Old World Home Furnishings

month of thankfulness at meet me in philadelphia

Today I'm over at my friend's 'house', <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-month-of-thankfulness-elizabeth-of.html" target="_blank">Meet Me in Philadelphia</a>, sharing what I am most thankful for this year. Go over and <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-month-of-thankfulness-elizabeth-of.html" target="_blank">check it out</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lriAQlajniBS-zumMJbL1WS-6cKTpK_EME5HTxfmwJQ9-hKO8TfP_XtoIj2RTUvjuGA1gJ2wZ9UdZxFk9cpqDYqY_hXJGKDcOdqnhaVOwsjZrRZ00QiZJcc_6cIkjdxCP-vDoOPMWqn5/s1600/Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia+blog+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lriAQlajniBS-zumMJbL1WS-6cKTpK_EME5HTxfmwJQ9-hKO8TfP_XtoIj2RTUvjuGA1gJ2wZ9UdZxFk9cpqDYqY_hXJGKDcOdqnhaVOwsjZrRZ00QiZJcc_6cIkjdxCP-vDoOPMWqn5/s640/Meet+Me+in+Philadelphia+blog+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And <a href="http://meetmeinphiladelphia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ashley</a>, thank you for not only being a great friend, but also for teaching me how to spell Philadelphia. xo

month of thankfulness at meet me in philadelphia

Today I'm over at my friend's 'house', Meet Me in Philadelphia , sharing what I am most thankful for this year. Go over and ...

06:57

~Sunday Breakfast~

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFxY5TGo_s_fgT53hAfPBS3ARlgJAZSoqhPWISBp2jyqWAFNC0vT_304LKTCyythKvrpFsyGVjKwTfZTg6wjlHp4qSIJrZyC8fEijcBPimIErXmsBHHmb8_lVFrgg-b7hEUfTlWPnXmE/s1600/IMG_0716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFxY5TGo_s_fgT53hAfPBS3ARlgJAZSoqhPWISBp2jyqWAFNC0vT_304LKTCyythKvrpFsyGVjKwTfZTg6wjlHp4qSIJrZyC8fEijcBPimIErXmsBHHmb8_lVFrgg-b7hEUfTlWPnXmE/s640/IMG_0716.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This morning I decided to make us a good breakfast to get us ready for the day. I have not cooked bacon for breakfast in AGES!!! But I sae a commercal last night and that's all I could think of. So, I got it out of the freezer last night so it would be ready to cook this morning. OMGoodness, this breakfast was delicious! I made myself a mug of Hot chocolate. I don't drink coffee, never have. I just don't like the taste, I know, I am weird:) I love my snowman mug, it is large and keeps my chocolate hot! And right now I am using these snowman placemats. They are plastic but wipe up easily when "someone" i know is a litlle sloppy, just sayin:)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAeoz7NaOcItNMaMxqbQP9u2chhleLuCy5o6Q3XJAbxqc8JsPZINQUPGxavFPS4hu5teHErUlboiEm4zgaym2aOuITCbsG_of4jHJBHqmhrjmG1YVUpAuSkjTbtRKj_PqZGH8cSiC3Xs/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAeoz7NaOcItNMaMxqbQP9u2chhleLuCy5o6Q3XJAbxqc8JsPZINQUPGxavFPS4hu5teHErUlboiEm4zgaym2aOuITCbsG_of4jHJBHqmhrjmG1YVUpAuSkjTbtRKj_PqZGH8cSiC3Xs/s320/IMG_0717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Here is my scrambled eggs and bacon and....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUMnZbbzoO_CN7BixAG68i5sx29G07aLRcAM9oAJQgEU8JzsRb_dPup5cz0P1Ze2yBpGFhN8QwvvUQCYRXkheKttYi0BTLnbR0MIZwaxAcu0QgJvf0IhP-dN7VSOMfqHRU2z2LcJ1Uo0/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUMnZbbzoO_CN7BixAG68i5sx29G07aLRcAM9oAJQgEU8JzsRb_dPup5cz0P1Ze2yBpGFhN8QwvvUQCYRXkheKttYi0BTLnbR0MIZwaxAcu0QgJvf0IhP-dN7VSOMfqHRU2z2LcJ1Uo0/s640/IMG_0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> my English muffin with strawberry preserves. Oh honey!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4-3k-pK2bZhtZxwh0n659e6AL2cXos1pv9QnVMXCsAttTS9iu6f1gWPGRxz9-yfarP2UwTTc3cC1Ucb3Vp7KZSNmpfv4aCyeo8bxAifCOoPju2f73pTxQIj-AN66FppU8cxj6aWgogg/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4-3k-pK2bZhtZxwh0n659e6AL2cXos1pv9QnVMXCsAttTS9iu6f1gWPGRxz9-yfarP2UwTTc3cC1Ucb3Vp7KZSNmpfv4aCyeo8bxAifCOoPju2f73pTxQIj-AN66FppU8cxj6aWgogg/s640/IMG_0719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0DXVYygDUpud-O9uHL6b-MBNNLC5_6Bnvy8PUz3tFOna4-vmrk8cZU8Veqxxj5o1s1Uf9dsp7AfkWLBFuvd5_Hi8BVt-s0bM94cQK6aaKfdBQ90g7_oGlviJjzJeGiOkRGlfqNj618g/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0DXVYygDUpud-O9uHL6b-MBNNLC5_6Bnvy8PUz3tFOna4-vmrk8cZU8Veqxxj5o1s1Uf9dsp7AfkWLBFuvd5_Hi8BVt-s0bM94cQK6aaKfdBQ90g7_oGlviJjzJeGiOkRGlfqNj618g/s640/IMG_0720.