Sunday, January 31, 2010

This day is special

You will see that I have been hanging out with a certain little bird today. Chris worked his second night this weekend of 7p-7a at the hospital last night but woke up early from his daytime sleep and joined us to play.

This is the happiness I have been hanging out with today!



Making a mess in the play room/my old dining room.


She is telling me something about something here!




Cheeks I love to smooch!



Little dry skin on the chin...nothing a litte vaseline or aveeno cannot help!


This is what she looked like after lunch, lounging in my lap:


I have also hung my wreath from last night's make and take at April's beautiful home with some crazy crafty ladies!
This is what my end product looked like and you can find the instructions here for this great idea!












I also hung a beautifully edited photo of mine and Chris' wedding kiss in the entryway. Millie Nelson was so kind to brilliantly photoshop the two officiants (both dearly loved but not so romantic) out of the photo and then had it printed for us. My mom had it matted and framed in one of our favorite shades of rust!














All in all a plain but special day. By the way, I am craving Zaxby's chicken! But I had vegetarian chili instead. I am craving skittles, too! Why skittles? I guess it's the yummy rainbow or the fact that they are truly bitesized happiness in a candy shell!

Hope your day is beautiful and special in it's simple ways.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Home Blessings




My attention lately has been focused on what I call "blessing my home." For so long I have looked at this tiny sweet house with a scowl. We still cannot really afford it, but God has provided thus far and if He continues to provide, which I believe He will, I might as well learn to love it. When I was 21, I bought this townhome as an investment....and here, 5 years later, I am finally seeing its potential. Little by little I am going to make this my cozy hole.


I have learned the art of daily tidying. From a quick sweep or vaccuum of the floors, to a deep down scrub- there is much to be said for doing some everyday as opposed to my wait until weekend cleaning spree that never gets finished.


Besides the daily tidy, I have also started performing simple blessings throughout the week. This could be something as simple as praying over different rooms, lighting a scented candle, or spritzing fresh linen with lavender spray (thank you Sam Hays!)


Other blessings-
Refreshing and fluffing lounging blankets


Rearranging decor and leaving little surprises (like the hope garland or burlap flower)




Cleaning off the refrigerator magnets (homemade tutorial to come later) and putting new photos of family or nice quotes up

Opening the windows and blinds and letting the house have some fresh O2

I find that these little nuances are refreshing in their simplicity. These days, simplicity is my motto- the place I strive to reach. I realize a simple life is not the absence of stress or responsibility, but the presence of peace and comfort in the midst of both.

A glimpse of the kitchen.



Here's wishing some simplicity for us all.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Maddy Wanna Cracker


Today Maddy played pirate wench. Cleaning out my closet, I found an old brown laundry basket from when I was a child. I brought it out to use for the cleaning process, but before I could, Maddy had hopped in.


Because this basket was once my personal pirate ship, I decided to let Maddy have a go at it. Pablo, our Backyardigans penguin, was her parrot, an old sash was her headband, and some of my pink beads were her pirate booty.


Oh, we do have a good time. She is ready for any adventure that comes her way. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with as she grows. Which, by the way, is happening too fast.

Yo Ho Ho sweet bird!