Getting Ready for the Holidays...

Since Thanksgiving was a little early this year, I feel really on top on things! The tree is up...and decorated...the holiday china is out...the wreath in the kitchen is up...and my dining room is a mess!Everything that doesn't have a holiday home yet is currently hanging out on the dining room table. My goal is to have it cleaned up by next week AND to have the mantle, and rest of the house, somewhat decorated. While I will not go out and purchase all new holiday decor this year, I am leaning towards a more neutral and green color pallet...

Talk about inspiration...just looking at these pictures make me want to get to work!!!

Rachel :)

...more pictures and all sources can be found on my Christmas Pinterest board...

DIY Kitchen Tile BackSplash

So...I know nothing about tiling. As in zilch. Zero. Nada. A few months ago, my dear friend Ann asked me if I could tile her kitchen backsplash. She and her husband had purchased the tile (and "stuff"), and it had been hanging out on her dining room floor ever since. I thought sure...I'd go to the tile class they offer at my local Home Depot, learn how to do it, and help her out. Well...I missed all the tile classes in September, they offered none in October, and all of a sudden it was Thanksgiving and I still didn't know how to tile. This is why I have the most wonderful friends. I can seriously not know anything about anything, and they still want me to come over and practice on their houses. Their nice houses..that they love! Talk about having faith in someone!

The kids and I got up Wednesday morning and headed to the big metropolis of Gray. Luckily our kids love each other so it was great that they were able to entertain themselves while we got to work. Here's how it went down...

before

before

getting ready to put the tile up

tile is on and dry...grouting

waiting to wipe off and surveying the mess I made...

after

after

after

after

They picked out a great tumbled slate mosaic blend tile. The tiles are 1" x 1" and came on a 12" x 12" mesh backing. We went with a coordinating tile strip to break up the pattern and add a little  more texture to the backsplash. It's super durable and will be able to handle any kitchen messes that might go its way!

Rachel :) 

Happy Fall!!

Have a great Thanksgiving! See you guys next week!!

Rachel :)

DIY Wooden Picture

As soon as I saw this video, I wanted to share it with the world! Best idea ever! And cutest video ever...enjoy!!!

Let me know if you do this and how it turns out!

Rachel :)

$50 Room UpDate

Shannon's living room has a few more tweaks before I show the entire room, but I am super excited to bring you a sneak peak. Yes...its only a wall...but a great new look...Remember before?...

This wall of a door and windows leads out to their backyard. Here is what it looks like today...

Completely different. Minimal money. Seriously. I started by removing the window panels, bamboo shades, and the wooden grid on the door and windows. I primed and painted the walls and doors. I kept the same curtain rod (really I would have liked to used a longer one, but sometimes you need to use what you've got), sprayed painted it black and gave it a RAISE! If you are hanging panels, raise the rod!! We discussed using the old panels and sewing fabric to the bottom to lengthen them, but ended up purchasing two drop cloths instead (I love those things) and hanging them. Total cost for the paint and panels was about $50.

She went from being scared of going too neutral to loving the new look! The black door keeps the color pallet neutral but adds enough contrast to make her happy. Happy Shan =  Happy Rach!!

Rachel :)

Have you thanked a Soldier today?

Living in a "military" town sheds a different light on the way one looks at the military, the war, family, and life. I have become acutely aware of the trials these families face and while some people can turn a blind eye to the situation overseas, military life can be an eye opener for others. Yesterday I had the privilege of running the Soldier Half Marathon in Fort Benning. It was an emotional, inspiring day and a great one to have the day after Veterans Day. I wasn't sure if I was going to run in it, deciding about two weeks ago to participate. Friday afternoon a friend and I made the trip to the army base so she could pick up her race packet and I could register.

