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Sunday, June 28, 2015

4th of July decor & more

I found the cutest little bottle crate at the thrift store the other day and swooped it up as soon as I saw it.  It was painted a nice enough grey color, but I wanted it to be a little more neutral.
So out came the white paint so that I could make a fun Fourth of July decoration. 
With some cleaned out Starbucks bottles, some patriotic fillers and a nice red, white and blue bow, I made a really fun centerpiece that sits on my mantle. 
I thought about painting the crate red, white and blue, but I wanted to be able to use it for any holiday or occasion.  Painting it white will make it a lot more versatile. 
I usually try to make one new decoration each year but this year I made 2.  I saw a tutorial from Confessions of a Plate Addict on making your own rag balls.  I had been wanting to try making my own so off to Hobby Lobby I went and found the perfect stars and stripes fabric. 
I kind of like the crazy strings and think I will leave them nice and rustic like that.  I have a feeling there will be more of these rag balls in my future! 
On the same thrifting trip, I also found this tray that is in serious need of a makeover.  I am not quite sure what I am going to do to it so if you have any ideas for me, let me know!  And I'll be sure to share the makeover when I get it done. 
I also found another one of these vintage clam shell metal serving tray.  This one is a different color and pattern than the one I have and I am pretty sure I have started a new collection! 
I have the week off for 4th of July and I can't wait!  I have nothing planned really but will take full advantage of being home.  It's 109° outside right now and has been sweltering all weekend.  I will probably just try to keep cool all week!


Sunday, June 21, 2015

Gnome Home in the Mountains

At our lovely camping site up in the mountains, we have this awesome stump that you can see out the front door of our camper.  It needed something.  That something just happens to be a gnome making this stump its home!
We found a gnome at Rite Aid, on sale too!  Cody cut a piece of pallet into a door and I painted it a nice, bright blue.  Then Cody painted a window on it and added a little crystal knob.  When we went up there this weekend, we got the gnome and the door all set up. 
The gnome doesn't have a name yet...any suggestions? 
He is a solar-powered gnome and the 3 butterflies on him light up.  He looks extra bright in the dark of the mountain night. 
This gnome home is need of many more things.  We gathered some rocks to give him a little landscaping and curb appeal but we aren't done! 
I've started a board on Pinterest called Gnome Home Ideas.  I am going to start creating so that when we go back up camping, we can really help our gnome feel at home!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

An Anniversary gift that leads to a makeover

I have had these prim stars for a few years now and have always intended on painting them.  It wasn't until this weekend that I finally painted them, all because of an Anniversary present that Cody got me!
I painted the stars gray, pink and aqua.  My favorite colors and those colors match the gift that I got for my 6th Anniversary! 
Cody was so sweet and bought me this super adorable set.  It is an apron, 2 dish towels, 4 pot holders and 2 oven mitts.  He knows me so well and picked out the Paris design.  Since I wanted to hang my new goodies on my little vintage shelf, I had to paint my stars to match. 
The pink polka dots, gray Eiffel towers and the tiny little aqua dots are so cute. This corner of my kitchen is the cutest spot now.  Cody is a smart guy...buying me such adorable kitchen things guarantees that I will be in the kitchen whipping up something delicious! 
These below are the kitchen towels.  They are square and I probably won't use them as kitchen towels but maybe as napkins instead.  I might have to set a pretty little Paris and pink table soon. 
There are 2 Eiffel Tower pot holders, 2 pink polka dot pot holders, 1 polka dot oven mitt and 1 Eiffel Tower oven mitt.  Aren't those little pink bows precious? They are so pretty that I might have a hard time using them. 
Last night instead of going out to dinner, we stayed home and made our most favorite dinner of all. 
 Grilled Ribeye
BBQ Shrimp
Lemon Pepper Asparagus
Fried Potatoes
French Bread
And Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert
We love to cook together and we make some delicious food if I do say so myself! 
Thank you Cody for such a lovely Anniversary gift! I love that you know me so well.  Six years have come and gone and I am so glad that I get to spend the rest of my life with you! 
Today we are taking it easy.  I am going to sit out on the patio, sip some tea and catch up on my Romantic Homes magazines.  Have a great week!
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