Haven Giveaway!

<p>Hey all!! Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday! I loved reading all of your Disney comments on my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-new-love.html">last post</a>. ;) We were considering a trip around Christmas and now I’m determined more than ever to get back then! </p> <p>I’m back today with the last of our Haven Conference ticket giveaways! If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say Haven, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/haven-no-place-like-it.html">here</a> to check it out. I’ll wait. :) <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oYEGVzpa870/UbdH8MMB5kI/AAAAAAAAd2s/0m0rlu7msLo/s1600-h/banner%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="haven conference" border="0" height="204" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kctA0nI93ko/UbdH8wileGI/AAAAAAAAd20/_Q_zdBGhwu4/banner%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="haven conference" width="550" /></a></p> <p>We have ONE more ticket to give away and I’ve got it! <em>WHOO! </em></p> <p>If you’ve already bought a ticket, you are still welcome to enter – you can sell your old ticket! There are a ton of people waiting to buy one, check out our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HavenConference">Haven Facebook page</a> to find someone who may want to attend! </p> <p>If you are attending, don’t forget to add the button to your site!: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6DiKYfNtEHc/UbdH9SeU6SI/AAAAAAAAd28/5mUgNldSvd0/s1600-h/Haven-maven%25255B4%25255D.png"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="haven conference" border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bTEkRlaBGDg/UbdH9_XgGYI/AAAAAAAAd3E/ejqfpyzgWNE/Haven-maven_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="haven conference" width="150" /></a></p> <p>Can’t wait to see you all there in two short months! </p> <p>To enter, just leave a comment here! (Remember to include an email if you don’t have one attached to your account.) The giveaway will be open till this Thursday, June 13 at noon. </p>

Haven Giveaway!

Hey all!! Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday! I loved reading all of your Disney comments on my last post . ;) We were considering a trip ...

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A Few Thoughts on Camping

<div align="center"><img alt="" class="image pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/736x/b7/ef/a1/b7efa1f5495d757f1ba37da764c61b8b.jpg" style="height: 605px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 460px;" /></div>Every summer we go camping.  We have a camper, so I can't really claim to be a "hard-core" camper I guess.  We try to go out a couple of weekends, and then we have an annual 10 day trip with my husband's family. It is truly one of the highlights of our summer, with long days playing games and going for bike rides, and long nights BBQ'ing and sitting around the campfire. The kids and the adults have a great time.<br /><br />However, if you're used to certain comforts, I do have some tips to surviving the whole camping experience. I'm not a chicken - I'm not afraid of snakes, or spiders, or toads. But I do like a certain level of comfort, and I feel that in any event, one should be prepared. And camping certainly requires one to be prepared. <br /><br />You may be saying to yourself  "Oh, no.  Not me, I'll never camp".  But you should! If for no other reason, you should go camping so that you can make the following recipe around the campfire - it's from the <a href="http://www.chiquitabananas.com/banana-recipes/Camping-Bananas-recipe.aspx">Chiquita Banana</a> website, and is possibly one of the cutest camping ideas I have ever seen!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="easy Chiquita Camping Bananas Recipe" class="recipe_img photo" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_imgRecipeImage" src="http://www.chiquitabananas.com/RecipeManager/Uploads/RecipeThumbImage/camping-bananas.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" /></div><br />Leaving the peel on the banana, slice the fruit twice lengthwise to create a 1/4-inch wedge. Remove the wedge. Fill each banana with half of the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and marshmallows. Fold peel over top and wrap tightly with 2 pieces of foil. Lay bananas in coals, and cook for 10 minutes, turning once half way through. Remove from fire and let them cool before eating.<br /><br />So, now that you're in the mood for camping and sitting around the campfire, let me impart some advice. (Disclaimer: this isn't going to be a list of essential items to take with you, or survival skills you may need, or even what kind of tent to buy - it's some common-sense, "been there, done that" kind of advice.)<br /><br /><strong>Before you go:</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><em>There are a few things you should do long before you even go camping. A little preparation will help you in the long run. </em><br /><br />-  Fox Urine.   Before you go out on any adventures, be sure to spray Fox Urine around your camper.  Mice will not set up camp if they smell Fox Urine.  (It smells delightful to humans, so be sure to put a dab behind your ears.)<br /><br />- Bounce Dryer Sheets.  Nothing says "comfort", like a camper full of spiders.  Avoid them by placing dryer sheets liberally throughout the camper when it isn't in use.<br /><br />- Packing. Bring <em>LOTS</em> of clothes.  Clothes you don't mind never throwing away.  Cuz you will never wear your camping clothes again.  They will be impregnated with campfire smoke and bug spray for life.<br /><br /><strong>To bring:</strong><br /><br />- Pull ups for potty trained toddlers.  No matter how long your child has gone without wetting the bed, inevitably they will pee in their sleeping bag, and you won't have a washing machine.  Don't be a Pee Hero, bring pull ups.<br /><br />- Dog.  To make your camping trip complete bring your dog.  They generally have to be on a leash and/or tied up in campgrounds.  Hours of amusement can be had, endlessly untangling your dog from around trees or the picnic tables.<br /><br />- And don't forget your plastic grocery bags.  Picking up dog poop is always kind of a chore - but why not turn it into a treasure hunt!  Fun!<br /><br />- Clorox wipes.  Trust me, you're gonna want to disinfect the public bathrooms if you're staying at a campground.<br /><br />- Hair straightener. <em> Just joking!!! </em> It will either be so hot and humid, or so cold and damp, you will <em>NEVER</em> be able to straighten your hair.<br /><br />- Tweezers.  After several days, your eyebrows will look like giant caterpillars on your forehead.  Regardless, you're going to need the tweezers to remove ticks.  I don't care how many layers you wear, ticks will find a way to nestle right up!  It's quite sweet really.<br /><br />- Hot dogs.  They are the easiest thing to cook over a campfire.  Don't try to expand your cooking repertoire for the kids while camping...  There's no need, because your kids will love you when you serve them hot dogs for 10 straight days.<br /><br />- Bug spray.  Why is it that no matter how much bug spray you have on, or how careful you are to shut the door, you always end up with that pitched "ZzzzzzZzzzzz" in your bedroom (or camper) at 3 a.m. ?<br /><br /><strong>When you get home:</strong><br /><br />- Apply Calamine Lotion.  Works on poison ivy and bug bites.  It's always fun to spot who just got back from camping!  Their whole body will be covered in pink splotches from the calamine application.<br /><br />- Eat.  By the time you arrive home, you will have had nothing but hot dogs, marshmallows, and beer. You're going to need some healthy food and vitamins.<br /><br />(Now, go google "camping tips" and find some camping information that might actually be useful to you!)<br /><br />Even with the mention of fox urine and dog poop, this talk of camping is making me hungry for camp food. So here are a couple more quick snacks to make when you're camping. <br /><br /><strong>Camp Fire Nachos</strong><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Campfire Nachos " class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11338 imageSix" data-id="11338" height="400" src="http://myhoneysplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Campfire-Nachos.jpg" width="400" /></div>(<a href="http://cocopreme.hubpages.com/hub/vegetarian-camping-recipes">source</a>)<br /><br />Ingredients:<br /><br />Tortilla Chips<br />Can of beans or chili<br />Cheese - Use bagged Mexican style grated cheese for ease<br />Any other nacho topping you may want to add after heated - salsa, sour cream, black olives, shredded lettuce, chopped fresh tomatoes.<br /><br />The best way to fix nachos on the grill is to use aluminum foil. Pull off a long piece of foil. Fold up the edges on all sides so that the nachos will stay in place.<br />If you are going to use beans or chili, you may want to heat them in a pot first. If you don’t have a pot, the beans will warm up when you melt the nachos.<br />Spread the chips on the foil. Pour the beans or chili on top. Sprinkle on the cheese. Add any other ingredients you desire on top. Remember to bring a can opener for the beans and a knife to cut any toppings.<br />Place the nachos on the grill. When the cheese is melted and the other ingredients are warm, remove the nachos. Allow them to cool a few minutes before eating. Add any of your cold ingredients (salsa, etc.)<br /><br /><strong>Hot Dog Octopus</strong><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="hot dog octopus recipe frankfurter weiner receipt franks sausages" class="photo" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/homecooking/1/5/9/9/1/hotdogoctopus5.jpg" /></div>(<a href="http://homecooking.about.com/od/beef/ss/hdoctopussbs_5.htm">source</a>)<br /><br />Simply cut 8 "legs" in your hot dog as above. Cut a large piece of tin foil and put it on the grill over a medium flame. Put your dogs on the foil, and the legs will curl up as the hot dog heats. <br /><br /><strong>A quick reminder: Father's Day is almost here! Camping "stuff" always makes a good present. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Here are a couple of great camping gift ideas: </strong></div><br />Camping Hat (mostly just to embarrass your kids).  Big A keeps one of these sun/camping hats in the camper and breaks it out every year, to much eye-rolling and groaning from the kids. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0058YU1OI&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><br />Portable Grill. You can find them free-standing or for the table top. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0009V1BDA&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />Camping chair. Not only do we all have our own chairs for camping, we use them all year round. Most guys like the version that comes with the small cooler built into one of the arms. No need to get up and go to the big cooler, just store a few in your chair! Really does keep your soda and beer cold. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0033990ZQ&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>If you'd like to party, check out the following blogs!</em> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">SUNDAY</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://diyshowoff.com/2013/06/02/that-diy-party-19/"><span style="background-color: white; 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font-size: xx-small;">Take It On Tuesday</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><a href="http://ifitsnotbaroquedesignblog.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">If It's Not Baroque</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-131/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">My Uncommon Slice</span></a><a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-131/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> of Suburbia</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">WEDNESDAY</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=989053617&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=3245909&link=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRwcm94eS5nb29nbGUuY29tL35yL1RoZVNoYWR5UG9yY2gvfjMveUx4WmdpY3cxVkUvcm9jay1uLXNoYXJlLXdlZG5lc2RheS0zOS5odG1s&frame=1&click=0&user=0"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Rock N Share at The Shady Porch</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogshe.net/2013/04/wordless-wednesday-scientist-and-ninjago.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Wordless Wednesday at Blog She</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Wildly Original Link Party at I Gotta Create</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://familyhomeandlife.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Wow Us Wednesday at Family Home and Life</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.smartschoolhouse.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whitelightsonwednesday.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Wednesday Whatsits at White Lights on Wednesday</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greenwillowpond.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">What We Accomplished Wednesday at Green Willow Pond</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Under $100 Linky Party at Beyond the Picket Fence</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.southernlovely.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Show and Share at Southern Lovely</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Wow Me Wednesday at Gingersnap Crafts</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thediydreamer.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://acreativeprincess.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Its' a Party! at A Creative Princess</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Show Off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://creationsbykara.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Look What I Made Wednesday at Creations by Kara</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; 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font-size: xx-small;">Thrifty Thursday at Living Well Spending Less</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ahandfulofeverything.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Great Idea Thursdays at A Handful of Everything</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jannolson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Share Your Cup Party at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Hookin' Up with HOH at House of Hepworths</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://designeddecor.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; 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font-size: xx-small;">Creative Things Thursday at The Vintage Farmhouse</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Catch a Glimpse Party at A Glimpse Inside</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.52mantels.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">52 Mantels</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Creative Inspirations Linky Party at Embracing Change</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.redflycreations.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Simply Create Link Party at Redfly Creations</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2013/05/home-sweet-home-120.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">FRIDAY</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Simply Creations Link Party at My Simple Homelife</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://missmustardseed.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://redouxinteriors.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">What Have You Redone at Redoux Interiors</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted </span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Faunt It Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thecottagemarket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Junkin' Joe Vintage and Thrifty Finds at The Cottage Market</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Weekend Wrap-Up Party at Tatertots and Jello</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Shabbilicious Friday Link Party at Shabby Art Boutique</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.504main.com/2013/03/tickled-pink-136.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Tickled Pink at 504 Main</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Rustic Restorations Weekend Link Party at Homespun Happenings</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.funnypostpartumlady.org/2013/04/tgif-blog-hop-linky-party.html?m=1"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">TGIF Blog Hop</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">SATURDAY</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houseontheway.com/google-blog-hop/#comment-7766"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Google+ Blog Hop at House on the Way</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cheeriosandlattes.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Saturday Show and Tell at Cheerios and Lattes</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.net/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">A Bouquet of Talent Party at Life on Lakeshore Drive</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sixsistersstuff.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Strut Your Stuff Party at Six Sisters' Stuff</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Show and Tell Saturday at Sassy little Lady</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://too-much-time.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Get Schooled Satuday at Too Much Time on My Hands</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.foxhollowcottage.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Power of Pinterest Party at Fox Hollow Cottage</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oneshetwoshe.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Your Great Idea Party at Or So She Says</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.itsoverflowing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Overflowing with Creativity party at It's Overflowing</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gingerbreadgem.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Craft Country Cottage Party at Old Red Barn</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Saturday SHOW-licious Craft Showcase at Sew-licious</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div>

