Hey, y’all! I found this photo on my camera after my mother’s helper was here last week. I love that she likes to play with my camera. And I adore this photo that she snapped of Ridley on the back steps.

He is such a goof. He’s ready to go with his laptop and his toolbench light repurposed as headphones. It just cracks me up how resourceful he is. Ha!

Aren’t kids hilarious?! I hope this brings a smile to your face as it does to mine!

Happy Wednesday!

XO

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I’m ridiculously excited to share my strawberry cobbler recipe with y’all today. Ridley and I stopped by a strawberry farm last week where we bought two gallons of fresh berries. Oh wow. They were so delicious. It brought back many childhood memories as I washed them and capped them.

I froze most of the strawberries, but my hubby asked if I would make something sweet. I looked through my recipe card file and found an old peach cobbler recipe {possibly from my Memaw} that I modified a bit after consulting with my momma. This strawberry cobbler is easy and definitely drool-worthy!

What is your favorite Strawberry Dessert?

I’m linking up to Tasty Tuesday, Women Living Well and I’m Lovin’ It!

XO

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Good morning, beautiful friends! I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day weekend. We did…and I received a one hour massage gift from my hubby and little man. They knew exactly what this preggy momma needed!

I love reading blogs that keep my creativity going. Since we are renting, my decorating “secret” is to create pretty vignettes and DIY projects that are temporary…not like moving a wall or remodeling. Ha! While not all of my favorite home decor blogs are specifically for renters, you can take bits and pieces and make them work in your home.

Here are 10 Amazing Home Decor blogs where I always find inspiration!

1. Nesting Place

Besides loving the Nester because she’s the Nester, I love that she is a fellow renter who loves where she is. She has created a beautiful home and she craves simplicity which I adore. Her solution for a renter’s kitchen backsplash is brilliant…and yes, it includes hot glue.

2. The Lettered Cottage

Kevin and Layla have such a passionate creativity for life and home design that it’s impossible to not catch the fever while perusing their blog. They are expert stylists and I love how they infuse every project with a vintage vibe. Using old, unique pieces in your home decor is a fabulous way to add character.

3. Perfectly Imperfect

If you have a piece of furniture that’s been begging for a coat of paint, but you’re not quite sure where to start, let me tell ya…my friend Shaunna can hook you right up. She inspires me to pick up a paintbrush and just go for it. Reading her blog inspires me to be better…a better mom, better decorator and a more fearless painter.

4. Centsational Girl

Every time I click over to Kate’s blog, I know I will be inspired with some gorgeous eye candy. Kate has impeccable taste and a glamorous yet practical style. She creates gorgeous furniture from the most unlikely of pieces, unique crafts, everyday decorating projects that anyone can do and she can cook too!

5. Thrifty Decor Chick

Sarah’s blog was one of the very first home/diy blogs that I ever read. Needless to say, I was hooked on how she makes beautiful things all while on a budget.  Sarah’s home has evolved over the years and it’s still evolving. I love watching the process!  I’m pretty sure that I got hooked on using spray paint while reading Sarah’s blog.

6. Dear Lillie

This blog is newer to me, but I love the beautiful projects and photos.  I’m always inspired when I check out the tutorials {many of which are renter friendly!} and the house tour. Get a glass of sweet tea, sit down with your computer and you’ll be occupied for a while on the house tour!

7. Fieldstone Hill Design

Where do I start? I adore Darlene, the designer, behind Fieldstone Hill Design. Besides being the sweetest person you’ll ever meet, she has a fine-tuned eye for beautiful home decor. She has a fabulous portfolio full of inspiration and  her “ditto” posts are my favorite. Darlene takes gorgeous rooms apart bit by bit and shows how you can take elements and make them work in your home.

8. Decor Chick!

My friend Emily is the Decor Chick. I’ve been reading her blog for as long as I can remember…way before we were close friends. I love the way that she’s transformed her home over time. Bit by bit, Emily adds pieces to her home that she loves. Look what she created out of a simple drawer. She doesn’t have a mantel, but a Pottery Barn Ledge that she decorates as a mantle…love it!

9. Emily A. Clark

I’ve been reading Emily’s blog for a while and I love the decorating inspiration that she shares. Her home is stunning with graphic patterns, dramatic colors and practical artwork {read: her children’s drawings}. She shares easy DIY projects and wonderful before and after photos of client spaces.

