Eloise Joy now resides in a loving, Christian home with Matt and Janice and their two children, but recently her biological father has been found and desires custody. The father’s home is not the safest environment for Eloise, and they have been told he is “dangerous.” His history has proven this to be correct. Matt and Janice are now entering a custody battle without knowing how this may end. They have already spent thousands of dollars on the adoption, and now costs are doubling! (You can read more of Eloise’s story here.)

So in order to support Eloise’s Adoption Fund, I am hosting a raffle on the blog! The prize? This incredible Stella and Dot Contessa Jade Necklace, valued at $118!

This necklace is a beautiful gradient of hand cut jade stones on a gold finished brass chain. It’s lead and nickel safe. And it’s one of my favorites As seen on me here:

Here’s how to enter and some guidelines:

• Please go to Funds for Eloise by clicking here.
• Every $5 donated to the adoption fund is one entry into the raffle. So, $5 gets you one entry but $25 gets you 5 entries.
• PLEASE leave a comment with your first name and last initial if you make a donation. On the donation site, put your full name and click “anonymous donation.” I will still have access to your full name and donation amount, but it will not show on the public site. That way I can connect your dollar amount and name to the comment left here.  All information is secure and will not be shared through the donation site. Also, please include your e-mail address so I have a way to contact you!
• Donations are made via PayPal or credit/debit card through the YouCaring donation site. They will all be directly deposited into Eloise’s PayPal account.
• The raffle will close May 31, 2012 at noon. The winner will be declared June 1, 2012 here on the blog and contacted via e-mail.

• Donations may not be tax-deductible, as they are going directly to a person and not a non-profit organization.

Matt and Janice fully have faith that God will provide for this little one, and any amount donated will be greatly appreciated! Anything will help towards the cause!

Here’s the link again if you missed it: Funds for Eloise

Again, leave a comment with your name, last initial, and e-mail address if you are making a donation! And keep it consistent with the information you put on the donation site!

Thanks so much in advance for your donations, and GOOD LUCK!

Dinner at my mom’s…some of the great pillows on her screened in porch.

Foxon Park Cream Soda…a sweet treat on take-out night. If you’ve never tried Foxon Park soda, I HIGHLY recommend it. You don’t know what you’ve been missing!

Fresh kiwis…I forgot how much I loved this sweet, tangy fruit!

Decked out in my Stella and Dot jewels before a wedding. The Soiree Studs in gold, Contessa Jade Necklace, Camilla Ring, and Bardot Spiral Bracelet in gold can be seen above

My big boy. Loves to sit outside.

Church wear. Who says you can’t wear white pants before Memorial Day? Inspired by this pin.

At Cabela’s with the birthday boy. Honey badger don’t care.

How was your week last week?

I refused to by my normal laundry detergent in hopes of making my own…and it WORKED.

I know, I know. How cheap can I be? Well the answer is…CHEAP! I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of paying close to $20 for laundry detergent every couple of months.

Pat and I choose to do our laundry separately mainly because he can’t be trusted in washing my “delicate” items. Case in point……he thought he was doing me a favor one weekend and decided to wash my clothes I had separated for the laundry. My expensive sweater ended up with a few extra holes it didn’t have before. And my “hand wash only” tank top ended up unraveled in numerous places. $$ down the drain – or washing machine drain – quite literally. From that day on Pat was no longer allowed to touch my laundry unless given SPECIFIC instructions. And even then I’m a little wary. (This was per HIS request, not mine!)

Seeing as we don’t combine our clothes, we are talking about 2-3 loads of laundry EACH per week, or around 5-6 loads of laundry total for a 2 person household. Which is at a minimum 24 loads of laundry a month, not including bedding, towels, etc. That’s a LOT of laundry for 2 people.

So I totally boycotted buying laundry detergent this weekend and decided to make my own. It’s easy, inexpensive (less than $10 for a large amount of supplies!), and WORKS. And only takes about 20 minutes! Say WHAAAAT?

Here’s what you need:

• 1 cup grated Fels Naptha soap
• 1/2 cup washing soda
• 1/2 cup borax
• pretty jar
• measuring tablespoon
• wooden spoon

I purchased multiple bars of Fels Naptha soap to account for making multiple batches. In a bowl, I grated enough soap to make 1 cup.  Use a very fine grater so the soap pieces are small and easily dissolvable. This is the longest part of the process, but isn’t too bad.

So, are you going to try it? Or are you totally content with buying your normal laundry detergent?  I’m sure I’ll use store-bought detergent again at some point…but this is a nice option to have on hand in a pinch!

The one picture that really stuck out to me was this one….

Those gorgeous metal chairs are called Tolix chairs. They are a designed by a company called Tolix based in France since the 1930s. While they are known for being in French cafes and bistros, they are now adding a big of ruggedness to homes! And the good news? We can now get them stateside!

In case that top picture didn’t convince you of their awesomeness, here are some swoon-worthy photos:

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

{via}

*DROOL.* I have decided I NEED these chairs for our home. Not want, NEED. Like…my life may depend on it. Okay, I might be overexaggerating…but how amazing are they?! So, because you are obviously reading this because you share similar interests as me, I have compiled a list of stores where you can purchase them if it’s your hearts desire. You’re welcome. And also? Help me decide which ones to by for myself. Because I’m having a reeeeeeally hard time deciding.

Option #1: Garden Side Chair – 33.5″Hx18″W, Brshd Aluminum by Home Decorators Collection $99

Option #2: World Market Jackson Tub Chair $109

Option #3: Overstock.com Tabouret Silver Stacking Chairs set of 4, $204.99

Options #4: Industry West Marais A Side Chair $145

I have my heart set on one in particular, but I’d love to hear your favorite options Leave me a comment and help me decide!

Do you have Tolix-inspired chairs in your home? Tell me where ya got ‘em!

Happy Friday!

