saying no

January 23, 20136 Comments

This morning we were supposed to board a plane and head to Colorado to visit my family.

Ryan suggested the idea and I came up with the plan.

He has a meeting in California over the weekend, so we figured that the kids and I could go to Denver and visit family.

We would go for a long weekend and attend the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo just like my sister and I used to when we were little.

We would visit with family and friends we haven’t seen in months.

I even printed out all the addresses for the Goodwill’s and other thrift stores in Denver.

It was all planned.

We were checked in for our flight.

And, it just didn’t feel right.

As much as I wanted to go all the signs were telling me that it just wasn’t right.

Lorelai has been sick, the weather was calling for freezing rain right when we were supposed to head to the airport, my body was losing the battle against the unending barrage of germs that it has been fighting off since the holidays, and I was not looking forward to flying through Seattle to get to Denver by myself with the two kiddos.

Yesterday afternoon I called my mom and let her know that we were planning to come, but would keep an eye on the weather…there might be flight delays.

Within minutes of getting off the phone Lorelai threw up in the kitchen. I’m pretty sure it was caused by a coughing fit, but that was the last sign I needed.

I cried, I thought, and I finally decided that we couldn’t go.

Ryan got on the phone with the airlines and canceled our tickets.

I called my mom and let her know we wouldn’t be coming.

The last two times I have visited Colorado I have been sick.

March 2010, we visited for Spring Break. While we had a wonderful time when we were there, I was fighting a cold the entire visit and ended up with walking pneumonia when we got back.

Thanksgiving 2011, I had Laryngitis the entire time. And, Lorelai was sick both times.

I decided to say no.

No to myself.

No to the plans I had made.

No to traveling alone with the kids while we are not feeling well.

I was afraid of disappointing everybody…my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, aunts and uncles, cousins, my niece, and Reece & Lorelai.

But, I had to say no.

home is…taking care of my family.

easy christmas card photo books

January 21, 20135 Comments

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is receiving the cards from all of our friends and relatives. I especially like the photos.

They make me smile from the day I receive my first card until the day I finally take them down from their display…which is usually one of the last things to come down.

Over the years I have been saving the photos in a drawer in my desk. You see, my aunt had albums full of christmas card photos and every year I loved to sit down on Christmas day and look through them. Although I didn’t know all the people, I learned to recognize the familiar faces year after year and enjoyed seeing how families had grown, adult children had gotten married, etc. My plan was to eventually start some albums of my own.

Last year I found this photo on Pinterest…

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Maddy on Pinterest

I figured this would be easier and less expensive than photo albums, but I never got around to doing it.

As I was trying to find space in the drawer in my desk for our cards from Christmas 2012 I finally decided to just put the darn books together. I mean, for goodness sake, all I needed was a hole punch (I used a 3 hole punch and a single hole punch), some chipboard, some rings, and a glue stick!

All of my cards were organized by year, so I started punching holes.

{That’s my mom and dad in Italy}

I used two holes of a three hole punch so that I would eventually be able to line up the cards that were differing sizes and shapes.

Then I cut some chipboard that I had from the back of some thrifted frames that I won’t be using. I cut the chipboard a little larger than the largest card…three of the books ended up being 9″ x 6″ and one is 8″ x 6″.

I punched holes in the chipboard and glued our christmas card to the front.

I also made back covers for the books so the cards are protected on both sides of the book.

This year our card was a post card and I wanted to include the back of the card, so I put it on the inside of the back cover.

In less than an hour (it actually took 2 days, but I had to start and stop multiple times for various reasons…kids, dogs, cats, husbands, etc.) I had books from the last 4 years put together!

For now, they are in our basket of photo books in the family room. I think, eventually, I will put them in the attic with the rest of the Christmas decor so they will be a fun tradition to pull out of the bins each year.

Notice a change to the bookshelves? I’ll fill you in on that quick project this week!

Stay tuned…

spring fever

January 19, 2013April 6, 20201 Comment

I’ve got a bit of Spring Fever in the middle of winter.

I posted this photo in my Instagram feed yesterday and a few people asked how I made it.

I originally wrote a post about it here…May 2011.

{when i looked at the post i couldn’t believe that there were Instagram photos on it…i guess i was an early adopter}

I used a tutorial for a ruffle wreath from Jones Design Company.

Her tutorial for rolled paper flowers is basically the same technique for how I made the felt roses.

Anyway, that wreath has been around for a while and has held up pretty well.

I may even make a few more…maybe even put a couple in the shop.

routine

Otherwise, I’m just trying to figure out a routine around here with the kids back in school.

