Time Out!

Can you believe that it is Labor Day Weekend already? Goodness me! Say it ain't so! I am going to take a little blog break for a while. I will be back, so don't forget about me. In the meantime, enjoy the last drops of summer!

xoxo,

Krissy

photo via: House and Home

Wallpaper Wow

As a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was go with my mom to look at wallpaper books. Hello? Anyone else? We didn't go that often, but it made an impression. I loved the colors, the endless choices and the smell of the books. I would design spaces in my head around the designs on the books. If I was really lucky, my mom would surprise me with some samples to play with. Good times. 

This isn't the best photo, but this is the dining room at our old home. I LOVED this room. Pierre Deaux green and hot pink toile. It was amazing. I still love this pattern and I am so sad that I cannot get it anymore, as the beloved Pierre Deaux is no more. The couple that bought the house from us, ripped out the paper, put in a chair rail and painted the room a lovely shade of burgundy. No comment.

 I still love to look at wallpaper books and I have never lost my passion for wallpaper, even when others in the design world did. I do not have any wallpaper in our new home. That nasty word called "budget" got in the way, well that and time. Both were in very short supply! I have had the itch to add some pizzaz to our space: the hallway to our bedroom, Sweet Pea's bath, my office/laundry area, the master ceiling, all of them. Here are my inspirations...

For Sweet Pea's Bath and dressing area...

Vivid Hue Home

Kate Spade

Wallpaper as framed art...

Hallway paper ideas...

Designer's Guild

Furbish

The next three entry halls in bold toile - 

Classic grasscloth - love the texture

Love the subtle tones of these four rooms: a little glimmer of foil and all glamorous and lovely.

Ceiling paper - can it get any better?

Pantry and bookshelf paper - this might be the place to start for me.

This is my childhood dream - combine all my favorites on one wall. Thoughts?

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Krissy

Photos via: Pinterest

White Out

How I would love to visit with friends in this happy, bright space. I love the sheers, the slipcovered seating and the fabulous chandelier. The glimpse of the backyard beyond...so cozy.

Hope your Thursday is cozy.

Krissy

photos via: House and Home

First Day of School and Being Humble

Last Wednesday, the mini-pearls went back to school. Where did our summer go? We did manage to accomplish most of our "summer to do" list, but, in the words of my teenage Fisherman, "I didn't get to sleep enough!" Amen! I hate to tell him that it won't change much in the future. It is called life. Although, is there any teen out there that claims to have enough sleep? 

We hit the ground running with practices and activities and trips to the doctor. Ugh! We are finally on the mend from our nasty colds. Nothing some good old antibiotics couldn't cure. In the middle of all this mayhem, God humbled me. Just when I feel as though I can steer my own boat, thank you, I am shown that it is not mine to steer! I may get in a little trouble by telling this story, as it involves Sweet Pea and she detests this blog and her worst fear in life is that I might mention her name or post a picture of her (without her permission). I am trying to respect that.

You see, Sweet Pea and I have had a rough go this summer. I am doing my best to navigate an ever-changing relationship between the two of us. She is a tween and a smart one at that, and she is starting to have tween issues. You know: friends (not boys yet, thank goodness), body image, wanting a cell phone her nasty parents won't let her have - tween stuff. I know that Mr. Pearl and I cannot go this alone, so with the good Lord's help, we will all come through with minimal scarring, but sometimes, I fell as though I want to say, "I got this one!"

Case in point, last Friday. Sweet Pea has been working really hard to meet a goal. The goal was to "play up" on the 7th/8th grade volleyball team at our school. (she is in 6th and our school is very small) A position that was told by the adult/coach in charge she could achieve if she worked hard. She has been working since January on this! Well, the first day of practice went great, but she had to miss the second due to her cold. The next day, last Friday, she was back at school and looking forward to a sleepover on Saturday with her friends that are also on the team. While waiting in carpool line, I received a call from Sweet Pea's BFF mom. This BFF is also a fabulous athlete and has been working hard for the same goal. The BFF got the call from the coach that she was being moved-up. My friend was just wanting to give me a "heads-up" and to discuss a few details about the weekend party. 

