unexpected grace

Hi!

2012-01-27T01:30:00.001-06:00

Well hello faithful follwers... where have yal been?

Kidding. Seriously, I've missed you. Taking a break felt good but I missed this place and I hope to stay for a while. To update you on my life I thought I would use instagram/phone photos. I stepped into this century and finally bought an iphone.

Enjoy the randomness that is this post.

Made progress in the master.

Grandmother's ornaments.

Hosted our small group Christmas party. Meet my B'ham family :)

Lame Christmas card photo. Less exciting with no kidos to show off.

Cut your toe nails Ross, geez.

Just call us the Griswold's.

Hot coco stirs. Mmm.

Our first big tree. 8 feet of happiness.

Favorite Christmas present.

Loved it.

Lots of this.

Random hot air balloon.

Sweet rekindling of old friends.

Yes, that's a dead dear. Yes, we followed this all the way back to Bama. RTR.

Celebrating the end of 2011 on Lake Martin.

Enjoying 70 degree in January.

i'm back!

2011-09-26T12:43:00.001-05:00

crazy enough, we've been in our house for almost 3 months! life has been moving a mile a minute. between moving in, our vacay to hawaii, the world's longest yard sale, friends having babies, family visits and garage sales of my own; we have a lot of catching up to do!

i'd love to say the house is completely decorated and settled but its not, and that's ok with me. i've learned from past mistakes to take my time when decorating. fall in love with each new piece. don't settle for trendy. vintage is always better than new. without further ado here is our little pad in it's current state. Beware of picture overload...

living room

our first new piece besides the couch.

big plans for updating this piece of furniture and lamp.

selling this table if interested :)

my favorite room

my desk.

the bottomless pit that is our sink.

chalkboard/magnet board

my dad's baby furniture.

guest room.

catch-all room.

sadie's room/laundry room.

master.

preview of the fabric i will be using in this room.

master bath.

patio

sadie is obviously in heaven.

our big blank canvas of a backyard.

shout to my roommate; the nome still lives.

my great-great grandmothers.

29 days

2011-06-01T11:29:00.000-05:00

less than a month to go!! can't believe how fast the last 4 months have flown by! the only things that seem left to do is install fixtures, appliances and carpet, and paint.

we now have our very first tree! still waiting on paint for garage doors and windows.

love my kitchen. maybe not the paint.

appliances are in! as well as the transoms.

my kitchen desk :) still waiting for a few things to be tweaked.

master bath granite.

wood floors installed.

what a weekend!

2011-05-31T12:34:00.000-05:00

ross and i had the best weekend with my mom. lots of food and shopping; can't get much better than that.

friday i made this delicious dessert thanks to paula.

saturday we finally decided on a couch which we will be ordering today!! so excited! we also did a lot of inspiration shopping aka window shopping. love this chair from restoration hardware. plan on using this fabric nail idea somehow someday.

sunday we hit up some awesome new stores. i found this amazing ottoman that just might have to come home with me eventually. its amazing.

and my most favorite event of all was going here. definitely in the back woods but oh so worth it! if you live in the birmingham area and love junk i highly recommend you go. i took home 2 amazing finds! first an 1890s ish desk with ink well and a hole for a quail pin. it was only $30! i plan on using it as a side table in our living room. i also found an antique biscuit bowl for $15.

monday we saw bridesmaids which was hysterical. i want to be bf with kristen wigg and melissa mccarthy.

and in the between i was obsessed with this. seriously genius.

hope your weekend was just as fun!

freak out

2011-05-27T10:50:00.001-05:00

only 33 days until closing! my my how time flies (insert southern accent). in all seriousness though its becoming more real. i had my first minor freak out last week. tears were involved along with hot sweats and panicky phone calls. bless my poor husbands heart. how he puts up with his crazy o.c.d. wife is beyond me.

everything is all good, just hiccups. in case you were wondering, conservative gray is not gray. more like a soft pale blue. it's not what i expected and i can't say i love it but its growing on me. i have to remind myself daily that it's just paint and so easy to change. however, favorite tan is awesome! we love it. it's in the majority of the house so this is a good thing. besides painted walls we now have tile, the fireplace surround, a driveway and garage doors!

garage

right after painting

definitely blue!

love our fireplace tile!!

so happy with his choice :)

cabinets are in!

master bath

still painting and landscaping to be done

mi madre is coming in town for the long weekend and i can't wait for her to see the house! she has an expert eye and i so desperately need her help. we plan on thrifting and furniture shopping; i will let you know if we find anything :)

speaking of shopping... i am currently selling a bunch of home goods on ebay. everything is new, i'm just ready for a change in our house. check it all out here: http://shop.ebay.com/meaghanrt850/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

i plan on selling a ton more including this. so check back in the future if you are interested!

hope you have a wonderful memorial day weekend!

neverthirst

2011-05-18T12:02:00.002-05:00

Nearly 1 billion people living today do not have access to clean drinking water. As a result, some 4,500 children under the age of ﬁve die every day due to water borne disease. That’s one child every 15 seconds….approximately the time it took you to read this paragraph. You can help. My small group and I have teamed up with neverthirstwater.org to adopt a village in India. We would love for you to be apart of helping us provide a working well for this village.

There are 2 ways you can help:
1. If you live in the Birmingham area we are hosting a yard sale this Saturday, May 18th, from 8am-4pm. We have tons of stuff: books, furniture, games, trendy and college clothing, home decor, beauty products, baby items, and more! Please stop by and buy something or make a donation. I would love to meet you!
404 Edgeland Place
Homewood, AL

2. If you can't make it out to our yard sale this weekend, you can also help by donating through our website here: www.neverthirstwater.org/well-worth-it
We are only $780 shy of providing safe, clean, drinking water to a village who needs it!

Our call is to show the love of Christ and our means is through supplying a basic human necessity for an impoverished village that is in spiritual darkness. Please join with us in taking the Gospel to the nations.

swoon.

2011-05-16T23:57:00.000-05:00

hoping to find these anthro goodies waiting for me in the new kitchen...

farmer's market basket

lollipop apron

wise ol' cookie jar

shell measuring spoons

latte bowls

lemonade urn

utensil jar

i mean who doesn't need an owl cookie car or a lemonade urn? necessity.

walls

2011-05-13T21:15:00.002-05:00

living-dining-kitchen

master bath

master bedroom

ross and i have waited and prayed for these walls for 3 years. in 48 days (closing june 30th!!!) our patience will have paid off. seriously? i literally still can't believe its true. we are blessed beyond measure.

please continue to pray/give to those in my state that don't have walls anymore. This has been my prayer for all who are suffering…

The Lord heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147: 3-5

Here are a few ways you can give...

