"Fear is excitement without breath"

Someone wrote on facebook this morning... "I love random acts of kindess".

Isn't that sweet? I didn't inquire as to whether she was the recipient or the giver.. but I know this person well and am assuming the latter is probably true. Who doesn't right?

Bear with me while I tell you a little story. I went on a ladies retreat this past weekend at Camp Tejas in Giddings, Texas. (like that little plug there?) On Saturday we were given some time to venture out.. so my bestie and I went down the zip line to prove our braveness!! See me there?? On the left?? The one who looks ready to just jump right off?

That's Brandy on the right. The one leaning back on her rope like a stubborn mule. Notice the young tight tushie in the middle? He was very amused by my friends resistence to fun.. o.k. maybe that's an exaggeration.. she is alot of fun! Just when it's.. well.. you know, on ground level.

I bet you think this is the fear Im talking about in my title.. nope. Let's continue..

You see.. after many attempts to convince my friend it's safe.. she backed out and I dove right off that baby!! Well... she did end up doing it, later... and I am so proud of her.

A lady, who noticed her bravery, surprised her with a card she got from the gift shop to put in her wallet with a special saying about fear. She presented it to her much later, when this adventure was behind us, with a hug and a comment about her bravery. Such a small token... but appreciated in a huge way.

A friend of mine lost her dog yesterday. I wont go into details, but he passed away far too soon. She got him when she was in college and he was 11 years old when he passed. Tough stuff!! So I decided to "pay it forward". She's had this mirror she's been wanting me to refinish and I am going to paint it for her, for free. So I called her up, offered my condolences, and told her I was coming to get it right now. We visited and she reminisced... it was nice.

So I challenge you... pay it forward! Make someone smile, do a "random act of kindness". It's the little things that really mean so much..

o.k. my fear!! I made a big jump! (pun intended). One Ive been thinking about for a long time. I added a "for sale" tab to my website.. a.k.a. Im not just doing makeovers anymore. I am now offering custom pieces by me for you to purchase! and these aren't just pieces I paint and put up for sale.. I give you the chance to see them first (while they are still "ugly") and decide what color you want them!! please view example 1:and example 2:

that's not the scariest part. I knew simply adding this tab wouldn't bring everyone in... I had to advertise.

So I have started a contest on my facebook page to see who could bring me the most "friends" and that person would win 50% off a makeover or $50 in Fall Into Grace credit towards a new purchase. So I typed the status and held my breath as I hit submit.

I was so scared absolutely no one would join and I would be so embarrassed, that would mean failure and I should just toss my paint brush in the trash and just quit!! (ok, ok, Im being a bit of a drama queen! But failure is scary stuff!!

I was wrong... I now have 12 new friends and about 400 waiting on responses!!!!! Contest ends Sunday so I will update ya'll on how it goes!!

The One and Only Day I Stripped!

Oh... get your head out of the gutter. Im a lady! ;)

but I did try my hand at stripping once...AND ONLY ONCE!!!!!

see....

Not pretty is it?

but it's my own fault really...

My bestie Kaci text me a pic one day of this great chester that would go perfect in the new hallway in her new addition.

Can you refinish it? Is it worth it? Should I get it?

SURE! Looks great! Simple lines, a coat of paint, no biggie!!

geez louise!!! I'm from the south ya'll.. we talk like that)

THIS DRESSER TOOK ME AN ENTIRE WEEK TO FINISH!!!

I slapped some 50 grit paper on my handy mandy sander and went to work... and the pads kept gumming up.. (I swear the previous owner put a coat of gorilla glue on here just for cracks! )

So I decided to try stripping.. 1st coat....

Coat # ummm.. well.. the entire jug later.. we're almost there, right?

two days of scraping later..... I think I see wood somewhere under that funky junk.and the big reveal... (drum roll please!)

Can you believe this beautiful chest was underneath all of that???

Was all that work worth it?? oh yah baby!

So here it is... happy as a lark... in it's beautiful new home.

every beauty deserves a close up!!!
We chose a beautiful seafoamish, blue-ish, green-ish for the exterior and cream for the drawer fronts. Glazed and distressed to perfection! love her!

Ah - Ah - Ahchooey!

Be warned!

If you are grossed out by mucous... do not continue!!

The flu invaded our home last week and seems to have taken up permanent residence.

It all started with my little man on his first trip in a long time to grandma's.

He had to come home early for some necessary tlc. A few days later my baby girl got sick.

I knew I was doomed the second she sneezed directly in my face....

So they are all better and I am still recovering.... ((yes, I have my pouty face on))

So what have I been up to?? Well... thanks for asking!!!

I have been building my furniture bizz.. which has been buzzing and

preparing to open my own shop! well, it's a room in a friend's hair salon

(see some of my pretties waiting at the door for their new home!)

all while trying to make this 70's style rent-house a comfy oasis for my family.

Wanna see pics? I'll show you next time!

Im off to blow my nose!

Try To Explain, Lucy!!

I apologize if you have felt neglected lately...

But you see, I have a problem... Im a people pleaser *gasp*!!

I dont know how to say no... well, until the other day...

but my saying "no" really didnt go over well. The hurt look on the face of a good-willing,

help-needing soul turns me to mush and I compromised.

