Good Old Summertime!

I absolutely LOVE summertime. I love the sunshine, flip flops, pool days, lazy mornings, homemade ice cream and snow cones, and I love the 4th of July! 

The front porch looks so cheerful all dressed up in red, white, and blue. I've even managed to keep a few plants alive - go me! 

I'm too lazy to make a new wreath for each season, so I just jab seasonal stuff into this same wreath for every holiday. LOL! I like it with the little flags and summer flowers. 

We always enjoy our backyard patio in the summer. The vintage glider has been in our family for many many years, and I just love it - this year it's aqua blue, my favorite color! But it's been known to change colors from year to year... ;) 

The fun pineapple pillow cover was in our last box from Gable Lane Crates, doesn't it look so summery?

I'll letcha in on a little secret, Walmart has the galvanized metal trays on sale for $5 - that's a deal! I got a round one and a rectangle one, and there's so many things you can do with them. 

 I hope all you lovelies have a beautiful and safe holiday.

Happy Independence Day, and God Bless America! 

Christmas on the Porch

The porch may look a little hodge podge this year, because I tried to use things I already had on hand, or things that I found extra cheap. 

Lucky for me, the flea market style is in right now. ;)

I hit Big Lots up on their black Friday sale, and scored these cute plaid blankets for $3 each. I love how throwing a blanket on something is like adding instant shot of cozy. 

The pillows are from my Etsy shop, The Parsonage Queen.

 I wanted a big ole sign on the porch, but didn't want to spend a lot of cash, so I snooped around in my hubby's stash of old wood in the backyard, and found this board. It was perfect - exactly what I was looking for. I painted some simple letters and, bam. I had my sign. Cost - $0.00 (Yay!)

The buffalo check pillow is from Hobby Lobby - I fell in love with it!

If I had a dozen pairs of old skates, I'd use every one of them. They look cute anywhere! I found these at Goodwill years ago.

So what I said about using stuff I already had? Yeah, I meant that. I even snatched my 4 year old's rain boots and stuck them out there. Hey, it works. ;) The urns that the trees were in seemed out of place with the other more rustic things, so I searched the house and found various "pots" to use instead. My favorite is the vintage ice cream maker bucket - that mint green color is my fave! 

I made the wreath with a sign and a few sled ornaments that I found at Big Lots. And of course, I had to add a touch of plaid with the ribbon!

I didn't spend much money at all, but yet, I love how it all came together. Sometimes the best things are things you already have. You just have to think outside the box, and re purpose things. Then you end up with something original and unique - and you still have some cash in your pocket! 

Happy October!

It's been getting much cooler around here lately, so I figured I may as well toss all my dead summer plants and just make peace with the end of summer. I was waiting for a clear day to take pics of the porch and finally gave up. It has rained and rained and rained some more. I took these in a drizzle. 

I kept everything neutral, it just seems calming somehow. I love soft colors. 

 I made the burlap wreath last year, and I've used it a lot - it's so versatile, and goes with any season. (I love decor like that!)

I mixed some real pumpkins with painted plastic ones. 

I got the chalkboard from Kirklands last year. It's really been a fun thing to have out there! 

Now I just want to sit out here and eat pumpkin spice everything! 

Pedal Your Blues Away....

So I realize this isn't our typical kind of redo project, 

and it's totally random...

but I've been seeing tons of gorgeous photos on Pinterest of vintage bicycles with baskets of flowers, all gussied up in shades of mint and aqua, and I go nuts for them every time. I haven't ridden a bike in years, but I wanted one anyway. Because they're just so CUTE!

 I found this little gem at a thrift shop for less than 10 bucks. It had seen better days, for certain.

After a little TLC, and a coat of Rustoleum Ocean Mist spray paint, she looks ready for a cruise on the beach. 

And I just gotta say, Ocean Mist is the yummiest mint color - it's perfect!

Won't she make the most adorable photo prop??