Love Of Family & Home

InstaFriday.....Two Popular Hangouts This Summer

2012-06-01T05:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday Everyone!!

I'm so glad its *almost* the weekend! I haven't done an InstaFriday post in a couple weeks and I have all kinds of new photos accumulating in my phone, just waiting to be shared! So, I thought I would do a little recap of the past couple weeks if that's alright with you guys?!

Looking through my camera photo album, it seems that there are two places that we've been spending most of our time the past couple of weeks .....

The first place being, the ball fields.....

Parker has just a few weeks left of tee ball & I've really enjoyed watching him play! It's fun to see him & the other kids making progress week after week!

They have been pitching to the kids a lot more lately instead of using the tee & many of them have turned into great batters! One of the most entertaining parts of tee ball?! Watching a bunch of four year olds trying to slide into home plate! Seriously, HILARIOUS and too, too cute!

In addition to the ball field we've also been spending a lot of time here....

My parents bought a pontoon boat earlier this spring & we've been taking full advantage!! We have a large lake here in our hometown & have really enjoyed spending our time cruising around, swimming, & soaking up the sun! My sister, Cortney, was in town visiting a couple weeks ago & she was able to join us for our first trip out....

It was so fun getting to hang out with her since we don't get to see her too often! She lives about 5 hours north of us & only gets down every 3-4 months to visit. She stayed for an entire week this last trip & she was able to spend a lot of time with the kiddos & even got to watch Parker play tee ball! Parker LOVED getting to spend time with his Aunt CeeCee! :)

When we took the boat out for the first time, we decided to leave Griffin with my mother-in-law. We were going out during his usual nap time & I just knew I would be asking for trouble if I took him out on the lake instead of letting him sleep! The child NEEDS his naps! Since Griffin wasn't there, Parker was center of attention & I think he was pretty much LOVING it!

Hangin' with mommy....

Driving the boat with Grandpa....

And one of his most favorite things to do......

Jumping off the side of the boat.....over, and over, and over again! :)

Man....I wish I had some of his energy!!

The day after our first trip to the lake, my dad was itching to take the boat out again! Except this time, he wanted Griffin to join us! We were going out during nap time again, and I just knew this was a bad, BAD idea! But, against my better judgement, I said "okay!"

The kids aren't even allowed to be on the boat without having a life jacket on. Its against the law here in Illinois & I thought for sure that the life jacket was gonna be an issue with Griffin! Let's be honest, they are big & bulky & UNCOMFORTABLE! I wouldn't want to wear one the entire time either! And although he really did NOT want to put it on.....once we got it on him, he was good as gold!

In fact, I'm pretty sure Griffin LOVES the new boat too! :)

He's not a huge fan of the water, but let him pretend to drive the boat, keep him in the shade, & load him up with snacks.....the child couldn't be happier!

What a Relief!!

We did go out again this past weekend for Memorial Day & I was able to snap a few more photos....

Me & my honey....

Parker & Griffin swimming with Grandpa.....

Griffin did start to enjoy the water a little bit more during our last trip!

Maybe there will be more lake swimming in his future! :)

Another activity that the boys loved doing this past weekend was feeding the geese. We had taken stuff to make sandwiches on the boat & I let them use some of the leftover bread to feed to the geese & their babies when we got back to the shore!

I have a feeling we will be doing this after EVERY boat ride from now on!!

What do your summer's consist of?!

Spending a lot of time at the ball field like me?!

Hanging by the pool?!

I would LOVE to hear about your favorite hangouts this summer!

Are you on Instagram?!

I'm loveoffamilyandhome if you wanna follow along!!

Leave your username in the comments & I will be sure to follow you back!!

Linking up here....

Stop & Smell The Roses....Deck Sneak Peek

2012-05-30T15:50:00.002-05:00

Hey Ya'll!!

Hope you are having a fantastic Wednesday!!

It's time for another edition of.....

This week I'm vlogging about some great finds that I found this morning for our back deck while the boys & I were out for a quick shopping trip!!

(p.s. I must really love you guys b/c I am sporting very minimal make-up & 2nd day hair)
(p.s.s. don't mind the camera shaking....too much coffee, not enough food!)

Here is a sneak peek at what's brewing on our back deck....

Love, Love, LOVE my new pillows!! Aren't they too cute?! I striped & other patterned pillow were on clearance for just under $10.00 a piece! The one with the birds on it wasn't marked down, but I couldn't pass it up!! It was just too cute & still only $12.00! I was so happy to find pillows that were reasonably priced & that brought together all of the colors that we have going on between the furniture, the rug, & the new deck color!! Yay!
The rug is from Walmart and is from their Better Homes & Gardens line. It was $59.00. The chairs are also a new addition to the patio.....my hubby got those for me for Mother's Day. They were purchased at Garden Ridge and I believe they were $14.99 a piece. All in all, things are finally coming together out back!!
Can't wait to show you more!!
Have you lucked in to any great finds lately?!

How To Make A FB Cover Photo with PicMonkey...

2012-05-29T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I wanted to share with you a quick & easy way to update your Facebook cover photos!!

If your into photo editing at all, I'm sure that you have heard of the new site called PicMonkey. PicMonkey swept in & saved those of us who were Picnik addicts after their site sadly shut down in April. It is a FREE & very user friendly photo editing site & has many (if not all) of the same photo editing options that Picnik used to have. And now that PicMonkey has added the collage feature to their site over the weekend, I might even love their site just a little bit more than Picnik!!

They even have a collage option for Facebook cover photos!!! This is a great way to not only update your personal Facebook cover photo, but also to add some pizazz to your blog Facebook page!! I don't know about you all, but my Facebook cover photo was looking just a little bit blah until earlier today!!

To create your custom Facebook cover photo just go to

www.picmonkey.com to get started!!

Once you arrive at their site, you will want to click on the "create a collage" option.

A listing of different collage features will show up in the left sidebar & you will then need to choose "FB Cover."

Once you click on it, you will see a few different layouts to choose from. Simply select the layout you would like to use & you are ready to start adding your photos!

To add photos to the collage, you will click on the photo icon (the one that looks like little mountains) & then select "upload photos." This will allow you to choose photos from your hard drive to add to the collage.

As you start selecting the photos you would like to use, they will start filling up your library in the left sidebar.

After you have all the photos you would like to use, place the photos within the collage by simply dragging them from the left sidebar into the collage layout.

To change the spacing between the photos, click on the background icon (the one that looks like paints & a brush) & either increase or decrease spacing. You can also round the corners of the photos or change the color of the gridlines between the photos should you choose to do so.

When you are finished, just click on "Save" to save the image to your computer.

Then go to your Facebook page & upload your new cover photo!!

Voila!!

Isn't that SO EASY?!

I love that PicMonkey included this collage option into their site!!

I even made a new Facebook cover photo for my personal page as well....

