Family Flip

Well hello there!!!

I just realized it has been 6 months since I last blogged, and quite a bit has changed since then.  Last you heard we were selling our home, building a new house, and you probably thought by now we would be about ready to move in. 

There has been a tiny change.  We did sell our house, but instead of going straight into building our new home we bought a house to flip!  Before you get too worried we will still be building, but just couldn't pass up the opportunity for a FAMILY FLIP.  One day when we are on HGTV this will be the name of our show...I am only half kidding.

Definitely in need of a complete makeover, wouldn't you say?  The house is in Isle of Palms and it has such great potential.  It is a 4/2 on a cul-de-sac with access to a tidal creek and marsh views.   Michael found the house...(sidenote: He is now a realtor, so if you are looking for a new house or trying to sell/rent yours shoot him an email and he would love to help.  michael@hovergirlproperties.com) I will be doing the design & my father in law is the contractor.  We've got a nice little team don't we?

I hope you follow along as we transform this house into a coastal inspired home.

Open House

Hi Everyone!

We have been working hard to get our house ready to sell...organizing, cleaning, styling and taking pictures.  I am so excited to share all of the before and after pictures on here very soon.  We have had quite a bit of interest in our house since I announced that we would be selling it, and I wanted you to be the first to know that we are hosting an open house this Sunday, April 13th from 1-4.

A great historic bungalow home with fantastic features that has been completely updated! With beautiful vaulted ceilings in the living room, wood floors throughout, and rounded rear windows in the back of the home this house is sure to impress! The home has an open concept floor plan with an updated gourmet kitchen including a farm sink, gas range, custom cabinetry and marble countertops. A spacious master suite boasts double sinks, a large spa shower and plenty of storage with 3 closets. The updated guest bath, indoor laundry, office area and brick patio make this the perfect home.  One of the largest 2 bedroom 2 bath homes in well sought after historic San Marco area...this home is one of a kind! 

Click here to see our home on Zillow!  

Wish us luck and please share with your friends!!!

Exciting News...

If you follow me on Instagram you might be wondering what exciting thing happened yesterday?

WE ARE BUILDING A HOUSE!!! Which means we are selling our house...insert mixed emotions here.  This has been in the works for quite awhile and after lots of prayer for direction and guidance, it is officially happening.  If you have followed along since the beginning you remember how much time and effort we have put in (and are still putting in) to make our house a home. We took our house from this...

 

to this...

There have been complete transformations in every single room.  I have gotten behind in blogging about all of the little projects and big projects we have done, so it is my goal to give you a complete house tour before we move out.  (You better hold me to that.) With that being said, do you know of any photographers in the Jacksonville area that would be interested in photographing our house?  My photography skills definitely are not up to par, and I would love to have beautiful images to share with you (and for us to keep) of our first home. 

Our house is 2 bed/ 2 bath, 1831 sqft, completely renovated, walking distance to the square and metro diner, and in my opinion on the BEST block in the neighborhood.  (We really do have the best neighbors and we are so sad to leave them.)  It will officially go up for sale in mid March, but if you know of anyone looking to move the the San Marco area go ahead and send them our way.  They can contact me julianne (at) juliannekelly (dot) com. 

I hope you will follow along as we build our new home.  Construction will begin after we sell our house, so for now expect lots of inspiration pictures.  we are going for a coastal style, which is my absolute FAVORITE and luckily it is Michael's favorite too.  I have a feeling the need vs. want conversation, and the word budget will be a part of our daily conversations for the next few months. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Traveling Start to 2014

Happy New Year Everyone!  I know I am about 14 days late, but 2014 started off busy and I have been traveling since January 1st.  It feels oh so good to be home.  First we had a wedding in CHarleston, SC, which was absolutely perfect.  Then we traveled to LA and Pasadena to watch the Noles with the national championship, and finally ended my travels with a trip to mart & Scotts in Atlanta. 




It was such an honor to stand next to my best friend since kindergarten at her wedding.  It was a freezing,could have snowed  chilly day, but it was absolutely perfect. 

