The Decorating Bug

For two years now I've been in my home, and for two years I've had blank walls. The reason for this is two fold.

1. I consider myself to be a bit artsy and crafty, yet I don't have any works of art I feel worthy of putting up on my walls, but I refuse to just "buy" something made by someone else when I'm perfectly capable of making something.
2. It takes MONEY and TIME to make things. Both I always come up short on.

So, for two years my walls have remained empty and projects are left unfinished. SO, I'm dedicating this fall/winter to taking care of my walls and unfinished projects little by little. Thanks to Thrifty Decor Chick she has got me totally motivated with her savvy thrift store salvages and restorations.  I'm in awe of some of the stuff she comes up with.  Totally gorgeous and totally within budget.

So, I admit I kinda suck on decorating.  I just don't know how to arrange things properly on walls and what should go where.  I'm pretty awesome at copycatting things, so that's pretty much what I plan to do but add my own little flair to it.

So I started last week with my wine bottle project (which I totally stole from somewhere but can't find the link so I can't give them credit...so sorry).  Anyhow, I primed them, painted them a color to match my Asian tablecloths and then looked up the Chinese words online, crossing my fingers I didn't accidentally stumble across a dirty word ;)  I added some cherry blossom to them and plan to put them on a shelf in my dining room.  I really love the way they turned out.  I can't wait to get them up on the wall!

And yes, I'm missing one cherry blossom.  For some dumb reason when I went to Hobby Lobby and got them I only got four instead of five.  Waiting for them to go back to 50% off again to buy another.  Total project cost (since I had the wine bottles leftover and the paint on hand) about $5.00!

This was the old mirror to my dresser we got at a thrift store.  We don't use the mirror and it's been sitting under our bed for two years.  I pulled it out, cleaned it off and painted it black.  It's not the best mirror out there but it was FREE (oh and it had to be THIS weekend when I ran out of Windex...).  I found the candle holders at a local thrift store this past weekend, brought them home, painted them with a little ORB (Oil Rubbed Bronze by Krylon), and voila.  The whole project cost me about $12.00!  Now I have one wall in my living room done at least.

Anyhow, I have MANY more projects in the mix, just trying to find time to do them all!  Will post them as I get finished! I'm not quite as innovative as my guru (Thrifty Decor Chick), but I'm trying to get there.

My funny little girls

I was downstairs enjoying a nice quiet afternoon of reading while my two little girls were down for a nap.  Lucy had only been down for an hour when I heard the faint sound of a xylophone playing from upstairs.

I quickly dropped my book and ran upstairs wanting to quiet Evie from waking up her little sister.  To my surprise I found Evie's bed completely abandoned and Lucy was happily in her crib playing with the xylophone (which I can only assume her sister gave her).  It was a really cute sight.

So I grabbed Lucy (and the xylophone) and went looking for Evie, whom I found in my room.  I said to her "what are you doing in here?"

To that she replied "I was scratching my butt Mom."

You couldn't have asked for a more honest answer than that.  My only response to a statement like that of course would be "alright then sweetie, let's go wash your hands..."

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Has a year all ready flown by? Wasn't it just yesterday I was looking down at you in the hospital trying to figure out where you got all that black hair from (must be Papa) and kissing your chubby little cheeks?

Over the past year those cheeks have remained large but you've grown into them somewhat, your hair has slowly turned from black to a beautiful shade of brownish blond with a little red in it, and you still capture my heart just as much you did on the day you were born.

When you smile you smile not only with your mouth, but with your eyes.  You have the most amazing eyes ever.  They are blue, with a hint of green and golden yellow in the center.  I say it's the sun in your eyes just like the song says "look for the girl with the sun in her eyes..."  We couldn't have picked a better name for you.

I can tell all ready that you love music.  Anytime you hear music you bob your little head from side to side, and scoot on your bottom.  I'm certain that once you start walking you will be dancing shortly thereafter.

You are a little cuddlebug.  When I pick you up you grab my face and give me big smooches on my cheek.  I absolutely adore my kisses from Lucy.  (Daddy says you are a daddy's girl, but deep inside he knows you are a momma's girl ;) 

You are smart, and you are mischievous.  You can catch my eye from across the room and smile at me when you know you are getting into something you shouldn't. That tells us that you are definitely one of US.   You are curious.  I can tell all ready that behind those blue green eyes there are deep thoughts full of curiosity. 

You love your brother and sisters.  You want to be wherever they are, doing whatever they are doing.  You follow them wherever they go.  You love to laugh just like the rest of our family does.

You are totally attached to your bottle, and I'm in no rush to take it away from you.  After all, you are my youngest little baby.  You have the sweetest disposition unless you want something and then you will go to all lengths to get it (usually a screaming fit).  I give into you more than I should because I know you are my last little baby.  I've spoiled you a bit, but that is ok, because you are only little for such a short time.  In a blink of the eye you will be all grown up and I'll wonder where the years have gone.

God knew how to make you just perfect.  I could have never guessed exactly what you would be like. Before you were born I could only guess, but God knew.  He knew exactly what Lucy would be like before you even existed in my mind. I still don't know what changes will come in the next year but I love watching you grow, learn and watch your personality come out more and more each day. 

For now, I just enjoy you exactly as you are.  You are my silly little Lucy, and today you are one!