It's so close I can taste it!

Vacations. 

I live for them.  When you live in a craptastic climate, you kinda have to in order to survive. Unless you like said climate, natch.

Just looking back at some fantastic vacation memories we've been fortunate enough to make.  I wish I had more digital photos, but alas, BC (before child), it was all film. And those are tucked away.  And older digi images, like Cabo, NOLA, AZ, CO, Napa, & Disney with the baby in my belly, aren't even on here. I was fortunate enough to have many of these on Shutterfly.

Young and in love. 

{Twas our honeymoon in Ixtapa. And I was sporting some high waisted shorts and a really nice rack. These back in fashion? The high waist. Not the rack.}

Magical Moments.

 

 

{and that, my friends, was our first family vacation. Disney World. 1 week. 3 kids, aged 2 and under. The girls got a raging bout of stomach flu. But it was great}

Visiting Family.

{taken at a RR museum in Sacramento}

5 Years of Wedded Bliss

{The Bahamas. Ahhh. Look at that blue water. Just gorgeous.}

An Oasis.

 

{the spectacular view of Lake Travis in Austin, TX. we almost moved there. i still pine. sigh.}

Blackjack Queen

 

{Vegas in August. Love it. Hoover Dam was a bit stifling.}

Whirlwind New England Tour

 

{we flew into Boston and spent some time there. my kids big red puffy heart the subway}

 

{and drove to gorgeous Maine, where we spent a good chunk of down time} 

Getaway! 

(aka, you promised me we'd vacation every year since we didn't move to Austin)

 

{Puerto Vallerta}

[cue music] Holiday Row-o-o-o-o-o-o-oad[/music] First Family Major Road Trip

{swamp tour}

{Lake Pontchartrain}

{Jackson Square}

I failed to post photos of Memphis (en route to NOLA) and St. Louis (en route home), but they were wonderful.

 

And this is where it all started. Right here is where he proposed to me. I can't wait to hop a plane and go to Costa Rica with him and celebrate 10 years of being married and just enjoying each other. And relaxing. And warmth. Oh the warmth.

Of course, I will miss those kids, but when we get back, we can plan the next family vaca!

I am feeling... ack. My age.

Been surfing blogland today. And I feel (watch out! here it comes!) ... my age. Old.
I always felt like in my mind's eye, I was still 25ish. But I see these 20ish bloggers in all their cuteness, and they are wearing stuff I wore as a teen/young adult. Denim shirts? Check. Jeans rolled? Check. Pleated, tapered pants? Check. Mid-rise jeans? Check. Braided belts? Check. And they [mostly] look cute. But I cannot. I was there. I did that. I am embracing leggings. What more do I need to do?! Ahhhhh!

Let it be known that these? These I cannot embrace. I can wear the skinniest jeans on earth that can look like a legging, but I cannot bring myself to buy these elastic waist things that, hanging up, look like blue jeans my grandma wore (elastic waist? fo reals?).  Who the heck named them, "jeggings" anyway.

image from here

Master Bedroom...Whaddya Think?

A few days ago, I posted about our bedroom woes.  Yet no one chimed in. C'mon people...wassup wit dat? I need help. Fo reals!
I got to losing myself in looking at websites and discovered that I did, indeed, really like this comforter from Target. Because as I said, I am so over the whole duvet thing. Done. Finito.

My walls are blue. And according to the reviews on Target's site, this is more mustard-y in person. So we'd fo sho have to paint the walls. And we're ok with that.
Right now (as in, today), this is a 360 of our seriously lacking, cracker box of a MBR. With little pieces of love taped up on the walls/mirror, courtesy of 3 little people:

 

 {standing in the doorway, looking at my sloppily made bed with the Duvet From Hell. And evidence that a small person slept in my bed last night. And those closet doors. Man how I despise those doors. Off with the doors!!!!}

 

 {Standing in front of the chest of drawers at the foot of the bed.  Next to the nightstand, jammed in the corner is my tall jewelry/flower/scarf chest}

 {Standing in the closet, looking over the bed at the bureau and mirror}

 

{looking down from the head of the bed towards the chest of drawers. doorway to the left}

{oh look! the fabric for the dining room chairs that I bought a year ago! pretend you never saw that, mnkay? I love that chair. I would love to reupholster it. I wish I had the proper place for it. I think it would be wonderful at my desk if I had a more girly desk}

So my idea is this... since I can't get rid of the furniture right now, what about painting it?? I thought about black after seeing this

image from here

Thoughts? Opinions? Rearrangements? HELP!!!

Thanks!

xo

Reason No. 6,357,231 to move

 

Where are the steps? And the walkway?

