i think ... i love ... you are ...

I must admit, I HATE greeting cards. Don't be mistaken, I love sweet notes and love letters. But, I cannot stand buying a card with someone else's words and then just signing my name. I think it is the biggest waste of $4.00 I have ever seen. I would much rather send and receive a piece of notebook paper with someone's own words and thoughts any day.

I think that part of my dislike for them has come from my mom. My mom LOVES greeting cards. As a child {and still today}she would make me read each one out loud on my birthday. I read them, but the whole time I am thinking ... you didn't even write this.

I know that people are trying to be sweet and the stolen words they chose are a representation of how they feel ... I get that ... and I think that the intention is sweet. But it's still silly to me.

When E and I got married I added up all of the cards we had received for showers and from the big day, and it was truly unbelievable how much money people spent on cards.

 

Ok, enough of my ramble ...

While I do not generally love greeting cards, I could totally go for a couple of these ...

They are truly perfect! There's the convenience of a card for the non-artsy type, but you can fill in your own thoughts and emotions. I have already messaged the seller and asked if she would like to make a little trade with Stella Bella Boutique.

She also is selling these adorable valentines. I love them as well. If you are more of the handmade valentine type, you could always use some of these phrases for inspiration.

Both products are created by Little Aviary. Enjoy!

hope

Being on vacation has left me out of the blog loop. So, today was the first I have heard about craft hope for haiti. Have you heard? It's an amazing opportunity. You can support the mission by either buying or selling.

Craft Hope has created an etsy store of donated items that will be sold to support doctors without borders. As of today the store has sold over 1,000 donated items!

I hope that you will think of a handmade item you could sell on the store, or that you would even browse and find a wonderful handmade item for yourself.

Who doesn't love to shop etsy? Especially when you know that your money is going towards such a enormous need.

Today, I donated this pair of earrings.

So often when devastation to this degree happens I feel confused about what to do. I know that I could write a check {which is needed greatly}, but I always feel like I want to do something more personal. My heart feels like I want to jump on a plane and feed and give water to all of the people in need. Or adopt one of the many orphaned children and give them one of the bedrooms in my house that lies empty night after night.

But ... I know that is not always realistic. Maybe God has big plans like that, I'm not going to undershoot the plans He has. All I do know is for today I can use the gifts that He has given me to help those in need. So it only seemed fitting to begin donating jewelry.

What skill or gift has He blessed you with? How could you use what you already possess to help? While I was in CO, I was watching the news and people there were donating tents. A man being interviewed simply said "everyone in Colorado has a tent, maybe even two."

We already have so much. Go ahead and use Craft Hope as a way to creatively serve those in desperate need.

Acts 2:45

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Desination: Steamboat Springs

I'm leaving on a jet plane ... as of tomorrow at 5 am! Pray for my safety & that I return with all of my limbs. This is my first skiing trip out west and I am excited / nervous.

Talk to you again soon. Hope that you have a fabulous week.

front door decor

Lately, I have been a sucker for large frames like this one. I know it's a little past the holiday season, but this picture still inspired me. How cute would this be if you switched out the ornaments for an initial? Love it!

heart

this sums things up pretty well

inside my brain: the kitchen

Warning: This is only the beginning of the decor ideas I have going on inside my brain

Here is what our kitchen looks NOW:

 

A couple of things that I would like to do {on a major budget}

1. Paint the chairs a light blue / teal color. I might paint the table too. I'll have to see how it looks after the chairs are painted. I love it when people mix match the chairs, but I might just make do with what I have for now.

 

2. I want to make this super fun Anthro knock-off light to hang over our kitchen table. {I already bought the basket that I am going to use}

 

3. I might make a doily table runner like this one. Not sure yet. Probably will.

 

 4. Tear out the kitchen cabinets on the to the left and the ones that bend around (to make a bar ... but there is absolutely no room to put stools up to it. So now it is just extended countertop that takes up space and make the table feel super cramped.

After I tear out the cabinets, then I will need to tear up the floor. Then, I want to extend the flooring that's under the table into the rest of the kitchen. I hope that I can match the color. I have the name of the manufacturer, but I haven't looked into it yet.

 

5. Next on the list, replace the existing countertops with these butcher block ones from Ikea. These are the same coutnertops used in the kitchen with the wire basket lamp, and I think they turned out great. This is a very inexpensive alternative to granite or even laminate.

 

 6. Next up, paint the cabinets all white. I am also going to leave the doors off of the top ones, just like in this picture. I love how much more open it makes a kitchen feel.

7. I also want to get rid of our microwave cart that is shoved in the corner, and put a new microwave above the existing stove.

8. While I am at Ikea, I am also going to pick up a couple of this clamp on lights.

 

9. For the lighting over the sink and bar, I am thinking about one of these pendants. Which one is your favorite?

 

10. Maybe not right away, but someday I would also love to buy a large natural fiber rug for under the table.

11. On the large wall behind the table, I am going to add a huge chalkboard like this one.

12. {I told you I had a lot stored up there in my head} I would also love to start collecting and fill my cabinets full of depression glass.

