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The Easiest Pillow You Will Ever Make...

2011-07-31T15:04:00.000-04:00

When we changed the wall color in the master bedroom several months ago, I had to get rid of the red throw pillow that was on the bed. I looked around, but, being the very frugal gal that I am, couldn't find a coordinating pillow that wasn't too expensive. After seeing a post by House of Hepworths I decided that 1) it was definitely frugal, and 2) it was easy enough that I could do it!

I don't have "before" or "during" photos, but really, it is so simple that you can do this without pictures to go by!

I found my pillowcase at Burlington in Lexington for only $1.99. I ripped out the seam on the bottom corner of the placemat with my seam ripper and then stuffed it with polyfil. Then I stitched up the hole. Easy peasy!

Allison has all the photos and step-by-steps over at House of Hepworths.

A Country Photo Frame...

2011-07-30T00:20:00.000-04:00

So, I'm perusing the pins on Pinterest the other day, when I spotted this cute photo station:

http://taliachristine.blogspot.com/2011/02/once-upon-time.html

I thought it was too cute, and looked simple enough that maybe even I could make one like it. And, I am happy to report, I have done it! Now, mine probably isn't built as well as Talia's, but it is good enough for me!

First, you start with some old moulding that has been in the garage for who-knows-how-long:

You get your hubby to cut them to length with his circular saw (because the circular saw is the one power tool that kinda scares you) and then miter the corners with your new miter box and saw (that you bought because it was $8, rather than $150 for the power compound miter saw that is now on your birthday wish list):

Then you recut the last piece of moulding because you got the angles mixed up again. This will also make your frame smaller than you intended. Oh well... Nail them together with your handy-dandy nail gun. Then add some eye hooks:

On the hooks, attach a length of jute on which to pin your photos:

I took my frame one step further and added some chicken wire to the back. Then all that was left was to pick out some photos to display!

Thrifty finds...

2011-07-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

You know those days that you stop at the thrift store, hoping to find a diamond-in-the-rough treasure and instead walk out empty handed? Unfortunately that seems to happen most of the time for me. :(

However, a couple of weeks ago, I stopped in my Goodwill store and found not one, but two treasures-in-the-making!

The first I found was something that Miss M had just told me she wanted for her newly-redecorated room: a bulletin board. I'd been trying to figure how to do one, maybe with an old, big frame and some cork tiles. But laying there on the shelf at GW was one ready made. And a good deal at only $2.50. Its frame would have to be painted and the fabric replaced (or just removed), but much easier than making one!

So I picked up the bulletin board, which was enough to make my day, and walked over to the furniture. I have been looking for a chest to redo for Miss M's room (her's has a broken drawer), but instead found this:

I was sure it would be perfect for the G-Man's room. Then I saw the price tag:

Then I KNEW it was coming home with me! I'd have to do some sanding and refinishing, but at that price, even if I messed it up worse and had to trash it I wasn't out much.

I had to do quite a bit of sanding, and never did get the surface of the top completely smooth, but hey, its going in an almost 7-year-old's room, so its not going to stay pristine even if I could get it that way, right?

I decided to paint it the color of the top of the G-Man's bedroom walls, Rattan Palm by Porter. It got a couple of coats of Minwax Polycrylic

and voila!

Perfect for a little guy and his Legos!

(*update on the bulletin board and Miss M's room redo coming soon!)

#ilovethrifting Day...

2011-07-12T09:40:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, Saturday was the 1st (hopefully annual!)I Love Thrifting Day. The brainchild of Rashon Carraway, better known as Mr. Goodwill Hunting, it was a day for celebrating frugality and creativity that thrifting affords. Shoppers across the country, from Charlotte to the West Coast participated. Since there wasn't a local "I Love Thrifting" group in my hometown, I was on my own. And it turned out to be a good thrifting day for me!

There are a couple of Goodwills here, and I hit them both. Usually I am looking for things for the house when I thrift, but this time I decided to peruse the clothes too. And it wasn't long until I found something I'd been wanting-a denim jacket. Only $5!

Just a couple minutes later, I found a winter coat for the G-Man. Nearly new except for a missing hood, which is okay, since my little guy likes wearing toboggan hats instead. The really nice thing about this is that it is two coats in one. The lighter jacket zips out of the shell, so it can be worn 3 ways: the lighter jacket, the medium weight shell, or together. And a steal at $3!

Later I went to our other GW and snagged this pair of like-new jeans for $3. Can't tell that they've ever been worn.

Two jackets and a pair of jeans for $11. Not a bad day!

The Backsplash...

2011-06-23T19:10:00.000-04:00

For quite some time, I've been wanting to do something with my kitchen backsplash. I thought about doing tile, but frankly, even with our DIY experience, I was reluctant to try it. We've tackled a lot of jobs, but never tile. So I kept looking, and one day, I clicked a link and landed on a blog called Thrifty Decor Chick (if you haven't checked it out, get thee over there!). Sarah was right in the midst of a kitchen remodel, and was putting beadboard on her backsplash. I instantly fell in love! I knew that was exactly what I'd been looking for!

After unsuccessfully attempting to do the backsplash with wood beadboard panels (and giving up quickly), I found the beadboard wallpaper that Rhoda over at Southern Hospitality raves about. I ordered a roll, and let me tell you, it is a dream! It looks just like real beadboard, and its paintable, too.

Here's a look at the before:

First, I did a LOT of measuring for the moulding.

Then I got to paperin'. The wallpaper went up very easily. The most important thing is to draw a plumb line where you begin and make sure periodically that the paper is still straight up and down. It is also quite thick, so it doesn't flop around or tear when you're putting it in place like other papers can do. It took 24 hours to dry, then I painted it with Colonial White by Porter.

Next, I added trim all around the backsplash (I had painted it all the same color as the wallpaper). I attached it with Liquid Nails.

And here it is finished!

I just love it. And so does The Hubs. In fact, yesterday he said we should continue the beadboard through the dining area. So I used what was left on the roll and got started. I only got a couple of wall sections done before the paper ran out, so I ordered more last night and hopefully I will get the rest of the room done next week. Until I do, here's a peek of the section that is done:

If you're considering beadboard, I highly suggest the Graham Brown paintable beadboard wallpaper! Check out Rhoda's store for more info!

Long time no see...

2011-06-17T11:49:00.000-04:00

My, it has been a long time since I posted any DIY articles here. Been a bit busy with work and all. But now that school is out (yay!) I have more time to DIY and to post! I am currently working on a project that is nearing completion: my kitchen backsplash. I can't wait to share pictures with you soon!

Plain Wisdom review...

2011-05-06T19:08:00.000-04:00

The authors of this book seem to be quite an “odd couple”. Miriam Flaud is a member of the Old Order Amish, a culture very different from that of Cindy Woodsmall. Despite their vast differences, these two women have become close friends who, in “Plain Wisdom”, share with us their wisdom and insight as wives and mothers. We learn about their daily lives, their traditions, challenges they face, and their relationships with God. As a bonus, interspersed among the stories are Amish family recipes shared by Miriam. Though we see how strikingly different our two cultures can be, we also realize that there are many things that we have in common. The value we place on our families and our God are ties that bind us all.

Reading this book made me feel as though the three of us were sitting at the kitchen table, Miriam and Cindy relating their experiences over a cup of coffee. It was truly a pleasure to read. I highly recommend it.

I received this book free for review from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Max on Life: a review...

2011-05-03T22:31:00.000-04:00

As any pastor would, Max Lucado has received hundreds of questions over the years. “How can I forgive him for what he did?” “Why do bad things happen to Christians?” “What does God say about (fill in the blank)?” Many of them are difficult to answer; many have answers difficult to hear. Lucado’s book Max on Life is a compilation of many of these questions that Lucado has been asked over the years, some of them questions he’s struggled with himself. There are questions and answers addressing just about every facet of the Christian life: marriage, finances, God’s grace, sin, and Scripture, just to name a few. He provides clear, direct, Biblically-based answers without being "preachy". By the same token, his answers are not overly-simple or “pat”. He writes as he talks, in a compassionate, wise style that seeks to guide and encourage, not to judge. It is an easy-to-read book. It is set up in a question and answer format, divided into topical sections: Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Haves/Have-Nots, and Hearafter. Although some of the questions may not relate to every reader, there is something for everyone. And I’ll bet that if the topics don’t relate to you now, they probably will someday!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Principle of the Path

2011-04-18T19:31:00.001-04:00

All of us have known people who seem to make one bad decision after another. For that matter, we have all made our fair share of them from time to time. Unfortunately, many of those decisions can leave impacts that can last for years and are difficult, if not impossible to correct. Why is it that we can have a clear idea of what we want financially, relationally, and professionally, but so often make decisions that take us to an entirely different place? Why it that we ignore what our better judgment is telling us? In his book The Principle of the Path, Andy Stanley, pastor and founder of Atlanta’s North Point Ministries, discusses what happens when our intentions and our decisions do not coincide. He addresses these questions and gives practical, biblically-based advice for staying on the path to your intended destination. No rocket science here-just principles that help the reader to narrow down and focus on what he/she really wants and how to get there.

I believe that this book should be required reading for all young adults just starting out in life. If followed, the advice in this book could save readers from countless heartaches and detours on their path to success.

I received a copy of the book from BookSneeze.com's blogger program.

A trip to Regency England...

2011-04-12T20:20:00.004-04:00

When I opened the covers of The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen, I was expecting to like it. After all, I had already read The Apothecary’s Daughter, and Klassen had quickly become one of my favorite writers. And after reading this novel, I can honestly say that I was not disappointed. As a lover of historical fiction, especially books set in Regency England, it took only a few paragraphs to be drawn totally in. In fact, I had a difficult time putting the book down!

The Girl in the Gatehouse opens as Miss Mariah Aubrey is leaving her family and her home after having caused her parents embarrassment. She soon arrives at the home of her aunt, and takes residence in the estate’s gatehouse, far from friends, family, and anyone who knows about her indiscretion . It is here that she hopes to hide from the rest of the world, and in doing so, hide from her shame and from whatever future she may have once had.

Although she believes she must bear her burden forever, she meets friends who show her that not only must she forgive herself, but she must accept the forgiveness of her Savior. Only then can her life begin again.

Bethany House Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A Review...

