Finished Jacket

I finished the jacket made from the fabric in this post. Yay! I used Simplicity pattern #3538 (with some changes, as usual).

Back from Vacation 2 (Charleston, SC)

We had so much fun, it was a little sad to have to go home. I enjoyed spending time with my hubby SO much.

I can't believe we've been married for five years. Every year I love Jay in new and different ways. It hasn't always been easy. Sometimes it's been down-right hard. Being married to a sinner (as we all are) is never an easy thing. We have have struggled, but God has seen us through. Well, he's done more than see us through. He has taught us, changed us, and loved us. And we love each other more because of it.

For more pictures, click here.

Back from Vacation 1

Yay! It's time for vacation!

On our way to Charleston, we decided to stop by Greenville and see Jay's family

Jay's brother, Blake, his wife, Betsy, and their daughter, Morgan

Aunt Amy and Uncle Jay with Morgan

Being a baby is so funny.

And she's wearing her new outfit. I think she likes it!

Purse Cleaning

My purse tends to be a disaster zone. It's filled with receipts, chapsticks, gum, and every other random thing. Last month, I saw this article in Domino Magazine and it inspired me.

I cleaned out all old and extraneous items from my purse and made a trip to Target and got a make-up bag, a card holder, and a small notebook. now I have everything that I need and nothing floating around. It's amazing how quickly I can find my keys now.

So there, Jay. At least now my big "mom purse" is organized. Now I just have to keep it that way.

Pictures from Katy's Baby Shower (a little late)

Shower favors; Marigolds in stainless pots

Food! Breakfast casserole, croissants, french toast casserole, fruit, etc.

Cupcakes!

O.J. and Strawberry Lemonade

Vacation!!

This weekend we're going to Charleston (yay!). Saturday is officially our 5th wedding anniversary (wow!). I can't believe the it has been 5 years already. Well, some days I can.

I am so excited about getting to spend some time away from Atlanta with my husband. We haven't been on a real vacation in about two years, and I am feeling desperate for one.

On the way to Charleston, we are stopping by Greenville for a short visit with Jay's family. I always enjoy getting to see everyone there, and now there is a new niece to go visit. When we last visited (not long after Morgan was born) I had a cold, so I stayed away from the baby. This time...we'll, let's just say, let the baby-hogging begin.

Last week I found a couple of free patterns on-line and gathered some of my scraps. I made this dress (with a few modifications because I didn't have enough fabric) and these baby booties. How cute!

New Again

Last night Jay and I were going through our semi-annual ritual of changing out his short sleeved and long sleeved shirts. While doing this, we try to pull out the items that need to go and take inventory of what he needs.

This shirt was one that got tossed into the Goodwill pile (too big and it had a stain). I've always like the fabric of this shirt, so I decided that I could use it to make something for me.

I used a pattern that I had made and cut up the shirt to make this;

I had to be creative in order to have enough fabric (and to cover the stain...which is now behind one of the pockets). But, I think it turned out very cute. All things said and done, three hours and $0 later I have a new shirt!

Organization

Before

After

Yesterday afternoon I got the urge to do some organizing. The house has been driving me crazy lately. There are so many things that don't have a permanent home. And this closet is awful. Everything is was stacked on top of other stuff making it impossible to get anything out.

So, $35 and a couple of hours later I built two more shelves in the closet (with much help from Jay, of course). Everything that came out went back in, and we were also able to fit in the vacuum cleaner, the step ladder, and the table leaf.

Speaking of the table leaf...we've been keeping it in the original box it came (which is bulky and doesn't hold it well). When I got done with the closet last night, I made a casing for the table leaf with some extra cushioning on the bottom to keep it from getting banged up as it lives in its new home.

Item Put to Use

Here is the print that I got a month or so ago, the red vase that I picked up last week, and some Ikea vases that I moved from another shelf. I think this makes this wall look so much better (and for very little $$). Now if only its beauty wasn't ruined by all of these ugly DVDs.

But, that's another battle for another day.

Flowers!

These are some flowers that popped up in the side yard last week. Aren't they pretty? I don't remember them being there last spring, and I didn't plant them (if I had, they would be dead by now). Just a nice little surprise to cheer up the yard and now the house!

Good finds at Goodwill

I had the best day at Goodwill on Monday. Apparently Monday is the day to go. I guess that things get picked over through the weekend and replenished as the week begins. Well, I can honestly say I've never had this much luck.

I got:

This red vase and taupe vase. The red is one of my favorite colors. It cost $3.23 and the other was $2.52. I think that I am going to use them in the living room. I have some empty spaces that need to be filled
I love the watercolor of the robins. And they are framed and matted so nicely. They were $5.25. The candle holders are waiting for candles ($2.22 each), and the vase with the floral silhouette($2.52) is just gorgeous. I think that these will be going in the bedroom as an ensemble (well, once we get settled from the renovation).

And these three botanical prints ($5.25/each) are going to be for my sister's birthday present. I need to clean up the frames, and I will probably paint them black. I think that she will either use them in her new house or at her office (both which have lots of empty wall space). So, Meggie, here they are...hope you like them.

Not a bad day, all in all.

Bathroom Renovations - Part 1

We have plans for our house. And one day those plans will come to life. We have taken one big step in that we have begun buying things for the bathrooms. Last weekend we went to Lowe's and bought a vanity that will be going in the hall bathroom. (You like?)

We renovated the kitchen a couple of years ago and were so happy with the results. We have been talking about tackling the bathrooms for a long time. I think that one problem is that we have some plumbing to deal with before we can really begin, and we don't really know how to go about it. We are going to be combining our current half bath and the hall closet (to add a shower). Right now we have an exhaust vent running through part of the closet from the furnace and the hot water heater. So we have to revent them somehow and then install the tankless water heater (that has been sitting in our dining room for the past four months).

Hopefully we can begin work before too long. I'll keep you updated on the progress. Until then, the bathroom vanity (and faucet that I bought) will be sitting in our bedroom. How romantic.