sew that's what i've been up to; slipcovers.

Remember when I mentioned needing to not only learn how to work my sewing machine but actually open the box?

You don't?

Yeah, me either because it's been so long ago. But, I'm happy (and very proud) to say that I finally did open it and completely surprised I actually figured out how to thread the darn thing.

I've managed to sew some stuff.

=)

Let me assure you, it's far from perfect.

My lines aren't the straightest. (Although they're getting better.)

The large pillow covers may be slightly too small.

My lack of patience and normally short amount of (todddler nap) time to work with, leaves ironing to be ignored. But I'm learning how important that can be.

And I have a slight obsession with ruffles, yet my machine won't ruffle fabric on it's own so frustration sometimes runs high.

But, I think it's fun.

And, I've managed to make these:

(pillow covers and an ottoman slipcover)

Not too bad for my first.time.ever using a sewing machine, right?

I used drop cloth and it is much more practical than the suede covers that were on the pillows. *A toddler boy (runny noses, sticky fingers, leaky cups, etc.) is not a good combination with suede. And it makes the giant leather sofa much lighter and brighter.

Case in point.

The before.

The white sofa, rug, and coffee table have been replaced with a new furniture layout and a comfy ottoman. The inspiration and tutorial I used as a guideine for the ottoman can be seen here at one of my favorite blogs.

We didn't have the ottoman but once I saw that tutorial, I went on the hunt and found one on Craigslist for $50 that was perfect size in front of the huge sofa.

It wasn't very pretty...

But, I fixed that.

=)

There are still changes on the way.

The recliner is finally going to go.

I'm going to attempt to sew a slipcover for the armchair shown in the photos.

The shelves will be taken down and replaced with a big old farmhouse mantel.

*who says you have to have an actual fireplace to have a mantel? not me.

That giant orange-ish buffet will get a big dose of sanding and white paint.

And, eventually I'll love a layout for the living room and be better at accessorizing it.

Eventually.

For now, I'm happy sewing a straight line.

=)

I'm linking up here:

a good thing to remember.

via

As things that I can't control create a whirlwind all around me lately, I've been focusing on the important things. My family. My happiness. My well-being. And the rest? Well, I'll let that be.

I hope you all find even the simplest reason to smile today.

Seeing as I'm facing a doctors appointment for a health concern that has me convinced I'm dying (no really) and have been losing sleep over it, I'm having a hard time smiling today.

And, let me tell ya, these gray Ohio skies sure aren't helping any.

However, God blessed me with Jack Trenton and he sure knows how to make his mama feel good better, on a day like today.

I'm off to Pilates.

Then the dreaded doctors appointment.

And I'm sure that if my medical concern doesn't kill me,

the anxiety just might.

Don't forget, just smile.

=)

a giveaway you want to know about.

It's no secret I'm the (self proclaimed) biggest fan of Dear Lillie.

So when I see a new blog post from Jennifer, it kind of makes me giddy with excitement.

Ok, "kind of" is actually kind of a lie.

I get excited.

Like, real excited.

Now, imagine my excitement when she has a giveaway.

It's like Christmas.

So, check it out and enter!

She's picking TWO winners!

*the details are on her blog

Those two pillow silhouette covers on her sofa?

Yeah, I want to win those.

I know you do too...

so go enter!

While you're there, check out her shop and treat yourself to something lovely because she's going to be busy having another one of the world's most gorgeous babies and the shop will be closed until August.

And she's offering 30% off today (be sure to enter the discount code) for the last day the shop is open, 'til August!

*edited to add

I just ordered this and can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can wear it!

Under the silhouette, it reads this quote from L.H. Montgomery:

"There is such a place as fairyland - but only children can find the way to it. And they do not know that it is fairyland until they have grown so old that they forget the way. One bitter day, when they seek it and cannot find it, they realize what they have lost; and that is the tragedy of life. On that day the gates of Eden are shut behind them and the age of gold is over. Henceforth they must dwell in the common light of common day. Only a few, who remain children at heart, can ever find that fair, lost path again; and blessed are they above mortals. They, and only they, can bring us tidings from that dear country where we once sojourned and from which we must evermore be exiles. The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and story-tellers; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland."

How could I pass that up, right?

=)

i have a serious case of "bedhead".

It's not going to be new news that I'm having a hard time making a decision.

Must be the Gemini traits interfering with my master bedroom makeover.

Wait.

You didn't know I was making over my master bedroom?

Well, me either really.

That is, until I casually mentioned to my aunt that I was wanting to sell the furniture in our bedroom and she, without hesitation, said she wanted it!

