Dining Room Re-do

(After photo)

 

It all started with this coffee table book I bought (on clearance) with this beautiful bird on the front. 

"Natural Histories Extraordinary Birds" by Paul Sweet includes 45 ready-to-frame bird prints!  I am a bit obsessed with birds in decorating.  I decided I wanted a wall of birds in my dining room.

 

Then, I grew to loathe my dining room curtains.  They are the only window treatments in my home that I did not sew myself, and I disliked them from the day they were hung.  1) For starters, they were too short so I had to hang them right on the window frame.  2) The air vents are right below them so they blew up like tubes when the air came on.  3) The sun faded the trim from blue to white.  This was the last straw.  I lived with them for 6 years, and it was time for a change.

 

To make matters worse, the sun had faded my rug as well.  Instead of a back background, it had turned to strange shade of purple.

I used to have my wedding portrait on this wall with some pretty plates around it.  The portrait has moved to an upstairs hallway (where there are pictures of other people) and we hung the plates above the buffet.

If you need to have 12 prints framed and matted, it could cost a fortune.  Enter Hobby Lobby and their 50% off frames.  I bought 12 frames at $15 each (50% off of $29.99).  I purchased 12 ready-made mats for $3.99 each.

God bless my husband and his laser level...

 

I love the finished product!  Next, I sewed new panels and we hung them right up to the ceiling.  Much better!

 

 

 

Clearly, a new rug was in order.  I found this 8x10 sea grass rug on Overstock.com.

 

 

And that is my new and improved dining room!  I am thrilled with the results.  But I do think the table or chairs might look good in a distressed white... and the chairs could use some new fabric... but that's a project for another day. 

Interested in a cruise?

David and I recently went on a Royal Caribbean cruise to celebrate our birthdays, wedding anniversary, and it might as well have been a "baby moon" since baby #3 is on the way!  We were looking for a last minute, easy trip.  I wouldn't say that cruising is our most favorite way to travel (we usually like to go places for a whole week), but the RC "buy one get one 1/2 off" deal can't be beat.  Cruising is definitely a fun way to travel and you get to visit several tropical locations to see where you might want to return.

We flew to Puerto Rico and cruised from there.  We did this years ago on another trek that included St. Lucia, St. Thomas, Antigua, and Barbados.  This trip included St. Thomas, St. Kitt's, Aruba, and Curacao.  We sailed on the Adventure of the Seas, which is a very nice ship though not as large as the new Quantum Class fleet of boats.  Still, it has everything you need... pools, spa, rock wall, even ice skating.  If you are a real foodie, you might not be satisfied with cruise food in general.  But this pregnant girl had plenty to choose from, and I think RC has some of the best.  There are several options each night at dinner, including the lobster tails I devoured one night.

Some of the new Quantum Class ships boast Broadway shows like "Chicago" and "Mama Mia."  Adventure of the Seas doesn't have that, but we enjoyed comedy, variety, music or ice skating performances each night. 

We definitely talked about what our girls would enjoy on the ship... kids club activities, water slide, Caribbean music and dancing, etc. and we plan to bring them along one day.  But as I told my husband, it wouldn't have been nearly as relaxing if they had been with us, and I never would have finished my book :)  Plus, it's wonderful to have time alone with your spouse!  God bless our parents and sisters for babysitting! 

Ok, enough commentary.  More tips can be found below.  Onto the port cities...

1. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

This was the only island on the trip we had been to before.  We love an island tour and chose Godfrey Tours. We hopped on an open air, safari bus and they took us to the main shopping area for an hour, then to the highest point on the island for gorgeous views and a "world famous" banana daiquiri.  Next, we went to a beautiful botanical garden. 

Then, we had a choice of being dropped off at one of two beaches: Megan's Bay or Coki Beach.  Megan's Bay is a little bigger, but Coki beach has more water sports.  We went to Coki last time and chose it again.  David was able to go SCUBA diving from the shore right when we walked up without a reservation!  He didn't even have his dive certification card with him, and they were able to look it up. 

I got a chair, ordered a grilled fish sandwich, enjoyed the sunshine and read my book.  So, we were both in paradise.  Coral World is adjacent to the property and has aquariums, sea animal encounters, and SNUBA, which looks hilarious :)

2. Basseterre, St. Kitts

On St. Kitts, David with Poinciana Tours took us to the gardens of Wingfield Estate where we saw this amazing 400 year old tree overlooking the ocean. 

