tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7186900431977111022024-03-05T15:19:43.573-08:00The Home PlaceSunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-43875963300814473112012-06-19T20:35:00.001-07:002012-07-02T20:44:33.108-07:00The New Old Mantel<span style="font-size: large;">Do you remember months ago when I said that I had <a href="http://homeplaceks.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-got-mantel-issues.html">mantel issues</a>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I never stopped thinking about it I </span><span style="font-size: large;">just stopped trying to do something about it. I decided that I needed to just be open to what came to me and see if it would come together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So for many months my mantel looked pretty shameful. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDJclmiGooSeHzEFwHVU6_0ObxAmqyW3ze0SjmNbeS7SYD-oaP45ajXWFHfgysKB-luQ9Qg0IWyhHzJhUZ0FwiWgVNK3UmCCiG2fU7pC8P-rCh-UqCTLbLSIjDmAKhega7EZK0mSDvsM_/s1600/jerk+proj+sausage+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDJclmiGooSeHzEFwHVU6_0ObxAmqyW3ze0SjmNbeS7SYD-oaP45ajXWFHfgysKB-luQ9Qg0IWyhHzJhUZ0FwiWgVNK3UmCCiG2fU7pC8P-rCh-UqCTLbLSIjDmAKhega7EZK0mSDvsM_/s400/jerk+proj+sausage+057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then it looked like <a href="http://homeplaceks.blogspot.com/2012/02/not-exactly-what-i-was-thinking.html">this</a>....which for some....may look pretty good...not so much for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But over the last month or so I have started to put some stuff together and though I know that it is not finished I feel like I don't hate it anymore.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sC9fwnqj9YqMpI7VQnCOvuhzAP4OioyS1ndfJCvmhNoBL676nzTHq6aSEDgPk26BQ5VZ49wdffXB49AmFhvOlzhvTEHozvkbYiErB5tsDz5jpffOzidTJmvhIWf5pucrExlwaV5ALQ8Y/s1600/new+mantel+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sC9fwnqj9YqMpI7VQnCOvuhzAP4OioyS1ndfJCvmhNoBL676nzTHq6aSEDgPk26BQ5VZ49wdffXB49AmFhvOlzhvTEHozvkbYiErB5tsDz5jpffOzidTJmvhIWf5pucrExlwaV5ALQ8Y/s400/new+mantel+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I feel like it was like one of my inspiration pictures...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIs8w1h8wLdtkwVZnowNWyfGkeVHrAG4bafEPmOPEPGWy1kDL3HNk5o0LAbZPbYeLNExPQJevags1Dsw1yqT4LJEOfVMTY0Qn5z2inlU2UrTYHeSa5QFZqP3zCu3YZEQHTm38r2lLoegK/s1600/mantel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIs8w1h8wLdtkwVZnowNWyfGkeVHrAG4bafEPmOPEPGWy1kDL3HNk5o0LAbZPbYeLNExPQJevags1Dsw1yqT4LJEOfVMTY0Qn5z2inlU2UrTYHeSa5QFZqP3zCu3YZEQHTm38r2lLoegK/s640/mantel1.jpg" width="441" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That layered look. I kept the same mirror that I have always had there and then just slowly and surely I started to accumulate things to lean up there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI7EdKbsYugJK6PcEnSjUuhGK3s9I-h0830OdGQJoBRDWahuNEydYNG2AzPAzh9Ugk3Ome6oqkTO2DW9ZnX3yolxOMuc825-xS4nrK2qJkzs9nt6eUar691oaESwpek244NoEuuH2ucsH/s1600/new+mantel+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUI7EdKbsYugJK6PcEnSjUuhGK3s9I-h0830OdGQJoBRDWahuNEydYNG2AzPAzh9Ugk3Ome6oqkTO2DW9ZnX3yolxOMuc825-xS4nrK2qJkzs9nt6eUar691oaESwpek244NoEuuH2ucsH/s400/new+mantel+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I drew this letter H from a vintage letter that I found on a website that I found on Pinterest. I for the life of me cannot find that website again...which really bums me out because I really liked it. Anyway, I just printed out the image and then hand drew it with a Sharpie onto a canvas that I had lying around. Totally free and I love it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5ukzFxnrsZdi8VMibmmZc0mXxhtC1saC0HRVCfmFE7ssi6jqofuMGlr1tX_3dchV9QP7y-jE-9WjsTUx_NqEFWxBLp1bab7Qmmr2I9w_Szz0pKLhKMWLDTQBB5Etyou6G-z3oejWEU7M/s1600/new+mantel+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5ukzFxnrsZdi8VMibmmZc0mXxhtC1saC0HRVCfmFE7ssi6jqofuMGlr1tX_3dchV9QP7y-jE-9WjsTUx_NqEFWxBLp1bab7Qmmr2I9w_Szz0pKLhKMWLDTQBB5Etyou6G-z3oejWEU7M/s640/new+mantel+005.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The large canvas in the back is actually an old canvas that I have had that I just primed and then painted with some craft paint...I really love how it turned out too. Now that black frame I got on sale at TJ Maxx back in January. But Boo, when I took it out in June it totally fell apart. I had to glue it all back together. That picture of a very large and very pregnant me is not so good. It was just the only black and white picture that I had on hand that would fit in the frame...I kind of hate it up on the mantel so I will be replacing it soon!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O9xYJub1kYDaqUSJxu-Z6vB3fP5Hmhtm9X8VVwyHRcrrxEr8lesUR2bIpk77SbgvOAb_b-QpWaJAFeMJECJeFbR88qp_h6MzulnipgwGwQ66DPfN_ZizzhvZWYde_v86QJSVWLrSiogC/s1600/new+mantel+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O9xYJub1kYDaqUSJxu-Z6vB3fP5Hmhtm9X8VVwyHRcrrxEr8lesUR2bIpk77SbgvOAb_b-QpWaJAFeMJECJeFbR88qp_h6MzulnipgwGwQ66DPfN_ZizzhvZWYde_v86QJSVWLrSiogC/s640/new+mantel+004.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the other side of the mantel I just want you guys to notice the AMAZING framed Japanese Woodblock print that I scored at the Goodwill for an amazing $9.99. As if you couldn't already tell that it was fate or serendipity the mat on the print perfectly compliments the light green that I have going on in the rest of the house. Yeah it was totally meant to be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Behind the print is a frame that I have had lying around for years. The frame was empty so I simply got a piece of foam board and transcribed Bible verses translated into French. I don't really love how it turned out so I will probably be changing that too...as soon as I get a better idea.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuacZH7BADPyXzxlyE9yZ5Hm6QjseOcu64I71QTXrOthtHx_xl0HQgtF_zUrAVzY7UT5ATDdbwRVWquO-Cy_Pa5ociyR_e04GFqJ2IcYqmyCy6x7jfWjiDahQjYTdepLbBs2UnLEWdjEt6/s1600/new+mantel+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuacZH7BADPyXzxlyE9yZ5Hm6QjseOcu64I71QTXrOthtHx_xl0HQgtF_zUrAVzY7UT5ATDdbwRVWquO-Cy_Pa5ociyR_e04GFqJ2IcYqmyCy6x7jfWjiDahQjYTdepLbBs2UnLEWdjEt6/s640/new+mantel+011.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, no mantel reveal would be complete without me showing you the plant that I have already killed. Yeah it really doesn't take me long, </span><span style="font-size: large;">now we are just waiting for the next <strike>victim</strike> perfect indoor plant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what do you think? Have you been messing with your mantel lately? Killed any plants recently? Got any tips or explanation as to why I cannot keep anything alive? Doesn't look good for my kids! HaHa!</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am linking up to Laylas Summer Mantel Party over at the <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/summer-mantel-link-party/">The Lettered Cottage.</a></span>
<div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/summer-mantel-link-party" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Summer%20Mantel%20Link%20Party/Summer_Mantel_Party_Button.jpg" alt="The Lettered Cottage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-39694728955655988932012-04-30T08:20:00.001-07:002012-04-30T08:21:34.681-07:00On The Road To Achieving More!<span style="font-size: large;">So yesterday was a big day for me. I ran my first half marathon...well actually I have run it on my own before but I actually competed yesterday.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00ir0xIuuzgjymPCdQT-wjuKh4mOk1iEfxDICrqvng1WGb5Iq8U9EfKvtsfn3MiJE8SvI5stu8OodVcKylw7ztVMda1Nwa4uCqgxW_dYLdsLgcdO7M53Hoz8_LoJQMrMkDFPUsGemn8HF/s1600/13.1+I+did+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00ir0xIuuzgjymPCdQT-wjuKh4mOk1iEfxDICrqvng1WGb5Iq8U9EfKvtsfn3MiJE8SvI5stu8OodVcKylw7ztVMda1Nwa4uCqgxW_dYLdsLgcdO7M53Hoz8_LoJQMrMkDFPUsGemn8HF/s400/13.1+I+did+it.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry about the picture quality... it was taken with my iPhone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My <a href="http://homeplaceks.blogspot.com/2012/01/word-of-year.html">Word Of The Year</a> is Achieve, and one of the ways that I wanted to achieve more is by competing in a marathon. Well I am not there yet but I am getting there and yesterday I proved it to myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was interesting. It rained the whole time. It was long...13.1 miles long. It took me exactly 2:00:00. Which was my goal. Previously it took me 2:11:00. So ultimately I was happy. Today I can barely walk which makes me wonder how I am ever going to run twice as far. But I guess that I will just have to figure that out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what about you...have you reached any goals lately? Do you have any goals that you are working towards? I just love that feeling when you finally make it, don't you? Tell me all about it!!</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em></div>
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<br /></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-19706980174418210982012-04-22T10:34:00.001-07:002012-04-22T10:36:34.730-07:00How Did I Get So OldSo my family was sitting down to dinner and the conversation got on the candy Skittles and my 8 year old asked if their were purple Skittles when we were kids. My husband and I laughed and said "of course". Quickly followed by " it has not been that long since we were kids". <br />
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My 8 year old then asked about iPads and I told him that there weren't iPads when he was born nor tablets or netbook computers. <br />
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Just then I hear my five year old say " yeah mom had to write in the dirt..... with a stick.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMJi4hjQCmeLX_smf3osfScVWgS6AiDZ9pRBBzFnFmwHB7ykHEi2V_GN8tuX3LviyzLnlQZPeHL5EsJTwdlBO7KYA4b9QuzLQSgu77j9bMnpTmEabuy1mNvUq0wpjwvZYa35DvNNKnnuC/s1600/family+527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMJi4hjQCmeLX_smf3osfScVWgS6AiDZ9pRBBzFnFmwHB7ykHEi2V_GN8tuX3LviyzLnlQZPeHL5EsJTwdlBO7KYA4b9QuzLQSgu77j9bMnpTmEabuy1mNvUq0wpjwvZYa35DvNNKnnuC/s640/family+527.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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<em>Sunny</em><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-34588990339873298132012-04-17T10:39:00.000-07:002012-04-17T10:39:48.971-07:00Apothecary Jar Terrarium<span style="font-size: large;">This last summer I read a post of the Nester about <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2010/03/terrarium-101-a-guest-post.html">Apothecary Jar Terrariums.</a> I knew instantly that come spring I was SOOO going to make one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So this late winter/spring I started gathering the supplies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is what I got:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Rocks</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Carbon (I got mine in the fish supply aisle at Wal-mart)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Dirt</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">- Low light plants (I bought way more than would fit in my jar)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-The biggest apothecary jar that I could find. (I got mind at Michaels with a coupon)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsVxCU6-m3_7wi4clO0Zo2rId9oMFYWe8hfI5Pz4Uhis3SBFNRcEpYVU1JEzJNkjq6Fva6FI7BkyMsxPEJKeYUIk8aj_4QFK8ZhoiZgRjF7mL61bXzjHDLFUMS_jXqvNlQOyHzk5kmgCI/s1600/2+wk+and+terrarium+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsVxCU6-m3_7wi4clO0Zo2rId9oMFYWe8hfI5Pz4Uhis3SBFNRcEpYVU1JEzJNkjq6Fva6FI7BkyMsxPEJKeYUIk8aj_4QFK8ZhoiZgRjF7mL61bXzjHDLFUMS_jXqvNlQOyHzk5kmgCI/s400/2+wk+and+terrarium+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is what I did:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I put the carbon in a strainer with some small holes and rinsed it out in the sink. It will start to run clean after a few seconds. I set that aside for a minute to fully drain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I placed a layer of rocks in the bottom of the jar, I used regular drainage rocks that I had from a different project but I think that smaller river rocks would really look great. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> On top of the rocks goes a layer of the rinsed carbon. The carbon helps keep the water from becoming yucky and stagnate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I layered the dirt. I actually put too much in so I had to scoop some out, which kinda made the sides of my jar messy. So try and add a little at a time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next came my plants. I intended to have three different plants of varying heights and textures...but apparently my jar wasn't as big as I thought. I could only fit one of the plants that I bought. A mini fern, it is cute but I wish that I could have fit more. Alas what is a girl to do?