Summer Snaps, Week Numero Uno

I follow {and LOVE} Jones Design Company and last week she posted about 

a new snapshot linky party being hosted by The Starfish Blog every Wednesday.  

Because I seem to be completely obsessed with photos right now 

I thought it might be a fantastic party for me to link up to. 

Here is our week in snapshots ~

Summer has started out fabulously for our little family.  I hope it has for you too ~

Hugs!

Carrie

PS ~ these images were taken with my iPhone with the exception of the last two pool shots.

A Perch On Our Porch

The sun is finally shining consistently here in NorCal and I am giddy.  I feel like every moment should be spent outside soaking up the rays and getting our vitamin D.

Because of the return of the sun and realization that the solar panels that heat our pool aren't working so well ~ our family ventured out doors and up on the roof to replace the panels.  I nervously supervised from the patio reminding the hubs and the kids when they were "Too close to the edge", and to "slow down Please!"

{More on this soon}

Anyway, to ease my nerves, and give them a break, I went to the other side of the house and cleaned up our front porch.  It's not too different ~ just a couple little tweaks.

Before ~

It was fine.  A little neglected due to weather....see the rain boots?

After ~

I washed everything, changed placement slightly and added some pillows.  

I'm on the hunt for a small table and some flowering plants.

Looks like a nice place to perch.

Hugs!

Carrie

PS ~ my house is black.  You can read about that here

InstaGram Lovin'

It's Friday again and I had such a fun time linking up to Life Rearranged last week that I thought I'd do it again.  Plus, I love posting to Instagram so it's a win win!!

Some of our closest friends came to town on their way home from a business trip.  They were only here for one night, but we managed to eat as if they were here for a week!!

First we had lunch.  A burger and fries at our favorite place,

Gott's in downtown Napa.

After lunch we went next door to Oxbow for cookies and coffee where we

chatted about kids and life and marriage and work ~ 

all the major subjects.

After lunch, husbands and wives separated for a bit.  

I think they bought a ShopVac while we sipped wine.  So much better being us!

Latter that night we went to dinner.

The hubs ordered a salad...

I ordered steak and potatoes.  

Should I be embarrassed that waiters often confuse our meals??

We all woke up VERY early {5:30a} to head down to the Alameda Flea Market.

Several months ago when I visited their website it noted the flea happens

"Rain or Shine", so even though the weather was iffy at best, 

we headed out on the 45 minute drive.

Only to find a BIG HUGE sign saying the flea had been postponed due to weather.

I felt bad ~ the hostess should have checked the site the night before...

It was particularly frustrating because the rain never came...

We ended up at Omega Salvage and I stumbled upon this bike.

Not very useful, but sort of cool ~

Our littlest guy graduated from elementary school this week.

It was exciting, and sad at the same time.

I shed some tears that day ~ the hubs teared up too, shhhh.

I think even Lola Dog was a little nostalgic

We rounded out the week with a Giants game at AT&T Park.

Find me on Instagram at csedwards.

Happy Photos ~

Carrie

Slacker!

It's been a busy month.  Our youngest graduated from elementary school and there were so many activities associated with the end of 5th grade.  It's left me little time to post on my blog, or even read all my favorites!!

Here's a little glimpse of what we've been up to over the last week...

This handsome fella finished his first year of high school 

and we celebrated by lunching with friends.

And our youngest created and presented his final project for Renzulli, 

which is a program at his school for accelerated learners.

He received an academic award from the President 

and a medal for 'Graduating' from elementary school.

The child of each family who was leaving the school for good was recognized when their student gave them a yellow rose...I stole a kiss too :-)

There was some huggin' and lovin' from a fabulous teacher we didn't want to say goodbye to.

We went on a field trip to the ballpark and watched the Giants play the Nationals.

We got to see our favorite players on our favorite team.  

This is Cody Ross chewing gum in Right Field

We were fearing the beard as he warmed up...

But Brian Wilson never went into the game.

And we WON!!!! Giants 3, Nationals 1

It was a great day for the Black & Orange!! 

{Even if it was a bit windy and my hair ribbon was standing up}

Now I'm off to plan our summer vacation ~ we're thinking of a road trip with friends to Carmel, Yosemite and Santa Barbara.  

We're shortening our trip because our oldest son decided to retake the 2nd semester of math to try and raise his grade.  It's worth it...

Hugs!

Carrie

InstaGram Lovin'

A while back my dear friend Holly told me about the Instagram App for our iPhones.  

It was free so I downloaded it but I didn't think about it much more.

