Merry Christmas Ya'll!

IT'S DECEMBER!!!! Who doesn't love this time of year? I love putting around Christmas decorations. It's so sad when you put it all away though! This year I decided to decorate our main tree with a Star Wars theme. My husband Michael has loved it since he was little and man tears will be shed when the new Star Wars movie comes out, haha. Why not a Star Wars tree and mantle, Right?! Especially since Disney took over its Everywhere and more affordable. Here's to a Not stressful Christmas season with your families and friends! Here's some of my Christmas decorations around the house!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

August is not my favorite month.

 First of all, I don't even know how often these post are read...but if you did stumble upon my little blog thank you and I am so glad you are here! I hope my honesty of a painful situation would be worth it, even if it resonates with only one person. I held on to posting this for a couple months. It was like I was processing everything and I wasn't ready to open up yet. Going through a hard time you really go through phases. It's like a peeling back of the soul where every layer is another emotion. So here it is. Without a single layer hidden.

I'm sad I have to make this post, again. Just when it seemed like our world was in the heavens, it fell through our hands. I'm sure you have felt it too- it's a single moment that can alter your life forever and it carries a flood of emotions and pain with it that you never want to feel again. You could fill a whole ocean with your tears and a part of your soul literally feels torn apart. It's not a sleep it off you'll be better in the morning type of scenario. It's a heart filled with grief and deep sorrow. That level of pain changes you forever.

Heaven gained another angel. Almost exactly a year later. It still doesn't seem real. It's something you wish you never will have to endure once, let alone twice. I know without a doubt when our miracle baby comes I will look back and say to the Lord, it's been a rough road but I am so thankful to have a sweet angel to finally hold. I can't even imagine how sweet and raw that day will be. The truth is He already knows the end. Things in your life may not turn out the way you dreamed of, but it's Not the End of your Story. Realizing you aren't in control of painful life events can be a tough thing to swallow, but the important thing to learn through that hard time is you have the opportunity to do one of two things. You can either fall apart or you can pick yourself up and allow yourself to be strengthened through that pain.

Through it all I Still trust in His plan for our lives. I'm not saying don't allow yourself to be upset or even mad. But don't let grief define who you are. God was Just as sad and grieves with us in times of great sorrow.
 You know what else can wash over you just as fast as pain can?
Peace. Grace. Mercy. Healing.
We weren't promised this life without pain and trials. That can be really hard thing to understand sometimes. You have to chose to lift your head even when the worst possible things occur in your life. You have to Still praise him when you are at your lowest because He doesn't allow pain without something New to be born in your life. There is a much bigger picture that only God can see. You have to trust Him that He will fulfill the desires of your heart and strengthen you to move forward. You can't change the past or what happened, but you can tell your story to help others who are going through a valley so they can have one thing: Hope.

My new journey with 100% Pure Essential Oils

If you are looking for an all natural way to help strengthen, protect, support, soothe, and invigorate your body Certified Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils can help!

What are Essential Oils?

Essential Oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils can lift the mood, calm the senses, and elicit powerful emotional responses. Yet the use of Essential oils goes well beyond their fragrant appeal.

Essential Oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Their unique chemical structure allows them to pass directly through the skin for immediate systemic response to topical application. Certain oils may be used as a dietary aids to help promote vitality and well being.

doTERRA is committed to providing a pure, natural, aromatic compounds carefully extracted from plants. They do not contain fillers or artificial ingredients that would dilute their active qualitites and are free of contaminants such as pesticides or other chemical residues.

        - doTERRA CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade

If you were like me, I was really curious what these oils were all about. I kept hearing about how they can help so many things like seasonal allergies, digestion issues, women's hormonal imbalance, helping metabolism, detoxing, soothing inflammation and so much more! After a client of mine shared with me how they have really helped her and her family I decided to dive in. I wish I had started so much sooner!!

Some of my absolute favorites are the Blends which are a great starting point since they have targeted wellness applications.

 I think this is such a neat example of how your cells react to Balance Essential Oil.

-Balance ( Grounding Blend )- Features Spruce, Ho wood, Frankincense, Blue Tansy, and blue chamomile essential oils. It has an amazing warm, woody aroma that created a sense of calmness and well being. It promotes relaxation and evokes feelings or tranquility and balance. Who doesn't need that?! I apply a drop or two on the bottom of both feet in the morning and at night.

