Easter Weekend 2012

I hope you are feeling refreshed and renewed after your Easter weekend!  Our plans to go to the beach on Friday were thwarted by everyone else in Houston having the same idea, so we didn't quite make it.  But we did set up a little pool in the backyard and I don't think James missed the beach all that much.

On Saturday, we road-tripped it to my brother and sister-in-law's house for cousin Riley's 3rd birthday.  I love these people so much.  That's my baby brother, 12 years my junior, and his sweet, mature, and naturally gorgeous wife.  She put together such a wonderful party, cooked and baked everything from scratch, and you could just feel the love.  I am so proud of them.

And home to color eggs.

Chubby baby hands don't understand that eggs are delicate.

I can't even remember the last time I colored eggs.  It was fun and surreal to be coloring them for the first time with my son.  

Our church service was awesome too.  When we got home, we had a little Easter egg hunt in the front yard.

The confetti eggs are especially fun.

Hope y'all had a great weekend.  Looking forward to a great week!

Little Doodahs Giveaway WINNER

Thank you to everyone who entered the Little Doodahs giveaway and thank you to Little Doodahs for offering the prize!

The WINNER is Jessie from Mix and Chic!

Jessie, I will email you the winning code so you can claim your prize.  

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

Good Friday

Today we're off to enjoy some R&R at the beach!  

Wishing you all a wonderful, long Easter weekend!

via

Blog Spotlight {Mini Manor Blog}

I love blogs and, over the last few years, have really fallen in love with many that I check in with daily, never missing.  It's just become part of my day to see what so-and-so has been up to (even though I don't always leave comments-bad blogger!).  Other blogs, although I want to read more, I don't always have the time, so I read them a few times a week, or get to when I can- typically catching up on Friday nights.  I have lots of blogs in my reader and that I subscribe to and I love browsing them, always finding great inspiration, pictures of gorgeous families, cute babies, and tales of lives lived and projects completed by the home blogger.  





But isn't it exciting when you happen upon a new (to you) blog?  One that "speaks" to you and you get sucked in, going back through old posts, reading for hours, and feeling like you've found a new BFF even though they have no idea who you are?  Tonight, that happened to me.  I came across the Mini Manor blog and was immediately smitten. 

First of all, her story totally intrigued me.  Ashli is a 28 year-old housewife.  That's right, a real, live, no kids-yet, woman who stays at home.  They live solely on her husband's income.  In her "About Me" page, she says she should have been born in 1950!  I love it.  I have a very traditional side to me too, and often wonder if I should be staying home with my son. (I work a very flexible full-time schedule, but my 2 year old son goes to preschool/daycare usually 5 days a week).  But I digress.  

Back to Ashli- I love her simple, organized, green living philosophy.  And when I look at her home (a basic builder home in British Columbia) I see that she and her husband have added so much crisp charm and character to it.  I greatly admire homes that are simple, not over stylized, and look effortless.  Just easy to be in.  They make you want to come over for a visit and never leave- you instantly feel right at home.

I'm just going to show you a few pictures to illustrate what I mean, and you can check out the gorgeousness for yourself at Mini Manor.  

Her beautiful entryway.  How inviting!  I dig the black deer head, the neutral quatrefoil rug, lively green plant and gorgeous molding.

The library.  So bright and airy and fresh!  I'm starting to think I need to add a few plants to my house. (Did the rug get transferred? Must go back and investigate further:) (update: It's another, identical rug! She loved it so much and since the rooms are next to each other, they look cohesive with the same rug).

Beautiful dining room.  And you gotta see her Easter table.

I think her living room is a place I'd like to sit down at and relax in. It's nice that her t.v. isn't the focus of the room- you kinda barely notice it.  She keeps her neutrals interesting with the pops of yellow for Spring.  I adore the frames over the mantle and the basket on the coffee table.  She has more detailed shots on her blog. 

And talk about organized- a woman after my own heart!  Makes me want to go clean my kitchen right now and it's 9:38 p.m. as I'm typing this!

Have I gotten your attention?  Go pay Ashli a visit! :)  





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There is still time to enter the Little Doodahs GIVEAWAY!  

The winner will be announced Saturday, April 7.

Jug Vase Love

I love it when something so simple makes a big impact.  I found a green jug vase for $10 at Homegoods and clipped a couple branches from a tree in our backyard.  A perfect springtime centerpiece for our breakfast table.  

The runner is from Target.  

Easter has totally snuck up on my this year.  I just pulled out a couple of Easter decorations last weekend, but they are the same as last year, so I didn't take any new photos.  I will keep it simple this year and focus on coloring eggs with James, taking the family to church and brunch, then having an egg hunt with the kiddos.  Can't wait!

Updating the Guest Room (Orange & Aqua)

Over the weekend, I finally got started on cleaning up our guest room.  This was one of those rooms with left over, mismatched furniture, project remnants, and art that couldn't find a home elsewhere.  We recently moved our old king bed into the room and put it where the queen bed had been.  But our king bed has a tall headboard that was blocking most of the window, so I knew we needed to switch up the placement of the furniture. 

Here is the embarrassing "before" picture.  I feel so bad for my poor inlaws for staying in that ugly room!

And below is how the room looks with the bed on the adjacent wall- now the window can breathe:).  The room is still in progress, but I wanted to give you a glimpse of how it's coming along.  I used mostly items I already had (the orange and white duvet cover from WalMart and my aqua lamps that were in my office).  I plan on adding drapes, but haven't chosen the fabric yet.  

I moved the white dresser to the opposite wall (I've had it since I was 18!) and added a new runner (from Z Gallerie).  The styling needs work, I'm still trying things out.  

I already had a funky orange elephant and orange lamp from Homegoods.  I also had the tray from Z Gallerie. 

The lamp was one of those purchases where you're in the store, see something you love, but have absolutely no idea what you're going to do with it since it's a departure from your typical style, but you have to have it:) 

I'm excited about how fresh the room looks compared to what we started with.  I still have art to hang and I need a mirror for over the dresser.  

My room is largely inspired by the gorgeous room designed by Tobi Fairley with orange and mint.  I've loved that photo for so long, and finally decided to go for it.  Right now, I've got mostly the orange going on, but the art and drapes will bring in more of that aqua/mint color.  

Our dark bed isn't ideal for the light, airy feel of the photograph, but we're working with what we have.  

Slowly, but surely, this house is coming along!  

And note to inlaws: Come back soon, we'll have a new room ready for you! :)

Colorful Wedges (Cheap!)

Happy Weekend guys!  I just wanted to pop in and show you these awesome wedges I just found at Target for only $29.99!  And they are super comfortable!  I needed some retail therapy after how bad I've been feeling lately- thankfully, I'm on the mend:)

 I can't believe EASTER is next weekend already!