A Few Thoughts on Camping

Every summer we go camping.  We have a camper, so I can't really claim to be a "hard-core" camper I guess.  We try to go out a...

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My new love

<p>Hello all!! Happy Monday! I’ve already mentioned that I’m slowing down to my normal sloth-like pace on the blog this summer, but this also means my posting times will vary quite a bit. OK…they do anyway, but they will even more so in the summer. I’m not a good blogger that writes posts ahead and has them ready to go first thing in the morning. I wish I was. *Hangs blogging head in shame.* So things will be a little erratic, I hope you’ll hang in there with me. :) </p> <p>So. I’ve fallen in love with a new city. Well, I should say park. A big one. You all know how much <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/NYC">we love NYC</a> – it’s our favorite place on earth, other than home. But now it has some competition, named Disney. ;) </p> <p>Last week we took a very quick vacation down to Florida. And when I say quick I mean only about three days. And when I say vacation I mean VACATION – this is our first real family vacation (other than to New York) that we’ve ever taken anywhere that didn’t have something to do with work. </p> <p>I’m serious people – every trip we’ve ever been on as a family (or heck, even as a couple!) has had something to do with hubby’s work. Every. single. one. And now that <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/bittersweet.html">he’s retired</a>, we were able to carve out a few days to get away. That would have never happened in summer’s past! </p> <p>So the whole fact that we got away was so special to me, you have no idea. And the fact that my son and I (yes, I was a Disney newbie) finally got to Disney made it even more special. </p> <p>We spent our first day in Legoland actually – the Bub is Lego <strong>obsessed</strong> so we HAD to go there. I think he was more excited about that than he was Disney! We had some interesting moments with downpours and tornado warnings and taking shelter in the restrooms with everyone else in the park, but after about an hour the day turned much better and we were able to really enjoy the park without crowds – it was perfect!</p> <p>That evening we headed to our hotel at Disney and I started falling in love. We stayed at the Polynesian and it was STUNNING:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZelJdMdnVVbobUBNo6YbQh4WdOlNsACkepqSbdkAgzEDpsR7fGOTWTigdi3x7UAELl0I8AFA8RVspYLKRLKIbsb_MGhg8o7EEFMMO-sGYnhBEYLmTuHcSIRcshb8KZIPnGrseNdXSfo/s1600-h/IMG_6221%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityOC17QLuFeVszSwlh7k54MQUkUo6_1o5VFWrLwkzTUF-6o4ck9fZBZ7HfvJCfSXcuRC8plpL-olcOToSPYUR9oHcS6OxH3SLRqi7NlZ7OYZLN8BXZDgrYRz5V72dr8iYlGAxNPu1hV0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I wanted to spend about an hour taking pics but we just didn’t have time while there. I will do it next time – the grounds are just gorgeous! </p> <p>So I totally got the Disney “thing” the second we walked in to the hotel – we were greeted and escorted through the hotel to our building. The squealing started (from me) when we walked in to our room and I saw the cute little touches everywhere: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqrqFXbpd0b_VsVdFRGoCEaNh__HcR_zXwMcjSCPo6PIVyIn7gu_jxodSUhhpwyVCc5G01KcRwTsKdpocvBO8e03xlTgh8WudJfTAQgeMadxo1QCP5ZTAkFVS9QMqz1OpkyGXk0BItBU/s1600-h/IMG_6074%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgnBsJcjVZGzyjIhmjWCHgP5UkjBTu6w34GVTL0DPAH2vWd7WvfZljIB9CNLORpyBlQ58D3f15qE7XqsQbYmBeepkukOA8Cuyc4gb3OEqMhjgYlsAWVrwnb1mRz2WagBRvmqZ7U6-Xhw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>And it continued when I realized the view from our room: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGuP6zTA8me2SJUPABJJDoEkb6BhgH9s9nB3iRjoBpg7A6v_dN8lJGlB7E6JkFTJf7z_S-kMKUr9lfXPdlioP3PAOJqeegizQvnjhU8uiijbEcWrsJSdAg_iD00iP7YNf1jzo18f6aCA/s1600-h/IMG_6076%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp_rIiHYbobTl9Ej3KijXPimfiCKys9NvVRRsEVPq6u4tsxq4NJd0l13nVWls9UCixdnf3YjCKIcnTU9bpAtg8TyaEuQnjSrO0hqjGTcb740GwGe4zr5KbORWHvZ77UbkZ3ACCSUJz2Q/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I almost cried. I <strike>almost</strike> cried a few times on the trip. It was emotional to finally get there after 37 years – it made me <em>so</em> giddy and happy. </p> <p>The emotions certainly didn’t stop when we walked in to the park for the first time: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZjcY1FTIxmnXh9hOEOXG03eXZwxhLSaKUawBoBT5528yzTxj1hXZxjg-dlTVZs0zXGwrL5PHbEPu-cCe2qjSfryb2yMDBM98qjbTy2-t3RhUs1blOWfW-Mj35W77Y9A8sJC52ifA1zY/s1600-h/IMG_6083%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Main street Disney" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58MpJqbXIVmP0aqMqL0hBgjXXBI2SaI2OJgbIMhDAU3SR42AiMb1gNSMt_FGVKsADSu3q6zBi6TFy6dA1ZgnNq0b98EmrMqixvwSnDDxZsjqc0s6EcW0MklkjltwXe5lCEJEnQqQYQUg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Main street Disney" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I had an obsession with Cinderella’s castle. I could have spent an hour just walking around that one thing. </p> <p>It’s magical, of course:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TwOve_sb4SHOrFIU_7XmDMdKqVyYRMgn_KkmAnrN23r5dgRD9svp8zFKR1npKUeZUNKQYdnkDJWT1ZPdgW49Rhdlx7bKHIgilzKuatIlsIG7H0tS1nLuDnTDJhnFjOCZYtcy348EV84/s1600-h/IMG_6251%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e7GBdOO0gi8G5ClZauehlRcxdlyt-rtiPWSnuPWUHXJuyDAel8FMVxXMiq2s84Ro5-aRdtTnJez7h7AZ3pjs56DCwXas3UXIyAZMucjK76bSb8u5H9PwEmjZEQoTV4l6_3AL2KGwpK0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>So I mentioned this was a quick trip and I know so many of you experienced Disney folks are freaking out that we only spent two days at the parks. I know. But it was our only chance to get away in June (hubby is retired from teaching but so busy with other obligations already) and I didn’t want to go later in the summer when it was stupid hot, so this is what we got. </p> <p>And we took full advantage! We rode a TON of rides in the short time we were there: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHiglB0ygovja5p5zTBM7SP19aIaobOLFnHxg6SJuoXGm8CB-_Lpa1Kq-zNVcPg22U_utG_U9XBHOLNXCvKfd50nMIJiIzw8d6t1Ki4z7kqLmijynU8LtgUUWfRnENaawNK8bah4ULB0/s1600-h/IMG_6085%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cars at Disney" border="0" height="706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeCY2TYf4FJNKy2nLftXZZwn5LSulJ5Cto8kHfwO_h5IyUAZRi_LDHa1-G5IuRDruAPrAxTF2HQcLGkjAR0V5vuWDJoa0cp32sRl9iRPDSguAqXZ56kyqHSW_YpxZ85T_HkoVmpXAw7M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cars at Disney" width="477" /></a></p> <p>The Dumbo ride was one that I was especially drawn to – it just screams Disney to me: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO0ooZGx1xYnbWT_HckiUfrsPJ3Kpuv5OUIPII4BG1R90T9zyGiMzQ-NW_3d1qKUvtr3Gz8xXSkWLiws3TVLgbKs3wQxrx3M2E1gAMHm5980GVbwBDDQD4dIBRK6yp2V1xFjJZ1RFFL8/s1600-h/IMG_6104%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dumbo ride Disney" border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8EyU5qWe1Mb5x3AqeofoXekFX1EYODRvDHIvxr8DuIfDXHsHKkIH421tLO0C6GRNoX4WNWiUqoWql0rJcoQp3uzQEjhXAqE14shHpx89c3vXRYqXQIRMwPt0j2sSowB9r_UMBI6KxhQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dumbo