- ClaryCalm- Women's monthly blend- helps manage the symptoms of PMS and the transitional phases of menopause in a natural, safe, effective way. Features Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Fennel, Palmarosa, Carrot seed, and Vitex essential oils. It helps balance your hormones and it's amazing for temporary relief of cramps and hot flashes. I apply the rollerball to my abdomen and back of my neck once daily.

- Slim and Sassy- Metabolic Blend- Helps support your weight management goals with this blend of essential oils- Grapefruit, lemon, Peppermint, Ginger, and cinnamon. It helps manage sugar cravings and calms your stomach. I put two drops in a GLASS of water between meals. (It is super important to drink the ingestable essential oils in glass not plastic to absorb the benefits of the essential oil.)


Less is Always more! Essential Oils are very concentrated, so with most you only need a single drop or two. Most are even diluted with fractionated coconut oil if you have sensitive skin or for use on small children or babies. It's amazing such a small amount can provide such amazing benefits!

Essential Oils Safety: I can only speak for the use of doTERRA Essential oils. I know there are many essential oils available but I am only confident in the supporting use of doTERRA. Essential Oils are naturally safe and have few, if any, undesirable side effects when used as directed. They are however, powerfully concentrated and should be used with care. Be sure to only use pure, therapeutic grade essential oils and follow all label warnings and instructions. Essential oils should never be used in the eyes or inside of the ear canal. If redness or irritation occurs when you essential oils topically, simply apply a carrier oil, such a fractionated coconut oil to the affected area- water will not dilute essential oils. Consult your physician before using essential oils if you are pregnant or under a doctor's care. Look for the the following symbols by the product description and it will give you the appropriate precautions on individual essential oil labels.

Here is some great tips on application: http://doterrablog.com/topical-use-of-doterra-essential-oils/

I will do an additional post on the use and safety of essential oils during pregancy and babies, because its important to know proper dilution for babies and which few oils to avoid during pregnancy.
Example- you would want to use caution with Peppermint during breastfeeding since it may affect your milk production.

How do I purchase these amazing Oils?

They offer an amazing cost effective way of purchasing the oils at wholesale cost, which is incredible! It's an awesome way to enjoy the oils at a 25% discount without any pressure to sell. I am so glad doTERRA has that option. Membership is a one time $35 fee through your Wellness Consultant and if you purchase one of the great starter kits the $35 fee is waived! This is a great option so you can start with a kit of the most popular oils and learn which ones you use the most and be introduced to the many uses.

If you are interested in sharing doTERRA, which happens very naturally after you see the amazing benefits, contact your wellness consultant for information! It's a great way to make some extra cash with many benefits to you.

If you want to learn more, visit my personal Wellness Advocate doTERRA page:
www.mydoterra.com/hairstylistjr

For additional information on Essential oils visit-
www.doterra.com    www.doterratools.com   www.aromaticscience.com


Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Decorating Update from my Home

Hello Lovelies!

  As we get closer to our one year anniversary in our new home, I can't help but dream of the painting possibilities that we can do to make it more complete. I love an all white room don't get me wrong, but they painted the Entire house an off white beige.We didn't want to paint before they completed the year warranty touch up's from things settling and nail pops and such, so I can't wait to start painting when that is complete. Paint sets the tone for the room and is the biggest game changer for decorating in my opinion. I thought I would show ya'll some of my favorite spots around the house decorating wise. If you are like me, the rearranging never ends. So I must say this is how it looks as of today, haha. Here's a little tour of some of my favorite places around the house! Enjoy! 

One of my dearest friend's husbands made the metal lighted R for us as a wedding gift! It's my favorite!

I need to get some higher mantle decor to balance it out. ( Working on that! ) 

I love this little sitting area and I adore antique frames as you can see!

We are big movie lover's around here, hence the Interstellar print. I am also trying to add more greenery around for some different textures.

 This antique sewing table still has the original machine still inside! If fits well in the entry way. I painted these thrift store frames and put wedding pictures backed with old Hymns for the border.

This was my first upholstered couch I did and it was perfect for my small sitting room. I used fabric drop cloths to do this one, which is super cheap. The large vintage frame was an existing mirror that was broken, so I painted one of my favorite verses on it to make it look like a chalkboard. I will do a post on the couch process! 

 It's as cozy as it looks! 

 First of all, don't judge the baby rug...haha. That's on the list. I can't wait to paint in here a deep gray above the chair rail. The table and chairs were thrifty makeovers, and the old plantation door was from the flea market which I added wire to hang pictures. A big rug will make a huge difference in here. 

