Not So Shabby

Christmas around the house...

2011-12-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

Gifts Wrapped, Fireplace Aglow...I just wanted to share a few sweet things my boys made for Christmas. First is the sweet plate Ridge made with his foot & hands, a reindeer with lights. I just love it and put it on a plate rack in the kitchen. Then Ty made a sweet tag along with several other ornaments but the TAG is my favorite because it is little snowmen made out of his fingers!! Thank you God for all of my boys fingers & toes! I love them!

Faces...

2011-12-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

So my MIL came over to take our Christmas Card Pics...Well, Ridge is now 2 and you all know what that means,he cannot sit still for 2 seconds! Check out his little face, you can just see it in his eyes!!

Ty Allen, now 6 was very helpful with Ridge and sometimes overly helpful where that's all he could focus on but bless his heart, he is so sweet and just loves his brother!

We ended up taking several pics & it was pretty funny to view them and see happy faces, stressful faces, silly faces, what are you doing faces. These faces are the most important faces in my life.

As I begin my vacation from work, I am looking forward to spending every moment I can with my boys, all 3 of them!

Life is so busy and sometimes it is good to just Thank God for all of the blessings in your life..

I know I am! 

Thankful...

2011-11-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

So Grateful today for so many blessings...FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD!

EAT LOTS OF PIE, LAUGH & GIVE THANKS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!

Happy Halloween...Arrrrrrrr

2011-10-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

pic taken by grandmother

Arrrrrr...from my little Pirate & Parrot!

Hope you have a FUN & SAFE Halloween!

A little Rain brings alot of Sunshine...The Barron's Wedding

2011-10-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

So a little Rain here in East Texas didn't stop this lovely bride, Hannah, from having a beautiful wedding! As you can see from the pictures, the theme was a little rustic with a touch of elegance and so it all turned out perfect! Hannah and her mom were amazing to work with to plan and define her dream wedding and by the end of the day, a beautiful sunset and a happy couple! Congrats to the Barron's!

Sneak Peek...

2011-10-09T20:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a Little Sneak Peek ....

of a Wedding

Tina, Monica & I of

"One Fine Day" decorated.

More to come soon!

Pinterest Pumpkins...

2011-09-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

For the Love of the Pumpkin....

Thanks Pinterest for such and cute ideas!

Map It...

2011-08-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

source, pinterest

For the LOVE of maps..and the great thing about them is they are easy to find and can add so much character & cuteness to any space!

With school starting next week and the anticipation of Kindergarten, I think I will add a few maps in the boys playroom!

A little touch of Rust...Wedding Shower

2011-08-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

The fun just won't stop as Tina, Monica and I have been busy planning another Vintage Rustic Wedding and staying busy decorating. Thanks to my MIL, Mary who took this pic of a wedding shower we did last weekend. The wedding shower had a Rustic Flair so we did what we love to do... loaded our vintage finds, headed over to the pool house and started decorating for the Hamburger Cook-out. Check out the vintage yellow truck Tina brought to put the ketchup, mustard and mayo in, so cute! Oh and we decorated each place setting with a cowboy boot full of fresh sunflowers, greenery and of course a bandanna. The vintage truck shown in the picture above topped it off as we borrowed it from the home owners, Burl and Sabrina Richards. It sure was a dandy with a LOVE banner tied to the back.

We sure would love to own one of those old trucks....maybe one of these days but for now we are having LOTS OF FUN!

Mosaic Piece...

2011-07-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

How FUN are these Mosaic Pieces???

What a great focal point in any room!

I just love every little detail of them...the colors, shapes, hardware, framed out drawers...oh and mirrored fronts!

Happy, Happy

Have a seat..Bar stools

2011-07-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

Bar stools seem so hard to find, especially when looking for that "certain look" and comfort. I recently helped one of my clients find bar stools for her pool house so they needed to be indoor/outdoor with a touch of rustic and industrial. She and her husband picked the last stool posted, stainless with a touch of rust, perfect for the pool house!

To be a Pilot...or not???

2011-07-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

(pics by grandmother)
Our oldest son,Ty, now 5 has been talking alot about wanting to be a pilot when he grows up so Joe and I scheduled an hour ride up with an instructor so that he could get an idea of what to expect. As we arrived, he was very excited and could not wait to get on the plane. From there, the curiosity of the inside of the plane and the fact that daddy was going to get to fly the plane too just excited him even more. As we flew he just went on and on on how cool it was and wondered when we would get to see our house. About 45 minutes into the flight,well our little Ty started getting sick and was ready to land. When we landed he said very seriously, What am I gonna do now and when my husband asked what he meant by it, he said, well I can't be a pilot because flying makes me sick so what am I going to be??? The instructor informed him that most people do get sick on the first fly up and suggested we do it again on a larger plane so Ty said OK. We had a really good time and I really loved the expressions and looks on Ty's face! Something I will never forget!

