So many fun things!

Hey there you fun loving friends! 

So many fun things going on in our life that I don't even know where to start. I'd love to do a bullet-point post... we'll see how well this works out. 

* If you are not following our adoption journey and would like to stay in the loop, you will want to check out our adoption blog. I'll most certainly post about adoption here on Life in the Dub Lane, but the details will always be posted separately.  Here's the Blog: Dub Family Adoption {hint: I posted and you will want to read}. 

* We attended a family reunion for my mothers side of the family this past weekend. Busy, busy, busy is all I can say. It was really awesome to learn more about the history of our family. Such an amazing group of people and I love knowing that not too long ago, my family was the founder of the town in which I was born.  It explains why the lakes, streets, etc are named after us. Really cool! 

{Kyah and I while we stopped at a beautiful lookout point in East Texas}. 

{Kyah with his third cousin John. We were playing at a park after a long fun day celebrating my grandmothers 76 birthday}

{Kyah and I were out exploring at the cabin/vacation home}

{Kyah at the "family" lake. We stopped there on our way home. It was gorgeous out there}. 

* I am working on a few crafts here and there, but mainly working on getting our house organized after the room switches. As you all know, I created the play room that will turn nursery when we welcome a baby girl. We moved things around in the old office and have been turning it into the new guest suite. It's my next project. I can't wait to find treasures that will give that room new life.  Not to mention, Pinterest is trouble. Trouble I tell ya. 

* I have one more week left of the Dub Lane Kettlebell Fitness Challenge. It's BEEN awesome! I love each of the girls like they are long time friends. I can not wait for the January 16th Challenge to begin. The waiting list is long, but in my books, the more the merrier. Just means that you have more support, more encouragement and more fun! 

 {I'm in the blue sports bra and black shorts} This is not for the Dub Lane Fitness Challenge, but I was working directly with Brook Benton.

{while we only have 1 week left, this was the 1/2 way progression photo}

* I have made some incredible new recipes lately. All easy, but all pretty healthy. I'll post them each in another post, but here's a little sneak peak. mmm! 

* There isn't much "new" with Kyah. He's still growing, talking, running, climbing, etc. He's the boyest, boy I have ever met. He's into Golf, Football, Basketball, Airplanes, Flash Cards, Wrestling, Climbing and Parks. He's talking non-stop. There's not much that he can not say or communicate. He has learned to count to 10, spell his name and "read" a few words. Right now we are learning a few short memory verses.  I need to set up another "photo shoot" for him soon. It's about time to get some cute fall pictures. 

* Overall, life is going great. It's busy, but it's wonderful. I have come to realize that I am the busiest person I know.  On the flip side, I love it. I don't do well with too much down time. I love to be learning, doing, working, moving, playing.... you name it.  Being a small group leader for our Mops {mothers of preschoolers} group has been ah-maz-ing. Love the opportunity to connect with the girls and get to know them better. Kyah has been enjoying PDO {Parents day out} two days of the week for a few hours. He has made friends and is improving his social skills and learning. 

*Last but not least, I asked Kyah if he wanted a baby sister. His response,  {smiling and bright eyed} "Yes I do.  {Serious face} Will she come with snacks?"  

*Don't forget you can help support us in our adoption journey by shopping in our Etsy Shop, Dub Lane Designs. New items will be added weekly!  100% of the proceeds is applied to our family's adoption funds. 

Read more...

Dub Lane Update

While this is not the actual update, I have some things I want to share with you soon {very soon}. Maybe I'll find time tomorrow evening. If not, just know that I will be back to fill you in soon. I promise... I really do. 


I have some news to share with you all about adoption. 


I have some projects and little other random things that I want to share with you. 


I want to tell you all about this incredible road trip we took with our 2 year old and share photos. He's so fantastic. 


And well, there's more. I'll be back soon... just don't forget about me. 


Ps. I have been traveling this last week and now have family in for a week. I'm not being "neglectful", just being busy. {smile}

Read more...

Playroom Price Breakdown

My favorite part of redecorating a room or in this case creating one from scratch, is the simple fact that I do it on a very tight budget. As in really cheap. 


I wanted to take a second and share some of the finds with you and let you in on the price tags. 

For $130 of "thrifty" shopping and up-cycling items that I already owned, I was able to take this empty room and completely transform it into a fun and functional space that we use daily. 


