A Wonderful Surprise

Woke up this morning to a wonderful surprise, rain falling outside my window could this be the start of my California winter? Beautiful gray skies and over stuffed clouds bring relief to our landscape, oh how I hope this weather will stay. It's time for hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, sitting under cozy blankets next to the fire while watching a movie. I can't think of a better way to spend Saturday with my kids, oh did I mention the fresh baked banana bread? Yep this is going to be a wonderful rainy day.

Bring On Christmas

Well I am still stuffed from yesterdays fabulous feast and now the hectic frenzy that is known as Christmas can begin. Time to bring out the Christmas decorations, start addressing Christmas cards, and filling our homes with the delicious smells of holiday baking. Christmas pageants and Secret Santa's what a wonderful time of year.

I need to start on my front living room project and finish my bedroom armoire. I know I said I would post pictures but a funny thing happened when I placed the armoire in my bedroom it changed the character of the room so much that I need to go out and buy new curtains, lamp shades, and a comforter set. So I don't want to post any pictures until the whole room is put together. I want you all to have the full affect of what I am trying to create I guess it is the perfectionist in me. I hate having incomplete projects it affects my concentration with everything in my life.

So today I will finish the ageing process on my armoire put up the new curtains and well I should say I HOPE to finish the ageing process all my babies are home enjoying their holiday from school so I will just have to accept that I will accomplish what I can and enjoy them the rest of the day.

A Shabby Chic Christmas

I am so excited I can hardly contain myself I just spoke with my hubby and expressed to him the changes I would like to make to the front living rooms decor and his response to me was "Whatever you want to do babe" that is my favorite response!! So now I have some sewing to do, it is off to Joanne's fabrics to gather up some cream and red toile print fabric to recover some of the pillow cushions on my couch and new candles of course.Compared to the rest of my house the front living room has a very modern look. I am not certain why I ever even picked this particular couch set I'm sure I picked it because it is cream colored and very comfortable but the geometric patterns on the pillows have always bothered me.

So a plan was concocted, I am going to turn the pillows over and expose the solid cream color and make toile pillow coverings for the smaller pillows changing the look of the couches to something I actually like!! Why has it taken me 10 years to figure this out? Because I am that slow people!!

We will be having a Shabby Chic Christmas!!! I am going to get a tiny Charlie Brown Christmas tree have it flocked white with a burlap bottom and have it displayed on the formal living room table.I simply can not wait, the look that I have been trying to create for years is finally coming together one decorative accent at a time.

Busy Little Bee

I have been a busy little bee today, my homes condition was effecting my comfort levels, my inner peace, my spiritual feng shui, my inner chi, basicly my house was dirtier than I felt comfortable with.I was trying to let go let loose and not care so much about cleaning but I just couldn't do it.So I cleaned my house from top to bottom inside and out washed the dog and clipped his nails.

Now I feel great and what I discovered while cleaning my house is that I accept myself and accept that I like having a clean house. If my house makes you feel uncomfortable because it is too clean than don't come and visit me!! I am fed up with people making me feel like there is something wrong with me because my house is clean!!

I make the condition of my home where I raise my family a priority so don't try to make changes in me and how I clean so you can feel better about how you live and the condition of YOUR house. If you don't mind clutter than live in clutter, embrace it. I don't go to your house and make faces or try to make you live cleaner life anyway my rant is over and I feel better about my house myself and my choices.

~*Armoire*~

The armoire is finished and in my bedroom my stubborn hubby had his way and he and his friend lugged the massive piece up the stairs and into our bedroom and it looks absolutly beautiful.I am going to take pictures tomorrow so I can photograph it in the best light, I will post pictures on Monday.

Working Hard

My hubby and I have been very busy these past few days working on my armoire today we will be putting the finishing coats of paint on it and let me tell you it is BEAUTIFUL!! I can not wait to post pictures to show all my blog~world friends the before and afters.I think my sister~in~law might have some regrets about giving the armoire away but as they say no gives~ees backs~ees.Now if only I could convince my hubby to keep the armoire downstairs he is a mule he just won't budge!! Perhaps when he actually starts to move this monster piece he will come up with the idea to keep it downstairs.*wink*wink*



Does anyone else feel like this month has just flown by?I was just reminded that next week is Thanksgiving!!! I just can't believe how quickly the new year is approaching.As a kid it seemed as if Christmas would never come now as a parent I think oh my gosh Christmas is coming so quickly give me a chance to shop!!I still love this time of year even if it does stress me out.I can't wait to see the smiles on my boys faces as all the Christmas decorations start to go up around the house.

Waking up in the morning to the smell of our Christmas tree snuggling up in big blankets and watching Christmas movies.Yes the stress of the season I would say is well worth it.

~Prayer Of The Day*~

Heavenly Father,thank you for leading me with your gentle and loving hands.Give me the strength and hope to move forward into a life of victory you have prepared for me.

Great Show

Last night I was watching a television show on the Style Network called Clean House.I am sure you know were I am going with this, I have been accused of being a clean freak and rightfully so I think some people have the wrong impression of me and my cleanliness because when I visit peoples homes the first or second thing that comes out of their mouths is "Welcome to the dirty house."

