(Photographing) The Family Table

My very pregnant sister is nesting like crazy, and we recently had a polite, if somewhat emotional, email exchange regarding the possible painting of a sideboard she owns that once belonged to our dad's parents on the family farm.  She and I share similar beliefs about heirloom furniture, but we part ways when it comes to the issue of painting.  (She likes to paint, a lot.  I prefer the natural look of aged wood.)

I begged her not to paint her sideboard, and I lost that argument.  But, in the middle of it all, I did win this beloved table, made by our mom's father in his high school woodworking class.  My sister rescued it when our youngest sister moved, and it was taking up too much space in her guest room.  When she offered it to me, I jumped at the chance to own a little piece of our family's history. 

The table is very old and rickety, and has definitely seen better days.  It's been a sideboard in my grandparents' house, a dining table when my sisters shared their first apartment, a hall table, a guest room table, and now, for me, it will become a place to display the memories of my own little family.

I love owning something that my grandfather built, and it is an amazing link to my family's past.  He died when I was a little girl, and while I was working toward my teacher certification in college, I spent a semester with students at the high school my grandfather attended.  The high school where this table was crafted.  So for me, it has special significance and I will treasure it while it is in my care.

Ryan graciously ventured out in the rainy weather to transport the table home from my sister's house, and I spent part of a Sunday afternoon attempting to capture some of the table's natural beauty.  A good friend of Ryan's, who shares his love of homebrew and happens to be an avid photographer, was kind enough to let us borrow his really awesome camera, so I had fun playing around with it.  Since it was so dark from the storm, I had to leave the flash on.  But I'm learning as I go, and hopefully you will begin to notice better photos here soon.  Here are a few details of my new (to me) table.

A dusty detail of the table's front.

The carved support beam on the bottom.

The ornate legs.

Precious family memories.

My Harlequin Romance

Growing up, my mother collected music boxes, and one of my personal favorites was a small piece containing the figure of a Harlequin, who danced when the box was wound.  For my third birthday, she hired a real French Pirouette to entertain the neighborhood children.  My memories of that day stem mainly from stories and pictures, but I've always held a special fondness for French clowns, maybe because they seem more refined and less garish than typical circus clowns, and they were such a special part of my childhood.

Another treasured music box with a tiny clown.

This clown dances when you open the drawer.  Notice his ruffled collar.

For the past year, I've had a huge crush on the Harlequin Rug, created by Allegra Hicks for her collaboration with West Elm.  It's no secret that I'm a West Elm fan, and I especially love their willingness to work with artists from all cultures and backgrounds, from little-known Etsy artists to designers like Hicks, who is Italian and married into the famous British design family that includes her legendary father-in-law, David Hicks, and her sister-in-law, India Hicks.

The Harlequin Rug initially caught my eye with its bold pattern of raindrops that mimic the folds of a harlequin's collar, and I love the muted colors printed upon the natural jute material.  I first discovered the rug before we redid our floors and much of our decor, but I knew I wanted to use it somehow, someday.  Finally, my patience was rewarded when the rug went on sale recently, and I was able to purchase the blue runner for a steal.  It recently arrived and I am in love, though I had a little trouble finding the right home for my lovely harlequin to live.

After spending two months in a house undergoing renovations, I'm in no hurry to finish decorating, if such a thing truly exists, and I believe in allowing your home's furnishings to grow and evolve over time.  I really try to find pieces that I love and will use for many years, and I had my eye on the Harlequin rug for quite a long time.  I just wasn't sure where I wanted to put it, so I did a bit of experimenting.  I wanted to brighten up the main hallway a bit, so for now, the rug is here, and I think it works well.

West Elm's Allegra Hicks Harlequin Jute Rug, in my main hallway.

Another view of the rug in my main hallway, where it currently resides.

A view from the kitchen.  I really like how the colors play against each other.

Layered over another West Elm rug in our master bedroom.  It works well with my Marie chair, but not so much with the duvet.

