The Day to Day

I am so empowered by the many braves souls who have linked up to The Decor Chick’s Party that I decided to bite the bullet and join in.  So many times I get overwhelmed with my own life and wonder why I can’t do it all like ‘so & so’.  In blogland and magazines everybody’s lives look clean and organized and PERFECT!  I am sure in some cases this is true, but I am pretty sure in most cases we are all just humans trying to do our best and enjoy life along the way.

Without further ado…

   

The Kitchen. 

Now I am going to be honest with you.  The day I took these pictures was a mild kitchen mess day.  Not sure why it looked somewhat decent, but the mornings it looks like this are ‘good’ days. ;)

 

The Family Room.

This is pretty typical of our family room on a day to day basis.  It seems as though no matter what I do ‘stuff’ just appears.  And MAGICALLY reappears. 

On this given day we have quite an array of items…laundry, cinnamon bears, puppy pee pee cleaner, jelly toast and because a nice Christmas story is always a great read mid January…a basket of Christmas books!

I must say I do love the vignette on the side table.  Starbursts,  a pillow and strategically placed crooked lamp shade. ;)  Have a seat on the bench, lean back and relax… on the garland!  Haha, I love how things end up in odd places.

   

The Garage Entry and Dreaded Laundry Room.

I like to make it as hard as possible to get inside these doors, you know, to deter intruders. My laundry room is not spacious and I know you have heard be whine about it and my lack of mudroom before, but you can see the usual outcome of the situation.  Don’t you think the new puppy crate fits perfectly in the area?

Whoa, I need to go clean something now…feeling overwhelmed;)  Good thing we aren’t alone, right?  I could have shared LOTS of unfinished projects, and even more unorganized rooms, but I didn’t want you to stop reading my blog all together or call TLC & put me on Hoarders! lol:) 

That is the beauty of a new day…to learn and grow and try to be your best self and do better.  Let’s not be too hard on ourselves.  Try to to take it all in stride, don’t sweat the small stuff, and remember what is most important in your life.

One Of My Favorites…

So far in my blogging adventures, I haven’t shared too many rooms in my home. So, today I thought I would share one of my favorite rooms, my ‘baby’s’ bedroom.  One reason being that she is 4 going on 15 so I thought I better document this sweet space before she wants a bedroom makeover, and another reason being that it was actually quite clean….for the moment. ;)

 

My little sister and my oldest daughter both had rooms similar to this one so when they moved on I had a whole lot of fun decor to choose from to mold into this space.  So most of what you see are items passed down, or made from bargain finds. 

I love, love the chandelier in here.  It was one of my very first purchases when Mr. Husband and I married.  It was from PB and it was black.  (Don’t worry, I bought it from a discount store, of course.)  It has followed us with all our moves and now has a nice aged white finish.  I added the little shades I bought from Big Lots for $2.99 each, and the cord cover I got for a steal off of eBay. 

The blessing dress was mine and my Mom painted the little angel pic on the right.  She is so talented in so may ways! I love adding personal, sentimental pieces in decorating.  It makes the space special and ‘yours’.

 

I found the aged tin and barn wood on eBay and simply hung it from some ribbon.  I loaded the top of this pretty armoire with fun stuff and hung a cottage-y wreath I made above.

More sweet stuff from my Mom’s house.

I bought this furniture from my Mom. (more like she gave it to me…she is so good to me) It was my little sister’s and I always loved it!  The bedding was my older daughter’s until she decided she wanted her big girl room.  It was Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic line from Target.  Still so pretty.

 

I love this little cupboard.  I picked it up at a yard sale for $10!  It had the chippy aged paint, I just cleaned it up good and put a clear varnish on it.  I added the little crystal knobs too.  (sorry the lamp and it’s cord need adjusting)

 

 

 

And just so you know a little girl really does live here… A few pictures of all the toys I “hid” for the pictures. ;)

I hope y’all have rooms in your home that make you smile.  Remember that’s the direction you need to take when decorating.  Do what makes you feel good and comfortable.  Stay true to you, do what works for your family and it will all come together.

  Thanks for stopping by. :)

P.S.  When I was finishing up this post, the little princess who lives in this room brought me a piece of scrapbook paper saying, “these are the colors I want my room to be”.  It looks like my days with this room I love so much may be numbered.

Linky Love…
Go check out The Parade of Home Linky Party at Poppies at Play!

Keys To My Heart

Over the holidays, my wonderful Grandma gifted me her mother's piano!  It is amazing how things work out.  My daughter is very musical and I wanted to get her in lessons and I would love to brush up on my piano skills (inallmysparetime) plus, I think pianos are pretty. ;)  I have been looking to get a piano for months now.  I didn't want spend a ton of money and I love things with character so I was looking at a lot of older pianos.  Nothing really worked out and then one fine day my Grandma called and asked if I wanted my Great Grandma's piano.  Well, um yeah, I guess I will take it off your hands!  Are you kidding?  I was sooo excited!  Not only do I get a FREE piano (this always makes Mr. Husband happy), but I get one that belonged to my Grandma who I loved so dearly with all it's character and sentimental value!

My Great-Granparents purchased it in the 1950's.  It's beautiful mahogany wood with real ivory keys.  My grandmother learned to play on it and once she had kids it was in her home so my Mom learned to play on it...aaannnd, when I first started taking lessons we did not have a piano, so I learned to play on it as well!  How's that for sentimental value?!

It could definitely use some refinishing and I will touch it up a bit, but I don't want to lose any of it's charm.  Call me crazy (Mr. Husband does)  but I LOVE all it's little imperfections and "history". Sure it needs a new knob and it is missing it's bench, there are some dings and dents, but I love the story it tells.

This beautiful mark here?.... When my mom was little she left the piano lamp on, it tipped over and almost burnt the house down.  Love it!

I love the angles the curves and all of the amazing details as well.

What makes a house a home?  To me it is filling it with warm and interesting pieces that make you feel good.  I want my home to tell a story.  The story of a family and a life.  I want it to be comfortable and inviting, a place my kids feel they can be themselves.  A retreat from the crazy world out there. Some may look at this piano and think it is a piece of crap.  But, that doesn't matter to me.  Surround yourself with things you love and do what makes you, YOU.

I love that this piano is now in our house.  I love what it represents and I love that it will fill our home with beautiful music.  And every time I hear a note I can hopefully be reminded of my Great Grandma, Grandma and Mom and the amazing women they were and are.  That makes me happy. :)

Feeling inspired so I'm linking up...