Lucky Number13

Dear Universe,

2012-02-01T10:12:00.005-06:00

My girl would be the best big sister ever.

She loves her little cousin so much and thinks she is

the greatest thing ever.

She is patient and sweet with her.

She sat and read her this book and turned the book to

show her every page.

I love this picture so much.

*******

And no, no hidden meaning here, no one is having a baby

but i'm just sayin', she would be good at it should someone care to send a
newborn baby our way : )

{Virtual Coffee}

2012-01-30T23:26:00.000-06:00

Good Morning.
I am up early and ready for the day, I mean not humming and smiling and walking
with a bounce in my step, but up. I am up.
I am attempting to get up earlier to walk before the kids are up.
Now, that is not easy when it is freezing and snowy but today it is not either of those.
The high today is supposed to be 60*. In January.
There is a chance of rain but 60* in January and I will take it.

So, if we were really meeting for coffee this morning I would have to ask if you realized
it was the last day of January. What?
The first month of the new year, gone.
What do you think about that?
I normally think January is such a long, dragging kind of month but because we have had
such unusually mild weather it has not seemed so awful this year.
I know the bad weather is still to come but January was kinda easy.

So yesterday two packages arrived.
Do you LOVE getting packages as much as I do?
I mean, I ordered these for myself and still it is exciting to me. ha.
So anyway, one of the things I got was my first Smash journal.
I am in love.
I am a journaler, a picture-taker and a doodler so this is perfect for me.

If you were at my house for coffee this morning, I would have to remind you to watch out
for the Calico Critters. They are everywhere. Everywhere.
In cars, in the General Store, playing hide-and-go seek and having a Square Dance.
These things have been the best investment ever, she plays with them every single day.
And the elephant family? My fave.

If we were really meeting for coffee this morning I would ask about your weekend.
How was it?
Saturday was a big day for us, it was the Pinewood Derby... all of you Boy Scout moms
know what I am talking about, right?
So this is Wyatt's first year in Boy Scouts so it was his first derby and wow,
it is really a big deal...I had no idea.
He was happy with how his car turned out and him and Eric had fun making it.
It was really cute to see him so excited for it and both sets of grandparents came as well as his
cousins, so he had his own little cheering section.

Since it has been so nice the last couple of days we walked two days in a row now...
without completely bundling up.
Yesterday we even busted out the scooters and played at the playground.
It is dreamy. And I love it when you get a completely random nice day and everyone is outside.
people walking, running, on bikes and motorcycles, at the playground, working outside...oh,
and don't forget about the people who busted out their convertibles.
And no, it was not that nice.

Check out girlfriend's outfit.
Pretty colorful, huh? Lots of pattern going on.
Her new thing is to wear long socks over her leggings and pull them all the way
up like that. Somehow I think it still looks pretty cute on her though. But I could be biased.
Just maybe.

Thanks so much for stopping by here today, I do love company on a Tuesday ya know.
Link up your post to join in.
Have a great day!

Snappy and Stuff

2012-01-28T20:48:00.000-06:00

Oh, I have been feeling so snappy the last couple of days.
Getting way too annoyed with anyone (everyone) and just a little too short on patience.
Way too short for my liking.
I can usually pretty much let it roll off for a while but then it gets to me, whatever it even is.
And then I get super annoyed with myself.
And know that I need to get over myself.

Last night I was supposed to do something which I was a little annoyed about anyway, it
being a Friday night and all, and somebody screwed up and delayed me and it didn't
end up working out so I had to go do it at 6:00 this morning instead.
I was so beyond irritated and couldn't let it go.
But, being up and out that early allowed me to see the sun coming up and the lake and the
birds and everything covered in a thin, sparkly coat of ice.
It was so pretty.
Freezing, literally, but pretty.

Have you ever wanted to blog about something but then can't quite find the right words to
use or what to say exactly once you sit down and try to type it?
It's dumb.
And I don't mean when you have nothing to say or have writers/bloggers block,
but instead when you do have something to say but don't know how to without sounding
weird and dumb and...crazy.
This might be sounding way too cryptic and I am not trying to at all, really, it's nothing
serious or bad or anything like that at all but just a bit of an update on all of my craziness--
the panic and anxiety and the process of figuring out to medicate or not to medicate,
the insomnia and... you know, all of that.

*And speaking of the cryptic stuff, don't you hate it when people on facebook put out the
really dramatic, cryptic posts to pray for them, they don't know how are they going to
go on, they just got the worst news ever, etc. but then they never elaborate?
That seriously annoys me.

But back to the craziness-- things are so much better and stable and non-anxious and I
thought I could tell you a little about the last several(or six?) months or so and how things have
been going and that if you are in the position I was back here just to let you know that things
will not(or do not have to) stay that way forever.
A bit of encouragement if you will.
It just never sounds quite right but I'll get it one day and share it, because I think I feel like
I want to.

So I will get over myself and the words will come.... and maybe tomorrow I will
wake up on the right side of the bed. Let's hope so anyway.
And if not, at least I will get to see Brad Pitt in this tonight.

Insta-Mess

2012-01-27T11:05:00.001-06:00

It has been one of those days already, you know those days.
Mama was out late last night and wakes up to...no coffee.
Text my brother and tell him if he wants me to take his child to school he must have
a couple of scoops of coffee for me when I get there.
On the way to the car Wyatt steps in dog poop.
We get to my brother's to pick up my niece for school and...she steps in cat poop.
Seriously?
Get back in Jeep to take kids to school and....Jeep won't start.
Lord have mercy.
At this point all I can do is laugh.
The Jeep is from 1987, this is what I deal with sometimes.
Things can only look UP from here, right?

A few other things of note this week:

Spent two hours at the library with Charlotte; playing and picking out books
Had several rainy, cloudy, foggy days
Hung big paper snowflakes in the living room
Found an awesome Little Golden Book
Decided it's not too early to bust out the Valentine decorations
Had coffee by myself at the coffee shop, pure bliss
Took pictures in my favorite cemetery
Had a super-fun, much-needed, girl's night out

So that's a little bit of my week.
My house needs a good cleaning and laundry needs done and we have a craft
planned that Char has been wanting to do, so today is actually a pretty good day to
be stuck at home after all.
Gotta look at the bright side, right?

Any of you Boy Scout moms?
Tomorrow is the Pinewood Derby (our first) and Wyatt is so excited, not quite sure
what to expect but we are looking forward to it.
hApPy friDaY, y'all!
Hope it's a good one.

Dear Wednesday,

2012-01-25T10:09:00.004-06:00

I think I love you.

Wednesday might just be my favorite day of the week now,

nearly beating out the weekend....nearly, not quite.

Last week Eric started working four 10-hour days and now has Wednesdays off.

Off. All day. At home.

It is dreamy, folks.

Not only does it give me a break from my transportation duties(can I get an Amen?)

but the kids love that he can take and pick them up for a change.

Happiness all around.

And I can run errands alone....during the week...what?

That never happens.

It is almost ridiculous how lazy my new phone is making me.

I have barely got my real camera out in the last week.

Seriously LaZy.

Besides Instagram, I love Camera +, it is fun and I use it a lot.

My old phone didn't zoom so I am just loving being able to do that now.

{I am amylucky13 on Instagram by the way}

I took all of the above photos on a quick drive through my

favorite creepy, old cemetery yesterday.

******

It's another dreary, cloudy day but it's gonna be a good day.

I didn't make it to the library yesterday so I am headed there this morning,

hoping some of the books I am looking for are in today.

Hope you all have a great day!

{Virtual Coffee}

2012-01-23T23:52:00.004-06:00

Good morning, y'all.
Another Tuesday morning.
Ready for coffee?
If we were really meeting for coffee this morning, I would make you a pretty drink like this;
My hillbilly latte in my cute new bird cup.
How can you not love that cup? I about died when I saw it, my favorite color and a little bird?
Love.

So tell me how you are doing this morning...
What's going on in your life?
What do you have going on today?
and how was your weekend?

We did have a date night Saturday night and saw Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.
My parent's kept the kids over night for us, hooray for that!
I really liked the movie a lot, it was good, an original story...just different in a good way.
I know a lot of people commented that it might be too sad to see in the theater and although
it was sad and I did cry, I didn't go into the ugly cry and I didn't leave feeling depressed.
Anyway, I do recommend it.

If we were really meeting for coffee this morning, you know I would have to give you
a weather report because how could we have coffee and not talk weather, ya know?
So, in the last week we have had two thunderstorms--rain, thunder and lightning... not a
snow storm, but thunderstorms. Crazy, crazy weather, it was just like Spring weather and
down where my parent's cabin is( hour+ South of us) there was actually tornado warnings.
It has by far been the mildest Winter in a long time.

*****

On my to-do list today...

a trip to the library (girlfriend just can't stay away now that i paid off that fat*** fine)
drop off a ridiculous amount of hats, gloves, scarves, etc. to be donated
grocery store
go print pictures
write & mail thank you cards

I am determined to tackle some of my to-do list this week.
Reminding myself today that my one little word is Begin and that is just what I need
to do, begin to start on some things I have been putting off/neglecting for far too long.
I had to share this below because I am in love with it, so cute.

Source: myconcretesky.com via Amy on Pinterest

Thanks for stopping by for coffee today... I hope you all have a great day and
thank you for stopping by here.
If you are new here today and want to join in, just link up below.
Happy Tuesday!

One Little Word

2012-01-22T15:21:00.000-06:00

Begin.

That's my One Little Word.

A new year, a fresh start, a new beginning...

and a new word.

Begin :: start, explore, do, embark, initiate, make.

I think this word fits right now.

And not just because it's still January and the excitement of the new year is still so

inspiring and exciting but because of the things I want to do, to begin.

And for the changes and new beginnings this year will bring to us as well.

Here's to finding the courage and the motivation to make my wishes and dreams

turn into beginnings.

To actually start doing these things I dream of.

To start now, right here where I am.

do you have a word?

******

"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius and power and magic in it."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Insta-Friday

2012-01-20T08:16:00.000-06:00

I meant to share this last week.

The license drama has ended...until next year. Just kidding ; )

But why does it have to say 'arrest date'? It was just a ticket, folks.

Just a little bit of my week in pictures.

My new phone has gotten a work-out this week.

Anything fun planned for the weekend?

I am hoping to go to the movie this weekend, I really wanna see this,

hoping we can ~~beg~~ get the grandparents to watch the kids.

Other than that, not much going on at all and I am glad.

HaPpY fRidAy, y'all.

Notes On A Thursday

2012-01-19T10:27:00.000-06:00

This week is flying by.

