And Emma Makes Five

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

Golden Birthday

2012-01-09T05:36:00.000-05:00

HaPpY BiRtHdAy JaCkSon!!!

Today, on January 9th, Jackson turns NINE years old!

We started the celebration on Saturday at the Great Wolf Lodge with his best friend and his family. Jackson's best friend's 9th birthday was also on Saturday so we celebrated two birthdays this weekend!!! Both families had so much fun, and all six kids were just exhausted when we left.

Here are a few photos of our trip to GWL. These were all taken using my iPhone.

AND THE BIRTHDAY BOYS...

Last night we went to eat Mexican food with JC's parents, and tonight Jackson has chosen to go to Outback for his birthday dinner. The fun continues!!!

Happy Birthday Jack! We love you sooooooo much!!!!

Favorite Photo Friday

2012-01-06T09:35:00.002-05:00

HOUSE INSPIRATION

When we eventually build, this is what I want our new home to look like from the front!

Renovation by Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc.

Happy Friday Y'all!

Determination

2012-01-04T07:18:00.000-05:00

2011 ~ A Year in Photos

2012-01-02T07:37:00.000-05:00

I decided to go through my Flickr account and post one photo for each month of 2011...love walking down Memory Lane!

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Praying for a NEW YEAR full of faith, prosperity, hope, love, health and happiness!

To The New Year

2011-12-31T08:09:00.000-05:00

Emma's First Nutcracker Ballet

2011-12-30T13:37:00.006-05:00

I was so excited to take Emma to the Nutcracker Ballet this year.

You may remember this post where I shared about our family tradition of attending the Nutcracker performed by the NC School of the Arts. Unfortunately we took last year off. The boys were not interested at all, and I just didn't feel that Emma was old enough.

This was the year to start that tradition for Emma. I have to admit that I was especially excited to introduce Emma to this part of her Russian heritage.

A group of Emma's friends and moms (and one nana) came over for lunch just before the show.

I begged the girls to stand still for some photos. That was a little difficult. They were so excited!

This is the best photo I could get of all three girls. In addition to all the movement, my camera has been acting a little funny. I really need to send it off for someone to fix it.

We all had a fabulous time as expected. Each of the girls also bought a ballerina Christmas ornament for their trees as a memento.

Santa

2011-12-28T06:53:00.000-05:00

Mom in her kerchief and Dad in his cap had just settled down for a LONG winter's nap...

Until about 5:30am.

We both awoke to this at the top of our stairs:

Thankfully the boys know not to storm down the stairs. They are kind enough to give some warning so that I can grab the camera and turn on the Christmas tree lights.

We all were very excited, and I think the kids were very happy with Santa Claus.

Both Brendan and Jackson got air soft guns for Christmas. They have both wanted these for about two years now.

They also both got a Ghillie suit to wear during airsoft wars.

Emma had an American Girl Doll Christmas:

Instead of designing a look-alike doll, Emma chose Julie Albright. Actually Julie looks more like Emma than any of the custom doll choice combinations.

Brendan found the "ringing bell"...he must still believe.

Jackson had a remote control Christmas:

Jack got a Tonka XT vehicle, an Air Hogs helicopter and an Air Hogs car...

We promised Brendan that he could start his W.R. Case knife collection when he turned 10. My dad collected Case knives, and he gave Brendan and Jackson both a "My First Case Knife" tin set when they were born.

After the stockings were emptied and all of the Santa gifts were discovered, each child opened presents from Mom and Dad. They did not want the gift opening to end! :)

An Early Christmas Gift

2011-12-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Our house went under contract just EIGHT days after it was listed!

What a great and unexpected Christmas gift!

I thought it would be fun to show the realtor's photos from when we briefly had our house listed in January 2009 compared to the current photos.

From Our Family to Yours

2011-12-25T11:18:00.006-05:00

This year we sent out a trifold Christmas card. Above is the card folded. Below are the Inside and Outside Spreads!

Inside of Card

Merry Christmas Y'all!

Merry CHRISTmas

2011-12-23T13:49:00.002-05:00

Another Christmas Card Photo Outtake

2011-12-14T07:39:00.000-05:00

'Tis the Season

One of the Things

2011-12-12T16:33:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned previously, we have had a lot going on lately.

One of those is that we have decided to buy a couple of acres of land to build on. This means that we have been working very hard for about a month and a half trying to get our house ready to put on the market.

Originally we were going to wait until January, but in our true fashion, we decided to go ahead and list this past Thursday.

We have cleaned out storage rooms, closets, and most importantly...Jackson's room! :)

We have also had all of our large grasses and shrubbery pruned.

The house has been pressure washed, and we've had several rooms repainted along with our front door.

A closet was also added to our bonus room so that we can officially call it a bedroom!

The result...

The house has been on the market for 3 days. We have had 3 showings so far!!!

We are hoping all this work pays off!

Favorite Photo Friday

2011-12-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

It's Christmas card time again.

Today I'd like to post a photo that I do like, but this one did not make the cut for our final Christmas card.

I hope you all have had success in getting that perfect shot!

MIA

2011-11-30T21:03:00.003-05:00

Yes...I have been Missing In Action.

I feel like so much has been going on in life and yet this fall also seems to be going by slowly.

We have been busy as usual...who's not?

Thanksgiving was a blessed holiday. I think I really reflected on the meaning a little more this year instead of focusing on the "celebrating" and the "tradition". It was just a little more personal for me.

I also have had a lot going on at work like...a whole new software system and a physical MOVE of my entire pharmacy - which I had to do by my LONESOME!!!

There are some BIG changes coming our way. Hopefully there will be lots of blog posts in the future!!! :)

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Halloween 2011

2011-11-04T06:05:00.004-04:00

We had a Zombie, a Zombie Hunter and a princess this year!

The mask was just a little much for Brendan, so most of the time, he went without his mask and was Emma's "bodyguard"!

Jackson was a fierce zombie hunter...complete with a shrunken head and fake blood.

And Emma was the princess.

We had lots of fun trick or treating with our friends.

Of course, the kids are already discussing what they'll be next year!!!

Hope you all had a spooky holiday!

Favorite Photo Friday

2011-10-21T06:48:00.001-04:00

~ A House Divided ~

Brendan and Jackson have full bragging rights!

PiNk

2011-10-10T06:37:00.000-04:00

Most everyone knows that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

One of my favorite things to see is athletes sporting their pink to honor those fighting breast cancer, to remember those who have lost their battle, and VERY IMPORTANTLY to raise awareness about early detection!

Saturday, we went to the UNC - Louisville game, and our Tar Heels were sporting their pink! :)

This entire weekend, Brendan's baseball team played in a tournament, and his coach bought all the players and coaches PINK shoelaces for their cleats.

Brendan scoring!

It was a great weekend! Our boys went undefeated for all four games and won the tournament!

I think they should keep those pink laces!

Favorite Photo Friday ~ FAMILY DAY

2011-10-07T06:47:00.000-04:00

2 years ago TODAY we became, as my blog title shows,...A Family of FIVE!!!

In honor of today, I am reposting two of my favorite photos of our boys meeting Emma for the.very.first.time!

Our first family photo...

Life is so sweet! We are blessed beyond measure!

A Good Samaritan

2011-10-06T05:52:00.002-04:00

Some of you may remember this post from May...JC and Brendan went with friends to Boston to see the Red Sox play for the boys' 10th birthdays.

This is a photo of the boys prior to take off...on the way to Boston:

Brendan is playing his BRAND NEW iTouch that he received for his birthday from me and JC.