Next, we went on a moderate hike through the rainforest and were lucky enough to see a monkey up in the trees.  Our tour guide knew every plant and tree by name and had a cure for every ailment by "making a tea."  I told him he should sell tea at the end of his tour!  His house is located at the entrance of the estate, so the rainforest was his childhood playground.  It was lush and quiet, except for the occasional zip liner zooming by overhead!  Afterwards he served a punch and homemade banana and raisin breads made by his wife.  Next, he dropped us off at a gorgeous beach on the Southeast peninsula, South Friars Bay.

St. Kitts is not commercially developed and you will not find all of the Sandals, Beaches, etc. that some islands have.  The Marriott looked nice and included a spa, casino and golf course.  You can see Nevis from St. Kitts, and they have a Four Seasons resort.  This might be worth a return trip...

3. Oranjestad, Aruba

We didn't have anything booked, but when we walked off of the ship there were these pink school busses all lined up ready to take people on island tours for $20.  Sounded good to us!  Aruba is a really dry island... there are cactuses everywhere and our guide said they have never had a hurricane.  Quite different from the lush greenery and rainforests on other tropical islands we have visited. 

We climbed to the top of the Casibari Rock Formation and could see a spectacular view of the island.  Next, we went to the lighthouse by La Trattoria Italian Restaurant.  Again, stunning views.  Several on the tour asked to be dropped off at Palm Beach by all of the hotels and restaurants.  This looked like a prime area for Spring Breakers.  We chose the more secluded Eagle Beach instead.  We grabbed a delicious lunch from a food truck right on the beach. 

Now, I will admit I thought about Natalie Holloway a lot on this excursion.  I mean, who doesn't hear Aruba and think about that tragedy?  But our tour guide mentioned that the crime rate on the island is very low, and when I thought about it that incident involved two tourists.  Something terrible like that could happen anywhere in the world.  I feel certain, though, that it has affected their tourism and people's general perception of the island.  But it didn't really look like they were still hurting from it judging by the commercial development everywhere.

4. Willemstad, Curacao

This was our favorite stop on the trip.  This island was not as secluded as St. Kitt's nor as commercialized as Aruba.  In addition to tourism, Curacao has a diverse economy including oil refining, financial services and international trade.  It boasts one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.  Like Aruba, the island has low rainfall and is covered in rocks and cactus.  Still, the island was beautiful and we may consider a return trip.

David booked a SCUBA diving trip with SCUBACao.  Our guide was a young guy from Belgium, who was quite interesting.  He picked us up in his truck at the cruise terminal, along with another couple from Indiana. 

We went to Playa PortoMari beach, which was beautiful.  Shore dives are not David's favorite, but he said this was by far the best shore dive he has ever done.  And I, again, was able to get a chair ($3 - the cheapest so far!) and enjoy the beach and swimming area.  I could get used to this :)

 

Lunch was on a hilltop overlooking the countryside at Blenchi, a former plantation turned boutique hotel.  The meal was as delicious as the views.  Sadly, we stayed for so long that we had to cut our island tour short to return to the ship.

 

We had one more day at sea to enjoy all the ship had to offer then it was time to head home to our girls and our responsibilities.  Until next time!

Some tips:
- David never likes to book excursions through the ship.  He just researches online beforehand and refers to Trip Advisor for recommendations and reviews. 
- Bring an empty, large water bottle.  You can fill it up on the boat each morning before you depart on excursions.
- Bring your own hair dryer.  I left mine at home to save the luggage room and was dissatisfied with the one in the room... you can only access it through the drawer.  It has a short cord and you have to hold down the button the whole time to make it work.
- They have two "formal" nights at dinner.  I couldn't find this on the web site or our itinerary, so I figured they didn't do it anymore.  A sundress is fine if that's all you've got, but if you have a dazzling number in your closet you never get to wear, bring it.
- You don't need to pack beach towels.  They let you check them out as you exit the ship on port days.  You turn them back in at the same spot.  You are only charged if you don't bring them back.
- Every beach that we went to had restrooms, restaurants, and chairs to rent (some for a few dollars, one place for $20).

I hope you found this helpful!  Let me know what cruise tips and recommendations you have!

Patio Progress

Does the cold weather have you dreaming of spring?  I can't wait to relax on our new patio when it's warmer!  Here's an update on our under-deck patio renovation...

