All The Reasons I Love Summer

watermelon

camping

fireworks

having a blast in the pool

sleeping in

staying up late

tan little bodies and white little bums
sandcastles

lemonade

beach
family vacation
learning to swim

playing sweet home alabama on the front porch

running through the sprinklers

barbecues in the backyard
napping in card board tents

going barefoot
popiscles
more popiscles
riding your bike in your pj's

dishes piled up in the sink..... and who cares!

sunsets

reading
riding a wave with your brother

oh how I love summers!

hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am!

Grateful for~

Summers and all that comes with it!

Sharing at~

Savvy Southern Style

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The Sign that brought some comfort

Ever since that phone call at 10:01 pm on March 20th, my heart has not been the same. It longs and aches for my beautiful niece who I will never see again..... on earth. 
And in the midst of my sorrow there is some comfort. For that I am grateful.
Comfort in a sign......... and in friendship.

For years this has always been a favorite song and every time I hear it, it speaks to me and my heart. Little did I know that one day I would be listening to this song being sung at my nieces funeral by a dear family friend, as I sat there broken hearted and completely devastated.
Seeing those lyrics brings me to tears, but yet brings me some comfort.

Wanting to bring my sister an ounce of this comfort during this unimaginable time in her life, I decided to order the sign for her with plans to hand deliver it when I went to Florida last week. It just felt right wanting to be there as she opened it instead of it being delivered to her and opening it alone.
Unfortunately due to schedules, I would not get the sign I ordered in time. Terribly disappointed and upset I called a friend to talk about it and share the updates of my sign order.

It was during that conversation of healing that she also brought me comfort (she does that for me) ...... much comfort. See, this friend of mine who lives four or maybe five states away was willing to drive and meet me halfway to give me something. Something that would stop my tears from sadness and disappointment, and at the same time would create tears of joy in memory and honor . My friend has the same sign and she was was willing to give me hers. 

It was an act of such love and generosity that has touched so many hearts and that will never be forgotten by me or my sister.....just like my beautiful niece.

Grateful for~ 

This friend and other friends who bring me comfort when I most need it in my life.

Sharing~

Between Naps on the Porch

Uncommon Designs

Savvy Southern Style

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The Best Part Of Waking Up.......

So tell me, what's the best  part of your morning?

Would you say it’s hearing someone say good morning... or maybe it’s saying good morning to someone else?

Is it getting out of bed first to wake the family?

Is it to kiss your kids when they awake and open their eyes for the first time that day?

Is it hitting the snooze button over and over, before you realize you need to get up?

Maybe it is looking out the window to take a peek at the beautiful sunrise.

If you are into fitness, maybe it is a quick jog around the track, working out at the gym or a walk in the park with the family pet?

Perhaps it is reading the daily paper to catch up on the news.  It could be eating a healthy breakfast instead of that chocolate filled donut that you really want.

Or maybe if it’s a little like mine, it’s the chance for just a few precious moments to sit at my table and be thankful for another day... to read…to journal... to think about the day's busy schedule… am I picking the kids up from school or is my husband? ... Think about getting the dogs groomed… schedule a dentist appointment for the kids ... remind my husband to fix the front pasture fence… remembering to pick up the dry cleaning… stop at the store for some bananas and milk… all while drinking some coffee and listening to some music to get my day going.  

My daily ritual that I just love, really helps to shape my day, and my family's. You know what they say, “If mama’s not happy, nobody’s happy.” And it shouldn’t surprise you that music and coffee are now helping to shape young peoples' lives as well by supporting musical creativity. 

Even though my children are young I can see how music is shaping their lives just as my morning ritual shapes my day.  From the music we listen to while in the car, to music activities in their school, to the music and sounds in the house, it is all shaping their creativity for their future.

And I would say that’s a ritual worth having in their life.

Folgers asked me to write about my morning rituals and tell you all about the jingle contest they are having! Take a look at the Folgers® Jingle Contest Finalists, and listen to the tracks that earned them a spot in The Top 10. Cast your vote once every day through June 19th. You could win exciting prizes, like free Folgers Coffee, iTunes® gift cards, signed CDs from Gavin DeGraw, and even a $10,000 Grand Prize just for voting! Before you vote, follow the Road to the Jingle on Facebook to see how they traveled the U.S. to track down the Top 10 contestants! Remember, you can vote once a day through June 19th! Click here for official rules.

PS- This is a sponsored post from Folgers but the things I think about sitting at my table, drinking coffee  before I get my day going ....are just mine. 
PPS- I really want that chocolate filled donut!

Grateful for~

Those few precious moments every morning 

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I miss the flowers but not the heat!

Happy Saturday!  This weekend I am in South Florida loving on my precious family.  I use to live in South Florida many years ago, but got out before it got hot...really hot. I guess that's why everyone has one of these....

The one thing though that I always miss about South Florida( besides my family) are the plants and flowers. Tropical bliss every time, regardless of the time of year....and heat.

