Oscar is 16 months tomorrow. I am rather shocked when articles make reference to my "toddler". Surely they are mistaken. I can't believe he is a toddler.

He's at the stage where he is asserting his opinion. Like refusing to allow me to put pants on him.(Hence the missing pants above) or deciding half way through our walk that the stroller is not the mode of transportation he wants - so he starts to whip toys out from the stroller and I know that a meltdown will soon follow. I end up carrying him home to avoid nice old lady neighbours commenting that "The pour child is likely hungry*". (Um, no. He is not hungry, he is just super pissed off at me because I won't let him run into the street...But thank you for your help)

But as quick as he is to turn red and throw himself against a couch in protest to something, he is just as quick to run over with a book and snuggle. He wakes up with me up by putting a toy lion in my face and with a little voice says "ROOOOAR". He's loving the vintage Fisher Price toys I've picked up at Value Village and also on Etsy, where I found this awesome Fisher Price train.

I wanted to say that many of you have commented on my Oscar posts sometimes, offering comforting words. You may not know they are comforting, but to know that for example sleep issues are just at our house, makes everything seem "normal".

Okay, so I mentioned in my last post that it's been a really long time since I've been able to "pour" myself into making my house a home and how exciting it is to be able to do so!

After 10 years of military life, our family is finally settling into the civilian world and IT. FEELS. GREAT. Not only because our kids will have a home to call their own even after three years of living here but also because I now get to make my house feel more like a home.

I can finally sink in, plant roots and cozy up the place without feeling the overwhelming sensation of the temporary life that belongs to so many military families across the country and world. Don't get me wrong, military life wasn't all bad by any means. There were so many great opportunities and friendships we were afforded through the benefit of being military. However, just like everything else, it had its downfalls and negatives and we just felt like those began to outweigh the benefits more. And so...after much prayer, tears and even laughter...here. we. are. And here we go...

In the next few weeks (and maybe even months), you will listen to me share this new season that God has brought us into and,specifically, how making our house a home involves more than just aesthetics. And while I know that God has given me a gift and a passion for the restoration of old things, He is the One who  makes ALL things new! For that, I am thankful!  

So, grab your favorite blanket or sweater and a warm mug of hot chocolate, coffee or tea and snuggle up for  a freshly brewed cup of inspiration. 

So, with all of  that being said, some of you asked what colors I used on the pieces from my last post. Well, here ya go! 

Dresser turned Media Stand: Sherwin Williams, Annie Sloan Dark Wax

Cedar Chest turned Coffee Table: Annie Sloan Cream, AS Clear Wax

Dresser turned Entry Table: Annie Sloan Cream, Annie Sloan Clear Wax

And here's my latest project...again, for my house. 

BEFORE
 This is by no means in horrible condition with the exception of a few scrapes and scratches on the top

I am attempting to put our living room together and it's coming together quite nicely. I am learning to take my time in decorating my own home and not feel so anxious about getting things done. Anyone else feel that way? Like you just have to put all together in a snap?? 

Well, I don't really have a choice in the matter since finding pillows for my sofa seems to be like finding a needle in a haystack! But....I digress...back to the table.

I really liked it. Had good bones. Only $30 and just the size I needed as an occasional table beside our sofa. So, just like any savvy shopper...I grabbed it and began to dream up all the wonderful and yummy colors and finishes I could give it.

This is what I came up with...

What do you think? I just love it and think it fits in so well with what I want the room to feel like. A little formal. A lotta cozy. And a lot of chippy.

I'll be revealing more of our living room in weeks to come...stay tuned! 

p.s. For those of you wondering, I used SW Jogging Path for the main parts of this table and Dover White for the accents. ;)

LINKIN UP WITH:

Did you see Steven + Chris today? Look what project they did... Framed Bow Ties in Ikea Frames! Maybe one of my favourite Designing Duos* saw Oscar's Bow Tie?? :) Love those two.

*Sarah and Tommy are obvioulsy the other Design Duo that we all love!

My little brother (the baby of our family) and his wife are having their first baby in a few months.

My brother is one one of those freakishly talented people with an over abundance of creative skills.

I just know their baby will arrive with a camera in one hand and a mac in the other.

They are both photographers so skill with a camera is a given:-)

They don't know what they are having (so fun!) so I made them a bit of both.

Their baby shower is today and since it's in Virginia and I'm in Texas... I'm a little sad.

Needless to say, I am very excited for them! This is the last "first" baby in our family, so it's bittersweet.

 I can't wait to meet him/her in a few months!

I will share where I got all my patterns and inspirations in another post.

(By the way, they also are redoing a little old house that is amazing!

I'm hoping they will let me share some before and after photos some fine day.)

Our DIY wedding wouldn't have been possible without loads of help from our parents, so of course we wanted to do something to say thanks (aside from actually saying thanks, which we've done many times now). Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of extra money to spend on gifts right now and I can't imagine my parents or parents-in-law wanting any of the thank-you gift ideas I found online (how many engraved objects does one person need?). And since our photographers took so many beautiful pictures that day, we decided to frame a few for my mom, my dad and his wife, and Adam's parents.

I found some pretty silver frames at Winners, all on clearance for $7-$8 (unless you're my parent or parent-in-law, then the frames are solid silver and cost hundreds of dollars). I ordered a few prints and bought a piece of mat board ($3), then got to work with my handheld mat cutter. As an aside, I highly recommend cutting your own mats. It's easy to do (with a little practice) and it's so much cheaper than having custom mats cut (I almost always prefer the look of custom mats to standard mats, even though I cut these to standard-size haha). Eventually I'd like to invest in a heavier-duty model, since my handheld occasionally slips and doesn't do corners as cleanly as I'd like. Anyway, enough about my mat cutter dreams, here's how the frames turned out:

I think this is a nice, simple thank-you gift that our parents will enjoy (at first I told Adam this was my new mantle-decorating idea: an homage to ourselves). Now I just need to find a pretty way to wrap them.