In love...maybe?

HOLY MOLY!!!!

I am in LOVE with this idea for an inexpensive, but extremely impressive fix for my hardwood floors!

GENIUS!

I am soooooooooooo going to do this in my dining room!

In case you don't know...might have forgotten...or even just plain don't really care...

I am redoing (desperately trying to focus on one room) my dining room...

Currently, there is light hardwood in there and the rug I have I really don't like...

way to flowery...

I wanted something simple, but with impact!

& it has to be cheap... (my husband wants to shoot me as it stands now...)

I believe I have found my fix!!!! 

Or...

am I completely crazy that I want to paint my hardwood???????????

I suppose that even if we did sell our home, we are (as of today) only going to get about $100,000 LESS for our house...so who cares, right!

I should just use this one for a "try it out and see how I like it home" 

huh?

anyone...anyone ;) 

Do any of you have ideas for cheap, but stunningly beautiful change in floors...?

Thoughts?...

A little reminder...

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism,

He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,

He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,

He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,

He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,

He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,

He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,

He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,

He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,

He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,

He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,

He learns to find love in the world.

1972. Dorothy Law Nolte

One of my very favorite poems...moves me every time.

   

I need reminders sometimes...

I clean my house, watch TV, surf the net, make food, and talk on the phone...
sometimes I do these things and forget that I brought this beautiful child into the world and I am the person responsible for showing him what life is all about...

I want him to explore nature...to see the beauty in little things...to shut off the TV...to play more games...
to have a huge imagination...that it is a good thing to not always get his way...to have responsibility...to show kindness to others...to laugh more...to be good...

& believe me...he is a good little boy...kind, generous, loving, smart, empathetic, & a great listener

I think we are doing a pretty good job...:)
It's kind of amazing how much they teach you too...he is sooo smart...& so good.
He teaches me everyday...
I am a blessed woman.

But, I need to remember to slow down...to make more time...for just him...
because in an instant. time will pass me by. 

 

Reservation for two please...

Toasted Oak

Grill & Market

"With an imaginative menu created by Michigan native, Chef Steven Grostick, Toasted Oak Grill & Market serves delicious American brasserie cuisine with an emphasis on all things local. Featuring a fresh market and wine shop that spills into an inviting and cozy dining room, Toasted Oak Grill & Market is a celebration of Michigan food & wine!"

"Toasted Oak Grill features a regional menu with a focus on fresh & original ingredients. Dishes embrace the flavors of the countryside with daily fish & meat specials, earthy ingredients, delicious appetizers & salads. Lunch & Dinner selections include sandwiches, grilled pizzas, salads & more."

 

  I cannot WAIT to try this place out!
My husband and I had reservations for our anniversary...
but sadly, my sister in laws son got sick, so no dinner for us. 
But, we WILL make it there!!!

If you are in Michigan friends...& love to try out new places...this is the place!

I have heard sooo many great things about it and they menu looks absolutely TO DIE FOR!!!

Market Cheese Board :: chef’s selection, seasonal compotes, crackers, baguette

Market Charcuterie Plate :: chef’s selection, pickled vegetables, mustard, baguette toast

Mussels Catalogne :: spicy tomato, bacon, maytag blue, piment d’esplette

Steak Frites :: grilled creekstone farms bistro tender, shallot butter, red wine sauce, frites

don't know about you, but this is making my mouth water!
& how about the fact that there is a market & wine shop right inside the restaurant?! 
Find a dish or a wine that you loved...
it's right there!

mmmmm....a little slice of heaven is what this place reminds me of!

What about the rest of you?
What are your favorite restaurants to visit?
Do you have a favorite dish?

I am ALWAYS a sucker for a fresh cheese, meat, & baguette platter...
my absolute FAV!!

Paired with a great glass of red wine...
perfect!

Toasted Oak 27790 Novi Road Novi, Michigan 248.277.6000
http://www.toastedoak.com/

An absolutely attainable *dream* closet...