Well...

on the way home from Boston, Brendan lost his iTouch in the frenzy to go to the bathroom and board the plane bound for NC. He did not realize this until they were in flight. Once home, they searched EVERY bag and NO iTouch. Brendan was one sad kid.

About a month after that Boston trip, JC got a call at his dental practice from a Captain in the Air Force. She had found Brendan's iTouch at that gate in Boston!!!!

Get this...JC decided to have Brendan's iTouch engraved since he ordered it from Apple. He didn't put Happy Birthday Brendan or We Love You Brendan...he simply put his first and last name. How random...that's a dad for you. However, that is exactly what saved this iTouch!

This very sweet lady knew that the plane before hers was bound for Charlotte so when she returned from her trip, she "g**gled" our last name and Charlotte, NC (which we live almost two hours away from, BTW).

One of the first hits was for JC's dental practice. Unbelievable.

Anyway, after a lot of back and forths and deployments and a lost package by F*d Ex, Brendan's iTouch showed up at JC's practice the week after Labor Day...4 months after B lost the iTouch.

This is the letter she sent in the package:

How's that for a Good Samaritan?

We are very thankful for people like Captain S. I am praying this lesson sticks with Brendan...to do the right thing!

Helpers

2011-09-29T18:52:00.008-04:00

Both of my boys (but especially Brendan) were extremely affected by the pictures of Camp Don Lee following Hurricane Irene's departure. Some of those photos were in this post last month.

Instantly Brendan and Jackson were brainstorming about how they could help rebuild. Brendan was very worried about not being able to go to camp next year!

Camp Don Lee Hurricane Helpers was born shortly thereafter! Ideas were thrown out left and right about how an eight and ten year old could raise money for their camp. A goal of $1000 was set! Although a little doubtful in our abilities to raise that much money, the boys started brainstorming!!! The first idea was , "sell their stuff"! This really wasn't such a bad idea.

With my help, the boys sifted through old clothes, shoes and baby items that we could sell at Onc* Upon A Child.

Here's a photo of the boys with the first car load. I think they made about $60 that day!!!

But...what child-based fundraiser is complete without a Lemonade Stand? The boys (Jackson had to work alone as Brendan had a baseball tournament) had their first Lemonade Stand at our tailgate before the UNC - Rutgers football game. Thanks to the generosity of JC's fraternity brothers and our friends, we were able to raise $100 in about two hours!

The Hurricane Helpers even have their own Facebook page. Brendan wrote the "Info" Section:

"On Saturday, August 27th Hurricane Irene blew through Camp Don Lee. It damaged the pier and several other buildings. That means if everything doesn't get repaired, we won't have camp next year. That is why my brother and I are trying to raise money to rebuild Camp Don Lee."

If you would like to see more and follow their progress, please "like" their page ... link below

Camp Don Lee Hurricane Helpers

We are so proud of these two so far!

Stay tuned for more!!!

Favorite Photo Friday

2011-09-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

My poor camera has been neglected and packed away for about three weeks now.

I am struggling with this camera. I have never really liked it, and the decision to buy it was made in haste when my first DSLR stopped working right after coming home from Russia the first time. I was afraid to be without a camera in the event that we needed to travel for our court date with last minute notice.

So...part of my not using my camera is that I am not friends with it currently. Part of it is that I am just barely holding my head above water as we all adjust to this new school year schedule!

Thursday afternoon, Emma had her second dance class of the year. She went with one of her good friends so I had to get her dressed and wearing shoes that I thought she might be able to put on by herself at the end of class. At the recommendation of my good friend, we selected Emma's RED cowgirl boots. She looked so darn cute. I dusted off my camera and took a few photos in the 4.2 minutes that I had available before pickup.

Below is my favorite photo of the ones I snapped. It is not perfect, but I love how Emma is all smiles as she is about to leave for class.

Happy Friday Y'all!!!

Favorite Photo Friday

2011-09-16T07:28:00.003-04:00

Today I am participating in Lisa's newest series at The Long Road to China: Favorite Photo Friday.

This photo was taken just before our court date in St. Petersburg two years ago yesterday.

JC and I had gone to visit Emma at her baby home, and it was nice enough to have the visit outside.

This photo was taken on automatic and then a Lightroom preset was used for processing back in 2009 before I knew anything about taking photos or photo-processing. I didn't pull it out to alter it again mainly due to time. It is grainy and the color is off. It is still one of my favorites though. I just love that little face.

Old Baldy

2011-09-14T18:58:00.004-04:00

I'd say the #1 attraction at Bald Head Island is the lighthouse affectionately called "Old Baldy". The Bald Head Island Lighthouse was the very first lighthouse (of the seven lighthouses) in North Carolina.

This old lighthouse sits at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Ironically, just across the river/Atlantic is the Oak Island Lighthouse. When we are sitting on the beach, we can see both lighthouses.

We decided that we would climb to the top of Old Baldy...

I thought I was going to hyperventilate as I have a MAJOR fear of heights.

These are the views from the top:

On one side marshland:

and the marina on the other side:

Look closely...you can see the ferry arriving.

Outside is the old brick oil house...the first oil used to burn the light was whale blubber:

Here are the kids at the entrance to the Old Baldy:

Once I made it down (drenched in sweat), I was very very happy! :)

Beside the lighthouse is the famed chapel on Bald Head. Many many many people choose to get married in this quaint little chapel.

Here is the arbor entrance:

and the chapel (poor photograph)

We had such a wonderful time at Bald Head. I hope that we can return someday. If you get the chance, this is a MUST destination.

Where Were You?

2011-09-11T07:25:00.000-04:00

I was working my 10 hour shift in the Wal-Mart Pharmacy in Jacksonville, NC.

If you've ever shopped at a Wal-Mart in a military town, you know how busy that store can get...well that day, 10 years ago, our Wal-Mart was basically empty. Everyone was glued to the tv - wherever they may have been at the time it became apparent that the United States was under attack.

My husband and my 4 month old (Brendan) were both on base at Camp LeJeune - the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast. The base was on complete lockdown; I was so afraid that I would not be able to get on base (even though we actually lived there). I finally got home around 8:30 that night.

I was 27 years old and a new mom. Life was good. JC was in the military, but times were peaceful.

JC feeding Brendan the night before the 9/11 attacks.

Life changed in a blink of an eye.

What I remember most...

sitting in our tiny living room rocking Brendan with tears streaming down my face as JC packed his seabag the night of 9/11/01. J was told to be ready to deploy to NY to triage survivors. Of course it became apparent very quickly that there were few survivors - so he never left. I was so scared for our family, our country, my son who had just entered this world. I no longer felt invincible...I no longer felt like I could protect this tiny little boy from the bad guys.

That is the only way our family was affected by 9/11. I cannot imagine how devastated the families who lost loved ones felt back then and today as well.

Of course people lose loved ones every day, but the magnitude and senselessness of 9/11 were just so monumental. Our country was forever changed.

Today we remember those loved ones. We won't forget.

I pray that our country continues to stand and fight.

It is that faith and hope and love of country that keeps me feeling safe at night.

God Bless the USA!!!

BHI ~ The Nature Trail

2011-09-06T15:34:00.003-04:00

One of the things we did at Bald Head was to walk the nature trail.

It was a very muggy morning, and we got eaten alive by the mosquitos.

The old trees were really quite spectacular.

The entire walk only took about 20-30 minutes, but it was a great way to see the marsh side of the island.

I am already missing our weekend trips to the beach!

Getting There Is Half the Fun

2011-08-31T18:07:00.005-04:00

On our last trip to the coast before school started, we actually went down to Bald Head Island.

If you have never heard of Bald Head...it is a very quaint little island only accessible by passenger ferry. There are no cars allowed!!! That means you need a golf cart to cruise around the island!

Emma glamming it up at the dock!

Our ferry arriving!

Once on board, Emma was helping "Nature Jack" plan our stay!

From the ferry ride over, we had a spectacular view of the Southport waterfront!

And we were able to see Oak Island and the lighthouse.

Here we are pulling into the dock at Bald Head. You can see "Old Baldy" in the distance.

And here you can Eb & Flo's Restaurant where we ate lunch one day...so much fun!

Since there are no cars, JC rented a golf cart for us...

MORE TO COME...touring the nature conservancy and Old Baldy.

Still Standing

2011-08-28T18:32:00.007-04:00

Of course the whole nation has been inundated with reports from Hurricane Irene this weekend.

I'd like to share with you something pretty amazing from this massive storm.

As you know if you've been reading my blog for a while, our boys go to Camp Don Lee each year in Arapahoe, NC (which is on the Neuse River).

After Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, she continued to go up North Carolina through the sounds which are in between the mainland and the outer banks.

Camp Don Lee was greatly affected by the storm, and I'd like to share a few powerful photos that were shared with me yesterday. I did not take any of these photos except for the ones with our children in them.

This is a photo that I took on July 31st this year when we took Brendan to camp. We went out on the pier just before leaving Brendan.

The following photo was taken as Irene made her way up our coastline and caused extreme flooding and storm surge.

Please look very closely at the water. Just to the left of the two prominent poles standing, you can see the cross at the end of the pier. The entire pier is submerged, and the cross appears to be standing on water.

This is what the pier should look like on a regular day...

A tremendous sight to see just how much was underwater.

As Irene moved northeast and "sucked" the water back out with her, this is what was left...

The skeleton of the pier, and the cross - STILL STANDING!!!

Camp Don Lee is a Methodist church camp, and is a non-profit organization. There will be so much work and money needed to repair this camp which is open year round for school students.

If you can, please help by making a contribution through the link below.

http://www.donleecenter.org/contribution.php

When our friend emailed me the last photo, it just gave me chills to see that cross rising from the damaged pier. Just amazing!

1st Day

2011-08-25T19:52:00.004-04:00

of school for the 2011-2012 school year!

Brendan and Jackson were

Eager and

Happy and

Excited and

Sleepy and

Absolutely ready to tackle this new year as 3rd and 5th graders ruling their school!!!

Even Emma is happy because she just got moved up to the "Mighty Fours" at her school even though she is only three and a half!!!

It's gonna be a great year! I just know it - at least that's what I keep telling myself as I lament the fact that our summer freedom is over! :)

IRENE

2011-08-24T14:49:00.003-04:00

We are praying that Hurricane Irene continues to turn to the east.

We went down to Oak Island and moved everything inside our condo. We have not had a hurricane threat since we bought our place two years ago this coming weekend ironically. We didn't put up boards over the windows or anything. We are just really hopeful that Irene will head out to sea and spare our coast!

Here is the most recent projected track from NOAA as of 2pm Wednesday...

Oak Island is under the line shown for 8am Saturday - on the section that actually faces south instead of east.

Right now I am just praying that the Bahama Islands don't sustain too much damage or death/injuries.

Hurricane season is just no fun for beach lovers.

A Little Inspiration

2011-08-21T09:38:00.006-04:00

Back to the bedroom...

Once school starts back this Thursday, I am hoping for more time to catch up on my list of projects. One of those is the master bedroom.

I have been browsing my magazines as well as blogs trying to find inspiration. One thing is for sure...I am drawn to a light shade of blue / sea-green.

I am a big fan of Erin at House of Turquoise so her blog was the first place I started.

Here are a few of the bedrooms that she has featured from various designers. They are all gorgeous. I'm not sure if I have a favorite; I was just drawn to each of these. I am hoping that by collecting ideas, I'll be able to get a more cohesive idea about how I want our bedroom to be redesigned.

Kathryn Chaplow

Eric Pokesh

Carl Steele

Phillips deVeer Interiors

Red Element Design Studio (there's hope for our ceiling fan)

Stacy Zarin-Goldberg and Sara Tuttle

And out of all of these, I'd say these three are my favorites:

Elizabeth Elsey

Muse Interiors

Ashley Goforth

Black & White Wednesday ~ "The Mermaid"

2011-08-17T06:34:00.000-04:00

"Who would be
A mermaid fair,
Singing alone,
Combing her hair
Under the sea,
In a golden curl
With a comb of pearl,
On a throne?

I would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
Who is it loves me? who loves not me?

~Alfred Lord Tennyson take from "The Mermaid"

These photos were taken when we were vacationing on Hilton Head Island.
I have always thought mermaids magical...I was drawn to this sculpture at Shelter Cove Harbour.
"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea."
~e.e. cummings

Brendan's Turn

2011-08-06T09:16:00.004-04:00

Brendan has been at Camp Don Lee all this week. JC has just arrived to pick him up this morning. We dropped Brendan off last Sunday on our way home from Oak Island (we drove from HHI to OKI on Saturday).

This week we have also been checking on B through Ecamp. Here are a few photos that were taken by the counselors.

Brendan waiting to take the swim test Sunday night...

In this next photo, Brendan is swinging off the rope into the water...

Fishing...

Archery...

And Drama...

I can't wait to see Brendan this afternoon and hear about all of his adventures from this past week.

The Salty Dog

2011-08-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

You just cannot vacation at HHI without a trip to The Salty Dog!

It was a gorgeous Lowcountry day...one where you instantly have sweat dripping down your back as soon as you step out into the heat!

We chose to eat outside at The Salty Dog Cafe despite the heat!

Our food was delicious! AND...all three kids chose fruit instead of fries...on their own!

We only had one slight mishap!

Jackson, "on an accident" according to him, kicked one of his Rainbow's off the dock area where we were sitting!

Check out his sneaky face...

After lunch we let the kids do their own Salty Dog Tie Dye shirt!

They could choose the design...diamond, spiral or bull's eye. Emma chose bull's eye and both boys chose the spiral. The staff actually wound the shirt up and placed the rubber bands in the correct places for the designs. Then the shirts soaked in a solution which helps hold the color for 10 minutes.

Emma was called first.

She chose 4 colors...turquoise, lime, pink and plum.

Next up was Jackson and then Brendan.

After all the dye was applied, they secure the wet shirts in plastic bags with directions on how to process them. We had three happy and anxious minis walking away swinging their plastic bags.

After the shirts, we went to the Ice Cream Shop...

They had to eat quickly. Even though all three got their ice cream in a cup, it was almost instantly turning into soup.

One quick trip for me up to here... The Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory, and we were heading back for an afternoon on the beach!

It was a great time!

We let the shirts soak for 24 hours before washing. This is the best shot I could get of all three wearing their new shirts! They turned out fantastic!

What Do You Do on A Rainy Day at The Beach?

2011-08-01T19:34:00.003-04:00

The rain started before lunchtime on Tuesday at Hilton Head Island last week. We all decided to go out for lunch with hopes that the rain would stop by the afternoon...it did not! It rained for over 24 hours straight!

Since this was a beach vacation, I didn't pack many activities to do indoors.