{peonies are my favorite}

 

 

 

{chalkboard signage for the wedding}

We didnt have a ton of time to explore, but I do have a few recommendations if you are ever in Charleston.  

Virginia's on King is a must if you are looking for good southern food and an inviting atmosphere.  We actually ate here twice, and both times were delicious.    

{virgina's on king}

{the best grilled cheese and tomato soup}

If you are looking for a good cup of coffee or a chocolate croissant make sure to stop in Kudu Coffee.  They serve Counter Culture coffee.

{a great atmosphere in the courtyard complete with twinkly lights and a fountain}

King Street is known for its shopping, and one of my favorite stores in South of Market.  I discovered SOM several years ago, and try to make a point to stop in if I am in Charleston.  I love their over sized lighting paired with antiques and classic slip covered furniture.  It is way a little out of my price range, but I love to get ideas.    

Happy Tuesday!  I will be back this week with pictures from our other trips.

Africa Here We Come

We are just a few days out from our Africa trip, and a lot goes through your mind when you are preparing for a trip to a third world country...I hope we get there safely, do I have enough baby wipes in case we don't shower the entire time, what will our accommodations be like, should I bring an entire pharmacy in case we contract some weird illness and on and on it goes.  I was reminded a few weeks ago how far I have come in the last few years.  Some of you might have no clue what I am talking about, but in the efforts of "Let's Keep it Real Mondays" I thought I would share something a little more personal today. 

During the last 3 years I have dealt with A LOT of anxiety, fear and worry.  It spiraled out of control to the point that I could barely drive by myself, because I was afraid I would pass out.  The Lord has brought me through all of that with prayers from so many, scriptures, a very supportive husband/family and some healthy decisions like supplements and detoxing.  (Did you know that stress and anxiety will make you physically sick?)  So now you see that a trip to Africa is completely stepping out in faith.  No control, no security, and no toilets!!!  :)

Over the next 14 days I covet your prayers for us, our team and those we will meet in our travels.  A few specific areas of prayer...

• safe and smooth travels for the entire team (I am pretty nervous about all the long flights)
• team unity
• the Lord will strengthen our marriage
• I will be filled with peace and joy, not anxiety or fear
• the Lord will use us to show His love and grace
• We will come home with a true sense of contentment and that ALL of my anxiety will be broken

Thank you for your prayers!  I cannot wait to meet this sweet little face. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw the crazy amount of pink goodies we got her.  Have you ever shopped for someone who has virtually nothing?  Let me tell you, it is hard!  I wanted to buy everything, but at the same time I wanted the gifts to be useful and interactive.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

Africa T-Shirts

It has been so so long since I last blogged.  Things have been busy in a good way, but I am hoping to find more time to blog now that things are slowing down.  As I mentioned previously Michael and I are going to Africa in October.  We only have a 6 days left to raise the remainder of our $10,000.  In efforts to raise money I designed a t-shirt that we are selling; all proceeds will go towards our trip. 

Here is the important info...

• September 8th is the last day to order
• The shirt is a gray Comfort Colors t-shirt (my FAVORITE) with white printing
• Please mark your size in the "notes to seller" section when purchasing.  Available in sizes S-XL
• Shirts are $22 each
• Shipping is an additional $5 and up to 3 shirts can be shipped together.  (NOTE: If you are shipping more than one shirt add a shirt with shipping included to your shopping cart and then add your additional 1 or 2 shirts with local pick-up so that you are not charged shipping multiple times)
• Shirts will be for sale until September 8th, and then they will be printed and shipped.  They will arrive before we leave for Africa.

We would LOVE for you to wear your shirt at some point while we are gone (October 9-19th) as a reminder to pray for us and our team.  Thank you in advance for your support! We greatly appreciate it. 

CLICK HERE to purchase

We have a little girl...

Now don't get too excited.  I'm not pregnant, but I want you to meet our little girl Zuwena....

She is our Compassion child that we sponsor from Uganda and we get to meet her in October!!!!!!!!! We are so thrilled, and I can't help but think about how this is going to change our life.    

