Graduation

My little brother graduated college this weekend. Seems like just yesterday he was starting out!  Now he's on to bigger and better things-his second internship with Purina and grad school to get his CPA (full ride, not to brag or anything :0)

Proud parents.  Quote from Dad: "He's off the payroll!"

Happy couple.  Both on to grad school next year.  A Speechie (perhaps we should go into business?!) and a CPA, in training of course.

Proud grandparents happy to attend another grandchild's graduation.

Lots of tears from this gal.  Waterworks were plentiful!

I cannot get my computer to turn my long pictures from my phone right-side-up, but I wanted to put this in anyways.

Bookcase Staging Update

It seems like I've been working on getting the right "feel" for our new built-ins for ages!  Finally I'm to the point where I think I might add a few things here and there, but overall I'm digging the placement of most everything.

Here's the whole shot.  The pictures and green vases next to the tv are still subject to move (I'm still looking for somewhere for them to go!)

Notice any overarching trends here? Eric has so much airplane stuff and we didn't really have a place for prior to the bookcase project.  This seemed to be a good landing place for them. (Get it, landing? I crack myself up)

The texture of these vases is really doing it for me recently.  I can't decide if I think they are more golf ball or beehive-esque.  I've also decided I'm going to paint my "M" gold because I like the contrast of the gold lantern on the other side.

End of the Year Student Favors

Good morning everyone!

Blogger has been giving me problems uploading my pictures lately, so I apologize for my lack of posts.  Hopefully this one doesn't give me any trouble.

Today is my last evening with my SNAP (private school) kiddos.  I'm going to miss those little nuggets so much!  Thanks to Pinterest, I combined a couple cute ideas to come up with this going-away favor.  

In case you can't see it, the note reads "Hope you have a Kool summer! Can't wait to see you s'more next year!"

S'more (golden graham bar) and Kool (kool aid)-get it?!

Thank goodness there are only 7 of them!

Peanut, Peanut Butter [and Jelly!]

This weekend I finally got around to some cooking projects that I'd been meaning to try.  They all turned out to be fairly easy, especially with time savers like the crock pot and food processor.  

First up, homemade marinara.  The recipe I used was taken from Budget Bytes [courtesy of Pinterest.]  The only change I made was not adding the brown sugar.  I'm going to freeze most of the sauce but I also see spaghetti and fresh meatballs in our distant future!

While the marinara was cooking away in my slow cooker, I tried my hand at peanut butter.  WHO KNEW IT COULD BE SO EASY!?!?!?  I combined a couple different recipes from here and also here.

All I used was 2 cups of unsalted roasted peanuts, a little less than 1/4 cup of honey, and about a table spoon of maple syrup.

  

Let me tell you, this stuff is AMAZING! 

I'm not sure I'll ever buy peanut butter again.  I can't wait for my peanut butter-holic husband to try it!

Alas, I forgot to photograph the last recipe I made so I'll just have to share tomorrow!

Drapes Decision

I've got a West Elm 30% off coupon that's burning a hole in my pocket, so I'm considering getting my man cave drapes.  Here's what I'm considering.

Leafy Print

Scribble Print

Tali Print

It also needs to go with this rug:

What do you think?  Do you like any of those or should I keep looking?

Friday Finds

Have I mentioned that I have an affinity for black & white geometics? And the lime/springy green?

Well I do.  It's nothing new.

Here are some recent newbs that I scored for on the cheap.

1. Ten dolla oogly lamps are finally dunzo!

 

Oogly lamps + Rustoleum green spray paint + Target lamp shades = lamps that give my dining room a pleasant pop of color!

2. Cheap, modern rug from Tar-get for the kitchen

Happy Friday and stay safe East coast! Our tornadoes are headed your way.

Trim Trim Cherie Trim Trim Cha Roo

After quite a hiatus, which I explained here I'm ready to update the masses on the trim update to the [former] man cave.

 

[Please remember that I do not have a fancy camera or mad photographer skills.  These are all via cellular.]

 

 

By no means am I saying things are done, but I love how trim makes the room feel so much more finished.

  

 

For those of you keeping track from my Man Cave To Do Post here's where we stand:

• Built-in's
• New furniture
• Flooring & trim
• Bold Rug
• Geometric drapes
• Style the built-ins

Stay tuned! Now that spring is here I'm feeling energized to DIY and decorate again!