Move-it Monday: Hello…

Thought I might try something a little something different and link up with Lisa Leonard’s “Hello Monday” series today!

So, here I go.

Source: lovelyladies.org via Abbie on Pinterest

 

Hello cute, bed-headed, sleepy-eyed boys (and their frogs) who still love to crawl under the covers and snuggle with me on mornings when they wake up early:

Hello, time for a haircut:

Hello, fussy, cereal-covered toddler who is still making diapers like she’s afraid she won’t get another chance tomorrow. (It’s better than it was, but six teeth—including molars—at once? Oy vey!)

Hello new schoolbooks, which we’re all a little giddy about.

Hello, pile of Shop My Closet clothes that needs to be sorted, packed, and shipped.

Hello, BODBYCOMBAT choreography that I’ve barely looked at even though I have to have you memorized by Wednesday.

Hello, Maryland. I hope you realize you stole my husband from me this week. Be nice, okay? (Based on this picture, I don’t think I’d mind being there myself right now).

Hello, project scissors. I hope we gonna be tight today.

Hello, brand new deck stairs that my husband and father-in-law worked on aaaaalllll Saturday (two amazing men, I tell you).

Hello, almost 19-week-pregnant belly. Where did you come from?

Hello, pillow inspiration for the new baby’s room (provided she’s a girl, of course).

And hello, lovely readers!

What are you saying hello to today?

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Feature Friday FREE-FOR-ALL {#17}

Well, howdy, and TGIF, y’all!

Not sure why I’m feeling Texan all of a sudden, but I’m eating watermelon while typing this, so that might have something to do with it.

And since “tangent” is my middle name (or it darn well should have been), how about we take one real quick, m’kay?

If you’ve been reading for a while, then you know we live in the boonies, which I love but is a little inconvenient when you’re out of milk and the closest grocery story is 15 minutes away.

Still, who needs grocery stores when you have neighbors like Adam, who lives a field over from us (yes, I did just say “field”) and grows stuff in that field of his.

His latest addition?

WATERMELON.

Have I told you guys yet how much I love watermelon?

I think it should be its own food group.

And do you know what the kind and generous Adam said?

He said that whenever his watermelons ripen up, I can just wander (or waddle, as the case may be, since he has the late-blooming variety, and I’m sure to be a bit on the ridiculously pregnant side by that point) on down to his field and pick a watermelon whenever the urge strikes.

I don’t know if this man knows exactly what he’s getting himself into.

I thought about taking a picture of me grinning maniacally while tiptoeing down to his watermelon field at midnight and then sending it to him as fair warning (and then maybe even showing it to you guys), but it turns out that’s a hard picture to stage (and have it make any sense at all), and after seeing it, he probably would have rescinded his offer and then put up an electric fence just for me.

So, I restrained myself.

I did find this fun visual representation of my obsession on Pinterest, though, and I think it pretty much sums things up:

Source: love-luck-kisses-cake.blogspot.com via Abbie on Pinterest

 

Oooooookay, so that was a little more of a novella than a tangent, but I’m done with watermelon (for now), I promise.

{Except to say that if any of you suddenly feel the urge to send me watermelon-related products to satiate my cravings, please don’t.  Because the thing is, I only like w.a.t.e.r.m.e.l.o.n. Watermelon-FLAVORED things are just grody. And shipping a real, whole watermelon could get messy. And expensive. And I really wouldn’t want you to have to go through all that trouble. HOWEVER, if, for some odd reason, you find yourself experiencing the desire to send me things made of chocolate, caramel, and pecans, my address is… : ) …ahem}.

And NOW I’m done talking about watermelon. (Pinky promise…so you know it’s for real).

The only other thing I wanted to say before we get today’s lovely features and the party is that I know since my feed was messed up or a few days, quite a few of you missed my bathroom reveal on Tuesday, and since I do not write a blog (entirely) so I can enjoy my projects solo, I put together a little collage of my favorite bits from the reveal. If they strike your fancy, you’re welcome, of course, to go back and see the whole thing.

