I Don't Mind That It's Monday.

This may be the only post all year where I can say I'm happy to see a Monday!!  I'm officially down to zero outstanding orders in the shop, other than a few local custom sign orders that are of the "just whenever you get a chance" variety.  (I love those!)  But the shop is still closed for now which is why I'm so happy to see Monday!  It's a Monday with NO WORK!

This weekend has been unlike any other weekend I've had in I don't know how long.  

Did I go somewhere or do something amazing?!?!?!

No.  No, I did not.

I did, however, have a real, honest to goodness, stress-free, no worries about what Monday will bring, weekend.

And that, my friends, hasn't happened around here in a very, very long time.

On Saturday morning, I woke up early and spent several hours finishing up the last of my orders.  

When the mailman came around noon, I was literally GIDDY!  I was officially "off" for a couple of weeks and I was so eager to get to my little to do list!

I wish I could relax a little more. I just don't know how! I swear, I blame Pinterest.  And bloggers.  And Instagram.  And HGTV.  They are all constantly feeding me these inspiration pics and projects and I just can't let go.  I am a DIY fanatic which is what started this whole Etsy business in the first place!

So Saturday afternoon, after looking at a ton of Pinterest garage organization pictures, I was soooo ready to tackle my own!  I have a big work space in our garage where I cut my wood, sand it etc and it is a MESS.  There were dozens and dozens of random pieces of wood lying around.  Some that could be used and some that were definite rejects.  I sorted them all out into keep/toss piles and that made a world of difference.

I shop-vac'd everything.  I cleared out sawdust and cobwebs and other yucky stuff, threw out the reject wood pieces, organized my "keep" pile and tossed so much other completely random crap.

It was so hot in that garage!  But it felt so good to get it all cleaned up.

The above picture is of the space cleared out.  Yeah...it doesn't look like an "after" picture but it is.  I didn't think to take a before.  It was way worse.

While I was busy in the garage, the boys were busy doing this...

Sliding down the stairs on one of my many empty boxes...

Making a fort in the kitchen with random kitchen items...

And playing with friends.

Late in the afternoon, the boys and Craig came out to see if they could help but it was my project and I am not the best at delegating.  So I sent them to the backyard to swim and I'm pretty sure they were ok with that.  ;)

Around 8:00, we decided it was time to wrap it up for the night.  Craig ran up to Mooyah to grab burgers for us while I took a shower.  When he got back, we ate in the living room and watched Boss Baby for a little family movie night.  It was the perfect way to end the day.  

On Sunday, it was time for another project!!!  And y'all, I could not WAIT to get to this one.

I have been looking at painted pantry doors on Pinterest for awhile now and I was ITCHING to paint mine!  I knew the second I had the time, I was going to do it.  Well, my time was now and I'm not called "That Inspired Chick" for nothing!  ;)

Here were a few of my inspiration pics.

Source: The Cottage Nest

Source: 

Source: The House of Smiths

Source: Simple Southern Charm

Source: The Wicker House

Source: Willow Hill Farm Girl

So thanks to Pinterest, I spent an hour in Sherwin Williams on Sunday agonizing over the perfect color for my pantry door and my back door.  I ended up texting my mom in order to talk it out and she helped me finalize my choice.

I knew I wanted either a minty/light aqua color or a navy blue.  I ended up choosing the top right color which is called Watery because I noticed I kept leaning towards that color when I was pinning everything.  The door shown above from The Willow Hill Farm Girl is actually the same color I picked!

My kitchen has dark wood cabinets and island plus several wood signs that are painted black.  So I knew the mint color would probably work better although I'm determined to find a place in my house for The Salty Dog (the bottom right navy color in my paint samples).  I'll post before and after pics later this week!  ;)

I got the first coat of paint on each door but I have to wait 24 hours apparently between coats.  This is so hard for me because when I have a project I just want to power through!  But I was patient and after the first coat,  I went outside to finish off the garage.  Why can't I just sit STILL!?!

Around 7:00, I came inside, grabbed a cold bottle of water and my new HGTV magazine and went out by the pool to relax.  (See, I CAN do it!)  I looked down at the cover and right in front of my was the color I'd just used to paint the doors!

