Imperfect Home Tour: Joy's Room

I love making my house a home.  If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know this about me--it's my hobby and like any hobby it takes work.  I'm no interior designer--though I aspired to be one early on in college.  That being said, I also took a few courses on the route to becoming a dental hygienist, too.  So, yeah, I'm no more an interior designer than I am a dental hygienist.  Decorating is fun for me; I break many of the "rules" and fake it a lot!  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love the book UNDECORATE.  Y'all seriously need to get a copy if you don't already own one.  It's so encouraging and has helped me embrace my home--imperfections and all!

All of that to say, I'm going to show you the good, the bad, the not so good, and the not so bad around my home.  Not every room in my house is "done", but frankly, it'll never be done.  It's constantly changing and evolving as our needs/likes/wants change.  

Every gal likes a home tour, right?  Raise your hand if you like MLS listings.  When I visit other blogs, the HOME TOUR tab is typically the first link I click on.   I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff! 

First stop on this tour:  Joy's Room

Hope you enjoyed looking around my baby's nursery.  This room will be changing quite a bit as Joy grows and develops.

INFO wall color: Valspar Baby Blush bedding: Etsy shop wall decal: Etsy shop most of the wall items came from antique/thrift stores TO DO lower her mattress; she's getting gutsy! WISH new flooring *There are things that I would love to do but are just not in the financial realm at this point.  I decorate on a very tight budget.  That's another thing that makes my hobby fun--hunting for steals and items that can be made beautiful.  New flooring is a wish that won't be possible for some time.  A girl can dream. ********** I hope y'all enjoyed this first post in my IMPERFECT home tour series.  I'll be back next week to take you on a tour of another room in our ever-changing home!

Sunday Pics

We have never had the privilege of living in the same town as our extended family.  Actually, that's the main reason why this ole' blog got its start.  In 2007, I had just become a mom for the first time and our sweet Ava Grace was the first grandchild for both sides of the family.  Most of my posts were all about AG.  As technology progressed, I began to share more and more through texting.  Each Sunday, for at least three years but maybe even longer, I have taken a pic of my girls and sent it out to all of our extended family.  It's the traditional Sunday Pic as we like to call it.  

It's been a while since I shared some Sunday Pics on the blog.  Here are some I've taken since January:

There is nothing to these pics--just a poorly shot iPhone pic before we rush out the door. We're always running late on Sunday! The one constant is my little girls decked out for church and looking adorable!

This week's Sunday Pic

Oh! I can't end this post without sharing some old Sunday Pics...

They grow too fast! Too fast, I tell ya!

I'm nostalgic and these pics fill my need to preserve memories and capture my growing and changing little girls!  I hope we can keep them up for a long time!  Maybe my girls will pass the tradition on to their families--probably using some new-fangled camera or whatever! :)

Mini-Vacay

This weekend, we went on a little mini-vacay to DFW.  The girls always love staying in a hotel and going out to eat a bunch!  We all do! Here are a few pics from our trip...

Fort Worth Zoo

Being the end of the school year, there were a lot of school kids at the zoo!  On the plus side, the weather was nice and most of the animals were out and about!

JoJo's first time to the zoo

Friday, we went to Six Flags.  Every single teenager in the state of Texas got the memo to come that day.  Regardless, we had a blast and the lines weren't so bad. 

First thing after entering the park, the girls got their faces painted.  I swear the paint changed their personalities!!  They strutted around Six Flags like they owned the place!

Side note:  Edy kept referring to her face-paint as "paint-face".  By the end of the weekend that new term was concrete in our vocabulary.  So cute!

Wonder Woman and Supergirl on a mission!

Their capes gave them an even greater confidence boost!   

When we got back to the hotel, Graham had bath-duty.  After baths, I glanced over to see both girls still sporting their "paint-face".  They have their daddy wrapped around their little fingers, don't they?

We had a wonderful time.  Thanks Aunt Ann and Aunt Dorothy for the memories!

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Don't forget about tomorrow's link-up!  I will post one more time this afternoon with a few more details.  Remember, anything goes...ahem...not anything! You know what I mean! Basically, you can post What You Wish!

You can get to know the other hostesses for this link-up by clicking on their blog buttons located on my sidebar!  I hope you will join us!

Another year...

...of memories, stories, ups/downs, growing pains, learning, laughter, tears, sorrows, and joys.  

