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?

Celebrating National Dog Week with Scouty & Beneful

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Beneful Brand Dog Food. All opinions are 100% mine.

I admit it. The minute we brought Benjamin home from the hospital Scout moved down the totem pole. We still love him just the same. He gets plenty of attention and playtime, and as you can tell by the looks of him--we haven't shorted him any treats. Scout better rest up now, before Ben is on the move and chasing him all over the place.

When Beneful offered Scout his very own swag bag in honor of National Dog Week, we were happy to accept.

To celebrate National Dog Week, we spent extra time doing all of Scout's favorite things.

Using our snazzy new leash...

To take an extra long walk.

Playing with new toys while enjoying special treats.

Scout's most favorite part of the day is mealtime. We are a longtime Beneful household. From when Scout was a teeny little pup brand new from the shelter--to his adult dog years. Giving our dog time for play and snuggles is only part of having a healthy pet. Making sure he gets a healthy meal a day and exercise are both important.

Whatever you do to celebrate National Dog Week, enjoy your time with your furry baby! Scroll down for money saving coupons and a chance for one of our readers to win their own swag bag for their pup!

National Dog Week

When: Right now! September 20-26

In honor of National Dog Week, Beneful dog good is offering $3 off a 13 lb. or greater size bag.

Get your own printable coupon Save $3 on Beneful

How will you Celebrate? learn more 

Giveaway!

1 Reader will receive a swag bag filled with goodies for your pup from Beneful!

It's easy to enter!

How will you celebrate National Dog Week? 

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter or 

Share with a picture of your pup on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and add the hashtags #NationalDogWeek and #FriendsWithBeneful then share the link in the comments and on social media! Tag me in the post and you will be entered to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two wagons full of goodies!

Husbands are nice to have.
Mine is pretty handsome. He's tall and gets things off top shelves for me. He takes me for ice cream when I'm cranky.  He builds amazing furniture for me. (this too!) He also brings me flowers sometimes...
Flowers from the husband are always nice...especially if you get them for many weeks in a row...which I don't..AHEM Amy @ Buffalo Roam...

One afternoon husband said he got me a present and to come outside....(new car!?)

 And not one. But TWO wagons full of it. All for me.

Nope, obviously, not a new car. And no, not the bales of straw either...
Adam had a buddy who was tearing down an old barn. He asked if we could have some of the wood. He said take it all. So we took everything we could. Two wagon loads full!


It's old, it weathered, it's rustic dreamy goodness...

Did you spot the old barn door under all that good stuff??

The best part...check out these beautiful barn beams. AND SO MANY OF THEM!

I am in love with them.
Can you be in love with wood?

Scout of course had to inspect everything...

We even got some cool old tin.

And after the second wagon was unloaded, we got to take a sit and discuss the future of projects. And the pin board that was already created in my head.

We don't even know what we are going to do with all of it yet. Obviously, I have some ideas:

• Beams on the ceiling in the basement
• Shelves
• A barnwood/rustic bar in the basement
• build a coffee table after we pick out new furniture
• patio furniture for the downstairs patio
• cut out letters out of the tin

I'm sure I can come up with something...


What projects have you made with old barnwood or barn beams?
Does your man bring you unusual presents?

Oh, and as far as the furniture debate goes, leather is the easy winner. But I can't seem to find something I like....that isn't 1 trillion dollars...the search continues..

Finally Friday: Snow

Today's post is a story of snowy Scout photos...

Our snowy home...

We like the snow because it covers most of the crap and scraps in our front yard...

MOST of it...

 Scout likes to tip toe in the snow like a little prince...

we call him twinkle toes.

and then out of nowhere--turn and run quick...

then stop and stare...

stop and sniff the air...

stare some more...

taste it....

sniff some more...

shake it shake it...

check for baby raccoons in the freshly cut wood pile...

now check to see if they are in the trees instead....

and then he runs down the lane to double, triple, and quadrouple check for the baby raccoons....

the end. (he comes back at some point but it was coooooold **shiver**)



Side note: I did a major overhaul this week on our "About Trina & Adam" page, because it was crap before. Check it out and get to know us better! 


Did you get snow this week at your house? How much?
Does you dog sniff the snow too?
Also, happy first day of March Spring is coming!!

Hey Girl...

So today I am joining the "Hey Girl" fun with some other bloggers.

If you don't understand what the heck is going on with Ryan Gosling and the internets this may help.

