Beauty 4 Ashes

Inspiration Files: Symmetrical Living Rooms

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm a fan of symmetry. I had a hair cut once that was short and piece-y and you added a styling wax to it to make the chunks stick out right and give your hair texture. Except mine had to look. just. right. I should have been able to let it air dry, add my styling wax, tousle it and be done. Nope. Not me!

Fortunately, when we arrange bookshelves or furniture or design the homes we live in, that love of symmetry works in our favor. I've gathered a group of living rooms that make symmetry something to strive for.

(I have to admit, I thought of posting this gathering because so many living rooms I had pinned were, you guessed it, symmetrical. I have a problem.)

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: 6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: rusticroosterinteriors.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: inspiredhomedesign.net via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: countryliving.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: aroomsomewhere.net via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: lonnymag.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: emilyaclark.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Which one is your favorite? I'm loving the one with the dark couches and the bright green chairs and accent pillows.

May you be inspired today!

Barns of Benton County - New Red

2012-02-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

New barns really do exist in Iowa!

This barn belongs to our neighbor, Dale. As in many cases, Dale is a part-time farmer. He works for the town's telecommunications company and he installed our internet. Dale used to farm our acreage when it belonged to the previous owner. When that owner passed away, a relative inherited the farmland.

Dale raises mules for fun; I know the small shed built onto the barn is for the mules, as is the paddock in the foreground.

Dale's daughter is our nurse at the local doctor's office. Can anybody say small town?

10 on 10 Challenge - February

2012-02-10T16:15:00.002-06:00

It's time for the 10 on 10 Challenge!

On the 10th day of each month, Carly at The Simple Things hosts the 10 on 10 Challenge.

I loaded up on pictures of my three boys, of course! I'm still working in 'auto' and having fun with Picnik, while it lasts. Hope you enjoy!

Winner!

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm waaaaay late in announcing the winner for the My Memories give-away. Sorry for that!

The winner is: RHOME410!

Congratulations! Contact me for the code to download your new software!

Just so you know, you can still get $10 off this fun scrapbooking, card-making, tons-of-fun software!

WW: Frozen Fog

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

J'Door

2012-02-07T10:42:00.001-06:00

We have ugly doors.

There, I said it.

We replaced the exterior doors before the second winter hit--the first winter we dealt with a lot of heat loss because of old doors that didn't seal well.

This post is not about that.

In our small, ranch-style home, there are only 5 interior doors--three bedrooms, the bathroom and the basement stairs. I realize that 5 hollow-core doors don't cost very much ($25/each), but once you add in door knobs and hinges it adds up.

That doesn't mean I wanted to look at ugly doors anymore, so I fixed this one up--it's the door in our master bedroom that is _this close_ to being completely done!

It's newspaper! The Saturday, November 23, 1963 edition of the Omaha World-Harold, to be exact. Random, perhaps, but I like it!

Here's a selection of the sections of the paper I put on the door, including ads (you can get a new iron for $9.88 or rent an apartment for $90/month), the classifieds (whoever bought this paper was looking for a pool table), movies and nightclub advertisements as well as the latest headlines about Cary Grant and more information about the assassination of President Kennedy. There's also a cartoon about an inquiry at a travel agency. The agent tells the customer, "Yes, we have something in your price range--we seat you in a deck chair and show you color movies." That sounds perfect for my budget!

I thought our house was built in 1963, but my husband says the county records have it being built in 1961. Oh well, it still would have been brand new when this newspaper was issued. Besides, I like the naturally yellow paper and the touch of history.

I only trimmed off about a half inch to make the paper the right width. Then I painted on some primer and smoothed the paper on top. Yes, it has wrinkles. No, I don't care. When the primer was dry, I added a layer of polycrylic on top to make the paper a little more durable.

So, what did I do with the other side of the door? Well, I certainly didn't get a good picture of it, that's for sure!

(Oh, look, you can see my craft closet in the background!)

Please ignore that the door was still drying during its photo shoot. And yes, it's dark! It's a slate or charcoal paint I got in the oops section. I like that it's not super dark black, and I'm hoping it'll stay cleaner-looking than the doors I've painted white (the insides of the nursery and the bathroom and the basement door).