With the warm weather approaching, there’s been much more activity along the beaches. The sailboats have been out on the water, more families fishing on the dock at the Point…it’s small things like this that make me smile. Which I had been forgetting to do for the past couple months.

I’ve been dealing with some personal issues lately since my miscarriage. I’m still grieving, undergoing the healing process…which is incredibly difficult when you are surrounded by so many pregnant women. I have some great women in my life, and I’m so excited to see their families growing. However, it hurts at the same time because I’ve experienced such a huge fallback. Because I no longer have what they have. I don’t know when we will become pregnant again, and I’m learning to be okay with that. Only God knows his plan for me, and I’m learning to surrender to Him and His plan. I’ve had to separate from others lately to focus on myself and God…to really and truly HEAL. And part of my healing process has involved focusing on the blessings God has showered me with. So it was interesting with I came across this post written by my blog bud Brie at Recipe for a Beautiful Life.

Brie is embarking on a journey to list 1000 gifts by December 31st of this year. She came across the idea after reading this post by Sarah at Fairytales Are True. Sarah was inspired by the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and invited others to join her. I’ve decided to join these two ladies on their journey, except I’m changing the title up a bit. I’m calling it my list of 1000 Blessings (Gifts), to remind myself of the blessings God has given me every day. I think sometimes we get so caught up in our lives, especially when we undergo a negative experience, that we forget how blessed we really are. So today, I am committing to focusing on and documenting my blessings in hopes to list 1000 of them by New Years.

Join me?

And so I begin…..

#1. sunshine

#2. salt air

#3. sailboats on sparkling water

#4. sand between my toes

#5. white tulips

#6. blooming trees

#7. my puppy’s innocence and his sweet face

#8.  seashells

#9. coconuts

#10. pineapple

#11. campfire smell

#12. my husband’s hands wrapped in mine

#13. linen

#14. the way sunlight shines through linen

#15. the color white

#16. candlelight

#17. green tea

#18. puppy kisses

#19. sea glass

#20. manicures

#21. that feeling you get after a good run

#22. a good bowl of pasta vazool

#23. coconut icecream

#24. big sunglasses

#25. driving with the windows down

#26. the smell of burlap

#27. my husband’s voice

#28. the feeling I get when I say my married name…pure joy.

#29. long talks with my mom

#30. when my brother tells me he loves me after every phone call

#31. my new baby niece!

#32. my niece’s amazing story of how she came to be.

#33. the sweet taste of Riesling

#34. summer nights at the winery

#35. worship music

#36. frozen yogurt

#37. long talks with my sweet mother in law

#38. the feeling you have after laughing really hard

#39. my bloggy friends

#40. a nice suntan

#41. the way french manicures make me feel fancy

#41. sleeping in late with my husband

#42. thunderstorms

#43. cuddling under a blanket on a rainy day

#44. payday

#45. spray tans

#46. the sparkle of a diamond

#47. nutella

#48. the great feeling after hot yoga

#49. the feeling of knowing you’re not alone in whatever you’re going through.

#50. the words “out for delivery”

#51. vintage books

#52. a hot cup of tea

#53. quiet time with my bible

#54. vintage fans

#55. a warm fire

#56. fancy date night with my husband

#57. tea and dessert with friends

#58. girls nights

#59. long talks with an old friend

#60. the heat of summer

#61. hydrangeas

#62. peonies in bloom

#63. the excitement of making a big change

#64. volunteering for a cause

#65. teaching someone something new

#66. learning something new

#67. birthdays

#68. writing/receiving letters

#69. having someone else blow dry my hair for me

#70. the way my skin feels after a facial

#71. splashing in puddles with my rainboots

#72. the sound of rain on the rooftop

#73. meeting a new friend who you feel like you’ve known forever

#74. my puppy’s wet nose

#75. sleeping in

#76. the words “Out For Delivery”

#77. clean sheets

#78. the sound of the trees blowing in the wind

#79. the sound of waves crashing at the shore

#80. the homey smell of vanilla

#81. still warm brownies

#82. being still

#83. the smell of clean laundry

#84. the feeling of a hot shower trickling down your cold skin

{you’ll be able to follow me on my journey via a link in my sidebar soon….:)}

So I’m pretty excited about this…we have started accepting sponsors! I’ve partnered up with some really wonderful ladies for the month of April! I’d like to introduce them to you, and hope you love them as much as I do! If anyone is interested in being a sponsor, please check out our sponsor page or contact us at our.hidingplace@yahoo.com for more information!

::::::::::::::::::::

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Brie over at Recipe for a Beautiful Life is a Navy wife on a quest to be happy and healthy. Her blog covers everything including food, fitness, and fashion. Her Workout Wednesdays are awesome and always help me add a little something extra to my workout routine! She’s so fun, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her through her blog! I imagine we’d be good friends if we lived near each other!

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Sarah over at Notice the Dirt is my kind of girl. I love that her blog title is based on this quote from C.S. Lewis: “It it when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence.” She is a God-loving Southern gal who’s married to an Army officer…and just found out she’s being stationed in Hawaii! Aloha Sarah! She’s also running a 10K at the end of the month, so head on over to go cheer her on! And to see amazing Hawaii pictures when the time comes

Blog |  Twitter

Nikki over at The Pink Growl is a sweet Southern girl blogging about her life, love for her four-legged friends, and her recent engagement! Nikki feels like an old friend of mine…I imagine we would have some good times together if we were to ever meet in person! We were recently paired up for the Pretty Blogger Swap which helped me get to know her a little better. She’s got that sweet Southern drawl and friendly personality I love. Stop by her blog to check out her wedding plans and her furry friends!

