Moving Forward

I'd like to scream right now.

Breaking the sugar habit is tough.

Really tough when your children win JUMBO cookies

and bags of goodies at their school Germ Fest, I mean, Fun Fair.

I could sit and stare at it.

Maybe even sneak a little piece.

but instead I'm going to crank up the tunes....

Walk away.

and get this body moving.....

Stop back Monday for some pics of the Art Room.

It's getting there.

I can see the floor and the countertops now.

Just don't ask to see our playroom.

Because I moved most of it in there.

-Julie

My Soffits Are Bare

And I need your advice....

Do they look too bare?

No wallpaper...I've torn miles of that off these walls. (Sorry Dad)

I have barn wood (Thanks Dad)...that I could paint a word or phrase on...

I could stencil again...last time it was Swedish words for baking ingredients.

But I've done that already.

I could hang some white plates.....

Advice?

I'm thinking the wood Swedish calendar from Grandma Izzy

is looking lost under the stove hood.

Thought of a mirror there or an old platter.

Advice?

Loving the Anthro spice jars.

This side looks like it needs something.

"EAT" is under the cabinets....the word that is.

This is a rambly choppy post.

Kind of like my week.

The dentist's office called this morning and the hygenist is sick.

I jumped up and down.

Not because she's sick....

but because I have the gift of a morning.

The girls had storybook character day at school.

Meet Daisy-Head Mayzie, Linnea (original huh?), and Snow White.

God Bless Snow White.

Her costume was easy.

Daisy-Head Mayzie was a dot of glue with the glue gun.

Linnea, well, that took some work.

Thank goodness for America Idol.

My sewing machine broke.

My mom's not around anymore to help me with sewing problems...

or any other problems...

and I miss that.

I could have used some serious advice on the smock.

We sewed it by hand from a sheet.

You can't see much of it here...and that's a good thing.

I'm praying the smocking doesn't unravel while she plays at recess....

Off to tutor.

-Julie

Looking at Pretty Things

My girls love looking at pretty things.

Like watching butterflies

in a beautiful butterfly garden at a local farm.

I love watching them look at pretty things

from behind my camera lense.

I like looking at pretty things too,

and collect way too many of them.

Here's what it looks like when I look at pretty things.

I almost didn't show it to you,

but I'm working on being more transparent.

I pulled EVERYTHING out of the drawers last weekend

...and I mean everything.

I dumped the baskets.

I dumped the pretty containers...

and I've sifted through this pretty little mess.

I have one more pile to sift through today.

It's the one under the table.

Can you see it?

I need to learn how to write on my pics...but I'm not that techy yet.

The adding machine isn't mine.

It's Sofi's.

She asked Santa to bring it for Christmas last year when she was five.

He did.

I've never asked for an adding machine.

I don't want to know how much this pile cost me.

Would you?

Today I'd like to do anything but sift through this pile.

My ADD brain is a few steps ahead.

I'm on to the next room.

The walls and ceilings are painted.

Things are back in order.

My "impractical, fun, cute things" are back on the walls.

The quote is Mark's.

He'll be helping me hang the "impractical, fun, cute things."

Like the door from the neighbors curb.

And the peely paint broken window frames.

And the skis as my new banister rail.

Soon I can create more pretty things.

But for today, I'll be sitting on the floor under this table.

Looking at pretty things.

Filing away.

Containerizing. That's a word isn't it?

Pitching.

Giving away.

And maybe I'll find a few pretty things to pass on, to you

my sweet readers

who have taken the time to read this silly little story...

that I write while procrastinating.

Off I go...

to look at some pretty things.

The Last Spray

There's only one squirt left in this magic bottle of hairspray.

And I'm using it tomorrow.

Tomorrow's just another day, but every day is a special occasion.

When Grandma Izzy passed away 3 years ago, there were about 5 bottles of this magic spray.

I took 3.

Aunt Barb took the rest.

It's really good.

And it's lasted for over 3 years.

It was the last thing I shopped for on her grocery list.

I still have the list.

I returned with her hairspray, and found a shelf full in her bathroom.

It made me smile.

