I realized that I’m not sure if I showed you all the finished product of a couple of lovely pieces of furniture I have for sale right now at Jennie Leigh Design.  I’d sure love to sell them to any of you, and even if you’re out-of-state, lemme know if you want them and I’ll figure out about shipping and all to get them to you.

Without further ado….I present to you…the ladies up for sale!  Tilly is the lovely aqua dresser I’ll show you first, and Jane is the gray and white serpentine drop front desk afterwards.  My sad picture doesn’t show it, but Jane has the prettiest claw feet too. Both have fabric lined drawers and have been completely hand refinished.  They are sturdy pieces and would look great anywhere!  I have a mind to keep them myself, but alas….if I do that with everything I love, it becomes less of a business and more of a hoarding problem.

Sorry I’ve been MIA this week.  Still trying to get back to normal around here now that the Hubs is home and hopefully the sickness will be leaving soon too (my poor baby STILL had fever yesterday…that’s 8 full days. ICK!)  I’ve been in full mommy mode trying to keep everything in order, and well…something had to give!  Next week though is our fabulous fashion week as promised, so stay tuned for that for sure!!!  Fun giveaways too!  And hopefully I’ll have a chance this weekend perhaps to finish up a pair of those pretty pheasant feather earrings I was telling you about!  (And after a few calls to some taxidermists, I did find out how to properly de-mite and clean the feathers!)

Today though, we’re taking Tid-Bit out of school and going to pick apples.  Sometimes you just need a good family day that’s a little out of the ordinary to get life back on track ya know?!

Much love!

I kinda owe ya’ll an apology.  My exciting plans for Fashion Week this week are still gonna happen, but it’s gonna have to be next week.  Despite my best “I think I can” efforts to get everything finished up this weekend, I just flat couldn’t.

All that puff puff chug chuging I’d anticipated the other day would have gotten me somewhere if my wheels had been turning properly.  As it was, my littlest guy started running a fever Thursday afternoon (still had it today), I got really sick, and ended up such a mess that I could hardly move the whole weekend.  My hubs was hunting pheasant with my dad in South Dakota, my mom was in the mountains with my grandmother, and I was here…sick as a dog with 2 small children, one of whom was sick as well.  All to say, it has been a really hard weekend.

I’m still not well, and since my littlest guy isn’t well either, I had to cancel the closet re-mix with Kelley Smith that was supposed to be happening tomorrow (so that I could write about it later this week to share some tips with you.)  She’s so amazing, that it’s gonna be awhile before I can even get back on her schedule!

Man…the best laid plans….sometimes just fall flat.

So…I’m going to try to be realistic with myself and say that I can get it all done… in time for next week.  Mostly I want to give myself a chance to catch up and feel better.  I’m writing this curled up in my bed right now and am not looking forward to having to get out of it tomorrow to take Tid Bit to school.

I do want to brag on my friends for a minute here though.  I can honestly say that throughout my life I have been blessed beyond measure with amazing friends in every season.  And generally, I have been fortunate enough to have a pretty large handful of people in each season who’d bend over backwards to help me out (of course I’d do the same for any of them too.)  Saturday I was so sick that all I could do was sit on the floor, hold my littlest one and cry.  My head was pounding, my sinuses were completely blocked, and my ears were ringing.  I was achy and tired and learned that you should NEVER take sudafed before going to bed if you want to actually sleep.  I called my doctor and she agreed that it sounded like I had a horrendous sinus infection, so she called in an antibiotic for me and some cough medicine with codeine to help me sleep.  She is amazing!  But then, I was feeling so wretched that I couldn’t even get up to go get it.  I was so sick that I knew I couldn’t get both of my kids in the car and to the drugstore, so I called a friend who’d said to call her if I needed anything.

That was a big deal for me to call and ask for help.  It’s not that I can’t ask for help, but I soooo don’t want to put someone out.  I’d do anything a friend needed were the situation reversed….but still, you know what I mean, right?  It was bad though…I felt awful and I needed that medicine.

When I called my friend J, it turned out that her family was having dinner with a couple other of our friends.  So, my 3 girlfriends stopped what they were doing, left the guys with the kids, and went to CVS to get my medicine for me.  They got to my house and fed my children dinner, made me a bowl of oatmeal to eat with my antibiotic, put my kids in pajamas and got them ready for bed.  They straightened my kitchen, and even took out the trash.  It was like angels just swooped in and took care of business.  And I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for friends like that. For those friends who came yesterday….blessings blessings blessings!

I remember one time a few years back, I was sick, and a girlfriend came over and folded probably 5 loads of laundry for me because I hadn’t been able to do it.  Or the friends who know you don’t feel well and call to say they are in your driveway with dinner.  Or even the one tonight who’d seen on my Facebook that I’d promised Tid Bit pizza from Whole Foods for dinner and she called to ask if she could pick it up so I wouldn’t have to go out.  I have good friends ya’ll….and I don’t take them for granted for one skinny second.

All of that to say…this weekend hasn’t gone AT ALL like I’d planned.  So, I’m going to focus on getting well the next couple of days and roll out the Life for Dessert Fashion Week next week instead.  I hope you understand!  I thought I could, but sometimes even the most well-intentioned engines can still run out of steam.

Seriously, I feel like I’m up to my eyeballs right now in all of the things I need to get done.

It’s not helping matters that my allergies are going nutso and I reached the point tonight where I have to walk around with a kleenex balled up constantly sticking out of my nose.  Yes….I’m there.  And it’s obviously affecting my brain because I am in disbelief of myself for even posting this utterly hideous picture to illustrate my point!  Thumbs down to allergies!  Dark circles under my eyes, flat hair, no make-up to cover the acne that I STILL can’t get rid of, and then of course the kleenex that looks really more like a tampon shoved up my nose than anything.  You know you’ve all done it.  Don’t act like you haven’t.  Don’t judge!

Speaking of tampons in noses…did you know that they are an excellent way to stop a bloody nose?  Once upon a season in high school, I was an athletic trainer for the boy’s varsity basketball team (yeah…Go Bishops!) and I learned that handy little trick.  Cut them in half and stick them up a nose to stop the bleeding.  Genius!  And while we’re talking about noses still, have you tried the Vick’s Vapor Rub Tissues by Puffs?

Oh my heavens…if you’re going to walk around like the idiot that I am with a kleenex stuck in your nose, THIS is the tissue to pick ya’ll.  I’m pretty sure Vick’s doesn’t recommend rubbing the actual ointment up your nose, but I figure that a tissue is made for your nose, so this method is bound to be fine.  It’s so minty and nice.  I feel sure it has to be helping.

Enough about noses and tampons and kleenex now though.  Lemme give you a little run down of all that I need to accomplish in the next few days and then please excuse me for probably not writing again until Monday when I’ll be debuting a week of Fabulous Fall Fashion around here that is oh so great!

First, I have to finish getting all of that fashion fabulousness in order.  I have posts that need to be put into WordPress, I’m still trying to find a babysitter for my littlest man while uber-cool Greenville stylist, Kelley Smith, comes to my house to help me re-mix my own wardrobe (so that we can give you helpful tips for remixing yours too,) I have some more emails to send, and details to tie up, and then by next week I’ll have it all together ready to reveal to you on Monday.  Still, it’s stuff to do.

Also, the thing that’s really got me running insane is a super awesome decorating project that I’m working on for a client/friend.  I was hired a few months back to help put together a nursery for some old college friends (you KNOW how I do love designing nurseries.)  I love doing a nursery in general, but this one is especially fun because this couple does not know the gender of the baby they are having.

BUT I DO!  Yep…the doctor, the ultrasound tech, and ME!  We know if this baby is a he or a she, and we’re not telling!