How ‘bout that?

And now for the features!

You know how they say it’s a bad idea to go grocery shopping when you’re hungry?

Turns out it’s an even worse idea to pick blog features when you’re hungry.

Because then, you end up desperately wanting to make things like A Pretty Life in the Suburbs’ delish-looking Hearty-Choke Dip (cute name!) and can’t because you don’t have all the ingredients in your pantry (and you live in the boonies…boo!).

Or how about this incredibly yummy-looking Fresh Orange and Vanilla Cake from Feeding My Temple?

I have a party coming up that this will be just perfect for!

Apparently, my sweet tooth is on a bit of a rampage because these Cheesecake Nutella Twists from BruCrew Life have me feeling pretty darn happy that I get to break my sweets fast again this weekend (okay, so I actually cheated at Sonic last night, but whatev…I know what’s for breeeeeakfast this Sunday!)

I’m also a big fan of this simple bottle-tinting technique from It’s Overflowing. I think the effect is just beautiful!

And in the, “Why didn’t I ever think of that? It’s brilliant!” category, we have this awesome DIY Rug Slipcover from Free Time Frolics. Head on over for the tute!

You know I love me a good, funky furniture makeover, and this awesome distressed dresser from Mak and Jill certainly fits the bill! (Hey! That rhymes!)

If you recall, I have a serious love affair with the color coral (hello? I want to paint it on my house shutters!) as exemplified by Collette, the Goodwill dresser. And what do I love better than coral by itself? Coral combined with any form of blue-green—especially aqua. So, I am IN love with what my girl, Cassie, of Primitive and Proper did by adding a pop of coral via some awesome chairs to her already adorable dining room!

OH, how these too-cute crocheted gladiator sandals from Crochet Dreamz make me wish I knew how! Della would have 5 pair!

Finally, even though I know it looks like playing favorites because it’s her third week in a row to be featured, I just can’t help myself. Becca at From Gardners Two Bergers just does the best stuff. I mean, seriously, people, how could I not feature her when she took the time to stencil 6 (SIX!) curtain panels with a lovely damask print for her dining room.

And the results? Gorgeous!

Feel free to grab a button from the sidebar if you’ve been featured!

And now it’s your turn again!

Same “rules” as always:

It’s a FREE-FOR-ALL!

If you’ve blogged about it, I want to see it!

So…

1. Link to your specific post URL instead of your blog URL (no limit on the number of linkies, so add as many as you like!)

2. Grab a party button so that others can join in the fun! (Text link-backs are great too! : ))

<a href="http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com" target="_blank"" title="five days five ways"><img alt="five days five ways feature friday free for all" src="http://www.capitalhcoder.com/fivedaysfiveways/5d5wfreeforall.png" style="border-style: none" /></a>

3. Consider visiting/commenting on at least 2 of the other links. You never know what kind of inspiration you might miss out on if you don’t. Plus we all love to read words of encouragement! (I know I do!)

4. PLEASE, no shops or giveaways!

5. If we aren’t already friends, would you do me the honor of getting regular post updates here?:

or you can:

subcribe for email updates,

and/or join our Facebook page!

Ready? Set? LINK!

 

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5 Things Thursday: Thrifted or Grifted Results + The Things He Says

Shoooooeee!

It was neck and neck for a little while there for Thrifted or Grifted yesterday.

And the comments were hilariously conflicted.

“Well, A looks way better on you, so that one must be retail.”

“Hmm…B is way more flattering, so that one has to be thrifted.”

I tell you what, folks, the opinions of women about fashion are as many and varied as the spots on a leopard (which, as it so happens, is a pattern I have never bought at a thrift store).

The gap did widen finally by 8 AM this morning, with the final count being:

A—56%

B—44%

So…which one was 100% thrifted?

