FRIDAY FAVORITES

HELLOOOOOO FRIDAY!!!

I'M NOT A SUPERSTITIOUS PERSON BY ANY MEANS BUT THERE IS A SMALL PART OF ME THAT GETS A LITTLE CREEPED OUT WHEN IT'S FRIDAY THE 13TH. I CAN'T HELP IT! I'M SURE IT HAS TO WITH ALL THOSE SILLY SCARY MOVIES THAT I HARDLY WATCH LOL OR MAYBE IT WAS THE "STORIES" I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT. EITHER WAY, I TEND TO BE A BIT MORE CAUTIOUS ON DAYS LIKE THIS. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY; RIGHT!?

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, HERE ARE MY FRIDAY FAVORITES. I LOVE BROWSING PINTEREST AND GATHERING ALL MY IDEAS SO WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR US TO OWN OUR HOME I HAVE PLENTY OF IDEAS. 

LATELY I'VE BEEN DRAWN TOWARDS NEUTRAL, BRIGHT AND AIRY COLORS. SPRING IS COMING UP SO THAT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BUT HOW COULD YOU NOT LIKE ANY OF THESE!?

FAVORITE BATHROOM

QUALITY BATH

FAVORITE DESK

A TOUCH OF SOUTHERN GRACE

FAVORITE BEDROOM

THISTLE WOOD FARMS

FAVORITE HUTCH

THE OLD PAINTED COTTAGE

FAVORITE DINING ROOM

DRIVEN BY DECOR

FAVORITE KITCHEN

HOME BUNCH

SOME DAY....ONE DAY.... I HOPE TO HAVE A HOME WITH ROOMS LIKE THESE :)

-MANDI

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY (KIND OF)

OKAY WORKING MOM BLOGGERS, HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU FIND TIME FOR PROJECTS, BLOGGING, COOKING, CLEANING, SHOPPING, SHOWERING, USING THE RESTROOM, AND MOST OF ALL SLEEPING!?? I MEAN HOLY CANOLI!! I AM UP AROUND 5AM, TO WORK BY 8AM, HOME AT 5:30PM AND EXHAUSTED BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE EATING DINNER! ALL I WANT TO DO IS SLEEEEEEEP! I THINK I JUST NEED TO GIVE MY BODY SOME TIME TO ADJUST.

I HAD A FEELING IT WAS GOING TO BE ROUGH SO I WROTE A FEW BLOGS OUT IN HOPES TO GET CAUGHT UP BUT THEN I WASN'T THRILLED WITH THEM SO I SCRAPPED THEM :/ NOW; IT'S 10:00PM AND I DON'T HAVE ANY BRAIN FUNCTION LEFT FOR THE DAY. SO! LET'S DO SOMETHING SIMPLE......

I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOMETHING OTHER THAN A PICTURE OF DIY PROJECTS OR HOME DESIGN/DECOR INSPIRATION.....

MY DAUGHTER ABBIGAIL :)

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN LAST WEEK BEFORE GOING TO DAYCARE (PRE-TIME CHANGE). SHE PICKED THIS ENTIRE OUTFIT OUT HERSELF. SHE INSISTED ON WEARING THE DRESS WE BOUGHT HER FOR EASTER (SHE CAN WEAR UNDERWEAR ON HER HEAD FOR ALL I CARE AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE A MELT DOWN HAHA), WHITE LEGGINGS AND AS SHE CALLS THEM HER "JESSIE" BOOTS. OH AND THAT WOULD BE JESSIE; AS IN JESSIE FROM TOY STORY. CUTE RIGHT!? I MEAN, TANTRUMS AND ALL, I AM JUST SMITTEN WITH THIS CURLY HAIRED SASSY LITTLE GIRL.

I PROMISE PROMISE I WILL POST MY FRIDAY FAVORITES AND WRITE OUT SOME BLOGS THIS WEEKEND AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE ALL THIS CRAZINESS!

P.S SO IT WASN'T COMPLETELY WORDLESS ;)

-MANDI

FRIDAY FAVORITES

HAPPY FRIDAY PEEPS!!!

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL BUT I AM SO READY FOR THE WEEKEND! THIS WEEK WAS MY FIRST FULL WEEK AT MY NEW JOB AND WE'VE BEEN SO BUSY LEARNING ALL THINGS LENDING! I WENT FROM WORKING IN THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO WORKING IN FINANCE (LENDING); SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. ON THE FLIP SIDE, I AM UBER EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND GROW PROFESSIONALLY. THE EXECUTIVE TEAM DID A GREAT JOB AT PUTTING OUR TEAM TOGETHER. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH!

I HAVE BEEN SO TIRED ONCE I GET HOME FROM WORK SO I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO BROWSE PINTEREST OR DO ANY OF MY PROJECTS.......SUPER SAD FACE! THIS JUST MEANS I'VE GOTTA GET WITH THE PROGRAM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE THE J.O.B AND THE FUN STUFF. I AM HOPING TO WORK ON SOME PROJECTS THIS WEEKEND BUT FOR NOW, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH MY FRIDAY FAVORITES!

FAVORITE OUTDOOR AREA

CENSATIONAL GIRL

FAVORITE PORCH SWING

SOUTHERN LIVING

FAVORITE OUTDOOR BAR

BY STEPHANIE LYNN

FAVORITE FIREPIT

WOODLAND DIRECT

FAVORITE OUTDOOR KITCHEN

ONE KIND DESIGN

FAVORITE POOL 

FIELD STONE HILL

ALL THINGS OUTDOORS! CLEARLY YOU CAN TELL I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUNSHINE AND WARMER WEATHER; WHICH I'LL PROBABLY REGRET SAYING IN A FEW MONTHS LOL :) BUT FOR NOW, I'LL TAKE SOME GREEN GRASS, A PRETTY SKIES AND FLOWERS. WHEN JULY ROLLS AROUND; REMIND ME TO COME BACK AND READY THIS POST ;)


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

POLY WHAT?

AFTER SEEING ALL OF THESE CUTE SETS ON PINTEREST & INSTAGRAM THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT TOGETHER USING POLYVORE; I FINALLY MADE AN ACCOUNT AND MADE MY FIRST MOOD BOARD! SERIOUSLY; WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THIS SOONER!? I'M SO ADDICTED TO IT! I MADE THE ONE BELOW AS INSPIRATION FOR OUR MASTER BEDROOM AND ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE ITEMS ARE A BIT OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE, IT GIVES ME IDEAS AND A LOT OF THIS I CAN RECREATE ON A BUDGET.

INITIALLY I WANTED AN ALL WHITE OR CREAM BEDROOM WITH A PATTERNED DUVET TO ADD SOME TEXTURE BUT ONCE I WAS ON POLYVORE AND STARTED CREATING, I'M REALLY LOVING THE WHITE, CREAM, GOLD AND BROWN TONES. IT ALL FITS PERFECTLY WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR BEDROOM NOW, SO; IT'S REALLY JUST DECOR, A FEW ACCENT PILLOWS, A CHANDELIER AND A RUG THAT I WOULD NEED TO MAKE THIS ROOM COME ALIVE. ONE ITEM I KNOW THAT I AM NOT GOING TO BUDGE ON PURCHASING IS THAT AWESOME ELEPHANT HEAD WALL PIECE BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE ELEPHANTS! MY BABY SHOWER WAS ELEPHANT THEMED (IT WAS SO CUTE!) AND ASIDE FROM THE CHANDELIER, IT'S MY FAVORITE PIECE ON THIS BOARD!!

I REALLY WISH I WOULD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR POLYVORE BEFORE I DID OUR MASTER BATH FACE LIFT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE REALLY HELPED ME BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER WITH MORE FLOW.  SO OF COURSE, LAST NIGHT I DID A MOOD BORED FOR THE MASTER BATH AND I'M WORKING ON ONE FOR THE DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN. I HAVE A FEELING POLYVORE IS GOING TO BE MY NEW ADDICTION! AND NOW THAT I AM BACK TO A WORKING MOM; OUR BUDGET HAS EXPANDED SO I'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME FUN BRINGING THE BOARDS TO LIFE! WOOO HOOO!!

-MANDI

DIY LETTER CANVAS

HI HI HI!!

