SUMMER

Is summer flying by for anyone else or is it just me? I feel as if school just let out and I am currently in the midst of being required to sign up for fall sports. I can't even get my brain to go there. We had our one big trip, but besides that have been really low key thus far. It may even border on lazy most days and I am so okay with that. As the kiddos are getting older I know my summers like this are dwindling down. Soon they will want to be with their friends more than I. For now I will relish in the fact that they want to be by side continually and try not be annoyed when they ask me the same question for the 100th time.

Above are a few goodies from our jaunt at the West Homewood farmers market. Pretty flowers and handmade spoons are enough to keep a smile on face for awhile. The kiddos on the other hand enjoyed some of the most amazing cookies by friend Kat and Melissa. They are some of the most stunning cookies I have seen and the rest of the family confirmed they taste great too. It's a win win really. Have I mentioned how much I love a slow summer?

The Patio: baby steps

Our patio was on next years project list to tackle. Although I dream of alfresco dining with a group of friends and lounging late nights with family it was not where our money would be best spent in the grand scheme of this ole' fixer upper. Fast forward to a quick jaunt over to Target and I came across this cute little stool on major clearance. They only had one so that night I headed out to another target to even out the pair.

That is when I not only found the stool, but four of these white metal chairs for $10.50! After having customer service do a search on where I could get more {mostly one at a time} my sister and I went to another three targets to find a total of eight. I was giddy to say the least. Although different Target's have separate clearance pricing, but none were over $17.00. Still a win since the ones I was originally eying were $85.00 each. Yikes. Maybe now just a pair for extra seating?

A couple of days later I had a what if I went to one more store and they had them too? The store was a little further out, but they had two more! Now I have a set of ten. The Mr is planning on building an outdoor table. Currently debating between 12 and 14 ft. I want to fit a mass of people you see. The tent is not always out there in case you were wondering. The kiddos and I had a little camping night over the weekend. Oh how I love our yard and the adventure that can be had here!

During one of our Target excursions I came across a three piece rope set that I have been wanting. Like really wanting. I swear it sold out within a week. I was bummed as I knew they would have been perfect match to our outdoor sofa that my papa made me. Did you recognize it with the new cushions? Well Target man Eric informed he found it in the back that very day, but no one knew how to mark it since it was label-less. Of course I knew exactly what it was and pulled it up on my phone. After checking the number it came to only $124! They are just as comfortable as everyone said.

My favorite new piece may be our modern fire pit. It was made by a friend and he is talking about selling a short run of these if they generate enough interest for $300 to Birmingham locals. Can you believe that! It is so heavy and substantial. It slides apart for easier moving though. It will patina overtime and should last for years to come. Every year we find ourselves buying a new one, because inevitable we would forget to cover it every time it rained and soon it would just fall apart. It was basically $150 a year going to the curb. This one now has the look I was wanting and the durability. Does it just not look perfect back here? Love the clean lines.

You can see the patina has slowly begun above. Cannot wait till fall and temperature drops to enjoy a good party out here. Below you can see the table that came with the three piece set and two more Target chairs. They were $30 a piece. Love the clean lines and soft color. Plus they will wash easily. The Mr's egg sits to the left so it gives a perfect spot to sit while he grills.

Of course final touches still need to be done. The table is a must and I plan on adding a few modern pots throughout. Plus the house planters will be filled with bright green ferns. Still a ways to go, but I am certain by fall this place will be ready for one heck of an outdoor party.

SOURCES: all furniture except sofa from Target clearance section | sofa cushions | outdoor lights | The Mr's Egg {best investment ever}

*FIRE PIT - Leave a comment or email me if you are interested in a fire pit of your own. Intro pricing for $300 is quite the deal. Birmingham locals only as they are too heavy to ship.

The Living Room: Almost There

This room has at least four times since moving here in February. This room is where everyone spends the most time. It finally took a turn towards "better" once I found this rug. I adore it! Hides mess so well yet is light and bright. My only wish is that I bought one more size up after adding one more chair to the space. Alas I will survive. Ha.

I can see why corner shelving is no longer popular. It is hard to fill without looking sloppy or too busy. The piggy bank has since moved and I now have some pottery that I found at a yard sale on the bottom shelf. The silver bowl is our dump bowl. Keys, loose change, and the like make its way here till I clean it out. Much better than dumping everything actually on the shelf.

I bought new mats for my frames and now my favorite Cecily Lowe print takes center stage. Plus one of my all time favorite photos of the kiddos I can see daily.

We actually bought this chair before moving in from West Elm's side walk sale. At first I could not make it work in the space so it lived in our bedroom. We then found ourselves hosting tons of parties and get-together's and having an extra chair not being used seemed silly so out she came. I love how it pairs with the blue side table and our well-loved pouf.

The ikea expedient shelving from years ago still need to be styled. Really just stuck on how to do it with a tiny budget knowing that one day this piece will change all together. I am currently dreaming of this piece. Would that not be all sorts of amazing. I did end up adding two more baskets to the bottom so they are now all uniform. It's a start. We stash extra cords and blankets in them. At first I was certain that our main big purchase would be new chairs, but now that the space is evolving they have grown on me. Eventually we will get comfortable swivels, but I don't mind them being on the back burner for now. I do love the extra texture they bring into the space. 

I am head over heels for our new lamp. I love the black against the white. It also helps to draw your eye to the back of this odd shaped room. The little basket was a from a friend and the sand dollars were collected by the kiddos.

Here I also filled the frames with new mats and finally put some photos in. My favorite Raka Mod succulent holder still makes me beam. The new addition would be the most perfect vase. It adds texture without being demanding visually.

These too have been rearranged a tad. My weird vase still makes me smile every time I look at it. The shelves hold so much old and new. The dough bowl was my grandmothers. I remember filling it with treasures from her yard when I was just a girl. The Peter Pottery was a wedding gift. The mirrored houses found at for a steal at West Elm add just a fun touch. The books are ones I have been collecting for years. Currently my favorite design books that I keep on going back to are Habitat, Ellen Home, kinfolk home, and Commune. This one is next on my list. Anyone have it?

This is the space from the other direction. You can see I put the chair back by the sofa. It used to live where the leather one is now. I know design wise it may not be "right", but livability wise it is just what this room needed. It adds as extra spot for tv viewing and adds a place to perch when we have guests which is almost always these days. The mirror, another west elm flea find, still needs to be hung and I am really hoping by the next time I post this that I won't be writing that once again. Ha. You can also see our dining room pendant sticking out. It really was such a great buy.

The light that comes through the windows is amazing. Just not for picture taking. The blog really is a family affair ;) As you can see we are trying to use much of what we have and add a few things here and there to pull it all together. Eventually we may end replacing things like getting new swivels, but for now we are still in the nitty gritty of home renovation. Currently things like new appliances trumps all.

ROOM EVOLUTION: 1 | 2 | 3 | There is even another stage where I seem to not have photographed. It held our old rug that was way too small for the space.

SHOP OUR SPACE : rug | piggy bank | silver bowl | 16x20 frames | Cecily Lowe Print | blue side table | pouf {similar} | woven baskets | stripe pillows | mirrored side table {similar & similar} | wood stool | black lamp | white vase | gold table frame | marble and wood book end | mirror {similar} | wood danish chair {similar} | sheep skin on piano bench | sofa | end tables by sofa |