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I added some rocks. I wanted to add some cool moss, but I honestly have no idea where to get that in my neck of the woods. So I am going to have to work on that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So then I basically just added water, maybe a cup and a half. As I was adding the water I let it stream down the side to try and get the rouge dirt off the sides, that worked pretty good but not perfect. That is okay thought I can live with not quite perfect!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am sure that I must have made a terrarium in school but I don't remember it, so I guess it doesn't count. YAY! I made my first terrarium!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am enjoying it a lot, I just wish I had some moss. Sigh! I think that this plant has a fighting chance of me not killing it...as it is going to water itself. Bonus</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I keep thinking about all of the other containers that I could turn into a terrarium. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How about you, have you been busy with any "gardening" lately? Made a terrarium lately? Tell me all about it!</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-47821886531407519742012-04-16T05:45:00.000-07:002012-04-16T05:45:19.189-07:00This Is My Hustle<span style="font-size: large;">Every stay at home mom that I know (with the exception of only one) has a hustle. I mean a way that she increases the income of her family. It is often selling things like jewelry, Scentsy, embroidery, daycare, blog writing etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well I am no different. This is my hustle.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHEjwTMtM8S-53UC0p51K7o5vIvHD9BFPVlqojCgiei9fzBTxhvjtzI9m7nbe0BBc54tVanAdbOFEVWl6RhZpF5Ttsh7j6cHObuo7ezrutuitFu6ELO6S23JgpMJutSymcV_AUCXexM4w/s1600/SchoolBus_c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHEjwTMtM8S-53UC0p51K7o5vIvHD9BFPVlqojCgiei9fzBTxhvjtzI9m7nbe0BBc54tVanAdbOFEVWl6RhZpF5Ttsh7j6cHObuo7ezrutuitFu6ELO6S23JgpMJutSymcV_AUCXexM4w/s400/SchoolBus_c3.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am a school bus driver. Yes I drive a 40ft long, 78 passenger school bus. I affectionately call it my big yellow mini van. :) I drive about 70 elementary kids aged kindergarten to fifth grade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started driving a bus almost 6 years ago, shortly after my middle son was born. I was 26 years old, and my husbands sole military income wasn't quite cutting it. We could always pay the bills but there wasn't too much left over for extras, much less emergencies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I knew that I must do something to help. I wanted a job that would give me flexibility, one that I could do with my kids (I knew that I couldn't leave them at daycare), and a job that I would enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I entertained lots of things like stuffing envelopes, working at night, cleaning etc, but most just seemed to interrupt my life too much. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then one day my sister (who is a bus driver/stay at home mom in a town not far from mine) suggested driving a bus. At first I thought "No way, I can't drive that big ole thing". But then I thought that if she could do it so could I.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I took the test, trained with my school districts bus barn, took my driving test, got my license, and have been loving it ever since.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This job has been such a blessing. It provides that much needed second income, great benefits (like membership the gym, discounts at local businesses etc.)I really feel like a contributing $ member of my household. My kids ride along so they have never been to daycare. And now that two of my kids are in school, I drive for their elementary school so I can drop them off and pick them up from school everyday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition my kids and I have gone on a zillion field trips to some really cool places. And because drivers get in for free we have gotten to go to places that I could not have afforded otherwise. We must go to the Zoo like 45 times a year, in fact I am going to the Zoo this week. I always get the priority of taking my children's field trips when they go somewhere, super bonus I get to be with my kids like all the other moms and dad but I get paid by the hour to be there. It is like I am practically stealing people! And I can always turn field trips down if I have something else to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Driving a bus rarely interferes with my home life. In fact my husband usually forgets that I drive the bus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are a few draw backs to my job. The first is both a blessing and a drawback, I have summers off. Yay! That also means that I don't get a paycheck. Boo! But we always think ahead and put some $$$ back to help. The mornings are early, I have to get my self and three kids out the door by 6:50. Which is a feat every single day!! Oh and it is very cold in the winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All in all I LOVE driving a bus and just couldn't imagine doing anything else while I still have kids at home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what about you, do you have a hustle? Or are you one of the exceptional few that is a solely stay at home mom/wife? Or do you have a full time job? I would love to hear what you do.</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-76086549621662874932012-04-13T12:03:00.000-07:002012-04-13T12:03:07.008-07:00I Went to Hawaii<span style="font-size: large;">So one of the biggest things that I did recently is I went to Hawaii!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was so excited!!! Because lets be honest here, I am a normal stay at home wife and mom that operates within a budget. It is not a part of my normal life to jetset around without my kids. Or jetset at all for that matter, kids or not. A trip to Hawaii is never in the budget. So how did it happen you ask? Well my husband was there for work. He is always saying how I should come with him on these trips but I live here in the real world knowing that it won't work out. But this time he was going in March over Spring Break, so I could leave the kids with family without having to worry about how they were going to get to school.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So the Hubs got me a ticket with frequent flier miles, he already had a hotel room and rental car through work and was getting per diem. So yeah I pretty much went to Hawaii for FREE!! HOLLA!!! But shush don't tell anyone because I kind of feel like I pulled a fast one and am just waiting for someone to tell me the I </span> <span style="font-size: large;">am not going to get off that lucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I was there for a week without children, and for a few hours during the work week my Hubs had to go to meetings. He said that he felt bad for leaving me all alone; but lets get real, I am the full time mother of three boys. I am never alone, I truly relished the time that I spent alone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used some of my free time to:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lay on the beach, and watch the people go by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Read a book....in peace without being interupted by "Mommy I need a drink"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I worked out in the Hotel gym, at my own pace without the hour and a half limit that my gym has at the daycare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed on the island of Oahu, down on Waikiki Beach. It was okay but it was a very touristy area so it was nice when we took a trip north to Kualoa Ranch to enjoy a horseback ride.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnVC0vX97r1Fu5xCr1Ln2My4iEfBknI0GQVU1HQpBfoQKGugnZbxjqKeoclSsFG0W3cWlChkweDATxC6s23s85p_9rF7VS5ELQ6E7jxnACMee_H27bEVRJtikUtG31hlxtl6p-OchCyWY/s1600/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnVC0vX97r1Fu5xCr1Ln2My4iEfBknI0GQVU1HQpBfoQKGugnZbxjqKeoclSsFG0W3cWlChkweDATxC6s23s85p_9rF7VS5ELQ6E7jxnACMee_H27bEVRJtikUtG31hlxtl6p-OchCyWY/s400/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The ranch was really cool. It is a 4000 acre ranch on the east side of the island. The ranch has been used to film a lot of movies like Godzilla, Jurassic Park, and 40 First Dates, just to name a few. The scenery was off the hook.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CmmvaWg7rWDY7oP7AxpU_iRUn_Uyqv6yPQ1dCMEIxJh0ZzRf8YJqcFCom_-_wzPJPoT00NNZKFo4NR9zHjoFxDBGkfwb1eOLR_VjIXEMgyZd99IIH6QBrskoWassXln-1G-5clcC7yfs/s1600/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CmmvaWg7rWDY7oP7AxpU_iRUn_Uyqv6yPQ1dCMEIxJh0ZzRf8YJqcFCom_-_wzPJPoT00NNZKFo4NR9zHjoFxDBGkfwb1eOLR_VjIXEMgyZd99IIH6QBrskoWassXln-1G-5clcC7yfs/s400/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We also climbed to the top of a volcano called Diamond Head.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf81nVUZlypZelHHMinnbVWLeSaIeV7v-0BVkfGGvU63-b2D7nOMsvxQugS84a5wketqYyvTpe39d183YVEH3aLOSRkdus9WquI39UP10lQbi7DeZ5jzHyHPoD73ao3wD1dQmkwH2Q6Ns/s1600/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf81nVUZlypZelHHMinnbVWLeSaIeV7v-0BVkfGGvU63-b2D7nOMsvxQugS84a5wketqYyvTpe39d183YVEH3aLOSRkdus9WquI39UP10lQbi7DeZ5jzHyHPoD73ao3wD1dQmkwH2Q6Ns/s400/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That was super fun and a really cool way to look down at Waikiki Beach.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj425oh2gukCV3-tJ6UwIsG2EELgAEYY-J3xCQ_6LGDfprVhhyphenhyphenTP6GIVQyweswOUuVGkMoi800OqGZHa7K0RqXJ1gt4PUV_i-qAJukSFk-VLFF1HyBKhZXBZZkzW1S1a8T6jn2Z21BozSzm/s1600/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj425oh2gukCV3-tJ6UwIsG2EELgAEYY-J3xCQ_6LGDfprVhhyphenhyphenTP6GIVQyweswOUuVGkMoi800OqGZHa7K0RqXJ1gt4PUV_i-qAJukSFk-VLFF1HyBKhZXBZZkzW1S1a8T6jn2Z21BozSzm/s400/hawaii+and+boy+scouts+056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Look mom I can see my hotel from here!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyhow, we also went and visited the Pearl Harbor memorial. But ding dong me forgot my camera so, I guess if you want to see pictures of that you will have to Google it. I am sure that there are plenty of images out there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was an interesting and sobering reminder of the cruelty that we as humans can inflict upon one another. But also a stark reminder of the bravery and compassion that we can also display. But mostly it made me think of my Grandpa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There was lots of shopping and eating, and maybe a little bit of adult beveraging. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All in all it was a great time. I feel so blessed to have been able to spend alone time with my best friend, and reconnect with him the way it was before kids, and mortgages, and soccer practice etc. I just keep finding myself dreaming of the next time that we get to get away!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So how about you, have you gone anywhere exciting recently? Have you been to Hawaii and can't wait to get back? Or are you looking forward to a trip? I would love to hear about it!</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-1048202546567328692012-04-11T08:05:00.000-07:002012-04-11T08:05:27.278-07:00Greetings!!<span style="font-size: large;">Greetings my friends from somewhere off the face of the planet where I evidentally fell off to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Actually I took a break from the electronic world during Lent. I took a break to evaluate the things that are taking up my time to see if they are important to me still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The thing that I found out is that blogging is an important outlet for me and quite frankly I missed you guys. You have no idea how happy it makes my to receive comments from you my friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even though you probably didn't receive them I was blogging in my head the whole time...no kidding!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also missed seeing what the rest of you were up too. But I am happy to say that I am back and could not be more excited.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There were some significant things that happened in the last month that I will be sharing with you:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. I hosted a 1 year cancer survival party for my brother in law. It turned out great and I made some cute and inexpensive table decorations that I want to tell you about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. The family spent a lot of time on Pinewood Derby cars for Cub Scouts. I have 3 boys and this will be a part of my life for the foreseeable future, so it is kind of a big deal. I am happy to report that we had 3 winning cars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. I turned 32. Not much to say about that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. I went to HAWAII!! I have never been and I was so excited. I got to go childless and spent some much needed alone time with the Hubs!! I will tell you all about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. I did the Daniel Fast for Lent. This had a big impact on how I live my life. I also had a sabbatical from the internets, but I already mentioned that. I will be telling you all about it and what I learned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. I also got a little crafty and decorating for spring and I cannot wait to show you what I have been up to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. I have been spring cleaning like a mad women.