Mini Boden Room Re-do...In Progress

I have been planning on updating and re-doing Mini-Boden's room for awhile. She switched rooms with Lego Man about a year ago. So we just hodge-podged things together. I was planning on painting her room grey. She however loves the blue so we went with what we have. I also wasn't planning on doing this room for awhile, however her room flooded this week and so after getting everything out and dried we decided it was a perfect time to start. Here are some before's...unfortunately I didn't take any with the furniture in it. But it was super packed.

Before:


After: I recovered the existing picture boards with this darling fabric from Hobby Lobby. It took almost 5 yards of ribbon. I bought it at Walmart for 24 cents a yard. The buttons are from Jo-Ann's fabric 5 for $1.00.I made this new curtain and hated it down...so I tied it up with grey ribbon from the Dollar Store. The Fabric was 30% off from Hobby Lobby. It picks up the pink, gray and blue. I love it.
We kept her existing bedspread...but I recovered the pillow with the same fabric as the curtains.

I took this frame I had, painted it pink, used the fabric from the Curtain, and some grey scrapbook paper...the G was originally from Hobby Lobby.


My favorite thing is her Paris picture. I saw this a year ago at Target for $19.99 which was a bit out of my budget at the time. Then a few months ago I found it at Ross for $9.99 and took it as a sign. I LOVE it. It just makes me smile... especially since I found it for 1/2 the price. I am loving her room. It makes me so happy and is less cluttered. The rug is from IKEA....$19.99 I love it.

I am working on a little table and chairs for her room too. Will post soon.

Enjoy.

Love,
Em

Sunday Thoughts

This past week I went to a church workshop. I went mostly to get out of the house and have a few minutes to myself. It had been a day full of stress. I had yelled at my little one when he almost broke my car window, then again when I went up to my bedroom and found my once made bed in pillow piles on the floor and two baskets of clean folded laundry know strewn from one side of the room to the other, it looked like a tornado had hit inside my room. I had missed taking Lego Man to Scouts completely forgot about scouts because we were supposed to be at Swim lessons too. Which also meant I had forgotten to pick up another boy in the neighborhood who rides with us.

So as I sat down at the workshop and realized the topic was Charity, I almost got up and left. I wasn't feeling charity for anyone and didn't want to feel the guilt trip I foresaw coming on. But I stayed.

The presenter discussed the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
She listed out what Charity is:
Charity is....
the pure love of Christ
suffereth long, and is kind
envieth not
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
doth not behave itself unseemly
seeketh not her own
is not easily provoked
thinketh no evil
rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth.

The thing that really captured my attention was the realization that as I thinketh evil of myself, by comparing and criticizing who I am, I end up not being able to accomplish any of the other aspects of experiencing the pure love of Christ. It really is a reciprocal thing as we learn of Christ, and try to become like Him, I think we start to see in ourselves what He sees in us. We therefore see ourselves and are able to become like Him, and so we look for ways to show Charity to those around us. I left feeling like I needed to change but not knowing how.

The next morning I had an email from a dear friend who sat by my side during our workshop and could tell I was struggling. She in her loving amazing way told me how she sees me and also sent this little bit of inspiration here. I realized that it is an every day choice we make to be patient, to be loving, to let others grow and make mistakes. It is an every minute choice to be tolerant, to not allow a problem to outweigh our love for others or ourselves.

I would love to say I had a perfect week without getting upset or being provoked by those who frustrate me. I didn't, but little by little I feel myself trying to make the choice of Charity become who I truly am.

I loved this quote that our presenter gave by Bruce C. Hafen "Charity is not developed entirely by our own power, even though our faithfulness is a necessary qualification to receive it. Rather, charity is bestowed upon the true followers of Christ. The purpose of the endowment of charity is not merely to cause Christ's followers to engage in charitable acts toward others, desirable as that is. The ultimate purpose is to transform His followers to become like Him."

In my ongoing quest to live a provident life, to find joy in my journey and to simplify my life I think this is a starting place. It seems that if I can become more like Christ than I will turn my life towards the things of purpose and therefore find the treasures for which I search.

Ever Feel Like You Are Just Barely Hanging On....