One thing that I did pack, though, was plenty of this...

And guess what the boys and I did???

Tried to make Friendship bracelets!!!

I remember making these as a Tween! I loved it. I thought my boys just might enjoy this activity as well.

Before leaving for the beach, I had been inspired by the DIY projects at Honestly WTF. They make it look so easy and have beautifully colored bracelet photos...

Here is where I admit that I no longer have the patience to try to make an entire bracelet. The boys also lost interest pretty quickly in keeping track of threads making forward knots. We therefore decided just to make a few braided bracelets.

The boys chose their colors, and I cut the threads and helped them get started. They were hooked!

They probably made 20 bracelets just while it rained Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. They are both still wearing them now.

They even made bracelets for Emma AND let her pick her own colors.

It wasn't our first choice as a way to spend a day at the beach, but we made the most of it.

Today (August 1st), Jackson is having a spend the night with my mom. She took him to her pool today where he met two new friends who are twin sisters. My mom called to tell me how the little girls (also 8) were enthralled by Jackson's bracelets and anklets. My sweet Jackson voluntarily gave each of the girls one of his bracelets as he was leaving. That warms my heart!

I recently ordered a more grown up version for myself, and I love it!

nOir jewelry

I chose the Shaka Wrap Around in white.

Who says you're too old to wear Friendship bracelets?

HHI

2011-07-26T08:45:00.006-04:00

We are currently on vacation on Hilton Head Island. So far we have had a great week. Sunday night we took all three minis out to eat at Steamer Seafood at Coligny Plaza. Even though it is a very touristy place, the food was really good.

Of course we are in the Lowcountry which means heat and humidity! We braved the elements and sat outside along the small pond.

After our delicious dinner, we shopped a little. Emma got her very own Boogie Board so she no longer has to share with her brothers. Then we headed for the ice cream shop.

It was a great first full day at HHI!

Friday Find

2011-07-22T06:29:00.004-04:00

In my search for decorating ideas, I came across this little gem from One K*ng's Lane...

It can be yours for the discounted price of $4,679!!! Yes, you read that right!

It got me thinking...it looks an awful lot like the piece in our Master Bedroom that I bought on Cr*ig's List for 1/40th of that price.

Please excuse the obnoxious flash...it is too dark in our room for me to take a decent photo in manual mode.

Even the hardware and "feet" appear to be the exact same...

This is the piece that I intend to paint. I have not decided on a room color much less a paint color for this piece of furniture yet. I am excited about the possibilities! I just don't think I could ever fathom paying almost $5k for a piece of furniture like this one though!

In Photographs

2011-07-20T06:50:00.006-04:00

For yesterday's post on the Master Bedroom, I had snapped photos from different angles of our room. It's amazing how MUCH MORE you get from looking at a photo than from just walking in the room.

I mean, we have lived with this same room decor for about 4-5 years now. I am so "used to it" that it's hard for me to really evaluate it with an unbiased opinion.

FIVE things instantly came to mind after seeing my own post on the net though.

1. As stated above, I think I can more objectively make decisions about the direction I want our room to go after looking at it in photographs.

2. We have WAY TOO MANY photographs of our children on the walls...SEVEN to be exact. Here's the thing: I really am drawn to professionally decorated bedrooms that have NO photographs on the walls so where the heck do you put these photographs if not in a more personal space??? (Thank you "Anonymous" for pointing this out.)

3. I have GOT to replace that builder-grade ceiling fan. Now, to be completely honest with you, I would not have a fan in our room! However, this room has two exterior walls so it is a little harder to keep it cool in the heat of the summer like we are experiencing now. I think JC would nix the idea of NO fan.

4. I am thinking we need some fabulous crown moulding!

5. Maybe a white bedskirt to match the new duvet I bought would be a good idea to lighten the room closer to the floor as well as hiding the stuff that my eye is "used to seeing"!

OK...keep those ideas coming my way!

Master Bedroom

2011-07-19T06:39:00.008-04:00

This summer my brain has been going non-stop about wanting to change our master bedroom decor. The only problem is I'm not too sure which way I want to go.

It's not horrible right now by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a little darker than maybe I'd like. The positive to the darkness is that we are in there to sleep, and I do like complete darkness when trying to fall asleep.

Here are some photos that I snapped last week of our room...I guess you could call these the "Befores", but to be honest, I have not done one thing to transform this room yet.

The view from our bed...

Facing the bed...

From the doorway...

Facing the doorway...

Mismatched furniture ~ a blog post for another day...

The paint color is Agave from Behr. The curtains are a chocolate brown velvet. The nightstands and my dresser with mirror are all from the same set. The other pieces are all different.

I think one thing that I greatly dislike is all the dark furniture.

Ok...I am open to any ideas. My goal is to not spend a fortune. I have already purchased a white duvet cover with shams, and I am going to paint the dresser against the far wall that is already lighter than the other pieces. I am also going to switch out the draperies.

HELP!!!!

Grateful for Ecamp

2011-07-16T07:00:00.011-04:00

JC is driving to Camp Don Lee (CDL) as I type to pick up Jackson from his first full week at camp.

As I blogged earlier this week, I was worried that Jackson would be homesick. We actually had to get permission to send him to camp for a full week since campers are supposed to be rising fourth graders (Jackson will be entering the third grade this fall). Both of his friends going to camp this summer are a year older so they were signed up for the full week however. Jackson opted to go for the full week with his friends instead of just the half-week session.

Once at camp, there is no real contact with your child. You can send camp email, and of course snail mail, but there are no phone calls and no email coming back to parents.

CDL does participate in "ecamp", however, and the staff is wonderful about posting between 400-900 photos per day. I was very anxious for the new photos to go up on the site each day so I could see my Jack!

One thing that I was so happy about was that Jackson had a smile on his face in almost every single photo. This was very comforting to both me and JC all week.

Here are some of the best photos from Jackson's camp experience.

Jack and his two buddies the first night at camp:

ARTS & CRAFTS:

MUSIC:

ARCHERY:

Did you notice the jersey??? These photos are from the first three days. Yes, Jackson has the same shirt on three days in a row!

FOSSILS:

There is a huge pile of rocks, etc. that the campers can dig and sift through. Jackson found a shark's tooth!

DRAMA:

Apparently Jackson was the "man down" in Drama...

SAILING:

Flying Scot...

SUNFISH...

POOL TIME...

HANGING OUT in NATURE...

I cannot wait to hear all about Jackson's adventures from this week. I know Jackson so I am sure he made the most out of this camp experience.

Brendan is off to CDL in two weeks. He is counting down the days until it's his turn!

My Little Hula Girl

2011-07-13T06:20:00.006-04:00

Black and White Wednesday

This winter, when I was dreaming of warmth and sunshine, I found a couple of yards of Alexander Henry tropical fabric that I fell in love with...

Emma's Patsy (my MIL) was kind enough to "whip up" a fabulous little sundress for Miss Emma using these two fabrics. It is just adorable.

The first time Emma wore her Hula Girl dress, I talked her into letting me snap some photos...

And in Black and White...

"In a world that needs more dancing
She's a hula girl at heart!"

~Jimmy Buffet

Camp Don Lee

2011-07-11T21:28:00.007-04:00

We took Jackson to Camp Don Lee yesterday. This will be his first FULL week of camp. Jackson went to camp last year for the half-week session with his two friends, and he loved it! I blogged about it HERE.

Soooo...back to camp we went. I am a little nervous this week. Jackson is my cuddle bug so I'm not sure how he's going to do at night when it's time for bed. I am praying that he is having sooooo much fun and is sooooo exhausted by "lights out" that he won't be missing us too much!

Free ice cream for all...

JC helping Jackson carry his trunk to their Cabin...

Even Emma helps out...

Jackson's most favorite part of camp is the sailing...

I just know these three are going to have a ball this week and make lifetime memories!

Don Lee Center...

~ a place that God has blessed!

The 4th

2011-07-07T07:06:00.001-04:00

I love The 4th of July!

We celebrated all weekend long - starting with baseball on Thursday, June 30th!

After Brendan's game, we headed down to Oak Island for a short beach trip...

We made it home on Sunday just in time for Brendan's baseball game. The boys played hard, but they lost...so our All Stars season is officially over.

On the 4th, we spent the day at our pool - the weather was beautiful!

via

That afternoon we went to a cookout with friends...hotdogs, hamburgers, baked beans and apple pie a la mode! Unfortunately, we had a major afternoon thunderstorm so we decided to stay in and watch fireworks on tv.

We did, however, get to watch the fireworks show on Friday the 1st at Oak Island from our condo.

It doesn't get much more American than that!!!

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

In Remembrance

2011-07-05T18:04:00.004-04:00

On Thursday, June 30th, Brendan's All Star team played at our home field. The boys had an amazing come back in the 4th inning, and they ended up winning that game!

We were so proud of Brendan. He caught 5 out of the 6 innings that were played that night so he spent a lot of time behind the plate.

Just two days later, we found out that the Home Plate Umpire from that game had gone home Thursday night and suffered a stroke. He later passed away on Friday, July 1st. His name is Bill Lee.

Our Little League has just been devastated by this news. Here are a few shots that I got that night...Mr. Lee's last night at SWFLL.

We are all praying for the Lee Family.

Still Here

2011-06-30T15:53:00.002-04:00

Just busy at the ball field - Every.Single.Night!

All Stars Banquet - WinMock at Kinderton

2011-06-24T12:11:00.025-04:00

This year, our Little League All Stars Banquet was held at the newly renovated WinMock Barn at Kinderton.

We celebrated 12 teams ranging from seven year olds to Seniors. The night was absolutely beautiful, and the WinMock Barn is just gorgeous!

Below is a beautiful aerial shot taken by Autumn Song Photography prior to renovations...

Here is Brendan as we were walking in...

As we entered the barn, we were greeted by renovated horse stalls turned to meeting rooms...

And framed vintage photographs leading up to The Loft...

I was so busy taking photos that JC and Brendan made their way upstairs without me. As I turned the corner, this is who greeted me...

Boys will be boys!

The Loft

Decorated for our banquet!

Such a magnificent space, "The Loft, framed by a gothic arched ceiling, features original curved, wooden rafters carefully molded in place during its 1920s construction."

Our banquet began at 6:30pm with a buffet style dinner followed by a locally renowned guest speaker, Mike Lambros. He has been the head softball coach at North Davidson High School for 31 years. "In 2010, his Lady Knights were undefeated at 33-0 and won the NC State 4A Title as well as being voted the National Champions in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll."

Each team and player was announced after the speaker, and the players were presented with their All Star pins.

Check out B's fresh mohawk for All Stars!!!

As soon as the teams were announced, the party started. There was a DJ playing the kids' favorite tunes and dancing, and the players were treated to popcorn and snow cones.

I think Brendan really enjoyed his snow cone!

It was such a fun evening for these softball & baseball players as well as the coaches and parents.

We are so blessed to be a part of such an amazing League!

ONE Day Longer...A Milestone

2011-06-21T06:21:00.000-04:00

Today, June 21, 2011, marks the day that our Emma has been home with us (her forever family) ONE DAY LONGER than she ever lived in Russia.

Emma was born January 24, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Russia, and she left Russia and became a US citizen on October 7, 2009.

{Emma helping us pack for home our last night in Moscow}

{The boys meeting Emma for the first time at the airport 10/7/09}

I can't even begin to list all of the reasons why we love this little soul.

Emma is so outgoing; she does not know a stranger.

Emma is a little mischievous, but she also has a heart of gold and loves to snuggle.

No matter where we are or what we are doing, Emma seems to always draw people to her. She truly does have a magnetic personality.

But the real reason we love her is because she is ours. God chose her just for our family, and as always, His plan is Perfect. We could not have asked for a more beautiful, energetic, healthy, brilliant, spunky, loving, spirited, and charismatic little girl.

We love you Emma Katherine!

From this point forward, there's no looking back to Russia. You are truly ours in body, mind and spirit! It will be an honor to share your Beautiful Life!!!

*Current photos taken 6/20/11 (at same # of days home as spent in Russia)

Action Jackson

2011-06-19T09:07:00.016-04:00

Jackson chose not to play a sport this spring season.

The main reason is so that he and his two buddies could play in the "woods" behind our baseball fields while Brendan and the other older brothers played baseball. These guys built forts, searched for turtles, roamed the complex (we have seven fields), ate snow cones, and got really really muddy. They had so much fun! Jackson is ALL BOY!

At the beach, Jackson is constantly on the move.

He loves to dig large sand holes...

catch fish in his net...

Surf...

{Blackberry photo}

And Boogie Board...

I love how Jackson is so adventurous and ready to make the most "FUN" out of any situation.

He truly is our ACTION JACKSON!

Edited to Add...

When Jackson saw this post, he wanted me to add a photo of him climbing a tree...

ALL BOY!!!

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

2011-06-17T06:52:00.001-04:00

Can't you just hear Emma singing now???

It looks like we have a couple more weeks of baseball! Brendan made the "B" team for our 9-10 year old All Stars (Brendan is League Age 9). We are very proud of him and all the hard work that he has put into his baseball career thus far!

I look forward to many many many more seasons of cheering for our Brendan!

I think Emma is pretty excited as well!!!

Isn't that the cutest little dress? I found that baseball fabric this winter and ordered it instantly! Emma's Patsy was able to turn it into an amazing baseball outfit for Emma. Thank you Patsy!

Looking back...

Brendan as a 7 year old All Star...

And last year as an 8 year old All Star...

District Champs!

Practice started Monday night! Their first game is June 25th...fingers crossed!

Animal Safari

2011-06-15T07:16:00.000-04:00

The entire fourth grade at Brendan's school invited parents and guests on an "Animal Safari" last week!

Sometime after Christmas, Brendan was assigned the task of choosing an "exotic" animal and researching that animal in order to write a paper.

Brendan chose to write about the DINGO!

This paper project evolved into something spectacular. Each student painted a picture of their chosen animal and then made their animal's "habitat" to display for the safari.

I would like for you to believe that Brendan spent hours and hours on his "habitat".

In actuality, he reminded me that his habitat was due Tuesday morning - at about 7:45pm Monday night...AT THE BALL FIELD!

So...after celebrating a victory, we rushed home and gathered supplies. I have to admit that Brendan's dingo habitat was a family effort...even Jackson pitched in to help!

(Blackberry photo)

The Animal Safari was last Wednesday! MiMi and I grabbed Jackson out of class so that he could experience the safari as well...

They look so happy to be together, don't they???

Considering that "we"...I mean Brendan...spent no real time brain-storming or money on this project, I think the Dingo Habitat turned out beautifully!

It had everything a shrewd dingo could ever want...access to drinking water (usually near a forest), grasslands, and semi-arid areas.

Good Job Brendan! I thoroughly enjoyed your Animal Safari!

