"I ain't as young as I once was...."

Here we go again!

I'm back from a week long vacation and have spent the better part of today answering emails, phonecalls and booking appointments with some brand new, soon-to-be friends, wild and crazy Chumps. Can't wait to meet you newbies and am always anxious to pick back up with my existing Chumps and your ongoing projects.

But as much as I love all my precious chumps, I always look forward to spending time with my favorite ones...my fam.

Last week Sunday, at the last minute, Kennedy and I decided to agree with my nephews' challenge to bike with them up to our camping destination in Pentwater.  Kennedy and I had made the biking trek two years ago (blog archive) but had done absolutely no training for this almost 100 mile ride. When we heard the boys were game for it, we couldn't and wouldn't be left behind.

This picture was taken at 7:00 A.M. at our house.  Water bottles, some cash, a credit card (in case of emergency), maps and a positive attitude were all we were carrying with us. We would have to be determined to keep up with the boys which was no easy task knowing they would be on road bikes and we only had our hybrids.

Oh so pretty in our helmets. Ugh! I hate wearing it as much as my teenage daughter but safety first!  Just to be extra cheesy, we wrote our "numbers" on our arms..."125" for our address (starting point). "152" for our campsite (our destination). Look how much longer her legs are than mine. Double Ugh. So jealous. :)

And off we go....

We got to my nephews' house and took time to pose for a pic. Two years ago, Kennedy and I made the 98.2 mile trip in 11 hours.  I knew the boys would want to beat that time. Alex is on the right (age 17). Chase is on the left (age 15). 

First stop-Grand Haven.  We were making incredible time. It only took us an hour and 1/2 to get there.

The weather was beautiful and so far most of our route had been shaded and cool.  We were already out of all of the water in our bottles and camelbacks though. Time to refill.

Feeling refreshed after stopping for bagels at Panara in GH. Water bottles refilled and away we go.

Stopped at a Rite Aid near Whitehall for sports drinks.  Still feelin' pretty good but not looking forward to the dirt roads we'd be taking to avoid traveling down  busy Whitehall Road.

Do we have time to stop to ride a few rides at Michigan's Adventure? We were feeling the heat now!  The water rides were sounding pretty good at this point.

One more stop before lunch to refuel with some slushies! More than halfway now and still making great time.

Only three teenagers would choose to stop at Taco Bell for burritos on a bike ride. Yuck. :)

Posing for a picture and mocking Kennedy at the same time. This was the pose she struck two years ago at the end of the ride.  They are playin' it up. They were hardly feelin' any pain at this point. Me, on the other hand? Let's just say, I couldn't have been happier to have Pentwater welcoming me!

Just got off the bikes.  Shoes and shirts off. Hit the water and rinse off 90 some miles of sweat. We did it!

We made it in 9 hours!  We arrived at Charles Mear's State Park at 4:30! Lake Michigan never felt so good!

Team Boeve/Ockerse at site 152 after our dip.  Our humble abode in the background. Anticipating a week of fun and sun!

Assuming the position for the rest of the week. Aunt C. did lots of this as well!

Not too tired or sore to rent some paddle boards for the day on Tuesday.  Brecken and I out cruising Pentwater Lake. My next new obsession. Saving up for one of own now!

Next year...paddle boarding the distance from Ottawa Beach to Charles Mears'. (smile).

I was often reminded on that bike ride and the 10 mile run that Alex and I did on Saturday morning of one of my favorite old country songs...

"I ain't as young as I once WAS, but I'm as young ONCE as I ever was".

Thanks for putting up with yet another personal post.  I promise I'll get back to work. Just not today. Hoping you Chumps are experiencing some summer fun as well!

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Not So Shabby Summer Fun

Calling all chumps....get your rumps down to Not Shabby and check out the latest items!

For the lake house, beach house, cottage, cabin or pool area. Gotta give credit where credit is due...I saw this saying hanging on my neighbor's pool house in bright red with white lettering. (So fun, Michelle)! Thought it would be cute stenciled on the planked boards like I've done for the "Happy and You Know it" signs. Made up a few with the planks and one in robin's egg blue.

Get this one while it lasts!  Linen white dresser with glass knobs.

We mounted an old antique letter box to a rustic barn board.  The bottom hooks could be used to hold hats, scarves and jewelry.  I used this in my garage for quite a while as a mailbox for things I'd leave for clients and to collect things they'd leave for me.

My talented Mom has been at it again.  This is my favorite so far!  Another adorable apron made out of salvaged men's dress shirts!  I love the colors in this one! These make great bridal shower, birthday or housewarming gifts! .  They're only $22!

There are only three there right now and last month we sold all three right away!

I loved this one too!  She cut the sleeves off and used the cuff end to make pockets!