I don't see peoples homes that way but they seem to make it a point to comment on the condition of their house to the condition of mine.It makes me feel uncomfortable when people say those things to me because as I said before I don't see my friends homes that way.If they were hoarders like the people on the Clean House Show then yes I would be taken back by the condition of the home.It's ironic that I clean my house so people will feel comfortable in my home but they feel uncomfortable because my house is clean.

I would like to know where is my show? Where is the Cleanest House Show? How about you give me and my family a trip to Disneyland while you redecorate my house with very expensive furnishings because I know how to maintain my house!! Where is that show Style Network?!?! I don't have clutter so I an not worthy well I can have clutter kind of, well I can make a real attempt to have clutter or whatever the idea of getting rewarded for being messy or lazy or busy just gets under my skin.


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~*Congratulations*~

Today my hubby's parents celebrate 21 years of wedded bliss.They are two of my very most favorite people whom I simply adore!! They are wonderful parents, grandparents, and friends we aspire to have a marriage and friendship like they have.

Vintage

Well the armoire is here my hubby kept his promise and brought it home!! Now it is not a "true" armoire, it is a television armoire that is made to look vintage but I don't care cause it is scratched up and looks old my two favorite qualities in furniture.Now I find myself trying to convince my hubby of placing my new armoire with a smaller television in the downstairs family room and moving the big screen television upstairs to the playroom.I am hoping the fact that the big screen television weighing considerable less than the armoire making the big screen easier to move will be the persuading factor for him.



I have become obsessed with collecting old vintage photos.I am not certain how I will use them as accents of design in my house just yet but I think I might have an idea.Should it matter that I don't even know these people? I don't know I just love vintage photographs their look, the expression on the peoples faces and how in the photos the sense of innocents,simplicity,and virtue is captured.When I figure out how to display them I will post pictures of my completed design project to share with you.



Today my boys have the holiday off from school and from the playroom my wild things are making a raucous as my 2 year old is clearly King of these wild things!!What a wonderful surprise for my baby today to have his brothers home to play with and spend his day with he misses them so much when they are gone at school all day.

Sweet Relief

Sweet relief from my vanilla coffee coming to rescue my day *AAHHH* what a great way to start your morning.I can honestly say I am addicted to my vanilla coffee it has the power to set the tone of my day since I haven't been able to enjoy my coffee just the way I like it, these past few days have been rough.

The drastic changes in the weather are not helping me either one day it is 65*degrees the next week we are in the low 80*s it is driving me and my sinuses nuts!!I am not the only family member with sinus issues my two little boys have been suffering from sinus problems I hate when my kids are uncomfortable or sick.



~*Good News*~

My hubby said today we would be going to pick up my new armoire from my sister~in~laws house I am so excited I can barely contain myself.I hope it doesn't take me another 10 years to get an old upright piano.Oh my goodness the thought of owning an armoire and upright piano sends me spinning!! My former neighbor got an old upright piano from of all places Good Will, for something like $200 dollars.I WANT AN OLD UPRIGHT PIANO FOR $200 DOLLARS!!! I think I need to calm down and be grateful for my armoire and enjoy that blessing, focus on what I DO have not what I don't.



~*Prayer For The Day*~

Keep on asking and it will be given to you;keep on seeking and you will find;keep on knocking reverently and the door will be opened to you.
(Matthew 7:7)

A Great Weekend

What a lovely family weekend I had,on Saturday we had a family outing to San Diego to see the Broadway production of The Lion King. It was amazing and the boys were mesmerized it feels so good to expose them to culture and art.We attended the play with my brother~in~law and his family and my husbands mother.Afterwards we all went out to dinner it was simply a wonderful day.

Then on Sunday my dear sister~in~law gave me the most wonderful gift she gave me an old scratched up armoire!! BLISS I have wanted an armoire for some 10 years now the armoire was just sitting on the side of their house.I said to Shannon why on earth do you have this beautiful armoire on the side of the house? That's when she told me they were going to GIVE IT to Good Will and if I wanted it I may take it.Can you believe it they were going to just GIVE IT to Good Will. My jaw was on the floor and I couldn't get the words YES I'll take it out of my mouth quick enough.The hubby and I are going to paint it and put a crackle finish on it give it a shabby chic makeover.I just can't wait to pick it up and have it here in my house, what a great weekend!!

Today has been such a laid back Monday tomorrow is going to have a wonderful start I finally made it to the store to buy some french vanilla creamer. I am so addicted to my vanilla coffee it verges on the edge of ridiculousness.My poor hubby he tries to help me and gets so frustrated when I tell him he brought home the wrong things.I have also been actually taking the time for myself and knitting it feels so good to put myself my needs on the to do list I highly recommend it to everyone.Well that is all from me today I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Tea Time

What a semi~wonderful night I had last night, my hubby is out of town and without his presence in bed I find like most couples who have been together for some time that it is difficult to sleep without them. So last night I decided to knit and watch Pride and Prejudice from my big empty bed,it was heavenly!! An evening to truly enjoy myself, one can never go wrong with an evening with Austen I can't wait to do it again tonight.