2011-04-07T21:11:00.002-04:00

Carolyn Maull McKinstry was fifteen years old when a bomb planted by the Ku Klux Klan exploded at the Birmingham, Alabama's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, killing four of her close friends. In "While the World Watched", we find out how this event affected McKinstry's life, not only as a teenager in a segregated South, but how it shaped her adult life. McKinstry's first-hand accounts bring this dark chapter of America's past to life for the reader. Not only a book recounting a segment of American history, this is a wonderful story of how forgiveness can change one's life.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

2010-12-20T13:07:00.001-05:00

Adam Sabados, the Digital Media Coordinator for Tyndale House Publishers, just sent me an email letting me know about a great new contest from the New Living Translation Bible. Here's the scoop according to Adam:

The New Living Translation is sponsoring a contest that highlights three very important ministries: Wycliffe Bible Translators, Oasis International, and The Dream Center, (click on the link to learn more details about these ministries) and by voting for one of these ministries you’ll be entered to win one of many prizes. To enter, visit the NLT Facebook page by clicking here.

With the Give the Word Bible Contest and Giveaway:

• Ministries win: Each time the NLT Facebook Page reaches a fan count milestone, votes will be tallied and the three ministries will receive cash donations from the New Living Translation and Tyndale House Publishers.

• Everyone wins: Everyone who enters on the Bible Contest website wins a free download of Matthew West reading the Christmas story.

• Daily NLT Study Bible winners: Vote on the NLT Facebook page and you will be entered to win two NLT Study Bibles—one to keep and one to give away. A new winner will be chosen every day.

• Weekly Give the Word Locally winners: Tell us about a deserving local ministry on the NLT Bible Contest website and they could win five NLT Study Bibles and $250 worth of NLT products.

• One Grand Prize winner will enjoy a unique trip customized just for them and their family (or three guests of their choice), to Wycliffe Bible Translators world headquarters and the WordSpring Discovery Center where they will experience firsthand the exciting world of Bible translation. The Grand Prize winner could also choose to donate the value of the trip--$2000--to Wycliffe instead.

Take a minute to click over to find out about the contest and about the three ministries spotlighted and to the NLT's Facebook page. You might even win a prize!

Our Jesse Tree...

2010-12-12T10:55:00.000-05:00

This year, the G-Man and I are enjoying a new activity that I hope will become a yearly tradition. After finding Ann Voskamp's blog "A Holy Experience", I decided to put together a Jesse Tree. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Jesse Tree, it is an Advent-long family activity that counts down the days until Christmas with lessons and stories from the Old Testament, each one pointing to the coming Messiah.

From the first day, the G-Man was on board and excited! In fact, it was a struggle for him to do just one story and ornament a day. He could have done the whole thing in one sitting! As soon as we started, however, I noticed that the text was written a bit above his 6 year-old understanding. I didn't have to worry, though. As soon as he heard the scripture text (the Creation), he remembered reading about it in one of his Bible storybooks:

He ran to get it and wanted to read that part in his book. We've continued this each night; I read the scripture text and he reads from his book (so far we've only found one lesson that isn't in his book). He gets to place the ornament on the tree, and to see little by little the reason for the Messiah.

There are many other sites with information and ornament ideas for a Jesse Tree. Here are just a few:

http://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html

http://www.eriercd.org/jessetree.htm

http://www.shalfleet.net/advent/makeajessetree.htm

Here is a blog post about a Jesse Tree Ornament party that the author attended. There are some great pictures of the ornaments that the ladies made: http://beentherelearnedthat.blogspot.com/2009/12/jesse-tree-ornament-exchange-part-2.html

For a copy of Ann's free book with daily lessons and ornaments to copy and cut out, click here.

Christmas Cards...

2010-11-29T21:22:00.001-05:00

Every Christmas, I look forward to the task of choosing and sending Christmas cards. Since I had children, I've always chosen photo cards, giving friends and family who live far away a chance to see how the kids have grown each year. The other day, I started perusing the cards available, and after checking out a couple different sites, realized that many of the same designs were offered on both sites. Hmmm...I'd really like to see something different, something special. I found it as soon as I logged onto Shutterfly. There were so many designs and not a one of them was anything I'd seen anywhere else. Unfortunately, I had a hard time deciding! There were just too many gorgeous cards!

Not only did they have beautiful cards, but there are gifts as well. They can make a photo calendar (a great gift!). Having a holiday party? They have the invitations covered!

Get on over to shutterfly.com and check it out!

For a limited time, you can receive 50 free Christmas cards from Shutterfly just for Blogging and Tweeting about their products. Go to http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/ to register. You'll be glad you did!

My 100th Post!

2010-11-29T21:02:00.000-05:00

So, it was pretty much by accident that I happened to notice that this is my 100th post. What a milestone! I must admit I've had fun over the last couple of years...

To celebrate, I'm sharing some of our humble Christmas decor...enjoy!

We don't have a mantel, so I decorate the piano instead:

The nativity set I've had since I was a child (notice the cow in the loft...its a very agile cow):

Our tree, with a note for Santa from the G-man underneath:

The G-Man's Room Reveal...

2010-10-09T00:55:00.000-04:00

I had the MOST fun working on the G-Man's room! After months of admiring board and batten projects online, I finally got to try it myself!

Here are some pictures:

Had to make a new bedskirt to replace the light blue one he had...made this out of a queen flat sheet I had in the linen closet. Still looking for a new quilt or comforter.

Drapes made from a canvas drop cloth. Looks like I need to adjust the length on the left one!

Update...

2010-09-14T12:14:00.000-04:00

Got the G-Man's room done! Well, almost. We got the Board and Batten and the painting finished. And I am proud to say that I not only used a compound mitre saw for the first time (Loved it! Its now on my Christmas list!), but I also switched out an old putty colored outlet for a white one! And no sparks or smoke!

I still have curtains to fix (doing the canvas drop cloth kind) and a few "pretties".

I'll post pics soon!

Laboring on Labor Day...

2010-09-06T12:21:00.001-04:00

Well, I am happy to say that I am celebrating Labor Day weekend in a way worthy of its name: by laboring! I told y'all about the new project I had planned for the G-Man's room a while back. Saturday I finally got it started.

We began with some 1x4s that we cut down to about 46 inches long.

Then I attached them to the wall with Liquid Nails (I used a 16" long piece to space them out evenly around the room).

As you can see, I've left off the top piece. We decided that since we're going to repaint the top of the wall too, we'd paint first, then put the top piece of wood up.

Today it was time to prime...I got some help with that job from my little guy!

Did I mention that I'm also painting all the woodwork in the room white? I don't think I told Hubby that part of my plan. That may land me in the doghouse, since Hubby really likes stained woodwork!

That's about as far as I've gotten for now. Hubby is on his way home with the paint, so as soon as the primer is dry, I'll be getting my paint rollers out!

Stay tuned!

My next project...

2010-07-29T11:33:00.034-04:00

Have you seen this?

Its the Little Things that Make a House a Home

Or this?

A Soft Place to Land

Or even this?

Shanty2Chic

Do you see a pattern here?

I've fallen in love with the board and batten wall treatment!

The G-man's room would look great with B&B. Yesterday I emailed the hubster at work and told him that I'd like to do this, and he replied saying to make a list of what I need. Well, that was all I needed to spring into action!

I must have worked about 2 hours making sketches and taking measurements and figuring out how it all would work out. By the time he got home, I had drawings and a materials list done. I don't know when I'll get to start, but I can't wait!

Done painting (this room, anyway)...

2010-07-28T11:32:00.000-04:00

The red is gone! Wahoo! I've been wanting to cover up that paint since about a month after we put it on. Don't get me wrong, I like red. Its just not the peaceful, serene color I wanted for our bedroom.

It took a lot of convincing, but I finally talked the hubster into bringing home some more paint. He wasn't thrilled with the color; if it were left up to him, every room would be painted in a different bright, bold hue of the rainbow. I'm not opposed to color, but sometimes the eye needs a rest. So for our room I chose "Jute" by Porter (its the second from the top). The blue on the bottom is "Prussian Blue", which is the master bathroom color.

Now usually, when we paint, Derek does the cutting in and I do the rolling. However, since he was at work when I painted, I did everything on my own. And I must say I'm pleased with how it turned out. And to top it off, no smudges of paint on the ceiling!

(The color doesn't show well in these pictures. Trust me when I say its not nearly as green as it looks here!)

I also took the opportunity to make a few other small changes. First, I moved the bedside table on Derek's side of the bed (he doesn't really use it and hasn't missed it). Actually, it is just a tray table. In order to make it a round, I used a round piece of wood that Mom was about to throw out. She said it was the base of Dad's recliner (it had to be replaced when the chair was repaired), and was going to be thrown out unless I wanted it for something. It turned into the perfect table top!

I hung a shelf (also something Mom was getting rid of) to hold part of my teacup collection and some antique books.

I was going to change the drapes and comforter, but after seeing it with the new paint color, I've decided to keep it for now.

I am so pleased with the result. Our room is a calming spot where I can relax. What a difference paint makes!

Silhouettes...

2010-07-23T12:15:00.001-04:00

Just a little something I whipped up...

So easy to make! Here's how:

1. Take a profile picture.

2. Print picture and cut out.

3. Trace onto black cardstock and cut out.

4. Secure to background paper.

5. Put in frame (mine came from the Dollar Tree).

Little birdies...

2010-07-22T15:14:00.000-04:00

Stopped by the Dollar Tree yesterday after dropping Derek off at work and having breakfast at DQ with the kiddos. The kids were excited about spending their dollars, but I was even more excited about finding this:

I picked up 2 of them and was going to use them just the way they are, but being brown, they didn't really show up. So, of course, I thought about spray paint. Not so fast-the little clear votive cups were glued in. I really didn't want to paint over them, so I decided to brush on the paint. Since I couldn't find any craft paint in the color I wanted, I searched the garage for some old interior latex paint. I found some that we'd used to paint the G-Man's room a few years ago. To say that it had thickened up a bit is an understatement!

I put it on kinda thin at first, leaving a lot of the brown to show through.

I liked it, but thought I'd add a bit more paint.

I really like how they turned out!

This one's for you, Julie Rae!

2010-06-19T15:59:00.000-04:00

The other day, I got to meet Julie Rae, who, along with some of the gals at the London Sentinel Echo, have been checking out this blog for a while. I had to sheepishly apologize for not posting in, well, how long has it been? Well, in honor of Julie, here's my first post in ages!

