Dalton is 2!

"Monster Truck Party!" is what I heard for weeks before Dalton's 2nd birthday party. To say he was excited was an understatement.
Here was his invitation:

Redneckin' Good Time Ya'll
Everyone did a wonderful job dressin up redneck. Impressed. It was easy to decorate because Dalton has a bizillion monster trucks passed down from his cousin, Cooper. Our house also has a lot of yard junk due to the ever lasting renovation projects, it just worked. We had a blast, enjoy the pics!

Dalton and his cousin, Dory, helped me make these table covers
with paint and monster truck wheels.

Dalton and his friend, Amelia. Dalton and I both ordered
our shirts from etsy

The Dunns

Kate and Evie in plaid

Dalton really hasn't had cake or anything that resembles it since his one year party. He was pretty happy. I found
these great mini cupcakes at Ivey's Cakes that are gluten free and vegan.

Jack took the kids for a ride in the "daltonator" monster truck.

Everybody just chillin' on the porch

The food of champions (and when I say champions, I mean nauseated, I feel disgusting, champions):
White castle burgers, corn dogs, funyons, pork skins, and cheese puffs.

Don't forget your string cheese

I borrowed some tire mulch from the playground down the street. Shhh.  It was
very hard to keep all the monster trucks on display with Dalton around.

Anna and Baby Ellen. Love the leopard 

My grandfather's jacket from his "Nashville Now" days. 

Cooper, Steph, and Matt

Not seen: flip flops with socks

Classin up the neighborhood

Have you swapped yet?!

I have annually held a Clothing Swap Party for the last couple of years. It's the key to getting a new wardrobe and not pay lots of $. I highly encourage you to do it! It's so easy. I score lots of great items. A couple of tips:

• Try to do it around the time people are cleaning out their closets or changing out seasonal clothes. I just did one on the first day of Spring.
• Wash your clothes before swapping and make them look like they have to be taken! I usually try to "sell" my items... "Blue is such a good color on you." "This goes well with a skirt or jeans." "This would make the cutest beach dress."
• Invite people with similar styles, various sizes.
• Take leftovers to Goodwill or Thriftsmart for them. After everyone leaves just load up the car, it really takes no time.
• Throw in the option of home goods. Frames, tablecloths, etc. You could even have a separate Home Goods swap.
• Have floor length mirrors ready and a changing area
• Provide goodies to munch or drink on while shopping to make it like a party
• Even if you feel like your items may be out of date or ugly, still bring them. It's hard to judge your stuff when you've seen it for 5 years. Someone else may love it! Bring those items that you know you will never wear. Just face the facts, sister.
• Having a large table or hanging rack is helpful to see everything. Split up the items into pants, skirts, dresses, t-shirts, blouses, accessories, shoes, etc. Have a jewelry display- a cork board covered in fabric with pins works well.
• Provide bags for your guests to take home their items (and so no one steals the already claimed items)
• If you are concerned about the amount of items someone takes or that others won't get a fair shot, you can make them swap the amount they brought. I'm pretty laid back, so I say just go for it. If it's a popular item, you can draw a number or something.

How to throw a Downton Abbey Party

My sweet friends, Katie and Richard, had their second girl in November. Our neighborhood fellowship group decided to throw her a Downton Abbey "sprinkle" in honor of her love of the show and her graceful, English-like manner.

Invitations: I made up a school-age crafty invitation for only Katie since it was just us girls (I think I sent out a quick evite). I say crafty because Katie is an artist and I can't draw worth a flying flip. I am creative but I can not create on my own. The invitation was in a shape of a tea cup with a string mimicking the tea bag. The unfortunate part about it is I gave it to Richard. He forgot and I forgot to remind him or check to see if she got it. Oh well! Ha. At least I sent her a text before to say where and when :).

Dress code: You can pick the upstairs or downstairs crew. Hats are important. Gloves. Some sort of fur. Of course, my Martha Stewart friend, Anna, made her maid costume. It was perfect.
The theme was a surprise for Katie, so we provided her with a stole, gloves, and jewelry.

