.

I had been searching and searching for the perfect dining table centerpiece forever and a day!

 

After browsing the lovely Pinterest world I ran across an idea I loved where someone turned a light bulb into a vase!
Unique and simple.

So I got busy transforming my oversized light bulbs.

Then I quickly learned that I was going to need something to put the bulbs in so they had a stable and sturdy base.

I first dug out some old napkin rings I had from years past and used those.


But then I decided I wanted something with a little more oomph to it.

I settled on the idea of a box.
A simple box
with 3 holes to hold my 3 bulbs

After many many months of talking about said box; I FINALLY had a craft night with a dear friend and got the box knocked out!

I am thrilled with how it turned out!
And the bonus part is...
A). I am now addicted to the circular saw. And am currently racking my brain on my next wood project.
B). this project only cost me $6...YAY!!!
C). The look of this particular craft can change with a simple switch out of the flowers :)
 

It's no secret that I like to craft!

I like to take something old and unloved and turn it into something new and lovable

or creating something that cost a LOT less if I made it with my own hands!

 

It's a passion....

it's my relaxing afternoon of golf

my cup of joe on the porch

it's my way of escaping the crazy of the day :)

 

I have been dying over all the chalkboard madness that has taken over 99% of America's homes!!

and I had been going back and forth with G about what we wanted to do

My first thought was our entire kitchen wall....I was quickly shot down

I debated on making a 6' leaning chalkboard to take up an empty wall in the living room....again, shot down

 

then one day while thrift storing with family in AR, I ran across an old window for $8...PERFECT!!!

For $8 I wasn't in the market for a second opinion..so without hesitation I loaded that bad boy up and carried it home :)

 

So I grabbed the necessary tools...

protective eye wear

face mask

sander

caulk

screwdriver

frog tape

Rust-Oleum Magnetic primer

Krylon chalkboard spray paint

Rustoleum "Sun" yellow spray paint

and WINE!!! - yes, wine is a must :)

I love the fact that it doubles for a magnetic board, too!

I am a picture fanatic and to have additional places to put my favorite photos is a winner in my book!



R's room has been a work in progress, one that I was proud and excited to take on! 

I hope one day she loves all the hard work and personal touches that went into her room just as much as I do now :))

Greg and I decided on a very light and subtle color for her walls, then wanted to add accents and pops of color throughout.

When it came to R's bedding I came across this fabric that had all of the colors I had envisioned. And it didn't take long for R's Grandma to hand make her fabulous skirt :)) 

 

After all the reading I had done and just being a plain worry wart, I decided against all the bumper stuff and went with fun throw pillows that can be removed when our littles is sleeping.

(left-right.... found at Hobby lobby, hand made with love by Grandma, hand made with love by Grandma and hand made by me)

When it came to what went above her crib, I wanted something bold but yet simple enough that it didn't take away from her skirt. So i went browsing on Etsy and came across these really cute canvases. Only problem was, I am a cheapskate and wasn't willing to pay the $300 price take this person was asking for....so I enlisted my trusty Sister-in-law, Robyn, and we MADE them OURSELVES!!!

Call me crazy, but I think they turned out PERFECT!!!

 I absolutely LOVE THEM!!!!!!

Because Grandma and I got busy cleaning house, making pillows and trying to rest before a certain princess graces us with her presence...we didn't get our nifty tree bookcase done (maybe one day) but little girl needed something to hold her goodies and odd and ends. So I came across this little black bookcase that fit perfectly!

Her bookcase also holds some of her hand mades from her Auntie Robyn :))

For late night feedings we went with a classic rocker glider, found this green cover that complements her skirt , and added some hand made (by R's Grandma) throw pillows.

I am a sucker for a photo collage, so it just didn't seem right not to have one for R to house all of her  up coming, super cute newborn photos.

The opposite wall has her changing table/dresser! 

We lucked out and found this dresser at a flea market in Arkansas one weekend and it only took me a good 8 months to find fabric I liked for her changing pad cover....(also made by R's extremely talented Grandma)

I finally convinced G that is was absolutely necessary  to make a shelf to hold little girls wipes, lotions and powders for daily changings, instead of trying to wrangle a baby and get into the dresser all at the same time :))

So a few nails and two coats of paint later, Momma had her handy little shelf :)))

The two small shelves above her changing pad hold her monitor, a sweet pink piggy bank I found, a little Giraffe I couldn't say no to and .....

this hand made art work from R's Auntie Robyn :))

And that my friends, is my little R's humble abode...and I couldn't be more thrilled with how it has turned out!!!

A VERY special thanks to everyone for all the LOVE that each and everyone of you have put into making her room so very special!!!

GUEST BEDROOM UPDATE!!!!!

I know, I know....my habit of completing a project in a timely manner is less than impressive, BUT it is closer to completion and I could not be more pleased with it!

First, lets see the inspiration!

and not to toot my own horn or anything -TOOT, TOOT- but I have to say for my first furniture renovation, I do believe it turned out beautifully!!!

 

Nothing is perfect, we are still missing a bed skirt and lighter curtains..

but at this point we have this....

 

 

 

Complete with a handmade duvet cover, pillows, HEADBOARD, freshly painted walls and newly stained dresser!!! I do believe I could live with this for a little while :) Well, I guess until I decide Im tired of green :))) 

This past weekend we had one of G's best friends from his childhood come to see us with his wife and little man -makes my heart sing :)

We haven't seen these guys in almost over a year! So when wifey Pompa told me the news of their upcoming trip, I was more than thrilled!!! 

 

But....I also went into panic mode because my guest bedroom project is no where near semi done.

So I quickly begged G to help with the measurements and the very next day I was at the fabric store PULLING MY HAIR OUT making the most important decision of this poor quest bedroom's life!!!

