This Unfamiliar Road

This has likely been the longest week ever! Truthfully, we've had some stress this week, but I am trying to remain optimistic. Why is it that everything happens at once?!





{ONE} Change is a comin'
We have really been struggling with my work situation after Bean is born. I would love to be at home a little more often-to spend time with my kiddo(s!) plus save on child care. Some new positions have opened up at work that can allow me to do just that :)
I will take a hit to my paycheck big time, but it's the sacrifices we make for our kids, right? We aren't 100% sure yet, but...change is a comin' in some way!


{TWO} Party Time!
Among many other things that have been happening this week, I have been diligently working on Peyton's birthday party...it's tomorrow y'all!!
Here's a sneak peek at my favorite craft for the party, and I promise a full recap with details afterwards.


{THREE} Home Refinance?
Did I mention we have a whole lot going on right now? We are also in the beginning stages of refinancing our home...hoping to pull out some equity to pay off student loans...bleh!
Not the most fun, but we are hoping it will be a solution, so it make me happy :)

{FOUR} Celebrate Dad.
I plan to make Father's Day super special for Ben...by doing absolutely nothing (at his request!). It's been go, go, go and we are all looking forward to hanging out by the pool and grilling burgers. Husband is the best, so he deserves it! ;)


{FIVE} Family Visits.
We are expecting some family visits this summer and I am oh. so. excited. It really stinks to live so far away from family & friends, so I cherish every moment spent with them.
 First up: Aunt Audra!!! 11 more days and counting :)


Happy Friday, friends. Enjoy your weekend!

Link up

This project has been a long time coming, and I am so thankful to the husband for taking time out of his weekend to redo our coat closet!

Prior to the makeover, we had a builder-grade wire rack that offered no space for bags and wasn't very user friendly (really, who wants to come home after a long day and use a hanger to put away your jacket?!)
After, we have a super functional closet that's nice to look at too!

 Ben started by removing that rack and patching up the walls.


We used some leftover paint from our townhouse and it really freshened up the area! Ben cut and painted baseboards for trim.



Now we have a very functional coat closet that offers hanging space for both jackets and bags! It will adapt to our need for backpacks and lunch boxes in the future, too!

I love love love it!

 

I really thought that our dining room would be last on our list of projects for the home...I mean, we have a perfectly good kitchen table, and who really uses their dining room anyway?

Well, after deciding to host a party and family Thanksgiving at our home this year, Ben and I agreed that it was a good time for a dining room makeover.

We had NO furniture in here, and this room was full of overflow junk from other rooms (seriously, how did we acquire this much stuff?!)

I love being able to brag on the hubby...

In addition to all of the new landscaping that he has done, Ben has worked so hard to get our yard healthy. He certainly takes pride in it! Over the past few months...

I am SO excited to reveal our nursery mural. Remember that blank space between the crib and the dresser?

Ben has put a lot of energy and time into our front flower beds this spring. I wish I could have helped more, but I'm not supposed to be playing in the dirt (chemicals and cow feces I guess...) and strenuous activities are a little limited for me these days. I did a lot of supervising and making sure the hubby stayed hydrated :)

Remember back in the fall when our beds were all overgrown and looking pitiful? This is what Ben did to improve them. Our spring plans were to remove bushes that blocked our home and add some color!