French Country Master Bathroom (and the Tale of A Gorgeous Bed Crown)

Oops, there it is!

It's a master bathroom that I've never shown you because I.Haven't Really.Decorated It.Yet.

I have a clue about what I want to do, but I have BIG ideas and they keep involving a lot of cash and my hubby building frames for giant artwork, etc. etc...Errrr, he's a little behind on my projects and I guess I'll forgive him since he works long hours and he's such a doggone cutie. (He'd roll his eyes right here). So I thought I'd show you the bathroom, discuss one idea I have for the windows and you can throw in your input too. Maybe together we can figure this out!

I know it's 'in' right now to leave windows blank with no curtains, but I feel like something around the windows warms up the space. Our issue is the windows are on the back side of the tub, so if we want to open and close the curtains, it's going to be a pain to reach. I'm thinking of doing some sort of remote control shade that's hidden by a cornice. I could have stationary curtains on either side if I wanted.

A cornice? Like from the 90s??

Yes, I said cornice, lol. I just got back from visiting the Biltmore y'all. You know, the largest privately owned home in America? I want a fancy cornice so I can pretend to be the hillbilly cousin of the Vanderbilts. Actually, what I'm really into is architectural carvings and I thought how amazing would it be if I could get a huge carving to put above the window and use it like a cornice. See my dilemma? Now where am I going to find this huge architectural carving that will fit exactly over my window....Help me think on that. In the meantime, I'll show you what started this grand idea so you can have a visual of where I'm going. I saw this bed crown on Ebay. It is the bomb. I LOVE THIS.

Hubby says he's not into bed crowns.

Hubby never mentioned he's not into window crowns....hehehe. 

He's learning that he needs to be very specific around here.

The bed crown is only 24" inches wide, meanwhile each window behind the tub is much wider than that. So even if I bought two of them, they are just not wide enough to put over each window. I've even pictured a similar but flatter carved piece sitting on top of a wooden cornice board. I've looked high and low for a picture that would give you a good idea of what I'm talking about but I can't find one, so I'm hoping you can imagine it.                

Sigh. Wouldn't it be dreamy?

That bed crown though. It's really what I'd love to have in here.

Hubby just wants curtains.

He's talking about function when I'm talking about gorgeous bed crowns here? That silly man.

I'll discuss the artwork next time around and possibly spiff it up for Christmas. Also, maybe it's time I learn to use some tools. I asked for some once and sweet hubby bought me a whole set of pink tools. 

Shhhhh....don't remind him that I've never used them. He now carries a pink screwdriver in his truck.

I love a man who is confident.

See you next time.

Love,

Elizabeth 

Why can't the woman just go buy a set of curtains at Target like a normal person? Bed crowns? Who does this? She's exhausting.

A Chicago Review

SO here's some of what had me so busy in the last few months. The main event was a week long family trip to Chicago to see the off Broadway production of Hamilton. I almost had to sell my firstborn for the tickets but I will say that they were worth EVERY DIME. LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!

Set of Hamilton in at the PrivateBank Theater in Chicago

Bear is very into theater and was beside himself to go. We had never been to Chicago and it was the perfect place to vacation with a 21 year old and 11 year old! It was also right after Braden's 21st birthday so it was great to continue his celebration there. There was so much to do we didn't even get to everything we had planned.

We used VRBO (vacation rental by owner, now known as HomeAway) to book an apartment right in the middle of the city.  It had a rooftop pool which was very neat for us country folk! We were able to negotiate the price down to a budget we felt comfortable paying. This is the third or fourth time we have booked through VRBO and we have never regretted it. Each time we found an owner who was willing to negotiate, partly because we wait pretty close to the last minute to book (I wouldn't always recommend that lol). We chose places that have received good, current reviews and that seems to be key in getting a truly great place.

View from the apartment

In case you go, here's the list of things we visited and loved:

1) Navy Pier - Great family oriented pier on Lake Michigan with shops, restaurants, cruises, 150 ft ferris wheel and much more. They have an amazing firework display twice a week that we really enjoyed.

2) 360 Chicago Observation Deck. Amazing views from the Hancock building on the 94th floor...you can see for 40 miles. There's a glass box you stand in and it TILTS you forward so that you are leaning out over the building looking down. CRAZZZY but exciting! We all did it but Bear was not thrilled about that drop! There's also a sky deck in the Willis Building (formerly the Sears tower) if you are over that way.

3) Architectural cruises - This is something you shouldn't miss, especially if you like history. We all enjoyed learning about the different buildings, seeing the architecture and which buildings were the highest/oldest, etc. It was a beautiful tour that began around the riverwalk area not far from Trump tower. P.S.- Bear wasn't interested in the tour but I kept finding him hanging out with some teenage girls...

