A Happy Heart

Blah

2011-03-04T18:54:00.002-06:00

Blogging Blahs! Sorry for being absent lately in the blogging world! Who knows maybe it is the weather, maybe the time of year, or just maybe the busyness of our home. Whatever it is hopefully I will be back to projects, crafting and blogging about it all sometime soon. Please forgive give me from this break! Thanks. Until I return here is a very awesome and detailed website you will love and it all starts with the kitchen sink!

http://flylady.com/pages/begin_babysteps.asp

New Plan

2011-02-26T13:12:00.000-06:00

I thought I would be painting the bathroom or almost done at this point well a change of plans!
Have I ever told you I LOVE craigslist? In the back of my head I have been looking for the perfect bed for my daughter's room and you guessed it...today I found it! You want to know the even better part? I have the cash saved for it and it is something I was prepared to keep searching for! The intention for my daughter's room is elegance. To get to that point I will have to patiently wait to stumble upon the things I would like for her room. For now I am so excited I can begin the process with the awesome find off craigslist! Here it is:

It is a double size sleigh bed!! And no I do not intend to leave it looking like this. Super excited to pick it up and start painting away! The goal is to have the room complete and somewhat put together over the next few weeks so stay tuned for the changes!

String Bean Green

2011-02-24T09:46:00.000-06:00

String Bean Green

This is currently the color I am debating on for the guest/kids bathroom! Just a quick peek to let you know what I will be working on the next few days.
Also in case you haven't heard of The Nester...you must check out her post today! Loved it!!!
Have a great day!

CRAZY

2011-02-16T22:08:00.000-06:00

I know you are all going to think I have gone crazy but I am on a mission for white, yes a white couch! Sad to say my thoughts are absorbed with daydreaming of the perfect well kinda perfect white couch. I have listed my current couch at least twice on craigslist but was to chicken to actually post the listing and deleted it. Just in case you have the most perfect imperfect white couch that needs a new home please don't hesitate to let me know. Until I find my treasure I have found some perfect inspiration pictures of your enjoyment!

above picture ballard design, below country living

Eight

2011-02-15T17:28:00.000-06:00

Yes it has been eight interesting years filled with lots of ups and downs. Thankfully I couldn't imagine going through these earthly challenges with anybody other than my husband! The amazing and wonderful thing is they are just earthly battles we face and our ultimate fulfillment is in the Lord. Thankful today especially that God has given me such a wonderful best friend, father, growing in godliness man to call my husband. I love you Don and Happy Anniversary. And so we all can enjoy my most favorite flower of all time, here is a picture of what I received today...

from the most favorite man of all time that I call my Husband.

The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking: 5 Things That Make A House Look Cleaner Than It Is...

2011-02-13T03:33:00.001-06:00

Had to share this post with you from another blog. LOVE these 5 Things That Make A House Look Cleaner Than It Is!!! I ran across this and LOVE it, hope you enjoy it too.

The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking: 5 Things That Make A House Look Cleaner Than It Is...: "1. Smell. It doesn't matter how clean your house really is, if it smells bad it doesn't feel clean. The fact is, however, that ..."

Daddy Daughter Dance

2011-02-11T16:46:00.000-06:00

Normally I really try to keep this blog to crafty, decorating, or cleaning things but February is a month packed with other stuff so please bare with me as I fill you a little with the going on at our home!
Tonight our town is having a Daddy Daughter Dance. This is HUGE excitement for our little girl. She literally waits all year for this event and loves every minute of the evening with her daddy. She has been going since she was 2 and she loved it then just a much as she loves it now. Hopefully years from now she will still get giddy to go on a date with her daddy! Anyway this event means a new dress and what girl doesn't love a new dress? There is an amazing shop in our town called Heather Hill, which if you have a little girl, it is a must to check out her website. Trust me you will fall in love with her clothing for girls! We definitely have!

So this year we took our annual shopping trip to her store and Lauren picked out her dress for this glorious evening. The big dance starts at 6:30pm and my lovely daughter has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her Prince Charming aka "daddy" since ummm well about 2:30pm this afternoon! Lets hope these next couple hours fly by for her and she makes wonderful memories this evening that will stay with her for a lifetime!

Happy Birthday

2011-02-10T08:00:00.005-06:00

Today our precious little boy is turning 6!!! Oh my word, he is growing up way to fast!!! I absolutly love love love every stage my kids go through. Wish I could bottle up a little from each phase and keep it forever.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET KELLYN!
MOMMY, DADDY, and YOUR SISTER LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH. MOMMY AND DADDY ARE SO PROUD OF THE GODLY YOUNG LITTLE MAN YOU ARE BECOMING. WE THANK GOD DAILY FOR YOU AND YOUR SISTER! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WE LOVE YOU!

Kitchen Corner

2011-02-09T13:20:00.000-06:00

Since we have been snowed in yet again I have been rearranging things in our home. Currently I am loving this corner in the kitchen. When I arranged our bedroom there was an extra side table that I couldn't figure out where to put so it went into the save for later pile. Then as I was clearing off our kitchen table I thought it would be nice to have a place to put stuff that collects on the table. Here it is the extra side table in the kitchen and I have to tell you I am loving this little corner! You really never know where something will work unless you just give it a try!

Confession and Randomness

2011-02-02T20:33:00.000-06:00

The confession is this:

The painting isn't finished and I really ~~HATE~~ dislike that florescent light a lot!!!

Now for the randomness of this post. Today was day #2 of being snowed in and school is also canceled for tomorrow! This is one of my lovelies sitting on the kitchen floor watching me make a craft for one of his friends who turned 18 today. What in the world do you get an 18 year old from a 5 year old. Well the perfect solution was candy!!!

And here is the candy gift we made for a friend...

Hope you have enjoyed the crazy randomness of this post!

The Kitchen

2011-02-01T11:32:00.001-06:00

First, before you judge me the walls need a second coat, I am not a very good photographer, and yes dishes are in the sink! So far I like the change but can't wait to sew some burlap curtains and eventually one day get a rug that really ties it all together. Until then I am happy with the color, it is definitely a big step for me to go with a lighter color pallet for paint choices.

Change in the kitchen

2011-01-29T00:33:00.000-06:00

Here are some past pictures of how our kitchen looks currently. The problem is I am ready to add some change to the kitchen with paint. The project this weekend is to paint the kitchen. It may be a little tricky but hopefully by Monday I will be able to show you the transformation that I can see in my head!

So the current color options are a light blue with a grey tone in it...

This color is called Maine Harbor and I love it! And this the rug I am currently drooling over for the kitchen transformation is this beauty from Target, which is currently on clearance.

Hopefully I will have a lot to blog about next week after the transformation. I guess I better get to work.

Simply Organized

2011-01-25T09:45:00.001-06:00

This would definitely be my DREAM job...to become a professional organizer!!!! Oh yes there are professional organizers out there and maybe just maybe one day I will be one of them!!! So for now here is an awesome blog of a professional organizer in the area were I live:

Simply Organized of NWA: Eye-pleasing organizing inspiration

Dilemma

2011-01-24T07:40:00.001-06:00

I love greenery color in a room! It can be ferns, flowers, anything greenish, but lately fake greens have been driving my crazy!!! The only dilemma is...what would go in all the spots in my house that have fake stuff?!? Certainly not real arrangements b/c I have a tendency to neglect real greenery. So the problem has been in mind for a long time and I just haven't figured out what to do just yet...until this weekend. Seems a little silly to be so excited over a $3.95 purchase that will solve this decorating dilemma. Well at least for now I think I may be onto a solution, and it is called a "house plant". And it doesn't require that much attention!

What do you think? It is REAL!!! That is not how I intend to leave it sitting on the coffee table. Last week at Salvation Army I spotted an awesome hurricane glass that would be perfect for it. So hopefully when I go back they will not have sold it, but if so I am sure there will be another treasure that will work wonders too. Here is hoping that this plant is the answer to my dilemma and little by little I can replace the old fake stuff with actual real charming "house plants" that require little attention. Oh and lets hope this plant is still alive in a few days too!

One Down

2011-01-23T00:25:00.000-06:00

So I can mark one thing off my things to accomplish list!!! My very sweet mom and dad were so kind to have the kids over for a sleep over so I could paint my room. AWESOME, therapy! Well in case you forgot what the room looked like before here you...

I really do like the black, but I felt like it was to much and our house wasn't fancy enough?! The room never felt completed. Well after contemplating over several color options finally the winner was GRAVITY by ValSpar.

After working for several hours and then my loving husband taking me target for a few accessories we have a finished product. Hope you like!

Now on to another project....

Motivation

2011-01-21T00:36:00.000-06:00

So motivation is definitely the word I am needing for this lovely winter month! Here it goes...maybe if I put this list down for others to see I will feel the need to be motivated to accomplish what is on it quicker!!!

Goals for my home...
1. Paint my bedroom and find an awesome comforter that I fall madly in love with.
2. Organize and get rid of anything that isn't being used. I feel the need to minimize "stuff".
3. Save for really cool wallpaper for the living room wall!!! Probably just dreaming on that one.
4. Enjoy all the imperfections of our home.

This was a super short post and no pictures :(, but hopefully pictures will come soon!

Merry Christmas Everyone

2010-12-08T22:11:00.000-06:00

Well it has been a long time since I have posted anything. I still don't have a camera, but my lovely neighbor was so kind to take pictures for me again! Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. Here are a few pictures until I can post more about cleaning, and decorating for the wonderful Christmas holiday.

This is in the living room, then my daughter's tree.

The front door trees, then my son's room and our bedroom.

The last two are the tree in the den and the tree in the eating area!

Really hope you enjoyed this quick Christmas tour. More importantly I hope you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas season. Merry Christmas Everyone.

Have you missed me?

2010-08-20T22:01:00.000-05:00

Sorry that I have been MIA but I broke the camera that I was borrowing from my neighbor. I know some neighbor I am. Anyway just wanted to let you know to check out the nester today. I think you will love it!

http://www.thenester.com/2010/08/tables-and-chairs-a-link-up.html

Finished Bathroom Project

2010-07-06T22:43:00.000-05:00

Here is the finished project, I am very pleased and can't wait to do this to my master bathroom mirror!!!

Another Project....

2010-07-06T14:51:00.000-05:00

So now my sweet friend who knows how to use her power tools is completing the project. Soon you will see the completed bathroom project. I am so excited to see how it turns out!!!

Organization

2010-06-14T16:05:00.001-05:00

Do you ever feel completely out of control and overwhelmed with clutter? I know, we all do at some point and it really gets to me and I become obsessed with getting organized. This is an awesome website for getting organized and giving great tips to stay organized...http://simplyorganizednwa.blogspot.com/. You will love this blog!

Summer Bedroom Makeover

2010-06-10T19:12:00.001-05:00

Before

And here is the after...

Here is my daughter's before...

The next picture is the "not finished yet" but close. Still have some painting and an attempt at board and batten...

