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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

{Who Wood Do This?}

The other night I discovered something on our dining table that no one wants to take credit for.  It happened while my father was visiting but since he's no longer here I can't exactly accuse him of doing it because he can't defend himself.  My husband says it wasn't him.  I've heard that before though when our desk was ruined the EXACT same way. 

When you mix this
And this

You get this.......

So I'm going to use this



And pray that it turns out gorgeous.  Most of the woods in our home are light colored because I'm drawn to them for some reason but since the base of our table is cream I think the dark walnut will be a nice contrast.  It's going to be quite the job because I'll have to take the table outside and put the leaf in but I'm thinking it'll be worth it.  Hopefully, it'll look like Miss Mustard Seed's.  A girl can dream.....


Monday, August 30, 2010

{Creating a Project List}

Part of purchasing an old home means being prepared for a project list that is never ending.  We did the majority of the big projects before we moved in.  We had to gut the kitchen and bathroom.  They were horrible and had to be renovated before we could move in.  We set ourselves a budget and stuck to it.  It wasn't always easy because I love expensive stuff but we made a promise to each other that we would never let our mortgage or bills dictate our lives. 

We've been working on small projects here and there but nothing ever seems to get "done" and it's frustrating.  I decided what better way to solve the problem than to create a project list.  It'll help us stay on track and help us to get things done room by room.  

My husband is getting ready to pick our crops which means I won't see much of him so I'm on my own for a while with the projects.  I don't mind it though because working on our home is very therapeutic to me.  So tonight after my upholstery class I'm going to focus on putting together a project list that will help us complete projects week by week and help give us a sense of completion.   I'm looking forward to the cooler weather because it'll mean we can work outside on some of our projects versus turning our kitchen into a makeshift work room.  


I just finished this piece and am excited about putting it in our guest room.   We have guests often because all of my family except my oldest sister lives in Texas.  Having a guest room is important in our home and we've tried to make it as comfortable as possible.  We've even stayed in it a few nights to make sure all the kinks were worked out.  It's a great space and coming along nicely.  Once we finish up a few more projects I'll share a tour of our guest room. 

Happy Monday everyone!

Friday, August 20, 2010

{Our Master Re-Do}

Our master bedroom has never been a priority to me because no one ever sees it.  It's on the bottom of our project list and I think it needs to be moved up to the top.  Our house is 1,088 square feet.  It's a 3 bedroom, one bath.  For now it suits our needs perfectly.  There are just two of us and our 3 dogs.  Our room is a good size although not what I would have picked if we had built.  It's not a matter suite either.  Obviously with only one bathroom in the house.  One day we'll have our dream room but for now we are focusing on making what we do have ours.  I want our house to reflect who we are.  My husband farms and we own a cattle company.  I'm slowly incorporating all that into our home.  Including our master bedroom. 

I love Susie Harris and her blog.  She's one talented designer and one heck of a mom!  I love her blog and I've purchased a few things from her Etsy shop.  If you've never read her blog please add it to your blog roll.  It's a must read.  She posted last month about finding the perfect blue as she's repainting her master.  I've been looking for inspiration for our room and Susie had just what I needed.  I heart this room big time!





I love the blues, creams and the ceiling!  I love the fact that it's painted a different color.  It want this room!  Not everything but the general idea of the room.  I love the colors.  I love the drapes.  I love the floor mirror.  I love the chandelier.  We live in the country and so we want to keep our room simple but luxurious too.  It's a happy medium for us.  I tried the creams and whites and it's just not us.  Mainly because we have 3 dogs and my husband is a farmer which means he plays in dirt all day long.  I purchased our bedding at Pottery Barn and I love it!  I didn't buy the dreaded "set" but rather different pieces from different lines. 

{Duvet}

{euro shams}

{standard shams - red}
I think once it all comes together it's going to be just what we need and want.  I'm debating on taking out our ceiling fan for a chandelier.  So next step is finding the perfect paint colors for walls and ceiling and getting the crown molding put up.  Our to do list seems to keep growing!  I'm looking forward to creating a space for us because we are ready for another baby! 

Thursday, August 19, 2010

{Finally Finished}

I've found a new love in finishing furniture.  I've purchased many second hand pieces over the last few months and have slowly been getting around to making them pretty.   When I found this piece it was not only ugly but dirty.  And whoever attempted to stain it did a horrible job.  There were drips everywhere and some places were darker than others.  It was in bad shape and the hardware well I'll let you see for yourself. 


It took a great deal of sanding and few coats of Behr Premium Plus paint it's now finished.  She's actually a very beautiful {and heavy} piece of furniture.  I'm going to try and sell her as we just don't have the space to keep her. 


I think she turned out beautiful.  I'm pretty proud of myself. 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

{Living a Life I Don't Deserve}

I don't know why but the last two days have been spent reflecting on my life.  I don't have many followers of this blog and most days I'm okay with that because I started this blog as a form of therapy.  And there aren't any expectations so if I don't blog for a week it's not like someone's life will change. 

My husband is in the living room right now playing Wii with his best friend of 25 years.  They've been playing since 9 p.m. and it's now 12:08.  It makes me smile because friends like that don't come around too often these days. 