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. Finally I worked out like a mad women. Not much to say about that either.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgat3dvGY6tz-0kZAMnVv7T1On1b5jK6VcvJWCTG_Pn-PmrR7ON2B7ifMqN24BK1wKmPuP-s2slfNSa1RucY4gcE3q1xkFUtmlVbVJ43Gke3EyDAfqaMMpVm4_oaUY8rzfVdYCa2gxTVKJ/s1600/pinewood+and+luau+188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgat3dvGY6tz-0kZAMnVv7T1On1b5jK6VcvJWCTG_Pn-PmrR7ON2B7ifMqN24BK1wKmPuP-s2slfNSa1RucY4gcE3q1xkFUtmlVbVJ43Gke3EyDAfqaMMpVm4_oaUY8rzfVdYCa2gxTVKJ/s640/pinewood+and+luau+188.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am so glad to be back and I plan to spend a few hours catching up with you guys today. So did I miss anything huge in the blogospere? Anything on your blogs that I must see? Let me know so I won't miss it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Sunny</em></span>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-36639015173980048932012-02-29T11:20:00.001-08:002012-02-29T11:20:28.259-08:00Bathroom Update!!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello world...I am back!!! And I am so excited to be rejoining the cyber world. I think that I actually have a headache from blog/pinterest withdrawl. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am a little ashamed to tell you that I didn't make it as far as I thought that I would on the basement bathroom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if you watch Jersey Shore or not but they have a saying on that show that is something along the lines on "time to G.T.L" which stands for Gym. Tan. Laundry. well around my world it is Gym. Dishes. Laundry. So I have been very busy with the usual mom stuff, time spent at the gym, and cleaning...unfortunately that hasn't left a great deal of time for the bathroom. Plus I am not sure exactly how I feel about it so I am living with it for a while. I may need to make some tweaks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The good news is that the Hubs likes it... so that is step number one!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5PYYYnBtmNTQ1qg9ML1Zy9wnwJPBNztJfY_B_yfV9wlAnez-AUhrZS49MOxmpf09J_u75z1SoS98nXn-7ygtQqMaYttsDUP4lwwtww9QJuA6dfdWe7jyqcNr7W5ObNN59fmQTMqbiBrx/s1600/brown+tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5PYYYnBtmNTQ1qg9ML1Zy9wnwJPBNztJfY_B_yfV9wlAnez-AUhrZS49MOxmpf09J_u75z1SoS98nXn-7ygtQqMaYttsDUP4lwwtww9QJuA6dfdWe7jyqcNr7W5ObNN59fmQTMqbiBrx/s640/brown+tree+1.jpg" uda="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is what I am ultimately wanting.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMLy3qykAN3dR6mrQi384QWzMEe8Vsu5uEDHceL9Sj89Q0CprZepSsQQU0Ir41sDsADX2gkr6v5FgSlMCbTkKYQE2HazvH3vLnVPH50W7XBd97Ah7K8yYb1EF-dHymgne_72R4MQkupea/s1600/contrast+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMLy3qykAN3dR6mrQi384QWzMEe8Vsu5uEDHceL9Sj89Q0CprZepSsQQU0Ir41sDsADX2gkr6v5FgSlMCbTkKYQE2HazvH3vLnVPH50W7XBd97Ah7K8yYb1EF-dHymgne_72R4MQkupea/s640/contrast+brown.jpg" uda="true" width="475" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">I started by selecting an Eddie Bauer color from Lowe's called Labrador. I thought that I had asked for the paint plus primer...but when I went back to pick it up it was just regular Valspar paint. I didn't want to make a big fuss so I took it. The problem being that when you tint paint so dark it really lowers its coverage abilities. BOO! So I had to do two (in some places three) coats. That includes cutting in...so it took a while. But I LOVE the color. When I originally painted it brown I really knew that it should have been dark chocolate but I got scare to go so dark so I wimped out and went with a watered down milk chocolate and I was never happy with it. It looked horrible with the wood work and was just a bad choice...the good news is that I finally have the right brown and it looks soooooo good! Yay!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeVMjdZkGMHddCSfncTffqrMn2z3zTaTOAR1YolHaFZ8BHn2peaJv-sU6w3JlULQ4Ds3stccRhMPgdARQPqPj-pmiPR9HDQqEo7GQgdP-H5vo8gNvU73w5xRhAQPIDAm8Ln8b2O5uW9Km/s1600/brown+trim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeVMjdZkGMHddCSfncTffqrMn2z3zTaTOAR1YolHaFZ8BHn2peaJv-sU6w3JlULQ4Ds3stccRhMPgdARQPqPj-pmiPR9HDQqEo7GQgdP-H5vo8gNvU73w5xRhAQPIDAm8Ln8b2O5uW9Km/s640/brown+trim.jpg" uda="true" width="476" /></a></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't you just love it? Well I do!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfNZRaVud9yzeEHzDYYhs_VSfOqQ9ewY05YpTJVSuB6_I27ku0guKyVwbZtxB7nTtbrmIz4TpBEiyM-GTT5hLnSlpDROIf-wOk2ODiO9si9I6oGrRnAu3u6qeo7ivfE6-o1ok8zVlK3-M/s1600/Jonas+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfNZRaVud9yzeEHzDYYhs_VSfOqQ9ewY05YpTJVSuB6_I27ku0guKyVwbZtxB7nTtbrmIz4TpBEiyM-GTT5hLnSlpDROIf-wOk2ODiO9si9I6oGrRnAu3u6qeo7ivfE6-o1ok8zVlK3-M/s640/Jonas+painting.jpg" uda="true" width="476" /></a></div><br />
<div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes!! I do believe in child labor. Actually there is something about painting that children are fascinated with...my boys are like a moth to a flame. I wish I shared their enthusiasm!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh50gPaMSDD9bVLIl7TMmGhsVRtOHqL_oTcz50EnOE5D83Ti6tsVxyuAPCf_rzbohJnSubuO7-RIHuese8Ue5lW6-UwfWJb-a6iQ7MJ2Le7IkT5ivUVa1LAGTiGIH03TFPCm-ohk9viRSN/s1600/brown+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh50gPaMSDD9bVLIl7TMmGhsVRtOHqL_oTcz50EnOE5D83Ti6tsVxyuAPCf_rzbohJnSubuO7-RIHuese8Ue5lW6-UwfWJb-a6iQ7MJ2Le7IkT5ivUVa1LAGTiGIH03TFPCm-ohk9viRSN/s640/brown+trees.jpg" uda="true" width="476" /></a></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">After I got done with the brown I got out some of my artist brushes and some off white paint plus primer and painted a few trees. I think that for this step it is super important that you use paint plus primer, just for the coverage needs. Especially white over brown, you wouldn't want to have to go over the lines several times.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: large;">At first I was unsure how I felt about it so I have been giving it a few days to marinate, I think that I like it so I think that I will continue. I know that I said that I was going to stencil the trees, but I never found a stencil that I loved. Plus the ones that were decent were a lot of $$$$. So since I have experience with painting I thought that I would just save my money and try it myself. I figured that if I couldn't pull it off I could always paint over it and order a stencil. But now that I have tried it I am glad that I choose not to get a stencil.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what do you think? Have you done any wall muralling? If so I would love to hear about it. Am I the only one who is so excited about "springing up" the house. I think that we are going to get a whole new spring/summer look!!!</span></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-71169731745249675122012-02-17T11:36:00.001-08:002012-02-17T11:36:51.928-08:00Technical Difficulties.So here at The Home Place we are experiencing so technical difficulties. <br />
Sad Face!<br />
Anyhow I will keep working on it, and Operation Birch Bathroom and hopefully get an update soon.<br />
If you are wondering, I am blogging with my phone. Cause we are high tech!! <br />
Do you love how I keep referring to "we" like I have a team of computer experts working around the clock to solve the problem? Yeah, it's just me. <br />
Since a post without pictures is sad here is a little something from my phone.<br />
Who doesn't need a little light saber action on a Friday?<br />
Have a great day!<br />
Sunny<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrXW0smIe7jEGqlrF89Zcbwyv3Z6-wJFtvA5YHb8igOHj-hXXLaRS7aDaKvwkqPMrW-YbWU4HC4gJkem6xVa1ZiGwGd-olDDbbIHhVcLWLK_JpqXJPO36TOD7OL8GjmnSZP4BsxkNjNYD/s640/blogger-image--427420906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrXW0smIe7jEGqlrF89Zcbwyv3Z6-wJFtvA5YHb8igOHj-hXXLaRS7aDaKvwkqPMrW-YbWU4HC4gJkem6xVa1ZiGwGd-olDDbbIHhVcLWLK_JpqXJPO36TOD7OL8GjmnSZP4BsxkNjNYD/s640/blogger-image--427420906.jpg" /></a></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-65934904605785373502012-02-15T15:55:00.000-08:002012-02-15T15:55:13.252-08:00I Am SOOOO Excited.<span style="font-size: large;">So my kids and I are off from school for the next two days...AND...Monday is Presidents day...SO...if you are doing the math, that equals 5 days off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Can I just say HOLLA!!!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So you will have to tune in over the next few days because Operation Birch Bathroom commences tomorrow. YAY!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADKx33rUGX9gqfYDld-J8M22I5JSvDybRvMJqDEWDG6hviXlGe6ESEu58zZtv-7ghgqscpmVuklIGx_uWVrBCMkMaJ1140vTaNaxxhG2B3S3n_eKS8HyLNnRBDUdjajkdTuhpBTHe4VtP/s1600/brown+tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADKx33rUGX9gqfYDld-J8M22I5JSvDybRvMJqDEWDG6hviXlGe6ESEu58zZtv-7ghgqscpmVuklIGx_uWVrBCMkMaJ1140vTaNaxxhG2B3S3n_eKS8HyLNnRBDUdjajkdTuhpBTHe4VtP/s320/brown+tree+1.jpg" width="240" yda="true" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">I am just so excited that I am finally getting some time to play in a little paint.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So tell me, what kind of projects are you working on? Are you looking forward to enjoying a long weekend? Have you ever stenciled?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have to admit that I am a little nervous...wish me luck.</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-22439442928786494282012-02-14T10:25:00.000-08:002012-02-15T19:24:54.463-08:00Not Exactly What I Was Thinking...<span style="font-size: large;">So do you remember the other day when I was <strike>whining about</strike> discussing my mantel and how I didn't know what to do with it in this in between season? </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULvsFqaA2m2wdKN2r3qEAcJLafsgTTIb6CElsQ_CC1oh3moqTS3uylWsF1VXJSHCBbR6hFWNi04Mh4o7UkEeGCzucyNyvZ0e8-asKKh7Ku55o65HmggiA1COR0AJ5syVt7ijPjBRRbpSf/s1600/Cuteness+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULvsFqaA2m2wdKN2r3qEAcJLafsgTTIb6CElsQ_CC1oh3moqTS3uylWsF1VXJSHCBbR6hFWNi04Mh4o7UkEeGCzucyNyvZ0e8-asKKh7Ku55o65HmggiA1COR0AJ5syVt7ijPjBRRbpSf/s640/Cuteness+003.JPG" width="426" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well this last weekend my Hubby did a little redecorating of the fireplace...and I am not sure that this is what I had in mind for the mantel...</span><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UrvloTr_EAfCq4VZKDduf-yMErpaeQEFxv5A3U7qsonsicZeVH8EBwdcBvm0U9f8Hg-Fhj4UktYDT7mgfD1krLVNQ6rWbG-JkJA0RqS4QfMEtOpUqJRzn5e0-LSTiIuv2WEwNqak1Qb5/s1600/jerk+proj+sausage+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UrvloTr_EAfCq4VZKDduf-yMErpaeQEFxv5A3U7qsonsicZeVH8EBwdcBvm0U9f8Hg-Fhj4UktYDT7mgfD1krLVNQ6rWbG-JkJA0RqS4QfMEtOpUqJRzn5e0-LSTiIuv2WEwNqak1Qb5/s400/jerk+proj+sausage+056.JPG" width="400" yda="true" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Hmmm....Now I really don't know how to decorate the mantel. This guy is named Steve, and we just got him back from the taxidermist on Saturday. He is my husbands trophy from 2010. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDJclmiGooSeHzEFwHVU6_0ObxAmqyW3ze0SjmNbeS7SYD-oaP45ajXWFHfgysKB-luQ9Qg0IWyhHzJhUZ0FwiWgVNK3UmCCiG2fU7pC8P-rCh-UqCTLbLSIjDmAKhega7EZK0mSDvsM_/s1600/jerk+proj+sausage+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDJclmiGooSeHzEFwHVU6_0ObxAmqyW3ze0SjmNbeS7SYD-oaP45ajXWFHfgysKB-luQ9Qg0IWyhHzJhUZ0FwiWgVNK3UmCCiG2fU7pC8P-rCh-UqCTLbLSIjDmAKhega7EZK0mSDvsM_/s400/jerk+proj+sausage+057.JPG" width="400" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am happy that my husband is so happy, but Steve doesn't quite fill up the space...not to mention that it kinda lends toward a lodge look in my house (not exactly my thing). This is not Steves final resting place, he really lives in the man cave in the basement so in a few weeks he will be leaving. But the Husband is so proud that he just wanted to display him prominently for a while. Meanwhile, I just cannot help but chuckle to myself. I guess it is a small thing to make the Hubs happy...right!?!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever had to make any design sacrifices for the significant other? Are there any animal heads prominently displayed in your living room? Are you a fan of taxidermy? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day!!</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny.</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-40173673450860098222012-02-13T10:22:00.000-08:002012-02-13T10:22:54.172-08:00Look What I Found This Morning.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX2d_IlnxjIyleE4Mg2AwPxQWYD7UNPnWG_bc_z0T27KcZ3PeCqTZLIxsrJm4rOusztkkIxT0ZIy_Wat85ITqOC9oQXFb1qNqCt60GRLgYWmfjp62IA_2UTq7rar9m9lE2LFq0v5MdQDS/s1600/snow" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuX2d_IlnxjIyleE4Mg2AwPxQWYD7UNPnWG_bc_z0T27KcZ3PeCqTZLIxsrJm4rOusztkkIxT0ZIy_Wat85ITqOC9oQXFb1qNqCt60GRLgYWmfjp62IA_2UTq7rar9m9lE2LFq0v5MdQDS/s640/snow" width="478" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is what I found when I went outside this morning</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which made me very happy for what I bought last week.