Tiny Dancer, Toes and Birthdays

So much to share!  On June 5th, Becca had her first little dance recital.  The whole evening was just adorable.  From the dancing and costumes, to all the parents cheering on their favorite little showmen!  Becca, as usual, didn't disappoint.  She danced to Mickey's Birthday Party.  All the little Minnie Mouses were lined up on stage and I was so proud to see my sweet baby girl right smack dab in the middle.  She practiced this dance every Thursday at school and wouldn't share one bit of it with me!  She saved every little move for the recital, and boy did she know every little shuffle ball change in that routine!  Mommy, Daddy and Sister were SO PROUD!

 I can't wait till next year when both of my little drama queens will be able to dance in the recital.  Jillian is practically dying to take dance class.  It seriously is ALL she can talk about!  I mean look at what a little sister will do.  That is classic Jilly right there.

Onto other summer stuff, I have to share something I did!  On May 11th, I went and had my toes lacquered.  It's this process at the nail salon that shellacs your nail polish so it won't, I say a-won't chip!  Now I'm clumsy and goofy and stub my toes and those silly things and let me say that this has TOTALLY held up!  This is Day one below,

This is 2 weeks later.  Please ignore my slightly orange foot, I got carried away.  But you can see just a bit of grow out and NO CHIPS!

I'm still rocking the shellac, having some major grow out, but this stuff is just amazing.  I've been so hard on my toes, and they still look pretty every morning when I clean and moisturize them.

In other highlights, we celebrated Jillian's birthday on June 10th.  She is such a BIG girl now.  Something about actually turning 3 really did change her!  She is a little more precocious than normal=)  One of the best things she got for her birthday was her good ol' radio flier trike.  You know the one, it's red and white with streamers coming out of the handles, and those steps on the back end that make it great to stand and push it around.  It's the best trike, and one of the best parts is she can actually get herself around on the dang thing.  No more pushing her up the driveway...

We celebrated at Spaghetti Facotry, one of her most favorite foods in the whole world!  It was good family time with lots of memories!

We are heading into that summery time of year.  I'm looking forward to shorter work days and some dips in our pool!  I'm also starting on a new life style change in a few weeks.  I'll be talking more about it soon, I'm still working on getting all my ducks in a row.  I'm taking this thing seriously!

Stay tuned.

The Little Details

So the good things in life are sometimes in the little details.  Like the dimples on Jillian's face, or the 'one' sweet freckle that Becca has on her cheek.  Sometimes is just the feeling a pretty new pair of underwear makes you feel, nobody knows your wearing them, but it makes you feel good anyways.

I find I do this a lot at home.  I love to add small touches to things I do, that only I really notice, but make me feel good.

Recently, I broke down and bought this rug at Target.  I've been pondering it for some time, and finally splurged.  It gave me the 'breath of fresh air' feeling that I needed in the room.  Also, I always have to break out the Flag this time of year.  It's just so American! 

I also have a slight obsession with enamel ware.  This pretty platter was a total score on a recent shopping trip to antique village.  Every morning it greats me while I make a cup of coffee.  Oh, and for all you coffee drinkers out there, just stop it and go buy a Keurig.  Really, you'll thank me, and I really believe it doesn't cost more to buy the little pod thingyies.  Message me, we can argue in private!

This beauty is compliments of my Mom!  She is a ball of talent all wrapped up in a hug.

American Flags + Mason Jars + Dollies + Red Stool = Me.

Check out these over sized clothespins!  Very fun picture holders, recipe card holders, or, for a holiday, I bought enough for each of them to hold a die cut letter so I could spell various words.  "SPRING"  "SUMMER"  "NEST" things like that!  PS- Found them in the Micheals $$ bin!

Look at this cute fabric rose nestled in a Jadite mug.  Oh, and that book right there, The Vintage Table, GAH!  Go look, it's a keeper for sure!  So much stuff to drool and inspire over!

 

 I also had to redo the previous shelves I had here.  Again, the little pictures are a score from the Micheals $ bin.  Also of note, I love wrapping up a stack of my favorite fabrics in a gingham bow and using a vintage napkin as shelf flair.  Funny thing, I use so many items for ways they were NOT intended to be used.  That is a blog in and of it's self!  (Heidi -Are you listening)!

I {Heart} Mugs

I personally feel that this topic deserves its very own post.  Among all the things I love and adore, which at times can be quite a long list, I love and adore Mugs.  Not the kind you look at in a mirror, but the kind you drink your favorite coffee or tea out of.  I even think that some mugs are perfect for oatmeal, cereal, ice cream and such.

When I find one in the store, I love to pick them up, hold them in my hands and pretend to envision myself sipping my morning coffee on the couch.  I truly love all the fun shapes, sizes, colors and patterns that you can find them in!  I moving more towards an eclectic mix of mugs.  Not all matchy-matchy, because really, who sets a table with matching coffee cups?  NOT ME!, nope, go to the cupboard and pick out your fav!

Here are some of my new favorites.  All different and unique in their own little ways, (Heidi, I love that our initials are there together, we look so cute).

These are from a favorite spot of mine, heard of Anthropology?  Ugh, I drool all over the floors of this store.  I make such a mess=).  These monogram mugs are so stinkin cute.  ooh, they would make a cute little mothers day gift, doncha think!

And then there is my beautiful Cath Kidston Strawberry Mug.  It has been my mug of choice lately.  Just love love love it.  It's big, but not to big, and my coffee just tastes better in it.