("Watery"...in the middle, upside down)

Matthew and Mason came running into the backyard with our neighbor and they all ran straight to our "climbing tree" with popsicles in hand.  I love seeing them doing All-American, innocent, little boy things like that.  There's something so sweet about a little boy climbing a tree with his brother and a popsicle.  I didn't even think to snap a pic but I think I'll have that memory for quite awhile.

I went inside a little later, made dinner (a random one pot pasta dish I sort of made up but turned out pretty good!) and then we all watched a Great White Shark episode from Shark Week.  Yes, we eat late during the summer.  My kids would rather play than eat!

Today, I'm hoping to get the doors finished up before Mason's last football game tonight.  I'll be sure to do a full reveal later this week!  I also want to do my DIY beaded bracelet post.  And since I'm not working this week, I may actually have time to do it!  So be sure to check back throughout the week for new posts!

Follow me on Instagram @thatinspired chick and @amandanall for all the latest!

Linking up with Johannah and Heather for Hello Monday!

Friday Favorites #21. {7.28.17}

Hello Friday!!  I am so happy to see you!!

It is has been a very long week and unfortunately, it's not over yet.

Boo.

I've been working myself to death all week to get all my Etsy orders sent out and although I have made MAJOR progress (I started at 91 and I'm down to 27), I'm still not done.  Double boo!  

This is what I want to be doing...

But I've got a few more days until I can even think about it.

Right now, I am waiting on a shipment of pink and multicolored confetti water bottles that was supposed to be here Wednesday but is now scheduled to be delivered today.  So if you ordered one of these (below), I promise they will be sent out as soon as humanly possible!

I've also been a sign makin' fool this week!  Here's a peek at just a few of the orders...

I have several more signs to make today and tomorrow but I can absolutely see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Thankfully, I enjoy what I do.  I know it sounds like I'm complaining but really, I'm just really looking forward to crossing some non-Etsy related projects off my to-do list.  I'm not good just sitting around, even when I can.  I need to be doing something all.the.time.  I blame my mother.  She's the same way.

Anyway.

The shop will reopen in early August, so I hope you'll "favorite" it on Etsy (here!) and come shop when it does!  Follow me on Instagram @thatinspiredchick and @amandanall for updates!

Today, I'm linking up with Andrea, Narci and Erika as always for Friday Favorites!

Today's favorites are going to be short and sweet!

A couple of weeks ago, we had a fun Favorite Things party with our Sunday School girls and I scored this Pixi Glow Tonic.

I use it at least once a day (after cleansing and before moisturizing) and sometimes twice.  I've noticed my skin looking brighter and smoother in less than 2 weeks.  It's got great ratings on Amazon as well!  I have combination skin and I haven't had any irritation or peeling.  Just pretty skin!

(Nail color is OPI Shorts Story)

I've posted about these Kate Spade studs from the Anniversary Sale approximately 25 times in the past couple of week or so but they really are my new favorites. I bought them in "Jet" and "Clear/Silver" but I want to go back and snag them in a few more colors too.  They would make a great gift!!

Find them here in all colors!

I know I talked about this in my What's Up Wednesday post this week but it needs another mention.

The Real Housewives of NYC are my FAVORITE!!  I want them to be on vacation somewhere in every episode because they are just the best when they are all crammed into one house together.  (And I use the term "crammed" loosely considering their vacation homes are usually multi-million dollar mansions.)

A few things to note:  Why did Ramona get a chemical peel right before a beach vacation?!  I loved her look before she got on the helicopter.

Can you imagine what that guy is thinking??

And then Bethenny pleading with Ramona to behave herself on their tequila tasting trip made me tear up.  So much respect for Bethenny and her business.  #girlboss

Truth.

This last favorite may be lame and I may have mentioned it in past Favorites before but here it is again. ;)

This is my favorite Summer drink from Sonic.  Large ice water with lemon and strawberry added in. It is obviously super low cal but still tastes like a treat!  Sonic is about 3 minutes from our house so when the boys want a little cold treat, it's our go-to!  I tried recreating it at home and it just wasn't the same.  They muddle their strawberries better than I do.  Is muddling strawberries the same thing as just squishing them with a fork?

For my Bonus not-so-favorite today, I didn't do a fashion fail.  Instead, I'm spotlighting my children.  Because Heaven knows they make me say "I can't even..." 100 times a day.  

