Coastal Kitchens

** Okay, Okay - I suck. I still haven't put my boys' before and after pics on here. I only have a hand full of more things to do. I'll get on it and not let you down. Oh! and also my front door pic. Soon to come! Promise this week! Promise

Now that we've got that out of the way - on to Coastal Kitchens!

These are some pics I have come upon lately that I am just drooling over. I have a very Coastal Cottage style. I love color but still love neutrals and I adore any type of natural detail such as wicker, shells, sea grass and of course flowers and plants!!

Here they are... Enjoy!

Purrrr...... Open shelving. If only I had the room... and the basket light shades with the white paneling wall... lovely textures!
Look at that starfish garland... I'm not sure I like the cabinetry in this kitchen it is a little too fancy for me but I love the garland! I've got to find me some... google it right!

This light blue is the color I was considering using in my kitchen. I'm really struggling and maybe I'll get y'all to give me your opinion. This kitchen is spacious and I love the long open counter top under the windows where the topiaries are... I think I would want to have a line of herbal plants there in white pots. Fresh herbs for cooking! num! num!

This kitchen is awesome! I love the upper cabinets with the awesome sea grass inserts & that scalloped edge - kind of a fan! I likey!

I so want to paint the wood floor (crappy wood floor) in my kitchen, living/dining area. This flannel-type look is super fabulous don't cha think? Also totally love that center island and all of the open cabinetry, and of course those lights over the center island - this is a tad too modern for this gal but I could deal...

Now, this totally speaks to me. I love a tad of shabby. The doorway is fabulous! Look at all the little signage everywhere, on the bowls, cups, canisters. I love the colors and it all just whispers...Come and sit and have some delicious coffee (Not tea - I don't like tea -- unless it is ice tea ;) then you can take a nap if you like," ... believe me - I LIKE!

The floor and ceiling are totally fascinating! Love Love the island with the cookbooks under there all stacked up and it is just a super welcoming space... It is okay to dream...

I love everything about this! The sideboard, the striped table, chandelier - I'm totally looking for a thrifty chandy for my dining nook. Right now I have a totally ugly ceiling fan. Boooo! Scare me!

Now, Don't you love apron sinks? These two are fab! and love the open shelving! So Charming!!

I love getting ideas and thinking what I could do in my thrifty price range to accomplish a similar look. Super fun! Toodles, The Lady

Watching Pauly's reaction!

This is some pictures I took the other day when Pauly was watching Bambi. Don't you love Bambi when all the little animals are babies - the bunnies, the skunk and Bambi are all playing and running. So cute - this is Pauly's reaction...

a little somethin' somethin'

I miss - My sisters!

I am so loving - singer: Regina Spektor lately - you might of seen her on SNL the other night. She's beautiful and her voice is heavenly!

I wish - that my house was fantastically clean and perfectly organized before my little man arrives.

Something that made me laugh recently - when my husband sneezed while he was sitting on the couch across from where I was sitting in my chair and he totally nailed me! (Made me laugh after I almost barfed!)

I'm hungry for - Fresh tomato sliced on Toast w/ Mayo and Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

I'm listening to - Wait for me, Rebecca St. James (LOVE HER!)

My boys are - Hubby is sitting in living room reading his book (what else is new) and the boy is taking his afternoon nap

Daphnie is - sitting on the rug beside my bed (where I'm sitting blogging) attempting to jump on the bed but she knows better!

Dinner tonight is - Mexican Pulled Pork in Corn tortillas with cheese, sour cream and don't forget the cilantro!

I'm drinking - out of my favorite big hot pink water bottle full of delicious ice water! I prefer ice water over any other drink. I know I'm odd!

Favorite picture I've took recently - is this one...

I see out the window - our poor little garden... All Gone!

Now I'm going to - take a nap!

My Boys

It was such a beautiful day. This morning I got up early with the boy and we had our breakfast and did our morning thing - Ben was off work today so he slept in a little and once he got up I was feeling a little worn out so I went back to bed.

Ben tended the boy and they hung out and went and played outside. I woke up to them playing on the front step - Ben was reading his book and Pauly was... of course, running around- his favorite thing!

I snapped these pics and I really love them! They are by no means professional or perfect looking by no means but MAN! I'm having a blast with my new camera!

