Awake to the Cross

I read this article, Getting Bored With the Right Things, a couple days ago after our pastor posted it on his Facebook wall. I'm not always quick to "re-post" things, but with this one I did. I asked Paul to read it and told him that I think it changed my life. Of course, you cannot see the fruits of a life changed in just 10 minutes, but what I meant is that I want this to change the way that I think. And I want my life to look different as a result of my thinking being transformed.

I'm praying now over myself and Paul that "the things of earth will grow strangely dim," and that we will be awake to the things of the cross and asleep to the things of the world. This applies to so much right now. In our life and home, in our country and in the world. It is so tempting to be distracted by things that are fading away. I get worked up about things that actually will perish and I spend such little time knowing Jesus and passionately fighting for the souls of men.

This all made me think of the poem by C.T. Studd which was made known to me through the writings of Elisabeth Elliot. I made the little sampler above and set it as my desktop background to help me remember the repeating line throughout the day. The poem reads:

Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

This Designer Cares

This past week, I've had another opportunity to "give" and I am so proud to tell you about this new project.

I've often written on the blog about my involvement with Minted and how much I've grown from their challenges. But I'm afraid I've failed to mention that through Minted, I have come to know the most incredible network and community of designers. They all feel like real friends to me and although I have not even met a single one of them in person (yet!), I have been so blessed by their wisdom, critiques, advice and friendships.

This past weekend, my designer friend, Jackie from Believe Notes, initiated a movement from our little community to do our part in raising funds for Sandy relief. She organized a collaboration of designers to donate our designs which will be stamped and embossed on cards for sale in the Etsy shop. She has really given her heart and soul the past 5 days towards this effort, and more than 40 well established designers have generously given to the cause. All of the proceeds go straight to the Red Cross, and our design community has even raised funds to help cover overhead costs. Our hope is that we can selflessly use our gifts to bless those in need.

Here are a few of my favorite designs posted, but there are sooo many great cards in the shop! I hope you'll check them out.

Visit the shop and spread the word!

A Quilting (Wanna)Bee

I have always loved quilts. I think it all started when I was a wee-little thing caught up in the world of American Girls (Kirsten, to be specific). I remember in one of the books, Kirsten participated in a quilting bee. I can't even tell you the storyline, but I do remember that I loved picturing myself sitting in that field with Kirsten and her friends sewing squares for our quilt. I must have been so drawn to this in fact, that it's one of the strongest mental pictures I have from the books. I don't know what it is exactly, but I just think they're beautiful. And my fascination and love for them has continued into my adult life. Remember this one? Still one of my favorite thrift store finds.

So recently, I found the blog, MessyJesse and fell in love with her style and quilts. She kept writing how she was a beginner (although by now I wouldn't call her that) and it really gave me the encouragement and confidence to start my own quilt. One of her first projects was this granny square quilt and I thought I would give it a try as well.

{MesseJesse}

My budget is small, so I headed to Goodwill a couple weeks ago to look for some fabric. I scored some great deals with pillow cases, scrap fabric pieces, bed sheets and even a couple little girl's dresses. I also cut up a couple of my own old shirts that were worn down and I never wore anymore. Here are my instagram pictures of my shopping cart and my rotary cuttings.

I decided to use this tutorial which I found through Jessie's site. I'm using 2.5 inch scrap squares, and plan to make 20 blocks in total. I think my strips will be about 2.5 inches wide in between each block, and then maybe 6 inches on the edges, just as her instructions say in the tutorial. Composing the blocks can be tricky, but it's been fun to rotate colors and play around with the different options. I'm hoping to use the sewing machine at my mom's on Friday to start putting the blocks together. I can't wait!

This has turned out to be the perfect project to work on in the evenings and on weekends as football season is in full swing. Paul loves to watch the games and is in two fantasy leagues so we're able to hangout in the same room, but both enjoy our individual hobbies! Plus, I've been appreciating this creative outlet away from the computer. I love designing, but lately I've been getting so stir crazy sitting and staring at the screen. I've found that after some time away, I feel much more refreshed when I do come back to my work on the computer.

