Surfs Up

We went to Debordieu Island in South Carolina this past weekend for some fun in the sun......and to attend the most BEAUTIFUL wedding I have EVER been to! (pics to come)

The kids were GREAT in the car and were beyond happy to go to a beach with waves and test out their boogie boarding skills.
I swear that they are TOTAL water babies.....and it makes this mama SO happy!


EVERYONE that sees Collin stops us and tells us how they love his hair and that he looks like a total surfer boy! WELL....HE IS! He would rather be at the beach all day long than do much of anything else!

Kacey tested out her surfing skills! She wasn't interested in the water sports at first.....until she realized that she is really good! She doesn't waste much time doing things that she isn't good at....girls.:)

SOOO HAPPY!

Kacey was screaming the entire time she was in the water! Soo cute!



He was a little upset that I didn't have a surf board.....but they did the best they could with what we had! too cute!

Chad even showed off his skimboarding skills. There is nothing cuter than seeing your husband doing the same things that you used to sit and watch him do over 15 years ago!

We had a great time.....and asked ourselves about 100x "WHY DO WE NOT STILL LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA!!!!!!!!!!????????????"

Hope your weekend was great!
xoxo

Waiting..........

I wait every afternoon in the Car Rider Line to pick up my little kindergartner! In the past 5 weeks, I have read 2 books......several magazines.......labeled TONS of Priority Mail packages.....and today I made a new shirt for myself!!!!!!!!




I love it, and am super excited about making another one tomorrow afternoon! I wish I could take a little nap while I wait in line.......but I refuse to be "that mom" that is getting honked at because I am still sleeping when the kids are outside.

......if only I could bring my sewing machine into the car with me! hmmmm......

My Best Friend

7 years ago, I married my Best Friend!

Anyone that has known me for the past 17 years knows that Chad has always been my Best Friend!

From the day I met him, I just KNEW that we were going to get married......have a dog named Roxy.......live in a yellow stucco home.......have a daughter named Kacey Collins.........and that he would make me the happiest girl around! (not a joke, I seriously have this written in my 8th grade journal!!!!!)

married....CHECK
dog named Roxy......CHECK
Yellow Stucco Home......CHECK (We are currently in our 2nd Yellow Stucco Home)
Daughter Named Kacey Collins......CHECK (well, as soon as I found out I was having a girl, I realized I should probably save the name Collins for if we had a boy...CRAZY!)
Happiest girl around....CHECK!!!!!

We spent tonight looking at old pictures, and they make us smile! I LOVE that we have grown up together! I LOVE that we didn't date until we had already been Best Friends for YEARS! I love that I get to spend the rest of my life with the man that has always been by my side....through thick and thin.



I think we were 17 in this picture....and I was a serious fan of overalls!!!

I think right before this picture my sister made the two of us sit down and watch "my best friend's wedding" and told us that if we didn't start dating.....I would lose him! ha!


We went to the Prom together! That alone is funny!

We never went to the same school....but it didn't even matter!

We were always there for each other!

(loved those shoes! I got them at Wet Seal and I remember my parents saying that I would look back and laugh at myself for wearing those!:)

Jimmy Buffet....1998.

This picture just makes me smile because I can totally see Collin looking like this when he is older......and that thought makes me VERY happy!

Our wedding day was AMAZING!

We had a BLAST!

The feeling of knowing that your ENTIRE family has traveled from Maine, Virginia, Texas, even Germany to come and support you in Florida on your big day.....is a feeling I will NEVER forget!

I wish I could go back and relive the entire day alllllll over again!

7 years later.....and he still makes me happy!

I feel like we have been married for 17 years.......and I look forward to celebrating the next 70 years by his side! (yes, I totally plan on living past 100.....don't you?!?!)

xoxo

Girl's Craft Night

I am a HUGE fan of Sandra Lee, and she always has crafts in the back of her magazines with crafts to do for "Girl's Craft Night". I LOVED the idea, and so a group of my friends and I made it happen!!!!!!

Last night a group of 5 of us got together and made some SUPER cute shirts, drank wine, ate, and just had a really great time! (My hubby is FIRED from taking pics......i didn't get ANY pics of all of us looking at the camera!)

Kacey worked soooo hard cutting out fabric, and kept telling me she was "making a dress". I just sort of said, "oh, how great" and continued on making my shirts.

