A Soft Place to Land

I know I'm not the only momma out there who can relate to what I am about to tell you...We are all soooo guilty!! So, I'm just going to come out of the linen closet and say it...For years, my bedroom has been the worst looking room in the house! It has been the catch-all, stuff-it here, close-the-door-on-it room. As particular as I am about things, I let "my space" go ,and it somehow gradually become a place I hated to be in.

A few weeks ago, I decided that it was long past time for me to create a bedroom where I felt comfortable and relaxed...a place where I WANTED to be rather than a place to just go in and fall out every night. My job is incredibly stressful, and I both wanted and needed a soft place to land, a place where I could escape for just a few minutes of peace and quiet.  A place where I could watch all my favorite thought-provoking shows that my "father" doesn't approve of such as The Real Housewives of Orange County, Bethenny Ever After, Lifetime movie marathons, Dateline.  (Yes, this is the part where you should CRINGE! I do have a TV in my bedroom, a real, live tv that isn't covered up in a cabinet!!!  Heaven forbid that I actually ENJOY my bedroom!!!!!)  Give me a break...there are FIVE kids in this house. I deserve a tv in my room!!!

I have always loved white bedding, and I knew that I wanted to paint my room Sherwin Williams Quiver Tan. I also knew that I was happy with the black furniture I had recently purchased, along with my Memory Foam matress set. Other than that, it was a clean slate.

I am so pleased with the results, and I know enjoy spending time in my room. And best of all, I no longer close the door to my bedroom when guests come over! I love, love, love the way it turned out. It's just what I wanted!  I didn't spend a fortune, most of what you see is repurposed from other rooms in the house or purchased at the antique store.  That's the best makeover of all, one that doesn't break the bank!

This is really how it started...my grandma always had white chenille bedspreads on her beds during the spring and summer months. I got a catalog for Linen Source in the mail one day, and I was flipping through it when I came upon this bedding set.  I knew right then I had to have it.  It reminded me of happy summer days spent at her house soaking in an old white clawfooted tub filled with Calgon! It was just one of those things I knew I couldn't live without.

A few days later, I spied this chair in the antique store. I knew it was meant to be!! The chair and white chenille cover were marked at $85. I offered the lady $50, and she took my offer!! I definitely knew it was meant to be at that point!

At the same antique store, I found this adorable mirrored container. I knew I wanted it on my dresser. I also found the empty frame that I couldn't live without. $15 grand total price for both items! DOUBLE SCORE!!! WOO HOO!! Still want to tweak the dresser some, but it works for now...

Another score that same day...this gorgeous silver ice bucket. It's the perfect plant holder for my ivy plant. Another one of my favorite things..ivy plants, I have them all over my house. (It's the only thing I seem to be able to keep alive!!). Love how this grouping looks. I adore my Mercury glass lamps from Kirkland's, too!

And the other side of the bed...These were my grandmother's books. The book on the bottom was her 8th grade English book, copyrighted in 1919. I love reading it as it still shares a unique insight into education that we might need to reconsider today.

One day I will show you the "before" of this room. The walls were very dark, and I just felt so closed-in. I love the whiter, brighter look of this space now, and I don't dread going into my bedroom. All moms deserve a soft place to land at the end of a long day, and I'm glad I finally came to my senses and realized that! I love the way it turned out. I simply couldn't be happier with the results!

Thanks for visiting today!



I'm par-tay-ing today at Savvy Southern Style!! Check out her site for Wow us Wednesday #10!!


I'm also lnking up to the The Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday!!  Check out her site as well!!

A few of my favorite things...

Hello, Everyone!

I wanted to say thank you so  much to all of you that have left me such sweet comments about my new endeavors into blogging!!  I am TICKLED PINK to have received messages from so many of you that I consider to be the "goddesses" of the blogging world!  I am sooooo not worthy of your kind words!! 

I thought it  might be fun to share with you some of my favorite things so you could get to know me a little better.  Some of these are just everyday things and others are things that are very special to me.  So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite things!

I'm a SUCKER for a Yankee Candle.  The minute I walk through the door, I am lighting my candles all over the house.  I'm weird, though!  I match my scents to my rooms and their decor as well as the seasons.  Right now, I'm only burning two scents in my home.  I am addicted to  very fond of these two scents...

