Revamping Your Home With Little Or No Money At All

If I haven't expressed enough my passion for interior decorating, let me just tell you right now, I LOVE home decor. But the flip side of this, is that 99%t of the time, I have no budget to work with, or a very little budget. This creates a problem. Or does it?

This is why I am in such a committed relationship with Pinterest. It costs me nothing to sit in front of the computer, pinning other people's bedrooms, furniture, and decor. It's window shopping in my pajamas. Who wouldn't love this?!

When my small budget exists, I try to stretch it as FAAAAAAAAAAAAR as it can go. I either purchase spray paint which can give something an entire new look, or do some thrift store shopping. Lately, I have had an obsession with various hues of blue. Navy blue, teal, robin egg's blue, turquoise, tiffany blue, just about any shade of blue you can think of, I love it!

I've recently had some dinero to buy spray paint and a new picture. I would love to lighten my living room up with a new fresh coat of white paint but hubby tells me that we have other rooms to paint before we repaint the living room. Although I hate to admit it, he is right. When plan A can't occur, go to plan B. In order to lighten the living room up, I choose to bring in white accessories. I've had an over sized black mirror sitting on my mantle for sometime and when I wanted to accessorize with white I knew it would be the first to go. I didn't want to completely get rid of it so I went to my trusty spray paint. I use rustoleum's spray paint in heirloom white which I like to keep on hand for any other thrift store finds that need quick facelift. I've used this spray paint on different vases, birdcages, and now my mirror!

Here are pictures of what the mirror looked like before and after.

In its original black state

With a new coat of heirloom white spray paint
Total cost to revamp my mirror, $4.25 and I still have some paint leftover.

Earlier this month, we found a few chairs and table (which I'm working on now!) on the side of the street. It was someone's leftover garage sale items and I suppose they were just going to throw them away. What a great find! I used krylon's catalina mist spray paint on this chair and distressed it. Unfortunately I didn't take a before picture but here is the newly spray painted trash to treasured chair!

Someone's trash is now my treasure!

Another free restyle I did was switching out comforters. Our guest room has a bed that is rarely used. I decided to steal the comforter from the guest room and use it in our master bedroom. A few weeks ago, I purchased a painting from a resale shop for $4.00. I was drawn to the picture and loved all the blues and greens in it. With a switcheroo of comforters and a nail to hang up the picture above the bed, my bedroom was given a complete makeover and a different look for $4.32.

Please ignore the pile of laundry on the bed, this is the
only picture I could find on my computer for a 'before' shot.

With the new addition hung above my bed, and wipes, toys and onsies, under the duvet :)


New focal point above the bed and a brightly floral comforter to springify my bedroom

I actually had other plans for this picture but for now, this is where it will remain. I am counting down the days until Antique Alley next month when I KNOW I'll find something very interesting to go above my bed. For now however, I've given my bedroom a whole new look for almost close to nothing and it feels good to walk into my "new" bedroom.

Sprucing up a space with little to no money at all is actually a fun challenge. It makes you think outside the box and utilize what you already own! Give it a shot! You just might surprise yourself!

This Week's Dinner Line Up

Chef In Training's Cafe Rio Chicken

Last week I tried Chef In Traning Blogger's Cafe Rio Chicken. This was an extremely easy dish since it was a crockpot entree and it made quite enough for me to have leftovers for the next day. It's also a very versatile dish. The night we ate it, I warmed up corn tortillas and ate it as tacos, and the next day for lunch, I threw it together with a salad. This chicken was a hit with the family and I highly recommend giving it a try!
We also tested a new muffin recipe. I had a block of cream cheese in the fridge that needed to be used and remembered a pin from my breakfast board (hope you're following my pinterest lingo!) and gave lululuathome's strawberry and cream cheese muffins a shot and WHOAH! These were REALLY good. After I ate one I felt I needed to run a marathon to run off all the caloric intake.

If you want to indulge, make these strawberry and cream cheese muffins!