Blog | Twitter

Taylor over at Goings on in Texas is another Southern gal (I’m feeling lonely up here in the North East!). She’s a Petroleum Landman living in West Texas, blogging about her life, crafts, and SHOES! She loves her shoes She also has some great crafty link parties, and even has her own Etsy shop where she makes really amazing homemade cards! They’re beautiful! Stop by and check them out, and tell her I sent you

Blog | Twitter

Suzanne over at The Wineabe is a Mid-Western gal living in Southern California’s wine country…and blogging about her journey with wine! She’s a wine-lover with a background in interior and architectural design, so her blog is chock full of fun stuff! While she admits she’s no wine expert, I bet she could give you some great wine (and home design!) advice!

::::::::::::::::::::

Hope you enjoy these ladies as much as I do! And a HUGE thanks to all of them for sponsoring me Also, we are now currently accepting May sponsors and have incredibly low prices. Contact me at our.hidingplace@yahoo.com for details!

This year we hosted Easter dinner at our house…mainly because my mom is bronzing it up in the Dominican Republic, so our usual spot was out of the picture this year. I was pretty excited to host because we’ve never hosted a holiday dinner before, plus it meant I get to spruce up the dinner table to my liking. I’m in full-fledged spring mode and I’m just about ready to bust out my white pants and sandals with all this gorgeous weather here in CT, and today was no different. So I had some fun adding spring touches to our table decor.

As much as I want to paint our dining room table white, I’m still hesitant. So, I tried to lighten up the dark wood a bit with my table decor. I used white burlap to create a table runner, and fringed the edges like I did with my burlap placements I previously sold in our Etsy shop.

I used some of our leftover weathered pallet wood from our recent pallet project to add some layers and texture to the table. I looooooooove this weathered wood. It’s the epitome of weathered perfection.

I placed a white pitcher with white tulips and some mason jars with white and light pink alstromeria on top of the weathered board.

I added some seashells and sea glass I had lying around from my bridal shower (yes, from 3 years ago! my girls did an amazing beach-themed shower for me) for some color, and little blue buckets with my naturally dyed hard-boiled eggs.

I used vintage sheet music as placemats..

…and used some twine as napkin holders. My creamy white linen-like napkins are perfect every time.

A vintage wooden crate was used to hold our bread. And we drank out of mason jars, which my father thought was a little weird. But, hey what does he know?

A simple way to lighten up our dark table, using materials I already had around the house! We enjoyed stuffing our faces with lasagna, salad, garlic bread, tiramisu cake, and these little bird nest treats I made via Pinterest.

We even got a tennis game or two in to work off some of those calories! Overall, a successful Easter celebrating the risen Lord!

How was your Easter holiday? Did you host this year? Happy Easter!

I recently mentioned that I had decided to try to clean our home using natural ingredients because Tornado Pup likes to eat anything and everything. Apparently this sparked some interest because I’ve had a bunch of you asking me how I did it!  I had read about using natural cleaning products a while ago, but only recently have started to look more into it. Maybe it was because of how HIGH I felt after cleaning my bathroom with certain mold and mildew remover. Yeah.

I researched blogs and other internet sources, and then actually looked up the chemical properties of the natural ingredients before forming my own opinion (I’m a science nerd and actually LOVE chemistry. Just give me some test tubes and goggles and I’m a happy girl). I was pleased with the results of what I found! (Sources listed below.)

You can basically clean your house using 3 basic household ingredients: lemons, baking soda, and white vinegar. All non-toxic. All inexpensive. All safe to ingest (in case your dog likes to lick everything after you clean it…or if you have little children crawling around).

Lemons: Lemons contain a high concentration of citric acid. And acid = amazing grease-cutting powers. Plus, it’s a natural odor neutralizer. (I frequently shove old lemon slices down my garbage disposal…gets rid of any lingering smells immediately!)
Baking soda: Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is naturally abrasive ingredient. It’s alkaline properties (meaning it’s pH is greater than 7, which qualifies it as a base) mean it can neutralize an acid.
Vinegar: A natural by-product of fruits and vegetables, vinegar is a naturally mild acid. It has antimicrobial properties which makes it a natural disinfectant that can be used for sanitizing and cleaning stains.

Now, without making this a chemistry lessen, just know that all of that information means these ingredients can be used to clean and disinfect your home NATURALLY. Yay!

Cleaning my bathroom was SUPER easy and I was really shocked to see how it shined after. I first sprinkled some baking soda all over the tub, and then spritzed the vinegar over it until it formed a foam (I actually combined vinegar with some of the blue Dawn dish detergent. The soap helped rinse it all way much better). Using a Scotch-Brite sponge (the green side) I went to work scrubbing the entire bathtub. The baking soda and vinegar makes a paste (kind of like that old Comet tub cleaner) that when rinsed, easy wipes away all the soap scum and grime. So sparkly! (The following pictures are taken in bad lighting with a  crappy camera…they don’t do the cleaner justice!)

I did the same with our sink and toilet. Also a good tip, prop the toilet brush underneath the toilet seat and give that a good spray too!

I used the lemon to scrub our faucets…the acid from the lemon rids the metal of all water spots.

Easy, right? And cost-effective! These ingredients can be bought in bulk for CHEAP! And again……I don’t have to worry if my dog decides to lick the bathtub after. Which apparently is his new “thing.” Along with jumping in the shower with you. Good times.

Other cleaning recipes/tips:

Hardwood floors: 1/4 cup white vinegar + 30 ounces warm water. Spray and wipe.

Clogged drains: 1/2 cup baking soda first down the drain, then 2 cups boiling water. For tougher drains, add 1/2 cup white vinegar after baking soda and flush with a gallon of boiling water.

Glass cleaner: 2 teaspoons white vinegar + 1 gallon of water in a spray bottle. Squirt on, then wipe with newspaper (prevents streaking!)

Countertop and stove top cleaner: equal parts water + white vinegar

Fabric softener: 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar to softener dispenser

Weed killer: spray full-strength white vinegar on unwanted weeds.

Also, vinegar can be used to prevent mold from growing on your berry fruit. Mix about 2 tsp. of vinegar to a few cups of water and rinse! The berries can stay in your fridge for over a week without growing that nasty white fluffy stuff on them!

