Lovely

Today...started out a bit rough.  I was awake from 1AM till 4AM with a sore throat and coughing.  CRAP!

Then I had an MD appointment and got some Antibiotics for my strep throat...YAY!!!!

When I got home Jay...yes Jay, Julia...had the idea to go to the beach for a PICNIC with the boys.  I know Julia...he was not abducted and switched for another Jay, believe me.

The boys were SUPER excited! jay even let them each wear one of his baseball hats!

So we made some sandwiches for all of us, and drove on down to our local beach.  

Today was about 62 Degrees F. 

When we got to the beach we felt a bit over dressed...nothing like eating lunch by the river, TOPLESS! 

I might try it next time~LOL

So after our sandwiches

The boys spun, climbed, swung, and ran

Then we went home, had a nap, and woke up feeling so much better...double YAY!

We had a great day and topped it off with some fantastic london broil, garlic alfredo penne pasta, and a salad.

I love days like this, where everything goes right.

Hope you had a wonderful day too my friends!

Don't forget Monday is the Sam's drawing for the swap winner!  Join up if you haven't... here.

Happy Day

Well ladies, as my sister will contest, I have a SMATTERING of dishes, and silverware, many of which do not MATCH! Julia kindly bought my adorable last set at the thrift store, and I thank her so much for that, but today I came across some amazing bargains and I had to share.

I got home, tore into the house, and emptied out my old dishes to make way for my new babies!

I got out my knife to open the packages

Then stabbed into the MANY boxes, pouring out their delicious contents.

Then I stabbed into MYSELF~OUCH!

I got two 16 piece sets of Better Homes and Gardens dishes for $17.00 each set !!!!

Then I came across a 46 piece silverware set WITH a caddy to store them in for $19.00!!!!

I officially have a fabulous table setting for 8...count them 8 guests, if I ever have that many people over.  That being said, I am happy, it is a happy day!

P.S.  Don't forget to check out my swap...Monday is the cut off, so come on over!!!

Anyone Want To Swap with me?

I have come across the same measuring spoon set I gifted to my sister many years ago. Julia got a few compliments on them from the posts she had with pictures of her using them for baking, etc.

Picture from Julia's Photostream on Flickr:

For those who liked them I thought I might throw them into blog land and see if anyone else would like to swap something for them. 

They are pretty don't you think?

Pewter Butterfly Measuring Spoons

I love the little butterflies.

I can't decide which side is prettier, the front or the back.

  

 So, if you have something handmade, or bought that you in turn would like to swap for these little lovelies please post a comment below.  I especially love handmade things.  They only cost around $21.00, so obviously nothing crazy expensive to swap with, but I thought if someone had something that might like a new home, maybe I could be that person!

Just post a comment below with a description of what you would like to swap, or if you like, a link to a picture of what you would like to swap.   

 Sam will pick a winner on next Monday the 22nd.  

Tell your friends!

Have a great day, Laura!

Sick

Sam, Eben and I are all sick...

I will be having a swap post on Monday.

So tune in then for an exciting chance to swap something you have, or have made, for a fantastic item!

Tell your friends to tune in too!

Have a great day...cough, hack gag~

Laura

House Renovations: Operation Guest Room

Well ladies, this past 3 days has been pretty exhausting, and fulfilling at the same time. After over 1 1/2 years of having unfinished walls, I finally got the gumption to do something about them...Here is what ensued: 

SPECIAL THANKS TO JULIA FOR ALL OF HER SUPPORT!

Before picture of the guest room (Sam's Old Room)

Jay and I prepared for battle, also known as sanding sheet rock joint compound

 Eye protection might have been a prudent decision

Jay doing manual labor...also known as nailing up trim...

 

The contents of the room taking over the living and dining rooms.  ARGHHHHH

Now, after 3 days of various states of disarray here is the finished project, and I LOVE IT!

Thanks for looking, over the next few weeks, we are going to tackle our guest bathroom...WISH US LUCK!

Oh my...MY CHILD HAS A REAL ROOM!!!

Today is the day ladies.

I could not have done it without Julia, and Jay, (especially Julia), so thanks to them!

