Weekend Plans!

WEEKEND LINKS!

We have a busy four days for the Memorial Day weekend!  Hubs has off today thru Monday so we are going to try to knock a lot of our house/yard to-dos off the list.  Monday we have a Nats baseball game so we will be in DC for the day.  But they are calling for sunny skies and 80 degs all weekend so it will be BEAUTIFUL weather wise...gotta love that!

All my flowers are starting to bloom and I just love this time of year!

My sinuses disagree but we are willing to feel miserable a bit for the outdoor beauty ;)

These are Knockout Roses and I have 7 of them around my house....they bloom profusely over the summer and are perfect for cutting and having in the house.  I clip mine back everytime the blooms die and they continue to bloom thru late October most years.

Nordstroms is having their HUGE 40% off sale...so in case you need things or need to stock up...ummm or just WANT things...now's a good time.  I ordered these maxi dresses by Lush for both Alexa and I...we got coral and black and will trade off for different looks (on sale for $38 each).  

Maxi dresses are so easy to wear and cool for the summer...I love them.

And I got these cute gladiator wedges from DSW to wear with my maxi dresses, shorts and pants this summer.  I had accumulated a lot of points so I got $25 off...whooohooo! Gotta love that!

I will be making some of these yummy Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Cookies (lemon recipe avail. too) for our weekend dessert.  Look super easy to make and very yummy!

And I will be listening to some great new country music while I work too.  I have my friend Trent Tomlinson's new song on replay lately "Come Back To Bed"....he's an amazing songwriter and singer.  Check him out if you get a minute!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend no matter what your plans are! See ya back here on Monday!!

Score For Less!

SCORE FOR LESS!

I love looking at catalogs, magazines and online stores for home decor....I do it everyday always searching for fun ideas to add to my home.  Lots of times though the prices don't go along with the budget so I either TRY to forget about it...or brainstorm a cheaper way to make it.

Or beg the hubs....that doesn't always work though ;)

About 2 months ago I saw this picture above in a magazine (I cannot for the life of me remember where) and they wanted $75 for this...OMG!  No way!  And I've seen similar ones on Etsy since then for $40-65 as well...too rich for my blood!  I knew it would be perfect for the center of my kitchen table during the Spring & Summer filled with blooms from my garden (or the store..hahaha).  So I did what I could....and asked my mom if my dad could make it for me LOL!  

So my dad made it for me for my birthday and I LOVE IT!  

My dad used some kind of exotic wood from Africa that he had leftover from a project...its super heavy and sturdy but you could use anything you had on hand.  He stained it a nice color that matches the other woods in my house but you could paint yours a color if you choose.  

I'm thinking about distressing it with a chain & hammer just a bit and adding some Annie Sloan dark wax to it...do NOT tell my dad cuz' he will DIE if he knew I wanted it distressed hahahaha!  

The vases I got at the Dollar Store for a total of $6 and he cut the holes in the wood to fit them specifically.  I went back and bought 6 more JUST IN CASE we have any breakages...always be prepared!

Of course I had to pop some tulips in it because they are my favorite flower.  And they matched my new yellow table coverings that I just got as well.  Nice & cheery...makes me happy!

Gorgeous right?  I just love it!!  And at a total cost of $6 for me its a definite SCORE!

I had my dad drill the holes a bit deeper because I have 6 CATS...that like to jump and eat flowers...so I couldn't have vases wobbling around.

I just love these yellow placemats with a bit of a ruffle to them...a bit more feminine and perfect for summer!  The runner came from Amazon.com and I adore the sunny yellow print!

See that rug under my table...I love it but its over 10 years old and has basically seen the last of its good life.  So I have a new rug coming from Ballard Designs this week that I will share once its in place.  Think sea grass with terracotta designs......

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Entering into the following challenges/link parties:

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Maybe She Made It/ Do Tell Tues
Make It Pretty Monday
The DIY Dreamer
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Wow Us Wednesdays
Weekend re-Treat/ AKA Designs

The DIY Party

I'm A Potter Head....