I am linking up at Decor and the Dog today. Be sure to pop over and check out a bunch of other hilarious Hey Girl posts!


and PSSSSSTT!! Be sure to come back here tomorrow for a HUGE surprise on my blog!!

Happy Friday...well not for Scout..the bratty dog

Our dog is pissed at us.
Well, we are pissed at him too.

The little devil goes outside to do his business, but he can't come right back in like he does when it is cold and frozen out. Oh no.
He has to run through every extra muddy mud puddle there is.
He has to get mud and even pebbles stuck in between his little puppy paw-toes...

muddin'

Then, we have to clean his paws at the door when he finally is ready to come back inside. And sometimes...when he is extra bad...straight to the tub!

Basically there is a lot of Scout whining while we are cleaning those paws and a lot of sighing and cursing under our breath--going on once in the morning and a few times in the evening.
And a lot more hardwood floor steamin' going on...

So what are you doing all weekend? 
Anyone else dealing with muddy puppy paws this winter?
Is it weird to have happy dreams about green grass growing all around?
Aaaaand we are on facebook now! Like us!!

stairs to upstairs...

So a few posts ago, I shared the boys laying the floors upstairs. Many of you were stressing out about the lack of railings...scaredy cats! We are now much safer, and pretty to look at too.

Paint color SW Restrained Gold,
although I am still not getting the correct color with my lack of camera skills

Since the basement is far from finished and full of stuff we have yet to unpack, let's head upstairs.

We have two bedrooms and a bathroom separated by a sort of cat walk type hallway above our great room. We also have a little loft area in between the bedrooms.

Don't look at the sconce which doesn't have a shade yet...

We stained the stair treads, newel posts, and the railings ourselves. The color we used was Jacobean from Minwax. We used one coat of stain and three coats of sealer. I can not imagine doing any more coats---all that sanding and staining! 

And get this... our builder supply store didn't measure right the first time, so we have 7 stair treads in our basement that are too small...and all stained and varnished! But that is another story, for another day.

Turn right at the top of the steps and you have the guest area (futureroomforsupercutekidssomeday) Straight ahead is our guest bedroom or currently my dad's room since he stays with us a few days every week while he works on the exterior stone. To the left is our full guest bath.

I like how the area is separated by a little nook, and there is enough room for a small dresser or large hamper...which is good new to us...because silly me didn't put a linen closet near that bathroom...

to the left to the left...

To the left you see our entry foyer over the railing and the other guest room behind that door. We added a little loft area last minute when they told us that was just going to be wasted space behind a wall. We are happy we did, it will be a nice place for a desk or a little reading nook.

Our chandelier is actually from the good old Home Depot. It is the Barcelona 6 light Rustic Iron Chandelier
We wanted sometime that wouldn't break the bank, but still had the style we were going for in the house.  It actually looks a little dinky in this photo for some reason, but it's pretty large in real life, but it does fit in well with the space.

Iron balusters and jacobean stained newel posts and treads.

The iron ballusters. This is second behind my fireplace as my favorite item in the house....We couldn't decide on the basket design that attaches on the iron balusters so we said NEVERMIND in the midst of frustration to make a choice. But I am glad we left them as is. Some of the designs are just too fancy for me and I like the look we ended up with.

Watching Adam build a fire.

Now everyone can relax. The dog will not fall off the catwalk...getting his head stuck in between those iron balusters? Maybe.

back deck, dunzo!

Last weekend, we marked one more part of the home as pretty much finished (construction done)

The back deck is dunzo! 

A railing!

And the steps dilemma is no more. Many of you were so kind to give me your input on where the steps should be placed from the deck to the downstairs back pad and stairs alternatives too...fireman pole, slide, spiral staircase made of gold...

But, unfortunately, we did not choose any of those options. It is what I had originally wanted, and had to talk Adam into...

They are not blocking the only window in the basement guest suite. They are not running along the front of the deck looking ugly and being in the way. They aren't blocking the huge window area in my kitchen/dining.

They go just along the side. Because later, as in much later...we will create more steps in the retaining wall in the landscaping.

Sorta like this...

Via google images

But for now, we are just happy we solved the steps issue.

Ok, so the railing isn't up on the steps yet, but it's 99.9% finished construction wise!

Scout figured out the new steps quick and enjoyed spying from the deck,
then running down to the creek after squirrels.

We even took a few minutes to have a sit, and a drink, and snuggle to enjoy it.

The only thing left to really install is the railing on the steps, and the ceiling fan!

Do you think we made a mistake not going with the fireman pole? 
Who wants to take bets on how many years we live in the house before the "landscape stairs" are even started?