Some inspiration!

Still trying to get in a routine after our vacation to Pawleys Island...so before I start mopping down my house and paying my bills, here is a little inspiration from a beautiful line called MarniDoesn't it make you want to find all your loose odds and ends and whip up something snazzy!!!

I'm BACK!

I have been out of the blogsphere for a while...to much to do,etc....June was a crazy month which ended with a great vacation to Pawleys Island in South Carolina...just got back around midnight last night...so I am about to start putting things away and sink back into home life! I will have more to post on the vacation in the next few days - lots of pictures of the kiddos and all my good finds from the local shops! Happy 4th of July!!!

Celebrating my 7 year old....

I know, I know...I am behind on my posting...it has been very chaotic the last few weeks...some how I thought summer would slow our schedules down but it hasn't as of yet! So I am posting about the most important event of the past week...Braxton turning seven! I still can't get my head around that...it just seems like yesterday we were watching him take his first steps! It is odd, for every year that passes, I measure much of my self by the age of my children.."am I in a better place now than a year ago? seven years ago""am I leading them toward Christ with my actions, my words" "do they eat enough healthy foods - do they watch too much tv?" "am I really taking the time to cherish each and every moment?" because for each year that passes - it is another year closer to them leaving "the nest" and going out into the world to be all that God created them to be! And on, and on the list of questions go!!! I could drive myself crazy with all of this self-evaluation...but in the end, it was my seven year old that answered the questions for me... As I lay in bed talking with Braxton before he closed his eyes for the night...we reflected on the day, the party, the gifts and I tell him how much he has blessed my life and that I am so proud of him...he tears up and says "mom, some day I am going to miss you when I am gone" I of course respond " well, you will be with me for at least 50 more years" and he laughs at this as I wipe his tears away. It was a bittersweet moment for me...hearing those words and the affirmation that I must be doing something right, but also the realization that as I am seeing my time with him grow shorter with each passing year, he is seeing the same...that is after all how God designed it to be!

Baseball days...

Just a quick post...for the last 2 months we've been in "baseball season"...Braxton loves anything physical and competitive...it is how God made him! This past Saturday the Tigers (his team) beat out the Dodgers for the very first time all season to advance to tourny time....he was so excited. The whole team played their very best - it was amazing to see 5 and 6 year olds focused, ha! Braxton is playing pitcher right now, which is a bit nerve racking - for me, but he really loves it...in fact he caught his very first pop fly - he hasn't stopped talking about it since!!! We play again this Thursday night - hopefully they will go all the way - we've really enjoyed the season and his wonderful coaches who love the Lord! GO TIGERS!

A back yard my kids DREAM of.....

I typically don't post twice in one day, but it is dreary outside and I was reading one of my favorite blogs Coco+Kelley when I saw this....It is without a doubt the dreamiest backyard for kids - ever! This is just one of the many homes renovated by Sixx Design - a husband and wife duo...I have seen several of their renovations in many of my design magazines and always LOVE their take on a home...not to mention they have seven kiddos...yes, seven!

Finishing out the week

It has been a super busy week...one I had not expected to be busy - but we have made it, almost. Here is the lowdown...

• Vacation Bible School at Beech Grove...in charge of outdoor activities for the 4 and 5 year olds....one word "EXHAUSTING" tonight is the last night!
• David had two basketball camps this week, I think, wait...I am not sure anymore...but his schedule has been crazy which of course dictates my schedule.
• My dad had some out patient surgery for head and neck issues on Tuesday - unfortunately it hasn't helped:( sorry dad
• Had a furniture delivery/install for DHB Designs...the Chadwick Armoire from Ballards - beautiful!!!!
• Had a meeting for non-profit I am involved with, Kingdom Design Ministries...more to come on that in the next week!!!
• Logo proofs for my website (DHB Designs) I am so EXCITED...I will be reviewing them this weekend to make a decision!!! Thanks to Lisa for all her creativity!
• CLEANED OUT THE GARAGE - people...this was huge! We have a whole pile for yard sale and a few things to organize, but it feels so great to have it almost completed!!! So that is my week in a nut shell, tomorrow we have ball tournaments for Braxton, cross your fingers we win the first game so we don't have to play again later in the day!!! Have a great one!

It finally happened...

Well, it finally happened, my reliable, old Sony camera broke!!! My husband said I have been secretly wishing for it to happen - O.k., I admit - it had a little help - from my daughter that is...she loves taking photos and this time around she did something to the lens...it will no longer retract when turning it off and on....I have ask around about where to get it repaired and every response I have gotten has gone something like this "oh, you would just be better off getting a new one...you will have to pay atleast $160 just to get it looked at"..and yadayadayadaa!!! My problem is this...I haven't saved up enough for the camera I want yet...the Canon Rebel Xsi....so, what to do....if you know of any deals out there...send them my way!

Today's accomplishments

This is what my day consisted of...

• woke up super late because we had a late baseball game...
• fixed the kids breakfast and had a cup of coffee (which amuses my son...he has this little mantra he chants when I pour myself a cup "I need a cupa coffaaay" I may have a caffeine problem!
• played with Liv while David and Braxton went to basketball practice...
• ate Chickfila for lunch
• started cleaning out my closet...which has been on my TO DO LIST for a while - my mom has convinced me to have a yard sale with her so I've been cleaning out all the closets for the last few weeks and mine was the last to do....hooray - check it off!
• Now I am chilling in the recliner trying to decide whether to do another load of laundry or call it a day - still deciding!

