All Things Home

Valentine’s Breakfast Guest

2012-02-15T11:53:00.001-08:00

Hey friends!

Just a quick post to show you who I had breakfast with on Valentine’s morning.

This little (actually big) fellow was sitting at the table when I came in for breakfast.

He was a gift for my youngest daughter from her daddy and he is pretty huge. He is also soft, fluffy, and adorable.

Included in the Valentine’s gifts were these delicious heart shaped pancakes that my husband made for the family before he left for work.

Such a nice treat when someone else fixes a meal.

So, who did you eat Valentine’s breakfast with?

Favorite Elements

2012-02-13T12:07:00.003-08:00

Hey my friends! I hope you all had a great weekend and that your upcoming week is amazing!

While doing a little moving around this weekend, I noticed a real pattern in my home decorating.

I love old wood…white or natural…I love it. The older the better.

I love metal…rusty, galvanized, weathered, new…whatever…I just like metal.

I love white dishes…again, the older the better. And, I love the crazing on the old dishes. Beautiful!

I also love textiles. They don’t have to be old. I just like the softness that fabric adds to a hard piece of wood or metal.

Do I need to even tell you how much I love the combination of all of the above elements?

I’ll show you more of my favorite combinations in the next few days.

I found a great old galvanized cooler back during the summer that now sits atop my white jelly cabinet holding beautiful dried hydrangeas.

I also pulled out a great old metal dish drainer and filled it with white vintage dishes. Love it!

Will show you those later…okay. Hope you will come back by for another visit.

Blessings, friends.

Oh, and happy early Valentine’s Day!

Linking up over at Northern Cottage, Knick of Time Tuesday, Faded Charm

A Few Shots From the Master Bath

2012-02-09T14:46:00.001-08:00

Hi friends!

It’s almost Friday! Are you as glad as I am when Friday arrives?

I have been doing a little freshening in my master bath and actually trying to decide if it’s time to paint the bathroom and bedroom. It’s been dark for awhile now and I almost think it’s time for a little lightening.

Until the decision is made whether to paint or not, I am making a few small changes. I changed out the shiny brass hardware on the cabinets and am saving to buy some new light fixtures above the sinks.

Of course, there’s always the fun of fluffing.

(It is so hard to get good pictures over my tub)

Absolutely love this old apple bucket holding towels and soaps.

My favorite white tulips!

Junk to Joy etsy shop.

I love dried lavender also. I bought this little lavender filled peat pot last summer from my friend Becky over at her beautiful etsy shop.

Candles in the bathroom are a must, right?

I usually don’t have the chance to take bubble baths, but when I do….I am in heaven. Jets and bubbles are so relaxing.

A couple of old prints rest on my flea market shelf. I love the black and whites and how subtle they are. Another few pieces of lavender are contained in two old salt and pepper shakers. Take the lids off and voila…great vintage vases.

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me for a few minutes today, my friends.

Have a blessed upcoming weekend.

French Country Cottage

Signs Over Our Bed

2012-02-06T13:38:00.001-08:00

Hi my friends!

Hope this day is going beautifully for each one of you.

I was thinking about how much I love using words in our home and thought that a shabby sign over my bed might be just the thing I was looking for.

I love my old door that we use as a headboard and really don’t want to compete with it so I try to keep things simple over the door.

This is what I recently decided to do in keeping with the “simple décor” I am going for in our house.

A sweet reminder of the day we got married and that US (he and I ) equals FOREVER.

Nothing fancy but full of meaning. Just what I like.

Have a great week and God bless you all!

Partying over at: Knick of Time Tuesday, Northern Cottage, Faded Charm

Bringing in the Flowers…

2012-02-02T18:03:00.001-08:00

Hey my friends!!

Tennessee has evidently decided to skip winter this year and move right on into spring. We are having unseasonably warm weather and it’s wonderful.

The warm weather means I am in the mood for flowers and for bringing a little spring into our home.

My mantel is the first thing I changed up…

White tulips are my favorite and I think they look beautiful in that great old blue Ball jar! I love the way tulips just fall perfectly, don’t you?

Old books, a chippy white birdhouse, my husband’s baby shoes that I love using, and gorgeous blue bottles, along with white tulips, turn my mantel into a happy spring thing for me.

If we do get some more cold days and want to light a fire, I will definitely take my French book page garland down.

This flea market bench is great for extra seating and also pulls in my favorite green color.

I know I just showed you way too many mantel pictures, but I told you that it made me happy to look at it with all of it’s springiness.

I set out one more little bouquet of flowers on our coffee table. Bright yellow and full of cheer!

I’ll leave you with that little bit of cheer and I will tell you thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.

Thanks for your friendship and God bless you all!

Linking up at:

Common Ground

Rose Vignettes

My Romantic Home

2805

At the Picket Fence

Jennifer Rizzo

Flea Market and Etsy Finds and Where They Are Now

2012-01-30T19:13:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! Hope you are all great!!

I was able to go to the Nashville Flea Market this weekend and despite the rain and not many vendors, I still was able to find a few new treasures.

Several of the things I found will go into my etsy shop, but of course, some will make there home here in my house.

I know I am going a little crazy with the number 9, but I just can’t help myself when I find one. I love the size of this one! For now, it is tucked nicely under my kitchen cabinet.

Be still my heart…I found this beautiful blue/green chest that is perfect to hold our school books in the dining room. All of our stuff just hides away in here so nicely.

This great wooden carrier was a last minute find. Love it holding my beautiful blue bottles. But, alas, it is headed for my Etsy Shop. I just really don’t need anymore totes.

Last, but not least, I bought my beautiful new European Grain Sack table runner from a gorgeous etsy shop, Jamie Kay.

I love this runner on my table and love the beautiful New Zealand shop I bought it from.

Speaking of shops…I am really trying to head in a new direction with my shop. I would love to be able to show you how you might could use some of the items that will be for sale. I know that presentation is huge and I want to present my items well. I want to give you good ideas that you could use in your home.

I have so much fun shopping with all of you in mind and setting things up that I think you might like. I hope you will enjoy some of the new things I am doing.

Ok, friends, I am off to see who wins America’s Next Great Baker. Can I just tell you how much I want one of those cakes? I am such a dessert freak.

Have a great rest of your night, friends.

Stacks of Books

2012-01-25T13:49:00.001-08:00

Hey friends…new and old.

When I look around at my house, I see lots of favorite things that I use to decorate with.

I love galvanized anything and have acquired several pieces in the last few years. I love old bottles, especially my favorite blue green color. I also love old books and have quite a few stacks of them lying around. I think books are great filler items which, in my opinion, means they fill a space nicely and add good texture.

Books and hand towels sit in this great old locker basket in our guest bathroom.

A stack of old books with great patina fills this little area in nicely on our bedroom dresser.

An empty space under a little chair is filled up with two very worn books. All of this sits atop an old white cabinet in our living room.

Books and vintage white pitchers go well together.

These cubbies have always been difficult for me to fill. Books seem to work nicely.

This stack of books give great height, color and texture on this white secretary.

And, the best Book of all…the Bible. This Bible has been passed down for generations from my dad’s side of the family. Such an honor to have it in my home.

Great thing about books is that you can generally find them very cheap. Most of mine have come from thrift shops, yardsales, and a few were passed down from my grandmother. Cool thing is that she would write her name in them and if she liked them or not. Love that...

Linking up over at the sweet Joy's at Savvy City Farmer

Coastal Charm

The Lighter Side of the Kitchen

2012-01-21T15:26:00.001-08:00

First of all, let me say THANK YOU!!!!!

You ladies are incredible and gave me some great advice about my kitchen cabinets. I will let you know what we decide.

I do have a lighter side to my kitchen that I want you to see.

If you spend much time with me, you will know that I have old windows all over my house. I love using them with the glass in them, with chicken wire, or with nothing but the great old panes.

I picked up this old men’s cologne bottle at the flea market recently. Isn’t it great!