A touch of YELLOW...

2011-06-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

Just a little something to BRIGHTEN UP your weekend...

More Wedding Pics...

2011-06-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

What an amazing photographer,
Alex M Photography, Jessica and Jason used.

As you can see, the bride, the venue and the night will be unforgettable! Not only did we (Monica, Tina and I) get to decorate for such a lovely bride but we also had so much fun coordinating every little detail!

Memorial Day Weekend...

2011-05-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Wishing you a Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Love these ideas from Pinterest.

The Red Barn SWEETS Table...

2011-05-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

A Country Wedding...

Red barn with custom sliding wood doors, wood beams and cedar walls...

Tina, Monica and I decorated for the sweetest bride, Jessica Riggs Pierson.

Today, I am going to show you pictures of the Sweets Table and if you will take a peek at Tina's blog, you will find even more great pics of this beautiful country barn wedding we decorated.

So we brought in an old farm table and the story began... an old gate, mirror, rain boots, cloche, sunflowers, galvanized buckets, old sewing drawers, old suitcase, clock, cow and coca-cola machine! We used small newspaper printed vintage bags and boy was it a hit!

We had such a great time putting this table together and I can't wait to show you more soon, oh and if you take another glance, you will see the precious SWEETS banner that Tina's daughter, Mika made for our table, so sweet!

Eye Candy...

2011-05-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

Photos from Pinterest

I just love the idea of a candy bar...

so much

EYE CANDY

in one place!

A Red Wagon and Strawberry Ice Cream...

2011-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of having a MIL that loves her camera and loves taking pics of my boys is that I get an email, open it up and...the sweetest pictures!

.A red wagon, Ice cream...and memories that will last a lifetime...who could ask for anything else?

Thanks Mary!

Tailgate...on the front porch...

2011-04-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

My MIL and I had a wonderful time at Canton and found some really fun things...1st was this GMC tailgate.

I am so excited and can't wait to hang it in the boys playroom but for now it is on the front porch!

I also found this old galvanized bucket and just love the rope handles..too cute.

I also wanted to share some new Dahlia's (pink) that I bought at a local plant farm, they are all blooming and just beautiful...hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

HAPPY EASTER...

2011-04-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

(picture resource: http://www.shelterness.com/)

Wishing you a Wonderful Easter Weekend!

Love this saying...

2011-04-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite things to say to my boys!

OK, who HEARTS old trucks?

2011-03-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

(images from Pinterest)

WOW, what a great feeling I get inside every time I see one of these old trucks, you know that feeling..the "I want it disease".

I remember when my cousins and I would pile up in the back of my Papa's truck & go for a ride on an old back road in the country.. spring air blowing with the windows down....what a great memory! I also am inspired by these old beauties and there is just so much you can do with one...a party, a nap, a photo prop, a long country ride..they just make me Happy, Happy, Happy!

Pantry Screen Door..

2011-03-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

How cute are these pantry doors...love,love!

Oh, and look at the handle on the red one, way to cute!

Vintage Book Pages Guest Bath....

2011-03-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

(Before picture)

So tonight I had a plan...I waited until my husband took Ty to the movies and Ridge went to bed. I then ran out to the garage (with monitor) in a dash and piled up the following items: old books, spray glue, scissors, staple gun and bubble wrap strips. I first measured the walls and then cut my bubble wrap in strips. I then sprayed the bubble wrap with spray glue and stacked the old vintage book pages across. Finally, I placed the bubble wrap with vintage pages on my wall and stapled the ends...

When Joe and Ty returned from the movies, I was done.

Old vintage book pages really made this room look so much better and

I promise if I can do this, anybody can do this!

(After pictures)

A new venture....

2011-03-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

OK, well it has been really busy lately so I have not yet announced that Not So Shabby now has a booth in downtown Henderson at The Mustard Seed ... so if you happen to come this way, please try to stop in and visit the booth. The booth is the first one on the left with a variety of home decor, antiques, bedding and accessories so I am sure you will find something that you cannot live without!

Posted are a few fun things we put in the booth this past week!

a NEW bedding line...

2011-02-21T20:58:00.001-08:00

I am just so thrilled to have picked up this new bedding line!
Of course, you can probably see why when you look at the details of each of the pillows.

Ruffles, satin, leopard, rosettes, tassels...

Loving it!

The Longview Home Show...

2011-02-11T18:27:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures of our small space at the Longview Home Show. The show is this weekend at Maude Cobb Convention Center in Longview. If you are in the area, you should take a peak....

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's weekend!

