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........

Recently......

Around here, I've gone from snow days to spring break to back to the grind.  And in the middle of all of that, I've done a little bit of everything........like finding this vintage kilim purse......

It's perfect.  It's roomy.  It's surprisingly functional.  The colors.

I could go wild at the shop where I found it. 

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Had the ladies over for the Bachelor finale.......

Best After the Final Rose episode e.v.e.r.

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Found a perfect vintage chenille rug for the laundry room.......

Sir Chester likes to lay on it while I get ready every morning.

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Tried my hand at making homemade waffles.........

How have I owned a waffle maker for ten years and not used it til now?

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Went succulent shopping.........

I've killed all previously purchased succulents. 

I keep buying them anyway.

Surely one day I'll get the hang of it?

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.

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?

Weekly Recap (Instagram Style)

Lately:

I got more lake time in.....

I'm now part of the Bridge Club.

I drove the Wave Runner to the Kimberling Bridge and back.  By myself.

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I noticed school supplies were hitting shelves.......

And while this sends me into a mini depression, it didn't stop me from buying a chevron notebook.

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Speaking of school, even teachers need new clothes at the beginning of the year......

I ended up finding some pretty cute things (skirt, flats, scarf, skinnies).

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Someone stole my spot one night..........

Sir Chester is the King of the Bed.

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I purchased my first item for the laundry room renovation.......

It cost way too much.

Shipping was ridiculous.

But I couldn't stop thinking about it after I found it on Etsy.  

And after hoofing it through multiple antique malls looking for anything that might fit the bill (and coming up empty handed), I decided it needed to be mine.

#worthit  #youllsee  #promise

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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

Thrifting Frenzy

Lately, the thrifts have been lame.  So lame that I've walked out empty-handed on more than one occasion.

And really, my trip this weekend wasn't outstanding, but I did finally get in line at the register.

Silverware trays were in abundance.  These both caught my eye......

I can't pass up a good cork board.  Especially when it's adorned with an eagle.......

Found the matching skirt to a blazer I bought WEEKS ago......

And stole this mirror from my mom's garage sale pile........

I've been having better luck snatching things from my parent's garage sale pile than at the thrifts.

And those items are free.

However, the mister might be ready to ban the-plucked-from-the-pile-bunny......

He thinks it watches him with "its beady eyes".

He called it creepy.

Poor thing.

The bunny, that is.

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Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl, Sir Thrift-a-lot, A Living Space,

    The Cottage Market, Magpie Monday, Thrifty Thursday, annnnnddd

This Week (in Instagram)

My sissy and her bebes returned home from Hawaii.......

They have been there since Christmas.

This aunt (and that grandpa) were having major withdrawals.

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I got to hang with some of my fave ladies.........dinner, movie, and a quick trip to the mall.......

We wear our sunglasses at night.  So we can.  So we can....

Take ridiculous pictures.

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Another snow day came my way........

After having three, I think I'm good.

Ya hear that, winter???

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On that snow day, I had the cutest visitor........... 

Sir Chester liked her too.

My darling friend Pullan came over and brought her little lady (and Starbucks) with her!

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And lastly.

What good is hoarding if you don't have a vintage stuffed rabbit......

Don't all accomplished hoarders need one of these?

I think yes.

I'm so glad I was able to pluck this from the depths of my parent's garage sale pile. 

Whew.

That was a close one.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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

This Weekend

The good....

I got to be a creeper groupie at the mister's gig Friday night.......

He's the saxophone solo you hear (about 15 seconds in).

And he would k.i.l.l. me if he knew I posted that.

So you can't tell him.

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The bad....

On Saturday, I didn't change out of my pajamas.  

Not even once.

But I did read almost an entire book. 

And I may have done some online shopping.

(So much for February's shopping ban.)

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The ugly....

On Sunday, I wore skinny jeans and my huge Asics running shoes.  

Together.  

To walk Sir Chester.

And I didn't even care.