• 03.28.2011 Simply Nesting: Wk. 2 {The Linen Closet}
    Simply Nesting: Wk. 2 {The Linen Closet}
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    Thanks to all of you who participated in last week’s challenge! The rest of my house may still be in chaos, but by golly, I’ve got an organized pantry!! Hopefully, the rest of you are inspired, and will join us this week… …for The Linen Closet! The linen closet, or whatever you may call it in your home, is the place where you store sheets, towels, extra blankets, and sometimes toiletries and various sundries. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed when I see linen or bathroom closet makeovers that look like this: Photo credit. My linen closet will likely never look like this for a few reasons: 1) I don’t have enough space to allow stacks to be freestanding in pretty little piles, 2) My linens do not all coordinate, 3) I often have little helpers who put linens away. But…the goal here, in our challenge […]

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  • 03.25.2011 Before and After {Simply Nesting In The Pantry}
    Before and After {Simply Nesting In The Pantry}
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    Yay! We made it through our first Simply Nesting challenge: The Pantry. I don’t know about you, but I found things I hadn’t seen, smelled, or tasted in years! It feels good to take inventory, doesn’t it? I love that cleaning out a pantry helps me see what is really needed and what is not; what are my impulse buys, and what are staples. I should do this more regularly… I’m leaving the link party  (click at the bottom of post) open until Sunday night at 10pm. (That means you really have all weekend to finish the project and still submit your post!) See you on Monday for the reveal of our Simply Nesting, Week 2 project! <div align=”center”><a href=”http://www.gracelaced.com/category/simplynesting” title=”Simply Nesting”><img src=”http://www.gracelaced.com/uploads/2011/03/Simply-Nesting-Button1.jpg” alt=”Simply Nesting” style=”border:none;” /></a></div>   ****If you add this link code to the HTML view of your post, you can display this gallery as well!**** <a href=http://www.inlinkz.com/script.php?id=42617&nojump=1&key=ILsWWE7hkRBEc>get […]

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  • 03.24.2011 Owl Nursery In Progress {Wall Sneak Peek}
    Owl Nursery In Progress {Wall Sneak Peek}
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    Don’t forget to clean out your pantry this week as part of my Simply Nesting challenge. I hope you will join me tomorrow in posting about your organizing and simplifying efforts! ************************************************* All the boys have had rooms that reflect their dad’s greatest interests. Number 1 had an airplane themed room complete with a runway. Number 2 had a woodsy, hunting and fishing room. 3 and 4 both slept beneath a mopane tree I painted in their African themed room. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we’ve decided to give Cinco’s room a makeover, for his sake and ours. The Preacher loves owls, which makes for a great nursery theme. Just think what I’d be coming up with if The Preacher was an avid BBQ-er, a brilliant computer programmer, or a beer brewing enthusiast. Yes, I think owls make a fine theme. We said goodbye to Zimbabwe, where The […]

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  • 03.21.2011 Simply Nesting: Wk 1 {The Pantry}
    Simply Nesting: Wk 1 {The Pantry}
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    I’m not sure if it’s more accountability for you or for me, but either way, as I told you on Friday, I am beginning a 4 week challenge here on GraceLaced. Four weeks is about all the time I’ve got left to organize and simplify my life before baby Cinco arrives. Wanna join me? I really hope you do…for your encouragement, but also for my sake….so that I’m not the only one fessing up about how disorganized I can be! If you have a blog of your own, read through each Monday’s post for these four week, schedule time to complete the project, and post on your accomplishment on Friday of each week. Visit my post each Friday for before/after pics of my nesting efforts, and you’ll have an opportunity to link your blog post up to mine! I’ve never done a “blog-hop” or link-up, but have seen how fun […]

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  • 03.11.2011 Owl Nursery On My Mind
    Owl Nursery On My Mind
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    Up until about a week ago, we had not planned to repaint the nursery for Baby Cinco. It felt like a lot of effort for the fifth time. But then it occurred to me that it’s…THE FIFTH TIME. A possible last time. Not just another baby boy. He’s a unique baby. A brand new experience for the 5th time. So, we’re gearing up for a final nesting push. An owl nest, to be specific. For inspiration, I’ve put together a selection of favorite picks of owl art found on etsy. I promise to share more as I formulate a transformation plan. It’ll have to be in the next few weeks…because that’s all I’ve got left! 1. New Glasses For School 2. Owls on Blue Collage 3. Vintage Owl Wall Hanging 4. Retro Owls 5. Fantasy Tree 6. Retro Owl on Bicycle 7. Custom Owl Print 8. Old School Owl 9. […]

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  • 03.04.2011 Green and Tangerine
    Green and Tangerine
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    ************ Have a lovely, and colorful weekend! Don’t forget to enter the air plant giveaway from Tuesday’s post. You have until 10pm (MST) tonight! Winner will be announced Monday!

