FAMILY PICTURE TIME

It's that time of the year again, family pictures.  When my children were babies, I would spend way too much time deciding what we would all wear for family pictures and then I would break a sweat getting everyone ready and then practically lose it during the photo session worrying about everyone smiling at the same time and sitting still.  Well, those days are over.  I have learned over the years to not take things so seriously (advice from my wise mother). Pictures are supposed to capture the moment and I'm prepared to let the pictures this year capture whatever kind of moment we may be having that day.

In an effort to relax and not sweat the small stuff, I asked for some style advice 

from my good friend, Crissy at House of Marlowe.  

I already admitted in this post that she is my style icon.  

I was thrilled when she agreed to take over and put together some outfit ideas for us.  

The only instructions I gave her were to keep it casual and no matchy-matchy. 

This is what she came up with.....

 

My very favorite is the J.Crew ensemble.  I love that she gave options for me, my daughter, my husband, and both of my boys.  I placed my J.Crew order and didn't even have to leave my house to put this together. I was already a huge fan of shopping on the internet, but now I'm sold.  

I don't think I want to set foot in a store until mid-January.  

We will be having these pictures made Thanksgiving weekend and my sister's family, my brother's family and my parents will also be in the pictures.  I forwarded these stylish outfit options to my sister and sister-in-law for some ideas as well.  

All items can be found at JCrew, Boden, Gap, Target and Lands' End. 

A huge thanks to Crissy for pulling this together for me.  You can check out her fabulous blog here.

CRAZY WONDERFUL

I am so excited that Shelley from Crazy Wonderful is guest posting for me today.
I can't remember how I came to befriend Shelley, but I am sure glad I did.
She is hilarious, she has fabulous style, and an adorable little girl.
Take it away Shelley.....

Can I tell you how excited I am to be guest posting for Andrea today!
WOOHOO!!!
When she asked if I'd be interested in it I jumped on it (and around in my seat for a while too).
I LOVE her blog, and the chance to be a little part of it totally made my day :D
THANKS FOR HAVING ME OVER ANDREA!
So, here's one of the many things I've been obsessing over lately...
Trays!!!

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Surely, I'm not the only one.

And, these photos make me think every room in my house needs one.

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I wanted one in a BAD way for my living room coffee table.

Something big like this one.

{via}

But, these big bad boys are EX-PEN-SIVE.

I don't get it... but, I still wanted one.

Look how sad my coffee table is?!  Blah.

Me - "Why don't you make one?  It's just a box!"

Me - "This is ridiculous... just pony up the cash woman!"

(Yes, I occasionally have conversations with myself)

Me - "Uggghhh!!!  (Caught a glimpse of those prices again)  Looks like I'm heading to Home Depot."

Glad I did though!

I now have my own big ol lacqure tray, and I don't even think I spent $10 on this project.

BINGO!!!

What I used (the wood was my only purchase):

• 2'x2' thin plywood cut down to 18"x24"
• 4 thin precut strips of wood 1/8"x2"x24" (2 of them cut down to 18" long)
• Brad nailer and brads (or) small finishing nails and hammer would work
• Wood glue
• Wood filler
• Sand paper
• Primer spray paint
• White lacquer spray paint
• Clear coat spray paint

What I did:

• Glue strips of wood along the outside of the plywood (overlap edges) and nail into place
• Fill in nail holes and any gaps with wood filler and let dry
• Sand entire piece and wipe clean

• Spray with primer and let dry
• Spray with lacquer paint (approx. 2-3 coats - let dry fully between coats)
• Spray with clear poly and let dry

I was a little irritated when I put this together (probably because it was well over 100 degrees that day... AGAIN), but I'm sooo thrilled with the result and even more thrilled with the savings.

My table is pretty happy with it too ;D

So... if there's a size that you can find, a color you're dreaming of, or if you're like me and you just don't want to go broke on a tray - BUILD IT!