1. Bar: Want to build your own custom bar?  Here's how we did it.  David was inspired by a picture he saw online of a basement bar with a finished wood slab top. 

We ordered a black walnut slab from Keim Lumber online for $275 + $150 shipping.  We wanted it to be wide enough to fit a dinner plate, and long enough to run the length of the couch.  We found one that is 91" long, 18" wide and 1.75" thick.  This baby weighs a ton.  It came unfinished, and David put a couple of layers of polyurethane on it.

Next, he took it to Hayes Aluminum in Chapin, S.C., to make the base.  We picked a stain color called Oil Rubbed Bronze by Arrow Hawk Coatings and a few weeks later the bar was ready.  I think it turned out great!

2. Stools: First comes the bar, then comes the bar stools.  David found these distressed stools at Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium on Garner's Ferry Road in Columbia.  These stools are super sturdy and perfectly rustic. 

3. Art: What is an outdoor living area without some art by Columbia's own Chicken Man?  Not much, I tell you :)  For Christmas, I surprised my husband with three pieces of original artwork by Ernest Lee.  I think they add the right amount of color and whimsy to the space.

4. Coffee table: David built this coffee table and I painted and sanded it around the edges (and other random spots) to give it that distressed look.  You can easily do this yourself.  No need to buy anything fancy for outdoor entertaining.

5. Accessories:

I bought a mirror at a craft store to complete the wreath I scored at an antique store.

I found this birdhouse on the clearance aisle of Hobby Lobby and painted turquoise over the cherry pattern.

 

 

A neighbor gave me the "Live Love Lake" art for Christmas.  Perfect!  I think I need to spray paint the metal tray, but what color??

A large iron piece fills this space and highlights the brick.

Whenever we have another warm and sunny day perhaps I will be motivated to paint the second half of the sectional.  Eventually, I will post the finished project.  Bring on spring time!!!

Howling good fun at the Great Wolf Lodge

 

My family recently stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, N.C. for the first time.  Everyone said it would be amazing, and they were right!  If you are like us and have put this off, here is some helpful info for when you finally decide to schedule your visit:  

 

1. The Room  

 

We stayed in the Wolf Den Suite, which included a bunk bed and a separate TV.  My girls thought this was so cool.  We even allowed the 2-year-old, who still sleeps in a crib, to sleep on the bottom bunk and she did just fine.  There was extra counter space, which was nice, a small fridge and microwave.  Also, there was a couch and small table and chairs.  After taxes and fees, the room was $300... Kinda pricey BUT you get two-day water park passes for the whole family!  We actually funded this trip with Christmas money given to the girls by their Granddaddy instead of buying more STUFF.  They LOVED him for it :)

 

2. The Waterpark

 

 

 

The waterpark included four huge waterslides, a wave pool, kiddie pool, splash playground with two slides and another pool that had basketball goals and lily pads kids could jump across.  My seven-year old was able to ride everything, but the two-year old had plenty of options to keep her entertained as well.  She loved the slides in the kiddie pool and the spraying wave runners.  Also, the playground had two slides she could ride, but be prepared... you cannot ride this with them.  They must go solo.  She wanted to do it, but when I sat her down she freaked out.  So... I pushed her.  Off she went, screaming the whole way down.  I went down the other slide and met her at the bottom.  What did she say to the mean Mommy who pushed her?  "Can we do it again?"  And so we did again, and again, and again. 

 

I put the puddle jumper on her in the wave pool but she didn't even need it in the kiddie pool (18 inches deep) or the playground.  When you need a break, just grab some chairs by the wave pool and have some ice cream.  My older daughter made a friend and loved having some freedom to run around.  We always go to the Carowinds waterpark but with this being a resort pool, it felt really safe and well contained.  We had 4 hours of water fun on day one, and maybe 5 hours on day two (with a break in between) and that was plenty for us.

 

Also, we brought our own towels for the first day, but used theirs on the second.  They are small and kind of rough, but they were dry.  They provide life jackets if you need them.

 

3. The Clothes

 

Attire here is comfy CASUAL.  Kids can literally be seen throughout the hotel in their bathing suits or pj's.  It is so nice.  I thought we needed cute outfits for dinner, but what I really wanted was some yoga pants!  The pool area is warm, so even in the winter people are wearing summer cover-ups, etc.  But when you walk back into the hotel, it's pretty chilly so have a jacket handy.

