make it yourself

At this point this blog isn't a "how to" kind of blog.  I'm not that kind of person, really.  I get my ideas from random places and don't possess the patience or attention to detail that are required to teach anyone "how to" do anything, really.

Recently my sweet Honey found a recipe to make your own laundry soap.  You guessed it....I did it!  Miracles happen every day!!!

Normally I'm NOT the kind of gal who would take time to look into such a domestic project let alone ever blog about it.  You see, unfortunately for my husband, I missed out on the Suzie Homemaker genes of the family, evidenced by the fact that I'd rather spend the afternoon in the garage than the kitchen ....any day.

So this isn't a TO DO (you can find that in abundance on Pinterest) for laundry soap but a get out of your box challenge to do something helpful and useful for your family or someone around you.  Whatever could you do?  I've already handed out one milk jug of the stuff to my sister....the giving may continue as I run across adequate containers...who knows, you could find one on your doorstep:)

I'll give you a hint as to where I found this on Pinterest ... a sweet little blog I've found Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling
One side note: I couldn't find the special long-name soap she mentioned so I used Ivory...hmmm, wonder if that'll make too much of a difference:)  I also added some Lavender essential oil to make me smile; smell good clothes make a difference!


So comment below and let me know how YOU Live Decorated and make a difference in the lives of people around you.....I must know!


Hugs,
Diella Wyatt
(getting used to the new name yet?)
(didn't realize I had a new name.....click the link above and find out all about it)

Happy New Years Eve

Here I sit, Grape Nuts floating around in my bowl sweetened by the perfect Mr. Brown Sugar.  With a list of things to do (before 7pm tonight) that would keep a gal busy for weeks, I decided to take a wee break:)  What?!?!



and the creative

My Dance

Last night as I joyfully whirled around my house accomplishing menial tasks I was reminded of a dance.  Ballroom? not so sophisticated... Salsa?.... not so booty oriented. Two-Step?.... not so country.  Then what kind of dance was I thinking of?

Camping stokes Memories

his last visit to our house....with Tiernan and this truck he's had since I was born

In the midst of staging my house, my sis and I are coordinating a camping adventure on Marc’s parents land for next weekend.  To include a bonfire, smore’s, canoeing, fishing, frolicking in the water with the kiddos....and oh yeah, a waterside ceremony to spread my Dad’s ashes.  I realize I haven’t shared anything lately... partly because I had to get myself together & stop crying for a bit and partly because the indescribable love of God has enveloped me... helping me get through this. 

Grieving the loss of your father is one thing but when you lose someone you love to suicide

late night work #2...as good as its gonna get tonight

midnight & I'm at my stopping point....ish.

in 2 hours time...





going to bed without completing my 
project---would finish if I could nail
holes in the wall and move a dresser
all alone without infuriating my Honey
at midnight:)


1. painted baseboards
2. moved new bed frame in from garage & added vintage door knobs to the tops (see pic)
3. washed more laundry
4. added knobs to lovely dresser I re-fabbed for this room (can't move it from garage into his room without waking the fam.....maybe I'll ask help tomorrow before I leave at 8:30:)
5. set coffee
6. painted a couple door jams in the hall
7. refolded all Tiernan's clothes & moved 'em into new dresser drawers
8. folded 3 loads--finally

what I didn't do:

1. dishes
2. picking up whole house of toys, clothes & misc. messes (3 boys to keep up after)
3. drink enough water
4. move the new dresser inside:(  sadly
5. hang wall art in newly designed space
6. put away all laundry (as you can see from this pic)

late night work in progress---staging my boys room

mini blog pause!

before (pic of bed for CL actually)

what does that mean?  it means I gotta share what's up in the midst of this FUN evening.  Missed the first night of the TxSC blogger conference....the swap party to have a deeply needed date night with my Honey.  Now that our oldest is staying over at the in-laws (thanks Mimi & Papa) I can get some work done. 

about to paint baseboards---
leaving funky tree art :)

Sold the bunk bed on craigslist today (part of my staging series I'm in the process of adding to the blog), took it apart just now....cleaned baseboards and about to start painting....yes at 10pm I'm starting my work.  clean his floors, paint his baseboards, set morning coffee, fold laundry....

.....and oh, what am I to wear tomorrow to spend all day in and out of the rain with a bunch of young, cute, hip fashionista blogger women I've never met.  Do I even have anything in my closet to live up to this kind of pressure????  We shall see...most likely LAST on my to do list tonight, if even at all:)  See you ladies tomorrow (HA! as if they're up reading MY blog:)

more letters...can you believe it???

If you're following my world in the past month you know all about the letters we were praying for, right?  Well today I felt a strong leading (I know this was the Holy Spirit!) to open this plastic container that had been under my dresser forever (oh, yeah...it was even in the "jewelry display" video) and I hadn't opened it or looked inside in at least 3 years.  So I open it up & look under one thing and voila!!!  All these letters my dad had sent me from 1998 to maybe 2004. 

HOW FUN!  right?!?!

He is hysterical, ya know?!  He would draw a little man running if he had to leave the letter to go get something.  He tells stories of his childhood that would knock you over! He would try to sign his name like I do mine with a bunch of squiggly lines and give me a hard time for funny things I did, then reminded me of them:)  How much fun I'm having!!!!  God is so good....and SO funny!!!!


 "All things are possible to him that believes."  Mark 9:23  I say that because last night Marc & I had powerful praise & worship in our study and this morning some quality time with God before the kids woke up....and ya know what?  We both had a beautiful and productive day.  I staged the house for pictures & that video, had quality--not rushed time with both boys, weeded the ENTIRE overgrown "garden" that runs the entire length of the back yard, watched Koen take his first 3 steps (in a row), taught him to climb the ladder on the playground, made some calls, did some computer work and kept the house picked up all day.  WOW!  Talk about a miracle!!!

Expect Mircales....they happen!
 Do you believe????

chores with an old time twist---saves energy too!

Our dryer went out a few days ago & it finally came time to put a stop to the ever growing pile of stinky laundry lying about.  After checking craigslist for front load fancy-high-function machines I had a memory flash through my mind.   Summer!  My sister & I spent them split between family who owned a locally renowned stables, our grandparents in the city (population 5128), & other grandparents had a farm.   At the stables (400 acres of amazing land on the river) I started the day before the sun by walking out to the lower creek crossing to get the horses for daily trail rides.  Sometimes I’d have to walk all the way to the Big Meadow to find them but to save time on the way home I’d jump on the lead mare & ride her all the way back to the corral while all the other horses (about 20) followed close behind.  Then feed them, halter them & tie them to the hitching rail, brush them all, pick hooves, saddle then bridle ALL the horses.  All the while, listening to 40’s & 50’s old time country music (some I hadn’t heard since they sold the land).     We won’t go into the fact that for years there was never a real toilet….just an outhouse.  Well several outhouses to accommodate all the cabins & the lodge.  Interesting fact, they don’t always have to stink…..my family apparently used a lot of lime & they never smelled.  Wow…wonder if anyone lived with outhouses!

In town, Grandma Barb loosened the reigns.  Lucky Charms for breakfast, lunch and dinner (afternoon snack was Little Debbie Swiss Cake rolls) during an entire summer.  I played with Julie (my best friend who lived 2 doors down) all day & night pretty much.  We roller skated, ran every night at midnight one year (in the rain), walking to Dairy Queen, the park, and just about anything 2 girls can do in a one stop light town.  FREEDOM was my favorite underlying theme of summers in Iowa. 

Days on the farm were filled with mischievous adventures just like the other 2 places but also filled with chores: playing with the cows (or being chased by the bull), bailing hay (climbing around in the FULL haystacks in the gigantic barn were a big highlight for me), shucking corn, snapping peas, eating fresh fruit from the vine & apples from the orchard (rather than coming in for lunch) and always staying out of the way of the men working.

Each had their own appeal… but one memory ties them all together & stands out more than the others this week as I'm reminded of …..LAUNDRY!  The countless hours spent at the clothes line helping snap the clothes, hang, remove, fold & put away and occasionally a game of hide n seek with sis.   I was just like any other kid in the sense that I wanted everything to feel like an adventure (still do actually) and had to be entertaining someone or making something. 
Memory invasion: I just remembered my Grandma Barb washed clothes with one of those old washing machines that had the big metal tub with the ringer that would push the clothes through in order to drain the water from them.  I wonder if anyone actually used those…..I mean anyone I know.  She used to tell me not to get my fingers near the ringer….but did I listen?  NO!  I got my whole arm stuck once & nearly broke the thing.  Oooooo was she fit to be tied! 

 I realize I lived a very different childhood than most people.  Milking cows, riding horses, working a farm, roofing with my dad, detasseling corn (the hardest job I ever had) and moving at least once a year which allowed me the freedom to reinvent myself & start fresh each time. 

How did I get so far off topic...mental road trip I guess. 
Laundry...clothes line.  There, I'm back!  I decided I'd get a couple of the retractable clothes lines and have loved snapping the clothes (for wrinkles), hanging, waiting (I mean accomplishing the other 100 things on my to do list), removing, folding, putting away.  Who would've known an uncooperative dryer would bless me to the point of recalling a simpler time in life....I quiet, chill, moms take care of everything with grace & confidence kinda world.  I just know when I put on some house shoes (or crocs), pick an apron to slip on and put on some instrumental jazz piece or better yet, the Binions in the background I'll feel more stately & grounded as I prepare the perfect home environment for my family.  Like June Cleaver….right!?!


So ….
I love a staged home! 
Not staged for sale....staged for real life! 


Much love & peace.....t