{Fall Fun}

I know I am CRAZY behind on posts.  I have been really busy with my business, so any spare time I have has been spent with the littles.  I have a ridiculous amount of photos I want to post here to keep track of some really special events.  I will hopefully do a catch-up post later in the week.  But for right now...

Last weekend, Kevin and I took the boys to Yule Forest 155 Pumpkin Farm to get our Halloween pumpkin (that we still haven't carved).  We have a tradition of taking fall photos at the pumpkin patch and I could not be more pleased with this year's results.  The light was incredible and the colors on the trees were absolutely stunning!  Plus, I remembered to hop in some of the shots this year...which never happens!  I just love these boys...oh, my heart!

Hayden took the shot of Kevin and I above...not bad!  He watches what I do, and has learned over time how to find the light and how to focus my camera.  It is so funny to hear him directing us to get a shot.  The photo of the boys walking away from us is another tradition.  Here are the last 3 years' photos side-by-side...

They have grown so big over the last 3 years, but one thing never changes.  Hayden takes care of his little brother, and Colton thinks he hung the moon.  I pray they always have that relationship...it is such a blessing to watch!

Happy Halloween Everybody!  Stay Safe and Eat Lots of Candy!!!

{1 Year & My Furry Babies}

It is so hard to believe that this photo was taken a year ago yesterday (9/19/2011).That day started a new chapter for the Burtch Family.  It was scary, exciting, happy and sad all at the same time.  Since that day, God has blessed us in ways we never imagined.  I know that Kevin and I made the right decision in moving back to GA.  We have been challenged, and had to fight some pretty HUGE battles, but our faith has grown and our family is stronger than ever.  I am so very excited about our future here, but am very content with my life now.  We are where we are supposed to be.

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On to my furry babies.....

I happen to be one of "those people" who believe that a house is not a home unless you have a few 4 legged creatures running around.  A lot of people don't understand that frame of mind, but I just adore animals and would have a menagerie if my husband would let me.  He pretends that he "tolerates" them, but he did recently come home with baby chickens in tow!  Regardless of his opinions, Kevin allows me to have my pets, because he knows they make me happy.  He's a good man!

That being said, my pups are quite elusive when it comes to the camera.  Frankie is my old lady...She's 7, a Hurricane Katrina rescue puppy, who loves tennis balls and stealing human food from the boys at dinner time.  She has always been a handful, but has turned out to be the best dog EVER (think Marley & Me).  As far as photos go, she is SO over it...as you can tell from the look in her eyes in the first image below.

Bella is my sweet 2 year old German Shepherd.  She annoys the mess out of everyone else that walks in the door with her puppy energy, but will calm down long enough to climb onto the bed at night and pretend she's a (90 lb) lap dog.  She has a good heart, loves getting her sister (Frankie) wound up in the backyard, rarely ever gets to eat her treats because she doesn't want to fight with Frankie for them, and she always sits at my feet when I edit (imagine her big ole self crammed under an Ikea desk...it's funny).  I have virtually no photos of her, except for shots taken at a distance. The camera scares her...she literally freaks out when she sees me with it.  I have never even had a toddler react that way to my camera!!

Shots like the ones below are few and far between, so I wanted to make sure and document them.  The girls were sleepy and both climbed onto the bed in my office for a nap, while I was editing.  I, with the help of my trusty sidekick Hayden, was able to get some great photos of them both. I think they were just too tired and lazy to stop me! 

{DIY Photo Plaque}

Two weekends ago, I had a BIG DIY weekend.  First the flag, and then 2 photo plaques to complete my new mantle decor.  I have seen these floating around Pinterest and decided to take a swing at it.  We actually managed to get an awesome family portrait at the beach this year, as well as a pretty dramatic shot of the boys.  I wanted to display them both but didn't want to spend the money for frames.

I started off by purchasing two wooden plaques at Hobby Lobby, one to fit a 5x7 print and the other an 8x10 print.  I purchased both for less than $5.00.  I then printed the photos out on matte photo paper, which I already had handy.  I chose to leave the plaques as they were.  I toyed with the idea of staining them dark, but didn't want the mantle to be too heavy.  It was far less time consuming this way...just sayin'...and I think they balanced out the flag nicely.  If you want to try this project, you will also need Modge Podge (matte version), a paint brush or sponge, and a dry rag.

