Sweet Summertime

Well, it is officially SUMMER! I have been off school for about a week and a half. Today was my first day not having to work at all. I have been busy doing summer workshops and tutoring. I really wanted to spend my very first full day "off" at the pool, but the weather was gloomy and rainy all day. So, I spent 5, yes 5, hours IRONING today. I HATE ironing, so it is no surprise that I let huge piles of ironing pile up. I was ironing winter clothes, so that shows how long it has been since I ironed. My closet is like jam packed full right now because everything is cleaned and restocked.

Samson has enjoyed the last few weeks. Will has been lucky enough to get to be home three straight weeks this month. I was really excited since they were my first three weeks of summer.
We got a new shelf for our family room - I would show you what it looks like in our room, but we have not found much to decorate it yet. We still have to find things to decorate the three wall shelves we got earlier in the year.
We build our three mini retaining walls over Memorial Day weekend. Will and his dad worked for two and a half days. We used ANCHOR Stone, the Flores design in the pecan color. This is not a picture of ours, I can't quite seem to take a good one. We bought our stone at a place right down the street from our neighborhood, so it was easy to transport everything and make quick runs if we needed more of something. It looks pretty and now I want to do it in the backyard, but I don't think we really have a place for it back there. I still would like to get our slab in the backyard poured this summer too.


I am headed to Nashville on Thursday to visit my sisters and see Logan. I am really excited because I have not seen him since he has been a strong walker. I won't be back until Sunday and I worry about leaving my boys alone (Will and Samson). I know they will do fine, but I will miss them.


Mandy, Ryan and Logan are coming in for the Fourth of July again this year. I want to buy one of these cute lemonade pitchers.
Will spotted one at Home Goods the other day when we were searching for picture frames, but it was flimsy so we didn't get that one. I may have to just get this super cute one from Pottery Barn. Will wants to serve his favorite drink, margaritas, out of it.

We are really close to buying this desk at Target to go in our guest room/office. But we can't decide if we want black or brown in that room.

One last note, two of our best friends have some big news to share...but it is not mine to share for them....so hop on over to their blog HERE. Needless to say, we couldn't be happier for them and we are excited to watch this next part of their lives unfold! Congrats Kerns and Chris! : )

Have you seen this blog?

OH MY GOSH. Have you seen this blog? There are so many recipes that I want to try on this site...I mean WOW. I'm totally excited. Seriously, check it out....

Goodbye Red Runner

I have to say goodbye to my 1999, red Grand Am this week because I got a new car Saturday!! I LOVE it. I drove it all around today to get used to it. Will and I purchased a 2010 GMC Terrain on Saturday. It is black paint with black interior. Although it is sad to get rid of the red runner, I won't miss having a window duck taped shut, cracked dashboard, broken speakers and air conditioning and stained cloth interior. I love new car smell...

New York, New York...here I come!

The last two years I have been participating in a grant through the federal government offered by my school district. One of the culminating things I get to do is take a trip to New York City. This trip is supposed to give me a better understanding of the history of immigration in America to help me be a better social studies teacher - but - let's face it - it is a FREE trip to NEW YORK and I've NEVER been - so - not only is it going to help me as a teacher, it is going to be F - U - N. I wasn't that excited about it until tonight. We got all the details at our meeting and I found out I get to room with a great teacher friend of mine, Angie!

We are staying at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel. I'm excited to get to go to the Tenement House and do the Immigrant Soles walking tour. I get to take the SUBWAY! Is it weird I am excited about that? We are visiting Battery Park, Ellis Island and Liberty Island. Hopefully we will have time to go to Central Park, Rockefeller Center and The Empire State Building. We get to eat at this yummy Cuban restaurant called Havana Central. We are also eating at the Hard Rock Cafe on Broadway. I'm just so excited...when is July again? I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and I'm sure I'll have tons of stories.

Its been awhile...

It has been awhile since I have done a post. I've been kind of busy enjoying this beautiful weather! In the last few weeks Sam had his first birthday. He is officially supposed to be potty trained now...so far so good.

Sam loves opening presents...

...and enjoying his special gourmet dog treats.

I made a new cushion for our front porch bench out of outdoor fabric.

My sister and nephew visited. Logan and Sam made friends fast.

I didn't get many pictures with Logan, but I thought this one was cute with his Aunt Megan.

I have a few crafty things up my sleeve, but have been too busy getting outside to work hard on any of them! I'll be better about blogging again soon - I PROMISE! 6 more weeks of school after all, but who is counting (surely not the teachers!!!)...

Spring Green and an Early Birthday

I made a spring green headband tonight. I had seen these headbands on Blue Cricket Design. I decided to twist it a little to use this pretty, green satin ribbon with stripes on it. I still want to make the one like Blue Cricket Design has, but not tonight (I'm watching The Real Housewives of New York City - on my DVR from last Thursday).

Here is the finished product.

Just a cute little spring look!

Now on to more important things...Samson's birthday! Samson will be ONE this Friday (April 2nd). Our little boy is growing up. I went birthday shopping for Samson yesterday and after I wrapped his presents in wrapping paper (apes with boxers and party hats on) - I couldn't help but want to give him one of his three new toys.

Sam LOVES unwrapping presents. We found this out at Christmas.

And, as you can see, he loves his new toy too. More presents for Samson on his real birthday - if I can make it through the week without giving him the rest.... ; )

New Hardware

Towards the tail end of spring break I convinced Will to go to Lowe's with me and pick out some new hardware for our half bath and master bathroom. Here is a glimpse of what we chose. It turned out really pretty with the lighting we picked when we built the house.

While Will was measuring, drilling and hanging - our micro manager watched over him.
We already had these pictures but we added them to our master bath, right above our tub.

I love the new hardware with the towels. Pottery Barn sells these exact white towels with the embroidered pearl dots at the bottom, but I found mine at Home Goods!

Now we just have to get new faucets, mirrors and shower heads...and hardware for the second full bath...let's just add it to the list.