**Note, the links to my information can be found below. I wound definitely recommend reading through them, as there are more natural ingredients in your home that can also be used for cleaning. I just chose to discuss white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon because I found you can get by with only these 3. Plus, they are what I had on hand. Enjoy!**

Do you have any natural cleaning tips for me? I’d love to hear them!!!

Sources: The Daily Green, About.com/Housekeeping, The Vinegar Institute, EarthEasy, Consumer Reports

Lately I’ve been getting into using all-natural ingredients around our home. We are hoping to be blessed with another little one soon, and I figured that it might be time to start avoiding harsh chemicals and switching over to natural ingredients. This past weekend I managed to clean my entire bathroom using baking soda, vinegar, and a lemon…and it’s never looked to clean! Also, with a little tornado puppy who wants to eat everything in sight, I figure it’s best to avoid harmful ingredients.

It had never even crossed my mind that hard-boiled eggs could be dyed using natural ingredients until I came across this recipe on the Better Homes and Garden website. Maybe it’s because Paaz was all I knew, but I thought this might be more fun to try than just dropping little colorful tablets into some vinegar. Plus, I’d rather not risk dropping the fizzy tab on the ground and having Tornado Pup eat it. (Seriously….I’ve pretty much banned everything toxic to a dog from our home.) These recipes all involve a fruit, vegetable, or spice with boiling water and vinegar. Perfect for my mommy friends who have those adorable little children I adore so much!

I chose to use ingredients I had in my house, with the exception of beets which I purchased at the store.  It was quite simple really…just a matter of mixing the ingredient with either boiling or cold water, per the recipe, and adding 2 teaspoons of vinegar. They do take longer to turn colors than artificial dye, and the colors are much less vibrant….but I actually love that more.

I chose to make the following colors:
Frozen blueberries + water = bluish-gray
Paprika +  boiling water + vinegar = faint red-orange
Chamomile tea + green tea + boiling water + vinegar = faint yellow (the recipe states to use either chamomile or green tea…I didn’t feel like wasting four bags of either, so I used two of each)
Beets +boiling water + vinegar = faint pink.

I placed a few eggs in each mixture and then put them in the fridge for a few hours to speed up the process a bit. The recipe suggests keeping them in the fridge overnight for deeper colors, but again, I enjoyed the lighter version.

I think this would be a fun project to do with little ones, and I bet it would be even more fun to experiment with other natural ingredients found in the home!  Check out the Better Homes and Garden website for the recipes! Gotta love BH&G for their holiday tips

Have you used all natural ingredients to dye Easter eggs before? What colors did you come up with? I’d love to hear about it!

Linking up to: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures

I love this time of year because the grocery stores start blooming with fresh-cut flowers. Trader Joe’s is my favorite flower spot because they have inexpensive prices on my favorite spring blooms. Today I picked up my second favorite – white tulips – to bring a little spring to our home (white hydrangeas being my first!).

The one downside of grocery store blooms is I notice they tend to die a lot quicker than fresh-cut flowers from the garden. I’m sure there are many reasons for this (ie: cut too early, etc.) but I was convinced there had to be a way to help my new tulips last a little longer.  After a little internet research, I’ve compiled a list of tips to get your store-bought flowers staying fresh.

1. Prepare the stems. This helps the flowers take up water quickly. To do this, use a sharp knife to cut the stems at a 45 degree angle to allow the most surface area on the stem base. Cutting them under water helps prevent air from seeping into the stem.

Splitting the stems with a knife about a half-inch from the base will also help the stems to soak up water.  For tulips, you can also pierce the stem in intervals with a knife or needle to help prevent an airlock from forming, which ultimately prevents water from getting to the flower.

2. Wrap the stems in wet newspaper. To prevent the stems from flopping over, you can wrap each individually in wet newspaper and letting them soak for about 2 hours in 2-3 inches of water. Then transfer them to your vase of choice.

3. Add pennies to the bottom of the vase. The copper in pennies works as a fungicide! Who would’ve thought? You can also add an aspirin to make the water acidic.

4. Add bleach. Adding a 1/4 tsp. of bleach per 1 quart of water prevents mold from growing inside of the vase. It also helps the tulips from dying prematurely.

5. Add a teaspoonful of sugar. Not only does it “help the medicine go down,” but it also helps renew your flowers.

Simple enough, and things you can find in your home! These tips will work with fresh-cut flowers as well.  I just love the simplicity of tulips, especially white, in a white pitcher….they bring a much-needed smile to my face.

What are your favorite spring flowers? How do you use them to bring a little spring to your home?

Also, as you can see, we’ve had a bit of a change over here! Special thanks to Creative Kristi Designs for the design and install! Kristi does a great job and is extremely affordable! What do you think of the new design?

I had been staring at the empty wall space above our bed for sometime now, debating what should be the focal point of the room. A shutter was out of the picture, as was an oar, because I already used those items in another part of the room. I debated picture frames….a shelf with pretties on it….no focal point at all. Decisions, decisions. I know, first world problems.

A while ago my husband told me he has the hook up for unlimited wooden pallets. UNLIMITED. Do you know what the word does to a DIY girl? Naturally my head was spinning with ideas, but none I could act upon. The two we took home have been sitting outside in our “garden” (I know, white trash) for two years now. Yes, years. But those two wonderfully long years have brought something amazing to those pallets….AGE. They have aged and weathered so beautifully that it makes me want to throw a bunch more pallets outside for the weather elements to “ruin.” Except, I think my neighbors might call hoarders on us if I do that….or at the very least, our condo association.

The hubs and I had a free day this past weekend and that sweet man of mine asked me the question I think every woman is dying to hear from her significant other…”What can I do for you today?” AH! So I asked him to whip up a quick project for me using the pallets.

(Do-do-do-do-doooo….cutting the pretty wood…)

And this is what we came up with!

