A Front Door Makeover

From day one I have always had major heart eyes for the exterior of our home.  I like the green and ivory color scheme.  The porch is an absolute dream.

But it needed something to amp up the curb appeal.

Enter a simple and cheap project:  painting the front door.

It was a dark green ~ with a missing storm door and large stand alone mailbox......

It needed a punch of something.  We weren't sure what, so we were off to Lowe's for a million paint samples.......

I tried three different blues in shades of navy (or so I thought), two different reds, and a terra cotta that turned pink.

The second red, Heirloom Red by Valspar, was the winner......

We ended up selling the huge stand alone mailbox in my booth (HA!!!) and replaced it with one I had thrifted for $2.98.  We spray painted it to match the shutters.  We also added a custom storm door, which was not cheap, but truly worth every penny.

I love the light it lets in during the day.  And the pups love their new lookout.........

And what's a newly vamped front door without a fun doormat?

Or concrete planters.......

I knew I wanted two of these exact planters.  I scoured Springfield looking for them.  No luck.  Until I remembered a statuary place north of town.  And BINGO!  

So a few ferns by the door and mandavillas in planters and we have curb appeal......

To me, anyway.

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Check out Instagram for a peek at our backyard!  

Hint....two words:  STRING LIGHTS!!!!

  

Dear Long Lost blog,

     I used to keep you up-to-date.  You were such a priority!  But lately, I just haven't made time for you.  So here's a quick update, via Instagram, of what's been happening around here.

I've been decking the halls........

Is there such a thing as too many bottle brush trees?  No way.

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I've been getting plenty of puppy cuddles........

Could there be better plaid pajama pants?  I think not!

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All my favorite ladies gathered for our annual scarf exchange........

I gave a plaid scarf and got one in return!!!

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Speaking of plaid..........

I had to splurge on that baby.  There was no way I wasn't owning it.  I mean, buffalo plaid.  Come on!

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My sister discovered a new coffee shop that had a red velvet latte on the menu.......

I had to try it.  Because redvelveteverything.  And it was gone in 60 seconds.  I considered going back for another one later that evening.

But self control.

Linking up with Life Rearranged, Five Things Friday........

Instagram Roundup

June and July are my favorite.  I mean, I am a teacher.  And this summer, I'm determined to make it one for the books.

That means getting my house ship shape.  For good!!! 

One room I've really struggled with is what my friends call "The Special Room."  This perpetually messy guest bedroom is now and forever clean.......

Cleaning that room was also in preparation for the annual friends' garage sale......

Lots of laughs.  Lots of sales.  Always a favorite summer event.

But I have a feeling that my most favorite summer event hasn't even happened yet........

The mister and I planned a getaway!!!  Naples, Florida!!!  If you've been, we'd love recommendations of things to do or places to visit!

Maybe I'll have some time on the beach to get ahead on my thick stack of books......

After finishing Looking for Alaska, I happened to win a book giveaway (Thank you Amanda)!!!!  So I have plenty to read from now til school starts.

That is if this little baby will let me........

He loves evening cuddles, and it usually means I have to put my book down because he wants to be cradled right on my middle! 

Not a bad way to end the day.

Those Florida sunsets won't be too shabby either!

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Recently (via Instagram)

May is a good month.

It's my birthday month.  It's our anniversary month.  And usually, school dismisses for the summer.

But I'll be working for another week or so.  Lots of snow this winter and an unforeseen boil order pushed our dismissal date well into June.

Gizzy fainted over the news..........

It's all good though.  The weather has been quite damp, so that lessens the blow.........

My Wal-Mart boots have been very handy lately.  (Not that I wouldn't mind a pair of Clementine Hunters.)

When the weather has cooperated, however, I've been taking advantage of it.........

Shouldn't everyone hit up the lake on Memorial Day?

And shouldn't everyone creep on their friend's porch during a lunch break? 

Then post it on Instagram for her to find?

(Yes!) 

(It's very fun.)

What else is fun?  Jumping on bandwagons.  I'm not much for that typically, but this one had me completely intrigued..........

Because migraines.

I've tried so many things.........acupuncture and massage therapy...........and nothing has worked.

I'm optimistic.

And also curious if anyone else has had success with oils for migraines.  Please share!

With seven more days of school left, I might need your suggestions.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Instagram Roundup

Recently: 

The mister did a great job surprising me on Valentine's Day.....