Still using my Christmas greenery in my galvanized bucket because it still looks so good and fresh.

Still love my runner that I picked up at Pottery Barn over the summer and love the old wooden cutting boards against the nubby texture. Of course, the galvanized pitcher is icing on the cake for me.

I always had bare windows in my kitchen until recently. I have always enjoyed being able to see out into my backyard. Then one day I saw a beautiful window that Michelle from Emerald Cove had softened up with Wal-Mart window panels and I knew I had to try it.

These panels were cheap, beautiful and truly did soften my whole kitchen. I love them!

Now you have seen the other side…the lighter and softer side.

Thank you again, my friends, for all of your helpful advice. You ladies are one smart and talented bunch and I appreciate each one of you.

Linking up at LaurieAnna's

Funky Junk Interiors

The Vintage Farmhouse

Simply Klassic Home

A Stroll Thru Life's 100'th Tabletop

Faded Charm

A Question About Oak Cabinets…HELP, PLEASE

2012-01-18T09:16:00.001-08:00

Hey my friends!

I have a question and need some help.

A lot of you who have followed me for awhile know that my kitchen has the dated “orangey oak” cabinets. I would love for them not to be orange oak, but they are and that’s how they will stay because my husband has put his sweet foot down that they cannot be painted. (bless his heart, he has let me paint and change so much in our house, but this is just something he doesn’t want painted)

So that’s where the question lies…

I heard something about a wax or something that you could use on wood that could alter the color or maybe tone it down. I have little information on it, actually.

Do any of you have any knowledge about this "wax”?

What about something else that I might could use?

I would probably do the same thing on my same color oak fireplace.

Okay, are you up for giving me some friendly advice?

I really really really would love to hear what you have to say.

You know that feeling you get when you truly want to change something and have for quite awhile and just don’t know what to do and can’t do what you want? That’s where I am . Not desperate but eager.

Here are my cabinets…

I took the two glass cabinet doors off the middle section and painted foam board to put in the back. (suggestion from another sweet blogger)

I also just changed out my cabinet knobs from shiny brass to black. The hinges need to be changed, but that’s yet to come.

I am trying hard to lighten my kitchen in other ways, but these cabinets will forever be dark. But, do they have to be orange?

HELP…PLEASE OH PLEASE!!

I know you ladies have major talent and would love for you to pass some along to me.

Thank you in advance.

Cutting Boards, Iron Stone and Silver Cups

2012-01-17T14:04:00.001-08:00

I am always on the hunt for great vintage items to add to my shop.

This weekend, my son and I went hunting, digging, and exploring and brought home some awesome treasures.

Take a quick look in the SHOP when you have a chance and see what we found.

Go to Amys All Things Home Etsy Shop…

I will be adding more great stuff throughout the week so keep checking back.

Thanks, friends!

****Would love for you to LIKE me on facebook*** (more details to come)

Sweet White Flowers

2012-01-15T11:46:00.001-08:00

Hey sweet friends!

I have to show you the wonderful flowers that my sweet little girl made for me.

I am in love!

Aren’t they just beautiful?

What a sweet and perfect gift from my sweet girl to me.

Perfect way to use your white tissue paper.

Have a beautiful day!

Old Books and Burlap

2012-01-11T13:29:00.001-08:00

Hello to you all.

How are you? (I really do care…not just asking to fill space)

I know that we all love texture, right?

When making the three wreaths that I have made over the last months, I knew they would each one add the “just right” texture where I needed it.

See what I mean…

I love the soft textiles against this hard grainy wood. This wreath also happened to be the garland that graced our fireplace during Christmas. I made this out of lots of cut up pieces of burlap, an old lace tablecloth, an old white sheet and just whatever other scrap fabric I could find. (it took a lot)

This next wreath hangs in my guest bathroom in the center of a great old frame that I picked up this summer at the fleamarket.

Again, I love the softness against the hard wood frame.

Over my fireplace, hangs the first wreath that I ever made. This is my favorite because I absolutely love the fullness of the wreath and the different shades of the old book pages. I purposefully used different books to try to get a variation of color.

Hard mantel…soft wreath….good combo.

I so prefer using wreaths like this that I have made over something bought.

For someone who is really not very crafty at all, these were easy. You know me…I like easy.

Hope you are all having a great week. Blessings to each one of you and thanks for coming around and spending your valuable time with me.

Partying over at: Momma Hen's Coop

Pinecones and Hydrangeas

2012-01-09T11:54:00.001-08:00

Hey my friends!

I hope you are all wonderful! We are busy about homeschooling and getting ready for my son to start back his college classes. Time flies, doesn’t it?

I have my house back in order from Christmas and New Years and am enjoying getting back into a routine. I am a routine kind of girl.

As I have been getting things put back together and have been throwing away and boxing up, I have noticed that I am not always sure what to use this time of year to fill my enamel pitchers and galvanized buckets. Spring and summer are easy with all the beautiful fresh flowers. Christmas is easy with beautiful greenery. But what about the long winter months?

I have found that I tend to start pulling out my faithful and beautiful dried hydrangeas and mixing them with pinecones.

Do I have any idea if you should use hyrdrangea’s during winter? No, but I love them and they work just great for me. And, this girl uses what works.

When putting my dining room back together, I incorporated hydrangeas, pinecones, mercury glass, galvanized buckets, wire baskets…OH well, just a little bit of everything that I love.

I am so glad that you don’t have to follow any set design rules when decorating your home. Use what you love… where and how you love it! I guess that’s my design rule.

Have a great rest of your week and be blessed.

Linking up over at A Stroll Thru Life

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Knick of Time

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Galvanized Oil Can and the Number 9

2012-01-06T18:52:00.001-08:00

My sweet children know me oh so well.

All three of my kids ordered my Christmas gifts off of Etsy this year… without me knowing.

Cool, huh?

I will show you what my girls got me soon, but today I want to show you what my son chose for his mama.

This beautiful little oil can came from Urban Farmgirl's etsy shop. Isn’t it great?

He also found this wonderful number 9, which, of course, is my favorite number.

I wish I knew which shop this metal #9 came from so I could tell you. If/When I find out, I will let you know so you can visit her shop. (edited...found at Creative Artifacts)

See the little word “joy” in the background. Yes, that’s what all of my children bring me.

Didn’t my son do just great with my gift?

***Before I tell you the parties that I am linking up to tonight, I want to give a congratulations to someone.

CONGRATULATIONS to my “sister” Becky from the beautiful and inspirational blog, Buckets of Burlap. Her home was featured in not one, but two, beautiful magazines this week. This lady has an eye and a heart for beauty and her home is farmhouse fabulous, to say the least.

I am most positive that all of you already follow Becky, but if you don’t, you have to go to her blog and see what she has been up to in her dining area and what her plans are for January. I, for one, can’t wait to learn from her this month.

Not only will you love her style, you will fall in love with her and her family just like I have. Oh, and her husband, Mr. Buckets, is one outstanding carpenter.

Okay…now I am heading over to LaurieAnna's for her Farmhouse Friday party.

Also linking up over at Donna's at Funky Junk Interiors

The Table In the Corner

2012-01-03T18:25:00.001-08:00

Hey Ladies…

(and gentleman if any of you are reading this)

Everything Christmasy is put away until next year and my house seems cleaner and fresher. What a great feeling to have everything put away.

I am trying to keep a wintry feel in our house and am using pinecones, fluffy blankets, candles, and old lanterns in most of the rooms.

Today was a play day. Yes, I know that you know what I mean. I love playing around in my house and I know that you do too.

This little corner table in my dining room needed a little attention after losing its Christmas décor. I want an uncluttered, easy look.

Our dining room table is where we sit to do our school work and eat a lot of our family meals so I like things in this room to be easy on the eyes.

I think I have told you before that my dining room is my favorite room in my house. I just have a good feeling when I am in there.

Do you have a favorite room or a favorite spot in your house?