Michael and I have always talked about going on a mission trip together and this past October we began discussing where and when we would go.  We both felt like we needed a year’s time to prepare and pray about where the Lord wanted us to go.  A few days later I (JuliAnne) told Michael that I felt like I needed to go somewhere that would really stretch me.  In the back of my mind I was thinking Africa, but I was a little scared to say it at the time.  Michael immediately responded, “I was thinking Africa.”  A month or so later the mission trip schedule came out for our church, and they announced that there would be a trip to Uganda in October 2013; exactly one year from when we said we would like to go.  Isn’t it funny how the Lord makes things so clear?  He made things even more clear a few days after we signed up for the trip when a friend felt led to mail us a check.  She had no idea that we were even thinking about going on the trip.  The Lord has used her as a daily reminder that the He has called us on this trip. 

We will be traveling from October 9-19 which happens to fall on our 3 year anniversary. :) Our group will be traveling with Compassion International to several villages in Uganda that the Church of Eleven 22 helps sponsor, giving us an opportunity to build and cultivate relationships.  We are most excited about meeting Zuwena.  We have all sorts of excitement when we think about actually getting to hug and love on a little girl that we’ve only seen in pictures.  In addition to meeting Zuwena we will visit our CSP (Child Survival Program), help to build homes made of mud, and do some repairs at the schools.  We also will have an opportunity to visit Okoa Refuge to work and play with the children and show them the love of Christ!

I am asking for you to partner with Michael and I through prayer and finances.  First and foremost I am asking for you to partner with us in prayer on the following:

•  Safe and easy travels for the entire team.  (I am a little nervous about all of the flying.)
• Continuity between the team.
• As we step outside our comfort zones, our hearts and minds will be transformed and our marriage will be strengthened.
• The Lord will begin to do a work in the hearts of those we will meet and minister to. 

We are also asking that you would ask the Lord if He would have you partner financially.  The total trip cost for the two of us is $9,000-$10,000 with all funds due before August 12^th , with half the amount due June 6^th.  I am slightly nervous about how and where all of this money is going to come from, but I am trusting the Lord will provide.  

There are 2 ways that you can give towards our trip:

• Electronically at this link:  https://coe22.ccbchurch.com/w_form_response.php?form_id=262

• By Check: Checks made payable to The Church of Eleven22 with the following written on the comment line: Uganda, Michael & JuliAnne Kelly and mailed to:

The Church of Eleven22
Attn: Carol Gilham
14286 Beach Boulevard, Suite 2
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250

 Note: All payments made out to COE22 are tax deductible and non-refundable.

If you made it all the way to the bottom of this post (I know it was a long one) thank-you for partnering with us.  Your prayers and support mean more than you know! 

Crackle Your Paint

Last week my mom, my mother in law and I traveled up to Augusta, GA for CeCe Caldwell's new retailer training.  We had so much fun meeting several new retailers and learning from CeCe herself!  While we were there we learned so many great painiting techniques and continued to fall in love with these amazing products.   Since the paints and finishes are all natural with NO VOC's we could do everything indoors...such a great perk to using these paints.  

Learning from CeCe

I spent mothers day in Augusta with two beautiful and special ladies

My favorite technique that we learned was how to cracke using Elmer's Glue.  Who knew??  I am not encouraging the crackle that was popular about 10 years ago.  In my opinion the crackle is best used in corners, or highly worn areas of furniture to give an aged look.  You can also vary the way the crackle looks by how much glue you apply.  Lots of glue = large crackle; thin glue = fine crackle.

A fellow retailer shared this great tutorial on how to use glue to crackle, and I love the way her chair turned out.    

via 

Lets Keep it Real Mondays

Happy Monday Everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  Sorry I have been MIA recently, but I have just had a little bit of bloggers block.

