The Blessed Nest

10 Things...Beginning to Decorate for Fall

2010-09-02T10:06:00.012-04:00

I don't know about you, but I just can't wait for the leaves to change colors, & the air to turn crisp and cool!

Just as nature is changing (or soon will be!) all around us at the beginning of a new season, there are little things that we can be doing in our homes to reflect that beautiful new beginning and make our homes a warm, welcoming place to be!!

Here's a few fun & easy ideas for transitioning into our Fall Decor:

{photo: BHG.com}

1) Think apples! Not only is the start of school a clue (apple for the teacher!), but nature makes these delicious fruits available to pick soon for making pies, tarts, applesauce, cakes, & cider!

Go ahead and add some apples to your kitchen decor. Put some fresh apples in a pretty bowl or colander and place on the counter (or on your coffee table!) for a healthy treat that's perfect for eating in season.

Or pile a bunch in a large glass vase with a candle nestled in the middle for a lovely table centerpiece!

{photo: Pottery Barn}

Choose your favorite variety & enjoy!!

I'll be adding to this "10 Things" list over the next week!

Happy Fall Everyone!!!

Dining Room Update

2010-08-12T09:23:00.008-04:00

Today I thought I'd share some of the additions we've made to our Dining Room Makeover! I made an "Inspiration Board" of the look we are after, and have been using that as my guide when making decorating decisions. I think it's very Fresh! {Fresh is my favorite descriptive decorating word lately :) !}

Here's our newly painted, yet still blah looking little dining room. It still has it's 1980's chandelier, and a microwave from our kitchen remodel that needs to be replaced with something better (new microwave or new fall clothes -- right now I'm voting for an updated wardrobe! LOL!!):

Before I left for vacation we added these pretty soft white curtain panels from Pottery Barn:

And a mirror that looks very much like this one from PB, but I scored mine at HomeGoods! $19.99 -- can't beat that!! It's hung on the long wall of the room, and REALLY opened things up visually! Can't decide if I'm going to paint it yet or not...

I've also added an orchid, and got some black lanterns (also from HomeGoods) to add in. Next up is finding an old buffet to re-do and getting a new chandelier!

We Have a Winner!

2010-08-08T18:48:00.003-04:00

....And it's The Rodgers!!!

Congratulations, please send me an e-mail so we can get your goodies sent your way! :)

Last Day to Enter Giveaway!

2010-08-07T14:24:00.004-04:00

Stella & Dot
Belle Fleur Ring - Hematite

Don't forget!!!
Today is the last day to sign up to win a
$50 Gift Certificate
to my Stella & Dot jewelry e-boutique!

Leave a comment *here* to enter.

:)

Hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend! We went to our town's French Market this morning, and then to Home Depot for a few more things...trying to get the backyard lookin' pretty! The girls want a butterfly garden, so a butterfly bush and phlox are making their way into the garden bed today!!

Enjoy!

I'm Back -- With a Stella & Dot Giveaway!

2010-08-03T17:49:00.019-04:00

Whoo-hoo!!!!! A Great Giveaway!!!!!

Wow, you all have been so amazing & sweet while I was on my little "bloggy break"! I'm back feeling refreshed and ready to share more inspiration with you all here!! :) {Can't even believe how many new followers I've gotten in the past few weeks -- THANKS!! You rock!!!}

*To say "Thank You!" in a BIG way, I have decided to do a FUN giveaway!*

I'll be giving away a
$50 Gift Certificate
towards YOUR CHOICE of beautiful Stella & Dot Jewelry!!!!!

One of the great things I was doing during my bloggy-break was having fun with my new Stella & Dot business!

I am now an Independent Stylist with Stella & Dot -- a fabulous, fresh, oh-so-stylish jewelry company that celebs love and is regularly featured in magazines like InStyle, Lucky, and O Magazine!

I am earning money to pay for my kiddos school tuition by basically having FUN playing dress-up with gorgeous jewelry at girls-nights-out trunk shows!!! How awesome is that?!! I have to tell you, I am seriously LOVING this!

The NEW Fall 2010 line just came out, and I adore all of it!

Top L: Belle Fleur Ring - Gold
Top R: Vintage Cluster Ring
Bottom: Charlotte Pearl Ring

Love these rings! Wear one on your middle or pointer finger for a fresh look!

Audrey Cluster Bracelet

Nolita Necklace

The statement necklace of the season! It looks great with everything from jeans and a t-shirt to your favorite LBD!

Belle Fleur Ring - Hematite

Chelsea Necklace

Looks great when worn long, or doubled up! A favorite!!

Deco Drop Earrings

The perfect, wear with anything earrings -- and at a great price!

Isn't this fun?!!

Owl Charm Necklace

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To enter to Win the $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway:

1) Visit my e-boutique & tell me what you would get with the gift certificate if you won!

2) If you make a purchase, leave another comment & get 5 extra entries!!!

3) If you're a Follower, or sign up to Follow then get another entry too!

---This Giveaway will run until Midnight Saturday Aug. 7th!---

Thank you SO much for your support :) & Good Luck!

And She Realized That It Was a "Good Thing"...

2010-07-13T11:53:00.004-04:00

Yes, I've been away from blogging for a couple of weeks, but rest assured, all is well! In fact, I would have to say that taking a bloggy break every now and then is, as dear Martha would say, "a good thing".

At first I was frustrated by the "writer's block" that appeared. I had a post (still in my drafts section btw) with pictures uploaded of the wonderful time I had at the Eddie Ross event all ready to go...but the words wouldn't come. I thought of a million things to share with you, but everything seemed like drivel when I tried to write it out. And quite frankly, it seems like a waste of my time and yours to just type out a little bit of nothing with a picture and post it. (Though sometimes those are my most commented on posts....hmmm...)

As Day 1 of "Not Blogging" turned into days 4, 6, and 10, I began to realize that this bloggy break was good. Good for my soul. Good for my family. Good to actually give me time to pursue the design & decorating I love to do. Good for me to pursue another idea and dream. Just GOOD.

I actually considered not blogging anymore at all. But then realized that the camaraderie and friendships I've developed with you all, not to mention the fun creative and inspirational outlet that blogging has given me is also a good thing. And so The Blessed Nest goes on.

The change is that I will not apologize for "not blogging" in a while. I think too many of us feel like we need to say "sorry" when we haven't posted for a bit. This is really such a shame! And I think that it actually goes against why we blog in the first place! :)

If I blog about home and family and decorating and hospitality, but spend so much time focusing on my blog and what to blog about that my home, family, friends, ministry, and personal creativity suffer as a result, what does that say about me? About my priorities? I certainly can't write a post inspiring you to make a welcoming home if I'm too burnt out from time on my computer editing words and pictures to make my OWN home a welcoming place to be.

And so, as I continue to post here (and love doing it!), from time to time you may see me taking a bloggy break. And I will come back when the time is right, feeling refreshed and inspired by spending time doing what is truly inspiring to ME!!

And that is a very GOOD THING!

Later Gators!

2010-06-17T17:59:00.003-04:00

I'm off to go see Eddie Ross!!!

(squeals of excitement!!!!!!!!!)

I secretly hope he'll be wearing a bow tie.

&
I also hope I am not a complete dork.

Tell ya about it tomorrow!

:)

A Favorite Summertime Treat

2010-06-11T12:24:00.004-04:00

Mmm...Popsicles!!!

Every year, during the first hot days of summer, I start to crave a good ol' fashioned popsicle!

We used to make our own a lot when I was a kid, using juice poured into a plastic mold. No ice cream trucks going by our house in the country :).

And this year I wanted to have the kiddos experience a fun, summertime treat, that's also healthy too!

I got these cute popsicle molds at Target a few days ago. So far we've done orange juice or pink lemonade with sliced fruits.

Yummy!

{photo courtesy of: Country Living}

Love the idea of placing them in a big ol' bowl filled with ice for the neighborhood kids to help themselves to a treat!

{photo courtesy of: Country Living}

Aren't these molds fun? You can get creative and use so many different things!

{photo courtesy of: Martha Stewart}

I love the idea of making a layered popsicle, with different juices, purees, and yogurts & fruits for a healthy snack.

Plus, they look pretty too! :)

And if you're looking for a simple, lovely treat, check out The Idea Room for a Fresh Fruit Popsicles "recipe". I'll be making these next!

Enjoy this Summer day, & stay cool!!

I'm Gonna Party With Eddie Ross!!! {& YOU can too!}

2010-06-08T11:14:00.003-04:00

Have you heard? Eddie Ross is coming to Chicago!

And I get to meet him! :)

He's holding an event called "Creating a WOW Party"

{WOW stands for With Out Work -- now that's the kind of fun entertaining I love! Plenty of style to make your guests feel special, but without all of the work!}

And since Eddie can decorate, entertain, and flea market like nobody's business, this is going to be one event I sure don't want to miss!!

Eddie writes:

"Hello, Chicago! On Thursday, June 17th, we're throwing the kind of party that will help you throw better parties!

I'm talking time-saving tricks and insider tips for easy entertaining with style.
Creating the WOW Party, we're calling it, (without work).

These days, I think we're all staying in a little more than we used to, preferring casual gatherings at home that are a lot easier on the wallet than fancy evenings out. But when it comes to cocktail parties at home, hors d'oeuvres needn't be limited to store-bought hummus and pita, chips and and a chunky salsa.

Now don't get me wrong: As an ex-caterer, I'm all for cutting corners if it saves time and money, but the critical part of the equation—the WOW factor everyone's always after—is presentation, presentation, presentation. It's the golden ticket, the insider secret all the pros know but never tell you.

Until now.

Well, not quite now, but soon! The 17th of June at 7 pm, to be precise, at the historic Dunham Woods Riding Club in Wayne, Illinois. Joining me will be the talented Debra Phillips, owner of Scentimental Gardens in Geneva, a fantastic home and garden store full of beautiful, one-of-a-kind antiques."

{all images courtesy of eddieross.com}

So, Friends...
If you live anywhere near the Chicagoland area, come & meet Eddie Ross & learn some fun tips for entertaining WithOut Work, but with plenty of style!

Check this out for more information!

I'm going to be there!
:)
Are you going?

Let me know, I'd love to meet you there!!

10 Things...Quick & Easy Ideas for a Tidy Home

2010-06-01T09:52:00.010-04:00

Need an easy way to get your home straightened up in a jiffy?

Company coming over in a minute or there's just no time in your day?

Here are some easy tips!

{Focus on a few main areas, and you'll be surprised how tidy your home can be!}

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1) Have a nice, clean entrance! Clear the entry table and floor area from all clutter. Put bills & mail away, shoes in the closet, and straighten the door mat/rug.

2) Wipe down kitchen counters and sink. No time to do the dishes? Pile them in the sink and place a pretty dishtowel on top to hide the mess!

3) Wipe off kitchen table and push in the chairs.

4) Fluff couch cushions and pillows. Your living room will instantly look nice & neat!

5) Straighten up the coffee table. Stack magazines neatly, plop remotes in a basket or on a tray, and take any stray snack dishes to the kitchen sink.

6) Place a fresh, clean hand towel in the bathroom, and wipe down the sink.

7) Grab a big basket and place all of the stuff left on the floor (toys, a book, slippers, whatever your family leaves all over!) inside. Put in a closet and be sure to have the family put those items away later in that same day!

8) Open your curtains and blinds and let in the light. If it's a nice day then open a window for a breeze and to hear the sounds of nature. This looks beautiful and makes your rooms seem brighter and bigger too!

9) Turn on a lamp or three for a nice, warm, welcoming glow!

10) Close doors to untidy areas, light a pretty candle, and greet those at the door with a smile!

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And Remember:

A Welcoming Home Begins With A Welcoming Heart!

This post brought to you by our sponsor Red Letter Words...faith inspired art.

This Weekend...

2010-05-28T17:32:00.002-04:00

Here's wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

I hope it's full of friends and family gathered together...

.....sharing in a patriotic picnic!

Enjoying the laughter & fun, and remembering....

...those brave men and women who gave their lives,

that Freedom's bell may continue to ring forth.

{all photos courtesy of Country Living Magazine}

Have a wonderful holiday, dear friends!

"The Season of Second Chances" WINNER is....

2010-05-28T11:14:00.003-04:00

..... Jennifer from Studio JRU!

Congratulations, Jennifer!!! :)
E-mail me with your address & I'll get this out to you.

Easy Organizing & Gift Idea!

2010-05-27T10:07:00.007-04:00

I got this super cute gift from one of my best friends recently, and knew I just had to share it with you!

Do you need a way to organize:

magazine pages you tear out
fabric swatches
room measurements
party ideas
craft patterns
...and more??

Take a look at this!

She took a fun file folder tote and simply added Scrabble letters to the front with some hot glue to spell out "IMAGINE".

Boy, does she know me well! :)

This is perfect for someone (or yourself!) who loves to decorate, plan parties, or get crafty!

What a great way to organize and keep all of those loose tear sheets and samples for a project!

Use Scrabble letters to spell out any number of things:

DECORATE
LET'S PARTY
DREAM
NEST
CREATE
IMAGINE
or
-your blog's name-

Use the file compartments for lots of different ideas (one compartment for each room of your home)

or

for gathering all of your ideas and samples and inspiration for just one project!

Then just change things out when a new project comes a' callin'!!

Isn't this fun?!!

I can't wait to fill mine up with Dream ideas for decorating my home!

Thanks, Friend!!!

{i think this file folder came from target}

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p.s.: DON'T FORGET...

You only have until Midnight today (Thursday, May 27th)
to enter the book giveaway!

Book Review & Giveaway

2010-05-25T11:15:00.003-04:00

I am probably the only person who was asked to review this book and got incredibly excited about not only the story I was about to read within, but the fact that the art design on the hardcover book jacket comes from an 1885, blockprinted Garden Tulip Wallpaper by William Morris. Love that!

