Springtime Prayer

For flowers that bloom about our feet,

For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet,

For song of bird, and hum of bee,

For all things fair we hear or see,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

For blue of stream and blue of sky,

For pleasant shade of branches high,

For fragrant air and cooling breeze,

For beauty of the blooming trees,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Old Man Winter...It's almost March

As we awoke this morning to a heavy dusting of snow on the ground and the reverberating sound of my children screaming "school's closed, school's closed!" I was reminded of that scared ol' groundhog who saw his shadow...six more weeks of winter. So I continue to press forward, at least, making my home appear as if spring is here. The bunnies are appearing on tables and the birds are leaving signs of new life with their nest eggs. Pinks, blues, yellows and green are trying desperately to brighten these last, but lingering, days of winter. I've done all I can do...it's up to mother nature to do the rest.

The Grass IS Always Greener...If It's Inside

Do you long for Spring? Warmer weather, brighter colors, and beautiful decorations? I do! I thought it might be fun to show you a few ideas on how to decorate with wheatgrass. Yes...it is real grass!

You can get wheatgrass in most nurseries and there are a lot of places on the web that will send it to you in a full flat. The other good news is that it is not that expensive and fairly easy to take care of. It will last much longer than any other floral arrangement and will add "life" to any room in your home.

When you get your wheatgrass it will be very easy to cut and you can transfer it to your favorite container and TADA...a beautiful new centerpiece! Let your imagination run wild...through the grass! HAHA!

Easter Grass... That Stays Put

Isn't this beautiful and fresh? I love how they used green apples and green linens to freshen up the table. They simply put the wheatgrass in a square container and then put eggs in the grass...like an egg hunt!!!

The Putting Green

If you are lucky enought to take care of your wheatgrass until Father's Day...you can decorate it like this. How cute is the golf ball on the tee??

GO BIG RED!!!

Some of the smallest (BIGGEST) Topper fans wanted to say congrats to the whole basketball team and to Coach Horn for a great game against MTSU on Saturday! GO TOPS!!!

It's time to get you "game face" on and come out to support our beloved TOPS for the last two home games of the regular season. I mean, what a year! The Hilltoppers — who are 21-5 overall, 13-1 in the league — will face South Alabama tonight at 7 p.m. (CST) at E.A. Diddle Arena, then will take on Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m. Saturday on Senior Night.

With our red towels in hand, we are fired up and ready show our spirit for a team who has poured their hearts out this season. Thank you for always bringing excitement to every game! See ya there!

Hippity-Hoppity...Easter's on its Way

With the Easter season upon us it's time to start thinking about pulling out those Easter decorations...or making some if you so desire. I've got to tell you this Easter craft is very simple. We know some of you had rather just buy them but they really are easy. Craft stores sell paper mache everything...including eggs, big and small. And while you are there grab a pack or two of green moss to cover them and some fun ribbon. The moss is simply hot glued on the egg and the ribbon just tied around them. Be creative...a bunch of small ones with no ribbon would even look great in a bowl on the table. You better hurry...Peter Cottontail is hopping quickly down the bunny trail!

Find Rest

When God's voice becomes REAL to you, you are set free to harmonize your life with HIS. This is LIFE at its BEST.

-Pastor Jason Pettus

Knock, Knock...It's HGTV

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Okay, so you never know what'll happen when the two of us show up at your house. Here we are helping out a friend...she was in such a dilema...couldn't decide on a grasscloth for her foyer. So we drove out to her home to offer our opinion.(Whatever that's worth!) Oh, the delight to see she's been remodeling AND redecorating.They've knocked out walls, pulled up carpet, put down wood floors(ah, the smell of new wood), painted walls, bought furniture, moved furniture, painted furniture, accessorized...whew, shall I go on? And what a great job they have done. So, of course, we needed to take pictures! I mean this was like an episode of HGTV!

In the kitchen, they have created a nice seating/conversation area...great for the kids while mom's cooking or for guestwhen entertaining. Personally, I think it would be great for curling up with a good book while the kiddos are napping. Do with it what you wish, but it is a great idea to incorporate this kind of conversation area (if the space allows) into the kitchen...that is where everyone hovers these days.

