Life is Precious

I pulled up one of my very favorite blogs today and the writer had asked for prayer for a family in her area that had just experienced the worst tragedy - a beautiful young mother and her precious 15 month old son had been killed in a car accident earlier this week.  Friends, my heart just broke.  It literally brought me to tears.  I can not even imagine what her sweet husband and her parents are going through right now. 


It was a reminder of how fragile this life is - we are here but for a second.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  I know that deep down, but it is not something that I dwell on.  Perhaps I should.  I think we stay so busy going places and doing things  that we forget how truly special life is - it is not something to be taken lightly.   Each and every moment is to be treasured!  Cherish the time spent with your loved ones. Let your family and friends know you love them!!! 

It is also reassuring to know that while this life is but a brief second, as believers we will have eternity in Heaven.  What a blessing!  What a reunion we will have with all our loved ones who will be waiting for us.  What a wonderful day that will be! 

Hold your family close tonight! 

Mirror Transformation

The "before" picture - a little too gold and shiny for my taste!

I bought a round mirror recently at Hobby Lobby in the clearance section!  I was thrilled with the price, but not the color.  I wanted it to look old and worn so I decided to paint it; however, I couldn't decide what to do in addition to painting - I knew that painting alone would not be quite right.  I was leaning toward just "roughing it up" with sand paper, but Jon suggested glazing it with a dark brown glaze.  I had been wanting to try my hand at glazing so this was the perfect opportunity to learn the process on something really small.  It was not hard at all!  In fact, it was super easy! 

First we removed the back and the mirror very carefully -

the edge around the mirror was chipped. 

Next I sanded the finish lightly with a medium grade sand paper.

The next step was to spray paint with a creamy satin paint. 

(I was concerned about using spray paint,

but the frame was a really hard plastic and it worked well.)

We let the paint dry overnight.

We used a brush to apply the glaze on the beaded

inner edge of the mirror. 

We had to buy a special glaze that would

work with oil based paint. 

I was so glad we told the salesperson what we were painting

or we would have had a mess!!

We used a rag to wipe away the glaze. 

It is starting to look good!

We used a hot glue gun to put the mirror back in the frame.

It is finished! 

A close-up :-)

Once I finished the mirror, it did not look terrific in the area that I had originally planned - over the bed in the guest room.  Jon and I walked around the house for a while trying to figure out where to put our pretty new mirror.  We finally put it in the somewhat neglected back entry way into our house.  This is a small hallway that leads into the house from the garage.  It is the entry we use all the time so Jon thought it was the perfect spot to check my hair "one more time" before I leave the house each day!  What can I say?  He knows me well!!!

I wish I had a more glamorous part of the home to show you, but hey, everyone has a back entrance  where friends and family are welcomed!  Now you have seen ours!  Welcome to our home!  Back door friends are best! 

I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday @ http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

and

Debbie's Newbie party at www.debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com

and Kim's Wow Us Wednesday party at www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Come join the fun!  

Happy Mardi Gras!

It has been a while since I last posted.  Things have been SO busy - baseball season has started and that means practice three nights a week!  Working full time and commuting each day (50 minutes each way) , along with being a wife and mother keeps me busy.  :-) Add in baseball or soccer and things really get hopping!  Needless to say, we have been having lots of fast food dinners! 

We are blessed to have a short week this week because it is Mardi Gras!  This is huge where we live along the Gulf Coast in Alabama.  Mardi Gras celebrations are held for many weeks prior to Fat Tuesday!  Jon and I were not really "into" Mardi Gras before we moved to the Coast; however, once you move here you just naturally seem to start incorporating Mardi Gras into your family traditions.  King Cake, parades, and balls are all a part of Mardi Gras!  Now, I am not a fan of huge crowds so we don't go to the downtown area for the parades, but we do LOVE King Cake and Jon and I have gone to a ball the past several years.  I love to dress up, and let's face it, I don't often get a chance to put on a long dress, nor does Jon wear a tux that often!  So that is a real treat!  We have also been to the Biker Ball.  Obviously, the dress is extremely casual, but it so much fun!  We also rode in a motorcycle parade one year.  Being in the parade was a blast!!! 