Again with the not-a-great-picture thing, but the darkness on the left side of the picture is our new master bedroom door. I wanted to show you what the doors looked like before! The door at the end of the hall leads to my boys' room, and the narrow sliver of a door is the nursery. They were all closed at the time of this photo because it was nap time and there was a little cutie sleeping in each of those rooms! Just so you know, I was standing in the bathroom to take the photo. Yep. Small house!

Besides the gorgeous new(ly re-finished) floors, this picture shows you that I've painted all of the trim in the hall! I am also done painting the hall walls! I want to hang some pictures and I still need to paint three more doors and the closet doors. (Across from the bedrooms are my newly painted and reorganized linen closet and craft closet.) I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

So there you have it; what to do when life gives you ugly doors!

What should I do with the ugly door knobs? Ignore 'em? Spray paint? Rub 'n Buff?

Inspiration Files: A Beautiful Home

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

I was inspired this weekend by an amazing home tour at Cote de Texas. Do yourself a favor and go see the whole tour--it's a Reader's Home Tour with lots and lots of pictures and so much inspiration! I mean, really look at this kitchen!

Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Yes, yes, so I have a fixation with kitchens. But have you ever gotten excited about a hallway?

Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Lookie on Pinterest

So beautiful!

What I really want to dwell on though, is this living room.

Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Pamela on Pinterest

Here's another angle:

Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

It's so calming and symmetrical and just plain pretty! Here are some things we can learn from this room and apply to our own homes.

Lots of comfy seats! This room has three couches! I like the layout too--it makes this area seem like a cozy destination!
Simple, calming color palette. In this particular house, every room has the same color of paint, flooring and window treatments! I just love the blue pillows on the couches and that big dark ottoman.
Simple, cohesive window treatments. This look would be so easy to replicate with simple fabric and ring clips, curtain rods hung as high as possible and textured shades hung right under the rod.

What do you like about this room? I want to go buy three matching couches and change out my curtains right now! Just kidding, Sweetie. Kind of.

Here's another link to the reader's home tour at Cote de Texas. Enjoy!

Barns of Benton County: Big and Brown

2012-02-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

New, bright and sturdy barns do exist in Benton County, but my camera seems to like the older, broken-down ones best.

(I'm also having lots of fun with all of the free options in Picnik when I edit my photos!)

This picture was taken last fall after harvest. It'll be fun to post pictures of the fields as they green and grow.

Don't you wonder what this barn was used for? I think it's very unique with the tall middle section and odd slanted roof.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Quickie Organizing

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

We all have stuff and stuff needs a place to go or it becomes a mess. For instance, my husband empties his pockets at the end of the day and things accumulate. He had a drawer of his dresser dedicated to this stuff.

But the drawer was overflowing and the stuff was disappearing into the abyss. Enter this hospital freebie made by Similac that we were given when son #3 was born.

I took 10 minutes to organize the stuff last week while putting laundry away. I followed these guidelines:

throw trash away
put away anything that has a home (for instance, shoe polish has a basket in the linen closet; watches go on a tray on top of the dresser, etc.)
group like with like
leave room for more

Every little bit makes a difference when STUFF seems to be taking over!

Vinyl & Canvas Art

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

I should have been painting the hall but I wanted to do something easier while my boys were awake. So I broke out the Cricut and experimented with cutting some vinyl.

I've been wondering just what to do with this wall since I started our bedroom makeover in October. I love these canvasses and knew I wanted to hang them here, but it just wasn't enough by themselves. In our old master bedroom, we had them leaning on shelves, but since this room is smaller there isn't enough clearance on that side of the bed to feel comfortable with shelves that come out 4 inches from the wall.

Cutting and applying the vinyl was a learning process, but I'm thrilled with how it turned out! Not to mention, I just adore this quote!

I have found the one whom my soul loves. Song of Solomon 3:4

Our room is really coming together! Hopefully I can cross it off the to-do list soon!

Artisan Bread

2012-01-31T06:18:00.002-06:00

Around here, we love bread. I usually make a batch of four loaves of whole grain sandwich bread every two weeks. Now I haven't made bread since before Christmas--not because we've gotten over our love of bread, but because my husband has been making this.

It's a cross to bear, I tell you!

You can find a recipe similar to what my husband has been making here. He usually adds whole wheat flour and other yummy things that up the nutrition a bit--like flax seed meal, barley flour, seven-grain cereal or oats. Try it! You won't be disappointed!

