December Happenings

I'm shaking off the December lethargy and have finally gotten a boatload of stuff done this week.  

On Sunday we made pretzels to give to neighbors (and a few to enjoy ourselves).  Everybody had fun rolling and twisting the dough.... and eating them hot out of the oven.  YUM!

I made teacher/ pal gifts using a printable from Our Best Bites, cozy socks, and nailpolish.   

Hanging Christmas cards from the kitchen cabinets. 

 Of all the ways to display cards that I've tried over the years, this is my favorite. 

I miss having a cozy fireplace in the winter, so I made my own!  

I had everything on hand already, and I used these general instructions.  

I hung a few ornaments from the chandelier....

And decorated the picture ledges we hung in the dining area.  

I think it needs a tiny poinsettia and it will be all done.  

I printed out these "chalkboard" drawings and framed them to hang on either side of the ledges. 

Thank goodness for Pinterest - that's where I found most of these ideas!

And finally, I received my December Birchbox a few days ago!

Perfume, dry shampoo, eye cream, $50 credit to renttherunway.com, and a tiny fragrance atomizer.

I have loved all the items I've been getting from Birchbox, and highly recommend signing up or giving a gift subscription if you have a beauty lover in your life. I'd say that for $10 a month, you receive $25-$30 in samples.  Last month included a full-size lip gloss worth $16, Kerastase hair masks, and a gorgeous metallic nailpolish.  I look forward to the 10th of the month, knowing my Birchbox is coming soon!

Let's Panic About Christmas!

I think that going away for Thanksgiving completely threw off my Christmas mojo.  I feel like I am utterly unprepared for this holly jolly season.

It's not the gift-giving.  That part is mostly covered. (mostly)

It's sort of the dog.  We're still getting used to each other.

It's sort of the fridge - after 3 weeks, it's finally coming tonight (almost a week late).

It's mostly the decorating.  I never feel like I have the time and money to do what I'd love to do.  And as  I currently own 5 plastic bins of assorted Christmas tchotchkes, I am under a family ban that prevents me from bringing in any additional decor.

I'm usually a "Make It Work" kind of girl, but this year, I just feel bummed.  My ornament-stealing dog is not helping.  His first (and hopefully last) victim:

Mary no longer has a little lamb. 

I know, I blame myself.  The second he gave those ornaments the side-eye, I should have moved them all out of reach.  But I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and I shouldn't have.  Lesson learned.  And now the bottom 2 feet of my tree is decorated with paper snowflakes.

I'm not feeling my fake tree this year.  But without a tree stand, why buy a real tree?  I still don't have the shelves hung in the dining room, and I am balking at doing anything beyond the tree until they are hung. And I'm reluctant to put out anything from the floor to about 3' up - because of Luke and his teething.

So, the tree is up, and I may just call it a day.  No outside lights.  No glittery trees.  No nativity scene.  No wreath on the door.   Just..... enough.

I Must Be Crazy: A Dog Story

My kids have been begging for a dog for years.  

Our last pet was a fish we had to leave behind when we left Oregon 5 1/2 years ago, so there has definitely been a void in our family life.  

Until recently, I didn't feel ready to take on the responsibility, and my kids weren't quite old enough/ ready enough.  But in the last few months I've thought more and more about it.  

Our trip to AZ was especially good timing because it gave me the chance to see the kids up close with 2 dogs.  The Chihuahuas were the perfect ice breaker - too small to intimidate the kids, and old enough to not exhibit puppy craziness.  Both the kids were sweet and appropriate with the dogs, and the thought grew in my head.  We also visited a mall with a pet store, and at one point Husband caught Big Sis whispering softly to a sweet looking Husky puppy in one of the large glass cases.  My heart melted when he told me.   We talked it out, and decided to gift Big Sis with a dog collar for Christmas - with the idea that we would look for a dog as a family. 

Well, as soon as we came home, I started checking the local shelters online, and came across a sweet looking brother and sister.  I drove out on Friday to see them, thinking that the girl would steal my heart. 

But no.  

It was the boy.  

Meet Luke!

He is a 5, possibly 6, month old beagle/ lab mix.  He is 20 lbs. right now, and I am hoping he gets only a little bigger.  

When we went to pick him up, we decided to surprise the kids.  We told them we had to get up on Saturday morning and go do some errands.  Despite some general grousing, they got up, and we started on the 40 minute drive.  Half way there, J asked what kind of store we were going to, and what they had there.  Husband replied "Buddy, I guarantee they will have something you like.".  

We pulled into the McDonald's parking lot, and got out, with puzzled looks on my kids' faces.  When the lady parked and proceeded to pull Luke out of the kennel, they still didn't get it.  Then I asked if we should take him home with us.  Understanding dawned, and I've never seen M look so happy.  

And now he's my 3rd child.  

Things to remember:

• He's not (wasn't) housebroken, but after just 1 solid and 2 liquid accidents, he's getting the idea that "Let's go potty" means exactly that (Outside!). 
• He had never had a collar or been on a leash, but he is adapting.   
• He was quiet both nights in his crate, and I am hoping he keeps it up.  A few whines & barks, but several stern "No's" and leaving the hall light on seem to help.  
• We decorated our tree last night, and he thinks the soft felt ornaments are toys just for Luke!   I think we're going to have to redecorate and move those out of his reach (see, 3rd child).  

Merry Christmas to us!

(Can't wait to get a Dog Whisperer book)

November? December?

As much as I love this blog, it was sort of nice to take a break in November.  The month just flew by, and I am amazed/ panicked that it is already December.  The days are long, but the months are short, and that is the sad truth.

For Thanksgiving we took a rather "last minute" trip to Arizona.  It was last minute in that we weren't planning for months to do this, but the opportunity arose, we grabbed it and overall had a really great trip.

