I'm going to check in with you on Thursday for sharing some contentment in {pretty, happy, funny, real} — why not join us? It's summer and it's hard to get to blogging, which honestly, is fine. You don't mind, do you? And maybe joining us will give you an excuse to update things chez vous!
I'm trying to think about which of the many burning topics I want to get to here.
Many sweet readers have been emailing me about homeschooling, and I will definitely answer some of those questions, but don't forget that we have many posts (labeled “education” for the most part) that you should read to know what I actually think about “how to do it.” It's not something I can really cover in an emailed response! It's more of a “fine, I'll start a blog!” type of issue… which I did….
…but meanwhile, some painting needs to get done. Are you not super curious as to what we did in here? (By we I mean Bridget, of course.) Just in a wondering-when-you'd-get-to-that-sort of way?
Just keep this “before” (which is more of a “during” — I'm not usually this messy I think!) in mind:
I feel the need for a new chandelier, but the one I want might be too pricey. Maybe I'll spray paint this one.
Saturday we went to a lovely wedding, and managed to do what somehow never gets done — photos of the two of us while we are all dressed up, before the wilting of the hot August day sets in!
Do you not love that there is still that rope around that tree for no earthly reason?!?
Becky says
I love every picture you ever post that shows your dining room chairs. Mess? What mess? All I see are chairs! You and your mister look very nice indeed, by the way.
Elizabeth says
my friend spray painted her chandelier and it looked lovely! 🙂
Donna L. says
I love your chatty posts! I am always inspired by the colors you use as well as the pictures of your beautiful home!
Although *I* haven’t written in about Homeschooling, it has been on my mind. I mostly want to know how you, and others, get all of the requirements in with lots of people at lots of stages in their education…I have looked at many of the posts about education, and wish I was so much smarter for my children’s sake!
Are you familiar with “Gap years”? My eldest is considering volunteer work, a couple of classes and resting and regaining her health after her frightening surgery for the aneurysm, and I think it’s a great idea! Several other people in the family think she should “forge ahead and get a job already” or “go to college right now!” How does one help one’s children find and follow their path even when it clashes with other adults?
About the new chandelier, if you are simply going for a color change, spray painting would be the way to go. I painted our simply drop light a lovely coppery color. Be sure to check Craigslist or the newspaper for a less expensive option for a whole new look!
Have a wonderful day and God bless you!
Kristi says
You didn’t ask *me*, but my husband and I think gap years are wonderful. He and I each had an expensive, Ivy or Ivy-ish education that we were unable to enjoy to its full advantage. The fact you think it’s right for your daughter speaks volumes. If you and she are in accord, who cares what other adults think? (Got to learn that lesson at some point, anyway.)
Kristi says
I didn’t really complete the thought — I mean that my husband and I wish we’d had the opportunity for a gap year, or to get a job, w/o family pressure to jump into college, so that with greater maturity we’d have been able to make the most of our college years.
Donna L. says
Thank you, Kristi! I can appreciate what you said because I went right to college, also, and wish I had been given this chance!
The tough part is that her Father {My Husband} is one of the adults who thinks she should get a job….her Nana {My Mum} is pushing for college in the fall—I will keep on praying!
Terry says
We let our son do a gap year between high school and college. He was just burned out of school. We told him as long as he got a job and worked he could do it (we didn’t think a gap year of lying around playing video games would be a good thing!). He got a job and worked and played and rested. And when he went back to school he finished in 3 1/2 years. I was so resistant to the idea at the time, but it really was a blessing.
Virginia says
My best friend did a gap year after highschool. She worked as an au pair for a sweet family in England, got to travel and explore Europe. She was very smart but very unmotivated in highschool–made alright grades but hardly came to school at all and when she did she came late! That time forced her to be self-reliant in a way she hadn’t been before and gave her time to think about what she wanted to do with her life. When she came back she was much more mature. The people I know who have benefited from gap years have been ones who needed to distance themselves from overbearing families and used the time to try out being independent in a way that you don’t really in a college dorm.
Lisa G. says
Do you have to spray these things first with primer? (Just in case I ever do anything like this!)
Leila says
Donna, I think that if a kid doesn’t want to rush off to college and/or isn’t quite ready, taking a year off is a great idea. Working is important, though. You really, really don’t want a college-age kid just hanging around — it’s a rare one who can make himself useful without a schedule set by someone else to adhere to. That said, the kid in question can work for you!
They do get a bit depressed when their friends are off doing supposedly exciting things and they are still home. But if there’s a job, they’re earning money, they’re being helpful and accomplishing something, then go for it!
The other factor is that if the job is something, anything, that displays any initiative at all, subsequent college applications will be more effective — your daughter could get into a much better school than otherwise, if that is important to you.
Emily D. says
I love your chatty posts as well! And that dress is beautiful!
Mrs. B. says
Yes, I’m curious to see what the dining room will look like! For the chandelier, I’d say right now it seems to go very well with the yellow curtains, but if you’re sick of it, you’re sick of it 🙂 Wait and see what it looks like against the new paint on the walls: maybe you’ll love it again, or maybe the new paint will suggest you how to spray-paint it.
Ah, those striped floors… your home is truly beautiful!
Jennie Cooper says
Don’t feel badly about the rope. We have all sort of random stuff languishing in unusual places, too. At least, if you should find yourself in need of a rope, you’ll know just where to find it!
Lisa says
If it makes you fell better, I have a rope and a hula hoop on a front yard tree.
You are a lovely couple! An inspiration for all of us!
NY Mom says
I also like the side of your fridge with all the…stuff. Mine looks like that too. When we have company coming I straighten it all, but my kids notice immediately and complain that it looks fake.
Carly says
What a lovely couple you are! That picture would make a great holy card someday:)
Laura says
What a beautiful photo of you and your husband! Isn’t it sad how rare those become over the years?! We’re only married 5 years and I can’t remember the last time we’ve taken one of just the two of us!
Pretty Happy Funny Real is by far my favorite link-up – thank you for hosting! I love that it forces me to be creative and capture those ‘little’ moments throughout the day amidst the business of raising little ones. (The button you created for it is an added bonus – makes me smile every time I add it to my post! 🙂
Anne-Marie says
I love your polka-dot dress! Is it available to the general public?
Leila says
Thanks, Anne-Marie and all who commented on my dress. It’s indeed the perfect dress. Light, cute, form-flattering, the perfect length, ruffles, polka-dots — what’s not to love!?!
I was shopping with Bridget and a friend of hers, walked wearily into Burlington Coat Factory with the intent of just waiting out their browsing, happened to look at a rack with these dresses, picked up the one in my size, and pranced out. It was $25!
I know.
This never happens.
Christina says
Somehow I fear my boys may be responsible for that rope. Sorry. : )
Leila says
Haha, Christina, they are definitely responsible for me occasionally answering myself when I say I should cut it down, “But the kids do play with it!”