The Fluffy Towels scent is  my ultra fave!!  It smells just like freshly laundered white towels.  I am addicted to this candle and the room spray!!!  I simply adore the clean, fresh scent!

My other favorite Yankee scent is Sun & Sand.  I like this fragrance in my bedroom and bathroom.  This scent reminds me so much of the beach!!  It's the perfect fragrance for the warmer months. 

I'm also IN L-O-V-E with Mercury glass.  Here are two of my Mercury glass lamps...

I also am addicted to anything with a fleur de lis on it!  Here's just one of the gazillion several fleur de lis items in my house.  This one is above our kitchen sink.  Oh, I'm also addicted to anything that is Oil Rubbed Bronze as you can see by the faucet!

Two of my very favorite things to decorate with are silver and seashells.  I have silver pieces and seashells all over my house.  The only times of year I don't display seashells are in the fall and winter.  After Christmas is over, I bring them all back out.  Our family loves the beach, and our shells hold many special memories for us of times spent together.  Here are a few snaps of some of my seashells and a few silver pieces...

I love, love, love anything white, especially linens..

And, last, but certainly not least....five of my favorite things....my children!  They drive me crazy most of the time, but my life would not have been the same without them.  They make every day worth living!!

Definitely the most adorable flower girl and ring bearer ever!!

Thanks so much for visiting!

To Kill a Mockingbird... A Glimpse of Maycomb

Maycomb was a tired old town, even in 1932 when I first knew it. Somehow, it was hotter then. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning; ladies bathed before noon, after their 3 o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting from sweating and sweet talcum. The day was twenty-four hours long, but it seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go and nothing to buy... and no money to buy it with. Although Maycomb County had recently been told that it had nothing to fear but fear itself... That summer, I was six years old. (paraphrased from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

One of my favorite lines from my favorite book.... Today I lived a dream I have had for a very long time.  I finally visited the Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville, Alabama.  For those who don't know, let me briefly educate you on this bit of Southern history.  Monroeville is home to the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Mrs. Nell Harper Lee.  Mrs. Lee grew up in Monroeville and still lives there today.  Her next door neighbor was, of all people, Truman Capote!  Imagine that....two famous authors growing up as children next door to each other in a sleepy Southern town.  Goes to show you that if you dream it, you truly can achieve it!

So, here's how it all came to pass...I really felt strongly about our 9th grade students reading TKAM this year, so I went to my 9th grade English teacher, a dear friend, and asked her to read the book with her students.  She adores this book, too, so she didn't need much arm twisting convincing!  I went in as a guest reader from time to time (after all, it IS my favorite book!!), and we discussed the possibilities of taking this trip to help bring literature to life for our students.  We magically worked it all out somehow, (she has THE BEST principal EVER.....hahahaha!  ---- that's me for those that don't know that!!)  Of course, the principal HAS to accompany the kids on the field trip...we were crossing state lines!!  LOL!!

I have to tell you, I had the BEST time ever.  I LOVED seeing those kids' faces, seeing the light in their eyes with a book coming to life right there where it all started.  Seeing them being transported back into the past, watching their faces as they made the connections to the book...AMAZING!  If you ever get the chance to visit Monroeville, Alabama, do yourself a favor and stop by the Monroe County Heritage Museum.  If you've never read To Kill a Mockingbird, I encourage you to do so.  You won't be disappointed.

Here are a few photos I took today.  (I took WAY more than this, but I don't want to run everyone off right away!!)  Hope you enjoy this little glimpse of "Maycomb".

Can't you just see the courtroom filled with townspeople awaiting the trial..

No detail has been spared to restore the courtroom to its 1930s appearance...

The balcony...look at the tin ceiling!

A view of the outdoor set for the upcoming production of the play. It's held each April and May and draws visitors from around the United States and even international guests...

It was a great day, and we finished it off by serving the kids a picnic lunch on the courthouse grounds. Fried chicken and potato salad, of course! It's a day I won't ever forget, and I know they won't forget either.
If you ever head down this way, stop and pay them a visit. Get some fresh squeezed lemonade from Dawn Brewton of Front Porch Lemonade. She'll be happy to point you in the right direction and make you feel right at home.

It will be worth the trip, I promise.

Until tomorrow, dear friends!

Let Me Entertain You!

