Girls' Room Update

Five on Friday

Five on Friday, I've missed you.  Now is the perfect time to give 1,2,3,4,5 updates.

[ONE] 

For starters--THIS WEATHER!  Y'all Texas weather has been crazy lately.  We've had 70ish days since the middle of January.  I wouldn't say I'm complaining, but I miss getting to enjoy the winter.

[TWO]

We love First Monday Trade Days in Canton.  For us, it's a family affair...

Edy picked out this $10 wedding dress for her newly engaged aunt! 

What do you think, KK?

huntin' treasures

[THREE]
We use our foyer for homeschooling.  I've found practical ways to store our stuff without it screaming, "WE HOMESCHOOL IN HERE!"  Most of our stuff is stored in my office, but some things I keep in a cabinet in the foyer.

The other day the door to the cabinet was open and I clipped it with my leg and ripped it right off the hinges.  I was so frustrated.  It was beyond repair.  Graham and I purchased the little cabinet for 99 bucks just after marrying and I loved it.

AG and I went furniture shopping for hours and hours one afternoon.  The very last place we stopped, I found this beautiful cabinet...

I LOVE IT!

[FOUR]

Yesterday, Graham and I celebrated 15 years since our first date!  We've never celebrated this anniversary before, but we thought it would be fun to go out and reminisce.  We talked about our first date and how there was so much unknown to us at the time, but how it was the beginning of something wonderful!

I remember my greatest fear was that I'd slip up and accidentally call him Grant.

[FIVE]

I'll end with these cuties...

That's a wrap!  

Have a great weekend!

IKEA saves the day

I've been wanting something functional by my back doors.  IKEA, you never cease to make me smile (cheap w/o looking it, and cute).

My new hobby...

I borrowed my dad's pressure washer and went to town on my deck.  Y'all, it's therapeutic!  

Mom had to try too!

I need to do it one more time and then possibly stain it and then seal it, but it's too hot right now.  Maybe later... ;)

Living Room Changes

Did you catch the post about my mom and dad moving to the Philippines?  Click HERE to read more.

Since my parents are moving to the Philippines, they are selling everything.  EVERY. THING.  Long story short, my sis and I have been divvying up items that we'd like to keep.  

For starters, I got these awesome twins...

My parent's purchased these chairs in 1985.  To be 30+ years old, they are in great condition.

I've considered recovering them, but Graham loves the color green and the upholstery looks really good considering their age. 

My parents' couch is incredible!  I've always loved it.  I sold my couch and bought theirs.  It's over 7ft long and fits great in our enormous living room.

This stool. My daddy made it in Scouts and I had to have it!

I've been unpacking things, storing boxes for my parents, getting geared up for school, and cleaning like crazy!  Luckily, I've been able to fit in some pool time and family time.

Plant. It.

Have I told y'all how bad I am with plants?  YEP!  I am terrible.  Each and every spring, I bring home a whole bunch of beautiful flowers and expect them to flourish.  What's the definition of insanity again?  Alas...I did it again.  This time, I did a little more studying and my plants are still hanging in there.  

I planted all of my flowers in April and I haven't killed any yet!  I HAVEN'T KILLED ANY YET!!!!  I HAVEN'T KILLED ANY!  It's still early in the summer, but I am optimistic.  I'll keep you posted.

random pic of my bathing beauty

Back in April, I spruced up our porches for the spring and summer months...

got me a $12 dollar piece of junk coffee table

just a little paint

The plants look much better now that they have been growing for a few months.  I may update later on this summer.

Did I mention that we live in East Texas--the no. 1 best place for plant life?  We shall see if this climate and my newly mad skills will keep those plants thriving.  *crossing fingers*

Five on Friday

It's FIVE on FRIDAY, but more importantly, it's my JoJo's 3rd birthday.  Happy Birthday, Joy!

I have been away from this blog for some time.  The other day, I glanced at the BLOG ARCHIVE menu and had to laugh.  I posted less last year than I did in my first full year of blogging.  Although I've been busier than ever--three kids, homeschooling, directing CC, and just all the other stuff in life, I am not ready to walk away from this very OLD (in blog years) blog.  I know that a year of hardly ever posting has cost me followers and views, but eh...that's not why I blog.  I just like having this online journal(that I've printed into paperback books).  What started out as a way to keep family in the loop with the kiddos is really outdated now.  Hello...facetime, who needs an ancient BLOG!?!  I don't even think the family reads this blog anymore.  But, I'm still here and gonna attempt to blog more regularly now that things are chill for a minute.  

