link love

We're in the middle of a busy week around here (partially because we're getting ready for an even busier weekend). Rather than bore you with the particulars, here are a few {random} things that have been particularly inspiring to me over the past few weeks:

These cookies will change your life -- most notably, because (1) you probably have all the ingredients on hand, and (2) they take 15 total minutes to make. Fifteen minutes to the greatest cookie you've ever eaten? Count me in.

Check out this creative mom's guide to a home planner -- organized, simple, and put-together. The cleaning checklist alone has literally changed my life (and I'm not saying that lightly).

This is lame... but I really want one of these. I just read a book on how to sneak healthy food into your child's "favorites" (like mac n' cheese). FOOD WARS are alive and well in our house, and so, a decent food processor is a must. (And it helps that it comes in a cute red...)

Whenever I get in a photographic slump, I head over here. There's good work here, and lots of inspiration to keep. taking. pictures.

I echo these beautiful sentiments exactly... except we only have one baby :)

Happy Tuesday!

how to buy awesome furniture

If you live in the Chicagoland area,

check out Jubilee Furniture.

They're located in a big old warehouse-ish building 

on the corner of North Avenue and Schmale in Carol Stream.

And really, you should go there.

Did I mention you should go there?

Seriously... you should go there.

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon their blog,

or where I even heard about them,

but a couple of years ago, I wandered into their store on a Friday afternoon...

and I was happily, permanently hooked :)

The place is big, and it's filled with furniture.

Beautiful, used, discounted, heavenly FURNITURE!

Sure: because they're reliant solely on their donors, 

they've got a few couches with grandma-style ruffles that rock plaid like it's going outta style...

{nothing against plaid-and-ruffle-couches, mind you}

But, Jubilee also has brand-name, like-new furniture

that's absolutely gorgeous.

It'll make you kiss your overpriced-furniture-showroom-shopping-days goodbye.

And better yet {for all you bargain hunters out there},

they get new items in every week.

You can check out their blog at 8am on Friday morning

{like I do religiously/without fail once in awhile... if I remember...}.

Plus, anything you buy there benefits Outreach Community Ministries,

a wonderful Christian non-profit organization serving the western suburbs of Chicago.

{you know, in case you need a bit of leverage with your hypothetical husband,

who wants to know why you're buying -- yes dear -- another armchair...}

I should probably also say that I don't really know anyone at Jubilee,

and no one's paying me to say this

{although my mention of the grandma-style-ruffle-couches should speak for itself?}

...I'm just a big, nerdy fan.

Did I mention they have free cookies for hungry little one-year-olds?

Those cookies buy me at least five more minutes in the store,

which is awesome.

Here's a Room&Board chair that we picked up last weekend.

The pricetag? $125!

{we used to have a white chair in its place.

but, the color white and one-year-olds in general are horrible, ancient enemies...

hence, the brown, stain-hiding color of our beautiful new chair. ta-daa!}

We got this bedroom dresser from Jubilee about a year ago.

I can't remember, but I think it was $80? Maybe $75?

The handles were a brassy-bronze color,

so I took them off, spray-painted them a metallic silver,

and popped them back on.

Voila! Instant update!

And... remember this couch?

I went nuts on it when I was pregnant.

It was rockin' the tweedy-plaid pattern when we brought it home from Jubilee.

{I bought because it was a twin-size pullout, which is AWESOME!}

Anyways, I didn't like the plaid,

so I reupholstered it Sherah-style {i.e., I made it all up as I went along}.

It's weathered these past two years pretty well for a DIY upholstery job,

but,

again with the white.

{what was I thinking?}

And so...

I think another trip to Jubilee may be necessary in the near future.

{unless Marty decides to stage an intervention 

to save me from my used-furniture-loving self.}

:)

p.s. Jubilee is open on Fridays from 1-8pm

and Saturdays from 9am-4pm.

Happy shopping!

{5} things I love.

At this very moment, I'm dreaming about...

Kolo Travel Journals:


This blog (hello, fellow DIY renovators!):


My journaling Bible (great for chronic note takers like myself):


This color scheme (from the now vanished DominoMag.com):


And this photo (taken right before we left Hawaii, a year and a half ago):

{Marty and I are currently scheming up one last vacation before Baby G makes an appearance. I'm excited, even though (1) we won't be going anywhere nearly as exotic as Hawaii, and (2) my figure this time around will resemble the shape of a large watermelon...}

Happy Thursday! :)