 

4. The Food

 

Before our trip, I heard that the food wasn't that great and that it would be pricey, but it was just fine for us.  There are a ton of restaurants near the lodge if you wish to venture out, but we were so comfy and cozy we didn't have the desire to go out to the cold car.  After 8 p.m. story time in the lobby (the girls were already clean and in their pj's!), we picked up a pizza (to-go only) by the pool and took it up to our room.  It was delicious!  And the girls loved stayed up a little late, having dinner in our awesome Wolf Den and watching TV.  We had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast (also in the hotel) and lunch by the pool (chicken fingers, salad and a burger).  And there were a ton of sweet options (ice cream, fudge, cookies, etc.)  I mean for a 24-hour stay, what more do you need? 

 

5. The Extras

 

 

But wait, there's more?  Yes, there is plenty more than you can do at the Great Wolf Lodge, but we were so busy enjoying the water park we didn't have time!  For additional money, there is a spa, bowling alley, and scavenger-hunt games like MagiQuest.  I could definitely see how older kids would love running around the hotel doing this with their friends, but we put it off for another time.  We did spend a couple of hours in the arcade, however.  I bought a $10 card and the girls played everything their little hearts desired.

 

Let's Call it a Wrap

 

 

We asked a Great Wolf Lodge employee when she thought the best time to go was, and she said the beginning of the week.  Also, she said if there is such a thing as "slow season" it would be after school starts back in August or after Labor Day in September.  We were there Thursday-Friday and it was definitely crowded but the wait times for the big slides were still really short (5-10 minutes or less).  I have a feeling we will be returning again and again.  Want to see more?  My husband just happened to put together a You Tube video of our visit.  Check it out! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Easy Christmas Paintings

Looking for an activity for your children on a cold and rainy Christmas vacation day?  Buy some blank canvases and let them paint Christmas art!  You can pull the paintings back out each year and display them in your window sills.  I just love original art on canvas, don't you?  My daughters made the Christmas tree with their fingerprints.  You can find a ton of other ideas in Pinterest, of course :)  Next year we might try the snowman family, or the reindeer, or the Santa Claus... Happy painting!

We made the last two at a church event last year.

Biltmore and the Bohemian at Christmas

If you are looking for a fun getaway to get you in the Christmas spirit, visit Asheville, North Carolina.  Here's what you can do in 24 hours:

1. Stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel! 

From the minute you check into the Tudor-style hotel in quaint Biltmore Village, you will feel warm and cozy.  Grab some complimentary apple cider or hot chocolate and sit by the stone fireplace before you even check into your room. 

Check out the gorgeous paintings throughout the hotel as well as a variety of antlers and stuffed animals (not the children's kind), which will make you feel like you just stepped into George Vanderbilt's hunting lodge.  The hotel offers an interesting juxtaposition of rustic and luxurious, and the rooms are modern and spacious.  I, for one, am a fan of the gigantic bathtub.

2. Dine at Rezaz.  There are so many excellent restaurants in Asheville to choose from, and one of them happens to be right across the street from the Bohemian.  For a more casual meal of smaller bites, eat in the wine bar.  I recommend the assorted Mediterranean dips, which comes with olives, feta and pita.  For a finer dining experience, eat in the main dining room.  We enjoyed the Butternut Squash Ravioli on the regular menu, and the striper and steak from the specials that evening.  Here's the striper special:

3. Visit the Biltmore House which is all decked-out for Christmas!

This trip coincided with my daughter's 7th birthday, so we decided to bring her along and take her to the Biltmore House for the very first time. You can purchase tickets online  or at 800-411-3812.  If you are within a few days of your visit, I recommend calling the 1-800 number.*

Tickets vary in price based on the season (other times of the year, I saw tickets for $39 and $47).  I paid $63 for my ticket, and my daughter's was free.  Youth 10-16 have a lower ticket price than adults.  We paid $10 each for an audio guide, which was well worth it.  There is a special guide just for kids "voiced" by Cedric, George Vanderbilt's St. Bernard!  I picked up the kid's audio guide as well, just so I could hear what my daughter was hearing, not because I wanted it for myself :)  But it was really interesting, and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed it.  Along the way, Cedric pointed out his picture, secret doors, and other hiding places of interest to children.  Occasionally, I suggested skipping an audio portion, but my daughter was so into it she wouldn't allow it!