This is just fantastic!

Something comfy & beautiful to lounge in while picking out my shoes... ;)

I have a weakness for white shag...

A breathtaking chandelier for soft lighting...

A simple, yet elegant full length mirror...

If I could design my dream closet in a split second...

this is what it would look like...

how fabulous is the shoe and purse storage unit!!! 

aahhhhh....

A girl can dream...{and maybe...just maybe...save & put together!}

Source:  www.ballarddesigns.com, www.horchow.com

Spring sneakpeek at Anthropologie...

how simple and easy to throw on with some strappy heels...

hair up haphazardly...

so fresh & fun...

I would pair it with the top below for something a bit funky and unexpected

adorable with skinny jeans or white linen pants...

LOVE for over a bathing suit

or

with some super short shorts!

super comfy...super cute

great with leggings...& tall, flat boots

LOVE this top!

I have these in grey and let me tell you...

they are the PERFECT lounge pant

covers your whole butt!

fitted. long. & so comforable

I can picture this with some sandals in the summer...sipping some lemonade...& watching the kiddies play

ahhhhhh

This just might be my new suit!!

the thick top part is so fabulous...

In my opinion...the perfect cover up.

Light...airy...sheer...deeep v (love this part)...and not too short!

source: www.anthropologie.com

Slumber Designs GIVEAWAY!!...

While catching up on my daily blogs that I LOVE

I stumbled across a fantastic giveaway from http://slumberdesigns.blogspot.com/.

Jen is a fantastic blogger who lives in Minneapollis and has such a great eye for fashion and design...

Her giveaway is for a $75 EmersonMade Gift Certificate.

If you have not checked out http://www.emersonmade.com/ you are missing out! 

I am personally loving their oversized flower pins (stunning), custom monogrammed linens (my next purchase), & their new Spring line is so darn breezy and beautiful...

This is your chance to spend $75 anyway you want on their website!!

To enter:
Be a follower of mine: http://thesequinedlobster.blogspot.com/
Be a follower of: http://slumberdesigns.blogspot.com/

AND

either follow EM http://www.emersonmade.com/ on Twitter OR like them on Facebook

Please leave a comment on Slumberdesigns blog and let  her know how you choose to follow EmersonMade.

The giveaway is running until midnight on January 12th.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!



A is for adoption...

I can't deny that it hasn't crossed my mind a time or two...

I want so desperately to bring another child into our home...a brother or sister for Ethan...

another child to love into our family...

but, a child that didn't come from us...how do I feel about that?

Most parts of me feel absolutely at ease with it...

part of me feels very natural at the thought...

like, maybe it was my destiny to bring a child home that otherwise might not be born...

maybe I can't have one, because we are supposed to do this another way...

because if that is true, I thank God everyday that I was able to experience what it was like to carry a child...to feel them inside you for 9 months...

to talk to it...to plan...to dream...to sing to your belly...to watch your body grow and know that a baby was developing all it's parts, right in your belly...

& to (somewhat painfully;) feel your child come out of your body...the place you kept them safe and protected...and into this world...

for that, I am thankful.

but, there are sooo many questions that come up.

Mainly...where the hell do we find the money...?  It's something like $15,000!  YIKES!

& that makes me a bit mad.

If I was able to conceive, then it wouldn't break us...wouldn't stress us out even more...

money.  yuck.  capitol yuck.

cause when you don't have it...it really affects your life (& not in a good way)

& I know that in a decision like this, money shouldn't be a factor...

but, it is.

that, and, will we love it the same?

I don't know.

How can I?

Because it just isn't fair to bring a child into our home and have it not be loved the EXACT same way as your other child. 

That.  is not fair.

I could NEVER live with myself if I felt any less for this other child, then I do for the son I carried.

But...these are questions that I can't possibly know the answer to until I am put in the situation.

& that scares me to death.