My son's room is now a lovely, Sam chosen, shade of green.

With little bears scattered about

 

 (Including one designed by the rooms owner)

Can't forget some stars and planets that glow in the dark. 

Perfect for falling asleep to, don't you think?

A cozy corner for my blooming little reader.

Some old friends to snuggle with on his much bigger bed!

A dresser full of clothes for the choosing

 

 A FINALLY ORGANIZED closet !

 

He woke up this morning, walked into his new room (which we decorated while he was sleeping).

He runs around opening doors, jumping on the bed, and just TOOK IT ALL IN!

He then says " Mommy, this is IN-CREL-IBLE!" 

Ladies...I am a proud Mama!

Have an IN-CREL-IBLE Day!

Pride

Here is my lad, after we finished the primer, and first coat of paint in his NEW ROOM!

He picked out the color himself out of over 30 sample strips we brought home from Lowes.

He was very happy with the color! "Mommy, I PICKED THIS OUT!"

He was a HUGE help, and did a FANTASTIC JOB!

He used the big roller, the brush, and the little roller.

Believe it or not, we did actually get paint on the walls, and not just on our clothes and hands.

Here he is collapsed with exhaustion.

Jay and I put another coat of paint on after he fell asleep.

We plan on moving his furniture in after work today.  

I will post the finished room on Friday! I am not sure who is more excited, Sam or I?

 See you then!

It certainly is divine!

I made this great, super warm soft hat the night before.  

I made it with a thick alpaca blend yarn, and I love the color.

It is called the "Divine Hat" by Rheatheylia, and here is the pattern to share.  I found it on Ravelry!

PATTERN FOR DIVINE HAT

Out of the mouth of My babe

Last night while I was snuggled up with Sam for our nightly routine, I found him twirling my hair.

I have a very small amount of mousy brown stringy hair, so I am not sure how he did this, but he did.  

It was in it's usual state of pulled back ponytail-ness.  

All of a sudden he says:

"Mommy, take this out, you look much more HANDSOME, I mean more beautiful with your hair OUT, I mean down."

I did as he wished, and he got this amazingly little smile on his face. 

He looked at me like I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Hmmm, is there something that I am missing?  Yes of course I fall back on my pony tail as an easy, get my frigging hair out of my face, fall back.  

 But am I trading convenience for style?

Jay swears to me that he thinks I am equally beautiful with my hair up or down...sure honey whatever you say.

Then again he didn't notice when I cut SIX inches off of my hair, so his opinion really is null and void.

SO ladies do you prefer your hair up or down, does your significant other care either way, and more importantly does it affect how you wear YOUR hair.   

Here are two photos taken today of me. Very high tech self portrait style with indoor light, and shabby non- artistic door in background.  I can hear you CRINGING Julia...sorry~

(please pardon the under eye bags...a genetic down fall which I have yet to retouch sucessfully)

Which do you prefer?

 

 

A Winter Wonderland

Let me begin this post by telling you that I am very SORRY for my sister Julia, who did not get to do what I did today, because she was at work, when I should have been.  

Let me also say that I am hoping that she gets to go do what I did today, this coming weekend.  

SORRY JULIA...I HOPE YOU STILL LOVE ME!

I SKIED THE SLIDES AT WHITEFACE WITH MY DAD!!!!

Here is a picture I took WITH MY CELL PHONE!  

My Dad was also kind enough to make a clearing of our driveway.

He used his SIXTY TWO year old tractor, affectionately named Ethel, after my dads Grandmother.

He also let the boys take the wheel for a few spins.

My husband and I then made an igloo with the boys out of the snow that my dad had piled up for this purpose.

The igloo rocks, and the boys, and Bear are in LOVE!

So thanks DAD, ETHEL, and JAY for making our day super!!!

P.S. Bear wanted to say hello...

 

 

Ohhh...I forgot...the newest issue of Rhythm of the Home
by the lovely Heather and Bernadette...go take a look! 

My "Patchwork Pillow", and Julia's "New Baby Blanket" are two of the projects in it.
There is a HUGE selection of amazingly great ideas for spring!

~Have a great day all~