i need to get organized

So, I made a style board for EJ's room.

Here is the plan:

vintage

grays

bunting over the crib

blues

quilts

greens

art on the walls

mustard

bird mobile

pink

wallpaper behind the book shelves

velvet couch

chandelier

typewriter

square rug

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Things are finally starting to take form around here.  I spent 5 HOURS yesterday re-doing this changing table for EJ.

My mother and I got it from the Monroe Cotton Mills Antique Mall for $35.  That place is worth a visit by the way...it is the largest antique mall in the south and 3rd largest in the States.  Who would have known, right in my own backyard! I am so pleased with how it turned out.  It was a pretty nasty green but I fixed that right up with my trusty Antique White Eggshell Glidden paint.  (also used to do this and this)

I am slowly accumulating things I LOVE.  What is so wonderful about decorating a nursery is that you have several months to do it.  I feel like I have really been able to think and research how I would like to do her room instead of making hasty impulsive decisions (which I am pretty good at doing).  The following project of how I did the dresser can be seen here.

Decorating this baby girl's nursery is almost as fun as making the baby herself...almost.


***Post Edit: here is the link to the finished nursery***

I know...I know...

It's still only November but I couldn't wait any longer.  Our Christmas Decorations have been going up for the past week now.  I started listening to the Pandora Christmas music station on November 1st.

For John's birthday my mother gave us a firestarter to have our FIRST fire in our fireplace.  We can't wait.  But this Atlanta weather just really cant decide what it wants to be.  Today I rolled up my pants legs and didn't even wear a coat. WHERE ARE YOU WINTER??

I went to Hobby Lobby to return some knobs that I got for (this) project.  I had planned on just getting my money back but in true female fashion the crafts were screaming my name not to leave the store empty handed.  So...I succumbed.

I wanted to get a couple of wreaths to go in the living and dining room areas.  So, I took a look.  

80 bucks...90 bucks...for a wreath!?

Heck, I'll just make my own. So, I found plain wreaths that were on sale for %50 off so I got them for $4!! Then I picked up a few berries and went home and got to work.

I wanted something really simple and clean.  So I went with earthy colored berries.  I love how simple and beautiful it turned out.

Cost: $6 each as opposed to $80.  I'll take it!

Then I took some extra old lace that I used to make this (earring holder)and I glued some berries on to the lace.  Then I hot glued it closed and used it as garland to go around the chandelier in the dining room.

Mr. Murphy and I started seriously dating around this time last year so this is a particularly special time of year for us.  I love thinking back to all of my memories from last year.  I am so pleased with how our lives have progressed in this past year.

I remember going down to my Nanny's for Thanksgiving last year and texting John the whole time missing him and longing for his presence.  My Nanny asked me if I thought I was going to marry him.  I told her there was no possible way.  She disagreed.

(mr. murphy is wearing a hat that I made. he sure can rock a flower)

We had our first kiss on December 3rd 2009 and we were engaged on January 3rd 2010. Grandmothers sure do know best. (and apparently can tell the future.)

Happy Holidays my sweet friends!  Enjoy every single minute of it, this time of year goes by fast!

I'm just too far from where you are

We believe in family.  We believe in love.  We believe that "Home can be a Heaven on Earth". Truly.  

Becoming a wife and a homemaker has been the most exhilarating and fulfilling experience of my life.  The greatest happiness anyone will ever feel will come from a love filled, spirit filled, and peace filled home.

I love making our home a place of comfort and a place of love.  My heart sings with joy when I hear John say his prayers at night and he says things like, "Thank you for my wonderful wife and all of the hard work she does to make our place a home." Wow.  I am so happy.  I never knew life could be so good.

"I believe our problems, almost every one, arise out of the homes of the people. If there is to be reformation, if there is to be a change, if there is to be a return to old and sacred values, it must begin in the home. It is here that truth is learned, that integrity is cultivated, that self-discipline is instilled, and that love is nurtured." -Gordon B. Hinckley

"Old sacred values", I sure hope we are living by those.  I loved President Hinckley.  I am grateful for his words because it reminds me that we have the responsibility to make our homes worthy of the Lord's spirit and worthy of our beautiful families.

Here are a few of my favorite scenes from around our little home.  We love where we live and the safety and peace we feel in our home.

I am John's queen so I get to hang my towel on a crown.

Do you remember reading this book as a child?  Wednesday night when I went to my Aunt's house she gave John and I this one of a kind vintage board game.  It is a game that Beatrix Potter herself made up!

I love our bird egg blue antique shower rings and ruffled shower curtain.

I really have an unhealthy obsession with a few things.  Birdcages and scarves.

We found these letters (antiquing on Labor Day) So happy to have finally found the spot for them.

My favorite scenes though are those that involve our music.  John and I make our home come to life when we play our music.  Life is so beautiful and we love our HOME.

Please don't forget to enter our GIVEAWAY! You have until Monday to ENTER!!


(enter here)

P.S. for those who HAVE entered and sent us song suggestions and recipes, we are enjoying them SO MUCH!  We are so overwhelmed with delicious things to cook and beautiful songs to learn!  Thank you!