An attitude of gratitude. It's easy to say, but harder to live by.  

I have my good days, but I also have my fair share of bad ones.  It's as if I wake up and roll right out of the wrong side of the bed. 

The great stealer of joy strikes again, and I allow him to.  I let my wall down and just let him convince me that whatever it is that has me bent out of shape is more important than loving the people around me well.  Though that isn't my intention, that is inevitably what happens.  I hide behind fake smiles and uninterested conversation, stealing the joy of laughter and sincere concern from my friends.

It's so easy in today's world to allow the "dreary wearies" to set in and ruin your whole day.  I am so guilty of this from time to time. We know people who have allowed that attitude to take over day after day, and it's no fun to be around them.  It's quite exhausting, actually.  

I know right now it's especially hard to keep our attitude in check with so much confusion, fear and hate in the world today.  But what if we were born for such a time as this?  What if the world so desperately needs our light during this crazy time to bring hope and joy to others?  We can't allow an occasional bad mood to dim our light.  We must press on and choose to find the joy in every situation. We must work to create an attitude of gratitude, rather than allowing our circumstances to determine our disposition. 

It seems as if our world has lost the genuine feeling of gratitude.  Many have grown to believe that they deserve something, have the right to, are owed something, or have earned it by meeting minimal standards--including our children. (Ouch!  Did that hurt?  It hurt me a little.) 

I am learning that it is our responsibility to raise our children in such a way that develops a sincere heart, a strong work ethic and a concern for others.  Teach your children about gratitude. Start when they're young and help to create a thankful heart in them.  Our children learn by example, so be that for them. Look for ways to daily display an attitude of gratitude so that it becomes a natural reaction for them.

​Sometimes, the best way to show your gratitude is through words.  A handwritten list of things that you are grateful for is a great way to state and recognize how much we truly have to be grateful for.  However, this only works when you realize that every good gift is from God, not solely as a result of our hard work or sacrifice.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

Here at The Southern Mercantile, we are extremely grateful for our customers and fans.  We know and recognize that if it weren't for your love and support, this company wouldn't exist.  Every single comment, share, purchase or visit is crucial to our success!

We strive to have a grateful heart, and hope it is evident in all we do.  We love to create, and we love that you provide that opportunity for us.  

In this day and age, it seems that thank you notes are becoming a thing of the past. For our first paper design, we knew we wanted to create a beautiful thank you card that could be enjoyed by all.  The original design was created by Roxie and me, a colorful combination of watercolor and acrylic artwork.

We hope to encourage an attitude of gratitude with the use of these cards, as well as a genuine excitement for expressing your many thanks.  If you're looking for a few tips on how to carefully craft your own thank you notes, check out our blog The Art of the Thank You Note!  In this blog I describe why thank you notes are important and how to make yours stand out from the crowd.  Make someone's day by sending them a genuine, heartfelt thank you, and you just might be the catalyst for spreading a little light in a dark time.  

If you are interested in ordering this set of 10 thank you cards and envelopes, shop now!  

I have so many fond memories from this past year.  As I sit here to share some of them with you, I'm not even sure where to begin!  Lila has been an adventure, and the best gift, since the day she came into this world.  

​She is full of personality, has the most contagious smile, never meets a stranger and has a bit of a stubborn streak in her.  She loves animals, snacks, snuggles...and especially her family and friends!  

She became a little sister when she was 7 months old, quickly adapting to having another child in our home.  She adores our foster daughter and they have become the best of friends!

She looks more and more like her daddy every day, and tends to act like him too! She is the friendliest little thing and keeps us on our toes.  She is growing and changing so fast, we are trying to soak up every moment with her! 

We planned to go to the beach the week of Lila's birthday.  I am so glad that we made the decision to go, because the memories we made were priceless.  Lila loved the ocean and it was so fun to watch her take it all in.

Although we celebrated her birthday while we were at the beach, we knew her family and friends would want the chance to celebrate too!  We decided to plan a simple party for when we arrived at home.  

I fell in love with the idea of a "sweet as a peach" themed party, so I started putting together a few ideas!  I knew that I would need to keep things simple, since we would be throwing the party together as soon as we returned from the beach. Katelyn helped me design a watercolor invitation, that turned out just adorable!  

