We don't do much for Valentine's Day, but I do try to do a little something especially since we have kids. This year we did a book to tell daddy/hubby how much we love him. I so got the idea from here, but we did our own take. I used mostly what I already had, but I did buy the accordion book by Martha Stewart at Micheal's with the 40% off coupon.
Did you really think I would go rated 'R' on my little blog for Valentine's Day week? No, my master bedroom re.do is about finished though. Also you can go here for before pics. Of course there are a few things I would like to add, but not until after the shopping hiatus. I would like a rug to cover the not so pretty carpet and a fabulous chair that carries more weight for in front of the desk. I am sure I will continue to change a few things around, but for now I am happy with the result.
Say hello to my new room.
I recovered this settee that I had since college and painted the legs white.
I painted the dressers gray. The crowd in the background is a video team setting up a shoot for the dinner theater I mentioned Tuesday.
This tray was once red, but now is teal. The iron piece I painted black. I already owned much of what I used for the room since it was during the shopping hiatus. This made me get extra creative.
All the toys are now out of the room, but we did keep the beanbags in so the kiddos can have movie time.
This picture is horribly dark, sorry. That ridiculously huge mirror used to be opposite the bed. Don't get any funny ideas though. I must say I do like it over here much more. The desk a friend gave me. It makes a perfect spot to sew.
This is my end table.
This is his end table.
In the details: paint- snowbound white by Sherwin Williams, wallpaper- easy change also by Sherwin Williams, lamps- Home Goods, end tables- antique shops, duvet- Pottery Barn, toss pillows- Pottery Barn, curtains- Pottery Barn with added fringe from Hancock Fabric, bean bags- Pottery Barn Kids. (so it seems Pottery Barn was having some great sales, my home as a whole is not all Pottery Barn, ha!)
If you want to know more just send me an e.mail or leave me a question in the comment box.
I am always in favor of some yummy treats. I personally am not a huge fan of chocolate, but if they looked as good as these I may have to change my mind.
{images via delight by design via TYPOLADE}
Ever since seeing a write up on Sweets, a Boston bakery, I have been fantasizing about going. Cupcakes are something I do love and their cupcakes look amazing. You must also check out the actual shop on Elements of Style it really is quite sweet.
{Image via flickr}My hubby and I do not really celebrate Valentine's day. Not that I don't love all that day holds, but the day and weeks prior get whirled up into a frenzy. My hubby writes and directs a dinner theater every year for the church. There will be three showings the 12th, 13th, and 14th. If you live in the area you should order tickets here. It's more for the city rather than just the church. We had just under a thousand attend last year. This year has been especially stressful for the hubby simply because he also has to keep the rest of his responsibilities at work going too. I can always tell when he's stressed when there is a pile of hair left on the pillow when he wakes in the morning. It's sad really. Anyway, what I am trying to get to is when hubby is away at work so much I normally like to shop. This hiatus has been good for me. It is helping me direct my feelings elsewhere which is always easier on the wallet, but if I were to buy a new outfit to wear to the dinner theater I would so choose this...
{bracelet via J.Crew}
{Louboutin via Net a Porter}With Valentine's Day being less than a week away I figured I would dedicate this week to all that day implies. Today is all about my love for paper goods.
These two are done by le papier studio. She is one talented lady I must say. I love how she made such a classic silhouette so fresh and new.
Night Owl Paper Goods is one of my favorite shops. I bought some blank wooden cards for my boy's upcoming birthday invites and could not be more pleased. Be sure not to forget about the discount they were kind enough to offer.
These from Cotton Idea Studio say it quite well. If I were to ever own a paper goods shop I would want it to just like theirs. Nothing, but the best.
I love this idea from Oh, Hello Friend. It is such a clever and beautiful way to tell someone you love them. I may have to do it for a special someone too.
Be sure to check out her blog, it's new to me. Full of extra inspiration and lovely images.
I also wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful responses to yesterday's post. You all inspired me and gave me an extra boost of strength. I feel very blessed through all the connections I have been able to make through his little blog of mine. Thank you, thank you!
I can't quite remember the saying, but you know when one thing happens it seems like a lot of other things happen all at the same time. I really wish I could remember that saying, hmm. Well, anyway it has been one of those weeks. People I love dearly are hurting. This makes my heart hurt. One had a dear friend die, another was diagnostic with cancer, and another is also sick and I am not sure how or if she even wants to be reached (this one hurts the most). The selfish part of me just wants to take my hubby and two kiddos and live hidden from the junk. Yes, I know it is better to help those in need and pray, but sometimes I just grow tired. Just sometimes. This would be my lovely hiding place...
Knowing that I am not really going to hide also has me thinking that others may be having a hard day, week, year whatever and are able to hide out here in blog land too. To this I would like to offer any prayer you may need. Send me an e-mail if this is something you may desire. Even if you are not sure about the whole God thing a little prayer never hurt anyone, right? Oh, and just for your information I am a pastor's wife. This does not mean my prayers are any more powerful, but it does mean I know the importance of keeping things between you and me (and of course God) only.
{images via Dwell}
The most fabulous Trina of la la Lovely nominated me along with some other inspiring blogs for this award. I feel quite special, thank you!
To share the LUV, follow these instructions!
1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to)
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.
My picks are of those that inspire me and challenge me to be more creative. Some even inspire me to live better. I am grateful for the friends I have made through my little blog and those that I am still in the midst of befriending.
