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Decorating/ FUN/DIY/ HOME/ Homemaking

My Must-Do Home Decor Projects

Fall is coming.

I have to admit, as much fun as summer has been, when I think of fall I get a bit giddy.  I love a schedule.  I love order.  I love a picked up & clean house.  Fall brings those things.  My home is full of so many sweet young ones all summer long that it certainly does not stay in order.

Home decor and projects for sure take the back burner in the summer.  Another reason to look forward to fall.  I’m feeling the itch to update some things around here.  Paint a few rooms, do a few decor projects.

Here are a few from my Home Decor Pinterest Board that I would LOVE to do:

I must find a wall to paint black. The white frames lighten it up & pop!
Another dark wall.  Love how clean and simple everything is. I’d like to copy that framed ‘love.’

This site is said to have great prices on area rugs.  I just swapped my upstairs furniture with my downstairs furniture, and I really like it, but now I need a pop of color in my living room.  A new area rug would be the perfect solution.
We have a desk in our upstairs landing area that is unused.  I bet if I jarred up all our fun art supplies and made an art station, it would no longer be lonely.  I might top it with a piece of glass, though, as that would be much easier to clean than stained wood.

Source: vi.sualize.us via New on Pinterest

I like that vase of limbs.  That would be an inexpensive way to add some texture, height and interest to a room & to fill in a blank area.

You could easily change out the pictures, add children’s art, add color, inspirational quotes, scripture verses etc.  Not diggin’ the curtains, though!

Source: hgtv.com via New on Pinterest

Hurricanes and dollar store pillars.  I love candles in the fall and winter.  I love large scale decorative items.  I love cheap and simple.  I love this!

Those numbers are rad.  So is that door handle. The idea of planting grass in a planter and cutting it back in the fall for fall color, texture and beauty is brilliant!  

The size and layout of this bathroom reminds me of mine, but mine has white beadboard and the paint color above it is awful baby poo green.  Sorry, there is just no other way to describe it.  I don’t know why I chose that color over 5 years ago, but it must GO!  My bathroom is dark, so the idea of shutters that still let in light but gives privacy is really appealing.  I don’t think I could do the white shower curtain, maybe big grey and white stripes?

Ahhh… graphic pillows.  I want one that says ‘Rest.’

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Looking back on all of these, it is clear I am wanting more shades of white, grey and black.  I love color, but I especially love bringing in pops of color to a more neutral background. 
I sure hope I am feeling this motivated come fall!  I’m itchin’ to get at some of these home decor projects!
How about you?  Got any home project plans coming up in the fall?

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Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Music Renews/ Spiritual

It Is No Coincidence & A Health Update

It is no coincidence that as I drive away from the familiar building, my radio is set to 89.9.

It is no coincidence that as tears drop down my face, out- of- the- blue large rain drops, the biggest I’ve seen, shower my windshield.  I imagine God-sized tears.  I know He feels with me.

The sky is grey and I’m trying not to be.  I pass an retirement center & a sad longing enters.  I want to grow old.  “Lord, I want to grow old!”

It is no coincidence that as that whisper leaves my lips that another enters my brain. “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord.”

The rain is intense, making it hard to see.  Should I brace myself for a storm?  I’m surprised how fear has been replaced with sadness.  That is not a coincidence, for God and I have done much work on fear.  Sadness seems easier. Calmer.  A relief, but not.

I drive just a couple more blocks.  The rain stops as suddenly as it came on.

The song on the radio catches my attention–the word “beloved,” for it is what my name means.  I’ve always loved the meaning of my name.

I listen intently, the words soothe & prepare.  I find the melody and the same words running through my head the next day, in weak moments.  I realize the song was given as a gift, its perfect words not a coincidence. I am determine to receive it. I lift my eyes and open my hands.

Almost home now, my eyes keep lifting.  I am searching for the rainbow, for it is still raining but the sun is shining.  I don’t find one, but I’ve seen God’s promise before, so I will keep my eyes lifted. What I find will be no coincidence.

And now, I’m home.

______________________

Health Update:

I went in for my ‘every 3 month’ checkup.  There is a thickening in the area that my tumor used to be.  Doc can also feel the same lymph node we have been watching.  Because I have had some burning sensations there (symptoms I presented with 2 years ago) and because my cancer margin was so close to the chest wall (1 mil.), she is going to be extra cautious with me.  The plan is to check it out with an MRI.  We need insurance to approve it first, so we won’t know anything for a week or two.

We are hoping it is just scar tissue.

I am doing fine with it. After my tears that I spoke of above, I really have felt ok and at peace.  Pretty used to this stuff, at least as used to it as I think I will get.  It is never comfortable, the wondering & ‘what-if’s’ but it is familiar and I’ve been through it before, and I have a great God who calls me Beloved!

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Father's Day

Homemade Father’s Day Gift Ideas

*a post I found tucked in the archives.
Nuts & Bolts Snack Mix @ Martha Stewart
Money Origami @ How About Orange
Scrabble Frame @ My Baby Faves
Super Hero Sampler @ Alpha Mom
Dad Picture @ From An Igloo
Date With Dad @ Martha Stewart
Butterscotch Bars @ New Nostalgia
You’re An AWsome Dad @ Nothing But Country
Or…if you need a simple gift, I have found that an amazon gift card is perfect.  
You can also send an online gift certificate right to your recipient via email at Amazon.
{if you buy the card or purchase anything using the above link,  I will receive a small commission. 
 I just may use it towards buying my own Fathers their much deserved gifts!!  Thank You. ;)}
What are your plans for Father’s Day?
Do you have any good gift ideas?
FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ RECIPES/ Sweets

5 Minutes To Chocolate Sauce Heaven

A repost from the archives.  It deserves a repost..it is delicious!!  I plan on making a dairy-free version this weekend with earth balance spread instead of butter and serving it over coconut milk ice cream.  I will let you know how it turns out!
I’ve given this away as a gift and made it a few times for my own family.  It is one of those recipes that I  know I will be in the family for a very long time–it is SOOO good.  It is quick, it uses ingredients we usually have on hand, and it tastes WAY better than store bought chocolate sauce.  When I served it to my husband, he just kept grunting and saying “MMM”& “YUM” as he scraped his bowl clean.  I’m surprised he didn’t get his face in it and lick it clean!  Yes, it is that good.

Here is the recipe, it is from recipebzaar.com.  It was recommended by another blog, but I can’t remember which one, which I’m feeling pretty bad about because they deserve a big thanks from me!
Lee Lee’s Famous Chocolate Sauce For Ice Cream
2 min/1 minute prep time
Serves 4-6
1/2 cup sugar (I use whole cane sugar -rapadura)
2 Tablespoon Cocoa
1/8 tsp Salt
1 1/2-2 Tablespoon Butter
1/4 cup water (more or less, as needed to make a stirable consistency)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (can’t beat 100% pure vanilla extract!)
1. Combine sugar, cocoa, and salt in a small saucepan.
2. Add enough water to make stirable consistency.
3. Add butter to cocoa mixture.
4. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly.
5. Allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Add vanilla.
8. Serve warm over ice cream.

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