the color of the sun

“It is the color closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently stimulating character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes a thoroughly warm and comforting impression." - Johann Wolfgang Goethe

 

photo source: truffle girls

 

photo source: country living

 

photo source: country living

 

photo source: country living

 

 photo source:  country home

 

  

 photo source:  truffle girls

“How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun." - Vincent Van Gogh

 

The weekend is here!  My taxes are done, vacation is booked, and I’m off to enjoy the sunshine!  :)

finding time…

photo via It's Mary Ruffle

I’ve been a bit overwhelmed this week.  I have a long list of “things to do” and the list is not getting any smaller.  I even wrote “shower” on my list so I could actually cross something off!  One of the things I’ve been working on, is planning our family vacation.  It’s funny how stressful it can be planning something so relaxing!

 

                                                                   photo source:  flickr

 

We always go in May, and we usually have our vacation planned and booked by January or February.  For whatever reason, that didn’t happen this year.  And since we didn’t go anywhere last year, we really wanted to make a point and go this year.  After all, the boys have been asking about vacation since the last one we took! 

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of our family vacations, so I’m really looking forward to sharing these times as a family.  My parents and my sister and her family go as well.  Truly, a family vacation.  I’m looking forward to sharing times with the ones I love the most.   And to sweeten the deal, I’ll be enjoying those moments with my toes in the sand and the warm sun on my face.  :)

 

photo source:  flickr

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

P.S.  I am so behind on reading all of my favorite blogs!  I’m looking forward to catching up…just as soon as I get something else crossed off my list…taxes.  Why must I procrastinate?!

flea market time

This past weekend I did what anyone with an overwhelming “to do” list does, I went to the flea market!  I needed some stress relief! :)  It wasn’t quite as successful as some of my past trips, but I did find a couple of things I couldn’t resist.

photo source:  flickr

I bought a vintage metal egg basket similar to this one, except mine isn’t white and is a bit more rusty.  I love it!  I also bought an old galvanized bucket, a couple of old bottles, and a couple of toys for my sweet boys.  And, I got it all for $15.50!  I haven’t had a chance to take pictures yet.  I do, however, have pics of a couple of my previous flea market finds.

I bought this painting at the flea market for $2.00.  In the photo, the frame doesn’t look that bad, but in person,it was an odd bronze/brown color.

    

So, I spray painted it white and distressed it a bit.

 

   

The print itself looks different in the before and after photo simply because of the different light it was taken in. 

 

To me, photos do not do it justice, it’s so pretty in person!  I ♥ barns!

 

Another flea market find, is this trunk.  It doesn’t look huge in this picture, but it is!  Originally when I bought it, I was going to use it as a coffee table, but when I got it home, I couldn’t believe how huge it looked.  It was at least 5 inches too tall!  Guess I should have measured it before I bought it!  But, on the other hand, there is no way I would have walked away without it.  The guy selling it, told me I could have it for $8.00.  E.I.G.H.T. dollars!

 

I have shopped around a lot and know how much these trunks usually go for, and I knew it was a steal!  It’s extremely old, and is very heavy.  Luckily, my Mom was there to help me carry it!

 

I am so excited that it’s that time of year again!  Even if I come home with nothing, I still love going.  The thrill of the hunt.  The open air.  The possibilities.  Welcome Spring and flea market time!

i would like to thank the academy…

photo source: etsy

I have really enjoyed getting to “meet” so many new faces through blogging.  One of those new faces is Nellie from McCarthy Designs.  Nellie lives in Australia and is a banker, design student, wife, and mother who also finds time for house projects and blogging.  And, she is such a nice person!  She gave me this beautiful blogger award.  So sweet! 

Thank you Nellie!  I really appreciate it!  You can check out her blog here.

Part of this award is to share seven things about myself.  So I decided to pick completely random things about me.

1.  I’m a bit of a drifter.  I don’t like to live in one place for very long.   If it was up to me I would move every couple of years.  Maybe it’s for the excitement of a new adventure, my fear of commitment, or I just haven’t found the right place to settle yet.

2.  I don’t like to drink coffee.  I love the smell of it and wish I could like it, it just hasn’t happened.

3.  My favorite color is white.  And next in line is green.

4.  I love going to flea markets, antique shops, yard sales, and auctions.

5.  I have a slight obsession with magazine subscriptions.  I never pay full price though.  I either get them free or extremely cheap.  I have to show major restraint to turn one down!

