Playground & Mini-Project

Like I've been saying, work (especially my online courses) has been stressing me out! I have spent 15+ hours grading stuff. Students are calling me. Students are emailing me...Blah, blah.

Ron was off work yesterday, and when I came home the house was clean! And he was taking the food off of the grill--perfect timing. It was just so nice. He has praise team practice on Thursday nights, so Ava & I rode with him. I got a bit of exercise from strolling her in the parking lot, and then we played on the church playground. Her favorite is the slides, so we did that over and over. It was so much fun. The weather was perfect. When we got back home, the three of us played ball in the backyard until the sun went down. After she was in bed asleep, Ron & I watched one of "our shows" Private Practice. I'm learning more and more how important days like today are. Work may have been majorly annoying, but family is priceless!

And in the midst of all that fun, I did a little decor project. These are the flowers I found at Goodwill this week. The container was a yard sale find that I painted black (it was an ugly gold color). I've been trying to improve my plain hallway....

The weekend is almost here! I'm praying for a great day at work!!!

Paint Party 3

Last Saturday the weather was bad here--tornadoes, high winds, thunderstorms--so I allowed that factor along with Britt having to work, to stay home from yard sales...Oh yeah, we were kind of broke too (that's bad, huh?). Anyway, Ron and Ava slept until 10:30. Since I'm so accustomed to waking up early, I got up at 7:30.

I had a cup of coffee and went out into the garage for a morning of quiet, peaceful painting (except thunder:). It was incredible! I felt that it was my therapy for the rushy week before!

I rummaged around in my scrap pile to find something that needed painting. How about this?? This hung above my twin bed when I was a child (oh, and Brittany had one too, of course). My master bathroom needs lots of decor-- it always get the leftovers. I made this little sign for it.

Next, I painted these little tin containers. These were yard sale finds from last year, and they were gold. I painted them white and added a number. I like all the number decor I've been seeing on blogs and Pottery Barn's website. Now I just have to figure out what to do with them:)

Remember this yard sale find from a few weeks ago? I didn't do anything to it except write on it with chalk. For now, it's in my dining room. I like the casual mixed in with some of the formal pieces. I don't want my dining room to be 'stuffy.'

I painted this dresser blue during spring break. My very honest sister said it was too 'fresh' looking, so I brought the paints back out and tried 'antiquing' it more. Did I go too far? I have the tendency to do that....

Lastly, I went through my high school art portfolio. I've always like this because of the colors. I decided to prop it against the wall in the great room for now.

We're having friends over for movie night this Saturday. Ron is even more helpful if we're having company. Yay! I have several things I need him to help me hang on the walls. I'll post picks soon. I'm pretty excited about these things! :) Happy Thursday!!

Brooke's Bargains 20

I didn't get to go to any yard sales this past Saturday, but I did run in to the Goodwill store that is like a mile from my house yesterday...

I bought my sister a maternity dress & shirt for around $8.

I've been wanting an apothecary jar for a while. I see these all over blogs. I bought it for $1. I got the hydrangeas for $3. Also, I found the cute red bangle bracelet for $1. :)

Brittany and I hope to find lots of great yard sales this Saturday!

Book Review 3

Our church is doing the One Month to Live Challenge! It has been thought-provoking!
Check it out!

My Little Artist

What a week (and it's only Tuesday)! Yesterday, I came home after work and tutoring to clean our house! Our weekend was insanely busy but FUN! Birthday party, yard sales, church activities, Sunday lunch & dinner with friends,...

Today, I didn't feel like doing much around the house. Ron was off work today and grilled for us. Then he had to go to a meeting. Brittany bought Ava finger paint for Christmas, and I haven't braved it until today. I decided we would just have fun this afternoon and evening! I had to snap some pictures of Ava hard at "work."

Home Goals for Summer

My summer to-do list:

For teachers summer is when we "get it all done"! I have quite the list, and as most people can relate to a shortage on the funds to finish the list...Oh well, it makes me feel better to type it- ha! If I have a specific goal to work toward it keeps me going. I hope to have lots of this list completed by July 10 (Ava's 3rd Birthday Party:).

• Lots of landscaping- We want some trees, hydrangea plants, edgers for our flowerbeds, ect

• I want my covered patio to be more homey. Right now I have a nice black iron table/4 chair set. I want colorful cushions and potted plants.

• I really want a screen door for our patio. We spend a lot of time outside grilling and playing. I would paint it a fun color.
  

• I want a swing on the patio too. One of my grandmothers had a swing on her porch that we all spent lots of summer days on fighting off mosquitoes in the Delta!

• Dining room curtains and fabric to recover dining room chairs...since my rug is traditional and the table/chairs are antique, I want a little more contemporary fabric to keep it young and fresh.
  

• I have all scored, stained concrete floors which I LOVE, but they aren't too cozy. I need two large rugs--one for the hearth room, the other for the great room.
  

• Curtains for the hearth room
  

• I have so many great pictures that aren't on display. I want to have my favorites printed on canvas.
  

• I have nothing on the wall in the only long hallway in the house.
  

• My front door is French Country style- wood with glass panes- no privacy. When I was out at yard sales last month, a lady had the same door. She had created an awesome Roman shade for it! Same thing with our back door- no privacy. After living here for 2 years, I think it's about time to fix that!

• Our master bedroom needs more furniture. I'd like an armoire, upholstered chair, and maybe a bench or trunk at the foot of the bed. I also need more wall art. I think it would be neat to do canvases of Ron and me from different seasons of our lives together--dating, engaged, wedding, first home, first baby,...
  

• I need a narrow piece of furniture for the entryway.
  

• I am going to paint my breakfast table and chairs black (already dreading that, but at least it'll be a cheap project).
  

• Recover my bar stools; I've never liked the khaki microfiber fabric that's on them now.
  

• I want to take down the wall mirrors in both bathrooms and replace them with nice framed mirrors.
  

Brooke's Bargains 19

Today our town had two neighborhood sales. Britt and I did pretty good. The trick to thrifting is you just have to go a lot, be patient, and enjoy it...

Land's End rain boots for Ava $1
Brittany found Ava a pair of rain boots last year for $0.50; I got her another pair at Goodwill for $2, and now these (of course all different sizes). One pair of boots at Target is more than $15!

This Halloween Ava will be a candy corn ($1)! Britt, Mom, & I LOVE candy corn! :)

I bought this for a friend who has a baby on the way. This little Polo shirt is in perfect condition for $0.50.

I needed some khakis for casual days at work. I really like New York & Co. clothes...$2.

This floral arrangement was $3. The retail sticker on the bottom of the pottery was $18. 50, so with the floral stuff added it was probably $30 in store.

Someone gave Ron these 3 pairs of dress shoes this week! One pair is Steve Madden.

I'm linked to Thrifty Treasures.
Have a great weekend!