Great Idea!!!

I spotted this from http://deliciouslyorganized.blogspot.com/!

What a GRAND idea!

&

Free!

Loving My...

PEONIES!!!!!!

Seriously...

there is nothing that makes me happier

than my peonies in full bloom in my backyard...

What SUCKS is that they bloom for, literally, 2 weeks and then...

BOOM.

dead.

So, I have to pick them to be able to enjoy them!

My wonderful hubby bought me two bushes for my birthday when we first moved into our home

6 years ago...

The hot pink POP in my kitchen and dining room amongst the black and white is just stunning...

EVERY time I walk into the kitchen, I actually stop and say "DAMN THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL"...

I am not joking...

EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

They last a couple days...the ants crawl out of them...and all over our house...

my son gets freaked out...and my husband complains because he just spent the week prior to this getting all the ants OUT of our house...

and then I bring them back in...

I can't help it...

I am IN LOVE.

He understands...

To paint or not to paint...

So...I am almost finished redoing my cane back chairs I got off Craigslist for $20 A PIECE!!!

I have 800 yards
(seriously...I bought WAAAY to much)
Rachel Ashwell White Denim Fabric...

which actually...I could redo EVERYTHING in this fabric...

so it's totally fine that I over bought...

anyway...

I decided to recover these seats the other day...

I started taking them apart and the padding underneath was SOOO disgusting...

and completely falling apart...

So, I picked up some new foam...borrowed a staple gun from a fabulous girlfriend (thanks Chas!)

and am off to my new adventure!

Now...

do I keep them this color (the stained wood)...

or...

do I paint them white...

or...

glossy black...

Let me tell you first that I just purchased a rug...

yes...

I found an 8 x 10 rug for...wait for it...

 $200!!!!!

I almost fell over.

Anyway...

it is black and white...

well...

here is a pic from where I found it...

http://laybabylay.com/vivi-charles-nursery/

IT IS SOOO COOL!

This dresser she has in her daughters room is almost exactly the style buffet I have in my dining room...

but...it is white with a glossy black mirror.

I am really digging the Vintage...Modern...Glam...Earthy look...

yes, I know...

kind of alot of looks...

but, it's what I love. so. I will make it work!

Anyway...

thoughts?  suggestions?

wood, white, or black?

Next Stop...Kindergarten...

My sweet little E graduated from Preschool...

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....

Where oh Where did the time go?.....

This past year literally FLEW by...

All the preschool classes assembled together for a big graduation ceremony the other day...

each class sang some songs...

about God...about growing up...about moving on to Kindergarten...

He goes to a Christian School...

which I am soooooo happy he was able to go to this past year...

not only were the teachers and staff A-M-A-Z-I-N-G...

but, he was exposed to God and religion in such a fun and exciting way...

it just became another part of learning...

I was blessed to find this school and we will miss it very much next year...

My awful camera could not get close enough to take good pics while they were singing...

but, you get the idea ;)

E and his diploma...

we are sooo proud!

Now...to make sure he gets two more!

Here are his two seriously FABULOUS teachers..

Mrs. Angel and Mrs. Shinzing...

His cousin Griffin who came with both sets of Grandparents to cheer him on!!!

One of his BFF's...Lorenzo...

Proud parentals...

(I look preggers...yuck...too bad I am not...than I would say HURRAY!)

We took the kiddies out to Applebee's for Computer Games at the bar (hee hee)

...Mac and Cheese... & Ice Cream

(Craig and I had a cocktail...that's ok, right?)

congratulations on growing up E...

I hope there are many more happy and wonderful days ahead of you...

love...mama

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo



Dreamy Whites Giveaway...

One of my favorite blogs...

http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/

is having a giveaway to her BEAUTIFUL...seriously...BEAUTIFUL shop...

Giveaway Information....

One reader will receive a 250.00 gift card to Dreamy Whites Online.

The giveaway winner will be chosen by random number.

The giveaway ends June 12th at midnight.