Inspiration Files: Modern Farmhouse, Part 2

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Let's continue our tour of my fantasy farmhouse! I ~~wasted so much time~~ had so much fun picking the perfect style for my imaginary house's garage, laundry, mud room, kitchen, craft room/classroom, entry and living room. Here's the link to see what I dreamed up last week. Now I'm back with fun ideas for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

This is the house I found with the modern farmhouse look I love. Here is the floor plan.

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Last week's tour left off at the living room. Let's take a peek at the powder room just down the hall! Do I see a barn door?

Source: style-files.com via Die Frau im Haus on Pinterest

Here's what the inside looks like. Ignore the tub; this is just a powder room.

Source: tenjuneblog.com via Jenn on Pinterest

If we continue around the corner we come to the master bedroom:

Source: bhg.com via Love of Family on Pinterest

Of course every dream home has to have an organized walk-in closet!

Source: houzz.com via Dawn on Pinterest

Next to that fabulous closet is the master bathroom.

Source: tumblr.com via Sue @solsticehome on Pinterest

Source: sacramentost.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

As much as I'd like to poke around in the master suite forever, let's head upstairs!

Source: centsationalgirl.com via Ruby on Pinterest

Here's the layout of the second floor as the builder has it planned:

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

But since this is a complete fantasy, let's just say that the bedroom on the right bottom corner and the bathroom in the middle of the right side switch places, making one biiiiig bedroom for my three boys! We can do things like that in our imaginations! Here are some ideas:

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: plotos.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Kaye on Pinterest

Oh man! Three boys could have a blast with those built-in bunks. I love them!

Here's the upstairs bathroom. Completely kid-friendly and fun, but with a farmhouse feel.

Source: inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via Teri on Pinterest

Let's go back across the top of the stairs (where we can look down into the entry on one side and the living room on the other--so cool!) and see this last bedroom. Now folks, I have three boys whom I absolutely adore and wouldn't trade for all the girls in the world, but for a minute will you indulge me and let me include a fun, girly space? We can call it the guest room or Grandma's Suite too, if that makes ~~me seem less pathetic~~ you feel better.

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Urban Farmgirl on Pinterest

We'll end our tour with a glimpse of the little nook under the window. How sweet would it be to have a little reading/dreaming/thinking seat under that window!

Source: burlapandblue.com via Chelsey on Pinterest

Hope you enjoyed this just-for-run tour of my imaginary dream home!

Barns of Benton County

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

I love that our property has a barn. We don't know very much about it, but it is still cool. We think it used to house sheep. I wish we knew when it was built and what it has seen. The previous owners used it to store their old junk. We've found several fun things--like enamel bowls, a toy train, an old table that I'm not sure can be salvaged... And piles of trash.

Unfortunately, the barn isn't used much now--our tractor is out there and I think the mower is wintering there. The barn falls apart a little more every year. Its foundation is cracked and bowing on one side, and it's just not worth the money to fix. I hope it's still sound enough for my boys to enjoy climbing in the rafters and building forts and things that boys do when they're old enough. Here's to old barns!

Dear Picnik

2012-01-28T21:15:00.000-06:00

I will miss you.

Blog header collage by Picnik

I'm still mad at you for announcing that you're going to close. It's not fair that you are so easy to use that I've come to rely on you for editing my blog pictures as well as pictures of my kids.

After Picnik

Before Picnik

I thought we had something together! You help me look like I can take decent pictures and I love that you let me watermark things.

After Picnik

Before Picnik

I've said nothing but good about you and recommended you to my readers and friends. And now this?? You end it just like that?

Collage and words by Picnik

Sure, say you're moving on to better things and want to focus your insane amounts of talent on your passions. Well, where does that leave me?! Would it really be that big of a deal to stay open?

Edited in Picnik

I wish you had taken a second to think of me and not been so selfish.

Regretfully,

365 Calendar Journal

2012-01-27T16:45:00.000-06:00

The last few days of January isn't too late to start a new tradition, right? You know those perpetual calendars you've seen on Pinterest? The ones that you use 365 3x5 cards and jot a note about what you did each day and add to it every year and end up with a ~~run-on sentence~~ really cool memory journal thing in a few years?

Yeah that.

