[happy 30 day]

Josh and Day walked down the aisle 30 days ago! Happy one month anniversary, loved ones!

Here is a sweet photo of the prettiest flower girl ever, Blakely, and the most handsome ring bearer, Micah. Micah actually [very carefully and so seriously] carried the "REAL" wedding rings on his pillow! I loved that!!! Before photo, compliments of ringer bearer's proud mom...

After...

After...

To view a small sampling of the professional photos, click here James Riley Images: Stephanoff Wedding. You want a referral? I'll give you one! This guy was AWESOME and captured the priceless moments of their special day. So happy we chose James Riley Photography.

Handmade burlap ring bearer pillow can be found here: etsy.com/shop/SunshineOnCloudyDays

[O' Christmas Tree]

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree!
First thing first. Promise being made right now... and you're my witness!
I will NEVER throw away another button. EVER.
Here's why reason #1...

Dayana created this masterpiece with an assortment of buttons, attached to burlap, and mounted in an 8.5 x 10.5 hand painted distressed red frame. Original vintage scrabble tiles spelling NOEL grace the bottom of the tree. It's absolutely charming and one-of-a-kind! 

Reason #2...repeat never throwing away another button...

It doesn't get much more fun than this! The tree is made of wooden buttons covered in different designer paper, threaded with red yarn, and mounted on a framed painted canvas. Wow!

Feel free to borrow either of these creative ideas or check out our Etsy shop and let us make something for you! We'd love to bring sunshine to your Christmas. etsy.com/shop/SunshineOnCloudyDays

Bringing Sunshine [at Christmas & everyday],

Lori

[mr. and mrs.]

Yes, banner love is happening! And it started with this Mr. & Mrs. banner we made for Josh and Day's wedding head table. Then we moved the banner to their headboard!!! Check it out...

We also customized three pillows for their wedding day and placed them around the firepit seating area. It was sooo much fun (photos coming...promise!) As you can see, we also moved the pillows to their bed! Hey, why not?

On a tight but creative budget, Dayana made this slick headboard for only $30 and minimal time.

Here's how:

1. Determine your width and desired height. We used three 10' x 1' pine slabs, cut in half, from Lowes.

2. With a foam brush, stain with desired color (Dayana chose brown).

3. Let dry, then with foam brush apply satin polyurethane for a shiny but not too shiny finish.

4. Dry completely.

5. Starting from the bottom (at about mattress height, not from the floor) screw stained pine directly into wall. Stack and screw planks evenly one on top of other to your desired height. 

Their bedding ensemble is complete and full of sweet, special memories. Yep, banner love for sure!

Like what you see? Dayana is making banners and pillows at our Etsy shop and she'd be happy to customize  pillows or a banner for your home or special occassion!

Feel free to look around: etsy.com/shop/SunshineOnCloudyDays

Bringing Sunshine,

Lori

[be merry]

Tis the Season! I know I promised wedding...and it will come (waiting on professional photos which the sneak preview proved Ah-mazing)...but in the meantime, TIS THE SEASON!!! So if it's okay with you, let's mix Christmas with Wedding for a fun month of joy, happy creations, and bright ideas!

Let's get started! Need an extra splash of happy on your mantel, shelf, counter, or wall? Here's one of Dayana's newest creations...[yep, the gal has tremendous artistic talent]

Like what you see? Well, good news because we've opened our Etsy shop and Dayana would be happy to make a BE MERRY banner for you, too!  

AND...it's a great gift idea for friends and family!

Check it out, go to: etsy.com/shop/SunshineOnCloudyDays

Bringing Sunshine,
Lori

{wedding: 14 day countdown}

14 days and I will be dancing at my son's wedding!

After the wedding, I will post post post. Josh and Dayana have sooo many sweet, amazing ideas that will just have to be shared! But until then, it's wedding central in our home and not a whole lot of time to blog! Thanks for understanding. In the meantime, here's to your personal Happy Ever After story!!!

{wedding: 14day countdown}

14 days and I will be dancing at my son's wedding!

After the wedding, I will post post post. Josh and Dayana have sooo many sweet, amazing ideas that will just have to be shared! But until then, it's wedding central in our home and not a whole lot of time to blog! Thanks for understanding. In the meantime, here's to your personal Happy Ever After story!!!

{the floating vanity}

I am so ready to get my bathroom remodeled and back in order!

The Plan:   head to Lowe's tomorrow to order my bathroom vanities. After MUCH research, looking, procrastinating, looking some more, I think I've landed on "the look." And in this moment I am daring to put it on paper so I can document the journey and see how close I come with the final product. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind (which I sometimes do!)

Goal:  a soft modern / traditional blend with clean lines and a classic look that I will love for years. We do NOT want to do this again.

Answer:  floating vanity  

Here are a few floating vanities that I love. All images are from Houzz.com. If you haven't discovered Houzz yet, oh boy, just stop now and browse. No need to look further than this site for any of your home decorating needs and "wants"! Go ahead, let yourself dream!

Shower, tub, and tile dream ideas will follow soon. Wish me luck at Lowe's!