It's funny that a true Floridian will "grab a sweater" when the temps dip down past 80 degrees. No sweaters this weekend though, temps are suppose to be in the 90's and perfect for a little of this.....

Regardless of the temperature wherever you are today, I truly hope you make the most of the day and enjoy it with the people that you love! 

Grateful for~

To be able to share beautiful memories of my niece with my family and her friends.

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It's Much More Then Just a Haircut

You know when that moment hits you. 

You decide to do something that you have wanted to do

 for some time. 

Something important, something special.

You arrive for your appointment. You sit in the chair.

There's no turning back.

Your smock is on, you feel the scissors on your hair and

 in a split second.........

it's over.  Your hair falls to the floor. All 10.25  inches of it. 

You sit there happy, confident and proud. 

Unable to contain your emotions, a slight tear runs 

down your cheek. 

 After all this time you can finally cross this wish off 

your bucket list. 

#118. Donate Hair to Locks of Love

You see, this post really isn't about my haircut, 

it's about so much more.

 It's about finding purpose, meaning and making a difference.

 The haircut was my difference and my ability to donate the hair to such a wonderful cause is my purpose. 

Typically, I am not one to take self portraits in the car( parked) on the way home from the hairdresser and post them on my blog. 

 My posts are usually about a project, a household tip or a craft. 

Usually it's a funny story about my simple little country life, my dogs, pony, donkey's, fish and my wonderful family that

 I love dearly. 

But today it's different. 

Today I show you my hair as a way to inspire you to give back, have meaning and to
 make a difference.

 Our family's recent tragedy has reinforced the simple truths of life. That you must love every minute of your life, everyday.

 Love what you are doing and love the people that surround you.

Today, I am not asking you to run right out and get a cute new haircut. I am asking you though, to love your wonderful life, love what you are doing and to begin crossing off those wishes on your bucket list........  

What are you waiting for? 

What things are you doing in your life to make a positive and meaningful difference for yourself and for others?

PS-no more cheesy self portraits. I promise!

Grateful for~

The chance to give back.

Sharing at:
Savvy Southern Style

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My Heart is Broken

I wanted to let you know that my family experienced a tragic loss late last week. My twin sisters daughter Jessica who was 22 years old, died from injuries sustained in a car accident. These have been the hardest days of my life and my grief and sadness is just so overwhelming .

 

I want to truly thank those who have offered prayers to me to my my family. The amount of support and prayer has been so comforting and such a blessing. I ask that you continue to pray for us and in particular my sister, my brother-in law and Jessica's sister as they get through this very, very difficult time.

I hope to share more with you about this beautiful soul that was taken from us way to soon, when I return next week. Until then, hug those around you a bit more then you did yesterday!

Forget about the Pumpkins, I want Apples!

I think my fondest memory of fall as a child growing up in the North, was going to the local Apple Orchard to pick apples.

 I remember just standing there, silent and in awe at the endless rows of trees covered with shiny red apples, ready to be picked.

Moving South later in my childhood, the occurrences of apple pickin stop, with only those special memories to hold on to. This year I am paying homage to those fall memories with a 'Apple Scape' on my Mantel .

My sign was actually created out of 3 pine boards that I recycled from the shop.  I applied coats of brown and then orange paint. Applied some vinyl stencils that I cut from my silhouette and then applied a final coat in cream color. Once dry, I removed the letters and sanded down the boards to allow the brown and orange to peek through.

I placed some apples in a bushel basket lined with some burlap next to the sign for some extra whimsy. 

It's such a perfect way to recall those sweet memories and makes me feel like a child again, if only for an apple moment!

 What's your favorite fall memory from your childhood?

sharing with:

Between Naps On The Porch
Tip Junkie
Cozy Little House
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
The Vintage Farmhouse
Censational Girl
Fox Hollow Cottage

It's My Sister's Birthday!

It's my sisters birthday today, and I always struggle on getting her the perfect gift. 

 She's a wonderful person who just happens to love little blue boxes

      

Boxes that symbolize love and friendship

Boxes that represent the best qualities that a person can have

Boxes that contain wishes and hope for herself and those around her

And boxes that contain chocolate and lots of it!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful twin sister!

PS. sorry it's chocolate and not Tiffany Silver

I am really happy for you...really

The other day as I was reading how Christina at No.29 picked up this up Ballard's mirror on the side of the road

I thought to myself, hmmm, maybe I can be so lucky and find something so wonderful, beautiful and free.

 I wouldn't mind finding one of these beauties on the

 side of my road

source

That would make me happy,

or one of these would be super cool

source

Or, I would be over the moon thrilled if I found this

source

But no, instead I found these

Wait... look, there's 2. How awesome is that!

  Anybody need a mattress? I would be happy to share my roadside treasure. I will even deliver it to you.

What  junk treasure have you found on the side of your road?

Note: Unfortunately living in the country has it's disadvantages, one of them being the above which was taken on the way to drive my son to school. People see country roads as a way to dump used, nasty, old mattress's and their dogs . I don't get it.