Friday, September 28, 2012

Shadow Boxes


So now that I am blogging and posting about a few DIY things we do around the house, I’m starting to realize just how much stuff I go and raid out of my grandparents old house and transform it for my own home.
Brian already knows that a project is waiting for him if I mention that I went over to my grandparents house over the weekendJ But don’t be fooled he likes all this DIY stuff just as much as I do!
So back at the beginning of the summer, my dad had these super cool looking wooden boxes that he was storing flats of annuals flowers in to carry around the yard to plant. I recognized those old planter boxes. They were the ones my grandfather used in his greenhouse. I asked dad if he had 2 of them that he wasn’t using. Well sure enough, that ended in dad and I going over to Pa’s house to raid the old greenhouse! Well I came home with 2 really cool reclaimed wood looking plant boxes!
My dad did not understand what I was going to do with these for decorating but I assured him I would figure something out! These boxes are super cool (sorry I do not have a before picture). They look like old reclaimed wood from the old house that is still on my grandparent’s property. Pretty much they are backed with some old reclaimed beadboard from the old farmhouse and then they are framed with some wooden planks.
I had these 2 prints that I got from an antique mall in Collierville that I framed and matted myself and they looked a little bare on my walls. So I thought they would be perfect to hang within the plant boxes to make a shadow box. The only problem was… my prints in side of their frames were not symmetrical with the boxes. The plant boxes were much longer and leaner than my photo frames. So they kind of looked bare inside the boxes so I’ve had these planter boxes sitting in the floor of my living room for months trying to find a solution.
Then I got the idea that I needed to add something else to have at the bottom or top of the picture within the shadow box. I love all the metal work artwork that is so trendy right now but I needed something very small. I already have lots of metal crosses hanging in my house and I need something that hung horizontal. I saw a bunch of iron keys art at hobby lobby and decided that would be perfect for my shadow boxes! I picked up 2 iron keys for $3.99/piece at hobby lobby and went home and attached them to the shadow box.
On Sunday, the hubsters and I headed to Lowe’s to purchase the proper tools that we would need to hang the shadow boxes since they are so heavy now.  Then we picked the placement for them on the walls. It was Brian’s idea to hang them at the corner of the living room which looks way better than what I would have done! Here is how it turned out!
 I love how rustic the wood and keys look against the clean lined silver frames!
There is even something written on the side of the box in my grandpa's handwriting. But I have no clue what it says!

Hayden dropped by later that night just after we had hung them and put the TV back in place. This is her and Brian in front of the TV playing with her "baseball" which is actually a ball made of rope that is a dog toy...She's a silly girl!

What's been going on...

Life has been crazy these past few weeks!

We have traveled to visit my sister in-law in St Louis where she is starting her first year at Covenant Seminary

My sweet niece turned 3 this year! She had a fun swimming party at my parents house! Brian and I love that little girl so much! This year Brian built her a dollhouse and I decorated it! I think we had just as much fun making it as she has playing with it!

I traveled with one of my best friends to gatlinburg with her entire wedding party to celebrate her upcoming marriage! The girls went on a hike to grotto falls and it was beautiful!

This weekend is going to be busy busy too! I am going with my other best friend, Ashley to go wedding dress shopping and I can't wait to see her try on some gorgeous gowns! Then Sunday is my dads 50th birthday! We have lots of fun in store for him!

More detailed posts to follow but here are a few pics of what's been going on Lately!



Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Book Worm

SO, I haven’t been blogging very much lately. I had gotten into a
pretty good habit of it about 3 weeks ago until I became a book worm
nerd. SO let me at least share with you the lovely books that have
taken over my spare time and taken me away from blogging.
A few months ago, I got caught up watching the “Love Comes Softly”
movies (starring Katherine Heigl) on the Hallmark Channel that are
based on the “Love Comes Softly” book series written by Janette Oke.
Those movies were the best! and made me wish I had actually read the
books (movies always ruin books and are never as good as the book
itself). So, since I had finished everything else on my reading list a
few months ago I decided I had waited long enough to start the series.
I am on Book 5 of 8 and am HOOKED! Seriously this lady wrote this
series in the 70s/80s and it’s based on pioneer times but the
characters are so lovable and the life lessons are a joy to read!
I was worried I would get bored reading the books since I had seen the
movies and there are 8 books (that’s a lot!). So I planned to read a
book or 2 in the middle of the series to help me stay motivated to
finish. I did read those 2 books but found myself rushing through them
so I could get back to my faithful Janette Oke series! I’m such a
nerd… no need to remind me.
The 2 books I have read during the interim of the series are:
The Last Boyfriend written by Nora Roberts (Book2 of the Inns
Boonsboro Trilogy).
Still Alice (Lisa Genova)
I had already read the first book of the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy and now
I can’t wait to read the third one. This series does have a lot of
similarities as the “Bride Quartet” series written by Nora Roberts but
they are still different enough to keep you interested.
My co-worker told me about the book, “Still Alice” and since the Walk
to end Alzheimer’s is this weekend in Memphis, TN I decided it was an
opportune time to read it. Let me tell you how good this book is! I
had a lot going on this past Saturday so I started reading the book
while waiting for my color to set while getting my hair done Saturday.
SO I only got through the first 30 pages. As soon as I woke up Sunday
morning I had to start reading the book and I just couldn’t put it
down! I finished it on Sunday afternoon and found myself laughing, and
crying throughout the book. It is a great insight into what the person
who has Alzheimer’s is going through and how the family members
affected deal with their emotions.
SO there you have it…. That’s what I’ve been doing… I haven’t yet
started the 5th book in the Love Comes Softly series because now I’m
reading a political book that I decided to go out and get after
watching the RNC and DNCs the last 2 weeks; which has also taken all
of my attention away from blogging and extracurricular activities.
I drafted a blog post about my frustrations with speeches from both
parties but I hate to get political on my blog. I don’t want to push
my thoughts or ideas on anyone, but I do hope that everyone is out
there educating themselves on the candidates. I'll just say that much for now :) I’m sure you would rather take reading
recommendations from me rather than voting recommendations!