And here is a closer look at my blog Facebook cover photo....

What do you think?!

Now my Facebook cover photo not only reflects my blog, but it allows the new people coming to my page to get a little sneak peek into what my blog is all about!

Do you follow my blog on Facebook?!

Click HERE to "Like" the Love of Family & Home

Facebook Page and stay current with all the NEW & FUN things that are going on!!

It's also a great way for me to be able to chat with all of you & answer any questions that you may have!!

Linking up here....
Uncommonly Yours at Uncommon Designs

Sweet Shot Tuesday....Marcec Wedding

2012-05-28T22:23:00.001-05:00

Hey Friends!

I hope you all had a FANTASTIC Memorial Day weekend!

Like most of you, we spent the majority of our weekend outside, soaking up the sun! We did some work in the yard throughout the course of the weekend, spent some time with friends on Saturday lounging at their pool, & spent all day on the lake today!

In the mix of all that, I also managed to attend & do all the photography for a wedding on Sunday! How's that for a busy weekend?!

The wedding was just gorgeous & the bride....well, she was STUNNING!

Wouldn't you agree?!

I can't tell you how much fun I've had editing these!!

I have so many more to share, but will be spreading them out over the course of the next few weeks!!

How did you spend your Memorial Day weekend?!

I would LOVE to hear about it!

Linking up here...

I'm A Slacker & Some Changes To This Ole' Blog

2012-05-23T21:01:00.000-05:00

Hey Ya'll!

Hope you guys have had a great Wednesday!!

As many of you know, I usually participate in the Stop & Smell The Rose's link-up at House of Rose on Wednesdays! This morning I had every intention of getting up, showering, & making myself look presentable in order to shoot my vlog! I also had every intention of working in my yard, fertilizing my flowers & sprucing up the patio. But then something happen and I ended up doing this instead.....

I know, I know....

Can you blame me though?!

The weather has been ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS this week & my little sis is in town visiting! I just couldn't tell her "no" when she called this morning & asked me if I wanted to spend the afternoon with her & my kiddos lounging by the pool! Today was my last day off before returning to work tomorrow, & I couldn't have spent it doing anything better!!

I did, however, manage to be somewhat productive this evening! I spent time answering some emails & also worked on a little blog housekeeping. I'm sure a lot of you have noticed some changes in my navigation bar over the past several weeks. If you use internet explorer as your primary browser, it may look a little wonky & I apologize! I am in the process of trying to get that fixed! For some reason it looks fine in all of the other web browsers, but having problems in IE!

Anyway...I have added a FAQs (frequently asked questions) tab to the navigation bar & worked on it today. I hope that this will be a great resource for you all as readers. So often, I find the same questions filling my inbox regarding certain projects that I've done in the past. This page addresses those questions & provides you with the answers you've been wanting to know, as well as links to certain products that will help you to complete or replicate my projects. As much as I want to be able to answer each one of your questions via email, sometimes this just isn't practical! There isn't enough hours in the day for this working, blogging, SAHM of two! I'm sorry....it doesn't mean I love you any less!

I've also added a tab featuring my Top 10 Projects of last year. I did a post featuring these projects at the end of last year & I know that I have gotten many new readers since then. So, I thought that might be of interest to all of you new readers & for readers that are viewing my site for the first time!

And last, but not least there is also a "Happily Ever Before & After" tab added to the navigation bar as well. This is something NEW I am going to be adding to the blog! There are so many FABULOUS room makeovers all over blogland & I want to be able to highlight some of my favorites, as well as give an opportunity to showcase some of yours!! I hope to be able to do this on a bi-weekly schedule. Right now, I am thinking about ever other Friday.

I will provide you all with one "before" picture & one "after" picture of a room makeover and then provide you all with a link to the blogger/blog behind the makeover, so that you can view more detailed pictures of the post & also find a list of resources to products & items used for the makeover. If you are wanting to "pin" one of the photos from the makeover, I will be asking that you do so from the original source, so that the blogger will get credit for the pin.

The "Happily Ever Before & After" tab will be a library of all these fabulous room makeovers organized by rooms (kitchens, bath, living rooms, etc.) & a great place for YOU to find inspiration!!

If you have a room makeover that you would like to have featured on my blog, please contact me!!

tdiehl2005(at)yahoo(dot)com

Simple & Delicious Broccoli Salad...

2012-05-21T22:25:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I have another YUMMY recipe to share with all of you again this week!!

This one is one of my favorites & it's SO, SO EASY to make!! With Memorial Day weekend quickly approaching, I also thought you all might be looking for a side dish to take to those Memorial Day parties & get togethers! No?!

And because we are all SUPER BUSY, we need something that is SIMPLE to throw together, but tastes DELICIOUS!! Right?!

Well, I've got just the thing for you friends!!!

Not only is it simple & delicious, but isn't it pretty too?!
I just LOVE all the colors in this salad!

Simple & Delicious Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:

3 Cups Broccoli Florets

1/2 Cup Raisins

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seed Kernels

1/4 Cup Red Onion

1 pkg Oscar Meyer REAL Bacon Pieces

Dressing:

1 Cup Mayonnaise

1/4 Cup Sugar

Mix broccoli, raisins, sunflower seeds, onion & bacon pieces in medium bowl. In a separate bowl mix 1 cup mayo & 1/4 cup sugar to make dressing. Mix dressing into broccoli mixture just before serving.

Enjoy!!!

I know you will!! :)

Linking up here....
Tutorials & Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z
Uncommonly Yours at Uncommon Designs
Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays at Delightful Order
20 Below Thursdays at Christina's Adventures
I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom

Don't Miss Out-DIY projects, home decorating, crafts & more by checking out my subscribe page

Tip to Keeping Cut Hydrangeas Looking Fresh....

2012-05-21T08:25:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends!!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Today, I wanted to share with you a little tip I learned this past week! Have you ever cut blooms off a hydrangea bush & brought them into your home only to have them wilt in a matter of minutes?! That happened to me over & over again last summer!

I purchased three Endless Summer Hydrangea bushes last year & although I LOVED THEM I had trouble clipping the blooms & bringing them into our home. They would wilt & start to droop almost immediately! I knew there had to be someway to fix this little problem, but never thought to look into it any further. I just decided I would enjoy the blooms on the bushes outside & gave up on bringing them into the home.

Just in the past month, my hydrangea bushes have come into full bloom again & are looking GORGEOUS! I wanted to bring a few inside, but since I had had such bad luck last year, I though I would do a little research online. I came across this article using boiling water?! Sounded strange, but then I read a few other articles recommending the same method. So....I thought I would give it a whirl!

And guess what! It TOTALLY WORKED!!

1.) When you go out to your yard to cut your hydrangeas, take a container of water with you. The water should be tepid, not cold. Place the cut hydrangeas directly into the water and then bring them back into your kitchen.

