Studio M Designs

Misti’s End of Year in Review- 2010

2010-12-30T21:17:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody! What a year this has been. I can’t believe the last time I blogged was in September! Now that I am working full time, I have found that I either have time to blog or I have time to spend with family. One or the other. Period.

I have also found that if I stay off the blogs, I actually have time to do the projects that I always want to blog about. Again, one or the other. Period.

So here is my end of year in review—2010.

I don’t have a picture of me working, but I am now a full-time medical transcriptionist as of August 2010. (No longer decorating for others, but enjoying decorating for myself.)

My BFF and I met up at the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain Park in Georgia (luckily we live here). We had the BEST time.

So many awesome vendors and everything was so PRETTY!

The fair is coming back to Atlanta next year and we CAN’T WAIT!

I could go on for DAYS with pictures of the fair. Between the two of us, we took over 500 pictures in one day!

We made it through incredibly HOT summer afternoons of football and went on into incredibly cold early-morning games.

I TURNED THE BIG 4-0 THIS YEAR and all of my brothers got to laugh about it.

And then there was Halloween—Always an adventure with boys! Such gross things coming out of the mouth.

Rasta man!

Seriously CREEPY!

Spending time with the guys…

I conquered my dining room right before Thanksgiving!

Love my board and batten!

Then it was Thanksgiving with family:

My crazy cousin Kathy—MISS YOU MUCH!

And Christmas came and went way too quickly, but we did get a white Christmas!

I hope you have all had a great year, and I hope to visit you all soon! By the way, I practically LIVE on Facebook, so if you want to hang out there, email me and I’ll send you my full name.

Happy New Year!!!

~Misti

A Few New Friends in Blogland

2010-09-08T10:08:00.001-04:00

Recently, I have found a few new friends out in blogland that you have GOT to visit!

First up is Tracy—OMG is she hilarious! She seriously makes me LOL.

Her blog title is “It’s an Average Life,” and she chats about everything. I mean EVERYTHING!

Her Thursday Toots are hysterical! Just get some coffee and some chocolate, and plow through her archives and have a good laugh.

(Click on the picture to go straight to insanity—I mean Tracy’s blog.)

Next up is -- Cheap Chic Home.

Check out these oversized candy corn creations that she made out of Styrofoam cones and plaster. I will be making these!

(Click on the candy corn photo to go to Cheap Chic Home.)

Thanks, Kim for your awesomeness!

And finally…Meet Katy of Mom and Her Drill.

This woman uses power tools. I mean, like she builds decks and stuff!

Check out her kitchen re-do—LOVE HER!

(Click on the kitchen picture to go to Katy’s blog. She has some great projects going on.)

Awesome, right? Don’t you just love them all already? I do!

Let me know if you get a chance to visit and tell them Misti sent ya!

1990’s Kitchen Do-Over

2010-09-05T10:58:00.001-04:00

Wow! Just WOW! My long-time friend, Sandra and her husband Scott recently had their 1990’s kitchen updated and it is gorgeous! They picked out the former colors with a designer years ago, and are now moving on up to 2010 with a fabulous new color palette, granite countertops, gorgeous tile on the backsplash, new sink, new appliances, fixtures, flooring, and have changed their cabinets from a whitewashed to a beautifully updated creamy finish.

Check out this transform—Can you believe that this…

…is now looking like this?

I love how the refrigerator looks like it was custom made for that wall, and how they removed the microwave to make room for the new tilework and stovetop appliance.

Before: The Hoosier cabinets were being used for storage.

After: This wall is now loaded with cabinets, some to the ceiling, adding much-needed storage space. Adding the wall mounted microwave and oven were a stroke of genius! By moving things around, they were able to have more storage space AND a more functional stovetop cooking area. They also love the new desk/computer area!

Before:

After: New undermount sink, lighting and plumbing fixtures, and new tile, too! Oh, and check out the dishwasher…NICE.

Before:

After: Adding the dark wood flooring is an amazing contrast to the creamy white cabinetry. Also, they made the bar area functional and kid-friendly, too.

Seriously—What an unbelievable transformation! Congrats to this family! The details are amazing—and that tile work is really a knockout job!

I will be linking this to Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Click on the link below to see other great transformations.

Come back and visit soon. If you have a great transformation I need to see, please send me photos. Everyone loves a re-do!

~Misti

Clean Out the Pantry Clutter

2010-09-04T21:37:00.001-04:00

Since school started our pantry has been a mess with forty thousand boxes of snacks and bag after bag of chips. I had to come up with a solution!

So this: (forty thousand boxes and bags)

Went to this:

EASY PEASY! This big bucket has a handle, and I can take it to my ‘lunch making station’ (aka the kitchen island) with one hand!

Chips and snacks all in one spot. So easy, even the kids can grab it and help make their choices for the day! And THAT is a wonderful thing.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

~Misti

Visions of Burlap this Christmas

2010-09-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

I know, I know—It’s really too early to be thinking of Christmas, but in my world if I don’t start thinking about it very early, the things that I really want to do, just will NOT happen.

Last year after the holidays, I found myself thinking of all the things that I SHOULD have decorated the tree with, but didn’t.

I remembered having a bag full of burlap fabric in the basement, and thinking how cool it would have been to have draped the burlap all through the tree! This wreath found in the Ballard Designs catalog (Nov. 2009)reminded me:

You see, several places now sell wired burlap ribbon, but I think I’m going for the real thing. Think it will work?

Don’t you think this tree is crying out for a burlap treatment?

Also, for my skinny tree, I’m thinking of making small 4 x 6-sized song lyric sheets tied to the tree or attached with clothes pins. Another thing that signifies our family and the things that are meaningful to us. Yes, burlap is very meaningful to me!

Do you have any visions dancing through your head for this year? I would love to hear your ideas!

~Misti

Inspiration for my To-Do List—Part 2

2010-08-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

Did you think I was finished? Noooooooo way!

My last post spotlighted some of my projects I would like to get started on soon, and here are just a few more.

Project 4.

Painting the china hutch.

My furniture is all a bit too matchy-matchy, so I’m thinking this big guy could use some paint love, too. If I go ahead with the plan and paint the board and batten creamy white, and paint the top portion of the walls Grand Canyon Red (rusty red), this will need to be either black, aqua with a coat of stain, or possibly even an olive green with stain. Ohhhh, or maybe even a gold with stain?

I want to cover the mirrored backing, and possibly do something different with the glass on the doors, too.

You have an idea for me? Please send it over!

Okay, let’s move on to another fabulous idea that I found yesterday while vacationing in blog land.

Project 5.

The old baby crib that I can’t bear to part with.

Yesterday I found this BRILLIANT idea from Little Apartment on the Prairie, and I had little light bulbs going off in my head. Look what she made out of an old crib, and be wowed like I was…

Cool, right? I thought it was total brilliance!

This got me thinking… I don’t really have a place for a plate rack of that size, BUT, I could use one of these (another aha moment):

(Courtesy of Ballard Designs—LOVE THEM)

This is what immediately came to mind when I saw her plate rack, like SHAZAAAM! Light bulbs going off in my head!

I have the perfect wall in my little laundry room to add one of these, and I would be able to keep the baby bed and make something VERY useful out of it. Right now, anything that needs to be air dried gets hung over a dining room chair. NOT SO PRETTY.

I knew if I kept the crib long enough, that some kind of project would come to mind. It only took 7 years!

Project 6.

The mirror stand. (one more thing hiding in the basement)

There is no more space for this free-standing mirror in my bedroom. Actually, there never has been, so it has lived in the basement for the last 5 years. Again, very matchy-matchy.

So, my thought is this: I remove the mirror from the stand, attach some D rings on the back, paint it and hang it on a wall elsewhere in the house. There is a long dark hallway upstairs and this may be just the thing to lighten it up!

Now, I need an idea for the heavy duty sides of the mirror stand. There has GOT to be something I can make out of those, right?

******

I, of course could come up with a million more projects like:

adding subway tile on the backsplash
re-covering chairs
slipcovering my old sofa
painting the front door
painting the fireplace wall brown suede
painting the stairway wall the same brown suede
beadboarding the garage (you should see the skateboard damage)
changing out all of the plumbing fixtures
framing the bathroom mirror
finding old doors or shutters to mount on my palladium window

Really—The list goes on and on…

Over at Southern Inspiration, my good friend Suzanne is getting everyone motivated to GET IT DONE in the month of September. So head on over to Suzanne’s place and share your to-do list!

Hope you all have a great week!

~Misti

Inspiration for my To-Do List

2010-08-28T20:41:00.001-04:00

So, I am finally done with school, have started my new job, my head is clear once again, and all I can think about is home projects!

I have started diving into blog land whenever I get a few spare minutes, and honestly, it’s a dangerous thing to hang out in the world of decorating blogs.

So many ideas—so little time!

A few of my projects have been dancing around in my head for quite some time, and some are very recent. Darn blogs!

PROJECT 1.

My first project is one that I have wanted to tackle for a few years, but our house was so new that the hubster had a hard time with ‘changing’ things, but it’s good, I promise.

This is my dining room:

It’s kind of bland with the khaki-colored walls, and I really want to liven it up and give it a wow factor from both the kitchen and family room. So, I found this color. It is Benjamin Moore’s Grand Canyon red.

It’s so me!

(Country Living—of course, and unbelievably fabulous)

And… I want to cover the bottom walls in board and batten, just like Julia from Hooked on Houses did. So cool! She gives a great tutorial, check it out!

(Click on the image to see Julia’s how-to post.)

So, imagine my dining room with creamy board and batten and rustic red on the top. I can’t wait to get started! Thanks to Julia for THAT inspiration!

If I wasn’t in such a hurry, I would fire up my HGTV Design software and try to pull this together so I can really see the finished design, but really, no time today.

PROJECT 2.

I have a chair in the basement jungle that is in dire need of a slipcover. It has great bones, but fabric that is just not my style. The chair was given to me by a client, and it is in fabulous shape! I am thinking of going the canvas-drop-cloth route on this one.

There are so many great people out there that have sewn some great slipcovers, but one in particular, Victoria from Whimsy by Victoria, has great tutorials on her blog. Click on her name to take a visit to her blog.

PROJECT 3.

For years we have been going through bedding like Sponge Bob goes through crabby patties! I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to have a fancy schmancy bedding set or pretty pillows either, because of this guy:

I have never shown pictures of my bedroom, because quite frankly, it’s awful. We are now using pieces from the last THREE bedding sets. This is the problem:

IT’S EMBARRASING—SERIOUSLY.

(The hubster is not the problem, the bedding is.)

Cynthia of Design Love gave me this inspiration:

(Click on photo to visit JolieMarche.etsy.com)

She found an Etsy designer that makes and sells this beauty. There are also some beautiful pillows on her Etsy site as well. Go check it out!

As much as I would love to have this fabulous woman to make this for me, I think I can pull it off with a few canvas drop cloths and maybe some of my mad painting skills. MAYBE. We will see…

I have a few more TO-DOs, but I will break for now and get back with you on the others. Right now, I’m hungry, and my growling belly waits for no one!

Over at Southern Inspiration, my good friend Suzanne is motivating us to GET IT DONE in the month of September, so head on over and share YOUR to-do list!

~Misti

The Perfect Inheritance

2010-08-23T10:28:00.001-04:00

Some people inherit lots of money when family members pass on, but for me, the perfect inheritance is my grandmother’s sewing machine and sewing table.

My grandmother, actually my Abuela, was a wonderful woman who did a LOT of sewing. As a child, I remember her sewing clothes for my dolls and for my Barbies. She used to sew, for herself, some of the prettiest silk blouses, and the more colorful--the better!

I knew that I wanted her sewing things when my aunts were clearing out her house, but it didn’t really hit me just how much it meant to me until I saw it again in her empty bedroom.

It doesn’t go with anything in my house. It is not the right shade of wood. It’s not from the right era either, but I just love it!

Here is a close-up shot. Loving the retro look!

It may get a coat of paint one day, but for now, I just want to remember it just as it has always been…

I also got Abuela’s (that’s grandmother in Spanish) newest sewing machine. Who knows how many she went through over the years?

And I noticed that there is a spool of burgundy thread still in place. I wonder what her last project was?

I will definitely look into that, and see if I might inherit that as well…

Using the machine will be another story, as I can’t quite make myself take off that last spool of thread. I am just soaking up having it right now, but I do have several projects that I want to tackle very soon.

The day we had my grandmother’s funeral service, I wrote a very special blog post that came straight from the heart of a proud granddaughter. Read that post HERE.

Have you ever received something super special from a loved one?

~Misti

Another ahhh haaa Moment: Kitchen Island

2010-08-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

So, the other day I was checking out the latest Martha Stewart Living magazine, and out of all the awesomeness in there, one picture really jumped out at me: the Home Depot ad.

If I knew how to draw one of those cool arrows on the picture, I would point to the “X” on that island.

I LOVE THAT BARN FEEL!

I have always considered painting the island and adding something to sides, and this would be SO MISTIFIED.

So, what do you think about the barn feel?

~Misti

Meeting Julie Ann

2010-08-15T20:15:00.001-04:00

This past Friday I finally met a fellow blogger named Julie Ann. We have known each other for well over a year, but only virtually. We ‘met’ through another blogger (an awesome woman, but she no longer has a blog), Julie Ann read about where I live, and informed me that she would be moving from Wisconsin to my neck of the woods, and we started a wonderful friendship from there!

We totally forgot to take pictures Friday, so I hijacked one of her.

Meet Julie~ (Click the photo to visit her blog)

She was just as funny, warm, and loving as I knew she would be!

We had a great time together shopping at one of my favorite places, Scottsdale Farms. They are one of the only places open at 8 a.m., and I love that! We have coffee and shopped until our hearts were content. I blogged about Scottsdale last year. You can see why I love the store HERE.

We also walked through the plant nursery at Scottsdale, and oooo’ed and ahhhh’ed over the pretty flowers and trees, so when I got home, I clipped my hydrangea tree in her honor.

So glad we were finally able to meet, Julie! I am happy to have a new forever-friend.

Next time, I am taking you to my VERY FAVORITE store called The Paisley Farmhouse. I can’t wait for you to meet Diane! Check out my post on that store HERE. This picture is a teaser photo…

Thanks everyone for visiting me. If you would like to get to know Julie Ann and her doggie babies, visit her at Julie Ann’s World. I just love her and I know you will, too!

~Misti

Hidden Treasures: A Perfect Library Space

2010-08-04T19:14:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I was asked by my husband to paleeease do something with my ever-growing stack of magazines. Well, I couldn’t just send them to be recycled without one last look through them. When I found this photo in the Dec/Jan 2010 House Beautiful, I had one of those ah-haaa moments.

You see, we have the perfect spot at the landing of the basement steps to add our own little library space! Let me show you.

Now, pretend you don’t see all of our junk there and imagine it with wooden shelves to the ceiling, maybe a mirror hung in front of the books for some light reflection, and a few art pieces on the shelves, too.

Here is the other wall as you turn right to head down the stairs. See…I already use it as a bookshelf, I just need to make it official and functional. I could maybe even attach one of those nifty rolling ladders! How cool would that be???

I love to read silly old love stories, most of all my beloved Twilight series, which by the way stands all on its own on my pretty red hutch in my room…

I also have quite the collection of home decor books that would look super fabulous in the “library.”

So tell me, have you ever had an ah haaa moment and found a great space in your place?

If you have created a great space out of an odd place in your home, let me know. I would love to show it off for you. You never know, someone else may have that exact space, and you could be their inspiration!

~Misti

Officially an MT!

2010-08-03T14:11:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! Long time no see…

It’s official—I am now employed as a medical transcriptionist! All the hard work of the past year has paid off. My honors score came in in July, and two weeks later I landed a great job with a very large company. I started my training this week, and things are looking good!

What a busy summer we had. The boys kept us movin’ and shakin’ the entire time, but the fun had to come to an end and the guys started back to school yesterday. The house is WAY too quiet now. Even the dog is not sure what to make of the silence!

I hope you all have had a great summer. Now that the job hunt has ended, I can hopefully squeeze in some blogging time in between work, homework, dinner, and football practice. I truly miss blogging and am so glad that you all stuck with me. Somehow I managed to get new followers and I haven’t even posted in ages! I do LOVE my people!

Okay—I have two posts swimming around in my brain, so I will work on those and try to get them up and running. Time to get back in the swing of things!

~Misti

Whoa—It’s been awhile!

2010-06-23T22:15:00.001-04:00

Hey everybody, I’m still around. Life has been crazy busy lately with these guys out of school.

And did I ever mention that the hubster was working out of town for the last year? Poor guy was taking care of us from afar and coming home as often as his truck could get him here.

We are so happy to have him back working at home for good now!

I have been busy working a part-time job while impatiently hunting for an MT position.

We are just busy cleaning out the house, one room at a time and daydreaming about all of the things we would like to do to it one day.

The deck got a new coat of stain this spring.

We planted a tiny pepper and tomato garden (that’s a stretch calling it a garden, but it’s mine and I’ll call it what I want).

Finally got a new mower, edger, and weed eater to tackle this monster…

All in all just having a great summer all back together again.

Hope you are having a wonderful, relaxing summer!

~Misti

Bad Drive-Bys

2010-05-03T10:10:00.001-04:00

Last week I decided to meet a friend for lunch out at a trendy little cafe in a hip little town. We also checked out a funky folk art gallery. I decided to take my camera along for the ride to show you why I love where I live. If you are in Atlanta, check out Matilda’s for a great selection of artwork.

Love this rooster!

This neat little art gallery has weekend concerts out back. Check out the stage area…

They even have a funky doghouse out back…

This is what you see on the way out…

So, this is where the BAD drive-by shots come in…

I love, love, love where I live and was bound and determined to show it off in all its glory. We are amongst some very sophisticated homes, lots of farms, and some unbelievably charming homes that have been here forever.

Just remember that I had good intentions.

Great shot here… Doesn’t it make you want to live here?

I was trying to get the white goats…hmmm….

Ahhh…bad shot, but you get the beauty, right?

Now, this is an adorably charming produce market that I love to stalk.

This is a great drive-by…everyone should see the top of my window…

Not too shabby while the van was moving… Love all of the farm land.

I would love to take a better shot of this in black and white on a rainy morning. This old shed is one of my favorite sights around here.

This next shot I was really hoping to get, but NOOOOO. The house is just so darn cute! It is pale green with a red door. For some reason, they added the screen door and now you can’t see the pretty red door, but I guess with my drive-by picture taking ability, you couldn’t see it anyway. It has the cutest front porch and is surrounded by big oak trees. Maybe I will get back out and sneak some more shots of it one day.

Here is another fabulous corner place that we all love…oh wait, I guess you can’t see it either.

Ahhh…here we go—The local plant nursery. The pictures, of course, do not do it justice. It is beaming with color right now!

And here is the produce stand on the side of the nursery. Love the old barn behind it.

This old house is used as storage for our church. I have been inside and would LOVE to have some decorating playtime in there.

This is our new church family life center. One of my FAVORITE places to hang out.

A very stately home in the next neighborhood… It could not escape the bad drive-by with the massive pile of mulch on the side.

And the best of all…my street ON TRASH DAY. I thought that would top off my post on bad drive-bys.

Thanks for cruising along with me!

I am geared up with many more posts to come. Hope you like my new blog design.

Great things are going on in my life right now, and I surely hope things are going well for you, too!

~Misti

Never Underestimate the Power of Paint

2010-04-11T20:14:00.001-04:00

My friends, Kelli and Rick, have recently moved into a new home (new to them anyway) and decided to update the kitchen cabinets.

Oak cabinets are great, sturdy, and timeless, but black cabinets are AWESOME and FABULOUS!

Kelli got in there, busted a gut ,and painted their cabinets in just three days! Check out the difference:

BEFORE: Blah BOOOOORING.

AFTER: Ahhh…AWESOME!

The black paint really looks great with the wood floors.

…And one more, just to see a little more awesomeness…

I think their next step is to replace the appliances with stainless steel. Great job, Kelli! You really rocked this kitchen!

~Misti

ALL DONE WITH THE CLASS!

2010-04-09T10:04:00.001-04:00

Talk about an awesome feeling! It only took me three weeks longer than expected, but I am finally done. Next week I will look back over my grade book, and then request the final exam!

EDITED TO ADD: For those of you who don’t know, I have been taking an online Medical Transcription course. Thanks, Jerri. It didn’t dawn on me that I forgot specify. LOL!

I have so many things that I want to do, but first, there’s this little thing called FINDING A JOB. I have no experience, but LORDY this class was tough and it put me through the ringer, for sure. So, if you have any leads for me, send me an email and I will be eternally grateful!

I am so excited to get back to blogging! It is one of the things I have missed the most, other than my kids whom I feel like I have neglected for the last year.

Hey, if you haven’t already—Find my red button on Facebook and follow me!

Thanks for sticking with me!

~Misti

Pottery Barn: Pillow Love

2010-03-25T12:50:00.001-04:00

These are just fabulous pillows. I would really love to make three of these, but describing each of my boys in the definition wording.

Ahhh…… Love them. Love Pottery Barn.

Only 40 pages to go in the last unit of my class! Done tomorrow, people! Tears of joy over here!!!! Can you feel my excitement?

You know I just love you all for hanging in there with me!

~Misti

REPOST: Paula Deen’s Savannah Home

2010-03-19T11:54:00.001-04:00

This is one of my favorite posts, and since I have been too busy to come up with something all great and brilliant right now, I thought that I would repost it. ENJOY! (Original post June 2009)

In light of my blogger’s block I have experienced lately, I thought I would begin a new series. Something to keep me on track for the week.

All day, EVERYDAY, I am constantly thinking of new blog posts. Sometimes I come up with many great ideas in my head, but the research and scanning kind of take the gusto right out of me. Remember, I am still keeping up with school stuff -no fun, and the boys are home for summer, that means craziness at my house.

So, I am starting a new series called

“I confess my love of…”

I said those words several times in my recent kitchen post and they stuck with me! I will confess my love of something every Thursday…I think, if I stay on track that is.

This week I confess my love of:

Paula Deen

I love her cooking, of course, but have you seen her home?

These pictures are from her magazines in 2006-2007.

Have you seen that massive fireplace in her kitchen? I would love to cook something in there. Those bricks are just fabulous!

I am totally in love with the brick backsplash. Also, look closely at the cabinet knobs. There are several different styles, but I love the ones the latch together…very unique. Thanks for posing Paula!