Then a couple weeks ago I saw a link to an Instagram photo pop up on my Twitter newsfeed.  It reminded me of that app I hadn't ever used and I liked the look of the image so I decided to play around with the it and see what all the fuss was about.

Turns out ~ it's super FUN! I love how you can change the entire feeling of an image just by picking a new "filter" for it. And you can follow people and they can follow you.  

It's like a marriage between photos and social networking.  

It's Phocial Networking!

Well ~ today when I was reading one of my favorite blogs she referred to this blog and when I clicked over for a visit, I learned about Insta-Fridays at Life Rearranged.  

It was like Insta-fate!

I thought ~ I have a bunch of Instagram photos from this week and I'd like to play along...

This is my week in snap shots.

The weather has been so bad and Tuesday the clouds were breaking

This is an image taken over the Oakland Hills while we were running

our bay area errands

This is a shot from the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel.

I couldn't get enough of how gorgeous the sky was

That night I got sick...a bad flu-y coldish thing.  No Bueno

Because I stayed in bed as much as possible my hair turned into a giant rats nest.

My curly hair had doubled in size and taken on a life of it's own 

it was scarrrryy ~

This is one of the vineyards by our house.

Still bad weather here in Northern California, but at least the sky

is helping to keep things somewhat interesting.

{I'd still take some sunshine over this cold cloudy ickiness}

So you play along too ~ find me on Instagram at csedwards. 

Follow me and I'll follow you right back!

Happy Weekend!

Carrie

A Girls Weekend

I'm so excited about this weekend.  

I'm meeting one of my oldest dearest friends for a long weekend.  

We've both been having a stressful year {for totally different reasons} and feel like it's time to get away from our husbands, kids and reality for a couple of days.

Not that we don't love our reality, but sometimes you need a break.

You understand...

Last year we went to Cabo San Lucas for a week.

{Me & Shawn just off the plane}

It was divine. 

{Look at the water.  The color is so beautiful, it's unreal!}

Absolute Heaven.

But this year is a bit different.  Our trip is more last minute and we both have limited time with kids and businesses and homes and husbands and. and. and.....

So we're meeting half way between our cities in San Luis Obispo.  

As it turns out, this is where we met in high school when we were 16 {last year} 

and two other old dear friends still live in the area.  

Do we say "Best Friend" after age 16?  

If so, then I am going to spend the weekend with some of my best friends.  

We've shared memories, laughs, cries, boyfriends, apartments, CLOTHES!  

We've been through graduations, weddings, babies, divorces, heartaches and happiness.  We've fought and made up, and know each others dreams, fears and insecurities.  

We're family and I love them very much.

No Cabo this year, but our 2 will be 4 {at least some of the weekend} 

and that almost makes up for the venue change. 

{I urge you to again look at the water!}

Can't wait to share some of our stories when I return.

Hugs,

Carrie

Our Guest Room

I re-uphostlered a vintage bench last month and noted that 

it would be taking up residence in our guest room.  

Well, I decided to show you that room.

We live in a California Ranch style house built in 1947.  

When our home was built the developer built several other houses on our street.  

It's not a subdivision, and the homes are not identical, but they have a similar feel.  

The developer built our home as his own.  He chose the largest lot and changed the attached garage into his office.  Then built a detached garage.  

He included a small, teeny tiny, itty bitty, 

bedroom and 1/2 bath next to what would have been the garage

and that is our guest room.

See, tiny {cozy in realtor speak}.

But it works for short stays and who wants a long term guest?

Nobody!

{I know, I need to press the sheets. Add it to the list}

A large number of the walls in our home are tongue and grove redwood paneling.  

We painted most of it.  

I know, I know.  It's wood, and the grain is beautiful, and it would cost a fortune now.

Yada Yada...

I'm certain there are many people who would strangle me, 

but that wood sucked up all the light in the house and it had to be brightened up.  

I left this room wood {for now}

Even though it's not grand, I try to make sure it's as luxurious 

and well appointed as possible.

There's an alarm clock, TV, books on relaxation....

Bottles of water, reading lamps...

A luggage stand, fresh towels and a tray with sundries our guests could have forgotten

{tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, mouthwash, Advil, razors, Chapstick etc}

{my little vintage bench}

Even a place to sit down and tie your shoes.

Just because it's small doesn't mean it can't be comfortable.

Hugs,

Carrie

PS ~ You'll even find waffle robes and slippers in the closet. 

{they're next to the vacuum cleaner, but they're there!}