About a month ago, I got to go to an AMAZING conference called Becoming.  My friend Bobbie and I went last year and loved it.  So we were really thrilled to go back this year and even more excited when we found out some friends were going to be going!  Becoming is a one-night conference at a center near Ashville, NC and it is all about being purposeful.  Purposeful with your personal life, with your family, with your time and with your money.  I love it!  I came back last year inspired and excited about some things.

One HUGE thing that I came away with and stuck with was an idea from The Nester, who told a story about going to a friend's house.  Her friend's house was beautiful and so put together, but when the Nester went inside, her friend just started apologizing for everything.  Sorry its such a mess, sorry about the curtains, I really want to change them.  Just a lot of apologies and excuses why things did not look "perfect".  Well, the Nester's motto is "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" so you can imagine where she went with this.  She just thought, Man, if she is disappointed in her house when it looks like this, I better not EVER invite her over to my house!  She said that situation caused to to stop apologizing for any shape her house may be in.  She said it made her uncomfortable in this other house because of the apologizing and she doesn't want anyone to ever feel like that in her house.  So, yeah- I totally agreed with her- but how often to I invite people over and as soon as they come in the door say, "Oh, sorry, its such a mess in here, I really need to clean..." when let's face it, I was probably just finishing up cleaning and I just want them to think that it is normally cleaner than that.  Or, it might really need to be cleaned up but obviously, I had other important things that I needed to do- so why am I apologizing for that?  It was a huge aha! moment for me.  She caused me to think, how do I want people to feel in my house?  And do I want a house that is in pristine condition or do I want a warm, comfortable, lived-in house?  Now, yes, I still clean my house and I am an organized person by nature so that helps, but it sure takes some pressure away when I get a call that someone is going to "stop by for a bit".  Laundry on the dresser, no prob!  Dishes in the sink or some Boone hair on the kitchen floor- its ok!  Before, I would have apologized for that- but now- I realize that "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" AND if I don't point out those things, most of the time, other people don't even notice it because, ironically- their house probably looks the same!!!  Anyways, that just really hit home with me last year and I am still committed to not apologizing for my home!

Ok, the other thing that I left with last year was painting furniture!  I learned from Angela about all these things that are possible with different types of paints, glazes and waxes.  We even watched her do some of her work on stage and we were SO inspired!  Soon after the conference, my mom ended up getting some great pieces of furniture and wanted to know if I wanted them.  I said yes immediately and knew I wanted to try painting them, BUT- we were in a 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment that we had been in for 3 years, so it already had all the furniture it needed.  So, I had some great furniture waiting at my parent's house- waiting for time for me to come and paint AND waiting for me to have a place to put it once I did paint it.  So, needless to say, didn't get to paint it or use it last year.

As you know from my last post, when we came back from Scotland, we quickly found a house and even more quickly closed and moved in!  So, I now had 4 rooms and 3 bathrooms to fill- so plenty of room for new, painted furniture.  Now, I just needed the time to do it.  Bobbie and I (and some fun friends) went back to Becoming the first weekend of September and I knew I would be re-inspired for painting my furniture-- and boy, was I!!!  I also knew I had a 4-day weekend in October that included a neighborhood yard sale on Saturday morning.  So, since about mid-August, I have had last weekend planned.  Friday- move furniture to garage and prep (just making sure its ready, didn't need to sand or anything), Saturday- yard sale, Sunday- paint furniture, Monday- distress and wax furniture.  Yes, I do remember I am 6 months pregnant and yes, I am SO exhausted from school- but I have been looking forward to last weekend for so long!  And, I can tell you, I got it all done!  Yeah!

I already knew that I wanted to paint Emily Anne's dresser white for her nursery.  Also, when we moved into this house, we found out about the neighborhood yard sale soon after.  There were so many things that we needed (lamps, tables, etc) but we just didn't want to have to shell out big money.  So, we made a list over the next month or so and that is what I took out when I went to the yard sales.  My friend Amelia (who is due Dec. 4th) came with me and we went to 27 yard sales.  You heard that right, 27!  We were both pretty pooped by the end!  So, Keenan and I set a budget and I went out with our list, which included:

-desk for Keenan
-2 or 3 bookshelves
-organizer for kitchen
-coatrack
-5 floor lamps
-6 table lamps
-type of storage for Keenan's study
-chairs (wooden or comfy)
-candles
-holiday decor

Here is what I found:
-desk for Keenan ($25!)
-1 bookshelf
-3 floor lamps (I broke one on our way home though)
-4 table lamps
-candles
-beautiful, tiny white rocking chair for EA
-some Christmas decor
-some Melissa and Doug puzzles and their complete music kit (I tried to find a link, but it looks like it is actually several different sets that they put together and sold-- anyways, AMAZING deal!)
-Dale Murphy picture in a big frame (its an inside joke with me and Keen)

I think maybe some other items too, but I am having trouble remembering them all right now.  Anyways, VERY successful!

I decided I wanted to try painting the desk I got for Keenan and EA's dresser- so Sunday morning, I got to work.  Oh yeah, on Sunday, my SIL (who is so amazing!) came and primed EA's room so I could paint it on Monday.  Earlier that week, we had gotten some samples and I decided on a light grey.  So, Sunday, we are both painting.  Here are some before pics of what I was painting: