Making a House a Home cont.

It's amazing what you get done when you know you are expecting company for the first time on the same day that you start a new job and have a birthday in the family! I have been meaning to sew some curtains and a table cloth, hang some pictures and and paint some bottles for decorations. Well, yesterday I hit the ground running and got it all done! Yes, I got it ALL done. :)

Here are my projects in lots of pictures and few words...

Jared officially has curtains in his room!!

Here is a close-up of the fabric on the bottom.

My bathroom also got a curtain to cover the blinds.  Beware, we have a tiny bathroom even though it is called the "Master" bath.

 Here is a close-up of the fabric I used.

Spring is here and my kitchen table is screaming it loud and clear with its new tablecloth!

There is a new wall hanging to the right of the table, but I failed to get a picture of it.  It is a black metal sun with a mirror in the center. 

Remember that table I painted white, well I finally have some decorations on it.  I painted wine bottles and beer bottles then added some coral and drift wood I found on the beach.  I'm diggin' it! 

Again...

And since I painted an extra beer bottle, I decided to make a bracelet, necklace, ring holder!  Take the bottle, place bracelets over the neck, put a stick in the bottle with a fork in it.  Hang necklaces from one and place rings on the other.

Have you been crafting lately?  If so, please feel free to share!

Much love.

MIA

Hello Readers

I apologize for being MIA.  We have beautiful weather (70's-80's and sunny) and it is my last week before working on a FT basis, so I have a long to do list which happens to be written on the living room mirror for all to see and not be forgotten. 

I'll be back in a few days with a post on a date to the Williamsberg Winery, another on my new glasses, and possibly one on some new clothing I purchased for work!  Oh and most likely a St. Patrick's Day extravaganza post for this Irish cutie!  If it rains, there will be more posts, but if it's sunny...well, just don't look at your computer and you won't know the difference!

Much love. 

Fresh Air & Sunshine, Baby!

This week brought Virginia some beautiful weather and it was much appreciated!  I soaked in the sunshine, breathed the fresh air and enjoyed the first signs of many freckles to come!  Coming off of a weekend of rain, Lira and I made the most of the sunshine!

We spent hours in the backyard weeding, turning soil, running in figure-eights, planting bulbs, taking pictures and enjoying each other!  She is such a little cuddle bug! 

She also loves sitting on the edge of the porch just sniffing the air, listening to the neighborhood dogs bark and licking her lips.

Sitting guard.

Licking lips.

Sniffing.

The first signs of spring are still popping!  The frost didn't kill off everything Praise the Lord!  This Rose Bud tree is one of my favorites!  This is just the beginning of the beauty!  I will be sure to post updated pictures of this baby in the future!  For now, I am enjoying her little buds!

And this beauty is still blooming!  The frost got to her a bit, but she is on the rebound!  Flowering trees are beautiful! 

Weeds or flowers...I go with the glass half full perspective and say flowers in my yard!  While I spread grass seed weekly and hope to have a beautiful lawn, the reality of it is, the bunnies eat the grass seed and these pretty weeds dominate my yard.  Mine as well enjoy their beauty!  Hey, maybe I'll find a four leaf clover!

 The little blue flowers are super cute too!

Everywhere I look there is a beautiful reminder that with death comes new birth.  The world around me is still grey and brown, but the grass is turning green in places, leaves are sprouting, and flowers are beginning to bloom!  It's a beautiful world!

With nice weather comes active little critters.  With active little critters, comes an interested little hunter puppy! She is a sniffing machine these days!  It's almost like she is a dog!

I'm rarely in pictures these days, so I asked Ryan to take a few photos of Lira and I.  They aren't the best due to the time of day, but they are still cute!  She loves to be held like a baby!

Don't we look alike?!?!  hehe!

And as you probably know, I absolutely love getting mail.  On Thursday, I received a package from My Blue Eyed Beauty (MBYB) and it was Vienna Fingers!!!  We were on the phone a few nights earlier reminiscing about high school and snacks our mama's used to pack us when Vienna Fingers came up!  They were the go to cookie that our mom's packed, but neither one of us had had them in so long...nor could we seem to find them in the stores.  Guess who found them and sent them several states?!?! MBYB did, that's who!!!  I jumped for joy, smiled wide and ate half the bag!!  Who's a fatty?  I'm a fatty!

Love you Chica! 

As for friends...I love them! I'm super lucky to have such wonderful girlfriends all over the country who are faithful, honest, funny, wacky, and super awesome!  We range in height, education level, creativity, athletic ability, style, and the list goes on, but we all have one thing in common, a love for each other!  Thank you girlies! 