Loving this...

2011-01-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

Who would like to walk down to this Beautiful Arbor Style pier?

Maybe a swing, some Adirondack rockers and a good book.

I am loving the arches and would love some soft lighting for the evenings.

Oh, and what about a stone fireplace right in the center looking out on the lake?

This picture is in my idea file of some things I would love to have....

Simply Suitcases...

2011-01-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

Picture source: Country Living

I am LOVING suitcases more and more...

So many ways to Stack, Display and Decorate with. I bought my first 2 a couple of years ago in Athens at Winnie & Tulula's and the stack just continues to grow!
So Simple, yet so freaking cute!

From our family to yours...

2010-12-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

2010-12-16T18:53:00.000-08:00

Pictures source: Country Living

Dear Santa, I just wanted to say Thanks for the blogging world!

Because of all of you, I have had inspiration, tears, ideas, prayers, high hopes, laughs, uh ohs and true friends...

Merry Christmas and a very happy 2011!

Jena

Sheet music Christmas table...

2010-12-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

I am loving sheet music as I have used the cones made by my MIL last year for my silverware, vintage sheet music ornaments found in an antique store and some old Kellogg's memory albums with various songs placed around the table. I even bought some plain candles at Walmart, sprayed them with glue and wrapped old sheet pages around them. So simple, yet so elegant!

Ridge is ONE today!!

2010-11-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

WOW, where has the year gone!!

My baby Ridge is ONE YEAR OLD today!

2010-10-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Joining Margo's Linky Industrial Chic Party ....some fun pics around the house!

A little TIME away...

2010-10-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Well, what can I say except that things have just been really busy and crazy so I have just not had much time to blog.
I wanted to show you a few fun things I have done with some new clocks, an old metal box and some precious cream hydrangeas.
Have a wonderful week!

Have a wonderful LABOR DAY weekend..

2010-09-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken at my sisters recent wedding.

My son, nephew and niece's holding hands beside the lake.

So simple yet, so sweet. Wishing you a fun, relaxing Labor Day weekend!

The Salon Remodel...almost complete!

2010-09-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Salon Remodel is almost complete and WOW, does it look different. I was asked to create a design of modern/contemporary in an old Physician office building that was build in the 40's and I promised this building had NOT been updated at all since then. There were patient rooms all down a very long skinny hall and the owner and I decided to open it up and give people "breathing room". I decided to go with a gray on the walls and zircon silver on the ceiling with an emphasis on 3 wow factors. #1, the wallpaper at the entrance and #2, the floors. Please excuse the pic in the left top corner (contractors were still working) but I had to get a shot of our floor design. The design is a black floor with a large "red- carpet" like design. We hung crystal chandeliers down the runway and I will definitely take pics after completion so you can see them. #3 the red chairs. BTW, this remodel also consisted of a spa on the opposite side that is almost complete and a clothing boutique in the front so I promise more pics to come...

New Camera...Canon Powershot G11

2010-08-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

Just took a few pics around the house and so far I am loving my new camera, Canon Powershot G11!

Loving these Laundry Rooms..

2010-07-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

A little Laundry Room Inspiration because we deserve it!

Have a great Tuesday!

Going up,up,up!

2010-07-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well, these lights are going up as I type....one of my close friends and her husband are remodeling a family home that was passed down to them and the last few months, we have gutted, re-designed and picked out every little thing as if it were a new home. The sconces are going up on her dining room walls along with the chandelier, sigh....above her beautiful Italian distressed table! These lights have the most amazing cream distressed beads that are just gorgeous. The double black pendant light will be above her black distressed island with a backdrop of distressed cream cabinets, old brick and bead board! I cannot wait to show you before and after pics, hopefully very soon. In the meantime, have a fabulous weekend!

Office Inspiration..

2010-07-14T18:49:00.001-07:00

I am in the process of a design project for an office and found some great Inspirational Pics. Because alot of us spend so much time in our office, I love the idea of surrounding yourself with the things you love..including artwork, a rug, a few family photos,a great chair. Together, you create an ambiance that you will be inspired by which will make you feel right at home.

Wallpaper is BACK!

2010-07-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

I am doing a remodel for a Salon/Spa in town and so I visited the wallpaper store to see what we could place in the entrance....and yep, I am loving the idea of wallpaper in an entrance or guest bath. It just makes a statement and so I can't wait to show pics when we get the paper up!

I think you will be surprised!

Looking at Life from Behind....

2010-06-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

My boys, Ty Allen & Ridge,photo taken by MIL

Right now I am experiencing a little Anxiety...I mean alot of Anxiety. When this anxiety arrives, I have discovered that if I just sit back and look at what blessings I have, especially my 2 precious boys that just love life, love each other, love mommy and daddy and love the peace of happiness. Blessings are all around me! Sometimes I just need to take a step back, take a Deep Breath and look at life from behind.

