Shiny New Knobs and other Randomness

Today I went to the doctor to try and figure out why my body is doing the strange things that it is. We ended up discussing in depth the fate of my OVARIES. I left with a heavy heart and a racing mind, so I spent the rest of day hacking at weeds in the garden. I really want to talk about it, but I just don’t have the words. {Did you hear that? Yep, my brothers just passed out from shock.} Since I’ve been focusing on CHOOSING TO SEE THE GOOD STUFF and creating a HAPPY HOME lately, I’m going to turn my thoughts to that.

So, please excuse my complete randomness as I share some of the fun little things that have been going on around here.

* I finally got around to buying the curtain ring clips for my DROP CLOTH CURTAINS. I am really happy with the results. They look finished and very un-drop-cloth-ish. {Because that is totally a word.} I still can’t believe that we were able to make curtains for all 6 of those extra tall windows for a total of $50.00! It makes me wonder what took me so long to tackle that project. I am loving how they lighten up the dark penny color.

* I updated Lou-Lou’s dresser and vanity a few days ago. I had debated off and on whether to paint the old bedroom set, but when it came down to it, I just couldn’t.

  

This antique bedroom set has been in my family for generations. It was mine when I was a girl. It has been WELL loved and it shows. But, I just couldn’t bare the thought of covering up all the inlaid wood and handcrafted details.

So, instead I glued down the peeling veneer, nailed the drawers back together, had a new mirror cut, scrubbed, polished, and then replaced the old, sharp, broken hardware with shiny new glass knobs that have an antique vibe. {Excuse the random glass knob up there, I forgot to take a picture before I got all excited and started changing stuff! I lack patience.}

I wish the photos showed the detail in the knobs, but since they don’t, here is a close-up via HOBBY LOBBY so you can get a better look…

The knobs at Hobby Lobby {in store} are usually always on 50% off sale and they have an ENTIRE aisle of awesomeness to chose from. If I had oodles of cash I’d go to Anthro and get their incredibly gorgeous knobs, but I don’t so Hobby Lobby it is! For best selection, ask someone who works there when they get their shipments and then show up that day because they sell out quick!

Here is the knob I used for the small drawers. They aren’t mercury glass, but the nickel center rod really pulls the styles together.

I’m sure purists would say to keep the old hardware on it, but this is for an 8 year old girl, so we dressed it up a notch. I did keep the old antique hardware so we can reinstall it if every the need or want arises. {And, well, because I just couldn’t part with it. So, yeah, I have issues.}

Lou loves the sparkle it brings to the old set. It’s a neat juxtaposition between worn and new. I wish the pics portrayed that better. But, you get the idea. All in all, it was an inexpensive way to update old furniture so a little girl could enjoy them as much as all the little girls before her did.

* On Memorial Day, we went for a family hike to Stewart Falls in Provo Canyon. The kids thought these little caterpillars were so cool…

…but learned that Stinging Nettle isn’t.

 

Have I mentioned how much I love this kid?

He is a challenge and a blessing all rolled into one amazing package.

* The other day, I took 2 of our kids and spent the day at the cabin with my family. I needed some fresh air and an escape.

This is what we do when we need a break…

and this

mud and sunshine.

Can’t beat four wheeling in the spring!

* Unless you look like this little guy and then you just melt my heart, muddy or not!

Meet Chief.

We can’t get enough of him.

One day we’ll get one of our own.

Maybe my man will finally give me one to replace the gapping hole left inside me from losing my ovaries? That’s dramatic enough right? {It just might work! } Or, maybe at that point I’ll have no control over my hormones, go crazy and buy one myself. Hmmm, you just never know.

Maybe there is a bright side to this ovary business after all!

Happy Home

It seems like life has a way of ramping up the pace without me knowing it. One day I just get overwhelmed by it all and have to take a step back. I know there is not really a way to completely put the brakes on, but there has to be a way to make it slow down.

{Mary Engelbreit}

This last month or two, I started a little experiment.

I have been trying to find one small happy moment in my day to celebrate.

Some days are naturally full of these little blessings and yet other days it seems I have to mentally and physically stop, take a breath, and create one. 

Like last night.

After a busy Memorial Day weekend, everyone was cranky and I had to escape. I put the kids to bed early, locked my door, and sank into a hot bubble bath. I may or may not have stayed in there for 2 hours. It was quiet, balanced, and incredibly peaceful. Heaven.

Today that moment came when my kids were soaking wet from playing in the rain and asked the big man to build a fire.

Which led to this…

and this…

For a moment there was magic.

Our home was filled with giggles and sticky faces. We relished it.

Time stood still and we were caught up in a happy home.

{Minted}

I started posting these little happy home moments on Instagram to remind myself of all the good that happens amidst the daily. It has become something I look forward to. Guess it goes back to CHOOSING TO SEE THE GOOD STUFF…the experiment was a success.

I firmly believe that we are creators of our own happiness. Nobody else can give it to us. So, when you get swept away in the river of junk life pounds you with, stop, take a breath, and ask yourself what you have done to find joy today. If you can’t think of anything, it’s time to start creating.

Let’s find the extraordinary in the every day.

P.S. Sliced bananas on s’mores…yum! Who knew?

 

 

**What was your happy today?**

Today was a good one

Today was a good one.

My son’s 4th Grade performed in the school’s annual Utah history program. He dressed in my dad’s mountain man leathers, sang, and do-si-doe’d. He even asked me to dance. As I giggled and watched him boot scoot’n boogie, nearly a decade flashed before my eyes. My rolly-polly baby with the giant head, puppy sized paws, and bottomless pit for a stomach has stretched and grown into a tall, lanky, fun boy with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and a gentle heart.

