Show Us Where You Live Fridays: Dining Room

Welcome to our dining room! The dining room is right off our front foyer when you walk in the front door. It is to the right. The dining room opens to the kitchen at one end and to the home office at the other end (off the french doors). It is around 12x12, so it isn't huge, but we don't have massive dining room furniture. The space gets good light and has 10 foot ceilings with transom windows above both door entries.

Here are some basics:
Paint: Sherwin Williams Blond
Furniture: Keller brand
Light fixture: National Home Center
Drapery fabric: P. Kaufmann Queensland



I've had the dining room furniture for 11 years, and I intentionally selected casual furniture with no upholstery, so that the room can be kid-friendly. I didn't want the dining room to be a formal room that was only used a few times per year where it would seem like a wasted use of space. At our house, we use it as an extension of the eat-in kitchen and try to make it kid-friendly. We use the dining room regularly when we host friends for meals, and kids often eat in there. I wanted wood furniture that could withstand regular wear and be wiped clean without having to worry about fabric stains. Eventually, this set will probably go in our kitchen, and we will upgrade to more ornate dining furniture once all the kids are older. We have an additional leaf for the table in order to sit eight. When we use the leaf, we can seat 16 people for a meal with the bar stools, kitchen table, and dining table! We actually use this area when feeding people during cookouts, and we are all eating on paper plates!



The china cabinet holds mainly vintage Blue Ridge dishes which I collect. We never registered for formal china and wouldn't use it with our casual lifestyle. I enjoy vintage pieces, and they add nice color to the room. The drapes were preowned, custom made, pinch-pleated drapes that I won on Ebay! They were being sold by a woman from another state who was redecorating, and I had used this exact fabric before and knew what it looked like in person. They are also fully lined and have 4 inch bouillion fringe down the front edges. I won them for under $150 and then had the length altered to fit my windows. It was a great find, as they are in mint condition!



We have plans to tear up the carpeting and put in hardwood flooring in the dining room next spring, and I will be glad to have a solid surface again, so I don't have to worry about spilled drinks or food on the carpet . . . because real kids do live here! We miss the hardwood flooring of our previous house which we left 5 months ago.



We enjoy this casual space and think it fits our lifestyle well. Thanks for stopping by!

Excavation

It's been a busy few days! Stuart's parents came up to Bentonville on Friday night and spent the weekend with us. It was their first time here, and the boys were so glad to see them. We drove them around the area and went to War Eagle Mill, but I got carsick feeling on the drive back from sitting between the two boys in the third row of the van while we went around a bunch of winding roads.

I officially finished my semester on Monday, and I am free of grading until August! I do have a lot of work to do for my job this summer, as the college is completely redesigning my Comp I class, so we have new curriculum standards to implement, new assignments, and two new textbooks. So, I will be making one or two quick trips to Little Rock for training, and I will have to spend some time each week typing up new lecture notes and assignment sheets, as well as reading up in the new textbooks. It looks like I will be increasing to five college sections in the fall which is full-time employment. Hudson will be starting kindergarten, and Arden will start out at 2 days per week at First Baptist preschool, but she might increase to 3 days per week at some point soon.

On Tuesday, we had drain basins with underground piping put all around our house to carry standing water that we have in several low areas due to the slope of our house. The water will be carried underground to a different part of the yard and released with a regulated pop-up drain. We now have ditch marks all around our yard, so we are hoping the bermuda grass will grow quickly and cover back all the damage. Hopefully, this will be a solution for all the water that floods our driveway and front yard every time it rains! Our phone line was cut during the trenching, so we have no landline right now until the phone company gets out here.

We are going to travel down to Little Rock for the weekend to see family and friends, and it's the first time we have all been back together since the move. We are hoping Arden travels well since the only time we drove this far with her was late at night, so she slept most of the way! She isn't the best traveler!

It has been a nice, sunny week with temps in the high 70's -- perfect May weather!

Arden Girl

She's sassy, spunky, and full of spirit.
She says "no" and "yeah" with a full Southern twang.
She can hold down a four year old boy and win the battle.
She can sneak chocolate and find the hidden snacks with the best of thieves.
She laughs with her mouth wide open and is passionate about everything.
She's full of opinions already and not afraid to voice them.
She knows how to hold a cell phone on her shoulder, and she never stops talking.
When you tell her no, it doesn't phase her.
When she's mad, she's very, very mad, and when she's happy, she's adorable.
When she gets laughing, it is hard to stop, and everyone joins in.
Little boys already like her, and she enjoys making them chase her.
She loves to curl up in her child size rocking chair with a good book.
She's a good sleeper, but she's very cranky if she can't get enough sleep.
She's strong willed, she's an entertainer, she's confident, she's a fighter.


So, where do you think she gets this? We have no idea.

