Tag Archives: 2014

Antique Mirror Gallery Wall

antique mirror gallery wallWhen we did our original bathroom update, I knew that I wanted a gallery wall on the top half of that wall. However, after painting and putting up the new shower curtain, I didn’t particularly care for the items that I’d collected to put there. I hung the two old sconces there in the meantime, and it took me several months to come up with a better idea.

Finally, one day it dawned on me. I should do a gallery wall of antique mirrors in there! After all, there’s little that I love more than gallery walls and antique mirrors…why not combine the two?? It took me a few weeks to gather enough mirrors that would work in the space, but I finally collected enough and had some spare time to work on the project.Mirror Gallery Wall Layout

When planning out a gallery wall, it’s very important to play around with your layout before you start hanging things on the wall. Otherwise, you’ll likely end up with a bunch of excess nail holes and something that’s hung just a little off. I measured the size of the wall and marked the corners on my floor with masking tape. I cut slips of paper the size of the existing mirror, lights, and light switch and taped them on the floor according to their location on the wall. Then, I spread my mirrors out and moved them around until I was satisfied with the layout.

My darling husband hung the mirrors for me, and to do so he used the toothpaste trick. At first he thought I was a little crazy when I mentioned it, but then he agreed that it was genius! Basically, you just dab a little bit of toothpaste on the hangers of whatever you’re hanging. Then, you press it against the wall where it’s going to go and voila – you have a temporary mark on the wall, exactly where your nail needs to go! With the mirrors already laid out and using the toothpaste trick, I think it took him about 30 minutes to get them all hung. Aside from collecting the mirrors, the whole project took roughly 1-1 1/2 hours.
antique mirror gallery wall
I have to say that this is likely one of my favorite projects to date. I simply love how it turned out, and I enjoy getting to look at my collection of mirrors on a regular basis. Plus, it made our tiny bathroom feel a little bigger. Most of the mirrors I used are vintage from various sources, but the 8×10 filler mirrors are actually from the Dollar Tree! That’s right…I only paid $1 for those!

What do you think about the finished product? Think it looks better or worse than before? If you like gallery walls as much as I do, be sure to check out my first one from the living room.

 

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Dear May, I love you.

Top Agent, Pamela PetrusMay was the most fantastic month. Big things happened around here. During the month of May, I closed 14 houses for a volume of over $1,100,000! This number put me as the #3 agent in our office for this month (out of over 100 agents). I was also the #6 agent in our entire market with hundreds of agents. I definitely don’t mean to brag but this is such an amazing accomplishment, and I’m so excited!

I also post this to say that I am incredibly thankful to have everyone’s support in this journey. I would not been able to accomplish such things in one month without you all sending business my way. (Remember, if someone is looking for a new house, call me first so I can help them! They don’t even have to pay me!) Most of my May transactions were from friends and family calling me to let me know of someone looking for a home. This means the world to me! I simply cannot succeed in this business without you all spreading the word for me. You’ve done that, and I’m THANKFUL! If I could drive to each of you and hug your neck, I’d do it!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Please keep the referrals coming. I’m looking forward to a successful June too!

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“Good Morning”

Grateful

 

It’s been a little quiet around My Neck of the Woods lately. I have/had 14 transactions set to close in May, which in the world of real estate means I’ve been working A LOT. (I certainly appreciate everyone sending clients my way, so I’m definitely not complaining….keep them coming!) When you’re working as much as I have been, some things have to fall to the wayside. That’s ok though because I’m here today!

I posted something last weekend about being grateful. I’d had somewhat of a tough week between struggles at work and a rough experience with a dental implant. I went for a walk on Saturday morning because I finally felt somewhat normal. Going for that walk really turned my outlook around. You’d think I would have been expecting it, because I always get a dose of inspiration when I take walks down the levee.

However, today was a little different. As I was strolling along (rather easily because I still wasn’t 100%), a couple jogging by made a point to say “Good Morning” to me. As I was walking, I’d been thinking over the various challenges from the week, wishing I felt like riding my bike, wanting to go and do things that I wasn’t able to because of work…so on and so forth. Basically, even though I was enjoying the walk in the sunshine, I was still allowing a lot of negativity into my mind without even realizing it. Then, a simple ‘good morning’ turned that all around.

