Places to Visit!

I found this delightful blog thru Pinterest

and I have added it to my list of favorites!

I love Susan's large photos, her instructions and tutorials,

and the happiness her site brings to my senses.

Go visit and leave her a comment.

We heart comments!

Naps on the Porch.

The title automatically relaxes me {smile font}

Her latest post?

Tablescapes!

Potentially beautiful.

Again, through Pinterest (I'm on there!) with her ideas for

10 headboards!! Too cute! Gloria grabbed me

with that idea. From there, I went to the right side

and began clicking on her other tags. Yeah, I stayed

there awhile. That's a good thing, when you find more than

a dozen reasons to keep reading and gawking.

 Again, you'll be glad to visit Potentially beautiful ~

I've already mentioned her latest post,

here's my favorite pic!

and there are nine more to see!

Sweet Kate is not only fighting Lupus,

but doing it bravely with the grace of God,

and a man that loves her.

She is also a lover of home decor, life,

and items that become simple beauty.

Salvage Dior will touch her heart

and your 'I can do it myself!' vein.

Her latest post is the latest on her Lupus battle

and the man that loves her through it.

I'm sure they would appreciate our prayers ~

The author of this fashion blog

is the daughter of a dear friend of mine!

Christen loves to copy designer looks

with vintage and thrift store finds.

I think you'll be surprised at how well

this young adult puts together charming outfits.

I know I'll be looking differently when I visit

my favorite consignment shops!

fashionplate cheapskate.

Go, Christen!!

Here's her latest ~ packing her bag for a road trip!

and meet HGTV's newest member!

And I'm her proud second grade teacher!

Cristi Curlee Holcombe ~

I am so excited for this author!

Not only was I her second grade teacher and fell in love

not only with her and her parents,

but her brother that followed.

Cristi has worked hard and owns

her own interior design business.

She will be co-hosting a new HGTV show

that  begins May 12th!! Elbow Room!!

I am beyond thrilled for her and her precious family

and look forward to seeing that cute little strawberry blonde

all grown up and on television, on one of my favorite channels!

Way to go, Cristicurleelocks. I'm so proud of you!

I love her latest post showing how to duplicate a lamp

for a lot less green paper {wink font}

Have a weekend filled with love, laughter, and prayers for America. My heart is saddened by what I hear but strengthened for I know Who is in control, Who will always be in control, and Who I believe in. Our Lord may allow bad things to take place, but only good and true things come from Him. You can bet He will take the bad and use it to glorify His name and make His presence known. I rest in His Grace and Mercy, and His promise that He is in charge and that Satan will be banished for eternity. Blessings to you and yours ~

Some Beauty While We're Gone~

I hope a dear friend, Kim Cole, will allow me to share with you these photos she took on a canoe trip a while back. I saved these planning to possibly get her permission to frame them at some point. Since we are on our way south this week on a business/pleasure trip, I thought I'd remind myself of some cool, green, and shady places in North Alabama.  I love these three shots. Thanks, Kim. They're beautiful. 

These next three three are from another dear friend, Lynne Griffies, and I have quite a few of hers saved for framing one day. I've already shared with you that I have one that she took of The Biltmore Mansion matted and framed and I still get comments on it! These three, taken here in Prattville, are some of my favorites that she has taken around town. But this isn't the only ones I have. You should see the ones she has taken in the various vacation spots in and around the Carolina's. Lynne's loves photography and is very good at it.

I will back in touch when we get back the middle of next week. Until then, I pray you find many moments of love and laughter to fill your days. Pray for the needy and our servicemen and truly, truly pray for the leaders of our government. Too many of them need a 'come to Jesus meeting'. Until then ~

More Great Fall Ideas!

Sweet Something Design. I found it this past weekend & it's eye candy! Michelle is a talented artist & her crafts showcase this, as well as the Etsy shop she has. She has been so kind as to offer a tutorial on making this sign & others. The directions are simply put, nice photos, & it looks very easy. That is, if one has old wood lying around. I'm sure I could do this one. Bet you can, too ~

These are compliments of The Graphics Fairy and there's so much one can do with them! Decoupage them on a painted plate, print onto ivory paper that you tea dye and place in a cloche with bat wings, acorns, and pumpkins. Maybe a crows feather?!