The quote above keeps running through my head, because so many times I find myself comparing my life to what everyone else is doing via blogs, Instagram, Facebook etc.  But lets be honest... social media always makes life look so much more perfect than it really is, right?  I have struggled posting on here, because I do not want you all to think my life is perfectly put together, and that I am juggling events, interior design, my etsy shop, our booth at the antique market, and painting furniture with a big grin and looking fabulous while doing it.  Truth is, most days I roll out of bed, throw on athletic clothes (that are usually covered in paint) and put my hair in a messy ponytail.  I make to-do lists, and loose them.  My desk is a disaster, and my Etsy shop has taken over my house.  Packing peanuts, boxes, tape, bubble wrap, wine glasses are EVERYWHERE!  I get overwhelmed with how much we have going on, yet I feel like I am accomplishing very little.  I doubt what I am doing at times, and wonder how I am making a difference in people's lives.      

So now that you know how crazy my life really is, I do not want this to be a blog that steals your joy, because there is a constant feeling of comparison.  I hope that you come to this blog seeking inspiration and encouragement.  

Here is a verse that I need to hang above my desk.  It is such a great reminder that the only approval we are seeking is from a God that loves us despite our imperfections.  

"For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."  Galatians 1:10

In efforts to keep things "real" around here I am planning to do a little segment called "Lets Keep it Real Mondays."  Let's start with my tomatoes that I put on Instagram a few weeks ago...

See these beautiful tomatoes that I grew.  Truth is they were already growing on the tomato plant that I bought.  All I did was water it, and ta-da.  I have a black thumb, and I am pretty sure my tomato plant is about to croak now.  Any tips on growing tomatoes? 

We Sell Paint!

Happy Monday Everyone!

It has been quite a while since I have blogged, but things have been busy.  If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably been keeping up with what is going on, but for those who don't I thought I would share what has been happing.

Our exciting news is that we now sell CeCe Caldwell's Paint at the J. Kelly booth.  You all know how much I LOVE to transform furniture with paint, so it just seems fitting.

{just a few of the amazing colors via}

This paint is so fantastic, and there are so many reasons why I love it.  Instead of writing a short story here are some of my favorite things about it...

• It is chalk & clay based, which means that it has surperior adhesion and is self priming. If you are anything like me and hate sanding and priming, then this paint is for you.  
• It is "naturally green."  The paint AND waxes have no VOC's and no chemicals.  I am very sensitive to smells, and usually furniture wax gives me a headache.  I have not had any headaches since using this product.  CeCe Paints and waxes have no chemicals, so you can actually do all of your painting and waxing indoors!  A rainy day won't stop you from that paint project that needs to get done.  
• You have the option to "wet distress." For those that have never used a chalk/clay based paint before, distressing with sandpaper is a cinch.  If you want to avoid all of the dust that sandpaper produces (especially if you are refinishing indoors) then wet distressing is the way to go.  CeCe Paint allows you to take a wet rag while the paint is drying and lightly rub off the paint in areas that you want distresses.    
• There are TONS of colors.  35 amazing color options to be exact.
• Made in the USA.  This product is manufactured and produced in the good ol' USA.  
• Easy Clean-up.  Warm water and a little soap is all you need to get this paint out of your brushes, and if you are a messy painter like me, off your hands, hair, face, and arms.  

{our display}

{chalkboard display}

{using clothespins to display the colors}

Side Note: I mentioned above that the paint has no VOC's or chemicals, and this was a huge bonus for me.  With my mom's history with non-smoker's lung cancer she has not been able to do any painting projects with any of the other paint products I have used in the past.  CeCe Caldwell's Paint was designed so that people with respitory issues can use it.  How exciting is that?  I am thrilled to find a paint that my mom can use :) 

I am looking forward to revealing some before and after projects done with CeCe Paints.  Get ready for some amazing transformations.  If you are interested in purchasing the paint go visit our booth at the Antique Market of San Jose located at 1507 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207

We will also be offering paint classes beginning early June.  If you are interested leave a comment below, and I will get in touch with you once we have more information available.  

 

Thankful, Grateful and Honest

{Via Lara Casey ; if you haven't read her blog, you should}

Well this weekend was crazy to say the least.  It all began on Thursday when Michael came home from work.  I was grumpy, frustrated and in an awful mood.  My mind was filled with fear, doubt and uncertainty.  A few thoughts I had were...

