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Monday Musings – Dogs, Vignettes, and God

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Summer came in earnest on Saturday with the first REAL humidity of the year.  The kind that leaves even heat lovers like us seeking air conditioned spaces.  Then in the night came thunder, and lightening, and a real downpour that my yard gladly drank in.

Spring is my favorite time of year in the South.  The yards are so green and different varieties of flowers are blooming daily.

May seems to be the month for magnolias and gardenias. 

I’m musing today on the complexity of doggie relationships . . .

. . . as I consider why this perfectly behaved ten-year-old dog of ours would suddenly begin leaving nasty little messes in the house.

Oh I know it has something to do with the new puppy entering her world, but I’d like to get in her head and understand her WHY?

Because maybe if we knew the WHY we would know the answer to the problem.

In the meantime, she received a good scolding this morning and I do believe she is smart enough to think twice before trying something so foolish again, especially on the oriental carpet 🙁

I’m musing as well today on why my funny seems to have left me of late.

Hubby and I discussed it a bit this weekend and I came to the conclusion that my funny feeds off of other funny people and I haven’t been around enough of those types lately.

I know, a lot of people say that Mr. OTN is funny.  But he’s funny in a different kinda’ way.  Like the smart guy who acts goofy kinda’ way.

Right now I just might be hoping hubby doesn’t read this post. Click To Tweet

It’s all good honey.  It’s like Disney’s Goofy.  You like him, right?

My kind of funny is more like this: 

At times I'm shocked at the brilliance of my words. Then I try to get out of the car with my seat belt on. Click To Tweet

I think I need time with some of my quick witted friends to get my funny back.  Soon gals, soon. 🙂

Today I’m also musing on the message we heard in church yesterday about how we can be certain to know God’s will when we don’t allow ourselves to be conformed to the world’s views, but are instead, transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).

  We renew our minds when we spend time in God’s word and in prayer, getting to know Him, and when we deliberately focus on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, and on all things good, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8).

It is so important to be careful about the things we allow our minds to settle on isn’t it?The more we fill our minds with toxic thoughts, the less room we have for God. Click To Tweet

And the less room we have for God, the less we know His perfect will for us.

I don’t know about you, but I want to know and walk in God’s will for me, because I know it far surpasses anything I could plan for myself.

As a bonus, and to keep you engaged while listening to my musings, here’s a little Spring vignette I created for my kitchen dining nook.

Thanks for stopping by 😉

Blessings,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, Making Your Home Sing Mondays, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, SmallWonder, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner,  I Choose Joy,   Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

Spring Decorating Home Tour

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What do you like most about Spring decorating?  I like that it means the cold weather is behind us (fingers crossed) but I also love all the lovely muted colors of Spring.  This is really the only time of year that I use peaches and pinks in my home decor, but I think I may need to use these colors more . . . without hubby noticing of course. 😉

My home has some other added color as I recently repainted every room on the main floor.  I can’t wait to share it with you.

… 

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Modern Glam Living Room

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Spring begins in February in South Carolina.  At least it has this year with record high temperatures, lots of sunny days, and Spring flowers early to bloom.  We can only hope there isn’t a stretch of cold weather in March to ruin our peach crop.

Recently I was contacted by Douglas Elliman’s Florida Real Estate team to share a Style Board highlighting the color of the year, GREENERY.   That was an easy fit for me because I love the color green and the first thing I did after taking down my Winter decor was to start adding touches of it around my home.

I’ll share more pictures of that later, but first I want to share the Style Board I put together highlighting a Modern Glam Living Room in greens, golds, and creams.  It isn’t at all like the style I have in my own home but I find it quite fun to play around with different styles on Polyvore. 

Here it is:

 What do you think of my Modern Glam Living Room?  I think I could move right in  . . . as long as I didn’t have a dog . . . or a husband . . . or red dirt on my own shoes from tramping around the garden.
 

At the end of this post I’ll share the links to the items I posted to my style board.  I don’t make a single penny from any sales on these sites but I thought it would be interesting to show you how much this room would actually cost to put together.  Can you guess what the most expensive item is?  Second most expensive?  You might be surprised!

Anyhoo, here are some photographs of the ways I’ve used Greenery to usher Spring into our den.

I’ve used a lot of boxwood and moss balls because I love the look of green in nature the best.  I also have some new pillow covers that I got from a company called Yapatkwa.  It is a Belgian tapestry store and their pillow covers are heirloom quality.  No, I’m not receiving a commission there either but I like what they have to offer.

Now for the prices and the links to the items in my Hollywood Glam Living Room:

Sphere light
$4,009 – popmap.com

Sheep skin rug
$300 – very.co.uk

HiEnd Accents faux fur throw
$100 – jcpenney.com

Inspirational throw pillow
$90 – plaidfox.com

Faux fur throw pillow
$18 – smile.amazon.com

NDI leaf home decor
$298 – ndi.com

Lumbar throw pillow
$195 – chairish.com

Green couch
$2795 – onekingslane.com

Regency coffee table
$3790 – kathykuohome.com

Safavieh furniture
$218 – overstock.com

Rustic wood furniture
$1263 – kathykuohome.com

Did you guess the most expensive item correctly?  Yikes!  I’m pretty sure I could find a knockoff for a fraction of the price.  My favorite items are the sphere light fixtures . . . but $4009?  I can’t even!
 So now that I’ve had my Greenery up for a couple of weeks I’m itching to pull down the Easter decor and start adding some pastels into the mix.  How is the weather where you are?  Are you decorating for Spring or Easter yet?  Time is flying by!
Blessings,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, Making Your Home Sing Mondays, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, SmallWonder, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner,  I Choose Joy,   Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays, ThoughtfulThursday Tune-inThursday

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

Bunnies, Bunnies, Everywhere!

by 11 Comments

To be sure, the bunnies  overrunning my house are more prolific than my writing has been of late!  We spent the first week of March in San Diego and since then I’ve spent much of my time fighting and then recuperating from an influenza virus.  UGH!

