Retirement Party!/Fourth of July Decor

After 23 years of active duty, my husband retired from the Army.  Now he immediately jumped from the frying pan into the fire with a contract job and is leaving for Afghanistan in a few weeks but not before we could have a proper party for him!

Of course, it was extremely helpful that the party was planned just before the Fourth which made it very easy to find decorations!



This chalkboard frame is typically in my kitchen but I loved using it for the
 entrance to the party.  The Welcome sign came from the Hob Lob and the
wire basket was from Old Time Pottery. 



The table decorations included mason jars-one filled with Hershey's
Cookies and Cream candy and one with a blue votive candle. 
The baskets from OTP were filled with red petunias. 
Of course, flags had to go into everything!



The tin stars and hearts all came from Hobby Lobby.



We used our neighborhood clubhouse for the party so there wasn't a lot we
needed to do as far as decorating in the main area.  We did gather framed photos
of Greg's time in the army and displayed them on the tables, fireplace mantel, etc. 
I also made candy wrappers for Hershey Bars as favors.

Not a very clear photo...darn!  I used clipart for the EOD badge and DJInkers
clipart for the rest.  I love DJInkers and use their graphics for school a lot!!

The floral arrangements included vases from OTP, the tin stars and ribbon
from the HL and those are my own beautiful hydrangeas!  I was so happy
for all the rain we have had to be able to use this many blooms for the arrangements!

I found this standing star at OTP for $11 so it had my name written ALL over it!! 
The sign is from HL but the concrete cardinal is one of my favorite finds
from an antique store in Tennessee last summer. 
 It is usually in my kitchen keeping an eye on things.

This was the table just inside the entrance where guests could sign the
Guest Book and a mat that I will use to frame the EOD badge for the big guy. 
I made the guest book from a  photo/scrapbook album.  I made my own guest pages and glued them into the book.  This way I will be able to scrapbook photos into the remainder of the book.  I personalized the front cover using scrapbook cardstock in blue and printing my own label.

One last look at the chalkboard sign and petunias.  Can't you just smell them?!

Spring in the Backyard and the Living Room!

Delaney took these photos and she makes our backyard look AMAZING!  I guess it is beside the point that I really have a lot of work to do back there but I like the way Delaney shows what is going right!





She likes to play with the settings on her camera and she took several photos
in the living room on a very rainy day.

  




The mantle for spring.

  





Of course, I have to add to our collection of birds for spring!

  




I am adding more green into the living room for spring, I'll take more photos to
show some of the fun pillows I found at Marshalls!

This is the top of the computer hutch in the living room-I love this bicycle print that I found on ebay (it is from Ballard Designs). The mirror was $5.00 at a thrift shop around the corner (literally).  I would love to paint and distress it but... that sounds like a summer project!

  





This is my beautiful new bookcase that Greg and the girls gave me for my birthday!  I LOVE it! 
It is from Nadeau Furniture here in Huntsville.  They have great pieces (usually distressed) for reasonable prices. They do have several locations all over the country-they are worth taking a peek at.  Check them out here.

  




This was a gift from my mom and my brother a few years ago-it looks great on top of the bookcase!

  





It is fun playing around with different things to add to the bookcase!

  




This is the beautiful bouquet Shanley sent for my birthday. 
Cue the violin music...she even wrote a poem for the card!

  



You have to check out my sister, Jennifer's new site. 

She has been restoring and refinishing furniture for years

and is FINALLY going to

start selling pieces.  Her furniture is gorgeous! 

Click here to see what all she has! 



New Winter Fun!

During our "snow week" we had an early spring cleaning and spruced the house up for winter.  We had some fun with pinecones, lacy cedar branches from our backyard and snowflake ornaments bought after Christmas!

We used this beautiful white porcelain bird display for Shanley's graduation party.  Mom "loaned" it to us and I have sort of hijacked it...Jennifer, I promise I am taking care of it!

I added it to the dough bowl with pine cones, cedar and the previously mentioned inexpensive snowflakes!

Just "artfully" displayed serving items on the buffet in the dining room...

I  found this beautiful plate at Marshall's for $4.00-love it!

This beautiful blue bird candle piece came from Cracker Barrel-they already have all of their Spring items out!  I can't resist blue birds!!

The off white knit stocking was $5.00 at Hallmark after Christmas.  The bird and the nest came from Michael's.

We left the glittered trees and houses on the mantle and scrapbooked a page using a vintage postcard (downloaded from Google images and printed on white cardstock).

Another find after Christmas-the Let It Snow sign was 90% at Hobby Lobby.  Wow!

Another plate for just a few dollars from Marshall's.

Yet, ANOTHER great plate from Marshall's...

My mom gave me all of the beautiful mercury glass items for Christmas.  Aren't they beautiful?

I thought I would throw this in-I found this lamp at Marshall's for Shanley's apartment at Auburn.  I loved it and the longer she takes to come home and get it, the less likely it will be hers!  I can think of three different places I would LOVE to have this lamp.  Shanley, are you reading this?!

This is also the afghan that I found for Shanley's apartment after Christmas for $14.00.  Auburn Orange.  War Eagle!!