I wish I could say that I haven't posted here because I've been so busy with projects around the house. The truth is, I've been so busy that I've put off house projects! Derek and I finally got some time to do a few things around here. Yesterday we finally got the thorn-in-our-sides project done: the master bathroom.

We actually started this project a few months ago, but it has been at a stand-still for a while (funny how running out of money for building stuff will do that...). However, about a month ago, Derek came home with 3 boxes of tile and some stuff to adhere it to the floor. So the fun began...

For several evenings, I worked a little at a time until the plywood floor (so not a good look!) was covered. We put up the freshly painted baseboards, a new shower curtain, and a few new "pretties". And we finally have a master bath we enjoy being in.

(Sorry for the not-so-great pictures.)

vinyl tile: Do It Best

paint: Porter Paint-Prussian Blue

shower curtain: Dollar General

bird prints: Dollar Tree

2010-04-03T14:54:00.000-04:00

May you have a blessed and happy Easter Sunday!

A New Project...

2010-03-31T21:33:00.000-04:00

I'm back! I know its been a very long while since my last post, but we've had internet issues and have been very busy since the G-Man started playing Upwards Basketball. The season is over now, so hopefully I'll have a moment to stop and take a breath!

The beginning of Spring has me thinking lately about new projects. There's one that I've been contemplating all winter ( I hadn't started since the garage was just too cold, and working inside was out of the question since spray paint is involved!).

A few months ago, I saw something over on Susie's blog, Bienvenue, that caught my eye. Actually, just about everything on her blog catches my eye-she's very talented! But this eye-catching thing was something that I thought I could recreate myself (I'm not nearly as talented as Susie!). A coat rack:

Isn't it pretty? So I'm thinking that maybe I could make something similar for my house. I have a scrap of moulding, but I still need some beadboard and either hooks or knobs. I'm thinking of going with hooks. Something like these:

So now that the weather's warmer and I have a little more time, I think I'll start looking around for the rest of the supplies and make myself a coat rack.

What projects have you been putting off?

A Nice Surprise...

2009-09-13T08:11:00.000-04:00

Don't you just love when you find something perfect that you didn't even know you were looking for? Saturday afternoon, after taking the kids to feed the ducks at McHargue's Mill, we went over to the flea market. After checking out the vendors inside, we went around back where there are tables set up. Usually, we don't even venture out there, but let me tell you, we found out yesterday that that is where the interesting stuff is! Much better than inside. The very first set of tables we walked by had all sorts of old stuff, and right away, something caught my eye. I had remembered seeing an article in Country Living Magazine not long ago that featured a woman in Connecticut who had a collection of antique rug beaters adorning her stairwell walls. They were so pretty, all their different shapes and designs. So when I saw two antique rug beaters, one with a green handle and one with red, laying on the flea market table, I knew I had to have it.

After striking up a conversation with the lovely older couple running the booth, I asked how much it was. "$12". Not too bad, but a little high for me. I put it back down and decided to think about it. Now I'm not a good negotiator, you see. I hate it when the price on the tag is not the actual price. So instead of trying to negotiate, I just put it back and walked on down the aisle. Imagine my surprise when about 10 minutes later, while waiting for the kids at a toy booth, my husband appears, holding the rug beater, purchased for $8.

I wasted no time hanging it up when I got home. I love the design, and I've realized that its not only decorative, but it could actually be useful. Since I already have a mechanical contraption to clean my rugs, it could really come in handy for keeping my husband in line!

It's Done!

2009-09-08T20:21:00.006-04:00

My first chair rehab is finished! I was so excited when I found this chair at a yard sale this past weekend! It was only $7--how could I pass that up?

It was already black, but was in serious need of some touch-ups. I gave it a good coat of glossy black, then set out to recover the seat. This was the first time I'd ever done this, and I was surprised that it was indeed as easy as I thought it was going to be. The hardest part is making sure the pattern of the fabric is on straight.

After a bunch of staples, here's the finished product:

Yard Sale Find...

2009-09-07T22:09:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I got to experience a yard sale like I've never seen. Imagine 22 miles of non-stop yard sales, all along one country highway. Now, I know this pales in comparison to the annual US 127 yard sale that stretches through several states, but for those of us close enough to shop the East 80 Yard Sale, it's an amazing experience! I didn't get to shop the entire yard sale (I would need a LOT more money to shop with!), but I did see some interesting stuff. I'm tellin' ya, there was something for everyone.

I did come home with one thing that I've been scouting around for. For months now, I've been looking for just the right chair to rehab. I finally found one, for only $7! Here she is:

I'll touch up the paint, but it will remain black. The seat will have to go, though. I'm going out tomorrow to find a piece of fabric that will coordinate with my living room colors, taupe, brown, and paprika red. When its finished, it will be our new chair for the computer desk.

Check out Rhoda's Thrifty Monday Party!

Cornered in...

2009-09-06T23:03:00.003-04:00

One corner of the dining room has long been a thorn in my side. It is quite small, and is in a high traffic area, so furnishing it has been a challenge. Not quite big enough for a desk or chest, but big enough that without something, it looked too empty. Last week, my mom surprised me with something that fit perfectly...her green bench.
She got this bench several years ago from a catalog that I brought home from work. It didn't cost much at all, less than $20 if I remember correctly. She had it in her guest room, but moved it out last week while decluttering. She asked me if I wanted it, and of course, I said yes. What kind of daughter would I be to refuse Mom's castoffs? As soon as she offered it to me, I knew where it would go-that problem corner.

I found the red pillow at JCPenney for only $7.99, and the rooster pillow was another gift from Mom (she found it at Cracker Barrel). The baskets were laying around the house.

Fills that corner just perfectly!

'Nuf said...

2009-08-31T18:09:00.001-04:00

A Project Completed...

2009-08-29T21:12:00.004-04:00

Remember this picture?

A few weeks ago, I alluded to a project that I had wanted to start for a long time. When we bought our house 10 years ago, I loved the rail along the top of the cabinets. Over time, though, I grew a bit tired of it and wanted something different. I decided this summer that surely Derek and I could put some moulding up there to replace the outdated rail. I spent a couple of days staining and applying polyurethane. The only problem was that we don't have a compound miter saw that a job like this requires. Enter Stan. Stan is a contractor friend of Derek's who installed our counter top a few months back. When Derek told him about our problem, he came right over and put it up for us. Thanks Stan!

I just love how getting rid of the skirt and rail over the sink really opened up the window. It looks so much bigger, and the cabinets have a more streamlined look. Just a little bit of moulding made a big difference!

Spruced Up Laundry Room...

2009-07-30T08:07:00.004-04:00

Laundry is never a fun chore, and when your laundry room is dreary, it makes the job even worse. My laundry room-or closet, actually-is not the prettiest part of our house. It is quite utilitarian, and was in dire need of some sprucing up. It is right off the dining room, and a room that I see on a daily basis. Why shouldn't it be pretty?

I would love to paint the walls, but I can't get the washer and dryer out myself. I had a great chance last year when the water heater sprung a leak and everything was moved out of there, but we were too focused on getting the mess dried up and new flooring put in to think about paint. So I'm having to rely on some smaller ways of making that room less of a dungeon.

The first way is by putting things in pretty containers. Now mind you that I'm on a sort of self-imposed decorating spending freeze (at least until the end of August when I get a paycheck again!), so I'm not spending any money for this job. Last month, when we cleaned out the garage, I found a box of Mason jars on one of the shelves. I thought one of them would be great for holding my Clorox 2 powder. I use a pretty sugar spoon to scoop it out.

I also found a metal container to hold my clothespins and a blue Dollar Tree bin for cleaning cloths and odds & ends. I pared down some of the cleaning supplies, moving some of the less-often-used to the garage.

Then I made this:

It was very easy. I took a scrap piece of plywood from the garage, painted it red, then used Lindsay's newspaper transfer method to apply the letters. They got painted gold, and hangers put on the back. Took me less than an hour.

It still may not be as pretty as I'd like, but even the little things make one of my daily chores a little more bearable.

Plate It Up...

2009-07-28T11:17:00.005-04:00

This week I've been trying to finish up some projects before I have to go back to work on Friday (what kind of sadistic school district plans the first day of inservice on the last Friday of summer vacation?). We're going to work on that mystery project in the kitchen tonight, so while Hubby is at work this morning, I tried something new.

While the Megster was cleaning out her closet last night (hard to believe, I know!), she found a platter (don't ask-who knows why there was a platter in a 10-year-old's closet). Now this wasn't sporting the prettiest of patterns, in fact, it was downright ugly. I would show you how ugly, but as usual, I was too intent on starting my project that I forgot to take the "before" picture. You'll just have to take my word for it. I wasted no time in spray painting it "sand" (Do It Best brand), which is a creamy off-white.

Then, I tried a new trick I learned last night. I was trying to figure out how I was going to transfer an "S" to my plate, and not 10 minutes later, I find this gal's blog, in which she explains exactly how to transfer patterns without carbon paper. So I tried it, and it worked perfectly. Thanks Lindsay!

I didn't have any black craft paint, so I had to use spray paint that I sprayed out in a little puddle on a foam tray. I'm not the steadiest painter in the world, and I just noticed a rough place I need to fix (I think I can fix it with a Sharpie), but I think its not too bad. I have no idea yet where I'm going to put it, but I'll think of something!

Just a Little Bit of Fancy...

2009-07-25T12:58:00.004-04:00

So I painted up my thrift store tray the other day, but it was missing something. I tried scrapbook paper in the bottom, but I didn't have anything that really worked. So last night I got inspired by something I saw online: harlequin diamonds. I set out to learn how to measure and mark off the lines and found this great site with a calculator that tells you how far to space your lines. However, when I got up this morning and started, I decided that my mind was way too fuzzy for all the math, so I just eyeballed it, all the while hearing the Nester's voice in the back of my mind reminding me that "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!"
However, just as I was about to paint, I looked at my tray and realized that I didn't have a harlequin diamond pattern, I had a lattice pattern. After staring at it for a while, I decided that I kinda liked the lattice pattern, (not to mention that there was no way I was tearing off all that tape and starting over!), so I went ahead and put the paint on. I wanted a slightly aged look, so I left the paint a little streaky.
It may not be what I set out for, and the paint lines certainly aren't perfect, but I really like how it turned out.

"Tray" magnifique...

