~2010 {a year in pictures}~

2010 was so good to us.

I can't wait to see what 2011 has to offer!

{click on the photo to enlarge}

Here's to a great 2011! Many of you have asked how you can help Edie and her family during this difficult time.
Here is the address for her sister if you'd like to send anything her way:
Gina Williams
506 Helton Road
Maryville, TN 37804
Continue to send your prayers and thoughts their way during this difficult time.
xoxo

~eight is great~

"Before you were conceived I wanted you.

Before you were born I loved
you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you.

This is the miracle
of love."

- Maureen Hawkins

8 years ago today, hands down, was the best New Years celebration we have ever had.
I got to ring in the New Year holding my new 9 pound bundle of joy!

Every day has been a new adventure.
Happy 8th birthday crazy Cody,
we love you to the moon and back,
and back again.
xoxo

~beautiful design~

Just some beautiful images for you to look at today.

all images courtesy of Amy Meier Design.

xoxo

~house inc. shams for sale~

I have 2 European sized house inc. pool rose khaki pillow shams

that are in like new condition. The print is in the last photo.

They have a generous sized ruffle around the edges and they retail for about $75.00 each.

I'm selling both for$65.00.

If you are interested, pls. email me at

lakeliving4@msn.com

{first come, first serve}

xoxo

~color combo {grey + blue}

Saying that I am in love with this tranquil color combo is an understatement.

There is just something so soothing about these subdued colors.

In this photo. Tracery Interiors has done it again, everything is just perfect. And my idol, Heather Chadduck.

Her new bedroom rocks my socks off.
I love her ruffled lamp shade and the use of an old over sized basket for a night stand!

This photo is from the blog home for the better.
I don't know the color on the walls but it's gorgeous,
especially with all that worn wood.


Martha Stewart shows us this fabulous room.
That bed skirt is to die for.
I love the matching canopy too.


Again from home for the better, this room has the perfect hue on the walls, and check out the paint on the ceiling!

As we are snowed in today, I am stuck at home dreaming of ways

I can use this color combo in my home.

xoxo

~a first birthday party~

My friend Julie put together the most amazing party for her son's first birthday!
{click on the image to enlarge}

A cookie theme complete with custom labels on all the milk bottles,

a gorgeous cake,

{even his smash cake was amazing!}

and cookies for the guests to take home!

Now that's what I call cute!

xoxo

~my subway sign~

First off I wanted to thank all of you for your comments in regards

to Edie and her home.

I don't know any details at the moment on how we all can help,

but as soon as I hear anything, I'll let you know!

Yesterday my husband and I installed shelving units in our storage shed.

I came across these wood planks that came with the shelving,

but that we were not going to use.

My husband had thrown them in the trash pile.

Of course I rescued them and immediately knew what I was going to make!

I think I am the last one on the face of the planet to make a subway sign but it was a lot of fun! I have 3 more boards so I think I will make more for my etsy shop!

What do you think?

I am also thinking about doing other sayings,

like the lyrics to "you are my sunshine" etc.

xoxo

~no words~

One of my worst nightmares has happened to one of our blogger friends.

Edie is a customer of mine and a fellow blogger who blogs about renovations, family, and redecorating. Although I don't know her personally, I feel for her loss deeply. My prayers go out to her and her family at this tragic time. A few days before Christmas her house burned to the ground in the middle of the night. Luckily everyone got out safely. I can't imagine what they must be going through. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
xoxo

~a few questions answered~

I have had several emails from people wondering

where I got my giant salad dressing recipe in my kitchen nook.

{see below}

I got it at Pottery Barn back in 2007.

I had to cut it down to size as it is quite large, measuring 30" x 50"

It is printed on a thin, transparent piece of plastic that adheres to the wall and is easily removable. I have seen them for sale on eBay,

and found one here tonight if you are looking.

Not a bad price either.
The other question I get asked a lot is where did I get the numbers for my front door.
I know I have addressed this in the past,
{no pun intended!}
but they came from a company called wonderful graffiti which is no longer in business.
I did however find a seller on etsy that has some very similar ones!
Click here to be directed to their shop.

If you have any other questions, feel free to
email me or ask me in the comments section!
xoxo

~Merry Christmas~

Can you believe it?

We caught Santa in our living room!

Wow!
We have the best luck!
Hoping your day was as magical as ours!
xoxo

~Merry Christmas Eve~

I did not use one stitch of red this year in my decorating,

but after seeing this lovely breakfast room, next year might be different!

