suburban gnomes

randomness from me

2012-02-15T11:30:00.000-05:00

We had a fun Valentine's Day.
Hubs brought me flowers and a small box of chocolates (I told him Mon night - if you do bring chocolate make sure it's a small box - next week is Ash Wed).

He's pretty excellent.

I gave him a Mason jar full of green M&M's.
That's what happens when you buy a few bags of Christmas M&M's on clearance...you put the red ones in gorp for the kids, and the green ones into a jar for your love.
Perfect.

We've already vacuumed the first floor. The stairs, upstairs and the basement are next. We need the house to sparkle for Grammy and Papa!
(they arrive on Fri!)

The boys are wearing a diaper and a pair of batman underoos.
It's Feb in Wisconsin.
Whatever. I figure they'll wrap up in blankets before hypothermia sets in.


more raisins!

I need to get them dressed.
I should probably put on some concealer.
We need to go to the mall and buy new shoes for #2 and then hit up Trader Joes and pray the shelves contain cilantro.
Maybe we'll go to 5 Guys for lunch...could totally go for a bag of fries.

never enough coffee. never.

That's all.
Smooches.

eating ice cream in the winter

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

On Sat we took the boys to Dairy Queen.
I won't lie, we pretty much had ice cream for dinner.

Highly recommend.
Highly.

#1 enjoyed his first ice cream cone - he ate it so fast there was no time for it to make a melted mess.
#2 was so cold from his ice cream he could hardly get the spoon into his mouth.

Somehow he soldiered through ;)

I'm thinking movies on Mon might be fun.
Not always of the boys (although, they are pretty entertaining)...what do you think?

a pinterest menu

2012-02-12T23:48:00.000-05:00

We had a relaxing weekend.
We played.
Moved toys around.
Moved furniture around.
Cleaned.

It was good.
The week ahead looks exciting.
St. Valentine's Day and Grammy and Papa (my parents) are coming to visit!

YAYYYYY!!!!! So Happy!

But I was a bit stuck while planning this week's menu...and Duh! I remembered all of the noms I have saved on Pinterest.

A few new additions to our food repertoire for this week:

Breakfast:

Source: savoringthethyme.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: simplyscratch.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: plainchicken.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Dinner:

Source: skinnytaste.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: recipekitchen.net via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: tasteofhome.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: canyoustayfordinner.com via alannarose on Pinterest

A little Baking:

Source: rfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org via alannarose on Pinterest

Source: recipetips.com via alannarose on Pinterest

Looks like we have a yummy week!

And, if you are like me, and couldn't figure out how everyone makes such cute Pinterest posts...here's the tutorial.

Are you following me on Pinterest?

Any really excellent boards I should be following?

stress and clutter

2012-02-09T09:57:00.000-05:00

This week has been a bit chaotic and stressful.
Last week was peaceful.
I can only find one difference...last Mon Hubs came home with beautiful flowers for me.
It set the tone for the week.
Things were pretty great.

I think it had something to do with the lack of clutter on my kitchen island.

The flowers were on the island (because #2 is in that incredibly dangerous 20 month old stage - he enjoys climbing, sticking things in electrical sockets, eating soap), basically nothing on the kitchen table is safe.
So I kept the island clean, because there was this pretty vase of flowers that my sweet husband picked out just for me.

The flowers lasted until Mon morning.
Bye bye flowers.
Hello clutter.

real life

How does the island get this cluttered in just two days?

And why does this induce so much stress?

I'm off to detox the island.
And then finish off a fashion post (because you love to see what I wear!).

Do you have a clutter hot spot that turns you into a massive stress-ball?

my silly boys

2012-02-06T16:49:00.000-05:00

Sometimes Mondays are a real drag.
We've had a good day at our house, and I just found this silly video...I figured I should share it.
It's a little grainy, and slow at the beginning, the real action starts around 0:24...I think the actors are adorable ;)

Enjoy :)

why you should always make your bed

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned before that I generally make the beds everyday. At the end of the day, I just really like to climb into a nicely made bed.

The real reason you should make your bed everyday?
You just never know when the police will stop by to inspect your home.

Wait, what?!

Oh yes, nap time last Tuesday turned into a three ring circus.
I had just tucked #1 in and heard my cell phone ringing.
It was my sister, letting me know that my alarm company had just called my dad because a silent distress alarm went out from my house.

Confused yet?
Me too. I'm still unsure why my dad didn't call me, I guess he hung up the phone (after speaking with the alarm company), looked at my sister and said "the cops are headed to Alanna's house, maybe you should call her."
DAD, if you are reading...the answer is YES. If police officers, firemen, ambulances or Jehovah's Witnesses are headed towards my house, you should always call and let me know. Thanks.

Anyway.
I tried to call the police department and let them know I didn't send a distress call, but if officers are dispatched they check on you no matter what (actually that sounds pretty reassuring, carry on officers). So I kept an eye on the front door to avoid them ringing the doorbell and waking up my happy nappers.
(please tell me you are now singing the happy nappers jingle)

And two really nice and professional officers checked on me to make sure everything was okay.
And because I was a wee bit freaked out, they swept my house just to make sure...

You haven't lived until you've seen cops go down your basement steps with their guns drawn.
Alright, their guns weren't drawn, but they did have their hands on them, and they didn't turn on the lights, they used flashlights...very CSI. Creepy and cool at the same time.

Also, they checked upstairs where the boys were napping, and we must have ninja cops around here because they went into the kids bedrooms and opened their closet doors and both boys.stayed.asleep.
I know!
I can barely sneeze and they wake up.

But getting back to the nicely made beds...the family room was a shambles, Legos, duplos, dinosaurs, #2 has been carrying a Thomas coloring book around and shredding it nonstop. I thought about this for two seconds, then I realized my bedroom was clean, the bed was made and everything was tidy so I didn't care about toymaggedon, I figured if they would judge me, they would see that I make the beds (even though 2 were occupied at the time) and that little bit of effort would go a long way towards my clean house credentials.

So make your beds!

a week of outfits!

2012-02-01T14:28:00.000-05:00

I did it!
Last week I promised to try harder to look ~~human~~ cute, and I was successful.
And I also promised to take a pic everyday.
I did that, too!

I tried.
I thought I came up with a cute-ish outfit for each day.
I really thought I had this.
Then I made a collage...

weds, thurs, fri, tues, and yes, i took these pics in my garage

Is it just me, or am I wearing the same outfit?
I think I need to break out of the gray-with-a-few-bits-of-pink formula for buying clothes.
I also enjoy my purple flats - and this mild weather means I can wear them without losing toes!

And the Tigers cap is me hiding my crazy, slept-on hair.
And representin. Word.

My favorite outfit for the week was on Sunday.

the sparkle shoes and blingie cuff? totally making up for the flat hair.

The kimono jacket is new. I hit up my favorite boutique downtown and found it on Sat.
It was a splurge.
Four women complimented me after church.
I count that as money well spent.

My favorite accessories were on Saturday.

these pics were not taken in my garage! but, what is up with the sun?

I love those earrings.
I thought the necklace was cute when I got dressed.
I think it looks a bit anemic in these pics, next time I'll layer it for more punch.
I still like it.

And I tried on Monday.
In fact I sort of like my leggings and button down combo.
Comfy and easy to run around with the kids.
But the pic is awful.
And really...more grey?
Next week I'll try mixing it up!

hubs snapped this while we were watching hoarders

Linking up at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday

and Momma Go Round for Real Momma. Real Style.

http://www.mommagoround.com/category/style/rmrs” target=”_blank”>http://www.mommagoround.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/RealStyleButton.jpg” />

cute hair, yucky outfits

2012-01-26T16:08:00.000-05:00

I left you hanging after I fretted over my new hair cut.

I got bangs!
I love them!

I have been doing my hair everyday (some days it's cuter than others), but I definitely feel more put together than I did just running around with a ponytail everyday.

Last night I experimented with going to bed with wet hair...honestly it was less an experiment and more me being too tired to properly dry my hair.

This is how I woke up:

Yikes.

And then I added a hat...hand-knits from Mom tend to make life better.

Not really an improvement.

Then I just really needed some coffee, and home brew was not going to cut it. So I actually left the house looking like this:

attention Walmart shoppers...

I assume you are all denying having a friendship with me. I totally understand.
(At least it was just the Starbucks drive thru, if I was actually going to get out of the car I would have put a bra** on.)

This is unacceptable; I feel awful when I look like this. So this week I'm going to put in more effort when getting dressed, and I'm going to take some more grainy pics (perhaps they'll all be in the old mirrored closet doors living in my garage), and then I will have a cute What I Wore Wednesday post to share next week :)

** I have been completely sucked into ads for the Genie Bra. I'm beginning to believe in its magical properties (the ability to lift and separate all). I swear I saw a display at Target...

Linking up at The Pleated Poppy.

PS - I meant to publish this yesterday, but my internet connection has a mind of its own...

tradition

2012-01-16T12:16:00.002-05:00

I'm not much for resolutions.
Some years I make lists of goals, usually they are abandoned by Feb 3.

I saw a few people choose a word for the year.
I like this idea, so I'm doing it too.

1. the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by popular tradition.

2. something that is handed down: the traditions of the Eskimos.

3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting: The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.

4. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.

5. a customary or characteristic method or manner: The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition.

(thank you http://dictionary.reference.com/ )

And, because I cannot hear the word 'tradition' without hearing Topol; I'll leave you with a Fiddler on the Roof clip.

Linking up at The Lettered Cottage Word of the Year Party.

weekend makeovers

2012-01-14T17:00:00.000-05:00

Working on a few makeovers this weekend.

Sitting in my kitchen...

Because we are refreshing the laundry room. Woohoo!

I planned ahead.
Washed all of the laundry.
We should be set until Monday (when the laundry room will be back together)...
Except #2 wet through his diaper.

But then the best thing happened.
I called a friend to see if we could visit and do a little laundry.
That means I have friends! Not just the kind that you wave at from the car during preschool drop off.
The kind that let you co-mingle wet-flannel crib sheets.
And eat frozen pizza with you, while the kids run around like banshees.

It's so nice to have friends :)

The second makeover of the weekend...

MY HAIR!
I'm going back to something like this.
But maybe some bold bangs.
Or something like that.

my winter mantle

2012-01-13T00:19:00.000-05:00

I made my mantle purdy for the winter.

i see a blue duplo

Gold, sparkle, white...so peaceful, so different from the sea of duplos, legos, dinosaurs and star wars toys on the floor below the mantle.

The little elephant came from an antique store run with my MIL.

elephant noise. really, how would you write that?

A happy place for me.

do we like the watermark?

Linking up to the Winter Crafts and Decor Party at the CSI Project.

Hop on over for some inspiration.

a plan of attack and a menu - shazzam!

2012-01-03T15:23:00.001-05:00

Mon night, as Hubs was tossing the boys into the tub, I checked my email. There was a friendly reminder from #1's preschool teacher to remember boots and snow pants for recess.

Boot and Snow Pants...
Yeah, I meant to buy some, and then there was no snow, etc etc...oops!

So I found myself at Kohl's and Target at 8 PM (word to the wise - Target still has everything and it's on clearance).
Don't worry, the little man was appropriately dressed for preschool recess (there's not a ton of snow, but it was 10 degrees). In fact he even got in trouble for starting a snowball fight.
That's my boy!

Anyway, in an effort to prevent more late night runs for necessities, I have devised a list of goals for this week:

Organize Tupperware cabinet
Clean up Christmas (note - not "put away" just neaten up the new stuff)
Clean the fridge
Attack the pantry (if you don't hear from me, call the authorities)

It's a short list, because it's a short work week :) and since I know you were on pins and needles - I accomplished my list from before Christmas.
Go me.

Now for the menu:
Tues: l- soup, d- pork chops, apples, spaetzle
Wed: l- grilled cheese, d- chicken and rice bake, roasted tomatoes
Thurs: l- PB&J, d- ham, zucchini, strawberries
Fri: l- soup, d- leftovers
Sat: b- cereal, l- leftovers, d- quiche, broccoli, salads
Sun: b- waffles (I got a waffle maker for Christmas!), l- mac&cheese/leftovers, d- tater-tot casserole, fruit

Cheers to a New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T11:25:00.001-05:00

May your hearts and homes be filled with joy and love!

