The Challenge... how are you doing?

Back in January, I wrote this post and challenged you to join me on Swagbucks and see how much free $$$ you could earn by Christmas.  Well, it's then end of June and our challenge is half way over.  It's time to evaluate how we're doing.  Last year I earned $75 in CASH!  If you'll remember, this year instead of buying paypal cash, I'm spending my swagbucks to buy Amazon.com gift cards!  As of today, I have $45 in Amazon.com gift cards!!!!  WOO-HOO!!!  Not too shabby for doing absolutely nothing but using the Swagbucks toolbar when I get on the internet each day!!! 

I'd love to hear how you're doing.  If I've learned one thing through this process, it's that you MUST use the swagbucks search engine or you won't earn the swagbucks!!!  I've been lazy a few days and didn't use swagbucks to get online.  Well, obviously I didn't earn any swagbucks those days.  Keep using Swagbucks!!!  The more you use it, the more swagbucks you'll earn and more often!  And, download the toolbar!  It's a wonderful reminder to use swagbucks when you launch your internet browser.

If you aren't sure what Swagbucks is all about and want to see for yourself how you can earn FREE $$$ just by using Swagbucks for internet searches, see my post HERE and get started today!!!

Cars 2!!!

Although you're probably expecting this post to be about the new Cars 2 movie that just came out, it's not... not quite.  We plan to see the movie soon and I can't wait!  But what this post is all about is looking sharp while AT the movie Cars 2.  I have created some new novelty bows over at Mandy Jane.  And one of them is this precious CARS themed bow!!!

Isn't it adorable?!!?  Mallory plans to wear hers with some little black shorts and a red shirt.  But there are so many options!!!!  Right now, this bow and ALL the bows at Mandy Jane are 25% off when you use the discount code SUMMER at checkout.  That means this bow is only $6!!!

The other new novelty bows include Toy Story, Disney Princess, Minnie Mouse, and Texas Longhorns.  I have a post about all of these at my Mandy Jane Blog.  Get them while they're hot and while you can still apply the 25% off code!!!

My Painting Disaster

It's been a long time since I posted a decorating post.  It's always one of my favorites to blog about because I love decorating so much, but lately things have been busy and I haven't blogged much about anything at all.  Well, last week I had some crazy events happen that definitely led to a decorating post.

When we moved into our new house 4 months ago, we weren't able to change anything.  The carpet is original, the paint is original, and the wallpaper is original to the house that was built in 1997.  That doesn't sound very old at all, but when you're talking paint... it's OLD.... VERY old!!!

The ladies in my Sunday school class were scheduled to come to my house this past Monday.  So, all that prior week, I was working to get the final details on my decorating done.  One thing I needed to do was touch-up the paint in several rooms.  Thursday morning I decided it was time to get started.  I went to the garage and got out the paint can that said "green" and took it into our family room.  I began dabbing the small little places with the green paint. It was darker than the paint on the walls, but not significantly different.  I figured it was just wet and would dry to the right color.  Boy was I WRONG!  The entire room looked polka-dotted! 

When Brad got home at 5:00 and saw the room, he said, "Well, I guess I'm going to be repainting this room tonight."  I was SO thankful his reponse was so pleasant... I expected to be grilled for the super-huge mess I had created.  Fortunately, he is a master at painting and can cut-in like nobody's business.  He changed his clothes and headed to Sherwin Williams for paint.  We decided to use an entirely different paint color... one we had LOVED after seeing it at my mom and dad's house when they recently repainted.  It's called "Macadamia".

Here's Brad and his lovely assistant! (Not sure why this picture is blurry. Ugh!)

I wish I had a better "before" picture with more of the polka dots showing.  It was really awful!

Now before I show you the "After" photos, I have to tell you what happened next.  While Brad was painting (he won't let me paint... I'm TERRIBLY messy!).  Anyway, while he was painting, I decided I needed to make some curtains for that room.  My mom and I had been looking for just the right fabric and trim for several days, but I just couldn't figure out what I wanted to do.  After seeing a picture in one of my old Southern Lady Magazines, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I created my own pattern, Mama helped me with the fabric and trim, and I got busy!  All while Brad painted.  :-)  It took him 5 hours to paint the room.  It took me 3 afternoons and evenings to make the curtains.  I have to say I am thrilled with the outcome!!!

This is my finished curtain valance!  It's 15 feet long!  And it covers all three windows in my family room.

Here's another view...

The fabrics are a black floral and leopard print.  Here's a little closer look...

The hardest part was creating my own pattern for the ties and inset pieces.

I love how it all came together.  My silly screw-up turned into a beautiful room.  Here's a finished look with everything completed.

Now, I just had to finish up the decorating part... I needed something to go on the wall beside the game table.  I searched everywhere!!!!  I finally came upon these plates and plaques at Kirklands.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, I love decorating with scripture!  I love for my home to be filled with God's Word and reminders of His love for me and my family.  The scriptures on these plates are especially meaningful to me, so they couldn't have been more perfect!

The next day while searching for curtain ring clips in Hancock fabrics, I discovered this lamp!!!  Isn't that just gorgeous?!?!  Would you believe it was under $10????  Really!!!!  :-)  I was SO excited!!!  It found the perfect home on top of my buffet cabinet.

This is an upclose pic of my mantle.  It didn't change, but I love the way the plates match the curtains and my new plates so well...  squeal!!!!  :-)

Here's those plates again...

And one more favorite decorating piece.... I got this cross collage candle sconce at Canton.  I just love it!

And here's my completed room.  I am so pleased that my painting disaster led to this!  Now I've got the fever to repaint the whole house!!!!  :-)

Got any suggestions for getting hubs to agree?!?!  LOL!!  :-)

I'll be linking up with:

I Heart Naptime Sundae Scoop

Under the Table & Dreaming The Sunday Showcase

Dittle Dattle Amaze Me Monday

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

The DIY Showoff Mondays

Keeping It Simple Motivate Me

Elements Interiors - Whassup Wednesday ???

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Gorgeous Picture Frames!

Kristen @ Kristen's Creations is having a giveaway for one of her beautiful custom picture frames!  I'd just love to win one!  Not only does she make beautiful frames, but her blog is lots of fun to read... check it out!

Vacation Bible School

I've  been working in Jack's class for Vacation Bible School this week.  He's the youngest of his group at 2 years old.  The other kids all turned 3 back in September!  It's been amazing to see the difference 10 months can make.  Little Jack won't be three until the end of July.  He's having fun regardless.  He doesn't know the difference.  He's just made friends with all of them.  :-)

He loves playing with the bubbles!! 

Look at the height difference between him and this little girl... wow!

We've had a circus theme, so the worship time has been centered around that.  Yesterday, Jack wasn't quite sure what to think of all this.  He stood and watched with his hands behind his back and really didn't get into it.  He's a kid who needs routine and doesn't handle changes very well.  This was totally new to Jack!

But today, after he learned what all was going on, he warmed up to it all and really had a great time!!

Check him out!!

Memorial Day Fun

This year my sister had all of us over for Memorial Day.  She had a bounce house for the kiddos and lots of  fun water activities. 

Micah, Mallory, and Gavin in the bounce house...

Jack, Macy, and Gavin... 

Scarlett, Jack, Grant, and Mallory... 

Jack loved the wagon...  He loves everything he can pull or push!

Brad helped grill the burgers... 

All the kiddos ate together at the picnic table... 

Except Jack preferred to play and not eat... 

Fun in the sprinklers!! 

And the pool.... 

Love this one of Micah and Jack... 

All 7 kids in the pool... 

Then, they added the slide... oh my!!! 

Back porch spectators... 

It's so much fun when we all get together... 

Kristin, thank you for a great time!

Playing Catch Up!

I'm here!!  I'm here!!!  I've just been BUSY!!!!  The end of the school year has had us meeting each other coming and going!  Is it like that for you, too?  It's a wonderful time of year... filled with lots and lots of things that keep us busy.  Here's a recap of many of the exciting things happening in the Burkett household....  :-)

Last week Mallory's kindergarten class participated in Splash Day!  It began with a parade in front of the school led by a big firetruck!  The kids waved their posters they had made and waved to the parents who had lined the street.

Splash Day was an all-day event filled with relay races, water slides, dunking booths, popsicles, and snow cones!

Mallory loved it all!!!

The kids were given a treat bag while waiting in line for lunch.  These cute sunglasses were a big hit!

The limbo line!  Have you ever tried to limbo while getting sprayed with water and carrying a popsicle?!  :-)

The popsicles were a very welcomed treat for a hot day!

Mallory's class got to end the day with the big water slide!  It was FUN!

Later in the week, we went with my parents to the local spray ground.  This was Jack's first experience with it.

He loved it til he got cold.  Then, it was Nana to the rescue!  He LOVED that part!  :-)

After splashing in the water, the kids played for awhile on the playground.

At home we've stayed busy, too.  Mallory has always been a big helper to me, but lately, her help has included helping me in the kitchen.  She loves to help me cook.  This particular night I let her butter the tops of the rolls.  She thought she was Paula Deen!

We also took a few trips to the grocery store.  A brand new store in town has these WONDERFUL buggies!!  The kids were in hog heaven when they discovered them!

Isn't that too cool?!?!?!?

And finally, today was Mallory's last day in kindergarten.  Ya'll, I've cried all week just thinking about it!  I'm SO ready for her to be home with me again, but knowing that she won't be in kindergarten anymore has just about done me in.  Where has the time gone?!?!  We have LOVED kindergarten.  Mallory was blessed with an amazing teacher!!!

Today at the school party, Mrs. Frazier gave Mallory the "great author" award.  She definitely loves to write and illustrate stories and she's so creative!  She also received a "caring" award and that couldn't be more fitting for Mallory.  I'm so proud of her!

Jack got a new haircut this morning.  I decided to put a little gel in it and spike it up in the front.  I think he looks adorable.  :-)  The picture has some terrible shadows, so it's hard to get the real look from the picture.

And finally, the kids rode the Mickey Mouse ride at Walmart today.  I just love how they get along so well and love each other so much.

Time is just flying by!  I'll try and do better with my blog posts now that summer is here.  We have Vacation Bible School next week and we're really looking foward to that!

Here's to a GREAT summer!!!