Redecorating

As I shared earlier, I have some redecorating to do this Spring.  My roommate moves out (sniff, sniff) in late February.  This leaves me two open bedrooms.  I live in a small house - 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom.  It is a 1950s brick ranch.  A long, long time ago I said to myself, "I love brick ranches. If I ever have a house, that's what I would want."  I didn't share that with anyone.

Several years later, my house came on the market and a friend said, "You should look at this house, it looks like you."  She was right. It was exactly what I always wanted in my mind.  The Lord remembered and the way He eased that house into my life could have only been from Him. I'm still shocked to think I have owned a home for close to 6 years.

I didn't do too much to it when I moved in. I wanted to sit in it. Frankly, I was scared to death to do anything. I was afraid I'd mess something up. I also was afraid I wouldn't have enough money to fix big things one day if I spent a cent on decorating.  Finally, last Fall, I realized that I was living in someone else's house. It didn't look like me. It didn't feel like me.  I had hand me down furniture and wall colors from the previous owner. The time had come.  It took about 3 months but I redecorated the living room, dining room and kitchen.  The kitchen still needs a backsplash but the rest is done. I have LOVED it.  LOVED IT!

Now, my roommate is moving out.  I have two more rooms to claim and make my own.  I'm scared, again.  Scared of spending the money. Scared of making a mistake.  Scared of living alone.  Still, I am moving forward. My goal is to buy all second hand furniture and to use my network on this one. 

Here's my broad idea.  I am scouting pictures but I have thoughts in my mind. I'll share more as I go along here.  One room is going to be a guest bedroom with twin beds. I see lush, sinkable beds on either side of a dresser loaded with guest amenities...lush towels, water jars with glasses, flowers, magazines, and of course delectable snacks. I want my guests to read and snack in bed. I want my place to be a get away. Come, rest, and be refreshed when you leave.  Hopefully luggage racks will fit at the foot of the beds. 

I bought gorgeous mid-century twin headboards from a woman on Craigslist. CHEAP!  I love Craigslist.  I will buy the mattresses new because used mattresses gross me out.  I may make the bedding on my handy dandy sewing machine. We'll see.  I want delicious, meltable beds.  Oh yes, you can crank down the air to snuggle in at my house.  I'm on budget billing ; )

The other room will be a study/craft room.  I will share more about that later.  It is coming into focus in my mind and I love it. It's my retreat.  It's the place where I can study, read, write, and be creative.  It's the room I have always wanted!  More to come!

Sorry there aren't more pictures here...I have too much work to catch up on after 4 snow days!  Love to all.  If you have any cute ideas...post links. I'm open to inspiration.

You Can Breath a Sigh of Relief

Simply Single Serving will go on as I am remaining single.  C'est la vie.  For now, I will focus on the Lord, working out, decorating soon to be vacant rooms of my house (don't worry, I'll share pictures), and enjoying those friends who God has most graciously blessed me with.

I do love a good decorating project.  I will be creating a guest room with two double beds and a craft/study/work room.

I don't have a lot to spend on these projects but have learned how to create something out of nothing from the world's thriftiest and coolest bloggers, so I should be fine!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

Christmas!!! I love it.  Big Red is now Big Silver - so thankful for spray paint. I need to go grab a bottle of wine and relax. 

Shrimp Night

It's funny how life comes together.  The very first time I had lunch with an ex-boyfriend's mother, she said, "I need to teach you our family fried shrimp recipe!" To be honest, I have never fried ANYTHING in my life. The only thing my mother ever fried was chicken and that was maybe once a year. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love fried just as much as the next girl, but never thought about doing it in my own home.  Well, about a month ago, she had me over and I learned the family secret. I can't share it...and that makes this post a little mean.  However, I can tell you that 2 weeks after I learned the recipe, a very pregnant and beautiful friend of mine shared her craving for fried shrimp on Facebook.  I thought, "It is my destiny to make her fried shrimp".

I followed the recipe to a T and they were AMAZING!!!  Wooo hooo!  I served them with a baked potato, baked applesauce, and a salad.  My friend loved them and it made me so happy to see her feeding her craving. 

She sent me the above picture of the table. It's my grandmother's china.  I love it! What a great night to remember.

Hello Kitty

My best friend threw a birthday party at a jumpy place for her five year old. It was a Hello Kitty theme. I thought the decorations were adorable...granted, she had to work with a neon orange party room.  She made the tissue paper flowers and taught me how to make them in the process. So easy and cute!

She made the cake herself...but have you ever noticed that  Hello Kitty doesn't have a mouth? Strange.

I wish I had a picture of the birthday girl to share but she was not having it.  She had too many people to greet and things to hop on.  Maybe next time!

Everyone left with fun favors...and their own little flowers...

The Versatile Blogger Award!

Versatile Blogger!


I have been very blessed recently to receive the Versatile Blogger Award.

I received it from a new and very fun blogging friend, Jayaycee Blog.

That woman can knit...and she is a witty writer, two of my favorite things in one blog.  She also shares beautiful pictures of Scottsdale, one of the top ten places that I would like to visit in the US.  Maybe I will share the entire list with you someday.  Longevity has its priveleges.  You can learn all kinds of useless information about me if you stick around.

 

With this award comes some duties ... first, I must thank the blogger(s) who honored me. Thanks so much to Jayaycee. You have been a huge encouragement and I am thrilled to be among such great company.
Second, I must tell you 7 things about me ...I warned you earlier in the post that you would learn something about me if you stuck around.  Abandon ship now if you would prefer I be clothed in mystery. 

1. I have a fear of punctuation.  I am pretty sure I butcher proper punctuation (and grammar) 70% of the time.  The more I research it as an editor (yes, that's my job and I still have a fear of it), the more confused I become.  Can we just go back to the days when there were clear cut grammar and punctuation rules?  I would also like to vote for the return of etiquette.  Good, old fashioned, 'don't wear white to a wedding or a veil to your second wedding' etiquette.
2. I cannot pick-up, peel, or eat a whole peach. I love the taste of peaches but the fuzz makes my skin crawl.  Just thinking about it now gives me the icks. I decided I was going to get over this so I bought some peaches last Summer to make a dessert but I couldn't do it. They sat there until I emptied the whole bowl into the trashcan because it was too much for me.  I live in Georgia - the Peach State.  Why, oh why can't I eat or touch a stupid peach?
3. One day a friend said that he wished he had a passion like music. He said musicians eat, sleep, and breathe their passion.  They would rather make music than anything else.  I feel that way about God.  I eat, sleep, and breathe God.  He is all I think about. I love Him so much that I want to tell everyone about Him (just like being in love with a man). I am always asking what He thinks, wants, and why He created things a specific way.  He really does lead and guide my life.  I have no idea how people live without having a relationship with God - He is like air and water to me - necessary.  I am not a religious zealot, I am a woman in love.
4. If I could have any career, I would be a hair dresser. Unfortunately, I am past the stage when I can quit my job and make no money for five years to become one. If only I had gone with my gut at 18.
5. I wish there was a philanthropist who would sponsor scholarships for older men and women to go to medical school later in life.  I have met so many people who are passionate, committed, interested, and engaged in healthcare but they developed this interest later in life. Now they are stuck because they are older and have to support a family. I personally would prefer to have these people as my care providers!
6. I want a real, adult vacation. It has been years since I have had one. I love my family and they are spread out along the Eastern seaboard so I spend most of my vacation time traveling to see them. I am going to make this a priority in the next 18 months....even if it is driving to the Outer Banks of North Carolina!
7. I love newborn babies.  I have an amazing rock step that puts them right to sleep.  Nothing is better than rocking a newborn baby to sleep and them sleeping like a little tree frog on your chest. Oh how I love wittle babies.

I have one more responsibility as a versatile blogger award winner but it will have to wait until my next post. Too much to do today!  Check back for 15 of my favorite blogs!

When In Doubt, Craft it Out

My connection is spotty at best so I am going to post a few pictures now and will finish up later.  I did NOT want to be a craft tease - that is just so wrong.

I decided to use scrapbook paper for this particular set of coasters - you can see a selection above.  Tracy suggested cocktail napkins (check back for a link to her tutorial - connection too slow to post right now) and I think those would have worked a bit better because this paper was a little thick and stiff - it was hard to get it sufficiently soaked to 'melt' onto the coaster and so it slipped out of position fairly easily leaving white borders and crooked paper.  You should have seen the ones I gave away ; )

I kept the rejects for myself so please ignore the crooked paper above and the unsightly white border below.  Regardless, here is my morning cup of coffee enjoying a new resting place. Makes me want to write a love letter to a foreign man. Strange.