Love, Laughter, Life.....& Lunacy

Back In The Saddle...

2010-01-19T15:16:00.001-08:00

So, it's been more than a month since my last post. Bad, bad blogger...I didn't even post pictures of our Christmas decorations. We got a nasty flu bug in our house in December, and with such a big family...well you can imagine how the month went.

Anyway, here's a very small transformation so I can participate at Kimba's today. Before I get to the pictures, let me first apologize for the horrible quality...it seems my daughter has "misplaced" the charger for my camera battery so I had to make do with my iPhone. Hopefully, you'll get the idea despite the poor quality.

I LOVE letters, words and sayings. My number one love language is the written word, and I *heart* seeing cute, funny and/or meaningful phrases. Since, as you can imagine, I spend ALOT of time in my laundry room, I thought that was the perfect place to post these little phrases and enjoy them.

It all started with your builder basic six panel white door (this is the door that leads to our garage)...

I recommend you NOT follow my lead on this next step! Seriously....I.Do.Not.Recommend.This!

I went to my local hardware store in search of blackboard paint. I live in a VERY small town, and wouldn't you know it, they only had it available in spray form. I REALLY wanted this done NOW, so I bought a couple cans and brought it home. I taped off the cabinets, washer/dryer, walls, floor, and ceiling with plastic drop cloths and began spraying away. Clearly, though I love the written word, I failed to read the warning on the can to use this product in a well-ventilated area. Let's just say I was VERY dizzy for quite awhile after completion.

BUT...Look what I got out of it...a big beautiful canvas to fill up with words to my heart's content...

I also tied a cute little chalkboard tag onto a basket I already had with a fabric scrap to hold my chalkl (These chalk markers from Michael's are the best thing ever!)

After letting the paint cure for 24 hours, I covered the ENTIRE door with (regular) chalk to "prime" the surface (see I can read instructions if I want to). Then the fun part...filling up the door with things that make me smile...

I have a million and one other projects on the to-do list, but Mother Nature is not cooperating. It is raining cats and dogs around here and most of my projects require spray paint. Let's just say I learned my lesson...I will NOT be spray painting in a fully enclosed room again any time soon.

For more fun DIY projects head on over to DIY Day at Kimba's.

Hugs~Andrea

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

2009-12-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

CHAOS!!!

All the beautifully decorated homes I'm seeing across blogland make me feel a little behind on the 8 ball. BUT I am on my way to catching up. The boxes are down and Christmas has vomited all over my dining room. Here's just a small taste of what my dining room looks like right about now...

And HERE'S a sneak peek at what it will eventually all look like...just ignore the wrinkled stockings please...I'll get there...

Off to finish up my HO HO HO~ING!

Happy December!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T06:31:00.001-08:00

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Master Bedroom Art

2009-11-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

We have a vaulted ceiling above our headboard in our master bedroom. I have been searching for the perfect piece of (LARGE) art for years. My search has yielded semi-affordable options that I don't love OR completely unaffordable options with which I am completely enamored. Sigh... I am so tired of looking at that huge space of blank wall. While thrifting a couple of weeks ago, I found this very large, but very ugly painting for $4.

I scrounged around the garage and found two cheapo dollar tree 8X10 frames, and a discarded (because the glass was broken) 11X14 frame. Rummaged through my fabric scraps and found a piece large enough to cover the original picture. And finally, ran out and bought two 7" letters and one 10" letter for our initials.

First I spray painted the frames and letters a dark brown.

Then I brushed on (wiping excess away) gold craft paint.

Assembly was a piece of cake. Cover original picture with fabric, install back into large frame, center and hang frames on fabric covered background, center and install letters within smaller frames. Hang and enjoy!

It's certainly not gallery worthy, but it meets my need for something over the bed! And for under $10 to boot!

Now go visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more great ideas!

Hugs~Andrea

A Kid Friendly Project

2009-11-22T17:07:00.000-08:00

In mid October, Maison, Kenzie and I spent a few days at our favorite hotel in Memphis. While there, we worked on a little project...something for each of them to use to put a personal mark on their bedrooms. It was easy peasy and lots of fun! We purchased all our supplies at Hobby Lobby and got to work.

SUPPLIES
~Chipboard Letters
~Scissors
~Various, personally picked scrapbook papers
~Acrylic paint
~Mod Podge
~Foam brushes
~Hobby Lobby's yummy pumpkin spice candle to make the hotel room smell like home!

TRACE AND CUT YOUR LETTERS

PAINT YOUR LETTERS

OR YOUR HAND

GLUE YOUR PAPERS ON, COAT SEVERAL TIMES

SHOW OFF YOUR HANDIWORK!

And the reason this is our favorite hotel in Memphis...an indoor pool, that is heated extra, extra warm in the cooler months!

I think they turned out great, and the kids are SO proud of them! Now, of course, James and Brianna want some for their rooms.

Now go see Kimba at A Soft Place To Land for DIY Day and lots of ideas!

Hugs~Andrea

With Not A Minute To Spare...

2009-11-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post a few of my Fall decoration pictures...since there are only a few days of life left in them. I have neglected the blog woefully...life seems to keep getting in the way. So without further adieu...

ENTRY TABLE

TOP OF BAR CABINET

LIVING ROOM COFFEE TABLE

BUFFET

TOP OF COMPUTER ARMOIRE

OUR FAMILY THANKSGIVING TREE

I asked my daughter to take a few photos to capture our Fall decor. There is much more, but this is what she came up with...and since Christmas is upon us...I'm calling it good for the old blog this year. Thanks for looking. Have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Hugs~Andrea

We interrupt the regularly scheduled post for....a FABULOUS giveaway!

2009-08-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

So one of my favorite blogs is having a fabulous giveaway today. Melissa at The Inspired Room is hosting it. It is this fabulous, genuine, one-of-a-kind, antique grainsack...

Visit her site to enter for yourself!

Good luck....well, sort of....since I really want to win it.

Happy Tuesday!

Hugs~A

Don't Worry...Be Happy...

2009-08-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Have you ever experienced a time when things were so overwhelming that you could not sleep? Have there been times when you were so preoccupied with a problem that you could scarcely function? Have there been issues in your life that seem to control every waking thought? If so, you know worry. Paul understood that humans have a natural tendency to become anxious. He knew that anxiety is one of the greatest thieves of joy.

Don't you hate when people tell you not to worry? It is so easy to say and much, much harder to do. Don't you sometimes feel that the person who is telling you not to worry is the one who doesn't fully comprehend the problem because if they did they would be worried too? I think Paul understood this...he knew that worry is natural, but also that it is a thief. Worry robs us of our ability to think, function and enjoy life.

How do we avoid worry. There is only ONE way...we have to ASK God to help us put our worries down and trust Him to meet them. I am not capable of giving up my worries on my own. I must rely on God to alleviate them...over and over again (because I tend to pick them back up over and over again). Only when I give my worries and anxieties to God can I REST in Him and engage in life again.

This is an area I struggle with often...and am struggling with now. Join with me in prayer...ask your Perfect Parent to take those worries and exchange them for rest and joy in living.

Hugs~A

Meet the Family

2009-08-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to have you here at my little virtual home. Most of you probably already know my family, but for those visiting who don't I thought introductions were in order.

The Hubby, aka Durk My love, my partner, my biggest supporter and most trusted friend. And the chief cause of my lunacy!

The Eldest, aka Memphis The amazing human being who made me a mother nearly 17 years ago. He is also the chief guinea pig around here, since we try out all our parenting on him. I guess that makes us the chief cause of his lunacy.

The 12 year old, aka Mais-Man My second-born, deep thinker, king of the million dollar smile, and future golf legend.

The other 12 year old, aka Bri My oldest daughter. I have had the privilege of mothering this sweet girl for the last four years....since she was a tiny little thing. Little stinker is now as tall as me. Long, lean and athletic...and lover of all living creatures.

The 9 year old, aka Jamie D My youngest son. His daddy gave me the privilege of being his mom for the last four years. He is hubby's little "Mini Me", to a T. Magic card master and soldier in training.

The baby, aka Kenziebelle The youngest, and the one who taught me how to be a mom to a daughter eight years ago after parenting her very boyish brothers for eight years. This girl is gonna be trouble...outgoing, funny and beautiful. Good thing she has three big brothers to look out for her!

Well, that's us in a nutshell. Thanks again for taking the time to visit and get to know a little about my precious, beautiful family!

Hugs~A

My Inaugural Post......$6 Bulletin Board

2009-08-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

I figured since my first exposure to blogging was with Kimba at A Soft Place to Land, it was only appropriate that my first post on my own blog was one participating in her weekly Do It Yourself Party.

I've been wanting a large bulletin board for a short, narrow hallway in our home to display recent snapshots of our family and friends. This is by no means at the top of my list for home projects in which I want to invest right now. However, while at the Dollar Store this week, I came up with an idea. I purchased two sheets (20 x 30 each) of foam board. I taped them together with duct tape (yes, you can see it through the fabric, but I figure that will soon be covered with pictures) making one large 30 x 40 inch rectangle. I covered the board with one yard of clearance fabric from Wal-Mart (shhh....don't tell, I also just taped the fabric on). I then used two spools of grossgrain ribbon from the Dollar Store to create the diamond grid, inserting thumbtacks (also from the Dollar Store) at each intersection. Done!

Foam board...$2, Fabric...$1, Ribbon...$2, Thumb Tacks...$1. No more annoyingly empty wall...priceless.

Now, head on over to Kimba's to see some REALLY good DIY projects. And thanks for visiting!

Hugs~A