come sit awhile

wednesday window shopping!

since it's summer time and we are (for the most part) staying around the house...we are spending ALOT of time outside on the deck

it's nothing fancy but as i find myself cruising the world wide web i'm getting some ideas..

OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

actually, it was meg that got me thinking...just look at what she did with her front porch! 

  

and she used what she had...makes it so much more fun that way!

and this little humble abode

i believe i could beg, borrow and steal for something as sweet as this...

 

photo courtesy of melissa at the inspired room

  

photo courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

i LOVE LOVE LOVE the simplicity of this pergola and just so you know, i have always wanted one of these!  this one looks very inviting and just for the two of you...

it really takes no more than a little of this and a little of that to make an outdoor space of your own!use what you have...maybe that outdoor furniture needs a bit of a "pick me up" with just a can of spray paint OR perhaps you need to fill those flower pots with pretty shades of red, hot pink and white to add color to your backyard?  there are simple and inexpensive ways to make a outdoor space come alive! 

try these ideas...

*do you have a covered outdoor area just waiting for you to enjoy?  add curtains or blinds to keep the sunlight at a minimum and it will add that extra something you've been waiting for

makes me want to stay awhile, what about you?

 

photo courtesy of country living

*comfortable furniture is key.  there's nothing more to keep you from heading back indoors than something uncomfortable to sit on...maybe you have some fabric scraps lying around (what you talkin' bout willis? i have personally never heard of such...) that are in desperate need of show!  make some pillows or chair cushions...it's really not that difficult.  this will add color too! 

*you must plant flowers.  if i can do it...so can you.  keep these suckers alive, they look better this way and you can ENJOY the fruits of your labor!  if you are unsure as to what to plant or when to plant it...ask the nice person at Lowe's (or the other place that is not as nice) they are always willing to keep you in the know.  flowers and plants alike are also a perfect way to add softness to a deck or a porch.  group these together and you have a beautiful back drop for entertaining!

*outdoor rugs because they look pretty

*water features because they sound pretty

*fire pits because i have always wanted one...

*don't just grill out there...eat too!  we use our grill a TON in the summer and actually in the winter too!  so why not take the entire meal to the deck?  it doesn't have to be an elaborate table setting or just dinner for two...family night out on the deck sounds like fun to me!

*and last but not least...don't think you have to have the perfect floor, walls or even a ceiling to create and outdoor living space, consider these instead

floors - grass, mulch, a patio or deck

walls - hedges, flowers, gardens, water features and fences

ceilings - arbors, pergolas, umbrellas, canopies and awnings

 

the possibilities are endless!

 

the 5th of july, cabin hunting and chiggers

it was a pictureless July 4th for some reason??  we never even made our way to see fireworks!  what kind of people are we?  i do have these that i happen to get of jackson under complete duress

he was a bit squinty

     

we did however, have a great 4th...it was very relaxing...ate some yummy ribs, made homemade ice cream and played wii

on sunday, we headed north

remember the cabin that my parents were interested in buying?  well, unfortunately they didn't get that particular one (and we're over it now) but there was a back up l-i-s-t with plenty of options for us to see

we made a day of it 

one of the neighborhoods that my parents had previously looked at has this huge river where jackson could play

 

this is mr bruno and his wife ann that met up with us for the day...my mom and dad met them last year at the transplant clinic, he is currently undergoing treatment for AML  

 

the covered bridge at the entrance

 

the water was COLD

 

 

it was alot of fun and the river was absolutely beautiful

look what else we saw...

   

this guy and gal came right up to the house we were looking at!  nothing like a salt block and a bit of corn to help out...but they were not afraid of us at all!

i took these very slowly and carefully with my 50mm and i was literally about 20 feet away!

you see all of the trees around?  that would bring me to the chiggers, but let's not go there...this post is quite long enough, don't ya think?

no big decisions were made in the making of these photos...so i think we're going back soon!

i've just got to go there...

just finished watching the bachelorette...STOP READING NOW if you haven't! 

wes leaving tonight was way overdue.  he was such a PIG!  but of course, if you keep up with reality steve then you know it's all a bunch of bull and nothing short of keeping the ratings up.  whatever it may or may not be, i'm always sucked in! 

tonight was a pretty darn good episode...considering

and i was pretty suprised to see that she did not "forgo" the fantasy suite with any of the guys...although this IS TELEVISION and we're talking "ratings" here folks...

i believe their time will come, don't you?

i'm still unsure as to who she's leaning towards??  i'm thinking maybe it's reid and the whole "opposites attract" thing

be sure to take a look at reality steve's blog in the next day or so, i'm sure he will enlighten us on tonight's episode in only a "reality steve" kinda way

see ya!

happy 4th!

 

be safe...

red white and blue

i love the 4th of July

 

and this year, i finally decorated my table as it should be

found these plates a couple of years ago at walmart (yes, you heard me right) as much as i despise that place...they seem to be coming around!

here's the complete set

     

 

absolutely perfect for summer and the 4th

and of course, anything is perfect with black and white check plates.  amen.

several years ago i found the huge black basket that currently sits on my table at potterybarn...it was NOT cheap but it was one of those things that i just knew i had to have!  it was long and rectangular, just like my table and was a perfect fit. 

it is completely versatile and i use it ALL THE TIME!  

to this day, i believe it was money well spent

 

it is NOW filled with three round flower pots from hobbly lobby, 9 american flags from michaels 2/$1 and a 3479lb bag of sand from lowes

and voila!

