if I were....

 Here's a fun little post....don't you just love these?  I do anyway.
If you don't, feel free to pass on this one... I won't be offended :)

I got this one from the ever so lovely Sarah over at "any way the wind blows", love that I get to be one of her "peeps" ;)  You can too...check out her answers here.

If I were a month, I’d be October
If I were a day of the week, I’d be a Saturday Morning
If I were a time of day, I’d be 8:30am
If I were a planet, I’d be undiscovered
If I were a sea animal, I’d be sea otter

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If I were a direction, I’d be SouthEast
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a loveseat
If I were a liquid, I’d be honey
If I were a gemstone, I’d be Smoky Quartz
If I were a tree, I’d be a Weeping Willow
If I were a tool, I’d be a flashlight
If I were a flower, I’d be a Ranunculus

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If I were a kind of weather, I’d be a warm summer rain
If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a drum
If I were a color, I’d be Queen Anne's Lace
If I were an emotion, I’d be childlike wonder
If I were a fruit, I’d be wild blueberry
If I were a sound, I’d be whispered giggles
If I were an element, I’d be Earth
If I were a car, I’d be Jeep Wrangler
If I were a food, I’d be peanut butter
If I were a place, I’d be a wildlife preserve

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If I were a material, I’d be glass
If I were a taste, I’d taste like butterscotch
If I were a scent, I’d be lemon fresh
If I were an animal, I’d be a bird
If I were an object, I’d be a windchime
If I were a body part, I’d be eyes
If I were a song, I’d be You and Me by Dave Matthews
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be flip flops
If I were an item of clothing, I'd be well worn pair of jeans

If I were a facial expression, I’d be joy

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seven year itch | family room inspiration

We've been in our current home for about 7 years or so.  Much of our furniture is closer to 10 years old but sadly it is drooping and fraying and really looking more like twice it's age.
Sshhhh....don't tell my couch I said that, it has served us well and I wouldn't want to part on bad terms ;)
However there's no denying that the itch has begun to freshen everything up with a new look so I thought I'd share our inspirations with all of you!

The only hurdle is exactly which family room I will be making over ;)  For any new readers out there, we are in the process of trying to sell our home and move to a smaller home in the country.  It has been a roller coaster of an experience but it will be ending soon come hell or high water!  So the question remains, will I be remodeling our current family room or one in a new house?
Your guess is as good as mine....stay tuned!

Either way this is the color scheme I will be working from, although our wood choices will probably lean more towards darker tones.  Thanks again Pinterest!  Seriously, I don't know how I ever decorated our home before without it!?!  (You can follow me here)

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We actually picked out a slightly more bluish gray for the walls...Rocky Mountain Sky from Behr.  Below is an example of the look I hope to be incorporating, including pieces from some of my favorite stores....Target and IKEA....can I get an AMEN!!!

1. IKEA Hemnes Coffee Table
2. Target Slipper Chair
3. IKEA Ektorp Sofa
4.  Amazon Natural Storage Bin
5.  Amazon Metro Rug
6.  Target Ruffle Shear
7.  Amazon Barnwood Trunk
8.  Amazon Chevron Accent Pillow
9.  Amazon Silver Serving Tray


I can't wait to get started!
Do any of these pieces strike your fancy?

Don't miss the in-between

There are so many things I want to do and accomplish with my life.  My list is soooo long.

Take more pictures
Join a church group
Blog more
Exercise
Volunteer
Redecorate the house
Visit family
Plan a girls night out with friends
Eat right
Keep a clean house
Do art projects with the kiddos on a regular basis
Cook one new recipe a week
Organize

I could go on and on...and on and on and on...you feel me?

I like to consider myself a emotionally dynamic passionate person :)  I get frustrated easily but I also get inspired and fired up quickly for things that matter to me.  This usually leads to frustration that I can't DO all of these things Right. Now.  But I think about them alot.  Maybe more than I should.

Does this happen to you?

We are so caught up in our busy busy busy that we forget to stop and just breathe.  Stop obsessing.  Life is still happening and we aren't even fully present in it because we are always so focused on the future and all the things we want to accomplish with this precious life.  But I don't want to forget to live it and I bet you don't either.  I encourage you to find some small ways to be more present in your day.

Take a slow inhale of your morning coffee/tea
Look people in the eye when they're talking to you (I'm so guilty of this even with my kids sometimes!)
Get off your smart phone...take a brief walk
Hug someone
Lift your face to the sun and feel the warmth it provides
Chew your food slowly and really taste it
Listen to music





 What are some small ways you can find to be present in the in-between?

october's opal

The opal is said to be many things including the most powerful of healing stones, the stone of hope, the stone of great achievement and inspiration.  It is said to enhance the imagination and creativity as well.

Regardless of any deeper meaning, it's just plain beautiful if you ask me :)
Fest your eyes on these fabulous beauties from a few fellow jewelry artists.

1. pink faceted opal
2. opal filigree ring
3. opal and emerald earrings
4. opal pendant necklace
5. opal and silver ring
6. opal and gold charm bracelet
7. peruvian opal earrings

Are you a lucky October baby?

Have a lovely weekend friends!

ah-ha! she got it!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Becoming a parent has been extremely instrumental in growing my relationship with God.  It has opened my eyes to how He loves me as His child.

The other night I had an experience with my own kiddos where I felt so proud/relieved/excited that my kids actually got something that I have been "preaching" for years.  And it made me chuckle to think that God probably has the same  kind of moments with all of us.  The elation of your kids finally "getting it".

I've even been able to recognize recently a few times where a message had finally sunk in for me.  You conceptually understand something but it is only later that hits home and you are able to put it into practice.  Although where God's concerned it happens at the time of His choosing and not by happenstance :)

Self-Acceptance has been a big one for me.  I struggled a lot with the negative parts, you know the sinner in us all.  I kept trying to earn God's grace.  Be good enough to deserve His dying for me.  It's not that I thought I could live a perfect life but I remember praying "Lord, please just let me get through one day with out letting You down in some way. One day."  Well that is never going to happen.  It just isn't.  We are broken, sinful beings and we can't change that.  Accepting that you don't deserve grace and you never will (even for one day) is when the enormity of what Jesus did finally permeates your soul.  His mercy is ours not because we are good but because He is good.  Have I heard all this before?  Sadly yes, but I tried anyway.  It has finally flooded into all the corners of my heart and I now live with a recognition and acknowledgement of my brokenness, an unending gratitude for His merciful rescue, and the certainty that I am loved far beyond my short-comings.

Have you had an ah-ha moment like this where a concept has finally sunk in for you?  Do share!