2.) Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium sauce pan & then pour the water into a cup or other container. Let it cool for a minute & then get ready to dip the hydrangea stems into the boiled water. This removes a sticky, sap like substance from within the stem that may block the stems ability to take in the water.

3.) Make sure you cut the stems to the length you want first, and then place the stem into the boiled water & leave it for 30 seconds. Remove the hydrangea stem from the boiled water & immediately place it in a vase or container with water at room temperature.

4.) Arrange the blooms as you'd like in your vase/container & ENJOY!!!

As you can see, I chose an aqua bell jar for my blooms....

Hydrangeas + Aqua Bell Jars = BIG FAT LOVE!!

Seriously, aren't they a perfect match?!

The articles I read also stated that after a few days, if the blooms do start to wilt or droop, you can repeat the boiling water method. This will again, remove the sap from the stem & allow for it to take in the water it needs in order to be revived. Place the blooms back into a vase with room temperature water & allow plenty of time for the revival process. It may take up to several hours.

Do you have hydrangea bushes?!

Have you ever tried this method?!
Got any other tips for beautiful long last blooms?!

I would LOVE to hear about them!
Just leave them in the comments section below!!

Linking up here....
Tutorial & Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z
Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
20 Below Thursdays at Christina's Adventures
Delightfully Inspiring Thursdays at Delightful Order
I'm Lovin' It at Tidy Mom
Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots & Jello

Don't Miss Out-DIY projects, home decorating, crafts & more by checking out my subscribe page

Stop & Smell The Roses....Week 12

2012-05-16T14:19:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!!

It's Wednesday & time for another edition of.....

There are LOTS of things making me smile this week....
Wanna know what they are?!
Check out my video!
What's making you smile this week?! Here are the links to all the features I talked about in this video......
Home Stories A to ZMy Uncommon Slice of SuburbiaTatertots & Jello Emily's video

My posts.....just in case you missed them!

Kitchen Updates

InstaFriday....Chicago Recap

Millionaire Pie

Follow Michael on Pinterest

Don't forget to check out Michael's blog as well!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Route 66 Nursery & Gallery Wall.....

2012-05-15T20:43:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

Hope ya'll have had a wonderful Tuesday!!

Thrifty Decor Chick is having a "Show Us Your House" linky party tonight with the theme being nurseries/kids rooms. I shared pictures of Griffin's nursery a long time ago on this little ole blog (back when I had very few followers.) The child will be two years old in August, and I am sad to say....I am still "working" on the nursery! Pathetic, right?!

I just finished a little project in his room today, so I thought I would share it, as well as some updated pictures of his room! Ya know, since most of you have probably NEVER seen it anyway?!

If you want to read the back story on how this nursery came to be, you can read my previous posts HERE and HERE.

I purchased these vintage license plates ~~a few months~~ several months ago at one of our local antique stores for just $6.00 a piece. The colors in the plates matched Griffin's room perfectly, and I immediately knew that I HAD TO HAVE THEM!

The top one was a little dirty, but I just rinsed it off & it was good as new! Still rusty, but it EXACTLY the look I was going for! Cuz everyone knows that rust adds character, right?! :)

Then I just purchased an 11x14 frame and an 8x10 frame from Walmart. Both were inexpensive, I think I paid $9.00 for both of them!

I removed the glass & the cardboard backing off of each, leaving me with two empty frames. I was going to use them to frame out each license plate to add a little more interest to my little gallery wall.

I attached the frames to the wall using these....

These puppies are SO EASY TO USE and they eliminate those pesky nail holes!
I LOVE THEM!!! I did, however use little nails to attach the license plates to the wall because I really wasn't sure if the command strips would hold them.

In addition to framing out the license plates, I added the "stop" sign (purchased at Hobby Lobby) and the license plate frame with a picture of my little guy when he was just 3 months old!

Considering this wall has been blank for the past two years, I'm feeling pretty accomplished today!! :)

I think it turned out pretty cute!

What do you think?!

The wall across from the crib (above the changing table) is yet ANOTHER gallery wall....

All of the goodies on this wall are from Hobby Lobby including the little shelf. I purchased it in the unfinished wood department at Hob Lob & painted to coordinate with the nursery decor.

I LOVE the collection of little signs, the gas pump, & that old truck!
So cute!!

On top of the changing table, sit this black wooden box....

It once held all of Griffin's little "baby toys", but just as he has gotten bigger, so have his toys. Now they reside in a toybox in his closet! So, the black box now hold diapers, wipes, etc.

The chest of drawers is adorned with a few little knick knacks from Hobby Lobby as well.....

LOVE this little truck frame and also this adorable little sign....

ALL BOY....am I right?!

Griffin's 1st birthday was a sock monkey theme & his little monkey sits all cute like in his little rocking chair....

Although he doesn't quite go with the "Route 66" theme, he still coordinates with the colors of the room! :)

This rug is one of my favorite things about this nursery & was purchased by one of my old co-workers (thanks Cyndi!) for my baby shower. It soft & plush....

And it looks perfect in front of his crib....

Griffin kinda likes it too....

As always, thanks for stopping by!!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!!

Linking up here....
Show Us Your House Linky Party at Thrifty Decor Chick
Uncommonly Yours at Uncommon Designs

Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing
Tutorials & Tips Linky Party at Home Stories A to Z
Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots & Jello

Millionaire Pie Recipe....

2012-05-14T21:21:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I wanted to share with you a SIMPLE & DELICIOUS pie recipe that my grandma made for our Mother's Day celebration this past weekend!! If you are having any parties this summer or an event in which you need to bring a dish/dessert, this recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser!!

It's LIGHT, REFRESHING, & perfect for any occasion!!

SERIOUSLY.....It's DELICIOUS!!!!

And did I mention it was EASY?!

Millionaire Pie

Ingredients: yields 2 pies
2 Ready-Made Graham Cracker Crusts
1 Large Container of Cool Whip
1 Large Can Crushed Pineapple (drained)
1 8 oz jar Maraschino Cherries (chopped & drained)
1 Can Eagle Brand Milk
1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice

Place all ingredients in a large bowl & mix well. Place mixed ingredients into graham cracker crusts & chill for 4-6 hours or until ready to serve.

ENJOY!!!

Linking up here....

Tutorials & Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Get Your Craft On Tuesday at Today's Creative Blog
Uncommonly Yours at Uncommon Designs
Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots & Jello

Don't Miss Out-DIY projects, home decorating, crafts & more by checking out my subscribe page

Baseball Birthday Party Inspiration...

2012-05-14T09:30:00.002-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend & a wonderful Mother's Day!!!

With just weeks until Parker's 5th birthday, I am officially jumping into FULL party planning mode!!

And since he started playing tee ball this year, I thought we might as well stick with the theme & throw a little baseball party!!

I have been searching the web & Etsy for inspiration and have come across some inspiring images that I thought I would share!

