Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Go Green!

Hi! Thought I'd pop in to share a few fun recycle crafts that you can do before the littles are out of school or save them until Summer is here and you can share the fun. I happen to love the above succulent garden by Taylor Stone Prints on Etsy. How fun would it be to try making a few of these with some discarded cereal boxes and green paints?

While you have those paints out... add a touch of white to make those hues a tad bit minty and try painting a few twigs to create this awesome wall hanging from Grow Creative...

And if you're in the mood for a touch more ombre to brighten up your home and adorn your indoor greenery, check out these amazing popsicle stick planters from Design Love Fest. They're the perfect punch of pastel for summer without dropping a dime.

It can get pretty hot in the summer too, so I'm sure you and your littles will ned some cooling off. Why not make yourself the cutest watermelon fan ever like Makes and Takes? I think this would make a stellar party favor for any little's birthday party.

Not one for an afternoon of painting? No worries. How about a little kitchen science with food scraps like the one found on MPMK?

Bring it on Summer. I'm feeling inspired and a tad bit crafty. xo

Grow Up!

Five year olds want to be seven. Seven year olds want to be ten. Teenagers want to be 21 and I just want my decor to Grow Up. Weird huh? I'm not quite sure how one's decor can grow up, but there is something that seems a little, for lack of a better term, young about my home lately. Maybe it's because I have zero money to pour into the decor of our home so everything, and I mean everything, is thrifted. If I'm honest I also have a problem with buying things that I don't really need if they're under $5.00.

I follow Joslyn Taylor of Simple Lovely and if you've ever seen the interior of her home you will completely understand what I am about to say... she is a grown up. In the best possible way. She has this uber cool 70's vibe going with a mass dose of chic. That lady has style out the yang. When I grow up, I want my house to look like Joslyn's. Until then, I'll just drool over her pins and the homes you see here today. Slurp. Slurp.

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Happy Weekend all you grown ups and kids at heart! xo

top image via the zhush

Mint to Be

I'm sort of in love with all things minty, dusty green. It just seems so fresh and clean right now. Like that minty green color above? Yeah, I'm pretty sure my front door is begging to be painted that hue. Here are a few others currently tugging at my Spring strings.

The hubs and I shot the interior of this amazing Dallas home the other day that stopped me dead in my tracks with it's heavenly aroma. Sueded Tobacco from Aspen Bay's Reserve collection is the scent and the container has this beautiful dusty green luster. So good.

These dining room chairs seen on a House in the Hills. Drooling. They add just the right pop of color in the midst of all that natural wood and stunning white. Don't you think?

Now matter how hot it gets, I'm not giving up my coffee. This mint recipe from How Sweet It Is seems like the perfect refreshing summer drink. It's like Summer's version of Hot Cocoa. 

And if all of that isn't enough to make you swoon, Kirsten of Simply Grove has to go and paint her side table the perfect shade of minty green to brighten things up. I love the contrast with her neutral palette and gold and black blanket.

Are you in love yet?  I could have gone on and added desks, chairs and Jenna Lyon's silky green pants into the mix but I don't want you all thinking I've lost my marbles over a color. But... maybe I have. I feel like that little emoji that has the big goofy grin with the hearts for eyes. Yeah, that's me and mint. How about you? What are you loving right now? xo

door color dollop above via pure home

Around the House: The New Old Desk

That right there friends is my most recent roadside score. Apparently my neighbors had a garage sale a few weeks back and this desk didn't sale. It was then put to the curb in hopes that someone would provide a new home. Hello desk. Wanna come home with me? Uh-huh.

Right here is when I came to understand why no one had purchased this dreamy desk of awesomeness. Heavy. Back pulling, hernia inducing, heavy. Oh my mercy. All I could grab on my own were the drawers. Then the hubs and I had to take the guts and the top off in order to get it into my studio. Was it worth it? Hellz yes! This baby is a sewer's delight.

After wiping down every inch of the desk, I sanded the varnish off and stained the wood with an ebony stain that we had in the garage. (I couldn't stand the orange-y hue of the original stain. Yuckers.) Once the stain was dry, we put the top back on and bolted her down tight. We had to recruit some help (thanks sister and BIL) for getting the guts back in. You must be asking... "guts?" "What the heck is she talking about?" Only the absolute best part of this desk. The door on the lefthand side opens to reveal another "desk" that pulls out and pops up. Perfect for a serger. I KNOW! Sewers' dream. I die. I think it was originally intended for a 10 key or something. Not anymore baby.

After cleaning out the drawers, I lined all of them with some old wallpaper that I scored a long time ago at a thrift store. And then I replaced all the pulls, which was crazy difficult because 4" centered pulls are not the easiest thing to find. Especially if you want the pulls to actually look good. I finally found these amazing bronze beauties on myknobs.com. 

You guys, this desk is a total game changer. I can sew, serge and work on my computer, all with the swivel of my chair. Whaaaaat? Did someone say, "heaven." Amen sistah. In the end, my new old desk ended up costing my $31.00. It is by far the best thing I have ever scored in bulk trash. I love it so much it's kinda sick. Sometimes I go up to my studio to just sit at my desk and look around. All the natural light, white and tree top views makes my heart go pitter-patter. I want to sew all the time now. Praising God for the little ways He blesses us.

I hope your Mother's Days were amazing. Just like each of you. Happy Monday. xo

Motherhood

It changed everything. That pink plus sign. My heart stopped and then it started beating quickly and moving it's way up my throat! I was going to be a Mom. No, not a "Mom." I was going to be someone's Mommy. That very moment is when the adventure of my life began.
Not every moment has been a gift, but the ups and downs have changed me for the better. Yes, there were (and still are) moments when I wanted to run for the hills - like the time I sat on a plane for 2.5 hours with a screaming toddler and didn't have the presence of mind to by my fellow travelers a round of drinks. Or when my newborn would sleep for a max of 30 minutes in between feedings for the first five weeks of his life and I thought I might hurt myself or my children. By God's grace, and with the help of community, I got through the really low lows. And for every difficult season there has been a wellspring of joy. The happiness that fills my home and my heart is like no other. From that first introduction followed by sweet baby smells and cuddles to the silly milestones of losing teeth and tying their own shoes... Mommyhood is a celebration of life. Life in it's purist simplest, hardest, rawest form.

I am a Mommy. I wipe bottoms. (Not anymore thank you sweet Jesus.) I wipe tears. I prepare lunches. I don't get much sleep. I am often a pack mule. I get 2-3 hours "off" on a good day. I rarely take vacations. And I LOVE IT. It is the best job in the world. I am so grateful for my little nuggets and the way they grow me. Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there. You are one seriously badass breed of people! Much love and mad props. xoxo