Trying to Hold On

This explains my summer:

{This is my soon to be teenager, Miss A, while out tubing recently}


The picture depicts how I have felt this whole summer. Trying to hold on, while life spins out of control. Swim practices, dive practices, swim meets, dive meets, running (me), conditioning class, voice lessons, tennis camp, action camp, shutter project, kitchen project, work, boating, cleaning, organizing, cooking, shopping & a bit of relaxing with friends & family. 


I will be back to share some awesome photos with you. When things slow down a bit!!
Hugs,

Key Holder & Under the Kitchen Sink

Key Holder is the Key
I have found that in order to get out the door in a hurry, that it is important to have your keys handy. PB had a great key holder but it ran almost $100. My solution was this one from HobLob for $8 and another from Joann's for $13 & some SPRAY PAINT!

I used several coats of this primer on the holders:

Seaside Green

Aqua

After:

Here is a closeup of the key ring, I just purchased plain key rings & added scrapbook paper with a bit of mod podge & then transferred an "L" onto the paper. My husband painted the heads of the screws that he used to hang them with, can you even see them? 
LOVE these beachy colors, especially on a white wall!

This was an item on my Anti-Procrastination list: 

• clean under the kitchen sink DONE

Before:

I created a mini-recycling center with these 3 gallon trash cans.  Plastic goes in the left & aluminum in the right one. When they fill up they are taken out to the recycling area in the garage where newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, & plastic bags are recycled & then they are taken to the recycling center at our school. Proceeds go to the school & all of this stuff stays out of the landfill:

A handy dandy bag keeper from Target for under $10:

I moved a lot of cleaning supplies & other unused items to their respective places. Don't you think that the area under the sink becomes a catch all area? And the final result:

Ahhh, much better now that I am not wrestling bags to stay put in the cupboard! 


I also finished all of my paperwork. I am trying to stay on top the new stuff coming in, too!


Hope you are enjoying summer. We need some sunshine! My flowers are asking, where's the sun?? Hoping the beautiful rays find you while creating new memories!

"School's Out for the Summer" Mode

The kids have been out of school for one week & I haven't posted anything in that time. I wish I could say that I have been lounging around in my hammock! The truth is we have already had a visit to the emergency room for Mr. F., my 12 year old wild boy, who fell & gashed his leg while at an end~of~the~school~year~shaving~cream~party. He is doing really well & will have the stitches out in no time. We have attended some awesome graduation parties. I cannot believe that these kids are graduating, where did the time go? We are in full mode of swimming & diving with practices and already a couple of meets in just one short week! Also, I accomplished BOTH things on my Anti-Procrastination List!! And I am happy to say that my new kitchen chairs are in & will be getting slipcovers very soon. Did I mention that they are gorgeous & look PERFECT in my kitchen? Ahhh, happiness!


We also had an impromptu road trip with the kiddos to a fantastic new place that we have been wanting to go to! It is called Wake Nation. It is located north of Cincinnati & it is a cable park for wakeboarders, wake skaters, & water skiers & kneeboarders. It was a total balst & my kids were able to meet two professionals. I was able to meet up with a friend from childhood neighborhood. Hubby was able to try his abilities at boarding on a cable line rather than behind a boat. He was awesome! What a blast!


Some pics for ya:


Teacher gifts of summer cups, summer tray, plastic bucket, homemade card & gift card:

Love how great the kids did on their homemade cards. The one with Frappe included a Starbucks gift card and the one with the ice cream cone included a Coldstone Creamery gift card! Their notes to their teachers were super sweet!

Mr. F is in the middle:

Mr. F after 12 stitches:

Girls @ Wake Nation

My hubby is a natural & got the hang of this cable wakeboarding gig very fast! I was impressed:) 

Shaun & I were childhood friends. We lived in the same neighborhood & attended the same elementary, jr. high & high school. We connected via Facebook & she came to see us at the wakeboard park. We had some amazing things to catch up on & it was awesome just to see her! She is still peppy & energetic: 

Mr. F w/ pro wakeskater Danny Hampson:

Girls with pro Danny Hampson:

Kids with Bob Soven pro wakeboarder:

This is Bob doing his thing, {very amazing}:

A close-up of Bob that my 12 year old captured, she has a great eye:

Danny & Bob were so very nice! They love what they do & they were so KIND to my kids. It was really fun. You can catch Bob & his brother on the cover of this month's Wakeboarding mag! Bob on right, isn't that a cool pic?



And I wouldn't forget to leave you with what is blooming in my yard. Gorgeous phlox:

Hope your summer is off to a great start! I will soon post about my Anti-Procrastination list. Hope you have a great weekend that is filled with sunshine!
Hugs,

French~inspired Giveaway Winner

Claudia from The Paris Apartment was the big winner of my french~inspired giveaway! Congrats Claudia. It may make your return from Paris a bit easier!


If you are interested in purchasing one of these pendants, you can email me (below About Me) and I will email you the information about how to purchase the pendant. 


Anti~Procrastination Tuesday Progress
I was featured last week on Amy's New Nostalgia for my office post. Check out her blog. You will get motivated to get some projects completed! 


Last week's list:

Enjoy peonies & iris in the sunshine DONE~see pics in this post!

Feed children DONE (many times, they are growing!)

Get ready for long weekend: buy sunscreen & something to grill DONE

Clean some windows, if I feel like it! DONE (more to go!)

Paperwork STILL ON LIST

Teacher gifts DONE, went with gift cards & kids will make cute card w/a personal note

Buy flower seeds DONE, planted & all flowers purchased & planted!!

Take hubby Snapple tea, while he mows DONE (he mowed 2 times last week!)

Research last day of school "surprise" for kids DONE (purchased & in hiding!!!)

Enjoy friends DONE, had fun with new & old friends & met new neighbors

This is a busy week with it being the last week of school. I am volunteering for a couple of events @ school. Since, I have a busy schedule, I am keeping the list short & sweet! 

This week's list 6/1/10:

1. Paperwork~really I have to get it done! I don't want it hanging over my head next week when the kids are out of school. We have more important things to do like go to the pool, visit friends, & go to the zoo. 
2. Clean & reorganize under my kitchen sink~I am going to create an area for recycling (instead of the kitchen countertop). I am going to recycle the plethora of plastic bags. I will try to post pics. 

I have also been finishing random things on previous lists. My computer backup that was under warranty, had to be shipped off. Fortunately my second backup device is working and was put to good use, as I backed up more than 16,000 photos. Really, I did. The shutters are ordered. The swing set is completely stained. The repair parts for washer dryer & dishwasher are in & need to be scheduled. 

Leaving you with some of my fave pics of my peonies (and a lav iris & white iris joined in) from last week~heaven~:

Wishing you a productive & fun week! Hugs,