Maybe This is Why He Works So Much...

I can't complain about T's job too much. Sure, he works a lot; but we've been on several free luxury vacations (and got a kid out of each one, ahem) because of his work. The possibility that work could be an escape from the excessive amounts of estrogen that flow through our home has occurred to me.

But I get the feeling that this may be payback for the years T spent torturing his younger brothers and sister.

Natalie and Michaela Byrd said their daddy looked "beautiful."

I had to agree. {wink}

The "Shabby Chicks' Cottage" Mini Makeover

{Hope you don't mind my play on words in the title, Gina.}

Several years ago, my good friend L gifted us with a small plastic playhouse for our backyard. Her three girls were spilling out of it, and at the time I only had one girl.

The little cottage was a huge hit with Natalie, but over the years it lost its luster as we got busy with activities, a new baby, and my desire to stay in the air conditioning.

After a terrifying wasp-in-the-cottage incident last week, I took on a mini cottage makeover while the girls played at their Mimi's house. As with many things at the T house, the cottage is still a work in progress....

I used slate stolen migrated from the trashy former neighbors' yard to make a rustic floor and front stoop.

Added some marigolds to a pot I had sitting in the shed.

I won a chalkboard sign ages ago on a blog Giveaway and I used twine to wrap it through the cottage's front door, which desperately needs to be repainted. When I figure out how to get it off the hinges, I'll do that!

Cleaned up their picnic table for outdoor dining.

Used stolen transplanted white garden edging (also from the trashy ex neighbors) to make a little faux picket fence.

Grass doesn't grow in this little spot of the yard, despite our best efforts, so I'd like to mulch that in and add some stepping stones.

So...not horrible for spending $0. That's right. Nada. Zilch. I really shopped the house with this one!

We got busy with swim lessons last night, so they haven't seen their new-old Shabby cottage yet. We'd invite you all over for some acorn tea (a Natalie and Michaela Byrd specialty), but I don't think we'd all fit inside. And also I don't know if that wasp is gone yet. I may have angered him when I sprayed the hose in his direction yesterday.....Maybe some acorn tea would calm him down.

Linking to Sarah's Before and After Party and The CSI Project's Outdoor Decorations Party.

Stars and Stripes and S'Mores and More

Our 4th of July began not with a trip to church, but with a morning at home waiting for the cable guy to show up. Really.

Things looked up by mid afternoon. We made some Devilishly Good Cupcakes (seriously amazing!)

and put on some red, white, and blue to show our spirit!

T's boss invited us over for a cookout and fireworks with his family, so we headed over just as the burgers and hot dogs were hot off the grill!

My friends April and John-David (some of my best New York Trip friends!) were there and we had a blast watching my girls and April's little boy romp through the backyard. The little man is a year younger than Natalie, but they really hit it off.

There may have been some hand-holding, much to T's dismay.

The adults sat under the gazebo and watched the little ones enjoy the sparklers and try their hand at S'Mores.

But some people who take after their mamas only have eyes for cupcakes.

Can you blame her?

So...not a bad Independence Day. We got our cable back (I think T was about to have a coronary from the missed World Cup games), ate some cupcakes, and watched some back yard fireworks.

The American Dream, right?

{How was your 4th of July?}

If you have a post today about your 4th of July weekend, please feel free to link it up here. Just please add a link to my site somewhere in your post and be sure to enter the link to your post's specific URL, not your blog's homepage. Be sure to check to see if your link posts correctly! If you have problems, email me, and I'll add it for you.


Linking to Southern Fried Gal's July 4th Linky.

On the 4th...

I hope my fellow Americans are enjoying this Independence Day, but I also hope that we each take a moment or two to remember that Freedom comes at a price. I am grateful for the brave men and women across the generations who stood by their convictions and willingly gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I might pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.





God Bless America!

Saturday Stop and Shop

Up for a little window shopping this weekend?

~Crafty Girls Workshop
The Crafty Girls are currently participating in a FabShop hop, and they are also offering a Free Pattern with any Precut Purchase. I'm lovin' this Moda Tweet Tweet fabric!

~Mississippi Mud
Someday (raising arm like Scarlett O'Hara) the Baby Momma Necklace will be mine! I like it creamy white.

~one9designs
Love love love (can you tell I love it?!) Kristin's Hand Stamped Mother's Family Necklace. How cute!!

~RJ Charms
Continuing my obsession of all things Birdie, check out this precious Pink Birdie Charm Necklace:

~The Shabby Chic Cottage

One of Gina's Starfish Garlands would make the perfect addition to my summer decor!

Happy Shopping!

*Hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July.

