Beauty in Bloom

What they wore....Faith & Liv edition

It's naptime around here so I thought I would post some photos of our morning. I should be doing my bible study. Later. Pinky swear.

This little girl has been asking to go to Target with just her momma so that we could buy her some new clothes. Like I said before, she has taken quite a liking to fashion and who am I to hold her back. So shopping we went.

 
 

She had to have those eggplant shoes! Now, if you know me then you know that I have an aversion to the color purple. BUT, I am trying to be a "YES" mommy(sometimes) and how could I tell her no. She simply loved them too much. Besides, I can live with this shade.

Eggplant.

It's the color for fall. True story.

I really enjoyed my time with this beauty. She is growing up way to fast. She has such a sweet heart. Loves her momma so much. I love her more.

She picked out the cutest hot pink tulle skirt & a black skater dress. Not sure why it's called a skater dress. I am gonna have to trust the tag on that one. All I know is that it is cute and she can't wait to pair it with her peace sign scarf. I will have to post pics when she wears it.  Sidenote: We went to the Ortho doc yesterday and she is in her boot for at least 2 more weeks! No dance class for at least another month. We are bummed!

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Everyday, you will find Miss Olivia wearing shoes that do not belong to her. She even puts on other peoples shoes when we are not at home. Too funny!

 
 

She cracks me up! What is with that cheesy smile? LOVE. Everytime you point a camera at her she cracks that corny smile. It's her signature.

Here is another.

 

And another.

She was feeding baby Ellie in the dog bed. Naturally.

Ok, now I am going to throw a dose of reality into this post. One last photo to show...

It involves a cute kid, a tv, and a laundry basket.

 

You can't see the tv, but it is there. About a foot in front of her. She has been sitting there a good part of the day in a laundry basket watching movies so that I can TCB!

Take care of business.

I am trying to get laundry caught up. For like the 2nd time in my 8 year marriage.

Wish me luck.

Saturday morning scene

 
 

Good morning! I feel a lot better than yesterday. I think I just needed to get that off my chest. Thanks for understanding and for your sweet words of encouragement and empathy. Love it.

This Saturday morning has started out low key. The girls are in mom and dad's bed watching the original Gulliver's Travels on Netflix. Personally, I like the Jack Black remake better. Just sayin'.

Bob is out on a long needed golf outing with an old and dear friend. We are going to make a large brunch and enjoy it when he returns. It may include bot not be limited to biscuits and gravy, eggs, sausage and juice.

Later today we are attending a luau themed birthday party. Should be fun!

Hope you have a great Saturday!

ps....I need a headboard instead of those crooked pictures! LOL!

Linking up:

These are days....

 Just got home from the grocery store. It was a pretty rough one. I don't even have the energy to explain.

Thought I would throw myself a party. The theme you ask?

Pity.

A big ugly pity party. Wanna come? Well that's ok. I am gonna throw it anyway.

This week has been rough. Everyday I woke up with anxiety. The feeling of being constantly overwhelmed is getting old. Today I informed my poor husband that I didn't want to do this stay-at-home mom thing anymore. Scared him I think. He is worried about me. I know I will be ok. It's just there are times when I just don't know how I will make it through another day. There are other stresses too. Not just the kids, but also Life stuff. You know what I am talking about. On the other hand, there are days that I feel so blessed to be home with my babies. Taking care of them. Teaching them. Loving on them.

I just want to feel that way everyday. I never want to have the negative feelings. I want to be that Mom who is patient. Organized. So happy that she just can't stand it. I am praying to God everyday to help me through the feelings of negativity because I know a day will come in the very near future, that I will wish that I had my little ones back.

These are the days.

I don't usually share the ugly side of things here. But I know there are a few friends reading who understand. I don't mean to sound like I am whining. Just trying to be real. I hate feeling this way and the guilt just makes it worse.

Mommy guilt. It's a killer. Tell me you feel this way too. Please. I suspect you do if you have a pulse. :)

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Friday phone dump...

Annabel's haircut. Before. 

After. It was her idea. I swear.

Playing dress up.

 
 
 

A trip to Barnes & Noble.

 

Several trips to Target. It's being remodeled. I'm excited.

 

A view of them in the van. I heart DVD players. Gasp!

 
 

Nothing exciting this week. Except for 8 inches of hair being chopped off!

I am so excited to be getting out of the house tonight with Jill, one of my best friends, and my Momma to see The Help. So glad they made me read that book.

Thanks for listening! Just call me Debbie Downer. I might answer :)

Have a great weekend!

Bulletin board makeover

 
 

Today I would like to show you a little project I worked on a while back.  I have been wanting a bulletin board in the kitchen for some time now. I found a few at Ballard Designs 
that I like but did not want to pay those prices. I had found this old shutter looking thing at the Goodwill a couple of months ago and had originally wanted to put hooks on it so that I could hang necklaces from it.

It sat around forever waiting for a new life and then one day I remembered that I had some cork placemats that I had bought at Target a long time ago for another project that never was finished. Perfect! I will make my own bulletin board. So I got to work.

I just realized that I am saying 'I' a lot. Oh well.

Before. A country blue.

 
 

 
 

This is my husband helping me make precise cuts....he is so good at that. Mine would have been wonky. True story.
 
 
 The new color.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

All I had to do after painting it was sand the edges a bit and glue the cork inside of the opening. I just love projects that take no time at all!

The push pins are from Anthropologie. Love those little things. Although, I am sure they could be made pretty easily.

