Shutterfly Photo Cards

We sent the sweetest Mother's Day card to Tyson's favorite Grandmothers this past Mother's Day. They both loved it and it was easy to create, inexpensive and more personalized than a card from the drugstore.

Mother's Day Damask Mother's Day 5x7 folded card

Find unique and elegant Mother's day cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

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You can get your own giftcard from Shutterfly by going here

Tyson's Professional 18 Month Photos

Just a little sneak peek. We're using some of them for our Christmas cards, so I'm saving them until I get the cards sent out. Taken by Kristi Hibbetts.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

It's hard to believe it's been 7 years! Happy Anniversary Ryan! I love you and can't wait to see what's in store for us.

DIY Chalkboard

Long before Tyson was even a brief thought in our minds, this blog was primarily about our lives, our house and my decorating projects. It took me a long time (18+ months or so), but I finally have the DIY bug back. It's certainly not for lack of trying or good intentions, though. I have approximately 10 projects currently going in various states of completion.

So, here's one that I actually finished!

It started out as a print of a ballerina in a frame that I found at Goodwill for $15. I wouldn't normally pay that much for just a frame, but I kept going back to it thinking it would be perfect for something.



I cleaned it up pretty well and painted it with 2 coats of chalkboard paint. I ordered the vinyl "Menu" from an Etsy seller for $3. I orginally thought I would paint or distress the frame a bit, but once I was finished, I realized it had enough distressing of its own. It was already a creamy yellow that would work well against our cream beadboard backsplash.

The final product:



I was a little concerned that the chalkboard part wouldn't actually work because of the material of the original print. It was kind of a cardboard material, but it works!

I was a busy girl working on 2 different projects tonight, so I'll hopefully have at least one of those to share soon!

Holiday Cards!

Is it already that time of year? I have been thinking about designing our holiday cards for nearly a month now. I’m just anxious to get our pictures back from our photographer to make it official. Last year, we used Shutterfly.com and ordered the flat cardstock Fa La La card. With one Christmas-y photo that I took of Tyson, the cards turned out better than we could have imagined. We loved them and we received loads of compliments on the card we sent out last year. So, how do we top it for this year?

First off, I need to make some decisions. I think I have it narrowed down to a few options. I definitely prefer the flat cardstock cards as opposed to some other options. I prefer simpler designs and Shutterfly has plenty of them. So far, I’m thinking of either the Pretty Poinsettia Print card or the Bright and Merry card. Or, maybe the Scrapbook Style Blue card. Such a hard decision to make! For our friends and family, you’ll just have to wait and see which one we decide to use. Happy (early) Holidays!

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18 Months

Enjoying the last few warm days of fall:

Poor, sick baby:

Dear Tyson-

Only 6 monts until your second birthday? Time must slow down soon. You have a pretty nasty cold right now, but we're getting through it. You continue to be a total joy in our lives. You have the best attitude, nearly always happy and smiling. Of course there are moments when you're tired, sick or your teeth hurt, but we're lucky that they are few and far between.

Despite our best efforts, you still have a very limited diet. Brooke tried for eight days straight to get you to try (even once) a vegetable, but you refused. Mama is okay with you not liking certain foods, but you don't even try them first. Maybe some day. This month, you have liked to have cereal snacks with mama, sitting on the stool at the counter. You're still not steady enough to do it completely by yourself (they are backless stools after all), but you do a great job and look like such a big boy while you're at it.

Mama and Daddy are so impressed with how much you say now. I think the number of words has to be at least 20 or more now. You've started repeating what we say, good or bad. While you played football with Daddy, he taught you how to say fumble!, but in your voice sounds more like bumble! You are still loving to watch football and each time it's on, you grab your own small football and throw it or kick it around the room. Daddy is ready to sign your NFL contract as a kicker or punter.

We love you so much and continue to be amazed by you each and every day. Love, Mama and Daddy

30 Days of Thanks

I so meant to start this on November 1, but somehow I failed to actually get around to it.

#27: I am thankful for a giveaway on the Southern Hospitality blog. I've been a huge fan of Rhoda for a while and a new lens for my camera would be fabulous!

#28: I am thankful my husband made it home from another business trip safely and that Tyson was kind to his mama while Daddy was away.

#29: I am thankful to live in a country where we can vote in peace. Even if we may not be happy with the outcome of the election, we still have the right to vote.

#30: I am thankful for a new month and a lovely holiday season to look forward to.

Happy Halloween!

Even though we're not Star Wars fans (I'm sure to my brother's dismay), Ryan and I decided months before Halloween that Tyson would be Yoda this year. Doesn't he make a perfect one?

We had a great Halloween weekend! A party with some of mama and Tyson's friends...lots of little kids around his age, dinner with Grandma and Grandpa H, Aunt Jaime and Uncle Reggie and new baby cousin Morgan made for a busy Saturday. On Sunday, we had a cookout with our neighbors before the trick-or-treating started. We decided that Tyson wouldn't trick-or-treat this year, but he had a blast handing out candy to all of the kids.

Love the little Master Yoda!