See you in the New Year!

a to-do list

2011-12-19T08:55:00.000-05:00

The past few Mondays I have woken up intending to post a to-do list for the week.

Notice how that has not happened...

But TODAY!

A list of things for this week :)

Finish Christmas cards
Complete wrapping
Vacuum whole house
Dust whole house
Rehang the 8 thousand ornaments the children have removed from the trees
Buy Christmas cookies
Pack for trip home (yeah!)
Celebrate!

Lately I've found that a weekly list is better for me than a daily list, I have no problem keeping up with the laundry and the kitchen, but I really need a reminder for the other projects/tasks.

Are you an everyday list maker?

oh, sunday

2011-12-11T23:25:00.001-05:00

We had a nice day.

Started by lighting the third candle on our Advent wreath.

Because it is "pink candle week" I might have ~~forced~~ encouraged everyone to wear red to mass...we looked very cohesive in our pew in the cry room.

We managed a family shopping trip to Target after church. I would not suggest this; the store was a zoo. Our outing was successful, because Hubs kept the boys occupied with popcorn (I'm sorry for the mess, Target employees) and then herded them into the car while I braved the checkout alone.

At some point today, #2 grabbed the remote and found...

do you see what i see?!

Gnome TV!!!
If you have U-verse, it's channel 1100, Christmas music and a gnome.
Oh yeah, and a cozy fire, too.

After naps we worked on our gingerbread house!
Okay, #1 and I worked on the house, Hubs had camcorder/camera duty and #2 ate candy...lots of candy.

And then after we put the boys to bed, we enjoyed our Christmas lights.


yep, there is totally a stand out on the big tree...oh well!

I love this time of year :)

Want to guess what this is?


hmmm...

time for catholic crafts!

2011-11-30T22:51:00.001-05:00

Did y'all know I am Catholic?

Yep. I like standing up, sitting down and kneeling at Church.
And I call the service "Mass."
I have a box of different rosary beads.
And I love me some Saints; among other things...

One of the super fun things that I have been wanting to do with my boys is to celebrate their name day, which is the Saint Day for the Saint they are named after (even though I didn't specifically name them after a Saint, we just have lots of Saints, so finding one with your name is not difficult - in fact here is a guide for you).

So I've been meaning to do this...which means every time I see someone else do this I think,
"That is super awesome, I will totally do that."
But then, I forget to do it.

Then one of my new friends (I know! I think I have 4 friends here in WI, it makes me happy!) invited us to a little name day party for her son Andrew.
Yes! Just the kick in the pants I needed to get this tradition started.

So today (St. Andrew's feast day is Nov. 30) we gathered at my friend Katie's house and the boys ate pizza and ~~ran around like crazy men~~ carefully and calmly completed a craft. And while the three year olds were ~~screaming at tops of their lungs~~ praying the rosary, the moms (and some sweet older girls) made a mom craft!


mom craft!

This, my friends, is a chaplet.
A chaplet is basically a bunch of beads that we Catholics use to count our repetitive, rote prayers - it's a prayer tool.

We created it to pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, which is a prayer directed at God, but begun on the feast day of St. Andrew (hence the name).

Hail and blessed be

the hour and moment

in which the Son of God

was born

of the most pure Virgin Mary

at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour

vouchsafe, O my God!

To hear my prayer

and grant my desires

through the merits of

Our Saviour Jesus Christ

and of His Blessed Mother Mary

and of Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.

Amen.

Let's look at my chaplet again:

hey - I figured out how to use picnik!

I used two anchor beads, because I needed to wrap the beading wire around something and I liked the beads. Then there are 15 prayer beads, I alternated between two pearls and a polka dot glass bead because it is easier to keep your place with an assortment of beads - your fingers don't get lost as easily. And a cross, because I love Jesus, alternatively a St. Andrew medal would be great on this chaplet (but they don't sell religious medals at Micheal's).

To pray the entire novena you repeat this prayer 15 times a day, every day from now today until Christmas. Then your wildest dreams will come true...errr...your prayers will be answered. We are dealing with God, so if you are praying for something that He doesn't really think you need (ahem...new diamond earrings), it might not happen.

I happen to really enjoy repetitive prayers, I find them meditative, and once I've memorized them they are really easy to pull out in stressful situations.

Going to make your own chaplet?

Impressed by my Picnik skills?

Running for the hills because I mentioned religion?

what should i wear?

2011-11-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago you helped me pick outfits for my BIL's wedding weekend.
It was fun.
Let's do it again, this time for my little brother's engagement party.

Guests have been asked to wear black, white or silver (which totally killed my original plan to wear a fab navy dress with gold accents.).
Safari print Calvin Klein to the rescue!

I need help with the shoes and topper...

White bolero and nude peep toes? (I wore this to my nephew's baptism...feel like it might be a bit churchy)

Black ruffled shrug and blingie red shoes?

Hubs is getting a little better with pic taking...

Last time we did this I never showed you action shots of the outfits...I thought I didn't have any.
I was wrong!
I don't have a clear pic of the wedding outfit (big fat raspberries! i looked hott!)
But...
Here I am moments before driving to the wrong restaurant for the rehearsal dinner (true story).

cheese!

Excuse the ~~torture device~~ exercise machine, blonde child and play tent in the background. The only full length mirror at my in-laws is in the basement :)

And the sad, sad truth is that every time we move I gain weight...resolution season cannot come quickly enough!

stuff that doesn't work, getting settled day 11

2011-11-16T18:08:00.001-05:00

We made a little trip back to Ohio the other weekend.
I didn't tell you beforehand, because then you might be tempted to break in and steal my precious thrifted and spray painted items.
(I read that somewhere and loved it, I just can't remember where I read it!)

changed the fireplace for Thanksgiving

Anyway...sometimes getting out of the house is just what I need to refocus and get things done.
I see my house with fresh eyes, it's a good thing.

After coming home it was obvious that a few things are just not working for me.

This list is not exhaustive, but it's a good place to start.

1. The laundry room/ entry off of the garage is not working well.
2. This house is dark! I need more lights!
3. The lights that we have are U G L Y. I do not like a single light fixture in this house.
4. Storage. There is a ton, but it is so unorganized...so it's not really working.
5. There's an unnecessary door in the master bath...it's driving me nuts.
6. My bed is too large for my bedroom, also driving me nuts.

Hmm...wonder how fast we'll be able to get to these issues?

new couches, getting settled day 10

2011-11-08T18:00:00.001-05:00

They've been here for quite a while.
I'm not sure why I never shared them.

Meet my new couches!

lots of seating, hooray!

We found them at a local furniture store.
The maker is Jonathan Louis, and so far I just love them to bits and pieces.
They were much much cheaper than PB or Arhaus.
I had an almost overwhelming number of fabric choices. After deciding which pieces we wanted, I had to pick an arm profile, cushion style, and base style.

looking into the family room from the kitchen

I chose a dove grey microfiber, with a wedge arm and square cushions. I had a tough time choosing the base style. In the end I picked a skirt, just to keep the room more casual.

Look!
My plan worked...I finished the insert for my pillow case.
I like it!

happy pillow!

grace

2011-11-08T01:18:00.002-05:00

Mr. Three likes to say grace before dinner.

Sometimes he is funny, and oh-so three.

Sometimes he is the sweetest thing ever.

"Thank you God for a new day.
Thank you God for a special day for our family.
Amen.
Can we eat?"

I'm not sure what made today so special for him, but his prayer made it very special for me!

candy!

getting a move on! in my makeshift craft room, getting settled day 9

2011-11-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. I am terribly behind on my 30 Posts about my new house.
I said I would have 30 posts done by Nov. 20, and I'm sticking to that.

So expect a flurry of activity for the next few weeks!

Because my office is currently far from workable, I set up a temporary work space in the front room.
Are you ready for this?
I'm going to blow your mind.

hey, that looks a lot like a folding table and kitchen chair...

What? Not impressed?

this guy loves it!

It's okay, this is not a permanent fixture in my house...but it's going to help me get stuff done.
And that's important.

The first few projects:
* stitch up a quick insert for this pillow case - which came from PB(clearance, natch) and I've had forever but never used.

* sew a slipcover for the piano bench (a holdover project from the last house)
* the giant roman shade! I bought pretty fabric! Now I have to do something with it.

roman shade fabric

* a completely frivolous project that will hopefully be high impact and not take up too much time...or it'll be the Hindenburg. I'll let you know how it pans out.

Good thing Disney aired The Aristocats on Friday!
Nothing keeps the kids' attention like a new movie.

Have any projects brewing?

yada, yada, yada...stuff and a sort of recipe

2011-11-03T23:26:00.001-04:00

It seems like I have eight million blog posts running around in my head...but I can't get them out of my head and onto the screen.
Blah.
It's getting crowded in my brain.
Life and children take a lot of time...I'm not sure how REAL bloggers do it.
And Hubs has been traveling, so that means I am solely responsible for keeping the Kinder alive.

Mildly stressful, and yet everyday those little boogers do at least one thing to make it all worth it for me.

furby, sort of the best thing ever

Lately the baby has been answering "Me!" to certain questions...
"Who's ready for lunch?"
"Who wants to go for a ride in the stroller?"
Hearing his enthusiastic and adorable answer is the best thing.

Mr. Three had a challenging week, he missed daddy, had a little incident at school and was a total grump yesterday. But when I had a massive stress headache he played nicely and quietly with his brother so I could have a little rest on the couch.
And then he gave me a bunch of kisses and hugs "to get better."
Yep. Totally keeping him.
Also, the only Halloween candy he wants to eat is smarties, tootsie rolls, suckers and starburst. You'll never guess where all of his chocolate bars are... ;)

So by last night I was frazzled, but didn't feel like baking and had already eaten all of the good Halloween candy. I needed some chocolate. Amanda wrote about pumpkin bread with a Nutella cheesecake filling and I was sort of (100%) obsessing about that...

I ended up mixing together a spoonful of cream cheese, a spoonful of Nutella and just a little squeeze of honey. I ate it with Graham crackers and it was perfect.
That's a sort of recipe...not to be confused with a recipe-ish (have you seen this blog? I want Leslie to be my new best internet friend!!)

Tomorrow's Friday!
Yay!!

halloween recap

2011-11-02T00:50:00.000-04:00

We carved.

We dressed up.

Trick or treat!

We ate candy.

And we totally killed a pumpkin pie.

We had a great Halloween!

I bought the baby's costume because my sanity was becoming an issue; Darth Vader is a feat of engineering created out of cardboard boxes and duct tape.

boxes from the recycling bin + black duct tape = happy boy!

And one light saber....cannot forget the light saber!

We invited a family from Hubs office over.
I made a really simple dinner, hot dogs/chili dogs, chips, apple slices, grapes, candy corn. Everything was laid out nicely, but I skipped cutesy labels and didn't embellish the bottles of water (in fact, we don't do bottled water) (I could write a post on all of this...).

Guess what?
Everyone still had fun!
The dads took the kids out (they lasted for about 45 mins) and the we all had some pie...and they left the leftovers at our house.
Score!

So, of course I had pie for breakfast (we call this cowboy breakfast).

Now I'm packing away Halloween and lamenting the fact that I really don't have much Thanksgiving decor...
I'm getting bored with my general Fall items.

I feel a pin fest brewing...

changing seasons

2011-10-20T15:27:00.001-04:00

I've been busy!
My mom visited for a week...we miss you, Grammy! Then my besties came out for a long weekend...woohoo!! And then we headed out for a mini vacay in the Upper Peninsula...so fun!

And in all of the excitement, the weather changed.
We had a week of fall, then it was hot - so hot I almost sent Mr. Three to preschool in shorts - and now I'm pretty sure the cooler temps are here to stay.

So I feel like I should finally swap from my summer bag to my fall purse.

summer canvas, traveling purse, leather for fall!

I feel like swapping purses is the final change of the season.

How do you mark the passing seasons?

What bag are you carrying this fall?

my new favorite chocolate frosting

2011-10-04T15:48:00.001-04:00

Because I am *positive* you need more chocolate in your life, I am joining Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading link party at Serenity Now.

