This Lazy Day

This has been the best day so far.

We haven't done a thing!  No pressure to be anywhere or do anything.  I'm still in my nightgown!  We've vegged as a family.  Three of the four of us are feeling punky, so a day to sit on our tails was much needed to keep the summer rolling!

Going to head to the library and renew some books, check out a few new ones, and grab an armload for the kiddos.  Reading Carol Higgins Clark right now.  She's super!  Just finished this one:

It made me Google Santa Barbara and drool over the pictures.  I now want to own a vineyard, make my own wine, and seize the day! 

I've discovered that I'm reading these all out of order, but that seems to make them more endearing to me.  I already know some things about the characters' backgrounds that they don't even know!  Great summer reading.

I have a feeling my creative streak is going to explode all over me after this lazy day.  Can't wait!

Loving My Blog For ME

I started my little blog because I have fallen in love with the blog world. 

So many people who like what I like.  Who challenge my creativity.  Who inspire.

I don't necessarily want to change the world with my blog.  I thought I wanted to inspire just as much as I was being inspired. 

What I've discovered is-all of those things are good.  But they are me trying too hard.  And trying to be someone else.  I want my blog to be a place I love to come to!  And be happy when I think about it.  And when I visit.  And when I leave.  Not a pressure cooker.

So let the creativity flow.  Or not!  I'm visiting and writing because I want to.  And I can't wait to visit again.

I am rejoicing.  It's a happy place to be!

Summer is Here!

Our summer has begun here at our house.  Kids are out and hubby is out.  We are counting down the days to the beach!  Can't wait to post some pictures of our camping trip to the beach.  Our kids are young enough that each trip is drastically different from the last one. 

This year we have made a count down chain that hangs on the back door.  Little Girl tears off a link before bed each night.  Can't believe how fast that seems to be making the time go by!

This year, Little Boy is moving out of the pack and play and into a bed.  Some bed.  We aren't sure where yet.  Maybe the bunk.  Possibly the table made down.  He's going to choose!  All I know is I can hear the surf in my ears, feel the sand in my toes, and smell the coffee brewing early in the morning throughout the camper.  Already!  And each tear off of the countdown chain makes my heart leap, too!  It's like being a kid again.  And it feels grrrreat!

A New Chapter is Here!

I stumbled upon a website a few weeks ago as a result of a powerful testimony I read. 
(Read that here) from Emily at Chatting At the Sky.  A brave question and answer moment about Emily's decision to travel to the Philippines with Compassion International as one of a few talented bloggers that will be writing about the trip.

Well.  At the end of this article were these words:
And if you’re inspired to take a couple steps outside your comfort zone into the action, we’ll start registration this weekend for the next session of the Maximize Your Mornings Challenge. Stay tuned.

Hmm.  A challenge.  I don't need another challenge in my life.  But this one leads me right to God's feet.  I need that.  Every morning!  With accountability?  I really need that.  I know it won't be easy.  We are getting ready for summer break here with my one school aged child and a teacher husband.  But I am committed!

Here's the most exciting part for me.  I began this journey last week.  Monday-check.  Tuesday-check.  Tuesday afternoon-internet out.  Caput.  Gone.  We just finished the final repairs and are back online today.  I see that as a perfect confirmation that this challenge is for me!  The devil tried to discourage and distract with the computer, colds, and commitments other than this challenge.  I persevered.  If the devil is after it, it's got God's plan all over it!

I'm meeting new ladies from all over the world on FB and Twitter that are commited to this as well.  Their encouragement is awesome.  So many different situations and so many strong women coming together to draw closer to Christ.  I'm honored to be a part of that!

Inspired to Action is overwhelming me with support for this Maximize Your Mornings challenge, too.  So blessed to have found this wonderful blog!  God continues to make Himself real to me.  Intentionally making myself available to Him.  Praise God!

Yard Sale tray

Little girl and I found this tray on our "Girls with Girls" date a couple weekends ago.

It needed some love and was screaming for sandpaper and a facelift!

Hubby thought I'd bought a drawer.  Must have been the handles.

These handles had seen better days.  And they weren't really speaking to me.  So...

I took a good look at the screws and went for my favorite screwdriver:  Philipe

And made quick work of the handles.

This is also a good shot of the questionable black stuff under the screws on this side.  Probably some moisture had gotten into that crack at some point.  Didn't bother me, since I plan to use this for drinks and it's gonna get messy.  BUT-I brought some tough grit to get most of that gone if I could.