I'm thankful the two Izzy's in my life met.

None of us share blood, and you know what?

It never mattered.

There was a bond that stretched miles across the ocean.

Someday I'll share more about how these two amazing people came into my life.

One when I was 14.

The other when I was 32.

And my life will never be the same.

Izzy on her baptism day.

She was Ella then.

Last year she chose to go by Izzy.

And Grandma would be really proud.

-Julie

Missing Those Days

Today is one of those days when I miss the kids being little...

Five years ago the girls looked like this.

So sweet.

So innocent.

Ok.

Maybe not so innocent?

This was taken a day later.

I know, I should have put Sofi's clothes on...

or tended to Linnea's bump...

or taken Izzy off of the table.

But I grabbed my camera....

and five years later,

I'm glad that I did.

Maybe I don't miss the chaos of life 5 years ago?

Who am I kidding?

It's still chaos.

And I love it that way.

-Julie

*correction...it looked like it was a day later in my iphoto gallery...it wasn't...it was almost a year later...whoops..mommy brain!

Little Things Make Me Happy

I've come up from the depths of the art room reorganization to check on my sick dh, hug a tired little girl who crashed doing a somersault off of her bottom bunk (not who you think! :), and clean up a dog mess.

Stopped in to check blogland for a few minutes of bliss, and was delighted to see I've been nominated by Beauty in the Attempt for my first blog award. What an honor! Check out her sweet little world , as she studies away and creates a beautiful home too. I'm happy to pause for a moment and think about 10 things that make me happy....in no particular order. I'm thankful for a moment to peruse old photos and share them with you!

1. Taking time to relax with friends and family after a long busy day.

2. Boots, skirts, and fun tights in happy colors on a gloomy Winter day. So far my kids aren't embarrassed to be seen with me....
3. Eating healthy fresh foods.

4. Reading a great book to my kids. I could have majored in Children's Literature, but it wasn't an option....did the Elementary Education and English Lit. major instead.
5. Singing very loud to my happy music.
6. Gardening and playing in the yard.
7. Baking with my kids....usually something not too healthy.
8. A good cup of coffee or tea.

9. A walk or run near any body of water...
10. Making something.

Passing on this sweet happy award to 10 other bloggers, who may have received this honor before. Pay them a visit and enjoy a few more minutes of happy blogging bliss....

1. Chair-up

2. Beyond the Picket Fence

3. Casa Mia

4. Donatella Style

5. Dreamy Whites

6. Dusty Lu

7. Whatever

8. Home and Harmony

9. Join my Joy

10. Made 2 Create

Happy Weekend. Off to the depths to continue my organizational nightmare!

Ladder Meets Homecoming Dress

Meet the marriage of my old paint splattered ladder and the taffeta polka dot ruffle from my Homecoming dress. I know, it's crazy that I've saved it for 20 years...BUT, I liked the material!

Finally it has a home on my "new" kitchen bulletin board. Mark patiently made the foam board/ cork board backing, and I dug through my fabric looking for some inspiration. I wrapped it around and hot glue gunned it to the back. I had just enough, and love the subtle velvet polka dots scattered behind the pictures. Makes me happy even now while I type.

Before the kitchen paint job, picture frames floated in the holes, and it never quite worked.
Now I can change the pictures easily. Pins are simple ones from my sewing stash.
It's the little things that make me happy. Now back I go to the art room chaos. I'm taking EVERYTHING out. Cleaning, painting, and purging...wish me luck!

What I'd like to be doing....

...is sitting here on my canoe, with a blanket, cup of tea, and a book.

Instead my girls are home from 1/2 day kindergarten, and we are in the middle of ripping apart the art room. I pulled everything out of the closet, removed the shelves, and am starting from square one. I'm putting all of my supplies in there, so I'm left with counterspace, a work table, and my chandelier. A blank slate, ready to create art.

My dad built this canoe in High School, and used it on many canoe trips with his buddies. The numbers are from a canoe race that he and my brother were in. After we bought the house, I decided the canoe hanging in the garage (that Mark bumped his head on repeatedly), would be the perfect window seat in our living room. Dad assured me he'd help me find another one more suitable and could take this one away. I was bummed.

