things that me smile # 465

opening my cabinets to see this

hello fall fiestaware colors, come stay for awhile

we have lots of good stuff to look forward to

late night cereal binges, lazy weekend breakfasts, hot drinks,

quick lunches, soup nights, hopefully some hey josie cooked dinner meals

and THANKSGIVING

letting go

i've always had high expections, i have learned over the years i need to just be real and set the bar a little lower otherwise i will constantly be disappointed
(come on - who doesn't dream of a martha stewart christmas, in a pottery barn house, where you can go outside and take a walk down sugarplum lane?)

as a mother - the bar is really low - i can't control the weather, when babies get sick,  flat tires, photo locations under construction, rose bushes popping all my balloons, incomplete projects and well an eleven month who doesn't want to sit still

i had hopes of something like this

the day went like this

but thats okay nothing in my life maybe picture perfect but its pefect for me and i couldn't be happier

right now

right now i am distracting myself from a messy house, an empty fridge, no idea what to make for dinner, and there still being a hour left in my work day

how to shop at target - i laughed at them - i know you will to - we have all been there certainly item #4

homemade hot chocolate - i made this recipe last year and threw out all those yucky packets - last weekend i didn't have everything so i made this recipe - it was the most decandant i ever had plus bonus whipping cream mixed with marshmallows - who knew it made such a differnce

apple fest - hello fall- i love you

1. philosphy candy corn body wash & lip gloss 2. sweet dangerous not part of my clean eating but so tasty pumpkins 3. garnet hill scarves - i want them both 4. arm candy - a trend i love but could never pull off plus how in the heck do you type all that clanking would drive me crazy

weekends

dear old self,
remember when weekends were for sleeping in, leisurely trips to the grocery store and target, where I could throw a few "extras" in just because, when date nights were dinner, a movie and maybe a stroll through the bookstore or stop for ice cream, not knowing the luxury of cooking a meal start to finish without stopping or having something boil over or burn in the oven, choosing to stay in my pajamas and curl up on the couch and nest all day with a good book, recent magazine or gasp! lifetime movie marathons that you couldn't tear away from, making impromptu plans without having to worry about naptimes, and scrapbooking...

i miss you, some weekends i really do
but now
no sleep, rushed trips, date nights at home, cereal for dinner, never ending laundry, spending paychecks on diapers, are all worth the millions of hugs, kisses, & squeals of delight (that 500 trips down the slide bring)

love you baby girl

favorite.gratitudes

inspired by Marta

baby.giggles
instagram.facebook
friends.laughter
notebooks.lists
family.pizza nights
homemade.hot cocoa
crisp air.open windows
job.paychecks
fall leaves.longwalks
party planning.pinterest
cozy quilts.movies
holiday.magazines
retail.therapy

Project Life

Life has changed since the last time I posted.  Having a baby, becoming a mother not only has changed my life for the better but gives you a whole new perspective on life.  Documenting/ Scrapbooking /Taking Pictures has a new meaning but is even more overwhelming when you little or no free time esp when you add in working fulltime, taking care of a house and a husband.  I thought project life would be that - another project I would have no time for.  But thanks to Barb & Em, I was inspired and have fallen in love with it.  Its the perfect way to keep up and remember all the little details because I have found my memory is just not the same anymore, I can barely remember what I had for breakfast this morning...
My first two weeks documented..

in the air there's a feeling of christmas

I am just so excited for Christmas - my favorite time of the year! A whole season filled with my favorite things: shopping, giving the perfect gift, our gingerbread house party, a mailbox full of holiday greetings,cards and catalogs, christmas pjs, spirit of the season,impromptu family gatherings, our handmade stockings, gorgeous ribbon, wrapping gifts, endless parties, candles, th smell of a fresh christmas tree, baking with mom,the hallmark channel movies, entertaining, cookie decorating, christmas music 24/7, tinsel, christmas dishes, mugs filled with hot chocolate, twinkling lights, goodwill, decorations, sparkles,surprises, christmas eve open house, silver bells, silent night at midnight mass, kids anticipation, handmade ornaments from years gone by, and being home for Christmas.