Fall Front Porch + Family Photos + Cutest.Turtle.Ever.

I figured I better get going on my Fall Front Porch post. In another month I'll be decorating for Christmas already! I can't believe it. This year has gone by faster than others. I swear. Plus, I don't want Brittaney to lose anymore sleep over not seeing my front porch--which she demanded on Instagram.

Well, and what good is a Fall front porch photoshoot without people (and dog). Here's our front porch in action:

Scout never really looks impressed in photos. Don't let him fool you, he likes being included.

I went for a quick and simple design this year. I don't have a ton of time, to mess with decor and hem and haw over things...now I spend most of my free time chasing Ben around. He's crawling and boy can he move!

The rusty raised tub is from my parents garage. Thanks mom and dad! 

The chair was a $1 estate sale find. It's probably on it's last leg, but it was the best $1 ever spent. I truly love this chair and it's chippy goodness. 

I hung my thirfted tobacco basket on the door and stuck a wreath from Homegoods right inside.

I love the layered look.

We snapped a few fall family photos last weekend. We didn't have time to get with our photographer, but we really wanted to have a few photos taken at our home when the leaves turn. Luckily one of my very best friends visited and brought her camera along.

The Photo Crew...

GLAM PLAID SQUAD. Gets you maternity photo ready in a jiffy.

And is this not the CUTEST turtle you ever did see? Adam's favorite turtle when he was little was the blue one, Leonardo. So therefor, it is Ben's favorite turtle...until he can decide on his own that is.

He learned patty cake last week.

What was your favorite ninja turtle?
Did you take fall family photos? Professional or snapped a few at home?

Happy SUMMER! We are BACK!

Even though we've been doing summer-ish type stuff since May it's finally summer-summer-summer time with this Saturday being June 21st. We've been super busy doing mostly nothing at all...just taking a blog break. But we wanted to catch you up a little on our life before we get back into the DIY and home decor stuff that is on the way!

Summer starts with selfies with the dog on car rides!


And Snapchat selfies (everyone piled in the guest bedroom bed) when friends come to our house for a weekend of fun!

True beauts in the morning! Photo/Snapchat Credit to Hollie @ Fancykins 

 Partying with family especially my sissy...

 My grandma knows how to really get the party going!

Grillin' out....

Throwing a kegger for memorial day....

A quick girls trip to Nashville!

Dressing in that good old red white and blue...and matching your husband.

Don't think we would forget to get our house summer ready too!

Planting fake succulents in cute vintage pots, and tricking your friends into thinking you now have a green thumb...

Taking a photo of a real life plant so you can remember it before you kill it. (I try to keep them alive, I really do.)

Jumping up and down and taking 13 photos of the very red and plump strawberry you grew all by yourself. There is hope for plants in my future!

Watched my husband play "The Hero" in a murder mystery in the local community theatre!

 What would summer be without flea markets!!

 3rd Sunday Market. My favorite.

Our next big project this summer....

Staining the deck, more on that soon.


Tons of posts sitting in the draft just waiting for me to finish edits and will be posted next week. Everyone enjoy your first weekend of summer!

You can see more of what Adam, Scout & I have been up to this summer by following us on instagram!
Follow me on instagram!

A Ski Lodge Party

This New Year's Eve we participated in a progressive dinner party.  What is a progressive dinner party you ask? It's a house hop. Everyone starts at one home, and hop to different homes throughout the evening. Each host serves a signature drink, and appetizer to the house hoppers.

It's best to do it with your neighbors or friends that live close. Cuts down on drive time, and if you can walk to each others homes...you don't have to worry about choosing a DD! But if you will be driving from house to house, don't forget to decide on a DD before the night begins!

This year we decided each house could do their own theme of their own choice.

We chose Ski Lodge. We figured our house already has the lodge feel, so we already had the setting. Since we would only be hosts for a short time in the evening (about an hour), we didn't want to go nuts with party planning. But still wanted to do a few fun things..

One Saturday afternoon we pulled out the barn wood. Adam hammered some nails into it for about 10 minutes in the garage and came up with this:

Yep, that will work.

 We busted out some stencils, and printed some "mountain animals" from the internets to trace.

 This was Adam's first time stenciling. He said it was boring...

 Rawwr...

 And here she is. Ready for the front yard.

Welcome to the ski lodge!

Adam strung up some lights last minute to give it a little more pizzaz.

I added some new year's art to the chalkboard easel to greet guests in our entry way.

Vintage ski poles courtesy of my dad for some added lodge decor.

 My dad also gave us some of his old cross country skis. Adam tied them up on the catwalk.

 For the table I spray painted some pinecones with gold spray paint. And used some fabric as a table runner.

I served my favorite hot warm dip. Bagna Cauda. It's italian. And it clogs your arteries. And it's soso good.

 We had a bar set up with hot cocoa, wine, and scotch.

Your Ski Lodge hosts thank you for coming!

Other stops on the evening's progressive dinner included:
Hawaii (if you didn't notice by Adam's lei)
Mardi Gras!
German Christmas Market
A Wild West Saloon
and ended the night in New York Times Square!


I wish I would've taken photos at each hop, but the night happened so fast!
Here are a few more:

Adam's Aunt Katie painted this backdrop in one afternoon!

Beautiful German Christmas Market Setup.

Ladies in New York for the ball drop.

I am Tyra Smizing here..

At Mardi Gras...notice the cowboy in the background...

Have you ever been to/hosted a progressive dinner party?
What theme would you choose?