I thought for sure I had shared this site with you, but in looking back, I cannot find it. So, here it is, and you're going to love it as much as I did! Not only is her home charming, yet elegant, but she shares such wonderful ideas and does so freely. I've added her to my list of favorites and I'm betting you will, too. {If you don't follow your favorite blogs, I suggest you do so. It's easy to sign up to follow any one of them and it makes it much easier to learn when new posts are added.} It's Veranda Interiors. Go there! Now!

Sometimes, all we need is a fresh look at items that don't cost a dime. At Giannetti Home, you have the chance to see her delightful home and business. She has recently rearranged the items in her store to reflect the season and I love how the colors of the accessories mimic the outdoors. We can do that in our homes simply by bringing in branches and changing pillows and throws. Simple, but classic.

I am so going to do this idea! I have the Southern Living at Home tray and I have the hurricanes. Now to go next door to Hobby Lobby and get the candles and I'm set. Isn't this simple? And simply gorgeous?! You can find this and more over at Thrifty Decor Chick. I can browse her posts for hours.

Judy, at Gracious Southern Living, lives near me and we've shared some laughs over lunch when a group of local bloggers got together last summer. She's a sweetheart and has some easy to copy ideas that she's loves sharing. For instance, just wait until you see her drop cloth drapes! Yes, drop clothes!

Last, but not least, is my sweet Cristi. A beautiful and talented little second grader from years gone by, now living and working in Atlanta, Georgia. She travels the nation with her design skills and I grabbed a quick photo of her home that she shares with her sweet husband. You can find more photos and more information on her design business by clicking here and visiting Charm Home. I am so proud!

The beauties below are our Stacey and her daughter, Alaina. I've put them on here just because I miss them and was wondering what they are doing this Monday evening. We are blessed with three beautiful daughters and they are blessed with their own tiny treasures. I am so in love with all of them, and I am missing some of them tonight. I think a trip west of us is in order, in the very near future ~

Charm Home & CristiCurleeLocks

I just love CristiCurleeLocks. Well, okay, so that's NOT her real name. It's a name I gave her back when she was seven years old and I was her second grade teacher. She was talented and cute then, and she's even moreso and just as beautiful now as a mature young woman. I am so proud of her and for her. She is an interior designer in the Atlanta area and this particular post is of a model home she has decorated in Houston, Texas. I love the bleached wood and this metal lamp and cannot wait to see the rest of the house! Cristi also has a design company, so if you need some help, get in touch with her. She's a sweetheart ~

Decor Taste?

Tonight I wandered here (click on pic to be zipped there!) and found this test ~ and I am always curious enough to just love these tests!

You can click on the above pic and take it yourself! I was found to be "Elegant Classic" and think it suits me well. I have fun decorating our nest and although we do not entertain as we did prior to the accident, we still enjoy setting a pretty table. Here's what she had to say about my test selections ~ leave me a comment and let me know what style you are!
"Nancy, you are an Elegant Classic
You have a refined sensibility with an appreciation for history and tradition in your furniture and your rooms. You value beauty, things that are well crafted, and family heirlooms. You are visually sensitive and understand how symmetry and a formal layout give order to a room, and hence your home is refined and calming. You are not taken in by the trends of the moment. You go for things with a timeless appeal, and appreciate old-fashioned virtues like manners and handwritten notes and making a home that is welcoming for others.
You value serenity. While there are probably a lot of interesting things in your home, they are joined by your taste or a certain palette that keeps them in harmony. You appreciate the beauty in simple forms. Whether fancy or plain, you appreciate things that are well made and function as well as they look. You also have a strong respect for the environment and craftsmanship. You care about how things are made, and how they are used."

Food, Fun, Friends, & Family!

I saw this in Southern Living and loved it! Not just the candy corn, which is such a necessary part of Halloween, but the photograph just made me smile! Click on the photo to be directed to the site where you can read more about how to make these and other nifty ideas for the holiday!

I subscribe to Paula Deen's magazine and it's truly one of my favorites. This recipe is one I want to try one Sunday when Jenny's family eats with us. It looks good, easy, and I just love the topping! Give me some chips for the dip and I'm slap happy, so when I read that it's used as the top layer of this dish I fell in love. Clicking on the photo will take you to the site!And I could SO LIVE HERE!! Charm Home spotlighted this issue and there wasn't a single room I didn't like or an idea that I didn't think "gee, why didn't I ever do that?!" Go visit! Now! And leave a comment! We all love comments!

