It was the Scentsy that got me thinking about decorations for my living room. Strange? Maybe. Typical for me? Definitely. I've been mulling over redoing our living room for a while there. I have to admit, though, that there isn't much redecorating to be done. I have a few cute, beachy decorations and two framed photos. I try to make it look cute, but it gets expensive. I've been looking for teal-ish curtains and haven't been able to find any that don't break my budget. The same for rugs. I'd kill to have a nice coffee table with {at least partially} matching end tables. I mean, geez, we've been married for {almost} 3 years and still have the "we just got married" furniture. I know that's what it screams. None of it is bad...but none of it really matches either. Currently, our living room is supposed to be beachy. Lately I've been thinking of going in a different route. One that matches our lifestyle and screams patriotism.
You really can't go wrong with red, white and blue. You just can't. As my bestie pointed out a while back, I'm a patriotic person and always have been. Even before my life met the Army. I've eyed this Blue Star Banner from Etsy for a while now...just thinking of where I could put it.
I just don't know if I should commit. It'd probably take some funding...which I'm not sure the hubby is up for. Plus - and this might be the biggest issue - my couch is green. Not ugly green. More of an olivey green. I also have a darker green chair (which I might be willing to get rid of). The rocking chair I have could most definitely stay, seeing that it's beige and will go with anything. The beachy decorations could easily be moved to the bathroom which is already headed in the beach-theme direction.
If done correctly, the patriotic theme could look very nice...especially against the always-white walls we all have come to know and loathe. =P I even imagined getting dark-ish blue curtains for the living room. But then, there's the green couch again. What do you guys think?
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Now. For the "other ideas" portion of this post. =P
At the FRG "meeting" we had the other night, we discussed doing baskets for the company when they return from deployment. Since 3 of us there had just attended the FRG bootcamp, we're trying to look for ways to do things for everyone. The majority of the company is made up of single soldiers. We had thought about getting sheets for them, making up the beds in their barracks and maybe making up a little basket of toiletries. I loved the idea. However, all our funds have to benefit the entire FRG - not just the single soldiers.
You would think - as a married person - I would have some sort of idea as to what to do for the returning married soldiers. I've got nothing! Nothing! The second part to this particular situation is that our FRG has very little funding. It's a small company and our FRG has had 2 (possibly 3) different leaders all in the last year. So the things we want to do need to be cheap. We considered just doing a basket of baked goods for ALL the soldiers, doing welcome home cards (possibly from Shutterfly so no handwriting is involved) for ALL soldiers, and then getting sheets for just the single soldiers (these would hopefully be donated...in a perfect world).
So, for all of you experienced milspouses, what does your FRG (or FRGs past) do for your spouses when they return? Or do you have any ideas if you haven't been through a deployment before? Any advice/tips/whatever would be helpful!
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And just because it's fun, I'm going to leave you with this. It's a screen shot of one of the apps I have on my computer. A simple - yet cute - weather app.
I'm assuming this is rain gear since it's pouring down rain.
P.S. All it takes is a little thunder and lightning to make this Oklahoma girl happy.
Hahahah we have also been married nearly 3 years and still have the "we just got married" look. Almost all of our furniture was given to us for free...it's really starting to bug me that our home looks so thrown together!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a tough one on the coming home thing...I've never been in that situation before! Our FRG during IBOLC used to greet the guys coming in from the field with hot dogs and the last week it was a more elaborate picnic...sandwiches, chips, and homemade brownies and cookies. I'm sure there are more useful things you could get them but I'm going to have to think about it!!
One thing that I have noticed is that you can find the patriotic stuff anywhere and for cheap! The Christmas tree shop, and similar stores always have that kind of stuff. And, wait for the after 4th of july sales to get all that stuff cheap as well. I have found stuff all over and have never paid too much for it. You don't have to get a lot of stuff at once, just get things here and there when you find them. And the green couch....I wouldn't worry about it, just wait until your ready for a new one and then make it match then!
ReplyDeleteUntil you are ready to commit to a new couch...just buy a cover to put on top of your green one!
ReplyDeleteYou can always just get a cover for the couch! Orrr start with a themed corner at first, dedicate a shelf on your book case, etc, and then go with it from there. Love the theme though!
ReplyDeleteAs for HCing I know that FRG groups in the past have just made tie blankets for all the men and put them on the racks, or distrubited them to the married men, whichever may be the case. It's cheap (depending on where you get the fleece), and they're easy to make
We've got the sort of vintage-y/patriotic look going on in our living room. Red throw pillows, one of those quilted stars from Etsy, military recruiting posters. We've got green curtains though :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and look into making your own curtains. Super easy and cheap! (Hint: Sheets are about the perfect size.) We have teal curtains in our bedrooms on 4 windows. Total cost? $12.
The Liberty Scentsy warmer (and most other warmers) are 10% off this month... ;)
ReplyDeleteWe have the patriotic thing going on in our downstairs. I like it.
That weather app is too cute! I think if you want to redecorate then go for it. You can always start out small and buy a piece at a time and then change up the room.
ReplyDelete*sigh* I wanted a red, white and blue living room, too. But ours is brown and green. And we just bought new (brown) furniture, so that's a no-go for a while. But I *love* that Scentsy warmer. It's one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteOur FRG was also broke, and also mostly single soldiers. We had donated sheets for the barracks...and then with our funds we bought a big cake and a ton of snack foods and such. It still really ended up benefiting only single soldiers, but I don't think anyone really cared :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone already mentioned it: furniture covers!!! :)
ReplyDeleteReally I'm commenting here to say that I received your box today and it's simply adorable. Thank you very much. I NEED those chocolates tonight. It's been another crazy stressful day to say the least. <3
We just had Homecoming back in August & we had Rear D come in with all volunteers to do the barracks. We made the beds with the sheets that are from Supply. We had sent out an email about 8 weeks out & asked family member who wanted to donate non-perishable items for us to put in the rooms please feel free.
ReplyDeleteWe where blessed by tons of our Single Soldiers parents, aunts, siblings, etc who donated tons.
We slod let them know we would be making up Goody Bags for our Married soldiers as well.
Outside of Fort Lewis we went to the dry Cleaners where the majority of the guys do alteration etc for their ACUS. They donated a $5.00 coupon for every soldier. So you could try this as well because it is given to all soldiers.
But every soldier received a goody bag full of coupons from Local places & treats.
Good Luck- having a Sign making party was great fun as well! All the signs we hung around the barracks & dayrooms.