Christian Mission Services: Ross and I were able to help out for a couple of hours the weekend after the storm. Seeing the amount of donations was one of the most humbling experiences ever. If you live in the Birmingham area I highly encourage you to serve here. Their facebook page is a great way to see specific needs including volunteers. They have also set up a wish-list on amazon.com, perfect for those not living in Birmingham that would like to help. Shipping is free and will be directly shipped to CMS.
The American Red Cross: you can specify where you want your funds to go (ie to tornado disasters) so that the funding is directly given to those most in need.
A sorority sister of mine is selling T-shirts with all proceeds going to disaster relief for her town of Pleasant Grove, AL. The town was directly hit by an EF4 tornado. Check them out here: http://hotsplashart.com/pgrelief/

she's a brick hooouse...

2011-05-10T18:25:00.000-05:00

....mighty mighty, just lettin' it all hang out
the brick is stacked and that's a fact,
ain't holding nothing back.
shake it down, shake it down now down...

(you know me, i had to!)

HAPPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

2011-04-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

Your sin is never too big to be forgiven and His arms are not too short to save. Jesus paid it all with your name written on His heart. His love is greater.

RAISE THE ROOF

2011-04-20T14:37:00.000-05:00

no I'm not talking about Ross' token dance move (and when i mean token i mean only dance move), we finally have the real thing! in 2 weeks we went from owning a slab to a frame, a roof, and now windows and doors!

our pretty little piece of concrete.

the happy/proud owners or lot 93.

being sketch while our crew did their thang.

unbelievable.

front porch.

living-kitchen-dining.

back porch.

sadie's soon-to-be oasis.

ready to man handle his yard.

raised that roof.

we have a fireplace!

front door and windows!

back door.

ready for brick.

so beautiful; dumpster and all.

DOUBLE BUBBLE

2011-04-15T12:09:00.003-05:00

some entertainment on this rainy friday... sadie enjoying trash-can gum. hilarious. TGIF!

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AND SO IT BEGINS...

2011-04-08T16:09:00.000-05:00

we have a slab!

hope you have a great weekend!

LITTLE MAN

2011-04-01T17:41:00.000-05:00

over spring break i met my new favorite little man named carter. my best friend of 19 years is due in june and is literally the cutest preggers ever! sharing life together with someone like kristy is pretty incredible. more like a sister than a friend. here are a few pictures taken of carter taking his picture :) needless to say this was a really really sweet moment for me. how great, creative and sovereign is our God!

carter hiding from the camera.

thumbs up dude!

i mean how cute is this?

little feet and toes.

finally seeing that sweet face.

i can't forget about these babies, Roscow and Nahla...

the soon to be big brother and sister!

carter will be enjoying his first party this weekend in pensacola! To my dismay, i will not be able to attend :(...

kristy & carter,

i miss you both so much! praying that you have the most wonderful time this weekend. auntie meaghan loves you :)

KITCHEN INSPIRATION

2011-03-31T13:44:00.000-05:00

here is a little sneak peak into the inspiration for our new kitchen. totally going to be my favorite room in the house!

basically copied.

loved the sea glass colored island!

in SW Conservative Gray, the paint I chose for our kitchen.

can't wait to show you the real thing in a few more months!

PIECE OF MIND

2011-03-30T23:29:00.000-05:00

after a week of watching paint samples jump instead of sheep i decided to buy some piece of mind. $15 later we have painted paper. hmm... tilt head and squint eyes...

SW Favorite Tan

SW Sawdust

SW Conservative Gray

totally and utterly in love with Conservative Gray. oh happy day!

Sawdust definitely has some green. i love the jcrew olive meets blue gray especially since i plan to use navy blue, coral, and sea glass as my pops of color in the rooms. i'm just not sure if its just toooo dark and green. Favorite Tan is the happy medium but its too close to the color of a band-aid. oh vey.

thoughts? mind you Sawdust or Favorite Tan will be the majority of our house for the time being.

COLOR ME STUPID

2011-03-29T14:41:00.000-05:00

our picking process has finally come to an end today. the foundation is being poured and we could not be more excited/nervous.

the beauty of building your own custom home is being able to pick everything. and when i mean everything i mean EVERYTHING. plugs, mortar, toilets, location of ac pad, door swings. overwhelming is an understatement. we had no idea how many choices we would be given. basically we are walking in the dark and hoping when we finally turn on the light to our masterpiece it will be beautiful.

ross has been such the trooper. today we picked paint and it was painful. i'm facing decorator's block. ross just looks and me saying. "no clue babe, you pick. you know best." uh, do i? my dreams have been filled with paint fans. i went into today's meeting knowing exactly what i wanted and left crossed eyed and completely unsure. i need help.

here is what i'm thinking...

Sherwin Williams Sawdust throughout the house:

or Favorite tan:

Ancient Marble in kitchen and master suite:

or Unique Gray:

or Conservative Gray:

or Comfort Gray:

basically we love grays, blue-greens, and olive tans. any other Sherwin Williams paint colors would be greatly appreciated!

hopeful to post pictures of our lot soon :)

HAPPY WEEKEND!

2011-03-04T11:33:00.000-06:00

i'm uper pumped about this weekend because of these three lovely ladies...

mi madre!

soon to be ex BFF after she sees this photo viral.

dos mi madre!

They are all on their way from P'cola to spend a girl's weekend with me here in B'ham! Thanks to my hubby, who generously offered to play golf in Atlanta just so I can have them all to myself :)

hope your weekend is splendid!

CONFESSIONS PART II

2011-03-02T11:44:00.000-06:00

i am currently slapping my hand as we speak due to lack of blogging. ok maybe not, i'm typing, you get the picture.

not to sure where February decided to go but here is a recap...

part of Ross's V'day gift was a night spent with Ben Rector at Workplay. this was our second time with Ben; we love him. most importantly i love that we both love him and live shows. nothing makes me happier then good music and good company to ~~scream~~ sing with.

"and then the beat comes, and she's moving on the dance floor..."

one of my dear friends, Lindsay, is having twin girls! our small group had the privilege of throwing her a shower. i'm over the moon exciting about meeting Maddie Grace and Makenzie in May!

i love these girls but not my pale winter skin.

