{Eclectic & Colorful Laundry Room with World Market}

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ but all opinions are my own. 

Who wouldn't want to go on a World Market shopping spree?

I took a virtual shopping trip to decorate our laundry room and found some eclectic and colorful decor and accessories...

Aren't these fabric covered Venetian-print letters beautiful and fun? I love the idea of placing a whimsical word on the wall above our washer and dryer, and at $6.39 on sale each, they make super affordable wall art. 

1. Letter "S"
2. Letter "C"
3. Letter "R"
4. Letter "U"
5. Letter "B"

To give the room function and comfort, I picked out a colorful group of decor and accessories to coordinate with the bold colors in the letters...

1. Aqua Floor Tile Indoor/Outdoor Rug
2. Yellow Punched Metal Pendant
3. Ryan Wall Storage Unit
4. Spinach Green Madison Baskets
5. Industrial Metal Shelf

The rug is a classic pattern, but I love how the turquoise gives it a modern twist. The pendant light and baskets bring in bold pops of color. And I can imagine getting a lot of organizational use out of the wire wall organizer and the industrial bookcase.

It was so much fun putting together this space, and World Market has something else fun in store for you!  Head on over to their Facebook page to enter to win their Gourmet Getaway Sweepstakes!

*Grand Prize package includes:

• A trip for two to to Santa Fe, New Mexico (this is a 5 day Trip for 2 to Santa Fe which includes airfare and hotel)
• Hands on Southwestern Cooking class with Master Chef
• Personally signed glossy cookbook
• Multi-course dinner at the acclaimed Geronimo
• Southwestern Foodie Tour with a cultural kick
• A $1,000 World Market gift card 

** There will also be 3 runner up prize winners that will each receive a $500 World Market gift card! 

**The Gourmet Getaway Sweepstakes runs from August 18, 2012 until September 21, 2012. 

**If you share the sweepstakes with 5 of your friends (via FB share or email) you can receive 5 additional bonus entries. This is part of the registration process when entering. Users can also enter daily for more chances to win.

Visit World Market online!

WEBSITE
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
GOOGLE+
PINTEREST

Do you shop at World Market? Have you decorated a room in your home with their fun and eclectic accessories? I would love to hear about it!

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{the messy part of parenting}

I got a little encouragement from Sophie over at The Forge to share one of our not so pretty moments from the weekend. 

In particular, the messy part of parenting.

The age of 4 has brought some pretty fun and wonderful qualities out in the boys, and a whole new phase of learning. But it has also brought out quite a bit of independence and disobedience. They have been testing me like no other lately, especially my little Benny.

Yesterday I took the boys on a little outing to Walgreens to pick up a Sunday paper and a few other essentials {essentials meaning cotton rounds so I could take off my chipped nail polish}. The boys were fairly good in the store, but when we got out to the sidewalk in front of the car, Ben refused to step off the concrete. Feet firmly planted, tears welling up in his eyes.
  
I don't want to go home!!! 

He started crying, yelling, the whole shebang.

I had to snatch up his not-so-little-anymore 32 pound body, kicking and screaming, and force him into the car. He hit his head on the door frame for an added bonus. Mother of the year right here.

And does anyone else do this? I was so frustrated, angry, and embarrassed that I started laughing while I was trying to discipline him. Yeah...that helps A LOT. ;)

I've found myself having a very short temper with the boys lately when they are acting like this. When they tell me no. I shouldn't have to explain why I'm telling them no, right?

Because I said so. 

Because I'm your Mom. 

Because I know best.

Those explanations don't tend to fly anymore. I need to work on lengthening my rope, taking deep breaths, and not raising my voice at them so quickly. And accepting that maybe I'm a bit more of a control freak than I care to acknowledge.

And throwing in some humor doesn't hurt...

Source: 9gag.com via Angels on Pinterest

Just thought I would share this little snippet of our reality, in hopes that some of you can relate, feel a bit better about your parenting, or maybe just make me feel better about mine?

You can do that below in the comments. ;)

{the best part of life}

The LORD is my strength and my shield;

 my heart trusts in him, 

and he helps me. 

My heart leaps for joy, 

and with my song I praise him.

-Psalm 28:7

This past week provided some valuable lessons in trust for me. In times of uncertainty, of fear, of anxiety, it is tempting to worry and to think of the "what if's". I have been guilty of that on many occasions, but this week I worked very hard to have faith that things would work out in God's time and in His way.