10. Young House Love

I could get lost on Young House Love for hours on end. John and Sherry are avid DIY-ers who amaze me with their energy, endless creativity and house decorating solutions. P.S. And I just love reading their blog because they make me laugh!

What is YOUR favorite home decor blog? I love to discover new ones!!!

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I have partnered with Apartment Guide as an Official Apartment Guide Decor Blogger! As an official blogger, I am sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

• Whether you’re living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how to tips for making the most of a space on Moving Today and the Apartment Guide Blog.
• The Apartment Guide Blog has great information such as 8 Home Decor Mistakes To Avoid, where to find Budget-Friendly Furniture for Small Spaces and How To Decorate A Small Apartment.
• If you’re ready for a whole new space or are looking to move, Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you find the perfect apartment community.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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XO

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Happy Friday!! I hope y’all have had a super week and are looking forward to a nice weekend. I’m so excited to show you how my tomato plants are growing. This is such a miracle for my brown-thumbed-self.

Aren’t they pretty? I think I might have to experiment with fried green tomatoes soon. Yum!

This is right after we planted the tomato plants. See how wilted and droopy they are? I was freaking out because I didn’t know why they were doing that. I figured out that I was over-watering them. Oops!

Normally, I forget to water and everything gets a “fried” look, so I was going to the other extreme.

Look at these gorgeous tomato plants! They are getting so tall and strong.

How we plant our tomato plants…

• Dig holes about 1 1/2 feet deep with a post hole digger…that was my hubby’s job.
• Add approximately 6 inches of goat manure {pronounced man-ur-ay} and then put a few inches soil on top of the manure. This is so the acid in the goat/chicken poo doesn’t burn up the plants. Yes, we know this from experience. Ahem.
• Place the plant in the hole and fill in with garden soil. Water generously with rain water or water that has been sitting for a day or two.
• Add tomato cages when the plants grow taller and begin leaning over.
• Keep the area around the roots clear from weeds and grass.

My dad insists that the gross chemicals in city water will kill plants. I tend to agree.

With these pretty blooms we have a promise of more tomatoes to come. I’ll definitely keep you posted on the tomato production!

Do you grow tomatoes in your backyard?  Have you ever grown them upside down? I’ve always wondered if that really works.

XO

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One of my favorite decorating accessories is the tray. It is functional and can be used in an immense variety of ways. Trays are made from a multitude of materials – melamine, sisal, wood, mirrored glass, brass, silver and even an old vintage soda box or drawer.

source: julipmade.com

If you love a deal and you enjoy do-it-yourself projects, look for trays at thrift shops and yard sales. Many times spray paint and decoupaged scrapbook paper will make over a tray to perfection. Trays are a wonderful accessory to collect because they are versatile, easy to store and wonderful to decorate with.

Read the rest of this post at Decorating…Your Way!

XO

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Happy Wednesday, y’all! Today marks 30 weeks for my pregnancy, so I thought I’d share an update. I can’t believe that I’m only ten weeks away from my due date! Ack! Where has the time gone?

I’m definitely growing and am feeling a lot of baby movement every day. What a sweet feeling it is.

I’m feeling pretty good. Just a little tired in the afternoons after lunch. I’ve had great reports from my midwives on my glucose, blood pressure, baby’s heartbeat and size. My iron was on the low end of normal, so I’ve been taking chlorophyll to boost my iron level.

Eating a high protein diet continues to help a lot with my energy. And drinking tons of water…and ice. Oh, how I’m loving ice water!

My only minor pregnancy complaints are having to get up a few times each night to use the bathroom, occasional indigestion and how it takes longer to get over a cold.

We went on a trip to South Carolina this past weekend and my feet didn’t swell at all! I was so thrilled because they often swell even when I’m not pregnant. Success!

I have a 30 week checkup tomorrow, so I’ll be sure to update my Facebook page with how it goes. I’m convinced that eating healthful foods, supplementing with Juice Plus and drinking Red Raspberry Tea have contributed to a much healthier pregnancy this time.

Do you have any 3rd trimester tips to share with me? I’m all ears!

XO

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Hey, hey! Thank you SO much for your sweet comments on my letter to my three year old yesterday. Y’all are just amazing!  Today, I’m sharing a fabulous recipe – Chocolate Chip Tea Cakes.  This part shortbread – part cookie recipe is quickly becoming a favorite at our house. I know y’all will love them too!