I'm sure I have pictures of it floating around somewhere that I will dig up for the actual before and after post. But for now, let's just say that a giant matching set of headboard, footboard, dresser with mirror and cedar chest (in oak, I think) didn't do any favors to our kind-of-on-the-small-side master bedroom that gets very little natural sunlight.

So, two weeks after my aunt said she wanted it... it was gone.

And although I already had bedding I love, decided on two nightstands, scored an antique ornate mirror from Craigslist, and moved the armoire from the guest room to hide the fact that we do indeed have a tv in the bedroom...

I cannot decide on a bed!

Do I want metal?

Or upholstered?

Just the headboard?

Or, headboard and footboard?

So, here we go again friends.

I need to know what you think???

To give you an idea of the "feel" I want in the room, here is a list of what we have so far:

Simply Shabby Chic Duvet Set

Simply Shabby Chic Nightstands

An antique ornate mirror similar to this one but it's black. And I may paint it white.

A lamp similar to this one at Dear Lillie.

And I'm thinking of painting the room Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore.

So... the bed choices I'm looking at are:

The Kensington Bed or headboard, from JC Penney.

$329 for a king size with footboard, on sale.

$169 for a king size headboard only, on sale.

Which has a much more budget friendly price than very similar ones for much more at Pottery Barn, seen below.

Mendocino Bed

$1249 king size, on sale.

Claudia Bed

$849 king size, on sale.

I found this image on google and would paint the JC Penney bed/headboard a creamy white similar to the one seen here shown with lovely floral bedding.

OR

Do I order this beauty from Amazon.com

$406.15 with free shipping for king size, in Shatung Silk.

 $412.09 with free shipping for king size in White Velvet.

Similar to this bedroom I'm head over heels for.

*Jennifer, if you're reading... I'd love your thoughts and opinion! ;)

(I have a serious blog crush on her people. Check her out, you'll see why!)

So, ladies, which do I go with?

The metal bed or headboard with vintage flair and a PB look from JC Penney and paint it a creamy white?

OR

The comfy upholstered and elegantly tufted headboard from Amazon?

Which do you love most?

And, why?

Both are in the budget so looks and practicality are my biggest selling points.

Also, a little fyi: There are four rooms in the house undergoing a makeover right now.

Hence the lack of blog posts.

It's like a disease I have that I can't just finish a room before moving onto another.

So, watch out for updates in the kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and guest room.

AND

A big reveal of Jack's bathroom/the guest bathroom  which was a random project I suddenly tackled but is DONE and just needs photographed.

A little hint, I got the shower curtain seen in this post and LOVE it!

That reminds me... I need to find something fabulous to giveaway!

Especially since I'm 1 away from from 100 followers!

A Spring inspired gift set since this Ohio weather is making me bonkers???

I spent last weekend in sandals.

This weekend, it's supposed to snow.

"Really?", you ask.

Yes. Really.

:(

Alright, enough rambling for me.

You? Time for your opinion.

Ready? Go!

Rated G to R, all in one post!

The rated G part is this absolutely amazingly perfect nursery that Jennifer at Dear Lillie put together.

Not only is Jennifer gorgeous, talented (she made all of that crib bedding and managed to keep a full size bed in the room for guests!), super sweet and creative, but she's pregnant with her second (destined to be beautiful) daughter and full of energy to keep sharing amazing inspiration with all of us blogger ladies (and gents).

That nursery is utter perfection.

Which is what brings me to the rated R portion of this blog post...

that nursery makes me want to make a baby right.this.moment. so I have need for it to be copied in my house.

And, it just dawned on me... it IS indeed "hump" day.

Ha!

You know you laughed.

;)

In all seriousness, when the day comes that another little one of our own is on his or her way, we will be using this nursery as total inspiration. Color scheme, guest bed, and all!

Now go tell Jennifer what an amazing job she did on that nursery.

Find an idea or two you want to copy in your own home because her house is as gorgeous as she is.

And, check out her Etsy shop.

Happy Wednesday Hump Day, you sexy ladies.

holy flu virus, batman.