Plus the fact that the soft robin's egg blue of the hardcover with the lovely gold lettering will look incredible on my bookshelf!

But this is a review of the actual novel, not the cover, so here goes... :)

"The Season of Second Chances" by Diane Meier follows the main character of Joy Harkness as she learns through a year of making choices and taking chances what Home, Family, and True Friendship is all about.

Joy has spent her entire life yearning to feel at home. As a young woman she fled her mid-western roots for the big city of New York, certain that the excitement and whirlwind of the city would be what she needed to transform herself into the woman she had always wanted to become. When she realized that that had never materialized, she was already divorced, at a job at a university she didn't enjoy, had no real friendships and ready for anything to help her start over.

She got her chance when a university in Massachusetts came knocking, and she impulsively said "Yes!". As Joy transforms a rundown old house slowly into a home, as she picks out fabrics and paint colors, as she trusts new friends, and meets others in this small town, she comes to realize that she does indeed have a Home at last!

I am not a person who jumped on the Book Club bandwagon. But, this book, "The Season of Second Chances", would certainly be interesting to read in a book club. The diverse characters, the many themes within (what is home, loss, a new way of looking at feminism, true friendship, etc), the fact that you may relate to and yet want to shake the shoulders of the main character in exasperation, the desire for realizing a Second Chance of your own...these would all be so interesting to discuss!

Overall, I'd have to say that I really did enjoy reading this book! I really enjoyed Diane Meier's writing style, her humor she infused in her writing, the rich character development (she could probably create a series of books based on these characters), and the way she allowed her main character to learn and grow.

{FYI--as a Christian with a larger Christian readership, I will say that I do not personally & morally agree with all of the character's choices in this book, though I will say that it is minimal.}

***************************************

If you would like a chance to win a copy of "The Season of Second Chances" for your own, then please leave a comment below!!!

This giveaway will close at midnight on Thursday.

Back to the Drawing Board...

2010-05-21T12:02:00.004-04:00

Sometimes when you're decorating a space things don't quite go as planned...

Ever happen to you??

Oh, how I loved this Pottery Barn light in the catalog! It looked so beautiful online, too! I couldn't wait for it to arrive for over my kitchen table, I just knew it would be perfect for my design.

But it really really wasn't.

Poo.

Let's just say that it didn't look the same as was pictured by PB. Disappointing. And it looked a little too big for the space, too. *sigh*

So.....

Now I've been shopping like crazy all over trying to find something with the right "look" for the kitchen.

I have a few things in mind.....Gotta see what Hubby thinks now.... :) !!!

Hopefully I'll have something to show you soon...

Keep your fingers crossed!

{and can i just say that it is REALLY hard to not jump to other projects in the rest of the house in the meantime!!!!!! good thing i have y'all to keep me accountable!}

Something Old, Something New...

2010-05-17T14:09:00.006-04:00

{my old sunroom}

Something OLD
Something NEW
Something BORROWED
Something....TRUE ?

Well, I changed the old bride's saying up a bit :), but I think this works very well when decorating, too!

Something OLD --

Every space in a home needs a little something "OLD" in it! It adds to the character and history of a room. Whether it's a stack of antique books, or your grandmother's china displayed, or a piece of architectural salvage, this really adds something unique and special to your space!! This gives your home a warmth that can only be created as time goes by!

Something NEW --

A lot of what we own would technically be considered NEW, but how about adding a dash of something more modern to a traditional or more vintage-filled setting? Great lighting is a fun way to add a dash of something new & updated! Add a new pillow or two in a fresh fabric, or how about just updating some of your framed family photos?!!

Something BORROWED --

Ok, I'm using the term BORROWED loosely here! But why not save on your budget and also get something fun & "new to you" by either doing a swap with a friend, picking up an object at a thrift store or flea market or neighborhood yard sale for a song, or even finding some treasure-in-the-rough curbside! You may be surprised!! Just add slipcovers or paint, and you've got a great new look!

Something TRUE --

No matter what the current trends are, stay true to yourself! Have something in each room of your home that really TRUEly reflects who YOU and your FAMILY are! This can be expressed through heirloom pieces, candid photos of the family, a favorite color being used, a fun trend you love, etc.

What did I add to my Sunroom?

Old -- Vintage scale, antique mirror, architectural pieces

New -- Pillows I made, white slipcovers, a sisal rug

Borrowed -- Free couch & chair from my sister when she got new furniture

True -- Garden items, birdhouses, favorite things!

Boy, do I ever miss that sunroom! But I've added my Somethings Old, New, Borrowed & True to each space at my new home!

Look around your home & see if you need to add:
Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed & Something True!

Blessings to you today, my friends!!!
:)

Sponsor: Red Letter Words

2010-05-17T11:16:00.009-04:00

I am so happy to have Red Letter Words as a sponsor of The Blessed Nest!

{I just love my "Fruits of the Spirit" Print hanging in my kitchen!!!}

If you're anything like me, you want the art that hangs in your home to be unique, inspirational, and meaningful for your family!

This is what Red Letter Words is all about!
Beautiful, Meaningful, Faith Inspired Art!

Now that's something to get excited about!!

This is the lovely piece of artwork that Dee from Red Letter Words created for me! I just love it!!

What a wonderful reminder for my family, especially since JOY is our Family "Word of the Year"!

Not only are we working on having Joyful attitudes of the heart,
but we use the letters J.O.Y. as a reminder to put:

Jesus first in our hearts & lives,
Others come next,
and then
Yourself

Go check out the artwork that Red Letter Words offers!

***The May Print of the Month is the above "She Knew....Rubies", and
is on sale through the end of May!***

Thank you Red Letter Words for sponsoring The Blessed Nest!

ps: Want to bring more traffic to your website or business? I currently have affordable advertising spots open!! Please e-mail me at: theblessednest (at) gmail (dot) com for more information!

The Queen of Too Many Projects at Once

2010-05-13T11:19:00.016-04:00

That's me!

:)

I tend to pick a project to work on (like my kitchen), then just like the dog in the movie "Up", I get distracted by something shiny in another room ("Squirrel!!") and start another project going. Then something in the next space (my dining room) looks like it really needs attention, so I plan that out, and so on & so on.

Till what I'm left with is a lot of half-done projects and not a one of them actually finished!

Not to mention a brain left swirling and feeling frustrated!

I'm very, very, very good at this, by the way!!! LOL!!

So....

here's the plan:

I am going to pick a room and actually finish every little thing in there before going on to another room. And by "finish", I mean I still can tweak things and change stuff around a bit...just all of the major stuff will be done. 'Kay?!

Sound good? Ya with me?

Great. Cause I really am going to need the accountability to make sure this happens ;)!
(And Hubby and my sanity thanks you for it!)

Since I got going so strong in the kitchen, I think I'll keep going in there & finish it up!

{yes, this is the same kitchen! :) "BEFORE" we moved in....

& "DURING"....}

On my list:

Make curtains for the sliding glass door.
Change the light fixture overhead.
Make a "Command Central" area on the side of the fridge.
Add plates by the chalkboard.
Have the trim for the bottom of the cabinets installed.
Add mini white subway tiles on backsplash.
Get new microwave for over stove.

{My very real, wonderful life ... in my very real, definitely used, "DURING" Kitchen.}

************************************

This weekend I'll be working on my list (for the kitchen only!) and hope to try to knock out the whole thing very soon!!

Do you also suffer from Too Many Projects at Once - Itis?

What's your strategy for getting projects done?
I'd love to hear it!!

Family Photos Without Faces

2010-05-11T09:31:00.004-04:00

Sometimes the best family photographs are ones that don't have any faces in them!

The photo above is my newest addition to the upstairs landing.

It was inspired by a photo I took when my oldest kiddo was a baby of her little hand laying on my bigger hand. I wanted to re-create that with the whole family a couple of years ago, and when we had our photo taken by a professional I asked her to include one of all of our hands. I think she thought I was nuts at first, but it is truly one of my very favorite family pictures!

I'd like to think that maybe someday when my kiddos are all grown up I'll still be able to see their little hands holding mine. Or maybe they'll be able to show their children their Grandmother's hand and tell them stories about what I was like.

Or we could remember a chilly walk on the beach where we just had to wiggle our toes in the sand and then wade into the cold ocean!

These photos allow you to let your mind wander. To remember the story behind the photograph. Or just to imagine a story of what may lie around the path's bend, or what a loving family that must be.

Not only do I love the classic pictures of baby feet & other tiny features, but I love when I see pictures of:

Feet all jumbled because the family is piled together on the couch watching a favorite movie.

Someone walking away from the camera.

Hands on a momma's pregnant belly.

Close ups of features like dimples, or eyes.

Kids hands playing with a favorite toy.

Do you ever take Family Photos Without Faces?

:)

Try it!

Easy Ideas for a Cheerful Home

2010-05-03T11:20:00.007-04:00

{photo of my old Lemon Daddy Hydrangea}

One of my very favorite flowers is the lovely hydrangea. And when it's tipped in blue...my heart skips a beat!!

So today I'm going to find some pretty cut hydrangea to put in a vase in my home. A spot of beauty to bring a smile to my face and brighten my day!

And I know that my Girls and Husband love to see fresh flowers in the house, too. :) They enjoy coming home to a place that reflects peace and beauty.

Everyone can use a little cheery lift in their home. It just makes "Home" a more Welcoming, positive place to be!

There are lots of simple, quick ways to bring a bit of cheer to your home:

Greet family members at the door with a big hug and a smile!

Frame a recent picture that brings good memories.

Add a new Spring wreath to your front door.

Light a candle at the dinner table tonight!

Write a special note on a chalkboard.

Put a single flower in a vase in everyone's bedroom.

Make a favorite treat!

Keep a positive attitude (even when it's not easy!)

Play a fun game together.

Snuggle, laugh, and talk together!

Put out a colorful kitchen dishtowel.

Enjoy your blessings!

So, for today...

How will you make your home a more cheerful, positive, welcoming place to be?

Share your idea(s) with us in the comments!

Dining Room Decorating Ideas

2010-04-29T11:30:00.012-04:00

I really have to say a big, HUGE "Thank You!" to all of you who gave me ideas for what to do with my dining room. I did have some ideas of my own going into this Dining Room Makeover, but as the saying goes, sometimes "two heads are better than one", and I really wanted to hear what you all had to say! It was so much fun to read through your creative suggestions, and imagine all of the possibilities!! So, Thanks! :)

This is an inspiration board I made up to share the "feel" of the new space:

Here's what I'm going for:

The look in my home is what I've termed "Fresh Classic". A more modern, clean, updated look with traditional bones. Add in a little dash of vintage and coastal and garden elements, and you have my style!

I really gravitate toward neutrals with pops of fun & seasonal color.

Wood floors and table will contrast nicely with light creamy colored walls and white slipcovers/clean-lined skirts on the chairs.

Full curtain panels with trim at the inside edges will hang floor to ceiling. Bamboo shades will also be used.

Add in color and texture with a possible sisal rug, artwork of pressed ferns, colorful fabrics & table linens, accessories & flowers.

Find a vintage/antique sideboard & paint (black? a color? who knows??), and hang a large mirror above with artwork and sconces flanking.

A new chandelier (still narrowing down) & lamps will go in the room too.

There you have it!

I can't wait to get started!!!

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{oh, and if you're wondering what happened with the dropcloth project experiment....let's just say it didn't quite work! bummer. i was hoping to save a lot of money with this one, but hey --

as thomas edison said,

"I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."

so....guess i'll be trying something different & coming up with a NEW project for that dropcloth!!}

:)
Have a great day!

Why Blogging Is Fun!

2010-04-28T13:24:00.009-04:00

Wanna know one of my favorite things about blogging?

It's getting to meet other bloggy friends in real life!

Yesterday I had the best time meeting Jennifer Rizzo from Sanctuary Art! We met for coffee and talked and talked (and talked some more!), and even scored a couple of fun things at the thrift store next door, too! We had such a good time & I loved getting to meet another friend! :)

I've been lucky to meet several other amazing bloggers over the past couple of years, & have found that bloggers are friendly, welcoming, fun people! It's so easy to get along when you know you already have things in common, and have already "met" each other through visiting each other's blogs. I have met bloggers from all over the country, and feel lucky to have these wonderful friends!

Love y'all!

What do YOU love about blogging?

Is it the friendships?
Expressing your creative side?
Finding new inspiration?

Share with us in the comments!

**************************************************************************

...and stay tuned...

I've got a project planned for this little guy, the canvas drop cloth...
...come back tomorrow to see if my little experiment worked or not!
{let's really hope that it works!}

Time For A Dining Room Makeover!

2010-04-27T08:33:00.004-04:00

Haaa-loooo! Time to say, "Buh-Bye!" to the 1980's in this Dining Room!!!

First up on the agenda:

Paint

Hubby rolled on some of Mr. S. Williams's "Medici Ivory" for a fresh, creamy look on the walls. I think I really like it! I say think, because the ,um, love-er-ly chandelier in here is casting weird shadows on the walls.

But our goal was to get rid of the cave like feel in here, and make this room feel much bigger than it actually is.

Goal accomplished!

(Oh, and ignore the microwave in the corner...that's until we get our new microwave put in the kitchen soon!)

Next up:

Choosing a new light fixture & window treatments!

Ok, here's the deal....

I would really really really like to know what you would do with this space if it were your room to make over!

Leave me lots of comments with your suggestions!

Get creative!

I'd love to hear your ideas!!!

This Color Is Back in a Fresh, New Way!

2010-04-23T10:29:00.006-04:00

Have you spotted it yet? The color that is making it's way back "in"? Some of you are always in love with this color, and some of you have erased it from your homes by now in favor of another. Have you noticed? I'm predicting it's gonna be "back" in a big way soon.