Food: High tea style. Delicate sandwiches, scones with clotted creme, fruit, crumb cake, mini quiches, assortment of teas... dainty food.

Decor: Frame pictures of the Crawleys, tea pots/tea cups, white table cloths, fresh cut flowers, fine china and silver. For the framed pictures, I poured coffee on some of them to make it look vintage. Just a little, then dry and place in a silver frame.
My friend, Mary Jane's husband, had sent me this paper doll link last year (sorry to miss you guys at the party!) from Vulture. I cut them out, hung them, and gave some to Katie, too.
Traci made an amazing sign of the Estate. Complete with pictures of the cast with Katie, Richard, Jane, and Ouisey's head on their bodies. Awesome!

What does a newborn baby have to do with Downton Abbey, you ask? Who cares?! It's a theme and that's all you need to know.
Now, who wants to discuss Downton? (me: shaking head in disbelief)

Surprise!

Lady in waiting helping Katie get dressed for the tea.

I found these cute tags from Michael's Martha Stewart line and attached them to string.

Lady Ouisey

Lady Katie, our guest of honor

Hall and Big Room

We finally painted the hall! I can't find my before pics... there used to be a doorway where D is standing. Jack moved it to the center end of the hallway. Therefore, there has been a huge drywall patch on this side for a year and a half. I painted the walls linen by restoration hardware and the doors a fresh white (they were a confusing off white mix).

Old doorway and hall

There are a lot of doors here-ha... closet behind hall door, basement door, master and d's room doors, and bathroom door.

Next, we painted the large upstairs area. I had originally picked one color for the whole area, but Jack talked me into two. I'm glad I did it. I finally feel like I'm settling into our home with paint and pictures on the wall. Feels great to be organized for a hot second. Thankful for time and resources to feel at home.

The beginning. Sorry it's so dark, no lights working yet! No skylights!

Old kitchen area

Ceiling Vaulted

Kitchen cabinet shells

Cabinets in, can lights in kitchen and living room, under mount lights finally in!

Silver Sage by restoration hardware in living room

Hopefully at some point I can get curtains, lamps, and a rug/coffee table to complete the space!

Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore

This area will eventually be the mudroom/laundry room. We definitely need more storage.

Mudroom to come. Our new color is quite similar to the old one!

We are almost to the finish line of the kitchen. Next up is the island, framing out the fridge, light fixtures, and countertops. Again, these are just bonuses. I am thankful for we have finished!

Renovations!

I have been a little absent from blogging! There have been lots of things I've been wanting to blog about but I just have been spending a lot of my time being healthy and playing with my boys.
We have also been busy working on the house again! Hooray. I have recently been itching for my house to be in order and to have pictures up on the wall. In order for this to happen, I had to make a deadline. Jack is great with deadlines. Once I was back and at 'em, I was able to start painting and caulking/filling holes, etc. again. That I can do. I painted the bathroom, hall, and Jack and I both tackled the kitchen/living room! It feels amazing to finally get everything painted. I took it room by room, did some at night, and during D's nap times. Painting is such an affordable, quick, and easy project that transforms the room.
First up, the bathroom!

Before: Unfortunate brown

Patched drywall. It's been there for a year since Jack patched a leak we found early on upon moving in. 

AFTER! Pale Silver by Restoration Hardware
This was in our former master bath. Why change when you trust a color and love it?! 

Makes me feel like I'm in a spa
(Katie Cowan's beautiful flower fit perfectly in the room)

Unfortunately, I got attacked by the medical robbers... they took all of our money. More on this later, but we can't do what we had originally planned for this room. This is actually fine, the house is in great shape. The changes we will make are mostly wants, not needs. We will eventually move out the vanity under the window (weird. The things this guy did are very strange and he is horrible at drywall. Reality check!) and put in a double, replace the deep, jet tub (the drain system behind it is whack), and put in a shower. For now, I think the paint did an amazing job!