Bargain Buys

[$7.50]

[$195.30]

[$90.30]

[$119.60]

[$89.40]

[$4.80]

[$399.60]

[$135.50]

All of these items are on sale at Wisteria right now.  They are such great buys! 

I want all of them.  Click on each image to go to the site.

Happy Buying!

LiveJournal Tags: wisteria

DIY HEADBOARD

I just saw this DIY upholstered headboard idea on the blog Organized Design.  It was too awesome not to share with you.  The shape is perfect and what’s even better is that Jen only spent $85 making it.  Check out the rest of the story here.

LiveJournal Tags: DIY,Upholstered Headboard

My friend, Brooke.

I have a sweet friend. Her name is Brooke. I went to high school with her back in the 90's (I swear, I'm not old).

I was invited to her wedding to her then fiance, Andie, but for whatever reason, I couldn't attend. I regret that now. Theirs was a monumental love. One I get jealous of when Southern Hubby does something dumb like leave his socks on the floor.

In 2009, they were blessed with beautiful twin girls, even though Brooke had a heart condition that made even one pregnancy high risk. God blessed both girls with health, laughter and their mother's beauty.

This past June, Andie died suddenly while on family vacation. Brooke was laying in bed right next to him. He was only 34. Brooke was 29 and the girls were 10 months old. And it was just 2 days before Andie's first Father's Day.

When I pray about Brooke and Andie, sometimes I get frustrated with God. Why would He, in all His power and grace, take away a man that contributed to this world for the better. He was a husband. A sherrif. A new father. A best friend. A son. A brother. A protector. A provider.

It is something I'll probably never understand. I know He has his reasons. I just don't get them.

I have no other reason to be writing this post other than I hurt so much for Brooke. I was hoping my readers could lift her up in prayer today. She has an amazing blog that chronicles the grief she feels as she navigates the world of widowhood. It is a wonderful, award-winning blog and Brooke is an excellent writer. Please visit her and say a prayer for her and her sweet babies.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

                                                2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I have a problem.

I think I *might* have a slight obsession problem with the color pink. Tell me I'm not the only one.

From the top: my cell phone, my agenda, my Kindle, my Bible, my journal.

Oh, and half of these are monogrammed/initialed. If there was an option for it, I did it.

I think I need help.

hello Suzani

World Market has been a long-time favorite of mine as far as home decor stores go.  Lately I feel like they have really stepped up their game too.  One thing that I’m really loving right now is this Suzani Flat Woven Wool Rug.

The colors are really vibrant and fun but sophisticated at the same time.  I could totally see a room designed around this very rug.

LiveJournal Tags: world market,suzani flat woven wool rug

Are you ready for Monday?

When I first became a homemaker, one of the greatest nuggets of wisdom I received was to be prepared for Mondays.

Mondays.


You know, the day when you hit the ground running (or wobbling) as soon as your feet hit the floor? Reaching for that first cup of glorious coffee, you look around your house through half-shut eyes wondering where to begin your day.

I resolved to be as prepared for Mondays as I could. And it's helped make the rest of the week go smoothly. In homemaking (and life), one small thing often affects the next, good or bad.

My routine for preparing often begins a couple hours before bed on Sunday night. It will take a good 30-45 minutes, so make sure you leave yourself enough uninterrupted time to get everything done. (If your free time happens to be in the mornings, then by all means, do it then. Do what works for your family!)

There are several things I need to accomplish during this preparation. I like having all the tools at hand so I don't have to get up every ten minutes to get something I forgot. For my purposes, I gather my:

• agenda/schedule 
• homemaking binder 
• recipes 
• notebook 
• and a pen 

Light a nice smelling candle and pour yourself some water or cup of hot tea. It makes the experience that much more pleasurable and adds a bit of calm to the routine. :)

 Go down the list of the things you need to accomplish this week and divide them up. For my household, I follow this plan:

1. Ask God to bless your week and watch over your family. Reflect on the things you want to accomplish this week. Ask him to help you plan your week so that it is all for His good and glory.

2.Weekly Menu Plan: Plan your menu for the week. Then make a grocery list of all the things you will be needing, making sure to check your pantry so that you don't buy something you don't need.

3. Agenda check: Use this time to take a quick glance at what your upcoming week holds. Are there any doctor appointments, dance classes, or soccer games you forgot about? Make sure your dinner plans revolve around these activities so you are prepared. Not planning is a sure fire way to make sure you unnecessarily spend money on eating out. 

4. Home cleaning/organization plan: Plan the things around the house that need to get done this week. It is always a good idea to have one big task each week. For example, does your fridge need cleaning out? Do the holiday decorations need to be put up? Doing one big thing per week allows you enough time to get it done without having to be a harried mess.

5. Weekly Bible study plan: What things do you want to learn and read about this week? Make a plan for it each day so that you actually do it. You have a better chance of getting it done if you write it down.

