To Share?

My friend texted me the other day and told me to look at the Pottery Barn Kids magazine.  She wanted me to look at this page below...if you look closely (at the pillows), these fake siblings share the same names as my real kiddos (Drew and Kate with a "K").  Those PBK peeps really know how to pick a name :)!

image via Pottery Barn Kids

My kids do not currently share a room, but it got me thinking...

They did share when I had two babies and two cribs, but since they have gotten older, they have separate rooms.  Hmmm....I shared a room with my sister (who is 15 months apart from me) my whole life and we both slept in twin beds until we went away to college.  I wouldn't change having had a companion in my room to share stories before bed and stay up late laughing (and fighting).  Will my kids be missing out by not sharing?  I think it is difficult with opposite gendered kids...2 boys or 2 girls might make for an easier transition and make for an easier time decorating!  What do you think?  A shared room would mean I would get that craft/work space I have been dreaming about!  I might need to reconsider!

Here a some additonal (inspiring) shared spaces...

image via designedtothenines.com

image via projectnursery.com

image via positively splendid

I have been blessed with great sleepers, so I am not sure how a slumber party every night with a 2 and 3 year old would work out!  I'll keep considering... :)

Girl's Day

Twice a week is a "girl's day" for Kate and I while Drew is at preschool, and most days when I ask Kate what she wants to do, her reply is "shopping"!  Yes, I have taught her well, haven't I? :)  She is becoming such a big girl (pottying without me helping is her new thing-woo hoo!) and I am soaking up all the alone time we have left together before summer.  Today we strayed from our usual and stayed at home to do some...

painting...

this was the first time she ever requested for her toes to be painted.  she likes to look at mine and wanted some for herself!

 making...



we made a pinecone and peanut butter birdfeeder!

 planting...



we planted some flowers for the front stoop-more to come on that in an upcoming post!

Hope you all are having a great week!

DIY Textured Eggs

I wanted an inexpensive way to jazz up some plastic eggs for my mantle.  I decided to use supplies that I had laying around the house and came up with these easy-to-make textured eggs...

DIY Textured Eggs:

I picked up 3 bags of large plastic eggs at Hobby Lobby.  Each bag was 77 cents, but everything Easter was 40% off-cheap! 

I decided to cover the egg with a glue stick and roll the eggs in sand (I used sand from beach trips that I have used to decorate with previously).

I allowed a little time for the sand to stick, and then I simply hand painted the eggs in three springy colors.  The pink and blue are interior paints left over from other projects and the green is craft paint.  Again, I just used what I had on hand. 

After the paint dried, I hot glued thin purple/white and pink/white striped ribbon to the back of the egg in different lengths. I bought the ribbon on clearance at Hob Lob for .59 a roll (needed 2 rolls).

I taped the eggs to my mantle, so don't look too closely!  I love the way these turned out-you would never know these eggs cost about 10 cents a piece and my kids love them!

Quick Mantle Breakdown:

Tin pot: already had sitting around in my garage.  Flowers in the tin pot are from Hobby Lobby.  They have the best selection of  fake stems and they are often on sale for 50% off.  I got 4 stems for less than $10.  I stuffed the pot full of plastic bags to keep the flowers upright and to make them appear fuller.  I like how they are draped forward and sort of wild looking.

Moss wreath:  I had some moss left over from these projects and decided to make a small wreath to hang indoors.

Candlesticks:  I acquired several candlesticks in different shapes, sizes, heights.  Some were already silver, and some I spray painted.  I acquired them from thrift stores, IKEA, and had some I wasn't using.  I think they add a little bling and a little drama to an otherwise boring fireplace (I am trying to talk my hubby into revamping the tile surround)!

I also recently added this quote that I printed and framed.  You can get one for yourself here.

Spring has sprung!

Week In Review

I attended a Pottery Barn decorating class this morning.  A few things that stood out to me as I was browsing around the store: 

~Burlap. Lots of it.  I am working on making my own burlap covered lampshade that I will share with you soon!

