I think it works for a boy or a girl and its SO reasonably prices…$13.99 a yard!

First off, my toddler is under the weather so i would appreciate prayers for Henry today.  We recently moved Henry out of his crib.  He and Drew now both have twins beds in one tiny room (I did not go with the bunk idea after all)..last night at 2:30 I went in to see why Henry was fussing (not feeling well) and he was in bed with his brother!  Drew said “get him out of here and put tape over his mouth”  oh my!  Its been a transition. (and this means i have some crib bedding for sale if anyone is interested!)

My super husband brought me coffee this morning even though he doesn’t drink coffee nor know of its supernatural power..thanks E! You are my hero!

(Drew will love this post!)

I have been working a lot lately both online and locally!  It’s fun but requires time managment skillz and the help of nana, our great babysitter and super Daddy.  I am so thankful for their support, can’t say it enough. I plan to share more snippets of projects this year and just bought a new camera lens so hopefully i can get better shots as well! I need to take better kid shots too..i have just stopped taking photos it seems..not good.

Its nearly February so i guess i should share some resolutions…main one and why you haven’t seen as much blogging is my desire to stay off the computer more when kids are home or awake..wow that is a hard one..my clients are so supportive and patient.  Second one is going to the gym and giving up sweets.  Haven’t even tried yet but maybe saying it out loud will mean something.  I started with the baby step of drinking more water..does that count?

Oh and after the last post i am sooo looking forward to taking up my black floral rug and putting down something natural on floor for spring and summer!  And some blue pillows maybe if i can find the right print!

That is all I know today. What is on your plate??

{no idea where fabric is from, minifigures found here}

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And Latika from Kravet

Latika makes this classic Kravet toile below (lutece?) look fresh and yet still classic in my opinion!

add a little geometric and we are in fabric heaven!

Duralee’s amazon hot pepper!

These fabrics are  all Kravet AND available for under $30 a yard at housefabrics.com and I wanted to share…They dont pay me or advertise with me and they arent even my fave site but i wanted to pass along these fun and classic fabrics!

oh and can i just add..i am weirded out that Pottery barn is selling suzanis for $1200..I know it may be hard for the average non world traveller to get their hands on one but i just find it interesting that a big box store is doing this..would love to know the backstory on how they are getting them and production etc..i guess its no different than things Pier One and World Market (and dealers hello) have been doing for years, or is it? Remember when World Market did that weird Eat Pray Love sales campaign?? I want to be consistent in my views but this just bothers me…

they ARE gorgeous.

The description on the PB suzanis says :

Each of our exclusive limited-edition suzanis was carefully selected from a collector who buys the elaborately hand-embroidered textiles from homes throughout the Middle East and Asia. Each vibrant panel is handcrafted and completely unique with artful patterns created by piecing together scraps of fabric.

• Pieces range in age from 50 to 80 years.
• Comes with a certificate stating the age of the piece and the region where it was originally created.
• Panels bear the rare character and beauty of handmade, vintage cloth; they may include patches or other signs of wear accumulated over time.
• Each piece is unique, let us choose for you. (which is another thing that bothers me..give me $1200 and let me choose FOR YOU..for $12 i am examining things to get the best one..do people really go for that??)

this one is gorgeous, love its color, except its sold out…just curious, would you buy something like this from a big box store like Pottery Barn? A part of me likes that it makes things accessible to people who dont get to travel etc but something feels strange about it..anyone agree? Or is this being unfair to Pottery barn considering items of similar nature that other stores or antique dealers have been selling for years..maybe it is the scale that makes their marketing and business so unique!??

And i have been decorating today, more than cleaning! or cooking.  What can i say, its what i enjoy. Good thing my father-in-law is bringing the dressing!

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year and was going to use white plates and not do any of this…and then my mom and Henry took a long nap and i started pulling things out..so fun.  I found the placecards via pinterest!  And the little clothespins are from Olive manna from last year..so glad I remembered i have them…It’s  fun to have a reason to use mini clothespins..we girls are funny that way huh? I love the napkins i scored from World Market…notice my glasses and plates don’t match..just mismatched transferware…i only have a few pieces of Spode Woodlands..oh well.  Oh and there is a stack of books in the corner..just not Faulkner.

