HAND PAINTED GINGHAM WALL TUTORIAL

This tutorial has been a long time coming, I'm sorry it's taken so long to put together if you've been looking for it.  I'm so glad I took the time to record the key steps as I did them, because now, 3 months later, there's no way I would have remembered all of the details! So many who scanned the reveal of my Powder Bath or saw it posted on Instagram commented about the wallpaper, which I guess is a compliment, but goodness... I worked hard painting that wall... wallpaper would have been a breeze!  Honestly, though, it was worth it and I'm still so, so happy with the finished product! I don't want to make it sound too daunting, though.  Yes, there is a lot of math and measuring and marking and steps involved, but it's a totally doable project with a big payout for not much of an investment- just time and paint.  Turning the pattern diagonally and wrapping it around the room definitely added some difficulty (especially in this room that actual......

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DIY FAUX/REAL ORCHID ARRANGEMENT

Today I have a quick and easy idea for you.  Orchids are one of my favorite choices of flowers to buy.  If cared for well, the blooms last several months and put on quite a show! I always feel bad about throwing the plant out once the blooms fade.  Usually I move them to my bathroom which has a big window and try to remember to keep watering them.  I've had good luck with a couple of them re-blooming, so I always feel like I should give them a chance. I bought 2 especially pretty plants earlier in the summer, and the blooms finally gave out a few weeks ago.  As usual, I moved them to their sunny spot in the bathroom, until I had a better idea!  Last year I was in a fancy home where a decorator does everything and fresh flowers are rotated in and out on a regular basis, and there was the most beautiful, huge blue and white bowl filled with orchids. I filed that idea away for someday. Then, recently during the most fun visit with Pam while we were ......

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CHOCOLATE OATMEAL NO-BAKE COOKIES

Boy, was it hard to come home from the cool temps of the mountains, it's been a scorcher around here (and it didn't help that we came home to this )!  Maybe it's pretty hot where you live, too.  How about a sweet treat that you don't need to heat up the oven for?  No-Bake Cookies to the rescue! I realize No-Bake Cookies are nothing new and recipes for them are probably a dime a dozen, but I thought I'd share my version to remind you to make some, or encourage you to give them a try if perhaps you never have!  I'll bet you already have everything in your pantry that you need to make them, too. My first memory of no-bakes is making them in 8th grade Home Ec. class.  Boy, were they tasty, but for whatever reason they never got made much at home.  Fast forward 15 years, just days after delivering our son, when a sweet friend from church brought us dinner with no-bakes for dessert.  I was reminded of what I had been missing out on by not making the......

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OUT OF THE OFFICE

Hey Friends! I hope you enjoyed meeting Mallory from Style Your Senses and Eliesa from Pinterest Addict this week, I'm so grateful to them both for filling in for me and sharing their favorite projects with you while my family and I are on vacation.  (If you missed their posts, catch up with Mallory here and Eliesa here .) I'm signing off for the rest of the week as we wrap up our vacation, look forward to seeing you all next week (if we can tear ourselves away from this beautiful place!)! ...

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MY FAVORITE 5 {PINTEREST ADDICT}

Happy Wednesday everyone!  While we're vacationing this week I've invited a few of my blog friends to guest host here by sharing their all-time favorite 5 posts or projects with us.  Today in Red River, several in our group (not me) set off on a vigourous hike to reach the summit of Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico at over 13,000 feet, and come back down all in a day. (I'll participate in a less strenuous hike on another day-I'm more of a nature walk kind of girl than big hard hiker).  Those of us who stayed behind are planning a horseback ride (much more fun in my book!).  I'll plan a big trip report all about Red River when we return.  It's a WONDERFUL summer family destination! Earlier this week  Mallory from Style Your Senses was here , and today I'm happy to introduce you to Eliesa from  Pinterest Addict.   Eliesa is a fairly new to me friend, but she's been around Pinterest for sure!  I realized as I perused her proj......

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STYLE YOUR SENSES {MY FAVORITE 5}

I mentioned in my last rambling post that my family is on vacation, we're relaxing and doing a lot of nothing in beautiful Red River, New Mexico this week.  Several years ago I started a guest post series called "My Favorite 5" (not to be confused with the other monthly series that started this year "My Five Favorites"...close names, but different themes!)  where I invited a fellow blogger to share 5 of their all time favorite posts or projects with us.  I thought it would be fun to revive that series with a few special guests this week while we're away.  I hope you meet some new friends and are inspired by some of the projects they share with us this week.   Today I'm thrilled that my super sweet, amazingly talented, and oh-so-chic friend Mallory from Style Your Senses agreed to be my guest.   Mallory has been a friend for several years and it's been my privilege to hang out with her in person on several occasions, and let me tell you, this ......

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FRIDAY FAVORITES- THE GAP, MY LIPSTICK, PIZZA DOUGH, AND A VISIT

Hip hip hooray for Friday!!  I have a few things I'm excited to share with you today. Here's today's super sale special... get yourself to Gap!  I know every fashion blogger in the universe is promoting the Nordstrom Anniversary sale right now, and I love to buy from them online occasionally, but since we don't have a local Nordstrom it's not quite the same as dropping in and trying things on.  So, I'll tell you about where I shopped this week... Gap! They have a great in-store clearance going on right now, with an extra 40% off of the lowest marked price.  I got this cute lightweight striped popover for less than $20 (and the pretty turquoise green is even cheaper online), and am wearing it today as a matter of fact! Be sure if you're shopping online to enter code TGIF for an EXTRA 35-40% off of your purchase (Friday only)!  If you're in OKC, Penn Square has the best clearance selection left, and don't miss the hidden room at the back ......

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