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_iVUnXrn-6kak1xIFODeelbfh3TVeRS_Hu9ty7LCVUhuK8UpXpIdBUTEDPRJIm3ybuMV8pRS1-B9uTWBkMyjJ1mHCN0wZogO6n_hyphenhyphen-U9D940SpIbEBvSw-0ks2AEU0iHGOYt6MGqm8k/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_iVUnXrn-6kak1xIFODeelbfh3TVeRS_Hu9ty7LCVUhuK8UpXpIdBUTEDPRJIm3ybuMV8pRS1-B9uTWBkMyjJ1mHCN0wZogO6n_hyphenhyphen-U9D940SpIbEBvSw-0ks2AEU0iHGOYt6MGqm8k/s640/IMG_0721.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Just for fun I took this shot of one of my snowmen, with the sun shining on him for ya! You know how I love my shadow shots:) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWo8zPP4sXNJd2nRYUzt9LQhddsDzV1Jn5pAlWNwXCda6R7NcHyPnuh6b6oGr2ItpJnlvpk_VWgNwZfscEV2rCBfvcPpyILC6ZfkqNzWvHzy2E1H8gI5XFxoVrqHDXS-wZlUrR9Qa68A/s1600/IMG_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWo8zPP4sXNJd2nRYUzt9LQhddsDzV1Jn5pAlWNwXCda6R7NcHyPnuh6b6oGr2ItpJnlvpk_VWgNwZfscEV2rCBfvcPpyILC6ZfkqNzWvHzy2E1H8gI5XFxoVrqHDXS-wZlUrR9Qa68A/s640/IMG_0725.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>That's all for today, I am now going to put the tree up. It is a 3-4 hour process so I have to get MOVING!!! Bye!!!!<br />Linking to:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Between Naps on the  Porch for <a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/" title="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/">Metamorphosis Monday</a></div><br /><div>Judy @<a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/" title="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #5d2910;"> DIY by  Design</span></a> for Sizzle Into Summer Wednesday</div><br /><div><div><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">The Dedicated House – </span><a href="http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-60.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDedicatedHouse+%28The+Dedicated+House%29" target="_blank" title="http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-60.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheDedicatedHouse+(The+Dedicated+House)"><span style="color: #45818e;">Make it Pretty  Monday</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">Confessions of a Plate Addict - </span><a href="http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/2013/07/please-join-me-for-scoop-77.html" target="_blank" title="http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/2013/07/please-join-me-for-scoop-77.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">The  Scoop</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"> A Stroll Thru Life – </span><a href="http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/07/175th-inspire-me-tuesday.html" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank" title="http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/07/175th-inspire-me-tuesday.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Inspire Me  Tuesday</span></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;">TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Happy List Tuesdays</span></u>~</span><br /><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">Worthing Court - </span><a href="http://worthingcourt.blogspot.com/2013/07/homework-wednesday-11.html" target="_blank" title="http://worthingcourt.blogspot.com/2013/07/homework-wednesday-11.html"><span style="color: #45818e;">Home(work)  Wednesday</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;">Savvy Southern Style - </span><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/07/wow-us-wednesdays-129.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SavvySouthernStyle+%28Savvy+Southern+Style%29" target="_blank" title="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/07/wow-us-wednesdays-129.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+SavvySouthernStyle+(Savvy+Southern+Style)"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Wow Us  Wednesdays</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><div style="text-align: left;">Ivy @<a href="http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/" title="http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #5d2910;"> Ivy and  Elephants</span></a> for What's It Wednesday</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #33aaff;"><a href="http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/" target="_blank" title="http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/">Let’s Dish!