"What if no one likes our booth?  It is SO different than the others"

"What if we don't sell anything?  All of this time and money will be wasted" 

"I am not equipped to run the finances of this business;  all of these legal documents with my name make me a little nervous."

If you didn't notice, the common themes of my worrying stemmed from approval of others and finances.  The start of our booth was kind of on a whim, and this was the first time I really thought about failure.  What if I fail?  I soon realized that I was tying to do everything on my own, instead of relying on God and trusting in his goodness. 

That night I begged the Lord to remove my fears, and give me clear direction.  I desperately needed Him to let me know that I was in the right place.  Now I smile and laugh at how clear and direct God can be.  Friday morning my Etsy shop blew up.  I had over 20 glasses ordered in 2 days, and not to mention another 12 ordered yesterday.  The booth had HUGE sales over the weekend, and the table that I refinished sold.  While we were restocking the booth on Sunday we received tons of complements, and several inquiries for interior design consulting and furniture painting.  The cherry on top was that we will be getting a RETURN on our taxes!!!  I think God made it pretty clear that I am right where I need to be.  When doubts and fears begin to creep in (because in all honesty, they will) this will be a time that I remember.  

God is faithful, and I am so grateful and thankful that I get to do what I love everyday.  

With all that being said, our booth has a new set-up since so many things sold.  Here is a look at the space...   

{Bailey is excited about all of the new accessories}

{This old workbench would make an amazing kitchen island}

Our Booth

I mentioned in this post that we were getting a booth at the Antique Market of San Jose.  I am pretty sure everyone thought my "Exciting News" was that I was having a baby.  The funny thing is that when I titled the post the assumption everyone had never even crossed my mind.  So no baby yet, but I am super excited about this new venture.  I wanted to share some pictures of the booth.  Of course it is still in the works, and will take a little time to fill it completely, but its coming along.  

The space had these awful stripes and they were a high gloss finish with a gold undertone.  Definitely needed an update.

{before}

{before}

3 coats of paint later the stripes were finally covered up!  I went with BM Swiss Coffee for the walls and BM Sandy Hook Gray for the floors.  I absolutely love the way the colors came out.

{after paint}

 I used a natural fiber rug from World Market to define the space for the table and add some warmth.  I am planning to do a full post on the table and chairs this Friday.  I am SO happy with the way they turned out.  The lantern is one that we originally planned to use in our house, but it works perfectly in the space.  It needed to be rewired, so Michael and his dad worked their magic and now we have light.

So far it has been really fun, and it is a constant design project.  As things sell I am able to restyle the space, which is both good and bad because I could be up there every day changing things around.  :) If you are in the area I'd love for you to stop in and see our work.  

Why I love March 1st

Today is a special day to me for two reasons...
First, it is my sweet momma's birthday!  I am so blessed to have such an amazing mom who is truly my best friend and a great encourager.  The past two and a half years have been hectic and crazy(I think crazy might be an understatement) but I am so thankful for all the special times we have had together.  I think we have both learned the true meaning of relaxation and taking each day as it comes.  Mom, you are such a great role model, and I hope to be just like you when I grow up.  With four children, you have always been so selfless and I admire that so much.  I love you more than you know, and even though you are feeling yucky today I hope you know how grateful I am for you.

{I love this picture of my mom and I}

I am also grateful that 10 years ago my mom let me skip her birthday dinner to go with friends to the Monster Jam.  I was 14 years old, and had a crush on this super hot guy who happens to be my husband now.  It was that night that Michael "asked me out." (Im laughing right now thinking how old school that sounds.  Now people probably ask if they can make it Facebook official.)  So 10 YEARS AGO we started dating and boy am I glad I went to that Monster Jam.  It has been 10 years full of great memories, vacations, learning and growing together, and I know the next 10 are going to be even better.  I love you Michael Paul Kelly and I love doing life together.  A few old pictures...Ill pull some really old ones out, but none of those are on my computer. :)

{Freshman year of college}

{Exploring the castles in Germany during college}

  

Exciting News

As you have seen in the previous posts we have been busy making, painting and refinishing some furniture, which means that our garage is now full to the brim.  (I am certain our neighbors think we are crazy.)  Just over a week ago Michael and I were in one of our favorite antique markets and inquired about the possibility of leasing a booth, so that we had a place to sell our furniture along with some of the tables that his dad has made.  We were thrilled when they said there would be an opening March 1st.  I was a little caught off guard, because we have asked before but there was a long waiting list.