From Worst

2011-06-13T11:00:00.003-04:00

{Brendan is the one with the catcher's gear in front row!}

TO FIRST!!!

Brendan's 4A Spring Ball Phillies team was in last place all season heading into the season tournament. They ended up winning 5 of their last 6 games - including the Championship game last Thursday night. Excited! Happy! Proud! Astonished! All words that do not begin to express the emotions of these players and their parents and coaches!

We are all very proud of them!

The Tradition of Flowers

2011-06-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

Of course we could not let Emma's first dance recital pass us by without making sure she had a beautiful bouquet of flowers awaiting her.

We knew that she would be in her street clothes after the performance, so I snuck a few photos of her in her ballet costume right before leaving for Wake Forest.

After the recital, Emma's face lit up when she saw us there holding out the bouquets to her. She couldn't wait to get those tiny little hands on them.

She even let me get a quick photo of her with Dad...

And her Patsy (who brought the most beautiful hydrangeas cut from her yard)...

I am not sure how long Emma will be interested in dance. I know that I will enjoy seeing her perform for as long as she is willing though!

"Rockin' Robin"

2011-06-08T11:44:00.003-04:00

Saturday morning before the recital, Emma let me try on her tap dance costume and take a few photos of her outside.

As you can see, this was pre hair and make-up.

She then decided to show me a few of her "moves"...

Emma's tap dance was performed to the song, "Rockin' Robin" during Act Two of her recital.

Emma liked separating herself from the rest of the troupe and "making it up as she went"!

Again, these little dancers were so entertaining. The audience had quite a few good-natured laughs from watching this age group!

"Little Birds"

2011-06-05T12:07:00.010-04:00

On Saturday, Emma had her first dance recital, "Little Birds", at the Scales Fine Arts Center at Wake Forest University.

Her class performed a ballet and a tap dance. We did take a lot of photos so I'll post the ballet photos in this post.

Emma was so excited because she was allowed to wear "light" make-up for her recital. She also let me "try" to put her hair up in a bun...

Here, Emma is showing us a few of her moves before we leave for the recital hall.

During the recital, we were not allowed to video or use flash photography. These were the best shots I could get with my camera and no flash.

I know this next photo is blurry, but it cracks me up how Emma is off to the side "doing her own thing"!!!

One of the favorite things is for the little ones to join hands and go round and round in a circle...

And they all attempt a bow...

The girls did very well considering. I am not sure that they were all in sync even once, but it was very very entertaining! They were just adorable!

Edited to add...Emma's ballet dance was performed to "The Broken Road".

Spirit Stick

2011-06-04T08:11:00.005-04:00

To kick off the 50th season of baseball and softball, our Little League hosted a celebration which included announcing every single team. A Spirit Stick was awarded to the team who demonstrated the most...you guessed it...spirit. Out of all the teams, our AAAA Phillies won the Spirit Stick, and each player has been able to take it home with them after a game.

Today is the last game of the regular season, and the tournament starts tomorrow. It has been a tough season for the boys, but they have won their last two games. Despite their losses, they have managed to keep their chins up and come out ready to play each and every game.

GO PHILLIES!!!

Finding It Hard

2011-06-02T10:18:00.002-04:00

I am finding it hard to make time for taking photos - much less blogging about all the things we have been up to lately.

It's that time of year...which I love.

During those short, cold winter days when there's nothing to do but stay inside, I have absolutely no trouble coming up with things to blog about.

How quickly one forgets how much time you spend outside during warm weather.

To top that off...

1. Both boys don't get out for summer break until June 14th which means we are also trying to cram in homework and last minute school obligations.

2. Brendan's spring baseball league doesn't finish up until next week...they played last night; they play tonight; they play Saturday; and they play Sunday in the first game of the regular season tournament.

3. Our pool opened May 21st.

4. Beach trip this past weekend

AND
5. Emma has her first dance recital Saturday afternoon (after having a dress rehearsal Friday night).

I love all this craziness though.

From This...

2011-05-24T18:16:00.004-04:00

to this...

in the "SHEAR" blink of an eye!

Beach Girls

2011-05-17T17:29:00.007-04:00

This past weekend, Emma and I were joined by two of my friends and their little girls for a relaxing trip to Oak Island. We had nothing on the agenda but fun in the sun!

Saturday morning, we took the girls down to the beach for a photo shoot. I DO NOT KNOW how professional photographers do it. These girls had absolutely no interest in standing in front of a camera while on the beach. Who could blame them?

We even tried bribing with chocolates...

I love this one...they each look like they are saying, "You have got to be kidding me!"

I did snap a couple of sweet photos though! The girls were really good together even though they are 2, 3 and 4.

I love sharing time at the beach with friends and family. It truly is my safe haven. I hope that Emma always feels as happy as I do when I am surrounded by water and sand.

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.”

~Sir Isaac Newton

Shipping Off to Boston

2011-05-11T08:53:00.019-04:00

Brendan's trip to Boston was nothing short of AMAZING - especially for a ten year old who eats, sleeps and breathes baseball!

The guys left Friday morning and had a direct flight from Charlotte to Boston.

Here B and D are anxiously waiting to board.

On the jet bridge - that's a great feeling as you are leaving for a trip!

And they're off...

Once in Boston, they all had to cram into the backseat of a cab! I had flashbacks to Russia!!!

And this is the view from their hotel room...Fenway right across the street!

The boys enjoy a Fenway Frank for dinner at the Friday night game.

"A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz."

~Humphrey Bogart

Brendan mostly received money from family for his birthday so that he could buy some new gear in Boston.

Decisions Decisions...

B and D relax while watching baseball..."America's Favorite Pastime"!

Before both games, the boys had a great time walking around outside the stadium just taking in the whole experience of a home Red Sox game.

In the blink of an eye, their birthday trip was over, and it was time to head home to the Moms for Mother's Day (and D's birthday on Sunday).

We were happy to have them back home with us!

"I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen."

~Bob Lemon, 1981

Happy Birthday Boys! I know this is a birthday you will never forget!

A BIG thanks JC for being my iPhone photographer all weekend!

Double Digits

2011-05-06T08:53:00.014-04:00

happy birthday brendan...

Today my baby turns 10 years old! I cannot believe how fast these ten years have gone by! Brendan has become such a tender-hearted, kind young man.

To celebrate, Brendan, his best friend (whose 10th birthday is Sunday) and the dads are leaving for Boston this morning. They are going to TWO Boston Red Sox games, and the boys are beyond excited!

We were able to keep this trip a surprise until Wednesday night. Both families met for dinner, and we had the boys open up decorated Boston Red Sox toy planes

"Fenway Bound" t-shirts

and game tickets to reveal the big surprise!

They were absolutely SPEECHLESS!

Happy 10th Birthday Brendan! I hope you have a wonderful trip to Boston!

Easter Weekend

2011-05-03T18:37:00.012-04:00

For Good Friday and Easter weekend, we headed to Oak Island with my mom, sister and niece.

We only have showers at our condo, so Baby Carson was treated to a special bath:

Friday's weather was really bad so Brendan spent most of the day putting together his NC Notebook:

Thankfully both Saturday and Easter Sunday were amazingly beautiful so we had plenty of time on the beach.

Sunday morning the kids woke up fairly early and were ready to hunt for their baskets.

Check out that bed head!

I think all the kids were pleasantly surprised with their goodies.

After the baskets were opened, we headed down to the beach for a few photos. No one really wanted to cooperate. I didn't get one photo of Emma smiling the entire weekend.

