Lurkers DELURK -- and a CONTEST!

This is the kid's playroom .... it was painted YEL-LOW because that is absolutely what I could not live without.  Seriously, we have been in this house for a little over 3 yrs and we have nearly completely renovated the whole darn thing (on a BUDGET I might add).  

Anyway, it is beach themed ~ and yes, I know those are silk hydrangeas up top - not very beachy, huh?  There is nothing wrong with your computer monitor ~ those blue marks are because I ran out of paint and the quart of paint that I bought was not exact, so you  could see where I painted over it.  I hated it, but we had SO much going on in the rest of the house, this would have to wait.

This is the playroom today ~ amazing what cold medicine can make you do.  I had the whole dang thing done in a day and NEVER RAN OUT OF ENERGY!!  I painted it "Sea Sand" (appropriate, huh?) and wallpapered the bottom a faux grasscloth (cheeeeeaappp) and even cheaper when using a gift card!  Paint was left over from the guest bathroom that is very near this room.  Also, this is only a 3 wall room, it's the typical "Children's Retreat" often placed in David Weekly homes.  We love it.  I wanted to make it more kid friendly ..... make it a true "retreat" for them.

We trimmed out the window and kept the chair railing that was up.  I insisted on using the same curtains and other decor that was in the room.  A lot of it is sentimental to me for reasons that would probably be dumb to you, BUT I wanted to keep them and yes, they DO match.  There are MANY different colors in the fabric and it is called "Cabana" -- again, appropriate!!  My problem is decorating and furniture arrangement and THIS my friends, is where my contest comes in to play!

This wall ...... what do I put there?  A shelf?  Shelves?  I do have some beautiful beach portraits of the kids that I would like to incorporate.  There are 3 of them in black and white.  I would also like to use 2 large pictures ~ see below ~ those can be placed on either side of the window as well, but I'm keeping my options open on them.  

This is the other side of the room - it's about 8x10 with just the 3 walls.  The other wall houses a LARGE PBK white bookcase,tv set, that has most of their toys and a tv, with the wii, DVD, etc.    I was thinking of placing a kid's club chair in that corner, maybe a computer armoire in the other corner (that would FIT and is made for a corner) and then possibly a window seat/bench in between the two.  I'd like to throw in a couple bean bag chairs or some LARGE floor pillows.

*** The white doors are LARGE cabinet doors that a friend of ours (who happens to make custom cabinets for a living) made for us.  They were free and VERY welcomed.  Cover up 2 LARGE - what used to be - wall units.  They are VERY deep and hold lots and lots of stuff. ***

 *** This desk is going away eventually and the computer will be moved to a corner computer armoire ***   If that helps any of you to envision what I'm talking about here.
So send me your suggestions!  I'm offering up a $25 gift card to a store of YOUR CHOICE (so long as I can get it online) for your suggestions.  Link me to your blog and I'll give you another entry!  I will use a Random Drawing to pick the winner, but all you have to do to enter is LEAVE ME A SUGGESTION or DESIGN TIP of what I should do in this room, including furniture placement, what to put on the walls, etc etc etc.   It's a beach theme room and ties in with the other parts of the house and my kids are 4 and 6.

Contest will end Saturday, January 31!

THANKS!

Sweet ....

Besides the fact that I haven't done a post in 3 days, I wanted to put this video up for y'all to see if you haven't seen it yet. It's adorable ......




I'll be posting pictures of the playroom that we just repainted .... and I think I need to do a CONTEST!!!!

I'm scared .....

See that??  Know what it is??  It is my new Cricut Expression Chad bought me for Valentine's Day.  See, I'm a night owl and was up watching all my tivo'd Real Housewives of whatever, Nip/Tuck, J&K+8, Wedding Central (b/c HELLO, deep down I want to be a wedding planner), etc etc etc .... well, I fell asleep and woke up to an infomercial about this thing.  Now, my girl here is a scrapbooking, Cricut WHIZ and she has the orginal cricut. She said if I bought the new one, because it CUTS to 24" big, I could use all of her cartridges.  We could use it TOGETHER .... so after much comparing, etc, I finally did it (it took about 2 1/2 months before I ordered it).  It came, I opened it and I promptly shut it back.  There is SO much to this machine but I am IN LOVE .... I got all the vinyl too b/c I love the vinyl stuff -- it's all over my house.   I love monogramming and was in this cute little store in Acworth, GA when I was home for Thanksgiving -- I bought some stuff and they asked if I wanted it monogrammed.  I told them I didn't live here but said "This is done using the cricut, isn't it?" and she said "It shore is!" ... and that's when I decided I could. not. live. without. it.  They wanted $10 for a 3 letter monogram and vinyl costs about $5 for a HUGE sheet ..... so there you have it.

