Imperfection is Okay

Since the summer season ended I have made it a goal of mine to show more love. I want to do what I can to build community with the people God has placed in my life. One of the ways I’m doing this is by having the group of college-age retreat staff from camp over for dinner/games every other week. Last night was the third time I have had this group over and we had great fun! There are probably seven or eight of us all together and it’s really casual…just hanging out and getting to know them a little better outside of work. I am always nervous about having guests over to my house for some reason. I just want everyone to be comfortable and have a great time. This usually equals me being stressed and talking too fast.

Even still, I really love these friends and we always have fun hanging out and laughing and making fun of each other. After they left and I looked around there were empty cans everywhere, napkins and crumbs on the table and floor. The couch cushions were misshapen and the sink was full of dishes. And I loved it. I love my house more when it is imperfect and loud and comfortable than when it is perfectly clean and quiet.

I grew up in quite a large family (I’m one of six kids).

Let’s be honest, our house was never perfect. There were dishes in the sink sometimes. There was laundry in the back hall. But I loved it there, and still do...because it is always full of love and laughter and fun. My siblings were (are) my best friends, and our house was constantly alive with silly skits that we made up or songs that we wrote. The living room was frequently turned into a movie theatre, a hair salon, a grocery store. My mom was the perfect lady to be a mother to a big brood like us because she was okay with a little imperfection. Maybe this is where I get the idea...

Houses are not made to be museums. What fun is it to have a couch that no one can use because you are afraid it will be ruined? I had a friend who had a car and because they didn’t want to mess it up they would never take it anywhere. Salt water at the beach would ruin the paint, long trips would put too many miles on it. This isn’t living in my mind! I don’t want anyone to feel scared to put a drink down on a table or sit in a chair at my house. Yes, I keep it neat and tidy, but I use the things I have. That is their purpose! Life is way too short to worry about little things. So invite people over! Use your glass dishes! Babysit your friend's kids and let them draw sidewalk chalk pictures all over your driveway. In my eyes, a little imperfection is beautiful. It means life is happening...and life is beautiful isn’t it?

Coffee Table

The first thing I did when I moved into my place (after figuring out my decorating style) was to save up some money and purchase a couch and TV stand. To this date, these two things have been my only purchases over $100. I firmly believe in buying major pieces in good neutral tones so you can change the tone/feel of the room with inexpensive accessories. Buying a purple couch is not a great move. What if you decide you don’t want a purple room next year? You’re going to have to get a new couch...and that can be pricey.

After I had a couple of pieces I knew I needed a coffee table. Of course I was looking for something that wasn’t too expensive, but something that had that girly, cottage vibe. I saw this gem at Goodwill one Saturday when everything in the store was half off. This is how the conversation with the saleswoman went:

Me: “Excuse me ma’am. How much is this table?”
Sales Lady: “Um...I guess you can have it for $6”
Me (Immediately...and with way too much excitement): “I’ll take it!! Do you have someone that can put it in my truck!?”

Haha...$6! Can you believe that? I wish I had a before picture. This thing was ugly...kind of a seventies grainy wood tone with messed up legs. HOWEVER, at thrift stores and garage sales I simply look at the shape/style and condition of furniture. Everything else can be changed! If you like the shape and it’s sturdy buy it!

I sanded and painted it white with a couple of coats of semi-gloss and distressed the edges a little for that lived-in cottage charm. But there are so many options. Can you imagine how cute this table would be painted glossy black in a modern space? Or a bright teal or yellow for a pop of fun color in an otherwise neutral room? Love.

This table is a great size too! Because space is limited in my little place, I really put this guy to work. There have been multiple occasions where we have surrounded this table with pillows on the floor for snacks/Bible study/board games. It was worth every bit of that $6 price tag!

Go hit up those second hand stores. I’m serious. Drop your pride and really dig in. You are going to find some treasures! It’s completely worth a little extra effort and can take your rooms from bland and matchy matchy to a lovely mix of conversation pieces.

Why I save.

I have started writing recently about some of the decorating tips and tricks I've learned since moving into my first little place. As I post about this topic, you will start to notice a theme...and the theme is: FREE/CHEAP. Haha (this is also the theme of my clothing/food/technology:). I don't have a whole lot of money left over after living expenses, so decorating has been a little bit of a challenge. I have been forced to be creative.

But, the main reason I save money in every way that I can is so that I can use the money I do have to bless others. I believe everything we have belongs to God, and therefore trusting and honoring Him through our finances is important...no, it's required. It's not always easy to tithe, or to give that money away, but I've learned again and again that God will provide when we obey Him. And the blessings are completely worth the sacrifice. I mess up often. I get selfish and allow the voices of others to drown out the voice of God. I'm learning to trust Him with everything - and that includes my finances.

One of the organizations I really love and support is World Vision. About three years ago I adopted a little girl through this program. When you 'adopt' a World Vision child you agree to support them financially until they are adults (18). It is only $30 a month, which is basically nothing to us here in America, but it provides healthcare, basic necessities, education and more for these little ones. I choose to support a little girl from Mexico named Balbina. Here is a photo of her a few years ago when I first 'met' her:

Precious right?!

I have loved this sponsorship program. I send her letters and small gifts on a pretty regular basis and World Vision sends me an annual update on her progress, as well as a new picture and some drawings she has done. Here is the most recent picture I received:

She has grown up so much! I feel extremely connected to her even though we have never met.

I think we often choose to overlook the fact that there are children all around us who are dying everyday because of a lack of proper healthcare, food and clean water. $30 is so little but it can and does SAVE THEIR LIFE. And life is precious. No matter where they are born the lives of these children should be loved and protected. I would encourage you to go to the world vision website (www.worldvision.org) and choose a child to support if you have not. It's life changing. I also think it's an awesome thing to do with your children - to teach them how blessed they are - and to let them know that there are children just like them that they can bless using what they have. There are literally hundreds of ways to get involved and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. There are some awesome organizations out there. Some of my favorites are listed on the sidebar of my blog.

Also, look for more posts in the near future under the 'Love More' category where I will highlight organizations/ideas designed to support the defenseless, the wounded, the unprotected...so you can be aware and be involved!

"It is a tragedy to decide that a child must die so you may live as you wish." - Mother Theresa

Figuring out your Decorating Style

Moving into your first place can be extremely overwhelming. I remember being very stressed after moving into my house. How was I going to afford anything? Why didn't I have any utensils? Why was I 30 minutes from Walmart? Haha. After I hyperventilated for a few days, I finally decided to get to work. I had never lived anywhere by myself - and I had no idea how I wanted to decorate. Did I like modern finishes? Why was I drawn to a particular pillow? What did I love? It was a lot to take in. But it was exciting!

I began using free time to search for rooms that I loved. I pulled pictures from different places (ie: magazines, home decor blogs) and put them into one large document. I like to call these 'inspiration boards'. I make them for decorating, as well as events I help put together (baby showers, weddings, etc) to help me stick with a theme and be inspired. I noticed that most of the things I loved involved bright white sunny rooms with florals and chippy distressed paint. I discovered this decorating style was called Shabby Chic. Ta-da! I had some direction!

Here is my first inspiration board. It's still on my fridge:)

As I began to purchase things and put rooms together, I realized that I didn't love shabby chic in the truest sense of the word. I was more of a modern/shabby chic/cottage combo. As I acquire funds and add to my purchases I know my rooms will take more of a modern/rustic spin with some shabby chic/cottage thrown in. I would venture to say that very few of us have just one decorating style. A large percentage of people are a combination - like traditional/eccelectic or vintage/rustic. Find a picture of a room that you absolutely adore...something that makes you want to smile and jump up and down. Decide what it is that you love so much about that space and make it happen in your own way! Don't be afraid to mess up...

To me, the whole point of decorating is to end up with a space that you love and can use. I decided right off the bat that I wasn't going to purchase anything I didn't LOVE. Once you start getting key pieces you will notice some type of theme. Just remember - everyone doesn't have to love your home - YOU DO! If your space 'rises up to greet you' as Nate Berkus says then you have done something right!

Hello Nate!

Here are a few design style quizzes you can take for some guidance. They are mostly just for fun....and not 100% accurate...but they can give you a good idea:

http://www.homegoods.com/hghq_quiz.asp

http://www.ethanallen.com/style_quiz

http://www.sproost.com/

And rememember, don't get overwhelmed. You don't have to put a room together in a Saturday. Great spaces take time...and they look better in the end because they have been slowly filled with things you love - rather than a set from a furniture store.

Follow your bliss! :)

Dining In...

Here are a few pics of my latest project. I spent a little extra cash I had to update my eat-in kitchen. This is definitely not my favorite space in the house. But I did what I could with what I had...which is pretty much my life philosophy. :)

The ‘SWEET’ word above the window is some inexpensive wooden letters covered with scrapbook paper. Scrapbook paper is one of my favorite things in the world (more about that another time:).

My mom purchased the table and chairs from a moving sale. I think the set was $50? Something close to that. The tablecloth and curtains are from Target. I have a major crush on the 'Simply Shabby Chic' collection by Rachel Ashwell there.

I wasn’t sure what to do with the blank wall to the left of the table for a while. I was really inspired by some plate collages I saw online. I think this is just such a great idea for the kitchen/dining room. It’s using serving ware for art and I love that! I have been looking for a while for a way to tie my black table/appliances in with my circa 1991 sky blue countertops, and I thought this would work.

I had a hard time finding plates that went with the scheme I wanted that were not super expensive so I decided to make my own! I got these plates for 25 cents each – yes you heard that right – I almost hugged the lady at the counter when she told me my total. They’re ceramic and I thought I was getting them for $1 each which was a deal in itself! Love those surprises.

I then proceeded to cover the plates in scrapbook paper. I wasn’t kidding about my scrapbook love. It’s serious. :) I cut out shapes on a couple and just covered others. I used ‘mod podge’ which you can buy at any craft store.

I then purchased plate hangers from Hobby Lobby and laid the plates out on the floor until I liked the configuration. I measured the space between each plate, hung a few nails and wa-la! (spelling? :) a sweet little collage. I’m pretty proud of it...especially considering the whole thing cost around $15. You can’t beat that!

I’m sorry I don’t have ‘in progress’ pics. I didn’t know at the time that I would be blogging about this at some point. You can find some great tutorials online if you need more specific details.

One day, when I am a homeowner instead of renter, I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to do an all white plate collage on a beautiful colored wall...like this:

I already have a lot of white plates that I inherited from my sweet grandma...and my goodness that is lovely! For now, I am enjoying my first little place and hoping this collage draws attention away from my ‘renter tan’ walls.

Here is some more plate collage inspiration!

The great thing about this idea is that it doesn’t have to be expensive! You can collect different types of plates in a uniform color at thrift stores and garage sales.

It’s also really personal. You can decorate the plates however you want, choose a color scheme, or get creative and add whimsy with some great choices from fantastic online sites like etsy.

The possibilties are endless!

In honor of the dining space, a little food humor:

"If yogurt is so cultured, why haven't I ever seen it at an opera?"

Hahahahahaha...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it. I just had to. :)

From College Dorm to Cottage Charm...:)

We interrupt the usual super random blog ramblings to bring you the first of what I hope is many editions of...

drumroll please...

"Decorating without breaking the bank; but maybe breaking a nail!"

Because I’m on a super tight budget, almost everything in my house is a hand-me-down/garage sale/thrift store item. When I moved into my little blue house a couple of years ago I really had nothing at all. No couch. No TV. No bed. I had a camping chair and a TV on the floor in my living room for at least a couple of months. Talk about a college boys dorm room. Not cute! And since I'm a renter and have no idea how long I will be where I am, I could have just left it that way - lived with it - survived.

BUT, I am a firm believer in the fact that you do not have to have a lot of money to make your home into a place that you love. All it takes is a little creativity and some elbow grease! I also believe that you should love the place you live – even if you are renting and will only be there for a short time. Why live in transition? I like to feel settled – and to be surrounded by things that I love. I like to walk in the door after working all day and feel good, because I know my space is a reflection of me.

For me personally that means lots of cottage charm - distressed paint, pink and florals mixed with a little modern and rustic flair. *drifts into daydreams filled with a cottage in a field of wildflowers*

Okay, back to reality: I wanted to use my blog to share some of the tips/tricks I’ve learned while trying (after being forced?) to be a do-it-yourself girl. I'm not a professional and I know it's not everyone's taste, but maybe it will inspire you to give that old hand-me-down table another look. A couple $3.00 cans of spray paint and that could be your favorite piece of furniture! Look for some DIY cuteness in the near future...hooray!

Dreaming is Free.

I love my job to pieces...but sometimes I get on these kicks where I spend quite a few weekend hours just poring over house decorating blogs and dreaming of a full-time job of home improvement and antique restoration.

I love...and I mean LOVE...house decorating/renovation. Because I don't have any type of budget for this and I'm a renter, I guess you could say I live vicariously through bloggers/HGTV stars who do this for a living. I can't imagine how wonderful it would be to own a little cottage where I had the finances to buy floral pillows and white down comforters and paint and cover everything in reclaimed wood. Mmm. I get excited just thinking about it.

One of my dreams/life goals is to get married, have a ridiculous number of sweet babies and buy an 0ld beat-up house that we can love and make our own. I know that is a little silly but I'm serious! I would rather buy an old house and renovate it than build a completely new one.

I think my love for reclaimed/vintage things probably stems from the fact that I am extremely sentimental. I get giddy when I think about an unused piece of wood or furniture being given new life and turned into something lovely and cherished. Stories where an old house is purchased and restored makes me want to go out and hug the owners. I just adore that! Imagine all of the memories in those walls...the love shared there...the family Thanksgivings and Birthday parties. I think it's just lovely to think that your family could put down roots and build memories alongside those.

I dream of a house with a huge front porch for drinking lemonade and laughing...a house that's clean but comfortable. Where no one is scared to put a drink down without a coaster. A house that is filled to the brim with cookies and family and finger paintings hanging on the walls. A kitchen and dining room where we worry more about spending time together than gourmet meals and calorie counting...and a backyard where my kids can run through the sheets drying on the clothesline.

One of these days...

Until then, I'm happy to have my little blue rent house. I know I'm extremely blessed and there will probably be days down the road that will make me long for these days...when I can take a bubble bath or read a book pretty much anytime I want. There are definitely some positives in the right now....but a girl can dream right? :)