Front Porch

We recently spruced up our front porch.  The exterior of our house has been a work in progress for the past year or so and the porch really needed a little boost.

Last fall, we replaced our old shutters with custom built (by me) cedar shutters.  I built them from cedar fence boards, sanded and stained them with MinWax Provincial stain and then two coats of MinWax Helmsman Spar Urethane.  They really changed the overall look of the house.  I wish I had taken a "before" photograph of the porch, but the one above is the best I could come up with.  You can see the traditional white columns just weren't cutting it with the new stained shutters, so our next project was to replace them with stained posts and porch brackets.

We priced cedar posts and they were pretty expensive.  My dad suggested we use treated pine posts.  Good move.  The four 6"x6" treated posts were around $20 each.  We ended up purchasing two additional 6"x6" posts that my Dad used to make the porch brackets.  After we installed them, we let them "dry out" for a month or so before we stained and sealed them the same way we did the shutters. 

I built this table from 2"x3" boards for the base and 2"x6" boards for the top.  It was my first furniture build and was fairly simple.  I love the way it filled the space to the right of the front door.

I filled these great planters I found at T.J. Maxx with variegated ivy and geraniums. 

I've always wanted a haint blue porch ceiling, so we repainted the bead board with Benjamin Moore's Palladian Blue (HC-144).  We also added patio string lights at are from Wal-Mart's Better Homes & Gardens line. 

These planters aren't technically on the porch, but the side of the house, but I couldn't exclude them.  I found these really big containers at Big Lots and filled them with sun ferns, variegated ivy, geraniums and sweet potato vine. 

And finally, we also gave our old mailbox a redo too!  I stripped the paint from the post and stained it to match the shutters and porch posts.  I gave the mailbox a fresh coat of black paint and added brushed nickel house numbers to the post. Then a sun fern and variegated ivy in a pot finished it up. 

Glitter!!

 My girl is 12.  On the verge of being a teenager.  Sigh....

I get beside myself thinking we only have 6 short years before she will be off to college. 

We needed photographs for her advertisement for her dance studio's recital program.  My sweet friends at CGL Photography captured her personality perfectly in these photographs.  I love her so much and am so proud of the beautiful young lady she is becoming.  

Mini Mantel Makeover

This year when the Christmas decorations came down, I felt like the mantle/fireplace in our living room needed a little sprucing up.  I decided to plank the space above the mantle and add tile to the fireplace surround.

I love the way it brightened up the space and added a little more of a focal point to that wall.  The windows on each side of the fireplace and built-ins have always made this wall a little busy.  The height the planked wall added definitely helped with making the fireplace the feature of the wall.

I made a small box from some recycled pallet wood my neighbors were throwing out.  A little greenery, a few antique books and a wicker basket were the perfect fit for the box.  I picked up the wicker mirror and glass lanterns from Ross.   

I found these pretty glass tiles at Home Depot to add to the surround.  I like the way it pulled all the colors in the room together. 

I used 4' long craft boards from Lowe's for the planked wall above the mantle.  I needed to find thin boards since they would meet the crown molding at the top.  Our local Lowe's had a great sale after Christmas so I was able to get them for next to nothing. 

 

It's been a while....

I'm back!

One of my New Year's resolutions is to be better about blogging.  So, I'll begin with sharing some recent photos of the kiddos.

 

Happy Valentine's Day

 

"What I love most about my home is who I share it with."

 

 

 

Pip the Pug

I'd like to introduce you all to the newest member of the Butler family, Pip the Pug. 

Georgia Anne asked Santa for a new pug puppy last Christmas.  Santa wrote her a nice letter and told her he was going to let her Mama and Daddy find her the perfect puppy that would be the right fit for our family.  After nine months of searching high and low for a pup we finally found this little guy and he is just perfect!  Michael and I went and picked him up a few weeks ago while the kids were at school and surprised them when they got home.  It was so much fun seeing the sheer happiness on all of their faces (including Pip).

