Little Girls’ Room Done!



My little decorating project is complete.  The yellow chevron pillow I made for one bed a couple of months ago turned out to be the inspiration for adding a bright yellow throughout the room as an accent color.  DIY projects pulled the room together with only a few dollars spent on paint.  Among them was the above canvas with a quote from a favorite children’s picture book, Miss Rumphius.  I painted some frames I already had a bright yellow and my six year old chose some vintage butterfly prints to hang in them.  A zebra stripe pillow and her side of the room was taken care of.


The dresser is now the focal point of the room.  I found this huge metal piece on clearance at a local shop and brought it home.  A few coats of black paint and it was ready.  I originally intended to cover the lamp shade in a yellow and white fabric, but at the last minute I chose to tie a length of ribbon around it.  I added a vintage millinery flower and pinned a vintage broach in the center of it.  (Hooray for me!   Too often I save these vintage pieces of jewelry for “something special” which really means they sit in a drawer.  This one was used immediately.)  I also added a turquoise flower and a bird.   Once more I painted an old frame yellow, then shopped my house for the bird tray and some accessories.  We’ll see how they do at keeping it clean.  Most of the accessories will go if it turns into meaningless clutter.


Above the crib I hung letters that spell “bloom.”  I’ve had them for a few years and I’m happy they’ve found a permanent home.  I’m still in love with that chevron crib skirt as well.  It’s a happy little corner.


I love the collection of vintage pieces I’ve used in this room:  the mirrors over the beds, my vintage metal wreath above the crib, the miniature pink roll-top desk, vintage grandmother’s garden quilts, butterfly prints and the rose prints in gold frames.  I also love the modern pattern and colors that come with the fabrics:  yellow chevron in the crib skirt and pillow, black zebra on a pillow, pink and white lattice print on the curtains.  It’s got that mix of old and new that I’m drawn to.    The art canvas adds a deeply personal touch to the space with a quote that’s very special to one daughter.   This room is a labor of love.  I love my girls, and we all love the room.  Let’s hope they keep it clean!

Hopeful Homemaker

Turquoise and Pink

I am head over heels for this gorgeous wedding.


I had my once in a lifetime wedding almost 15 years ago, but I’d love to create a luncheon with this wedding as inspiration.  Peonies, blue glass, turquoise ribbon.  It takes my breath away.

Head over to Style Me Pretty to see more.

And can someone please help me find a turquoise cake stand like that?  Wow.  Gorgeous.
What are you inspired by today?

Hopeful Homemaker

A Year of Habits, no. 16



Ok, I’ve noticed something about these weekly reports and I’m guessing you’ve noticed it as well.  They’re great summaries of my week peppered with pieces of my heart, but the lack of substantial growth in specific habits is ominously apparent.  That’s not good.

Honestly, I’m in my crazy season.  Yesterday we had 6 games to attend:  5 soccer and one lacrosse.  They began at 9 a.m. and the last one started at 6:30 p.m. at a field an hour away from our home.  In all, the time we spent at sports events to watch our children compete was twelve hours solid, with one 30 minute break when we were all home together.  I spent so many hours outside watching games with my arms crossed to stay warm as the sky drizzled here and there, threatening to dump, that I came home with a sunburn!  Ridiculous.  It’s the time of year when sometimes the very best I can do is simply live through it.  But I’m tired of just surviving, which is why I set my goals in the first place.

Tonight I’m re-committing myself to work hard at the specific little goals that will help our family function better.  I’m going to work harder at my laundry schedule and try to move through the housekeeping faster.   We’ve been so busy that I’ve fallen off my planning routines for meal planning and grocery shopping some.  I’m going to get back on the ball, change gears mentally, and start planning better meals that can be packed up and eaten in parks while we’re on the run.  I need to do a better job of planning in general.

That said, I must also acknowledge my Heavenly Father’s help in so many areas of my life.   I would be such a mess without it.

We’ve had a special Easter week around here.  Good things happened.  I worked hard to make the holiday a special one for my family.  (We celebrate the Easter Bunny version of the holiday on Friday night/Saturday morning and save Sunday for a holy day to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.)  I feel like our family has grown and spent sacred time together.  I hope my children remember it.

Once again, the habit of seeing God’s arm revealed in our lives continues to grow.  I am so thankful He loves me, one of the least of his daughters, enough to work in my life.  I am a decidedly unfinished project and I appreciate the time and attention He gives to my growth and development.

Do you want to hear the latest addition to our miracle box ?  We had a hot water pipe in our basement that was somehow punctured and leaking.  I discovered the leak late on a Saturday night so we put a bucket under it and waited to call a professional until Monday morning.  Miraculously, the hole healed itself.  No more leak.  We can’t find the punctured spot.  Once again we were reminded that He knows us, He hears our prayers, and loves to help us.

I woke up this morning with a hymn in my heart.    He is Risen!  My heart is full.  I am so, so grateful for my Savior.

Hope your week is great (and sunny)!
Jennifer

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