2009-07-24T08:27:00.005-04:00

Mom kept the kids for me yesterday while I went to get my hair cut, and she told me to "take my time" getting back. Far be it from me to not mind my mother, so I took the chance to visit a little thrift shop in her town. I found another small silver tray (50 cents) and a wood tray that I've been looking for ($1). It was plain, and a little shorter than I would have liked, but for a buck-I can live with it!

As usual, I forgot to take a before picture, but it is like this (only shorter):I took it out to the garage and gave it a coat of cream colored spray paint (Do It Best-Sand). I must tell you, my family was astounded that I didn't use black! Between you and me, I think I did the off-white just to throw them off a little.

We have a few projects planned for the weekend, too. I'm trying to finish the project that I alluded to here, and The Megster has decided that she wants to build a birdhouse. So The Hubby and I are donning our Bob the Builder hats and tool belts for a busy weekend!

DIY Thursday...

2009-07-22T22:00:00.001-04:00

Today is Kimba's DIY Day!

I thought I'd share the toile picture frame that I made for my master bathroom.
I started with one of these mini frames that a friend gave me:

I used Tacky Glue to glue on toile scrapbook paper. Talk about some careful cutting! There wasn't much room for error here!

Then I added a ribbon to hang it by. The ribbon is attached with a couple of thumb tacks:

Everything I needed I already had laying around. Total cost for this project: free! The only thing I have to do now is find something small enough to fit inside the frame.

Click on over to Kimba's and join the party!

Mystery solved...

2009-07-22T11:25:00.003-04:00

Remember this jar? Paula said that it was similar to

a sugar bowl her mother had. That made much more

sense than the "shaving cream jar" idea (sorry hubby!).

Then this morning, I noticed how similar its design was to a Pfaltzgraff soup tureen that I already had in my kitchen. I couldn't make out the stamp on the

bottom of the little jar, so I looked it up on the Pfaltzgraff website and sure enough, Paula was right!

The sugar bowl and tureen are part of the Heritage pattern, and the bowl sells

for $9.99 directly from them ($14.50 retail). This just made me even more excited, since I paid a whopping 75 cents for it!

I just love a bargain!

Monday's Thrifty Treasures...

2009-07-20T15:58:00.011-04:00

I didn't get to go yard sale-ing this past weekend since we had a day trip planned with my parents, but I did get to go a couple Goodwill stores today after my doctor's appointment. I did find a few treasures while there.

One of the first things I zeroed in on at the first GW store was something I've been looking for ever since the first time I saw Kimba's furniture rehab-a lonely pair of dining room chairs that had seen better days. I didn't want both; just one would do, and at the bargain basement price of $5, who could resist? Me, that's who. Believe it or not, the woman who had been looking for months for a chair to rehab passed on it. I couldn't decide if the sort-of-fakeish-wood would be easy to work with, and I wasn't sure the seat was easily removable for padding that I would add. I guess I made the right decision by not getting it. Before I had even left the store someone bought them. I guess they needed a couple of chairs worse than I needed one to spray paint!

I was not to be out done, however! I did find a few things to share with you.

I found this jar with a lid for 75 cents. I'm not sure what it was used for (hubby thinks it was a jar that held shaving cream in it), but it will look nice in my kitchen.

I also found a couple silver trays. The oval shaped one (50 cents) is going to get the chalkboard paint treatment, and I have just the place for it to hang in my master bathroom.

The other one ($1) is actually the bottom half of a butter dish, I'm thinking. It is heavier and looks more like real silver than the oval one. Silver plate, probably. I'm thinking about putting some white pebbles in it and using it for a soap dish, also for the master bath.

I also got the little G-Man a shirt and a pair of warm-up pants for $1.50 each. Neither of them look as though they were hardly worn.

What did you get this weekend? Hop over to Rhoda's and join her thrifting party!

My Favorite Things: Master Bath

2009-07-18T00:12:00.000-04:00

A New Project...

2009-07-17T08:17:00.002-04:00

Just look what my sweet hubby brought me from work yesterday:

Can you guess what I'm going to do with it?

I'll give you a hint. It has something to do with these:

My Favorite Things: Living Room

2009-07-16T10:48:00.006-04:00

My $8 find at Hobby Lobby:

Hop on over and visit my hubby's blog, In the Kitchen with Derek!

A New Series...

2009-07-14T18:52:00.005-04:00

My Favorite Things: the Kitchen/Dining Room

A New Name...

2009-07-13T09:22:00.002-04:00

C'est La Vie is now "Welcome Home". Along with the new name and new look, I hope to bring you new features soon, such as recipes. Stay tuned!

My latest mistreatment...

2009-07-12T00:10:00.002-04:00

A while back, I rearranged our living room just a bit. Everything had been in the same place ever since we have lived in this house (10 years), so I thought it was time to try something new. The only problem was, that with the new arrangement, the couch had to be pulled out from the wall to center it. That left about an 18" space that needed to be filled. Now of course I would have loved to have gone down to my local shee-shee-poo-poo furniture store and bought something, but, well, I'm too frugal (and my wallet too empty) for that, so I got creative.

I made the base out of an old aquarium stand that has been sitting in my parents' garage for, oh, at least 28 years. Normally Mom and I would stand and shake our heads with our lips pursed in contempt for Dad's pack-ratting, but in this case, it paid off for me! The stand was just the right height. All it needed was a solid top. For that, I used a piece of plywood that hubby had laying in our garage. A few measurements and cuts and I had a sofa table!

The table cloth is one I had in the linen closet, the lamp- $9 from Wally World, and the rest I had around the house. It fills the space just perfectly.

Don't forget Kimba's DIY Day Party!

Wanna dish?...

2009-07-11T00:51:00.001-04:00

If you know me, you know that I have had a long-time love affair with dishes. And if there's any doubt, all you have to do is look around my house.

The master bedroom:

The dining room:

The kitchen:

The living room:

Go check out Hooked on Fridays and let everyone know what you're hooked on!

The Master Bath...

2009-07-10T00:32:00.002-04:00

The master bath is almost finished! This has been a long, drawn-out process that at times, I don't think will ever get done. We're in the home stretch now, though. It will all be done as soon as we get some flooring. We had quite an ordeal with the flooring: ordering tile, ripping up part of the old stuff, waiting for ages for the tile, walking on plywood subfloor in half the room, finding out the store can't get the tile...well, you get the picture.

Otherwise, the room is shaping up. We have paint ("Prussian Blue" by Porter), the new light fixture (brushed nickel) and mirror (only $30, by the way)

My Big Lots mercury-like vase and a frame with toile that matches the shower curtain...

My $6 window I bought at my favorite antique store, layered with a repurposed frame I spray-painted and hung by a ribbon.

Frames I bought at the Dollar Tree with scrapbook paper instead of photos:

Now, if we could just get a floor...

The Guest Bathroom...

2009-07-09T13:07:00.007-04:00

Earlier this spring, I shared with you some ideas I had for the guest bath. It had been a sore spot for me ever since I painted the bottom of the wall red. Now, normally I love red, but it just didn't work for me in here. We finally decided to paint the room "Bronco Brown" by Porter Paint. I wasn't sure about this color that my hubby had picked out, but as soon as I rolled it on the wall, I loved it.

The next step was the fun stuff: shower curtains, a new mirror, light fixture, and all the "pretties". I found the shower curtain at Wal-Mart:

The mirror and light fixture:

Now, when I say I'm a frugal decorator, I mean it. The metal piece over the towel bar was $6 at Dollar General, the picture was $5 (D.G.), and the wire basket was really expensive-$7-at WalMart (its actually a flower basket from the lawn and garden department!). The towel bars and holder are also from Wally World. The sunburst mirror was one I repurposed fromt he other bathroom. A rug from JCPenney and I was done. We love it!

Please stay tuned...

2009-07-05T21:52:00.002-04:00

Just to let you know, we're back in business! Tomorrow I'll try to post some pictures of some projects I promised to show you months ago. We've been busy around here, and we have some new things in the works!

Please hold...

2009-04-28T09:11:00.002-04:00

Work on the master bath has stalled for a few days while we wait for the tile and sink to arrive. Now, I'd describe the tile to you, but since I haven't seen it either, we'll all be surprised together when it gets here! My husband has taken the role of interior designer, so he ordered it without me having seen a sample. Normally I'd be worried about what I was going to get, but he's done a bang-up job so far, so I'm sure it will be beautiful. The sink is a chocolatey-brown granite-looking one that I think will look great with the blue paint. But until they arrive (supposedly today) the project is on hold.

Meanwhile, the summery temperatures here have put me into gardening mode. Last night I bought 2 double Knock-Out rose bushes and planted by the front porch, and potted 2 hanging baskets with purple wave petunias. They went on hanging brackets on the back deck. And I couldn't resist the bright red New Guinea impatiens at the store either. They went on the deck as well. We're not done though. Derek brought home some pine tree seedlings his store gave away for Arbor Day. Those will have to go in the ground soon. All we need now is new chairs for the front porch to replace that old park bench, and I'll be ready for summer!

Moving on...

2009-04-15T11:40:00.003-04:00

The hall bath is finished (I promise I'll post some pics soon!), so we're moving on to the BIG job--the master bath. We started with dark mushroom paint, an ugly 10-year-old vinyl floor that had come apart from the wall, a b&w toile shower curtain, brass accessories, and a chrome builder's basic faucet. Oh, and don't forget that must-have-come-from-the-70's (even though the house was built in '98) light bar over the sink. That's the "before".

For our "after", we're putting Prussian Blue on the wall (think a muted medium blue). We're putting down a beige ceramic tile on the floor, along with a new light fixture, mirror, counter top, and satin nickel faucet & towel bars. Derek even bought me a new wet saw for the tile! Yes, you do detect a strange excitement there. Who would have thought I'd be excited about a saw? I'm really watching too much DIY shows on TV...I think the saw is an early Mother's Day gift, but that's okay--I'm getting him new chairs for the front porch that I've been wanting! We do have an strange way of buying gifts for each other--we buy the other what we want and disguise it as a gift for the other person. Works great for our birthdays, too, since my b'day is the day before his--we always get what we want! But, I digress...

So, we put the primer on 2 nights ago, and tonight, we're going blue. Saturday we're ripping up the old vinyl flooring, laying the cement board (which we'll have to walk on for a few days until our tile arrives) and putting up the towel bars. I think I'll wait until the tile goes down to seriously decorate, though. Too bad I'm not very patient!

Crooks and Countertops...

