Opinions, please!

I need your help today, friends! I've painted one of our 2 nightstands and I'm totally on the fence. So on the fence that I've yet to paint the other one. One day I like it and the next, I don't!

I was thinking I'd hang the gold mirror above the nightstand so I was inclined to change the color of the trim. Originally, I thought I'd paint it navy. I had a heck of a time finding the right shade of navy, then I ran across this color (Gentlemen's Gray) at Benjamin Moore and loved it. It totally ties in the color of my pillows. But now that I see it directly up against the mirror...I just can't decide if it's right!

Here's where I started...

BEFORE

And here it is now...

AFTER

I think what is throwing me is the square corner pieces. It looks too heavy. Or is it the color? Aaaggghhh! Why can't I figure this one out?

I've thought about possibly adding a gold glaze over the blue to soften the look. I have no idea if that would work or not!

Or do I like it?! Sometimes it just takes a little time to get used to seeing something in a new light. I'm planning on leaving it until I finish the giant art piece I'm painting which will hang directly adjacent to it. Also, I'd like a new lamp...is that what throws this whole little vignette off-balance? It's not styled currently, but I don't plan to add too much more since I'm not a clutter person. (Sorry, you're reading my internal thought process!)

To prove to myself that this wasn't a completely hair-brained idea, I went searching for similar pieces. Most people do this first, because that would've been the logical thing, right? 

This is the only piece I found...

Here's the shot I posted Monday to give you an idea of the full view...

Okay, friends, please don't hold back on sharing your thoughts and opinions...

Do I...

        keep it?

                                      return to the original color?

                              go after another color?

                     add a gold glaze?

                         paint those silly square corner pieces something different?

                   stop stressing over something so insignificant? :)

Surprise me with your brilliant ideas!

Linking to: Primitive & Proper

Transparent Tuesday

I stole this beautiful picture off of my sweet friend's facebook page. Isn't she gorgeous?!

She's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. I learned a powerful lesson from her many years ago. She was a high school student and I was helping co-lead a bible study for the girls her age. It's kind of ironic because I'm pretty sure they taught me more than I taught them!

Let me back up a little before I share her powerful words...

I grew up 'knowing how to pray' but I was never in a position where I had to pray out loud, except with my family of course. But still, those prayers were very contrite and mundane.

It wasn't until I started helping with the high school girls that I "learned" how to pray out loud. It can be really intimidating letting others listen to your intimate moments with God. But talk about the ultimate transparency! Laying it all out there and speaking from the depths of your heart, wow...that's raw!


So I'll take you to the night I learned this powerful lesson from a young high school girl...

There were likely 12-15 girls and we were sitting in a circle. Each girl would say their prayer then the next would go and so on. I was listening intently but getting sweaty at the same time. My mind was racing..."what was I going to say? Would it come out right? I'm no good at praying out loud. I'm so going to stumble over all my words!" My time came and went and who knows what I said or "if I did good," but then came the sweet words of this beautiful young woman..."God, help us to fall more in love with you each day!"


That's it... ONE sentence! I was blown away by this. Who knew you could say so much with so little?!

So, friends, if you're in a place where you don't even know what to pray, start with one simple sentence. That's all it takes. God knows your heart. Your words are just the icing on the cake. He doesn't need your words as much as he wants your heart!

{via}

I'd love to pray for you, my friends. If there's something that's heavy on your heart or if there's a praise that's waiting to be celebrated, leave me a comment or send me an email, dfrieling1@gmail.com.

Ziggity Zag to the Zig Zig Zag

I'm happy to report that my garage sale was a success! Would you believe we made over $300 and the biggest ticket item was only $40. Those quarters sure to add up, friends.

I made a little progress on our Master bedroom update this weekend. The benches are recovered and they definitely bring new life into the space.

Here's a reminder of where we started. I actually still really like the zebra, but I must say, it's fun to have the bright colors dancing around.

Clearly, there's lots more work to be done...

Since recovering a bench is pretty much a no-brainer, I'll spare you the DIY project breakdown. But, I will share this dirty little secret. That's right, I covered right over the zebra. Didn't even take the time to rip it off. I see it this way...since this is the 3rd time these benches have been recovered, I have tons of options in the future in case I change my mind!

Does this make me smart or afraid of commitment? Don't answer that!