{save the date}

Get ready because in the next three months I will be posting the most creative and prettiest wedding ideas! Let's start with this Save the Date notification uniquely created by my very own future daughter-in-love! This photo was taken in the woods behind our home. Simply nail a few empty pic frames to a tree along with hand-made paper hearts, sketch in the happy couple's names, grab a photographer (this photo taken by my husband...looks pretty professional, huh?), and wa-la you've got an amazing Save the Date notification. Josh and Day added something personal to their notice: the Love You More sign tacked to the tree on the right. Josh often tells Day, "I love you more" and she responds, "I love you most." When I stumbled on this Love you More sign at Kirkland's, I grabbed it thinking I'll give it to them for "something." Ha...what a great something!

The long story short? Josh met Dayana in Sydney, Australia this past January 2012. It was an instant love at first sight encounter. Fast forward to July when Josh returned to the U.S. with Dayana at his side for a two- week visit...AND we fell totally in love with her, too!

Proposal on July 20, 2012 at Cypress Gardens, South Carolina

First, the gorgeous canoe ride...

and then the proposal to remember...(friends hiding in the bushes catching it all on film)

She said, YES! 

We are so blessed and have been in continual celebration mode! 

Looking forward to sharing with you what I learn and experience along this exciting wedding planning journey!

{I mustache you a question}

Surely you've seen one of the latest trends, right? Close your eyes. Think.
Ah, yes...the mustache! Now smile.
Kinda cool, fun, and makes you smirk. I guess ALL things cycle through time (like decades) and I suppose the mustache is better seen on paper and "stuff" vs on your husband's or boyfriend's face, right? My husband had a mustache when we first met and YES when I walked the aisle. Haha hysterical. I do have fond memories of that crazy, hairy thing, but I gotta admit I'm glad it no longer exists on my man. That thing took on a life of its own and no matter how he tried to shave, trim, and keep that bad boy under check, it was out of control! So here's to a little mustache humor and reminiscing...

mus·tache

  [muhs-tash, muh-stash]

noun

1.

the hair growing on the upper lip

2.

such hair on men, allowed to grow without shaving, and often trimmed in any of various shapes.

3.

hairs or bristles growing near the mouth of an animal.

source: pinterest.com

source: wanelo.com

source: pinterest.com

print and cut out...

source: www.ohmycrafts.com

source: pinterest.com

source: pinterest.com

HAHA indeed! Have a great day!

{sectional = good life choice}

WHO doesn't love a family room? A comfy, cozy place that beckons, "Please come it, sit, relax, stay awhile!"

When it was time to hunt for new sofas for our family room, my daughter suggested a sectional. Since my daughter is often right, I listened. We LIVE in our family room and we love company, therefore, style, durability, COMFORT, and A LOT of seating was important. And we hit the jackpot with this sectional purchased several (like 7) years ago. The back pillows are loosely worn, but overall it's still in great condition and I know that I can speak on behalf of my entire family on this one: it continues to be the {favorite thing} in our family room. Of course, it is almost the ONLY thing in our family room because of its humungous size. (It measures 143" x 111" x 65"). Ten adults can easily and comfortably sit on this bad boy. Or four people can stretch out and sleep on it! Been there, done that.

If you are looking for a new sofa or seating arrangement for your home, you may want to consider a sectional. If you eat (and spill) like we do, microfiber will free you...it is sooo soft and simple to clean!

Here is Favorite Thing #7...

Here are five other sectional sofa favorites...


1. This one doesn't appear so easy to get on & off but it sure looks fun.

source: conspicuousstyle.com

2. Smaller sectional but I'm drawn to the overall design and layout of this entire home...


source: paloma81.blogspot.com

3. Leather: another good choice...

source: houzz.com

4. Great angled chaise...

source: younghouselove.com


5. If you want BIG and you like what you see, I purchased my sectional from Sofa Express which unfortunately went out of business. However, this one from Arhaus looks like mine...

source: arhaus.com

That completes the peak into my family room! I hope you enjoy your family and friends this weekend!
And when it's time...happy sofa hunting!

{good, better, waiting on best}

Need a quick fix to make an eye sore air return grill disappear?
Solution: paint it your wall color!

Before...
which is a {good} look except for that white grill!

After...
{much better}

But...I'm still on hunt for {best} which will include accent table or pillow...or I may actually paint the bench red. Hmmm...what will I do?

Like the House Rules? Click here for that original post.
Click here for Etsy shop Old Barn Rescue Company to purchase your own vinyl House Rules.

{master bedroom tour}

Chris and I are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary this month. Yay, us! So with that in mind, let's continue my blog series, "Favorite Things" and take a brief tour of the master bedroom.


I recently updated a few things in my bedroom after a trip to Hilton Head with my girlfriends! What a fantastic time together and an awesome shopping experience! It was the easiest re-do EVER. With trusted designer friends by my side, I confidently sat back (really, I did) and said, “Y’all just shop and make the decision for me!” And being the good friends that they are, they did just that. “Here, Lori, buy this!” and “Okay, you need this!” were being echoed in agreement. We kinda took over HomeGoods, laid things out all over the store as if they existed just for us (there was 8 of us shopping together). I walked away with all new bedding, window treatments, an oil painting, a side table, and lamp!

