The Mouse Spider and Other Summer Fun

Summer is nearly upon us and along with the joys of cookouts, vacations, and warm weather, we also have the potential risk of receiving visits from unwanted intruders. I don't mean your husband's relatives, but rather the threat of critters with eight legs. You may be asking yourself: Is there such a thing as a mouse spider? Honestly I'm not sure, but that is the name I've attributed to the invader I found in my home the other day.

I was sitting on my couch, minding my own business, when suddenly I caught a glimpse of a dark object scurrying across the floor in the next room. My immediate reaction based on the size of the creature was MOUSE!!! However, upon further investigation, I discovered this was no mouse, but the biggest spider ever to have the audacity to invade my home! Now one thing you must understand is that I have a severe dislike--no, hatred, for spiders. The thought of them gives me shivers up my spine and gives me that prickly feeling on the back of my neck. As the thoughts of how to either kill or trap this uninvited guest scrambled through my head, the intruder evaded capture by hiding itself under my desk. I searched for it, but to no avail.

Later that evening I told my husband about this massive critter, but I couldn't help but feel that he just didn't understand how horrific this spider was. Based on the half smile and unbelieving chuckle he gave me, I believe he really thought I was exaggerating!

The next evening my mom came over to watch our daughter, Isabelle, while my husband and I went out. When we returned, my mom exclaimed that she had killed the biggest spider ever!! "Ha!" I said to my husband, "See, I wasn't exaggerating!" My poor mother hates spiders as much as I do so I felt for her. She said it was so big she didn't know if she could handle killing it. I'll spare you the gruesome details, but it wasn't a pretty death. This spider came to its unfortunate demise, but it's possible it had friends who would not think twice about finding dwelling in my house. I share this story as a warning to all of you to be on watch for these unwanted visitors. Summer is fun, but it can be deadly. Well for spiders anyway.

On a lighter note, if your husband's relatives are planning to drop in for a cookout, be ready to impress them with these DIY cocktail umbrellas found on diylife.com from the June issue of Country Living magazine. If your husband's relatives are anything like mine, you may be needing a cocktail by the time the weekend is through!

And to keep the kids happy, here's a cute idea for a DIY beehive pinata. Also found on diylife.com from Country Living magazine, this adorable project can be done for around $10!

Newbee

Hi! I'm Kristi, Nikki's younger sister and new employee. I am also a wife to my loving husband, Joe, and a mother to my sweet baby girl, Isabelle!

I have been working with Nikki for just a little while now, helping her with tax preparation and other incredibly facinating financial stuff. But now that tax season is past, she has promoted me to blogger! I am very new to blogging so we'll see if I have any super blogging skills waiting to emerge from down deep!

Nikki suggested I start by checking out other blogs and wedding websites for inspiration. I did as the boss said and I came across this wedding favor on Ruffledblog.com.

If you're a coffee lover and looking for the perfect favor for your guests, this is it! I think it's such a cute and creative DIY favor that wedding guests would love! Check it out on Ruffledblog.com and they show you everything you need to make these yourself! And they suggest that since not everyone loves coffee (to each there own, I guess), you can do the same type favor with tea bags.

If time is an issue or you're craving a custom tag, visit DaysGoneDesign.com to have us create a favor tag just for you! We can help you make your favors a reflection of your own unique style! Even if coffee bag favors just aren't your thing, we can make custom favor tags for any sassy or sophisticated favor idea you can think of!

As long as Nikki doesn't fire me after reading this post, I hope you'll be hearing more from me soon!

A marriage proposal that will make the movies jealous

Love this proposal! Totally original and so sweet. You will laugh, cry and try to figure out how he pulled this off...

Write Notes

Handwritten notes are so special and an excellent way to send affection. Here are a my newest stationery items in my shop.

Writings with lines of chirps to sing your message.

Sundae inspired stationery for a fun little treat.

Chic Designer stationery with a boutique look, featuring a post card style.

