A special Chandelier

29 March 2017

Hello friends! We are working on Hailey’s room – and it is a disaster right now! Paint cloths and boards and sawdust everywhere. We are busy and crazy like most other families and it is hard to find chunks of time to work on it. But I wanted to share my favorite part of the room that we did manage to get to: the chandelier.

My paternal grandparents grew up in Alberta, Canada. My childhood memories have a huge chunk dedicated to going to visit Grandma & Grandpa every summer. Grandma Reeva had a huge garden and we usually had to pull some weeds or pick some strawberries or peas before we could go play with cousins. Grandma loved to play cards and could mostly always school us in Rook, Rummikub, and Boggle. If you ever beat her, you were feeling pretty good.

Her living room had an old upright piano, a chesterfield, a big comfortable velvet chair, a sunburst clock, nuts on the table, and a beautiful chandelier that I would sit and look up at. That chandelier moved with her when my Grandpa died and she re-married and her new husband built a new house behind the one we knew so well.

This past autumn, Grandma had to move into an assisted living facility and my parents went up to help. My mom had asked if there was anything from the house that we wanted and I had mentioned that I loved that chandelier but the house was already sold so chances were probably slim on that one.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that I have the best parents ever and they asked the owners if they were planning on keeping the chandelier and they said no way, they were going to replace it ASAP and to go ahead and take it. So my Dad got it down, kept all the crystals and they surprised me on a visit around Thanksgiving. It means so much to have something that my Grandma picked out for her own house to live on in ours. They sure don’t make them like this any more with real glass & crystal. And you can probably see that we’re doing a little board & batten treatment in there as well so it’s coming slowly but surely!

Mom & Dad also brought me an unopened box of starch from Grandma’s laundry room – I love the vintage lettering & colors on it!

An eagle mirror that you may have seen in Lauren’s room,

and a tin box that she had cake flour in that I now store my yarn and washi tape in.

So this is a post to share a story, to remember my beautiful heritage, and a reminder to bring meaningful things into our home – some special things that you can’t buy on Amazon or on Target clearance.

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courage for the week 3.26.17

26 March 2017

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caught my eye + deals 3.24.17

24 March 2017

Another gorgeous Instagram to follow – love this entryway at greensprucedesigns

* a Stanford dean shares skills every 18 year old should have

* this video of a mother of 5 in that takes in 3 more and gets a surprise of her life ♥

and of course, DEALS! These are the prices when I hit publish, they can change or run out at anytime. Lowest price means it is the lowest price within a year, within $1:

Easter basket ideas:

* lowest price: Mr. Sketch 12 count marker $4.03

* lowest price: Fisher Price Shimmer & Shine Microphone $5

* lowest price: The Rescuers & The Rescuers Down Under 35th Anniversary Blu-Ray Combo $8.99

* lowest price: Disney Short Films Blu-Ray Combo $15.99

* lowest price: Despicable Me Trouble Game $6.95

* Pentel Drafting Pencil $3.33

* Gillette Venus Tropical Razor 3 ct $3.62 when you clip the coupon

* Gillette Men’s Pro Shield Razor $5.62 when you clip the coupon

* Hot Wheels Mega Hauler $9

* Hyper Toss Action Game $11.38

* $2.99 board books: You Are My Sunshine * The Going to Bed Book * Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

* Avery Name Badge Labels .98

* Loreal Ideal Moisture Facial Moisturizer $3.88 when you clip the coupon

* Intex Twin Airbed $9.98

* Rubbermaid Premier Food Storage 12 pc set $14.77

* XBox One Wireless Controller $39

* lowest price: Razor Hoverboard $298

Have a fabulous weekend!!

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courage for the week 3.19.17

19 March 2017

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caught my eye + deals 3.16.17

16 March 2017

* This living room makes me want spring! At Making Home Base:

* I loved this article on Christopher Clark in the Utah Valley magazine. He is the brother of Stephanie Nielson (Nie Nie Dialogues) and the husband to Lisa, the woman in the hilarious Chatbooks commercials.

* the most pinned recipe in every state

and of course, DEALS! These are the prices when I hit publish, they can change or run out at anytime. Lowest price means it is the lowest price within a year, within $1:

* today only + lowest price: Graco Simple Sway baby swing $53.99