A View of Our Home - Our Bathroom

We will continue the tour of our home with our bathroom!

Here is our mostly green bathroom. My latest additions have been incorporating purple into the the color pallet. Some day I will replace the shower curtain with a green AND purple one! We love the wood flooring and more storage space this bathroom provides compared to our last place!

Love these shower curtain hooks! They were actually my inspiration for the whole bathroom. I love that color green and their retro feel. 

This shelf over the toilet is one of our solutions for storage. I also like making things accessible for guest...like toilet paper, tissue, and a hanging towel to dry their hands. The painting over it was actually painted by my 12 year old sister, Emma and matched the color scheme perfectly!

These green jars were used in our wedding as centerpieces and I re-purposed them for cute storage! Now they hold cotton balls and q-tips...the fun box on the end also conveniently hides feminine products.

The next two shelves hold our matching green wash cloths and towels. I added the purple tissue box for a mix of color and a basket for toilet paper on hand. One day I also plan to spray paint this shelf in oil-rubbed bronze to match with the green and brown!

Here is my attempt at an organized linen closet! As you can see, we have a mix of different baskets that I have collected over time. They hold hair products/supplies, perfume/make-up, extra wash cloths, and nail polish. There are extra towels and toiler paper stored on the lower shelves.

I love having such a large counter top and underneath cabinet storage. Everything finally can have a place! We also love our joining door to the bathroom. Makes it feel like we have a Master bath. :)

 

I added some more purple with a glass vase and dried flowers. The box on the left matches with the one on the shelf and in the linen closet. This one on the counter holds hair ties and bobby pins. 
  

This is another favorite moment in the bathroom! The large plum vase and lavender flower candle holder both bring in more elements of purple. I painted a thrift store frame light green to finish off the look. 
Also, this brown beaded mat is here because it is hiding a hole in the counter!...When we moved in, the counter had a built in soap dispenser that we didn't like. So Matt took it out, but then we were left with a hole that needed to be covered. I think we found the perfect solution and now no one would have ever guessed!

Hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit more of our apartment in progress! Don't be afraid to decorate in your bathroom while making it functional. :)

A View of Our Home - Our Living Room

Matt and I moved into our second apartment in Colorado this past April. While our first apartment was a great start, we never saw it in person before moving in and had some storage/space/neighbor issues. 

Our new apartment is still a work in progress, but I have been meaning to post some pictures for our friends back home...and over seas! 

We will start with our living room :)

(View from our Bedroom)

We were so blessed to purchase our first set of couches this past Spring! We both love the navy that adds color to our apartment! We also love that the walls are not white! Most all of our decorations were painted by myself and family members, or bought and re-purposed from thrift/consignment stores. :)

This end table is actually a kitchen cabinet that we bought at a thrift store for $5! I painted it and added our colorful thrift store lamp! 

 This is one of my favorite moments of the room. The willow creek statute was an engagement present, the sand was from our unity ceremony at our wedding and the wedding album I made. :)

 

This is another thrift store lamp! I just picked matching burlap shades for both lamps to coordinate. Then this candle is an upcycle candle I made with a mason jar. 

I love mixing up textures and colors with our pillows and blankets! I have my eye on some more throw pillows that I would love to mix in!
 

(View from the Dining Room)
The door in the picture leads to our cute balcony. Our bedroom and bathroom are to the left of the living room. 

 

Another favorite moment with the mask we brought home from our honeymoon in Belize!

(View from bathroom)

I really love the shag rug that is more forgiving and the taller ceilings (that are not popcorn style!), which open up the space!

This "side table" was a contribution of Matt. The trunk is an authentic military suitcase that his old neighbor used in active duty and gave it to Matt when he was younger. They both had a special friendship and it is something we treasure as a piece of history! 

Thanks for checking out our home! Keep tuned for more of our apartment tour...or come visit us in Colorado! :) Seriously!

Small Steps Towards Change - Part II

Making small steps towards a less impacting lifestyle! - Part II

(This post is in honor of our 1 year anniversary as Coloradans! YAY!)

