My Two Guys

Already an estimated 8 pounds (pray for me!!) and glorious chubby cheeks to prove it!

Proud daddy taking in the pictures of his son.

THANK YOU, DEAR LORD.

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.

Desire . . .

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Seeking: Inspiration for Decoration and Living

Rachel Ashwell

Often, my inspiration for decorating comes from sources other than the usual decorating magazines and websites. This is particularly true for my baby bedding designs. It is also true for my writing. For instance, the colors, textures and ideas from this collection of vintage dresses, above, has my head spinning with ideas.

I am likewise inspired by:

Seasons

Spring

God

Creation

Renewal

Grape Hyacinth

frenchlarkspur.blogspot.com

Summer

Sweet

Color

Sticky Jars of Jam

Raspberries

eatdrinklive.typepad.com

Soft Color

Sea glass green

light

weightless

escape

"He has overcome the world." John 16:33

Shannonfricke.blogspot.com

Color

Rainbow

Flavor

Collection

Labels

Vintage


Shannonfricke.blogspot.com

Color

Robin's Egg Blue

Brand new

Grace

Easter

Eggs

http://www.homeandharmony.blogspot.com/

Color

Pastels

Baby

Heart

Connected

Buttons

www.angelaltable.blogspot.com


What are your unusual or unique sources of inspiration?

Dream Come True

Once, I was a little girl. As a little girl, I was a dreamer. I had plans to become many things: an Olympic gymnast, a ballerina, an author. I had a dogged determination. I was the only nine year-old who showed up for her first creative writing class and raised her hand to ask the instructor what the appropriate steps were to seek publication. I distinctly remember the instructor laughing, while I had no idea what was funny.

I also dreamed of becoming a mother. My first baby doll was a boy named Sherwin. I was young during the Sherwin days and I didn't fully comprehend the role of motherhood: I knew I was supposed to give Sherwin his pacifier and change his diaper but I also planned to marry him when I grew up. My older sisters laughed at me and told me that I couldn't marry poor Sherwin. They also told me I couldn't marry the family dog. Funny how "love" is simply love in a child's heart. No boundaries, no distinctions, just all encompassing.

Today I am close to realizing my dream of motherhood. Mere weeks, in fact. It has been a long road but I was born with that dogged determination to chase dreams. So here I sit: a grown woman with the heart of a little girl inside her and the life of a baby boy about to break free. I wonder what that little girl would think if she could see us now?

Have I done us proud?

I am counting on her to stay with me. I am counting on her to sing joy and whisper love to this little boy.

I am counting on her to teach him how to dream and how to believe God for big things.

I have, after all, proven to her that dreams can come true.

I hope she never lets any of us forget.

LoveLoveLove

I fell in love with this home I found online last night.

Can you blame me?

Did I mention that it's for sale?

The inside needs some work, but I would love to volunteer for the job. Can you imagine the sunlight you would get through all of those windows!?

Consider me smitten!

Believing

Today I am . . .

Daydream believing;

Next life-chapter anticipating;

Waiting, wondering, preparing;

Whole-heart seeking;

But most of all believing.

Join me, won't you?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Here's to whole-heart seeking and believing,

Cottage Makeover on a Budget!

This 1920s Cottage, originally featured in Cottage Living and now appearing on Myhomeideas.com, had me at the white-picket fence.

Also, the homeowner sort of looks like me, so if I squint my eyes just a tad, I can see myself with that adorable cottage and white picket fence and brick walkway! It looks good on me!



This kitchen is just incredible. All of the period details are intact like the banquette and abundance of leaded glass windows and natural light, as well as the original tile.

And here is the before picture of the same kitchen, which shows what a tremendous change can be had with a bunch of white paint, some glass cabinet inserts, new hardware and a lot of elbow grease.

I speak from personal experience. If you missed the original post, here is the kitchen make0ver from our first home, which was 99% DIY.

The warm neutral colors continue throughout the cottage.

For more information on the budget-friendly renovation of this lovely cottage, click HERE.

Calling all Sponsors!

I am pleased to announce that advertising space will now be available to those interested in becoming a sponsor of Rare & Beautiful Treasures. Please contact me regarding reasonable competitive advertising rates and details for advertising your company, blog or Etsy shop on Rare & Beautiful Treasures. Simply email proverbs2434@gmail.com and include "Advertising" or "Sponsor" in your subject line. This decision comes after MUCH consideration and with the sincere hope that "we" might be a blessing to one another.