I have received several emails from friends, family and well strangers, simply asking for tips. I hope that this will give you some ideas. 

While out shopping I tend to run across items that I love but that I don't have a purpose for. I try and limit purchasing items for our home that I know I will use. However, some things are just too amazing to pass up. I have decided that I would start selling them in my etsy shop. All are vintage finds that resemble designer styles {pottery barn, anthropology, restoration hardware, etc}. I'm very excited to now offer these items as well as my heart made custom items.  If you have a few minutes, feel free to browse. 

Read more...

New PLAYROOM

These last few weeks have been spent re-doing an armoire. It was Bryce's growing up {came from Mexico} and was a bit on the rustic side. You know, stained wood with iron hardware. Not a fan. We painted it solid black to match our old Master Bedroom decor before we moved into the new house. It was awful black too. 


I am really, really into up-cycling these days. Why go buy something new if you have something that can get the job done? And if you have been a long time reader you know that even when I do go buy something new for the house it's usually bought at a thrift store or Goodwill.  I will never pay full price for anything. As a matter of fact I have a hard time spending more than $7 on most things. $7 seems to be my max depending on the item of course. 


Anyhow, I took the old Armoire and decided that that I would tackle it. It's so huge and so heavy. And so huge and so heavy. And so... well, you get it. It's big and heavy.  I knew that it would be an under taking but I was ready for it. The weather was starting to cool off a bit. We had a cold front that took us from 112* to 95*.  If you were in 112* as long as we have been {without rain} 95* feels chilly. 


We moved that bad boy outside and I spent the next week working on it while Kyah was at PDO or napping. Or sometimes just playing outside with me. It was so fun to paint a little and then play chace. Then go back and work some more and then eat popsicles. Ahhh. I just adore that little boy. 


After a few weeks it was ready to move inside. The only catch.... the room I needed to put it in was currently being used as our guest bedroom. Eeeks.  I'm blessed to have a momma that will come visit us and help move rooms around. Took us just a few hours and we had the room empty {and switched with another room}.  I was so excited to move the new Armoire into the room!  


SIDE NOTE { as if there are not already enough of them}: I created the Armoire to match the baby girl's bedding we had custom made. At this point we have not completed our home study or anything but if someone ever gave us a call that said we have a baby girl, you bet your bippy that nursery would be completed in 2 hours! 


All of that said to introduce you to the new playroom: 

We LOVE it!  Next I will post tips, pricing and a few other details so that you too can get ideas and create a playroom! 

Read more...

1/2 Way There!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I know you missed me. These past few weeks have been crazy. I'll admit, there for a while I thought I bit off more than I could chew. After a few weeks playing catch up and getting things done {and staying off the computer as much as possible} I feel like I whole new person. 


As you know, I am hosting the Dub Lane Kettlebell Fitness Challenge. With any new fitness program everyone starts strong but fades out when they realize that they just don't have it in them. It's like a New Year's resolution. You know how that goes. Can anyone say "Been there, done that". I'm happy to say that the group has 24 very strong members. We went from 44. It's a hard workout, but SO worth it. I simply can.not.wait. to share the winners with you. It's INCREDIBLE!!!! 


Here's my 1/2 there progression photo. 

We are 1/2 way through the challenge, with only 4 more weeks. I can't believe it's almost over. Well... I guess it's not that close to the finish line, but it feels like it. Actually, our group is so motivated that we have decided to take it through the rest of the year. Although, October 30th will be our last day to use Kettlebody by Brook,  we will start with a new workout regimen beginning on November 1st.  It will take us through the Holidays, which is the time of year to stuff your pie hole and snuggle in to Christmas Movies on the Hallmark channel. {yes, yes}. We cme to the quick conclusion that we are not going to let our hard work go to the pits and we are going to get off our rumps and keep them moving! Can I get an Amen!  


Beginning January 16th, there will be a NEW Challenge!!! It will be for newbies that want to give this a whirl and make their New Years resolution a reality.  If you are thinking about it, you can email me at lifeinthedublane {at} yahoo.com and I can answer questions or put your on the wait list.  In case you are curious, it will be mandatory for you to have a Facebook Account.  More details will be posted each week or you can visit these links to view past posts regarding the current challenge. 


Fitness Challenge Q&A
Description


Tomorrow I will be posting pictures of Kyah's new PLAYROOM! 

Read more...