Fluffing the chicks room!

A few months back, Kaite got a little toddler bed....off craigslist of course. I had intentions to paint it all along, but it was cold and I procrastinated. Her bed is in Kayla's room, so whatever color she and I chose would have to go blend with Kayla's things. The blonde wood was not doing that with the dark wood on Kayla's bed and the dresser.

Kaite wanted blue, so we chose a bright, fun turquoise. Kayla was growing tired of all the pastels and her bedding set also had the "knobby disease" so we used this as an excuse to do a little update.
Here is the old version. Nothing wrong with it, but I have 4 girls and I have to admit, I was weary of all the pink. I showed them some red and turquoise and tried to use my influence in that direction. Didn't work. They wanted HOT pink and turquoise.

Target had HOT PINK RUFFLES!!! Taget had a whole bed-in-a bag of hot pink ruffles. Target had a whole bed-in-a-bag full of hot pink ruffles ON CLEARANCE! $19.98! It was our lucky day!

She chose some fun bright fabric scraps and I recovered her hanging photo boards.

The lamp got shot with the same paint as Kaite's bed and the shade got a few new embelishments too.

Even the laundry basket did not escape the paint can!

From Eww to Ahh!

I've been looking for a rocker like this one for many years, only I didn't want to spend $400 on it. So I waited. Craigslist finally came through! As usual though, one thing leads to another and once I got a chair in this corner, I realized how much I needed and end table too.

I like these old octagon style ones and could just imagine what one would look like in this sweet aqua color.

Granted, the before is not real pretty, but that's the beauty of spray paint, right?I'm still trying to decide if it needs antiqued or maybe some white trim? Thoughts? Anyone?I'm liking this little area much better now. The fact that it's about 100% thrifted doesn't hurt anything. The curtains are actually bedsheets, the lamp, end table, rocker, pitcher, shutter and little white table were all thrifted. The pillow I made and the little chest on the end table was my Grandma's. There is a vase on the table that holds shells from our trip to the ocean last summer and the doily was made by my other Grandma. I'm not sure how the precious moments fit there? They are sentimental to me and I want to keep them, I just need ideas on how to display them. Thoughts?

What about January?

All my Christmas stuff is packed away and love is starting to bloom.

I made a new mossy wreath to hang in my living room window between my new curtains.

It was tremendously hard to get a good picture against the sunlight in the window.

I had a valance here before and it looked like a cafe window. Now it looks like a hotel room window. :) Hhmm.....

Here is a close up of the pattern. It's quite vintage. In my teenage years I would have found it very ugly, but in my 30's. I'm lovin' it! :)

Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's looking like we for sure WON'T have a "White Christmas" here in Southern Idaho this year. I can dream though. This little red truck was a Christmas present from my hubby several years ago. I'm really not sure what made him think I'd like it, but I do. It's one of those items that changes with the seasons and almost always has a place in my decor. Just a few months back, it was filled with pumpkins and made we think of hard work, harvest and home. Now when I look at it I'm reminded if a simpler day--cutting a tree fresh from the woods, dragging it in and decorating it with popcorn and cranberry strings--singing carols and sipping cider by a crackling fire. Ahh....Christmas!

My New Mantle ;)

For lack of a fireplace mantle, I had no where to hang the girls' stockings. This was a huge concern to certain little girls--especially the 5 year old one!

Daddy was the solution, as he many times is. He built us a shelf for the living room, and now the stocking have a home. I love the look of the new crown moulding shelves anyway so this was as good an excuse as any.I didn't put a lot of effort into decorating, just strung some jingle bells on twine and used things I already had. I made the stockings last year from fabric off the clearance table. Not only are they cuter than the storebought ones, they are smaller too, which makes them easier to fill! ;)The picture I had above the couch was very "springy" so I used my white frame and some ribbon to hang a green snowflake. You know me and my green--love it!Who knows, it might evolve a bit more before Christmas, but for now I am happy--and the 5 year old is happy too!

