Enjoying a weekend...at HOME

Well, today is the last day of the Good Things Celebration. I hope your home is feeling spruced up and a little more cheery. Mine sure does. As a reward, we are taking the weekend off from all responsibilities. The bathroom is filled with fluffy white towels, the whole place is sparkling from top to bottom. The fridge is filled with fun food.



My sweet husband bought me this book that just arrived. I can't wait to crack it out tonight. Dreamy Whites recommended this book!

I've also gathered up some more fun reading. This is the last weekend we have before sports and things pick back up. We are going to read, nap, watch movies, eat and create some fun memories.

See you back here Monday. Have a blessed weekend. Light a candle. Go have a coffee. Smile. Be thankful. Take care of yourself.



Hugs, Bugs & Sunshine

Linen Day

Today is Linen Day.

Round up all the bed linens.

Fill the machine with hot water & soap.

Add fabric softener to make them smell and feel great.

As soon as the dryer is done, pull them out and put them on your bed.

Tonight, before bed, put on your favorite pj's.

*********************************

To Do List: (before the weekend)

• pick up all clutter & put away
• get all 6 loads of laundry done-today
• 10 minutes dusting
• 10 minutes windexing
• 10 minutes sweeping floors
• 10 minutes mopping
• 10 minutes vacuuming

(It takes 60 minutes to shine your house)

On tommorow's post I'm going to tell you all the fun things I have planned for my weekend...what about you? Are you thinking of some extra fun things to do?

Late Night Ramblings

My baby can crawl out of his crib.

He also has a cold. We are going through the Puff's Plus like you wouldn't believe.

The kids woke up this afternoon from their naps at 2:45. I wanted to cry. Usually I don't get a nap but today I was so tired thanks to the Olympics. I cannot stop watching. I laid down and never got to sleep because the kids were on nap strike.

So, we did the sensible thing and loaded up the bus to go window shopping (that is code for it's the end of the month so we ain't buying anything extra).

We went to Hobby Lobby and spent a good hour there. Birdhouses, nests, pastels, bunnies, the sweetest spring/Easter things you've ever seen. I bought us a box of yellow Peeps for the boys to try. It was exciting because Peeps are like a right of passage in childhood that helps usher in the new season. They were really good today. I saw an Unwrapped on Food TV about them that was interesting.

Then we headed over to Targe' but as I sat in the parking lot I thought about how hungry I was. So, again we did the sensible thing and headed over to our favorite taco place for dinner. At 4:15pm. We had the place all to ourselves. We had tacos, nachos, chicken fajitas, quesadillas and cokes. It. Was. Bliss.

We loaded up the bus again and I got a hankerin' for my infamous peanut butter Oreo shake. So, there we sat in the bus while I dug into the depths of my purse and you know what? It was like the ultimate Sonic trip. I rounded up $6.06 in change. It's always a nice feeling to pay for your shakes with pennies, nickels and quarters, eh?

Did I mention little bit crawls out of the crib? Yeah. Well, when he came out for the third time tonight with tears streaming down those rosy red cheeks I scooped him up and said "Come On!" I put the squishy down pillow on the couch and covered him up with my soft blue snowflake blanket. We're curled up by the fire watching the Olympics. What a nice night it has been.

Pretty as a flower

The weekend is almost here.

March is almost here.


Sunny days and blue skies.


New flowers.


Budding trees.


Spring Break.


Here today's good thing...


Every time you walk through a room today pick something up that is out of order and put it away. If you do this every single time your eyes see something that is misplaced, by the end of the day your home is going to be looking very tidy.

What about you?

I'll never forget one lazy spring evening in college driving through a historic part of town. It was early evening and it was one of those happy days where the air smells good and you just feel content. As I looked out into the houses I could imagine the hustle and bustle of the early evening activities taking place. Everyone arriving home from their workday, preparation for dinner beginning in the kitchen, shoes being kicked off and tired souls getting ready to settle in for the evening.

As I drove down the street, in no hurry, I noticed the flicker of T.V's and a thought crossed my mind. Monotony. Sameness. Lack of variation. Dullness.

This afternoon I am sitting in my chair, drinking coffee from the fine china because it makes me happy, and I'm thinking. About life. This past week someone asked me a very interesting question. What is my vision? For my life, for my career, for my family/relationships. Have you thought about it in awhile? Really and truly thought about where you are heading? What do you want? Not what does your spouse want for you and not what does your family want for you, but what do you want? If you could be doing anything in the whole entire world what would you choose?

Have you lost a spring in your step?

