Confessions of a Hostess

I'll let you eavesdrop on the conversations that I have with myself. 


When I first plan a party:
"Oh, this is going to be such fun!!"


When I send out my invitations:
"Oh, this is going to be such fun!!"


The few days before the party:

"What was I thinking?! How am I going to get everything done? I need to clean! And my family still wants dinner every night and there's laundry to do. And I have to take Bekah to PE and choir and get ready for our Keepers at Home club. How am I going to get everything done?!"

The day of the party:
"Oh, this is going to be such fun!!"


At the party: 
"Oh my goodness, this is fun!!"

Because hosting is always worth it!

Media Cabinet Makeover {DIY Paint Color}

At The Farmhouse, the television sat in a place that was designed for it: between the built-in bookshelves, in front of a window.

But we couldn't bring the built-in shelf along with us, so we were in a quandary about where to put the television in the new house. I was so excited about having a fireplace and mantle, and I wanted that to be the focal point of the room. I did not want to ruin that space (and miss all of those decorating possibilities) with a screen. Before we moved, I arranged the furniture over and over in my head (finagle the book shelves to accommodate media? set the television on a table with the other "stuff" on an old wooden box or a stool underneath?), but nothing seemed right.

We eventually decided that Ron should build a tall media cabinet, with doors to hide all the "ugly stuff" when not in use. But...we have projects galore, and this one would need to wait.

Then Kati's eagle eyes spotted this piece at a barn sale.

Yes, it was turquoise (which is a lovely color...but not with my decor!), but it was $49! Sold!

We brought it home and set up all the media components, put the baskets of DVDs and Wii remotes inside, and there it sat for several months waiting to be transformed (and sticking out like a sore thumb). 

I suppose it was okay that it took me a while to get around to it, because that gave me time to choose a paint color. Black? Tan? Barn red? Red over tan? Red over black? Tan over black? Green? (Yes, I really did consider all of those options.) Then one day I saw a photo online of a blanket chest painted in a brownish red and I loved it. Later that same day, I visited a friend and she had a jelly cupboard that was also brownish red, and I knew that that was the color for my media stand. The only problem was that I didn't have a paint strip or a color name to go by.


Here's what I did:

1) Got out a bunch of my craft paints.

2) Mixed and swirled on a paper plate until I had several possibilities.

3) Painted the possibilities on a wooden paint paddle.

4) Took my paint paddle to Home Depot (I clearly marked the chosen color on the paddle) and had them use their spectrophotometer to create a paint in my very own custom color!

I felt like a bona fide decorator...and you can too!

Do you have anything that needs a paint makeover? Have you ever considered creating your own paint color? 

Weekend Snapshots: Reflection

Last year, we placed mums and pumpkins on our front step and on the patio as usual. And then we had a year that was anything BUT usual. 

One year ago yesterday, Ron had the surgery that was the beginning of a season of difficulty, discouragement, challenge, and change. It was also a season of mercy and grace and refining. 

Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

As we reflect, we can only be grateful. Indeed we are grateful that Ron recovered. We are grateful for our new home, one that meets our needs at this stage of life. But we are most grateful that we have learned to trust Him more, we have learned to lean on Him more, and we have learned to love Him more! (And if Ron had not recovered and if our house had not sold and if we had not found a home that we love, we would trust that His plan for us is good. Because He is always good to His children. Romans 8:28.)

On Saturday, I revisited this photo that Kati took back in 2012. (Facebook users may be familiar with "On This Day" in which you can view everything that you've posted on the current date -- in this case, September 24th -- though the years.)

September 24, 2012
Bekah (11), Maddie (8), Gavin (9), Owen (6), Ben (3), Alaine (2)

My sister suggested that we "recreate," so we did!

September 24, 2016
Bekah (15), Maddie (12), Gavin (13), Owen (10), Ben (7), Alaine (6)

It was fun to look back at these cutie pies...and just as fun to see them today!

Then Kati took a bonus shot with the kids lined up according to their heights today...and with the sweetest little addition!

Pineapple House | Kati's Room

Kati is a planner.  So when we knew that we would be moving to a new home last spring, she went to work! Her new room at Pineapple House is much smaller than her bedroom at The Farmhouse, and she had to make some changes and some choices. She set about purging and packing up and planning and purchasing a few new things. 