I will show you the finished product when I get finished, which will hopefully be soon! What projects would you like to accomplish this summer? I would love to hear from you.

My attempt to bake

2010-06-02T22:29:00.001-05:00

Well I have attempted to bake chocolate chip cookies to perfection. This past week I have baked maybe 5 batches of these cookies. No joke, I had to pass them out to the neighbors b/c I wanted to get the cookies to be perfect. Needless to say this is now my most favorite cookie ever...and maybe one day I will share the recipe. For now I will just tempt you with a picture b/c I am so proud...you know b/c I NEVER bake anything that looks pretty or is half way decent to eat. Unfortunately now I am on the low carb diet because I ate so many!

Dream A Little Dream

2010-05-28T19:09:00.000-05:00

The above design board is amazing to me!!! If you want an awesome site to look at the link from the picture is a great blog. I LOVE the Moravian star pendant lighting pictured above and the amazing chandelier in the bathroom. I think I could use about 5 of those chandeliers in different spots in my house. The colors in the grouping are wonderful and oh how I love the white chair and unique mirror! Well I guess you can tell how much I admire this grouping and design idea. Thought I would share it with you too!

Hair Bow Solution

2010-05-20T16:24:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to show you a quick solution to a problem we had for keeping hair bows neat and being able to see what matched the outfit!!! My neighbor gave me the frame and I spray painted it black and

then she stapled chicken wire on the back because she had some. (my neighbor could write an entire blog on why she has chicken wire and what goes into the process of raising laying hens...) The end result is an awesome bow organizer that keeps them neatly displayed. Now I don't have to go through a bucket to determine if a have a matching bow or not. Also my daughter loves to go into the bathroom and pick the bow that goes with her outfit and that makes me happy!

My most dreaded thing to do...

2010-05-19T12:57:00.001-05:00

I really dislike to cook. I don't know if it is the preparation or making sure we have all the ingredients or trying to take care of the kids while I am sweating to death b/c the kitchen gets so hot. Well whatever the reason I do not like to cook. One day when I am rich from blogging I will pay someone to cook for my family. You know how people pay for people to come in and clean I would much rather have someone cook for me!!! Okay enough of my complaining, I really do try to cook with a happy heart but it is very hard for me. To try to help with the process of dinner I created this Weekly Menu that I have enjoyed. It takes the stress out of thinking what is for dinner every day. You can make these, it is so easy!

The menu board is just a cheap frame from Wal-Mart. Then the backing of the frame is covered in burlap and finally I stamped the days of the week onto the burlap. Super Easy!!! Then you can just write the weeks menu on the glass and wipe it off and write the new menu. Now the other easy part is dinner for tonight which is beans and cornbread. Seriously one of my family favorites. I got the recipe from my sister-in-law and she said it was one of her family favorites also. I didn't believe her until I made it and well is was a hit.

Here is the recipe:
Beans and Rice
This is my kids all time favorite supper and they said that they can live off of it!!! It is the cheapest thing to make!
1 bag of pinto beans. Soak according to directions. Rinse, Add water to about 2inches above the beans. (Can always add more water at the end if it is drying up) Chop an onion and add. Put in 1 can of Rotel, salt, pepper, Garlic powder, sometimes I add Cumin to taste. Bring to a boil and then put on a lid and simmer for 5 hours or more. Stir occasionally. Serve with rice. We put rice in bottom of the bowl, top with beans, Shredded cheese, Sour cream, Salsa, or whatever toppings you like. I usually fix corn or another type of veggie with this. Sometimes I use cornbread instead of rice and we call them Indian tacos and so the same thing instead of rice.

So what is for dinner tonight at your house?

Search for a Cake Plate

2010-05-19T02:05:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday was my daughters birthday and I had been searching for some cake plates. I didn't want really fancy ones and I also wanted them to be inexpensive...no luck. Since I had no luck finding what I wanted I decided to make my own. Not one but 2 cake plates for only $4.00. Yes $4.00 and I love how

they turned out.

I purchased the two plates and two glasses from the dollar store. I already had the glue at home and some pink and purple tulle. All it took was a little glue on the bottom of the glasses and a ribbon around the tulle for decoration and instant cake plates were the result!

I can't wait to use them again.

Oh and let me introduce you to my new pet. His name is Champ and he is known as my dog and I couldn't be more excited about "my dog". I fell in love with him at the animal shelter and couldn't stop thinking about him, so now he's mine!

Dailyness

2010-05-10T22:09:00.002-05:00

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2010/05/dailyness.html

Have you ever had a time in your life that you just feel completely weighed down by everything that needs to be accomplished in the dailyness of life? It is if and only if all the things on the To-Do List that we ourselves have created that we can then feel like we completed something when the list is complete. I quickly forget that without God nothing is able to get accomplished and I will find my true joy and contentment in Him only. If you click on the attachment above it will take you to an amazing devotion that I just wanted to share, hope this will make your heart happy too.

To Blog or not...

2010-05-04T01:10:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the poor blogging the past couple of weeks. I will attempt to do a better job because my wonderful neighbor has let me borrow a camera of hers so I will have no more excuses for the absence of blogging. My goal is to start blogging again within the next few weeks. Thanks so much for checking out the blog and hope you will check back soon. Have a wonderful day.