Linking up over at: Faded Charm, Savvy Southern Style, Brambleberry Cottage

Adding To My Shop…Take a Quick Look

2012-01-03T09:53:00.001-08:00

Good morning everyone!

I am gearing up for a great new year in all areas of my life and one of those areas is my little business.

I would love for you to take a look in my Amys All Things Home Etsy Shop and see what’s new.

I will also be so daring and bold to ask that if you ever want to share a link to my shop with any of your friends, that would be awesome.

These are just a few of the things that I have recently added…

That’s just a few of the latest additions.

Hope you will check out the shop when you have a few minutes.

Have a blessed day!

A Blessed Heart

2012-01-02T08:55:00.001-08:00

Hello, my friends.

Happy New Year!!

First, let me say thank you for sharing from your heart in response to my last post.

I want you to know that I prayed about that post as I wrote it and prayed that the Lord would lead anyone who read it to share according to His perfect will.

I was truly overwhelmed and blessed beyond measure at the praises that you all shared. You touched my heart in an incredible way.

I also want you to know that as I read each praise, I praised God with you. As I read each trial, my heart hurt with you.

We are in this together!

I thank you for sharing from your heart.

I thank you for being real.

I thank you for allowing us to get to know you better.

Blessings to you today, my friends.

**Will be back soon with some of the changes I have made since all my Christmas decorations have come down. I also want to show you a few new items that I have listed in my Etsy shop.

You Share Something With Me, Please…

2011-12-28T12:52:00.001-08:00

Will you do me a favor? I would love a response….

This has been an interesting (for lack of a better word) year. Our oldest child graduated from our homeschool high school and started college. My husband ruptured his achilles tendon and had to have surgery. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing chemo. We lost a very dear friend to cancer a couple of weeks ago and are praying for several other friends with cancer. Whew….It has been pretty tough at times.

I try to remember to praise Him through the storms and really try to remember the scripture that says ..”the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the Name of the Lord…and.. that He will not give us more than we can handle.

Having said all of that, this is where you come in. I want to share a few praises….things that I am thankful for this past year. Then, I would love for you to share as many praises that you want to share. It can be one or twenty one….whatever. Just please take a minute and share something, big or small.

Here goes…

I am thankful that even though breast cancer is a horrible disease and I hate that my mom has it, I have seen my mom grow in her relationship with Christ. I have seen her cling to Him and put all of her trust in Him. For that, I am thankful. I am thankful that she is my mom.

I am thankful for friends and family that pray. I am thankful for friends who know what you need even when you don’t know it yourself.

I am thankful for three healthy children that are all saved and a husband that loves the Lord and loves me despite all of my faults.

I am thankful that God brought a new family into our lives this year. This family has now become our family. Mr. and Mrs. Buckets of Burlap and their children are gifts from God.

I am thankful that the Lord kept His hand of protection over my family this year. I am thankful that His mercies are new every day and that He is full of love and grace.

Okay, will you please share something with us now? Please, will you give us a chance to praise God with you?

Thanks for sharing.

Christmas Eve Dinner Table

2011-12-27T08:15:00.001-08:00

How was your Christmas?

Ours was wonderful and busy.

I have to admit that I am tired, so today is going to be a day of resting and being lazy. All extended family are gone and it’s just me and mine. I’m thinking a movie day is in order.

I do want to share our farm table set up for our Christmas Eve dinner.

Our family dinner table was set up to focus on the greatest Gift ever given…Jesus Christ.

Can I just tell you that this old farm table is the most wonderful place to sit and talk? We have had the very best conversations here over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can only imagine the other families that have set around this same table over the past hundred years and the things they talked about.

Rest, my friends, and enjoy the rest of this beautiful season.

Linking up at Faded Charm

Just a Little More Christmas…

2011-12-22T09:24:00.001-08:00

Are you ready?

I am done with all of my big shopping and am trying to finish up those last minute little gifts. This is the fun crunch time for me.

I wanted to show you just a few more Christmas photos in my home and then I will be done.

I have so enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful homes this year. Thank you for opening up your homes and hearts and sharing what Christmas means to you.

Now, I am off to finish wrapping gifts and drink some cocoa and watch Christmas movies with my kiddos. Isn’t this time of year so much fun?

On our Christmas menu this year if you would like to join us…

My sweet friends, I pray blessings over each and everyone of you. May you fill the love of Christ from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

Please remember that God so loved the world (you) that He gave His one and only Son… that whoever (you) believes in Him shall have everlasting life. John 3:16

God bless you all. Merry Christmas!!

Partying at a favorite friend's..Common Ground

Christmas In the Foyer

2011-12-19T10:53:00.001-08:00

A warm welcome to you all!

As this beautiful Christmas week is upon us, I want to say thank you for coming into my life and spending time with me and my family.

I want to say Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and pray abundant blessings upon your lives.

I want to say thank you for who you are and let you know that you are loved by The Savior, The Creator, The King of Kings!

Linking up at Knick of Time Tuesday

Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Coastal Charm

Little Bit of Christmas In the Kitchen

2011-12-16T07:58:00.001-08:00

Good morning to you all!

I am headed to my mom’s today with the kiddos for lunch! HOORAY and Praise the Lord that she is feeling good during Christmas.

I have a few little touches of Christmas in the kitchen that I would love for you to see.

Remember….simplicity was the key for me this year.

My little one built this house for her mama to live in cause she knows how much I love sweets.

Heading out the door. Hope you all have a beautifully blessed day!

Linking up over at Common Ground

Christmas In the Dining Room

2011-12-14T11:17:00.001-08:00

Hi my friends!

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying every moment of this season.

Wanted to share a few touches of Christmas that I have added to our dining room.

Last night my old farm table was filled with food brought by very special friends of mine. I had my annual ornament swap that I have had for about twelve years now. So fun to be with sister’s in Christ… eating, exchanging gifts, and laughing.

It’s fun to laugh, isn’t it?

Merry, almost, Christmas!

Linking up at Faded Charm, Brambleberry Cottage

By the way, you should head over to a friend's place, A Prairie Girl Farm, for some awesome giveaways.

Christmas Around the House

2011-12-11T12:49:00.001-08:00

Hey sweet friends!

I wanted to show you a little more Christmas around our home.

I have done subtle vignettes here and there. I have done nothing in excess and am enjoying simplicity this year. Simple is good…

I want to show you my entryway and dining room soon. (yes, it’s simple too) Hope you will come back by.

I sure hope you are all doing wonderful. I hope you are enjoying every minute of this beautiful season .

God bless you all!

Linking up at French Country Cottage

Family Heritage Christmas Tree

2011-12-08T16:18:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

If you know me very well, then you know that I love to incorporate family and history into everything that I do.

This year’s family Christmas tree holds so many wonderful memories of family members past and present.

Our engagement photo 22 years ago.

Our three precious kiddos.

My mom and I when I was a little girl and my in-laws in the background

Sweet hubby and his twin brother.

My brother and I. (love my bubba)

My full tree..

I am going to use this basket and galvanized tub to put some of our presents in this year. The rest will just be piled on the floor like usual. My kids love the piles…

I found some beautiful vintage blue green ornaments this year as well as white and silver ones. I also used some blue that I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I love the pop of blue here and there throughout the tree.

I have to tell you that I am loving my tree this year. I have never really had a “grown up” tree before.

All of my trees over the last nineteen years have had gobs and gobs of “Hallmark” type ornaments, colored lights, and just been very busy.

I got permission from my family this year to do our tree a little bit different. They were a little reluctant at first, but can I just tell you that they LOVE it. They have told me many times how pretty they think it is and how happy they are that we did something different.

We are all happy.

Now I just need to wrap some gifts and get them underneath and they will really be happy.

Heading to some parties tonight…

2805

Common Ground

LaurieAnna's

Little Bit of Christmas In the Bedroom

2011-12-07T07:21:00.001-08:00

Hey sweet friends!