I know that all of my faithful friends and prayer warriors will want to know, so here is the "health update" I am still waiting to get in to an endocrinologist....there is a very limited number of them here in the valley, so I have been warned that the wait might be lengthy. I was able to go to my chiropractor and I think he helped some with the pain in my back, shoulders and neck. He told me that the muscles in my neck are weak and swollen (I knew SOMETHING was swollen) causing strain on my back. I'm really not entirely sure what all is going on--being sick is not my cup of tea. It's a tough job, trying not to worry over it all--still praying for answers--and SOON!

Season of Miracles

It seems like every year, there is something different about the Christmas story that stands out to me. Maybe it's because I have been sick, but this Christmas the thing that is impressing me the most is the miracle! The fact that God himself would choose to condescend to lowly man in such a tender and humble way. I have been reminded that He still comes to the humble and lowly in the worst of times and brings the very deliverance needed! My oncologist visit went well. He assured me (or tried to anyway) that he is 99.9% sure this is not cancer. He admitted that the symptoms were very suspicious of it and that I was well justified in my fear. However, the lumps are not at all characteristic of the bad kind. There is a teeny, tiny, chance that the symptoms are ahead of any possible diagnosis, but he said that is so rare that he cannot think of an example like that in his 14 years of oncology. He feels that endocrinology is the way to go, so I am waiting for a referral. There is a very limited amount of endocrine doctors in the area, so I have been warned that the wait may well be lengthy. Please help me pray that it will not be long and or God would heal me completely. I am quite weary of being sick and down. I have seen my chiropractor (finally) with the permission of my other doctors in attempt to bring a little comfort in the meantime. I am not a good pain medication taker. ;)

My girls did most of the Christmas decorating this year. We are keeping it pretty simple, and finding that the spirit of Christmas can be enjoyed in simplicity. The photo above is on my plant shelves in the living room and is one place that I lent a hand to the decor. I'm not liking the glaring cold air return vent, but that can't be helped. I also want to make a primitive sign to hang there on the wall, where you see the 'picnic' words, but haven't felt like it yet. I got the old skates at a thrift store last winter and the jingle bells and giant snowflakes are from the $ Store. Not sure I'm going to make a post a day, like other years, but I do have a few more pictures to share before the holidays are over.

I trust you too, will experience the miracle of the season!

Finished Object Friday

I always enjoy Charity's Finished Object Friday so much and always mean to link up...usually I get busy and forget. Today, I remembered...so I'm sharing a "few" things I've completed over the last couple of weeks. I love the inspiration I recieve from reading these and other blogs.

The girls remembered the candy pumkkins we made a few years ago and wanted to do them again. They are so fun and easy for kids. You just need candy circus peanuts and some sort of gum drop or tootsie roll (depending if you want brown or green stems on your pumpkin. Cut the candy peanut in half and "stick" it together- cut side down, with a small cut piece of the gumdrop. Let part of the gumdrop stick out the top for a stem. Draw pumpkin lines on with a toothpick or small knife.

Today, we did up a big batch of salsa. I have a great recipe that I shared here. http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2010/10/some-like-it-hot.html

(Sorry, sometimes my computer won't let me link a word, and sometimes it will). Strange.

To kick of the Autumn season and the soon arrival of school, we made a Autumn looking cake. Chocolate Cake with Cappuccino Icing was a HUGE hit at our house!

We've also had an eventful week of Potty Training Boot Camp. This is one thing I have definitely been putting off and am so glad to have it an (almost) finished object. The story is here. http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/potty-training-boot-camp.html

With school just around the corner, we have been busy paining and decorating our new classroom! Read about that here. http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/wisdom-knowledge-and-understanding.html

And finally...I FINALLY completed the shower curtain in the girls' bathroom. Read that post here.http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/raggedy-red.html

Raggedy Red

I finally just completed a project that has been itching me ever since we moved into this house. Six months ago. No...almost 2 months ago. Crazy when it feels like it has been that long. Anyway, I had a white eyelet shower curtain in the girls bathroom and it was just not speaking to me.

