VISITING THE PALO DURO CANYON

After years of me saying we should go hiking in Palo Duro Canyon we finally did it. I mean every time we drove through Amarillo and I would see the exit for Palo Duro Canyon I wanted to stop, hike and explore but we never had the time. Last year I wanted to explore this area but we couldn’t get it scheduled before extreme summer temperatures set in. No way I’m hiking this area in July or August. The stars aligned and we had a 3 day weekend in May with everyone’s schedules clear!

Our trip was primarily to explore the Palo Duro Canyon, but I’ve also included the surrounding towns of Amarillo and Canyon and what we did there. Cabins are available to stay at in the canyon, but honestly I’m not sure I’m cut out for that…I need amenities, lots and lots of them. Once we arrived in Amarillo we had lunch at Blue Sky.

Blue Sky Texas is a favorite place of ours. Complete with a gorgeous mural of the Palo Duro Canyon on the building, it has incredible burgers and even more incredible onion rings. It’s a great family friendly spot with lots of food options.

After lunch we drove to Cadillac Ranch, which is nestled around some farmland located right off I-40 west of Amarillo. This well known famous Route 66 landmark is a fun place to visit.

Ok, when you think about it, it’s kinda weird. You have old Cadillacs buried halfway in the dirt with spray paint. Don’t over think it, just go…its quirky & interesting and hey, it’s art! Visually its quite stunning.

Be sure to bring some cans of spray paint and create your own art, just please throw away your empty spray paint cans! I was horrified seeing all the empty spray paint cans thrown all around the farm fields, especially when there is a dumpster on the side of the road where the cars park.

After all our fancy graffiti art, we check into our hotel The Courtyard Marriott my favorite hotel in Amarillo, it’s in the historic Fisk building downtown. After getting settled in we were ready for a big ‘ol juicy Texas steak!

The Big Texan Steak Ranch and Brewery Home of the 72 oz steak. The Big Texan is a fun quirky stop. It’s Texas cheesiness at its finest and I love it. It has great food and it’s the perfect spot to stop, stretch your legs and regain your sanity if you’ve been driving a long time.

If you find yourself without a car no need to worry, The Big Texan will hook you up, and you’ll be picked up in a “Texas style” limousine. If your up for the 72 oz steak challenge you’ll have dinner on stage with a clock counting down and the crowd cheering you on. To win not only do you need to finish all of the steak but also all of the sides that come with it.

They have many handcrafted beers too, and my favorite is hands down the Pecan Porter. Think pecan pie and beer, yes you need a glass of it!

With a fun gift shop, games, and delicious food, this 2 story restaurant is the perfect road trip spot! Open everyday from 7am to 10:30 pm. You know how much I love light fixtures, so I had to throw this pic in!

So with a belly full of steak we headed off to bed and woke up the next morning bright and early ready to spend the day hiking at the Palo Duro Canyon, which is located about 30 minutes south of Amarillo.

Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the country, many refer to it as the Texas Grand Canyon. The Palo Duro Canyon is gorgeous and filled with rich history. My daughter Ashley was especially excited to visit, and she happily told us lots of battle stories about the Native Americans while we were on the trails that she learned from her history class.

My camera in no way captured the true beauty of the canyon. It’s simply stunning in real life. Admission into the Palo Duro Canyon State Park is $5 per person, there are lots of trails and camp sites inside the park.

We started with the Lighthouse Trail which is about 6 miles. The Lighthouse Trail is open for bikers and hikers.

Lucky for us, the day we picked to hike was only in the low 80’s, but still you are warned to pack lots of water. We packed lots and we went through all of it. I’ve heard lots of stories about this trail and a few other trails that can really dehydrate people. Unprepared people end up very sick. Pack tons of water and a few extra bottles just in case and you’ll be fine.

I love the beautiful orange rock against the blue sky and greenery. It’s so vivid and beautiful. Below you can see the 2 rock points on the Lighthouse Trail we’re headed toward.

This little guy wasn’t fazed one bit when stuck a camera in his face for a picture. We also saw some wild turkeys, lizards, and hawks flying around. No snakes or any scary big spiders luckily.

I love seeing the colored layers in the rock. It’s even prettier in person. We encountered quite a few people on the trails, either walking or biking, yet at the same time it still felt quiet and isolated.

Honestly I want to tell you we handled this hiking trail like pros, well, we kind of did at first anyway. We we’re all fine then Haley rolled her ankle, my back and hips started killing me, Ashley was limping saying both feet felt broken, and Brian’s legs were numb. Hmm….indoor exercise does not always mean your in outdoor exercise shape! I knew we were starting with a 6 mile trail, and I thought after lunch we would do another 5 mile hike on a different trail. WRONG. There’s always next time though, and I definitely want to hike all the beautiful trails eventually.

After our hike was over we had 2 extremely irritable teens on our hands so we stopped for ice cream at the Palo Duro Trading Post. If they get ice cream then we get wine and that’s how our stop to Bar Z Winery was born.

Located a few minutes from the Palo Duro Canyon, we stopped there for some much needed “medicine”. What a great idea to have a winery outside a popular hiking spot. I’m sure lots of hikers come limping in, needing some post hike medication like us.

This award winning winery features unfiltered wine with Texas grown grapes. They offer generous pours, and have beautiful views off their patio. They are open Wednesday-Sunday 3-9pm.

After leaving the winery, we had dinner at Coyote Bluff Cafe. Don’t let the outside throw you off, this is what we call country charm. Located just off I-40 in Amarillo, it’s another fantastic burger place oozing with quirkiness! It’s a small restaurant but the wait is worth it, and they will happily sell you some beers while you wait outside. If your feeling brave try ordering the Burger From Hell. If you do, leave a comment and let me know how it goes! If you aren’t a burger person don’t worry they have quite a few other food options as well.

The next morning we woke up excited and bright eyed to go horseback riding through the Palo Duro Canyon. Palo Duro Riding Stables is located just outside the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Reservations are required, and you can contact them via their website or call (806) 488-2799. While driving through the State Park we spotted a few other horseback riding facilities, but this is the best place to go. Palo Duro Riding Stables is a family owned business that goes back generations. Here you can ride the trails down in the canyon on gorgeous private owned land. The scenery is simply stunning.

When we arrived to the stables we were greeted by happy dogs and friendly sweet horse faces. Shortly the owner Jesse came out to introduce himself. Being city folks he could tell we were a bit nervous. It’s crazy that we’ve lived in Texas our whole lives and are so clueless about riding a horse. Jesse and his assistant were very kind and helpful, introducing us each to our horse and explaining some riding basics. “How do you make it go and stop?” I asked. Seriously we we’re so clueless!!

