Extreme Home Makeover.....Sort of!!!

Now that my little sister has decided to move out, my mom decided she wanted to makeover her old domain, her bedroom and bathroom. It was your typical melancholy teen bedroom, dark, messy, and stuff plastered all over the walls. My mother enlisted my help since she knows of my love for design and decorating, after looking online and a little discussion I decided on a French Country theme for both bedroom and bath.

It all began Tuesday morning with a trip to Lowes for paint and supplies, it didn't take us long to decide on colors since we had actually made a trip the previous day to Ross for a shower curtain and other accessories, so we had an idea of what we wanted.

We got everything home and started right away, taping off the baseboards and windows, then it was time for a little color! Using the "divide and concur" mantra I began in the bathroom and my mom took on the bedroom.

It was all going along swimmingly until we took a break for lunch, I stupidly left my pan of paint and brushes on the top of my ladder, I even said to myself "don't forget they are up there", well after getting food for the kids and myself I returned to the bathroom and lifted the ladder to move it when the entire pan came crashing down on my head!! There was blue paint EVERYWHERE, all over my head and shoulder, the floor, the wall (that wasn't gonna be blue), the baseboards, the door, you name it and it was at the very least freckled with blue! I calmly called for my husband down stairs to "immediately bring me some cleaning rags", hearing my plea my Mom and Jimmy came swiftly and we managed to clean it up before anything dried, well except for what was in my hair and all over my clothes. I figured why clean it off when I wasn't done painting, other than that one small incident the rest of it went well. It was a late night, but we managed to get both rooms painted and I actually finished the bathroom completely!

The next day (Wednesday) I made a trip to Desseret Industries in hopes of some good finds, and that, I did, I found the perfect mirror for $6, some artwork for $2, frames for $1 and the best was an old sewing machine built into a desk for $40! I called my mom, told her the good news and they came with my dad's truck and picked everything up that day!

Thursday our mission was to find a bed and mattress, we had company coming Friday so it was important for them to have something to sleep on. Sears carried the perfect bed, and the best part was that we could pick it up the next morning so we headed home and it was off to the County Fair! Thursday was our break from the work and we had a blast at the fair!!

Friday morning we borrowed a truck and picked up the bed and a mattress from Desseret Industries, they sell new ones. The rest of the day was spent putting our masterpiece together, assembly of bed, placement of art and furniture and taking odds and ends from other parts of the house to give it some character! So here is the before and after shots of the two rooms!!

AND THE WINNERS ARE...........

For those that entered my Giveaway for a free photo session the winners have been selected and now I will announce who they are......drum roll please..drrrrrrrrrrrrr

EVERYONE!!!! That's right I will be giving anyone that left a comment a FREE family session!! You must have caught me on a good day because to thank all of you for being such great friends and readers of my blog you all win!! Just in case you forgot who you are:

Jill M.
Amber H.
Melissa E.
Jessie W.
Shannon S.
Millisa C.
Jessi M.
Steph D.
Carla F.
Alleen N.
Liz P.
Heather D.
Emily Y.
Marissa M.
Heather B.

K email me at marylinkelley@gmail.com so we can figure out a date and time that is best for you! Also I want to try and get them done as soon as we can so that it isn't too hot!! Love to you all!

Sunday Scripture, Easter Message

On this Easter Sunday and in the recent weeks, I can not deny the Lord Jesus Christ nor His hand in my life. The sacrifice, His sacrifice, was for me, He knows and loves me and without Him I lack the ability to reach my fullest potential. I have a deep and sacred relationship with my Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ, I hold it most dear to me. I am grateful for His timing and the way my family has been blessed, I know that through trials I have been strengthened and refined so that I will be a better person. I know that He lives and that we have a Prophet living on the Earth today who is inspired from on high to guide and direct us. I found this amazing message from one of my favorite people and living disciple, Jeffrey R. Holland and felt I should share. All my love and remember to give thanks, especially on this day, this Easter Sunday.

To learn More click here

Flashback Friday! County Fair!