Thanks for visiting!

Linking up at:

At the picket fence, Tatertots & Jello, Serenity Now, Somewhat Simple, Just a Girl, The Shabby Nest, The 36th Avenue, Fireflies and Jellybeans

 

Family photos 2011

Well I am finally getting around to sharing those family photos taken back in June. The session was a bit stressful since my 1 year old has a mind of her own and would only cooperate when SHE felt like it. I feel like we got some pretty good shots in spite of her attempts to bring the whole thing down! Good try Liv! Good try.

 A big thanks to Breathtaking Photography. Chantel does great work and I can't wait to use her for our Christmas card photos later this year. For some reason, I was not able to upload them one at a time so I made a collage instead. If you click on the collage it will open up in a larger window so that you are able to zoom in and see it better.

 

I had soooo much fun coordinating our outfits to go together but not be overly matchy. I think I was succesful. I am loving the turquoise!

As soon as I paint my living room these beautiful photos will be all over the walls. I need to get on it fast before I lose the motivation. I have big plans for this house but never seem to find the time to get it done. Sometimes having an Interior Design degree is a curse because I know whats out there and what is available to me BUT I will never afford it. I just need to get creative and GET OFF MY DUFF!

Have a beautiful day!

Friday phone dump....2 days late.

I have my life back.

Finally.

My router died on Friday afternoon. RIP, 2wire025. I bought your replacement this evening. Hello, 2wire823. Thank you for giving me life again. I knew I relied heavily on the internet, but I really had no idea how much since it was taken away so suddenly. Probably should address this issue soon, but for now I would like to share with you some photos that I took on my new and glorious EVO 4G.... The iPhone's stepsister. While I do not have Instagram, my EVO has a great little photo app that does something similar. I have certainly had fun capturing some cute candids of our life this week. Enjoy.

Saturday Bobby replaced the swings chains. Thanks Daddy. They have been dying to swing for a while. $70 in chain = Happy kiddos. That stuff is expensive!

 

 

Spotted some super cute lamps at Marshalls....think I see a project in my future. As soon as I figure out how to line the inside of a lampshade.

 

Sunday evening. 80 degree weather. A wonderful time at our church's Back to School bash that they put on for kids in Foster care in our area. I was so thankful that they also invited the kids in our church. It was a great time and such a blessing to the community. Great job to all that were involved in the planning and setting up!

 

Now she has her balloon.....
 

Now she doesn't.......

 

 
 
 

Meet the Teacher night & ice cream at Shivers

 
 
 
 
 

Storytime at the Cupcakery. Pinkalicious & a pink buttercup. It was a little crazy, but we will go back. I do not pass up a chance to eat their cupcakes. Period.

 
 
 

1st day of school. Cute girl. Fancy dress. Broken foot. Enough said.

 

Thursday. Barnes & Noble baby! We had to find something to do to fill our time since BIG SIS went back to school.

 

So there it is. The Friday phone dump. It's not a fancy collage like Kelle Hampton's over at Enjoy the Small Things. But it will do. I began reading her blog a few months ago. Honestly, I don't know how I didn't know about her sooner. She is so smart, beautiful, inspiring and honest. Love her.

So glad my internet is back. Oh wait. I said that already.

This week I am looking forward to getting back into a routine. I have not been to the gym in 2 months and I feel it. Its too bad because I was doing well with the whole weight loss thing. I refuse to give up. I need to beat this. In the worst way.

Wish me luck!

Summer has gone away.

This summer wasn't a particularly busy one. It just seemed that way. There were no grand vacations or major events planned that seemed to fill our time....just life.  Some of the things that kept me from blogging include but are not limited to:

Zoo trips, dance recitals, VBS x 2, pool dates, summer camp, Cardinals baseball games, A trip to Oklahoma to see Uncle Josh(my little brother), meeting my new niece Marley, a slumber party at the National Great Rivers Museum and lots of indoor crafting because it was just toooooo hot to go outside!    

I am not sure why I did not blog all summer.  I suppose it was because I got behind and then I waited to long and got overwhelmed with where to start.  I shouldn't be so hard on myself because life is busy and anything I add to this blog will bless my kiddos in the future(hopefully) so I need to stop putting pressure on myself to be perfect at this.  I mean come on, how many people do you know have blogs about their childhoods?!  Some of us are just lucky to have pictures!                                     

School started for Miss Faith on Wednesday and we are now the proud parents of a 3rd grader. She has Mrs. Miller this year, and so far she loves her. I am so proud of my girly. She loves school. We are so lucky to have had such a wonderful public school experience. Since she is in the accelerated program, she will stay with the same kids all the way through 5th grade and I love that she gets to be with her friends year after year.  I hope our other two are just as fortunate. I guess only time will tell.  

Today, I am just going to start with pictures of my girl on her first day. Just so you know, she wanted to dress up. That girl is becoming more into fashion these days.

 
 
 

Ahhh yes! I forgot to mention that my awesome daughter jumped in to the shallow end of a public pool and fractured 3 of her metatarsal bones! She has been wearing that boot since the end of July. Maybe we should reevaluate the whole gifted thing! Just kidding. Sorta. 

So, if there is anyone still out there, please be patient with me as I update the blog for posterity.  I will also finally be posting the rest of our pics from our family photo session very soon.  Pinky swear.

Tomorrow I will be starting a new thing where I dump all of my cell phone photos from the week. I have seen others call it the Friday phone dump. Should be interesting!

Cheers!