Dreaming of the beach

I am going to the beach this summer...haven't been in about three years and I am getting kind of excited. Here are a few things that I would like to pack in my bag! You'll notice there is no bathing suit, that's because I don't have one yet - I hate shopping for a bathing suit probably bc I hate wearing them!!!! and okay, the last picture is not something I will "pack" but it is what I hope is waiting for me at the beach house...a big bouquet of peonies!

The Weekend

I am sitting on my sofa(which by the way needs to be slip covered or recycled - 12 years and 2 children are a lot of wear and tear) watching "Bolt" with the kids...OK, I'm not really watching as much as I am clipping coupons and making "to do lists"....but our weekend has been great!We traveled down to Athens yesterday to celebrate my mom's birthday and plant some more stuff in the garden. It was a great day, here is the breakdown:

• People: me and the kids, Mimi and Papaw, my sister & her family, my sisternlaw and her boys
• we worked in the garden - planted more yummy vegetables
• fed the chickens
• ate some lunch
• pet the horses in the neighboring field ( Liv is adamant these are her horses )
• played with Duke and Belle - the stinky Labradors
• had some Dairy Barn(local ice cream hangout) - walnut milkshakes are my FAVORITE
• fixed spaghetti for dinner
• threw the kids in the bath, put on pj's, and hopped in the car about 7:30pm to head home

It was a great day and we all slept like logs last night! Off for the ritual Sunday nap...have a good one! More to come on the above mentioned sofa, stay tuned!

Doing a little design work

Doing some design work today...here is what I'm diggin!The pillow is Hable Constrution, lamp is Barbara Crosgove, the table is World's Away, the wall paper is unknown as of yet (but I will try to find out) and finally the leather chair is G&J Styles...

A Summary of the last few weeks...

My posts have been non-existent as of late...I guess it is the end of the school year and with that comes lots of activity! Here is the lowdown...

• Mother's Day was great...my gift was a spa day with girlfriends! It was great and I can't wait to do it again!
• Lots of baseball games - Braxton is a natural and loves playing short stop...he's had several home runs and his favorite part of the game "TOKENS" , for the concession stand afterwards...it's all about the food for him!
• Olivia's Ballet recital...she did great, she looked beautiful...but I think she might be more suited for something a little more rough and tumble?!!? Only time will tell...
• David has started basketball again...gone are the days of "basketball season" now all sports seem to be "year round"....atleast now Braxton can join him at practices and workouts!
• I jumped on board a new project with an old friend, Missy Johnson...she started a non-profit last year called "Kingdom Design Ministries". KDM provides interior design services, a 'room makeover', for children who have suffered tragedy or have been diagnosed with a disease such as cancer. If you are interested in learning more, I will be posting in more detail in the coming weeks!
• My mom's birthday was the 19th...we are celebrating this weekend...no baseball game Saturday so we will head down to Athens and spend the day working in the garden, celebrating my mom, and maybe eating some SMORES around the campfire!
• The end of school....Liv finished up Tuesday of this week and Braxton will be done on friday - I am really excited about the summer ahead. Looking forward to the time off with the family and getting LOTS of projects done!!! Well, that is a very short summary of the last few weeks and the week ahead! Now I am off to play with my daughter...have a wonderful day!!!

Catch up Post coming!!!

Sorry for the pause in posting...I PROMISE to have a catch up post very soon...lots of great things happening! In the mean time, here is a pic of me taken by my three year old...I think she is a photographer in the making!!!! (Needs a little, maybe a lot, of photoshop magic!)

Spa Day with the girls!

Yesterday I spent the day with two of my dearest friends - from WAY BACK!!! Pasha and Sherry! I met Sherry in 7th grade English...she sat right behind me and when the teacher called roll - she tapped me on the shoulder and said "hey , my mom's name is 'Donna' - and that was that - we were best friends! Pasha, I met through the neighborhood kids - Hannah M., Kristi P., Benny M. and Jason K. - bc they went to school at Riceville Elementary and so did she!!! The first time we met was at a bday party at Kristi Parks house - she was beautiful and sweet and dating an 'older guy' and I thought she was just SO COOL! Immediately I knew we (Sherry and I) had to be friends with her! So, the years have gone by faster than I care to admit...there have been years where we haven't talked, years where we have been close...years with heartbreaks, weddings, babies, toddlers - and yes, teenagers - but all the while these two ladies have remained a constant in my life...they are a part of who I am - and I love them!!! and I have to say big 'thankyou' to my husband - who took the day off from work to watch Liv so I could spend the day with my girls....Happy Mother's Day to me!!!

Busy, busy, busy!

It has been a while since I posted...life has been super busy...lots of happenings the month of April - lots to journal about, but no time today...I am spending the day CLEANING MY HOUSE with Liv's help...I will catch up this week with my postings, but in the meantime...here is my inspiration for the day from www.dabneyleeathome.com I especially love the last picture - love the pattern and bold colors...