Like when I went upstairs this week to see if Mason had folded his clothes and put them away yet.

Yeah...no.  The big laundry basket in the middle is full of clean clothes he was supposed to put away.  When I told him to clean up the mess, he started to pick up each article of clothing, sniff it, and toss it in the dirty clothes.

2 things here.  1) He gets the sniff test from me.  He's seen me do it a million times.  But 2) The sniff test was all for show.  He threw everything in the dirty clothes no matter how it smelled just so he wouldn't have to fold it and put it away.  I watched him for a full 30 seconds before I called him out and made him do it right.

He was less than thrilled that I caught on to him.

I know that some day I will miss his messy little self but RIGHT NOW, not so much.

Messy Mase is definitely my #icanteven this week.

Thank goodness he makes up for his messy self by being incredibly kind, sweet, funny, goofy and loving.  And a ton of other things. I just love him.  And his slightly less messy brother. ;)

Please tell me I'm not the only one, friends!!

Happy Friday, everyone!!  Have a great weekend!!

What's Up Wednesday!

Well, it's Wednesday, friends!

I haven't looked forward to a weekend as much as I am this one in a really long time!  This weekend starts the beginning of my vacation time from work and then we leave a little later in the week for the beach!!  I need a break in the worst way so I am super pumped.

But today is the monthly linkup with Mel, Sheaffer and Shay where we share what we've been up to lately!  So here we go!

What we're eating this week:

Honestly?  Whatever we can find.  Fish sticks, sandwiches, mac n cheese, strawberries, salads, tacos, grilled chicken...  My kids and their neighbor friends play until almost dark every night during the summer, Craig always has sessions with his quarterbacks in the late afternoon through the evening and this week, I've been working on orders until 8 or 9 every night.  We pretty much remember to eat when our tummies start rumbling.  ;)

What I'm reminiscing about:

This popped up in my "On This Day" on Facebook yesterday...

Matthew and Mason in their little floaties!  This was 2012.

And this one was one of my favorite little memories!! I put this sleeveless shirt on 3-year-old Matthew and he was NOT having it!  His exact words were "No Mommy!  This shirt is BROKEN!!" as he started to try to take it off.  No sleeves = broken.  So stinkin' precious.

What I'm loving...

This is pretty much what Matthew is loving right now.

He has been a little obsessed with spiking up his hair lately and he loved how it looked right before he got in the shower last night.  He wanted a picture of it before it got all messed up. 

What I'm working on...

Finishing these orders!  39 left to go!  I think I sent out 8 or 9 of the water tracker bottles yesterday plus a ton of other bottles, tumblers and signs.  Weeding out all of the negative space is the most tedious part.

I've also been working on lots of glitter tumblers...

And finished up some cute signs!

My Etsy shop will reopen in early August, but you can go here to "Favorite" it and get a notification when it reopens!  You can also follow me on Instagram @thatinspiredchick and @amandanall.  

What I'm excited about...

Basically, the same thing I've been excited about all summer.  VACATION!  We always have to wait until the end of summer to take a real vacation because Craig works so many football camps all over the nation that it's just impossible to go any earlier.  But it's finally here!!  Unfortunately, that also means summer is almost over which is a huge bummer.  The next month is going to fly by.

This week I've been trying to do everything I can to get us prepared.  We go to the beach every year and every year I think of stuff I should get or do for the next year that would make things easier/better.  So this year, I've ordered The Beachcomber to help haul all the beach junk in and out from the beach every day.

 I also ordered a bigger canopy for our loooonnnnggg beach days.

And if y'all's families are anything like mine on a long car trip, you will appreciate my desire to keep things a little less chaotic in the backseat this time around.  There are always water bottles, tissues, chargers, ipads, books, coloring books, shoes, socks, snack wrappers all over the backseat...  It drives me CRAZY every time we stop and I have to open their doors.

So this year, I ordered these.  They were cheap (as in 2 for $13.99) so I'm not expecting them to last forever but I AM hoping they'll keep us a tad more organized during our 11-12 hour drive to Alabama and back again.  

You can find them here if you think they might work for you too!

What I'm watching/reading...