Just a Reminder

2010-04-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to check out:

http://havingahappyheart.tumblr.com/

Tassel Party Link

2010-04-22T17:18:00.001-05:00

Today I linked up with http://www.thenester.com/ she is having a tassel party, so check it out! Happy Heart is #23 on her tassel party link.

picture taken from http://www.thenester.com/2010/04/tassel-party.html

I wish I could bake

2010-04-16T23:36:00.004-05:00

http://brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com/

http://www.somewhatsimple.com/

I wish so bad that I could bake and things would turn out looking like this!!! Does this cookie look amazing or what? Honestly the blog of the lady who can bake like this is awesome and to me it doesn't seem that this would be somewhat simple. If there was one thing I could do really well, I wish it would be to bake. Well two things 1.bake and 2. not gain any weight while baking. Oh well I would settle for just being a heck of a baker, until then I'll admire pictures like this! Enjoy and have a good weekend. Let me know if you try this recipe.

This is our Garage

2010-04-12T23:33:00.003-05:00

I know must of you couldn't imagine the idea of not parking in your garage. Honestly I couldn't imagine parking in my garage. When our family moved almost a year ago we knew immediately we wanted to convert our garage into a "den" and craft space. So we called on my dad and we couldn't be happier with our choice. Here is our garage and "craft closet".

Ever wanted to make your closet a space just for you? Well, go for it! Here are some pictures of my "craft room" also know as the closet in the den. Whatever works for the space you have. I really enjoy the craft closet but I still find myself doing crafts on the kitchen table. What is it about the kitchen that always draws everything to happen in it?

Inspiration

2010-04-10T22:42:00.001-05:00

I found that my blog list of inspiration ideas continued to get longer and longer. It bothered me that I felt like things were getting unorganized so I decided to put them in one spot and share them with you. The idea came from http://www.thenester.com/ which is my most favorite blog ever for decorating inspiration. Isn't coping the best compliment ever? Well, hope you enjoy seeing the things that bring me inspiration and make my heart happy. The website were I will post ideas that inspire is: http://havingahappyheart.tumblr.com/. Click on it and let me know what you think. You can check periodically on the that website to see what has inspired me. Hope you enjoy!!!

New Door Knobs

2010-04-09T22:48:00.007-05:00

Have you ever wondered if you could paint the ever so popular gold fixtures, door knobs, and anything else that outdated color gold in your home? I am not a fan of the gold fixtures but maybe you are and that is great! I'm just saying the gold in my house was causing me to loose sleep at night.

This is a picture of what my door knobs use to look like:

I know the picture is not as awesome as the ones my neighbor can take but I tried. My neighbor was so kind to let me borrow her other camera so I would be able to take and post pictures all by myself. ~Thanks

Viola, this is how they look now:

Now I am able to sleep at night now. It has been about two weeks since I did the majority of door knobs and I just finished this past week and I couldn't be more pleased at how they have held up and the difference it has made to our home. Originally I was going for a more bronze antique look but I grabbed the wrong can of spray paint. Once I decide to do something I am not very patient so I didn't want to return the spray paint so I just used the color brown I grabbed and I liked it, so I kept going.

Here is what I used:

First I took the door knobs off and the plate that is on the door frame. I left the inside of the door knob in the door. Then I took the front and back of the door knob along with the plate thing and the screws and lightly sanded them with just a sheet of sandpaper I had. Then I used the Kilz primer spay paint. The key is light coats of spray paint, and several coats. Also a common mistake is getting to close and spraying and that will leave drips of paint. So stand back and spray a thin coat. Then let dry and do it again until the entire surface is covered. Next repeat the same process with the color you pick, in my case it was the brown. I also got the spray paint that said could be used on metal and outdoor surfaces just because I thought that would be good for the durability. Finally I just sprayed one thin coat of clear to seal it all. Make sure that every step your spray paint is good and dry. I also did the same process on the screws. Oh and to remove and put the door knobs back I used an old fashion hand held screw driver, not an electric one because I tried electric and it rubbed the door knob and I was afraid it would take off the paint. Well there you have it. Let me know if you try this and how you like the great upgrade it makes for your home! In conclusion to my question, Can you use paint on a door knob or fixture? Yes you can!

Guests in the Bathroom

2010-04-05T13:32:00.003-05:00

The bathroom is one of the places that always seem to get visited, when guests stop in to say "Hi". So here's what I like to do in our bathroom to keep it guest ready. Please ignore the color of the wall, I haven't decided on the color that I want to paint them. I am thinking maybe a brownish/goldish, what do you think?!?

Besides the weekly "deep clean" I like to have a bottle of cleaner (vinegar/water) and paper towels under the sink. This makes it so easy to touch up real quick whenever I am in the bathroom. A fast wipe down and wipe of the mirrors freshens things up nicely. We have one of those ugly doors that goes to the stand-up shower, so I decided why not hide it with a shower curtain. Well, I didn't like how any of the shower curtains looked so I found some awesome window curtains on the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart and it instantly soften up the bathroom and made it much more inviting. Also I have the towels and the top of the counter in a basket. At first I thought I wouldn't like having the towels out in the open, but I really do like the convenience of them. Most of all I love having a lamp in the bathroom. It serves as a night light, and always makes the space inviting. What is your favorite part of your bathroom?

Spring Clean Tip

2010-03-31T21:06:00.001-05:00

It's that wonderful time of year...Spring Cleaning Time. What does that mean to you? To me it is a an awesome opportunity to rearrange, organize, redecorate, and reduce the items in our home that aren't being used. Oh and clean, clean, clean. It is a great chance to make a list of what you want to accomplish and begin to prioritize your goals of your home. For myself the kitchen is a biggie. First I take out things that I haven't used in and could live without. You could start a pile for a garage sale and earn a few bucks off your unwanted stuff. This prompts me to organize and maximize the space. Then I begin to clean. I pull out the stove, fridge, and go to town scrubbing. Take things out of drawers and cabinets and clean them inside and out. I still have to say my most favorite cleaning solution is the faithful homemade solution of vinegar/water/borax and dish soap. Lately, I have used straight vinegar and water, then the other homemade solution. I know the smell of vinegar is completely overwhelming, but that is where a scentsy comes in so handy! Last I redecorate the space and viola you have a super clean, new, organized, refreshing springy space. I guess I have no super secret tip on how to spring clean but this is what I like to do to re-energize a space in my house to make it new.

