The County Fair

I painted again.  A friend shared a photo of her kids at the county fair and asked her permission to paint it.  With her blessing, I gave it my best shot, and had a nice stroll down memory lane in the process.

I remember so many years going out to the fairgrounds with my friends, walking on the dusty paths and smelling all the amazing fair food.  I remember the noise of kids laughing and screaming, and the smells of the animals, too. Most of all I remember feeling daring and the excitement of trying something new, while simultaneously building up traditions. <3 

October

I've been painting again, and have many new things to share.  For now, here's one that I did as a quick study while gathered 'round the table with my my incredibly talented and artistic family, as they worked on their own creations.  

October, by Robert Frost

The green elm with the one great bough of gold 
Lets leaves into the grass slip, one by one, -- 
The short hill grass, the mushrooms small milk-white, 
Harebell and scabious and tormentil, 
That blackberry and gorse, in dew and sun, 
Bow down to; and the wind travels too light 
To shake the fallen birch leaves from the fern; 
The gossamers wander at their own will. 
At heavier steps than birds' the squirrels scold. 
The rich scene has grown fresh again and new 
As Spring and to the touch is not more cool 
Than it is warm to the gaze; and now I might 
As happy be as earth is beautiful, 
Were I some other or with earth could turn 
In alternation of violet and rose, 
Harebell and snowdrop, at their season due, 
And gorse that has no time not to be gay. 
But if this be not happiness, -- who knows? 
Some day I shall think this a happy day, 
And this mood by the name of melancholy 
Shall no more blackened and obscured be. 

Multi-Generational Living

I'm 33 and I live with my mom.

Actually, we live together in a copacetic, mutually beneficial, multi-generational family unit.  3 generations of us live under one roof, and I'm coming to learn in this transition through the nuclear family era, that this type of living situation is really not so uncommon.

According to Generations United, the U.S. Census reported in 2008 that one in 6 households in the United States is comprised of at least 3 or more generations.  In the bigger picture, this is the way things were done.  Families lived in the same homes for generations, and if not under the same roof, within the same clan not more than a short walking distance apart.  Families ate together, sought advice of their elders, raised and educated children as a community, depended on one another, shared their strengths and compassion with one another, and passed down skills and knowledge from generation to generation.  

I have also come to realize what a gift it is to have this time in my life to spend time with my mom, and to allow my kids such an opportunity to know her and gather their own memories and experiences with her.  So many of my dear friends have lost parents in recent years, and while I can't possibly say that I know the depth of their grief, my heart aches as I see how much they long for these moments.  God willing we will have plenty of moments to spare for many years to come, and I want to take advantage of every one we have before us.

That is not to say that things are always without struggle.  The movement of the nuclear family (one couple with children living on their own), has created it's own dynamics of both familial and household independence. Marrying those ideas under one roof with two generations of mothers/matriarchs can be trying at times for us both.  That said, we are navigating these waters together, with patience and passion for what we're doing and where we're going.

When it comes down to the day-to-day, there is nothing more magical than watching my mom dance around the yard in the rain with my oldest daughter, playing games with my 9yo girl, or pretending to build castles with my son.  There is a deep comfort in 3 generations of mothers and daughters sitting down between chores to knit a few rows together on the front porch as we watch the cars go by together.  Traditions are shared and made over recipes and kitchen tables, through seasons and celebrations. 

Yes, we live in a multi-generational household.  The important thing is, and always has been, family.

Foodie Fun in Texas

One of the best parts of being in TX again is being near some of my dearest friends and family.  The other best part is the FOOD.  Thrillist rates Texas as #2 in the nation for incredible food, and mentions San Antonio as one of the greatest cities in the state for foodies.

The other day I went out to dinner with my lifelong friend Danna to La Hacienda de Los Barrios.  We took long winding roads that had me wondering if she was driving me out to the middle of nowhere to murder me and bury my body, but then out of the forest of Pecan trees and tall grasses came into view the most beautiful Mexican restaurant I've ever seen.  I ordered the Puffy Tacos that Beat Bobby Flay, and they definitely live up to their fame.  My favorite part of the meal, besides the company, the food, and the atmosphere, was the best margarita I've had in recent memory.  Strike that.  The best TWO margaritas. Yum.

As a welcome home gesture, my dad also took us out to eat at my favorite BBQ place here, Rudy's.  The roadside joint advertizes that they have the "Worst BBQ in TX," a lie almost as big as the state itself.  The restaurant has been featured on the Travel Channel, among other large networks and publications for their incredible wood-smoked BBQ.  I managed to snag a photo of us while ordering, though it is apparent I had not yet acclimated to the 114* heat and was slightly wilted. My apologies, the BBQ is worth it!

When in Rome... er... Texas... do as the locals do, and COOK.  I've been making use of my Found Treasures lately, and channeling my inner Southern Belle in the kitchen.  I made a pile of Salmon Patties just like my grandma used to make for us, and they were a huge hit with the family.  