I’ve blogged about this before, but here’s what I took away from this little experience — There are a million simple things you can do to change someone’s day…or life! The people that ran by me on the levee have no idea what they did for me last Saturday. However, it made a huge difference. From that point on, I made a point to say ‘good morning’ to everyone that I passed, only hoping that I could pass on a little bit of what those joggers gave me. Were some people shocked? Certainly. Do you think it made a difference to at least one of them? I can bet that it did.

Every day that you wake up, you have a chance to make someone’s day better. When you focus your attention on bettering the days of others, you’re bound to make a monumental difference sooner or later. In turn, you’ll make a huge difference within yourself. Of course, it’s difficult to look outside of your own problems/struggles sometimes, but DO IT! Every single person that you pass is dealing with some issue of their own that is at least equal to or worse than yours. And sometimes, something as simple as whispering ‘good morning’ or ‘hello’ can make a world of difference to them.

The moral of this story is that we all have the ability to change the world, and that doesn’t require large donations to charities or adopting every hungry child. Often times it’s the simplest things that make the biggest differences. Don’t waste your opportunities to make change. Go out and search for ways to make a difference. Say ‘good morning’ to people. Wish them a good day. Compliment someone’s hair or outfit. Look for opportunities to say positive and encouraging things to the people you come in contact with. You’ll not only influence their day but yours too. Let’s go make this world a happier place…it all starts with you and it starts today!

 

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Salt & Pepper – New Ownership!

Salt & PepperAs most of you know, I opened Salt & Pepper Accessory Boutique with my sister in 2009. Almost 4 years later we sold the business to our wonderful friend, Jessica Pollard. Both Sherri and I wanted to pursue other things, (I am LOVING new real estate career by the way.) and we knew Jessica could take the reigns and make magic happen with the business. Since taking over, Jessica has added her own spin to our little shop, and it’s been so fun to watch it evolve. I thought I’d take a minute to formally introduce Jessica to my readers and friends.

Pamela: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview for my readers. Tell us a little about yourself.
Jessica: I am originally from Oak Grove, Louisiana and this is my second retail store to own. I have a degree in fashion merchandising and have worked in retail for 19 years…it’s in my blood! I love being able to be creative with the business and styling customers based on their individual personalities.

Pamela: Nineteen years is a long time. What makes you love the fashion/retail industry?
Jessica: Fashion is ever changing…from styles and seasons to colors…there’s always something new to explore. Plus, getting to interact with customers is very exciting.

Pamela: What sorts of products have you added to S&P?
Jessica: I’ve added more clothing options, new boots, sandals, and the well-loved Minnetonka Moccasins. I’ve also expanded our collections of customer favorites like Lenny & Eva and Natural Life.
Pamela: (You all MUST go see the new Lenny & Eva products…they’re my favorite!!)

Pamela: What have you done to make the store your own?
Jessica: I have taken the clothing options in a different direction, offering a different style than the store had before. I’ve also added local art from our area.

Pamela: What do you feel sets S&P apart from other similar businesses?
Jessica: We take great pride in our customer service…you just don’t find that everywhere. Plus, our merchandise is so versatile that it fits any age group.

Pamela: What have been your biggest challenges from owning your own business again?
Jessica: It’s always tough to find unique products that aren’t offered just anywhere, and that’s something I’ll always be pursuing. Staffing is sometimes a battle because it’s important to find employees that work hard and represent your business well. On top of that, I’d saying finding the balance between a work like and a personal life is something I’m continually working on.

Pamela: As we wrap up, please tell us what your favorite trend is for the Spring 2014 season.
Jessica: The boho trend is my favorite! I love boots with dresses because it’s funky and fun. Plus, I’m in love with fringe!

Salt & PepperThank you, Jessica, for the interview!  Make sure to stop by the store on Antique Alley soon and show her some love! You can also follow Salt & Pepper on facebook and Instagram. She’ll ship items nationwide, so be sure to snag some of your favorites! We want you all to welcome and support Jessica just the way you did us. We truly appreciate the love you’ve shown her the last 8 months, and we hope you’ll keep it up!

Salt & PepperAs for me, I truly loved getting to know you all and have missed seeing your faces regularly. Please add me on Facebook (Pamela Bryant Petrus) so I can keep in contact with you. (You can also follow me on Instagram or twitter.) Furthermore, if you know of anyone hoping to buy or sell a house, please call me! My contact info is on my real estate page.

Salt & PepperBefore we wrap up, there are two more things to talk about.

