Back Door Facelift

Two years ago when we moved into our little house the back door was all scratched up from the lock being replaced. We had every intention of replacing the door with a nice six-panel door, but here it still hangs. Making it worse, the dear hubby tried to make it better without having to replace the door by touching up the scratches.... BUT he spot painted it with the wrong white paint. So then it was a two white toned ugly door! 

Since we were having Lilli's party at our house and the main event was in the kitchen where this ugly door hung I needed a quick fix. I have been wanting to paint a chalk-board wall somewhere in my house, so I thought, why not make it on the door. I used painters tape to make the boarder just to fancy it up a little bit. As I was painting  I was getting pretty nervous about a black door in my kitchen, but I LOVE how it turned out! It is so functional and despite the fact that it is black and stands out, it is really a fun addition to our house! 

I forgot to take a picture of the before, but here is how it turned out:

Lilli is TWO!

Part II: The Celebration!

I was trying to keep this a small party because Lilli had a big 1st birthday, I still however, wanted to make it special and fun! Cupcakes seem to be all the rage these days, and who doesn't like a cupcake? So that was my over all theme, it was on the invite, mini cupcakes, napkin/utinsil holder and favor bags. Not to mention the seven flavors of actual cupcakes. Yes, I was baking for quite awhile! It was really fun to plan it all out. Every evening for a couple hours I would turn my bedroom into party central. This is the final result....

"The Cupcake Bar"

Coconut Cupcakes

Strawberry Cupcakes

Martha Stewart's Banana Cupcakes with Honey Cinnamon Frosting

I also made Boston Cream Cupcakes, Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes, Yellow and Chocolate mini Cupcakes!

The welcome banner. Made from paper, ribbon, and a glue gun.

Cupcake and candy table cards in front of each cupcake flavor and candy glass.

I wanted to incorporate the pictures of Lilli somewhere so I found these frames for a dollar apiece and then "doctored them up" with green ribbon. Then I placed them around the cupcake bar.

While searching the web for cute ideas I stumbled accross this idea on sweet paul.

Since it there were more adults than children I thought this game would be fun. Basically you give everyone a piece of paper and a pen. Next, tell them they have 10 seconds to start to draw Lilli before I call time and they pass the drawing to the person to the right. For the next 1o seconds they have to take that persons drawing and complete what they can to make it look like beautiful Lillias. Repeat every 10 seconds until the original drawing they started with is back to each person. They turned out lovely huh!?!?

Lilli is TWO!

Part I: The Two-Year-Old Photo Shoot

In a few previous posts I have mentioned my little photography hobby, so I decided that I would set up my own back drop/props and hopefully get a few cute shots...

Step one pick a theme: Cupcakes

I am not a huge fan of props but since I wanted a specific theme I deviated from my no prop usual. Janie and Jack is one of my favorite stores and it just so happened that they had a cupcake line! Yay! So the Outfit/Hair bands are from that oh so fabulous store.

The set up: Backdrop

Cream Blanket draped over the couch. A spare of the moment thought that really helped the pictures turn out.

Props:

I got the cupcake book with the outfit at Janie and Jack and then to keep her occupied I ran and got her some spatulas that just so happend to be the colors I wanted to use anyway. Bonus! Love it when things fall into place!!

I was SO lucky that some of these turned out, because she gave me about five good minutes TOTAL.

Here are some of my favorites:

Love this girl!

Wednesday Favorites

FAVORITE Recently Seen Movies

fAVORITE aNIMATED mOVIE:

Wall-E

I know this came out a while ago but I just stumbled across it, and it is so CUTE! I laughed so much and there was a little bit of a love story so that always gets me.

fAVORITE lOVE sTORY:

Time Traveler's Wife

This is a movie I have been anticipating for AWHILE. Usually movies that I am this excited to see do not live up to my expectations. This movie, however, exceeded my expectations. So Good! Get ready to see some unnecessary bum action though.

I guess I'm a sucker for a good love story (even if it is two robots:)

A Week of Favorites!