The darker panel curtains I made from some linen remnants I got from an estate sale and the lighter ones are fabric drop cloths. I would love to eventually get a new chandelier since all of the lighting is  more on the traditional side. Lighting can really set the tone for the style of the room, which to me it just doesn't have a feeling to it. Hope you enjoyed the early stages of my home decor! It takes time, but we will get there!  

Happy Decorating! Hope you have a great week!

Vintage dresser Makeover

I have said countless times I was going to get around to painting this beautiful dresser that my Great Aunt Weise gifted to me when she past away years ago. My grandmother and her were inseparable. Both being widows for many years, they did a lot together and were best friends. I love that it has a story. She used it in her bedroom since it was a set with a matching bed frame and tall dresser. 

 There's something sweet about family pieces. 

It appears whiter in pictures but with age it took on a yellow cast. I had planned to paint it grey, 

of course. I wanted to keep it on the simple side so I kept the original hardware.

She's a beauty! 

I have used it the last several years in my dining room to hold glassware and napkins.

This was phase one: I did a mix of two Americana Decor chalk paints! I used Heirloom ( beige ) and Carbon ( black ) to make a cool greige.

1st coat-

I wasn't liking how it was looking splotchy, so I made a new mix and touched it up to even it out.

Drying...looking better! 

Finished! 

Yipee! I sealed the top with the clear wax, its super easy to use and makes it protected from wear.

LOVE! 

Happy chalk painting! 

Teal Thursday!

I stopped in my favorite local thrift shop and saw this sweet large lamp for $14 and knew immediately it had to be painted, haha. I am just not a huge red person. (Which is totally fine if you are!) I painted it with a mixture of a darker turquoise and black Americana Decor chalk paint. I will be on the lookout for a grey linen lamp shade to replace the existing one since it's on the traditional side. Love it!

It fits on this diy cabinet I made in the eat in kitchen area perfect! 

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I have been meaning to touch up the sewing table I use for my hair station since it was Really faded from a poor spray paint job I did a couple years ago. A little distressed chalk paint and it looks so much better! 

It was looking sad! 

It feels so much fresher! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

Through the Valley

Hello lovelies,

I know this will be a tough one to write, but I am honestly ready to visit those times and put them into words of what going through a hard time can be like and most importantly how to move forward. Although it was hard, it really has shaped my heart to be hopeful and to be where it is now. I'm going to be real honest ( just a disclaimer ) and I know that sometimes these things aren't brought up. I know for me the people that have been so open about their journey really helped me know that you are not alone. Some may choose to keep it to themselves, which is of course is their own personal decision and I respect that. As a believer I think a way God heals our hearts when you through trials is he uses you to be able to help and comfort others in situations you share. When you hear others have gone through similar situations and they came through, it gives you Hope. If you are going through the same thing, that is what I pray I can bring to you this year: a glimpse of Hope.

While we are only still in the beginning of this journey to start a family, I wanted to write through the process in hopes it can provide some comfort to those who are in the middle of it too. I also think it will be great to look back and see over this year how things will unfold. Michael and I got married in June of 2013 and we knew we wanted kids one day, sooner than later. We decided to wait a year and then try. Two months later and 3 days late I excitedly took a test and within seconds it was positive. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I kept saying,"Oh my Goodness." over and over and over, haha. I couldn't believe it happened so quickly! I couldn't wait to tell him and we held each other tight from the absolute pure joy of our little miracle. I happened to have an appointment at the Dr. a couple weeks later and I called to tell them happily it would be for a different reason! It was a little earlier for an ultrasound than the usual 8 weeks, but we were still able to see that tiny baby on the screen. It was unreal. We told immediate family that afternoon and they were so thrilled. There was So much to think about from the planning to decorating a nursery. Our world was rapidly changing around us and little did we know it was about to turn upside down.

I will never forget that day. I woke up Monday morning August 25th and knew something was wrong. I called the Dr. and they suggested I come right in so I did. I honestly didn't think it was anything major but I wanted to be safe. As soon as I stepped into that office and before anything was done she already had declared it was a miscarriage. I couldn't believe she uttered The horrifying M word. After a quick scan she showed me that the baby was no longer there and the process had begun. It was such an out of body experience. I was in shock. She was the coldest woman and handled it like it was nothing. As soon as it hit me the tears began to flow and she left me in there sobbing, all by myself. I caught my breath and gathered my things and walking out I'll never forget her face, because she gave me the fakest smile she could muster up. I couldn't catch my breath on the way out of there and all the way home. I called Michael and he met me at home. I ended up having a natural miscarriage, which I am thankful for since I didn't have to have any procedures or medicine. Physically crying doesn't even portray the scale of the hurt. It was the deepest pain I had ever felt.