Lila greeted our guests with hugs and kisses, almost as if she knew everyone was there for her!  It was the sweetest thing to watch her love on our family and friends!

Our simple menu included homemade cupcakes, bakery-bought sugar cookies, cups of vanilla ice cream, and sparkling peach lemonade!

I planned to make cupcakes (and a smash cake, of course), because they're quick! Our family LOVES homemade caramel cake so I went with a mix of caramel and vanilla for guests to choose from.

A bakery in the next town over makes adorable sugar cookies, so I ordered them in advance and had a family member pick them up for me.  We chose individual cups of vanilla ice cream so that it was easy to pick up and no one had to be on scooping duty!

The sparkling peach lemonade was a recipe I just made up--a mix of homemade lemonade and peach crush--which turned out to be a refreshing mix!  I strung up a few of our favorite pictures of Lila for a festive touch.  The only other decorations we had was a sweet little ballon arch over her high chair!

We kicked the party off with singing Happy Birthday and letting Lila dig into her very own cake!  She wasn't quite sure what was going, on but she quickly figured out that the best way to celebrate was to clap and eat cake!  

It was simple and sweet, just like Lila.  She had the best time and thoroughly enjoyed herself, which made all of the time and effort totally worth it! I can't believe this year has flown by so fast, it has been an honor to be Lila's mom.  She is definitely sweet as a peach, and we can't wait to watch her continue to grow!

For more great party ideas, be sure to check out our Pinterest page as well as our Parties blog category!  Here you'll find endless ideas and inspiration!

Raising children, whether they are your own or not, is a honorable task.  If you're a teacher, aunt, mentor or friend, you've likely helped raise a child.  My hope is that the words I share send encouragement and comfort your way--meeting you where you are, sharing in the daily joys and struggles together.

​
Last Mother's Day, I found my heart a bit conflicted.  Was I a mother?  I was carrying a baby in my womb and caring for a teenager in my home.  Personally, I felt very much like a mother!  The world around me, however, didn't seem to think so.  Harmless comments were made to suggest my time has not come yet, while Phillip and the foster child in our home planned to celebrate.  What I quickly realized is that it didn't matter.  It didn't matter what others think.  What mattered was the time I spent "mothering" an independent, rebellious, smart and growing child.  The child itself is the celebration.

​I've had the privilege of being "mothered" by many women in my life.  Teachers, coaches, Bible study leaders, bosses, mentors, friends, aunts, grandmothers, my Mother-in-Law and my own Mom.  Each one teaching me something different, shaping me into the woman, and mother, I am today.  Each one demonstrating to me how to be compassionate, fun, loving, kind, strong, thoughtful, resourceful, genuine, or selfless.  Each one playing their own important role in my story.

​I can look at the style in which I mother, and attribute certain traits to particular women. I joke that after watching shows like This is Us and Parenthood, I am better prepared to raise children...but the truth of the matter is that it has been the real-life men and women in my life who have modeled how to love and raise a child, not without making mistakes, but rather making them with grace.

​Mother's Day can be a strange time for those women who have not birthed children of their own--I've been there.  Many of those women wish(ed) for the opportunity to do so, but haven't known that joy.  Some women consciously made a choice to forgo motherhood.  Either way, for some, this day can become a time of frustration, sadness, confusion, disappointment or discontentment.  

​What I'd love to challenge you to do is take this time to truly think about the women who helped shape you, and choose to honor them, too, this Mother's Day.  Let your gratitude show by sending them a card, mailing them a package, or even just giving them a call.  Let's celebrate all of those that mother, in our lives and the lives of others! 

If you'd like our help in celebrating someone you love, take a look around the store.  We'd be so happy to send something their way!  We have tons of great Mother's Day gift ideas.  Shop small and share the love!

After picking more berries than our arms can carry, we develop a game plan to make the most of our haul.  We usually dip a good many of them in chocolate, make a few fresh strawberry milkshakes, whip up a cobbler or two, eat some with yogurt or cereal, and did I mention dip some in chocolate?

This year (after the initial chocolate dipping) I decided to recreate a Strawberry Crisp recipe that was shared with me a few years back by my friend Kaitlyn.  

This recipe is so simple to make, and uses items that you probably have in your pantry already.  It's a quick and delicious dessert that is sure to please a crowd.