On a side note, it's well-known that Picnik is closing this week so if you're looking for another photo editing site, check out PicMonkey. I used it for the first time on this post and it was super easy, just like Picnik. Rumor has it that some of the Picnik people started PicMonkey. Right now all tools are free but they'll start charging for upgrades sooner or later.

That's it for today, friends. I wish I could report that my furniture painting was going as well as this project. I'm currently trying to make up my mind if I even like it or not. Yikes! I may be using my garage sale earnings to purchase a new nightstand. ha! More on that later this week.

How I support my habit

Because I love pretty things like this...

{Traditional Home}

I have to do ugly things like this...

 and this

That's right, friends, I support my decorating habit by having garage sales. I'm up to my eyeballs in 25 cent stickers today and tomorrow so sadly I do not have Master bedroom progress pictures to show you just yet.

Although, I will share with you one more, not so glamourous picture. I had a little 'stupid moment' when I tried to cut a corner and look what happened...

Tragic, I tell ya! Thank goodness for lamps and books that can hide such stupid mistakes.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that I make enough money to support some killer projects in the near future! 

Do something fun this weekend, friends, and think of me while I'm haggling over the price of things like socks and undies!

Random Act of Kindness #29

Today's random act of kindness is sooo very easy. If you don't do it, then you're a complete slacker! I say that with the nicest intentions. You're probably thinking, "What about those kind words you're always preaching, Dana?" Okay, not a slacker, just lazy...is that better?

Moving on. Has your car ever fallen victim to the ghost pushing the shopping cart phenomenon like the car below is about to experience?

For some reason, people just don't seem to think they need to put away their shopping carts. Doesn't it make you mad when you see the perfect parking place, you start to pull in, then BAM! there's a cart. No wonder everyone else was passing up that perfect spot.

RAK challenge #29: Park close to an abandoned shopping cart then take it inside the store with you as you go!

One of these kids is not like the other...bonus kindness points to the person who's willing to push this Home Depot cart back to its home! See Home Depot in the far, far background of the picture?

See what I mean? Such a simple little act of kindness today. You'll be setting a great example and saving someone's car in the process.

So there ya have it, friends...go out and be kind!

Don't forget to print your free RAK cards to use during all your other RAKS...click here.

Master Bedroom Snippets

Today's post is full of snippets. Little pieces to let you know what's going on, but I'm going to save the 'big pictures' until all the projects are closer to being finished.

Snippet #1: I've decided what I'm going to paint! Here's one corner of my practice piece...

Snippet #2: One down and one to go! Wondering if the legs need new pantyhose? (paint color, for those of you not following me!)

Snippet #3: Red clearance sticker...Oh how I love thee! And, yes, I'm fully aware nothing looks good together in this shot. It will soon though, if all goes as planned. 

Snippet #4: I have a date with this couple today...

Keep your fingers crossed. Painting furniture is not my speciality, so let's hope it comes out the way I envision!

If you'd like help creating a space you love, contact me so we can get started!

Transparent Tuesday

Handling disappointment...
That's the transparent topic for today. Unless you're not human, I'm sure you've been disappointed a time or two (or three or four), right?

I had a brush with my 15 minutes of fame last week. It's been an exciting 2 weeks thinking "what it would be like" but then came the disappointing email saying thanks but no thanks. Ummm...guess I won't be finding out what it would be like!

So, I could take this event and let it define me. It could dash my dreams and make me a cranky monster OR I can view it with my rose-colored glasses and a glass half-full attitude. It's a CHOICE and a DECISION.  I've decided that I'll choose to realize, that when one door closes, another one opens. If I perseverate on what might have been, I'm really limiting myself on what could be.

Maybe this attitude is a positive side of getting older. I've had enough life experiences that I can look back on and think "Holy cow! If that had of happened the way I wanted it to, then this, this and this wouldn't have happened." Isn't it wild to look at your life in retrospect sometimes?

Here's the other reason I can face disappointment with rose-colored glasses...prayer and faith. In this situation, I've realized I need to take 'myself' out of it and seek what God has planned for me. I find solace in the fact that this timing must not have been God's timing. I am human though, so God, whenever you're ready to open that door back up...you just let me know! It sure would've been fun!

If you're struggling with handling a disappointing situation, I'd love to pray for you. Leave a comment or email me at dfrieling1@gmail.com. OR, if you have words of wisdom to pass on to the rest of us, please do that as well.