Good News & Bad News

I disappeared for a while, didn't I? I sure have missed everyone in blogland! I got used to being here everyday and keeping up with my favorite blogs!

Well, here's the deal - I'll start with the "Bad News" - I won't be around much for a while. I just don't have the free time that I once did. I have started working full-time again!

...And that leads me to the "Good News"!


I am back at work as a Visual Decorator! I am the one and only decorator for a 17,000 square foot furniture showroom! I've been spending my day hanging art, accessorizing the different vignettes with candleholders, vases, trays, etc. I've been putting out rugs and moving furniture around! I also get to open it all and tag it when it comes in!

It's a really fun and interesting job! I did it before a couple of years ago and now I am back at it again! I get to use my degree and be creative all day!

But it really put the kabosh on my blog activities! You see I am EXHAUSTED when I get home at night! I am hoping to get used to all of this and not be totally spent at the end of the day!

I think it might be fun to blog about the things I've learned by working as a visual decorator! There are lots of "rules" that I could share as far as how we make the store look so beautiful!

Anyway...I guess my blog is on hold for now. But, I am hoping to be back soon!

'til then...

Affordable Art for the Family Room

I'm joining Transformation Thursday over at The Shabby Chic Cottage!

The first decorating blog I ever saw was The Nesting Place! I was just blown away by her style, her ideas and her philosophy! I felt like I had found a friend! My favorite idea was when she used doors on the wall as art! Brilliant!

We had lived in our house for over a year and I had yet to put anything above the sofa in the family room. I wanted something with a big impact. And I wanted to create it myself.
I knew this was the right idea for me because lo and behold - I had a set of doors just sitting out in the shed! They were left here by the previous owner! Perfect!



I used some exterior green paint I found out in the shed, too! They were in pretty good shape, just needed a good cleaning. Sorry I don't have any before photos - this was before I had ever thought about doing a blog! But, I just painted them green and then roughed them up a bit.


I found the metal art at Hobby Lobby - 50% off of course! Everything just kind of came together and worked! I can always change out what I put on and around them, but the doors are not going anywhere! It took hubby and I forever to hang them! The big obstacle was the fact that there are 2 of them and I wanted them hung tightly together! It was a chore, but we got through it!


I showed the fireplace in this room for Thrifty Monday. And some other parts of the room here.

I'm going to head on over to The Inspired Room and see what everyone is posting for her Fall Nesting 2009!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Thrifty Monday

Well, I didn't make it to the yard sales this week! My partner in crime is under the weather! (Hi Mom - Love You!) So, I thought I would show my fireplace. It's chocked full of thrifty treasures!



I have kind of a nature/bird theme going in my family room. The tile, brick and paneling were all recently re-done when we moved in. They were well thought out and look really good together. Unfortunately, they have a bit of a pinkish tone. That's not exactly what I would have chosen for my Autumn color scheme. I decided to go for it anyway and I think it still works.

Here's the rundown of what I have on my fireplace starting on the mantel going from left to right:


Oops...left a couple of candles on the mantel, didn't mean to do that! The topiary has a match on the other end. I got one of them at Michael's with a coupon and the other I found at a yard sale shortly after! Bird house art from Hobby Lobby - when they had one of their framed art 50% off sales! The green pineapple candle holder was from a yard sale. I love the yellow bird candle holder! I got that at a thrift store for $6. I thought it looked good with the pineapple 'cuz they are the same kind of metal.


Okay, so confession time...see the little metal sign that says FAMILY? Well, it's hanging on a big fat nail that I can not take out! I didn't want to do a traditional centered piece of art, so I just had to find something to hang there. That's what I came up with for now. Got the FAMILY metal sign at Hobby Lobby when metal stuff was half off. I love the mini topiary and white iron bird! Those are from the thrift store, paid a couple of bucks for each of them. The LIVE-LAUGH-LOVE is from Kirkland's. I bought it with a gift certificate I got as a house-warming gift. They still sell a similar sign with those words, but they changed the design a bit right after that. I like this one best.


So I really like things made of wire, like little chairs, birdcages, baskets...I've had these a long time and I don't remember where I got them or how much I paid. The lamp was a gift from my mother-in-law, she couldn't use it anymore. The metal square art is from Hobby Lobby (50% off) and the "C" was a gift.

That is a one-of-a-kind original watercolor painted by my Mom! It's one of my favorite things and it is in a place of honor so I can look at it every day! Thanks Mom!
More little chairs, bucket was a gift. I just stuck some fake Hobby Lobby grass and berries in it. Those are extra pillows from our sofas.


