The toughest part of the whole working with two kids in tow is keeping up with our own house. I have tried to do a good cleaning once a week with the help of them and then we do mini sessions throughout the week with the help of the Mr. It's all about keep up I have slowly learned. I can not even tell you how many loads of laundry I did yesterday. Oh, and there may have been a few times that I just sat in the middle of the floor and cried over it. Silly I know. Does this print not just say it all??? I think I should hang it predominantly.

 I have been adding in fun elements for the kiddos too. Don't worry there. I firmly believe in a lot of play. They are at a great age where they enjoy doing there own thing together outdoors thankfully, but to be honest it has been hard to balance. Although I believe I have said that already.

And, since I am being all black and white on the matter doesn't Celerie Kemble's book seem quite appropriate. She's pretty much the bee's knees. I wonder how she has balanced all? And to think her projects make mine look like drops in the bucket. Ha.

Oh, and don't get me wrong. I am enjoying the process of learning and designing immensely on most days. I just want ot do all parts of life well and I am just not sure what that takes. I am figuring it out though, slowly that is.

As the kiddos played outdoors the other day and as the storms rolled in I grabbed a few iPhone pics of the progress that has been made in our yard. May not look like much, but it has made leaps and bounds! Ha. The veggie beds are doing great. They are completely organic and GMO free. Most started from seed minus the center tomato plants and the strawberries hence why they aren't huge as of yet. I am sure a healthy dose of Miracle Grow would do wonders, but alas that would defeat the purpose. To the left of the patio I planted more limelight hydrangeas to make a full hedge. They grow so quickly I know next year this will make such an impact. A few things left on my list to do is to stain the play set a dark black/green, add sod to all the missing places, and make a grilling station for the Mr. My sweet papa is also going to head up making a pergola over the patio for some shade. Can't wait to cover it in vines. My initial thought is Jasmine for it's evergreen tendancy's, but wisteria could be quite a show-stopper too.

TIDBIT: I bought the coil hoses at Target, but have this one on my radar. With so much everyday use the ends have already started to kink and this one has GREAT reviews. The coil has been a life changer this season. Not sure why it took me so long to convert.

Here are a few things from her shop that I am pretty much smitten with...

Are they not stunning?!?!? Of course I had to build a space around one, an entry way to be exact...

1. Mirror

2. Lamp

3. Boxes

4. Chest

5. Rug

*** The best part is Kera is offering Two Ellie readers 20% off an entire order from Interwoven starting now until June 26th at midnight EST. Enter code: TWOELLIE***

 LAST BUT NOT LEAST she has a Instagram contest going on...

Giving away a 3x2 Kashmiri rug to two lucky winners 

Here are the rules:

1. Check out our website www.hellointerwoven.com

2. Like us on on Facebook www.facebook.com/hellointerwoven

3. Follow us on Instagram- (@interwoven) and repost your favorite image from our feed. Tag us @interwoven and hashtag #weareinterwoven. Include WHY YOUR SPACE NEEDS INTERWOVEN in your post ( Private IG accounts must leave a comment on original contest post)

I also came across these. It's an old process of photography that is not really used much anymore. The images actually come out on metal sheets. Of course I was in awe. My favorite was the stack of books. I could easily see them framed against a piece of linen and floated. They are by Josiah Morgan.

Tiffany is quite beautiful inside and out...

This was a print, but I loved it so much! The colors were so rich.

I may have gotten too giddy over the rosemary topiaries. Of course one had to come home with me! I also bought a bench that needs recovering from here. The two chairs I only wished I needed for a project! I could see them recovered in a fun pattern or a simple linen. These are the times I wish I had a warehouse.

LOVED these lamps. They are from England and were priced a tad too high and by a tad I mean crazy high.

Who is the adorable one in all white chatting with Marianne? It's the one and only Sherry Hart from Design Indulgence. She was fun as can be and enjoyed her company immensely.

So much art to feast my eyes on! If the Mr had a home office I would love these hanging in a grid against a dark walls. They are so him!

I thought this piece would be fabulous for a screened in porch. Again, I need a warehouse...

My weakness for pillows came to an all time high here. I did buy one, I just couldn't pass it by. I was in search for a new lumbar for the sofa anyway. The current fur one just didn't work with summer weather. Of course, I went with a neutral.

Last but not least, who else did we run into? Donna from A Perfect Gray!!!! Spending time with these ladies was truly such a treat. My creativity was stirred and my drive jumped up a few notches. I also learned so much about the design buisness. Can't wait to meet again!

{Me, Donna from Perfect Gray, Tiffany from Savor Home, Sherry from Design Indulgence, Marianne from Marianne Simon Design}

My whirlwind trip to Atlanta to meet Marianne and Tiffany could not have been any more perfect. We easily connected and felt like long lost friends. We stayed up chatting way past my bedtime and I could not have felt more refreshed. Tiffany, our gracious host, took us to Optimist for dinner on Thursday. It was amazing!!! The design concept was brilliant and the food was divine. They even catered to my gluten allergy. I can most definitely see this becoming a must have stop in Atlanta for me.

*more of the trip tomorrow and some other fabulous ladies I had the pleasure to meet.

This past weekend the Mr did some rush photos for the girl that was our flower girl years ago! Of course I had to tag along and bask in sweet memories. The Mr then decided that I should start doing posts on what I wore once again. Ha. So let's pretend my hair was washed, shirt not so wrinkled, and I was not standing pigeon toed. The fashion bloggers are quite adorable these days and I most definitely do not compare, but this is what I like to think a a thrity-something mother of two, who works, runs errands, and cleans the toilet would be most comfortable in. You can say this is my start to summer wear.

Gingham Top: J. Crew

White Jeans: J. Crew

I-Phone case: On sale in store a few months ago. LOVE this one too though!

Shoe by Enzo Angiollini: Have had for years!

Bracelet: J.Crew, can't find it either, but they have plenty to choose from!

More importantly I am off to Atlanta today and tomorrow to meet Tiffany and Marianne! We are having dinner and heading to Scott's in the A.M. I simply can not wait! The whole reason I began blogging was to meet like minded people and share what inspires me. There weren't too many blogs when I began and pinterest wasn't even a thing. I must say it has made blogging much harder. Trying to post things you all haven't seen 100 times before and the community of blogging has broken down some. Yes, I still make and have friends that I adore that I have met through this little world of ours, but most of that is now done through instagram. I still adore it don't get me wrong, but I feel as if blogs are evolving into something else. Not sure of the word I am thinking of, but it's not relationship based. Kind of sad.

Here is the beginning. I got to a point where I got so overwhelmed I simply lost control over the year. My feet grew, my girth grew, and there were so many pieces that no longer were flattering. I just did not have the inspiration to tackle this one on my own.

First she pulled EVERYTHING out. This was my "what was I thinking" moment...

In the end the more I purged the more free I felt. Majority of these things no longer fit or I simply never wear. Who needs 20+ striped shirts anyway? The piles to the left are yard sale items and the piles to the right will become a blog sale. Those pieces are more of the high end and barely worn. Don't get me wrong some yard sale peeps will be getting killer deals on really cute items too.

Now on to the less embarrassing parts. Everything after being whittled down was re-hung or folded by color. My next step will be to make sure all the hangers match. The Mr will have simple white hangers and I will have the beige velvet ones.

My hand bags and totes hang on the wall...

As well as our belts and the Mr's ties/bow ties.

My shoes now fit on the two shelving units and the Mr has the other.

Now to make the space pretty pretty!

Recently I helped with a project for someone who needed a little help with art to finish off her dining room. The dining room itself is gorgeous! Originally she wanted charcoal etchings, but when I came across these I couldn't help but through it out there. She loved them and alas they are happy in her home. Low and behold this certain someone ended up having a beautiful blog and posted about it last week. You can also see more pictures and a fabulous before and after.

{The second image is from my home before I shipped them off. Sun and glass are never friendly}

What is this oddity you may ask. Well, our local Hoover Toyota is hosting a giveaway! To enter you had to make a short video and then do the annoying thing and try to get people to vote for it. Ha. The prize is a Toyota Camry. How fabulous would that be!?!?! We entered VERY late and we are WAY behind in votes {I think the top contender has over 700} so I thought I would reach out here and see if you all would be kind enough to vote for us!!! Pretty please?

*by the way I am obviously not an actor.

*We are labeled the Coldiron Family and the Camry with Ellie's sweet face on it.

*VOTE HERE