Ashley made this tank! LOVE IT! I am going back to the store today to buy more shirts to make!

I made this shirt for my mom.....and an all white one for myself. LOVE THEM!!!!!!!

How cute are these shirts?! Ashley and Marissa made these for their little girls....LOVE THEM! I am making Kacey's Halloween shirt tonight!

I woke up this morning to Kacey showing me the dress she really DID make last night!!!!!!!! I was in shock! (promise, didn't drink THAT much wine last night....I really had NO IDEA she had made this)

She also made this hair piece!!!!!!!! I am in LOVE and IN SHOCK that she did this....ALL BY HERSELF!

Check out the side where she tied the dress together with strips of fabric she cut out! I think I have a little clothes designer on my hands!

And a New Dress ALWAYS requires a Performance!
Kacey is BEYOND proud of herself.......and I am too!

Girl's craft night was A TOTAL success, and we are already planning the next one!

Grab a group of girls.....and plan your own!

xoxo

If Only

If only I could buy an old home and just rip it up and start over!

But I can't.......yet.......so until then I will do my VERY BEST at trying to make my 3 year old home look as though it has been here for 100 years. (not in a dirty way......but in a history type way!)

I LOVE Sarah Richardson's work!!!!!!
I love her style!!!
I love her show!!!
I love her ability to mix the old with the new so easily!

I love these pictures!!!!!!!

These stairs are SOOO cute! It reminds me of my mom teaching my kids how to count as they would climb up and down the stairs ALLLL day long!
This picture is also making me think about lighter wood floors!


LOVE this kitchen! We are considering putting an island in our kitchen, and I love the idea of making it a diff color!

LOVE!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE the polka dots!!!!! Love it all!!!!!

She is SOOO great at mixing an old piece with modern touches! I am not a modern design girl....but I LOVE how she is able to mix the two together!

Now off to volunteer in Kacey's class for a few hours!

xoxo

Jewelry Love

I recently found a new etsy shop, Armelle, that I am in LOVE WITH!!!!!!!

I love how subtle they are and their colors!


This coral necklace has my 3 favorite colors and coral.......what's not to love!!!!!!


I have always loved lockets!!!! I still have several from when I was in elementary school!


This one is soooo soft and sweet! I love the pink flower mixed with the light gold!

How will I ever choose?!

xoxo

Saying Bye To Summer

It is still in the 90's here in Florida, but I am excited to switch my home over to it's fall accessories.

Today I am saying goodbye to all of the Summer pillows, some of the sea shells (I enjoy adding pumpkins around some of the shells), and incorporating warmer colors here and there.

This front room is getting a little makeover this week, and I am excited to share them!!!!!! I was planning on waiting until our hardwood floors were put in to do a reveal....but I just can't wait!


I love my BEACH HOUSE and SEA HORSE pillowcases, but I can't wait to add some warmer colors for the fall!


Kacey is the Queen of adding her little decorating touches. I didn't even notice the pearls around the lamp until after I took the picture! ha!



Be on the lookout for some new pillows in my etsy shop VERY soon!



xoxo

GOAL!!!!!!

Both of the kids had soccer games this past weekend, and I absolutely LOVE that they enjoy playing! I played soccer for 10 years and some of my favorite memories were with my team/friends.

This video makes me smile! Collin had his first goal of the season and I caught it on video!

He had been REALLY nervous before the game, so I did my best to show how proud I was.
Okay, Okay, I couldn't control myself! HA!

I have made a mental note that if I am taping a play, I should figure out how to put it on mute!



Enjoy!

Chai Tea Love

It is still in the mid 90's here in Florida, but if I turn the air down....sit under the ceiling fan......and drink a hot cup of Chai Tea Latte..........IT FEELS LIKE FALL IS IN THE AIR!!!!!!

I am IN LOVE with Twinings Chai Tea for the Tassimo Machine!

If you haven't tried it.......run to Bed Bath and Beyond!!!!!

xoxo

Gallery Wall...BIGGER IS BETTER!

Several months ago I purchased a bunch of our family photos by Snidershots and made a photo wall above our couch in the Family Room. I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was super nervous about going so big with the frames, but I absolutely love how it turned out! We are in the market for a sectional sofa as well, and I plan on adding a 4th row of pictures!