Be honest with yourself. Be free to think about daring things. Have you ever had a dream and woke up before it was finished? You wake up with that feeling of, Man! I wish I could've finished where I was going. The great news is we have time to dream right now. We weren't created to come home every evening, kick our shoes off and watch our shows. We were created for life and influence in this world. If you are still reading this you are not just the head floor shiner at your house or the master butt wiper. There is a time for everything. A time to plant and a time to uproot. He leads us along paths of newness. He guides our minds as we think things out in His Presence. If you are in the mood to think through things grab a pen, paper, your Bible, and take some time. The answer may not come right away but with persistent searching it will come. Do you really believe if you seek you will find? Really & Truly? Finding out if you are on the right path in the dailiness of life will fill you with so much joy you cannot contain your happiness.

Last night my husband told me I can have purpose in every activity under the sun. Today my friend Khristy reminded me of something our wonderful preacher taught on a few weeks back. Whatever our hands find to do, let them do it with excellence, as serving the Lord and not man.

I hope you find some newness in your life this week. I hope you take time to think about you. Your life. Your legacy. You are seen. You are known. You do not have life right now that is intented for monotony. You have been created for new life. Every. Day.

(p.s. Are you thinking of what you are going to do special this weekend? It's our Bed & Breakfast Getaway weekend. You've got to do something special!)

God's Plan for my 5 Year Old

Yesterday morning we were having breakfast.

I told the boys, "DO YOU KNOW GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE?!!!!!"

YEAH!! They said!!

Well, do you know what his plan is for your life?

I DO! My 5 year old said!

My heart began to well with joy and pride that so quickly he responded to me. Well son, What is God's plan for your life?!!!

To watch violent movies! You know, like Star Wars. That dude's arm got chopped off and he didn't even have no bones.

I am so proud.

Closet Talk

Welcome to Closet Talk. Today we are talking all things Closet. First off-if you are reading this and you have a system you use to manage your closet, please leave a comment to give us some tips. Now, for the rest of us, let's get crackin'.

First, ask yourself, What is it that annoys me the most about my closet? Clothes on the floor? Too many hangers, not enough space to hang things? Hangers whompy-jawwed because clothes were taken off carelessly? (this is my personal thing that bugs me the most-well, besides not being able to see the closet floor).

That is your starting point.

Too much stuff, something needs to go

This is a picture of clothes I got rid off in my declutter. I'll tell you how I did it in a minute. There was Ann Taylor, Talbots & Harold's in this stuff. That =expensive stuff. But, I wasn't wearing it and I got ruthless and it felt great.

I like to organize my clothes by type. Dress pants, jeans, short sleeve shirts, nice short sleeve shirts, jackets, skirts, etc...


Sometimes stuff is just too far gone to give away. This was a SUPER cute pants suit. Black with large white stitching. Too say I loved it would be an under-statement. And it is not all that old. It was adorable I tell you. The problem? Fuzz balls. And it had started to look ratty. So, I tossed it. Hard, heck yeah. But I didn't need to be wearing it all worn out like that. And if it was still hanging in my closet I'd be tempted.

Do you need to downsize? I want you to ask yourself some questions while you're in there. Don't come out of the closet until you've been honest with yourself.

Does this fit?

Is it still cute? (a friend can help be honest here, seriously)

Does it have fuzz balls? Stains? Rips?

Does it fit? I know girl, you're in denial just like the rest of us which is why I have to ask again. If it is too big or too little get rid of it. Both extremes make you look sloppy and both extremes are unbecoming. I love you that's why we're keeping it real.

Have you worn it in the last 3-6 months. Painful I know. A ruthless declutter will make you smile. I don't care if it came from Ann Taylor loft and you paid $56 for it. If you don't use it now-out it goes. Don't be a hoarder of stuff. It robs your life of peace.

Set your timer for 30 minutes. When the microwave beeps you have a choice. Keep going or stop. Either way you are going to love the sense of accomplishment you feel.

On your mark...get set...GO!

What's the Worst?

I don't want to ask, but I'm gonna.

What is the worst, out of control place in your house right now?

For me, it is my master closet. Do we have it in us to own up to the most out of control place in our home, take 60 minutes and tackle it?

We'll feel better if we do.

We have 5 days to finish sprucing up our houses to enjoy this last weekend of February to the HILT.

I'm just asking because when Monday rolls around our mission is going to be to show our biggest area that is driving us nuts some love.

We're going to need:

• 60 minutes
• a trash can
• a bag marked "give away"
• the old trusty empty laundry basket to put stuff that needs to be filed away somewhere else
• a Bible, pen, paper and a teachable heart-oh wait-that was for church camp

French Cooking

1 bag frozen green beans

2 TBS butter

2 TBS finely diced onion

salt

pepper

1/2 cup water

Add all ingredients to pan. Bring to a boil with the lid on. Take lid off and continue to cook until water reduces out.

These are not canned green beans. They are flavorful. Julia style.

Since I discovered this simple way to prepare these beans we have them at least once a week. They are simple. Healthy. And you get to use a saucepan. You are going to love this.

Snuggle

Tonight why don't you let the little Tater Tots snuggle you. Just for pure fun.

Yummy!

Kitchen

Today we are in the Kitchen. You know, the place we go 21 times a week plus snacks. Our home away from home. Last week my friend New Every Morning did a great post on cleaning. I decided to take her up on her advice. She said to clear everything off your kitchen counters and give it a good old fashioned cleaning. Then, only put stuff back that you love.

As the pictures will attest, I had my work cut out for me.

All that junk got cleared off and moved to my dining room table. I kept the baby occupied by filling his tray with marshmallows.

We have only lived here about 9 weeks and when we moved in my mom and I scrubbed this kitchen for hours. We washed the cabinets with Pine Sol and dish soap just like we wash pots and pans. I'm telling you that to say, after only 9 weeks I didn't know how dirty the counters would be. When I moved the nic-nac stuff I was very surprised. Dust had already accumulated.

After I cleaned the counters I began to move things back in. It was surprising how much did not make it back into my kitchen!

After I cleared the table we decked it out for Valentine's Gifts for Mamaw.

Here are the after pictures. My sweet husband and boys brought me tulips. My favorite flower. While the boys were at the card shop they were looking for a Valentine for Mamaw. They held one up to Shane with a duck on the outside and said, "Let's get this one for her!" The inside read, "Do you want a quackie?" She said it was the prettiest card she ever got.

(the bread machine is here, well, because I'm baking a loaf of bread...the idea though is that I will be a good girl and put it away when I'm done)

OK, I'm going to tell you right now. You know how I preach about how good a de-cluttering can be. You all have got to try this today. My ENTIRE home feels Sunnier, More Cheerful, Peaceful.

If you have seasonal stuff still out like I did (you know, ahem, from Christmas) take my advice and put it away. Like, right now. I'll wait...

We are baby-stepping our way to a Spring Clean house. Come March 1st we're going to be ready to enjoy the outdoors and fresh flowers because we've already Blessed Our Houses these last weeks of February. Now that's what I call a Good Thing!

Rearrange.

Do you have a long wall in your living room with no windows on it? The first idea you probably have on a wall like this is to push a couch up against it and hang a large print above it. Today I'm going to give you some ideas in case you are in the mood to mix it up a bit.

This is my friend Khristy's beautiful living room. She and her husband decided to get rid of the T.V.! Isn't that great? After they removed it she was left with a bare spot on her wall. She called me over today and it was such a ball. So, what to do with that big wall?

My advice is break the wall up into 2 sections. What I mean by that is put something tall midway-ish on the wall. A ficus tree, angled chair, bookshelf, etc.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

We angled the rug in the room then placed the furniture on an angle. Khristy had 3 pictures so instead of hanging them far apart we grouped them together to make a bigger impact. We brought in the tall bookshelf to create some filler space on the wall. We brought her cute lamps that were in her bedroom and gave them a new home in the Living Room.

We were digging furniture out of the garage, laundry room, anywhere we could find something new and interesting.

I had a ball moving stuff around. Us girls have to stay together. The menfolk want us to draw diagrams on paper so they only have to move the furniture once. Yeah right. I have to move it around 9 times, sit and take it all in, then move 7 more things around till it feels just right. When it's time to rehang the pictures the menfolk want us to get out the laser level, drill, hammer, plumb line, wall sinkers, tape measure. Us womenfolk don't have time for all that. Give me a hammer, a nail (any size will do) and let me eyeball it.

(ok it's me again...i just started my blog browsing and nester posted a fantastic post about your family room. oh how we love her! she has some amazing ideas so have fun checking them out! i feel so honored, she said pull the couch away from the wall too. see, i wasn't just making stuff up :) haha)

Powder Room

How is your bathroom right now?

Are wet towels thrown on the floor?

Is toothpaste splattered on the mirror and sink?

I'll never forget when Flylady told me some advice that changed my bathroom forever.

Literally, when I heard what I am about to share with you it was like, YES! That makes so much sense. Are you ready?

Wipe down your sink & counter every day.

That's it.

My addition is get a Rubbermaid bin and put your beauty products (hair dryer, deodorant, hair spray, etc) under the sink. You can get these at the Dollar Tree. For a dollar. Ha. They look like a plastic shoe box. I use 12. Grin.

Clearing the counter of your beauty supplies makes a nice difference.