I've also started Scarlett on solids. It's very interesting how different children are. Penelope ate everything I made for her and if she didn't like it the first time (which might of only been green beans), she liked it the second time. Scarlett may very well be like her daddy! She isn't embracing too many flavors but I won't give up. I've read that it sometimes takes fifteen introductions to a food for a child to like it so here's to thirteen more times to carrots, potatoes, and squash. Here are some of my favorite pictures of my girl eating her solids!

She likes her cantaloupe!


And avocado!

I'm going to dedicate an entire post to DIY baby food later in the week. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with various flavors and will be introducing papaya, eggplant, and blueberries this week.


Here is this week's dinner line up!

Monday: Pan seared steaks with baked potatoes and fresh strawberries
Tuesday: Grilled pork chops using a cocoa dry spice rub, cauliflower and fresh mango
Wednesday: Turkey burgers with homemade hamburger buns, garlicky baked french fries and broccoli
Thursday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUBBY! He's requested his favorite dish, King Ranch Casserole
Friday: Pioneer Woman's Homemade Pizza with fruit salad and salad
Saturday: Nuggets, chips, and fresh fruit
Sunday: Vegetable Chicken Soup

Happy Eatings!

Pallet Organizataion Project

Ever since Pinterest, I've been CRAZY over all the creative pallet ideas. Who knew you could do some many creative projects with these things. I knew I needed to get my hands on some pallets. I started checking out the free section of craigslist and one lucky day, I found some! I eagerly picked them up and on my way home, all the endless pallet pins ran through my head.

Although I was ready to dive into the pallets and get my hands dirty, my creative energy was put on hiatus when I learned how next to impossible these things were to dismantle!!! I attempted to take one apart on my own, using a hammer to pull out the nails. The hammer didn't work (or maybe it was the person behind the hammer) and after my failed attempt, I felt absolutely defeated and tried no more. I then went to the one person who I knew could get the job done, my determined hubby!

I told Brandon I needed two non split boards from my pallets. He too made a few unsuccessful attempts (splitting the boards every attempt) and told me that it just wasn't going to happen. Uggh! I felt like someone had just given me a balloon and then POPPED it! My project was put on hold until I could come up with a solution.

Then one day as I was driving through my neighborhood, I spotted a pallet in someone's trash. They had placed it on the curb with the rest of their garbage. And guess what this pallet crazed woman did? I turned my car around and excitedly loaded it up. My hopes were high that this one would be easier to take apart.

That evening when Brandon arrived home from work, I showed him what I'd found. I asked him to give it another go and guess what? He DID IT! Here is my strong, handy man getting the job done!

Nothing better than your hubby coming to the rescue...

Now that I had the boards, what did I exactly need them for you ask? Well, in my dreams, I have this huge, gargantuan house where an entire room is dedicated to being the mud room. Now since this is a dream, I must pinch myself and come back to reality and realize that I don't have a room or the space for a mud room. I do however, have a small little place in my entry way that is empty.

See that little blank spot on the wall, that's it. I saw potential there!

Once Brandon provided me with my boards, I went off to one of my FAVORITE places on earth, Lowes. I made my purchase and came home to assemble my vision. Here is the finished product.

awww yes...sweet sweet organization. No more asking, where is Penelope's backpack, where is Scarlett's diaper bag, because they're all right here!

Next on the list is to acquire a VERY LARGE basket to lodge shoes in.

I am very satisfied with this complete project. It's amazing how life changing the simplest things can be for a mother. I no longer run around the house like a mad woman looking for the girls' bags. This was an easy and cheap project (once Brandon got the boards off) but nonetheless, one of the most useful and helpful ones I've ever done. I use the phrase 'I've ever done,' but Brandon did have to take over most of the time since my precious little Scarlett needed her mommy. I'm so very grateful to my wonderful husband who helped me achieve my vision and has simplified my coming and going with the girls. I'm one lucky gal!

