Espacios exteriores / Outside spaces

Parece que por fin vamos a tener de algo más de sol este fin de semana ,  es el momento para disfrutar del exterior ¿Que os parece aprovechar el día en sitios como estos?

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♥ Buen fin de semana / Have a nice weekend ♥

Gracias por tu visita ¡  lVicky

Retirement

You know the term “bittersweet?” I never fully lived that word till now. Bittersweet is kind of awful…but wonderful. It’s being SO excited and full of joy at the possibilities and also so very sad you’re not quite sure what to do with yourself.

No, I’m not retiring. ;) My husband is though, after 30+ years of teaching music, and 31 of those years at one school.

Can you even imagine? No one stays at one place for 31 years anymore.

He is the director of bands at his school and has overseen the whole performing arts department (one of the best, if not the best in the country…and I’m not just saying that) for years now.

I was in the band (color guard – the furthest I got on an instrument was playing the recorder…horribly) and fell in LOVE with the whole activity. So all these years I’ve understood his passion for what he does. At least a little bit. Enough be an understanding band wife all these years. If you are one youknowwhatI’msayin.

So while I’m THRILLED to have my husband all to us, our family, for really the first time ever, I’m also so unbelievably sad. It’s hard to put into words.

I’ve lived this world for the past 21 years and my stepdaughter and son grew up in it:

To be a band wife and a.) stay married and b.) make sure your kids see Daddy, you go to a LOT of events. Practices, school functions, football games, band competitions. Every season too – practices in the summer, competitions in the fall, shows in the winter and concerts in the spring.

My son grew up at the high school:

And I got the honor of sticking around my alma mater for another 20 years. I loved high school, I’m proud of that school and I was thinking the other day – how cool that I’ve been able to still walk those halls every month? Keep up with the changes, the staff, build more memories?

UGH. Months ago my husband told me this may be harder on me than him, and he was right at the time. Now it’s hitting him like a ton of bricks, so now we’re both just a MESS. :)

I don’t talk about my husband much on the blog but he is my EVERYTHING. I am the proudest wife on the planet. I have never met a man who works harder, is more successful, but is also the humblest man you’ll ever know. It’s NEVER about him. Always, always, always about the kids.

I’ve been going through hundreds of pictures in preparation for his big bash we’re throwing this weekend, and I hope you bear with me as I share a few and brag on him a little. These pics show so many of the things I love about him.

His unadulterated JOY of conducting:

He is so animated, so obviously in love with being in front of those kids, making music. It all shows when he’s on the podium. It is the definition of passion, watching that. Who gets to do what they are passionate about for 30 years? He is so thankful.

My man is a complicated one – he speaks in front of thousands like it’s nothing. He is a fantastic speaker and usually brings me to tears when he does. But he would so much rather be out of the spotlight, just doing his thing. He’s an odd mix of outgoing and introverted.

This photo so struck me as him in so many ways:

I know he looks upset there, but he’s not. He’s thinking. Contemplating. How to make the kids better. How to teach them more. How to help them succeed. It’s not about winning for him, it’s about life lessons.

I love that photo.

But this is the husband I see most often:

Happy to do what he does. Changing the lives of his students. Always trying to make someone laugh when they least think they will.

Those moments when the attention is on him he hates it…but he is always, always so grateful:

He never takes the credit, and will give it to someone else EVERY time.

But most of all (and now I’m crying, dangit!!!), he is all about his students. I’ve always called them his “kids,” not his students, because they are each his own in a little way. Thousands of them!

This photo was from the last concert in front of his band, and he’s holding up his hand so everyone acknowledges those kids:

Now I need to wrap this up cause I can’t even handle it. :)

Retirement for my husband won’t mean golfing every day – he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. He’s owned his own business for 20 years now (writing music and other stuff) and he will continue to do that. He’s also working with two organizations very close to his heart and he is SO excited.

But so sad. See? Bittersweet, the toughest word of them all.

The alternative garden shed

How about this for an alternative garden shed?! So much fun! I don't think I'd ever go back into the house!

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Could you imagine having this at the end of your garden or perhaps as a weekend get-away?!

Today is the last day of our holiday in Mallorca where I've been staying with extended family in a finca over looking the tramuntana mountains, so beautiful! I shall miss this island and my wonderful family.

Next week the blog will be back to normal with daily home tours. I hope you've enjoyed the alfresco inspiration week as much as I have and got a few ideas to spice up your outdoor space? Art in the garden perhaps? Or a refreshing outdoor shower?! On Monday I'll be announcing the winner of the fouta de val give-away, so if if you haven't already, stop by and enter here.

Have a lovely weekend all!

Casa en la playa / Beach house

Las que seguís este blog ya sabéis como me gustan las casas de playa y el estilo rústico,  en esta casa en Susex se unen estos dos factores, luminosa con espacios amplios y una cocina espectacular, con grandes ventanales donde la luz entra a raudales y si además tenemos la playa a pocos pasos,

 ¿que más se puede pedir?

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Gracias por tu visita ¡  lVicky

Outdoor decor ideas (My HD video)

Hello all! You gotta love Thursdays right? I do! We’re in the home stretch as far as school for both the hubby and the Bub. Can’t wait to have them home all summer!!

Today I’m sharing one of the Home Depot videos from the shoot I told you about last week! It was a whirlwind of a day and as I mentioned, more fun than I thought it would be. (I was not, in fact, a ball of nerves like I thought.) ;)

All told I did about 15-20 different videos that day that will air on other sites, but this one is just for you guys! I watched it for the first time yesterday and did not want to puke…that’s a good thing.

I haven’t watched it again cause I would nit pick myself like crazy, so I’m sticking with the first decent impression.

I feel like I’m squinting the whole time – they had a big screen up to block the sun but man, those production lights are crazy bright! Soooooo, other than that and I loathe listening to myself talk, it turned out pretty OK! :)

I’m sharing a few quick tips to get ready for outdoor decor and entertaining, enjoy!:

Have a great one Squeezes!

Eating alfresco

It's impossible not to enjoy eating outdoors. Whether it's the secluded picnic for two or a party with friends on a colourful mix match of chairs, leaning precariously on the unlevelled grass (see the beautiful cottage interior here).....I'm sure I'd be smiling throughout any of these lunches. The wine glasses might have something to do with it too....can I join? 

Pictures 1,2,3 Sharyn Cairns

Jessica Helgersson

Pictures 5, 6 and 7 Jose Villa

What's your favourite way to eat outdoors?

PS As you know I'm currently on  beautiful Mallorca for a week visiting family. Last night we broke away from the tapas and ate fish and chips on the beach with a glass of cava. It was lovely sitting watching the sunset over the bobbing yachts in the distance while the girls played in the sand.

Diy Adorno floral./ Diy floral design

Decorar una pared con algún motivo, puede cambiar totalmente el aspecto de una habitación. ¿ Te gustan los  diseños florales ? Lo puedes hacer tu misma , te voy a dar una idea fácil y sencilla, Simplemente corta 

un tronco de apio y utilízalo con pintura como un sello, tendrás un diseño único y original.

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¿Que te parece esta idea?

Gracias por tu visita ¡  lVicky