Weekend Happenings...

I hope you are having a wonderful long weekend! We are doing a little of this...

And a little of this,

Our giveaways start tomorrow! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll see you tomorrow. 

=)

Preview For What's to Come...

It has been a super busy week! My Grandma has been in from out of town and it has been so nice getting to visit with her. But I am exhausted! Our weekend is going to be a busy one too. And sadly I am already missing my house! I have this monumental "To Do" list, and it is looming. I am the kind of person that notices all of my little "to do" things until they are finished. So maybe, just maybe, I will get a few things crossed off. Do you have any big plans?

I couldn't help but be smitten with the kitchen/dining!

Just a little eye candy for your holiday weekend!

{lonny}

I have some fun and exciting news for next week! We are going to have a few giveaways!

The first one will feature something for the local Ok peeps! And then two more fab things for everyone to participate in! So be sure and check back next week!

I hope you all have a fun and safe kick off to summer weekend!

A Surprise in the Bushes...

I must have done something right, because look what I have...

Can you see it?

A tiny tomato!

The kids are so excited and so am I!

And look at my cute watering can! 

Blair won the vote on what color we would get.

So it was no surprise it we came home with pink. LOL!

Garage Sale Finds...

Well of all the homes I stopped at this weekend, my hunt was fruitless. There were lots of great coffee tables, but I don't need one of those. Remember, I just cut my entry table down. Although while out in Jenks I hit up an antique store that I have been wanting to visit for sometime. Can I just tell you how tempted I was by so many great pieces. For now all I came home with was a gorgeous piece of milk glass and darn the luck I haven't taken a photo of it yet. Sorry about that. I'll try to get that done to show you. So pretty! The store said I could come back and photograph some things to show you. So be looking for that in the next week. 

On a totally different note, I changed out my black and white prints in the dining room. To add, you guessed it, pink! So cheery! I am loving it!

Oh and one more thing! 

We are going to be having a giveaway soon. From a super talented friend of mine at Swell Mail Designs!  I love me some pretty paper!

So be on the look out for that as well!

Is Anyone Looking...

 because I think I can sneak,

Let me see if I can reach.

This is what he is after. Noodles!

 Got some!

 The end of the story? Nope.

What do you do next if your Jude? 

Go get your twin sister! And a stool!

 Sweet boy!

I am loving my new camera ya'll! Can't get enough! And I am so excited to finally be getting the quality of photos that I could not get before.

Pretty Perch...

I am sure you all have seen this photo floating around the net. I sure love this little nook. And I can't seem to get it out of my head. The more I look at it the more I want to create a space like it in our master bedroom. So I am now on the hunt for the perfect piece. I already have a mirror. If I can just fine a small desk or table and a cute stool I'm in business. Our neighborhood is having a neighborhood wide garage sale this Saturday! Now you know what I'll be doing this weekend.

{via good bones great pieces}

Have a fun weekend!

My Big Boy...

My oldest baby!

 Rarely does he complain about something he is asked to do. He does it before you ask.

Tells me I look beautiful!

He really worked hard at his school work this year.

Already talks about how he is going to do sweet things for his wife...

yep he is 5 years old.

When I look at this face I remember when he didn't have any freckles and 

how we used to be able to count them.

He is growing up and has to many freckles now to count.

Can't I just freeze time?

I love you Rhett, and am so proud of you!

Strawberry Cream Cupcakes...

Just looking at these ingredients makes me want to get up and fix me another cupcake.

This recipe is super easy and super yummy!

Strawberry Cream Cupcake

Crust and Cake:

1 1/2 cups mini pretzel twists

(about 3/4 crushed)

1/4  cup butter, melted

2 tbsp sugar

1 small pkg (9oz) white cake mix

(note this is about half the size of a regular box of mix)

1/2 cup sour cream

1 egg 

1 tbsp water 

1/2 tsp vanilla

Filling, Strawberries & Garnish

2 1/2 cups thawed whipped topping, divided

2/3 cup strawberry ice cream topping, divided

1 cup sliced strawberries

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place paper liners into wells of muffing pan. For crust, place pretzels into large plastic bag and finely crush. Combine pretzel crumbs, butter and sugar; mix well.