A Successful GW Trip

Yesterday was the third Wednesday of the month. While this may seem like just any other regular Wednesday to most, I'm here to tell you, it isn't for this girl! Every third Wednesday, Good Will offers 50% off everything in their store. Before Miss Scarlett, Penelope and I would eagerly arrive at 9:00 a.m. when the store opens and explore for many treasures. Since Scarlett isn't much of a shopper, I have sadly given up my third Wednesday shopping expeditions.
However, more recently, Brandon and I went grocery shopping as a family and found that Scarlett didn't mind the baby bjorn too much. This exciting revelation gave me hopes that perhaps I could reenter the third Wednesday club if I kangerooed her in my front pouch, aka placed her in the baby bjorn. So yesterday, with confidence that I COULD DO THIS, Scarlett strapped to the front of me and Penelope's hand in my pocket, I ventured where I'd never thought possible, third Wednesday!
I believe God was really aiding me in this endeavor because as I entered the store, I expected to see what I always see. Lines to the back of the store. However, yesterday, I'd never seen the line so short in all my third Wednesday experiences! I knew my time was short and in order to keep myself from being frazzled, and to prevent myself from being 'that mom' who has children screaming because they're completely over the whole shopping experience, I knew I had to make a run for it ( and if you're envisioning a short woman sprinting through a store with a baby strapped to the front of her and a 2 year old being dragged, with her hand in her mother's pocket, I would say that's a pretty close image of what I looked like yesterday!)
As our shopping journey came to an end, I must proudly declare that I made it out of the store not only with newly acquired treasures, but also with two non blubbering, happy girls. That's right. We SURVIVED! And may I add, I wasn't 'that mom' this time. Here are the gems I found.

8 Great Books for the girls at a quarter each

2 skirts for Penelope at $1.00 each (the plaid one is 5t but it was
too cute so I'll store it in the back of the closet for her!)

A pretty antiquey looking frame for $1.00

A romper (yes, I'm attempting the romper look!)
and 2 shirts for myself totaling $7.90

And this great basket that is now housing all my sugars for $1.17

I don't want to jinx my luck, but I just very well might be able to reenter the third Wednesday club if every trip goes as smoothly as yesterdays went. But who really knows? Every day is so unpredictable with little ones and next month's third Wednesday I could be 'that mom.' But it's worth a shot!

This Week's Dinner Line Up

As I've said so many times before, we can plan all we want to, but sometimes those plans go right out the door. Last week I fell ill with an ear infection and felt absolutely miserable. I planned all my meals out but when it came time to do the cookin', I just didn't feel up to it. So my Wednesday's garlic pork shoulder didn't happen. I woke up and decided to throw my picnic roast into the good 'ol crock pot with a can of black bean and green enchilada sauce. Sometimes we gotta leave it to the pros (the crock pot that is!) when we aren't up to cooking. Friday, which is our meatless day, I had our homemade cheese pizza planned when Brandon decided to come home for lunch and eat cheese pizza. To avoid a repeat meal for my hubby, I did bean and cheese nachos. I decided to get 'fancy' (and I use this term fancy loosely!) with the nachos. I was inspired by the crispy black bean tacos with feta and slaw and decided to hearty up Penelope's and my nachos. I added a glob of avocado, black olives, and lastly, a handful of slaw. Penelope and I thoroughly enjoyed these decked out nachos!

Olive, Slaw and Avocado Nachos
(and did I mention these are ALL good calories?!)

Here is this week's dinner lineup and I'm trying out quite a few new recipes. I'm looking forward to see how they turn out!
Monday: Garlic Lime Marinated Pork Chops, with cauliflower, rice, and cantaloupe
Tuesday: Martha Stewart's Tortilla Pie with Chicken and kiwi
Wednesday: Cafe Rio Chicken tacos, beans, and sliced up strawberries
Thursday: Buttermilk Fried Chicken (Brandon actually requested something for dinner, this NEVER happens so ask and he shall receive!), mashed potatoes, and tropical fruit salad (I'm going to throw some strawberry yogurt, bananas, mango, and coconut together and viola, tropical fruit salad is born!)
Friday: Homemade Cheese Pizza
Saturday: Nuggets, mango, and Garlicky Baked Fries (I'm going to reduce the amount I make since Penelope and I will be the only ones eating these)
Sunday: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (This is REALLY good and Brandon actually ate a couple bowls of it and said it tasted good! I COULDN'T believe my eyes! He was eating a soup that didn't come from a Cambells can and LIKED IT!!!! I think this may be our new Sunday soup entree)

Happy Eatings!