Now imagine an ugly recipe box for $2 that jumped out at me at Goodwill. Raw wood, country style painted checks and RECIPES written on the top. It might be easier to imagine if I had a picture, but I can't find it.

Here's what it looks like now:

I sanded some and stained it 'special walnut' and mod podged scrapbook paper to the top and sides.

I made little dividers out of more scrap book paper and stamped the months on top. Let me tell you, it's so wonderful to have easy access to my craft supplies in my new craft closet! Love it!

I assembled all of the pretty dividers in my box.

I have some catching up to do, but I figured if some days stay blank, that's ok.

I used my new Cricut to cut out some letters for the top, then gave it a heavy coat of mod podge to seal it all in.

For now this little sweetheart of a box sits on my kitchen counter, but real estate is at a premium in my kitchen and it might need to move to my bedside table or even in my craft closet. We'll see.

Ugly recipe box at Goodwill: $2
Time spent on the makeover: 1 afternoon
A place to jot down family memories: PRICELESS.

Have you created something lately?

My Craft Closet

2012-01-25T11:14:00.003-06:00

It's the human condition to always want more and better than what we have. So while I dream of having a whole craft room someday, for now I have a craft closet!

We have two closets in our hall. One is my linen closet (as seen here). The other became a landing zone for games, pet supplies, a pile of stuff for Goodwill and coats that no one wears. I have yet to deal with several of those categories, but as long as no one comes to visit, they aren't hurting anybody while they live undisturbed on the guest bed!

I started by clearing out this closet when my husband refinished our hardwood floors in September. We decided to switch rooms with our boys, so I painted and painted and painted! You can see how our boys' room now looks like HERE. I did a ton of projects in our room too but have one little thing left... But you can go see our closet and our faux roman shades and our barn door headboard! After the holidays I started working on the hall. First was the linen closet, now my craft closet. Yes, I've been busy!

I found this do-dad at Goodwill for $6. I think it's a headboard for a double bed. I painted it blue, then painted the bookshelf in the back of this picture white, and crammed 'em both in the closet.

I chose not to have built-in shelves for flexibility. As in, when I someday get my someday craft room downstairs in our unfinished basement someday, I'll want to move these things. Then we might just want to use it for a coat closet again, so it was better to not build in shelves.

For now I can pull up a chair if I want to or get supplies out and go work at the kitchen table. I'm thrilled my scrapbooking and card-making supplies are organized enough to find what I'm looking for!

I chose to leave this shelf blank in case I want to work here, or leave a work-in-progress project here until I can get back to it.

I sorted small items like chipboard letters, embellishments and paperclips in these IKEA spice containers. They are magnetic, so I hot-glued canning jar rings to the sides of the bookshelf. They make a great, sturdy place for the containers to hang.

I prettied-up two more clipboards (like the ones I mentioned here) for loose items, inspiration pictures or whatever!

On the left is my new Christmas present--a Cricut! I haven't been able yo use it yet, but I'm so excited! I don't have a power source in the closet, so I'll either take the Cricut to another room or use an extension cord.

Behind the Cricut, I hung the lid to a a cage-like thing that I found in the barn. Don't worry, it cleaned up well and is a fun way to display pictures or cards with tiny clothespins. And if you hadn't noticed, I had fun putting pictures of my husband and me around my little space!

The lower shelves are for storage. I used a basket for small things--like the cord to the Cricut, packs of cards and random things. Beside the basket are scrapbook papers, books of cardstock and the like. I also used a red magazine holder to coral stickers and papers that have been cut. On the bottom two shelves are my completed albums (so few!!!) and some black and white photo storage boxes from Michaels.

I had a gift card for Michaels and these were on sale! I came home with 10, thinking that was so many! They soon filled up--chipboard supplies, card-making materials, even photos!

On top of the bookshelf and below the closet shelf are the rest of the black and white boxes. There is also a small space on the very top to leave an album open if I'm working on a page layout, or for stashing my current favorite magazines.

You can see here how I made the top shelves of the dresser into two very short shelves for more scrapbook supplies--small cutters, large cutters, a cutting mat, and a letter press.

Here you can see a little more clearly how I put the closet together. The row of shoeboxes is on the top of the bookcase, the next shelf up is the shelf that came with the closet. The blue used-to-be-headboard rest on top of the closet shelf. Clear as mud?

