long. week.

This post is merely for documentation purposes.  We've had a long, tough, but exciting week all lumped into one and I need this for my records. ;) Here's a recap. A long, long recap... *Two weeks ago today, Joy got a stomach bug. She was a very sick baby. *That same day, Graham let me know that now was the time to purchase new floors.  MIND BLOWN! *On Wednesday, March 4, 2015, Joy was so lethargic and puny that she would just doze off randomly...even sitting in her high chair.  I took her to the doctor.  They drew blood. It took two tries and that was tough. Blood work showed that she was dehydrated, had elevated liver enzymes, and had a bad virus.

*Thursday, contractors came to measure the house.

*Thursday night, the big girls start vomiting! 

                                

*Friday, I purchased the flooring and got the installation booked!

*The girls laid around all day trying to recoup.

*I completely cleaned out our shed, garage, and attic.

*Saturday, Graham took AG and Edy to Texarkana.  Na met them there and took the girls on to Conway for their traditional spring break at Na and Pop's!

*Saturday night, Graham and I unloaded the girls' room.  What a mess! What a mess!! ...and I call myself a NEAT FREAK.

*The walls were so dingy and yuck that I repainted them.

*Sunday night, we continued unloading the contents of our home into our garage.  

*After deciding to swap the girls' rooms when we moved back in, I revamped their armoire.  I knew orange wouldn't look good with the pink walls in their new room.

It was originally oak.  I stained it espresso about eight years ago.  Then, I painted it orange a few years back.

This time, I painted it cream, sanded it, and rubbed it with stain.  I really like how it turned out.

*Last Monday, I got a call from Lowe's saying they wouldn't be able to drop off our wood due to the weather.  I was so upset.  You see...that wood needs to sit inside for 48 hours to acclimate and the contractors were set to start on Wednesday.  I pleaded and pleaded with Lowe's to make arrangements to get it here.  Thankfully, they rented a Penske truck, dropped it off, and unloaded it by hand in the pouring rain.

*Meanwhile, Joy went back to the doctor for another blood check.  After two blown veins, screaming, vomiting, and lots of prodding, they finally got her blood drawn.

*Monday night, Graham got the stomach bug.

*Tuesday, Graham spent the day recuperating.  Corey came down to help me around the house.

*Tuesday night, I painted a TON of quarter round. A TON.

*On Wednesday, the guys came to install the floors.  They worked SO fast!!!!

*DAY ONE...

We were able to move all the girls furniture back in after DAY ONE!

*DAY TWO...

*I tidied up the girls' rooms. (better pics to come)

*At the end of DAY TWO the guys had our room and closet completed.  That night, Graham and I moved back into our bedroom and finally got to sleep on our bed!

*DAY THREE...

*I don't have pics (videos to come), but the guys completely finished our house on DAY THREE.  That night, Graham and I (and a friend) moved everything from the garage to the house.

*Saturday, I spent the day cleaning.  It was a really, really long day.

*Saturday night, I went to bed with everything in its place and a completely spotless house.  It was such a good feeling.  

*After church on Sunday, I got a wild hair to paint an old cabinet that had been in the girls' old room.  (I counted and I've given this cabinet five makeovers!)

I've been needing more room for homeschooling materials so this cabinet will really come in handy!

*Sunday night, I got my girls back!!!  They absolutely loved their new room!!!!  They loved the floors.  

*Slowly but surely, I am puttying and painting the nail holes on the quarter round.  Other than that, everything is back together and we are so pleased.

*Joy's blood work clotted so they will be taking another sample this week.  Please keep her (and us) in your thoughts and prayers.

*I am going to try and upload a few video house tours.  Hopefully, I can get them posted in the next few days.

The Evolution of Our Schoolroom

I've never been one to leave stuff alone!  Like ever!!!  After I "finish" a room Graham asks his age-old question, "How long will it stay this way?"  I can never know for sure how long I'll keep a space one certain way.  If you visit my home, chances are it'll look different from your previous visit.  That's me!  I was the kid who rearranged her bedroom once a month--just ask my parents! It's not that I'm constantly spending money to re-do things, but I move stuff around often, add, take-away, sell stuff, replace stuff...change!  There are a number of reasons why rooms change around here, but mainly it's to better fit our needs.  That's especially true for our office/schoolroom.

