Our April excursion...

We took off for some family time over April vacation.  We enjoyed a train trip to Baltimore MD (I highly recommend Amtrak).  My family spent five hours walking through the National Aquarium, followed by a ball game at Camden Yards.  Then, we explored the Maryland Science Museum, and the World Trade Center.  Fabulous Family Time!!  Here's a few pics that I thought I'd share...we're hoping to plan another train trip for next April. 

Moments with family make the best memories!

xo Sarah

Hoppin' down the bunny trail...

 

There's my foot ~ hopping through the kitchen doorway, perhaps to refill someone's beverage, to put out the appetizers, or to simply mingle with family...

 

We hosted Easter this year at our new home, and my mom made these d e l i c i o u s desserts ~ yum!!  The Easter Bunny cake she hasn't made since my brothers & I were little - what a treat, and the cupcakes (hard to see with the saran wrap still on) had flower decorations on top made out of jellied candies.  It was a wonderful day - started off with our church service in the morning, followed by an egg hunt with all the kiddos, and a magnificient brunch cooked by my husband. 

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter Sunday!!

xo Sarah

Arms of the Angels...

I'm a "smiling when it's raining" kind of gal...takes a lot to bring me down.  Today was one of those days.  Here's what is on my mind~

*it was Monday (Monday after vacation)
*I have been praying for two kiddos that we know who were recently diagnosed with leukemia
*my girlfriend's little man is fighting for his life at Boston Children's...God has heard his name a lot lately in my prayers
*a teacher I work with found out her breast cancer came back
*a young girl from our home town took her own life...

I rushed home from work, hugged my two loves at home, and spent extra time tonight tucking in my little man.  Count your blessings, take a breath, slow down, and spend some extra time with your family this week...and above all else, always say I love you to those you love. 

love you all,
xo Sarah

vacation project #1...

Between playdates, movie dates, dinner dates, and alone-time-dates, our vacation has been phenomenal so far!!
We've celebrated birthdays, had friends over, prayed for friends of ours that are going through the unthinkable, and taken time to complete a random act of kindness...

While my son had a friend over earlier this week, I tackled my 1st project of vacation...painting the inside of our built-in hutch in the dining room.  Our home was built in 1890 (love it!), and our hutch is just one of the many cool things in our old home.  I love the neutral tones in our home, and dark woodwork, but our hutch needed something to help make my great aunt's china POP!

Here's what I did...

The inside of my hutch WAS the same color as the walls...

I didn't make a huge change, just a shade or two darker...

I believe my great aunt would love her rose chintz china stacked on one shelf, and my sydenstricker stacked on the next...the darker color adds a little depth to my hutch.  I also hung a painting that I completed in college to the upper part...I hope to add in a wine bottle holder someday.  I love the simple change!  Onto project #2...

xo Sarah

Super Science Fun!

I believe our Super Science birthday party was a huge success...if five kids enjoyed themselves, laughed a lot, and had fun putting their hands in the messes of science, I'd say it was successful!
I'm also gauging my success on the smile on my son's face ~ he definitely had fun with his friends!

We completed 5 different science experiments, and each child went home with a lab book, magnifying glass, safety goggles, and (of course) a small goody bag. 

The kids had to 'scan' to enter the laboratory...

chose their own color safety goggles, and picked up a magnifying glass...

put on a scientist lab coat when they arrived (an oversized t shirt to keep their clothes clean),

...and the experimenting began!!

7~ how can that be?!  I hope to enjoy his birthday parties with him for as long as I can!  Now, for the rest of vacation...

xo Sarah

Hello Monday~

Helloooooooooooo Monday!


What a busy week ahead...love it!!  My kitchen is painted, my son's room has had a redo (science bedroom blog post), so - of course - I'm planning my next home project.  Vacation is right around the corner, which means a little extra time for projects, friend & family get togethers, and a little down time too. 
This week ~ we're celebrating our 100th day of school in first grade, gearing up for Valentine's Day, and my little man turns 7 on Friday (holy moly).  His Science Party is Saturday (winter weather had better stay away...).  I promise to post pics. after the party! 

Have a great week ~ Happy Heart Day!!
xo Sarah

on a science bedroom mission....

This past weekend...we were on a mission.  It wasn't even my plan going into the weekend to redo my son's bedroom, but he has wanted a science themed bedroom since we moved into our home this past summer.  Something came over me Saturday morning, and I said to him - let's go pick out some paint! 

First of all, I was painting over a wallpaper mural that was in his room - I loved it, but it just wasn't for him.  I researched how to do this, and bought Kilz oil based primer to paint over the wallpaper first.  Then,

I put 2 coats of semi-gloss charcoal gray over the primer.  Next, I used my acrylics to create the Milky Way (or any other celestial outer space body - I'm not so sure it really resembles the Milky Way, but I wouldn't know that for sure anyway - & what counts is that my son loves it!). 

He has under-bed storage for all sorts of toys, a moon phase night light mounted above his bed, with a framed pic. of him at the Museum of Science in a space shuttle. 

Here's his dinosaur fossil corner...

And words above each window....

Our mission:  COMPLETE (almost).  I'm going to add 2 black shelves above his bed for his microscope & other science tools to be displayed on.  And, I'd also like a science themed area rug....

I have to say, I love that this room redo made his room look so neat & organized!!

xo Sarah