For the last 3+ years I have had housecleaners come every other week. While it was a sanity saver when the kids were babies, I decided it was time to give up that luxury this year. I have found a great sense of accomplishment, and even joy, in keeping my house clean. I want it clean ALL THE TIME now, instead of just one day. In fact, I think I’m becoming a bit obsessed with cleaning…that’s not a bad thing, though. I am even making my own natural cleaning products to use and I will eventually share what’s working with you here.

That being said, I am trying to find time for all of the things I enjoy…creating, running, thrifting, blogging, learning.

As you all know it’s a juggling act, but it’s fun to learn how to keep all the balls in the air.

“snow” days

In the last week the kids have had two “snow” days due to ice on the roads. They really weren’t snow days as the ice was caused by freezing fog, but we took advantage of them by making morning fires in the fireplace and doing some crafting and Valentine’s Day decorating.

I used Emily’s rolled paper flower tutorial to make these Valentine’s Day roses last year.

This paper garland was another Valentine’s Day craft from last year (similar to the Christmas paper garland from Christmas 2011)…I did make some more this year with patterned paper and larger hearts that I will share on another post.

sunshine

Some recent sunshine and longer days has us dreaming about spending more time in the yard.

Odyssey misses sharing coffee with me every morning.

light at the end of the tunnel

I always manage to fit in a bit of thrifting…this week we found some vintage fisher price.

home is…sunny days ahead.

happy paper flowers

January 8, 20135 Comments

Lorelai’s room has been going through a transformation, again.

I’ve moved the bed three different times, hung and rehung artwork, and changed the placement of the tissue paper puffs that were originally decoration for her first birthday party.

I pinned this photo months ago planning to add these flowers to the tissue paper puffs that were on the wall above her bed…

Source: aplaceforusblog.com via stephany @ on Pinterest

I saved paper bags over and over the last few months, only to put them in the recycle bin or in the compost.

The other day I came home from Trader Joes with a bunch of paper bags and decided I needed to finally make the flowers.

Here is the awesome tutorial from A Place for Us.

I got to work on them Sunday morning. The tutorial was easy to follow and the results turned out perfect!

I secretly wish this room was mine. I love the handmade flowers and vintage goodness in her room.

home is…happy paper flowers.

{2013} beginning

January 5, 2013April 6, 2020Leave a comment

So, here it is. My first post of 2013.

Just as 2012 is completed, 2013 has just begun.

be·gin

/biˈgin/

Verb

Start; perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity): “the Communists have just begun to fight”; “it was beginning to snow”.
Come into being or have its starting point at a certain time or place: “the ground campaign had begun”.

Synonyms

start – commence – initiate – open – lead off – launch

Unlike last year, our house is no longer a “blank slate”. Don’t get me wrong, there are still projects to be done, but most of them are out of my scope of expertise.

I have the designs for a new kitchen drawn up in my head.

I know what kind of wood/laminate flooring I want in our main floor.

I have great ideas for our master bath.

And, our second floor pop-up over the living room and dining room is all planned…just need an design/build group to work with to finish the details.

None of those have to get done for us to be happy in our home, though.

So, we’ll wait until the time is right.

For now, I will begin by picking a white to paint over the red walls in our kitchen and the blue sponge paint in the kids bathroom.

And, I have a fun idea from Pinterest for Lorelai’s room…

There will be more projects, more thrifting, and more fun adventures with the kids.

This is just the beginning.

home is…to begin is half the work.

christmas unwrapped

December 27, 20124 Comments

I haven’t had the words to write lately.

I haven’t even taken as many photos as I would have liked, but I soaked up the holidays.

snow

christmas program

Lorelai didn’t want to stand up on stage and sing with her classmates.

Reece was an “old pro” as a kindergartner. He nailed his lines, kept his costume on, and even sang a little bit!

santa at playgroup

Reece brought a handwritten note…

and necklaces that he made especially for Santa.

Lorelai was brave and sat in his lap and told him she wanted a princess watch and a sleeping bag.

After eating and drinking, we went caroling…a new favorite tradition!

our home

And, just like that, it’s over.

Bittersweet.

Ryan and I decided that we need to have something to do on Christmas Day after the presents are opened.

We’re thinking of heading up to the mountain for some fun in the snow next year!

What do you do on Christmas Day?

home is…Christmas wrapped up.

{our holiday home} sneak peek

December 9, 20122 Comments

When we get a sunny day {so my photos won’t be dark} I will take some photos of our home decorated for the holidays.

photo 1-1

Until then, here is a sneak peek…

photo 1-2

My mom painted that bowl…isn’t it amazing? She needs to open an Etsy shop for all of her paintings, right?