“Christmas Time’s a Comin”….How is that for southern Tennessee talk from a good old Christmas song? Someone told me recently how much they enjoyed listening to me and my daughter talk because we had such a southern accent. It used to embarrass me when I was younger for someone to say that. Now, I wear that accent proudly, y’all.

I LOVE Christmas! I LOVE celebrating the birth of our precious Savior! I love spending time with my family and friends. I love picking out just the right gifts for people I love. I love looking at my twinkling Christmas tree lights. I love boiled custard. I love nuts and bolts cooked just like my nanny used to fix them.

Boy, could I go on and on. I won’t though.

I usually don’t put any Christmas décor in my bedroom but decided this year that I had the perfect place for a little tree.

See what I did …

This beautiful little star was handmade by a special friend named Becky from Junk to Joy. She is one talented and sweet lady.

Isn’t it great how something so simple can bring big pleasure?

I do hope each and everyone of you are feeling the joy, peace, and love that God so freely gives.

Have a blessed day, friends.

Linking up over at the beautiful LaurieAnna's

A Christmas Fireplace

2011-12-05T12:29:00.001-08:00

Hello my friends!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday.

What a weekend. Our family went to Atlanta to meet up with our Buckets of Burlap friends for a couple of fun days and then to the funeral of a forty four year old friend.

Have you ever been to a funeral that caused you to look inwardly and do a heart and life check? This sweet friend’s funeral felt like a call to action. It felt like a time where we were being called to make sure to keep the things of God as our priority. We are to be about Kingdom business!! This lady was 100% about serving others and telling anyone she could about Jesus Christ.

On a much less important but still a fun note…I saw that there are some Christmas parties going on around here and wanted to join in.

I know a lot of us keep talking about keeping things simple, but I have to tell you that I truly have kept things simple in my home this year compared to years past.

I am always trying to soften and lighten my oak fireplace and thought the fabric garland might help.

I cut and strung scraps of burlap, white and lace and ended up with something that I really like.

Disclaimer…yes, I know the pillows are a fire hazard as is the wooden bench. It will all be moved before we start a fire.

I am really enjoying my much less busy Christmas décor this year. It is so much easier to look at and will be so much easier to put away when Christmas is over.

I also love, like I told you the other day, that a lot of my Christmas decorations will actually carry me into the winter months.

I am headed to some parties and cannot wait to see what all you guys are doing around your beautiful homes.

Partying at:

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Faded Charm

New Farm Table Decorated For Christmas

2011-11-30T21:48:00.001-08:00

Hey friends!

I think I have gotten most of my Christmas decorating done now. Just finished the final touches on my tree this morning.

I have definitely changed things up this year going with much more natural elements. You will see that I have used lots of my favorite blue green color, white, and silver. I have used mercury glass, burlap, greenery, and old black and white family photos. Can’t wait to show you all I have done. It’s certainly nothing fancy, but my family and I are loving it and we are sure getting in the Christmas spirit around here.

The first thing I decorated was my beautiful new farm table that my friend Mr. Buckets of Burlap built me.

This is my husband’s childhood sled so it makes it a very special part of my Christmas décor.

The great thing about my Christmas décor this year is that I really didn’t change much out. I traded hydrangeas for greenery and added just little wintery touches here and there. A lot of what I am using can actually be taken on into the winter months and not just used for Christmas. I really like that part.

I will be sharing more Christmas touches soon and cannot wait to show you my tree. This is the first year my children have “let me” have clear lights and that I have used ornaments other than our traditional Hallmark type ornaments. Loving the new look!!

Happy middle of the week to you, my friends. God bless you all!

Linking up over at: Faded Charm, LaurieAnna's Vintage Home, Common Ground, French Country Cottage, Savvy City Farmer

A Friend Called It Hollywood Glamour..Before and After

2011-11-28T20:58:00.001-08:00

My oldest daughter decided she wanted to redo her bedroom and make it a little more “girly”. (my word, not hers) She really is not a girly girl, but very much of a sporty girl. She has never done ruffles or pink or…you get the picture.

Her room went from everything this…

to what a friend called Hollywood glamour…

Isn’t it beautiful?

Even with all of these beautiful feminine touches, she still has that sporty, tom-boy side.

She has a little hallway in her bedroom that holds these prize possessions…

She did a great job, didn’t she? Mom was not allowed to help. This was all her and what she wanted. And now, she has it all fixed up for Christmas and it is even more sparkly and beautiful.

***

I have been decorating my house for Christmas for the last two days and still lack my tree. It’s funny, because really my decorations are more simple than ever and I am using lots of natural elements in my house, but it seems like it’s taking me a long time to get done.

I am loving the way it is all coming together. Can’t wait to show you.

Pretty Green Barrel

2011-11-25T19:00:00.001-08:00

Hey friends!

Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving?

Did you eat way too much like I did and am still doing?

Did you go black Friday shopping? I did, along with my family and brother in law and his family. We left at 9pm and got home after 4am. Went back shopping later in the day. Fun, fun, fun!

My sweet girls and I are going to start decorating for Christmas on Sunday so I will be showing you some of that later on next week.

Today, I wanted to show you a super great find from a local antique shop. I fell in love as soon as I saw it.

Can you see why this was love at first sight?

Headed to bed to catch up on some much needed rest.

Good night all!

Fireplace Mantel Makeover

2011-11-22T20:46:00.001-08:00

Two posts in one day certainly isn’t something I normally do, but today I am.

My mantel recently got a pre-Christmas makeover and I wanted you to see it before I do my Christmas mantel in just a few days.

My friends, when you have a dated orange oak fireplace that you cannot paint, you try to do what you can to lighten her up. And then you be content because you are happy to have a fireplace.

I probably won’t be posting for a few days, but please know that I am thankful for each and everyone of you that the Lord has brought into my life. I am thankful for opportunities to make new friends.

I wish each of you a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving.

Have fun spending time with friends and family, eating turkey and shopping black Friday sales! Chat soon…

Linking up with:

Faded Charm

Primp

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Dessert From a Box

2011-11-22T08:31:00.001-08:00

Hey sweet friends!

I wanted to share a very quick and easy dessert that we found.

This box contains great yumminess and wonderful ease.

Krusteaz has some great mixes, and this one is definitely a winner. Add some farm fresh eggs and real butter, and you have some tasty eating going on.

Add a little cream cheese frosting to the top and you are all set.

My sweet nine year old daughter fixed these all by herself and was tickled that she got to play a part in our early Thanksgiving meal.

She cooked them, iced them ever so lightly, and displayed them beautifully.

I love having so much help in the kitchen. From my oldest daughter’s stromboli that I posted about last, to my youngest daughter’s desserts, life is easy at meal time.

Thanks for stopping by today and spending a little time with me.

I pray that your Thanksgiving week is truly blessed.

Non-Traditional and Simple

2011-11-20T14:06:00.001-08:00

Hello my sweet friends.

What a wonderful night last night was!!

We celebrated an early Thanksgiving last night with my immediate family. That included my wonderful brother and his family and my precious mom and her sweet husband. (lots of adjectives there, I know, but I want to make sure you know how special my family is to me)

Because of mom’s treatments, her appetite has been a little off so I wanted Thanksgiving dinner to taste good to her most of all.

We decided on a very non-traditional meal with the main dish being a fabulous recipe that my oldest daughter makes. Stromboli and taco soup were the highlights of the menu with lots of tasty sides.

Let me show you just a few before pictures of this deliciousness…

Hope you can read this recipe.. Let me know if you can’t.

To go along with our delicious but simple menu, I decided to do a pretty simple table setting on both the dining room table and kitchen table.

Kitchen table…

Dining Room…

Isn’t that just a beautiful color pumpkin? I kind of wish it would last forever.

Along with the great main foods, there are, of course, the sweets. I will have to share with you a very easy pumpkin bar dessert recipe that my youngest daughter fixed. Will show you that later.

Yes, the food was incredible last night. But, the most incredible part of the evening was time spent with my family. I am truly a blessed lady and am so thankful for the family God has given to me.

