Staycation 2012

I've been on vacation this week and its been glorious.  We've done a lot, but yet we haven't done anything.  I'll try to share more later, but I'm on vacation after all.  For now, I'm soaking up my time with the kiddos and trying to find balance between house projects and afternoons in the sun.  Hubby and I take turns sleeping in/lounging in bed until 10am, cleaning up kid messes, and making coffee runs the afternoon.  At this point, I think I could be on vacation forever.  How many days off does it take before you miss work?  Or maybe it's better measured in how many messes your kiddos make.  Either way, I still have time.

via pinterest

Plus, I am very thankful I get to sleep in my own, sweet bed, with delicious blankets, and a breezy fan.  Camping in a tent, without running water, rocks in your back, and bugs in your shoes will never compare.
 

More flowers.

I know, I've already posted about my garden, but I'm still excited about it.  So, you'll have to forgive my while I brag and post a few more pictures.

Quite possibly the most lovely flower.  And its in my yard.

I wish you could smell this.

Hello, handsome.

Hot pink and sassy.

This one looks innocent, but she's lovely just the same.

I adore the colors in nature, these posies are perfect for putting a smile on my face!  I just hope my kiddos don't pick them all.

Making a House a Home, Garden Style

As you may remember, I had lofty plans for the weekend my momma visited.  And in order to achieve checking off another item on the list, I actually took pictures.  I'm so proud of myself.

We are blessed enough to have our yard already landscaped.  The plants are all rather nice and native to the area, but its the same as many of our neighbors.  I've been waiting 10 years or so to have my own garden and plant what I fancy.  My momma helped make that happen.

Here are the before pictures.  They really aren't horrible.  I really just wanted to clean up the weeds, plant a few flower pots, and maybe replace the pine straw with mulch.

Right side of the house.  No plants here, just pine straw.

Front of the house.

Front porch with lovely pots my mom gave me.

Then, the fun began!  We brainstormed what I like and what my dream yard would have.  I knew we needed some bright pops of color (bright pink?) against all the gray and blue.  Plus, I'd love to have a fragrant flower  (jasmine, gardenia) to welcome guests.  I have always loved hydrangeas, so they made the top of the list.  Next, we planned where the plants would go, and made a list of how many to purchase.  I think I made three trips to Lowes and one to Home Depot.

Now, for the afters.

We transplanted the grassy mounds from the front of the house and added three gardenia bushes, plus mulch.

My hydrangeas!

 Gerber daisies and Confederate jasmine.

 Two jasmine frame the front porch.  I can't wait for these suckers to grow, bloom, and smell amazing.  They turn the air sweet.

And here are the lovely pots.  I really don't remember what we planted, I mainly chose based on color and sun requirement.

I'm terribly excited to enjoy the plants for the next several years.  It feels like a dream come true to have these beautiful and fragrant flowers in my own yard!  I need to pinch myself.  Anyone else garden this weekend?  What's your favorite plant or flower?

Weekend To Do List

My Momma is coming this weekend!  Last time we were together it was to pack up the old place.  She hasn't been to the new house since we moved in.  It will just be the two of us and I have great plans. My hubby left with the kiddos to visit his family and play in a show for the weekend, so I have the house to myself. I am planning on some serious girl-time and knock-out-project time.  I have high hopes for this kid-free weekend.  Perhaps I am a bit too ambitious, but we shall see.  For those moms out there, do you exaggerate how much you can get done with your kiddos and hubby gone?

• Clean out townhouse (kitchen/bathrooms/freshen-up)
• Clean MY house ( without my momma, I'll own up to this one)
• Plant flower pots for my front porch
• Weed/mulch the frontyard
• Hang hooks and plants on back porch
• Paint a chalkboard wall in my kitchen
• Paint a side table
• Pick out paint samples for my bedroom
• Visit the Habitat ReStore
• Visit a furniture store/second hand store
• Walk on the beach
• Drink Starbucks on the beach
• EAT lots of yummy food and drink margaritas
• Re-arrange my furniture/decor pieces
• Bounce ideas for future projects
• Go to the bank
• Make a meal plan
• Grocery shop
• Put away laundry
• Take pictures so I have proof I did some of this.

 The two of us, Christmas 2011

Wow, that's quite the list.  Its a good thing I'm not showing this to my Mom or Hubby.  I'll let them discover this on Monday after its all done.  Ha.

UPDATE:  We accomplished a lot!  The weather didn't cooperate for beach time, but we ate well and wore ourselves out!