A Beach Vacation, Some New Finds and a Step Ladder Makeover

We enjoyed a week at the beach last month to getaway from the "everyday life". It always does wonders for my soul. Bryce and his dad did some fishing off the pier. They caught some and threw them back. They enjoyed it, but it sounds pretty cruel to me. I guess it is a guy thang...

I love to get pictures on the beach just before sunset. I think this is my favorite time of day there.

With the help of our friends and their kids, my kids helped to create this life size sand octupus. They were pretty proud of it. It took a lot of time and a few do overs but they kept building. It was so good just to get to hang out with my peeps without all the distractions of home and regular life. I can't wait to go back! The sand and surf is calling my name already...

I wanted to share a few finds from this summer too. I found this canvas subway style sign at T.J. Max and I just love this saying.
It is hanging in my foyer right when you come in the front door. I still haven't changed that wall color though. I'll get to that eventually...
I found this old fan on the way back from the beach. I love the patina and color. It is just perfect in my sunroom. It doesn't work, but hubby said the cord just needed to be changed because it has a cut in it. Hopefully that will work, but it still is pretty anyway.
I also found this Pepsi crate for a bargain. I love the color on this one too!
I spray painted this old step ladder a color called "Bright Idea" and it is so much more fun now than it was white. I also painted and distressed that shutter behind it. My sunroom seems to be taking a blue and yellow turn and I am loving it. This is the last day of summer for us, so we are headed to the pool for one last day of fun in the sun!

Another Potato Sack Lamp Makeover

I bought these potato sacks at the Country Living Fair last year. I love the other lampshade I made using one of these potato sacks (you can check out that post here), so I decided to make another one. This time I used the burlap and blue one that says "Grow with P & E Seed Potatoes.

I forgot to take a before picture, but I found this lamp at a garage sale for $6 including the drum shade. The lamp was pink and I spray painted it a color called "Bright Idea." I then laid the shade out on the potato sack and cut it to size adding about 2 inches to fold under at the top and bottom. I used spray adhesive to glue the sack to the shade then I hot glued the edges around on the inside of the shade.

The lamp sits in my sunroom on top of the metal table I also got at the Country Living Fair (you can read about that makeover here). Everyone asks me what P & E stands for. I have no idea, I just love using repurposed items. It adds character to a home, saves money, and is better for the environment.

Hope you are enjoying your 4th of July weekend!

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Our June in Pictures

I have been a little behind on my blogging lately, so I am just doing some snippets of what we have been up to in June. The month started out with my hubby having knee surgery. We have enjoyed having him home, but have been sticking close by until he can get out and do more.

We worked on an old lady's yard because her view was covered by brush and trees. She lives across the street. Here is the BEFORE.

Here it is AFTER! This is after many hours of work and sweat thanks to a big group of guys at our church. She is so happy with the result and her new view!

Hubby celebrated his birthday and the kids helped me make him a cake.

We brought him his meal and his cake to him on the couch. Happy Birthday Honey!

Makenna and her cousins sold some lemonade on a few hot days!

I had a birthday and turned 35. We celebrated at my mom's house and I chose Key Lime Pie...my favorite!Me and my favorite hubby :) This was his first time out since his surgery.

Got to celebrate again with my sister and my mom at my favorite mexican restaurant. It is a new one close to our house and it has outside seating, another favorite of mine! I only sit out there when hubs is not with me. He doesn't do "hot" while he eats.

Got to celebrate again with my friends, Amy and Amber, at a yummy bistro and got to eat outside again. I have great friends! I don't usually have this many birthday celebrations, but I loved it!

We had a few summer storms which prompted Makenna to move to Bryce's bed one night. I had to get a picture when I saw this. She usually comes to get in our bed. The picture looks like it is daylight, but it's really dark. They do love each other even though it doesn't seem like it some days!

Grandma Patty came to visit from New York. Bryce talked her into buying him the biggest nerf water gun ever.


The kids loved having her here!

Had a girly slumber party with cousins complete with "Shirley Temples" (Sprite, grenadine, and cherries). I loved that fancy drink as a kid!

Bryce went to a basketball camp and worked on his "skills". He is really improving!

We had lots of lazy days at the pool...

Silly boys sporting their highwater shorts!

Lots of pretend food was prepared for us.

Oh, and I finally found a living room rug at Home Goods on Clearance. I love it!

My first choice was a sisal/sea grass rug but this one is softer and more family friendly so I went with this one after taking a family vote. I am so enjoying these schedule free summer days. Can't wait to see what July has in store! Happy Summer!

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Some Blue Hydrangeas and a 50th Anniversary Reception

A few weeks ago, I had the priviledge of doing the decorations for a 50th Anniversary Reception. It was for my friend and mentor and she pretty much let me have free reign with my ideas. I love when people say that! Since the blue hydrangeas were in full bloom, I decided to use them. A sweet friend and my sister in my neighborhood let me explore their yards and cut the best blooms from their hydrangeas. It was so much fun.

I collected them in this bucket and I had to snap a few shots before I got started with the arrangements. I made the tissue paper flowers and the little cute lantern came from Ikea.Aren't they the perfect color of blue?

The picture below is the guest book table. I used a silver tray from the thrift store and painted it with chalkboard paint.

Some friends did the food for the party. It was pretty and yummy! I used a black damask piece of fabric down the center of the food tables. I layed nandina leaves here and there on the tables. They came from my yard and last for a long time without water.

For the drink table, I used some crushed velvet and 3 squares of the same damask fabric. I then laid the extra hydrangea blooms down for color. These were from a 50 year old hydrangea bush and were a little more purple.

I love the way the hydrangeas looked on the cake too.

Each round table had a different black and white runner. I filled a vase with sliced limes and just added some flowers and candles on the mirror. Very simple!

I used hurricanes on some tables with flat glass circles at the bottom in water, topped with reindeer moss and a hydrangea bloom or two.

Here is a different style hurricane with the same arrangement on different fabric.

I even added a few polka dots for fun.

This was the large arrangement on the food table. I used 3 different types of flowers from Publix to fill in between the hydrangeas and some nandina leaves. I filled the bottom with whole limes.

This was on the round table that connected the two food tables. The plate says, "All because two people fell in love."
These cute napkins came from Hobby Lobby.
I had so much fun getting to arrange flowers and use different fabrics. Thanks Gail for letting me be a part of your special day!

Vintage Headboard Sign

I found an old wood twin bed at a garage sale a few weeks ago. I got it for $5 because a rat had actually chewed on the top of the bed post. I was mainly intrigued by the head and footboard and loved the shape. I knew just what I wanted to do with it! My dad took it apart for me and I sanded it really good with an electric sander. I got most of the stain off, but left some on for added character.

I printed out the name of the hotel that my hubby and I stayed in on our first anniversary. It was the most beautiful place right on the water in Santa Barbara, Ca. It is now closed so I am assuming it might have been destroyed by a hurricane or something. I used transfer paper to put the lettering onto the sign. You can get it at Hobby Lobby.

I then used paint and a small brush to fill in the letters. I usually use a paint pen, but did not have white or blue. It took longer with the brush, but I just used what I had on hand. I love the character of it against the weathered wood.

I added it to my freshly painted walls in the kitchen. I repainted my kitchen, by the way, the same color as the living room (Wool Skein by Sherwin Williams). I started out painting it white, but it was not enough contrast with the trim, so this was round 2. I love it! I will post more pics later. I am loving the coastal touches that I am adding around my home. Makes me feel like I am on vacation!


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