New "Dancing" Shoes

Found these last night on an unplanned visit to the Gap.  All their sale was 40% off.

Which made these minty darlings a grand $8.40.

Hurrah for cheap, cute, comfy! new shoes 
{that make you feel like dancing all through the day}

Why Are These Children So Happy?

 Well, you can just barely see the reason reflected in the glass door.

 

Their daddy really knows how to ham it up and make his kiddos smile.

 Presently brainstorming happy rewards to coax Daddy into assisting with more picture taking efforts.
 

Because when he's done, they're done. :)

Lovely Somethings for the Kitchen

 A couple new things just arrived for my little kitchen.

 It all started with this.  My Anthropologie "membership" card. You need to sign up for one of these quick-quick.

 

Because on your birthday they will send you this: 15% off your total purchase.

{(which they still let me use even though my b-day was in Feb}

 

Then my sweetheart let me stop at the store on the end of our lovely anniversary getaway.

 {yes, I married a good man}

But they didn't have the dishcloth I was wishing for in stock,  so they shipped it to me for free.

And here she is.

This bottle of soap perfection, which I have be wishing for for over a year now came with her.

 

Funny how these two new things made me so eager and happy to make my kitchen nice and tidy today.

So there's a first peek at my kitchen.

You can see more of our little home {HERE}

And today's post is {HERE}

{Linking to Bowl Full of Lemons, Just a Girl, Tatertots & Jello & Lollipops}

Going to the Chapel

My mother got married on Saturday.

It was a lovely, simple affair.  Originally the plan was for me to take the pictures,

but at the last minute we realized that it was going to be a bit much to manage kiddos and be a guest and her daughter and take the pictures.  So we got a friend to be the official photographer.  I'm so glad.  I ended up taking these few and then neglected my camera entirely for most the evening.  I do wish that I got some of the reception Sister and I and her "Handy Andy" had much fun decorating.  Oh well - surely they got some.

Me and my impossibly lovely mum.

Some little ring-bearers and a flower girl.

Much congratulations and blessings to the sweet couple.

{Linking to Life Made Lovely}

Pretty Wallpaper in Tiny Places

 Love the way wallpaper makes this little laundry room feel so special

{the lantern and wire-front cabinets don't hurt ;)}

And thinking about how one of these pretty prints would be so fun in a little nook, wall, hallway, room in my home.
 

And thinking very hard how a roll of this could fit into my budget.... just one roll for a small space.

{Source} 

Thinking it would look quite nice on this wall...

This is for sale on Etsy. So sweet.

 And this is very pricy loveliness from Anthropolgie.

 

Hmmm. Fun to think and hope a little. 

Music Nook Tweaks

I told you I was going to get those frames up quick-quick so here they are in my little music "nook".

 This little piano belonged to my memaw who didn't really play but got this piano and took lessons early in her marriage in a earnest attempt to be the pianist she thought
"good pastor's wife" should be.  My papa paid for my piano lessons through my school years.  Regrettably, I was never a very disciplined student, but I'm very glad to know enough to be able to sit and play some hymns every now and then.

And here's what used to hang above the piano.  Not terrible, but just a tad boring.  And the picture at the top is so small it just looks like a big bush unless you get close up.

 

So here it is now, after a couple new nail holes and some erratic tweaking late last night. 
{and a tad better lighting}

 

 What tweaking have you been up to lately?


{Linking to Remodelholic, Funky Junk Interiors & Just a Girl}

Bitten by the Thrifting Bug

I've dabbled in thrift stores in the past - very sporadic and usually half-hearted visits. However, the past three Saturday mornings I've loaded up my three kiddos and headed for our local thrift store.  It's official - I've been bitten by the thrifting bug.  I'm not sure how long the fever will last (probably when the cold weather returns!), but for now my heart goes pitter-pat at the thought of next Saturday morning and the lovely something I just might happen upon.

Here are some of my latest finds.

{Globe on Stand - $8}

{Footed Iron Stone Bowl $3}

love.

{Framed Print $3}

hanging this quick-quick

{Old Suitcase $7}

can't wait to use this for photo shoots

{Lovely Green Frame $3}

so many lovely possibilities: book pages...chalkboard...chicken wire

{Old Lidded Jar - $2}

like the extra-largeness of this one

What about you - have you been bitten?

{Linking to Lollipops & Southern Hospitality}

Celebrating with Cupcakes

 As a last minute effort to have some festive dessert for the Fourth I threw together The Pioneer Woman's Flag Cake batter (though I guess she says it's actually Barefoot Contessa's) and made it into cupcakes because 1) I didn't have enough fruit to make the flag design and 2) Cupcakes are fun and 3) We couldn't possibly celebrate Fourth of July without some yummy sweetness.

The recipe made about 24 large cupcakes.

I also made the cream cheese frosting, but halved it as it as the whole recipe makes a TON.  Even for the cake (when I've made it in the past) it seemed a bit excessive - which says a lot coming from me, because the frosting is without a doubt the best part of any cake in my humble opinion.

Hope you all had a happy Fourth - and that you got a little yummy food before the day was over. :)

{Linking to Life Made Lovely}

 

Here Comes the Parade

 This morning we started our Fourth of July off with the PARADE!

 

We did lots of pointing.
 

And gazing.

A little loving...aww. 

 And lots of smiling.

 

 Now we're rather hot and cranky and down for naps.  :)  Hope your Fourth is getting off to a grand start, too!

And don't forget to whip up a Summer Dream Tart - it's not too late!