View all of my stationery here.

Music Share

Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg

Loving You Tonight by Andrew Allen

Love Never Fails by Brandon Heath

This one may be my new favorite song. Love it! 

My fella and I danced to Pieces by Red for our first dance. I love that it can be related to both God and each other. Versatile, pretty, and unordinary. 

What song did you play at your wedding or dream of dancing to with your future betrothed? I'd love to hear them!

Old made New

 {via The Kitchn}

My fella and I plan to transform an old dresser to add more counter space and storage to our kitchen. I just adore this idea! The styles and options are endless. It's an economical and creative way to add fabulous elements to your spaces.

{via Vision Painting Co}

Have a lovely weekend! I will be off faux painting with my sister at her home tomorrow and then doing some drawings for a friend's Bible school. Perhaps a girls night out later on...if we're lucky. What are your plans?

{DIY Chic Chair Bows}

I came across this adorable post by Emmaline Bride today and just had to share! I love chic ideas made on a budget and easy to do - all at the same time.

 

{via Emmaline Bride}

photography: jeanna hayes / styled by: she paperie

{Sisters}

I am excited to introduce my sister, Kristi, to you. It's been a long time coming as she has been helping me out with business for several weeks now. Days Gone Design is really hopping lately and bouncing off the walls! Kristi is finally finished helping me prep for taxes! Now she will be begin helping me in other ways, which includes blogging!

Kristi is my only sister and best friend. We have always been really super close and each others confidants. Having 4 brothers, I have no idea how I would have survived childhood without her! Having her work with me is like a dream come true. Kristi is such a left-brained person and I am so right-brained. We bounce things off each other well and work great as a team. She is everything I am not and can do everything that I can not. I think she will add so much impact to Days Gone Design and has so much to bring to it.

As an extra bonus, Kristi just so happens to have a baby girl too, who happens to be Evie's best buddy:) It's so nice that the two girlies can play together while we work. Those two adore each other!

{2nd Place Winner on The Lovelies!}

My shop won 2nd place in the Paper Goods category! I'm pretty stoked! Thank you so much to all who voted!

It's been  f o r e v e r  since I have posted. This is all simply due to the fact that I have been SWAMPED! It's so great to see this little business growing. However, that just means that certain things lack. 

We are so busy, and I do mean we. We, as in, my sister and I! I have hired my best friend in the world (aside from my husband) to help me with business. This is a dream to come true! Right now she is working one day a week and focusing on getting me organized to file taxes...ugh! Thank God she loves spreadsheets. I detest this sort of work. She, on the other hand, can do everything I can not. We make an excellent team in everything we do. So, that's a little peak into what is to come. I will write an introduction post all about Kristi. You will actually be lucky enough to meet her soon (once she finishes the dreaded tax task)! She will then begin posting a couple times a week to keep you all updated on whats going on with Days Gone Design and more!

{The Lovelies}

Happy Friday! It's been a busy week! I teamed up with Laura from Captured by Laura Photography to do a design shoot for my paper items. I'm really looking forward to seeing her photos and sharing them with you!

The husband sent this to me the other day...he loves Apartment Therapy! Ever since we bought our house, I've been trying to explain to him my ideas for decorating and my love of white and rustic, but with an elegant touch. I think he was picturing a girlie style due to my frequent use of the word, shabby chic. I'm getting the itch to start doing some projects around the house.

 {via Apartment Therapy}

Vote for my shop on The Lovelies, please?

 

I'm so excited to have the opportunity to gain exposure to my shop via The Lovelies Award!  I'm overwhelmed by the love I've received already! Please, be a doll and vote for my shop? You can "like" and also leave a comment. Thank you so much!

Tonight, one of my dear friends will be celebrating her engagement and I am leaving Evie home with Daddy! I've never been away from her for more than a couple hours so this should be interesting. I'll miss her big blue eyes, babbling words and outstretched arms reaching for me but I am excited to get away for a little bit. She is in good hands:)