“No honey, I did NOT get my flu shot this year but I’m glad you did.”

So today, my words will be few and I’ll simply share a few Spring/Easter vignettes scattered around my house.Easter Decor 002This mama bunny cookie jar adorns my kitchen island, along with a pot of lavender and some gold leafed eggs.

Easter Decor 003Notice baby bunnies peeking out from beneath mama’s skirts.

Easter Decor 004

Easter Decor 043On my kitchen counter is a tray holding another porcelain bunny.

Easter Decor 005Easter Decor 006And one of many nests scattered throughout my house.

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 056The den has gone Green for Spring (more pics showing my bookcases HERE).

Easter Decor 017Thrifted and painted candlesticks and silver.

Easter Decor 016Dried hydrangeas from last year’s garden and a DIY moss covered cross.

Easter Decor 013I shared this photo on Instagram of a collection of vintage pocket watches and a tiny bird’s nest.

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 047Vintage books abound in my home decor.

Easter Decor 023I found this big bunny in a thrift store last Spring and I’m still debating on whether to leave him “as is” or to paint him.  I’m really loving the grey stone bunnies I’ve seen around the home decor stores.

Easter Decor 022Or maybe I’ll just paint his overalls pink and make him a her!

Easter Decor 011This is my favorite frame because I can print out seasonal pictures from The Graphics Fairy to change it up for each holiday.

Easter Decor 012I’ve added one of my tiny boxwood wreaths behind the glass to frame it.

Easter Decor 027On to my living room and another boxwood wreath hung on a lantern.

Easter Decor 026A lantern that is filled with more bunnies of course.

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 027I bought this stuffed bunny a couple of years ago because he looks so real.

Easter Decor 028I love his little chick friends too.

Easter Decor 029

Easter Decor 030

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 033In my dining room an old toolbox filled with lavender sits atop the hutch.

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 001A Spring Bouquet in a garden urn adorns the dining table,

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 007with another bird’s nest for good measure.

Easter Decor and Spring Arrangement 036One of my favorite things to create displays in is this large cloche that I’ve filled with Spring goodies.

Easter Decor 035Vintage sheet music with another miniature bird’s nest.

Easter Decor 039A mix of decoupaged eggs and gold leafed eggs.

Easter Decor 038A faux chocolate bunny purchased at Stein Mart.  This, after using a real chocolate bunny in a floral arrangement two years ago and finding it melted down into the flowers one sunny afternoon.

The weather is very Springlike and warm this week in South Carolina and the pollen is beginning to fly.  Hubby and I are working on a solution for keeping the furniture on the screened porch protected from the messy pollen this year.  I’ll let you know how that works out!  I hope you all are well and that you are enjoying the entrance into this new Season, wherever you may live. 

Blessings friends,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:

Bookcases Going Green for Spring!

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I love going on vacation this time of year because when you come home after only a week away there are so many changes.  The temperatures have warmed by 10 degrees, the swelling buds on the trees have begun to explode into flowers, the sun shines brighter, and the birds chirp louder . . . or so it seems.

Bookcases Going Green Overlay

I enjoy changing out the bookcases in our den with the Seasons.

Bookcases Going Green 003

Since Spring is about to burst forth I’ve added a lot of green accents.

Bookcases Going Green 004

Bookcases Going Green 006

All reflected in mirrors collected from various thrift stores and from around the house (you can read all about my Brilliant Mirrored Bookcases right HERE).

Bookcases Going Green 020

Bookcases Going Green 019

Bookcases Going Green 008

Bookcases Going Green 015

Bookcases Going Green 016

With St. Paddy’s Day right around the corner my little leprechauns have joined in the fun.

Bookcases Going Green 012

This little guy reminds me of my father who felt so strongly tied to his Irish roots.

Bookcases Going Green 009

Bookcases Going Green 011

I think it’s pretty great of Mr. OTN to let me rummage through his office for books of green.

Bookcases Going Green 001

This is his favorite room to relax in after a long day at work and he actually takes great delight in my making it a comfortable place for him to come home to.

Bookcases Going Green 018

Do you have a favorite room?  The rooms that we spend the most time in can become kind of messy and neglected but I believe it’s important to take care to make these rooms as welcoming as any other part of the home.  These spaces can be real sanctuaries, places of escape from the outside world.  

Is the weather becoming Springlike yet where you live?  Have you begun any Spring cleaning or Spring decorating?  Sometimes we just have to start the ball rolling and wait for the weather to follow!

Almost Spring blessings to you my friends 😉

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays,SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday: