Pergola furniture, finally! :-) YAY!!!

We've been wanting furniture for our Pergola for several years now.  Since we built it actually but it wasn't on the radar. Luckily, Home Depot and our good friend Martha Stewart had a fabulous sale on a set that we liked and wasn't too hard on the wallet!  Here it is!  BTW, if my terracotta pots look yucky it's because I've coated them in a moss milkshake.  Be on the look out for that post if you want your brand new pots to look divinely aged!!

NEW Terracotta with MOSS Milkshake painted on the side, Day 1!

Living in the living room

We are still in the process of turning our living room into a LIVING ROOM but since our current furniture budget is a big fat 0 I'll have to resort to daydreaming.  My favorite daydreaming/window shopping site is HOUZZ.  When we actually get to furnish the living room, we actually want to LIVE in it.  With 3 kids that we claim on our taxes and a multitude of other hungry young mouths to feed, we NEED a room to house them all in were we don't have to worry about them breaking something.  A room where they can kick their stinky feet up and feel at home.  Because believe me, when you have a house-full of 16 year olds and some 10 year olds too, you LEARN a lot.  AND you realize buying a couple extra pizzas and a few 2 liters of Coke is a small price to pay for what you get back in return!  Here are some of my inspiration living rooms from HOUZZ.  The first room is the actual paint color we used.

traditional living room design by charleston photographer Julia Ryan

traditional living room design by los angeles interior designer Kim Woods

traditional living room design by los angeles interior designer Kim Woods

traditional living room design by kansas city interior designer McCroskey Interiors

traditional living room design by other metros kitchen and bath Wildwood Cabinetry

traditional living room design by nashville architect Norris Architecture

eclectic living room design by orange county interior designer Fluegge Interior Design, Inc.

eclectic living room design by other metros interior designer Seaside Interiors

eclectic living room design by other metros design-build Farinelli Construction Inc

eclectic living room design by minneapolis general contractor John Kraemer & Sons

Party Hats and Comfort Food

The other day, a friend of mine's sweet little lady turned 1 and celebrated with a fabulous pink and green lady bug birthday party!  Turning 1 is a big deal so I decided to make Ms. Paige a birthday hat to go with her pretty party.  I've made these hats several times before, if you'd like to check out the tutorial, it's HERE!

These are so fun to make!  Try it if you haven't already!  I would LOVE to see what you make!


What is it about comfort food that seems to soothe your soul?   Have you ever noticed that certain food sort of goes with certain people.  For example, when you think of your Great Uncle Fred, you might immediately think of beer. Or wings.  Or wings and beer.  I often associate specific food with specific people.  Grandma's and comfort food go together.  I had seen a recipe for a jello salad on Pinterest called Orange Fluff and it totally made me think of my husband's grandmother.  Something about Jello salads just scream "GRANDMOM" to me!  We had dear little Nana over for dinner so it was the perfect occasion to try out the recipe.  It's full of mini marshmallows, cool whip and orange jello all mixed up into a creamy concoction of dreamsicle yumminess!  You totally have to make it!  The recipe is originally from the delightful blog Six Sisters Stuff  Here's the recipe:

Orange Fluff Jello Salad Recipe:

1 large package Cook and Serve vanilla pudding
1 large package orange jell-o
2 cups water
1 16 oz Cool-Whip (lite or fat-free is fine)
1/2 bag mini marshmallows 

1 can (drained) pineapple tidbits (Any size, depending on your preference)

2 cans (drained) mandarin oranges (Any size, depending on your preference)

Mix together pudding, Jell-o, and water over medium heat until it boils. Remove from heat and pour into a large mixing bowl. Refrigerate until mixture has set (about an hour). Beat until creamy. Fold in Cool Whip, marshmallows, and fruit. Chill about an hour before serving.

On to other schtuff...  I haven't shared a Peytonism in a while.  She's getting older (very sad face) so they are getting fewer and farther between but this is a GOOD one so I thought I had to share!  While early for the bus one morning last week, I decided we had just enough time to squeeze in some additional last minute studying before Peyton's Social Study test that day.  They had been learning about some early history of Maryland.  We pulled out her review sheet and I began asking her the questions.  Luckily, she was whizzing through them and giving perfect answers.  I finally asked the last question on the sheet.   This is how it went:   Me: "Name some of the founding fathers of Maryland."  Peyton: "John Calvert, ummm...Lord Baltimore and OH, what's that guy that played Jack in the TITANTIC?"  OK, so I'm a bit incredulous at this point not sure where this is going. Me:  "Leonardo DiCaprio?" Peyton:  "YES! Him!"   Before I can correct her, the bus pulls up, she quickly gives me a kiss and hops out of the car.  I can't wait to get this test back!?!