I also tried it at the front door (just ignore the mat underneath), but it was too long and too narrow.

And finally, back in its current spot, where I like it best for now.

I'm so thrilled to finally own this little piece of heaven, and it was certainly worth the wait.  The blue color I chose is now sold out at West Elm, but they still have the smallest green size in stock.  Of course, I might have to get that one, too, for the area near my kitchen sink.

Is there something you've had your eye on that you finally brought home?  I'd love to hear about it.

A Joy Forever (With apologies to Keats)

John Keats' poem, "A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever," begins with these lines:

                 
                    A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
                    Its loveliness increases; it will never
                    Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
                    A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
                    Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

I am reminded of his words now while our house is wide awake, and not sleeping.  James, our eccentric three-year-old, recently found new freedom in his big boy bed, and though he has never needed much sleep to function well, he is currently testing the limits by waking at ungodly hours, turning on all the lights in the house, harassing his baby brother, throwing epic tantrums, and disrupting our early-morning routine.  I am running on empty lately, and we are working to set new patterns for him to follow.  

In the few quiet moments that I muster, I am thoroughly enjoying my online blogging class and learning new things daily.  One of our teachers, Jeanette Lund of FRYD + DESIGN, is a Norwegian graphic artist recently named Interior Talent of the Year by Elle Decoration Norway.  Jeanette's work is truly inspiring, and she is well-known for her lovely online magazine, currently in its third edition.  Her creativity is evident in the pages of her work; and to me, the fact that she has cultivated and self-published a series of beautiful journals, available to everyone, for free, adds her to the ranks of greats like Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, both writers who also self-published their works during their lifetimes.  To do so shows great strength and dedication to their art, in my opinion, and I admire all three artists immensely. 

While perusing Lund's piece, I fell in love with the work of another Norwegian pair, Wik & Walsøe, creators of gorgeous porcelain tableware collections.  I was drawn to the beauty and simplicity of their ALV series, and I hope to own the entire set someday.  I'm typically not the type to swoon over dishes, but these pieces are truly stunning in their art and design.  Only one retailer in the United States carries their work, Nordic Galleri in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and I decided to purchase a piece immediately, as an early birthday present to myself, using the money I've been saving to buy my much-coveted rose ottoman.  Some things are simply worth having immediately.

The vase arrived today, just as naptime began, and, in absolute quiet and heavenly peace, I was able to open and admire the beauty of my own little "Grecian Urn."  I also spent a while tinkering with my camera, attempting to capture its beauty myself. 

The Alv vase by Wik & Walsøe.

As I take this class, I am truly beginning to understand the need for some basic photography skills, which I do not currently possess, and I'm excited at the prospect of learning something new that will challenge and, hopefully, inspire my creativity.  As my boys grow older, I find myself searching for new ways to expand my horizons, away from them a little, as they are growing up and away from me.

It's definitely a complicated path, this time of self-discovery, but I feel so inspired by the work of others, and their creations are fueling my desire to keep moving forward in search of "truth [and] beauty."

Currently Coveting: Rose Storage Ottoman

"Lord, what is covet?"  That's what my mother asks every single time she sees something she wants and can't have, which, let's face it, is often in this economy.  I keep a running list, on paper, of things I would like to buy, which usually includes makeup for myself, clothing for myself, jewelry for myself, and things for my home, plus a few things for the boys.  (What kind of selfish mother do you think I am?)  It's fun to have a wish list, and I like to save a bit of money each month to buy things I enjoy.

Rose Reims Storage Ottoman

Currently, I'm coveting this rose storage ottoman, something completely impractical, but I want it so much (imagine me saying that in a really whiny voice).  I've seen it for sale at Joss and Main and also at Overstock.com, and I really can't justify buying it.  Even though I have the perfect place in mind and it goes so well with my summer touches of pink, we don't need another ottoman or place to sit.  Though the extra bit of storage it offers is nice, I know the boys will only use it as their plaything, and climb all over it while wiping their hands and mouths upon the lovely, tufted cover.

