Mantel Planks

Since we did the fireplace on Sunday and it went rather quickly I thought that while I had a few seconds I would show you how it came out. I want to thank you for all your visits and comments about my family room redo and hopefully I am not boring you with this project and hopefully I will show you the ENTIRE room one day! :)

Anyway, I have always loved the plank walls that I see in old cottages and homes and even faked one in my kitchen that you can see here if you have a minute.

Knowing that hubby was not up to doing another wall again, especially after putting in the floors and everything else that he has been so graciously helping me with, I decided that just a partial plank wall will do, and what better spot for one than over the fireplace.

Before:

After:

It was pretty easy to do, well, it looked pretty easy to do since I observed most of the time.

We, or he, just cut the boards to length, trimmed the top and bottom boards so they looked even and then nailed them up!

I then slapped on some leftover paint and hung up my treasures.

I love how it turned out and it adds another, what I feel, beachy texture to the room and makes the fireplace seem a bit more interesting.

The 'old' fishing net I got at TJ Maxx along with the bigger sand bird.

The starfish and beach grass I shopped from the house.

But see the little sand bird?

Isn't he cute?!

My friend Anita from Going A Little Coastal asked me were I had picked up the larger bird. I told her where and mentioned that it would have been great if they had different sizes.

WELL,

being the sweet gal that she is, when she picked up her sand bird she told me that there were indeed different sizes and brought home this little guy to send to me!!! :)

I love him!

She also sent me this amazing smelling candle that smells like the sea!!

Thank you SO much again Anita, he is perfect with his big brother!!! :)

This week in between taxing the kids around I am tackling this mess!

This would be our bonus room or grave yard of all things not needed at the time.

My goal is to make it a tropical sitting room for the kids.

UGH!!!

I will be back Thursday to join the adorable Sarah from Modern Country Style and her

DEFINE YOUR BLOG linky party!

Click on the bottom above to find out what it is all about!

HUGS!!

A Birthday Break and A Blogger Friend

Hello there my friends.

I hope you are having a wonderful week so far!

I just wanted to come by and tell you that I am taking a little break this week/weekend and will be mostly away from my computer. (I will be around just not as much)

I am very far behind on house work, very far!

I need to finish up on painting, clean rugs, blah, blah and

along with work (YUCK) and hopefully we are getting our floors (YEAH!!!)

BUT most importantly,

FRIDAY

it is my daughters birthday, and not just any birthday (although all birthdays are special) because she will be a

TEENAGER!!!!!

OH I am not ready for this! :)

I can't believe that she is growing so fast

My beautiful little baby girl

who loves life,

loves to goof around,

is quiet and gentle,

has grown a love for a special place,

who's smile lights up my world,

and Oh!

Oh yes,

there is the face that I seem to get more and more!! :)

With everything that she has been dealing with over the last few years, she is such a beautiful young lady who loves with all her heart, finds the beauty in everything and is my pocket-full of sunshine!

Happy Birthday baby!

We love you more than you know!!!

So for the remainder of the week we will be doing some special things with her and making her first steps into the wonderful world of 'teenagers' as special as possible!

I also wanted to thank my friend Julie from Being Ruby who surprised me one day with an idea for a new button!

Julie, who shares a love of the sea, is so creative and writes and photographs beautiful images that inspire me every time I visit her!

I loved her creations and chose one for my new button, I love it and it suites me perfectly!

It is on my sidebar so feel free to grab it and please make sure you go say hi to Julie, you will be inspired and leave with a smile on your face and your heart.

Thank you so much Julie!

I will be back Monday to show you some progress from our Family Room!

(sneaky peak of the hall)

Have a wonderful week and weekend!!

HUGS!