Don't cry because it's over...

Sorry I've been gone so long :( About six weeks ago, the afternoon before Easter, we got the phone call that my boss had been killed in a boating accident. How do handle a phone call like that? This is the second time in my life I've received such a call, the first being when my husbands brother passed. Your mind just goes blank, and until you finally repeat the words it's like time stops. My boss has been like another Dad to me. I started working for him when I was just 18 years old, and this August would have made 11 years. I've never met a more rough-around-the-edges type guy, but with a heart of gold who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. It's been a very hard time these past several weeks, dealing with the emotions of a traumatic loss, helping his family out (several other were involved and injured), and keeping the business running how he had always wanted  it to...but I'm figuring things out, people are healing and getting better, and we will make it through this. It's so hard to lose someone you love and respect so much, and who has made such a profound impact on your life, and very easy to get caught up in the emotions that you will not ever walk into the office again and see their smiling face, but I found this quote from Dr. Seuss below, and it's a great reminder of how we should look at loss. Until we meet again boss man :) Love and miss you!

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. - Dr. Seuss

RIP Gary Lowry 08/25/1951 - 03/30/2013

Life has got me behind, again...

Ah, I'm a bad blogger, life just gets so hectic sometimes! I'll be back soon, here's what's been keeping me away...

Shopping for Easter clothes and getting pics with the bunny

Best Friends Princess-Limo birthday bash, complete with lunch at the beach and mani-pedi's, this was a 7 year old's birthday, what?? I never went to a party this cool when I was 7!

The main reason/cause of my stress....the hubby's beloved jeep, we spent $2,200 in maintenance work on it, and then the radiator basically blew up two days later...the people at the Jeep dealership are not very fond of me at the moment to say the least!!

...and here's a sneak peak of new things happening in the guest room....how gorgeous is this fabric, I ♥ it all!

Kids Bathroom Re-Do: Before

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I needed to give the kids bathroom a little revamp. It's been in it's current state for two years  since we moved into the new house, and being as G will be ten this year, and is all boy, blue and pink hippos and elephants, just don't cut it when friends are over. It's difficult finding a middle ground for a brother and sister shared bathroom. The finished redo actually turned out quite nicely and should be able to stay for several years to come. But, before we can get to that...here are the before shots:  

Embroidered Towels: Pottery Barn

Shower Curtain, Vase with Flowers & Mats: Target

"B" & "G" Canvas Print: Artwork by Moi :)

Shell Soap Dish: Home Goods

Nutcracker Soap: DUH

Check back early next week for the After shots, have a lovely weekend!

Weekend Recap in Pics

Beautiful Saturday morning at "Bark for a Cause" supporting Alzheimer's Research

 

The cutest puppy ever...

Riding a Camel at the Renaissance Fair

My brave Miss B holding a snake...she wasn't nervous at all

Me, with my "I'm laughing but I'm really freaking out, so please take this snake out of my hands, like, right now!" face, lol

Real life Jousting, this was sooo neat, it was the producer and crew from the History Channels "Full Metal Jousting" television show, they all came in from Canada, and was really something amazing to see!

It was such a beautiful weekend, despite the unusual 30 degree weather, but it was too pretty to be inside, so while there was no cleaning done, it was a wonderful weekend, so I'm not gonna stress over it. Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy life, the laundry can wait ;) Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Spring Front Door Wreath

This is a cheaters DIY, because all you have to do is add ribbon, but none-the-less, it's sprucing up something from its original state. I picked up this wood chip square wreath from Pier One last week, 20% off too :), and wanted to hang it on my front door. It is a great shade of spring green, which is very much the trendy color right now, and I added a cream ribbon to pop against my black door.

What you need: 

• Wreath
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Thin crafting wire
• Hot Glue gun & glue sticks

Wrap a piece of wire around wreath to give ribbon strong anchor to hold onto

Glue ribbon onto wreath back and then wrap around wire for support and hot glue in place

create a loop to place over your door hook by looping the other end of the ribbon against itself and securing with hot glue

With a new piece of ribbon, start your bow, leave length for the tails, I left approx 7 inches. Accordion fold the ribbon and hold firmly between fingers, make a loop and duplicate fold and hold against first fold

Wrap wire around tightly to secure bow, leave tail length and trim

you now have a neat bow. To cover center wire, fold a 4" piece of ribbon in half and tie into a simple knot

Place a drop of hot glue onto center on wire, and adhere knot to bow, wrap edges behind, secure with glue and trim access

To cleanup tails, fold ribbon in half, start at open-side bottom corner, and cut at upward diagonal, unfold and you have a very pretty hanging ribbon tail, repeat for other side

I decided it needed a little more bulk, so I took another approx 15" piece of ribbon, cut pretty tails, folded in half and glued to the back of my bow, see below.

Add a few drops of glue to your hanging ribbon and place bow on top

Hang on door, step back, and admire your handy work, so Simple & pretty!!

Hate to see you go, please come again soon! :)