Last week on Instagram.

I'm just posting a super quick picture post with Instagram pictures from the last week or so of our lives. If you are pretty savvy with an iPhone, then you probably already have the Instagram app like millions of others and are already obsessed with it too, like ME! :) The BEST way to keep up with us is definitely through this wonderful phone app but some of y'all don't follow us through Instagram like my wonderful mother-in-law. (Hi, Mrs. Carole) If you DO follow us, then sorry these pictures are repeats but oh well, they're cute enough to repeat. :) 

We had a fun opportunity to be momma and daddy birds to these two little guys for about a week. They were born in our garage and we were scared after a really bad storm that the momma was never coming back. After one LONG night of eye dropper feedings, the momma finally came back and continued her very important job! After about a week, the baby birds grew feathers and finally left the nest. I was a little sad. I had grown to love watching the mom bring her babies meal after meal. The mom had become accustomed to me so much that she would actually fly into the garage with me sitting right by the nest and feed her babies with me watching. 

My sweet daddy turned 61 last week! His birthday was the same day that Anniston came home from the hospital but we all (minus Nicole and Anniston) still managed to meet for a quick bit of yogurt and to watch dad open his presents. 

So a while back I took a sewing class and it went okay, I guess...I mean, for a beginner's class. I learned the basics like how to turn on the machine, etc. Lately I have been looking for curtains to cover our 5,237 windows that we have in our new home. It really is ridiculous. Seriously, y'all! Curtains are expensive! So I whipped out my machine, broke a few needles, cursed a few times, but managed to make something that resembles cafe curtains, I think anyway. What do you think?? The left bottom side obviously aren't done but it's a start. After sewing like 1/4 of them, I told Buie, "Now I know why people pay like $350 for curtains!" Hopefully the more I sew, the less I want to throw my machine out the window. 

I have this running "To Do" list. It's not like a daily to do list as it is more of a "Goals" list and one of the things on the list has been to get involved with 4Paws Rescue Organization here in Ruston. It has literally been on my list for months and I finally visited the facility. They have quite a bunch of puppies out there right now and they are adorable! But they have dogs of ALL ages that need good homes. I plan to volunteer with them more so stay tuned for more information about 4Paws soon. :)

This little girl is just the cutest. She's almost two weeks old! I got to hang out with her some last week and she threw the cutest smile my way. It might have been gas, but hey I'll take it! 

And seriously, how sweet are these two. My boys just fill my heart will happiness. I love it when they snuggle.

When I feel like warding off about 10 million mosquitoes, I head outside to do a little herb harvesting. This spring we put all of our herbs in pots since this was our first official herb garden and we really had no clue what we were doing. Honestly I was surprised at how well they did. I harvested quite a bit. I washed them, tied them off in bundles and hung them up to dry. Pretty soon we'll have dry herbs to last us quite a while and all for pennies! I love stickin' it to "The Man!"

We're still taking care of home projects here and there. Buie got our brand spanking new mailbox hung and it's purdy. It's helps to have a lab/border collie mix there to lend a hand for moral support.

I went over one night and helped Craig feed the kiddos while Nicole had somewhere to go during suppertime and we served watermelon for an appetizer right out of the sink. ha! We kept everyone alive and mostly happy so I say job well done. ;)  And my nieces are just growing like weeds! This is little Hannah Banana with little teeth and her cute little grin. I couldn't snap a pic of Makaylan because she is literally all over the place! ha! 

Well, this is pretty much our lives here in Ruston: family, gardening, doggies, house stuff, family, projects, family, photography, kitties, etc.... and we love it! I'm enjoying August because September, October and November are already looking like they will be crazy busy with photo shoots galore! I can't wait for Fall Family Sessions! My favorite time of year!

Project Veggies!

The last few weeks we've been planning and talking about several projects, including but not limited to, painting our house, building a raised bed for veggies, building a pergola, staining our fence...and the list goes on. As with any "new" house that is actually not so new, the project list is soon to follow and is growing longer and longer by the minute! Since we hired out our painting to save our sanity, and quite possibly our marriage, we decided this would be a good week to tackle the veggie garden project. While the painters have been inside getting high off the paint fumes, B & I have been outside in the fresh air dreaming of the day when we can literally walk outside of our back door to go grocery shopping. :)

It might be a weird dream but I have always wanted my own garden. There is something so satisfying about getting your hands dirty, about growing something from a tiny seed and then enjoying free healthy food right from your own backyard just as God intended. It's exciting to see your dream become a plan and your plan become a reality. The first step to having our own veggie garden is done! It may sound silly but I'm so proud of us. :)

I also want my own chicken coop but that is for another day and another project.

 And the great thing about this dream is that it is totally doable. B & I are NOT super handy people. B has no skill in carpentry (sorry, babe) but he rocked this project! Basically if you know how to use a drill, you can manage this.

We chose an area in our yard that gets the most sun. This was a task in itself because we live in the middle of the woods. Literally.  I'm still a little nervous about whether our veggies will get enough sunlight but we picked a spot that gets about 6-8 hours of sun. (Please ignore the weeds in the bottom left. That is another project.)

 I'm so grateful B was totally on board with this project because it's good to have some muscles especially when you are pounding the stakes in the ground. Not only was he on board but he practically built the whole thing himself. I did my part by handing him the appropriate tools he needed, taking pictures and keeping the dogs out of the way. I think I had the harder job. :)

 We followed the plans on the Pioneer Woman's website. She lays everything out so clearly and has a picture for each and every step which is super helpful for visual people like myself. Honestly, it's pretty easy so don't be intimidated! If you've been wanting to build a garden, go for it! If you don't have a few hours to dedicate to the project- just do what we did. Divide it into a two or three day project. Day 1: Go buy your supplies. Day 2: Build the framework to 1 bed. (This parts takes about an hour or two depending on your skill level.) Day 3: Go buy soil and seeds. You will need LOTS of soil. This will be your most expensive part of the entire project but good soil is the key (so I've been told) so don't skimp on good soil. Day 4: Plan where your veggies will go and get to planting!

Here is our first finished raised bed. As you can see in the background, we have the wood laid out for another raised bed. B is planning on building that one today. If you break it down into smaller projects, it's not so overwhelming. :) 

I can't wait to get some veggies growing in here! I'd love to hear your tips and secrets. This being our first garden, I'm sure we could use all the help we can get! Happy Gardening!

Mums & Pumpkins!!

Well, unless you've been in a cave somewhere, then you know that it's FALL- my favorite time of year!~ That's right, folks- it's time for pumpkins, hot cocoa, football games, cool weather, mums and did I mention pumpkins!?

So I picked up a few mums a couple of weeks ago and this is what our porch looked like, but kind of boring, huh? Still needs a little more...

So I picked up some pumpkins today and WA-LA! So much better than before, don't you think? Pumpkins make everything better. While I was taking pictures, this little guy ran across my bare foot and scared me to death, but I'm pretty sure I scared HIM worse! He just sat there stunned for like two minutes, so of course I snapped a few pics. This one was my favorite! Anyway, back to the mums...
Scooter was dying to come out and see the pumpkins, too. (Notice the two little guys in the background. hehe)
Our fall wreath! This letter 'B' can be taken off and used anywhere around the house or on another wreath!
Our mantle...
more mums!


Did anyone notice my mums are LSU colors?? :) Happy Fall, y'all! My parents are coming in town this weekend - so excited to see them!

PumpkINSPIRATION

Are your pumpkins out on display yet? Here is some timely pumpkin-perfect inspiration to get you in the mood! Find more pumpkin projects on Better Homes & Garden's website!

Weekend Review: Cousin Love!

A couple of weekends ago, my best friend and first cousin, Lauren and her beautiful family came up for a short visit. Lauren and I have been close for as long as I remember. Being only three months a part, we did everything together! I had the best time with her antique shopping, cooking and just catching up. She has a handsome two year old son, Trey. I snapped a few pictures of him on Saturday afternoon. Isn't he so precious!? Enjoy!

Weekend Finds!

Remember when I told you I went antique shopping last weekend? Well, I went again! I can't get enough... I thought I would let you see my fun vintage finds over the past two weeks!

A 1950's Savoy camera:
This will be the perfect $25 dollar addition to my vintage camera collection. Maybe one day I'll get around to photographing all of them. :)

• A Versatile Coke Crate:

You could use this for recycling newspaper or storing those favorite magazines! I have decided to use it on my potting station to store potting and gardening supplies.

Pottery Barn sells them currently for $24 dollars- I found one for $8 dollars! Can't make it to the Antique Shops? No problem. Order one from Etsy right from your home!

• A Seltzer Bottle:

I have had my eye on a seltzer at Pottery Barn but didn't want to pay that much. I searched high and low until I found one about like this at an antique store for $15 dollars. :) I quickly snatched it up!

• A tea cart or bar cart:

I have also had a tea cart on my list of things to look out for. I searched local furniture stores and even Target and couldn't quite find the quality that I was looking for. I knew as soon as I saw this baby, it was mine! And it was 1/2 off. I brought it home for a mere $70.

My new seltzer bottle looks GREAT on my cart!

Found any neat steals lately? I wanna hear about them! Don't you just love finding great deals!