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The Blue House Blog

believer | creating a home of peace, health, abundance and beauty | laughing a lot

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This Ain’t My First {Remodeling} Rodeo.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Big Blue House+ Remodeling

My in-laws came by to see Susie and me today, and asked me, “Are you still liking your house?” I had to think before I answered that. I’m grateful for this house, really I am. But I’ll be honest… it’s overwhelming living in a house where every single inch of it needs work. And sometimes, just flat depressing, because you can see the potential of all this house could be……
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Oatmeal Pecan Muffins.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Cooking+ Health

I love pecans. In everything. Desserts. Vegetable dishes at Thanksgiving. As a crust on salmon. Or soaked, Nourishing Traditions style, to snack on by the handful. But ESPECIALLY in chocolate chip cookies. It wasn’t until I was a grown-up that I realized that pecans are a Southern thang. I had NO IDEA that not everybody loves pecans in EVERYTHING. Well, yankees maybe. But that’s probably it. My favorite pecan recipe lately?…
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{THM Tuesday} Mixed Berry Chia Seed Jam.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Health+ Trim Healthy Mama

  I can’t remember where I first saw jam made from chia seeds, but I didn’t invent this, I hate to admit. Ever since I started making Trim Healthy Pancakes and Emily’s S Pancakes, I’ve made this jam to put on top. I’m sorry, but I can’t do sugar-free syrup (gag) and eating pancakes topless (or would it be ‘toppingless?’), well, that’s just too bland for me. There are other…
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The Best Place to Buy Kids’ Clothes EVER.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

I’ve worked off and on for the better part of eleven years at the most wonderful kids’ clothing store. My friend Diana introduced me to Wiggles and Giggles when my oldest was a mere babe; I was instantly hooked, because I LOVE for my kids to dress really cute, and if I can dress them at bargain prices, all the better! I started working there, because, heck, all my money…
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{Baby Susie Joy} Nine Months.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Susannah

Baby Susie Joy is growing by leaps and bounds! Well, sort of….  At her nine month check-up, she weighed in at a whopping 13 pounds, 8 ounces. That’s below the second percentile, FYI. She’s in the fifteenth percentile for weight, and fiftieth for head size. So she’s built like a lollipop, in other words.     I have to admit I was worried… my other two children have always been…
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The Great Watermelon Harvest of 2013.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

We didn’t really expect much when we planted watermelon seeds back in the spring. We had tried last year and gophers ~ or something ~ ate the roots out from under all our plants, so we didn’t get one single melon! Dumb gophers. And then, this year, we moved to our new/old house, and brought our little sprouted seedlings with us, which isn’t the best thing for your vegetables. We…
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Pioneer Woman’s Asian Salad, Trim Healthy Mama Style.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Cooking+ Trim Healthy Mama

It was after I made this salad that I knew that the Pioneer Woman and I were destined to be BFFs. It’s because this is our favorite salad! And that’s just only ONE of the things we have in common. Also, her chocolate cake. And men in cowboy clothes. Me and Ree — that’s what I call her, Ree — we love those things. She doesn’t know we’re BFFs yet,…
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Put Another Dime in the Chipmunk, Baby.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Annie+ Family Fun+ Funny Stuff+ Katie

My children have the ability to make me laugh like no one else, even when they’re not trying. Especially when they’re not trying. Sometimes they say the darndest things, perfectly innocently, that are just flat hilarious. And some of their words and phrases have forever altered the Family Vocabulary. Cajun Seasoning, for example, will forevermore be known as Kuh-Juan’ Seasoning because Katie Beth thought the container said Cajuan. She ever-so-innocently…
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Susie and Her Nursery.

Melissa Beene Ford/ before and after+ Susannah

So we’ve been working on this house for over three months now, and the one room that is ALMOST done is Susie Joy’s nursery. That’s because she sleeps more than the rest of us, and one day I’ll tell you all about my baby-sleeping technique, but that’s the subject of another blog post. Her walls, ceiling, closet, and chandelier have all been painted, sort of a lime-avocado color (a lot…
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My {Very Public} Parenting Fail.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

I realized something sort of unflattering {ok, a LOT unflattering} about myself the other day. I didn’t want to tell the world about it, because, you know, then I’d have to admit I had a flaw in the first place {gasp!}, and that’s never fun, but what happened {what I did, I should say} truly wrenched my gut and made me vow to change my ways permanently. The moment it…
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Cajun Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms, Trim Healthy Mama Style.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Cooking+ Trim Healthy Mama

    This all started because my family wanted pizza. And I’m a sucker for a five dollar pizza on certain days, especially days in which Susie Whitney Houston (that’s her new name on account of how she acts like an entitled little diva) acts like an entitled little diva, and her older sisters have spent all day having that typical summertime conversation all bored, unscheduled siblings have that goes…
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Follow Me on Bloglovin’!

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

Follow my blog with Bloglovin And FYI… there’s an app for reading blog posts on your iPhone… 😉

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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Another day… another high-speed chicken chase th Another day… another high-speed chicken chase through the Azalea District. 🤷🏼‍♀️ My yard guy left the gate open but it’s all good. We caught ‘em. 💪🏻 I’m just glad the Azalea Trail hasn’t started yet because this time next week, that will be super embarrassing. 🫣
One year without my dad. God is gracious and mer One year without my dad. 

God is gracious and merciful to have given him to me for 49 years and He is gracious and merciful for seeing us through this year without him. 

God is gracious and merciful for giving us friends who’ve prayed for us all year, especially today. ❤️ I stole this caption from my sister @betsy_barry, but it was perfect. 👌🏻

I wanted to honor my dad today, and spending the day enjoying his very favorite place on earth seemed like the perfect way to do that. 

My dad’s passing made it all too clear that this world is NOT our home. Heaven feels like a real place now that he is there, and some days I ache to be there myself. But while I’m still here, this farm feels like the closest thing to home that there is. 

Missing you today, dad… thanks for all the farm memories. ❤️
Makes me smile walking into this room in the morni Makes me smile walking into this room in the mornings when the light is shining through the windows just right ☀️ #favoriteroom #diningroommakeover 

🎨: @sherwinwilliams Seaworthy
Rug: @rugs_usa Moroccan Diamond 
Light fixture: @westelm 
Art: custom made by the kids + me+  Toulouse the cat 🐈 🥲  Everything else: lucky antique auction, estate sale and Facebook Marketplace finds 🥰
I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
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