I dry brushed some white on the pieces of wood that were not as weathered as the others, and also to add a little something to the board. I then attached two shabby frames that have been sitting on the floor of my bedroom for entirely too long now. Insert wedding pictures and, Voila! A great focal point for above our bed.

Easy enough, right?

What’s above your bed? Do you have pictures, a shelf, or maybe nothing? I’d love to hear some more ideas!

Stay tuned! We have some big changes coming to the blog soon!

Linking up to:
Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday #165
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
Restore Interiors: Restored it Wednesday
{Primp}: Primp Your Stuff Wednesday #40
Home Stories A to Z: Tutorials and Tip #52
Goings on in Texas: Unveil Your Genius

Some of the girls I met recently participated in a blogger swap where we were paired up with another blogger and swapped little gifts. It was so fun! I was paired with Nikki from the Pink Growl and had such a fun time picking out what to send her.  The items we were instructed to send were: an accessory, a food item, a paper product, something that represents where you are from, and a beauty item. Here’s what she sent me….

1. A LOVE makeup bag
2. This is where the Life Savers would be if we didn’t eat them all in 2 days. Oops. Nikki said she sent them because as a nurse, I’m an actual life-saver! Little did she know, Pat and I each have a major sweet tooth, and therefore candy doesn’t last more than a few hours in our house!
3. L notecards (these are so great, I actually was looking for some cute notecards to have on hand!)
4. A University of Tennessee pen to use at work, and Tennessee License plate mints (that are SO YUMMY by the way. See? Sweet tooth.)
5. Essie nail polish! I love this color! So perfect for the warm weather we’ve been having here in CT lately!

I loved everything! And her card was so sweet….seeing as she’s from Tennessee, I read her card with a Southern drawl. I’m not sure if she actually has an accent, but I love Southern accents so much that I couldn’t help it Maybe she read mine with a New England accent? Do we even have an accent up here? Maybe when I say “dog” like “dawg”…..or “orange” like “ORange”….

Check out Nikki’s post here to see what I sent her in return! This was so much fun…I had a fun time getting to know Nikki a little bit better, and I would love to do something like this again! Thanks to Briana from Recipe for a Beautiful Life and Angie from The Kids are Alright for hosting!

I love receiving FUN mail. Like, Etsy orders or other things I’ve purchased online, a fun card, a PAYCHECK…you get the idea. About a month ago I signed up for Birchbox which is a mailing service that mails you monthly samples of high-end beauty and lifestyle products. I’m all for trying samples, especially fancy ones! And after waiting for what felt like for-EVER, my March Birchbox has finally arrived!

Isn’t it so cute??

Naturally, I couldn’t wait to try my new samples.

I’m a HUGE fan of green tea. Like, huge. And apparently this is really fancy anti-aging green tea. Whether it makes me stay young forever or not, it was incredibly yummy. I had the Tea Forte Cherry Marzipan during my car ride this morning.

I’ve been wanting to try a tinted moisturizer for quite some time now, but could never bite the bullet and shell out the $$ on a product I wasn’t sure about. I was happy to see the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint sample because it gave me a chance to try it out! I LOVE IT. It was light enough to feel natural, yet provided enough coverage. I really enjoyed how natural this kept my skin looking. I think I may have to get this for the summertime!

Normally I use Moroccan Oil on my hair, but I enjoyed trying the Orofluido Elixir. It smells very similar to Moroccan Oil, and gave my hair a nice shine.

I’m a little indecisive about the Color Club Neon Nail Polish mainly because of the color. It’s SO BRIGHT. My pasty skin doesn’t help I’m sure. I’m thinking it might be a good toe polish color for the summer when I have a natural sun-kissed tan.

The Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien is not really for me. I’m not a huge perfume lover as it is, and I’m not a fan of scents like this one. :/

Last, I have yet to try the Ahava Time to Hydrate Essential Day Moisturizer. Mainly because I keep forgetting about it in the morning. I blame my regimented morning skin routine. But it feels really great on my hand, if that counts?

Wasn’t that fun? The best part about Birchbox is it’s only $10 and you can cancel the subscription at any time. No commitment! If you’re interested in receiving luxe beauty samples every month, head over to Birchbox to sign up now!

Today I have a special guest blogger to share with you! I’ve been coveting the whole industrial look lately, and she’s going to be talking about how we can incorporate the look into our homes! Get ready to meet Jessica, and maybe have a napkin or something nearby to wipe up the drool you’ll have after seeing these pictures…..

———————————————————————————————————-

Hi everyone! I’m Jessica, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a website and blog where you can find beautiful lighting fixtures in all shapes and sizes for any room in your house. I’m delighted to be guest posting for Lauren and Pat because every day I get to look for the latest inspiring interior designs, and today I’d like to share a collection of interiors featuring the ruggedly appealing trend of industrial metal accents.

This dining room would be perfectly sweet and shabby chic, but the weathered metal chairs add a certain extra gritty texture that’s eye-catching and unexpected. The neutral color palette and cream accents are a lovely combination, as well.

This spacious, industrial loft is especially cool and contemporary thanks to the factory windows and glass framed dividing wall. I love the collection of vintage school chairs.

Everything about this corner kitchen is charming, but the industrial stove and vent add a polished shine that contrasts beautifully with the antique quality of the pottery and even the stone column.

I love how chic this bathroom is with its clean, simple lines. The windowed shower is a unique touch, and the petite wall sconce gives the room an extra bit of elegance.

Re-purposing slotted angles to make a coffee table is an excellent way to both recycle and give your home an industrial edge.

The distressed metal staircase in this home really gives the home its character. The lounge and rug are made with heavy, durable textiles, matching the utilitarian vibe of the room.

The combination of rustic, woodsy decor and industrial metal accents gives this room a cozy charm. I love decorating with over-sized lamps and clocks.

