Fireplace Makeover

No turning back now. The work on our living room has officially began! We started with a simple project...re-tiling the fireplace.

To refresh your memory here's the BEFORE...

Although the brick and tile were in excellent condition, I didn't like how the beautiful wood mantel gets lost amidst the red masonry.

Hubby started by laying out the pattern for the wall tile.

You can see his little helper assisting him line up the tile.

Once everything is laid out, the tile is ready to set.

Out comes the tile mastic, trowel, spacers, and wet saw for cutting. Thankfully we had all these items on hand. The total cost of the project was a very affordable, $80.

Tiles are NOW set. The fireplace interior received a coat of high heat spray paint....

This is a first look photo. We still have to grout, but choosing a grout color is a BIG decision. There are so many choices that Hubby and I are at a temporary impasse.

I have to be honest, I'm still freaking out...you know the feeling you get when you change something and then you wonder if you made the right decision????

Don't forget you still have time to link up to my inspirational party, Aspire to Inspire; it's this Wednesday January 27th. Click here for more information.

Thanks for stopping. Check out the links below for more great ideas!

Sincerely, Lisa

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

DIY day at A Soft Place to Land

Spotlight: Alchemy

If you haven't dropped by this new blog, you're missing out on a creative group of gals. Check out these awesome projects:



Industrial Candleholder

Shipboard Planking Wainscoting

Now hurry along to Alchemy Junk before you miss the tutorial on this

{knock-off} Pottery Barn clock.

You still have time to prepare for my FIRST MckLinky party.

Aspire to Inpire

Wednesday January 27th, 2010

Click here for more details.

Sincerely, Lisa

Aspire to Inspire

INSPIRATION-arousal of the mind to special activity or creativity.

That's the definition of what blogging has become to me. I've spent most of my life wanting to help and inspire people to live better, happier lives. Along the way, I've spent alot of money, probably too much money on education. Yet since I've started blogging, I've learned more about myself and others than any school could ever teach me.

I've learned that I, like most people want to be inspired and in return, want to inspire others. Just think about it;

• Absolutely Beautiful Things is a lovely and very popular decorating blog about nothing more than "the beautiful things I find which inspire me".
• The Lettered Cottage and Young House Love are two awesome DIY blogs with everyday couples tackling projects historically presented by Bob Vila-type handymen.

I could go on and on listing blogs that we go to for our daily dose of inspiration.
So what do we do with all that inspiration? We do things that we never thought we could do.
Don't believe me? Just check out Monday's at Between Naps on the Porch and Tuesday's at A Soft Place to Land. They're filled with SAHM teaching themselves how to operate nail guns, compound miter saws, etc. All in an effort to make a beautiful home and life for their families while working within their budgets and utilizing resources readily available to them.
Although, I haven't attempted to use any tools, blogging has inspired me to do something more. Explore my creative side. Write, open up, reach out to others. Believe it or not, I hate to write. I love to talk, but I HATE to write. But since I've started blogging, I've become more comfortable and confident with my writing skills.
So with that said, let me get to my point. This winter, I've found myself increasingly saddened by personal memories of loss, the crisis in Haiti and the hurts of fellow bloggers.
Yet for every sad moment, there'a a dozen more happy ones...you just have to look to find them. I can't tell you how much reading your blogs and celebrating life's smallest victories with you has lifted my spirits and reminded me of the resiliency of human nature. I look forward to your creativity. Some days it's the escape I need from the harsh realities of life. The smallest reminder that "this too shall pass".
So this is what I'd like to do. I want to host a MckLinky party called Aspire to Inspire.
The purpose of this party is to share your favorite music, quote, book, picture, or object in hopes that it will encourage someone else. Most days, we are surrounded by inspiration. Stories that are unheard by others, photos that are uncaptioned. Pieces of art that are unseen. All items taken for granted by us and possibly something that could possibly encourage or lift the spirit of others.
To get you thinking, I'm just going to give you a list of things that inspire me. I won't elaborate, that's the purpose of the MckLinky party. But at least this will give you something to think about.

1. The movie Rudy
2. Easter Holiday
3. Broken angel statue

As you type up your post, try to answer these questions

• How/why does this inspire me?
• How/why do I hope to inspire someone else by sharing this?

Okay, lets shoot for next Wednesday January 27th to have our first Aspire to Inspire Party. Maybe by that time I'll figure out how to host a MckLinky party and make a cute little button. If you have any ideas or suggestions please leave me a comment or send me an email. Thank you!
Sincerely, Lisa

Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family

A Light Bulb Moment

To me, lighting really sets the mood for a room. A 40 watt bulb in a cheap lamp is the same as a 40 watt bulb in an expensive one. ~Edward Walker

With the purchase of Seaborn, Hubby and I inherited several boxes of glass jars. While some were nothing more than old spaghetti and pickle jars, the boxes revealed a few antique Atlas, Mason and Ball canning jars.

