Thank God for Messy Rooms...

if there’s one thing I hate - repeat hate - it's clutter.   it makes me crazy.  it can take my happiness away real quick.  i am working on controlling my need to have everything in its place, but isn’t that why closets, baskets and boxes were invented?  someone please introduce those items to my sweet family.

well, this week i found a bargain that had my son’s name written all over it.  ok, more my name written all over it, but it’s going in his room.

here’s a beautiful photo of his desk.  lovely, isn’t it?  how could he possibly do homework here?

this mom has a real hard time walking by this desk and not screaming, “clean this up!”   why must my sweet boy keep a straw from a root beer he had last month or keep the tag off of a pair of shorts he received last christmas?  think I’m making this stuff up?  look closely -- you’ll be amazed at what you’ll find!

but before i show you the next  photo, take a long look at the first photo.  does it bring back memories of your old school desk?  a freighbor (yes, you read that right -- half friend/half neighbor) was giving this desk away many years ago and i had to have it.  but who knew my son would collect brochures from the dry cleaner and need more storage space? 

so after a trip to my local consignment store, i found this beauty...

but where is the desk, you ask?

oh, right here -- tucked inside the armoire.  

isn't it brilliant?  

and the price was even more brilliant.  

just over $100 (plus delivery).

notice the latch inside the door?   
just unhinge this baby and it turns into a desk.
yes!

so now when i walk into his room, a little smile comes over my face as there's no clutter to be found -- at least in that corner of the room.  how many armoires can a boy's room have?  seven?  

so the moral of the story is check out your local consignment store.  i was actually running in to see if they had a long, low bookshelf for my husband’s office.  they didn’t.  but boy, did i find some great stuff that i don't have room for.  the owner told me that a lot of home stagers no longer shop there because of the poor housing market so lots of furniture continues to be reduced.  some up to 60%. 
(including my armoire!)  
bad for them, but good for those who need some great buys.

i just found this photo of my son’s room when our house was on a home tour a few years ago.  

look, no clutter!

to be honest, it looks nothing like this now.  i recently gave him the ok to put up posters and move his furniture around.  but at least i have photos of the good ol' days!  but honestly, these are the good ol' days -- 
messy room and all. 
 i thank God for that boy who messes up his room 

(and cleans it up when i ask him to).  


what a blessing to be called mom. 
and find dirty socks on the floor.  
and wet towels in the closet. 
and basketballs in the middle of the floor 
to trip on in the middle of the night.


i have to remember that a clean and tidy house only reflects that i am busy making my house clean and tidy. 
i'd rather busy myself with more important things...


"as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."


joshua 24:15

An Hour of Fun...

ok, even though i said i would see you next month, why wait?  i have some cute things to show you!  

while my husband took our kids out for the afternoon yesterday, i found myself wandering over to one of my favorite local stores.   i actually never expect to come home with anything because my house needs nothing. 
i repeat nothing.  but that never seems to stop me.

so, for starters, take a look at this. 

i have been looking for something like this for probably five years.  i saw a version of this in a magazine and haven’t been able to forget it.  and with my memory, that’s saying a lot.   they showed this amazing craft/wrapping room, and a wire basket similar to this one holding tall rolls of wrapping paper.  and being a gifter, that made my heart go pitter patter.  but i don’t think mine will hold rolls of wrapping paper because i don’t have an amazing craft/wrapping room.  oh wait. yes, i do -- in my dreams.  so when i decide what function it will serve and, more importantly, where it will go, i’ll let you know.  but in the meantime, it makes me happy.  it was a little pricey, but it was 20% off.  couldn't resist.

five minutes later, i stumbled upon these cute little pins.  $3 each. 

i’ve been thinking of starting a collection of “mom” pins and placing them on a little burlap pillow that i’ll sew.  maybe in october.  but then i saw these, and i thought well, maybe i’ll start a collection of jesus pins too. gotta believe that's not a very hot collectible these days.  i didn’t even know they made them.   

mom and jesus -- the two most important words in my life.

and then i turned the corner and stumbled upon a box of printer’s letters.  i’m sure there’s a fancier name for them, but i don’t know it.  but i do remember using these in seventh grade printing class. i actually remember making horrible clown stationery with my name on it.  but as i recently wrote, i have a thing for letters right now. and for $6 a letter, i couldn’t resist.  
clearly, the "m" saw more ink than the other two.

him -- meaning God.  not ed.  

he'll understand.

and i’m a sucker for old frogs.  especially the green ones.  these were $6 each.  another bargain. but i remember buying 3 for $6 in an antiques store in arroyo grande at christmas.  that made my day.  
some women like to find a tiffany box under the christmas tree.  
i like to find old frogs.
is my husband lucky, or what?

i love putting tiny verses in them and placing them around the house.  

this one sits on our kitchen table:

$6 hydrangea from trader joe's.  

i could have one in every room.  oh wait. 

i do.

and someone i know is turning 52.  when do you ever find a number that says 52?  had to have it.  i think i’ll tie it to the top of his birthday gift. it was $4.

i’m so grateful to have cute little antique stores near me.  i’m finding i want to bring nothing new into my home, but prefer well-loved items that once had a previous life in someone else’s home. 

as i like to say, “out with the new and in with the old.”


and it's even better when i can use those old items
to display my love for God.


see you soon!