An entryway worthy of Pottery Barn {at a fraction of the price}

FAMILY IS COMING!

My first reaction to this is "YAY!!  I love visitors, especially family!"  Then it sinks in and have a mini freak out because that means I have until Easter to finish this house! Busy busy busy I will be until then.

I did manage to finish my entryway.  Ignoring the bad light fixture, everything else is groovy.  Inspired from a picture I saw in Pottery Barn that I just fell in love with.  I looked at it and drooled for a while and then realized that I can do this Evansville style, Pottery Barn look on a non-Pottery Barn budget.  So off to work I went.

My inspiration:

 Lovely right?!

Here's mine:

All done for about $100.  

Frames: about $20 total, they were on sale 50% off a Michael's.  Most of them I had already though.  Please ignore the picture frames that do not contain pictures, or even better that contain pictures of people that are not us.  Some are new and some I had used in a display for my business.  Rest assured the appropriate pictures are at print and will be filling the frames shortly.

Mirror: Free.  This hung in our house growing up for as long as I could remember.  Never liked it.  Then  my mom says she still has it, brings it to me and I paint it gold (well white first but that did nothing for it). It did have this funky top piece on it which I immediately popped off.  Wha-la a revamped vintage mirror that I love.

Lanterns:  Already had them from Wal-mart about two years ago on clearance.  

Art Pieces: the old window and iron piece was $15 for both at my favorite thrift store.  The birds were $10 for both at Michael's.

Baskets: $6 each on sale at Michael's.  Those are little chalk boards on the fronts!  They read nothing because, well nothing is in the baskets as of now.  Super cute though.

So there it is, my non Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn entry.  There is one thing Pottery Barn which you may have noticed from the original picture above and that is the pot containing my (fake) flowers (I know a decorating fo-pa.) that were $1.99 each on sale at Michael's.  A fabulous purchase (the pot not the flowers) made with a Birthday Gift Certificate (thank you Lynsey Loo).  Oh and the shelves!  $15 each at Wal-mart.  And sadly no Mad Max this post but Sammyboy insisted he make an appearance.  Hello Sammyboy!

Happy first day of March!!

Much Needed Spring. {and a bit of Max}

This has been a bitter cold winter with many days in the freezing temps and snow storms aplenty.  Last weekend we finally had a warm spell and it was fabulous.  Max and I took advantage of it and went in search of some vintage country finds.  We had success.

Now that the chill is back in the air this week, I think it is a good day to share a touch of warmth with you.

We found this precious little bunny at Pier 1 and tucked it amongst the tulips.  The flowers are on their last days but I think they hold a certain charm when like this.

We then headed to Marshalls and found this crown and wooden box.  The crown was instant love for me.  Not sure why but its mine now. The box is an old bottle crate which I have a million different uses for in my head.  I however had the flowers already laying around so I gathered up some more planters from around the house and put them to use.

And what is a post without my Mr. Max.  Precious as can be and my partner in crime in my little excursions.

A Good Read. {a review}

First off, it is almost impossible to finish a book as a mother.  What once took a good glass of wine a comfy couch and a rainy afternoon, now takes months or longer.  And I have about 5 books going now. 

I did finally finish this fabulous book. Borrowed from my regular book swapper, who will probably look at this picture and notice how it is not in the condition I borrowed it from, it did avoid the usual teeth marks from Sammyboy, but has been shoved in diaper bags, taken on the slopes and spit-up on.  

I am not one to read a book and then want to discuss it in length or even worse write a review on it, way too book reporty for me.  I finish a book and either tell you "it was good, read it" or "pass".  That being said, I will take my dear friend's review (this is the first she is hearing of this) of said book and add my comments (in red).  Much more my style.  

This will be the first of many books and reviews.  We are some book lovers, we two.

THE BOOK THIEF by: Markus Zusak

Review by: Lynsey Miller  Two Cents by: Kelley Evans

another young adult read that is utterly marvelous.  do i dare admit i didn't even realize it was teen lit until i read this?  where were these books when i was a young-un?

really? is there a bigger issue here?? it must be me.   not just you.  I have loved all our latest YA books.

regardless. regardless.

THE best book i've read in a very long time.  AGREED. its one of of those books that you can't finish before you go to bed bc you will have dreams of it. i finished it and took a shower and thought of it the whole time and even the next day.  and then wake up with continuing thoughts. ah should have let you finish. its completely haunting to me. and eerily real.  i loved the narration and i loved Liesel. me too, she is who i thought of for days after, not the nazi side of the story but the depth of the characters. she is a wonderful protangonist. some of death's chapters are so incredibly haunting i had to re-read them. great different point of view in this book.  and then of course i cried the entire last half of the book.  i did not cry. cold hearted? perhaps.  so so so so good. i've recommeded it to many many people.  same.  Well my sister. but this blog reaches many people so yeah, same.

the worst part about books like this is the next book you read cannot compare. so here i am preparing myself for the next book i read to wholly suck.  yes, i don't even want to finish my others until this one wears off. 

wish me luck. but definitely get this book.   it was good, read it.

Some news. {some really good news}

We love the piggy toes and baby belly.  We love the giggles the coos the new words and the unconditional love.  We love the constant learning the always exploring and the overall love of life.

Babies bring joy, happiness, love, laughter, tears, sleepless nights and tiresome days.  There are the poopy diapers, the endless feedings and the days you just can't sooth.  But there are also the days of snuggles in bed, belly laughs and overwhelming pride.

Some say its a sacrifice, we call it change.  There is no sacrifice here.  We just changed our life for the better.   We never thought we could be this in love.

And for all these reasons and more we are so excited to announce we are having another!

ANOTHER. BABY. (!!)

And Max is this excited about it.

Oh who are we kidding, Max is this excited about everything.  I just wanted an excuse to show my favorite picture of him.  It sums him up perfectly.  Blissfully happy, drooling and naked.  Mr. Max.

His is ready to be a big brother though and I am so so so happy he will have a sibling.

Another baby.  Another exciting year for us.

The Art of Rolling Over {by Max Evans}

 Mentally preparing.

Almost there, gotta get the arm out.

Not resting, still working.

BUNS!

Ta-DA!

A Tribute {and a recipe}

Ever have a good friend? Like a REALLY good friend.  I can count the ones I have had in my life on one hand.  And I don't mind that.  I prefer it really.  I don't let a lot of people into my life, so the ones I do, I make sure are worth the time.

So I meet this person.  I work with this person to be exact.  We both are skeptical people...judge them from afar, then find out if it is really the way they are.  We did that for awhile.  Then we decided that we should give it a shot.  Her sense of humor was like mine, she was tall like me (VERY important, my bestie is not one that will make me feel like an lumberjack on a daily basis), military like me, Aquarius like me.  The list of similarities we would find out is endless.

We bond over wine and the gym and our annoyance for our boss.  We laugh forever at the mis-stylings and whacked out lives of others. We laugh because we know we are not that far off from being what we are laughing at.  We cook, we movie, we miss our husbands during deployments.  We are there for breakups, first meetings, weddings and births.

Then we have to say goodbye.

Darn the military and their goodbyes.  We knew it would happen one day, and then that day came.  It was hard, it was sad and I was heartbroken all weekend after she left.  Where would I ever find another perfect match?

Then I realize I don't have to.  She moved, she didn't die for goodness sake.  So I still have my friend, just from afar. And that is ok.

And now that friend has asked for a recipe.  So I shall oblige.  Last time this was made it was for a night in with her.  It was delish and so I will share.  It is a nice change from all the heavy winter-weather foods we have all been eating.  Maybe make it for a night in with your best friend.

SPINACH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PASTA TOSS

1 (16 oz) package ziti pasta
Dijon-Red Wine Vinaigrette (see below)
1/2 (5 oz) package fresh baby spinach
1 (8 oz) jar sun-dried tomato halves in oil, drained and chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
Toss pasta with Dijon-Red Wine Vinaigrette; add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper.

prepare Dijon-Red Wine Vinaigreet while the pasta cooks

DIJON-REDWINE VINAIGRETTE
6 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 small garlic clove, pressed
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl until blended.

Snow Day. {max's first}

It is beautiful outside.  I love the first day of a snow fall when everything is a blanket of white and looks all clean.   It is the perfect setting for fireplaces, hot tea and movies cuddled under blankets.

 Frolicking pups.

Our Snow Angel Family.  See Max's little one?!