I'm Back!

Sorry for my absence, but I just spent a week at the beach with my family...it was a much needed break from reality. More posts coming soon!

Etsy Shop of the Week

Artist Polly Jones

She has original paintings and prints for sale at her etsy shop at a very reasonable price.

Enjoy!

NC State 'F.R.O.G'

So, my husband and I love our house, but have talked about doing some major things to it if we decide to stay in it for a long while. When we bought the house one of the biggest compromises was no garage, it had been high on our 'what we want' list. We've been throwing around the idea of adding a garage addition to the house,we have the perfect lot to add on, but don't want to do it if we're only go to stay in the house a couple more years. If we decide to stay in the house and do the addition, were going to do it right and also add a F.R.O.G (finished room over garage). I even want to add bathroom to the FROG. One day my husband and I were talking about the FROG and he cutely asked if it could be a NC State room...that's our alma mater. I told him that it could be the NC State room, but that it would be done very tastefully, so that everyone could enjoy the room and we wouldn't scare the guest who might stay in the room. I'm always looking for ideas for our red and white NC State room and recently ran across these images...

{Images from here and here}

Happy Friday!

Off to Lake Gaston for the weekend to spend some time with family. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Etsy Shop of the Week

Here is some fun summer jewelry. I love all the colorful beads. Find it all at etsy shop, JenJewelry.
Hopefully, my husband will like this jewelry a little better then my previously posted jewelry.

Happy Anniversary!

Rehearsal dinnerGroom's cake at Rehearsal Dinner

Hubby, thank you for 4 wonderful years of marriage! I can't wait to see what happens next! I couldn't imagine life without you!

***Dan and I are very blessed with great friends, see for yourself here!

Chair

A nice chair covered in an ikat print that you can pick-up at Urban Outfitters.

Strawberry Mojito

I told you I would have one of these over the weekend. The only difference once that I used the traditional mint with the strawberries instead of basil. They were very yummy, even the hubby enjoyed a couple. See recipe below...

2 oz. Light Rum
2 oz. Simple Syrup
3 Thinly Sliced Strawberries
5-6 Mint Leaves
Club Soda
Ice

Drop most of the strawberries and mint into the bottom of a glass. Add simple syrup. Muddle strawberries, mint, and simple syrup mixture. Top with rum, ice, and club soda. Garnish with remaining strawberries. Enjoy!

Flowers

Hydrangea's from my garden...one of my favorite flowers.

Happy Friday!

Hopefully, I'll be enjoying one of these!

Find the Strawberry Basil Mojito here.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!

{Image found here}

Words of Wisdom

Written by a 90 year old women, Regina Brett...

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger..
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you..
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business..
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

I hope I can remember to live by at least a few of these each day.

Dog Artwork

I recently got into dog artwork. I found the following painting and drawing in our attic when we moved into our house. Then Pottery Barn had this scene in one of their catalogues and I loved the display of dog artwork. I've added a few pieces to my set of dog art.





I framed and hung the above painting in our living room this past weekend. I love the paint my number style of the painting. One day I'll probably put together a little cluster of all my dog artwork, but for now it's scattered through out our house.

Above print was a Christmas gift from my husband right after we got Georgia, our chocolate lab.

Painting a got for my husband this past Christmas. It was one of my first etsy finds and purchases...Daisy Doodles' Pet Portraits by Libby.