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE MY LAST BLOG. THE WEEK AFTER VALENTINES DAY WAS JUST CRAZY! THE WEATHER HERE IN GEORGIA THREW ME OFF, MY MOM HAD 2 PRE-OP APPOINTMENTS FOR HER UPCOMING SURGERY AND THE MOST EXCITING NEWS OF ALL; I RECEIVED A JOB OFFER & ACCEPTED! I'VE BEEN APPLYING LIKE A MAD WOMAN SINCE WE MOVED TO GEORGIA AND I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'D BE LYING IF I SAID IT WASN'T A LITTLE BITTERSWEET. AS EXCITED AS I AM ABOUT GETTING BACK INTO THE WORKING WORLD, I AM GOING TO MISS BEING HOME WITH MY LITTLE ONE. TIME FLIES BY SO QUICKLY AND BEING ABLE TO BE HOME WITH HER FOR THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN SUCH A BLESSING. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT AND I'M ALMOST SURE THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE SEPARATION ANXIETY BUT LUCKILY, I'LL BE WORKING CLOSE TO HOME AND I'LL BE HOME BEFORE DARK. I THINK THE PART THAT HAS ME A LITTLE STRESSED OUT IS THE FACT THAT I START THE END OF THIS WEEK!! THE TIMING IS PRETTY TIGHT WITH MY MOMS SURGERY ALSO BEING THIS WEEK,  BUT I THINK I'VE PRETTY MUCH GOT EVERYTHING (AND EVERYONE) SITUATED. FINGERS CROSSED IT WON'T TAKE TOO LONG FOR US TO ADJUST!

NOW, I THOUGHT I'D UPDATE YOU ON OUR MASTER BATH FACE LIFT. 

THE REVEAL HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I AM JUST ABOUT READY TO SHOW YOU WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO BUT I HAVE TO DO SOME PATCHING AND CLEANING BEFORE YOU CAN SEE IT. IN THE MEAN TIME, LET'S TALK ABOUT A DIY CANVAS I MADE FOR THE LARGE EMPTY WALL IN OUR BATHROOM.

I DECIDED TO DECORATE THE BATHROOM AROUND A SHOWER CURTAIN THAT I PURCHASED THE FIRST WEEK WE MOVED TO GEORGIA. THE IDEA IS WHITE AND AQUA WITH POPS OF PEACH. WHILE I WAS BROWSING PINTEREST FOR INSPIRATION, I HAD COME ACROSS THESE CUTE CANVAS' WITH WHITE WOODEN LETTERS ON THEM THAT SPELLED OUT WORDS AND QUOTES. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I COULD DIY AND THANK GOODNESS BECAUSE THESE CANVAS' ARE BEING SOLD FOR $100+!  I DECIDED I WANTED TO PAINT THE LETTERS AQUA INSTEAD OF LEAVING THEM WHITE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE WALL NEEDED A BIT OF COLOR.

BEFORE 

AFTER

I THINK IT TURNED OUT GREAT AND YOU ACTUALLY GET A SNEAK PEAK OF SOME OTHER UPDATE'S I'VE DONE BUT I THINK I MIGHT ACTUALLY MOVE THIS CANVAS INTO MY LAUNDRY ROOM AND PUT SOMETHING ELSE ABOVE THE SHELF. ALSO, I AM NOT SOLD ON THE SHELF DECOR LOL BUT I REALLY WANTED TO SHARE THIS PROJECT WITH YOU AND FOR NOW, IT'LL DO.

OH AND DO YOU SEE THOSE LITTLE HOLES ON THE SIDES OF THE SHELF? I ORIGINALLY HUNG UP A RAIL FROM IKEA BUT THE LOOK DEFINITELY DIDN'T DO IT FOR ME SO I GRABBED THE PICTURE LEDGE I HAD IN A BOX AND PUT IT UP. I LIKE IT MUCH MORE BUT I NEED MY BOOTY IN GEAR TO PATCH UP THE HOLES!!

BELOW I'VE LISTED WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN.


SUPPLIES & COST

• BLANK CANVAS: PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR $18.99 WITH A 40% OFF COUPON BRINGING THE COST TO $11.49
• WOODEN LETTERS: PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR $1.49 EACH
• PAINT & BRUSH: HAD THESE ON HAND AT HOME BUT CAN BE PURCHASED AT ANY CRAFT STORE
• SUPER GLUE
• TOTAL COST: $17.50

(SORRY FOR THE LESS THAN DESIRABLE PICTURE BUT I TOOK IT LAST MINUTE AT NIGHT WITH MY iPHONE)

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW ALONG ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM!