All I could think of was how I was going to break this to Sweet Pea and I immediately started planning damage control. I was sure that I was going to have to let Sweet Pea change schools and she was going to quit the team - what was I going to do. As I rolled closer to the front of the line and my waiting children, I kept trying to read Sweet Pea's face. Does she know? Is she ok? Moment of truth, the doors open and in pop the minis - all smiles! It's the weekend! I sheepishly asked how everyone's day was. The usual replies, then right before we made it out of the parking lot, Sweet Pea turns to me and says (my stomach drops) with a smile, "My friend got moved up!" Huh? Me- "Are you ok with this?" Sweet Pea- " Sure mom. It's great for her."  (This is where our "rough" summer kicks-in, as I want to run in, yell at the coach and rescue her, thinking that she will love me better for it. Thankfully, I didn't.) Me (like a little bratty baby) - "Do you want me to talk to coach? This is unfair!" Sweet Pea - "No, mom. This doesn't mean I won't ever get it. The season hasn't even started! I wasn't even there yesterday! It will be ok, either way. I don't mind which team I am on!"

At this point, an overwhelming calm came over me. I hear you Lord! I was humbled by my amazing, wise beyond her years daughter. Wow. I know that I would not have handled such a disappointing issue with such grace at her age. Maybe I'm not as bad of a mom as I thought? No, it's the One who has my back that is amazing. So, I am going to work on not saying, "I got this one!" and let The expert handle it. I will keep you posted on volleyball. She left with all smiles this morning!

3rd, 8th and 6th graders!

xoxo,

Krissy

Yellow and Turquoise - Peas and Carrots

Hello lovelies! Isn't this fabulous? What is not to love? 

Hope it's not a manic Monday for you all.

xoxo,

Krissy

photo via: House and Home

Inspiration Boards

It is a wonderful, rainy afternoon here and we have been lounging at the Pearl house. The mini-pearls started school on Wednesday and it has made all of us tired. Well, starting school and the fact that we have all passed around a nasty, summer cold. I have found a new love in Stash Lemon Ginger tea. It is a warm cup of heaven and would be delicious with or without a cold.

The start of a new school year gets my creative gears in motion. The holidays are around the corner (say it ain't so) and lots of school projects and activities and long stretches of time with the minis at school and I am ready to hang out my "creative" shingle. Time to tackle some new projects! These  inspiration boards are not only well, inspirational, but works of art. What do you think?

Happy Saturday!

Krissy

photos via: House and Home and Pinterest

Beach Dreaming

School starts on Wednesday. Where did the summer go? We just got back from the beach yesterday, but I am still wishing I was there. Oh well, back to carpools and homework.

xoxo,

Krissy

Photos via: Pinterest

Annie Sloan Paint Fun

While all the minis were away, Mom did play! I shared my D.I.Y. screen door bulletin board with you. Fisherman is thrilled with the results! I also worked a little on Sweet Pea's room. She had a chest of drawers that she wanted to "update." I had previously painted the piece white and blue. It was adorable, but a little too frilly for her new, tween room. Enter Annie Sloan Paint. I know that most of you have probably heard about it, but if you haven't, this stuff is wonderful! No sanding or prep, just paint and wax. It is fabulous!

I used Antibes Green for the base. This green isn't for the faint of heart. It is bold and bright and beautiful. I highlighted the piece with Bright White and used a little of my acrylics in two shades of pink for accents. Annie Sloan may not condone this, but it worked for me. I then coated the piece in clear wax. Sweet Pea loves it and so do I. 

xoxo,

Krissy

Camp Trunk Fun

Two of the mini-pearls spent two weeks at camp. They had a blast! They had to pack two weeks worth of their belongings into a footlocker trunk. That is no small feat! We won't mention the army of duffle bags and backpacks that they also packed. It's the trunk that counts and it makes their little bunk area feel like home. The trunk says, "This is my space!" I took this a little to the extreme, but the minis loved it and so have many of their friends, as I have been busy painting trunks for many others. This is a lot of fun for me and I like to get the campers involved with the design of their trunk. I think it helps get them get excited about going away, instead of anxious. The trunks also look great in their rooms once they are home, and provide storage that looks good, too. This is easy, peasy! Be sure to put at least three good coats of sealer on your masterpiece.

Happy Camping!

Krissy