I blame Better Homes and Gardens

I will admit I am very a mess right now , I feel very off , and perhaps I was lead by impulse and inspiration and I acted on it . But I think it will be OK . My daughter laughed when she saw it , my husband spoke this sentence to my brother and his wife " this is what it's like to live with her , one day holes in the wall" is he trying to say I am the only one who does this , I find that hard to believe , hey at least I don't ask him to fix it . I needed a small project a must do , low cost time consumer.

This is what I have done , I really like an open stairwell, this was as open as I could offer , as the sun streams in the adjacent window for half of the day , I thought how nice , it would bring in the light , it will .

So blurry ! Sorry ,I will frame it out nicely , we are thinking cut glass insert , I know you can make your own at a shop in the next town , it would be like something you would find in a century old home .

Don't you worry it will be great I know it . Right ?

Home Improvement Year in Review

I see that many are gathering their top ten projects , well I can't decide so I will show all that I recall worth mentioning . Every year I try to make little improvements to make my home pleasing to me , I try to use little money , that is my main challenge . I love to do the work myself , it makes me happy and it is my hobby, as well as my thing.
Well lets get started then :

Painting the stairs , I gave the stairs a fresh color scheme of black and white , it took too many hours to mention , and I think it was well worth the effort. Mason's bunk bed was brown when we bought it , when the kids returned to school I tackled the painting , what a difference, her room is fresh and bright.

Spraying this wicker chair , it was a yellow color which I liked but didn't love , now I can say I love it .

Hold up , ok this is my BIG mistake of 2008 , I took reference from a favorite photo of a living room but it did not translate to my home , I very quickly painted it a soft cream which I LOVE .

They all can't be gems right ! Oh that is so awful.

Replacing the tile in the entry to this slate , I love this material , it is wonderful to live with in the winter , salt and snow are no match , incredible !, I will use this in my next house as well , all those who encouraged me , thank you , you were correct , its fantastic. But let me say I will have it installed next time , this is not to be messed with , I learned the hard way .
Dining room /kitchen swinging door , my favorite addition I have made thus far to the entire house , it is charming and pretty as well as functional , it keeps the kitchen family room warm in these winter months, it allows me to keep my dogs in there when it is needed , it is some what of a sound reducer when the kids are little loud for our liking.

I have also added these creamy stripes to the wall , I love that .

The shell mirror.

Painting and changing the fabric on this Craigslist find transformed it into a pretty computer chair.

The family room ceiling and beam addition were a very popular treatment , I believe adding features like this changes a house , gives it a soul and charm. Notice the creamy walls , ahh that's better.

My recent rough workspace is something I am very glad to have .

Brackets were added to further add charm to my kitchen .

The legs I added to the bathroom vanity were well over due.

I took a leap and painted my master deep brown , it makes for a wonderfully cozy room great for napping .

The dresser I found on Craigslist again it was $60.00 I painted it with the stripes .

Finally using fabric that I had in the basement to recover the settee seat cushion that was showing a great deal of wear , I like the mix and match casual look.

I also this year painted the coffee table a soft blue .

The $15.00 silver lined lamp shade over an existing fixture in the powder room .

The open cupboard for display over the new fridge is just what my kitchen needed , I lined the back with beadboard , of course.

Well there you go , that is most of what I achieved to improve my home this year , it looks like I am running out of things to do .

For this year I plan on tackling my bedroom , it needs all the trim work updated , also my bath need more trim work , beadboard or wainscot?

I am hoping to work on the backyard this summer, we really need to tackle a storage building to empty out our small garage .

The basement is the space in need of finishing , an office for my husband, a storage / workshop , for me , walls and ceilings , and a beautiful laundry room . But we will will have to see about all of that .

I hope you enjoyed my year in review / interior decor.

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2008/12/test.html for more wonderful year inreview posts check out Romantic Home , wonderful.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to remind us about what is really important , some events can make your world stand completely still .
If you have experienced a pregnancy or are you know that it comes with many hopes and dreams , as well as fears and concerns . A mother's love begins well before the day a baby is born , you know your little one , you talk to them touch them , can't wait to meet them .

Oh so sadly and suddenly my brother and sister in law's dear baby was taken , at 34 weeks, so close to her given due date. We were with them through it all , these were the toughest days we have ever had to endure . She was a perfect baby girl who looked like her mama , she is one of 8 cousins , she is missed and loved and will always be , she is truly an angel.

I struggled whether or not this would be something I share with you , I decided I would as most or my readers are women, some expecting right now and that I would. The reason I share this is to hopefully prevent this from happening as awareness is key and especially since no parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child.
Toximia , preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome , this is the reason for their loss .
Two weeks prior everything was fine , blood pressure normal , then suddenly and without real symptoms that would warn of the situation at hand , it was too late . My sister in laws life was in danger as well, her blood pressure so high , liver function was diminishing and her blood dangerously thinning .
She is physically recovering now , which we are so grateful for . And they are strong and there for each other . I am so sorry that they have to endure this , all I wished was to turn back the hands of time and change this outcome.
Please if you are expecting check out this link , make sure you are aware of all the signs , and never hesitate to go in to your doctor, although pregnancy can be uncomfortable not all pains and symptoms are ok , just air on the side of caution .http://www.preeclampsia.org/index.asp