 Yes, I use my washer and dryer for projects.  It's the perfect height.  Don't judge!

Step 1: Brush a thin layer of MP on the wood plaque and let it dry completely.  This will establish a perfect base for your print.

Step 2: Once the first layer of MP has dried, bush another layer on the wood, as well as a the BACK of the photo.

Step 3: Carefully position the print onto the wood plaque.  I needed an extra set of hands for this part.  Once the MP has been brushed on the back of the print, it will become flimsy.  So, you really only have one shot at getting this right. 

Step 4: Once the print is positioned how you want it, use a thin rag to GENTLY smooth out any air bubbles.

Step 5: Add a thick layer of MP to the top of the print to seal it in.  It will be cloudy at first, but will dry clear.

Once it's dry, you are ready to display your photos.  This was super easy and much cheaper than purchasing frames.  Not to mention, your options are limitless!  You can paint them any color you want and the plaques come in tons of different shapes and sizes!

The finished product!!!

{DIY Flag Project}

My family was wondering around Kudzu Antiques Market (one of my favorite places on the planet) a few months ago, when something jumped out at me.  It was a super awesome, handmade, reclaimed wood flag that used seashells instead of stars.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I love all things red, blue and beach.  This piece cost an arm and a leg, so there was no way I could bring it home...especially since Kevin was in the store with me.  So, I waited patiently until I had all of the pieces to create my own version, with my husband's help of course.

We started with plywood that Kevin has been hoarding in the garage.  I love the texture it has!

I picked up these craft paints at Hobby Lobby a while ago.  We do so many projects, so I knew they would come in handy eventually.

We starting out with a light coat of the cream paint.  I wanted the texture and the grain to show through,

so it was kind of a haphazard paint job.

 Once the paint was dry, we taped off the lines for the stripes.  This was definitely the toughest part of the project.  But thanks to my handy husband, it went pretty quickly.

Once the paint was dry and the painters tape was removed, I took this wonderful, magical metallic glaze and bronzed it up.  I seriously cannot tell you how many times this stuff has been used.  I got it at Michael's about a year ago and there is still a TON left.  It lasts forever!  To apply, I used a good paint brush, but them followed behind with a wet rag.  This way, it really only built up in the cracks and accentuated the texture of the wood.

Close-up: It has an aged feel to it.  Sort of like it's been hanging out in the basement of my Nanny's house for the last 30 years. PERFECT!

Done with paint!

On vacation this year, Colton and I scoured the beaches for seashells.  We came back with three bags of them.  So I went through and tried to find shells that were similar in shape and size.  I wasn't particularly worried about the color, though.

During this process, I got a new phone.  Which was really exciting, since it has a much better camera than I'm used to.  The only problem is that I forgot to take final shots with my actual camera.  Oops!  Here's a close up of the shells in their place.  I used super glue around the edges to make them stick.  It seems to be working just fine.  If you try this out, or anything similar, I highly advise wearing gloves.  I wasn't thinking and wound up peeling super glue off of my fingers for two days.

 Ta Daaaaa!  The flag has taken its' rightful place on my mantle.  It makes me happy!



{Colton's Superhero 3rd Birthday Party}

Colton has a thing for superheroes...to put it mildly!  He loves them all and has a costume for each of his favorites.  By far, his favorite is Spiderman.  His Daddy and I took that theme and ran with it, to create one super fun, superhero birthday party!  So many of our family and friends came out to celebrate Colt's big day.  We are very blessed to have each and everyone of them in our lives.

My sweet boys had so much fun...he hasn't stopped talking about the party and all of the people who were a part of it.  It is something he will remember for a very long time.  Here are some of the photos from the day:

{Spring / Summer Catch Up}

Um...sorry for being MIA for the past few months.  I have done nothing but spend time with my boys and travel.  I am certainly not complaining...it has been such a blessing!  I will catch up on that later in the week.  Right now, I do want to get caught up, since the purpose of this blog is really to document out life with the boys.  They have had a pretty BIG few months and I have a lot to share.