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK1yVVjZw16NpWiKee07jz6Vf9Svcr300fyCYneOXdvPRoyE1P0CcvAifQsAh7hNVQibFu2g8KSYteyb7zqf76OR764hIMdgkJMuT77D3T0-Ba_7BpJUn_BwBtGP-pnjQpnf-k5lkWF35/s1600/parka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK1yVVjZw16NpWiKee07jz6Vf9Svcr300fyCYneOXdvPRoyE1P0CcvAifQsAh7hNVQibFu2g8KSYteyb7zqf76OR764hIMdgkJMuT77D3T0-Ba_7BpJUn_BwBtGP-pnjQpnf-k5lkWF35/s320/parka.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.theskibum.com/Columbia-Whirlibird-Parka-Womens--Black-Plaid/PAOFIDOEKIPGFAJP/product">source</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is the Columbia Whirlibird Parka. It comes in many color options, but I got the black plaid. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have had the same Columbia coat for the last 11 years. I bought it in college and have loved the way that it has performed. But like most things I don't still like the same things that I liked 11 years ago. So the past couple of years I have been wanting a new one, I knew that I wanted a dark color (my last one was sage green with light gray accents) I just couldn't find the perfect one. Until this year I found the one shown above...it was the perfect one!! I found it in the black Friday sale ads and I SOOOO wanted it. The problem was that spending $200 on a coat just before Christmas didn't seem like the most responsible thing for me to do. So I waited...I thought maybe Santa would bring it for me, but no. Don't get me wrong I totally got spoiled, I got a new DSLR, table saw, and miter saw. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So all through the month of January I lusted after the perfect coat, I wanted it so bad...but I didn't need it. Then last week I was having an exceptionally bad day when I walked into a sporting goods store and there it was...my coat in my size....on SALE!!! It was thirty percent off and it was the last one. I quickly called the Hubs (knowing full well that I would be leaving the store with that coat) and of course he said yes!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It all seemed so perfect...like it had been a part of a divine plan, and that got me thinking. There are a lot of times that I want something really bad for my home, and it used to feel so painful to have to wait to get it. Sometimes I feel like I will never get all of the things that I want....but here it what I have realized. I always get what I want, I just have to be patient. My entire life I have always mystically been provided for. It doesn't always come in the time that I think that it should, but I always get it. The best part is that I usually get it at a bargain simply because I am willing to wait. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So does that ever happen to you? You find the exact thing that you have been wanting at the exact moment that you are able to obtain it?$$$ Have you been lusting after anything lately? Or have you recently gotten something that you had to wait a little while for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day...I think that I am going to not do house work and just take a nap with the little man on this snowy day.</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-65058085632728754122012-02-02T12:36:00.000-08:002012-02-02T12:36:39.962-08:00House Hunters<span style="font-size: large;">Ok... maybe it is just me but I kinda think that HGTV should change their name to House Hunters TV. I feel like everytime I turn that channel on it is always House Hunters. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong I like that show, and in college I used to watch it a lot. But there comes a point when it is a little much right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been watching HGTV since I was like 17...which was only like last week. Just kidding ;) But it used to be that there was shows about gardening, and crafting, and decorating and I could watch for hours. (By the way did I mention that I have been obsessed with all things home for ever?) But now I would be totally set if I were say house hunting in Barcelona, or California. I got a house I want to see new and cool things to do with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wish that they would bring back some of the other things. Like gardening would be good. I totally need help with the gardening thing. More Candice, Sarah, Genevieve...more delicious interiors.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="97" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4b350pP7m3v1vMUc4zPcZvApH64m1AmEDsVqdMxWuqGowCrxOuWAsMBaU0p6yzmCJYUoaSwF1jacjD-AhRHkh8R2r4dyYqd26MediOAnjD5VAafUq4zmPcUioFtzhWEvqDO_pKVftmQSh/s320/HouseHunters_showheader.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.pietown.tv/Shows/hh.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Source</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am in no way saying that they should take it away I still enjoy a nice House Hunters too, I just want a little more of other things.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So what say you? Do you think that the House Hunters has taken over, or do you think that it is just right? Do you secretly pretend that you are Sarah Richardson? No...thats just me? OK. Do you hate it when bloggers roll off on some strange tangent?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day!</span><br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-29013067340708616832012-01-31T11:19:00.000-08:002012-01-31T11:19:06.247-08:00I Am A Nerd!!<span style="font-size: large;">So...I am kind of a big nerd. I just accidentally subscribed to my own blog. And now I can't figure out how to unsubscribe. I thought that I was clicking to subscribe to a different blog...but nope it turns out that I was subscribing to myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I told my husband what I did and he said with grin on his face "well...that is one way to get new followers".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So now the question to you is...do you know how to take myself off my follower list? Or do I have to look like a nerd forever?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anywho...I hope that you are all having a great day! Have a little chuckle at my expense, I can take it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Sunny</em></span>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-36469006297144353042012-01-26T07:06:00.000-08:002012-02-06T09:30:26.192-08:00$5 Table Runner<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have been down for the count the past couple of days with a cold, but before that happened I had planned to share my new table runner.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I find this weird season between Christmas and Spring is a little difficult time to decorate<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Everything feels cold...probably because it is dark and cold outside. </span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So after Christmas I wanted to find a new table runner. The problem; because there just always has to be a problem, is that standard table runners that I find are just too dinky. They are neither long nor wide enough. I have only found one ready made runner that has been the dimensions that I wanted and that was from Pottery Barn...which is three hours away, and usually not in the budget. So I find my self making my own.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So here is what I did:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YjpDKrvgUU9c-W1WXukMcl63gD195BofdcCjHPnIx6lD_EW5iHrY9AUaa7v6t8PEoIGII3s_AVTFjyA5cm0Jk-P8c-sJqZ67mITDBQBsbGLNDPwvLsjMgjdUyfZEKupVTU7oSVS4JOr9/s1600/2012+goals+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YjpDKrvgUU9c-W1WXukMcl63gD195BofdcCjHPnIx6lD_EW5iHrY9AUaa7v6t8PEoIGII3s_AVTFjyA5cm0Jk-P8c-sJqZ67mITDBQBsbGLNDPwvLsjMgjdUyfZEKupVTU7oSVS4JOr9/s400/2012+goals+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First I went bargain shopping and found a curtain panel on clearance that had the look of burlap. The nice thing about making a runner out of a curtain panel is that it is plenty long enough and wide enough to make two table runners. The bonus of this particular panel was that it was only $10, (originally $40, woot woot) and like I said I have enough to make another table runner too. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AvWroOfXIWD7nUjuTJKccxR15U9gK7FOUTRIf1O-M3Rmirqtt0GvTlZJAW1CBUmm_7M23-BKavHEN-0AIREI0hyX7MfZo5fQyg0z2vQc1J7OswC_tzDg3-vkx4-0yGm13p5bh0vpRZiB/s1600/2012+goals+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AvWroOfXIWD7nUjuTJKccxR15U9gK7FOUTRIf1O-M3Rmirqtt0GvTlZJAW1CBUmm_7M23-BKavHEN-0AIREI0hyX7MfZo5fQyg0z2vQc1J7OswC_tzDg3-vkx4-0yGm13p5bh0vpRZiB/s400/2012+goals+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I cut off the existing hems and the top, I could have saved some fabric and used a seam ripper...but I hate ripping out seams it makes me want to rip out my hair. So it was just worth it to me to just cut them off. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Then I simple cut the panel in half lengthwise. This took some time to make sure that I was cutting straight and exactly in half but overall pretty painless.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">So I had a small amount of fabric left over from making some throw pillows and I added it too the ends of the curtain panel runner.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonEPlbzJEir3r7ObHE3m2nI_FETvf8SHOOOCSfhGPFfhvnK3rOiOWAaqeyaqo2ROSFJWGUSSbSycq5WbBc_Nehi03EyLy74MMh2R5Tv-kzq62O4pFHuKqbnm6IYtPh1GB7_WSxHPY2TmV/s1600/2012+goals+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonEPlbzJEir3r7ObHE3m2nI_FETvf8SHOOOCSfhGPFfhvnK3rOiOWAaqeyaqo2ROSFJWGUSSbSycq5WbBc_Nehi03EyLy74MMh2R5Tv-kzq62O4pFHuKqbnm6IYtPh1GB7_WSxHPY2TmV/s400/2012+goals+006.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAr1a8A4MpVvBbX470C33T2mpf29GPK-YizmctPepWQDS1S3vWqryNXpexxDQuIXaAlRGUrykNeW0QhR9yVySDUPWNmFN8A4arW-l8j9t7UV1gyQCZLoVpijtbTipSFYnbgTiXLSeMa-N/s1600/2012+goals+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAr1a8A4MpVvBbX470C33T2mpf29GPK-YizmctPepWQDS1S3vWqryNXpexxDQuIXaAlRGUrykNeW0QhR9yVySDUPWNmFN8A4arW-l8j9t7UV1gyQCZLoVpijtbTipSFYnbgTiXLSeMa-N/s400/2012+goals+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I used a simple straight stitch and hemmed all the way around. Ran an iron over it, and Voila!! Table runner that coordinates with my living room! Yay.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfpY75u-qit2hzaTA3E7xEdm_6Op2SfydtvMSnwN7YReMBkZIrRnPcP5bplyOFg0efgtsNNluxdNpRpAVM5A7plm798b7Yt5rrr8DoDc1vHzzwwaWBo0Ls_jjvwKEeruUGZG-b0y3_tsF/s1600/table+runner+and+hubsboys+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfpY75u-qit2hzaTA3E7xEdm_6Op2SfydtvMSnwN7YReMBkZIrRnPcP5bplyOFg0efgtsNNluxdNpRpAVM5A7plm798b7Yt5rrr8DoDc1vHzzwwaWBo0Ls_jjvwKEeruUGZG-b0y3_tsF/s400/table+runner+and+hubsboys+003.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8_5twypFGdBvlXkLcFZAoaGpFOPuiWWuAiEEPa5FgoYpsJZLRz1ApB_AsLOX9Gos5tXlS-1nF5DPz6bGMS43CEUdeirFg87BzWAas4wv3Buk4wCuYZlSjQWuUKWbsIX9AhBDg1zn5dxz/s1600/table+runner+and+hubsboys+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8_5twypFGdBvlXkLcFZAoaGpFOPuiWWuAiEEPa5FgoYpsJZLRz1ApB_AsLOX9Gos5tXlS-1nF5DPz6bGMS43CEUdeirFg87BzWAas4wv3Buk4wCuYZlSjQWuUKWbsIX9AhBDg1zn5dxz/s400/table+runner+and+hubsboys+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The only thing left that I need was some new chargers. I find that if I use chargers then my boys have less of a chance to muck my runner all up. I like plastic ones so that I can easily clean them like 37 times a day. By the way little boys are messy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoATlOJKRzEC7xilkOvuCAGTdQAFtMO2OSp59OUDRCzVVQtjl6il8RlO3l3FxE_CmFlKhMMi6k1O-oAwbIsPj1HcbZeqrFFFGRd9XB5Vk4wSLYjCw-xaTFouhuwVLsLimc7wixmLVm4IT/s1600/table+runner+and+hubsboys+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoATlOJKRzEC7xilkOvuCAGTdQAFtMO2OSp59OUDRCzVVQtjl6il8RlO3l3FxE_CmFlKhMMi6k1O-oAwbIsPj1HcbZeqrFFFGRd9XB5Vk4wSLYjCw-xaTFouhuwVLsLimc7wixmLVm4IT/s320/table+runner+and+hubsboys+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I found these awesome faux bois plastic chargers at Pier One. They are rocking my world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I really like how it all turned out. Not too fussy just right, I kinda need less fuss after the Christmas storm blows through my house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">So what are you up to? Got any simple sewing projects going on? This one was sooo easy I literally completed it from start to finish in the time it took the hubs to cook dinner...HOLLA!</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I posted this to:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.brassyapple.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/mycreations/Blog/makeitmondaylogo.jpg" /></a>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-79926544411100283272012-01-19T17:39:00.000-08:002012-01-19T17:39:04.549-08:00I want to stencil...I have two bathrooms that I have been dying to change. Well actually I have been dying to change all three of the bathrooms in my house. All three are on the to-do list for this year, but I only want to stencil in two of them. Okay... the actual number of bathrooms that get stenciled ultimately depends on the ease or difficulty of the process. I may find that I love the monotonous work of stencilling in which case they may all get it, then again I may find that I hate and stop immediately and paint over it. Nevertheless I have big ideas.<br />