So once we saddled up we headed down the steep, intimidating hill. I felt nervous and was convinced I would fall off, but all was well! These horses we’re gentle, well trained, and knew what they were doing. After going down hill we relaxed and had such a nice ride. Looking back the hill was no big deal at all.

The views on the bottom of the canyon were breathtaking. Jessie explained the land and the family history to us. You can tell how much love and dedication he has for the family land and his horses.

He and his wife seem to really love and care about the health and happiness of their horses, and it’s not just about profit, it’s also about having healthy happy horses who get lots of playtime and days off. We had some gray skies that wanted to storm up, but luckily everything stayed away.

This was the cherry on our sundae and the perfect way to end our weekend trip. Horseback riding is good for the soul, and I know we should do it again soon. Below you see my horse Lili. She was a sweetie. I may need to buy a horse, I’m sure HOA would love dealing with that.

After our terrific 90 minute trail ride we headed out in search of a late lunch.

Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner was a spur of the moment stop in the town of Canyon and I’m so glad we did. Lots of tasty menu options to choose from, we especially liked the appetizers.

I loved the inside of this restaurant, it’s a fun atmosphere with a train that circulates above. I found it especially hilarious that the restaurant has Corey Feldman on the wall. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure he has nothing to with the restaurant which is why I found it so funny. Wrong Feldman. I forgot to get a photo….oh well.

We’re quite familiar with Amarillo from all the times we’ve driven through on our way to Colorado or New Mexico. Amarillo is about 5 hours from our house so we often stop for lunch, and depending on how far north we’re traveling we sometimes spend the night. So I thought I’d mention a few other Amarillo favorites that we weren’t able to do this trip.

Texas Outdoor Musical Set in the Pioneer Amphitheater, this family friendly show is fantastic and features fireworks and other special effects with the stunning backdrop of the canyon. We all watched this show years ago and I would of loved to see it again, the only thing that stopped us was opening day was still 2 weeks away. We all plan on seeing this musical again, it’s excellent. If your passing through the area between June 2nd and August 19th it’s a must see. More information can be found on the Texas Outdoor Musical website.

Frank’s Bakery is another favorite spot of ours in Amarillo. We were not able to visit this time before they closed, but we’ve stopped here for lunch many times driving to Colorado. You’ll find excellent authentic French food and baked goods. As far as I can tell they do not have a website but they do have a Facebook page and are on TripAdvisor. Be sure and check their hours before you plan a stop.

Crush Wine Bar This place gets my seal of approval. Located downtown in Amarillo and near the Marriott hotel we always stay at, it’s a great place to sip wine or have a great meal. Another favorite of ours that we weren’t able to visit during opening hours that never disappoints us. You’ll find everything from charcuterie boards, creative salads, kids meals and lots of lunch and dinner items to choose from.

Well, I have to say our 3 day weekend road trip was a success. It was a good mix of food, nature, and spending time together. Like I said we go through Amarillo often to go to New Mexico and Colorado usually at least once a year, sometimes 2-3 times a year depending on what’s all going on. Do you know of any interesting places to try out in the Texas Panhandle or near Amarillo?

If so, leave it in the comments and we’ll definitely try to check it out next time we’re in the area. Thanks for reading!

Laura

DIY

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE MASON JAR FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

Hello there and happy May to you! This time of year I always have flowers on my mind, inside and out. So I thought I would show you how easy it is to put together a simple arrangement using a mason jar. I love using mason jars for everything, especially when arranging flowers, It ads a nice homey feel.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

Mason Jar

water

floral sheers

2 different kinds of flowers

bundle of greenery

ribbon

When it comes to flower arrangements the combinations seem endless. For this project start by picking 2 different flowers you like in different colors. Select a bundle of larger sized flowers and a bundle of smaller sized flowers. For this arrangement I chose sunflowers and purple statice. I love these vibrant colors together. Next choose some green foliage, I’ve selected Israeli Ruscus, it makes a wonderful filler.

Lets get started. Gather all your supplies and add water to your mason jar. Remember to add the floral food to your water! This should be included in the flowers you purchase and it absolutely extends the life of your flowers. Just follow the package directions.

I have special floral sheers that allow me to cut tough stems easier. You can purchase these at any craft store or off Amazon. Look at these cheerful sunflower faces. So sweet.

Start by adding your large flowers. Evenly space them out but don’t worry too much about placement yet. Using the smaller flowers fill in the areas. Don’t stress if it looks a little funky. That’s what the greenery is for.

Remove any leaves that are below the water line and use your greenery to fill in awkward gaps. Cut shorter any pieces of foliage needed to soften any harsh edges of your arrangement. Spend a few minutes and arrange it to your liking. You may need to shorten a few flowers. A rookie mistake is having your flowers too tall. If your arrangement looks a bit odd try cutting everything a bit shorter a little bit at a time until it looks just right.

Now grab some ribbon, anything you can find. I picked raffia ribbon. Tie a bow, and…haha if your bow was super ugly like mine a simple knot will work. The total cost of the flowers was $10, a flower arrangement even as simple as this one would cost at least $30-$40. I love grocery shopping at Central Market because the floral section is divine!

This is a jar of happiness right here, go make yourself a jar of happiness.

Laura

LIFESTYLE

HOUSE ON THE CORNER

This is an original photo I took one day before we did any work to the outside of the house. It’s hard to tell much with this big tree blocking most of our house. I spent a lot of time staring at this photo, making decisions and mentally changing things.

Sadly, I knew the tree had to go. Trimming it would of helped for sure, but this is a maple tree and they aren’t the best choice for our climate. Also, the tree roots were shallow and starting to crack up the driveway, another huge factor in our decision.

We started looking into updating our front door. I really liked the black door, I think they look very striking on houses but this door was in poor shape. It had a very bad paint job, but also the metal door had a lot of dents.

Our actual front porch is tiny, with barely enough room for a flower pot and we had small area with a row of clunky overgrown shrubs that were doing us no favors.

So we decided to rip them out. Bye bye clunky shrubs, we’re gonna make ourselves a larger front porch! Brian was also able to dig out and lower the valve boxes. We never have to open them anyway.

We then added decomposed granite and stone.

The old shrubs were insane! We were non-stop trimming them and they would grow back practically overnight. They had super powers.

The tree was finally removed, then the dirt was leveled and sod added.

The clunky shrubs over on the left side of the house were next to go. These were the shrubs I hated looking at from my dining room. I enjoyed watching my husband rip them out of the ground with his truck. Oh that was a fun day!!

The house looked bigger with the shrubs gone, but it also looked naked. We immediately started planning our new front flowerbed.

Right around this time we also replaced our house lights. The tiny faded house lights looked much better with a fresh coat of black spray paint and that held us over for a while, but I really wanted larger lights.

I will admit once we put these up on our house I was a little freaked out. The last lights were so tiny and these lights seemed so giant. I was convinced my neighbors were laughing I was the big light house. I posted on Houzz and everybody calmed me down, they said they looked great and I could of even gone bigger (I’m not too sure about that). You can see the size difference above. I just needed to get used to them. I love them now, but I definitely have the biggest lights in the neighborhood though.

I love our fancy house jewelry. These are the Portobello Lantern from Horchow. I looked everywhere for exterior house lights and no other store compared. I wanted these. Like I said above the large size threw me off, but now I’m used to it and I’m happy with our choice.

We decided to go with a stained wood door. We purchased this one from Home Depot. Replacing our doors have been so complicated! You normally just swap the old door for the new door…but not with us. It’s always filled with drama but eventually we got it worked out!

I wanted to warm the house up a bit and decided to paint the garage doors in Texas Leather by Benjamin Moore. I also used Texas Leather on our back patio door and the kitchen window that’s in our square foot garden.

Our side fence is still doing great! It really ads curb appeal, you can read our Fence Update story if your curious.

I like the lights, they make a statement.

We couldn’t be happier with our front porch extension. The bench is the Almafi Bench from Grandin Road. I love boxwoods in pots, they are so easy and fuss free. Green and sweet all year long.

When we redesigned our front bed a large spot was left for flowers. I need my flowers, they make me happy.

We use stones everywhere. They just look so cute, they add that sweet homey appeal. They’re also super helpful because I’m usually barefooted a lot outside. It was Brian’s idea to have a stone pathway short cut through the flowerbed and it’s helpful when I’m weeding the flowerbed.

Another very simple thing we did to improve the look of the house was to remove our screens. This might not work for everyone. We have air conditioners so we don’t need to open our windows anyway and now the windows have a pretty reflective sparkle.

We have plans to redo our 3 side trees eventually. We have another maple and 2 other trees that aren’t that desirable. I would like to have oak trees added, but we’re overall very happy with our upgraded exterior. I no longer cringe when I pull into the driveway. Neighbors have been really kind, complimenting our efforts along the way.

Thanks for reading! If you’re searching for ways to add curb appeal to your home it’s all in the details and best of luck!

Laura

DIY

HOW TO BUILD A TRASH CAN SCREEN OUT OF FENCE BOARDS

When I envisioned our square foot garden or le jardin as we sometimes call it, I would think of lush herbs growing, happy producing plants with perfect shiny vegetables growing, butterflies happily flying around our flowers, and nasty trash cans in the corner…LOL. Ok, nasty trash cans were not part of my vision, it’s actually ruining my vision so we must hide them!

Our trash cans ended up in our side yard because we hated keeping them in the garage. It’s as simple as that. We like having them outside and it’s convienent to roll them out to the curb and bring them back.

So we decided we would build a screen to hide them. We wanted something easy and considered lattice, but lattice just doesn’t seem to hold up. Brian came up with an idea using regular fence boards.

He dug holes and added posts. It’s pretty standard fence construction. Dig hole, insert post, mix and pour concrete, and then fill the rest of the way up with the excavated soil.

We chose 6-foot 4×4 posts and set them about 18 inches in the ground. We chose the 4×4 post instead of the landscape timber (which is like a 4×4 but has rounded corners – you see them used a lot for cheap fences) because they seem to be made of better quality wood and don’t seem to warp as bad or as frequently as the landscape timbers.

The above picture shows the posts immediately after setting. When we establish the height of the fence we will trim off the extra wood. Here I want you to notice how the ground slopes up to the house. It’s gradual, but significant. That will come in to play later.

4×4 post: “Hey everybody! Come and see how good I look!”

Be sure to use a level to make sure your posts are vertical and your fence panels are horizontal.

Okay, next step, remember how the ground slopes up to the house? Start with the farthest, lowest post and set one horizontal panel at the top. Using a level, make sure its horizontal and set it to the next post. In the above picture, the right end of the starter panel is attached to the lowest post. The left post will be trimmed off at the top of the panel.

And one last thing, Brian recommends using screws for your fence. In fact, he prefer screws over nails for just about everything. They hold tighter and longer, and they are easily reversible in case you need to remove something and fix or replace it. We tend to do that a lot to get it just right.

Here is a picture of the left side. We did the same thing here as we did on the right side…start with the lowest post and set a horizontal panel to the other post. Here is a handy tip: To get the left side and the right side to be the same height, hold a fence panel between the opening with the level sitting on top of it. Use this fence panel to mark the height of the left (higher) side by setting it at the top of the right (lower) side.

In the above picture we have trimmed off the top of the left post and added a few more horizontal panels.

From here its all basic…just keep adding panels down until you can’t fit any more. It’s okay to not go all the way to the ground because grass will grow to close the gap. If you’re really uncomfortable with your gap, you’re more than welcome to dig out the dirt, add another panel, and then backfill. Just be sure to stain your panels before backfilling to protect them. The wood is not going to last as long if its exposed to dirt, water, and bugs, but at least if it’s stained it will add a little bit of protection.

Here, after trimming off the excess, we took more fence panels and added them to the corner and top for a trimmed out look.

Then we trimmed off the top panel where it was sticking out and added one more board for trim vertically on the right side to cover up all the screw holes.

So here is a shot of the completed (but unstained) screen fence. You can see that there is plenty of room inside for the trash can to sit and also for us to roll it in and out and maneuver it around.

The last thing we did is stain it. We love our Ready-Seal Pecan stain.

Ah, much better! What ugly trash can?

What an easy solution to hide your trash cans, its just wood posts and regular ol’ fence boards. Hello? Grass seed can you please sprout? We’re waiting…

That’s right, no more trash cans ruining the look of my garden! This would be a great easy way to also hide your air conditioner, which we will probably do in the future.

Laura

DECOR

MASTER BEDROOM

This stupid window. Why?? Why must I have a massive half circle window over my headboard? So I can have a glare on the TV? So the lights from passing cars can come on at 2 am and wake us? So perverts can look in? I mean really. I don’t need a view into my neighbor’s kitchen. I have three other large windows in the room so it’s not a fire code thing.

With this weird window, the lack of closets in our house, the odd light switch placements, and other issues I really wish at times I could grab the builder shake him and say what were you thinking?? We put up a temporary privacy shade over the window. It gave us privacy but didn’t block light. I looked into a plantation shutter to block the light, but remember we were renting and didn’t want to spend the money. Money aside I still wouldn’t be happy with the half circle window with a nice plantation shutter over it anyway. I just wished it was regular wall space.

So I told my husband we would put wood over the window and seal it up. He was like huh? Yes I said, “we’re going to just board over it and ignore it.” I want wall space here, not a window.

So here we are with our old bedroom furniture. I painted the wood on the wall and hung some metal tiles on it. I caulked the edges of the wood so we had no light coming in and total privacy. I left the shade in the window so the neighbor wouldn’t see ugly bare wood. We left it just like this for a while.

I had an urge to paint the sleigh bed turquoise, and if it wasn’t for the fact the bed was seriously breaking I might have.

So we donated the falling apart bed and I ordered a canopy frame bed from Pottery Barn.

Sorry about these old blurry phone pic’s. Wow, cell phone cameras have come along way!! Anyway we sold the rest of the bedroom furniture. I love selling our old furniture, it’s really an enjoyable process for me getting cash for the stuff I’m tired of and the new owners always seem thrilled to have it. This rug has been moved all over our house. It’s almost been like a place holder rug for us, but you know me…I eventually sold it.

I really liked these green curtains for a while. They really gave the room warmth, they might of been a bit low budget but they worked until I decided to paint the room blue. The curtains previously hit the floor, but they were dirty so I washed them following the instructions and they shrunk. Ugh….I was so irritated.

I’m really glad with the new curtains we hung the rod higher! For a few months I had a gorgeous gray wool rug from Pottery Barn. It was the worst wool shedding rug I’ve ever had in my life. I’m not exaggerating one bit when I say it looked like 30 cats lived in our room, and this was with me vacuuming daily! I sold it to a sweet young girl with her eyes full of hope, I told her to never give up and to it vacuum daily. She didn’t care all she was hearing was Pottery Barn rug for 1/4 of the full price. I ended up going with an indoor/outdoor rug from Ballard Designs. Not exactly a soft squishy rug but hey no shedding so yay!

I wish desperately I could have a gorgeous chandelier over our canopy bed, but our bedroom faces West and Texas summers are brutal, so ceiling fan it is! I found this cute ceiling fan at Lowes, I have no clue if they still make it or not.

I love chevron so much! I actually love any form of stripes. They make my heart happy. I love it almost as much as leopard….key word almost. Leopard print still rules and is #1 in my world.

Our bed is the Antonia canopy bed from Pottery Barn. We have a vaulted ceiling so a canopy bed frame fills in the empty space nicely. The walls are Palladian Blue from Benjamin Moore. Palladian Blue can be finicky, sometimes it looks a little green, but it’s a blue shade. It does change with the light, which I really like. If your interested take home the paint card, and watch how the color changes at different times of the day. I personally love it.

We have a massive TV in our room and I make no apologies for it. TV’s are definitely hard to decorate around for sure. Honestly though when Brian mounted it to the wall I thought I might go blind, but I eventually adjusted and I love it. I know people must think being a housewife and all I watch a lot of daytime TV. Actually, nope, I have no idea what’s even on during the day. I’ve watched Live with Regis and Kelly like twice in my life and no soap operas in the last 15 years, but at night…yes we like the TV in our bedroom. After a stressful day I need to zone out to Southern Charm or The Real Housewives of Whatever and we need Seinfeld and The Office re-runs to comfort us.

I love these lamps on our nightstand from Pier Barn. Pier Barn?? Yes, that would be a Pier 1 lamp with a Pottery Barn shade. I love Pier 1 lamps but not always their shades, I love those Pottery Barn burlap lamp shades! I’m known to blow my rewards on them when nothing else interests me. I also have Pier Barn lamps on my buffet table in my dining room.

Small nightstands just won’t work for us. It’s not that we’re hoarders or anything. We have a reasonable amount of stuff that just needs detailed organizing, and the builder accidentally forgot to build us plentiful or decent sized closets.

I really enjoy using trays in my decor. The items just sitting on our furniture look lost without a tray. Suddenly our clutter and essentials looks adorable on a tray. Not only is this pleasing to the eye, but trays actually protect your furniture from wear. In my silver jewelry box holds like 20 tubes of lip balm…I can never have enough.

This is the Chloe dresser from Pottery Barn. I wish the drawers pulled out a bit farther but still I’m overall happy with it. I always try to have flowers on our nightstands, these small white vases are by Rosenthal. I have an addiction to these as well as Niven Morgan candles. I like the Blue scented candle and the Lavender Mint scented candle in our bedroom. Lavender Mint is my favorite bedroom scent, it makes our room smell like a day spa.

Don’t just pick wall art that matches, make sure it speaks to you. When I’m having a horrible day mentally I go inside this art print.

I love all flowers, ones in vases, in my garden, paper flowers I made, and especially these ceramic ivory flowers. Cute!

Here I am still pretending this is real wall space.

Eventually we will take this window out and drywall and texture over it. I dread the mess though. It’s been years since this window has been boarded over….I think it’s safe to say I hate it and it’s not just a phase.

Here is our master bathroom. Nothing special, these are about the only photos you’ll see for a long time. It’s a basic boring tan bathroom that’s 10 years old. It has 2 sea shell sinks (why??) in the vanity opposite the shower and tub area. I’ve painted the walls and cabinets, invested in new lights, and cabinet knobs but I’ve realized I need to stop throwing money into this area. I’m not happy with it and I need to stop patching it. We just need to save up and tear it out eventually. It needs it, trust me. It’s not just a money issue, I’m not sure what I want to do just yet. I can’t force a bathroom redesign, when I’m ready I’ll know and it will be easy.

In the meantime I purchased this candle chandelier off Amazon, and I’ve spray painted it several times and added magnetic crystals. You can find magnetic crystals at Hobby Lobby, Amazon, or Ballard Designs to name a few places. Do you love that look of a chandelier over the bathtub but you can’t add one? Try this method! I had regular candles up for a while, but what a pain to light so now I have LED tapered candles with a remote control.

So here’s our Master bedroom. You’ll be the first to know when we seal up that window and gut that master bathroom!

SHOP THE LOOK

Laura

RECIPES

ROASTED BELL PEPPER SALSA WITH BASIL

If you love salsa and Italian food then this salsa recipe is for you! Bell peppers, or sometimes called sweet peppers, are just so heavenly amazing when roasted! The flavor of basil is a fresh tasting fun alternative to cilantro. I always have a ton of basil every spring and summer so I’m always looking for ways to use it up.

For this recipe you need roasted bell peppers. Red roasted bell peppers are sold in jars at the grocery store and can be used in a bind, but I strongly recommend you roast your own peppers for incredible flavor. If you aren’t sure how to do this read up on How to Roast Bell Peppers, it’s pretty simple.

I used 2 red and 2 yellow peppers. Orange peppers are also a good option, I don’t recommend green bell peppers for this recipe, as they aren’t as sweet.

This recipe makes a little over 2 cups of salsa which is the perfect amount to serve over grilled meat or a serving of chips and salsa for a few people. If you’re wanting chips and salsa for a crowd you better double the recipe. Sometimes we use leftover salsa to make omelets or serve it over chicken or fish. It taste amazing! Below I have it served over baked tilapia but it also tastes great over my Grilled Rosemary Balsamic Chicken.

Print Recipe

Roasted Bell Pepper Salsa with Basil

Servings: cups

Ingredients

2 red bell peppers, roasted and diced
2 yellow bell peppers, roasted and diced
3/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
20 basil leaves, rolled and sliced or chopped
1 tsp salt
1 tbs clove of garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Instructions

In a medium size bowl, combine peppers, onion, and chopped basil. In a small size bowl combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and fresh ground pepper and stir to combine.
Pour olive oil mixture into medium sized bowl and gently stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours to allow flavors to blend. Salsa is at its best when eaten within 24 hours.

I love how colorful this salsa is, it’s like a party in a bowl, happy eats! You can shop some of my favorite kitchen items below.

Laura

Everything Else

HOW TO ROAST BELL PEPPERS

Why roast bell peppers? Um…because they are awesome. Bell peppers are a type of sweet pepper. You probably need more roasted peppers in your life and you just aren’t aware of it. Not only do they taste wonderful their loaded with vitamins and have incredible health benefits. Add them to sandwiches, pizza, frittatas, marinate them, puree them into a soup, add them to salads or make salsa with them.

I’ve tried all the methods for roasting peppers. The one I hate most is is the gas stove top method. It’s so time consuming I hate it. I tried the oven method and now I’m forever hooked.

To start, wash and dry your peppers, and cut them in half.

With a knife, carefully cut the stem off.

Then use a spoon and remove the seeds and membranes.

Red peppers are the sweetest followed by yellow and orange. Green peppers have a more bitter taste but you can still certainly roast them.

Once you have your peppers prepared line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. If your worried about making a mess in your oven you can use a rimmed pan, but I haven’t had a problem. Place your peppers cut side down on the pan.

Now we’re going to roast our peppers in the oven at 450 degrees for about 25-30 minutes. While your peppers are roasting have a bowl and aluminum foil ready to go.

After 25- 30 minutes the peppers will look browned and smooshy. I hope my advanced cooking words such as smooshy really help. If your peppers aren’t looking wrinkled and smooshy just add a few extra minutes cooking time.

Remove your peppers from the oven and immediately put them into a bowl and cover with foil. You want to trap in the hot steam so the pepper skins just slide right off.

Let your peppers take a nap in the foil covered bowl for 30 minutes.

30 minutes later….time to wake up peppers! The pepper skins will be loose, wrinkled and puffy looking. Just pull them right off. These look so good!!

Depending on your needs you can leave them in large pieces, slice them or dice them. If you want to quickly dice them up, stack the peppers like I did.

An alternative method I’ve tried is roasting the whole pepper. You can use my method and roast the entire whole pepper, just add to the cook time and you’ll need to rotate them. I like my cut method best as all the seeds and membranes are cleaned out.

Print Recipe

How to Roast Bell Peppers

Ingredients

red bell peppers
yellow bell peppers

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450°
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. Wash and dry the peppers and cut them in half. Using a spoon, scoop out seeds and membranes.
Place the peppers cut side down and roast for 25-30 minutes, until skins are charred and soft.
Remove the peppers from oven and immediately place in a bowl, and cover with foil. Let the peppers cool for 30 minutes then remove the skins.

Now that you have perfectly roasted peppers it’s time to eat them! They’re delicious on pizzas, sandwiches, salads or pretty much anything! If you’re looking for a tasty snack try my roasted bell pepper salsa with basil, it’s addicting!

Shop some of my favorite kitchen items below!

Laura

Main Dishes

GRILLED ROSEMARY BALSAMIC CHICKEN

There is nothing I love more than simple healthy recipes, and this Grilled Rosemary Balsamic Chicken has been a favorite of ours for years. I often make my own salad dressing, and having leftovers is how this marinade was born, well that and my massive rosemary bush. I’ve tried other fresh herbs, thyme is pretty good, but rosemary is my favorite. The fresh taste of rosemary with the rich acidic flavor of the balsamic vinegar really makes this chicken burst with flavor. My rosemary balsamic marinade is so simple to make too!

I start with a gallon size ziplock bag and add extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Then I mince or slice a little garlic, and then I add the rosemary to the bag. Stripping rosemary leaves from the stem is simple, take your thumb and pointer finger and run it down the stem against the direction the leaves are growing. Then I close the bag and shake it all up. Next I add the chicken and make sure it’s thoroughly distributed in the marinade, and then I squeeze the air out of the bag.

Have you ever had a bag of marinade fall over and spill everywhere? I don’t know how many times I’ve propped the bag up thinking it looked completely stable and minuted later the bag falls over and all the liquid drips out. So now I always set my marinade bag in large bowl, now no more tipping over!

MARINATE OVERNIGHT FOR BEST RESULTS! The longer the chicken marinates the the better flavor it will have. It’s a great recipe to throw together right before bed. This looks like a lot of chicken because I doubled the recipe. We love leftovers!

After it’s done marinating and the chicken is ready to be grilled, I pour the chicken mixture into a casserole dish and hand it off to Brian… and then about half an hour later it magically returns fully cooked! I love how grilling outdoors tricks men into cooking. That’s one of my old tricks, when I just don’t feel like cooking I tell Brian I’m craving something grilled. Try it, the word grill triggers something their caveman gene or something… it’s science.

Not feeling like grilled chicken? No worries you can throw it in the oven on a broiler pan to get a similar grilled effect. Depending on the size of your chicken I’d say around 350 for 45 minutes, you’ll just need to keep an eye on it though. Honestly grilling is my favorite method though.

Print Recipe

Grilled Rosemary Balsamic Chicken

Servings:

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken tenders
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbs olive oil
2-3 tbs fresh rosemary
2 cloves of garlic, minced or sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper (12 full pepper twists)

Instructions

In a gallon size resealable bag add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, and fresh ground pepper. Strip the rosemary leaves from the stem and add them to the bag.
Close the bag and shake well to combine, then add chicken and reseal the bag. Make sure the marinade is evenly distributed around the chicken. Marinate overnight for the best flavor.
Grill over medium high heat until juices run clear and temperature registers 160°.

Yum yum yum! The flavors of the balsamic and rosemary go so well together! Enjoy your chicken with it’s delicious rosemary flavor, or try adding my Roasted Bell Pepper and Basil Salsa. It’s a pretty amazing combination. This recipe also works really well with pork chops. Happy eats!

Laura

Europe

NORTHERN IRELAND IN A DAY

While we were visiting in Dublin we decided to take a day trip up to Northern Ireland. Ireland is a separate country. It belongs to the U.K. with a separate currency from Ireland and everything. Perhaps you knew this already. I didn’t, well maybe I did and I was asleep that day in geography class, or maybe I was awake and it just didn’t stick because I was bored. Who knows, but that’s the thing I love about traveling is the knowledge I learn. Everything is visual and it’s so easy to remember and understand the rich history. History sticks in my brain when I travel.

Our first stop was Belfast, the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland. This is City Hall, you can walk around the entire block and even through the grounds admiring the trees and architecture. The city is bustling with activity and there are plenty of interesting pubs to stop at should you need to.

I love this cool sculpture! Named the Spirit of Belfast, it sits here at Victoria Square. Around Victoria Square is a shoppers paradise. I found my candle sticks that sit on my fireplace mantel in a store near here. I wish I could remember the name, it was such a neat store.

After Belfast we head into the country to the Dark Hedges.

The Dark Hedges are stunning tunnel of trees. These magnificent Beech trees were planted in the 18th century by the Stuart Family.

The iconic trees have been used as a filming location in Game of Thrones and are rumored to be haunted. The Dark Hedges are located about 50 miles from Belfast.

We continue driving through the countryside watching the sheep graze on the lush green grass. We see them running and frolicking about. They must have known we were watching.

We arrive at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Taking an easy hike down to the bridge, we stop frequently, taking in the panoramic views of the Atlantic.

Suspended 100 feet over sea level this rope bridge isn’t ideal for those afraid of heights, like me!

Don’t look down!

Whew, I finally make it across and the views make everything worth it. The blue green waters look so pure. The air is cool, slightly humid with a gentle breeze.

We spot sea caves and other interesting rock formations. The scenery is so beautiful you can stare forever.

Walking along the coastal trails we hear the sounds of ocean waves crashing against the rocks. Along these trails you can spot sea life such as dolphins, sharks, and seabirds.

After our hike we have a snack at the Weighbridge tea-room, then we were on the road again.

Dunluce Castle sits high up on a steep cliff by the sea. This medieval castle was built in the 1500’s and has a huge sea cave beneath.

The legend is Katherine Manners, an English lady who was married to Randal MacDonnell, was very wealthy by birth and had become accustomed to her lavish lifestyle. However, the couple had overspent in London, and in 1638, MacDonnell brought her and their children to Dunlace Castle, along with her English servants.

One night Lady Katherine held a grand party. She and her guests were suddenly disturbed from the party with a loud rumble from the back of the castle. The kitchen had plunged into the sea 100 feet below taking all of her servants along. This was supposedly the last straw for Katherine. I can’t say that I blame her.

Near Dunluce Castle is Giant’s Causeway.

During the Anglo-Spanish War in 1585, King Philip II of Spain sent the Spanish Armada to invade England, and as many as 24 ships were lost due to the storms in Northern Ireland. The La Girona smashed into the rocks near Giants Causeway. According to locals an ancient graveyard near Dunluce Castle was used as a mass grave site to give over 200 Spanish sailers who washed up on shore a Christian burial.

Around 40,000 of these basalt columns surround the coastline. They were formed during an ancient volcano eruption. These basalt column were formed by the quick cooling of lava, but according to legend it’s a different story…

A giant by the name of Finn was having trouble with a Scottish giant by the name of Benandonner threatening Ireland. Finn being unable to control his temper grabbed chunks of rock and threw them into the sea. The rock formations formed a path to teach Benandonner, who was terrifyingly large, a lesson, but he still followed looking for Finn. Finn’s clever wife disguised him as a baby. Once Benandonner got one look at their so called giant baby he decided his dad must have be massive and he leaves.

Hmm….which ever version you believe your sure to find Giants Causeway gorgeous!

Climbing up and down each unique column is certainly fun and allowed as long as you stay away from the slippery ocean edge. Brian said it reminded him of playing Q-Bert as a kid because he is a video game geek. What the heck is Q-Bert?

With the sound of peaceful waves crashing in the background we walked around and played on the rocks near the ocean.

Amazing rock formations are everywhere you look.

After this glorious day in Northern Ireland we headed back exhausted to Dublin where we enjoyed some Irish stew. I hope you enjoyed coming along with us on our adventure!

Laura

DIY

HOW TO CREATE A WHEATGRASS CENTERPIECE

Wheatgrass makes a perfect centerpiece. It’s also extremely easy to grow indoors! It’s perfect for spring and summer entertaining, weddings, parties, anything really. Maybe it’s the dead of winter and you need some cheerful green grass growing indoors to beat the winter blues! I bought this big bag of wheatgrass seeds for a little over $12. This will definitely last me a while.

I also used this metal rectangle container from Amazon. You can use any container that’s 3-4 inches deep. Get creative, try bowls, cups, or small buckets. Having a container with drainage holes is easiest but not essential. My container did not have drainage holes so I will need to be careful with watering.

Prep

Soak the seeds in warm water 12-24 hours. I tried one group of seeds soaked 12 hours and another 24 hours. The 24 hour soaked seeds sprouted a little quicker, both ended up growing just fine. Determining how much seed you will need is tricky, I poured a single layer in my container and it was 3/4 cup. You want enough seed to make a solid single layer. You can measure like I did or eyeball it.

Now, soak away!

Day 1

Add a layer of gravel for drainage. I used leftover pebbles from my daughters fish aquarium and some river rock I found in the garage. The rocks should help with drainage. You can try growing your wheatgrass without adding rocks, however you could get mold. Next, fill your container with soil, stopping 1 inch from the top of your container. I just used basic potting soil.

Drain and rinse the seeds in a colander.

Sprinkle your seeds over the soil, trying not to leave any bare spots and keeping a single layer.

Cover loosely with saran wrap to create a greenhouse effect and place in an area out of direct sunlight. For me this was on my dining room table. Now we just wait!

Day 2

Check your seeds every day and water if necessary. If your using a container without drainage holes be careful not to over water. You can always pour out extra water. Replace the plastic wrap loosely each time you water. You want to keep your soil nice and moist. Seeds will sprout in 2-3 days. I see some some sprouts already!

Day 3

Continue to water daily and on the 3rd day or once the seeds have started to sprout you can remove the saran wrap. I see a few blades of grass starting to grow!

Day 4

Once your seeds have grown an inch or so move them to a sunny location. I checked my grass early in the morning, and at the end of the day I could see even more growth. Your wheatgrass starts growing very quickly from this point.

Day 5

You’ll be amazed how much your seeds grow each day. I can’t stop rubbing my hand over the top of the grass blades, it’s fun to play with. It’s really a fun process, kids will enjoy watching the grass grow.

Day 6

By day 6 I was really pleased with the growth. I loved it so much I couldn’t decide what room to place it in.

Day 7

Between day 7-10 you should have the perfect wheatgrass centerpiece. You can leave your wheatgrass shaggy or give it a hair cut.

If you have a cat you can let them nibble on the wheatgrass, its good for digestion.

How cute is this? Nothing makes me happy like a bright splash of green! It’s fun to experiment with different containers. Below I added cut flowers using floral water tubes.

Continue to water as needed, keeping your soil moist, but not overly wet. I have my centerpiece currently on my kitchen table with indirect light during the morning and direct sun in the late afternoon. It seems to be happy. With proper care your centerpiece should last a few weeks, maybe even months depending on circumstances. I normally keep cut flowers on the table but this will be a fun change!

Laura

Europe

IRELAND IN MARCH

How do I even begin to describe Ireland? The beautiful land, the legends, the rich history, the vivid green grass, and beautiful cliffs all come to mind. Something about our trip in Ireland reminded me of home. Home as in Texas. Ireland felt comfortable and familiar to us. The people are friendly and talkative, and lots of wide open spaces combined with a relaxed casual vibe make this place feel like home. We’ve nicknamed Ireland “Texas Europe”.

Our first full day in Dublin we decided to explore the Guinness Storehouse. No trip to Dublin is complete without visiting Guinness.

7 stories high, this interactive tour has something to impress everyone. If you aren’t a Guinness fan I’m betting you will be when you leave. Brewed since 1709 in Dublin, the Guinness Brewery was born when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the property.

As we walked through the lower levels of the Guinness Storehouse we learned how they make their perfect brew. Even kids find this tour enjoyable because its so interactive.

It all starts with the grain…

and the purest water that comes from the Wicklow Mountains, just south of Dublin. The Guinness waterfall is fun for everybody to explore. You can walk completely around it and throw coins in to make a wish. I wished for lots of Guinness.

Next we took a short class stimulating our senses and finding new flavors in our Guinness we never knew were there. We also learned the importance of the perfect pour.

After our journey all the way up the 7 levels we made our way to the Gravity Bar for a 360 view of Dublin. We then traded in our tickets for complimentary pints. Guinness is always great, but the rich velvety smoothness is something that tastes truly extraordinarily fresh from the Guinness Brewery.

The next day we visited the Cliffs of Mohr. These cliffs are raised 390 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and are one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. Many movies have been filmed here, such as Harry Potter and the Princess Bride. The true beauty of the cliffs is something that cannot be captured by a camera.

We were extremely lucky not to have any rain the entire week in Ireland. What? That’s crazy, it always rains in Ireland. Often the skies are hazy, but when the sun did come out our views were incredible!

No worries about running into any snakes while you’re exploring Ireland’s countryside, Saint Patrick banished them.

The cliffside is gorgeous, but with only a few low guard rails and a steep drop off in terms of safety they must be respected. The cliffs are breathtaking but also dangerous. It’s often extremely windy, and if you veer too close to the edge a gust of wind could easily blow you off.

Believe the sign and stay away from the edge. We saw a few dare-devils though.

Here my babies were at least 20 feet from the edge, but that didn’t stop me from being a frantic mama.

We drove a little farther down and the views are still breathtaking. Driving all along Galway Bay is gorgeous.

If you’re in the Galway area a visit to Dunguaire Castle is a must. This castle was built in 1520 and has one of the most picturesque locations on Galway Bay. The 75 foot tower and defense wall look stunning against the waters, making this the most photographed castle in Ireland.

A bit off topic, peat moss extraction is killing the wetlands in Ireland and other countries. In fact Ireland has lost 90 percent of it’s bogs due to commercial peat harvesting. Please consider using alternatives while gardening to protect the environment.

After heading back to the city, we looked for a place to dine. The Bank on College Green restaurant, located in the heart of Dublin, was our choice. This building, designed by one of the British Empire’s leading architects, began construction in 1894, and it took two years to complete. The interior, once the main Banking Hall, stuns with its ornate architecture. The Bank opened as a pub and restaurant in 2003. Have a drink at the bar while listening to the pianist playing in the background, or with the extensive menu, enjoy lunch or dinner. After a long day of site seeing this was a great way to end the day.

After a good night’s sleep we were ready for more exploring. The next day we ventured to Tipperary and Cork. We took in the breathtaking scenery everywhere we went. Just as you’d imagine…sheep grazing everywhere.

Driving through the gorgeous Tipperary countryside, we stopped at the Rock of Cashel. Sitting at the top of a beautiful green hill, this cathedral was built between 1235 and 1270. With the foggy skies I wasn’t able to get a distant photo, unfortunately.

This is where Saint Patrick baptized King Angus. Legend has it that Saint Patrick accidently stabbed the foot of the King with his crozier during his baptism. The king simply thought that this was part of the painful process of becoming a Christian and he said nothing.

Inside the grounds around there is a medieval graveyard that includes a number of high crosses.

Walking around the grounds is quiet and peaceful even with other tourists around. The fog limits our photo taking abilities, but it also adds to the ambience.

I never tire of looking at Ireland’s lush green grass. We said goodbye to the Rock of Cashel and headed a bit farther down to Cork.

We stopped off at Blarney Castle so we could kiss the famous stone. The stone is actually at the very top of the castle!

So off we went up into the narrow winding halls of the castle. This is definitely not a place to be if you’re claustrophobic!

While making the climb to the top of the castle you’ll find many rooms to peak in and great photo spots.

Now for the kissing of the stone. It’s not an easy kiss. Kissing the inconveniently located stone is such a risky process that castle employees must help visitors by holding them down so they don’t fall. According to legend kissing the stone endows the kisser the gift of the gab. It’s definitely an odd experience, but worth it because we now all have the gift of eloquent speech.

Blarney Castle is about 5 miles outside of Cork. Ready for lunch, we arrived in the heart of the city.

Time for some Irish stew and a big ol’ Guinness.

After a long day of sight seeing we headed back to Dublin. It was impossible to forget that the next day was Saint Patrick’s Day, excitement was filling the air and the buildings had begun lighting up green.

We needed to get up early in the morning for the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, so we stopped to grab some essentials, then off to bed we went.

Something magical happens on Saint Patrick’s Day. Brian Phillip becomes Phil O’Brien.

We arrived to the parade location nice and early so we had a great spot.

The parade started and the crowd was filled with excitement.

After the parade, we ventured off to lunch and then back over to the Temple Bar area to celebrate.

Temple Bar is Dublin’s historic area filled with live music, pubs, and restaurants.

Here you’ll find a good mix of locals and tourists and any type of food you’re looking for.

The day ended with the perfect shepherd’s pie.

We had such a wonderful time in Ireland. While I wouldn’t call it a very relaxing trip because we were constantly on the go, it was certainly beautiful. I can’t wait to go back, I’ll need to visit Ireland every few years, it’s good for the soul.

All throughout our Ireland adventures my daughter discovered O’Donnells cheese and red onion chips. These are so good! Since returning home I found them on Amazon. Gotta love Amazon!

And speaking of Amazon, when we returned home Brian was bummed we didn’t buy any Guinness beer glasses but honestly our luggage was maxed out and I was worried they might break. Hooray Amazon saves the day again, I found the glasses HERE. The Guinness glass really makes a difference in the overall taste.

While on this trip we also visited Northern Ireland, and there’s a separate post about that. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our Ireland adventures and soon have your own!

Laura

DECOR

THE GUEST ROOM

Our guest room, and also part craft room. It’s also been my son’s room, a toy room, a junk room, and a cabinet painting room (remember the kitchen?). I don’t really have any before pictures because there wasn’t much to see. We had a really old desk in here before. It naturally became a painting spot for my girls, and I used it for crafting and gift wrapping. It was pretty gross and the size was all wrong, so it made it’s way to bulk trash. Often people take our bulk trash, even hopeless destroyed looking items but nobody touched the old desk. Ouch.

I had my eye on way over priced desk from Restoration Hardware but that wasn’t practical. I’m all for splurging but this was not the area for a splurge. I saw what we did to the last desk! I decided we should build a pipe desk.

We first purchased the 74 inch HAMMARP Oak countertop from Ikea. Then Brian came up with a design for the pipe legs and support. He built the 2 separate sections and before he screwed it into the wood I spray painted the legs with Rust-oleum bronze spray paint.

While taking this photo I discovered my girls have already wiped paint under the desk. At least they were nice enough to wipe it on the bottom and not the top. I bet they thought I would never find out.

I used Amy Howard clear wax for the wood top. I could have used a clear coat or just left it alone, I just happened to have some leftover wax. When the girls paint I try to put down some poster board or an old shower curtain, but if some does get on the table I’ll either live with it, or just sand and re-wax the top.

As for my guests if they are anything like me, they hang certain clothing items up and live out of their suitcase the rest of the time. When we travel it seems we never have enough surface space.

So now my guests can throw their suitcase and any other items on top of the desk. Until I clean and organize the closet I’ve set up a small foldable clothing rod.

I went with my trusty parson chairs for desk chairs. When we do something messy we just pull the slipcover off.

You know me, I had to throw some French into the room. This large oversized map of Paris fit perfectly over the pipe desk. Sometimes I find myself walking upstairs just to stare at it.

If you read my Formal Living Room update you saw this old armoire but in brown. It’s not a high quality antique, it was starting to look a bit scruffy so I painted it with chalk paint. I used Amy Howard chalk paint in Selznick Gray, then clear wax and silver spray paint for the hardware.

This old armoire holds a lot of memories like my wedding dress, costumes, uniforms, and items from loved ones, and the Thomas the Train set in the bottom drawer. I can never part with Thomas the Train, even I still like to play with him sometimes.

Painted ceilings are my favorite, and I had just enough left over Palladian Blue Benjamin Moore paint from my bedroom. At the store the Palladian Blue paint card looks kind of green, it’s so weird. For the longest time I wouldn’t even select it, but it’s very much blue in our home. The chandelier was formerly brown and Tuscan from our old house that I painted white. If you have trouble getting the chain to paint nicely use a cord cover like I did.

I’ve always loved daybeds. I had one growing up, part couch and part bed, it’s just too cute. I found a bronze daybed with a trundle for more sleeping space. It’s been a great purchase. I added gray and white chevron curtains from Target. I purchased 96 inch and hemmed them up.

I followed the Sits Girls tutorial and made paper flowers for over the bed. You can see the tutorial at HERE.

I used a thumb tack to hang the flower on the wall.

A fun little tray from Kate Spade, I love my Kate Spade.

I love this table for wrapping gifts! I have all my wrapping paper in the closet up here anyway so it’s convenient. I’ve got plenty of room to spread everything out. I love coordinating all the different wrapping paper colors and patterns….it’s an addition.

There you have it…part guest room, craft room, gift wrapping room, and when the kids need a quiet get away spot it’s good for homework or reading. We make this room work hard that’s for sure!

Now if only I could tackle the closet. It’s crammed with a million items. Games, old toys, luggage, gift wrap, home decor, I even have a trampoline in there! I’ve thought about purchasing an Elfa Closet system from the Container Store, but for those closet systems to work you must be able to get in the closet. I’m a long way from that!