The crunchy topping, made up of brown sugar, flour and oats create the perfect contrast to the soft strawberry center.

I've made this dessert twice already this season!  The last time I made it, I decided to try baking it in ramekins.  I love all desserts, but I especially love anything that is served individually.  There is just something so fun about being presented your very own dish!

They baked so beautifully, and I think that they may have even tasted better than usual!

You should know that this Strawberry Crisp, however, should never be served without a scoop of ice cream on top.

If this Strawberry Crisp recipe doesn't get you excited about Strawberry season, I don't know what will!  I hope you'll check it out and try it for yourself.  If you live in the area, you should definitely visit Paulk Vineyards pick-your-own strawberry fields.  If you don't, search your surrounding area and see if you can find one near you!  Make a day of it, with your family and friends, and start a tradition of your own!

​If you're looking for more fun ways to use fresh berries this year, check out our beautiful cookbook, Berries!

​Lila made her way into this world on July 20th, 2019.  It was all a blur, and movie-like almost, as I stood on the sidewalk outside of Longhorn's Steakhouse.  My belly was full (in more ways than one), and I was on the phone with my dad when my water broke right then and there for all of the patiently waiting customers to see.  I stared at the puddle in surprise and giggled as Phillip yelled at me to get in the car. (I guess he didn't think it was funny.)

I quickly realized how funny it wasn't as the contractions became stronger.  I had been reading books and watching documentaries all to prepare me for this moment, and somehow none of it mattered.  Lila was on her way, and that was all I could think about!

She arrived at 10:58, a little over two hours after my water broke.  What a whirlwind!  

She was tiny, dark and beautiful.  I couldn't believe I was her mom.  As I held her close and stared at her, all I could think about was how miraculous of an experience this all was.

In the beginning, it was as if I had trouble believing that there was really a baby growing inside of me.  However, from the very moment I felt her move, that all changed.  All of the sudden I was overly aware that she was there, that she was a part of me.  As she grew, so did my attachment of her.  I started dreaming of who she'd be and what she'd look like.  It also became so evident to me that she did not belong to me, she belonged to God.

​God gave us this gift of Lila, and she was in His hands.  I don't mean to sound morbid, but I had to train my thoughts to acknowledge that truth.  It did, in a way, stunt the growth of my attachment to her.  But looking back, it was a gift.  It was a gift to be able to fully recognize that she belonged to HIM. That HE was allowing me to be her mom--not her creator.  From time to time fear would rise up in me--what if something happened to her?  What if I lost her?  What if I lost her during delivery?  But the fear didn't stop there.  What if she gets sick after she is born?  What if she gets in an accident and dies suddenly as a child?  What if?

Then an overwhelming peace came.  She belongs to God.  He is in control.  He will take care of her.  And if He decides to call her home, she will come, whether I am ready or not.  Acknowledging that truth early on allowed me to fully love her without overwhelming fear. (*I am human, so not completely without fear.)  To care for her and raise her with the attitude that she belongs to God.  Now, I know she has only been here for 3 months, and the reality is that as time passes and she grows, it will be challenging to remain in this mindset.  However, by choosing to raise her in this way, I will take it day by day.  Daily I will choose to lift her up to the Lord.  Daily I will love her like the miraculous gift she is.

​With one placement ending during the 7th month of my pregnancy, Phillip and I decided to take a break from foster care until after Lila was born.  We could take up to a six month break before having to redo our training, so that was the plan.  Now, we find ourselves at the end of our break, preparing our hearts to open our home again.  It is a bittersweet feeling, but it doesn't come without fear.  

Like I said, early on in my pregnancy, I was able to train my thoughts and come to grips with the truth that Lila belonged to God.  Although Phillip knows this in his mind, it was still sinking into his heart.  Phillip became anxious about foster care and its role in our family's life.  He was fearful of what could happen to her once we welcomed other children into our home--children who come from a broken past and who have experienced violence and abuse.  Through many prayers and discussions, we finally agreed that foster care is the path that our family is called to.  That meeting these broken children where they are and loving them like Jesus does is the life we want to live.  

