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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

our happy place



There is something about the morning light filtering into our home.  My living room becomes brushed with soft shadows and a certain sense of joy fills my soul at a new day...a sun filled blank canvas. 


The windows have been bare so long I really just got used to them.  I didn't have grand plans to dress them.  I was a little afraid actually to block any light.  I'm a light girl.  I desperately need it, so I was surprised at how much I fell in love with these IKEA curtains.  They warmed up the space so much.  Seriously I think IKEA needs to be paying me or something.  I'm like a walking commercial lately;)




Honey loves them too.  I don't know how many times he commented on them.  Love it when that happens.  Usually I'm talking him into things...didn't have to this time;)   I thought the fuzzy polka dots might be too much.  So wrong!




While I was editing I found some more sweet moments from my parent's visit.  Here's mom giving dad an impromptu haircut in the yard.  Remember we are just country folk.  The neighbors just have to get used to it;)




Little Chick loves a good game of UNO.  She rocks it too.  Competitive little thing!

 


Every day mom called home to leave a message FOR THE CAT!  It was hilarious...here's an excerpt...Molly it's momma.  I just want you to know we'll be home in a few days.  Make sure to eat your food and drink your water, and when Jim comes over to take care of you come out and say hi.  Don't hide.  I don't want to worry about you.  We love you Molly.  Sam and Kaley (the dogs) do too.  Keep the faith. 


That's my momma;)



Big Chick had to give a concert of course;)  We just signed her up for her electives next year.  Switching back to band.  We are just not pleased with the orchestra program here.  I think band will be more fun...more music...the chance to march eventually.  We are going to look into private lessons for the viola.  She's just a music lover through and through.




Candid shots of my dad coloring.  I love how whenever crayons are around they somehow find their way into his hands.  He loves to color.  Love that childlike side to him.




Story telling time with Grandma Dixie.  My mom can spin a tale.



Okay so I saw a door painted with chalkboard paint recently and swooned.  We recently took off a door and I knew just what to do with it.




Oh how I love chalkboard markers.  They work like a charm.  You can get them at Joann's.  Got the fun knob at Hobby Lobby of course.



This corner was the perfect spot...all nestled in with the polka dot lacy curtains.  We love this Bible verse.  What a great reminder to let God build the house...to not try and do it yourself.  Oh how I need that reminder every.single.day:)  The room is officially finished.  It's our happy place.  It feels like this house was always supposed to be ours. 




Have a happy blessed leap day;)




455.  chalkboard paint
456.  creative inspiration
457.  HOME
458.  coloring outside the lines
459.  a handy honey
460.  energy
461.  friends who bring me herbal supplements when i don't feel good
462.  silky hair



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Monday, February 27, 2012

feels like home




Okay this is going to sound bad, but one of the biggest things I miss about Minnesota was our local Ikea.  It was my happy place.  I could just mosey through the store collecting ideas, grab a few little (cheap) things here and there...eat some meatballs and mashed potatoes for $5.99 and call it a day.  I LOVE IKEA!  I've been meaning to get to the one here since we moved, but it's not a mere 20-30 minute drive.  It's a jump in your car as soon as the kids get on the bus...drive fast...shop and eat fast...make it home just the nick of time kind of trip.  BUT SO WORTH IT!!





 (Lenina)
(Joannie)

So a few weeks ago I grabbed my "sugar sisters", and we headed out for our First Friday fieldtrip.  Back story...several weeks ago I was at lunch with these girls, and we did a pinky swear that we would be there for each other.  We would let each other in.  It's a conscious effort to do that with people.  Friendship is an investment of time, energy and trust.  We just decided it was worth a pinky swear moment.




We walked the aisles.  We gathered ideas.  And for me it was like being back home.  Don't you love that you can walk into a store or restaurant chain and it's pretty much the same everywhere.  Even though this Ikea was a little different, it was still the same.  It felt like home.  So nice that I can drive an 1 1/2 hours and get that feeling.




We did good.



I've been waiting around for the perfect barstools and let me tell ya they are expensive.  At least the ones I kept finding.  I found these for $69 at Ikea. When Mom and Dad were here we spruced them up. 




My friend Tiffini just recently redid some chairs and they were gorgeous.  She made her own chalk paint...click here for the recipe.  Chalk paint is really expensive if you buy it premade, so I thought what the heck I'll try it out.  You mix 2/3 paint to 1/3 plaster paris.  At least that's the "chalk" I used.  There are various recipes.  It was really a trial and error process.




The paint was SUPER thick and went on extremely gloppy.  I don't think I stirred it in long enough.  Mom was helping me and it took a good three coats to cover the chairs. 




The color is off in this picture, but the chairs finally turned out great.  I sanded them to give them a worn look and then waxed and buffed them with furniture paste.  They really add an awesome punch of color to the kitchen.  I'm hoping to figure out a numbered stencil to add to the front of each chair.  Tiffini did a no. 1 and no. 2...it looked so pretty.  I think stenciling is beyond hard.  Kind of chicken to try it.



I also found a funky rug and curtains.  Initially I wanted a furry, soft on the toes rug, but when I saw this one it made me rethink that.  My friend Joannie assured me it was THE ONE!  Do you think it's too crazy?  I like crazy.  Oh and the curtain post is coming.  I also made something super cool to go behind that denim chair in the corner.  It's so fun fluffing the nest;)



Have a blessed day.



449.  warming up a space
450.  finding just the thing you've been looking for
451.  the color RED
452.  graphic stripes
453.  my sugar sistas!!