Months later Dad called and said to load up the kids and hurry to see what he had found. It was a hideous aqua fiberglass canoe sitting curbside. He asked me to help haul it home, and told me I could chop his canoe in 1/2 and make it into the windowseat. I was ecstatic, and Mark and his friend did a terrific job. In the corner there is a "trap door" loaded with more blankets and pillows. On snowy days the kids love to take off the cushions and play on the canoe. On snowy days I prefer to sitting here with a really good book....

Sugar Anyone?

Since I'm cutting back on sugar, I thought I'd have fun decorating with it.

Eating Well

This was a quick addition to the kitchen paint job. Letters are from Hobby Lobby and were $1.99 each. Two coats of black paint, and some old family silverware attached with strong bond adhesive. Done.

It's been a year since I was back on the vegetarian route...and vegan since May. Now to cut out the sugar ....and get back to running more on my treadmill. It's still colder than I'd like here in IL, and I miss my daily runs by the river.

So, this is a little reminder to me to do some healthy eating and sit down with some silverware. :)

Any good recipes or snack ideas??

Happy Valentine's Day

Best Roll-Out Cookie Dough Recipe Ever!

I found this recipe when Carl was 2 and was into Winnie the Pooh. I bought some cookie cutters, and this was on the back of the package. No need to refrigerate the dough, it's super easy and fast.

Preheat oven to 400.

Cream together: 1 cup softened butter, 1 c. sugar

Beat in: 1 egg and 1 t. Vanilla

Add 2 t. baking powder and 3 c. flour

Blend, and roll out as desired. Bake for 6-7 minutes. I top with white fluffy frosting. YUM.
These are full-proof cinnamon rolls. I tried to make into hearts for today. They looked a lot better after being baked and frosted...but they were gone too fast to take a pic!

www.recpes.bhg.com/recipes/recipedetail.jsp?recipeld=R056603
This is from Family Fun online. Linnea carefully wrapped out fun-size kit-kat bars, and assembled with the Hershey's Hugs as earbuds. They were easy to make with a square and circle punch. The kids loved them!

More Inspiration

I could get lost in blogland on this site. There are amazingly crafty people in blogland repurposing little treasures in their homes. This is a neat weekly challenge.

Haiti By Hand

One of the most inspiring artists I know is Rebecca Sower. I've followed her from her early days at Creating Keepsakes, to her wonderful book Scrapbooking Life's Little Treasures. Her soulful style is what has inspired the way I decorate, and how I journal on a page with photos. Her style is continually evolving, and you can find her often in the pages of Somerset Studio or any of their publications. She was in Haiti this Winter and returned just before the earthquake hit. Her work has inspired many artists to participate in a auction to raise money for Haiti. There is also an etsy shop. Please take a look! The variety and talent is amazing, and all of the money goes to Haiti. My Izzy was inspired to paint 2 acrylic boards, and her work sold yesterday. She painted water coming from the sky, and a water tower. The water was in rainbow colors "because the people need the water and it makes them happy!"

DIY Friday

This is a neat link to some really amazing repurposed items. I added a link to my "new" kitchen curtain.

Dreaming in White 2

More details......

I love the textures viewed in this mirror. The architectural piece is suspended over the mirror using ribbon attached to the back. Across the room is the other mirror, purchased at Menards and whitewashed with paint. Chandelier and floorlamp from Ikea, curtains Pottery Barn. Wedding veil is attached to an antique headpiece and hanging from the ceiling.

Dreaming in White

White outside, and white in our bedroom....

This is a section of my baby crib that hangs over our bed. It was Cousin Lenor's, then Dad's, then Aunt Barb's, then me, then my brother David and sister Katie. I think it was in the attic for many years...until we bought this home from my parents in 2000. Dad put it in the garage sale...gasp....and I saved this piece. The netting above it is my wedding veil.

The old nightstand wasn't working, so I decided to drag this in while Winterizing the yard...perfect!

Draped my garter from my wedding day over the floor lamp...

More pics to come tomorrow....