Later on I whipped up a beautiful Pork Roast in my Pampered Chef Rock Crock, and that turned out unbelievably well.  It was the first time I'd used my Rock Crock, and I was incredibly impressed with that little piece of kitchen equipment.  It can be used so many ways, and cooks everything incredibly evenly.  I swear I want 10 of them.

I am positive our foodie adventures will continue as we settle in to Texas-dom.  I would love any suggestions for your favorite restaurants or southern foods to try to cook!  What foods make you think of Texas?

Putting Down Roots

This making a home business is a lot harder than it seems.  I am so tired I could fall over any minute, but it has been a fun process, watching everything come together, as well.  Craigslist has been a lifesaver and has really stretched our dollar, while allowing us to add beauty and character to our home.  Some of my favorite purchases have been GOBS of plants for our house.  We have near 100 new plants gracing the interior our home, helping us stay grounded, and cleaning our air.

On our Craigslist adventures we met a wonderful man named Carlos.  He taught me a lot about how to care for Mammoth Elephant Ears, and we bought one from him on a trial basis, to be followed up with more plants from him later.  He was such a charming person to talk to, and a beautiful spirit.  We also bought this incredible piece (see below picture).  I'll post more about that later.  It is STUNNING!!  We made fast friends with him and look forward to new adventures ahead.

Some of our plants were rescued from the clearance rack in the garden center, but most of them came from a lady who is moving to New Mexico and couldn't take her beloved plants with her.  We came in and rescued dozens of plants from her and gave them a new home to live in.  They had been sitting out in the 110* Texas heat and had wilted some, but a day or two indoors have given them new life and all are doing well.

There is something really special about adding plants to your home.  It seems to give that last finishing, living touch to things.  Now I just need to find ways to spruce up the pots! 

The Death of a Friendship

4 months ago my life changed.

After 20 years, one of my best friends and I broke up.  For good.

20 years of believing that friendships are made to be secure, to last a lifetime.  20 years of sharing my deepest secrets with someone who knew parts of me that the rest of the world didn't see, both the good and the bad.  20 years of inside jokes, creative passion, and shameless, nerdy fandom.  20 years of knowing how she likes her Chai, of sharing clothes and memories, of being willing to fight like a lion for her if she needed me to. 20 years of consciously choosing each other again and again through ups and downs in marriages with the husbands we met long after we'd committed our friendships to each other, through identity crises, through the births of 5 children between us, through loss, heartache, and inexplicable joy.  20 years of choosing each other to turn to, depend on, and love through it all.  20 years knowing that without a doubt, this person was a part of my life, and 20 years of confidence that she would always be in my future.

And in April it was all gone. *Snap.* Just like that. The door slammed closed, and a part of me died along with our friendship, leaving me grasping for the parts of myself that got left behind in the chasm between us.

"Soul Sisters."  That's what we called ourselves.  We believed with all our hearts that friends are the family you choose.  In a blink our chosen family was severed, and I've been trying to find a way to cope with this ever since.

In the book, The Friend Who Got Away, Jenny Offill & Elissa Schappell wrote,

"The loss of a friendship can be nearly as painful as a bitter divorce or a death.  And yet it is a strange sort of heartbreak, one that is rarely discussed, even in our tell-all society.  Tales of disastrous loves abound, but there is something about a failed friendship that makes those involved guard it like a shameful secret.  'Whatever happened to your friend?' someone asks, and more often than not the answer comes back carefully crafted to give away nothing.  We had a falling out.  It's complicated.  Why does the thought of seeing an ex-friend sometimes stop our hearts in a way that seeing an old lover doesn't?  Why is it so difficult to trace the arc of a failed friendship, to shape it into a recognizable narrative?  Even country music, with its laundry list of heartache and longing, won't touch it."  

 One thing I have come to understand is that it is nearly impossible to talk about a lost friendship.  It isn't socially acceptable the way it is with the loss of a romantic relationship.  It's hard to talk about it without placing blame or letting your hurt and anger disparage the other person.  Doing so puts your mutual friends in a bad place, and after 20 years, we have plenty of those. It isn't something widely written about in literature, touched by lyricists, or realistically portrayed in media.  It is a strange and silent battle and a restrained sort of suffering. (I will say that I have been blessed to have a small circle of amazingly supportive people listening to me, talking through things, and being there for hugs and the occasional margarita.  I honestly don't know where I'd be without these treasured souls, and I owe my current bit of sanity to them.)

"Let it go." "Forget about her." "Move on." "Ignore it."

It is wonderful advice that is impossible to follow.

The violent crash of circumstances that caused the death of our friendship left me grieving and confused and angry.  I know it did for her too, and it is going to take time.  Just time. Nothing else, no amount of self control, no number of miles, no quippy quotes, or new friends, can make it better.  I just have to breathe. And grieve. And day by day I must accept that she is grieving and angry too, and that these things are the measure of distance between us, that through time we will accept.  One day we will let go.  