Master Bedroom Update

2011-11-17T21:09:00.001-08:00

Hey all.

I am still playing around in my house and trying to bring about that farmhouse look that I so love. The last few days, I have been working in my bedroom.

Because my bedroom is painted a dark shade of green, (that I do still love) I am trying to bring in a lot more white (which I also love).

Let me show you what I have been working on.

I love the white linens with the dark walls and dark furniture. Amazing how accenting with light accessories makes such a difference in how a dark room looks.

Can I just tell you how much I would love to live in an old white farmhouse with lots of land, a beautiful old barn and maybe a cow or two?

Since the old farmhouse is probably never going to happen, I will be very satisfied with trying to bring that farmhouse feel to our home. I will also be satisfied with five acres, two cats and a chicken coop.

***Just thought I would tell you that I am thankful today for each one of you who choose to spend a little bit of your precious time with me.

Headed to one of my favorite parties over at LaurieAnna's and the beautiful Debra at Common Ground

White and Chippy Shelves

2011-11-15T17:13:00.001-08:00

Hey guys!! Hope you are all doing wonderful today.

When Becky was visiting from Louisiana, we moved lots of furniture from here to there. One of the pieces that we moved was one of my favorite chippy white pieces. We got it out of a hallway and into a more prominent place where it can be seen so much better.

I always love hanging out at Faded Charm on Wednesday so that’s where I am headed.

Also linking up at the beautiful Savvy Southern Style and Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, and Momma Hens Coop

Basket Full of Lavender

2011-11-14T16:45:00.001-08:00

Hey my friends!

Beautiful 78 degree weather here in middle Tennessee today and a great day to harvest some beautiful lavender that I grew over the summer.

We have had a few nights where temps got down to freezing and I had to cover the lavender up. I really didn’t want to take any chances of losing it before I got it harvested, so I decided today was a good day to bring it in.

The smell is fabulous and it looks gorgeous in this beautiful white basket.

Speaking of basket…I had a precious friend bring me a basket full of goodies Sunday afternoon. Just because.

Such a sweet gift from a sweet lady.

Aren’t surprise gifts fun? Aren’t old friends a blessing?

Hope you have had a wonderful Monday and that the rest of your week is truly blessed.

The Ever Changing Secretary

2011-11-10T17:45:00.001-08:00

Hello All!!

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Question…do you have a piece of furniture or area in your home that gets changed up more often than another?

I have several of those places but especially my secretary.

If you saw my last blog post on my new chippy green ladder, then you probably saw my secretary peaking around from behind.

This is what she looks like now with her new set of flea market scales, Goodwill bottles, yardsale botanical prints, etsy tool caddy…you get the picture….right?

Isn’t it fun when one area gets a makeover, then other places also need makeovers and then you get to have fun all over the house moving stuff here and there. You all know what I mean…I know you do.

***update on my mom***

Today is a great day!! Mom was having treatment number two of her second batch of treatments today and called me to tell me that her doctor said she is doing great. Her numbers are good, she had gained some of the weight back that she had lost from not eating and she is just overall doing great. Praise the Lord!

I have to share something funny she told me so that you can see what her attitude is through most of this. We were talking about her hair being gone as well as her eyebrows. I asked her if she was going to pencil some eyebrows in. She told me that instead of the eyebrows, she was going to wear BRIGHT red lipstick and then everybody would be staring at her lips instead of her lack of eyebrows. Okay, that was too funny to me! Love her mindset.

Thanks for letting me share and for caring.

Love to you all!

Linking up over at the lovely LaurieAnna's, 2805, Funky Junk Interiors

Chippy Green Ladder

2011-11-08T14:48:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone!

I hope all is wonderful in your life!

I found a beautiful chippy green ladder on my last visit to the flea market and couldn’t wait to show you. It’s quite perfect!

There she is! Isn’t she just great?

Of course, I can’t go without mentioning that galvanized tub sitting underneath. I found that at the flea market on the same day. Great shopping day that was!

That pretty tub, with her gorgeous handles, will hold my Christmas tree this year.

I am busy this week getting ready for a BIG yardsale this weekend. I am cleansing my home which also cleanses my life. That’s always a good thing.

If you are in the area, stop by and see me. We really aren’t that far away from each other, you know.

Blessings to you all!

Linking up at Momma Hen's Coop, PRIMP, Savvy Southern Style

A Little Christmas Cheer Added To My Shop

2011-11-07T07:29:00.001-08:00

Good morning everyone!

I have been a busy little elf the last couple of days trying to add some Christmas goodies to my Amys All Things Home Etsy Shop.

Now, I have to tell you that I am one of those people that gets a little frustrated with the stores selling Christmas merchandise before Halloween is even over. However, since shopping online is a little different, and there is shipping involved, I figured I better get busy.

Take a look at a few things that I have put in my shop that could add to the beauty of your vintage Christmas.

These are just a few of the glass ornaments that I have listed.

I also have some great old handmade ornaments.

I hope you will take a few minutes and look around my SHOP. There is lots and lots to see.

Remember that I am always happy to combine shipping charges if you buy multiple items.

Thanks, friends. Have a blessed day!

La Mesa-A Gift From a Friend

2011-11-03T18:15:00.001-07:00

Hey my friends!!!

I hope you will indulge me as I show you quite a few photos today of a beautiful gift I received from our friends from Louisiana.

Becky’s husband, Mr. Buckets as we lovingly refer to him, is a fabulously talented carpenter and craftsman. This man can build anything and everything that he sets his mind to. I was fortunate enough for him to set his mind on building something for me. I mean like really really fortunate because what he built me is incredible.

Hang with me for a few minutes and see what I am talking about.

Can you tell what my gift was?

Take a bigger look at La Mesa…(The Table)

Yes, this beautiful piece of furniture is in my living room and, quite frankly, I am in love.

What did I tell you?? Beautiful, isn’t it?

Mr. Buckets did a fabulous job! Actually, I think Mr. Buckets rocks! He doesn’t know it, but I’m kind of claiming him as a brother now. (not just because he built me a table but because he’s a super guy)

Thanks for sticking around a few extra minutes.

Blessings, friends.

Linking up over at Show and Tell Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Common Ground, Funky Junk Interiors

Another Little Corner in the Dining Room

2011-11-01T11:05:00.001-07:00

Happy November 1st to all of you, my friends. Hard to believe that November is actually here. Time flies, doesn’t it?

In my last post, I told you that while my friend Becky was here, we played a lot around my house. We did some major change ups with furniture and such.

I showed you the corner in my dining room with the salvaged screen door and ladder. Now I want to show you another little corner of the room where one of my favorite tables now lives.

This chippy green table was a favorite flea market find.

Notice the beautiful new curtains. They are actually gorgeous throws from IKEA that we used as curtains. I also have one that I use on an upholstered red chair that I am trying to hide. These are so versatile and lovely.

You will find stacks of old books all over our home.

I have got so much more to show you all so come back again soon and see what else we played around with.

Take care and God bless.

We Played House

2011-10-30T16:58:00.001-07:00

You know that my sweet friend Becky and her precious family came and stayed with us last week. Now that they are gone and things have slowed down a little here in Tennessee, I want to share with you all some of the fun things that we did.

We ate. We hiked. We had a bon-fire and movie night. We ate more. We drove around looking at the gorgeous leaves. We went to the Nashville Flea Market. We played house.

You might be wondering what I mean by “played house”.

Well, let me just tell you.

I really don’t want to embarrass Becky, but can I just tell you that this beautiful lady oozes with talent. She cooks, she paints, she designs, she decorates! Oh yeah, and her husband builds. What a carpenter he is. (more on his carpentry skills later)

Now you know that I had to ask her to help me change up some things in my house. And change up, we did!!! We worked in pretty much every part of the downstairs in my house.

You do know how much fun I had, right?

I am going to show you little bits at a time because we really did so much. I also can’t wait to show you the gift that Becky and her hubby brought me. Oh My Goodness!!!