It would be so wonderful if my appliances were not such a lovely color white. Maybe if I go through enough stuff I don't use in my house I will have one heck of a garage sale and replace the appliances. Until that happens please overlook the appliances along with the counter tops that maybe one day will be butcher block. Oh and the fab sink, that to is on the never ending wish list to be a big, deep, farm sink.

Isn't it fun to have a wish list?!

6 Ways to Like Your Home More Today

2010-03-29T21:20:00.000-05:00

I was reading through the blogs that I love to read and I ran across this from Our Suburban Cottage. I think this will begin to inspire you in the start of the Spring Clean Process. This is an amazing blog filled with great ideas and much more, hope you enjoy.

taken from Our Suburban Cottage...

6 Easy Ways to Like Your Home More Today

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Photo Credit: My Home Ideas

6 EASY WAYS TO LIKE YOUR HOME MORE TODAY

1) CLEAN SOMETHING: You don’t have to clean the whole house, just pick one area (i.e. a shelf, the floors in the living room) and clean it. Or set the clock for 15 or 30 minutes and see how much you can get done before the timer goes off. You’ll instantly feel better.

2) FIX ONE THING: Is there a light bulb that’s been out for a while? A piece of trim that needs 30 seconds with a glue gun? A button that needs to be sewn on? Choose one thing and do it.

3) MAKE YOUR HOUSE SMELL GOOD: Open a window (unless it’s 30 degrees outside), light a scented candle, spray some Febreeze on the upholstery (…and in your teenage son’s bedroom), bake cookies (well…you know…those pre-made ones from the deli case…I’m not asking you to clean AND bake real cookies!)

4) SHAKE IT UP BY SHOPPING THE HOUSE: Could the throw pillows on the sofa look nice on your bed?…or vice versa? Would that vase on your dresser be the perfect solution for your mantel with a handful of branches in it? Take a few minutes and experiment.

5) FIND SOMETHING TO PAINT!: Can you breathe new life into that old frame?, those ugly candlesticks?, or those boring oak stools? Think about it, and remember that a quart of paint or a can of spray paint is CHEAP.

6) DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY: Listen to music while you cook, light a few candles and “dine” over mac n’ cheese, eat on the good plates (that doesn’t have to include your 3 year old). Doing something out of the ordinary instantly makes things feel special.

Welcome Change

2010-03-28T15:39:00.007-05:00

Remember this table I fell in love with that I found on Craigslist and sold our table so we could purchase it?

This was our kitchen table before I sold it...

Now it looks like this:

I love the finished result, and how the round table changed the entire mood of the space. I shopped the house moving things all around allowing new decorations in this space without spending any money. Although the rug is a new purchase. It was on sale at Lowe's for less than $50.00! If you have priced rugs before you will be running out the door to Lowe's to pick one up for yourself. Shopping the house is a great alternative to going out to buy something new. Things you thought would never look good moved, just might. Who says things always have to stay the same? Try moving something to a new spot and see how you welcome the change. Starting projects always makes me want to do more, so it was a busy weekend of rearranging, cleaning, and organizing. The prefect thing to energize me for some spring clean action, how about you?

Weekend Project

2010-03-25T00:19:00.001-05:00

Well, I know it isn't exactly the weekend yet, but I have started my weekend project. The goal is to accomplish my project so I will be able to Spring Clean next week and blog all about it.
Several months ago I painted my cabinets in the kitchen black. Since then I have really, really wanted a black circular table and I have been searching high and low for exactly what I had in mind. The problem was that I loved my square table and didn't want to sell it. Then I found exactly what I was looking for and had to sell my square table to be able to get the circle table. It did go to a great home!

Good-bye old table I will miss you!

New table that I found on Craigslist.

When I get the project completed I will ask my dear sweet neighbor once again to come over and take pictures so I can show and tell you all about how the weekend project went. We will see if this project gets completed before the weekend is over. What projects will you be working on over the weekend? I would love to hear from you!

Giveaway is Closed...and the winners are...

2010-03-24T00:20:00.002-05:00

First, thank you all so much for participating in the first ever giveaway on this blog. Thank you for being so kind and patient as I learn how the blogging world works. There were some great suggestions for future post that already have my mind turning so next week watch for several posts on Spring Time Clean. Also thank you so much Emilee for teaming up with this blog to continue to offer many more exciting things to come with Scentsy! Without further rambling we will let random.org do its thing......

Here are your random numbers:

3 13 20

CONGRATULATIONS...

KIMBERLY, SARAH8, AND MANDA RAE!!!!!

(winners watch for an e-mail today to get information for your Scentsy prize, sarah8 we need your e-mail)

First Winner comment number 3
Kimberly said...

I would love to try the Pineapple Paradise scent. I have mochadoodle and vanilla and like them both.

Second Winner comment number 13

sarah8_24 said...

My favorite Scentsy fragrance is Enchanted Mist. The aroma lingers and last forever.

I would love to see a blog with Spring Cleaning tips and ideas.