ride Disney" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The small world ride was one of my favorites too, but Splash Mountain was our family fave hands down. SO. much. fun. </p> <p>We spent one evening in Epcot where we dined in Mexico: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECX4A2HS5OeDbsUmSRYMgIBDaG_K_MEH1AGQtznS539zsGco1myn0e2BAmZ1282UXM1aA50IMcCzuC32Ff3MQk8BFsQeP1Va4si9RBvItHvuC0cD5pfPaGpUG-zX0wehjApQbUTmfL1g/s1600-h/IMG_6114%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IXZKFK5QSVuGWKIgRK_n7OhTkaWMGGSsrYLNdjH2Ek5zfgzps40o1EQ5Q0Bv4GLldOHwvulPtI1Ni_lnwgk7etA0joyVghKRWA3aycajV0xMkNbzCyUT9NGxdKraxVzim6sVnlkri5g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIGtcjJRoRVUmjc1400HQtnXUPBTbVPYzNgWYjFWK4804UbjwXgJF5gHYQzGfm_ImKIweI8Fp6r6816qEP0SJyOw34pHYpeujTjBdXo0n8XsTOTqZUPvHYfc2X7qWFiM_iIWQwWApo9Q/s1600-h/IMG_6115%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH40rQU9-rEa_aDGYwXI9YQInHz_jpFawXXi8oj6qYI5uisAprhpLdWCu1uxxNffWJy1Q9MImkTtdD5XtZqsAYwz-m6qvRen7ZZKv1mVwqfwKkaojenwtDCwu7R9q6U52-sDGnCOZxrcE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>And it was incredible. ;) </p> <p>Hubby wanted us to stay for the Illuminations show that night, it gorgeous evening: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUr62SgJEmIv8qZthTRshmCHNKsQA_q_hC-nFSReET9xfAKqFFRumNwgNUMCRm_Qj7DN6ckjeNPY7nEW0uML3X2C2coozWaASaHmSDZ1iN1g4oYsMagcdCX8Ub91nXNU4LLUmCae8B9o/s1600-h/IMG_6133%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ajOgRjkp0rnvugUx2Bm2Il0cX_UQfViwnbcAuEh1rQok4risxXLWNq4LzpufuiTi5Qq3G5T1OpmyDd9J3P0vUxApqlqYLEoy_BN7BG2MfDg3XuRovfaGv0fclqwgfJS5XtImGvfKdqc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>The show was AWESOME, we all loved it. Although hubs said it used to be even cooler and was more of a laser light show: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18VmQs8yZoxYz3gNFbo8lGGteXjJhH_Sy0xKZTHViI90RMzJ2MD7nd1KYCssBnxYc04OzGvbDVe7ffR-O2Yp6-OLFL-vgQFXCP8vGsxorFT1kE-8rLZRZcAyfy4mhweLvfwW9XN222Kk/s1600-h/IMG_6136%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyKzuTAq3m-xbQHnTpLtU3eVs6MFOD4Mo00n_vN0QTuL8ZZf46rUK6_a4L5yQrw6NwvFWJQAtzDTH8R9wpDa1BsVodf9KhNpScC0GXewCXt3fGdQWfDo7uwIgEqRgPenbyCk2Hl0pK7A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>This view was another one of those that made me misty: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmYePZdteN5oQDKeWsQn7pXvCTUvT535m3mUZZn5u5qOediK2v5ToUrs0lCO1WY_hAYCTB1y17Rw8BWs6Eld76W51PRwYYFxs9nnb22MiBMZON_MVSTtLSx6FCbnhcm09OqvxYbJ6ah0/s1600-h/IMG_6167%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="epcot at nig" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgR6uJxx1vwavb32944902l_5L1rCpkocCn0nlxRrk2klZt1B55yqBFOP3CVsHvX5LkmjieMVg31phABS0mIqOA3cN0XqwCec8hRflISs-GZeVqtwf-Ayt65dCAOJFYM8iKKvWU9M39Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="epcot at nig" width="450" /></a></p> <p>It was an amazing trip. I totally get it now. Totally. <em>I am hooked</em>. </p> <p>I didn’t plan for our first trip like most would – I didn’t ask friends what we should do, didn’t read any blogs, didn’t make any dinner reservations. I’m the kind of person that just needs to figure it out for myself. I didn’t want us to be trying to rush to this or this “must do” while we were there, I just wanted us to experience it as <em>we</em> would. </p> <p>And we did. And it was perfect. :)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhZnoO9OFfbufJeCjEXyjNoVzq-w8rY7S_WKFTBZv-UaqIrnvjuDkue-w5gD6UThCgiuUGhGRCYgp8pwIA65jZ0FYFpprAuMvH0Rg3eJCf5F6irPY8ZiXLX7UZw3r2dnVFdFD6aQHqRM/s1600-h/IMG_6257%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mickey Mouse at Disney" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYsQS2O5lQGjRTDTn1iUb6EoTrvpVWspWkSlbeywNLdebpyx1-Ws4sFKRejR7HrWhcMzBMELgGZoTzuHfM3czC-ynvenCzGV2GgmWidLuLK1DFYTzVajMKrEbd9asVHVSZZschjbyqhQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mickey Mouse at Disney" width="450" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2rl60ku-uUJCBr9hESz51m2McoROuqOnwuhmO91CPIpBZp5oiQJ5ObknkjXvm8jjj0W9HVr9QLR5bnlZc2fDzr_p2aR2mFmBA5ibF7dda-yswzECHbnR0W1lshrnlYExiCtQVGm4ROI/s1600-h/IMG_6264%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fireworks at Disney" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zEmb8smquoMTVW9W1rf7MpgjzZGSn9N4GL4o_DrnWQnH2LfeWjK2ASGnOscBcnSXBcyx6YU9OSuBatGfFckpGOyTvq_tUgUKpj5BUfQykJ5YwDd2PXR_0fCPzvjmU750C_UyqachxCE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="fireworks at Disney" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I figured out a few things fast on this trip – here are my tips for any fellow newbies who may be going this summer: </p> <p>1. Don’t try to look cute. Just don’t. The heat/weather/splash mountain gods will laugh at you. </p> <p>2. Buy the fan with the water in it that you pass on the way into the park and think, “I’m not <em>so</em> not spending money on that!” For all that is good…<em>BUY IT</em>. </p> <p>3. Dole Whip is seriously the most amazing, beautiful, delicious thing you will ever, ever, ever eat. <strong>Ever.</strong> </p> <p>That’s just about all you need to know. :) </p> <p>We didn’t even get two full days in the parks – the last day we got slammed with this: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdRPiWeiM82f7-NwaNhHLacJRAa4xoxi3dGMycyrKGvHvNZvUyQ3dDxvfJ3sHxaMbRBQ5Y0Ysd2SDBqfN-xzO22thUAHdKtzo1PN0VFDMxZAruQDpluH0-YJeY97JORbvhKU_Wo4gL6I/s1600-h/rain%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="downpour in Disney" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWhXSUizI4sZlfIAFYeKw5FhgcCoPsfQYruVDsV8WNczzVmiASpQjeSFR788Hbjew83pycg8_2kRGxK9_OXjYKMkdUuk2Cyc10qReRrLrrc6Kljn4VY4GLgw3toUDtuCf913PA1I_Kxc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="downpour in Disney" width="450" /></a></p> <p>We waited it out for about an hour, then when it calmed down a bit we did a little more, but it was just too intense. We headed back to the hotel for a much needed nap and a great meal. </p> <p>Usually when we head home from a trip I’m ready. The only time I’m not is when we’re in New York. I felt that this time too – I was SO sad to leave. I wanted to stay for another week – and for this homebody that’s saying something: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HfrwG_n9HcnwJy8VCo1Ld7J33hcMt3nvboj3zjpazMSJjiamnRk_sgM09CSx2v8R0mStTpPUT6_NYkvn6P3fxxb4qsI7r-EfZx8-qKENfPmMwmHEIZMKP6gk_c2rxOn2qvBMaj46SxE/s1600-h/IMG_6275%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtFXE5E2Jlm9GlMif02UehSPnN4ulwGhvLbacjNJsPm3SGK_wAakXk2P7z2CitxDLG0ne2UlvTlaf8kGJYeygBc0jXrDrREy9OqQLcryU0TVYbffOjjf01Yldgd_vviAXBMoc5qilYXs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We’re already planning our next trip. Hopefully later this year. :) I cannot WAIT!!</p> <p>Are you a Disney fan? Did you feel like this after your first trip? How many times have you been? When do stop missing it? ;)</p> <p>**P.S. Early June was a <strong>great</strong> time to go – I wanted us to go at this time of year on purpose. We were there before so many schools were out for the summer, the weather was hot but not as hot as it gets in mid/late summer and we actually got a hotel discount for staying that week. The only issue was the rain – I hear it’s an especially rainy season for Florida. </p>