Paula has great taste in fabric colors, texture, and style! Red and greens are my absolute favorites, she must have known!

Red checked drapes hung on medallions…be still my heart! Silk pillows loaded with fringe make the sofa elegant while still being cozy. I love how she has worked in antiques with new pieces to keep it warm and inviting.

Okay- I got these as close together as I could. This is a full shot of the living room. Notice the same brick used on this fireplace surround? True Southern charm and comfort. I could point out so many details, but I will let your eyes wander instead.

Now let’s step into her bedroom. I suppose Paula won’t mind…

Chocolate brown and mint – my favorite ice cream flavor. The colors looks so beautiful and cozy here in her bedroom retreat.

Say- Do you really think she sleeps here? I wouldn’t want to mess it up. She probably has a really laid back room, with no pillows and an old quilt thrown on the bed a few doors down the hall.

This is also her room, the side that leads to the outdoor spa and fireplace area. We all have one of those right? Did you notice the antique wooden doors? I would love to have a set like that somewhere in my house. Anyone have some lying around?

Now, let’s wander over to her bathroom…hope she is covered up!

That Paula…she’s a hoot! I would never pose in my tub for you guys. Sorry, just not doing it.

Pay close attention to her bathroom cabinets. We need to get Miss Jennifer of The Magic Brush on this job. She can give us step-by-step directions on how to make black and antique gold, super fabulous cabinets.

Ready? They are drop-dead gorgeous!

I’m in LOVE.

So there you have it. My first post in the series. I sincerely hope you enjoyed the tour. Wish I could have found more pictures of her kitchen, but we get to see that all the time on her show.

Paula, if you happen to stumble upon my humble blog, just know that I am one of your biggest fans!

I love your SUTHUN accent, your silly charm, and your impeccable style.

~Misti

My New Career!

2010-03-15T13:13:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone! I am in the last 2 weeks of my class and I am EXCITED!

Soon I will be doing some major celebrating on the birth of a new career but, of course, I will still be blabbing about all of my favorite decorating styles and tips.

I have had several friends ask about my Medical Transcription online class. If you are interested in learning more about Career Step please check out my personal referral page at:

CareerStep.com

Thank you all for sticking with me!

~Misti

Can’t get Enough of Exposed Brick!

2010-03-05T10:10:00.001-05:00

Do you love it as much as I do?

I can’t help myself—I just LOVE it!

Fabulously cozy…

Have a fabulously cozy weekend,

~Misti

My Sister in Law is saving like crazy!

2010-02-28T22:02:00.001-05:00

This is a quick shout-out to my crazy sister-in-law. She has been doing some major super couponing, and I am so proud of her deals. Stop and by and check out her blog sometime and get some great savings tips from Leigh Ann.

Her blog is: Confessions of a Save-aholic. {Cause spending was so last year}

Oh, and tell her Misti sent ya!

Just 18 more days on this class—PRAY FOR ME!

~Misti

Ballard Designs Love

2010-02-17T10:11:00.001-05:00

Ahhh… Ballard Designs…

They had me at hello.

28 days and counting!

~Misti

My All-Time Favorite Kitchen

2010-02-03T15:59:00.001-05:00

Once again Country Living made my day by posting more pictures of the MOST beautiful kitchen EVER!

I received an email today all about Farmhouse style kitchens and had to take a second to see if this kitchen was in there. I have posted pictures of this one before and was so excited to see even more shots!

I have to make this quick so…here are the pictures CL so graciously supplied on their website:

RAWRRRRRRR!

So, there you have it.

My all-time favorite kitchen!

I appreciate everyone who still feels like commenting. I do read them all even though I don’t have time to visit right now. I officially have 42 days left to finish my online class, and I am working like a DOG to get it done on time.

Again, I miss you all. For some reason my comments are not getting through to my email even after I have changed the settings and changed emails, so I will keep checking the blog.

See you all soon!

~Misti

Click on THIS link to see the full article on Country Living.com.

How the Beanbag got its Groove Back

2010-01-24T17:28:00.001-05:00

Are you stuck with a flat, pitiful beanbag that the kids have tossed aside? Well, worry no more!!!

Before: Flat, pitiful beanbag and a child who looks happy, but all I have heard for weeks is how badly he wanted his chair fixed.

So, I had this brilliant idea to run over to the nearest mail store to see if I could have them fill it up with packing peanuts--It was my lucky day when they GAVE me two huge boxes worth that someone had dropped off for recycling!

I went home and found the opening, which luckily was just a double zipper. The fabric was in such great shape and I knew it needed to be saved somehow.

I had to prove to the boys that the inside was full of foam pellets…

They started off with good intentions…

And then it turned into this…

Styrofoam is NOT easy to clean up.

So, we resorted to the outdoor dust pan…

AND…….. POOF! All back to normal again.

I now have one happy camper…

…And that’s how our beanbag got its groove back!

If you are ever considering throwing out a deflated beanbag chair, stop by your nearest mail store and fill it up! However, I do suggest taking the beanbag chair and letting them put it directly under that big funnel of packing peanuts to fill the chair.

SAVE YOURSELF THE MESS.

Hope you all have a great week!

Miss you,

Misti

A late Happy New Year wish to you!

2010-01-14T08:07:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone—I sure do miss you all!

I only have a minute before I get started on my class for the day. I only have 62 days left to finish and I REALLY, REALLY want to finish before that, if possible!

IT’S CRUNCH TIME!

Thanks again for sticking with me. I will leave you with a picture of me and my mother, Shirley Jean, enjoying our Christmas morning together.

Hope you are all making the most of 2010. It’s gonna be a fabulous year!

Can’t wait to get my blogging groove back!

P.S. Not sure if I am keeping the title Studio M Designs, since I am no longer decorating, so if you can think of a clever name for my blog PLEASE send it my way!

I miss you—please email me to say hi!

`Misti

Red Velvet Cookies-YUM!

2009-12-13T20:34:00.001-05:00

Hi everybody! I sure do hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Things are slowly falling into place here at our humble abode.

I am happy to report that Cisco the dog has not eaten one single Christmas decoration, the tree is still standing and alive, and nothing has been broken yet! So far, so good.

My online class is going along smoothly, and I am definitely getting closer to finishing. Thank you for all your support! The one thing I miss the most is blogging and all of the awesome ideas and friendships that come along with it. I cannot wait to get back to posting and visiting.

I thought I would share with you a recipe from the 2009 Christmas with Southern Living book. Here is their recipe for Red Velvet Cookies.

Let me know if you bake them. They are on my list for next weekend!

Let me know how you are! Ho Ho Ho!

~Misti

Christmas Decor 2009!

2009-11-30T20:15:00.001-05:00

Whew! Finally got the house all prettied up for Christmas. I didn’t do as much as I normally do, in fact I left so many things down in the basement for next year!

Indulge me as I give you a quick tour then I’m off to do more studying. As always, thanks for hanging with me during my blogging hiatus!

Here we go…don’t get too excited now…

Let’s step inside…

Here is the family room from the front door and foyer.

Here is my sidekick Cisco thinking I wanted to play when I really just wanted him to move out of the way!

Some closeups of the ornaments:

Love the red feather balls, but I think we lost a few to the dog last year.

Can’t have Christmas without Elvis!

I whipped this up last year and NEVER hung it up!

Mother gives me the new Southern Living book every year on my birthday! Gotta love ‘em!

The boys love having the basket of Christmas books out.

Yes, I believe!

My favorite shelf in the kitchen. It gets decorated for every occasion!

Thanks for taking the Misti tour! Hang in there with me friends, I will be back to blogging in no time!

Hope you all have a joyous season!

~Misti

P.S. Let me know who is having the Christmas house tours! I would love to meet some new people!

I’ll be posting this on the Nester’s site for the Christmas Tour of Homes post! Check it out here.

Southern Living Idea House—Part 3

2009-11-23T12:27:00.001-05:00

On to the finale of my tour!

Here I go again with the apologies… So sorry to have waited this long to post the finale! Still no time to blog these days. I will make this post pretty quick as I desperately need to get back to studying for my medical transcription class.

My favorite room in the house in the basement family room. It was very warm and welcoming.

My husband and the boys LOVED the wall of cabinets which was actually a hidden kitchen. Did you all know that RED is my favorite color? My heart kind of skipped a beat when I stepped downstairs!

Check out the hidden dishwasher. NICE!

The informal table is great for family game nights or additional dinner seating.

I just had to show you how they used the same fabric for the stockings! See…they match the furniture.

On to the guest suite… Beautiful vintage looking wallpaper draws you in.

I fell in love with the chandelier and the mirror over the dresser. The chandelier seemed like a wooden material, and the wooden mirror almost reached the ceiling.

Notice how they used patterned fabric on top of patterned wallpaper? Very interesting!

More of the fabulous sconces that were used in every room, and a closeup of the wallpaper. Love the birds!

This is the guest bath, complete with walls covered in brown glass tiles. Very magazine-worthy! It was incredibly elegant, yet masculine.

You can see the shower in the mirror. It is also surrounded in the glass tiles. It was very warm and welcoming!

The potty room walls were even covered in tiles. Perfect for a house of three boys is what I’m thinking!

Every detail covered…

Moving out of the guest suite and down the hall to another bedroom…

Love how they continued to use artwork groupings throughout the home.

Let’s step into the other bedroom…This could be used as a reading room or additional bedroom. Notice the horizontal trim used on the walls. It really brings great texture and interest to the room. Not that the view of the mountains wasn’t interesting enough!

The first thing to catch my eye was the drum shade on the light fixture. It is hard to take in, but the drum had to be almost three feet in diameter! It was HUGE.

The window seat makes the most of the room with storage and additional seating.

The colors in this room are very vibrant and fun!

And of course, it had its own bathroom. The wood on the walls is the same wood used on the floors and ceilings in other rooms of the house. It was phenomenal in this bathroom!

The guys loved the walkway from the mud room out to the garage. Love the lighting set into the floor of the walkway.

Even the garage doors and carriage lights were just gorgeous!

Thank you for your patience on my tour of the Southern Living Idea House.

Now that I have finally finished this series, maybe I can start cooking Thanksgiving dinner!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by!

~Misti

Southern Living Idea House—Part 2

2009-11-07T09:02:00.001-05:00

I am so sorry I have taken so long to finish showing the Southern Living house. It’s been a crazy week. One day I will get over this cold and feel better!

If you missed Part 1, scroll down and check out my last post.

Let’s visit the dining room. No one puts out a tablescape like Southern Living. They truly lived up to their reputation!

The designers went all out with a mix of contemporary and traditional fabrics. They used Asian-inspired chairs and paired them with a white, cottage style table. Very unexpected, but it worked.

The table setting was so pretty! I love how they lined up three metal flower baskets for the paper whites, and using individual cloches on each place setting was genius!

What a great way to treat your guests…

All of the light fixtures were decorated for the holidays, and they were all so unique in design.

So pretty….

This arrangement sits on the buffet that looks through to the kitchen. Very functional use of space.

With this view, you can see into the living room. Notice the backs of the shelves, how they used the same wood from the living room ceiling. That same wood is used throughout the home in odd places, but it really ties everything together nicely.

Now we move on to the master bedroom and bathroom. The details make the room so unique and very elegant. The door to the right leads to the porch with fireplace and more seating.

The color choices are just amazing. The pale aqua with bright red is so refreshing and still so elegant and comfortable.