Show Us Where You Live Fridays: Nursery

This week on Kelly's Korner we are showing pictures of our chidren's rooms or nurseries.

I have chosen to give a tour of my daughter's nursery. When I found out that she was going to be a girl, I was thrilled because I had never gotten to decorate with pink before (my older children are boys). I had a fun time picking out all the colors and the patterns for the fabric.




My dream was always to have "shabby chic" themed nursery, so that was the goal. The crib bedding was the inspiration which I worked from. I had actually seen the floral fabric long before and knew I loved its vintage look. The day after I found out that I was having a girl, I saw this preowned, custom crib bedding set on an Ebay auction! It was perfect, and I couldn't believe that it was made with the exact fabric that I had wanted to use all along. I won the auction for $150 and got the crib bedding set which was all custom sewn, as well as the lampshade and the slipcover for the child's
chair. I looked around and was able to find a child's chair at a consignment sale for $12 which fit the slipcover nicely.





Later, I added the pink central park toile fabric and ordered replacement cushions for my existing Dutailier glider rocker in that print, and I had drapes with blackout lining sewn in the same fabric.


Since the room is 12x12, I wanted to preserve as much floor space as possible for playing. The room has two closets, so I put drawers inside one of the closets for clothing, and it saved floor space by not using a dresser or chest in the room until she is older.

Here are the main items which I purchased to complete the room:
rug: Pottery Barn Kids
lamp base: Pottery Barn Kids
hanging peg shelf: Land of Nod
bookcase: Land of Nod
chandelier: Land of Nod
vintage style wall clock: Storytime Collection by Timeworks
throw pillow: sewn by www.javisdavis.com
paint: Benjamin Moore Mellowed Ivory (*see my post on how difficult it was to get the right color green paint for this room!)

The vintage ceiling tile above the bookcase was purchased from Ebay, and I repainted it and mounted it to a 30" piece of painted wood which I had cut at a local hardware store. The hanging bookcase with blanket rack was a handmade gift that we received for our wedding, and I painted and distressed it for my nursery.

My favorite item in the room is the wall canvas above the crib which is 36" diameter. It is handpainted with my daughter's monogram, and it was made locally by one of my talented friends whom I paid to do the project for me.




This is one of my favorite rooms in my house, and I like it so much that I had twin bedding made in all the same fabrics, so my daughter can transition to a twin bed next year and still leave all the accessories and other decor the same.

Thanks for stopping by!

On Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, exactly nine years ago, I went to church with Stuart and was dreading every step into the sanctuary. I had a pit in my stomach and a knot in my throat. I knew that it would be the "ode to mother's" sermon, and it would open all my painful wounds of infertility and loss. Sure enough, there was some part during the sermon where all the mothers were asked to stand up, so the congregation could applaud them and honor them. To me, that felt like a public demonstration of my barrenness. I was one who would have to sit. I was the one who had been married eleven years at the time, so everyone would wonder why I was childless. I was one who wouldn't get a day to honor her contributions. I felt like I was inadequate as a wife and a woman. I felt like my life would have no meaning without being able to become a parent.

Later in the service, I left the middle of the sermon and ran into the church bathroom, and I could hold in my sobs no longer. I leaned against the cold, metal stall and doubled over in silent screams. After church, I went home and threw all the temperature charts, journals, baby items, and pregnancy books into my attic in a big box. I threw myself on my bedroom carpet on my face and sobbed and sobbed . . . for the life I had dreamed of that wasn't to be, for every month of disappointing news, for the money that had been spent and lost on treatments, for the heartache, the feeling of abandonment, and the isolation between me and all my friends who were now mothers. For the first time in my life, I had finally gotten to the end of myself. I had done everything humanly possible to conceive, and after two and a half years, it hadn't worked.

Time passed. I began to feel a peace about stopping fertility treatments, and I just let go of what I wanted for my life. I prayed that God would show me what He wanted my focus to be. I decided to focus on my teaching and how I might impact student's lives in meaningful ways that would make a difference. I sincerely believed that I wouldn't have a child of my own, and I was trying to find peace with that new "normal."

About six months later, I heard of a new, experimental use for a drug that could help with conception. It was on the market for other uses, but in FDA trials for infertility. I had stopped all the expensive injections, hormones, and procedures, but this new option was a much more affordable drug with less side effects. I asked my doctor to let me try it, and I conceived during the first month. One year after the painful church service, it was Mother's Day again; however, this time I was in church with my hand on my stomach, feeling my baby kicking inside of me.

In July 2001, I gave birth to Owen. He was my first miracle.
In August 2004, I gave birth to Hudson. A second miracle.
In December 2007, I gave birth to Arden. A third miracle.