I am not really an art girl.....I enjoy tons of pictures of my family all over my home! They are my favorite things to look at!

xoxo

Canvas Prints

My son decided almost 2 years ago that he wanted a sports bedroom. Not any particular sport, but just sports in general!

I went with it and let him do his own thing.

I showed him these canvas prints from Pottery Barn Kids several months ago, and he loved them. At $149 EACH, I decided that I could tackle this little project on my own!


The whole project probably cost me $25.......and Collin and I were so proud! (although I am going to redo the jersey.....it sort of turned out more like a dress)

The two of us made these several months ago, and they are his favorite thing in his room!


I LOVE how they look a little rough, and are just perfect for his room! (not to mention I saved $420!!!!!!!!)

xoxo

Are You There....

I remember reading "Are you there God, It's me Margaret" in Elementary School and loving it!

But I seriously doubt I laughed as hard as I did while reading "Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea". This is a great summer read.......and I guarantee you will laugh!



We spent 3 hours at the pool this morning......and I do believe I am 3 shades darker! And Yes, I was wearing 50 SPF!

Hope you are enjoying your Holiday Weekend!
xoxo

Golden Artichoke Dip

I LOVE fall!

I grew up in Northern Virginia and I remember that September meant that the pools were closed, and the chilly nights were coming!

Living in Florida now, and an expected high of 95 today.......gives September a different feeling!

BUT I think that certain foods can still make you feel a season! Warmer, golden brown, heavier foods make me think of fall!

There are certain foods that I will ONLY eat in certain seasons! I am sure that is strange, but it works for me! (watermelon= summer only food, brie= fall/winter food, wine= ALL YEAR)

This dip is one of my FAVE fall/winter foods!

Hope you enjoy!!!

Golden Artichoke Dip


1 envelope Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Golden Onion Soup Mix
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
1 container (8oz.) sour cream
1 cup shredded Swiss or mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz.)

1.	Preheat oven to 350°. In 1-quart casserole, combine all ingredients.
2.	Bake 30 minutes or until heated through.
3.	Serve with your favorite dippers.

VARIATION: For a Cold Golden Artichoke Dip, omit Swiss cheese. Stir in, if desired, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Do not bake.

*I LIKE TO SERVE THE DIP WITH PRETZEL CHIPS! MMM!!!!!!

xoxo

Halloween Party Ideas

It is no secret that I have a serious LOVE for Halloween!

I am not into watching scary movies, I don't like blood, I can't stand to be scared......BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

I love dressing up, I love all of the fun you can have with your kids, I love all of the candy, I love getting out and walking around the neighborhood, I love the excitement in kids eyes as they show off their outfits.....I love how much fun it is!!!!

When I was in 3rd grade we had just moved into a new house and started at a new school. My parents had a HUGE Halloween party for my sister and I and all of our new buddies! They worked SOO hard making our unfinished basement into a haunted house, planning a scavenger hunt, planning games, and I have always wanted to do something like that with my kids!!! It was probably one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE childhood memories....and probably the reason my sister and I are obsessed with Halloween to this day!

This year Collin has decided he wants to have a Halloween Birthday party.....AND I COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have already started planning/shopping for some goodies!



My friend has her own cupcake business with the most AMAZING cupcakes I have ever tasted! I am planning on buying some yummy treats from her for the adults at the party....but I am going to make some cupcakes for the kids and LOVE this Halloween Party set that I got from her etsy shop at Paradise Cupcakes. TOO CUTE!!!!! I have these liners in several colors already and they are amazing! I never realized that you could actually buy liners that were grease proof and kept their color so well! I am a changed baker now! :)

Collin wants his party to be "less scary and more spooky", so this kit was PERFECT! I love how it is very much a Halloween set, but NOT scary! Check them out at Paper Glitter!


I also ran into Michaels today and fell IN LOVE with these glitter pumpkins! They aren't something Collin would have picked for his party......but I love them!

Is it too soon to decorate the house for Halloween?! This is all getting me way too excited!!!!

xoxo

Master

I think that it might be a good thing that I have not done ANYTHING in my master bedroom.....because I keep finding pictures that I love better than the one before!

This is my new favorite!!!!!!

I painted my walls this color several years ago, and I really love it! I just love how subtle and relaxing this room feels! Not too much going on, just a great place to wind down!



I think I had better get something done in there......before I find another picture!

(*i do not remember where picture is from! )

xoxo