I’m still here! Can you believe I have a kidney stone? Sheesh! I thought I was getting the flu or pulled a muscle, but about 4am Thursday night the pain started to move and I knew immediately what it was – ugh…

So anyway, I wanted share something new I wanna do here at Casa de Chicky…I am always inspired by the gorgeous homes and decor of some of my favorite blogs, so I thought I would share some of my favorites with you, and also share the before and after pictures of what I end up doing here at the Casa. I have been in this house for 4 years, and (cover your eyes Nester) HAVE NOT PAINTED ONE WALL…How awful is that? So, I figured since we probably won’t be moving anytime soon (yeah, thanks St Louis for the wretched winter you had this year – husband was so NOT convinced to move after that!)

I am hoping my decorating Guru The Nester (yeah, I’m calling you out ) will give me a hand with this, as I know what I like, but have an awful time actually DECIDING on a look or a style, since I like a little bit of everything! She has great style, and her style fits the shabby/casual/elegant style I tend to gravitate to the most…

I am definitely decorating on a budget, so you will see a lot of “inspired by” posts, where I take the stuff I love from places like Pottery Barn, Restoration, Crate & Barrel, and do it on the cheap. Here is one of my current inspirations from the new Pottery Barn Catalog

No-brainer, right? Plain white sheets, some beautiful Grosgrain Ribbon in colors that go with your bedding, and sew! You could do as little as one row of beautiful wide ribbon, to 3 or 4 rows with a row of ball fringe to finish it off!

I am thrilled that my boys have vivid imaginations – they act out a movie they have only seen once, they make up elaborate games and stories, and I am lucky enough to be allowed to watch and participate in their activities…

There is a drawback, however…

The goobers fight over imaginary objects!!! They decide they BOTH have to have whatever it is they are pretending…

Do you see how this makes me nuts, having to break up a tug of war over…nothing?!?!?

Why can’t they just pretend another one???