Five Minute Friday: Rest

Linking up to Five Minute Friday at gypsy mama.

This week's prompt:

start 12:30
Do you ever feel like this week's prompt is so absolutely perfect that you want to scream the prompt out loud!!??Well, this is how I feel right now! I want to scream the word REST!!! But I don't have the energy to do so.

I started back teaching this week. this semester I am teaching three classes. I am excited because I love teaching these ladies(and one gentleman), but balancing work, kids and life is soooo tiring. My kids are all in school, but I spend the day preparing for classes, cleaning, paying bills etc., then the kids come home, organize their homework schedule.etc. And now three days a week go teach.

Every bone in my body is screaming rest. I know I am being over dramatic.I know there are people out there who need rest much more than I. But still...........I want to nap. And I actually think I may, two more hours till kids get out of school.

When I am this tired, I become a bad mom, a bad wife, a bad housekeeper,a bad teacher. Rest is good. Tired and achy is bad

HOwever, I appreciate what I have and am exteremely grateful that I have been called to be a teacher.

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Five Minute Friday: Older

Whew!!!!!!!! What a week! Looking forward to my five minute pause with Gypsy Mama!!! Today's prompt: Older.

Go:

Older. Obviously, we are all getting older. Every second of every day. But do you know who is getting older the fastest?! My eleven year old daughter. Oh my. She started middle school this year. I have seen the child change soooo incredibly quickly! SHE is loving it! She loves the independence of a new school, where really, parents are not welcome. I don't say this meanly, it is just how middle school is. She now loves boys. She jumps out of bed at 6 AM to do her hair and change her clothes. She talks on the phone after school. She is meeting new friends from other schools. Being admired by boys.

Guess who is not loving it? Her mama!! I told her the other day, You are moving way too fast, you have GOT to slow down!!!!! And I meant it. I can not stop time, but she needs some guidance and a little bit of tough love (which was given to her by her father the other evening....many, many tears).

I didn't realize it would all happen so fast. Really. It is crazy. Where is my sweet child who ran up and hugged me when she would see me at school? Or the child who still played with her siblings and was helpful!!!

Praying hard for her and me. I know the next few years will be challenging. I just keep picturing her sweet and beautiful baby face.

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My new work table=love!!

So I was looking for a big wooden table. You know, the farmhouse type, aged and beautiful.
Like this~

I tried to be patient, really!! I found some really cool ones but they were WAY to expensive. So, I walked into a furniture consignment shop and found a table. It seemed sturdy, it looked like it had potential. I called my husband, and he said...well buy it if its what you want! So, I did. And then I waited for him to come pick up at the store. He did not like it and said it was not worth what I paid for it(which is true). I told him I didn't care, I could turn it into something I liked.

This is not a picture of the actual table, but it is the style. That oak/veneer with the parquet top. But mine is alot bigger, like a small kitchen table.

Okay, it is not the most attractive style (at least for this decade), but the size was perfect and it is was in good shape. I first needed to strip off the veneer finish. I have never stripped furniture and was kind of nervous. I used Citris strip, steel wool pads, a putty knife, and mineral spirits to clean off all the junk. It was a mess. I would work on it for a couple of days and get frustrated and leave it for a couple of days.

I did love what I saw underneath, and knew that whatever I did I wanted to see the parquet pattern on top. I orginally thought I would stain the top a dark walnut and paint the sides and the legs a mossy green. I'm sorry I have no pictures of the next steps. I was changing by mind by second, I swear!!! Anyway, the stain looked great until I put on the paint, but then the stain didn't look dark enough and I really didn't like the green.

Sooooo, I then just started to find things in my garage and layering paint on the bases. I went ahead and used the green, followed by a turquoise and finished with a creamy white. I then sanded all areas, making some scratches and chips, and finally applied Valspar antiquing glaze. I LOVED it!! To me if looks like driftwood, with blues and greens peeking through.

I was still not satisfied with the top. Then I had a crazy idea, make the top look like metal!! I ran and bought some Martha Stewart metallic paint and just went ahead and painted over the stain. I know I was risking covering the parquet by not stripping the stain, but I was so OVER stripping and starting over! I put on two coats. And you can still see the parquet!!

I also painted the inside of the legs with the same color metallic silver. I really love how this turned out! Sorry all of the pictures are in the garage, we have not cleared space in the house yet. I can't wait to set it up. Just it time, too, I start teaching next week and do all my preparations at home.

Late edit:
A couple pics of the desk in its new home. Now I need a cool chair to fix up:)!

With excitement, I share my new table with the following sites:

Five Minute Friday: New

LInking up to Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday

Today's prompt: NEW

start time 9:34

New, this is all so new to him. My sweet little five year old. Everyday, waking up and going to a big school with children who are twice his size. All day, from 8:15-3:15. It is all brand new. Kindergarten.

