Mantle Makeover

I have been working on my mantle for the past few days, I haven't been shopping anywhere other than my own house (much to the delight of my husband, LOL). It is frustrating to shop for decorating things in a small town, I wish that we had a Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Hobby Lobby but we don't and the nearest one is 1 1/2 hours away so, for the time being this will have to do. My mom is coming down tomorrow and we are going to a furniture store that several people have told me has great furniture and accessories, I can't wait to see for myself. I found some beautiful paint colors at Porter Paints yesterday, I'm working on post for tomorrow about fabrics and will show you what I have come up with for my kitchen and dining room. Have a great evening!

Inspiration

Southern Living

I saw this room on a blog (forgive me I can't remember which one, I read way too many) this past week and feel in love! The colors are beautiful, the fabrics, oh the fabrics, are fabulous and the paint color is exactly what I have been looking for to use in my kitchen and dining room. I already have fabric that will work perfectly with the color scheme. Looking at magazine websites for inspiration is a new world for me, what sites do you visit for ideas?

Happy Birthday Jonah!

My baby boy is 8 years old today, I don't know where the time has gone, he has always been the sweetest child! He is everyone's friend, he shows kindness to all, he's a straight A student who amazes me with his learning abilities and level of understanding and most of all he loves his family. I'm so thankful that I was given the opportunity to be his mother and I look forward to the future with this bright, funny and charming little boy.

Today was a snow day for the boys, he couldn't wait until his dad got home from work so we had a little party after lunch. His favorite present was an Acer laptop from Grandma (just look at that face when he saw what it was)!

Happy 8th Birthday Jonah, I love you!

Laundry Room Makeover

I have been trying to organize my house this week with the help of my Mom. She came up on Monday night and worked all day Tuesday helping me clean out everything. I decided to put my craft table and sewing table in the laundry room, the sewing table is in the pantry, I organized my laundry room shelf with all of my scrapbooking supplies, now everything has a place.

I found the Waverly valance at Lowe's for $12.50, it really added the finishing touch. I have been working on my mantle and will post more pictures tomorrow.

Sewing Table
Craft Table

Scrapbooking Supplies

Ideas

Thank you for all of your help with my decorating dilemma! I'm definitely painting the bookshelves a different color and moving the poppy painting over the fireplace. I went to Home Goods on Thursday, I love that store but it confuses me more than I already am, I don't know where to start or what to look at first, does anyone else feel this way? Have a great weekend!

Decorating Help

Okay ladies I'm in desperate need of help! I don't know what to do with my mantle, at Christmas is was so pretty, now it's back to being boring. We have lived in this has for three years and I have never done anything with the plant shelf behind the chairs, I need help with that as well. I would love all of your suggestions, I have about $100 to spend, I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Goals for 2009

I have been working on my list of goals for 2009 for the past week and have finally decided on a few that I think I can stick to, I haven't made a resolution in years because that word seems to fail me. However, I am a goal setter and list maker so I think this will work out better in the long run. The first goal I have is to be a better manager of our home, in 2008 we averaged about $900 per month on groceries, household items and toiletries, my goal for 2009 is a monthly budget of $500 and to save the remaining $400. I want to spend more time with my sons playing games, this is something they love to do and once a week isn't enough. I want to be a better wife to my husband by putting is laundry away everyday (I don't mind washing and folding it's the putting away that I have a problem with). I want to spend more time with my extended family, I would like to take one Saturday or Sunday a month and have a family dinner whoever wants to come has a standing invitation, I think this would bring us all closer. The goals that I have chosen for 2009 are reasonable and will produce fantastic results.

(TAG! YOU ARE IT! Copy and post this on your blog ASAP!)

What is this? Well, you’re supposed to bold the things you’ve done so readers can find out how you've led an awesome life so far.

Here's what I have done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child ( I wish)
16.Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon2
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

So, What have you done? Thanks Lions, Tigers, and Boys Oh My! for the tag.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!