Right now, I'm reading The Luckiest Girl Alive as my "real" book and I am deciding on my next audiobook.  Since I am a Kristan Higgins fanatic now, I'm trying to figure out which one I should read next.  (It will be my 4th KH novel.) In case you missed my mid-summer book review, check it out here!  It has 14 books that you should definitely add to your list!!

My last audiobook was The Light We Lost and man, that is a hard book to review.  On one hand, it was well written and was a fantastic love story for the hopeless romantics.  On the other, it had me feeling completely...unsettled?  I think maybe that's the word I'm looking for.  

In the book, a couple meets on 9/11 and are bonded from then on.  The story goes on to talk about their relationship, their break up and their lives after the breakup.  They can't seem to get over each other even after a decade..plus marriage.  And kids.  The end made me cry.  But at times I just wanted to scream at Lucy to get OVER it...he's just not that into you!!  But your sweet husband IS!  The other guy left you.  He chose WORK over you.  And then he comes back when it's convenient for him and all the drama starts.

I don't know how I felt about it all. The reviews are mixed (with mostly 4 and 5 stars though but the 1 and 2 reviews are passionate!)   It's clearly a good book.  But I just felt Lucy and Gabe were a little selfish.

But moving on to something fun and light-hearted...

I just finished re-watching the entire series of Parks and Recreation on Netflix and now I've moved on to The Mindy Project on Hulu.  When people ask what is so awesome about Parks and Rec, here's what I say.  It makes me happy.  It puts me in a good mood.  It takes away any stressors in my life and I just laugh.  I adore the characters and Leslie Knope is the funniest, coolest chick.  If you haven't tried to binge watch it, you should.  I'm so sad that it ended.  :(

I also love The Mindy Project in very similar ways.  Mindy's humor is very similar to Leslie Knope and both are similar to mine.  Or at least the humor that I find funny.  (I don't know if I'm funny in the slightest but I do know that I find these two chicks hilarious.)

I'm also watching The Real Housewives of New York which is bringing the drama this season!  

Dorinda in the little Italian restaurant a few weeks ago might have been my favorite episode of Real Housewives of anything EVER.  (The "Bronx Tale" episode.)  Girls!!  When she starts the whole "Clip! Clip! Clip!" thing...I was literally rolling around laughing.  

I love you, Dorinda.

I loved her even more when she forgot all of her luggage when they went skiing in Vermont.  And she said she needed to send an Uber to pick up her luggage and bring it to her. In Vermont.  From NEW YORK.  She made my day when we saw that she DID remember her mini disco ball though but forgot her panties.  I seriously love her.

And now they are all in Mexico in a giant house and watching Ramona and Sonja act like children fighting over who gets the best room just makes for the best television after a long day.  I am pretty pumped for tonight's episode.  These women are completely insane and I love them.

I'm also watching Big Brother.  In short, I think Josh needs to GO.  He has rubbed me the wrong way since Day 1.  More so than even Cody and Jessica.  (They are a very close second though although they have really grown on me this week while I've watched some of the live feeds.)

What I'm wearing...

Click here and here to check out all my favorite finds from the Nordstrom sale!  A lot of my goodies are for fall so I'm going to have to wait awhile before I can wear them.  But for now, I'm wearing these earrings on repeat!

I've got them in Jet and Clear/Silver.  Take advantage of the $13 off while you can!!

("Jet" color.)

(Clear/Silver Color.)

What I'm doing this weekend...

Once I finish these orders, I have plans to organize my work stuff in the garage.  (It's a mess of sawdust, random wood pieces, and power tools plus all the boys' stuff.)  It's time for a little garage makeover.

Basically, I am completely focused on finishing these orders so I can do #allthethings.  I have so much stuff on my to-do list.  I want to paint my pantry door and my back door.  Maybe black?  Maybe navy?  Maybe a light blue?  I don't know.  I do know that they are both white now (technically) with nothing but dirty handprints covering that white paint.  I'd also love to paint my island.  And finish our DIY built-ins.  I don't do well without a to-do list.  ;)

So that's it for Wednesday!  Hope you all have a great week!  See you back here (possibly) tomorrow but definitely for Friday Favorites.  I'm planning a jewelry DIY post but these orders are taking top priority right now so we'll see when I get that posted.  :)

Happy Hump Day, ladies!