A Story By My Son Harrison, Age 8

If I was there on Christmas day when baby Jesus was born, I would be so nice to him and his family and I would be so happy if I saw him smile.  I wish I could see Jesus in person.  He is such a good person he would be so nice to me. I would be so nice to him. I would let him play with me and he would let me play with him. We would be bestfriends and play all day. Jesus is a very, very, very, very good person. I love Jesus and God. If I was there I also wish my family was there because even though I am mean to my brothers and sister and they are mean to me, they love me and I love them more.  I love Jesus, God, Mommy, Sydney, Matthew, David, Ralph our cat, Grandma Syd, Grandpa Paul and their cats Prince and Grace. I can't wait to celebrate Jesus's birthday!   By Harrison

Shabby Chic On A Budget

Admittedly, when my friend Abby called and said her neighbor had a wooden headboard for sale, and the price was $3.00, I knew Abby had struck gold for me! She didn't even wait for me to say if I wanted it, she bought it up and shoved it in her car, 2 kids and all, and delivered it to me.  Abby rocks! The headboard is a double size and has carved roses and large knobs at the top.  It was exactly like the headboard used in a bench I just sold.  It has lots of dings and scratches, my personal favorite type of wood because I feel it has so much charm. It was unfinished wood and had so much potential!  

My daughter is 12 years old, and we agreed that for Christmas I would fix up the headboard and buy her a double bed since she outgrew her twin daybed.  On a little side note, the sweetest couple came and purchased her daybed last night.  They too have 3 sons and a daughter. She told me their ages: 20, 18, 18 and 12.  I asked if they have twins like me, and she said "no we are a blended family."  I really enjoyed hearing that because I have been a single mom for 8 years now, and I really hope to be a blended family some day.  I know in God's time, the right man will come to me.  Okay, so back to the headboard :)

The headboard was painted Linen White in exterior flat and it looks amazing! I normally hand paint most pieces, but this was done with a spray gun and is not distressed on the edges. It looks really sweet and perfect for my daughter.  I can always distress it later but like the way it is for now.

Her new mattress, boxspring and frame will be delivered tomorrow so I have been getting her room cleaned up today.  I used a Rachel Ashwell Simply Shabby Chic pink "silk" curtain panel that is lined and heavy for her window.  They come 84" long and I had already used the other half in my kitchen window so all I had to do was add a 1" seam for the curtain rod.  The panel is $24.95 at Target (www.target.com)

I used one of my $35 chandeliers in pink and white and hung that from the ceiling and covered the cord in my pink organza cord cover, which I have in my store for $8.00.  Then I went with my son to IKEA (www.ikea.com) and planned on buying a white ceiling canopy ($19.95).  However, when we got there, I saw that they also come in green, blue and are you ready for this...PINK!!!   The pink was only $17.00 so I bought that and came home to assemble it.  All you have to do is tie the ties onto the metal frame and it hangs from a center loop.  I had some different shades of faux pink roses I had used for display at the Rose Bowl and easily took them apart and glue gunned the roses onto the top of the frame where the ties meet the metal on the outside of the frame.  I will add pictures with the bed, but wanted to share tonight because my daughter is on cloud 9, and therefore, so am I!

Oh, and all her bedding is also from Target in the Rachel Ashwell Simply Shabby Chic collection and are extremely well priced. I can see that these pictures aren't great. I will update better ones tomorrow for the final reveal.

Pink Starfish

 

Last night, I worked on these pink starfish over a bottle of wine, with Abby, a friend I've known since I was 5.  Today I am 38.  I love that Abby worked on her Christmas cards while I painted, glued, & glittered my starfish.  Our children played while we laughed and got lost in our projects.  It was a lovely way to spend our Saturday night.

Of The Sea

Its no secret, I love pink. Every so often though, I am pulled towards shades of blue. I love robin’s egg, French and Tiffany blues. So when I sat down to work on jeweled starfish, I didn’t flinch when I reached for the blue paint. My son Matthew came over as I painted the first starfish and exclaimed, “thank you Mommy!” I said, “thank you for what?” He smiled his contagious smile at me and said, “Mommy I love the blue!”

I made three, and then felt the pull to my pink paint. I am waiting for the paint to dry on 9 pink starfish. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the blue. If you have a chance, please take a peek at Bella Lucille later because I will be adding the pink ones when they are finished.

~Jennifer