I make to-do lists and then realize the day is nearly over and I didn't make a dent in my list.

Or rather I didn't do anything on my list, like at all.

But that's okay.

Earlier in the week when we still had some pretty snow we got outside

to play --the kids in the snow and me with my camera.

If you look closely you can just barely see the snow falling.

It was so pretty outside on this particular day, the snow was just sparkling.

I am working on editing a bunch of pictures I took last Sunday of my friend and her three

little ones. We went to my favorite Environmental Preserve hoping to catch some

good light before the sun went down and we caught it.

It was perfect.

This was the sunset last night on our way to dinner, it was so pretty, the sun had just

dipped below the trees. I love to be able to see the sun go down in an open field.

This morning I am sitting in my favorite little coffee shop killing time until

I have to go pick up my girl in a little bit.

She said last night she couldn't fall asleep because she was too excited for school...

not sure why, it's just a regular day.

It makes me wonder what she will think about school next year and being gone all day.

She will probably be fine.

Well, I hope you all have a great day, hope your week is flying by, too.

Happy Thursday everyone!

{Virtual Coffee}

2012-01-17T07:55:00.001-06:00

Good Morning.
I am up early this morning in a quiet (for now) living room.
I just listened to one of the videos from my Creatively Made class on my headphones.
Back to school after a long weekend, which means back to lunch fixing and all other
duties today. Oh, how I love long weekends and the break from the usual weekday routine.

Anyway, it is Tuesday so grab a cup of coffee and let's get the day started.
I really wish I was sitting outside on the front porch this morning drinking my coffee
and enjoying a nice warm day but I guess that won't happen for a while, huh?
Oh well, that's okay... a nice, warm house will have to do.

If we were really meeting for coffee this morning, I would have to give you an update
on the whole driver's license debacle. Remember that?
I don't think I even went into the whole story but last week the same day I tried
to get it re-newed the first time I got pulled over that same night.
For no other reason than having an expired license.
Ughhhhhh.

Anyway, I am happy to announce that I do in fact have a valid driver's license in the state
of Illinois again.
It is quite a relief to tell ya the truth, that whole thing ended up being way more of a hassle
than I thought I expected.
Thankfully I do not look drunk in my new picture because the guy let me re-take it a couple
of times. Then I felt bad because he was scolded (yes scolded, like a child) by some old
bat for doing that for me... Whoooops. I think he was new and maybe easily sweet-talked
by me people desperate not to end up with a drunken license photo again.

More organizing in my office today.
I am going to attempt to make/rig up some little curtains for my windows in there soon.
I might try to find some cute hankies or dish towels or linen to use.

I know I said it last week but I have to say again how much I LOVE Jeanne Oliver and
her e-course.
I am still excited about it and it has me wanting to break out all of my artsy-crafty stuff
and just make things. All day long. Wouldn't that be great?

I scored all of these spools of thread, lots of buttons, needles, thimbles and more in a big
bag for like a dollar last week.
I also got the seam binding and patterns and tape measures at one of my favorite little shops
for like $2 total. Oh--and the bingo cards. LOVE the bingo cards.
Sometimes I find nothing at all but lately I have scored quite a few really good things.

So how was your weekend?
Did you do anything fun? I talked a little about my weekend in my last post...
it was busy and full but good.
I love that kind of weekend because it was full of things I/we wanted to do, not things
we had to do...which makes all the difference I think.

I have heard so much talk about The Hunger Games lately that I am thinking I
need to read the books now. Like right now.
I looked last week but they were checked out so I think I am gonna have to head back
to the library this week to check again.
Have you read them? What did you think?
I am loving all of the book recommendations you guys have been giving me, thanks
so much for all of them.

Source: thinkfitdofitbefit.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Well, I am done with my coffee and need to get on with the day--thanks so much for stopping by.
Real coffee might be better but Virtual Coffee is pretty cool, too.
Have a happy day and link up for coffee below so we can come hang out with you today.

Weekending

2012-01-15T18:54:00.003-06:00

So this weekend, I...
read(and finished) a fantastic *book
had a girl's night out Saturday night
snuck away for a quick trip to the antique store
played out in the snow
hung out in my favorite dirty bar with my best girl friend
saw a beautiful sunset
was surprised by my man with a new phone (yay!)
saw about 10 deer in the snow at my favorite park today
watched my boy get to try out his new snowboard finally
took pictures of my friend and her kids in the freezing cold
watched my girl make snow angels--and eat tons of snow

And now...
I am getting ready to have homemade pita chips and hummus made by Eric
while watching the Golden Globes while the kids watch Kung Fu Panda 2 in their fort.
Anyone else watch the Golden Globes? I do love me some Red Carpet, I can't even lie.

But the best part about the weekend?
It's not over...no school tomorrow. Hooray for that!
Hope you are having a great weekend, too.

{Breathing Space}

2012-01-13T11:21:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday the 13th!
I am super excited for the 3-day holiday weekend.
And my bff is coming in town today and if all goes as planned (and with 5 kids
between us it often does not) we will have a girl's night out tomorrow night.
I think I can hear the margaritas calling my name already.... : )

**************

{These are all from The Cabin over New Year's weekend}
All I need for a solo walk in the woods....
coat, boots and a camera.

Normally this time of year everything would be frozen and/or covered in snow.
There would be no leaves, berries would be covered and the pond would be ice.
This is the strangest winter I can remember in a long time.
We have only had just one snow so far this winter and it all melted before the day was up.
The weather on New Year's Eve day felt just like an early Spring day.

This place is so calming and peaceful for me.
Space to breathe and think and relax.
I absolutely love having a little time down here to myself; a walk through the woods,
down the dirt road or through the fields.
I can hardly wait to get a little time to myself once we get to the Cabin, love my family and
all but I was actually itching for a little time to myself.
I am super tempted to go down there solo but I think it would be just a bit
too creepy at night by myself, it's pretty secluded and every scary movie I have ever seen
runs through my mind when I think of staying there alone.

You all might think I am crazy but I don't even mind the whole out house thing.

I mean I would prefer an actual toilet of course, but I'm okay with it.

Water has not even been run out to their road yet, so it's not even a possibility for now.

So we do dishes and wash up Little House on The Prairie style, it's kinda fun for a day or two.

But that's about my limit.

Reese Peanut Butter Cup S'mores.
Yummmm.
And a perfectly clear sky, walking outside on the porch at night you can see a million stars.
That is the coolest thing ever I think.
That is at the top of my list of Reasons To Move To The Country.

Ahhhhhh, so peaceful.

****************

Looking at these makes me wish for that warm sun, it is freezing here today.

Yesterday it was like 16* and felt like 6* or something crazy like that with the wind chill.

Oh Winter, please don't stay too long...and if you do, please just keep the sun with you.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

We are off to the DMV again soon, wish me luck...you know I need it!!

Hello, Day

2012-01-12T14:31:00.000-06:00

Hello Thursday....Hello Snow.
And Hello to what feels like maybe the first real day of Winter.
This morning we got what I consider our first real snow.
Technically it snowed once the week of New Year's I think (?) but to me this is
the first real snow. We woke up to snow and it has been snowing off and on all day.
I have to say, besides the whole freezing cold thing, I was kinda ready for it.
Now, I also have to say that I will be over it pretty quick, too but right now it's fun.

I let Charlotte play outside after we got home from preschool.
I watched her from the back door, I am wimpy and it is way too cold and windy for me.
She was so excited. Wyatt got a snow board for Christmas that he has yet to use so
I have a feeling that's what we will be doing after we get him from school, too.

Yep, she is under there somewhere.
Now we are back to boots and scarves, mittens and gloves...
all in a pile by the back door and drying over the vents.
Back to shoveling (not me though) and scraping windows, leaving the house a little bit
earlier to get where we are going and driving with all of the other crazies out there on the road.

And just two days ago it was 60* and we were outside taking pictures in short-sleeves.
That is life in the Midwest I suppose.
yesterday I cleaned my office out really good.
I still have more to do but it felt good to make a big dent in it anyway and now I can open
the door back up without living in fear of anyone seeing what is in there ;)

This afternoon we are making homemade blueberry muffins with the last of my blueberries
frozen from the summer. Yum.
I think baking in the kitchen while watching the snow come down and listening to her is a
great way to spend the afternoon.
Don't you?

At the Estate Sale I went to last week I found a small pile of unmarked linens.
A dishtowel, a couple of these table runners/table cloth things (above), a vintage table cloth
and a couple other doilies. I took them up to the table and the guy said;
"Hmmmmm....$2.50?"
Oh yeah, I snatched that stack up so fast, afraid someone would correct him on the price.
I love when I find a deal like that.

Thanks for the book suggestions yesterday, keep 'em coming.

I just started reading this book and can't put it down (Thanks Tara) and several of the

other suggestions weren't in at the library yesterday but I will keep checking.

Hope everyone has a great day!

The Best $20 I Have Spent...

2012-01-10T16:37:00.001-06:00

Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration but it is the best $20 I have spent recently.

I was just complaining to Eric that now that Charlotte is almost completely out
of the toddler sizes (this dress is a 5T) I am not happy with the clothing choices for her.
Or maybe I should say I am not happy with the affordable clothing choices for girls her age.
I actually want my 5-year old to dress LIKE A LITTLE GIRL.
Not like a trendy pre-teen, dressed in black.
She has plenty of time for that.

No, Lucy!

We say this 1.5 million times a day.

Sadly, she is now losing her hearing--not that she ever listened to us anyway.

Girlfriend is looking old here.

Yesterday after lunch she was having a cookie at the dining room table and I looked
outside and saw the great light so we moved snack out there.
And yes, it really was nice enough for short-sleeves during the middle of the day at least for a
little while...on January 10. In Illinois.
I think it got to 60*.

{Dress is Harajuku Mini for Target}

***********
On a completely random note, I have watched two good movies in the past week.
1. Midnight In Paris. Has anyone seen it?
Loved that movie, it was really good.
2. The Debt. Anyone? I wouldn't have picked this one (Eric did) but I liked it and will
watch it again for sure.
Kinda action-y/thriller/suspenseful but good with a good/interesting/unique story.

I need some book suggestions...Read anything good lately?
Good, good, good books.
Please and Thank you.
Happy Wednesday y'all, the week is half over.

{Virtual Coffee}

2012-01-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

Good morning everyone.
Welcome to the first Virtual Coffee of the new year.
If you are new, I am so glad you stopped by here today.
And if you're not new, I am glad you stopped by again today.