Wish I had the skill and patience to sew like she does.

I bought these flowers to use in Kennedy's bedroom remodel but they ended up not matching the couch I had in there. Hated to part with them because they are so vintage looking and would make part of a great collection hanging with paper lanterns from a ceiling in a little girls' room.

There are two blue ones and this one green.

Large square chalkboard would be a great addition in a mudroom, playroom, kitchen or even garage!

Lots of great festive summer pinwheels. I love using these as centerpieces in mason jars filled with sand.

Found this at the Burly Park Swap Meet.  I love old photos and things with a story.

You could use this bin to hold cans for recycling, potatoes, onions or how 'bout for a cute garbage can in the kitchen?

Now, this one I was tempted to keep. I remember my Mom having one of these just like this when we were growing up.  If my house were bigger, I would keep it out just to display.  For those of you with little babes at home...use it in the nursery as vintage decor. Put a cute little square basket on it to hold toilettries and diapers.

Assorted knob hanging plaque and a wire message that says "LOVE U".

I am so into these rustic crates lately.  I have some in both of my girls' rooms to hold books, magazines and stuffed animals. You could stack several together to make a bookshelf. Saw that on Pinterest once and loved it!

I forgot I had these indoor/outdoor pillows with the fun graphic pattern.  Found them in my storage room just this week. They're brand new.  I just loved the colors and the pattern.

I showed you this once before after I first completed it.  I can just picture it once again in a nursery to hold bibs or diaper bags or cute little signs.

I didn't have to do a thing to this set of vintage chairs. I loved the color and patina and paired them with an off-white drop leaf table which I didn't have to paint either. I loved the original finish on all of it. Would make a great small scale set for a sunporch or a cottage kitchen.

Just brought in three more of these growth chart rulers. I finished these in a darker walnut stain which I think would be great with any style or decor.  These are hot sellers and won't be in the booth long.

If you've been in my booth this year, you've probably seen this rustic display piece. I used it to showcase my business cards.  I'm finally parting with it. I think it would be great to hold photos, watches or little meaningful messages.

I still have a few of these wooden record album holders left.  This is great nostalgic wall art for those of us who lived through the 80's!!

This one's not at the booth yet...I don't have room right now, but I loved the color!  I found it this way. Can't wait to bring it in and stage it with all my new summer 'smalls'.

Please stop in to Not So Shabby soon to see all the unique booths and items from many different talented vendors. I appreciate your continued interest and support of my booth -ROOM FOR CHANGE.

Well, chumps..I'm headed out to the lake for a week of sun and fun with my family. Hoping to make the 100 mile bike ride tomorrow with Kennedy and two of my teenage nephews. Hope this old chump can keep up with these young punks. Wish me luck. See you back here next week.

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Kenn's room

So I wanted to surprise Kennedy last week while she was at camp by repainting her bedroom.  We were both getting tired of the bright green and she (with my encouragement) was leaning toward a little less modern, a little more vintage look.

I was debating whether to paint the doors white as well, but couldn't bring myself to it.  I'm glad I decided against it because I actually don't mind the stain color they are now. Even the wood floor looks a little richer against the white walls. Below is the green before:

The door to the right of the room opens up into a small little room we lovingly call 'the dormer'.  It is above our sunporch below but unfortunately she doesn't get to use it much.  It's much too hot in the summer and way too cold in the winter.  I haven't been too motivated to decorate it for that reason, but it is a cute little space.

We finally got around to putting casters on the pallets that we had in the garage.  I found the white coverlet for the bed a few years ago at a second hand store but we never had a twin bed to put it on!

I fell in love with this settee a few weeks ago at an estate sale that we stumbled across. I can't tell you what I paid for it in case I sell it someday in my booth, but let's just say I felt like I robbed the guy blind. I did paint the wood trim a creamy white...it was originally a dull dirty beige.

This dresser was originally a high gloss brown. I took my orbital sander and went to town on it until this green patina showed through. 

We hit the Burly Park Swap Meet a few weeks ago and I scored this beauty.  Ken added wheels to it and it became a small scale coffee table for her room.  I did tag it to take to the store but we both like it too much to part with it now.

Just found this lamp at a garage sale for $2.00. You can't tell in the pic, but the shade is ripped. I'm anxious to recover the shade with fabric from some old tab top drapes I have that are an off white linen.

She was surprised and thrilled when she opened her door to unpack her suitcase from camp on Saturday morning.  I was surprised and thrilled that she actually liked it....(you never know how a sleep deprived, fussy, moody teenager might react)!

Hopefully this look (with some tweaks) will last a little longer than the green walls did (2 years). If not, I know someone who isn't afraid of wielding a paintbrush. :)

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