I've never celebrated a birthday without a cake--like ever.  When I married Graham, he carried on the tradition of getting me a cake each year.  Does that mean I'm spoiled?  Don't answer that! This year, my cake was FABULOUS!!!  A Strawberry and Cream Nothing Bundt Cake.  So TASTY!

Story time:

As I said in an earlier post, we went to Six Flags for the weekend.  After a long day in the park, I was tired and ready to go home.  As I was making the long trek to the car, I heard a few distant voices say, "Mam". I didn't think much about it and kept on trucking.  After all, they couldn't be referring to me!  But then I heard it again--louder this time.  I kept walking.  Finally after a third time, I turned around to see four teenage girls smiling at me and holding up a phone.  "Mam, would you please take a picture of us?"  I smiled, but secretly felt that I was beginning to look my age.  Boy, oh boy!

picturesque 

and...reality!

I'm thankful for another year.  The Lord has been gracious to me in a lot of ways this year...as always.  He's continued to instruct me, mold me, and discipline me.  He's definitely been patient with me.  I'm praying that this year would be another defining year for me spiritually--that I'd continue to grow in godliness through Bible intake, prayer, meditation on his Word, scripture memory, worship, service and give all the glory to the One who created me. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."  Matthew 7:7 

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What You Wish Wednesday is fast approaching.  Remember, you can link-up anything you wish.  It's a simple link-up party geared to connecting folks and sharing our blogs.  Please join us this Wednesday for our first party.  Check out the hostesses blogs too:  Stasia @ Our Life on a Budget, Melissa @ Simply Sweet Melissa, and Nikki @ Nikki's Nacs.  

Simple Dessert: Dump Cake

I don't share recipes too often because I don't consider myself worthy of cooking posts; however, this recipe is a must-have in your file.  I've been making it for years and it never gets old.  When I say people go crazy over it, I ain't exaggerating.  They love the stuff and so do I!

What you'll need:

9X13 baking dish, Duncan Hines: Butter Golden cake mix, a small bag of chopped walnuts, one stick of butter, one large cherry pie filling, and one large can of crushed pineapple.

Here's how the cake gets its name, you just start dumping in the ingredients...

Dump the pie filling and crushed pineapple right into the dish. No need to dirty up another bowl and no draining necessary.

Sprinkle {or dump} the dry cake mix on top of the pie filling/pineapples.  I typically use about 3/4 of the cake mix.

Cut your butter into pads and lay them on top of the cake mix.

Sprinkle the walnuts on top of the butter.  Of course the nuts are optional, but why leave them out!? They get so crunchy and yummy with that butter goodness baking into every bite!

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. It's so yummy!  Enjoy!

Mother's Day

I had a fantastic Mother's Day!!  Not only did I get spoiled with a new computer, but Graham and the girls took me to a fabulous brunch at Jul's in Tyler.  It was simply outstanding.  I didn't want to get full! :) Y'all know what I mean?  The food was that good!

 the three beauties that made me a momma

What a difference a year makes...

 Joy was 6 days old last Mother's Day.

Also, I wanted to share some old pics of my momma and me...

Love you, Mom!

Five on Friday

I'm back with a weekly update with the girls from Five on Friday.  Here goes...

[ONE]

Did you see my post about my awesome Mother's Day/Birthday/Anniversary gift?  Check it out HERE.  I'm lost as can be, but I'll get there.  After years and years on a PC I've made the switch to a Mac.  It's going to take a lot of work and time, but I'll get there!  I'm actually meeting up with a friend this afternoon for a little crash course!

[TWO] Joy is ONE!  We had a wonderful time at our baby's first birthday.  Theme of the party:  A little bird told me...It's Your Birthday!  For more pics and details about her big day, click HERE.  

[THREE]
We've had some nice weather...

park and picnic with the girls

[FOUR]

It never fails, each and every year I come home with some plants/flowers--hopeful and optimistic.  Each time, Graham looks at me with his little smirk and says something like, "Really?  Gonna try this again?"  

two weeks post potting

What am I doing wrong?  I read the instructions.  BLACK THUMB!

[FIVE]
Have y'all seen BERNIE?  It's a hysterical movie based on true events which took place right here in East Texas. A few of the actors/extras are people I run into at Walmart from time to time.

Anyway...the real-life Bernie has been released from prison! It's crazy!!!  You can read more about it HERE.

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Y'all have a fantastic weekend.  Don't forget to leave me some tips to learning a Mac after using a PC forever!