My new love

Hello all!! Happy Monday! I’ve already mentioned that I’m slowing down to my normal sloth-like pace on the blog this summer, but this also m...

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Our kitchen, then and now

<p>Hey all! I’ve mentioned a few times lately that this time of year makes me nostalgic about our house. We moved in (after having it built) almost exactly nine years ago and my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/no-5.html">blogging anniversary</a> was in May, so it’s been fun to see our house transform in real life and on the blog throughout the years. :) </p> <p>One of my favorite transformations in our house is in our kitchen. Years ago I did a few projects that really made a big difference in there, and none of them were hard or expensive. Of course more has changed since then -- it looks SO different to me now! </p> <p>I thought it would be fun to go back in time and then take a look at how it looks now too. I LOVE before and afters, oh yes!! </p> <p>I hand picked everything in this room (well, every room) when we built – I stressed about every aspect of the room, and years later I still like the basics. The problem was it was just SO dark and heavy feeling: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdnq8DRjP957wJeR2lwf9Oxz8B8JMyxQzDA9nlNerXW3J76L9InBthpKmzMZtU5nYMO6faAvhGFbe39ckoAj78WPCYwKGeFEjs4dQSKaZqXitW_2Ol99vt-S1wdH5OrbklUm_sbQi0IE/s1600-h/046_thumb13.jpg"><img alt="black backsplash, wood cabinets" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu-f116i_U8hT78qvduwfcl_nmamKQ84HnvJa-jpPHbY-Cs6-SwS3SBVfZdPzfil5eO2LqsHpk3HwbgPCwZMVOkSTZylBkMksaU__KiFLHsp5KfbzY02ggzELx7QkZwP-XksbM4foi9M/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="black backsplash, wood cabinets" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it was bad – my tastes just changed. I needed to brighten things up in there! The biggest culprit when it came to the dark feeling was the black tiled backsplash. </p> <p>I tried taking it off, but that was a MESS. So I went to plan B and just <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/06/beadboard-backsplash.html">covered it all with beadboard</a>. ;) </p> <p>I think it was maybe $60 or something like that? I just glued it on top and it made SUCH a huge difference in there!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKiUbcudyOvYPx3nGyaTiSLdj-4sF6TCHr6YPXeVH0pzUdTroFGc6P9EnvYiEbobUQ-hKur0gkP3TstyCDAuZVZe5nEnb5sD7SCaBKeczzC1yk6-YD7iD-MpRJGS923S3zRIC5bIndno/s1600-h/IMG_55553.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="beadboard backsplash" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ObtswjW0ZPHhJ3nLsZmWLwBCwJGLgxhfP0mfFz7rQOycVNBE6kBq1FeIDLwRDaJXjDQvnMnADqECSPVb1YG5TcV1Rh0GKWPPj8VuuIcyMV5zg0eWaTzrb-MjyFcjdScgScaCLEkU1S8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beadboard backsplash" width="450" /></a></p> <p>The walls are the same color, obviously the cabinets are too – but that white backsplash really makes a big impact!</p> <p>Here’s another shot of the old backsplash on the other side of the room: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE75loIiqWh9wVq7ezr9uagJkqlV0CF19R4c-EtkZLLCAhh6GwMWX63dMSlKM1kVcqb3ZGS5ZBxSwdG3KiXswYFb5O4uJA3TywL3Gsv4AUdfTeboqpL-8uOpVObjTPSkBUL3WT-C7ntU/s1600-h/Photo_Video_9bcc7f73d1d54ea7a3b85971%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="black backsplash, wood cabinets" border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpTgl1Yb0G6RWm3nl3E7uRlxVXMUr6wEyE5bTy65oXSUqxGJlBOCLs7kRlXS6Y7FQoUFjILM0XYDUz-IkZkTrbXXcLSHugQS6PXwuXUJmMN0nmB5PeMCLrUVL3p8V5S1rQM8KzkAjeeg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="black backsplash, wood cabinets" width="450" /></a></p> <p>By the way, yes the afters are taken with a better camera and the operator (me)knows a little more about photography now, but still – check it out!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPPrS1x1rpX1LWYiOchU88XwyDQPQnaCUWrEdyoirEYJfXfgjp4rVIjYrdHYsSzQz97PwdCI5fbQ9XTfhL2jKkrpux54BF5VOdxFHDNG1WvSlEfBYPq3b7aI7Eq-MeqW19q-SItSoQCc/s1600-h/IMG_55573.jpg"><img alt="bright kitchen, wood cabinets" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXTd3eOviNMsSE982tAPa-iV9fDRJ2Tuuc8p1wqH3dMS4-CUCCAvBQW-uLw8Aceo0-NTteOgdQ763949Gt9iIRDNcX8WPTXRopbkMl16EilOaPvUgO4Bova1mJgOiqcq_lv1rWi1H-kI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bright kitchen, wood cabinets" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Years ago when I did the backsplash we also changed out the faucet and sink. Little things when you think about a whole kitchen for sure, but they made a big impact. </p> <p>I love my sink area. It’s nothing fancy, but I have a window and lots of natural light and it makes me happy: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHyzCv0koZRPeCd5dsqzDc2uhKEe6_M5JAElALf79a7V_UhnVDjbx6BOf0awJKTb-8w6zC_rdjG__v1upq-tODpTvfeMKlRTP5E_AxoJH8AXTgG4OGLuzQcZ0bJzQK8PzzFTNBLxw1sQ/s1600-h/IMG_55743.jpg"><img alt="granite looking countertops" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC1s2O7coc71U7cwZNNPmheFqROksU9sTsk_ych67dLCemDpDV8nP5QIVeh8s0zUYbl0ve92tvA9eGu8UmoiNAbM0bUty1KYBnLx72QUG36Z6XY5MV4ra6NXLxq90zXTRr4-G3NhoDeI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="granite looking countertops" width="450" /></a></p> <p>You can read about installing the sink (it was a REALLY FUN TIME) and the name of the sink and faucet in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/kitchen-sink.html">this post</a>. </p> <p>Here’s another before shot from about three years ago – and seriously, it feels like it’s been ten since the room looked like this. For real, crazy: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy86pZ4QR59uN0rdIqOb3QUr_iBe6waNy8sV15VoEClONneKGD3N2oMZWLjS3bGAMGV010fyL6be-6ibQwdLEeBpRfAyElOx468usheCwf7ZG0w6QxVkAUkaucNQ6Ev7sBRlvqxzZnD7c/s1600-h/potrack_thumb23.jpg"><img alt="black backsplash, wood cabinets" border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbe5e72vP52liCjGifTdi2KZyG2TqJpREts64GQ7nxaNkJ-fjBmHBNCO4fS204H5dyYjgkQ-DY1gLK5njyZUW58IPrREla3QFRdJ8oLiTo4eK8QR3dDn88H_McD9MQkeZD9fP2msEA7Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="black backsplash, wood cabinets" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Excuse my notes, I was explaining my changes. ;) </p> <p>Now that same view looks like this: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSqVDPvyHeNyTVQU1wPq5H6zTaOyNMBlaMoxD3vL7Xrm_sKqQTBVwYQhyphenhyphenhzti0GW-HeVILUL9xdrQcuRkbglka7a5h7Xpvtjn4jdF6aEH-jf6x_qYsME3pevnacE-FzBuQdi2KSLIs2A/s1600-h/IMG_55503.jpg"><img alt="DIY farmhouse table" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrig4WEioOod_8MwUXW2dKhr2skkOr_BaHXGYn1776uO0Ylld-1bmtsB6jXTK9Y5DswYFN2BO4OREQ8fOAZPMqGew4ujiKMupPATQileRlE8KOVgqIhNx5vAKvUbuHoj5_IBHmXRxKqQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY farmhouse table" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Have I mentioned I luuuurve my new table? Maybe. </p> <p>Another little project that made a big impact was the kitchen island. OK, well it wasn’t little – I think it got four redos? Five? Here it is in its builder basic glory: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakrxD1nQI-mTsdD0DiM58i0-Xw7wIsBs8LjPB_xlEzZXgffCjUv-rtKlLKCAJyLDvVvf1Zgg3vX8Lvn2G_1hFjQ3z_mozWaEYJUtaBT-VLRREBsMoytlDQEA9oRe6CjKHHXi1QRM0Nkg/s1600-h/DSC03572_thumb14.jpg"><img alt="builder basic island" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtemCi7Xw9CnTOY62W30aCzBCWLQcNZtN5XKCxyYUZ1nY9nNvUKYzgnQ3r2B6VXZFepYg4RroGjZR4iwIe091JuqoigBz8uJlLLLjxPbzYzTqVd-ugMR92vOu4KBKT7pHD7zBAKV6J4yg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="builder basic island" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Awww yeah. <em>Everything</em> matched. </p> <p>By the way, so many of you ask me about my granite countertops. They’re actually laminate. ;) I may write a whole blog post just about them because I love them that much. </p> <p>Yes. You heard me. </p> <p>I love laminate. </p> <p>Ours is a granite look – you can find similar counters at the Wilsonart site <a href="http://www.wilsonart.com/dreamkitchens?utm_source=HAVEN+HOME&utm_medium=Blogger+Package&utm_campaign=WILSONART">here</a>. Now they make them in a high definition version too and those look even more like granite than ours do. We got an edge on ours that makes them look more like a solid surface too. </p> <p>But back to the island – as I said, it got a few redos, but after the last one, this is how it ended up and has stayed: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyj4ldLhWDhkshNaegMNaYBEuYTjjw9rzwjjEGkgFWN0he6lD9W7_UCiaKNSsHKTl3PVnrNMxSLm_aJyy2Qs5pmij2L420kBoELTcpI9NXF3TZjBPmizOdRMxKXTE72-RuRK_mEV3KONM/s1600-h/IMG_1061_thumb114.jpg"><img alt="beadboard kitchen island" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWrOhYOG_-9MCJORdgPD9OzLLG6FkauEW5N_pf_EYGXzyBWPuzFc8fYKt58UTxy4UZKKUqinI2ne0tAQzrVjqrcgXMKuOADwM1hadz07w2SlssvDQp3Y5SPMApVnJSR81mUa_46xtjEM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beadboard kitchen island" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Butcher block on top, beadboard and board and batten on the sides and a lighter color made a huge difference! I love our island and I’ve promised to leave it alone for a while. :) </p> <p>A few months ago I decided to change up a weird little wall we have in the kitchen and I think it adds a bit of fun and whimsy to the room: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM6PTqRkXXr8HU8FFCIkysse7ZS2voZupP9Vf9k24G-4q6U7XwqDAT9JuSMHujSbnfYKZ7h7APpfqTSJx_ipWBRGUKOydUuhAqrb1u1wBXyW3uNqBDNOUxSzOWOrxbiz_2qBXmED6h4A/s1600-h/IMG_55598.jpg"><img alt="chalkboard in kitchen" border="0" height="621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gqU2NT_x6xmLdsUTOz2xmCT2GG06sOvB-SN9ryKJP3b1ffhyphenhyphen8en8stt6l6H2ke0CJsv153awhET8LK7M89tJ4BdpA_f_w2tvl9ohABwZh_ewMgixVKV1jQzxMVqxXYXzVslZF9IvM0U/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="chalkboard in kitchen" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I always say most rooms should have something in black – I think it just grounds a space. A chalkboard wall is the perfect way to accomplish that! </p> <p>My most recent change in here is in the nook area – here’s how it looked a few years ago: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5CBrGC4io-hHm7QmjOy1QSycTWhCTdLFMPY611Az9AxtSX2xILvW3nJwUg7me4bUkG2yaeYkDDsUs-vEoOlaQnjI0Eojl3LRJ9WSzFCy8mT-zqaVLTj3D0TIe8PPOzZb8S6RTzw0C9w/s1600-h/DSC004725.jpg"><img alt="bay window kitchen" border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeosuJYSQcHL1OjSXKEwcfjVdYpDQFRAxS3HYxfjsCx9lXEe1vxZ2_3xXA102PGpK3SV6f0KW2H-Xwdxa8Z_oYA6aH5DWZrPUJlpg8b4zTc1tB60zDGBXTDCDSgLftSh8MfpYy3hQTfSU/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bay window kitchen" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Again, I’m not going to dog my “old” look and act like I didn’t love it – I did. But it changed with time like the rest of the room (and we took the big blow up pool off the deck too, gah). </p> <p>Just noticed the high chair too. Sniff. ;)</p> <p>Here it is now with the new <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/new-kitchen-nook-complete.html">light fixture</a> and the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/ikea-table-turned-farmhouse-table.html">DIY farmhouse table</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3uAx3WjXsE4EK504LfqoY2D8TWhLzb-pbVXcjUop4IZ9CJjKpeyS588aE9jEHhalpF2-clTGRpYC5zUpFVh9CIUKlvPvDI9PKEIvyjj3goxtE2ARct7fJrTKlrxlKELwWekkA81juL0/s1600-h/IMG_55613.jpg"><img alt="bay window kitchen" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2034vjA5n3bbWn12TKT4YI2HED00hw4mX1ONkUMCRhMM-JgcBcZLkKkrLIMWA-yjfroSJoZeNUIEVeYVCEFqzF7TmnE_MLvzMYezdKFs85jwlSpxnM7H8mVIWYX10FzIHT4VOQFiQAGs/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bay window kitchen" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Oh yeah, and the chairs I had been drooling over for months (just a less expensive version):</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM15PPigzi4nfaP-FUxz1K7V-crB-Bz37tUfrT16yUXJLQism4t5jaIEu8MCTbBDKcnGXNgw0_koL1Cjwga8lRVPCti75REeHIQnW813nGCbeE7mSCbYTD5HpFZFlG3H1QXZBu_V9Jwrw/s1600-h/IMG_55533.jpg"><img alt="x-back dining chairs" border="0" height="698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jmST7a9H7d4Yyc9WSA18Z9DMmPrKsSsOyIFIVihagpR31Tx7uU-D_0O3XgxRLRyWMks0mX3sEtBHNeG-kjXjrpN-KlZyvKDNuIGO9brwzupZv4jPhPWE1fveSUyZRxrkQsXkh0vtsMM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="x-back dining chairs" width="450" /></a> </p> <p>So there it is in a nutshell – years of changes in one compact little blog post. ;) </p> <p>I have been planning BIG changes in here for about two years now, but have wanted to get other projects done first. (Ahem, cough, <em>bathrooms</em>.) I could easily see this kitchen becoming my dream kitchen -- I just need to get a final word on some of the ideas I have (if they are possible), and then I’ll be diving in. I’m still not sure if it will be this year though. </p> <p>Have you been along for the changes in here all these years? Have your tastes changed a lot over the past five years or so? Blogging kind of encourages mine to happen more than the average person I’m sure, but I do love watching the transformation! </p> <p>If you have any questions on anything I didn’t mention, ask in the comments! Have a lovely weekend!</p>

