before and after.

While my parents were helping my brother move the other weekend, I received a call, wondering if I'd be interested in this:

 It's a side table, and, it's really hard for me to pass up such offers. So, I brought it home. The top was pretty beat up, but the wood was nice and I liked the challenge of it. 

It started with some sanding:

and a new layer of stain:

it was beginning to come to life. 

oh you just wait...

 that's a sheet of 3 inch foam. So, I didn't have a need for another side table, so I decided to get wild and try and turn it into a bench of sorts. 

 Here's a sneak peak of the fabric - kind of tribal (?) kind of ikat (?) eh?

I was at hobby lobby for some more DIY jewelry supplies and it caught my eye.

I folded up and with a staple gun secured the bottom and top first.  

Then pulled the sides together and treated the corners like you would when wrapping a present. 

 Easily removable if you wanted to use it as a side table again, or easily replaceable if you get tired of your fabric choice. 

 After the stain dried, I brought that baby back inside, flipped it upside down and screwed the frame and legs back in. 

 It's ok, right? 

 It's growing on me. I feel like I'm becoming more comfortable with having things around the house that have a story - not just pretty matchy things. 

 It's a little big - which made it difficult to find a place for it in our tiny little home, but it'll be used a "here, have a seat and put on your socks and shoes" bench. Also, a "hold our throw pillows while we sleep in the bed" bench too. 

 and there you have it. Next, I either want to de-rust and repaint our "bar cart" that sits on our porch, or make my own version of a tapestry. Now, I just need another lazy weekend. 

the chronological bible.

is a beating... am I allowed to call the bible a beating?

It's taken me a few years to finally get on board. Confession - I started this yearly chronological bible about 2 or 3 years ago, but this year I've been able to keep up to date. Today, I'm successfully on August 7th. It feels like years that I've been in the Kings and the prophets. I kinda realize why I've never ventured into the history of the Old Testament before, it's not exactly easy. I pray every time I sit down, simply and quickly for God to reveal himself to me, and for Jesus to be clearly seen in what I'm reading. By faith, I hope this works.

It's been quite a drought lately, just getting through day to day of this bible. This morning though, was kind of sweet. It's so nice to read God's heart for us in the midst of "you didn't listen or follow me, so now, I will destroy you" I think He knew I needed this now.

Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles.

"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

One of my biggest struggles now, is being present I think. It's so hard to know in less than 2 years Blake will be done with medical school and we will start a new chapter, which will hopefully include a move.. outside of Texas!

I just know myself and I know that in 2 years, I'll be looking forward to the end of the next 4 years that marks the end of his residency...  And, to think my situation is anything like the Exiles... cmon Lauren. Puts it into perspective. I pray that this will remain my mindset. And, God knows Dallas needs work, needs prayer, needs His peace.



 

 

a wedding shower

 

Just yesterday, we had a house full of some very lovely ladies to celebrate Hope and her bride-dom. Oh, it was so fun. It was "the moms" last shower to throw and now, they claim they're going into retirement. We will see. Baby showers, anyone?

I was so thrilled we got to use my house. I'll take any excuse to have delicious food, homemade sangria, and some of my favorite people in my home. It also doesn't hurt that the old abode received one thorough cleaning along the way, courtesy of my wonderful mother. 

We put the sign-in book, fresh flowers, a framed copy of the shower invite, and a box full of recipe cards from each guest, on the edge of the TV stand to create a little moment when you first walk in.

 I tried to bring in some of Hope's wedding style with the burlap in the living and dining rooms. 

"K" napkins, how sweet. 

 Bridal mantel. And you know I loved decorating little areas around the house for this shower. Those pieces on the banner were fabric scraps left over from other projects that I've been hoarding for a very special moment.... and look at them now! (Just tie 1 1/2 inch strips of fabric in knots around a piece of twine, and ta-dah, easy and colorful party banner!)

 The good stuff.

 Strawberry shortcake cake, H & M banner as a cake-topper, and some of the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen. Loving that color combo.

 Moms always make the best grub. Chicken salad and Hawaiian sweet rolls, gorgeous fruits, and creamy spinach-artichoke dip. And, look at that e-pic back there - taken by Kate Love Photography, only the best.

 I finally spent my Christmas gift card to West Elm, and brought home this lovely little addition. A cheese board. I have future plans of throwing many a lavish wine and cheese party, all centered around this one board.... ok, so I may need to expand my cheese board collection if this is really to happen.

more chalkboard fun!

The Bridal Shower mascot, Ellis.

 

Make a bouquet for the bride game.

 

Hostesses with Bride and MOB!!!

and, typical, the most cuddly post party you've ever been to. 

