Friday Fabulous

I just had to share these fabulous Traditional Home photos of a home

in Rosemary Beach to kick-off your weekend.

The calendar says it is still August, but we have high school football, soccer practice and a volleyball party on tap for the weekend. That sounds like fall to me. Oh please Mr. Temperature, get the message that cooler weather is needed!

Happy Friday everyone!

Krissy

Photos via

Master Bedroom Spice

Hello Lovelies! Now that all of my kiddos are back in school,  and I have two weeks until I go back to school (I teach preschool two days a week. I know, hard times.), it is time for mama to get some projects done! Today, I had the carpets cleaned. Side note: we have been in our home for a year and a half. You would think that we are pigs and our home is surrounded by mud and slop to look at our carpets. Anyone else? Or is my family really a bunch of pigs? The carpet looks so much better! Okay, back to the point at hand. Projects! I finally got around to purchasing some chandeliers. I could not find what I wanted during our remodel and the budget just wouldn't stretch, so I have some dark rooms. No more! Installation coming soon! One of those little lovelies is going in the master. It just needs some polish, so that is my next project.

I love my bedroom. It is a cozy space and I have it crammed with an enormous bed and large furniture that would make most designers cringe, but, I love it! I love the fact that I have to make a running jump to get on my bed. I love the love seat at the foot of the bed that is great for reading and snuggling with my family. I love my bedding. I splurged on Leontine Linens several years ago and I am still happy with it. So what is wrong? No curtains and a lack of polish to the room. We live in a 1960's ranch and still have the 1960's windows in this part of the house. You know, the lovely windows that start four feet off of the floor. Not. pretty. at. all. Again, the budget that wouldn't stretch comes into play. Someday, maybe, new windows will be on the agenda. In the meantime, curtains!

Here are my inspirations from Pinterest. 

 I love the color in this room.

 This is more color than I will have, but I love the coziness of the space, the bedside tables and the framed pin board in the corner.

This is sexy!

 Designer Hillary Thomas - love

Color!

This is the master of Edie from Life In Grace. I adore this!

xoxo,

Krissy

All photos via Pinterest

Milestones

Yesterday, we hit a big milestone at the Pearl household. Fisherman started high school. High school! How can that be? I remember his first day of Kindergarten like it was yesterday. When did he learn to tie his shoes and say his alphabet, learn his times tables and read books without pictures? When did he stop having me walk him into school and do his homework on his own? I am so excited for him and this new chapter, but you wouldn't know it by the way I boohooed as he drove away with Mr. Pearl yesterday morning. I made it worse by thinking that because of his late spring birthday (and assuming he stays out of trouble), this will be the last time one of his parents drives him to school! 

Kindergarten Fisherman

First day of high school - ninth grade

Today was a bit better, no tears. Sweet Pea and Sport start school tomorrow morning. I will be driving them to school and walking them in and maybe hanging around more than I should, but I don't care. Time is going too fast and I am going to savor these moments. Good luck to other moms out there! It's okay to cry!

xoxo,

Krissy

Oh No!!!!

School starts next week! The summer is over, but it just began! Be still my heart. I am so not ready for ninth, seventh and fourth grade. If I hide under my covers, will it just not happen? Oh, if it were that easy. I feel as though I have been registering for college all over again preparing Fisherman for high school. Whoa! High school is NOT what it used to be. Thank the good Lord that I have a wonderful, smart boy that can navigate the road through high school without his momma holding him back.

Good luck to everyone else in the same boat and 

HAPPY END OF SUMMER!

Krissy

photos via Pinterest

Summer Cocktails - Fish Camp Glam

I guess I have fishing on the brain, as it has occupied a great deal of my summer plans. I have collected quite a few of these minnow buckets and use them as decor in Fisherman's room and even a light. When I ran across this pic, I couldn't help but chuckle at how this set-up would "glam-up" fish camp. I will definitely bring all the provisions on our next trip or maybe just use it for cocktails this weekend!

Cheers!

Krissy

photo via

Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream

Sweet Pea in Telluride

I have heard the Reverend Mother from the Sound of Music singing this song in my head as the soundtrack of my summer. Does anyone else do that? Play a constant soundtrack of your life in your head? Well, I have never claimed to be normal. This summer was supposed to be one that we would lay-low and stay close to home. Boy was that ever a wrong assumption! 

I got out of my comfort zone and had some great adventures with the mini-pearls and Mr. P. My comfort zone that consists of carefully planning vacations and mapping-out our calendar to a "t." So, accepting an invitation to leave town for a week with all three kiddos with less than twenty-four hours to prepare - way out of that zone! But, I did it and had a marvelous time with a precious friend and her boys in the mountains.

Me and the Mini-pearls overlooking Ralph Lauren's ranch

The whole gang!

