My God Box

I have always struggled with worry. In fact, it's a struggle that several members of my family have as well. I know that worry is not from God and that worrying will not change any outcomes. But I still find myself lying awake at night with it all. When I saw a post on Ella Mae's Barn Gathering about the God Box, it really hit me as something I wanted to incorporate into my own home. The concept was to write down your worries, put them in the box, let them go, and trust that He would take care of them.

I went to Hobby Lobby a few days later, and found this red box in the Christmas clearance section. I placed it with a picture that my Mom cross stitched for me years ago. I added in a lamp, a jewelry box my hubby made for me, and a handmade kaleidoscope we found during our time in Florida. It's a quiet space in the corner of our bedroom, with an antique chair and side table that I can sit quietly in during nap time. Perfect for focusing on those things that I need to hand over to Him. Things I need to trust He will take care of in His time and in His way. And even though my kiddos are still to young to understand the concept of it all, I look forward to passing it on to them later on.







I also wanted to thank Rondell at Something Nice and Pretty, Holly At Hoosier At Heart, and Lauren at West Furniture Revival for thinking of me with the Stylish Blogger Award. Be sure to check out all of their lovely blogs!

A Little Inspiration

I am having a hard time getting the creative juices flowing right now. But since I put up my winter mantel, it has gotten me thinking about my den. The den was the room that sold us on this house. I loved the fireplace, bookshelves, brickwork and the high ceilings. I knew it had so much potential. We've come a long way in there since we bought the house three years ago, adding new hardwoods and painting all the cabinets and trimwork. But the decor is mostly stuff I've just thrown together. Here's how it looks now.







I am loving all the white rooms I am seeing lately and that is really the direction I would love to go in this room. These are the rooms I am currently drooling over.


Photo From Pottery Barn


Photo from Ideal Home Magazine


Photo from Country Living

The leather couches really need to stay. Let's face it sippie cup spills are much easier to wipe up off of leather. But the chair could definitely go. I don't think I will ever be able to convince my hubby to let go of that coffee table. We got it at a yard sale before we got married, and the entire table top pulls up to make one huge tv tray. And we actually eat dinners as a family there on lazy Sunday evenings *blush*.

I would love to add a big chandelier and get new curtains. The entire back wall of the room is also exposed brickwork. It makes the room very dark. I am considering painting it all. But I am super nervous since it will be a permanent move once the first brushstroke goes on! The biggest thing that I am dying to add are some beams running across the ceiling. Can you just imagine how much brighter it would be with all the brick white and some beautiful white beams running across the ceiling? Oh, it sounds heavenly!

Who knows when (or if) any of this will actually happen. After tackling that major bathroom renovation before the holidays, my husband is enjoying the down time himself. There is something about the drab winter weather that just makes you want to curl up next to the fire and do nothing!

Well, I am off to see what's going on in blogland and hopefully get my butt motivated to get started on something...anything!

Winter Mantel

I am finally going to share my winter mantel. We have gotten so much snow in the past week, so this mantel is fitting in perfectly right now.

I knew I wanted to try using all whites. So I shopped around the house for items to use. I did buy the snowflakes at the Dollar Tree for 50 cents each after Christmas. Everything else, I made or was something I already had.





I shared the info on the coffee filter wreath here.



I added a couple of candles and a small white plate on the left side of the mantel. I set one of the candleholders on top of a roll of twine. I love the natural look of the twine.



On the other side of the mantel, I added a bigger white plate on top of some old books. I then added a snowflake Christmas ornament to the center of the plate and a small vase of white flowers.



I also added another snowflake and a grouping of snowmen on a side shelf.


Like I said in a previous post, this is making me want to change a few other elements of the room to white. It just seems so simple and elegant. Hope you are all enjoying the snow like we have.



I'll be partying here:
Inspiration Friday @ Southern In My Heart
Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage
The DIY Showoff Project Parade
Amaze Me Monday @ Dittle Dattle
Anything Related @ All Thingz Related
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Coffee Filter Wreath

I have been wanting to try a coffee filter project for awhile now. Then I saw this gorgeous wreath over at All Thingz Related and fell in love. I knew I had to try it. It took me about an hour to do and was fairly simple. Rebekah posted all the instructions on her site, so be sure to check it out if you want to try it. I do recommend adding a dab of hot glue to hold each bundle of filters in place on the wire form because mine moved around alot.



I have made it the focal point of my winter mantel along with a little banner I made from scrapbook paper, vinyl lettering, and twine. I messed up a little in cutting out the first triangle, but I say it just gives it character ;) . I am loving the gorgeous whites on the mantel in my living room so much right now that I am very tempted to change out a few other things to white as well. I will share the whole mantel with you in a few days. This is just the sneak peek for now.







Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!



I'll be partying here:
Inspiration Friday @ Southern In My Heart
Feathered Nest Friday @ The French Country Cottage