I used the smaller shelves up here for jars of supplies. I think three or four of them are for ribbons, one is for paint chips, another for pens and pencils, paint brushes go in another...

The small black bags hold glue and mod podge as well as my hot glue gun. See the hot glue sticks in the one jar? I'm planning to find some magazine bins to put on the tip top of the closet, above the blue shelf, for back issues of my three favorite magazines.

So there you go! The tour of my craft closet is complete! Tell me, would you slap the doors back up on this closet to hide this beautiful mess? Striped drop-cloth curtains?

What about you? How do you have your craft supplies organized? Do you have a room? A closet? A box in a cupboard? Strewn all over the place?

Linked up to: It's Overflowing

Inspiration Files: Modern Farmhouse Fun

2012-01-23T15:17:00.000-06:00

Here's a fun trip down Imagination Lane! I picked a beautiful modern farmhouse and designed the rooms inside using my imagination and Pinterest.

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Here is the floorplan of this modern farmhouse:

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

There would be, of course, a super-organized garage with plenty of storage for garden tools and space for projects. (My husband would have his own separate shop for all things car.)

Source: bhg.com via L on Pinterest

Since the family would usually enter through the garage, we would add a mudroom in there:

Source: bhg.com via Susan on Pinterest

The entrance from the garage is shared with the laundry room which would look like this:

Source: google.com via Riley on Pinterest

After passing through the laundry room, you enter the breakfast nook. Because of our family preferences, this so-called nook would be our main eating area. I love this round table that would be comfortable for our family of five yet there's room to add more chairs for guests.

Source: potterybarn.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Of course the kids could eat at the breakfast bar:

Source: isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

In fact, the above kitchen would be along the lines of what would fit in this modern farmhouse. That layout isn't at all right, though, so here are some more fun options. The layouts would have to be adjusted, of course.

Source: houzz.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Basically, I'd be happy if you gave me a farmhouse sink, plenty of beadboard, some open shelving somewhere and lots of storage! I've also been loving kitchens with some color in them lately, like a greenish gray. I think the 11' x 14' kitchen would have room for an island, perhaps a smaller version of this:

Source: urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Please, not those lights though!

I'm mildly obsessed with kitchens, so before I get stuck in there forever, let's continue the tour! Here is the floorplan again, for your reference.

Source: builderhouseplans.com via Ellie on Pinterest

It looks like the next room we come to is what is labeled as the dining room. I think it would serve our purposes better as a craft room combined with a classroom! Here are some ideas.

Source: designdazzle.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: farm7.static.flickr.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: jillianharris.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Isn't that fun? Passing through the dining-room-turned-craft-and-classroom is the formal entry to the house. Aren't you glad you came in through the garage with the family? Here's what it could look like.

Source: thewonderlustjournal.com via Christine on Pinterest

I'm not wild about the floor and this floor plan has a 2-story ceiling, but the layout is right. I love this area for guests to leave their jackets and shoes, as well as plenty of space to leave a light jacket and flip flops for a quick evening stroll!

Source: scissorsandspatulas.com via Susie on Pinterest

If you were to walk in from the front door, the living room would be straight ahead.

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Ellie on Pinterest

I love the above layout but with these colors:

Source: thehandmadehome.net via Ellie on Pinterest

Or these!

Source: potterybarn.com via Mayra on Pinterest

Here are some of my favorite areas of the porch... you know, in my imagination!

Source: ribbonwoodcottage.blogspot.com via Teresa on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Yeah, I spent way too much time on Pinterest on Saturday night! I might just do the imaginary bedrooms and bathrooms next time!

Barns of Benton County-Red

2012-01-22T12:30:00.004-06:00

For our viewing pleasure today, we have a red livestock barn a red grain bin with a green roof. Enjoy!

My Word of the Year

2012-01-16T20:44:00.000-06:00

Surrender.

a) to yield to the power, control or possession of another upon compulsion or demand;
b) to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor to another;
c) to give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner
d) to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)

Probably not what one thinks of when trying to choose a word for the year.

But let's think about how appropriate it is!

When my little boy asks me to play with him, I will surrender my to-do list and enjoy him while he still wants my attention.

I will surrender some of my sleep-in time to get up and have my devotional.

I will surrender to the demands of the laundry created by this family of 5.

When my baby needs my attention, I will surrender it to him fully.

I will choose to surrender some of my time on blogs and pinterest to be present for my middle son.

