Sunday, May 30, 2010

When I think of Memorial Day...

I think of the months ahead of grilling dinner, where there are less dishes and my husband is the main chef!
I think of all the yummy sweet fruits in season including watermelon!


I think of the summer vacation beginning for school kids and teachers and the impact that has on traffic each morning.

I think of swings, front porchs, outdoor ceiling fans, hanging ferns, and the late night conversations to be had because sleeping late is allowed.

I think of swimming pools, the smell of sunscreen, trips to the beach, and sprinklers in the yard.

And, I think of the brave men and women and their giving families who will not enjoy all that I am able to because of the sacrifices they made.

Happy Memorial Day to all!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Painters are Scheduled

This is not my bathroom, but oh how I wish it was. This is Katie from the Harrington House. I have loved her bathroom for many moons and next week, my bathroom will be this color- Wedgewood Grey from Benjamin Moore. Isn't it lovely? I am putting this color in my powder room, seen here. I think it will really pop against all of the ivory decor I use in here. The orange towel is from the fall, but I have a brown zebra towel most of the time.
It is also going in the Master bathroom. So pretty!

This is an awful picture of my red TV wall cut out. My husband painted it for me and I honestly did a terrible job picking out the red color. Since I want our dining room which faces this wall red, we are having the painters redo this wall as well.

This is my very favorite paint color from my old house. It is called Crushed Seed by Dutch Boy. I used it in our old kitchen and dining room. It is just the perfect shade of deep red. It isn't pink red, cranberry, orangey or berry. Just a real red. I can't wait to have it back in my house!

Stay tuned next week for my newly painted rooms!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Help Me Convince My Husband...

Oh my heavens- I am madly in love with this new find in the Pottery Barn Catalog. They will be perfect over my sink where I currently have a canned light. I need something a little country, a little shabby, and in a brushed silver. This is it!
The problem is that not only does my husband think the canned light is just fine, he will NEVER understand paying money for and hanging old jars with exposed light bulbs from the ceiling.

Any suggestions? What can I do to convince him?

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Graduation Gift Ideas

It is graduation time and for me, time to figure out how much college life has changed since I was there 15 years ago! Besides taking a laptop, iPhone, and iPad to college, what can you buy the new graduate? Here are some ideas!
This is a staple! Thank you Dr. Seuss! I'd pair this with cash or a bookstore gift card to help them get started as a serious studios student!

Encourage the graduate to write home by giving them fun stationary- be sure to throw in the stamps! For a boy, I'd recommend these game notepads instead.

Doesn't every college kid want to leave for school with monogrammed towels? I know I did and loved mine until my initials changed! :) These are $30 with free shipping from Lands' End. Thanks to Being Resourceful for the deal! I am amazed at how young coffee drinkers are these days! Seeing HS and college kids study at Starbucks makes me feel old. I studied on my bed with the radio on. Not in a coffee shop drinking a $4 latte. So, help them drink and study in style with these fun mugs from Tara Nicole. I've ordered from her in the past and love her stuff!


Every college kid needs a stylish laundry bag! Jon Hart is a Texas-based designer who creates rugged, durable, and colorful items including laundry bags! This would be great for a boy. You can also get major Texas schools logo on the leather piece instead of initials.

If you are looking for something quick and easy, buy them gift cards to restaurants in their new area for Sunday night when the dorms are closed. Starbucks, Sonic, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, just get the idea! $5 to each and they are set for the first few weeks.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Shutterfly Scrapbook

We are celebrating Mother's Day this weekend with my Mom and Mother-in-law. I made this book for my MIL using pictures of my 17 month old daughter's first year and my fabulous digital scrapbooking software. The scrapbooking software allows the details to be more interesting, the fonts more fun and the page backgrounds more varied. Shutterfly has lots of simple layouts and colored papers in their library.
My book had a 2-fold page for each month and a few extras for each holidays, like Halloween and Christmas.

They have hard and soft covers and they can be printed with photos or solid colored. I did an early newborn shot on the front and her first birthday party on the back. The perfect book ends for her first year!

This is another option for a fun scrapbook! Happy Scrapping!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Whew, What A Month

Not only have I missed my craft room the past few weeks, but I've missed my family and my bed! I left town unexpectedly for business and was gone for 5 days. It wouldn't be a big deal if I hadn't been out of town for 4 days just the week before. So, laundry, saying hello to my husband (the father of the year), and playing with my daughter reigned supreme. I am back in action now and will be celebrating Mother's Day soon (they live out of town!) and share those crafts with you. I am off work today and enjoying my own personal fun day- don't we all need those!

About a month ago I received a nice gift certificate to a local spa and today is the day I cash it in! I am getting a deep cleansing facial with a special lip treatment. I live my chap stick, but swear my lips are still not soft enough. I can't wait to see how smooth they will be! After my facial, I'll be nestled in one of these chairs reading this inspiring book. My piggies will be ready for the fun weekend ahead!
After the spa, I have to stop by the mall because in honor of my busy trip and time away from the family, my husband and I are purchasing one of these! I am so excited to finally own something that starts with a little i. We have an HP laptop, a Dell desktop, a Blackberry and a Garmin GPS... nothing from the ever so popular Apple family. Now, I will have an iPad to play with! When traveling, it is my access to blogs and FB, my GPS system, my digital reader, my music, and my movie player! At home, it'll be all that and much more fun! I'll be sure to let you know if I find any apps for crafting! ha!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Frrozen Hot Chocolate Recipe

