Movin’ on Over!

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163 Design Company

Alright you guys…while this blog is staying put, the space left can’t take any more!  So I’m moving for the time being…right on over to the new website.  Find my first official post over yonder.  And please come along with me!  You can’t imagine how much I’d appreciate it; I’d love for my followers to follow me there too…huge fantastic terrific pretty pleases with sugars on top. 🙂

Thanks friends!!

(I’m also working out kinks; I heard your feedback on the site {thank YOU} and I’m waiting for professional help, ha!  We’ll get there!)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Celebrate!

Tags

163 Design Company, Birthday, chalkboard painted pennants, groopdealz, Maine Home and Design Show

I sit down to my computer in the morning, and just give up on posting because I have too much to share!  This morning I’m going to try, though…give you the long story short version. 😉

Dad is done!  School is finished…for good.  They gave him a sombrero and chiles in honor of his New Mexican roots!  I just love this picture.

It’s also his birthday today!  What a week, right? Happy Birthday, Dad!

(We’re selling the banners on Groopdealz today, by the way…that just worked in nicely to my post, didn’t it? Ha!

No rest for the weary, though; no time to sit back and relax!  The family business is now officially in full swing.  I’m working on a website; it’s not really finished, but here is a start.  It is GO month.  Would you pray for us?  It would be so appreciated.  Not that teacher pay is tremendous, but we’ve got to make at least a teacher’s salary from this business, from here on out!  God is in this thing.

One thing I love about blogging is sharing our story.  If it can be an encouragement to others, all the better.  And I want it as a record for my boys; so they can look back someday and see how God worked!

………

I was at first hesitant to post this; I hate Oh Poor Me moments; but I’m going to write this down anyway.  Our oil filter fell off the car last week, dumped the oil, and irreversibly damaged our engine.  Sigh…

When the mechanic called us with an estimate on a used engine, though, it ended up being what we have…ALL of what we have.  Wiping us clean!  But we HAVE IT!!!  I am 100% grateful; you don’t even know.  About 2% irritated, honestly, because not only is our savings gone, but I had some of that set-aside money earmarked for things this summer. It’s been a bit of work to not let that 2% creep in. However, it has given us the motivation to purge our house and have a yard sale.  To get creative when it comes to saving and making money, so we can get a start on adding to our savings again.  Yet another God Story in our life!  Celebrate…even the irritations, which can really turn into good things.

……

Would you mind taking a look at the website and giving me a little feedback?  I’d really appreciate it.  And y’all, this has kept me up at night; wondering what to do about the blog.  If I stick with this, I have to pay, because I’m almost out of picture space and need to bump up past the “free” level.  I do have space on the new website to start a blog though.  I’ve considering moving this whole shebang over to the new site, but I’m pretty sure we’d be over our limit for space on THAT site if I did!  So right now my inclination is to keep this blog right here, but just start posting on the other site for the time being.  That keeps my options open a bit.  I’ll let you know, obviously, where to find me once I nail down my idea for good!  Right now this site is just linked to that one.

Alright!   I have to get to work; the Maine Home and Design Show is NEXT WEEK!  We have so much to do.  So very much.  Prayers appreciated for that too!  I’m asking alot of you today, aren’t I?

You are all the best.  Thanks for hangin’ in there with me; sharing in my story!

Succulent meets Rustic Glam

Tags

dining room, Ditto DIY, glam, gold, rustic, succulent, succulents

I love Darlene.  Y’all know that.  And when she and other fantastic bloggers put together Ditto Diy I couldn’t wait to come up with something…and what THRILLED my heart was the first participating month’s challenge was to paint something GOLD.    I’ve been embracing the gold a bit lately.

I’m just days away from sharing my makeover-of-a-makeover for my dining room.  I needed something fresh for my buffet, so not only did IT get a makeover with a touch of gold, but I put together a little plan for the top and decided to include it in this par-tay.

I still have some of that old farmhouse flooring that I used to make signs out of, and I came up with a design that my very handy dad executed; I wanted a planter for  succulents.  I’ve been adding some “live” green to my house lately and wanted a bit more, so the boys and I hit up the nursery and bought 9 little cheap/almost dead plants off the sale rack.  Cross your fingers for me!  Hoping these babies make it!

I was originally going to paint a gold stripe down the middle, but wanted to get a bit fancier.  I thought I’d make a stencil on our laser machine…but what to write…I could go easy and write “Succulents”!  That’s it’s purpose, right?  Guess what?  I looked up the meaning because I knew we regularly use “succulent” to describe other things (food, mainly) but I was so delighted to realize that it also means “rich in interest”.  Winner!  Not only is this old scrappy flooring-turned-planter rich in interest; but I want to be rich in interest too.  What a goal, right?  It’s fitting, because it is resting under one of our family’s mottos that I have on the wall (which I’ll pop up in the next post or two…just have to clean this silly room!)  I love the idea of being a “rich in interest” family.   Oh, and the paint on that wood?  I’m crazy about it, because sometimes it’s a little barely-there, and then the light will hit it just right and it BLINGS.  (It’s Martha Stewart Golden Pearl Metallic Paint, by the way).

