Favorites

Here's just a fun list of some of my favorite things right now,

Subject to change, by the day,

But I'll just blame that on the hormones.

My sweet, sweet baby:

 

Favorite book:

(Has been for like the last 5 years)

(I'll admit to a deep sense of disappointment when I found out the author became a divorced, single parent)

(But it is still a must-read for every mama out there, in need of some mercy and grace)

 

Favorite crazies:

 

Favorite semi-bad habit--Co-sleeping:

(Something I said I'd never do, but am just loving this time around)

Favorite room:

The nursery.  And why not--it's where the baby is should be

 Fun mobile the kids and I made:

 

In all fairness, only half of the room is baby's, the other half looks like this:

(Real life is when the walk-in closet needs to be cleaned, and all the contents are disgourged into the closest room)

 

Favorite art:

An original Bessie Pease Gutman painting--love so many of hers, but I happen to have this one, and it is my favorite.

 

Favorite nail polish:

Rebellious, by j.a.n.e.--a gorgeous purple

Favorite textile:

faux fur. I've got it on blankets, pillows and vests.  I'll admit to overkill...maybe.

Favorite luxury:

My newly remodeled bathroom...which my handy honey tackled all by himself.  So proud.

 love,love that huge mirror.

yes, that's me in the shower holding the soap, lotion, etc that was cluttering the sink space. heh.

First tile job ever for the hot handy man.  Turned out smokin'.  Beware the overkill on tile in next house.

Favorite coffee syrup flavor:

 

Favorite rug purchase:

An outdoor rug from Ballard Designs.  Just the thing for the playroom/schoolroom.

Washable and wipeable.

Favorite color combo:

You just can't go wrong with such a gorgeous shade of mustard.

 

And lastly, Favorite song:

Holy by City Harmonic

(forgive my complete ingnorance on how to post a real video)

JO

A Dickens Christmas

If you ever get the chance, and need a scenic little town to visit

Check out the little town of Skaneateles in North Eastern NY

Fantastic little town in the summer

And just charming in the winter.

Every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas

The streets are full of tourists 

And the townsfolk all come out dressed as characters from old England

It's a Dickens Christmas!

You're sure to run into Scrooge...with all his "bah humbug",

The village constables, Bob Marley in chains,

Dozens of carolers, Charles Dickens,

and lots of yummy smells wafting from the cafes.

We took the kids into town a couple weeks ago,

As a final last "hurrah" before baby comes

And our lives get turned upside (in a good way!).

There is the old village inn, in its Christmas finery.

The wagon and carriage rides had long lines of people

Waiting to mosey through town.

I adore the colors of this inn.  If I ever built an "old" farmhouse, these would be my colors of choice.

We got drawn into a hole-in-the-wall cafe, 

By the smell of donuts wafting onto the sidewalk.

The place was comletely overrun with tourists,

But the donuts and hot chocolate (with all that luscious cream)

Were well worth the jostle of the crowd.

 

 The cream on that baby is making me salivate all over again.

Real, just whipped, and miles high.

And those donuts...hot out of the fryer, crispy on the outside

And so soft and warm inside.

Yes, my pregnancy cravings are kicking into high gear.

 The kids weren't too sure about the whole "sit on Santa's lap" thing,

But I had to have a picture of Father Christmas.

Isn't he adorable?

 There was an impromptu play by Charles Dickens,

Bob Marley, and an unnamed passerby.

Full of good humor, but at this point the carriage rides

Called more loudly to the kids, than standing on the courthouse lawn,

Listening to classic literature.

 There were carolers in the gazebo,

And lots of good hearted chatter from all the jolly townsfolk, acting their parts

 The kids had the high seat in front on our carriage ride,

And a birds eye view of the big horses derrieres.

Worth the 20 min. foot stomping wait.  By this time, our toes were feeling the chill.

 We left town just as dusk was settling in, and the lights were coming on.

There are some grand old houses sitting up on the hill,

Looking down over Main St and the lake.

On the trek home, we complained about how cold it had been,

How badly we needed to pee, and how hungry we were.

You know kids...if they're warm and fed, they're happy.

If they're not, it tends to destroy any sentimentality or romantic notions

Of a day well spent back in time.

So we stopped at Bass Pro to watch the fish, 

And warmed our bellies over food at Chili's.

School Room Redo and I Got Junk

So we've got about 4 weeks of school under our belt.

I'll be the first to admit, I never, in a million years, 

Thought I would homeschool my kids.

But, walah, it's exactly what I'm doing.

We've shifted rooms quite a few times in the last couple of years

Always thinking, that maybe, we've found our perfect "school room"

And have always landed right back on the kitchen table.

Granted, it's not a bad spot to hang out at,

But to have to clear the mess every few hours for another meal

Isn't exactly making me dance any joy jigs.

So this year, we're trying out the "front room" aka parlor

That never got used for anything anyway.

*What a mess!  In real life, I hate such messes, but with 3 1/2 kids, 

Let's be honest, it looks like this way more than I would like*

I didn't want to go all "kid crazy", because it might not last,

So I went with a dark gray, that warms up the room,

And can be a mature color for later use, at the same time having the capability

Of taking on some bright colors.

In my fantasy world, this room would have floor to ceiling bookshelves

With a library ladder.

Built in computer station, and cabinets for storing every manner

Of school supplies, games, etc.

Maybe we'll get to that...someday.

But for now, the room just feels much more closed in and cozy.

Which is a good thing in a big house

 

 We had a single bed set up on our screened porch

For the summer, but I needed a place to go with it during the winter months

I schlepped it in, and it was one of the best things I've ever done.

The kids have spent hours laying on it and looking at/reading books.

 

Got junk?

There is this crazy box of junker parts, that I've kept.

As weird as it sounds, I sometimes get the box out
Just to dig through it and admire it's properties.
You know you're crazy when you do this.

My box holds things like:
metal brackets, silverware, turn latches, hinges
old castors, drawer pulls, door knobs, etc, etc

 At random times, I'll get a piece or two out

And I'll know just what I'm going to do with it.

Like the hinges I've used to hang a curtain in my laundry room

Or the drawer pulls I've used many times as name tag holders or napkin rings

For dinners with guests.

Sometimes it's just good to let my creative juices ruminate

Over a great box of junk.

What about you?!?