Matilda Jane Trunk Show

I decided to bite the bullet and host my own Matilda Jane trunk show. I certainly buy enough of it so I figure I might as well let others enjoy it as well! Its the most precious stuff! 

It's this Friday. If any of you are local and would like to know more about it just leave your email. Or if you're not local and you'd like to take advantage of Tennessee's tax-free weekend and order online through my trunk show just leave your email as well :) YAY for shopping!! 

Steppin Out to The Irish Picnic

This weekend we "stepped out" to the Irish Picnic in McEwen, TN. Jake's family lives right outside of there so we decided to take the kiddos and visit his family as well.

The Irish Picnic is apparently quite famous. And even though I've known him for years and years, this was also my first time at the Picnic. It dates back to 1854 and attracts 25000+ every year. They smoke tons of barbecue and have lot if little fair games for the kiddos. Although I don't eat pork, it supposed to be quite fabulous.

Playing maybe a "throw the baseball, knock over bottles game". clearly they're cheating. 

Jules, too. Don't let her fool you. 

The twinnies with their prizes they won. 

Celebrating - fake smile style. 

Whats a picnic without blue ice cream?

Sweet guy - blue lips and all. Also - eyelashes. Swoon...

Hey Jules, wanna go fishin? It's fun (from my favorite movie in the world, Shag)

The little fam! Casual Saturday :)
On Moi: Cambray shirt and shorts: HandM//Necklace: Stella and Dot//sunglasses:Prada//purse: Gucci//Flip Flops: Target
On Jules: Top: Petit Lem//Shorts: Co-op boutique//Shoes: Nikes
On Josh: Top: Nautica//Shorts: Childrens Place//Shoes: Nikes

Whats a fair without a bounce house?

Also a got to hang out with this little cutie.
Charlie and Olive :)

Linking up with Monday Mingle

If I Could be Anything in the World {Blogging with a Purpose}

There is a series running around the blogosphere about Blogging with a Purpose. (Www.frommrstomama.com) 

Each week is a new topic to delve into and express your thoughts through. This week is "If I could be anything in the world".

You know, it's funny. I am not AT ALL the person I thought I'd be. And that's ok. I was one of those girls that grew up knowing EXACTLY what I wanted to do. I was a self-conscience fame-whore...admittedly.

I wanted to be a famous actress. I totally could have been (didn't all girls??) But, I knew that wasn't going to happen. So, if I wasn't going to be world-famous, by goodness I was going to be locally famous. Television news here I come!!!

I knew I was going to major in broadcasting at a young age, and was one of those few people who entered college with said head-strong major in hand. I knew what I was going to be when I grew up. Woohoo! Let's get this show on the road!

Then life happens. I met a boy. I met said boy my junior year - his senior year in college. He moved to Nashville after graduation, and then I had to do some soul-searching. Also during this time I read a stupid fiction book about a nosy little busy-body reporter who brought down the White House. I felt myself routing for the White House staff over the reporter who was it in "for the good of the land". This book (I swear, how silly) and meeting the boy changed my course. In one of my poly sci classes we did a mock election (there was a current presidential election at this time) and they assigned roles for everyone: president, vice, campaign manager, etc, etc. Me and another girl were the only broadcast journalism majors in the class so we were naturally assigned to do all the reporting on our "election". I remember being so bummed! I wanted campaign manager! 

I was knee-deep in my major at this time. I had already completed two internships at two local news stations. But, I decided then that I didn't want to move from small Podunk city to small Podunk city trying to make it in the broadcasting world.


My minor was political science at the time. So, I flopped them. I decided I wanted to do something that makes a difference. I LOVED my political science courses anyway, and was already one of those annoying passionate college kids during a fantasic presidential election, so with all these outside influences in my life...I made the decision. And it was a big one in your senior year of college after knowing what you wanted to do your entire life. But I loved the boy, and didn't want to move around. To Nashville I went. Oh, and I married the boy :)

Now you are probably asking what politics am I doing now right? Well, I work in advocacy for a non-profit, and doing what I have wanted to do. My favorite class in college was my interest groups class. I would love to work more in advocacy and had aspirations or working on the hill some day. I am a very driven person. But then? Life happens.

We wanted to start a family. We struggled for a while to do so. Doctors told us we had "unexplained infertility" and it may not happen for us. Life took all those career-driven, passionate endorphins and put them full steam ahead into baby-making. Two and a half years (finally) later we were blessed with Josh and Jules and I haven't looked back. While I do still love my job and want to be that person I was, I'm just not. And that's ok. My kiddies are my contribution to this world and I'm very proud of that and them.

Plus, I have many years left to save the world :)

Five on Friday - vol. 1

I decided to "try" to jump on the Five on Friday bandwagon. I probably won't get to it every Friday, but I'll try. You just kind of post about 5 things you are loving, or five things on your mind. My local bloggy friends Following C's and The Neimeyer Nest usually participate, and it's piqued my interest. :)

Here we go!

{ONE}

It's so dang hot here. Like, "really, really" hot. And humid like craziness. And it seems like every time we attempt to go to the pool, it rains. Like alot. And I'm getting kinda sick of it...like alot.

2nd time in two weeks I've let them play in the rain...because, obviously.

{TWO}


We are going up to New York in August for a long weekend and I'm super stoked about it. I'm kind of obsessed with New York City and it's my all time fave place to go. I've blogged about it a bit here, here, and here so I'm excited about going back. Jake and my sisters husband are going with us, so it will be a bit of change from our normally girly trips, but still uber fun.

A pic from a previous trip. Im guessing 2008 based on the date stamp - ha!