Ross and I were so generously given tickets to a Family Life marriage conference this past weekend. the speakers were awesome and we both were beyond encouraged by their honesty and real life experiences. definitely refreshing to spend a whole weekend remembering why we love each other so much and areas of our marriage that can always be worked on.

and finally the biggest and bestest confession... WE ARE BUILDING OUR FIRST HOUSE!!!! I have literally been holding this in for months now waiting until the contract was officially signed. our proposed closing month is June and we CANNOT WAIT! the lot we chose is perfect and have considered living there in a tent until June. here is a little sneak peak of an already completed house that is the same design as ours. note that paint, brick, siding, and landscaping choices may be different. can't wait for you to share in the journey that is building a home :)

i love the craftsman charm! my heart skips a beat when i see this picture.

ok, so it is true, Confessions Part II is way better than Confessions.

Peace up. A town's down.

BE MINE

2011-01-31T14:34:00.002-06:00

getting into the lovey dovey spirit around here. valentine's day was always a big deal growing up (my mom still sends me a package filled with lovelies) so I hope to carry on the tradition. here is our mantle decorated for free and our new woodland creature (more on him later). enjoy.

BE MINE printable banner hung string.

sticks, candles, and frames found around the house. art work made last year.

meet francois the friendly deer.

MENU MONDAY

2011-01-31T14:09:00.000-06:00

the menu for this week is pretty slim. ross and I are spending the weekend in Atlanta visiting his parents and celebrating the super-bowl with our small group. I'm thinking of bringing something cheese inspired :) not sure what this entails, but I will let you know.

Monday- Cauliflower Soup (didn't make the cut yesterday, still chomping down on the meatloaf!)
Tuesday- Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- Atlanta
Saturday- Atlanta
Sunday- Super-bowl Party!

MENU MONDAY

2011-01-24T13:39:00.002-06:00

is back.
yesterday I managed to get back up on the coupon horse and save $120 at publix! it feels good to have not only a heavy wallet but a stocked pantry again. without further ado here is our menu for the week with a few healthier changes:

Monday- Chicken Cacciatore (using chicken breasts instead of thighs)
Tuesday- Dinner at the Brown's
Wednesday- Leftovers
Thursday- Dinner at the Mayo's
Friday- Meatloaf and potatoes (using ground turkey instead of beef and skim milk cheese)
Saturday- Leftovers
Sunday- Cauliflower Soup (using skim milk instead of whole and fat free half & half and sour cream)

BOOK LIST

2011-01-21T01:10:00.001-06:00

my bedside

Bad habit # 516, I start more than one time book at a time. When I say more I mean like 6. New year new me, right? Besides my Bible, I plan to read at least 12 books in 12 months. Here is my list in no particular order. Only rule is to read one at a time :)

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
4. Water for Elephants
5. The Help
6. Same Kind of Different As Me
7. Crazy Love
8. Heart of the Matter
9. The Creation
10. Solar
11. On Chesil Beach
12. Redeeming Love

LATELY

2011-01-19T23:52:00.002-06:00

...life includes...

my personal nick arrojo

my pill form hero

my dose of heaven

my favorite cuddler

my late night guilty pleasure

my hot husband on One Tree Hill

1-11-11

2011-01-11T15:46:00.002-06:00

my heater-hog pup.

we are on snow day #2 here and i. am. going. crazy.

yes, 4 days of free vacation is awesome! but what the heck am i suppose to do? being from florida the only time we get days off is for hurricanes. earth shaking, tree rocking, windows breaking, roof collapsing hurricanes. another words "scared for your life days". snow days are pretty, quiet, and boring!

ok, so i could be productive; study, read, work-out, write thank-you letters. mmm yeah not happening. something about the industrial sized space heater that i had a to fight a crazy lady at walmart for (thats another blog post) or the heated blanket the MIL gave me, i am lazy. instead, i have inhabited the same pj set for 3 days, read waaaay to many blogs, facebook stalked, watched the bachelor, and stuffed my face.

for you snow day veterans out there, how do you do it?

on another note, my guilty pleasure aka, britney spears, came out with her new single today. you can judge but i will forever love this girl for 2 reasons...

1. at age 14 i sat 9 rows back from a stage (with my mother) and screamed hit me baby one more time. appropriate for a teen? probably not.

2. my husband and spears share the same birthday. it was destined.

i'm pretty sure this is the new "creepster at the bar" anthem but i still love you brit.

A DECADE'S END

2011-01-06T17:36:00.001-06:00

Its safe to say that the past 10 years included the biggest decisions, changes, challenges, and accomplishments of my life. let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

2000
started high school.

2001
turned 16 and mustang sally became my very best friend (may she rest in peace).
started my first job.
fulfilled my life-long dream of swimming with dolphins.
went on my first date.

2002
started the first girls golf team in my county.
the bff lived with me.

2003
gave my life over to Jesus.

2004
graduated from high school.

2005
moved away from the only home i've ever known.
started college at Samford University.
moved into a house with 80 girls.

2006
started dating my future husband.

2007
social chair for phi mu.
learned what it felt like to fail; aka chemistry.

2008
got engaged.
joined a small group.
graduated from college.
broke my foot.
got hitched.

2009
adopted a furry baby.
hubby lost his job.
started my first "big girl" job!

2010
baptized.
finally became members of the Chruch of Brookhills.
quit my job.
became a nanny.

can't wait to see what the next ten years hold...

twenty-eleven

2011-01-04T01:48:00.001-06:00

welcome new year.

it has been a good while since I have graced the pages of the blogoshpere. I hope that you and yours had a wonderful holiday celebrating family, friends and most importantly the birth of our forever Savior. the hubby and I set our sails over pretty much all of Kentucky and Tennessee. it was wonderful. refreshing, relaxing, and filling.
now back to a fresh start. praise the Lord for new beginnings. not just at the start of January 1st but everyday we choose to call on His name. no matter where you find yourself- here is to big dreams, tiny resolutions, opened doors, closed windows and a life lived everyday in His abounding love.

and because I love lists, here are some "goals" for 2011...

more time spent everyday with my Maker

read 12 books in 12 months

learn how to sew

do the Daniel Fast again

start grad-school, for real this time

take a painting class

take more pictures

watch television less

exercise more

just in case you were curious... here is a little video of our christmas vacation adventure.

valley of vision

2010-11-07T23:16:00.001-06:00

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, You have brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see You in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Your glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Your stars shine; let me find Your light in my darkness, Your life in my death, Your joy in my sorrow, Your grace in my sin, Your riches in my poverty, Your glory in my valley.