For now, just breathe.

Peach & Plum Kuchen

Now that we're settled in I am experimenting with lots of yummy recipes, and loving every minute of it.  My latest attempt at a recipe is Peach and Plum Kuchen from Grit.  

Mine looks very different than theirs, but I think I added more fruit, so less of the batter was poking up through.  I'm okay with that though - it's just how I like it.  It is best served warm with a bit of drizzled melted butter on top.  Nom nom!

~home~

It has been a difficult journey for us in some ways.  Abbi had a hard time with the drive, but has adjusted beautifully.  We had to leave behind a state that we love when we left Arizona (though we love Texas too).  Most of all, it was difficult to leave behind the people that mattered most to us.  Thankfully in this modern age, we have technology to help us stay in touch and keep those relationships strong, even if we don't see one another every day.

This move has helped our family in HUGE ways.  It is hard for me to even wrap my head around it sometimes, but we are truly moving forward and moving up.  We could not have done any of it without the help of my mom, who gave us an incredible gift of a fresh start.  Having her living with us has changed us all for the better, and is something I am grateful for every day.  More on my views of multi-generational relationships soon - it is a topic that I have learned a lot about and would love to share with you guys before long.  For now, just a huge thank you and credit where it is due - my amazing mom.

We are buying a beautiful home with space enough for all of us.  Hubby found an incredible job almost as soon as we got here for a great company.  I am starting up art lessons here and already have several bookings that will help us out so much to do some extra things and build up our savings.  I am also able to expand on my spinning fiber business, which will be kicking off again in the next month.  There are awesome opportunities here for the kids.  Anna has already made a trip to Sea World with Kevin, and we will be heading to Morgan's Wonderland with Abbi before long.  We're in the best school district in the city, and Abbi has access to an awesome Autism school (though they will be hard pressed to meet the standard set by ASCEND in Prescott)!  Doors are opening and things are falling into place.  It's all happening fast, and at times can be overwhelming.  Overall, that is not a bad problem to have.  

We are ready to step into this life and live both the width and the breadth of it.

Top 5 Homeschool Happies

Though Summer is generally not something I get excited about, I do really look forward to what is coming next - AUTUMN!  And what comes with Autumn, but a NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!  Yes, I am one of those nerds that loves school. SQUEE!

Thing # 1: Anna just finished up her third grade year at her beautiful and amazing Waldorf school!!  Those of you who have been with me for a while know that when I started this blog, Anna was homeschooling.  We were able to get her into an incredible school for 3rd grade, and she loved every minute of it.  Waldorf is such a beautiful and effective way to teach and live, and I am so grateful that Anna was able to experience a real Waldorf school for a while.

We are moving to Texas, though, and the availability of such a unique education is limited. Texas is known for amazing schools that value kids and education, with great teachers to boot. (Hi Laura!!)  It is a great system, but it isn't the approach that I think would work best for Anna. Beyond that, Anna has a lot of sick days due to food sensitivities and allergies that leave her feeling yucky, and Texas has a strong truancy law.  In order to allow her body to heal according to it's own schedule (and not the school's), and to continue a more hands-on and creative education, we are going back to homeschooling.

Thing #2: I am so excited about going back to homeschooling!!  It's the nerd in me, really.  I'm ordering books, making out lesson plans, and sharpening pencils left and right (no really - it's a sickness).  I could probably write my own book on all of the things I am planning and learning and reading!

I'm making my own curriculum based on state standards to ensure she's getting what she needs and mastering needed skills.  I'm taking those standards and turning them into lessons that she can really get into and apply to real life.  Be watching in the coming months as I share some of what we're going to do.

Thing #3: Anna is loving handwork this summer!! One of the amazing things about Waldorf education is their focus on creativity and handwork. I was about her age when my grandma taught me how to crochet. I remember spending summers at my grandma's feet with my brother and cousins as she taught us how to use nothing but our minds, our hands, and a hook to turn string into something truly beautiful.

Just this very morning Anna asked if she could make me something and whipped up a pencil holder for me out of her own creative mind and without a pattern.  (Pencils... the girl knows how to get to my heart!)  Though she looks rather serious here, it is only because she was in deep concentration as she worked diligently on my gift.  She just ran in from our front porch and showed me yet another creation. This time it was a coin purse that she made for her Mammy (my mom) just to make her smile.  Have I mentioned how much I love her giving spirit?  I feel so lucky to have this little one in my life.

Thing 4: Violin lessons!!  Anna's school last year gave them free violin lessons as a part of their musical education.  She is doing incredibly well with it, and we are going to continue this at home, practicing often.  When we get to Texas, I am hoping for her to join a homeschool orchestra if it is not too far from where we will be living.  By joining the orchestra she will continue to get an hour and a half lesson each week, and have the opportunity to perform twice a year.