Weekly Highlights

This week was a great week for recipes and crafts! Penelope and I made our very own homemade push this week! What is push you ask? When Penelope first started using play doh, she used all the molds and cutters that create various shapes. Since you had to push the cutters into the play doh, she got the idea that it was called push. Here is our push!

Here is our purple push cooking

Here is our purple push after kneading it

Here is a happy girl playing with her purple push

Naturally I found this play dough recipe on pinterest! It's from the AdelynStone blog and after looking over her blog, it looks like she has some other great recipes and diy tutorials that I might have to try out! We also tested out a new snack I pinned from pinterest called energy bites. Gimme Some Oven has really out done herself with these fabulous no bake little bites. These are REA-LLY ADDICTING!

No Bake Energy Bites

To celebrate Spring, Penelope created an Easter egg. I cut out an egg shape out of white construction paper and then gave her colorful decorations to choose from also cut from construction paper. You can see she was highly distressed by the overwhelming amount of choices! She didn't know where to begin!

She finally started her egg and I guess since she eat, breathes, and literally sleeps in BRIGHT pink (her bedroom is a lovely hue of pepto bismol pink!), I shouldn't be surprised that she used all the pink paper and didn't touch any of the blue. Silly girl!

Once she completed it, I was going to take a picture of her with her egg. However, she ran over to the fridge and pulled out the tape from the cabinet so I could display her beautiful artwork on the fridge.By the time I taped her egg to the fridge, I totally forgot about the picture. Gotta love mommy brain!

On another fun note, Penelope really enjoys playing outside in the evenings while I cook dinner. It's really convenient having three large windows in your kitchen that look out into your backyard. I keep the porch door open so I can hear Penelope play while Scarlett swings or plays in the exercauser. Scarlett and I listen to Pandora and depending on Miss Scarlett's mood, sometimes we listen to Rock A Bye Baby or if she isn't in the mood for that, we listen to some Miranda Lambert or John Mayer. The other night, after I put dinner in the oven, I went out to check on Penelope. This is what I captured!

Penelope buckled her baby into the wagon and was going for a ride with her. I LOVED it and ran inside to grab the camera. These are the moments that make me laugh out loud! I can not WAIT until Scarlett is older! They are going to have an amazing time together. And speaking of Scarlett, I started her on solids this week! I can't believe my little girl is eating solids!

I don't know where my little girl went but she's growing up way too fast! I'll be posting some of the great baby food recipes I use as we start this new segment of my little Scarlett's life. Thus far, she's enjoyed bananas, avocados, and cantaloupe. Not a fan of carrots but we're going to continue trying!
This week, we'll continue doing more Easter crafts, trying more solids, and hopefully, finishing up some projects I've been working on.

My Sweet Scarlett

I had an epiphany the other night as I hit publish on my last post. I tend to write about Penelope more than my Scarlett. I don't know why that is.Perhaps it's all the newness of two year old things I'm learning from Penelope and maybe the fact that I've been through this infant phase before? Maybe? But really I'm learning everything all over again, in a new way. God brings us these amazing little children but they're born with such different personalities. That's what makes having more than one child so remarkable.

Scarlett is such a uniquely beautiful child. She has so much spunk and tenacity already that I'm eager to see how the rest of her childhood will unfold. I believe God sends us the children he does for a reason, to teach us new concepts and to better us. Scarlett has made me be an in the moment mommy and enjoy those small precious moments that make me love being a mommy.

Scarlett loves to smile, but she rarely shows us that contagious belly laugh. Brandon and I are in constant competition to see who can make her laugh. And what do you know, we actually BOTH lose to big sister!

