miscellany monday

write your randoms and join in below.

<a href="http://www.carissagraham.com/search/label/miscellany%20monday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/MMbutton3.png" /></a>

1. from the flurry of a hurricane, to the sadness of a funeral, to a joyous baby shower, to a celebratory church anniversary we pretty much ran the gamut this weekend. which is why i had to laugh, after looking in the mirror for the first time all day {after getting home}, realizing that my hair was an absolute atrocity ~ 

and the terrible-ness of the picture goes right along with the wretchedness of my botched hair-do, but made for a good laugh. it's really fun to laugh at yourself.  if you haven't, you should try it sometime.  i've told my honey that he's got to help me with things like this... he was looking at me all day long and didn't once notice?  maybe that's why i love him.

2. thankfully, we got nothing more than barely tropical storm conditions from Irene and enjoyed a killer sunset as we waved her on by ~

  

in a matter of sheer minutes the sky went from fire-like hues to tones of blues...

in the midst of a storm, there's still beauty to be found.

3. oh yeah, in the middle of our busy bee lives, my man is applying to seminary.  i'm really happy for him.  here's the application picture...  i told kelly that as long as a lady is reviewing his paperwork, this will get him right in. : )

4. do you know what could be possibly better than a mason jar?  a ball mason jar from 1908 with a handle.  yes please.  now on to the search for a blue one. 

5. our house key.  you never really think about it until you get home and realize it's not with you, you are locked out and the kids are screaming because they're afraid they'll never see their toys again.  fun times.

6. winter preview:

7. a baby girl shower for this girl, involved chalkboards, mason jars {obviously}, vintage frames, roses, daisies, gifts, lanterns, a diaper cake, lollipops, strawberry cupcakes, pumpkin butter atop goat cheese {to die for}, and more girlie goodness... here's a sneak peak ~

and there's more where that came from at a later date!

-carissa

ps. you've just witnessed my three.six.five project in disguise.  ; )

if i were a designer...

... and money grew on the sole tree in my yard, this is how i would design my daughter's room.  heck, i'd probably just redesign our whole house like this, much to my husband's chagrin.  he's never been much interested in pretty, flow-y, flowery, feminine decor.  so this is why i save it all for my girl and her space.

the inspiration began here {thank you s-i-l, cindy!}.  the prettiest looking box that housed some divine lollia flowering willow and lotus shea butter.

i don't think good designers could get away with framing a tube of lotion, but maybe i can?  of course that assumes i'm either a good designer, taking a risk, it paying off, or i am just not a good designer.  i'll opt for the risk-taker approach.  or i could possibly reconstruct this box and turn it into some kind of art.  yeah, that's the ticket. 

i'd mix in a blend of rough, rustic and aged - reminiscent of our 1920's piano - set-off with simple, plush, blushing pinks, creamy whites, blooming flowers and a whole lot of airyness.  to create a sort of vintage bohemian rhapsody.

there's something so fine about a rustic woodsy basket mixed with soft and dainty budding blooms.

all of that to create something like this...

Source: wakeupfrankie.com via Clara on Pinterest

or this...

Source: girlyme.tumblr.com via Anita on Pinterest

this too...

Source: but-honestly-em.blogspot.com via Brandi on Pinterest

okay, i'd want this one for myself ~

Source: None via Stephanie on Pinterest

the rest is all illusory, whimsical and white.  somehow my earth-toned house would morph into all this:

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via kaelah on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Gerrie on Pinterest

Source: littleemmaenglishhome.blogspot.com via Bafentse on Pinterest

yep, all dreamy and in my designer dreams.  now it's like i've gone shopping without spending a single cent.  internet window shopping is good for your budget and soul.  maybe not the soul part.  but it makes me feel less guilty after wasting thirty minutes on pinterest {thanks a lot, beth}.

you know what else i do in my dreams?  just up and throw picnics like this.  gather a few things - a ladder, a record player - nothing major, bike to the most serene spot and set-up. and then have a fairy-like-tale lunch as my children sit peacefully quiet while they eat all of their food {namely, Hunter}.  dreams are pretty dreamy, indeed.

