My Mantle Shuffle

I like change.

I find comfort in finding new spots for old things.

The month to month movement of my favorite pictures and knick knacks allows me to seek happiness in new places within my house on a daily basis.

{Plus it calms my ADD/OCD jitters and gives me an excuse as to why I have so much STUFF}

Moving on to August...

Back to school is on the horizon and it is the perfect excuse time to redecorate a bit!!! 

And if you have read any past posts... the chickens have found their way inside as well and fit well with my school is cool theme!!!

Do our boys notice the 'subtle' back to school hints in my decor.... ummm... Heck Yes!!! 

Are they as excited as I am to look at the flashcards and oooo and ahhh over the vintage spelling book I found at our local antique store last fall... ummm... Not So Much!!! 

But 1 for 1 isn't bad in my opinion, at least they notice the change and I am sure they will thank me once they are grown and have their own kids!!!

{Can you tell I am stretching here.... Ha!!!!}

It's the little things that make me happy!

And when I move those little things around my house, from spot to spot and corner to corner...

 I find even more happiness!!

Happy August....

Daydreaming... Port A Style

Surprise... Surprise... I never posted about our trip to the Beach! 

I vaca nested and blogged about it, but (true to form) never got to post the 'actual' vacation... story of my life!!! Always prepping and planning and forever documenting with pictures while we are there, but busily moving onto next adventure (aka chores, or work, or soccer practice) as soon as we get home and neglecting the fun of sharing!!!

Hello... My name is Abbey and I am over-scheduling, procrastinating perfectionist!!!

Moving on...

We had a blast!

I loved being there!!!

We needed more time!

I have daydream about memories made there every day since we got home!

We can't wait to go back!!!

We rented a little condo called the Shell House and shared it with friends that feel like family... that always makes a vaca so much sweeter (in my opinion). The Shell House fits our families to a T. The perfect combination of comfort and accessibility...

 All wrapped into a sweet yellow house!

The house, although not on the beach, has a pool (which I highly recommend)!! All our kids love it and so do all the adults!! It gives them something to do while we cook, chill and partake in beverages... Ok... Ok... Beer and Bloody Mary's!

 But seriously... The pool... Fun for hours... For all ages!!!!

Now onto the good stuff... 

The Beach!!!

It's a slice of heaven on earth. 

The kids play for hours without a single whine or argument.

The Dads act like kids trying to boogie board!

The Moms soak up the sunshine and quiet time without having to tie a shoe, carpool from here to there, or hear the words 'Moooommm I boooorrred'!!!!

For our Team of 4 (plus 1 sweet friend this year) it was a great get-away. 

Even though (unknowingly) we shorted ourselves a day this year...

We still made the best of the time we had!! 

Fathers and sons shared stories over bags of chips.

Friends buried each other in the sand so many times we lost count.

Husbands and wives took advantage of sandy salty hugs as much as possible.

Oh my, were memories made...

It's written all over these faces...

Friday Fun: Beware of Chickens

 Here lately I have found a fond affection with chickens.

Yes, you read that correctly... chickens!!!!

Random... yes. 

Silly... most definitely!!!!

I have {for a while now} loved birds... red birds to be exact {long story for another blog}, but now that love has moved on to include chickens.... and if I am being completely honest, roosters too!!!

But I digress...

Last weekend I found myself with an hour to spare and a beautifully cool morning, so I decided to redecorate my front porch. Decorate your porch, you say??? Who does that...??? 

ME!!!! 

Chickens where my inspiration... as you can see!!!!

My front porch is one of my favorite spots in our whole house. I love pulling into the garage and catching a glimpse of it. I adore sitting outside on the porch swing and watching our boys play in the yard/street {its a relatively safe street, and I am out there... so don't panic}! And I love love love potting plants and decorating my front porch! I am quite sure that I am an old granny in the making, who wears ripped jeans, funny hats and spends all day planting and sitting on her porch.... 

And I couldn't be happier about it!!!!

{Couldn't redecorate without having a red bird hanging with the chickens!}

Most of the stuff I used while redecorating I already had, just not on my porch. I am finding that redecorating doesn't have to be expensive if you just look around at what you already have and then find another fun spot for it in your home {or on your porch}! The old wooden file drawers are from a flea market purchase over a year ago. I have always had plants in them, but this go around I moved them from a back corner of the porch to opposite ends of the front porch and traded out the plants. The brown serving tray used to be in our kitchen. We needed something more functional in there so instead of tossing it or selling it, I moved it to the porch!!! Those bright striped rugs... hello garage sale purchase for $2!!! I didn't really need 2 of them but they were a dollar each, come on!!! I used one at the front door and then I draped the other one over the swing and voila... burst of color that you can see from the street as you drive up!!!!! 

My favorite part of the whole porch right now is the metal door hanger... 

I found it at an antique store on our trip to San Antonio this summer!!! I couldn't pass it up!! I plan on adding some flowers {fake probably} to the inside!!!!

So, there you have it... my quick and inexpensive porch redo!! 

Chickens {and silly boys who like to jump in pictures} and all...

Maybe I need to start collecting silly gooses so this little man will have friends to play with... 

{And won't photo bomb Every. Picture. I. Take}!!!!!!!!!