Edible Myarrangement

A few weeks back I hosted a lingerie shower for my sister, Anna, who is getting married next month.  I tried to plan for foods she really liked, which means her very favorite FRUIT! So, as I was cutting up all the fruit I thought I should have just got an edible arrangement and was curious to see how much they were. Redic!  $100 for about the size I needed. Already being in Gadsden, I scowered around my parents house and decided to try it myself! I found a shoebox, which happened to be pink and purple, the colors of the shower. Then, I put styrofoam cut to size inside. Now I know it sounds crazy, but I happened to have a pink plastic tablecloth in the jungle known as my car. (I honestly can't rem. why it was in there, or how long it had been! And to argue my case, my back hatch is huge!) Anyway, I cut and covered the styrofoam with the pink cloth.

Then, I started putting the cut fruit and layered them on my long wooden skewers.

It took a little while, but I think she liked the finished product.

                    Now, not to toot my own horn...  but toot toot.

Cole told me "mom, it is 8, balls, zero, nine o'clock." I had to laugh, and take a pic to share.

So, there are these sheets called "untuckables" that a local girl makes. The bottom is sewn together, so that when you make the bed, the top sheet can't become untucked. They are awesome! Even when you don't make the bed it stays nice and neat. I choose the ones with dinosaurs, and can you tell his delight?! (The matching dino pj's were not planned.)

busy kids...

We have really enjoyed this awesome weather! I find myself running around the house in just a tshirt, because I am already so hot! What is going to happen when it rises above 80 degrees?! I don't know if it's just age, or chasing children, or a combo of both, but it's HOT. So, PJ has buzzed Cole's hair, he now looks 10.

Anna Reed tries her hardest to keep up with what Cole's doing, and loves getting down and dirty which gives me at least 2 heart attacks a day. Cole is even more "clean" than her. He hates his hands getting dirty, but not this sweet pea!

We have also got..... a trampoline! These little monkeys need a way to let some energy out! With basically no backyard, PJ has figured out a way to "install" it into the cliff, that is our backyard. So, it will be like a walk-on. I will let ya know how that turns out. Anyway, Yes, we have the safety net and all, but this was taken right when it was put together and he couldn't wait! If you have little ones please come join us anytime!

Spring pics

We all got dressed to go out for lunch last Sat, and decided once we got in the car to make a stop by Bot Gardens and snap a few pics. Not exactly how we would have dressed, had we planned, but they were just fine. The flowers were beautiful, but the kids tummy's must have been yelling, bc they weren't in the best of moods. We still managed to snap a few cute ones. Oh, and there was a photog there waiting on a client, who had a live little bunny to use as a prop, I guess. Well, knowing good and well I had full intentions of somehow getting that bunny in my "it's almost Easter" pictures, I whisper in Cole's ear "Cole, let's go see that bunny!" Of course he is on board, and we walk over to it. I say "Don't worry, we are just looking, we won't touch!" The nice lady I'm sure knew what I wanted, and says, "here you can hold him!" I snapped away, and got a zillion of Cole holding him, but everytime AR would try the bunny would run away! It must have been bc she wanted to kiss him the whole time.

We spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Botanical Gardens this weekend. After 369 pictures, literally, a kind lady asked if we wanted her to take a picture of all us. We obliged. Apparently, I was the only one still happy to there:)

leggo my eggo'

The kids are now to the age where I can walk out of the room, and they can peacefully play together, without me fearing he will put stickers all over her hair, or force feed, and I mean FORCE, her to take the bottle. AR of course tries to do whatever Cole does, and Cole LOVES bossing her around. (I can hear myself in him:) I know I complain a lot about how tough having 2 toddlers is, but I truly love it, and go to bed wishing I had more time with them every night! This is them having breakfast together in the playroom.

what's new

Check out my new blog http://www.homeandsoulredemption.blogspot.com/ which will explain where I've been and what I am up to!:)

Gettin' dirty

Now that I am home more, and it's not freezing, we've been loving the outdoors. We recently went down to Eutaw Al, where PJ's hunting property is, and took the kids. I had never even been there and it's his home away from home 6 months of the year! We took the golf cart and the gator - the kids, and big kids, had a blast!

lovin' the mud - notice he has on 2 different boots.

I'm sure Cole will grow up on this land, what a memory!

exciting info coming soon... sneak peak:)

Today me and Melissa Wood took the girls to Soho Sweets. I picked up the kids some swirlpop suckers - had a blast cleaning that up too. I picked Cole up from school, and gave him his sucker. He took a lick, looked at me and said "mommy, am I a miracle?" My heart melted and I said of course, and took a picture to remember that innocent moment!!