I am a little late for coffee this morning because the kids and I overslept.
Charlotte came into my room and I jumped up and looked at the clock; 8:01 a.m., baby.
Ooops.
So much for getting up early to do my coffee post before I took the kids to school.

So now you get to have coffee with me while I am sitting in Panera drinking my latte with a
shot of sugar-free vanilla. Hmmm...not so sure about this but I guess I will drink it.
Anyway.
Grab a cup of coffee and let's chat.

So, if we were really meeting for coffee today....

Oh my, I have to tell you about attempting to renew my (quite expired) driver's license on Friday.
What a nightmare.
I was determined NOT to be stuck with a driver's license picture where I looked drunk for years
and years again.
So, I got myself ready, fixed my hair, eyeliner, mascara... all of it.
I won't even describe the hot mess of people in the DMV (just use your imagination) but it was
packed and after waiting in line with Charlotte it is my turn.
So I admit my license expired several months ago and I needed to renew it and how much was
it gonna be and did I have to take a written test because I am bad at tests and I want to study first
and....
"Excuse me Mrs. Bramer but you are on a list (can't remember the name of the list) for an
outstanding ticket you failed to pay and you are not allowed to renew your driver's license today."
Sayyyy whaaaaat?
So I leave with some phone numbers and record number of my "unpaid ticket" and head home.
Come to find out the ticket was from 2007 and it was paid but I paid it by personal check and
apparently they charged me a $1.25 processing fee I didn't know about, so the ticket has been
marked "unpaid" this whole time.
Ughhhhh.
So I have to take care of that this week then go maybe tomorrow and see about getting a
new license.
It's always something, huh?
And usually something pretty dumb.

********
I told you all about my weekend, or at least my Saturday here.
We had a good but kinda busy weekend, looking forward to a 3-day weekend this week.
This week I am feeling ready to get back into organizing and purging my house.
I was doing so good and then the Holidays came and things kind of fell apart, way
too much going on to worry about organizing.

Today is Charlotte's first show-and-tell day at preschool and she has had such a
difficult time deciding what she wanted to take.
She finally decided on her penguin pillow pet she got for Christmas.
I am anxious to see if she said anything or not when it was her turn, I don't really
know how much she talks at school.
Really wish I could be a fly on the wall in there : )

Okay well this connection is super slow and it is taking so long to upload pictures so
I am going to sign off for now and work on my grocery list.
Up next: Pick up Charlotte and Grocery store.
Thanks so much for stopping by.

Link up your coffee post below, the link is open all week.
Then make sure you visit the other girls.
Happy Tuesday!

Creatively Made

2012-01-09T10:05:00.002-06:00

Yep, still riding that New Year High over here.
Don't you hate when that fades?
Wish I could just bottle up all of the excitement and enthusiasm for later--like a month
or two from now when it is gone and I am suffering from a serious case of The Winter Blues.

*********

Anyway--just wanted to pop in real quick today to tell you that I am starting
Jeanne Oliver's Creatively Made e-course today.
I won a spot in the class over at Shannan's and I am beyond excited you guys.
And thankful, so thankful.
When I went to Art on The Farm at Nada Farm back in October Jeanne taught one of the classes.
My friend and I instantly fell in love with her.
She is so inspiring and encouraging and positive, she truly is.
She is the kind of person that you know you can learn so much from and just want to hang
out with all day and listen to her talk and watch all that she can do.

So the class starts today and lasts four weeks.
I am sitting here with a hot cup of coffee ready to dive in.
Realistically I may not be able to dive in too deep until the kids go to bed tonight but that's okay.
It gives me something to look forward to on this Monday.

If you want to take this class you can still sign up, go check it out here.
I think today is the last day to sign up though, so you should go do it now.
I think it is the perfect way to start off a brand new year.
I have to tell you, I just watched Jeanne's welcome video over on the class site and now
I am super excited. Think I can get the kids to bed at 6:00 tonight? ; )

Join me here for Coffee tomorrow.
I will bring the muffins.
Have a great Monday!

{Saturday}

2012-01-07T19:25:00.000-06:00

First things first.
This is how my evening ended......

... with an absolutely beautiful sunset.
I had to pull over on my way home from the library tonight to catch this gorgeous sunset.
Yes, the library. A trip to the library and evening Mass is how I spent my Saturday night.
Yep, feeling a bit like a senior citizen, such an exciting Saturday night.

It was a very good day.
Antique stores, an Estate Sale, coffee from my favorite little coffee shop.
Spending the day with my family, digging through junk, looking for treasures.
That very last picture is the fire pit in our backyard.
Yes, we had a fire in the fire pit in January. It's crazy.

I love the weekend.
Hope you had a great Saturday, too ..... Happy Weekend!

Timing...

2012-01-05T21:56:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday, friends.
How are you?
I am procrastinating this morning by editing photos, blogging and whatever else I can
think of besides heading to the DMV right now. Ughhhhh.
I hate going. And I am kinda nervous that I am going to have to take the written test.
Oh, and on a side-note, my license expired about five months ago.
No, I didn't say five days, I really did say five months ago. Yikes.

I should have went yesterday morning when I had actually gotten ready to go somewhere.
When you don't normally get yourself ready to go anywhere in the morning and
you do one random morning, the kids are very suspicious.
Where are you going, mommy?
Why are you putting on so much make-up?
Why are you curling your hair?
Dannnnng.
A girl can't even get herself ready?
I guess that shows you how often I take the time to get ready first thing in the morning, huh?
Kinda sad really.

After school dropping the kids off at school, running a couple errands and then preschool
pick-up I met up with a childhood friend here from California and took pictures of her three girls.
I felt like I was going to work, so I got ready. I kinda liked it.

But anyway.
The beginning of this year has me thinking a whole lot about what 2012
has in store for us and specifically on my mind lately is what this coming Fall
is going to look like for me.
Ummm...my baby will be in kindergarten. But I'm not even going to talk about that right now.
It's called denial, friends, and it totally works for me.
Unless the stork leaves a baby on my door step before then it looks like I will need to be working.
Working somewhere, doing something.
I am not freaking out about it, or worrying yet, there is plenty of time for that.
But here is what I am thinking;
This might just be the perfect time to try something on my own, something I really want to
do, to give something else a try.
The timing might be right.

I have tossed around the idea for quite some time now of actually taking pictures for
people, taking this whole photography thing one step further.
Like as a job, a side job.
I am thinking of starting this Spring and ease myself into it, see if anything happens, if
I like it, hate it, if I could even do it part-time....and then go from there.
That's what I am thinking right now.

Just a little peek from yesterday...
I had to throw in one of my sweet little assistant Charlotte who cooperated and stayed
out of my way most of the time. She was rewarded with ice cream afterwards.

Even saying this out loud makes me kinda nervous about it.
I wonder if I really went for it if my love of photography would change...
would the fun be taken out of it for me? Would I end up hating it?
What if I am not good at it? What if people weren't happy with their pictures?
What if no one wanted me to take pictures for them?
What if I am not organized enough for this?
The what-ifs and questions are there but I am actually not focusing on those as much
as I am the positive things and the possibilities.

I'm not sure what will happen, what I will decide to do or where this will all go if anywhere.
But this year is a time for change and I think I am ready for it.
The timing might be right and I think I just might be ready to take a big leap...or think about
taking a big leap anyway.
We'll see.

***********

Hope everyone has a great day--now I need to get ready so Charlotte and I can go hang at
the DMV for a few hours. Don't be jealous.

{Fresh and New}

2012-01-04T12:50:00.003-06:00

You know how right after Christmas is over, like the very next day, all of the "New Year, New You"
things bombard you the second you walk into the stores?
They know just what they are doing and who they are targeting...work out clothes, water bottles,
exercise equipment, storage and organization everything, calendars, journals...
And I am a sucker for all of it, I am one of the people they are targeting.
I admit it. And I'm fine with it, too.

I am loving all things new and fresh right now... cleaned out and organized.
Rearranging things, putting things away, moving the sewing machine table downstairs
(is this the year I will really learn to use it?) and hanging an old mirror in a new spot.
It feels good.

Oh yeah, I am a total sucker for the New Year magazines, too.
Full of all things fresh and new, and although I don't think I am going to change my life just sitting here
reading a magazine, I like the ideas and inspiration and all of the positive You Can Do It talk.
And these little moleskine journals, love them, in every size.
I got myself this new journal below right before Christmas but saved it for the new year.
Isn't it cute?

I am a journaler and have been for a long, long time.
I go in and out of phases of keeping up with it, but I do know that writing is good for me.
It helps me, just getting it out and letting it go, especially at the end of the day or before bed.
I also love journals just for scribbling ideas, drawing and of course for lists, too.

I am ready for more purging and maybe a little bit of painting.
This brand new table cloth for my dining room table and a plate of jars filled with
tea light candles makes me happy.
I know a lot of people don't like taking down all of their holiday decorations but I was
ready. And really, I was so ready for non-Christmas colors around here.

Source: lifes-a-journal.com via Amy on Pinterest

I am not about to sabotage myself with a whole list of Resolutions I can't keep but there are
definitely things I want to do more of and less of... and a few new things I want to try.
I am going to do my best.
So, what about you?
Any goals, resolutions, plans?

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Have a great Wednesday everyone, hope it is aMaZinG.

Hello, 2012

2012-01-01T16:32:00.000-06:00

Hello Monday.
A brand new year.
I am glad....I think I am ready.
I am more than excited for it this year than any year in quite a while.
It felt so good to wipe off my big dry erase calendar on the wall and fill it in for January.
A new month, a fresh start.
It feels right.

We spent Saturday and part of Sunday at the Cabin to ring in the new year.

I stopped and got these balloons on the way down there.
12 balloons; 11 for 2011 and one extra for the new year, 2012.
Oh, I had BIG plans for these balloons.
I liked the symbolism of letting the 11 balloons go, then the 12th...
watching them fly away right in front of us into the sky....

Anyway, things didn't go quite as planned.
First somebody (not me) opened up the back of the car and two balloons flew away.
Then, a couple more.
Then one popped.
Another flew away.
There went my whole 12 balloons thing.

I had an idea in my head of just how I thought it would go.
I wanted to watch the release of all of the balloons together, and to photograph it.
To let them go, just like the days of the last year.
I shared some of these pictures on Instagram (love me some Instagram) and said how I had
an idea in my mind of how I wanted it to go and I was frustrated when it didn't work out
and my awesome and insightful friend Shauna said that was maybe a little more true to

life in the last year, it never does go as planned.
Ummm... yeah, so true.
And kind of a life lesson/reminder for me.

It's just balloons...and it's not.
It's the ideas we have, the plans, the letting go, the looking ahead to the future, the hanging
on tight to the past.
But I did end up getting some pictures after all.
And we did have a fun weekend.
Which is really the most important thing after all.

Hope everyone has a great day today.
The first Monday of the year.
We are staying home today and doing a whole lot of nothing.
Back to school for the kids Wednesday and back to work for Eric tomorrow.
I think I am going to skip Virtual Coffee tomorrow but I will be back next week for it.
Happy Monday, y'all...hope it is lovely.

Adios, 2011

2011-12-30T21:51:00.001-06:00

Just one more day left of this year, it is kind of hard to believe.

I almost said--or did say in my head--that I am kind of ready to get this year over with already.

Ready for a fresh start, anxious to put this year behind me and move on, forget some of it.

But that's not entirely true.

I look at all of these pictures from the past year and see how much goodness there was.

How much happiness, how much joy, how much fun.

Big things, special things and little everyday things.

Sure, there was bad and sad and tough.

There were challenges and stress and dark days.

But I'll take it, all of it.

Because the good wouldn't be so good without the bad, right?

The easy wouldn't be so good without the hard.

I am ready for the new year but I wouldn't trade it for this past year either.

Not for a minute.

We will be welcoming in 2012 at the cabin this weekend.

I think it is the perfect place to start fresh.

We are all really looking forward to it and hoping the rain goes away before tomorrow.

Thank you all so much for hanging out with me here in my little space this past year.

For reading and listening, for your comments and cheer leading and friendship.

I truly appreciate it so very much.

I will be back here next week, see you then.

Happy New Year to all of you!

Friday Stuff

2011-12-29T22:03:00.000-06:00

Hellllooooo Friday.
It hasn't even seemed like a long week so I guess I am not super ready for Friday...
But still. It is Friday and Fridays are always good.
Right?
Eric has been off all week and it has been so, so nice.
Hello mama-vacation.
It has been a busy, busy week though, full of ...
family and bowling and ice skating and seeing the new Chipmunks movie...and more family
and lunch out and a visit to the nursing home to see great-grandpa...
Yep, a very full week indeed.
But good full.

We went bowling with some of Eric's family in town for the holidays.
I didn't bowl, I just watched because we had come there straight from ice skating and I
was still recovering. Yikes.
I had not been ice skating in so long (high school?) and had no idea I would be that bad.
I mean, not that bad.
I was a hot mess on the rink and don't think I will be doing that again any time soon.
But the kids, who had never ice skated, did great! I was so proud of them.

**************

We did The Big Take-Down yesterday.
All the Christmas stuff is down, gone, boxes packed up and back up to the attic, 8.5
million pine needles swept up and Christmas tree out on the curb, thank you very much.
By this time I am usually ready for it all to come down I guess, I just need to get
back to a bit of organization around here, just a bit.
And it feels good to go into the New Year with a somewhat clean, organized house.
And mind.

Tell me what your New Year's Eve plans are.
Anything exciting? Big plans?
No plans? Staying home? Have a sitter?
Do tell.
Hope you all have a great Friday!!!

Not Invited.

2011-12-27T22:56:00.002-06:00

I am sitting in the living room surrounded by Legos and crayons and stuffed animals.
I am drinking my peppermint tea and thinking of the New Year to come in just a
few short days.
First you should read this awesome little daily truth, then come back here.
Oooh, I love that one so much.
"Beliefs that make us feel stuck."
Wait--are they speaking directly to me?
It feels like it.

Have you been thinking much about all things New Year?
I have.
I like the feeling of going into a new year.
A fresh start...a new beginning...a clean slate...all of that.
The hope that new things can happen, that old things can be left behind...

This time last year I as trying to figure out my One little Word for the year,
you know a bit of a theme to get yourself going, motivated for the year.
After much thought I finally came up with Conquer.
Umm.....I never really got anywhere with that word.
I didn't.
I had high hopes but it kind of stopped right there.
I feel kind of silly saying this, but last year was a bit of a rough year for me,
pretty early in the year things were off and now looking back I see that some of my
other plans, ideas, hopes and intentions didn't stand much of a chance
because I had bigger fish to fry.
A bigger, crazier fish to fry, I might add.
The reason I say I feel a little silly saying it was rough is mostly because I see what
other people go through and then I trivialize my own challenges.
Like since things could always be worse, I don't have the right to say it was rough for me.
That's dumb and I intend to stop doing that...soon.
Why do we do that?

There are many things uninvited into my life this year.
I know that doesn't mean they won't ever show up, they will, but it means that
I am not welcoming them and I don't want them to get too comfortable here in my
little life.
I'm not big on Resolutions but there are things that need to change, things I want to
figure out and plans to be made.
That's where my head is this week.

***********

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-12-26T15:25:00.000-06:00

Good morning.
Can you believe this is our last coffee of 2011?
Wow, kinda crazy.
Thank you for joining me here this morning.
But if we were really meeting for coffee this morning....

I would have to meet you somewhere else.
This house is trashed.
Toys and boxes and little things all over the floor.
All over the floor.
After the holidays I feel a bit like my house/mind/life are one big MESS.

Do you?

There are Calico Critters and Lego's everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

I'm not quite ready for the big take-down yet...the lugging of all the boxes back up to the attic,

packing it all away...nope, not quite yet but before the end of the week I know I will be.

Anyway....
tell me about your Christmas.
Have you recovered?
I think I have, pretty much.
Man, the holidays are rough on the mamas, huh?
A little rough on everyone I guess.
Fun and exciting and stressful and long and crazy...and worth all of it.
We did not have a white Christmas this year and it still kinda seems weird to me.
The kids were a little concerned about the whole no snow thing at Christmas but I have
a feeling it won't be much longer before we are covered in white.

I got a donut maker for Christmas and I couldn't wait to use it.
Charlotte got a new tea set from one of her cousins and she couldn't wait to use it.
So naturally we had to have a tea party with donuts and chocolate milk.
We practiced sticking our pinkies out while holding our fancy cups and used our Estate Sale
spoons for lumps of sugar and sprinkles.
The kids stayed in their (new) pajamas and slippers all day long.
And so did I.
This is what Christmas break is all about.

I am hoping for more sunshine this week and lots of time with my little family.
Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? Anything exciting...any yearly traditions?
We never do much for New Year's but I love to hear how others celebrate.
Hope you all have a great day, thanks for stopping by for coffee.

Stepping Back.

2011-12-24T15:26:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I caught myself getting my straight-up Scrooge On over all of the Holiday madness.
I did last night, too.
And ummmm...this morning, too?
Ooops.
Overwhelmed...a little tired, so many commitments and places to be and things to do.
It can be a lot.
Over-tired kids, frazzled adults.
It's easy to do, to get caught up in the stress and wish the Holidays away, if only briefly.
This morning after picking up the kids from the sleep-over at 9:00 a.m. and then heading straight
to our second Christmas celebration so far, I found myself thinking;
I can't wait until next week when all of this is over with and we can just chill out at home and
do whatever we want.
I don't really mean that though.
I don't want to wish away the Holidays because I am stressed out.

Christmas Eve has always been my most favorite Holiday.
Actually my most favorite night of the year.
We have done the same thing every year since I was born.
We go down to my Uncle's house (which is where my grandparent's lived) and celebrate
with my mom's side of the family.
There are lots and lots of people there, tons of kids.
There is a gift exchange and presents and wrapping paper everywhere and food and sometimes
a visit from Santa and a house full of some of my most favorite people in the world.
This night is what the Holidays mean to me.
Family and love and excitement and traditions and happiness and anticipation.
It is where I feel the happiest, the most myself....the most HOME.

Today I had a chance to step back and think about what the Holidays really mean to me,
how I want them to feel for my children, how I want us to celebrate as a family.
I am lucky.
I am blessed with a wonderful family.
I am thankful.
And I am looking forward to my most favorite night of the year and all the magic it brings.
From celebrating with my extended family, to setting out cookies for Santa, going to midnight
mass with my mom and filling the stockings before I go to bed very late late tonight.

Happy Christmas Eve to you all.

My View...

2011-12-22T17:27:00.002-06:00

I have spent the last three days in the kitchen.
Baking and making and packaging...busy, busy, busy.
But it's a good busy for me this year.
Usually by this time every year I am in more of freak-out mode.
I am a little better organized and prepared than I normally am, which is a huge relief.
This whole getting my life semi-organized thing is good.
I said semi.

I made Ritz cracker thin mints, sugar cookies, covered pretzels and this pretzel crack.
Lots and lots of it.
I'm not sure if I should curse Shannan or thank her for this recipe.
I have to confess though, I can't even look at it now.
Too much "testing" the finished product.
{ughhhhhh}
But it is stomach-ache-inducing-good and I love that you only need five ingredients for it.
Oh, and the thin mints are so easy and good, too. Love those.

I have been listening to Christmas music in the kitchen, trading off a new cute apron
every day, and the kids have been really helpful and cooperative.
Which is always a good thing.
The treats are all packaged up and ready to go.
Our first Christmas celebration is tomorrow with Eric's family.
At noon I might add. Yikes.
I still have lots of wrapping--wait, all of it actually-to do but tomorrow night Eric and I
will have a chance to finish the rest while the kids are at the annual Christmas Eve-Eve
sleep-over at my uncle's house.
I am looking so forward to tomorrow night, you have no idea.

Hope you are not in complete freak-out mode yet, either.
Time to pick up this house that I let the kids pretty much have free reign with today.
A definite drawback of spending the day confined to the kitchen.
Oh well, it was worth it and I am so glad to be finished.
Have a great night, y'all.

Holiday Session :: Part 2

2011-12-21T06:59:00.003-06:00

Happy Wednesday, friends.
I am about to tie on my apron and spend the day in the kitchen baking.
But first, some more pictures from our little holiday photo session on Sunday.
{Part 1 is here}
I really like some of these.
The light was perfect that morning and all the more awesome because the sun has barely been
showing it's face lately. That is what I hate about the winter, the lack of sun.
Depresssssing.
Anyway--are you lovin' my new picnic basket?
I am.
Love, love, love.
And my cute little red mugs?

Have you tried the peppermint mini marshmallows?
Yuuuuummm.
Most of the other flavors sound weird/gross to me but these are good and yummy
with hot chocolate.
My kids love them.

This afternoon we are going to school for Wyatt's little party and then it's
bu-bye school until January 4.
Hooray for that.
I ran out last night and got my last couple of little errands done.
Finished...done...and so relieved.
Now it's just all about the baking and wrapping for the next few days.
Bring on the Christmas music and coffee.