Backpack Dreams

Hi all! Today's my day off and the weather has finally been cooling down this week! Right now it's 83 degrees and breezy and I am about to head off to run some errands on my bike. And while I'm thankful for my husband's black Jansport from 1995 (it does the job, I'll give it that!), I must say I'd much rather be cruising town with this beauty. Hey, it's free to dream! I'll just have to imagine this is on my back instead :)  Happy Friday!

(ottobags on etsy)

Eric Metaxas

Last week, Paul and I had the opportunity to hear Eric Metaxas speak on his life and his book,
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Not only were both topics tremendously interesting, but I really appreciated how Eric communicates so well with humor. It took me by surprise at first – you don't necessarily expect an extremely intelligent and successful writer who is sharing about his life experiences and the life of a brilliant theologian to be so funny. But he was. After the lecture there was a few minutes for questions and a student stood up and asked him about his use of humor in communicating. And I love what he said. He explained first that God made humor, it's not something that comes from Satan and we just borrow it sometimes. God intended for us to be joyful and to enjoy humor. He also pointed out that it disarms our conversations with people. It's so true! The whole time, I felt like he was so relatable and I never felt that he was talking above me. Laughing with someone, or making someone laugh is an instant bridge builder.

Anyways, I highly recommend this talk from this year's National Prayer Breakfast if you have a half hour!

 

Snug As A Bug In A Rug

With tile floor will come the cry for...rugs!  I felt like my inner designer was set free on my quest for quality, handsome rugs at good prices. Here are some of my favorite finds.

1. This rug jumped out at me right away. I love the blues and teals, but also the pop of orange. It's light and easy to live with, but also adds some character. I am dreaming of using this rug in my office (which is the first room you see when you walk in the front door).

2. I thought this one would be cute in one of the extra bedrooms. It's a neutral with a bold design, and would be great for a guest room as well as a nursery someday (someday).

3. What's called the "dining room" in our home is actually the only sit down eating area besides the breakfast bar at the island. It's part of the great room, which includes the kitchen and family room too, and is the perfect spot for a large round table and a woven rug like this. I'm thinking the black border, but maybe the brown.

4. I've been picturing a bold, red oriental rug in the kitchen ever since I saw Jenny's post, and I think this one would be perfect for the working space between the island and pantry. It's so cozy warm and inviting looking!

5. I've been eying chevron rugs ever since Paul and I moved into our first apartment last summer. It's too much pattern for his taste so I wouldn't use it in a main living area, but could be cheerful for one of the other bedrooms. I'm drawn to the black and beige, but I would think about the pale blue and beige too.

6. And I just think this rug is really sweet and it gets good reviews so I had to put it on my list. Maybe this would go in a bedroom instead of #2 or #5...or maybe even in the master?  

It's so fun to brainstorm ideas for real. I've always loved paying attention to interior design, but I finally get to discover and express my style and tastes in our own place. I don't know if we'll choose all or any of these rugs, but I have really been enjoying the learning process of what pieces we would or wouldn't like to be expressions in our home.

Flooring

Even though it won't be a while until we get into our new home, we already have to start making some decisions about the details inside. We're thinking that the majority of our "upgrade" budget will go to flooring. So, to say I've had flooring on the brain the past couple of days, would be an understatement. It feels like a big decision to make because it sets a tone for the whole house!

Of course, being a midwestern girl, I love love love beautiful old hardwood floors. In my heart, it would be my dream to have wide plank hardwoods throughout the house. But, here in Arizona, people just loooove their tile floors. I can understand. They do keep the floor nice and cool, and in the heat of summer, I'm sure I'll be looking for anything to keep us a little cooler. And, to be honest, I'm trying to embrace the trends of my new environment (although I'm scheming to try and sneak in some wood floors in the den where I'll have my office...shhh...we'll see).

So, I've been looking through pictures on blogs and houzz.com to find some inspiration for our tile flooring. I originally thought it would just have to be a practical choice that I would get used to looking at. But I'm finding some really beautiful tile flooring and I'm really leaning towards a slate colored tile with pale grout...although Mom and I saw some really neat long plank porcelein tiles today that look JUST like wood. So I'm cautiously excited that I could actually LOVE our floors, pending their ability to fit within our price range :)  Here's some I've really liked...