2009-03-20T15:32:00.003-04:00

I guess you're wondering if I've lost my way back to the Blog...there hasn't been a post in quite a while. Well, the laptop officially bit the dust. I'd have a new one by now, but, it seems, that someone has helped themselves to our tax refund. And the rest of our bank account. Yep, the debit card number was stolen, and now we're just hangin' in there until payday, or until the company whose system was hacked (a transaction processing company) replaces our money, whichever comes first. Not holding my breath on the last one. They don't seem to see the urgency of my lack of funds. Don't they know I have plans for that money? That there are antiques out there waiting for me to come snatch them up? And that it will be yard sale season soon?

In the meantime, Derek is trying to remind me that Jesus is listening to me when I speak of getting my hands on the crook who took our money and how I'd love to pluck out his eyelashes one by one. Waterboarding is sounding like a pretty good option right now. Feathers and fur, he keeps reminding me, feathers and fur. Now, for those of you with that "lost dog in high weeds" look on your face, he's reminding me that if God takes care of the birds of the air, He's gonna take care of us, too (see Matthew 6:25-34). He always has. Believe me, this isn't the first time we've been through a bit of a financial dry spell. And He's always brought us through it. But this is the first time someone has actually stolen our money. Ugh.

On the brighter side, we did finish the guest bathroom redo. We did paint, a new shower curtain (see the post below), towel bars, curtain rod, counter top and faucet. Plus towels and a new rug. I'll post pictures of it as soon as I can remember to bring my camera to work to upload the photos.

Don't you forget about me...

2009-02-24T10:11:00.003-05:00

Remember that song?

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I promise! The old laptop finally went kaput, so we're shopping around for another one. Meanwhile, we're getting ready to start work on the bathroom. However, my original plan has been scrapped, and my husband (who has gotten so good at designing rooms that it is scary) has come up with something I like even better.

Here's the paint (the one on top, Bronco Brown from Porter):

And here's the shower curtain, courtesy of Wally World:

We're also getting a new countertop, faucet (oil rubbed bronze) and a new light fixture. I'll try to keep you updated!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming...

2009-01-23T11:36:00.002-05:00

...because of technical difficulties. Don't you just love technology? One minute you have the world at your fingertips, the next minute you're completely cut off! The old laptop has gone in the shop for repairs, so I'm blogging from work today (shhhh! don't tell my principal!), and it looks like I'll be a little scarce for a few days. Don't worry, though! I'll be back soon!

A painting we will go, a painting we will go...

2009-01-18T08:51:00.010-05:00

So here is our hall bath, the next stop on our to-do list.

About a year and a half ago, I painted the bottom half red to coordinate with the living room. However, as much as I have tried, I just don't like it. I love the beige/red combination in the living room, but here, eh, not so much. So you know what that means...drag out the rollers and brushes, Angela's painting again! I've decided on a soft blue to go with the beige on top (I do still like it, so I'm not changing it). Something along the lines of this:

(This is Danish Linen Sky from Ballard Designs).

Of course, this means stripping wallpaper border, one of my LEAST favorite jobs. I'm still trying to decide whether to put up another border or to do something different. If I do chair rail, it will have to be stained rather than painted (all our moulding is stained). Any ideas out there?

I've decided to fancy up the shower curtain, too. I'm thinking about adding a little fringe to the the valance, maybe something like this:

or this:

(photos courtesy http://www.warehousefabricsinc.com/)

Of course new rugs and some blue towels. And some pretty new chachkis for the shelf. Should I paint that or get something new? Oooh, I know, one of those pretty half-round wire baskets! How about something like this:

(http://www.shabbyshorescottagechic.blogspot.com/

and

http://www.idealmoments.co.uk/ )

We're also replacing the faucet with something like this:

(http://www.doitbest.com/)

The good news is, Derek can get it at a hefty discount at work!

Now for the wall with the grate. I'm thinking about moving that somewhere else and putting a vintage window up there. I love the idea of using those old windows as art! I've seen several lately around the blogosphere, and I think that one would fit that long wall just fine. Should I leave the panes empty, or add something to jazz them up? Or just some of them? I'm not sure yet about that one.

So many ideas buzzing around my head! I really can't wait to get started on this one. One thing is for sure, though, I'm gonna need about 3 gallons of primer to cover that red!

One Little Word...

2009-01-02T11:26:00.003-05:00

I don't normally make New Year's resolutions. When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sitting down with a pen and paper and scribbling out things I'd like to accomplish in the new year. However, over the years I found that I wasn't too good at keeping those resolutions, so I just gave up. No need to go to the trouble when I know I won't follow through.
The other day, I read about a twist on the resolution idea. Instead of a list of things you hope to do, you pick a word for the year, something to focus on (check out Ali Edwards' blog for more about this). I've been trying to think of what it is that I really need to work on this year, and I think I've found one little word that really sums up what I need more of in my life: discipline. I wouldn't say that my life is out of control, but there are definitely areas that I need to rein in:

my eating and excersise habits
my lackidaisical money-management methods (that's saying it gently!)
my daily quiet time with God (which seems to have been put on the back burner lately)

We can definitely say that I've been a bit on the lazy side in these areas. Maybe by instilling a little (maybe a lot) of discipline, I can grow closer to God, be a better steward of his financial blessings, and stop treating my body so badly. I've even found a Bible verse to go along with it:

"The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."

Proverbs 13:4 (NIV)

Do you have "One Little Word" for 2009?

Stephanie over at Homegrown Hospitality is even offering hand-drawn, framed doodles of your "One Little Word" for 2009. Go check her out!

Out with the old...

2008-12-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

New Year's is a time for looking back over what has been and for looking ahead at what could be.

In times like these, its easy to get caught up in how bad things are and how bleak the outlook is. Its easy to get discouraged. But in the Bible, Jesus reminded us,

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:28-34 (NIV)

As I look over the past year, I see how our family has been blessed so greatly. There are so many ways that God has been good to us, and I think its time its time that this worrywart counts her blessings:

my family, for whom I am eternally grateful

my salvation and faith in Jesus Christ

my home

my job (even though it has caused me more headaches than I care to remember!)

God's provision during the dark times when we had trouble seeing the tunnel's end

my new friends in BlogLand

and most recently, my new great-nephew Caleb!

I pray that even though everyone is telling us how dreary the world is and that things look hopeless, we are able to look beyond that to the One who is the source of hope. And with that hope, let's make 2009 a wonderful year!

Though I don't know what our future holds, I know Who holds our future!

Ahhh...

2008-12-29T10:34:00.007-05:00

As much as I love decorating the house for Christmas, I am relieved to get it all taken down and packed away after the big day. Don't get me wrong-I adore fixing the house up in all its fancy-ness for my favorite holiday. But there is something to be said for normalcy. Having everything back in its place is quite comforting, especially during these long, cold months of winter.

To make the transition even more fun, I stopped in at Hobby Lobby over the weekend and got a couple of things. Isn't this little guy cute?

And then there's this egg basket. I thought I was going to put it on top of the cabinets, but for some reason, I couldn't get it to fit. And its a bit too big for the counter. So I'm still trying to work this one out.

The best part is that everything I bought was 50% off! The bird was $2 and the basket was $4. I do love bargain shopping!

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-24T01:54:00.001-05:00

"For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!

Oh Holy Night

2008-12-23T15:08:00.002-05:00

My favorite Christmas song sung by one of my favorite singers, David Phelps. Enjoy!

Holiday House Party...

2008-12-16T00:01:00.005-05:00

Don't you just love Christmas parties? All the food, games, food, gifts, food...well, I digress. When I got the invitation for Kimba's Holiday Open House, I decided that I'd bring the entertainment. Who doesn't love a good Christmas movie? One of my favorite Christmas traditions is snuggling up on the couch and watching some good holiday movies. For Kimba's party, I brought along a few different ones. I hope there's one that you'll like!
The first is one that I'll watch whether its December or July, "Christmas in Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan. Dennis Morgan is Jefferson Jones, a war hero who is spending Christmas with Elizabeth (Stanwyck), her husband, and baby at her Connecticut estate. The trouble is, its all a farce, and things get a little sticky when Elizabeth and Jefferson find themselves falling for each other. Here's a scene:

The next movie I brought is another oldie but goodie, "White Christmas". Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen star in this classic holiday film.

Here's one that's been one of my favorites since I was a little girl. Who can resist this little guy?

And finally, my favorite one of all: "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Charlie and his friends learn what many adults never do, what Christmas is all about. Here's my favorite scene:

I hope you enjoyed my holiday flicks!
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie that you can watch over and over each year?

A Christmas House Tour...

2008-12-15T17:02:00.005-05:00

Last Friday night, I had to miss our Sunday School class' Christmas party because our daughter wasn't feeling well. I really hated to miss it, too. However, I seem to be making up for it this week, since it seems there are Christmas parties around every corner in BlogLand!

BooMama is hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes over at her place. I'm sharing a few things from our house.
Here is the garland on our piano. We don't have a fireplace, so we dress up the piano like a mantel. I shared my garland over at The Nester's Garland Show and Tell, but I added a bit more to it since then, and I think it looks much better. Not as ~~puny~~ understated as before.

This is our tree. Every ornament is different. Here are a few of my favorite ornaments:

a Shepherd that was a gift from my mom

a Santa with a dreidel that my Father-in-law brought back from Denmark many years ago

a cardinal (I've developed a love of redbirds this year)

And finally, my nativity that I've had since I was a little girl:

And Ol' Saint Nick watching over it all!

Bedecked and Bejeweled...

2008-12-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

My favorite gift to receive at Christmas time is ornaments. I LOVE getting new ones and I do get a few new ones every year. I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you today. (Some of them are a little dark...sorry.)

My mother-in-law was an avid collector of all things Coca-Cola, and we found this one the Christmas after she passed away.

My father-in-law brought this back from Denmark many years ago. A Santa with a dreidel? What's up with that?

A shepherd ornment that my mom gave me.

Love the reindeer!

And lastly, my new Cardinal. For some reason, I'm drawn to red birds this year.

Do you have any favorites on your tree?

A Garland Party...

2008-12-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

The Nester is having a garland party to showcase our Christmas garlands. It going to be a great place for inspiration!
Now, as much as I'd like to show you a big, lush, amazingly gorgeous garland on the piano (we don't have a fireplace), I have to admit that mine is a bit, uh, ~~puny~~ understated. I'm not lucky enough to have a big bunch of greenery around, so I had to just make do with what I have. Here's what I came up with:

Why is it so hard for me to take good pictures of things with lights?