All three of my children were conceived with medical treatment for infertility. No pregnancy came easily or quickly. All three of my children were preterm. Over the course of three pregnancies and deliveries, I went through 9 days of NICU, 4 months of heart monitors, 2 years with a heart condition and regular visits to a pediatric cardiologist, 10 weeks on bedrest, 17 weeks of intermuscular hormone injections given by my husband, 16 weeks on Brethine pills, and 1 pregnancy with placenta previa. And it was worth it. Every second, every shot, every sacrifice.

On Mother's Day, I look back at how far I've come, the journey I've been on, and I'm so thankful that God allowed me to have, not one, but three amazing children. I am richer for having gone through infertility and for knowing the real miracle of birth. I don't ever take that for granted.

Infertility is like a scar; it is always there to remind you of what you've been through. You might become a survivor and achieve a pregnancy, but it doesn't ever erase the pain or the blessings of the experience. I still grieve for women I know who are facing this challenge today; it is impossible to understand how it feels unless you have been in those dark places yourself. It changed my values, my priorities, my entire life.

I'm a survivor of infertility. I remember, and I am a better person because of it.

Meet Stuart

I saw this questionnaire on Shannon's blog and thought it was cute. So, for my readers who might not know my husband, here's a little bit about my better half, otherwise known as Stuart.

1. Where did you meet?
We met in Stillwater, OK, in August 1987 when I was a freshman at Oklahoma State University. He was my graduate teaching instructor for my American history course! I got an "A" -- ha ha!
2. How long did you date before you were married?
Three years - we were married in August 1990
3. How long have you been married?
We will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary on August 4. I can't believe it's been that long; I also can't believe we have a 1 year old at our age
4. What does he do that surprises you?
He will sometimes bring home an unexpected treat, like chocolate, for me for no particular occasion. Whenever I catch him cleaning, it is always a nice surprise since that's not his favorite thing to do. He will try to help by cleaning up when I'm gone, and he knows it's a big deal to me to come home to a clean house.
5. What is your favorite feature of his?
His smile
6. What is your favorite quality of his?
His ability to be a great friend. He has very deep loyalty and devotion to his friendships and puts a lot of effort into maintaining them. He will drive hours to go to a friend's father's funeral or be there at the hospital when one of his friends has surgery. He enjoys pouring his life into servanthood for his relationships.
7. Does he have a nickname for you?
Not really.
8. What is his favorite color?
I think green, but I'm not really sure!
9. What is his favorite food?
pizza
10. What is his favorite sport?
He loves football and baseball.
11. When and where was your first kiss?
Sometime in the spring of 1988 after we had been dating a little while. We went to the Oklahoma City Zoo for the day, and he kissed me goodnight in his car when he brought me back to the dorm. Of course, the campus police came up behind us and flashed their bright light into our car and everything ... pretty embarrassing!
12. What are your favorite things to do as a couple?
Watching movies, going out to eat, playing with the kids, roadtrips, going to the rare concert (we've been to James Taylor, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, and Kenny Chesney)
13. Do you have children?
Three, ages 7, 4, and 1
14. Does he have a hidden talent?
He has a photographic memory. It drives me crazy because he never has to reread anything, and he could coast through most of his education because he never had to study. It's so unfair!
15. How old is he?
46
16. Who said, "I love you" first?
I think it was on the same day, probably by Valentine's Day in 1988
17. What is his favorite type of music?
contemporary Christian and classic rock (he went to a Springsteen concert, and it's one of his best memories). He endures country for me and bought me front row tickets to see Brad Paisley which was our best date EVER!
18. What do you admire most about him?
his intelligence, his loyalty to his friends, his willingness to follow Christ at any cost
19. Do you think he will read this?
Yep, he lurks on my blog and then gives me feedback on my posts
20. What color are his eyes?
green
21. What is his occupation?
prosecuting attorney for Benton County, AR

Show Us Where You Live Friday: Living Room

A blog I love named Kelly's Korner is doing weekly home tours on Fridays. This week the subject is LIVING ROOMS.

So, here is a brief tour of my living space in our new house. We moved into this house 4 months ago after a move across the state due to a job change. I just got the last few wall ledges hung last week!

Basic info:

Location: Northwest Arkansas
Age: built in 2006, we are the third owner, and the house had gone through foreclosure
Setting: urban, developed subdivision with HOA, small lots around .25 acre size
Paint: Blonde #6128 by Sherwin Williams

We have two living areas in this house, a downstairs living room and an upstairs bonus room. The bonus room is mainly the "kid space" where my two older boys play and watch tv.

I really like the living room and its flow. It is in the back of the house which makes it feel cozy, and it is right off the kitchen and eating area. You can see all the way through the kitchen area to the dining room and front office, so it feels very open. There are 12 foot ceilings throughout which makes it feel roomy. The actual room itself is pretty large; I think it is around 19x20 feet. We have a large couch and loveseat in there now (both pieces are floating away from the wall), but we need a chair, ottoman, and side table to go in front of the windows. That is on our list once we get some more money. For now, the Rainforest Jumperoo is filling the spot!