Have a great day!

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-12-19T23:43:00.003-06:00

'Twas the coffee before Christmas and all through the land....

I was trying to come up with a clever rhyme about how everyone is starting to freak out about
Christmas, but that's about as far as I got ; )
Anyway...Hello there.
Good morning.
Care for a cup of coffee with me this morning?

If we were really meeting for coffee....

I would invite you all here to my house.
And I would have homemade muffins, fruit and french toast casserole.
And I would make you one of these yummy homemade mochas if you want, too.
With holiday sprinkles because it's just more fun that way.
And maybe, just maybe, if I had you all here some of you might want to help me wrap presents?
I don't like wrapping.
I like decorating the wrapped packages, that's my thing.
I actually LOVE that part of it.
But the wrapping? Not so much.

How was your weekend and what did you do??
This was the kids Friday night.
Friday night we ate supper, took early baths/showers and the kids got in their pj's
while we waited for daddy to get home from work.
Our advent activity for that day was to drive around town and look at Christmas lights.
The kids took blankets, stuffed animals, thermoses of hot chocolate the special cookies
I picked up for them that day.
We drove around, looked at all the lights and listened to Christmas music.
I love this tradition.
Sure, you can see the lights any time you are driving around at night but doing it in your
pajamas, with no coats (!) and blankets, while having a treat in the car makes it more fun.
Way more fun.
That house was the winner; tackiest/most lights.
This photo does not do this house justice, not even a little bit.

We had some really nice weather over the weekend.
I mean, you know, nice for Illinois, nice for the middle of Winter... not nice-nice.
Sunny skies... Oh how I miss you, sunshine.
Most of this week it is supposed to rain though and so far there is no SNOW in the
forecast for Christmas.
Sayyyyy whaaaaaaaatttt?!
I do not love the snow.
I like it for a while, I love the first snow.
But, I do want snow for Christmas and the kids really do.
It just doesn't feel like Christmas without snow to me.
I can't remember the last time we didn't have snow for Christmas.
And what about you, how is your weather?

Meet the Calico Critter Ninjas.
How tough are they, anyway?
This is the set up of a little girl that has a big brother.
She plays girly and loves all things girly but she plays ninja and army with the best of 'em, too.
This really made me smile when I walked in her bedroom and saw these all set up.

This makes me happy, too.
Walking in the room to see him reading to his sister without me asking him, too.
And it was a book that she wanted him to read.
I love it when brothers are sweet and sisters are sweet and there is no teasing or fighting
or tattling. That is the best.

Well, tell me what is going on with you this week...
Ready for the holidays?
Starting to freak out? Saving that for later in the week?
Are you travelling...have company coming?
Grab another cup of coffee and fill me in.
Thanks for stopping by here today.
Have a great Tuesday everyone.

Peace & Love:: Part 1

2011-12-18T22:14:00.001-06:00

This morning the sun was shining, it was a beautiful day and I decided we were going to go
take Holiday pictures, so I scrounged up everything that I needed, got the kids ready and we
were at the park in less than an hour.
Seeing that there isn't going to be much sun this week at all, I figured this might be my only chance.
Okay--so, I picked out the dress and she picked out the bottom half...I had other plans but I wasn't up
to convincing her otherwise, so I decided to let it go.
Leggings, socks and big boots instead of tights and maryjane's?
Whatever.

I gave up on sending Christmas cards a few years ago.
Way too stressful for me, as dumb as that might sound, so I let it go.
So, these pictures are for my Virtual Christmas Cards...and for the grandparents for
Christmas presents, too.

There are a bunch more of these, I'll share more later this week.
Ummm...did you notice that Charlotte actually has her coat OFF in a few of these?
She only had it off for a couple of minutes but still, it is December 18.
In Illinois.
That's kind of crazy if you ask me.
Christmas in one week from today.
Yikes.
Okay--off to do more editing.

{Perfect Afternoon}

2011-12-17T22:26:00.002-06:00

A perfect afternoon.

Hours to myself.

In the car; Christmas music, large diet coke.

Antiquing.

Veering off of the highway onto the country roads.

Sunny skies.

Barns.

Fields and pastures.

Lost in thought.

Grateful for the time to myself.

Watching the sun go down...beautiful sky.

Time and space to breathe.

So very thankful for that.

Hope you all had a good Saturday.

Insta-Friday

2011-12-15T23:55:00.002-06:00

Hello Friday.
I have been waiting for you.
But first.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the kind words and encouragement on my
post Wednesday.
I said I felt just better just writing it out...and I did, but I felt even better reading all
of your comments.
So thank you for taking the time to do so, I really, really do appreciate it.

Just a little of my week via Instagram....

Found this vintage beauty earlier in the week.

It came with a pack of film and was in the original box along with the manual.

I need to find a battery for it so I can see if it works though...fingers crossed.

Before School Rule:: No TV until kids are dressed and ready to go.

Not sure why I haven't been enforcing this since little man first started preschool.

This has made our mornings this school year sooo much smoother.

LOVE this book.

Best illustrations ever.

So sweet.

I think I am going to frame some of these for Miss Charlotte's bedroom.

Peanut butter M&M's + Pretzel M&M's =Crack

So addictive.

Oh and just imagine those cabinets painted...Hello, Spring Project.

I.can't.wait.to.get.rid.of.all.that.wood.

Date night...

Heyyyyyyy.
Margaritas and a little Christmas shopping.
And sleeping in the next morning because the kids were
at grandma & grandpa's.
Yay!

Christmas is coming.....

in like 9 days.

Eeeeeeeeeeeek.

Apparently my little churches were visited by The Little People today.

Miracle on 34th Street, the original one

Rosebud Salve, miracle worker.

*********
Happy Friday, friends.
Have a good one.

A Little Discouraged

2011-12-14T07:29:00.001-06:00

Okay, so here goes.
I talked a little bit about some of this a couple of weeks ago {here} although I didn't
come right out with all of it. So.....
We have been waiting and waiting for news on a job my husband interviewed for
more than a month ago.
Waited and waited.
Oh, and he had not one but two interviews.
He did not get the job, we finally found out last Friday.
All that waiting and hoping...the "what-ifs" and thinking maybe this really is it....
Nope.
Bummed and disappointed would be an understatement.
Great understatement.
Crying in the shower and wondering where in the hell we go from here might be a little more
accurate--ummm...and that would be ME, not him.

So, all of the what-ifs and maybes and some days are gone for now.
Just for now though. I have to keep telling myself that.
Here's the thing that I am having a hard time with though-well, there's two things really.
A lot of things (in my mind) hinged on this job, maybe a different path, maybe answers to things
we/I have been wondering about. Maybe more of a concrete idea of where we are going...
I am talking about family, schools, jobs, working/not working(me) and just big life big decisions.
So now I feel like I am right back where I started; with no clear path, no answers, no idea,
just questions.
And a lot of frustration and disappointment.
I am discouraged. I know he is beyond discouraged...and not just about this specific
job but about the whole job search thing in general.

I feel bad for him. It sucks.
Jobs are scarce, too many people looking and not enough jobs.
And he is going into a new field.
He worked his ass off in school for this.
He finished school last Winter and officially graduated just this past May.
I was, and am, so proud of him.
He started school right at the time Charlotte was born.
I had a newborn baby and a 2 year-old when he started.
It was rough at times, on both of us.
He also worked full time and commuted an hour each way to work, every day.
He got excellent grades.
And didn't complain.
Ever.
The same could not be said had it been me instead. Just being honest.

And through it all we told ourselves it would all be worth it when he was done.
When he had a new job.
In a field that he really wanted to be in.
And still we wait.
But still hopeful...well, kinda...ummm, so that's not entirely true but I will be again but
just maybe not quite yet.
Something will come along, at some point, I just hoped it would be sooner rather
than later.

So, if you know of anyone, anywhere, in any state or any city that is looking for
someone with the following awesome credentials, let me know : )

*Bachelor's degree in English
*Tons of computer/Graphic Design knowledge & experience
*Masters Degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability
*Super smart
*Super sweet
*and super laid-back--which is a plus in any work environment if you ask me

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I already feel better just typing that out.
The worry and stress is so much worse for me when I carry it around with me.
Thanks for listening, guys.

PS- I started this post a few days ago and just thought I would add that today I am feeling
better about all of this....I think wondering and waiting is the worst part.
Once you know you can move on from it.
And so we will.
Happy Wednesday, y'all!

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-12-13T11:40:00.001-06:00

*{Sorry I am so late for coffee, I tried to post this before I left earlier this

morning but apparently it didn't work. Today is kinda crazy, already.}

Hello out there.

How's it going this morning?

It is super dreary, a little rainy and we all overslept.
I am going to have to make coffee kinda short this morning because I have about
twenty things to do before I leave the house.

There might have to be a second cup later because I will have three little girls

here again today too and lots of transportation duties.

So, if we were really meeting for coffee this morning.....

Tell me how you are doing...what's going on in your world?

Are you feeling the stress of the holidays yet?

Or are you super organized, finished and sitting back, relaxed while the

rest of us are starting to freak out just a bit?!

The thing is, I always think I have a little more time than I actually do.

And then here we are like two weeks away and I realize time is running out

and I still have so many plans of things I wanted to do.

Ya know?

Regardless of the Christmas stuff I am not getting done we have been busy--

making ornaments, drinking hot chocolate,

baking, decorating, Boy Scouting and having fun with our advent calendar activities.

I think I am really going to be ready to keep the kids home with me for

a few weeks by the time Christmas gets here and is gone.

*******

If the girls sleep and rest later for me I might try and sneak in a little time working

on these and reading this....I can't put this book down.

Thanks for stopping by for coffee today.

Sorry your host is a bit of a hot mess today....I never claimed otherwise though ; )
Hopefully I will catch up with everyone later tonight.
Have a great day everyone!

tea & berries

2011-12-12T06:11:00.003-06:00

looks like the makings of a perfect morning, doesn't it?
let's hope this means the rest of the day will be just as lovely.
i will be hanging with three little girls today...busy, busy day.
happy monday, friends.
hope it's a good one for you.
join me here tomorrow morning for coffee, won'tcha?

{Christmas Wish List :: For Me}

2011-12-11T10:31:00.006-06:00

Just a few things on my virtual Christmas Wish List....

A girl can dream, right?

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: mustanggina.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: modcloth.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: nanacompany.typepad.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: nestprettythings.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: sarah-jane-studios.myshopify.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Oh--and it would be really awesome if all of my packages could be wrapped up like this.

