meet Jake.....and yes, two blog posts in one day!

photography of Jake by Nicole Everson with permission for blog post.

And before I dive into details of his room, let me first thank Nicole Everson, for the beautiful photography of Jake she allowed me to use for this post. Please, please, please, check out her website, by clicking here. or here http://www.nicoleeversonphotography.com/blog/ ..... I just adore these photos of Jake! She did an awesome job and I know she is recommend highly by her clients. Please check her out! Thanks Nicole! 

I was sitting at a friend's home working on the room for their daughter from China back in March. If you remember this.....

when I got an email from Jake's mom. It went something like this.... "We have been on an adoption waiting list for over a year. It could be another year, or just a week when we get 'the call' that the agency has a baby for us, but I can't stand to stare at blank beige walls any longer. Will you create us a gender neutral nursery?"

I got chills as I shared the email with my friend as she walked back in the room. I had just taken on the above room for an adoptive family and now God brought me another one. How awesome to unite three families together doing our adoption journey. It was so encouraging.

So, I went to meet up with Jake's Parents-to-be, to scope out the space....

and got my mind moving. 

Keep in mind, we don't know what gender we are getting or when. My plan was to get this room done timely, but also not rush, but  let each element bring the parents joy and excitement as they wait. This couple truly didn't know when they would get "the call". This agency they used, call you when the baby is 5 days old to go pick him/her up. So we started with the walls.....

The crib wall...

I was THRILLED when the peeps were up to planking that focal wall. We whitewashed it for our neutral look. The lights above the crib in this picture still had some work to be done with wiring. I opted for those for obvious reason (PRECIOUS) and because this would play double duty for the mobile also. Paint job on the furniture was done by my precious friend and also my partner in crime as I call her. For you locals, you can check out all Jennifer's beauties at her booth Vintage Flair in Highland's Antique' Mall.

We then striped the wall (I say we lightly, because the homeowners became my best friend. He's quite handy, and was able to save them some $$ by all that he did in the room! not to mention got to add his touch to it.)

I opted for a branch we painted for the curtain rod in this space. You will see better pics below......

I wanted to frame the Chalkboard wall, (yes, I chalked the adjacent stripe wall) so got the talented Dondee Hicks from Artist Tree to come add me a border....which I can't find pictures of before we spruced it up...so you'll have to wait for the below, but she did, oh so fab!!

 I had asked the mama-to-be to give me one word to describe how she feels about her upcoming arrival. A few weeks after this last pic is shown, I went to go hang that word.....

I had this STRONG feeling, that I had to go hang that THAT day. I even told the mama. I didn't hardly have time to even squeeze it in, but I got there and did. The VERY last thing to be hung and put in place until we knew if we could add blue or pink to this room. We didn't know how long we would have to wait to do that, but the beautiful thing is............

We didn't have to wait. The very NEXT day, they received the call. And the following day, they picked up their new son......

We both stood in amazement. God provided every little detail, and in His perfect timing. When she first contacted me it was because she was tired of staring at blank walls, and when I finished I prayed they wouldn't stare at the ones I did for long. When I shared with Tim, he was in awe at How God provided such a beautiful thing with that timing. 

So because we were now ready to add the boyish touches to the room, we had a little (a lot actually) fun with the colors, especially, since mom and dad are huge Alabama fans and they love red. So are you ready to see Jake's room?? I am BLESSED to be able to share it with you. This family blessed my socks off, and I am thrilled and honored they asked me to do this room for this blessing they now call Son :)

Welcome to Jake's Room.....

So thankful for that little guy :) 

You peeps have a great week, and I'll see you back here soon!

I am in love...

just finished up a room for two of the cutest twins I know. One of the most fun projects we've ever done. We are thrilled with the way it turned out! 

details later........ Goodnight peeps!

random thoughts and a recipe!

I just love this time of year. It makes me want to pack up and move to where ever there is fall weather year 'round. I have enjoyed much quiet times out here.........

It's a perfect place to grade my girl's papers and just clear my mind.





One thing Emily asked with home schooling this year is that she learn how to cook. I realize, I let my girls help out a lot in the kitchen, but for them to truly learn how to cook, they need to see from start to finish. Just like I do with you in the pictures of a recipe. If they pick up in the middle, then they just might have missed the important parts.


Just because you might do something really well or a lot, doesn't mean your children are learning. They might see the end results, but miss the lesson on how you got to that point.


That's how it is in all of life isn't it?


I think sometimes, most of my arguments and corrections to my children might possibly be because I have not "taught" them. They might have watched me a million times, but it's not the same. For my children to know my passions, my desires, my struggles and my thoughts I need to tell them why I am passionate about something, or desire it, why I am struggling and what I'm thinking when I do something, or did something. I shouldn't always just expect them to see it through their young eyes.


I like details. I like to look at things and just stare at them sometimes. Sometimes it's just to soak up the beauty in the details and sometimes it's to add the beauty.

We've been working on our kitchen for a couple months now. It's very livable and perfectly functional, we are just doing what we can to finish the details and that takes some time. In the midst of it, I decide to add this or take away that. I decide which colors I would like to enjoy in that room. I like a little of the unexpected.


My china cabinet is a perfect example. When painting, I decided to start at the bottom. Right before moving to the top I decided I might leave it white awhile and see if I like it. I do! :)

Then a couple months later I decided, although I want it kept white, I still wanted to add another element. Something else to make it pop. I had some burlap already and decided it would be slipped in, between the glass and cut out.

I love it. (now if I could just jump up to Birmingham and pick up some awesome knobs for the upper cabinets it would be complete. maybe this one!)




Then, as we wait for our back splash to go up hopefully this month; I decided since I had chalk board paint, why not paint the back splash on this side of the room for some fun. "If I like it, I'll keep it", I thought, and if not, we can tile over it.




I love it.




Sometimes you just have to try it. See if you like it. Never get "use to" something. Like it, then love it, or change it and get rid of it!



I'll leave you with something we made for lunch today. It was when I was shopping in the produce section that made me think that I would give it a try....

 

 I recommend popping your thin pork cutlets in the freezer and let them freeze a bit before chopping, makes it much easier....

Chop up your pork in tiny pieces....

.

In a skillet on med high heat, add a drizzle or olive oil and about a 1/4 of a small onion, thinly sliced.

sprinkle with salt and cook 3-5 mins. then add about 2 Tbls of soy sauce and stir...

pour your entire bag of broccoli slaw mix and about 1/4 cup of Hoisin Sauce and give it a stir....Heat is still at med high....

Only let that cook about another 3 mins. You don't want soggy, you want a little crunch!

Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees and take your egg roll filling off the burner and set aside.

Take your wrappers (found in Publix produce section) and follow the back of the directions on how to fold....

 

 

 

 

brush with olive oil and pop them in the oven for about 12 minutes! Serve with Duck Sauce and/or Dumpling Sauce and have a Cold Cucumber Salad on the side.

 

 

 

This made about 18 egg rolls. I choose baking for the healthy version, and so that I could eat two and not feel guilty at all! Enjoy :)