The giveaway is open to international readers too.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1.  Become a follower of my crazy blog...Leave me a comment...say hello...introduce yourself...I would love to meet you...

2. Leave http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/ a comment on her giveaway post

stating what you would purchase from her shop if you were to win the 250.00 gift card.

If you would like an additional entry you can.....

2. Post the giveaway to your blog

3. Post the giveaway to your facebook page and or...

4. Post the giveaway to your twitter account

In order for your extra entries to count you must leave separate comments for each entry.

If you leave an anonymous comment please be sure and leave your email address.

I am hoping for one (or two) of her antique french bistro chairs...

Good Luck everyone!!!!

Beach Bum...

Just got a new beach bag from Etsy!!!

I love Etsy...

I love supporting people that make their own products...

they are almost always willing to work with you regarding fabric...color...amount...

custom orders are welcome!

& Etsy has expanded soo much in the last 2 years...

you seriously can find almost ANYTHING!

I was searching for a completely non-crazy-priced-but super cute-extra-large-beach-bag...

cause...
we went to the water park yesterday...

my beach bag/gym bag/overnight bag/throw everything into bag...

did not quite fit all I needed for our Summer

(wait...is it Summer?...no...actually it's Spring...but, who can tell, right?)  outing...

which led me here...

http://www.etsy.com/people/LucyJaneStudio?ref=ls_profile

I am sooo into nautical this year...

bring it on stripes!...

So...I ended up getting a huge lime green and navy floral beach bag!

 

Anyhoo..

Super great price...

lovingly made by a mama of twins...

in the wonderful USA...

really...you can't get any better...

Thanks Etsy!

thankful...

I am a generally happy woman...

I have my days...

but, basically...thankful for what I have...

& whenever I want more...or just forget...or am reminded...

I try to remind myself...

I am thankful for...

1.)  My husband...we have been through a lot together...we have grown together...side by side...we are still deeply in love with each other...I still look at him and am filled with such emotion...thankful that this man was given to me...{I am far from perfect...but, he loves me anyway}...we still laugh...flirt...touch feet under the blankets...snuggle...and support each other...I consistently remind myself to put him first...to never forget our marriage...to grow stronger together.  We have arguments...& I storm off mad sometimes...but, in my heart...I can honestly say that, I KNOW we will be together forever...I KNOW we will continue to grow more in love with each other...I don't know how or why...but, for this...I am thankful...

2.)  My beautiful son...God has allowed me to experience a life filled with a kind of love that I could never DREAM was possible...to love someone without expecting anything in return...to love with everything that you have...to give up your life for this person without hesitation...I have no doubt that God knew exactly what I needed and wrapped it up in this gift...to feel a child grow and move inside you is indescribable...this little person that hugs me...and kisses me...and tells me that he loves me...each and every day...and who crawls in bed with me...wraps his arms around me and kisses each part of my face...who touches me when I am upset...who laughs with me until we are both crying from happiness...who is the closest thing to God on earth that I could ever imagine...for him I am thankful...

3.)  My friends...we somehow all found each other at an early age...we learned to trust...to share our thoughts...dreams...hopes...wants...desires...to have FUN!...some of these people have shown me the kind of person I want to be...they are beautiful people...inside and out...loving mothers and fathers...honest...kind...and there for you...really there for you...without hesitation...I am blessed to have each and every one of them in my life...they are my family...& for them I am thankful...

4.)  For God...I am so thankful to know God...to truly and honestly believe...to trust in Him...to know that His plan is greater than anything that I can design for my own...to understand that He only gives me what I need...not what I want...to have someone to talk to...to cry to...to beg to...to get angry at...and know...deep in my soul that He understands my emotions and listens without judgement...for faith I am thankful...

5.)  For family...I was loved...really and truly loved...brought up with good words...and even better actions...I had role models...shown empathy...sympathy...caring...kindness...generosity...I was held accountable for my actions...but never left alone...I was and still am shown by example...I know that I am loved...and for that I am thankful...