Where we live.

These are the rooms we LIVE in.  Really live in.  The kitchen and family room.  The hub of the home.  

I know I've shared a bit of each, but now, they are just about complete save some baseboards and trim pieces in the kitchen.

These rooms make me happy every morning when I go in to make my first cup of coffee {of many}.

I hope you enjoy them, too.  As we all now, I love a good peek inside someone's home.  ;)

Let us not forget {EVER forget} what it started as...

 Have a super {if not hot} weekend!

Blog-worthy...

If I was blogging only for my close friends and family, I'd have a million stupid, what-can-seem-mundane stories to tell and photos to show.  I choose not to bore too many of you, and for that, I haven't posted any good meat, lately.  I apologize.

I've been too busy with it being summer to even think of note worthy things to write about.  Sometimes, I like being too busy doing nothing.  You know what I mean?

I am happy to report some good things have been happening in Betsy's life, and we will be getting her a 'big kid' stroller very soon.  This is something we've wanted for ages, but they are VERY pricey.

I am over-the-moon excited.  We are going on a trip to Chi-town over Labor Day Weekend, and I think it will be invaluable to everyone's experience.  She gets tired fast.

So, in a nutshell...we've been sick-busy doing nothing, but the pool, golf, baseball, summer school for Bets, and being hot.  Oh, and eating a ton of sno-cones {thank goodness they finally got some more pomegranate flavor...I was almost ready  to go postal}.

I do have a post coming up about a touchy subject for myself...the current state in some countries of how they manage/deal/view children with special needs, and the difficulty associated in adopting them.  Sad stuff.  Get your tissues ready...

I {heart} faces - props

I decided to try my hand at the 'I Heart Faces' photo challenge this week.  The theme is props, and for this particular theme you do not need a visible face in the photo, just a body.  This is probably my favorite photo I've taken to date, and I thought the wagon made it very 'proppy'.

Insta-mania.

I don't have a whole lot of time today, so, I though I'd share a few from my Instagram arsenal with you.

On Sunday, we got kicked out of the pool due to thunder.  The skies got craaaaaazy shortly after.  I took this in our driveway, and then took shelter.  It was spooky.

Rosie lost the ribbon to her tap shoes.  I, of course, wasn't told until 2 minutes before she walked into the studio.  This is called mom improvisation.  I found a party favor bag in my purse and made it work.  It's not the prettiest thing, but it got the job done.

Pete got this amazing hat from my pal, Tara of My Crochet Obsession.  He pretends he's in The Avett Brothers when he wears it.  Is it sick to be proud of that?  Because...well, I am.

This photo sums up my two boys' dispositions beautifully.  My oldest, Jake, is sitting patiently waiting for his slushie and burger at Bob's Drive-In.  Pete, on the other hand, is laying on the patio in the background writhing around.  Good gravy!

Our little Willie.  She likes me.  A lot.  Too much.  Rosie likes her.  A lot.  Too much.  Because as Rosie carries her around everywhere, pushes her in a stroller, and is so close to putting doll clothes on her, Willow seems to grow more attached to me.  Funny how that works.  Rosie traumatizes the puppy, the puppy falls more in love with her 'momma'.  Again, good gravy!

Have you heard of these?  Apparently, I'm behind the times.  They. Are. Amazing.  Go get yourself some.  Now.  Here.

Betsy came upstairs yesterday in this.  She put it on all by herself.  It's my shirt, but on her it looked like a muumuu/caftan thing. Instantly, I thought of Mrs.Roper from Three's Company.  If only her crazy hair was red, and she had some plastic jewelry on...she'd be a dead ringer.  I'm smelling an epic Halloween costume. What are the chances of finding Pete a leisure suit?  Can you say, Stanley?

If you're on Instagram, I'd love to have some new followers {oddgirloutblog}.  If you're not on Instagram, what are you waiting for?  You need another time suck, right?

Exciting stuff...

I try not to pimp my LITTLE photog business too much on the blog.  Word of mouth is a place I like to be.  But, I had to share something pretty great with all of you.  I'm doing a couple of blocks of mini-sessions at a secret {super amazing, incredibly beautiful}location in South County on July 24th and July 31st.  The minis will begin at 4pm and the last session will be at 7:30pm.  I already have several slots booked, so if you want pricing info or you want to book a session, email me!  This is a great way to get fabulous, natural light photos at an affordable price.

Also, if you or someone you know is having a newbie...I just got my hands on some great new props in my newborn/infant arsenal.  Take a look at a few {and that pram is the REAL deal}:

The owl hat {pictured with the 'baby' nest}, the elf hat, and the strawberry hat are all made by Tara at My Crochet Obsession {and on Facebook}.  

