Why Lilly Has Diabetes...

When Lilly was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was like, "Why the heck does MY kid have this??" I didn't take it very well. Over the course of time, it has gotten easier and I can say, "Why not my child??" I wouldn't have chosen it, but if her having diabetes draws someone else closer to God, then so be it. He could have let Lilly die, but he chose to save her. For that we are very grateful.

A Few Thrifty Finds...

Hey there, y'all!! Just wanted to pop on to share some thrifty finds I've gotten lately. You know how sometimes you want to wait to share something until its "done"?? That's how I felt about showing y'all this table, but I don't feel like waiting. Ha!! My friend, Amy, found this table in my favorite little church thrift shop a few months ago. I went to go look at it, but it was out of my budget at the time. I decided I would make myself paint and sell my other table first. Well, last Thursday I had to run an errand in the same town as the thrift shop so I ran in there to see if it was still there. It was!! I think they had it priced so high no one would buy it. This place is normally so cheap on everything else, too. Anyway, I managed to talk them down $40, so even though I still paid more than I wanted, saving $40 was awesome!! Now I just need to finish my other table and get it sold!!

Y'all can see that I decided to go with the red chairs from Ikea!! For some reason my husband isn't super sold on them with this table. On the subject of the table, I cannot decide if it needs a makeover or not. My thought was to maybe re-stain the top a dark walnut and paint the bottom white. I kind of like it like it is, too. What do y'all think??

I found these owls at Goodwill a few weeks ago. I thought they looked so sweet. However, they will be getting a makeover. I trying to decide on a funky green or teal. Any opinions?? These cute hoots will go into the kids' room. Y'all might remember I briefly mentioned that all four of them are sharing a room...I'm trying to make it as gender neutral as I know how. And I don't. I am gleaning a lot of inspiration from all of you, however!!

Ahhh...this table. I've actually had it for over a year. I paid $20 for it at a yard sale and was so tickled pink to have a table that not everyone else does!! I did paint and glaze the wood top. The lamp is also a secondhand find. Brass originally, I sprayed it with a Fern spray paint and it looks fab!! We had to put a few of our favorite Fall books in a basket!!

Anybody else seeing the irony{no pun intended} of all the dust on my "Domestic" piece?!?! Hahaha!!!

P.S. I'm listening to Christmas music right now...How crazy is that?!?!

Friday mishmash...

I drove my children to school this morning, just like any other morning. Except that this morning happened to be trash day. I felt my van turn down into this neighborhood right before the school. I saw what looked like it could have been a metal shelf in a trash pile. I was thisclose to picking it up. Since I wasn't sure if all the components were there, I decided to drive on. This neighborhood is still being built, so there was a dumpster in front of one of the houses. I caught a glimpse of chunky wood and chicken wire. Be still my beating heart...I pulled over and rescued this piece. Isn't it fab?!?! I am seeing a jewelry organizer!! I just need to detach that funky piece of wood off the top and hang 'er up!!

Earlier in the week I got a wild hair to do a switcheroo of bedrooms. We gave the kids the master bedroom-all four of them are in there!! We took the original master, which Jackson, Lilly, and Fisher were sharing. I love it!! It is so cozy. Our other master, which was built on sometime later after the house was built, along with my "backroom" from the last post, is gargantuan and works much better for the four little people than this other room. I cannot wait to fluff my new love nest!!! Here is my inspiration for the color scheme...

I'm lovin' this tablecloth from Target!! I think it would make the prettiest curtains!! I was teetering on whether to get these for my bedroom, or use the curtains I made for my living room in the last house. It would certainly save money!!

Yesterday Jackson and Lilly got in the van and said, "Mom we need team shirts or jersey's to wear tomorrow!!" This was vaguely familiar sounding-something for Relay for Life, where they pay a dollar to wear their favorite sport teams shirt. Only problem is we don't have a favorite team-not being sports fans and all. Jackson informed me his teacher said if they didn't have one then they could just go to the store and buy one. Um, okay??? So, I despaired for a minute, then called Jenny. I was pondering just going to Wal-Mart and praying to find inexpensive team shirts, when Jenny suggested going to look at Goodwill. Duh!!! Isn't that what I always do when I need something??? So, we went and we found some shirts. Yay!! Represent'n the Bulldawgs, yo!!

Whew...Happy Friday, y'all!!

Embracing where I'm at...

{my view while washing dishes}

I'm not gonna lie. I've been fighting a bad attitude for weeks now. My perspective has been about as fuzzy as parts of the picture above. Let me start this story at the beginning.

