more summer fun...

*shopping at...

think we could get any more in here?
spending a sunday putting things together and redecorating the living room...
the result.

dayton vectren air show...
cotton candy in style...
the one on the left is my oldest...cutest banner carrier i know.

trying to stay cool in the oppressive heat...

even our neighbor asked to be sprayed.

and this? this is how you water your garden when it's 105 outside.

back to school...

is WAAAAAYYY too close for comfort.

i learned at the end of last year that i was being moved from 2nd grade to 5th.

so, in preparation, i've been making some of my own room decor.

i've been scouring thrift stores for old atlases and maps, which i've been using to cover anything that will stand still.

dollar spot black office passes...turned hall passes.

$1 michael's wood cut outs...turned bathroom passes.

and a fun #5 just because.

i've also been collecting cheap tins.

painted them white so the patterns wouldn't show through...turned pencil, pen, and marker cups.

thrifting thursdays and craft fridays...

the girls and i decided to add thrifting thursdays and craft fridays to our summer to-do list...

so, thursdays, we hit the garage sales and my favorite thrift store, valley thrift.

last thursday was the best day yet...just look at all the goodies we found!

the ceiling medallions and frames were only a buck each! and the little wicker shelf was 75 cents.

another find...vintage hankies.
which i turned into this:
our craft fridays consist mostly of me spray-painting things while the girls do some sort of art/craft project. (if it doesn't move, i can and will paint it,)

now the girls have a mail center above their desk...
found this chip & dip bowl for $1.
turned it into lulu's new bed...
one of my favorite finds! my $1 frame (painted, of course) and letters from hobby lobby (50% off last week!).

another favorite find...$1 ceiling medallion. i think i'm going to add more to this wall, but i'm debating on what it should be. pictures? more medallions? hmmm...we'll see.

and i finally used these turquoise tweed fabric from the thrift store to recover our old, grungy, ripped up ottoman.

can't wait til next week!!!

my fabric stash...

has been neglected.

i've been collecting vintage hankies and sheets for a while.

the pile slowly started to take over my basement, so i decided to finally put it to good use.

here are a few pillows i made with some of my favorite hankies and fabrics.

my next project is a set of banners to hang in my classroom and a tablecloth of vintage sheet squares. i'll keep ya posted.

spa day...

was something on our summer to-do list.

after the accident last week, my cousin's daughter was itching to get away from the hospital and have some fun. so last friday, we brought her home with us for a sleepover.

the next morning, i set-up an impromptu "spa day" for the girls.

step 1: bubble baths...

step 2: hair-do's...

step 3: manicures...

step 4: photo-shoot...

(thanks, honey, for holding the "back-drop"/sheet up for me!)

i. can't. handle. the. cuteness.

and, once you're styled to the max and totally feeling the diva attitude, what better thing to do than head out to gigi's cupcakes and order delectably delicious mounds of sugar??
aren't. they. amazing!?

the girls...i mean divas...had a fantastic time. i'm so glad we could help out family members in their time of need and make memories for our girls at the same time.

summer to-do list...

the girls and i are making our way through our list. here are a couple of their favorites so far...

*making popsicles...

pretty simple. capri-sun & fresh fruit.

freeze & enjoy!

*catching lightning bugs...

jaden was a bit afraid to touch them.

ashlyn wouldn't put them down.

after studying them a bit, we opened the lid and let them go...