I haven’t been doing a traditional green and red christmas the last few years…just lots of color!

I make ornaments for the family every year…this year it’s stamped salt dough!

photo 4-1

My little elf likes to help me decorate.

photo 3-2

Just subtle this year, but enough to make it feel like Christmas.

home is…merry and bright.

i’m still here, are you?

December 6, 20124 Comments

recurring dreams

First, I show up late to my final field hockey game after searching for my shin pads, mouthguard, and cleats. My teammates glare at me and my coach informs me that I can’t start because I haven’t been to practice in weeks. In fact, I probably won’t get a chance to play in the game at all. Then it ends.

Second, I remember, right before the final, that I signed up for a course and never attended the class. It’s too late to drop…and I just take an “F”.

Unfortunately, the second kind of happened to me in college.

You see, if I fall behind I get flustered up and {sometimes} figure that failing is better than doing something half-assed.

I’m not real good at talking to people about tough topics…I rarely, if ever, met a professor during office hours. Rather than suck it up, and go talk to my professor about what I might have missed, I would just keep missing classes.

By the time my senior year rolled around (and the reminder that my parents would only support me through four years of college) I finally got my act together and graduated. Definitely not with honors, but I graduated in four years with a degree.

stick with me

I’m getting somewhere with this.

That’s how I am feeling with my blog lately.

It’s been two weeks since Thanksgiving and I haven’t written about my parents visit. Well, I have written about it. I have an entire post written, but I haven’t gotten around to editing photos…and what would the post be without photos.

Here’s a gratuitous photo just for this post…

christmas card 2012 (1)

I am torn between the fact that part of this blog is to record events for my kids, myself, and my family and the other part that is for myself and for those of you who, without being my friends or family, have made the choice to read my blog.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE writing about my family, but sometimes I feel obligated to write about family visits and events when I would rather be writing about the awesome paint by number I found for $2.99 at Goodwill.

I feel like I dropped the ball on my Thanksgiving post, so I just stopped writing.

I didn’t finish my Thanksgiving post, so I also don’t write about my thrifting finds or Christmas preparations.

And, I beat myself up about it.

Blogging is something I love to do.

Writing about my family, design, crafts, and thrifting is something that makes me happy.

Things are still happening around here and I want to write about them.

Does this make sense?

I feel like I am rambling.

This is why I never went to talk to my teachers.

In the world of fight or flight…I tend to take flight.

Anyway, I’m going to get that Thanksgiving post up because there were some memories made.

Stay tuned…

home is…a good ramble and bad dreams.

once

December 4, 20124 Comments

“Heeeeeyyyyyyy, Mom!”

That’s how it usually starts.

The morning.

Once one kid is up so is the other.

Once the kids are up the dogs are dancing around us to go outside and be fed.

Once the dogs get fed the cat starts meowing for his breakfast.

Once the dogs and cats are fed the kids start asking for hot chocolate.

Once I start the hot chocolate Ben barks at the back door to be let in.

Once I let Ben in Reece is in the kitchen asking when his hot chocolate will be ready.

Once I tell Reece that I am working on it Lorelai yells from the playroom asking if she can watch a show.

Once I turn a show on Reece is asking, again, when his hot chocolate will be ready.

Once I get them their hot chocolate and finally pour my coffee they are yelling for more.

Once I get a few sips of coffee I ask them what they would like for breakfast.

Once I get them their breakfast they are asking for more, or a fork, or a napkin, or something else.

Once I get them what they need I sit down to check my e-mail, read a blog post.

Once I start I realize I don’t have time and need to make Reece’s lunch, get myself dressed, get the kids dressed, and get to school.

And, so it goes.

home is…the life of a mom.

until then…

November 27, 20121 Comment

Hey y’all!

I’m here, but it’s just gonna be a day or two before I get back to regular posts.

Until then, go check out colton+ cadence and use “untilthen15” to save 15% on your order!

Also, if you are new to shopping with Etsy or have never heard about it, just go check it out!

Click on the link to colton+cadence and it will get you there….

From there, EXPLORE!

Do a search…

for world globes
for christmas ornaments…vintage or handmade
for vintage thermos’
for vintage fisher price
for vintage pyrex

These are a few of my favorite things…

If it is vintage or handmade search for it on Etsy and support small business this holiday season!

And, you can easily sell on Etsy, too!

Mom and Dad, you can do it! What a fun way to retire…

home is…handmade.

stephany taddeo

home is what you make it

Tag: home