</a>,   <div><a href="http://www.flusterbuster.com/search/label/Fluster%20Muster%20Party" rel="nofollow" title="http://www.flusterbuster.com/search/label/Fluster Muster Party"><span style="color: #5c4e49;">Fluster Creative Muster Party</span></a>,  Wed.</div><div>Katherine @<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/" title="http://katherinescorner.com/"><span style="color: #5d2910;"> Katherines  Corner</span></a> for Favorite Things Thursday  Hop</div></span></div></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><div><span style="font-family: andalus; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2013/02/thursdays-inspiration-white.html" title="http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2013/02/thursdays-inspiration-white.html"><strong>THURSDAY’S  INSPIRATION</strong></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;"></span><a href="http://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/" title="http://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: medium;">Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for A Favorite  Thing.</span></a><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lucida Handwriting; font-size: small;">Between  Naps on the Porch – Tablescape Thursday</span> </div><div><div><a href="http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/" title="http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #7f001f;">Treasure  Hunt Thursdays</span></a></div><div><div><a href="http://www.lambertslately.com/2013/06/create-it-thursday-6-plus-features.html#more" target="_blank" title="http://www.lambertslately.com/2013/06/create-it-thursday-6-plus-features.html#more"><span style="color: #b81212;">Create It Thursday</span></a></div><div><a href="http://stonegable.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://stonegable.blogspot.com/">Tutorials Tips and  Tidbits</a>, <a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/" title="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/">Home and Garden Thursday</a>, <a href="http://www.commonground-do.com/" title="http://www.commonground-do.com/">Be  Inspired Friday</a>, <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">Feathered Nest  Friday</a>, <a href="http://www.commonground-do.com/2013/01/be-inspired-friday-121-whats-new-in-new.html" title="http://www.commonground-do.com/2013/01/be-inspired-friday-121-whats-new-in-new.html"><span style="color: #777777;">Be Inspired Friday</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/01/fabulously-creative-friday-linky-party.html" title="http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/01/fabulously-creative-friday-linky-party.html"><span style="color: #777777;">Fabulously Creative Friday</span></a> <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/01/feathered-nest-friday.html" title="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/01/feathered-nest-friday.html"><span style="color: #777777;">Feathered Nest Friday</span></a><br />Show and Tell Friday, <a href="http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/">Seasonal  Sundays</a></div></div></div></div>

~~~Sunday Breakfast~~~

This morning I decided to make us a good breakfast to get us ready for the day. I have not cooked bacon for breakfast in AGES!!! But I sae ...

09:23

fess up friday - the makeriesta

Happy Fess Up Friday y'all! Today I've got my friend Gwen from <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/" target="_blank">The Makeriesta</a> over to share. Gwen is a fellow Missouri girl, which already makes her awesome. But on top of that, her <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">design skills</a> are out of this world, she can create a <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/2013/10/the-makings-of-party-xanders-woodland.html" target="_blank">party wonderland</a> overnight and she is single handedly going to turn my hair into an <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/2013/09/reader-question-how-ive-made-my-hair.html" target="_blank">enviable mane of glory</a>. Yes, she is just that good. Welcome Gwen!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtptd8MSVyRY1cBgvMsxPGnjnPFItnJjJMSxU1XZQ8KdkEnIfWw-ygqrzHbNzPBtQptUt5qxKjGGjisHLWlSH9-qS6yN869oxaHAo5I3PLorfxHqgD4M0hHOipQSP6BBoA0z19DZHkO4Sw/s1600/FessUpFridaylogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtptd8MSVyRY1cBgvMsxPGnjnPFItnJjJMSxU1XZQ8KdkEnIfWw-ygqrzHbNzPBtQptUt5qxKjGGjisHLWlSH9-qS6yN869oxaHAo5I3PLorfxHqgD4M0hHOipQSP6BBoA0z19DZHkO4Sw/s1600/FessUpFridaylogo.jpg" /></a></div><br />I've had something on my mind for a bit now, and when Elizabeth asked me about fessing up I knew exactly what I wanted to get off my chest.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi5aeSJw5fYGT_ASgahYageTmL-etblwsSTpOgmwfgJ_u963E2JQFdJyjb-MzhMztkLM6QhDVJTH0K-fWXqNaP4RV1DTU62hTHj0fLjh2F54UmvNGFLveU0FeLBlE-QIeO6WQ8iE3Xzc/s1600/The+Makerista-Living+Room-Dining+Room-Chesterfield-Sofa-Orangerie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQi5aeSJw5fYGT_ASgahYageTmL-etblwsSTpOgmwfgJ_u963E2JQFdJyjb-MzhMztkLM6QhDVJTH0K-fWXqNaP4RV1DTU62hTHj0fLjh2F54UmvNGFLveU0FeLBlE-QIeO6WQ8iE3Xzc/s640/The+Makerista-Living+Room-Dining+Room-Chesterfield-Sofa-Orangerie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>If you've ever ventured over to <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/" target="_blank">my blog</a>, you've probably seen pictures like this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET8ktcq_kl7dEuOzNsA9_WYF1hjL95JHgYQby13K015xhhk5BcjNoHnuMRdvVsPo2K54cQVr878UXBP8kmDYZ_QMX8kLpsAXXVuEBd8jSTp6_z6pLg57MIBT3-xX_5XcyOCfVhoaeuQ4/s1600/The+Makerista-Living+Room-Dining+Room-Black+and+White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET8ktcq_kl7dEuOzNsA9_WYF1hjL95JHgYQby13K015xhhk5BcjNoHnuMRdvVsPo2K54cQVr878UXBP8kmDYZ_QMX8kLpsAXXVuEBd8jSTp6_z6pLg57MIBT3-xX_5XcyOCfVhoaeuQ4/s640/The+Makerista-Living+Room-Dining+Room-Black+and+White.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Our <span id="goog_1411656141"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">living area<span id="goog_1411656142"></span></a> is my favorite space in the house.  It definitely reflects my personal taste, and I enjoy spending time in it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKUNXTFXq4DNh8I5AJdiOB2BxzGdNr40asQXMd8YH_Z6TyUiRozcxmJZouDwz32EvpaIs_q941opod6fxsAGBX1k7cSLRqnTK6bnwF3cwaU5-dmOnyGAhIxvzmDWBz-OFEkIKElu4UeU/s1600/The+Makerista-Milly%2527s+Room-Girl%2527s+Nursery-Pink-Black-White-Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKUNXTFXq4DNh8I5AJdiOB2BxzGdNr40asQXMd8YH_Z6TyUiRozcxmJZouDwz32EvpaIs_q941opod6fxsAGBX1k7cSLRqnTK6bnwF3cwaU5-dmOnyGAhIxvzmDWBz-OFEkIKElu4UeU/s640/The+Makerista-Milly%2527s+Room-Girl%2527s+Nursery-Pink-Black-White-Green.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When our second child, a girl, was born <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/2013/07/millys-nursery_15.html" target="_blank">the nursery</a> was transformed into a more feminine space. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMGf93y69DNQpkKOMnu_BUQtg-PWx2z-0CEnot4_vhfT9sLjxV_QFIcJ8r299U0Kz4LsIWTH-ORHNNH3XGGYi8z8aUlF9iabYMkuQsYjSUfC8d2n0x_V-JkGlgsIh1ORqW5UHxrJBA-Q/s1600/The+Makerista-Boys+Room-Xander-Blue-Red-White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMGf93y69DNQpkKOMnu_BUQtg-PWx2z-0CEnot4_vhfT9sLjxV_QFIcJ8r299U0Kz4LsIWTH-ORHNNH3XGGYi8z8aUlF9iabYMkuQsYjSUfC8d2n0x_V-JkGlgsIh1ORqW5UHxrJBA-Q/s640/The+Makerista-Boys+Room-Xander-Blue-Red-White.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And my son got a <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/2013/07/xanders-room.html" target="_blank">big boy bed in our old office</a>.  The office had to find a new home, and there was really only one place for it to fit.  My husband finished the basement right after we got married.  He claimed the space as his and I really didn't mind.  It gave him some personal space and me the freedom to do just about whatever the heck I wanted with the upstairs.  We had an understanding: the upstairs was my domain, the downstairs was his. <br /><br />But the more kids we add, the less basement he has to claim.  Our office area moved to the corner and Micah gave up his pool table to make room for a craft table he built me for my birthday a few years ago - really nice, I know.