An Awesome April

Everything in life isn't always awesome, amiright? But, in order to stay positive, and not let the not so awesome stuff get you down, we have to focus on all the great things that are happening in our lives and in the world around us. Anne's Awesome linkup is perfect for doing just this, so today I'm sharing with you some of the Awesome things going on for me.

1. Bathroom Remodel

I could be all irritated about not having a working sink and falling through the floor while the demo is happening, but I have to keep the end goal in mind. Once we are done, it's going to be beautiful and relaxing. If you follow me on Instagram, I posted a little sneak peek of the design elements we've chosen yesterday.

2. Blog Designing

I'm getting my head back in the game here guys! I did a complete overhaul on the design website a few weeks ago, I had a consultation yesterday, and I'm finishing up a new design for Melissa at The Rambling Llama today, so go check that out tomorrow!

3. School

I'm not thrilled with my choice of classes this session, but I need the credits for my degree. I'm still learning though, and that's always a positive thing.

4. Alpha Sigma Lambda

I found out last fall that I made it into the Omega Zeta chapter of this national honors society, and later this month there will be a recognition ceremony. I'm kind of excited about it!

5. It's April

It's a special month for Hubs and I (well the end of March thru to April really). We met in person for the first time Easter weekend of 2013 (March 29-31), We got engaged on April 9, 2014 and Eloped April 21, 2014. I guess we just really like this time of year.

6.Natural Herbal Tea and Supplements

Boy am I grateful that God gave us the plants to make these things. I like knowing that I can first try an natural remedy for any minor ailment I may have before having to go to the doctor for other medicines.

7. My Brand New Target Red Card

Did you know they have a debit card option rather than a normal credit card? I didn't up until a couple of weeks ago when a nice cashier explained it to me rather than giving me a nasty look when I said I didn't have a Red Card. So then I explained it to Hubs, he liked the idea of saving 5% on my Target excursions, and I got the nifty new card.

8. Best Friends

I have two really amazing besties. You all know my lovely Llama. We've been friends for, golly, nearly.... hang on let me count.... 10 years now. OMG TEN YEARS. Wow. Ok, well, anyways. She moved into her new apartment this past weekend and, once again, I am not able to help because I live in another state now. It kills me that I haven't been able to be there for her in person during this really tough period of her life, so I send her a giant new apartment care package.
My other bestie, Kaity, lives here in Missouri. I met her about two summers ago at school. She's ALSO moving, but later this summer. So I've been helping her pick out all the cute things she wants to get for her new apartment. Shopping is fun, guys.

9. Waffles with Peanut Butter

YUM. This has become one of my go-to breakfasts lately. I get two multi-grain waffles and toast them up. Once they pop up out of the toaster, I spread some peanut butter on each one. Lots of fiber and protein.

10. Bullet Journaling

I started one in January and used it along with my Day Designer. By the end of that first month I was leaving my Day Designer at home and using my Bullet Journal for everything. *GASP* I know! I think what I like about bullet journals is that they are 100% customizable for YOUR needs. And you can change things up whenever you want, you're not stuck with things you tried and didn't like, and you can add new things as you go along. Seriously, best (organizational) decision I ever made.


What's Awesome in your life right now? Are you linking up with Anne today?

7 Christmas Decorating Tips and Tricks

My favorite holiday is fast approaching and the thing that I love to do most is decorating my house. Inside and out. A friend once told me that during the holidays it looks like Pottery Barn exploded in my house (even though nothing I own is from Pottery Barn). The affinity for festive decor was passed down to me from my mom, and to her from her mom. I guess you could say it runs in the family.

Over the years I've developed my Christmas style, and (very slowly) built up my decor stockpile (I have a total of 5 tote bins and 2 boxes of stuff over 10 years). However, when I first was out on my own, I had to get creative. Sometimes funds are limited or you don't have much time. These tips and tricks I've learned have helped me so, so much.

1. If you have a smaller tree, elevate it to make it feel bigger. 
I love having our tree in the window so the lights can be seen from outside. We have a 5 foot tree, it's shorter than you think. To make it taller and feel a bit bigger, I put a box under the stand. The box I used this year is probably about 8 inches tall. We also have a 3 foot tree in our bedroom. I put that one on a TV tray. My Dad has a 4 foot tree and they have a small coffee-table-height table they put it on.