I will surrender to the health-needs of my body and get some exercise!

I will surrender my tenancy to cook whatever I'm hungry for at supper time and actually create a menu system that works for my family.

I will surrender my fear of rejection or being judged and talk about my spiritual life on this here bloggy blog.

Speaking of which, I have three favorite scriptures that have special meaning to me. One is Isaiah 61:3, the "beauty for ashes" text where I got the inspiration for the name of this blog. Another is in Zephaniah 3:17 where it says that God "will rejoice over you with singing." Can you imagine being loved that much?!

That leads me to my next favorite verse: Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Um, yes please! This God will take my ashes and turn them into beauty, will rejoice over me with singing and has plans for me. Ellie. Those plans include prosperity and hope and a future? I'll take it!

But you know what? God can't work out the plans He has for me (or for you) if you don't surrender. Surrender my/your goals and ideas and dreams. They're just ashes, remember? How much better are God's plans for me or you than the loftiest imaginings we can think of?

Oh, sure, this prosperity might not be nice cars, fancy clothes, a huge, perfectly decorated house and exotic vacations. It might not mean comfort and plenty and security as the world defines those things.

It will be my special path chosen just for me by the Creator of the Universe. The One whose beauty covers my ashes. The One who rejoices over me with singing. The One who has a plan for my life.

I surrender.

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Inspiration Files: Small, Functional Entries

2012-01-16T07:08:00.003-06:00

I'm sure you remember from this post that our entry is lacking in function, saved only by a closet shared by the kitchen. Sometimes it's cathartic to see how other homes function better, so here is a collection of awesome entries for our inspiration.

Note: These entries are specifically for where the family comes into the house, not formal entries or foyers. I've focused on entries that are too small for benches or big storage units. Some look like mud rooms but are converted from a coat closet! We'll look at more entries with benches and awesome storage in another post!

Source: google.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: ikea.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Beth at Home Stories A to Z

Source: decorchick.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: worleyhouseblog.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: remodelingguy.net via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: the36thavenue.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: housetweaking.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Hope you enjoyed these inspiration pictures! Do you have a small entry? What works for your home? Anybody want to tackle a coat closet makeover today?

Barns of Benton County: Old Blue

2012-01-15T12:47:00.001-06:00

I love old barns. We have one and we don't do much with it, but I like how they look. I seem to always be taking pictures of barns around where we live, so I thought I'd share them with you! My goal is to share another barn every Sunday. Hope you enjoy!

This barn is one we pass regularly. I like its unique color. I always wonder what stories these old barns could tell. Who built it? When? Why? What was its purpose? What unusual things has it sheltered? What is it used for now? And for this barn, why did they paint it blue?

What do you like about it?

Custom Clipboard

2012-01-13T07:17:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time in a land far far away there lived a blogger with dreams of becoming more organized and a history of teaching. In her teaching days, she loved using clipboards for on-the-go papers, so when this blogger came across a 4-pack of clipboards for next to nothing, she bought them.

And there they sat. Collecting dust and adding to the mess and certainly NOT aiding in organization!

But one day, our heroine broke out the scrapbook paper and modge podge and the clipboards took on a new life.

The once-boring clipboards got a big dose of color and personality with the pretty papers and boosted functionality with the addition of a pocket.

And while this blogger can only imagine what true organization would be like, she now appreciates and uses the clipboards! (Shown here with inspiration pictures cut from a Ballard Designs catalog for when our savvy blogger finds the look for less or a DIY option! Another clipboard in said blogger's home holds a potty chart for her 2 1/2 year old. Who says potty charts can't be pretty?)

What would you use a pretty clipboard for?

Me? I'm riding off into the sunset and living happily ever after!

Don't forget to enter to win this giveaway!

Christmas Memories - Giveaway!

2012-01-12T11:22:00.000-06:00

I was thrilled when I was contacted by My Memories to host a giveaway for their software. I'm a fan of scrapbooking with real paper and pictures and embellishments and mementos, but let's face it, that takes tons of time! I've been wanting to try digital scrapbooking and I love it!

It only took an hour to complete this album!

It's one of the pre-formatted albums, so I just selected it, chose my pictures and told it to 'autofill'.

I changed a few pictures because I'm OCD like that, but it was so easy!