Here is the result of that shopping extravaganza...

My walls were already painted Sherwin Williams mocha which matched perfectly with the brown and robin egg blue palette of the new bedding. The window treatments are actually QN duvet covers, which act like fully lined curtains. All I did was sew in a rod pocket!

I love all my new decor but the favorite things in my bedroom have been my favorites for decades. 

Favorite Thing #6...

Married July 26, 1985

I may change out a lot of things in my bedroom, but this picture will remain!
(I'm sure everyone has their wedding picture framed, too)

A close 2^nd favorite would be my children’s baby pictures. These images will stay on my wall and in my heart forever...

Sarah, born 8/6/86, and Joshua, born 10/31/88

And a silly but 3^rd favorite would be this bust lamp. I know, my husband doesn’t get it either. I’ve had this lamp for years, it’s been knocked over, broken, re-glued, and put back together repeatedly. Which means she has A LOT of "character" and I like her!

And that concludes our tour of my master bedroom!

Let me encourage you to sneak away with your girlfriends this summer on a day trip to a shopping or outlet mall. Maybe they can help you do something new or fresh in your home. Even if you don’t buy anything, the laughter and getaway experience is good medicine!!!


p.s. Chris and I are now in the DIY tear down stage of our master bathroom. That renovation is taking some time...hopefully look for that post at end of summer!

{red, white, blue, AND chocolate}

Feast your eyes and just wait 2 more days!!! Here is more July 4 yumminess about to happen! 
What do you do when you are addicted to chocolate and are asked to bring a dessert?
Simple answer: you carry red, white, and blue...AND chocolate!

I am soooo making these kabobs and taking to our July 4 celebration!

source: melskitchencafe.com

AND I may take a few of these too...

source: tasteofhome.com

AND these! oh yea, baby, why not? the sprinklers will already be out...

source: theyummylife.com

AND then toss leftovers into one delish pie...(maybe for July 5...shhhh...don't tell anyone)

source: bettycrocker.com

Please have a safe and happy July 4 celebrating with your friends and family!
Click here for more July 4 fun recipes: {red, white, and blue}

{faceLIFT reveal}

Here's my latest easy home faceLIFT problem and solution. 
Minor Problem: I have Laura Ashley Gold #3 walls in my house... love the warm color, but gold picture frames kind of get lost.Take a look...

 (side note: yes, these are my water babies building sandcastles at the beach...

fast forward and they still love the beach and their water sports!)

(Sarah's senior picture)

These walls are the same color gold, just different lighting and different time of day taking the photos. 

Solution for my gold dilemma? 

Turn to my new best friend for advice: Mr. Rust Oleum. And he says, "Don't be afraid of spray paint!" I agree and am convinced that just about anything can be spray painted in your home, interior and exterior.

FaceLIFT reveal...

Now the pictures pop! Plus I shifted and regrouped the pictures to fill in the wall space...philosophy that "more is better" (not always, but most of the time). 

Maybe YOU want to consider these spray painting ideas for a fresh look to your home:

• mirrors
• air vents
• door knobs/hardware
• faucets
• lamp bases or shades
• picture frames
• baskets and containers
• and so much more... feel free to share your faceLIFTS!

Here's the original posting on my discovery (and love) of oil rubbed bronze spray paint in case you missed it: 
{good, better, best}

{celebrate}

July 4 is less than one week away! For those that may have missed my Memorial Day blog, I am re-posting that one because it was so popular.

click here: {red, white and blue}

Have a safe July 4 and let's always remember to thank our military men, women, and their families for our freedom!

{honey lime chicken}

Here's another Stephanoff original recipe that you definitely want to try, I promise! My husband came home from the farmer's market with fresh vegetables, so here's what we made for dinner:

Ingredients
1 lb chicken, boneless, skinless, and cut into strips
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons butter
1 fresh sweet yellow pepper, diced (optional)
1/4 cup honey
2 fresh limes
1/4 cup feta cheese

Directions
1. Heat olive oil & butter in skillet.
2. Coat chicken strips in flour & black pepper, then fry.
3. Add more EVOO as needed to prevent sticking.
4. Once cooked, reduce heat, add honey to skillet, stirring & coating the chicken.
5. Add diced sweet pepper, stir.
6. Squeeze limes onto chicken, stir and simmer 3-5 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and transfer prepared chicken to your serving plate.
8. Top with crumbled feta cheese.

Serve with fresh vegetables. We ate it with sweet potatoes, broccoli, and fresh tomatoes. Ohhhh so yummy! Look at the colorful presentation and nutritional value!

Don't be afraid to experiment and create your own recipes! And then share the good news!

Other favorite creations:
Pesto Pizza
Bruschetta Pizza
Mocha Chocolate Chip Muffins

{things we all do}

Just for fun, check out this site for things you probably do...this guy has me pegged in a lot of ways!
Disclaimer: this post strays from home and decorating but not from bringing sunshine & smiles!






source: thingswealldo.tumblr.com