Day 1

Sonoma Diet Day 1 starts today.

Oh, woe is me.

Did you know that I can't even have FRUIT until Phase 2? If I have to say no to fruit, then saying no to that plateful of graduation cake and cupcakes is going to be a slap in the face.

I don't even want to step on the scale after this weekend of celebration! What did I eat coming up this evening! Check out Auntie J and Mama's blog for the wonderful graduation celebrations with pictures to boot!

On a more positive note, Gardener Guy and I started moving into the house yesterday, picked up our new bedding at Kohl's, came home empty-handed from Petland's Puppy Days and I got to play house all evening.

It doesn't get any better than that! Well maybe with a vanilla cupcake and new puppy it could be better, but why go there?

Today, I am heading down to meet with my new principals, students, staff, and... paperwork...

Wish me luck, buttercup!

Dieting love and all of mine!
(Ok, that was an all out lie but I'm trying!)

Powder Room Pretties

After getting showered with kitchen goodies, I think that our powder room -- oh, who am I kidding, Gardener Guy will refuse to even let me pretend that I have a powder room -- will need to be spruced up!

Daddy has laid the flooring and installed the sink and vanity and faucet. I love the white beadboard, but Gardener Guy is a little bit oblivious to home decor. Mama picked out a lovely brushed nickel light to hang above the sink. The medicine cabinet is still installed, but I will say that it will provide a little extra storage room! I am looking for wall hooks to hang our robes on but I think that above our toilet (there's just no pretty way to describe it, although toilet has to be better than 'stool' as it is affectionately known at our house!) will need some artwork.

I am trying to keep the petite powder room light, fresh and spa like with creams, tans and pinches of chocolate brown. These prints would fit in perfectly!

Here are my top contenders from The Love Shop:
All you need is love.

Keep calm and have faith. Probably my favorite as I am slightly obsessed with "Keep Calm" prints.


There's no place like home. I mean, I do live in Oz-land, and a liiitttllee to close to my 'real' home.

Powder room love and all of mine!

Dad's Army

I went browsing through Mama's list of blogs and read through Old Centennial Farmhouse.

I identified with her story of working on her Dad's "army".

So much more gratifying working on my own house now!
Gardener Guy and I are so excited to see all of the work that has been going on the past 2 weeks!

It will be a big Wedding/Nesting/Birthday/Easter blowout this weekend so look forward to pictures!

Clean up love and all of mine!

What a Coinky Dink.

My Guy and I need (ok, "want") some patio furniture for our new home.

I found these on Target. I couldn't decided between white, yellow or red. Guy said white looked the most classic. So we added the set to our Target Wish List.

I'd like to spruce them up with some of these.


Our mudroom/summer kitchen/Jasmine's bedroom will be decked out with red gingham curtains and terra cotta pots growing green herbs and topped with a red ribbon. I think this bistro set on the back patio will be a great way to tie together indoors and out!

Waiting for that coinky dink connection?

Today, I was reading Snippet & Ink a favorite wedding blog of mine for inspiration, Kathryn posted this inspiration board:
Red Bistro Chairs.

Inspiration from Snippet and Ink.

How lovely.

Nesting love and all of mine!

Spring Break: Kansas Style

Spring Break: Kansas Style includes bi-polar weather, pulling honeysuckle roots, snuggling with doll babies and paint fumes. And, last but not least, crossing things off of my To Do list!

Here is a picture book of my Spring Break:

Chapter 1: Home and Yard Renovation at Northview

Mama "Marie" in Daddy's coat, so don't judge her. "Helloo!!
She's sneaking up to the Love Shack to survey the damage.

South of Northview (See: Love Shack) before My Guy showed the landscaping who's boss.


Daddy and I rocked these outfits for 4 days strong. On Friday, the weather was warm enough to take our sweatshirts off!

Shiver me timbers this gives me goosebumps.
Word to the wise: NEVER plant honeysuckle.
We worked well together. He was the coach, I was MVP.

Daddy felled limbs, Mama and I dragged them to The Pile.
These punks? They sat around and took a long break.
Baby Lisa was a pretty good Water Girl though.

I work hard for the money. So hard honey, honey.


Daddy and My Guy felled a lot of trees as this was the small pile.
Hope Rent-a-Son is up to the challenge!
Let's move on from Northview, shall we?


Chapter 2: Wedding Decor

Spray painted shepherd's hooks for the Unity Candle in the ceremony.
Spray painted old chalkboards from Mama's classroom

Upcoming project:
Spray paint this gate white and use clothes pins to clip pictures of B & L.
See the legs at the bottom? We will shove those in the ground so that the gate stands up tall.
Don't forget about the pomanders!


Chapter 3: Playing Dress Up
Baby Lisa, Spiderman, Hay Bee, and Baby B
We bribed Spiderman to try on his suit for a bite sized Snickers. It worked.
One day when Aunt L isn't looking, Hay Bee and I are going to take him back to college with us.
No pic of Baby B as she was, uh.. petrified.. of the tutu. Rats.

Bear on the other hand "loved this". Would you agree that she has King in her blood?

"I love this. Mommy love this."
Her Daddy J taking a pic for Mommy S while PaPa and Big J are looking on.

Speaking of Big J, he was not a fan of the suit. We were prepared with chocolate again and after some sweet talking from his Mamaw, he was dressed up.

Epilogue: Only because I am assuming you have stopped reading by this point.
Sick of the picture book?
If not, enjoy these out-takes that didn't make the picture book chapters.


I think we were about to bust a move.
That would be me and Hay Bee, not My Guy. Remember, he doesn't dance.
Yep, there she goes.
Then, she went all Khloe Kardashian on me. I was walking back from the shed, she literally jumped on piggy-back and then brought me to the ground. Apparently she didn't do enough manual labor if she had enough energy to jump on me.
And tickled me. The WORST torture ever.
Harley is licking my wounds.
Didn't even phase My Guy because this is a regular occurrence with Hay Bee around.

She tackled me right into a big pile of mud, dirt, leaves, roots, branches and probably cigarette butts from the old tenant. Barf.

On a similar note: I am terrified of the toast she will be giving at the reception.
Little does she know that we will have a kill-switch for the mic.


Here is a shout out to Harley, Z's bird dog.
Harley will be My Guy's Golden Retriever, Jasmine, Personal Trainer to get her back in shape.
This dog had been cooped up all winter (that's what you are supposed to do with bird dogs) and when we let her out to run, she held no resentment for the long winter's negligence.
Got to love dogs.
Plus, when you say "Kennel Up" she runs to the gate to pen herself up.
I guess Z has trained her.

What did you do with the Spring weather?

Spring Break love and all of mine!