soon

May 24, 20131 Comment

summer is coming soon.

summer break has unofficially started for lola.

she had her last “official” day of school on monday.

i’m fluctuating between excitement and fear of what summer will bring.

i am so blessed to be able to be home with my children when they are home from school, but it is hard.

i keep reminding myself that this is going to be the best summer ever…it is.

i am also a little overwhelmed at the prospect of keeping my kids entertained all day, everyday.

we will be coming up with a summer list soon…just like last year, and the year before.

before we finalize that, momma gets to go away next weekend.

a long awaited weekend away, and a dream come true.

stay tuned…

home is…summer break is coming.

{through the rearview} old photos new life

May 16, 20133 Comments

throw back thursday

or

flash back friday.

either way…

either day…

people post older photographs on instagram.

it might be a year, or 10, or 30.

about a month ago, i was cleaning (on thursday, i clean), had to put something away in the attic, and pulled out two photo albums.

one my sister made for me.

the other was one i just put together with photos my mom passed along to me.

the kids loved looking at them.

and, to do anything to procrastinate (did i tell you i am a procrastinator?!), i posted a couple on instagram.

it’s fun.

and, you know what it reminds me of?

that i had an awesome childhood.

that is why i do what i do for my children.

it is fun to have fun.

to go on adventures.

learn something new.

play with friends and family.

i’m going to use these photos, and many more, to write some posts about my childhood.

i think it will be fun.

and, it’s fun to have fun.

home is…being reminded of my childhood.

{inspired} you are strong

May 2, 20133 Comments

I’ve been inspired by some recent posts about running from some of my favorite bloggers out there…

Meg wrote about running her first half marathon.

Nici wrote a guest post over at Kelle’s blog about battling an eating disorder and running.

Maggie wrote about her relationship with running.

In addition, a local momma who used to push me to my limits in her Stroller Strides classes wrote about her experience at the Boston Marathon and shared her story with her facebook friends…she was right near the finish line as the bombs went off…and, luckily, is home safe.

my running story

The past two springs were tough on my health for one reason or another, so my exercise and running routines got set on the back burner.

I found plenty of other things to fill my time (thrifting, etsy, decorating our home, sewing, creating)…and my belly. Almost 10 pounds heavier, I’ve decided it’s time to get back into shape.

So, I’ve started running again.

When I can, I run a quick route down to the park with Odyssey. He loves it. I love it. And, it does both of us a lot of good.

This week I had missed my runs with Odyssey with kids being home from school sick, and Ryan out of town. The weather today was much too beautiful to run on a treadmill indoors, but I was itching to go for a run.

Not just itching, CRAVING it.

I NEEDED to go for a run.

I thought about Nici’s post and I pulled the BOB dualie out of the back of the car (where it’s been riding around for months) and pumped up the tires.

Lorelai hopped in and off we went!

Long story short, I ran farther and longer than I have in a LONG time.

An older woman running the older direction said, “Wow! You are strong!”

And, I crossed paths with another momma friend, who is also a runner, and has put together a fundraising race in the very park we were running in…go check out the foundation website and the race facebook page…and sign up to run with me (I will be running the 10K).

I run because I like to.

It feels good physically (when I run…maybe not so much afterwards).

It feels good emotionally.

I can do it alone.

I can share it with friends.

I can share it with my dog.

I can share it with my little girl.

And, it doesn’t hurt to hear people say, “Wow! You are strong!”

my very first running inspiration

You know who it is?

My sister.

She was always faster than me.

A better athlete than me.

It was like she didn’t even have to try and she learned to do hard things…like back flips.

She never took gymnastics.

When we were in college she worked at a running shoe store.

She ran 1/2 marathons before I had any idea what a 1/2 marathon was.

She ran in the snow.

She ran in the rain.

She ran to places in Boulder I didn’t know existed!

I had no interest in running.

She asked me to go, but I rarely did.