I also fancied up my kitchen window wreath a bit:
I knew it didn't look finished. All it needed was a bow.

Hop on over to Nester's and show off your garland too!

Everyday Unwrapped...

2008-12-08T15:52:00.003-05:00

Emily at Chatting at the Sky has challenged her readers to stop during this busy holiday season and take notice of life's little details, to live in the moment and to appreciate simplicity. Here are a few things I unwrapped...

a brother and sister deciding what they want for Christmas...

fancy feet...

and Cheerios in the strangest places...

Christmas in the Kitchen...

2008-12-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are pictures of some of my Christmas decor in the kitchen. My little tree (that I got for half price the day after Christmas last year) has some traditional ornaments, but it also has a few that are fitting for a tree in the kitchen. If you look closely you'll see a baby fork, a baby spoon, a tiny whisk, and a star cookie cutter.

I put a wreath in the window over the sink this year.

I still have a few things to put out yet. I'll share them with you when they get done!

'Tis the Season...

2008-11-30T18:04:00.005-05:00

Christmas decorations go up around here on Thanksgiving weekend. This year I've had a terrible time waiting until then after seeing all the gorgeous things you ladies out in Blog Land have shown us! Usually we don't drag everything out until the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but this year we did it on Friday, since we ended up buying a new tree (the old one was literally falling apart!).
Here's our tree in the living room. (I'm still trying to figure out the secret to taking good pictures of a Christmas tree!) I couldn't begin to tell you how many ornaments there are on it. Each one is different and most of them have a memory attached to it. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to find new ornaments. I bought 4 at Cracker Barrel on Thanksgiving!
We don't have a fireplace, so we decorate our piano as we would a mantel. Here's the garland, but it still needs something, I think. I'll have to dig into my candle stash in the closet to see what I have. I've had the garland for years, but all the fru-fru came from Dollar Tree this year.
I have had this nativity set since was a little girl in Michigan. One year I apparently wasn't thinking when I set it up because I put the cow in the loft. Now, everyone knows that cows can't climb ladders, but that's where our cow ended up. Derek got such a kick out of it that we left it and its been up there every year since.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Christmas in the kitchen...

Giving Thanks...

2008-11-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks unto the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks unto the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us."

Give thanks

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

2008-11-21T08:01:00.005-05:00

Just take a look at what we woke up to this morning...

You know what that means...NO SCHOOL! Its our first snow day of the school year! I don't know who is more excited, my students or me. I know, some of you are thinking, no school? For just that much snow? I teach in a rural, mountainous area where the roads of the hollows are very slippery when covered by snow and may not melt off for days, even when the main roads are clear and dry. Its just too dangerous for the buses. My brother in Detroit used to laugh when I'd get out of school on days like this and say that our district would cancel school when we got a heavy frost. In our district's defense, there are actually several other school systems that cancelled school today. That's how it is in the mountains.

The problem with this snow is that it makes it so much harder not to drag out my Christmas stuff (I am determined, though, to wait until the day after Thanksgiving). I've been enjoying the Christmas decorations that I've been seeing on several blogs. I'm loving The Nester's gorgeous garland, and Susie's tree is beautiful! I've definitely been inspired!

Some Weekend Projects...

2008-11-15T23:13:00.006-05:00

Here are a few things I've been working on today...

I finally hung up my rooster hook in the kitchen. I don't have a tassel handy, so I hung up one of my antique keys...

Here's something I made with some scrapbook paper, a metal "S" (our last initial), and a $1 frame from Dollar Tree...

And here's one that I think I'll probably re-work. I'm thinking maybe a cream paint for the frame...

Who Knew?

2008-11-14T21:16:00.005-05:00

Jill and I have been friends for 16 years. We were undergraduates together at Union College while we trained to be teachers , and got hired at the same elementary school at about the same time (the same one where I still teach). We've been best girlfriends for years, and just when we think we know just about everything about each other, we learn something new. Recently, Jill and I had a rare "Girl's Day Out", and we spent about 5 hours shopping at our favorite spots: Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Goodwill, and even hit the big sale at JCPenney's. On our way home, I spotted an antique store downtown, Alley Stuff, and asked Jill if she'd like to go in. Much to my surprise, she told me that she loved antiquing! Who knew? Well, that's all it took. Now, we can add "antweeking" to thrifting as one of our favorite Girl's Day Out activities.

Here's what I found at Alley Stuff on our first visit:

I am a sucker for dishes, so when I found this one for $2, I couldn't resist. Now just because this is all I bought doesn't mean that I couldn't have spent some serious money! There were some beautiful pieces, but I was trying to excercise restraint. Sure wasn't easy though...

We Salute You...

2008-11-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

May we never forget those who fought and who are fighting to protect our freedom.

A Whole Lot of Clucking Going On...

2008-11-09T10:10:00.007-05:00

When is one more rooster TOO many? If you look closely at the pictures of my kitchen, you'll see a recurring theme going on: roosters. I love the Country French style, so when we re-did our kitchen a couple of years ago, I searched out black furniture, dark metals, and roosters. I picked out a rooster wallpaper border:

And that's where the chicken theme began. In this post, I showed you the two rooster prints I made from images off the internet. And in yesterday's post you saw my new rooster plate from Hobby Lobby. Then there's this rooster hook that Derek found at HL that he thought I needed to add to the ensemble:
You'll never guess what he said I should hang from it--a tassel! I think he's been checking out The Nester's or Susie's tassels behind my back! Maybe I should add one or two to my Christmas list...
So I think I've established the fact that there are more than a couple of roosters running round here. I'm guessing I'd better put the brakes on any new poultry purchases for a while, otherwise we may risk being taken over by this guy:

Road Trip...

2008-11-08T22:09:00.003-05:00

This afternoon, we drove up to Richmond (about an hour away) to do a little shopping with Mom and Dad. While we were there, I stopped at the new Hobby Lobby, the first one in this part of the state. After perusing the store, all I can say is, Hobby Lobby, where have you been all my life?! I think HL is my new favorite store. Not only do they have crafty stuff to make, they have stuff to pretty up my house (and the prettiest lamps I've seen anywhere). If I'd had an unlimited budget, I'd probably filled up the back of the van and made the rest of the family sit on the roof, but I did have to restrain myself. I got a few things for a couple of projects that I have planned, and I got this beautiful rooster plate for the kitchen:Did I mention that it was only $8?

I can see that I'm going to be making the trip to Richmond every so often. Its a good thing gas prices have gone down!

And Then There Was Light...

2008-11-07T22:51:00.005-05:00

Okay, I think the kitchen finally done (at least until we find "just one more thing" that we want to change/redo/update). This time, it was the light fixture over the table. We got this fixture a couple of years ago, and it came with some paper shades that, after a few months, literally started falling apart. The heat from the light bulbs apparently was too much for the glue that held the shade to the wire that fits over the bulbs, and I had to (I can't believe I'm admitting this) scotch tape them back together. I know, scandalous. After all, any self-respecting blogger knows that one must use a hot glue gun! Well, mine was at school, and I never could remember to bring it back home, so I used tape.

Derek always hated the shades, so he soon began planning their replacements. We had a heck of a time getting ones that would fit, but we finally came up with this:(Have you ever tried to take a picture of a light fixture? At night? When it is turned on? Not easy.)

I'm not entirely sold on these, but I think it may be because the 60 watt bulbs we put in are so bright that small aircraft in search of a landing strip are starting to circle around the house. I'll try some lower wattage bulbs and see if we can put away our sunglasses during dinner time.

So now, you ask, what project do we have planned next? Well, thanks to Carrie, I've been inspired to work on my laundry room. Well, actually its just a laundry closet, but its in serious need of some attention.

Until I Started Blogging...

2008-11-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

I've only been part of BlogWorld for a little while, but since coming over to the Dark Side, I have learned a lot. The ladies that I follow are endless sources of inspiration and knowledge, so I thought that I'd share some of the things that I didn't know until I started blogging:

You can spray paint dang near anything that doesn't move
There's no excuse for a bare naked window if you have a piece of fabric and some upholstery tacks.
A lot of those beautifully decorated houses you see on blogs? Decorated with stuff from yard sales and the Dollar Tree.
You don't have to spend a fortune to make your house look nice.
There are a lot of creative, funny, generous ladies out there!

Happy blogging!

A little update...

2008-11-04T11:36:00.003-05:00

Here is one of the new drawer pulls on the cabinet. We still haven't gotten all of them put up yet, but you can see how well it looks with the new counter.

And here are those two incredibly cheap rooster pictures I made last night. Not bad for a couple of bucks.

p.s. Sorry for the bad picture quality. Rest assured I've put a new digital camera on my Christmas list!

The New Kitchen...

2008-11-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

The countertops are in! Stan the Man finished them up this afternoon and what a transformation! Here are some pictures (keep in mind I haven't painted around the top of the backsplash):
Now that we've got the countertops in, we're getting ready to change the hardware on the cabinet doors and drawers to better suit the new look. We lucked out on this one. Derek was looking at handles at work when the kitchen designer showed him a box of handles that she was trying to get rid of. $1 each. And there were 24 of them--we need 20 for the kitchen, and the other 4 are just enough for the bathrooms. They weren't my first choice, but the one that Derek brought home looks really nice, so he's bringing the rest home tomorrow. Here's what we're getting:

Meanwhile, Derek is beside himself because he coordinated this whole project so well. I have to give the guy credit. He picked out the new floor, the new counters, AND the new hardware and picked something I like. He did well!

Since its too late to paint, I fixed up some new rooster pictures. I got the frames at Dollar Tree Saturday morning and the pictures were ones that I actually printed off the Internet. I changed them from color to black and white, printed them out, and put them in frames.

Not bad for only $2. I haven't exactly found a home for these yet, but I'm sure I'll find a place for them in somewhere in the kitchen.

Nothing is Ever Simple...

2008-11-03T11:45:00.004-05:00

Work on the new countertops has begun! One side of the kitchen is installed and after the sink goes back in, the small piece will go in between the stove and fridge. It is going to be pretty!

That said, no project seems to be without its setbacks. First thing we realized is that the designer didn't order a side splash for the end of the counter against the wall. So for about a week, we'll have a lovely piece of damaged sheet rock to look at until the piece comes in.