Some of my favorites:  SanPellegrino, the new spring Escada scent and flowers.  

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Speaking of the mister, we've been together ten whole years!  This was our very first photo ever.......

This deserved to be revived for #tbt.  I mean, he used to wear earrings. 

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The car got a good washing on a warm day!  The mister cleaned all the winter grime off as the pups basked in the sun and watched.....

(While I probably should have been cleaning the grime off the front door.  WHOA!)

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But I was too busy baking.........

I made my favorite red velvet cookies for work.  Work ate them all.

Which is good, because I still have a sleeve of thin mints laying around here.

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Finally, some thrifting went down.......

This all went to the booth.  Even though I wanted to keep every last item.

I may be making small strides in my "no hoarding" resolution.

Baby steps.

Although parting with that end table was more like one giant leap for mankind.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Life (via Instagram)

This winter.

Normally I have to beg winter for a snow day or two.

We're up to eleven.

I have never taught in June.  I will be teaching in June.

Despite that sad fact, I still love my snow days.  I got to make the mister a real breakfast......

There were snuggles with Gizmo the mouth-breather........

I braved the elements for a lunch out with the sis.......

And before the weather rolled in this week, I ran to the grocery for some new-to-me ingredients (chorizo).  Because no Super Bowl gathering is complete without some sort of cheese dip.

Except our gathering had to be.........

It so did not look like the picture.

Pinterest fail.

I don't even want to talk about it.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Lately (on Instagram)

After a three week (extended) Christmas break, life is back to normal!  School is in session!  Before the snow days ended, however, I was able to sneak in one last thrifting trip......

Vintage sofas kill me.  I want all the vintage sofas.

And all the peanut butter macarons!  Elle's makes amazing everything, but those macarons might just be my favorite.

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On that same snow day, I snagged the last of these cardigans at Express.......

I maybe own the black one too.

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A friend told me these exist.......

And now I'm hiding them from the mister.

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Pa dropped this baby off.....

This bookcase held an encyclopedia set at Grampy's house ever since I can remember. 

It still smells like Grampy's.  Which makes me happy and sad.

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Finally, the pups were way cute this week.......

Sir Chester was hiding.  But Gizmo was smiling.

Could there be a cuter baby?

I think not.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Snow Days (via Instagram)

It's not even officially winter yet.  And yet the snow day count has risen to four.

You know how I feel about snow days.

Love.

But wow.  Four already?!  (Good-bye summer.)

Anyway, I make good use of my time off.

I take way too many pictures of Gizmo in order to capture the perfect one.......

It was his first snow!  And he loves it.

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I bake......

And eat.

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I build fires.........

The first one of the season needs to be documented.  Especially when the tree is up and school closings are scrolling across the bottom of the t.v.

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I huddle in front of the fire with my pups.........

They love it too.

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And I take time to watch the snow fall.....

It really is magical this time of year.

Now to begin snow day number four........

Cookies, cleaning, and reading await.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

Recently....

You might have been able to find me:

Purchasing vintage ice skates.........

Because there's this pin I want to recreate.

Which also requires a sled.

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Decorating for Christmas........

Only a little though.  The tree doesn't even have ornaments yet.

Swear.

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Getting a free sled......

From my mother-in-law!

The mister slid down hills on this baby when he was a youngster.

#sentimental

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Shooing Gizmo from the laundry room.....

So naughty.

But that face.

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Surprised by the contents of this desk.........

Week old grapes.

"Being saved for a snack."

More like......fermenting.

Only one blue folder didn't make it out alive.

And then everybody cleaned out their desks.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday, Friday Favorites, and Insta-Friday.

 

Meet Gizmo

As if life weren't crazy enough right now, we went and made it a little crazier............

Sir Chester got a brother.

It all started with a photo on Facebook that a friend shared..........

This little baby was available at a shelter.........named Gizmo..........and about three months old.

To make a long story short, the mister surprised me by calling the shelter and arranging to adopt him on Saturday.  We are definitely pro-shelter-adoption people, and the folks of Tastc were lovely.  They even switched his neutering appointment for us, so it could be done prior to bringing him home.

And aside from a sleepless night (thanks to our giddy firstborn, not our new baby) we are smitten.  We think Gizmo sums up that face perfectly.  So Gizmo it will stay.

Now for the million dollar question..........

How many and what types of breed make Gizzy so darn precious?