The last thing anyone who lives in Ohio and is on a beach vacation in February hopes for, is the flu. But, hoping didn't do a bit of good because nearly half of our vacation was spent with me having the flu, Travis hoping not to get the flu, and us both praying Jack didn't start to show symptoms of the flu.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one plagued with this virus that has me feeling like I'm on my death bed. My dad got it. My brother got it. And, Jack got it too. :(

After spending Tuesday in bed with Jack all day... coughing, sneezing, aching, sweating, freezing, puking being nauseous, crying, and having severe anxiety about our two flights home on Wednesday, I was certain I've never felt worse in my life. But Wednesday came, and by the grace of God, we made it home. And although I looked forward to a night of good sleep in my own bed, when you have a little one that is sick too, your own needs quickly get pushed aside and that sweet little boy gets to climb into bed with you and proceed to cough in your face all night simply because he's asking to be cuddled. That's love.

I tried catching up some of my blog reading today. At which point I realized just how cloudy my head really is. Fortunately, Travis stayed home today to take care of us. Unfortunately, after all his efforts of nearly overdosing on Airborne (I'm not even sure that's possible, but he's taken alot) he's suddenly not feeling so good either. I'm thankful that Jack and I seem to no longer have as bad of a fever as we have over the past few days, but this cough, headache, body aches, and lack of energy or appetite is getting quite depressing. Not to mention when I do eat, it tastes like "sick". And, I'm not even sure how to describe a "sick" taste to you but all my tastebuds know at this point is cough drops, NyQuil, and Gatorade. "Sick!"

I am hoping, praying, wishing, and crossing every appendage I can that this passes, soon. The only bright side is that this cough seems to be doing serious work on my abs. We're miserable. But we hope you all are doing well and are hanging in there through these gray skies and unruly weather until Spring arrives. Oh, you don't have gray skies and unruly weather? Up yours! *joke*

Any at home remedies any of you can recommend??? I'm almost willing to try anything at this point!

On a lighter note, just as soon as I'm feeling better I think a dinner date is in store so I can rock these babies that I ordered before I left for vacation and were waiting for me when I got home.

They're Carlos Santana Versa found here. Perfect for the inbetween-winter-and-Spring weather for keeping my feet covered but showing off my perfectly polished toesies in bright Spring shade. ;)

Anthro SALE and a giveaway?

Although the Ocean Blue Shower Curtain wasn't originally on my list in this post,

I think I may just be in.love.

And, you must imagine my surprise when I found it on SALE (online) for $69.95!!!

At almost $50 less than originally priced, it's on the top of my "to do" list to call my local Anthro store tomorrow in hopes of them having it in stock.

If not, how can I not order it?

Right???

What do you all think?

P.S. I'm thinking Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to host my first giveaway.

Don't you?

;)

Jack's Bachelor Pad (reveal).

Well, it happened.

We finally had a little bit of sunshine peaking through the clouds yesterday.

And although I don't have a fancy schmancy camera to make my photos look as good as they probbaly could, I grabbed the one I do have and snapped away.

Because who knows when little miss sunshine will be back for a visit.

If you care to dare to see the "befores", grab some saltines and clear soda (because it could quite possibly make you sick to your stomach) and click here.
Ok go ahead and look. It makes the "after" even better!

Thank you for your patience while I sat here in Ohio waiting for the sun to shine.

Let me introduce you to Jack's big boy bachelor pad.

I love it.

Like, looove love it.

The mix of old and new makes me smile every time I walk in the room.

Everything in the room has a story.

Whether it be how we came across the desk and chair by complete accident when hopes of finding matching wingback chairs failed.

Or how I asked my mother in law over a year ago if she would pass the picture, now hanging above Jack's bed, onto him.

It used to hang in her family room. And I would stare at it every time we'd visit, thinking of how perfect it was for the vision I had for Jack's big boy room. So, when I asked if she would pass it on to me for that use, she explained how she loved the picture because it reminded her of exactly what Travis looked like, walking on the beach as a little boy.

Ironic, because it always reminds me of what Jack looked like on his first trip to the beach.

Makes my heart so happy to have it hanging above his bed.

(Thanks Pat!)

:)

Oh yeah! Annnnnd, can you all even believe what I made his chandelier out of????

THANKS DAD/PAWPAW!!!

*insert impressed blushing grin here*

There are a few things that still need done/tweaked.

-Lightswitches and outlet covers changed out for white ones.

-I need to come up with a phrase for the frame on Jack's nightstand holding a picture of the three of us at the beach.

-Paint the desk chair once its warm enough outside to use the spray gun.

-I'm considering changing the white roman shade out for a bamboo roman shade for some contrast.

-Wondering if I should hang the sailboat sketch that's propped on his dresser.

-And, I have the entire alphabet to cover the wall at the foot of his bed just as soon as I get it all painted.

But, we love it.

And, although it's bittersweet to see my "baby" boy have such a big boy room,

he happens to love it too...

I linked up here and here.