~Melamine plates (Target has some cute navy and white ones out right now, but PB's are not super expensive)

~White pottery

~Lots of beach inspired items (shells, starfish, coral)

~Using place card holders as a way to display what food you are serving at a party.  So often people ask 

"what's this?" before they try it.  I think it is a great tip to simply write down the name of the dish, and set it in a placecard holder in front of the dish.

~Lanterns.  Silver, wrought iron, rustic.  They displayed multiple lanterns hanging from an old ladder with thick rope and it looked really cozy.

And here is a brief look at what we have been up to this week! 

It's been close to 90 degrees, so we busted out the sprinkler!

Watching brother at his soccer practice

Drew's first practice of the spring season...he asked me all day long if it was time to go.  He is obsessed!  He offered up the name "Sharks" and it won in a vote.  Our little guy's jersey is #1 (he is the smallest and youngest on the team!)!



Playing sports with the neighbor boy, whom my kids LOVE!



First soccer game was Saturday.  Drew scored 8 goals!  Yes, 8!  He simply loves sports and is eager to play and learn and practice and it has all paid off.  He looked really good out there and he is having fun, which is the most important thing! 



Playing in the backyard while Daddy grilled...

A new water table!  Woo hoo!

You must try these cream cheese and bacon wrapped jalepenos on the grill!  Cut lengthwise, scoop out the insides, layer some cream cheese and wrap in bacon.  Throw on the grill for about 20 minutes.  Even if you don't think you like jalepenos, you must try these.  Great for appetizers for your next cook out!

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT WEEKEND!

Poster Size It

I picked up some photos today that I wanted to share!  I have had two empty (large) matted frames I have been needing to fill for many months.  I wanted a fairly recent photo of each child, and I wanted it to not be so obvious of a picture choice.  After a few minutes of playing around on Picnik (you must check out this free site!), I saved the retouched pictures and ordered two poster-sized prints from Walgreens online.  The frame size was 16x 20, and it holds an 11 x 14 print, at which point it is considered a "poster".  They still look and feel like a photo, but they call it a poster.

I was having a little trouble with the lighting while snapping these photos, but you get the idea!  Please excuse the glare!

These will be resting on a shelf in our great room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also wanted to send a BIG thank you to Holly from Life in the Fun Lane for mentioning and linking up my moss wreath and letter on her blog.  Holly's blog was the first blog I ever became addicted to and a huge inspiration for me to experiment with making over some furniture pieces!

A HUGE thanks is also in order to Emily at Emily A. Clark for featuring my moss wreath and letter on her blog today.  I recently came across her blog and quickly wanted to stop back daily!

Thanks to all of you who have stopped by to browse my little ol' blog.  I love doing projects and being able to share them with others.  I appreicate each person for stopping by and making comments.  I hope you will come back!

Large Clocks

I was shopping at Pier One the other day and this clock caught my eye.  I love a large clock in a home.  Not only are they are great space filler, but they are super functional.    I do not need a large clock (see below), but I took this picture to send to my sister.  She needs one!  My mom and I always give her a hard time when we visit her because no one ever knows what time it is!  Anyway, she doesn't have the wall space due to a large amount of windows, but I thoguht I would let you know this cutie is at Pier One if you need one!  Apologies for not catching the price because another woman was wanting to look at it after I snapped my photo.  I tried looking online and couldn't find it, so run to your store if you like it!

This is the large clock (29") I have hanging in my kitchen.  I scored this at Target over a year ago on clearance for less than 40 bucks!  I love the simplicity and the function.  This clock is what keeps me on schedule!  I am one of those punctual people :). 


I also did a little digging around...