Where we used to live was a small town that was primarily middle to lower class. I mean, I felt down right highfalutin when I walked into Wal-Mart. Any of y'all that know me in real life, know that can't be further from the truth. I am very much down to earth{when my head's not in the clouds} and casual. The city I now live in is very much the opposite. The main area, if you will, has a ginormous neighborhood with subdivisions consisting of McMansions within itself. Whatever...I was fine when we moved here, having lived in this very house before. That was all before my children went to the local public school...

I take my children and pick them back up from school. I am usually surrounded by Lexus{Lexi-??}, Mercedes, Lincoln's, etc. Normally I'm not a car person, but considering I'm driving an older Plymouth Grand Voyager that is missing 2 hubcaps and the front bumper is held up with zip ties...well, it just feels funny.

I've shared my feelings with a few close friends. One said to me something a friend of her's said to her, "The clothes do not make me, I make the clothes." I thought that was a fabulous quote!! One day as I was sitting in carpool behind, no lie, a Mercedes, a Lexus, and another Mercedes, I quoted to myself, "My car does not make me, I make my car." Then, wouldn't you know it, I had an epiphany!!! It occurred to me, that perhaps these people had insecurities, too. Insecurities, that perhaps wouldn't let them just drive a Toyota, because after all, isn't a Lexus just an expensive Toyota?? Now, I'm not trying to be judgmental in the least if you do drive a "fancy" vehicle. Ever since then though, I haven't felt nearly as embarrassed about what I drive.

I love my little home and I am so thankful for it. I do try to keep that in perspective when I think about the friends my children are making. Most of my children's friends do live in that neighborhood and when I think of birthday parties or future sleepovers, I start to think about the differences in our homes. "Will they think less of us because our home could fit into a small portion of their's??" "What will they think when they drive up and see flaky, peeling paint??" "What will they..." Who cares?? I am so drawn to sweet, older homes and I just want to remain authentic and true to myself. I don't wish to live in a large home. We did live in a big to us home and I couldn't keep it clean!! Why I let the thought of what someone may think bother me, I don't know. I have had to pray to ask God to help me be more thankful for what I do have and less bothered by what I don't, and it has worked!! I sometimes have to ask daily, and to also ask forgiveness for my bad attitude. I seek to "be content in all circumstances" as Paul learned to be. I also keep in mind the quote that Ashley Ann shared, "Comparison is a thief of joy." That is the truth.

Tonight, while washing dishes, I had to get my attitude in check again. I was looking thru what was originally the kitchen window, back into what we so cleverly call "the back room" and was overtaken by how much I really do like this house. Its a great reflection of us. Its not a show home and that is totally okay. It really is. And that is a lovely thing...

Linking up to Life Made Lovely...

There's this spot...

So, there's this spot in my kitchen. Its right between two sets of cabinets{or my stove, rather} with an entry door in between. I've found several inspiration pics online that I love the idea of. My pictures aren't in the best order for explaining what I want to do. How's that for confusing?!?!

Okay, so one idea is the keep the spot open{actually, my trash can is by the stove, appetizing, eh??} and have this big metal trash can there. I found one at an estate sale for $10, but I'm holding out til tomorrow, when it will be half price and hopefully still there...

{this can sells on Amazon}

Along with the trash can, I'd do hooks kind of like The Pleated Poppy's above to hang my bag and Lilly's bag.

OR...I found this idea via pinterest via Design*Sponge. I love the use of shelves by the stove and I actually have a shallow bookcase that would fit perfectly in my spot. This would be great for storage, because I don't have a lot of space in this kitchen.

Here are a few more shots of my space. This is the door to the carport that we always use.

Here is a better idea of the space.

And just another{pitiful} shot...

Okay, y'all...big metal trash can and hooks, or a bookcase???

Off to School...

Today is the first day of school for our neck of the woods!! This is Lilly's first year of school. I was so worried about her going, because of her diabetes. I've met with the nurse and teacher, love them both, and now have no worries!! I think Lilly is going to love school!!

Jackson is going to third grade this year!! His teacher seems awesome, too!!

Happy Monday, friends!!

Bits of color thru the house...

A few weeks ago, my friend Jenny, from Lipstick and Laundry, hosted a Color My Week party. I couldn't get it together then, but did take a few photos from around the house to share.

First we have green in the kids' bedroom. Oh, they are all bunking together now. Fun, huh?!?!

This is above Jackson's bed. I looked up one day and noticed most of the vintage children's books were green. The door I found at the Restore last summer. The J came from Kohl's. I still need to add something else up there.

I've been collecting vintage thermoses. Love the way they look all grouped together!!

My "Nancy's"...

On a bookshelf, we have a little aqua.

and white...

{the owl pitcher is from Hobby Lobby-in the Fall section...very Anthro, no??}

Aqua shutters in the bathroom...

Vintage yellow scale in the kitchen. I know y'all are jealous of the peachy-pink tiles!! Hahaha!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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