I left off right before Hayden's 5th Birthday.  Man that seems like forever ago, but we have such awesome memories.  We had a total of 25 kiddos and their parents.  I am so thankful for each and every person who came to celebrate our little buddy that day...tons of friends and family.  Hayden had the best time at CAMP HAYDEN!  Here's a rundown of the party events and vendors:

VENDORS:

Invitations and Sign Printables: Shindig Parties to Go (http://www.etsy.com/shop/shindigparties?ref=pr_shop_more)

Birthday Boy's Shirt: The Pecking Order by Zoey's Attic (http://www.etsy.com/shop/zoeysattic)

Paper Goods: Striped Straws, Trail Mix Bags, Cup Cake Liners, Fruit/Jello Cups: The Party Fairy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePartyFairy)

Fire Pit Idea: http://alwayschasinglife.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-fire-pit.html

Cake & Cupcakes: Publix

MENU:

Fruit and Veggie Cups

Sloppy Joes

Hot Dogs

Cole Slaw

Buffalo Chicken Dip w/ Tortilla Chips

Water Bottles

Sweet Tea

Beetle Juice (Inspiration - http://pinterest.com/pin/113153009357606972/)

Trail Mix Bar: Chex Mix, Gold Fish, Yogurt Covered Raisins, M&M's, Teddy Grahams, Pretzels, Dried Fruit, Gummy Worms & Bears

Smores (the real deal)

Campfire Pops (Inspiration - http://pinterest.com/pin/113153009357190494/)

ACTIVITIES:

Bug In The Tent Relay (Epic Fail!!! But a fun idea...maybe for older kids)

Fishing Tourney

Tag Game

Corn Hole Tourney

GOODY BAGS:

Bandanna Cloth (I already had some from Hobby Lobby)

Flashlights

Magnifying Glass

Sticky Bugs

Compass

Camping Suckers

Smores-To-Go (Golden Grahams, Mini Marshmallows & Chocolate Chips)

***All toy items purchased at Party City

I cannot believe my oldest baby is already 5!!!  It was a lot of work to prepare for this party, but to see the joy and excitement in his eyes made it all worth it.  He is such a special boy, with the biggest heart of any kid I know.  He deserves all of the wonderful things I know God has in store for him!

{John 13:34}

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 

My minister spoke about this verse on Sunday and it really stuck a chord with my heart. Obviously, when Jesus said it, he meant it.  At the time, it was such a "strange and new" concept.  What???  We are supposed to love each other?  Really??

Our Lord did not say, "Love one another, if you believe the same things." Or, "Love one another, as long as you make each other happy."  Nope, we are called to LOVE each other all of the time...period.  As Christians, we should love everyone, regardless of our differences.  As my minister said on Sunday...this radical, not-of-the-flesh type of love could seriously ROCK our world.  Wouldn't that be a beautiful thing?  As a mother, I want to always see my children treat others with love and respect and compassion, not hate or judgement or disdain..  If I want them to learn those behaviors, I need to become a better representation of them.   This Easter, I want to stop just talking about loving people, and start putting that love into action. 

Has something, or someone spoken to your heart like this?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

{Living Room Re-Design}

I absolutely fell in LOVE when I saw THIS living room design from The Yellow Cape Cod By: Sarah Macklem Interiors.  Her designs are awesome, since they are affordable and practical.  I also love that she tells you where she gets the items for her designs.  AWESOME...this is a daily read for me!  The design that I linked up to is kinda where I intended my living room to go, by it went awry somewhere along the way.  So, I decided to make an inspiration board of my own so that I could keep track of the items that I have found that I really love, as well as have examples of some of the DIY projects I want to tackle.

I want to do this for every room in the house, since we hope to get this place really spruced up by the end of the summer.  So here it is...

As you can probably tell, Kevin and I are not afraid of color.  Don't get me wrong, I will gawk at a beautiful, neutral room.  I just don't see one in my near future.  The color works as a great distraction from the dirt and grime that come with having 2 young boys.  Plus, this is kinda where we are in life.  We're young, our kids are young, and we want to have a little bit of colorful fun! 