13. {It just keeps coming} I would also love to add these to the bottom cabinets.

 

14. And ... if I find an extra $185.00 I will put in one of these Ikea versions of a farmhouse sink.

15. Since I am taking away some storage by ripping out the cabinets to make room for an island, I want to add a set of vintage lockers against the left wall in their place. So far I haven't had a lot of luck finding vintage lockers in Lexington. I found some on ebay that are reasonable, but I would really like to see them first. I also found a lot of new lockers at a good price. Maybe I will just have to go with new and vintage them myself. Keep your eyes open, ok?

16. One small thing ... I am going to add a strip of molding to the top of the cabinets. I hope that this will make them look a little taller and add some detail.

Can you see it now?

I know you are all thinking, that's all? I know I know I have a lot of ideas. One of my resolutions was to make my kitchen cooler this year and I am bound and determined to make it happen. Not sure yet about the start date. I will need to save a little bit more cash. Unfortunately things like ... pay off the car ... were also on the resolution list. Boo.

I would LOVE to hear from you. Any suggestions, sites, or ideas that you think would fit with the things I have shared :) Or any of your expertise on renovating a kitchen without spending a small fortune.

a sad monday

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging. I just wanted to let you know that there will be no giveaway this week. {Warning, now you're going to hate me even more} ...  E and I will be leaving for the snowy slopes of Colorado later this week. Don't worry though, I will faithfully return with yet another fabulous giveaway next Monday. Enjoy your weeks :)

a look into the past year {our home}

For two people that know practically nothing about remodeling or renovation, I think that we made a few major advances on this place we call home.

In the past year, we turned this ...

Into this ...

 

 

A spare bedroom that actually has function.

And we turned this ...

 

Into this ...

 We gutted everything! Our bathroom might be my favorite room in the house.

And lastly

 This...

 

Into this...

Since we turned the nasty, poor excuse for an office area into a spare bedroom, we used some of the laundry room space for office area.

It is truly amazing what a couple cans of paint (we've painted walls, furniture, chandelier, you name it!) and some homemade window treatments can do. That part we could do on our own, but when it came to the bathroom we were clueless! Thankfully we had an amazing couple from our church that helped us in unmeasurable ways.

I'll be back soon to share some of my plans for this years' changes. I bet you can guess ... our kitchen is DEFINITELY included in those plans!

and the winner is ... and a date

This week's giveaway goes to Ms. Jennifer! Congrats to you! Don't forget to stop by L S Colletions  ... and don't forget to stop back on Monday as there will be another giveaway. This might be your lucky week. Thanks again to all the sponsors and readers for your amazing support.

Here are a couple of my other favorites from L S Collections.

 

I hope that each of you enjoy your weekend. If were you live got a little snow, then I hope you stay bundled and warm. We did get a little snow here in Kentucky, and this morning my work was on a 2-hour delay! I was super pumped. There's nothing like an extra two hours of sleep to start off a Friday.

Tonight I am taking  E on a date to see It's Complicated. Has anyone else seen this yet? Is it one of those flicks that both sexes can appreciate? I'm hoping. I think it looks fabulous. You know what else looks fabulous? Could you read my mind? Yes, the gray clawfoot tub!

And last but not least ... a Friday tune. An oldie for you. It's so strange how the words are so terribly sad, but for some reason the song makes you (or maybe just me) feel good.

turquoise

On this blustery cold and snowy day, it is nice to look at pictures like this one and think ... it will be warm again someday. Someday there will be warm open air and pretty pink flowers ...  someday! For now I guess I should enjoy the pretty snow ... and hope for an early dismissal from work.

this will be the year ...

... that i will get organized.

Along with healthy eating habits, exercise, and budgeting, I believe that organization is up there on most people's resolutions.

There is something so relaxing about a clean and organized home. Call me a little OCD, but I can't lay on the couch and relax if I feel like things are messy or cluttered around me. I am definitely not pefect about it. My greatest struggle is with things that are hidden. Open a pantry or cabinet doors in my house and there's no telling what might fall out.

I am really going to try to live by the "everything in it's place." I am really going to try to cut out the junk in my house and get rid of the things I don't need. Simplify! Hopefully this will help me to save a little cash along the way as well!

What do you guys do to stay organized?

Here are a couple bits of organization inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing that I saw in a magazine the other day was the idea of a trade / swap party.

{I am not talking about swingers here}

The idea was you host a party with your favorite people, good food, drink, and other girly things. Each friend brings a couple of things from their house that they no longer want or no longer use. The number of items is set before the party. Each item is tagged at the door. During the party, each guest is given a couple of clothes pins with their initials on them. If you see an item that you like, simply put your clothes pin on the tag. If more than one person picks an item, then you can pick a number or draws names from a hat.

Everyone leaves home happy & no spends a dime. Why didn't I think of this idea ??? 

I would love to have a party like this! Anyone else want to join me?