For now, I am content with staring at its picture every few days, dreaming of its rosy presence in the perfect little nook outside my bedroom door.  I do check the price, hoping for a sale, and one day, maybe if I'm lucky, I'll take the plunge and purchase it.

It's such a silly little thing, this rose tufted ottoman, but it's so lovely to behold.

What's on your covet list?

What Works For Me: Household Chores

I'll admit to being a neat freak, and people often comment that my house is very tidy, even with two little boys underfoot.  It's weird, I realize, but I actually enjoy cleaning as a stress-reliever, the way some people play tennis, and I feel happier and more relaxed when my surroundings are in order.  I've always been that way, and I've just come to accept it as one of my quirks.  So I thought I'd share my process for keeping things neat, just in case you might like to try it.

When I was working outside the home, before I had children, I would typically spend one whole day (either a day off work or a part of the weekend) cleaning all the rooms in our house.  I didn't really enjoy this, since it meant hours of work when I should have been relaxing, and I certainly didn't look forward to it.  But I cleaned everything because it needed to be cleaned, and because that's just the way I operate.  Procrastination is not in my nature (I guess that goes along with being a neat freak), so I just sucked up my frustration and pressed on.

But everything went out the window once I had a new baby who required all of my time and energy, and with his arrival, I realized that I needed a more efficient system.  Now, I focus on one main chore each day, with little jobs scattered here and there.  Here's what works for me:

• Monday: I change and wash all the bed linens, and dust the rooms while I am working.

• Tuesday: I clean the kitchen counters, sink, table and chairs (which need it with two children eating all the time).

• Wednesday: I clean the guest bathroom, which is the one used most by Ryan and the boys during the day.

•  Thursday: I dust and vacuum the floors.

• Friday: I clean our master bathroom and wash the towels. 

• Saturday or Sunday: I wash Ryan's clothes and any other laundry, depending on our schedule.

These are my main weekly chores, and I also have a few other small tricks that help me maximize my time every day.

I run the dishwasher several times a week, always starting it when I go to bed, and then I unload it in the morning while the boys eat breakfast.  It's so much easier to do it first thing and have an empty dishwasher that can be reloaded right away.  I also wash any dishes that need to be reused again (like the boys' cups), and I sweep and clean around the table as needed after each meal, too.

I share a hamper with James and Rhys, so I wash our things once or twice a week, either first thing in the morning or in the evening, after the boys take their baths.  Then, I fold the clothes while I watch television or listen to music at night, so it's not a boring task and goes much faster.  If nobody is watching, I'll turn up the radio and dance or do lunges as I work to get a bit of a workout in. 

I usually try to complete each chore early, and after breakfast is a happy time at our house, since the boys have full stomachs and are content to play for a while.  If we have an activity planned, I will save my daily chore for during naptime, but I try not to spend more than a few minutes "working" while they are sleeping, since it's my quiet time, too.  I also involve the boys if possible, and James developed an enormous affinity for vacuums after watching me work.  Even the most mundane task is fascinating to a child, and James and Rhys can happily dust shelves or clean mirrors while I tackle a quick chore.

Also, if something doesn't get done, it's not a big deal, and there's plenty of time to get to it another day.  Today, for example, I had a doctor's appointment while our sitter watched James and Rhys, and then we ate lunch, played outside, and took a nap.  I never swept the floors, and they might not get done tomorrow, either.  But everything else is pretty much in order, so it doesn't bother me.

This is just a routine that works well for me, and please take it with a grain of salt.  I'm terrible at meal planning and don't like to cook, so that's an area of my life that could definitely use improvement.  But I do like a clean house, and it makes me happy to maintain it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to sing and dance fold some laundry.
 

