Hello friends. Today I’m going to share my heart with you all about my decision to be done blogging.  Five years ago I had a little family blog and it was great fun, random posts about our life, pictures of fun family times, nothing exciting for anyone really but me. Then I decided maybe I could blog about recipes as I was always being asked to share and that’s how my first real blog “Love From My Kitchen” was born. After doing that for a while, I then moved into the home project/DIY realm of blogging. The first cloffice was a big hit and after that I decided to change the name of my blog to “The Blooming Hydrangea.” It’s been fun sharing projects, recipes and life with you. I’ve made so many great friends in the blog world, even attended my first blogging conference last summer and met some great people in person!

But there is the downside for me of blogging which is the pressure I and only I put on myself.  I may have a bit of perfectionist in me.  The blog world is a great place full of so many supportive people, it’s amazing.  That is definitely one thing I will miss but I won’t miss the time spent writing up posts, pinning, fb’ing, tweeting, hometalking, etc.  It was getting way overwhelming in the social media department,  once again, all pressure I put on myself.   Which then lead me to put pressure on myself in other areas of my life and it just wasn’t good.

Back in October I took a mini blogging break and it was good. I decided to blog again but it’s definitely been sporadic. Lately I’ve just not been feeling it and really now that the house is almost complete, what would I even blog about? So, I know that all bloggers go through these spurts of wanting to throw in the towel and call it a day but usually we power through those and are good to go again.  While that may have been the case in the past for me, the decision was definitely made for me today when my little guy brought home a sheet for Mothers Day and one of the statements was: My mom likes to___________________________ His answer was “be on the computer.” My heart dropped, it hurt, I am sad for him. The pull of the blog world, pinterest, etc. is too great and I am not a disciplined person. Something I should work on regardless of blogging.  Anyways, I just knew that my decision was the right one.   I blogged about something like this once, almost two years ago, which you can read here, What’s the real cost?  Blogging, Home Improvements and Children.    Here’s an excerpt from that post:  “If I knew I only had 2 weeks to live, would I spend it on blogger, pinterest, fb or google?  No, I would be trying to fill every moment spending time with those I love, soaking in my children and what they have to say, making sure they know how much I love them,  making sure my husband knows he is respected and loved, that I couldn’t have asked for a better man to marry.   Because the truth is, we really don’t know how much time we have on Earth, we like to think we’ll live to be 85 but we don’t really know what our future holds. “

So there you have it, my children and my husband need me.  It’s been fun, I’m  so grateful for those who took time to read my blog, comment, pin, fb, etc.  It’s been a great ride but it’s time for me to get off the ride and walk into the sunset.

God Bless!

ange

The winner of the Stella & Dot gift certificate is Rae Pavey! Congrats Rae! Thanks to all who entered to win. Please head over to my friend Suzi’s facebook page and give her some more love! I’ll be back tomorrow with an announcement!

I thought it might be fun today to post 25 random things about me. Or maybe it will be rather boring and you’ll have a nice mid-afternoon nap. Either way, enjoy!!!

1. When I say my name, it feels like I’m talking about someone else. I don’t usually go by Angela. Although when I introduce myself to people and they ask what I prefer to be called, Ange, Angie or Angela, I don’t have a preference.

2. My sister-in-law is also named Angela. She has a brother named Christopher and a husband named Christopher. We like to confuse people in this family, especially nieces and nephews who have two Auntie Angie’s and two Uncle Chris’s. I won’t even tell you about the weirdness of two people named Audrey.

3. I’m left handed. I like being left handed. Three out of our four children are left handed.

4. I hate spiral notebooks because of being left handed and I like fine point pens because of left handedness.

5. I have one brother but always wished for a sister.

6. My favorite book is Gone with the Wind. I read it in one day during high school.

7. I’m a fast reader and that also lead to me being a fast talker when I was younger. I love to read and will stay up way past bedtime reading.

8. When I was young I wanted to be a Ballerina, Veterinarian and also an auto mechanic. The last one is kind of random but I really like the smell of the garage at the auto repair place.

9. I suck at math. In elementary school I had to go to a math class with the special ed students. I still suck at fractions, division and percentages.

10. I like to give my pets human names. My dogs are Heidi and Ruby, we also had a Lindsey and Bailey. Our cats have been Molly, Jake, Howard, Ginger & Milton. We are allergic to cats at our home so no more kitties for us.

11. My family took a trip to Washington DC for Spring Break when I was in the 5th grade. Our van was stolen from the hotel parking lot and we had to rent a van to drive home. I was traumatized, my jean purse with all my markers was in there. Seriously though, I’m guessing this probably contributed to my anxiety. Not the best family trip.

12. Our honeymoon was spent in the Pocono Mountains at a Ceasar’s Resort. It was a lot of fun but kind of cheesy with a heart shaped hot tub and mirrored ceiling.

