Ruffle Bum Onesie

Meet my niece, Savanah:

Her mommy made her this ruffle bum onesie this past week, while they were visiting, following this. Yeah for crafty visits.

It was a quick project, my favorite kind. Savanah is so little, her onesie is tiny, and it came together quickly.

Sabrina (my sis-in-law) added this messy flower for the front. She just kind of looked off another flower and made it up. I think it totally makes the onesie.

Actually, it's the baby that makes the onesie.

Grateful Sunday

What a fun week! Tom's brother and his wife and their baby spent the whole week with us. The kids were off for spring break, no piano students for the week. One day, we were sitting outside and our faces were getting sunburned, the next day we were snowed in, the next day we were shoveling snow in our t-shirts! It was a CO spring that they witnessed.

Tom and this brother are very similar, so it comes as no surprise to me that I get along great with my sister-in-law! We had a blast and I am so grateful they were willing to make the drive, bring their baby, and hang out with us all week!

Bookshelves - Finally

We finally finished painting the bookshelves. To say I'm in love is a major understatement.


I got impatient and starting putting up books - you know, just to see. I know it's not styled, yet. I do want this to be a working bookcase, one that holds the books we love to read. One that my kids can use. Because of that, it will never look like a magazine, but it will be loved more.


These were more complicated than I even imagined. I read so many blogs that make building stuff seem so easy, but my husband doesn't build things like that. I learned about daydos (I have know idea how you spell it) and how not level our walls were. We sanded and sanded and primed, and sanded and spackled, and sanded and sanded again.

What a difference these shelves make. I love being able to see it in the transom window above the french doors.

Next up - the cabinet doors. They need to be sanded, primed, painted, and hung. Then we'll finish painting the walls and hanging all the trim. With spring coming up, we'll probably pause this project for awhile so we can work on our backyard. Hopefully.

Crayon and Notepad

We are going on a family vacation soon! It involves a long plane trip.

My girls are colorers, so I put together these notebooks for them. It's based off one I saw on Stardust Shoes years ago, but now can't find it. I put their names on the front of them, after I took these pictures.

It was so fast, I forgot to take any pictures of the during process. Sorry.

The Target notepads fit perfectly in here - and I like to use the twistable crayons. I. has markers in hers.

I've had this fabric forever, and it is still one of my all time favorites.

Towel Hooks

Wet towels on the lying on the floor never get dry. Obvious, huh? They have to be hung up.

BUT, kiddos can't do towel bars - they just can't. They can do hooks, though. So, we threw this over the door hook on the bathroom door. BUT, they can't reach it which makes mommy or daddy have to hang up their towels. (Also, the door doesn't shut).

Hooks on the wall, at kid level, and just an arms reach from the shower means one less thing for mommy to do.

They worked so well that after every kid had bathed, I walked into the bathroom and was shocked to see every towel hanging up! I think they were excited to try it out (me, too).

I got the hooks at Hobby Lobby (of course they were 50% off, does anyone pay full price at that store?). They were white, so I spray painted the hooks and the screws. Next, I had G. come in so I could make sure he could reach, pounded in some drywall anchors, and screwed them in. Easy peasy.

Grateful Sunday

I am grateful for:

• my beautiful baby niece that brought along her mom and dad to visit us.


• the snow we had this week wasn't nearly as bad as it was predicted.


• the weight of a good book in my hands


• an evening with my hubby this week


• the chain that counts the days down until we leave on our family vacation is getting so short - we are so excited!


• two weeks off of school - yahoo!

What are you grateful for?

Liberty of London at Target!

I am seriously in love with Liberty of London and was counting down the days until it hit Target!

Pretty surprising for a neutral loving girl - but it is love - go check it out!

Happy St. Pattie's Day - I'm busy trying to be mother of the year!

Tricking Mother Nature

Do you thinkif I put up some spring decorationsMother Nature will decide

to let spring come

and stay?

I sure hope so.

PS - we're making our leprechaun traps tonight - the kids are sure this is the year we'll catch him!

Grateful Sunday

Today, I am grateful for:

• Our garden planning has begun, seeds have been purchased, and plans have been made. I have got spring fever BAD. G's field trip to a nursery only fueled my fever!


• The shelves in our office are now painted. Sure, it only took two months longer than I hoped, but they are done. The cabinet doors have arrived and I am getting giddy knowing we are so close.


• Dave Matthews - I use to think it was a college thing, but if it is, I haven't outgrown him. I really like his music.


• Chips and salsa.




• One more week until spring break - I can't wait!

What are you grateful for? Have a great week!

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.-- Oprah Winfrey

Closet Vacuumer

Let me share a pet peeve:

(not from my home!)


I can't stand piles of shoes. Unfortunately, everyone here takes off their shoes (which I do appreciate greatly) and I haven't figured out a system for visitors, yet. Anyways, I digress. I don't like piles of shoes. I had my father-in-law build cubbies in our garage to help with that problem. They hold our everyday shoes. I love them, I don't think I'll ever be able to function without those cubbies.

But . . . there were still shoes in the closet. I'm a closet vacuum - I always assumed everyone vacuumed their closets. How can you vacuum when shoes are all over the floor?

We have shoe racks in every closet. These work so well that even my 2 year old can go get her shoes, or better yet - put them away.





In my closet, I have shelves. I don't consider myself a shoe hound like I think most girls are. They just aren't my thing. Please don't judge on how worn or out of style these shoes might be.


I have these boot hangers for my boots. I get them at The Container Store.



The shoes are up, off the floor, organized, and I can vacuum. That makes this mommy happy.

So, tell me - do you vacuum your closets, or do I need to consider therapy (as the eye rolls of my family might suggest?)









PS - I have to sell my favorite duvet cover ever. It's from PB and it is twin size, but both my girls have full size beds. I absolutely love it and hope it goes to a home. If you are interested, email me and we can skip the ebay part.