Seth is out of school and I am off work on Monday and Tuesday.  Jon is off as well so we have been enjoying family time.  Jon helped me complete a project today!  I will post on that tomorrow!  It is so nice to have a husband who takes time to help me when I come up with an idea of something I want to try - we both tackled glazing today! 

So, until tomorrow, Happy Mardi Gras!  Let the good times roll!!! 

Watching the "Call Outs" at the ball! 

Introducing The Mystics!

Mardi Gras wreaths on our front doors - I didn't make them,

but I got a great deal on them!!

Let the good times roll!!!

Philippians 4:8

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These beautiful flowers make me smile. 

So... I had one of those days today.  You know the ones I am talking about - not a day where anything goes wrong necessarily, but a day when insecurities strike!  A day when you think "what in the world am I doing here?".  I was reading one of my favorite blogs the other day and the writer mentioned that she struggles with insecurities.  My first thought was, "well I can relate to that!".  I like to think that most of the time I have it all together (or at least appear to), but there are times when doubts and insecurities just blindside me. I  think we have all struggled with this at one time or another. The "I'm not smart enough, not pretty enough, I'm not the perfect size, I'm not good enough at...  you name it - insert your own insecurity here - thoughts".   The list goes on.   I used to laugh and joke, in fact I still do at times, that I did not have any talent to speak of - I don't sing or dance, nor can I draw, BUT I could teach children!  That was my God given talent!  From an early age I realized that I was really good with children.  That turned into my career and for that I am so thankful.  This post is not about teaching though.  It is about believing in yourself and trying to overcome insecurities.  For example, right now I am comparing myself to other bloggers.  I look at them and think "I will probably never have thousands of followers or be able to do the projects they do (there is that talent thing again!). 


With regard to today, I love my job and it is very rewarding; however, it is very overwhelming at times.  Some days I think, "ok that is it - I need to make a change."  Then I force myself to remember one of my favorite verses from the Bible, Philippians 4:8, which states: Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praise worthy, think on these things. 

Elizabeth George, a wonderful Christian writer, speaks at length on this verse in one of her books.  She cautions us to not think on things that may or may not be true, things that are "gossipy" or hurtful, or worrying about things that may or may not happen, etc.  Instead we should focus on things we KNOW to be true.  God loves us and wants His best for us always.  He is always there - no matter what, we can turn to Him.  He loves us just the way we are!  He hears our every prayer!  What a comfort this is on days when the world seems to be more than we can handle and I guess that is the key.  WE can't can't handle anything, but when we think on the things are TRUE, we will remember that with God, we can handle everything, despite our shortcomings. 

For today, I will remember these things! 

Just because it makes me happy! 

Tiny but Elegant Half Bath

Hi! I hope everyone is having a great week.  My little man has been sick since Saturday.  I am home with him today so I am enjoying some leisurely blogging time.  I have also been cleaning and organizing in the house.  It's sounds so silly but I love to just hang out at home.  Each week on Friday someone will invariably  ask what my plans are for the weekend.  My usual answer is "just hanging out at home".  My husband works on Saturday so Seth and I love to sleep late, run errands and just be together.  In sports seasons the day will include games, but for the most part, I truly enjoy just being a homebody! 

Today as I cleaned and planned for dinner, I snapped a few pics of our half bath to share with you.  It is quite tiny, but I think it is just darling! I don't have a "before" picture - you will just have to imagine a plain khaki bathroom.  Before we moved in we had the builder change the color (most things were in place before we made an offer on the house) to a warm golden yellow.  We added a mirror and some other decorations and the room was complete.  I've debated about adding something above the commode, but since the room is so small, I didn't want to overdo it with regard to decorations.  I love the group of four pictures and the "girly" chandelier!  Simple and Elegant!! 


Hope you have a wonderful week!  The weather is gorgeous here today - a little glimpse into Spring!  Thanks for visiting!!

I fell in love with these pictures when I saw them at one of my favorite stores in Ocean Springs, MS. 

Simple pedestal sink :-)

Candles make any room warm and cozy. 

I love the chandelier!

This little plaque was a bargain at Hobby Lobby! 

Close up of one of the pictures.  I call them

"Fat Women on Bicycles with Dogs"! 

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Another one of the ladies...

Jon just loves to hang pictures in groups of four.... not!  He is a good sport! 

Extra toiletries on hand for guests. 

I am linking to Kim's Wow Us Wednesday Party at www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com  Come join the fun!