Old Faithful Soon to be Retired

So this is the comforter set that Robert and I have had for our entire marriage. The throw pillow collection has changed over the years, but the comforter has been a constant. It was the only one we could agree on back then and I have loved it. It has lasted and served us well for 8.5 years. But alas.......I believe it's time has come.

It works out well that it's becoming full of snags, holes, and worn areas because I was ready for something new anyways (and no, I didn't put those holes there on purpose just so I could redecorate, lol!).

I've come across a few pictures in the past year or so that are along the lines of what I'd like to do. I like a few of the elements in all of these pictures, and they are the inspiration for a bedroom makeover. I'm going for a sort of simple cottage type feel with lots of white and touches of red, with a mixture of patterns to soften it up.

(I love the curtains in this one!)

I'm excited because the other day at Home Goods I found my first two pieces to help me get started.

I'll let ya know how it all turns out. : )

What's My Style?

For a long time now I have wondered how exactly to classify my decorating style. I love love love to decorate, rearrange, pull together some theme or another, etc. But over the years my style has changed from Americana, to colonial/primitive, to.....???...some kind of eclectic hodgepodge I haven't been able to put a finger on. I've always had a love for antiques and no matter what my current style was it always included antiques of some sort or another. I love the idea that something so old has to have a story behind it. I love to imagine who might have owned it and what kinds of things happened to it along the way. But I wouldn't classify "antiques" alone as my decorating style, as there is such a wide range of styles of antiques. I love things that are used, but not necessarily old, too. I love laid back and comfy, chipped, worn furniture, and I love the idea of repurposing something in a new and unexpected way.

About a year ago I found a book at Michaels or JoAnns, can't remember which, called Junk Beautiful, and immediately fell in love with it. I perused those pages over and over again, and even visited their website. I felt inspired by what I saw, but still I didn't have a label for myself. The book has been in my magazine rack ever since.

Then a few weeks ago I found a magazine called Flea Market Style. I quickly flipped through it and knew right away I would love it. After scouring every page multiple times and spending hours, literally...many hours, visiting blogs listed in the magazine I have come to realize that........drumroll...........wait for it.........I am a Junker! Ta Da! A label! The idea of taking what is essentially "junk" to someone else and finding a new purpose for it that looks beautiful and creative in my home is SO me! I can't say that I have very many things, (I do have a few though) in my house at this moment that fit in this category (I'm more of a Junker at heart), but I feel so inspired to do more with that idea. I love the things I've come across in these blogs and I can't wait to try some of my own projects.

There are still different styles of decorating within the "Junker" category, and I've yet to exactly identify what mine is. I know it's not the French Provential style that's so popular, although I think it's pretty, it's just not me. My style leans more towards Comfy Casual Farmhouse I guess.

Now maybe you're thinking, "Junk? Junker? What in the world?" But let me enlighten you. I've included just a few pictures of many inspiring Junker style projects I've found. Let me know what you think, and share with me what you think your personal decorating style is.

(LOVE this as a desk area!)

(I've seen many uses for old window frames, but this was a new one.)

(A greenhouse made with old windows, cool right? Or should I say "hot?")

The following three pictures are the progression of a project. Picture #1, a $1 lamp from a garage sale......

Taken apart, spray painted, rewired.......

And made into a beautiful new light fixture. I've seen very similar ones sold for $150 in country style decorating magazines!

Now do you understand? : )

A Lovely Fall Evening

Where we live, out in the country, we don't have much for paved areas around our house for Halie to ride her bike. There's only the dirt/rock driveway, which she can do but it's a little difficult and frustrating for her, and about 10 feet of concrete at the front of our house. So, she has never had a good opportunity to really ride her bike for any length of time or significant distance. So Friday evening, instead of going to a restaurant to eat like we usually do, we picked up a pizza and drinks and went to a picnic area up on the dike around the lake. After a yummy supper we took a leisurely walk while she happily rode alongside on her bike. I think she was amazed at the freedom she felt of being able to just ride and ride. She had so much fun!

It was such a beautiful evening, sitting by the water, feeling the cool breeze, and just enjoying being together as a family. By the time we left the moon had risen, there was a chill in the air, and we left as a contented little family.

Added Blessing

I already felt like I had a blessed life, but as of September 10th I feel doubly blessed! Our sweet baby boy, Robert Burl Cantrell, III came into this world. Everything went smoothly with the delivery and we are praising and thanking the Lord for a healthy lil' man! I am so grateful that the Lord saw fit to answer our prayers for a boy. I'm not worthy of anything, but for some reason He blessed me anyways.

(Almost 4 weeks old)

Big sister, Halie, loves her new little brother so much and is a great helper. Sometimes too much of a helper. : ) Burl loves her back and listens intently when she talks or sings. I can't wait to hear his giggles when he watches her silliness.

He has been such a smiley baby right from day 1 basically. I love to see his face fill up with his huge grins. Now at 1 month old they're getting more frequent, and happen more in response to something rather than just randomly. This morning he was laying on his play gym checking out a dangling toy bug. He reached out and hit it, it jingled, and he lit up with a big ol' smile.

I just can't get enough of this lil' Chubby Bubby!