Even though I hadn't been through pain like that, I still was covered in peace. I knew in that moment I was not alone and that God Still had a plan for us and would see us through to have a family one day. It just wasn't our time yet. That first month was really hard, but I never was angry just sad. I went to a baby shower in September thinking I was fine, but the truth was it was really overwhelming and after I left I cried in my car. It was tender since I was surrounded by pregnant friends, even one sharing my same due date. It has taken time for my body to heal and get back to normal which is very common. I think when you want something so bad you grow impatient and that is the worst thing to do. Over the last months I have really come to realize that I am not in control of when it will happen. You have to take comfort in knowing God Already knows your future and when the time is right it will happen. I know first hand that attitude is easier said than done. But you have to trust that trying to have control will only leave you frustrated. I think that appeals to many things other than having a baby. It's been a lesson in patience and I have grown in my faith because when you are waiting that's when he wants you to pursue him most. It may be many more months, but I know when that miracle comes, that baby will be here exactly when he or she is supposed to be. A couple weeks ago, I went to a prayer night at church and it was his perfect timing because the night was about praying for people who were having difficulties getting pregnant or had a loss. I thought to myself this is God working to heal my heart because it was such a powerful time of healing and prayer just when I needed it most. It just gave me that extra hope I needed.

 I know countless women go through this every day. I am eager to see this journey continue and I am thankful for a loving husband, amazing family and friends, and a God that yearns for me to draw closer even through the pain. I hope you can read along and join us on this chapter of our lives. It will be a one with a happy ending, I just know it.

Jen

A year of Thrifty Makeovers to catch up on!

 

This giant jewel of a frame was a whopping 14 Bucks! My eyes had stars in them. Goodwill, you really are my favorite. ( other than my husband, of course. )

 

 

I wanted to make it into a giant chalkboard, so I went to Home depot and got two thin pieces of wooden board and glued them together and screwed them into the frame. I painted it with Americana Decor chalk paint and sanded the edges to make it look aged. Lastly I painted the wood with chalkboard paint!

 You can see a slight line where it's glued, but I honestly didn't mind it!

 

Huge chalkboards can be really expensive so this is a great way to make one yourself!

 

  

 

 

 This is a wicker chest I found at a local Thriftsmart for a couple bucks and even though the wicker was beat up, it was a stable wooden chest. Let me tell you, that type of thick shell was a Beast to remove...aka I may run the next time I see it. It's tough to pull off ( I even sliced my palm on it ) HA. So after I was done whining from removing it, I used a layer of quilting batting and then upholstered it with a fabric shower curtain I got at Goodwill. All you need is a staple gun and some creativity! You can do it! Have a great week!

 

 

 

Thrifty Furniture updates!

Here's a couple furniture makeovers I did over the last couple weeks! There's nothing more satisfying than finding an awesome deal on a piece that you can totally see the potential in and giving it new life. The wingback chair was one I finally got around to reupholstering and I put it in my little sitting room! The fabric I used was a pair of gingham Goodwill curtains! Think outside the box with fabric, I love to use drop cloths from Big Lots. It's so much fabric for cheap! I found the Duncan Phyfe antique table at one of my favorite thift stores and I was in love. I was looking for a smaller table for the eat in kitchen area and it came out beautiful. I love Americana decor chalk paint. I mixed primitive with a small amount of Carbon black to make the perfect greige. Then I sealed it with their wax sealer. It's so easy! I'm on the search for some chairs which I will update y'all on! Here they are!

Isn't she a beauty!

 

I did a coat of primitive and then did the mixed mixture to make the grey.

 

 

SO happy with it!

 

Bruce approves.

I got this chair for $5 at a garage sale!

 

 

 

So much sweeter!

Hello lovelies! It's been too long.

I wanted to first say Happy New Year to ya'll! I am excited this is a fresh new year. I also am going to use my blog for some new subjects this year to document our journey to start a family and the highs and lows along the way. Even if my words are able to help lift up one person, it'll be worth it.

I also want to spotlight one of my best friend's Denise's new blog! Yay!
Http://cynicalgirlsguide.com  
 It's an honest, sharp witted, and heartfelt blog about an everyday girl's guide to true happiness in yourself. Love it! Proud of you girl!

Let's make this year the best year yet!

 Jen