SEVERAL dollars later, I was headed to the house!! 

And because I am NOT a procrastinator, actually more of a gotta get it done, bought or cleaned NOW kinda person, I cleared the dining room out and got started on the headboard. 

The first step came and went rather quickly but then came the 2ND step...

let's just say, I never pick the easiest of projects.

Anyhow, I began hammering away and just as I finished the first row I noticed slight holes in the sheet I was using to protect my floors. Upon further investigation I found a LINE OF HOLES IN MY DAMN DINING ROOM FLOOR!!!!

Yep, the nails went straight through the leather, batting, foam AND plywood. OY VAY!!!  

Needless to say I had to take a break from it all for the rest of the night due to the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach!!!

After a good nights sleep and a fresh look at everything, I picked up the pieces -relocated- and started finishing my masterpiece.

TA DA!!! Meet our new headboard! 

And with the headboard being done, I can now move on to more important things like....

I would have to say I am pretty darn proud of the outcome! No, it may not be perfect but I sure did put in a whole lot of time and effort to make it on my very own!!

By time I finished the headboard, I had t-minus a day to get the house clean and sheets washed for our sweet, sweet guests!!! 

Friday came and our guest arrived.  And we spent the rest of our evening catching up and enjoying the good ol' outdoors.

The next day we -by WE, I mean Amber- made breakfast and headed out to the pool. A few hours and one serious tan line later, we headed home to get ready for dinner and a night out on the town.

 (yep, Dayton was the only one camera worthy at dinner...hehe)

We shopped until we bored the guys to tears, then headed home for some intense Wii competitions....

I tell ya, shopping is A LOT more fun when you don't have two men -penny pinchers money savers- tagging along!!

 (Amber and I)

 (yep, that's my man)

  (Shawn and Amber)

Because I WORKED my butt off!!!!!

But the GOOD news was that I had three special visitors this weekend PLUS a b-day celebration for a couple of special guys -one just happened to be MY special hubby!!!

So where do I start?!?!?

Lets see.....Friday afternoon I snuck out of work an hour early to make it home just in time for this precious threesome to pull in the drive!!

Shortly after, G came home with an AWESOME surprise!!! 

TWO giant clay pots for our deck, PLUS two flats of flowers

 -yep, he's perfect !!!! 

I was THRILLED!!!

So Tammy and I wasted no time and started planting flowers in those beauties!!!-Tammy actually just supervised and kindly pushed my glasses back on my nose as they fell down. She's as handy as a pocket on a shirt :)-

While the girls were busy planting flowers, the boys played a little WII..

   

and even managed to take a break here and there to get some sunshine!!

After getting flowers in both pots and having some left over, I decided to plant the rest in the flower beds in the front yard. 

 Ok, if you know me you know I can't start a project and leave it unfinished or stop until I LOVE it. So when I started planting and decided I didn't like the existing plants that were in there, I decided I HAD to make a quick run to my FAVORITE store -Home Depot, DUH!!- and pick up some flowers I did LOVE!!!

 (perfect photo op, don't you think?!?!)

The guys were LESS than thrilled so they opted to stay behind!!! 

The boys even got Uncle G to throw around the football a little :)

We FINALLY made it home, planted my flowers and VOILA....PERFECTION!!!

Now you would think all of this would be enough, well, you would be SOOO wrong!!! Since Tammy and I went to Home Depot and may or may not have bought too many flowers, I decided to keep going and plant the rest in the flower bed in the back yard too!!!

(Before)

 (after)

The boys managed to keep themselves occupied while we played in the dirt.

If your wondering how in the heck they saw the football as it was being launched across the yard, it lit up as it swirled through the air!!! SO AWESOME!!! G was pretty impressed :)

In the mist of all of this I was preparing bits and pieces of the b-day celebration for Sunday as well!!!! Needless to say I was ready for this day to end!

Saturday finally came and my dear friends, I was going, going, going the second my feet hit the floor!!

Straightening the house, making breakfast and MORE b-day preparation!! 

G got home and decided to show the deck a little loving and planted some flowers.

 (before)

 (Harley helped Uncle Greg!!! Do I see a future Agronomist?!?!?)

 (After)

Greg did a FANTASTIC job!!!! 

I am absolutely in LOVE with the deck, so much in fact, that I may bypass the railing all together!!!!

After G finished the planting around the deck, Tammy and I took the boys and we headed to the grocery store to grab some last minute items for G's cupcakes :) I would have to say that this particular trip to WallyWorld would have to be, hands down, the most interesting one I have experienced in my life!!! 

1. HARLEY found a $100...then proceeded to yell it across the store!!! 

2. We let a lady cut in front of us in the check-out line and before she left she handed HARLEY $1!! -must of been his lucky day-

3. As we were checking out it began to POUR down rain!!! Tam didn't want to mess her pretty hair up -she would have been a frizz ball- so I offered to run get the car and pick them all up at the door. 

BIG, HUGE mistake.

And because I have the BEST nephew on the planet...He gave me his shirt to dry off with!!

But NOT WITHOUT laughing at me....TuRD!!!!!!

We finally made it home, had lunch and went outside to see what Greg had been up to. The next thing I knew, I was clipping our BUSH!!!! Tammy was so sweet and swept out all of the leaves!!!

I brilliantly thought since I was at it, I might as well dig up our rose bushes that I have hated since we moved in!!!

Ummm...TERRIBLE idea!!!! But I got it done and my WONDERFUL sister-in-law even got her hands dirty and helped be clean up the yard afterwards!!!!

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME PEOPLE!!!!!!

But in the end, we got it ALL done. And just in the nick of time for Sunday's festivities!!!