Beauty & The Beach!

I've never been happier for two people in my entire life. These two are so blessed to have each other.  And I am doubly blessed to be able to watch. 

Sometimes in life...

There's NOTHING quite like 

The bond between...

A father and his little princess!

I love these beautiful and real facial expressions between these two.

Sweet smiles and simple giggles.

Strength and love accompanied with goofiness and laughter.

These two fill my heart with gladness.

Thank you Jesus!

New Stair Carpet ~ Animal Print!

We have really changed a lot in our home over the last 1 1/2 years.  I have, in small spurts, mentioned it on our blog and/or shared the changes on instagram, but I haven't fully documented it.  I'll start SMALL today and share our NEW stair carpet.  

We moved into our home in September of 2007. It was a brand spanking new house. The exterior was already finished, but we were able to design/choose all of the interior to fit our desires.  Fast forward 10 years later, plus the addition of 3 children and well... we are beginning to see that some of the more major, visible, interior structures need to be updated, repaired, or redone altogether. Darren and I decided to replace our home's carpet for our wedding Anniversary, in June (not a small gift in any respect).  

We went on a date and then stopped in to Whitt Carpet One.  We immediately fell in love with a carpet that was on display, in their show room, for our main entry level staircase.  

Originally, we had a gorgeous diamond patterned khaki/brown carpet.  You will see below how 10 years of use really took it's toll.

You can literally see where we used the carpet and where we did not.

I'm almost embarrassed at what this looks like, but anyone who knows me... knows how clean I am and how dirty kids can be. LOL!

When they began ripping up the carpet, I was so intrigued.  Here is what was underneath the carpet.  

The carpet that we chose to replace the original carpet with was in their private line, by Dosso.  The new pattern is the GORGEOUS, animal print: snow leopard.

I am in total AWE of it.

I believe FULLY that we definitely NEED to paint both the railing and the handles WHITE, in addition to painting the stained part of the stairs that are visible. Sometimes a red stain has a tendency to turn grey colors, near it, PURPLE.  I don't believe that is happening in our case, but still... I think white trim will be MUCH better than the stain.

Of course, we have really instilled NO SHOES on the carpet.  TRUST ME... it's being followed. It's an immediate ONE DAY without electronics if I see anyone walking on the stairs with shoes.  EVEN DARREN takes his shoes off when he already has them on and forgot something upstairs.  Haha.  It's comes with a few sighs.... but.... I want this carpet to stay CLEAN and FRESH looking. I feel so blessed to be able to do these home improvements. l am thankful to God and my hard-working hubby!

Well... that's a wrap! 

Merry Christmas, From Our House To Yours!

Christmas cards are definitely a tradition of ours that we LOVE doing.  We try desperate to create an idea that will provide the receive with a great laugh and maybe a tear of joy. Last year, we DID NOT do Christmas cards.  I was so sad about it.  Time just slipped away and our ideas could NOT properly be delivered, so we opted out.  It was the FIRST year we didn't do a Christmas card since 2002. This year, I created an idea, an original idea. No Pinterest necessary.  LOL! It wasn't going to include a family photo, but at the last second, I decided to snap a pic of my kids (above) directly after church! Tack on the word "Blessings" and wala! I love how sweet it turned out.  

The main idea involved lottery "scratchers", as so many people have been calling them as they have texted to thank us!

I purchased 90 lottery scratch off tickets.  Of course, they had to be Christmasy!

 Then, I designed a printable, on my computer, which read: 

The happiest people in life are givers, not getters! What will you do? Scratch it or give it? We will never know!?! Good luck!!! #Proverbs21:26

I ran around town, like the crazy lady that I am, in search of some adorable envelopes that the lottery scratchers would fit in.  I found several that I liked, so I bought them all.  

I robbed Ty's piggy bank of 90 pennies.  I shined them up in vinegar and salt water.  Just like new!

I hot glued the penny to the exterior of the envelope.  You know, incase they needed something to "scratch" the lottery ticket with.  That cute little "Merry Christmas" sticker was added for Christmas cheer.  

I inserted BOTH the lottery ticket AND the tag about "giving".  

Here are a few more examples!

I'd love to know what people did with their ticket or if they won! LOL! I think everyone is afraid to tell me that they probably DID keep it.  Hehe.  We have been blessed immensely and our home is definitely a home that LOVES to give, after all, it feels so much better to give than to receive.  

In the mail they went, 8 days before Christmas.  That is far too late for my taste, but hey.... at least Christmas cards went out this year.

The Lord has been so very good to us.  I am beyond thankful for his daily grace, mercy, and forgiveness, aka salvation, but aside from that, I am especially grateful for the greatest earthy gift HE has given to me... those who live in this home on Millwheel Lane.  They drive me bonkers, frustrate me, and challenge me, but the joy and fullness that I feel with them could NEVER replace the emotions or feelings from a gift under the tree. Merry Christmas, from our house to yours!