Happy Bridal Shower day Hope!!! You make one stunning bride. I think you're at 89 days today. 

ho. ly. cow.

herringbone mirror

This little project has been 2 weeks in the making, maybe a bit more if we're including all of the constant home decor day-dreaming. I've been so into simple and clean lately, like wood tones, whites and black (or navy) kinda clean.  Things have been coming off walls, and shelves like crazy over here in attempt to simplify life. So, with the mirror idea, I knew it had to be wood toned. 

I've always loved the herringbone pattern, evidence here, so thought I'd give it a try. 

Found this dreamy living room on Pinterest. 

From here

How hard could it possibly be? They did an entire floor!!

Turns out, it was pretty difficult. 

I bought: 

1 sheet of hardboard

3 sheets of Lauan wood

a plain mirror with beveled edges

wood glue

recycled a pair of Blake's old 1x2s to fashion a frame

recycled stain

recycled rags

I then spent way too many hours in a hot garage trying to figure out this mirror layout. I used Blake's miter saw to make a million 1 1/2 inch by 8 inch strips of Lauan. Laid them down, made more cuts, started to glue, made even more cuts, stained, and then finally laid the mirror on top of my herringbone creation. 

the colors photograph weird, but I think you get the idea.

The frame got an extra coat or two.

Guys, I made a mirror.

 Here's the saddest thing you've ever heard, after hours and hours of sweat and dedication, and a genius decision to not measure, the mirror was intended to go here. When attempts to situate the mirror on the mantel were made, it was quickly evident that my mirror was about 5 inches too tall. Somehow, this thing got massive. 

 So, instead it sits here, until a more permanent place can be found. I'm going back and forth on turning it horizontal, which might mean taking out some wall sconces. We'll see.

More practice for my soon to be design career!

episdode seven

yikes, I'm behind... but this week's episode was super fun. I think I subconsciously skipped the last couple of weeks, cause they were a total yawn.

But here's a really really really pretty kitchen, from this week's challenge.

This popped up on the screen and Blake immediately claimed it looked like me. I'll take that.

Yellow is such a weird color for me. I love it when I see it all bright and happy like in this kitchen, but when I try to use yellow in my home, it always comes out more muted, more mustard-like.

So, I love it. It's just plain pretty (though it looks kind of like something in a model home). I would have tried to add more of a darker contrast color, but I guess that's what the floors are there for. Also, those back-splash frames, I could do without.

My friend, Hilari, made the top 4 - she didn't do this room, but she still made it through! yippee!

Nashville, Tennessee

Last weekend I "surprised" Blake with a little get-away, in celebration of his Step 1 being over. I say "surprised" because a dear friend, cough Kelsey cough, and I may have talked ALL about the upcoming Nashville trip in front of Blake weeks prior. Whoops. Didn't even realize until it was too late. Either way, we were both beyond excited to hop on a plane to Tennessee. Not only did we get to explore a new city, but we got to spend some sweet time with our great friends Julie and Josh! What could be better?

Four days went by so fast.  

Day one. We went over to Musician's Corner at Centenniel park. Live music, and some blanket laying, two of my favorite things.

Here's the Parthenon, in TN.

 Blake found a friend, of course. 

Dinner was take-out from Loveless Cafe. The biscuits, oh the biscuits. Right after you think life can't get any better, you remember the chocolate fudge pie you made your husband buy you. Oh heavens. 

Day two. A little downtown wandering. 

Saw the old Ryman Auditorium. 

And, the batman building. 

Then, grabbed lunch in the Biergarten at Pharmacy Burger. 

We ate some delicious food. Blake and I were pretty disappointed when we got home to Dallas and had to eat normal food again.

The downtime was filled with a lot of this.

Sweet Webster

We stumbled into a Bluegrass Jam Session, and it's official, I'm a fan. It was so cool to see young people and old people get together with their instruments and just create music for the fun and love of it. 


Day three.



We drove a little out of town to canoe down the Harpeth.
I am sad to not have any pictures from on the river, but the name of our rental place was tip-a-canoe and I was not about to take any chances on my iPhone surviving. But flanking each side of the river were Hawaii-like lush greenness, beautiful trees, and a little family of ducks. It was perfect.
The night ended right with Settlers and homemade taquitos.

Day four. We headed out to the new Grand Ole Opry. Pretty much the most touristy thing one could do, but we took the tour. It was surprisingly interesting.

This piece of wood flooring is from the original Ryman and has been sung on by Elvis, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Alan Jackson, and on and on. Crazy.


On kind of a reflective note... I sometimes feel stuck in Dallas. Like I'm waiting for the next big step, and I'm ready for it, but it's still a couple years away. It was more than refreshing to just spend time talking with J & J, nothing else, but just good old fashioned talking. It truly was like a tiny reboot for my soul.

Nashville was so fun. And, good to know, they have a pretty incredible residency program there... I could totally do Nashville, you know.. If I could just pick... We'll see!