I also painted up these little ceramic flowers; I bought them years ago at Company C; they were bright blue and green which worked with my decor for awhile, but they’ve been hiding in the attic for a couple of years.  Thought this would be the perfect opportunity to paint them up and bring them out.  They got a bronzey-gold treatment.

So there!  Totally meets my casual-with-a-little-bit-of-fancy decor style.

I hope you come back!  Dining Room reveal coming ASAP.

Have a beautiful week!

Drop offs and Sightings!

Tags

Bar Harbor, LL Bean, Maine, tornado help

Thank you to people who spread the word about our Groopdealz deal yesterday!  It was such a last minute thing (running the deal), but the timing worked well; we have friends whose employees lost everything in the tornadoes.  We will be sending money *directly* to them.  The deal is still on today…and oh my goodness…there is a TYPO.  A huge, significant typo in the sample.  I could bury my head under the sand.  So embarrased.  It can’t be changed in the ad, but rest assured that it HAS been changed on my end. LOL.  I’m such a dork.

In the meantime, mom and dad went to Freeport to drop off a reorder of our original posters…to find that our new products were already displayed!  That was FAST!!!!

And our letters; desperately hoping that the M and E are displayed now too. 😉

The day that they ran those to Freeport, I had a last minute trip with a girlfriend to Bar Harbor for a meeting (and Nicole, if you are reading this…I would of totally called you if we had had more time than just to walk to the dock to take a picture before our meeting).  🙂  It was awesome to be back on MDI.

Ok, work is calling (aka the baby is awake!); couldn’t resist showing you my good lookin’ parents though.  Blessings to you today!

Chalkboard Prints…and Sending Help

Tags

Dr. Seuss, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:27, Mark 11:22-25, Oklahoma, Personalized Chalkboard Prints, scripture, Texas

Gosh.  Seems like a ridiculous time to promote anything.

<sigh>

Doesn’t that “who cares” attitude strike you after tragedy?  Who cares about *anything* but sending help…

Yesterday afternoon we were made aware that Groopdealz was going to pop these prints on their site today…and so we want to take something very bad and turn it into help for others; please know that if you make a purchase, money will be given directly to those in need.

These are prints that we will personalize and send directly to you through email…

and if you ever have any other requests for something similar? A verse, a phrase, whatever…let me know and I’ll work something up.  {I love this stuff.}  These can be found right here today and tomorrow.

Praying God’s peace and strength and restoration for those affected by the recent storms. xo

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Mark 11:23

^{Mark 11:22-25} Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, ‘Go jump in the lake’—no shuffling or shilly-shallying—and it’s as good as done. That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it’s not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins.”

 

In Pictures…and a Few Words

Tags

Canvas Letters, family, LL Bean, Maine

Did you know that I used to have a lazy bone?  It’s still in there somewhere {I prefer to call it “laid back” though}.  I could sit for hours and read a book; that was pretty much my favorite past time.  These days my book reading is relegated to 10 minutes at bedtime before I fall flat asleep.  I am so BUSY.  Full of good stuff, though!  Full of it!  This poor blog is being neglected, though, which is just wrong.  I am working on some changes; please stay tuned and follow me along for the ride!

Here is a little rundown of our recent escapades…beach trips, family kickball, Mother’s Day, Freeport drop-offs…really messy houses. And freckles.

We’re also really thrilled;  LL Bean (the Freeport Home Store, mind you, not the catalog) reordered our first poster and put in an order for canvas words (HOME and MAINE) and also a new poster that mom and I worked up.  We’re praying that this could become a consistent thing…we’ll see!

And…AND!  We are going to have a booth at the Maine Home+Design Show.  Holy Cow.  It’s in a little over a month; to say we are a bit shellshocked is an understatement.  So excited, but SO MUCH to do it’s not even funny.  Prayers would be greatly appreciated!

I have more to share but the boys are stirring!  They are the best kind of busy. 🙂

Have a fabulous Monday.

Fabric, Sparkle, and Chocolate. You’re Welcome.

Tags

Etsy, fabric loveliness, german glass glittler tags, healthy chocolate, pinterest

I’m waiting on a few pictures to show you a few fun shop things, so in the meantime, only 1 boy is up out of 3 (he was up before 5, mind you, but he is the oldest and self sufficient!) so I wanted to toss some lovelies your way before the rest of the hungry hoard wakes up.  Latest Fabric Pins. OH MY GOODNESS German Glass Glitter tags {click on the picture, it will take you to the shop} and then the best ever chocolate treat.  I’ve had it pinned for ages.  I’ve had friends sing it’s praises.  I finally buckled down and made it…and to quote my kids…these are SO WAY BETTER than the peanut butter cups you get at the store!  Oh my gosh, they are SO WAY RIGHT.  Somebody stop me.

disclaimer…it is incredibly unusually for me to post two days in a row.  you might possibly get a handful of posts this week.  please bear with my excitement, we will return to regularly scheduled programming (i.e. i’ll pop in on occasion) soonish.