What am I talking about? Why, R E D, of course! Don't believe me? Take a look around!!

The neutral backdrop that we've all created in our homes is perfect for POPS of R E D used as an accent color! Red looks great & classic & fresh with creamy whites, but is also lovely with sand, tobacco, greys, blues, greens..... the list could go on!

And don't expect anyone to go painting red walls anytime again soon (still too reminiscent of the dining rooms of the last decade), but look for it in little touches. Pillows, books, a throw, fruit, flowers, fabrics, art, even a kitchen island! (Have you seen the HGTV Green Home 2010? They used a red countertop on their island....too much for the average homeowner, but there's that RED again!)

Good-bye stuffy, super traditional......HELLO FRESH, FUN, & GORGEOUS!

The red fabric on this white painted bench looks so fresh and cheery against the neutral, sandy painted walls. Paired with another accent of apple green and who wouldn't love this spot in their home?

Love love love love love red paired with gray here! (Can you tell I like this? LOL!!)

Red looks incredible paired with the soft blues and watery greens that we all adore right now, too! That makes it perfect to use as an accent color!

(Is this not the cutest artwork for a kid's room or playroom? How fun!)

Take away the red pillows from this room above and you have a nice room, but add that pop of color and the feel of the room goes from "lovely but ok" to.... "Wow, that's a great space!"

Neutral backgrounds (walls, major furniture pieces) mixed with updated colors as accents gives you an affordable & fun way to change the look of your home. Or even your outdoor spaces!

Again, paired with that blue....love that!

I'm planning to add some red accents in my home for fun!

What do you think of R E D?

How would you use red in your home?

Leave a little comment to say "Hello!" and let us know!

{bottom 2 photos: Pottery Barn, all others in this post: Country Living}

ps--If you have a home-based business, contact me about great, affordable advertising here at The Blessed Nest! theblessednest (at) gmail (dot) com

Simple Ways to Beautifully Fake a Roman Shade

2010-04-20T00:17:00.011-04:00

I've found that there's more than one way to do a DIY Faux Roman Shade!

When a project needs to get done, I'm all about a great look for little work. You may call it lazy, but I call it working smart! I knew that I wanted a Roman Shade for over my kitchen sink, but according to Moi it had to be:

1) A Fake -- I don't need it for privacy, just for "pretty's sake", so there was no need for it to really work.
2) Simple to Make -- so many directions out there are crazy long with so many steps...ugh!
3) Looking Great When It Was Done -- 'nuff said!!!

I think I was able to accomplish my goals for my kitchen shade:

{please excuse the photos they were taken at night!}

Yay! I finally got my Fake Roman Shade done today!!

We're really happy with how it turned out!

Here's how I did it:

First measure your window & add a couple of extra inches to the width & several to the height. Since this is a stationary/fake roman shade (it will NOT be moving up & down) you can pretty much guesstimate this part. Easy, right?! :) Do the same for your liner if you want one.

Next, hem the sides (sew it, or with iron on hemming tape) so that they are even with the sides of your window. My shade is an exterior mount, so I went with the outside of the moulding (though if there were space, I'd go a couple inches beyond the moulding). If you have an interior mounted shade, then hem the sides of your shade to the interior of the moulding.

Fold up the bottom hem next, and do a nice 4 inch or so hem. Again, just eyeball what looks good to you.

No need to hem the top since it will just be hidden anyway!
Staple gun the top of the shade to a board (size depends on on whether it's interior or exterior hung -- I used a 1x3).

Here's where you can do several things:
(it's really up to you!)

* Fold it up & hand stitch at several points. Done.

* Add (hand stitch) little rings, (or fabric glue ribbon loop "rings") then take ribbon & thread through the rings, and staple it to the board at the desired height. Done. (I did this & it was easy to take out the staples if I wanted to adjust it more. I did 4 rings up & 4 rows across.)
* Fold it, and use a big ol' safety pin to pin it together (I've done that it the past). Easiest of all!
* Roll it up and tie with ribbon or coordinating fabric ties. (Technically a roman shade? Hmm...oh well, it's still super easy!)

Add L-brackets to your board, & hang, or just screw the board in the top of your window moulding.

Adjust the fabric & You're Done!!!

Big thanks to Hubby for hanging it for me!
:)

Making your own Faux Roman Shade really can be easy-peasy!

Give it a try :)!!!

The simplest way to do a Faux Roman Shade?
Check out how I did it in my little girls' room here.

I really hope that this will inspire you that you CAN make a pretty roman shade & it can be EASY too!

I'm linking up with DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land.
and

{more kitchen makeover pics coming up next!}

Have a blessed day!
:)

ps.-- If you're a small business owner or a momtrepreneur, I currently have openings in my advertising section here at The Blessed Nest! Contact me for more info! :)

"Dishing It" With New Bloggy Friends!

2010-04-14T19:50:00.014-04:00

Welcome to The Blessed Nest! My name is Stacey, and I'm so happy that you came over for a visit!! I'm joining Amanda at Serenity Now for her "Dishing It" bloggy party...

What a fun way to get to know each other better! Here's the Scoop....(for the Dish, of course!)...

I began The Blessed Nest back in mid 2008...
with the goal of encouraging other women to Create A Welcoming Home! I share about making a House into a HOME, decorating, gardening, organizing, and throw in some flea-ing, projects and recipes too. A little bit of everything all in one spot!

I began blogging...
as a way of sharing with other women and also to have a creative outlet for myself. While those things are still a big part of why I do what I do, now there is also a love for this wonderful community of friends that blogging has introduced me to! I truly have met so many wonderful people through blogging! Some I have met in "real life" :) and some I have still yet to meet (someday!).

The name "The Blessed Nest" came about because.....
I have had a fondness for birds and nests for years...goes with my love of gardening, I guess! LOL!! Plus it is another cozy word for HOME. I knew I wanted my blog's name to have the word "nest" in it, but the rest of it took some thought. Finally, Hubby helped me choose The Blessed Nest because it fit so well with the way I feel... About how thankful I am for God's blessings in my life, and also because we can take those blessings, large or small, and use them to bless others. I wanted to have an encouraging title for women so they would be inspired to Bless their family and friends with a Welcoming Home!

If I could pick one famous person to read my blog...
it would hands-down be Martha Stewart! I actually find her show very calming to watch. It's a stress reliever for me -- seriously! I'm probably the only person to say that! :) LOL! But Martha is probably too busy to read little ol' me, so I guess I'm hoping for Martha's young assistant, who would then love my blog and bring me on board when she starts her very own Martha-esque empire of "good things"!! Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? :)

Here's a peek at some things you'll see here at The Blessed Nest:

{some recent makeovers going on...& on... in our home:}

{to me, organizing is kinda FUN!}

{in the garden...}

{projects -- click on the "projects link under Inspiration on my left sidebar to check these out!}

{a couple of recipes... gluten-free version included!}

{and more decorating!}

Just click on the left sidebar under "Inspiration" to read more!

Leave a little comment so I know you came for a visit,
I'd love to meet you too!
:)

Thanks for coming by!!!

Fun Fabric Pennant Banner

2010-04-14T08:37:00.007-04:00

Ok, I seriously had fun making my very first fabric pennant banner!

My daughter's teacher is having a surprise baby shower today at school and since I'm a room parent I am in charge of decorations. Perfect time to have fun and make a banner!

Baby Boy's nursery is decorated in shades of chocolates & browns & greens & blues. I chose to do an extra-long pennant banner filled with all kinds of different, fun fabrics!

Wouldn't this be fun hanging in a nursery or a playroom?

Or used for birthday parties and celebrations as baby grows up?

I love the modern, fresh fabrics so much! I actually think that this banner could be for boys or girls. That's why I'm making another like it for my girlie-girls!!

I've really missed being "crafty" & think this was the jumpstart I needed to get back to having fun and crafting new projects!!!

I really can't wait to make more of these!

I'm linking up with Kimba's DIY Day...

and also Just A Girl's Show and Share Day

Let me also give a big ol' warm "Welcome, Friends!" to all of the new Followers here at The Blessed Nest! You're so sweet!! I'm so glad to have you here, Welcome!!!

This post brought to you by my sponsor: Red Letter Words! Her artwork is so inspiring...check it out!

What Are You Saving It For?

2010-04-12T00:14:00.000-04:00

Today I'm going to get on my soapbox.

Ever go to somebody's house and think, "Wow, this house is beautiful...but it certainly isn't very welcoming!"?? They have beautiful furniture, but cover it up with a sheet or quilt so it won't get dirty. There's hardly any light in the room, but they won't turn on a lamp. The dinner table looks nice, but the candles sit there unused, and instead of using dishes for a dinner party, the paper plates come out. The house you are visiting is large enough for a separate guest room, but the hostess jokes that she can't remember the last time anyone actually used it.

Ever think some of those things?
Would anyone in your family say the same about your own home?

ouch.

When you really think about it, does the truth hurt just a little?

Now, I'm not saying that using paper plates sometimes is bad, we all do it! But does there come a time when we just need to use, I mean REALLY USE, what we have?

What are we saving it for?!!

Are we so afraid to use our good china "in case" something gets broken? Are the flowers in your garden for looking and not for picking? Are the couple of dollars (or less) you spent on that candle so precious that you feel you can't burn it? Are you saving that perfume for a "special day"? Are those coveted white slipcovers too precious for your family to feel comfortable sitting on without another cover on top of the already slipcovered furniture?

What are you waiting for?

YOU are WORTH IT!
Your FAMILY and FRIENDS are worth it!

Why?

Because people are more important than "things".

And a lot of the time, Friends, in our own homes...
...we act as though the opposite were true.

So what if expensive dishes break? A newly painted wall gets splattered with food? A candle burns down till it's gone? Or, (the horror!) a white slipcover gets lived on & it shows?

It's just stuff.

It can all be fixed or cleaned or replaced. Even if it can't, didn't we buy these things to USE them? Aren't the relationships with the person who broke the item more important than the item itself?

If we keep waiting & waiting for that "Special Day" to come, think of all of the lovely times and experiences we would have missed by not blessing our loved ones with the use of these things in the meantime.

Think of the money wasted by having those items sitting unused and not being enjoyed.

You can't take these things with you when you leave this earth, so Why Wait?

Make EVERYDAY a SPECIAL DAY!!!

What Are You Saving It For?

Enjoy some flowers in your home!
Pick them from your garden, or buy them at the store!
YOU are WORTH IT!!!
Put that pretty vase to use!

Have a little accent lamp?
Turn it on!
Create a warm, welcoming glow that will lift your spirits!!
You bought it with every good intention of creating a cozy atmosphere...What are you waiting for?

Have a guest room or spare room that you never use?
Invite family or friends you haven't seen in a while over & bless them with your gifts of hospitality!
Volunteer to host a missionary from church at your home for dinner and a night or two of rest and relaxation while they are visiting the area.

If you are blessed with a room to spare, then please bless others by having them there!
:)

Got candles?
Light them up! Enjoy the pretty glow of the candlelight, or the soft scent wafting by!
Burn them every day until they are gone, then get a new one!

Use your china & silver at least once a month!
How about every Sunday for dinner?
Create a special tradition in your family that they will remember and pass down with their own families one day!
If things get broken, so what? Mixing & matching at the table is "in" now anyway! :)
Table linens get dirty? It's inevitable. Just wash!!

And, Oh, the white slipcovers!
If you have them, then enjoy them!

I've had them for several years, and yes, they have had children with runny noses and dusty shoes crawling and lounging on them. And yes, I've got a pet with dirty paws too. Food eaten on them...Yup!

They can be washed, and no, I don't have to wash them all of the time....hardly ever, actually.
Because I just don't care if a little mark is on them here or there.

We have white slipcovers because I love the beautiful overall look.... but more important than keeping them pristine white is having my kids and my friends know that they are welcome to sit and relax there anytime!!

(This was my old sunroom....I've got the couch in our new living room, and the chair with an ottoman in my craft room/office now!)

I guess my encouragement to you today from my little soapbox would be:

If you have it, use it and enjoy it! Because everyday can (and SHOULD!) be a "Special" day!
And you ARE worth it!

:)

{If you still can't bring yourself to really use the items in your home often, then I'd encourage you to give them to a young couple who would truly love and use those things.}

That's all.
Stepping down now.

Love you guys!

Giveaway Winner

2010-04-11T20:57:00.003-04:00

The winner of the Organizing Giveaway is: Teatotaler! Congratulations!! I hope you enjoy your organizational inspiration! :) Shoot me an e-mail and I'll get your goodies in the mail to you!

10 Things...You Can Organize in Less Than 15 Minutes & A GIVEAWAY

2010-04-08T11:26:00.000-04:00

Get Organized in 15 minutes or less?

You bet! By focusing on one small area at a time, you can be organized in no time!

Ready? Set your timer..... Let's go!!

1) Purse -- Enter receipts into your checkbook. Throw out gum & candy wrappers. Write reminder dates (from the business card you got today from the hair stylist, doctor, etc.) on the calendar. Put all miscellaneous items (read: your kids' stuff) that inevitably end up at the bottom of the purse where they should go. Put the essentials back in & you're ready to go!

2) Coat Closet -- Hang coats facing the same way, adult coats together & kids coats together. Give each family member a basket or bin to hold personal items like scarves, gloves, ball caps, purse, etc. Put the shoes that are currently just tossed on the floor into another big basket or line them up on a large old baking/cookie sheet (with sides to prevent wet, muddy shoes from messing up the floor), and put extra shoes where they go in the bedrooms.

3) Junk Drawer -- Pull everything out. Put in an adjustable utensil organizer. Throw out the real junk & trash, and file the papers you need to keep where they should go. Put similar items into one "space" in the organizer...pencils & pens together, tape & scissors & glue stick together, paper clips in one space, sticky note pads in another. Close the Junk Drawer, you're done!