I miss green. Bad. So sick of colorless.

I want warmth. I want color.  If it were warm out, I would be outside, active, doing something. Anything. Instead, I am inside. Huddled up. In a 15 year old sweatshirt and yoga pants and slippers, not motivated to do a darn thing because I am cold. I hate winter. I hate feeling 'blah'.

I want to move!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things I Love...

1.  My family

2.  bold, dark coffee with cream and sugar

3.  a good red wine that speaks to you

4.  vacations...especially warm ones

5.  sleeping in

6.  pumpkin & popcorn

7.  my friends

8.  taking photos

9.  crafting

10.  yoga

So what's your Top Ten? 

Linking up to  

Sweet tweet

Last night, I made a cute and easy birdie applique to match the pants I blogged about here. Of course, it couldn't be easy peasy, right? Nope. My machine wigged out on me and I took it apart and then? Then I wigged out because I couldn't get it back together. I called it a night and figured I'd take it in in the morning and get a tune up while I was at it.  This morning, I had a renewed faith. I remembered that my fearless friend Sheila fixed her dryer recently. If she could do that? Then hells yeah...imma do this! And after some trial and error (and having to rip out all the stitches after having the tension wrong), I did it.
Birdie accomplished.
And yes - she's meant to look messy like this :)

I am working on some scrap, trying to get the satin stitch down pat (that's what its called, if I am remembering). Then I want a new machine, baby.

{tweet tweet}

Boden also has some super cute appliqued stuff that I am going to attempt to replicate for my girlie for this summer. Like these:

Now I need a silhouette so I can make my boys some rockin' shirts!!!

Git R' Dun!

Today is so bloody cold out and, if subzero temps are not bad enough (-10 anyone?), I have pinkeye. Fabulous.  So what better way to spend the day than staying in the house, sewing?? Yeah, I thought so too. 

I got a few things done...

A cute tie shirt for St. Paddy's Day for my Snoopy lovin' Elliott

A shamrock shirt made from St. Paddy's Hello Kitty fabric for my cat obsessed Norah

And another kitty fabric for the same sweet girl, but for Valentines Day. I also managed to get some more life out of a pair of jeans that she recently wore a hole in.

The other night while the boys were at their Pack meeting, I made this little thing w/ some scrap paper, my Cricut (the Storybook cartridge), and some $1 frames from Mike's...

...while Miss N worked on this canvas to hang over the hole on the wall where I am impatiently waiting for my TV to go (wasn't it supposed to be there in, oh, October?)

Fly Like An Eagle....

In a few short hours, my first born baby will board a plane for California.  Its not his first flight. Not even his first flight to CA. But this is his first flight without mama. And his first time flying alone.  He'll be flying out with daddy, but then dad has to stay to work and my little guy will come on back.
He's uber excited to see his cousins. He's bursting at the seams.  He adores them and normally only sees them but once a year.
And I thought I was totally cool with this. But when I think about my baby on a plane, with no one but the flight attendants, and then in an airport that is foreign to him (granted, he'll be accompanied by a FA, since we had to pay and its required), but dang. What if the layover turns into a delay (yes, I did buy him a pre-paid cell phone)? What if there's a bunch of turbulance and he is worried? What if he just wants to talk someone's ear off? Because that's what he's good at. Boy was born to talk.
Deep breath.
They certainly do have good timing. Its going to be below 0 tomorrow. Perhaps I'll stow away in his luggage.

Beaming with mama pride

Once in awhile, its nice to get a sign that we really are doing *something* right. That we're not totally screwing them up, right?

 two sweet letters from Aidan that he typed up and printed recently

 

Norah's letter to Aidan that she tucked into his backpack after he went to bed tonight

A letter we received from Norah's teacher today

(i feel bad not representing E, because he's equally awesome. i just didn't have anything photographed)

Bedroom Woes.

I hate my bedroom.
Part of the issue is that we moved here from a home where we had a hulking master bedroom and our furniture (and more) fit just fine in it.  And now? We have this teeny tiny little box of a room. Not much of an oasis.  And I'd be ok with it, except that I do think it important that my bedroom be somewhat of a sanctuary. I need that to sleep. Otherwise I go through bouts of insomnia. And I am not a nice mom or wife (heck, I am not a nice human) when I am operating on 3 hrs sleep and a marathon of Intervention.

We have a 4-ish bedroom home. 2 up, 2 down. We're down, as is the 'den' (formerly the playroom).  The den does not have a door and the doorway was widened, so its not an option.
When we first moved in, we resided upstairs. The thought being that there was no way I could nurse twins (let alone the crying and the sleep apnea monitor) and get up at night after a c-section and do the steps.  Problem was, that left one child needing to be downstairs, alone. No bueno. I did not feel good about that. Nor will I feel good about that when they are teens :)  Also? Our honkin' furniture wouldn't fit up our 1920's curved staircase w/ the low ceiling. Good times.  We could get rid of it, sure. But we do have a new mattress that cost an arm & a leg and there's no split box spring. And the kids. So its not an option.
So we're stuck in our box. And I need to make it an oasis.  I tried with the blue paint. It screamed relaxing to me. But the bedding? I hate. It attracts dog and cat hair like mad.  And I am so over the duvet. I announced to C that last night, when I restuffed the duvet after washing it, that it was the final time. I am so done with that horse and pony routine.
So here's what I've got....

The bedroom is arrange differently than what it is in this photo. Bed is under the window, facing out. Dresser on wall where headboard was in this photo. Highboy still where it is in this photo.

The furniture is that mission style stuff.
Closet doors are a MUST GO. Hate the louvers. Hate them. Need some nice panel ones to match the other ones in the house.
Blue? Not attached. Willing to paint.
Bedding? Any color is an option.
I have one night stand.  I'd like 2. Or a table. And I need some cute lamps to flank the bed.

HELP ME DECORATE. Thriftily.  Ideas?????? I do like some of the Dwell Studio stuff Target has right now. Any comments on the quality?

Bound. And determined.

I need a silhouette. I want one. I must have one. But I think that if a charge showed up for one, even a discounted one, there'd be an angry Scotsman in da howse.  I could save my pennies, of course. But that's a lot of penny saving. And I am not good at that.
So when an opportunity arises to win one of these suckers, I jump.

Traci at Beneath My Heart is teaming up with Silhouette to give one of these babies away.  And imma win one. Maybe not now. But someday. Imma.  Check it. And the amazing shiz you can do.

Ten On Tuesday

Tell me 10 things about you and I will tell you 10 about me that perhaps are not apparent at first glance...

1.  I am very easily oh look...a squirrel! distracted.  Very. Its absolutely awful. And I procrastinate. Its not a pretty combo.

2.  I have dreams of long, lush hair that's got that beachy look to it. Instead, everyday, I loathe and curse my stick straight, baby fine, limp, thin hair.

3.  I have no willpower when it comes to eating food that I really, really love. Like brie and bread. Or kettle chips. Or movie theater popcorn. I think it stems from a decade of controlling every morsel that did or did not go into my body.  When I finally let go, I was never able to reign it back in.  I do find it amazing that I made it out of that decade without any lasting health issues.

4.  I dabble in many things, some of which I am good at, but am truly great at nothing.

5.  I am a sucker for a good rock & roll song...70's, 80's, 90's or current.  Anyone else?

6.  I am very grateful for my parents, who help us with our kids so we can do things without them, including go on vacations every few years. I am also very grateful for a group of supportive friends who like me for the freak I am.

7.  My biggest fear is death.

8.  I hate putting away the laundry.

9.  I had really awful PPD that I pretty much denied (to myself) that I had for months. I mean, I'd be crazy to be unhappy. My babies were miraculously healthy and thriving, my husband made it able for me to SAH, I had smart, beautiful toddler.  It lasted a long time.

10.  I am passionate about gay rights and the research that the March of Dimes does. If it were not for the MoD, my turbo two would not be here.
What causes are you most passionate about??

White Fluffy Stuff

Today I took the kids sledding. Can you believe that this was the first time I've ever taken the kids sledding alone (as in, this wasn't a family affair? Which I've only done once?) Yeah. I suck. One could say I am not a fan of winter.  I like sledding. Its fun. I like it when the kids have fun. I like skiing and tubing, too.  But being cold I do not enjoy. At all. It makes me cranky and miserable.  And yes, I've lived in this state my entire life. And no, I've never gotten used to the cold. And I don't look cute in a hat, either.

 the boys, trying to smile while getting pelted by snow

 Elliott, as he flew by me

Norah, mad that she missed the "jump" (to the left of the photo) because her aim was off.

Word of the Year

Heather at Pass The Cereal talked about being inspired by Ali Edwards to chose and live by a word of the year in 2010, and again, in 2011.

Its taken a lot of thought as to whether or not I'd feel too much pressure if I chose a word. If I'd feel like a failure if I chose a word and didn't live up to it. And what word to choose to live by. But I did it. I found my word for 2011.

I have projects I want to accomplish.
There are goals regarding my personal being I want to accomplish.
As a mama and a wife, there are things I'd like to accomplish.