Amen.

snap out of it

2010-11-04T12:49:00.000-05:00

i'm in a funk.

maybe because my day consists lately of:
checking blogs for an hour
making fun of kathy lee and hoda
begging sadie to come inside
scrounging for something to eat for lunch
carpool lines
"it's really not nice to talk back to mrs. meaghan"
cleaning up another family's mess
"let's be peaceful"
sticky fingers and dortio breath
scrounging for something to eat for dinner
teen mom
fighting for the covers
waking up and starting all over again.

i'm trying really hard to fight the cycle of less time on the internet/tv and more time in the word. making my lazy butt hit the gym. oh, and couponing... forget 'bout it (in best joey voice).

where is my motivation!?!

what helps you stay motivated?

gonna give all my secrets away

2010-11-02T23:03:00.001-05:00

via

I believe music has seasons; just like our lives. My playlists are honestly dependent on temperature. Here is my soundtrack for fall...

Secrets: One Republic
Skinny Love: Bon Iver {a little late on the train but I'm pretty much obsessed}
The Cave: Mumford & Sons {folk and fall? duh.}
Rosyln: Bon Iver & St. Vincent {twihards, this one is for you}
Wait til You See My Smile: Alicia Keys {gets me on the treadmill}
Glitter In The Air: Pink
Dance With Me Baby: Ben Rector {because dancing should be a daily activity}
Flightless Bird American Mouth: Iron & Wine {i have been smitten with this man and his beard for years. i think his music is what love actually sounds like.}
Love Lost: Temper Trap
Mykonos: Fleet Foxes
The House That Built Me: Miranda Lambert {warms my homesick heart during the holidays}
I And Love And You: Avett Brothers
Poison & Wine: The Civil Wars {so beautiful. favorite duet ever.}
Teenage Dream: Katy Perry {yes, i am THAT girl who dances in her pjs with a hairbrush.}
Dogs: Damien Rice
Blackbird: The Beatles
Nothing Fancy: Dave Barnes {brings me back to fall at Samford and falling in love}
Nothingman: Pearl Jam
23: Jimmy Eat World {experienced live in the fall with Ross. one of the best nights of our lives}

twins?

2010-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

My office lamp/vase seems to have a twin...

Found this photo over at Dwellings By Devore. Love her and her many genius chandy and lamp creations. Check them out and be amazed.

my perfect medium

2010-10-27T06:00:00.003-05:00

My mom really wanted some painted sea horses after our trip to Atlanta this summer. I recently surprised her with my creation on the last trip home.

Together we found this awesome old, dirty, shutter (my perfect medium) at a flea market (Scott's) in Atlanta. For $6 and another free piece (will post about later) I was sold. My biggest issue was keeping the old chipped paint on the back of the shutter. These bad boys were hand painted and then filled in with some watered down paint for a more "washed and weathered" look.

Mom really had no idea what the heck I was going to do with this scrap; she was shocked. I'm pretty sure she moved it 100 times to find its perfect spot. I love how it can hang on a wall or rest on the floor. Right now its location is in the sunroom which explains the terrible shadows.

Now I want these friends for my apartment. And don't you love the fall arrangement? The mom has good taste.

*** Need some friends too? Would love to paint you a masterpiece! Contact me at unexpectedgracemt@gmail.com***

flantle

2010-10-26T12:08:00.002-05:00

fall + mantle = flantle

I love how easy, fun, and natural this mantle turned out. I already had the glass vases and orange votives, the sticks are from the yard and the silk leaves are from the dollar store. Mr. Crow freaks Ross out but I love him (also from the dollar store). Putting pumpkins under the knife gives me great joy but due to the whole mold factor, their lives will be spared this year in hopes of lasting until Thanksgiving.

Total cost: $18

so these are my confessions

2010-10-26T00:17:00.002-05:00

I'm slightly obsessed with yankee candle's autumn leaves. Ok, slightly? More like addicted. Fall is slowly becoming my favorite season just because of this dang candle.

The hubby and I ate an entire (25% more) bag of toostie rolls in a week. Making up for being to old to trick-or-treat?

I managed to resist the urge to ~~waste~~ spend money on a bee costume for Sadie today. The pup loves bees, and it was on sale; I am now reconsidering this decision.

Finished the Daniel fast and have never been so thankful for cheese. Not to mention a Savior who loves me just the same as yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Finally made a trip home. 6 months away is scary and so is the realization that I might never live there again.

Confessions Part II is so much better than Confessions.

Peace up. A town's down.

my jam

2010-10-08T12:06:00.000-05:00

Today would be John Lennon's 70th Birthday. Being that he is my favorite Beatle I have to pay tribute. Lennon's Don't Let Me Down, the last time the Beatles ever performed together in public. Enjoy.

float like a butterfly sting like a bee

2010-10-06T21:32:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately Sadie payed the price for open windows and doors due to the amazing weather we are having. Two little not-so-friendly bees payed her a visit. Ali won the battle but the bees did get a few stings in. I found my poor puppy Sunday morning with at least 5 battle wounds. Nothing some Benadryl can't fix. Check out her right eye and left jaw.

Beyonce said it best, she's a survivor.

my bright idea

2010-10-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

***Disclaimer: Sorry for the blurry pictures taken with my droid.***

Ok so I am finally posting my lamp-scapade. If you remember from this post, I was on the hunt for a beautiful, inexpensive glass lamp for our master bedroom. Unfortunately after scouring every Teej, HomeGoods and Target in the southeast I was left with no such luck. On an adventure with my mom to my favorite, At Home in Homewood, I found these.

I'm pretty sure my mom thought I was nuts when I broke out my phone and started to giggle hysterically. A lamp kit plus an upside down vase equals my new masterpiece. At $250 a pop, I'm not sure if I was more excited about saving around $200 on my version or the fact that I finally have new perfect lamps.

I snagged the glass vases from Ikea for $19.99, lamp kits from Walmart for $4, and burlap lamp shades from At Home for $25. I could have saved more on the lamp shades but I just fell in love with these. Next was some gorilla glue and patience. I mounted each kit to the top of the upside down vase. Both lamps still need finials. And it didn't stop there.