Here's my Thursday trivia gang!  Tacos Cali style, fun drinks, a great atmosphere and good conversation makes for a fun night out!

Much love.

Scallions

We use Scallions in eggs, mashed potatoes and randomly for seasoning.  It wasn't until recently while browsing Pinterest that I came across a pin indicating that if you put your scallions in water after using most of the green onion portion, they will sprout!

As you can see, it totally works!  I literally chopped my scallions down to about an inch or two of green, put them in a little jar with water, left them on my windowsill in my kitchen and walla, sprouts started within days!! 

I honestly believe, I will never have to buy scallions again in my life!  I know they are cheap, but hey, every penny counts these days! Plus, they make for a cute little inside decoration!  I love have live plants in my house. 

Anyone know of any other plants I can do this with? 

Much love.

Words & Tunes

Quotes.

"Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars [and clouds]."

~Les Brown

My AP Calculus teacher told me this very quote when I was applying to colleges and I have never forgotten it.  If you don't shoot for the stars, you'll never know what you are fully capable of.  I've learned this time and time again.  Get out there. Try new thing. So what if you fall. You're strong. Get back up.  That's what I do.  That's what I was taught to do. That's what I want my kids to do.  I only hope that I can teach them that through the love, support, encouragement and optimism that I have to give them. 

"Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance,

My calmness for acceptance,

And my kindness for weakness."

~Anonymous

True dat.

When I am silent, I am thinking and thinking hard while most likely biting my tongue.  When I am calm, I'm retreating into myself because I believe it is better to think before reacting.  Remember there's generally a calm before a storm.  Luckily, I rarely become a storm, but if I do, don't tell me you weren't warned. Hehe! 

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right--

for you'll be criticized anyway."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

My mama always said follow your gut and listen to your heart.  They know more than you know.  I believe this through and through.  If your gut tells you something is wrong. Remove yourself from the situation immediately.  If your heart tells you to go for it, take the plunge, let yourself love, then do it!  It will heal if it is broken.  Life isn't easy, but I'd rather it be exciting and challenging then safe and boring. 

"Music gives a soul to the universe,

Wings to the Mind,

Flight to the Imagination,

And Life to Everything."

~Anonymous

Music.

Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars (The Hunger Games)

I heard this song for the first time today and fell in love.  T. Swift is a great artist in my opinion and this song is not different, but completely different at the same time.  Her voice is higher, sweeter and a bit more "blue grassy" or something. 

Adele.  I love her.  She is better live than recorded which screams TALENTED to me!  

Books.

Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected, a Memoir by Kelle Hampton is a book that I am thoroughly looking forward to reading!  I preordered it and will for sure write a book review for it!  I follow Kelle over at Enjoying the Small Things.  She is a wonderful writer, photographer and person!  I am sure her book will reflect those wonderful things.  In the meantime, here is a sneak peak at what the book has to offer.

I'm in the process of reading a book about the Catholic faith, Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose by Matthew Kelly.

It is new and focuses on key questions that are difficult to answer at times, the scandals that have been going on in the Church, the fact that Catholics are leaving the church, the facts - numbers, the good the Church does, and the need for Catholics to become more educated in their faith.  I rarely read about my faith, but that's to my ever questioning husband, I will be reading more so that I can better answer his questions.  I will let you all know how the book is when I finish it!

Much love.

Rainy Days...

This weekend was rainy and while my golfer husband doesn't enjoy the rain at all, I kindly remind him that without rain his lovely golf courses would be quite brown and ugly.  He loves me so much when I tell him that!  Needless to say, rainy weekends call for messy houses because we are all trapped inside, lots of laundry from the week and the mud, movies, cuddles, good books, and the list goes on. 

This weekend I did lots of laundry with a little help from Lira!  Yes, that pile is that big.  The amount of laundry a little boy, grown man and myself make in a week is amazing.

J-man and I took advantage of the rain and crafted!  We had to get creative because we didn't have much to go with.  This banner was the result of our crafting.  Mine creations are the middle two.  The bookends are J-man's.

Oh and the little man had baseball tryouts this weekend as well! The outdoor fielding tryouts were canceled, but the indoor hitting tryouts went really well!  Little man hit all of the pitches with one foul tip.  Ryan said he was one of the better kids! 

Puppies at doors make me smile!  Her little paws knocking at the door and her little head peaking in at me are precious!

But with rain and comes wet puppies and muddy paws, so towel rubs are one hundred percent necessary.