Cleanest room has to be living room or downstairs bathroom. These are the most visited by guests.

Third Winner comment number 20
MandaRae said...
I'm interested in smelling these scents - they sure do sound yummy!
The cleanest room in my house is the living room, but with that said - I have a lot of cleaning to do. That is why I've started reading this blog. LaNelle, you have a beautiful home!

Thanks everyone for your comments they all were greatly appreciated. If you didn't win this time, don't worry there will be more fun giveaways to come!

Giveaway Day

2010-03-23T07:22:00.009-05:00

The following is a guest post from Emilee a Star Consultant for Scentsy. We have known each other for a very long time and are thrilled to offer you some exciting giveaways today and in the future! Thanks Emilee for such a wonderful opportunity for us all, this will definitely make our hearts happy!

"First of all, I just want to say that I love your blog. It inspires me to clean, or at least think about cleaning. There is nothing better than a house that smells wonderful. I began selling Scentsy in July of 2009 and have been going strong ever since. With Scentsy warmers, there’s no flame, no smoke, and no lead - so no worries! Instead, each beautifully designed ceramic Scentsy Warmer houses a low-watt light bulb that slowly melts a specially formulated wickless Scentsy Bar, releasing delicious, long-lasting fragrances in any of your favorite spaces. Scentsy also has wonderful products like room sprays, travel tins, and hanging fresheners (car candles) that come in over 80 scents! I love this product so much that I thought I would share it with the readers of Having a Happy Heart."

1st winner will receive a hanging freshener

2nd winner will receive a travel tin

3rd winner will win a room spray

https://emileewills.scentsy.us/Home

Okay there you have it, 3 on the go giveaways!!! WOW, thank you so much Emilee you are awesome! I can't wait to see what you will do in April! Now all you have to do for your chance to win is this:

To be eligible to win you must leave a comment answering one of the three questions listed...

1. What smell would you pick from Scentsy?

2. What subject would you like Happy Heart to Blog about?

3. What is the cleanest room in your house?

** please include an e-mail so you can be notified if you win**

we will choose at random 3 different winners

GIVEAWAY WILL ONLY BE OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!

Smelly Goods

2010-03-22T09:17:00.000-05:00

When my house smells good I feel great! Don't you? I love to walk in to a great smelling house, it makes me feel so comfortable. Today is one of those days when I want to turn on my Scentsy and feel great without cleaning anything. Here is what my scentsy looks like:

These are great. All you do is turn it on put some wax in it and let it go to work smelling your house for you! Tomorrow there will be a guest post from Mrs. Emilee and her adventures in Scentsy. Best of all I have been told there will be a giveaway involved.

Original Hands

2010-03-20T09:49:00.000-05:00

You have to check out this website on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheOrganizedShopper

I have not yet ordered one, but I really, really, want to and I know you will also!

Imagine having all your coupons organized and your list all neatly positioned. I LOVE IT!!! No more plastic baggie and thumbing through every coupon to try to find out what coupons will work. I think I may be in

love with this delightful organizer!

Now, all I need to do is hint around to my husband that this would make the perfect Mother's Day gift!

Found Treasures...

2010-03-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

Yes, I spotted these awesome red lockers on the side of the road. Believe It, it is TRUE!!! Now I have to give credit to my mom because she is the one who called and asked if they were up for the taking. The man who lived were I spotted the lockers said "sure for $20 bucks". We were driving to my parents for an afternoon lunch and I spotted these treasures on the side of the road and new I had to have them for my son's room. If you have ever priced these bad boys at pottery barn kids you know they aren't cheap. Well, I am here to say these beauties were cheap and they were already painted red! It was not a yucky red either, it was a perfect Razorback Red!!! Someone's junk is my treasure, all you really need is a little elbow grease!!! You know it is about garage sale season again and wow the treasures you can find...my mind is spinning. So I leave with you a picture of a few of my treasures that have found a happy home in my son's room.

Yes, these are the lockers found for $20 bucks. The baseballs on top were free ~thanks papa! Just look around your softball/baseball fields and you'll find several balls that have been hit over the fence or just left behind. The bench the tv is on was in my friends garage sale and nobody bought it so guess what??? She gave it to me!

This is a glove we found at a garage sale but it was to small and the bat was free because it had a crack in it. So why not create a window treatment?!?!

Ever had one of these?

2010-03-17T19:09:00.000-05:00

I am having one of these kind of days...

Yuck!!! I really dislike it when dishes are pilled in the sink!!!

Oh if you only could see the mountain of clean clothes calling my name...

I Must Have...

2010-03-15T21:14:00.000-05:00

Okay after several days of thinking I know what I must have to clean. My must have essentials as my friend requested...

1 Vinegar
2. Borax (found with the detergent)
3. Murphy's Oil Soap
4. Newspaper for cleaning windows
5. Cleaning Rags
6. Spray Bottle to Mix Vinegar/Borax and Water for most of the cleaning
7. Bucket to mix Murphy's Oil and Water to clean floor and cabinets
8. Toothbrush for scrubbing

There you have it. I love simple and that is my Simple List of Cleaning Supplies. Don't get me wrong I do LOVE buying cleaning supplies and trying them out, and if they smell really good like Mr. Clean Febreeze that is great too, but to really get down and get things clean the above is what I would want. Now most of all I appologize for not having pictures but SORRY, I don't have a camera just and I really didn't want to bug my wonderful neighbor again to take pictures for me and my rambalings of cleaning supplies. So you'll have to use your imagination on this post. Well, hope this helps you!

Read Much?