 

P.J., our almost 14 year old pug, has adjusted to Pip quite well.  I wasn't sure how he would like him but he seems to "tolerate" his playfulness pretty well.  Don't they both look so cute in this photo?

Can't you tell this little guy is already spoiled rotten?  He has already claimed his spot on the living room sofa. 

 

I think he's pretty smart too!  He knows just how to get to the left over food, even when Big 'Un is in the way.

We are so happy to have this little guy!  I know we will have many years of fun and laughter with him.

 

 

Summer's Here!

This Mommy is so thankful school is out for summer!  No more dragging the kids out of bed in the mornings, packing lunches, and homework.  We have the entire summer to do what we want and enjoy being together! 

 

I must do a little bragging on my three smart kiddos.

 

Georgia Anne has completed her time at Tallassee Elementary (tear, tear, tear).  It seems like only yesterday I was leaving her at kindergarten and now she has completed fourth grade and is heading to middle school.  I am still amazed at what a beautiful (while I personally think she is the prettiest thing I have ever laid eyes on, I am actually preferring to what's on the inside) young lady she is.  She has the sweetest spirit and has so much personality!  I wish I were more like her in so many ways.  She sees the good in everything and everyone and is such an optimistic person.  She is almost always happy and smiling.

Georgie and her teacher, Mrs. Cunningham. 

Mrs. Cunningham has been the best thing for her this year.  One of my fears is that someone or something will crush Georgia Anne and her innocent way of looking at life.  Fourth grade was not an easy year for her in many ways, but Mrs. Cunningham was there reassuring her and building her up exactly when she needed it.   I will be forever grateful to her for the love she has shown to our family!

Now just to prove my point, I'm going to tell you what all Mrs. Georgia Anne accomplished this year!  She received Yearly "A" Honor Roll, Yearly AR Reading Award, Mathematics Gold Math Award, Purple Ambassador Award, All-Star P.E. Award, Governor's P.E. Award and was a member of the 50 Mile Club in P.E.

Jack is now a kindergarten graduate and I can hardly stand it!  He had the BEST kindergarten year ever!  Oh, how proud I am of him!!  Sweet, quiet, obedient, thoughtful, smart and artistic all describe him and I am so thankful he is mine!

 

Mr. Pressley giving Jack his kindergarten diploma.

The best kindergarten teacher!!  Mrs. Looney and Jack

Some people are just made to work with small children and Mrs. Looney is definitely one of those people.  She has the most gentle way.  I laughed all year and said she can put a "spell" on the children because they do everything she asks of them.  It's really amazing!!  She loves them all and made each one feel special.  She gave so much of her personal time and money to make their year a success.  Thank you, Mrs. Looney for everything!

At his graduation, Jack received lots of awards also.  He received the Super Reader Award (for reading over 100 books), AR Award, Kindergarten Student of the Month for May, Superior P.E. Fitness Award, P.E Flexibility Award and Sit-Up Award.

Now to our baby, Daniel.  He completed Pre-K and is heading to kindergarten next year.  He is really ready to be in "big school."  While I am sad not to have a little one at home with me during the day, I have to admit I am excited for him because he is looking forward to kindergarten.  Maybe, just maybe, he will be in Mrs. Looney's class.  I joked and said he was her class mascot this past year since he was there so much with me while I volunteered.

Singing at the Pre-K Awards Program

Daniel received the "Best Imagination" award and I couldn't be more proud of him!  An imagination is a great thing to have and I know it will serve him well in so many things.  What a joy he is!  He keeps us laughing all the time and I am so grateful for that!! 

Thank you for staying with me while I was that obnoxious Mom who brags about her children!


Michael and I decided to have a little fun with the kids on the last day of school.  After we got home, Michael took them on a bike ride to the library.  While they were gone, I was busy filling up water balloons for a surprise water balloon fight.  It was so much fun and they had no idea what hit them when they returned!

 Happy Summer to everyone!