Source: blackeiffel.blogspot.com via Jordan on Pinterest

-carissa

ps. is this not the cutest save the date evah????!

Source: loveolio.com via Jordan on Pinterest

linking up with rach today; because vintage/boho happens to be a fave of mine...

miscellany monday from my lens.

write your randoms and join in below.

<a href="http://www.carissagraham.com/search/label/miscellany%20monday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/MMbutton3.png" /></a>

picking up where i last left off and continuing on in my three.six.five. project.  mine's a bit disorganized and somedays, i'm a bit uninspired, but nonetheless, i'm not a quitter.  have a gander at all our grandeur.  

21.  birthday flowers from my husband.  once-upon-a-time i told kelly when we were dating to never spend money on flowers.  but then he bought me these and now my mind is changed.  i'm ruined forever.  so's he. 

22. late afternoon thunder punching storms are a regular around here.

23. celebrating grandma's birthday with a precious hug.  Sage looks more like her than she does me.

24. mid-morning snack.  poolin' around is hard work.  she has to keep her figure somehow.

25. the infamous $4 cowboy boots.

26. because it's more fun to really eat fake food than just pretend.

27. sending out snail mail.  it's still exists.

28. reunited after daddy's trip and it feels so good.

 29. she could watch the "waindops" all day.

30. "mom, it's 110 degrees out here and you just want to take my picture?"  what gives.

31.  a caterpillar sighting is always worth enduring the outdoor heat.

32. they look thrilled. it's such a shame they have to get pushed around everywhere.

33. starting early.

34. destroying the book shelf... please notice Dr. Dobson's the new strong willed child.  she's pure irony.

35. back at the school thing.  it's always his favorite part of the day; i'm taking full advantage while i can.

 36. cutest clothes brand ever.

37. it's just Biblical.  you can't go wrong.

38. he told me his "giant head" wouldn't fit.  he really calls it that.  and since that giant head has been in the 98th percentile his whole life, he's caught on quickly.

39.  these three are my company.

40.  who leaves their camera at home for a wedding and a beach front reception?  this girl.  forgive the phone for this quality.

-carissa

does this mean it's over?

it was an unplanned day, meaning we didn't have any plans.  and considering the only wheels we have while daddy's away at work are the four ones dangling off the double stroller, it's sort of confining, you know.  on a usual day's docket, it's either a pool day, a park day, a feed the turtles in the pond down the street day, be pushed in the jogger by mommy for miles day, or a house day.  frequently it's an all five of those kind of day. 

excuse the blur... had to get this before i missed it.
well lo and behold, i wanted some variety.  we all need some some spice in our lives.  that's why i have a sage.  : )  she keeps me on my long, monkey-like toes all the time.  it was 10 am and the kids were still in their jammies.  you know it's time to get on with it, when your littlest child wobbles over to you holding her day's attire up in the air with the look of "mommy let's get on with this day, what's your problem?" kind of look.  so we did.  i dressed them and off we went.  to the wild frontier of our backyard.

we have real live alligators next door, a.k.a. pitbulls that might eat us if we let them and since we don't have a fence, things can get scary in a skinny minute.  we graced the barking with bubbles.  the whole experience is especially embellished when cute kiddos that really just can't quite get the hang of the bubble blowing thing, try with all their might anyway, just to see some circular soap decorate the sky.  it's totally worth the scary dogs part.  mostly.

 

it was fun while it lasted.  until the favorite bubble toy of all, the years-old, hand-me-down, fish-like ferry bubble blowing machine died.  it's like summer itself locked us out of the house and said you can't come in any longer.  does this mean it's over?  this summer thing?  as long as cooler temperatures are in order, we're game.  and as long as we grab some batteries, the bubbles will be a fall sport, too.  cause i'm versatile like that.  

happy late, late, almost over summer and yay for soon approaching fall time that harvests cool breezes, falling leaves, and pumpkin flavors.

-carissa

these moments are some highlights from our low-key week; i'm linking up with my real-life friend rachel ~