I love the Parisian twist to the traditional Christmas decor!

I am totally loving that armoire with the naughty and nice list!

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas spent with your loved ones!

I was really touched yesterday reading all your comments.

I am so happy to see that the true meaning of Christmas is still in all of our hearts.

I even had someone email me asking me for the address of our neighbors so she could send them a little something~now that my friends is AMAZING!

Love to you all!

{source}

xoxo

Oh!

One more thing! I just did this and it is soooo cool!

If you have little ones you have to do this!

~random acts of kindness this holiday season~

Go check out what my friend Kasey is up to here.

So sweet.

I think it's so important to think of others, and there is no better time to do it than this time of year. Think of all the people that won't have presents under their tree.

Or have a tree at all.

You don't have to do anything big.

Sometimes it's just a simple smile or wave that can make someones day.

I'm trying to teach my kids to give to those less fortunate.

We have a family in our neighborhood who has 4 children and not a lot of money.

I give their little boys rides home from the bus everyday after school and last week I was asking them about what they want for Christmas.

They didn't tell me what they want.

Instead they told me that for Christmas they will all get a new pair of shoes and a hat.

It broke my heart.

So this year, the kids and I went shopping for them and got them both 3 new warm outfits.

Nothing fancy, but warm.

We don't have a ton of money ourselves but it felt good to give a little something to someone less fortunate.

I'd love to hear any random acts of kindness you have done, or received.

Merry Christmas everyone!

xoxo

~today I'm loving~

Loving this art by Jason Holley.

He has so much talent!

aren't these works of art fabulous?

xoxo

~on a sugar high~

Every year in December, the kids invite friends to ride

the bus home with them after school for our annual gingerbread decorating party.

This year we changed things up a little

and decorated cookies instead of houses.

The kids made the dough, rolled it out, and cut out the shapes. ~ Best friends~

I put the boys in the kitchen, away from the girls.
I though it would be a little quieter this way!
It wasn't.
Oh well, your only little once!


The girls had so much fun!
This group of girls is great.
Most of them have known
each other since kindergarten, some preschool!


Unfortunately this was also the day I got food poisoning
and started feeling sick right in the middle of the party.
The kids didn't mind that I was laying on the couch though, like I said, we've all known each other for a long time!


Their cookies were smothered in sugary goodness!
Yummy!


These are works of art!

A 3-d cookie!

The kids got really creative, I always love seeing what they come up with!

A lot of the candy came from Cabela's.

They have great green apple licorice and tasty gumdrops!

What are some of your family's traditions?

xoxo

~faaaaaabulousness~

I used my "down" time yesterday to look over a few of my favorite blogs.

I have gathered a few photos to share with you. Just a couple, but they are a few of my favorites.

This first photo is from urban grace interiors.

If you haven't seen this website, you must go look at it!

You can click on the link above to see how this room came together for a hgtv photo shoot. Next, Emily from Jones design company shows how to hand paint this wall paper!

I love it and think I may try it shortly!

Emily gives great tutorials and has a stunningly beautiful home!

Finally, this photo from Seleta, over at simply seleta.

Her home is gorgeous.

Her taste is impeccable, and

her home is also going to be in a magazine!

I was looking at all these photos trying to

determine exactly what it is that I love so much about them.

You know what it is?

PATTERN.

I love all the pattern.

In fact, I am craving pattern!

I also love all the textures.

Love the thick chunky gold frames in Seleta's home.

Love the mix of old and new in Emily's office,

and

I love the animal print in that bench on urban grace interiors!

Anyway, that's what's on my mind today.

If you have a chance to check out these blogs, I highly recommend them!

Happy holiday's friends!

xoxo

oh, one more thing.

~I've been featured~

here

~out shopping, be back soon!~

xoxo

~leopard print~love it or hate it?~

In little bits, here and there, I love leopard print.

I think it can be overdone.

However, I am really drawn to it lately....

I spy a little leopard print in the sofa pillows.

I heart those drapes too!

{r.i.p cottage living} An all time fave photo of mine from country living.

I love how this room,
{via glamorous interiors}
is almost all cream, with just a hint of color.
The pillows make it feel glamorous,

as well as the addition of a few metallics.

Even Coastal Living featured a room with leopard print!


The carpet on these stairs is to die for!
{via casa sugar}

so, what's the verdict?
Love it
or
hate it?
xoxo

p.s. just found out my home was featured on houzz!

If you want to see how my house was decorated last year, head over here.