the beach house

This is the wonderful beach house we are so blessed to be able to stay in. This home is up for sale though. Sad for us, but better to sell a house the owners rarely use I suppose. The main house is three levels with the carriage house to the side.

The family room is on the main level. I must say this is the most comfortable couch ever.

This is the private heated pool out back.


The second floor main living area.


Balcony where we spent most of our time while in the house.

The bunk room where my daughter loves to sleep.

Dining area.

The kitchen where my husband cooked the most amazing meals.

We have stayed in this home many times before, but this was my most favorite family vacation. It was much needed. Our kiddos were continually in awe and I personally loved all the family time we got with daddy. Even the 4 1/2 hour car ride went without a hitch. I am sure I will post more photos from this trip during the week. My husband and I even did a mock photo shoot to brush up on some skills before our Christmas photo rush. Dorky I know, but still loads of fun. Now to go and finish the many loads of laundry that I must catch up on.

have a great weekend!


Brother was not in the mood for pictures and sister is always ready to strike a pose, haha! We leave for home Monday. See you then.

wiggle ln





house II





As my daughter woke early this morning I thought it would be fun to look at Rosemary Beach real estate. I think beach life is the life for me. I love the peace that I feel, I love having my husband around at all times, and I love how excited my kiddos get at every little detail. Of course I know all this would not last, reality would have to strike eventually, I think. I did find two dream homes for purchase. Now if only I had millions...

Hmm, for some reason I can't get the photos to move down and it's not reading the spaces I made. oh well, I hope you enjoy my dream land anyway. Next week I'll post pics of the home we are staying in.

modern economy sale cont...


I bought these adorable sticky note sets from Good on Paper Design. I am always in need of ways to keep organized and these will put a smile on my face. I also really like these, but they were not part of the Modern Economy Sale.

I also was able to purchase this dish towel by Tikoli for only $3.00. I have an odd love for a pretty dish towel. This will happily join my growing obsession, I mean collection.


I really wanted this dish towel also, but it was already sold out. I was slightly bummed considering I shopped during the earlybird special. I may purchase it later on the Tikoli site.

modern economy


I am so excited about the big sale. The doors have not yet opened, but I am ready and waiting. I have no idea what to expect. This should be fun. I'll post again later if I make any fabulous purchases. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

and the weather is ... rain.

Yesterday was a wonderful first day at the beach. Ellie made me tons of sand cakes with frosting and KJ loved getting pounded by the waves with daddy. We ate, went shopping at the outlets, and just enjoyed ourselves. As for today the rain is coming down. I don't really mind it. We have decided to make it a kids movie day. It should be fun!

window shopping

Last night we ate at the Taco Bar in Seaside. Don't worry it's not a real bar. We then decided to walk to the local ice cream shop. Well, right next store there was the most gorgeous furniture and accessory store. I wish I got it's name, but I was in love with what I saw inside. My bedroom at home is the worst. It has all the furniture that we did not know what to do with. Our room is large so the sitting room is even used as a play area for the kids. The pictures below were taken with my camera phone, but despite the poor quality, this is what I would love our room to become one day. I think I will start saving now.


this could mean trouble

This weekend I found Calista Cove online shoppe. It carries some pretty fabulous stuff. Most that I can not afford, but then I found the daily deal! This is not just a few dollars off, it's a huge reduction. Saturday, I found this body creme. Originally $28.00 each, for only .99. Shipping is where they kind of get you, it was about $10.00. I got four so my total was just under $15.00. I personally think this is great, think about it that's 3 gifts under $15.00 and I get to keep one for myself. How fun is that!

p.s. if you happen to read my blog and happen to receive this as a gift then you should already know I am a bargain hunter, ha!

hello

Oh, how I love to be on vacation! We normally try to have two a year, but with my husbands busy schedule I was afraid we would not get the second. This year we were blessed enough to have both at Rosemary Beach. One day this week I hope to post pics of the amazing home we get to stay in. We arrived really late Sunday night, so we could start fresh the next day. I love the beach in the fall and early spring. I love the feeling of having the neighborhood to ourselves.


This photo was taken this spring on our last vacation by my husband. It then made it on the cover of 'The Rosemary Tymes'. The local newspaper for Rosemary. I wish we had the newspaper already scanned, but atleast you can get the idea.


This summer I had my husband enter into Coastal Living's amateur photography contest a few months back. We entered this photo of KJ's feet from that same spring vacation. We never thought it would actually make it anywhere, not that I don't think my husband's amazing, but we knew thousands would enter. Low and behold, he got 2nd runner up! The photo ran in the September issue so you may have actually seen my boys feet already.

have a great weekend!

image from Kate Spade

Next week we are heading to the Rosemary Beach! I hope to be keeping up with the blog, but I guess I will just have to see. I will leave you with a story...

We told my daughter last night that we are going to the beach. She decided to start packing. I later look in her suitcase and I see she brought her swimsuit, my swimsuit, and her elephant and roo. I am so happy she has her priorities straight! Too bad she was 3 nights early for her wonderful packing job.

welcome home, part 5

Today I am ending my week of home photos with my kids rooms. My daughter was so excited that her elephant and roo made the pictures!