I'd like to get the spray rose and polka dot mug to add to my collection.    

And nothing is better than this pretty little Jadite mug.  I LOVE this color green.  Creamy coffee looks so pretty in it.

And this funny little mug speaks for it's self.  No need to expand.  Just go here and get it.

And just for good measure, Crate and Barrel has provided me a combination of {two} of my favorite things, checks on a mug.  The only way they could make this better is if it was Red!

So, do you love mugs, or am I just crazy?

We're back Ya'll

We are on the plane, getting ready for "Take Off"!  Our trip to Texas was a blast!  The girls had a great time surprising Grandpa for his birthday and getting to meet all their wonderful Texas Family. 

 There was boat rides at Choke Canyon Lake.  

 Lots of Goofing around and a day of fun at Kiddie Park!

 Horseback Riding was a HIT!

 Big brother Cody and Cousin Kimbrielle at John's smokehouse in Sisterdale

 My little cowgirls.  I love them and so did everyone else.  I can't wait till we get to go again! 

Yeehaw Ya'll

I'm getting REALLY excited!  In four more days I'm leaving for Texas!  All four of us are getting on a plane and heading to the country.  This will be a trip of many 'firsts'.  This will be the first plane ride that the girls will remember, first time in Texas, first time meeting Family and Family meeting Jillian, first time riding a horse just to name a few.  I will have to keep a list while we are there.  Stay tuned for photo's, stories and funnies.

It's definitely been a jam packed couple of weeks.  Last weekend I headed out to a woman's retreat.  What a wonderful weekend spend with my Mom and sweet Brie.  It felt good to be surrounded by people that I love and can be myself with.  We learned all kinds of wonderful things about ourselves and in the process uncovered some spectacular ways to Live our Faith and pass that to our children.  I walked away with such a sense of encouragement about who I want people to see me as and that I need to live my life a certain way to accomplish that!  

 I also had a few hours to spend tinkering around a couple antique stores while we were 'relaxing' and scored myself a new vintage table cloth and a very Happy enamel bowl!  Total score!

---> Oooh, and if you just click right {here}, my bestie Heidi is having a really fun giveaway on her blog.  Go check it out and leave her some love!  I can't tell you how good it feels when you open your blog and see that people are actually reading it!  There are days when you feel like.....'..tap, tap, tap, is this thing on?'

And just because no post is complete without some pictures.   Okay, see you in a week!

Me and Becca

Mr. Man Brody

My sweet little Jilly Bean

Cousins.  They love babysitting.

 

 

 

 

Take a Peek!

For those if you that know me, the color red holds a special place in my life!  It always will!  As do roses, American Flags, Jadite, Polka Dots, Vintage Table Cloths, Chalk Boards, and the list goes on!

Here's my little nest.  Full of all the things that I LOVE!

I found these adorable polka dot plates at Home Goods!   The dot is hard to see in the picture, but they are there!  On the list of summer projects is painting the chairs at the dinning room table antique white!

{Below}  See those cute tin canisters?  Those are my Cath Kidston purchase!  It made my day to get that brown box from the UK on my door step!  I galloped through the house with it!.

 

These shelves are my inspiration! A little but of everything I love all in one place!

And this is a cozy little corner that I like to spend my time in.  My Red Check beauty has been my pride and joy!  You may sit in her, just TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF!

And my mantel.  I change her out often.  I like the crispness of white right now!  However, I feel a change coming on, but I'm going to have to get my hands a little dirty before that project is ready.

Stay Tuned!

Thinking about getting crafty

Do you like {Buttons?}   

I do!  I like them in jars, separated by color, as a filler with a candle nestled in the center, sewn onto pillows, t-shirts or made into jewelry.  They are just pretty, and dainty and just the right touch of vintage!

So I was so excited when I received a little email from Better Homes and Gardens with craft idea's abounding with BUTTONS! {Check out this gals shop for a super supply of buttons!}

This idea is SOOOOO simple that I'm going to try it on several little t-shirts and sweaters that I have for the girls.  How sweet is that! 

And then... I could make these cute little barrettes that match!

OR, using a small piece of elastic and some of your favorite buttons you can make these adorable little bracelets!  Think of the endless possibilities with this one!  Not just for you, but for little ones too!  {Oh, that rhymed, sorry}

The other thing I like, {Chairs!} 

I'm not sure why, but they are just inviting and cheerful!  I love to drape a blanket or nestle a cute little pillow on mine.  Maybe place a book with a strategically placed tea-cup or anitque pair of reading glasses to make it look as though someone was just using their quite time to catch up on some light reading, or a sip of tea.

And then I imagine changing the chair with a fresh coat of paint and a kicky fabric like this one!  Now, if only I could find these SALVAGED chairs lying around in the trash in my neighborhood! 

And last but not least, I LOVE {FABRIC!}

Here's the thing.  I don't really sew yet.  I can fiddle my way through it here and there, but i'm not ready to make anything that requries more than a straight stitch and preferablly white thread, because I don't like to change the thread on my machine, it scares me....

However, this I could handle!  Look how great this Amy Butler fabric looks in these vintage frames.  Now this I could do!  I mean, how many times do you drool over stacks of fabric, just because their colors and textures just are so appealing togetehr!  WELL....Frame It!

So try something a little crafty this week.  It's doesn't have to cost much or take to much time, but could be so Cute!