The self in this bedroom is actually an iron railing that has been recycled. It’s a clever way to give new life to something that would probably be overlooked or destroyed.

(Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8)

What do you think of the industrial trend? Have you incorporated any metal accents into your home? Stop by Arcadian Lighting for more ideas and plenty of different light fixtures to choose from!

———————————————————————————————————-

Thanks for sharing Jessica! So what do you guys think? I’m personally loving this new trend and have slowly tried to find ways to incorporate some metal into our home! Aaaaaaand I’m pretty sure I need to find an iron railing, like NOW. Be sure to check out Arcadian Lighting for some great finds!

The next day, my favorite junk-loving friend and I hit up one of our favorite antique stores, called the Stratford Antique Center, in Stratford, CT. We brought her two young boys with us, and I’m sure the store owners thought we were crazy. But they were SO well-behaved!!! I think we proved it’s totally okay to bring your children to an antique store. Which is a good thing, because when the time comes I’m sure I’m going to be doing that a LOT.

I snapped some pictures with my iPhone so you can see the amazingness that is this store. It’s a massive warehouse where different vendors stock and restock their booths for you to shop. It may just be my favorite place in the world.

I loved this chair. Friends of ours purchased two for their backyard!

I think this was a scale of some sort? I can’t remember off-hand, but I loved it! Way over my budget, however.

A letterpress cabinet….beautifully yummy.

Do you know how expensive this old peanuts tin was? Like, over $50. For a peanuts tin. Yeah.

But I loved the cabinet that held it.

Love this hoosier cabinet. Im hoping to find one in my price range someday.

And a vintage Louis Vuitton. I love you. I wish you weren’t $400 so you could live with me. But sadly, we were not meant to be.

I purchased a few items for our home that I’ll show you a little bit later on, but I had to share this one thing…this really amazing rusty turquoise toy Jeep. A friend of mine recently found out she is going to be giving birth to a baby boy and they’ve chosen vintage trucks as their room theme! I saw this and immediately thought of her…

…and had to get it. I’ve been trying to convince myself it’s totally okay to keep it. Not that I’m even pregnant or anything…but just in case God decides to bless me again with a baby boy in the future? Right? No? I know….completely irrational.

What would you do? Give it, or keep it? Am I horrible? It will be a tough one to part with!

1. Unpolished toenails. Really ladies, it takes like 10 minutes of your time to paint them. So paint them. If your toes are going to be showing in your cute high heels, flip-flops, sandals, etc….then you need to make sure they look good. Because NO ONE wants to see nasty toes. And they make the shoe look a million times better. Which leads me to my next pet peeve….

2. Feet. I hate feet. They make me want to throw up. Especially when you have a whole lot of #1 going on. So please, make sure your dang feet look nice. Even if you’re a dude. My husband has nasty feet and you bet I’m making him get a pedicure the second I can convince him to get in that chair. NASTY. No one wants to see scaly soles and jagged toenails. NO ONE. And yes, I’m saying this as a nurse.

3. Poor grammar. Know the difference between it’s and its, you’re and your, there and their and they’re, whose and who’s. Know where to place a period. Know where to use a comma. Know how to properly form a sentence. (This doesn’t apply to blog world because when we blog, we are talking as we speak. Which is a very informal type of writing. So. I. Can. Use. A. Million. Periods. If. I. Want. But at least get your words write right).

{via}

4. When people text me, and then I go to call them because I’m driving or doing something where I can’t text and then they don’t answer the phone. I KNOW YOU’RE NEAR YOUR PHONE. YOU JUST TEXT ME.  alsfhlashjdfkafha!!!!

5. When I take the extra 2+ seconds of my time to hold the door open for you, and then you don’t say thank you. Or don’t acknowledge me whatsoever. This is just a matter of manners. I feel it’s incredibly rude, and I’m sure you’d be pissed off if I let the door slam in your face. Therefore, thank me! Because I sure would say thank you to you!

Okay, do you hate me? Or maybe you agree with me? Do you hate poor grammar too? Or maybe you are like me and hate feet? OR, are you one of those people who don’t say thank you when someone holds a door open, and have a reason as to why you think it’s not necessary?

And for the record…..I will love you even with unpolished toenails.

Tomorrow I show you my $3 stool makeover, so stay tuned!

We will be living in our condo 3 years in July. And in this short time we’ve lived here we have learned of many reasons why we SHOULDN’T live in a condo. I will list some of them for you…

• You know your neighbors way to well. And hear everything they do. Yes, EVERYTHING. (wink, wink) Which, lucky for us, never lasts more than 30 seconds.
• You can’t make any really great home repairs. Like…I can’t install MDF on my walls because who the heck is going to want to buy a condo with paneled walls (unless my twin is out there somewhere and happens to be looking for an end unit townhouse near the shoreline with MDF all over the walls?)
• When there are big time problems that happen that aren’t your fault…..you are left waiting for the condo association to fix them. Which is exactly what happened this past Friday.

Apparently, there’s a gas leak in our specific building. Our condos are townhouse style, and there are about 8 units to one building. The plumbers have been working on the piping all weekend and told us that basically when the go to fix a pipe, more leaks occur….and it will most likely result in them having to repipe the entire building. GREAT. Just great. So my weekend has been spent without a stove, hot water, or heat. Luckily we are having a mild winter, but that doesn’t mean I’m not cold! I’m currently sitting in front of a space heater, with the pup curled up on my lap…..

Ugh. And who knows how long this will take to fix either. So while this is what we’ve been dealing with all weekend, I needed a little pick me up. I haven’t completed a project in a while, and really needed some DIY therapy. Hubs and I headed over to this really amazing place in Hamden, CT called Urban Miners, a deconstruction, salvage, and used goods warehouse.  This place is junk HEAVEN. Like….anything you want, they’ve got it. And seeing as this picture from Pinterest has stolen my heart, I knew exactly what I needed….

