{Weekend Wrap-Up}

Happy Monday, friends! I can't believe I am already saying that. Wasn't it just Friday at 4:00 when I logged off for the weekend? Where did the time go? So wild. Our weekend was mostly good. Friday we went to eat with Nate's parents and then back to enjoy a little fire. It was abnormally cool for July in Texas. It was just enough to tease us because it's back to hot and humid! 

Saturday morning I woke up before my boys and went outside for some Jesus time. I just love doing my bible study outside on the porch. When Nate and Mason woke up we decided to go to the 'Deer huntin' store' as Mason calls it {Cabelas}. We were excited because we haven't been in a while. But that all came to a great big halt the minute we got there. We were walking in the doors and Mason starts crying and throwing an epic fit because that wasn't the 'deer huntin' store' he wanted to go to. Apparently he thought we were going to Bass Pro Shop and he was ready to play in all of the boats. This was just the start of the fit-throwing-Saturday. I mean, it lasted all day. And this is why I said the weekend was mostly great. We swung by HEB on our way home to get some steaks to grill and I had to carry Mason out to the car kicking and screaming. Everyone was looking at us and I am sure they were thinking I either kidnapped him or beat him the way he was screaming "No please dont do it"....and all I was doing was carrying him! Goodness! It was quite the adventure. We got home and started playing outside and his attitude changed for the better! Whew! We spent the evening making homemade ice cream and hanging out by our chiminea with my inlaws. It ended up being a really nice weekend.

Sunday morning Nate got up with Gunner and took him to meet one of our friends who has Gunner's sister. They played together and swam together. He had a blast. I was wide awake at 7 am so I did what I do every other morning...grabbed my bible, some water, my phone and camera and went outside. I made some cinnamon rolls and woke Mason up around 10:30. We hung out on the porch for a while and then drove out to Waxahachie lake. We took Gunner. He played for a bit, but was too exhausted from his morning adventure. We came back home and made lunch. We spent the evening with family.

Oh and we have figured out what Mason's deal was on Saturday...another growth spurt! It's 11:46 am and he's still snoozing. And he was asleep before 10:00pm last night!

How was your weekend?

{Oh Hey Friday - new blog, gunner & the creek, new phone case}

{O N E}

Oh hey new blog design & name!! I've been wanting to do this for a while, but wasn't sure the direction I wanted to go. I needed a change and wanted all of my social media accounts to match. I sent a few name suggestions to Nate and he came back with - 

Hall Across Texas

Hall or Nothing

Hall Across Texas...he was on to something! I loved it, but something about it sounded like we've moved/lived all over Texas. So I swapped Across with Around and little space become Hall Around Texas. I am not sure why 'Around' was any better than 'Across'...but in my mind it was. We love to travel 'Hall Around Texas'. :) It took me a day and a half to design and code my new layout/template, and I am loving it so far. I wanted something different than I've ever had. I usually lean more towards the bright pink and turquoise, or more recently the black and gold. I might make a few tweaks here and there, but for the most part this is it. 

{T W O}

We took Gunner down to the creek Wednesday evening for a swim He did okay, but not enough to call him a water dog! We went in and swam across once. I think it was an accidental leap of faith. I'm chalking it up to the fact that there isn't a gradual entry anywhere, it just drops off all around. I mean, he is 100% lab, so he should love the water. Right?! We will try again. I love spending time down at the creek. It's so pretty and so peaceful.

{T H R E E}

Speaking of Gunner, Nate has been working hard with him every evening. Teaching him to walk on a leash {heal, sit when Nate stops all that} and he has done so incredibly well. Sometimes I think he is too smart for his own good. We are also bell training him for when he needs to go out to potty. This morning when we went out from our normal 6-8am he rang the bell on his own. This was after only 1 day of bell training. He's also getting really good at fetching and listening to Nate's commands.

{F O U R}

Target Dollar Section y'all!!! They have the cutest iPhone cases and accessories right now. I am usually more of a lifeproof/otterbox kind of girl, but I had to get this one. So summery and cute! They also have speakers, screen shields, buttons, stylus', etc. Love Target!

{F I V E}

My Ipsy Bag came this week. I love almost everything in it. Especially the cute hot pink bag. I think it's my favorite bag to date. I tried the tanning oil and it was okay, kind of sticky. But, that's to be expected. And the nail polish isn't necessarily my color, but I love everything else. I cant wait to try the bareMinerals BB Cream eyeshadow {color is perfect} and I love the Pixi tinted lip balm.
 

    

It's been a pretty uneventful week around here. I think I have only left the house once. Ha! {The life of a work at home Mama} We try to spend as much time as we can outside. It rained one evening which had us couped up inside. I am still enjoying my mornings outside. I would say quiet time, but it's not so quite with a pup, kitten, donkey, chickens, roosters, turkey, and all of the birds! But I love it. I love having my Jesus time outside. And it's been so nice in the mornings. This morning was a bit cold...in the 60s. It has me dreaming of Fall. Ahhh! Fall is my favorite.  

How was your week? Any plans for the weekend? Do you subscribe to Ipsy? What did you get this month?

{Another pallet, another project}

If you know me at all then you know that Mason jars, burlap and pallets are pretty much my jam. The Hubbs and I made this American Flag pallet back in April. It was a tedious project, but we loved the outcome. It's become a favorite part of our home. It resides on the front of our house.

We are planning on making a Texas Flag one, too. When we do, we'll probably put it on the other side of our house. I really love this one that we saw at the Pink Pistol in Lindale, TX...

...but I don't think I'll be able to talk him into making a pink one. Unless....oh yeah, unless I get him to make it for my in home office! That might work! ;)

Anyhow, I have been wanting to string white lights around our patio for a while now. The only problem is that our only tree on that side of the house isn't necessarily close to the patio. So, we had to get creative. My MIL mentioned stringing white lights onto a pallet and then hanging the pallet from the tree, just to give it a little something extra. Well, Nate doesn't think the pallet will give me that warm "ambiance" I am looking for around the porch. He is brainstorming on how to hang the pallet over the porch, or closer to it.  Last night I worked on stringing the lights through the pallet. This was definitely a piece of work! But, I finally got it and love the results. Can't wait to hang it! I'll be sure to post a picture when it's all done.

Have you made any projects out of pallets? Share!

{It's the Little Things - Snippets of Summer}

linking up with Ashley and Jess for It's the Little Things! Summer time is in full swing and we are loving it! These are just snippets of our Summer so far.

How has your Summer been?

{Homemade Ice Cream}

You'll need:

- Ice cream maker
- Ice (we ended up using 2 bags)
- Rock Salt
- 2 two liters (cream soda = vanilla)
- 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk

Directions:
- Fill the canister with the 2 two liters and 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk
- layer ice around the outside of the canister, top with rock salt, add another layer of ice and then rock salt, and keep layering until you reach the top of the ice cream maker
- Turn on and let it go (it took about 2 hours until our ice cream was ready)
- Make you a bowl {or two, or three} and freeze the rest

This is our favorite homemade ice cream recipe, and it's so simple. We've also done an Orange & Cream Soda which tastes like a dreamsicle...or a Big Red and a Cream Soda is kind of a strawberry flavor. The combinations are endless!

Such a perfect Summer staple.

What is your favorite homemade ice cream recipe?

{Oh Hey Friday!}

Wednesday I wrote about Mason's ophthalmology appointment {here} and Mason needing glasses and wearing an eye patch. Well, he has taken it like a champ! He is doing so good and we are so very proud of him. He wears his glasses all day and then we do an hour in the evening with the eye patch on. This boy makes me so proud!

Gunner is 10 weeks today! I feel like I can watch him growing when I look at him. His feet are ginormous! And he is loosing his baby face and looking more 'grown' to me. He has fit in so well with our family! We just love him. He loves to chase the kitten, play outside and chew on anything and everything that he possibly can. 

Mason asked his Daddy to take his training wheels off of his bike this week. {gasp} Is he really old enough for this? Oh my mama heart. He hasn't quite got the whole 'balancing' thing down yet. But, I am sure he will with the blink of an eye...that's how things seem to roll around here. 

Okay, so I admit, I was so spoiled to not having to wake up until 8 am, walk 15 steps and be in my office!! Gunner now gives me an 6 am wake up call. Ugh! I really don't mind it in the morning...actually I enjoy it. I love spending time with Jesus, doing my bible study and just watching nature. My favorite are the hummingbirds. They are just so fascinating to me. And they are starting to get used to me and don't brisk away so quickly. I could just sit and watch them all day! I'm using a sugar/water recipe in the feeders. I've heard you can use honey, but I am not sure the ratio. Have you ever tried it? Any secret recipe I should know about?

I joined a bunch of bloggers in a "Christmas in July" thing where you shop for the blogger's child. The blog I was paired with, Jasam at Opulent Owl has a little girl and it was so fun to shop for her. I never get to shop for little girls! Of course I have a boy, but I also have 4 nephews...no nieces! I wanted to buy everything. Girls clothes are just cuter and their toys are more fun!

Any plans?