My Take On An Industrial Cage Light!

Remember This??? The planter that I go at a local antique store for a grand total of $15? Well...... I wanted to do something special with it, and this is what I came up with!!

This picture was my insperation. The cluster of lights sells for $499. A single pendant sells for $149. I am sure they are very worth the cost, it is simply that I do not have the funds to spend on a pendant for our guest room at this point, sooooooooo, creativity had to kick in!First, you need a hanging lamp kit. I purchased mine at Ikea for $3.99 and have used it with a standard shade for about a year now. Next, after you have removed the "clamp ring" (my name, as I am not sure of the official name) and place it on the top center of the cage (which is really the bottom of the planter, and they convienently had a perfect circle there just for me!!!)

Then, with a dremel tool and the proper bit, cut the cage where needed to enable it except the light kit. I simply inserted the kit into the upside down cage, and inserted the most amazing bulb...it is called an Edison Bulb, very antique / industrial looking and I think "makes" th look of the light complete! Here she is, in all her glory! I believe this is what we call Light Love! And this is what it looks like in the guest room....amazing!

Insperation Lights can be found here: http://www.shadesoflight.com/ at Shades Of Light.

By Far The Sweetest Birthday Party Ideas EVER!!

This is from a site I frequent....The Sweetest Occasion...and I am in love with this Birthday Party inspiration! Go and peek, you will be in Birthday Love too!!!!http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/

Picture courtesy of The Sweetest Occasion.

A Normal Saturday At My House.

Life on a Saturday around here today consists of my sweet Hubby heading south (2 1/2 hours) to help a friend with a church in the area. They are replacing a main entry door, enlarging it, so that a cancer patient can have his funeral in the church that he loves. I know that this sound very sad, but what a loving thing for my husband and his friend to do.
I on the other hand, am home, doing all the things that need to be done since we completed our new floor. Man! I thought that once the floor was in, that it was done! But Noooooooo, who knew that there were mop boards to be put in (done by my hubby) and nail holes to be filled, painting to be done, caulking to be done...and it seems to go on and on! Well, I am happy to say, that I have filled 3/4 of the holes, painted said mop boards and re-arranged the living room furniture (I mean why pull the furniture away from the walls and NOT re-arrange???? Beyond me!). I also did two loads of laundry and swept the new hardwoods at least 12 times!
As I am now, there is a lovely fire in the fireplace, football is on TV and my tummy if full.
Life is good, I am tired, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment! Ahhhhhh.
Have an amazing weekend all!!!!

Simple Joys

Simple Joy
I have decided to take a moment now and again to share something that simply brings me joy. I am not sure how often it will be, whether weekly, every so often, or when I am just feeling the need to slow down and realize that simple joys are a very important part of our lives.
By simple Joy, I mean, that thing that will bring a smile to your face when you simply walk by it, glance at it or purposely gaze at it to feel the joy necessary in a tough day.
We all have simple joys, none are exactly the same, some things that I find as a simple joy may seem, ummmmmmmmm, odd to you (surely not) but that is the cool thing about them, they are meant just for you!
I am starting this by showing you a picture of a VERY special little lady in my life “O”. She is the most beautiful 4 yr old in the world, and I have this picture on my living room wall. I had taken a trip this past September and had the great pleasure of taking her to dance class. In this photo, she did not know that I was behind a camera lens. In fact, I do not believe that she was aware of anyone around her….you see, she was having a simple joy in her life….twirling!

I am quite sure that we are all in need of a bit of twirling in our lives, but we grow up, and believe that if we were to ‘twirl’ out in public (gasp!) someone would surely hall us away to the loony bin!
So, this is my simple joy that I am sharing with you today….this picture, that brings me such joy, lightens my heart and can even make my cry with emotion. What is one of your simple pleasures today?
Share with us!

And What

Will she do with this????

Any guesses??

It is a hanging planter! You know, the ones that are lined with moss, filled with soil and planted with beautiful flowers...hmmmmmm what can my crazy mind find to do with this treasure? Is very old, weathered and kind of rusty.....I know!!!!

Stop back by, the finished product will be posted soon!!!

I am posting this recipe from "Apartment Therapy"
I love using natural cleaners in my home, as I have asthma, and do not want to exacerbate my issues with chemicals floating in the air!
I do have this to add, before you use this recipe....Hydrogen Peroxide does loose it's power after a few days. It will begin to become less effective over time, so you may want to use a small spray bottle, and even consider cutting this recipe in half. If you are concerned about buying a lemon and using only a small portion of it for a batch of cleaner, just juice the entire lemon, measure out the juice in 1 tble portions and freeze those that you do not use that day! Then you will have fresh lemon juice at the ready for what ever need you have!


You can make your own all-purpose cleaner using three basic, inexpensive, non-toxic ingredients. They are: water, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon juice. You can use this cleaner for everything from streak-free mirrors to wiping out the cat litter box.

The recipe:
1 cups Water
1/2 cup Hydrogen Peroxide
2 Tbl Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
Mix and adjust to suit your needs.
Hydrogen peroxide is the key to this cleaner. It’s inexpensive, non-toxic, and readily available. It's a nearly odorless liquid that is commonly used on open wounds and therefore safe to use around pets and children. Hydrogen peroxide has stronger cleaning capabilities than vinegar and works much like bleach, just without any harmful health or environmental effects. You can also add about half a cup of this mix into laundry water to whiten clothes. The acidic lemon juice helps break down grime and add a fresh citrus scent. Water helps dilute the mixture. I keep it pre-mixed in a reused windex spray bottle for easy access.

New Years Hopes...

Not resolutions, but hopes. Hopes to be better, hoping to do what I need to do to accomplish all that needs to be done, hopes for a life filled with laughter, love and joy.
I am not a resolution maker. Can you tell? Yes, I know, that is not what is SUPPOSED to be this time of year. I mean, isn't everyone supposed to make resolutions to get fit, loose weight, do some amazing fete, or what ever there is? Well, this year I am HOPING that I will fulfill what I have promised myself....to do all things with more effort.
I want to not make myself feel guilty for "failing" or set myself up for failure by resolving that I WILL do this or that and find myself in a situation that will cause failure which leads to having to explain why I did not do what I said I would....ugh, that does not sound like fun to me!
So instead, I hope. I hope to do all that I do with more effort. And if I do succeed in this, then the pattern will be set for doing things Greatly and not just good or well or adequately.
Now, that may very well mean that I will have to "weed" things out of my life. You know, purge the closet, donate things from the basement, NOT take on further commitments, etc.
You know, if you do many things, chances are you are doing them well, but if you do fewer things, you can do them with greatness!
Example? Sure! I would be happy to oblige!
If I have too much furniture in my house, then cleaning is more time consuming and there for done well, but not REALLY well, for lack of time! So, if I donate the furniture that I do not need, the rest will be easier to keep clean!
If I have an over abundance of clothes, then there is too much laundry to do, by donating the extra clothes I do not wear or need, I cut back on laundry, and yes, this is true. I know we all still need to do the laundry, but having excess clothing, DOES lead to larger laundry loads.
If I am teaching/taking 3 different classes, I am probably doing a good job at all 3, but if I listen closely to the Lord, and cut back to one class, I can do that with Greatness!
You see! Getting rid of the clutter in my life (through the careful listening to the Holy Spirit and not randomly choosing on my own) I can do things with greater effort affording me a great outcome.
Have an amazing Tuesday!!!