I am beyond thrilled for this little adventure, and excited to see where it takes us.  There are all sorts of booths in the Antique Market, but I am determined to make ours very different from all of the others.  Of course our tables and larger furniture will be on display, but I am hoping that the space will be well designed so that people will be able to envision the furniture and accessories in their home.

We begin the transformation of the space tomorrow, and the space currently has striped yellow walls and a reddish brown floor.  There are no windows in the space, so I am hoping to lighten the space with neutrals and lots of texture.  Here is what I am thinking...

BM Swiss Coffee OC-45 for the walls to create a clean backdrop for the furniture.  It is one of my favorites, because it has a slight gray undertone, but it is still warm.  

Either BM Sandy Hook Gray HC-108 or BM Texas Leather AC-3 for the floors.  I am leaning more towards Sandy Hook Gray so that the space stays light and airy.

A Seagrass or jute rug on the floor for texture, but most likely with a brown border, so that the dirt won't show.

Our booth is located at the Antique Market of San Jose.  We will be moving furniture in this Saturday, and would love for you to stop in sometime and see what we have done.

I'm In Love With...

THE FRESH20!

Have you ever heard of it?  I hadn't either until a week ago.  I read about it on The Nest the Laws Built and I bought the subscription the following day.

About the Fresh20...

"We are a meal planning service.  Our meal plans rely on simple, healthy and homemade dinners using just 20 fresh, seasonal ingredients per week.  No more grocery lists with 80 items that will eventually go to waste.  Our meal plans are carefully created to utilize everything on the list so you can stop throwing money down the drain. We don’t just grab 5 random recipes and call it a meal plan.  The Fresh 20 mixes and matches a small list of ingredients to create 5 balanced dinners that play off each other.We include detailed guides to meal prep, original recipes everyone will enjoy (even picky eaters) and motivation to help you stay the course on busy weeknights." 

Let me tell you that it is as good as it sounds.  I know how to eat healthy and put together a meal plan, but to be honest life is busy & I rarely take the time to do it.  I am left feeling frustrated at how much food goes to waste, not knowing what to make for dinner because I didn't plan ahead, and unhealthy from the junk food I end up eating.  Not to mention I go to the grocery store and spend a bunch of money and come home with only one or two meals.  

(my first meal)

It has not even been an entire week and I am thrilled about the Fresh20.  The meals are all fresh and very flavorful!  I am on the classic program, but they offer menu subscriptions for vegetarian and gluten free.  If you are interested in subscribing it is regularly $50/a year, but Groupon is having a special for $25/year).

I am determined to focus on what matters in 2013, and subscribing to the Fresh20 is my first step towards doing that.  

*All of the content in this post is my personal opinion.  I was not compensated or asked to write this.

Open House and Some Pictures

Like I mentioned last post, we get ALOT done when we decide to have a party or host a holiday meal. So naturally we have decided to have an open house this Saturday.  I always think that houses look best at Christmas, so I am excited to share our home and all of the work we have done with everyone during the holiday season.  If you live in Jacksonville and would like to swing by on Saturday between 4pm & 7pm send an email to juliannecarrierkelly@gmail.com and I will send you my address.  (I am a little weary of putting my address on here.)  Between my etsy shop and trying to finish things up around the house things have been extremely busy, which leaves little time for posting on the blog, but here is my life via my iPhone & instagram.  

{Christmas Decorations}

{My newest employee}

{Etched glass dessert plates are now on etsy}

{our adorable neighbor and Bailey are best buds...they were "helping" Michael}

{the beginnings of our barn doors...ekkk}

Alright, back to organizing, painting, building, and etching.  Hope to see you on Saturday! 

xoxo