2008

Last night we were able to go to the Clark County Fair in Logandale, NV and it was such a good time! It has become a tradition for us because it is something that the entire family can enjoy!! I will do a full post of the night another day because I have a ton of pictures, but since I have been busy all day I thought I would post our family picture from last year and this year! What a difference a year makes!! Although I am wearing green in both pictures, how unusual!! :)

2009

Love to you,

REAL HERO'S

There are all kinds of hero's out there. Some are "hero's" by the mere fact that the media says so, some are "hero's" in the movies, saving the girl right before the bomb explodes, there are "hero's" that catch or throw a ball well, but I think there needs to be a difference between those being glorified for a moment and the actual hero's that have changed lives for the better.

As I came to a stoplight on the corner of Stewart & Lamb the other day the license plate on the car in front of me caught me off guard, it read "Pearl Harbor Survivor" I looked to see who was driving and noticed an older gentleman sitting in the passenger seat and I knew it was he that had survived. I teared up thinking of this now frail little man having been a young brave soldier who fought to save his military brothers amidst one of the worst events in US history. A bit humbled I thought back on how my Paternal Grandparents both served during WWII and how their service made them hero's!!

My Grandfather while flying a B-24

My Grandmother was a Nurse during WWII

These are the kinds of people that we owe our allegiance to, not the silly celebrities that fill up the t.v screens, not the politicians that talk more than any humans really should, and yet they never really say anything. Not the athletes that are talented, yes, but lack moral character in their private lives.

I know it seems a bit stalker-ish to have taken these, but I couldn't help it!

It's the ones riding in the passenger seat, in plain clothes and no fan fare to call attention to them. The real Hero's are the individuals that aren't seeking fame and fortune for their service, it could be a Mother who spends her days wiping little faces and kissing tears away, maybe it's a Father that wakes every morning and heads off to work in order to provide for his family. Perhaps it's a child that stands up for a friend when the bully's have teased them, or a teacher that spends time after school to help a student struggling to read. These are the true Hero's that live among us, maybe you are the hero, did you ever think of that! Just as my Grandparents were hero's in their generation, maybe that is what we are supposed to be in ours. We each have the ability to save the world for someone, they just might be the ones hanging on your leg or tapping your shoulder for the 10th time calling you Mom. Love to you!

Mythical Creature? And GIVEAWAY!!!

Back when I was a young thing I remember hearing stories about women who would go a day or two without getting to shower and I thought "How disgusting!! What in the world is wrong with those women??" Then I had many children and this Mythical Creature is no longer Mythical anymore!! Today though, I showered!!! Oh yeah Smell me if you want to, I dare ya!!

(photo courtesy of Marissa, girl I had to use it!)

Ok so here is the best part of this post!! Since I am leaving soon I wanted to do this before I go, I am giving AWAY, as in FOR FREE, 3 FAMILY PHOTO SESSIONS (that is one session for 3 different families)!!! For every comment you leave I will add your name into a drawing that will be held Next Sunday April 12!! Sorry but this is restricted to those in the Las Vegas area or in Colorado (although if you are in Colorado it might be a couple months). You also get a bonus entry if you become a follower of my blog!! Good luck and hope to be snapping your pictures soon!!

Flash Back Friday!! All Grown Up!!

This past Monday was a big stepping stone in my baby sisters life!! She has decided to spread her wings a bit and move out into her own apartment! Emily and her close friend Michelle found a place and they were very excited to get all moved in, I don't think they knew how little fun it would be to drag it all up 3 flights of stairs!! Sooooo they used their "cute" to get them a slew of young strong guys to help with the heavy stuff! My favorite was that they organized it so the guys were in shifts in order to keep "certain" ones unaware of the other "certain" ones!! Oh to be young again!! I must admit that it has been strange not seeing her everyday and the kids miss their Aunt Em, especially Grace who has a bag packed all ready for a "cleep over" at Em's house!! It is weird to think she is old enough to move out, wasn't it yesterday that she was running around with her pacifier in her mouth!??