The Biltmore is always beautiful, but during Christmas it is even more spectacular.  The home, which took six years to build, actually opened on Christmas Eve in 1895.  There are 250 rooms in the home (although not all of them are on the tour), and there were nearly that many Christmas trees and decorations.  From the two-story tree in the Banquet Hall to the poinsettias and greenery in the Winter Garden, the home was decorated to the nines.

Until January 3, you can also tour the Biltmore at night during the Candlelight Evenings.  These tickets cost more, but I imagine seeing the lights, candles, and fireplaces burning would be a beautiful sight. 

A few more pieces of information for your visit... It took us at least an hour and a half to walk through the entire house.  Use the restrooms before you enter.  You can't take pictures in the house or use your cell phone.  Crowds are lighter in the morning, so get in and get out in time for lunch.

We skipped the wine tasting, although they said they do have a grape juice tasting for kids which sounded cute.  I have enjoyed the winery, Bistro, and Antler Hill Village with my husband before, but it was a chilly 39 degrees so we checked out one toy shop (bought another stuffed animal we don't need) and declared it done.

I have discovered that after having my second child, it is nice to share experiences with them individually occasionally, plus my two-year old would have been climbing under the velvet ropes and touching everything in about two seconds flat.  Seven seemed like a really good age for my daughter to appreciate the beauty of this real "American castle."  It was a special trip we will always remember.

4. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at the Corner Kitchen.  In our case, it was lunch and the chicken pot pie hit the spot on the chilly day.

5. Stop by Just Ducky, an adorable children's boutique in Biltmore Village.  If you have time, there are plenty of specialty shops along the cobblestone sidewalks.

If only we didn't have to rush back, I would have spent several hours at the Antique Tobacco Barn, which is just around the corner from Biltmore Village.  There's always next time... and I'm sure we will return soon.  I hope you are enjoying some special Christmas moments with your family this month!

*I went to buy tickets online two nights ahead of time, which I thought was thinking ahead, only to see that there were no tickets available!  How did I let this happen?  We had been telling our daughter for 3 weeks that we were going to do this for her birthday!  This was a terrible "mommy moment."  I called the hotel in a panic to see if they could provide tickets and they said they couldn't do anything until the next morning, although the concierge pointed out to me that this was the Biltmore's busiest time of year so they probably were sold out.  Ugh.  The Biltmore office wouldn't open until 8 a.m. the next morning.  I tried to sleep.  As I sent my daughter off to school the next morning at 7 a.m. she was all excited about our Biltmore tour the next day.  One little voice in my head, said don't tell her... maybe it will work out.  We can beg someone at the gate...  The other little voice said, go ahead and tell her... maybe we shouldn't even go.  The second voice won, so I suggested maybe we should and just go see the house in all its grandeur from the exterior and then go shopping or something.  She looked at me like I was nuts.  "Why wouldn't we go INSIDE the house, Mommy?"  Oh, because Mommy is a moron and didn't buy tickets three weeks ago!  Anyway... at 8:01 a.m. I called the ticket office (800-411-3812), and they had plenty of tickets available so all was well :)

Countdown to Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6 King James Bible
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

The countdown to Christmas is ON in my house!  We usually do an Advent calendar that has the little windows you open each day, but this year I haven't gotten around to buying one so I decided to create my own Countdown to Christmas! 

My daughter loves making paper chains to countdown to various events, like birthdays or trips, but I wanted this one to have more purpose and meaning.  We cut 22 strips of paper and I had her number them.  On the back I wrote something for her to read each day after she cuts a strip.  I included a variety of Christmas Bible verses, as well as acts of kindness or other things for her to do.  You could make it as complicated or as simple as you choose.  I always choose SIMPLE.  Some of my favorites were: sing Away in a Manger right now, play with a new friend at school today, and make a card for someone who is sick. 

She stapled them all together (without peeking) and VOILA - a practically, free countdown to Christmas!

This was a fun project to do together, but don't let me fool you into thinking it was all "calm and bright."  During our merriment, my two-year old grabbed the chain and ripped it in half.  A few pieces of tape later and all was well.  Also, my puppy took off with yet another pacifier, which I had to pull out of her mouth.  But, alas, the countdown is hung and we shall enjoy it :)  22 days to go!  Merry Christmas, y'all!