Summertime Plants

My mother has always loved lavender products, but I never cared for the scent as a girl.  Now that I'm older and appreciate flowers more, I have also come to love the soapy, somewhat pungent smell of fresh lavender in many forms.  When we were in Blanco this past weekend, the home of Hill Country Lavender, I purchased a small pot of lavender to bring home.  Since this is the season for it to bloom, I'm hoping my little plant will do well.  I also brought home some lavender soaps in different scents, and I love putting them around my bedroom, in my dresser, and in the closet to lightly scent my clothing.  My mom taught me that trick, too.  And, of course, there's nothing better than the scent of lavender soap in the bathroom, which lasts long after your shower has ended.  Hill Country Lavender's festival is coming up in just a few short weeks if you'd like to buy some of your own.

My little lavender plant in a recycled pot from James' school.

Lovely lavender soaps.

I've been tending my plumbago plants for a while now and am so pleased at how quickly they've grown.  Though they come in several colors, I purchased the blue variety, and I like to think of them as a sort of poor man's hydrangea.  They are inexpensive, easy to care for, grow quickly, love the Texas heat, and offer such a pretty pop of color in the backyard.  So much easier than hydrangeas, which are gorgeous, but have to be carefully tended to produce flowering plants.

Plumbago in bloom.

I'm trying to get it to climb the fence, which it can be trained to do.

Reminiscent of hydrangeas.

And now that summer is unofficially here, with temperatures reaching the mid-90s in the afternoons, I'm using my trusty clothesline to dry laundry again.  I love seeing clothing drying on the line, and in the middle of summer, wet towels will literally dry within minutes, so there's no need to turn on the dryer at all.

My placemats look so pretty alongside the geraniums and begonia.

 

What Works For Me: Solvere Acne Clearing Products

I've always had oily skin, but it didn't truly become acne-prone until I was trying to conceive my first baby.  And since I've been either breastfeeding or pregnant since 2008, I've had to be extremely careful with the types of acne products I can safely use.  Prescription-strength azelaic acid works fairly well and is safe while pregnant and breastfeeding, but it doesn't completely eliminate my hormonal breakouts.  Since my dermatologist told me to come back when I'm not nursing and she'll prescribe something stronger, I've been on the search for a cleanser that will help prevent breakouts while not irritating my sensitive skin.

I've tried my fair share of acne cleansers over the years, from mail-order clubs to department store brands, and everything in between.  Dermatologists recommend using only a mild cleanser or bar, but I've found that I need something stronger to stay acne-free.  I can't remember how I ran across it, but Solvere Acne Clearing Cleanser has solved most of the issues I had with other cleansers.  It contains 2% salicylic acid, the amount considered most helpful when treating acne, and since I just put it on and rinse right away, there's no residue settling into my skin, so it's safe while breastfeeding.  (Large amounts of salicylic acid, in the topical form like a peel or taken orally, are not recommended during pregnancy.)

Solvere's cleanser is extremely thick, almost the consistency of shampoo, so a little goes a long way.  I also find that, because of the acid, I only need to use it at night, and then I just wash my face with a much gentler cleanser like Cetaphil in the morning.  I'm also a fan of Solvere's Fortified Moisturizer, which is rich and creamy without blocking pores.  Both products help to prevent breakouts and I'm really thrilled with their performance.  Plus, they are comparable in price to drugstore brands and come in large quantities, so they are very easy on your wallet.

It took me a long time to find the right products for my skin and my current state of motherhood, but these really work for me, and I hope they might help you, too.

Pops of Pink

"Pink is my signature color," declared Shelby, the main character in Steel Magnolias, and that is a sentiment I share with the sweet Southern belle.  Since redoing our home in more neutral shades last winter, I find myself craving brighter colors as hot weather approaches.

This post from Front & Main, West Elm's design blog, inspired me to take the plunge and inject some pops of pink and coral around the house again.  I found these pillow covers and this rug on their site, and used my Design Dollars to spruce up our rooms for summer. 

