My Baby Blue Eyes

His big blue eyes, wild cowlick and small birthmark on his cheek...no way could this boy ever have been switched at birth.

Now he's got the cute lip scar and big ole' eight year old teeth to add to the craziness.

I know he is mine.

I'm sure there are a few things that Jared would like to forget about the past year (how about falling into a fire and burning his arm...or a bad case of poison ivy that turned into a serious strep infection of the skin). 

But there were of course the highlights.

Learning to snowboard.
Playing baseball.
Being the catcher.
Amazing trip to Utah.
Participating in the science fair.
Reading Harry Potter.
Being snowbound most of the winter.
Standing over Chicago.
Confidence in his bike riding.
Loads of camping trips.

And to look forward to...

His baptism on Saturday.
Officially starting cub scouts on Tuesday.
A week long visit with his cousin at our house.
And his Harry Potter birthday party next week.

This child is being spoiled!
Happy 8th Birthday, Jared.
I love you.
Forever.

with a cherry on top

My treat obsession this summer has forced me back into exercising.  It's too hot outside to run or bike, though.  And I find the gym extremely boring.

Any workout video suggestions? 

Because the cupcakes are killing me.

This recipe was found on Tasty Kitchen...Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes!

I would have preferred to have made my own frosting, but I didn't have time so I used a tub of buttercream and flavored and colored it with the cherry juice and some pink food coloring.

If you like cherry and chocolate, it's a winner recipe!

i love spray paint.

On our way up to Pennsylvania over 4th of July weekend, I saw a gorgeous, old and rusted aqua colored iron rod bed displayed outside at the On A Whim Boutique in Lucketts, VA (the place with the polk-a-dot silo).  We pulled over to take a look.  At a price tag of over $200, we had to pass it up but the idea that this was something I could do on my own didn't leave me.  Later that day, I was telling a friend about it and she offered up her daughters old bed...for FREE!!!  And the bed is perfect for Anna's room and for what I wanted to do with it!!

So...

3 cans of spray paint for less than $9  +   1 free iron rod bed   =  a new AQUA colored bed for Anna!!
(and one thing checked off my list)

I LOVE it!

Before:

After:

Wish List

I spent a lot of time outside today picking up the yard, watering the hay grass, weeding, cleaning up the last of the chalk drawings,...

And I got to thinking about all of the things that I'd like to get done around the house.

My Wish List

Outside
Grow grass (Scott's has been helping us choke out weeds and strengthen the turf with hopes that the seeding will take come Fall--fingers crossed)
Put up a porch railing
Big colorful pots filled with plants for the porch (use left over spray paint)
Spray paint the deck chairs and buy new cushions for them
Hanging baskets for back yard deck
Retaining wall for back hill
Plant hostas on the sides of house

Kitchen
New grown-up counter tops (may happen sooner than later!!!)
Hardware for cabinets
Paint the walls Cherry Poppin' Red
Curtain for small window
Replace sliding door
Tile the backsplash
Replace dishwasher
Curtain and/or blinds for window
Flooring--tile or wood (haven't yet decided)

Main Level/Hallways
Dark, wide plank wood floors
Paint the living room and hallways a creamy, buttery yellow (upstairs and down)
Buy some living room furniture
Storage bench for the laundry room (waiting to find/make the perfect shabby chic piece)
Living Room curtains and blinds (and new blinds for the family room, too)
Get rid of the brassy fireplace thing


Upstairs
Paint Anna's awesome new iron rod bed
Possibly repaint part of her room
Paint and decorate the kids bathroom (I'm thinking orange needs to be in the color scheme)
Still debating on the tree mural going up the wall around my ottoman
Make more pillows for the ottaman
Find chairs and table for bedroom
Hang curtains in bedroom
Accessorize the bedroom (birdcage, glass vases, natural elements in greens, yellows and white)
Make a bookshelf for hallway using old kitchen drawers
NEW BATHROOM everything


Sigh...

A girl can dream, right?