Party in the works.

Betsy's favorite thing to eat is probably cereal.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  No matter.  I saw this amazing cereal buffet birthday party on the internets, and I stupidly didn't bookmark it.  I can't find it for the life of me, now.  BUT, it gave me the spark I needed to throw a little something together for Betsy's 7th birthday.

Just her cousins, cereal galore, and Saturday morning cartoons! No cake to bake, no craft to come up with, no stress to kill my party buzz!

Here's what I've come up with so far...
Simple and quick invite I made in Photoshop.

I've hooked up with a few great Etsy vendors to lend their artistic hand.  I found this great shop that makes custom pinatas.  If there is one thing Betsy loves more than cereal, it's a pinata.  Even if she never cracks it open.  She could whack it forever!  Enter the amazing 'Whack'.  Below is just a sampling of 'Whack's' amazing work.  They are replicating the cereal bowl and big spoon from the invite for the festivities.  

Yipee!

I've heard great things about Makmaydesigns from friends.  She was running a great deal on preorders, so I ordered Betsy a t-shirt and ruffle pajama pant set.  She's using the invite as inspiration, and I can't wait to see the finished product!  Sadly, she is closed for the next couple of weeks because she is THAT busy with custom orders.  I'd say that is a good sign!

Here's a sampling of some of the goods...

Then, I found ApropoRoasters.  They're whipping up personalized spoons for each of Betsy's guests.  They are too cute, and something that will actually be used post party.  Aren't they cute?

I'm planning on tying them up with some of those individual servings of cereal you can buy for take home favors.  Like these...

In my searching for the original cereal party, I did find this one from The Purple Pug.

Pretty amazing, right?  I love the oranges with the juicer straws stuck right in.  Fabulous.

I'm really excited about this party.  I think Betsy will LOVE it!

You can find all 3 mentioned Etsy shops on Facebook, too:
AproposRoasters                             Makmaydesigns                              Whack!

What cereals should I include on the buffet bar?  Any favorties?  We are big Fruity Pebbles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch fans!  You know, the healthy ones.

Backyard bounty.

We have amazing hydrangeas in our back-yard.  At first, I thought they were old lady colors, but I have completely admitted being in the wrong.  Normally, I am an all greenery, foliage, and white flowers landscape kind of girl, but I have been rethinking that.  Needless to say, I am glad I haven't 'fully' landscaped the front because, much like the interior, I want color!  I don't have high blood pressure, but if I did, all that amazing color would lower it, I'm sure.  It makes me that happy!

Our front yard has gone under a complete overhaul, and would like to know what is your landscape like?  Wild and crazy with color or monochromatic?  I would love to see and share photos. 

The new abode: living space.

It's been awhile since I've updated you all on the house.  I've had a couple of inquiries.  The photos are a bit grainy as the light was fading away.  Hence, there aren't any good ones of the kitchen family room because the light was really undesireable back there.  I was going to work on finishing up some things in the boys' rooms and snap some photos in there in the upcoming weeks.  If only I could find my mojo.

This is pretty much the view to the left when you step in the front doors.  You can see part of the kitchen and family room in the rear past the dining room.  If you remember, we took a wall out between the kitchen and dining room.  We love the openness.  It is great for when we have parties, which is pretty often.  It's also thrilling to me that we can fit 8 chairs around the table, now.  It's the small things.

That family photo of us on the upper left of the shelves was the inspiration for the colors, etc. in the new house.  I think it's getting there.   I always thinks it takes a good couple of years for a house to be 'done'.  Decorating takes layers, layers take time.  One of my favorite layers is Chopper.  Ha!

This is the view into the living room when you're standing in the entryway near the master bedroom doorway. Not that exciting, but a different perspective.

Basically, the full-on, opposite direction.  You can see into our bedroom if you look close.

This was taken standing near the yellow chair on the side of the fireplace.  The buffet in the dining room is one of the few things I bought new when we bought this house.  I lurv it!  I got it at TJ Maxx of all places.  It reminds me of something from Anthropologie.  It was waaaaaaaaay cheaper than anything you could pick up there.  I think it was $199.  I debated for at least an hour over it.  When I finally decided to buy it, it didn't fit in the back of my mom's CRV.  You should have seen us in the parking lot.  It was a circus, for sure.  Jake had to come and pick it up with the truck.  Pi$$ poor planning, pi$$ poor performance, as my dad would say.

I was standing in the kitchen with this one.  Again, not too riveting, just a different view.

Like I said, I will add more.  I like to satisfy all of the noisy people.  Only because I am one of them, and I always appreciate a good house tour!  So, enjoy...