Quote of the Day

"Clutter is the poetry of our homes.  It is an intimate view that is not always perfect - a few dishes in the sink, books piled next to the bed.  Everything in its place may give a certain satisfaction, but a lived-in room exudes comfort and warmth."

-Mary Randolph Carter, author of A Pefectly Kept House Is the Sign of a Misspent Life

(found in the November 2010 issue of Country Living magazine)

Feeling Crafty: Fall Wreath

We're hosting a wedding rehearsal dinner at our house at the beginning of November and have been quickly hacking away at a huge list of projects (knock down a wall here and there, drywall over this and that, tile some floors, finish painting, etc).  Between all of that and the wonderful change of seasons, I've been feeling super crafty!

When I saw this tutorial at Jones Design Company, I knew what my first project was going to be!

Here's my version:

I'm in love!  So cute!

Jones Design Company has so many cute projects (especially if you have little girls like I do)!

Family Pictures

It's has been a crazy exhausting hot busy summer.  I'm looking foward to that beautiful Fall weather just around the corner.

Just wanted to stop by and share our family pictures that we had done last month.  They were done by George and Elizabeth Atchley at Windows By E.  Not only did we get amazing pictures (that still make me cry every time I watch the slide show), but we had a fantastic time with them!  My kids didn't whine or cry once during the whole session!

I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!

This Is Why I Love Summer

The food.  Fresh fruits and veggies.  There's nothing better!

We'll be making a lot more things like this homemade-from scratch Cherry Pie over the next few weeks!  Yum!

New Table Makeover

Here is another inherited table that I made over (again, I forgot to take the "before" picture).  I think I'm really getting this glazing technique down already!  I may just glaze my whole house by the end of this...

When I read about a glazing technique at All Things Thrifty I knew I had to try it - like, now!  Isn't that chair gorgeous!  I'm drooling...

So, me, my trusty sander and my super spray paint got to work.  In all of my excitement I forgot to take a "before" picture.  Here's how it turned out:

Not perfect, but that's the point - right?  I'm happy with it.  I'm off to try my second piece.  It's going to be blue!  Once I get MUCH better at this I plan on doing my kitchen table and chairs kind-of like this, but with the chairs in lighter colors.  I'm so excited!

What Can $1 Buy You?

How many times have I said, "Oh, it's just $1..."  I'm kicking myself now!

This is what .90 bought me at Target, Walmart and CVS today:

11 Packages of Pampers Wipes

10 Sobe Lifewaters

3 Old Spice Body Washes with travel size deodorants

and 1 refill pack for an Off! Clip-On

 And while I have you - here is a new picture of our garden:

 As you can see, it's taking over our backyard grown a lot!

Here is some of what we've gotten to pick this week:

There were a few more squash, zucchini and tomatoes, but they were eaten almost immediately.