Entertaining....a true art in the South! I guess I go back to my roots on this one. My grandmother always said that it didn't matter how poor you were, no one had to know that but you! She always said that the most humble home would look like a mansion with a freshly ironed tablecloth, the perfect place setting, and fresh flowers. Words of wisdom from a true Southern lady full of charm and grace.

Here are a few photos from my humble abode!

Two of my favorite Kirkland's finds...a votive wine bottle topper and an outdoor lantern! Together they turn an ordinary dinner on the back porch into a special occasion.

Spreaders and cheese knives from Pottery Barn.  How do I love their Heirloom silver....let me count the ways!!! I just love how they look in this antique chippy creamer.

A recent creation last weekend, a beach bag welcome tray for a sweet teenage guest created with Kirkland's products and dollar store finds!

Just like they said in Steel Magnolias, in the South we either shoot it, stuff it, or marry it!  We love hunting around our house, and my oldest son is an avid hunter.  From my oldest son's 20th birthday this past fall....of course, a hunting theme fitting for any fine Southern young man!

This cake was incredibly amazing! I designed it for him because he loves hunting and most especially Browning guns. This buckmark is their logo for those that don't know. The cake ended up tasting like a giant Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll. Lordee Mercy!!!!

With five kids in the house, we are always par-tay-ing around here! Our next little soiree is in May. My twins will be SEVEN!!! Plans for a camping themed party are already in the works!  A S'mores buffet and a daytime campout are both sure to be a hit with the little ones.  I think I'm more excited about their birthday than they are!

Around the House

Just so you will know, I am plagued by numerous disorders for which there seems to be no cure or treatment!! I am constantly plagued by boughts of ADD (Attention Decorating Disorder) and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Decorating). There seems to be no known cure for my issues other than taking an Advil and swiping my debit card at the nearest Kirland's, Pottery Barn, and/or antique store! My home is a constant "work in progress" as a result of my disorders.

Case in point...the kitchen! I had beautiful oak cabinets, which I painted black in the middle of the night. Yes, I had to do it in secret to where my husband would not kill me! Once I painted them, he agreed that they did look better!

Onto the bedroom....It looked perfectly fine until I decided that I was in L-O-V-E with Sherwin Williams Quiver Tan paint!!! That's when I repainted the bedroom while he was gone fishing. I moved the bed and totally changed everything around in a matter of two days. (That includes ripping up the carpeting and installing new flooring with the help of my son!)

So, as you can see, I clearly have ISSUES!!!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I'm so excited to finally be dipping my toe into the world of blogging and sharing my thoughts and ramblings with all of you!!! Let me warn you…I have NO idea what I’m doing, so please bear with me as I try to become as dangerous as possible on here!!

I must confess…..I’ve been **stalking** some of you out there in blog land for several years now!! Kristen’s, Between Naps on the Porch, Melissa’s Heart and Home, Savvy Seasons by Liz, Allyson, Rhoda, the Nester and many, many more have all been inspiring me for what seems like forever with their creativity, wonderful ideas, and amazing homes. My pitiful attempts at blogging will pale in comparison, but you don’t ever learn unless you try!

Now, for a little about me….I’m a true Southern girl, born and raised in the South. I love everything about the South, especially the “old” South where ladies acted like ladies and gentlemen acted like gentlemen. All of my favorite things are Southern….I love linen and lace, vintage silver, seashells, and animal print (that’s where the modern part comes in!) My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, my favorite drink is Sweet Tea, my favorite food is down-home Southern cooking, my favorite town is Savannah, Georgia, my favorite flower is the magnolia, and my dream home would be a big white house with tall, white columns. I bet you can even guess my favorite movie….yep, you guessed it…Steel Magnolias. Get the picture??

I believe being truly Southern is a state of mind that is imparted at birth, if you’ve been raised right, that is! Being Southern is about more than just loving fried chicken, sweet tea, magnolias, and high school football on Friday nights. Being Southern is about always being hospitable (even when you don‘t want to be), always practicing the Golden rule, respecting the Lord and our country, and knowing the importance of family.

I consider myself truly fortunate to have been raised in the South. My grandmother and mother raised me as an old-fashioned Southern girl, and I have named my blog “Southern Charm” in honor of the values and traditions they instilled in me. I’m delighted you stopped by for a visit, and I look forward to sitting a spell and visiting with ya’ll!