Saturday morning was dark and unusually cold but packed with an uplifting, wonderfully energetic crowd. There were two races: a marathon (26.2 miles) and a half marathon (13.1 miles). The gun went off and the runners began to pound the pavement, running the first leg of the race through the army base and the rest along the river. I was able to race with runners who were missing limbs and racing in wheelchairs. There were racers that carried pictures of loved ones lost and messages of hope to inspire others. Soldiers lined the streets with cheers and good wishes. They worked aid stations and handed out drinks to the runners racing by.

New to the race this year was the Fallen Hero Program. Runners wore two race bibs: one on the front with their number on it and another on their back with the name of a fallen soldier. I watched a friend, whose husband is deployed, painstakingly decide who she should run in honor of having lost many friends in the war. It opened my eyes and made me realize how naive and fortunate I am to have lost no one to the fighting overseas. I ran in honor of Army Captain Orlando Bonilla, who was killed in a helicopter accident in Iraq in 2005. He was 27 years old and married to a woman who lost her father in Iraq the year before.

I stressed in the days leading to the race, not sure how I would run with such little training. When crossing the finish line I received congratulations from so many soldiers who told me what a wonderful job I did. Really? It is them we need to thank...always...

Have you thanked a soldier today?

Rachel :)

Thinking About Nudity...

You read that right...I'm thinking about nudes. As in the kind you hang on your walls. You know...the kind that show a little...ummmmmmm...something...

For the record, I heart them.  Seriously. When done well, I think they can be beautiful, capturing the essence of the human soul. My medium of choice is charcoal, although I like oil and acrylics as well. Last week I was in an antique store that sells on consignment. I found a charcoal of a nude woman that I loooooooooved. Really, really loved...

me, "Would you ever let me hang a picture of a nude woman on the wall?..."

Mr. T., "NO." "Absolutely not." " Double hockey sticks no."

It was basically a conversation as simple as that. Oh yes, we have very different ideas when it comes to art. Extremely different. While I'm not big on prints, for years I wanted this:

Gustav Klimt

Anything by Klimt makes my heart beat a little bit faster. I love his work and I think this is beautiful, loving and warm...Mr. T thinks I'm odd. Recently I've seen several original works on etsy that are just as wonderful...

etsy

 

etsy



etsy

I would love one or any of these...have I completely offended you? What's the general take on nudes...?

Rachel :)

10 Miles From youknowwhere and More...

I would sit here and say, "What a week..." but I'm pretty sure I said that last week. And the week before. And maybe the week before that. You get the picture. If you are keeping up, things in Shan's family room are looking great. Really great. I wish I could sit here and say it was finished, but little things (that turn big) keep popping up, so it will probably be another week or two...yikes!

The super fun deck that I worked on a few weeks ago was featured yesterday by Michelle from Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust. Thanks Michelle!! You can check out her Fabulous Friday Favorites here!

It not so fun news, I've maybe, kinda, halfway decided to maybe run a half marathon next weekend. I decided this...oh...8 days ago, giving me about 14 days to train. Not fun. At all. Yesterday my little running crew ran 10 miles (yes...10) and it stunk. Like poo. I don't know if it was the weather, the wind, or the lack of sun, but it was a looooooooong 10 mile run. If you've ever run a race, feel free to through some inspiration my way. I'm not really feeling it these days.

This was my first half marathon at mile 13. While I was smiling in this picture, by the time I got to mile 13.1, I was in tears and the old man in the blue jacket passed me before the finish line. You can't really tell from this picture, but I'm pretty sure he was at least 112 years old or something like that...just saying...this is what I felt like yesterday...



I didn't look as cool as her, but I was feeling a bit like this...argh!!!

Rachel :)

Family Room Inspiration

See this little guy...

He is the inspiration for a little updating I'm doing at my friend Shannon's house.

I heart him. Really, really heart him. And it turns out he was here all along...

Can you find him? Top, center shelf...check him out.

Sometimes you don't have to go very far to find what you are looking for. I will say he has provided oodles and oodles of inspiration. It's like he spoke to me. Seriously. Charlie Horse now has a shelf front and center. All by himself. Just as it should be. I can't wait to show you the rest.

Rachel :)