When life hands you lemons... go to the beach!

Sometimes life slows you down from your normal routine.  For me, three weeks ago today, it was in the form of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy which required an emergency surgery.  Through it all I was reminded not only am I beyond blessed to have two perfect beautiful children but also, my life is full to the brim with amazing friends and family who cooked, cleaned, took care of my babies, and just stepped in without being asked, to help out in any way possible.  Blessed is an understatement.

 I received an amazingly sweet card in the mail but one line stuck out to me, "I'm so sorry for your tragedy."  I struck me for some reason.  I just haven't really thought of it that way. Sure, it sucked, but that is just not the way I look at life.  Now, if I didn't have two great kids or if things had turned out a little differently maybe I would feel this way.  It is sad that I'll never have any more kids but one verse sticks out in my mind and strangely enough it has been in my head since the very day I found out I was pregnant with my third. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord"   Jeremiah 29:11

I am a true believer in everything happens for a reason and I am so thankful for these two perfect babies I get to spend my every day with.  Life is good today!

My doctors gave me the the go ahead to head on down to Pawleys Island less than a week after my surgery with strict instructions to relax.... uhhhh, OK!  I can totally do that!  Here are a few pics from the week.   Also, Rebekah and I plan to get back to your regularly scheduled programming ASAP!  My baby boy starts Kindergarten on Wednesday which, at this moment, seems like more of a tragedy than the surgery!!!!!!!!!  Prayers please!  I told one of my friends if I show up on her door step with mascara running down my face and a bottle of wine in my hand at 8:30 a.m. then to just let me in!  Why must the grown up so fast!!

Here's to an uneventuful week!
Kandi

Southern Home Show and IKEA!!

I mentioned here that I won tickets to the Southern Home Show.  I never win anything so I thought it was awesome and a great excuse to head out of town for the day!  My friend Jenn met me there.  We were giddy just to see each other and didn't care too much how the show was.  Here are a few of my must haves from the show. 

There are a few things I would have left with if at all possible...

1.  A Suspension Chair (or 4) from BH System.

It was seriously the most comfortable place I have ever put my tush!  And they were beautiful.  Can't you just picture yourself with a cup of coffee, reading a magazine, watching your kids play.....  baaahhaaaaa!  Yeah right... but still fun to try to imagine!

2.  Carved Rock Sculpture from Eric Moore Designs.

He carves these all himself with rocks he mainly finds (there is only one kind of rock he buys).  They were just unbelievably beautiful!!!  I know the perfect person who will be getting one of these as a gift.  But he/she may or may not read by blog so I will say no more!!! 

So I took the next couple pictures with my i-phone.  The quality it bad and I know nothing about the vendors, also bad... but they are inspiring!

Who wouldn't want this in their yard?  Tulips + Sculpture = Yes, please!

This would be minus the canopy for me... but, the orange and blue together is perfectly fresh and the monogram pillow.... I'll take it!  I am from the South after all!  I will monogram anything possible!

To feed my monogramming obsession... it might actually be a bad thing if I had one of these... 

And finally, Jenn posing for me in an Ikea setup (at a fake laptop).  This would be perfect for the random spot in my playroom.  I would add a desk rather than table for the kids to do homework at one day (planning ahead!).  I would have the cabinets in glossy white, and I would hide endless amounts of toys and craft supplies. 

Don't we all need a day away with friends?!?!  So blessed to not only have great friends but an awesome husband who understands that I am a happier person when I get to recharge... even if it is only a couple times a year! 

Kandi

The Screen Door

There are literally a billion places between Hendersonville and Asheville to find amazing things!  When Rebekah was in North Carolina visiting with her family we did our best to hit at least a million of the billion.  And, by do our best, I mean we made it to two places....  You see, when you leave 2 husbands with 4 kids locked out of the house in a rain storm and you have the keys with you... they kind of panic! 

We were at one of my favorite places on earth, The Screen Door, in Asheville, NC.  We had perused through most all the booths of this warehouse style, vendor based, store.  We had both fallen head over heals in love with our own little treasures.  Mine, a set of vintage lockers, FOR $40!!  Rebekah, an absolutely beautiful vintage dress form.  She was perfect in every way.

Then came the phone call.  Frantic husband on the other line yelling they are stuck outside in the rain with 4 hungry kids.  I had to literally drag Rebekah out as she has made friends (of course) with one of the vendors and was picking her brain.  It was a 30 minute drive back to Hendersonville so I did have to make a phone call to the frantic husband to remind him he did still have car keys and his wallet so he didn't have to stand outside in the rain with hungry kids... there are plenty of dry places to eat very close.....

Long story short we left without our treasures but here is a sampling of a few of the amazing and unique finds you can score at the Screen Door.

 This place is full of unique and one of a kind finds.  Furniture, art, vintage, industrial, linens, etc. etc.  If you are in Western NC, make it here.  It's a must!

Kandi

P.S.  My chair WILL be finished this week.  I have discovered it is actually made of the hardest wood known to man so reupholstering has been a beast.

On Good Friends, and Good Finds!

You know you've met your "friend soul-mate" when you have a jam packed day, no extra time, but spot a bench as you speed by a yard sale, make an abrupt U-turn, and said friend jumps out and strikes an amazing deal ("said friend" is Rebakah, of course!).  The deal also included the chair that went with the bench... for get this... $45!!!!!!!!

Today I am working on that chair.  I started ripping the upholstery off which is pretty easy with needle nose pliers.  The back came right off but when I started on the front I ran into some padding that is breaking down.  Decision time.  Rip it off, embrace the mess, and start with a clean slate... or upholster of the existing upholstery.  Decisions, decisions. 

I cannot figure out what is going on with this one?  The upholstery is "new-ish"  as in, not original, but it looks like they had it upholstered without finishing stripping and staining the wood.  Why in the world would someone do this?

Decision number 2. To paint or strip and stain?? I WAS leaning towards staining but after consulting, who else, Miss Mustard Seeds blog, I found these inspiration pieces.  I've decided to paint.

I have decided on the fabric below which is pictured with my "helper".  Man, I hope I don't mess this up!  I did find an amazing Reupholstering Series from ThreeBoys.  Check it out if you are tacking a more in depth project. 

On another note... Rebekah is coming to North Carolina this weekend!  I am over the moon excited!!!!

Kandi