Top: ?/GW ($3) Shorts: GAP/GW ($4) Shoes: Mossimo/GW ($4) Bracelet: GW ($1) TOTAL: $12

Top: Beall’s ($6) Shorts: Beall’s ($7) Shoes: Urban Outfitters ($20) TOTAL: $33

You pulled this one out! Well done!

(Darn those too big shoes in Exhibit A. They betrayed me!)

Oh, and you guys have probably already guessed this, but I don’t usually pay $20 for flats—even cute, striped, sailoresque ones—but when I bought the rug for Della’s room, shipping was either free if you spent $50 or like $15 for the rug alone if you didn’t.

So I paid $5 extra, and got free shipping and some fun, comfy shoes out of the deal.

Gotta love retail math.

OH, and the commenter who gets 5 free entries into tomorrow’s giveaway is Pamela, who said:

“I say A is thrifted because it doesn't look like it at all to me. Neither does the other one, but I don't like dark blue.”

That is the most awesomely convoluted, completely nonsensical reasoning ever, and I love it! : )

Okay, so today I thought it would be fun to join in on Bird and Branch’s “The Things He Says” linky, which goes a little something like this: you pick pictures of home décor that you like, then you show them to your husband and see what he thinks.

The thing is…when it comes to fashion, Shaun and I are very different.

He loves neutral and simple, with classic lines…and I do too.

On other people.

But what I gravitate towards for myself is: colorful, complicated, and highly accessorized.

So, you would think that, since home décor is basically fashion for houses, we would be just as different there as well.

Not so much, it turns out.

1. Take this room for example:

Source: everythingleb.blogspot.com via Abbie on Pinterest

 

COLOR! Patterns! MORE COLOR!

I thought he might shield his eyes in pain and exclaim, “Make it stop!”

But instead, he just observed it thoughtfully, then said, “Take away the lamps, and I think I like it.”

(Wooohoo! One turquoise room with a crushed velvet teal sofa and a spunky red chair comin’ right up, baby!)

2. So what did he think of this one?

Source: younghouselove.com via Abbie on Pinterest

 

“Cool dresser. Strange mirror.”

3. And this one?

Shaun: “Umm…baby? Why are you showing me pictures of naked women?”

Me:”???? Yikes!” (closes window quick, fast, and in a hurry).

(And yes, I did “alter” her a bit for decency’s sake)

4. Me: “Whaddya think?”

Source: houzz.com via Marissa on Pinterest

 

Him: “I think I’m sleepy.”

(Which is funnier than it sounds considering that we were all cozy on the couch, and he was needing to go to bed but staying up just so I could ask him silly décor questions and show him pictures of tranquil-looking bedrooms that he couldn’t escape to yet).

5. With this last one, I finally pushed my luck a bit too far.

 

Source: abigailahern.wordpress.com via Fernanda on Pinterest

 

His response?: “Oooof.”

And then he went to bed. : )

Want to hear the best part of all?

He goes along with almost all of my harebrained decorating schemes and almost always ends up loving them when I’m done (although there might be an eyebrow quirk or two in the middle of the “creative process'”). He’s kind of ridiculously great like that.

So, what about you guys?

Do you and your hubby agree on decorating styles?

If not, how do you find a happy medium?

Do share!

And have a happy Thursday!

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Wardrobe Wednesday: Thrifted or Grifted—Short Sleeves + Short Pants

Edit: It looks like we’ve got the feed issue fixed, so you should be getting updates in your reader again.

Please, let me know if something changes! : )

My dad is from Colorado rather than the great state of Texas, but for as long as I can remember he has called shorts, “short pants.”

Why?

I don’t know.

Maybe it has to do with the oh-so-popular t-shirt (hat? bumper sticker?) I seem to remember him sporting that said something to the effect of: “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could.”

Because it just sounds Southern, doesn’t it? (“Hey, Junior, go change out of your short pants and put your britches on ‘cause we’re goin’ fishin’!”)