-MANDI

DIY VALENTINES DAY GIFTS

HAPPY FRIDAY FRIENDS!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE VALENTINES DAY IS ALREADY HERE! WE AREN'T BIG ON CELEBRATING VALENTINES DAY; USUALLY MY HUNNY GETS ME FLOWERS AND WE'LL GO TO DINNER BY OURSELVES (A DINNER WITHOUT A 3 YEAR OLD IN TOW; WHAT IN THE WHAT!?) LOL AND ACTUALLY, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AND CELEBRATING VALENTINES DAY TONIGHT BY MAKING A TRIP INTO ATLANTA AND GOING TO.......... IKEA! I KNOW, WE'RE FANCY LOL BUT I MISSED A FEW THINGS WHEN WE WENT LAST WEEKEND AND MY MOM SAID SHE WOULD WATCH OUR MUNCHKIN SO I FIGURED WE COULD TAKE OUR TIME THIS TRIP AND JUST BROWSE IKEA. MAYBE EVEN PICK UP SOME CINNAMON ROLLS AND MEATBALLS! YUMMO!  BUT HONESTLY, I CHERISH ANY ALONE TIME HIM AND I CAN GET BECAUSE IT'S SO RARE. TOMORROW FOR VALENTINES DAY WE'RE TAKING OUR DAUGHTER TO LUNCH AT RED ROBIN. IT WAS HER FAVORITE RESTAURANT WHEN WE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE WE LEFT CALI SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NICE TREAT FOR HER :) DADDY LOVES TO SPOIL HIS GIRLS SO LITTLE MISS GOT A FEW NEW TOYS FOR VALENTINES DAY THAT SHE'LL GET TO OPEN. I THINK SHE MIGHT EVEN GET A FLOWER AND BALLOON FROM DADDY IN THE MORNING. {MELTS MY HEART}

SO, IN HONOR OF VALENTINES DAY, I THOUGHT FOR MY FRIDAY FAVORITES I WOULD SHARE MY FAVORITE DIY GIFTS THAT YOU COULD GIVE YOUR LOVED ONES, FRIENDS, TEACHERS AND THE KIDDOS! I'M JUST SUCH A CHEESEBALL WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE SO SOME OF THESE ARE REALLY SPEAKING TO ME. I MAY JUST HAVE TO GO TO THE STORE SOON AND CRAFT SOME UP BEFORE CARL GET'S HOME!

FAVORITES FOR YOUR LOVE

POSITIVELY SPLENDID

A PUMPKIN AND A PRINCESS

ELIZABTHANY

(IF SOME OF THESE ARE TOO RISQUE, YOU CAN CHANGE THEM UP A BIT TO YOUR LIKING)

THIRTY HANDMADE DAYS

FAVORITE GIFTS FOR A FRIEND

TOMKAT STUDIO

COUPON CUTTING MOM

FAVORITE VALENTINE'S FOR THE KIDDOS

SIMPLY KIERSTE

LITTLE LDS IDEAS

FUNKY POLKA DOT GIRAFFE

FAVORITE GIFTS FOR A TEACHER

CRAFT GAWKER

EIGHTEEN25

HOMES.COM

I HOPE Y'ALL ENJOY! LET ME KNOW WHICH ONES ARE YOUR FAVORITE AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. 

HAVE A GREAT VALENTINES DAY WEEKEND!

-MANDI

TUESDAY TIME OUT

WELL HELLO THERE!

PHEW! SINCE MY FRIDAY FAVORITES POST, WE'VE BEEN SUPER BUSY AND I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO WORK ON ANY OF MY PROJECTS! WHICH IS FUNNY BECAUSE BEFORE MOVING TO GEORGIA, I THOUGHT FOR SURE WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO DO OR A LOT OF PLACES TO GO SINCE WE DIDN'T KNOW TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE. CARL HAS FAMILY HERE AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS BUT NOT NEARLY AS MANY "PEOPLE" AS WE HAD IN CALI. I TOTALLY UNDERESTIMATED GEORGIA BECAUSE WE ARE BUSY EVERY WEEKEND! HAHA

TO UNDERSTAND; CARL & I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER 6 1/2 YEARS AND UP UNTIL OUR MOVE TO GEORGIA, HE HAS ALWAYS WORKED IN RETAIL WITH YUCKY RETAIL HOURS. ASIDE FROM WORKING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS CARL WAS ALSO GOING TO SCHOOL FULL TIME FOR HIS BA; SO WE NEVER REALLY HAD WEEKENDS & WEEKNIGHTS TOGETHER OR DID ANYTHING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. SO NOW THAT HE FINALLY HAS A NORMAL SCHEDULE, WE LIKE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE ON THE WEEKENDS AND EXPLORE. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID ON SATURDAY!