4) Chicago Pizza - Oh. MY. I have obviously never truly had pizza before this moment. SO GOOD! An hour wait at lunchtime but worth every minute. Our pick is definitely Lou Malnati's (OK, we only tried 2 pizza places, but Lou's.....oh how I wish I could ship that home!) While we were waiting Bear spotted an mattress store of all things. They had handmade mattresses that were $20K -$50K. He liked them because they were comfy and buffalo check (that's my boy!) but he was really annoyed with us that we would not whip out the checkbook and buy the $40,000 one that he picked out.

Bless.His.Heart.

5) Field Museum of Natural History - I'm not sure if they filmed the movie The Night of the Museum here but that's exactly what it reminded me of. In the center of it was 'Sue', the largest T-Rex discovered. It was incredible! The only thing I would NOT recommend unless your children are very young is the option for the Jurassic Park exhibition (on exhibit until January 2018). We paid extra for this and, well, it was cheesy. At one point one of the dinosaurs was a guy in a suit...after seeing Sue, the real deal, it was just unimpressive. Young children would probably enjoy it though.

6) The Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park - Both of these were fun to visit. The Magnificent Mile was a street downtown with store after fancy store. Of course, we had to hit the Disney Store and see the art of Dr. Seuss, just to say we did, but there were many upscale adult clothing stores, etc that would have been fun to browse in if we had more time.

Millennium Park was architectural eye candy...with the giant silver 'bean'. There was also a classical piano concert going on which was wonderful.

7) IFly - This was not exclusive to Chicago but super fun!! The boys got to skydive in a simulator and they LOVED IT! But now I'm terrified because Braden wants to skydive for real and I'm not ready for that!!

8) Oak Street Beach! - It was gorgeous and not something I would have thought to do in Chicago. The water doesn't warm up until August, so it was a little cold but still fun to hang out and eat outside at the grill there. The staff told us that Bill Murray eats there on occasion but sadly we didn't see him this time :(.

People ask all the time about the 'patch' on Braden's arm...he's been asked if it's a ketchup packet? a nicotine patch?.....Nope! it's a wireless insulin pump!

9) Ok, this is going to show my hillbilly roots, but we were really excited to ride in a cab. It had been years for me and Bear had never ridden in one. We learned very quickly that they are not used to Southerners chatting away and they are in a BIG hurry. Like they don't want any chitty chat as you are exiting the cab, LOL. I may or may not have made one a little mad...They like it snappy!

We got to visit with a couple of friends who live there and they guided our choices, so thank you for the wonderful recommendations, my friends! 

There's so much more to do and we just hit the tip of the iceberg! I think it was a great first 'big city' trip for our youngest who hasn't travelled as much as his older brother.  If you are considering a trip I'd definitely recommend visiting Chicago! 

Have a great day! So glad YOU like to chitty chat :) 

Love,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth doesn't get that the point of a vacay is REST....Shew...I stayed home with the sitter, thank the Lord.

Getting Busy

Too busy. 

I've been too busy to write a blog post for all of the summer because I was being a momma and wife. I didn't mean to disappear, honest. 

And now the confession comes. I've written TWO blog posts since school has been back in session and I have yet to hit the publish button.

Because they weren't what I really wanted to say. They were inconsequential and frivolous, about my favorite things and what's in the works and a trip to Chicago. And that's just not life changing, you know?

I couldn't hit the publish button because I knew in my heart I had something more important to say. Swirling around ever since our pastor said it, I can't get it out of my mind:

GOD CALLS BUSY PEOPLE. 

God calls busy people.

There it is. I thought about it and it's true. God's always calling on the ones who are already busy. The fishermen trying their best to catch fish in their nets, who dropped everything to follow Him. They were busy.

Moses, Noah, all the peeps that stand out in the Bible were busy guys.

And the irony of it, this message hit me twofold...I was busy this summer, but once school started back, I found myself with an abundance of free time, with my nose stuck to Facebook and decorating blogs. Housework was haphazardly done, my work is by appointment only and it was sporadic. Yet I was praying, God use me, open up my eyes to what it is you would have me to do. All the while I wasn't truly serving my neighbor (my family) in the way I should. I wasn't exercising, taking care of myself or truly giving my all to anything.

Get busy and I'll show you.

So, in this fall season, I'm also starting a new season. I've signed up for a diet and exercise program (whoa nelly, I know, let's not get crazy!), I'm considering expanding my career, trying to help couples stay together instead of helping them divorce (though my goal as a mediator has always been to see if they would reconcile or at least part amicably) and I'm starting a series of posts regarding marriage and tips about what behaviors to avoid in your relationship. That said, I'll still have decorating posts and whatnot but I'll be honest with you, I don't know what kind of writing schedule I'll be on. If you're patient enough to stick with me, I'll be around.

