Master Bedroom Inspiration

Our Master Bedroom has been way way down on the completion list since moving in.

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But now that the baby's room, and den are done I decided this room now only needs minor accessories to complete.

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When my husband and i began discussing what we would do in our room I knew i wanted linen.

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EVERYWHERE.

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SO... in 3 very short days.... I will get my pinch pleat linen drapes I have been dreaming of.

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Did I mention my mommy is a WONDERFUL seamstress.

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And for christmas she is making my dream drapes...

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I am sooooo excited about this. you don't even know!!!!

I have been collecting pictures for my inspiration for some time now. 

In the above picture there is a beautiful beautiful chair....

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Well i have a slightly rougher version i found on the side of the road currently living in my garage.

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With the right fabric, and a great upholsterer I think i can achieve this same look.

In this picture I am OBSESSED with the lamps.

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Now i am just trying to decide if i buy Goodwill finds and repurpose or if I buy really nice lamps i will have forever.

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Decisions, decisions....

I am flirting with the idea of adding in hints of yellow.

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What do yall think of mixing cream, natural linen, dark walnut furniture and hints of yellow??

This picture is from our local tour of homes show. 

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This room was designed by a local store i have forbid myself of going in thus far...

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for obvious reasons...

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If i go in... i can guaran"dang"tee i will come out with something amazing...

Saw these gorgeous stripes recently on Remodelholic.

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I have wanted some sort of stripped walls for as long as i can remember and i am SOOOOO pumped about using this paint/glaze.

**not being paid to endorse this item

this is what was shown in the post on remodelaholic

and i love the outcome so i feel a trip to Lowe's is in my future.

This chenille/jute rug is on sale at Restoration Hardware and I think it would look good in the room.

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Thoughts??

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Should i choose something fancier??

Inspiration photo of my curtains... 

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Restoration... you make me swoon.

And this fabric... How do we feel about a tan/cream variation of this for my found on road dead chair???

Or.... (hubby not so keen on this one...) painting the room a soft muted butter color.

Clearly I need some reassurance here....

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Curtains decided...

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Bedding decided.

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Furniture already have.

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Walls?? no clue, stay tan?

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Fancier rug?? if so... where do i find it?

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Hope everyone is starting to relax and actually be able to enjoy the holiday...

*all photo's were googled over a duration of time. some are cottage living, southern living, bhg. most sources unknown. 

2010 christmas card

Gift Tag Story Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make unique Christmas cards with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

A Day which will live in Infamy..

Today, this phrase has a whole new meaning for my family.
This morning my sweet husband will turn in his two weeks notice at his current employer.

This is a day we have drempt about since the day he proposed.

We knew we had a long two and a half year road of sacrifice, penny-pinching, school, both working two jobs and me still sewing out of our home... and in dave terms, "living like noone else so later we can live like noone else."

I can now confidently say i have looked in my pantry more than once and had to create meals for a week or so out of what we had. {but don't get me wrong... we always ate, and if hubby is cooking we ate good.... that is something he inherited from both his parents... whew that family can cook!!!}

We prayed several very scary prayers during this time and the lord continued to answer them.
{sometimes more suddenly than others}

He continued to whisper in our ears... keep going, you can do this.

I would read quotes throughout this time frame and some would say when you feel the most broken, the most hopeless, the most desperate. Don't...{feel this way} this is the Lord, he is preparing you... molding you, and purifing you into who he wants you to be so you can do the work of his kingdom.

Both of us... working every weekend, Casey going to school 4 nights a week.
Coming home, warming something, anything to eat, then collapsing on the couch.

We would lay in bed at night and dream of the day a job offer came in, we knew the thrifting, couponing, diy-ing, wearing what we already had would pay off.

Because when you are doing what you can to provide for your family your priorities are set straight.

People you thought the world of, they changed. You become their "Poor" friend who never can do anything.

We managed to pay off some debt in this time.

To really really really fall in love, and love deeper than i ever imagined possible.

And you know... when things happened I would remind myself through scripture this is the race/battle of life. And as i learned at such a young age the lord equips us to survive, fight, defend, and conquer.

I lost a job along the way...
but the lord provided.

We lost 90% of our friends along the way....
but the lord provided.

You know now i can confidently say the superficial, fashion driven person i was in college.... she died.

I still LOVE nice things, and even a few namebrands.

But everytime i begin to swoon over a Burberry this or a LouisVuitton that the Lord so softly whispers in my ear, thats not my plan.... live like noone else....

Now, two and a half years later my heart is fuller than it has ever been.
I feel more blessed than i ever imagined.

The new friendships i have made, they mean sooooo much more than the surface friendships before.

Maybe one day the lord will renuite some of us.

If not, i know they were there in my life for a reason. I went through denial, grieving, not understanding why these people were being so ugly. but now i know. The friends i am making now... are the ones i would walk through fire for.

So, all with one little typed letter, in 12 short days the future of my family will begin.