Above image from the talented Heather Bailey and her delicious fabric collection which has me craving lemonade and sorbet in February!

Today I am loving . . .

Flowers.

Sweet, fragrant gifts from Heaven.

What a wonderful place our world!

Oh flowers, I am eager for your spring return.

Please come soon.

And bring your spring cousin, Mrs. Strawberry.

And oh yes, plenty of warm soft sunshine!

I will give you freckles in return.

I am plain gitty just thinking of it.

Until your return, I will continue to keep company with Jack Frost and Mr. Winter.

But you remain my favorite, my love.

(sshhhh, don't tell)

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God

that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her."

-- Unknown

Where is your heart this Valentine's Day?


Where would your sweetheart have to search in order to really find you? Is your heart in a place that you would be proud to reveal to him? Share with him? Make room for him? Lay down and nap in peace with him?



I am forever thankful that eight years ago a handsome boy from North Carolina came searching for me and didn't give up until he had truly found me.


I am grateful that even when I felt lost, God knew where I was, because I was lost in Him. And even though I was undeserving, He led him to me and revealed to him my heart.



How truly awesome and overwhelming-this thing called "love."

"God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."

1 John 4:16

May you know love this Valentine's Day. May your heart be lost in Him.

{Finally} A Nursery Update

There is just something about linen. The gauzy weight, the simple texture, there is just so much to love when it comes to linen.

I made the crib skirt for our nursery out of two different linens-the upper portion of the drop is an off-white medium weight 100% linen and the bottom trim is a lighter weight cream 100% linen. I sewed this skirt with raw edges exposed (but secured) to give it extra texture and a little push in the "boy" direction.

I debated back and forth on having a changing table in the nursery. I knew I didn't want to buy a "changing table" specific piece of furniture, but I saw the benefit in buying a small sized dresser that we could affix a changing pad to, making the piece usable down the road once the changing pad is removed.

Despite months of casual looking I hadn't really found anything that I was excited about until I stumbled on this darling antique washstand at a local antique store. That was how it was labeled- "antique washstand." Probably to garner more interest out of pregnant saps like me than if it had been labeled "small old dresser." Can you believe that it was already painted this color-the perfect blue/green and already had original crystal hardware!? It was exceptionally affordable as well, comparable to buying a painted plywood changing table from a discount store.

I am in love!

I promise the next nursery update will be coming shortly, I finally feel like I am tying up the loose ends and pulling everything together-my house has been full of half-finished projects for months now. I cannot wait to pull it all together and share this special space with you!

Thanks Friends!

If I Had All the Time in the World . . .

If I had the magical ability to press "timeout" on life's clock, I would accomplish the following, and then press "restart:"

1. I would organize all of my closets to be picture perfect (with color coordinated ribbons).

2. I would bake a lifetime supply of cupcakes to have on hand for everyday delightfulness.

Etsy

3. I would decoupage antique nautical maps on the walls of A and B's room.

4. I would find the perfect nook to make a home office that would inspire me to write more-without a t.v. in the room.

Lonny Magazine

5. I would stencil the floors of my laundry room.

6. I would spend an entire day, perhaps longer, playing fairy princess-just because I had the time.

7. I would adopt a yellow lab, buy a sailboat, and train my dog to be my first mate.

8. I would paint something, somewhere in polka dots-just for the cheer factor.

9. I would put a transom above every door and window in my house and bask in the natural light.

And finally . . .

10. I would spend hours and hours laying outside on an old quilt, daydreaming, examining, and making fairytale plans.

What Would YOU Do?

For Today

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Live Lovely. . .

Remind him that you love him.

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Appreciate something fragrant.

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Wear something bright and beautiful.



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Indulge in something sweet and ruffled.

and

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

(He has given us pink frosting, spring green, silk, a bounty of flowers to delight, and perhaps a mate who knows the inside of your heart)

his love endures forever."
~Psalm 107:1

Unearthing an Old Treasure

T his is how I felt this morning

when I discovered an old stack of (discontinued, sniff) Cottage Living magazines hiding at the bottom of a drawer!
Cottage Living + Hot Coffee + Snowed in with Mr. Marvelous = the perfect Saturday morning.

(thanks to baby Charley for adding a dose of cuteness and Cottage Living Inspired awe to this post)