Letting It Go (and Insta-Friday)

2011-12-09T10:17:00.001-06:00

When all of the leaves have fallen off of the trees and it's gray and cloudy and there is no
snow yet, everything looks so depressing.
And it is getting dark at 4:30 and the sun is barley shining all day long....it all feels
so "blah".
The in-between.
That's a little how I have been feeling myself this week, too.
Kind of in-between.
Not quite in a full-on funk, but heading that way.
Nothing serious, just a little "blah".

But.
But.
But.
I am trying to turn it around today.
I have to let all the crap from the week go today.
I will turn it around.
And look what we woke up to today.
Just a teeny-tiny dusting.
That's my holly bush by my front steps.

The "good car" (aka: not the Jeep) that started acting funny on our way to dinner last night ,which
forced us to turn around and go home instead?
I'm letting it go.
Engine light on, having to do a u-turn with cars backed up behind me instead of crossing the
interstate because I was afraid we were going to break down right then and there?
Wanting to cuss and or cry but instead putting on the "It's all good" face and matching attitude
for the kids.
Letting it go.
Getting a $164 fine (when the letter stated it would be $35) with no warning from the City for
being 10-days late registering my dog?
Letting it go.
Lady from the City that I dealt with on the phone and in person yesterday that acted like I
personally owed her the $164....ummmm...ooooh, I am really trying and it might take a little bit
longer but I am going to let it go.
Soon. I sware.

Moving right along.
There were some good things from this week though....

This makes me nervous.
I got a hot-flash when Charlotte showed me her picture of Santa last night.
Umm...this is the EXACT same ways she draws Eric every single time, with the spiky
sticking up black hair.
Oh no. This is just a coincidence, right?
Right? She just turned five.

The kids wrote letters to Santa last night.
Wyatt wrote his to "Satan" on accident ( I didn't even tell him) and Charlotte asked for a
pet rock for her brother and an Indian troll doll for herself.
Oh dear Lord.
She later revised her letter and asked for a penguin pillow pet and a vintage baby buggy.

This is where you can find me tonight.
On the couch, with my stack of Christmas magazines, watching The Holiday and swooning
over Jude Law while wishing I lived in a cottage in England.
But I will be drinking a glass of wine instead.

The sun is shining, at least for now.
I am going to go warm up my coffee and take a shower .
Having no car today means going nowhere, which means getting a lot done around
the house.
Which is much needed.
I am feeling a little bit better already.
Now, if I could just stop myself from fantasizing about giving the lady at the City building a good,
old-fashioned cussing out.....Oh well, I'm almost there.

Have a great day everyone. Hoooray for Friday!!!!!

Flurries, Ribbons, Cranberries and Bullies & Stuff...

2011-12-07T07:15:00.002-06:00

So, it snowed yesterday.
Kinda.
Teeny-tiny-almost-invisible-to-the-naked-eye flurries.
The kids were excited.
It didn't last long though.
I was excited.

After preschool pick-up yesterday we did some thrifting (aka: scrounging) as I am in search of
some BIG empty, wooden frames.
I have seen 1.5 million small, medium and every other in-between size, but not any BIG ones.
I have a project I am wanting to do and the BIG frames continue to elude me.
I hate that.
It always happens when you are looking for something specific, otherwise I would be
tripping over them in the stores.

We did find some Christmas ribbon and lace for like ten cents though along with some cute little vintagey bags.
Oh, and to my great excitement (I am easily pleased) out on our search for bulk
cinnamon(which naturally they did not have) for the ornaments we are making at school,
I got three bags of cranberries for $1.00.
It was buy one, get two free.
The Deal of The Day, folks.
I had ~~too many~~ a few empty Mason jars at home just waiting for something and I decided that
something was cranberries.
Now I have jars filled with cranberries with little tea light holders on top, on my fireplace mantle.
Hooray for cheap decorations!
And now, I need to remember to stop and get tea lights today...#23 on my to-do list ; )

Tomorrow I am going in to school to make cinnamon-applesauce ornaments with Wyatt's class.
Can I just tell you that there is one little boy in his class that Wyatt says isn't very nice to him(and
other kids) and sometimes when a little group of them are playing he tells Wyatt he can't play
with them.
Think it would be okay if I PINCHED that little boy tomorrow?
Pinching was the nicest thing I could think of to do, I can think of much, much worse.
Ughhhh. I hate that.
Why can't kids just be nice?

I am thinking after we are done with the ornaments of surprising my boy by taking him out
to lunch and then take him back to school.
That would be fun.
Have a great Wednesday everyone....the week is half over!

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-12-05T22:02:00.001-06:00

Good morning.
It took a lot to get out of bed this morning.
It is one of those days when you just want to pull the covers up a little farther and stay there
all day--or for another couple of hours anyway.
It's freezing.
Okay, so it's not actually freezing but it is in the 30's and Winter is officially here.
Blahhhh. I am pretty much never ready for Winter.
Yet here is is. Again.
But anyway--grab a cup of coffee and let's chat.
Pancakes anyone?

So if we were really meeting for coffee today....
I would have to tell you about our shopping trip Saturday.
Saturday we made our annual family trip to Chicago by train.
We have been doing this for....maybe... 9 years or so? I'm not sure but some of
my cousins, several aunts, uncles, my mom, my sister and I all went.
I think there was around 20 of us this year.
We always have so much fun but it is a long, tiring day of shopping and eating.

I love visiting the city and one of my favorite things is to just people watch.
I also love seeing all of the architecture and the the window displays and all that big cities have
going on. I don't think I would ever want to live in a city this big myself, but visiting is fun.
We ate lunch at The Grand Lux again this year...yum. That place is so good.
I got the warm goat cheese salad and we all shared an order of these delicious beignets.
Oh Lord, they are to die for.

1.beignets, 2. my niece w/street performer, 3. niece at lunch (how cute is she?) 4. inside of church

We had to see the huge 26-foot Marilyn Monroe statue before it is gone, I think it is
supposed to be there through the Spring.
You just walk under her and look up immediately, even if you didn't intend to.
Every single person I tell ya.
And this church.
Wow.
They were having a holiday open house so we stepped inside and it is one of the most beautiful
churches I have ever seen in person.
I love churches, I love old churches, it amazes me the work that used to go into churches.

If we were really meeting for coffee this morning, I would have to tell you who I saw
in my little old town on Friday night...and if you knew just where I lived it would be pretty
funny to you.
Ben Affleck was having dinner at a restaurant in town,just a few minutes from my house
and I saw him with my own two eyes.
Too funny.
He was looking pretty shaggy with a full beard and a bit of gray hair, but it was him.
First Matt Damon, then Ben Affleck...wonder who will be next? ; )
So tell me how your weekend was, what have you been up to and are you
in full Christmas mode yet?
We're getting there...now to start making more progress on my shopping!

Thanks for stopping by here today....link up so we can all join you for coffee!

Gettin' All Christmasy

2011-12-04T21:38:00.003-06:00

Today we done decorated this house for Christmas.
It is finished.
And I am glad.
The tree is up and decorated and the empty boxes have been taken back up to the attic.
That's an exhausting job, huh?

Mt cute little jars are filled with flour.
Flour and trees and tiny deer I already had.
I had a big box of these jars in my craft closet, too, just waiting for a project.

It's a relief to have it all done.
Well, except for the mantle because our tv is up there, which I really kind of hate but it
is the best spot for it in this room, but it makes decorating up there a little awkward.
Oh well, I will finish that up this week.
Now I'm worn out.
Here is something that will most likely NOT last another Christmas season....

The mouse that plays the cymbals and sings "Deck The Halls" in possibly the most
annoying voice you have ever heard in your life.
I have a feeling some type of "accident" might befall our little mouse friend soon.
{shhhhhhhhh.....}
Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Hello, December!

2011-12-02T10:43:00.001-06:00

It's Friday, friends.
Lately the weeks and days just seem to be flying by.
Before I know it the kids will be on break and I will be freaking out over all of the
shopping and baking and wrapping I still need to do.
Anyway, I finished the advent calendar for the kids right on time yesterday, on the first
day of December. Pictures to come later.
Man, this whole getting more organized thing is amazing.
By most standards I am not that organized at all, but by mine(which have been set pretty low)
I am getting pretty darn organized.

I let her bust the Christmas clothes out yesterday, I told her not until December because she was trying
to wear a Christmas shirt before Halloween.
And I just can't do that.

{Photobooth app for iphone}
Love it.
Last night I was trying to talk the kids into seeing The Muppet Movie by showing them the
trailer on my laptop before bed.
They really don't seem that into it. I don't get it.
I mean, they would definitely go see it but I think I want to see it way more than they do.
Who doesn't love the Muppets?
Weird kids.

Mmmm hmmm... Martha who?
Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking.
I made those yesterday and the kids got to have a special snack of cupcakes and hot
chocolate after school in celebration of the first day of December.

There's just a little bit of our week.
Tomorrow is our annual Christmas shopping trip to Chicago.
We take the train up, shop all day and get home late that night.
We do it every year... my mom, sister, niece, cousins, aunts and uncles....a big group of us.
I love this family tradition and when Miss Charlotte is a little older she will get to go, too.
Hoping for good weather tomorrow!
Happy Friday everyone, hope you have a great weekend.

Antiquin' and Barn-Spottin'

2011-12-01T09:33:00.001-06:00

First :: Thanks for all of the comments yesterday.
I do love you guys and I do appreciate every comment and email and text and
every word of encouragement, truly I do.
I should have clarified; at the end of yesterday's post I was talking about Parenthood the tv show ; )
I do love parenthood the job as well and love these kids to pieces but Parenthood the show is
awesome and I have just recently started watching it. There, now I feel better.

***************

So yesterday morning when I dropped Charlotte off at preschool she said;
"I feel like going antiquing today!" That girl makes a mama proud.
I had actually been thinking about going sometime this week anyway, so antiquing we went.
We wen to an antique mall about a half hour away and just made a a day of it.
Antiquing, lunch and a drive through the country while the SUN was shining = perfect day.

Look who accidentally parked here, looked up and saw the sign and had to move.
Ooops.

I don't normally take my big camera in antique shops with me but today I did and I

was glad because I saw so much cute stuff.

And the yellow flowered 1950's tray? Kinda mad I didn't get that. Super cute.

Ummmm....Santa?

Just a few of the many things we spotted.
Lunch was at this cute little All-American Diner, Ted's Garage.
Good food, super yummy milkshakes along with real cars and old-school gas pumps inside.
Oh and check out the lights above the tables, I am in love with those.
Wyatt would have loved it too, so we will have to go back.

We had to hop off of the interstate and make a bit of a detour through the country because
we had time to kill and it was such a pretty day.
A little cold but sunny and I don't think the sun has really shown it's face for nearly a week.
Or that's what it feels like anyway.

Charlotte is my little barn-spotter.
I have a thing for old barns and will happily go out of my way to take pictures of them so she is
always on the look-out for me.
My grandma and grandpa had a neat old barn like this when I was little, which started my
love of barns a long time ago...maybe one day I will have my own.
One of my dreams is to publish a book of old barns in the Midwest before they are all gone.
I might just do it one day...or I might just take a whole bunch of pictures of them and
not make them into a book.

Happy, happy day to you.
Hope the sun is shining where you are!

Direction.

2011-11-29T21:55:00.002-06:00

It is Tuesday night and after a long evening of haircuts and supper and cleaning up

and dealing with two crazy dogs and baths and trying to figure out what needs to be on my

grocery list for the week and watching a little bit of the Madeline movie

and reading books before bed...

now I am sitting quietly on the couch by myself.

So quiet.

Eric has a late class so I am at it solo on Tuesdays.

So I make myself a cup of sleepytime vanilla tea and settle myself on the couch
under a big, warm blanket to do a little blog reading.

And when I do, I wonder the same thing that I have been wondering a lot lately.

How do so many people seem to know what they should be doing out there...

the answers to big questions...and little questions...how do they know?

Where they should be, what the next step is, where to go from here...

And just so this isn't confused as an "I am unhappy with my life post"... it's not that at all,

it's just more of a feeling of not knowing what's next in some ways for me and my little family.

Personally, I am talking about things like jobs and school decisions and where

we go from here and what the future looks like and I have to say, I have no

idea about any of it. Not a clue at the moment.

I hear (read) people saying things like; they were called to do it, they just knew it was meant

to be, it was obvious to them it was the right decision....

And don't get me wrong, I believe them and I don't completely hate them for it....
but how do they know it is the right decision?

The best decision?
And how come I don't seem to know anything for sure lately?

I don't expect a map to fall into my lap telling me each and every decision I should make,

which path to take but I would just like a hint in the general direction.
Ya know?

And usually I don't get super hung up on these things, by nature I am just not a big planner.

There was never a hardcore timeline for marriage or kids or houses or jobs or any of that for
me because although I think it's fine to make plans and have some direction,
I know that life doesn't really follow the plan we often have in mind most of the time anyway.

But still.
It would be really awesome if the universe threw me a bone...
something...
anything?

Maybe I should have titled this "Directionless".
Yeah, I think that would have been more appropriate.
And totally unrelated, but kinda not, can I just tell you how much I love Parenthood?
I am kind of late coming in on this one, but I LOVE it.

Ps- I am so happy I get to catch little things like this every day.

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-11-29T08:15:00.000-06:00

Good morning.
I am up early, working on my (gasp) Christmas to-do list and sipping my homemade latte
with peppermint creamer. That's my little seasonal addition, I make my usual latte and just
add a dash of peppermint mocha creamer, it makes me feel like it's a little more festive anyway.
So grab a cup and join me, we probably have a lot to catch up on this morning, huh?

So, if we were really meeting for coffee this morning...
You would have to tell me all about your big holiday weekend...How was it...
what did you do... where did you go? And did you over-indulge in all
things(beer, food, wine, shopping...) like I did? It's time for a serious detox on all of
those except for the shopping.

****************

On Saturday we took a little road trip to this huge store that has all kind of outdoorsy things;
hunting, sports, skiing, fishing...you name it, they had it. This place was huge and crazy
and somewhere I would probably only want to visit every couple of years but the kids
thought it was pretty cool. It is redneck heaven, it really is, and no offense to the rednecks.
Guns, hunting, fishing, everything camouflage.... : )

But there was also ferris wheels, a play area, restaurant, aquariums....kinda crazy.
And some great photo ops, love the one of the kids with the bear and Wyatt with his big catch.
Oh, and guess who found a bow and arrow set he wants Santa to bring him for Christmas?
The arrows have suction cups on the end so I think I can handle that, it's not a real set but a
kid-friendly set.

So, if we were really meeting for coffee this morning I would need to know if you have
started your Christmas shopping yet? And please don't tell me you are done, k? I actually have
a decent start on mine this year....maybe a third done? Which is way better than where
I usually am by this time...so I am feeling kind of good about myself.

But you know what? It's much more difficult with my little side-kick this year, nothing is
getting past her. Oh well, I am just gonna have to get more creative with my shopping.
Well, although I would love to pretend like I had nothing to do all day except sit and chat with
you and drink coffee in my pj's in reality I need to get myself ready and I have a lunch to make
and kids to get ready for school.
Thanks so much for stopping by here today, I do love the company!
Have a great day.

Making Progress

2011-11-27T21:48:00.000-06:00

Today was another dreary day.
Another one...ughhhhh.
Gray, depressing, little rainy, cloudy...the sun absolutely nowhere to be found.
We stayed home all day long, all of us.
And if you want to know the truth, I never even got out of my pj's, except to shower
and put clean ones on.
But we did get a lot of stuff done around the house.
We are making great progress on the laundry room and playroom...I think I am rubbing
off on Eric now.
woohooo.

I started on an advent calendar, maybe I will finish it up tomorrow.
I used pages from an old, falling apart children's book and made them into little pockets by
gluing the sides.
Then I used my fancy new border press thing (?) on the top.
Don't you love actually making something with stuff you already having laying around
the house? I am going to fill the little pockets with activities and fun holiday things we can
all do together.

We also made hot chocolate with marshmallow snowmen.
I am realizing that it won't be too long before we are making real snowmen.
Eeek...definitely don't think I am ready for that yet.

So that's what was going on around here today, taking it easy and trying to recover
from a fun, busy, kinda crazy weekend.
Hope everyone has a great Monday.
Meet me back here for Virtual Coffee tomorrow bright and early.

Insta(Black)Friday

2011-11-25T19:01:00.002-06:00

I think I ate enough starches yesterday to last me a good month or two....
Homemade noodles, rolls, stuffing, corn casserole.
Hello Thanksgiving dinner, I love you.
Just a few pictures from the last couple of days...

1. charlotte by the pond at sunset

2. calico critters lined up to watch the macy's thanksgiving day parade

3. char & cousin gabrielle

4. black friday bowling

5. chocolate turkeys

6. another pretty view at my uncle's

7. my girl

8. sunset

9. rose on my bedside table from wyatt

10. bowling

11. my boy picked out his own outfit for thanksgiving; corduroys, dress shirt,

suit jacket and converse. love him.

12. favorite bracelet

13. the kid's table-complete with Shirley Temples to drink

14. Bramer cousins

15. favorite words

*****************

Happy, happy Friday y'all.

We still have Saturday and Sunday.

Hoooooray!

ooops, i was wrong.
on instagram i am @lucky13amy

Come On In:: My Office

2011-11-23T10:20:00.001-06:00

You didn't get to see this room when my home was featured on Heather's

Home Made Lovely series, this door was shut, no one was gonna see what was in there.

Naturally, I shoved all of my crap in there that couldn't be in the pictures.

Anyway--now that I am on this organizing/purging kick I am working on this little room

of mine...there are still several things I want to do in here and one day, I'll get there.

So come on in.....

There are two doors to this little room, one off of the dining room and one off of the kitchen.

I love my chalk board door, this is the door in the dining room.

These three big shelves were already here when we moved in and they hold a lot of my ~~junk~~ stuff.

Jars, jars and more jars.

I like being able to see what is where, so the jars are perfect storage.

Big bulletin board above my desk.

Piles of folded fabric...hoping maybe by having them all out on my shelf

where I can see them all the time I will be more inspired to get creative.

I hoard magazines, I am a magazine hoarder. There, I said it.

Magazines; dog-eared, pages torn out, stacked in piles and saved...

this is what we did pre-Pinterest, people.

Projects, ideas, plans...

My other door is covered in the kid's art work.

I love this family picture, one of my all-time favorites.

I can close myself in my little office, turn on some music and create in this tiny space.

That makes me happy.

And this is the view of my backyard from my window...

And that is a little bit of my Maid's Quarters turned office.

And yes, our next-door neighbor who has lived here forever told us this little room was

added on as Maid's Quarters in the 1960's.

Too funny.

Now it is THIS Maid's quarters.

********

Happy Wednesday everyone!

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-11-22T07:26:00.000-06:00

Good morning.
Tuesday morning; rainy, a little chilly and super dreary and just two days before Thanksgiving.
Wow.
I told you last week that I love Thanksgiving, I really do but the one thing I do not love
about it is knowing that it is only days away makes me a little nervous because then I know we
have such a short amount of time until Christmas is here.
Yikes.
I am so not ready for it.
Are you?

So, if we were really meeting for coffee this morning...

pull up a chair, grab a seat on the couch, plop your kids on the floor and grab a cup.
And if you are not really a coffee drinker I can fix you a cup of hot tea...diet coke? water?
I think a peppermint mocha sounds really good this morning...I would be happy to pick up
one for you, too.
And if you are lucky, Charlotte will probably share her apple pie, she has been baking them a
lot lately. I have to say, I like this little pie as much as her I think, it is so cute.
Looking for an awesome gift for a little girl?
I love all of the Melissa & Doug play food, we have a lot of it and it is well worth the money.
And they are not even paying me to say that ; )

You know if we were really meeting for coffee today we would have to talk about
Thanksgiving plans, if you are celebrating.
What are your plans?
Are you travelling?
I'm not exactly sure how we are going to work it out yet but we will be celebrating with
my mom's side of the family and with Eric's parents.
It's always a little tough because they both eat at 1:00 so we have to compromise on where
to go first, where to eat, etc.
I am looking really forward to seeing all of my family and eating lots of really yummy
homemade food...I just love Thanksgiving and all of our family traditions.

What else have we been up to around here this week....?
Lots of laundry, cleaning and organizing and we got to play with my two nieces all
day yesterday. My little Charlotte is such a good helper. She loves to try and calm the
baby down, help feed her, play peek-a-boo and read to her.
It is just too sweet.

I am looking so forward to hanging out with my BFF(yes, as a matter of fact I am still in 7th grade,
thank you very much) and her kids this week.
And I am super happy that I will get to see several of my other favorite girl friends this
week. I do not get to see my friends nearly enough and I am so ready for a girl's night out.

Well, that's about it for us around here today.
Tell me what's going on with you...what are your plans for the week?
Do you have a to-do list a mile long...lots of cooking to do?
Maybe I should get us a refill first though...

Thanks so much for stopping by this morning for a cuppa, as my friend Melissa would say.
Oh--and you should make sure you stop by there for a visit, she's got a lot of big things
going on lately...and she is always a great coffee date.
Have a good one!

uncluttered

2011-11-20T18:01:00.003-06:00

I think I mentioned last week that I have been on a serious de-cluttering mission around here.

I am happy to report that I am still going strong on my mission.

I have been doing a little bit every day, weekdays mostly, and I am making a big dent in

the clutter and all of the stuff.

I like stuff, I have a lot of stuff, I collect a lot of stuff...I am a stuff person.

I can definitely appreciate minimalism, but a minimalist I am not.

I hang on to too many things...clothes I may wear again one day(or not), baby stuff, magazines

and books, children's books....some of it I hang onto purposely and some of it I think

I have hung onto because subconsciously I wasn't ready to let it go.

Does that make sense to you?

There are boxes and things I just have not wanted to deal with, so I mentally
put it out of my mind as well as out of my line of vision...move it to the basement, shove it to
the back of my closet shelf, carry it up to the attic, stick it under my bed....

Looking around at a cleaner, less cluttered house is giving me a sense of peace.

Looking over at the basket that holds all the school stuff/papers/things to go through and seeing
that it is not completely overflowing, makes me really happy.
Not having to search for things as long as I often have to, feels good.
I know that by cleaning out the stuff I am doing more than just that...who would
have known?
I am trying to brainwash the kids into my new way of thinking by having them quote with me;
"A cluttered house is a cluttered mind." ; )

So far I have tackled ::
my little office
kid's closets
my closet
went through mine and the kid's clothes, shoes, etc
both kid's bedrooms
huge fabric box i have been ignoring for over a year
kid's books
my magazines (this is huge in itself, people)

Next up :: part of the basement slated for a small playroom
Dear God, give me strength on that one.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yep, feeling pretty damn good about myself right about now.
Oh- and for those of you wondering, my man made it back in town in time to walk
in the parade with Wyatt. Love him for that one.
Happy Sunday night everyone!

The One Where She Has A Peanut Buster Parfait For Supper

2011-11-18T10:12:00.002-06:00

{I wanted to title this;
"The One Where She Acts Like A Brat and Has A Peanut Buster Parfait For Supper
(And Insta-Friday)" ....but that was way too long}

Mmmm hmmmm, you read that right.
Man, those things are good.
I mean, I'm guessing they have like 1.5 million calories per bite, so you might as well just
skip supper altogether, huh?
But let me back-track, first.
I ended up eating my PBP on the couch last night while watching Pride and Prejudice after the
kids went to bed, feeling grouchy.
I then proceeded to stay up way too late watching bad tv and feeling a little grumpy about the
fact that my husband is out of town all weekend; left before lunch on Thursday, coming home
on Sunday.
Now, you might think that I am one of those wives that doesn't like her man to go out of town,
doesn't want to be left alone, says he can go but then pouts all weekend... and that's not it at all.
No really, it's not, I am not that wife, and it's okay if you are, but I'm really not.
Well, I'm not usually, but I am a little bit this weekend, just a little though.
See, Saturday is the Christmas Parade in town and my little Boy Scout is supposed to walk
in it with his pack? troop? crew?den?....this Boy Scout stuff is all new to me and it is more of
a daddy thing in this house.
See where I am going with this?

Sooooo, since the husband is out of town for deer hunting weekend (and doesn't even hunt) I am
left to walk in the Christmas Parade.
Now, you may not think that is a big deal but let me just tell ya in case you don't know me
in real life, I am just not the walking in the parade kind of person.
And it's not bad if you are, or you think it sounds fun, I'm just not...and it doesn't to me.
I am the standing on the sidelines, keeping a low profile and pretending not to see people
I don't feel like talking to...high school acquaintances, old co-workers...ya know.
I am all about wearing the hat and the scarf and not looking to my left or right.
I know...I sound just a little anti-social, huh? Sometimes, I can own that.
And with my luck, if I was to walk in the parade with the troop?pack?den? I would probably be
walking right behind the clowns or something.
And you know how I feel about that.
So tomorrow night, while I am walking in the parade in thirty degree weather, scanning the crowd
for my sister and sister-in-law and kids under blankets and drinking hot cocoa, trying not
to make eye contact with countless people and avoiding the clowns, you better believe
I might be cussing my husband in my head.

1. miss charlotte and her new hair clip, 2. cool night sky, 3. homemade pretzels,

4. note from wyatt-it says "personally for you", 5. yours truly, 6. yummmm, 7. coconut cream pie,

8. cousins, 9. my current read, 10. sunset

11. pilgrim & indian paper dolls, 12. my street on a windy day

Hope you have a great weekend and that you get to do something fun--like not walk

in a parade ; )

Happy Friday, y'all.

Little Mama

2011-11-17T14:29:00.001-06:00

My girl delights in all things domestic.

Helping fold laundry, sweeping, baking, she actually asks if she can pretty please clean the

sinks and mirrors...what is wrong with my child?

Sadly, this mama does not necessarily share the same sentiments involving my daily chores.

***********

The Thankful Project :: Day 17
Thankful for lots of one-on-one time with my girl

7 Happy Things :: A List

2011-11-16T06:41:00.001-06:00

It's already Wednesday, friends, the week is half over.
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is one week from tomorrow?
Wow, I totally thought we had like two weeks to go still.
I am excited though because I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving.
It is all the fun family stuff and wonderful homemade food without the pressure of Christmas.
And let's not forget about the shopping, it's a yearly family tradition for us--heavy on the fun
and pretty light on the whole shopping part of it.

A while back I told you there was a tutorial on how to use these tape strips, remember that?
But I couldn't remember where I had seen it and it was driving me crazy.
Well, I finally found it again, go check out the tutorial here.
This shows you how to use these washi tape strips on an image in Picnik like
I did here on my photos.
So a big thank you to Cintia over at My Poppet for the showing us how to do it.
Some of us really need these tutorials ; )

*********
So tell me, what happy things can you find in your day today?

{Virtual Coffee}

2011-11-14T22:12:00.001-06:00

Good morning.
How is everyone this morning?
I am enjoying a grande skinny peppermint mocha.
Yum.
Do you have a favorite seasonal/holiday drink?

So, if we were really meeting for coffee this morning...
I would tell you to pick up coffee and come on over.
You can even come in your pajamas if you want.
So tell me how your weekend was...what did you do?
We had a busy but fun weekend.
Two of my nieces spent the night Saturday night and then Sunday we all went
to my parent's house to celebrate my sister's Birthday...so more cousin/family time.
It was good and the kids had a blast, naturally.

Source: etsy.com via Amy on Pinterest

We have had quite the variety of weather the last week.
Coldish, rainy, warm, tornado watches and some even saw a minute or two of sleety
snow last week, but I didn't, luckily.
But, this is what the sky looked like from my front porch Saturday night,
pink and blue mixed with a little bit of orange, it was gorgeous.
What about you? How is the weather where you are?

I have been in serious organizing/purging/cleaning mode for the last week or so.
And I am still going strong.
I have to tell you, it is so unlike me.
I mean, I usually get into it for a couple of days and then I am done for a while but this
time I just can't stop. I have gone through kid's clothes, organized our craft closet,
cleaned out the kid's closets, organized my office...and the list goes on.
The back of my car is stuffed full of bags and boxes to be donated today.
This is just a little bit of my office, I will share the rest after I get a few things hung
up in there. Ahhhh....organization.

Friday night we made some yummy homemade soft pretzels for the first time.
I used this recipe.
They were super easy and besides the waiting time for them to rise they didn't take too long.
You should totally make them, you won't be sorry.
I made cinnamon-sugar and sea salt; we had powdered sugar, vanilla icing and olive oil
with Parmesan cheese for dipping.
I wouldn't call them healthy, but I would call them super yummy.

Well, that's it for me this morning.
Tell me what is going on with you in your little corner of the world.
And if you are stopping in for Virtual Coffee for the first time this morning, join in,
the linky-thing is open all week.
Everybody have a great day, thanks for stopping by.

I Made It.

2011-11-13T19:27:00.001-06:00

By Friday evening I was mentally tired and not looking as forward to the rest of the
weekend as I had been.
I was stressed and a little low on patience.
Okay, a lot low.
But we turned it around.
The rest of the weekend was good.
**********

This was 8:30 on Saturday morning....yep, already playing at the playground.
We live right across from a school so it's like having our very own playground, especially
on the weekends.
The kids got to have their cousins spend the night Saturday night and although they were up
super, super late, they were all up way earlier than my kids are on school days.
Ughhhhh.
So this was just what we all needed.

They are best friends.
I love that.
Yes, they fight sometimes too, but they also really love being with each other--a lot.
*************

Other weekend highlights included....
trying out our new popcorn popper (so exciting!),
making Pilgrim and Indian paper dolls,
and making homemade pretzels that were a huge success. Yay!!

It was a good weekend.
It feels good when you are able to pull yourself out of a grumpy, grouchy,
stressed-out funk before it gets the best of you, huh?
I hope yours was just as good.
See you here tomorrow morning for a little Virtual Coffee.

* are you on instagram?
i am @amylucky13.

the cabin

2011-11-13T00:36:00.001-06:00

Can you stand more pictures of the cabin?
I know I talk about it a lot here but I am so thankful for this place.
It is good for my soul, we are so fortunate to have this little place in our family.

For the open spaces, the peace and quiet.
The woods, the fields, the pond.
The dirt roads, the wide open skies.

For the freedom, the calm, the trees.
For the break from every day life and time with our family.

So very thankful.

********************

The Thankful Project

{Day 12}
The Cabin

Dear Patience,

2011-11-11T16:11:00.001-06:00

Where are you?
I have been looking all over for you today but you are nowhere to be found.
How could you skip out on me on the first day of a four-day weekend?
You knew I would need an extra-large dose of you today.
Help.
I have been looking really forward to this long weekend, maybe even more than the kids,
but without you, I may not make it.
Without you, I am a grumpy, griping, cussing-under-my-breath, moments away from the giving-
one-of-these-darling-beagles-away mama.
Please come back, I promise to be good--or better, I mean, I'll try anyway.
My children and husband will thank you and so will Phoebe and Lucy (the naughty beagles).

-Desperately Yours In Illinois