Home Is Where The Heart Is

Some days, I pinch myself because I think of how blessed I am.

These days are filled with lots of "busy work": cleaning, dusting, menu planning, cooking, running errands, homeschooling, chasing kids (or do they chase me? not sure), all the laundry, holiday planning, outfit coordinating, diaper changing, church activities. Good, wholesome, life giving things. And at the end of the day when I all I want is five minutes to clear my head and rest, I look over to see this. Worth it all.

And I get up and do it all over again, because, well, family and home are my sweetest treasures. Homemaking is such a gift. I hope I never take it for granted!

Board + Batten | An Updated Living Room Tour

I finally got around to filming an updated living room tour to highlight our Board + Batten project. Also, any idea on how to hide chords? I feel like it is such an eye sore. ;) It was nice getting out the camera and filming again. I have to admit, it's a lot of fun!

Happy Thursday!

Our Cottage Farmhouse Living Room

We've been working on our living room for a few months, now. My goal was to incorporate a little bit of English Cottage and Farmhouse style. The biggest change that we've made since moving in was adding wainscoting to our walls. We opted to paint the lower half a solid, pure white. My hope was to lighten up our living room. I think my favorite decorative change, though, was buying buffalo check curtains. I'm kind of obsessed with buffalo check! A few things that helped pull the look together:

• Neautral  Colors as the base, fun colors for accents! I went with turquoise and light green.
• Adding buffalo check seems to check off both cottage AND farmhouse style!
• Adding a few rustic and vintage elements. Namely, the vintage window!
• And can't of course my Magnolia wreath that gives a nod to Fixer Upper!

We also added the wainscoting to our kitchen/dining and hallway area. It really changed the look and added to depth to each of the rooms.

I have enjoyed having fresh flowers in our home for the majority of summer, but with the heat waves, I think that is coming to a close. So, I'm snapping pictures of my hydrangeas as fast as I can. ;)

Shopping Resources:
Curtains: Bullard Designs
Table Lamps: Tj Maxx
Pillows: Tj Maxx
Scripture Signs: Hobby Lobby
Manolia Wreath: Flea Market
Rustic Frames: Mud Pie

Repin Love:

Also, I love all thing white & blue! Happy Monday, friends. :)

Our Christmas Home 2017

I can't believe it's almost here! No matter how much I try to keep it from sneaking up, it always does. I just wish the days could last just a little longer during this season. I love the colors, the music, the movies, the decorations. I took a TON of pictures this year. Looking back on years gone by just makes me oh so happy.

I bought this felt stuffed nativity this year. I had gift card money to Amazon, and I was trying to think of something that I really wanted to add to my decor this year. Then, I saw a similar nativity and thought it was the perfect way to add a tangible reminder of reason for this season! The kids LOVE to play with it, and it has quickly become one of my favorite pieces in the room.

This is my little reading corner. I set out the crown as a decor piece...it's actually a scentsy wrap warmer. But, I think it's pretty all on it's own!

This is my entry table. I love how our lights twinkle through the clear set. The sign over our door is a simple reminder to us as we come and go. I hope it encourages those who visit us, as well.

Sweet little "mistletoes".

I have my scentsy burner on all day long. We have been burning "Christmas Cottage". I love it! I also love those tiny trees in the window. :)

This is our dining table set up for our immediate family dinner. It was a lovely night, and I'll have to share more, soon. But, for now, I'm ready to catch up on a few blogs, read, and watch tv with my hubster. Happy almost Christmas!!!!!