the return of the summer list

June 4, 20156 Comments

it’s been a few years since we did an official summer list.

there is always one in my mind, but i thought it would be fun to have one in writing somewhere in the house since the kids can read (well, the little guy can and baby girl wants to learn this summer)!!

i was originally inspired by meg’s summer list…

in 2011, our summer list it looked like this…

in 2012, our list looked like this…

in 2013, i didn’t make a list because our summer was so busy we didn’t need one!

in 2014, i just didn’t make it happen.

this year, the summer list is making a return!

while baby girl is already on summer break we have a couple of days to work on the list before the little guy gets out of school for the summer.

we will need to come up with a list…and a fun way to display it!

until then, i know i would like to implement these summertime rules…

stay tuned…

home is…planning fun!

reset mode

June 1, 20153 Comments

this month i am putting myself into reset mode.

my post last week about a peek inside my introvert heart got me to thinking.

and reading.

and resting.

and reseting.

here’s the thing, i’ve known for at least a year, when i first started reading quiet (on my father in laws recommendation) that i am an introvert, but until recently i didn’t understand how that affected me…especially while being a mom.

people who know me, even my own parents, might think, “an introvert? no way!”

i’m not socially awkward, which most people think of when they think of an introvert.

the truth of the matter is that introverts can be just fine in social situations, have many friends, like entertaining, and even like public speaking!

however, like i said in last weeks post, i have learned that when i get too much of a good thing and i am wiped out.

what i have realized through reading about introverts the last week is that being a parent and being an introvert can be very draining. it makes sense to me now.

as much as i love being a stay at home mom, being “on” from the moment i wake up until the moment the kids finally go to sleep is exhausting.

it’s exhausting for anybody, really, but for somebody who needs quiet and alone time to recharge it is really difficult.

i want to do everything…

go on a date with my husband.

volunteer in the kids classes.

go for runs with the dogs.

meet friends for coffee.

take a yoga class.

entertain on the weekend.

write a blog post {or two or three}.

got to all the kids activities.

read a book.

meet friends for dinner or drinks.

create something pretty.

have play dates with the kids friends.

and, sometimes i make it all happen, but when i do i take a big hit.

not only do i take a big hit, but my husband and kids take a big hit. i get cranky, i get sick, and i need more time than i should to reset.

i am taking this month to really go into reset mode.

i am going to do things that are good for me and, in turn, good for my family.

i’m also going to write more about this because it feels good to get it out there.

home is…30 days to reset.

first feature of the backyard movie season

May 29, 201512 Comments

we had out first feature of the season in our backyard on monday night.

the cousins from new york had not seen big hero 6, so we watched it on the big screen in the backyard. it was a bit cool, so they bundled up with blankets while the adults sat around the fire.

last summer, i wrote a post about the basics of our backyard movie set up. i have included it below with some changes that we have made…

ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES

1. projector…ours is about 7 years old…it is an optoma ex530. you could use

2. laptop, iPad, or iPod…we have only connected our macbook pro to the projector…we may try streaming from the iPad now that our speaker situation has changed

3. speakers…we used to have wires connecting the speakers to the laptop, and it was just a disaster waiting to happen with kids running all over the place..we now use this bluetooth speaker

4. movie screen…i updated our movie screen by purchasing blackout curtain fabric and sewing it to fit over poles (8 ft. tree stakes) that we pound into the ground… it seems to work better as the light from the sun setting behind the screen is blocked, which means we can start our movies before it gets completely dark

5. extension cords…we plug one into the projector and one into the speaker

you’ll want to get a feel for how everything needs to be set up…do you need a table for the projector? how far should the projector be from the screen? what connects to what (i.e speakers connect to the laptop, laptop connects to the projector)?

we always do a test run by ourselves or with neighbors for our first movie of the year…there are bound to be some minor glitches and you want those worked out before you invite the entire neighborhood!

FUN STUFF

1. snacks: i purchased this popcorn maker and not only does it look cute, but it keeps ryan from spending the entire night making popcorn on the stove!

