Just for fun!

Seen this fun one going around the blogesphere and I thought I would join in! 7 random questions of this and that! Lets get started!

1. If you could go anywhere in the world right now with no restraints where would you go??

Me: The Amalfi coast...for sure!

{Source: Italian visits}

Followed by a very close second: Santorini

What is your dream job?

2. Hmmm, right now I am happy being home with my kiddos, but someday I would love to have my own store front, for what you ask? I am not sure, but it would be all mine and it would run smoothly making lots of money!

{source: Two delighted}

3. Name an item on your bucket list

I would travel the world of course!

{Source: Saying images}

4.What would make your ability to craft more easier?

I certainly have more than one answer for this, for starters....

Craft storage

Photoshop, yes photoshop it is on the top of my wish list!

{Source: Mac plaza}

5. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I would stop beating myself up for things for which I am worried others are judging me for, waste of time!

{SOurce: Community}

6. If I had more space I would:

Have a garden like this...

{Source: Sunset Magazine}

7. Random things about me that were first written by Emily of Jones Design Company. I thought is she talking about me? Geesh!

I am just a regular girl.
A wife who loves her husband, but doesn’t always show it.
A mom who adores her kids, but runs out of patience.
A friend who cherishes her girls, but forgets to return calls.
A person so energized by being creative, but not without dry spells.
I am a homemaker who would rather rearrange furniture than dust it, repaint a bathroom than clean it, eat out than sit down and plan meals.

{Source: Emily at Jones Design Company}

Well that was fun! Now I must get busy working on my son's 6th Birthday party, wow 6 years hey go by way too fast! He requested a Transformer themed party.......joy.

Until next time!

For the love of the cabin!

I took a few days off from posting while I enjoyed a gorgeous warm weekend with my family and friends. I hope you all had a fabulous weekend too!

Now, I am dreaming of our little famliy river cabin in sunny northern California and thinking of all the fun projects we want to tackle.

We tackled the ceiling the last time we were there and it really brightened things up in there.

Yes, the kitchen and walls are screaming for some love and attention! Don't worry you will get plenty of attention this summer! The light fixtures need love too, there is very little light in the cabin, so lighting is important!

We also tackled the fireplace with a fresh coat of white paint.

What you don't really see in these pictures is the nasty carpet and the older than you know what vinyl flooring that needs to go!! But, the budget (at least not now) will not allow for the type of flooring we would love to install, so the budget minded crafty person inside of me says, can't we just remove the carpet and vinyl flooring down to the sub flooring (hopefully there is plywood that is in relatively good condition underneath) then sand and paint it?!?!?

Check out this subfloor painted grey and stenciled.

{Source: Under the sycamore}

I love this yellow and white combination, it would make an otherwise very dark cabin look much more bright and cheerful. Hubby doesn't like this pattern, he says it is too grandmaesque, but I don't agree, it would look adorable in a cabin.

Stripes in white and kahki are fun too.

I love these rustic whitewashed wall boards in shades of white and blue, which are the perfect balance of beachy and summery. They would be a nice upgrade from the cheesy paneling that is currently taking up residence on the cabin walls.

{Source: Kids space stuff}

We've got couches and they aren't the prettiest, but we have em!! So, budget concious me thinks why not cover them with a simple canvas drop cloth purchased from Lowes?!?! It looks pretty cute, don't you think? I know I will be straightening them out constantly, cuz I am kinda OCD like that, but oh well.

{Source: Budgets on a dime}

I know we will need to get a coffee table, so I got to thinking....how can I do that on the cheap?

Here is a door turned coffee table idea that is cute.

{Source: Decor hacks}

Of course there are always coffee tables made from pallets, which are usually free.

{Source: SKCNIS}

I can totally picture this sunny yellow kitchen with those pretty yellow stenciled floors. I simply love yellow.

{Source: Better Homes and Gardens}

Now for the deck, we have no outdoor furniture and we live outside when we are there. So, without spending much why not get more pallets and make more furniture, right??

{Source: The furniture guide}

Now this might be a little ambitious, but I love the idea of making our own outdoor furniture! We'll probably call on Craig's list in the end, but you never know!

{Source: Ana White}

I plan on doing a cabin series when we start all these projects, so stay tuned over the summer!

Summer mantel inspiration

It is FINALLY that time of year again....to figure out what my summer mantel will look like. After a few Google searches and a couple several minutes on Pinterest I have collected some pretty summer mantels to give me some much needed inspiration and direction on what to do this year.

I love the natural rustic look here with the drift wood, white candles and a pop of green.