Our kitchen, then and now

Hey all! I’ve mentioned a few times lately that this time of year makes me nostalgic about our house. We moved in (after having it built) al...

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DIY Craftsman Garage Door

<p>So…yet again I’m blogging about project that I procrastinated on for <strike>weeks </strike>months and it only took 30 minutes or so to do. Seriously, this sat in the back of my SUV for forever! And with dark fast approaching last night we got it done in no time at all – after all that waiting. </p> <p>Here’s the thing…we live in a suburban neighborhood. And I LOVE it. Someday would it be nice to live on more land? Maybe. But for now, with a young one, this is great for us. </p> <p>But just like the inside, I try to do little things to the outside to change up the appearance a bit, so it doesn’t look just like everybody else’s house on the street. OK, there are no houses that look just like ours on our street, but you get what I’m laying down. </p> <p>I like a little detail, a little somethin’. And I found it while browsing Home Depot a few <strike>weeks</strike> months ago. Here’s our garage door as it was: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99I7g6HQu2c4hu2rCYtIFdFY9sZkrt2ksnZrE1WKkG8ZGG6lP0mCA4OVAM33CRMbOPS_1HBhJ9a_oaWizUpA347jvnWSyOMlG28sHzxP8oQ30h0aPjAyOJx-vz2mjb4IC4TTPnqCC-24/s1600-h/IMG_5672%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY craftsman door hardware" border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyuVPWXv9zkrfYAf06MBDGxSC-WzznisMpdZGOtn4IuxnBOWl-FgSs1rAmjyx9SICf28LuHR30pe-rju1V0Z3VKIGCaSfapxCuyP5TlKvgrs_DGRHeCvr5WeiOF-cvzJ-YoK6CNuSBeo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY craftsman door hardware" width="550" /></a></p> <p>Boring. Really, it’s fine – it’s been boring for nine years and I haven’t cared. But over the past year or so I’ve been wanting to spruce it up a bit. I may paint it a different color eventually (I was thinking BLUE! Kidding.) but for now this quick change made me happy. :)</p> <p>Anyhoo, this is what I found for only $10 -- I snatched it up!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfxjZYYoHuKQQizgWadnlyFi0Kd8605jldQo3FHfVo2DvzxEGJ1aGyobcdMaPJk9x6qVLyhix1BvT7xV-GQIo-xfJ_kOSkufRz1yaP-mq_KlY0JvPgZeBlx6VFb8SvIV3ECOp6CM8lmk/s1600-h/IMG_5676%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY craftsman door hardware" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRXeXEVxJw2pdh1qFLvVA1_D8qRHndVwounnSF6lKjwIicdwKlhjpPpnuEcOKsSFXpdbyPZuIyTbO_kcZdvYEFRshG-YzuDSvLl-N_TMZ5DDx496C-dhrQFN8-dLcOwq0SSE0YKKtHno/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY craftsman door hardware" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I love the look of craftsman/carriage door hardware – LOVE. I’ve been thinking of adding this type of hardware for a long time. It helps that this totally works with the exterior of our house too. It’s very much a cottage-type look and I knew this would look great! You can get a set online for as little as $25 but that’s the lowest I’ve seen a one till now -- $10 was a steal!</p> <p>At first I was going to tape them up to see how I liked them, but the tape wasn’t holding, so I just said WHAT THE HECK and drilled them in. <em>Schnikeys.</em> That was stressful.</p> <p>I mean, <strong>holes</strong> in the garage door people! That stresses. me. out. And while I was installing them my assistant, AKA, the kiddo, kept laughing and calling them mustaches on the garage. </p> <p>?? Mustaches? </p> <p>They are really decent quality – heavy metal and I liked that the screws even came with black ends to match: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWDs8JmAUTI1bUQxle_WLq-AS5jK71zMKZCSWlXMt8YLAJKi6XwiMHGCTfxZoYXrlIan2u-AXPwD-WqIlqVGjp7ie3wQDHPuy5ufSKc8cYUmkCrkKp5sdY4rqTPqscS53uiJxvitvpPs/s1600-h/IMG_5678%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY carriage door hardware" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV26WqeWkOBkIOQzXWhYk7O4MFQVxyZFMBi9yMLSTfKCzOvuBldTGJePxe8g467RXNNfoiOI5VEj8yml6PF8lLWIo95k6CIdKTJy84XFdS_eTzf46WeYpISNSGBXTiNVYh8E14T7WBjM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY carriage door hardware" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I added the handles in the middle and was still stressing about drilling and <em>then</em> the Bub said the garage door now had mustaches and a nose. Still don’t get the mustaches. Still not funny while Mama was sweating. </p> <p>I stood back and looked and I REALLY loved it!!:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgal30JhbIIBkh7jQXJBoyz2wDo2JnTiRUzJJnJUnbZc1DJbWk9xu0G2ap1-5BJc3am6bQw2GBFnHdtQYuLrnVXuC73tGTprVLvhOTjzX0j2kwDj3TsBtWMBHNKANokYF8J-3ECUfgM7k8/s1600-h/IMG_5688%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY carriage door hardware" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA3rRcfqoEpQG2mH7yio_jQ7U2hojHDUUPFowMmdyq0xJIBfcd-cVrzxg82wNtW2t5hw6nhuwmF4uiaAs7k7MYs3efKTrEVEPoIRl6-XqcOD9F3Og34kiOBk6p4jBb3r2uRBwAYZCMfU/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY carriage door hardware" width="550" /></a></p> <p>WHY does our driveway look blue? It’s not blue. </p> <p>Now for a real craftsman/carriage door look we need the windows across the top. I’ve seen that you can do that yourself with paint or purchase some vinyl – when they’re done it really does look like real windows. We’re not that far away from the street though, so I don’t know if it would just look super fake. I may try cutting some black vinyl just to see how it looks. </p> <p>For now I’m quite happy with the little change. It’s not something you’d notice driving by, but you’d notice something was a little different, you know?: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDfpVCSmwH68epyFmTZByFNsND-QBbzshGU8szG-zyMkc11MwNsySqK99A8p80vyKPpkmlCvYvQyxn-ou7UNdFgGvo1hzzxD5UqJRQFMqFuUWW3_dwG9EA3L7g_nlxRhdcPL7b_Yw0gg/s1600-h/IMG_5683%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY carriage door hardware" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6Ft6-i0g5cBGtx0LTv060Sv-nMGdBTS6xONOyc-EpYaIYNMtOzAioozLueV2nW0yd2qeuFSQARajj-s7n0NxDp_NnqZDeeMdhk3rLXqzxEVjzV8VUMyALN1nmt3gxnCMKJmfhYukN0o/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY carriage door hardware" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I love the new garage door mustaches and nose! I think they’re adorable! </p> <p>I love a simple and inexpensive little change! Have you tried changing up something on your garage door? Added hardware or painted it? Anyone tried those faux windows? Do tell! </p>

