under the magnolia tree

This is for my mother-in-law who wanted to see the updates I made in our family room.  Working on little to no budget, I wanted to spruce it up in there.  They are small changes but it feels much cozier to us.  The ottoman that serves as our coffee table is upholstered in a white cotton/linen which I really needed to get covered.  I quickly sewed a slipcover out of a vintage buffalo check wool blanket that my mom gave me.  Our other window in this room has drapes, you can't see them but they are a wide stripe of cream and blue linen.  So, that's why I brought in more blue.  All of the pillows were Goodwill finds and one jute cover was a Pottery Barn I found in the $1.49 bin.  I switched out some lampshades for some of those patterned ones from Target.  I bought an acrylic tray with someone else's intials on it for $0.99 at Goodwill along with some vases, both under a dollar each.  I got a big chunk of wood that was turned into a candle holder (you can't see it here) at a garage sale for $1.  I had a beautiful basket that was a birthday gift from my mom last year that I brought in and filled with cream wool throws.  So, there you have it.  My super duper cheap face lift.  The stairway and upstairs hall are next.  I just don't know when "next" will be!

I wish I had more pics to post of our month of September but it was so busy I could hardly catch my breath.  October is looking as busy.  I filled my plate so much this year.  I love everything I'm doing, it's just taking me time to find some balance.  I'm Magnolia's Daisy Troop Leader, George's Room Mom, Chinese School Teacher's Assistant, and have a small role for the PTO.  I have made a large circle of friends here which also keeps our social calendar pretty full.  I make three trips to school everyday, mostly always walking.  A mile there, a mile back.  We do playdates, homework, horse riding lessons, visits to my mom and dad's, weekly trips to the library, friday night pizza/movie night, and a new family game night on Thursdays.  My days are full and happy.  I love my job and am grateful everyday that I get to do what I do.

We are excited it's October!  We have a half birthday, a full birthday, lots of Halloween festivities, and a trip to St. Louis, yay!