Finally, it is so important to actually get to bed on time. It is a bad habit of ours to stay up late on Sunday nights. We don't want the weekend to end. Let me tell you from experience, staying up late makes your Monday mornings that much worse!

Of course, this only works for our family. Your list will look different, especially if you have children. Use this as a starting point and tweak it to work for you and your needs. Once you get into the groove of things, I promise it won't be a chore. I love this little time away to prep for my week. It gives me a sense of calm and order and prepares me for the lovely days ahead. :)

Show and tell

I finally got a chance to take a photo of my family room.  There are still so many things that I want to do in here but at least it is presentable. 

One of the hardest parts about being a designer is knowing what you would love to do to your own home but not having the means or the time to actually do them.  Some things that I’m hoping to do in the near future…

1.  Replace the floor lamp in the far corner with a task lamp like this one.

2.  I purposely didn’t show the end table on the other side of the sofa.  You can only see the tip of the corner in the pic.  It needs to be replaced, along with the light fixture that is sitting on it.  I want to replace it with something like this table from Wisteria.And this lamp from Ballard Designs.3.  I also need to fluff up the bookshelves with new accessories.

The list of “things to do” goes on and on.  I’m hopeful that I can get everything done sooner than later.  We’ll see how that goes.  I’ve got a lot on my plate right now and an even tighter budget due to the little one that’s on the way.   

I hope you all will have a lovely, sunshiny weekend!  This weekend Billy and I will be spending some time in Huntsville with my Mom.  I can’t wait to see her and my brother.  See you all next week.

LiveJournal Tags: our house,pottery barn,wisteria,ballard designs

What's in my Bag???

Hi everyone, Today I'm guest blogging over at 1551 Transformed.  Head on over to Kelly's fun blog to see what a carry with me on a daily basis.  Click Here to see the post.  xo, Cristi

Are you 'Poo Free?

I just came across an article the other day about going 'poo free- "shampoo" free, that is. (You didn't think I'd talk about real poo, did you?)

At first glance, a small shiver went down my back. I have a very low tolerance for other people's hair, especially if it's super oily. To me, oily = stinky and gross and I don't want it anywhere near me. I could never be a hair stylist, so bless you to all those who can tolerate other people's hair, cause someone has to do it. I have a weird aversion to feet too, but that's another post another time.

Basically, the theory behind going shampoo free is to save your hair from the harsh cleaning agent that it really is. There are plenty of unpronounceable chemicals in your shampoo that aren't good for you, especially when they run down your skin. And we all know that skin is the largest organ we have. I never thought about what is seeping into my skin. Most shampoos will also contain mineral oil, which (I didn't know until recently) is a byproduct produced when gasoline is distilled from crude oil. Ummm, yuck.

So what can you use?

After reading on it just a bit, I found that the most natural, cost effective, and eco-friendly way to clean your hair is to use what most of you probably have in your cupboards- baking soda. Apparently, it's wonderful for your hair, cleans it and leaves it fresh and naturally shiny. I've also read that if your hair is super fine, you can also just rinse it with water. I have thick, curly/wavy hair that is prone to oil at the roots and dryness at the tips, so I won't be going that route.

But what if you're a conditioner addict like me?

The eco-hippies have you covered for that one too! (I heart you, eco-hippies!) ;) A quick apple cider vinegar rinse is said to detangle the hair follicles, balance the pH of your hair and seal the cuticles. When mixed with water, the mildly acidic vinegar helps counteract the baking soda.

I'm still not 100% sure. I'm sure it's all well and good, but I'm seriously a foam and lather addict. If I don't get that foamy feel, I don't feel my hair is clean. I'll suds up again, apparently, stripping more oils from my scalp, which cause me to use more conditioner, which makes my hair more oily. And the wretched cycle continues.

So, I think I'm going to give a shot. Not just yet, I want to read up a little more on it. But, what's the harm in trying for a week or two? Anyone out there have any experiences they'd like to share in going 'poo free?
I'll let you know how it goes either way! 

For more information on going shampoo free, visit:

Natural Forces
5 Minutes for Going Green

Tweet Tweet

I’ve been struggling to figure out what to put over my fireplace that is in the new nursery.  I wanted something very cool and unique because the wall that the fireplace is on is really small and not very interesting. 

While shopping in West Elm I found the absolute perfect cluster of items.  First I found these precious ceramic bird houses.

Then I found these adorable little paper birds.

I’m planning to attach the birdhouses to the wall with simple hooks like these.

 And on top of each hook I’m going to put house numbers like the one below.  Proabably 1, 2 & 3.

The cute birdie will be perched on top of an upside down square toothbrush holder from this white laquer West Elm collection.

I was hoping to be able to get this collage up on the wall over the weekend, but I spent too much time shopping for the nursery.  Whoopsie!  I plan to have it up soon though. 