Sport started a rock collection on the trip

Fisherman and his fly rod

Mr. P and I sent Sweet Pea and Sporty to two different camps for two weeks each. Two different camps, on two different schedules, with only one week of overlapping time. That is two drop-offs and two pick-ups - a logistical nightmare. However, Baby Girl wanted horses and SCUBA lessons at camp this summer. These were not available at the camp she previously attended with Sport. The things we do for our children. What about Fisherman, you ask? In spite of the fact that he is our "outdoorsman" and one would think that camp would be heaven for him, it is not. The boy has given it the old college try, more than once, at some of the best camps in Texas and well, camp just isn't for him. Therefore, a fishing trip was in order.

Sweet Pea and her camp buddy

For anyone who says that Texas isn't beautiful, this is a picture of the river valley where Sport is in camp. Sweet Pea's was just over the hills in the distance....beautiful!

Dropping Sport off at camp

Mr. P decided to take Fisherman bay fishing on the coast. I was invited to tag along on the boys' trip. Here again, I left my comfort zone to stay in a fish camp cabin with two of my boys. I ate barbecue and cheese and peanut butter crackers, got up before dawn and yes ladies, I held my own! I out-fished the boys the first day (my son was not pleased). I stayed in a place where the only food was fried and the nearest vegetable was the wilted lettuce garnish on my fish plate. I caught a shark and I held it and had the opportunity of a lifetime to make memories with my oldest son and husband.

The Boys' Fishing Trip

Mr. P and I did sneak in a quick trip away for a few days and now, here we are. It's the end of July and school starts in two short weeks! Football and homework and carpools - oh my! Sporty is still at camp this week, so I have my two oldest at home. What a summer!

Enjoy these last few says of summertime and step out of your comfort zone!

Krissy

It's A BOY!

After much anticipation, the world has a royal baby boy to celebrate! I hung my Union Jack on the front door and am celebrating with a spot of tea. Now we can all anxiously await the naming of this little lad! This has been a crazy summer, and I will catch you up when I can. In the meantime, Cheers!

xoxo,

Krissy

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea

My baby girl turns twelve today!

Happy Birthday to my smart, beautiful, compassionate, determined, athletic, creative daughter.

We love you and the joy you bring to our lives each day. May this next year be the best one ever!

We love you!

God Bless America

 here

here

Happy Birthday America!

Krissy

Every Heart Beats True

for the red, white and blue!

Happy Fourth of July week everyone! I love this holiday. We plan on attending our neighborhood parade, swimming with friends and then off to another family of precious friends and their annual dinner and fireworks extravaganza! We have been blessed with temperatures in the 80's this week and no humidity. (That is unheard of here in July) So, being outside is actually pleasant and adds to the fun of the week. I hope you will be celebrating with those you love!

Here is some red, white and blue inspiration.

 here

 here

 here

 This is my own dining room table!

 here

Happy Birthday America!

Krissy

This Little Piggy...

is from World Market. I love that place! I went in to purchase a chair for Sport's room and left with a little friend. Well, Fisherman and Sweet Pea left with a little pig. It is just the cutest thing. It is a tiny grill and makes the best s'mores. It is too cute on our back patio.

They have named him Mr. Piggy. You too can have one here and it also comes in an elephant!

Happy Summer!

Krissy

Not Your Mama's Camp Trunk

Southern women love to monogram and personalize everything. My husband has said that if it will sit still, I will monogram it. I cannot confirm or deny this. One of my favorite projects to work on are camp trunks. Camp is a big deal here in Texas. I don't know who loves it more: the kiddos or the parents. One camp essential is the camp trunk. You have to pack your camper with all the things they will need for one week and for some, four weeks. No fear, the trunk can take it!

I have ordered our trunks from Everything Summer Camp. I am not getting paid to advertise for them. I just love their products and recommend them to all my friends! At many camps, the trunk sits at the foot of the camper's bed and is their way to personalize their little chunk of space. So, personalization is a must! Here are a few of the trunks that I have painted through the years. For some reason, I have not photographed the trunks for boys. They are more "tame" than the girls. My boys like to put stickers on theirs. I have also used sports team pennants, camo, hunting and extreme sports for themes. 

The inside lid of the trunk is a great place to tape a family photo and a sweet note to your camper. I also put a packing list there, so that we hopefully we will return home with most of our things, and I include my number one rule of camp (after having the greatest time ever) "No wet things in your trunk!" Large ziplock bags are a camper mom's best friend. I pack theme night clothing and special outfits in them and label them accordingly.

A well-packed trunk makes me feel as though I can still take care of my babies when they are away from me. I envision them opening their trunks each day and feeling my love through the sweet note and the easy to find, well-labeled clothing. I know that the labels that I ironed on their undies will make their camp experience even better. This is what I tell myself, so that when we pick Sport up and get him home from two weeks of camp heaven and I open his trunk and find pretty much everything still clean and in the bags that I packed them in I won't go crazy. Yes, that has happened. When asked why only two pairs of socks seem to be the only ones worn for two weeks - "I didn't want to ruin them all." was the reply. When asked why only one set of sheets was dirty, "We didn't have time to change them. They feel kind of sandy though." Uugghh! In his defense, underwear was changed, showers were taken and more than one shirt was worn. Not sure about the toothbrush and I don't want to know. Sweet Pea usually does use everything. She would want me to say that. 

Happy camping!

Krissy