13. Our family is trying to visit all 48 states before the kids graduate. So far we’ve done 13 states.

14. I had my tonsils removed when I was 4 years old. I remember watching Bob Ross painting on Public Television while I was in the hospital and eating banana and root beer popsicles.

15. I dream of moving, I think I have wanderlust. I am ok for about two years and then it starts in. We are fast approaching two years this June and I already have dreams of living in the Carolinas.

16. I lived in the same house my entire life until I was 18. This may contribute to #15.

17. I always wanted to live in a two story home growing up and that is still true today. I love two story homes, ranches seem so one dimensional to me.

18. I had an imaginary friend growing up named Stephanie.

19. My favorite foods are things with Buffalo Wing Sauce, Jalepenos and lemon. I didn’t like spicy food or lemon growing up but now I love it!

20. Mustard is my favorite condiment, ever! Mustard spread on white bread was my favorite snack when I was younger.

21. I ate my first grilled cheese when I was in high school.

22. I met my husband when I was just 16 years old and knew the day I met him that we were going to get married.

23. I have never been on an airplane that has left the ground and I don’t plan on doing so either.

24. I haven’t been in an elevator since our trip to Washington DC when I had a panic attack on our way up the FBI building. See #11.

25. I have a butterfly tattoo on my shoulder and once had my belly button pierced by our friends who had lidocaine and an iv needle or something, I didn’t watch but we did it in their basement.

There you go, some facts about me you may not have known. Anything surprise you? What’s one random fact about you?

Don’t you love when inspiration hits?  It’s a drop everything, I need to do this now kind of thing for me so when I saw Carmel’s  Chalkboard Brick Fireplace Makeover on Monday, I was hit hard with inspiration!

Which reminded me of The Nester’s chalkboard fireplace that I have always loved.

Then I did a quick little search on Pinterest and found this, exactly what I had in mind and no, being a cat on a counter was not it.

I was possibly supposed to be have some ladies over for dinner Monday night, needing to make soup, make food for a MOPS meeting the next day, tidy up the house a bit, you know that sort of stuff.  Instead I started painting a chalkboard backsplash.  I may have made a trip to Hobby Lobby in a snow storm to get a chalk marker too, you know because these things are important when inspiration strikes!

Step 1:  Start with a blah back splash area in need of some whimsy and a checkbook that doesn’t have enough money for new counter tops and a black splash.  This is in the plan for the next few years but until then, I thought this might be fun!

Step 2:  I already owned chalkboard paint so this was free for me.  A quart of Rustoleum chalkboard Paint from your local hardware store should be around $10-$15.  After that, paint like a mad woman with chalkboard paint, try to do this at an inconvenient time and when you are hosting a dinner.

Step 3:  Run to Hobby Lobby in a snow storm and buy a chalk marker using a 40% off coupon and only pay $3.58.

Step 4:  Try to make straight lines yourself and have it end up looking like you were drawing drunk.

Step 5:  Involve hubby who has a tendency to be anal very detailed which I am not.

We used a level, a big bistro chalk marker from Hobby Lobby that had a square tip and I would NOT suggest using and some yellow thing that had a straight edge for the drawing the vertical lines straight.  I went back to Hobby Lobby today and found a four pack of chalk markers with nice rounded tips, theywere $12.99 but once again, use the 40% off coupon.  The chalk markers do not wipe off like chalk does so they are great to use for this type of thing.  You can also purchase it here.  I have had a few questions about it wiping off and it DOES NOT unless you use water and it still leaves behind a line so this should last a while.

Throw in a double butt shot for good measure and also begin to wonder why we are matching in our navy shirts.  And that is not my skin showing, it’s a tank top.   We really had to get up close and personal while doing this so I would suggest doing this with a spouse or good friend who doesn’t mind you all up in their business.

Step 5:  Step back and admire your whimsical, cheap back splash that makes you very happy!  (After you take 6,000 pictures of the kitchen only to discover you are missing a vertical line in two spaces, then take 4,000 more pictures).

 Enjoy the photo overload!!!

I even love it at night time, it looks amazing with the under cabinet lights on it!

And now for some good before and afters!

You can read about painting the cabinets here and here.  The light over the sink was a free Craigslist find and I just added the bamboo shade over the sink which I love!  So what do you think?    Do you have a back splash already?  Are you over the chalkboard craze?  Do you love it as much as I do?

Linking Up Here:

Two posts in one week, crazy!  Today I thought I’d just throw some random goodness in a post all together.  Earlier this week we had a snowstorm, 11 inches total over 2 days.   I had some fun taking photos and trying to use the camera in snow.  Some are from Instagram, others from the Canon.

The ponies weren’t out playing today but I always love this little scenic drive to my home, makes me feel like I live out in the country.

The snow banks in the Target parking lot are now higher than my truck.  It’s been a while since I’ve seen snowbanks this high.  Growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan I was used to seeing large snow banks but I can’t say I really miss them.

