2010 Highlights

For my sweet family of three 2010 started with alot of uncertainity.

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As my husband graduated and hoped to begin his career as an accountant we knew this year would bring plenty of changes.

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Little did we know we would take the project plunge on our little reno pretty quickly.

Here is the home when we purchased in May 09'

By June 10' we had added shutters, landscaped, and changed to a new front door.

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Inside lots of ideas were spinning and only a few decisions made.

The dining room got some paint and some of the other grandparents furniture.

Baby's room went from nursery to big girl

And the den went from this .....

{sorry this is such an aweful picture, gah i really hated the mismatching plaid in those curtains}

view from the entry area.

View from the dining room

view from baby's room, looking into entry then den.

{i think you get the idea now}

The laundry closet was given a more esthetically pleasing look.

We had a Lilly Pulitzer themed birthday party for baby girl.

And backyard demolition began.

we removed:

*the hottub

*the coy pond

*the side deck

*painted all vertical pieces white

*sodded coy filled area

*began laying out for new landscaping this spring.

for 2011 we have planned on:

*railings around front porch

*completing master bedroom

*remodel of master bath

*facelift in the kitchen

*completing screened in porch

*completing the playroom/guest room

And just for good measure... guess what i started on Christmas day.

Yes that is a piece of paper staking out where another beauty will one day sit... 

Can't wait to show yall where this is!!! 

Layla's Collection inspired this wall.

I am linking up over @ Rhoda's.

Crafty Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone.

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I hate i haven't blogged all these items along the way.

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However, how would you like a jam packed craft filled post??

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Well here goes nothing...

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Saw my sweet friend Kellie's ribbon trees on her mantel and decided we needed something cute for baby girl's room.

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The dot ribbon was purchased from Hancocks.

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The Lilly Pulitzer ribbon was acquired years and years ago. 

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All the rest was taken from my mom's stash.

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If you decide to make one of these cuties all you need is a foam cylinder, more ribbon than you think.

(i used around 4 or 5 rolls)

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and a hot glue gun. 

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simply start at the bottom of the tree, establish your pattern and loop the ribbon.

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Then i went back and filled in the empty spots.

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The topper is a paper napkin bunched cut like confetti and hot glued on the top.

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The Noel sign was created by Candace (my sweet friend who helps me with Preppie Peonie)

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She surprised me with the coloring and I just knew it was meant for AC's room.

 

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In other news we have actually enjoyed the firepit a little. 

{Cant wait to show yall the post on the before and after...}

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{Did we notice a little someone has started dressing herself?}

 

And outside my home we kept it pretty simple.

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You see mom has a decorating obsession.

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With the exception of the ornaments in my front door garland, and my snowman.

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Everything else was stuff mom wasn't using.

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Did I ever mention she has wonderful taste?? 

Remember this tree I blogged about a couple weeks ago.

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Well it wasn't entirely finished with it and until today.

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The challenge i created for myself with this tree was every ornament {except the WS ones} needed to be homemade.

Well with everything homemade it was still missing something.

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That's where my beloved Bella Vita stepped in.

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I finished the tree off with some awesome gold sparklies and snowflake ornaments.

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this little guy came from BV too. 

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Thank you candace for such a sweet little happy.

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Used  House of Smith's napkin poof tutorial and her accordian tutorial.

and TADA... a finished shabby/vintage tree!!

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did i ever mention i just love this girl.

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{notice how joy is missing the "Y" on the tree?? yeah, thats what happens when a 2 yr old helps/dips it in water then you run out of time... besides.. the show must go on.}

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Now onto other news....

Remember when I posted on a Ballard Inspired Christmas?? 

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Well i followed through with my projects but not in blogging.

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Again, my apologies.

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I found a "bunch" of fresh grenery for 3.99 at Lowe's well that should finish up the sprucing around the house huh??

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First I was inspired by these beautiful letters..

** this is more a note to self... but when replicating something of such simplicity and beauty..

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Please have a copy of the thing you are replicating. 

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Otherwise you won't love it as much and it will surely go in the trash at the end of the season.

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first you free hand a letter.

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this is where if you are me you begin to mess up... 

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ie you forgot your pic so you begin free stylin...

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I didn't so much love the final outcome but, then again... you live and you learn.

sorry for the crooked door pic....

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did i mention i am soooo ready for us to be able to finish up the minor projects.

{sanding around door and fresh coat of paint, alas never finished...}

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focus JB... focus..

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anywho because i wasn't in love with this I subbed the letter out for my fave three wreath combo.

Remember my original Ballard Inspired Post??

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One thing I loved the most in this catalog were the magnolia leaf wreaths

Well this was easily replicated and looked pretty dang good in my opinion.

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And the best part is it cost me nothing.

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as you can see mine has significantly less magnolia leaves.

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Straight line winds will do that every time...

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These little guys were all that was left.

This top pillow inspired my pillow.

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One yard of duck cloth

3 different size juice glasses

a pencil

some brown paint

2 scraps of cute fabric

max 30 minutes time...

and look what you can have!!

 My "Alabama" twist on a cute Ballard pillow.

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In other news....

* we went to see santa 4 times. ALL of them ended badly!!! 

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However.

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we were all cheers at home. 

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Will be back tomm with a recap of how our day was spent!!!

Our Christmas Part 2

 

Gradumicated

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Colossians 2:6,7 (NIV)

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Found this verse and thought it to be very fitting for the time in life we are experiencing. Casey just graduated on Saturday and it was such a wonderful occassion!!!

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We did it baby!!!

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He is so ready to enter his professional career and by the end of 2011 complete his CPA exams. 

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I feel like the worst is now FINALLY behind us. 

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Praise the lord!!!

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I am so mad that all the pics are so bright. i forgot to change the settings from the ceremony. ahhh

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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.