The other problem (that the designer failed to tell us about) is that the backsplash on the new counter is about an inch shorter than the old one. So there's about a one inch gap between the paint line and the new backsplash. A new project! Guess I'll be painting soon!

I'll post pictures when we get things put back together. I do like it and the problems are easy fixes. I'll have something to do while I'm off tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Make Your Voice Heard...

2008-11-03T09:13:00.003-05:00

No matter who you're voting for, make sure your voice is heard! I'll be excercising my civic duty tomorrow (and probably excercising my patience if the lines are as long as everyone is saying they'll be!).

Sunday Praise...

2008-10-26T09:57:00.003-04:00

Song of Love

Rebecca St. James

Jesus, King of my heart
Father, my peace and my light

Spirit, the joy of my soul You are

Jesus, to you none compare

Father, I rest in Your care

Spirit, the hope of my heart You are

The heavens declare You are God

And the mountains rejoice

The oceans cry Alleluia

As we worship You Lord

For this is our Song of Love

Jesus, You save my soul

I'll thank You forevermore

Jesus, the love of my life You are

Jesus, I am in awe

Of the love that You have shown

Jesus, how precious You are to me

The heavens declare You are God
And the mountains rejoice
The oceans cry Alleluia
As we worship You Lord
For this is our Song of Love

Hooked On...

2008-10-19T14:50:00.003-04:00

What are you hooked on? That's what Julia at Hooked on Houses wants to know. There are a couple of things that I'm hooked on . The first is this:

Derek and I rarely ever miss NCIS. We even watch the reruns on USA network. My week just isn't complete until Tony gets "Gibbs-ed" at least once!

The second thing I'm hooked on is reading blogs. My Bloglines list has recently grown to 37 blogs (I know, I know, I have to get a life). I try to check on them every evening after work (its my way of decompressing) and sometimes even at lunchtime. I get so much inspiration from you gals! I often wonder if the dollar stores and Goodwill see a bump in sales whenever someone in Blog Land's post about a thrifting trip or project!

So, what are you hooked on?

The Snowball Effect...

2008-10-17T22:00:00.011-04:00

You know what happens just as soon as you get one project done around the house? You start finding other things that must be done. All of a sudden things that looked perfectly fine not too long ago seem in desperate need of redoing now that the new stuff is in place. We're going through this around here. The new floors are done, so we've been thinking that we might need to upgrade a few other things. As you might remember, Derek works in the office of a building supply company. Handy, huh? Yesterday he came home and said that he bought me an early Christmas present: new countertops for our kitchen!

When I was a kid, our kitchen had butcher block laminate countertop. I hated that countertop (Mom still has it today, but she likes it about as much as I did). I always said that someday, when I had my own house, I would not have a butcher block countertop. When we moved in our house nine years ago, guess what kind of countertop the builder put in the kitchen? You guessed it, butcher block. Did I mention I hated that kind of countertop? Well, I've lived with it for nine years, knowing that 1) countertops are expensive, and 2) it was still in good shape, so my frugal self couldn't justify changing them.

But when we put in our new floors, it became apparent that we were now suffering from wood-tone overload. Look at our wood floor, wood cabinets, and wood-looking counters:

Pretty soon, though (maybe as soon as next week), those countertops will look like this:
Its called "Labrador Granite" and its from Formica. Its still laminate, but I think its much prettier than what we have now. In fact, I actually don't think real granite would suit our house. We don't have a big grand house, so laminate will do just fine.
I can't wait to get them installed. I think Derek did pretty well, don't you?

All Dried Up...

2008-10-09T14:32:00.006-04:00

Well, the work is finally done! We still keep finding dust everywhere (the Swiffer has become my new best friend!), but it is getting better. I have to say that Derek did a great job picking out this floor. Can you believe I let my husband pick it out without me having seen it until it was already partially installed? It isn't what I thought I'd like (the rustic-look usually isn't my style), but I really do love it. It goes with our house beautifully. Now, granted, it isn't hardwood (not in the budget), but it works for us.

Here are a couple of pictures:

We are definitely in the market for a rug for the living room and for under the dining room table. And boy, a hard floor does make things a lot louder! That will take some getting used to. Let me just give everyone a little word of advice...if your water heater is getting up there in years, better check it out. Ours was just over 9 years old, which is about the time many of them start giving out. And when you do put in a new one, please invest about $20 and install one of these:

Believe me, we now have an overflow pan under our water heater! Hopefully we won't ever need it, but at least we won't have a pond in our house again (at least not from the water heater).

Progress...

2008-10-07T19:48:00.004-04:00

The hammering and sawing has commenced! As I type, our very own Handy Mannys are in the living room finishing up the installation of our new flooring. And let me just say I love it! It will be a while, though, before I get all the dust cleaned up. Good thing that I have a sub for tomorrow and can spend my day off cleaning.
I'd take pictures of the progress, but my camera battery is dead. Not to mention that the workmen will probably wonder what in the world this crazy woman is doing snapping pictures of them working.
I'll charge my battery up tonight and after the furniture is back in the right rooms, I'll take a few pics to share.

It's Always Something...

2008-10-03T21:11:00.006-04:00

You know what they say, if it isn't one thing, its two. That sure does ring true around here. You see, Tuesday morning, as I was trying to get my children out of bed so I could get them ready for school, I decided that I needed to go in the kitchen for something. As my foot stepped into the dining room, I felt my foot go 'squoosh'. Yes, the water heater kicked the bucket (too bad there wasn't a bucket nearby-we sure could have used one!) and our dining room was turned into a pond. What a lovely way to start the day!
The good part is that our homeowner's insurance is going to pay to fix the damage. And the better part is that we are replacing that old, stained carpet with laminate floating floor. We've planned to do this for a long time, and thanks to an unfortunate situation, it's finally getting done.
Here's what it looks like right now. What do you think-should I keep this look?

There she is, banished to the deck, sitting there trying to look innocent. "Who, me?" she seems to ask...

The vinyl flooring in the laundry closet is going in Saturday morning, and the laminate will go down Tuesday. Until then we're living with the table, chairs, and microwave cart in the living room. Its a little squished, but the kids love eating directly in front of the TV. Hopefully we'll get it all back together before my and Derek's birthdays next week. I'll update you as progress continues.

Purty Punkins...

2008-09-21T00:01:00.002-04:00

As if I needed another reason to buy more pumpkins and purty them up, here's what I found at Melissa's blog, "The R Family Diaries":Aren't they just the cutest? And so easy! All you need is a pumpkin, ribbon, and our dear old friend, Hot Glue Gun. Check it out the directions here.

Twenty Things I Love About Fall...

2008-09-20T09:07:00.015-04:00

No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one Autumnal face.

--John Donne

The other day, Melissa over at The Inspired Room posted her favorite things about Fall. It got me thinking. Fall has always been my favorite season. Hot, sticky weather and I have never gotten along very well, so I love the cool, crisp weather that autumn brings. Not to mention the beautiful fall decor and, of course, Halloween candy!

Melissa has invited all of us to share our favorite things about the season and to share it with everyone over at her blog. Here's my list:

Twenty things I love about Fall

crisp leaves under my foot
red, gold, and orange
cool evenings around the fire pit
apple picking
jack o’lantern carving
Yankee Candle Harvest candle (oh yeah)
sweater weather
trick or treaters
candy corn
scarecrows and foddershocks
Derek’ chili
the end of allergy season!
picking pumpkins at the pumpkin patch
my birthday!
apple pie, apple turnovers, apple cider…
Mom’s homemade soup
caramel apples
sweet potato casserole
funnel cakes at the Daniel Boone Festival
hayrides

Be sure to visit Melissa and share your own list!

Remembering a Ragamuffin...

2008-09-19T11:11:00.008-04:00

I'm taking a well-deserved day off today. I have been having some trouble with my back the past few days, so I decided to stay home and let it rest rather than chasing children around all day. Since I had some extra time on my hands, I dug out my MP3 player and settled down with the laptop. I was listening to my favorite Christian artist, Rich Mullins, thoroughly enjoying some music I haven't listened to in ages, when I googled him and found my way to a website run by Rich's brother and sister-in-law. As I read, I realized that today was the 11th anniversary of Rich Mullins' death. How strange that after so long, the day that I pull out my Rich Mullins' music is the date of his passing.

In memory in a man who had a truly God-given gift of words and music...

And this one just for fun...

Copycat...

2008-09-14T21:36:00.004-04:00

So while I was perusing Blanca's blog I found a picture of those beautiful blue canning jars that she has on her kitchen table and that are full of silverware. And even though I don't have any of the blue jars, I was lucky enough to have a box of canning jars up on the top shelf of the garage (I knew they'd come in handy for something!). I got them down and got busy. See, I'd been looking for something to replace the plain white crock that held all of our cooking utensils. It didn't really look bad, but it wasn't all that fabulous either. And when I saw Blanca's jars, a light bulb went on in my head. Here's what I came up with:

I separated the utensils by plastic, wood, and metal and gave each group its own jar. I tied some gingham ribbon around the mouth (I think I need some wider ribbon, though) and added an "S" for our last name on the front jar. I didn't have a basket to put them in (I love Blanca's wire one!), so I'll be on the lookout for one the next time I go thrifting. Thanks for the idea Blanca!

A Sea of Blue...

2008-09-14T11:14:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday, I got to experience my very first University of Kentucky football game (go Cats!). Derek and I got tickets from his boss and rode up with another man Derek works with and his wife. Now, I'd been to a UK basketball game years ago, but quickly found that this was a totally different experience.

I knew that many people tailgate before the games, but I sure didn't expect what I saw in the fields surrounding Commonwealth Stadium. When we rounded the corner on Alumni Drive, I saw what first appeared to be an enormous gypsy camp, except they were all wearing blue and were flying UK flags over their campers and RVs. I've never seen anything like it! Unfortunately, thanks to the horrible traffic, we were too late to partake in the tailgating festivities.

On the good side, we lucked out and had excellent seats. They were in a higher section than we initially thought they'd be, but we could see everything. The weather was perfect and the Cats ended up winning, 38-3. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday evening!

2008-09-11T13:12:00.006-04:00

We will never forget...

Guilty as charged...

