Can't believe it has been 10 years

I graduated from Radford University (in VA) 10 years ago this month! I am still in shock that it has really been that long!!!!!!!!!

I decided to put together a little list of the things that have stayed the same since the good old college days....just to make me feel like life hasn't changed too much! (yeah right!)

1-I still get to share my life with Chad! This has to be my favorite thing that has remained the same!

2-I still own the same snowboard jacket, gloves, and pants because living in florida....I just can't seem to part with it and buy a new one. sad sad sad.

3-It still makes me laugh that SOO many women think that a themed party is just an excuse to dress like they are still in college...aka...skimp on wearing clothes... (those outfits should be retired AS SOON AS YOU GRADUATE..NO MATTER HOW AMAZING YOU FEEL YOU LOOK...it looks silly)

4-I still want to order pizza after a few drinks....although now I am drinking wine instead of crap beer....and "late night pizza order" is now at 9:00

5-I catch myself watching TLC at lunch. I think that my tv in college only got TLC (hours upon hours of watching The Wedding Story and The Baby Story) and MTV to watch the Real World. ha!

6-I still turn to the gym or go for a run when I need time alone.

7-I keep in touch and remain great friends with so many of my college buds.....I love this!

8-A dream Saturday morning is still just staying in bed all day long....and waking up refreshed just in time for happy hour. (this no longer happens....but still sounds amazing)

9-Weekend road trips still make me beyond happy! (although now I pack juice boxes and share the car with my family.....instead of loading up the car with friends and crap food)

10-I still wait till Saturday to do laundry...even though I no longer have to wait in the hall laundry room for my loads to be finished to ensure that nobody takes my clothes.

It is kind of funny how I still can't believe that it has been 10 years ago that I graduated! Looking back I wouldn't change anything at all!


Too funny, I found this picture of my freshman side of my dorm room! hahaha! I loved that tapestry! I remember being so excited when Chad gave me the abercrombie poster (he worked there and they were getting rid of it), I thought it was so cool!
I am so glad I took this picture so that I can show my kids! There are no words that could describe this mess without this picture!

xoxo

Mother's Day Weekend

The last few weeks have been super rough with my asthma and allergies in full swing...BUT after massive amounts of meds...I was all better and ready for an amazing Mother's Day weekend that my family had planned for me.

I am grateful every single day for being a mother to my two favorite people in the world....and even more thankful that I get to share them with my best friend. I honestly couldn't be more proud of the kids that I get to raise and spend each day with!

Mother's day weekend is always one of my favorites and this year was no different. Breakfast in bed....homemade cards and gifts......lots of love....long family bike ride......evening at my parents house by the pool...nap by the pool next to my mom.....LOVED IT ALL!!!!!

My favorite part has to be listening to Chad and the kids in the kitchen as they make breakfast and talk about how "surprised" I will be when they show me. It is the sweetest sound!!!!!


On mother's day I was also surprised with a NEW BIKE! I have wanted this bike for a while...and was super excited!



The kids have been riding bikes without training wheels for a while now.....and have been begging me to take them for rides after school, so we were all excited!

The hubby was a BMX bike racer when we were growing up....so I think he might be the happiest with all of the bike rides that we have in our future!

We went on a four mile bike ride......without any complaining! I just need to put the big basket on the front so that we can carry more snacks and drinks for our rides!

I feel like one lucky lady!

Hope everyone else spent mother's day with the moms in their lives!

xoxo

Easter Weekend....and Strawberry Sangria Recipe

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend!
We had a fun filled weekend full of Soccer, Egg Hunts, Egg dying, Chocolate, and the Beach. It was exactly how I had hoped it would all turn out! Gotta love it when that happens!


We had a fun time coloring eggs!


I did not have vinegar....so we had to wait a while for them to get bright. And waiting isn't as much fun without silly faces.



Note to Self: Do not punch out holes until after reading directions!

Hmm....can you tell which ones Collin did?! This little guy is all things sports!

The Easter Bunny Came!!!!!!!!!!

The kids were super excited about the tennis gear!

Why oh why do I always get chocolate for them!

My Easter Basket.....Strawberry Sangria! MMMMM!

We packed coolers after our Egg hunt....and went to the beach with some great friends!

Such a wonderful way to spend Easter in Florida!

