Countryfolk

Yep, this is a rusty old bed spring tied to the back of the 4-wheeler. Let's say it together, ready? Hillbilly!

We are country folk now. This is how we country folk down here in southern Illinois grade the dirt and get it ready for the next step that is grass! Woohoo!

We picked up the bed springs for 1 whole dollar at an auction this past weekend. If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw some of the pretties at the auction. This bed spring was a sweet surprise... Let me tell you. Best dollar we ever spent..at an auction. Also you should have seen us strapping it to the top of the car!!

Under this strategically spread out bale of straw, lies (hopefully) little bits of plush light green grass. This is our test spot out front. 

Since our dirt is more claylike than dirt like, we spread lime first. Lime from like, the garden department, not lime from the fruit and veggie aisle! 

If the grass doesn't grow nice and thick we will have to try something else...like maybe stinky fertilizer. We will see.

Any grass growing tips? 

Any readers #countryfolk like us?

Don't worry, later this week I will share the real goodies from Sunday's auction. Really good stuff!

Just in case you aren't sure what to buy me... Summer wants..

My birthday is coming up real quick. And although birthdays are not as exciting and party-girl as they used to be...I am looking forward to the 28th year and all it will bring.

If you have been scouring the internet and the shopping malls trying to decide what to buy me, worry no more...


1. Sperrys. I just love a boat shoe, they are so darn cute. A little pricey, but I hear they are super comfy.

I wear a size 7.5...



2. A cute cookbook a.k.a ipad holder for all the baking and cooking I plan to do as a 28-year-old.

Source

3. Give me a dutch oven.
Ok go ahead, giggle just like my sister does when I say it. But I want one! Think of all the delish foods I can make in this. And bonus..it is Fiesta brand to match my dishes!

Source

4. IPhone
You Guys. I have the Iphone already... But it is the Iphone 3GS! Do they even make that anymore?
I've had it for over 3 years. I think that is pretty dang good run for a phone, especially an iphone! Plus, my power button and my volume button both fell off last month!

5. Pots
I am getting old and I just want to plant stuff. I like these from the HD. I want a few large planters for the back deck with some pretty flowers.

Source

6.  Patio furniture. We really want patio furniture & of course I have expensive taste and like the sectionals the best. So, we have been watching for sales...but I will take this as a birthday gift if anyone wants to be super generous...
(*cough* husband *cough*)

From Target

7.  LUSH products
I love the Dream Cream and my tub is almost empty!

Lush source

Do you have a birthday coming up? What is on your list? I might want to add it to mine! :)
What are you doing all weekend? Happy Friday!

Fashionably Late: Planting Succulents

Just like Gabbi @ RetroRanchReno, I am late to the succulent planting party. I’d just like to think I am fashionably late! 

I picked up a few itty bitty succulents when I visited the gorgeous Hornbaker’s Gardens in Princeton, IL with my momma this past weekend. We need a little bit of green added in our home.

Itty bitty succulents

Blogger confession time: I did not get my dad's green thumb, so I have to resort to fake houseplants. Wait--- I did used to have an Ikea bamboo plant. Until one night a friend snacked on it in the wee hours of a keg party we hosted—then urged me to Google “is bamboo poisonous to humans?". He lived. The plant did not.

But succulents only require a minimum amount of care. Just a spritz spritz here and a spritz spritz there once or twice a week.  That, I can handle. I think.
I showed the plants to Adam and explained that this time, these plants would live--pending anymore keg parties. Adam kindly picked up a bag of potting soil on his trip to Menards.

I started out with these 2 blue cream & sugar cups my cousin Jill thrifted for me. I also grabbed piece of milk glass out of my china cabinet.

First, I put a handful of gravel rocks from our driveway at the bottom of each one.

And then just repotted the succulents; adding potting soil.

But, being a plant potting novice, I misjudged the amount of room in the containers I would have for planting. So I marched down to the basement to look through a crap load of boxes that still need to be unpacked for something that could hold my itty bitty succulents. I found this old Prince Albert can that came from a pick my parents’ house.

Perfect!

On this one I added a special touch of some artificial moss and a little baby deer I snagged at Hornbaker’s for 99 cents. It just adds to the cute factor.

Now they all have new homes in different parts of the house.

On the mantel next to Great Aunt Katie's pitcher.

 Let's hope I can keep these succulent babies alive!


What kind of planters do you have your house plants in? 
Do you have a green thumb? What tips do you have for me!?

Workin' it.

Well, Happy Friday to you friends!!

You can find me (and a bunch of other chic ladies!) workin' it here today!

Dream Kitchen! With Electrolux Suite Design

One of the most exciting and important parts of planning and building our home was designing the kitchen. The kitchen is the center of the home when we have friends over, each evening after work, and surely on weekends. We are cooking in it, cleaning in it, or just hanging out in our kitchen. We spend a lot of time there. It was important for us to have a pretty, yet functional kitchen. Appliances play a huge role in this!


One of the newest and I think smartest trends these days is the built-in look. It gives your home a custom look and is easy to do. Electrolux offers a collection of counter-depth refrigerators designed to achieve that look. This is an option we wanted with our kitchen design. The built-in look of appliances makes our layout more appealing and adds room and easy access.

