A PATIO SET

BEFORE

AFTER

I picked up this wrought iron patio set from an online garage sale a couple weeks ago. It's hard to tell from the before photo but the paint was all peeling and the cushions were extremely sun faded and dirty. 

So I repainted the frame with Rust-oleum Satin White, and picked up this outdoor fabric and new foam from Joann's for the cushions. Jared helped me staple the fabric and foam onto the seats, I Windexed the table top and put it all together on the deck. 

It is so nice having a place to sit and eat, read, or just hang out outside! And for a fraction of the cost of a brand new patio set! I can live with that. 

Have you done any refurbishing or renovating lately? I'd love to hear about them!

25 Before 26 Goals

1. Plan on starting a family
2. Go backpacking
3. Live a more healthy lifestyle
4. Write down my actual thoughts more
5. Remember birthdays and send cards/gifts
6. Throw a book exchange party- DONE
7. Throw a dance party
8. Start a children's book, poetry book, or memoir
9. Make meditating a daily habit
10. Weed out library
11. Set up guest room
12. Set up play room
13. Learn to paint better
14. Draw more
15. Take advantage of weekends better
16. Learn to garden (or at least to care for the plants we have!)
17. Paint our kitchen cabinets
18. Read 40 books
19. Find a way to make money doing what I love
20. Find more meaning in my every day life
21. Start doing family history
22. Work on improving my memory
23. Stop biting my fingernails
24. Stay in good contact with all my family members
25. In general, simplify my life

Those are my goals for the next year! Do you make goals at your birthday? This is my first year doing it, but I think I'll be able to achieve a lot of them. Already have one down!

Happy 25th

I turned 25 a few days ago, while I was surrounded by family, riding on a carousel and eating deliciously greasy burgers.

I am so thankful for the amazing family that I have. Especially the amazing parents and grandparents that I was given. I am in awe of these people every day, and I love them more than I could ever say. I had the best birthday just being able to be with them! I was also with my little (tall!) brother Ethan, who is pictured walking away in the photo of my Papa and me.

We were given families to help us through the hard times in life, and to share the wonderful times. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have the family I was born into and the family that I married into to share my ups and downs with.

I love you all to the moon and back! Thank you for being amazing!

Stay tuned for my 25 before 26 goals of the year!

Carnival Fun!

 

Carnival lights, puffy dust filled air, the smell of food frying, teenagers screaming and game booth bells ringing. We buy some tickets, eat funnel cakes and curly fries, play a round of the basketball hoop swoosh game, and get in line for the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is my favorite. If I see one, I have to ride it. I just have to! I can ride the craziest roller coaster and not be scared, but going over the top of a Ferris wheel always make my stomach jump just a little. I love having these amazing date nights with my man. He is my best friend, partner in crime, and love of my life! Plus he bought me expensive cotton candy just because I love nomming on the pink stuff.

Do you like the carnival? What's your favorite ride?

Springtime

Life is perfect right now. Our trees are blooming, the air is crisp at night, warm and reviving in the day, and playing in the water has begun. Children’s laughter floats from our neighbors houses as they run through the sprinklers and shoot water guns at each other. All our windows are open, letting the fresh air envelop our lungs. It is a good time to be alive.