As soon as I figure out how to master this joker, EVERYBODY will be getting stuff.  I can't help it ..... 

Miscellaneous Monday

I went to the shooting range today with Chad ~ my first time EVER shooting a gun.  I think I did pretty good, although it did scare me half to death.   It was SO loud ..... even with the earphones on.   We shot over 100 rounds of ammo.  I got the bright idea that I needed to practice picking up the gun, aiming and shooting -- as if someone were breaking in to our house.   We were with friends and I was telling my girlfriend "OK .... .BOO!" .. it was not funny.  Although we were laughing our butts off, the boys just didn't think it was funny.  Chad said "Pick up the gun and shoot, woman" ... so I picked up the gun (like someone was breaking in), pulled it up and COULD NOT FIRE.   When I finally did fire, that joker recoiled and left a nasty bruise on my thumb knuckle -- BUT Chad was proud of me.  He truly believes in the 2nd Amendment Right -- well, and he's a redneck and I'm married to him, so what else can I say.  

Secondly, we spent Saturday in Kissimmee for Kennedy's 1st Cheer Competition of the season.  She has 5 more.  She did really great and I was so proud of my girl.  She is far left, on top -- they came in 3rd by 1/8th of a point. 

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL!?!  

Lastly, I got a new 'do -- LOVE it.  Chad and I went to our friend, Chris Trotti's 40th birthday party.  Here is his wife and one of my BFFs, Shawn ~ she is just beautiful and I think this is a great picture!  We ALWAYS take a picture like this whenever we are together and I always look like poo - - NOT THIS TIME, BABY!!  We boogied and sang all night -- it was so much fun!!

I have to say, Baby Harper has been on my mind all weekend.  I have been following closely to the blogs for updates on her status.  I have fallen to my knees to pray for this baby girl and I hope you will too.  She is a miracle in itself.   Keep Praying!!

I'm playing around with my blog ~ and will be adding blogs that I 'stalk', er I mean read daily .... it's certainly a work in progress as I should be cleaning my house today ... but I digress ... blogging is so much more important.

Prayers Needed

Please be in prayer for Baby Harper -- her mom is Kelly (Kelly's Korner: link on my sidebar) -- I am running out the door to our first cheer competition -- it's 5:45 AM but I feel that I MUST post to get as many prayers as possible on her behalf.  Intercede to our Lord Jesus on their behalf .....

Much Love,

Natalie

Take Note ....

If you have a Michael's Craft store near you, this is a perfect craft.  Now listen, I am NOT crafty, nor do I claim to be.  I do claim to be resourceful and I will steal any idea, BUT I will tell you first that I am stealing (or borrowing it) -- imitating is the sincerest form of flattery, right?  I am so excited about this one, because it's something I came up with on my own.  

I got these notecards at Michael's for $.60 for a set of 10!  I bought a TON and they had all different designs.  I bought the ones that did not look Christmas-sy so I could use them for something like this.  The ribbon you see was also $.60 a roll -- CHEAP!  I have a friend with an upcoming birthday and thought this would be a nice little added gift (dont't worry, I'm not that cheap, I also bought her another gift to go with these) ~ anyway, I was with my fabulous friend Torrie and she suggested I get the glitter.  I bought the opal colored glitter glue and then just embellished the notecards in random places.  

Before ~ not embellished ~ still pretty but what girl doesn't love a little sparkle?!

You can't really see, but there is glitter on the card.  If you click on the picture, it will make it bigger and you can see it.

I took the ribbon and found some other black ribbon in my stash and wrapped it up all nice and pretty.  SO for less than $2 ~ I have a beautiful gift for a someone special!