This clock would be so cute in a kitchen for a pop of color! Or an office or toyroom:

image via cb2.com

http://www.cb2.com/clocks/accessories/quittin%27-time-clock/f6175?fromLocation=search

Loving the distressed look and color of this one:

image via hsn.com

http://home-decor.hsn.com/ashton-sutton-louvre-large-wall-clock_p-6259242_xp.aspx?web_id=6259242&ocm=sekw

 This is indoor/outdoor and copper! Loving this one:

image via pierone.com



http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/HomeAccentsD%c3%a9cor/tabid/508/List/0/CategoryID/134/level/a/ProductID/6904/ProductName/Copper-Outdoor-Clockuu/Default.aspx

This one is half off right now!  Less than 80 bucks!:

image via jcpenney.com

http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=18f5805&DeptID=71371&CatID=71793&SO=0&SelDim=4%7e&x5view=1&NOffset=0&Ne=4+5+1031+18+904+833+949&N=4294953196+4294966982&Nao=0&PSO=0&CmCatId=EXTERNAL|71793

 

"I am definitely going to take a course on time management... just as soon as I can work it into my schedule." - Louis E. Boone

Smoothie Recipe

We have tried several different smoothie recipes in this household but have never tried a recipe we actually really love.  So, when http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ posted a "Pick Me Up" Smoothie Recipe, I had to give it shot. I'm sick of overpaying for a 6-pack of smoothies at the grocery store (you know the ones that are gone in 3 sips?)!  Annoying.  Homemade is ALWAYS better...

Here is the recipe (I adapted it to fit what we like):

2 bananas
1 cup frozen strawberries (could use whatever fruit you like)
1/2 cup milk (we use 1%)
1/2 cup yogurt (we used vanilla for extra flavor)
1 tablespoon honey

Blend all ingredients.  Makes approximately 3 servings.

Easy, right?  And delicious, and healthy!  MSM used her Vita-Mix, but I used a regular old blender we got for a wedding gift 8 years ago.  Either works.  Approval ratings were high...

Paint Can Planters

Have I mentioned that I have spring fever?  Temps in the 80's, lighter longer, and clear blue Texas skies make for one happy momma and family!  I have begun sprucing up my tiny patio/deck area.  I decided to make a few planters after seeing this post at http://www.centsationgirl.com/.  I tweaked mine a bit (CG's were a lot  fancier!).  Love the industrial feel of the paint can, with the whimsy of the fun paint colors!

You can certainly use empty paint cans you have laying around your house.  I bought new cans for 2.99 each.  Mine are a bit wider and shorter than a traditional paint can.

I chose a spring green and a watermelon pink spray paint.  Make sure your paint is suitable for outdoors.

Next step:  spray away!

Add holes to the bottom of the paint can with a hammer and nail.  CG tip: make sure to place paint can on a towel before hammering or you will ruin your paint job.

Instead of stripes, I decided to hand paint some numbers to give the planters a little interest.  No rhyme or reason, I just think numbers make everything look cute!  A added some gravel to the bottom, then added some pink petunias.  I found a little corner spot on my deck that they are calling home!  The deck will be getting a stain job this summer as well so please look past the dingy, greyish wood! 

A few more additions to the deck:

I spray painted this old planter I had laying around.  Loving this green and burgandy plant it is housing!

I purchased the magenta/white planter at Homegoods for $7 on clearance, and found the plant stand at Goodwill for 3.99.  I also, you guessed it, spray painted it a peacock blue!!

I picked up this sweet little plant holder at Goodwill for 1.99. 

Happy Spring from TX!

Nautical Obsession

As evidenced by some recent purchases, I think I am just the slightest bit obsessed with red, white, and navy in solids and stripes!  Nautical is casual and classic-just how I like it!  Now I just need to wait on that yacht to come pick me up. . . :) 

And don't forget the shoes!  I am a sucker for cute flats!

 I am also currently trying to convince Steve that thick navy/white striped curtain panels...

Image via Little Green Notebook 

OR, a navy/white striped wall...

image via Massucco Warner Miller

would be perfect in our dining room! :)