Spring Decor - Part I

Finally! I'm hoping to successfully link up to Mary's Monday Mosaic tonight. She hosts this at her blog Little Red House. I have long admired the creative and fabulous bloggers who participate in Mary's weekly feature. Be sure to check them out here.I've included a few more shots of our mantel. I've fussed and fussed with this and I've decided to let it go. You see, I try to maintain a symmetry on our mantel and this time it just didn't work out. See how my apothecary jars are not the same size? I also wanted to paint some larger eggs to put in the hurricane on the left. It didn't happen. So I put off this post long enough and said "the heck with it". The bunnies are made from vintage handkerchiefs and they remain my favorite Easter decorations.What took the longest was the shelves to the left and right of the fireplace. I completely cleared them off. (Even dusted them!) I looked all over the internet at professional designer sites, bloggers' home photos and retailers for some inspiration and guidance. There was a ton of great stuff to look through! And of course all that research takes time...so my next post I'll share some pointers from those who really know how to decorate.Thanks for stopping by and if you're coming via Mary's Mosaic Monday, I hope you'll come back!

Happy Gotcha Day!

A celebration of our son, who began our family life back in 2002.

Picked for us by God and the angels at Cradle of Hope.

An adorable chunk of love who was instantly a Daddy's boy.

Not yet walking, but always busy.

So eager to be fed, he'd kick his feet, wave his arms
and hold his mouth open like a baby bird.

The son we'd always dreamed of and are blessed to call our own...


Happy Gotcha Day, Jackie-baby!
We love you!

P.S. If you are or know of someone considering adoption, but they want to speak to someone who has been through the process, please feel free to give them my e-mail.

Bedroom Board & Batten or WOO-HOO!

BEFORE

Maybe the title should be "What Was I Thinking?!" I remember being impressed with myself when I matched up a border with a wallpaper from another manufacturer. That was 12 or so years ago.
And cherubs! If you know me, then this might be shocking. In my defense, we were just married. I dunno. I should just let it go and show you the "After".You can find a tutorial here. There are a lot of things I am able to do myself, but power tools simply are not "my thing".Before this treatment, I was thinking I needed to paint our bedroom furniture. Now I see the previous "dirty khaki" paint color was a terrible match for our wood. Now I think it pops nicely against the white. The paint color above is now "Bird's Nest" SR211 by Valspar. Here is another blogger who had the same treatment done in her bedroom. I opted for the bedroom because ours lacks any architectural interest and I wouldn't have to worry about the kiddos knocking into the woodwork.

Thanks for visiting, friends!

Something Different

Sorry for my lengthy absence from posting here...I start feeling really bad when my good friend, Bethany has managed three posts for March, by March 4th and she has four children! I haven't posted since February. Oh fudge.

I have been productive though! I spent a good bit of time moving furniture in preparation for...having painting done and having a board & batten treatment done to our bedroom. So of course, I also spent two days removing wallpaper. (If I ever speak of having wallpaper put up in our home, somebody please promise me you will walk, run, drive or fly to my house, ring my doorbell and smack me upside my head.) I will take you to lunch or dinner and thank you profusely when I come to my senses. Jeez. What was I thinking? Obviously, I had never had to remove wallpaper before I'd gone through my wallpaper phase! Anyway, I will be sure to post some before and after shots when the work is done - which is soon.

In the meantime, I leave you with this:
Camillas from our back yard.
Photograph enhanced with photoshop and textures. Very fun to do!
(Much more fun than removing wallpaper!) What isn't?
Happy Friday, friends!