LiveJournal Tags: my nursery,west elm,birds

Love Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there. :) This year, I decided to make some cookies for my neighbors, parents and dear friends. I'll be dropping them off on their door steps for an unexpected surprise when they get home.

I made the Chewy Chocolate Chunk-Cherry cookies that I found in this month's Martha Stewart. They came out so very good!

Ingredients

Makes about 40 

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 
• 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
• 2 cups packed light-brown sugar 
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 4 large eggs 
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (2 1/2 cups)
• 8 ounces dried cherries (1 1/2 cups) 

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla, then flour mixture. Beat in chocolate and cherries. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

2.Roll dough into 1 3/4-inch balls (about 3 tablespoons each), and arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 3 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets set on wire racks for 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; let cool completely.

I packed them into sweet bags from Hobby Lobby and tied them up with a ribbon and small tag and they're ready to go!

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!!! Now, go spread love! xo

"love is the voice under all silences, the hope which has no opposite in fear; the strength so strong mere force is feebleness: the truth more first than sun, more last than star..."

                                                                                           — e.e. cummings

Thankful Living: Week 7

Sorry I skipped a week!   

Three moments from another week passed of thankful living.

Can we ever be thankful enough?

Week-ending Five

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

:: our life group Bible study starting back up again this week! ::

 

:: the fact that I don't take Valentine's day too seriously, yet Southern Hubby still tries to romance me on that day v::

:: a great read this week... Firefly Lane:: 

PS. The winner of the St. Bernard Sports giveaway is Megan, from Carolina Prep! Congratulations Megan. Email me for your promo code so you can start shopping! :)

Being Authentic. Really?

The word 'authenticity' has been floating around a ton lately. I read about it on all the blogs I frequent. But what does that mean anyway? What is being authentic? I will be the first to admit I have no earthly idea. Late at night, when I'm trying to sleep, I try to form a list of what it means to me. It never comes.

But I've learned that as I age, actually being authentic comes much more easily. I think I do it without even trying. And I like that.

To me, being authentic means:

• loving that I want to go to church each Sunday, but that I don't always make it.
• recognizing that I am not as meek as God wants me to be.
• getting a big zit on my cheek and reverting back to my 16 year old self-conscious ways
• liking my dogs more than most people
• being OK with the fact that I listen most to the oldies station and don't know the latest Rihanna song
• dancing while I was the dishes
• just realizing that forgiveness is one of the hardest lessons I'll learn

It doesn't mean trying to prove to others that this is me, but just being. Period. Just being. Just living. Just loving. That's all. And knowing that those that truly love you will love you regardless. To me, being authentic is loving yourself, even with the zits, even with the dancing, even with the unhip song repertoire.

Last week at church, we talked about grace. My priest said that grace means that God, "love us anyway." And isn't that what's most important? Despite all the crap we put ourselves through trying to be authentic, God loves us anyway.

What does being authentic mean to you?



PS Don't forget that the $75 gift certificate to St. Bernard Sports ends soon! Enter here.

3rd time’s a charm…

Well, hopefully it is.  I’m back with my 3rd and hopefully final nursery design.  When it comes to designing stuff for myself I’m terribly indecisive.  I think it’s because I’m so overexposed to great design all the time.  As soon as I get something planned for myself, I inevitably find something that I like better.  It’s an awful flaw to have.  Fortunately it’s not one that I have when it comes to designing other people’s homes. 

In case you haven’t been around long let me guide you through my nursery design metamorphosis.  So I started out with this design…

I really liked it but then after browsing through the Urban Outfitters website I found another fabric that I loved so I changed things up a bit. 

I really jumped the gun on the redesign.  I definitely should have waited until the fabric actually came in.  Maybe then I wouldn’t have been so disappointed.  Once I started changing the design, the less I liked the original.  And, after searching and searching for a fabric similar to the UO fabric I finally gave up and went a totally different direction. 

So, here’s my 3rd and better be final design for Chase’s nursery. 

This nursery just feels right to me.  I’ve already gotten the Alphabet print in and that’s one of the main reasons that I gravitated towards orange and blue.  There is so much orange in the print and I love it.  I’m planning to do an art grouping above the crib and this will be the main piece.

The Thom Felicia Kravet fabric is a bit out of my budget(even at the wholesale cost) so I’ve ordered swatches for a few less expensive alternatives. 

Really the only major decision that I have left to make is on a glider.  I love this one from Four Seasons Furniture [in a different fabric of course] which can be purchased here, but it’s also out of my price range. 

My budget for a glider is more in the “find it on Craigslist” range.  So, I’ve been checking CL daily for one that I can buy inexpensively and have slipcovered.  So far no luck, but I’m staying optimistic. 

We have yet to move our current guest room furniture out, so it will be quite sometime before I can post progress pictures.  I promise I will post them as soon as I have them though.

LiveJournal Tags: my nursery,four seasons furniture,Thom Felicia,Kravet