I love a good project. Don’t you all know that by now about me? A wedding, decorating a house, a pregnancy, a baby (and everything that comes with a baby), selling a house…. Back up.

We took our house off the market. We were encouraged to lower the price on our house and, let’s face it, we don’t need to sell our house. And we certainly don’t want to sell it bad enough to drastically drop the price. We love our house, we love our neighborhood, and we love the convenience of where we are. So selling our house was a want and not a need. We thought we needed more space, but we just wanted more space.

Now our project is going to be making the most of the space that we have. It’s time to take a long, hard look at our house, the space, and make sure we use it all in a way that maximizes our space so we get the most out of it.

Office to Playroom

The office/study is going to be turned into more of a playroom. It’s time for the toys to be stored in the playroom instead of the living room. We’ll play in the living room a lot, but we have a 4th bedroom and we need to use it as a playroom instead of an office. Our computer and shelves will stay in this room, but I’m looking to replace the chair and ottoman with a daybed, like the one below. With the daybed, it kind of serves as a “couch” and can still be a place for guests to sleep when they visit. We’ll also have more storage options that are more baby-friendly for toys, books, and games. (the pictures of the study are almost a year old and the pictures have been replaced with more recent photos.)

Living Room

We’ll basically be doing a furniture shuffle in the living room. Moving or selling the big bookcase, putting our current couch (which is currently on the other side of the room) on the wall where the bookcase is currently, and opening up the room so the back of the furniture isn’t facing the front door.

(These pictures are also from last summer– you can probably tell by the presence of the baby swing.)

On the other side, now that the couch will be moved, we’d like to have  sectional. It is such a small area, but a sectional is our best way to maximize seating potential without having to completely block off the room. It’s one big room, but we have to create to spaces because our front door is set in the middle of the room and then it leads to our main hallway. We’ve explored every option and lived here for three years and this is the plan that TC and I have come up with– after many conversations with my decorator mother. Thank goodness for her!

I’m planning on framing four large prints from our recent family photo sessions and hanging them on either side of the television. I’m so tired of looking at the blank walls, but haven’t been reading to commit to anything there. Now I’m ready!

The couch in this photo will be moved to the other side of the room.

This is all going to take a few months as we save money, search for the perfect pieces (no impulse purchases this time), and wait for things to arrive. It’s not a major overhaul, but we’re finding the best ways to use what we have with our space and adding a couple new things to the mix.

Are you a project person like I am? What projects are you currently working on?

The Gamecocks are going to the Championship Series of the College World Series! This guy is happy! TC is like a walking Gamecock athletics history book and he has given me the 4-1-1 on the history of the Gamecocks in Omaha. He’s just thrilled about our team playing against UCLA in the championship series. And mostly thrilled because we beat Clemson.

photo courtesy of The State

Hudson likes to make himself toot– not even sure how he knows to do this– and then laugh! And then look at us to see if we’re laughing. We always laugh– we can’t help it.

He’s 1 going on 15. Seriously, he is 100% boy!

See, in this picture he’s saying, “Hey, Fiona! Pull my finger.” Just kidding, just kidding. I couldn’t resist.

TC and I went to Charleston for my cousin’s wedding on Saturday night. There aren’t many things better than a Charleston wedding. We never do a great job with taking pictures at weddings. And last night we were both so concerned with receiving email and Twitter updates on the Carolina v. Clemson baseball game that we just didn’t take many pictures. We didn’t stay the night in Charleston, unfortunately, so we had to get back to get Hudson. But it was great to see my family and have a fun evening in Charleston.

I tweeted last night that there was about an hour long gap between the ceremony and reception and this led to lots of confusion and Twitter chatter about gaps, Catholic gaps, afternoon receptions versus evening receptions. Have you ever been to a wedding with a gap between the ceremony and reception longer than 30-45 minutes? What was your experience like?

I did a decent job of staying unplugged on Friday and Saturday, for the most part. I finished another book and just enjoyed having some down time to ourselves. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement so much.

TC is playing golf today and Hudson and I are just hanging out at home trying to gear up for this next week. I’ll be spending most of the week building my curriculum for Music Camp at church and will likely be coming to my lovely readers and friends for suggestions.

Now that I’m a stay-at-home-mom, most days I feel so much more tired and overwhelmed than I did when I was working. The 24/7 care of my precious son and all that this entails plus home maintenance. And let’s not forget some of the responsibility that comes along with blogging.

I feel the need to answer questions from reader left in my comments. I feel the need to clarify misconceptions– especially when someone attacks my family. I feel the need to respond to emails– especially the ones from some of the kindest people to ever come in my path who have opened their heart up to me.

But sometimes I just feel tired.

I’ve considered doing one of those “unplug” days where I don’t check emails, blog comments, Twitter, or Facebook. Sometimes when I log onto Twitter for the first time in four hours, I feel like I have to go back and catch up to see what I missed and make sure I respond to everyone’s questions.

There’s only one explanation of why I do this: I care too much about what people think about me.

I don’t want a reader to think that I didn’t appreciate the email or that someone’s question isn’t worth answering. I will put some of my priorities on the back burner so I can take two hours to sit, without interruption, and respond to email, comments, and Tweets.

I know other girls that have struggled with this, too, and have conquered it by “unplugging.”

But my concern about what people think doesn’t just end there with blogging, emails, and Twitter. I generally spend too much time and worry caring about what people will think if I do this or that. I can’t even think of anything specific that I worry about, but I do know that it can be paralyzing. It’s worry about wardrobe stuff. Or did I tell a joke that wasn’t funny? And if I go a couple of weeks without having a chance to speak to my friends, are we going to lose touch completely? Will they think I don’t care?

I generally put way too much pressure on myself– which has been completely exposed in a few of my blog posts.

There are obviously much more important things to spend my time praying about. My mom is facing cancer. My child has Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. (A recent diagnosis from today that will hopefully be gone by Monday.) A sweet friend of mine lost her precious baby and he went to be with Jesus.

And I do feel incredibly blessed. I don’t need a pep talk. But I do feel a lot of pressure to be something to everyone who needs me. I need to please. I’m a first born.

But it’s time to stop and breathe. It’s time to listen and know that I am bringing this on myself and there are ways to cut it out of my life. It’s time to stop borrowing trouble from tomorrow, as my wise mother says. I need to eliminate the pressure and worry, enjoy the beautiful world around us, and just be.

And from Matthew 6:25-27

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Do you struggle with this, too? Or am I the only one that is going to get premature wrinkles and gray hairs from worrying too much? (see… I’m worrying about premature wrinkles and gray hairs!)

We’ve all got our lists of what makes your summer special. To me, it’s about the summer state of mind. There’s a general feeling of being relaxed– especially in South Carolina. It’s about a slow day and the sun being out until almost 9:00 p.m. It’s about good recipes. The smell of sunscreen on your baby’s cheeks. Feeling like you have all the time in the world to read your books because there aren’t any distractions. Listening to Dave Matthews Band with your windows rolled down. Sitting outside after dinner with a bowl of ice cream.

These items are on my must-have list. What items are on yours?

Pool and Beach Supplies

Lands’ End Natural Zip Top Canvas Tote – I prefer the zip top for the beach because you can keep the sand out of your bag and off your stuff

Pottery Barn Kids Spencer Clear Food Storage

One Step Ahead Baby Spring Float Activity Center (that is obviously not Hudson in the picture!)

A Good Dose of Reality TV

The Bachelorette {ABC} and Real Housewives of New Jersey {Bravo} are both in full swing. Both are train wrecks and both are highly entertaining.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey are by far my favorite of the housewives because I love how they’re all related. I’m so sad to see Dina leave the show. Danielle is cuckoo!

A Brilliant Scripted TV Show

Mad Men returns to AMC in July! Hallelujah!

A Big Pile of Books

Because there aren’t as many TV shows on in the summer, I’m able to take more time to read without being distracted. My 2010 reading list is on track, but I did take a small detour. I’m up to 8 books so far in 2010 and my goal was 12. Here’s what I’m reading this summer:

Heart of the Matter- Finished!

Water For Elephants- Finished!

Nanny Returns- Finished!

South of Broad

Return to Sullivan’s Island

The Real Real

Bed Of Roses

Savor the Moment

That’s kind of a lot of books. Maybe I’ll just read a few and save the rest for the remainder of 2010! Because I did say that I was going to start the Twilight series… But first I have to read the new Tori Spelling book. I love her books!

Uncharted TerriTORI

Delicious, Fresh, Summer Recipe

Barefoot Contessa’s Linguine with Shrimp Scampi- I’ve posted this before, but it’s just so fresh, clean, and light (even though it has tons of butter), that it has become my summer go-to recipe.

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
• 3/4 pound linguine
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
• 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 lemon, zest grated
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
• 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

Just a Little PSA…

My number one must-have item for summer is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock SPF 50. I also love the Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock in SPF 55. I actually wear this every day of the year when I leave the house.

What do you need in your beach bag? What shows are you watching? What books are you reading? What are you favorite summer recipes?