On Sun. I whipped up a batch of chocolate cupcakes. And I was planning on making cream cheese frosting, but I keep whole sticks of butter in the freezer.
Do you do that?
It seems like a great idea, but then whenever I need butter for baking I have to either think about the butter ahead of time (what?!) or wait forever for it to thaw on the counter.
Don't try to microwave your frozen butter.
It never ends well.
Ever.

nom nom nom

So I pulled out the butter and let it thaw while the cupcakes baked.
But that's not enough time...not even close.
So I was becoming more and more impatient, and I totally did eat a naked cupcake and it was just NO GOOD.
And then I looked at the box of cocoa powder.

The clouds parted and angels sang...the simple recipe on the box calls for melted butter.

cuppie cakes

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting

*taken directly from the cheap-o box of Hershey's Cocoa*

1/2 c. butter (ok, it says "or margarine" but promise me you will never make this with anything but real butter)

2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa

3 c. powdered sugar

1/3 c. milk

1 t. vanilla extract

*Melt butter. Stir in cocoa.

*Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on med. speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.

Makes about 2 c.

blurry baby - he doesn't like to hold still, and I think someone touched the lens

My notes:
I made this in a large sauce pot, and I skipped using the mixer (didn't want to destroy the inside of my pot, and didn't want to dirty another bowl). It came together really easily and has an almost fudge-like consistency (which is pretty awesome). I added the vanilla when I added the last bit of milk (I thought it would be sort of hard to evenly mix in the vanilla otherwise). If you did use an electric mixer the frosting would probably be a bit fluffier, but the fudgieness is so yummm...I'm not sure I'll ever make this with a mixer. I also had more than I needed to frost 24 cupcakes - but I didn't pile on the frosting...it's really rich, you probably wouldn't want to anyway.


he prefers to clean his own face. thankyouverymuch.

Where do you keep your butter?

What's you favorite frosting?

a space for ME, getting settled, day 8

2011-10-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Last week our tv, internet and phones were out for more than 12 hours.
It put a major damper on my normal nap time routine - sit on the couch and eat cookies while watching DVR'd episodes of Teen Mom and Donna Decorates Dallas. And I actually had to do something productive to keep from going crazy while the boys napped.
What?! Work!! EEK!

I decided to dig into my office...or what will be my office.
Here it is on the day we moved in.

Hey! It looks like no one lives here!

It's a little, square room off of the living room.
It (conveniently) has french doors, which are really necesarry because it's become a dumping ground while we've settled in.

Oh, wait. People do live here, hoarders, obviously.

So I got to work.
Removed the major stuff that was going into storage.
The pile of boxes (because all of my friends just had babies! squee!).
And started sorting through stuff.

oohh...sorting baskets...i loves them

About halfway through I almost gave up.

halfway there...just keep going!

Then I realized that if I just stuck everything back into the room, I would have effectively wasted my energy.
Not cool.
Back to work.

This is clean enough.

Clean enough to set up this little corner!

That's the garage sale chair I scored for $25! And a little GW shelf that I plan on painting ($14), complete with my Missoni tote.
And...do you see it?
My PRIZE!!!

gnomie love <3

Amazing ceramic gnome lamp, courtesy of my MIL, who found him at an estate sale and knew I had to have him :)
Thanks Rita!!! He looks pretty happy here, I think we will keep him :)

I still have work to do in my office.
But for now it works, I can blog in here, pay bills, hide from screaming children.
You know, all of the important stuff.

And I have a gnome.
And really, that's the most important part.

little bits

2011-09-30T23:41:00.001-04:00

*first cool-weather hot tub tonight, so nice! We have decided that hot tubs are now on the must-have list for future homes.

*playdate this morning! All I had to do was decorate for fall, I immediately wanted to have someone over to visit...so I got brave and emailed one of the preschool moms. It was really nice to talk to another adult! Oh yeah, the kids had fun, too.

*I'm headed to Chicago in the AM for a seminar. I'm excited! It's not something I've blogged about yet, but I think most of my friends know about this little endeavor...now that we are more settled I'm excited to get to work.

*tomorrow we'll have been in our new home for three months. When I say "three months," it feels like a substantial amount of time; in reality I still feel totally displaced here. I can get myself to Starbucks, but I'm still unsure what local restaurants are best. I don't get lost heading to Target, but I'm not friends with any of the grocery cashiers yet. I still feel like the new kid.

*my mom arrives on Mon! She's staying through Fri :)

*next Sat. my girls arrive for our annual girls weekend! Plans are still up in the air, but we might go see Alton Brown. He's doing a book tour and will be in Milwaukee.

*we are planning a U.P. trip! A long weekend in the Keweenaw sounds perfect to me. I want a pasty!!

fall color tour, getting settled, day 7

2011-09-30T17:00:00.000-04:00

On Tues. I finally unloaded the tubs of fall decor (there are only two tubs, so nothing too exciting).

Happy owl!

Decorating a new home is tough.
I moved things all over...tried them out in every room, on every table.

3 year old decorating skills

I'm pleased with how it all came together.
Walking downstairs Wed. morning and being greeted by my fall decor made me happy.

The wreath above the fireplace was a quick little project.

I think it needs bunting up top...opinions?

I had the bare grapevine wreath.
I also had a hand-me-down Pottery Barn fall swag (thanks mom!).

Gnomes are never optional

I attached the swag with zip ties.
It wasn't quite long enough...so I filled in the space with a few fake leaves (randomly in my fall decor boxes) attached with clothespins. The clothespins are new, and really clean looking, so I colored on them with crayons to make them feel a bit weathered.

I'm really happy with the wreath.

I didn't spend a penny!

And in the entryway...I accepted the fact that we will not be painting before Thanksgiving, and I hung some art to make it more inviting.

Notice the 3 year old in the upper left...he won't stop playing with the decorative sticks!

The decorations make this house feel more like it's ours.

In the dining room

Although some fresh paint and new light fixtures will still help ;)

I'll add the Halloween items next week (I always wait until October!).

I don't think I've decorated with this thrifted crate before. I like it.

Have you decorated for fall?

Linking up to Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now!

missoni: mission accomplished

2011-09-23T16:38:00.000-04:00

Last week I shared a little sneak peek at my Missoni for Target stuffs...today you get to see it all :)

And if this bores you or you are insanely jealous, keep reading, because a blog friend of mine is giving away some Missoni for Target goodness...and of course I'll share the info with you!

Just to remind you, I didn't go out of my way to get my hands on this stuff.
My shopping trip was a happy accident based on an insanely early preschool drop off time.
After-all...
It's stuff...made in China...purchased at Target...soulless stuff.
But it is fun, and I like it.

Hey, look! It's a pillow!

The store had two of these, and I decided that I really only needed one for my new couches (I know! I haven't blogged them yet, but they are here! Consider this your sneak peek.)

I think one works better than two would have, and then I didn't feel like one of the crazies that snatched this stuff up and is selling it on Ebay for a bazillion dollars.

Walking into the store, I didn't really know what I would find.
I wandered around and looked at everything, I tried to be choosey.
I put a few things back. Because that's a good and healthy thing to do, right?

At any rate I decided that I would allow myself two items from each category (home items, clothes, accessories, and office stuff)


melamine...and fun

This tiered piece surprised me.
It's plastic, and sort of exactly what I was looking for without knowing I wanted it (does that make sense?).
I can tell you that it looks pretty fun on my kitchen table right now.
And if I ever make some friends in this new town, I will really enjoy using this to serve canapes.

While I was browsing there were two moms, 12 year old daughters (in their school uniforms, on a school day - during school hours!) in tow, and their carts were heaped with every single article of Missoni clothing they could grab.

I had the joy of listening to them in the fitting rooms. Ugh.
So many things wrong with the whole scenario.

New thought...

cannot think of caption...distracted by pretty colors

Two articles of clothing, I think that's enough to have some fun, but it won't look like I buy all of my clothes at Target (even though I might...) the sweater is really flattering on me, and it has my grey in it.
Happy place :)
The skirt is fun. No other way to describe it.
I need to buy some new leggings. And then, I will be rocking the cuteness.

The shoes are totally me, but they are the most cheaply made pair of shoes I have ever purchased at Target. And I buy a ton of flats at Target.
Mostly on clearance for around $9.
These were $30.
Good job Target marketing team.
The scarf is a scarf, I'll wear it happily :)

I have already scribbled all over that clip board.

I picked these two colorful items for my office.
I am obsessed with clipboards.
The crate was fun and the same price as any other fabric-covered Target crate.
Sold!

I thought I was done with the Missoni stuff after my one trip.
Especially because everyone on the planet was obsessing about how it was all SOLD OUT...
Except at my Target.
I went back the next day because we needed TP and trash bags.
They had moved all of the Missoni-ish up to the front of the store...

Isn't the shoe box fun? I'm sure I can do something with it...

I spotted the two makeup bags and they magically ended up in my cart.
Actually I needed some new makeup bags, so these will do nicely.

Mr. Three decided that his favorite part of all of this was the price tags.
Did you know they are really the world's thinnest and lightest cell phones?

Shhh...he's on the phone

Giveaway info!!!

Rebekah at A Blissful Nest is giving away three pieces of Mission for Target loveliness!

But you need to enter by tonight (Friday) at midnight...so get clicking.

Her blog is full of pretties, especially the parties she puts together. Very follow-worthy :)

So...did you grab up any of this goodness?

Any other thoughts on the craziness of it all?

a giant roman shade - getting settled, day 6

2011-09-19T23:34:00.000-04:00

First - did you think I forgot about my 30 days of posts about my new house? I never said the series would be rapid fire style, or that it would only take 30 days ;)

Remember, I'm the one who writes the posts...this series could take years.

Or I could give myself a deadline...I'm arbitrarily picking Nov. 20.

You can hold me to this:

By Nov. 20, I will have completed 30 posts about my new house.

Pinky swear.

Back to draperies...ahhh window coverings...one of my favorite things to obsess about.
I'm trying really hard not to obsess too much.
To say "This will work, let's do it."
And then execute my plan.

It worked in my little granny bath.
And every time I scrub the toilet and disinfect the floor (hello 3 year old boy!), I look up and smile at my sweet little curtain.

Now, the exact opposite emotions consume me every time I glance (and it is always accidentally) at the horror that is the vertical blinds in my kitchen.

And then one day I was reading blogs and saw a roman blind on a window over a kitchen sink.

Thanks for the inspiration Centsational Girl!

My mind started to go into overdrive...can I do this on a huge scale?
I decided that I can, and I will.

I'm calling my project "Giant Roman Shade"
Super original, eh?
I pinned two Roman Shade tutorials (A, B), and I'm working from both.

Because I will need a chunk of fabric 85"x101.5", I decided to use a drop cloth.
I happen to have a few hanging around...

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I have more drop cloths in storage. Almost.

After measuring, I realized not a single drop cloth is large enough.
Sad face.
Then grumpy face.

little helper

I hit up The Home Depot and found a 9'x12' dropcloth.
Happy face!

Except when I unfolded it I found this:

argh!

Not one, but two seams! And it is filthy.
Angry face. And maybe some expletives.
And I am totally making hubs return it.

I took a few minutes to regroup and came up with a solution:

I like to fill sketch pads with room and project plans...and then I never share my ideas with anyone.

Use a drop cloth base and build a frame around it, then add some coordinating ribbon to accentuate the design.
After doing a little math I realized that I won't even need to cut the dropcloth I am using!
Is that kismet, or what?!

Tomorrow I shop for fabric and ribbon...and I'm bringing both boys...

I think I will require an expensive coffee ;)

What's your favorite expensive coffee?

Any bets on how long it'll take me to finish this project?

thrifty stuffs

2011-09-18T23:48:00.000-04:00

Since moving to Milwaukee, I have been thrifting regularly.

My Goodwill has great stuff.
I went antiquing and even explored the local junk shop with my MIL (I had a lot of fun - we need to do it again next time you visit!)
And I hit up the Salvation Army on my last trip to my mom and dad's.
I'm just going to share a few of my spoils...I'm happy to say I have plans for almost everything :)

willow basket - SA - I'm thinking a laundry basket for the guest room

four drapery panels - SA - love that vintage print! planning on using this in my office

red metal box - GW - treasure box for a little boy (not sure which one!)

for rent sign - found this at the junk shop, it still has a Marshall Fields tag on back - 35 cents!, hanging this on the guest room door

white bowl - SA - pretty sure this is unmarked Haeger, right now it's a catchall for dead batteries and soup labels in my kitchen

crock - GW...no real plans, but it was a crock, I couldn't pass it up!

book - GW - Eat, Pray, Love...I am the last woman on Earth to read this book, but I got it for less than a buck ;), and I won't get a fine when I drop it in the bathtub

little elephant - junk shop - I collect cream colored, American pottery...love this little Shawnee piece!

needlepoint - SA - yep, I've got a small collection of these as well...I should hang them up

I didn't thrift these, but I did get them for free...it's a good sized bunch of Red Rose Tea, Wade Figurines. They came from my mom, and were collecting dust in the basement, so I saved them ;) I'm brainstorming what to do with them...I love the colors of the glazes...and I have so many memories of my mom and Grandma collecting these little freebies!

little table - GW - this is solid, American made furniture, and it was $6 - cheaper than flat pack! It's sitting in the garage, I'm in the middle of refinishing it, and then it will be a perfect printer stand in my office.