The key to creating a stylish yet functional kitchen is embracing the art of “Suite Design,” selecting beautiful appliances that complement one another and your kitchen – for example the Electrolux matching suites of appliances. They are sleek & stylish yet functional. And oh, so pretty.

Take a look at this gorgeous kitchen below from Electrolux suite design that I pinned from the Electrolux Pinterest board.
What a beautiful kitchen and who wouldn’t want a built in fridge specifically for the vino? Why didn’t we think of that? Darn.

We are currently shopping for one appliance in particular for our home….a new dishwasher. Electrolux seems to be an easy choice. Electrolux Dishwashers feature adjustable, customizable racks that can fit more than 180 items in a single load. With a sleek style and great features—Electrolux suite design dishwasher should be the clear winner! 180 items in a single load? That is almost my entire set of Fiesta dishes! Woohoo!

If you are in the market for new kitchen appliances, please check out the gorgeous Electrolux Suite Designs. I know you will find something you love. Hop over to their Pinterest board or like Electrolux on Facebook too for some more appliance pretties.
Believe me-- there will be plenty of appliance inspiration and ideas for you if you are ready to remodel, redo, or even build a brand new kitchen just like we did!


Are you planning a kitchen remodel or design? What is on your list?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

A Dr. Seuss Baby Shower for TWINS!

My sister-in-law and her husband are expecting. Not just one baby...oh no... TWO babies.

This past Sunday I co-hosted a baby shower with my Mother-in-Law in their honor.
She requested Dr. Seuss, specifically "Thing 1 & Thing 2" as the baby shower theme. So we took it and ran.

(If I were a super fab blogger I would make everything rhyme...but...)

Thing 1 Thing 2 cupcakes!

The top tier actually has cotton candy on it to match the hair of Thing1&2.  We cut out the little "Thing 1" & "Thing 2" and just stuck them on the cake wrappers with tape.
The others have the jelly lifesavers and marshmallows stacked to create a Cat in the Hat hat! Both sets of cupcakes are made with cotton candy flavored frosting.

bezelnut punch!

The paper straws were from amazon. Secret: it's just sprite with jello jigglers dropped in!


Mini Cherry Cheesecakes.

Cat in the Hat Parfaits

My mother-in-law made these two sets of onesies for the kiddos.

We strung them up with a boa from the dollar tree. 

And of course.

 Green eggs and ham.

Red and blue was easy to find especially so close to Memorial day.

the spread.

We also had candy green eggs and ham. These were just made with pretzels, almond bark, and a green m&m. Easy.

These skewers were simple too...

Fresh strawberries, marshmallows, and blueberries sprinkled on top for color.

And of course, the cake!

 We ordered it from a local cake lady, and it turned out adorable.


And the cutest and sweetest pregnant lady you ever did see...

!!!

We had so much fun throwing this for her and the babies, now we can't wait to meet them in a few months!

Have you ever hosted a themed baby shower? 
Are you sad this entire post didn't rhyme?

Friday Show & Tell: Introducing my favorite thrift store purchase EVER.

I've already told you about our DIY Pinterest inspired projects  (Easy Wreaths here & DIY Mercury Glass here) we worked on during my "weekend of dreams" with friends in Peoria Illinois. We pretty much acted like old grannies, crafting, drinking wine, eating, gossipping... and one of my favorite pastimes...thrifting!

Today I will share some of my favorite thrifted goodies from that weekend.

First off, this sweet jute-like rug. Actually, this rug was not even for sale...it was kinda sorta rolled up (aka thrown in a corner) of dinky little thrift store--they must have been moving stuff around and threw it aside for the day...but I wanted it. 

the colors are perfect.

I made one of my friends carry it to the counter for me and wink at the young man behind the counter (I couldn't do it...I'm MARRIED YA'LL) Her winking worked because he sold it to us for $4.99. Yep under 5 bucks. And it's pretty big too. It will go on the back deck I think...after I spray it with the hose to get the thrift store dust and dirt off it.

And another find for under 5 bucks. This big old basket. It was only $4.99.
I don't have a plan for it. The lady at the counter asked me if I would put apples in it...Apples? Hm.. I said no, not apples. She then asked if it was for a dog? No, I said. My dog is too fat for this basket.

So what it will be used for I'm still not sure. But I have a thing for baskets and this one called my name.



So what is under that 5 dolla rug and 5 dolla basket you ask? Only my most expensive thrift store purchase EVER. You see, not only am I cheap, but I am a cheap thrifter. I usually spend about 15 bucks tops in a thrift shop...and come out with a handfull of items.

Well, this beauty was $35. Which to me is a lot to spend at a thrift store. But I just couldn't pass it up. Just couldn't...It is my favorite find, ever.

Let's take a quick look at the bottom of this beauty...

Do you know what is is yet?

How about now?

The insides...

It's a sweet-ace old radio. They didn't know if it still worked or not but I didn't care. I love the look of it.

With ends up and down both.

Adam is going to tinker with it a little to see if he can get it going.
But for now, I am cleaning it up and it will be a new nightstand in our bedroom. Perfect size!

So all in all it was an amazing weekend full of friends, crafting, shopping, and lots of other old granny fun...and I got to bring home some awesome finds from the weekend of dreams!


Been thrifting lately? 
Are you a cheapo thrifter like me and have trouble spending $35 bucks at a Goodwill?