{via}

Crates! We bought 6 apple crates for $5 a piece. I stacked them, and hubs screwed in some sheet rock screws for added support. But the screws were really long and I wasn’t about to have them sticking out everywhere, so he cut the ends off so my DIY-OCD didn’t flare up.

Easy, CHEAP, and a great result. I might go back and purchase 3 more crates to add a third column (hubs idea). What do you think…leave it at 2, or add a third?

On a different note, I know many of you follow us through Google Friend Connect which I so appreciate. Unfortunately Google has decided to remove this feature completely and will therefore no longer be providing GFC starting March 1, 2012! I KNOW. That is, like, the main way I follow my favorite bloggy friends So what does this mean for us as blog readers? It means if you are an avid user of GFC, you need to find new ways to follow your favorite blogs!

With this upcoming change, I have removed the GFC feature from our site. You may or may not have already noticed the change. It used to look like this….

Look over there. ——-> See? Gone.

So how can you still follow us and receive our latest posts? Well, you have a few options……

I would love love LOVE if you could subscribe to us. To do this, click this button:

and it will *magically* open up a screen for you to subscribe to Our Hiding Place and have it delivered right to the feed reader of your choice. Easy!

You can also follow us on Facebook by clicking the “Like” button next to our Facebook button. I always post a status with a direct link to our latest post! The button can be found in our sidebar and looks like this:

(except the “Like” box will be blue!)

We can be Twitter buds if you follow OHP on Twitter. Our Twitter handle is @OurHidingPlace. I always send out a tweet with our latest post, plus you get to see cute pictures of our puppy Ammo (I mean…that’s reason in itself). I also tweet throughout my work day because I’m often bored and need some excitement. So I need you to tweet back to keep me occupied.

The last way to stay up to date with the latest OHP ramblings is to subscribe via e-mail! Enter your e-mail address to the little box in our sidebar and our newest posts will be delivered right to your inbox via Feedburner.

Now excuse me while I do this for the 980896329175602305715113892963 blogs I read. It’s going to be a looooooooong night.

It was late August. And I was late. Not late for work, not late for an appointment…..the other kind of late. 4 days to be exact.

I wasn’t ready for this. What seemed like a million thoughts raced through my head. Can I do this? How can I be a mom? I’m going to have a baby? What’s my family going to think? What’s everyone going to think? I’m married, but I still feel like a child. Oh my…

I almost threw up on the checkout counter at my local Walgreens as I went to buy a test. More thoughts racing through my head as woman smiled at me as she rang up my order. What’s she thinking of me? Can she tell I’m 25? She probably thinks I’m 18. Quick, flash your wedding ring so she doesn’t judge you… (ridiculous thoughts, I know. But we all have them.)

My self-induced nausea continued as I got home and tried to convince myself to pee on the stick. I had a complete anxiety attack in my living room. I was crying hysterically, practically hyperventilating. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to be a mom.  I could barely open the packaging, let alone aim to pee…I was shaking uncontrollably. The anxiety had completely taken over and I was ready to pass out by the time the result came through. Negative. Oh.

Two more days passed, still no period. Anxiety kicking in again, I struggled to test again. Still negative. Could it be false? I’ve heard of that happening…An incredibly small, barely-there feeling of disappointment passed over me.

Another four days passed, making me a total of ten days late. I was convinced the third test was wrong. There was no way it could still be negative. It had to be wrong. I was hoping that it was wrong. I called my doctor’s office, reported that I was ten days late, and waited for a phone call back from the midwife…..

And then it came.

And I cried. I cried because I wasn’t pregnant. And that’s when I knew I was ready.

Fast forward a few months, I was convinced it was that time of the month again. I was crampy for almost a week, had my usual signs. A wave of disappointment came over me….another month with no such luck. I was four days late, but had such awful cramping that taking a pregnancy test didn’t even cross my mind. Until my friend suggested I take one in case I was actually pregnant, but having an ectopic or miscarriage.

Sure enough, a big fat + sign showed immediately the second the pee hit the stick. I couldn’t even be excited because my first thought was that something was wrong. I called my midwife who said cramping is normal, and to come into the office tomorrow. The next day it was confirmed I was pregnant, and I was given an estimated due date. Holy crap…….we are going to be parents in late September! 

That week was filled with joy as I made calls to those I was close with to tell them the news. Being a nurse, I wasn’t all about telling the world until you’re out of your first trimester…but I made sure to tell those I was close with so I would have a good support system if something was to go wrong. Little did I know how much I would need that support system in the close future.

A week later, I began spotting. I went in for two internal ultrasounds, receiving positive reports on both. And then it started three days after……red. Bright red blood, and cramping. “It’s going to be fine,” my husband said. I wasn’t so convinced.

Another internal proved my suspicions right…no heartbeat. Yet baby was measuring appropriately, so my doctors weren’t entirely sure it would end badly. All we could do was wait. And wait. And wait.

The next three days were the longest three days of my life. Waiting is not something I am great at, especially when I’m a rollercoaster of emotions. I spent those three days praying, submerging myself in the Bible, and going through all the motions you would expect one to go through who was just told they were losing their baby. Why me? Why now? Why my first pregnancy? Could they be wrong? I’ll never get to hold my baby…I’ll never know if it’s a boy or girl. I’ll never know….I’m sorry, I’m so so so sorry. I had to completely surrender this to God. Put all my faith in God. It was out of my control.

And then on Friday morning it happened. I woke up, felt decent. Took Motrin for the mild cramping as I was instructed by my midwife. Ate breakfast with my husband, showered…and then the awful cramping started. Oh, the cramping. Cramping so bad I felt like I was going to throw up. So bad I could scream, coming in waves. I prayed for peace, comfort, that this would pass quickly, and that I would be able to get through it with His strength. I spent the next few hours going through the most awful experience of my life.  All with my mother, husband, and the Lord by my side.  And then it was done.