2. drinks: just like the snacks…keep it simple, BYOB, or provide something that goes along with the theme of the movie

3. blankets: thrifted quilts are awesome for backyard movie nights…i have a stash of them and put them on the grass. in the cooler months i stick a few thrifted afghans on the chairs around the fire pit and in a basket on the deck in case people need one.

4. chairs: use what you have or ask everybody to bring their own

5. twinkle lights: twinkle lights just make the whole scene magical. we have ours up year round in our backyard and it just sets the scene for a festive evening.

backyard movies have become one of my favorite things about summer in our backyard. we hope to have a lot more movie nights well into the fall…as long as the rain stays away!

have you tried a outdoor movie in your back (or front) yard? do you have any additional tips or ideas to share? please comment below!!

home is…making memories for our kids.

a peek inside my introvert heart

May 28, 201522 Comments

yesterday, i crashed.

actually, it was a spiral downhill starting on tuesday.

Screen Shot 2015-05-28 at 9.20.56 AM

i love entertaining.

i love my family and my friends.

but when i get too much of a good thing it leaves me exhausted.

my sister-in-law and i talked about it on monday evening.

we talked about how i am an introvert, and as much as i love to entertain and be around MY people, i crave time alone.

and, when i have too much time being “on”, i crash.

Screen Shot 2015-05-28 at 8.52.32 AM

i crave silence.

any bit of noise yesterday and tuesday shot right to my raw nerves.

my throat got sore, my body ached, but most of all, my mind needed quiet.

i slept all day yesterday.

the sleep was needed…the quiet was needed even more.

Screen Shot 2015-05-28 at 8.49.56 AM today, the noise isn’t so loud.

today, the to do list isn’t so daunting.

today, i will continue to recognize my need to recharge.

a year and a half ago, i began to read the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking after my father-in-law recommended it to me.

i picked it up off my nightstand last night and am determined to finish it.

are you an introvert or an extrovert?

home is…life as an introvert.

a day at the oregon coast

May 27, 20155 Comments

last sunday we got up early to head to the coast with ryan’s sister and her family.

we made a breakfast stop at camp 18 and explored some of the additions they have made to the grounds to showcase the history of logging in the pacific northwest.

i could have walked around for hours taking photos of the old rusty stuff.

this train car was particularly fascinating to me…

wooden doors…rusty metal…chippy paint…

the exterior was beautiful turquoise bead board…

isn’t that rust spot just perfect?!

i can just imagine the stories that the old walls could tell…

there was a swallow nest on one of the walls, and the mom and dad were eagerly waiting to return to their babies, but were keeping an eye on the stranger peeking in at their home…

not sure what this was used for…transporting animals was my guess…

the ferns and moss seemed to find it a good place to call home…

we decided to take a drive to ecola state park instead of just driving to cannon beach.

our kids had never been there, so it was a first for them, too!

goonies never say die…

{random fact about me: did you know that goonies is the movie that put a move to oregon in my mind? when i saw the movie in 4th grade i remember thinking, “i want to live there someday.” here i am, many years later living my dream.}

beautiful haystack rock at cannon beach just after low tide…

there was a spring of water coming off these rocks…the moss was like a carpet…

we ended up setting up a spot at indian beach and exploring for a while…

it was a perfect day for the coast.

i really liked visiting indian beach again. it’s small, not crowded and has tide pools to explore and surfers to watch. the last time i was there was with oakie.

i hope to make a handful of day trips to the coast with my kids this summer. if you live in portland and want to meet us there, leave a comment and i will put a list of e-mails together to let you know when we plan to do another day trip!

home is…at the oregon coast

strawberry fields and good beer

May 22, 20151 Comment

ryan’s sister and her family are visiting us this week.

they drove here all the way from rochester, new york!

you can see more about their travels on their blog halfway to somewhere.

on tuesday we took everybody out to kruger’s farm on sauvie island to do some strawberry picking.

after working up an appetite (although, there may have been a few strawberries eaten) we headed over to hopworks urban brewery {i wrote about the hub in one of my very first blog posts} and ended up having the banquet room all to ourselves.

to say that these cousins have fun together is an understatement!

when the kids have been at school and the cousins have been doing their own exploring, i have been busy making jam from the 20 pounds of strawberries we picked!

so far, i have made strawberry vanilla {from the book food in jars}, strawberry thyme, and strawberry basil!

this is my first time making strawberry jam and it is a lot of fun…i may sneak away to go strawberry picking by myself before the kids get out of school for the summer.

speaking of summer, this is where we will be exploring…

sun river, oregon
rochester, new york
lake pend oreille, idaho
bella beach, oregon

stay tuned…

home is…adventures with cousins!

it’s the middle of may already?!

May 14, 20155 Comments

just a few photos of what we have been up to lately…

i am going to miss my days with her when she goes to school all day in the fall…

when she was an infant and the little guy was only 2 i remember thinking, “how am i going to get through everyday with them?” and that the day would never come when they would both be in school full time. now, i am wondering, “how am i going to get through everyday without them?” and how did it get here so fast?

he still loves coffee…especially when i drink it outside in my favorite spot in the backyard…

the clubhouse is still a big hit…in this photo she was the police commander and they had a crime to solve…

the mild weather has been perfect for evenings filled with baseball…

also, due to the mild weather, the garden is going crazy…the elusive artichoke…

my happy place…

rhodies in the front garden…

i lightened up the mood in the playroom with this white granny square afghan…a thrifted find from a couple years ago…i also rainbowtized all the books…

fridays are for lacrosse…

he’s so tired by the end of the week, but he really likes lacrosse…

i can totally picture him as a goalie…

our first fishing morning of the season…the pink pole caught the first and only fish…

the little guy is so helpful…it’s amazing how they can actually fish on their own now…

there was a huge bullfrog under the dock…

we also saw two bald eagles defending their nest across the river…

baby girl had her mind set on a lemonade stand, so we made it happen…

it was a successful day…friends from the neighborhood (and all the way across town) came to get some…

i call this the best seat in the backyard…and it’s mine…

trying to get out with the dogs…this was the first of two runs on monday morning…odyssey is the best running buddy…

and, here’s crazy, i mean, rainy! she has some manners to learn and will be heading to “summer camp” in idaho soon!

we’ve got some special visitors coming in a couple of days…stay tuned!!

home is…full of springtime fun!

{our home} cha-cha-cha-changes

May 4, 20157 Comments

a lot has changed in the two years since i last did a home tour here on the blog. {actually, the tour was over at home made lovely.}

you can now see the photos from that post by clicking {our home} in the menu at the top of the page!

soon, i will post some individual tours of the rooms in our home…EVERY one has changed.

we also have a remodel that is in the works…if you follow me on instagram, you might know what i am talking about.

if not, stay tuned!

home is…always changing!

{in the garden} april 23rd

April 23, 20151 Comment

with our mild spring and winter we got an early start to our garden.

and, when i say “we”, i really mean ryan.

ryan is in charge of our veggie garden, and he started planting in early march!

he added our backyard compost that has been “cooking” for a year.

the strawberries are already coming up and flowering. they are always fun for the kids (and us) to pick.

he planted three more blueberry bushes, so we now have a total of six.

he planted a second artichoke plant…maybe this year we will actually get an artichoke!

he planted greens, which we have already started to harvest and eat.

the tomatoes are in the ground and are already starting to flower.

he also planted asparagus, potatoes, and italian oregano.

and, he planted hops.

yes. hops.

maybe he’ll be brewing his own beer soon, too.

{and, he calls ME the hippie.}

we still need to plant our basil, maybe a few peppers, some cucumber, and carrots.

we always go organic for fertilizer and pest control.

this year will be no different, but i am hoping to integrate essential oils into the pest control.

i promise a photo tour by the end of the month…we’ve got another project going on that is taking a lot of my time…stay tuned!

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home is…in the garden 2015.

*i am not a medical professional, and cannot treat, cure or diagnose you. always consult a doctor first. more than likely your doctor will not be trained in essential oils and will not know all the facts about them, so do your own research first. we are our own advocate.