4) Pet Items -- Give your pet a basket or bin with dividers to hold all of their things. Place toys, scarves or sweaters, treats, shampoo, & brush inside. Hang a hook to hold your pet's leash near the door where you take them "out".

5) Magazines -- Start with last month's issues. Chances are that you don't need to keep the entire issue, so just pull out the pages with ideas that inspire you. (Hint: When reading a magazine if you think you may want to reference a page again for a recipe or decorating inspiration then fold down the corner of that page. Then it's super easy to find & tear out that page when going through your magazines!) File in your recipe box or inspiration folder, and recycle the rest of the magazine! Do this every month when your new issue arrives!

6) Car Console/Glovebox -- Throw out the trash & add in some needed items: Your car's manual, tissues, wipes/hand sanitizer, maps, breath mints, extra napkins you get from the drive thru, a plastic bag (for messes), and whatever else your family needs.

7) Paper Pile -- We all have one...the dreaded pile on the kitchen counter! Think about what ends up in this pile the most. Kids school papers? Create an in-box for each child. Dates or events you need to remember? Write them on your calendar, or post on a small bulletin board. Coupons go in a small envelope/file. Create a folder for take-out menus. When you create a place for the papers to easily go for future reference, then the paper pile disappears and you get your counter back!

8) Under the Kitchen Sink -- Pull everything out & wipe down the inside of the cabinet. Place dish soap, scrubbies, and cleaners in a plastic bucket or bin to minimize the mess of spills. Spray & wipe out your trash can and put a clean trash bag inside. If you keep a dish towel under there then hang a hook or rod inside to hang the towel on to dry better. Put an extra roll of paper towels underneath, and you're done!

9) Entry Table -- This tends to be another "dumping ground" for most families. Make it a pretty spot & you'll be less likely to want to see it full of clutter! Make a place for keys -- either a hook by the door, or a pretty dish on the entry table to toss them onto. Remember, "A place for everything, and everything in it's place"! Have a specific spot for your keys & never go searching for them again! Sort mail right away, tossing/recycling the junk mail and putting bills, magazines, and invitations where they belong. Shine up the mirror or glass on your artwork & put some fresh flowers there to enjoy!

10) Powder Room -- Place extra rolls of TP under the sink or in a pretty basket. Put extra trash can liners at the bottom of the trash can so it can easily be emptied and replaced with a new liner. Hang a clean hand towel, and put some new soaps in a dish. Keep sink cleanser and paper towels or a rag in the cabinet (if you don't have young children) to quickly wipe down the sink and counter. A fresh flower in a little vase is a lovely extra touch!

There you go! A more organized space in only 15 Minutes!!!

Here's a little something to get you inspired:

A GIVEAWAY!

How do you enter?
Leave a comment on THIS post by this Saturday at Midnight (central time)!

and you are entered to win:
"BHG's Secrets of Getting Organized" Magazine
my favorite shopping list of all time from Real Simple
&
a set of 6 chalkboard tags for fun labelling!

That's it! :) Easy-peasy!!
Good Luck!

Home is...Easter 2010 Memories

2010-04-07T12:34:00.012-04:00

Today I'm joining Sandy at The Reluctant Entertainer for her series "Home is..."

I love Creating a Welcoming Home, and this Easter Celebration was a fun way for our family to continue some Easter traditions we already had and also to create new memories in our home!

For our family, our celebration focuses on the Gift of Life that we have been given through Jesus. The fact that He has Risen!!!

So, after we attend Easter Morning church services, we spend the day as a family celebrating with food, fun, & fellowship!

We traditionally have an Egg Hunt for the children, and this year the weather was beautiful :) so we were able to have it outside.

The girls loved gathering tons of eggs filled with treats, new hair accessories, coins, and more treats!

Home is special because of the memories we make there.

Home is creating, and then continuing, family traditions that will bond your family's hearts even closer together.

Home is celebrating with family and friends!

Hubby's parents and grandparents came to town for the weekend, and we had such a fun time together! A huge family Easter dinner was prepared and enjoyed by all. We ate foods that are traditionally eaten by Hubby's side of the family, and laughed and talked the afternoon away!

Home is hearing the sounds of giggling children, feeling a warm hug, smelling an Easter ham in the oven, tasting sweets brought by Grandma, and seeing the smiles on your loved ones faces.

Home is making a welcoming, lovely place for your family and friends...not just because you can, but because you care.

A Welcoming Home begins with a Welcoming Heart!

I set a simple Easter table this year, using what I already had.

Bright ribbon in Springtime shades of green and pink gave a fun pop of color to the table, and complemented the pink roses in our centerpiece.

Votives filled with peanut M&M's gave the sweet-tooths something to nibble on!
(plus the colors went with the table!)

The wonderful memories we made here as a family this Easter made our little house feel even more like HOME!

For more ideas on HOME, please click on the
"Creating A Welcoming Home" link
(under Inspiration) on my left sidebar!

Mini Makeover on My Upstairs Landing

2010-04-04T22:16:00.006-04:00

Many moons ago I showed you my "Before" pic for my upstairs landing by our bedrooms:

Everyone had some amazing ideas for what I could do there! I loved reading all of the ideas, and eventually combined some of them with my own ideas and.....voila!

Here is my Mini Makeover "After", or should I say "During":

I added some family heirloom pieces from our grandparents to the glass front antique cabinet.

On top are some family photos, a battery operated candle on a cream pedestal (doubles as a nightlight), and a vintage silverplate pitcher that's all tarnished for some interest with some real-looking but fake seasonal branches.

I've been changing out the branches with each season, and love how they come up and "tie together" the cabinet with the champagney-silver colored framed mirror above!

On the staircase wall I hung some framed black & white photos of the girls. I loooove these photos! They make Hubby & I smile each time we pass by!! I may eventually add more photos and objects to this staircase wall for a collage/gallery effect.

I still want to paint up here and also update the lighting. I may be adding some more to the walls too, but I still have to think about what would look best. My house is very open and not very large, so I like to keep a fresh, clean look without much clutter. Hmmm....

I'll definitely keep you posted on the updates!

Hope you liked the "Mini Makeover" on our landing!!! :)

I'm linking to:

Thrifty Decor Chick's Before & After Party

Green Thumb Gardening Day

2010-04-03T08:46:00.011-04:00

Welcome to

Green Thumb Gardening Day

here at The Blessed Nest!

Today in honor of Easter I thought I'd share about one of my favorite trees in the garden:

The Dogwood Tree

The Dogwood is a lovely Spring-flowering tree!

It is said to be a symbol of Easter because the petals form the shape of a cross, the outer edge of each petal shows the nail hole brown with rust and stained with red, and the center is a reminder of the crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember.

The Flowering Dogwood Tree (cornus florida -- the latin name) is much loved for the beautiful displays of Spring flowers. Technically what we think of as the "flower petals" are actually bracts, while the tiny interior greenish-yellowish center is actually the flower!

The Flowering Dogwood is beautiful in all seasons though, with lovely flowers of either white or pink decorating the tree in Springtime, to the green leaves of Summer, reddish leaves and red fruits for the wildlife appear to give extra color in Autumn and into Winter, while the shape of the twisted branches and pretty form of the tree also gives Winter interest.

This tree is also wonderful for attracting wildlife to your yard, like birds! Birds and squirrels love to eat the red "fruit" in the fall & winter!

The Dogwood grows best in Hardiness Zones 5-9, with full sun in the Northern areas and partial sun in the hotter South.

I pray that everyone has a very
Happy Easter!!!!!

Now, it's time to link up and share YOUR:
Gardening Photos, Easter bouquets, Kids at A Backyard Egg Hunt, Front Door Pots, Tiny Green Shoots Coming Up in the Garden, Inspiration Photos, Plans, & Daydreams, etc.....

Guest Room Before & After -- Or: The Amazing Power of Paint!

2010-04-02T09:52:00.009-04:00

With my kids on Spring Break this week, and all of the little (and BIG!) projects I'm working on right now, I had completely forgotten that I never showed y'all our

Guest Room Makeover!

Get ready for a Before & After
where the only $ that was spent in the room was for PAINT!
We used what we had to decorate & furnish the room.

BEFORE:

Sky blue with sponge-painted clouds above the chair rail,
and grass green below.

Yikes.

AFTER:

We primed & then painted a soft buttery creamy color (SW Decor White). What a huge difference the new paint made!

It went from a themed kids' room, to a lovely & soothing retreat for our guests!

The bedding is a cream colored matelesse with matching euro shams (from Linens-N-Things, which is now gone), two PB pillows, and the black pillow with the floral design was from Target a few years ago.

The curtains hung in our old dining room in NC. And the antique botanical prints were found on a trip to Door County, WI years ago, then framed in inexpensive frames from Michael's.

The lamp is a fun one :) from Homegoods, and the wicker chair was my mom's when she was in her early 20's.

I still have plans to make an upholstered headboard and also get a new dresser (this one is an old hand-me-down) and a mirror to hang above it.

We're going to paint the doors to match the trim, too. I'm sure the previous owners loved the doors this way, but to me they just stick out visually too much. Would you paint them?

I also would like to add maybe some plates or something pretty to the wall around the dresser, but in time....

I love how simple yet fresh & pretty this room is!

Since it is our guest room, I like to put a couple of pictures of those who use it most in here, which is our families.

Black is the bold accent we're using in this space.
It's picked up in picture frames, a pillow, candlesticks, and a lamp shade, as well as the curtain rod.

I love how the modern floral look on the throw pillow really plays off of the antique botanical prints hanging above the bed!

I am always amazed how just a little paint can completely transform a space! Now I really want to get moving painting the dining room & living room!!

Don't be afraid to just pick a color and get your project "rolling" (haha!)! Move a few things you already have around, and you'll end up with an entirely new look for very little money! Give it a try!

I'm linking to The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday Linky Party!

{Oh, and since so many of you had written to tell me that you wanted to do the Linky party again, be sure to come on back tomorrow to link up for the
Green Thumb Gardening Day linky party!

See ya then! :) }

Family Fun Day & A New Magazine

2010-03-29T10:56:00.006-04:00

{The Fam @ DisneyWorld in February!}

This week is my kiddos' Spring Break. So today Hubby took the day off of work so that we could have what we call

"Family Fun Day"!

On a Family Fun Day, we try to plan an outing or activity that everyone will enjoy! Sometimes we clue the kids in as to what we'll be doing, while other times (like today!) our fun time is a complete surprise!!

(We'll be going to the Zoo & having a picnic....Shhhh!)

We try to choose things to do that are generally pretty inexpensive, but give us plenty of time to laugh, play & have fun together.

Do you ever have a Family Fun Day with your family?
What sort of things do you like to do together?

{I'm keeping this post short & sweet today, so that I can focus on my family!}

In other news, look what is going to be coming to us this fall from
none other than Matthew Mead:

Head over to Holiday with Matthew Mead to find out how you can win the opportunity to have your blog or online shop mentioned in the magazine. Holiday with Matthew Mead is a "book-azine" celebrating and offering inspiration for the Christmas holiday season. To be released in October 2010, Holiday is offered via online orders only - in limited quantities - and will not be sold on newsstands. But, by simply following the BUY HOLIDAY MAGAZINE link below their banner, you can reserve your own copy of this beautiful magazine, with guaranteed delivery of the magazine straight to your mailbox! Holiday with Matthew Mead is144 pages of holiday inspiration with well-known and admired designers, bloggers and top-notch features, printed on beautiful paper and not drowning in ads!

Now, head on over for your chance to win!

Green Thumb Gardening Day Party!!!

2010-03-26T20:54:00.014-04:00

Welcome to the very first

Green Thumb Gardening Day Party!!!

I'm so glad to have y'all here!

If you think that you have a "black thumb" and are just no good at gardening, well then, think again, my friend! :)

Our Green Thumb Gardening series is designed with you in mind.

****************************************************************

Alright, my darling decorating friends :),
did you know that you can use those amazing decorating skills when gardening?

It's true! Just like you have a "shell" of a room that you begin with in decorating before adding in the furniture & accessories, the garden also has a "shell" that you must begin with first.

This "shell" or structure of the garden is what you would concentrate on first, before planting any other plants!

This would include such things as:
A fence, hedge, walkways, deck/patio, arbor, garden shed, existing large trees, perimeter of property, etc.

{above photos: The Blessed Nest - My last Garden in North Carolina}

This garden room (above) clearly shows the "shell". The fence and garden shed were placed, then I'm guessing that pathways and garden beds were designed, then the plants and accessories came last.

Sometimes it's just the existing trees and plant life that form the "walls" of a garden, no fence needed!

This outdoor dining patio is lovely, isn't it?!! This separate "room" in the garden has the structure of the stone patio, the arbor, grass pathway, and tree canopy overhead. The other plants just fill in and accentuate!

This entry gate is beautiful, it reminds me of the garden gates on Nantucket.
What a statement to make as the entrance point to your garden!

{above 4 photos: Country Living}

Love the little informal garden rooms here...

The tall hedge is the border of this garden, with a row of hydrangea and other perennials in front for color and form.

{above 2 photos: Martha Stewart .com}

Later in our Green Thumb Gardening series I'll share how else Decorating skills can be put to good use in the Garden for a beautiful Garden space!!!

Now...
I'd love to have you link up for our Party today! :)

Share your favorite Garden pictures from this year or last year, front door pots or wreath, plants or flowers in the house, gardening tips, veggies, inspiration photos, etc.!

Just remember to link to your specific blog post, and grab the Green Thumb Gardening button up top to link back to The Blessed Nest. Also, be sure to visit & leave a little comment on the others' links too to share in the linky love!!!

Easter Decorating Inspiration & Party Reminder!

2010-03-26T10:06:00.005-04:00

Ahh, Spring! What a joyous time of year to celebrate!

