Less mess entry way

I got this shelf at the Mill Creek Garage Sale last year for $10.00! I was so excited, I knew I would use it but wasn't sure where at the time. Sick of the pile up of jackets and backpacks every day we decided its purpose would be best served in the entry way. It has been a huge help in this area. We eventually are going to redo the entryway with some board and batten and some sturdy hooks. But for now this has been a life saver, and I swear I did not intentionally color coordinate the jackets it just happened that way. Hey there are five little girls in this home everything is pink and purple:)

Like I said kid art is pretty amazing, but so is this. Janet Hill Studio she is one of my favorite artists. Check out her etsy shop!

This one is my favorite right now.

I think my grandma had a bowl just like the one is this print.

Beautiful

I love kid art, it's the best kind! I love bringing out the kid's art from years past and adding it to our seasonal decor. And this year has been the best so far, the kids have some really crafty teachers this year.

Tatum made this adorable scarecrow and pumpkin lantern, it even has a battery operated light in it that flickers. That's a pretty awesome teacher to add those little details, I'm big on details:)

And here's Madi's cute little bat and owl.

I found some pretty cool Halloween crafts over at Better Homes and Gardens website, definitely my style.

Mini white pumpkins and pistachios glued to a wreath form.

You can download the template for these off the website, I don't have ink in my printer otherwise I would have these already. Maybe next year.

These are so easy to make, you just dip pretzel sticks halfway in white chocolate and add an almond sliver to the top. You can cut one of your husbands shirt sleeves (with his permission of course) and wrap it around a jar. Super cute!

Happy Halloween!

I saw this cute project on My Sweet Savannah today and thought I would make a pumpkin. Click here for the tutorial.

So here's what I did with the burlap yesterday and some extra material I had.
I know we are still in October, but I have Christmas on the brain throughout the year so this isn't odd for me. I think I might add some pom pom fringe to the top or something glittery, or maybe stencil something on it with black paint like my home pillow. I'll think it over for awhile. But back to October decorating, here is a picture of my front porch You can barely see it but I have a chandelier hanging above the railing. It still looks kind of sparse to me, but I will be adding to it over time.

Ruffles and Rust Show!!

Today was the day! It was a lot of fun, not as crazy as The Farm Chicks but still pretty tight in the booths. Found some new shops to add to my favorites list and visited one I have been looking forward to,My Sweet Savannah's booth. I was so excited I even shamed myself to ask her(Melaine Thompson) for a picture. She was so sweet and down to earth, she looks beautiful. I on the other hand do not, we got drenched on our way in so my hair is completely flat. Here's what I ended up with today, not a bad haul. .
*Home down feather burlap pillow
*Old bucket with coleus cabbage(I think that's what it's called).
*Tag with a birds' nest stamped on it with a little glitter
*Vintage paper shredded(I thought it would look cool as a filler for gifts or this...
*Vintage bingo cards
*1 yard of Burlap ( I have a couple ideas for this) to be continued...

Head on over to The Cottage Nest for a chance to win Matthew Mead's Holiday Magazine!
{The Cottage Nest}: For You - A Giveaway

Dreaming of a white kitchen

I have been collecting magazine pictures for my dream home for many years now, since I was a teenager in fact. Waiting for that day to use them in that perfect home I've been praying about for so long. Waiting and waiting for the Lord to answer my prayer in my way with the house that I want. Hmm, something has been really wrong with my thinking don't ya think. When we came to the conclusion that the Lord was telling us to stay here in Washington I knew that I was going to have to be content with the home God has given me and I didn't submit so easily in the beginning. With the market the way it is there is no way we could sell it for what we bought it for. And it's not that the house isn't nice, it's just not my style I guess is what I'm trying to say. So with all that being said I have been thinking of ways to give this house more of the character I love. To love the home I'm in right now and may be in forever. Ash gave me his blessing by surprising me with a drawer pull that I want to use on the kitchen drawers. I was so excited to have that green light!
It's amazing to finally be able to use some of that creative energy that has been pent up for so long.
source of the picture above: The Lettered Cottage You should check out their story, they redid their whole kitchen with just some paint and some trim work. The before and afters are truly amazing!



I will be realistic we aren't going to be able to do a whole reno on our kitchen but we will be doing a few cosmetic changes. I have taken inspiration from all these beautiful pictures and am combining bits and pieces of them into our kitchen. The above two pics are where we will mostly be heading with the kitchen. Lots of beadboard, upper cabinets will be painted white with some crown molding and the lower cabinets will be a light grey like the pic just above. We'll be adding some knobs to the cabinets and beadboard to the ceiling, and definitely a new light fixture. I want to add lots of vintage accessories to my kitchen as well as my pantry just like The House of Smiths. Check out what she did, it's BEAUTIFUL!!
Here's what our kitchen looks like now, these pics were taken right when we moved in almost four years ago. But it's pretty much the same.


It will probably be a slow process as funds allow but I will show pictures as we start and update you on all of our progress. I am so excited! I'm sure I won't be when I'm painting a hundred cabinet doors(slight exageration) but you get the idea:)

Pumpkin patch #2

On Sunday we went to "The Farm" with our friends Vil and Walter to meet up with some other friends. It was crazy busy so we didn't stay too long, having six kids can be a little hairy when there are so many people and so many little ones to look after. This was one of the better pics, it's hard to get them all looking at the camera and smiling.


I want to grow one this big next year!



Not to many pics, like I said it was crazy busy but still fun:)

Pumpkin patch # 1

Ash was able to go on Madi's preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch. Here's some pics of their day:)
Leslie, Madi and Kendyl

Cute pic! That is totally a face Madi makes about 12 times a day:)


What a beautiful day and Ash did a great job on taking pics as always:) I'm glad the kids have a dad that is interested in them and willing to take the time to make these special memories.