As I thought about the fear of what could happen to Lila as we open up our home more and more, I was reminded of Abraham. 
​
" He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  "  Genesis 22:2

Take your son, your only son, whom you love...and offer him there as a burnt offering. (If you have never read this story, or it's been a while since you have, read it now! )
Wow.  If this story didn't get to me before, it certainly does now that I am a parent.  Abraham, being the faithful servant he was, obeyed.  He didn't question God.  He didn't bargain with God.  He was obedient.  Was he so full of faith that he knew the Lord would provide a lamb?  Or was he acknowledging the truth that Isaac belonged to God?  Or both?
I sat, with tear-filled eyes, and thought to myself--I love Lila, but God loves her more.  

I want to raise my family in a way that honors The Lord.  I want my time on this earth to be about other people--sharing the love of Christ.  I want Lila to understand just what Jesus intended our lives to be--full of love and sacrifice.  

Lila Monroe Smith is a pure JOY.  She is the sweetest-natured baby and loves everyone she meets.  She looks just like her daddy, but might have her mama's eyes.  She is the best snuggler and loves to chat.  She loves being outside and reading books.  Lila is the best gift--and we are so excited to be her mom and dad.

Thank you to Dixie Cook Sherrod for the beautiful photos!

My Papa was one heck of a man.  Honest, trustworthy, dedicated, patient, kind, hardworking, simple, loving...I could go on and on.  One of his great loves was fishing.  He loved it so much, that he made sure his kids and grandkids had the opportunity to learn and love it too.  I remember digging up worms in his worm bed, learning to bait a hook with stuck and bloody fingers, starting off with a cane pole and graduating to a rod and reel, sitting on an upside-down 5 gallon bucket, and getting caught in the trees more times than I'd like to admit. ​ He cultivated a love for the outdoors in me at a young age, and I still enjoy fishing today.

​My Nana's parents, who we called Pap and Granny Honey, also loved to fish.  They decided to make use of a low spot behind their house and have a small pond dug.  This turned out to be perfect for us kids, since Nana and Papa lived right next door!  I remember thinking how magical and mysterious this small wooded pond was--never knowing what I'd pull out of that dark water.

From an early age, I remember loving the taste of fried fish.  Our family usually gathered over a "fish fry" to celebrate birthdays, holidays and other special occasions.  With such a large family to feed, this was one cost-effective way to please the crowd.  Papa would fish for weekends, freezing his bounty, saving up for the big day.  He and Nana would stand over the bubbling grease, waiting for the hushpuppies to float.  Served alongside grits, homemade french fries, and slaw, it was a feast.  He would stand in line with us kids, telling us what each piece was and what he thought we might like best.  Then my mom or Nana would help us diligently pick it off of the bones to ensure we didn't accidentally swallow one and ruin the night.  I'd sit barefoot at the table with my legs crisscrossed feeling like I was in heaven.

​There was a period of time that I spent every Friday night with my grandparents.  They, along with about 10 other couples, would gather at the cabin to hold a weekly fish fry.  The men would spend their week catching as many fish as they could just so they would have an excuse to get together for supper.  The women would bring in their specialties, whether it be a side or dessert, as their contribution.  I remember sitting at a table, surrounded by "old women" talking about "old men", while the men gathered in the kitchen to chit chat and heat the grease.  I didn't care that I was the only kid there--I got to eat my favorite meal and go home with my favorite people.       

When my Papa got sick, I reflected on what it was about him that I admire and would miss so much.  I decided that if I could marry someone that was half of the man he was, I would be happy.  Little did I know that Phillip would come calling, and I would find him, too, honest, trustworthy, dedicated, patient, kind, hardworking, simple, and loving.  The funny thing is, Phillip is also a carpenter (like my Papa), and he too loves to fish.  

Phillip's family has a deep love for fishing as well, and "fish frys" are a common occurrence around their house.  Needless to say, I fit right in.  ​

​Fried catfish and bream may seem like a poor man's dinner to some, but let me tell you, it's a feast fit for a king.  I love the feeling of nostalgia and flood of memories that hot, greasy fish and homemade french fries bring.  You know the old saying, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."?  It is easy to believe that if I had only eaten a plate of fish at family get-togethers, rather than investing in the experience of fishing as a child, I wouldn't feel the way I do today.  Good thing my Papa taught us to fish, because it did more than feed us for a lifetime.  