To be honest, I want to learn violin too!  There are some incredible lessons and tutorials available on YouTube for free that I plan to take advantage of.  I bought Anna's violin from Amazon, and plan to get one for myself as well.  Though they may not be professional grade, to this layman they look absolutely gorgeous and sound beautiful.  Here's the link to the one we bought, in case you might be looking for one too.  It comes with a case, a tuner, a set of extra strings, and resin for less than $50!

Thing # 5: Last but not least, I am thrilled that Anna will be starting her third year as a Girl Scout this fall, and she will finally be a Junior.  We found a wonderful homeschool troop where we will be moving, and plan to join them.  She just Bridged from Brownie, and I couldn't be more proud.  She earned a ton of wonderful patches, but even more exciting are the lessons she's learned and the many incredible memories she made with friends.  If you are on the fence about joining Girl Scouts, I cannot recommend it enough.  It is only $15 for the entire year, and with a wonderful leader like Anna had this year, it's worth every penny and then some.

I am so excited about this coming Autumn.  We are going to be doing some preschool work with my spunky Gunner-boy, which I will also share.  My beautiful Abbi-girl will likely be going to a specialized day school for Autism, though that may take some time, so we'll be working with her too.  While Anna's education is the only one that requires this kind of structure and planning from me, I am incredibly happy and blessed to be able to spend extra time with each one of my babies, helping them explore their worlds!!

Easy DIY Laundry Detergent for only $0.04 per load!

Last year I made my own laundry detergent using the grate-and-boil method, and after slicing open my hand on the grater and an hour inhaling soap fumes while cooking it, I swore I would never do it again.  I was over-the-moon ecstatic to find an option that does not require grating or boiling, and leaves my clothes clean, soft, and smelling amazing, while still saving a bundle. 

One of my biggest hangups with homemade detergent is the smell. I love laundry that really smells lovely, and most homemade detergent is at best scent-free. I think I could probably camp out in the laundry aisle of the grocery store and just live there until my dying days and be happy. When I came up with this idea to incorporate fabric softener into my homemade detergent, I was beyond excited.

Are you ready for the recipe? Here we go! 

SUPPLIES:

Recycled Bottles (drink bottles work great for this)
Funnel
6 Tbs Borax
6 Tbs Washing Soda
3 Tbs Blue Dawn Dish Soap
1/3 cup Downy Unstoppables (or your favorite fabric softener)
Water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Fill a bottle a little less than half way with HOT water from the tap (not boiling water -remember this is no cook).
2. Add the Borax, Washing Soda, and Fabric Softener.  (If you have sensitive skin, or want to skip the fabric softener you can - the recipe will work otherwise just as well.)
3. Shake, shake, shake for about a minute.  You want to incorporate the ingredients into the water and get the Downy Unstoppable beads to start dissolving.
4. Fill the rest of the way with HOT water from the tap, making sure to leave a little bit of head room at the top of the bottle.
5.  Add in the Dawn Dish Soap.
6. Shake, shake, shake for about a minute more to disperse the Dawn and get those Downy beads moving again.
7. Go back and shake again every few minutes until you see the Downy beads have completely dissolved.
8. When you are ready to use it, shake the bottle once more to incorporate all the ingredients (they separate when sitting), and then pour about 1/2 cup into your washer with your clothes like you would any other detergent.  You can use this in a HE washer as it has very low suds.  Just make sure to use a smaller amount.

COST BREAKDOWN:

Box of Borax (4 lbs 12 oz): $3.38
Box of Washing Soda (3 lbs 7 oz): $3.24
Med Bottle of Blue Dawn (24 oz): $2.49
Downy Unstoppables (19.5oz) : $5.97 (I actually got mine much cheaper on a sale at Target, so keep your eyes open)

Total Cost: $15.10

The bottle of Downy Unstoppables is the smallest, allowing for 7 gallons of detergent, so we will do our math based on that number, though you will have PLENTY of leftover Dawn, Borax, and Washing Soda for future detergent.

$15,10 divided by 7 = $2.15/gallon.
There are 16 cups in a gallon, so 32 loads worth in each gallon.  That makes each load a total cost of 6.7-cents.

If you calculated it based on the amount of products actually USED for 7 gallons....

Borax - 1 lb, 5 oz used  ($0.93)
Washing Soda - 1 lb. 5 oz used ($1.23)
Dawn - 10.5 oz used ($1.06)
Downy Unstoppables - whole bottle used ($5.97)

Total Cost of products USED: $9.21
Total Cost per Gallon: $1.31
Total Cost per Load: 4-cents
Total Loads in 7 gallons: 224

If you are using an HE washer, you will need even less soap per load, bringing your total down as low as even 1-cent per load!!

Have fun and let me know if you try it!! :D

Found Some Treasure Today

Today I found some truly remarkable treasure. I was merely sorting through things trying to prepare for our upcoming yard sale, and I stumbled across hundreds of handwritten recipes, literally generations old.

When I got married back in the year 2000, my Mammaw (that's my grandma, folks) gave me the recipe box on the left, filled with hand-written recipes from the many women there in TX who touched my life growing up.  It is a treasure that I hold incredibly dear to my heart, especially because most of those people are now gone.

On the right is another recipe box that I came across today as I was sorting through things for a garage sale.  I didn't recognize it, and thought it might have been something I bought years ago from a garage sale or thrift store.  When I opened it up to take a look, it took my breath away.  It is filled with hand-written recipes from my ancestors, dating back to my great, great grandmother.  They are noted with names and the year they were written at the top, and have obviously been well loved and well used.

It was absolutely breathtaking to thumb through these, written out by women decades gone, and recognizing some of the recipes as ones that I ate in my own family growing up.  There is a strange and beautiful connection that happens with food and tradition. I cannot wait to someday pass these on to my own daughter, and watch her carry forward the legacy of generations of kitchens before us.

As if that wasn't enough, I found some other special cookbooks that I had all but forgotten about.  The first here is one called "Fort Sill Entertains" and is filled with recipes, memories, and Menus from the Spouse's Club there at Ft. Sill.  That is the base where we were stationed as hubby served nearly 7 years of his Army career.

I met many of the most incredible women I have ever come to know during my time at Fort Sill. It has been years since I've seen many of them, but we stay in touch, a bond of sisterhood and friendship that spans both space and time.

Next is a church cookbook from the First Baptist Church in Seguin, TX.  My grandma's recipes are published in here along with many of the other women that served as role models, friends, and honorary family in my growing up years.  Many of those recipes are for meals that we shared in the courtyard at the church, during an Ice Cream Social or at a Sunday Banquet.  Even just reading about them takes me back to hot summers when I would go and visit and the sound of hymns as I listened to the rumbling baritone of my grandfather's singing.

Last amongst my treasures for today is the American Woman's Cookbook.  The book itself is in poor shape, but there's a part of me that loves it all the more for being so.  Someone should love it- it's lived a long and valuable life, right? Published in 1957, this book is filled to the brim with recipes, guides, ads and coupons.  It is a treasure trove and a snapshot of life nearly 60 years ago.  The pages lay flat when you open the book, which tells me it has been used over and over and over again.  As I thumb through the recipes I wonder what this book has seen, how many tables it's recipes have graced as families have built memories together over new and old traditions.

Do you have any special recipe books, or family recipes that mean something special to you?  Please comment below and tell me all about them.  I would absolutely love to hear about it.

Her Family Tree

Two years ago I made a birthday promise to paint something for my dear friend Kim once she got into her new house.  She decided that she wanted to have a tree on her living room wall to display her family photos on, as though they were hanging from the branches. She moved in a year ago, and today I was finally able to go over and get it done for her.

 We spent the afternoon chatting and watching Jon Taffer rescue bars across America while I painted.  She told me stories about the people in her family as we hung them up on her tree, and watched as her display came to life.

It's things like this that make me grateful to have a paintbrush in hand.  Furniture is pretty, and I love to do a nice canvas painting once in a while too.  This though, holds up the people that mean the most to Kim, and for that I'm honored to have been able to paint it. <3

The Artist's Gift

After 40 years away from the craft, my amazing and incredible artist of a mother took to painting again so that she could give me a custom piece of her own hand.  I can't believe with talent like this, that she hasn't picked up a paintbrush in decades.

She managed to capture the stars, the glow of the warmth inside the cottage, the texture of the vines and the grass, as well as the gorgeous stone on the building (which, by the way, is based on some of my favorite French architecture). With this stunning piece hanging in my room, I can go to sleep each night imagining that I am gazing out of that upper floor window, surveying the beauty of the french countryside by moonlight. <3  I cannot ask for more than this, the precious gift of my artist mother. <3

Bread Box Charging Station

So, I am fairly convinced that my family keeps Apple in business.  Okay, okay... Samsung too.  We're equal opportunity techies.  I honestly couldn't tell you how many different phones and tablets we have cycling around this house, but that fact alone tells me there's most likely too many (though I don't see that changing anytime soon).  That said, we ALWAYS have something charging, and usually several things at once.  It isn't the most beautiful thing ever to see cords and tablets everywhere.  We've tried containing the mass charging to the bathroom so it is out of sight, but even that winds up completely taking over the counter.  Time to get creative! 

When I was at Good Will a while ago I spotted this beat up roll-top bread box, and thought it might be just what I was looking for.  It was 50% off and I paid about $3 for it after tax, so I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot and see what I can do with it.

The first thing I did was give it a good wipe down, and then I got right in there with the Kukui stain and finish from CeCe Caldwell's Paints.  I was concerned that with the roll top it would be particularly difficult to get into the nooks and crannies, but I was happily proven wrong.  This was one of the easier projects I've done, and I truly do love it.  As always, I am amazed at what a little bit of stain and finish can do to really make something look new!  This is going to look so beautiful sitting on my kitchen counter.  Unless I tell them, no one would know that inside of that gorgeous box is a pile of technology charging away.

Next we are going to cut a hole in the back of the box through which we can feed the cord of a surge protector.  This will mean that only one cord will be coming out of the box, and we will still be able to charge multiple devices.  There is plenty of room in the box for multiple devices to fit in there at once.  Hooray for beautiful organization at last. <3

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

Well, okay it's not on the wall yet, but I couldn't resist.

Hubby and I haven't had a mirror in our room for a LONG time, and I knew I wanted one once we moved.  I had been on the lookout for a nice one with good design elements for some time, and finally found what I was looking for.

This project started out with a mirror that I found at the thrift store for $5.99.  Not bad for a piece with nice bones like this.  Unfortunately, I am not a fan of gold in my own home, so I knew I wanted to dress it up to match my style.

Hubby and I have decided that we want to do turquoise accents and rustic decor in our bedroom, so I thought I would start there and see where it goes.  I picked up some CeCe Caldwells Paints (Beckley Coal and Santa Fe Turquoise), and got myself to work.

One of the things I absolutely LOVE about CeCe Caldwell Paints is that you do not have to sand before you paint!  It sticks, it stays, and it goes on usually in one coat.  I can't imagine having to sand all the little crevices and curves on the frame - that would have been a nightmare.  This stuff is the hero of paints, truly!

I started with a basecoat in the Beckley Coal, and dry brushed the Santa Fe Turquoise over top on little areas to highlight it without being overpowering.  That also helps it play into the rustic aspect of things really nicely!  Then I finished it all off with two coats of CeCe Caldwell Endurance Finish, and vuah lah!

All finished and ready to go up on the wall once we get to the new place.  Kevin jokes that I need to paint a ghost on the glass, because it's "just that kind of mirror."  I think I'll leave her as is. ;)  Isn't she pretty? :)

Easy Designer Art Projects

As I've mentioned, we're preparing for a move and trying to get some projects done to make things easy, fun, and fashionable when we get there.  My daughter, Anna, wants her room to be green and white, with a "vine" theme.  She loves nature, and all things leafy.  We had a little bit of spray paint leftover from her lamp, fan, and trash can renovations, so we decided to make some coordinating canvases to hang on her wall. 

The process for creating these gorgeous pieces was incredibly simple, kid-friendly, and took less than 5 minutes each.  I had Anna pick up a few small branches that had fallen from a tree in our yard and we laid them out over the canvas.  I had her spraypaint right over the top of the branch and when she was content with the coverage we lifted the branch to reveal the negative.  I love how it has such dimension and looks so natural and pretty!!  

We made two different ones so that she could have some coordinating artwork for her walls.  I love the designer look, and she loves that they were her own creation.  I'd say it's a win-win.

What items can you think of that would make great negatives to spray paint over on canvas??

How I Rescued an End Table

We were given a bunch of furniture for free from an awesome friend of ours.  The living room set had been painted a warm brown color on the bottom and the top was a dated oak that needed some sprucing up.

In keeping with the color scheme from our TV stand, we used Beckley Coal paint from CeCe Caldwell's Paints, as well as their Kukui Stain and Finish for the top.  I am going to take a moment here and tell you that these paints and stains are totally worth their weight in gold & go a long way.  We were able to paint multiple pieces of furniture with just one can of each!  Talk about savings!

Keeping costs down is a huge part of DIY renovations for me.  The whole point is to revive something that can still be useful, and improve our home and surroundings, without breaking the bank.  For us, it is a wonderful way to get designer style at a thrift store price (or even free).

I was uncertain as to how the stain would do going over an already varnished top (we did not sand first), but decided to give it a go.  I was absolutely blown away by how much this stepped up the beauty of this piece!!  As with the TV stand, we used the Kukui to finish over the paint on the bottom, to give a deeper color and a strong seal.

To say that we are THRILLED with this renovation is an understatement!  I love when you can see new life being breathed into a dated piece.  Our living room is really starting to come together, and we are getting so excited about this move to TX.  It is going to be a lot of fun to finally see the room finished and put together.  I can't wait. 

An Anniversary Renovation

Our 15th Wedding Anniversary was this last week, and we had arranged for this weekend to be one just for the two of us, kid-free and fancy-free.  So what did we decide to do with our time?  Renovate furniture, of course!!  We had so much fun talking about the coming changes in our lives and getting things ready for the transition.  We have decided to give our current household items a facelift before the big move to TX, and finish up some long-neglected projects.  We want a fresh start when we get there!

I bought the piece above 5 years ago for a whopping $20, as a part of a china cabinet.  The top cabinet piece was broken, the glass was missing, the lights were out, and it was generally not usable, so out it went.  I kept the bottom piece with the intention of redoing it at some point, but never seemed to get around to it.  This weekend, we decided to dive right in.