Does your counter look dingy? You can take a squirt of handsoap or shampoo and clean that counter up anytime. Try it. Squirt your washcloth with handsoap and hot water. See how nice it sparkles.

Living Room

We have a little more than a week before we treat ourselves to a night or two of pampering. Today we are talking about the Living Room. Are you needing inspiration to spruce things up in your space? Find a picture you like and re-create it the best you can.

(image courtesy of Pottery Barn)

Here are some ways you can show your Living Room some love today.

Clear the clutter. Grab an empty laundry basket and anything that doesn't belong should be placed in the basket and put away. This should take 5 minutes.

Look around. Do you LOVE your nic-nacs? If you have something sitting on that table that you think is U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi you ugly...duh...duh..you ugly. Take that ugly stuff that doesn't make you happy and put it in a trash sack labeled yard sale and get it out of your house. I'd venture to say you are going to enjoy a simplified room more than one filled with stuff you don't like anymore. Try to think outside the box on your stuff. Can it be given new life with a can of spray paint? Try putting it in a new place to see if it looks nicer there.

Get your can of Windex & Pledge. Polish everything up.

You are going to smile after you do this.

I promise.

Take Care

I'll tell you one thing my mom taught me and that is to be thankful for what you have and take care of it.

When I was little we did not have a lot of money. My mom worked very hard to provide for me and my sister. For a good part of my childhood we lived in a 2 bedroom/1 bath duplex. It was simple and basic but my biggest memory of that house is that every Saturday we cleaned that place. My mom had us Pledge the furniture. We would Windex the glass. We would vacuum the carpets. We would clean the bathroom. We would straighten our bedrooms. Then we'd get dressed up and go shopping in Dallas and go out to eat at Denny's after. Nothing like a Grand Slam after a hard day's work.

We took care of that house. It was modest and it was always clean. We always had lamps on and we loved each other there. That was the house I grew up in and my mom made it home not because of things but because of the memories we had there. She taught us a valuable lesson: be thankful for what you have and take care of it.

I wanted to share this story today because it does not matter if you look around and things are less than perfect in your eyes. Take care of what we do have and make your surroundings HOME.

Your Gift

Today is a gift from God. Did you know that He has plans for you today? Take the time to look around and see what kind of treasures He has in store for you.

Do something unexpected. Pick up an old favorite book to re-read, dust off a favorite movie, bake a batch of Snickerdoodle's, light your expensive candle.

Today we have the gift of snow. Blankets of soft snow falling from the sky. We put the kids down, lit the fire, made a pot of coffee and were about to settle in for a movie when we said, "You know what? Let's get the boys up and go play outside instead."

Here are the faces of some happy boys.

"Are you just teasing?" "Nope, let's go play outside instead of napping!"


We had a ball tromping around in the soft snow. Frosty is 6 feet tall.

I love these boys. All five of em'.

Are you coming on our trip to the Bed & Breakfast in a couple of weeks? Be thinking about what sounds fun for you to do. Are you inviting someone over for dinner? Making fun appetizers? Going out to eat?

Open

Do you keep your blinds opened or closed?

This is something I find very interesting and notice in houses. Are the blinds open or closed?

There are some houses you pass by and the blinds are never open.

Here is your good thing tip today...Open the blinds. Even if it is dark and gloomy. I think my house looks the prettiest on dark days when the lamps are on and the candles are lit.

Let the sunshine in. It will brighten your day.

So, what about you??? Do you open your blinds everyday or keep them shut?

Bed & Breakfast Getaway

Mark your calenders because we are all taking a vacation to a Bed & Breakfast on February 26th & 27th. We are turning our homes into Bed & Breakfasts. If you are just joining in on the fun it is not too late. Each week we are baby stepping our way to a home we love. Here's a sneak peak into some of the elements of our stay.

We'll be enjoying hors d'oeuvres and a wonderful breakfast.

The main parlor where we will spend the evenings during our stay will be wonderfully appointed with things we like.

The master suite will be peaceful and relaxing.

Here is what some people are saying about their weekend getaway:

We loved the master suite! The tranquility of the room made our stay so nice. Just to get away from everything was the perfect way to relax.

What a fantastic B&B! From the moment you walk in it feels like you are staying at the home of an old friend. The ambiance and atmosphere are so welcoming and cozy. The master suite was a dream, so gorgeous. So many quaint little touches made it a place of peace and relaxation.

The double stuffed french toast and bacon for breakfast were scrumptious!

The meals were excellent and there were plenty of snacks and treats during the day.

I'll see ya tommorow and we'll talk more about the planning to get ready for our big trip. For now though, get that calender out and free it up because you're going to be on vacation!

Hugs!

( The Addison on Amelia Island is where I found the lovely photos)