Sadie's Dance

Last Saturday was Celeste's first high school Sadie's dance.

{not a dance with our pup Sadie, but a girl-asks-boy Sadie Hawkins dance}

Sometime between when I was in high school, and my children being in high school, asking someone to a dance has changed! We just got "wanna go to prom?" and replied "ok". Now the asking is an event unto itself! Celeste has been asked both time (homecoming, winter formal) with flower bouquets. Some people get super creative with posters, serenades, treasure hunts, etc. We figured her guy would not want flowers, so we went with food:

 She pre-decorated a box, and I went to Oregano's to grab the pizza and delivered it to her at school. I was not permitted to stay and take pictures of her asking, of course. I feel lucky she posed for this one!

{And he said yes, Duh!} 

I am kicking myself for not getting any pictures of Celeste with her date when I dropped them off. I did get these few of Celeste before we left home. I would have liked more, but it was raining!

 Boy did she look cute for this western themed dance!

Sophie's "School" Photos

I can't believe it took me so long to get some 4th grade photos of Sophie-loo! I meant to do them on/around her birthday. That never happened, then she was on crutches, then came the holidays, but finally we got them done!

Per usual, we headed to downtown Tempe for our mini-shoot. We love the train tracks:

 

 And under the tracks:

 And got permission to enter someone's yard/junkyard for some cool shots:

My favorite shot of my favorite 4th grader!

 

Busy Day-A birthday and a dance

Yesterday was a busy day! If you didn't already know, Sophie is in love with horses. She wanted a horse back riding party for her birthday last October but Arizona horses spend their summers in Wyoming, who knew? So nearly 4 months late she had her wish come true:

 We made simple goodies with candy, a pencil with cowboy boot topper and a bandanna.

 We had snacks, cake, and opened presents by Tempe Town Lake.

 Sophie helped design and decorate her cake with the horseback riding theme (she was in charge of the chocolate "dirt" frosting and the grass).

 All the girlies

 Sophie and her horse for the day, Pretty Boy, who she re-named Pony Boy (from Outsiders!), Abby with Wyatt, and Hailey with Vegas.

 Sophie and Pretty/Pony Boy

 Trail ride

I think it is a day she will remember! Happy (belated) birthday to my favorite 10 year old!

Then it was busy day, part two, Celeste's second high school dance, Winter Formal:

 Corsage and

 Boutonniere

 Celeste and her date, Niku

 Gorgeous kiddos: Connor, Kira, Nick, Angela, PJ, Taylor, Erik, Katherine, Emily, Niku and Celeste

 Besties Kira and Celeste with Connor and Niku

 Beautiful Celeste

Better After

One of the blogs I love to look at for inspiration is Better After.

This blog is full of "re-dos" from small home decor items, to furniture pieces, to entire rooms.

Here are a few of my recent projects that I feel are "better after".

 I found this serving tray at a thrift store for $1.00, score! A little chalk paint and I have a drink cup tray for keeping tack of family members and guests' cups. And guess what? the kids loved it! They all enjoyed writing their names and were actually returning their cups to the spots they made. Win!

 I found my tray when I was looking for one for my secret Santa at work. I made some chalkboard label jars for her, and needed the tray to hold them. I think it would be fun for her to use hers for parties to label the food items she is serving. Here is hers before:

 Kinda ugly, if you ask me, but a great size and shape. And here is what I hope is better after:

 And finally, while thrifting for the tray I found the following shirt. Celeste was with me when I found it and thought I was crazy, at first. 
Celeste: "You're going to wear that?"
Me: "No, you're going to wear that."
Celeste: "um, no...". 

I did ease her worries when I told her I saw it as a pillow for her room, the color is perfect! And I even talked her into modeling it for the before pictures:

 

You're going to make me wear this?

 I can make it look good.....

 Ha ha ha, maybe not....

  But I do think it makes a good looking pillow!

Around Here

I have never been a good decorator. My home has always been a hodge podge of random furniture, pictures hung on the walls wherever I had space, and tons of "stuff" that tends to accumulate when you've got six people and been in your home 16 years!

The only room that is even decorated is Celeste/Sophie's room also seen here.

I am slowly figuring out my "style" (thanks mostly to Pinterest!) and starting to get some areas that I would actually say are intentionally decorated. I have tons more ideas that will take more time, money, and energy than I currently have, but I feel like I have an over-all idea of what I want my home to look and feel like.

So here is a little peek into what makes me happy:

This sums up my home perfectly!

Chalkboard frame: Merchant Square

Key locker: RodWorks

Frame: Barnsale

Mini Christmas tree: Ikea

Vintage ornaments from my granny.

 Antiques: various antique stores across the country

Fixtures: Ikea

On top of my fridge, makes me happy!

Locker Basket: Barnsale

Wine rack: Sweet Salvage

On top of my deep freezer. Someday I will have a hutch to display my Pyrex along with my Granny's china, Grandma's dishes, and great-grandmother's china.

Picnic basket: Sophie's barnsale purchase

Pyrex: Merchant Square and an Iowa antique store. 

More Pyrex that has joined the others, full set!: Turn Style Consignment

 The start of the girls' monogram wall! I will now be on the hunt for industrial "C's" and "S's".

 Large "C": Sweet Salvage

Jars: Container store

Chalk Board contact paper and Bistro Chalk Markers: Amazon

 And here is a mini tutorial for chalk board art (the "excuse the mess" sign was done with this same method):

 

1. Print your text in a fun font.

2. Rub chalk on the back of your printed paper.

3. Use a blunt item (back of a pen, etc) to trace the words onto the chalkboard, leaving a light chalk dust outline to follow.

4. Trace outline with chalk or a chalk marker.