We have another chapter in our Dave Ramsey journey to begin. Paying off student loans...

I know i will be just as emotional about that as i have been about this.

Our projects will remain on a super tight budget.. cause face it.... knowing you created the same great look in your home paying next to nothing feels good.....

And come to think of it... i never knew till now why the lord gave me the creating abilities he did.

But now i know. He is using me for his kingdom. My talents are in my genes.

My dad's a hairdresser.Mom's a seamstress.Grandmother was a wedding dress maker.

It's in my blood.

And my husband will leave the banking industry on December 21st and on December 28th join a local Accounting firm performing audits in the banking industry.

So you see all along the lord was in control, shaping him, teaching him, molding him for the position he knew he would soon be offered.

We are sad to leave where he has been, wonderful people....

But very excited to see what he can accomplish at his new position.

I am more proud than you could EVER imagine.

And if i have never told you.... My husband is smarter than anyone i have EVER met. Not only is he starting a new job, and graduating, he has already passed one portion of his CPA....

Three more to go...

I also wanted to thank all of you for your continued support of our work on our little home along the way.

Thank you for letting me give you a little glimpse of us in real life.

Now... off to get ready to share all the homemade crafts i have made to celebrate the birth of our king.

Homemade Christmas Decor

Hello lovely readers.

Today I am sharing my homemade tree.

(no the tree is not homemade, just all the decor)

There are several steps to each "ornament" grouping so I may be breaking this up into two posts.

We shall see.

A couple of years ago I found this AHmazing inspiration photo in Southern Living magazine.

To much avail I have been completely unsuccessful in finding the original photo.

I really wish i had it to share with yall.

First thing is first.

I knew I wanted art deco style numbers completely covered in glitter.

Luckily I found a great font and just printed the numbers in size 300 font out of Word.

I wanted to make sure my numbers were nice and sturdy so i glued the print off numbers 

(already on medium weight cardstock) 

To another layer of the cardstock. 

Then I gather my glitter, brush and trusty ole elmer's and got to work.

Apply glue to numbers and brush the glue on for even glitter application.

Apply glitter before glue dries.

Ps. it will dry a little faster due to spreading the glue out with the brush. DUH i know

Basically rinse, lather, repeat until your page is done.

Sidenote: I did this work in an old cookie sheet to contain the glitterness going on. 

Trust me there was LOTS.

After cutting out and drying i used my single hole punch and tied a circle of twine on to hang on the tree.

Okay ornament grouping # 1 donezo...

Enter elegance from pearescence.

I went plundering through my "stash" of things mom was getting rid of in her garage sale and Voila.

PBOutlet sale Beads.

I checked the sizing with my already on hand twine and... SCORE, the twine slipped onto the beads.

Pretty straight forward on this, just either establish a pattern{my pattern was at random}

Rinse,

Lather,

Repeat again...

Tie knots between beads so they don't slip around. 

Because i did not have a super full box i made a tiny strand for the top and a larger/longer strand for the largest portion of the tree. 

{As seen below}

Now... do you notice the little copper dittys scattered about??

Can you guess what they are?

Think gifts....

Well, they are the miniature molds attached to every William Sonoma Wedding Registry Gift.

When we got married i had NO clue what i would do with them.

Mom suggested I save them and do a fun tree with them.

This seemed like the perfect year.

And it is so special to have these little items as reminders of all our wonderful family and friends who so graciously blessed us before we were married!

I LOVE looking at them.

And did you know the PINEAPPLE is the symbol of hospitality??

Well we are in the south and being hospitable is just a way of life around here.

Here is an upclose of one so you can see what they really look like.

For the tree topper I used several items.

Glitter feathers and twigs are from Hobby Lobby last christmas.

And the pouf was super easy. I found some wedding iridescent tissue paper at Hallmark and cut an 8x8 square.

Accordianed the tissue,

Tied a pipe cleaner in the middle,

And gently spread the layers to the front.

Super Easy.

Now what is a homemade tree without chain??

I found a TON of scrap cardstock laying around from various projects so i just cut some in 1/2inch widths and other as wide as 2 inches and attached with the stapler.

Again rinse, lather, repeat here....

Now as you can see things are slowly but surely coming together here.

And best of all....

Its adoreable, FREE decor!!!

I have been debating over gathering some burlap as a tree skirt or actually spending the time and making one.

I saw my sweet friend kellie's wreath in her babies' room and kinda had an idea....

What if i make a poinsetta cluster tree skirt?

Then i found this in Garnet Hill's catalog...

It's felt.

And it costs $198.00

I think i will attempt to make it. 

If i do tackle this would yall like a tutorial on how to complete?

I will be back in another post to finish up the tree and share lots more.

Stay tuned. 

Shutterfly and a Sneak Peek

Howdy partners!!

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wanted to give you a sneak peek of my "home-made tree"

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I have had alot of fun working on these crafts over the past few weeks 

and am so excited to share with yall all that i have completed!!

