Company :-)

We were blessed with visits from our families over the past few weeks. First, Ben's Dad and his wife, Barbara, came all the way from Australia and were with us for nearly 2 weeks.

                                We celebrated Dad's 68th birthday while they were here. :-)

                                       Teddy always likes to help blow out the candles. ;-)

                 Then my sister, Bethany, came with her children for a short, but fun filled visit.

The cousins had a great time playing together. Incuding a rainy visit to our nearby amusement park, Worlds of Fun. We still got to ride all of the big roller coasters before we had to leave when a big storm rolled in. ha

                            Nathanael decided to add some goofyness to this shot. Haha

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White Pumpkins and Burlap

As we head into the Autumn season, I have been adding some more neutral tones and textures to our decor, in the form of burlap and other natural looking fabrics.

 I was inspired to make these stencilled pillows after seeing some similar ones on Etsy. So fun and easy to make! The one on the right has a chandelier stencilled on it, in case you can't tell. ;-)

 I made a little burlap lamp shade cover to put on this lamp in our dining area.

 Also this ruffled and frayed burlap table runner. So quick and cheap to make. I was very pleased with myself when I saw a plain burlap (no ruffles) frayed edge table runner in Pottery Barn for $49! haha I made this one for about $5....

I think the white pumpkins look really good with all the creamy natural textures for Fall. :-)

 

Much easier to incorporate into our color scheme than more traditional Fall colors would be!

                                                          Happy September! :-)

I am joining Richella's "Grace at Home" party. http://www.impartinggrace.com/2012/09/grace-at-home-no-26.html

The Boys' Cowboy Birthday Party :-)

Since the boys' birthdays are 5 days (and 3 years) apart, we decided to have a joint party for them this year. With all the kids in our street and one from another street in our subdivision. ;-)

 

They love playing cowboys, and I came across some cute cowboy party stuff at Hobby Lobby, so that was the theme. We had planned to have the party in the backyard, but some much needed rain changed the venue to the garage.

 Our local grocery store made the cake to match the plates. It turned out so cute. :-)

Teddy snuck and opened a gift when we weren't looking. Ha He was very pleased with it, too! ;-)

 

                                         We started out with a game of lasso the horse.

                                                          This little girl was the winner.

                                       This fishing for a mouse trap game had everyone enthralled.

 Similar expressions while opening gifts. Ha They were very excited about all those presents!

                                                   Six and three- hard to believe!

We finished the party with a rousing time of hitting the pinata! Which was in the shape of a cowboy boot. :-)

Happy Birthday, Nathanael and Teddy!!

Bridal Shower Tea and Wedding :-)

I just got back from a trip to my home town for my sister's wedding. It was really nice to be able to visit with my family, although the time was far too short, of course.

 My youngest sister and I had a lot of fun decorating for the bridal shower tea we gave for our other sister. :-)

My mom brought out lots of linens and sheets and we all got creative.

 They helped to disguise the sometimes less than beautiful chairs and tables hiding beneath. Ha

                                             My youngest sister and I. :-)

                                                    Mom and Teddy :-)

 Everyone seemed to have lots of fun and the bride received many lovely gifts, so we felt the evening was a success. ;-)

                                                      The sisters three...

                                               Our brother, the best man, with the lovely bride. :-)

                               Our grandma made this exquisite cake. She is so talented!

                                                      The happy couple cutting the cake! :-)

Happy 4th of July!

                  A little known verse of our beautiful national anthem:
                                                

                                     
 "O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
                                       
 Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
                                     
  Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
                                      
 Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
                                      
 Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
                                        
 And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
                                     
 And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
                                    
  O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

I love The Star Spangled Banner, and especially this verse. I know our nation is not what it once was, but I will always love the United States of America!

                                          Have a happy and blessed 4th of July! :-)
                                                      Jessica

Spray Paint Transformations

          Several months ago I bought this plate hanger from a local thrift shop planning to paint it later.                                       
 Finally, I got it done! A few coats of vanilla spray paint later, and it is hanging in our bathroom. :-)

 A few weeks ago, I found another long shelf thing at the same thrift store, that I plan to put plates on also, in the dining area. I forgot to take a "before" pic until I was halfway through, but you can see the original color here:

                          The vanilla paint really brought out the rose details nicely:

I can't figure out how to hang this one. I think maybe some parts are missing. So, I am waiting for Ben to help me. ;-)

Don't you love spray paint?
                                    
                                                                 Jessica

Thrifty Treasures

The boys and I did a little thrift store shopping the other day, as we like to do. :-) We found this train/play table, which was really exciting, because I've been searching for one since Christmas time and had given up on finding one at an affordable price. This one met that qualification, at just $20!

 

 Teddy and Nathanael both have been having lots of fun playing with their trains at the new table. I knew they would enjoy it, since they always want to play at the one in the Barnes and Noble children's area.

 I still did not have any window treatments for the windows in our lower level. I was kind of enjoying the sparse look for a while. ha But they were a bit too plain, plus when people visit us they often sleep on the sofa bed down there, and there is no privacy or light blockage for them. I got a set of 7 of these panels, just the right length, for $3.50. :-) Of course, I've only used 4 so far.

 I like the scalloped, contrasting fabric at the bottom of the panels:

                   The other side of the room, with a sleeping Teddy Bear nearby. ;-)

                                                   ~Jessica~