I actually picked up two trays in the past few weeks from Goodwill and had big plans to transform them.  Shelley has inspired me.  Hopefully I'll have some fantastic trays to show you next week.  Be sure to check out Shelley's blog, Crazy Wonderful. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Today's guest blogger is Andrea from Willow Wisp Cottage.  Andrea and her family just moved into the most amazing house.  You will definitely want to follow along as they decorate their dream home.

Take it away, Andrea.....(seems weird typing my own name so many times!)

Andrea at the gorgeous Oak Ridge Revival has asked me to guest post in her series, Thankful Thursday. In amongst the unpacking and organizing of our new home, I've jumped at the chance to be included in her beautiful blog. Thank you for having me, Andrea!

I have so much to be thankful for, that sitting down to narrow it down to 5 for this post has been a challenge. I have decided to give this list a twist with 5 other things I'm thankful for, other than the obvious of family & friends, health, & my career.

My husband, myself and our two daughters

So here goes, the 5 other things I'm thankful for:
1. Without a doubt, the top spot is awarded to our NEW HOUSE!!

We moved in last week and have been falling in love with it more each day. Wow, do I feel blessed that we can own our own home, let alone one that I think is pretty snazzy.

2.  Our pets.
Perhaps an obvious choice, for a veterinarian =) Our pooch, kitty and 2 guinea pigs are a very important part of our family. My little Maggie was a rescue dog from a very horrible abuse case that my veterinary practice was assisting on. You would absolutely never know that this little primadonna had any strain in her life!  Bella, our cat,  was also a rescue case when her leg became gangrenous. We managed to save her leg, and now she's a sweet, feisty addition to our fur family!

3. Quilting
I started quilting when I was 14, but didn't really become obsessed until the past few years.  I can't wait to have more time to get creative in my sewing room!

A recent quilt I made for my daughter.

4. Blogging community
I mean really? Where else do you find such creative inspiration on a daily basis. It has been a year since I started blogging, and it still surprises me everyday how much it has inspired me and really changed my life!

5. A good book
I get so excited when I find an excellent book that I can submerge myself into. Currently I'm reading Margaret Georges "Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles".

Thank you so much for reading!  Visit me at Willow Wisp Cottage to find out more about myself and our new home!

Thankful Thursday

I'm so excited that Emily from Jones Design Company agreed to participate in my "Thankful Thursday" series.  She is basically my blogging idol!  If I were to run into her somewhere, I would probably be a bit starstruck and mumble something incoherent and then kick myself later for not playing it cool.   Nonetheless, I am very honored she took time out of her busy life to share this post with us.  


Take it away Emily.....


#1: I am pretty sure we are all in the same boat that we are most grateful for our family, our friends and our faith … there is really nothing more important than the people in our lives and the Lord who gives them to us, so I’ll just lump them together as my BIG number 1. 

I can’t resist sharing a photo of our large family. We get looks everywhere we go {‘are they all yours?’}, but they are great and I’m thankful everyday for the joy of a supportive husband and four healthy, spunky & sweet children.

Okay, moving on … let’s talk about a few shallow things that make me oh so happy …

#2:  anything sweet.

candy . ice cream . cookies . pies . cakes . doughnuts

{I love them all}

#3: paper magazines

The new e-zines being produced are great but there is still nothing better than holding a real paper magazine, hanging out on a comfy sofa and getting lost in the pages. Decorating magazines are my fave, but I’ll never turn down an US Weekly or People {gotta keep up on the stars}.

#4: mascara. Without it I look 12.

L’oreal Voluminous is my fave, but any will do in a pinch.

#5: our bed.

It is big, it is fluffy and when I am in it, it means I am sleeping – which after a day of chasing around my babes, I am really thankful for.

Be sure to check out Jones Design Company.
(I'm pretty sure everyone in blogland already knows all about sweet Emily,
 unless you've been living under a rock, that is.)

I'll tell you what I'm thankful for (oh wait, it's not my turn).  

Really quickly then, I'm thankful my mom came up this week to hang out and help out.  

She's a lifesaver and I cherish the time I get to spend with her.  

Okay, sorry, I had to sneak that in there. 

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see some major changes that have been in the works for a while.  

I can't wait to share it with you.  