There a places to journal, you can edit the photos in the program (instead of editing them on your computer before you upload them to your album), and you can add embellishments!

I was able to download my album as jpg files, so now I can email it or upload it to a web page.

I can also print the pages on my own printer!

I had a lot of fun scrapbooking and will definitely do more with My Memories.

You can do much more than these traditional pages too! You can make calendars, gift tags, cards and other things. I'll be showing you more options as I have fun playing with them!

When I downloaded the software at My Memories, I noticed there were tons of low-priced or FREE embellishments you can download or purchase. Also within a week of using the program, I was contacted with a free upgrade!

So, if you're interested in your own copy of the My Memories Suite software, here are the details! One winner to be picked next Thursday, January 19!

1) become a follower of Beauty 4 Ashes
2) go to My Memories and check out what fun kits they have
3) leave a comment with the details of #1 and #2.

For additional entries, you can do any of the following (leave another comment so I know!):

1) 'like' My Memories on Facebook
2) blog about this giveaway on your blog
3) visit MyMemories blog and become a follower there.

But wait!!! There's more! Beauty 4 Ashes readers can use this Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software AND a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value!

STMMMS77397

Feel free to use the code, share the code, post the code, tweet the code with your followers, friends and family!

Good luck and enjoy!

10 on 10 Challenge-January

2012-01-11T11:13:00.001-06:00

My sweetheart must get tired of me starting sentences with the phrase, "One of the blogs I follow..." and launching in to a tale about someone's mudroom or kitchen or organizational strategy or headboard or collage wall. Especially when I have never met these people in person and some I've never even had a comment exchange. Does that happen to you?

No?

Oh. Well...

So, one of the blogs I follow inspires me to learn more about my camera, take better pictures and document them better. Especially in regard to my kidletts.

Carly writes the blog The Simple Things, and it really is simple and beautiful. I just love her house. This year she is hosting a 10 on 10 Challenge where we share 10 pictures from the 10th day of the month, just real life snap shots.

We've had abnormally (but very welcome) warm weather this winter. I've been able to take the boys to the park twice in the last week--unheard of for January!

My guys are 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. They thought they were pretty cool climbing all the way to the top of this 4-ft. rock. Hot stuff, I tell ya!

Vrroooooom!!

J1 gets so goofy when I ask him to smile. This look is one he gives often, when he's being silly. And squinting. And talking.

I'm pretty sure J2 was telling me how he wanted to get down. Silly kids get tired of having the camera in their faces, especially when they're stuck somewhere. Ha!

My kids love squirrels for some reason. They're always chasing them at parks.

They spent quite a bit of time doing this, trying to coax the squirrel to come down so they could chase it again. Riiiight!

J3 was busy sleeping while we were at the park, but I got some pictures of him later when he was making eyes at me.

Baby is almost 8 months old! How time flies!

So there you go! I hope you enjoyed my 10 on 10! I encourage you to hop over to The Simple Things and see the other pictures linked up there. Or join in!

Exterior Touch-up Paint

2012-01-10T06:25:00.001-06:00

There's a reason why you don't see many pictures of the outside of the Ashes Homestead. The couple shots I have posted are from a distance.

Without going into detail {yawn}, we haven't been able to landscape around our house. It's on the list for this spring, but because of the spring-like weather we're experiencing in Iowa this January, my husband was able to take care of another eye-sore...

Chippy paint. And not the good kind! Take a peek:

Anyone notice the two splotches of blue spray paint beside that door? I wonder how that happened?

What? Don't you have an old statue on your front step? Just so you know, that statue is from my husband's academy days. He and his brother would move it all over when no one was looking. That academy has closed and when the grounds were leveled a couple years ago, my husband had to save the statue! If our plans come to fruition, there will eventually be a water feature in our backyard where this statue (restored!) will preside. So there you have it!

Sun, snow, wind and time are not kind to the exterior of a wood-sided house!

My handyman bought a scraper, white exterior paint and a spray painting thing. It was only a couple of hours later and our house now looks like this:

So much better, right?

In an effort to ~~document for posterity~~ have a record somewhere, eventual plans besides the landscaping include eliminating that front door and the miniscule porch, turning the middle window into french doors and adding a real porch. Or adding a whole dining room addition. Then the whole house will be re-sided.

For now, we'll enjoy less chippy paint on the exterior of our home!