Are you busy? Have you been like me, piddling away your time, or busy, but without any concrete goals or halfheartedly serving your neighbor? Is it time to make a change? Write down your monthly, weekly and daily goals. Check yourself and see how much more you've accomplished at the end of this month, even in the little things. Don't just wash and fold that laundry - put it away. (Is there such a thing?) Plan your meals ahead of time. Get up extra early to get some tasks out of the way (really??). All the little things add up. 

Thanks for being there, who knows what we'll get into and where God will use us.

Now let's go get busy.

Love,

Elizabeth

Making sure no one else occupies this bed. Someone's gotta do it.

The Powder Room

HEY Y'ALL! Happy June! May kicked my tail and I'm just recovering. My oldest son graduated college AND has his own apartment (WHAT??) and Bear has been either practicing or performing in three different plays in two different cities at least an hour from us...so that's where I've been. Hello Summer!

So now that I've slowed down, I wanted to give you a peek at the powder room. I'm showing you one side of a two sided bath. There are no windows in here, so excuse some of the lighting on the pics. Past the arched sliding door is a vanity, shower/bath and a closet, and that side is attached to my oldest son's room. I consider the half that I'm showing you the powder room, since it opens up to the hallway.  Also, I didn't want ONE MORE TOILET TO CLEAN by having both a powder room and a full bathroom for my son. (I'm so over cleaning right now). 

For years I have wanted an old piece of furniture to double as a sink vanity. In searching for an old dresser to add a sink to, I happened upon one with a bowl sink already added at an antique shop in Tennessee. I wish I had some before pics of it, but it was a 'tiger' wood. Lots of grain going on. It wasn't the color I wanted but I loved the shape of the piece and the drawer handles. Thankfully our cabinetmaker has been amazing and agreed to paint it for me and he designed a place in the drawer area for the plumbing to go.

Two different paint choices later (the first coat was cream, which was a big fat NO after seeing it), it ended up a glossy black. The cabinetmaker painted it with a paint that is normally used on boats so it would withstand water a bit better. There's no countertop other than the wood top of the dresser and I'm learning after almost two years that even with boat paint the water droplets, etc are wrecking havoc on the paint job. I will probably have to put on a countertop in the near future. (i'd love to try soapstone!!)

It's fun to decorate with unusual items and this shield was suggested to me by my friend Steve - see some of his decorating here, he's fantastic. The shield was a prop that Russell Crowe used in the movie, 'Robin Hood'. Steve knows where to find about anything and when I told him I wanted a medieval look, maybe a family crest or something like that for above the toilet, this is what he found. I couldn't decide if I wanted to pull the trigger on it and when I finally did, it had been sold.  I was shocked to find it on Ebay a few weeks later so I snatched it up. I don't know if Russell Crowe/Robin Hood shields hold their value or not, but it's a fun conversation piece. 

If you are conversing in the bathroom and all. :) 

Still in progress, think I'll add something to the far blank wall. I keep seeing these cute little paintings with animals dressed in clothing riding bicycles etc. on etsy ...Hubby would think they are weird but I love them. :) OR maybe I could turn this into my library bathroom??? Shelving upon shelving with books galore?? Give me your ideas!

If you'll notice I have mixed finishes on the lighting. That was not on purpose, the chandelier was actually originally in Hubby's closet and it kept getting hit when he opened his door, so we moved it. I don't follow rules on decorating (is there a rule on this?) so I thought it worked out pretty well.

What unusual pieces have you found to decorate with? And anyone have any comments on soapstone countertops? You like? You don't? Let me know!

Have a great day!

Love,

Elizabeth

P.S. With summer here, as you've already seen, I will be posting a lot less than normal to have more time with family, but I miss you guys!

P.P.S. I'm humbled to say was featured on The Dedicated House a couple of weeks ago as their most viewed post listed on the Sunday Showcase! Good times!

You wouldn't be impressed with this 'most viewed post' business if you saw how many times Elizabeth tripped in a day. Bless her heart.

Whimsical Features I'd Love In My Home

There are so many whimsical features I would have loved to have included when we built this house. As I look over them, I realize I'm mentally really a 10 year old who loves some fun! Here are some ideas I seriously considered and some I just dreamed about when building our home (but didn't implement because of expense, and well, some are just a little wacky and I try to appear as normal as possible for my children's sakes!).

1) I love houses that are quirky and have character. For years I've loved the idea of a library bathroom. 

Ok, that's weird. 

Yes, yes it is. But look! Love books! Love a hot bath! A perfect combo! And I swoon every time I see a library ladder. 

I think this means I'm a nerd.

Terry's Fabrics

I don't normally like a lot of clutter/shelves, but I could deal with dusting those shelves if I had to...although I may be closer to just getting this cute wallpaper:

2) If I had to sacrifice the bathroom part, this is a fun book decorating alternative (I may still do this one someday!). My book staircase would have to include Little Women, Eat, Pray, Love, The Diary of Anne Frank and something by Judy Blume.

