Forever Beloved

For a complete list of The Blogvember Challenge prompts, click HERE!

November 10 – Share a household trick or trick, or a great DIY.

My goodness, do I love me a great DIY.  I would much rather jump in and do something myself than purchase the item.  There is something to be said for breaking out power tools, getting your hands dirty and being able to be proud of your end result.

Thanks to Pinterest, I’ve done quite a few DIYs over the years in our old farmhouse.  I’m not so sure my husband feels quite the same way.  Many days he’s walked into this house after work to find me mid-project, carpet ripped off the stairs, boards torn off, paint stripper on, and he just shakes his head and walks past.

Making this headboard for our spare room is hands down my favorite DIY I’ve ever done.  It was easy and came together quickly.

I bought my wood from Lowe’s.  I took my measurements in and had them pre-cut the wood for me to the exact lengths I needed.  For a queen headboard, here is what I purchased.

• 4 | 1×6 shiplap cut to 66″
• 2 | 1×4’s at 52” (vertical supports)
• 1 | 1×3 at 56” (horizontal base support)
• 1 | 1×3 at 25” (small vertical support)
• small nails
• stain (any color you want)
• a way to attach it to the wall (velcro strips, nails, screws)

Make sure you look at all the lumber well and don’t get any that are warped.  That makes assembly so much easier!

Lay out the 1×6 boards horizontally so that they are even.  I used shiplap, so I also needed to make sure the tongue and groove was together.  I put the 25″ small vertical support vertically in the center of the shiplap (the shiplap was left to right, the support was top to bottom).  I used small nails to secure the support to the shiplap.  Make sure your nails aren’t too long, or they’ll stick out the front of the headboard.  

After the center vertical support is in place, you can put the two 52″ vertical supports on.  These are basically the legs for your headboard.  I laid them on the headboard and measured how far from the top and sides they were.  I didn’t want my headboard to be lopsided or unlevel once it was stood up.  I actually measured three times just to make certain they were in the right spot.  Once I knew they were in the right spot, I nailed them down.

The next thing I did was put the 56″ vertical support on the legs.  I believe I put it around 7″ up from the bottom.  High enough that I knew it would brace it well.  Nail that in place.

And there you have it, you’re ready to stand your headboard up!  Now it’s time to sand it.  Sanding will not only get rid of any print or marks on the lumber, but will allow the stain to set better and get rid of any splinters. 

Now for the finishing touch, stain.  I chose a grayish stain, as the flooring we put down in that room had a gray color in it.  It goes perfectly with it.  I also bought special stain sponges to apply the stain.  And I put on rubber gloves so my hands didn’t get stained.  

I let the stain dry for 48 hours and it was ready to go in the room.  Because it’s in our spare room, I knew the bed would always be in the same spot.  For that reason we just screwed it to the wall.  You could also use a heavy duty velcro on the back if you think you may be moving it around in the future.  I also put felt pads on the back of the headboard so it wouldn’t scuff up the freshly painted wall.

This was such a fun DIY for me.  If you give it a go, make sure you comment below and let me know how it worked out!

For a complete list of The Blogvember Challenge prompts, click HERE!

November 9 – How do you stay inspired?

In my life I’ve held lots of roles that required staying inspired…scrapbooking, photographer and blogger being the most recent.  I also really enjoy Bible journaling as a creative outlet too.  Most of my inspiration for all of those come from the same places.

Beautiful photographs are always something that has sparked inspiration in me.  In my scrapbooking years, a beautiful photograph would have me scrambling to grab my scissors, paper and glue.  The photographer in me can look at a photo and see so much than what is on the surface.

Gorgeous fonts, oh how I love me a good font.  I guess maybe there is a little graphic designer in my heart too.  I have a few fonts that are my favorites.  And I also may be a fit on a font hoarder.  I’d hate to have to admit just how many I have on my computer.  I love mixing fonts…block with script, handwriting with typed.

Autumn, I always feel more inspired in Autumn.  The colors, the golden lighting, the smells, all the fun fall things and the crisp air!  I will tell you, some of my favorite client photos I’ve ever taken were done in the golden Autumn light.

Colors!  Bold, contrasting colors.  As you can see on my scrapbook layout above, I always loved working with colors that you wouldn’t necessarily put together.  Lime green, baby blue, purple and pink.  Yes, please!

Pinterest!  Y’all, can we just take a moment to appreciate the endless supply of inspiration on Pinterest!  You can literally find anything your heart desires on there.

Listening to others around me talk.  There are times I get inspired for a blog post topic just from listening to others talking about a certain subject.  Especially if it’s something they wished was spoken about more.

I also enjoy apps that are an endless supply of inspiration.  YouTube and Instagram being my top two favorites.  I follow hundreds of creatives, businesswomen, friends and companies that are doing beautiful, meaningful work. I love having it at my fingertips!

Your turn y’all!  Where do you find inspiration?

For a complete list of The Blogvember Challenge prompts, click HERE!

November 8 –What songs would be on the soundtrack of your life?

Music is powerful.  And it has been a huge part of my entire life.  With one note it can take you soaring back to a moment in time.  It can lift your soul.  It can make you shed tears of grief.  It can make you laugh.  Music is a universal language, you don’t even have to understand the words if the artist is pouring their soul into the song.