Next was a new lamp for the office. I recently found a end table for $35 at TJ Maxx that was a little shorter than the one on the other side of the couch. I really wanted a lamp that was tall enough to somewhat match the height of the other lamp. While and Ikea I found an amazing bright yellow glass vase but it was too short to make a lamp. Solution: buy two and gorilla glue together. Using the same process as my bedroom lamps I ended up with this.

2 glass vases from Ikea $8, lamp kit $4, and lampshade from Target on sale for $10. I love this lamp! Not bad for $30 bucks.

One more. This week I found another awesome vase at TJ and of course was dying to make it into another lamp for the kitchen.

$7 for vase, $4 for lamp kit, and $12 for lampshade. I'm thinking about adding some fun fabric to the lampshade its too blah for its funky shaped base.

So there ya go, 4 new fun and modern lamps simply using vases.

Stick around for my fun and cheap fall mantle.

under the weather

2010-09-30T20:56:00.000-05:00

Its day 9 in the fast and I'm sick. Thanking the Lord for this...

and this...

goodnight.

the daniel fast

2010-09-27T22:39:00.000-05:00

The hubby and are in the process of a 21 day fast based on the book of Daniel and Susan Gregory's teachings. The Daniel Fast is a partial fast in which some foods are restricted for a spiritual purpose. During this time we have restricted/changed our eating habits and engaged in a more focused day spent with the Lord. During this time we pray that God will strengthen our spirit, teach us self-control of the flesh, draw us closer to our Father, and stay focused on prayer.

Here are a list of the foods we have been avoiding...
All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

This is what we have been eating...
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

Ross thought I was crazy person for asking him not only to not eat meat but also sugar and dairy for 3 weeks. If you know me you know I have tossed around the idea of being a vegetarian for a while now. Meat really isn't my forte but sugar, people! its. killing. me. Its amazing how much as Christians we throw around Matthew 9:26 until actually practicing it. The Lord really does strengthen the weakest of weak. It is day 6 and I am feeling full in my Lord.

In the book Susan has tons of her delicious recipes (I made Paella tonight a.maze.ing) followed by already made menu plans for each week. I'm shocked by how inexpensive it has been. Veggies and fruits do seem to add up quick but the fast is forcing us to eat at home and tofu is a lot less expensive than real meat. Speaking of tofu, don't be scared friends its really quite enjoyable. Promise.

"What do you want me to do." -Mark 10:51
Sounds simple right? Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, pretty obvious that he would like to see his Jesus. Back to the impossible. Jesus was testing the beggars faith. He could have asked for money, food but instead he had faith in Christ's ability to heal him. The impossible was made possible.
"Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."
"Go your way; your faith has made you well."
Crazy enough Jesus met Bartimaeus on his last trip to Jerusalem in Jericho. Never again would Jesus walk the same road that he met the blind beggar. Praise God for this kind of faith. I grieve in the times that the Lord has passed through "my Jericho" and I have not called out Abba Father! Are you listening?

tgif

2010-09-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

If only I could catch Topanga, Urkle, and the Tanner's all in one Friday night again.

anniversary in chi town

2010-09-22T13:06:00.000-05:00

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller

Monday was our 2 year wedding anniversary! Ferris is right, life does move pretty fast and I hear it only moves faster. Ross and I both have a strong desire to travel and committed ourselves to one big trip a year to celebrate our marriage. Forget gifts for any occasion, we would rather spend our money on seeing the world. Last year Ross surprised me with a trip to Nashville. He planned everything! Including the swank and eco-friendly (he does really know me) Hutton Hotel.

This year we headed north to Chicago. We both had never been and could not love this city more. If it wasn't for the blistering cold Chi town would most definitely be our new home. The people were friendly, food was delicious, shopping was to die for, and the views were stunning. Here are some of my favorites...

First stop Wrigley Field to see the Cubs take victory over the Mets.

Harry Caray's Tavern. Holy. Cow.

Navy Pier

Architectural boat tour- my favorite buildings

Sears Tower, excuse me Willis Tower

The Bean!!

Go Phi Mu!

View from our room

I love you Ross. Thank you for being you. My best friend, husband, and amazing brother in Christ. Here's too many more years and many more trips.

feeling fallish

2010-09-17T12:10:00.001-05:00

I wish I was wearing these...

anthropologie

While eating this...

enjoying a small baby sized camel apple at Stone Mt.-hot image don't judge.

And playing in a pile of these...

Instead I will just have to suffer through shorts and 90 degrees.

Headed to Blue Ridge, Ga for the weekend to spend time with the in-laws at a lake house. Be back soon to post my $20 fall decor, our anniversary trip to Chicago, and finally finished lamp creations!

Happy Weekend!

happy birthday!

2010-08-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Today is my fabulous mom's birthday! Even though we should celebrate how amazing she is every day, I have to give her a special shout out today, on her special day.

{I hope you have the BEST day ever...I can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow! Love ya!!}

my jam

2010-08-10T01:36:00.000-05:00

Sweet Dispostion by the Temper Trap

This song takes me to a place of humid summer nights, the scent of salt water, windows down in a red Mustang, cursing along Scenic Highway.

The beauty of music.

que pasa

2010-08-04T17:02:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all the sweet comments last post. I found my inspiration this weekend while shopping with mi madre. So excited for you to see my creation very soon!

Nada happening this week all that exciting. I've been babysitting a ton while Ross is still enjoying the weekend's leftovers. He's such a trooper. Note to the wise, find a man who loves leftovers.

Brushing up on my espanol today. Why? Uno, Chuy's for dinner. Mmmm my fav mexican restaurant at the moment. Dos, Roberto won Ali's heart. My pick from the beginning. Gotta love a salsa shaking, spanish speaking, baseball pants wearing bachelor. Tres, I dreamed in the language last night (weird, I know) mariachi band and all.

Espere que tenga una gran semana!

i'd like to poll the audience

2010-07-29T12:22:00.000-05:00

Friends, I need your help. Along with my cooking hiatus I have been on an "updating" one as well. Pinky swears- I promise to post of all my new projects. Anywho.... here is what I need from you. Advice.

1. I NEED not want, need a sewing machine. This will be a self taught venture so I need a good machine that is basically fool proof. I've heard good things about this guy, Brother's Project Runway machine and its only $150. Help. I'm clueless.

2. I've been looking everywhere for new lamps for our bedroom. HomeGood, Teej, Ross, Target, you name it and I have probably been. My heart is stuck on these guys. I want them but have no clue where there are. Any ideas?

Please feel free to comment away! Thank you in advance for taking the time to help.

menu monday

2010-07-26T15:26:00.000-05:00

Ever since my early temp retirement I have been on a cooking hiatus! This weekend marked a first in the Thaxton household- dinner/lunch at home Friday , Saturday, and Sunday. In the beginning, an always open for biz kitchen, was an attempt to save money but now its really because... I. Love. it. Trying new recipes and always having a stocked fridge has won over my husband's and my heart.
This week I am using recipes from my new favorite blog, Picky Palate. Also, my friend Heather's recipe from Saving Money Living Life. I am babysitting Tuesday and Thursday night so I made sure to make dishes with lots of leftovers. Friday my mom is coming in town for the weekend so Saturday and Sunday we will try some new restaurants.

Here is our feast for the week...
Monday- Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes and green beans
Tuesday- Leftovers
Wednesday- BBQ Chicken Pizza Soup
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- Chicken & Spinach Pasta Bake

I am always looking for new, simple, and delish recipes so please please let me know if you have any. Who knows I might post it for next menu monday!

Linked to Org Junkie Menu Monday

my jam

2010-07-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine.

Inspired by this song to find my dream job. Oy Vey.

Also check out this tune on the trailer to Eat, Pray, Love. So excited to see the movie after reading the book!

months gone by

2010-07-21T21:44:00.000-05:00

Here is an update to my MIA life.

Began to see the fruits of my harvest. These babies are huge now along with my green chili peppers. I can hear my mom right now saying, "its in your genes baby girl." Just call me farmer Joe.

Mayo wedding. Jessica is one of my besties/sista from college and her husband Gavin is too (except for the sister part). Ross and I had the privilege of being a witness on their special day. Jess, I know you are reading this... I love you!!!

May favorite month. Embracing my southern roots, we tailgated it to the beach to watch the fireworks on the 4th. I spent a week on Pensacola Beach after my temp exit. Glorious. Finished 2 books, spent much needed quality time with the fam, hit up the outlets in Destin, laid-out all days but 2, danced the night away at Margaritaville, and watched the Blue Angels practice and perform. Sadie's Pops spoiled her with at least 3 hour long walks a day along with dips in the bay. While her Mimi had a new special toy for her each day. Needless to say, we all had a great vacation and did not want to go back to Alabama. Why did I ever leave the beach?

Now let's start on a fresh page, shall we...

bloggy break

2010-07-15T10:53:00.002-05:00

Its been months and I'm going to be honest- it feels weird writing you again. Not much to report, just a little ashamed that I let something I love doing get put on the back burner for so long.

My time as a temp is up. Bittersweet, but much needed. By His sovereign grace, I have a husband who loves me and supports our little family with an 8 to 5. Never in our marriage have I been more reminded of this blessing.

Needless to say, I have done a little soul searching. The Lord has showed me my fears and each day I feel more of a desire to fulfill my purpose, His purpose.

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:8-10

So I'm back (in the bloggy and real world) more focused and better than ever.

busy beaver

2010-04-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

I'm back.

Sheesh, that was a long blogging break! Here is what you've missed:

+ Painting my buffet table and corner china cabinet. I must say they look pretty darn fabulous. The hubby and knocked out this arduous task over one weekend. Insane. I know.

+ Baptized. On April 11th Ross and I followed in obedience to declare to the world that Christ is our Savior. Check it out here.

+Office redo. Pics and post to follow.

+Final chandy redo. Finished up the last touches to my chandy upgrade.

+Porch redo. Gardening galore.

+Laundry room redo.

+Hosted a Bridal shower. Pics and post to follow.

+Remodelaholic guest blogger!! So excited to be featured monthly on this great blog. Check out my first contributed post here.

Ok, now do you believe me? Busy beaver might be an understatement. I promise that there will be many posts to follow on all of my renovations and life in general.

Please stay tuned!

spring break

2010-04-07T21:50:00.001-05:00

Back from Florida.

The hubs and I had the most relaxing weekend with all of my favorite things.

Shopping.

Beach.

Fried crab claws.

Bushwakers.

Family.

Take a lookies....

lil bro ripp'n it

can you see me?

favorite place.

caught in the act of enjoying the sweet sunshine and singing birds.

happy easter!

Hope your break was just as beautiful.

overwhelmed

2010-03-26T17:49:00.001-05:00

Ok so I lied. Honestly, I am slightly overwhelmed with my to do list at the moment. This weekend entails...
+blog
+paint (or attempt) two LARGE pieces of furniture
+dye fabric slipcover
+finish chandy redo
+spray paint a fan and vase
+clean
+plant
+find pillows and fun fabric for office redo
+modge podge a whole assortment of goodies
+enjoy the 70s by the pool and finish Breaking Dawn

hmmm impossible? nah.

May your weekend be relaxing and productive.

yard sale goodies

2010-03-24T22:05:00.001-05:00

Wow. Life has been craaaaazy. I miss blogland.

I promise (yes, this time I really mean it) that the new Renter's Challenge will be up tomorrow.

This past weekend I helped my surrogate aunt (mom's bff) have a yard sale or should I say entire house sale. I really wish I took pictures- it was out of control. A definite treasure of a sale for those willing to rummage. The sale included not only a yard but also three large rooms! One, was the "antique room" filled with all kinds of beautiful prizes. My mom and I pulled an all-nighter on Friday pricing the last few things. Our first customer arrived at 5:30 am on Saturday. Needless to say, I am just now caught up on my lack of sleep. Here are some pieces that I was so graciously given to take home...
Magazine rack. Sadie had destroyed ours during her puppy phase. I love the look of bamboo. Fits into my home quite perfectly and already filled with the best- anthro and pb :)

Old books. Yes. Two words- Mark. Twain.

Telephone pole insulator. Will look great on a window seal.

Costume jewelry. I'm a sucker for a good 'ol stick pin and cocktail ring. Totally glam'n it up with this one.

Glass decanter. The family collected all types of glass bottles but the decanters were by far the most beautiful. I love the mercury at the top.

As you can see my hard work was totally worth it. Thank you Connie. I will cherish these pieces forever.

happy st. patty's day!

2010-03-17T18:02:00.001-05:00

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

May the rain fall softly on your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you

in the palm

of His hand.