 (source)

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How cool is that!?  Do you think they tried to not spell words, or maybe even set secret messages? I'm trying to imagine where in my house I would actually like this. Maybe in the laundry room? Or an entryway? You'd hate to ever replace it again.

Anyways. That's the scoop with our home planning/dreaming!  So far it's been fun researching :) Tonight we're taking a break from the usual routine and heading out for Paul's birthday celebration. I can't tell you where yet, though, it's a surprise!  Happy Friday :)

Visions of Sugar Plums

...are dancing in my head. That's right, it is May and I'm thinking about Christmas!  That's because next week starts minted's Christmas Card design challenge. I'm pretty pumped about this challenge and I have some fun ideas dancing around with those sugar plums. I can't wait to eat some peppermints (if only I could get my hands on some peppermint Joe-Joes from TJ's), blast my Christmas music and get to designing!

So to celebrate, I thought I'd post a little designers treat for you. I'm always amazed at beautifully illustrated chalkboards in coffee shops and fancy grocery stores and I found these awesome time-lapse videos by artist Dana Tanamachi. The first is in the Christmas spirit – and for one of my favorites – Dave Barnes. And the second is just awesome. Check them out!

Spring Cleaning Accountability

Spring is in the air! And so is my itch to get organized. I have to admit, being well organized is not my natural tendency. I am pretty scattered with my items, and my desk is a mess. I leave my clothes on the floor (although I blame this on a lack of closet and dresser space...can I do that?), and honestly, I just don't often see the cardigan I left on the couch two days ago. I'm not really painting myself in a very good light here. But what can I say? I'm just being honest!

All that to say, when an organizing itch kicks in, I really have to take advantage of it. Paul and I live in a fairly small 1-bedroom apartment with minimal storage space, so we try to hold ourselves back in terms of collecting "stuff." And yet, we're Americans, so we have a lot of stuff. Sometimes I feel like I bring boxes and bags of stuff to Goodwill or the resale shops and it hardly makes a dent in my home's clutter! What's up with that? It kind of makes me feel sick. Why do I have so much stuff? Which brings me to my point. Spring cleaning!

Now I need some accountability in this area, because my desire to organize and clean comes and goes with the breezes. I'm famous for starting to clean my room, but then finding a stash of old pictures and looking through them for an hour only to be inspired to make a scrapbook and greeting cards with said pictures and by the end of the evening my room is messier than ever! So. I need some help. Some focus. And to be humbled. And what better way to be humbled and to hold yourself accountable than to post your embarrassing habits on the world wide web where literally anyone who wants to can see them? There is no better way. And so, behold, I give you the first targeted disaster area, my desk:

Oh gross. There's something about seeing a picture of this area that makes it even worse! And look at the dust sitting on my printer! Good heavens. To think, this is where I sit 8 hours a day working. You would think I could poor a little more TLC into this area. Well, I am now planning to do just that!

My sweet friend Stef is preparing to work from home after her baby is born, and she has been pinning all sorts of beautiful home/work spaces as inspiration. It's been encouraging me to maybe find some ways to spruce up my work area. The big question I find hanging over my head is, do I have too much stuff, or not enough storage? Hmmm. Anyways, here are some of my inspirations:

(via)

Obviously this would be the ideal amount of storage space, but not really practical for my apartment. Still, maybe some book shelves or cubby holes could be a good solution.

(via)

You can see from my photo, that I sit on a hard kitchen chair at my desk. So not only is this room extremely lovely, but I'm drooling over that comfy (adorable!) chair.

(via)

Hoping I can use some of my leftover pegboard from our headboard DIY! I love how this is painted a strong color too :)

(via)

Right now I have those clear plastic drawers on wheels (annoying) and although they fit perfectly under my desk, I don't like how you can see everything inside – looks so messy. I like how this sweet office area has lots of storage drawers that aren't clear!

So, I hope that someday in the near future, I can come back and report an "AFTER" photo of my workspace :) 

My Palette: Spring Blooms

Paul and I went out on a little run last night after work* and we kept seeing these trees with the sweetest little yellow blossoms. I just had to go back and capture them with my camera. These colors are inspiring me today and I thought I'd share this darling palette.