A lovely seascape with starfish in a breezy, calming and creamy color scheme.

{source: Tatertots and Jello}

Fresh white can easily go from spring to summer.

{Source: The lettered cottage}

Pretty little vignette with white rice instead of sand in jars.

{Source: Black dress, red wagon}

I love the flag painted with sea blue and white wash using starfish for the stars, cute!

{Source: The lettered cottage}

I love the pop of orange combined with the aqua glass! The pinwheel banner is super cute too, I might have to steal some ideas from this one!

{Source: Hoosier Homemade}

Love the sea glass color with the lemon yellow.

{Source: Decor chick}

Fun use of red with the lanterns and the daisies, very Americana.

{Source: My blessed life}

Sweet display with frames, jars and little birdies.

{Source: Christina's adventures}

I love the white and yellow combination, the daffodils could easily be changed out for another summer flower like daisies.

{Source: The inspired room}

Very symmetrical and pretty.

{Source: The casabella project}

Sea glass, sea shells and a moss letter make for a nice summer mantel display.

{Source: Mingled Elements}

Here is a fun Patriotic approach to the summer mantel.

{Source: The joys of home}

A true seascape.

{Source: Going a little coastal}

I like the use of turquise, yellow and white a nice summer color combination.

 {Source: High heels and a hammer}

Clean, fresh and just waiting for a pop of summer color!

{Source: A pop of pretty}

I love the pop of red on the letter combined with the summery lantern and coral.

{Source: Honey and Fitz}

Now I need to go see what I can do to liven up my mantel for summer! Goal: liven, bring color,  freshen the whole look and most importantly give it a fun lovin' summer personality, stay tuned!

 

 

Teacher appreciation gift

Can't believe the school year is almost over, which means it is time to thank those amazing teacher's for all that they do for our kiddos!

I found a similar idea for this cute potted plant on Pinterest and decided to make two of them for my boys teacher's. I simply painted the bottom portion of a basic terra cotta pot with chalkboard paint and then painted the rim with yellow paint and made it to look like a ruler with a paint pen. So easy and so cute!

I added a school picture of each child taped to a popsicle stick to personalize it.

What fun and creative ways do you help appreciate those wonderful teacher's out there?

  

Linking to:

A simply klassic home

Between naps on the porch

Tip Junkie

Back home from heaven on earth!

Napa is truly a magical place! The rolling hills are filled with vineyard after vineyard and in the springtime  eveyrthing is a pretty shade of fresh green! In no time everything will fade to a golden brown, hence the name the 'golden state'. It is nice to see it this time of year, we usually see the Napa region during the summer. We had a blast, ate too much, drank too much and spent too much! Although, we are back home now and the harsh reality has sunk in, laundry, school, work and what's for dinner?!?!?

Here are the boys excited for there first big adventure on an airplane (well, that they remember).

We got them their very own luggage and it was a hit! They actually wanted to wheel their own bags around, success!Our lovely courtyard.This house was super private and oriented around the courtyard. The living room doors opened toward the courtyard.The courtyard also had a surprise resident snake! It was creepy....the boys loved it!He was a happy Gopher garden snake sunning on the hot stone...but, no thank you! The nice landscape crew came and  took him to a safer place away from us, phew! He was probably harmless, but I was glad to see him go!

Now this is a nice outdoor office! I mean if you MUST work like my hubby had to do! Poor thing!I loved how everywhere you look you see blooming lavendar and Rosemary, one of my favorite combinations in the garden.

But, boys really??? I don't think you should sit there, there could be a snake in there!Pretty pathways and corridors with special surpises were everywhere.Pretty little modern cottages along the way to the pool.Beautiful water feature's were everywhere too.The flowers were so pretty.

Ready for the pool!This is the family pool where the kids enjoyed their days in a giant lap pool, kiddie pool and hot tub. It was great.Me and my little B, who I had to save from a near drowning. Yep, he is not quite there yet and I had to jump in with my cover up dress on to save his little life! Scary indeed, can you say more swimming lessons please?!?!Aren't these bikes cool? Perfect for a ride around the property exploring!Here are the young 20 something's cruising.Now for some time at the (adult) pool here we go!

Behind the pool.Time to take a stroll for dinner at the Boon Fly cafe.

Then, there was the next night with a private chef at our villa, can I say fabulous!?!?! It was awesome, the food was delicious!Good times were had by everyone, what a great resort, just wish they had a playground (for kids that is)!We had so much fun and know this is a once in a lifetime kinda event! I mean unless we win the lottery or something! We couldn't be more grateful for the chance to spend time with family and friends at such a fabulous place!