This is a small tray, so I just folded over a sheet of sandpaper and sanded by hand.  There was also a shiney finish to it, so I chose medium to get that off quickly.  Or because I'm lazy and the medium made the sanding go a lot faster.

Once sanded, I hit it with a base layer of spray paint.

But it seemed too light to me, so I grabbed another can I had and layered it on.  (I think it was Krylon Pebble).  The real fun began when I started shopping for the new handles.  I hit a few different favorite stores before settling on these.  They didn't come with screws, so I then hit up my dad's awesome stash and found four that worked and four nuts to hold them on.  Daddy helped me saw off the extra length on the screws, and this was where I learned that metal work is not for me.  (Can you say sparks on my arms and legs?  Yeah, done.)  Then I touched up the inside where it had gotten scored a little from sawing off the screws.

And here she is!

The perfect start to my day is a peaceful cup of coffee and some time uninterrupted with the Lord.  I love it when that actually happens, too!

 

I left the extra hole in the top open for future ribbons, string, or cute "accessorization."

I am digging the tray on the deck, too.  Every southern gal needs a way to get her refreshing sweet tea outside. 

And there's no better friend to sweet tea than Banana Cake with Quick Caramel Frosting, right?

 

 

Occasionally there's a little girl lurking around the freshly cut cake slice, too...

 

It didn't last long!

A small project that is already bringing a lot of pleasure to our family!

 

Cord capers

Last year I bought this lovely lamp base at a yard sale.

I just loved the different colors of green and gold. 

I bought the shade at another yard sale the same day.

Which just solidified my LOVE for this lamp!  I thought the narrow shade was perfect for this little nook in my kitchen. 

The warmth this little light gives first thing in the morning, on a dark afternoon, or at night cozies up the place.  Sometimes it's on just for funzies.  ;) It's the first thing I turn on in the morning, before coffee starts brewing and kiddos start asking.

Now.  On to the issue at hand.

Yes, cord.  The spotlight is on you.  We all see you.  You aren't even trying to hide.

What to do??  I am not loving this cord.  I tried to hide it this way:

but I think it looks cluttery with the long box.  And a smaller box isn't heavy enough to push the cord back.

The cord plugs in here:

Hmm...should have wiped the counter before I took this one...

The only other plug is on the other side of the sink.  The cord will stretch over there, but then it's all in my business on the sink (tangled in the soap and faucet).

Is there a better way to hide this sucker?  Help! 

The Final Frontier

We have lived in this house for twelve years.

It took me a veeeeery long time to be brave enough to paint. 

Too long.

I started in the guest bathroom.  (AKA:  Small).  Waited until the hubs had gone out of town and went mad with a too-bright yellow.  But it's still the same yellow and I am crazy about it.  That room is now the kids' bathroom, and I found the perfect shower curtain to tone down the yellow madness.  Most importantly, though, was that it made me brave.

Each room we've painted over time has been the exact same process.  Paint swatches.  Samples on the wall.  Jump in.  PURE PANIC THAT IT'S TOO DARK.  Eventually, love! 

Everything is going to look drastic when you are painting over builder off-white.  At least I keep telling myself that.  It doesn't seem to change the process for me, though.

So, finally we come to the last room in the house that needs (desperate) attention.  (OK, we aren't going to count the laundry room yet.  The paint swatches are taped up in there, though...that counts, right?)  Drum roll..........

The dining room! 

I've been so scared of this room because of those high ceilings.  I've always wondered How in the blazes are we gonna get up there???

When I painted the master bath, I found this lovely friend:

He's my dear friend.  We're close.  And holy moly, did you know there was a Mr Long Arm website???  Oh, I will be checking out this guy next.  And these would run circles around my plastic Walmart-bag-in-the-fridge method right now, don't ya think?  Technology...amazing...

Focus...

So I thought this would be the perfect time to buy myself some tools  try my hand at chair rail.  That's to come!  (It's sitting in the garage crying at the neglect it's experiencing.  I'm coming, lovely chair rail!)  Can't WAIT to break in my new compressor and nail gun.  Yeah!

But first, must.  Finish.  Painting.

Here's another look at our colors:

Love love love to peel the tape.  Couldn't wait-had to see the chair rail line...

And here's how we are living right now.

Wow.

Really tired of that.  The kids love it, though.

:)

Dreaming of the first meal in this new room...Can't wait!