I must tell you, too, that our friend, Jen, has done a great job accessorizing her new space...moss-filled urns, beautiful plates on stands, colorful flowers, and beautiful pictures of her family. Oh, and that piece of coral...PERFECT little touch. Way to go, girl, you've got it goin' on! We just hope when she's completely done she'll have us over again for another photo opp...Stay tuned!

Door Decor

I saw this idea on a fellow blogger's sight and thought it was too cool to pass up. She was tired of just hanging a wreath on the front door for every holiday, so she decided to make her door feel special and "frame" it. I don't know about you, but I have lots of empty frames around and think that this looks really ecclectic. You could spray paint an old frame any color to match your wreath! Have fun!

Happy Valentine's Day, Friend

A friend is like a Valentine

Heartwarming, bringing pleasure.

Connected to good feelings,

With memories to treasure.

Seeing a special Valentine

Brings happiness to stay;

And that’s what you do, friend.

You brighten every day!

What's in a word...or a letter maybe?

As I was busy trying to find decor for the walls in my child's room, I found these really cute letters at a local craft store. No they didn't come all cute and painted...isn't that where our fun begins? Anyway, I brought them home and with a little help from some paint and stain they were transformed. I thought since we have a cowboy theme in that room something old...something kind of rustic might be the way to go. The possibilities are endless...spell out a word or a name or maybe just put some fun numbers on the wall. I finished them off by adding some fabric for the ties. You could add polka dots or stripes or maybe some little swirls. Get that right side of your brain to working and you'll be amazed at what you can do! Go for it.

Out of the Ordinary

I think that sometimes we can look at something very ordinary and never dream that it can be beautiful or make a statement with little help from a paint brush. This plain little pillow that once sat on the Dollar General Store shelf now smiles with excitement as it sits on my couch. All it took was some paint, an idea (artichokes are becoming my favorite) and a half hour. The time was the hardest thing to find!!!

The trim really added a lot to the pillow. My friend Anne has turned me on to this fabric glue stuff...no sewing required. Perfect since I do not sew!

I am looking for more of these inexpensive cotton duck pillows so if anyone runs across any...give me a call!

Where's my eyecream?

I don't know about you guys but the bathroom for me can be a place of retreat.(as long as there is no toilet brush in hand!) I love that nice hot bath, that is, until I spot little fingers and toes peeking under the crack at the bottom of the door..."whatcha' doin' in there?" they yell over and over again until I am forced to reply,"TRYING to take a bath...quietly...by myself...so run along sweeties, would ya'?" Then my mind doesn't rest, really, I look around and see so much stuff...lotion, hairspray, eyecream, moisturizer, face wash and more eyecream. What's a girl to do with all this stuff? Unfortunately, I NEED it all. So, how do we make all these beauty bottles look more attractive and part of the decor? It's all in the tray...a pewter one...a glass one...whatever your decor lends itself to...grab one and put all that "stuff" on it. It will certainly look more attractive and organized, as well. And that eyecream...it's right at your fingertips!

Here's another thought...Think "out of the box"(pun intended)...Use some of those nicely shaped glass containers and instead of potpourri or sand or rocks try filling them with Qtips, soap, loofahs and sponges. Then if you ever run out just grab one out of the jar. Who needs those ugly Qtip boxes laying around anyway?

Monogram Madness - part 2

It doesn't take much to send my brain into a "tizzy" these days. I can only pass by an open spot in my house for so long and then I rush to a closet that is filled to the brim and begin pulling out all kinds of items that need to make another appearance in my house. The catch is that they never come back out looking the same way they went into the closet. Most reapper with a new monogram or a painted animal on them. This makes them happy!!!

This was the case with these three items on the table. The table and the urn were found on sale and were not "reused". I had the green moss ball so the urn now holds it, the hurricane came from Pier 1 two years ago so I took a paint pen and added my monogram, and the black spindle was boring so I painted a bee on it and gave it a bow. There ya go...everyone takes the stage again (at least for now).