  • First, Jessica is hosting a FASHION EVENT this Saturday, March 15 at the store (400 Trenton Street, West Monroe). The fashion show starts at 7:00 pm and there will be food and lots of fun. I will be there cheering Jessica on and I really, really hope I’ll get to see lots of familiar faces there. Please join me in supporting Jessica’s first event at the store!
  • Second, Jessica and I are teaming up to offer my FIRST EVER giveaway on the blog! You can enter to win a $25 gift certificate to Salt & Pepper just by heading over to the S&P Instagram (@saltandpepperboutique). Take a look around and then come back here and comment with your favorite item. (Be sure to click “follow” because you don’t want to miss seeing the spring arrivals.) Leave a comment here and a random winner will be chosen on Friday, March 10, 2014 at 4:00 pm!

Thank you again for stopping by! Don’t forget the show on Saturday, and be sure to comment for a chance to win! Much love – Pamela

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DIY Winter Wreath

Winter Wreath

It’s no secret that I love wreaths…wreaths that are different and unique to be exact. As a matter of a fact, I have a Pinterest board dedicated to just them! This year, I was a little late switching from a Christmas wreath to a winter one. I didn’t put up a new wreath until the first of February, so I knew I wanted something that was wintery but could also welcome the first of spring without looking too dark.

As usual, I didn’t actually like my first couple of strategies. The finished product is sort of a combination between this wreath and this one that I saw on Pinterest. I used a foam ring from Hobby Lobby, rope from Tyner Petrus, sticks from my yard, and flowers from my wedding hairpiece (They were originally from Hobby Lobby.).

Winter Wreath Close UpJust like with my yarn wrapped wreath, wrapping the rope took a little longer than planned. I had planned to do something similar to that first inspiration wreath with brown rope, but it looked like it belonged on the door of a cowboy’s house. Unfortunately, neither of us are cowboys, so I scratched that idea.

I loved the winter stick idea from the second photo, but I wanted something that had a little brightness to it so it could be left up through the beginning of spring. I went digging through my craft supplies and came across leftover flowers from making my wedding hairpiece. They were light and airy enough to brighten the wreath but not too bright to be inappropriate for this cold February. Plus, every time I walk through the door, I think about marrying my husband…not a bad bonus! Finally, I added a little bit of raffia to give it a whimsical look and some ribbon for a hanger. And there you have it…a new wreath that looked nothing like my original idea!

Winter WreathI wish I could end this post by saying how many people love my new wreath. However, during our little ice storm, my wreath literally froze and broke into several pieces. That’s not even a joke… click here to see my poor, little broken wreath. It wasn’t even up for a week!

Now I’m faced with a dilemma. Do I remake the same wreath or do something completely different?? Help me decide!

 

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Joyce’s Journey: Post Surgery Update

Willis Knighton PierremontIf you’ve been following along with my facebook updates, you know that Mom’s surgery was completed on Tuesday of last week. It was roughly a three hour procedure, and everything seemed to go smoothly. As with any major surgery, she’s had ups and downs along the way, but overall she’s doing well.

Here’s where we stand as of today…

The surgeon assured us that they removed the entire tumor. Pathology reports did show Stage 1 cancer cells around the area that was removed, so there’s a chance we’ll have to do more chemo. We will know more about that strategy once we meet with her oncologist back in Monroe. However, the report showed that her lymph nodes were clear, so that’s wonderful news.

The staff seems to think that she may get to go home tomorrow. We’ll meet with the post-op staff before leaving to discuss her new care routine. She should be able to care for herself once we leave, but they’re considering having home health come by periodically for a bit. We won’t know for sure until the doctor comes back by in the morning, but keep your fingers crossed that we get the green light!

All in all, she’s done really well. She seems to be in pretty high spirits, and her mood is conducive to a speedy recovery. The facility and staff at Willis Knighton Pierremont have been wonderful. The room is nice and spacious. We even have a couch for us to sleep on when we stay overnight with her! This was reason to celebrate in itself, especially if you saw what we had to sleep in during her last hospital stay. The staff is so very caring and helpful, and Mom has been very appreciative of the good care she’s received.

For now, we’re going to camp out and see what the doctor says in the morning. Thank you to everyone who’s messaged and/or called to check in or send well wishes. We’ve appreciated each and every word of encouragement, and my siblings and I feel so lucky to have such great friends and family. We love you all!

You can read more about our journey here. You can also follow along with the #JoycesJourney on facebook, instagram, and twitter.

