Simply put

GASP! I'm actually posting!

Nothing much, but a little something to let ya know I'm still kickin over here!:) Although, somedays it feels as if just barely.

I decided this shelf needed a change today...imagine that! I love it when decor comes together easily; creating something that is pleasing to gaze upon. For now, i'm really enjoying the fresh clean "look". It has a calming affect on me when i look at it. When the rest of the house feels and looks like utter chaos, this shelf remains neat and tidy. 

Thats all for now!

Revolving Fall decor

 I really don't know what is wrong with me this year! while i am totally in the mood for fall decor, i am  having the HARDEST time finding something i am pleased with. ARGH

I started the cycle with the arrangements below. While there is nothing wrong with them(i guess), they just don't do anything for me. Know what i mean? So....on to the next change up!

I knew right off that the green frame had to go. I ended up finding the perfect shade of spray paint at Wal-Mart. Its not bright white, but also not too creamy. Perfect! After that minor adjustment was made, i liked it better, but still wasn't completely into it.

So, i took everything down, including lanterns. I moved the chalkboard to the dining room and added a little bunting to the corner. Cute! It replaced the plates that were hanging in this space. 

 This is what i've ended up with on the piano...with the addition of a few white pumpkins. Its simple, but i kind of like the neat and clean feel of it. I need to change up the saying on the chalkboard, but other than that, it stays....for now at least!;)

BTW.....i have big plans for the piano! It may or may not involve chalk paint;)

This is the current arrangement on the mantel. Again, clean and simple. I really need to find matching lanterns, but until then.....

A fun little Pinterest remake....with my own twist!

Rug Fail!

 Don't ya just hate it when that happens?! I sure do! I was giddy with excitement as i awaited the arrival of this rug below. I was positive it would look amazing in our living room. I couldn't have been more wrong! For starters, the picture shows it to be a gray color, but when it actually arrived it had strong blue tones coming through. Not the direction i was headed. So....i tolerated it as long as i could and rolled her back up. She now sits in a closet awaiting my mother's arrival in a few weeks. It would be perfect in her home....hoping she agrees!;)

I didn't get a picture of the rug once it was laid out, but if you look real close you can see a smidgin of it. Notice how blue it looks? Promise me you don't notice my mismatched pillows, messy coffee table etc?! Its all a work in progress at the moment. 

So....back to the old stand by for the time being. I'm actually going to sell the rug you see in the picture below. I bought it from a lady on Craigslist several months ago, but have not been real happy with it. Its jute, from Pottery Barn, nice size, but sheds. like. crazy! We're talking huge wads of fuzz in every corner of the room and the surrounding areas! Makes me feel like my house is constantly filthy. Its a big enough job keeping up with every day household chores etc without adding a shedding rug to the equation. So, back to Craigslist it will go!

I've decided to neutralize the main colors in the living room so that i can have more freedom to play with accent pieces, pillows, etc. I'm hoping to get a better look at the rug below on our upcoming Ikea trip. Its what i have REALLY had in mind all along.....if only i can learn to be patient and wait for the right one. Thats a hard one for me at times. Just being honest!

So, there ya have it! My love/hate relationship with area rugs as of late!

Anticipation!

I am EAGERLY awaiting the arrival of this gorgeous rug! Mmm....so pretty! I am loving the design and think it will add a nice touch to our home. Now, if only Tuesday would hurry up and get here!;)

Best Buds!

Just a little post featuring my little kiddos! I love it when they play nicely together and enjoy being in each other's company. That is not alway the case, believe you me!!

Chastity is always looking out for her little brother and making sure he is. I took Chastity on a little mommy daughter date and she could hardly wait to get back and see Caleb! Love it! My prayer is that they will grow up to be great friends to one another.

Lil bit of everything

I've been a busy little bee making little "upgrades" here and there to our home. I thoroughly enjoy anything pertaining to home decor, landscaping etc. I have seen pictures of houses with full length shutters on either side of the front door and decided that i needed some on ours too! I asked the opinion of some of my family/friends and some were nay and some yay! I decided to go ahead and install them and i just love them! I think they have a classic look and help to dress up the font door a bit.

We have been in the process of redoing our front porch and since we're trying to pay cash, its taking longer than we would like! We have the floor done, but still have roof, posts and railing to be completed. I am so anxious to have it done and enjoy the end results. For now, we are enjoying solid sturdy floors! The previous owners took every cheap shortcut they possibly could which resulted in a rotting porch 3 yrs later! UGH! 

I have been faithfully checking craigslist for wicker/rattan patio furniture and it finally paid off this week! While it is not in perfect condition, it was ONLY $19.00 and is a plastic wicker! I have plans for it involving paint!!! Big surprise there! I want to paint it a dark brown/bronze.

 The table in the above picture will be going back to the porch, but at the moment it is serving a purpose elsewhere. I am continuing to look for an inexpensive wicker chair to take the place of the rocker. I also want to change out the rug for something more neutral, but will wait and stalk the clearance racks until i find one i like!

The kid's room is next on the list for a makeover. They will be getting a set of bunk beds soon which calls for new twin sz bedding...which means new paint etc! I already have a color scheme in mind, just need to make it happen. In the meantime, i went ahead and whipped up some curtains. Excuse the wrinkles and makeshift rod....it will be replaced with a real one soon.

Does anyone else love Target as much as i do?! They always have cute trendy home decor, clothing etc available in their stores. I just couldn't pass up the plates pictured below. Can't say i had a plan for them when i purchased them, but for now this is their home. They add a nice pop of color in the living room.

Now, on to the master bedroom! While i loved the bed spread, the yellow walls never did much for me. Maybe they were just the wrong shade? Who knows! I decided i was more than ready for something more calming and relaxing in our room. During one of our Target excursions i spied a comforter on clearance and when my dear hubby told me to get it, i didn't hesitate!

Ahhh....its like a breath of fresh air! I soon got busy looking for the right fabric/pattern for curtains and was more than happy when i found what i was looking for at Wal-mart for $1.50/yd! For less than five bucks i had new breezy curtains. 

You will notice in the above picture that the frame hanging over our bed is blank...minus the heart. I've wanted to remedy that for a long time, but could never come up with something i liked. Since i've changed the colors in the room i knew exactly what i wanted to do. Best of all...it didn't cost me a thing! I was able to use items i already had on hand. I simply added burlap behind the glass and hot glued the metal love on the font. Love it!

The paint i am using on the walls comes from ACE hardware and so far has cost me NOTHING! They have been giving out qt size samples of your color choice on select saturdays and i have been fortunate enough to get in on two of them! They are doing it again this saturday and i plan to be there!!

The verdict is still out on the little plates. I snagged them at Pottery Barn with a coupon! While i love them, i'm not sure this is the right place for them. We shall see!

 Goodwill has been coming through on their pillow selection lately and i was thrilled to find this cutie for $1.99. The two big white pillows at the back of the bed also came from Goodwill, but originally came from Pottery Barn! Woohoo!

Anyhow....Just though i'd catch ya up a bit on what I've been working on around here. I'm sure blogger thinks i died a long time ago...being the "faithful" blogger that i am! I. Must. Do. Better!!!! Ha, who am i kidding? I seem to say that every time. Until next time!

Birthday Girl!

Last wkd we celebrated Chastity's 4th birthday. Let me tall ya...we had one excited little girl on our hands!! She had been looking forward to her birthday for quite some. I just love seeing her excitement! 

For the past year she has been consistent in her wish for a cake with flowers. She just recently decided that she would also like to have a castle cake. I had planned to buy the Wilton castle kit, but at the last minute i became extremely cheap frugal and decided to make my own! For a 1st attempt i was pleased with the outcome. Its faaar from perfect, but it made a certain little girl extremely happy and was half the cost!

 Can hardly believe its been four years ago that we headed off to the hospital to meet our new little bundle. She has blessed our lives and we are excited to watch her develop into the little lady God wants to her be.