*Okay, I admit it. We went to Dairy Queen too. But this month Blizzards are buy one get one for 99 cents, and I mean, come on, it's birthday week!

Taliesin West

This weekend my parents visited, and while my dad was sadly under the weather :( Paul, Mom and I took a tour of Taliesin West here in Scottsdale. If you aren't familiar, Taliesin West is the winter home and school of Frank Lloyd Wright. I can't even tell you how cool the place was. During our hour and a half tour we learned a lot not only about the grounds, but about Frank Lloyd Wright as well. He had such radical philosophies about architecture and about the way people live in general. He was ahead of his time in so many inventions and design ideas. Some of my favorite ideas and thoughts were:

He would bring around 20 apprentices down to Taliesin West with him each winter along with his 3rd wife and children. Apprentices would pay about double the tuition it cost to go to Harvard at the time, and much of their education was based on working with their hands and manual labor (as in, they would have to walk 18 miles to fill up their buckets with water, roll the rocks from the mountains to create the walls, and come up with a new invention that they actually built themselves every six months). But FLW's students were so eager to work with him because he was (and is still considered) a creative genius, and also because they knew they would come out of the education experience having actually built their own designs (only about 5% of architects today ever actually see one of their own designs built) and knowing how things actually work.  

"Taliesin" is a Welsh word for "shining brow." Taliesin West is built in the brow of the mountain. Frank Lloyd Wright wouldn't build into the mountain or on top of the mountain because he felt it disrupted the natural beauty.

Below you can see that the campus was built with canvas roofs. Here in the Phoenix area we will only get about 6 inches of rain a year, so canvas was a practical option for the roof. It keeps the rooms really cool, and allows for a completely lit room during daylight without any electricity.

The left photo is of his wife's quarters. You can see they are very small compared to our "master bedrooms" of today, but still so simple and beautiful. Frank believed that the majority of space, money and efforts should be in the living areas where the family and friends spent most of their time.

They said his best works were done from the ages of 81-91, and the man was working up to 5 days before his death. Isn't that inspiring?! Our culture is so focused on when we can stop working, but I think if the Lord allows, why shouldn't we continue using our minds and hands and hearts up to the day we die?

And I think my favorite thing I learned on the tour was his perspective of how our homes should all be unique and fitting for our own individual lives. Today, a complex of 400 builder homes might only incorporate 5 different floor plans. FLW would study people and ask his clients specific questions about  their lifestyle, even living with them for a few days if they would allow, in order to design the best home for their family, their habits, and their life. It makes sense to me that our homes should be a reflection of us as individuals, and that not every home will work for every family because we are all so unique.

There is so much, I could go on and on and on and I only took the hour and a half tour! It was super interesting, and even Paul who was skeptical to go, thought the time flew by. If you're ever out here, you totally have to go. Hope you get as inspired as I am, and if you're interested in the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Archetecture which still lives on today, visit here. How cool would it be to go through that program!? Their sophomore year they get to design and build their own dorm room. Say what?!

A Climb Up Quartz Mountain

This weekend we went back up north to visit my parents. One of our favorite parts of living here is being so close to them! I have really loved that. On our way up we stopped at sunset point to take some pictures.  Then on Saturday, we climbed up Quartz Mountain. Dad promised that it would be an "easy hike," and I believe it was for him, but as my mom says about me, I'm "built for comfort, not for speed" so it turned out to be a bit of a challenge. But I made it to the top! And I actually had a lot of fun and enjoyed seeing all the beautiful quartz at the top. It made me really want quartz countertops someday (WARNING: I am about to go on a tangent...) and so I came home and did a little research. Turns out quartz countertops are totally awesome. They are basically indestructible, can come in any color, are stain-proof, have an antimicrobial compound which helps to fight bacteria buildup, and they are green (HGTV has used quartz countertops in their last 3 dream homes)! Here are some of my dream kitchens with quartz countertops. Apparently I have a thing for white :)

(via Alice Lane Home on decor pad)

(via 1st Option on decor pad)

(via Alice Lane Home on decor pad)

So see, hiking is good for your health AND design inspiration :)  Sounds good to me. I'm ready to hit the trails!