These flamingo pillows are so much fun for summer.

I paired the pillows with a pink throw made by Ryan's mom and put one on each couch.  The boys love how shiny and smooth the fabric is, and since they are washable, the covers are child-proof.

The pillows, with the ottoman strategically placed to keep Rhys away from the lamp.

The Ditsy rug in the kitchen, alongside my pink toes.

Then, I dug out my pink placemats purchased from Crate and Barrel years ago and added those to the table in our breakfast nook.

The mats with a vase of geraniums and more flowers in the window.

All the pink touches brighten things up and coordinate well with the hot pink geraniums hanging on the patio.

Personally, I can never have too much pink, but these little bits are fun in a house filled with boys.

My Girl in the Garden

I love artistic images of the female figure, and if you've been to my house, you know I have my fair share of nudes floating about.  Most of them are tastefully displayed in my bedroom, and when one of the boys points to a Renoir bather and says, "Mommy," I take it as a compliment because she is so beautiful.

I'm also really fond of the French Santos that are so popular in decorating right now, only because I love how rustic and simple they are.  They don't hold any religious significance for me, and I just enjoy their quiet beauty.  Most of these are quite expensive and antique pieces are true collectors' items.

Recently, I was lucky enough to find a Santos-style figure for sale at Joss and Main for a bargain, so I had to order her.  She arrived very quickly and, though I had planned to place her on my mantle, she is very tall (nearly 18 inches), and looked out of place there.  I chose instead to let her live among the plants in my entryway, and she seems to be enjoying her home there, so far.

A closeup.

Watching over my plants.

Little Things

This is the view from my backyard today.  Even in the pouring rain, the Rose of Sharon is so lovely and vibrant.  The blooms don't last long, so we enjoy them while they are here.

This arrived in the mail today, and the packaging is so lovely that I had to save it.  The rouge reminds me of the kind my grandmother used to wear, and a dab to the cheeks and lips is enough to make you blush all day long.  The line is created by a cosmetics historian who loves the elegance of bygone eras, so I had to try it.

* * *

After school, James was watching PBS' "Martha Speaks," about a dog who ate alphabet soup, which traveled to her brain, enabling her to talk.  I thought I recognized the voice of Jennifer Westfeldt, who is the real-life partner of Jon Hamm.  A few minutes later, a character named "Ham" appeared, and sure enough, both Westfeldt and Hamm were making a guest appearance on the show, along with their real-life dog, Cora.  Though I recognized Westfeldt's voice and animated character right away, John Hamm threw me a bit.  He didn't sound like Don Draper at all (too bad!), and I think the animators drew him more like a young Kyle MacLachlan.  See for yourself here, though we saw a re-run, so I don't know if the second episode will air again tomorrow.

Facelift

When we bought our house back in 2005, one of the first things we fell in love with were the trees in the front yard.  There are two large Texas ash trees that offer lots of shade year-round, as well as two cedar trees flanking either side of our front porch.  A friend said it gave our home a kind of "English cottage" quality, and I liked the privacy the trees offered, too.

Inspection Day, November 2005.

But as the Texas weather has become more dramatic over the years, those cedars began to take on a life of their own, kind of like that plant, Audrey, in Little Shop of Horrors.  Remember that blood-thirsty thing?  Our trees didn't require human blood to thrive, exactly, but they did start to grow quickly during the rainy seasons, just as the backs, which got almost no sun at all against the brick, were beginning to die, leaving long, sharp branches in their wake.  It got so bad that, before people came to our house, Ryan or I would quickly trim the lowest parts of the tree so nobody would lose an eye on the way to our front door.

The cave, as Ryan called it.

Since this year has been particularly wet, the cedars transformed into gigantic, green monsters, blocking all light and literally taking over the front of our house.  Anytime I tried to put plants on the porch, they began to die from lack of sun.  Finally, after much debate, we decided that the cedars simply had to go.  Though they were growing at an alarming rate, they were also dying (see that brown spot on the left), and would just have to be removed.

