty's first haircut





La quinta Living

La Quinta- Hidden Canyon.

This is our home away from home.

Spending our "not-so coachella" weekend here.

The "Rodeo" of Palm Desert is El Paseo

fun window shopping like Escada, Louis, Anthropology ect.

After our el Paseo adventure we headed to TJ Maxx. I hate retail and love a good deal. Found some good bikinis, a pair of miu miu sunglasses, and a few spiderman masks. After getting into it with the white trash worker who accused me of taking bikini bottoms (I entered the dressing room with only the top) we paid and got some Panda Express. yummy.

I love jetty's ombre hair!

Brent drove out with me but had to leave for work...

Brent's final trip with Comair. He starts training for Skywest soon.

Lovley for all body types- old or young, pregnant or menopausal

I seriouly could live in these chic moo moos.. My mission before summer is to make a collection of my own.

By Two New York

http://www.twonewyork.com/

Prices of these cute lil numbers start at $260+

XO
JW

Its Camping Time!

One of our favorite family activities is camping together down south.  We are headed out tomorrow. One of the perks of homeschooling is that we can take off midweek and have some fun! I go into this thinking "pack light" but we might as well stay for a month cause I still need to pack all the basic. Tent, Bedding, air mattresses, dog, dog kennel, wetsuits, towels, chairs, jogger, bikes ect.. the list goes on. Here are some highlights from last year.

Brent and I

My sisters Caddie (center) and Jess (Right)

Cole being Cole

Jett loves fire. He was carrying around double lighters are morning.

Brent and Cole Tandem surfing

This is my brother Tay. I really wish we got a photo of my mom doing this sweet jump cause I heard she flew and went over the handlebars.. classic

First San Elijo trip of 2011

I Like camping, wouldn't say love but like will do. San Elijo is great cause you camp in tent but there is hot water showers and starbucks across the street... This is about all I can handle for 'camping.'

 

Our Lu Lu- She is a angel compared to my demon dog

Trigg actually thinks he will be granted access to the trailer.

Our Set-up

Brent turned 29 on our trip!!!

Xo, J

Let me tell you a little bit about myself...

My name is Jennifer Watson and I am 27 years old. I was born and raised in Huntington Beach Ca. I am the oldest of 7 kids. I graduated high school at 15 years and old and started studying Nursing at 16. I ran off to Vegas when I was 19 and married my childhood sweetheart Brent (he lived across the street from me since I was 11)... Yes, everyone was expecting a fairytale wedding or at least a invite but we figured a wedding is a promise between two people and God so the little white wedding chapel is where we headed. That night was the best night of my life.

Brent Watson- The man of my dreams (We had our 7 year wedding anniv. in Jan.)

We had only been married 4 months when I got a positive on a pregnancy test and soon we had our first son Cole Maddoxx Brent Watson (he is 6 years old now)

Cole 6 years old (photo taken by my sister Jessica Stopnik, She is a fabulous Photographer)

... then 2 years later we had Jett Slater Brent Watson. When it comes to doing paperwork I regret giving my boys 4 names!

Jetty bug, he is my angel boy.

I started sewing at a young age, I always had fun making clothes, and  little accessories. I started designing handbags when I was 16 and launched NeNe Bags the following year. I was so surprised that a store would actually want to sell my product. I have been sewing "NeNe" bags ever since. Last year I was picked up by Ron Herman Japan and have been working with them on my new line NeNe California Couture Co. http://www.nenebags.com/

NeNe Bag Living Large Hobo in Rasta Chicky

(Model is Britt my brothers g/f)

I love traveling. Thanks to my flight benefits we have been fortunate enough to visit some really great places.

Punta Mita, Mexico Four Seasons Resort

Namotu, Figi

NYC- Times Square

Soooo Cold!

Bahamas- Nassau Customs