My daughters bed is from the same set that I had growing up. I remember not loving it in college, but now I am so happy that I did not alter it in any way. The lamp is from ikea. The collage above the bed is made up of picture frames I did and other special mementos of when my daughter was a baby. The frame surrounding the letter 'E' was my grandmothers.


This chandelier has followed us from home to home. My daughter had a thing for kites so I made her some out of scrapbook paper and twine. The blue curtains are from Z. Gallerie and I thought the blue balanced out all the girly pink.


The play kitchen was last years Christmas gift from Target. She is obsessed. The banner was purchased from Anthropologie for her 3rd birthday party.


This is my son's room. I tried to keep it simple. I personally believe a boy's room should not be over decorated. The bedding and mobile are both from Pottery Barn Kids.


This dresser was my husband's before we were married. The mirror I found on the side of the road and I painted it brown. The lamp is from Target.


These three pieces are from Hobby Lobby. I purchased them during a half off sale. It is hard to tell, but the paint is a light blue/grey. It took me forever to find the right shade of blue. Right now my son has a major thing for birds, so I will be adding a bird pillow that I made very soon.

welcome home, part 4

This is my dining, kitchen, and work desk area. It sounds quite crowded, but having such an open layout makes it feel spacious. This is the area where most of our entertaining goes on. Our table can seat up to ten and the kitchen bar can seat three. We always entertain around food. I think people are most comfortable when their eating something yummy.


When we moved in laminate counter tops came standard. With the kitchen being so open to the rest of the house I wanted something a little nicer, so we went with Silestone. We still need to add the back splash. We are thinking of going with a subway tile in slate. I found the little stool at a flea market. I pictured my little girl climbing up to help me bake, but in reality she sits on the counters while my son pushes it around like a car.


The side board came from Pier 1, but it looked nothing like this. It was on clearance for $100, so for a piece that large we just couldn't pass it up. It was a blond wood with modern knobs. We painted it stratton blue by Benjamin Moore and then distressed it and changed the knobs. The lamp is new from Home Goods. I think I am going to change out the iron piece with a circular mirror we have. Still haven't quite decided. The baskets house kids games and coloring books. All the fabric is below, simply because I haven't figured out a better place to put it. I do all my sewing on the dining table.


These are old windows from my college apartment. I snagged them during a remodel. All the photographs are done by my husband or I.


This is my little work desk. The bins above hold all my bills and stationary. The desk is from West Elm. It was the only one I could find to fit on that tiny wall. I am looking for a more comfortable desk chair. It has been hard trying to find something reasonably priced that also looks good in the dining area.

The high chair is one of those chairs that have the big plastic cover. I wanted a high chair that was clean looking and I couldn't fathom spending a ton on something that would be used for only a couple of years. So, off went the plastic cover and I didn't have to spend a lot.

tag, i'm it!


The wonderful Trina from la la lovely tagged me!

here are the rules:

1. link to the person that tagged you.
2. mention the rules.
3. tell six yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
3. tag six other blogger's by linking to them.
4. go to each person's blog and leave them a comment that lets them know they have been tagged.

here are six boring, unspectacular details about me. (how funny is that)

1. I was born in Venezuela, but only lived there for three months.
2. I go to bed at 10 o'clock almost every night.
3. It took me 5 years to graduate from college. First I was in fashion design then interior design and ended with family and consumer sciences. What was I thinking?
4. I read Nicholas Spark books.
5. I am the worst cook. (this one was added by my husband)
6. I really got excited when la la lovely tagged me. I mean make my day excited.

I think I just came off more dorky then anything else! oh well.

Tag, now your it!

1. my life {as a sugar lander}
2. simple lovely
3. unruly-things
4. Geninne's art blog
5. simplesong
6. monday through sunday

You all inspired me to start my little blog and I thank you. I hope you all enjoy doing this as much as I did. Have a great day.

Old Navy, really?

Today I was checking out the coveiter blog and saw a post on Old Navy. I have been wanting a new coat for the winter, but I really don't want to spend a fortune since sweet home Alabama never really gets that cold. I do believe one of these coats just might fit the bill. (I also really love the red one that the coveiter has pictured).


welcome home, part 3

This is my kids/guest bath. Most of my home is pretty neutral, but I wanted to do something fun for the kiddos. Sorry, it was difficult to get good pictures. The space is so tiny.


The mirror is a frame from ikea that I painted red. My daughter brushes her teeth all by herself now, hence all the splatters on the mirror. We changed out the light fixture to a discount outdoor light from our local Lowe's.