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  • 03.01.2011 Air Plant Love, Part 2 + Giveaway!
    Air Plant Love, Part 2 + Giveaway!
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    I admitted to having a bit of a newfound obsession with air plants a few weeks ago, after being gifted a beautiful hanging glass bubble from a friend. How could I resist a plant so lovely and simple, yet requiring no dirt or daily watering?! All the loveliness of that terrarium I made with much less effort. I decided to order a mystery air plant grab bag of 5 air plants to begin my collection, confident I would find the perfect spot for the other 4 plants I would have left over after adorning my hanging bubble. And a perfect spot I found indeed! I decided to make an artsy floating display with a dried cholla cactus I picked up on a hike in the foothills here. I know it’s not for everyone, but it was just the right (free!) display for my little plants! Are you as intrigued as I am? […]

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  • 02.16.2011 Air Plant Love
    Air Plant Love
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    I frantically looked to see who had sent me a package. “…it made me think of you.” was the note that accompanied the sweet surprise waiting on my doorstep from West Elm. Nestled safely within the box was a delicate glass ornament that immediately evoked thoughts of terrariums and plants. I admit, I had to google it just to be sure. Photo source: here. Indeed, they are the prettiest, most artistic displays for plants that don’t need anything but air. All I need to do now is to find one of these little guys for my glass bubble. I was amused to find others who have turned air plants into chandeliers, Photo source: here. …wedding favors, Photo source: here. …and even mirrors. Photo source: here. While less is often more, I do confess that I may have my thoughtful friend to blame for this newfound addiction fascination. Just what I […]

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  • 01.20.2011 Creating New Spaces {A Library}
    Creating New Spaces {A Library}
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    A study. A reading room. A parlor. A music room. Just don’t call it an office. please. That’s what I had in mind when I convinced The Preacher to turn our formal dining room into a new space for music, reading, and writing, now that our long dining table has been relocated. The formal dining room, now Library, is the first room you walk into when entering our house. It used to look like this: Since this room is also a high traffic thoroughfare, I knew I wanted something inviting, something classy…like 18th century libraries…something that says: We gather around books and music for entertainment. And while a workspace for The Preacher’s two office-at-home jobs was at hand, function need not be unsightly. We moved his two bookshelves that used to be in our bedroom downstairs: We then purchased two matching desks from Costco with “desk fund money” (Thank you, […]

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  • 12.28.2010 Clearing Out
    Clearing Out
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    Our family’s emerged from the festivities and are now preparing for house guests and the anticipation of a new year. We I eagerly took all the Christmas decorations down and returned everything to it’s place rearranged all the furniture. Does this happen at your house too? It wasn’t without reason, you know. In anticipation of the 7th family member this Spring…and because we always have guests for dinner it seems, we’ve swapped the dining table for the kitchen table. I’ve never enjoyed using our dining room. Too formal; too far from the aromas of the kitchen. I love having everyone at the same table. And now, we all fit. (Plus, there will be 7 kids and four adults in our home for the rest of week!) My workspace has returned to it’s previous position from earlier in the year: right in the middle of it all. And though my kitchen […]

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  • 11.01.2010 Finding
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    Guess what I came across while going through some old containers in my garage? About a foot and a half of the sweetest hand crocheted lace trim. I highly suspect that it was originally made by The Preacher’s nana years ago. I adore crocheted trim, but will not likely find the time to actually make any myself, this side of childrearing! I promptly found a home for this little section of trim, however, right on my mantle. In a houseful of boys, a little touch of femininity is always enjoyable, especially when it’s outside the reach of little hands. Have a lovely Monday friends, and hope you re-discover a little treasure today yourselfl!

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  • 10.20.2010 For The Record
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    When it comes to the safety and comfort of my children and home, I can, and will destroy all perpetrators… …er…and save the evidence to prove my heroism. I apologize if I’ve ruined your morning cup of coffee. Speaking of coffee, I’m so thankful for my husband who met his discouraged wife this morning with an omelette, a perfect cup of coffee, and a sermon by John MacArthur on The Purpose of Trials. Breakfast of champions, I do believe. Even heros need a pick-me-up.

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