So today, our little house got a much-needed facelift, and we are so pleased with the results.  We've never actually seen the front of our house before, because it was always hidden from view, and it looks so different to us.  The cedars and a few other bushes were replaced with native, drought-resistant plants that should do well in the brutal Texas summer.  And we've promised James that the new trees will never become as big and scary as those cedars.

Our new front porch.

Another view of the front.

Hanging Gardens

It's spring in Central Texas, which means we are blessed with a few short weeks of gorgeous weather before the real heat rolls in and stays until Christmas.  I've always loved plants, but when James and then Rhys came along, I didn't have much time for gardening while I cared for two little ones.  Now that the boys are a bit older, I've added a bunch of houseplants and, most recently, have been working to spruce up our patio.

While we have a large covered area outside, it does get a lot of afternoon sun, so I have to be careful about what kind of plants I buy.  If I want them to survive through two months or more of triple digit heat, I need to plan carefully.  I've done a bit of research and found a list of "FlameProof" plants that are proven to survive the brutal Texas summer.  Right now, I'm having lots of luck with lantana, plumbago, geraniums, and begonia.  Of course, it's only April, so I'll have to wait a few more weeks to see how these plants hold up to the summer sun. 

Today, I tackled a little outdoor project, inspired by this post and this stunning house.  (Well, the second link is more of a daydream, but it got my creative juices flowing.)  I bought a quart of Glidden paint in Deepest Aqua and finally painted the porch posts that Ryan and my dad replaced early last year.  The blue gives a bit of punch to the backyard and really lifts my spirits, plus I think the color will be fun, even in the middle of winter.  During naptime, Ryan hung hooks all around the edges of our porch, and I filled it with hanging plants I found at the local high school agriculture department's plant sale, along with some regular favorites from Home Depot.  I really love the look of a patio filled with potted plants, but since that's where the boys like to drive their trucks, my flowers are constantly the victims of minor hit and run accidents.  This way, the baskets are overhead (Ryan made sure that he has plenty of clearance), and they also add quite a bit of shade to our patio.

I also have a little full-sun potted plant garden against the fence, filled with lantana and plumbago, and I'm hoping those plants will grow along the fence, since they are usually vine-like. 

Growing up, my sisters and I spent our summers outside while our mom potted and arranged her plants, and I used to think she was silly for getting so excited about something small and green.  But now I totally get it.  There's something so rewarding about watching your garden grow, literally, and it's really an inexpensive and earth-friendly hobby.  Here are a few pictures of today's work.

A view of the porch.

My place to relax while the boys play.

Another porch view.

I got inspired and added a stanza from this poem by Thomas Moore.

Small World

After buying my Marie chair last week and a wagon for the boys on Saturday, I finally got around to selling our old living room rug on craigslist this week.  It sparked some interest right away, and a woman came by tonight to check it out with her husband.  As soon as they got out of the car, her husband walked over to Ryan and shook his hand, and it turns out that they work together!  He said that he shops on craigslist often, but this is the first time he's ever known someone on the other side of the transaction.

And to top it all off, they technically live on our street, though the two sides have yet to be connected, across a large field and a four-lane road. So, we are neighbors.  Sort of.

I love happy craigslist stories!

My Marie Chair

When we redid things around the house, part of the purpose was to create a more relaxing office-slash-"man cave" for Ryan, since he works from home and also hangs out in the same space.  That meant that our giant green chair, which had been slipcovered and living in our bedroom for months, was relocated to the office, and I was without a comfy place to read, talk on the phone, and nurse Rhys.

I like the idea of having a lounge chair in the bedroom, because there are times when I need privacy, but don't want to sprawl across the bed.  I've been combing craigslist for weeks in search of a chair that would work, and yesterday, I finally found it!  Tonight, we picked it up, along with a small ottoman that actually goes well with the green chair, since Ryan needs a place to rest his feet when he's relaxing in his new man cave.