Penelope can simply walk past Scarlett and Scarlett will let out a loud infectious laugh. I can't help but to summon Penelope to do whatever she did AGAIN! One time when I was making dinner, Scarlett was swinging. Penelope went right up to her sister and jumped, that's it. Let me repeat that, she jumped. I couldn't believe that laughter that was coming from my Scarlett. Like a jealous fool trying to get her daughter to laugh, I jumped, EXACTLY like what Penelope did. Reaction: nothing, nada, crickets. Actually, just a blank stare like "Mom, what are you doing?"
So I quickly grabbed Penelope and said, "Do it again, Penelope, jump again like you just did!"
And what was the reaction that time? That loving sound to any mother's ears, a belly laugh.

Since those laughs are so rare, the times I do get to hear that remarkable sound, I treasure the moments even more. I stop what I'm doing, and it doesn't matter if I'm cooking dinner, folding clothes, or any other chore around the house, I completely put a halt to what I'm doing to embrace that more important moment when my little girl finds something so funny,she chuckles out loud.

Scarlett has taught me not to take those small moments for granted. Scarlett's fuse is short at times and so when she isn't happy, she lets me know quickly. This forces me stop what I am doing and devote my attention to her. She has taught me the importance of spending time with her and Penelope rather than all those other small things that will eventually get done. Instead of sweeping the floor, I should be making more of an effort to record more of my children's lives. I have a video camera that is rarely used. I should be capturing these blissful times in my daughters' lives because they go so quickly.

My Scarlett is about to be six months old and I can't help but feel like it was just last month when I was asking God to please just let me have her so I would feel less discomfort. God has placed and entrusted me with this tiny miracle to teach right from wrong, to love unconditionally, and I can't believe how lucky I am to have this bestowed upon me.

Scarlett has taught me to slow down and embrace those very small innocent moments that I took for granted with Penelope. She has inspired me to create this blog so that one day, my girls will read it and see how much I truly loved them. She has inspired me to record more of our everyday activities, so that one day they can look back on their childhood and she has inspired me to create email accounts for both of them so I can periodically write to them just to tell them how much their mommy loves them or retell a funny story that happened. All this has come from mommying Scarlett. With Penelope, I learned how to be a mommy, with Scarlett, I'm learning how to be a better mommy. And one day, when Scarlett can truly grasp what love is, I hope she knows of the unconditional and all consuming love I have for her and how she has made me the mommy I am today.

One month old Scarlett

Two Month Old Scarlett

Three Month Old Scarlett

Four Month Old Scarlett

Five Month Old Scarlett

This Week's Dinner Line Up

Here is the weekly menu:

Monday: Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken
Tuesday: Barbequed Whole Chicken, broccoli and cauliflower, and fruit salad
Wednesday:Garlic Pork Shoulder, baked potato, and apple slices
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Cheese Pizza and Salad with Copy Cat Olive Garden Dressing
Saturday: Nuggets, fruit, and avocado
Sunday: Chicken Vegetable Soup

Happy Eatings!

New Recipes Tested and Approved!

I didn't post my weekly menu this week so I thought I'd quickly post some new recipes I tried out over the past couple weeks. My father in law's birthday was last week and his favorite dessert is banana pudding. I purchased a Southern Living's Best Desserts magazine a while back and decided to put one of the desserts to test. I couldn't have been happier with the results!

Southern Living Banana Pudding Pie

I also tried out a new rub. I love grilling when it's beautiful outside. Nothing is easier than throwing some spices on chicken, letting it set for a while, and then grilling it to perfection. And let's not add to the fact that it's nicer to my dishwasher (less dishes to wash!). So when I came across this cocoa spice rub, I knew I had to try it! I cooked the chicken on the grill for around 15 minutes and then slathered them in Baby Ray's barbeque sauce. Here is the aftermath!

(Those are the baked apples I posted about last week, soooo good!)

And lastly, this week I had phyllo dough in my freezer that needed to be used before it went bad. I remembered pinning a dish that used phyllo. So to my trusty dinner board I went to and ta-da! Morrocan bundles were created!