First time around:  I painted my childhood desk, painted the walls brown, and added some personal touches. At the time, I thought I really liked it and I probably did.  Now...not so much! :)  These pics make me cringe just a little!

Take two: I repainted the walls to lighten the space up, added the girls' desks, purchased some shelving from IKEA, and prepared the room for our homeschooling adventure.

Take three: I added my Instagram photos to the "H" and a few more school items.

And presently... 

I rearranged the room by moving the desk and shelving.

We purchased another bookshelf from IKEA.

I moved our filing cabinet from the closet to the office.  Man, I sure wish it was tan and not black! That's sure to change!! :)

It just makes sense that our files are next to my desk.  Before, I would walk across the house to file things away or grab papers that I needed--not user-friendly at all.

I added some IKEA curtains that had stashed in the attic.

 I added one of Mamaw's little frames to my desk.

 I'm still loving my Instagram pics displayed on the "H".

I added more organizational bins!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to organize!!!!!

**********

Like I said earlier, things are ever-changing around here.  Case in point: the entryway is now on it's 210th look!!!  It's morphed too many times to count and now it serves as a workplace for the girls!!  I'll be posting about the "new" table (and make-over) and entryway re-do in the coming weeks.

 Are you a "decorate and leave it alone" person? Or, are you like me? Do you change it up often?  

Be warned:  This room is sure to change again!!  I'll be sure to keep you posted when it does!

makeshift office

Graham's new "office" is a tad bit comical, but a good bit practical.

In a nut shell:

• For years, he has been waking up around 5AM and working/studying at the kitchen table while the rest of us sleep.
• At the end of the work day, his laptop and bag, iPad, etc. pile up in one of the kitchen chairs. *I hate it!
• On Thursday, he goes to Tyler to a coffee shop for some uninterrupted sermon prep time away from the church office.

This summer, I made it my mission to find an old executive/roll top/or secretary's desk to go in our bedroom for a nice, quiet work space for G in the mornings and on Thursdays.  I totaled up that it would save us around 50 bucks a month if he would work from home on Thursdays instead of going to Tyler.  

I let the ball drop on the desk hunt and let a good deal slip through my fingers but, I remembered an old laptop desk/chair I had stored in the attic from my school teaching days.  For a quick solution, I put it in our master closet (equipped with outlets and air vent).  To my surprise, Graham loved his little getaway. 

Since the trial run went so well, I jazzed the small space up a bit for a little fun.  I thought G would think it was cheesy, but he absolutely loves it! 

I moved our coats from his side of the closet, rolled the small laptop desk into the tiny nook, added a lamp, a filing cabinet, hung some framed photos, and this little makeshift office getaway was complete!

  

 

Since our closet is in the furthermost part of the house it is absolutely quiet which makes for a perfect workspace complete with all you can drink coffee!

Cheesy?  Maybe.  Practical and Savvy?  Oh yeah!


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{vintage} state plates

This idea is all over Pinterest:  DIFFERENT WAYS TO DISPLAY STATES YOU'VE LIVED IN

Of course, like everyone else, I liked the idea and pinned several printables that I had every intention of using.  Then...time got away from me and....nothing.  

So...

I never did anything with those printables.  I got to thinking that it may look thrown together if I attempted printing and framing.  In keeping with my 2013 home goals, I wanted to add a 'point of interest'  in my home by displaying the states in which we've lived.  Also, sticking to the goals: don't buy new--find more treasures, I began to look on ETSY and Ebay for *vintage (see footnote) state plates.  I found a plethora of them and, other than the shipping, these plates were really inexpensive.  

*displayed in the kitchen*

 

 

*vintage* - What's up with this word?  It's like everyone is using it, but I'm left to wonder--what happened to antique? old?   When do I use vintage vs. antique vs. retro.   I did a little research (because I'm weird like that!)  Care to know?  Mmmmm-k...yeah, I'm telling you anyway.  