All decorated for Christmas…

Great view for a writing desk. The mountains were covered in fog and rain the day we went, otherwise you would have seen a beautiful view of leaves of every color.

I noticed throughout the house, that the designers chose to use several art groupings instead of single, larger pieces.

…And this is the coffee bar IN THE BEDROOM.

FABULOUS-- JUST FABULOUS!

And here is the bathroom of all luxury bathrooms…

… it had me at hello.

Yes…it was even prettier in person. Textured wallpaper, those dark-stained, distressed floors, and the tub….oh the tub.

The cafe curtains really gave it a cozy feel.

The mirrors were very different; they were like artwork.

The pull out drawers housed stainless steel inserts for hot curling and straightening irons, and the electrical outlets were in the back of the drawers. My husband was very impressed!

The shower was fit for a king, or queen I should say. It was surrounded in brown glass tiles from floor to ceiling, complete with three--YES, THREE—shower heads! The rain head was every girl’s dream.

Even the throne had its own private space. You have to love that!

I also wanted to show you the guest bathroom. I am grateful that the doors were off so that I could show you the fabulous wallpaper. It is a textured pattern of a rusty red and tan print.

JUST FABULOUS!

Blurry, but you get the picture…

I love their use of mounted sconces all over the house. In all of the baths they are mounted right to the mirrors.

Time to head upstairs to the bonus loft area.

Another large grouping of artwork leads you up a beautifully decorated stairway. The watercolors were gorgeous.

No details were forgotten. The stair rails were so unique, as was the light fixture. Notice how they used the dark stain on the hand rails and the newel posts?

The upstairs loft used the same wood on the floor that was on the ceiling in the living room. It is a light, weathered blue/grey, and is so pretty!

Simple, yet elegant, furnishings made this a nice gathering room, or reading room.

This room led out to a private, covered deck with the lounge sofa that I HAD to try out. (Don’t pay any attention to how awful I looked. I was already soaked from the rain, and I was dressed for a high school football game after my tour of the SL house.)

I could really see myself here, with the view and a stack of Twilight books. I might never come back inside…

I noticed a Danielle Steel book on the display shelves. She is one of my faves!

I had to show a close up of this fixture. It is amazing! I wanted to yank it down and take it home with me!

Can you see the mountains through the window? This house is in a gorgeous setting.

And that concludes our tour for today…Stay tuned for the rest of the tour through the basement level, which includes:

An unbelievable family room.
Incredible guest room and private bath.
A child’s bedroom and private bath.

Come back to visit me very soon. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

If you have any questions about materials used in the SL house, email me. I have all of the booklets showing materials used.

~Misti

Southern Living Idea House—Part 1

2009-11-02T20:12:00.001-05:00

Talk about a great thing to do on a Friday afternoon! My husband was looking for things to do in Dahlonega (to help drag me to a football game) and he found that the Southern Living Idea House was there!

It was a beautiful house in a gorgeous mountainous setting! Now, it’s time to take a tour with me, but, we will be be breaking it down into a few parts. I have so many pictures!

First, we will see the living room, back porch, kitchen, and multi-purpose room. (aka Misti’s room she never wanted to leave.)

Oh, by the way, the house was supposed to close on October 18th, but due to overwhelming response it has now been decorated for the holidays!

And here we go:

This home is located in Dahlonega, Georgia at the Achasta Golf Community.

Right off the foyer is the living room. Most of the home is drenched in pale aqua, tans, and reds!

Beautiful trim work throughout the house, and those chairs are very tall and elegant!

The ceiling had me right from the start. It is a weathered gray plank and it is phenomenal. Be sure to check out the lighting, they made some fabulous lighting choices throughout the home.

The wall moving into the dining room is flanked on each side (living room and dining room) with deep shelves for display. The windows above are in the bonus room upstairs. They are fully functional.

Outside is one of three covered porches, wonderfully decorated with more seating and great accessories. The door straight ahead leads to the master bedroom. NICE. Did you notice the recessed lighting and the fireplace? Love at first sight.

This table is right outside of the dining room, ready for additional seating. Love the chandelier all decked out!

Same table, different view.

Ahhhhhhh, now we head into the kitchen. Fabulous weathered blue grey cabinets, built-in refrigerator and coffee bar.

The kitchen had three different prep areas. One being a stainless and butcher block moveable cart. One is the table in the middle that was wired for electrical outlets, and the one on the left houses an ice machine, extra prep sink, and wine cooler!

The fridge was so pretty too! My boys were very impressed.

This is the coffee station. When the doors are closed the look mimics the fridge adjacent to the coffee station.

Wall-to-wall marble countertops, complete with marble farmhouse sink!

Now this you HAVE to see—The entire back window slides open into automatic pocket doors controlled by a wall switch, to allow the space to become one with the outdoors! The back of the white marble island has a flip-up counter for use when the doors are open.

Just super fabulous!

Now we move on to the “Multipurpose Room.” This is a very cool room! It had a potting center with the small sink, a desk area complete with everything you need to Facebook or to craft!

This is to the left of the doorway…the potting center. Love the display shelves used to dress it up. Also love the subway tile and the deep sink!

I had to scoot back farther so I could show you the crown moulding and the lighting. I especially love how the designers used cafe curtains. So fresh and fun!

No details forgotten!

I was pretty impressed with the long wrapping paper drawers!

And I know that everyone will want to build one of these!

I wouldn’t mind doing the laundry in this room!

Even the doors had character….so many details!

This is the butler’s pantry…I believe it could have been staged a little better. Don’t you think? I do love the doors though!

And that is the end of the tour for today. Here is a sneak peek of the dining room…

So tomorrow, we will tour the dining room, the master bedroom and bath, and the upstairs loft.

Come back and see me!

~Misti

Southern Living Idea House

2009-10-29T20:32:00.001-04:00

Guess where I am going tomorrow… Hee hee! I am giddy with excitement! My husband just found out that the Southern Living Idea Home is about 30 minutes from our house!

My camera battery is being charged right now! Hopefully, I will have loads of pictures to share with you on Saturday!

It was supposed to close on October 18th, but due to overwhelming response it has now been transformed for the holidays, and will be staying open through December!

I’m so excited I can’t stand it!

A Beautiful Fall Weekend

2009-10-24T19:47:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I miss each and every one of you. Still crawling through towards the end of my class. One step at a time…

Please don’t think I have forgotten about you. I haven’t visited any blogs lately…just no extra time. If I get started I can’t stop and I will be reading for hours. SOON. Very soon!

Just wanted to share one of my favorite magazine covers of all time. This is from October 2005. Enjoy…

This is next to me on my inspiration board. I get to look at it every day.

Have a great weekend!

~Misti

From the Studio M Archives

2009-10-15T09:37:00.001-04:00

It’s been a crazy week, full of sick boys around my house, so while we are all recuperating I thought I would pull from the archives.

Why this bedroom works, and how to get the look on a budget.

(Click on the picture to go to the original post.)

And here is another one from the archives:

Weekly Dusting: Perfect Time to Rotate Accessories

(Click on the picture to go to the original post.)

Thanks for hanging in there with me while I desperately try to finish my class! I’m on the last leg of it now…

~Misti

A Stroll through Pottery Barn

2009-10-12T09:39:00.001-04:00

When I open the mailbox and find a new Pottery Barn catalog I just get butterflies! Can’t wait to see what new ideas and products are waiting for me behind the cover, but to actually go into a Pottery Barn store is like Heaven on Earth!

This weekend my boys and I made a long overdue trip to the mall and since it was my birthday week and all, they indulged me by letting me go into every store that made me happy. PB being my first stop!

After all these months of drooling over the catalog, I finally got to sit at this table. Ahhhhh… Don’t you just love this fabric too?

Also got to touch this table…

I got lost in the lighting section, and got to rub on some beautiful comforters too..

I wanted to take all of their new blankets home, and put them over every piece of furniture. Seriously, these are super soft and luxurious! Worth every penny.

I wanted to swipe this giant thing off of the wall, and I would hurt someone for this table!

I sat in this great chair and pretended to have this incredible office setup…

And this, was my favorite of everything in the store. Love the sofa, the red coffee table, I WILL paint some pillows and make some of the burlap style too…and did you see the “E” on the shelf, they did that just for me!

I really enjoyed my stroll through Pottery Barn and was not ready to leave, but…on to the food court we went.

Thanks for visiting today! Have a wonderful week!

~Misti

I’m still here—Really I am!

2009-10-06T21:51:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! No I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth, just hanging on for dear life trying to finish my studies.

Not much going on around here. No projects to boast about, no repainting, nothing.

Well, I did manage to get a haircut. That’s something, since I only have it done about twice a year!

My husband and I haven’t been on a date at night in over ten years. Can you believe that? So we went this past weekend to his 30-year high school reunion and what a blast we had! We danced the night away!

The pictures are a bit washed out and I really did try to fix them, but…I guess it didn’t work. I am pretty pale, but not quite that pale.

So that’s it. Not much going on here. Just trying to stay afloat!

I miss you all. Thanks for stopping by today!

~Misti

Monday Funnies

2009-09-21T22:29:00.001-04:00

As you may know, Georgia has gotten nonstop rain for over a week now. I love rain…good thing, but it has become a bit of a nuisance. It has caused major flooding all over the state.

This was my front yard during yet another storm this afternoon:

I have drains running under my driveway and on this side the water got to about three and a half feet deep. At one point it covered the landscape timbers and was touching the top of the pine straw!

So I found this from Kanye West in honor of our flooding: ( You must read the caption.)

And if that’s not enough to make you laugh on this incredibly rainy Monday, how about this, since I feel like I live in Forks:

Sorry honey, it was just so funny I couldn’t resist. I hope you understand!

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait until November 22nd!

~Misti

Finally found the perfect fireplace surround!

2009-09-20T15:57:00.001-04:00

Leave it to County Living to show me the most perfect fireplace surround for my home.

I’m loving the black distressed look!

I can picture it already…

~Misti

Fab and Functional Office Space

2009-09-16T08:45:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens goes out of their way to bring us some of the best projects for everyday do-it-yourselfers like us. I can’t get enough of their magazine! So, when I find a project that really knocks my socks off, I have to share it with you.

While having my Saturday morning coffee, I stumbled upon this fabulous office space in BHG. The homeowner made this small room so very functional and practical, not to mention beautiful!

They transformed these small, but deep closets into storage space and a charging station. One side houses the flat screen TV, and the other side houses office supplies and a filing cabinet. Electrical outlets were installed to get maximum benefit!

Such a smart use of space! By removing the doors and adding draperies, it makes the closets easier to use. Besides, the fabric is much nicer to look at than doors. I mean REALLY. The fabric was also used on the opposite wall to bring the room together.

White painted walls reflect the natural light and make the room appear larger. The rug is actually two rugs held together by carpet tape. Using the light colored rug against the dark wood floor, again, lightens up the space.

Even the furniture choices are so practical. The small sofa opens into a twin bed to also make this room serve as a guest room. The acrylic table takes up no visual space, yet is still so functional.

Love the desk that they painted to coordinate with the drapery colors!

Another thing that caught my attention is how they used a white curtain rod against the white walls to visually make it disappear.

Really, they thought of every possible storage and space solution here! The wall shelves are economical pieces that can be found at any department store or Ikea, I’m sure… Did you notice that they painted the backs of shelves green? So clever.