A few weeks ago I was looking to be inspired for a kitchen light fixture when I came across the most interesting pendant light. It was made from an old preserving jar.

Image from What Possessed Me?

Intrigued by this idea, I found a couple places that sell mason jar pendant lights. Napa Style and Reclaimed Lighting . But at $199 PER pendant, I didn't like them that much.

A little more research revealed a DIY version from the awesome blog Design Sponge. Finally, I thought, a use for those jars in my basement!

Well, I thought I knew what I wanted until I saw this picture of Anthropologie's version on the Apartment Therapy website.




So until I gather that many jars, this goes in the idea file. Just wanted to share the inspiration with you!
Sincerely, Lisa

Living Room Update

Okay, so y'all remember when I asked you about painting the wood trim in our house?



While most of you voted to paint the trim, I just couldn't rationalize painting it because of it's pristine condition. Good news for Hubby. Bad news for decorating options.

Just as I was pulling together swatches for my living room makeover, I happened upon the uber stylish blog of Paula Grace Designs. Since she's a professional designer and likes to interact with her readers, I posed this question to her, "How do you choose a paint color when you have dark wood trim?"

I simply expected a quick and generic response within her blog, nothing more. Well, much to my surprise, Paula responded with an email. She requested pictures of my room as well as any furniture or artwork that would help in selecting a color. The best part, she didn't ask for any money...it was FREE! Hey, who doesn't love free advice when it's GOOD advice.

Y'all want to know what she said?!!!!!!

Ahh, I'm not going to tell you.

But you can read about it, over at her blog Paula Grace Designs.

That's right friends, my little living room was featured in Paula's weekly advice column, Monday's Method. Can ya tell I'm excited?!!!!!

So head on over and while you're there, take a minute to look around. Paula has lots of design advice, stories of inspiration and of course, the sweetest eye candy. Hey, you may want to ask about your own decorating dilemma. Who knows you could be chosen for her next installment of Monday's Method.

Have a great week!

Sincerely, Lisa

From Coop to Coffee

Regard it as just desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

Christy's latest post Chicken Coops and Hen Houses reminded me of something I wanted to share with you. On my last thrifting adventure, I saw this antique chicken coop and immediately saw POTENTIAL.

Do you see it?

Do you see it?

HOW 'BOUT NOW?

Photo from Sweeter Homes

Yep, that's a repurposed coffee table from an antique pigeon cage. I love the contrast between the rustic cage and industrial cart wheels. Recognize it? It's from the 2008 HGTV Dream House.

Sincerely, Lisa

P.S. I didn't purchase the cage that day. It had just come in and the owner wanted to clean it up and do a little research before pricing it. So for now...it's goes in my idea file.

God is in Control

Okay so I learned another valuable lesson today. God's time is not our time.

I don't talk alot about my faith, but I'm a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. I have been most of my life. I went to christian school as a teen and got my Master's degree from a Seminary. The last job I held before giving birth to our angelbaby was a counselor at a local church.

Yet, I still have to be reminded that control is an ILLUSION, I am NOT in control of my life. That was the hardest lesson I had to learn after we lost our precious Morgan. Why God, why me? I did things the right way. I don't understand why this is happening to me? We wanted that baby. She was loved, she was cherished.

Months after our loss, I was a substitute therapist for a short term therapy group. On my first day I met a young lady who was a recovering crack addict. She was mother to a beautiful baby girl around the same age as Morgan would have been. Throughout her preganancy she did crack, heroin and even prostitiuted herself. Yet when asked about her baby, who had no apparent problems, she replied, "my baby was spared because I asked God to watch over her". I was so angry; not with her, but with God. Didn't I pray enough. What did I do wrong?

I don't know why things happen. I've spent the better part of four years searching for answers. I no longer say "everything happens for a reason". Personally, I've come to accept that LIFE just happens and it's up to us to give purpose or meaning to that experience in OUR life.

For me, the reason Morgan happened, was to give me a fresh start. Remind me what life is about. Living. Life to the Fullest. Taking no day for granted. Chasing my dreams and perhaps making a fool of myself along the way.

Each time I write a post about my angelbaby {on a blog about decorating} I take a chance of making a fool of myself. But, for me that's part of the process. THIS process of becoming myself; the self...GOD sees.

As long as I'm alive, I will continue to talk about Morgan. She was my daughter and if I don't, no one will. Simply put, her life changed mine.

Now the point to all this....Since High School, I wanted to be a nurse but I chose a different career path because I didn't think I was smart enough to get through nursing school. Four months ago, I applied to my alma mater's nursing program and was rejected declined a seat due to low math and science scores. After that, I decided it was time to accept my lot and look for a counseling job when my oldest son starts school.

God reminded that things happen in HIS time. Today, I received a letter of acceptance to the spring nursing program. Funny thing, I don't remember applying.

I believe God is directing my path, but I'm overwhelmed with all the details. I'm prayerful that things will work out. I have eight weeks until class starts...

Sincerely, Lisa