What is your favorite kind of easy cookie to make?

I’m linking up to Tasty Tuesday, Women Living Well, Manic Monday and I’m Lovin’ It!

XO

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Today, I’m baring my momma heart. I hope that it will encourage you moms of littles out there who just want to cry your eyes out some days. Having a blessed life doesn’t mean that every day is a cake walk, right?

My Precious Son,

It was a rough day. You were contrary to every single thing that I told you to do. You cried and whined over everything because you wouldn’t nap. Nothing would satisfy you. Nothing.

I cried. And I was impatient. I didn’t feel the greatest. I cried more.

We went to church, only for you to be naughty there. I cried. And felt like a failure.

We drove home. There was a bunny rabbit in the yard, so we stopped in the driveway and you climbed into my lap so we could watch it with the car lights on bright.

You smiled big.

Then you asked if we could listen to some “moosic.” We turned on one of your favorite songs.

You sat in my lap and sang at the top of your lungs…

Singing glory, glory!
Glory to the Lamb!

Praises to the Lord, oh my soul.
Singing glory, hallelujah!
Glory to our God!
All praises and honor forever.

And I cried again. Not out of frustration, but out of conviction in my heart. Hearing your sweet, little voice sing praise to Jesus after such an awful day, touched my soul in a most poignant way.

Thank you my precious son for singing praise to Jesus and making your momma, with tears streaming, want to raise her hands in praise to Him who does all things well. He promises grace sufficient for every need, every trial, every rough day.

Sweet boy, you are my greatest teacher. You make me run to Jesus – right where I need to be. Right where I need to stay. I am thankful.

I love you, bubba. So much.

Thank you dear friends for allowing me to be really real with y’all today! I appreciate you more than you know!

XO

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This past weekend, my church ladies group hosted a Ladies’ Brunch in celebration of godly womanhood…just in time for Mother’s Day. We didn’t want to limit attendees by calling the event mother/daughter, so we just went with “ladies” to encompass everyone of all ages.

The event was centered around the word “blessed” specifically from Ruth 3:10, “Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter.”  I decorated with pink {light and hot} and yellow as well as a multitude of different colors from the flowers and food.

The event began at 10:30 AM. We had breakfast casseroles & quiches, fresh fruit & fruit salad, muffins & sweet breads, granola & yogurt and milk, orange juice, as well as, a hot bar with tea and coffee.

I love this shot of one table!

I gathered a bunch of vases, containers, jars and buckets to create centerpieces. I loved that every table centerpiece was similar but unique.

My sweet friend Hannah allowed me to swipe a few of the photos she took to share with y’all!  It was busy for me to keep the event organized and take photos as well.

All the ladies enjoying conversation and yummy food!

I found the pink, yellow and lime green lanterns in the Target dollar section.

I’m partial to Kroger’s floral department.  They have the greatest bouquets and sometimes you can find them on manager’s special…which I did for this event. Woot!

Drool-worthy muffins and breads!

We created little gift bags for each lady who attended. I found the bags 3/$1.00 at the Dollar Tree and we stuffed them with coupons, gift certificates, Mary Kay samples, brochures for area ministries, candy, necklaces, pretty post-it notes {from Target’s dollar section}, bookmarks and more.

This was the smallest attendee…my adorable little nephew. Isn’t he precious?

Another instagram photo for you…lotsa fellowship going on!

My Mom gave an encouraging devotional. It was so good. She said that, “We’re not all mothers, but we are all daughters.” I loved that thought. SO awesome, right?!

This was my favorite flower arrangement of all. I used my vintage minnow bucket and the contrast between the old metal and the fresh flower is just lovely.

I hope you enjoyed this little peek of our ladies’ brunch!  I know some of you are planning similar events, so I hope you were able to gather some ideas.

I’m linking up to Weekend Wrap Up Party!

XO

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I hope y’all are having a great week! With Mother’s Day coming up on May 13th, I thought it would be fun to create a Mother’s Day printable along similar lines as my Mother’s Day Canvas. I love this precious quote about mothers and their children.

The author is unknown, but aren’t these words beautiful?! LOVE!

This printable would be perfect printed and framed as a gift for the mother in your life. It’s such a great reminder about how fast time flies and what’s really important.

If the preview above is not working for you, click here to download this free printable.

I enjoyed creating this for y’all.  Hope the rest of your day is fabulous!

XO

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