3) And there's always the hidden passageway, right? (MORE books!). I've always wanted one ever since Scooby Doo and the Gang always found the lever that opened the secret door.

4) Or, back to the bathroom, there's the whole bicycle thing. I adore this bicycle sink!

Benjamin collection

Hubby thinks I'm crazy.

I prefer interesting.

5) Once I saw a old fashioned red telephone booth like the kind in England, it had been used on a stair landing so you had to walk through it to climb the stairs...I can't find the original picture, but you can get the idea here. This telephone booth would be amazing! 

alicelanehome.com

6) Hubby drew the line when I wanted to put in a slide instead of stairs. I told him to live a little. 

He rolled his eyes...a little. (cuz I know in his heart he'd really like a slide too).

Alex Michaelis

7) The expense of the slide pretty much cut that idea out but the hammock below really was on the books for a while, until I imagined the boys plummeting to the floor if this malfunctioned: 

Nathalie Wolberg-Architecture

8) But you know I'd be mother of the century if I added this one: Did you say INDOOR POOL?? Yes, please!

Images: Sandy Agrafiotis

If you twisted my arm, I'd put in something a little less extravagant, haha:

Photo By: Shelley Metcalf

What would you add if sky was the limit? Quirky, fun things? Or how about a smart house that talks to you? I'd love one that would make my coffee every morning :) Some days it's just fun to dream. What would you do?

Have a great week!

Love,

Elizabeth 

Y'all know what I'd want...a room full of bacon.

The One Thing My Kids Need to Know

When I left, I didn't know I'd never see him alive again.

But it was so. 

Soon after, I found a feather laying at the doorstep of my office building as if it was placed there just for me. Right or wrong, I had prayed for a sign. I had read about a woman who continually found feathers in unusual places after praying for a sign that her loved one had gone on to live in the arms of angels. I prayed the same prayer and there was that feather.  It was one of the largest feathers I'd ever seen and it was laying on the threshold of the building where I was to be the only one entering that day. I clutched onto it and claimed that as my sign that my dad was with God. On particularly dark days, I would continue to find them, on Dad's birthday, on days that I was really heavy hearted, on days that I desperately needed to believe he was ok.  I wasn't placing my faith in that feather instead of God, but I had seen it as a message from Him to me that Dad was okay. 

Months later, someone was giving a testimony of her faith in our small town. She too, had a very similar story. Her feathers she had found, her loved one that has passed away, her sign from God that all was well.

All the same. 

It was then I thought, this is silly....what am I doing putting all this meaning into an everyday object that anyone could find if they looked hard enough. Surely we couldn't all have the same story.  My faith in God never wavered, but the belief in the feather and what it represented was gone. Into the garbage can it went, that large feather I'd held onto for so long and with it the peace that my father was definitely in Heaven. 

It wasn't that he wasn't a good man. My dad was a great man, a gentle man, and he did many things for many people. Sure, he'd had his faults like any other person, but if anyone went to heaven by good deeds alone, he would be there. He literally wouldn't kill a fly. If there was a mouse in our house, he'd gently trap it and release it outside. He took in stray animals, helped people with their careers, coached little league ball teams, mentored young teens and did many wonderful things for our community. During his career as a judge he was kind and compassionate.

The kind of dad who made you feel like no one in this world was as important as you.

At the end of his life he told my husband that  he knew he was ok, that he was going to Heaven and not to worry.

However, at the end of the day, I believe accepting Christ as your Savior is your assurance to Heaven, not simply being a good person. He had never discussed this with me, so I didn't know what he meant by 'he was ok'.  He never told me what I needed to know.

He had been raised in church and he said all was well, but he hadn't attended church in years and had never spoken to me about his relationship with God, ever. I never saw him read the Bible or mention anything scriptural. During my lifetime, despite being a good moral person, there was no evidence of his relationship with Christ. 

He said all was well, though I couldn't help but feel unsettled. 

This uncertainty instilled in me that I want no one to have to search for evidence of my Christianity after my death. My children will miss me when I'm gone but they will have peace. They hear me talk about God and my relationship with Him, see me attend church, read the Bible. I want to continue to live my life so that my children won't need to pray for that feather.  I want so much evidence that Christ is my Savior that there is no room for any doubt. 

No further sign needed.  

I've already told my kids the one thing they need to know.

A few days after tossing the feather, I was pretty down and out. I had so wished that the feather had really been for me. I got ready for work and walked to my car. I unlocked the door, got in and started the engine. I sat there for a minute trying to compose myself enough to drive the car. The doors were shut and the windows were up. As I reached for the gearshift, I looked down.

In my lap lay a single feather.

Psalms 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

And I believe this one was truly mine.

Love,

Elizabeth

Feathers are awesome.