Matthew 16:34 "do not worry about tomorrow for it will take of itself"

Wine and Cheese Table Display...

2010-05-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Had a wonderful Wine and Cheese Party with a group of Special Friends this past weekend and wanted to share some of the table display with you...have a beautiful week!

My precious boys...

2010-05-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a new pic of my boys taken by my MIL. I just can't believe how big they are. Ty Allen is 4 and I just could not even imagine what a special and sweet Big Brother he is. Ridge is now 6 months and such a good baby! He just loves to watch his big brother act silly and play! What a Blessing!

Cute as a Button...

2010-04-19T18:48:00.001-07:00

Cute as a Button....

what a precious idea to set on a breakfast table or give to that special mom for Mother's Day! Find more precious arrangements and Mother's Day idea's here.

Easter Inspiration...

2010-03-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

A little Easter Inspiration from Country Living...

Easter is a time of love, A time of death and pain undone, So we may know the power of The love that lives in everyone. Each love we feel, unstained and free,Redeems us--as with you and me!

March Table Inspiration...

2010-03-18T03:44:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful table inspiration...

read all about it here!

A Dream Kitchen...

2010-03-16T19:11:00.001-07:00

There are so many things I love about this kitchen starting with the windows on the entire wall of the sink area. What an amazing view to have and the amount of light it offers. The detail of the glass doors on both sides of the stove top and then the BOOM factor, the pair of chandeliers!

I also love the faux painted cabinets and all of the woodwork and moulding! What a romantic entrance into the kitchen with shelves featured on both sides and the wide plank arched ceiling...I just can't stop looking at it!

4 months old.......

2010-03-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know that I am not hiding out, I promise!

I have been very busy at work and when I get home, I only have a few hours to spend with my precious boys. WOW,How time flies.. Ridge is already 4 months old and growing so fast.

This picture was taken by my MIL as I will share more soon! Ridge is now laughing out loud and he just loves his big brother! His nick name is tater tot and boy do I love that Tater Tot!

My boys PLAYROOM

2010-02-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

When we built the house, we decided to add a small sunroom area right off of the living where it could also attached to our side porch. This would allow for matching french doors onto our porch area. It sure is funny how things change real quickly when you have kids. The sunroom became a perfect playroom for the boys. With a shelf full of books, an old table and red chairs and baskets full of way too many toys and a black chalkboard, this is the perfect area for the boys to play!

Happy Valentine's Day..

2010-02-14T06:04:00.000-08:00

(country living)

Wishing you lot's of Love on this Valentine's Day!

Snow in Texas from a porch point of view...

2010-02-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

How exciting it was to wake up to such beautiful white snow this morning! I ran to get my Droid and started taking pics! I then ran in the house with a snowball to show Ty Allen and boy was he excited! Running to grab his boots, he did not even want a doughnut...

We are having so much fun while it last!

LOVING Burlap...

2010-02-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

Burlap, Burlap Everywhere....

I am loving all of the creative things people are making with burlap!

I found it in Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs and, of course, from some of the most creative people in the ETSY world.

I just LOVE the rustic texture mixed in with any style...

YEP, loving burlap!

Daydreaming....

2010-02-05T19:03:00.000-08:00

Daydreaming...thinking of a few things that I just love...old chippy paint, black and white, old pictures, a comfy chair in a corner,candlesticks,crystals, sconces, birds, old mirrors and beveled glass...just to name a few!

Just a few of my favorite NEW things....

2010-01-24T07:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know why but I can not get away from it,

the new "old-look"..

That look stands a test of time and as long as I can remember has always been IN.

You can mix it with anything new, old,worn or torn and no matter what, it fits in PERFECTLY!

New Drapes...

2010-01-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

Ivory Raw Silk with wrinkle pleats.....I absolutely love my new drapes in the living room. They are the perfect color to just blend with the look I have and match the furniture perfectly. OK, so I took these drapes to my MIL and she made some precious little swags for the breakfast room. Can't wait to show you how they turned out and since we have an open floor plan, they are just what we needed in there.

All Wrapped Up in a Big Red Bow....

2009-12-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

Ohh, I just cannot believe Ridge will be 6 weeks old tomorrow! Time does fly...

These are just a few of my favorite Christmas pics that my MIL took of the boys, so precious! Ty Allen loves his baby brother so much. He loves to come downstairs in the morning and just lay beside Ridge. He picks up his fingers and just examines them and asks, Mommy, did he come out of your tummy? Is he my baby brother? He just is in awe and it is so sweet! Hope you are all enjoying the holidays and can you believe Christmas is next week???

