A T T H E P A R K ' S

Happy Weekend all! Under the "Our Home" link on the left sidebar, we have very outdated photos of our home and I thought I'd give you an update of at least one of those rooms!  It is always a work in progress but w e purchased a beautiful new and super inexpensive rug from Overstock and are absolutely loving it!   It is a shag rug which I wouldn't have normally gone for but I like the ivory and grey contemporary patt ern and I like that it is super thick and super soft!  It looks to be very durable and I think will last a long time!  The coloring is even better than shown in the photos below, and the pile of the rug is high and low.  When I was reading the reviews, most people had nothing but good things to say.  However, there was a discrepancy about sizing.  Under Product Details, the rug size stated 5x8.  Under dimensions it stated 8x10.  When you go to order online, you can only select 5'3"x7'6".  The latter is the true size ...

May I present to you a semi-failed DIY project that I am embarrassed to show you and that may or may not be kept in our home!  Ha!  How's that for an introduction!?!   I credit my impatience for the failure.  Check out the link and tutorial for these beautiful luminaries here .  Rhi over at Hey Gorgeous Events did such a great job, taking her time and lining everything up.  Towards the end I rushed it ( compare the top vs the bottom of the vase ) .  Well, you can see for yourself .   Happy crafting!!

Tonight, I am so excited to share with you what hubby has been working on for the last few months in his spare time.  Let me preface by saying that we've had our TV hanging on the wall above our fire place since we purchased it about a year ago.  And though I liked it there and it fit well, it wasn't exactly what I had in mind.  You see, while the TV is on and you're sitting on the sofa curled up in a warm blanket drinking hot tea, you can't have the gas fireplace running.  Not only do I use the TV for viewing movies and television shows, but I listen to a lot of music through it.  I love our fireplace but would love it more if I could use it!  So to solve that problem I was on a mission to find a nice TV stand. After searching online and finding a lot of great furniture options, I realized I didn't really want to spend any money.  We had a dresser gifted to my husband years ago that we were planning on selling or donating but I really wanted t...

While perusing pinterest, I came across this idea and knew I had to try this for the new year.  I think it took 4 minutes total to make...and was FREE since I already had everything! What you'll need: a jar with or without a lid chalk a label (I used a chalkboard label from World Market ) writing utensil paper or note cards (I cut up old unused business envelopes) Throughout the year, write down memories that make you smile.  Something funny.  An accomplishment.  A first.  Then, on New Year's Eve, open and re-read all of the good stuff that made the year wonderful.  I have already written one quote from the hubby and documented a life event into the jar!  So excited to see what this year will bring!  Wouldn't this be fun to do with future kiddos every year around a fire with some hot cocoa, yummy snacks and some time to reflect and be thankful!  Let the traditions begin!

Happy Saturday all!  This has been about two months in the making and I am finally getting around to sharing this project with you!  I won't give a tutorial here but you c an check out my photos below.  Please refer to the original tutorial from Amanda on her website here . Notice the chalkboard paint bled underneath the painter's tape?  It's not perfectly smooth but I am satisfied with it.  Oh, and since I painted above the red paint (look above at the original mug), there is a horizontal line where you can see in the first photo (above) where the surface is not even.  Also, notice the where I paint ed the handle and how the line isn't straight.  Nice Julie.   The mug can be hand washed and the paint won't come off, however since I didn't use the porcelain paint, the mug cannot go into the dishwasher or microwave.  To be honest with you, I sort of don't like the end result and I don't have the greatest drawing skills so....