I guess you could say I'm on the C-List

Well.. I have never done this. Blog about decorating that is. Yes. I fell into it.

I have ALWAYS loved interior decoration. From my very first venture in the 5th grade to create a cloud mural on my wall (unfortunately, i'm not an artist... and they turned out looking more like muffin tops) to my first loft in college and now the home for my family.

MAJOR PROBLEMO- the job profession I have chosen doesn't necessarily feed the habit financially or time-wise. My husband knows I love a good challenge and THUS, a "RULE" was created- If I want to purchase an item for the house- whether to make, hang or assemble.. it must be purchased from money received from selling another item in the house. Believe it or not- I stick to it.
How? Recreate, reuse, restore...
- I am a loud a proud Craigslist believer.
- I like to *try* to make my own stuff.
- Shopping in consignment stores to me is like reading a good book to many.
- I love to find a good bargain (& free shipping) on ebay, overstock etc.

Here's my first example, master bedroom:
Bed: "donation" from the rents
Headboard: craigslist, spray painted yellow, duvet- overstock, free, shipping
Wall-art: W from Etsy.com, frame hand-made (wood from Lowe's, distressed w/bag full of bolts/nuts & stained)
Center pillow: Ikea.

"When the world is crazy and I need a break... sometimes a girl just needs to decorate." -Me (I sometimes say this in good humor to bring a smile to my husband who would be the last person on Earth to understand this concept)

So, for now, this is a taste of my hidden habit. I have friends and follow blogs of others out there who decorate with the same ideas. I think they would agree with me in that even if I had the money to be an A-lister I'd still choose to be a C-lister.. it's all a part of the thrill.

Stop, and smell the honeysuckle(r)s.

I was on a much needed stress release run this morning and I stopped at my usual place to cool down and pray. After I caught my breath I realized that I was surrounded by a wall full of beautiful blooming honeysuckles.

As a kid I can remember the excitement when honeysuckles started to bloom and I could smell them for the first time that season. The taste, the wonder of this beautiful yummy flower.

The past few months I have been sitting at the feet of a woman at church who I have come to love and respect dearly. One of the last lessons she taught was a deep message about the creation-- difficult to sum up but the gist was about the majesty and beauty God created for me (us) to enjoy. The original plan was for us to just be able to sit, live, work, be in the beauty of God... enjoying his love. It's the "snakes" in life that come along and mess that up . In order to ignore the snake this morning, I decided to stop, smell (and taste) the honeysuckles... just as if I were a little girl again.

After that, my perspective had changed and I couldn't wait to take one back and share with my little guy. His first taste of God's candy. He sat in amazement as mommy showed him how to eat a flower (which he thought was funny)... and shared with him the significance it has to me.


Just a couple minutes later, Joseph walked into the room and Owen exclaimed with excitement "Daddy, guess what?! God gave me a special treat.... a honeysuckleR."

When life is a blur and I can't seem to slow down.... thanks be to God for reminding me that all I need to do is just stop, and smell the honeysuckle(r)s.