 

i love it! 

here are a couple of other fun ideas...

red white and blue mason jars from Kimba at A Soft Place to Land 

a all out table celebration! at Between Naps on the Porch

 

happy 4th! 

peer pressure by way of the internet

 

photo courtesy of i don't know...sorry

now i want to paint my mantel black...

wednesday window shopping

there's nothing more "time wasting" than searching the internet...well, you know what i mean! 

i'm sure we can all agree that there are many other things that we could be doing while surfing a gazillion other blogs and taking our time clicking on that long list of favorites

but it's fun, isn't it?

i can spend time and my imaginary money and what husband wouldn't like that part?

so this is where "Wednesday Window Shopping" comes in to play!

window shopping is FUN and wednesday...because it begins with a 'w' too

work with me, ok?

i will be challenging myself (if anything) to blog on a regular 'wednesday' basis about FUN STUFF for you and me to SEE!  it may be a random list or perhaps a fun blog that is a must see!  let me know what you think and of course, if you have an idea or two...and most of all

leave me a comment! 

it's the neighborly thing to do

so here's to the SECOND edition!

HEADBOARDS

i love anything that's different.  plain and simple, different makes me happy!  

the unexpected...mouth wide open...fall out of your chair...kind of different

which is exactly what i did when i saw this

 

photo courtesy of Funky Junk Interiors

what i wouldn't give or steal (just kidding) to come across something as wonderful as this!  and she FOUND this...what a lucky girl!

   

i came across this beautiful and unique headboard at apartment therapy (i think?)  and you could vary this one up several ways

  

now for something a bit funky! 

i'm not too sure if i would use this idea in my own home...possibly in jackson's room with the letters of his name...but i love the style!  and i love LETTERS

 

see the door? 

I LOVE THIS!  i have always wanted a old antique, preferrably paneled...wooden door!  the ideas are endless!  the nester actually hung one on the wall above her sofa which was another fall out of my chair moment

  

and here's what looks to be an old garage door on a king size bed...makes a statement doesn't it?

most of these could be done without a ton of money...especially if you scour the sides of the road with your husband in the car while thinking you're a little crazy, like me

but look what you can get!

 

 

 

 

 

a 'good for you' treat!

food network is on ALOT at our house!  

i definitely have my favorites but jackson and i both love alton brown...jackson will sit on the couch for a complete 30 minutes and watch his show.  that is saying alot considering other shows like phineus and pherb, the suite life and  ben 10, he will leave the room to go find a lego or something

but recently on Good Eats, Alton Brown was cooking up some all time favorite snack food with 'good for you' ingredients and calories on the lighter side

i was game! 

Brown Rice Crispy Bars

  

6 cups of brown puffed rice (i used a box cereal found in the organic food section at Kroger)

3 tbsp of flax seed oil plus more for the pan (unfortunately i used canola oil this time...flax seed oil was almost $10, now that i know these are so yummy i'll buy the flax seed oil...it's so good for you)

1 tbsp orange blossom honey

4 cups of mini marshmallows 

1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries

1/3 cup chopped dried cherries 

1/3 cup dried blueberries 

3/4 cup slivered almonds 

melt the marshmallows, honey and oil all together in a glass bowl (i did this in the microwave for several seconds...be sure to keep an eye on it).  once the mixture has been melted quickly add the brown rice, almonds and fruit and stir to combine.  spread the mixture evenly in a pan and let cool completely.  cut into squares and you can store in a airtight container for about 3-4 days 

*i actually used chopped dates and dried cherry flavored cranberries but i'm sure you could sub almost any dried fruit or nut

these are so good!  and of course, if you've ever seen the show he broke down the calories, sodium, fat...all that good stuff and each bar had approximately 60 calories!  not too shabby, huh?

jackson likes them...and jeff will eat them even though they do not contain chocolate

it was a WIN WIN!

a birthday on the rocks

jackson's friend, Bailey from school...had her birthday party at reality climbing yesterday and it was a blast! 

minus the sweltering heat of a warehouse with fans in 98 degree weather...just kidding kim, you know i just had to say it!

after the waivers were all turned in (with our signatures stating that no matter what injuries may occur and who cares if you leave in an ambulance or not, we will NOT sue...um, ok) just kidding, again...

the kiddos were all harnessed up and up and away they went!

 

jackson was so excited and considering he had NEVER done anything like this before, i was super proud of him!

  

he actually made it quite a bit further than this...but not to the top, no way was that about to happen!

i'm sure this is much more difficult than it looks, not a lot to step on at times

too bad i had on flip flops

it was a great birthday afternoon complete with goodie bags of cliff bars, pop rocks and the little key chain thingy that jackson "has always wanted"! 

thanks kim, we had a fun time!  and jackson wants to go back soon...i told him to check with me again in december

it's monday!

i like mondays...even when working.  crazy, i know!  but mondays are the beginning of my routine, and i need routine. 

here's what's on tap for my monday

1.  more of this

 

2.  swimming "lessons" officially begin today...which means jackson gets to swim in a normal size pool (i know what you're thinking...that boy should know what he's doing by now??  well, for the most part, he does...this is something more to do in the summer and HE LOVES IT)

3.  preparing for my garage sale. 

4.  study

5.  work out   done!

6.  post about my weekend

7.  make a list of more things that i need to get done

8.  dinner

9.  The Bachelorette

10.  home depot for PAINT!  i'm ready to paint again...i have my eye on a couple of pieces in the house!  AND i'm trying to talk myself (actually jeff) into painting our armoire that houses our 8462 lbs tv! 

happy monday!