2010-03-11T13:10:00.000-06:00

Yes, you guessed it, this wreath is made out of a book.

I love my new book wreath! If you want to know how to create this decoration for your home check out

these instructions: http://www.livingwithlindsay.com/2009/11/librarians-please-avert-your-eyes.html

Have a Great Weekend!

Where can you put a tassel?

2010-03-09T19:07:00.000-06:00

I fell in love with some tassels that "the Nester" created at http://www.thenester.com/. Anyway I attempted to make my own creation of a tassel. Let me tell you that you will love having tassels in your home. They add an extra decoration in an unexpected place. I have given a few tassels as gifts and people give me the look of... thanks so much but what am I going to do with this!? So I thought I give you some ideas of exactly where you can put a tassel...
1. Basically Anywhere
2. On a Lamp Switch
3. Door Knob
4. Cabinet Knob
5. Toliet Flusher Knob
6. Curtain Rod
7. Ceiling Light
8. Coat Rack
Here are some examples of tassels in our home...

Off the Ceiling Fan Light

Closet Door Knob b/c yes this door has to stay closed

This is just some ideas and really the places are endless. So in answer to the question:

Where can you put a tassel? Anywhere

A Closed Door = Extra Space

2010-03-08T10:46:00.000-06:00

In our home the laundry room is one of the very first rooms you see as you walk through the front door. I don't know why but I really dislike closed doors inside of a house. I feel like they are hiding something and make the area look small and dirty. I don't know why I know that sounds completly strange. So I could just keep our laundry room door closed and never have to worry about people seeing inside but I don't want a closed door. The laudry room or laundry area is like an extra space in your house so why not decorate it a little?

I really have thought about painting the inside of the laundry room but for now this is what it looks like. Also some matching storage baskets would be great all sitting on the top shelf, but for now I will be patient and make do with the lonely basket I have.

What does your laundry room look like?

Facebook Post

2010-03-05T21:28:00.000-06:00

Well I admit I do get on facebook daily to keep caught up I guess. Normally I may send someone a message every now and then. So posting in my status is very rare or commenting on someone elese's status is very rare for me to do also until last night. A friend posted a cleaning question and I automatically replied and loved every minute of it! I didn't even think twice about how my reply may sound. All that leads me to share with you the question of the day...

What to use when cleaning your floor?

In my opion I absolutley love Murphy Oil Soap. Once a week I will clean on my hands and knees the floor. I use a method of sectioning off the area in my head and work section by section. Not only does it smell awesome but it cleans great and the in between cleanings throughout the week are very managable. Throughout the week I like to use the amazing Wet Jet w/Febreeze Cleaner for multi-surface floors, it smells divine. What do you like to use on your floors?

MckLinky Chalkboards

2010-03-04T23:54:00.000-06:00

This is my first ever MckLinky post, I am still figuring out exactly what that means or how to do it but from what I understand so far someone can blog and other blogs can link up and show what they have done. If you haven't heard of The Nester well you are totally missing out so you have to check out The Nester blog at http://www.thenester.com/ you will LOVE it. All that to say when I read she was having a MckLinky party about chalkboard paint I decided to give it a try and well thanks for being patient with me through the learning experience of blogging. Now I will quit rambaling and show you the Chalkboard Headboard...
This picture is so not a picture of cleanliness perfection, but oh well some days are just not to perfection.

Anyway I love chalkboard paint! Not just because it is black and for now black is my favorite color but because the possibilities are endless, just check out all the inspiration from The Nester! Well hope you liked seeing me in my cleanliness imperfection, I will get my act together before the next post. Until then I would love to hear from you.

Guess What???

2010-03-03T10:40:00.000-06:00

Thanks to my sweet friend which happens to be my neighbor you now have pictures to look at! Thanks so much to my talented/crafty/photographer/awesome cook and friend!!! The top picture is the wall in the bedroom and the bottom is a wall in the living room.

Well, do you want to paint a wall black now?

Attempting the Kitchen

2010-02-26T20:34:00.000-06:00

Alright this one is a tough one for me to really feel like I can get clean...the kitchen. First it may sound a little silly but before I go to the grocery store every week I go through the fridge a take out any left overs we haven't eaten check the expiration date on things that may have gone bad and straighten up the inside of the fridge and freezer. Not only does this refresh my memory on what we have on hand but also makes room to place the things from the store. I read somewhere (I can't remember where) that the fridge should not be packed the flow of air should move throughout and the freezer should be packed to get the most out of your appliance. I don't know how true that is just thought I'd share that with you. I also do this in the cabinets. I'm a firm believer of if you don't use it don't keep it, so we really don't have a lot of extra food in our cabinets. The next big one for me in the area of the kitchen is the counters. I really don't like clutter but I struggle b/c I don't want the counters bare. So at least once I week I rearrange the things I do have on the counter hoping to find the solution to this black cloud that hangs over my kitchen. For now the best solution for this problem is things we use at least once a day or every other day is on the counter, and it seems to work. If you haven't already heard of THE FLY LADY you really should check her out at http://www.flylady.net/. According the the fly lady you must clean your kitchen sink...no not what you are thinking I mean clean it so you see yourself looking back at you in the relection of your sparkling sink. And I love having my sink clean it does make you feel great about your kitchen. Hope this helps a little for you to start feeling happy about your kitchen. Now I must go clean my sink, unfortunately dirty dishes are awaiting me.