​If fried fish is new to you, but you'd like to give it a try, take home the Deep South cookbook!  It showcases traditional Southern meals, like fried catfish with hush puppies and tartar sauce.  Yum!

And in case you didn't know, lemon pie is a must when fish is on the menu.  If you don't have a recipe of your own that you love, try out our Southern Pies cookbook!

The last room to reveal in our home renovation just so happens to be my favorite--the master bedroom!  Though I truly love every single room, I think I love this one most because it has become my little nest!  It is where I read, where I rest, and where I feel most comfortable.  I am excited to share its transformation with you, and hope that you love it too!  Here is a reminder of what this room looked like when we purchased the home.  

With 6 large windows and an exterior door, we wondered what this room was used for.  A friend of ours who researches old homes called this room a solarium (sun room), which was often used for gatherings and quite possibly a bedroom.  After talking with the granddaughter of the original owners of the home, she informed us that this was, in fact, her grandparents' bedroom!  She said that it also doubled as a sitting room, and guests would gather around the fireplace to chat after dinner.

In order to make this room our master bedroom, we knew we wanted to add a master bath and move a few doorways around.  Before we could get started, we had the daunting task of removing all of the bead board from the walls, once again!

We decided to close up the middle window to give us a place for our bed, as well as tear out and cover up the fireplace.  This fireplace was no longer in working order and had sustained some damage to the brick over time, so we decided that a solid wall might be of more use.  We had it insulated and sheet-rocked, and we were ready to roll!  The original floors turned out beautifully once refinished.

One night, two sweet friends came over to help me paint the walls so we could be one step closer to moving in!  You might recognize the blonde on the right, that's Katelyn! :)  When deciding on a paint color, I knew I wanted something cozy.  With so many windows and white trim, I knew a dark color would be the way to go.  I saw this bedroom (middle picture) on Pinterest and fell in love with the brown walls!  I ended up going with Less Brown SW6040 by Sherwin Williams , and I love how it turned out!

Now, for the finished room!  You enter our bedroom from the end of the hallway, right next to the guest bathroom.

Phillip built our bed, which turned out perfect for the space!  I was so glad that we decided to get rid of the middle window.  It is so fun to dream something up, and watch it come to life.  It wasn't so simple when I went on the search for our other bedroom furniture.  I just couldn't find anything I liked in the surrounding furniture stores--it all seemed so bulky and traditional.  I wanted a softer look, that would coordinate but not "match" the bed.  I finally decided to take a chance and order something online!  I was nervous, but I am so happy with my choice!  The night stands, dresser and chest of drawers came from Pier 1. 

I have also had the hardest time finding curtains that I liked, and could actually afford!  I had no idea that Ikea had a select few curtains available in 118".  They turned out to be beautiful--and I love how the white just brightens up the space!

One of my favorite things in our bedroom are my monogrammed pillow cases!  Our sweet Ms. Carolyn embroidered them by hand.  What a treasure!  It makes me happy every time I crawl into bed, and every time I make it up.  I just love the personal touch it adds to the room!

This view shows you how we moved the doorways around to make the master bath add-on make sense.

It worked out great that we ended up sheet-rocking over the fireplace.  Now we have a solid wall that provides enough space for our dresser.

Our most recent addition to the bedroom has been a sweet little crib for Lila!  Throughout our journey in foster care, one thing that we have realized is how uncertain things can be.  We decided to just plan on Lila being in our room for a little while, while we get used to this baby thing!  We had plenty of room to put the crib over by the windows.

It has been a sweet thing to look over and be reminded that she will be here so soon.  

As we anxiously await her arrival, we have prepared as much as possible!  I can't wait to see her sweet face, and bring her to this house we've made a home.  I hope she grows to love it as much as we do.

 I hope you have enjoyed the last Beech Street Bungalow Room Reveal!  Don't worry, there are still more projects to be finished and decorating to do--so this definitely won't be the last Beech Street blog.  I have a long list of things that I still want to share with you!  In the mean time, feel free to go back and relive our progress!

