Happy Monday!

I think Mondays are only happy in the summer - or when it's holiday.

After viewing Facebook this morning I feel like my weekend should have been spent head to toe in red, white, and blue, in a pool/on a lake/engaging some kind of water activity, eating copious amounts of BBQ, and watching/setting off fireworks. Seriously, is it just me or does every holiday seem bigger than before? I know I've read articles about how parents feel that have to celebrate every holiday with perfect Pinterest crafts, Elf on the Shelf, etc.? But many of my friends are without kids. I don't know - maybe I'm just being a a bit curmudgeonly but it just seems like so much work to enjoy something.

Despite my little side rant just now, I didn't spend the weekend on the couch with the blinds drawn - that was only Sunday. I did manage to make it to the Cardinals game on Saturday with my entire family. Unfortunately, we lost in the 9th inning. But it was still a great game - saw back to back home runs! We then BBQ'd back at our house.


Today I'm hanging out with my friend Emily - were headed to lunch and then crafting. Fun times. The rest of the week will be spent in workshops and hopefully putting together the TV console for the living room. Pictures to come soon!

I have a confession.

I've lived in my house for two and half years and up until Friday my beautiful basement built-ins (one of the reasons why I loved this house) looked like this:


Empty! For over two years. Unbelievable.

When it came time to picking items to put there or even thinking about what they should like, I was just overwhelmed. It was too blank of a canvas.

But as Chris and I prepare to host a couple of holiday gatherings we decided that built-ins could be bare no more. So over Thanksgiving break, I did my best to fill those shelves with Christmas cheer.


Taking a tip from Young House Love, I lined the back of the shelves with some burlap looking wrapping paper for a temporary change. And then just started putting things up there and tinkering with them until I liked their placement.

How I wish I already owned most of the items but there was a little cost associated with this decorating adventure. Thankfully Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Pier 1 all had great sales and coupons. I also shopped Goodwill and tried to get creative with things I already had - like the green "present" on the top left shelf are just my high school yearbooks wrapped in pretty paper.

Now that the basement is decorated we are officially ready for the holidays - at least decorations wise. Shopping is another story!

Imagine my astonishment this morning when I looked at the calendar and saw that tomorrow is July.

What?!

I may have had a mini-meltdown before breakfast, "But I haven't even been to the pool yet! School practically starts tomorrow!"

When I finally calmed down I remembered that the Fourth of July is coming up and I should probably decorate.

After browsing Pinterest for ideas and saying 'Merica for a half hour I decided to get all patriotic with a simple chevron flag design. Is the chevron craze over yet? Hope not, cuz I'm still digging it!



I didn't want to spend all afternoon creating something so using supplies I had on hand - red,white, and blue scrapbook paper, scissors, a ruler, tape, and a spare frame I put this together.

The easiest way for me to cut the zig zag shape was following this tutorial from A Simple Kind of Life. I didn't think I would need instructions on such an easy task but sometimes my brain likes to make simple things difficult. In about 10 minutes I had my lines drawn and ready to cut.

Then I just arranged the chevron strips of paper in lines that resembled Old Glory, taped them down, and there you go!

Anyone else have a lady love for Sabrina Soto? I could watch the High Low Project all day long!

I debated on whether or not to add stars but figured that would have to be cut pretty small and wouldn't make much of an impact.

So in about 25 minutes of drawing and cutting I have a simple, patriotic frame to add to my tiny window ledge.

Did you decorate for Independence Day? I love celebrating the Fourth with a good BBQ and watching fireworks. Hopefully we will head to the river front this year to see some pretty ones!

Ah, the first official holiday of the school year. I'm going to spend it  grocery shopping, cleaning house, and painting my nails. Thank goodness I already graded papers - so no school today, woohoo!

One of my favorite thing about days off is reading all of my favorite blogs while eating my breakfast. And wouldn't you know Danavee at This Vintage Grove has a great Shabby Apple giveaway going on. Go check out her blog and enter to win!

And have a wonderful and relaxing day off!