I love casual, traditional style, and most of the items are pretty classic. I also try to buy at least 50% of all our furniture, decor, and our family's clothing used. That is one of my "green goals" as well as a way to help save money. In the living room, the sofa, loveseat, lawyer's bookcase, vintage desk, and 7 foot silk tree were all purchased used from various sales, auctions, or Craigslist. The leather ottoman and the wheel on the wall were on sale from Pottery Barn. The mantle decor with the iron piece (which I believe is exactly like Kelly's in her pics!) and the two topiaries are from Ballard Designs catalog.





I love the space, and it works well for our family which has three kids ages 7, 4, and 1. The chenille tapestry upholstery is wonderful for durability and hiding dirt/stains. I've had it for 6 years, and the pieces were purchased from a friend who was redecorating. So, they have held up well for that many years of use! On the large doorway going into the living room, I applied a Bible verse using vinyl lettering. I love how it turned out; it was so easy, and everyone thinks it is handpainted!





I'd love to eventually tear up the carpet and put in wood floors like I had in my previous house, but we can't afford it right now. Maybe in a year or two!

I think I need something over our new tv, but I'm not sure what would look good over a television? There's not enough height for a framed print. I'm thinking maybe a large barn star or an oversized clock, but I don't know. Any suggestions would be great!!



The bonus room upstairs has a sleeper sofa, chair, tv, and game table with four chairs. It is also where we have all the games/crafts in the big closet and my sewing machine. Eventually, we plan to do a row of several tall bookcases along the large wall behind the couch. We love having an extra living area in this new house!




Thanks for stopping by!

*if you want, you can also check out my laundry room makeover and my foyer makeover.

Picture Perfect

I love photos!

Now, I don't actually enjoy the photo shoot itself, and it usually sends me into a migraine headache. You understand the effort and stress, if you have preschool children, and you have wrestled them into their outfit and pleaded with them to cooperate, smile, and sit still for a photo. Usually, I am praying the entire time that I didn't just waste my expensive sitting fee, only to end up with all the photos showing my boys wrestling with each other or my daughter crying!

Luckily, I have found some good photographers over the years who work with young kids frequently, and they actually enjoy that age! They don't try too hard to get the pictures to be posed, and they take candid shots of the kids just playing around during the shoot. I especially like the up-close shots they take of my kids' facial expressions. I have never had a photo shoot yet where I didn't end up with plenty to choose from.

That creates another dilemma: where do you hang all these pictures? I am someone who has been getting professional photos of my children at birth, 6 months, 1 year, and then once a year after that. By the time my son Owen was seven, he had at least nine photo shoots which had yielded at least forty photos in various sizes from his photo sessions alone! When you add in the pictures of my two other children, I could fill a museum with all my prints. I don't want to hang too many photos of my children, as my house has a tendency to look like a shrine to the Cearley Clan, but I always hate to take down photos that I enjoy and that cost a lot of money.

After Arden turns two, I may switch to going to professional photo shoots every two years, since the kids aren't changing in their appearance as quickly anymore as they did in the first two years. That will help with how many photos are generated, as well as my budget!

In the meantime, the solution that I've enjoyed for decorating my home with photos has been to use black metal art frames with white mats. I order most of my prints in black and white, so that they can be easily grouped together from various sessions over the years without having to worry that the color choices in the outfits don't match. Too many color prints put in a grouping often looks too overwhelming. Typically, I'll get a few desk size 5x7 prints in color and use them on table tops in single frames, or I'll order the rare 11x14 or 16x20 wall portait in color and hang it alone or in a group of two prints. All the rest of my pictures are black and white. This also helps with dressing for the pictures because I usually stick with denim, white, khaki, or black and use clothes we already own. These neutrals look best in black and white prints, and they lend themselves to a timeless appearance in the photo.

Once I get my prints framed in my collection of black art frames, I hang them in groupings on the wall or on wooden photo ledges. Then, I routinely change out which photos I display, so that I can always see all my pictures throughout the course of the year. I simply store the extra prints in photo boxes in my bedroom, and then I don't have to feel like ALL my pictures have to be on display.

This has been the most cost-effective way to display my photography, and it also allows quite a few photos to be grouped together at one time. I rarely buy any frames, and I can reuse the art frames in my collection and easily turn them vertically or horizontally on a ledge. I purchased all the art frames at Hobby Lobby during their half price sale, so they were cost effective.

I enjoy walking through my home and seeing my collections. Maybe one day I'll own a home that provides a lot more wall space to display my photography, but I like my ledges so much, I might just keep them anyway.