-Irish Blessing

my jam

2010-03-17T00:42:00.001-05:00

This jam is getting me through my week. Mandi Mapes is an incredible music artist that just so happens to worship at my Church. Truly a blessing. The following song, Love Story, was written by Mandi and based on a series studying the book of Ruth. A reminder of the most important story of love sewn in my life through the gospel. Such a beautiful "reflection that this love is more than just me and you".

You can find this song and its album on iTunes.

exhausted

2010-03-15T21:42:00.000-05:00

Totally not prepared for going back to work. You would think that with 3 months of unemployment there would be no need for a "to do list" after office hours. Ha! Sadie needs chow, we need chow, I have to register my tag at the DMV, send in my grad school application, make bridal shower invitations and a ton of DYI projects all this week!! I love how God reads my blog posts....

I am so thankful for the Lord's grace; granting me with His patience, and showing me that His plan is so much bigger than mine. The Lord truly is my sole Provider. I pray that His will continues to be mine.

Although I am preparing myself for 8:30 night nights, I remain determined to continue out this menu for the week- even if I fall asleep while doing it.
Monday-Chickfila (did I mention I'm exhausted?)
Tuesday- BBQ Pork Sandwiches & mac'n cheese: the best and sooo easy to make.
Wednesday- Southwest Chicken: new recipe!
Thursday- Spaghetti, salad, and breadsticks
Friday- Headed home without the husband. So excited to see my family.... it's been way too long!

Thank you for all the congrats on my new job status. I feel so loved and cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate all your encouragement :)

You can find my Monday menu and many more at Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

apologies

2010-03-14T20:50:00.000-05:00

I am so sorry for my lack of posting this past week. Good news is... IM EMPLOYED bad news... no time to write. I promise the new Renter's Challenge will be up soon along with our menu and other random thoughts.

In the mean time please enjoy this....

In honor of my husband's Wildcats SEC victory!

hope your weekend was swell :)

wedding wednesday: bridesmaids gifts & favors

2010-03-10T23:19:00.003-06:00

Heather is back with some more great budget-friendly wedding advice. Wedding season is here so take notes!

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Our second Wedding Wednesday post features ways to save money on bridesmaid’s gifts and favors. Here’s a few ideas we have cooked up.

Buy something on sale or when there’s a discount code offered online. For instance, Vera Bradley bags make a great gift but sometimes you can find discount codes online for such. (Here's one of the last posts we did about a Vera sale, we'll keep you posted every time we find another one!)

Get a Bath & Body Works candle or body gel when they have their semi-annual sale, so it is a lot less than usual, or when you have coupons like these to get your best value.

image via Fragrant Moments

A lot of times you can find trendy, cheap earrings at Forever 21 that make for a fun gift!

Examples: necklace = $5.80 earrings = $5.80

Consider personalized stationary through VistaPrint- if you catch them at the right time, you’ll get it for free + shipping!

Check out these DIY- wine stoppers- these would be such great gifts for girls!!

Favors seem to be one of the easiest things to do yourself. Many people do the bubbles that get blown at you as you leave thhe reception. I know my mom, sister and I spent a few hours going to Walmart picking up mass mini bubbles, buying little pearls and white ribbon and tying them all together. After said countless hours, my DH (then fiancé at the time) left them all at our new condo, so we walked out to waving hands and smiling faces. You know us, something unique had to happen. Haha!

image via we heart it

At Jessica’s wedding, they had purchased small little to-go boxes that they had stamped with a pretty monogram stamp- the caterer put a slice of extra cake in each box and then stacked them on a table on the way out the door for guests to grab. It was a great way to get rid of all the extra cake, and only cost them around $50!

Thanks to Melinda for emailing this tip! My wedding was almost 6 years ago and we made (actually my husband made) Cd's to give out as favors to our wedding guests. Since we had all the songs, or were able to get them from friends for free, the only cost was the cd's themselves. We got a great deal at Best Buy and were able to do the favors for under $100 for over 100 guests (including bridal party). Everyone talked about how much they loved the favor. The first song was our first dance. Jon even made the stickers to put on the cds with pictures of us from our 5 year relationship and wrote a message about us for everyone to read to put inside.

You can also consider a candy bar. A friend of Jessica’s purchased several jars from Hobby Lobby with the 40% off coupon, filled them up with candy matching the colors of the wedding, and placed little snack bags for guests to fill up on their way out. Check this post out for more how to's.

image via The Bride and Groom

Idea from Real Simple: “The perfect pair” soap set- $1.75 each. (they also have personalized gum, chapstick, candles, etc on this site for less than $2 each- not a bad price!)

image via beau coup

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Such great ideas! Ross and I were married in the fall and decided to use the season to our advantage. For favors, we used carmel apples made with lady finger apples (miniature apples). Then made thank you tags and had them displayed in a great tray. Our guest loved this original and yet yummy take home treat.

We also used sparklers for our "sending off" and wanted to incorporate a gift. Simple solution=matches. We both play golf and the reception was at the Pensacola Country Club so it was only fitting to "have the perfect match". I ordered the matches, apple tags, and napkins all at the same website which came out to be super cheap. Oh and side note, when ordering napkins use your monogram or names only. Most likely you will have hundreds of these things left over and with only a monogram you can use them for years to come. By punching a hole through the matches we used ribbon to tie onto the sparklers and placed in moss.

There are thousands of ideas out there but remember, the most important thing is to make your wedding personal. Its your day so let "you" shine. Guests will notice.

Sorry, I just couldn't help it...my husband looks so dreamy. My best day.

menu plan tuesday

2010-03-09T14:02:00.002-06:00

I finally finished the month's menu and is now nicely printed and hanging on the fridge. Pretty excited about trying new recipes this month! Here is what we are having for the rest of this week...

Tuesday- Cheddar Broccoli Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday- Cheesy Chicken & Salsa Skillet

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Leftovers, did I mention each recipe makes a ton!!

Both recipes are this family's favorites. Ross has been begging me for weeks to make each. I love the look on his face when he comes home to see all the goodies on the stove. Priceless.

Now back to enjoying the warm weather! I've already started planting seeds in our make shift garden. :)

You can find my Monday menu and many more at Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

my jam

2010-03-08T22:30:00.000-06:00

Many of you might have seen this Nike commercial during the winter Olympics. I literally get chills watching it (loser, I know). The song is actually titled Ali in the Jungle by The Hours. The power of the mind never seizes to amaze me. This song is truly inspirational, especially when you are busting your butt on the treadmill.

friends

2010-03-05T15:10:00.000-06:00

This Favorites Friday is dedicated to you my friends.

