I Chose Dark Floors!

I finally made a decision about which hardwood floors I wanted and they started on Friday. I am so excited! They took up the carpet in the living room first. It is only 2 yrs. old so we put that carpet in my daughter's room and took out her old carpet. It took me awhile to decide if I wanted hardwood in the Family Room, but I knew it was "now or never" so I took the plunge.
BTW, I repainted this room in a color called Wool Skein by Sherwin Williams. Do you like it? I haven't done the foyer yet...we usually don't have all that furniture in the foyer either.

The kids skated on the concrete floors all weekend and had a blast! They wanted to keep these floors, but mommy had other plans!

Today started the tearing out of the old and damaged wood floors (we had a leak). This was a much louder, messier and dustier process than I first imagined. We had to leave the house or have ringing in the ears for days...

I can't believe how fast they worked. They got all the old out and laid the new floor in one day. It would have taken us at least a week I am sure!

Here is the new floor tonight and I just love it! I will take more pics in the daylight, but the floor is the perfect mix of rustic elegance. It is an engineered wood made by Shaw called Nottaway Hickory and the color is Weathered Saddle. It is handscraped which gives it a wavy look and the price was very reasonable. They have to come back tomorrow and do the shoe molding, so for now we are sleeping with the oven and the couch in our bedroom. More pics to come!

Wanna Save Some Money?

Make your own Laundry Detergent!
I started doing this about a year and a half ago. This is a real money saver and does not take that much time. It has worked out to be about one batch/bucketfull a year for me and these ingredients make more than one batch. I spent about $6 on the ingredients and this detergent really does clean the clothes just as well! I still buy my fabric softener, but I know you can make that too. Here's how to do it:

Ingredients: I got mine at Target and Publix
4 Cups - hot tap water


1 Fels-Naptha soap bar


1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda


*½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.




(I know it looks like I have two big toes, but I was standing on my foot, I guess. )

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.


-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)


-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. (You can get this at the Vitamin store or Hobby Lobby) I add this to mine to make it smell good.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Source: Duggar Family Website

Would love to know if you try it and what you think!

Thrift Store lamp + old potato sack = Chic Lamp Makeover

One of the items on my "New Years to-do list" (we all have those right? even if we don't write them down) was to work on getting some new lamps. I am a bargain shopper and lamps are not cheap! I went to Goodwill, the lamp graveyard, and found this brass one for less than $5.

I had a white drum shade from Target and I covered it with one of these potato sacks I bought at the Country Living Fair for $5. I just cut it a little larger than the shade and folded the sides under and hot glued it on.

I painted the lamp a Metallic Bronze and added some ruffle trim to it from Hobby Lobby (also hot glued on). And I have a new lamp for under $20 including the drum shade. I might go back and paint the lamp using a looking glass spray paint once I get some to lighten the look a little, but I'm still deciding.

For now, I am quite pleased!

Here she is at night.

Linking up to Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage

Today I am Loving Stripes

The Lettered Cottage

I'm sure many of you have seen this reading room. I love the soft stripes.

Country Living

I just saw this picture today in the March Country Living and I fell in love! What bold stripes and that turquiose chandelier is to die for! Could I live with these black and white stripes everyday? Hmmm, not sure.


Three Men and a Lady
I recently discovered this blog and her foyer is so fun and unexpected. Mine is a lot smaller, but maybe this is what it needs for some punch.

The Nester

Here are some striped curtains instead of going all out with the paint. This is another option and would save a lot of time for sure.

I am thinking I need some stripes in my dining room or foyer. Both of these rooms have been needing something special. More to come once I decide...

Happy Valentine's Day

Our Day started with some yummy chocolate chip waffles for the kids and some valentine treats.

Then off to a Valentine party at school. We brought heart shaped peanut butter and syrup sandwiches.

I am secretly hoping for some of these later...You can keep the roses, just bring me some potted tulips that I can enjoy for a few weeks and then plant them in my yard. Hope your sweetie brings you your favorite flower today and they make you smile!

Linking up to Blessed Little Nest Life Made Lovely Monday.