So, that's a peak at my family room! I wanted to do it now, because I've started decorating for fall. It's all different now!

I'm joining Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and Today's Thrifty Treasures at Southern Hospitality! Let's head on over and check out all the treasures and transformations!

Words to Live By

Comparison destroys contentment!
- Unknown

Has this ever happened to you?

You get up in the morning, get yourself ready for the day. You look in the mirror and think - Hey! This looks okay! Then you get to your destination and look around at the other women. Suddenly after noticing a friend in her new outfit, you look down at yourself and think - What was I thinking? This doesn't look good!

Or maybe you are okay with that 6 year old sofa in your living room. It's seen better days, but it's comfortable and it still goes okay in your room. Then you go to a friend's house and they just got themselves a brand-new sectional! You go back home and look at that sofa again only this time you see a dusty old piece of junk!

Why do we do that to ourselves? That's the kind of comparing that we just don't need to do! And the sad thing is...many times those same women are probably doing some comparing of their own to our lives and feeling the same way!

Here in Blogland we do a lot of looking at each other's homes, DIY projects and crafty ideas! That kind of looking is a wonderful way to inspire us! But, that doesn't have to be comparison - maybe a little admiration, and some inspiration - that's all good!

We are all just trying to do the best with what we have and that's why I love it here! I have really enjoyed "getting to know" all of you! Thank you for your lovely comments and encouragement!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Show Us Your Rooster Party!

It's time to join the party over at Bella Vista! I've been waiting and waiting! I just can't wait to see what everyone is going to show us!

DISCLAIMER: I discovered as I was taking pictures, that I don't have quite as many Roosters as I thought I did! It seems some of my Roosters are CHICKENS! He He

...oh well! Here we go!



Now comes the chickens!


Thanks for looking! I can't wait to see what everyone else has!

Art from Reclaimed Wood

Love this! It's from Pottery Barn - of course! They just do everything right! I think a person could duplicate this design if they had a pile of scraps, a saw, some paint and a lot of free time! Or they could just buy it here.



Another great piece of art from Pottery Barn!

Pottery Barn

Who doesn't love stars?

Pottery Barn

I may just have to buy myself a circular saw...



...and some wood...I guess buying new wood would kind of defeat the purpose, huh?



I have the paint and the nails though... :-)

Thrifty Monday & Transformed Tuesday!

Hey everybody! My little project is just some cheap melamine doors my stepdad found in the dumpster! They look like they were from a kid size cabinet. He thought I might be able to do something with them. I had these cork squares that I got from a yard sale for 25 cents. The doors were already white and I thought I would just stick the cork inside the frame on the front of the door. I used some ribbon to hang them by the doorknobs. Easy peasy!


I just covered the seams with how I put the stuff on the cork board. Now I have a place to put my inspiration photos near where I sit to do my blogging - which is at one end of our sunroom.

Here's some more bargains from my home office area:


I love the framed art from Kirkland's that I got at a yard sale for $2!!! It still had the $69 price tag on the back!!! Birdhouse on a stand and metal bucket are both from yard sales, too! The cloth napkin is another bargain from Pier 1!

I'm joining my favorite Mr. Linky parties:
Met Monday - Between Naps on the Porch
Today's Thrifty Treasures - Southern Hospitality
and Trash to Treasure Tuesday - Reinvented!

I love seeing what everyone has come up with this week! Please head on over and check them all out!

Words to Live By

Never, never, never give up.

- Winston Churchill

A favorite quote from days gone by...one that I have heard from my Mom...seen on funny posters...but it is so true!

This one's for you today Mom! I love you so much and I wish I could make it "all better" for you today just as you have done for me so many times! You are the strongest person I have ever known and that strength is what will get you through now. Look upwards and turn to the One who can get you through! I am praying for you and I love you soooooooo much!!!

~ Your darling daughter!

Hooked on White Kitchens

Country Living

White kitchens! I am hooked on them! I know that they may not be the current trendy choice, but I think their classic qualities make them timeless! There is just something about the clean, fresh feeling of white cabinets and bright colors!

Country Living

Of course, kitchens with a little whimsy in them are the best! Casual style - open shelves, rustic sign, using above the cabinets as storage..

Country Living

White and rustic! Perfect combination! Love the old farmhouse sink and antique table turned island. The wood floors painted white and chandelier for a kitchen light keep it casual.

Country Living

Painted white floors, mis-matched stools, open shelving & fishy accents make this kitchen so warm and inviting!

...and a few more Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

I joining Hooked On Friday over at Hooked on Houses! Click here to see what others are hooked on!