Too pain.

Too bland.

So, I thought I'd be the smart one, save money and dye it dark demin navy.

I tried.

In fact, I tried twice and still ended up with a washed out purple blue color.

Not good. I finally gave up on it and it now rests in a small "donate pile" in my garage.

I had some white eyelet leftover from another project several years ago, so I paired it with some red gingam from Walmart. So happy that our Walmart carries fabric again, btw. It was so easy. Just 3 yards, right sides together with a ruffle between. I added a row of eyelet to to bottom, turned down the top, hemmed up the sides and there you have it.

I am finally happy with this room!The Raggedy Ann decor is stuff I saved from Kalli's baby room. Raggedy Ann is one of my favorites and I knew it would come in handy someday.Here is the "before" picture. Don't you think the added color really makes the room pop? In hindsight I see that I should have just picked up a yard of the red gingam and added ruffles to the existing eyelet curtain, but...too late now.

I have a good friend who picked up the enesco figurines where she works at Ben Franklin clear back 9+ years ago when I was expecting baby #2.

I love them!

While I was in here today, hanging the curtain, inspiration struck.

(Don't you love it when that happens?)

You'll see the empty hooks on the little shelf in the before picture. I was at a loss what, if anything to hang on them.

Inspiration: fold the tiny napkins from tea set to hold tiny plates from tea set.

I priced one new shower curtain that I did like at $45, so I feel pretty great about the $8 I spent here.

Ready for Spring?

I am ready for spring, I think. I am not ready for summer, though--just spring. It is the first of March and time for the Valentine decor to come down.
I bought a big bag of fake lemons last year. Do you know how hard it is to buy lemons at Christmas? Not real hard actually, when they are on clearance. :)
Dafodils are some of my very favorite flowers, so I am loving these on my dining room table.

I love the "message" of spring--the message of HOPE and new birth.

I'm waiting on some daisies to plunk in my canning jar here. Why daisies? I don't know. I just want some. :)

I found this little bunny at Kohls last year after easter. He had a broken ear so was only $1.

A little hot glue and he was "all better".

Post Valentine Briefing

Hubby sent me these beautiful roses. Speaking of flowers, I have noticed a disturbing trend--an idea that sending flowers is old fashioned or un-fashionable--that being romantic is out of date. I disagree. No, I don't get flowers every year, and I don't have to, to know that he loves me. At the same time, I think a true gentleman will (at least occasionally) go out of his way to express to his lady her value to him.
We humans are so strange. Too often we wait until it's "too late". Personally, I don't see the point of flowers covering my casket, if they were trivial or too expensive while I was alive.
I LOVE the vase he chose. Believe me, it will come out of storage every year to join my valentine decor.

Having girls is so much fun! Here we were having a bit of fun with our hair.
We really came up with some doozey's! :)

These little sweeties rank right up there with the best of my valentines ever! I made Kammy's little valentine t-shirt dress. You know it had to be horses!

I saw this quote the other day and loved it, so I added it to a picture including my valentine vase.

16 years ago, I got roses from the same man. He was a lot younger then, but I guess I was too. Actually, I don't really find it fair. Men seem to age so gracefully. The gray streaks in their hair looks distinguised and the wrinkles speak of maturity and wisdom. :)

Maybe you remember my thrift store treasure frame? I'm waiting until after our trip to Europe for something permanant, but I did add a few lovey-dovies for the time being.

I thought this 'pencil sketch' of my babycakes was pretty cute.

"Oh love of God! How rich and pure! How measureless, and strong! It shall forever more endure, the saints and angel's song!"

We had a special valentine banquet at home last night, with the kids! I made beef roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. We also had steamed veggies and fresh hot rolls. For dessert, I made the hubbies fav. Coffee & cream brownies!