A Birdie Christmas...

2009-12-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

A few of my favorite birdies around the house this holiday season!

Thankful...

2009-11-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a few minutes to say that I am so Grateful to have 2 precious little boys. Ty Allen has been so loving to his new baby brother,Ridge... Oh, and it is just so sweet to just sit back and watch. Take some time to think about the things/people you are Thankful for. There are so many blessings out there and as we gather this week with friends and family,

Savor every moment with the ones you love because as you know, time flies so fast!

Wishing you and your family a Special Thanksgiving Day!

Little Ridge, Big Yawn...

2009-11-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Isn't this precious!

My little Ridge with a Big yawn...

Have a great day as we are all tired and going to try to catch up on a little sleep around here!

A Daddy's Love...

2009-11-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

I just have to brag on Daddy for a minute, the daddy who saved his vacation time so that he could bond with his new baby boy! The daddy who get's up bright and early to make sure Ty Allen, our 3 yr. old son gets exactly what he wants for breakfast which is usually oatmeal and toast with juice. The daddy who fixes Ty Allens lunch and takes him to pre-school and picks him up. The daddy who helps fix dinner and has taken me to Ridge's doctor apts. and to the hospital lab today. The daddy that takes a bath with Ty everynight and plays helicopters in the tub. The daddy who gets up on every other feeding in the middle of the night to cuddle up with baby Ridge. He has been "the best daddy ever" and I am so thankful! Thank you, Joe!

BABY RIDGE...

2009-11-11T14:07:00.000-08:00

OH, What a blessing from above...our lil'Ridge is doing well as you can see from the smile on his face! He is now 5 days old and has lost a little weight at 5pds, 12 ounces. Big brother Ty is so sweet as he just pats on his back and just smiles watching his brother! With a tear in my eye, I just love to watch my Boys!

Baby Ridge has arrived...

2009-11-09T06:55:00.000-08:00

We are home now and have been BLESSED with a BABY BOY, RIDGE WAYNE LEE WILLIAMS.Baby Ridge came early with a surprise labor at 6:15am November 6th and was welcomed by his Big Brother, Ty Allen. We feel very blessed to have this sweet baby boy as a special addition to our family!

Jena

Happy Halloween..

2009-10-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

3 of my favorite photos for Halloween.... Happy Halloween to you and your family and please have a fun and safe Trick or Treat TIME!

Ty Allen's Bedroom...

2009-10-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

Ty Allen loves to go fishing and hunting with his daddy so we did his room in a cabin/lodge theme! We used fishing lures, fake mounted animals on the walls and a bear skin! We also had his bathroom furniture made from a designer at Canton who used old doors! Now, if we can just get him in his own bed every night before the new baby gets here!

Pumpkin & Cream Cheese Muffins...

2009-10-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

8 ounce(s) cream cheese
3 eggs
2 1/2 cup(s) sugar
2 1/2 cup(s) flour
1/4 cup(s) pecans, roughly chopped
3 tablespoon(s) butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoon(s) cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1/4 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1 1/4 cup(s) solid-packed pumpkin
1/3 cup(s) vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat two 12-cup standard muffin tins with oil and set aside.
Mix the cream cheese, 1 egg, and 3 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl and set aside. Toss 5 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 cup flour, pecans, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine the remaining sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and remaining cinnamon in a large bowl. Lightly beat the remaining eggs, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla together in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, pour the pumpkin mixture into the well, and mix with a fork just until moistened. Evenly divide half of the batter among the muffin cups. Place two teaspoonfuls of cream cheese filling in the center of each cup and fill with the remaining batter. Sprinkle some of the pecan mixture over the top of each muffin and bake until golden and a tester, inserted into the muffin center, comes out clean -- 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

A collage of our home and a little Inspiration...

2009-10-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

My MIL came over on this morning to plant my bday present. She planted 3 Limelight Hydrangeas and I am so excited because her flowers are always just Amazingly Beautiful! (click here to see her hydrangeas) I tried to help but at 34 weeks PG, there is only so much bending over you can do but don't worry my little man, Ty Allen pulled out his shovel and helped her dig! As she arrived, she brought her camera and took a few pics around the house (she is a great photographer) which inspired me to do a collage of Things I love. Although alot of these pics are from around our home, some are also just a few I have in my Inspiration file...Enjoy!
By the way, she really got some great shots of Ty Allen's room which is a cabin theme so I will posting it soon....

Old Green Chippy Paint with Elegant Frames...