Thankful Thursday

Next up for the Thankful Thursday series is Jenny from Evolution of Style.   Jenny's blog first caught my eye with the paneled headboard  she made for her daughter's room.  From there, I was hooked.  We have a lot in common and I am so thankful to have met her.  Oh wait, it's Jenny's turn to tell us what she's thankful for.  Take it away, Jenny!


I am a big blog fan of Oak Ridge Revival (her kitchen had me at "hello") and in keeping with the Thankful Thursday theme - a big thanks to Andrea for asking me to participate!  But I'm not counting that as one of my five things, okay?

I'm going to do this Wheel of Fortune style, where you automatically get five consonants and a vowel (R-S-T-L-N-E).  I am uber-thankful for my family, friends and faith.  For me, that goes without saying, and I think it's something that everyone ranks at the top of their Thankfulness List.  All three have gotten me through tough times in my life, so, I'll compromise and count this as my "R-S-T-L-N-E " and lump them together as the first item on my Thankful List.

Since family photo shoots cause me to break out in hives, this is truly the last professional photo we've had taken, and it was, um, three years ago.  Due for another.  Dreading it already.

Caffeine

I don't have many vices in my life, so I allow myself this one.  It is a must have as part of my daily life, and for that, I am truly thankful.  I actually just started drinking coffee in the past month or so, and am amazed at how quickly I have started craving the stuff.  I'm also a Diet Coke-a-holic.  I'm hoping the coffee will help wean me off some of the Diet Coke.

Exercise

This may sound like a weird one, but it is the sanity time that I have in my life that brings me back to center, relieves my stress and clears my head.  And really, it's about the only Me Time I get on a daily basis.  Trust me when I tell you that if I don't get my daily dose of exercise endorphins, you'll know it (and you won't like me very much). 

Right now, I'm trying something new.  I'm on Week #2, and the workouts are great! 

I just realized that I said exercise was my "sanity time", yet I'm doing the "Insanity" workout.  So I guess Insanity keeps me sane. :-)

Home

When I say home, I mean more than just the structure.  Yes, I love my house, and am so very thankful that we have this wonderful roof over our heads.  But it is also a sanctuary, a haven and a safe and happy place to raise our family, and I'm very thankful to have that.

Peace and Quiet

I mean this in the most fundamental of ways.  With a husband, three kids and a dog, our house is LOUD.  And I know someday I will miss that daily noise.  But right now, I really relish the quiet when I'm fortunate enough to get it.  A time where my kids aren't fighting, and I can go to the bathroom without someone yelling "MOM!!!" is a little slice of heaven.  (Bonus if someone took the time to put the toilet paper on the roll).

Thanks again Andrea for including me on this fun series!  Come and visit me on Evolution of Style.

Thankful Thursday

The second installment of Thankful Thursday is brought to you by the lovely and talented Carmel, from Our Fifth House. Yep, the name says it all, Carmel and her family are living in their fifth house in just 10 years.  As soon as I stumbled onto her blog, I was hooked.  She's adorable, super creative and her posts always bring a smile to my face. You'll see what I mean when you read her list of five things she's thankful for.  After that, be sure to head on over to her blog and check it out. You can thank me later.  

Hello!  I'm Carmel from Our Fifth House, and I'm beyond excited to be here today!  Thanks for inviting me over Andrea!  I love the idea behind this series.  It's so easy to get caught up in wanting more and forget to be thankful for all that we have.  I have a lot to be thankful for so this was actually really hard for me to narrow it down to just five things.  Here's my top five......

1.  My Relationship With My Heavenly Father.

I've been through some difficult times in my life from my parents divorcing while I was a teenager to my daughter needing to have heart surgery, and my Heavenly Father has never let me down.  I'm truly thankful to have Him in my life!

Source: tumblr.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

I wish the word strength wasn't spelled wrong here.  Oh well. 

Source: None via Sarah on Pinterest

2.  For These Three.

I married my prince and he made all my dreams come true  - so, so sappy but it really is true.  These three take up my whole heart!  They make my life so wonderful.  

