Favorite Nooks and Cranies

After we married and I moved in (to his perfectly-acceptable-to-him home) and set up shop, my husband quickly learned many quirky things regarding the way I operate. (He has yet to understand them. I've informed him it is best not to try)

Among them is Preference No. 438 : Whenever any particular holiday is over-especially Christmas-waste no time in bringing down the decorations. And I mean NO time. To me, after December 25th, but especially after January 31st, the glittering, festive decorations scream "IT's OVER!!! It's ALL OVER!!" and I'm already sad about it, so why have reminders glaring in my face? (and taking up space!). And so, like a busy beaver bustling around her dam, I bust my bottom and get things packed away (during naptime). It feels really good, to be quite honest, to regain the space. It also brings upon me a unique new year's 'nesting' urge...to cozy-up, charm-up our little corner of the world. And thus, today, I'd like to share with you a few of my favorite nooks and cranies...

First, our vintage kitchen that my darling husband has (literally) bent over backwards renovating this past year. In order to save money, he has done it all by hand and it has turned out so beautifully so far (there are only a few upper cabinets to make and install). I desired a vintage/farmhouse style. Here is the eating area (with the children's little vintage play kitchen to the side)...

This little 'arrangement' is sitting on my kitchen counter. I have not made one recipe from the cookbook, but it is just too darn cute to sit on a shelf somewhere. Along with it is an old timer I found at an estate sale in Dallas with my sister, Ashley, last August. The "Treats" tin contains all bribe-related treats that I could need in a pinch. :)

My friend, Wanda, is a consultant for Upper Case Living, from which I purchased the quote on the wall. What fun stuff! ( Visit her website for a little inspiration & shopping!). This is the hallway up to the second floor. It has pictures of both of our families...going back several generations. The quote on the wall reads "The Family is one of God's Masterpeices".

The Buffet server in our dining room is an antique my husband had...and it's a favorite of mine! On it, I've arranged a few little items on a vintage tableclothe my mom had given me for Christmas. Last year, she made me the beautifully lit crystal canister. If you know her, or have visited her blog, you know she is Creativity in form of a human!! (and I'm the fortunate one to be her daughter and often at the receiving end of her creative ingenuity!). There are two little figurines that are on either side of the light. They look like George and Martha Washington and used to sit on a stone ledge on my great-grandma's fireplace. I used to just stare at them, and occassionally, when the adults where not looking, I would make them dance and kiss. :) I am so grateful to have them as reminders of her!

This is a table my husband ("Curt Villa") made and it sits near the front door. I have pictures of each of our children surrounding the mirror. The "picture" to your right is a print out of Psalm 91, which is my prayer for our children. After I had Mackenzie, I went to put up her picture there, but Curt said "You can't do that! That is Hope's frame!" (Hope is one of our children living out her childhood in Heaven. She would be 3 years old if she were here! She is a part of our history, and thus a part of who we are...and I think I'm pretty blessed to have had her!!!). So....Mackenzie's picture sits on the table. :)

I also like to have old books here and there as they add character!

The picture at the top of this posting is the centerpeice on the dining room table. I used what I had around the house, as taking three babies to Michaels is akin to having a root canal without novacaine!

Well...thanks for taking time to share in my world. The only thing I do not like about blogging is that I feel selfish...I'm not sharing in YOUR world at the same time!

To end our time together, I'll simply share the wisdom of Solomon, posted upon my fridge:

"Fearing people is a dangerous trap,

but to trust the Lord means safety"

-Proverbs 29:25 The Message