Here’s a little of what we did in the dining room…

I found this great old screen door on a sidewalk where someone was throwing it out. It looks great here in this corner with my beautiful old ladder that I also found on the side of the road. So thankful for other people’s trash…

Really loving the little banner I made using my nanny’s old handwritten recipes. I think it looks great in here.

Isn’t that door just fabulous? Okay, I know that not everyone wants a chippy old screen door in their dining room, but it just speaks volumes to me.

One of the big things that we did when changing things up was to get things off of the floor. Yeah, bad habit of mine…

These great old crates were on the floor holding extra glasses and extra white dishes. Now they are on my buffet making a big bold statement.

I can’t wait to show you more, but I figure this is a good place to stop. I hope you’ll come back and take a look at the rest of the fluffing that we did.

Let me tell you that I took all kinds of mental notes while we worked. I’ll pass some of Becky’s tidbits of knowledge along as I go. I may even have a little bit of my own knowledge that I could muster up and share.

Hope you are all having a great weekend. Blessings to you all!

By the way, if you haven’t visited Becky before, make sure to check out her beautiful home at Buckets of Burlap.

Linking up over at: Funky Junk Interiors

Fowl Play On a Pumpkin

2011-10-27T19:20:00.001-07:00

Hey all my friends!

It’s been a few days, hasn’t it?

Our friends from Louisiana have come and gone. What a glorious week we had!

I have to show you what we discovered while they were here.

Isn’t this a great little face carved into this pumpkin?

See that little heart shaped mouth and those two eyes…

Guess who carved it?

Was it one of these two beauties?

It could have been any of these…

It could have been any out of the twenty one chickens that we have, but it was definitely one of them that did this very artistic carving.

Isn’t this so cool?

We think we have some pretty talented chickens!!

Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed weekend.

Linking up over at Farmhouse Friday

Pumpkin Anything

2011-10-18T06:48:00.001-07:00

I admit that I absolutely love pumpkin anything.

This beautiful blue green pumpkin, I love to look at.

And, then there is all of the other pumpkin stuff that I love…

I usually make my own whole wheat pancakes, but when I found this at Trader Joe’s, I had to try it out.

Oh my goodness, these were delish.

I love muffins! These pumpkin muffins are made with freshly ground whole wheat. They are a little heavy, but oh so tasty.

Of course, you can’t have the muffins without a good hot cup of coffee. Right??

Green Mountain Coffee is one of my all time favorites. Their pumpkin spice is seasonal, so I stock up when they have it available.

Pumpkin Spice coffee, homemade pumpkin muffins, and homemade apple butter. OH MY!

One more look at this beautiful pumpkin and my gorgeous hydrangeas.

Add a pumpkin candle, and I am one happy lady.

See what I mean. Pumpkin anything….

Blessings everyone.

Linking up at Momma Hens Coop and Primp

Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe

2011-10-15T18:54:00.001-07:00

Several of you asked for my apple butter recipe that I make in the crock pot. It is simple and it is delicious.

Approximately 3 lbs apples

3 cups sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cloves

Dash of salt

3/4 cup water

Fill crock pot 3/4 full of peeled, cored, sliced apples. Add remaining ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. Cover and cook on low overnight. If butter has too much liquid, remove lid and cook on high until desired consistency.

If you make your own, I would love to know what you think about it.

Update on my mama…Honestly, this is not a great time. She is feeling really bad. She has very little strength, can’t eat, and just feels lousy. Boy, this is a tough one, my friends. It’s tough to see your mom, who has always been so strong, now feeling so sick. I ask you to please continue to pray. Thank you.

Also…I am busily preparing for our guests who are coming in from Louisiana this week. Mr. and Mrs. Buckets of Burlap and their beautiful family will be here soon. We cannot wait for their arrival. Boy, do we have some fun things planned. I will be taking them to the Nashville Flea Market while they are in town, so if you are going to be there, let me know and maybe we can have a blogger hook up sometime that day. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Hope you are all doing great and pray that you all have blessed Sunday.

Linking up at Fresh From the Farm

What’s a Jelly Cabinet For Anyway

2011-10-11T21:24:00.001-07:00

Hey friends!

I finally decided to use my jelly cabinet for its intended purpose.

I figured if I have a beautiful old jelly cabinet, why not happily display my freshly canned apple butter in it.

Do you remember me telling you that my girls and I picked about 95 lbs. of apples at a nearby apple orchard?

Why do I do things in such extremes?

I do have a wonderful Pampered Chef apple pealer corer slicer, but let me just tell you that this was a lot of work.

We peeled, cored, cut, weighed, and cooked for several days and made the most delicious crockpot apple butter.

I figured after this much work, the fruits of our labor should be displayed.

I also stacked up a small collection of vintage aprons that I have. If I am correct, several of these are beautiful hostess aprons.

There are also a few jars of fig preserves that my sweet mama made for me from her own fig tree.

My family loves homemade preserves and jellies. And, when fall comes around and it’s apple picking time, we are so eager to get our apple butter cooking. It doesn’t get much better than apple butter on whole wheat toast with real butter and a hot cup of Pumpkin Spice Coffee.

If you are interested in the crockpot apple butter recipe that I have, please let me know and I will post it on here for you. It is easy and it is scrumptious!

Blessings to you all!

Linking up at Faded Charm for White Wednesday, LaurieAnna's

Vintage Travels

2011-10-06T19:17:00.001-07:00

Wouldn’t you love to pack up this pretty little suitcase and take it on a trip somewhere?

Can I just tell you how much I love timeless treasures? Even if they have no part in the history of my family, they still speak volumes to my heart.

Oh, how I am loving the rich browns, purples and greens this fall.

Sometime soon, I want to share with you what I consider my “style” to be and why I love what I love.

Take a look at this beautiful plaid blanket. This beauty is heavy and warm. Another yardsale find…

One of my favorite things to decorate with are bundles of books…especially books that are uncovered. Wrap them with a little bit of twine and there you have it.

Isn’t this is a great basket to put all of your eggs in? Or maybe all your books…

I am really looking forward to the weekend. There will be lots of work going on but also some relaxing time with all my family at home. Hubby has been gone all week on a business trip so we are ready for him to get back home.

My sweet friends, I pray blessings for each and everyone of you.

I am partying over at :

LaurieAnna's Farmhouse Friday

Common Ground

Botanicals and Terracotta

2011-10-05T11:09:00.001-07:00

Hey my friends!

Have I told you that we are getting ready for guests to come for a visit?

You remember my visit to Louisiana this summer, right? Well, guess what? Louisiana is coming to Tennessee in about two weeks!!!

Becky, from Buckets of Burlap, and her precious family are coming for a visit and this girl cannot wait.

Of course what that means is that we are in full gear getting ready for them. Why do we wait for guests to come to get major stuff done? It’s like that with you too, right?

Besides some of the big stuff we are working on, I am also just trying to make things a little prettier and a little more fallish.

I wanted to show you some beautiful botanical prints that I picked up at a yardsale the other day that I thought would be great for the season.

I also brought some of my smaller herb plants into the kitchen. I love the look of these pots. I laid an old bankers bag between the two pots just to add a little texture.

I just have to tell you that I love the browns and naturals that are going on here.

I still have a few more fall things to show you, but will do that later. Right now, I am headed upstairs to my daughter’s bathroom where my oldest daughter has just wired a new light that we bought. She is thrilled that she can add electrical work to her list of accomplishments.

Talk soon…okay!

Adding a Little Brown For Fall

2011-10-02T20:10:00.001-07:00

Hey my friends!

To stay with simplicity and budget for my fall decor, I am pulling a few browns out of the attic, adding some dried hydrangeas that were graciously given to me, and moving stuff from here to there.

I love that by using a neutral color palette, I can throw in a few browns, purples, greens, etc., and make a big statement.

I found this great galvanized bucket at my last yardsale of the season. Not old, but I sure love it.