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I think that I want to start in the basement bathroom. This room is also the laundry room and crafting room. The fact that I primarily craft in there is kind of funny because really there is no work space and no supplies in there, but I always find my self working in there on top of the dryer(?) so I really want it to look great.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiYGlhAQ3hMusLrfp3TcFXbiFG2ocru4_1s0goRFgKk0-c5MQva15u37KvtS3kdWLsPqI_3uubQeTQboGKDx-6bXMdCRkkJXQvG2Eme9o_NDTpCh6ZVK-wkKdT_aGgg2FIw951wg0afWb/s1600/christmas+clean+up+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiYGlhAQ3hMusLrfp3TcFXbiFG2ocru4_1s0goRFgKk0-c5MQva15u37KvtS3kdWLsPqI_3uubQeTQboGKDx-6bXMdCRkkJXQvG2Eme9o_NDTpCh6ZVK-wkKdT_aGgg2FIw951wg0afWb/s400/christmas+clean+up+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I told the husband that I wanted to redo the laundry room and I got that "seriously!" look, so I don't know if he is going to love this or not (actually I know that he won't but he pretty much let me do what I want). The reason that he doesn't want me to mess with the laundry room is because I have repainted that room like 3 time and I have changed the flooring once. But the flooring needed to go, we had ugly blue berber carpet....in a bathroom...and a laundry room...who does that? We replaced it with tile that I still love. I picked a light brown that really looked nice with the tile but when I got it up it made the trim look horrible. I wanted to paint the trim but my husband said "no, you can't paint wood". Why do men say this? I mean it is wood...its not like I want to paint over 24 karat gold. Whatever. I needed to find a happy median that we could both be happy with.<br />
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So here is my plan:<br />
I plan to go dark chocolate brown. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BZC-v6oTlxdCVFQ03kuYmum5LcxsfE_4JtURj9QvrCP3noFyEwtkiQrbJLR5kxwaQ_wiCN-VIAyXVkpic5tbWjQCiQsDmHSle2Tgt4FivyZG16ptPvhChy_XFdjSdI0Lj66Y5rUquXxE/s1600/brown+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BZC-v6oTlxdCVFQ03kuYmum5LcxsfE_4JtURj9QvrCP3noFyEwtkiQrbJLR5kxwaQ_wiCN-VIAyXVkpic5tbWjQCiQsDmHSle2Tgt4FivyZG16ptPvhChy_XFdjSdI0Lj66Y5rUquXxE/s400/brown+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I know that it seems like that will make my laundry room look like a cave but I think that in the end I will add enough light accents that the light/dark ration will really work well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hVATZeEtfG-srQtDeszhhXaGiUG7MRVBqRutUMh5RNNQEipuLCCW3qcaeOxp-IwjFv1F8em_OGSmw45Nqll0DhHPG254okrAdTZ3y3hrLRUhoZYvyjAEFBcutt6Ce5K61yWSLdXQEjTY/s400/brown+2.jpg" width="400" /></div> <a href="http://www.zgallerie.com/c-34-drapery-panels.aspx">source</a><br />
Then once the walls are deep chocolate brown I want to add a stencil on top just to make it a little more graphic and cool!<br />
This is what I had in mind:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADKx33rUGX9gqfYDld-J8M22I5JSvDybRvMJqDEWDG6hviXlGe6ESEu58zZtv-7ghgqscpmVuklIGx_uWVrBCMkMaJ1140vTaNaxxhG2B3S3n_eKS8HyLNnRBDUdjajkdTuhpBTHe4VtP/s1600/brown+tree+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADKx33rUGX9gqfYDld-J8M22I5JSvDybRvMJqDEWDG6hviXlGe6ESEu58zZtv-7ghgqscpmVuklIGx_uWVrBCMkMaJ1140vTaNaxxhG2B3S3n_eKS8HyLNnRBDUdjajkdTuhpBTHe4VtP/s320/brown+tree+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This is actually wallpaper...but it is like $200 a roll...and...that isn't happening! So I have found some stencils that replicate this look, and they are only $60.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq8AO2DWVlSa_RdM1TPul81n8cV8vMdm-xEor8fY5OQlSa9jfHvcji17G1jsgcCOGllcLk1l5yTwikVRNMP78TJyBGUaXJO_FHJ3Dcilk7t2iTkHiGfNO0EqIQlGu1ayMTqUV-oD43vrP/s400/brown+tree+2.jpg" width="345" /></div> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/65818003/stencil-for-walls-silver-birches-allover?ref=sr_gallery_2&sref=&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=birch+tree+stencil&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=">source</a><br />
I think that it would look really cool and graphic if the back ground was choc brown and the trees were off white. What do you think?<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I also saw where a professional faux painter hand painted one, and that looks really great too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXCg9iumkpmx-U37y2Xvfxd7f6MNdEloC4Mc557N8yB4tzqkeiapmpjFW3KGuOM3X2LzpgSwlAZ8C4wNL6Yoov0DuqgUAt3nYE1bo1I-nNuhvahCEX6VT_5E5JF2A7WM5L9W19DMPhyphenhyphen3V/s1600/brown+tree+4.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXCg9iumkpmx-U37y2Xvfxd7f6MNdEloC4Mc557N8yB4tzqkeiapmpjFW3KGuOM3X2LzpgSwlAZ8C4wNL6Yoov0DuqgUAt3nYE1bo1I-nNuhvahCEX6VT_5E5JF2A7WM5L9W19DMPhyphenhyphen3V/s400/brown+tree+4.bmp" width="266" /></a></div> <a href="http://paintit.typepad.com/painter_girl/murals/">source</a><br />
I have a lot of experience painting, so I totally think that I could pull this off. The question is how long would it take? I don't want this to turn into a long drawn out process....so?<br />
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I also saw where another blogger had done some in her bedroom using an overhead projector...that is an idea!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqUwfGN-qGVEG3bJVSD78o1VyUYg8ilyMOeu45Gr3Sd3yyR2iV_LCGn1PXbnRd2glC7mibNo56po2Zrb3qLJoTlvOFcVROA2OQI7PIMgimq1Oof3ZVydZEE8M84mVsoxQEb6wBr7Rqk91/s1600/brown+tree+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqUwfGN-qGVEG3bJVSD78o1VyUYg8ilyMOeu45Gr3Sd3yyR2iV_LCGn1PXbnRd2glC7mibNo56po2Zrb3qLJoTlvOFcVROA2OQI7PIMgimq1Oof3ZVydZEE8M84mVsoxQEb6wBr7Rqk91/s400/brown+tree+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenloveskev/3653262855/">source</a><br />
So that is kind of the short term plan for my basement bathroom/laundry room...what do you think?<br />
Have you ever stenciled? Do you like the idea of trees on the wall, or is it done already? Are you contemplating a bathroom remodel? <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Have a great Friday!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Sunny</em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-90912384246492029312012-01-17T12:03:00.000-08:002012-01-17T12:03:16.116-08:00Word of the Year<a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/word-of-the-year-link-party-2012/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheLetteredCottage+%28The+Lettered+Cottage%29"><span style="font-size: large;">Layla</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> wrote a post about her word of the year. If you are unaware, the word of the year is a word that sums up your goals for the year. It is fitting that you choose a word of the year at the beginning of the year versus in the middle or at the end, I think that it keeps you focused. I guess that it is a lot like a resolution, but maybe more abstract and manageable.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I got to thinking about what I wanted my word of the year to be...I only had one that came to mind. So here it is, are you ready?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Achieve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think that I always strive to achieve to be better, but this year that word has more meaning. I want to achieve to be a better blogger, a better photographer, mother, I want to set goals and achieve them. Isn't it a great word?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last few years I have been busy being a mother. The only thing that I was trying to achieve was to make it to the end of the day. Not this year. This is the year that I become more. I really hope that you enjoy the ride, there is going a lot going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have also made it a goal to run a marathon this year. This is something that I really want to achieve. I feel like the world is my oyster, I just need to dream it and then achieve it!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlgYVHrMRfzZH2mAGoNfBkYhgRLVKfNEMD3E3-imHLSUYyDmpjGRm9a9UODEiPiG7iHhyphenhyphen_j3u5nlVfE5CsI5lpuMMofIjbxy2YIoLgB_R_LH22c-cesJEn4ftCqNC1lBjqIaeI243P7AU/s1600/achieve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDlgYVHrMRfzZH2mAGoNfBkYhgRLVKfNEMD3E3-imHLSUYyDmpjGRm9a9UODEiPiG7iHhyphenhyphen_j3u5nlVfE5CsI5lpuMMofIjbxy2YIoLgB_R_LH22c-cesJEn4ftCqNC1lBjqIaeI243P7AU/s1600/achieve.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.danimcgrath.com/imagine-believe-now-how-can-i-help-you-achieve"><span style="font-size: large;">source</span></a><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">Sunny</span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I linked up to:</span><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/word-of-the-year-link-party-2012" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Linky%20Buttons/This_Little_Word_Of_Mine_2012.jpg" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /></a></div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-62414951916194201022012-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:00:11.672-08:00Home Goals 2012So I am not much for making "Goals" for my home. I am kind of a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl, but the Nester is having a Home Goals link party so I thought that I would throw together a list of things that I would really like to do this year. (Disclaimer: This list is by no means all inclusive of the things that I will actually do, inversely this list may not be realistic as far as what I can actually accomplish.)<br />
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</div>1. I would like to redecorate/renovate all the bathrooms in my house. We are talking 3 of them so now is a good time to refer to the disclaimer if you missed it!.<br />
My master bathroom will take the most time and money, but it REALLY needs it. We have carpet in the bathroom......UGH! I know so gross...Don't judge me!! I didn't do it, it was like that when I bought it. Though I have lived here a while and haven't changed it. But I have been having/raising babies and it was not high enough on the priority list. Maybe this is the year. Who puts carpet in the bathroom? GROSS!!<br />
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2. I want to get this house organized. DUH! Doesn't everyone have this on their list? Pretty sure they do. I am no exception. To my defense, my house has like NO storage. Aside from the attic(which is like a giant pain in the booty) and a couple of small closets I got nothin'. So this year I want to figure it out and make it look nicer, and make it function better.<br />
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3. Here is the big one. I have to get all new siding done on the house. OUCH!! The estimate is around $21,000 I don't know about you but I don't just have that laying around. So that is going to be big! The good news is that I get to have the whole house repainted!! Yay for new paint colors. And finally I get to repaint the front door a cuter color. It is currently blue....not my bag but whatever.<br />