2009-10-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

Although we have now been in our home almost 2 years, it took a while for me to decide how I wanted to do a FAMILY COLLAGE OF PICTURES up our stairwell. I have been looking at many inspirational ideas and then found these great chippy old shelves at Canton. The SPARK then hit the minute I found these beautiful frames at Hobby Lobby 50% off. There are a few frames that I left empty for our upcoming baby boy! The great thing about this collage is that I can move the frames as needed as well as change out the pictures as our little ones grow!

The Furniure Factory Cart, my new coffee table...

2009-10-14T03:11:00.000-07:00

So much character...the perfect coffee table for my living area. An old, original furniture factory cart. This piece has a variation of colors such as creams, bronze, green and a little red touches! Oh, I just love it and guess what??? Restoration Hardware sells the same piece starting at $895 up to $1495, . Ok, I promise I did not even pay half of that!

Fall Decor Collage

2009-10-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

(Click on picture to enlarge)

My camera is working again so I wanted to share some of my Fall Decor....

I am also very excited about my new coffee table (look closely) and you will see an old furniture factory cart, I purchased it at Canton & love it!

I will blog about it soon..

Spice up your Porch for a Halloween Bash...

2009-10-01T04:36:00.000-07:00

I just love these Halloween Porch Decorating Ideas...

again from one of my favorites....Country Living.

A Sweet and Special to my heart BIBLE story....

2009-09-26T05:57:00.001-07:00

Ty Allen is now 3 and a half years old...they grow up way to fast! His little preschool teacher who is wonderful uses a behavior system where the kids get Happy Faces or maybe Sad Faces on a sheet of paper daily. I reinforce good behavior by giving him a Surprise when he receives Happy Faces for the entire week.

On our drive to school, he reminded me that he had received all Happy Faces for the week and when I asked him what surprise he might like, he said, Mommy, I want a BIBLE. A book about Jesus! I want to take it to church like Sam. (Sam is a friend at church) That lil' statement brought tears to my eyes because he was so excited and so I turned around and looked at him in his car seat and said, OK, mommy will get you a Bible today! When he noticed I had a tear in my eye, he said mommy are you OK, why do you have tears and I said because I am very happy! Ty then made a silly funny face to make me laugh.....

WOW! Kids can touch your heart like no one else!

White Pumpkins...

2009-09-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

Oh, the love of WHITE PUMPKINS this Fall!

Simply Google white pumpkin pics to see these pics and more.

The warmth of the white pumpkin just adds a more simplified look and cozy feeling..

My Little Monkey...

2009-09-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

How cute is this...my little monkey, Ty Allen's monkey costume when he was almost 2 years old! You will have to check out the TOM ARMA costumes if you have a little one, they are just the cutest costumes ever! THE CUTE TAG, My MIL took his pic and made this precious tag which will be something I use every year to decorate with! What a great idea to have a tag of your child every year to decorate with...

Hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend!

Master Bedroom Ideas...

2009-09-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's decorating time for our MASTER BEDROOM & I found these beautiful pictures from Country Living! I have decided to make our bedroom very comfy, soft cream's and whites and lots of layers! I just love the look of linen and want to have lots of scrumptious pillows, vintage accessories and an antique rug. Of course, I must have a splash of leopard! Which bed would you love to jump in every night?

I think the last one is my favorite!

Fall Wreath..

2009-09-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

With signs of FALL just around the corner, Ty Allen and I decided to get out the hot glue gun and "add to" our FALL wreath!

As the baby is growing, I am moving slowly but am beginning to feel it...

You know...the feeling of FALL, a cool breeze is beginning to blow,the leaves are starting to fall and the aroma of a pumpkin candle sets the mood. The anticipation of getting out the FALL Decor to Decorate!

I can't wait to see all of yours....you are all so inspiring!

A Few Vintage Finds...

2009-08-01T09:26:00.001-07:00

Don't you just love to come upon something that you just

"have to have" but not really sure where you are going to put it or what your going to do with it? Here are a few Vintage items that I have found at various Antique stores,stacked them together and just love them,especially the old suitcases!

23 Weeks Pregnant....

2009-07-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, how time flies! I am now 23 weeks into the pregnancy and feeling great! We are beginning to plan our new little boys room and have picked out a Vintage Sports theme so I am so excited to get started! Check back as we continue to post as time goes by and have a wonderful weekend.

Baby Bella's Baby Shower

2009-07-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Let's blow our horns in honor of Baby Bella!

WOW, we made it!! How exciting it is to finally be here...a Special Baby shower for our precious Baby Bella! Your Grandma Deb@Talking Trash is so sweet to host this party for you and your mom Jenn@The Apiary. Thanks for inviting us! My name is Ty Allen, I am 3 years old and I say a special prayer for you every night! I am so excited to know you are such a strong Lil' girl and so happy to be here! In celebration of you, my mom and I have brought a couple of things:

1st, a special card for a special girl...
2nd, a crown for a princess...