Time flew by faster than I could have ever imagined.

Next week, my Little Man will graduate from elementary school. I don’t know what I think about this! How could he possibly be old enough for middle school? But then, as I look at his men’s size 7 shoes laying here on the floor I realize...

He’s growing right before my eyes, more amazing with every added inch and every new day. He has his struggles and so do I, but we are learning and laughing along the way. I love the boy that my baby has become.

Today was a good one.

Friday Favorites #7: Choose to See the Good Stuff

Maybe I should start calling this “Good Stuff of the Month” or something like that since I can’t seem to get it together enough to post regularly every Friday. What can I say, I have big ambitions but an extremely hard time sticking to task. Oh, well.

Here are my favorite things for this week, month, or whatever this ends up being!

via command.com

   I have a small, ok maybe somewhat large, obsession with Command Strips! I use them for everything from hanging pictures, wreaths, hooks, brooms, or whatever else needs to go somewhere that I either don’t want to be permanent or doesn’t have a wall stud behind it.

 

I used the Command picture hanging strips on the back of my mirror for my Fireplace Makeover back in March.

I love these little things because they are not only crazy strong, but they also don’t cause any damage to the wall. {Well, except for in my pantry where I had a nice innocent hook holding my broom and some big giant man with massive elbows dashed the hook to pieces and ripped a pretty little hole in the sheetrock. Gee, who could that have been?}

If you haven’t tried these yet, there is a Command hook or hanger for anything! If you are like me and you like to change things up, you need these.

 

   Caitlin Wilson Design

via Caitlin Wilson

Whenever I need a shot of happiness, I go drool over Caitlin Wilson's interior design blog. I love the way she uses big shots of color and mixes patterns. Every space she designs has it’s own personality and I LOVE that. If you haven’t seen her work, check her out. She is awesome.

 

   If you are an American Idol fan, you’ll probably remember the darling BROOKE WHITE from SEASON 7 of AMERICAN IDOL. She is my very favorite contestant that they ever had. I love her sound, her style, and her hair. Girl has gorgeous hair!

Here she is singing one of my favorite songs. Girl has gorgeous hair AND talent. I love it.

Speaking of her gorgeous hair, she did a crown braid tutorial over at LITTLE MISS MOMMA that I have been crushing on. I tried it last Sunday and did I mention I wish I had her hair? Needless to say, the Boho Crown Braid wasn’t as gorgeous on me as it is on her. But, I tried!

via Little Miss Momma

If you have long hair and are looking for an easy feeling updo, you should try it out. I adore it.

 

   Lastly, I found this little art print the other day on PINTEREST and fell in love with it.

via The Brave Girls Club

This past Sunday, my hubby’s grandma and another sweet lady named Fern, were honored for Mother’s Day.  Fern’s son talked about how his mother always saw the good. How she was fun, witty, and faced the challenges of life with a smile on her face and determination in her heart. He mentioned that everyone felt better about life after being with his mother. As I sat there, his words touched my heart. That is exactly who I want to be. More than anything, I want my children to remember me as someone who chose joy. I love this simple reminder from The Brave Girls Club to “Choose to see the good stuff.”

That’s my goal for the rest of the month.

 

Well, there you have it…some of my favorite things of the week…or month…or whatever.

**What are you loving right now?**

Angelina Jolie, BRCA Gene Mutations, and Me.

If you’ve stuck around here very long, you know that I carry a GENETIC MUTATION that gives me an extremely high risk for breast and ovarian cancers, among other things. I have talked about it HERE and more recently, HERE. It is something that is constantly in the back of my mind.

How excited I was this morning when I found THIS ARTICLE posted in the New York Times written by actress and activist, Angelina Jolie.

via People.com

What a brave, wonderful thing this woman has done! She has drawn attention to a topic that up until this point has been very hush hush. There are women around the world, who have a genetic mutation, who either don’t know or know but don’t have any clue what to do now. Because of her choice to have a double mastectomy AND maybe even more importantly her choice to share her experience, people are talking and questions are being asked. BRCA 1 & 2 are all over the internet, radio, t.v. and news! I am so happy I could kiss this woman! {Of course, in a “Mama is so proud of you” non- “I kissed a girl and I liked it” kind of way…}

I’m not saying that having an elective double mastectomy is what everyone with a BRCA genetic mutation should do. I’m just saying thank you, Angelina, for bringing light to the subject and opening up the discussion. In the end, we have to do what we feel is the right decision for each of us and our families. I still don’t know if I will chose to take this plunge or even remove both my ovaries, I’m still wrestling with that in my mind. It’s such a personal decision, and either way there are repercussions. But, I do know that the more we talk about the hard stuff the more answers we will find and the easier it will be to ask for help.

 

via komenutah.org

This past Saturday, my family and I participated in our 7th RACE FOR THE CURE. There is something amazing that happens in your soul when you find yourself surrounded by thousands of others who are fighting against the very monster that you are. There is this healing peace that comes from seeing survivors in pink shirts waving banners that say, “I kicked cancer’s butt and so can you!”

You realize that you are not alone.

That there is strength in numbers.

And, that life is a beautiful thing.

 

Thank you, Angelina, for not being afraid to open your mouth and share. Many people’s lives will be touched because you did. I applaud you and wish you all the best.

 

**Please ladies! Get your mammograms, do your monthly self-exams, donate to cancer research, talk, walk, support, share, love, have hope, and please keep fighting. We are all in this together... ok, now I sound like a Disney musical, but you know what I mean.