I love how the earth springs back to life after a sleepy Winter, with daffodils and tulips peeking up out of the ground, and birds returning to fill the air with their song!

It always seems like the new life of Spring symbolizes the new Life found in Jesus as we celebrate Easter!

:)

We will have family visiting us for Easter this year, and I found some lovely inspiration photos to share with you for fun...

So cheerful & fresh! LOVE this!

Tulips are a favorite Springtime flower of mine -- they look so pretty tucked in the Easter baskets like little eggs!

Who knew chocolate could look so elegant? :)
This would be so lovely on a sideboard or as a table centerpiece.

SO SO SO pretty! *sigh!* A "nest" full of flowers!!!

I think my favorite part of the pic above is the industrial looking wire basket they used!

A miniature Spring backyard! Kids would love to make this decoration!

You know I adore anything to do with birds! So lovely!!

{above photos: marthastewart.com}

What a pretty centerpiece this would be! I know we all love a great idea using a cloche!!

Simple & Sweet

Monograms & Jellybeans -- Love this idea!!

{above 3 photos: BHG.com}

Hope you were as inspired by these photos as I was!
:)

And DON'T FORGET:

Tomorrow (Saturday) is my very first Green Thumb Gardening Linky Party!

So, pleeeeease show up & link up for me, 'kay?!!!

Show off what's peeking up in your garden this Spring, or how your garden looked last year...a bouquet of flowers in your home...a garden project....playhouse....porch or patio...container plantings...birds or animals visiting your yard...tips or hints...front door wreath...flower photos...games the family plays in the backyard...design ideas...curb appeal...

Pretty much anything goes! :)

I'll set up the Linky later tonight!

Let's get set to have fun & get some Gardening Inspiration!!!!!

Question for Today: How are you decorating for Easter??

Meet "Red Letter Words"

2010-03-25T08:30:00.018-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to my latest sponsor here at The Blessed Nest:

Red Letter Words

Get ready to fall in loooove.....
:)

Dee began Red Letter Words with the purpose of creating meaningful and personal faith-inspired art for the home.

I just love that!

I know that I personally (like many of you) choose art for my home that I make a personal connection with...art that is unique...art that makes me feel good...art that can lift my families spirits...that tells our story...

and Red Letter Words fits that perfectly!

Dee's art is beautiful! She chooses inspirational words and phrases to encourage!

What family wouldn't be filled with warm fuzzies seeing this hanging in their home?!!!

The typography...the distressed look...the wonderful reminder!
Lurve it!

Dee also does these oh-so-hot right now Keep Calm & Carry On pieces!

This print {above} is my own personal fave right now! I have it hung in my kitchen -- show you where tomorrow!

What words or phrases or Bible verse captures YOU or YOUR FAMILY?

Maybe you're all about the beach & coastal living...

Or maybe Game Night is HUGE with friends and family at your home...

Red Letter Words also does Custom Pieces!!! What a great gift idea!!!

{Red Letter Words also has an Etsy shop and a blog....Go check it out!}

They also offer art that features your favorite cities!

Or choose from the beautiful sets of notecards Red Letter Words offers.

This month in March the Print of the Month "He Lives" is on sale!
What a beautiful reminder of Easter's blessing to us!!
Go get yours on sale now!

So, go and visit Dee at Red Letter Words!
See what inspires you!

Green Thumb Gardening Day

2010-03-20T10:21:00.000-04:00

Do you feel like you have a "Black Thumb" when it comes to having plants or a garden?
Well, no longer! I'm here to tell you that You Can Do It --Grow that "Green Thumb"-- And most importantly, have FUN learning to Garden!!!

:)

That's why I started our new Gardening series on Saturdays, now known as:
Green Thumb Gardening
@ The Blessed Nest

I'll be sharing lots of simple & fun tips for you!

Easy hints, inspiration photos, design help, and more!

We'll also be starting a Linky party Next Saturday March 27th!!!

Come on over here to The Blessed Nest and link up your gardening pics & projects.

It can be ANYTHING gardening related.....
flowers peeking up in Spring, pics from last year, pots by the front door, your favorite plant/flower, container garden, plans & ideas for this year, a project to decorate the garden, your kids' treehouse/playhouse, photos asking for help, your cute new garden apron, a visit to a local botanical garden, veggies you're planting, even some Spring flowers making the inside of your house all pretty!

Link up next Saturday Mar. 27th and let's share!!! Sound fun? :)

***********************************

Ok, here's a garden planning tip I'll share with you today.....

This is a picture of my backyard. Notice anything? Nope? Well, you're right -- there's nothing as far as plants or flowers or shrubs there to notice {LOL}!

What is more subtle in the pic above, and what you should notice in your own garden as you plan, is the amount of Sun vs. Shade that your garden receives.

This is just one thing to take into account before purchasing any plants.

How do you do this?

Let's take a look here:

(Thanks to photo software I suddenly have a little perennial {A} (plants that come back every year) border!)

Make note of where the full sun, partly sunny, full shade, partly shady spots in the garden are.

Let me caution you that while you can do this now in Spring, things change from season to season. Don't just look at the ground when you're planning, look UP too!

Take a look at {B} in the pic above. Trees start out in Spring with little leafy buds, then have leaves all over them in the Summer, and in Fall the leaves are falling off again......in other words, as the seasons change, the light and Sun vs. Shade in your garden changes too. Keep it in mind as you plan your garden spaces.

So, a plant that needs full sun and blooms in the Spring {hint: the tag on the plant will tell you the amount of sun it needs, the time of growth/bloom, as well as other info.} would do just fine planted under a tree because the tree leaves aren't grown out yet. But a plant that needs full sun and blooms in the hot Summertime would not do well placed under that same tree, 'cause now it's all cool and shady under there with the full canopy of leaves!

When I was planning this post, I saw something really cool on my friend's blog & she allowed me to share it with you!

Amanda from Serenity Now did a wonderful post recently about how to make a drawn plan for Sun vs. Shade. So easy, and so clever! She's sweet & awesome & has a really wonderful blog too! :) Take a look here and check out the pic from Amanda below...

Amanda says, "I am learning that planning is essential to gardening." Right on! That is SO true!

Checking the amount of Sun vs. Shade in your garden is one easy way to plan & ensure that you're on the road to a successful & beautiful Garden!

:)

Garden Seeds

I was so pleased to get a little package in the mail yesterday from Hometown Seeds. They sent me some Survival Seeds as well as some lovely flower seeds! I'll really enjoy using them in our new garden this year! Can't wait! Thank you, Hometown Seeds :)!!

Happy Garden Planning &

I hope you'll join us all next week for the Linky party! Come on back now, ya hear?!!!

Decorating to EnLIVEn Your Home!

2010-03-18T10:25:00.009-04:00

A very simple, inexpensive way to liven up your home and make it a more Welcoming place is to try to have at least one "live" thing in each room!

Live items could include:

Houseplants

Flowers (Cut or Potted)

Fresh Fruit or Veggies Piled in a Colander or Bowl

Beautiful Music

Pinecones

Shells, Starfish, Coral

A Flickering Candle

Breeze Coming Through an Open Window, Fluttering the Curtains

Nests

Branches

Things Living or Found in Nature

etc.....

Having "LIVE" things in a space really makes your Home feel warm & inviting.

Not to mention the joy these items bring because of their beauty!

I can't imagine that there is anyone who doesn't want to bring some

color
texture
beauty
warmth
& freshness

into their Home!

These flowering dogwood branches in our last home really made our breakfast room feel so beautiful and fresh and cozy all at the same time!

:)

Makes me want to have a friend over for tea & cupcakes just looking at it!!

Fresh fruit or veggies look so amazing when they're put in a pretty bowl or basket in the kitchen. Who wouldn't want to eat healthier when you're looking at such colorful produce?!!

{I'll admit that I even use real-looking but fake lemons piled in an apothecary jar....they are so cheery you can't help but smile when walking past!}

Even small rooms like a bathroom could use some "live"-ening up!

Here an old scale holds pretty soaps and a towel, but when I placed the coral & starfish on there -- LOVE it!!

The candles in the background can be lit for taking a relaxing bath.

Some moisture loving plants do very well in a bathroom too, due to the humidity.

Flowers are one of my very favorite ways to bring "life" to a space!

Whether they come from your garden or your local grocery store, flowers are a wonderful way to enjoy the Creator's handiwork up close!

Gorgeous!!!

But most of all, it's the love & laughter of family and friends being together that really makes a House a Home!!!

Spring Giveaway Winner

2010-03-18T09:23:00.005-04:00

Melanie said...: I love the generally happy feeling that accompanies spring...the world waking up from winter sleep & everything is new again!

I am a fan on Facebook, too!

Congratulations to Melanie of Imperfect Living!!! You have won the Spring Giveaway!!!

What's Coming Up....

2010-03-16T11:20:00.007-04:00

....Here @ The Blessed Nest

It's always fun to have something to look forward to, isn't it?! :)

So I thought I'd take some time to let y'all know what exciting things are gonna be coming up here soon!

I've been thinking and planning for some time about the new things that I'm going to do here at the blog. Things that will give you even MORE Home & Heart Inspiration!! Things that will inspire you to make your own home a Welcoming place to be!!

Here's just a couple of things that are coming up:

See how just one object can inspire an entire decorating scheme for a room!
{hint: the above vintage globe i found while thrifting!!}

You have asked for an easy tutorial for the Faux Roman Shade I'm making for our kitchen re-do. You've got it!! Coming up soon!

Watch out 1980's decor -- I'm coming to get ya! LOL!!
Follow along as our Dining Room {above is previous owners decor} gets an update in Fresh Classic Style!

ALSO:

Look for more great giveaways

Fun linky parties I've planned

Follow along as I personally go through Proverbs 31

PLUS, even more heart and home inspiration here @ The Blessed Nest!!!

I also wanted to let you know that
I have decided to start offering advertising spots
here at The Blessed Nest!

If you have a site or business that you would like to promote, and it pertains to what my lovely readers are interested in (home, decor, jewelry, gardening, blogging, organizing, entertaining, & all manner of pretty things!) then please e-mail me at:

theblessednest (at) gmail (dot) com

for current rates and promotions.

I don't know about you, but I am REALLY looking forward to these fun things coming up here! I am being challenged to grow personally in the areas of Heart & Home and I am so excited to have all of you wonderful friends come right along with me!!!

Yay!!!

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed day today, Friend!

ps -- Don't forget to sign up for the Spring Giveaway going on now!

SpRiNg GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-03-13T18:55:00.007-05:00

*UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!*

Welcome to The Blessed Nest's

SPRING GIVEAWAY!!!

I am SO ready for Spring to finally arrive, aren't you?

I thought a fun GIVEAWAY would be just the thing to cure our end-of-lingering-Wintertime-blues!

Here's what you could win:

Phyllis Hoffman's Celebrate Spring magazine

A Pretty Nest with Eggs

A Lovely Little Birdie

3 Seed Packets for Starting An Herb Garden

A Farmhouse Style Basket Tray
(to display all of your pretty Springtime treasures!)

I bought myself one of the Farmhouse Style basket trays too!

{See Mine Below}

All you have to do to ENTER is:

1) Leave a comment telling me one thing you LOVE about SPRING!!!

2) If you follow my blog or are a fan on Facebook, then leave an extra comment for each for extra entries!

3) Be sure to Enter by Wed. March 17th at Midnight central time. That's when the Giveaway closes!

Good luck & Happy Spring!!!

Paint & Fabric & Paint, Oh My!

2010-03-12T10:56:00.010-05:00

This weekend Hubby and I will be working in the kitchen. Hubby will be finishing painting the walls SW Cork Wedge, and I'll be trying not to sew through my finger again as I make curtains & a faux roman shade! {I promise I'll pay attention to what I'm doing this time! Yikes!}

Have you ever noticed how working on one project can suddenly snowball into a major whole room/whole house re-do? LOL!! Well, that's how we're feeling! After looking at our crisp, fresh looking new kitchen all of a sudden the walls in the living room & dining room that we were going to "get around to painting sometime" seem to need new paint STAT!!! :) Add the fact that we just got a 25% off Sherwin Williams paint coupon in the mail, and you'd better believe we're gonna be painting like crazy over here at The Blessed Nest!

Guess I have to get movin' & groovin' with our design for those spaces! As always, I'll be posting before & afters! :)

Come on back tomorrow for a SPRING GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Kitchen Progress

2010-03-10T15:24:00.003-05:00

....Our Kitchen Makeover has made some real progress!

Our new kitchen cabinets!

Don't you just love those drawer pulls?!!

I'm linking to Amanda's "Show Me The Progress Party" today.

Is my kitchen finished? Uh, noooo.

We still have to finish painting, putting switchplates back on, tile a backsplash, patch a hole in the ceiling from the old florescent light fixture.......
you get the picture!

But it's come a long way, baby!

The past few days we've been:

Putting on the old countertops.

Hooking all of the plumbing back up.

Adding a pretty new brushed nickel faucet!

Bringing dishes, pots & pans, & food back in from where it was stored in the guest room!

....and now it pretty much is looking like this....

1/2 painted & junk on the counters

Just keeping it real for ya! :) LOL!!!

Like I said, it's a work in Progress...

but probably my favorite change in the kitchen has to be the pantry!

I bought some pretty glass canisters for flours and things at Target yesterday & can't wait to get my new pantry all organized and looking pretty!
:)

Ahhh....a spot of calm amidst the chaos!
hehe!

I'm ready for this kitchen to be DONE!

But seeing all of our Progress so far has really made all of our hard work seem worthwhile!!

10 Simple Ideas For a Welcoming Home

2010-03-09T13:53:00.003-05:00

I Can Do TODAY To Make My Home More Welcoming:

1) Sweep the front porch/entryway. Time to get rid of the winter dust & dirt and get ready to welcome spring!

