white flowered vases.

note to self: try not to do any spray painting projects if there is *any* chance of wind or rain.

unfortunately, this is the sad story of my day.

several things to spray paint. light breeze turns into stronger winds and blue sky turns grey with clouds... and then comes the rain. so my lovely spray paint has a few bubbles, some marks from bugs and other things sticking to it, and various other imperfections. luckily, i know how to handle my perfectionism now and just be content with shrugging my shoulders and saying "it looks good enough."

here is one of my projects.

i found these vases at a local thrift store... i think they were 99 cents each. i grabbed them immediately because i knew they had serious potential.

enter: a can of white spray paint.

i see everything through the eyes of spray paint. everything i look at, i think: could that be salvaged through some paint-from-a-can? yes, i think so. and here is the finished product:

perfect for adding a little elegant touch to one of my end tables or a shelf somewhere in our yet-to-be-completed home. nick&i have been painting away and we hope to move in sometime this fall! in the meantime, i'm working on little projects here and there to get ready for our first house.

excited? yes. let me go see what else i can spray paint...

this post is linked to these *fantastic* blogs:

diy by design

homemaker in heels

the shabby nest

at the picket fence

ten things {my favorite stores}.

so. this is pretty much a meaningless post, just for fun. i love to shop. love it. for myself, for nick, for bella, for our pantry/fridge, for our home. i also love trying to stay within a budget because it's a challenge for me, and i appreciate the things i find so much more!

this "ten things" post is all about my ten fav places to shop. my favorite things at stores, items i've found and love and a few tips along the way ;)

1. target.

i've said it a hundred times but i will say it again: i heart target. cool home decor, stylish clothes, oh-so-cute baby clothing and practical everyday needs like clorox wipes and make up. what's not to love? and i am a huuuuge fan of the dwell studio for target line. our bedding (seen here) is dwell studio and i love it so much. if i was told i could only shop at one store for the rest of my life, it would be target. hands down. *registering for your wedding or upcoming baby? target is wonderful. just make sure to keep all/any receipts because returns can be a hassle, but i never had any difficulty and registered at target for both.

2. joann's.

i could walk up and down the aisles of joann's a hundred times (if i have enough crackers on hand to keep bella occupied). and i never have to buy anything without using a 40% off coupon because they always have them. always. so that makes it even more awesome. *hey all you crafters: make sure to sign up in the store or online to get your coupons!!

3. trader joe's.

like whole foods but not the prices? then go to trader joes. uh-mazing. i'm obsessed. try the homemade pizza dough for 99 cents or the various kinds of ravioli for under $5 bucks. so far we've tried carbonara ravioli, arugula&parmesan and have a package of lobster ravioli just waiting for us in the freezer. all delish. the cheese selection is extensive and inexpensive... as is just about everything else. oh--and the multigrain baking mix? yum. *don't live near a trader joes, but can drive to one? we're in the same boat. you can buy a freezer-bag from trader joes and stock it with your favs for the car trip home until the next time you're in town.

4. forever 21.

a must-go-place-for-any-girl. and you don't even have to be twenty one to shop there. how do i know? because i'm thirty. and i still love it. comfy maxi dresses for under $25 bucks, sweaters and tops for around $10 and accessories... accessories as far as the eye can see. *hey christmas/birthday/bridal party-present-shoppers: this is a great place to find fun gifts for any girl friend... i've gotten many a christmas/birthday present here, and also bought all my bridesmaids bangle bracelets and pashminas as gifts for being my girls :)

5. anthropologie.

i don't live near one anymore (tear). but i can still browse online and get inspiration for my wardrobe and my home (even better when i find things i can try to make myself!). one of my favorite wedding shower gifts were "n" and "m" initial mugs from anthro. we drink our weekend coffee out of them often. another one of my fav anthro finds is the initial stand i bought when nick&i got engaged (see here in another "ten things" post). i also love finding their super-cute aprons when they are on sale, and don't even get me started on their sundresses. sigh*

6. j crew.

ohhhh how i love j crew. i was spoiled in my early twenties when my roommate worked there and was told she could give a healthy discount on items purchased for someone she lived with. i went to town purchasing things for myself until we realized the actual clause said "same sex domestic partner." ooops. needless to say, i got a little spoiled getting things at such a discount. shopping at j crew just isn't the same when you have to pay full price. but i still love wandering through a store every.chance.i.get. *hey future brides, check out j crew's bridal line! i purchased my bridesmaid dresses from there, and the customer service was awesome. which made me even more of a j crew fan :)

7. ikea.

oh.my.goodness i love this place. and we now (sadly) live a good 3+ hours from one. but me and some of my girlfriends are making a trip next month, and you better believe i am making a list of all the things i need to purchase! our bedroom set came from ikea, tv stand, shelves, lighting pendants... the list goes on and on. shopping in a store that feels like a really fun museum and smells like warm cinnamon rolls? ummm yes, please.

8. old navy.

hands down one of my go-to-places to buy clothes. for me, nick and bella. my closet is full of boots, shoes, scarves, cardigans, dresses and tops courtesy of o.n. and the prices? even better. i love that the look of the clothing is similar to gap and banana (republic, that is... did you know they were all the same company?) but much more affordable. and i've experienced amazing customer service when i've shopped online. even better. *hey pregnant mamas; this was my go-to-place for maternity clothes, too!

9. gap.

what can i say? the gap and i have had a love affair for as long as i can remember. yes, it's true. i have the clearance sale prices down to a science... if something is 29.99, it's only a matter of days before it is reduced to 24.99 and then to 18.99... and eventually 14.99. yes, i know, it's a bit ridiculous but i can't help it. i've been a gap girl since the 9th grade. their curvy jeans that come in longs, and the high-waisted skinnies (especially for mamas) are like denim miracles sent from heaven. thank you, gap. *do you love the gap, too? sign up to get a gap card. i never use mine; we try not to use credit cards, but they send special sales/promotions to gap card holders.

10. tj maxx/homegoods.

our tj's here where we live now is waaaaaay better than the one down the street from our apartment in dallas. way better. and i am becoming a maxx-anista (don't you love those commercials?) i find the cutest little baby clothes for bel that are very inexpensive, work/dress clothes for nick, and i could go on and on and on about homegoods... the best to find accent pieces to decorate your home... i recently bought a birdcage for $6 and a beautiful white porcelain vase for $5 (don't tell target, but i like homegoods even better for home decor... and that's saying a whole lot!)

what are you favorite places to shop?

multitude monday.

227. kayaking on a beautiful lake with my husband.

228. swimming when it is a hundred degrees outside. and dunkin donuts iced coffee.

229. when bella holds out her hands to me to pick her up.

230. sleepovers with my sis, bro-in-law and nephew.

231. god speaking to my heart... and listening to his words.

232. watching bella and jude play together and give each other hugs and kisses. love, love, love.

233. swimming with bella and seeing her kick her legs with excitement.

234. getting to see our texas family on skype... wyatt and bella laughing at each other over the computer screen :)

235. lobster&pasta. yum.

clearly not a fan of clean-up-time.

this is was our morning today: bella emptying the tupperware cupboard all over the floor and me cleaning up, only to have her empty it five seconds later.

i decided this morning that my new parenting effort is going to be introducing the concept of cleaning up. even if she doesn't understand for a while, i still want bella to get used to picking up after herself.

this was how "clean up time" went this morning: (pardon her wearing-only-a-diaper-and-crazy-just-woke-up-hair look... we are in the middle of a heat advisory in the northeast. doesn't leave much room for fashion)

yes. that was my daughter. running away the minute i said "let's clean up!" (but definitely taking the time to do a little dance in the middle of the tupperware she had strewn allll over the floor). i even sang the clean up song and everything.

oh dear.

multitude monday.

220. family visiting from georgia. lots of laughing, eating and fun :)

221. watching jude give bella hugs until she wiggles free.

222. fried shrimp. and french fries. sometimes you just gotta.

223. awesome fabric on sale at joanns. yessss.

224. nick&i painting our first house while listening to country music. excited about our new house in maine, while keeping a little of texas :)

225. martha stewart living paint in enamelware. best.color.ever.

226. bella's purple converse. adorable.

jars&bottles.

okay, so i'm obsessed with jars&bottles. if you've followed this blog for any amount of time, or if you know me at all, then you know this. i love decorating with them, using them for candy or flowers or just lining a shelf with them.

and you know what? they can be free. you can wash out jars?&bottles from drinks, spaghetti sauce, salsa or pickles. with a little elbow grease, soapy water or some goo-be-gone, you can work off the label, or simply cover it with some fabric, twine or lace, or scrapbook paper.

voila.

it's true. think twice before you throw away that empty wine bottle or applesauce jar. here are a few things i've done with jars&bottles:

i had this shelf on the wall of our last home, lined with bottles and accented with a cherry blossom branch. i got most of these bottles at goodwill or already had them on hand.

i made these wall vases for bella's nursery when i was pregnant with her. i wanted wall vases, but didn't want to pay fifty bucks for them at potterybarn. so... i figured out how to make my own (find a tutorial here). very easy and very inexpensive!