This morning from my bedroom I hear uncontrollable laughter as my two little boys play under the covers and I rediscover my love for hot tea.I am not really a coffee drinker although I did get snagged on vanilla coffee but my first true love has always been tea. It soothes me from the inside out relaxing the tension in my back.



~* Note To Friends *~

I don't know if you noticed I added a music player to my blog with the help of my favorite girl Kristie of ~* Cali Girl With A Washington Heart.*~ I set it up to give you the option to hear the songs or not because my music taste might not be your cup of tea. *wink*wink* Get it? Your cup of tea? I am just so easily amused,anyway I hope you like it.

What Happened To Wednesday?

Well it seems that my Wednesday is off to a bad start, while changing my baby's diaper this morning I threw my back out and now find myself in a great deal of PAIN!!! It hurts to breath it hurts to walk or blink. Basically it hurts to be alive right now!! Worst of all my husband is away on a business trip until Friday and to add insult to injury my husband bought the WRONG vanilla creamer for my coffee, he bought me the powder kind. *ugh* What other cruelties will this Wednesday bring? At least my big boys will be home early today and will be able help me a little with their baby brother.*wishful thinking* I hope the aspirin I took this morning starts to kick in soon very very soon.


I've decided to make it a point to do one thing for myself a day.Whether that means read a chapter in a book, knit a few rows, or paint my nails.There always seems to be moments in the day when things slow down a bit, the baby takes a nap or gets involved in play and in those moments I always choose to do things around the house or for the boys but I am going to make a real effort to take that time and do something special for myself.I think as a mother I need to remember I am a part of the family too and that the caregiver needs to give care to herself.I need to remember and accept that doing things for myself isn't selfish and it certainly does not mean that I love myself more than I do my family.

~* Prayer Of The Day *~

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you.

It's My Day

A darling little face at my bedside this morning 6a.m. with gifts of giggles, kisses, and hugs I can not think of a more wonderful way to be jarred awake from a deep and restful sleep.

In the playroom imaginations soar as three boys start the day with laughter and play.I hear construction and cars, laughter and some tears the occasional declaration of "I had it first!" it is simply my bliss.

Today I will do no housework I declare the day my own. I will knit and read and devote my attentions to my baby and all he wants for this day.




~* A New Friend *~

My blog friends I am over the moon this morning because I woke up and found not only a comment and compliment but also as one of MY blog followers Elena Maria Vidal blog author of ~* Tea at Trianon. *~

I think I have made it very clear that I am obsessed and infatuated with all things Marie Antoinette and Elena Maria Vidal feeds my addiction with her knowledge, articles, and reviews on all things related to Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. I am already adding books that she has reviewed to my Christmas wish list. For me it is an honor to be recognized by her and I thank you very much Elena for adding me to your list of blogs you follow.


~* Prayer For The Day *~

Do not be conformed to this world be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
Romans 12:2

A Little Extra In My Cup

Oh vanilla coffee how I need you today I have three baskets of laundry to fold and I am feeling the effects of a restless nights sleep. My two year old has stopped sleeping through the night but I think his midnight kisses and snuggles are worth the loss of sleep.

I hope everyone is enjoying the time change, so far I am. Mornings seem to be a little more relaxed when getting the boys ready for school,I hope the feeling doesn't end.It's funny we always seem to complain there are not enough hours in the day but as soon as the time change occurs very few of us know what to do with ourselves and our gift of the extra hour.Personally I think it is a wonderful problem to have I think I will use my extra hour and start knitting again.

~* A New Friend *~

This morning I was so excited to find another new friend among my Followers, welcome ~* Maria *~.Thank you Maria for adding me to the blogs you are following it was such a thrill to find you there among all my other blog friends.

~* Prayer Of The Day *~

Father in heaven,today I surrender my thoughts and mind to You.Help me to retrain my thoughts so that they are in line with Your will for my life. I choose to have a positive attitude of faith and expectancy I thank you for empowering me to enjoy the good life You have for me.

A Simple Kind Of Life

In her heart...


A house to raise my boys.


A room where my family can gather.


A bed to dream the most beautiful dreams.


And beautiful dishes to serve meals made with love.

An Antique Lifestyle

Happiness on this 1st November day as I discovered two new blogs that I find myself completely enamored by Rachel Aswell Shabby Chic and Tea at Trianon. What a gift blogs are they give us pictures,instruction,laughter,beautiful words, and inspiration for ones life and these two blogs are that and so much more for me. A collection of visual images of my dreams. Pale roses and patina silver,pastel furniture with crackled paint.

A dream of tea cups and corsets etiquette and grace daughters who where raised to be ladies and sons that where raised to be gentlemen.Of a time when men acknowledged a ladies presence. I dream of books and pianos, poetry and thought.I dream of ribbons and lace and the presence of God in everyday life.

I must thank my Caroline of ~* In His Shade *~ she inspires me to be more, to do more and to do it all with a feminine touch.I asked her how she found the blogs she belongs to and she introduced me to the world of Google.Clearly I am not very familiar with computers I can manage on my own but sometimes computers make me feel like a damsel in distress.Luckily I have wonderful family and friends to guide me through the Internet world.