I am in Las Vegas on business and had this heavenly dessert at Serendipity at Caesar's Palace. It was amazing- so good. I did a little digging online and found the recipe!
Frrrozen Hot Chocolate
6 pieces (1/2-ounce) chocolate , a variety of your favorites
2 teaspoons store-bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice
Whipped cream

Chocolate shavings Directions: Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Add the hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and slowly add ½ cup of milk until smooth. Cool to room temperature.In a blender, place the remaining cup of milk, the room-temperature chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Children's Book Recommendations

I was an avid reader as a teenager and am hoping to have a child that loves to read, but when I was pregnant I was completely clueless as to the best children's books. One of my baby showers was a book shower and it was perfect! The ladies showered me with their favorites- from their childhood or their own children's favorites. It filled my bookshelf with a wonderful collection that Abby Lu loves!

I also think having a big comfy chair in your child's room is a must. It has gone from the breastfeeding chair in her nursery to her favorite place to sit and turn the pages in her books. I hope she does homework in that chair one day!
These are her current favorites and all of them are on Barnes & Noble's website and many other places I am sure!
This book is simple, has fun cutouts and the last page says "Peek a You" and has a mirror. My child kisses herself in that mirror each and every time!
Munch was a birthday gift from my friend Alison (sorry Andrea! ha!) and each inside page gets smaller and smaller as the rabbit chews more of the page. Abby loves to feel the pages.Isn't this the book of so many precious memories for parents of many years? We read it to Abby every night in her bed when she was a newborn. I would realize I had recited her the whole book before I noticed it was upside down. I would just say the words from memory and exhaustion while staring at her drifting to sleep. It is now a bent up sticky book from the months of love.

This book is genius! My friend Caroline has mentioned it before- I am certain Abby's first 100 words will be from this book. It is big and study and she loves to look at it. I need to be more diligent in really reading it to her. It is such an easy read.

I had a hard time finding a board book explaining Christmas and Easter and this one met my criteria. It explains the birth of Jesus simply, with great illustrations and she can't tear the pages. Perfect!


These next two are books I look forward to reading:
Didn't we all read this one as a kid? I loved the girl who wouldn't take out the trash! I'm certain I'll enjoy this book all over again in a few years!

This last book is the Jesus Storybook Bible and was recommend by Angie Smith about two years ago. It is just beautiful! Every page is a work of art and the stories make the Bible come alive. I hope to learn my Bible better through this book and teach it to Abby.




Happy Reading!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Fantastic Foofa

Remember when I made this cute Foofa onesie inspried by Yo Gabba Gabba?
This is my sweet daughter wearing her Foofa today. She kept pointing to her belly and saying Foofa and Gabba. It was possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen and makes me want to make more Yo Gabba Gabba onesies! Of course, she could point to her belly and say DIRT and I'd still be smitten!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Guest Bedroom Makeover- All Americana

I have been wanting to upgrade my guest bedroom for months. It was really the hand-me-down room with our old bed, old bedding and random decor I didn't want in other parts of the house. Not anymore! I sold our old bed, nightstands and bedding on Craigslist and used the money to make some changes!
I purchased the headboard online and spray painted it in red! The stars were in my extra decor bin. The bedding was on super clearance at JC Penney. I love their American Living line! Most of these items were in the room originally, but now they seem to pop more. I did spray paint my quilt stand red. I really wanted an ornate rod iron stand, but haven't found exactly what I want. Two of these quilts were made by my husband's grandmother and the other one was a wedding gift from my mother.
I also threw in some matching picture frames from around the house and filled them with my sweet girls' photos.
One fun final addition, my stool growing up. Abby already loves using it to climb onto "Nana's" bed.

I hope you've enjoyed your stay at the Birdie Inn! :)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

On the Hunt for Cute Navy Shoes

Black and navy do not match. I just can't do it. I own a pair of navy pants that seldom get worn, because I just don't have a pair of navy shoes I love. I own a pair of navy loafers from back in the day and I can't wear them in my right fashion mind anymore. I just can't. So, I am hunting for a cute pair of navy shoes. Perhaps you are too? Here are some great options I found!
How fun are these? The green buckles add a little personality to a simple well made navy wedge. I think these would be great with my navy pants or a cute little floral dress. Fun! Navy dressy patent sandals that aren't too granny! I like these with a navy summer suit or dress. Plus, since they are by Sofft, you know they won't hurt your feet! These sure are cute and I like the use of both navy and aqua blue!This is a unique shade of blue, but I just love the retro feel of these shoes. They also come in black and red in case the blue color is too limiting for you. It is for me. I really like these navy sandals- cute, comfortable and the blue is vibrant. You can't mistake it for black! These look so much cuter here. I love the big buckle and the price. They come in black and orange also! The reviews are not so kind in the comfort department. Ugh!

A perfect kitten heel in navy! Good work Calvin Klein! If I were a crazy (crazy because my feet would be killing me!) woman who still wore heels, these would be great. Classic navy patent peep toe would last you forever! Thank you Bandolino for recognizing young fashionable women like navy, too!
Lots of additional casual options from Birkenstock, Havannias, and the casual tennis shoes with navy! Happy Shopping!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

If I Had One Million Dollars...

Why are navy blue shoes so hard to find? I want a cute pair to last many years since I know I'll only wear them on ocassion. I love love this pair for $749! I can't imagine being able to spend that on one pair of shoes!