3rd, lots of sweet things, because you are such a sweet girl....

Last but not least, I thought you would look really pretty in this cute vintage onsie...

Well, I can't wait to see what other things are in store for you today but for now, I am going to blow my horn in honor of SWEET BABY BELLA! You are special! Now, let's go grab some ice cream!

Memories of "Our lil' Cabin"

2009-07-24T05:58:00.001-07:00

The Cabin...what great memories! My husband Joe's parents built the cabin as an original shop that Mary, my MIL worked out of for years! When they decided to build, they passed it down to Joe and he and I made it into a little cabin in the woods home! We were just talking about it last night which brought me to pull out pictures so that we could remember exactly what it was like! At the time, we did not have any children so we were somewhat saddened by some of the pics with our little Yorkie,Sadie and big cat on the front porch who have both since past. We do although have lots of great memories of taking a very well-built shop with so much character and making it "our home." We will always cherish these memories and miss this neat little cabin. With an open floor-plan, some of my favorite things were,the large screened-in back porch, spiral staircase to loft upstairs, claw foot tub, large ceilings with white-washed pine, a corner stand-up fireplace stove, built-in stained glass window,knotty-pine cabinets and one of my favorites, the open air vent painted red across the ceiling! When we decided to start our own family, we sold the cabin due to the size but will always cherish the memories of our Lil cabin in the woods!

New Children's Artwork

2009-07-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love this artwork?

...a Playroom, Little Boy or Little Girls room.

SO VINTAGE-LOOKING and just fabulous! Makes a statement in any room. Check out these and more at

Not So Shabby Interiors.

Ty Allen's 1st B-Day, BARNYARD BASH

2009-07-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

(click on picture to enlarge)

Kelly's Korner is continuing her home tour with children's birthday party ideas so I thought I would pull out Ty Allen's 1st birthday Barnyard Bash pics.

I really enjoyed planning Ty's 1st birthday party and chose a Barnyard Bash theme because my mother-n-law and father-n-law have a Miniature Donkey Farm,Short&SweetDonkeyFarm.

I found the cutest little one-piece jumper that Ty wore which matched his barnyard theme. Online, I found some really cute invitations with a stable and a lot of animals including a donkey that we used.

Other items included:

-Wire baskets and red bandanna's

-A red and white gingham tablecloth

-Barnyard plates and cow print cups

-Cow printed pencils and custom barnyard candy wrappers that said Thanks for coming the Ty Allen's first birthday. I attached the pencil to the candy bar with strands of hay.

-Ty's large cake was a barn with animals and of course he had his own small cake!

-We ordered a large blow-up pin the tail on the donkey game on eBay and the kids really enjoyed playing it!

-To top the party off, we watched a video,The first year of Ty Allen's life. This was really sweet and everyone enjoyed all of the pics from the time he was born up until he turned one,very sweet!

IT'S A BOY!!

2009-07-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

My husband, Joe & I found out Monday that our second child is a BOY!

With excitement, we headed home to show Ty Allen the sonogram pics and tell him he was going to have a little brother. When we arrived, he was just waking up from a nap with Grandmother and we said, look Ty, a baby brother! He just started crying and said, I don't want a brother, I want a sister! I want a girl!!

It was so disappointing so Joe reminded him that they could play baseball, go fishing, hunting and other boy things they could do. Later that evening, Ty came running to me and said, Mommy, LOOK! I brought my baby brother some stickers and he stuck them all over my tummy!!!

The next day, I took him to preschool and he ran in telling all of his teachers and friend he was going to have a baby brother! SO SWEET!

Due Date is December 4th.

(picture taken at Ty's 1st preschool program)

Sunset...

2009-06-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful sunset we had this evening!

I've been tagged...

2009-06-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

Pansy Cottage Girl tagged me so now I must tell you 6 things about myself...

1. I am a twin with Jana and that is why my name starts with a J. Jana and I are totally opposite as she has blond hair and blue eyes and I am a brunette but we are very close.

2. I love going to the pond with my little monkey so that he an throw 5,000 rocks in. He loves rocks and sticks!

3. I love anything old and chippy!

4. I enjoy watching birds and love to decorate with birds and bird nest!

5. I love little fairies,especially the ones my MIL makes. They are cute to decorate with and place anywhere!

6. When we built our home, well.....we built a special room for my husband to put all of his "prize possessions, deer,bobcat,fish,etc...

Let Freedom Ring...

2009-06-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Preparation for the 4th is in full force and I was so excited to find these precious

Let Freedom Ring Tussie Mussie cones

at one of my favorite etsy stores, Paper Eclectics.

They look so cute hanging from the chandelier in the breakfast room & I just can't wait to take more pics as we prepare for our 2nd annual 4th of July Party!