Okay another wall is BLACK

2010-02-24T21:15:00.000-06:00

I really really liked the wall in the bedroom that was black so I had paint left over and another wall that needed a little something...so why not. The wall in our living room is now black. Everyone who has come over since the wall color has changed has said the room looked nice something seemed different, but they didn't realize it was the wall until I pointed it out. If you are thinking you could never paint a wall black in your house well I'm telling you you really need to rethink that because I LOVE it!
Lately I have felt the need to organize and de-clutter. So for tonight I will leave you with this question...
How much stuff do we need and actually use?

I Heart Painting

2010-02-16T07:03:00.000-06:00

To be honest I really don't heart painting, I heart the end result of painting.
I finally did it!!!! The wall in my bedroom is now black and I love it! Something in my bedroom just didn't seem right. I have got rid of clutter, cleaned from top to bottom, moved a few things around and it still didn't seem to work. Now all is okay with the wall painted black. Paint can dramatically change the look of a room and is a lot cheaper than new furniture, a new comforter, or well just about anything. Now my room feels so clean and crisp and I am so happy. Do you have somewhere in your home that feels a little dingy and you can't get clean no matter how hard you try? What about putting some paint on it? It really doesn't have to be just a wall. Paint can suprisingly change the overall look of anything from furniture to decorations and of course the wall. What can you paint today?

Homemade Cleaning Solution

2010-02-14T17:04:00.000-06:00

I know it has been a very long time since I've posted...Sorry, I will promise to try and do better. So let me tell you I saw on tv (I think it was the Dr.Oz show) how to make your own cleaning product. Normally I would of not given any thought to it but for some reason I tried it and I LOVE it!!!! When I go to the store and buy new cleaning products it makes me so happy but now I have saved money and everytime I make more cleaning solution I am very happy. You have got to try it. Here is the recipe:
1T Borax (by detergent)
3tsp Vinegar
Pepermint essential oil (for smell puprpose only)
some dish soap
some water
I have been very please with how it has cleaned. I really have been impressed with the bath tub and shower. You will love it, or at least I hope you will. Also the Borax is used for a lot of things and I had no idea what Borax was until I bought it for the cleaning solution. It will clean all sorts of things and also works well with stains for the laundry. Let me know what you think when you give it a try.

When is to early to decorate?

2009-10-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a few days since the last tip and I am not sure how I'm doing with this blog idea but I am enjoying it so for now I will keep blogging. Anyway here is a question for you...how early is to early to decorate for Christmas? Christmas is by far my most favorite time of the year. From the smells of Christmas to family togetherness and the celebration of Jesus' birth, I love it all. According to my husband what makes Christmas so special is the fact that you anticipate it all year and it comes and you celebrate and then its gone. You cherish the short season of Christmas. Well to me on the other hand I don't feel that way. Let me just tell you I already have my Christmas trees up. I am not completly done decorating but everything I could get out of the attic on my own I have gotten, but I have to wait until Novemeber 1st for help from my husband. Back to the question how early is to early to decorate?
All that to say as I prepared for setting up each Christmas tree I had to make sure each room was clean first. It would of drove my crazy to put up a Christmas tree in the middle of a messy room. This is how I like to go about cleaning a room. It really works if you need to clean really good or just touch up. First I start at the very begining of the room, where you first step your foot in. I just pick up anything that is out of place or scrub from that starting point and move throughout the room that way. It kinda gives me a start and finish point. Silly I know but I like specific detail instruction, although I HATE to read instructions I'd rather look at something and figure it out on my own. If that makes any sense at all, I guess it works best for me to have begining and an end to cleaning a room. So for now hope that makes your heart happy as you clean today. Oh and as soon as I figure out my camera I'll post some Christmas tree pictures.

What's under your bed?

2009-10-24T19:25:00.000-05:00

Please bare with me through this blogging experience. I'm not really sure if I should post every day or every other day. Anyway I was thinking of the last post and I thought this helpful tip may help you along with making the bed. Well, here it goes...do you know what is under your bed? I know nobody ever sees under your bed but if I have stuffed stuff under my bed I know it and it bothers me. I try to keep things very minimal under the bed. At the moment under our bed is 3 storage boxes one for each child and one for me to save things I think the may want when they get older. Also there is a bedspread set for when I get tired of the one that is on my bed and want to change the look of our room. It also helps for rearranging which I like to do a lot b/c you never really realize how dirty under your bed can get until you go to move around the furniture and it looks like you haven't cleaned in years. Anyway hope that tip will be helpful to you and make you happy. So lets go organize and clean under our beds! I know this post would be much more enjoyable with pictures...bare with me. Thanks so much.

Welcome to A Happy Heart

2009-10-22T18:08:00.000-05:00

Okay I finally decided to start a blog, hope you enjoy. I'm not good with correct grammer, spelling, etc... but hopefully you will get the idea. There are so many thoughts that go through my head and so many things I'd love to share with others so that is why I decided to try blogging. I mainly started this blog to help those out in blogging world have a happy heart about something I absolutely love and that is cleaning. I know that is odd to most but I love to clean. Oh and lets not forgot organizing I love that too! Until I can figure how to get my camera linked to my computer to post pictures I won't be much help but I will do my best. So what can you clean today?
Each day, even if my house is in a complete mess I find it most helpful to start in the bedroom. If the bed is not made my entire day is a mess. Yes weird I know, but I at least do my best to get the bed made, even if it is one of those days that the bed doesn't get made until the day is almost over I still try to make it! That way at least one area is clean and tidy and you can work from that. It also doesn't help for me that the front door looks directly into the bedroom. Well, I guess that is a good thing, gives me more motivation to get it done quickly in the morning. Hope this was helpful and please stick with me as I learn the ends and outs of blogging!
-LaNelle