​Beech Street Bungalow: Before
Beech Street Bungalow: The Fireplace
Beech Street Bungalow: The Walls
Beech Street Bungalow: The Floors
Beech Street Bungalow: The Kitchen
Beech Street Bungalow: The Master Bath
Beech Street Bungalow: The Living and Dining Room
Beech Street Bungalow: Guest Bath
Beech Street Bungalow: The Laundry Room
Beech Street Bungalow: The Exterior
Beech Street Bungalow: Porch Planters
​Beech Street Bungalow: The Kid's Rooms

It seems so simple, yet why aren't we doing it?  Why isn't The Church being the village?  There are so many other practical ways to step in and be a champion for the cause, rather than participating in a march or holding up a sign.

"We must listen, love, foster, adopt, give money, babysit, donate supplies, mentor young women, and support in whatever ways God has equipped us."

I say, if we can't take care of the orphans that are living on this earth now, what shall we do? When there are over 30,000 abortions taking place in Georgia each year, what shall we do?  If we can't find foster homes to house the children who are a result of addiction and abuse, what shall we do?  Why are there over 170 children in foster care and only 10 foster families in my region?  Why do Christians outnumber orphans 15 to 1? 

Phillip and I have officially been foster parents for three months now.  As I type these words, tears fall from my eyes.  No amount of preparation, training, volunteering, or even praying, opened my eyes to the reality of raising a child that is not your own.  Responsibility, consistency, patience, kindness, understanding, strength, faith, selflessness, devotion...these are all words describing what must pour out of us daily.  We knew it would be challenging, and it is.  But we also never could have imagined the joy a child brings when they simply bring themselves.  ​

Though this was somewhat of a surprise, we are anxiously awaiting her arrival.  What we wish for her is what we wish for every child that enters our home; that they will choose to work hard for what they want, love people whole-heartedly, live selflessly, stand up for what they believe in, and be brave.  We have been blessed with what I believe to be the best village around--and I am overjoyed that we get to raise this child surrounded by such wonderful people.  

So, thank you to my village.  You'll never know how much it means to us to know how much you care.  We couldn't do it without you!  ​

​
If you find yourself looking for ways to serve, reach out to us!  We have been blessed to be involved with a wonderful organization in South Georgia that supports foster families and birth families alike.  We'd love to talk with you, and provide you with
​information and opportunities to serve.  

It's been quite some time since I've given an update on our home renovation--but hopefully it will be worth the wait!  With so much happening in our lives over the past few months, (IMPACT training, the holidays, home inspections, etc.) we have just now been able to tie up a few loose ends in our two extra bedrooms!  Although they aren't 100% complete, I just couldn't wait any longer to share them with you!  If you read the blog, Called to Care, you'll remember that a large factor in our home search involved finding a house that had three bedrooms. I was set on having at least three bedrooms because this would be necessary in foster care if you have children of the opposite sex in your home.  Here is a glimpse into what went through my mind while planning the kid's rooms in our home:

After we began putting our home back together, I started dreaming up what the "girl room" and "boy room" should look like.  I loved the idea of creating a comfortable and safe space that any child might love.  Lots of thought and planning has gone into these two special rooms in our home, and my heart is anxiously awaiting the day when these rooms will be finished and full.

Let's take a minute to look back at the before pictures of the middle bedroom, what became the "girl room".  We removed the pocket doors separating the bedrooms, and put them between the kitchen and laundry room.

I love how the light from the windows fill up this room!  We turned this doorway into a closet for this room, and moved the bedroom door to the right wall, opening to the hallway.

Once the sheetrock was up, I started dreaming of what this room would be!  I had a floral comforter that I loved, and knew I wanted to use in this room.  I pulled a light peachy color from it for the walls, Nearly Peach by Sherwin Williams.  I knew the wall color needed to be soft and welcoming to complement the natural light, and it turned out to be perfect.

My mom gave us my childhood bed to use in this room.  It is a special piece that fit seamlessly into the design.

An antique armoire provides extra closet space, since we were able to fit two beds into this room!

I desperately tried to scrub the yellow brick on this fireplace, hoping it would clean up nicely.  I tried every trick in the book, but nothing brightened it up.  I finally decided just to paint the fireplace white to give it a fresh new look.  I carefully taped off and lightly spray-painted the fireplace cover with a bronzy-gold finish.  We stripped down the original mantels to bring them back to life, leaving them their natural color.

This room seems so peaceful, yet fun, all at the same time!  I have baskets of books and stuffed animals in the room, just waiting to be loved!