What's your word for 2011?

Freebie!

My friend, Robyn (who, if you are local, is a really awesome photographer. She's passionate about her work and loves kids and is fun), posted this freebie on her blog. Works with PS and PSE. I am thinking the bookmarks will be awesome for classmates for valentines (we'll do a generic photo of something fun...not my children) and the others for grandparents.

Who Rules Your Roost?

I regularily read this blog. I have great respect for the blogger. So by no means is this a dig. But a comment I read today went something like this: "he is the head of our household."

And then a commenter wrote this: "...submit to our husbands and support the decisions they make for our family."
and another
"but [I] wanted to honor God by submitting to him."

Woah.
Now, maybe its because I don't subscribe to a single organized religion. Or maybe its just the way I was raised. Or maybe its just a personal preference. But I am just floored. Floored that marriage in this day and age is not a 2 way street. I work at home, so I don't bring in an income, per se. My husband is our breadwinner. But he certainly is not the head of our household. We make all major decisions...financial, child-rearing, life-concerning...together. I am just stumped. Is there something in the bible that says that you are not honoring God if you do not submit to your husband? Again, not a dis by any means. Just an honest thought process.

More Fun Appliques

Ahhh. The tie shirt. Cute. Fun. Don't attempt at 12:30 am. Look at this! Hot damn - its crooked! Once its appliqued on there, you're screwed, aren't you?? But that's not enough. I didn't notice that it was crooked until *after* I did the shoddiest job sewing it on. Wow. I am keeping it as a reminder of not to rush. Or sew at 12:30am.

At least the cute 'C' turned out ;)

Bathroom Facelift

Years ago, we redid the bathroom. When we bought this 1920's house, someone had already 'updated' the bathroom. Horribly, horribly updated it. There was this paneling on the wall. Only it wasn't a wood paneling. It was a metal, faux wood paneling.

It was glued the wall. And nailed. Fab. The tile that was under it wasn't ceramic tile, though. This photo does not do it justice. No... it was a peachy-colored metal tile.

I know y'all love that light fixture/medicine cabinet.

The husby tiled over the 'tile' and then we picked out a paint color to match the blue in the floor and I found a shower curtain from The Company Store to give the bathroom a pop of color.



Here in the city, if we really wanted to, we could talk to our neighbors through our houses. They're that close together. That's why I've always wanted curtains in the bathroom. In the summer, when the window is open and our neighbor is out in her driveway, I really don't like her being able to see me. Or vice versa. Since I was going to make curtains, I decided to change things up. It was time.

I found this fabulous organic cotton at a LFS, Drawstring Studio. Its Nancy Mims Free to Grow for Robert Kaufman. And I got it on sale on Cyber Monday!!


The grey rug on the floor matches the grey in the curtains. I went w/ a white shower curtain that will hopefully remain white and not covered with dirty handprints and toothpaste. And we did the walls in a really light grey that's in the same color family as the dark grey in the curtain & rug. I like the airy-feel of the room now!!!

Jumping outside my comfort zone

:: What I wore Wednesday ::

I never thought I'd be *that* kind of person. But I really enjoy [s]wasting[/s] spending my time looking at other people's WIWWs. It gives me ideas and inspires me to wear more than yoga pants and a fleece. Something that's especially needed when its freezing outside and you're living in an old, drafty house and you're not leaving the house all day, save for walking your kids to and home from school.
So I am doing it. Yikes. Putting myself out there. I even had to purchase a full-length mirror! Not that I didn't need one. I've had to rely on my husband's opinion when I can't decide on a shoe choice and well, that just isn't acceptable in my book.
I am hoping that by doing this, it'll inspire me further, help me with my photo taking abilities, and also link me up with more bloggers.

Here goes...

black shirt : Target
blue dress/tunic : local consignment boutique
skinny jeans : Kohls
black knee socks : Target
boots : Target
wooden beaded necklace : Walmart (gasp! those that know me, know my disdain)

I'll be linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for WIWW, so go check it out. Tons of fun ideas there!

What I've Made...

:: This and That ::

An advent calendar I've thought about for years, but never did. It was fun to make...don't know what was holding me back! I think when I took this photo, it wasn't adhered down or sprayed yet.

A ceramic flooring tile I mod-podged a photo of my beautiful nephew to, as a gift for my Aunt. Super duper easy and I now want to go tile crazy! We have a box of the white ones leftover and I want to cut out some cool designs on the Cricut and make some coasters.

Pillows for the chillins for the den. Nuthin' fussy, just simple and straightforward and cheap flannel.