Marshmallow Bits and Peppermint Hot Chocolate

It's snowing today.  When it snows, it means it's time for hot chocolate.  The kids and I found these Mallow Bits this week and we are in heaven!  Little mini marshmallows just like the ones in the hot cocoa packets but even better because you can put as many as you want in your delicious peppermint hot chocolate.  We bought vanilla Mallow Bits but there are also peppermint Mallow Bits.  Why didn't I just get both?

Hot cocoa + Christmas tree lights + snow = cozy.  

It's these little things that I am really enjoying this Holiday season.  

Pretty Tiny Initials

I found these tiny initial rings on Etsy and fell in love with them.  I would love to have a stack of them with my childrens' initials. 

I think it would be the something personal without being as obvious as an initial necklace or the dreaded vinyl family decals you put on your van.  You know, these stickers.  (Sorry if that's your cup of tea.)

Windy

So, after (nearly) 30 days of blogging, I suddenly quit?  Not by choice.  The last two days feels like it's been two weeks.  Our city was hit by a very strong east wind Thursday, knocking over trees, siding, roofs, fences and power.  It was crazy!  We've been very fortunate as there does not appear to be any damage to our house.  Just a lot of debris and branches.  Our neighbors did not fair so well.  Many huge pine trees just could not withstand the 90-105 mph winds.  This was the common site just in our neighborhood.

downed fences and ripped off shingles are everywhere

huge tree in the park - the roots were at least six feet tall

trees lining main street

This tree was huge!  Taller on its side the both of the house.  Looks like a blessing landing right in the middle but unfortunately, it bounced off both houses before coming to its resting place.

Crazy right?  It's not common weather for our city  We are grateful that we fared well as far as damage goes, but we were without power for almost two days.  It was coldy, coldy, coldy in our house.  We opted to spend the night at home that night, sleeping together in one room like a little ol' pioneer family.  It was quite cozy actually.  I was surprised at how well the kids slept and how early they went to bed.  I think that we might need a "power outage" every night!  Ha! A mom can dream.  

Now, we are back with power (can I get a hallelujah?) and feeling like we are far behind when really, we are just starting the holiday season.  I've got my tree all decorated and Christmas banners are in full production.  I   didn't put out any holiday decor other then the tree.  This year, I just feel like making something new.  Something holiday inspired instead of holiday obvious.  Does that make any sense?  

Hope all is good in your neck of the woods and you are all cozy, warm and toasty! 

Outerwear

I'm kind of diggin' this ladylike coat from Anthropologie.

My mother had a red coat in a shape similar to this.   She's had it for years and last year, she ruined it sitting too close the fire.  Sad, sad day since it still looked amazing.

Such a pretty color and shape!  Every lady should have a pretty coat in her wardrobe.

Bijou Red

Still love my bright red front door. 
Still get compliments on my bright front door. 
Still love how cheery it is and how it goes just great with the red brick. 
This cute gal just painted her front door Bijou Red too.
I'm in love with her pretty, new front door.
Me thinks it would look smashing on my house too.
Me also thinks that it's about time I figure out how to add some thick white moulding around the door.
And to touch up the paint.
But still, it's a happy place to enter.

Good Friends!

I'm thankful for the wonderful friends in my life.  For me, it's the little things that perk me up.  A little while back, we were suprised with yummy cupcakes from our friend Jodi.  Complete with personalized little cards from their little friends. 

Don't you love her little handwriting and hand cut card? 

Later, the doorbell rung again and I was presented with a beautiful bouqet!  A big bouqet of sponge brushes!  My cute neighbor Kem had found them on sale and bought me a bunch for my classes.

Thank you friends for your love!  I'm lucky to have you in my life.  We really think you are top notch!

**FYI!** Michael's currently has these foam paint brushes on sale for 14/$1.  Stock up for your summer projects!  If you are like me, you'll have a bunch and it's a real conversation starter with the folks in line.  :)

Mini Albums and the new paper line Country Drive

My daughter got baptized this past weekend. I was so proud of her cute little self! To remember the event, , I bought one of my talented friend Tiffani's mini-albums that she designed. It turned out so sweet and got many, many compliments! I especially enjoyed how easy her kit was and really enjoyed myself not having to come up with a mini album myself!

Simple crafting = happy me!

