Saturday, October 12, 2013

Week in Review

My week in review....
 Double Header Sunday... then practice Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday
 
Game Wednesday...practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Cheer Friday...work Wednesday and Saturday
Navy Football Saturday...against Air Force

Go Navy!
 
Tailgating after the game... 
The Colossal Shake at Chick & Ruth's Delly
 with their BFF's in Annapolis, MD





They finished it....pretending they are ill.
Photo: Gamma phi does NASCAR
Meanwhile in Kansas....#1 working a NASCAR event with her Gamma Phi sisters.

Add working full time, school for the kids, and of course homework and laundry
and it's a pretty full week.

It starts all over again tomorrow....



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Friday, October 11, 2013

Family Favorite Recipe

Tonight I made another family favorite recipe...Sausage Chowder.
This is my sister-in-law's recipe and it quickly became a family favorite!
It has been rainy and chilly all week,
and I'm enjoying pulling out my fall and winter recipes.
 
The best part about this recipe is that it is quick and easy to prepare...
Very few ingredients...disregard bowl of lemons...LOL.
Enlisted my #4 to peel potatoes...notice he is skyping while peeling...LOL.
Chopped onion...I love this kitchen gadget!
Brown onion and sausage together...
#4 cubing the potatoes...and still skyping with his buddy.
Simmer for 45 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.
Cooking with my kids...love it!
 
Here is the recipe...
 
Sausage Chowder
1 tube of Jimmy Dean spicy hot sausage
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large or 2 small cans of Great Northern Beans
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 medium onion
 
Chop onion and brown with sausage in large stock pot until cooked through,
separating sausage into small chunks while cooking.
After sausage is cooked, add tomatoes, beans, potatoes,
as well as one can of water (use tomato can).
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes,
or until potatoes are cooked through.
Enjoy!


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Thursday, October 10, 2013

One Room Challenge Week Two

So excited to be linking with Linda from Calling It Home
on week two of her One Room Challenge!
 
Join In
 
See here for my week one post!
 
And here is my progress during the last week...
 

Wallpaper is stripped!
My #2 and I did it in one night after dinner...fortunately it came down easily.
I am having serious trauma in selecting my paint color...
I want something bright, but everything is looking neon green on the wall.
I have had five different Benjamin Moore colors and don't like any of them!
Any suggestions for a soft, but bright green that is muted and not neon...LOL?
Here is what this bathroom looks like without the lights on...a cave.
 
I also decided the ceiling needs painting, and of course we had a few "oops" while
stripping the wallpaper (which appeared to have been put up right on to the dry wall).
Looks like Sweet D will be in on this project doing a little dry wall repair!
I decided on a plantation shutter for the window...I love it!
I was hoping to have the bathroom painted before the shutter was installed,
but I could not select a paint color in time.
 Mason Jar Soap Dispenser with Metal Stainless Pump - Clear Pint Jar Lotion Bottle - Ball Mason Canning Jar
I have ordered two of these adorable mason jar soap dispensers for the vanity
from the Etsy shop Industrial Rewind
Custom Quatrefoil Shower Curtain-Navy Blue and White OR Choose Colors-Standard & Extra long sizes available
I also ordered this dark navy blue quatrefoil shower curtain
from the Etsy shop Gathered Nest Designs
DELTA 3-Light Chrome Bathroom Vanity Light
I have selected this light fixture from Lowes for above each sink.
 
Delta Leland Chrome 2-Handle 4-in Centerset WaterSense Bathroom Sink Faucet (Drain Included)
I am going with this Delta faucet from Lowes as well.
I know the brushed nickel finish is more "in style" right now,
but I like the bright clean look of the chrome.
 
This week I MUST choose my paint color and then paint...
at least I can start on the ceiling while deciding on the green!
 
Some other details I will be working on in the next week are
shopping for rugs and towels,
selecting crystal knobs for the vanity,
and ordering a frame for the bathroom mirror.
 
Please check out these fabulous design bloggers who are participating in
the One Room Challenge
as well as all of the fabulous bloggers who are linking up!
 
Chinoiserie Chic 
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The Sunshine Award

Thank you to Katie from one of my favorite blogs,
for nominating me for a Sunshine Award!
 
Katie has prepared ten questions for her nominees to answer,
and then I get to come up with ten questions of my own
to ask the ten bloggers that I nominate.
 
 
Here are my questions from Katie....
1. What was my biggest decorating blooper?
My biggest decorating blooper was the first sofa I picked out.
I saw a beautiful pink and green chintz sofa in a gorgeous (and large)
cottage on a golf course and decided that I must have the same sofa.
The problem is that I was living in a tiny apartment and the sofa was
MUCH too large and the print was MUCH too busy for such a small space.
I had this lovely sofa for quite awhile....learned my lesson to decorate using others
as an inspiration, and not to copy them.
Lovely view out the window, with pretty chintz fabric furniture.
This is not my sofa...but it was very similar...and very BIG.
 
2.What is my favorite movie and song of all time?
Hmmm...that is a hard one....I would have to say my favorite movie is
Something's Gotta Give
 
and my favorite song would be
Madonna's "Cherish" from 1989...
...because it reminds me of the best years of college and my sorority sisters.
 
3.If I wrote a memoir, what would the title be?
The title of my memoir would be
"Hold On"
This has been a motto of mine for many years now...
there have been many rough patches in my life and I always remind myself to
Hold On...because it will eventually pass.
 
4.What has been one of my most embarrassing moments?
Believe it or not, my MOST embarrassing moment happened when I was six.
(I have had many, many since then, but this stands out in my mind)
I was in first grade at recess and we used to play "chase"
where the girls would run around the entire perimeter of the playground,
and the boys would chase them.
So I was running and running and running, oblivious to all of the playground chatter
 until I heard the bell to come in...
and I ran straight to my teacher, who quickly pulled me to her and wrapped me in her coat.
It seems my wrap around skirt
(those in my age group will know what that is)
had unwrapped at some point during our game of chase
and I had been running around the playground
in my pink panties.
MORTIFIED
From that day on, I wore shorts under my skirts and dresses every day in elementary school.
Lovely....I had strawberries all over mine.
 
5.What is my biggest regret?
I must preface this by saying that most of my "regrets"
come with a "lesson learned"
Sooo...if I am perfectly honest, my biggest regret is not leaving my first marriage sooner.
It took me a long time to get to the point where I realized
that the problem in my marriage was not just me,
and that my circumstances would never change unless I got divorced.
I primarily stayed for my kids...I wanted them to have a picture perfect childhood.
The problem with that plan, however, is that they had a mother
who was becoming emotionally vacant and extremely stressed.
The other problem is that I was not modeling to my children
what a GOOD and HEALTHY marriage looked like...
one that was full of respect, trust, and most importantly love.
And THAT is not a picture perfect childhood.
I finally decided that I would be a better mother to my children as a single mother.
Looking back, I should have left much sooner and I would have saved myself a lot of pain.
That said, I learned a lot about myself and am a stronger and wiser person because of it.
 
6. If I was awarded an all expense paid vacation for two weeks, where would I go?
I would go sailing in Tahiti with my husband and stay in one of these little huts.
 
7. How many homes have I lived in and which is my favorite?
Well....counting from when I was born, I think I have lived in 18 homes.
My favorite home, without a doubt, is my current home.
 
8. If I could sit next to any famous celebrity on a five hour flight, who would it be?
Clinton Kelly from
"What Not To Wear" and "The Chew"
I love him and find him hilarious...I would love to pick his brain about food and fashion.
 
9. What would your friends say are your three best qualities?
Loyal, Resilient, and Compassionate.
They would also say preppy!
 
10. Why do I blog?
I was hoping to create a network of "cyber friends"
though my blogging and I have done just that.
 I have met many fabulous women through my blog, Suburban Charm.
 
And now my nominees!!!
These ladies are all very talented, classy, women, who have fabulous blogs!
To those I nominate, I realize that you have VERY busy lives,
and understand if you would rather refrain from participating.
You may choose to just answer the questions and not nominate anyone else.
 
Here are the rules:

1. Include the award logo in a post or on your blog.
2. Link to the person who nominated you.
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself and write 10 questions for your nominees to answer.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award.
5. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.
 

Lobster Meets Peach

Always In A Southern State Of Mind

Small and Chic in C'ville

Preppy and Proud Of It!

Nautical by Nature

The Pink Pagoda

Monograms and Manicures

The Glam Pad

Miss Southern Prep 

Let The Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore

 
 Here are your questions:
1. Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to decorating?
2. What clothing shop is your favorite?
3. What is your "comfort food"?
4.What is your most cherished possession?
5. Current Lipstick color?
6. If your luggage got lost on a week long trip, what three things would you have to purchase
in order to survive the week?
7. Favorite tote bag to use?
8. Most recent "splurge" purchase?
9. What charity is most dear to your heart?
10. Best piece of advice from a lesson you have learned in life.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Thursday, October 3, 2013

One Room Challenge Week One

I am so excited to be participating in the One Room Challege linking party,
that Linda, from Calling It Home is hosting!
 
Over the next six weeks, I am going to makeover our upstairs hall bathroom,
otherwise known as the "kids bathroom."
It is one of the ugliest rooms in our home,
and has not been updated since our house was built in 1993.
 
With the kids' input (my girls...lol)
we have decided on a green, navy, and white color scheme.
We are eventually going to "gut" this bathroom, but not for several years,
so I don't want to invest a ton of $$$$ into this project.
 
Here are some before pictures...
Strip wallpaper and paint a spring green and new window treatment.... 
Frame mirror... 
New navy and white shower curtain and rings... 
Replace faucets... 
Replace light fixtures... 
Take old ceramic fixtures out...
 These photos were actually taken when during our home inspection
when we bought our home in 2010.
 
Here is a picture I am using for my inspiration... 
 
 And here is an inspiration board I made...
Hall Bathroom Inspiration
Project number one will be stripping the wallpaper,
and preparing the walls to be painted green!

 
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Happy Birthday Baby Boys!

My baby boys turn 13 today!
I can't believe how time flies...
#3 on left and #4 on right at six months
 
 #3 middle school football
#4 baseball travel team
 
Happy Birthday Boys!
You bring such joy all of our lives!
 
To see more baby pictures of the twins,
see my post here about mothering multiples.
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