[ONE]  

I'm so grateful that the Lord is still growing me in Him.  Even when I've had a shortage of time, I'm thankful for the push to grow.  He is faithful!

[TWO]
I got a new light fixture for the entryway and I'm so pleased--less than $100 and it puts a smile on my face every time I walk by it!

[THREE]

I may be late to jump on the bandwagon, but have y'all tried Benefit's Roller Lash?  It's no hoax, it's the real deal.  *I've never done a sponsored post and I'm not being paid to say this...it's the best mascara!

My BEFORE and AFTER

[FOUR]

My Classical Conversations community was so kind and generous to me.  On our last community day, they gifted me money and lots of gift cards, a coffee cart, plants, neat things for my house, a coffee mug, candy, and a bunch of very kind and thoughtful cards.  I'm so appreciative to the moms in our community.  They serve, encourage, inspire, and give of their time and resources.  I am so glad that I don't have to homeschool on an island all by myself.

Godiva chocolates for the W-I-N!

[FIVE]

Joy Tatum is THREE.  Last week we celebrated her birthday, Charlie Brown style!  Click HERE to see pics and read about the party.

Thanks for stopping by.  If you are new to the blog, follow along!   I am hoping to post more regularly....at least for the summer.

Home Tour | Living Room

Yesterday, I shared some updates to Joy's room.  Click HERE to check out the post.  Today, I'll take you on a tour of my living room.  

**Remember:  Blogland is filled with homes that look like something from a magazine.  Goodness!  Some of those pics are found in magazines--books even.  I enjoy making my house a home, but I'm no interior designer--though I aspired to be one early on in college.  That being said, I also took a few courses on the route to becoming a dental hygienist, too.  So...yeah...I'm no more an interior designer than I am a dental hygienist.  Decorating is fun for me. I break many of the "rules" and fake it a lot!  I'm learning to embrace my home--imperfections and all!

All of that to say, I'm trying to give you an honest glance around our home. Not every room in my house is "done", but frankly, it'll never be done.  It's constantly changing and evolving as my our needs/likes/wants change.  

Here's my living room:

In March, we completed a major and much needed home update.  Every single stitch of carpet and most of the tile was ripped up, tossed, and we added Pergo MAX throughout the entire house minus the bathrooms and laundry room.  We've been very happy with the flooring we chose.  We looked into hardwoods, hardwood-style ceramic tile, vinyl, but the best choice for our family was Pergo.  Pergo is really resilient and very hard to scratch or damage so that was one of the main reasons we went with it. 

When we added new flooring, the dark gray walls made our living room feel like a cave.

Below is a pic of the wall color before I repainted:

Valspar:  Wet Pavement

I loved the old color, but it really didn't work with the dark floors.  

Below is a pic of the lighter, brighter wall color:

Sherwin Williams: Tapestry Beige

Notice how the wall decor really pops with the lighter walls!?  I'm in love with it.  

I love to decorate with items that have a story.  That's why I love my wooden bowls.  Graham brought me the larger bowl back from one of his trips to Nicaragua and the little wooden bowl is made from a pecan tree that stood in front of Graham's grandparents' home.  

I love the mix of traditional, rustic, shabby, simple country, with  a touch of glam.  I guess that's my take on eclectic style.

I found this old window at Canton last year and it originally hung above the fireplace.  After repainting the walls, I moved it next to my piano and used it to display some of my favorite Instagram shots.

After some thought and your suggestions, I painted the tile on my fireplace....

Black!

Thanks for the input.  Click HERE to see the before pics.  

I am not finished with this project, but I am pressing "pause" until after the holidays.

I'd like to add ship lap above my fireplace and replace the woodwork with a natural wooden (more rustic) mantel.

Here is some of my inspiration:

I hope y'all are enjoying my little home tour--imperfections and all.  Like I've said over and over on my blog, I'm learning to love our home and embrace it.  Too often, we compare our homes to photos from Pinterest and design blogs of picture perfect spaces.  Fight the urge along with me and try to enjoy your home by adding your touch, your style, your likes, and your story.  

INFO wall color: Sherwin Williams Tapestry Beige wooden end table: Home Goods coffee table: junk that I refinished buffet lamps: Kirklands TV buffet: Annie Sloan chalk paint -Versailles antique "sofa table":  Waverly Chalk Paint - Oatmeal curtains: TJ MAXX flooring: Lowes - Pergo MAX Manor Hickory Handscraped pillow shams: IKEA
TO DO larger sofa table; update fireplace with new mantel, tile and shiplap
WANTS cowhide rug

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