Patio Progress

Does the cold weather have you dreaming of spring?  I can't wait to relax on our new patio when it's warmer!  Here's an update on our under-deck patio renovation...

1. Bar: Want to build your own custom bar?  Here's how we did it.  David was inspired by a picture he saw online of a basement bar with a finished wood slab top. 

We ordered a black walnut slab from Keim Lumber online for $275 + $150 shipping.  We wanted it to be wide enough to fit a dinner plate, and long enough to run the length of the couch.  We found one that is 91" long, 18" wide and 1.75" thick.  This baby weighs a ton.  It came unfinished, and David put a couple of layers of polyurethane on it.

Next, he took it to Hayes Aluminum in Chapin, S.C., to make the base.  We picked a stain color called Oil Rubbed Bronze by Arrow Hawk Coatings and a few weeks later the bar was ready.  I think it turned out great!

2. Stools: First comes the bar, then comes the bar stools.  David found these distressed stools at Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium on Garner's Ferry Road in Columbia.  These stools are super sturdy and perfectly rustic. 

3. Art: What is an outdoor living area without some art by Columbia's own Chicken Man?  Not much, I tell you :)  For Christmas, I surprised my husband with three pieces of original artwork by Ernest Lee.  I think they add the right amount of color and whimsy to the space.

4. Coffee table: David built this coffee table and I painted and sanded it around the edges (and other random spots) to give it that distressed look.  You can easily do this yourself.  No need to buy anything fancy for outdoor entertaining.

5. Accessories:

I bought a mirror at a craft store to complete the wreath I scored at an antique store.

I found this birdhouse on the clearance aisle of Hobby Lobby and painted turquoise over the cherry pattern.

 

 

A neighbor gave me the "Live Love Lake" art for Christmas.  Perfect!  I think I need to spray paint the metal tray, but what color??

A large iron piece fills this space and highlights the brick.

Whenever we have another warm and sunny day perhaps I will be motivated to paint the second half of the sectional.  Eventually, I will post the finished project.  Bring on spring time!!!

Howling good fun at the Great Wolf Lodge

 

My family recently stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, N.C. for the first time.  Everyone said it would be amazing, and they were right!  If you are like us and have put this off, here is some helpful info for when you finally decide to schedule your visit:  

 

1. The Room  

 

We stayed in the Wolf Den Suite, which included a bunk bed and a separate TV.  My girls thought this was so cool.  We even allowed the 2-year-old, who still sleeps in a crib, to sleep on the bottom bunk and she did just fine.  There was extra counter space, which was nice, a small fridge and microwave.  Also, there was a couch and small table and chairs.  After taxes and fees, the room was $300... Kinda pricey BUT you get two-day water park passes for the whole family!  We actually funded this trip with Christmas money given to the girls by their Granddaddy instead of buying more STUFF.  They LOVED him for it :)

 

2. The Waterpark

 

 

 

The waterpark included four huge waterslides, a wave pool, kiddie pool, splash playground with two slides and another pool that had basketball goals and lily pads kids could jump across.  My seven-year old was able to ride everything, but the two-year old had plenty of options to keep her entertained as well.  She loved the slides in the kiddie pool and the spraying wave runners.  Also, the playground had two slides she could ride, but be prepared... you cannot ride this with them.  They must go solo.  She wanted to do it, but when I sat her down she freaked out.  So... I pushed her.  Off she went, screaming the whole way down.  I went down the other slide and met her at the bottom.  What did she say to the mean Mommy who pushed her?  "Can we do it again?"  And so we did again, and again, and again. 

 

I put the puddle jumper on her in the wave pool but she didn't even need it in the kiddie pool (18 inches deep) or the playground.  When you need a break, just grab some chairs by the wave pool and have some ice cream.  My older daughter made a friend and loved having some freedom to run around.  We always go to the Carowinds waterpark but with this being a resort pool, it felt really safe and well contained.  We had 4 hours of water fun on day one, and maybe 5 hours on day two (with a break in between) and that was plenty for us.

 

Also, we brought our own towels for the first day, but used theirs on the second.  They are small and kind of rough, but they were dry.  They provide life jackets if you need them.

 

3. The Clothes

 

Attire here is comfy CASUAL.  Kids can literally be seen throughout the hotel in their bathing suits or pj's.  It is so nice.  I thought we needed cute outfits for dinner, but what I really wanted was some yoga pants!  The pool area is warm, so even in the winter people are wearing summer cover-ups, etc.  But when you walk back into the hotel, it's pretty chilly so have a jacket handy.