DIY Craftsman Garage Door

So…yet again I’m blogging about project that I procrastinated on for weeks months and it only took 30 minutes or so to do. Seriously, this s...

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Father's Day Ideas

My father and husband agree on everything. One of the big things they agree on is that for Father's Day, they should be left alone - no kids, and no wives. A pizza and a pile of chicken wings... Hilarious, right?  <br /><br />Well, we all know that's not gonna happen! The kids, my mom and sister and I will be around to annoy them <br /><span style="font-size: large;">all </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">day </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">long.</span> <br /><br />However, to soften the blow, I've done a little cyber-shopping, looking for some Father's Day ideas. I also did a little thinking about what we are going to eat. <br /><br />Dude Food is definitely a must. (I would be so happy if my husband came home and was dying for smoked salmon with chili corn fritters, but that's about as likely to happen as him being alone on Father's Day.) So, to keep the guys happy, the best I can offer is BBQ. <br /><br />My hubby happens to love brisket, so I'm gonna try this great looking BBQ sauce recipe. Looks like this sauce would be good on any grilled meat. No fancy salads, no champagne cream sauces. Just corn on the cob and salt potatoes, and I think both my Dad and Hubby will be happy. <br /><br /><strong>Black Coffee BBQ Sauce</strong>: <br /><br /><strong><img alt="Black Coffee Barbecue Sauce. Photo by Boomette" class="smallPageImage photo" id="i257833" itemprop="image" src="http://food.sndimg.com/img/recipes/66/large/picknLY3c.jpg" title="Black Coffee Barbecue Sauce. Photo by Boomette" /></strong><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Source </span><a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/black-coffee-barbecue-sauce-66"><span style="font-size: x-small;">food.com.</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">)</span> <br /><strong></strong><br />Hopefully thrilled with a big BBQ, the guys will be even happier when we shower them with gifts. Every dad should have something home made from the little ones, so our little guy is going to draw a couple of pictures for his Daddy and his Pop, and using the link below we are going to make t-shirts! Isn't that the cutest idea?<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76KLWNbZ7QMTACH1gBfz88KyCqAC5o8hc1P68riIkYuvftKY1H03weDHT53SXdo9s0ivjzA7PhmNK-8E-7qEMDxYu_HNOGAJzCYiH0xpKX-OA0AxwGXJE-mQye5y3qp_2rIhxnZZxJGw/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76KLWNbZ7QMTACH1gBfz88KyCqAC5o8hc1P68riIkYuvftKY1H03weDHT53SXdo9s0ivjzA7PhmNK-8E-7qEMDxYu_HNOGAJzCYiH0xpKX-OA0AxwGXJE-mQye5y3qp_2rIhxnZZxJGw/s640/DSC_0119.JPG" width="640" /></a></strong><br /><a href="http://www.iammommahearmeroar.net/2011/06/fathers-day-gift-for-grandpa.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #649321; font-size: x-small;">Child Art Shirt</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> from I Am Momma Hear Me Roar</span><br /><strong></strong><br />The older kids like to shop, rather than be roped into another DIY project. But it's difficult to <em>buy</em> gifts for my Dad and husband because they both have a lot of stuff. This year I'm trying to think of gifts to make life a little easier. They may not be the most romantic gifts, but I'm pretty sure the guys will think they're cool. I'm not sure what I'll end up buying, but here are a few items on my radar. <br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Car Wash Vouchers</strong>. As my hubby says "A clean truck is a happy truck".  Is it just my Dad and my husband who are obsessed with washing cars? <br /><br /><strong>A Hammock</strong>. To escape to some far corner of the yard.  They have hammocks that hang from the trees, or that can be moved anywhere in the yard.  They have hammocks for couples.  Hammocks to take camping, and hammocks that keeps bugs out. The hammock below is the #1 selling hammock, because it's sturdy, it's comfortable, <em>AND</em> it comes with a carrying bag, so you can take it with you camping !<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004YJCP7O&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><br /><br /><strong>Gorilla Garden Cart</strong>. These carts are super handy around the yard and they're way easier to maneuver than a wheelbarrow! I love how you can move the handle and hook it up to the tractor to pull it. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00B0C683K&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><br /><strong>Frog Toggs Chilly Pad</strong>.  Just wet, drape around your neck, and stay cool (even though it looks silly, who cares!).<br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001BZK8S2&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br /><strong>Headphones with hearing protection for ipod</strong>.  Let's him listen to music, not the mower! These are a little more expensive but they do block out the outside noises. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001HVC8QU&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>A Pocket Chainsaw. </strong>This looks ridiculous (to me), but according to close to 300 reviewers this works well. Apparently, you can saw through a 6" branch in just a couple of minutes. If you have a guy who likes to camp or snowmobile, it could come in handy. Plus it's much easier to remove an offensive branch of a tree then a hand saw. <br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fymoho-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002EDAUO2&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />So that's what I've got so far. If I do a good job, maybe the Dads will want us around next year! If not, we aren't offended, it gives us joy just annoying them! <br /><br />So what are you going to make for the Dads in your life? Have you got any good gift ideas for your awesome Dads? I would love to hear them!

Father's Day Ideas

My father and husband agree on everything. One of the big things they agree on is that for Father's Day, they should be left alone - no ...

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June Before and After Party!

<p>Hello all and happy summer to you!! First of all, thank you so very much for the lovely comments on <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/bittersweet.html">my last post</a>! We had a fantastic celebration this weekend and kicked off the new chapter right. What’s funny is I think my husband may be almost as busy “retired” as he was teaching – he’s got so many projects and organizations he’ll be working with. It’s already started! </p> <p>It’s time for the June Before and After Party, already! I’ll just tell you now that June means summer (duh) and summer means I turn into a sloth. It’s true. I sleep in, take lots of naps, take lots of time away from the computer…so bear with me. I’ll probably go down to three posts a week, maybe even this week. We’ll see. </p> <p>I was SO stinking impressed with all the links last month! I was seriously in awe and it was hard to stop with the highlights. They are were all awesome, here’s just a few that caught my eye!</p> <p>Rachel’s home was beautiful before but now it’s simply stunning: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LxCaF9hlkmlWl3zuj-IwV0oLKAb32sXfr9eGADQfxpA_v_X_PjXsDgIOyCFerx2wlhjlVx_aCxzWPcidwTn_8T8BNxBKFSsObmyMM_amZlgfIGGUV34xhqszOLIeS_VOeECqIxAfdUE/s1600-h/AddisonExterior3.jpg"><img alt="painted colonial" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRuRjjtxwhlmCai33H8elVWnOVZvBJ7bfvCIgeAg-ktgI18t5sGHVOo3zy1bMc8LjDgrMTjl4LI6KoYMvgGfxsEWBQedaYrM1Y071GNEH7pMx51SO1K8yyQGhBDv6cahiw1mEd8Dtp-Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="painted colonial" width="550" /></a></p> <p>I DIE! I love it! Just lovely. Go <a href="http://www.maisondepax.com/2013/03/curb-appeal.html">here</a> to see more on the transformation and the landscaping! </p> <p>I have seen a lot of paint swatch art but Fabrizia’s was <a href="http://fabtwigs.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-paint-chip-art.html">the coolest so far</a>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7KerrD8Q8KuSIfUC35HX-Ph50W3swUxWUqZA2RkuCJpkc69LSpXD0ct9ZVl-pG1XT98NVLtNylgpeLHTJuetb9XV_rk2IwFOfYosyE1QheawEu7fvg4lynSUpItR3sZkx94vS-lUpXY/s1600-h/marthaart14.jpg"><img alt="paint chip art" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWsvEvGzyACicIKT3s5gSfvBWxt1NlSX-mpz_9RPu8y9-aZEgmK9dVIdyntyuRuw731qQZWeFmxJLIyQ_t1xSGoRzNqSaUyakmQmsujvoWpsTZDc3E4UKKVLKYp4zJ1hBM9ySM7kfJ2Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="paint chip art" width="500" /></a> </p> <p>She said it didn’t take long and it makes such an impact! Art is usually so expensive – this is just the opposite!</p> <p>OH my goodness, I was <em>drooling</em> over <a href="http://www.goldenboysandme.com/2013/04/master-bathroom-with-pedestal-tub-white.html">Courtney’s bathroom redo</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGNt4JQxM182F3z8OMlczqMf3e8sIyjUEFBJ_zhb-hAZD20XOQNYnB6FnU_gF3JkGPZ-wJsc6KoFS1zRFm1au-SdE4uPiSbLpS930fU8OzLTAsLkWbY5hjrV8DYjEcRGP_hlEPdmJF5w/s1600-h/affrunti2blog5.png"><img alt="white marble bathroom" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFb09jIbz4uEiH1tG01em9k1NjhCAnnO23WSpXZ0hbxkW0Kb1gkyTjHqPoTJ1pR5XSDJIgDlq72_WmfLog_bCmAA1MbcfqBBmH0RNyzeC5I1kknBxd2BNH4ewe-Go3TA8Et75wy6NH89c/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white marble bathroom" width="550" /></a></p> <p>Just…seriously? Awesome. They DIY’d this too! Totally impressed. </p> <p>Rebecca took a cast off piece of furniture and gave it a FUN color: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bmEpfwuA-5U/UaynJ6ZvgbI/AAAAAAAAdqQ/bdERXWJL6P4/s1600-h/hutch14.jpg"><img alt="yellow cabinet redo" border="0" height="679" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uROZV62Ixjg/UaynM6BLRXI/AAAAAAAAdqY/PbIskrJtXA0/hutch1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="yellow cabinet redo" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I don’t if I’d be brave enough for yellow but <a href="http://www.olderandwisor.com/2013/05/like-sunshine-in-morning-hutch-makeover.html">it is perfect in her home</a>! She <strong>always</strong> rocks it. </p> <p>I love how Brandi took an older sofa (that is perfectly nice and comfy) and made it <a href="http://bet1975.blogspot.com/2013/04/updated-sofa-with-pillows.html">look so different with modern pillows</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xV426XHwi-c/UaynNZLQNhI/AAAAAAAAdqg/tPwKURGIuZw/s1600-h/0125.jpg"><img alt="blue yellow modern pillows" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-peefAZ1V5Xw/UaynNz_a4cI/AAAAAAAAdqo/Utr4Nu5fG_g/012_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="blue yellow modern pillows" width="550" /></a></p> <p>I love EVERY single pillow – what a great combo! She mixed patterns perfectly. </p> <p>Cindy is pretty much an awesome mom – she helped her kids <a href="http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-kids-kitchen-before-and-afters.html">paint their kitchen cabinets</a> and it turned out SO GOOD!:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9mqWPQQ_GBg/UaynOP-V6ZI/AAAAAAAAdqw/UN0P88fKYPE/s1600-h/248128_985660871122_290481083_n4.jpg"><img alt="two tone gray white cabinets" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5DgA5B5Jbko/UaynOtJriVI/AAAAAAAAdq4/iBe5ef2Y04I/248128_985660871122_290481083_n_thum.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="two tone gray white cabinets" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I am digging the two colors – it is so modern and fresh! Want to come to my house next Cindy??</p> <p>Kammy created a <a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/02/toris-big-girl-room-reveal-before-and.html">beautiful room for her daughter</a> – all the details are just lovely:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-75bz7rzweQk/UaynPBBJrAI/AAAAAAAAdrA/lS6etwQisgE/s1600-h/IMG_05344.jpg"><img alt="stenciled floor" border="0" height="801" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ipuRnZEG_hY/UaynPnpA74I/AAAAAAAAdrI/Y9gm4ZOj0TM/IMG_0534_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="stenciled floor" width="450" /></a></p> <p>That floor is especially amazing, isn’t it? </p> <p>And the last one, but I could have kept going! I loved the kitchen over at <a href="http://createbakecelebrate.blogspot.com/2013/05/celebrate-house-tour-kitchen-dining-nook.html">Create Bake Celebrate</a> – especially this armoire and the stone backsplash:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RVTdLaroZtw/UaynQClbILI/AAAAAAAAdrQ/YZu9sC5uRI8/s1600-h/photo4144.jpg"><img alt="x cabinets in kitchen" border="0" height="374" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sdf43GX_WMA/UaynQsxTB5I/AAAAAAAAdrY/r-gvjGr970E/photo414_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="x cabinets in kitchen" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I have an obsession with anything x’d lately. Love that cabinet!</p> <p>Now it’s time to see what you were up to in May! Like always, please add a link to TDC or this button (copy and paste the code) to your post to be considered for the round up post next month: </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px" align="center"><a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7326" height="225" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" title="beforeAndAfterButton_thumb[1]" width="146" /></a></div> <pre style="border-bottom: #cccccc 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-bottom: 10px; margin: auto; padding-left: 10px; width: 90%; padding-right: 10px; display: block; white-space: pre-wrap; background: #f0f0f0; height: 45px; color: #777777; font-size: 90%; overflow: auto; border-top: #cccccc 1px solid; border-right: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-top: 10px"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/" title="TDC Before and After" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" alt="TDC Before and After" style="border:none;" /></a></div></pre><br /><br /><p>Now it’s time to link up! The party will be open for a week, have fun! I’m off to take a nap! </p><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=280728"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->

June Before and After Party!

Hello all and happy summer to you!! First of all, thank you so very much for the lovely comments on my last post ! We had a fantastic celebr...

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