Have you found any thrifty goodies lately?

Linking up to Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures Party at Southern Hospitality!

best day EVER!

2011-09-16T23:57:00.001-04:00

Okay, so maybe today wasn't the best day ever - but it was pretty darn good!

Hubs came home last night and announced that he was taking the day off today.
Woohoo!

We decided we would take the kids out for a pancake breakfast and then have a really low key day. Lots of playing with Daddy and I had some time to get a few things done around the house (lots of vacuuming!). Before breakfast I wanted to stop by a garage sale at my favorite house in our subdivision (do you have houses in every square mile of your town picked out as your *favorite*? I absolutely do).

I'm so glad I went garage saleing!

I was pretty sure this house was owned by a decorator, after talking with her today I can confirm my hunch. She had some great furniture for sale. I passed on her floral couch, even though it was excellent...we have enough couches...but I did pick up a great antique chair that is going to be perfect in my office.

Tufting, nailhead trim and a great shape.
$25
Be still my heart. (I'll share pics later!)

I also grabbed a bolt of drapery weight fabric for $25...yep 20 yards of nice fabric for $25, the retail price was $24.99 per yard.
Score!

I know it's drapery weight and not upholstery weight, but I am seriously thinking of sewing a new slipcover for Ektorp from this fabric. This couch is in the front room, so it's mostly used for time outs; not a high traffic area.

What do you think?

Hubs comment - "Well, it's yellow."

And then I can hang this print. I'll have a new mat cut, I'm thinking white and a navy inner mat.

My comment - "Almost anything is better than a beige couch on a beige wall!"

Ok, back to my perfect, amazing, fabulous day!

I took Mr. Three to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live!

self portraits are tough, yo.

So fun!
Little kids everywhere breaking it down and waving glow sticks.*
Adults laughing and smiling.

And we were home before 9 PM...my kind of concert ;)

Do you have weekend plans?

Think I should dive in and sew up a slipcover?

Or look for a different fabric?

*BTW...the glow sticks were $10...I should have picked some up at the dollar store and sold them from my seat!

I'm linking up to Weekend Bloggy Reading at Amanda's!

cheater dinner!

2011-09-15T16:04:00.000-04:00

I like cooking for my family.
Especially when the boys are quietly playing together and singing Kum By Yah.

Umm. Yeah, that never happens.

Around here, dinner makes it to the table because I have planned a meal in advance, maybe offered up precious nap time moments to prepare it, or stirred a pot while simultaneously holding a screamer and building duplos with the three year old.

Some days, I am way too exhausted to prepare a real meal for my family.
That's where "Cheater Meals" come into play.

I have a handful of general meal items in the pantry/freezer/fridge and I can put a really quick meal together with them.

Last night I had two kids that desperately needed to play in the backyard (and they must be supervised). Good thing I also had these ingredients on hand:

more sodium than we usually eat...but way less than a drive-thru meal!

Box o'rice meal

Package of chicken sausage

Stocked veggie drawer

I quickly diced up my veggies - this time it was carrots, green peppers, zucchini, and onion.

Followed the directions on the box for water (2.5 cups), put it in a big pot to boil and then mixed in the box o'rice and my diced veggies.

Returned the pot to a boil, popped on a lid, lowered the temp to a simmer, set the timer for 25 min. and took the ~~heathens~~ dear sweet boys out for some fresh air.

lots of veggies!

I served it with strawberries on the side and everyone was happy!

Even this guy, who is currently cutting his four canines at the exact same time. Poor bebes :(

nom nom nom

What's your favorite "go to" meal?

Joing Family Friendly Food Week at Serenity Now!

random bits

2011-09-13T23:41:00.003-04:00

Because preschool drop off is at 8AM, I shopped Missoni for Target right when the store opened.

I got some stuffs :)

Missoni...made in China

8 AM preschool drop off is not my favorite thing. Getting my kids out the door that early is ridiculous.

Baby-man is absolutely obsessed with orange, flower-shaped post it notes. I keep finding crumpled and chewed on wads of orange paper around the house.

On Friday I'm taking Mr. Three to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live. I'm actually putting some effort into my outfit...is that sad?

I totally killed the pretty plants on my front porch. Time for some fake ones!

I successfully made no-bake cookies. This is the first time they have turned out...and I cannot figure out what I did differently.

I had the windows open this morning. Then, I realized I could smell smoke, I looked outside and I could see a smokey haze; I assumed someone was burning leaves (although there aren't many leaves to burn right now, and I'm sure it's illegal in my area). I shut the windows and moved on.

Tonight Hubs and I were watching the news and the smoke I could smell and see? It's from forest fires in Northern Minnesota, almost 500 miles away.

Crazy.

A new season of Parenthood started tonight. Yay!

Share some randomness with me :)

i made a wreath!

2011-09-12T15:48:00.003-04:00

Sometimes the stars align and I actually make something out of the 8.3 million craft supplies I buy every year.

Last night was one of those rare occasions!
Yippee!

I made this fluffy wreath for our front door.

i like it!

Tutorial coming soon!

Not because you are all dying to know how I made this amazing piece of, highly flammable awesomeness, but because I took pictures.
And made a half-hearted attempt at editting those pictures.
And I can make you look at them!

Woohoo internetz. Woohoo.I'm so proud of my Orange Wreath, I'm linking it up to the CSI Project, Orange Linky Party!

ten years

2011-09-11T23:03:00.001-04:00

Ten years ago I was a junior in college. Tan and skinny (for me) from my summer job as a Girl Scout camp counselor. Living at the sorority house, pretty sure I was dating the love of my life (I married him almost exactly two years later).

Life was good.
Care free.
Figuring out what I was wearing to the bar was my biggest concern.

On the second Tuesday of school, another student arrived a few minutes late to our 9 AM journalism class. He looked at our professor and and said "A plane just hit the World Trade Center."

There were no iPhones, and the tv in our room was just for videos. So as a class we walked across campus to find a television. We tuned in just as the first tower fell.

We watched.
We cried.
Class was dismissed early, so I walked up the hill to my boyfriend's house.

There were no tears in the Delta Sig house, at least not from the boys. But it was eerily quiet and somber. Everyone was glued to their tvs. No one knew what would happen. We all felt a little secure, we were stuck at the tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, after all.
In God's Country...we were safe there, right?

I wasn't so sure. I remember being so very very worried about my family in Detroit. I was worried about rioting, or another attack.

I remember everything felt really surreal, like the only thing really happening was on CNN. I know I called my mom, I went back to my house and we watched the coverage some more. I can't remember when we turned off the coverage and turned on the Lifetime movies, but I know we did.

We all needed a break.

That evening we headed to church to pray the Rosary.
It was so calming.

Ten years later we were in church again.
This morning's readings were all about forgiveness. Our Priest reminded us that the readings are a set rotation, not picked especially for this anniversary.

How powerful.
And challenging.

May we remember. May we forgive.

eight glorious years

2011-09-07T22:06:00.000-04:00

I know I've been MIA, last week was hectic...things are much better now.

Yesterday we celebrated our eighth anniversary.

Hubs came home with flowers, a card, and five pages of bronze chandeliers...apparently the traditional gift for anniversary number eight is bronze.

And I now have carte blanche to pick out chandies for the entire house...not exactly what he said, but that's how I'm interpreting it!

I'm guessing that, trying to entertain two little monkeys throughout a meal at UNO and then taking a family outing to the Home Depot, might not be everyone's idea of a romantic anniversary.

But it works for us.

And that's what matters, right?

Happy Anniversary to my sweet Hubs!

I wouldn't be happy sharing my life with anyone else!

do you have days like this?

2011-08-23T10:23:00.001-04:00

I swear that as son as I hit "publish" I am going to put the iPad away.

Pinky swear.

Maybe...

It's nearly 9:30AM and I have yet to tie on my apron and get to work. We are all dressed, but it's gross out and totally non-motivating.

I think it will rain soon.

The grill is uncovered on the deck...I should probably cover it.
Then clean up last night's dishes.
Make the beds.
Play with bebes.
Turn. Off. The. Tv.

I would rather be a sloth today.

Blahhhhhh!

what i wore

2011-08-18T20:22:00.000-04:00

This post was supposed to go up yesterday. A little bit of loving encouragement for my sweet bloggy friend Laura. And heeeyyy...I've really been meaning to do a What I Wore Wednesday post to link up at the Pleated Poppy, so this works!

I got up and did my hair, dressed cute (cuter than the other moms at Target!) and snapped some pics.

lipstick and mascara!

WIWW had a challenge theme of stripes and florals...sorry no stripes! But I have flowery pink shoes...these are the bebes favorite shoes to walk around the house in (don't tell his Daddy!).

cute shoes!

Full length pics are tough y'all...I'll try to find a better mirror for next time.

white pin tuck tunic from Lands End, black capris, pink shoes from Report, jewelry from Stella and Dot

I was totally set to post this on time...
Then the boys refused to coordinate their naps.

So glad I had stuck a pork shoulder in the crockpot! Otherwise I would have been a frazzled mess.

I still feel like nothing was accomplished yesterday, but the boys were read to, and we played choo choos and batman, acted like bumble bees and sang some silly songs...

I can write "nourish souls" on my to do list.
Maybe we should all do that.

hair in pony...post non-napping fiasco

I guess I did accomplish a lot yesterday!

And I looked cute doing it :)

thanks!

2011-08-16T17:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks for all of the comments on my last post :)
I wanted to message all of you individually, but most of you don't have email enabled for your comments...you should! It's super fun to get email from bloggers :)

I was also busy with this...

Oh Mr. Turtle, so much fun!

I made the mistake of telling 3 that we had to put the lid on the sandbox so that cats wouldn't make poo poos in it.

Now he is obsessed with cats using his sandbox as a litter box.

He stands in the kitchen window and growls.

Says he's scaring away the bad kitties...

Speaking of my kitchen window...I think I have brainstormed a new treatment solution!

Cross your fingers, I'm going to start cutting and sewing (probably cursing a little) tonight.

Ahhhh....let the creative stress eating begin.

a reasonably clean entry...getting settled, day 5

2011-08-08T16:29:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new home...

I put the flowers out right away, the front door needs a little updating, but it'll do for now.

Come on in!

pretty empty

Look right

cringe!

Look left

ugh.

I wish you could stick a "recently moved in" sign on the lawn.

So the UPS guy doesn't think he needs to call CPS.

A little cleaning, some expert mashing of craft supplies into the craft closet and the living room is tidy.

the blonde children blend in well

The dining room is getting there. It's the one place we've been stashing art and miscellaneous stuff as we get settled. But it's nice to have the table and buffet tidy.


must. iron. table scarf.

Grandma <3

The actual entryway is still empty. We're starting the "real" decorating here (different from the moving-in-and-getting-used-to-the-spaces decorating that is happening all over our house). I've been collecting ideas for a little while. The loose theme is honeysuckle and grey. A little girly, but I decided that I needed one little space of pretty in this house boys.

The starting list of changes:
Wall paint - grey
Paint antique vanity (and unearth the mirror) - honeysuckle
Hang art - LOTS!
Find a rug - something to bridge the reddish tones of the floor and the pink of my accents
New light fixture - maybe hack something from the Restore?

Thanks for touring with me :)

Linking my "Reasonable Clean Entry" at Like Mother, Like Daughter. (isn't that the best description?!)