 

4. The Food

 

Before our trip, I heard that the food wasn't that great and that it would be pricey, but it was just fine for us.  There are a ton of restaurants near the lodge if you wish to venture out, but we were so comfy and cozy we didn't have the desire to go out to the cold car.  After 8 p.m. story time in the lobby (the girls were already clean and in their pj's!), we picked up a pizza (to-go only) by the pool and took it up to our room.  It was delicious!  And the girls loved stayed up a little late, having dinner in our awesome Wolf Den and watching TV.  We had Dunkin Donuts for breakfast (also in the hotel) and lunch by the pool (chicken fingers, salad and a burger).  And there were a ton of sweet options (ice cream, fudge, cookies, etc.)  I mean for a 24-hour stay, what more do you need? 

 

5. The Extras

 

 

But wait, there's more?  Yes, there is plenty more than you can do at the Great Wolf Lodge, but we were so busy enjoying the water park we didn't have time!  For additional money, there is a spa, bowling alley, and scavenger-hunt games like MagiQuest.  I could definitely see how older kids would love running around the hotel doing this with their friends, but we put it off for another time.  We did spend a couple of hours in the arcade, however.  I bought a $10 card and the girls played everything their little hearts desired.

 

Let's Call it a Wrap

 

 

We asked a Great Wolf Lodge employee when she thought the best time to go was, and she said the beginning of the week.  Also, she said if there is such a thing as "slow season" it would be after school starts back in August or after Labor Day in September.  We were there Thursday-Friday and it was definitely crowded but the wait times for the big slides were still really short (5-10 minutes or less).  I have a feeling we will be returning again and again.  Want to see more?  My husband just happened to put together a You Tube video of our visit.  Check it out! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Easy Christmas Paintings

Looking for an activity for your children on a cold and rainy Christmas vacation day?  Buy some blank canvases and let them paint Christmas art!  You can pull the paintings back out each year and display them in your window sills.  I just love original art on canvas, don't you?  My daughters made the Christmas tree with their fingerprints.  You can find a ton of other ideas in Pinterest, of course :)  Next year we might try the snowman family, or the reindeer, or the Santa Claus... Happy painting!

We made the last two at a church event last year.

Biltmore and the Bohemian at Christmas

If you are looking for a fun getaway to get you in the Christmas spirit, visit Asheville, North Carolina.  Here's what you can do in 24 hours:

1. Stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel! 

From the minute you check into the Tudor-style hotel in quaint Biltmore Village, you will feel warm and cozy.  Grab some complimentary apple cider or hot chocolate and sit by the stone fireplace before you even check into your room. 

Check out the gorgeous paintings throughout the hotel as well as a variety of antlers and stuffed animals (not the children's kind), which will make you feel like you just stepped into George Vanderbilt's hunting lodge.  The hotel offers an interesting juxtaposition of rustic and luxurious, and the rooms are modern and spacious.  I, for one, am a fan of the gigantic bathtub.

2. Dine at Rezaz.  There are so many excellent restaurants in Asheville to choose from, and one of them happens to be right across the street from the Bohemian.  For a more casual meal of smaller bites, eat in the wine bar.  I recommend the assorted Mediterranean dips, which comes with olives, feta and pita.  For a finer dining experience, eat in the main dining room.  We enjoyed the Butternut Squash Ravioli on the regular menu, and the striper and steak from the specials that evening.  Here's the striper special:

3. Visit the Biltmore House which is all decked-out for Christmas!

This trip coincided with my daughter's 7th birthday, so we decided to bring her along and take her to the Biltmore House for the very first time. You can purchase tickets online  or at 800-411-3812.  If you are within a few days of your visit, I recommend calling the 1-800 number.*

Tickets vary in price based on the season (other times of the year, I saw tickets for $39 and $47).  I paid $63 for my ticket, and my daughter's was free.  Youth 10-16 have a lower ticket price than adults.  We paid $10 each for an audio guide, which was well worth it.  There is a special guide just for kids "voiced" by Cedric, George Vanderbilt's St. Bernard!  I picked up the kid's audio guide as well, just so I could hear what my daughter was hearing, not because I wanted it for myself :)  But it was really interesting, and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed it.  Along the way, Cedric pointed out his picture, secret doors, and other hiding places of interest to children.  Occasionally, I suggested skipping an audio portion, but my daughter was so into it she wouldn't allow it!

The Biltmore is always beautiful, but during Christmas it is even more spectacular.  The home, which took six years to build, actually opened on Christmas Eve in 1895.  There are 250 rooms in the home (although not all of them are on the tour), and there were nearly that many Christmas trees and decorations.  From the two-story tree in the Banquet Hall to the poinsettias and greenery in the Winter Garden, the home was decorated to the nines.