Monogram Madness - part 2

The first picture is of a doormat that you can monogram and the second picture is of these new melamine plates that you can monogram or personalize with a name.

Stay tuned for many more monogram ideas! LOVE A GREAT MONOGRAM!!!

You can find the plates and so much more at http://www.preppymonogrammedgifts.com/

Fantastic Flowers

It's that time of year again...Valentine's Day! If you are lucky enough to get overpriced flowers in a standard glass vase, or no container at all, you can now get excited! We have several solutions to help make those flowers go from drab to fab!!!

Paper Bag Vase

What? Is that a paper bag? Raffia can do wonders.

Potted Ribbon

Add a ribbon to a colored pot and ... BAM!!!

Fruit a Plenty

Love the way the lime green and pink contrast!!! Fruit in the bottom looks so fresh.

Red Hot Arrangement

Ignore the cupcakes (ha ha), just thought those looked yummy, look at the "red hots" they put in the vase. Cheap and easy!!

Casual Conversation

Place candy hearts in the vase to add some "conversation".

Find Rest

Nor need we power or splendor, wide hall or lordly dome;

The good, the true, the tender-These form the wealth of home.

-Sarah J. Hale

This picture is so you can see the size of the plate.

Here is a picture of the tiles.

If You're Happy and You Know it...

BUY THIS PLATE!!! This "Happy Everything" plate has to be one of my favorite items that I own. It is a little pricey, but it brings me great joy EVERY day. It has velcro on the top of the plate so that you can change out all the different ceramic shapes for each season of the year. Can I just tell you that I change out the plaques each month like it is my job!!!

I didn't buy all the tiles myself, that is what friends and family are for! They love knowing that they can get me the tiles as a gift and I squeal like I am 10 years old.

This sits on my kitchen table 365 days a year and adds a little color to the house. If you are interested in one of these, you can go to http://www.cotoncolorspottery.com/ and check them out. They have lots of other fun stuff too!!

A tisket a tasket...

What to do with a basket?? I saw this idea in a magazine recently and thought that it was so clever!!! I am not what you would call super organized, but I do have a little bit of "Momma OCD" in me. I feel like I clean the countertops in my kitchen every five minutes. If you ever drop by my house unannounced, you may trip through the door, but one thing is for sure, my countertops are clean. I would get so frustrated when my sweet husband would come home from work and throw his keys, wallet, papers, etc... on my clean countertop (my clean spot in the chaos) that I came up with this solution.

I went to Hobby Lobby, bought 4 baskets just alike, and hung them on the wall right beside the door. Beacuse my family sometimes needs things "spelled out" for them, I had some little chalkboard signs that I purchased from Pottery Barn Kids that I tied on each basket and wrote each of our names on them. Whenever my husband walks in the door, he places all his "stuff" in his little basket.

Don't get me wrong, this took a few reminders and some explaining, but we are all happy about the organization. Whenever the kids bring a paper home from school, it goes in their basket. Simple, yet it keeps a smile on my face.

"Urn"ing Their Keep in Winter

Does your front porch need a little "pick-me-up" now that all the sparkly pretties from Christmas are taken down? Well, don't fret...we've got a few ideas that might help those urns earn their keep during winter. (I mean they did cost enough...why not use 'em year round, right?)

If you've already got some pretty evergreen topiaries in your planters why not try wrapping them with some bright pink tulle (available at craft or floral shops). You might even try adding a red heart or Easter motif to the bow. Bright pink, you say? Why not? I think it'll help with those dreary winter days.

With all the wind we have around here you shouldn't have to go far to find help with this next idea. Grab a bunch of long, leggy bare branches...if you think you have enough you probably don't so keep grabbing...and place them in your planter. Next, add a little greenery(maybe left overs from Christmas) to the mouth of the planter. If you're dying for some color grab some pretty ribbon and tie around those twigs. Or you might even want to spray paint those twigs?? Now that sounds more like it...if there's paint involved, we like it! Throw some pretty berries in there so those twigs don't get lonely in the cold and I promise you'll have cars slow down to see what you've done...You might even outdo your neighbor!

Now sit back and be patient...winter doesn't last all year.