Drop scoops of pretzel crumbs into liners. Press  to form crust in liners.

2.) Combine cake, sour cream, egg, water and vanilla; whisk 1 minute or until smooth. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake 18-20 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean. 

Cool completely.

3.) Meanwhile, combine 1 cup of the whipped topping and 3 tbsp of the strawberry ice cream topping; mix well. Gently toss strawberries with 1 1/2 tbsp of the strawberry ice cream topping.

4.) When ready to serve, remove paper liner from cupcake. Slice off tops of cupcakes.  Place filling  on the bottom half of cupcake, then tops with strawberry mixture and then place top of cupcake on the strawberry mixture. Then top with more whipped topping.

 Enjoy!

Sorry the quality of my photos isn't wonderful, to be honest I was ready to eat this puppy! So I snapped a photo right before I devoured this cupcake.

What I'm Reading...

I'm a bit sad to say that other than blogs and magazines I haven't read a good book in a few months.

Then I heard about this book. I love a good book about Parenting or being a better wife. I think it's important to be aware of and nurturing the most important relationships in our lives. And it's easy to get caught up in the day to day and neglect each other.

I'll try to give a little review when I am finished. 

And later this week...

A recipe, that is to die for!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your week.

A Surprise...

You all know I got a new camera for Mother's Day! Well, you won't believe what happened to me.

First a little background info.

I don't know how many of you read Under the Sycamore, but a few years ago I met Ashley when she was in the full throws of her photography business and I was doing hair. We both worked the same wedding. Not too long after that she did some family photos for us, I have been a follower of her blog ever since. Admiring her photography talent. =) Last Wednesday I was patiently awaiting the arrival of my camera when I received the blast email from Ashley saying that she had an opening come available in her Saturday Snap Shop class! What an opportunity! I had been wanting to attend since the first class she had! I jumped at the chance to get to learn how to better use my new camera! 

What a blessing!

I thought I would share a few photos from the class and then a few I have taken since Saturday. 

If your not familiar with the class, Ashley teaches you to use your camera in manual and then you get a chance to use what you have learned in a photo shoot.

Onto the photos...

Could we have asked for a cuter subject to shoot?! I think not!

Ashley beautiful daughter!

The outdoor session...

And then a few I have taken since the class...

First we found a wild strawberry patch,

Then we cooked them up in the kitchen!

Jude and his bike helmet.

And our just for fun photo shoot =)

The plan is to keep practicing! 

Paper Love...

Yep, 

This is why I love Michael's Craft Store!

Their dollar isle is fabulous!

Grey Skies...

Skies have been grey here all week and there is nothing like a little inspiration to brighten my day.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week.

{all images via decorpad}

A Vision in Gold...

So...

I have this formal event coming up and I need some shoes.

What do you think of these?

{via aldo shoes}

Care for Your Hair...

A friend of mine recently moved away :(.

But on the bright side of things she was introduced to fabulous

new product that she shared with me!

DermOrganic

Let me just tell you how wonderful it truly is!

I have had a favorite reconstructor/deep conditioner for at least 10 years.

Nothing I tried beat it!

Until now!

It is quickly becoming my new favorite.

If you might take a piece of advice from a

hairstylist (in my real life).

 If you wear color, or your hair is dry at all

you really should give it a try.

Check...

Do you have a list of things you would love to have?

It is official!

 I have in the mail a new camera and lens! I am excited beyond words!

It has been on my list for at least a year and a half!

Aren't photos just the most inspiring thing?

Capturing life's simplest moments,

the ones you cherish for a lifetime.

Now, 

if I could just borrow a pinch of my uber talented friend Shannon's mad skills...

Well a girl can dream right?!

Wish me luck that I can get the hang of it quickly!

Last but certainly not least!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

 to my  wonderful hubby, this was my Mother's Day present!

Have a great week ya'll!