God Bless America!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading::

The four of you who comment on these Friday posts voted for me to keep writing them, so your wish is granted. {wink} I have some really great links and new sites for you this week!

~Got a huge laugh out of a site my sister sent me called Catalog Living. As much as I love my Pottery Barn/ Ballards/Restoration Hardware catalogs, they do tend to take themselves pretty seriously. If you like catalogs, you'll love this site!

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~Pam gave her readers a tutorial on how to slipcover IKEA dining chairs. She also shared photos of her Fab Dining room in Progress.

~Kim wrote up a wonderful post with some great recipes for her Fresh Herbs.

~Oh, how I wish I was going to Disney World so I could order some of these Custom Mickey Pieces from Tangerine Kitty.

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~Looking for some great recipes for a patriotic menu? Check out Kraft! (No affiliation, I just like their emails!)

~Want some fun ideas for celebrating the 4th of July? Both Kate and The CSI Project hosted great Independence Day-themed parties this week!

~Cheryl always has something fun up her sleeve. This week it was a Gingham Flag T-shirt.

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~One of the things I admire about Sarah is that she is Real! She doesn't mind sharing her failures alongside of her successes. Her 4th of July Cake might be slightly off-color, but it looks delish!

~Y'all know how much I love me some Fluffy Books. My friend Meri recently sent me the link to Chick Lit is Not Dead. How much fun is that?

{Do you have any special plans for this weekend?} 
We're having a little pizza party with Mimi tonight, some pool time, have to clean the bathrooms (yay!), and I have a bunch of zucchinis that need to be used up. Nothing too crazy for the 4th because T is working. I know, I know. I live such a glamorous life. Jealous?

Stop by tomorrow for a Stop and Shop post!

Thrifty Thursday: It's Chic to Be Cheap (Summertime Kid Activities)

Um, it's July. Already.

Has the summer flown by for anyone else? I do my best to keep Natalie and Michaela Byrd occupied, but I end some days feeling like I need a straight jacket and a padded room.

Last summer, I wrote a post about Summer Activities to keep families busy. A lot of those activities kept me from locking myself in the laundry room and chanting "Serenity Now" over and over to myself. I thought it would be fun to update that list with some new ideas today.

1. Take advantage of free stuff!!

• Story time: our library and local Border's offer great story sessions with books, crafts, songs, and sometimes even a short movie. We attended a Toy Story 3 party at Border's a few weeks ago, and the girls enjoyed a craft, snacks, games, and prizes. For free.

• Vacation Bible School: many churches offer a free, weeklong "day camp" of sorts. Our church treats around 800 children to Bible stories, songs, crafts, recess, skits, games, and snacks. My girls got to enjoy the church nursery while I worked in the "Snack Shack" last week, and they had just as much fun as the big kids!
• Free movies: Several of the theaters in The 'Burg offer free kids' movies twice a week in the mornings. We have to get there early to beat the daycare buses, and I sneak in candy. Start your own Mini Chick Flick Club!
• Summer Play Group: It's easy to grab a couple of girlfriends one morning each week for coffee and a chat while the kids run wild in the playroom. Rotate houses and sign a contract in blood promise to do a toy clean up at the end for the hostess.
• Craft demos for kids at local craft stores.
• Our gym advertised a member party for Tuesday night and I took my girls down to meet a few friends. Free hotdogs, snowcones, and face painting rounded out a full day. You just have to be on the lookout  for stuff like this and then remember to attend!

2. Low-cost:

• Make it easy on yourself; pick up a couple of Happy Meals, meet some friends at the park, and let the kids play. Once the trash from the meal has been discarded, take the kids on a quick nature walk if you're in an area that has trails. 
• Join a summer Bible study! It'll cost you the price of a workbook and maybe some childcare money, but it will be well worth it. Hire a teen to keep the kids busy.
• Paula had a great post about Geocaching. Great for older kids!
• Are there any workshops or short summer classes through your Parks and Rec system?

3. It'll Cost You, But It Will Be Worth It:

• Join a pool: best money we spend all summer. period.

• Save up and spend a day at the closest amusement park. I reaaaallly want to take the girls to Kings Dominion near Richmond. They have great kiddie stuff, and we haven't been since Natalie was 2!

I'm all ears if you have any more suggestions! If you have a post to share with summer kid/family activities, please feel free to link them up here. All I ask is that you include a link to me somewhere in your post and link to the specific url of your post (not just your blog's homepage). Be sure to check and see if your link posted. If it didn't, let me know and I will add it for you!

I'd stay to chat, but we have a little coffee playgroup this morning to get to! Back later today!