Ya know, just in case ya'll might be throwing a little boy birthday party yourself this year!

I love the idea of having a "Snack Bar" or "Concessions" table at the party!!

(Source)

And what more perfect concessions for a baseball party than peanuts & cracker jacks?!
ADORABLE!!!

(Source)

LOVE the idea of some cotton candy too! :)

(Source)

These bags of peanuts would be such an inexpensive snack for guests. I pretty sure you can buy those little blue sacks at Walmart for next to nothing!! You could also fill them with popcorn too!!

I love the vintage feel of these party printable from Living Locurto....

(Source)

So Cute! I especially love that little pennant banner!!

Would be so easy to add color to the tables & stick with the vintage feel just by adding some red & white or blue & white ticking fabric as well!

(Source)

I found this party pack on Etsy for just $20.00!!

It has EVERYTHING I could possible need to throw a fabulous party for my little man including these adorable invitations!!!

(Source)

So I am hoping to purchase these printables & incorporate some of the above decorating concepts into the party decor!!

And because no party is complete without some tissue paper pom poms, I am most definitely going to be adding these into the party!! I am wondering if their is anyway I can make baseball pom poms out of white tissue paper & then maybe add the red stitch marks?!

(Source)

Am I CRAZY?!

Maybe.....but, I think its do-able!! :)

And I'm pretty sure my little man will need this baseball birthday shirt (or something similar) to coordinate with his party theme......

Too cute!!!

Although I am NOT looking forward to my baby turning FIVE,
I am looking forward to planning his party!!

Time to order my supplies & get BUSY!!!

Are you guys throwing any birthday parties this summer?!

What is your party theme of choice?

InstaFriday....My Chicago Recap

2012-05-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

I can't believe how fast this week went by!!

I have TONS of Instagram photos from my week, so without further ado....here is a little recap!

MY WEEK VIA INSTAGRAM......

Saturday was Parker's first tee ball game! It was pretty much the most adorable thing ever! Just a bunch of little ones, totally clueless about baseball, but having a BLAST! Parker looked so cute in his little uniform, but we are gonna have to look into a new pair of pants for him! The ones he wore were WAY TOO BIG!! My husband had picked them up a month or so ago & we had never tried them on him! I had to safety pin them in two different spots, just to keep them on his scronny little butt!!

It was like 90 degrees the afternoon of his game & the pool was READY at grandma & grandpa's house, so we headed over there for a little swim after the game was over! The boys had a blast in the pool & since they missed their afternoon naps due to the ball game, they were COMPLETELY worn out when we got home!!

Needless to say, they slept GOOD that night!!!!

Early the next morning, (Sunday) we got up & headed back to grandma & grandpa's house to drop the kids off and the hubby & I were off to Chicago for a business trip for his job!
I tagged along for the ride! :)

I shot all kinds of pics during our drive there! It was a long trip, but nice to have some quiet time to ourselves & be able to carry on a conversation without being interrupted a million time by the boys! We ran into some rain as we got closer to the city, but for the most part, the weather was perfect for our drive!

We arrived in downtown Chicago around 2:30 on Sunday afternoon!! The temperature had dropped almost 20 degrees from the time we had left Southern Illinois! I quickly realized that maybe I hadn't pack appropriately!!!

In my defense, let me just say, 64 degrees in Chicago vs. 64 degrees in Southern Illinois are two TOTALLY different things!!! Have I ever mentioned that we live in the armpit of America?! Seriously, the humidity here is RIDICULOUS!!!

We got to our hotel, only to find out that our room wasn't ready! So instead of a room with a king size bed, they bumped us up into a suite with two queen size beds instead.....SCORE!!!

The room was AWESOME & the beds were COMFY!!!!

Once we got settled into our room, we quickly changed clothes and got ready for our dinner reservations at RPM Italian! For those of you who don't know, RPM Italian is Bill & Giuliana Rancic's new restaurant in downtown Chicago. My husband has a small man crush on Bill Rancic and made reservations early in the week.....this restaurant was kinda the highlight of his trip!

The food was delicious, but the portions were kind of small. Unfortunately, we left less than satisfied in terms of our appetite, but the experience was great & so was the service!

We were hoping to see Bill there, as we've been told he pops in from time to time, but no such luck on this trip! Maybe next time! :)

Monday was a rainy & cold day in Chicago! My hubby was in meetings all day & I stayed in the hotel to get caught up on some blog stuff! Monday night, we had the opportunity to meet up with my husband's cousin (also in Chicago for business) for dinner at Gino's East.....their deep dish pizza is to DIE FOR!!! We hadn't seen Dan in FOREVER (as he & his family live in Indianapolis) & it was a total coincidence that he was also in Chicago for work purposes. It was great to see him & get caught up!

I snapped this picture of them on Michigan Ave. before we had to tell Dan goodbye!
Aren't they handsome?!

Speaking of Michigan Avenue.....

There was lots of shopping to be done, but my favorite store was this one!

Ahhh...Forver 21 how I LOVE YOU, your CUTE stuff, and your ADORABLE prices! I bought a dress & a few other accessories here & also lucked into a couple more sundresses for summer at H&M.

I really wanted to go in here.....

Biggest Crate & Barrel Ever?!

I've never been in a Crate & Barrel and I was really looking forward to checking this one out, however, the store closed at 8:30 and we didn't make it down that way in time!! BOO!

On Tuesday, the weather was BEAUTIFUL!! The sun finally made an appearance & the temperature was finally in the 70's! I was able to meet one of my sweet online friends, Katie, from GiGisPetals!!

When I found out we were going to Chicago, I immediately thought of Katie, because I knew she lived in the area! So I emailed her & we made plans to meet up for lunch & do a little shopping downtown! We also got to walk down to see Lake Michigan & I was shocked by how BLUE the water was....

This was the first time I had ever seen Lake Michigan this close! It was beautiful & kinda reminded me of an ocean, but much calmer! GORGEOUS, right?!

Tuesday night, we did more shopping & more eating and then we went back to the hotel & CRASHED!!! Between my lunch date with Katie & walking all over downtown Chicago with my hubby that same evening...I was completely exhausted! I really wish I would have had a pedometer on that day! I had to have walked a gazillion miles.....in FLIP FLOPS nonetheless!

NOT SMART, Tonya, NOT SMART!!!

Here are a few shots of the city I took while we were out walking around....

On Wednesday morning, we got up & got ready to head home, but not before making a stop in Schaumburg, IL to visit IKEA!!!

And that my friends will have to be a post all in itself!! This was my first trip to IKEA ever!! It was AMAZING!! I could have spent days in there....I was even contemplating moving in!!
KID.YOU.NOT!! :)

After leaving IKEA, we started our drive home & I snapped a few pictures of the sky....

I'm not the type to usually get to worked up about clouds, but for whatever reason, I was quite fascinated with them on our way home!