Here is a look at the before pictures of the front bedroom, what we call the "boy room".  We turned the bathroom into a walk-in closet, which has been a wonderful place for extra storage.  The most fun part of this room is the bead-board accent over the fireplace that we decided to keep!  Since the whole house was filled with bead-board just like this, we thought it would be fun to keep it visible in one special place!

And here is the finished room!  We used the bead-board accent wall as inspiration for our wall and fireplace colors.  The wall color is Rushing River by Sherwin Williams, and the fireplace is Sea Serpent by Sherwin Williams--which is also our exterior color!  We stripped down this original mantel too, trying to avoid making the room look too busy.

Some very sweet friends of ours passed down this set of bunk beds to us.  They fit perfectly on this wall, allowing the room to still feel spacious. 

I tried to mix in a few patterns without getting too crazy, since there is already so much going on in this room.

Here is one more look at the fireplace.  It is a fun reminder of what all we went through to be where we are today!

I set up a desk area on one wall, hanging a few of my Papa's old paddles for decoration.

With a few books and toys, the room is set.  

Now that the "kid's rooms" are finished, we are ready to welcome children into our home!  This is such an exciting time that we feel like we have waited so long for, and I can't believe it is finally here!  We already have our first placement, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.  But that's another blog for another day!  

I hope you have enjoyed this update, and I hope you'll keep in touch!  I love hearing your thoughts about our progress while sharing this journey with you.

Check out more Beech Street Bungalow renovation stories here!

Who doesn't love an iced sugar cookie?  And the prettier it is, the better!  Sugar cookies are a staple around here, so we are always looking for fun and creative ways to decorate them!
 
While dreaming up our Valentine's Day treats for our brick-and-mortar location, I was inspired by the marbling trend.  I thought that if you could do it with paint and dye, why couldn't you do it with royal icing?  I thought I'd give it a shot and share my tips and tricks with you!

Start with your favorite sugar cookie recipe.  Make sure that it is a sturdy cookie-not a crumbly one!  This will be important when you start to ice the cookies.  If you don't have a favorite of your own, you can find our favorite sugar cookie recipe in our Recipe Archive!  Roll, cut out, and bake your cookies.  I chose a heart-shaped cookie cutter for Valentine's Day!  Our sugar cookie recipe will make about 25 heart cookies per batch.  Let them cool completely before icing.

Whip up your favorite royal icing recipe and separate it into two bowls.  Choose two colors that you want to use and dye each bowl of icing using gel food coloring.  I chose pink and white!  If you choose to use a color other than white, just make sure that it blends with the other color you choose. (Examples: pink and purple, pink and red, blue and purple, orange and red, orange and yellow)

Take a spoon and zig zag the lighter color icing in the bowl with the darker color.  Then take a toothpick and drag it going in the opposite direction to give the icing the marble effect.

Take the cookie and dip it face down in the icing.  Make sure that you are holding the cookie as flat as possible to ensure an even coating of icing.  Also, make sure that your finger tips don't get in the way!  When you pull the cookie out of the icing, allow the excess to drip into the bowl.  You can even give the cookie a little shake to get some of the extra icing off.  Flip the cookie quickly to reveal your beautiful pattern!  Each cookie will be unique--which is what makes this so fun!

I don't like the icing to run off the edge of my cookies, so while the icing is still wet I will wipe the sides if needed.  If you need to fill in certain areas that didn't get an even coating of icing, you an do this with a toothpick while the icing is still wet.  You can even do the marble technique on the cookie if you decide it needs a little extra color in one spot!  Just drop a dab of icing and swirl it with your toothpick.  I always let my cookies dry overnight to be sure that the icing has hardened completely.

If you love the idea of gifting special sugar cookies this Valentine's Day, we've put together a must-have kit for you!  Our Valentine's Day Cookie Kit includes just what you'll need to put together 6 cute cookie boxes.
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Kit Includes:
6 Cookie Boxes
6 Valentine's Day Gift Tags
Red and White Yarn
Valentine's Day Sprinkles
Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutter
The Southern Mercantile Sugar Cookie Recipe Card

We hope you enjoyed this how-to and we hope you'll give it a try!  We'd love for you to tag us on Instagram or Facebook to share your Valentine's Day treats with us!