My mom is always saying that my taste is like Marie Antoinette's, which isn't really true, since I'm not a princess, don't live in a palace, and have a very limited income.  Really, I just like that fluffy, blue, tufted style that Sofia Coppola so beautifully captured in her movie, Marie Antoinette.

So guess what I found?

A fluffy, blue, tufted chair that is most definitely vintage and still in great condition.  And, even better, there's a story to go along with it.

The ad said that the seller was moving and selling all of her furniture, so naturally, I was curious.  Once we found the little garage apartment near campus, climbed the rickety stairs, and saw the chair, I asked where she was going.  It turns out that she's moving to Alaska with her boyfriend, and she has to fit everything she owns into two suitcases.  That's a journey far from here, and not without its risks, and I hope that she will be safe and happy.

As for the chair, I am already in love with it, and it's found a cozy new home in my bedroom.

Laid Up

After surviving our home renovation, Ryan and I apparently burned way too much midnight oil trying to get things back to normal around here, because we both ended up with a case of the flu.  It's been a crazy week, to say the least, but we are finally feeling better and looking forward to returning to the quiet of daily life.

And, as promised, here are a few pictures of our house, complete at last.  These pictures were taken with my phone, and I don't even pretend to be a photographer.

The kitchen.

The den.

 

The formal living room.

And We're Back!

It's been a l-o-n-g, drawn out process, but our home renovations are finally complete and things are almost back to normal around here.  My computer desk is once again accessible, which means I'm back to blogging.  I will write more about our adventures in reno-land soon and promise to post lots of pictures, too.  Our contractor is coming next week to take pictures for the company website, so I'm working like crazy to get everything in order.  I know it's just a local site, but I feel a bit like I'm getting ready for my own personal Home Tour!  Stay tuned!

Couple Crafting

We're getting ready for Christmas and a pretty big home renovation project soon after, so Ryan and I are currently rearranging, packing things up, and fixing little details around the house.

Since James was old enough to crawl, we've had a wooden toy box in front of our never-used fireplace.  It works great to hold toys and keep both boys out of the fireplace, but we're a little tired of seeing it there.  Since we'll be getting new flooring, we're hoping to dress up the living room a bit, which means relocating the trusty toy box to a different area of the house. 

So how, then, to disguise the fireplace in a less intrusive way?

Ryan actually suggested boarding it up completely, when I remembered running across this clever idea several years ago when first searching for a fireplace-disguise solution.

We adapted her instructions using a piece of wood cut to fit inside our fireplace, which we then covered with ivory felt that matches the tile around the hearth.  The board is tethered to the inside of the fireplace, to prevent it from falling on the boys, and it will eventually be attached to the fireplace walls via strips of velcro.  The board is extremely thin and light, so it won't hurt our little guys even if it should bump a head or two.

I cut out different shapes and patterns in colored felt, and gave the boys free reign.  Rhys was delighted and proceeded to eat some small felt pieces, so I realize that I need to give them large pieces for now.  James had a blast making different shapes and patterns, and then literally wiping the slate, or board, as the case may be, free with his hands.  I might have gotten a bit uptight about this, and Ryan quickly reminded me that our son is not going to play with this new creation like a "sweet little girl."  Point taken.

Overall, we're pretty pleased with this new toy, and I'm impressed that Ryan and I did it together, for less than $20. 

Time for a Change

I don't take well to change, and I try to avoid it whenever I can.  Just ask my poor husband about the time we switched cell phone companies a few weeks after Rhys' birth.  But I know that change can be a breath of fresh air, and sometimes, it is desperately needed.

This year, for the very first time ever, our little family of four is going away for Thanksgiving, all by ourselves.  We've never done something like this, especially with two small boys in tow, and despite the lists I'll check and recheck, the separate bags I have to pack and repack, and the mounds of diapers, pull-ups, and baby wipes we'll stow in the trunk of our car, I am so excited!