Aren't they beautiful?!

Definitely one of those moments where I was in AWE of God's work! What a beautiful place he created for us to enjoy!

Hope you enjoyed this little recap of my week and I hope you had a great one yourself!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Find me on Instagram: loveoffamilyandhome

Linking up here....

Beadboard Backsplash, Corbel Love, & A Few Other Kitchen Updates....

2012-05-07T11:20:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends!

I hope you all had a great weekend!

I wanted to share with you a project we completed in our kitchen a few weeks ago! But to really appreciate the space, we need to take a look back at what the kitchen looked like just two short years ago...

Can you say BLAH?!

This was back in my country/primitive stage & right before we started our makeover. This was pretty much how the kitchen looked when we moved into our home back in 2005. The only thing I had done up until this point was change out the hardware & add some accessories. I was so sick of this space! I wanted something brighter & a more updated look.

So, we installed new countertops, a new sink/faucet, painted the cabinets, & again, added new hardware. This is what we were left with.....

Much better, right?!

(p.s. this project was one of the first projects completed for this blog. Notice how I its dark outside & I didn't even have the interior lights on?! My oh my how much I've learned....)

Well, it had been a couple years since we completed this project & I was itching to add even more appeal to this space! I always wanted a backsplash of some kind, but we just hadn't gotten around to it. I wanted something simple & something that had a little bit of a cottage feel to it. So, after searching the web & Pinterest for some inspiration I finally found the look I wanted. I was most inspired by Sarah's (aka Thrifty Decor Chick's) kitchen & her beadboard backsplash! We even had left-over beadboard from Griffin's nursery that was just sitting out in the garage waiting to be used! PERFECT!!

After just a day's worth of work our kitchen went from looking like the picture above, to looking like this....

Hello....lighter, brighter, cottage-ey kitchen!!
Where have you been my whole life?!

(p.s.s Isn't it amazing what good lighting & manual mode can do for a photo?!)

What do you think?!

Are you loving it as much as I am?!

In addition to adding the beadboard backsplash, we also decided to add some corbels to the underside of the cabinets....

Aren't they GORGEOUS?!

I love the way the give the cabinets a more custom, built-in look. Such an easy thing to add to the cabinetry, but in my opinion, they add such a big impact! We bought these particular corbels at Home Depot for just under $9.00 a piece. We need 6 total, so that brought the total cost for the corbels to right about $54.00.

Here is a closer shot of one of our cabinet sections with the new backsplash & corbels added....

After the beadboard & corbels were added, we added quarter-round to the base of the beadboard & the underneath side of the cabinets to give everything a clean & seamless look.....

After everything was installed, I gave the corbels a coat of primer (the quarter round & beadboard was pre-primed) & then gave everything a coat of paint to match the existing cabinet color.

Many of you have asked me about the name of the paint color used for the cabinets, again, like a lot of my projects, this paint was purchased at our local do-it-yourself store (which is not a chain) & their paints & paint colors are not available at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. So....because I am of ZERO help in the paint color department, I though I would share just a little tip for those of you who are wanting a similar look...

If you have off-white or cream colored appliances like I do, you could always grab a bunch of paint sample colors & bring them home to try & match your appliances as closely as you can. That is what we did when trying to find the perfect shade of cream for our cabinets!! If you are wanting a cream color for your cabinets, but have different colored appliances, just try to find some cream appliances inside one of your favorite home improvement stores & match it that way! Hope that helps!!

After adding the new backsplash to the kitchen, I also wanted to brighten up our breakfast nook/eating area...

(This picture was taken just a year or so ago)

And what better way to do that than to take the shades off the chandelier?!

GAH!!!

Why did I wait so long to do this?!?!

I'm LOVING this look so much better!!!

You'll also noticed that I completely de-cluttered the buffet....

I left the mirror & just added the two lamps to each side. I really love this new, cleaner look!! The lamps & shades were purchased at Lowes.

I loved the vinyl word art above that mirror! I purchased it through Uppercase Living several months back. It's such great reminder because life IS beautiful & we should never take that for granted!!

So, that's it......my new & improved kitchen with a few updates to the eating area....

I hope you've enjoyed the tour!!

If I had it my way, I would have you all over for coffee & we could sit & chat about the changes in person, but since we can't do that, just tell me what you think of all the updates in the comments section!!

Hope ya'll are having a fabulous Monday!!!

For more information about how we painted the cabinets, read this post.

Linking up here.....

Before & After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick

Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Tutorials & Tips Link Party at Home Stories A to Z

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Weekend Wrap-Up Party at Tatertots & Jello

Sunday Showcase Party at Under The Table & Dreaming

Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

Best DIY Projects of May at Beneath My Heart

InstaFriday...My Week in Instagram Photos

2012-05-04T06:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

I don't know about all of you, but I am SO READY for the weekend!!!

Parker has his first tee-ball game tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it! My hubby is coaching the team full of 4-5 year olds....most of which have no interest in playing ball! They barely know the difference between 1st & 2nd base!! I'm sure it's gonna be a HOOT!!

Then on Sunday, the hubs & I leave for a little four day getaway to Chicago. It's actually a work trip for my husband, but I'm tagging along to keep him company & also to spend some quality time with him! I'm sure I'm gonna miss my babies, but I am looking forward to the one on one time! :) Have you all been to Chicago before?! Any tips for me....places I need to go....things I need to see?!

So, you know how I've jumped on the Instagram bandwagon?!

Well, I thought since I have all of these pictures to share, that I might as well do a little recap of my week & link up at Life Rearranged for InstaFriday!!! Makes sense, right?!

On Monday night, the weather was GORGEOUS here & we decided to hop in the car & go on a little drive! This first picture was of the evening sky that night....isn't is beautiful?!

We drove around for about an hour just looking at homes & enjoying the fresh breeze blowing in through our windows. Before heading back home we stopped at the Dairy Queen for a little treat!! Do you all see that ad in the top left corner of the menu for the Confetti Cake blizzard?! I love confetti cake....I wonder if it's any good?!

Have you all tried it?!

Once we got home & got the kiddos bathed & in bed, I turned on the TV & settled into my chair to watch one of my favorite shows right now....SMASH!! Are you all watching?!

Can you believe Ivy & Dev?!

Seriously?! I'm annoyed!!!

If you read this post earlier in the week, you know that we did all kinds of work out in our yard last weekend! In order to keep the kiddos cool & entertained, I ran out to Walmart & purchased them a little $17.00 plastic pool! I'm telling you, this maybe one of the best investments I've made in a long time!!

They have played in that pool every day this week!! The weather has been so hot here, I'm kinda bummed I didn't buy the bigger pool so that I could climb in with them to cool off! Ha!!

I LOVE this picture I took of Griffin laying on the coffee table one afternoon this week....