Outtake pic from the after shots...

this little guy kept getting in front of the camera and saying "tee!" (cheese!)

simple sunday

2011-08-07T14:49:00.000-04:00

dinner in the crock pot

lunch on a tray

boy in a puddle

Happy Sunday!

completely void of nutrients...what we ate at the state fair

2011-08-06T19:06:00.000-04:00

A catalog of food eaten by my family...

maple cotton candy
fried pickles
chocolate covered cranberries on a stick - did you know cranberries are the largest fruit crop in WI?
root beer
giant brat on a pretzel roll with peppers and onions
one hot dog
chocolate milk and white milk - only 50 cents! gotta love WI!
string cheese - handed out for free after the milking demo
giant cream puff - these are serious business, there is a whole pavilion dedicated to cream puffs, and it was excellent. also, we kept seeing people walking around the fair with special carryout boxes of a dozen cream puffs.
a lemon slushy

and the kids played in corn bins and I am pretty sure the bebe ate a dried corn kernel.

Here is some eye candy for you ;)

Let me preface this by saying that while Hubs is awesome and amazing, he has never once taken a flattering picture of me...not once in our 11 year history.

me with cream puff

And I didn't feel at all guilty eating fair food...because I have continued to run/jog/move faster than normal.

Yippee!

tidbits and a ridiculously easy and delicious salad

2011-08-04T22:19:00.001-04:00

* The house is a mess. I can't get control of anything...never buy a house with 4 toilets...no one needs to clean 4 toilets.

* Lately, I've been making a lot of ice cream. Inspired by Wisconsin? I don't know...but I am having fun!

* We went to the county fair on Sat. Tons of fun. Fried Oreos. Sno-cones. Noms.

* Ate at Five Guys for dinner on Sat. Have you been? Good greasy burger, a zillion french fries and peanuts! Plus, the line cooks were singing along with piped-in 80's music; I'm not sure if that's the norm, but we thought it was great.

* The furniture store is stalking me. I guess they really don't like holding our guest bed while we wait for our couches to arrive. I keep telling them if they waive one of the delivery fees, that I would be happy to accept the bed. No dice ;)

* Speaking of the furniture store; received a thank you note (sort of) from the salesman. "Thanks for your recent purchase. Roy" I threw away his business cards.

* Bought a bunch of costume hats for the boys. Bebe keeps running around in the pig hat and snorting. He thinks it's hilarious!

* Low key Sun, complete with splashing pool and wiggly-caterpillar sprinkler. And we finally ate on the deck. I threw together this salad, and I will totally make it again.

Summer Salad

equal parts:

fresh mozzarella, cubed

cucumber, chunked up

grape tomatoes, halved

Newsman's Own Light Cesar dressing and fresh pepper to taste

mix it up and enjoy!

I ate the leftovers for lunch on Mon, just on a bed of lettuce, so delicious!

a few milestones

2011-07-28T12:18:00.001-04:00

Mark this on your calendar...I went running this morning.

When I say "running" you need to interpret that as mostly walking, with short periods of rapid leg movement thrown in.

I am slow.

The double jogging stroller is heavy.

My subdivision is really hilly.

But, I am happy I did it. Now I need to do it again tomorrow, and the next day. This really needs to become a habit.

Other little milestones around here:

* I took the rails of off Mr. Three's bed a few weeks ago...he hasn't fallen out and it is much easier to make the bed.

* On Sat we took a big step and cut the tip off of his binky. Nap time was full of tears. Bedtime was a little easier. The next day was easy. He still talks about his binky, he likes to remind us that the binky fairy came and took it away, but he knows he's fine without it. Life is good!

* The baby man has graduated from the high chair to a booster seat. I pushed it because he kept crawling out of his seat and standing on the high chair tray (scary!), and I felt like he wanted to be at the table with us.

* Baby also went to bed just fine for Daddy on Tues night, which means more freedom in the evenings for me! Now I just need to get some friends...

Exciting post about my laundry room later today!

I know you are on pins and needles ;)

hitting the (kitchen) wall...getting settled, day 4

2011-07-22T17:52:00.006-04:00

After finding a little bit of inspiration for the kitchen, I was super excited to get started.

So I sat at the kitchen table for a minute and then looked to my right.

AAAAAHHHHH!

Vile vertical blinds. Almost enough to distract you from the intensely ugly light fixture.

Almost.

In case you missed the amazing pattern, here it is:

Awsomesauce. For real.

So, I really want to rip them down but I am unsure of what to hang in their place.

Normally I would just pick out a rod and hang some drapes, but there is very little space (maybe 4 inches) between the right side of the sliding glass door and the kitchen cabinets...so the drapes all need to stack on the left side in order for the door to be functional. And it must be functional, it leads to the deck, which leahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifds to the hot tub (and the swing set, which is not as important because I don't drink margaritas on the swings).

So help me out! Do you know of any curtain rods that don't need a center support? Or a super awesome idea which doesn't include vertical blinds?

How about some other ideas for my kitchen? I'm all ears!

Thanks!

I'm linking up at Amanda's Weekend Bloggy Reading Party!

a real mall!...getting settled, day 3

2011-07-20T22:17:00.003-04:00

In case you haven't noticed, it's terribly hot out.

Too hot for me to play outside. Sorry kids, enjoy the AC and TV.

I decided to throw the giant double stroller into the Jeep and head to the nearest mall.

Reasons I was excited:
a) Hello. Getting out of the house.
b) 20 min car ride = 20 min where a child is not attached to me (remember, it's hot
c) PB, C&B, and RH under one, glorious, air conditioned roof. Thank you Baby Jesus.*
d) The anchor stores at the mall in Ohio were Best Buy and Dunhams...for real.
e) High potential for an Orange Julius.

I found some inspiration in C&B.

Meet my kitchen...in dishtowel form.

source

It's good to have a starting point, right?

I skipped the Orange Julius. Next time it will be mine!

Are you guys on Pinterest? Come and join me, it will be fun! You will be addicted!

Seriously, it's a really fun way to organize all of the stuffs you find online that you just can't live without. Instead of in a mile long list of bookmarks...you can have tidy little thumbnails with a personal description. Like the dishtowel up there? Totally pinned it. Ahhh...happy place. Join me!

If you'd like an invite to Pinterest just let me know, I'm happy to send you one :) And no, I'm not being paid to talk about Pinterest, I just want a few more friends to stalk.

*Most evenings, Mr. Three says grace at the dinner table. Some days it is the sweetest thing ever, and some days it goes like this "Father, Son, Holy Ghost, I love Jesus, Hiya! Hiya! Ninjas. Amen."

a new couch...getting settled, day 2

2011-07-19T23:26:00.006-04:00

My couch is plaid.

It has also been peed on, puked on, slept on, and moved 4 times.

So naturally I am excited to replace it!

Also - we really need something to sit on in the basement...and the plaid will work great in the ~~dungeon~~ playroom. (and I am totally having it steam cleaned next week)

We've been stalking couches since we moved in, and decided this was the week to buy (sale!).

These were the swatches...

solids for couches and patterns for pillows
p.s.- the geometric is totally named "Takin it to the Streets"

We wanted to make sure the furniture would fit, so we mapped it out on the floor with painters tape.

I have given up on trying to keep the kids away while I take pics...
get used to seeing tiny men in my photos

And the kids quickly ripped it up ;)

I'm going to pretend he didn't walk around with tape stuck to his foot for most of the day

Tonight we ordered it!

I decided to go with the dove grey instead of the darker grey (coincidentally both swatched were labeled "charcoal" but in different patterns), and the geometric for the accent pillows.

By the middle of September we will have a new sectional and love seat! I am so EXCITED!

Also - I keep singing this song. Thank you Michael McDonald.

half bath love...getting settled, day 1

2011-07-18T23:42:00.008-04:00

I spent last weekend sewing, and because I thought it would be a quick project, I only set my trusty Husky Star up on the kitchen island.

It's totally still sitting there...

At any rate, I needed to carve out a teeny little spot in this house that felt like me. Mr. Three is newly potty trained, so we spend a fair amount of time in the half bath, plus it's a little space and didn't require new paint.

I decided it was a good place to start.

Here's the before...

The biggest problem (besides the fact that this is my only before pic) was the window treatments. The ugly brown valance needed to come down and unfortunately the wooden blinds were broken (permanently in the "up" position), offering no privacy. I don't think you could actually see into the bathroom, but it felt really open...so I wanted something that would offer privacy, yet let in the light.

I hit up a flea market right after we moved here and I picked up a chunk of old lace, I immediately knew I wanted to use it in the bath and that gave me my direction.

Here's the after...I call it the Granny Bath ;)

I've been wanting to do hoops with fabric for awhile so that was a no brainer for art. I had the basket and flowers, and they seemed to work well so I tossed them in.

I used an old sheet to make the curtain...and I used the same material to add a ruffle to the towels.

It's far from truly done, and not really exciting, but it feels nice to be able to say a room is done for now.

Tomorrow...we order new couches for the family room.

introducing...

2011-07-18T09:42:00.002-04:00

My new house :)

It's been whirl-windy.
And happy.
Sometimes frustrating...mostly just plain BUSY!

I need to get back into this blogging thing. I'm thinking 30 days of projects from the new house...let's start tonight.

Be there or be square.
Yep, I totally just said that.

heading back to target

2011-06-22T20:11:00.001-04:00

Last night I spent 45 glorious minutes unaccompanied in Target.

It was so blissful that I completely forgot that I was going to buy a baby gate. So I'm sure that's why my parents gave me such odd looks when I showed them the contents of my shopping bag:
pull ups
sunglasses
a sing a ma jig (he sings yankee doodle!)

So we are headed back today.

OK, now it's later...

Got the baby gate.

And we stopped in TJ Maxx super fast...so I picked up a few pairs of shoes and a super cute Calvin Klein dress :)

And I would totally share some pics but, well...I still can't figure out my parent's computer. Sorry!

Happy Day!

hanging out in troy

2011-06-19T16:05:00.001-04:00

So...I've been a little lax in updating since the movers arrived, in fact I just realized that instead of publishing a post about moving I was just saving it...so um, sorry about that.

Anyway, we arrived in Troy last Fri and have been hanging out with my parents. I took the boys and my mom and sister to the Detroit Zoo on Wed, it was great! The weather was perfect, not too hot so most of the animals were really active.

On Thurs I took the boys downtown to swim at Allison's apartment. We had fun and I am completely envious of her view of the Detroit River. And I keep redecorating her place in my head...so Al, be forewarned, I might have a few ideas heading your way ;)

J came home to Troy for this weekend, so we have been enjoying his company and we even went out for a little date last night :) we saw the Hangover 2 and I'm pretty sure that movie makes the Baby Jesus cry, but it was incredibly funny. And when we got into the theater we realized AJ and JR were also there :D

I've been slowly redecorating half of my parents house, and taking pics of course, but I can't figure out how to upload pics to the computer here...so I probably wont have any to share until July. But then I will have lots of pics and plans for my new house!! I am excited!!!!

That's it, we are in town until June 30, and spending next weekend in Muskegon, so if you'd like to get together give me a call or send me an email.

god breeze

2011-06-06T19:43:00.002-04:00

Today I was ill. Not very good timing as the moving truck will arrive Wednesday morning.

I was feeling sorry for myself.

It was pitiful.

Then I stumbled across this. A teeny tiny baby, scheduled to have heart surgery on Thursday.

Makes my problems seem, well, not really like problems.

We are moving to a very nice house. We are moving because Hubs is awesome and works his tail off at the office. We have friends in Milwaukee waiting for us!

I think I'm ready. Let's do this!!

big time crime

2011-06-02T09:35:00.001-04:00

Perhaps the last docket goody?

Two 20-year-old females were charged with petty theft Tuesday after a deputy found a "mowing ahead" sign in the trunk of the vehicle they were driving on Hancock County 172.

A gaggle of geese was running loose Tuesday in the 19000 block of Hancock County 17. The animals' owner returned them to their barn after speaking with a deputy.

Oh geese. Heehee!

things i will miss

2011-06-01T21:03:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting on my deck, watching the sun go down.

I love this backyard.

I loved this backyard in the tundra like conditions of Ohio in late November, when we were house shopping and I was dreading moving back to this little city. Something about the frozen grass, big deck and mature trees felt so welcoming; the icing this house, and that move, needed so that I would feel like everything was going to work out just fine. Then in the spring I discovered the moss that thrives in the yard, the lichen on those big old trees that the builder left instead of clear cutting before developing the land.