Even the filing cabinet got a spray paint treatment! I am in love with this office/room. How about you?

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!

~Misti

What a day…

2009-09-11T08:27:00.001-04:00

This morning I see mums blooming and I smell cinnamon brooms in the air and they make me smile…

…but all I can really think about is that sad day years ago…

May we never forget.

Using your space wisely

2009-09-09T09:11:00.001-04:00

Kudos to Better Homes and Gardens for always showing us such great ideas!

An entryway like this is so functional and yet so pretty!

Instead of leaving this basement area one large space, the homeowners made an open foyer simply by adding this low wall. One side of the wall is for seating and shoe storage, and the other side is used for displaying books and artwork.

Keeping the wall low allows the room to remain open while letting in as much light as possible.

The beadboard was attached to cover the lower cement portion of the basement walls and was extended to the entry wall.

Beautiful and functional!

The homeowners also chose to paint the floor instead of adding carpet or spending the money for hardwoods. I think this a a fabulous use of space!

I do love a well-thought-out room!

~Misti

Things to do List

2009-09-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

Lately all I have had time to do is study, study, and study. I just took my midterm exam today and scored an awesome 100!

So that means I am on my way to the finish line. That can’t come soon enough in my book. I just can’t believe that I will have a new career in a very short time! How exciting!!!

When I have some down time (or when I just cannot stare at the computer anymore) I start making lists. Lists of all kinds.

But the list that keeps getting longer and longer is my to-do list.

Some small projects, some large, and some that I have been planning to do since we moved in four years ago.

Let me walk you through a few of them:

I am dying to paint this wall a light suede brown, and have my Ballard drapes from floor to ceiling.

The stairway will also get the same light brown suede paint.

I would love to paint the inside of the front door a satin black.

Still thinking about painting the ugly white fridge in black chalkboard paint, and wrapping the handles in jute twine.

Restaining the deck is my husband’s first priority. Not exactly one I am excited about, but it sure does need it!

And the one I have been dying to do since the month we moved in…painting the garage door a dark tan to match the house, and adding the brackets and hinges. Can’t wait!

Oh…and I still need to tackle the basement. It is just covered in home decor that is waiting to be re-invented! I’ll spare you that picture.

My to-do list never ends!

~Misti

I could NEVER (decorate like that.)

2009-09-07T12:05:00.001-04:00

Being a decorator for a few years, I have been lucky enough to have done some pretty cool things, in some pretty cool homes.

When I am decorating for my own home, however, I am quite practical. I believe in comfortable, family-friendly spaces.

So when I am looking through magazines I see things that just make me cringe. I know we all do it. We look at those great ideas, and think…"'No way could I ever decorate like that.”

Here are a few examples:

Anything free standing that could possibly fall, would definitely fall. Never could I do that.

Now, I am all for cool architectural decor, but having a giant target over the mantel in a houseful of boys…

I think NOT.

Certain colors look great on certain people, however, I will never paint my house aqua blue because, quite frankly, the color is hideous on me. You really need to use colors in your home that look great on you. If you can’t wear it, only use it in small doses in your decor. Don’t cover your walls in it!

As much as I love a full-length mirror… I really don’t want a full-body shot of me as I slink into the tub, or the ever-ungraceful getting out of the tub. Ugh! I could never place a long mirror that close to the tub or shower. {Shaking just thinking about it.}

Everyone loves a great tablescape, but when I look at this picture, I see my cat eating the plants and drinking out of the glasses. Cracks me up! I never do table settings, and yes, if I did the cat(s) would be locked in a room somewhere upstairs.

Same as the aqua room…I am NOT a pink kind of gal.

I could NEVER…have white upholstered or slip-covered chairs in the kitchen or dining room! NEVER. It looks fabulous, but so not practical for a family of five.

{All photos courtesy of House Beautiful.}

So, that’s my short list of things I could never decorate with.

How about you? Practical or a little on the fancy schmancy side?

Hope everyone has a fabulously comfortable Labor day!

~Misti

Mushrooms on Parade

2009-09-06T16:10:00.001-04:00

Holy mushroom madness--Our yard has been taken over by fungi!

The lawnmower has been on the fritz for a while, and we haven’t been able to cut the grass in about three weeks. In that time, we have been overcome with the craziest mushrooms you’ve ever seen. Some are so fascinating that I just had to blog about them!

It’s the weekend…I needed something different to blog about anyway, right?

This would make a great umbrella for a little mouse.

These brown guys looked like rough rocks!

Looks like a Portobello, right?

This one looks like a mini birdbath.

Have you ever seen so many mushrooms?

I mean REALLY…what’s with all the ‘shrooms?

I know I’m crazy, but I didn’t think anyone would believe me unless I posted about the mushroom insanity going on in my yard.

Okay—I saved the best for last… It’s bigger than my HAND!

Thanks for indulging me while I showed off the mushroom parade!

I really do have much more interesting posts coming this week, so stay tuned!

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

~Misti

What’s for dinner Thursday?

2009-09-02T20:40:00.001-04:00

Can you believe it’s Thursday already? Well, every week my friend (and awesome blog designer) Joanna of This Southern Girl’s Nest hosts ‘What’s for dinner Thursday?’

This week I am featuring Taco Soup.

First you have to decide if you want ground beef, ground turkey or chicken. I went for ground turkey this time because my booty has not been fitting into my pants very well lately. So turkey it was.

You must also have these ingredients. You may not leave any of them out, or it will not be the same. You can choose to use all yellow corn or all white corn, and you can change the beans to ranch or kidney, but don’t leave out anything!

Pretty colors huh?

1. First thing…cook the meat and onions. Lots of onions! I like to add salt and pepper here, and since I was using turkey I added some extra cumin, but it’s not necessary.

2. Drain if needed.

3. Drain corn before adding, then add the tomatoes, and the can of beans. Pour in two cans of water, more or less according to how soupy you like it.

4. Stir together and bring to a boil, then let simmer on low. The longer it cooks, the better it tastes, but it is a very quick and easy meal done in less than 30 minutes.

Since I was attempting to be healthy--I topped it with low-fat Mexican blend cheese, and low-fat tortilla chips.

Rawr! Looks yummy, huh?

Today I had grilled fish, and I am walking every night, too. Maybe sometime soon I will be back into shape! My husband’s 30-year reunion is coming in October, so I have to be LOOKIN’ GOOD.

Head on over to Joanna’s place to see what she and others are cooking for dinner! If you have a recipe to add, please do; she will love it! Click the button below for her place.

Thanks for hosting Joanna!

~Misti

Finally finished my footboard project!

2009-08-31T18:11:00.001-04:00

Remember way back in June I said “give me a few days” and I would have this top-secret project all done? Well, it is finally done! Oh…and tomorrow is September 1st.

I never do anything fast around here. I guess “give me a few days” really translates into “give me a few months!” I haven’t done much of anything but study, read Twilight, watch Twilight, and um…read and watch Twilight again.

So here is my footboard that I got out of the headboard/footboard set from Goodwill for only $13. Yes, you read that right, $13.

Want to see what I did with it?

Sure Misti, show us the nitty gritty details…

Okay…here it goes. This is the before picture:

Before shot of the great details on the bed:

You know there has to be some spray paint action somewhere, right? This is supposedly a decorating blog (but you wouldn’t know it from my lack of posts lately).

Shield your eyes from the ugly paint sheet!

First, it got a light sanding then two coats of black satin spray paint. I love my black spray paint. Seems that everyone else paints everything white or cream, but not me…black, red, or green are my staples.

Then, I lightly sanded the edges to distress it a bit.

After the paint dried, I brought out my trusty Mona Lisa to lend some inspiration…

A quick little swoosh of the brush and I had a sweet little design going on…

Now—any idea of what I did with it yet?

Take a wild guess.

Any ideas yet?

Oh come on…think out of the box!

Misti doesn’t do anything too predictable.

READY TO SEE?

Okay—you twisted my arm long enough.

It took two of these…

And one of these…

To get this:

A view from the bridge…

To get this up there, I found the studs in the wall, then measured the distance between them, then I screwed in these D-rings at the measured distance onto the back of the footboard. We added the heavy-duty screws into the studs and voila!

And that’s all to it! It was a very simple project, so don’t ask why it took me so long. I debated and debated about cutting off the legs, but I just couldn’t. It would have looked more like it was meant to be a door topper, but I love them!

This is a twin size and I would LOVE to find a full or queen size to put over my bathroom vanity. I need something big!

Thanks for checking it out! I think I’ll put this on A soft place to land on Thursday’s DIY DAY, now if I can just be one of the first ten!

EDITED 9/22/09: Go on over to A picture is worth 1,000 words to check out 2nd Time around Tuesday!

EDITED 10/17/09: I am adding this to Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special Link Party. Go on over and see what everyone else is transforming! (This post is really making the rounds!)

Thanks for stopping by. I love all of your comments, and I would love to know what you think of this. Is it too weird?

Is it what you were expecting?

Leave me a comment and let me know.

~Misti

I confess my love of… Craft Rooms.

2009-08-27T08:50:00.001-04:00

Every Thursday (well, when I can remember) I share with you some of my favorite things.

Today I wanted to show you a quick peek into my bloggy friend, Jerri Ann’s craft room. Some people have a nice little closet set up all organized for wrapping presents, or have their nifty little craft boxes stored all lined up and cute, ready for some creativity. When I saw this on her blog, I knew I had to share it.

Jerri has the “mack daddy” of all rooms to spread out and enjoy.

Look at this enormous craft room! I’m mean SERIOUSLY!

Is this not the craft room of all craft rooms?

Jerri says there is more craft room here than “crafter.”

My gosh the things I could do in this room! I told her I was going to have to make a road trip just to come hang out and make something.

GOOSEBUMPS people, I HAVE GOOSEBUMPS.

Can’t you just think of so many things you could come up with in here? My wheels start turning every time I look at these pictures, with the under mount lighting and all of the shelves to organize. Ahhh…..

Not just one, but TWO giant tables in the middle of the room, excellent lighting, wall-to-wall shelving, storage, and countertops just calling my name!

Jerri has very recently welcomed in her newest grandbaby and she is in la la land! What a beautiful family she has. She also has THE BEST music on her blog! I pull up her blog and listen to her music while I study. Go and visit Jerri at:

“Salty” Sister from Salt Creek Ranch.

Tell her that I sent you, and tell her to get ready, we are all coming to invade her space very soon!

So there you go. My Thursday post

I confess my love of….

craft rooms.

What is your obsession confession this week?

~Misti

One more thing…my buddy Shauna (whom I have know FOREVER) gave me this great award yesterday.

The Splash award! The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs.

Thanks Shauna—I’ll have to figure out how to add it to my new set up! You’re the best! Shauna’s blog is so awesome, she cooks some of the best looking food around. Visit her at: (LOVE THE NAME)

They Call me Lucy

Thanks for visiting me today!

~Misti

Tamara finally has a blog!

2009-08-25T19:42:00.001-04:00

Today marks the day my new friend Tamara starts her blog! I can’t wait for you all to get to know her. She is insanely funny, and so much fun to hang out with.

Tamara and her husband Tony have already transformed one very old home in Nova Scotia, and now they are embarking on their newest venture: The Ocean House.

I have bothered her to no end to create a blog, so that she can teach us all a few things about saving money, saving sanity, and little bit about this crazy thing we call life.