The plan has been for the couple to get the room as ready as possible with the gender neutrals…the crib, the soft green wall color, the glider…you get the idea.  In the meantime,  I’ve bought the crib linens they selected (they picked one for each gender and I ordered the appropriate one,) yesterday I selected some fabrics to recover the glider, make pillows, window treatments…the works.  I’ve bought lamps, a mirror, a dresser, bed, and accessories, and I’m still on the hunt for some more artwork and the perfect rug.  It’s been fun for sure.  But the final install is gonna have to be pushed up because it looks like my friend is likely going to be delivering 3 weeks early!  First of all…please join me in praying for this sweet baby secret-gender and it’s health the rest of the time that he or she is cooking in mommy’s belly.  The docs are keeping a close eye on mom, but think it’s likely they’ll deliver at 37 weeks to be on the safe side.  What this means for me is that I have to get my act in gear.  I’m going to a conference at the end of the month, so I need to get this thing done before I leave.  The plan was for me to install the whole thing while they were at the hospital, but looks now like that might just be when I’m not even in the state!  So we’ll flip the lock around on the door, finish the room, and they have better self-control than I do because they’ll wait to go in once Sweet Baby Secret-gender arrives.  I’m excited, but I’m under the wire now too.  I have to finish painting and distressing the dresser AND  the headboard, finish shopping for the room, and I”m going to sew the window treatment and throw pillows for this one too.  (As a general rule, I don’t do all the sewing at all…so if you hire me, please don’t ask….this is a special exception.)  It’s a lot to accomplish…especially when my Hubs has some plans this weekend and won’t be able to help out with the kids as much as usual.

To steal a phrase from a very wise little blue engine…. “I think I can…I think I can…I think I can.”

One I reach the other side of the mountain and am puff puff chug chugging down to take all the goodies to the boys and girls there…I’ll show you some good pictures.  (Here’s to hoping those pictures include one with a healthy me… SANS nasal plug!)  Can’t show you all that goodness now though because what if my friend was reading?!  And besides, even if she doesn’t…it just seems horribly unfair for hundreds of people to know her baby’s gender before she does!  So I’m keeping quiet.  But I still had to tell you about the fun project anyhow!

Next week is a week of fun projects…fashion and nurseries.  Yes….that’s good!  See you then!

Tid Bit’s class at school has sort of a mascot.  His name is Mambo the Monkey.

Mambo is a friendly guy.  Because of his great personality, for families who are willing, he makes his rounds through the class for a visit with each student for a few days.  We were able to show Mambo some good Southern hospitality over this past weekend, and we even put him to work today learning a new skill.

While with us over the weekend, Mambo had the chance to head up into the mountains to enjoy the autumn colors from a little higher altitude.  He got a little crazy and climbed a tree at one point… lucky for us was within our reach to help him down.  He sat very patiently with Tid Bit to roast marshmallows (which was really amazing because the monkey can get a little out of hand,) but we all thought it best that he not be around when all the kids were helping to build the roasting fire initially.

He really was amazingly calm at bedtime and stayed with Tid Bit cuddled up most of the night.  I think he fell out of the bed a couple of times, but he never seemed to lose the smile on his face because of it.

Since monkeys are so known for loving bananas, Tid Bit thought we should do a banana oriented activity to really invest in the interests of our house guest.  What a good little host, that Tid Bit.  So anyhow, today we made a big batch of my most favorite banana bread of all times to share with Mambo, as well as with all of Tid Bit’s class.

We’ve been documenting the visit of our furry new friend over the past several days…I thought you might like to see a peek of this little rascal.  He really has been delightful to have around, and Tid Bit has been an excellent host.  I am glad to see some of our efforts to train him in being hospitable are paying off.

Mambo, you can monkey around with us again anytime!

I know several of you are already itching to be a part of the Yesterville Photo Day with my friend Kim Deloach coming up on November 19.  I know this because I’ve already gotten several emails from some of you.  I figured I’d have a little more time before I needed to give the full details, but you eager beavers wouldn’t have it!

So here’s the deal!  The Yesterville property has 3 obvious locations for shooting the photographs.  There’s the main house (big white lovely thing), the general store (full of old timey provisions), and a barber shop (complete with chair, striped pole and all!)

The baseline package is $200 and will include the sitting fee, 1 location on the property (your choice of the 3), and a CD with all of the images from the session.  You can expect a minimum of 50 images for this package.  I’m gonna call this one the “Necessary Provisions” package.