i used lots of jars&bottles when decorating for bella's first birthday party. these were spaghetti sauce jars i washed out and filled with candy. i decorated them with scrapbook paper and flowers i made out of felt&fabric. super duper easy. and pretty much free.

i loooove having fresh flowers around the house. i bought a big bouquet of these pretty white flowers, separated them and put them in various places. a vase on the kitchen table, one on the counter and this sweet little flower on our endtable. i love how flowers look in jars... very simple and oh-so-cute.

some more decorations i made for bella's first birthday party were these blossom branches (see how to make them here). i washed out these cute mini-wine bottles and placed each on a paper doily, filled with the decorative branches.

and finally... some inspiration from martha (stewart, that is). i loooove these painted bottles and must try this project soon! turquoise&pink, bottles and peonies... some of my absolute favorite things. yes, i need to try this asap.

have i convinced you to fall in love with jars&bottles too???

refreshing words {walking this path}.

read this devotional this morning and it just encouraged and blessed my heart and i wanted to share:

"keep walking with me along the path i have chosen for you. your desire to live close to me is a delight to my heart. i could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not my way for you. together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain the journey is arduous at times, and you are weak. someday you will dance lightfooted on the high peaks; but for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy. all i require of you is to take the next step, clinging to my hand for strength and direction. though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend. stay on the path i have selected for you. it is truly the path of life."

(psalm 37:23-24: the steps of a man are established by the lord, and he delights in his way. when he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the lord is the one who holds his hand.

psalm 16:11: you will make known to me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever.)

our little family is in a place of waiting right now. waiting for god's plan for us to continue to unfold; waiting and trusting his provision for us. he is always faithful! he is never late. he holds us in the palm of his almighty hand and will continue to bring about the *beautiful* plan he has for us.

what are you waiting for today? what path does god have you on? wherever life may find us, what a blessed reminder it is: "in HIS presence is the fullness of JOY."

what's for dinner tonight {bean&corn salad}.

this is the *perfect* summer salad. it makes a huuuuge batch and is a healthy source of veggies and fiber. nick&i love it with fish, sandwiches, barbeque chicken... and honestly, on a day i've made it, we usually get in bed at night to watch "friends", each with bowls of this yummy salad :)

some of our best friends' mom makes this amaaaazing bean salad that i decided one day i needed to try to recreate. with a couple of attempts, i was able to make something that suited my fancy. this really is super delish.

i'll stop talking about it and just give you the recipe:

bean&corn salad

* 1 can dark red kidney beans

* 1 can light red kidney beans

* 2 cans cannellini beans (you could add a can of garbanzo beans instead of a second can of cannellini, but i prefer the cannellini; they are super creamy and just really yummy!)

* 1 can black beans

* 1 can corn

* 1 green pepper, diced

* 1/2 large red onion, diced

* 1/3 c. fresh cilantro, chopped finely

dressing:

* 1/2 c. white vinegar

* 1/2 c. canola oil

* 1/2 c. white sugar

* 1/2 T. garlic salt

* 1/2 T. salt

* 1/2 T. black pepper

* 1/2 T. ground cumin

- rinse and drain beans and corn. place in a large bowl (we use a huge tupperware bowl with a cover to keep right in the fridge!)

- prepare veggies and cilantro, add to bean&corn mixture. set aside.

- mix dressing ingredients, whisk well (i know it sounds like a lot of salt and other seasonings, but trust me... you're flavoring a whole lotta beans, and i like things well seasoned!). pour dressing over beans, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow flavors to marinate.

serve, enjoy, and bring to your next bbq :)

burlap,lace&flowered wreath.

i've been wanting to make a wreath for a while. my grandparents just moved into a new home, so i decided this would be the perfect opportunity. they needed something pretty to spice up their front door.

i toted bella off to joanns today (i love how i say that like it's a good friend's house or something) with a full package of graham crackers to boot. they are the only thing that gets us through errands these days. and no, i didn't actually give her the whole package. just enough to keep her happy :)

i picked up a wreath, some lovely lace, a few martha stewart flowers that were on MAJOR clearance (like a dollar, thanks martha!) and some pretty purple-y fabric.

my original plan was to wrap the entire wreath with the lace, but it was surprisingly sparce for the $5 spool... thankfully i had some burlap on hand which i completely *love*. and i especially like the contrast against the elegant lace.

so with some wrapping and the help of my ever-so-trusty glue gun, this was the final product:

tomorrow bel&i are taking a trip to the retirement community my grandparents just moved into and i can't wait to hang up their wreath! hope they like it... i kinda wanted to keep it for our front door ;)

has anyone else made any wreaths lately?? such great ideas out there!!

this post was linked to the following *amazing* blogs:

homemaker in heels

faith, trust & a little pixie dust

mod vintage life

newlyweds on a budget

tatertots and jello

the shabby nest

diy by design

multitude monday.