There is a brown picket fence surrounding the back. I actually thought we would tear it down(!), I'm so glad we didn't get to that project. It's so sweet to see the squirrels running from picket to picket. And it does an excellent job of corralling the kids, making my job so much easier.

I'm not sure what my new backyard will bring...

eight days

2011-05-31T11:08:00.004-04:00

In eight days the moving truck will arrive.

I'm starting to freak out a little (okay, a lot!).

Can we start with the fact that I have not actually been to our new home???

deep breathing

Add in two-ish weeks at Camp Grammy and Papa...and a baby that really only likes to sleep in his crib in his room.

can you see me doing yoga poses?

And then starting over in a state that I have hardly visited.

pass the chocolate.

But it will all be worth it, because we all miss J very very much.

I can't wait for us all to be under the same roof.

do you remember....

2011-05-17T20:52:00.007-04:00

Do you remember Magic Bars?

Ooey, gooey, sugary goodness?

nom nom nom!

I don't ever remember my mom making these, but I do remember them being a staple lunchtime treat in McNair Hall.

In 8 more minutes I will be pulling a batch out of my oven...and then counting the minutes until they cool enough to eat.

I made this poor little guy wait until after lunch to have a bar...I'm so mean!

These are super easy to make - melt, mix, pat, sprinkle and bake.

I took the recipe right off of the back of the Eagle Brand Milk.

If you are looking for something yummy and full of chocolate and peanut butter, you need to make these bars that Vanessa highlighted last week.

So good. Probably too good.

Definitely not swimsuit-season friendly.

But completely necessary.

Noms!

conversations with jj

2011-05-13T15:14:00.001-04:00

Talking to our 7 year old neighbor boy.

JJ: You love your mommy very very much?
7: Yes.
JJ: She keep away the bad guys and play toys and give lots of kisses?
7: Yes.
JJ: That is sooo awesome. (nods head emphatically)

moving updates

2011-05-11T09:32:00.001-04:00

Last week was a big week.

We all went to Milwaukee to house hunt, I brought my sister Susie to help with kiddos, especially because J and I were driving separately. She stayed with JJ while I house hunted with our realtor and Mr. Max.

Probably the best thing to happen was that we accepted an offer on our house on Mon evening. Another 7 day sale! Woohoo! I'm planning on doing a tour of our house, mostly for posterity, but also to show how I staged it. Just like every other time we move, once I clear out the daily bits of clutter I love our home so much more. But I do miss having family pictures all around.

On Wed J and I put in an offer for our favorite house. It was great, 4 bedrooms upstairs, second floor laundry, big finished basement with egress windows and 2 guest rooms and a full bath, 3 car garage, big yard. It was going to be perfect.

On Thurs evening we found out that there was already a primary buyer for the house, but with a home sale contingency.

Crap.

And by the time we found out I was already back in Ohio and J was somewhere on the Indiana turnpike.

Double crap.

We received a counter offer and then countered back very quickly, the sellers kept moving really slowly. And it was making me crazy and nervous. I kept envisioning my family living in a storage unit (see, totally crazy thinking).

Fri night we chose to walk away from that house. We were still at least a week away from an accepted offer, and then the primary buyers would have a decent chunk of time to decide if they would set a closing date and buy the house or walk away and let us have it. We needed to stay sane.

So yesterday J walked through 5 more houses and then went through one of them a second time and took a nausea-inducing video for me (way too rocky to share with all of you). And we placed an offer.

Send me some good vibes that we can come to an agreement quickly!

docket fruit

2011-05-06T13:28:00.001-04:00

I haven't been stalking the docket lately, but I found ths one today and it made me chuckle.

I'm going to miss this little town...

"A rural man was expected to be cited after firing a rifle Sunday from N. Main St. Charges may include firing across a roadway, inducing panic of those nearby who heard the shot, and hunting groundhogs without a license."

Groundhogs!

wedding outfits

2011-04-19T21:05:00.002-04:00

In case you were all just absolutely sitting on pins and needles worrying about what I wore to my BIL's wedding...

I wore the black linen tunic and capris to the rehearsal, and the teal dress with nude open-toe pumps to the wedding.

And I can't remember if I took a pic of myself in either outfit.
And I killed the camera.
So yeah...

I kept the yellow floral print dress and will wear it to my boys' Baptism and another family wedding in May - the votes were split pretty evenly between the two dresses.

Thanks for helping me decide!

Staging the Great Room

2011-04-18T17:49:00.000-04:00

big news!

2011-04-06T16:16:00.001-04:00

Last Tuesday J asked if we wanted to move to Milwaukee.

I asked him to show me the offer.

Offer was good - we are headed to Brew City!

I'll keep you all posted while I house hunt :)

alanna rose

need a diversion?

2011-04-05T22:08:00.007-04:00

Life has been really heavy lately.

Help me pick my outfits for J's brother's wedding this weekend!

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding

Please note that J took these pictures, and he cannot figure out how to take a flattering picture of me. I have tried to help him, many many times, and he just can't do anything with a camera but hold it up and click the shutter. He has zero finesse with zoom or camera angle.

He totally does not understand that down shots hide my double chin.

But I still love him, so I'll just have to deal with it ;)

And can we also pretend that I have on makeup and am not rocking a greasy side pony?

Thanks.

ETA - J is standing in the wedding, and I know they will take family pictures, so think of me standing with a bride, 4 guys in tuxes, my MIL in a classic MOG dress and my adorable SIL, who always looks fab (and then my boys and nephews, who will most likely steal the show anyway)

fun new toy!

2011-03-21T15:24:00.002-04:00

So, my super husband left work a few minutes early the other week, and stood in line at Best Buy to get me an iPad2.

He must love me, or something ;)

At any rate, we have been having lots of fun with it, and although it is mine (it has a pink cover!), I did notice a new basketball app installed... And JJ is sort of into Angry Birds...

alanna rose

these sippy cups are killing me

2011-03-02T20:31:00.006-05:00

On Saturday I am hosting a Super Hero Birthday Extravaganza.
I should be sewing super hero capes (complete with lightning bolt monogram).

My town is slowly recovering from some pretty awful flooding.
I should be making meals for my water-logged friends.

Instead I am dealing with this.

Because a sippy cup full of milk leaked on the couch in my office.
And then it sat.

The cushion has a down top.

Mega GROSS.

I'm hoping I can resurrect the cushion, and that the cover will dry quickly. But all sippy cups have now been banished (well, I'm hiding away two for long car trips). He's turning three - he'll just have to make do with real cups, and learn to sit at the table when he wants a drink.

He'll probably deal with this change better than the next one I'm planning...

bye, bye binky

a little sunshine

2011-02-25T13:29:00.006-05:00

It's snowy and cold today.

My neighbor took care of our sidewalk! I shall pay him in baked goods! (take that, other neighbor who prefers to watch me shovel during nap time. no treats for you!)

I finished a project, it's making me happy :)

ooh, bunting!

Heather inspired me.

And I was totally going to make little fabric roses, but my goal was to use yarn from my stash, and when I finished wrapping the wreath form, I felt like bunting was more appropriate.

Plus, I can do this:

all decked out for Valentine's Day

Next week we have a birthday at our house - I'm thinking a pic of the birthday boy will be pretty fantastic pinned to the wreath, and a shamrock after that, etc...

Happy Friday! Hope you've found your sunshine!

I'm linking up at Amanda's!

I'm joining the Wreath Party at The Nesting Place!

the current state of my mantle

2011-02-24T14:32:00.004-05:00

Don't laugh.

please excuse the duplos, and umm, everything else

Yep, that is totally my mantle.

The real one. In my living room. The one visitors see.

Surprisingly? I sort of dig it.

I think John Cusack is kind of dreamy

Jenny posted an interesting discussion about being overexposed to design. I have to say I feel it, and I'm not even a real designer. I really want my mom to put up lovely Ikat drapes in her bedroom, but I keep thinking -

"Is Ikat over?" If we do that, then in 2 years will I look at the drapes and say "Wow, that is so 2010."

But if Mom loves it, then does it really matter?

So does it really matter that my mantle is currently decorated with our gag-gift presents from Christmas?

I say nope. These things make me laugh, so they are staying for now. We'll call it Frat Chic - an eclectic assortment of items you might typically find in a frat house (although much cleaner). Who knows, maybe I'll add to the "collection," maybe I'll start thenextbigthing (yeah right), maybe I'll find proper homes for these items (GW box?) before our next party.

I still love that kitty oil painting.

m

2011-02-16T22:12:00.006-05:00

he's pretty perfect

even though he still won't even attempt to sleep through the night

he's teething - always...5 teeth and counting

cruising along the furniture

crawling so fast that I lose him multiple times every day

drooling and chewing on everything

obsessed with the oven's warming drawer (just like his big brother)

has an incredible amount of blonde hair

I just trimmed it so he can see,
we aren't calling it a haircut, though;
he's just not old enough for one yet.

expert snuggler

looks just like daddy, but he belongs to mommy

wants to be just like his big brother

we love him

the problem with bowling

2011-02-02T22:45:00.004-05:00

J is a bowler.

Like, I think he seriously would really enjoy being a pro bowler (I know - I'm thinking I wouldn't fit in very well with the pro-bowler wives). He's in two leagues (at one point he was in three), and his name shows up pretty regularly in the sports section of our local paper.

Yes, they print high bowling scores in the local paper.

Anyway, the problem is that the 6 or 7 nights a month that he does bowl, I am not happy. He leaves for work and then he comes home after bowling. So I take care of the bebes all day without reprieve (super fun when they decide to tag-team their naps) and handle bedtime by myself. I have to say it's easier now that it was when Max was a few months old - that was really tough.

I go back and forth on how I feel about this. I want him to have time to enjoy something, but I feel like bowling is inferior to a whole bunch of activities.

It's not even aerobic.

Today I decided that one of the main issues I have with bowling is that I am alone all day with our little guys, and once I get them both in bed I have maybe 30 min to myself before he comes home.

And 30 min is nothing. I barely finished folding a basket of laundry before he came home - I had big plans to blog, and vacuum, and dust, and polish my nails and take a super long shower. I'm beginning to think I should tell him to stay out longer, but I think that plan will backfire.

And that is the problem with bowling.

there's a hole in the ceiling

2011-01-30T22:20:00.003-05:00

When we bought this house, 4 years ago (I know! I can't believe it's already been 4 years!), there was one thing I really wanted to change.

The skylight in our entry. Specifically the shaft because it was lined with plywood (instead of drywall) and when it was painted the grain rose and looked really bad.

J said he would fix it. No problem.

Well, it's been four years. The skylight itself has been replaced (we had that done when the roof was replaced in 2007), but the shabby-shaft remained.

swede in a hole

But now it. is. gone.

There is a giant hole in the ceiling, because no project is ever as easy at it seems, but there is progress.

And it makes me happy.

friday randomness

2011-01-28T11:04:00.004-05:00

First: how do we feel about my green polish?

Sew Psyched by essie

The only opinion I could get around here is from JJ. He said "Cool mommy. Like a army guy."

* Muffin Friday! - I threw the boys in the car and we got drive-thru muffins from Biggby for breakies. And coffee, of course coffee!

* I got to dress up for an actual business meeting this week - I felt like a grown up!

* JJ just convinced me to paint one of his nails - he thinks it's pretty special.

* I think I'm going to merge my two blogs, the other one is sort of blah. I think I'll just stick it in here. Maybe that way I'll update more often.

Probably not ;) but maybe.

* I'm out of dish soap, and I have no desire to take the kids to the store. I think it's a pretty excuse to not do dishes today.

* I have a lot of stuff to do today, but I really just want to clean and organize the house...

* JJ is starting preschool in the fall. I have issues with this, and yet, I love it!

* Someone keeps stealing my camera and taking pictures (and touching the lens).

at my house

2011-01-23T20:11:00.004-05:00

this guy loves prunes

this guy still loves building rockets

and these two have still got it
(ps - j does not have a double chin,
he just does that every time we take self portraits)

Sunday Confessional

2011-01-09T19:59:00.000-05:00

This week, I forgot to defrost the chicken ahead of time.

I know. Someone needs to take away my Girl Scout badges.

Sometime around 4PM on Tuesday I realized that the whole chicken I was going to roast for dinner was, unfortunately, still in the freezer.

