Merry Christmas and an all-natural New Years!!

Yes... we had a very merry Christmas.  

Now to begin the new year with a clean slate! 

Mmmm... isn't it refreshing!!

Sorry, I'm not sure where these amazing pics came from... I had them in a folder on my desktop.

I've been cheating on themachinehouse with Pinterest... oops!

Yep, I caught the bug.  Pinterest is amazing, like google on crack but with good taste!  Check it out!!  

Here are some of my findings... 

Amazing boots

Comfy dress code for the fall

I could do that artwork

if only...

a bunch of yummy ideas

For links for all these pictures find me on Pinterest.  M'lea Cole!!

Decorating for Christmas... New Cole Tradition!

We have never had a tree... all 4 years of our marriage and no tree... ever!  Until this year!!!  And a real one none the less.  Yippee!!!
We wanted to surprise Stella with it so we put her to bed and then put the tree up.  She had a bad dream or something and woke up a little before we were done but thats ok.  While Stephen went to get her I turned out every light in the house including the tree.  Then Stephen brought her in and "SURPRISE" as I plugged it in.  She had such a great WOW face, I loved it.  I think this will be our new tradition for the rest of our existence.  And it will only get better with the next kiddo... that I am not prego with, yet!
Apologies for the pics.  Its hard to take pictures with that little of light:)

Reinventing Myself

I guess I've been doing a bit of soul searching lately for a while.  Oh and I also discovered Pinterest!  I've also been enjoying my job as a Senior Transition associate - I help move the mature adults from their homes to retirement homes.  I've been finishing up the Brown's Pool house I've been working... pics to come.  And I've been exhausted!  Yet the whole time I've been away I have wanted to be blogging about all of it.  I'm so sad I didn't share all my adventures with you.  I'll try to do better:)
These next few weeks I'm going to try to update you on my projects.  First is the job I finished back in the spring.  My lil drummer friend Brent had to redo his house due to a terrible flood that hit central Oklahoma home a year and a half ago now.  If you remember my post about Calcutta Gold marble, that was about his house.  Here are a few befores and afters! (forgive my iphone pictures)

Before Fireplace

Progress

More progress

Closest to a final shot I have

Before Kitchen

After Kitchen

Close up of backsplash

Before of Master Bath

After of Master Bath

Close up of floor

Have you ever???

Have you ever wanted to do anything so badly it was spilling out of your uncontrollably to anyone who would listen???  That is what I am going through in this moment.  I can't discuss details (its that good) I don't want anyone stealing my idea;).... But when it gets closer to time, I will fill you in!!!  Have a great day and enjoy the pics I cant remember where I got them from.. but i think they are uh-maz-ing!

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I haven't posted in a good minute!

I haven't been avoiding my blog completely, I have been using it to get to my favorite blog spots, they are listed so nicely with easy access.

I thought I'd share some of my recent befores and afters... The first set is of a big gold mirror.  I actually bought four of these from Garden Ridge back in 2006?.  Three I have given away but this one I've held on to, thinking I'd find the perfect place for it someday.  Well, I found the place but the gold wasn't working... So I painted it with chalk board paint.  Just haven't gotten the urge to draw on it yet.

Here is the after of the bare lamp from above.

Next is of the adjacent wall... I couldn't afford the huge piece of artwork I wanted.  So I did this and it was... $0!

I love it!! It really fills the space nicely and gives a little something feminin to balance all the solid things in the room.  

Hope you enjoyed my first day back in a while!  Happy Memorial Day!!!

Cedar shake shingles, open amazing windows, and white... these are a few of my favorite things!

I recently was asked to help with a pool house project.  Who the project is given to is still up in the air but we are hoping and praying its us.  Immediately I had a million ideas running through my head.  But this google find, blew my mind.  Ever heard of BNOdesign?  Well, now you have and here is their exquisite work.

Pictures courtesy of here.

This last picture is the portion of the house that acts as the pool house.  If I could help create something half as breathtaking as this, I will retire!