First up, the tools of the trade.  Kevin works for CeCe Caldwell's Paints, so we are pretty fortunate to have access to amazing inspiration and tutorials on a pretty regular basis.  We used all natural Beckley Coal paint for the base.  We used pallet wood for the top, and stained it with Kukui stain & finish.  Because it is also a finish we did not have to do another step with the top to seal it.  We also used the Kukui to finish the base, which added some depth to the color, and gave a nice strong finish to the paint.  

With a LOT of hard work and some amazing products, it looks awesome!  I love it.  We are going to use it for a TV stand in the new house.  It will match our other living room furniture too, which is in the works as we speak.  Can't wait to show you!!

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think of our DIY Renovation of the TV stand! 

5 Secrets to a Love that Lasts

Today is my 15th wedding anniversary. That's a pretty significant number, and I realized today that we have been together for more than half of my life.  I look at that face and I see laughter, tears, our beautiful children, strength through my fear, peace in my storms, comfort in my hurt, and the man I want to wake up to every single day. He is my past, my present, and my future.

Here are 5 ways we have stayed so madly in love:

1. Be each other's BEST FRIENDS.  Yes it is okay to have other "Best Friends" too, but this needs to be the FIRST person you want to go to to talk about your joys, your frustrations, your sadness, your anger, your everything.  It needs to be the person you laugh with and have inside jokes with.  This needs to be the person you can let go and be yourself with, and not worry that they are going to change their opinion of you if you say something totally stupid or have a booger on the outside of your nose. Beyond what they can do for you in the relationship, think about what kind of friend you can be to them, especially if you notice this piece of things is lacking.  Never forget that you get back what you put in, so be the best friend you can be to your mate.  Make some new memories and find reasons to laugh together. Ask them about their day (use specifics and remember things that they've mentioned are important to them).  Leave a little surprise for them.  Call them just to say hello and talk.  Step away from the computer and snuggle up and watch a movie they like for a change.  Listen to music together. Go hiking, even if you don't like it, but they do.  Be a real FRIEND, and your connection will grow more than you can imagine.

Prom, 1999

2. MAKE TIME for each other.  Real time.  Date time.  Quiet time.  Sexy time.  MAKE. THE. TIME.  Put it on the calendar if you have to, and let it be concrete.  We have a standing date night and those within our circle know that those are "black out dates" and we are not available. Prioritize the commitments with your partner so that they KNOW they are important to you.  Don't let anything stand in the way of that.  Yes, I know many of you have kids (so do we), and jobs (so do we), and commitments (so do we).  It comes down to priorities, and this really needs to be high up there.  We tell our kids that we need to have time together because it helps us to be the best mom & dad we can be.  It's the truth, and it gives them an example of how to prioritize their marriage as well when they're older, so I have no problem showing them that we need time for the two of us.  We make time for the kids as well, and have amazing people that stay with them when we go.

3. Get good and MAD sometimes.  Let's face it.  Not everything is sunshine and roses, and sometimes we screw up.  One of the worst things you can do for your relationship is to harbor resentment, because that just grows and gets to be a huge festering monster that drools and poops on everything that matters to you in your relationship.  No one wants that.  If there is something that hurt you or bothers you, get it out.  Have the argument.  Cry.  Do whatever you need to to work through it.  Then make up.  Cuddle and be together.  Do nice things for each other.  Be awkward but loving after it's all said and done.  Just don't feed the festering poop monster.

4. BUILD EACH OTHER UP.  Yep.  All caps on that one.  It's huge.  Believe in your partner and tell them so.  Say nice things EVERY DAY and mean them.  Tell them what you love about them on a regular basis. Complement their appearance, their commitment to their career, the way they are with the kids, their consistency in doing something around the house that helps everyone.  Say thank you whenever you have the opportunity.  Let them know when they did something that was helpful or meant something to you.  Don't assume they know - use your words. It's powerful, it means a LOT to your partner, and it WILL come back in your direction if you just start that ball rolling.

5. BELIEVE IN FOREVER.  All caps again.  Take "break up" and "divorce" out of your vocabulary (unless of course you are in an unsafe situation).  This is it.  You're in it for the long haul. The whole enchilada.  You aren't going anywhere until the fat lady sings at your funeral. Once you remove this "out" from your mindset, you will find that you change your entire approach to your relationship.  It can't be something that you view as temporary, or based on whatever circumstances seem to be happening at the time.  If you want a love that lasts, you have to truly believe it will last FOREVER.

At least that is what's worked for me. :)

Do you have any tips or tricks for what keeps the love alive?  Post below in the comments!  I'd love to hear from you!

10 Things No One Tells You About Personal Growth

Over the last 6 months I have flipped my life upside down.  I knew I needed a change, and that it was time to take control over some areas of my life that had been bothering me for some time.

I have a tendency to put myself last to take care of my beautiful and amazing family.  While I wouldn't change my love and service to them, I knew it was time to take a look at my own journey and start working toward some long-lost goals of my own. This phase of personal growth for me has been a tough one.  Nose to the grindstone, beaten and bruised, sweating my ass off, TOUGH.

