Entryway Reveal

Our entryway tends to be a drop zone for anything coming into the house.  It's the first area you see as you enter, so it's important to me to keep this area neat and clutter free. 

My goal was to create an entryway that is welcoming and functional.

After sharing a peek into our little space, I'm so excited to finally share our completed entryway with you!

Entryway- before

Entryway- during

Entryway- progress

-a mirror to check ourselves as we head out the door

-a place to drop our keys and glasses

-a small clock to make sure we get out the door on time

Previously we had a table against the wall.  After the moulding was added the space felt too narrow so we hung a shelf instead. 

The next thing we did was switch out the lighting.  Goodbye boob light, hello schoolhouse flush mount.  Love the classic look.

The door remained black.

The crown moulding was already there, but got a fresh coat of paint.

I borrowed the candle holders from another room.

They're much prettier here.

I enjoy burning the lightly-scented candles in the evening.

I love filling my home with plants.  

 

No space feels complete without them.

We had an extra outlet installed.  I was hoping to add a table lamp.
  

My alternative was a plug in night light.  Womp womp.
  

The faux wainscoting gives the house a more sophisticated feel.

 Our friend came over and added all of the moulding while I was in charge of caulk and paint.

I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Just walking through the front door puts a big smile on my face.

Source list

Wall color- Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, matched to Glidden Paint

Light- Home Depot

Mirror- Marshalls

Shelf- Ross

Candle holders- Pottery Barn

Candles- Target

Alarm clock- Pottery Barn

Tray- Target

Milk glass- Thrifted

Plants- Southeast Succulents

Boxwood wreath- Lowe's

Rug- overstock.com

I am linking this post to:
Show and Tell Linky
Someday Crafts
Best of the Nest August Link Party
The Inspiration Exchange Monthly Linky Party 

A New Entry Rug

After all the cuts, nail holes, caulk and 2 gallons of paint later our entry, hallway and staircase are finally finished.  Next up, the fun part- decorating and rearranging.  I've thought long and hard about what I want for this space.  It's such a small area, but makes the biggest impact as our home's first impression.

Since this is a high traffic area I've been thinking about what type of rug to put down.  It should clean easily while style and design are important.

Safavieh Handmade Moroccan Cambridge Navy Blue Wool Rug

At first glance, a predominately white rug doesn't seem ideal for this space.  And although I love the texture, my house doesn't need another jute rug.  Turns out the colors are perfect.  I've had it down for months and it still looks brand new. I no longer worry if a little mud gets tracked in. 

A non-skid pad was recommended to keep the rug in place.

Sliding rugs are annoying.  I have 3 dogs who are constantly running through the house.

So when I was contacted by Will, co-founder of Rug Pads USA, I was interested in trying out a new rug pad.

Not only does the rug pad prevent the rug from slipping and sliding on our floors, it also adds an extra layer of cushion.

My rug is a 4x4 square.  The pad fit perfectly underneath without any overlap hanging off the sides. 

The main difference I noticed after I unwrapped it was there was no smell.  Most of the rug pads on the market are poor quality and contain a lot of chemicals.  Rug Pads USA specializes in USA made, eco-friendly, long lasting rug pads.

Will was such a pleasure to work with.  He exceeded my customer service expectations.

With the help of Rug Pads USA, my new rug gives my entry a more finished feel. 

I encourage you to visit Rug Pads USA.  In addition to free shipping, Will is offering a 15% discount.  Use the code pr15off at checkout.

*No financial compensation was received, however I did receive a rug pad to review.  All opinions are my own.

Peach Iced Tea

Growing up in New Jersey, I remember my mom drinking hot tea in the evenings.  We rarely drank iced tea, but when we did, it was the canned or bottled kinds; like Snapple or Brisk.

Now that I live in the South, I've come to enjoy a glass of iced tea.

Sweet tea is popular in Georgia.  You can order it at any restaurant.  It's preferred over soda!

Along with fresh peaches and lemon juice, it's so refreshing and full of flavor.  It's the perfect drink on a hot summer day!

Ingredients 

5 individual tea bags 

4 cups of water 

1-1/2 pounds of fresh peaches, ripe and sweet; pitted (no need to peel the skin)

1 cup of sugar 

juice from 2 lemons 

 ice cubes 

sliced, fresh peaches for garnish

Directions

In a large pot, bring water to a boil.  Remove from heat and add tea bags.  Steep 3 to 5 minutes.  *The longer you steep, the stronger the tea flavor.  Remove tea bags and add sugar, stir until dissolved.  Set aside.  Using a blender or a food processor, puree peaches then strain liquid through a sieve to remove pulp.  Add the strained puree to a 1/2 gallon pitcher.  Stir in lemon juice and pour in tea mixture.  Add sliced, fresh peaches and serve over ice.  Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from: http://www.tetleyusa.com/

I am linking this post to: 
By Stephanie Lynn 
Between Naps on the Porch
Sew Many Ways
Weekend Potluck

I Heart Naptime

Citrus Popsicles

I love the idea of making my own popsicles.