I pulled this gorgeous old green chair out of my grandfather’s barn loft. I absolutely love the patina on this little baby.

Add a fun tag here and there to add a little more interest.

A little grapevine pumpkin added to a candlestick adds a little more fall prettiness to my dining room buffet. So simple…

Later this week, I am going to show you a great old brown suitcase that I picked up at a yardsale recently.

Fall décor on the cheap…just the way I like it!

Still keeping it simple on the home front.

**update on my mom…she had her last double drug treatment this last Thursday. Doctor said everything looked good and her numbers were all good. He also told her that this next group of treatments should not be as bad. Praise God for that! We are so thankful that she is finished with this first phase. I will tell you that the last couple of days and the next few days will be rough on her. I would so appreciate you helping pray her through it. We are still leaning on Him and fully trust in His perfect plan. Thank you, a thousand times over, for caring and for praying.

Linking up over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Modern Country Style

Welcome Fall, Family, and Friends

2011-09-29T09:15:00.001-07:00

I think fall will forever be my favorite season of all.

I love cool mornings, falling leaves, lightweight jackets, pumpkin spice coffee, and family bonfires.

I welcome this season with open arms and I would love to welcome you with open arms onto our front porch and into our home.

Last year, I took a bright gold K and covered it in Spanish moss. My kids say it looks hairy…I say it looks mossy.

I found this great old feed bag over the summer while vacationing in the Great Smokey Mountains.

Welcome family and friends…

Come on over and come inside…

Stay for a little while…

See you soon..

Visiting over at:

Southern Hospitality for her Fall Door Party

2805

French Country Cottage

Common Ground

Rustic Fall Décor In the Shop

2011-09-28T09:32:00.001-07:00

I don’t usually do a lot of advertising on my blog about my own etsy shop, but decided that today might be a good day to do just that.

I guess it’s kind of like not voting for yourself in an election…you should though, shouldn’t you? You have to show that you have confidence in who you are or what you have to offer.

I want to you show a few items in my Amy's All Things Home Etsy Shop that I think would be wonderful added to your home this fall.

I love this old rope handled carpenter’s tote.

These rusty crusty bread pans were salvaged from an old farmhouse in Tennessee where they were literally stuck in the mud. These were a fun find.

Beautiful enamelware bowl.

Just found this great orange McCoy flower pot on a scavenger hunt this last weekend.

I picked up these old glasses at the flea market a few weeks back. Love them and the stories they could tell of things seen.

Great old shabby white egg basket. Oh the possibilities…

So, these are just a few of the items in my shop right now. I have LOTS more.

If you have a few extra minutes today and want to do a little browsing, I would be honored if you would take a look in my SHOP.

Enough of all that.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week full of blessings galore.

Thanks, friends.

Pretty Pretty Pumpkin

2011-09-26T08:10:00.001-07:00

Good morning sweet friends.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was great…just very busy.

This summer I introduced you to my new friend Becky from Junk To Joy. (not to be confused with my other friend Becky from Buckets of Burlap) Wow…just sitting here thinking that the Becky’s I know sure are gifted women.

Anyway…

Over the summer, I ordered a beautiful little peat pot filled with lavender from Junk to Joy Etsy Shop. When fall arrived, I couldn’t wait to see what her shop would be filled with. Oh, was I so excited to see that she was creating gorgeous pumpkins of all styles.

Yep, I had to have one.

I contacted Becky and told her that I wanted to buy a pumpkin from her and guess what she did? She told me that she would love to create one especially for me. She asked me some of my favorite things and then told me she would create me a OOAK. (confession…I had no idea what that meant and had to really think on it)

I was thrilled when my one of a kind beautiful, feminine, soft, luscious white pumpkin arrived through the mail.

For those of you have followed me for awhile, you know my favorite number is 9. Guess what? Becky didn’t know that, but look what ended up on my OOAK pumpkin. The number 9!!! Love that…

This lovely white pumpkin is soft enough to lay your head on. Truly, like really really plush.

Didn’t she do a marvelous job?

Now, I am just waiting to see what you she creates for Christmas time.

I can only imagine…

Take a minute and go check out Becky’s Junk to Joy Etsy Shop and see what she has been doing. Tell her that Amy sent you over.

**For those of you praying for my mom, thank you again. Please know how grateful she and I both are. She will have treatment number four this Thursday, which is the last of the first group of drugs. Drs. say it will be a really tough one. So thankful that God is her Peace, her Healer, her Strength.

Showing my white pumpkin off over at Faded Charm

My Fall Mantel

2011-09-22T14:46:00.001-07:00

Hey friends!

Wanted to show you my mantel that I have fluffed for fall.

Because I love my big green bottles so much, I decided to let them stay from my summer mantel. They made the cut…

I also kept the old shutter over the mantel because I love the vintage pages hanging up there.

I got the peat pots at Lowes on sale at the end of summer and love the texture and fall color they provide.

I picked up the chalkboard slate while in Texas from the beautiful Laurieanna’s.

Can you see the little lock there in the Spanish moss? That belonged to my grandfather who used it on his cattle. It would lock together a chain that would go around the horns. The YF is for Yearwood Farms. Is that not so cool?

Can you tell how much I love family heirlooms?

Now you may not think my mantel is in keeping with the simplicity that I keep talking about. Keep in mind, though, that there is only one little lone white pumpkin up there and it doesn’t scream fall.

I do love the combination of the greens, browns, and neutrals.

Do you have your mantels fixed up yet?

Can’t wait to see what you have been up to in your home.

Linking up today over at:

Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

2805.Potpourri Friday

LaurieAnna's Vintage Home

The Lettered Cottage for the Fall Y'all Party

No Minimalist Here

Funky Junk Interiors

A Little Purple For Fall

2011-09-20T15:53:00.001-07:00

Hey my friends!

I told you that I was going simple this year for fall, and I am sticking to it.

I have added a few white pumpkins but pretty much everything else I am using is just bits of fall color here and there.

Can I just tell you that I am loving the simplicity? Simple décor now means simple clean up when it’s time to change up again.

It is so easy to add great pops of color when most of your background is neutral.

For my sofa table, I made two changes for fall.

I added these beautiful vintage purple satin scrolls that were awarded to my grandfather when he showed Jersey Cattle. This one on top was actually from 1949 and was from a cattle show at a fair in Memphis. The award was for best Get of Sire. Raise your hand if you have ever heard of that. I just learned because I figure if it’s in my home and my papa won it, I need to know what it is.

I also traded out a summery white flower for the beautiful lavender I grew this year. I truly didn’t have much that actually flowered, but what I did have, I am proudly displaying.

I think the green, purple and natural wood are just gorgeous together and have just the right amount of fall flare that I was going for.

I have my mantel all fixed up and a few other spots in the house that I want to show you soon. I do hope you will come back for another visit.

Thank you to all who come and spend time with me in our home.

I don’t take it lightly when you leave a sweet word about something I have done and especially when you ask about my mom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Just another quick note…

Let me tell you what I have been doing this week. The girls and I picked over ninety pounds, yes I said ninety, of apples last week. We LOVE apple anything, especially apple butter. We are making apple butter, apple sauce, apple chips, apple bread, apple fruit roll-ups, apple cake, apple muffins, baked apples…anything apple you can think of.

I tend to do things sometimes in extremes, but I really didn’t want the apple season to end and me not have enough apples to be able to put up what we wanted to last us for quite awhile.

So, that’s what I have been up to. What about you? Would love to hear what’s going on in your life if you want to take a minute and share.

Blessings to you, my friends.

Partying over at: Savvy Southern Style, Primp Your Stuff Wednesday, Momma Hens Coop

Updated Fall Entryway

2011-09-15T17:01:00.001-07:00

In preparing for Fall, I decided to redo my entryway a little bit. It used to have a beautiful old chest of drawers there that I would use for storage of table cloths, candles and such. It really never looked right, but I felt like it worked okay.

What I really wanted to put there was some sort of bench, but it’s not a very big area.