Source: onlinefabricstore.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: onlinefabricstore.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: onlinefabricstore.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: onlinefabricstore.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: onlinefabricstore.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: onlinefabricstore.net via Jennifer on Pinterest

MiGihandmade. aren’t they darling?

Source: practicalpaleo.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

It Is Well

Tags

Family Night, Home Decor, It is Well With my Soul, Kickball, View along the Way

Hello, after a what?  2 week hiatus?  I figured that if I only post a couple of times a month you’ll be all the more tempted to read.  😉  Has absolutely nothing to do with my to-do list lately, at ALL.  It’s all a grand gain-blog-readers plan.  Muahaha.

So many things.  So many. Lots has happenend and if I can work my magic this morning, maybe I’ll be able to compile a post or two before the boys wake up.

First off, have you read Kelly’s post?  We worked with her on a project and she turned it into not only beautiful art but the post is full of such wonderful words.  She’s usually so funny I want to pee my pants. EVERY time. This one was serious and lovely!  And welcome to my new friends that came over from Kelly’s way!  {New followers make a blogger’s heart so happy. xoxoxo}

Isn’t that gorgeous?  She ordered our canvas letters and the painted them, so she got the texture with the colors.  Love it.

Now, pictures of my kids.  Spring is here, the weather is beautiful.  We played kickball across the street Friday night.  The light was awesome.

Life has gotten crazy overwhelming a little bit busy lately, so taking time out for things like this?  It’s just shot way up and beyond to the top of the priority list.  So as to not crazy overwhelm you, I’m leaving this post as is, and comin’ at ya later with big news and stuff.  Have such a blessed week, and take time out for kickball!  I promise you that mountain of laundry will wait very, very patiently.  It Is Well, and Will Be Well!

Chalkboard Dining Table

Tags

chalkboard paint, Chalkboard Painted Dining Table, diy, DIY Chalkboard Paint, home, Mini-Makeover

One of my new, favorite changes! (My dining room is set for a mini-overhaul and I couldn’t be more excited!)

Disclaimer; I had to get reallllly creative with these pictures; the baby is sleeping and instead of doing a thorough cleaning, I just angled the camera to not catch the mess.  Such is my life.

I didn’t want black, so I grabbed a small sample of my fave…Martha Stewert Seal from Home Depot (custom matched to Behr).  Added some non-sanded grout and stirred it up…voila!  Homemade Chalkboard Paint.  It’ll be gritty; just stir well and then lightly sand over if you have clumpy problems.  The ratio is a 2 tablespoons of grout to one cup of paint…I just eyeballed it.  I actually bought 2 samples so I can coat again if I need to, but so far so good!  I have 3 coats on the table.

Really creative photography up there! Promise! Toys here, cords there…not enough time in the day to be a pro at this thing.

I can leave pep talks for myself in the morning. 🙂

Honestly, my favorite part isn’t even the fact that I can doodle to my hearts content…it’s that it’s all slate-like.  Or zinc-ish. It reminds me of one of my favorite garden shops that has a slate-topped worktable.  It makes me happy! (And it’s a breeze to clean, promise).

Look at that! I found a picture on my phone of a relatively clutter free room…shocker! The other things I’ve accomplished so far; moved the rug from the living room to under the dining table, and I actually turned the table around; I LOVE the orientation now.  Oh, and adding some real-life green!  I actually haven’t killed this plant yet! Few more details to work out, and the makeover-of-the-makeover will be complete. 🙂  For the moment!

If you are local and have any interest in making chalkboard paint…I have a fantastic amount of grout to let you use.  Seriously; we could chalkboard paint the town, so let me know if you are interested!

linking up 🙂

Finding Silver Pennies

Heart and Home

A Bright Spot

Tags

laundry

Tell me this has happened to you!  You fall so behind on laundry that one day you finish your shower and realize that you have to run around the house to scrounge up the last clean dishtowel to dry off.  Yeppers.

Just look at that mess, and here I am, on the computer…but not for long!  I have much to discuss, but laundry and preventing a house from falling into full on disaster mode takes precedence.

But OH, a bright spot!  One of those precious events that gives you hope amidst the less than desireable news of the week {Boston and West, Lord HELP us}…I am an AUNT!  A full on official aunt to a sweet baby girl (Kaitlyn) whom I desperately want to cuddle and rock and kiss all over; alas, she lives in California.  Boo!  I am so tempted to hop on a plane, right this very moment, but will probably have to wait until this summer to shower this baby with adoration in person. Congratulations, so much, to my amazing brother in law and sister in law.  Love you Josh and Erin.  You did GOOD.  A baby Murray GIRL!  Didn’t think it could happen.  😉

Must get off the duff!  Have a blessed day…