Thankful for What I Have

I was reading a post on Cafemom, titled "Working with what I have" which was in a home decorating group. This made me really stop and think about being grateful for what I have and working with what I've got. It's nice to look at pictures of big, beautiful homes with much more space than mine and with much more expensive decor than mine, but why?


(photo from http://meritagehomes.com)




(photos from http://housebeautiful.com)

They are definitely beautiful, but not exactly attainable by most. Society encourages us to want more and never be satisfied with what we have. If God blesses us with a roof over our heads, why not work with that roof and everything beneath it? I've heard women complain because they were in a rental or public housing and figure there's no use to trying to make it look good because it's not theirs. I've also heard some complain because the house wasn't big enough and they'd rather wait until they get a bigger house. What if that never happens? Why sit around and not enjoy the surroundings you are in? Even though the economy is tight, most manage to get little things that they want from time to time. You can decorate on any budget. Resale shops, Salvation Army, Goodwill, thrift shops, Family Dollar, Dollar General, etc. are all good places to find cheap cute decor. You don't have to hire a decorator if you have no sense of style, either. Websites abound with decorating advice and bloggers galore have great ideas and pictures of what they've done. I've spent hours (when I should be doing something else!) looking at different blogs and HGTV's Rate My Space and enjoying the many decorating styles. What I've really admired is the ladies showing off their living spaces whether small or large, and being proud of what they have. You can live in an apartment, trailer or small house, but it can still be stylish.


manufactured home kitchen remodel from www.hgtv.com/ratemyspace


small living area from www.hgtv.com/ratemyspace

I thank God for blessing my hubby with a good job and for being able to provide us with a beautiful home. That's enough right there to make me work with what I have.


(our house)


(a couple of shots from my kitcen and breakfast area)

It may not be a $1,000,000 home or furnished with Ethan Allen decor, but it's beautiful to me and I thank God for it! Thank God for His many blessings!!! He doesn't have to do it for us, but He does!!!

Be Blessed!

Gone Bye Bye - Part 2

My previous post contained pics from our Christmas celebration! I had a few more pics to share of my decorations, but I didn't want to make that the longest post ever, so this is part two! Maybe next season I'll link to one of the wonderful decoration parties, but until then this is what I put up.

This is our front door. I got my little tree at Belk for only $20! It was $80 marked down to $29.99 and then I got my discount, plus a coupon! I got the wreath at Wal-Mart in San Antonio a while back. I just lurve it!


I didn't put up all the outside deoorations as I usually do, but I think it looks nice with the minimal approach.


Our master bath with a little tree (Garden Ridge) and snowman reed diffuser (Avon).


My Christmas village my hubby bought for me several years ago.


Our tree in all it's glory! I actually took this after Christmas (forgot to do so before), so that's why there aren't any gifts under it.


The mantel and all our stockings! I need new stocking holders, because they were too heavy for the little bears in the middle, which aren't really supposed to be used for that purpose. Oh well, it never hurts to repurpose!


Pink victorian tree in the girls' room.


Cute hat and shoe!


Love the glam shades and purse! I got these on clearance at JcP awhile back.


Last, but not least, is our hall bath. I got that little tree at Big Lots and the snowman soap dispenser is from Avon.


Hope you enjoyed my little tour. I didn't put up all my decorations this year, but hopefully this next season I'll have more energy to do all of it! Be Blessed!

Gone Bye Bye!

Well, January is in full swing and we have FINALLY taken down the Christmas decorations! I'm just a week behind, so I don't feel so bad! After all of this, though, I realized that I never said Merry Christmas to my blogging family! I'm soooooo sorry! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! At least I did remember to say Happy New Year! Well, since I'm making up for lost time, I'm going to post my Christmas pictures. I say, "Better late than never!" Of course, they are done in the wrong order, but I REALLY don't feel like trying to rearrange them. Soooo, bear with me!

These were the goodies that I was blessed with! Deondra gave me Godiva chocolates (my favorite) and my aunt gave me a cute Coach purse! And my sweet hubby got me a beautiful ring and some pretty pajamas!



Here's sweet hubby with his key finder! Now he says I need to find one to locate his glasses and medicine! It made a great stocking stuffer!


Darian and Davon are happy campers with their matching robes and slippers!


I think Deondra's smile says it all!


Their stockings were stuffed to their satisfaction! lol


I should send this to Apple, because I think Cedraya is the happiest iPod owner ever!


Davon finally got his "remoco control car" as he called it!


DJ asked to read the scripture before opening gifts.


The boys sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"


Well, in a nutshell that was Christmas! We had a blessed one and I hope you did too! (Part two of this post will have some of my decorations)

Bargain Day!!!

I'm a day behind, but I just had to post the goodies I found yesterday. I went to the bank and I overheard a lady talking about Hobby Lobby having 90 percent off on Christmas decor. Yes, you heard right......N-I-N-E-T-Y P-E-R-C-E-N-T O-F-F!!!! Of course, I figured that there wouldn't be much left, since I rarely find out about a ginormous sale until after the fact. There wasn't a whole lot left, but I was able to find a few goodies and saved a ton!

Aren't the gingerbread men plates adorable? There were regularly $16.99 each. I got them for $3.40 for both! The peppermint candles were regularly $9.99 and I got them for $1.00! One was broke, but there's still five left, so I still did good! The snow globe was a whopping $29.99, but I paid a whole $3.00! The little tree skirt was only $2.99 and I only paid $0.30!!! I forgot to take a picture of the two six foot ropes of garland that were originally $7.99. I got them for $0.80! I plan to use some of the garland on my kitchen light fixture (HGTV idea) next Christmas! I couldn't believe the prices! My total came up to $9.20 and I saved $76.44!!!!



I left Hob Lob and went next door to JcPenney to get the peppermint candy dishes that they had for $3.99. Well, the key word was "HAD" because they were long gone when I got there! Oh well, I at least got a candle that was only $3.49. Next year, I hope to make a tablescape using all the candles and the gingerbread men plates.



Afterwards, I went to Which Wich sandwich shop and scored again! My girlfriend from down the street, told me that there was a coupon in the Sunday paper for any sandwich for 99 cents. After checking it out, I discovered that no coupon was actually necessary, so you could get as many as you wanted! Of course I had to stand in line outside in the cold (with 5 kiddos in tow) for a few minutes and then wait inside for a few more (you know a "few" isn't short, right?), but I walked away with 8 sub sandwiches for $8.66!!! Funny, I spent more on the chips and soda at Family Dollar ($10 for 2 bags of Lays and 3 2-liter sodas) than I did on the sandwiches!!! Anyway, I had a great bargain filled day!

Be Blessed!