Tamara will no doubt have you rolling with laughter at every visit.

Remember her home? Ahhhhh…still love it.

So take some time to visit and introduce yourself. Promise you will love her! She moves into her ocean house in three short days; so get ready for what I know will be an incredible journey.

Her blog name is Transformed by the Sea. Perfect! BTW- She is Freyja’s jewels…

Love ya Tam!

~Misti

Got Nothin’

2009-08-24T20:52:00.001-04:00

What is WRONG with me? As much as I love blogging and visiting, I just am not finding it in me to write a new post, or even read other’s! Stop the madness, already!

I apologize for being such a slacker lately. Still chugging away at my studies, hoping and praying to be done very, very, soon. That is where every ounce of energy is going these days.

I do have a really cool craft room to show you soon. As soon as I get up the energy to pull together a great post worthy of this awesome craft room. No—It’s not mine, but a friend I met in blogland.

OH—and I finally painted that footboard that I bought at Goodwill. Just have to get that project finished so that I can put it out for Kimba’s DIY day this week! Wish me luck on that too.

Just a side note for those that know of my addiction…I finally finished the Twilight series two weeks ago!

I miss reading them! But I found these flair buttons on Facebook, and they make me laugh every time I see them…

~Misti

What would you do with $5000?

2009-08-19T09:03:00.001-04:00

In today’s economy so many people are just trying to keep their heads above water. Sometimes fantasies and day dreaming can help us cope with the realities of every day life.

So today, I want to forget about having to pay bills and buying groceries for just a few minutes. I want to add a bit of fun to your life!

So my question to you is this:

If someone handed you $5,000 and said you may use this for decorating and ONLY decorating; what would you do?

I would tackle my living room and my master bedroom!

Of course, I am pretty frugal—I could really stretch that much money a very long way, but I would start with this:

Ballard Designs-I’ve had my eyes on these for a while!

We really need a new sofa. One that is big enough to seat three growing boys. I would love to have a slip-covered sofa this time around.

Love, love, love these new pillows from Pottery Barn! I’m thinking I could paint something like this and put it in my Etsy shop-what do you think?

Still pining over this funky coffee table. Maybe one day…

So, that’s where I would start. My bedroom would be next, considering it is right off of the living room. You can’t help but see it when you come in the front door. It needs help!

What would you do with a guilt-free $5,000?

~Misti

Uppercase Living Winner!

2009-08-16T20:13:00.001-04:00

Thank you all so much for taking the time to get to know Gloria, my friend from Uppercase Living, and my bud in real life!

We do have a winner of the “Welcome” sign.

Step right up: Joanna of This Southern Girl’s Nest!

I added up all of the entries from my comments and from Gloria’s, skipped over my comment, and Joanna was the winner according to Random.org.

Congrats girl! I have already given your contact info to Gloria. Please post a picture for us when you get your sign up!

Please visit Gloria again soon to place your orders. They make the best birthday, teacher, and holiday gifts! Don’t forget her button will be on my blog for a while. Click on her button to go straight to her website full of great ideas and inspiration.

I will need some for my “girl” gift exchanges at Christmastime!

Thanks again to all who entered!

~Misti & Gloria

Hooked on Uppercase Living products!

2009-08-13T21:56:00.000-04:00

Recently, I ran across one of my old friends from high school. Not that we are old, or that she is old…well shoot--you know what I mean….

My friend Gloria Fox is an independent distributor for Uppercase Living. UL offers vinyl embellishments to decorate everything under the sun!

She sent me the coolest gift and I couldn’t wait to put it up! It took less than 10 minutes to apply. So Easy!

Here’s a closer look…

Isn’t it the sweetest? It brings a smile to my face every time I see it.! YOU KNOW YOU WANT ONE…

There are several “Welcome” styles to choose from, and guess what? We are giving one away to a lucky winner! First, let me show you some of the other designs and all of the possibilities:

These embellishments are not just for walls (and doors).

You can bling up your laptop!

After painting the background you can make your own canvas or wood wall art.

Love this idea with the stool - OR you could add a name to the back of each family member’s chair at the dinner table! Ohhh…impressed myself with that idea.

On the walls is always my favorite…

This is a fabulous gift idea!

Check this out! This is a set of small CHALKBOARD embellishments.

I can see these on canisters or on mason jars filled with cookie mix.

This is the Fall/Winter Idea Catalog and it is loaded with ideas!

Check out Gloria’s website to order your catalog and embellishments. On her site you will find lots of great ideas for using Uppercase Living items.

Go over and play with the “MyDesign Suite” under the Products tab to design your own ideas! Click and drag away!!!

Click on the catalog photo to go to her website.

The “Crown” picture depicts Gloria’s button on my blog, you can find her in the future on my blog in the sponsor section.

Gloria also has a blog with even more ideas and new products as they come in.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT HER BLOG.

Now—to enter the giveaway.

You will receive an entry for EACH of the following but, be sure to leave separate comments!

Contest ends Sunday, August 16th at noon!

Leave me a sweet comment on THIS post for one entry.
Become a follower if you aren’t already. Leave a separate comment letting me know if you became a follower or if you already are. (thank you!)
Leave Gloria a sweet comment on her blog. (Those count too.) Let her know you came from my place.
Become a follower at Gloria’s blog and leave another comment for that at her place or mine. Either way it’s another entry for you!
Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway and let me know about it, and that’s another entry for ya!

So there you go! Several ways to be entered to win.

Tell all your friends to come on by!

~Misti

I’ll be posting this over at Julia’s place for Hooked on Fridays!

Go check out her place and see what everyone else is hooked on, but first ENTER THE DRAWING!

I Confess my love of… Orange.

2009-08-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you for checking out my weekly series. Every week I give you a look into my head. At what’s swirling around in there.

When it comes to the pretty things in life, I tend to have a lot of favorites. Do you?

This week I confess my love of…

the color orange.

When it comes to home decor, I am drawn to deeper shades.

Flowers of orange are also a big favorite of mine.

When I found this crazy spirograph shower curtain, (seriously dating myself here, talking about spirograph) I knew it was going to be perfect for my boys’ bathroom. I mean really--how do you decorate a bathroom for such a big difference in age?

It has so many different shades of orange, and I LOVE it with the skateboard prints that I found online. To top it all off the wheels on the skateboards are the exact colors from the curtain!

Okay—So that’s my confession for this week!

What’s your obsession confession?

~Misti

What’s for dinner?

2009-08-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

My buddy Joanna of This Southern Girl’s Nest is having her weekly link party on Thursday. Get over there tomorrow and post your dinner to share with all of us who are trying to find something new!

Want to know what I made? Okay, here we go…it’s nothing major. Quite easy in fact!

Misti’s Mojo-Marinated Chicken

Pronounced “mo ho”

Not impressed? My plating skills were limited due to my rush job, but it was so goooood.

{Did you notice my plates? That is from Lisa Porter’s Octavia Hill collection. LOVE HER.}

I thought I would show the plated version first, because chicken really never looks pretty while cooking, unless it’s slathered in colorful peppers!

See? Not pretty.

I totally cheated a bit on this recipe because I was in a hurry, but I will give you the correct directions.

Super easy!

Chicken breasts
Sliced onions (I like Vidalia)
Fresh or jarred garlic
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Salt
Pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken,

3. Toss on the sliced onions,

4. Pour olive oil over chicken, I use about 3 tablespoons—no, actually I just pour and let it lightly coat the chicken.

5. Pour in lemon juice, I like lots of lemon juice!

6. Cover the bottom of the pan with water to keep the chicken moist, and place in the oven for about 35-40 minutes! Cook till lightly browned on top. It’s divine!

Now--in order to make this fabulous, you MUST spoon the juices over the chicken at least 3 or 4 times while it’s cooking. If you don’t plan on basting, then don’t bother cooking it!

You can marinate this for only 30 minutes or overnight. The longer the better.

How did I cheat, you ask? I used onion powder and garlic powder instead of the real deal. It’s much, much, better with the right ingredients and looks much more impressive with rings of onions all over the plate.

So like I said…get a great dinner post together and go link up at Joanna’s place on Thursday!

Joanna loves to cook! She has another new series too. Every Tuesday she will introduce us to another cookie recipe. How cool is that?

Click on the button to see her first recipe in the series: Black and White Cookies. Yum!

I’ve already heard about her next {cookie} addition and I’m in Heaven just thinking about it! Sorry, no hints from me.

I’m on a roll this week with blog posts! Yay me, one for each day!!!

Thank you all for visiting and for being patient with my summer schedule.

Come back soon for these upcoming posts:

Thursday is my ‘I confess my love of…’ series.

Friday I have a great product review for your home and a giveaway!

See you then!

~Misti

A Summer of ‘Firsts’

2009-08-10T22:03:00.000-04:00

I don’t know about yours, but our summer vacation flew by! The kids have already had their first week of school!

I thought it was quite boring, but when I really started to think long and hard about it, I realized we had a lot of firsts!

1. I made my first road trip without the hubster… Drove 6 1/2 hours with three kids and the dog. And lived to tell about it.

2. I made it through my first summer of cutting grass. Now that one deserves a medal! Oh, and next year-we WILL have a new mower. Although I still thank the current mower every time it cranks. I have sewn the bag, my husband has restrung the starter cable thingy, and it’s on it’s last wheel.

If you care for a laugh, you can read that old lawn post here.

And by the way….didn’t lose the 10 pounds. Grrrrrrrrrr!

3. First summer that I spent more time studying than at the pool. Lots of staring at the computer here.

{Insert pics here! You don’t really want to see me studying do you?}

4. Got my first Sknob order from overseas! That was so cool. Haven’t finished them yet, had a change of plans on the colors.

5. First summer that I BEAT my grocery budget every month! That’s a BIG FIRST with three boys that eat all day long until they close their eyes at night.

{Sorry, no picture}

6. I set a personal record of reading the entire Twilight series in just a month’s time. That’s a LOT of reading!

Can’t wait until New Moon comes to my theater in November! I’m so there!

7. It was the first time my oldest son drove us around. I bet in all of his driving dreams that he never imagined himself behind the wheel of a mini-van.

{Sorry, again no picture-He wasn’t going for it.}

8. First time I have ever dressed as a cow for free food. Free food is free food, people! We got four free meals, MEALS not a sandwich, but meals! I will dress however you want me to, I would do it again. Yes I would!

9. I set another personal record of staying up way too late and getting up way too early to start studying. UGH! That came from not being able to put down the Twilight books. Those of you who have read them will understand the lack of sleep.

I have been trying and trying to think of a tenth “first” but just can’t come up with one. I’m sure I’ll think of it well after this is published. Murphy’s Law, right?

Did you have any ‘firsts’ this summer? I would love to hear all about them. Just when I thought ours was so boring, we kept it simple but I enjoyed every minute of it!

~Misti

Surprise Package: A Bejeweled Gift

2009-08-09T17:55:00.001-04:00

Don’t you just love getting things in the mail?

Well, look what was waiting for me yesterday…

My friend Tamara sent me this awesome one-of-a-kind necklace from her collection! Isn’t she just the sweetest?

DISCLAIMER: Pay NO attention to the 80’s hairdo! I can’t fight the GA weather, I just have to roll with it. ONLY look at the necklace!

Good grief—I really should crop my head out of this one. Ugh! Just the necklace PLEASE.

