Channeling Brighter Days

Oh, it's so, so easy to let yourself get in a   F  U  N  K   over this weather.
It really is.
I am a perfect example.
We have just had non-stop days of below freezing temperatures, the kind where you just don't even go outside for a second without freezing.
And there's quite a bit of snow... but you can't actually play in it.

I just miss the sun on my face and standing outside and actually feeling the sun and the warmth on my body.
I really miss it.
In my house everyone's skin, hair, nose....everything is DRY.
And I think I need one of those UV lamps that mimics sunlight... I wonder if that would really help this Cukoo Mama?

How are you handling Winter where you are?
I'm currently fantasizing about--
Sunlight, green grass, blue skies, playgrounds, picnics, flowers, dirt, sandboxes, trees not covered in snow, birds....
Ahhhhhhhhh.
That's what I'll be thinking about until Spring.

Snow Day!

Happy Wednesday! 

It's the middle of the week already and another Snow Day for us... 

I really can't believe it, but we're enjoying another day at home.

And yes, I said enjoying! 

It's been snowing since yesterday before noon and it looks so pretty- from inside- and is showing
no sign of stopping.

 Favorite parts of our day included :: 

- A big breakfast of fruit, French toast, bacon, orange juice + coffee.

- All being home together!

- Staying in our pajamas for most of 

   the day 

- Playing outside in the snow

-Ordering pizza + watching Turbo 

I know last week I was maybe complaining a bit about having yet another Snow Day... but not today. 

It really is all just perspective, huh? 

Funny how that works.
Kinda feels like HELL might have just done froze over.

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ps- blogging from your phone SUCKS.
just hoping the laptop fairy delivers me a brand new macbook when i go to sleep tonight!

10 Favorite Cozy Things

'Tis the Season to be chilly here in the Midwest.
The cold,  oh the cold...  it's coming, it's definitely coming.
Instead of whining and fighting the impending Season(I mean, don't get me wrong, I'll do that later), I thought I would share a few
of my most favorite cozy-weather things.

1.  A hot mug of coffee in my hands. The best. 

2.  Old faded quilts + afghans

3.  Scarves.

4.  Stacks of books.

5.  Baking- bread, pies, cakes, cookies...

6.  Candles. Lots of candles.

7.  Twinkle lights int he house

8.  Hot Chocolate with LOTS of mini marshmallows

9.  A fire in the fireplace

10.  Holing up inside, while it's snowing outside, and watching movies with the kids on the couch under a bunch of blankets and eating popcorn!

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What are your favorite ways to survive the cold months?

Must-haves?

Any little things that make Winter bearable for you?

Do tell.

Holiday Session :: Part 2

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!

{blanketed}

we woke up yesterday morning to snow. lots of snow.

i know i complain like all the time about the winter and this weather and i was MAD when i heard the forecast, i'm not even gonna lie.

but this snow was perfect.

huge flakes, the soft and fluffy kind. so pretty.

movie snow, if you will.

and it's already melted off of the roads, so there's nothing to complain about.

now that's what i'm talking about.

i love when you go to bed and wake up to everything blanketed in snow.

there's really nothing else like it.

wyatt came in our room, looked out our bedroom window and yelled; "owl!" and ran downstairs
as fast as he could to tell his daddy and get his binoculars.
well, it was actually a morning dove, all puffed up to keep warm, not an owl, but still pretty cool.
and there was about five of them right there in that one tree.
this picture is from our window-through a screen,  dirty glass and all.

the snow is all melted already.

just a little reminder that there are pretty little things even in the winter, or especially in the winter, depending how you look at it. and i realize that although this may not be my favorite season,
i would miss the changing seasons of we didn't have them.

*thanks for all the comments on my last post.
they really made me laugh and reminded me not to take myself too seriously.
and because of this person, several new people were sent over my way, which means new blogs for me to check out and people to meet. gotta love that.
this blogging world/thing is so funny. i realized i blogged about being sick of myself and
in that very same post there were three pictures of..... me.
hahaha.
guess i wasn't as sick of myself as i thought, huh?
hope everyone has a happy sunday!
we are on Bathroom Demolition: Day 2. eeeek. more to come later this week.

{Captured}

You might want to take a deep breath before you witness the sunlight I captured

 this afternoon in my kitchen. Seriously, it's that good. So, so good. 

It was like 1* today, tops, so this is just what we needed.

Sunlight, a new $3 apron for the little one and plenty of play food made for lots of fun

 in the kitchen today for my girl.

Dear Sun,

 I love you. You can make or break my day. For real. 

Thank you for gracing us with your presence today. 

Love, Amy

Some times the simplest little things is all it takes.

Today was one of those days.

Life is good in my little world when the sun is shining.
*****
eta: Reminder :: Ten on Ten  is this Thursday!