We've been married 4 and a half years and together for 5.  We'll celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary in January.  We've been through hell and back in those 5 years.  We've been through more in 5 years than most couples endure in a lifetime. 

This is our beautiful baby girl, Parker Reese.  She was born on May 7, 2006.  She weighed 3 pounds and 12 ounces.  She was born with a rare and often fatal birth defect known as congenital diaphragmatic hernia.  She changed our lives in a way that I didn't know existed.  She taught me to love, to smile, to forgive, to laugh, to live.  She passed away 20 hours after her birth in her Daddy's arms.  A piece of me died with her.  I'll never be who I was before Parker.  I'll always be fragile but I believe that because of her I love bigger and I take more chances.   I miss her more today than I did yesterday and I know I'll miss her more tomorrow than I did today.  She's an amazing little girl and her courage to fight inspired me to help families like our own.  In January 2008 we created The Parker Reese Foundation.  Her life was short but her legacy lasting.  I hope I am making my girl proud. 

My husband, Ashley, is my best friend.  My soul mate.  We've been to hell and back a few times.  We've managed to survive the worst tragedy that a family can experience.  We have some bruises but we survived.  It hasn't always been easy but who ever said it was.  We've had to rely on our faith in the Lord and on each other.  It's a risky thing giving control to someone else.  Even God.  We separated for a month.  It was horrible.  We were constant reminders of what we had lost and it was too hard to be together.   After a lot of prayer and some therapy we moved back in together.  There's no easy fix to trying to figure out your life or marriage when you lose a child.  We take it day by day.  And we rely on God's promises to us. 
Especially Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,  plans to give you hope and a future."

I have Jeremiah 29:11 tattooed on my right wrist as a reminder.  And on the other wrist is a P with a halo.  She'll always be with us, a part of us, and on the most random of days I can feel her presence.  I am so proud to be her mother and to be Ashley's wife.   We live a pretty amazing life together with our other girls...

 Pep
{our 4 year old GSP}

Ryleigh
{our 4 year old Lab mix}

 

and

Teagen
{our 1 year old GSP}


And a multitude of cows! 

We truly are living a life we don't deserve.  We are blessed beyonds words.  We live every day like it's our last and we are grateful that God trust us so much!

Happy Sunday! 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

{My Dream Pantry}

So, I came across this amazing blog the other day.  It's called House of Smith's.  I honestly have to say this is one of my favorite blogs ever!  Shelley is a wife, mother and very talented!  If you've never checked this family out please go do so now.  I'll wait for you............

I read her entire  blog in one night.  It's that good people.  I came across a post about her pantry.  I never thought that I could fall in love with a pantry but I did.  Shelley is that G.O.O.D.  She can make one of the boringest {is that a word} spaces in your home one of the most must see spaces.  So I'm in the process of trying to figure out what we need to do to make ours look this good. 


I'm so jealous.  I want mine to look like this.  It'll be a process for us because right now we have no shelves in our pantry.  It's a good size but we are using a bookshelf to store our goods.  It's ugly.  There's no other way to describe it.  I want this pantry.  I emailed Shelley for some tips and she was so helpful.  She has a vinyl lettering company so the quatrefoil design that she uses is all vinyl.  She said it can get expensive so she suggested I use the template featured on Tatertots and Jello.  I printed it off and tried using an Exacto knife.  It's hard and time consuming.  I don't have a lot of patience so I gave up after about 10 minutes.  I found a website that has the stencil.  It's $25 bucks.  Ouch.  I ordered it though.  I don't know when I'll start the project but for now I can paint the pantry and put the stencil to use.  I also found a new light I want to hang in there.  Right now it has a light bulb, yes you heard me right, a light bulb and a string.  Classy.  I'll have to call an electrician to install a light switch but it'll be worth the money for this...........
We are trying to take our house in a different direction.  I want a farmhouse cottage.  I want something that represents who we are and what we do.  Well, what my husband does.  He's a farmer.  8th generation.  If  you haven't check out the House of Smith's and their amazing pantry go do so now.   

I'm off to have my nightly glass of chocolate milk and watch The Golden Girls.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My New Best Friend.....

I've been sick for 3 days now with a horrible cold.  I have done nothing productive because I just don't have the energy.  Sunday my wonderful husband bought this amazing little gal..... 

I've had cabin fever and about 12 pieces of furniture that need to meet my new best friend.....  Gabby!  Yes, I named her.  It's not fair to introduce her into our family with no name. 

I begged told my husband we were going to try her out tonight.  She's patiently been sitting in our living room since Sunday.  We waited until the sun went down a bit since it's about 800 degrees here with 100% humidity and tested her skills out.  Well let's just say she's a keeper.  I love her and if it weren't for the heat and the hundred of ant bites I managed to get I'd still be out there painting by the moonlight. 

I got two of these chairs for free and I have a special plan for them.  I am going to be adding them to our existing dinning table because right now it's a set and I hate sets.  We were in a hurry when we purchased it because we needed something to eat on which is funny because we never do unless we have company over.  Anyway I am trying to convert our house into more of a farmhouse cottage.  That's another story for another day.  So here' what I got accomplished in the short amount of time I had before the sun conveniently went down. 


Our poor grass!  I needs to be cut this week so it's all okay!