 

 

 

Of course, the beautiful pictures that my talented photographer friend Stephanie took of her did make the book I think!  I'm so blessed by wonderful people in my life! 

And, on another note, I'm super excited to tell you that Tiff just released her new paper line Country Drive through Echo Park.  I got to see her working on this line and I've always been impressed how easily her artistic abilities come to her.  I'm enjoying the bright and fresh colors and Tiff's signature clean lines.  I can't wait to get some of this paper for myself! 

Dream of our Old Home

Last night, I dreamt that we re-bought our old house.  It was kindof a strange dream.  I think it was brought on because I found this picture I took of my littles sitting on the doorstep yesterday. 

Oh how I love this little picture.  That was his version of smiling that month.  Cowboy boots with shorts, check!  She was just as sassy at one as she is today. 

Anyway....I dreamt that we bought the house and then I did everything that I wanted to do to it when I lived there but didn't.  I didn't do it because we weren't going to stay in that little house for more then 3 years.  And I worried that it wouldn't be as appealing to the masses if I did what I wanted.  I realize now that I was crazy to think that because really, it maybe would of sold faster if it wasn't so plain.

First, I would of added more bushes and plants to the front garden with a rock path from the driveway to the front door.  I would of painted that front door a bright yellow or red.  I would of made it look more like the little cottage that it was at just under 900 sq feet. ( It was something like 15 big steps from the front door to the back door and the most efficient use of space with not one nook or cranny wasted.   I could clean the house from top to bottom, front to back in just 2 1/2 hours!)

In my dreams, I enjoyed the freshly painted kitchen cupboards with the brushed silver pull handles (that I did buy but never installed) instead of worrying that the next owner would think that they weren't new cabinets.  I enjoyed the wood laminate floors that I wanted.  Much easier to clean then the big expanse of light vinyl that showed everything.

The front room would of gotten some color and hung something above the sofa.  And dark red and dark green?  I've never really liked those colors, but, I thought that was what you were supposed to do.

Those were just a few of things that I wished I'd done.  Silly dream?  Sure.  But looking back, those were little things, most not too expensive, that I could of done to make my house more our home.  It was a long process selling that house.  I see now that if I had done more of these things, my house may have been more appealing.  Hopefully, I've learned something from that experience.  Hopefully, I've learned to love and make my house now, my home.

Faux Mirrored Side Tables

On Tuesday, the last day of a particularly long school break for the kids, we made the trip to my favorite hairdressin' niece for a much needed hair cut.  I love going to see Kaylin because not only am I obsessed with her hairdressing skillz, but love to talk about her house with her.  You see, she has bought her first house and is in the process of decorating it.   You should see her kids rooms.  Oy!  Adorable! 

Anyway, we were talking about her bedroom and going over the look that she wanted in there.  She bought a bedroom set years ago from Pier 1 for steal, but has since tired of the yellow color of the wood.  That and the fact that her son drew treasure maps on the armoire and side table with magic marker.   She's been toying with ideas about refinishing the furniture when she mentioned that she would love to have mirrored side tables but didn't want the fuss.  That reminded me of this post from Jenny of Little Green Notebook.  I love just about everything that she does and thought that this silver leaf dresser was a great idea.



via LGN



So pretty right? 



Not only that, Jenny recently used the same technique to mirror the glass on this cabinet.  I can't wait to see the finished results. 



via LGN



It's got me thinking, thinking and thinking some more about how much I like it.  How would I use it in my home? Side table, dresser, mirror, lamp, linen cabinet, bathroom cabinet??  How would  you use it in yours?

So thank you darling Kaylin for making my locks lovely and taking away my grumpiness and giving the kids a big unfinished basement to run amuck in. 



Black Nail Polish...Goth or Posh?

via google images

Yes, these are the things that I'm pondering today. (Obviously, my motivation is long gone.)  Today, instead of doing mounds of laundry or cleaning something (anything!),  I'm painting my nails glossy black.  Which brings me back to my question.  Is black nail polish goth or posh?  I think it goes either way.  Goth, yes.  Posh, yes.  I think it looks best on a nice, clean shorter nail.  Either way, I'm going to enjoy my new look for the next two days because eventually, I'm going to have to clean something and no amount of top coat can help my manicure stay fresh.