Sunset view of flowerbeds....

2009-06-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

THIS EVENING, I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW PICS OF OUR FLOWERBEDS AS THE SUN BEGINS TO SET.... THIS IS THE 2ND YEAR OF GROWTH FOR THE BEDS AND I AM AMAZED AT THE LOW MAINTENANCE OF THE BEDS. ALL I HAVE REALLY HAD TO DO THIS YEAR IS ADD A FEW FLOWERING PLANTS AT THE FRONT FOR COLOR, ADD NEW MULCH AND TURN ON THE SOAKER HOSES! WE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THESE FLOWERBEDS WITH THE VARIATION OF COLOR!

The Extra Ceiling Tin....Our Outdoor Grill!

2009-05-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

We have not completely finished our Outdoor Grill but I couldn't wait to show you what we did with the extra ceiling tin we had from the breakfast ceiling room! A big thanks to my husband who spent many, many hours building this! I also wanted to let you know that my MIL and I planted a Yellow Ladybird climbing rose that will grow over the pergola in time and I have purchased some small round clear lights from Target to hang from the top of the pergola.

The grill was built on a concrete platform that we had poured when we built the house. My husband then used concrete blocks with concrete to build the base. He then made the pergola out of cedar wood, cutting each one individually. The sink and grill were then placed and we rented a concrete machine and begin pouring it which was almost a disaster because it began raining!! We covered it with plastic an it turned out fine, thank goodness. He then stained the concrete with concrete stain. We now have to put the cabinet doors on the front and the lights up but for now...well, I've got to head out and turn on the grill, it's a great night for cooking out!

Memorial Day...

2009-05-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Wishes to you, your family & friends...

Also,a Special Thanks to all of the Brave Men and Women who are now serving or have served our Country!

Have a Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Beautiful photo Source: Country Living

A Little R&R and some Exciting News...

2009-05-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

I took this pic in my bathroom right before I spent some quiet time in a warm bath, a little R&R...... I wanted to wait until I was 12 weeks to let you know some exciting news, I am blessed and yes, PREGNANT! Ty Allen is going to be a big brother and you would not believe the smile on my husbands face! I have been extremely tired, sick and dizzy but the 1st trimester is on it's way out the door and I am ready to get back to blogging!

The Piddlin' Pottery...

2009-05-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time at the Piddlin' Pottery!

We painted a T for Ty Allen, ate birthday cake and then played with the gumball machine...

A Special Thank You...

2009-05-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart to The Bloom Girls for the special blog award! I would also like to say thank all of my blog friends for being such an inspiration to my life! I enjoy all of your blogs.

The New Floral Lamps...

2009-05-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

My new floral lamps are absolutely beautiful...daytime or nigh time the floral just goes great with the simplicity of the room. I enjoy them the most in the darkness as the colors are so vibrant and shine through! I also love the tassels hanging off of the sides. Simply Adorable!

Receipe for a Peace-Filled Life...

2009-04-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Picture Source:Country Living

I received this recipe from a family member and thought it would be great to share....

Great Recipe for a peace-filled life..

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk (run) every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________!

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a KING, lunch like a PRINCE and dinner like a COLLEGE KID with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16.. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.

You'll be smiling before you know it.

Old Silver....

2009-04-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

My MIL and I had a wonderful time at Canton as we ran upon a couple of guys who had just recently cleaned out an old farmhouse and had lots of great treasures including these 3 silver pieces I bought!

I am just really starting to get addicted to the old silver because it goes great with any style and can be placed anywhere!

Happy Easter...

2009-04-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Wishing you and your family a Wonderful Easter Weekend!

Ty's Easter Bonnet...

2009-04-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

I have super glue all over my fingers as my husband, Ty Allen and I just completed his Easter Bonnet.
The Easter parade is tomorrow at Ty's school and I cannot wait to see him wear this Carnival Bonnet.
You may ask, Why a carnival? Well, I asked Ty what he wanted on his bonnet and he told me Animals, an Elephant... a carnival momma! I can't wait for the parade and will share some pictures soon. Until then, have a wonderful Easter weekend!

19 New Baby Ducks....

2009-04-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

My husband has been talking about getting some little Ducks for our ponds. He made a wood box with shavings and then surprise, 19 babies!

They are adorable and Ty Allen has named 2 so far...Bitsy and Birdie!

Outdoor Retreats...

2009-04-03T04:51:00.000-07:00

A Breath of Fresh Air, Birds Chirping & the Beauty of the Outdoors!

Grab a glass of tea & your favorite book or magazine.

Just take a few minutes to sit outdoors this weekend....

Listen,Hear & Feel the beauty of your Outdoor Retreat.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!