This is the second week, and I am already losing my patience with the seperation anxiety. My girls did not do this. But this is Jack. And this is how Jack does new. We had ONE day of no crying and I thought we were over the hump. But I think he just forgot to cry that day!

Why do I expect him to be over it so soon! So much pressure. He does great after I leave. He comes out happy, waving to his teacher and friends. He even told me, Mom , I just started school....I have to cry. Oh that sweet little man.

I need to back off. Let me him having his couple minutes of fear. This is so new. Such a big world. And who am I to tell him not to be scared? I get scared at new. I get nervous. I don't want to go to new....even if it is exciting and new.

So, today I pray for patience, and understanding....empathy. This is how Jack does new. That's just Jack. And I love him to a million pieces.
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Bathroom inspiration piece

Well, I have not done much in the creativity/decorating department. But now all THREE of the kids are in school (oh my) and I realized I only have two weeks before I start back to work. There is so much I wanted to get done this summer, but never got to it.

Our hallway bathroom is the perfect example. This is the bathroom that the children use to get ready in the morning and the bathroom that is available to guests. And it always has crap all over it. This summer, I wanted to paint the vanity (it is currently builder's oakish wood), frame the mirror, get a new rug, and make/buy art for the walls. None of this happened.

To inspire myself to get going, I made this pretty little organizer today. I have seen these all over blogworld and Pinterest and have been wanting to make one. I also have been eyeing these cute dishes at T.J. Maxx, but certainly can not afford a whole set!!!! So, using two candlesticks that I had, E6000 and two plates and a bowl, I made this:)! Super easy!!!

My candlesticks were different sizes, which worked nicely for the taller items. You are probably thinking I could just stick some of that stuff in drawers or under the cabinet. Let me explain that I have a sixth grader, and if she does not see that deoderant right in front of her face, she will not use it! The bowl on top holds her little lip glosses, etc. Now this she does not forget to put on, but she can't manage to put it back in the drawer when finished.

I love the pretty design on the dishes (excuse the next pic, I was trying to show the desgin, but it is hard to see since I placed it on a patterned placemat). In fact, I am using it to plan the rest of the bathroom. I think I am going to pain the cabinet cream and distress them. Before I had a real plan, I was going to frame the mirror with painted wood. But now I would like it to be framed in a delicate silver, to match the candlesticks. I will take some before pics of the bathroom before I get started.

Here is one more shot, before I filled it with goodies:)!

And here is a picture of the ongoing (and going, and going, and going) desk project. I need to finish stripping and sanding. I have GOT to get my office/craft area finished before I start teaching!!!

Linking to:

Five Minute Fridays: Beauty

I have only been blogging once a week, due to the fact that we have been sooooo busy with back to school!! All three of my kids are there full time now, so hopefully I will have time to finish some crafts and other fun stuff.

I am linking up with Gypsy Mama's Five minute Friday!!!!! This week's prompt: beauty.

Ready. Seteee. Gooooo.

8:50

Beauty is as beauty does.

Beauty is:

my son's eyelashes
my daughter's perfect eyebrows.
my other daughter's huge heart shaped smile, dimples and all
my laugh lines, really.... I like them
my husband's dark hair and brown eyes.
my fifteen year old dog's sweet expressions.
my flowers, my yard, the air

Beauty is all around me, all of the time. It sometimes takes me breath away. Beauty is especially present when my children point it out to me.

Beauty is:

relationships
the gift of a new, fresh day, everyday
knowledge
words
pictures
thoughts
books
nature
my children's curiosity
Jack's teacher's smile
my husband's cooking, wow is he talented
dancing
history

beauty is abound and plentifull. Thank you, Father, for letting me recongize and appreciate the beauty.

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Five minute Friday: Whole

Linking up to Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday! Come take a look at the thoughts and wonderings of all these lovely ladies. And maybe write a few yourself;)!

This week's prompt: whole

Starting now:

Whole. A whole lot of what? Man, these small words just hit home with me everyweek! I have to take a deep breath and just write, because if I stop and think it hits a bit too hard.

Not really feeling whole lately. Something is certainly missing? What is it? I am a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter and a teacher. Lots of little things, but it is not adding up. Lately, I feel like I am just going through the motions. Not feeling, just doing. And I don't like it, not one bit.

What is that missing something? Pretty sure I know. Should I say it aloud? FAITH. Yes, I believe. But it is underlying everthing that I think and do? Does it even cross my mind everyday? No. I need to focus on what I believe. Read, pray, study. Take the time to think and reflect. This is something that will begin to close those gaps. Something that will begin to pull it together. Leading to a wholeness.