The second step in our process of changes has been in the area of creation care. Matt and I believe that God intended the for mankind to take care of the world as best we can. While we are not activist or environmental enthusiasts, we do want to incorporate good stewardship into our lifestyle. We also had some inspiration from watching some documentaries on Netflix: Bag It, Blue Gold & The No Impact Man. 

After seeing those films, we talked about what would be workable for us. We decided on just a few steps towards change that we could manage initially. 

Step #1 - Use Re-usable Cloth Bags

We bought 5 bags from our Sunflower Farmers Market for only 99 cents each. After shopping for a few weeks, we realized that 5 was enough for all the grocery shopping we do. We also found out that some stores, like Sunflower Farmers Market actually give you 10 cents off your total per bag that you use!! It's called BAG REDEMPTION! So not only are we reducing the use of plastic bags, but we are also saving money after only 10 uses! That's the kind of creation care I can get on board with!!! We also have stopped using produce bags too....it is just sooo much plastic and you really don't need them. Just wash your produce before eating and store with re-usable containers at home. I have found that our produce stays fresh longer anyways because most are not ideally stored in plastic! 

Step #1.5 - Recycle Plastic Bags and Ask for Paper

Once we switched to cloth bags, we found out that King Soopers lets you recycle plastic bags to make plastic bags again. While I would rather cut out plastic bags all together, this is a great way to get rid of any lingering bags from prior use. Now we have started only using cloth bags. However, 10% of the time, there are still situations where we forget the bags at home and run to store to pick up a few items. In those cases I try to ask for a paper bag or if I can, I just carry out the items. Some people look at me funny, but I keep the receipt handy just in case! 

Step # 2 - Stop Buying Bottled Water

This was not sometime we did every week, but just occasionally. However, after learning where the bottled water comes from and the facade of "fresh, pure" water, we won't waste our money. Why pay for water that was taken from a small community halfway across the nation, to a wealthy company that doesn't even stop pumping water when there is a national drought, when I can just drink the water from my own faucet, which I pay for already? Crazy how advertising can make it seem like a good idea, huh? 

Step # 2.5 - Use Re-usable Bottles

Now when we go for a hike or day outside, we fill up our nalgene bottles and are good to go. They carry more water than a plastic water bottle and you can decorate them with fun stickers. What's not to love? You also can be sure that they are safer without all the harmful chemicals in plastic bottles...which get even more dangerous when left in a hot car like most of us do! But not a nalgene bottle...they are free of those harmful chemicals and safe even after baking in the sun!

Watching our "One-time-use" plastic items was not a big priority before. However, we have come to realize that it really does matter. Just this past summer, we took a trip up Guanella pass for a picnic while my mom was in town. On our way down the pass, we noticed the breaks were not working as well and checked them out as soon as we got to the bottom. Once Matt looked under the car, he smelled something burning and found a plastic bag stuck up in our break-system!!! I couldn't believe it...a plastic Home Depot bag...how did that get all the way out there??? The more and more we venture out into the beautiful secluded mountain areas, the more I realize that trash seems to be EVERYWHERE...even places that seem "remote." It really saddens me, because Colorado is so beautiful. 

 (Picture near Guanella Pass)

So for now on, we are incorporating these small changes into our lifestyle. Maybe someday they will turn into bigger changes, but we are taking them one step at a time. You don't have to recycle everything in order to make some of a difference! Try something new with your family and see what works! 

Small Steps Towards Change

Making small steps towards a healthier lifestyle! - Part I

While Matt and I have been making our life together in Colorado, we have started some "experiments" with the way we live. Since we do not have cable, we watch a lot of netflix. After watching many, many different food documentaries, we decided to try out some changes in our diet. We are pretty healthy and in-shape people, but we still want to make good decisions about what we eat and our health.

Some of our favorite documentaries were "Food Inc.", "Forks Over Knives", and "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead."

Initially, we felt pretty overwhelmed by all the changes that would have to be made in order to eat like these documentaries suggested. So we had to find what was workable for us with a small budget.

By incorporating small steps, a little at a time, we've found what works for us!

Step #1 - Eat less meat and better quality meat (no hormones). 

We eat less meat by planning 3 meatless meals each week. To eat better quality meat, we had to shop around. We found that the organic meat at our King Soopers (Kroger Branch) was way too expensive. So now we buy our meat at the local Sunflower Farmers Market. Since we are eating meat less often, we can afford to buy grass-fed beef and all natural chicken.(You may have to look around for the best deal, but the quality and taste is worth it!!)

