The Best Accessory

For some reason, when I wore this to MOPS yesterday I got a lot of compliments. 

To be honest with you, I felt like a cowboy (I'm weird, ok)

It just didn't seem to flow for me. 

The sock bun, the pearls, the boots..I don't know…I wasn't digging it.

But everybody else did, so I'll take it!

 Sweater: {Victoria's Secret}

Jeans: {William Rast}

The best part about this outfit is that it was entirely FREE for me.

I know, right?

My sister-in-law has impeccable taste in fashion and I just happen to get her hand-me-downs.

Lucky me!

But I thought that it's this little princess who makes my style complete. 

I mean seriously….what would I look like without my beautiful kiddos?

Happy Wednesday…you can find me in sweat pants all day today : }

Home Tour {Family Room}

{play me}

Part III of my home tour (here's the kitchen and playroom) takes us to the room with the most use .

Our family room.

We play in here, watch tv, relax, and just gather as a family.

It might even be my favorite…but then again…I might say that about all the rooms. I guess I'm not biased. I just love my home!

You can find how to make your own family rules canvas here (that is if you have an extra 30 hours to spare). It was worth every second. I kinda like it. 

I usually change out my banner every couple of months.
You can make your own here. Just print and clip!

How awesome is that old barometer? My Dad tried to fix it and couldn't so he was going to throw it away. Sheesh! Good thing I saved it, right?

You can find my twine wrapped bottle tutorial here. 

I am noticing I am a horrible stager. I could have pulled the banner out of the books and moved the outlet cover. But apparently I'm too lazy.  

I need your opinions about this birdcage. I love it, I really do. But I think I might like it in white better…thoughts? Does it need a coat of spray paint?

I found these corbels at Hobby Lobby for $4 a piece. I love them! In fact…I adore them. It makes my home look a bit more "custom" for $8.

Here's the view from the Family Room into the Kitchen and dining area. 

James really loves these chairs. I'm not totally sold (even after 3 years).

I scored this at an antique store as my Christmas gift. I love that it's functional, massive, and mahogany. I kind of have a thing for dark wood antiques. Call me sentimental. 

 And in honor of full disclosure….this is what it looks like this morning. Naturally, of course.

**sorry for the weird exposure on the pics…it makes my green wall look like it's 80 different shades…I have a lot of natural light in the room, but it still casts shadows it odd places**

Thanks for taking the tour. Hope you can stay a while and browse my other posts. Time for me to engage with the kiddos!

I was featured here!

The Beauty in Stress

{play me}

You learn a lot about yourself when your plate is full.

Our lives are full lately. We felt God's calling for us to obey him. We are neck deep in it now.

God never tells us that his way for our lives will be easy. In fact, he says just the opposite. He tells us that when we follow him, it will be difficult.

Luke 9:57-62As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

This passage has always bugged me. He seems so harsh! But from what I have heard it's that Jesus knew these men were making excuses on why "now wasn't a good time" to follow him. He knew that their hearts were not in it fully. And that's exactly what he has called us to do. Put all of our hearts into following him.

No, it isn't supposed to be easy, but it's supposed to be rewarding.
The journey that God has called our family is causing us stress right now.

And I won't lie…I'm not handling it well.
I'm snarky, moody, and eating way too much. Of course I have to be a stress eater, right? Not that I'm already in a bad mood…I have to gain weight while I'm at it.
Apparently this is my motto ; )

via

But God is revealing to me some of these hard character flaws to me.
I need to treat those I love better, despite my circumstances. I need to rely that God's plan is supreme and that my attitude is lame.

I know the reward will be great. He has a pretty amazing way of blessing us.
That is the beauty of stress. The reward of obedience is great.
I just need a new motto...

:::

Pray more. Stress less. 

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