Here's to you Brett! You didn't carve one or two, you carved FOUR pumpkins! And folks, he did NOT use a stencil. These were all free hand and from what Stacey reported, the kids had a blast. The same day he did this was also the day he grilled and cooked dinner. Yum, there's a whole post waiting to be written for what this son in law of ours is capable of putting on a table!

This photograph is also courtesy of our Stacey. Leslie had a costume party to attend and went as a Grecian goddess. Austin has a mouth full of Halloween candy and Alaina couldn't take her eyes of 'the princess'. Too cute!! These are some things that have already brightened my week. What's happened where you are?!

Some favorites of the week ~

The week began with finding out that Jake the Pilot will be the next bachelor! WhooHoo! I love this show, and love to talk to all the dummies on there! Truly, I think it's the only time I ever talk to the television! and don't feel silly doing so. Loved Jake, disappointed that Jillian gave him the boot and look forward to seeing what type catches his eye and who ultimately lands him!

Layla at The Lettered Cottage was filmed this week! for a magazine! There was a crew at their home (in our sweet little town!) for the better part of the week. She can't show us the pics until the magazine hits the stands but you can click on the above photograph to be directed to her blog and read all about what transpired! This is one of my favorite blogs ~ and she lives nearby!

Jenny and her family made their annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch this week. It was bitter cold and damp, but the smiles on my grandsons faces brought such warmth to my heart. And the delight on Jenny's face had me sending all over again prayers of thanksgivings.

Noah was afraid to go up and slide down alone, so his mommy went with him. Look at the utter joy on their faces! After a couple of trips, Noah had the courage to go alone. I have linked their site to each of these pictures of them if you'd like to go over and see what else they've been up to and read more about their time at this annual event.
This shot is a favorite this week. My baby with her baby. And the look of love, bliss, and happiness on her face and that of her sleeping child.

A great snapshot of the man that made the preceding photographs possible ~ her high school sweetheart, best friend, and the father of three of the cutest grandchildren!

Stacey sent some snapshots from their State Fair and I began missing these babes all over again. Alaina was brave enough to ride the Kiddie Tower, and Stacey said she loved it! Austin made me hungry for corn on the cob! Note to Hood: take me to Mississippi soon. Soon! and get some corn.

I am so proud of this girl! A former student, she is seeing so many dreams come true that she has set for herself and I'm excited for her. Her blog is a favorite of mine. Click on her header photograph and go look at how neat her designs are!

Last night I met Kay at Applebee's for an appetizer and dinner! Then we went to a home decor show and laughed. Snacked on some yummy food and had some delicious drinks made from mixes offered by the consultant. The company used to be Southern Living at Home and has loads of awesome items. I, however, am a dyed in the wool Kirklands and Hobby Lobby fool and saw much that I can recreate with their 'stuff'. Still truly enjoyed the girlfriend time, though!! There's nothing like giggling girly girls!

And the week is ending with a close football game, too close, of the Crimson Tide and South Carolina. I love watching SEC games with The Hood. He gets so involved. Talk about talking to the TV?! The man does!! and paces, and yells, and laughs out loud. I love you, Johnny Hood. Forever and a day.

So, how was your week and what were some of your favorites?!

Cristi and Billy

Cristi is the owner of Charm Home, that I blogged about recently! I noted tonight on her blog that a video of their wedding pictures is now on the singer's site! And the number continues to go up, up, up on YouTube viewer hits! Way to go, Billy, you did a beautiful job on this! After you've looked around Cristi's awesome blog of designs, leave her a comment and let her know you took a peek! You know how we all love comments! And it only takes a minute! Enjoy the vid!!

Charm Home

Don't wait. Click on the photo above to go now to Charm Home. Cristi Curlee Holcombe of Charm Home offers a wide variety of interior design services catered to each and every client. I taught this talented lady in the second grade and know her to be very gracious, very bright, and a hard worker. Throw in that she is drop dead gorgeous, happily married, and you've got a dynamic combination. She has a fan page on Facebook, as well as a business site. Click here to access that site! Take time to look through her photo gallery ~ you'll be glad you did. Like Martha says, "It's a good thing." Yay for you, CurleeLocks, your dreams are coming true!