6.  One of my favorite memories as a child was looking through my Mom’s Better Homes and Gardens magazines.  My favorite part was the floor plan section.  I would save the floor plans and look at them over and over and dream about my future house and what it would look like.  It’s ironic, considering that in our current house, I don’t like the floor plan!

7.  If I could pick anything to be in life (other than a mama), I would be a songwriter.  I think a song is one of the most beautiful ways to tell a story.  It has the power to transport you to another place.  Some of my favorite memories are those with a song attached to them.

 

I hope you enjoyed my list.  I am suppose to pass this award on to seven other people.  But, it would be hard for me to choose and I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.  So, I guess I should add a number 8 to my list.  8.  I’m a rule breaker. ;)

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

lilacs in bloom

“It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”  ~Mark Twain

The first signs of Spring are starting to appear here in Indiana.  The lilacs will soon be in bloom with…

amazing color

intoxicating scents

timeless beauty

all photos from Midwest Living

“If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom.”  ~Audra Fovea

We had a beautiful day of sunshine.  What a great way to start the week!

sweet boys

I suppose I need to update my “About Me” information.  That is because my sweet boys are not toddlers anymore.  Haven’t been for awhile.  They turned 5 years old a few weeks ago.  I’m in complete denial. 

I look at them now and can’t believe how much they have grown, and yet when I look at their baby photos, I can’t remember them being that small!  The time passes so quickly!

Kyle Hudson (Peanut) on the left, and Ryan William (Punkin) on the right.

These are not our only boys.  We also sponsor a teenage boy through Compassion.  He is from Uganda and lives there with his aunt and uncle.  He is such a precious gift.  He writes the most beautiful letters and in a letter we received yesterday he wrote, “Many thanks from your son.”  I cried buckets.  I have no doubt that God chose the perfect one for us. 

I believe children are a constant reminder that we must appreciate the small things in life.  Especially a child that comes from a country and circumstances where faith is perhaps all he has to rely on.  His words always humble me and remind me to not take the little things for granted. 

I can not mention one boy we love from Africa without mentioning another who is from there.  This little bundle of goodness, Silas.

My sister and her husband just brought him home from Ethiopia this past September.  He is such a happy boy!  He amazes me with his smile, sense of humor, and sheer joy.  He’s coming to visit me tomorrow and I can’t wait to kiss his sweet cheeks!

Take a little time to enjoy the sweetness in your life today!

farmhouse style

I appreciate different design styles, but I am most drawn to farmhouse, cottage, and coastal styles.  But as much as I love all three styles, when I picture my dream house, it’s always a white farmhouse.  I LOVE farmhouses!  I love casual style and things that represent a simple way of life.  And because of that, I chose the following images.

   Such a beautiful way to showcase flowers.  I am begging for Spring!

 

  Silverware (could use new or vintage) placed in glass jars makes for a wonderful display.

 

  So cozy!  I love the built-in shelves and all of the beadboard!  And, of course, the natural light streaming in!

 

Lately, I’ve been into all white bedding, but I could make an exception for this look.  The crisp white layered with a quilt in shades of blue and green is so inviting!

 

It may or may not come as a surprise, but three of the four previous photos are from Pottery Barn.  They actually introduced “Farmhouse Style” in their January catalog.  I love to look at magazines, catalogs, and blogs for inspiration.  After all, looking is free!  I am all about a deal and getting the same look for less!  And even if I wasn’t on a budget, I would still look for a deal.  Why pay more for something, if you don’t have to?  And besides, “the hunt” is what makes it so fun!  I love to go to flea markets, antique shops, and thrift stores to see what I can find.  For me, decorating with a mix of old and new adds such character and warmth.  A woman once asked me (in a not so kind way), “Why would you want that?  It’s junk.  Nobody else would want that.”  And I thought, “Bingo!”.  I love to take the less thought of and give it new life.  And I think that suits me and my dream farmhouse just fine!  :)

I want to thank all of you that have visited my blog and those of you who have left such sweet comments!  I have enjoyed visiting your blogs as well and am so happy to meet you!!!