{sneak peek}

I started working on an art project for over our fireplace over the weekend...here is a little peek for you...



It needs some more coats of paint and serious touch ups, but I think I'm in love. Notice a little Orla influence?

Working on something creative definitely lifted a bit of the fog I've been feeling. Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!

{honestly}

Honestly I haven't been feeling so great emotionally lately.

Not that I'm depressed or anything.

Life is pretty great...my boys are growing and beautiful, my marriage is wonderful, my job is going well.

So I should be happy.

But I guess I'm just struggling with not feeling like myself. I've gotten lazy with my eating habits and exercise. I haven't had time (or taken the time) to do the crafty projects that inspire me. I really just need to get my behind in gear and stop being lazy, bottom line.

I have a few decorating projects in my mind that I need to get started on, and I'm contemplating a fun change in my appearance but I'll share that after it happens. I know, I'm a tease.

Today is my Friday so I'm looking forward to a three day weekend and quality time with my family. Hopefully soon I'll have something more inspiring to share with you!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

{lucky girl}

Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of the Augustine Designs headband giveaway! We had quite a busy weekend...although they always are around our house.

The winner is....

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 13

(my comment was of course excluded from the list)

Shannon!

Congratulations! Email me your home address and it will be on its way to you!

Thanks to everyone who entered and be sure to visit Augustine's Etsy shop for other sweet clothing and accessories.

{split personality}

Since our kitchen cabinet painting project has been going at a snail's pace...

(as in we've only painted about 1/4 of them)

we have had some time to think about the overall look we want to achieve. For now we are working with a super tight budget, so paint is our only tool.

To jazz things up a bit, we are leaning toward a two-tone finish on the cabinets, with the uppers white and the lower cabinets a darker color, possibly a shade of grey. Here are some inspiration photos that use this technique...











Hopefully we'll get our snail tails in gear and have something to show off in the next few weeks! (maybe I should make that a month)

Oh, and don't forget to enter the Augustine Designs headband giveaway!!! Just a little over one more day to enter!

{Giveaway!}

How cute is this headband?!



You want it, don't you.

I want it and I don't have a little girl to put it on, and darnit if it doesn't come in adult sizes.

If you haven't guess by now, I'm doing a little giveaway.

My dear friend Lisa and her business partner have started an adorable Etsy shop, Augustine, where they sell their handmade dresses and accessories. She has been generous enough to offer her strawberry headband to a lucky This Girl's Life reader!

So how can you have this headband all for yourself? (it would also make a fun addition to a baby shower gift!)

1. Leave a comment - simple, huh?

And to beef up your chances do some of this stuff...(and be sure to leave separate comments here for each!)

2. Follow my new blog - Design Brew

3. Become a fan of Design Brew on Facebook

4. Become a fan of Augustine Designs on Facebook

5. Become a follower of this blog (already a follower? Leave a comment to remind me please :)

6. Add either or both of my blog buttons to your blog (one entry for each!)

That's SEVEN total chances to win this one-of-a-kind headband from Augustine. Can't beat that!

I'll be taking entries until midnight EST on Friday, March 26th. Good luck! (US and Canada residents only please)

{introducing...}

So I've been working on a new creative venture.

Care to join me?

{humor me}

My boys are getting so big!

I can't get enough of Ben's hair - it is perfectly blond and shiny. Sigh...

Landon playing the drums (and appropriately wearing his Hendrix t-shirt) with Uncle Pete.

{yes, please}

Speaking of grey and yellow...



Pretty amazing, huh? Angela Adams knows how to design a rug.

{combo}

If I had the chance to decorate a nursery again this adorable room would be a huge inspiration. Love the grey and yellow combo with pops of turquoise!

Wall pockets for books - adorable. Yellow accent behind the crib - so whimsical and fun!

The pom poms over the crib are pretty amazing, right?

And I'm loving the rug!

This color scheme would actually be pretty amazing in any room...maybe our master bedroom needs a change? And I just remembered something I posted about a few days ago that features this same color scheme...

I'm researching how I could do this on the cheap because I love it so much.

What is your favorite color combo these days?

{southern flourish}

I just discovered a new online magazine, Southern Flourish, that has me drooling - especially over a few of their featured interiors that are a perfect mix of vintage and modern. I'm especially loving this headboard and thinking a DIY project could replicate that look quite easily.

And can I say how much I love the concept of an online magazine?! Don't get me wrong, I do love the thrill of pulling a magazine out of the mailbox and sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee to savor each page, but since my two favorite mags went bottoms up (Cottage Living and Home Companion RIP), and my couch+magazine time has been severely depleted by two toddlers, an online magazine seems like the perfect solution!

So thank you Southern Flourish - can't wait to see the next issue!

{baubles}

I'm drooling over these adorable (and affordable!) necklaces from kristina klarin...





And following the bauble theme, this is just gorgeous (but unfortunately less affordable)...from Etsy seller flores del sol.

Wouldn't it be gorgeous perched on top of a dresser like this?



Happy Saturday!

{static cling}

I've been a fan of Jason Mraz for awhile now and there is one song of his that speaks very deeply to me when I feel like life is weighing me down. I thought I would share the lyrics with you all today in case someone else can find inspiration and encouragement from them like I have...

Details in the Fabric

Calm down
Deep breaths
And get yourself dressed instead
Of running around
And pulling all your threads and
Breaking yourself up

If it's a broken part, replace it
But, if it's a broken heart then brace it
If it's a broken heart then face it

And hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your own name
And go your own way

And everything will be fine
Everything will be fine

Hang on
Help is on the way
Stay strong
I'm doing everything

Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way
Hold your own
Know your name
And go your own way

And everything, everything will be fine
Everything

Are the details in the fabric
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling?

Are the things that make you blow
Hell, no reason, go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault
Of faulty manufacturing.

Yeah everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Everything

Hold your own
And know your name
And go your own way

Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic
Are your thoughts results of static cling? (Go your own way)

Are the details in the fabric (Hold your own, know your name)
Are the things that make you panic (Go your own way)
Is it Mother Nature's sewing machine?

Are the things that make you blow (Hold your own, know your name)
Hell no reason go on and scream
If you're shocked it's just the fault (Go your own way)
Of faulty manufacturing

Everything will be fine
Everything in no time at all
Hearts will hold


I love the line about our thoughts being like static cling, because in times of deep anxiety, for me, I do feel like my thoughts, the negative, self-defeating thoughts, are stuck in my mind and no matter how hard I try I can't pry them off.

And I don't know if Jason is a religious man, but these lines...

Hang on
Help is on the way
Stay strong
I'm doing everything

remind me of how God is always with us and helping us to be strong, and how He is the one ultimately in control, which is very comforting to me.

I actually love this song so much that I used the lyrics for a layout of my boys when they were babies. This is one of my all time favorite pages. I hope that as they grow older they can truly know who they are and do the things in life that bring them peace and joy.

{lines}

In my obsessed search for all things midcentury modern furniture the past few weeks, I've come across a ton of photos featuring a few variations on a chair that I can't seem to get out of my mind. The lines are so gorgeous - simple, fluid, natural...

Despite the hard wood they look so inviting...

This armless one is very unique. I love how the chair seems to just rest on the base.

And I'm in love with the detailing on the back.

Maybe we will get lucky and find one of these of our very own, but for now these photos have definitely inspired me.