And here's what I've learned.

1. There is no RIGHT path.  I always used to think that I was put in this life to uncover what I was *meant* to do, as if there was some cosmic alignment of pre-destined greatness just waiting for me to get my head out of the sand and find it.  The truth is that this world is made up of all kinds of people in all kinds of situations and all kinds of jobs, and roles, and they are ALL important.  Maybe what I'm doing is not up there with Mother Theresa's selflessness or Van Gogh's talent, but the path I *choose* is the right one for me because it FITS. And that's okay.  Part of my own personal growth is accepting that my own journey is about being my best self in whatever way fits me and my life.  There are no standards to meet beyond those I set for myself.

2. You will QUESTION yourself.  Besides the "right path" thing, you start to wonder if it's worth it.  Make no mistake, it is HARD to do this.  When you begin to really explore the idea of changing your life, improving yourself, and reaching for a better way of living, you come up against a whole slew of obstacles.  Sometimes we take those obstacles to mean that it's not the right path, but in truth, it's just the speed bumps that you've been avoiding going over to get to something better.  Trust the journey.

3. Others will QUESTION you.  People in general don't like change, and when someone they care about starts to evolve it can be scary.  Sometimes it comes across in flippant or "joking" comments.  Sometimes it becomes clear that people just don't believe that you will succeed. Whatever it is, consider it fuel to move you forward.  Keep your goals in your sights, and don't let it stop you.

4. Jealousy is a BITCH.  We tend to surround ourselves with people that are similar mindsets to our own.  When you go and change on them, people don't like it.  The worst thing is when those people you've shared so much of your heart and life with share your goals as well, but you get there first.  There's a reason I have often held back into the shadows and not gone for the spotlight in my life.  I've held back, and while it has kept my relationships at a steady level of mutual experience, it hasn't served my own journey.  I naively thought that some of these people would celebrate with me through my growth and determination, but sadly that was not the case.

5. You have to make tough CHOICES.  When you grow, you inevitably leave some pieces of your past behind.  I'm a sentimental person, and I have never been good at weeding things out of my life.  When you make a conscious choice to move toward your goals and grow as a person, the sifting and sorting begins to automatically happen.  The good part about this is that you can see clearly the people and situations that are good and right in your life.  The bad part is that whether you want it or not, you're shown pretty clearly what, and who, needs to change in your life, and it is up to you to make the final decision to do so.  Let me tell you, it is not easy to draw a line in the sand and say "this is what is best for me."  Unfortunately, if you do not make those tough choices, you cannot continue to grow.

6. Obstacles appear out of NOWHERE. There is some cosmic rule that when you actively try to change, shit is going to get thrown your way.  I'm going to blame this one on Newton with his law of intertia.  According to Google the definition is, "the resistance of any physical object to any change in its state of motion, including changes to its speed and direction."  Again... the world resists change, and going from a place of rest to a place of motion is going to stir things up.  Fact of life.  I'm talking about things no one could predict... sickness, unexpected financial strain, someone passing away.  Stuff is going to happen and it is going to be hard to work through and keep moving forward.

7. You will want to QUIT.  Somewhere along the way with everything you are up against, you are going to look back at your life before with rose colored glasses and think, "that wasn't so bad."  You're going to dream of sleeping in, of the relationships you miss that are gone now, and of how things were so "simple" then.  You can tell yourself you'll always have another chance.  You can try again next month... next year... It all looks very tempting, and you WILL want to quit.  But don't.  Don't throw all of that hard work away, and take from yourself this once chance for change.

8. When you change one thing, EVERYTHING changes.  Yeah, I didn't expect this.  I thought I would just be adding in a new career.  I thought I would just be improving my own determination and passion for life.  I anticipated that I would just be expanding on the life I already had.  I had no idea my life as a whole would look different.

9. Sometimes you have to take a big risk (and it's SCARY).  I took a risk when I made the decision to try and change my life.  I took a risk when I started a new career.  I took a risk when I made the tough choices in my relationships.  And I'm taking a risk now.  We decided based on our goals and life changes that we should move back home to Texas.  Change is scary for me, especially when it involves my whole family.  We have been carefully considering this option for months, and ultimately we decided it was time to take that step.  The risk is great, but so is the reward.

10. It's totally WORTH IT.  While there has certainly been a lion's share of tears and heartaches along the way, all of this is for good reason.  I feel a renewed sense of self that I can be proud of.  I am happy with my career.  I have built new, healthier relationships.  Many of my previous relationships are stronger and I feel an even deeper connection with them now.  My marriage is thriving.  My children see me reaching for my goals and achieving them (giving them a faith in themselves to do the same).  Our lives are improving financially.  We are able to work toward our family's long term goals.  Most of all, I am happy with who I am, and who I am continually becoming.