And look at Carson in that sweet dress...it was my mom's when she was a baby.

We had a great weekend and can't wait for more fun in the sun!

Friday Find

2011-04-29T06:47:00.001-04:00

For a while, we had been feeling that our coffee table was a little too narrow and a little too long.

One day this winter, I was in our Goodwill, and I saw a coffee table right in the middle of all the other furniture. I wedged my way in only to discover that it looked to be the perfect shape and size and was only $10! Of course I thought, if this doesn't work out, JC will just be out of lunch money for one day! What's a girl to do? I had her loaded in the back of the Yukon, and I brought her home!

This is the before...not really my taste (reddish wood with hunter green accents).

Of course, this table was not in the best of shape, but I knew that I would be painting it so I didn't worry too much about the scratches.

I was very happy when I opened the drawer and saw this label...

I honestly didn't spend a lot of time on this piece. I quickly put two coats of grayish-white paint on with one coat of polyurethane. I found those knobs at W*rld Market, but I am not sure I am sold on them just yet.

And here's the finished product. The size and proportion are much better for our space.

Maybe a week later, I was flipping through my current P*ttery Barn catalog, and guess what jumped out at me?

Isn't this table gorgeous? This is the Newberry Rectangular Coffee Table. I do love this table, but my checking account LOVES the $689.99 that I did not spend to buy it!

Happy Friday Y'all!

2nd Part of Dallas Trip

2011-04-27T09:30:00.011-04:00

Anyone else crazy busy this time of year? I meant to post these last week, and I just never really had the time.

Here are the last of the photos that we took during our trip to Dallas. We had a wonderful time, and the whole trip felt like it lasted about five minutes.

On Saturday, we went to the Kenny Chesney Stadium Tour Concert at the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium!

yes...that's a PT Cruiser Limo...all they had left since it was a big Prom night. lemme tell ya; you have not ridden in style until you've been in a PT Cruiser Limo! ;)

Sportin' our boots:

And there's the stadium (through the limo window)

Now I know how the kids feel when I ask them to take photos in the sunlight!

We had an absolute blast! Dallas is a very fun city especially when you have amazing friends and an amazing husband who can share it with you. Thank you JC for making this an extraordinary birthday!

Downtown Dallas

2011-04-19T19:08:00.024-04:00

To my surprise, a limo picked us all up and took us to the airport! I think my blood pressure bottomed out as soon as I stepped into the limo. There's no feeling quite like when you start a carefree vacation.

We arrived very early at our little airport so we had almost two hours before take-off. The fun times and laughing started immediately!

Of course this photo is blurry, but it pretty much sums up the trip from START TO FINISH!

When we arrived Thursday afternoon, we went straight to the pool even though it was very windy and cool. We stayed out there for a while and then had a fabulous dinner. The restaurant was close enough that we had our own hotel driver and rode in a Lexus SUV to and from dinner.

Friday was my birthday. Sigh!

It was very nice. We started the day off touring the 6th Floor Museum in the old Texas School Book Depository. Wow...what an experience!!!

"But Hale's warning the President about going to Dallas was that there was great infighting among the members of the Democratic party and the Democratic stars in the state and he didn't want the President to become involved in a factional disagreement."

~ Lindy Boggs

See that far right window down one from the top? That is supposedly where Oswald shot the President.

Here are a couple of shots from DEALEY PLAZA where the President was when his car came under fire.

JFK Memorial

My heart fell in love with Texas that first day!

Dallas Bound

2011-04-14T09:54:00.006-04:00

We are leaving for Dallas in 45 minutes. I cannot wait!

I wanted to leave you with a few photos that I took yesterday...all in manual mode. Yay! Hopefully I'll get some good shots this weekend too!

PROJECT LIST

2011-04-12T17:25:00.017-04:00

How many of you out there have a stack of projects just waiting for the time and attention they deserve?

I have so many things swirling around in my head that I'd like to tackle...some major projects like painting the master bathroom (again) and the hallway between the master and the laundry room as well as possibly redecorating our entire bedroom.

I do have smaller projects that are absolutely affordable and easy to accomplish if I could just find more time. Here's a sneak peek at what's laying around just waiting for me to get on board...
Like this little beauty that I got from the nursing home where I am a pharmacist for a $10 donation:

I don't know where I want her so I don't know what to paint her just yet. She may end up in Emma's room...she's such a pretty and dainty piece of furniture.

Those chairs behind that sweet little table cost $5 each at our Habitat.

The seats are in terrible condition, but the frames are a beautiful solid wood.

I plan on pulling out the dry rotted foam in the cushions, replacing it and then recovering the seats...I'm thinking about these in the master bedroom, but I'm not quite sure what I'll do with them just yet.

Here's a little frame of a foot stool that I found for $3 at Goodwill. I have already purchased a cute lime green zebra fabric to make the cushion out of for Emma's room...again - I need more time!

And what do you think about this $3 mirror?

I've been collecting driftwood at Oak Island for about a year now.

I'd love to make a P*ttery Barn mirror similar to this one

But I've also been collecting oyster shells

which could just as easily make a lovely mirror or unique light fixture like this one featured in a Jane Coslick project:

So many fun ideas swirling around in my head! With warmer weather ahead, I am not sure how many projects will get accomplished, but I am always on the lookout for something new and unique to do! I'll keep you posted if any of these things actually come to fruition!

A Worthy Cause

2011-04-07T20:18:00.029-04:00

Brendan chose the Victory Junction Gang Camp as his "V" for the NC Notebook Project. This amazing camp was "Built in honor of Adam Petty to provide life-changing experiences for kids with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses."

One way to help out this camp is by donating handmade teddy bears or horses made out of black and white checkered fabric (resembling the checkered flag used in Nascar racing).

Brendan chose to make a teddy bear so his Patsy got busy. Brendan did help cut out the pattern, and he helped with the sewing a little.

And...the finished product!

LOVE this project! I am so proud that Brendan has followed through with it. We are going to mail this little bear tomorrow! Hope it brings joy to some little child's heart.

Lighthouse

2011-04-05T21:52:00.013-04:00

This past weekend we went down to Oak Island since the boys were on spring break. The weather was so-so...highs in the mid 60s, but it was so windy that it was unbearable to be on the beach.

One of the things that we did do, however, was drive over to the Oak Island Lighthouse. Brendan chose Oak Island as his "O" for the NC Notebook project, and we had not gotten any decent photos yet.

I recently switched computers, and I downloaded Photoshop (neither of which I really know how to use) so these photos are straight out of my camera and were taken in the auto mode!

My Starfish Spring Wreath

2011-04-04T20:42:00.028-04:00

Ruffles, Burlap, Birds' Nests, Moss...all of these wonderful ingredients on spring wreaths have really inspired me lately. I have looked online since Christmas for a seashell or starfish wreath for our front door, and I have just not found anything that I like.

A couple of weeks ago, though, I was checking my blog roll, and I came across the Spring Wreath that Emily made over at jones design company.

Isn't it lovely? So like most any project I see (that does NOT involve a sewing machine), I decided "I can do that"!!!

I already had a grapevine wreath that I had bought before Christmas, and of course, I have a gazillion starfish laying around. I went over to J*ann's and stood in line for a RIDICULOUSLY LONG time to get some clearance fabric cut, and I was in business.

I won't bore you with my "not the way to do it" instructions. I would HIGHLY recommend that you head over to jones design company for the step by step list. Note: I still did not break my sewing machine out of its box for this project!!! In 11 days, I will have had that bad boy for two years...yep, still sealed up nice and new taking up precious laundry room space. What is wrong with me?