Until January 3, you can also tour the Biltmore at night during the Candlelight Evenings.  These tickets cost more, but I imagine seeing the lights, candles, and fireplaces burning would be a beautiful sight. 

A few more pieces of information for your visit... It took us at least an hour and a half to walk through the entire house.  Use the restrooms before you enter.  You can't take pictures in the house or use your cell phone.  Crowds are lighter in the morning, so get in and get out in time for lunch.

We skipped the wine tasting, although they said they do have a grape juice tasting for kids which sounded cute.  I have enjoyed the winery, Bistro, and Antler Hill Village with my husband before, but it was a chilly 39 degrees so we checked out one toy shop (bought another stuffed animal we don't need) and declared it done.

I have discovered that after having my second child, it is nice to share experiences with them individually occasionally, plus my two-year old would have been climbing under the velvet ropes and touching everything in about two seconds flat.  Seven seemed like a really good age for my daughter to appreciate the beauty of this real "American castle."  It was a special trip we will always remember.

4. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at the Corner Kitchen.  In our case, it was lunch and the chicken pot pie hit the spot on the chilly day.

5. Stop by Just Ducky, an adorable children's boutique in Biltmore Village.  If you have time, there are plenty of specialty shops along the cobblestone sidewalks.

If only we didn't have to rush back, I would have spent several hours at the Antique Tobacco Barn, which is just around the corner from Biltmore Village.  There's always next time... and I'm sure we will return soon.  I hope you are enjoying some special Christmas moments with your family this month!

*I went to buy tickets online two nights ahead of time, which I thought was thinking ahead, only to see that there were no tickets available!  How did I let this happen?  We had been telling our daughter for 3 weeks that we were going to do this for her birthday!  This was a terrible "mommy moment."  I called the hotel in a panic to see if they could provide tickets and they said they couldn't do anything until the next morning, although the concierge pointed out to me that this was the Biltmore's busiest time of year so they probably were sold out.  Ugh.  The Biltmore office wouldn't open until 8 a.m. the next morning.  I tried to sleep.  As I sent my daughter off to school the next morning at 7 a.m. she was all excited about our Biltmore tour the next day.  One little voice in my head, said don't tell her... maybe it will work out.  We can beg someone at the gate...  The other little voice said, go ahead and tell her... maybe we shouldn't even go.  The second voice won, so I suggested maybe we should and just go see the house in all its grandeur from the exterior and then go shopping or something.  She looked at me like I was nuts.  "Why wouldn't we go INSIDE the house, Mommy?"  Oh, because Mommy is a moron and didn't buy tickets three weeks ago!  Anyway... at 8:01 a.m. I called the ticket office (800-411-3812), and they had plenty of tickets available so all was well :)

Countdown to Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6 King James Bible
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

The countdown to Christmas is ON in my house!  We usually do an Advent calendar that has the little windows you open each day, but this year I haven't gotten around to buying one so I decided to create my own Countdown to Christmas! 

My daughter loves making paper chains to countdown to various events, like birthdays or trips, but I wanted this one to have more purpose and meaning.  We cut 22 strips of paper and I had her number them.  On the back I wrote something for her to read each day after she cuts a strip.  I included a variety of Christmas Bible verses, as well as acts of kindness or other things for her to do.  You could make it as complicated or as simple as you choose.  I always choose SIMPLE.  Some of my favorites were: sing Away in a Manger right now, play with a new friend at school today, and make a card for someone who is sick. 

She stapled them all together (without peeking) and VOILA - a practically, free countdown to Christmas!

This was a fun project to do together, but don't let me fool you into thinking it was all "calm and bright."  During our merriment, my two-year old grabbed the chain and ripped it in half.  A few pieces of tape later and all was well.  Also, my puppy took off with yet another pacifier, which I had to pull out of her mouth.  But, alas, the countdown is hung and we shall enjoy it :)  22 days to go!  Merry Christmas, y'all!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving I am looking forward to some down time with my family.  There have been many days lately when I have wondered, did God intend for us to be THIS busy?  We are involved in many activities, which is a blessing in itself, but are we supposed to be run ragged?  Recently, my daughter was in a community theater production of Annie.  It was a wonderful experience that she (and we) will cherish forever. 

Professional headshots were scheduled after one of the play rehearsals, which we couldn't do because we were already late for a football game.  Thankfully, makeup pictures were scheduled on a Tuesday night.  After I got my daughter home from tennis, I rushed to get her bathed and beautiful.  My husband came home from work early to keep our other child.  We said hello in passing, and my daughter and I raced out the door and drove 30 minutes to the location to discover... there was no photo shoot.  The pictures were to be taken the Tuesday after this one.  Between my phone and my calendar at home, HOW DID I MANAGE TO MESS THIS UP? 