2) Put some pretty flowers in the kitchen! I love to have at least one "live" thing in each room -- a plant, flowers, fruit, shells, etc. This will add SO much to your space!

3) Call a friend and make a date to have her over for a casual, fun time. It can be a spur-of-the-moment coffee time while kids play around you, or you can do a simple meal with both families and serve a big pot of chili, salad & cornbread -- perfect for an end of winter get together! Hospitality comes from the heart, not from having a perfect house, so warmly welcome your friend and let her know she's "Welcome" at your home anytime!

4) Go through that pile of papers on the counter -- you know the one! LOL!! What a weight that will be off your (& my!) shoulders. Plus think of the added space you'll have without the mess there!

5) Pick a corner of one room and work your Welcoming Magic! Add a comfy throw, change out a pillow, switch accessories, place a framed picture, or put a favorite book or magazine nearby.... Just focus on one small area and see the big difference it will make! Ahhhh!!

6) Have a positive attitude! You know, If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy is so true! Greet others with a smile, a hug & a cheery "Hello! I'm so glad to see you!".

7) Pick one room and just think on it for a bit to see how it could work better for your family and friends needs. Maybe you could use an extra chair in the living room for seating more friends, maybe board games could be moved to be more easily accessible for game nights, maybe the formal dining room you use once a year (what a shame!) could be made more casual for more frequent get-togethers or even be turned into a craft room (depending on your needs!). Take today to just brainstorm. Then, try to use what you have already to reach your goal!

8) Write a "love note" for each family member and place it on their pillow for a little Sweet Goodnight Surprise!

9) Light a candle & enjoy the wonderful scent and warm glow as you go about your day!

10) When you step outside make sure to give your neighbors a wave & a smile!

Hope you all have a blessed day! I'm going to be working in my kitchen (the new cabinets are in!) and working on some of these welcoming touches for my own family! :)

P.S. -- I'd love to shout out a big ol' "Welcome!" to our new friends/followers here at The Blessed Nest! I'm so happy to have you here! Please make yourselves at home and don't be shy, come & visit & share with us often!! :)

New Kitchen Sneak Peek!

2010-03-05T15:47:00.005-05:00

I'm so excited! Today was Day 1 of our new kitchen cabinet installation.

Already, I can't believe the HUGE difference there is!

We've gone from this (when we moved in):

To this (starting demo):

And today we're finally seeing a sneak peek at our new kitchen!!!:

(I just couldn't wait to show y'all pictures!)

{the paint color is SW Cork Wedge}

Yay!
*happy dance here!!!*

They'll be coming back tomorrow and Monday too to finish things up.

This makes such an amazing difference in the feel of this room, I can't even tell you! It already seems bigger & brighter. And the storage....oh, the glorious storage space! I can picture the finished room in my head, and I'm envisioning wonderful family meals taking place here. Good friends gathered round our little kitchen table for games and dessert. This space will be much more welcoming!

Oh, and I got a little "makeover" of my own too!
Ok, it's just a haircut, but here's a couple of pics since some of you asked to see!

Still getting used to having it shorter :), but change is feeling good right now!

Have a blessed day, Friends!

Fun Find -- Restaurant Dishes

2010-03-04T11:56:00.003-05:00

What a Fun Find!

I was shopping at a favorite local shop recently and saw these beautiful, perfectly loved brown & creamy-white old restaurant dishes!

I just knew they'd mix perfectly with our everyday dishes and my brown transferware collection too!

Add in some cloth napkins with an embroidered nest on them from PB and some old silver spoons with the monogram "S" on them, and it really takes these dishes from "diner dinner" to "dazzling dessert"!!

Do you love to mix styles and patterns of dishes on your table too?

I can't wait to place these in my new pantry!!!

Have you scored any fun finds lately?

Well, I'm off to get a new haircut (goin' shorter! pray it looks good!) and then get working in the kitchen some more. Oh, my, do we have a lot to finish up tonight! I'll fill you all in tomorrow with pictures and updates on the new cabinet install! If you haven't become a fan yet of my Facebook page, then check it out!

Enjoy your day, my friends! I appreciate you all SO MUCH! Your friendship and sweet comments and e-mails are such a blessing in my life :)!!!

Kitchen in Chaos

2010-03-02T22:02:00.006-05:00

Welcome to my Weekend!

Hubby and I spent Friday evening through Monday working pretty much non-stop on the Kitchen Makeover!

{ I am just letting you know that I know that the quality of these pictures stinks.
My excuse is that I am too tired from all of the work on the kitchen I've been doing to care much about it. Also, I rationalize that it will make our "AFTER" pictures that much more amazing!
Just love me anyway! }

We took out cabinets together, my best bud and me.
And let our kids fool around with the camera taking pictures!

Me with no makeup...yeah. awesome.
But I love my guy!

Removed backsplash to make way for painted walls, and then beautiful tile soon to follow.

Removed 1/2 of the counters,
replaced part of a vent pipe,
drywalled,
bought new paint,
detached sink...

Tonight the other 1/2 of countertop with integrated sink comes off
and the last couple lower cabinets go out!

Tomorrow:
sand, patch, sand, patch, sand those walls!

And guess what?!?!
Our new cabinets are getting installed starting on Friday!!!
Squeeee!!!
:)

Guess what else I'm totally excited about?

I'm going to the Relevant Conference this fall!
Check it out!

Off to take out a counter top now! :)

More fun stuff coming up this week, so y'all come on back, ya hear?!!

Kitchen To-Do's...

2010-02-26T13:58:00.002-05:00

Hubby and I are gonna be busy this weekend!

Unloading all of our stuff from our kitchen cabinets...

Removing countertops & cabinets...

Drywalling where the old soffits were...

Patching & Painting...

and guess what else??

Our installer is coming on Saturday to open all of our boxes to check out the new cabinets!

Hopefully they all arrived safe and sound.

And I especially pray that we love them as much as we thought we would!!!

We'll also set an installation date!

Things are really coming along, I'm so excited!

What are YOU doing this weekend?

Which Came First ...The "Nest" or the "Egg"?

2010-02-24T17:54:00.011-05:00

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest. ~Robert Montgomery

The Eastern Bluebird that built this nest in our old backyard had it right.

You see, I watched as the bluebird flew back & forth to the little wooden birdhouse, carrying bits of pine straw found in the woods behind our property, or tiny twigs or bits of animal hair in order to make the softest, most secure, most important spot for it's little ones to arrive. Building the nest was an all-consuming task, lasting for days as Momma & Papa Bluebird got things just right. Tucking in new pieces of pine straw here, pulling and fluffing over there, the bluebird had only one thing on it's mind...building it's nest. It had to get ready!

Soon, Momma Bluebird started laying eggs, one each day for several days. The prettiest blue color you ever did see! Guess what happened then? The focus changed from the nest to their new eggs! The Momma had to keep her eggs nice and warm so that they would soon hatch. The bluebirds stopped making their nest the #1 priority. Sure, it was very important to shelter them and keep them safe, warm, & secure, but it was the little eggs inside that moved to the #1 spot of importance.

*******************************

We all desire to make a wonderful, warm & inviting "nest" of our own, don't we? I know that I truly love to make a beautiful, welcoming home! It's something I really really enjoy! But what is our true priority when building our "nests"? Is it the "nest"? Glory for ourselves? Or is it the "eggs"?

Is our priority our "nest", our house? Do we spend too much time focusing on the counter that needs to be cleaned, or the pillows that need to be arranged just right, or (dare I say) looking for/writing about ideas on the web? Are we too busy to play legos with our kids because we're consumed with a decorating project? Do we spend so much time keeping house that we fail to notice those people in our house?

Or is our priority ourselves? Are we focused on keeping our house in tip-top shape because we want others who visit to be impressed with our amazing cleaning or decorating skills? Do we spend more time worrying about how our tablescape is a reflection of us as a homemaker than about relaxing and having a fun time with our guests, making them the most important part of the evening? Are we in a subconscious "competition" to be the best *fill in the blank* so that everyone will think we're the most awesome thing since the Dairy Queen Blizzard was invented?

What is your #1 priority when it comes to building your own nest?

I'll be honest with you all here (raising my hand sheepishly) and say that there are occasions when my priority shifts :/. Sometimes I start to care too much about what my living room curtains say about ME, wondering if others will think I'm a good decorator, instead of focusing on blessing my family with my loving choices. Sometimes I get a little annoyed when a family member wants my attention while I'm working on a blog post, or arranging my bookshelves. I'm not perfect. None of us are! :) Now, there's nothing wrong with making your home a beautiful place to be, I'm all for it! But I really try to make sure my top priority remains the people in my life! That's really why we do what we do! Making a welcoming, beautiful home is a wonderful act of love for our family and friends!

What's all this about an "egg"? Well, the "egg" in our own lives is where our #1 priority should be when it comes to Creating A Welcoming Home. It's the people in our lives that matter! Our family and friends and neighbors. Making a home for them to feel welcomed, encouraged, and loved. A home that, yes, looks inviting, but the most inviting thing about it is the smile on your face as you greet them with open arms, saying,

"Welcome! I'm so glad to see you! Please, make yourself AT HOME!!!".

What Do YOU Collect?

2010-02-23T14:37:00.004-05:00

Ever come upon something that is so wonderful you just want to slow down to savor every bit of it?

Meet "Flea Market Style Magazine".

I just picked it up yesterday afternoon & am only partway through,
but I am seriously in love!

The photos, the writing, the projects, the mix of styles, the attention to every last detail...this is a BEAUTIFUL magazine!

And I haven't been able to say that about a magazine in quite a while!

I was thrilled that one of their pieces was about floral frogs!

I have collected them for several years {see pic below} partly due to my love for gardening, and partly because I am drawn to the variety of these little flower arranging "helpers". Some are spiked metal, some smooth glass, others twirl and swirl, while still other floral frogs are actually shaped like an animal!

What a fun thing to collect!

I love it!!

Do YOU have a favorite collection you've picked up while junking/thrifting/flea-ing?!

Or is there a collection you dream of starting?

The Blessed Nest on Facebook

2010-02-22T16:24:00.002-05:00

Wow! Two posts in one day :)! This is just an announcement to let you all know that The Blessed Nest is now live on Facebook! Yippeeeee!!! I've finally gotten with the program & now you can read more fun Home & Heart Inspiration tidbits over on my new Facebook page!

So, sign on up to be my friend/fan on Facebook so I won't feel like a dork. Oh, and so maybe I'll do some fun giveaways over there & write stuff that you won't see here on my blog!!

Go over to my sidebar and click that you want to be my fan, m'kay?!

ps...I am so NOT a techie...so if this doesn't work, let me know.

My Top 10 Disney World Tips

2010-02-22T11:21:00.012-05:00

We had a WONDERFULLY "magical" Disney World vacation!
Thanks so much to all of you who left tips for us here, they were a huge help!

Now that we've "done Disney" I thought I'd share what our family considered our
Top 10 Disney World Tips:

1. Do your homework before you go.

If you want your vacation to go as smoothly as possible, then Plan, Plan, Plan! Not only was the Disney site a helpful place, there are many other books and web sites that you can check out for free. Your local public library is a good place for the latest books, and there are several free websites too (our favorite is Mousesavers.com -- free and it saved us a TON of money on our hotel with a special discount code they offered).

The Disney website also describes each of the rides and shows, and lets you know height requirements, whether it's good for kids, if it's scary (...and yes, Snow White's Scary Adventures DID in fact scare the bejangles out of my kids...), if it could cause motion sickness, and just generally cool information about each attraction. Use this to plan which rides your family would like to see & which ones to skip. This will save tons of time at the parks, as you won't be scratching your head & arguing what to see/do next.

Make dining reservations WAY in advance. I believe the window for Advanced Dining Reservations begins 180 days in advance. Trust me, if you want a special Character Dining meal, you'd better make those reservations ahead of time!

2. Celebrating something? Let Disney know!

If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, 1st visit, or family reunion, then make sure Disney knows! They'll make sure it's extra special for you! Go to the front information desk area and let them know that "It's little Billy's birthday!" and you'll be given a free button to wear, sure to bring some special attention your way. Also, if you let them know when you make dining reservations too, you just may get a little surprise!

We were celebrating our oldest daughter's birthday while we were there, and she really loved the attention! Not only did tons of Cast Members (Disney employees) and Guests wish her, "Happy Birthday, Princess!", but at our meals they decorated the table with confetti and gave her a free cupcake/or small cake with a candle to make a wish upon!

3. Characters, Characters!!!

Whether you have kids or not, it's just plain fun to see and visit with the Disney Characters! There are tons of chances to see so many characters at each of the parks, but we especially enjoyed these 3 tips:

1. Go to at least 1 Character meal. We did a couple of them, and had to agree that the breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table in the Castle was our favorite! You'll get a little more time to chat with the characters (but don't expect them to stay for tooo long...they do have many other guests to greet!) and get autographs, as well as pose for pictures. Our kids loved it, and so did their grandparents, it was really fun! Talk about making memories!

{above the girls are "wishing on a star" with Ariel, The Little Mermaid}

2. Camp Minnie Mickey Greeting Trails at Animal Kingdom. We got SO many pictures and autographs there, and didn't have to wait for too long at all.

3. Let your older kids get Character autographs. Honestly, I didn't think they'd care much for an autograph book, but since so many people said "You've GOTTA get autographs!", I came up with a solution -- an autographed photo mat! We LOVED this idea, and so many others thought it was clever, too! This way I can frame & display a photo of each kid at Disney on their playroom wall, where they'll look at it often and remember the fun!

4. Don't be a Fuddy-Duddy!

If you are a royal stick-in-the-mud party pooper, then this vacation is not for you. Be silly! Have fun! Join in & be a carefree goofball! Get in some pictures & ham it up! You'll have a much better time & your family will love it.

