Sewing Room Makeover: Paint

Choosing paint colors has always intimidated me! Our kitchen was repainted 3 times, our bathroom 4 times...all because I loved the color on the little 2x3in swatch, but once it was on the wall it wasn't at all what I wanted. So choosing a color for a room I will spend a lot of time in kind of makes my head spin. Not to mention that I know my husband is only going to *want* to paint this room *once*!

My family and I ventured out to Lowe's and I stared at the wall of swatches. I was drawn in 2 directions. I really liked the relaxing hue of the slate blues paired with white and the vibrant cheeriness of the lime greens paired with pinks. I picked out all the swatches I loved and just kept mulling over them. While there we priced a few items for the makeover. One thing I knew I would need was bins for storage....I immediately fell in love with these...

Aren't they cute?!?! This made my decision much easier....Lime green and pinks it is! But which lime green?

To help me decide the exact shade, this morning I went to valspar.com and played around with their virtual painter...so cool!! Here's the before and after using Sonic Lime on the walls and Positively Pink & Pink Burst as accents. (Pegboard will cover the unsightly breaker box...not sure if I will paint the pegboard...used it as a visual for the accent colors.)

I would love to hear your comments on the paint colors!!

Sewing Room Makeover: Bookshelves!

My wonderful husband picked up the bookcases last night from Walmart and put them together for me. I was actually surprised at the quality of the shelves given they were only $26. I am very pleased with them and can't wait for my comic book backing boards to come so I can tackle my jungle of fabric!

After

Before

 

Sewing Room Makeover: Frugality *SCORE*!

I ♥ getting the lowest price possible....I found my bookcases (need 2 for sewing room makeover) online for $35...thought that was great, then noticed they were only 9in deep. Most of my storage baskets/containers are about 11+ inches, so I started looking at other bookshelves hoping I could find something as cheap or within a few dollars of the other one. My google search led me back to Walmart to an "In Store Only" item which was In Stock *AND* only $26!! They are the perfect depth and are wider as well! Here's a pic from walmart.com...

Mainstays Bookshelf as seen on walmart.com

The bookshelves will be the new home of my fabric and yarn stash which will make everything more accessible.

I read on a few blogs where people used comic book backing boards for creating bolts of fabric. I have ordered 300 of them and am anxious to get them!

I will be blogging the Sewing Room makeover throughout the entire process...hoping to show what you can do with a small space on an even smaller budget :)

To every thing there is a season....

Ecclesiastes 3:1
      To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. 

I love all the seasons, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be Autumn! The changing of leaves, the relief of the hot summer days, the smells of crisp leaves and apples and cinnamon. Like the changing of leaves, there's been a recent change in my heart: A desire to bring more color and interest into the lives of my children and husband. I have noticed the effects of too little *quality* time spent with each of them. Feeling as though my days were too full to even think about adding anything *extra* to my already full plate. God has been working in my heart...I always love it when He does that because I know something great is about to happen! He has pointed out areas where my time is spent staring at a computer screen, completely detached from those around me. While the computer plays an important part in my daily life: email, my online business, research for home schooling, keeping up with friends and family via Facebook, etc., it has become a time hog. So I created a personal Mon-Fri daily schedule to set specific times to be on the computer and created some special times for my family through out the day!

Here's the new schedule:

6-6:30 Personal Devotions w/a cup of coffee or tea :)
6:30-7 Exercise
7-7:30 Spend time with Randy before he leaves for work
7:30-7:45 Computer
7:45-8 wake kids, breakfast
8-8:30 Morning chores
8:30-12 SCHOOL TIME
12-12:30 Lunch and clean-up, *10/10 pick-up, quick check email
12:30-1:00 Story time/Play time
1:00-3:00 Nap/Quiet time (crochet, sew, afternoon chores)
3-3:30 *10/10 pick-up & snack
3:30-4:30 Dinner preparation
4:30-5:30 Randy home, Dinner served, Clean-up, *10/10 pick-up
5:30-7 Free time (family time...help kids with memorization)
7:00-8:00 Family Devotions
8:00-11:00 Children's bedtime, Randy and I alone time :)
11-11:30 Computer time/blog/journal update
11:30 BED!!! :)

*10/10 pick-ups ~ this is a pick-up all the kids take part in 3 times a day. They pick up 10 items through-out the house, then 10 more....so 20 items in all per kid!! These clean-up times are the key to a tidy home!

Live in the Sunshine!!

Autumn Inspiration

I was talking to a friend about the different types of people in our lives...those who inspire, those who teach, those who support, and those that we watch with saddened hearts as they take paths in life that simply teach us how *not* to be. Each are important...the latter we generally do not like, but it's still vital for each of us as a person to grow in our lives.

Yesterday I was *Inspired* by a mom I know through a message board for those who have large families. She shared a picture of a meal she had made for her family on Facebook and as soon as I saw it, I was inspired to create something just as lovely for my family. It screamed of Autumn and warmth! I could already smell the pumpkin bread throughout the house just thinking of what a wonderful meal this would be! And oh was it WONDERFUL!! Thank you to the mama who Inspired me to better for my family today!!

Apple and Pecan Pork Chops, Loaded Baked Scalloped Potatoes, Candied carrots

Pumpkin Bread Muffins!! YUM!

Enjoying *every* bite!!

Our stuffed turkeys :)

 
                                  Living in the Sunshine!

Sophia's Petti-Tutu & Crochet Lamb Hat

I was so anxious to get this finished for Sophia! She wasn't sure how to move around in it though...so funny!

The Petti-Tutus with a crochet hat is my new love! I finished this one up for my site today...I just love it!!

I named the hat Sadie Hippo :) I think I'm gonna make one for one of the girls!



             Live in the Sunshine!!

Loving the Laughter

Nothing is better than the sound of my children laughing! It is so contagious! My kids were my sunshine today!! Live, Laugh, Love!!

            Live in the Sunshine!!

JoJo's new hat!

When I saw the pattern for this hat on etsy I just had to make it for JoJo!! He's my little old man and I just think it fits him perfectly! Jo Jo is my Sunshine! Our special moment each day is when I sing "You Are My Sunshine" to him. I live for that!

Finding Sunshine in the Valley

Life is a journey that can lead us through some very difficult times, aka: valleys. Everyone we know and those we have yet to meet face their own unique valleys. The way we deal with our valleys is just as unique and different as we are. It took me a while to see that even while in the valley, there are still beautiful things surrounding us. The valley isn't always a bad place, but a place of growth. There's nothing more comforting and warming than rays of sunshine. The sunshine can move us, when we would otherwise not  move. God created the sun for so many things and lately it's been a reminder of His goodness! I challenge you to find the sunshine no matter what life is throwing at you!