{THREE}


I got a chair reupholstered thinking it was going to go in the babies' room as replacing their nursery glider, but when I got it back I realized how WHITE it was. (I have been a sucker for white things lately, bad for toddlers and cats). So, after moving it around places, I decided to squeeze it in our bedroom for now and look for something else for their room.




See the chair squeezed in over to the left? It's super whitey white, along with my bedspread now covered in cat hair. I will eventually learn. But man, I love it!


{FOUR}

I, for one, and so flippin' excited for this Royal Babe to get here. I'm obsessed. I know I might be alone. But eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
{FIVE}

And with school comes football season! Its officially that time of year where I start scoping the web for cute orange stuff to wear to football games (Go Vols) It's football in the south, ya'll - wardrobe is key. (all photos via Pinterest)

I must find some Tory Burch orange flats like, yesterday.

Love this so much!

Happy Friday!!

Would love a vote - thanks!

Steppin Out Saturday - low key and birthdays

This weekend was one of those awesome, low-key, but with a fun night thrown in for the mix. We didn't have many plans, but the weather was perfect. Went swimming on Friday with the kiddos, played outside with the neighbors all day Saturday, then Jake and I got invited to a 50th birthday party at The Palm with a guy he plays golf with. Open bar, food covered - book it! We also got some last minute tickets to Beyonce, but we ended up not making it with the dinner running long and then decided to go Honky-Tonking* for a bit downtown.

*thats what its called when you go to the Honky Tonk bars in Downtown Nashville :)

All in all, not much to report but we had a fun weekend!

Joshie was the only babe that came running when I asked who wanted to take a picture with Mommy. Little Man. 

On Moi: Top: Facebook Boutique//Jeans: JCrew Matchstick//Shoes: Franco Sarto

Other randoms from this weekend: My sleeping beauty (we are in a "wear a princess dress 24-7 phase), Swimming (taken by Jules), Honky Tonking, and I made a superhero cape for Josh :)

linking up with Mommy and Me Mondays, Monday Mingle

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Armoire - Before and After

I know you have all been on the edge of your seat with anticipation on what I decided to do with this armoire that I got off of Craigslist. Drumroll....

First off, I have a love/hate relationship with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I know its all the rage now and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. And, well, I did too. I have refinished furniture for years and years. I have done many pieces. So, I know what I'm doing to an extent. I'm really good at the distressing/glazing, etc type stuff so I was anxious to try it out since its so in line with what I'm doing now. So, here we go:

Pros:

1. The colors are AMAZING. I love them all and they go right in line with my decor and style.
2. You can paint right over anything: laminate, plastic, sealed wood, etc. NO sanding and priming. Hot dog!
3. It dries super fast and you can go right over it usually once you are done. It makes projects go quickly.
4. No smell. You can paint right inside and not worry about the fumes.
5. The colors mix fabulously. And all the colors once mixed are so pretty. However, you could also be like me and run out of said mixed mixture, then you have to-go buy it all and re-mix - DOH!

Cons:

1. It is expensive - kind of very.
2. Although it says it coats well and a little goes a long way, I disagree. I still feel like you need a good two coats and sometimes three on the darker paints.
3. It is MESS-SY. It's chalk paint so if you are distressing at all - imagine you are in a classroom dusting off chalkboard erasers. Yea - it's EVERYWHERE.
4. You have to wax most everything. Which totally sucks arse. It is the most monotonous task there is. Give me a quick coat of polyurethane anyday. And don't get me started on the dark wax AND clear wax. Oy vey.

So, there you have it. It just depends on how much you like the look to see if it's worth it or not. I have done several things with ASCP: A Bathroom vanity in Coco, built-in bookshelves in Graphite with a mixture of Graphite and Old White inside, a regular bookshelf in a mixture of Old White and French Linen, a desk in Coco, armoire (below) , and now I'm painting the cabinets in our bar area Coco as well. I guess the random person will think I love it, but I'm just not 100% yet.

As for the armoire, it took a LOT of elbow grease. Steps I took:

1. ordered wood embellishments off of etsy and glued them on using wood glue (on each door and drawer)

2. I put on two coats of Paris Grey and let dry.

3. I then applied a coat of Original White on top of that.

4. I sanded down the White so you could see lots of the Paris Grey underneath.

5. I also just painted over all the hardware.

6. One coat of Clear Wax, then touches of dark wax in the crevices and over the embellishments.

7. Drank Wine. lots of wine.

Ta Da!!!

Close up of the top showing the distressing and the grey showing under the white. 

Close up of the brush strokes.You can also see a good mix of the grey under the white.  Yet another plus of using ASCP. The messier your strokes, the more texture. 

Embellishment on the drawer. 

more distressing. 

Side view.

Indy Weekend

My mom and I took off to Indianapolis for our cousins wedding. It was cool for two things: 1. We have never been to Indy to it was neat to go and explore, and 2. We got to go just the two of us, which is a rare occasion nowadays.

Indianapolis is so fun! I take great pride on downtown Nashville. I think its a pretty city that has lots to do. But, Indianapolis put it to shame. It was a BEAUTIFUL downtown with a big walking district, something Nashville lacks. While you can walk "right downtown", Indy, as well as other walking cities, you can pretty much walk most everywhere and it's still lively, still pretty, and still pretty safe.

It was also great to catch up with my relative whom I don't get to see much of anymore. Everyone moves away and starts new lives and families. I will say...one of my cousins lives on the same street as Peyton Manning (of where he used to live) I was pretty stoked about that and I might have done a little stalkin' - just saying.

Congrats to the happy couple!!!