I know I shouldn't let him climb on/lay on the coffee table, but when I tell him to get off the table... he just looks at me, giggles, & then smiles that cute little smile! How could I get mad at that face?! This one....he's trouble I tell ya!

Tuesday night, my hubby took the kids over to my in-laws to mow their grass. For those of you who don't know, my children are obsessed with lawn mowers! They LIVE to mow grass! So, I decided to take advantage of the "me" time & head out to Walmart for some peaceful shopping. It's the simple things, ya know?!

To my surprise, I lucked out on finding some really cute knit dresses for just $9.88 a piece! Cute, comfy, & cheap....that's right up my alley!! Tuesday was May 1st & the beginning of the photo-a-day May challenge on Instagram. The theme that day was "peace." So I snapped a picture of me, at Walmart, WITHOUT the kiddos! Cuz shopping trips alone are pretty peaceful.....at least in my book they are!

This last pic is kinda random, but too pretty not to share...

This is one of my clematis' I having growing in the backyard! I just love that shade of purple!!

So pretty!! :)

Are you on Instagram?!

I'm loveoffamilyandhome if you wanna follow along!! I'm sure I'll be snapping pics at Parker's ball game tomorrow & lots & lots of pics of our trip to Chicago!!

I hope y'all have had great week!!

What plans do you have this this weekend?!

Linking up here....

My Hair....Your Questions Answered & Styling Tips

2012-05-03T06:05:00.000-05:00

So......

I'm used to getting questions about paint colors & other DIY related topics delivered to my inbox.

I mean, you would expect that since I write a DIY/Home Decor blog, right?!

But something funny has happened in the last few months...

You all have become interested in my HAIR?!

NEVER did I think I would start getting HAIR related emails....

NEVER did I think I would get readers asking me to send them pictures of my hair so that they could take them to their stylist for an upcoming appointment....

NEVER did I think that I would be doing a video tutorial showing you all how I fix my hair on a day-to-day basis...

BUT, Never Say Never!! :)

If this is what you guys are interested in, then this is what I'm gonna blog about!
However, I hope you know that it's ONLY because I LOVE YOU ALL so much!!

I hope this video & the pictures I'm providing in this post will help to answer all of your guys' questions!! Let me just preface the video by saying that I am by NO MEANS a hair professional. I am just doing my best to show you how I fix my hair! Whether or not it is the best way to fix it.....I'm not real sure about that, but it works for me and that is all that matters!

So without further ado....here I am fixing my hair in front of a camera (awkward!)
Hope you enjoy!! :)

(side note: Big thank you to my friend, Mandy for her awesome video editing skills!! If I would have tried to do this video on my own, I promise.....it would have been painful to watch!) Pretty simple, right?! It really is super easy to fix & style, but ONLY because my stylist does an amazing job with my cut! Because, let's just be honest....it's hard to have great hair without a great cut! Am I right?! And just in case anyone else is wanting pictures of my hairstyle from the different angles, here they are for your pinning or printing pleasure....

Thank You all so much for your sweet comments & emails regarding my hair! You guys are SERIOUSLY too sweet!! So, there you have it!!
Is there anything I missed?! Just leave your questions in the comment section below or shoot me an email!! My friend, Mandy from House of Rose is doing an eye make-up tutorial today! If you are looking for some great ways to spruce up your eye make-up routine or looking to try some new products, head on over to her blog to check out her tips & tricks!

Stop & Smell The Roses....Week 10

2012-05-02T07:22:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Thank you for joining me for week TEN of Stop & Smell The Roses!!

I wanted to tell you all about a little package that I got in the mail this past week that definitely put a smile on my face! Cuz what's better than getting a package in the mail?!

Especially when its packed full of CUTENESS!!

If you wanna check out Angie's beautiful Bible covers & other products, you can visit her etsy shop by clicking HERE.
You can read Angie's post about her mother HERE.

If you wanna subscribe to my channel, you can do so by clicking in the box below!
For more way that you can follow me and/or this blog, please check out my SUBSCRIBE page!

Power-Washin'...Deck Stainin'.... Kinda Weekend

2012-04-30T21:59:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

Hope you all have had a great Monday!

I wanted to drop in & just share a little bit of what we worked on this past weekend!

The weather was beautiful here & we spent all day Saturday & Sunday working in our backyard!! Just like last year, the back flowerbed needed some work! I spent a lot of my time raking out all the dead leaves & pulling lots & lots of WEEDS!!

When I was finished it looked a little something like this....

Ahhh! A blank slate!!

All of the new bushes we planted last year are still alive & I'm loving all the color they add to the landscaping!! My knock-out rose bushes are getting ginormous & are also in full bloom!! Can't wait to get some flowers planted in the ground, some beautiful hanging baskets to hang on the fence, & to lay some fresh mulch!!

p.s. pay no attention to the plastic pool....it was hot here this weekend & it served its purpose in keeping the kids cool & entertained while the hubs & I worked our butts off!! I know it ain't pretty, but its real life people!!

In addition to the flower beds, the deck also needed some major attention this year! I had stained it a couple years back with a solid deck stain & the stain was starting come off!

It was also FILTHY....

So, I had my hubby take the power washer to it to clean it & prep it for staining!

You can see where the stain was coming off the deck much better in this pic, but this is what it looked like after being power washed & before the new stain went down.

We wanted to go with a different color stain this year & something a bit darker to hide the dirt a little better, so off to Lowes we went! After looking thru the gazillion color options that they had available, we finally decided to go with the color "pewter" and used the Olympic Maximum brand stain. It is a stain & sealant in one.

We wanted a painted look, so again, we went with a solid stain, but they also have semi-transparent stain as well if you are wanting more of a traditional stained look with some of the wood grain showing through. The stain went down really easy with roller & then I used a brush to paint around the outside edge of the deck.

I'm pretty much LOVING this color & can't wait to get all my patio furniture out & start prettying up this space! Here is a peek at the back of our home and what the deck looks like right now...

I am really wanting to add shutters to the those back two windows & also dress them up a bit more by adding some inexpensive window boxes & of course some beautiful flowers! I would love to do the same with that small window above the air conditioning unit, but given the placement of our electric box, that isn't going to happen!

We also have plans to add a pergola to the deck this year & I seriously CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!

My brain is picturing something like this......

(via)

GAH!!!
I LOVE IT!!!

Are you picturing it too?!

I'm looking forward to hanging out on the deck a lot this summer & hopefully doing some entertaining!! We are hoping to get started on the pergola real soon!!!
I will keep you posted!!

Did you all have beautiful weather this weekend?

Get any outdoor projects started or completed?!

I would LOVE to hear what you've been working on!!

p.s. we are going to be taking a little trip this next week & I would like to get a few guest bloggers lined up so that I can enjoy the trip rather than worry about the blog!! If you would be interested in guest posting, please email me: tdiehl2005 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Don't Miss Out-DIY projects, home decorating, crafts & more by checking out my subscribe page

An Interview with Mister Parker....

2012-04-30T05:44:00.000-05:00

Hey Guys!!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!

I'm so excited to be participating in the kid interview series that Kara, from June & Bear has been doing on her blog! She asked me a few weeks back if I would like to interview Parker for her series & I immediately knew I wanted to!! Because isn't interviewing kids such a fun thing anyway?! Just to hear Parker's answers to some of the questions made me smile!

I actually learned a few new things about my soon-to-be 5 year old! :)

Kara has an adorable blog and two adorable children, June & Bear (hints the name of her blog!) She is an amazing photographer & also shares a fair amount of DIY & decorating projects as well!

I just LOVE Kara's new living room!!

SWOON!!
You must check it out while you are there!!!!

So, head on over to June & Bear to see my interview with Parker & to check out Kara's awesome blog!!

I'll be back later tonight or early tomorrow morning to share a few projects we worked on over the weekend!

Stop & Smell The Roses...Week 9

2012-04-25T06:58:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!

I'm back today with another edition of Stop & Smell The Roses!!

This is actually week 9 of the link-up!! Can you believe we started vlogging 9 weeks ago?!

Seems CRAZY, right?!

This week I had to film my vlog from my iPhone (which means no editing) and I have to forewarn you all...my hubby did not do a great job holding the phone still, so there is a little bit of camera shake going on!! My apologies! I didn't realize how much shaking there was until the video had already uploaded to YouTube & I just couldn't see re-shooting the whole thing! Too much work, ya know?!

So here I am, keepin' it real.....

Products mention: Ecotools The Everyday Collection 1256 Brushes & Case, 6ct.

Do you guys use brushes to put on your eye make-up?!

Please tell me I am not the ONLY ONE who was still using that little sponge applicator to put their eyeshadow on!!! Ridiculous, I know!

If you want to check out Emily's channel, Beauty Broadcast

you can do so by clicking HERE.

If you wanna subscribe to my channel you can do that here.... For other ways you can follow ME & my blog check out my Subscribe Page! I would LOVE to connect with you!!!

What I Wore....Mint/Aqua Denim

2012-04-24T16:17:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I've totally jumped on the colored denim bandwagon....

After I purchased the coral denim pants a couple weeks ago, my next task was to find a pair of mint/aqua pants! I had seen multiple outfits pinned to Pinterest & I was smitten with the color!

So again, I looked & looked for a pair that fit!! (p.s. this color is not as easy to come by as the coral) I did ended up finding a pair at Wet Seal for just $24.99 and I LOVE them!! I put a few different looks together for this post to hopefully give you some ideas as to what you can wear with this beautiful shade of denim!!!

White T-Shirt - My Closet

Scarf - TJ Maxx $9.99

Nude Striped Shirt - Old Navy Clearance $6.49

Cream Infinity Scarf - Rue 21 $8.99

White Tank - Wet Seal (Price ?)

Peach Cardigan - TJ Maxx $12.98

White T-Shirt/Gray Cardigan Vest - Kohl's (a couple yrs back)

I wore my nude wedges with all of these outfits because they are cute & comfy and seriously, go with EVERTHING!! I bought them at Payless & you can buy them too by clicking HERE.

I hope this helps you to see all the possibilities with mint/aqua denim!! Pinterest has definitely helped me to visualize what looks good & what doesn't!

If you stay neutral on top, you pretty much can't go wrong!!

Another option would be to look at the color wheel....

(via)

Colors that are across from one another are called complimentary colors. So you can see by looking at the wheel where the mint/aqua also would look great paired pinks/corals or even peach, similar to the outfit I posted above!!

The color wheel is helpful when you are trying to put together outfits for any shade of denim!! You can also use it in terms of decorating as well to help you decide what colors look good together in a room!!

Super helpful tool!!

What Have You Been Wearing This Week?!

Linking up here....

Don't Miss Out-DIY projects, home decorating, crafts & more by checking out my subscribe page

Instagram....Oh How I Adore Thee

2012-04-23T08:15:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I hope you all have had a fabulous weekend!!

Our weekend was pretty uneventful, which was OK with me! Every now & then you just need a weekend without any set plans, ya know?! I DID manage to finish a few odd & end jobs that have been on my to-do list for a while, so that felt good! I'm hoping to get a few more of those things finished today!!

This post is gonna be somewhat random....but, I have a couple things to tell you
about so just bare with me!!

First of all, I am FINALLY on Instagram!!!!

I know, I know....you all have probably been on Instagram forever & are all like

"What's the big deal Tonya?!"

Well the deal is....it is NEW to me & I am officially ADDICTED!!

My husband surprised me with an iPhone just a couple weeks after Blissdom & I downloaded the famous Instagram app right away! However, I really didn't experiment with it too much! It wasn't until the week of Easter, that I got an Instagram notification to my phone & I was like....

"What the?!"

I don't know what rock I was living under, but I had no idea that Instagram was just like any other form of social media!! I had no idea that I could follow people & that they could follow me back!

Now that I have somewhat figured the whole thing out.....I'm kind of an Instagramming fool!!!

It's fun to take photos & share them with all of my friends & blog followers! I love having another form of social media to be able to chat with all of you!! On top of that, it's just another way for me to get to know all of you & get a small glimpse into your worlds!!

So....just in case you are wondering what I might be doing on a day to day basis.....(i.e. what I'm eating/drinking, what I'm wearing, or what kid I might be cuddling with that particular moment) then you can ~~STALK~~ FOLLOW ME on Instagram!!

You can find me at loveoffamilyandhome!!

Leave a comment on one of my pictures telling me that you saw this post on my blog or leave me your Instagram info in the comments section of this post & I will be sure to follow you back!!

The next thing that I wanted to tell you about is this.....

These GORGEOUS Rosette Necklaces are available again through GiGisPetals!!!

I got the navy blue one the last time they were featured & seriously LOVE it!! I wear it ALL THE TIME!! (you can see me wearing it in some of the pictures above) They are just $10.00 a piece (regularly $18.00) & I wanted to make sure that all of you were able to take advantage of this deal!!!I purchased two more last night!! It took me forever to decide on color, but I finally decided on the cream & gray!!

What color do you like?!

The other deal I wanted to tell you all about is this ADORABLE Initial Necklace with Vintage Key also available through GiGisPetals! These sweet necklaces are just $11.50 a piece (regularly $21.00) and would make the perfect gift for a mom, teacher, or friend!! And at such a sweet price, you might as well snag one for yourself while you're at it!!! And just in case you aren't a big fan of pink, they are available in other colors as well!!

There are only a few hours left for each of these deals....so you better HURRY!!!!

Make your Monday a little sweeter with one (or both) of these fabulous deals!!!

CLICK HERE!!

Coral Meets Navy.....Home Decor

2012-04-19T06:00:00.044-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I hope you all are having a great week!!