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I promise this picture just doesn't do the tree justice!

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In other news...

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Didjaknow???

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Shutterfly is offering an AWESOME deal for bloggers this year.

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50 free christmas prints!!

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SCORE!!!

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Go here to check it out. 

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

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Here are a few of my favorites.

(you can also click on the picture and go directly to that card.)

I think this one is my favorite!

And then i see this one and i am all a jumble again!!

And my husband adores this one.

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It's so hard for me to choose. 

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Can't wait to share the one i pick!!

Hope to be back tomorrow with the How to on the dining room tree.

Christmas at Momma's

Yesterday I left straight from school and headed to mom's to help her decorate her entry.

We had a limited amount of time and i don't just LOVE the table yet but we are getting there.

Mom had put up the tree and lights and mesh on the tree and banister and I helped with finishing touches. 

She has collected such fun and unusual ornaments over the years.

Love the lights and big bow at the bottom of the banister.

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And I really hate the quality of Iphone 3g photos but for now they will work.

Can't wait to go back and take some better pictures to show you the neat stuff we added in.

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This picture just doesn't do the foyer justice.

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My little brother walked in and goes "oh, great.. yall managed to find a way to girlify christmas"

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"you betcha!!" mom and i both replied!!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Beginning to look alot like christmas

Now that everyone has recovered from their self-induced turkey coma, it's time to get out the decor!!

Ever since i can remember decking the halls has been my favorite thing about christmas.

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As a child the family would form an assembly line from the attic to the kitchen to unveil all our treasures.

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After as little as 30 minutes a melt-down of some sort would happen and after a much needed break the whole family would resume their previous position. 

I remember laughing over old school art projects.

A(sister) and I taunting Nick(brother) with some embarassing object.

And ALWAYS.... a memory was made.

This year I wanted a no fuss totally relaxing christmas.

One where the tree was up in plenty of time and the spirit of giving was my focus.

After all decor is one of the silly things we place way way too much importance in.

I placed some of my favorite ornaments on our tree.

One's that remind me of special memories.

{like the one's of my wonderful days at bama}

And one's that my sweet momma has gotten for me.

We will be celebrating some of our christmas early this year.

We head to the River in two weeks to visit my uncle.

Then the next weekend all of Casey's family will be here for his graduation.

{btw this is FINALLY a picture of our den almost complete. So thankful to be "near the end in here"}

{here is the view from the front door}

This will be the first year for us to share christmas in our home with other family members.

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For the past two years we have always gone to family;

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which we have loved, but we are excited to create memories in our own home this year!!

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I LOVE this picture frame and little snowman. 

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I bought these things last year with my very dear friend, Stephanie and her wonderful MIL Tara.

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When I look at these items I don't necessarily see cute decor, but a fun trip, (filled with lots of laughter) with a kindred spirit.

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Now.. time to finish up the tree in our dining room so I can show yall what I have been busy making. 

PS. Stephanie is EXPECTING!!! Yippee!!!!

At least for a while this will be as close as Lil' Bit will get to a cousin and we are ECSTACTIC to welcome this baby in July 2010. 

*I know Steph will have some amazing DIY projects up her sleeve in anticipation of their bundle of joy!!

Happy First week of December yall!!!

A Giggle from our Gobble

Most holidays follow the same format in my parents house.

1. we set the table early. check

2. menu is planned weeks in advance. check

3. I always help do something. check

This year my "something" was providing wonderful yeast rolls. 

If you have read this blog for any amount of time you know i REALLY like to save a buck.

A dear friend of mine has a yeast roll business she runs out of her home. 

I decided immediately this would be my contribution to the meal.

I hyped these rolls up for at least 3 weeks. 

Giggle goes as follows...

We walked in the door of my parents, said our hello's and i popped in the kitchen to place the delectable delights into the oven.

I go sit on the couch with my mom and we begin discussing a new book I am borrowing from a friend and how wonderful it sounds. 

Then mom returns to the kitchen to finish prepping the meal and i transition into the den with the rest of the family.

We watch the parade, then some of the dog show then the soft smell of yeast rolls fills my nose. 

Someone screams, "The ROLLS!!"

I run to the double oven, {which i misread temp} grab a mitt.

And it was too late. 

My delectable delights... were well...

Delightfully overdone...

Oh well, my husband and i immediately laughed, dad got upset for a nanosecond, then he and i realized this is just another wonderful memory to add to the repertoire of giggles from thanksgivings in the past.

Like the year mom dropped the frozed turkey on her foot in Kroger's parking lot and broke her foot. 

This one matches in giggle factor. 

Hope each and everyone of you had a wonderfully memorable Thanksgiving. 

**pictures are from the dinner table at my parents. 

I am linking to 

@Between Naps on the Porch.

glasses and chargers- pier 1

dinner plates- vintage

napkins- william sonoma

napkin rings- vintage

candles and accessories found at local boutiques.