2008-09-10T00:01:00.004-04:00

Ever have one of those moments when you're just minding your own business, thinking that you're looking pretty good, then notice that your skirt is tucked up into your pantyhose? After you've already left the house and been seen by about a hundred people? That's sort of how it was for me when I read this post about fake flowers by the Nester. I realized that all the fake greenery that I thought was making my house pretty was actually the modern equivalent of velvet wallpaper. The good news is that I've realized the error of my ways and have committed to change. I even threw out the three bunches of ivy that I had up on my kitchen cabinets (I'm still trying to get used to it being so empty!). Change takes time, though. If you look really closely around my home, you'll still see some pockets of resistance.

Exhibit A: the piano. I actually still like the greenery in the pot on the right, but the one on the left is admittedly horrible. I wanted to put out my urn but didn't have anything to put in it and still haven't been anywhere to get something. So we'll have to live with it for a few more days.

Exhibit B: the TV table. Okay, I know we were supposed to get rid of all this ivy, but this one really does serve a purpose. When we had our plasma installed and wired for satellite, the satellite guy (under Derek's direction) fed the cables through the wall and back out so they could be hooked up to the receiver and surround sound. However, we overestimated the height of the unassembled table we'd gotten to go under the TV and were left with a visable hole with protruding wires. To hide it, I got out this basket and stuffed it with ivy. Voila! Problem solved!

Until I find something that looks good and hides the wires, this puppy's staying.

Do you have any fakes that you need to set free? Put on your dancing shoes and waltz on over to the Nester's P.O.O.P.I.E. Party (People Opposing Objectionable Pretend plants In the Environment). Be sure to check out everyone's links to their far-from-fabulous fakes and if you're so inclined, share some of your own!

5 Things...

2008-09-09T22:44:00.003-04:00

Christy at Between Here and Home shared this Meme with her readers and I thought I’d give it a try…

5 things under $5 I couldn't live without...
1.) Strawberry slushes from Sonic
2.) Chicken McNuggets with sweet and sour sauce.
3.) Olay face wash
4.) toenail polish
5.) Diet Mountain Dew

5 favorite movies...
1.) Father of the Bride (the Spencer Tracy/Elizabeth Taylor version)
2.) Christmas in Connecticut
3.) Pillow Talk
4.) The Sound of Music
5.) Pride and Prejudice

5 baby names I love...
1.) Elizabeth
2.) Andrew
3.) Emma
4.) Chloe
5.) Matthew

5 songs I love...
1) Fingerprints of God (Steven Curtis Chapman)
2) Shout to the Lord (Darlene Zschech)
3) Jesus Loves Me
4) Greatest Story Ever Told (Avalon)
5) The Glory (Avalon)

5 life changing moments...
1) The day I accepted Jesus Christ.
2) Getting married to Derek.
3) Becoming a mother.
4) Getting my first teaching job.
5) The day I decided which college to go to and which NOT to go to

5 current obsessions...
1) blogging
2) decorating my house
3) bargain shopping and thrifting
4) savoring time with my family
5) replacing our old, worn out carpet

5 places I want to go...
1) Great Britain
2) Mackinac Island, MI
3) The Holy Land
4) Paris
5) New England

5 appliances or kitchen tools I could not live without...
1) My KitchenAid mixer
2) dishwasher
3) rubber “spoon-ula”
4) cake decorating kit
5) our Cooks’s Essentials hard anodized chicken fryer

Dressed for Fall...

2008-09-03T18:57:00.007-04:00

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower." -Albert Camus

Even though the temperature hovered around 90 degrees here today and will be in the 80's at least for the next week, I am getting a serious case of Autumn fever. However, I seem to have broken out at a good time. It's Fall Nesting Week over at The Inspired Room! Melissa even has Mr. Linky going so we can all share how we are getting ready for fall.

Now, even though I am completely ready for 65 degree temperatures, cardigan sweaters, bonfires, and changing leaves, my house isn't quite ready yet. This is what I have so far:

I know. Overwhelming, isn't it? But its a start. I think this year I'll get an autumn wreath for the front door, and of course, a scarecrow for the front porch (Big Lots has some really cute ones for only $6). I'd also love to make one of those pumpkin topiaries. Something like this:

Not my house, by the way. Although I wish my entryway were this pretty! And I'm still wishing I could paint my door!

Be sure to stop by The Inspired Room and check out all the fall inspiration (and maybe even leave some of your own!)

Calgon, take me away...

2008-08-30T17:22:00.008-04:00

Ever have one of those days when you just want to crawl under the covers and hide? Yesterday was one of those days. NOT a good day at school. So bad that if someone offered me a job at just about anywhere else yesterday, I would have seriously considered it. And to top it off, Derek and I didn't seem to jive too well either. Let's just say there was a serious disturbance in the force. One even Obi Wan Kenobi would run from. So what's a girl to do? Go shopping, of course! And I did find a few nice things. Not a big haul, but just enough retail therapy that I am feeling much better (I think I can even face my students Tuesday!).

I knew before I left home that I wanted to look for something for the flowers in the master bathroom. They had been in a crystal bowl that we've had for, well, since we married 10 years ago (it held a bouquet on the guest book table at our wedding). Its pretty, but being crystal, doesn't hide the fake flower stems very well. I found this urn at Goodwill for $2.50:

Later I went over to the Dollar Tree. I was searching for those little Ballard-like pumpkins that Susie over at Bienvenue... found at her DT. I'd looked at the Dollar Tree in my town last week with no luck, but today I found them at the store in the next town over. They'll look great when I get my autumn decorations out.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a thing at Vendor's Mall. I was looking for a small table for the corner of the dining room (found one that would be perfect, but apparently it wasn't for sale-it was their display table) and for a dining room-type chair for next to the piano. I found a few chairs, but they cost way more than I want to spend. I'll keep looking though. I know the right chair and the right table is out there somewhere!

A thrifting we will go...

2008-08-24T19:57:00.007-04:00

I had a pretty good day thrifting this afternoon. While Derek kept the kids at home, I got out for some "mommy time" on my own. My first stop (which is also my new favorite place) was Vendor's Mall. You never know what you'll find at VM! This time, I found this footed milkglass bowl for only $3. It now sits on my bathroom vanity and holds our contact lens cases.

My next stop was the Dollar Tree. I went in search of these pumpkins that Susie over at Bienvenue found at the DT in her neighborhood. The only ones I found at my store were styrofoam. Oh, before you start to feel sorry for me, look what else I found to console myself..
this easel for one of my favorite pictures of the kids:

and this candleholder and candle that sits next to my newest rooster plate.

I got the rooster plate last month at the Bread of Life Cafe in Liberty, Kentucky. We went again yesterday and I picked up this one:

Liberty, Kentucky is situated in some of the most beautiful country about an hour away from us. There is a rather sizeable Amish and Mennonite community there, and we love to shop at a few of their shoppes. This time, we went to Sunny Valley general store, Zimmerman's cheese shop, and an Amish roadside produce stand. We're planning on going back in a couple of weeks, and hopefully we'll bring back some of their beautiful mums, ready for Fall planting.

Blessings...

2008-08-21T22:13:00.003-04:00

" These are the children God has given me. God has been good."

Genesis 33:5

Party Time...

2008-08-18T17:40:00.005-04:00

Have you heard? There’s a party going on over at the Nester’s place! We’re all joining in to share how we’ve mistreated our windows. A “mistreatment”, in case you don’t know, is an cheap and easy way to dress a window without sewing, measuring, or spending a fortune. As I thought back to my single days, I realized that I’ve been mistreating for years. You can’t imagine how many pairs of curtains and drapes I’ve made out of bed sheets! Even though most of the curtains in my home are actual store-bought curtains, I do have one sort-of mistreatment in Gaven’s room.

These curtains were bought several years ago for the French doors in our dining room. They served us well, but I eventually got tired of them and put them away in the linen closet. When we took Gaven’s crib down, down came the valance that matched his bedding. I went shopping at home and found these:They fit the window perfectly, but the tiebacks were a problem. A couple of the rings were broken and I couldn’t find any cuphooks. So here’s my solution (sorry for not so clear pictures):
The back may not be pretty, but it works!

Breakfast of champions...

2008-08-01T11:49:00.009-04:00

For some odd reason, unbeknownst to me, I've been cooking a lot more than usual. Now, normally, I don't enjoy cooking that much. I do like to bake, but everyday cooking is more Derek's thing than mine (he's a great cook!). But this week, I've found myself in the kitchen making things like fried chicken and lasagna. My husband has been especially pleased by this sudden turn of events, although it isn't sure to last, since Monday marks the beginning of school and the end of my summer vacation.

This morning I awoke to discover that we were not only out of all three cereals, but we also had no cinnamon rolls in the fridge either. What is a girl to do? Then the idea hit me...I could make biscuits and gravy. Now, I know some of you out there are are healthy, organic, no fried/processed/laden-with-fat eaters. In that case you're sure to be disappointed with my breakfast choice this morning. However, for me, it isn't just that I really love biscuits and gravy, its that it brings up fond childhood memories.

My grandmother used to make biscuits and gravy for us when we'd come to Kentucky for a visit every summer (we lived in Michigan at the time). I remember tearing each biscuit into little bite sized pieces and smothering it in her sausage gravy. Mmmmm. Imagine my delight when local restaurants started serving b & g, the local Dairy Queen being my favorite. Whenever Derek says he's going to get us breakfast on Saturday mornings, I always hope for DQ.

A few years ago, my mom found something in the store that would change my breakfast-making life forever:
There it is. The mix that DQ uses for their heavenly gravy. And now it can be mine. Whenever I want, even if I sleep past 10:30 (like that ever happens).

So this morning, when a bit of domesticity overtook me, I found myself in the kitchen, pulling out the baking mix and heating up the oven. I actually made biscuits from semi-scratch. Well, at least they didn't come out of a can or were frozen. Here's proof:

Look how pretty they turned out...
Now this is a matter of some excitement for me, since my biscuits usually turn out like rocks.
And here's the finished product...come to mama...

Totally not low-fat, totally not low-carb, and not even close to organic. But totally yummy!

Platter, platter, on the wall...

2008-07-29T22:56:00.005-04:00

Well its finally done! I got the idea from a few different blogs. It seems plates on walls are everywhere these days. Being the dish lover that I am, there was no way I could be left out! I had most of them up last weekend, but I had to wait until I got a couple more plate hangers to finish it up. I think it turned out very nice. All but one of them were thrift store/yard sale finds. Its definitely one of the cheapest decorating projects I've done. Now, if I could just get that hardwood down...