2. DIY "Mantle" Shelf
Much to my disappointment, we do not have a fireplace in our home. I'm 95% positive there used to be one (along with a second floor/attic room) that was taken out in a huge renovation to the house a few years before we moved in. We have some shelves in our living room that are above two of the doorways for the cats to get up and away from the dogs if they want. Well for Christmas, the larger one gets turned into a "mantle". I put up garland around the door frame, add some fairy lights, and hang the stockings. Another semi-permanent option is to purchase a floating Mantle shaped shelf (like this one) and designate a spot on the wall at the Mantle, then use it for candles and picture frames the rest of the year. More "mantles" could be bookshelves, window sills, hooks on the wall, get creative!

3. Use Clear Thumbtacks and Floral Wire to hang garland around windows and door frames.
Put a thumbtack just above the door/window frame on each corner and one in the middle. Attach a 6 inch length of floral wire around the coordinating spot on the garland in a loop, center and each side. Some measuring is involved with that part. Then hang the loops on the tacks. For a less damaging option you could use the small clear command hooks instead of tacks.

4. Dress up the decor you already have.
I use silk poinsettias, fake greenery, cinnamon (or not) pinecones, bows, fairy lights, candles, and bunting to transform my everyday decor items into a more festive version. For example, I have a hanging bucket in my gallery wall and I change out the flowers for each season. I put some cinnamon pinecones in a basket on the ottoman in the living room. I put fairy lights and a DIY mesh garland on top of my cabinets. I hung a DIY bunting on the bookshelves in my kitchen. I put a big red bow on my donkey planter on our porch. Even some holiday hand towels from the dollar section at target hung on your cabinets in the kitchen can liven things up.

5. Fill in your sparse artificial tree with garland.
Yep. Our fake tree is a lot less full as the box would have you believe. So I bought some extra garland and wound it in to fill in the bareness around the "trunk" part of the tree. Trust me it makes a huge difference.

6. Put fairy lights on the inside of your child's bedroom window
This doubles as a night light and decor! Plus it gives children a Christmas "chore" to do each night, to plug in their lights! Thanks to my Llama for this suggestion.

7. Hang extra ornaments from the curtain rod in the window.
I don't know about you, but I always have at least one box of Christmas balls leftover after I've decorated the tree. Sometimes I like to hang them at varying lengths with string/yarn/ribbon in my small kitchen window. But this would also be a great one for the kids rooms too!

BONUS!
Most people do up their main living spaces, but don't skip the bathroom when decorating. At least the bathroom your guests use, anyways. Holiday towels, candles, a wreath, or a rug can add a pop of Christmas spirit while you pee.


What's your Christmas style? Do you have any tips or tricks to add?

Grateful Spaces

The moment you've all been waiting for! The Big Reveal of our new Shed and the progress on the Guest Bedroom!

After a few weeks of building, organizing, cleaning, and more organizing I have finally gotten things presentable. I still have to re-paint and finish decorating the Guest Room, but at least now its a usable space again. And that is all thank to Hubs and his dad building me a shed in our back yard to house our storage items, yard equipment, and other various items that would normally be found in a garage or shed.  I have to say it turned out to be bigger than Hubs and I were expecting and that is AWESOME! We even have a cute little counter and cabinet to go in there (they haven't been installed yet) and father-in-law says he can run electrical out there so we can have a light and plug things in.

I said I needed to paint it. The pink is brighter and more eye piercing in person, but I have enough paint leftover from doing the kitchen to remedy the situation. I'm excited to have a place for someone to stay with us! I can invite my sister for the summer and have my Mom come visit. The room is small, but it functions the way I need it to.

There was enough space at the foot of the bed for me to put a desk. So, now I have a cute little office space to blog and study in a quiet area. And Hubs can play his video games without distracting me, and without me giving him dirty looks for being loud.

I am so grateful to have these spaces. It gives me peace of mind to know our storage shed is locked up and the babes can't get into the car maintenance supplies or get trapped in all the boxes and totes, and that our floor won't fall though with all the weight (this happened to a friend of Hubs' recently). I'm grateful to have a space where I can focus better on school work and blog writing. Mostly I'm grateful that Hubs made all of this happen for us.

What are you grateful for today?

Linking up with

Georgia Vs. Missouri

Moving to Middle-of-Nowhere, Missouri from Atlanta, Georgia has been a huge culture shock for me. And slightly frustrating. There are so many great things about living in and around a big city, and I miss it. Let's make a list (cause we all know how much I like lists) of things I miss from Georgia.

1. Chick-fil-A
They are everywhere in Georgia. It's my absolute fave fast food place, and they always have amazing service and clean bathrooms. I know there are some here in Missouri, but we have to travel at least 30 mins away to get to one, huge bummer.

2. Moe's 
This place is like heaven in a red plastic food basket. Its a less healthy version of Chipolte (aka they have amazing white cheese sauce). They've got burritos, nachos, and salads. Ah-may-zing.

3. The Mall of Georgia
The largest mall in the state (duh) that has almost every store you could think of in one place. AND a movie theater.

4. The Georgia Aquarium
Let me just tell you how much I love watching the Beluga whales. They are so graceful in the water, it's like ballet. Plus the dolphin show, the whale sharks, and of course the cutest penguins ever!

5. Quick Trip
Only the best gas station in the world. I have yet to see one here in our area. The Hy-vee fuel center is a pretty close comparison though.

6. My Family
Seriously, guys, this is the thing I miss most. Especially my mom.


While I still refer to Georgia as my "home," I am beginning to love some little things about this tiny town in Missouri where I currently reside.

1. No Traffic!
Like, ever. It's amazing!

2. Snow!
We hardly ever got snow in Georgia, and I think it is so beautiful.

3. Cheaper Gas
I brag to my mom all the time cause our gas prices are lower than theirs.

4. The slower pace of life.
It's nice that everyone isn't always in such a hurry here. It helps me to relax and actually enjoy my experiences more.

5. Our House
It's nice to live in a real house, with a yard, and no roommates. I can decorate how I want. I can walk around naked if I want (Hubs would love this!)

6. My Hubs
He's the whole reason I moved here to begin with. He's done his best to make this place feel like home for me, but in all reality, home is not a physical place. It's where your heart is, and my heart is with him.

What do you like best about your town?

Linking up with

Awesome

Awesome is a many faceted word. It's a perfect adjective for life because life also has many facets. After the amazing response Anne received from her post about 20 Awesome Things last week, she decided to create a new link-up for the first tuesday of each month where we can all share the awesome things in our lives. I freaking love this idea and was definitely one of the bloggers who voted "yes" to the link-up! So today I am sharing with you 10 awesome things that have happened since I moved to Missouri last September.

1. I got to marry the love of my life. (duh, that's why I came here in the first place)

2. I gained two fur babies. They are like our kids and I miss them when we're not home.

3. I started school again. After nine years I'm going to finish my degree!

4. Since starting school, I have made three fabulous girlfriends. Dana, Boni, and Kaity. I freaking love those girls!

5. I got to re-decorate my very own home. To be quite honest, we are still in the process, but it's way better than it was a year ago.

6. I started this blog!! Yep. In January Peaches in Missouri was born, then after I changed my name, the blog got a name change too! This blog has brought me so much joy and introduced me to so many wonderful women, I'm so glad I followed through with my whim.

7. SNOW. I have never seen so much snow as I did last winter and it's beautiful! I love getting to see all the seasons here. There are only two seasons in Georgia (Summer and Winter with no snow).

8. No traffic. It's amazing. Living in such a small town there is really no such thing as traffic here.

9. I have been able to purchase a few items that I have wanted for a while now. It's nice to have the means to indulge your materialistic wants sometimes (Thanks to my Hubs).

10. I am truly happier than I have ever been in my entire life. I'm not sure I knew what being happy really was until I came here and got to be with Philip all the time. Love will do that to you.

What are some Awesome things in your life?