This is Misti’s hair on a non-humid day.

Back to the necklace…Isn’t is cool? It’s so funky, like me!

Notice her button? Freyja’s Jewels… She really didn’t send this to me just so I would put her button on my blog, but just because she loves me.

We had an instant connection! She loved my blog, and emailed me to tell me how much inspiration she got from it, and I have been ever so grateful that she found me! We are truly sisters at heart, and I just can’t get enough of her crazy self!

Click on this button to check out her jewelry website! She has phenomenal creations for every budget. Go on now, check it out then come back. It’s okay…I’ll wait on you…

If you don’t remember, I blogged about her house in Nova Scotia, and the ocean house that is still in the works here.

Wondering about the name of her company? Let me read to you the cute little tag that was attached to my necklace:

Freyja the Beautiful…

Norse Goddess of Magic and Love

Freyja was said to be so beautiful that all objects of beauty were named after her. She had a cat-drawn chariot and falcon-feather cloak, but most precious to her was a magnificent necklace which bestowed her with magic and power beyond even her beauty.

So let an enchanting Freyja’s Jewels design remind the woman in the mirror that SHE is beautiful, magical and one-of-a-kind.

Pretty cool story, huh? Tamara is quite a creative genius!

Meeting new friends and forming lifetime bonds is one of the greatest reasons to blog. I have found a lifelong friend here.

Thank you crazy Tam!

~Misti

I Confess my Love of…

2009-08-06T16:18:00.001-04:00

Don’t laugh…I know most of you got sucked in too!

I said “no way am I reading those silly books!”

Yeah…I am so totally in love with this series, with the characters, with Forks (cause I love rain), and of course, with Edward.

Sorry, honey…you know I love you more.

I watched the movie several times in just a few short days. I rented it from Netflix and did NOT want to send it back. So Honey, when you read this post-you’ll know exactly what I want for my birthday this year! Hint, hint, big hint here.

Seriously cheesy if you haven’t read the book, but you have to see the movie-- just to say you did.

REALLY-HOW OLD AM I AGAIN????

The other day my Facebook status was: I need to be 16 again so I can put posters of Edward in my locker. I’m 38!

Must stop the insanity!

I am almost done with the last book, so don’t blow it for me-PLEASE! NO SPOILER COMMENTS.

And I can’t wait to see the newest movie!

So, are you in love with Twilight too? If not you should be!

~Misti

Don’t forget to stop by Whimsy by Victoria to enter her giveaway for an 11x14 custom canvas painting by ME. Enter before Sunday, August 9th at midnight Pacific time.

I’m featured at Whimsy by Victoria!

2009-08-05T09:38:00.001-04:00

Oh wow! Just WOW!

I just read Victoria’s post all about ME, and I am sitting here with tears of joy running down my face!

What a spotlight! What an honor! What a lucky girl I am today!

I thought we were just having a simple giveaway, but sheesh! This lady really knows how to make a girl feel good!

Knowing that she took the time to really read all of my posts and get to know me, makes me feel incredibly special.

Go check out how talented Victoria is at her site. She makes the coolest tote bags, baby bags, “cupcakes” and so many other fabulous things!

I am having a giveaway held at her place. I will create an 11x14 canvas of your choosing. Just head over to Victoria’s to enter by August 9th.

Thanks for stopping by. Now I have to get my head out of the clouds and do some more studying.

Thank you Victoria for such a wonderful spotlight!

~Misti

What Inspires You?

2009-08-03T08:47:00.001-04:00

Is it color that rules your world? Maybe it’s whimsical decor that drags a smile across your face. What inspires your decorating style?

Are you inspired by reinventing new things from old? By being green?

I am very much inspired to hunt down some old arched doors or windows after seeing this picture. What a wow-factor!

And this…this is the idea I have tossed around for years! They covered this refrigerator in chalkboard paint and covered the handles in jute twine. Exactly the inspiration I needed to resurrect my Frankenstein fridge.

So, what inspires you?

Have a wonderful week,

~Misti

All pictures: BHG 100 Ideas Flea Market Style

New Sknobs for sale!

2009-07-30T16:39:00.001-04:00

Hello my friends! Just wanted to show you the latest set of Sknobs (snobby little knobs) that I have created.

This is the inspiration picture that I used:

But they would also go great with this theme:

This is a set of six, measuring 2 1/2 inches each. The set is on sale for $60! (Regularly $72.) They are over-sized and very unique!

Check out my Etsy shop as well. All pre-made knob sets are on sale at $10 off until they are gone, but only for you bloggers!

Email me for discounts. Click the cute little envelope on the sidebar.

Happy shopping!

~Misti

Adding Vintage Style to my ‘To-Do’ List

2009-07-26T21:01:00.001-04:00

All this time I have been looking for the perfect finish for my free-standing column, and then it hit me when I opened the newest BHG Flea Market style magazine!

Instead of finding the perfect paint treatment, all I need to do is sand it down and give some vintage style! How simple is that?

Here is my column hiding in the bathroom. I’m a bit afraid to bring it out into the family room yet. It is quite heavy and could do major damage to my young children.

The next picture gives me even more inspiration. This is exactly how mine would sit if I did decide to put it on the family room. We have a corner right beside a window; perfect for the column.

Did you see that great vintage urn full of moss? LOVE IT. I also love the farm table, the oil painting, and the slip-covered sofa.

Oh yeah, that bust thingy would never last in my house. Not a chance!

And…while I’m at it, I might as well do the same thing to my fireplace surround, right?

I think it would be perfect for the rustic style I’m going for.

Oh, and just for an update—(I am definitely needing that pessimist party from Melissa)

Still haven’t started the footboard project, but it will be SO cool when it’s done.

Those metal artwork things are still on the dining room floor.

And this wall still has not been painted a light suede brown.

Seems my ‘to-do’ list never ends. How about yours?

Have a great week!

~Misti

A Walk in the Woods…

2009-07-20T21:11:00.001-04:00

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.

My favorite old barn-wood sign hanging in the family room says it all. I do love my house, and my yard as well. Particularly the woods.

The other day as I was dragging the wheelbarrow full of grass clippings to our specified spot out in the woods, I was complaining about being hot and tired from cutting grass with our lawn mower (that is still running, by the way.) Not like it wasn’t hot enough in the middle of summer but, I always wear my blue jeans because I am terrified of a snake biting my ankles as I head through the woods, the whole way shouting crazy things to the snakes to keep their distance and all.

My point is…when I forced myself to really get in the middle of the woods I noticed just how beautiful and fascinating they really are.

I found gorgeous wildflowers…

Our campsite is great in the fall and winter.

Certain times of the day, the sun shine cuts right through.

We also have our sentimental spots…Little Miley-Our first hamster.

The picture below is the one that really got me. I could just feel all the love from Heaven above right here in this spot.

I realized how small my bench looked surrounded by the trees. See it at the bottom left corner? Reminds me just how small we really are in this great big world.

There’s my bench; it has held up many great conversations!

Then there are things like this that make me very aware of every noise and leaf crunching I hear…

This is what I see off of the back deck first thing in the morning.

I haven’t named him yet—How about Raul? Yeah, I like that…Raul greets me with my coffee everyday!

And this snazzy little birdhouse is another favorite… I think most people in the south have at least one SEE ROCK CITY birdhouse. I would love to know how far north they actually go!

So remember…

BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Thank you for being here!

~Misti

Like my new look?

2009-07-19T13:55:00.001-04:00

So…What do you think?

Joanna of Southern Girl Blog Designs has whipped up a brand new look for me to celebrate my one-year anniversary! Don’t forget to to grab my new button. See that pretty red one over there on the right? Yep, that one.

AND…now you can follow my blog on Facebook too! Just hunt for Studio M Designs, and I’ll keep you up to date on the blog.

She was incredibly patient, and super fast too! Joanna was incredibly easy to work with, we did everything online, because she is THAT GOOD. Seriously!

If you are new here, welcome and stay awhile. If not new, thanks for coming back to visit! You know I love hearing your comments and suggestions. If you noticed anything I have left out on the new design, just let me know. If you hate it, you can tell me that too, just let me know why. I won’t be mad—promise!

Joanna has a few blogs, and you should check out all of them:

Southern Girl Blog Designs-Blog designs

This Southern Girl’s Nest-Her personal blog

JoJo’s Place-Review blog

Hope you all have a wonderful week. We are having a little “staycation” at home. ENJOY!

~Misti

Fabulous Ideas and Random Thoughts

2009-07-15T09:56:00.001-04:00

What a pretty setting! Have I had time to do anything like this? Absolutely NOT. But it is so pretty, and I do like to dream…

Have any of you decked out the patio with pretty cushions and lovely tablecloths, and flowers everywhere? My Martha Stewart side has been way too busy for that this summer.

Don’t you just love this topiary of fresh flowers? This could easily be made by either hot gluing the bottom of the pots to the floral foam inside each pot, or by drilling a hole through the bottom of each and run a dowel rod through the center to make them sturdy. Tuck in some hydrangea blooms and you’re all set.

I believe this is one of the best things since Martha Stewart took over K-Mart. BHG decor at Wal-Mart is genius! It doesn’t matter where your decor comes from as long as you know how to arrange it with style.

Always the greatest wall-hanging technique.

Tape up your brown paper the exact size of your artwork (with painter’s tape) nail your hardware right through the paper, then rip it down and hang away!

This next picture makes me want to yank off all window treatments and let the sunshine in… I do love how the bright yellow sunflowers are the only color this room needs.

When I saw this article in BHG, my mind started wandering… These frames in a girl’s bedroom or bathroom, with lipsticks, a vintage brush and comb, or perfume bottles would make an excellent French decor statement!

This page made me want to paint something blue.

How inspiring!!!

And this? I just wanted to leave you with some chocolate. Because every girl needs her chocolate now and then.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I have finally been blogging for one year and it is one of the most fulfilling things I have done! Hopefully, I can back in the swing of things very soon.

My blog designer, Joanna of Southern Girl Blog Design, is getting me ready with a new blog look. It’s totally original and I can’t wait to show you. Should be coming up very soon!

~Misti

All photos from BHG July 2009

Elizabethtown and The Brown Hotel

2009-07-12T21:32:00.001-04:00

Recently on our road trip to Kentucky, we passed through Elizabethtown. Yes, just like the movie! My husband and I love this movie and have watched it several times. He, of course, loves the Freebird portion of the movie, I watched it because Orlando Bloom is just such a great actor and all (wink, wink, nod, nod.) Kirsten Dunst and Susan Sarandon are perfect too. Oh, and Paula Deen made her on-screen debut here too!

Movie summary:

“A suicidal young man returns to his small Kentucky hometown of Elizabethtown following the death of his father, and meets an unstoppably positive woman along the way.”

The suicidal part is actually quite comical-- nothing serious.

The majority of the movie is set in Elizabethtown, Kentucky; however, they portray the hotel that he stays at as being in Elizabethtown when in actuality it is in Louisville. Right in the heart of downtown.

The Brown-- Built in 1923

My husband has stayed at The Brown Hotel many times in his travels there. He has always told me how much I would love its details and that I had to go there someday. SO WE DID.

The lobby is phenomenal with its marbled walls, beautiful furnishings and unbelievable oil paintings.

As you go upstairs heading to the reception area you see this…

and corbels (that I wanted to yank off and take home) like this…

And as you walk into the reception area your mouth falls open as you take in the dramatic ceilings. No picture could possibly do it justice.