Benny came down with a horrible cold earlier in the week.
We ended up in the doctor's office on Tuesday with the words pneumonia,
x-ray and hospital coming out of the doctor's mouth.
and a breathing treatment on the spot...

I would be lying if I said I didn't have some fear, worry
and anxiety in that moment.

But our doctor is SO wonderful. He calmed my fears and assured me that the breathing treatments would open up his airways and bring back the goofy, lovable Benny that was hidden underneath the wheezing and coughing.

I saw God in our doctor that day.

On Thursday it was time for preschool, but Ben wasn't quite ready to go back. Landon decided that he wanted to go by himself which made me proud and anxious all at the same time.

He was 100% excited...

So I buried my fear under a smile that matched his,
and trusted that he would be OK.

...my heart trusts in him, 

and he helps me.

After I shed a few tears walking back to the car, I felt an immense sense of joy and pride that I had raised this independent and confident boy. That he felt secure enough, brave enough to be left on his own.

My heart leaps for joy, 

and with my song I praise him.

Knowing that I can trust in God in these difficult and scary times is one of the best parts of life.

Has your trust in God been tested this past week?
Leave a comment below and let's encourage each other!

{patio face-lift update}

A few weeks {or has it been months?} back I told you all about a little face-lift I had in the works for our patio. Here is my original post where I showed you the before of the space...

And my inspiration board including some great pillows I scored on sale from Kohl's...

I'm happy to report that the pillows looks great! I was worried that the colors wouldn't all go together but they are perfect. We haven't gotten around to buying an outdoor rug, and definitely won't this year, but just the pop of color from the pillows and some flowers on the table go a LONG way.

Here are a few updated photos!

I still can't believe that IKEA sells this solid wood set for $100. For all four pieces! Crazy.

We've been enjoying some relaxing meals out here with the boys and our extended family.

And I've even managed to keep these flowers alive for a month! Now THAT is crazy. ;)

Now that the weather is cooling down, I love to sit out here with a cup of coffee and listen to nature. I'm especially looking forward to fall evenings and adding some autumn touches to the table! Wanna come over for a coffee date? ;)

{sunday video chat}

Happy weekend friends!

It has been a really great weekend at our house...lots of family time, enjoying the beautiful weather and also working on a lot of different projects around the house. I've done some sprucing up around here too, if you didn't notice already. But I'll stop rambling now and just let me tell you in the video. :)



Here are the links to the social media icons and how to install them that I told you about!

Source: hernewleaf.com via Officerswife on Pinterest

Source: hernewleaf.com via Mandy on Pinterest

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{the best part of life}

I've been thinking a lot lately about the blog, and how I can do a better job of showing the real me; about bringing you all into my heart and my mind on a deeper level. So I'm going to attempt that with a new weekly {hopefully} post called the best part of life.

These posts will simply be snippets from my week that bring me joy...things that are truly the best part of life. They might be tangible things, feelings, experiences...whatever I feel like I've been blessed with that week.

I will also be sharing a Bible verse that relates to what I'm sharing. This will be the first time that I've intentionally brought scripture into my blog on a consistent basis. I don't want it to look like I've all of a sudden found religion...which is very far from the truth. I'm careful about how I share my faith because of a past experience of deep hurt regarding the church I grew up in, that left me guarded and somewhat cynical about organized religion. Maybe I'll share that in a future post.

But for now...here is my first the best part of life post. I hope you enjoy it...and that it inspires you to view your life and world in a deeper way as well.

 ********************************************

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 36:5

Today, I stood on our patio after eating lunch with Dan and the boys. I looked up to the sky and saw nothing but clear blue mixed with bright white clouds. Landon asked me to pick him up. As I snuggled my face into his soft cheek, his legs wrapped tightly around my waist, I looked up into the perfect sky and said to myself...this is the best part of life. 

It was a cool 60 degrees out this morning, so I slipped on my favorite pair of brown boots and felt that warm relief of fall right around the corner. My favorite season...the one that fills my heart with immeasurable joy and excitement. The beautiful colors, fall festivals, trips to the orchard, open windows bringing cool breezes into the house, sweaters and pumpkins.  

Discovering nature together with my boys...the first acorns of the season in the yard. Sticks that are turned into swords. Watching ants march across our patio table. Feeding squirrels the crusts from their peanut butter sandwiches. 

This is the best part of life.

*I would love to hear what you think about this new addition to the blog, and if you would be interested in joining with me in a best part of life linky party! 

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