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2014 Goals Review – February

January GoalsWe have one month of this new year behind us. I want to try to reflect upon my 2014 goals at the beginning of each month. That should help keep me working towards them right?? I shared them here so you’ll would help hold me accountable. I want to hear how you’re progressing towards your goals, so please leave me a comment below. I love, love, love encouraging people, so I’ll be more than happy to send some positive thoughts your way.

So, here’s my progress so far:

  • exercise more: I have been exercising fairly regularly, but not quite as much as I’d like. The abnormally cold weather here lately has made it a little tough, but I’m trying to not use that as an excuse.
  • obtain an organized house: I have seen a little progress here too, but also not as much as I’d like. I have made a list of most of the problem areas and plan to start tackling them one by one. I think I’m going to do a version of the 40 Bags/40 Days project, but I’ll talk more about that later. Overall, I’ve been happy with the cleanliness of my home lately. For example, there is currently no dirty dishes in the sink or clothes to be folded. You can also see the floor of my dressing room…this is progress folks!
  • blog at least twice a week: I haven’t quite met the twice a week goal just yet, but I did make 4 posts during the month of January. As I see it, that’s about half way to my goal, and since it’s progress, I’m satisfied. 
  • try yoga: I have tried yoga and done it 4-5 times so far. I have liked the results and plan on trying a slightly harder routine today.
  • finish decorating: I have done little things here and there to move towards a home that I love. There haven’t been any major breakthroughs, but I’m certainly finding more inspiration and wrapping my head around what I’d like to see done. If nothing else, I’ve been pinning lots of things I like!
  • start and maintain a Project Life album: I have started a Project Life album for this year, but I’ll be completely honest…I’ve only completed the title page (and there was a spelling error…gasp!). I have worked very hard on a system that works for me to print photos and failed miserably. I think I’ve found a solution though, so I’ll try it sometime this week.
  • create books for our last two years: This is a pretty daunting task, but I’ve made quite a bit of progress. So far, I have gathered all of the photos from 2012 and 2013 and printed them. They arrived a week or so ago, so I can’t wait to get started with putting them in the books. I should also mention that I got a killer deal on printing those. It only cost me $10 to have 160+ photos printed and delivered. Score!
  • update our travel journal: I’ve done nothing to work towards this goal. Oops…better get on it!
  • dedicate more time to things I enjoy: I have been rather focused on this goal. It could possibly be the most important one to me. While I haven’t reserved a ton of time for myself, I have been very conscious about little rewards like taking time to enjoy my coffee or moving a little slower through the day. I still need more work in this department, but I’ve definitely seen (and felt) progress.
  • say more nice things: My original goal was to say something especially nice at least once a day. I can’t say that I’ve done it on a daily basis, but I’ve certainly been making a point to do it regularly. I find myself complimenting strangers more, as well as offering positivity to the people around me. The most important take away from this goal so far is that while I hope it’s made a difference to those around me, it’s also made a tremendous difference to me personally. I feel like a better person after I make a point to say something nice, and I plan to keep it up.
  • wake up earlier: This is a killer. It’s like the black sheep of my goal list. During mine and Amanda’s first goal review meeting, she suggested that I try to just this just once a week at first, then add subsequent days. That was huge for me because it helped me not feel guilty if I didn’t reach this goal every single day. All in all, I feel pretty satisfied with my progress. I’m getting up earlier than usual at least once a week, and I’ve gotten up early enough to have some quiet time before work on several occasions.

All things considered, I feel like I’m moving along nicely, and I plan to make lots of headway in February. (If you missed it, my “one little word” for February is determined.)  I think I’ll make these goals review posts at the end of each month to keep myself focused. There is no better accountability than having to share what you’ve done to accomplish them with the world!

Have you made any progress towards your goals? Whether you’re doing great or not-so-great, please share anyway. I’d love to feel like I’m not alone out here! Plus, I’d love to help encourage you along the way. If you’d like your goals to remain private, feel free to shoot me an email at pamelapetrus@gmail.com. Much love!

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One Little Word – February

dertemined

I simply cannot believe January is over already. January is my birthday month, so I’m always a little sad to see it go. They say that time passes more quickly as you get older. If that’s the case, I dread to see how fast it goes later in life! Nonetheless, I’ll stop complaining and welcome February with open arms. As a matter of fact, I’m planning to make the most of this month!