The fun part about making your own is that you can get as creative as you like with the ingredients.  The secret to this frozen treat is thyme.  The addition of thyme makes these pops so much more refreshing.

My children really enjoyed them too.  The perfect treat on a hot summer day!
  

Ingredients

 1/2 cup water 

3/4 cups lemon juice 

1/2 cup lime juice 

2 tbsp orange juice 

3/4 cups sugar

A few sprigs of thyme finely chopped  

Directions

 Place first 5 ingredients into a sauce pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook until the sugar is dissolved.  Allow simple syrup to chill to room temperature.  Add thyme to cooled mixture, stir to combine.  Place mixture into the molds and freeze overnight.



I am linking this post to: 
Sew Many Ways
I Heart Naptime
Weekend Potluck

Small-Bathroom Linen Cabinet

Small bathroom storage

 My small bathroom lacks both a linen closet and a cabinet under the sink, but we still needed a place to store our toiletries.

 It's the bathroom my daughter uses as well as the bathroom designated for guests.  Everyday items should be stored where they're more convenient.  So in a tight spot, we added a small cabinet.

I purchased this cabinet from Wal-Mart.  It was inexpensive, easy to put together and provided the extra storage that we needed.

 

I love the glass doors.

A place to tuck away extra towels and toilet paper.

Baskets keep everything neat.

A spot to keep jewelry while showering.

A few cut flowers are a welcoming touch.

I love a nice scented candle in the bathroom.

So if you're lacking space, I hope this inspires you to have a more organized bathroom. 


Source list:
Linen Cabinet- Walmart
Towels and washcloths- Ross
Banana leaf baskets- Ross and Pier One Imports
Hand Soap- Home Goods
Candle- Home Goods
Flower pitcher- Marshalls
Candle snuffer- D Lawless Hardware(online)
White tray- Ikea
Jewelry Dish- Waiting on Martha(online)
Sachets- Home Goods
Rug- World Market
Ruffled-Hand towels- Layla Grace
 

I am linking this post to:
I Heart Organizing
Miss Mustard Seed

Blogland Tour

Recently I was invited by Kimberly of Camp and Cottage Living to participate in a Blogland Tour.  Kimberly and her husband live in Northern Ontario, Canada.  After several years of working and traveling, Kimberly has learned to live a simpler life and LOVE it.  She's a new blog friend who is all around creative.

I was asked to answer a few questions about my writing process, then invite another blogger to join in on the fun.

So here's how my brain works...

How does my writing process work?

Being a disorganized mess can make the process difficult.  Take notes!  As a wife and mother there are too many things competing for my attention.  When inspiration strikes, I jot down my ideas.  If I'm having a hard time focusing, having my notes helps.

Why do I write what I do?

I blog because I enjoy it.  I blog to share my ideas.  But sometimes it's a challenge to stay inspired to create.

How does my work/writing differ from others?

I have a budget!  I use it as an oppurtunity to be more creative.

What am I working on?

My main projects are photographing my bathroom and the moulding work that was completed.  I'm also excited to share a paint project with you.  I let my blog take the backseat this summer.

But enough about me, now I would like to introduce you to Charity!

Hey Y’all!  I’m Charity and my blog is Life After Baseball and rightfully so.  I started my blog in 2006 after my husband retired from a thirteen year professional baseball career.  I was a baseball wife living the crazy baseball life that only a few can truly understand.  My blog started out as a way to keep in touch with family and friends around the country, but now my content has evolved and is more centered on lifestyle & fashion.  I’m a health nut and hate to be cold.  You will find me trying new recipes, dabbling a tad in DIY (as long as I can get my husband on board), decorating our home and hanging with family. I’m also a sucker for soft, gray sweatshirts (my “uni” [uniform]) and am not scared to put on my pj's at 5pm.  I’m obsessed with fashion & shoes.  I change my nail polish frequently and am always searching for the perfect outfit!

I hope you will click over and pay her a visit.  

Thank you again Kimberly for including me.

Headboard Week at Remodelaholic

Hi guys!  Today I'm guest posting over at Remodelaholic.  I'm sharing one of my favorite projects, a DIY headboard that I made for our master bedroom.  You can view the post here. 

Additionally, Cassie is hosting a headboard-specific link party and we would LOVE for you to join the party and share your DIY headboard too.  *The only rule is that the projects linked must be a headboard with a DIY component (painted, upcycled, built from scratch, etc)

Hope to see you there!



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