WE TOOK A TRIP WITH CARLS SISTER AND HER FAMILY TO TALLULAH GORGE STATE PARK. OUR DAUGHTER HAS BEEN OBSESSING OVER PICNICS RECENTLY SO WE DECIDED TO PACK A LUNCH AND TAKE IT WITH US. ONCE WE GOT THERE, WE SET THE PICNIC UP, ATE AND LET THE KIDS RUN AROUND BEFORE STARTING OUR HIKE. THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS FOR A HIKE; A STRENUOUS PATH WITH A LOT OF STAIRS AND THEN THERE IS A NORMAL PATH. SINCE I AM REALLY OUT OF SHAPE {LOL} AND WE HAD THE KIDS, WE TOOK THE NORMAL PATH. WHICH, TURNED OUT TO BE PERFECT! WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE WATERFALL, THE DAM AND THE "BEACH". THE WEATHER WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND IT FELT SO NICE TO BE EXERCISING AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT. AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS OF EXPLORING AND HIKING WE PACKED UP TO HEAD HOME. WE DECIDED TO STOP BY A LOCAL FARM (JAEMOR FARMS) THAT WE HAD PASSED DRIVING TO TALLULAH GORGE. OUTSIDE THEY HAD A LITTLE BBQ SHACK (SADLY IT WAS CLOSED WHEN WE ARRIVED), FRESH FRUIT TREES YOU COULD BUY & PLANT, ROCKING CHAIRS FOR SALE AND BEST OF ALL, BOILED PEANUTS!! YUMMO! WHEN WE ENTERED THE MARKET, A YOUNGER GENTLEMAN GREETED US AT THE DOOR AND ASKED IF THE KIDS WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOME APPLES. WE ENDED UP ONLY SAMPLING 2  TYPES OF APPLES AND THEY BOTH WERE DELISH BUT WE WERE SOLD ON PINK LADY APPLES. IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED THESE APPLES BEFORE, YOU MUST! THEY ARE SO CRISP AND SWEET. DEFINITELY A FAMILY FAVE! WE ENDED UP LEAVING WITH A BAG OF PINK LADY APPLES, FRESH PEACH SALSA, APPLE BUTTER, PICKLED EGGS, DRIED FRUIT, VEGETABLE SOUP BASE, VIDALIA ONION HOT SAUCE, HOT BOILED PEANUTS AND THE WINNER; FRIED FRESH FRUIT PIES. O-M-G! I'M NOT SURE HOW WE HAVEN'T EATEN THEM ALL YET LOL BUT THEY ARE SUPER YUMMY! THEY ARE WARM WHEN PURCHASED BUT BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME, THEY WERE ROOM TEMP. I PUT THEM IN THE FRIDGE AND WE HAVE BEEN REWARMING THEM AS WE GO AND THEY ARE JUST AS GOOD! I WOULD SAY OUR DAY TRIP WAS A SUCCESS :)

TALLULAH FALLS 

THE CRAZY TRIO

THE "BEACH"

MY LITTLE MUNCHKIN

I WAS EXHAUSTED FROM OUR BUSY SATURDAY BUT WE HAD A BUNCH OF ERRANDS TO RUN ON SUNDAY AND ONE PLACE WE HEADED TOO WAS IKEA. I LOVE ME SOME IKEA! I WENT IN WITH A LIST OF 2 THINGS...YEAH JUST 2. WHO WAS I KIDDING!? I SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN THAT! WE ENDED UP WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT GOODIES AND NEITHER OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ON MY LIST! LOL  I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP BACK SOON!

THANKFULLY I SPENT YESTERDAY (MONDAY) CLEANING THE HOUSE BECAUSE ABBIGAIL WENT TO BED AT 7PM WITH A SORE THROAT AND WOKE ME UP AT 5AM READY TO CONQUER THE DAY! I AM SO NOT A MORNING PERSON LOL BUT IT'S BEEN NICE TO TAKE A TIME OUT TO JUST CUDDLE AND SPEND ALL DAY DOING NOTHING WITH HER. EVEN THOUGH SHE ISN'T FEELING 100%, I LOVE DAYS LIKE THIS.

TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY AND IT'LL BE TIME TO TACKLE THE PROJECTS I'VE BEEN NEGLECTING THE LAST FEW DAYS!

-MANDI