Love The One You're With- Veranda Interiors

Today I am thrilled to welcome Melissa from Veranda Interiors as my guest blogger. I can't remember exactly when we became blog friends, but everyone should be lucky enough to have a friend like Melissa.

Her interiors are gorgeous, following her own home's progression is envy inducing and I have even made a special trip to H&M thanks to her post; but her kindness and support outweighs all of that. I feel very lucky to have met her in the crazy blog world!

I am SO thrilled to help out our expectant mother, workaholic, incredibly nice, favorite blogger Marianne by participating in this great series. When she first asked me to do this post we were hunkered down in our crappy rental while our new home was under construction, I sent a note back telling her that I could only do a 'hate the one your with' post. I really wanted to share images of our new home with you but we moved in and a week later we were off to our cabin at Tablerock Lake for the summer...so here I am, featuring the cabin since it is a place that we completely overhauled and we are now able to create so many wonderful memories here.

To ensure that the growth of the boys is documented as well as the fun that we have while here I set up this wall across from the front door so it is the first thing you are greeted with. I picked up the adorable growth chart off Etsy and have put some of our favorite images around it. They can change out from year to year...or I may just cram the frames closer together and add more.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and even here it is the same case. We are constantly seated at the island, creating yummy cookies with the boys, and cooking up a storm for my family when they come for the weekend, all 22 of them! The kitchen has come a long way, here is an image of what we were working with when we took possession of the home.

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The family room on the main level of the home gets a lot of use from guest and our little guys. All I have to say is thank goodness the cream sofas are slip-covered, ha! My favorite item in this space is the antique teak bench from Bali that we use as a coffee table. The patina is wonderful and it just gets better with use.

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The dining area of the home is right next to the great room so it had to all flow together. Once everything was drenched in white I started the hunt for decorative items. While I am still in search for many more things the space is working for me...for now.



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Since we are never here during the winter months I needed to fill the fireplace box with something. The pillar candles were perfect since it is a darker space of the home and the ambiance it gives off is perfect. Tucked away in one corner of the room is Nemo, our glass fish from Roost, he is our cork collector at the cabin and the only fish I can seem to keep alive.

We tend to party it up with a bevy or two by the camp fire or on the dock so we needed a space for a bar but we are a little cramped. To accommodate the storage we required I found a great antique armiour that I adore. It is tucked away nicely in a corner and serves a great purpose.

So this is where we have been hiding out this summer. Thank you so much for visiting and do come again, I promise to make you a wonderful meal we can share. Mel xo

Thank you Melissa, of course I love it. Now I can't wait to see the house progression in the coming months!!!

Quiet Time- The Beginning...And Everything That Comes With It

The picture above is the first thing I ever purchased for the nursery. It is a page from a Bible dating back to the 1600's that I tracked down after seeing the Bible originally a long time ago at Scott's. It is not just any page though, it is special to me.

I won't go into all the details but around 8 weeks pregnant I was anxious and worried. While we did not have to endure anything close to what many couples do to get pregnant, it didn't just magically come easy to us, it took time and a lot faith. Then we were pregnant and me being the worrier I am battled fears of losing the baby. So during one particular fit of worry, a crazy and simple thing happened and God sent me the following passage:

"Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all creatures that move along the ground."

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:26-28

I was so comforted; God has given me such a sense of peace during this time.

But here we are in the final week, one the verge of a new beginning and I have to be honest. In between the excitement and joy over meeting our son; fear, worry and anxiety are creeping in. Over what exactly I don't know. I can't explain it but I am sure many of you out there understand. Maybe it is the waiting and the unknown? Maybe it is change that always scares me? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing I want more than to meet our son and become a Mom.

I don't think I have ever prayed as hard as I have throughout this pregnancy and the prayers here at the end are coming fast and furious. I know He is listening, I know that one or another-no matter what, everything will be okay, and I just have to be still in Him. Sometimes though that is much easier said than done.

Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who entered the recent giveaways and it's time to announce the winners!

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I will email you with the details of claiming your prize!

Have a great weekend everyone! For those of you with kiddos heading back to school- I hope everything goes smoothly getting them ready! 

Bathing Beauty

I saw this backsplash/wall while flipping through the latest Pottery Barn catalog and I loved it so my first thought was I need to use that for a client at some point (although I would use something different on the floor probably)...Then while cleaning up my pictures some I realized that I had been looking at tile like that for a client recently...and now I hope we use it even more.

Oh how I love working on bathrooms and kitchens, especially when beautiful tile is involved.

You Can Find Me....

Guest blogging on Emily A. Clark today...

Thanks for having me Emily!

Summer "To Do" List - FAIL??

I had to laugh when I just looked back at the post I wrote on June 20, 2011 proclaiming my summer to do list!  My husband just declared it an epic FAIL!



I have accomplished all of TWO of the NINE things on the list!  We managed to get to the beach for a little vacation and my hubby and I recently went on a date.

Planting the hydrangeas- um, no.  BBQ with friends- not so much.  Swimming lessons and bike rides- my bike has a flat tire!

But I can't really say it was a complete fail.  Because this summer we played like crazy with James and relaxed and enjoyed ourselves and our new home.  Lots of time was spent in our backyard with a little inflatable swimming pool, a homemade sandbox, and sidewalk chalk.  Many a popsicle and ice cream cone were eaten.  Naps were taken and photos were snapped.

I'd say it's been a GREAT summer!

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P.S. The winners of Black & Decker Steam Mop giveaway and Ali Grace giveaway will be announced Friday.  Go HERE and HERE to enter!

A New Ride

I know by now you are probably well aware of the upcoming Missoni for Target line. With over 400 pieces there is a lot to look through. I will say though, this bicycle from the look book has been on my mind.....

Probably need to decide on stroller wheels before looking for myself though....