Surprisingly (or not), a peace came over me after the fact. I felt grateful. Grateful because I didn’t go through this alone. You see, during those three days leading up to the event, I sent out a message on Facebook requesting prayer. I was overwhelmed with the responses I received. Multiple private messages, text messages, e-mails, and phone calls from close friends, not so close friends, people who are barely acquaintances, and some friends that I haven’t seen in years…all sending me their thoughts and prayers. All checking to see if I was okay. And to those I opened up to about my situation, some personal experiences were shared. Which helped me so, so much.

There were a few people who were text messaging and calling me consistently throughout the entire experience. Seeing if there was anything they could help me with…how far along I was in the process…guiding me every step of the way if they had experienced it themselves. Never once did I feel alone. 

I learned a few things during the three longest days of my life:

1. Family becomes even closer when one member is undergoing hardship. And they will do anything for you, even if it means coming to your house, cooking you enough food to last a week, rubbing your back, and just sitting with you while you go through it (thanks Mom <3). They will talk to you for as long as you need during the entire process to help you cope (thanks Aunt Di). They will make five million trips to the store for anything you need, wait on you hand and foot, and if they can’t understand what you’re truly going through they will do their best to listen and be there (thank you, my wonderful husband). And even if they are 1000 miles away from you, they will continue to lift you up in prayer and check on you at exactly the right times (my wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law).

2. I am blessed with some really amazing friends. So amazing, I could cry happy tears just thinking of their beautiful faces. A few in particular were there for me more than they will ever know. And I thank God for placing them in my life because I’m not sure how I would have gotten through this without their support, encouragement, and prayers.

3. God is with me – always. Even during a time where it seemed like there was no hope, I found hope in Him. He gave me strength, and held me in His hands for the entire course. He gave me understanding during a time where there was no understanding. He gave me peace during a time where that felt impossible. He opened my eyes to things I hadn’t seen before, and turned my deepest despair into joy. And I learned how to TRULY surrender to God during a time where I had no control and didn’t know what else to do. Which is incredibly monumental for me in my walk with Him.

I never once blamed God or myself. I believe God has a plan for us, and He will bless us with beautiful children in the near future. I’m writing this not to receive sympathy, but to share with you my difficult, yet beautiful, experience of losing my first child. And how I could have never done it without the Lord, my family, and friends. I am eternally grateful.

A very wise woman said to me, “A miscarriage is a spirit so pure that it doesn’t have to spend any time on earth before going to heaven to be with God.” I’m not sure she realized how much this statement helped me get through. I know my child is waiting for me in Heaven, and I look forward to the day we will be reunited.

Thank you for allowing me to share this personal piece of my life with you, my lovely reader. I pray you receive something out of my experience, if not just that the Lord is with you always.

“I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28.

Number 2: Share 7 things about yourself. 

1. I have an endless obsession with the show Friends. I can recite most of the lines from most of the episodes. I consider it my therapy, and it has gotten me through breakups, deaths, and other tough times in my life. I like to pretend I’m a 7th Friend. Preferably one who looks like Jennifer Aniston.

2. Speaking of which……people think I look like Jennifer Aniston. I do not. However, I’ve been told I have similar mannerisms to her on Friends. I once had a patient who told his entire family, the other nursing staff, and his physicians that he had a nurse that looks like Jennifer Aniston, and he even asked me to take a picture with him so he had proof. I’ll let you be the judge….

(Again,  I don’t see it. Although I’m highly flattered and wish I was her identical twin. Hi Jen. Hi.)

3. I had a sick obsession with the Spice Girls in elementary school. I’ve seen the movie Spice World more times than I can count, went to a concert, and performed “Spice Up Your Life” with 4 of my closest friends at the 6th grade lip synch contest. Which we won. Girl power!

4. I was in a “gifted”program in elementary school (based on high Mastery Test scores) where I learned Algebra and French in the fifth grade. However, I never cared to learn Algebra or French and thought the program was a joke…and chose to do my projects on meaningless things like the Spice Girls instead.  Just because I tested smart doesn’t mean I wanted to learn things beyond my grade!

5. I once won a school-wide spelling bee, and moved on to compete in the city-wide bee. And was so nervous that I messed up on the word “dentist” by spelling it D-E-N-I-S-T. To which my grandmother said “Don’t worry honey….I call it the ‘denist’ all the time.”

6. I cried the very first time I went up on my toes in my pointe shoes. I have a passion for dance, and I regret that I didn’t continue my practice.

7. I fell in love with my husband when he was 50 pounds heavier, drove a dumpy work van as his only vehicle, and lived in his best friend’s parent’s basement. Now if that doesn’t scream true love, I don’t know what does.

Number 3: Share 7 of your blog posts that fit into the following categories:

Most Beautiful: I honored my husband and father-in-law for Veteran’s Day.

Most Helpful: My Pinterest post! And if you STILL don’t know what Pinterest is, I may ask your permission to smack you, and then school you on this amazing creation!

Most Popular: By far, my Pottery Barn inspired mason jar chandelier. The comments I get to this day make me so proud of our creation.

Most Controversial: When I questioned whether or not I should paint my kitchen cabinets….you all convinced me not to for resale purposes. Wah.

Most Surprisingly Successful: My post on how Pinterest makes me feel stupid. Apparently I’m not alone!

Most Underrated: My antique printer drawer makeover! I loved this project.

Most Pride Worthy: I loved our factory cart coffee table build. And my husband loves bragging to telling everyone who walks into our home that he built it.

Number 4: Nominate 7 Other Bloggers

Some really great blogs you should read….everything from DIY, fashion, to Jesus! And some funny stuff in between

1. Angie at Seriously A Homemaker

2. Christina at Oh So Glam

3. Rhonda at Abide By Home 

4. “Bleep” at Bleeping Amazing

5. Amanda at Raising Miss Mommy

6. Rachel at The Ongoing Planner

7. Jamie at Peace, Love and Yarn