   This morning it was -2 out and frost and ice were covering everything.  Isn’t this frost pattern on my patio table cool?  I just love how incredible nature & God are!

The snowflakes that were coming down on Monday night were huge and I tried to capture them in the light of the deck but it was hard.

The kids spent most of the day on Tuesday playing outside.

The bub’s has some pink eye and was not very happy about it.  Then while coming into our bedroom in the middle of the night he tripped on the laptop which I had put on the floor on the side of the bed and then he landed on my nightstand with the side of his eye.  This is his first shiner, poor guy.  What a night that was.  Thankful that is all we have to deal with as we know many others who have children suffering in much worse ways.  Isn’t he just the cutest?

I finally ordered the Zig N Zag Duvet from PBTeen for E’s room.   The bub’s thought it was great fun to roll around on.

I found this cute art at Target and love the polka dots with the chevron.

I brought the doodle Ruby in for a grooming, her fur was getting so matted from playing in the snow and no matter how much we brushed her coat, it was a hot mess.  She got a make under, I miss my big ball of fluff and I think she misses it too.  Poor girl.  The downfall of the doodle hair, it’s high maintenance.

Last week I was able to shoot some after shots for a client I was working with.  We added some new stuff and had the kitchen/family room painted but used her furniture and just switched things up.

I’m working with a few more clients in the next few weeks and will be sharing more of the before and afters on my business site.  Through the process of creating my business and figuring out what I want it to be, I know that I am not a high end designer and I never will be.  I want to help the average Joe, the person who wants help using what they have and maybe they shop at Target, Pier 1, thrift store and garage sales.  Creating homes that they love and live in, homes that are for creating memories in, where they are welcoming, cozy and the best part,  budget friendly!

So that’s what’s been happening around here.  What have you been up to lately?  Did you get large amounts of snow this week?

Today’s recipe is from my friend Jess, she has been the source of many of my favorite recipes.  My hubby and I love this meatloaf while only 1 out of 4 kids eats it with sauce, the other 3 eat it plain.  So I make them in individual muffin cups, some topped with sauce and some without.   This is a super easy recipe and tastes delicious!

Meatloaf Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 egg

¾ C. milk

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

½ C. oatmeal

½ C. onion chopped

1 tsp. salt

 

BBQ Sauce Ingredients:

2/3 C. ketchup

½ C. brown sugar

1 ½ tsp mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the meatloaf ingredients in a bowl and mix together well.  Next mix the BBQ Sauce ingredients in a seperate bowl.  Place the meatloaf mixture in a bread  pan or individual muffin cups, I spray these with some cooking spray so they don’t stick as much.  Top the meatloaf with the bbq sauce and bake for 45 minutes or until the middle is cooked through. YOu can add some shredded cheddar cheese to the top and bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.   Serve with mashed potatoes and of course, a veggie!

Last Friday after a great lunch date, my friend Heidi and I were hanging at my house chatting.  She said she wanted to give her soon to be 8 year old daughter a bedroom makeover for her birthday.  Her daughter had decided that the  pink in her bedroom wasn’t working for her anymore and she would like a blue bedroom.  Lightbulb moment!  I had E’s wonderful Pottery Barn Teen sheets and duvet that we are no longer using since we switched to the queen bed and we only used them for maybe 2 months before we switched her over to a queen bed and the PB teen bedding no longer fit.  One of the inspiration pics was this one with the paper lanterns, Anna was most excited to have those hanging in her room.  You can find more aqua room inspiration on my Pinterest boards, I have two boards, E’s Room and For Anna.

After showing Heidi the bedding, we headed to Sherwin Williams, picked out a paint color and agreed I would come over and paint the room on Sunday.  I love how quickly this all came together and we were mostly finished by Tuesday.  I still have a few things I need to add to the room but I also knew if I didn’t grab some photos now, it might be a while.    I wasn’t able to get a true before picture but I snapped  a few quick photos of the room before I started painting.

 

The paint color is Aqueduct by Sherwin Williams, a lovely greenish blue color that helped brighten up the room.  The bedding is Pottery Barn Teen the duvet is here but the Portofino sheets are no longer available.  It is still available as a duvet though which you can see if you click here.

 Most of the items in the room I scored from Hobby Lobby this week and almost all were half off and if not, I used a 40% off coupon.  The chandelier and flower canvas were half off for $30 each.    The sheer curtains were a steal for only $3.50 a panel.  The turquoise pillow cover was $3 and the lanterns came as a 3 pack each for $4 for one pack and $7 for the other one.  Our final HL purchase was the polka dot memory board for $13.  The frame around the memory board is from Target and was $25.  We purchased a cubicle book case from Target for $40, the green and turquoise bins were also on sale for $6 each or a 2 pack for $11.

I am still hoping to add some cute 3d flowers to the wall.

 

 

Also hoping to find a cute pillow for the bed that brings in some more of the pink from the flower picture.