One of these days, I hope that my sister and I can run a race together.

I’m not into running for more than 1 hour at a time, so I like 10k’s, but I might run a 1/2 marathon if she would run one with me!

and a winner…

Thank you all so much for leaving a comment. So fun to read what you would or would not change. Seems that most of us were happy with our special day! Life is good!

The winner of the $50 minted.com credit is tara (@etsetara)!

Please send me an e-mail at homeis{at}stephanytaddeo{dot}com so I can get you your prize!

home is…running inspiration.

cock-a-doodle-do at four in the afternoon

April 10, 2013April 6, 20203 Comments

Just checkin’ in.

During the winter months I want everything cozy and warm, but it was starting to feel heavy and cluttered.

So, I’ve been rearranging.

Spring cleaning.

Lightening things up a bit.

I’ll share it all with you soon.

For now, a few photos from {m}iphone…

He’s getting used to the empty space in his mouth and alreay has another loose tooth.

She has such a fun personality. Singing, dressing up, making up stories.

Put this back up on the chalkboard in the family room…it is kind of “dog themed”.

A few of my favorite things found a nice spot in a vintage crate on the wall in our kitchen.

Lorelai is writing her name at school.

A jar full of little people in the playroom.

We have ants. The kids are both mesmerized and terrified by them. They will hold snakes, walk up to big dogs, feed goats, but ants…it might have something to do with the ants that were all over me at the refuge over spring break.

The last of the camellia are blooming and falling to the ground. There’s a big mess to clean up. I wish they lasted longer.

She let me put a braid in her hair. I love it when her hair is out of her face.

It was a nice morning to share my coffee with Odyssey. Then it got windy and rainy. Then sunny. Then rainy. Then sunny, again.

Trader Joe’s had bunches of ten daffodils for $1.29. I bought 5 bunches. They brighten up the craft table.

Mail makes me happy. This afternoon we pulled into the garage just as the mail man stopped. I got an unexpected package from an instagram friend. Homemade jam and this beautiful granny square garland. I absolutely LOVE it!

This oldy, but goody dowloaded with my other photos. I decided to share it because everybody else is sharing photos of their newly hatched chicks. I want chickens, but Ryan isn’t so keen on the idea. Maybe next year. For now, I’ll visit other peoples chickens and be happy that our neighbors have a rooster that wakes us up every morning…and all day long.

He’s cock-a-doodle-dooing now…it’s 4pm.

I would like to read up about raising chickens and I know there are a lot of you out there who know about it, so if you have some good recommendations please let me know!

home is…just chicken in on a Wednesday afternoon. {get it?!}

nana’s visit

April 7, 2013Leave a comment

Ryan’s mom came to visit us for the last half of the kids spring break.

The weather was amazing, so we played outside a lot.

The Easter Bunny left eggs outside for the kids.

We took a walk at the wildlife refuge.

And took the dogs to the dog park.

Then she had to go back to snowy upstate New York.

She told us today that the spring bulbs are just starting to poke through the ground.

home is…sharing our favorite places with nana.

{hello friday} 4.5.2013

April 5, 2013April 6, 20202 Comments

Just a quick hello to you on this Friday afternoon.

This weekend I will recap our Spring Break visit with Ryan’s mom.

Until then, here a few photos from the week from {m}iphone.

This little lady landed on my chair when we were sitting outside enjoying our beautiful spring break weather.

Odyssey and I have started sharing coffee outside when it is warm and dry enough.

We also shared a great run down to the river on Wednesday morning. I can’t wait to do it again!

Lorelai has figured out that she can do just about anything her brother can do and has started to write her name, ride a bike, run after the dogs on our walks, and make her own puddles to splash in when it is not raining.

Her brother taught her how to climb this pallet to talk to the boys next door.

She also loves to paint and draw.

This was her drawing and imitation of a butterfly.

The wild cherry tree that hangs over our yard from our neighbors yard is full of white flowers.

Yesterday, after enjoying a cozy rainy afternoon in front of the fire, the kids yelled, “Mom! It’s sunny and it’s snowing!”

We went outside to dance in the snow and enjoy the brief sunbreak.

The kids also go dive bombed by a hummingbird when they were up on their pallet perch looking into the neighbors yard.

Happy weekend eve, ya’ll!

home is…spring in the pacific northwest.

stop and look around

February 28, 20137 Comments

I’m feeling a little uninspired in my writing lately.

I have started to look back at some old posts for inspiration.

Here one of my favorites from 2 years ago…

{tuesdays with lola} the allison

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

– Ferris Bueller

Life is good.

It’s easy to forget that when you are frustrated about migraines, 3-1/2 year olds who don’t go to sleep at bedtime, stomach cramps, teething toddlers, messy houses, death, arguments, and all the other normal stuff that happens in life.

It’s all good.

What makes it tough is if we don’t stop to appreciate all of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

I don’t know who is in charge, but “they” have a plan for all of us. We’re just along for the ride.

Speaking of ride, lola and I went for a drive this morning after we dropped the little guy off at school. When I don’t feel like tackling the to do list I often just go for a drive.

This morning the sun was peaking through the clouds, and I thought we would get out and enjoy it before raindrops start falling again.

We drove down to The Allison. One of my favorite places to take the kids for a little bit of an adventure. We walk around the beautiful grounds and soak up a little bit of what the Willamette Valley has to offer. It’s a little different every season.

Here is what we found today…

home is…putting the to do list away for a morning.

{hello friday} 2.22.2013

February 22, 2013April 6, 20201 Comment

These photos represent the last week in the order they were taken…

Sewing ruffles is fun.

Reece’s room redesign is almost complete.

Odyssey went missing for 24 hours.

I sat outside hoping he would come back to share my coffee.

An Instagram follower suggested putting a post on Craigslist. A kind soul contacted us to let us know she saw listings for a “FOUND” dog that matched our description of our “LOST” dog. It was Odyssey. So thankful for kind souls and dog lovers.

This tree is getting too small for Reece.

I’ve been wanting a vintage Tonka truck. I found one.

I made this. I added a bunch to the shop this week, but a lot of it sold as fast as I added it! Go see what’s left…

This view looking through my kitchen window made me happy.

The ruffles ended up on aprons for the kids play kitchen.

Lorelai asked for a ponytail. She never asks for a ponytail.

She also asked to go to Target to buy a purple dress. This is the one she picked out. She also got new shoes.

Reece had a friend over for a playdate and after letting Lorelai play with them for two hours they had enough. She was a sad little sister. We went into her room and said. “no boys allowed.” Of course, that made the boys want to come in and play.

This was in the shop. It’s now on it’t was to California. I also bought one for myself. I might put another vintage typewriter in the shop this week. Stay tuned.

They love to jump on the bed and listen to “Skidamarink” LOUD!

On Wednesday, Ben got out of our yard. I freaked out because he is basically deaf and blind and it was pouring down rain. Long story short, he got home safely, too. We found him wandering the streets of the neighborhood…he didn’t eve hear me call his name when I was right next to him. Poor old man.

I just finished a workout, got a shower, and have time to finish this blog post. Thank goodness for our health club and the two hours of childcare I get each day when I am there!

We’re eating dinner at the health club per Reece and Lorelai’s request and then heading to their school carnival.

home is…putting a lock on our backyard gate.

{hello friday} 2.15.2013

February 15, 2013Leave a comment

2.15.2013 10

just a quick hello to you on this beautiful friday in the pacific northwest. it is supposed to be 60+ degrees today, so i am trying to get errands and cleaning done so the kids and i can play once reece comes home from school.

thrifting: i already have a few vintage typewriters, but when i opened the case for this one i knew i couldn’t pass it up. it is probably one of my favorite finds so far…