Moroccan Beef Bundles

mmmmm, flaky phyllo dough!

I did substitute the beef for ground turkey and I didn't make the spicy sauce. This dish was not a hit in my household with either one of my testers (hubby and Penelope). Brandon didn't like the pastry and said it was too overwhelming for him. He ended up shaving all the top part off and then eating the meat part. I didn't have fresh mint so that we excluded from the recipe. Overall though, I really enjoyed the taste of all the spices with the tomato paste (which I used instead of the puree which isn't it basically the same thing?). Who knew that cinnamon, ginger, and meat would taste so delicious together?

I was lazy this week after a busy weekend, and so I promise to do better next week and will post my weekly menu. Have a SUPERB weekend!

Never Say Never

Over the past couple weeks, Penelope has developed two (naturally it couldn't have come one at a time) new behaviors, tantrums, and whining. I thank God for my three years subscriptions to Parent's magazine who has given me unlimited amounts of tools and knowledge to deal with these behaviors. But I must be honest, I really thought Penelope would skip these habits. Who was I kidding?

As a baby, Penelope was the easiest infant. Easy going, flexible, uncomplicated, slept anywhere, and if she skipped a nap, you never knew! I truly had it made in the shade. Scarlett on the other hand, now this girl loves to give me my run for the money! She lives by the philosophy of her way or the highway. If the saying holds true that a difficult infant is an easy toddler, then my toddler Scarlett is going to be pre-tty effortless!

As Penelope's second birthday approached last year, everyone told me to LOOK OUT! Terrible two's were heading my way. But as the months passed and the terrible twos never reared their ugly head, I thought I had made it out of the woods, especially since her third birthday was fast approaching. Then I made the single mistake that no parent should EVER DO! I uttered the word 'never.'

During a play date, I was making small talk with another mommy. We got on the topic of our children's behaviors. I told her that Penelope never whined nor did she throw tantrums. Then two days later, as if Penelope had HEARD me voice those words, she threw an "I"ll show you I don't throw tantrums!" fit right in the middle of the living room. A full blown fit, throwing herself on the floor, going no bones and whaling "daddy!". I don't recall what her fit was over, but right then and there, I realized I needed a big 'ol scoop of potatoes to eat with those words I had just said two days prior.

I just received my March's Parents magazine and what do you know? An article on how to deal with four discipline problems, and tantrums and whining were two of the four! I thanked the Lord for knowing just what this mommy needed, guidance!

The article told me that these two lovely behaviors typically occur when my little one is tired, hungry or sick. These times seem to be when she goes all out for me, especially right before nap time and right before bed time.

The other morning she woke up at six instead of seven, which made her tired from the get go.She walked me to the pantry to request candy for breakfast. I told her that she wasn't going to have candy for breakfast. The jumping began and then the flailing hands started.

Then I pulled out my empowerment tool that I had read from my magazine and waved my magic wand. "Penelope, you can not have candy for breakfast. You may have a pop tart (that has just as much sugar as that pixie sitck!) or you may have a waffle. Which one would you like?"

Giving her options and allowing her to ultimately make the choice made her feel like she was calling the shots and give her the control. She chose the waffle and then just like that, she was over it. The throw down tantrum was deflected. I've continued to use this "I give you two choices and then you make the final decision" tool and more times than not, it works pretty good!

I can't forget that Penelope is a child and she's still learning how to be more independent and at the same time, cope with her frustration and irritation. I'm a 29 year old woman who has an extensive vocabulary and can clearly articulate how I'm feeling at any moment, but I still throw "adult" tantrums when I'm tired, don't feel well, or I'm irritated. I must have grace for my daughter who is still trying to learn how to deal with all her emotions, and if this is one of the many hurdles we have to get through together, so be it.

If I've learned anything from being a mommy, it's that motherhood comes with the good, the bad, and the ugly. I've often heard that if you think the two's are hard, just wait until the threes. Well, the three's are just around the corner, and Scarlett will be one before I know it! So for now, I'll sit back and wait patiently, as both my girls grow before my eyes and enjoy them just as they are, perfect and flawless in their mommy's eyes.