We started off with a Thanksgiving feast at preschool.  Each child signed up for what they wanted to bring to the feast.  Our contribution was originally supposed to be "chicken and smoothies" (what?) but we changed it to "pumpkin bread".  Other contributions included rice, cereal, pancakes, strawberries, crackers, and Italian ice. It was quite a feast!

We flew out Thanksgiving morning.  There was a little hiccup with delayed flights, but Delta rerouted us, and we arrived only an hour after our original anticipated time.  Great customer service, Delta - thank you!

We stayed with my Dad, and had lots of great time visiting and getting to know his wife, and Duke and Daisy (their Chihuahuas).

We also took some family photos (yes, I might actually send out Christmas cards this year - BEFORE Christmas!).  

Did a little shooting.....

Ate some delicious Mexican food from Casa Ramos in Mesa.....

Tried fishing with cousins....

Played 'submarine' with a bin, blanket, pillow on top & a galley well-stocked with homemade pretzels.....  

 Met our new nephew....

And visited a cool Aquarium.

We also visited with friends, decorated Grandma's Christmas tree, did some shopping, and enjoyed the sunshine and 80 degree temperatures.  It wasn't enough to make me want to move back to Arizona, but it was great while it lasted.

Kitchen & Dining Update

Even though I've pretty much given up on finishing a timely and regular William Morris post, I am still DOING them.  And last weekend, I decided on a whim that it was time to paint the kitchen and dining room.  I've been procrastinating for months, and I really wanted to get it done before the holidays so I could stop looking at those drab, sad walls.  

Let's take a trip back to the very beginning, shall we?

This is what it looked like when we bought it.  

Wallpaper, a border, and an odd, slightly sick looking pale grey-green paint.  

And let's not forget the green cloth vertical blinds!  Months later they were still coated with pet hair and dust, despite repeated cleanings!  

I stripped the wallpaper last Fall, leaving two-tone walls and scrapes to be patched.  

A few months ago we dumped the ceiling fan and hung a new chandelier.  

And then last weekend, fueled by a sleepless Friday night, I decided it was time to paint!  I was going to use the leftover gallon of Creamy Mushroom from the front room, figuring that it was neutral enough to work while we decided how far to take the kitchen remodel (to paint the cabinets or not?  replace counter top?  do nothing?).  At the last minute, the Voice of Reason - aka Husband - pulled me aside & asked if that was what I really wanted.  It wasn't, and so I showed him my very first inspiration image: 

(this was taken from a home tour at The Kitchn, and the homeowner is actually Under the Sycamore)

What I really wanted was a pale, happy blue, with white cabinets and butcherblock counters, and updated appliances.  

So we whipped out the paint chips, picked one, and I ran down to my favorite home improvement store to buy some last minute paint.  

Ta Da!

This is Heavenly Blue by Martha Stewart, color matched into Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint.  

In some of these pics it reads very "baby boy blue", but I swear, it's not.  

Of course I painted the trim white (yes, the wood doors will go white too, but they are really damaged from the previous pets, and I didn't have time/ the desire to fix them right now).  

Do you like the clutter and the missing vent cover?  Just keepin' it real out here.  

We all love the color.  It makes me happy just walking into the room, and isn't that the point of personalizing your home?  And it even got me pumped to paint the cabinets in the Spring.  Best $32 I have spent in a looooong time!

Belated Halloween

This year I did not make a single item for their costumes.  It was bittersweet.  I sort of like working with them to come up with an idea, then stitching it together.  But not spending the night before finalizing the costumes was very, very sweet.    

First up: MARIO from Mario Brothers.  

He is obsessed & has worn the hat EVERY. DAY. since.

He did hate the oversized fake moustache that came with the costume, so it was eyeliner to the rescue.  

SuperGirl and Mario at the church Trunk-or-Treat.  

**SuperGirl costume was bought at Walmart after Halloween last year.  Nothing like a $5 costume!

We finally got around to doing our pumpkins on Saturday afternoon (We trick-or-treat the Saturday before Halloween.  Don't ask.  It's weird.).  One carved, the other painted.  Everyone was happy!

Pirate pumpkin.  Arrrrrgggggh!

This was the ONE shot I snapped on Saturday night before my camera died.  

Great planning, Mom.  

This year was fun because Daddy was home!  The kids insisted that I stay on the porch and pass out candy while Daddy walked them around the neighborhood.  Worked for me - I got to see all the little cuties in their costumes (I just love the babies!!) and he got to experience the mad rush of our neighborhood (we get about 100-150 kids door-to-door). Note for next year: put a glow stick INSIDE their bag or bucket.  Gives a little more visibility in our dark, dark neighborhood.  Plus it's easier to see the candy pile up inside.  

Thankful Thursday #1

As much as I'd like to take a break from blogging until, oh, January, instead, I am encouraging myself to write and to embrace the month of November.  So now that we are on the downhill slide to Christmas (8 weeks and counting!), I am plunging into the spirit of the month and posting for Thankful Thursdays.  

Today, I am thankful for my husband.  Actually, I am thankful for him every day, but TODAY I'm going public with that information.  

He truly is a perfect match for me.  He tempers my crazy with his even-keeled personality.  He supports me in my hair-brained home decorating ideas.  He likes my cooking.  He has a silly side he shows to few, but I happen to be included in that group.  He is a great father, and makes really cute kids.  He is a hard worker, dedicated, persistent, loyal, focused, and let's face it - handsome.  That last one may be hard to tell from the shots below (he is notoriously camera shy), but I assure you, it is very, very true.  And did I say smart?  Oh yes, that too.    

He is my husband, my partner, my best friend, and I am one lucky girl.