Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A few more details...

A couple of you asked for a few more details from Macee and Kris' baby shower.

I would love to take credit for the darlingness (I'm sure that's a word) of all of this, but I must hand it over to the other co-hostesses. Macee's mom, Cammy, did an amazing job collecting precious pink and green items for the shower. To say that she is excited about having a little granddaughter is an understatement!

The guestbook and entry table complete with a giant pink hippo!

Take home iced duck cookies from The Cookie Lady. So delish!

The Momma-to-be and me!

Parting gifts for each guest

Gerber daisy centerpieces with pink and green ducks below...

Cupcakes decorated with pink ducks from Cakes & More.

Pink pots with more Gerber daisies for the center of the tables.

It was such a cute and successful shower!

Now Kris and Macee are ready for their precious girl to arrive. We can't wait to meet her!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Pug love...

We have two new additions, of the four legged kind, at our house...Cedric and Rose.

Cedric and Rose are my pugs from a previous life. They have been living with my mom for the past few years but have recently needed to relocate. Cedric's life had become too stressful in the city so he and Rose decided to pack up and move to the country. Retirement has finally come and they are ready for a slower lifestyle...more porch time, squirrel chasing, and naps...lots of naps.

Meet Cedric...aka "The Wonder Pug!"

He received this name after costing me thousands of dollars in vet bills for his amazing ability to open doors and get into trash containers...requiring some stomach surgery...and baby proof/dog proof latches on everything.

Cedric's very focused and serious face...

Typical Wednesday night...kicking it, butt in the air, with a bone.

Meet Rose...my precious little girl and Cedric's full time shadow.

Rose

Showing off one of her many talents.

Not her most slimming angle. Don't judge.

Going from a 2 dog house to a 4 dog house has taken some coordination, some patience, and some sweeping...lots of pug and lab hair.

The pugs are now on a strict diet and are eager to get out and roam the countryside with their sisters. However, their sisters are struggling a little bit with the transition. They aren't quite sure why we had to go and ruin a good thing by adding more babies to the house. Katie is especially hurt and annoyed. She's coming around though. Slowly but surely.

She maintains this face right now...I think she's praying that they leave.

"Please, God, take these aliens away. Amen."

Josh and I are outnumbered right now. We have taken to a zone defense with this crew.

Pray for us.

xoxo

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Baby love...

This past weekend we helped co-host a baby shower for some great friends of ours. Macee and Kris are about to have their first baby! She'll be arriving very soon.

Macee and Kris

I was in charge of shower favors and created popcorn bags for each guest to take home. Each bag had a tag that said, "Macee is about to POP!"

Now, just to be clear, I approved this statement with the mom-to-be BEFORE creating the bags. Personally, I didn't like the image of my friend popping or exploding in any way. I like her. I like her even more in one piece. However, Macee was cool with it and cuteness won out, so popcorn bags were created.

They were the easiest party favors that I have created so far. I bought 'gourmet' popcorn (is that an oxymoron?) from a local store in town. It was vanilla flavored and quite delish. I scooped a cup and a half into each bag, of course eating each piece that just so happened to fall out of the bag and into my hand, and tied the tops with ribbons in the colors of the shower and the baby's new nursery...hot pink and green. I printed each of the tags on white cardstock, punched them out with a circle punch tool from Michael's, and holepunched the top of each tag so that ribbon could be used to tie them to the bags.

They started like this...


And quickly evolved into these...


Quite cute in my opinion!


I threw half of the bags into a big enamel bucket that I had bought at Homegoods awhile back.


The rest of them went into a black and white bucket that I've had for awhile.


These both made for a great display and easy transport.

We had a great time celebrating with our friends on Sunday. We are so excited to meet their new addition!

Now for the final photo of the party, it's just funny and so typical of my cute husband...

There are so many comments that I want to write about this, but I'll leave it alone. You can make up your own in your head. Remember that show My Two Dads? Ok, ok...leaving it alone.

Happy Wednesday!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Things of old...

There's something about aged, vintage, imperfect treasures from the past that makes my heart skip a beat.

There's something about the history, the purpose for which they were made, and the idea that they can be made new or used again that I love.

I just like OLD stuff.

Barn House

I continue to decorate our home with pieces from the past. I'm constantly on the search for something that tells a story. I enjoy when people want to know what the huge demijohn by the fireplace was used for or where I found the old beat up Czechoslovakian hutch that now makes up our bar. It adds character and interest. Shiny and new has it's place...but it can just be so boring at times.

Lately I've been ooohing and ahhhing over the design trends that are incorporating pieces from the past.

Grain sacks are making an appearance everywhere.

Buckets and baskets are being found and used in all types of rooms...

Red Ticking Mussels Basket
1st Dibs French Steel Basket

The tables and work benches that were once used for function are highly sought after for their perfect patina.
1st Dibs Primitive Table

Nest Egg (I think)

I believe each room should have an older piece, something with history, anchoring it and giving it interest. I love this cottage outside of Abilene that was featured on Cote De Texas' blog recently.


And the industrial look of the pieces adds such a cool element to any space.


(source unknown...maybe Nest Egg)

What can I say, I like things old and a little weathered (this is where my good guy friends or precious, younger husband would probably insert a joke about my age in proportion to theirs...go ahead boys).

I'll take the things from the past...the pieces with character and charm. I'm just hoping that as I age my patina just gets better and better (wink).

xoxo

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Preview...

Things are busy and changing around here. Some of it I am beyond excited about it, some of it is going to take some getting used to and possibly prescription drugs. Finding time to sit down and blog about it all has been a challenge. I've been covered in sawdust, jumping over plastic trellis pieces, cleaning up spilled paint and can't seem to figure out where I left my tape measure last.