These plates are actually vintage because I know the date in which they were made.  (i.e. 1960s vintage Mississippi plate).  Antique mostly refers to anything old and can mean the item is over 100 years old although that rule gets muddy when it comes to certain items.  Retro refers to something that has been revived or it relates to styles, especially fashions, of the past.

Aren't you glad you read this post?  C'mon.  If you're like me and have been wondering about these terms,  you can put this question to rest.  You're welcome.

Home Goals 2013

Last year, for the first time, I wrote down some home goals and I kept to them!  With this new year, I am happier with my house than ever before.  After 2.5 years of being in this house, it is starting to feel like my home.  I am getting to where I like it.  I am developing my style better--and I love it.  Here's the goals:

*Keep brightening things up (more light, bright, and beautiful).
*Keep doing what I like (not what I want to like, but what I like).
*Add more gold!  I have a few gold pieces, but I want MORE! (Don't we all!?!)
*Can't have enough naturals! Get my butt out in those woods surrounding the house and find stuff.  (Note to Graham:  Get the chainsaw fired up! Wait a second--Note to Graham:  Get a chainsaw! I want a wood stump pronto!)
*Don't buy new.  Find more treasures! One of my favorite things to do is browse junk/antique stores.  Don't get me wrong, I don't want my house to look like a flea market, but I want some pieces that make you stop and think, "Nice."  I have a few pieces like that and I love it.
*Continue to embrace my "less is more" attitude, but not at the expense of having lack-luster rooms (something I've noticed in certain areas of my home).


Since taking down Christmas, I've already been working on some things (pics to come):
*I rearranged some furniture and I am real happy with the changes.
*I painted some stuff (dining room chairs and entry way chair).
*I finally recovered my dining room chairs and I love the fabric!! (Graham, get to scotch-guarding!)
*Gave items new homes by moving little things around a bit.

Still to do:
1) Joy's room (Can't wait to get her bedding!!!  It should be here in a few weeks.)
2) Paint my bathroom (the last room in the house I have left to paint) and repaint the laundry room.
3) If money permits, make-over master bathroom.  If not, this will have to carry over to 2014.
4) This Spring, get to crackin' on the exterior of the house. (We haven't even touched it since moving in.  It's bad, bad, bad!)
5) Clean out the barn/shed/shop and determine what we are going to call said barn/shed/shop.  Barn? Shed? Shop?
6) Tell Graham he is responsible for numbers 4 and 5.

That's about it.  I'm excited about the changes.
(One more thing:  Order Graham to read this post!)

What are your home goals?

Entryway Reveal

I posted this back in June of last year and I am reposting it so I can link up to Kelly's SUYL Foyer Tour.

This week, I have been a busy bee painting and slaving working on my entryway and living room.  My mother-in-law has been here helping me every step of the way and we tackled all of the painting together.  With a double pan ceiling reaching 11 feet tall, it has been no easy feat.  But, WE DID IT! (Does anyone else hear Dora singing!?!)

The living room has much to be done by way of decorating and finishing touches.  I am still waiting on the piano from my childhood and a really awesome mirror that I got for free.  I'll take pics and post them once those items are here and I can complete the room.  I did; however, finish the entryway.

This house has a very unusual entryway in that it is very large and without a distinct purpose.  I decided to make it into a reading room of sorts and I think we will be able to utilize it for reading, talking on the phone, quiet time, etc.  Oh the possibilities!

Fortunately, I took a pic of the room right after we moved in back in September.  At the time, the owners had left a couple of furniture pieces that are now gone.

BEFORE

AFTER

Let me just say...I LOVE PINTEREST!  I got several of my ideas from there.  I have no problem giving credit where credit is due!

*Embroidery rings with vintage and/or new fabric--love.
*We painted the walls a nice gray.  I'm in love with this color. (Wet Pavement by Valspar)

*My grandmother gave me this mirror years ago.

*I painted the mirror and distressed it a bit.

*Rattan chair is another hand-me-down
*I have a small collection of milk glass that I just love.

*Kids' stats:  This cost me zero dollars, y'all!

The view as seen from the front door:  Living room straight ahead, office to the left, and reading nook to the right.

There you have it!!!
Hopefully there will be more reveals in the near future.