I decided to try out my old theater seats in that spot and even though they don’t quite fit, they work, and I like them there.

Y’all know how much I love words, right. I found these vintage flashcards at Goodwill the other day and knew I would have a blast with them.

Aren’t they great on my old window that I put chicken wire on?

Very often we will sit on the steps in the entryway and talk on the phone. Now we can sit on this bench. Guests can also sit here to take their shoes off on a rainy muddy day. And, the blanket on the back is ready for someone to grab as they head out to sit on the front porch rocker. Neat huh?

I have to say that I am doing minimal fall decorating this year. I am making subtle changes that don’t just slap us all in the face. White pumpkins…twine… peat pots… a little purple (not much)… spanish moss…branches…extra blankets…and a few other cool things. Simple, yet nicely done…I hope.

Will show you some of those fall changes pretty soon.

Blessings to you all, my sweet friends.

Linking up at:

Laurieanna's for her Farmhouse Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

At the Picket Fence

The Inspired Home and her Fall Nesting Party

My Enormous Entertainment Center

2011-09-13T17:21:00.001-07:00

Hey my sweet friends!

I know I have shown y’all my entertainment center a million times, but here goes a million and one.

I have never quite known what to do with this enormous piece of furniture and its eleven little cubbies. Yes, I am sure the cubbies are actually for movies, but I absolutely was not going to put movies in them.

This is what I have been playing around with lately.

I added the burlap to try to help with the dark wood overload. The jars were a suggestion from a friend and I think they work very well.

There you have it…for now.

***

For those of you who are praying for my mama…thank you, thank you, thank you. She is doing well. She is strong. She is beautiful. She is holding onto Him. We all are!!

***

Headed over to Faded Charm for her White Wednesday party and to Primp for her Wednesday party.

A Little Extra Seating

2011-09-06T18:39:00.001-07:00

This time of year seems to be when more people begin gathering at our home. To keep people from having to sit on the floor, I have started bringing in a little extra seating.

Would love for you to be one of the people who comes for a visit.

For now, I am heading over to Faded Charm for a beautiful White Wednesday party.

Partying also at The Brambleberry Cottage with the wonderful Liz.

Headed over to LaurieAnna's for Farmhouse Friday.

Pumpkin Spice Coffee and Fall Decorating

2011-09-05T21:45:00.001-07:00

I just got in my order of Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice coffee and all is right with the world.

September calls for pumpkin anything…in my book.

September also calls for fall decorating.

Are you ready to fluff your house for fall?

I’m ready, but I’m just not sure where I want to start.

I am waiting for all of you to start so I can start. (is that called being a copy cat or what)

Inspiration is the word I was really looking for. I need your inspiration.

Okay…get started…I am waiting…

Blessings to you all, my friends.

White Metal Cabinets

2011-09-02T10:30:00.001-07:00

Hey friends!

I told you a couple of days ago that I bought a couple of old lockers at the flea market recently, but they are not actually lockers. (I don’t think) They are two individual metal cabinets with shelves and they are great to organize my utility room.

I like to stockpile food when I find it on sale so I always have extra stuff to store. I use to put it on a wire shelving unit in my utility room, but then it was just out there for all to see when they walked through that room. When I found these cabinets, I knew they would be a perfect solution.

I use the old dresser to hold tablecloths, cloth napkins, extra silverware and such, in. Very nice to have even though it takes up a lot of room.

I also keep two of my old locker baskets on top. One basket holds my homemade laundry detergent and homemade fabric softener. The other basket holds car keys, sunscreen, and chalk for my chalkboard.

Great flea market find to make my laundry room ( life) a little less cluttered and a little more organized.

Added later: I have had several people request the recipe that I use for my fabric softener so I want to go ahead and put it here. (thinking that I will do an additional post sometime on all of my homemade cleaners that I use)

Simple Fabric Softener Recipe
1 cup vinegar
2 cups hair conditioner (use a scent you like, use organic, whatever)
6 cups of water
(I also add a few drops of my favorite essential oils-usually lavender)

Mis all this together and use it like any other fabric softener.

Heading over to Debra’s at Common Ground, Potpourri Friday, and Just a Girl Blog.

Where We Learn…

2011-08-31T13:30:00.001-07:00

Hey all my friends!

I know a lot of you know that we homeschool our children. We began homeschooling when our son started Kindergarten and he just started college this week. We also homeschool our two other children; one a junior and the other in 3rd grade.

My husband and I have counted it as such a blessing to be able to teach our children at home, even though we all teach our children at home, don’t we? We just felt led to keep them at home when school time came around.

I am so thankful that God called us to this job. It has been very rewarding and also very difficult at times. Oh, did I tell you that I am the teacher and my husband the principal? Yeah, he gets a kick out of saying that he is the principal. That’s fine with me because he is also the math and science teacher when the material gets too tough for me to understand.

Right now, our oldest homeschool child does most of her work independently in her room. (except for test time) The youngest and I do her work together. I am teaching her to be more independent in her work, but mom is still needed a big percentage of the time.

Since I do have to be pretty much right with Faith, I like to do our school work downstairs close to the kitchen and laundry room. We have a big playroom that would be great for a school room, but it’s upstairs and too far from the day’s happenings.

We tried a couple of different places but decided on the room that we or maybe me, find the most calming and relaxing. That happens to be the dining room with the big farm table and most everything painted white. It also has two windows that look out onto the front yard so we can see our chickens playing and anyone who happens down the driveway. I pull the blinds all the way up every morning to let the sun shine in on our day and then we work, and play, and talk, and laugh, and I love it!

This is my youngest love that makes my heart go pitter patter.

You know that I love my farm table and now it’s become a great spot to do more than just eat at. Learning can be “pretty”.

(chemo treatment number two for my mama tomorrow (Thursday)…please pray if you feel led to) WHEN WE ARE WEAK, HE SURE IS STRONG!!!!!

Partying over at Faded Charm and Brambleberry Cottage

Flea Market Finds For Etsy

2011-08-30T06:08:00.001-07:00

Hi my friends…

Went and did a little shopping at the Nashville flea market on Thursday with my son, who just happened to start college yesterday. (thankfully, it’s a local community college where he will attend the first two years and can still live at home)

I found a couple of old lockers for myself and a neat old beautiful green ammo box.

I also picked up a few things for my ETSY shop that I thought I would show you.

There were not a lot of vendors this month, but I still found some pretty neat things.

I will be adding these items to my Amys All Things Home Etsy Shop very soon. Stop by sometime and look around if you have a chance.

Thanks to all who have supported me in this new business venture. I pray that it will be exactly what God wants it to be. I sure have a lot to learn about being a “business lady”.

This Is the Day

2011-08-28T16:50:00.001-07:00

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!!!

I praise God today that He loved us enough to send His one and only Son to die for our sins.

I praise Him that He is faithful to forgive me when I mess up and that His love for me never ceases.

I am so thankful that He never sleeps and that I can talk to Him anytime I want or need to.

I am so thankful that He is walking this road of life with us.

I am so thankful that I am His child and that He is my Daddy.

What are you thankful for today? Tell Him…

An Old Door and Industrial Stools

2011-08-26T07:25:00.001-07:00

Hello to all of you, my sweet friends.

It has been a long while since I showed you my sofa table that I put together on a whim. And, since I have a few new followers who haven’t seen it and I have changed it up a little bit, I thought I would just show it again.

This is a totally thrown together little table. I needed something for behind the couch and had the old door in the attic and brought home the stools from my uncle’s house. Voila…sofa table.

Most of you have seen my great green carpenter’s tote before in my dining room. It got moved to the living room so now I can see it more often. I love that chippy green paint. So perfect.

Do you have any makeshift furniture in your home? I bet you do because that’s just how we roll, isn’t it?

Happily partying over at Common Ground, At the Picket Fence, My Romantic Home, and The French Country Cottage, and LaurieAnna's for her Farmhouse Friday party. Headed over to a new party for me at Brambleberry Cottage.