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There are a few other things that I would like to accomplish, and obviously little crafty awesomeness! But I am actually getting a little overwhelmed now looking at the task list in black and white. Moving on! Pictures!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiYGlhAQ3hMusLrfp3TcFXbiFG2ocru4_1s0goRFgKk0-c5MQva15u37KvtS3kdWLsPqI_3uubQeTQboGKDx-6bXMdCRkkJXQvG2Eme9o_NDTpCh6ZVK-wkKdT_aGgg2FIw951wg0afWb/s1600/christmas+clean+up+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiYGlhAQ3hMusLrfp3TcFXbiFG2ocru4_1s0goRFgKk0-c5MQva15u37KvtS3kdWLsPqI_3uubQeTQboGKDx-6bXMdCRkkJXQvG2Eme9o_NDTpCh6ZVK-wkKdT_aGgg2FIw951wg0afWb/s400/christmas+clean+up+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqYjYGxga7arUjvtaKM2XYLmZy0N0YQwqc4XiIL6IReRnpSArgdfyUigf7Ivv_N8G236GGLuJtIsh4gLOm_6T1jRyS7IeXC4rZ7sf72IlWocZyvFCWk4Vkf1KWdhUNKRmguuv9QUcgY2u/s1600/christmas+clean+up+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqYjYGxga7arUjvtaKM2XYLmZy0N0YQwqc4XiIL6IReRnpSArgdfyUigf7Ivv_N8G236GGLuJtIsh4gLOm_6T1jRyS7IeXC4rZ7sf72IlWocZyvFCWk4Vkf1KWdhUNKRmguuv9QUcgY2u/s320/christmas+clean+up+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Basement bathroom/laundry room. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu1aBaNyjUpukRqjEaD3EunROdiXd21flkXmJ_LqCi2NL4wb1MZcg7ElN-PgUenTROV4BBDQhQSpWvWbxDBqsevtc0AxaS9DepjiH2NxQkCCexnr7dkY3Pm5ejNz4PearvnPt5O1UKk5K/s1600/2012+goals+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu1aBaNyjUpukRqjEaD3EunROdiXd21flkXmJ_LqCi2NL4wb1MZcg7ElN-PgUenTROV4BBDQhQSpWvWbxDBqsevtc0AxaS9DepjiH2NxQkCCexnr7dkY3Pm5ejNz4PearvnPt5O1UKk5K/s400/2012+goals+005.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI7B8LfebS2_LMe25-yLYcWoveQNtDQfza0e40WuTI44jzHT6vEyDZ-edOVmL8T5EYtyenPPSIfN8PLLTC4Lg5x2JiAgQn0MqjrNJbe1rhmTbQcUwsNRh6JNq9E862T_IUKNY09aoc-p8/s1600/2012+goals+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI7B8LfebS2_LMe25-yLYcWoveQNtDQfza0e40WuTI44jzHT6vEyDZ-edOVmL8T5EYtyenPPSIfN8PLLTC4Lg5x2JiAgQn0MqjrNJbe1rhmTbQcUwsNRh6JNq9E862T_IUKNY09aoc-p8/s400/2012+goals+009.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> Master Bathroom...Don't judge me!! This is real life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnpSIetGeMct-QzufewC0zAv-ne6dA5IdWN6xyLGFJbqdqKBfGnQEXRtp1i5iUJC9hx3ZUa0zKvgpUdw6P0s2xkoSCzuRcdkdHM3tEb4rSiUVfEDcmlYnkjudaJK7WW8MrRB6m3xF7ts6/s1600/2012+goals+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnpSIetGeMct-QzufewC0zAv-ne6dA5IdWN6xyLGFJbqdqKBfGnQEXRtp1i5iUJC9hx3ZUa0zKvgpUdw6P0s2xkoSCzuRcdkdHM3tEb4rSiUVfEDcmlYnkjudaJK7WW8MrRB6m3xF7ts6/s400/2012+goals+011.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Boys bathroom...just needs to look cleaner, even if it is not!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy4dO0EicW4J7Hzdu9tyz1LruCUTPiYJLcoGtH8J2JEEexK5jTbwGcIXZbnMHEiidbKSQoyf2kkwJ_Djtt95XoD3iAvWIxkRypFCIEQHgOshu0LyVymGEi_0OtrQKWxON7et-BnG6pPQR/s1600/christmas+lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBy4dO0EicW4J7Hzdu9tyz1LruCUTPiYJLcoGtH8J2JEEexK5jTbwGcIXZbnMHEiidbKSQoyf2kkwJ_Djtt95XoD3iAvWIxkRypFCIEQHgOshu0LyVymGEi_0OtrQKWxON7et-BnG6pPQR/s400/christmas+lights.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8IIXwUMYrmxSUWxoNM8CP1b7LBo8ZfUzdF-ZT0-71s-WG9junk3ra3hd25qtyC2XJwWlHiUnk_FFBzX3S6MVD28F3ZLMc8ajaCiR0WX8DsWCwPnWLkJVDa3GT8imNFjbmKtlxCqj4Z28/s1600/christmas+lights+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8IIXwUMYrmxSUWxoNM8CP1b7LBo8ZfUzdF-ZT0-71s-WG9junk3ra3hd25qtyC2XJwWlHiUnk_FFBzX3S6MVD28F3ZLMc8ajaCiR0WX8DsWCwPnWLkJVDa3GT8imNFjbmKtlxCqj4Z28/s400/christmas+lights+2.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">She needs new siding and a paint job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fz8RdQXv7k3Cou8Mgu48eZk_7CTvMSc0oGEtPhN2I8DBY76ESlI9rk3R0GfLnFnoJomUACbkPv1Cj1Mr08Dmu2emrfGjfXGyiE-WEkD8W1bv8fSgsqTgnfLoGyGpCsqXJEJ4kSRB1km9/s1600/2012+goals+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fz8RdQXv7k3Cou8Mgu48eZk_7CTvMSc0oGEtPhN2I8DBY76ESlI9rk3R0GfLnFnoJomUACbkPv1Cj1Mr08Dmu2emrfGjfXGyiE-WEkD8W1bv8fSgsqTgnfLoGyGpCsqXJEJ4kSRB1km9/s320/2012+goals+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> New paint for the front door too!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5CecgFVtNaGPSSjXcfJZwiG552pw5Tbxaenm1nhyphenhyphenljT94bpH3BfI6DSLuIGfpXF-uDQ7XyDq7wdsAGrhsw_k82BJ9f0XlwEoh_KGoNBtWMBfuNx-EvthCC_XnSxduIApyDduKBKthxUF/s1600/2012+goals+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5CecgFVtNaGPSSjXcfJZwiG552pw5Tbxaenm1nhyphenhyphenljT94bpH3BfI6DSLuIGfpXF-uDQ7XyDq7wdsAGrhsw_k82BJ9f0XlwEoh_KGoNBtWMBfuNx-EvthCC_XnSxduIApyDduKBKthxUF/s400/2012+goals+004.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Again don't judge... sometimes a girl just has to make it "work". I said I needed to work on it!<br />
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So there you have it, a short list of some of the goals for the year. But who knows what will actually happen? Thanks for looking!<br />
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<em>Sunny</em><br />
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I am linking up with the <a href="http://www.thenester.com/">the Nesters 2012 Home Goals Party.</a><br />
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</div>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-81526281377831133692012-01-09T11:36:00.000-08:002012-01-09T11:36:36.044-08:00I got mantel issues...I have lived in this house almost 8 years and aside from during Christmas I am never happy with my mantel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULvsFqaA2m2wdKN2r3qEAcJLafsgTTIb6CElsQ_CC1oh3moqTS3uylWsF1VXJSHCBbR6hFWNi04Mh4o7UkEeGCzucyNyvZ0e8-asKKh7Ku55o65HmggiA1COR0AJ5syVt7ijPjBRRbpSf/s1600/Cuteness+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULvsFqaA2m2wdKN2r3qEAcJLafsgTTIb6CElsQ_CC1oh3moqTS3uylWsF1VXJSHCBbR6hFWNi04Mh4o7UkEeGCzucyNyvZ0e8-asKKh7Ku55o65HmggiA1COR0AJ5syVt7ijPjBRRbpSf/s400/Cuteness+003.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>I like having a mantel but it has a few issues. The biggest issue is scale. My fireplace is HUGE. The ledge of the mantel is taller than I am, I am 5'7" so I am not a tiny girl. This is a problem because most things that I try and put up there seem too dinky, they just get eaten up by the enormity of the fireplace.<br />
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The second problem is that the ceiling in my living room is vaulted. Which is actually great because it makes my living space feel so much bigger than it really is. The problem is that the ceiling peaks offset to the center of the fireplace. Which probably wouldn't bother anybody but me, but I like things symetrical. I got issues! Anyhow I am determined to love my house and that includes my mantel. So I started to scour the internets looking for inspiration. It turns out that I am not the only one that doesn't know what to do with my mantel. The majority of pictures were of Christmas mantel, but very few decorated non seasonal mantels. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIs8w1h8wLdtkwVZnowNWyfGkeVHrAG4bafEPmOPEPGWy1kDL3HNk5o0LAbZPbYeLNExPQJevags1Dsw1yqT4LJEOfVMTY0Qn5z2inlU2UrTYHeSa5QFZqP3zCu3YZEQHTm38r2lLoegK/s1600/mantel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIs8w1h8wLdtkwVZnowNWyfGkeVHrAG4bafEPmOPEPGWy1kDL3HNk5o0LAbZPbYeLNExPQJevags1Dsw1yqT4LJEOfVMTY0Qn5z2inlU2UrTYHeSa5QFZqP3zCu3YZEQHTm38r2lLoegK/s400/mantel1.jpg" width="275" /></a></div> <a href="http://myhomeredux.typepad.com/blog/2007/11/how-to-decorate.html">source</a> <br />
I like this mantel. I like the varying heights of the frames. This may help to balance out the length of the mantel and the wonky shape of the roof line. Yes wonky is a technical term. I also like that little arty objects are tucked in amongst the frames. One of the problems that I have been having is that normal sized objects get dwarfed by the wall expanse behind and the ginormousness of the fireplace, this would make a normal sized object work.<br />
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The problem with this is that I can see this sort of arrangement costing a lot. Frames and art are not cheap, especially larger pieces. "Sorry Kids, you can't eat this month...mommy is redecorating!"<br />
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I could alway leave the mantel blank with just a mirror on the wall. This arrangement I saw a lot of when I was inspiration surfing. However, I hate this look for my house because it looks like I am just trying to ignore the fact that I have a fireplace or mantel all together. Lets face it my fireplace is 6' tall and 8' long there is no ignoring that baby!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASyVBJ8XtjeJuW4SVjHXZCAG3_N-TIErn_1JBIGRkU8YESQz-L37fYhPmoN_d2tPLp_AG8az-0H9uc5pYNDQ-oz5IK5yrd4noRX6Wn4zMx7olNPLQD9udYH0IPrWI6eJrF5C6Qjt4dYws/s1600/mantel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASyVBJ8XtjeJuW4SVjHXZCAG3_N-TIErn_1JBIGRkU8YESQz-L37fYhPmoN_d2tPLp_AG8az-0H9uc5pYNDQ-oz5IK5yrd4noRX6Wn4zMx7olNPLQD9udYH0IPrWI6eJrF5C6Qjt4dYws/s400/mantel3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Fireplace-Accessories/Mantels/Fredricksburg-Fireplace-Mantel">source</a><br />
Don't all of the tiny objects pilied on this mantel look a little silly? I love the mantel but this is not the look that I am going for.<br />
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I want to avoid having my mantel look like a piling of crap that just looks cluttery. Then again I don't like sparse either. So I am going to have to come up with a solution.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCDHciH4cSgUUHhLlKgnZmIWXrRCmk284EHh3BDSKl5vygpO8n5aiZDWC26O7qgjOY431RzknCtC8tYlJI22-aHVJF-HVS3INO4dLZWTdyVBmD8Uah8C1nZHThJolmwrInSjcoCtFWcN9/s1600/mantel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCDHciH4cSgUUHhLlKgnZmIWXrRCmk284EHh3BDSKl5vygpO8n5aiZDWC26O7qgjOY431RzknCtC8tYlJI22-aHVJF-HVS3INO4dLZWTdyVBmD8Uah8C1nZHThJolmwrInSjcoCtFWcN9/s400/mantel2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/mantel-mania-our-spring-mantel/">The Lettered Cottage</a><br />
I love the mantels that Layla at the Lettered Cottage creates from thrift store finds. I think that I will take a few pages from her play book this spring, but I kinda need something for now. Plus it is hard for me to find things at thrift stores that have the scale to stand up to my fireplace. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53FDMZa1Xvp_QfDJXhSfX85_TozBXPCP-Ztm26pqVM1NSlwJEWkk8YVN83wNainaDnIKGGdsn9pb1TmgA_3WnZazX9CuU0WNKU5ObKilzPvArjSscbrO-yPtXN0xEWiFLf7aWr9PCE2Wo/s1600/mantel4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53FDMZa1Xvp_QfDJXhSfX85_TozBXPCP-Ztm26pqVM1NSlwJEWkk8YVN83wNainaDnIKGGdsn9pb1TmgA_3WnZazX9CuU0WNKU5ObKilzPvArjSscbrO-yPtXN0xEWiFLf7aWr9PCE2Wo/s400/mantel4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <a href="http://www.saratogafireplace.com/our-products/mantels/51/">source</a><br />
Maybe something like this would work. A couple of potted plants on one side of the mantel, being balanced by a taller potted plant on the opposite side of the hearth. That looks good and not too overdone. <br />
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Maybe what I really need to do is stop trying to force it and just see what happens. Sometimes I just need to relax and let inspiration come to me.<br />
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I will keep thinking about it. When I figure it out you will be the first to know, well after the people who live here. Thanks for visiting, if you have any suggestions or beautiful inspiration...don't be shy!! Feel free to share!Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-38016093677854574162012-01-07T16:43:00.000-08:002012-01-07T16:43:55.568-08:00I am completely at a lossBefore the Christmas season I was on fire with the crafty/decoraty(?)/spray painty inspiration. Now I got nothin'. I haven't done anything this week to blog about...mostly cause I got nothin'. I have no projects in my head, and I haven't been to Michaels or Hobby Lobby in like almost two weeks. This feels strange to not have a list as long as my arm of things that I just cannot wait to get started on. Am I the only one? Do you go through droughts? Is this what writers go through, writers block? Am I having crafters block? Could I possibly have asked another question in that paragraph? Apparently so. <br />
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I have been surfing the Pinterest, and desperately looking through the Internets for an idea to get the new year started. I am stumped. Maybe I already used up all of my creative credits. Gosh I hope not.<br />
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It seems like all of the ladies on the blogs that I read are busy making wonderful and I feel like some kind of slacker. Here is to hoping that I figure something out soon...or else I have nothing else to do but...clean...YIKES.<br />
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Any advice, feel free to share. Like I said...I got nothin'.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjoCGinBbNNHxaMUzgkMmOdIafjma2OGHB9V0l1Ol2ObcOBOl2o5fOUU6lAWkFHbw-SGlCKTr-U6Ia4TKDY_88NNkLLATVEW8kmCcvvSc5p8W9BbRdWtJ5JFKfn7BG8-nBFoIgDXWp777/s1600/inspire+to+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjoCGinBbNNHxaMUzgkMmOdIafjma2OGHB9V0l1Ol2ObcOBOl2o5fOUU6lAWkFHbw-SGlCKTr-U6Ia4TKDY_88NNkLLATVEW8kmCcvvSc5p8W9BbRdWtJ5JFKfn7BG8-nBFoIgDXWp777/s1600/inspire+to+work.jpg" /></a></div> <a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l0xaum6Ped1qb2ty3o1_400.png">Via Pinterest</a><br />
<em>Sunny</em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-52248507108524427832012-01-05T17:35:00.000-08:002012-01-05T17:35:04.265-08:00Christmas Clean UpIt is hard for me to believe that another Christmas season has come and gone. It also amazes me that every Christmas season leaves my house in such shambles!<br />
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I always clean before Christmas, and my house is usually spotless on Christmas Eve. Come Christmas morning my house turns into a war zone that cannot be contained. The mess inevitably spreads to every corner of the house until it looks like a scene from "Horders Buried Alive". This year had an additional little gift, my dryer stopped drying on December 23rd. Long story short, the appliance people had to order the part needed and my dryer just got fixed today. Did I mention that I have three boys? 13 days without a dryer....you do the math.<br />
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Needless to say between the piling dirty clothes, and the Christmas mess something had to give. I have been trying to clean up the mess but it seemed to just multiply and reappear in some other location. Today was the day I took back my house! <br />
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I took down my tree and cleaned away any reminent that Christmas had ever been here. This always leaves me a little sad...down come the lights, the glow, and the magic of Christmas. What is left is just an ordinary house. It is so depressing, not to mention that here in Kansas about the time that the tree comes down is when winter really hits. We're talking -8 degrees, YAY now that is something to look forward to. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrDnFU3OzPoGafDdkj058lRVtu_kiMPTTwsn15Og4GJDN5xf3EnjqLtGlou-r9HPCGstg9gvSXEkNYt35xlsf0FKA1m9ZBE-gAeucsg4cMwnIhUQoo5KB9NlPx2va289n1gNlcUWpqsf-/s1600/christmas+clean+up+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrDnFU3OzPoGafDdkj058lRVtu_kiMPTTwsn15Og4GJDN5xf3EnjqLtGlou-r9HPCGstg9gvSXEkNYt35xlsf0FKA1m9ZBE-gAeucsg4cMwnIhUQoo5KB9NlPx2va289n1gNlcUWpqsf-/s320/christmas+clean+up+002.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Doesn't she look sad? Like a girl left by her date at prom! She was a good tree but it was time to go. She didn't leave without a fight though, I had needles everywhere!! You know because I got lazy and only watered the tree once when we got her... umm....Fire Hazard?<br />
