Simple Photography Wall on a Budget

I have a confession.  I like to rearrange things... a lot.  Since we have been married, we hardly let a few months go by before we rearrange our furniture.

I like change.  It keeps me from feeling stagnant.  It keeps my mind creative.  It makes life feel fresh.

Since I have gotten sick, we haven't rearranged our furniture nearly as often, because I simply did not have the energy to do anything that was not necessary.  Three weeks into the new treatments, I am beginning to feel like my old self again.  I actually "want" to do things to get our life in order again.  That feels good.

Last night, Bryan and I rearranged the living room again, and I created a thrifty chic display on the wall for photos that were taken this past December in one of our favorite spots.  I like it.

Before: Our blank wall that has driven me crazy for about a year now.

After: We flipped our sectional around to open up the living and dining area more.  I really like the simplicity of hanging the photos with metal clips on a sheer ribbon.  We used eye hooks to mount the ribbon and keep it tight.

After:  Here's our display at a different angle.  I printed the photos online at Artsy Couture and chose a metallic finish.  Let me tell you... the print quality is unparalleled.

Walking into a room with beautiful photography makes me happy.  This little project didn't cost us a dime.

It feels good to see our home transform again into a beautiful, restful retreat from the world.

How do you make your house your home?  What do you like to decorate with?

Carrying the Roberts' Genes Along

My dad's mom, whom I lovingly knew as Meme, passed away this past August at the age of 92.  At her funeral, relatives passed around a photo of her and kept saying how much I looked like her.  I never really thought I resembled her too much, but I think I have to agree with them now.  Check out this old photo of her when she was younger, and the photo I snapped of myself today when I was playing around with my camera phone.  Now I know where I got my skinny lips from!

Here's to a New Season

Are you ever amazed by the careful timing of God?  I am.

I can't get over this simple fact.  God hasn't asked us to walk through the fiercest trial of our life in the dead of winter but in the hope of spring.  Here a few snapshots that I have taken this past week.

May the next season of our life be like Spring...

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Mt. 5:8

Oh Father, keep us pure.  We do want to see You!

When a Nerd Becomes an Artist

I've been working like a mad woman on our new business site this past week, and I am close to being finished on my end with the design elements. Yesterday, I realized I didn't have a current family photo to add to our "About" page, so I created my own.

Here's what I started with...


After about 30 minutes of digital manipulation which included erasing both backgrounds, color desaturation, and a digitally hand drawn new shirt for myself, I added the sketch overlay and woolah! A modern family photo for our new site without the expense of a photographer.

Looks are deceiving, huh? I heart Pixelmator.