Shelley in SC

Have you stumbled upon her? She is usually the gal leaving super encouraging comments and if you have linked up with her blog, you may have found that her writing is SUPER FUN! She is a great writer and she adds in highlights of her daily life leaving you smiling, crying, in deep thought, or ... again, encouraged!

Through my pregnancy she has been super encouraging and obviously I can count on her blog to make me smile! She is by no means perfect and will admit to it but, her posts have a lot of wisdom and I find myself often, tipping my head to the side thinking, "I see what she means -" I know you'll fall in love with her blog and what it can add to your day! The title that streams across her header is "Living with Imperfection - Finding Humor, Beauty, and Joy in the Everyday Ness of Life.

Thank you Shelley in SC for being so fabulous! I've so enjoyed your blog and your sweet comments!

Her post yesterday was one of my favorites so far and here is the link to check it out - it is titled Hot Coffee and Lessons Learned -

Check it out - you'll love her!

Pauly at the Park!!

Today before mama's doctor appointment we went to the park.

At the park I like to go down the slide, (even if they have water on them and mama warned me that I was going to get all wet)

I like to go through the tube,

play with the fun games,

and run on the grass.

Sometimes I fall down,

but I get right back up and start running again! I can run fast!

I love the Park!

Little Mr. #2 says cheeeeeeese!

Last night I was putting my feet up for a little relaxation... notice my toes need repainted, maybe I'll have to add that to my honey-do list *wink* and I was fiddling around with the camera and took a couple pics of my pregnant belly.

Hope I don't offend anyone.

Man! I look worn out!but Little Mr. #2 was very photogenic, don't cha think?Look at all those stretch marks, this isn't really that bad, you should of seen my poor baby sister's stretch marks! Whatever! right?! Well worth it!

Cleaning up outside

This afternoon I swept off the front step and Mr. Pauly helped! Such a good helper to mama! (until he stepped in dog poo and strung it from He** to breakfast on my front steps....)

I put out a little fall wreath I got a couple years back from Grandma Pattie and Mom when they came to see Pauly when he was just weeks old. I also put out my milk jug with some twiggy thingies in it. I think I'll get some pumpkins and maybe some mums to fancy it up a little more and then I'll take a picture of it to show ya! But for now, here are a few pics of Pauly from today. So thankful for my new camera!!

Wednesday's Work Day List:

1. Finish Initial Boards for Boys' Rooms - Check! (See pics below)

2. Iron curtains and hung - Check!

3. Iron Little Mr.'s coming home outfit - Check!

4. Tidy Kitchen, prep and make dinner - Check!

5. Clean Bathroom

6. Decorate front door for Fall - Check!

7. 2 Loads of Laundry (I'll be almost caught up - just in time to try and keep up *wink*)

I am definitely a decorator on a budget! These are some canvases my husband had got me last year for Christmas and they have just been sitting around for a special project - just... like... this... one...

So, First! I painted them all with a white base coat. I used just plain white craft paint - I think I bought all my paints at Wal-mart and Jo-Ann's Crafts...

Next, I painted creamy tan stripes on them...

Then I went to the computer and picked out a font I liked from Word and hand drew on the letters of my boys' first, middle and last initials... I plan to put our last name initial in the middle so I did make the last name initial about 2 inches larger than the first and middle initials which obviously the first initial will go on the left side and the middle initial will be on the right side... like this - PME...Finally, I painted the letters black. Now, these are by no means perfect... but I sure love them and can't wait

to hang them in their bedroom.

I'm hope to post a picture soon of the finale of their bedroom. I'm guessing it will be at the latest by Friday this week as long as everything goes good.

I do have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and it is my first one of the every week ones... how delightful huh! So we'll see what ole doc says tomorrow. I feel great though!

Got my Chicken, Baked Potatoes and Broccoli goin' for dinner and I still need to clean that darn bathroom and do a couple loads of laundry... I think I'll do some laundry tonight while I watch my Gilmore Girls I got from Netflix today... Hooray for Netflix!!! hmmm we'll see about that bathroom... tee hee

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to work I go!

Here is my list:

1. Hang airplane shelf and white shelf in Boys' room - I decided I shouldn't be on chairs so my honey is going to do this tomorrow for me!