Linking up with

Hello Fall

I didn't show up to class last week #badblogger

I would spew a bunch of apologies at you, but I'm really not that sorry about it. School and life just take precedence sometimes. I still love you guys and I did miss this space. I'm grateful to have a place to come to. I'm grateful for you, my dear readers, and all the amazing feedback I receive, even when I abandon you for a week.

You know what else I'm grateful for? Fun shopping trips with Philip. Halloween is around the corner and that means that the costumes, candy, and decor are flooding the stores. An impromptu photo shoot in the middle of Target was necessary.

And since it's fall, I broke out the fall decor. I put the final touches up yesterday and I have to say I am very pleased with myself. I was so glad the Amish store up the street had corn stalks for sale, it saved my decor idea for my porch. What do you think?

What are you grateful for?

Don't forget that the second edition of the Conversations Link-up is tomorrow! And guess who's co-hosting?? Emily from Ember Grey. I am so excited! See you lovelies tomorrow!

Lavender Dreams

I was looking through my posts and realized that I haven't shown you much of our home, besides the kitchen and bathroom. I am driving home from Georgia today, and besides my husband (!!!), my bed is what I miss most when I'm away from home, so I thought I'd take you on a tour of our master bedroom.

I didn't have to do much in here, as it was already painted my favorite color. I hung curtains, put some art on the walls, and rearranged the furniture a few times until I found a layout I liked that worked with the functionality we needed in the room.

My (almost) Completed Kitchen

It's been while since I've worked in my Kitchen, mainly because I just didn't feel like it. It's a big room and there was so much to do, I wasn't looking forward to doing it all by myself. Well Philip had a four day weekend for the Easter holiday, and we decided that would be a great time to check that kitchen project off the list. We did two things: paint the walls and re-finish the cabinets.

Get caught up with my Kitchen project here and here.

Lets Hang Stuff on the Walls!

When I moved here there wasn't much in the way of wall decor. Just a mirror and a couple random hand-me-down pieces of art in the kitchen, a Denver Broncos clock in the bedroom, and a Chinese restaurant menu in the living room, you know, the one that has a calendar on it and rolls up like a scroll. Yeah, very bachelor pad.

Project Painting: Phase 3, Finishing The Bathroom

It's been a while since I've primed the kitchen and bathroom. We have had the paint, but I just haven't been in the mood to paint, especially the bathroom. Moving the ladder around in that tiny space is a challenge, but I think I have mastered each spot to reach every corner. I was just about to be done trimming in when Philip came home a bit early. And like last time, he helped me roll. It came out quite nicely and feels so bright and airy and clean in there now. It's not as purple as I thought it would be, but I still like it. I can't wait to get some art and maybe some shelves in there.

The Ups and Downs of Pinterest Crafts

Sunday's are grocery shopping days. Most of the time we go down to the lake and shop at Hy-Vee as they have a better selection, lower prices, and a fuel point system that saves us money on gas as well. So while we are down there, we sometimes go to other stores that are not in our small town. This week, we went to Lowe's and JoAnn's.

New Vintage Antique

My mom's new house. She made pendant lights out of
 mason jars! Look, that is a super old whisky decanter with
matching glasses. And check out that butter churn on the
fireplace,it used to be my great-grandmother's. 

My mom and her husband moved into their newly built house just after the new year. It's huge and beautiful. When they decided to sell their old house to build a new one last summer, my mom also decided how she wanted to decorate this new house: Rustic, blue/turquoise, antique, with a bit of country. Conveniently, her sister in-law owns an antique store, so my mom started working there a few days a week to help out, and she got so many great ideas and connections to other stores for access to great items. I'm slightly jealous.

Project Painting: Phase 2, Priming The Bathroom

Finally got back in the mood to paint. So I decided to tackle the bathroom next. Our bathroom was a bright almost royal blue, not a bad color. But again, like the kitchen, too dark for the space. Since I'm painting it a lighter color, I had to prime it first. And let me just say, maneuvering a ladder in a tiny bathroom is like trying to have sex in an airplane bathroom, not an easy feat.

Project Painting: Phase 1, Priming The Kitchen

Kitchen Before

In coming to Missouri, I knew I was walking into a bachelor pad of sorts, but I also knew that I was going to have to deal with lingering bits of Philip's ex-girlfriend.