{cue The Rembrandts, I'll Be There For You}

I started this blog with hopes of finding a way to release some creative energy due to the lack there of in my life. I cannot begin to tell you how truly thankful I am that I did.

Becoming a "big girl" hasn't been easy. From marriage, employment to unemployment, hubby from employed to unemployed to employed, a new puppy, and now starting my masters- its been a lot. I'm pretty sure the Lord is sick of me asking if I am following His plan. Learning to love my free time is a daily struggle. I know it sounds crazy- most people would jump, no, leap at the opportunity to live life without an alarm clock. That's never been me. I'm a busy bee. I love my ical and filling in the empty slots. This is where God makes me feel silly. How do you write, "be a better wife" in your planner or "talk to the Lord". Sounds silly, right? You can't plan your life- its already been planned.

Ok, now back to how this brings you in the picture. God has allowed me this time to create and be me. No, not just being artsy fartsy, but to write, read, learn, step back and see the big picture. Ross, told me the other night that he had no idea how creative I was. Really, that was probably the sweetest thing he could have said to me. Why not I love you? Totally weird I know. But this means, that he is seeing what I see God doing. Allowing me to express myself in ways that I have not been able to before. I'm constantly learning not only new things about my Lord but myself as well. This blog has been my outlet. Just like my husband encouraging me so have you. Thank you. Really. I. mean. it. Considering I have never met you and most likely never will, I want you to know that you are appreciated.

Now ending mushy gushy post. Thank you blog friends, you are my favorite.

the renter's challenge: lighting

2010-03-03T19:59:00.002-06:00

The secret is out- lighting is the single most important element in decorating, dramatically improving the look and feel of any room from gloom to glow. Here are some simple solutions to light up your drab apartment.

Just Say No to Fluorescent
Yes, its a drug people. Fluorescent lighting sucks the life out of a room. No one gets the warm fuzzies if the only light in your space is a long bulb shining bright blue rays, reminiscent of a hospital. Replace each artificial source with with a warm soft lamp.

Lamps
I have to say that lamps are my favorite home accessory. Lamps soften a room and add warm comforting lighting- really the key in making your rental feel like a home. A modern lamp base with a chic shade makes me giddy. Budget friendly solutions? Shop at the Teej (TJ Maxx) or Home Goods. Trendy and classic alike, costing no more than $40.00 including base and shade. BANANAS. Can only spend $5.00? Shop GoodWill, Salvation Army, or any other thrift store. Make sure you bring your own light bulb- most thrift stores will not let you test your lamps. No shame here, I totally find a corner with an outlet. Spruce up your cheapie base with Rustoleum or Krylon brand metallic spray paint and viola! Don't forget about yard sales too, its almost in season and I am so excited!

Shades
The cherry on top of the cake, lamp jewelry, the perfect hair-do. I could go on and on about how important a lamp's shade is. The base could be the most beautiful thing you have ever seen but, if the shade is ugly, yellow, and outdated you won't even be able to notice. Before you go tossing out, check out my way of transforming any shade with fabric here. Its a great way to save money and recycle and you can find tons of these tutorials in the blog world. Also, if you spent zilch with your lamp base at a thrift store invest a little more in your shade. Just like jewelry, the shade can really make the outfit or in this case the lamp.

Chandeliers

I was recently faced with a challenge. My match- a gold 80's inspired chandelier. I hated this thing. At one point I told my husband it wasn't allowed to be on. Sad I know, but every time I flipped the switch goldie winked and smiled. No joke. I am proud to report ol' golddie was defeated and transformed into a new modern fixture. Lucky for me, our apartment complex is going through a major over haul. Each room is being renovated as people slowly move on, so I took it upon myself do my own reno. Goldie would have eventually passed on so no harm giving her a new look, I was aloud. I used Krylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint and went to town. Yes, I actually painted while still hanging. Here is my proof:

How amazing is the transformation! Lovely. My next adventure is updating the shades by adding some jute trim. I was inspired by these little guys over at Pottery Barn.

photo from Pottery Barn

Finally I stumbled upon this genius idea and have decided to create some of my own. So unfortunately, I will have to keep you posted.

photo from Kaarskoker

Either way you get the drift- all it takes is spray paint, shades, and some effort to update your "goldie".

Candles
Addict. That's right I said it- My name is Meaghan and I am a candle addict. Scent or non I love 'em. Here are some of my favorites:
Pier 1- Citrus Cilantro (smells exactly like the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, TN) and Mango Papaya
Yankee Candle-Autumn Leaves (amazing! smells just like fall)
Pottery Barn- Ocean
Hobby Lobby- great for your plain, simple, any size white candle on the cheap
Thymes- Fraiser Fir
These are just a few and if I sit here long enough I could spout off a hundred more. Candles are the ultimate homey-effect fix. You have my permission to light every single candle you own. That's right, go light them! My theory? Who wants candles sitting around that have not been used, use them! Even when its just you and the dog- I promise you and your guest will feel more at home. Place in the fireplace instead of logs for a more romantic look or in the kitchen to make it smell like you are baking. Candles can also be used to display personal items. My husband and I have saved the champagne bottle from our engagement, wedding, and one year anniversary. To make these bottles have a use, I bought bottle candle holders at a local boutique and matching candle sticks. They now fit perfectly in our bedroom.

Expect the Unexpected
Bathroom lamp? Yes. Kitchen lamp? Of course! Don't leave these rooms out! Everyone every room deserves a soft light. In the bathroom, the ambiance is transformed to spa like with just a lamp instead of turning on the overhead lights. A kitchen is made more cozy and warm, check out mine here.

Mr. Golden Sun
Open the blinds! Can you really pass up free lighting?

Please, I beg of you, if you are having people over, eating breakfast at your table, doing the bills–turn on the lamp, open the blinds, and light a candle. It will change your life, mood, and rental, I’m sure of it.

Missed the last Renter's Challenge? Check it out here.

Read on,
MT

Parties Posted:
Between Naps on the Porch, Its So Very Cheri, The Persimmon Perch, Shades of Pink, Thrifty Decor Chick, The Girl Creative, Skip To My Lou, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Keeping it Simple, A Soft Place to Land, Reinvented, A Silly Little Sparrow, Today's Creative Blog, Gypsy's Corner, Tip Junkie, Blue Cricket Design, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking