Selasa, 31 Agustus 2010

Baby Halloween Costumes

I know, I know . . .  it’s too early for Halloween, but it’s never too early to see adorable babies!  Seriously, they are the cutest in their little costumes!  I was going nuts over these photos yesterday.  Just the sweetest.

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I’m DYING over the sweet pea and the little guy so excited to be a pumpkin!

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*First 8 images are from Pottery Barn Kids.

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Holy cow, that baby is just so cute I could melt!

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Which one is your favorite?  Have you thought about what your baby is going to be for Halloween?  James is going to be the cutest.pumpkin.ever! :)

Sigh.

Thank you for all your comments, calls and e-mails, I am deeply grateful.
This month has been a roller coaster. I am getting caught back up so if you are waiting for an e-mail or call from me I promise it is coming. I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday...
Dreamy Whites


Dreamy Whites

Dreamy Whites

Senin, 30 Agustus 2010

Fall Inspired Porch

Although it is still literally in the 90’s here weather-wise, I am so ready for fall and all the beautiful fall decor.  Fall just says crisp, cool days, home-baked goodies, and family togetherness to me.  It’s sweaters and boots and wreaths and pumpkins.  It’s the season we prepare for Thanksgiving, a time to be thankful for all of our blessings and focus on what’s important to us.  Including decor:)  This year, we have a new home to adorn with fall attire.  I’d love to come home to a porch like this:

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Image via Pottery Barn

What is so beautiful and inviting about this space and can I make it happen at my home please (for less)? 

Wreath:  The full multi-colored leaf wreath is definitely the focal point of the porch.  It looks like it could be crafted in an afternoon while a little baby sleeps.  We have a double door though, so maybe I’ll make two smaller wreaths??

Lanterns:  The lanterns (two hanging and two floor) are also great.  We don’t have any lanterns on our house, but I’ve seen floor lanterns at Home Goods for a decent price.  Fill them up with tall candles and some walnuts and you’re set.

Hay:  Bushels of hay are pretty rustic and add height to the decorative accents.  Not sure where I could find hay??

Pumpkins:  What is fall without pumpkins?  A variety of textures and colors that blend nicely are scattered artfully about.  I can definitely scatter. 

Branches and Leaves:  A few more accessories layer the porch.  Sticks- easy to find in the yard and I have some leaves from Hobby Lobby.

Welcome Mat:  The PB mat is nice because it’s says ‘Welcome’ in big, bold letters.  We have a welcome mat, so that’s done:)

The only thing left to do is decide when to break out the fall decor.  I’m thinking mid-September or perhaps after Labor Day if I’m feeling ambitious. 

What are your plans for fall decor?  When do you start decorating?  Did you already start?  ha!

Media Cabinet Makeover

Thanks to my blog friends, I was able to finally! choose a paint color to paint the back of the media center in our living room.  Most of you who commented here, voted for the blue on the middle shelf.  Well, little did I know that that color was called “Jamestown Blue.”  A color with my son’s name had to be the one:)  Before I painted the media center, which is a built in unit, it looked like this:

 BEFORE
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1st AFTER
Living Room Redo 006
I left the cabinet like this for about a week, then decided to paint the wall behind the television as well.  I didn’t paint it initially because the t.v. is too hard to move and I knew I’d only be able to do part of the wall.  Then, I realized the t.v. swiveled, making that paint job a bit easier.  So, now all of the walls on the media cabinet are painted and it looks more cohesive.
2nd AFTER
Media Cabinet Redo 001

I think it turned out pretty well.  The blue is really nice in person with just a hint of aqua.  It looks more slate and less sugary at home and is even prettier in the evening.

Step 1:  Remove all items from shelf

 Media Cabinet Makeover 013

Step 2:  Remove shelves and apply tape to avoid getting paint where you don’t want it.

 Media Cabinet Makeover 015

Step 3: Gather supplies (paint, foam rollers and brushes, bucket, drop cloth).

Media Cabinet Makeover 016

Step 4:  Cover ginormous t.v. with drop cloth.  (must.not.get.paint.on.t.v.must.not.get.paint.on.t.v.)!

Media Cabinet Makeover 017

Step 5:  Begin painting.  First I painted the frame with a foam brush.

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Step 6: Then I used a foam roller to apply two coats of paint.

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The cabinet looked like this when I was finished and put the shelves back in.  I do have some a lot of “touch up” work to do where the paint is uneven near where I taped.  I plan to get a small brush to redo those areas. 

Media Cabinet Makeover 002 

*Update:  When I went back and painted the area behind the t.v., I also did those touch-ups, this time using Blue Frog tape instead of blue tape and taking the tape off as soon as I was done painting, while the paint was wet.  The results were much better.  I made sure that the tape was pressed down very hard before painting. 

Cabinet Redo 001 Cabinet Redo 007

Instead of a 4 inch foam roller, I used a 6 inch fabric roller.  

 Cabinet Redo 004

A small paint brush was used to do the cut ins, instead of the foam brush. 

Cabinet Redo 009

  When the tape was removed, I had clean, crisp lines.  Yay!!!! So much better.

Cabinet Redo 008

I played around with the accessories, using a mix of silver, white and brown.  To me, silver, white, and black looked too stark and so the browns added some warmth.  I’m still searching for the perfect pictures to put in two of the silver frames.  Also, I’m thinking of adding some large books to the shelves above the t.v.  I tried removing the upper middle shelf, but it looked a bit odd.  I plan to do a post soon on where I found or repurposed all the lovely accessories. 

 Living Room Redo 025

Cabinet Redo 010 Living Room Redo 027

BEFORE
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AFTER
Media Cabinet Redo 003 


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I’m sharing this post at these fantastic blogs:

Centsational Girl



A Few of My Favorite Things * All Thingz Related * Blue Cricket Design * C.R.A.F.T. * Domestically Speaking * Fingerprints on the Fridge * Infarrantly Creative * Keeping it Simple * Mad in Crafts * Me and My Bucket * Miss Mustard Seed * New Nostalgia * Remodelaholic * Seven Thirty Three * Serenity Now * Super Stinky Boys * Tatertots and Jello * The Inspired Room * The Shabby Chic Cottage * The Shabby Nest * Thrifty Decor Chick * Today’s Creative Blog * Under the Table and Dreaming

Minggu, 29 Agustus 2010

Where I Blog

Kate at Centsational Girl posed this question over the weekend:

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I love the idea of asking this question because I also often wonder about those types of details of people’s lives.   For me, I typically blog after my son has gone to sleep and my husband and I have eaten dinner and spent a little time together.  My place of choice is on the corner of our couch in the living room.  

Media Cabinet Makeover 004

It’s a comfy spot to curl up in with my laptop, has a lamp, and is near an outlet so I can keep my computer plugged in.  I have an office, but it’s not completed and I prefer to be in the same room with my honey at night.  I’m sure that once I get the desk I ordered from Z Gallerie, I’ll have more incentive to finish my office and really want to spend more time in there.

I am dreaming of an office like this:

 

But for now, I get to connect with you all from my little corner of the couch!  I can’t wait to read everyone else’s responses!

A Special Quiet Time

My Grandmother passed away. Tomorrow we will be celebrating her life, remembering her kind, gentle and humble spirit. Her passing was a blessing after years of illness but it hurts...a lot. However, there is comfort in God and for that I am so thankful. I couldn't think of a better way to honor Nonny and praise God for his promise to us than the Prayer of Saint Francis...

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.**The final years of my Grandparents life were hard on everyone but especially my Mother. Watching her care for sick parents was heart breaking. I am saying a prayer for all of you who are caring for your parents. Judy Goldman wrote a wonderful article in Real Simple that really hit home for me. I recommend reading it....

"Near the end of her life, I could not see beyond my mother’s childlike stare, the confused disorder in her eyes. I could not feel anything but the ache of having to be my mother’s mother. After she died and I had finally shaken off the last shiver of the disease, I was able to remember what she had been like before Alzheimer’s.

I could see her turn her wrist to adjust her watch. There she was, at her dressing table, leaning into the magnifying mirror, plucking her eyebrows. I could see her dipping the tiny wand in the brown Mercurochrome bottle, painting my bruised knee orange. She was the grown-up. And I, again, was the child."

-excerpt "Losing My Mother", full text HERE

Jumat, 27 Agustus 2010

HWH Featured

It feels so nice to have some of my projects featured recently on these wonderful blogs!!   Thank you, thank you, thank you:)  Go show them some love:)

New Nostalgia – August 23, 2010 {Rainbow Bookshelf}

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C.R.A.F.T. – August 22, 2010 {Rainbow Bookshelf}

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Seven Thirty Three- August 26, 2010 {Custom Wall Art}

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Fingerprints on the Fridge- August 26, 2010 {Rainbow Bookshelf}

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A Girl and a Glue Gun- August 27, 2010 {Rainbow Bookshelf}

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Remodelaholic- August 27, 2010 {Rainbow Bookshelf}

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Have a great weekend!