Watercolor Wannabe

I've been so inspired by beautiful watercolor paintings lately, I have a hankering to try it out myself. Let me show you what I've been ooogling over...

(via Yael Berger)

Aren't these so beautiful? I love the simplicity of them, but then you really get lost in the pieces with all the different shades and watermarks. I would love either of these prints sitting right next to me at my desk while I work. That deer is such a dear! (sorry, couldn't resist...)

(via Tara Neal)

I think watercolor sort of has a feminine reputation. But wouldn't these planes be darling in a little boy's room? Or even a big boy's room! I usually think of watercolor as organic, but I love the preciseness of the lines. They're crisp and so playful.

And this next artist I am just smitten with. Her name is Caitlin McGauley and I only discovered her about a week ago...I think I found her on Pinterest. Here were some of my favorites:

(via Caitlin McGauley)

Isn't she so cool?  She keeps this blog too where she posts updates with watercolor sketches. I just think that's the bomb. I wish she could be my friend and teacher!

And finally, I thought it was appropriate for my current watercolor obsession that Oh So Beautiful Paper would feature a step by step post on how to DIY watercolor wedding invitations. They are gorgeous. All you brides to be should check it out! Can I get married again?

(via Antiquaria on Oh So Beautiful Paper)

I love the palette they chose: coral, toffee and lavender gray. I must remember that. And they even give instructions on how to paint the little flowers successfully. Totes up my alley!


So as I rolled into bed last night and snuggled up to hubby, I whispered to him my dreams of becoming a beautiful watercolor artist!  I told him I want to sign up for a class, or at least get a book at the library :) He said that maybe we could go to the store to get me some paints and I could give it a whirl! I know it's not easy, but I'd really like to try! And if it doesn't work out, at least there are so many talented artists for me to admire out there :)


All that to say, I'm really hoping some of these are in my near future...

(via Caitlin McGauley)

"A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are"

Have you read this book?

It's so great. I'm a little over halfway through, and I've just been soaking it up like a sponge. Ann basically walks you through her journey of discovering the power of being thankful–eucheristo–and the grace and peace she experiences through this daily discipline. She begins a list to see if she can record 1000 gifts from the Lord, and describes how this transforms her life and her walk with God. This is not an adequate summary...please just read the book!

Since I started reading it, I knew that I could surely benefit from growing in thankfulness. Ann even traces ungratefulness back to the fall, explaining that Adam and Eve were not thankful for the gifts God had given them, instead they wanted more. 

I too can see that a lack of thankfulness is rooted in many if not all of my sins. When I am unkind to Paul, am I really, in that moment, thankful that God has blessed me with a husband? When I am jealous of other women–how they look, what their gifts are, or what they have–am I being thankful for how the Lord made me or what He has given me? And when I am lazy and don't study His Word or commit time for prayer, am I being thankful that God has reached out to me, saved me, and wants an intimate relationship with me? Do you see how thankfulness can be the opposite to so many of our sinful habits?

So I want to join in and see what this is all about. Unfortunately, being thankful isn't something that comes natural to us. It just doesn't. We have to practice thankfulness, implement it as a discipline in our lives. And so I want to practice. Big and small and especially small. Because a lot of my days are woven together by the small. And I don't think these should go unnoticed. So here we go. Let my list begin!

1. a desk by the window to see the leaves sway and the sky change
2. a glass of clean water
3. 12 red roses blooming
4. and the sweet Valentine who gave them to me
5. surrounded by photos of the ones I love, and the precious memories they recall
6. colored envelopes with fancy addresses
7. chocolate ice cream with a shake of cinnamon
8. creativity flowing all around

...

Homecoming & Other Updates

Is it already Wednesday?!  I can hardly believe it.

We had a great time at homecoming although a lot of our favorite people were missing this year :(  Here's a shot of a group who were there at the football game (which they won!).

 

Go Tigers!  It was fun to watch the game although it was suuuuper windy – which I'm showing here with my super squinty eyes.  yikes!