I’ve grown up surrounded by music.  I took piano lessons during my early elementary school years.  I picked up clarinet in late elementary and bass clarinet in high school.  I toted that big thing around in football band and marching band.  Until my sophomore year when I joined the color guard rifle squad.  I was in chorus from the first year it was offered until I graduated.  I also grew up in a musical family.  My Grandma always had music playing in her house, my Dad was always singing or humming an old hymn and every summer our big family outing was spending the weekend at a hymn sing.

As a teenager I loved making mixtapes.  I would spend hours beside the radio, waiting for a song to come on so I could record it.  It was inevitable…either the phone would ring, the dog would bark or someone would talk.  There was always one mixtape that was your favorite, and you’d play it again and again until it wore out.

When I met my husband, his love for music equaled mine.  Many of our dates were just driving around listening to music.  And his voice played such an important role in our love story.  After we had babies, our house was full of music and singing and living room dance parties.

In my life there is a song for every pivotal moment.  And when those songs come on, it takes me right back in time to that exact moment.  Music has always been tied to emotions with me.  There are songs to this day that still invoke the memories of what it meant to me years ago.

My Life Mixtape

Daddy Sang Bass by The Statler Brothers // When I was little our only way to play music was on a record player.  One of the first records I can remember us having was Statler Brothers hymns.  It was mine and my Dads favorites. I wore that poor record out.  I adored this song and listening to my Dad sing it.  I’m blessed to have a husband that can sing the best bass around. And sometimes if I turn this song on, I can talk him into singing it with me.  When I’m sitting at my desk working or browsing Facebook, I always have Gaither Vocal Band radio station on.  My love for quartets and harmonies is serious.

Standing on the Promises by Alan Jackson // During my piano lesson years, old hymns were part of my curriculum.  When I would practice at home and play this song, my Dad would come in and stand beside the piano and sing.  He would sing the melody and I would sing the harmony.  My neighbor said her favorite summer evenings were swinging on her porch listening to me play the piano and my Dad and I singing.  Those are such precious memories for me.  Even now, when there is a Sunday we sing this song in church, my heart does a little leap.  And you can bet I belt out those harmonies.

Friends by Michael W. Smith // So, so many tears were cried at church camp while singing this song around the campfire.  Arms around each others shoulders, swaying back and forth and crying our faces off.  It’s so funny, all these years later and I still get teary when I hear this song.

The Son Hath Made Me Free by The Kingsboys // While other teenage girls were crushing on NKOTB and Backstreet Boys, this girl was crushing hard on the Kingsboys.  Goodness.  Teenage Christian boys that can harmonize, wasn’t that every girls dream?  I had every single one of their albums, one even being autographed.  I still play them and sing along, although I can only do that when I’m home alone.  The rest of my family aren’t fans of their music.  I’m still a sucker for amazing harmonies.  Fairly sure I have my Dad to thank for that.

Hold On by Wilson Phillips // My Freshman trip was hard y’all.  I felt like everyone was in their cliques, including my friends, and I had no one to buddy around with that day.  The entire day was hard, beginning to end.  I couldn’t wait for it to end and me to crawl into my Moms car and go home.  On the bus ride home this song came on.  I was thankful it was dark, because the tears were rolling down my face.  Every single time I hear this song, it takes me right back to that day.  And how heartbroken my little teenage heart felt.

To Be With You by Mr. Big // Every single time I hear this song it takes me back to a dance after a wrestling match.  It was a cold snowy Friday night.  I was feeling a little sad because the boys kept asking my friend to dance and no one asked me.  But then this song came on and I didn’t care that no one had asked me to dance, I just sat along the wall and sang my heart out.

The Truth is Lyin’ Next to You by Randy Travis // This song, oh this song.  It holds such a precious place in our love story.  When we were dating he sang this song to me, while looking in my eyes through the entire song.  As the tears rolled down my cheeks, that was the moment I fell in love with him and knew he’d be my forever.

I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You by Alan Jackson // This song also holds such a special place in my heart.  During a hard season in my marriage I listened to this on repeat.  I would text my husband the lyrics daily.  I want to stroll over Heaven with you some glad day.  When all our troubles and heartaches are vanished away.  Then we’ll enjoy the beauty where all things are new.  I want to stroll over Heaven with you.  I would sing along while tears rolled down my face.  And being where we are now in our marriage makes this song even more special.  I know someday we’ll be strolling through Heaven, hand in hand.

Shoop by Salt -N-Pepa // In this family we enjoy a good car dance party.  And they happen quite often.  There are a few must haves on our playlist, and this is one of them.  Along with Ice Ice Baby and Hold On.  As you can see, this Mama trained her littles to enjoy some old school music.  Throw in a little Whitney and the list is complete.

Love Me Anyways by Pink and Chris Stapleton // I’ve never had such an instant emotional connection to a song.  The first line alone made the tears flow.  Throughout this medical journey, I’ve acquired quite a few scars.  And I’m so blessed that my husband loves me anyway.

Are y’all ready to bust out your headphones or turn up the speakers for today’s prompt?  I’m so excited to listen to the soundtracks of your life!