So I know you’ve seen summer lists everywhere, but isn’t there something super fun about it? About tackling something awesome with the offspring, just to mark it off your list? We decided to place ours in the heart of our home, and while it’s short, it’s also manageable. And interchangeable. I can see myself now, stressing over my fun list, later if I feel like we haven’t had enough fun. The kids are all, “But mom, we’re tired. Can we have a nap?” And I’m all, “NO! WE haven’t had ICECREAM yet!!!! Don’t you want Ice cream? While standing on your head in a drive through??” And my left eye starts to twitch so they pretend to be asleep. I kind of want to rest a little this summer, too, so manageable it was. That, and if we decide not to make it to something, I can casually erase and replace so I don’t feel like a failure. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, it’s already July.
For instance, in retrospect, we may not be venturing to the library any time soon. Malone likes to scream like a ninja banshee psychopath, and I remembered we have a humungoid late fee and I don’t want to pay it. As in, we lost a book, and found it three months later, late fee. I’m sure someone will get mad at me and tell me to grow up and pay said late fee, but I just don’t want to. Thirty dollars for a five dollar children’s book is a huge injustice to my children’s McDonald’s drive through fund. It probably goes to a book fund for illiterate children, and now I’ll be guilted into the library, so I can lose more books and pay more late fees. So we may be making loincloths instead. Loincloths are fun, right?
And yes, that is sans undies. Yes, they did lift them up and tell me to “Feast my eyes.” After Malone decided to go in the shower and pee, I was over it. Don’t let Emmy in her proper princess picture fool you. She was all up in the loin clothness, as well. I just felt weird about posting photos of her without a shirt. Should I edit out her lady parts, even if she is 4? I don’t want that to come back and haunt her. The book “The Help” was to our generation, as a novel released by children of bloggers, will be to theirs. And then this one time, I slept on the couch for three weeks, while my mom decorated my room. For the third time…
Anyway, all incessant rambling aside, today I wanted to share a few inspiring posts I spied lately on the internets. These creative gals just make me happy. In an I-want-to-pat-you-on-the-back-because-you’re-awesome kind of way.
Erin of Two Story Cottage refinished this gorgeous chest of drawers for her daughter’s room. I adore the look of subtle pattern with little pops of red! Beautiful!
It was a real delight to meet Megan of Megan Brooke Handmade at Haven, and when I spied this on her blog, it made me swoon. There’s just something about elegant simplicity that grabs my attention every time. Gallery walls never get old!
Didn’t Brittney of But First Comes Love do an awesome job with her fridge? I’m telling you…once you do it you want nothing else! I’m so proud!
Kristin of The Hunted Interior (I met her oh so briefly at Haven, as well!) created this amazing little bar from succulent planters {read: cinder blocks dipped in awesome sauce.}
And just wait until you see her home…If I could reach through the computer screen and steal that pillow… and when you see her little one’s room…The word “gasp” comes to mind. Kristin, please ignore the woman with the twitching eye lurking on your porch. I’m only trying to steal everything.
When Debbie of Painted Therapy sent me her sign inspired by our Mills Fab 5 version, I had to show you her take on it! I love those skinny boards!
::Hangs paint covered head of hair in furniture land shame::
What’s something super fun you’ve been up to lately? What’s on your summer lists? Give me some ideas of your fave things to do…I’d love to hear!
Have an inspired day + TGIF!
Megan Brooke says
Thanks so much for featuring my gallery wall Ashley!! It was so good to meet you too:) Just because you made a fun list makes you an awesome mom! And glow stick hunt?? I want in on that đ Hope you have a fabulous weekend!!
Kristin @ The Hunted Interior says
You are too funny! Just knock, I’ll let you in đ & I think I just woke my nearly two year old up by laughing at those loin cloth pictures!!! Again, it was so nice to meet you at Haven.
Tiffany says
I’ve had my eye on sprucing up a coffee table for awhile, and this weekend may just be the weekend to do it! (If not, this summer for sure.)
And just a quick thought from your friendly resident librarian on the late fees (which my husband and I still struggle with if it makes you feel any better). Where I work, we don’t charge more in late fees than it would cost to replace the book, so you might ask to see if yours has a similar policy.
Happy summering, and thanks for all the continued inspiration!
Shaunna says
Thanks for the shout-out, friend!! It’s sure been a fun adventure so far, and can’t wait to work on your dining table!! đ
shaunna
Anna@agoodhome says
We really front loaded our travel this summer, we’ve been gone 3 of the last 6 weeks! I’m definitely hoping for some laid back fun for the rest of the summer. Although, I’m running the craft class at our church’s VBS this summer, so that may have my eye twitching in a couple weeks đ
Oh, and those loin cloths are hilarious!! I think you should totally be able to cross “dress up” off your list now. Unless you meant dress up as in fancy, in which case I think you should just secretly erase “up” and replace it with “down” and THEN cross it off. Pat yourself on the back, mama, you’ve accomplished some fun!
{darlene} @fieldstonehilldesign says
loving:
your list
your lettering
your loin cloths
and
your lovely little lady
Kelsey says
You.are.hilarious!!! I almost spit out my coffee at the “feast your eyes” comment! Lol. I just completed a rustic ode to Restoration Hardware bookshelf. Check it out! I’d love your opinion!!
http://fabulouslyflawedhome.blogspot.com/2012/06/restoration-hardwear-hack-bookshelf.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FoZEYH+%28Fabulously+Flawed%29
P.s. I REALLY wish I knew how to make all that text into a link on my iPad! đ
Kelsey says
Oh wow. It did it. I must be more talented than I give myself credit for!! Lol
Amy @Five Kinds of Happy says
Your writing is so funny! It’s a joy to read!
Sunny Jane says
“Feast your eyes”… Lol!
Raeanne says
oh my gracious! I just found your blog and ate up an hour in the blink of an eye! Thank gooddness my 3 littles are in “quite time”! I love your home – we are in the midst of redecorating ours and my goal is to honor this season of life we’re in, with 3 small children, and let our home be reflective of that. Inspired, creative, comfy, welcoming, bright. Thanks for adding to my inspiration!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so very much for stopping by! You are too kind. ;}
Debbie says
My heart jumped out of my chest to see my sign on your fabulous blog. Thank you! Love reading your posts!
Erin @ Two Story Cottage says
Okay, so I finally clued in!! Thanks for the awesome dresser love. <3 <3 I'm honored. đ đ I noticed people moseying over from The Handmade Home but I thought it was from your recap post. I'm ditzy like that.
I love that your summer list isn't too crazy. Ours goals are pretty basic. Like please no trips to urgent care. And no closing the pool because of my offspring. And no stepping in giant mounds of fireants. And no, you will not see us at the library anytime soon. I have a fine too. And I'm afraid it has compounded to more than my worth.
Julia @ Hooked on Houses says
Love your summer list! Great links to other blogs, too. My daughter Lily has been sitting on my lap while I catch up on my favorite blogs this afternoon and says, “I like her blog. And tell her I like her dog, too!” So you get two thumbs up from her. đ
ashley @ the handmade home says
Haha! I am so glad I meet her approval! Chloe would like her a lot, too. She was our first child. It was so much fun to meet you this last week. We will plan better next time and at least chat a little more/catch dinner next time! ;}
Jess Talkington says
Thank you for being so frank and funny about life. I just read the first art of your blog aloud to my hubby. We laughed for a good 5 minutes. I imagine my kids will be as wacky as yours are, someday ;).
ashley @ the handmade home says
thanks for appreciating my sense of humor! ;}
julie says
i LOVE the loincloths, and your kids are hysterical, I LOL’d when I read “Feast your eyes”!!! I can help to ease your library shame, by telling you that I asked my son if I could borrow HIS library card, in order to avoid paying my ginormous late fee đ his is lost, tho…bummer. Have a fun AND relaxing summer!
Melissa says
The second floor of the archives building is great for little ones. Also, it’s free. Park behind Lek’s Railroad Thai downtown and watch the trains come in. They have to slow down back their and if you sit the kids on the hood of the car the engineer will blow the whistle and wave. Also, there is a splash pad at the amphitheater.