When 2014 rolled around, I tried really hard to pick “one little word” to live by this year. One of my favorite bloggers has been choosing a word for a couple of years now, and I thought it would be a fun exercise. I made a list of options but I just couldn’t commit to one. I’ve learned over the years that asking me to commit to something firmly for a long period of time is just not good idea. I can’t do it. My husband is probably quite nervous about that, but he hides it well. Actually, when we were shopping for wedding rings, I asked him if we could buy another one later if I decided I didn’t like the one we bought anymore. I had such anxiety about committing to one ring that I’d wear every day for the rest of my life. For the record, I absolutely love the ring he bought me and I can’t imagine ever wearing a different one. Funny how that happens, huh?

As I was reading this post the other day, I had the idea to have “one little word” each month. This way, I wouldn’t have to commit to one word for the whole year, and I could tailor each month’s word to fit my goals or needs for that month. With February upon us, I thought this would be the perfect time to start.

For February, my one little word will be DETERMINED.

I am determined to be productive this month. I plan to push ferociously harder towards my goals this month. I plan to use these 28 short days to make serious headway in my plans, so as to set myself up for success this year.

I am determined to let myself breathe this month. I plan to end each day feeling accomplished and proud of my work. I plan to remind myself to relax every evening and to only say nice things to myself. It’s time to cut myself a little slack.

I am determined to block out the negative this month. All too often, I let the negative actions and attitudes of others bring me down. This month, I plan to tune out any and all things that threaten my positivity. There’s no room for negativity in this beautiful life, and I’m putting my foot down this month.

As I prepare for the month of February, I’m excited about being serious about this journey. I’m excited about setting goals for myself both personally and professionally. I’m excited about taking control of my life and steering it in the direction I want it to go. I am also excited that you’ll want to follow along with my journey. 

Photo courtesy of Matthew Petrus. 

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Valentine’s Day Inspiration

Valentine's DayI’ve rekindled my love affair with Pinterest lately, and I decided to share some of my latest favorites. Is it just me or is Pinterest the best place to look when you need a hefty dose of inspiration?? With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite finds.

These nails are what started my Valentine’s Day pin collection. The pins of elaborate art on nails are fascinating, but I’d never attempt such a feat. However, I think I can handle this one!

I think this pillow is adorable! I recently ordered some wall art for my office from Michelle, and this pillow is on my wish list. It’s great for year round decor, but I think it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day!

I really, really want to make some of these heart trees. It looks like such a cute and easy project! You could also do a similar version for other holidays.

I love this tutorial for making a heart cake. I don’t own a heart shaped pan, and this would be soooo much easier than trying to cut out a heart shape. Genius!

This post had some simple but good Valentine’s Day date ideas. Of course, I think you should show people that you love them year round, but there’s nothing wrong with using this holiday to do something extra special.

Feel free to browse my Be My Valentine board if you’re looking for more Valentine’s Day ideas. Plus, you can see my quick and easy heart wreath from last year here.

Have you seen any fun Valentine’s Day projects or decor that I should add to my list? Please share!

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What We Wore: ’90s Palooza

90s OutfitsLittle excites me more than ’90s music, so when Amanda invited us to come along to a ’90s Palooza last fall, we jumped at the opportunity! To make this event even more amazing, ’90s attire was required. Costumes and ’90s music…what could be more fun??

As usual, I waited until the night before to start getting my outfit together. Turns out, I had a much harder time than anticipated. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw the disaster in my closet. I eventually settled on something and created a ’90s look from high-waisted cutoff Levi’s (that didn’t actually fit me) and a velvet crop top…oh, how I love velvet! I was rather brave to show my midriff, especially without a tan, but when a ’90s event comes around, you gotta make the most it! I’ve been looking for an excuse to wear that sequined choker…this was the perfect moment!

Matthew ripped up some old jeans, wore a flannel shirt unbuttoned, and a hat backwards. It took me a long time to get used to his new look…it was like I was back in middle school! Also, be sure to notice that hemp necklace I snagged at Goodwill. Amanda looked a little more “put together” than me. She wore shorts with tights and combat boots, a denim vest, and flannel…the epitome of ’90s grudge.

90s OutfitsOne of the highlights of the night was running into the Spice Girls!! You would have thought that they were the real deal if you saw how excited Amanda and I got over them. The Spice Girls are definitely on the top of the list of things I miss from the ’90s.

90s Palooza

Matthew, Amanda, and I are known to have a barrel of fun together, but we certainly enjoyed this evening at the Dixie Center for the Arts. We’re already planning for next year and can’t wait for more ’90s attire, good times, and fun music!

This sound like an event you’d enjoy? Feel free to join us this year!
Warning: you’ll leave with a sore throat from screaming your favorite songs. It’s all part of the experience.

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