This next one will be called “Cutting Up” as a nod to the barber shop!  Package 2 includes all of the “Necessary Provisions,” as well as the addition of a second location (still your choice) …AND at least 20 more images on your CD.  And for just $50 more you certainly aren’t gonna bleed out from this sweet deal!

The “Wagon Load” will include all 3 locations, as well as an opportunity for photographs in the old pick-up truck and the vintage fire engine!  And for all the fun you’re going to be capturing and memories you’ll drive away with, you’re really just about robbing the mercantile to walk away with a CD containing nearly 100 images for a grand total of just $300.  Seriously…this is a steal people!

So here’s what I’m going to need from you to sign up.  First you have to send me an email to Logan dot Wolfram at gmail dot com letting me know your name, phone number, address, the package you want, and whether you have a preferred time (morning or afternoon.)  You MUST select the package in advance because it will determine the amount of time we’ll need to schedule for your session.  We’ll be filling sessions based upon availability, so first come, first serve.  But don’t think that just because you email me it’s a done deal.  You’ll be required to send Kim a deposit to hold your slot to show that you’re serious about it as well.  When you’ve emailed me, I’ll send you even more detailed information regarding all of that.

And, to make it extra fun….the person who has the most friends “Like” Life for Dessert on Facebook, “Follow” Life for Dessert on Google Friend Connect, or “Subscribe” to receive the Life for Dessert feed… will win a canvas wrapped picture of their choosing from the session at Yesterville!   I’ll know they’ve done those things when they leave a comment letting me know your name (the person who referred them) and what they have done (“Liked”, “Followed”, or “Subscribed.”)  Each action and person referred will count as an entry.  Nothing fancy about this one…the person with the most referrals to Life for Dessert wins!

Hope you all are excited!  And even if you’ve emailed me already letting me know you were interested, do me a favor and shoot me another one with all of the above information just so that I know you are still wanting to participate!  I’m so excited to be able to offer you guys this awesome opportunity and to showcase the work of a truly talented lady!

Let me tell you friends…I was seriously LOVING the cool weather we had in the South this weekend.  Oh my words. L.O.V.E!  Bring it on fall…I look forward to you all year long!

I finished painting Jane over the weekend.  I’ll give you a more thorough look later, but just trust me…she is GORJ!  (That’s “gorgeous” for those of you who weren’t tracking.)  And, she’s for sale… along with Tilly at Jennie Leigh Design in Greenville.  So if you’re local, you really must go see them in person…and see Jennie’s store.  If you’re not local, then it seems to me that you may have a roadtrip in your near future!

I think I mentioned that I started leading a book/Bible study a couple of weeks ago.  The book we’re reading is called 31 Days to Clean:Have a Martha Home the Mary Way.  We’ve met twice thus far, and it’s been going really well.  It’s a really neat group of ladies, and last week I think nearly everyone teared up at least once.  Not about cleaning (although there are times that I want to cry when I think about cleaning,) but because we talked about how our homes reflect so much of our hearts.

One of our tasks for this past week was to create a mission statement for the “Why” behind keeping a tidy home. (This class has both practical living tasks as well as heart-focused ones.)  After we came up with the mission statement, we had to make it look pretty and put it somewhere in our home where we’d see it and be reminded of it.  Here’s mine.  It’s on the front of my fridge.

And all this mission statement making and talk last week really hit me hard.  What I think everyone signed up for in this class…to learn how to clean their homes….it’s happening for sure, but it has been met by some much deeper stuff that is honestly just so much more beautiful than any shining countertops.  Women are finding purpose in maintaining a home…not cleaning one, but creating one.  Establishing a place of joy and rest and family.  A place that reflects who they are and who they want to become…and that is so beautiful that I have been really overwhelmed by it all.

One of the ladies in the class sent out an email with the following quote from a really excellent book called “1000 Gifts” by Ann Voskamp (who I’ll actually have the chance to meet at the end of this month at a conference I’m attending!)