Well, I have a pretty good idea.  Between church, and school, and dance, and gymnastics, and tennis, and play practice, and life in general, a girl is allowed to have Mommy brain once in a while.  Perhaps the real lesson here is that we need to SLOW down. 

My daughter asked if we could go to dinner or shopping since we had driven all that way, but it was a school night and we already had dinner ready at home.  So, I turned around and we headed back.  Thankfully, we got home just in time to relax on the back deck a little while before the sun went down, which is where I wanted to be all along.

This Thanksgiving I am going to relax and enjoy special moments with my family.  We all have so much to be grateful for.  In the words of Colossians 3: 15-16 below, I will strive for peace, thankfulness, wisdom and gratitude.  Happy Thanksgiving friends!

Colossians 3:15-16
New International Version (NIV)
¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

If you want to go camping...

If you want to get away and enjoy this beautiful fall weather with your family, try camping at Oconee State Park. It might be the best $20 bucks you have ever spent.  My family has stayed there many times, and we have always left renewed, refreshed and relaxed.  You just might put down your cell phone for a few days.... and you will have to because the cell service is terrible except for at the park store. 

From the ponds and walking trails, to the playgrounds and putt-putt course you don't even have to leave the property to enjoy the outdoors. 

Go check out the old water wheel and play a game of checkers with bottle caps for playing pieces. 

Even the park store is inviting with coffee and snacks, souvenirs and rocking chairs.

There are several trails located right on the property.  Children will also enjoy just a walk around the lake, where you can rent a paddle boat or go fishing.  

You can book a tent site for about $20 a night.  For those of you who have never been camping, let me enlighten you on State Park camping.  They have bathrooms and showers!  Now, I would recommend wearing your flip flops but really they aren't so bad.  Your tent site is literally 30 feet from your neighbor so it's not like you are out in the woods all alone, which is what I imagined years ago when David first took me camping.  I mean, I was a Girl Scout!  I went to church camp!  But still, I had never experienced camping like this before.

If camping is not for you, they have cabins!  They are RUSTIC, but there is a kitchen, bathroom, and HEAT!  Plus, outside you still have a picnic table and fire pit so you can at least pretend like you are roughing it.  Cabins start at $85 a night.  Take note, if Clemson has a home game they will be booked early. 

If you are lucky, you might just catch a real, live square dance and clogging showcase like we did on our recent trip!  The girls loved watching the performance, and it was a quintessential way to end the day.  We walked back to our site to start the camp fire for our hobo dinners.  What's a hobo dinner, you ask?  You just put hamburger meat, carrots, potatoes and onions in heavy duty tin foil and throw them into the fire.  What you wind up with is pure campfire deliciousness.  And no camping meal is ever complete without s'mores for dessert. 

The next morning it was drizzling, but we ventured out, just a few miles down the road to visit Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls.  Construction of this railway tunnel was halted during the Civil War and, despite efforts, never picked up again.  Your kids will think it is really cool, and maybe a little scary, to walk into this huge, dark tunnel.  Bring a flashlight if you like. 

Just around the corner is the entrance to Issaqueena Falls.  My children are fascinated with the legend of the Indian maiden who tricked her pursuers into thinking she jumped to her death over the waterfall, while she was hiding under a ledge.  You can easily walk over to see the view from the top of the falls.  More avid hikers may choose to work their way down to the bottom of the falls, and back up again.  We did not attempt it with two children in tow.

Then, it started to pour.  We followed the signs to a picnic area and were lucky to enjoy our lunch under a gazebo on a beautiful pond.

Another family-friendly waterfall in the area is Upper Whitewater Falls, located below Cashiers near the NC/SC line on NC Hwy 281.  It has a large parking lot with picnic tables and bathrooms.  A short walk on a paved sidewalk will take you to the viewing area.  From there you can take the steps down to a lower level for an even more incredible view of this powerful 411 foot-drop fall. 

We have also camped and rented cabins at Devil's Fork State Park, where you can relax on beautiful Lake Jocassee.  Once we rented a cabin in the summer and brought our pontoon.  The water is so clear you won't believe you are still in South Carolina.  David and his brother actually went SCUBA diving there.  The few houses on this lake are rustically charming and there are trickling waterfalls around every cove.

Now, to be perfectly honest, this year's camping trip was a total wash out!  So, if you have the flexibility, check the weather first!  Otherwise, we survived it and you can too.  Although it is an annual fall activity for our family, Oconee State Park is equally as busy in the summer months, when the ponds are bustling with activity.  Your kids will think they are on a great adventure and will LOVE every minute of it!