A Two Year Old's Unconditional Forgiveness

I recently did some soul searching on Pinterest (shocked that I was on pinterest, huh?). I came across this amazing quote, "The thing about forgiving, is that after forgiving, only then, can you start to heal. If you don't forgive, you are filled with hate and anger." This spoke volumes with me and moved me to make some choices in my life. I'm making the decision during this lenten season, to learn what forgiveness means to me. But like so many other attributes I wish I possessed, strength, perseverance, and undoubting trust for others, I can always look to my girls to teach me the most important lessons in life.

The other day, I discovered what forgiveness meant through Penelope's eyes. I had woken up like any other day at seven o' clock to feed Scarlett when I realized that my neck hurt and my head was pounding. I still felt extremely tired and came to the conclusion that I was attempting to get sick. From this point, I just knew my day would be bad and didn't even give it the opportunity to be other than that.

When I am not 100%, everything could go as any other typical day, but for some reason, I am heightened to errors. Since I am human and not flawless, these seem to be the times that I am abrupt and let's be honest, thoughtless. I never mind asking my Penelope to do something a few times, she's two, it's only natural. But on days where I am tired and irritable, I all of a sudden expect her to do what is asked of her the very first time. On this specific day, after asking her once to sit at the table and with an empty fulfillment, I snapped at her and told her to sit down at the table now, in a very harsh tone.

My sharp and raised tone surprised her and brought tears to her eyes. I knew immediately I had been in the wrong. As she went and sat at the table, like a good little girl, my sweet, sensitive Penelope sobbed for mommy. I had just hurt my little girls feelings and yet she still cried out for me. Without hearing an apology, she had forgiven me and longed for my affection. I went to her instantly and sat next to her. I rubbed her little back and she wrapped her tiny little arms around me. I apologized and told her how much I loved her.

This is the type of forgiveness I wish my heart was filled with.

Now that God has blessed me with two gorgeous daughters, I feel I have expectations of what a mother should feel for their child.The animosity and resentment towards the void of a mother daughter relationship from my childhood and the absence of a grandmother for my daughters grows daily.

This growing resentment got me questioning what I'm teaching my daughters when they see that I cannot forget, forgive and let go of my hurt. Yes, I know that they're not old enough to grasp this concept but one day they will. By not choosing to forgive, I am teaching them selective forgiveness. Choose who you want to forgive and don't worry about forgiving those who you feel have wronged you "more". This is anything but Christ like and I need to do right in my daughters' eyes and God's eyes.

On this journey to forgiveness, I can choose one of two paths. I can choose the path of resentment, hate, and hurt . Or like my kindhearted Penel0pe has taught me, I can choose the path to forgive and forget, without giving it a second thought. I think I choose what my two year old has taught me. Forgiveness.

Furniture Makeover

This past weekend, my sister in law, Gina, came over to pick up her piece of furniture that I had made over . Here is what it looked like before.

before

I instantly saw potential. I knew I wanted to lose the doors and scuff it up some but I didn't know exactly where I wanted to go with it until I saw these inspirational pieces!

Pinterest

Pinterst

Pinterest

I truly love the distressed look. It gives furniture such character . I decided I'd try this look with Gina's project until Brandon asked me what I was doing. Then he followed up with "Is it supposed to look like that?" I love when I start doubting myself after I've been hit by a road block from my lovely hubby! I didn't know if I had distressed it too much for Gina and since it was going to go into her house, I decided I better send her a picture before I proceeded with any more distressing. Her response was that she trusted me to do what I wanted with it, and to carry on. I finished it up with a little more scuffing, kept the original hardware since she had told me this piece was going in her vintage inspired guest bedroom, and dusted it off.
Here is the final product!

after

It's perfect for extra blankets, pillows, baskets or guests' belonging when they stay in the guests bedroom. I love standing back and seeing the transformation. And while Gina was here, we acquired a new project that I'll be undertaking very soon! I'll be sure to post before and after pictures of it when I complete it!