But I don’t really know anybody from around here that says it. So, maybe it’s just a Dad-ism.

Either way, thanks for the post title inspiration, Dad, because Short Sleeves and Short Pants sounds way better than Short Sleeves and…Shorts (kinda leaves you hanging, doesn’t it?).

OKAY.

That commercial was brought to you courtesy of Abbie’s random brain ramblings, but now it’s time for what you guys actually showed up for today.

And that would be..

THRIFTED OR GRIFTED!

So, what is T+G?

It’s a silly little fashion game I came up with in which I wear two similar ensembles, and you test your thrifting savvy by deciding whether an outfit is:

A) 100% Thrifted: (adj.)—previously loved and therefore ridiculously cheap…aka Secondhand

OR

B) 100% Grifted: (adj.)—swindled or cheated…aka Retail (NOTICE THE “R” IN GRIFTED! SOMETIMES, I GET EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WONDERING WHY I DO A GAME ABOUT “GIFTED” CLOTHES! : ))

…and then you vote and leave me comments telling why you chose the one you did!

(Disclaimer: No, I don’t actually think you’re getting ripped off every time you pay retail, but I do believe that if you can’t tell the difference, you shouldn’t have to pay for it).

If you’re a Thrifted or Grifted pro, then you know the drill—squint, cock your head, haul out the magnifying glass…whatever it takes for you to feel fully satisfied that you have sufficiently scoured each outfit for telltale signs of thriftedness (WRINKLES DON’T COUNT!) and then comment away telling me why you chose which one you did.

The commenter I find most entertaining (there’s nothing fair or random about it! ; )) will get 5 free entries into our upcoming giveaway (THIS FRIDAY : )).

Ready?

O-KAY (and that, folks, is as close to a cheerleader as I will ever get).

Is it…?

EXHIBIT A

Why do I suddenly feel as if Steven Tyler would be very jealous of my hair in this pic? I need a trim!

Remember that nap I was hankering to take yesterday? It kind of looks like I’m getting a brief one in here!

Pardon the awkward, up close shot. I was just trying to make sure you could see the polka dots and the ruffles.

or…

EXHIBIT B

I realize it’s a bit hard to tell what the colors are because of all the shadows and sunlight dappling, but my shorts are pale pink, and my shirt is dark blue/gray.

Again with the strange, close-up shirt shot. (And yes, I realize that’s the world’s fakest-looking smile).

So, have you made your decision?

If so…vote!

I’ll leave the voting open until 8 AM tomorrow since we’re getting started a little later than usual.  It’s always fun to see what other people think, how they vote, and what they say (especially if you feel like you’re a thrifter extraordinaire and have it nailed for sure and want to know if your friends can spot it like you can!), so feel free to be liberal with the Facebook sharing/tweeting.

The more the merrier!

Which outfit is 100% Thrifted?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy!

_{The CSI project ~ Menu Plan Monday ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ Dittle Dattle ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Sew Stylish ~ Coastal Charm ~ Under the Table and Dreaming}

_{Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia  ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse}

_{Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Midweek Fiesta ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims}

_{Thursday ~ Thursdays are Your Days, Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ The Frugal Girls ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue}

_{Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can't Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Shabby Art ~ Answer is Chocolate}

_{Saturday ~ I heart nap time- Sundae Scoop ~ Tatertots and Jello ~ Be different Act Normal ~ Funky Junk ~ 2805 ~ Making Lemonade Blog ~I am Along for the Ride  ~ Lolly Jane}

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Try-it Tuesday: Upstairs Bathroom Reveal—Putting the FUN in Functional

Okay, so I might have been overselling a bit yesterday when I called today’s post “exciting.”

After all, it’s a bathroom.

And I honestly prefer that the bathroom be a pretty boring and mundane place.

Because with three kids under six running around, “exciting” is usually code for “potty disaster.”