210. rocking chairs. front porch. summer evenings. my two loves.

211. pink peonies.

212. the anticipation and excitement of making a new home.

213. the nostalgia of moving into my grandparents house.

214. hot dogs on the grill.

215. fresh strawberry pie&vanilla ice cream.

216. bella's arms around my neck and her head on my shoulder.

217. long, leisurely talks with nick after bella goes to bed.

218. hearing my husband pray.

219. jesus's heart for me. ahhhh. amazing.

what's for dinner tonight {sausage&pepper sandwiches}.

my husband pretty much loves everything i cook. i mean, seriously. i could put a piece of cardboard infront of him on a plate and he would say he liked it. he's just not picky and so easy to please.

this is wonderful... and also tricky at the same time. because how do i know what he really wants for dinner? or which dishes are his favorites? such a quandary.

until these sandwiches. this is one of his frequently-requested-recipes. and not just because he's easy to please. but because they're really, really good.

we adapted this recipe from the neely's on the food network (how cute are they!?). when i was pregnant with bella this was one of my frequent cravings... which works out well because nick learned to make them on the nights that i was too tired and swollen to cook dinner after work. which makes them especially delish.

sausage&pepper sandwiches

* 1-2 T. olive oil

* 1-2 lbs of smoked turkey sausage or kielbasa (when we want lots of meat, aaaand lots of leftovers we go with 2... but you be the judge of what you want!)

* 1 red bell pepper, sliced

* 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced

* 1 orange bell pepper, sliced

* 1 yellow onion, sliced

* 3 garlic cloves, minced

* 2 T. tomato paste

* 1 c. beer

* 1/2 c. your fav bbq sauce

* 4 whole wheat hoagie rolls

- preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- over medium heat, warm olive oil in a large pot. add sausages and brown on all sides and remove from the pot.

- add peppers&onions and saute until soft. add garlic. stir in tomato paste, beer and bbq sauce and cook for a few minutes. return sausage back to the pot. reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until thickened.

- slice rolls and bake in oven until toasted. fill with sausage mixture and enjoy!

deeeeelish.

fireworks, watermelon&strawberry shortcake.

when i think of the fourth of july, these are the things i typically think about. along with sparklers, parades and that sheet-cake-thingy that everyone makes, decorated like a flag with whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries.

anyone else, anyone else?

this year was the first fourth of july i've been in my home state since college. yiiiiikes. that's a long time. and i had missed it. nick always has one request on the fourth-of-july: to go swimming. i love that he is like a little kid at heart. so this year we spent most of the day at the pool. which was *glorious*. my husband was in heaven.

here is a quick run down of our fourth-of-july festivities:

pool time. housesitting with my sis and bro-in-law for his parents who were out of town. this included spending most of the afternoon in their pool. which also worked out well since it was during bella and jude's naptimes. double bonus. but here are some shots with our munchkins. bella was not feeling the pool so much that day...

cookout with the fam. my parents, sis and bro-in-law and nephew, my aunt and uncle and cousins. holidays work out well when you think your family is cool.

cousin time. jude and bella are four months apart. not too long ago, we didn't hold much hope for them to be buds. bel would get right in judes face and poke at him, touch him incessantly and shriek her ear-piercing-screams-of-delight. this would make jude cry and pound his head multiple times on the floor. quite hilarious. now, they are such cute little buddies.

band concert. when gret&i were little we used to love it when my parents would take us to these old fashioned band concerts in the park. it really is just so cute and nostalgic. we used to pack popcorn and snacks and run around the park, climb on trees and play with whatever friends we could find there. so we packed up the kiddos and headed there after dinner. jude&bella loved it. they ran and ran, danced and clapped to the music, and bella sufficiently visited everyone around us, waving and saying "hiiiiii" with her big, cheesy grin :)

fireworks and smores. we ended the night with a fire and smores in my brother-in-law's parents backyard and the fireworks. bella was more captivated by the campfire then she was the fireworks, and fell asleep in the car on the way home.

so so thankful for the freedom we have in this country and the service men&women and their families that sacrifice SO much for us to have it. i am in awe of you, respect you and am beyond grateful for you.

thank you.