{And if the dancers & singers from High School Musical 3 come drag your husband into the act for a minute or two....just laugh & take lots of pictures :) !!}

Chances are that everyone else is too busy having fun with their own family to notice how silly yours is being! :)

5. Beat the crowds.

Ok, this is a big one, people! Plan your vacation so that you aren't there over spring break or holiday weeks like everyone else is, and you'll be SO glad that you did!

We went the 1st weekend in February this year, and hardly had to wait in line for rides or shows longer than 15 minutes at the most! {we pretty much walked right onto the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at Animal Kingdom...see above pic}

Also, I cannot stress enough how important it is to arrive 15-30 minutes early at the parks before they open. If you do you also get to see a parade or little show, too! Most people sleep in and arrive later in the morning/early afternoon. You'll have ridden all the cool rides and be ready for some ice cream by the time everyone else straggles in and waits in line for much longer than you had to!

6. Wear super-comfortable walking shoes -- You're gonna need 'em!

What else can I say? This pretty much sums it up. Just trust me. And bribe someone in your family to give you a foot massage every night.

7. Let Disney know if you have Dietary Restrictions/Allergies.

This was so amazing! Just shoot them an e-mail & they'll e-mail you back a form to send in with all of your allergy info, & where and when you have dining reservations so that the chefs can make sure you will have a safe meal.

Eating counter-service meals or snacks? Disney also e-mailed me a complete list of what I could eat where at each of the 4 parks. Fabulous!

Let me just say, that I had appetizers, meals, desserts, & snacks everywhere I went, and it was flavorful and yummy-good! A chef or manager came to speak with me at each restaurant and would either walk me through the buffet or prepare my meal & serve it himself to ensure that it would not be contaminated and would be safe for me to eat. I was thoroughly impressed with each chef's knowledge about my gluten "allergy", and felt completely at ease.

This will definitely be worth your while!

8. Pack smart!

In your suitcase: Layers, layers, layers. {My kids above are wearing 4 layers on top due to temps in the 40's we didn't see coming. Good thing I packed lots of things to layer!} You never know what the weather is going to be!

In your backpack (for taking to the parks): A couple travel-size umbrellas or cheapo plastic ponchos from the dollar store for when it rains (It WILL rain, and if you're not prepared you'll be shelling out the big bucks to pay for a Disney poncho...like us. Don't go by the weather for the day...just bring the ponchos. Thank me later!), snacks snacks snacks and some bottled water, camera, autograph item & sharpie, medicines, a printed "itinerary" for the day including meal reservation #'s, a plastic bag for any "messies" or to protect items from getting wet, Purell or wipes, cell phone, sunscreen, etc. Leave some room for jackets coming off and for souveniers.

9. Go with the Flow.

You're not gonna be able to do it all, and THAT'S OK!!! Recognize when people in your party are getting tired and take a break. Get a snack & sit down for a bit, or go back to your hotel for a couple of hours till it's time for dinner & fireworks. Otherwise you'll fall asleep while waiting for a table at meal-time or your small kids (& then you) will have a meltdown.

Just relax & enjoy it moment-by-moment!

10. Best spot to see the Wishes Fireworks at Magic Kingdom: (Probably our favorite tip!!!)

On the bridge between Main Street and Tomorrowland! Just almost under the Tomorrowland sign there is a big bench. Go EARLY & stake your claim! A popcorn vendor was close by & we had popcorn & watched an amazing fireworks show that was directly in front of us! If you want to see Tink fly, you're in luck, cause she'll fly practically overhead. We wouldn't watch the fireworks from anywhere else!

The Castle was lit up with changing colors known as "The Kiss Goodnight"!

Main Street at nighttime was incredible!

Bonus Tip: Keep your camera at the ready!

We were looking at one of the beautiful gardens at the Magic Kingdom, snapping a few pics, when a kind cast member came up to us and told the kids to watch the Castle, cause in 5 more seconds something neat was going to happen....

....What a cool shot of some "Disney Magic"!!! You never know what surprises are around the next corner, or what precious faces your kids may make, so keep the camera ready to go!

Hope you enjoyed seeing some pics of our vacation!

Kitchen Pantry Inspiration

2010-02-19T11:18:00.004-05:00

I wanted to catch y'all up on our Kitchen Makeover.

I am SO EXCITED (squeeee!!!) that I will have a new kitchen in just about 2 more weeks!!
But....

We still have to deal with plumbers, drywall, patching, painting, & removing the old cabinets all ourselves before any new cabinets can go in. Oh, and finish unpacking all of our moving boxes still in the garage so the company can have a place to store our new cabinets till they are installed. Which means completely re-configuring our storage room in the basement with new shelves I bought like 2 months ago and haven't done anything with yet.

All within less than 2 weeks.
Yikes.
I'll be eating a DQ Blizzard as therapy now...
....I'm really not kidding. Ice cream can work wonders.
Now why can't I seem to lose those last 10 pounds??
Hmmm ;)...

Well, to keep my mind off of the work ahead of me today :), I thought you'd like to see
one of my favorite things about our new kitchen:

The Pantry

This (above) is the current "before" pantry.
This pic was actually taken before we moved in. The pantry is somewhat functional, but very very very BLAH.

Since you see this pantry space from the front entry and the living room too, it really needed to look as lovely as possible!

Enter inspiration photos:

See that circled built-in cabinet above?
That was my inspiration for our new pantry!
*sigh*
Isn't she pretty?!!

Our new house doesn't have much going for it in terms of "character".
This nest needed some built-in loveliness to make her really sing!

I love how our new pantry will look like a built-in furniture piece, like how gorgeous old homes have built-in china cabinets or butler's pantries.

Here's the line drawing of our new pantry to give you a rough idea of what she'll look like!

Glass front doors on top will hold beautiful baskets with extra dishes or baking items, or pasta, for example.

The plate rack below will be both decorative and functional.

The drawer will be holding small snacks, perfect for school, after-school, or on-the-go munching!
My other idea for the drawer would be to hold placemats and napkin rings to make setting the table a snap!

The lower cabinet will have roll out shelves for cereal & breakfast items, and chips, along with kids' dishes and cups (so they can easily help themselves).

I've already been purchasing a few goodies for getting the new pantry organized!
I can't wait!!!

Keep checking out the Kitchen Makeover area on my right sidebar to see what progress we're making over the next 2 weeks!

Do you have any tips for organizing your pantry you'd like to share with us in the comments?
What would your dream pantry look like?

Can't Wait For Spring??

2010-01-30T11:29:00.007-05:00

If you're anything like me, then you can't wait for Spring to arrive! What better way to cure the Winter Doldrums than to add a burst of color and life to your home with potted flowers?!!

It's as simple as going to your nearest grocery (or even home improvement) store and picking up a few gorgeous, potted blooms. Look for flowers that still have some unopened buds left on them for a longer bloom time in your home. Follow the directions for watering, sit back & enjoy!!!

Even a "Black Thumb" gardener could easily take care of these lovely orchids!

I purchased them at my local home improvement center. They're called "Just Add Ice" orchids, and you do just that -- they get watered once a week (here it's on Sundays) with just 3 ice cubes. How easy is that! Can't over or under water these with such an easy system!

Tulips, hyacinths, orchids, daffodils, paperwhites....they are all beautiful! What do you like?

Here is some more lovely inspiration:

{photo: Country Living}

What a gorgeous potting area! Love all of the vintage goodness in this picture!
This would be beautiful in a sunroom or an enclosed porch.
Don't even get me started on the framed bird prints!

{photo: Country Living}

Makes me want to sit here with a cup of tea and a book full of gardening inspiration!
Can't wait to start planning my new garden!

{photo: Country Living}

Pastel colored flowers in weathered old pots, combined with broken, aged statuary....
....gorgeous!!!

One pot is lovely......but grouped in 3's or 5's -- WOW!!!

{photo: Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center}

How cute is this???
Need I say more?!

{photo: Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center}

Wrap some old canvas or burlap around your pots and tie with some ribbon or jute string.
Rustic and elegant at the same time!

So, go out and treat yourself and your family to some (early!) beautiful Spring blooms! They'll last so much longer than a bouquet of cut flowers, and it'll definitely put a smile on your face for weeks to come!

Good-bye Winter Blues.........Hello, Spring Blooms! :)

ps...If you haven't checked out my post from yesterday, I could really use some Disney advice! Thanks :)!!

Advice Needed!

2010-01-29T14:01:00.002-05:00

I could really use your advice!

You see, I've been super busy getting ready for our 1st family trip (MY 1st trip, too) to Disney World soon!! Yippee!!!

But I'm nervous that I'm packing too much...or leaving something important behind....or will regret only having one pair of shoes....or that my kids will get sick riding something quaint and simple like the "Dumbo" ride....or that we'll miss the fun, "it" things for kids and families...

Let's just say that my imagination gets the better of me sometimes.

I've read books and checked things out online, but I'd really love to hear it straight from you all!

I need to hear from you....

What great tips do you have for me?
What are the best things to have in a backpack for a day in the parks?
Will my kids survive without an autograph book, or will they whine for one?
The best things you brought with you?
What should you have left at home?
Money-saving tips?
Fun things to do with grade-school aged kids?
Your best Disney advice?

Pllleeeeeeeeeeeeeaase let me know!

Thanks so much, I know I can count on y'all! :)

The Winter Garden

2010-01-22T10:40:00.010-05:00

My love affair with gardening began when we bought our very first house. The cheery, bright red geraniums that the previous owners had planted immediately tugged at my sentimental heartstrings, and our little fixer-upper felt so "homey" right away. I was smitten!

Since then, I have designed, hard-scaped, and landscaped all of my home's gardens, with Hubby and I doing all of the work ourselves. This spring I'll be ripping out and re-designing garden #4!

I am so passionate about gardening now! I've learned a lot along the way, and would like to share some of my gardening knowledge here with you at The Blessed Nest.

Let's start at the very beginning....
....ok, not at the beginning, but how about where we are right now.
Smack dab in the middle of Winter.
What? You don't think there's much to do with the garden in Wintertime?!

Actually, Wintertime is the perfect time to really study your garden.
There's so much to see! Or, then again, maybe there isn't.
Most people plan their garden for gorgeous blooms in the Spring and Summer, but
give nary a thought to the bare, Winter months!

If you'd like to have some beautiful interest in your own Winter Garden, here are some things that you can do:

Add trees with beautiful shape. The bare branches become like a living sculpture!

Some trees and plants have lovely bark that either peels attractively (birch trees, for example) or has a pretty color.

Some plants have colorful berries and seedheads that also may feed local wildlife, plus give you lots of bird sightings!

Tall grasses can take center stage this time of year, even covered with some snow.

Evergreen trees and shrubs add year-round life, color and texture, things that are often missing in Northern winter gardens.

The architectural framework of your garden is most important. Things like: fences, potting sheds, stone or brick edging, bird houses, bird baths, benches, & arbors, for example, will give your garden year-round structure and interest.

{This is my old garden in NC. Notice how this little seating area looks in late Spring:}

{and how the same area looks in Winter:}

Thanks to the fence, stone path, bench, evergreens, pretty branches of the rose bushes, and bird feeder (cropped out of winter pic, but it's there!) this seating area looks just as charming covered in snow as it does with blooming flowers surrounding it!

This section of my garden wasn't left bare, there was several things I purposely added there for year-round interest!

If you want to start small this Winter & make a big impact,
then how about planting some evergreen branches, long bare branches & colorful berries in a pot near your front door? Or add one in the back yard where you can see it from a window!

Take notes of your garden now and when Spring comes, you'll know what changes you'd like to add in to make your garden look beautiful all year long!!

I think I'll begin a little weekly series. What do you think? Even if you think you have a "black thumb" now, you can learn some easy & fun things along the way!

PB Rug Look @ Clearance Prices

2010-01-20T14:36:00.006-05:00

My Hubby is a good guy. An incredibly good guy, in fact.
And he's also a very very very frugal guy.

So, when I told him last weekend......

that I saw the CUTEST rugs at extra-clearance prices at H*meGoods, and how I know we weren't looking for a rug for the living room yet, because we just spent more than enough on new kitchen cabinets and I know I said we'd only be decorating one room at a time, but they were really great and looked just like they could come from P8ttery Barn and getting one of these rugs now on CLEARANCE, Honey would really really really end up actually saving us money in the long run......

he actually bought it. Literally!

Yippee!!!

I love my new rug! The 7.5 x 9.5 size fits perfectly in our living room, and the price (only $199!!!!) fit perfectly into our budget! :)
Gotta love that!

Doesn't our new rug (here):

look similar to these:

{below from Pottery Barn}

So, if you're in the market for a rug don't forget to check out inexpensive places for great looks at a bargain price!

(Just to let you know, HomeGoods was having a major clearance on rugs....even better prices than usual!)

Gettin' Creative With Our Kitchen Makeover

2010-01-19T12:09:00.014-05:00

Once you have your goals for a project in place, it's time to start getting creative!

Hubby and I definitely had some creative thinking to do if we wanted to reach our goals for our Kitchen Makeover.

Here's our plan to make our Goals a Reality:

Beauty -- We already removed the harsh 1980's florescent light box, and the floral-embossed vertical blinds from the room. We plan to bring in updated lighting fixtures, white cabinets, brushed nickel hardware, and pretty fabric to soften things up! Add in SW Cork Wedge paint color and some really cool original art pieces (wait till you see what I have in mind), and the room gets a whole new look! This also sets the tone for the design style {what I've termed "fresh classic style"} for the rest of the house.

Storage -- We really need every available inch that we can get. So that's why we removed the soffits, to take the cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. New 42" cabinets on top will add SO much extra storage, and we are just taking advantage of previously unused space! A few organizational items will really help us get clever storage out of every cabinet. Plus the pantry is getting transformed to not only look beautiful, but be more functional as well.

Function -- Keeping "like" items together and having "stations" set up in the kitchen is the key to having this space function as efficiently as possible. This way, multiple cooks won't be in each other's way and it will make it easy to find and put away items too! We are keeping our kitchen table for eating family meals and for homework and games. A vintage wire paper tray will hold important papers, and an organized "junk drawer" below will provide space for pens, checkbook, homework supplies, calendar, phone #'s, etc.

Space -- How to make the kitchen seem Bigger & Brighter? Just going from dark, dated oak cabinets to classic, white cabinets was a HUGE start! A few of the cabinets are going to have glass-fronts as well, which will help visually expand the space. Taking new window treatments up to the ceiling will draw the eye up, as will the new, taller cabinets. New lighting fixtures will also be glass, so they won't "stop" the eye. Recessed lights in the "work triangle" shine light into what was once nothing but dark shadows. A cute lamp on the counter adds task lighting and a warm glow. Counters will be mostly clear of all but a few items.

Budget -- After much discussion about whether to keep the old cabinets and re-work them, or get new cabinets, in the end we decided to get new. This would help us reach our goals for our Kitchen Makeover the best. But our budget was not very big! So we did a bit of comparison shopping, and got our new cabinets during a huge sale with lots of free extras and a good percentage off. Our budget would only cover new cabinets right now, so updating counters, tile, flooring & appliances will have to wait.

So in the end, our kitchen will go from this:

to this:

(a little sneak peek for ya!)

{above light pendants from Pottery Barn}

Hope you liked the "preview" of our Kitchen Makeover! :)
I just love sharing all of this with you!

Kitchen Makeover: Decisions, Decisions!

2010-01-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Whew, what a whirlwind of a week! I have so much to catch y'all up on!

We've made quite a bit of progress on our kitchen makeover. As you know, when you are decorating sometimes just making some of the decisions involved in a project can take the most time and energy. This week of making decision after decision was no exception!

One thing that has made planning this project so much easier has been to:

1) Have set goals.

2) Have a general design plan.

Our Goals for the Kitchen Makeover:

Beauty -- Since the kitchen is literally right in the "heart" (the central hub) of our home, we need a beautiful space that sets the "tone" for the decor of the rest of our home. Not to mention, makes the kitchen so lovely that size doesn't enter people's minds!

Storage -- There isn't much in the way of storage space in this small kitchen. We need to make the best use out of every square inch of space that we can. Making trips up from the basement with items such as serving platters, and cookie trays isn't much fun.

Function -- We're a family that cooks and bakes on a daily basis, often with more than one "chef" in the kitchen at a time. We need space for family meals, homework, and a "planning center" for me to keep track of the family schedule and important papers.

Space -- We knew that we couldn't afford to expand the kitchen footprint in any way, so what to do when you want a Bigger & Brighter kitchen?

Budget -- Keeping this project affordable is a must! What should we improve now, and what can wait until later?

Tomorrow I'll share with you how we're planning to

Reach Our Goals!

{and give you a preview of the design!}

Chalkboard Plate Project

2010-01-10T21:02:00.004-05:00

{above, The Blessed Nest}

I just had to show you all this *too cute* project that a reader sent me!

Ms. Carli of Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
saw an old post of mine that showed this platter (above) that I had the artist Jan Dutcher paint for me.

I first saw Jan's work in a magazine article and fell in love with the style of her work. Then I saw her work again, featured in a shop that was showcased in a different magazine. When I called the shop to ask about purchasing the platter I had fallen in love with, the piece had already been sold, :( but I convinced them to ask the artist to paint another "Family" art platter for me! :) The words perfectly describe our family! This is a piece that we display and love!!

So imagine my delight to see how Carli has made this plate her own by coming up with this cute project!

{this pic: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made}

Carli took an old round platter/plate that she already had and transformed it with a favorite product here in bloggyland : Chalkboard Paint!

Then she added wording that describes HER family values perfectly!

I love this project SO much!!
Thanks for sharing with us, Carli!

Be sure to check out Fearfully and Wonderfully Made....she's got some fun projects and a great eye for trash to treasure transformations!

Let me know if a project or post here at The Blessed Nest has inspired you! I'd love to post a picture about it :)!

Making my House a Home

2010-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Okay. I have a confession to make.

When we first moved back to Chicagoland at the end of July, I sounded a bit more optimistic about our "new" house here on the blog than I felt in real life.

Let's just say that downsizing from a big, brand new home that you built yourself into a MUCH smaller, older, more expensive (thanks to the difference in the housing markets between NC and Chicago) home sounds so charming and "can-do" in theory. Since we've moved A LOT before and fixed up several other older homes, I figured it would be a pretty easy transition. It really wasn't as easy as I expected in reality though.

Do you remember that Hubby picked out the house himself? An early 1980's english tudor split-level, to be exact. (SO NOT what I ever pictured myself living in!) All I saw were pictures on the internet until the day we closed on the house. So when I first walked through the house, I was doing pretty good thinking, "Well, this room is smaller, but it will work fine...I can fix this...We can re-do that....",

that is until I quickly reached the kitchen.

Let me tell you, friends, this kitchen is small. As in small. And awkwardly laid out. Not good for a family that cooks and bakes together every day (thanks to my Gluten-Free diet) and entertains frequently. So small that I may have gotten a bit teary when I first saw it. Small enough that visitors have actually said, "Whoa!" upon entering the room. THAT kind of small.

So, after wallowing in a small-kitchen-pity-party for awhile, I determined that no tiny kitchen was gonna stop me! This kitchen might be small and weird, but it's OUR kitchen. Time to make it work for our family!

Then, guess what happened? The more I started embracing my new house's good qualities, the more it felt like home. Things like built-in bookshelves, or an upstairs landing, or a beautifully finished basement with room for a craft studio (!) and playroom, or lots of windows looking out over a backyard just made for entertaining....these were things that I focused on.

Beautiful colors started going up on the walls, pictures were hung, family memories started being made. It felt less like a place we were visiting and more comfortable....more us. Before I knew it.....

....we were HOME.

Is this our "dream home"? Well, maybe not. Then again, maybe. Because whether a house is big and gorgeous, or small and in need of a makeover,

a house is just a house until you CHOOSE to MAKE IT A HOME.

And this girl is definitely having fun now DREAMing about ways to make this house a HOME!!!

{So today we're taking a step to make our house feel more like home by working on our "Kitchen Makeover"! I put together an inspiration board for the kitchen and we're going to visit some home improvement stores today to get an idea for pricing. I'll be sharing more of these steps with you next week!}

Winner, Winner!

2010-01-06T10:19:00.002-05:00

Congratulations !!!!!

to the Winner of the Lisa Leonard Designs Giveaway:

(based on Random.org Number Generator #52)

Amy Jo from Texas Mommys Ramblings!!!

Amy Jo:) said...
Wow, she has beautiful jewelery! But I really do love the necklace you have, with the two initials and the pearl. I have two boys, so that would be neat to have their initials. I also have a sister that passed away, my only sibling, it would be neat to have her initial on there too...to keep her close to my heart :)

Congratulations Amy Jo! I hope you enjoy your new Teenie-Tiny Initials necklace!

Launch of Our Kitchen Makeover

2010-01-05T11:29:00.010-05:00

Announcing the:

Official Launch of The Blessed Nest's Kitchen Makeover!!!

{Whoo-hoo! Cheers! Applause!}

When we moved in here this past July, I just knew that I had my work cut out for me when I saw our kitchen. It's definitely NOT my "dream kitchen", to put it mildly! How to make a kitchen that is this small and in need of storage, function, light, and beauty live large has taken some major dreaming and scheming!!!

Let me tell you, friends, this kitchen is small. Small and in serious need of a makeover!

We've been making a few changes in here over the past couple of months, but now things are in full gear! Check out the Kitchen Makeover List over in my sidebar.

This is how the kitchen looked before we moved in:

Still stuck in 1983. Yikes.
And Small.

The good news: Lots of natural light. And a deep pantry. Wanting your kitchen to be the "heart of the home"?--This is it, right in the central part of the house!

The bad news: Pretty much everything else. Very little counter space. Florescent overhead light fixture. A teeny-tiny sink. Unusual looking cabinets. Can't have more than 2 cooks in the kitchen (not good for a family who cooks and entertains a LOT). Not much in the way of an eating area. And keeping the same general floorplan. We are on a budget, you know! Hmmmm.....

"Cozy" is how most visitors end up describing our home!
I'm choosing to embrace "cozy"!!

(Our pantry below)

First things first:

Doing demo on the soffits above the cabinets.
Time to open things up!

(Did this demo in the fall)

Next:

Having an electrician come to re-wire the funky switches and move some wiring from the soffit area up into the attic. Also, "buh-bye" Mr. Ugly Florescent Light Box Thingy (see him on the counter?). You have been replaced with 4 5inch recessed lights, which are much brighter and warmer than your icky "glow".
I will not miss you.

Next on the list?

Coming up with Plans A, B, C, & D for cabinets.
Yup, you heard me....4 plans.
It all depends on various pricing of new cabinets vs. re-working the old in some creative way, or a combination of both.

I have plans....Big plans, see? ;)

And I'll be sharing all of it with you along our kitchen makeover journey!

ps: Don't forget that today is the last day to sign up for the Lisa Leonard GIVEAWAY I have going on!!! You have until Midnight tonight!

New Year's Giveaway!!!

2010-01-01T11:02:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

What better way to ring in 2010 than with an amazing GIVEAWAY!!!

Recently the very sweet & amazingly talented Lisa Leonard of Lisa Leonard Designs
sent me the loveliest package with one of her amazing handcrafted, sterling-silver necklaces inside! I love it! My girls' initials ("L" & "K") are stamped on it, which makes me love it even more!

I wear this Teenie Tiny Initials Necklace pretty much everywhere & with everything....even to take a walk on the beach and eat ice cream with the fam! :)
{and before you ask :), no, both ice creams are not mine! one was hubby's!}

Did I mention that I am in complete loooooove?!

Lisa has also graciously offered to GIVEAWAY one of her necklaces, the Teenie Tiny Initials necklace, to one lucky reader of The Blessed Nest!!!

Lisa has just added several new designs to her line of jewelry, which includes custom necklaces, inspirational pieces, and even a few pieces for the guy in your life!

The brand new Heartstrings necklace above is gorgeous!

Although, pretty much every piece of jewelry I see on her site makes me drool :).

The "Paper Lantern" necklace above....

and the "Key to My Heart" necklace below....

are also so unique and lovely!

I'll be putting this leather cuff on my wish list for sure! It would be a perfect compliment to jeans and a feminine top, along with a more delicate necklace.

Lisa Leonard is also teaming up with Ali Edwards to present the new 2010 "What's Your Word?" necklace. Love this idea! A perfect reminder of your dreams and goals for 2010!!

What I love most about Lisa's line of jewelry is that her designs are personal & meaningful. Perfect for a "mommy" or "grandma" necklace, or a special word or phrase that you want to wear close to your heart!

So, if you'd love to win your very own hand cut, hand stamped, hand-made with love, sterling-silver necklace

{JUST LIKE MINE!
-- the Teenie Tiny Initials Necklace, below, but with your own personalized initials of your sweeties!}

from Lisa Leonard Designs....

.....Then all you have to do is visit Lisa Leonard Designs and leave one comment below telling us what piece of Lisa Leonard jewelry you are craving for 2010!
(You won't get any extra chances to win by following my blog, but if you want to keep on comin' back to check out the inspiration here at The Blessed Nest, then click the Followers link and "Welcome!")

This Giveaway will be open until Midnight on Jan. 5th, then I'll announce the winner of the Teenie Tiny Initials Necklace!

Have You Ever Seen A Snowman Swim?

2009-12-15T12:20:00.004-05:00

This is such a fun wintry treat for the whole family!

My kids were beyond thrilled when they first enjoyed these as a surprise!
Here's what you do:

1) Ask your kids if they've ever "Seen A Snowman Swim?"

2) Pull out these little cuties:

3) Add one marshmallow Snowman Peeps to a mug full of creamy, not-too-hot, but just-right, chocolate cocoa goodness:

4) Pass out to the family & say "Well, now you have!"
;)

5) Stir with a candy cane and enjoy this fun moment together!!!

Pretty {Christmasy} in Pink

2009-12-11T10:56:00.006-05:00

According to my girls, anything pink, bright, colorful & glittery is IT when it comes to decorating their room for Christmas!

I let them have a little tree in their shared bedroom this year, and we kept the decorations simple & sweet. Snowman ornaments, colored lights, a home-made paper chain (which I thought should be a bit longer, but there's always next year...) & a big glittery pink star! The "tree skirt"? It's a pink & white gingham crib sheet from when they were babies!

We used only what we had, and the girls had a ball decorating their tree!

We placed the tree by the little rocking chair that used to be mine when I was a little girl.

Such a fun tree for little girls!
:)
And the best part was decorating it together using what we already had!
(I know my Hubby liked that last part especially!)

My daughters each chose something that they'd like to collect for Christmas while growing up. This way they'll have a nice collection of decorations when they get their own first place someday!

My oldest chose "Santas" and my youngest chose "Snowmen"....
how fun!!!

I love that my kids get so into decorating too! :)

On a different note:
My kitchen is getting a mini transformation today!

Our electrician is here, as I type, taking out our ugly, 1980's florescent light box & putting in recessed lighting! He's also re-wiring parts of the kitchen to work from the same switch areas & re-working conduit to hide in the wall so that we can either:

1) get new cabinets that go to the ceiling to max out storage in our tiny space
or
2) raise our current cabinets, add moldings, and paint them out.

We'll see!

I can't wait to show y'all pictures & my paint & fabric swatches!!!
Whoo-hoo!

So for today, why don't you do a mini-transformation of your own?
Add something fun to your Christmas decor :)....
What will you do?