{top 10: Mostly Mod, Simple Lovely, The Red Otter Shop, Blueprint Bliss, My Spinning Wheels, SeeSaw Designs, A Life's Design, Bliss, My Life {as a Sugar Lander}, and The Nie Nie Dialogues- how can you not be inspired by their story}
I am three weeks in and had a slight snafu, but have been going strong since. The oddest thing though, I am feeling quite uninspired. Not quite sure what it is, but still feeling it none the less. One good thing though is that when I wake up I know I am not going to make a frivolousness purchase. I know I am saving money too, a good thing since insurance did not cover all of my son's breathing treatments from a few months back. I love to shop, but I also love not having the need to shop. Hopefully soon I will be inspired and be out of this slight funk.
Last night we did take the kiddos to the dollar theater to see Madagascar. We figured if they are not ready to sit through a whole movie then we would only be out four dollars. We had a blast.
{image via Absolutely Beautiful Things via Rodney Smith}
If me and my little lady happened to dress alike I would so do it like this. I love the color and print. I may try to find similar fabric to make my daughter a lovely spring time dress. Has anybody seen anything similar?
{both images via J.Crew}
So after hearing the Domino news all over blog land the last couple of days I folded and bought this...
I really do love it and I know I am on a shopping hiatus, but I was afraid with Domino being no more that they would be gone by the end of my hiatus. I was surprised when Cottage Living folded, but I honestly thought Domino would easily make it so needless to say I was extra surprised. For me personally, I love to curl up and take in a lovely magazine. It is one of my favorite things to do. Don't get me wrong I love all the inspiration I get on-line, but there is something a little extra special about turning a nice shiny page. I am also a little bummed out with me wasting a lot of money on magazine subscriptions in my attempt to save some by not buying them off the stand.Then again I suppose it is worse for all those that were tied to the magazine to be out of a job. Oh, and not to worry I am still on the hiatus. I fully do believe I need it more than ever.
This home I love. This home doesn't need me to babble on. This home seems busy enough with two little ones that must occupy these cribs. Did I mention how much I love this home.
I was married four years and six months ago. My uncle from Boston is a wonderful photographer who shot the wedding. He came down only for the wedding so I never had bridal portraits, which may be only a southern thing anyway. Well, I always wanted some and now I have them, ha! It is quite silly really, but I had fun doing them. It also gave the hubby a chance to do a more artistic approach to the whole thing. I don't think any bride would really want to bring their dress to an old train yard and an abandoned house, but I still hadn't had my dress cleaned since my wedding day so we went for it. Oh, and my real wedding day was in July so I made my dress more winter like and to fit my style as it is today for the shoot, more artistic right?
If you want to see my hubby's favorites go to his new photography site kellenjacob.bigfolioblog.com.
Okay, so I have to admit I did buy a few things. I bought paint brush rollers and a paint tray. Whew, happy I got that off my chest. Just kidding, I did buy those things, but it would be very hard to do my room re.do without them. I do want to add some final touches to my room, but for now I will have to do with what I have. This may be a good thing, I may actually end up buying what I really want instead of odds and ends that I tire of quickly. Oh, and don't get me wrong I have been tempted...
Alyson from Unruly Things put this lovely ensemble together from J.Crew. I want it and I want it bad.
This rug would look quite lovely in my new room. Maybe Pottery Barn will have it on sale after my shopping hiatus. I really do hope so.
The lovely Blair from Delight by Design posted this lovely bag from Gerard Darel. Lucky for me they are based out of Paris, so in reality I would not be able to buy this purse anyway. It is so pretty to look at though.
{image via In(side) the Loop via here.}
I really do not watch too much TV. I can not even remember the last time I turned it on, but I did come across these images from Gossip Girls via Darling Dexter. I have never seen the show, so can anyone tell me if they always dress this fabulous? I so would take any one of these dresses any day of the week.
{images via Darling Dexter via basswaldorf}
This makes me so happy. Jon Foreman is my hubby's favorite musician. Sean Watkins is from one of my favorite used to be bands, Nickle Creek. Well, they have collaborated and created Fiction Family. Needless to say this remains on repeat.
I have been dreaming about this house ever since I saw it here first. I think it looks quaint and peaceful. I would love to sit on that swing sipping lemonade while the kiddos do art projects on the little picnic table. I also love the vines climbing along the porch, which is something I am going to try with my own home this spring. Well, needless to say I was ecstatic when I got a peek inside on Blueprint Bliss. I thought I would also share this little home with you all and file it away in my "one day" folder. Be sure to check out Blueprint Bliss for more photos.
Also be sure to check out the behind the home story on Garden & Gun. It seems this little home once belonged to a Cottage Living staffer who now is part of the Gun & Garden family.
Oh, and any of you once subscribers to Cottage Living that are now subscribers to Southern Living notice the new Editor in Chief? Yes, the one and only Eleanor Griffin the former Cottage Living Editor in Chief. Do you think Southern Living will look more like Cottage Living in the future? I sure do miss Cottage Living already.
How I love days like this.
The absolutely fabulous lady of Mostly Mod has the most fabulous etsy shop. You must check it out. I personally love this poster, it's so much fun. She also has some great Valentine cards. Oh, and be sure to check out her blog as well. I am sure if she and I lived closer we would be the best of friends.
I am sure we will be seeing each other quite a bit over the next four years. Okay maybe I will be seeing more of you than you will of me, but what does that matter. We may not see eye to eye on every issue, but I would just like to say "God bless you and America". Oh, and be sure to tell Michelle that she looked lovely. Her ensemble was quite memorable. Maybe the next Jackie O? Here's to you and your first full day in office.
{photo via Heart of Light}