Ok, so the next three aren't going to be as deep because that's as deep as I go.  ;)

3.  Coke Zero.

Source: google.com via Monica on Pinterest

Call me crazy but it still blows my mind that a zero calorie drink could literally taste just like the real thing!  I mean how on Earth do they make it taste so real?!  Ok, maybe I don't really wanna know.  I try not to drink too much soda, but I'm slightly addicted.  I try to stick to a "1 coke zero a day" rule and most days I'm successful.  :)

4.  Date Night.

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Ever since we became parentals we've always made a point to have date nights.  Sometimes it has meant rearranging our budget to allow for the money to pay a babysitter.  I'd much rather spend the money to have a night out with my hub than I would bring home another "something" for the house.  If it means house projects take longer to complete for me it's worthwhile.  We always make a point of getting a little dressed up for our date nights too.  It's nice to get out of the yoga pants and put on something cute for a change.  :)  I also think it's a good example for our kids to see us taking the time to spend a special evening with just each other.  My daughter loves helping me "get ready" too, and it's the cutest thing ever!  I'm thankful that we've both decided to make date night important as raising two small children can be hectic, and we both need some time to actually speak to one another with zero interruptions.  :)  After all that's how this whole thing started right?!

5.  Sushi

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Melanie on Pinterest

Enough said right?!  I mean I could literally eat sushi for every meal of the day!  I. love. sushi!

How awesome is this cake?!

Source: None via Karyn on Pinterest

I'll take that for my next birthday!  Some people are just so stinkin' talented!!!

Want to introduce sushi to your kids?  How about trying this?!

Source: blog.yoc2008.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

I know right?!  SO cute!

Ok, the last bit of sushi cuteness.....

Source: bbandcb.wordpress.com via Sara on Pinterest

and that cutie stole the show!  Makes me want to have another just so I can make a costume like this for Halloween.  I could literally gobble that baby up in one bite!!!!  Can't. stand. this. cuteness!

Thanks again Andrea for inviting me over to share my thankful heart.  I'm also very thankful for the new friendships I've made in blogland.  It's so much fun connecting with people that share the same interests!

The Mustard Ceiling

I have some exciting things happening here this week (I'll fill you in soon) so I asked Elizabeth from The Mustard Ceiling to guest post for me today.  She has a great blog and fabulous style.  You will want to mosey on over there and check it out, once you've read this post, of course.

Go for it, Elizabeth.......

Thank you for having me Andrea, I am excited to be here!

Andrea emailed me last week and asked if I would stop by today to share some easy tips on how to incorporate "pops" of color into a neutral room.

When I design a space, I tend to use neutrals for the wall color and large upholstered pieces, items that I do not want to change often. I then add drama to the space by bringing in a couple of accent colors.

I recently did this in our dining room. Originally, the room was completely neutral. Gray walls, brown drapes, white chairs. I felt like it needed a pop of coral to liven it up a little.

Before...

After...

Isn't it amazing what a difference that small pop of coral makes?

I am currently working on a new project where I am stenciling an ikat pattern onto cream linen to reupholster my dining room seat cushions.

This is the first piece


I just finished it yesterday and had to share!
My goal is to have the project finished to share on Wednesday.



Adding a punch of color can create a focal point and add an element of surprise to a neutral room.

When adding color to a neutral design it is all about balance. You want to add enough to make a statement, but not overwhelm the space.


It can be as simple as...

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A decorative vase

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A pretty pink throw

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An upholstered seat

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Dramatic Window Treatments

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Decorative pillows or an ottoman

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An upholstered headboard

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Painting the back of bookshelves or
adding colorful accessories and books

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A painted piece of furniture

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Colorful lamps or...

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A bold upholstered piece

A easy rule of thumb to follow when adding color to a room...

Pick one accent color and bring it into the room in three small doses.

Sprinkle the color around the room. This will keep the eye moving throughout the space and will make the space more interesting visually.

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There are so many ways to add color to a room, the possibilities are endless. I feel like I did not even scratch the surface here today, but I hope I was able to provide you with some easy ideas and inspiration.

Thank you Andrea for having me!