So some news from my adventures in cooking. Last night I spent almost two hours making parmesan chicken. Whaaat!?  Paul said it was delicious in the end, but for real, how am I supposed to maintain that kind of cooking time in my busy lifestyle?!  I'll admit it was worth it to see such a happy, FULL husband, but while I was cooking I was not having fun (not to mention all the homework that didn't get done). I'm really actually pretty scared looking ahead to the future. I love Paul so much and I really want to provide and work hard for our little (and someday hopefully bigger) family, but I feel so defeated in this area!  Seriously ladies. How do you juggle cooking big, whole, healthy meals with work and school and husbands and kids and friends and life!?

Phewy!

Well I do have something fun to share today.  It's an online magazine that my sweet friend and former roommate, Katie sent to me. Some of you may be familiar with "Sweet Paul" the design blog.  Well apparently he publishes an online magazine as well, and it is GORGEOUS!  Maybe I'm late in the game, but I have loved looking through this little beauty and have even been super inspired by it at work today. Always love a new little treasure found. And of course, how could I not be in love with the name ;)

Hope you all have a lovely evening!  I'm off to a mid-week date with my dashing husband :)  Lucky me!

The First Snow!

First things first. Wowzers. I am not with child. That is NOT the secret. Sheesh!

Second. The quinoa was SO GOOD!!! I loved it and Paul did too (although he kept saying he wished he had hot sauce to add – but that's just him, I thought it was perfect.) It tasted warm and healthy and delicious just like Summer promised :) Here's some of my leftovers I ate for lunch!

As you can see I added carrots and yellow squash to the suggested zucchini and onions. I will definitely make this again!! Success!

And as the title of this post suggests, we had our FIRST SNOW of the season here! I was greeted by a few magical flakes as I left for work yesterday morning, and then during lunch the air was filled with snow! I tried to take a good photo of it with our iPod touch, but you can only kind of tell. ~Side note, isn't instagram so cool!? it totally makes me seem like a way trendier person ;)

And as I have committed to taking on a Pinterest Challenge, here is my second project-to-be! I know these have been around a couple years but I always thought they were so neat and I've just had a hankering to try one. This one found on Pinterest, from Better Homes and Gardens is gorgeous!

And here's my so far work in progress. Although I LOVE the white yarn one in the pin, I kinda am worried it might get dirty pretty fast, so I picked a cheerful holiday red :) This one I'm making for my mom for Christmas! We are visiting my parents in AZ over thanksgiving and I'll give it to her then. Can't wait to show you guys the finished product!

Hope you all have a beautifully blessed weekend :) The hubs and I are off to his alma mater for Homecoming weekend! It's a favorite in the Schmitt household, for sure.

Pinterest Challenge

If you follow blogs or internet trends even just a little, then you're probably already familiar with Pinterest. I love to look around and get ideas, but I always find myself feeling overwhelmed after a Pinterest binge. "I'll never be that crafty!" "Other people have such better ideas than me" "I'm a home-maker-loser!" etc. So I decided to challenge myself to actually try making things that I "pin" and just take it one project at a time. Today I saw this pinned on someone's board and it comes from a super adorable etsy shop.

Aren't those prints beautiful!? I decided to try my hand at it tonight for a birthday gift. We're off to Molly's party tonight and I thought these looked like her style :) So I cut some pages from an old book, quick made some layouts in Illustrator, and wah lah! I don't pretend to act like these are as good as the above prints, but maybe I can continue playing with it and make my own masterpieces! If anything, this project showed me that I can make things from Pinterest :) On to the next project!

Impromptu Room Re-do :)

I think this winter weather is making me feel all cooped up and a little crazy, because in the last few days I have decided to do a complete revamp of my sweet little bedroom. Although I feel a little wild taking on a big project like this, I am sooo excited to make this room my own. To start, here are a few images of inspiration:

{from Martha Stewert}

{from Lonny Mag}

{from Spearmint Baby}

I am hoping to go with a teupe-y gray like the top picture, and maybe pair it with some soft salmon colors or pale pink accent colors. All of my bedding/rug/curtains/furniture are white. I'm so excited!  Here are some sneak peaks of my progress:

{definitely need a good stock of supplies and samples!}

{I have officially committed to painting some color}

{My new lamp on sale at Home Goods - I love it!}

That's all for now! I hope to officially start painting the walls tomorrow, and I think the rest will fall into place after that :)  Can't wait to show you the results!