So I called my mom (because that is generally my answer for everything, call mom - she always knows what to do). She had no words of wisdom, but as we were chatting she told me about a vegetarian tamale pie she had made the week before. And as she is talking, I am digging through the kitchen cupboards.

Wouldn't you know I had all the ingredients?

pantry cooking. yes please.

And it was really good, and really easy. And the 2 year old ate it. I know.

So make some Tamale Pie!

Tamale Pie

1 cup instant polenta
1 can of beans (I used red kidney, black beans or pintos would also be great)
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup jarred salsa ( fresh would make a soupy mess)
seasoning (I used an ancient pack of taco seasoning - next time I'll use cumin, oregano, cilantro, chipotle and some salt)
1 cup cheese (I had Italian blend - I would have preferred cheddar)

preheat oven to 350

1. Prepare your polenta and spread into a buttered casserole (bonus points if it has a lid!).
2. Dump beans with liquid (bean juice?) into a bowl and mash with a potato masher. Mix in 1 cup of salsa and seasonings.
3. Spread bean mixture over polenta. Top with frozen corn and sprinkle with cheese. I sprinkled the cheese with chipotle and cilantro just to give it some color.

polenta and beans. noms.

4. Bake covered for 15 min, uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.

*I really think this would freeze well.

I Lied

2011-01-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I said I had no real resolutions.

I lied.

Based purely on the amount of chocolate I consumed today, it is safe to say that my resolution for 2011 is:

To make sure that every single Christmas treat is eaten by Jan. 5th.

That is all.

Yada Yada Yada

2011-01-02T20:36:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

It's been so long since I've blogged that I feel like I've forgotten how to type - let's all say a collective prayer of thanksgiving for the all-important spell-check.

Done? Super.

I'm not making any real resolutions this year, I'm just planning on continuing to nurture my family, take care of my home (as time allows) and volunteer until I can't breathe (seriously, I need to start sitting on my hands so I stop signing up for everything!).

That's it. I'm not even going to strive to write here X times per week, because that's just not how my life is going. Except I am super excited for the second season of Worst Cooks in America to start tonight. I loved it last season, so I'm going to do some recapping here, I'm hoping a few other fans will chime in? It'll be much more fun that way.

I'll be back tomorrow - or the next day...

big news!

2010-10-18T12:58:00.001-04:00

From my local paper:

"Three frozen cheeseburgers and a sweatsuit were missing Sunday from 532½ S. Main St., 111."

Better lock up the freezer, there's a cheeseburger thief on the loose!

i figure it's about time for a new post

2010-10-10T21:41:00.004-04:00

What can I say? Life is freaking busy.

Boys - both are adorable and wonderful. Except that ever since Max hit 4 months, he has decided it is super-duper important to wake up at least 3 times a night. So I could totally live without that.

Also, he can't decide if he is a happy and round baby, or a really upset and round baby. He is for sure round, especially when compared to JJ.

Max stats - 4 months
15 pounds - 50th percentile
25 inches - 50th percentile

I'm pretty sure JJ always hung out around the 10th percentile. What I know for sure is that JJ is still wearing size 4 diapers (I'm sure he could do 5's, but hello?! they cost more!), and I just stuck Max in a size 3 for bedtime (because if I have to change one more sheet at 3AM, I am going to scream. Also, all of the sheets might be in a giant ball in the washer...). Draw your own conclusions, I think Max is going to give JJ a run for his money one day ;)

you can tell it was a momentous occasion because my hair is in a towel
and I'm wearing a bath robe

Last night Max had his first bites of "food." It was a big step for me. JJ had food for the first time at 6 months, and he had delicious mashed banana - unprocessed and wonderful, he's been a total fruit-arian ever since. Giving Max rice cereal at 4 months sort of made me a bit uneasy. Maybe I'm just crazy (probably). Anyway, he managed to ingest a little bit of it, and he seemed to like it (no tears, lots of grunting), but he hasn't pooped since he ate it, and he didn't magically sleep through the night after eating (I was totally hoping that would happen) - so I'm still on the fence. We ended up at a corn maze/pumpkin patch for the evening and came home too late for baby mealtime, so I just nursed him :)

I know I have more, but coherent-sentence-formation is eluding me. So here are JJ and J running through the corn maze.

ps - JJ is totally wearing his sunglasses upside down

Busy Bees

2010-10-01T21:01:00.000-04:00

We have been swamped the last two weeks!

September brought a new Service League year, and has been consuming a large amount of my free time; the rest of my time is consumed by these two little monkeys.

Peanut and Bun
Hiking Monkeys!

Last week Hubs was out of town. And this week Bun has been a sick little baby :(

In fact, Wednesday night (midnight-ish) I came this close to taking him to the ER. He was crying so hard that I had no idea what else to do. Then, just as I was changing out of my pj's he calmed down and went to sleep (Hubs was holding him and patting his little back). A few of my friends suggested Gripe Water, and we have used it a few times in the past two days and it has been amazing!

We have our happy little baby back!!

Anyway, we have a busy weekend ahead:
* 5K in the morning - the one I mentioned here
* Wrap up the Service League Garage Sale Fundraiser - I cleaned most of the closets and moved a bunch of stuff out of the house!
* Put out the fall decor
* Tidy up the master bedroom - it *might* look like a tornado went through *maybe*

Do you have any exciting weekend plans?

PS - Welcome to my new followers!

A Bright Baby Shower

2010-09-21T20:37:00.000-04:00

A bit ago I mentioned a baby shower I was throwing. The baby arrived last week (my incredibly-adorable-first-ever-nephew!) so I figured I should probably get to recapping the party. As luck would have it, The CSI Project is having a Party Ideas Challenge this week. So I'm linking up!

When I think of my SIL I think of bright colors; I decided that would be my "theme" for the shower.

Not exactly a theme, but it worked for decorating. Since this shower was thrown eight weeks after my son arrived, I purchased almost everything months in advance and planned to add either bright pink or turquoise accents (depending on baby's gender). This worked out great!

For invitations I simply purchased note cards, ran them through my printer and added "It's a Boy!" tags to personalize them.

so simple!

Inside:

Blankets and Booties, Diapers and Pins,
This is where the love begins!
Onesies and Bibs, Toys and More,
This is what baby showers are for!

Please Join us for a Baby Shower Honoring
Super Sister-in-Law

The tables were set with white table cloths, a runner made of turquoise tulle, a centerpiece, and small gift bags with turquoise tissue paper.

bright centerpieces on an overcast day

The guests filled their gift bags with candy from a small candy buffet to take home as a favor.

I think Buddy the Elf would approve

I kept the menu simple, my philosophy with parties is not to overwhelm people with choices. Instead I like to offer a well-planned meal that most people will enjoy. I got lots of compliments!

Michigan Salad
Assorted Mini Quiches (I totally cheated and bought these at Sam's)
Fruit Salad
Rolls and Butter
Punch
Cake

nom nom nom

my MIL turned a watermelon into a bowl shaped like a baby seal :)

I have played enough shower games and won enough bath sets/picture frames/stationary to stock a Hallmark store. I am OVER shower games.

Instead, I purchased an 8 x 8 scrapbook and everyone made a page. This was a great activity, and I hope that my SIL will enjoy filling the pages with pictures of her new little guy :)

Unmade

2010-09-11T14:10:00.000-04:00

It was a hectic week.

So hectic, I didn't make the bed yesterday.

chaos

I love making the bed because I love getting into a made bed each night. It feels more comfortable and relaxing than climbing into a mess of blankets and trying to make them right (which never works).

I like to keep our bedding simple; fitted and flat sheet, duvet with cover, two pillows each and a throw pillow to finish. Much more feels like overkill.

And, seriously? Stacking up loads of decorative pillows takes time, and they collect dust and feel so very... 90's in aesthetic. At least to me.

I prefer my streamlined bed :)

How many pillows are on your bed?

we're back!

2010-09-07T14:16:00.002-04:00

We're back from our week at Houghton Lake. On the way back we even got to stop at Laura's farm! I love her pigs! And her bebes, of course ;)

I want a cottage. "Want" is not strong enough...I need a getaway place about two hours from my house. On the water, no tv, lots of board games, a live in nanny would also be helpful ;)

fishing

Anyway, right after Max was born one of my friends gave me a copy of Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenison, I had a chance to read it while we were gone, and it was wonderful! I highly recommend it for all parents. In fact I'm ordering a whole bunch of copies for my expectant friends. I'm really thinking of doing a read along on the other blogg-o, if you are interested please let me know.

Energized!

2010-09-07T14:02:00.000-04:00

On Sunday we came back from a week at the lake.

I am refreshed and energized!

drool factory

I read an awesome book while on vacation, Mitten Strings for God by Katrina Kenison. It was wonderful. It's not a book about God, it's a book about slowing the pace of life down and letting your children soak up childhood, being happy with what you have, and appreciating all of the little things that make life so amazing.

I was thinking it would be really fun to do a read-along here on the blog. If you are interested let me know.

More later :)

Plans and Things

2010-08-27T08:22:00.000-04:00

I had great blog plans this week. I was totally going to implement a new "schedule" for my posts; Monday for cleaning and organizing, Tuesday for cooking and entertaining, Wednesday for decorating, Thursday and Friday for whatever else is running through my brain.

You'll notice I only posted on Monday.

Ok, and Friday ;)

this was supposed to go on Tuesday's post

That's just how it is some weeks.

Today I am packing, for we head to the beach tomorrow :) Hooray!

And maybe I will finally make a concerted effort to figure out Live Writer. Maybe.

Direct from Clutter-ville

2010-08-23T13:19:00.000-04:00

Let's talk about my closets....there are six in this house and at the moment, I feel like they are about to explode.

clutter to the right
perhaps I have a third child living in there?

It's not that they are too full (although, they do contain a ridiculous amount of randomness). It's that they are so unorganized. It drives me nuts. So I've decided to make closet organization a priority for the next few weeks.

Hooray!

Actually, the timing is perfect because in about a month my service organization is having a garage sale fundraiser. So I can clean out the clutter, and instead of just dropping everything at the GW I'll send it to the garage sale. Two birds, I'm all about it :)

I had a little time yesterday (double nap!!), so I tackled the hall closet.

clutter way up high

wasted space below

I decided the easiest way to do it was old-school, Clean Sweep style (I loved that show!). So I labeled three areas in my hallway "Garage Sale," "Keep," and "Craig's List" (CL was for the few items that weren't GS worthy, but still not garbage), and I had a small bag for any trash I might find.

yep, that was all mashed in my closet. yikes.

The only trash I came across was an ancient package of plastic knives which had spilled all over the floor. Knowing that I wasn't storing actual garbage made me feel much less like a hoarder :)

About an hour later I had a clean and shiny hall closet!

holy cow! there was a kid in my closet! ;)

breathing room

organized, and there is nothing on the floor!

What are your current organizing goals?

i bet....

2010-08-23T13:13:00.002-04:00

Bet you wish you looked this awesome today.

Happy Monday!

Today's Mommy Must Haves

2010-08-10T10:54:00.000-04:00

I woke up at 3:00 to nurse* Bun this morning, he went right back to sleep but I just couldn't.

So today I am relying on some of my favorite things to keep me going.

Headbands - so I don't have to "do" my hair

Giant Coffee - it's called caffeine, it is my friend

Hotsling - currently my favorite sling for Bun, it allows me to get work done (or blog), and play with Peanut all while cuddling the bebe :)

I'm rocking this sling today, and wishing I was as cute as this model!

Crock pot - I was up at 3 AM, I can only assume I'll be completely useless by dinner time. Enter crock pot, pot roast and veggies. Hello healthy dinner!

Happy day everyone!

*speaking of nursing, Ameda is giving away a nursery makeover, check it out.

of course I don't work for any of these companies, but you knew that ;)

Ready for the Weekend!

2010-08-06T16:42:00.000-04:00

I've got almost everything ready for a baby shower I am throwing on Sunday.

I'm not quite sure how I'll fit everything in the Jeep...

And, just like I wanted, Hemnes has a new home in the master bedroom.

I'm really happy with the way the grey and blue play together :)

Now, if I could just find the time to organize my clothing...

Have a great weekend!

a friday memory

2010-08-06T11:33:00.002-04:00

Around here, Friday is trash day.

Which means every Friday morning I make a sweep through the house and find all of the trash that J forgot to put at the curb (he generally misses the bin in the kids bath, office and - most unfortunate - the diaper pail).