I painted the bath stratton blue by Benjamin Moore. The wooden letters have been painted the same red as the mirror. The window treatment is a basic roller shade that I mounted upside down. I then put a tension rod through the bottom (which is now the top), to hold it in place. I am still looking for the perfect shower curtain. I want a white with a few red stripes that doesn't cost fortune. Any ideas?

welcome home, part 2

Yesterday my sister became very ill. I would love all the prayers we could get. This little blog has become my outlet. A way to focus on something else even if it is just for a moment. So, I welcome you to my living room. This is where my husband and I snuggle up and watch movies, where people sit and chat, and where my kids use the couch as a trampoline.


I couldn't get a full shot of the couch, it is by Rowe. The couch has a slight curve to it, which works well in this room because it has to float in the middle of the room. The coffee table was my first big purchase. I bought it from a local antique dealer. The top is marble. I love the way it's aging. The lamp we got at Pier One for 70% off. The picture in the background holds a fabric mural that my husband purchased for a dollar in Africa. I found it stuffed in a box after we got married that I then framed.


I have two of these leather chairs that I found on super discount at a local home shop. I love the texture and warm color it adds to the room. The pillow I purchased at Z.Gallerie and the side table is an old type writer desk that I got at a yard sale. It's perfect for housing many of my magazines! The picture frame on top I made.


The bookshelf is one of my husband's loves. It holds many of his history books. We have quite a few bookshelves, but this one is a favorite. The bottom shelf is for some of the kids books. On top we have an antique fan and pottery I threw in college. The bright room you can see on the left is the sun room, which we refer to as the play room. More on that room later.


This is one side of our fireplace mantel. The painting was done by a very good friend as a wedding gift. It's a picture of my husband, then fiance, and I smooching as he returned from a month long missions trip to Brazil. She copied it from a photograph that someone took. The walls are painted rice grain by Sherwin Williams.


This is the other side of the mantel. You may be asking why I did not just take a full picture of the whole fireplace. The answer is simple, we have a big ole TV sitting in the middle with the biggest bunny ears you've ever seen. Yes, we do not have cable. We only have one channel that comes in well and sometimes one other! It was a lifestyle choose that we made over a year ago. At first it was hard not having Food Network and HGTV, but now I don't even think about it. As for the mantel, both pieces are Peter's Pottery out of Mississippi and my husband bought me the Willow Tree figure when I was pregnant with my little girl.

welcome home

At least welcome to my home! I thought this week I would give you little glimpses into my home. I always dreamed of buying an older cottage and renovating, but my hubby does not share the same dream. This leads me to say I live in a new development, my home is only a year old and I wouldn't change a thing. My home is about 2000 square feet of mostly open space. This is perfect for us since my husband is a pastor and our house is used for entertaining a lot. I don't think I'll love it as much when the kiddos get older, but this is not our forever house anyway.

This is my entryway. I have a vanity that used to be my great grandmother's that I painted white when I was in junior high. The mirror we got for 50 dollars because it had a slight chip. The pitcher is from pottery barn. Candle sticks I found for 75% off from a shop that was going out of business. The metal basket houses all our hats, scarves, etc. The rug was a 20 dollar find from target. The picture frame I did, it will be one of the items in the etsy shop! Finally, the boots are from jcrew. One thing about new homes in this area is that they lack a lot of character. In my attempt to add some, my husband and I painted all the baseboards, crown molding, and doors mega greige by sherwin williams. I don't think I could ever convince him to do that again!


As you continue to walk in we have what we like to call the cubbies. It houses our many bags, coats, and shoes. I was going to put baskets in for the shoes, but decided in order for my kiddos to actually put their shoes away then no baskets were easiest. My little Ellie gets so frustrated because daddy still does not put his shoes in the cubbies, he always puts them by the cubbies not in. You may be wondering where we got these wonderful cubbies. Well, my hubby made them! I am so proud, he's not normally the handy man type. The old briefcase is one of the very few things my hubby brought into the marriage. I like it's old time charm.


This is the small hallway that leads off the entry way to the kids rooms and second bath. The old chair was my parents first piece of furniture. They were beyond poor, traveling all over, and found this chair on the side of the road. It was covered in paint and then they stripped it down to it's natural wood. We can't actually use it because it's starting to split down the middle, but I love it regardless. This hall also serves as our gallery. We slowly add more and rotate out the pictures. Did I also mention that my hubby does photography on the side. It's a passion we both share and one that he rocks at.

my new purse


I made this purse over the weekend. I've seen the jute handles quite a few places and fell in love. My favorites are from drikab. They are just gorgeous. I am hoping to buy the clutch for some Christmas gifts. I wanted something smaller, than the big ole purse I carry now. Not so much an everyday purse, but one to a add some spunk to some of my plain jane outfits. It was easy to make, except to actually sew the handles on. I think a need a heavy duty sewing machine for that, so I stitched them on by hand. The fabric I purchased from purl soho. It came beautifully packaged. I will definitely buy from them again.

Etsy love


I was so excited to receive my ledger notebook from Bubbo! The personalization is gorgeous. I know most people do their accounts on line, but I love to to write it out by hand. I will be using it for the Etsy shop once we open! Oh yeah, and the packaging was just stunning. I felt like I was receiving a little gift.