I quickly learned that the key to this pretty little wreath was all those ruffles which I did not sew. SO...what's a girl to do? I used my hot glue gun to help me "scrunch" the fabric into fake ruffles all the way around.

Pardon my ugly nighttime photo.

After only ONE major hot glue burn (on the top of my thumb - which resulted in a blister), I ended up with a not-so-bad first attempt at making a wreath.

The blueish hint to the fabric really drew my eye in the fabric store, but I am not sure about it next to my red front door. I think a tan linen would have been a little prettier. I am NOT ready to redo this project though.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Valspar

2011-04-01T10:05:00.001-04:00

I honestly have to admit that Valspar paint has not been my "go to" paint recently. However, they may just win me over again with their free sample giveaway ~ going on right now!

For 100 days, Valspar is sending out a free sample of paint (in the color of your choice) to 1000 people per day. The giveaway opens at 9am CST everyday so if you are interested, try for sample in the morning. I do not know when the giveaway started, so you may want to try for your sample ASAP!

I ordered my sample on Sunday, and it arrived by Wednesday of this week.

Included with your 8 ounce sample is a mini roller brush and tray as well as a coupon for $5 off one gallon of paint.

I chose the color "Rushing Stream"! It is a funky turquoise that I thought I could use when painting furniture or accessories

So hop on over to Valspar now and try for your free sample!!!

Destination

2011-03-30T07:54:00.010-04:00

via

We are going to Dallas for my birthday!!! I am so excited! I've never been to Dallas. Not only are we going for good food, touring and some warmer weather, JC bought tickets for us to go see

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I seriously CANNOT WAIT!!!

My Ballard Designs Mirror

2011-03-28T16:36:00.005-04:00

For about six months, I wanted the Ogden mirror for our foyer every time that I flipped through my Ballard Designs catalog.

I just could not bring myself to pay $200 for a mirror since we were in the middle of the kitchen renovation. The mirror is divine, but again, I could not justify buying it. The mirror we did have in the foyer came from Kirklands. I bought it just after we moved in - May or June 2003. I don't really have a good "before" photo, but you can see it behind me and JC in the following photo...

This mirror was VERY afforable for its large size. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I was just tired of its gold/bronze-colored tone. One day, I decided to get the paint that we used in our master bedroom, and I mixed it with some white paint that we have for trim touch ups. I then wiped a lot of the paint off. I waited for it to dry and sanded it down in a few spots. This is what I ended up with...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way it turned out...especially since I spent ZERO dollars for a similar "look" as the Ogden mirror.

Birthday Surprise

2011-03-26T18:40:00.004-04:00

My birthday is coming up in about three weeks!

Since December, JC has been telling me that he has planned a surprise trip for us to celebrate.

For over three months I pestered him with questions about the possible location.

After giving a series of hints, I finally guessed our destination!

Here is a sneak peek...

I ordered these bad boys last night! I am so excited!!!

Friday Finds

2011-03-25T07:10:00.022-04:00

This week I'd like to share a couple of "finds" that work perfectly in Emma's room.

I spied this little green chest/nightstand in our Goodwill last summer. It was missing the bottom left handle, but it was only $15 so I snatched it up.

The color here is a little off since my flash kicked in, but this is the best photo that came through. It is a little darker as you'll see in the next photos.

The best discovery was when I opened the drawer and found the missing handle. I had to use a washer and eye screw to attach it, and as you can see, I mixed some paint to try to match the hardware. It is not perfect, but I love it. My original plan was to repaint it and get new hardware, but it matches the green in Emma's draperies; I love its true vintage.

In the photo below, you can see the original color better...it also matches the mat of the framed watercolor that we bought for Emma in Moscow.

The second item I'd like to share is a little lamp that I actually found at a different Goodwill on Wednesday. It was only $3, and this is how it looked when I snagged it...

This little birdie caught my eye...

Emma has this table from Pier One in her room so I thought the lamp would go perfectly!

A little spray paint goes a long way...

I just love this little corner in Emma's room now. The watercolor is obviously St. Basils in Red Square, and the photo above it is of Emma's little hands holding the smallest "baby" from one of the Matryoshka dolls that we bought her in Russia.

One other very special aspect of Emma's room is the print on the left of the little girls on the beach. It was hanging in my room growing up, and once I went to Carolina, my dad loved it so much that my parents moved it to their bedroom. After my dad passed, I asked my mom if I could have it for Emma's room. I love the sentimentality of this print.

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and weekend...wish it was going to be warm here, but we have a cold front moving through...bleh!

Black and White Wednesday

2011-03-23T09:30:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday night Brendan played in a Students vs. Teachers basketball game. This was a fundraising event and was held at our local high school.

Brendan was so excited that he was chosen to play. It is all he talked about for two weeks! Here are a few shots of him during the game.

Brendan's travel ball team also played in a tournament on Sunday. They had to play up one league age, and they ended up losing both games. They played really well, however, against boys who are older and much bigger! I was so proud of them!

Have I mentioned that I have Spring Fever? I can already feel my blogging coming to a halt again! I am going to try to do better than I did last summer, but when it is warm outside, I find it hard to stay inside!

Hope you all have a great day!

He Got Away

2011-03-17T17:16:00.006-04:00

Jackson made a leprechaun trap again this year. He did not catch a leprechaun.

That sneaky little guy did happen to leave them a small treat wrapped in a big green bow however! When all three were seated and waiting to eat breakfast, I snapped a few shots! Yes, it is still dark outside!

They were very excited to have a little surprise.

When we got home this afternoon, Emma let me take a few pictures of her...willingly for once.

And here's a flashback from last year...It's amazing how much these three have grown and changed!

I hope you have all had a very lucky day today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/Jesus Loves Me" Remix

2011-03-15T18:18:00.001-04:00

twinkjesus a video by jcandcorey on Flickr.

Saturday night before Emma went down, JC was able to video Emma singing with his iPh*ne.

It is so darn cute, and the video is only about 40 seconds.

Enjoy!

The Salvation Army - Relief for Japan

2011-03-14T17:33:00.011-04:00

This morning as I was catching up on my blogroll, I came across a post by Janelle from Isabella & Max Rooms. Her husband found an awesome way to donate money to help the people of Japan during this time of unimaginable crisis.

These amazing shirts are being sold as "preorder" for just $20.

They are designed by Joshua Smith, and "the Japanese Kanji on the shirt translates to 'Save World Army'"!

100% of the proceeds go to The Salvation Army Relief for Japan - verified by Janelle!
In her words:
"but I wanted to know exactly what amount of the $20 was designated as "proceeds". After writing a quick email we heard back right away. Thanks to the support of a donor, who is covering the production costs, the entire $20 goes to support Salvation Army's relief efforts in Japan."

You can preorder your shirt by clicking HERE.

I ordered one for JC this morning!!!

For other ways to donate to The Salvation Army, please click HERE.

For the American Red Cross, click HERE.

You Win Some...You Lose Some

2011-03-13T15:18:00.003-04:00

Well, Carolina made it to the ACC Championship game. Everyone except for me sported Carolina Blue colors to church today.

We were really hoping for a UNC victory, but when there is a UNC vs. Duke basketball game, you just never know how it's going to go.

As you can see by Emma's reaction, it did not go so well for the Tar Heels.

I hope you all have a better week than Carolina played today! :)

“Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson