Here's Your (Favorite Friday) Sign

Already it's been quite a day.

The littlest love woke up with terrible growing pains in his hip. Poor kid can barely walk! Luckily his pain tolerance is crazy high and thinks it's funny that he can't really walk vs crying. I woke up at 6 am to a phone call from the school announcing a two hour delay. At least he gets time on the couch with a heating pad! 

 In better news, our daughter got her school issued iPad yesterday and we put a picture of us on it. Because we're awesome parents like that. 

Bring on the Friday Favorites! 

This week is brought to you by my hatred of the signs that say 'Simplify'. I feel like that defeats all purposes. Why are you buying something to remind you not to buy things? Just don't buy it. A wallet that says 'simplify' would be much more appropriate.

Via

Via Perfect for any small business owner. We never really close.

Via

Via I grew up with a hunter and have an irrational love of faux taxidermy. In any form.

Via I've bought a gift from this shop before and I loved it! She does a killer job. And this sign is exactly what I need in my kitchen for my not picky but finicky family.

Did you find a favorite? Have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

Everything and the Kitchen Sink

Everyone is at school. Even the Littlest Love, my baby, is surviving kindergarten. So far, it's a social club and that kid leads every and all social events. At 5. My daughter has hit 5th grade and has stopped wearing her usual uniform of jeans and tshirts. This is going to cost us. A lot. Thankfully H&M ships now. (On a semi related note, they have housewares! Not a lot, but it's all stinkin' cool.)

The house is very quiet. I get a lot done.

Since I was a kid, I've wanted a farmhouse sink. Should have been a hint that I was destined for design. What 9 year old wants a specific sink? My Grandma Lytle grew up with one and assured me it was a terrible idea. This girl does not listen well. Fast forward 20 years and you'll find me, the Main Man and two bored kids staring at sinks in Lowe's. 

I LOVE!!! my sink!

Look at all that soaking room! I left stuff in there so you could see the glory of it. Someone said in the comments section on the Lowe's website that it's not very pretty when wet. Only if sparkly isn't pretty! It's made of crushed granite and has not scratched in it's short 6 month lifespan in my house. 

No, she wasn't cheap. It is only $50 more than any other 9" deep sink. I know, 'only'. I force us to live on the cheap, and this was a Christmas money expenditure. That faucet? Was a steal. $250, on clearance in an open box. The Main Man asked nicely for a further discount and we paid $100. It was wonderful.

Get your own sink, right here.

It did require a little plumbing underneath, so be prepared for that expense. Minimal if you know what you're doing. The directions say it's a meant for a 36" sink base cabinet, but we did it in a 33". It's tight, but who cares? It's awesome!

What do you think? Would you buy a house with a massive sink?

A Fire Pit That Was As Easy At It Looks

One day, a few years ago, my Main Man decided we should have a fire pit. So he dug a circle about 3 ft across and went off to get cheap bricks to put around it. 

Which was great. 

Until he decided it wasn't and made it bigger.

Know what happens when you have a big fire pit? You have a giant fire. Not a fun little 'roast a few marshmallows' fire. A roaring fire. Of course you don't have to. But give men a pile of wood and it will happen. I promise.

We didn't use it at all last year, and I wasn't about to let that happen again. I've been reading The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster and she throws wonderful parties! A S'Mores party it is!

Except our fire pit looked a little run down. What did I do at temperatures were soaring into the 80's at noon? I tore every brick out. Then off to Lowe's I went. But not without a little Pinspiration!

I got nothing like any of those. Although I really like the last one, but it would have meant a lot more work because ours was already started, and not like that.

An almost finished product:

I didn't do the bricks on the bottom with much care because A) that was all we had from a different project and B) I wasn't sure how I felt about the idea. 

Wanna know a secret? It's a planter box! After doing the math, they were cheaper and easier. $18 for the 4 long pieces and 4 connectors. I did a layer of bricks underneath because they were cheaper and hidden. That big circle is size of the old one. Huge, right! I need one more bag of stone. Think about how easy it will be to mow around too!

In all, it took less than 2 hours. To tear apart the old one, go get the bricks, put it together and add the stones. 

It was money well spent. We had a great night with great family and friends. I can't wait to spend my fall in my back yard.

Home to School

Today, my Main Man signs his very first teaching contract! 

(Cue applause and cheering) 

It's been a long time coming and two weeks ago, we didn't think he'd have a job for this school year. So, in honor of that, lets take a little of home to school. This is also a little research for me, since I'm his room designer. When he lets me. Read: when he gets desperate and wants to be better than everyone else.

Via His 6th and 7th graders will love this. It also shows you how to make the mug. Handmade gifts!

Chevron is too girly. Colts or IU perhaps? Less ruffled? But I can tell you that is from Hobby Lobby and I'm 90% sure it's printed duck fabric. My favorite of all printed fabrics.

Here's the problem. He has a 'decorate as you go plan' using the kids work. But, the room looks pretty stark right now. He isn't as uninviting as the room suggests. We need a little help. Because while the Constitution and Bill of Rights are awesome, they leave a little to be desired in the 'learning is fun!' department.

He needs a chair, and I have a staple gun. Actually, he can have my desk chair and I'll take a fun one!

Via First, this website is a great idea. Second, this is a free download! It won't work for his room, but it's a great plan, and I have markers! Use it at home! In a study area or make your own with house rules.

It's just contact paper! He has all kinds of boring metal in his room that is just screaming for a hint of fun!

I found all of this through Pinterest. We don't Google anymore, we ask Pinterest. I searched for 'classroom decor' and under 'education'.

Favorite Friday- Tea Towels!

For the baker in all of us.

My Grandma has never used a dishwasher. We were the dishwashers and tea towels were the bane  of my existence. I had to dry because my sister was/is a perfectionist and would anger me by putting things back in the water that had a speck on them. So, to keep my mom from prison, I was the dryer. 

With tea towels. 

Or something as equalling thin and useless. Why buy new when we've lived through the depression? To be fair, she did have better, she was just saving them for the next depression. To this day, she's basically a full service department store and I've already claimed living with her should there ever be an economic reason. Cookies for decades? Yes please!

Moving on.

To honor my favorite upcoming holiday- Back To School!

Sheep!

For my Main Man. To get the hint.

My style of cooking...

Hello wedding gift/present of any kind!

Any of these can cover rising bread in my house this Fall. 

Which one is your fav?