Returning to my favorite front porch

I am home for a week before graduate school starts. I have many emotions about returning back to school, but I figure I had a nice break and its time to get back into it. I am excited to be starting a new chapter in my life and anxious to see where it leads me. However, it is nice to be home for a little bit before the craziness returns. There are so many things that make being home such a joy. For instance, walking in the door and seeing this beauty of a picture of yourself:

wow. loving that neon background, I am thinking it will be a popular choice in my future Christmas cards.
Also, having all my favorites close by is t.r.o.u.b.l.e. it leads me to make irrational purchases like these:

New OPI color that I adore, chi hairspray (amazing smell and hold), and Hemp lotion (first fell in love with this in my tanning bed days, which I am strictly against now...funny how things change), when I saw it in Ulta I almost peed in my pants with excitement.

I spent an hour in Michaels. Nothing quite excites me like cardstock and stencils. My craft wheels were turning. I also get to return to my favorite friends, my mom's homemade sweet tea, and of course the mosquitoes.

This is what I spent my entire Monday doing. Its a little hard to see from the picture, but its a 20x24 wooden sign. Wow, I did not anticipate how much work this would be. I could not find any stencils the size I wanted, so I had to make my own and that threw a loop into the whole plan. But, finally its finished and I am feeling good about the finished product. I plan to hang it up on our new patio!! yay!! so excited about our cute little space. I will post more pictures when we throw a few more things together.