Last week, I talked about mixing navy & coral in my wardrobe, so today I thought I would take that color combination & talk about incorporating it into your home!!

(Source)

When you see this color combination is it something you only envision wearing, OR could you see yourself working this bold & bright color combo into design style?!

Would you be daring enough to paint an entire wall navy........in your living room?!

(Source)

My personal taste in home decor tends to be on the "light & airy" side of things, so painting an entire wall navy is not necessarily something I hate, but definitely not something I could see myself doing in my own home. I do like how the dark wall in this room is offset with the bright white curtain panels, the white couches, & the white fireplace. Then the pops of coral come into play in all of the accessories....throw pillows, flowers, etc.

This room however, does appeal to me quite a bit more......

(Source)

What's the difference?!

In this room, the walls are primarily painted white, with the exception of the wall behind the bed. Even though it has be stenciled with a navy pattern, the white still shows through quite a bit & the rest of the walls in the room are solid white. In this room the curtains & accessories are navy and coral! The white walls & white bedding make my "light & airy" heart go pitter patter!

And don't even get me started on that upholstered headboard.....GORGEOUS!!!

When it comes to painting the walls coral.....

(Source)

Well, I'm not sure about that either....

But, I have to admit, I AM kinda digging this office/studio! Again, I'm not sure it would be something I would do in my own home, but this room is cute! I'm definitely loving that little sofa, the adorable white desk & office chair, & for sure that perfectly put together gallery wall!! It totally speaks to my Type A personality with its coordinating frames & mattes....not mention its beautiful clean (perfectly straight) lines!!

In exploring this color combination, I have found that I am definitely more drawn to the primarily white rooms with the pops of navy & coral in the means of throw pillows and other accessories as seen in these pictures....

(Source)

BUT.....

Because I am so partial to blue....
(what?! you didn't know this about me?! where have you been?!)

These rooms are MUCH MORE appealing to me and definitely rooms I could see in my own home.

(Source)

Okay....I'm totally LOVING this bedroom!!!
The blue walls, the coral upholstered headboard, the white bedding, and
those adorable little stools at the end of the bed....DREAMY!!

Just by switching from a dark navy to a light blue changes the entire feel & look of the space....

(Source)

(Source)

Yeah, I'm totally diggin' the BLUE & coral color combo!!

This last room is my absolute FAVORITE!!!

(Source)

I first saw this space on Shaunna's blog a week or so ago....she is taking part in the Color My World Challenge & starting to incorporate some coral into her own home. If you haven't ever check out Shaunna's blog....you should totally check it out!!
She is AMAZING!!

Anyway, this room, (again in my opinion) is perfect in every way! I especially LOVE the light blue, paneled walls and that amazing chandelier! This room has that cool feel, but also brings in warmth with the rug & all of the wood tones in the furniture pieces.

So in terms of NAVY & coral....
Yeah, I'm all about rockin' it in my wardrobe....

But when it comes to my home....
I am much more likely to keep my BLUE & just add in the pops of coral!

So what about you?!

What color combo do you prefer?!

I would LOVE to hear your opinion!!

Stop & Smell The Roses......The Outtakes

2012-04-18T07:00:00.008-05:00

Happy Wednesday Ya'll!!

It's time for another edition of Stop & Smell The Roses!!

This week, Mandy & I decided to do something a little different & shoot our vlogs together!

I have had sooo many questions & emails regarding my hair that I decided to just go ahead & do a whole post on it! Since Mandy convinced me that it would be a good idea to do a video as opposed to a written post, I enlisted her help with the video and since we were already together, we decided that we might as well shoot our Stop & Smell the Roses vlogs as well!!

Now, if you want to watch the actual SASTR vlog, you will have to head on over to House of Rose Blog to check it out! We decided that we better give you all two different videos to watch, so I am lucky enough to be able to share all of our outtakes here on my site!

So, here's a little behind the scenes look at our joint vlogging experience!

YES, we are wearing matching cardigans....NO, we TOTALLY didn't plan it!!!

LOL!

We had a ball filming together and I hope we provided you with a laugh or two!

Stay tuned for a vlog all about my HAIR coming soon!!

I am hoping to answer your all of your questions about the cut & how I style it!!

Sweet Shot Tuesday.....Mills/Maze Wedding

2012-04-16T20:52:00.002-05:00

I'm back this week with another Sweet Shot Tuesday post!!!

The weather is getting warmer & wedding season is upon us!!

I had the opportunity to shoot my second wedding this past weekend for an old friend/co-worker. I did her & her fiance's engagement photos several months back, so it was awesome to be able to shoot their wedding as well!!

I took over 1,000 photos between the wedding & the reception & still trying to make my way through all of them, but right now......these are the shots I am LOVING the most!

There are PLENTY more where those came from.....
but finding the time to sit & edit proves to be challenging!!!

I hope to be able to post more next week!!!

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!!!

Linking up here....

Thrift Store Chair Makeover....

2012-04-16T05:57:00.005-05:00

Happy Monday Everyone!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!

I wanted to drop by today & share a little makeover that my mom recently finished! I used this project as a guest post over at Beneath My Heart a couple weeks ago, so if you are thinking this post looks familiar, that's probably where you saw it!!

For those of you who missed my guest post, here it is....

My mom bought this chair at one of our local thrift shops just a few months back! The funny thing is, I had been eyeing this chair for a couple months myself....

Unfortunately, I didn't have anywhere to put it!!

Kinda funny that my mom picked it up for herself!

I loved the shape of this chair & all of its little details. I knew it could be a beauty....it only needed a little TLC! That is one thing about thrifting.....you kind of have to have an imagination!

Don't see a piece for what it is....see it for what it could be! :)

The chair was in pretty decent condition with the exception of the seat.....

Yowza!! Now that's gonna need some fixin'!

But with a price tag of just $20.....it's totally doable!!

My mom did the usual steps in furniture refinishing.....

She sanded, primed & painted the chair. Then to add a little interest she antiqued all the little grooves & details of the chair just to give it a little more character! My dad repaired the seat by cutting out a thin piece of plywood to cover the hole. The plywood was painted the same color as the chair & then covered with a cushion my mom made to fit the chair. Add a couple cute throw pillows & call it DONE!!!

Here is what the once piece of "trash" looks like now....

Not too shabby, eh?!

The seat cushion was made using a 1.5" piece of foam cut to fit the chair. My mom covered the foam using some ticking fabric she purchased at Walmart & then added some piping to give it a little more detail.

For those of you who don't know, my mom is kind of a throw pillow expert. She sells loads of pillows similar to these in her etsy shop. Love the way these look sitting in her "new" chair!

A couple more shots of the chair as a whole.....

I knew there was a reason I liked this chair when first saw it!!!

Too bad it's sitting over at her house instead of mine!

Darn the luck!!

Thanks for stopping by & I hope you all have a great week!!!

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