I have to stop for a moment to give kudos to her brother Ryan and her brother-in-law Brian. The two of them hauled some heavy pieces of furniture and quite a few boxes labeled "Kati's Hope Box" up to the attic. In fact, they let Kati know that she needs to marry a big, strong guy because they don't plan on bringing that stuff back down! Ryan sent her a picture of  a man who would fit the job: 

Kati's thoughtful planning paid off. We had only been in our new home for a few days when her room looked exactly like it does now! There was only one thing it needed: some fresh paint. And now it has that too!

The walls are painted antique white, the same color we used in the living room and dining room here, and on most of the walls in The Farmhouse. For the trim, we used Behr's Decorator White. Kati has been wanting a white-on-white palette since Bekah chose it for her room at The Farmhouse. It is bright and cheerful, a neutral backdrop for Kati's vintage treasures.


Are you ready for a little tour? We'll step inside and move clockwise around the room.

Kati uses a vintage fan as a door stop.

An old oak washstand serves as her nightstand. On it, she has an array of old cameras, collected one by one, a symbol of her love of photography. She bought the white chippy mirror at a barn sale.

Over her bed, she created a gallery wall of things that she loves: a couple of plates, one old and one new; a collection of vintage keys; two canvases made with her own photographs; and a chalkboard frame on which is written lyrics of a beloved hymn.

The hydrangea pillow is new this year, purchased at Pier I.

Kati found her gauzy white curtains at HomeGoods. They were really tablecloths, but at $12.99 apiece, she decided that they would work nicely as curtains. Her plan was to hang them with curtain clip rings, but she didn't like the way that they hung, so we sewed a simple casing in the top of each.

More vintage elements: the old window frame hung on the wall, a Victorian bird cage, and a vintage suitcase. 

The aqua enamel tray is new "vintage." 

 For fall, the birdcage is holding a white mum.
Underneath, you can see a glimpse of her hope chest, made by her Dad. It is full, even though she has those "hope boxes" in the attic. 

I love the reading corner!
In Kati's old room, she had a wonderful wall of built-in book shelves and a window seat. When we moved, she had to pack up her beloved books and they are carefully organized in large Rubbermaid storage boxes, easily accessible in the basement. But when she found this old bookshelf in a local antiques shop, she decided that it would be just right to hold her Dickens collection, and so it is.

The double closet doors conceal lots of handy-dandy storage. I am amazed at all that Kati was able to (neatly!) pack inside! 

Kati even used the narrow bit of wall between the closet and the doorway. She hung a cute Scripture plaque and a thimble collection begun by her Aunt Lynn. On the floor is an ottoman where she places her purse.

To anchor it all, she bought a new braided rug. 

And that is Kati's new room at Pineapple House. It may be smaller in size, but it is not lacking in charm! She has "made her house [room] a home"!

Ice Cream with a Touch of Autumn

Although the day had started out with a pleasant breeze, by Saturday evening the heat and humidity had drifted back in. We were more than willing to try to beat the heat with a bowl (or two - who's counting?) of homemade ice cream! 

So we got the sun porch ready and filled our gallon-and-a-half freezer with maple walnut ice cream* and waited for Ron's mom and his brothers and sisters and their spouses to gather. (A couple of our guests were bringing ice cream too!) 

We had four gallons of ice cream and a few cookies for good measure (a balanced diet and all that), and the evening was filled with chatter and laughter and yumminess!

Do you know of a better way to beat the heat? 

* About the maple walnut ice cream...

Several years ago, we went to a local ice cream shop that serves homemade ice cream. It was in September and they were featuring some autumn flavors. I chose pumpkin pie ice cream and I was not disappointed; it was delicious! However, Ron let me have a bite of his maple walnut ice cream ~swoon~ and I (even though I totally love pumpkin), decided that his was better!

I decided to try to make our own version of the maple walnut ice cream for our party. I simmered about 1 1/2 cups of maple syrup in a heavy pot until it reduced by about half, and added it to our vanilla ice cream recipe. I toasted a cup of walnuts and added them just before churning.

It was good, but if I make it again I'll double the amount of maple syrup for a more intense maple flavor!