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Moving on...so my house is finally all put back together. It got me thinking about what I want my next project to be. Bum Bum Bum (moment of suspense).....what is it going to be? I will let you know soon, I am still gathering ideas. <br />
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Hope you had a great day, I am exhausted but happy that it is done!Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-22770368703853745762012-01-03T19:18:00.000-08:002012-01-03T19:19:41.082-08:00A Great Idea That Wasn't So GreatA couple of months ago I got this great idea to make a live and growing centerpiece for my table during the Christmas season.<br />
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So I got together my supplies and posted about it <a href="http://homeplaceks.blogspot.com/2011/12/paperwhite-tablescape.html">here.</a><br />
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As with most things I learned a thing or two through the process.<br />
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I have to say that I loved the way that it looked, and my kids and I really like watching them grow and change everyday.<br />
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However, there are a couple of things that I have to warn you about before you try this at home. <br />
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I don't know if I didn't read the package, or just glazed over the details but these babies get tall. I mean like over two foot tall, not so good for relaxing dinner conversation (as though dinner at my table with my three boys is ever relaxing!) I wish I had taken a picture from my angle at the end of my table. Every time the mister and I wanted to talk we had to lean over to see each other. Inevitably we would play hide and seek a few times before we both leaned to the right side....It was STUPID!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxT3dQkSOBL_1-8N2JmCsXdJJKoSqcu1ZZR0cy208TEdg6Cd37zqKE_jJiIdqxC5L_WHZusqStCyYgJ4BRTjzktAgYekaElQafo0lIadz2_3ZqTS6r36z99Hx3JK1WQ4dPhRkcaGI4BCo-/s1600/Christmas+2011+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxT3dQkSOBL_1-8N2JmCsXdJJKoSqcu1ZZR0cy208TEdg6Cd37zqKE_jJiIdqxC5L_WHZusqStCyYgJ4BRTjzktAgYekaElQafo0lIadz2_3ZqTS6r36z99Hx3JK1WQ4dPhRkcaGI4BCo-/s320/Christmas+2011+132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Secondly, and this is where I am doing a real Public Service Announcement.....these flowers do not smell pretty! Not just a little unpleasant... they smell like urine. <br />
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When the flowers first started to bloom, my five year old asked his dad to tie his shoes. So the hubs sat down at the table to tie his shoes and I heard him whisper to his son "did you have an accident at school?" Of course my son exclaimed that he had not! Later when I realized that it was the flowers that smelled like a latrine I had to laugh out loud.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOXO_AYwne_5te82p1rofIeeE0cegtmBFROpa5fqX5QqjavcfUJGW1kL79XnEilaRBM1_vxA8imqLmt903JsGCbxwGclAr1XpiQIjRYu92V6GYO6OCHZbuOtXcQrF1Rp_KGFckaJiWrP8/s1600/Christmas+2011+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOXO_AYwne_5te82p1rofIeeE0cegtmBFROpa5fqX5QqjavcfUJGW1kL79XnEilaRBM1_vxA8imqLmt903JsGCbxwGclAr1XpiQIjRYu92V6GYO6OCHZbuOtXcQrF1Rp_KGFckaJiWrP8/s320/Christmas+2011+110.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuL64MtGBSQU3JWS_kBfmypXy3aPEQoYLxOGsmQqDtrhSDiLkfCfqQkPgWadzOA5pQfYh-e7i2qE-Sk5okAGPYJ3lU2hVyvA-S0Lzuf-UUYm2kgXk9OG0_M9QFCAjk_8U-Grd1ftsuTGM/s1600/Christmas+2011+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuL64MtGBSQU3JWS_kBfmypXy3aPEQoYLxOGsmQqDtrhSDiLkfCfqQkPgWadzOA5pQfYh-e7i2qE-Sk5okAGPYJ3lU2hVyvA-S0Lzuf-UUYm2kgXk9OG0_M9QFCAjk_8U-Grd1ftsuTGM/s320/Christmas+2011+111.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Needless to say I don't think that I will be redoing this centerpiece. I still think that it is a good idea....just maybe a different flower. Overall I am glad with how it looked, and I am glad that I tried it.<br />
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So there you have it, I like to think that I will just continue to learn by mistake. But hey...we all got a Public Service Announcement out of it!<br />
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Have a Great Wednesday!<br />
<em>Sunny</em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-78335053902111725072012-01-03T08:27:00.000-08:002012-01-03T17:16:26.215-08:00A RecommitmentI have not posted in a couple of weeks and I wanted to take a minute to explain why. Well first of all it was the holiday season and I was the perverbial chicken with head issues. But more than that I was anxious of my blog. <br />
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It is no secret that though I have the best followers I do not have many, and one of my followers dropped me from her reader. This really rattled my confidence. I felt like I had no reason to continue with this blog "nobody likes me anyway" (insert whiny five year old voice)<br />
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I am not the kind of person that routinely puts herself out there for criticism, in fact I tend to avoid it at all cost. So this blog is a big step for me. <br />
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Now I know that it shouldn't matter what other people think (insert my mothers voice in my head), but for me it does.<br />
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After a few weeks of thinking I came to a few conclusions:<br />
I let losing one follower distract me from that fact that I am blessed with other amazing women who do want to follow me.<br />
I don't want to be the kind of person that lets a little bump in the road stop me in my tracks, I am stronger than that.<br />
Maybe part of the purpose of this little blog is to help me learn to be more confident, and help me put my self out there more.<br />
I have things to share with the world.<br />
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So in this new year I am recommitting myself to this blog, to exploring my creative, and to you. Thank You for following me and hearing what I have to say!<br />
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<em>Sunny</em>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-15403333775176522772011-12-14T14:35:00.000-08:002011-12-14T14:42:58.244-08:00Christmas Tree 2011So there are a few trees that live at my house this year. I have a "pretty tree" in the living room, this one is live and holds all of the ornaments that are precious to me. The colors of my "pretty tree are white, gold, and silver, you know to match the rest of my christmas decor.<br />
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I also have a family tree which is also color coordinated in colors chocolate, green, and red. This tree lives in the basement and is meant to be a little more fun and kid friendly...I still want it to be color coodinated though (control much? I am working on it) The problem is that in my life I want everything to be pretty and color matching and sophisticated, I have a hard time letting go. I am working on it, maybe there is a color coordinated support group or something?<br />
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There is also the most adorable tree that lives in my oldest sons room. He made all of the ornaments and even bought the tree with his own money. It may be my most favorite tree in the house, and also the one that I had the least amount of input on....hmmmm, food for thought she said to herself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7hF_3sxHjuAm1UdCBECA3lTmZpM7VFTbDH89ghWy9AWre1ESpFeu3bvI0U0ax8a3Evt7OMnyY2cHBOc9qzHpcjR_NKst7KFQR-f7E4HJcWR_gCmivkyvExG0QLUK-LYMdwcPUzfI99xO/s1600/christmas+tree+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7hF_3sxHjuAm1UdCBECA3lTmZpM7VFTbDH89ghWy9AWre1ESpFeu3bvI0U0ax8a3Evt7OMnyY2cHBOc9qzHpcjR_NKst7KFQR-f7E4HJcWR_gCmivkyvExG0QLUK-LYMdwcPUzfI99xO/s320/christmas+tree+001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I want to share my "pretty tree" and my sons tree with you today.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xLpKikPK90tGI67rzu4JqD980h6MrQoiKbHLxALSWfzU5bBaZQKHiJc_x2TzyiRm6ha4GfssPQHJFgp8ySULUc_JYtKZUiLxqIG9_8QdqLJEqGdJe6mtpdW54drURlIKiu9rwjeof7EP/s1600/christmas+tree+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xLpKikPK90tGI67rzu4JqD980h6MrQoiKbHLxALSWfzU5bBaZQKHiJc_x2TzyiRm6ha4GfssPQHJFgp8ySULUc_JYtKZUiLxqIG9_8QdqLJEqGdJe6mtpdW54drURlIKiu9rwjeof7EP/s320/christmas+tree+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As long as I can remember as a child my grandmother gave me an engraved gold ornament that had my name and the year on it. I still treasure these every year when I hang them on the tree and think of Christmas past and also of my late grandmother. She made Christmas so special.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO30AQaj2RnBnsF2TBASnfNYPeu9K72arPyqAck88RDuVAQZRIrLdK5DcVYUNM_FWnf63QDQQnxKICFBMdllcA_VTncKjgQQH30caG9e399ffQWvSdlFckwf81eGDCBX1RLXfafQ8pc2nb/s1600/christmas+tree+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO30AQaj2RnBnsF2TBASnfNYPeu9K72arPyqAck88RDuVAQZRIrLdK5DcVYUNM_FWnf63QDQQnxKICFBMdllcA_VTncKjgQQH30caG9e399ffQWvSdlFckwf81eGDCBX1RLXfafQ8pc2nb/s320/christmas+tree+006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This cloisonne ornament is my favorite ornament on the tree. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9i5KHnl15yzgK1ylUmPVK-9BWH5FYRPzeEupc1xDrvAeVvRb7tkipipCvXUZqABvBhXBvA1GnSS8fz0WAglUu4ROpYBPCLvef04J_pDLyCL_Ni934bKopwSZEvejr9o1N3Gq8oW3F8tB/s1600/christmas+tree+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9i5KHnl15yzgK1ylUmPVK-9BWH5FYRPzeEupc1xDrvAeVvRb7tkipipCvXUZqABvBhXBvA1GnSS8fz0WAglUu4ROpYBPCLvef04J_pDLyCL_Ni934bKopwSZEvejr9o1N3Gq8oW3F8tB/s320/christmas+tree+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqOuTRp0u4_NZWWTVeH2Xj0tG9-18jYp2T7O6VzrsPj0AuJyNYJ4IwUuGIwQcMrbYu7xyByPGZvo_IDt5THezY0OBmBpitf3qdMLErjDpkIrxE_7QATqZ7bmV4V3G64cYVDDaH0dMRJsO/s1600/christmas+tree+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqOuTRp0u4_NZWWTVeH2Xj0tG9-18jYp2T7O6VzrsPj0AuJyNYJ4IwUuGIwQcMrbYu7xyByPGZvo_IDt5THezY0OBmBpitf3qdMLErjDpkIrxE_7QATqZ7bmV4V3G64cYVDDaH0dMRJsO/s320/christmas+tree+010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> This is my newest ornaments. Nothing says Christmas like sparkly plastic pinecones!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCafZVbSoR2FLG43vtKLokvbt_16zEO4rf0FXLxInjhgtlcxjn4elrd0QR55dAUEqYjkVrRWUb1PMDcQII2GXg5kn1noV-Ek0TRk38FzBu1GkzVxp4GGpvVOs9GBkENn-LSbf9e9VR93h/s1600/christmas+tree+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCafZVbSoR2FLG43vtKLokvbt_16zEO4rf0FXLxInjhgtlcxjn4elrd0QR55dAUEqYjkVrRWUb1PMDcQII2GXg5kn1noV-Ek0TRk38FzBu1GkzVxp4GGpvVOs9GBkENn-LSbf9e9VR93h/s320/christmas+tree+011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Letter H for my last name, I can't help myself. I would monogram the whole world if I were allowed...can I get an AMEN?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxY8v77h28YGXm5qQcMVKpeTF0yDGBLw4ZU4aeaUyeIYn61f65bm2FtSeFXCt4pHed8y6XQp6Q8NOQaZ9hHEqeKoNxkIPBGvmTJI3vkdWu0dDBZdjRwAFb2kSolNarP4Wqb_obWGs_DMd/s1600/christmas+tree+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcxY8v77h28YGXm5qQcMVKpeTF0yDGBLw4ZU4aeaUyeIYn61f65bm2FtSeFXCt4pHed8y6XQp6Q8NOQaZ9hHEqeKoNxkIPBGvmTJI3vkdWu0dDBZdjRwAFb2kSolNarP4Wqb_obWGs_DMd/s320/christmas+tree+012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This is a homemade ornament that I made. It is white feathers that are hot glued to a plastic ornament, it is kinda fun. Pretty sure at point I can clearly declare my addiction to hot glue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWC0la0GwhQdPBbif6Sp721wUHgZaqtNL6Xz0WQ9pjx50fqzYwrQ-ybiS8R7D1l0Aggmu-EETT6YueNHZz-njRfN9Ue5Ob13rRXBLP4qYleHYRIhfggyNfYCswKJ-lAVjCoQW7TvSu9oq/s1600/christmas+tree+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWC0la0GwhQdPBbif6Sp721wUHgZaqtNL6Xz0WQ9pjx50fqzYwrQ-ybiS8R7D1l0Aggmu-EETT6YueNHZz-njRfN9Ue5Ob13rRXBLP4qYleHYRIhfggyNfYCswKJ-lAVjCoQW7TvSu9oq/s320/christmas+tree+017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> This is my mercury glass tree topper, I have had it for years and love it. I got it at....wait for it....of all places.....Wal-Mart. I know right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLwDDWgNuttFbd6K9K-fGGKgCWUuTFF1RL7lxx76LxR4-DEJIK-LNkVKgK97U_Fei8niTquezQOcsbcAtkTSIIbbLeMcHR4PHVf69Fqe-DX43Y9Fhch0o9xcW_DG_T4AVEvkzwDDyZzal/s1600/christmas+tree+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLwDDWgNuttFbd6K9K-fGGKgCWUuTFF1RL7lxx76LxR4-DEJIK-LNkVKgK97U_Fei8niTquezQOcsbcAtkTSIIbbLeMcHR4PHVf69Fqe-DX43Y9Fhch0o9xcW_DG_T4AVEvkzwDDyZzal/s320/christmas+tree+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Finally here she is from above. Am I the only one that doesn't worry that much about the back of the tree? I mean it is against a wall. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhzwLjCRMkXofDiCXvt6FCgyQrFg8BDqc5wDWkWnjEj7zO-rfwFDgQW94yvU-xx3RYlxIQx__dJ2gpYbLKnKiLoeyVDdBfw_D-zXIVV_8VIBLc6YtzTEKZHVSEQ866bTxAgDEmaZbwKJZ/s1600/christmas+tree+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhzwLjCRMkXofDiCXvt6FCgyQrFg8BDqc5wDWkWnjEj7zO-rfwFDgQW94yvU-xx3RYlxIQx__dJ2gpYbLKnKiLoeyVDdBfw_D-zXIVV_8VIBLc6YtzTEKZHVSEQ866bTxAgDEmaZbwKJZ/s320/christmas+tree+023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> This is my sons adorable little tree.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2YqadFhAoilT7BsseS_QkN_7lohU-yh_dDQwXjS-suuaHCRpB7-KMqcjz40pvdFkLlE75bkejgQqJHmCprdk86KvEhrAYlQtHcNyu6NClKTIMf4Bdy5j58q45EhXpIJb9PZhboNlGpGC/s1600/christmas+tree+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2YqadFhAoilT7BsseS_QkN_7lohU-yh_dDQwXjS-suuaHCRpB7-KMqcjz40pvdFkLlE75bkejgQqJHmCprdk86KvEhrAYlQtHcNyu6NClKTIMf4Bdy5j58q45EhXpIJb9PZhboNlGpGC/s320/christmas+tree+024.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">Complete with Charlie Brown tree star that no matter how you fuss with it will always lean off to one side. How cute is that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dA-GI78DBgSo6EumAd7XzAiDL6wjAVPq3r6ojueQyPA9gqbs8pxvcWCvaf7QjXkHQhyphenhyphen3Qbe1hiQRPQsRTqquvuXAxNNM2fNXHDtCT0IFUy71h_81wodPHdI-8gafqEUreqRAP_4VoFLx/s1600/christmas+tree+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dA-GI78DBgSo6EumAd7XzAiDL6wjAVPq3r6ojueQyPA9gqbs8pxvcWCvaf7QjXkHQhyphenhyphen3Qbe1hiQRPQsRTqquvuXAxNNM2fNXHDtCT0IFUy71h_81wodPHdI-8gafqEUreqRAP_4VoFLx/s320/christmas+tree+025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmdW90ox2QI-3gps6W-TrzqVVUrk-A9IRRVKxDBgUswU-5KCzQ60vTbg56AdA_MCDNcYsUX1xCm2Xt30S-X-GIZ0IB0kGY3p2eKs3pN6X9pIy_NvDfPbkbAftSjl3PoVdTEQcmURg0Wat/s1600/christmas+tree+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmdW90ox2QI-3gps6W-TrzqVVUrk-A9IRRVKxDBgUswU-5KCzQ60vTbg56AdA_MCDNcYsUX1xCm2Xt30S-X-GIZ0IB0kGY3p2eKs3pN6X9pIy_NvDfPbkbAftSjl3PoVdTEQcmURg0Wat/s320/christmas+tree+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5-7TE8CJFILWpIIyFHcVHmTWmXSBPTHrQ2xOls9lFN9ZCE7vMBqSEKn1CBCOsh4t4nxnGdiNN_kjwoZ40RYasXfRTCc9wIj29YGXZ_3VW2TpEk_cA6mZ4wOAHdaoJLdQt3jmf1yYrnOA/s1600/christmas+tree+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5-7TE8CJFILWpIIyFHcVHmTWmXSBPTHrQ2xOls9lFN9ZCE7vMBqSEKn1CBCOsh4t4nxnGdiNN_kjwoZ40RYasXfRTCc9wIj29YGXZ_3VW2TpEk_cA6mZ4wOAHdaoJLdQt3jmf1yYrnOA/s320/christmas+tree+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Like I said he made all of it by himself with things that he found. I think that it is so cute and creative that I just had to share it with you. All of the ornaments are figures from the nativity.<br />
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Thanks so much for coming by to take a look at my Christmas tree 2011. Feel free to leave me a comment, it is such a wonderful surprise in my inbox.<br />
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<em>Sunny</em><br />
I am linking up to Sarah at <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/">Thrifty Decor Chick</a>Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718690043197711102.post-2767256621711475562011-12-12T18:36:00.000-08:002011-12-14T19:06:20.976-08:00My Christmas House Tour.Welcome to my home. I have been working tirelessly on the Christmas decor and I am pretty happy with how my house is shaping up this year.<br />
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I do have to apologize for the picture quality. It was very cloudy today, so I thought that the pictures might turn out better if I took them in the evening....clearly that was not the best choice to make. But you live and you learn right! So these are best images that point and shoot will give me. <br />
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I have focused on a few areas to show you, first I want to show you my table area. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj39PQzpp-RXYxOBhAPoHyV_1jEYsnmyMFPt6cWEDBMY3e6cXswZ8_H0Mcf_UfvxL3Ph2i5mqsjkpgN-gadiC5dxsjL6cl_6MdJ8cuOKRT3QUTAvnq32G2Yzurz6QFsTeZnZkdearBsQM/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj39PQzpp-RXYxOBhAPoHyV_1jEYsnmyMFPt6cWEDBMY3e6cXswZ8_H0Mcf_UfvxL3Ph2i5mqsjkpgN-gadiC5dxsjL6cl_6MdJ8cuOKRT3QUTAvnq32G2Yzurz6QFsTeZnZkdearBsQM/s320/Christmas+house+tour+015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started my tablescape by forcing some paper white bulbsto bloom in some glass containers. Then I made a table runner, and finally added some candles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAStf5ufR8XcYbRP95ebdQOuyWEwg8dJ21VfXm4bzGmLKk0c3QBjvoS_6pufKc4DBCwFxIT8MV5EG7Au-Hl9MfA7bHAw7vGC9Ig3n3xO9p0O7avlrmRHV3P9AC8evCXnDGYTB0YWOUw0tx/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAStf5ufR8XcYbRP95ebdQOuyWEwg8dJ21VfXm4bzGmLKk0c3QBjvoS_6pufKc4DBCwFxIT8MV5EG7Au-Hl9MfA7bHAw7vGC9Ig3n3xO9p0O7avlrmRHV3P9AC8evCXnDGYTB0YWOUw0tx/s320/Christmas+house+tour+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The windows behind the table looked like they needed a little Christmas cheer so I made some simple wreaths by wiring fresh greens together. I intentionally left them a little skimpy because I wanted them to look like homemade wreaths from the past. Or I was lazy...but I am going with the first!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0trShi33GikPCmoKF-MF9IsXN4L_Ul9q_Gm0D_OIwz3ltVoraVU7XGX0O4BU7hZVkz9DiNmjU8GEQo66IDUsdmpxjn-ywUEi28Rs-OSf34XW2f-omxR7enJgoHM_pT87raZbKTIufzAhB/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0trShi33GikPCmoKF-MF9IsXN4L_Ul9q_Gm0D_OIwz3ltVoraVU7XGX0O4BU7hZVkz9DiNmjU8GEQo66IDUsdmpxjn-ywUEi28Rs-OSf34XW2f-omxR7enJgoHM_pT87raZbKTIufzAhB/s320/Christmas+house+tour+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> I was really excited with how they turned out! I just tied them to the curtain rod with some grosgrain ribbon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-gHPd0p85pnB2uPYPD9mQ0a0o2qKyux2wPh7BxJPj3p6tOkySmdhWiVTQJapoQY7uM2dNIZMkey7K-2S44S9sYEtGB2o4WzQo7vohDlp-K263-ZHBdY6jwgwna62iNRXZ1wAeCL05lEh/s1600/christmas+decor+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-gHPd0p85pnB2uPYPD9mQ0a0o2qKyux2wPh7BxJPj3p6tOkySmdhWiVTQJapoQY7uM2dNIZMkey7K-2S44S9sYEtGB2o4WzQo7vohDlp-K263-ZHBdY6jwgwna62iNRXZ1wAeCL05lEh/s320/christmas+decor+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This is the table runner that I made. It took hours and a bazillion fabric circles...I am still a little dazed from making it. So that is all that I have to say about that. (Insert Forest Gump voice)<br />
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I decorated the top of an antique desk with some old Reed and Barton silver bells that depict the 12 days of Christmas. This is actually a life long Christmas tradition for me. My grandmother bought two sets of these silver bells, one for her and one for my mother. Every year I loved to get out the set of bells and put them in order and on display. Sadly a few years ago my grandmother passed away and I inherited her set of silver bells.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH1HKepWL7S5d50hLhJGrhmU_VmpNkmWNH1fnq9wxASKX8rFbsyipyAeJtnSxItlO5QBs_zM9G_B_4nSAKBFJSLwb-emFG_ROuttuEzYkKuwzkI2ya1JcXuf1riN9q5bmmUYMvD-ivj_g/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH1HKepWL7S5d50hLhJGrhmU_VmpNkmWNH1fnq9wxASKX8rFbsyipyAeJtnSxItlO5QBs_zM9G_B_4nSAKBFJSLwb-emFG_ROuttuEzYkKuwzkI2ya1JcXuf1riN9q5bmmUYMvD-ivj_g/s320/Christmas+house+tour+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> I also decorated the top of the TV armoire. I have been busy making faux mercury glass and I seemed to be grouping them on the top of the armoire. I also placed pictures that usually live on the fireplace mantel, lights and more fresh greenery.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmwK808gqU2rsmNjc2h3K2ZF4FjEC6IRqKWiVq6DiSM9v2trtb5PlUcyllyWNZ_hxkYCMmkAKX0IW6rtxqoY01hfHGZizLtfGM9l7Ovv__gmrdxpnrnRgjU5ASjr1k3K5KJPWgaFiB7xs/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmwK808gqU2rsmNjc2h3K2ZF4FjEC6IRqKWiVq6DiSM9v2trtb5PlUcyllyWNZ_hxkYCMmkAKX0IW6rtxqoY01hfHGZizLtfGM9l7Ovv__gmrdxpnrnRgjU5ASjr1k3K5KJPWgaFiB7xs/s320/Christmas+house+tour+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAShcVf7lKiqwD603L3Bwtp5lrOgSWYfmR0-4vmQ8bPDVOXm2hYlQ-34evlbOROrTD3qj3fkRPSPNVUqNVL5X-ZT9Nf5hgddnbqvpMBfYgtKONu2mRVKhZHaH8FdbsqVBg1BoIzcC8EQo2/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAShcVf7lKiqwD603L3Bwtp5lrOgSWYfmR0-4vmQ8bPDVOXm2hYlQ-34evlbOROrTD3qj3fkRPSPNVUqNVL5X-ZT9Nf5hgddnbqvpMBfYgtKONu2mRVKhZHaH8FdbsqVBg1BoIzcC8EQo2/s320/Christmas+house+tour+038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>My Christmas color scheme is really just gold, silver and white. I think that the color combo is so classic and sophisticated.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ9d_uoQEljkd7pge0ZFchFDFVdMzjAtX5nKDpcthOpZeedpRx8Ezbd8MY9JiCAIbinpxdXjRpE04Viph-W5bcC9d4FK1qrn2bqaSCQObL94qPNlzkON4o1gcG8l3PFtXO1IuBUVEZdXc/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZ9d_uoQEljkd7pge0ZFchFDFVdMzjAtX5nKDpcthOpZeedpRx8Ezbd8MY9JiCAIbinpxdXjRpE04Viph-W5bcC9d4FK1qrn2bqaSCQObL94qPNlzkON4o1gcG8l3PFtXO1IuBUVEZdXc/s320/Christmas+house+tour+026.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-So_0_D6HQfQh3szVpAbkcPhyphenhyphenAeC0cUjHYtvvWRrFmCTrdiLf2hECIhFAR7YfoQgU3mKpPC4daeINwtM4lFzYCgglZauGBkyoD24yrZb58eq9gzMepDPd_OxUVGodaUyNwuDkW5nbxPB/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-So_0_D6HQfQh3szVpAbkcPhyphenhyphenAeC0cUjHYtvvWRrFmCTrdiLf2hECIhFAR7YfoQgU3mKpPC4daeINwtM4lFzYCgglZauGBkyoD24yrZb58eq9gzMepDPd_OxUVGodaUyNwuDkW5nbxPB/s320/Christmas+house+tour+031.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj937a0519ANUgrmFobWtyBLarIpArCzha0AaRFp50p7A611hP0jRbMHucl7KM6wy7QXFfXgF8_gNii8hCBMNERZSmkh1SzB8L1s_3SRYmF77wjeumrZgNHmxlUw7RF04hd-f-vHIT2z5Iv/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj937a0519ANUgrmFobWtyBLarIpArCzha0AaRFp50p7A611hP0jRbMHucl7KM6wy7QXFfXgF8_gNii8hCBMNERZSmkh1SzB8L1s_3SRYmF77wjeumrZgNHmxlUw7RF04hd-f-vHIT2z5Iv/s320/Christmas+house+tour+028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSZuVYKA9aOcTxZmW011VeyxtBz3fnjlATHzDQPod7chxWaVoY9BCp5cZPivuNLuqA58Ku08uCrOdiVyAEIIy5f-_fKjf_YOH7re1CSg8AwcD2AzZIXKiiB5MYioTE-1622GoFE-dwNRs/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSZuVYKA9aOcTxZmW011VeyxtBz3fnjlATHzDQPod7chxWaVoY9BCp5cZPivuNLuqA58Ku08uCrOdiVyAEIIy5f-_fKjf_YOH7re1CSg8AwcD2AzZIXKiiB5MYioTE-1622GoFE-dwNRs/s320/Christmas+house+tour+030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I love to come down the stairs at night because it sparkles and twinkle!! Is there any more magical time of the year then Christmas? I think not.<br />
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Finally I decorated my mantel. I am probably the most crazy about how it turned out. I got all different taper holders. Some were glass and the rest I made silver with spray paint. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctBLVJOAStIi-qkBe7K0Rorv6W6PI_0I568xwhAMensDZmYtooK2NuCQt7IO0SoshYdfPkDJKPi87FdHDEqk0A0dDesLjoATlixkTj4GUwU8bZ11bAnhsAtaN1Hq5lbjj1bbpJhQahN3h/s1600/Christmas+house+tour+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctBLVJOAStIi-qkBe7K0Rorv6W6PI_0I568xwhAMensDZmYtooK2NuCQt7IO0SoshYdfPkDJKPi87FdHDEqk0A0dDesLjoATlixkTj4GUwU8bZ11bAnhsAtaN1Hq5lbjj1bbpJhQahN3h/s320/Christmas+house+tour+044.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRRa-b-2pmXP1Rc_JObVjiiGUz8GY993lyjFG4gDaxXtL3-fwVOfbw7VUWRBSVUJW0Yu-qTzwD8ZKlsZTCrzqzgmvdFvSP-TamBGz4kt_5kVmxz-NWRaf_gCWUNty29bPCBHYm3su_W1a/s1600/Christmas+mantel+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRRa-b-2pmXP1Rc_JObVjiiGUz8GY993lyjFG4gDaxXtL3-fwVOfbw7VUWRBSVUJW0Yu-qTzwD8ZKlsZTCrzqzgmvdFvSP-TamBGz4kt_5kVmxz-NWRaf_gCWUNty29bPCBHYm3su_W1a/s320/Christmas+mantel+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SoIDQ41kpFR2z1rHCCK_1A3RpliKDCEVOENvGeMTLV8Ehi7nBglvwkfXMAaAmfaM3XBeHNQfrRl92oA7yTG2cdzIaSOlQu9iec1n2yvD6WdnvlM2VthgMX6FDZX4TZKoGfK236Ws9RSd/s1600/Christmas+mantel+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SoIDQ41kpFR2z1rHCCK_1A3RpliKDCEVOENvGeMTLV8Ehi7nBglvwkfXMAaAmfaM3XBeHNQfrRl92oA7yTG2cdzIaSOlQu9iec1n2yvD6WdnvlM2VthgMX6FDZX4TZKoGfK236Ws9RSd/s320/Christmas+mantel+005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> This little tip I learned from Melissa at <a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/">the Inspired Room</a>, that sparkly vase filler is Epsom Salt. Love It!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYcUebTUUt7UW9ObJ6iZKcLepZqviV7a9VYb5S5aamDCIRVjT46gjsU12aRCFrjjYaf-M-I9PiIV5FnmtX6w15NFqmHswAfKcKiZ4FrmDZmcd02RbS_r2csgheNtp6hTonx5JvRh5Pwoe/s1600/Christmas+mantel+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYcUebTUUt7UW9ObJ6iZKcLepZqviV7a9VYb5S5aamDCIRVjT46gjsU12aRCFrjjYaf-M-I9PiIV5FnmtX6w15NFqmHswAfKcKiZ4FrmDZmcd02RbS_r2csgheNtp6hTonx5JvRh5Pwoe/s320/Christmas+mantel+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My mantel is simply enchanting at night the way that the lights sparkle up through the greenery and the glass and silver taper holder. I am in love!!<br />
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Thanks so much for joining me in my Christmas Home tour!! Feel free to leave me a comment, makes me feel all sparkly!<br />
<em>Sunny</em><br />
I am linking up with the <a href="http://www.thenester.com/">Nester </a>and her Christmas House Tour 2011Sunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12326683003592708905noreply@blogger.com5