Make It A Monday

Times of feasting and times of famine.  Such is life.

And Jesus knows.  He was born into the lowly class of carpenters to live the phrase: money can't buy love.  Love is a free gift and one that Jesus was to perfection.  So, while this season is about so much more than how full the space is between the bottom branches of the Christmas tree and the floor, it is inevitable that there is likely something you want, but may not be able to afford.

For me this year, one of those wished-for items was a pretty tree skirt... actually, it's been the last few years.  And not that they are ALL terribly expensive; it was a matter of prioritizing our spending and a new tree skirt has just never made the list.

I saw this on Pinterest:

(Although, I wish I had seen this:)

A new, pretty tree skirt. I could wish forever for a pile of unallocated funds, or I could do what I could do to get what I wanted despite the lack-there-of said funds.  So -- I made it.  With fabric I already had, a glue gun, and a few hours of commitment to the cause. 

The tutorial I used is here.  The tutorial for the second picture is here.  (Both basically the same but the technique is what makes them look different.)

For more of a dramatic ruffle like picture two, I'd gather more of the fabric per ruffle than I did.  But you know, there's always a learning curve the first time around anything.

You may like your tree skirt just fine, but I encourage you... whatever it is you've had your eye on -- if you can't buy it, chances are you can make it.

It may not be full under our tree... a definite famine there by choice, but it sure is pretty.  And we've got lots of love. 

Hearts bursting with it.

Lives living by It.

It's not Friday, but it's still FREE!

I just ordered an 8x10  canvas of this photograph.

It was free.

 (Well -- there was shipping)

I am thrilled!

Now, go get yours at: Canvas People.

Don't forget to Google search: "Canvas People free shipping promo codes" before you check-out!

The Best is Yet to Come!

You bet it is!  So I'm taking you on somewhat of a tour today. 

 A tour of my mind! 

I'll show you some of what we have, some of what I love, and some of what is yet to be...

First up...

I found this house on Country Living's website.  I love every single thing about it.

• the walls and entry table.
• the armoire and the loooong table. I've wanted one of those for years. 
• that we actually have awesome trees to hook a hammock up to!
• this outdoor dining set up.  We will have a screened porch that is going to be fabulous!
• this kitchen. Our sink will be skirted and we will have mostly open shelving.
• this bathroom.  Notice the shelf and hooks, as well as, the wall detail. 
• the outdoor paint color scheme.  Not sure if we should go for the cream as our roof is white tin... but either way: green/cream/dark brown or green/white/dark brown... I'm in love with it 

                                                                                                                                                       

Out in the shop the other day, I saw, tucked back in a dark corner, an old cabinet of some sort... I haven't thoroughly inspected it, but I'm thinking: kitchen island...

We were going to forgo an island for a dining table, but I brainstormed lastnight.  I searched my idea in Google and sure as shootin'... it's already been done.

With a family of six, presently, the idea is a bit of a challenge, but i'm thinking squared instead of rounded and seating for seven.  ...It'll work.  It's even more exciting because of the added storage to the existing deficiency in that area!

We have another idea, but I can't find any pictures of anyone else who's done something similar.  We have high ceilings in our house (which does a lot for the house since the sqare footage is so little) but the closets in the children's rooms have tiny doors.  So, we are thinking we'll make little reading nook/hide-outs above the closets since it is all wasted, unusable space up there anyway!  They'll be about the size of a twin bed.  Fun!

The following are most of the light fixtures we've purchased.  The only missing are the bathroom fixtures.  I do adore the chandelier which will be going in the girls bedroom.  The fans will go in the other two bedrooms, the pendants and semi-flush mount in the kitchen and the sconces in the living room.

Our tub!  It's tiny. 

The bathroom is so small that it only has room for a 54" bathtub.  For as short as it is, it makes up for it in depth.  I can't wait to get this thing installed! We got it from VintageTubs.com  Incredible prices and even better savings when you purchase a tub package.  We searched everywhere from Craigslist for a used to Overstock.com for a bargain.  Nowhere came even remotely close... and these are brand new with the entire set up!  I am a fan.

There.  Just a glimpse of the promise.

(and it is promising... we've got some great help!)

Happy Saturday!  The sun is shining and it's warming up...

-Alicia Grace

Kitchen Interest

As much fun as freebies every week would be... it is possible the rule that "less is more" applies here.  Never fear, it's not done for, I'm just going to add a few more f's to Friday's.  Along with Freebie Friday's, we will also have Fun Friday's (date night ideas), Frugal Friday's (anything cheap or free goes) and Feature Friday's... which is today's "f".  I will highlight products, ideas, how-to's, etc... that we integrate and/or utilize during our remodel process.

Today's feature is something I haven't seen before.  If I have, I must have thought it was ordinary wallpaper.  Alas, it is NOT wallpaper...

Wall stencils from Royal Design Studio...

I needed some sort of design element somewhere in the living area. Something to break up the monotony of my style.  I found this shop as I was perusing Etsy the other day and have not been able to stop fantasizing over putting this all over my kitchen walls:

So, I'm going to do it... I'm going to buy it today. Yay!

Here is just a small sampling of what else you'll find when you visit their site...

They literally have hundreds of designs and they come in all sizes from the size of your hand to 26" or bigger!

These stencils come to the rescue in three ways for us:

1. I can buy just one durable, reusable stencil instead of eight+ rolls of wallpaper (SAVES $$$)
2. I just removed wallpaper from three rooms... I don't want to go there again.  Ever. (SAVES time, frustration, and my right arm... both now and in the future!)
3. Our walls are bad.  This is a way to camoflauge all of the little (and BIG) imperfections! (SAVES my mind... if you can't fix it, work with it.)

(I love this! ^)

Use these to transform ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, and even fabric.  These are relatively cheap, they are easy to use (they have a no-brainer system for application) and in a few short hours you have something that is more than just "sigh... it'll do." I think I may have a small desire to set a stool in the middle of the kitchen and just stare for a few hours after it's finished. 

I once did that when we got our front loading washing machine. Hahaha!  Though, it wasn't a few hours... I'd say more like 10 minutes.. I am all too easily amazed.

Anyhow...

Check out their Etsy store here.

Check out their Facebook page here.

For how-to's, inspiration and other ways to use the stencils visit their main website here.

Let me know what you think of this plan, as well as, if you find any favorites in your browings that you can't stop thinking about and planning for!

Have FUN this weekend!  Don't forget to help us put a RUSH on Spring this week!