Another thing that puts a smile on my face...Surprise Packages from Grandparents!! And when those surprise packages are handmade, my smile grows a bit more!  J-man was the lucky recipient of the package this time!

It's soft. It's flexible. We already know it's handmade. What could it be??

It's an apron!!! 

He thinks it's super cool!!

Time to Bake!!!

The cutest thing was when he asked me if Great Gran sewed every thread!  I was very tempted to say Yes because she is that amazing, but I was honest and told him she hand picked the fabric and then sewed the apron for him.  After inspecting the entire apron, trying it on and asking what the pocket was for, he promptly hung it up with my aprons!  It was super sweet! 

Much love.

Every Dime Counts: Team Twenty Toes

Aren't these twins precious?

They were born prematurely and have had their ups and downs, but thankfully, with lots of prayers, love, and doctor's appointments, they are going strong and being spoiled with love, laughter and even a little sister!

A year later...

...and these babes are cuter than ever!

Almost two years later... 

...and they are sillier than ever!

How many toes do you have with twins? 

Why, you get Twenty Toes!  Twenty super cute and wiggly toes! 

These Twenty Toes along with their family are marching in the Walk of Dimes: March for Babies this April!  If you are able, please support The March for Babies through the ever so cute "Team Twenty Toes"!  If you follow the link, you can march, donate or do both.  If you are unable to donate for any reason, please say a little prayer for these babes and for all infants. 

Thank you!

Much love.

Time To Go Shopping!

No girl can start a NEW JOB without a new pair of shoes, maybe a few shirts, definitely a few cute sweaters to keep her warm when the men of the office turn the A/C on full blast, a cute skirt...and who knows what else will catch her eye!

Yes, yes, ladies and gents, this gal has officially accepted an offer with a wonderful company which will remain anonymous for the time being.  I accepted a Financial Analyst II position and am excited to put my Masters degree to work!  I don't start for a few weeks, so in the meantime, I will be cleaning, organizing, working out and enjoying fresh air because all of those things will be limited in the very near future.  I will be sure to keep you all posted on my progress and feelings.

As of right now, I am beyond excited, but I am also a wee bit sad.  J-man and I finally have a great routine down and now I am throwing a huge wrench in it.  I am hoping to find a babysitter who can come to the house and get him off the bus, allowing him to maintain his regular routine.  Leaving Miss Lira home all day by herself is also saddening me.  When I leave for an hour I feel guilty.  Leaving for an entire day, five days a week, is going to torture me.  I'm secretly hoping that I will be able to bring her to work with me.  I know I am crazy.  She is the PERFECT OFFICE DOG though.  She loves to sleep. Never barks. Never has accidents. Loves to be with me. Does NOT shed. What more can you want?!?!  I'm also a bit bummed because I won't be able to enjoy hanging out with Ryan when he gets home early...which happens once a week-ish.  So while I am being true to my Catholic upbringing and killing myself with guilt, I am also excited and really trying to enjoy my last few weeks of long walks, photography, coffee with friends, visits to the beach, glorious books, workout routines, and random naps.

Below are a few photos I shot this evening around dusk...or a little after...of my beautiful flowering tree.  Here's to hoping we don't have another frost that kills off all of the buds.  While I am loving this warm weather, the flowers are being tricked and I fear this spring won't be quite as vibrant because some flowers will already have bloomed and died from frost.

Much love.

Read Across America

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! 

You were and still are a loved literary figure in my life!  From the sound of my little brother reading One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish at the age of two, to scouring the pages of Wacky Wednesday as a youngster, hearing How the Grinch Stole Christmas,  following along with Horton Hears a Who!, receiving The Places You'll go when I graduated college (yes, I said college my friends), I will forever hold fond memories of your wonderful stories! 

You teach littles their ABC's, how to count, an abundance of lessons and in some cases with your simple story structures the confidence that they can actually read! 

Reading is a love of mine!  Escaping into a good book, living through literary figures, admiring the author's writing style and enjoying some personal time is divine. 

Recently, I finished reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.  It is a nonfiction book based on the travels of a young man across America.  Letters, journals and personal encounters are compiled of the young man's journey along with Jon's personal experiences and research are blended together to tell a story of...that is for you to figure out.  Each reader reacts and feels differently.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to men and women alike.  It was referred to me by my best girlfriend and also by a good guy friend, so that alone should confirm that it is not a girly book.

I also read the Hunger Games series.  My recommendation is to read them. Period. They are an easy quick read, but they are great and the first movie is coming out this month!  I read all three in 5 days. They are page turners for sure!

Much love.