turquoise & coral

I am falling for turquoise and coral...

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my {valentine} mantle

I found a new blog (new for me) that I have enjoyed reading called Home Stories A2Z and recently she had a mantle party link up.  I was very inspired by all of the mantle ideas and how many of them just added little touches that could be easily changed once Valentine's Day is over.

I also saw on TV or read somewhere lately, that the best way to redecorate an area is to just pull things from other areas in your home and mix it up a little.  My Valentine's Day mantle consists of only 1 new item.  How cool is that?  AND the only items that were there before are the bridge pic, the black candle base and red candle, and the white/tan sprays in the vase.  I'm so excited to have a new look!

This plate was my grandmothers'.  It's Havelin china and my mom says it's over 100 years old.  I haven't had it out since we moved.  I think it goes perfect on this mantle.

Hobby Lobby frame from my bedroom and the small red candle base was Eric's Grandma Hart's...

New item I made this weekend...

Large vase and candle base from my bedroom, small vase from TV cabinet...

I added a heart to the white frame which was previously on the TV shelves w/o a pic forever... And the white vase was also in the TV cabinet.

I cut a heart from my Cricut, used stamping glue and stamped a pattern on the heart.  Then, I covered with Zing glitter and embossed with my heating tool.  So easy!

The light makes the right vase look darker in this pic but I wanted to show the mantle after the heart was finished.

I'm very excited for the change, and I'm already thinking about what little touches I can make for spring!!  Hurry up spring!

Show Us Your Life- Halloween Costumes!

Growing up, we didn't celebrate Halloween. We always did something special with candy and going out. So, I never felt like I was missing something. Our church usually did some kind of fall party. I always thought that I wouldn't celebrate Halloween either. To me, Halloween can be about all the wrong things.

My sister (n-law), Kelly, started a tradition with her girls where she let them dress up and they visited all the relatives to trick-or-treat rather than go to peoples' homes they didn't know. I really liked that idea. It allowed the girls to dress up and get candy and made the holiday about seeing family and having fun.

I then decided that is what I wanted to do. (Thanks Kel.) So we began the tradition on Carson's first Halloween.

His first year, he was a chicken! We always called him chicken baby b/c he cried at so many things that startled him. When we saw the chicken outfit, we knew that was perfect for him.

Here he is with a family friend. We actually have a pic somewhere that says, "Eat more beef!" above Carson in a bubble, and "Eat more Chicken!" above Tucker in a bubble. How Cute!

Carson and Princess Nikki and Sam...

Carson's second Halloween, he was obsessed with puppies. So, he was a Dalmation. We HAD to get his picture with this fire hydrant.

Carson's third Halloween, he wouldn't pick what he wanted to be. Since I knew he was getting a doctor kit for Christmas, I decided he would be Dr. McCutie. (Like McDreamie from Gray's! HA!)

This Halloween, he definitely knew what he wanted to be! Can you guess what it is?????

what do ya think?

I didn't take before pics. I didn't forget, but Eric started some things on the room before I thought he was. So, I didn't stop in midstream to take pictures. I do have these older pics with the bed half made in one. This gives you somewhat an idea of what our master bedroom looked like before...

AND THIS IS AFTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comforter and pillows from Target...
Lamps from Target....

The nightstands are done, as you can see, and the other two pieces will be done soon. Even though they aren't in the room, We had this much done, and I wanted to share.... I just love it!
I have so many ideas for things I want to add in this room, but that will get done in time and be more enjoyable to do (unlike the painting process.)

So, what do ya think? The blue turned out to be just the shade I was looking for. Thank you Pottery Barn and Benjamin Moore...

I feel blue...

Actually... I feel very happy b/c my BLUE walls in my bedroom are painted and done! Eric worked on trimming the ceiling and the inset which involved 2 more trims, while I trimmed and painted the rest of the room. We finished at just the same time, and boy, am I glad that is over!!

I am a big fan of Benjamin Moore after this experience. I couldn't find a color to my liking. I brought home 2 samples from Lowe's and tried them on the wall, and they were awful. So, I knew I liked Pottery Barn colors, which are Benjamin Moore. I went to the store in Ozark, and they were very helpful. I had picked a color I liked in a room I saw in the Pottery Barn magazine. They gave me a sample. It looked great. So, I bought the paint there. It was about the same as the Lowe's price, and they could use their formula they had for the color. So, I didn't have to color match it and hope it came out. It went on much better than the paint I used for Carson's playroom. One coat with just a few touch ups will do it.

All we have left is finish the armoire, dresser, and mirror. And of course, all the decorating ideas I have in mind, but that's the fun part. Next time I want to paint a room and all the furniture inside it, somebody stop me.

I do need to thank Jen once again for the inspiration, Tammy for running everywhere with me to find paint colors, and Kelly for your opinion on the final color- I never painted a room until I met you (the painting queen-especially of foyers!).

can i just say?

Carson had quite a day of quotes today! All too cute - so I must share.

Momma: Carson, please don't throw the pillow on the floor.

Carson: Whateva (Whatever)

Momma: Don't whatever me, I don't want to keep picking these up.

Carson: I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

Carson: When I was little, did I call Coys R'Us - Coys R'Us?

Momma: I guess you did- (since he just did- ha!)

Carson was playing on the slide at the park and a little girl (about 7 or 8) was sliding down next to him on a side by side slide. I didn't see what happened but I don't think she was being kind.

Carson comes running over and yells, "She's being mean to me." Then he turns around and yells at her, "I don't love you, You crazy woman!"

Oh my goodness, what a boy.

Can I just say? I HATE PAINTING!!! More than painting, I hate the mess that goes with it. I'll be so glad to finally get all of this done. I taped and started trimming tonight. How often do you move your bed to dust behind it? Apparently, I don't. That was a job, let me tell ya. The armoire is almost ready for its last coat of paint (still 3 clear coats to do), and we hope to finish the room tomorrow. I have a new comforter, pillows, lamps and shades. We'll have a new bedroom when we're done. I plan to get a new mattress and a few things for decoration. Also I want to get some things for the bathroom to coordinate, but all in good time. My pocketbook can only handle it in doses! Did I mention? I HATE PAINTING!!

ice cream - i scream painting

Recently we had an ice cream social at the Dailys' house with some friends from church. We were on sugar overload, but it was oh so good.

This is our friend, Hayward, who is an avid reader of my blog!

This week Eric and I have been working on painting our bedroom furniture, and we'll be painting the walls this weekend- I hope. I really want it done. My friend, Jen, inspired me, but I'm going crazy with all of the mess and work it's created. My goal is to be finished by next Wednesday-please, please, please let it be done by then.