Sometimes I feel like I am just hanging on. Barely making it. My sister sent me this video today. It is amazing. Intense and truly spectacular. He gets committed, takes 1,000 feet free solo climbing, no ropes and does it just one moment at a time, one move at time. He is literally hanging on for his life and yet he seems calm.

Maybe the lesson for me becomes to just focus on my course, take one moment at a time and hold on for dear life. Hope you enjoy this. It is seriously six intense minutes. But awe inspiring.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 Trailer Official (HD)

Mr. M and I went on a date today to go see the new Harry Potter Movie. It was intense and brilliant. I started reading the Harry Potter Books in 2000. After Mr. M and I started dating and then were married we read each new one with great anticipation. This summer we started reading them to our kids. They too are hooked. They found sticks to make into wands and have been walking around for the last few months issuing charms and mostly enjoying the magical world that J.K. Rowling created. I love that these books can cross all generational lines. I love re-reading them as much as they love hearing them. I can read for almost an hour and they still want more. That is amazing.

Two of my favorite quotes from the books are from Dumbledore "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities... and "Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right."

If you haven't read the book or seen the movie yet what I'm about to say next might be a spoiler so be warned. I love that Molly Weasely kicks butt, never mess with a mother. I love that Harry discovers what he truly has inside of himself and faces it with bravery. I love when they had Ron and Hermoine kiss in the movie. I love that Neville Longbottom rocks it at the end and discovers who he really is. If you have a chance go see this movie it is totally worth going to.

We are starting to plan our Harry Potter Halloween Party. I know it is really early but as we read through the books we are coming up with ideas.
Enjoy the trailer for Part 2 and happy Saturday.

Book Nook Early Summer Inspiration

I love to read. It is one of my favorite pastimes. I love finding a good book that will draw you in and that you wish you could linger with. The minute a good book is over you feel a sense of longing and almost loneliness. Fortunately for the last couple weeks I have had some wonderful books to linger with. For my birthday I received "Blue Castle" by LM Montgomery. It is a wonderful book about finding yourself and standing strong in who you truly are, plus it is a romance so it gets a thumbs up from me.

The next one is not a book but it too was a little inspiration in my day and it had my very favorite poem in it. Mr. M and I watched Invictus the last couple of nights...oh how I love Netflix. It was so uplifting. In case you have never heard it here it is.

Invictus

William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

Int he fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but he Horror of the shade,

And yet he menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

My dear friend suggested I read this book and I was not disappointed. It is absolutely charming. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has a funny name but was wonderfully written. It is historical fiction and like all good books made me want to know more about the actual events. It takes place during and following WWII in the Channel Islands just off the coast of France. So uplifting. As with all books about WWII I am in constant awe of those who endured it, and showed such amazing courage. I also can not fathom how there could be people who are so destructive of life, beauty and culture.

Finally, I LOVE this book. It is a new favorite of mine. My sister Alisa had read a review in the paper on this and picked it up. She devoured it and then loaned it to me. I love Alisa because she finds such great finds and then tells me about them. I too could not put it down. In fact I received it for my birthday from Mr. M and kids and last night picked it up again with the same effect, I could not put it down. It is based in Regency time period and is fun, romantic and interesting. The author Sarah Eden has quite a few other books that are currently out of print but scheduled to be released in the next few years. I can't wait. This was the perfect summer time read and I think I may read it again at the end of summer.

Hope you are finding inspiration and great reading this summer. I would love to hear some good book suggestions. I find myself in need of some more good reading.

Party on a Dime

I am always looking for great ideas that also are inexpensive. Simplicity is becoming a big part of my life lately. So these ideas are simple, inexpensive and super fun. My good friend had a bug themed party for her little girl...because she loves bugs. She printed off these butterfly coloring pages, colored them and hung them from the ceiling fan. They were so cute and reminded me of stained glass.

A Lady Bug cake....

This cute Caterpillar was made with construction paper and a plate for the template. It was darling.

My favorite part of this celebration was the Lady Bug font she found do make a Happy Birthday sign....LOVE it. She found the font online for free. Super cute, super simple and super inexpensive, but altogether it gives you a wonderful party. I LOVE these ideas.

Moments That Matter Most

What a perfect message for me today. To slow down and focus on what matters most. I have been in the frantic moments lately. Running from task to task and I have missed so many moments. I thought this was a beautiful inspiration for today.