So why do I resist? Why do I let it sit in the back of my mind. This wholeness. This spirituality?

stop

Five Minute Friday: Still

Linking up to Gypsy Mama's five Minute Friday. I missed last week because I was too emotional to write. crazy, huh?
Anyway, this week's prompt is STILL.

Start time: 8:50
The only place that I can ever truely be still, is when I am outdoors, alone. Sure, I can sit on the couch in my home, not moving. And I can lay in my bed in the morning and in the night. But the only time I can be STILL, to breathe and remove myself from everything, is when I am outside, by myself.
Truthfully, I can even be watering flowers, feeding the fish, etc. But in these moments with nature, my mind feels STILL. I feel connected with nature, with the air, even if it is moving, and my mind. And I suppose, this is when I feel most connected with God.
When I am in my home, in the car, in a class, even in a church setting, I am never still. My mind is always wandering. I am distracted by movement, by sound, by smell, by voice. But when I am outside in nature, the world seems to stop for me. Even though I am among the animals and the birds, and the trees and bugs, time just seems to stop.
This is where I FEEL very alive. The seasons can change, our backyard can transform, but there is something so stagnant and unchanging about the beauty of nature.
As I type this, is really does not seem to make much sense, even to me. But I am grateful that I know this about myself. Everyone needs a time or place to be still. And walking out my back door allows me to do this.
Stop.

Have a wonderful day.

Beth

I did not have my memory card for pictures, so I typed in still images on Google. This old timey picture of a moonshine still came up and I love old pictures. Totally unrelated to my post, but isn't it cool?

Antique Moroccan Table...cleaned up and ready to go!

On our anniversary trip three weeks ago, we ventured into a small antique shop in Biltmore Village (Asheville, N.C). Chris and I don't always agree on pieces, but this one we both loved. The wooden stand folds flat, and the tray appeared to be a dark metal.

On our drive home, we discussed what we would do to pretty up the table. There is beautiful detail on the legs and for some reason, everytime I see beautiful detail I think that it is time to paint or antique. My husband suggested just cleaning it up and leaving as is. I REALLY had to think about that one.

We both knew we wanted to clean the metal tray. We stopped and bought Brasso on the way home. I couldn't wait to dive in, and while Chris was cutting the grass, I began to Brasso away!! When I hit shiny copper, I had to run out and stop Chris to come see!

We knew the etched details were extensive and we knew metal was involved, but didn't expect to see this glorious, shiny copper and etched illustrations! We were soooo excited!

The Brasso did work for the front, but we had to use elbow grease for sure! The gunk that we could not get out of the cracks, we removed by combining lemon juice with salt and scrubbing. For the flat surface of the back of the tray, I tried a trick I learned online. I rubbed ketchup arcross the surface, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wiped it off. It worked well for the back, but I don't know how well it would work on etched/detailed surfaces.

After we admired our beautiful copper tray, we decided to go natural and original for the base. We cleaned the legs with Murphy's Oil Soap and then applied Miniwax Wipe on Wax. We LOVE this piece. It fits perfectly between our chair and our sofa!! So, so, so glad we did not paint the base!!!

I put my little revamped lamp, resin coasters and the almightly remotes on the tray!

Sometimes you gotta know when to leave things as they are and enjoy the natural beauty!

And not to sound too incredibly cheesy, but it was nice to complete this together, without major disagreements on how to finish it!

Beth

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My at home lovelies

I started the day yesterday being stir crazy. What could we do? Where can we go? School starts for my children on August 4th!!! One is starting kindergarten (I REALLY fear he is not ready), one is starting 3rd grade and one is starting MIDDLE SCHOOL! We are taking a mini trip to Chicago this weekend to see a White Sox game and I begin training and meetings for work this week:(. Summer is ending!!!!


Carly's school supply sculpture!

Anyway, the reason for this post is to show how I turned my focus to the beauty in my own home, and in my own life. My husband suggest a quick trip to Asheville, but that would cost money. Getting three kids geared up for school is expensive!! So, we made the best of our day at our house. I took pictures of blooming flowers, children's play, and we went to a new frozen yogurt shop. It was nice. I'm including some pictures I took earlier in the week, too. Enjoy:)!

Tomatoes from the garden, that got turned into pasta sauce last night!

Found a sweet and random note from Maddie.

Look at this cool little dude I spied on a hurricane centerpiece. Makes me smile whenever I see him:).

Our gigantic disco belle hibiscus plant!

Our silly Jack posing with the plant:)!

Waiting for the storm.....

Talking and painting

Sweet sleepover

Boy's toys

Just some random pictures of the random beauty that surrounds me everyday.

Beth

www.starfishblog.com