https://twitter.com/lilacfarmstudio Lilac Farms Studio: August 2018

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Anna Safija, 5 years old


My sweet Anna Safija... the minute you were born, you changed all our lives for the better!
You brought so much happiness and laughter into our lives that. For me, you brought that incredible sweetness of being a girly-girl. You love tea parties, playing with your dollhouse, dresses, flowers... everything is 'pretty'... just as your mama would say.  That filled my heart! For Daddy, you gave him a bond between parent and child that brings tears to my eyes. Your love for each other is so strong, it's as if you were one. He is your everything and you are his everything. I don't mind losing my spot as his number one girl to you! For Jake, you are his saving grace. It was hard for him to have an older sister with Autism that wasn't interested in play-time. You came along and his days were suddenly filled with tons of imagination and endless laughter. You made him happy, you brought him sunshine! For Katelyn, you made it easy for her to take care for you. You gave her a new role that made her feel special and needed. You respect her and love her so much, I know you fill her heart. She feels good being your little mama and your sisterhood is beautiful. I will never forget the loving way you look up to her. I don't even want to imagine life without you... you are amazing!

My Anna... you are feisty, hilarious, strong, caring, sweet and smart. Thank you for bringing so much sunshine and laughter into our lives... we love you so much!! HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY!!!!~*

LET'S TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE...



 When you loved to throw your food on the floor and laugh when I gave it back to you.




Your favorite person in the whole world...daddy!


Your first ballet class!


When you loved to squish your brother while he was playing video games.



That time you smushed my lipstick all over your lips and said "don't be mad mama"!


Your first time bowling...


The endless laughter between you and your brother!


Jakie reading you a story...


One of your favorite things to do...sit in a box.




Putting stickers all over daddy...


Sister love...


So beautiful when you sleep!


Thank you for being you!


xoxo, Mama

Sunday, August 5, 2018

The Girls' Room


My sweet girls' room!!! I have decorated and fixed up a lot of rooms before, but I must say this one is my absolute favorite! I am sharing over 20 photos and all the little details that went into their room. There is still a couple of things happening soon to the room like a new bed in the fall. But for now, let me tell how I created this vintage boho bedroom!


First off, let's talk about this wallpaper! LOVE, love, love!!! I had dreams about this wallpaper. It is an aqua color with pinkish-peach floral pattern on it. We got it from Home Depot. It was actually lost in the mail for a couple days, so it felt like Christmas when it finally showed up. It was the perfect balance to our 'tropical fruit' Behr paint on the rest of the walls.


I only did the wallpaper on the section beside the bed, because I wanted it to be the focal point of the room and also to make the room appear bigger. Cool trick, huh?!



I created this sweet corner for my youngest. Here she can write, do her arts n' crafts, have a tea party or draw on her chalk board. 


I added this vintage style birdhouse and garland to give the space more character. The garland I made from vintage fabrics that I tore into strips and tied to some twine.


The tin bucket on the floor holds books for my youngest. I placed the shelf a little high on the wall, because later this month my daughter will be getting a wooden kitchen set and then her wooden dollhouse will go here on top of the chest...shhh, it's a birthday present! ;)


We are lucky enough to be blessed with an original Peter Rabbit book box set. So I wanted the shelf to be decorated around the book set. We found a Peter Rabbit tin box in the thrift shop. As well as the two ceramic bunnies...love their floral necklaces! I added the wooden hearts my oldest made in shop class and a vase with a rose for the final touches.


This is my favorite part of the room. I created this corner for my oldest. She can sit here to read, listen to her music or have some alone time. I purposely put her vanity desk and chair on this side of the room. That way this is her side of the room and her younger sister won't be 'coming through' making a mess and touching her stuff.


I made this canopy myself using a vintage embroidery hoop and vintage lace curtain. I inserted the top of the curtain inside the embroidery hoop, then carefully inserted the lace ribbon to hang it from the ceiling. Then I when all was in place, I tightened the hoop. 


I found the wooden candle holders, the wooden flower pictures and the wooden basket all in the thrift store. The wooden basket holds chapter books for my oldest. The vintage lamp was a Christmas present from my in-laws, but it was also a thrift store find.





The glass jar chandelier was a hanging candle holder I found in Market Basket that I added crystal beads to the bottom. I found the beads in Wal-mart and used clear thread to sew them onto the bottom of the jar. I love how it sparkles in the sunshine!



My oldest' vanity desk was found at the Christmas Tree Shop on clearance. I added mirrors and glass bowls and vases to give the desk that extra shine and magic. The butterfly painting above was painted by me and was happy that it matched perfectly in the room!




As a mother, I have been more aware of having too much plastic in the house. I went through the kids toys and got rid of most (not all) of the plastic toys. Not only does the room look nicer with no plastic, but I can rest easy knowing that most of their toys are natural materials.


My oldest daughter and I came up with this cool invention. We needed a place for our jewelry and we didn't want to add more furniture. So we came up with this bohemian style jewelry storage idea.


We took this shelf and added big mason jars to it. Inside we put all our earrings and watches. Then we hung our bracelets on the hooks.


Below that we added this bohemian wooden arrow sign with hooks. It was the perfect place to hang all of our necklaces. It's both practical and pretty!




So happy my pretty girls love their room! I was glad I could figure out a theme that fit them both. There is a big age gap between them and I wanted to make sure they both liked it. The room is now simple, pretty and a welcoming place for them both. Peach walls, floral wallpaper, vintage decor and the smell of roses!!!!


Many pretty play times to come!
xoxo, Arianne

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Rye Beach, 2018


Ocean waves and giggles are a wonderful way to spend a summer day!
We are the type of family who like to wake up early, leave early and arrive early. We like being one of the first ones there. Not because we have to be there first, but because we like the quiet. We enjoy easing into the water without anyone splashing you or screaming their heads off. That's why we enjoy Wallis Sands at Rye Beach, New Hampshire. You do have to pay $15 parking, but the beach is right there... no walking 5 miles with all your stuff. There's also bathrooms, lifeguards, picnic tables and a place to wash the sand off yourself. We brought our canopy and cooler full of snacks. We spent four hours there... making memories and enjoying the waves!


So thankful for her big brother! He always make things fun for his little sister.


Building sand castles together...


These summer days stay in my heart...


Daddy taking a dip...


Holding on tight as her brother rides the boogie board.


There's something so relaxing about having your legs in the ocean waves. Feeling that cool water go trickling around you... sand between your toes and the breeze in your hair.


Let's try sitting this time...?


Daddy and his baby girl, enjoying the view.




My girl in her element... once a beach baby, always a beach baby!



Wild roses...steal my heart!



The beautiful colors of the beach... til next time!
xoxo, Arianne

Rye Beach info here: