Living with Purpose- Getting my craft on

2014 was a year that I wanted to focus on things that I have a passion for again. Crafting, reading, getting healthy, family time, time with my husband, etc... Being more intentional on what I am choosing to do with my time. I have always LOVED crafting and decorating. It makes me happy!! So far it is only February and I have been crafting and decorating away! I love it! Here are some of my latest projects.

Ignore the big cheesy grin, the girls were making me laugh. This is my cross that I created!! My friend invited us over and her husband had cut some shapes out of plywood and we started with a blank canvas and painted away. I was so happy with how this cross turned out! It will be my door hanger for Easter!

I finally tried my hand at a burlap wreathe! It wasn't as hard as I thought. I went pretty simple for my first one, there are so many cute ideas out there! I plan on adding a few more trinkets to this depending on the holiday!

Our master bath and bedroom were the VERY last things in our house to get decorated at all! We have a lot that we want to do to our house but for the most part every room is decorated and looks put together until we make the updates in the future. I hung this in the bathroom to organize all of my jewelry. It is super cute and I love that it makes my jewelry so organized!

We have a huge bathtub in our master bath but we didn't have anywhere for towels when you were taking a bath. I hung the shelf and added our initials and it really made that empty space behind the bath have a purpose, I love the way it turned out~!

A "T" wall. I saw the idea on pinterest. Some people love it and some people hate it. I think it is cute but decided to go small scale but it definitely added some pops of color to the wall!

This is my vintage window I found here at the consignment shop. I put a mini burlap wreath on it with a turquoise T and it made a huge difference on this wall!

 

All of these things are just little projects or crafts here and there but I forgot how much I LOVE doing this stuff! I can't wait to take more pinterest ideas and bring them to life during this year!!!

 

 



FIVE

Life has been crazy full! Wonderfully full, chaotic, blessed, stressful and all of the above. I guess that is life, right? My firecracker Ann Mason turned 5 on the 16th. It just cemented the fact that time passes way to quickly!! FIVE always seems like a hard birthday for me. We are stepping away from toddler/preschool years and venturing off into elementary school and it just seems like a big jump especially to this momma's heart!

 

Oh Ann Mason there are NO words to describe your spunk, enthusiasm, passion, opinions and SASS!!! There are days where I feel I am doing an injustice because I don't know how to take all of your boldness, awesomeness and sass and direct it towards the good in everything. I was so the opposite of you when I was little and I am in awe of what a big personality you are capable of even at the age of 5!

 

Most little girls turning five are into princesses or crafts. You are in to chevron and monograms! Seriously?? I know this is part of idolizing your amazing 11 year old cousin. Thank goodness Katelyn is a saint and has the heart of gold and is the best possible example I could have ever picked for you because she is your role model in every way!

 

This year was our "off" year on having a big birthday party so Ann mason invited two of her best girl friends to swim and then go back to our house for chevron cake and presents. It was perfect!

 KK, Ann Mason and Annie Kate

Momma and the birthday girl! Swimming in February you realize how much some vitamin D would make you feel 100 times better!

The chevron cookie cake, she LOVED it!

The cake shot! Sweet, sweet girls!

This is Ann Mason in the after math of her presents which included but was not limited to a new wand (to beach wave curl her five year old hair!) a chevron monogrammed scarf (because every five year old should have one, a monogrammed chevron ipod cover (again just what every 5 year old asks for... I should also make a statement clear here. The ipod is used and Santa scored it for $50, we are not that family!! A purse, a new outfit and some $$$ cold hard cash! She got all dressed up and we took her friends to the mall to go spend some of her birthday money and Palmer saw her like this and said "Wow, Annie you look like you are going to Hollywood!" I thought I would die. Sweetest thing ever!

And..... when she woke up the next morning she had a power wheels Cadillac escalade surprising her in the middle of the living room! (another AMAZING score by mommy and daddy. I was SO excited that my boss gave us this for FREE because she was moving!!) Ann Mason about died, she LOVED it. It is awesome, equipped with leather seats, radio and two seat belts. This scene happened all morning before church! Her and Chandler did not move from the car! This may be one of my favorite pics EVER!

Did I mention Neenie and Pop were here which made the whole weekend that more AMAZING! We had the very best time in the whole world!!! I swear yall I do try and take pictures of Palmer but he refuses and is too busy memorizing every stat of every NBA player imaginable!!! He is still momma's boy but he will not take his picture!!

Sunday Ann Mason had to show off her new ride so she went and picked up her buddy Annie Kate down the street. I have a feeling this wont be the last time these two are up to no good in a car!!!

I loved this! They were laughing and giggling the whole ride!

 

It was just an awesome weekend with both mine and Tex's family celebrating Ann Mason's birthday and just being together!!! I definitely sat back and relished in the moment, we are very blessed!

Family Fun Weekend

January kicked off yet another one of my living with purpose ideas.... I want to travel more. By travel I wish I meant to white sandy beaches foreign countries but as a mom of 3 little ones under 6 it means hopping in the mini van and getting to the best destination within 2 hours of hour house :)

 

January's Family Fun Weekend started in Louisville! Louisville was the kid's first home and now it is more like a second home to us. We LOVE going to visit and seeing our forever friends there. We even splurged and got a hotel with an indoor pool! WOOHOO!

 

First stop was to meet baby Linley. Jamie and I go WAAAAY back, like Best Big and Lil Award for our Sorority!!! (hee hee I couldn't resist) Jamie is the friend that even though you lives miles away there never feels like any distance between us. I was so excited to see big brother Grayson and new sweet baby Linley. Can you tell the girls liked her? 

Oh Wait! Aunt Blakers LOVED her a lot!!! It is good for me to get my baby fixes and walk away :) 

Chandler actually was the one that was obsessed with Linley, wanting to hold and just point at her face!

 

After time with the Elmers we thought it would be fun to take the kids to the old Spaghetti Factory. They loved it! They may or may not have annoyed the people eating in the trolley train by walking thru it about 5 times!!

Ann Mason and I getting ready to enjoy a GOOD meal! 

This captures ol Chanlder right now. Enamored, Obsessed, In Awe of her daddy!!! All Daddy, All the time!  

And of course my precious guy, this kid wont take a "serious" picture to save his life! 

It seems like this is tradition now, the kids LOVE to ride the luggage carrier. Are we the only crazy people? I was horrible at taking pictures. Saturday night after dinner we got to see our dear friends Nikki and Jon and their two boys. They graciously came to the hotel and went swimming!! It was so good to see them but bittersweet because I forgot how much we missed them! Sunday morning we got up and headed over to the Prather's house for  some play time! My kids LOVE the Prather's house it is like Toys R Us! haha

 

Other than family fun weekend it has kind of been bummer winter month! It has snowed and iced and snowed and ice to the point where Palmer didn't go to school for 6 straight days. I am SO over this weather, I want flip flops and a tan!

 

Here are the girls in their toboggans and coats. They only lasted about 5 minutes! 

And while this picture does look pretty once you see it everyday for the last month you dream about blue skies, sunshine and green grass!! Bring on the Spring!