So here's a run-down....

Im an officer on the PTO, not because I wanted to be but because I was asked.

Im room-mom, which I volunteered,

but only because my son asked so sweetly that I be his class mom. and who can turn down that sweet little face just wanting his mommy.

I am now teaching AWANAS, on Sunday nights. My guilt of needing to be a willing worker for Christ kept me from being able to say... you got it... N.O.

So on top of all of that I have a business. Yah, I work! I have to remind myself sometimes that I do have a JOB. One that I love very much and dont focus on nearly enough. Oh, and not to mention...

We sold our house last month, moved, and have started building a new house... oh, and I participated in my very first market a few weeks ago which you can read about here, on my friend Mandie's blog. Ya'll... this is seriously some funny stuff! Check it out!

So... someday soon (im not making promises) but I will tell you about the fall festival on October 16, and show you some super cool pics of really large (70,000 lb to be exact) equipment that built our new road and pond.. the foundations of building our new house. Until then... take a minute and check out my new favorite blog. Velvet & Linen.

Proudest Mommy Moment Ever!

Today has been one of those days....

I almost had my head taken off by a 7 year old grizzly bear who didnt want to go to school this morning. I have a 3 year old drama queen who isn't feeling quite up to par. It was raining all day, and I had to sit with a health insurance agent for about 2 1/2 hours preparing for a phone interview to obtain private health insurance for my family.. which put me late getting my son off the bus and I had to pry him away from video games with our neighbor friends to come home and do crummy homework. Only to learn he had been bullied on the school bus. Thank goodness I have a wonderful neighbor, with precious girls who looked after him on the bus.

Que the squealing of tires as I put a big pause on EVERYTHING!

What!?! Somebody's been picking on my baby??? Thats right... every parents worst fear. So the name calling started, the bullying and bossing went on and the tears on his face started flowing.

My first thought is anger. Im mad and I want payback... and I will be driving him to school in the morning and having a talk with the principle about it.. but what really got me was the conversation I had with him this evening. After we got home he had a really hard time getting his homework finished, he forgot his agenda at school (which I had to ground him for) and he ended up getting sent to his room. After we both calmed down I laid down beside him and we whispered under the covers for a very long time.

I asked about his favorite part of the day (which was a game they played in p.e.) and he told me about who he plays with on the playground. He kept trying to think of a funny name he calls his friends... i try to help.. homie? dude? compadre? he giggled but these were all wrong.. then he remembers!! diplomat! wait.. no.. discipline!... then it hits me.. he's thinking of disciple.

YES! disciple!! Thats what I call my friends! So I asked him if he knew what a disciple was.. then we talked about people in other countries who are not allowed to be christians. He couldnt believe it! He said that's so sad mommy.

I also told him that's why we shouldn't bully. He told me "I know mommy, because kids are special, they are a gift from God." oh dear.. then he was wiping my tears away. I just couldnt believe the words coming out of my lil man's mouth. We said our night time prayer... I said thank you for this beautiful day (the rain was a gift, right?) and thankyou for my little man's friends, his circle of angels that HE has placed around him to protect him and keep him safe. Dylan held me very tight, we both had tears, and he told me thank you.

My pastor has been doing a series of lessons that touch on God's plan for us. That he puts us under fire sometimes to make HUGE things happen. I think that day was meant for me and my lil man to have that very conversation... and to remind me to forgive....

3 cheers for new friends and new adventures!

.....and after sharing this next pic they may come together to hide my body...

These are my amazing friends! We were celebrating our good friend Michelle's 40th birthday...she's the one in the middle in that 80's fabulous purple prom dress.. {sorry Michelle for calling you out!} We spent ALOT of time teasing, curling, and spraying our hair...then crashed went to a local dance club where we bribed asked the DJ to play awesome 80's hits! I wish I could say this is the first time we have acted completely ridiculous..but..I cant! Between us we have 29 kids and to get us all together at one time is quite a project!

Thankfully you can never have enough friends because I met these great ladies the other night!

It was a plan masterminded by the great Mandie!She has amazing visions of a Houston area womens group and brought all of us ladies together under one roof. We are all crafty in our own way and together we want to make a difference, while having fun!

Get your WIG on! {AKA... Women's Inspired Guild}

Thankful Thursdays!

School's Out! School's Out! The teachers let the fools out!!!
Im sure there will be alot of similar chants like these sung through out the next few days....the same chants we sang when we were kids.
I think I am as excited as the kids! I LOVE summer!! and I am so thankful that today is the last day of school for us. Sleepovers, swimming til the stars come out, beaches, vacation to Colorado, sleeping in til 10 am, vacation bible school, and public library summer reading programs...these are all the things I am so excited about, and thankful to, be indulging in this summer. Today, we will be getting Mr Blue Belts summer hair cut...a mohawk...which has been tradition since he was 4, and since he loves his martial arts this cut is perfect on him! He has been begging me for about a month but the school nazis rules wont allow it. {along with a million other stupid rules they enforce, but I'll save that for flip-off Fridays! hee hee}.
Anywho! I'm so excited about upcoming events! Lots going on in the world of Fall Into Grace! Wish me luck! and have a Very ~ Thankful ~ Thursday!
toodles!