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDC35sp2c_mJ-X0WlmiRwL6rNNHXhpO33PXhIgtGNUAQoPmlaugMp321baK2ThFKW53h6T2R53cN8EdcY7f1sWezeiHfF4gzAnAu-yhWkYNx4JBHqDrrM23cQp0OnjZum90rSFoXSx0g/s1600/Basement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDC35sp2c_mJ-X0WlmiRwL6rNNHXhpO33PXhIgtGNUAQoPmlaugMp321baK2ThFKW53h6T2R53cN8EdcY7f1sWezeiHfF4gzAnAu-yhWkYNx4JBHqDrrM23cQp0OnjZum90rSFoXSx0g/s640/Basement.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />You see, open shelving sounds like a good idea, until you have a 1 year old who likes to pull out and rearrange EVERYTHING.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolPHAhzXAyTM571vc4_lNPM5hxp1FBktFcd_O7-MQb845BaPl6siocHJvE7KaLfSbFWUY2GTDvUOet6UvZaVmk7v-7VEYIKXWZ0rQWZAf94n1Tfb0lGwGERl6Ty3oEdlHSz_NHTjzcdk/s1600/Couch+and+Marilyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolPHAhzXAyTM571vc4_lNPM5hxp1FBktFcd_O7-MQb845BaPl6siocHJvE7KaLfSbFWUY2GTDvUOet6UvZaVmk7v-7VEYIKXWZ0rQWZAf94n1Tfb0lGwGERl6Ty3oEdlHSz_NHTjzcdk/s640/Couch+and+Marilyn.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><i>Cue the bad, florescent lighting.  </i>The basement is full of Micah's bachelor essentials: the microfiber sectional that dog hair clings to, the leg lamp, the mini fridge full of beer (perfect size for your children to grab you a cold one) and way too many gaming systems and accessories.  Not to mention the art…Marilyn and Bob Marley. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WB1c3sjAEwYIIpaN-utsSIsM04piD42l2qTaqZp93qetT7_Zu9yLHdWh9PJnK2ctWxOtSWOzuMZ2VnjQoaHDLrgHycMyCtnX3ytKVIDqqnUKNzdVMj1sAwcJqg28u7BmiONajQHjwzk/s1600/Toys+and+CDs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WB1c3sjAEwYIIpaN-utsSIsM04piD42l2qTaqZp93qetT7_Zu9yLHdWh9PJnK2ctWxOtSWOzuMZ2VnjQoaHDLrgHycMyCtnX3ytKVIDqqnUKNzdVMj1sAwcJqg28u7BmiONajQHjwzk/s640/Toys+and+CDs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kid's toys are certainly not doing the space any favors.  This is where the less attractive ones go to die.  I talked in <a href="http://www.themakerista.com/2013/11/toys-can-be-pretty-and-uncommon-gift.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about what I prefer toys to look like, but you can't help what kids want and what others buy for your children.  The reason they're everywhere?  Most nights my husband takes them for a bit so I can have some time to get things done, and they are little tornadoes down there. Oh, and Micah's CDs?  A tower of history that my daughter, Milly, loves to rummage through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7anu7_ydAgUd_CPWBdJCxpICbgtz6I0ndhq_HcHSrgvn6H7VtxZyOCTy2lC76bj5MrJQsomdo8qlHWh9DgIPJwUKAwScABX1Kin-mL99m_uM6mqi2SNaWDyMZ337HUA1A5yRYYHPw-nQ/s1600/Desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7anu7_ydAgUd_CPWBdJCxpICbgtz6I0ndhq_HcHSrgvn6H7VtxZyOCTy2lC76bj5MrJQsomdo8qlHWh9DgIPJwUKAwScABX1Kin-mL99m_uM6mqi2SNaWDyMZ337HUA1A5yRYYHPw-nQ/s640/Desk.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And this is where the magic happens.  Looks magical doesn't it?  I curl up in that Mizzou Snuggie until the wee hours of the night writing and editing and brainstorming.  I never spent too much time down here before I started blogging.  It was a place to pay bills and sync my phone.  Now I spend more time here than upstairs most days, and it's not very inspiring.<br /><br />We do plan to make some changes soon.  First on the list is turning the storage area under the stairs into a kids space to lessen the clutter and hopefully keep them out of our things a bit more.  I'd also love to give the desk space some of my personality (clearly it's lacking any at this point).  Micah doesn't really want me touching what little he has left, but he's a stylish guy who I believe deserves a much better looking room to relax at the end of the day.  <br /><br />Phew.  I feel better now.  I guess I wanted to share this today to show that just because some of my rooms look nice and put together, that's not a reflection of my home as a whole.  Making your home "you" is a process and something that can't be rushed.  <br /><br />Thanks for the free therapy, Elizabeth!<br /><br />You aren't alone Gwen. We all have 'that space' in our home, right?!

fess up friday - the makeriesta

Happy Fess Up Friday y'all! Today I've got my friend Gwen from The Makeriesta over to share. Gwen is a fellow Missouri girl, which ...