This room isn’t perfect, you will notice all of the silverware isn’t even on the table yet because its not CLEAN!  And hello, there is a PIANO in front of the window because there is not other spot for it in our house! Oh and I want to change the rod in this room so bad..See how easily I can get off course with wants and things i want to do before I am happy with this room or my entire house.  When really I should be thankful for this shelter that God has provided. Thankful for the beautiful music my husband makes on the piano. God gives us Shelter in so many ways, physically and spiritually.  This has been his gift to me this  year and I am just now realizing it I think…Funny how God developed this thought and truth in me today while cleaning and decorating! I am so glad He speaks to me in the midst of daily sillyness like tiny clothes pins and printing placecards! He is pretty cool that way!

Speaking of frivolous, I bought those black and white ANA tapers ($$) last Feb in Seattle when visiting Emily..glad to finally use them.  I thought they might look a little hallloween with the pumpkins but since there is black in the banner (etsy) and i pulled out the black moustaches from henry’s party so they are black too..with the cotton bolls I think it creates a “Southern Gothic Thanksgiving” at least in my mind..I guess I should stack Faulkner books everywhere too!  ha!

Anyway, most bloggers post photos of food today i guess but not me…actually i need to get back to the kitchen… But please do go read the prayer on Edie’s blog and think on Shelter…my sweet boy always uses that word in prayer and its been on my mind, and has brought me to Psalm 91 today. Thanks Edie, thanks Deb Grabein, thanks Drew Mathis… thank you Jesus. And thank you readers if you were able to stay with me as i jumped around from decorating and faulkner to the Lord.  I know its all random..I am sure I will get lots of unsubscribes but I don’t care, my heart is full and I wanted to share…the Lord is good and his love endureth forever!

Happy Thanksgiving…Love, Holly

Oh and check back on friday..i will have some Black Friday shopping links and chatter!

{via Apartment Therapy}

I finally chose a color and i really like it but the funny thing is it is sooo similar to the original color i could not even tell the difference when the painter first painted the chimney!  Now that the entire house is done, I can see it is now in fact darker and has more heft and gray and what i wanted!

The door and shutters are SW Urbane Bronze, a really versatile and rich color.  The siding is SW Amazing Gray and the trim is Martha’s Glass of Milk.

 But Mama has really been missing her red door.  I thought I was going to have to break out more red paint….

Until today when i finally “installed” the new house numbers…they made the dark door come alive!  Thank you LEEN THE GRAPHICS QUEEN.  And yes for the most part i think vinyl graphics are cheesey (sorry Leen and others just being honest) but i love this and I WILL NOT BE ASHAMED! ha! I also love that my door is not perfect..it has been here many years!

Now if I can just get the yard cleaned up and other little exterior projects done.  Who am I kidding?  It never ends right?! Enjoy the process!

And thank you to all who voted for me in the Country Living Reader’s Choice blog awards…I am stunned daily at the amount of talent and freshness in the blog world so to get this award is very humbling.  I don’t feel worthy, I’ve been reading Country Living since i was a kid..so exciting!  THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO VOTE!

In the midst of all of this, i left town early Friday morning, I felt a little guilty but had plans to meet with a client in Midland, Texas, so i flew out…we had a wonderful time freshening her home and discussing fabrics and finishing touches to an already lovely space.  I loved visiting with you Angie! 

And then I drove on to Abilene to see my college friend Camille, and boy did we have fun. I did not take my camera, just tried to enjoy and not think about blogging. In fact, there is so much fun in Abilene..if you live nearby you know about all of the great junk and furniture stores…so fun! I am begging Camille to do a “Abilene City Guide” …ha!  As i was driving back to the Midland airport early Sunday morning I listened to all of the 911 coverage on NPR..so moving as i watched the sun come up and flew home …  Getting away is sooo good for mamas..I LOVE MY JOB! By i love getting home to my little men too (and the big one!)

So that is all I know, hug your family close and give thanks for your home today.

One more thing,  click on the Country Living link in the sidebar if you want to vote for me again!  I think the judge’s have decided their winners but the reader’s choice contest is open until the 15th i believe!  Thanks for taking time to vote!

{Henry Brooks @ 18 months in big brother’s linen suit}

Reality = t-shirts…and big boy reality = Phineas & ferb and Star Wars legos t-shirts eventually…

But for as long as we can, i love to find interesting comfy shirts and this shop on etsy is just that…meet Nostalgic Graphic Tees live from Charleston SC!

You know i love the silhouettes!  She says they are sized true to size and of course she has long and short sleeve!  She is a professional graphic designer and these are high quality!

I love the photographer too! And the wagon, and the pilot..and the camper!! love them all!

and yes of course she has girl tees too!;;

So check out Nostalgic Tees on Etsy!

and tell me..what has been your favorite find for dressing boys this school year?? any secrets?

{AND speaking of boy clothes…my little one is GROWING LIKE A WEED..if anyone is interested in some boy things I need to get rid of (jon jons, hannah kate shorts, favorite Laundry etc) email me for a special link…not sure when or how i will list things but I don’t want to clog the blog..just drop me an email at ehmathisATgmailDOTcom}

These photos aren’t styled or even that clean but I wanted to show you the results after you had to endure TWO POSTS here and here about a faucet!

We have a new sink too…it is an 1″ deeper and wow that makes a difference.  It’s not rimless and under mount but I am happy with it.  It’s a hardworking kitchen and I think it looks nice but isn’t overkill..i like the simplicity of the tall spout with all of the window and other stuff going on. The cabinets are original to the house, they were olive green and we painted them white and the counters we did years ago after we painted.  That little wood piece over the sink used to drive me nuts but with the new blind it doesn’t bother me as much.

Yes there are legos on the counter, meat thawing in the sink and lots of clutter..it’s how we live! But overall i love the way this room is feeling..true getting some new appliances and doing some things makes you want to do more, you think “the floor needs replacing (its cute but shabby) “cabinets need painting”, this replacing  and blah blah blah but I want to try to focus on the fact i have a new stove and fridge and FAUCET, things i really needed..the old ones didn’t even work well.  So trying to focus on that and not doing MORE MORE MORE.  Not preaching to yall…preaching to myself. 

Contentment for women is so hard but so important to pray for and be intentional about as we make homes.

Some Texas coffee for Emily’s husband Ryan to critique..he is a die hard Starbucks guy of course…something sweet for Audrey, a suprise for Emily and DVDs for her boys from my boys! 

When I “spoke” with Emily last night she was wallpapering (which means handpainting a design) on the guest room wall for my visit…crazy that woman.  She said she might not finish and i promised I would be able to envision it in all of its glory.  I hit a point earlier in the week when i realized i could NOT lose 30 lbs in 3 days or even have time to do a package of Crest white strips before the trip and you know what, I DONT CARE, just so totally excited to be GOING TO SEATTLE..i just want to hang out with my friend, talk about the Lord and this crazy blogging thing He has us doing and have fun! Praying we will see one another, both inside and out, as our Perfect Father does..as His creation and ENJOY our visit like he enjoys us..no expectations or pressure… I think any unfinished decorating and extra baby weight will fade away to make way for some serious CHURCH..PRAY FOR US!

Oh and I am sure Emily and I will be shopping, decorating and making silhouettes of one another all weekend long..ha ha, just kidding about the silhouette thing, poking a little fun at ourselves. i DO think bloggers and our habits would make a great SNL skit don’t you..or maybe it has been done I just don’t know it since I am now on the computer every Saturday night instead of watching TV!

Oh and pray for my husband, he is Mr Awesome Daddy and I am sure he will have Henry sleeping through the night and potty trained when I get home but a little prayer might be in order for him.  Thanks honey for encouraging me to go have some fun!