That being said, I prefer my walls to be a neutral color.  That way, when (notice I said when and not if), I change my mind, I don't have to go painting walls again.  It's probably my least favorite thing to do in this world.  If you want to make me super unhappy, just hand me a bucket and a paint roller and tell me to go paint the dining room...ugh!  The paint I want to use is Martha Stewart Living "Sisal" from Home Depot. I like that it's a tan, with a touch of gray.  I have done the red and yellow toned beige paints and I feel like they would be too heavy for our smallish space.  You can find the details on the color on the Home Depot Website HERE.

I adore our sofa.  It's deep, comfy and still in great shape structure wise.  However, between the dogs and the boys, the fabric is no looking so hot.  I was told by a very reliable source that I should consider a white denim slip cover.  At first, all I could think was that my precious Aunt Cissy had lost her mind.  But then, with one word, she made me reconsider....BLEACH.  She made a very good point and now I think I may give it a shot.  Here is a custom slipcover I found on Etsy.  The shape is exactly like our sofa and it seems to be about the same size:

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The additional seating is the next subject I want to tackle.  I already have the most fabulous chair, that once belonged to my great-great grandmother.  It needs a little (or a lot) of TLC, so I figured I would have it recovered eventually.  I would love to have another chair, in a different but complimentary shape covered in the same fabric to coordinate.  Here's my idea (chair #2 is similar to the one I already have).

Chair #1 Source          Fabric Source          Chair #2 Source

I NEED a huge rug to cover all of the awful spots all over the carpet.  It can't be to fancy, but it also needs to be durable.  I loved this indoor/outdoor option from Pottery Barn.  If it's capable of withstanding the elements, then it should be able to hold up against hurricanes Hayden and Colton.  Not to mention, it pulls together all of the colors in the room.

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I love pattern...a lot of it!  I also adore all things chevron right now (along with everyone else).  Here are some fun drapes that I want desperately...3 sets please!

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I am beyond obsessed with the DIY coffee tables that are floating around Pinterest.  But, the factory cart design might be my favorite.  The antique versions are INSANELY expensive, but this DIY version would suite me just fine!

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We have some really great lamp stands that I found at Target that are braided wood and are stained a dark brown.  I love them, but am not so fond of the shades.  I would prefer something like these from Pottery Barn.  I am pretty sure I could make them myself.  Looks easy enough!

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I love this DIY mantle from The Lettered Cottage.  Right now, our mantle consists of about a 1" piece of faux gold colored marble.  It's hideous and makes me shiver a bit every time I look at it.  The brick of our fireplace was reclaimed and has a bit of a whitewash finish to it.  I would love to make it stand out more than it does with a beefed up dark wood mantle.  I would also love for it to be wider than it is right now.  I don't have much room to display fun items.  Which leads me to my next photo:

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This is The Nester's mantle.  I love all of the vintage pieces and would love to do something like this over ours one day...once I can talk the hubby into building me a new one!



We have a ton of wall space in our living room.  And, I love art.  When there is a blank wall, I get anxious, so I pretty much keep them filled up with photos and artwork that I create or find a good deal on.  I would love to have a gallery wall similar to this one.  I am just terrible at organizing these things! 

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I am a huge fan of subway art.  It allows you to put so many wonderful, meaningful thoughts, places or words into a very small space.  I like the cream with red lettering of this one I found on Etsy.  I would love something similar, only using the street names of Key Largo, FL.  That's mine and Kevin's happy place and it would be nice to go there (in spirit) every time we walk by the print.

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I would also like to incorporate some type of flag art into a future collage.  I think it would tie all of the colors together nicely, but also serve as a reminder to be grateful everyday that we are Americans.



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Last, but certainly not least, are the throw pillows.  This might be my favorite part about our existing sofa.  It's large enough to accommodate a bunch of these beauties.  I love them all, and would find a place for them all, if my husband didn't get so overwhelmed by all of the different patterns.  I figure...these are options.  Rachel Zoe says you can never have too many options.  As far as I'm concerned, she's a genius!

Source #1,     Source #2,     Source #3,     Source #4,     Source #5



Now, like I said, this is an "inspiration board".  I love all of these items, and would love to support the stores they come from.  But, let's be honest...Kevin would KILL me if I spent this much money decorating our living room.  100% positive he would.  But, since he is handy and I'm creative, I think we could work something comparable out on most of the pricier items.

What do you think?  Are you re-decorating any rooms?  Any favorite online stores that you buy from?  I would love to hear your thoughts or tips!