And before we leave next week, we're meeting with a real live contractor to make plans for new flooring and a kitchen renovation.  That also scares the you-know-what out of me, but I'm excited to see the end result, whenever that may be, because it's time for a change.  And this time, I am ready. 

Slipping Up

I'm on a mission to redecorate our house, slowly but surely.  Our plan is to install new flooring and redo our kitchen in the next year or so, and I've been working to update the other rooms a little each month, too.

When we bought our house six years ago, it was decorated for the ease and convenience of two childless, working people.  Now that I'm a full-time, stay-at-home mom to two active little boys and Ryan works from home most of the time, we're getting bored with the way things look and are ready to change it up a bit, or a lot, to be honest.

As an educator by nature and training, it's my habit to become an expert on something as I learn about it.  Remember my quest for a VBAC?  Well, now that my baby bearing days are behind me, I'm having a blast soaking up as much information as I can about decorating, home design, and do-it-yourself techniques.

I really love the French country influence that is so popular now and I'd like to incorporate it into my home, just not on as grand a scale as places like Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware advertise.  In an effort to do this, I set about finding ways to creatively and inexpensively change the decor in my living room, which has a lot of dark pieces in it.  I changed the curtains earlier this summer, which made a huge difference and let in a lot more light, something I crave in my home.

With two little boys, it doesn't make sense for us to purchase new furniture right now, and even though I dream of linen sofas with damask details and velvet pillows, that reality is a long way off.  So how, then, could I transform my dark living room into something lighter?

Enter the magic of slipcovers.  I spent months reading about and analyzing different brands, requesting swatch after swatch, ordering and returning several different covers, before finally settling on these by Sure Fit.  The look isn't exactly what I dream about, but it's most definitely a change for the better in my book, and I was inspired by the lovely designs of this talented Houston decorator.  If she can use a slipcover, I figure, then so can I. I actually spotted the cover on her couch and emailed her, and she was gracious enough to tell me that it was, indeed, the one I had planned to purchase.

When I originally started this hunt several months ago, my target price was $250, which seemed a reasonable amount to pay for the look of new furniture.  In the end, my efforts totaled about $300, because of the look and style that work best with our pieces, but it's all washable and will last for several years, until we are ready and able to purchase new furniture.

I wanted to share this idea because, in this economy, we're all trying to save as much as we can, and slipcovers can be a really affordable way to update perfectly good, if boring, furniture without spending a fortune.  Think of them as the gold spray paint of furniture.

Here are the Before and After shots of my living room, taken with my phone, since I am no photographer.

For my next project, I'm working on my formal living and dining room, which are filled with retro hand-me-down pieces.

Simple Things

While the calendar technically says it's Fall, it still feels like the middle of summer here in Austin.  Despite this, I've really been in the mood to start some autumn decorating, and James and I have been busy with a few easy crafts.  I really need instant gratification when it comes to crafting, since I don't have the patience or the time required to work on a long-term project, and these ideas can be done in one sitting.

The first, a Play Dough Tree, is courtesy of this month's High Five, James' favorite magazine.  All you need is a small tree branch and some play dough, and you just anchor the branch in a small pot or onto a plate before decorating the tree with little buds of clay.  The magazine suggested fall colors, but we only had neon, and those worked just as well, I think.  James was so proud of his hard work, and best of all, he played with the play dough for an entire hour after the tree was complete.

I ran across our second craft, Toilet Paper Pumpkins, while I was researching another very important topic that I hope to write about soon.  These are so cute and easy to make, and I love that nothing has to be glued down, so you can use everything again, including the toilet paper.  We added things found on our walks, like acorns and leaves from the trees.

And the best part, by far, is that everything was already on hand, so these cost literally nothing to make.  Hope you enjoy!