Get ready! I'll soon be revealing it all...

Here's a little nibble for you though...

Plastic trellis? What? I know...

What could this be? Trust me...

Am I crazy? Possibly...verdict is still out.

Maybe she's putting up a sleeping sign to remind her to do so...weirdo!

It's been downright exhausting...we are all feeling it.


Hang with me. It will all make sense (or prove just how nuts I am) soon.

xoxo

Friday, September 10, 2010

Keeping calm...

Have you ever had one of those weeks?

Nothing went according to schedule. There was chaos, drama, massive flooding, and you just feel beaten down.

You truly think about booking a flight to Vegas or the Bahamas...or even Kansas. The destination really isn't the concern.

Ah, then you understand me.

It's been one of those weeks and it was even a short week! What the....???

Thankfully, I am off today. Trying to regroup and refocus and just chill quietly without interruption.

This poster came to mind this morning...


I like the mantra and have thought about ordering it. I'm going to see if the Etsy shop can add one additional line below the soothing statement...

Keep
Calm
and
Carry
On

If that doesn't work, have a glass of wine and get a pedicure.

I should copyright that.

Happy Friday to you all!

xoxo





Thursday, September 9, 2010

Trying to Fall...

The blogs that I read are all showing their latest fall finds...inspiration for what to wear on crisp days, warm ways to add a harvest feel to your table, and yummy recipes for whipping up something that involves some cinnamon to put you in the fall mood.

While so lovely and so fun to see...I just really can't relate.

Last week we had our fall coolfront and it dropped all the way down into the 90's. Downright chilly!

So, here are my ways of incorporating some fall for us Texans...

Rickshaw Design

A perfect bag for fall...great with boots and has the ability to hold a
big water bottle for the continuous 90 degree days.

Southern Accents

I love these rich fall colors for a bedroom,
but in Texas you should probably remove the folded comforters at the end of the bed...
just too hot for your feet at night.
And make sure the air is set at 70 degrees if you want to keep the light quilt on the bed.

Rover Dog

Pug in a navy trench...a lightweight trench will basically carry you through January here!
Good investment, Pug.

Martha Stewart Pumpkins

A pretty take on your traditional pumpkins.

Shelter

You in a trench...you'll probably need to go naked underneath to stay cool enough.
But I love the look especially with dark jeans.

Williams-Sonoma Pumpkin & Maple Leaf Whoopie Pies

These whoopie pies scream fall...and after awhile scream yoga pants
rather than dark skinny jeans. So addicting. Just keep that in mind.

Anthropologie Martingale Boots

Anthro's fall boots with a bow...enough said.

Happy start of fall to you all!




Friday, September 3, 2010

So long summer...


Allanah Hill via Dustjacket Attic

At least I know that is what I am supposed to be saying this weekend.

The 90 degree temps are not really assuring me that fall is on the way (the one week we have of it in Texas).

Oh well, I'll eat my burger and celebrate the leaves that will soon be falling (from the drought not the cold)!

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

xoxo

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Bows and Bibles...

Thursday night has become a really special night at our house. Josh and his good friend Dusty have started a Thursday night men's group that meets to shoot bows, talk hunting and life, and study the bible. Josh has always wanted to be part of something bigger than himself and to serve Christ any way that he can. He loves to help others, teach others, and enjoy the simple things in life with friends. This group is a reflection of that desire.

Dusty and Josh invested a lot of time in preparation for their first meeting with the guys. It was really important to Josh that everyone felt welcome, was able to come out and have a great time no matter their skill level or desire to hunt, and that everyone felt that this group allows you an open invitation to bring your problems, sins, desires, dreams, questions, etc. without any judgment.

Dusty and Josh have also invested a lot of sweat equity in getting a full 3-D archery range set up on the back of our property. Yep, there are LIFE-SIVE moose, caribou, elk, turkey, whitetail deer, and cheetah targets on our back 4 acres. Oh yes...life-sive. The moose is about 8 feet tall. I can only imagine what our neighbors think. I am pretty sure this puts us in a whole new level of country bumpkins.

They've named the group Gen 27:3. This verse provides their foundation...

Gen 27:3 "Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me."

See ladies, hunting is biblical. Now, it doesn't say anything about leaving your wives for long periods of time from November to January, but it does encourage bringing you some wild game. Aren't you excited!? Look at it this way, it'll give you and excuse to try out a new venison recipe.

Last Thursday was their first meeting and Josh says it was a huge success (no girls allowed, so I chose to stay inside and watch flashback 80's movies...16 Candles!). Nine guys came out the first night and there were a handful more that had intended to come but were tied up at work or with family that are going to try to make it this week. Huge success in my opinion! Josh said the guys enjoyed shooting at the 3-D range, although most had never even picked up a bow, but their main excitement came from their time sitting around getting to know one and other and sharing their histories. Awesome.

The one thing that has really excited me about this study is that Josh and Dusty have contributed an entire library of men's books all for the taking. There are books about men's relationships with Christ, their role in a family, how to develop leadership skills, and all sorts of devotionals for men and couples.

I actually want to read all of them!!





This one is supposed to be great for dad's with little girls.



I can't wait to hear about and see what God blesses this group with. The fellowship and camaraderie alone is huge! I'm so thrilled for the success of the group already and will be praying for the development of these men each Thursday night. If you have a guy in the San Antonio area that is searching for a group and believe this might be for him, contact me!

If you feel like shooting at an 8 foot moose, I can hook you up. (Sigh)