2. Make #2 little Mr.'s bed - Check!

3. Clean kitchen of clutter - My honey did this - Check!

4. Paint initials on canvases - over 1/2 way done - can't wait to show you the pics tomorrow!

5. Put away all folded clothes and do 2 loads of laundry - Check!

6. Hang ABC pics in Boys' room - again the husband is on call for this!

7. Change sheets on our bed and make - Check!

I'll be back to update this later! Stay tuned!

***Update!*** Not to bad I thought - I'll reorganize this list and make another in the morning. Awesome!!

Daphnie! Get off of the BED!!

OH Okay - just this once - I guess...

gotta be careful my crazy is showin'!

Crazy is right! I am losin' it!

My husband the last couple of days is just driving me nutts, the smallest things people say the "wrong" way makes me feel like someone is driving their nails down a chalkboard, little man can barely breath in my direction and I just want to scream!

My house is on the verge of being half torch worthy (you know the point where things are such a disarray that you just want to light a match to it and RUN!) I am feeling very "woe is me" too.

I know how blessed I am and I know I have a wonderful husband who loves me, works hard and does pretty good helping me out with the boy and the house, I know I just need to snap out of it and the way that my hormones swing, I probably will write this post, post it to my blog and I'll feel all better.

I'm over whelmed and OH! I got about 4 hours of good sleep last night because of Braxton hicks! I am super nervous about the delivery just in general and well back to the craziness - I'm just out of control with anxiety that I don't have enough things done, that I don't have enough frozen dinners in my freezer and that my little man thinks his mama sucks... :(

I'm smarter than this to really truly believe this craziness and I know I don't have to do this all alone because I have lots of family and friends (not to mention God - "the big gun" as mama refers to him sometimes :) that are here and will be there to help after - it is just that crazy combination of well... Satan and hormones.

I'm going to make a "Absolutely Must Get Done List" tonight - attack it with perseverance tomorrow and I'll know I'll feel better and we all will be better off! I'll keep you posted *wink*

Also, I totally want to thank you all for your sweet comments and encouragement - totally helps me get through my days.

Till tomorrow, The Lady

The boy loves his stool!

The Meltons finally got a fabulous new camera! We love it! and you will hopefully be seeing a lot of new pictures of our little fam!

My boy, about 3 months ago, got a stool to help him be able to start potty training - well I'm not an idiot! There is no way I'm going to start potty training him while I'm finishing up cookin #2!

It will be enough of a change for him to have to go through the transition of a newborn crying baby waking him up at night not to mention having to learn how to not pee his bed when getting woke up - SO I decided to wait but for now he gets to use his new stool to be a little bit more self sufficient.

He uses it to go in the bathroom and wash his hands,

to turn on the light in his bedroom, to grab things he can't reach,

and a lot of times he uses it when he really doesn't need to be using it - but it is such a fabulous stool he just wants to!

It is just too much fun watching him be able to do things by himself... he gets such a big grin on his face and is so proud! It's awesome!

So spoiled!

Totally spoiled! Today at church all the gals got together and put me on a little baby shower! This was totally unexpected as I was extremely touched by their thoughtfulness. I was sure that I wouldn't get a shower for little Mr. Dos which honestly wasn't breaking my heart or anything, I mean he is the second boy and I have everything I possibly could ever need for him BUT then again I kind of felt bad.

I mean with Little Man I got a shower and I have tons of pictures and little cards saved in his baby book from his shower so I guess I just kind of felt bad and I was worried that it would look like this little man wasn't quite as important as my first Little Man's arrival. Stupid I guess, but these ladies made me feel so blessed and gave me so much love and encouragement today. Not to mention the delicious food they all brought...

and all the precious gifts they gave us for our #2 little man. So many wonderful outfits, a handmade blanket, handmade burp rags, a basket full of goodies for mama, books and lots of diapers and wipes. So many treasures!

So thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was so unexpected and incredibly wonderful!

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and HEY! we got our new camera, yes! I can one thing off my wish list!! When we were at the store Little Man (the whole time) kept saying cheese.... cheeeeeeeeeeeeeese... Then for the next two days straight as we tried to figure out settings on the camera and learn how to use it a little bit he kept saying cheeeeeeeese!!! and was loving getting his picture taken... then he was over it.