When the laundry is for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs, it’s true,

I think I’m due some appreciation.

So comes the storm of trouble and lightening strikes joy.

But when Christ is center, when dishes, laundry, work, is my song of thanks to him, joy rains.”

I love that.  And I’m not trying to over-spiritualize housework either here, but as a friend of mine said to me recently when I was debating buying my awesome boots…”laundry is a Sisyphean task.”  And so is most housework.  It’s never-ending, always piling up, and there’s always something more with it that I could be doing.  So, if I can’t get a handle on my heart behind it all, then that Sisyphean rock will not be something that I’m pushing up a hill, but rather it’ll be the thing that can crush my spirit….a heavy boulder that instead of being moved forward, rolls backwards over me…leaving me flat as a pathetic pancake on its way back to ground zero.

But here’s the thing too.  I don’t want to be so overly concerned with some Sisyphean task either that I lose sight of all the beauty of life around me.  Because in my opinion, that’s still allowing that rock to become my focus and it can just as easily dominate all of my attention if I let it.  Check this out.  It’s a beautiful quote that another friend in the class found and sent to me.

It’s a hard balance to strike for sure.  There’s absolutely no doubt about it.  But I have to tell you, there was something really awesome about standing still to think about all the reasons behind so many of the movements that I make each day.  About what I want my home to be…and to reflect.  About how I want people to feel when they come into my home….the place where we live life, and do life, and share life with one another.  And while I definitely want to make sure that I get things done around here….I sure don’t want to miss out on “treasuring all of the doing” that happens at the same time.

How about you?  If you had to make a mission statement about keeping your home and what you want from it….what would it say?

PS. For those of you who are interested in the Yesterville photo session with my talented photographer-friend, Kim Deloach, stay tuned…I’m going to tell you more about that tomorrow!

Sorry I didn’t write yesterday.  I was leading a Bible study in the morning which was amazing and then I had a decorating consultation right after lunch…then my mom came, and I was busting my tail to get a couple of pieces of furniture finished.

Did I tell you I’m going to start selling my furniture in a super fun new store? Jennie from Jennie Leigh Design, who did the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Giveaway here has opened a store and I’m so excited about it! That is if I can stop selling my creations out of my garage on accident before I even have a chance to take them to the store…or to take proper photographs of them.

Here’s one I sold the other day.  I named her Emiline.  Seriously I had her sitting in the garage finished and a friend came by to borrow some camping equipment from the Hubs and his wife fell in love with Emiline.  I don’t blame her.  I was in love too, but I don’t have enough room in my house for all of my love affairs, so Emiline was never meant to stay.  And now, Emiline lives with Christi.  I named her Emiline because I think that’s a pretty name…and this girl has a body…heavy on the top and skinny pretty legs.  I probably should have named her Jessica Rabbit. (You’ll have to excuse the awful garage photos…I told you, I sold her before I had time to take proper pictures.)

 

 

 

 

 

SO then I had another piece that I just finished yesterday.  I posted a picture of the playful and bright Tilly last night on my facebook and have already had serious inquiries.  I’m going to have to keep these gals all secrets until I can get them to Jennie’s or else I’m never going to get anything over there!  Tilly is FAB-u-lous!  Seriously…i was just lamenting that I can’t keep her too.  But alas…not to be friends, not to be.  Get a load of this broad!

I’ve got one more that I’m hoping to get churned out today.  She’s named Jane because even though this isn’t the kind of desk that I think Jane Austen would have written at, it’s pretty and I am obsessed with Jane Austen.  She’s going to be gray with cream on the inside.  Oh lands….I really wish I could keep this one too.  She’s a super curvy gal who carries her weight all over….love that…I know how you feel Jane!  So stay tuned…Jane will be showing off her new bodywork soon enough!

Have a great day friends!

(And yes, I know…my garage is a disaster!)

I thought since I’ve been working my fingers to the bone, I’d show these gals off a few places, so I’m linking up at Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday party, The Shabby Nest Friday linky party, and Remodelaholic too…because for once I actually have something done in time for it!