I asked the nice gentleman at the desk if he minded if I snapped a few shots since it wasn’t terribly crowded; he said “Oh please-take all you like.” Then he added “I would suggest that you go upstairs and take pictures of our Crystal Ballroom, but there is a wedding reception taking place.” HINT HINT-Which I took as him really saying “Please stay away and don’t scare our guests with your camera, you crazy nut.”

He was very polite and told me several points of interest about the hotel, asked where we were from, and made pleasant conversation. I, in return, tried to fluff all of the sofa cushions when he wasn’t looking so as not to offend him.

Several of the scenes from the movie were taken right here in the reception area.

Notice the crystal glasses on the tables? Many people grab a drink at the bar and settle in here for relaxing conversation while listening to the piano in the next hallway.

In the movie the Kirsten Dunst was so likeable that some ladies asked her to join their bachelorette party. They started it in this room.

Check out the bar with its antique furnishings.

Anyone want to go and have a glass of wine with me? We could listen to the piano and stare at the ceiling and the chandeliers that were bigger than my dining room table.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the gilded wall details, then I saw this enormous vase; it had to be eight-feet tall!

The chair, or rather throne, was fit for a king. It was enormous as well! Everything in this hotel was grand and luxurious.

How about this incredible piece? The carvings were magnificent! Look at the pictures underneath, they are the close-up shots of the carvings. I’ll have to watch the movie again to see exactly what furnishings made it into the scenes.

Not sure where this hallway lead, but the wall color was amazing! I wanted to check out every inch of the hotel, but my husband was graciously waiting outside with our dog and the boys were appeasing me by coming along while I embarrassed them to death with my camera.

This, of course, was the highlight of The Brown for my boys.

I hope you will watch the movie Elizabethtown. Let me know if you have or if you do. It’s a cute and simple, light-hearted movie that I could watch again and again.

I would love to find more places from my favorite movies, and when I do I promise to share them with you!

~Misti

Drive Bys in Louisville

2009-07-08T09:03:00.001-04:00

What a weekend we had playing in Louisville! We enjoyed the atmosphere of downtown living, took in the fireworks by the river, and took our time learning about another fine city.

My husband was good at playing along, and drove very slowly so that I could snap a few shots of the beautiful old homes around the university area.

The flags were very appropriate for the 4th of July weekend. We found some great drive bys on the other side of Louisville as well. The city was full of beautiful places that had my camera buzzing!

I almost missed this gorgeous little shotgun house.

Had to get a shot of these red doors…

And how could we go to Louisville and not get shots of these?

The stadium

Churchill Downs

… and Kentucky Fried Chicken! I didn’t see as many of these as I thought I might.

Then we played by the river. We had a bit of rain, but the temperature was perfect.

Check out this sign…anyone from KY please tell me what it really means…

My statues…

My bridge holder…

…and me and the hubster loving life.

Thanks for coming along with me to Louisville!

Last week was sort of a blur with the passing of my grandmother and this trip came at a great time. Thank you all so much for your kind words about my wonderful Abuela. She will be missed.

With love,

~Misti

A Beautiful Life

2009-07-03T08:25:00.001-04:00

Violet Del Castillo

March 3, 1921 - June 30, 2009

Today we celebrate the life of my sweet grandmother, whom we lovingly call Abuela.

Abuela lived a very long and happy life, all eighty-eight years worth!

She did not serve in any wars, however, she served her husband Henry Del Castillo and

13 children

33 grandchildren

46 great-grandchildren

and

10 great-great grandchildren.

Miss Violet or Violeta, in a heavy Hispanic accent

loved life,

loved people,

loved her lipstick,

loved her face cream,

loved her fingernails to look their best,

loved to sew pretty clothes,

loved her grandbabies,

loved cats,

loved to cook for anyone who was around,

and LOVED leopard prints!

She was a spunky, tiny, bit of a woman who danced and sang and cooked like no other.

She hung clothes out on the line for most of her life, lived without air conditioning (in Florida) for the majority of her life, and took care of everyone who would let her for as long as she could.

Abuela could be feisty at times; she let you know what she was thinking and never held back the truth. Lord help you if served her a bad meal in her old age, I laugh just thinking about it!

My grandmother showed us what hard work was all about, and showed us that anything was possible with love.

This lady lived a beautiful life, and today she will be laid to rest donning her favorite leopard blouse and her lipstick, which she taught us girls to never leave home without.

I vow to live a beautiful life in honor of my Abuela… and I vow to never leave the house without my lipstick on.

~Misti

I will be posting this at The Inspired Room today. Melissa is hosting The Beautiful Life post. Stop by and see the beauty in other’s lives today.

I hope you all have a blessed 4th of July weekend here in the States!

I confess my love of…

2009-07-02T09:43:00.001-04:00

Every Thursday I will share with you one of my very favorite things.

I have such a long list of favorites, but this week I want to confess my love of the color red.

Dark reds, bright reds, bulletin boards of red…

A sweet little red embroidered slipcover to invite your guests in…

Cozy red toile in a country kitchen…

Red geraniums to enjoy while watching the children run and play…

Red is warm, red is creative,

red is the color of love.

What’s your confession?

~Misti

I also confess that I found all of these amazing photos in BHG Window and Wall Ideas magazine. It dates back to summer 2003 and I can’t part with it quite yet.

This old house: It’s all in the details

2009-06-29T22:40:00.001-04:00

Here we are again at this wonderful 130-year-old home! I could not wait to share some of the details inside (and out) that makes this place a one-of-a-kind. If you missed the first post go here.

Tamara and her husband Tony have brilliantly restored this home in beautiful Nova Scotia. You will find it in Marriott's Cove along The Lighthouse Route. Makes you want to go for a road trip right? Anyone with me? I am dying to go visit!

Look closely at the next picture…that’s Marriots Cove just beyond their land! Tamara says she can see ocean views from upstairs in the Lunenburg Bump at the front of the house and from a few other windows. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that everyday?

This is the view just in front of the barn… see there’s room for us!

Tamara has thought of endless ideas on a budget, including finding a place to store kitchen items while still looking fabulous.

This “shoe keeper” bench was built to be functional yet add additional seating space in the kitchen.

They found this old wooden box out in the barn and added the legs for another seat and storage too.

The living room was cozy but didn’t include a fireplace and was not quite roomy enough for a TV cabinet, so they came up with the perfect solution. They made a hole in the wall and built a fireplace out of old bricks from a former chimney.

Tamara’s words on building the fireplace and TV surround:

Fireplace: There was a mantle on one of the walls in what's now our office... just a mantle... In the living room, we had our TV on a cabinet that took up so much room I had to climb over my husband's chair to get through the room... I was so excited when the solution hit me... Again, not the perfect fantasy fulfillment... but it worked. I'd wanted one of those 'gel fuel' fireplaces (didn't want electric and gas or wood was WAY out of the budget). The gel fuel ones burn real flames but don't have to be vented and they even crackle like a real fire. the flames get up to about 8-9" and look pretty good with fake logs hiding the can. My solution to both the fantasy and the space problem was to make a hole in the wall that separated living room and office, taking some space from the office to build in a brick 'fire box' (using bricks from the torn down kitchen chimney), and a place to put the TV, set in above it. A TV wasn't in my dream mantle decorating, so I used a pretty curtain that could cover the TV when we wanted to. For the space on the front of the fireplace, inside the mantle opening, I used brownish glass plates from the dollar store. They had a nice textured design, so I smashed 'em up with a hammer and did a sort of glass mosaic, right on the mortar. OH... and the fake logs... tried to buy some at a fireplace dealer and they wanted almost $400 for some broken ones! So... instead, I made my own out of mortar... took a tin-foil turkey roasting pan and squished it into a log-ish shape and poured the mortar in it. Rubbed on a little brown paint and blackened it with a lighter! Strange but true!

So we got the TV out of the way AND got my 'fireplace'. Now that we have a flat panel, we didn't need to make that big hole in the wall but we now use the space behind the TV for the DVR, Xbox, etc. Oh, and the space isn't missed in the office as the new wall/cupboard it created is lined up with the house's actual chimney that already 'jutted' into the room. That's also why the TV had to be off center.

How clever… Hiding her TV with a cornice and drapes!

Love the wooden appliqués added to the stairs and I would love to have a few doors like this in my house! Here is her attic door…

The mosaic mural was found on ebay but wasn’t quite as large as they needed it for the shower wall, so she found small stones at the dollar store and made her own borders! So clever that girl!!

One more of the back side of this awesome home that I have fallen in love with…they were repainting the windows, but I still love this view of the house.

ROAD TRIP!

Don’t be surprised if you get a few unexpected visitors Tamara and Tony!

Melissa of The Inspired Room is also featuring this lovely home on her blog today!

Stop by to check out even more before and after photos that Tamara so graciously dug up for us!

Before you go I want to show you more of the talented Tamara…I like that …

She’s going to freak out because she doesn’t know I am showcasing her website too!

“Talented Tamara” of Freyja’s Jewels

This lady can make some jewelry!

Check out this anklet above. YES, that is an anklet! It is made of genuine Baltic amber, Swarovski crystals and solid .925 sterling silver beads and components.

This unique and beautiful, one-of-a-kind, fine jewelry piece is made with genuine turquoise (reconstituted) and Swarovski crystals is a sparkling 'metallic turquoise' colour. The highlight of the piece, though, is the Thai Karen Hill tribe Silver "Love Flower". The piece is completed with solid sterling silver, tiny turquoise "heishi" beads and a med/large lobster clasp.

This bracelet is, at once, modern and chunky yet soft and feminine. The piece is made with transparent turquoise lampwork beads accented with ornate sterling plated bead caps with a leaf design. Between the lampwork beads are genuine Swarovski colours in a well-matched 'barely there' colour. Also included are filigree sterling plate round beads to continue the light play of the piece. Clasp is an easy-use sterling plate toggle.

Tamara’s description:

I don't often 'name' my pieces... because, frankly, I'm awful at it! But this 'spirited' pendant seemed to require it. It's made with a fairly large (but not over-bearing) Red Banded Agate stone in a unique shape, hand-wrapped wire, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver swirl beads made by the Thai Karen Hilltribe. The wire is a heavy gauge sterling silver and it hangs on a substantial 22" box chain.

Oh my Lordy- I am in love with these earrings! How cool is she that she can renovate a house and make jewelry?

Okay, Okay! You have to go check out her site to see the rest!

So incredibly talented!

Stop by The Inspired Room to see more of this home and more of my new friend.

~Misti

Technorati Tags: 130 year old home,details,lunenburg bump,jewelry,Tamara

130 Year-Old-Home: Unbelievable Photo

2009-06-26T10:06:00.001-04:00

My new friend Tamara dug up a vintage photo of her very old house, and has allowed me to share it with all of you. She also included a poem in honor of the home.

The House by the Side of the Road

by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911)

There are hermit
souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;-
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house
by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat,
Or hurl the cynic’s ban;-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house
by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-
Both parts of an infinite plan;-
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

See my original post here on Tamara’s renovation of this home.

I have more details on the inside of the house to come!

~Misti

I confess my love of…

2009-06-25T11:12:00.001-04:00

This week I confess my love of exposed brick.

So warm and inviting…

I’m in love.

What’s your confession?

~Misti