Beautiful House Wednesday

Today, I showcase the complete other end of the design spectrum. Yesterday was glamour, and this week's  beautiful home is special because it is my family cabin. My dad inherited the 10 acres, tore down the hunting shack, and took a few years to build our cabin by himself. Sure, he had a little help with electric and plumbing, and one of the amish families in the area even built the cupboards and vanity, but other than that, it was all Dad.

The entryway. Sorry, I didn't clean up.

another entryway shot.

a view of the livingroom

The flatscreen, of course.

dining area

another dining area shot

one side of the kitchen

The one bathroom

The amish-made vanity

door to the downstairs bedroom

Under the staircase

The top of the stairs, looking down.

one side of the loft. Yes, there is a man sleeping in that twin bed.

other side

View from the loft

Upstairs, looking out

Our Golden Lab, Miah's grave on the property:(

A tree planted in the backyard in memory of my cousin.

Saturday night, we had just enough sleeping room for the 8 of us. Of course, we could always throw down a couple of air mattresses as the family grows, but there's already been talk of each of the 3 of us kids and our families building smaller "sleeping" cabins on the property. With all of the babies we plan to bring into this world, we are going to need more room. jk:)

Glamour Girl

Everyone needs a little glamour in their life. I, for one, LOVE glamorous rooms. I am always saving photos of rooms that I'm lusting over. I love lush beds, deep, bold, colorful interiors, mirrored furniture, fur, floor to ceiling drapery, tufted ottomans, and chandeliers. Unfortunately, I feel like these glamorous images don't exactly fit our lifestyle, or our farmhouse dreams, but maybe I can pull off one slightly glamorous room.

anne coyle

pink, fur, chevron, and lucite..

purple paradise

I die over those drapes and that diningroom fireplace.

drapes, lighting, windows, mahogany floors, please.

black, white, yellow, and turquoise- my dream glamour color palette

powder blue and white furniture, french doors, and mirrored tables...yes!

                           

incredible wallpaper, velvet ottoman, chain link rug..oh boy

brass chic, ikat pillows, sleek sofa- sweet

the entire house is amazing

more blue and yellow

pink, zebra, stripes, more tufted ottomans...fabulous

floor to ceiling painted bookshelves, and turquoise chandeliers...

black, white, purple, chippendale bamboo accent chair..

hot pink, toile, and matching lamps..

                             

Again, fave glam color scheme...

canadian house and home

All remarkably glamorous.

Anything goes

The hour and a half drive to Grandma's kind of reminded me of those family roadtrips years ago, where there were 3 kids, and maybe a couple of friends jam packed into the red mini van for "jaunts" to Florida, Colorado, and Minnesota. This was back before built-in DVD players, and Nintendo DS'es. I vow now to never let my children watch movies in the car-unless of course, we're driving 24 hours from Michigan to Colorado! I think it's important that kids know how to entertain themselves, not to mention, behave during roadtrips. Makes the trip much more enjoyable.

(Here's Teddy, sitting on the floor between my legs the entire trip.)

So, after Grandma's birthday bash, the whole immediate fam met up at the cabin. And at the cabin, anything goes. Including my outfits. Take casual striped dress, add leggings to keep warm, blue and white slippers for comfort, husbands sweatshirt since I didn't have my own, and brown shoes--which were the only closed toe shoes I brought, and you have THAT ensemble. And I rocked it out at the campfire.

(Jake watched me strut out to join them around the fire and just shook his head. He was impressed.)

As I said, at the cabin, anything goes. This includes staying up until 4 am, listening to the boys argue over whose arms are bigger (this has been going on for 4 years), talking about Emmersyn, crying about Emmersyn, sharing our thoughts, dreams, playing Euchre, laughing, and 5 hours later, waking up to 3 of us on the pull out couch spooning and watching Houghton's morning cartoons. It all goes.

(KK & Houghton next to the bonfire.)

friday night

Nothin' like a little lowfat strawberry milkshake to get the party started.

(in my karlee engraved beer mug, of course)

I also rented The Lovely Bones. I've been warned that I WILL cry, but that's ok because I could use a good cry.

Then tomorrow, I'm off to Grandma's surprise 80th birthday party. But don't worry, I'll be back to my chipper self by then.

Rock on, friday night.

prayers needed

My family received some bad news a few days ago, and we are all just coming to terms with it. My sister-in-law, who is due to give birth to a baby girl July 11th, had a questionable ultra-sound, which led to an amniocentesis down in Grand Rapids. Baby Emmersyn has Triploidy, a condition caused by 69 chromosomes, as opposed to the normal 46. The condition is always fatal, because there is no treatment or cure. Most often, the baby is either miscarried, or born a still-birth. A few cases have survived in the amount of days or weeks.

The news is heartbreaking. We aren't giving up on her, and are asking God for a creative miracle. But whatever happens, God has a plan for her. And her life is significant no matter how short here on this earth.

Please keep my brother, Dale, sister-in-law, Karly, and both of our families in your prayers.

Beautiful House Wednesday

I am totally loving this Houston home as seen on La Dolce Vita.

Take a look and you'll see why.

 What's not to love?! This house has my absolute favorite eat-in kitchen, and one of the greatest home libraries. I'm ready to move in whenever!