Even so, it’s been a looooong while since I’ve done a room reveal around here.

And those are always some of my favorite posts on other people’s blogs, so I’m guessing you guys might like them too.

So, that’s exciting (I hope).

Plus, we just bought 45,000 gallons of paint (from Sherwin Williams during their 40% off sale...woot!) for the garage addition, which means, I know what I’ll be doing for the next 7 years or so, so nothing will be done in there for a while, which makes having an actual, finished room with styled shelves and everything, pretty exciting.

So, yeah.

Maybe I wasn’t overselling at all because it all sounds pretty darn exciting to me!

Okay, first the ugly, unstyled pics—AKA what our bathroom looks like when I’m not making it pretty for you guys.

Ho-hum, right?

Ready for the pretty pics?

Hope so because there are lots (of pictures, anyway; you’ll have to be the judge of how pretty they are).

First, I’m just going to show them to you. Then, I’ll talk (like you guys had any doubt about that).

\

{Did you notice Traylor, the newly blinged out mini trashcan from yesterday?—thanks to Meggan for the name suggestion}

So…feel like you’ve got the general idea?

Lots of turquoise, aqua, fuchsia, and pink. Not too different of a color scheme from my master closet makeover, actually.

And now for that whole “Putting the FUN in functional” bit from my post title.

As I mentioned yesterday, this is the bathroom that is most commonly used by all members of the family.

But just because it’s a “kids’ bathroom” too doesn’t mean that there have to be yellow ducky decals strewn all over the place in order to infuse the space with a bit of whimsy and fun.

The following are my (very unprofessional tips) for making a bathroom both fun and functional.

I love the “I CAN NOT DO IT ALL” print from Jones Design Company, but I have to admit that the whole “can not” part makes me a little crazy. I realize she was probably just adding emphasis, but…yeah, it still makes my grammar/spelling loving skin shiver a little. (I’m weird, I know).

Okay, so I know that the “Keep Calm Carry On” trend is a long dead horse that has been beaten a time or two too many, but I still think I should get bonus points for:

a) how absolutely perfectly the color matches the walls

and

b) ironic placement (especially coming from a mama whose firstborn voluntarily constipated himself for an entire year rather than be potty-trained, which made toilet time anything but calm).

Oh, and as far as sources for everything, an abbreviated list is as follows:

Target

Keep Calm sign

Shower curtain

Bath rug

(all about 2 years old)

Walmart

Glass pouf container

White storage dresser (clearance, $70, baby!)

Marshall’s

Towels

Blue toiletry bowl

Ross

White/wicker drawer tower

Floral bobby pin holder/pot (the aqua/orange/pink one on the shelf, which is easily my favorite item in the whole room)

Goodwill

Glass q-tip/cotton ball containers

Pink bird

Capiz shell frame

White flower vase

……………………………………

Also, I should give an honorable mention to Craigslist, where we found our Kohler sink + Delta faucet combo brand new (retail: $500 for them both) for $40, and Lowe’s where we used our retail haggling skills to get a $300 toilet for $50.

Man, I love a good deal, even on a toilet!

Hope you enjoyed the tour today and gleaned at least a few useful things from my tips.

And now, I need a nap.

If only there time to take one!

Have a great day, and take a nice nap for me, okay?

_{The CSI project ~ Menu Plan Monday ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ Dittle Dattle ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Sew Stylish ~ Coastal Charm ~ Under the Table and Dreaming}

_{Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia  ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse}

_{Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Midweek Fiesta ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims}

_{Thursday ~ Thursdays are Your Days, Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ The Frugal Girls ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue}

_{Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can't Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Shabby Art ~ Answer is Chocolate}

_{Saturday ~ I heart nap time- Sundae Scoop ~ Tatertots and Jello ~ Be different Act Normal ~ Funky Junk ~ 2805 ~ Making Lemonade Blog ~I am Along for the Ride  ~ Lolly Jane}

 

 

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