MONDAY Favorites: Clothes and Shoes

I look forward to summer all winter/spring long, then once it finally turns warm here in Ohio they start filling the shelves with cute FALL clothes and shoes. So, I have started early (which I might regret because they will probably all go on sale before I can wear them... oh well.)

fAVORITE dRESS:

Leading Lady Dress from Down East Basics

I love it in the olive green color, but they were sold out by the time I went to buy one. So I got it in grey. Still really cute!

fAVORITE lOUNGE sHIRT:

French Terry Tie-Neck Pullover from J Crew

A sweatshirt makeover!

fAVORITE sWEATER:

Collegiate Sweater from Down East Basics

Again, I didn't get this color, but by choice this time. I got it in gray & cream.

fAVORITE sHIRT:

On the Dot Top by... any guesses?? Down East Basics!

I have this same shirt from earlier in the season in olive & cream and really love it! In fact it has been my favorite shirt this summer.

fAVORITE sHOES/bOOT:

UGG Cardy Boot. My sisters BEST friend has these boots and I loved the way they looked. Trendy for a UGG boot!

Ok, so everything I bought was gray... Not on purpose, just worked out that way. Guess I'll just have to find some colorful accessories =)

And you can probably guess my two favorite shops? Down East Basics & J Crew!

Deep Thoughts...

Do you ever feel like the reality of life hits all at once, and you remember that life is a blessing. A while back I posted about a really bad accident that happened right by our house where someone had to be life flighted. I couldn’t stop thinking about the people involved in the accident and how their lives would be forever changed, if they survived. Lately a couple things have happened that have made me stop and reflect on life and how it can change so quickly. Deaths, marriages, and an old friend that out of nowhere has just been diagnosed with a rare blood disease and the prognosis is not so great. For me, it seems like my happiness is held together by one big event to the next. I forget to stop and appreciate the little moments that separate the larger events. My goal from today on is to start to notice and be grateful for the not so huge moments in my life, but those that I am so blessed to have.

FunFILLED Saturday!

The theme of yesterday was "How much can you do in ONE afternoon/evening... with a almost 2 year old?" Well, turns out a lot!

First stop, Easton. Where I went to the new BURBERRY Store!!!

Can I just say that if I could spend all day in there trying on coats and bags and everything lovely! They even have a baby section! I also stopped in at J Crew where I found a shirt that I really loved and when I took it up to buy it, a shirt I was prepared to pay $34.00, it rang up $7.99! Lets just say that the hubby was much more pleased about the purchased after that!

Next on the list was the Gallery Hop in the Short North. I have to admit that I was not to excited about this event. It is crowded and Lilli doesn't stay in a stroller anymore so it just did not sound to appealing... But it was really fun! Lilli did not stay in her stroller, but Shawn was good about watching her as I went into all the cute boutiques. Here are some of our stops.

Substance is a really great boutique, where I found a cute new handbag!

We also found a lady selling random things on the street who was playing ABBA on her stereo, so of course Lilli had to stop and dance...

While we were dancing, we noticed that she was selling this cute old little rocking chair, just Lillias size. $20 later we now have it sitting on our patio.

Had to throw this next picture in the mix of the morning after all our adventures because it is just so cute! Daddy let mommy sleep in, and this is what happened while I was still dreaming...

Yuppers she picked a good one!

I'm a little late writing about this... but it has been my one of my favorite shows this summer. Jillian is such a cute bachelorette, not the perfect tall skinny blonde chic, as she said herself. My favorite two guys made it to the final two and up until the last show I couldn't decide who I would choose for her (not that my opinion matters :)) In the end I thought she made the PERFECT choice, Ed is so cute with her! Every interview I see with them, they seem so in love and HAPPY!

If you have some free time I stumbled across a blog that she wrote after each show, check it out

HERE.

In the above picture of Jillian she is wearing a cute necklace that can be found HERE. Even better, win one HERE! But hurry, the giveaway ends tonight at midnight!

I lOvE NeW yOrK

Not sure when my obsession with New York City started or why... BUT, it has always been the city I long to live in! Yes, it can be dirty and busy and expensive and not always to kid/stroller friendly, however, I would love to live in this apartment in the BIG city! Shawn's on board, now we just have to sell our house, our rental properties, sell most of our stuff, OH AND GET JOBS.

Alright, well looks like Ohio will most likely be my home for some time to come, but hold your breath NY I'll get there some day!

Happy 31st Birthday!

My hubby (who is much older;)) has a birthday tomorrow. I threw together a little family party for him yesterday where he received this gift from Lillias and me. I am not such a huge fan of his electric guitar, so I thought an acoustic guitar was the perfect gift! He plays by ear, and not so frequently anymore, making this even more amazing! So, without further introduction here is MY/OUR song...

Actually the song is by Built to Spill, "The Weather." It was the song we played for our first song at our wedding. I loved it when I first heard it and every time I hear the song I remember falling for Shawn the Summer of 03.

Here are a few more shots of the event...

The kiddos doing the chicken dance! It was a wild party what can I tell ya!

Decor LOVE

A while back I posted a picture of a room that I was admiring, posted on a blog that has become a daily read for me. Madebygrl creates the LOVE framed posters and sells them in her Etsy store. While I would also love to have the dresser in the picture I found the equally Lovely LOVE poster a little more affordable at $28.00 (after shipping). I want to frame it and put it in my bedroom, now I just need to find the perfect frame and worthy wall space...

Obsessed!

We had a wonderful 4th filled with family, friends, fireworks and FOOD! I think I am still full! On a different note...

A couple weeks ago I stood in line at 7 am to get the new iPhone, now this is not like me. Pulling my sleeping child out of bed to go into the rainy weather is not something I love to do... but the reward was SO worth the trouble! If you can fall in love with a piece of technology I have fallen hard. It is the one worldly possession that I would be crushed if I lost it. I call it, IT, because to call it a phone doesn't do it justice. The thing does everything! SO fun!

My favorite Apps so far:

- Facebook

- Weather Channel

- E!

- Map Quest

- Sally's Spa (game)

Any App suggestions??

Progress Report

My Summer Cleaning Helpers....

Thursday Blog Finds + Operation Summer Clean

So, friends, it is Thursday once again! The summer weeks are flying by, we are spending a lot of time by the pool and outside in general. Last week for "Thursday Blog Finds" I got a comment from Heather of the coterie. I loved what I found on her site!

From her site I stumbled to DESIGN IS MINE, another really great blog. Check them out, you won't regret it =)

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Twice a year I try to do a major house clean before I get all the carpets cleaned... There is just something about getting the carpets cleaned that makes everything feel better! So, it is that time of year again, fun fun! Literally I do love to clean and organize. The only problem is that I have an almost 2 year old who makes it nearly impossible to achieve the cleaned to perfection home I so desire. I thought that maybe if I made a list I could make it a little more manageable. Once each of these to do's are crossed off I can make the call and have my, oh so in need, carpets cleaned!

wISH mE a hAPPY cLEANING!

Happy Father's Day!

Like Mother's Day we had dinner at our house for my parents and Shawn's mom. The only father present for ALL the food was my dad, because one of our tenants in our rental properties had an emergency door issue, which took Shawn for the whole day. Steve, Shawn's dad, was out of town. All in all it was still a great time and nice to be the one to host a dinner and give my parents and mother-in-law a break!

While I was getting the grill ready a friend hopped over to visit Lillias and Me, and who can resist a frog this tiny and cute! So we made a little home for him until Grandma and Grandpa came over (about 20 mins later). I tried not to let Lilli hold the container too long because as you can see she didn't hold it too steady. I'm sure it was very excited to go back home after that entrapment! Poor thing!

Isn't he cute! Our little "hop, hop" as Lilli called him.

She didn't shake the container, but he did do a couple flips...

The dinner spread:

- Chicken, green pepper, onion, and mushroom kabobs

-Salad with all the goodies

-Fruit platter

-Pasta Salad -- via Judy

-Sour cream potatoes -- via Sharon

-Lemonade

AND for desert a yummy, chocolate fudge cake! via Costco

I have been on the hunt for place mats for, well a long time... and can never find ones I like, that will go with many different themes and are WASHABLE! So my new solution is cute paper napkins. These on the table today were from Target, I bought the larger size for the actual placemat (black and white pokadots). Opened up they are 13 x 13, which is smaller than a placemat but still do the trick. Then, I got coordinating napkins to use as the actual dinner napkins (red n' white stripe). Together it makes a cute place

setting!