To Sew or Not to Sew...

...that is the question. For some time now, I have REALLY REALLY been wanting to learn how to sew and embroider- the whole shebang! I have been eyeing this little beauty from HSN.com for the past six months or so. Does anyone have this machine or have any opinions on a Brother?
I think it would pay for itself because God only knows how much I have spent on monogrammed baby gifts for friends and family in the past year! I bought a monogrammed burp cloth last week on Etsy, and it was $15.00, and I can't even count the baby gifts I still have not purchased! Who doesn't love monogrammed gifts anyhow?! I have also been wanting to sew some pillows and jazz up some curtains, but I don't have the time to deal with a complex machine. After reading some of the reviews, it sounds like this machine is pretty easy to learn! The sewing machine is $499.99 but is also available on flex pay (a big plus for me!). Have any of you guys recently learned how to sew? I guess I really want to know what I'm getting myself into! ;)

For Miss Ella

A few weeks ago, my cousin's wife, Nikki, was given a baby shower at Lanes Ferry Baptist Church. Jeff and Nikki are naming the baby Ella Maree Moody, and I cannot think of a more perfect name. I just LOVE the name Ella! Nikki is due around August 7 which is the same time Wade and I will be in Vegas on vacation. Hopefully, she can hold off until we get back, but I'm sure Nikki will not like the sound of that! ;) Not only are Jeff and Nikki family, but really really good friends, and we love them dearly. We cannot wait to meet Miss Ella, and I know this child will be blessed with the best parents in the world. I am getting teared up just thinking about Jeff and Nikki as parents, and hope to experience their joy one day as well. I have tons of things I should be doing right now, so here are a few pics of the shower...enjoy!

These canvas and growth chart were painted by Sarah at Bee Vine...this girl rocks I tell ya! Check her out! They match Nikki's bedding to a tee!

I thought this was the sweetest gift!

Me and Nikki...she is so beautiful pregnant!

Katie Grace and Kenslee are darling! These kiddos are 100% Gregory! lol

Aren't these darling?! I got them here...


and these here.

A table full of goodies!

Thrifty Treasures Monday

This is my first time participating in Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures, and I'm sorry I'm so late linking to it. All of you bloggers have gotten my creative juices flowing, and I just can't get enough of going to Goodwill and yard sales on the weekends. In the past week or so, I have found some great deals, and I am so excited to share them with you.

I found this chair for $9.00 at Goodwill last week. As soon as I walked in, it was screaming my name. It had clean lines that I love, and is made very well...the stamp on the bottom of the chair says it was made in the 1930s. I quickly went to the front desk to get a "sold" sign so no one could take it! I brought it home, gave it a quick sanding, took off the cushion and the four...yes, I repeat, four layers of fabric still on the cushion. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some zebra fabric that was originally $14.99/yd but I got it for around $10/yd with it being on sale. Put two coats of Antique Walnut Stain, a new foam cushion, new fabric and viola! I love it!

Before...





After...







I made this small memo board using leftover fabric from the chair makeover. This was my first memo board to try, and yes, my lines are not straight, but the Roddick/Federer match had me on the edge of my seat. I cut myself with scissors and got a splinter from the wood went I wrapped it with batting...so nerve racking! Roddick is still my #1! ;) Enough about tennis...I can't wait to find a cabinet door or larger piece of wood so I can try Kate's memo board...it is gorgeous! She is SUPER TALENTED!

I have been dying to find a silver tray to make a chalkboard out of, and I finally found one at Goodwill. I love reading Bless Our Nest because this girl knows her stuff! Go here to see her chalkboard project from which I got my inspiration from.

I wrote God Bless America on the 4th, and the hubby left me a little something sweet the next morning! :)



I can't tell you how many times I have passed up one of these buffet servers at a thrift store/garage sale...but not anymore! I found this one at the local G (geez, I shop there way too much!) for $2.99. I was pumped! I brought it home, and added two coats of black spray paint, and it is remarkable what spray paint will do for something. I added three plates I already had and some fruits/veggies from the garden, and it is now a beautiful centerpiece.

Long time, no blog...

Wow, June has been a BUSY month! We've gone home (as in to Oak Grove aka a-four-hour- roadtrip in which I get to showcase my vocal talent :)) two weekends in a row. Wade loves our trips home, and I think it's because he gets to hear me belt out my favorite tunes! Anyways, I have been following many blogs lately trying to get inspiration on creative and inexpensive ways to decorate our house. With Wade in law school, and I'm the only one who receives a paycheck, I try to stretch a dollar as far as it can go. Here are some of my favorite blogs: Nesting Place, Centsational Girl, Bless Our Nest and Thrifty Decor Chick. These ladies are such an inspiration to me so go check them out! They sure know what they're doing!

Living in Baton Rouge, there are thrift stores on every corner! For the past few weeks on my lunch hour, I have been going to the Goodwill store by my office. Check out some of the things I've found.

I found this silver tray for $1.00. It had a few "aged" spots, but that's what I love about it...it adds character. I had an "H" stencil so I used my handy dabber and dabbed on the "H". I think it turned out pretty good! We don't have a foyer in our townhouse, so I just put a table that I found scratched on clearanced at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $19.99 and touched it up with a wood marker. We live in a townhouse in which our rent is almost double the square feet!

I got all of this for only $7.70! I was so proud of myself. I bought the little wire basket for $1.00, the scrap piece of wood for $1.00, silver tray $1.00, round aluminum tray $1.00, glass top to a cloche $1.00, large silver tray $2.00 and the cookie sheet for a quarter, which I intend to make into a magnetic board for my kitchen...does anyone remember the blog that made this? I want to try it and post a link back to theirs.

This is the finished product of the small silver tray. Look here for the project I used as my inspiration at Bless Our Nest. I spray painted it Antique Ivory since I CANNOT find the Heirloom White ANYWHERE. I've looked at Home Depot, Lowe's and Wal-Mart, and not one can of Heirloom White! I then painted the "H" in Folk Art "Taupe" paint and aged it by watering down some brown paint. Not bad for my first one! Thanks Bless Our Nest! Stay tuned for some of my other great buys I picked up at Goodwill today!