Love this little girl! She is a TOTAL water girl!

Both kids were swimming before they were 3, and I don't think they have stopped since!

Collin was super excited that there were actually waves this time!

We had a great time!

And I probably should mention that I am waiting for my lucky day......I was pooped on.....on the forehead.....while drinking sangria and talking to my friend, Ashley. Yup.....no biggie! I hear it is good luck! :)

BEST STRAWBERRY SANGRIA RECIPE.....

1/2 CUP SUGAR

8 MINT LEAVES

2 (750-MILL) BOTTLES OF DRY WHITE WINE

4 CUPS SLICED STRAWBERRIES

1/4 CUP OF BRANDY

STIR....AND REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo

Loving the Earth

Happy Earth Day!!!!!!!!
Every year I try to do something in the yard for Earth day.....and this year is no different!

We love hanging out in the backyard.....and have been doing really well keeping good care of all of our plants and trees this year! Wahooo!!!!!



We planted three little palms! The kids loved it.....they will grow and block the view of our neighbor's back door......and it was a great way to spend the day with the family.

Kacey and Collin worked really hard and were so proud of themselves! They love this stuff!

Our new hanging plant! My mom snips the "babies" and loves them until they are big and beautiful like this. It is my first time being trusted with one. :)

Gotta love a little pop of color!

The kids painted little bird houses and it has been really fun watching the birds come in for a snack.

I wonder how long it will be until Kali catches one of these birds.....for her little snack.

Kali the wonder dog just turned 2 this past week! I can't believe she is two!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am wondering when on earth she will lose some of this puppy energy!

Hope you all have a wonderful Earth Day and plant something in your yard to give back!

xoxo

Easter Basket Treats

We had another amazing weekend here!
Soccer, birthday party, shopping, yard work, and it ended with a great evening at my parents house by their pool.
I love the weekends, and especially when they involve cupcakes!!!!!!

My mom had a cute project for the kids to do at her house, and I think I might have been just as excited as the kids.

Easter Basket Cupcakes
*Coconut
*Green Food Coloring
*cupcakes frosted with white icing
*Marshmallow Bunnies
*jelly Beans


She put the coconut in a plastic bag and then added a few drops of green food coloring and shook it around until all of the "grass" was green.

Then the kids went to town. They each added mainly marshmallow bunnies....but they loved it!

too cute!

My mom tutors 12 kids a week in math, so we made some extras for her students.

I love how they turned out, and they tasted sooo good!

Hope you get to try this with your little ones!

xoxo

Painted Flower Pot Tutorial

I do not have a green thumb....but I love having plants around my home and backyard.
Last year around this time we made painted flower pots for our yard and Kacey's teachers here and the striped pot is still one of my favorites!

This year I took it a little step further.

You will need:
-Plastic Flower pots (I got these super cute colors at Walmart for $1 for the smaller and $2 for the larger pots. They had several other/larger sizes to choose from as well)
-Chalkboard spray paint
-painters tape and newspaper to frame out your chalkboard area
-craft paint


I marked off where I wanted the chalkboard portion to be and then I sprayed them.

My original plan was to leave them just with chalkboard squares...but I didn't set the tape perfectly so I used my craft paint and took it a step further.

I love how they turned out!!!!!!!!!!
Ideas to use the flower pots for...
-easter basket
-flower pot
-birthday gift pail with gloves, shovel, seeds, and dirt
-teacher's appreciation gift
-welcome to the neighborhood gift
-ANYTHING YOU WANT!!!!!!

I put together a little Easter kit for my niece. I added a bird feeder for her to paint, seed packet, candy, and some other flowering goodies.

This is for me.....with a special message to my new plant.

enjoy!!!!

xoxo

Beachy Living Partial Reveal

This wall didn't change much in our spring makeover.....but it is one of my fave parts.
I purchased these vintage maps of the 3 states that Chad and I have lived in together over a year ago....and have been waiting to figure out what to do with them.

I just really love the blues in the maps...and that we can point out where we have lived on each of them. It just makes me happy!

I will be putting up a tutorial on how I framed each of them for under $6 each!

I also added a new pillow case to my shop today! I just love the color combo...and I am also a sucker for a pom pom trim!

Hope you all are enjoying this BEAUTIFUL spring weather!!!!!!!!
xoxo