So, every one warns you when you have a boy, that it will be completely different than having girls. Well, I guess that is true, now having both and seeing the difference. When Cole was just 2 he was being put to sleep to have surgery on a hand that had been closed in a door. (One of the scaredest moments we've ever had with him!) He is still always getting hurt and just last week, was running through the kitchen while I was cooking supper, and ran into the side of the cabinet and basically knocked out a tooth. It stayed attached, just knocked backward. After panicking and calling every dentist I knew, PJ reset it back in place, then put him to bed and thankfully we awoke to it pretty firm in place. We had an appt. right away, and got it all under control. So, as he was playing in the tub tonight, I decided to snap a picture of his feet. Maybe this will capture just how rough my little boy is:) I'm sure there will be more trips to the Dr. for emergency accidents, but I pray it will never be anything more serious!

birthday girl

My sweet girl turned 1, and since I'm back to blogging now, thought I would catch up with some birthday photos.

She loved the tickle monster book and hands that Aunt Melissa (Mo) gave her.

It's official - I'm a thrifter.

As I am sitting in my den this am - alone, thanks to the children still sleeping- I realize something. Every. single. thing. from my den is from a thift store. Ok, maybe not a thrift store, but awfully close. Something I love so much, is stealing from people. I love to find something someone doesn't want and "fix it." So, I will spend pennies on something worth so much more. I absolutely love a good deal. Get this right.. not a sale.. a STEAL. It's like I almost want to look over my shoulder after the purchase and say "suckaaaa." Ok, kidding. But, I wanted to show you bloggers the deals I have found along the way, in the one year + I have lived in this house.

These chair are from Craigslist, I believe I paid $50/ea. for them. I planned to have them recovered, which I will eventually.

The ottoman, was $3 from a thift store. (Don't worry I steamed it well.)

The silk drapes are from At Home, which I bought from a friend that was moving. They sell for $380/pr but I paid $50/pr.

The buffet style table was $35, yardsale.

If only I could find a replacement window system...

This was someone's fireplace screen they had bought from At Home, that broke, so I took home and broke apart, and made 3 handy "memo/card" holders.

This lamp cost $2, thrift. I painted it and added a shade.

These are 5 silk panels that I actually got from a friend, which she bought at a yardsale or something, but couldn't use them. They were took cheap to not buy!

I have a large area between my couch and chair, so this large table works great here. I paid $50, I think it goes for $500 from Ballard Designs.

My favorite deal of all time, is my coffee table. I paid $40 from a thrift store. It opens up for storage and is awesome. The cream/iron bowl on top from an estate sale somewhere. The child was free. Well, kind of.

This light hangs over my breakfast table. When we moved here there was an 1880 pendant. I removed the previous shade/plastic thing, spray painted the chain from bronze to brown, and replaced the shade from 3 Sheets. $25 total project. They sell these exact ones there for around $300.

Isn't it fun... practice with me... "SUCKKKAAAA!!"

Yes, I have an adorable child. Yes, she is the happiest child in the world. But don't you dare put her down, or stick her in something that should aid her in being alone. Don't. You. Dare.

A New Year...

It's a new year, and I have made lots of "new year plans." I don't like using "resolutions" because it just sounds like like it's a lie. So... here is my list.

1. I will be organized this year, if it kills me. I have actually held this up so far, and it's possible the people at Bed Bath and Beyond know me by name. Totes are your friend.

2. I will work smarter, not harder. - Be better at balancing work and family

4. I will blog, update things more, and be socially more acceptable.:)

5. I will finish projects, before starting a new one. My MAIN problem, in most areas of my life.

5. Most inportantly, I will spend time with God each day, but that should be a given.

SO.. in saying this, I am proud to announce I have redone/organized my playroom, laundry room, linen closet, all closets, master bedroom, kids rooms, I've got rid of most unused toys from the basement, and WORKING on my dining room. I use my dining room now as my, "crap, I'm not done with this project yet, and a kid has just pooped, and PJ is walking in the door asking what's for dinner, so I will just put it in here until I finish, room." I can't even say how much better I feel. I literally threw out everything I don't use on a normal basis (3 drawers for just camisoles is rediclous, when I prob wear 3) and had Hannah Home come get it! Whenever my heart strings tugged and reminded me I wore that cami one time at Auburn and I hate to part with it, I reminded myself, someone that needs it will get it, so just breath. AND after all the work, it's easy to keep it up! 

I can't wait to post before/after pics!! (but I haven't loaded them.. one thing at a time people, i'm just happy I've posted!!)

Happy birthday pookie!

I can't believe a year ago today, I had my sweet baby girl. She has made me such a proud momma, and she has blessed our family so much. I love you sweet girl!!