Step #1.5 - Special meat night

Since my sweet husband has been so supportive in all these changes (even less meat!), I wanted to do something nice for him. He loves to grill and is a master with his meat thermometer! So each week, we buy some kind of "special" meat for one dinner (one of the four with meat). We eat steak, pork chops, chicken kabobs, shrimp...anything that sounds good! Making changes can be hard, especially for our grilling men, so reward them! :)

Step #2 - Eat more fruits and veggies 

We ate enough fruits and veggies, but were never very creative with them before. Now we are getting super creative! Each week I try to buy one type of fruit or vegetable that we have never had. Then I look up how to cook it and experiment with it! So far some have been successful, and some not so much...but it has been an adventure and we are learning! Find out what veggies can be substitutes for protein and balance what your body needs. 

Step #2.5 - Eat less processed foods

This is part of step two because as we have tried new veggies, we eat less packaged food. We try to avoid foods with high fructose corn syrup and artificial ingredients. Sometimes that is not always workable with our budget so we give ourselves some grace.

Step #3 - Buy more local produce 

This decision came at a perfect time since Colorado's farmers markets had just opened on weekends!  We also look for the local farmer signs in the produce section of King Soopers and the Sunflower Market. (Then learn how to properly store all your tasty produce for optimum flavor!)

Step #3.5 - Plant a garden - even a super small one on a balcony! 

We tried growing our own herbs, lettuce, and tomatoes. We were able to enjoy our delicious herbs and some lettuce initially. Unfortunately, our garden got hammered by a hail storm and has never quit recovered. However, we have learned from our experiences and are looking forward to having a better garden next year!!

There are more changes coming in the future, but we are taking our time to work out these first. We have enjoyed learning together and being adventurous...as always! Hope you will try your own family "experiments" and find a workable way to live better and healthier! 

Coming soon: Part II - Small Steps to a less impacting lifestyle! 

The Newest Edwards!

This past weekend, Matt and I made a special trip down Texas to see the newest addition to the Edwards family! 

Introducing our 5th nephew, Logan Matthew Edwards!

While we were visiting, I had the privilege to do a mini photo session with the family and little Logan.  

We also got some fun shots of the whole family! I am so blessed with such loving in-laws! Miss them!
 

 

Celebrating the Past Year!

Yesterday, Matt and I celebrated our 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I am so thankful that we did not settle for less than what God had for us. As a result, I am enjoying the adventures of married life with the best husband, companion, provider, leader and loving man I could have asked for!

 

We celebrated our day with breakfast in bed, some relaxation by the pool, watching our wedding video, and a balcony steak dinner!

(Reminiscent of our honeymoon in Belize!)

We can't believe it has already been a year since we said our vows on that windy day by the lake in Marble Falls, TX!

We loved looking back over this past year with all it's many changes, challenges and MANY blessing.

After getting married, we were blessed to house sit over the summer before our big move to Colorado!- Our first real adventure!

(Special thanks to the Kirkley's and the Hammond's!)

Then...Our first out of state move together! 

Our first home together!

Our first hike in beautiful Colorado!

Our first adoption!

Our first Colorado snow!

Our first Holidays!

Our first Skiing trips together and with family and friends! - Followed by my first knee injury :(

Our first camping trip!

 
Our first Colorado getaway! - Keystone, CO

 

We have also shared in some other milestones in each others lives...

My first job as a nanny. 

Matt's 24th Birthday.

Matt's first promotion to Assistant Manager.
Matt's first raise at work.

My first experience on crutches.
(especially difficult in snow!)

My 23rd Birthday.

My first completed year as a student at Denver Seminary.

My first counseling clients.

Our first in state move to our new apartment!

As we have been making memories this past year, God has been faithful to provide...as always! He has blessed us with family, friends, jobs and a church home. We are looking forward to what is to come in the year ahead!

Thank you to those that have shared in our journey together over the past few years. Many of you have been godly examples of how to glorify God with our marriage and draw near to Him. We are so grateful for all your love and support in our marriage!