No, no don't get the wrong idea folks.  I'm not smoking pot in my spare time nor have I ever. And yes I do like Harry Potter books and movies but not enough to qualify as a nutter...as of yet anywho ;)

My backyard last May (and yup that's my Baylee peeking thru the flowers lol)

I'm talking about potting plants. Its something I do every spring and I have a bajillion pots I make up for my front porch and back patio areas.  Nothing makes me happier than to see beautiful plants and blooms out every window.  That's what I miss most during the winter is all the color...I love the bright colors of red, greens, yellows, pinks and purples outside (along with the sun/heat of course)!

And I've wanted a potting bench forever y'all!

I love the ones in the catalogs but I'm not forking over big $$ for something I will

cover with dirt KWIM?

So I'm stalking my Habitat ReStore for a cool dresser I can paint a sunny color and use instead.

These pictures have inspired me and I don't think it would be too hard right?  A little help from the hubs with the pegboard area but the rest I can handle.

This is a cool one too....love the fun color and all the storage!  I want to spend under $100 total if I can and not sure I can get a whole hutch for that price at the ReStore.

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Love how they took out the drawers in this dresser for open storage and the picket fence for hanging!

This one is lovely too but I don't want to do that much building.  It was made with old doors and shutters which is a cool idea.  I couldn't find the original source for the tutorial if there was one though.

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And I love the idea of using it for a drink center...after a good cleaning of course ;)

Great for parties!

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And this one was too cute to not post...I love the additon of the Radio Flyer wagon.

And red & white are such fun colors for outside too!

Are you a Potter Head too??

Pastel Spring Pretties!

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Spring Table Settings & Ideas

I love a beautiful table setting. I may be slightly addicted to tableware and decorations...just slightly.  We don't eat in our formal dining room often enough and in the next house we build I will not have ANY formal rooms at all....we just don't live that way and its wasted space in our house.  However I still will dress our table in the kitchen up as often as I can...I have different color themes for each season and keep adding to it ;)  So I'm just loving a beautiful Spring colored table.  

Its no surprise that winter was WAY too long and it actually snowed again on Sunday...whattttt...crazy stuff!  So I'm going to pull out all my pretty dishes soon and get some fresh tulips and decorate my table to bring some Spring inside.  These beautiful tablescapes and ideas inspired me so I thought I'd share with you in case you need some enabling inspiring as well!

The pops of fresh Spring green paired with white make me happy...and love those fun polka-dot eggs!

I'm all for the all natural look and love those cute bunny ear napkin rings...too cute!

Soft pops of pastels on the Easter Eggs add just enough color too!

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Love the soft almost neutral colors of this setting with the frilly edges of the dishes...so pretty!

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All white paired with pops of lilac...and those colored mercury-glass eggs are so gorgeous!

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A more natural & rustic feel to this Easter setting. Love the pops of pale pastels and those bunny napkins are fabulous!  I have a huge collection of Depression Glass that is perfect for Easter!

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Pretty in Pink....love the gingham ribbon and soft pinks used!

Those daisy dishes are awesome....yellow paired with pale green are always pretty to

use on your table all Spring & Summer long.

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For anyone that loves blue, this is a gorgeous setting with all those pretty white bunnies and flower holders. Love the soft touches of coral too!

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Or a shabby chic version with a vintage tablecloth, pale blue accents and lots of antique dinnerware.

Let me count the number of cool things about this table...(1) the carrot makes this setting (2)the chalkboard place setting label (2) the rustic twine (4)the orange soda in glasses (5) the dark green accents....JUST LOVE ALL AROUND!

Peaches & Cream....gorgeous colors, tulips and matching pretty bowls of jelly beans!

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Gorgeous shades of blues scattered around this table.....yummy!

Love using cracked egg shells to create mini vases at each place setting or grouped together.

Now I gotta buy myself some of those egg holders {wink}!!!

How gorgeous are these Sequin Eggs?  Looks a little tedious to make, but the payout is great!

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Fun Easter favors made from recycled baby food jars and filled with sweet treats.  Could use any glass container you have on hand or find...so pretty at each place setting too!

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Or some fun carrot favors....wrapped up lollipops made with paper napkins, tulle and ribbon!

Quick & easy to make and fun project to do with kids too!

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These would make gorgeous Easter gifts for your guests as well! Pale aqua strawberry baskets filled with an Easter cookie, rock candy stick and fun pinwheel.  Lovely!

And these are darling aren't they?  Fruit & nut cups made into mini Easter Baskets filled with treats.

Cute for each place setting or scattered around your table or buffet. You could cut pastel colored paper cups in half as well and use.  So easy to make up!

These would be darling with each guest's name written on the egg or even stencil
a monogram on each one.


Anyway I hope this gives you some Easter/Spring table decorations!!
I can't wait to get started--will share pictures when I do!

Swinging From The Ceiling!

Happy TGIFriday...

I've got a project to share that will have you swingin' from the ceiling...or not LOL!

Today I thought I'd share a fun tutorial I found out on the ole' blogosphere. I want to make one as soon as I'm better and have the energy.  I've seen old chandeliers at Salvation Army and thrift stores for under $15-20 (doesn't matter if it works or not and if it doesn't work negotiate that price down) so this isn't an expensive project.  Take some spray paint, the pots you can get for $1-2 a piece and then your flowers.  I want to make one for under my cabana...too cute!

For all the directions and more pictures hop over to the DIY Showoff's Blog!

If you make one email me a picture because I'd love to see!

Now I'm taking the weekend off but will be back on Monday with a post as I promised in this post HERE !

(if you didn't see it) 

Have a great weekend!

Fall In Love!

I've been doing some decorating outside over the past week for fall.

I try not to overdo it anymore even though I want to LOL.

Problem is we get so much wind in the fall here that I end up either re-doing everything

or fixing things everyday...and that is a big pain in my behind folks ;)

After 7 years I've learned my lesson well.

So I am planning on getting 3 more bunches of corn stalks for the front to bulk it up on the columns more.  We couldn't fit them all in the truck the first time..due to my..umm...over buying of mums..heehee.  I will do that this weekend though shhhh.  I used to get big bales of hay but got tired of cleaning it off the porch and yard (and I'm sure the neighbors weren't so thrilled either..ha).

The wind whips up the hill and onto my porch ferociously and knocks all those mums over.

BTW...see that luscious green grass...yup we just redid the front yard...hubby is very proud of his work so I thought I'd throw that in for him ;)

New pillows from HomeGoods (2 for $20)...love that dark orange color with the white rockers. They are a bit silky so they change in different lights.

Fall-licious!

This is by the front door...that red mum needed a drink when I took this pic...I watered it no worries.

I want one more large mum...will grab that this weekend.

This is my new fall doormat...from Lowes for under $15...loved the fun floral pattern and

pretty colors!  We get such harsh direct sun on my front porch that everything fades so I won't spend a ton of cash on things because I know they will have to be replaced.

I decorate my backyard as well...we spend a lot of time out here in the fall watching football and having fires.  So some pumpkins, mums and gourds come out to play.

*See more of my backyard area HERE*

I keep succulents under the cabana..they don't need much light or water and always look beautiful (the other one is on coffee table).  I added some pumpkins and my hurricanes from Pier One from a few years ago...they give off such a pretty amber glow in the evening.

On the table I used a bright yellow mum...love the pop of color.  Those lanterns I got on sale at Target end of summer sale for $3 each...they were dark brown. But I spray painted them gold, they look much better.  But by spring they will probably be coral...that's the beauty of spray paint y'all!

See the trees in the background...they are just starting to turn shades of beautiful.

Nothing better than the colors of fall!

I'm taking Alexa's senior pictures next week...not the school ones (those have been ordered already)..but the more casual pics.  And some with her BFF Grace (on the right) along with some outfit changes I've been informed..teen girls ya know.

So this past weekend we played in the woods to try settings/lighting/aperture/etc on my camera and shot some fun pictures. These were my faves and really showcase their beauty (no makeup, look at that skin), friendship and joy!  But we will do the formal shoot on Monday at a park with the beautiful foliage as the background.  Should be fun!

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Entering into the following fab Linky Parties:

Domestic Superhero

The DIY Dreamer

A Bowl Full of Lemons

Practically Functional

Savvy Southern Style

The Tablescaper

Thrifty Decor Chick