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Saturday, February 25, 2012

final touches


I'm sitting here hiccuping like crazy.  I hate the hiccups.  Drank some seltzer water and there you go...hiccups all.day.long.  Oh well.  Editing these photos made me a little melancholy.  My folks left early this morning.  I never get used to the goodbyes.  Never.


This picture was taken on one of our fun outting days antiquing.  Got dad wrangled into one of my mirror shots.  Notice his sweet hand on my back.  Had to black and white this one out because my hair looks like straw.  Have I mentioned how much I'm hatin' on my hair right now?  Anyhoo I get it fixed Monday and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the one.  That this will be the evasive magical hair lady who gets it right.  It's almost like looking for a pot of gold under a rainbow...does it exist??




The fun thing about antiquing is the back story on every piece that you find.  These photos were taken in a pool hall.  Mom, dad and I decided to go fancy;)  We were starving, so we found the closest place we could find.  It promised the best food in town written in marker on the window...so it had to be good right??  The food didn't disappoint, but I've never felt more creeped out in my life.  From the second I walked in the door an icky, wouldn't want to meet him in an alley man had eyes on me.  You know the head to toe check out, but this wasn't the flattering kind.  This was the make your skin crawl, fearful kind.  Couldn't wait to get out of there...no matter how good the chocolate cake was.


Okay so here was my find of the day.  When I go antiquing it's always with a certain thing in mind.  This time it was for a shoe dresser.  We've been throwing our shoes in a basket by our door and it was not working out so well.  Shoes were always sprawled out all over the floor.  Hated that messy cluttered look.  It was time to find some organization.


Saw this beaut in the corner...ugly as all get out...but just the right size.  I knew she was just plain enough for me to put my special touches on.  She had to be MINE!  Her price tag was a little high however (I'm finding that must be an East Coast thing), and I was holding my breath while the sales guy made a call.  In the end I got her for a very respectable price.  It always pays to ask if they will come down.  In my experience they usually do. 



Yesterday I had my dad rough her up for me a bit.



Mom and I added the color.  Got this paint on the discount rack for $7 at Home Depot.  Perfect color.  Knew I would use it one day.  Love me a bargain.


 

Once it was dry, I sanded the edges and used a little walnut stain to bring out some wood tones on the edges. 



The last step was putting on the paste and letting it dry and then buffing it out a bit.  Oh and yes those are flip flops IN FEBRUARY!  It was 79 degrees here yesterday.  What in the world?  I've never felt that ever in the middle of Winter.  Oh glorious day.




Oh and then the last last step was adding the bling.  Amazing how knobs can transform a piece of furniture.  It's my favorite thing.  Actually it's usually my first step to inspire my end result.  Hobby Lobby has the best selection and they are usually always half off. 







Here's the end result.  I got my knobs for $2 each.  Steal!!  I love how she looks parked right by that busy door.  All of our shoes fit perfectly.



My keys and change fit perfectly in the little butterfly mirror I got at HomeGoods.  Doesn't my keychain look great there??;)  I sell those in my Etsy shop by the way.  Any leather can made into a personalized keychain...just FYI.



Oh and see that sweet little vase on the top.  I got that from a friend for Christmas.  It makes me happy every time I look at it.  I had no idea when I was painting this dresser that it would match so perfectly.  Tell me that wasn't made to go right there in that special spot:)




After all that work it was time to head for dinner.  Our last meal together.  God gave us the most beautiful sky on the way home.  His creations take my breath away.  Can't wait to show you all the other projects we worked on this week.  Our home is getting all the final touches added and it feels so good.


**Oh and just in case you missed the B.Rooted post I did...here's the link.  It didn't post until later that day.   



Have a blessed day.


444.  the perfect piece for the perfect spot
445.  transformation
446.  having helping hands
447.  a week of projects done
448.  sunsets that make me want to gasp outloud

 
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Friday, February 24, 2012

Curry and Ginger Butternut Squash Soup



Good morning girlies.  I miss you.  Mom and Dad are still here.  We've been busy with fun projects and running here and there.  It's been a good week.  I wanted to take a minute and share a recipe with you that I found in my April Issue of Oxygen.  It's Curry and Ginger Butternut Squash Soup.



I have to tell you that I'm a huge soup fan.  Love all kinds...especially anything creamy.  Despite it's texture this recipe is super healthy and perfect for a chilly winter day.  If you love a little spice, this one's for you.


Ingredients:
1 butternut squash
4 cups water
2 tbsp canola oil or to lighten the recipe just use 2 tsp
1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp curry powder
1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds.  Place face down in a baking pan with water.  Bake for 45 minutes or until soft.  Let cool....save water it was cooked in.

2.  Heat oil in pan in large skillet or soup pot...add onion and garlic and saute until golden.  Stir in curry powder, ginger and salt and pepper.  Simmer on low for a few minutes.

3.  Pour the squash water into the skillet and heat.  Scoop out cooled squash flesh and add to the skillet.  Remove from heat and let cool.  When it's room temperature puree all of it in a blender or food processor with the broth.  Serve.





So to join in the linky party.  Just grab my button, link to a recipe post and let's Feed Our Families:)






Photobucket


I'm posting at Beautifully Rooted today.  I hope you come over and read my post called "Are you a visionary??";)




Have a blessed day.







439.  projects getting done
440.  time with mom and dad
441.  flipflops in february
442.  meeting my new neighbor..miss jane
443.  finding an awesome antique mall;)



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