Niki's Dining Room Makeover: Part I

Here's a quick look at the before and after pics of Niki's dining room. I'll post the details later this weekend...

 Before

After 

Mirror Makeover

Tomorrow, I'll be making over Niki's dining room, so today I painted the mirror I found at a thrift store. I had been looking for a mirror with an interesting frame. After a little haggling, I got the  heavy, well-made mirror for $15.

It was a dark wood with a gold trim.

I used some leftover paint from my parents' kitchen redo. I may sand it a little or something... I really like this mirror!

Book Review 9

I've had to make myself slow down on the reading because work has been so demanding lately (it's the middle of the semester rush). Anyway, I have squeezed in two books since my last book review post...

I have now read all of Deeanne Gist's books, and her next one doesn't come out until October:( This one was written with J. Mark Bertrand, a mystery/suspense writer, so it has a different feel from her other novels. I did like it although her other books are my favorite!

This is a new author. Courting Morrow Little is her second novel. It was incredible. I loved it because it wasn't like any other frontier-type book I've read. As another reader stated, "Some of the books start to seem like the same story over and over." This was deep, and I could feel the characters' anguish and see the beautiful setting. I will be reading more of Laura Frantz!

Thrifty Shoe Shopping for Kiddos

Whenever I go to thrift stores, I check the children's shoes because I have found so many shoes for Ava that are great brands and hardly worn or never worn. And now I look for Reid too, of course! When I get home, I love to look online at the average retail price for the brands to confirm my savings:)

 

I found 5 pairs for $28. The shoes were Converse All Stars, L'Amour, Baby Gap, Nike, and Genuine Kids (Target). If I would have paid retail, my total would have been around $150. Yay!!

Weekends

Thanking God for REST this weekend! I was so stressed out at work last week with all the deadlines and paperwork and teaching and duties. The weekend was spent window shopping with Ava, a couple of encouraging discussions with friends, meals with my family, a great run, quality time with my husband, snuggling with Ava, seeing friends at a shower, blogging, reading a good book, serving in the church nursery, and a Sunday afternoon nap with my two favorite people:). I feel better. YAY. (And Spring Break begins in 5 days!!)
Have a blessed week!

Livin' Life 2

Some fun memory-making/randomness since my last 'Life' post have been: 

• Mom's birthday! Dad, Mom, Ron, Ava, Job, Brittany, Reid, and me met at one of  her favorite restaurants: Outback Steakhouse for dinner. It was great. My mom is not a shopper, so she is always excited to see what Britt and I pick out for her:) The week before Mom made a feast for all of us. What a treat to get to hang out with my family!

• February's Supper Club was hosted by Christie. She decided to give it a sparkly theme, so we came dressed in glitter and sequins! It was a blast. She did a salad theme: chicken, pasta, potato with delicious cupcakes for dessert. I love getting together once a month with old friends. Some of us go all the way back to kindergarten! And Katie made a big announcement: her first baby is on the way!

• Ava is at such an adorable, fun age! Recently, singing is something she's really into! Ron has a beautiful voice (and I do NOT), so hopefully, she got his singing gene! :) Every time we get in the car, she asks to listen to her worship c.d.! She also has a thing for the Gaither Vocal Band. I hear her singing while she colors and plays too.

• Last weekend, the three of us went to the beauty revue at the high school where I teach. Ron was asked to be the emcee. I enjoyed seeing my students in a different element, and Ava thought that they were all princesses in their gorgeous, colorful dresses!! The next day, we went to support my best teacher friend, who is also the head fast pitch softball coach, Tammy's team. The weather could not have been more perfect for softball watching.

• With Ron working retail, he normally is off during the week so he and Ava go on outings while I'm at school. They have become regulars at the park. He also took her to get her nails painted one day which I thought was soooooo cute and sweet! She picked out lime green with glitter, of course;)

• A co-worker had a catalog Scentsy party a few weeks ago. I have heard so much about it, but didn't even really know what it was all about. I decided to give it a whirl. They had a special for a medium warmer and three bars-- I chose cucumber melon, cotton, and havana cabana (I think). I have it plugged in now, and it works so well!

• I have so many friends that are expecting babies! I went to Crystal's shower two weeks ago in the same town where my grandpa lives. Then I was privileged to help throw a shower for Meg. Can't wait to meet Ford and Gaines!!!

My mom is the sweetest!

FUN times:)

One of the pageant girls. I held Lauren the day she was born, and now she's a student in my 11th grade class! Do I feel old?! Where does time go? She is the same age as I was when I was carrying her around!

We dropped in to see Papaw. It made his day!

Sweet Crystal

Meg got some awesome gifts for Baby Gaines!

It's That Time of the Year Again!

Yard Sale Season is back! I've been an avid yard sale shopper for more than two years now. It's the thrill of the find, the early Saturday morning when most are still asleep, giggling with my sister over what we paid for something, getting compliments on my home decor/clothes that I paid next to nothing for, my husband's bragging about my finds (he's still in awe of the Columbia fleece I bought him for $3:), and a hot cup of coffee in my hand that makes it one of my favorite things to do!
Brittany and I are geared up for the first big yard sale day of 2011:), so in honor of that I've found lots of pictures of some of my favorite finds from 2009 and 2010. I'll throw in the prices if I remember off the top of my head...

Stuff for my house:

Love baskets! Use them all the time!

Orange sofa: $80

I love my little rooster that was $0.50!

$5 for milk glass lamp

I love this silhouette for $3.

the lamp shades were only a $1 a piece!

enormous rug, perfect condition $80

Stuff for Ava:)

Ava's lady bug costume: $0.50

$3

I can hardly bring myself to pay full price for a movie. Ava has a great selection of movies.

Ava has so many jeans, and I've only paid full price for 2 pair. All others have been from yard sales.

I've never paid full price for a swim suit.

We used the Dora pinata at her Dora-themed party!

Brittany and I have found Ava rainboots in sizes 5, 6, 7, 8 at yard sales!

We love pajamas! Ava wore these adorable Christmas pjs this past winter. $1/pair

Stuff for school:

Vera Bradley lunch box, mint condition $3

Beauty Products:

I was most excited about this Fake Bake! I paid $1 for it after I had ordered some from amazon.com for $25. It works great!!

Clothes for me:

Christmas decor:

Thought this old sled would be a neat item to use with my Christmas decor. I believe it was $1.

What's the best thing you've ever found at a yard sale??