Summer Fun

Wow! When I get off track... I REALLY get off track! Sorry bloggy friends, I really have missed you! Nothing wrong just a summer haze :)

West Texas has had one of the worst droughts EVER this year! In fact the current stats for the area we live in say it's the worst drought since the Dust Bowl. So if you have ever seen the movie Giant or Gone With the Wind, you might be able to visualize my back yard (if you have not seen Giant or Gone With the Wind your to-do list just got a little longer :). Well, after a glorious getaway last week to a land of still skies, humidity and cloud cover, I found myself moping around at the prospect of going home. However, every cloud has silver lining right?! I came across this DIY kite and I have been dying to make it ever since! It may be dusty and hot but it's sure WINDY!

Hope you are having a great summer! xoxo

Change

My Mom always reminds me the twenties are all about change. If you are in them I don't have to explain that to you. New relationships, new jobs, new towns... it goes on and on. I came across this adorable shadow box in the blogosphere and had to share it! I wish I had thought of this for my first paycheck, my first apartment out of college or the first place Clay and I lived. Maybe someday I will do this when we get our first house. But I thought it was so sweet. I am so guilty of worrying and stressing over the little things and forgeting to be present and thankful for all the blessings of today. Click on the image above to take you to this easy keepsake and the adorable blog Young House Love.

Some quotes I h.e.a.r.t. on change:

In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.

Leo Tolstoy

 If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine.

Morris West

The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.

Abraham Lincoln

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Chinese Proverb 

What t.h.e. b.i.b.l.e. says about being "present":

Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

³⁴"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Remembering breakfast

Clay left on a fishing trip this morning and I am off to work for a few days (nights). If I was better prepared I would have cooked something cute like this... instead we ended up at IHOP.

I absolutely treasure breakfast with my husband. Its our little thing. I work nights, he lives a busy "day" life. Breakfast is the time of the day where we seem to have two seconds to meet in the middle. I am in a good mood because thank goodness I am done and he is in a good mood because he is one of those odd morning people. We talk about the day, my night, Leno, the dogs, the weather, whatever... some of my best memories over the past few years are over cheerios and coffee. And whats funny about is it's never the time for big decisions or "talking" it's just random, simple thoughts where I fall in love with him all over again. I also love that he only really eats breakfast so he can spend some time with me. He will here or there, but generally he just drinks some coffee and waits til lunch.

Breakfast was special when I was a kid too. On Saturday mornings Mom would sleep in and me and my Dad would sneak away to a different breakfast place each week. Sometimes we would ride bikes or walk if it was nice. I think when I was young I would look forward to it all week- my little date with Dad.

They say one of the habits if healthy people is not skipping breakfast; I know that has been true for me.

Pinterest

In the catalogue for my 'someday' house

I just added Pinterest on my 'To Inspire and Encourage' links... after scouring the Internet for inspiration for so many years I can't believe I had never heard of/ seen this. If you haven't checked it out you are REALLY missing out too! Every hour of every day people (nationally/ internationally) are posting pictures of things that they love or inspire them. And you can check it out for FREE. Attn: DIY section, pure treasure :)

Decorating Ideas

"A house is made with walls and beams, a home is made with love and dreams"
-Unknown

I seem to have writers block the last few days and my nose stuck in a book, but I have found no shortage of pictures that just inspire me to create... something. Enter- this amazing bedroom. I. AM. IN. LOVE. I just found this woman's super creative blog and there are some really neat DIY (cheap) design ideas. Click on the above pic for the link to how to make this beautiful headboard.

Don't you want to just cozy up in here... ahhh!

Here is a close-up of the homemade barn door, I think it is fabulous! I think I will tuck this away in my design book for 'that someday house'. In the mean time maybe someone else might have the perfect place for one. Click on the above picture for the link of how to make one and here for how to hang it... and here for the handle (not shown).

Itching to do some crafts!

Always looking for cute ways to keep my hair out of my face in all this west texas wind and totally itching to do something crafty! Just went to buy the stuff to try making rosettes like the ones on the headbands at etsy shops and anthropologie... this link makes it look so easy, but we will see. The fabric/ needle/ thread at Hobby Lobby only costs like $2. So far I like that! Let me know if anybody else tries! Here's the link... Making rosettes for headbands

Also, the amazingly creative Casey Wiegand also has a cute link from her blog for the flowers on the headband above... click here.

City Girl Secret #1- Wedding Blogs

It is not uncommon for a friend to stop by or call only to find me buzzing about yet another wedding blog. The conversation that follows usually goes something like this:

...how long ago was it that you got married? ...3 years this summer

oh... ahhh, who's getting married? ...no one

then why are you looking at that? you must really like weddings...

Well, yes. I do. The day of our nuptials was dream-like, probably even my favorite day ever and I love sharing others special days too. If I had ANY decision-making skills I may have even considered planning myself. BUT, the reason I look at wedding blogs is inspiration! Wedding blogs are the best FREE design resource for... flowers, fashion, table arranginging, decorating, gifts, it goes on and on... weddings are detailed, well documented, span all budgets and mostly importantly- are filled with tons of DIY ideas.

City Girl Secret: You do not need a design team to stay in vogue... just master the art of copying from great design sources. Check out my favorites on my 'to inspire & encourage' links... if you know of any others, let me know, I am always trying to find new ones!

On a different note, for any anthropologie lovers like me, they just started a new wedding line BHLDN- absolutely beautiful, check it out!

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

-Coco Chanel