But it also means that I put on my super-duper-listening-ears.

Because I have a little boy who loves to watch the trash man take our garbage :)
And, even though he is inherently a bit creepy, we must have a pretty good trash man. When he sees JJ's little face smashed up against the living room window he makes sure to do "the big dump" and empty the collection bin into the truck.

And then JJ claps.

<3

toddler logic

2010-08-06T11:20:00.003-04:00

JJ gets food all over his hands, then wipes them on his shirt.

JJ gets boogers all over his hands, then sticks them in his mouth.

EXCUSE ME??!!

Oh well, at least he's cute :)

Regaining Control

2010-08-05T14:03:00.000-04:00

Today I feel completely out-of-control.

There's just SO MUCH to do.

*children are still both in pajamas
*the house feels about one-step away from a CPS nightmare
*I feel completely unprepared for a baby shower I am throwing on Sunday
*I have yet to cook a decent meal for anyone this week (we had frozen pizza for lunch yesterday, and SPAGHETTIO'S today (that's how desperate I was))
*the baby is 10 weeks old and I still haven't mailed out his birth announcements
*and so much more....

So I decided to start at the beginning and gain control of ONE little thing.

I cleaned out my purse. And I consumed a healthy dose of caffeine. And the Heavens parted and the Angels sang :)

Now that I feel better, I am ready to get some things done!

Happy Thursday! I hope it's productive!

PS - super article from Simon Doonan - enjoy!

Clampett-Mobile

2010-08-03T18:53:00.000-04:00

First - A huge thank you is in order for all of the sweet comments on my last post :) I wanted to write back to each of you, but the children have been needy - and I need my sleep - but I really appreciate all of your positive and loving comments!

We took a little trip to IKEA on Sat...

And by the time we left, our Jeep pretty much looked like this:

source

with a few diaper boxes (there was a great sale at BRU!), a stroller, and two car seats for good measure.

Hubs has been honing his Allen-wrench skills - I should have pics to share soon (need to remember to charge the camera).

I hope you all had an equally exciting weekend!

I'm a Work in Progress

2010-07-28T21:08:00.000-04:00

It's Progress Party time at Serenity Now!

I wish I could show you some major before and after photos of my home. But I can't, because not much has changed around here. Today I did order some art to hang over the piano, though...so that's a little progress.

The biggest project at the moment is me. I'm not changing dramatically, but I'm trying to make sure I don't lose myself in all the wonderful-ness of motherhood. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. You see, back in 2008, after Peanut was born I was not very happy.

I was ecstatic that I was a mother (Peanut's arrival answered many years worth of prayers), but I felt lost and lonely. Looking back I'm sure I had at least a touch of PPD, and it was very easy to forget about myself (which made everything worse). Now that I have two boys I don;t have time to be sad; so while taking care of them is my number one priority, I am working on taking care of me, too.

The first thing I did was promise myself that if I felt sad to tell my OB - and to do it right away (thankfully I have been so HAPPY!). I realize PPD doesn't necessarily surface in the first few weeks after baby is born, so I'll continue to monitor my feelings.

Then I had my hair cut :) It had gotten ridiculously long, and the ends were super-straggly.

pay no attention to my double chin

There was a silver lining to the long-hair-due-to-neglect -- I had enough length taken off (and the ends weren't really very bad) that my hair was donated to Locks of Love. So I felt pretty good about that (although, after doing some research, if I donate again, it won't be to LoL). I feel much sassier now.

omg - I got bangs!

Last night (wait for it) I went to the gym. I have a secret plan (which I guess is now public) to run a 5K in the fall with Hubs. I'll be pushing the double jogging stroller, so we'll see how long I can actually run for, but it's a goal :) I plan on starting the Couch to 5K plan within the next two weeks.

The next part is going to take a real leap for me, I'm seriously thinking about going back to school in January. That would mean putting the kids in day care, and taking out a student loan, and probably cutting back on some of my volunteering. But I know the longer I put it off, the harder it will be to go back. I'm not sure if I'm going to finish the STC degree I started at Tech, or if I will switch to Interior Design (that's what I really want to do) - either way it's going to be slow going. Not to mention I will be a "non-traditional student." Ugh. But I need to earn a degree.

The last bit is far less important and way more fun. I'm updating our master bedroom!

This is how it looks today (the bassinet will be gone within a few weeks, but it's a pain to move):

Right now I'm thinking - new dresser for me (the one pictured is Hubs, he found it at a farm auction and I love it!). Possibly this one from IKEA, I love it in grey. Maybe a stencil (similar to this) on the wall behind the bed. New bedside lamps. Finally do something about that awful bedskirt (a remnant from bedding which was replaced 2 years ago). And a new sitting area in front of the window - I would love two rattan chairs, but would really need to luck out and find them at the thrift store or on CL.

So that's my "progress," my totally selfish, all about me progress :)

A Good Weekend

2010-07-26T14:53:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend!

We were able to relax and play with the boys, and I was able to finish a few small projects. Hooray!

Also, I realized that since Bun is 8 weeks old, it had been 8 weeks since we'd had freshly baked cookies in the house. Tragic, isn't it?

So I decided to make a quick batch of bar cookies. I used a recipe handed down to me from my French Aunt, Nestle Toll House ;) (remember that episode of Friends?)

But the butter was frozen, so I set it outside in the heat to thaw faster.

butter, noms.

And pretty soon we had cookies!

that's a large cookie

It was a good weekend!

still alive

2010-07-22T14:33:00.007-04:00

just super busy (at least I am)

keeping up with the boys (all three of them!) is quite the job

but I love it :)

On the Subject of Books

2010-07-14T15:53:00.000-04:00

My friend Amanda is hosting one of her fabulous "Dishing it!" parties today - and I'm excited to participate. :)

Summer reading has always been a passion of mine. Growing up we had an awesome library, with a really great summer reading program. I think that's why I always think of books when I think of summer. In the past few years the books have turned into magazines (unfortunately, maybe one of these days I'll have enough time to get involved in a book - I've always wanted to read War and Peace), but when I was younger it was always books, books, books.

I love a good book series, getting involved in the characters and lost in a fictional place; perfect for daydreaming about while relaxing at the beach or in the backyard. The first series I fell in love with was Beatrix Potter's amazing children's books; I think my favorite parts were how teeny tiny the books were, and the dreaminess of the watercolor illustrations. Many more series
followed, and some have become some of my favorite books to re-read as an adult.

Of course, I also love books that aren't associated with a series so I've added some of those, too :)

My Top Five Summer Re-reads

1. The Little House Series - I find something new every time I read these books. As an adult I am especially aware of the way Laura writes about food. I'm pretty sure that as a child, her stomach was never full.

2. The Anne of Green Gables Series -Another classic. And the number one reason I want to visit Prince Edward Island.

3. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers - The real story behind The Sound of Music, written by Maria. I love this book, it's not the movie, but I think it's great. Plus my copy came from my Grandma, and she taped an envelope in the front with a newspaper clipping from the 60's (which is just SO Grandma) - I'm happy just to hold it :)

4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - I have vivid memories of devouring this book at a cottage in Northern Michigan one summer. If you somehow missed this book as a child, you must read it. Francie's story is wonderful and will stick with you forever.

5. The Dollmaker - This one is not light reading, it can be very depressing - I'm not sure a book has ever made me cry harder than this one did. But it's an excellent book, detailing the life of an Appalachian woman who moves to Detroit with her family during WWII. I'm not sure I would take this book to the beach, but it would fit right in during a summer thunderstorm.

Leftover Magic

2010-07-13T16:41:00.000-04:00

We've been eating a lot of leftovers around here.

Like, a WHOLE lot.

And then I realized that I can turn leftovers into quesadillas. Hooray! Dinner has been rescued, by these magical wraps (13 g of fiber in each one!).

we've been eating the "traditional" variety - not tomato basil

I just heat up a pan, throw in the tortilla, some cheese and leftovers, and dinner is ready!

Lately we've been munching on:
mozzarella cheese and Italian shredded beef
hummus, feta and cucumbers (vegetarian)
banana slices and chocolate chips (desert!)

And here's the funniest part - hubs is the one who purchased these tortillas. I sent him to the store to buy some tortillas for our Fourth of July Mexican Fiesta. He came back with these and I was a little skeptical, they weren't what I had asked for. But I was so happily surprised! And they taste ten thousand times better than most whole wheat tortillas.

**This is the part where I promise that no one paid me to write this, or review this product. I just wanted to save all of you from super-boring leftovers.**

What's your favorite way to eat leftovers?

My Favorite Project

2010-07-09T16:34:00.000-04:00

I'm slowly getting more accomplished around here. Sometimes it's hard to find the balance, to let it be alright when you can't finish a single project and you have to have your husband bring home a $5 pizza for dinner ($5 pizzas are my favorite, it's my inner Detroiter coming out).

So while I don't have the time to document every project, I thought that maybe I can stick with sharing my favorite project from the week every Friday.

Baby steps. I'm all about baby steps right now.

So here's my favorite finished project from this week:

A Spaceship for Buzz

This morning I ran around for far too long searching for Buzz Lightyear. I decided that if he had a spaceship to sleep in every night he would be a *little* bit easier to find.

Peanut was pretty excited to do a craft project.

Materials:
1 Wheat Thins box (rescued from the recycling bin)
white scrap paper
clear packing tape
scissors
markers

markers are magical

I sat my little crafter down with some markers and the scrap paper, he turned the paper into masterpieces in no time. While he colored I reassembled the box and cut out a window.

I saved the window scraps to make "wings."

Then I used a liberal amount of packing tape to wrap the box with the paper, cutting around the window and taping down all of the paper seams. After that I wrapped and taped the wings, and then attached them to the sides of the rocket. (in all fairness this whole process took a long time, we had a few tantrums, someone needed to be nursed, and diapers were changed - but I finished it!)

Buzz loves his "Rocket Space"

opinionated

2010-07-09T16:31:00.003-04:00

This morning I was watching the Today Show and JJ was playing (Max was doing what he does best - nursing!), then Lady Gaga began to perform.

JJ immediately says "I no yike dis song. Is garbage."

Future music critic?

little helper

2010-06-24T15:20:00.004-04:00

JJ loves Max.

He loves to hold him, and read to him, bring him trucks and "Super Guys." He always knows where Max's binky is hiding and when he fusses JJ will tell him "It OK, I right here!"

Today he helped with bath time.

splashing in the tub

The floor was wet, JJ was wet, I was wet and Max was clean.

We were all happy :)

suburban gnomes

randomness from me

eating ice cream in the winter

a pinterest menu

stress and clutter

my silly boys

why you should always make your bed

a week of outfits!

cute hair, yucky outfits

tradition

tra·di·tion [truh-dish-uhn] noun

weekend makeovers

my winter mantle

a plan of attack and a menu - shazzam!

Merry Christmas!

a to-do list

oh, sunday

time for catholic crafts!

what should i wear?

stuff that doesn't work, getting settled day 11

new couches, getting settled day 10

grace

getting a move on! in my makeshift craft room, getting settled day 9

yada, yada, yada...stuff and a sort of recipe

halloween recap

changing seasons

my new favorite chocolate frosting

a space for ME, getting settled, day 8

little bits

fall color tour, getting settled, day 7

missoni: mission accomplished

a giant roman shade - getting settled, day 6

thrifty stuffs

best day EVER!

cheater dinner!

random bits

i made a wreath!

ten years

eight glorious years

do you have days like this?

what i wore

thanks!

a reasonably clean entry...getting settled, day 5

simple sunday

completely void of nutrients...what we ate at the state fair

tidbits and a ridiculously easy and delicious salad

a few milestones

hitting the (kitchen) wall...getting settled, day 4

a real mall!...getting settled, day 3

a new couch...getting settled, day 2

half bath love...getting settled, day 1

introducing...

heading back to target

hanging out in troy

god breeze

big time crime

things i will miss

eight days

do you remember....

conversations with jj

moving updates

docket fruit

wedding outfits

Staging the Great Room

big news!

need a diversion?

fun new toy!

these sippy cups are killing me

a little sunshine

the current state of my mantle

m

the problem with bowling

there's a hole in the ceiling

friday randomness

at my house

Sunday Confessional

I Lied

Yada Yada Yada

big news!

i figure it's about time for a new post