12 Months

Here's the Birthday Boy!!!

It's been a great year that has sped by.

We've had so much fun with our sweet little boy. He's amazing in so many ways.

So happy he's ours!!!

 And he's outta here....



How to Update a 70's Picture

I found this old oil painting a few years ago at a thrift store...

It was painted by Virginia Roeh in 1973. Thank you, Virginia!

 

It is a pretty picture but it needed a little improvement.

Here is the before, on my wall...

Here it is with my improvements...

I love it! It's my daily reminder.  

 

My sister, Amy, helped me out with the vinyl. She does such a great job! Let her know if you need some vinyl too.

 

 



Christmas Decor with a Twist

I haven't done a "pretty interiors" post lately so here you go...

Photos from here

And can I tell you how much I love this mirror gallery wall?! I really want to replicate this. I think I have about 3 mirrors so I better start building the collection. 

Dish of the Week

Chocolate Truffles
This holiday season I'm having a huge little fascination with chocolate truffles.

These little balls of deliciousness are so simple to make. And only a few ingredients for each flavor. I'm always looking for food that tastes as good as it looks. Now I hope they last long enough to share with friends and family.  

 

The truffle on the left is Oreo, the chocolate sprinkle truffle is Nutter Butter and the white chocolate is lemon-lime.

 

For Oreo and Nutter Butter truffles:

Crush approximately 36 Oreo cookies and approximately 20 Nutter Butter cookies. Mix with one 8oz pkg of softened cream cheese. Roll into balls. Freeze for 30 min. Melt one pkg semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips and then dip balls in chocolate to coat. Add sprinkles or Oreo crumbs before the chocolate sets up.

 

For the lemon-lime:

Crush approximately 36 vanilla sandwich cookies (I used the cheapest store brand). Mix in one 8 oz pkg of softened cream cheese. Add zest and juice and from one lemon and one lime. Roll into balls. Freeze for 30 min.  Melt one pkg white chocolate chips and then dip balls in chocolate to coat. Add sprinkles before the chocolate sets up.



O Christmas Tree

We finally put up our Christmas tree! We usually put it up on the 1st of December but it has been so busy that it took us a couple weeks. And we did something new. We put it up on a table.

The ultimate baby-proof Christmas tree!

I've spent too many years being the "Guardian of the Tree". It's so nice to enjoy it and not have to be constantly redecorating it. And in our little house it's just the right size.



I Feel Spoiled

The other day I was so mad. I just wanted a nice family picture. Nothing professional. Just a good picture in our backyard, taken with my point and shoot camera. I set it up so we could use the timer and get a decent picture to use for our Christmas cards. But the pictures were all blurry, or the lighting made it too washed out, or it was too dark. It just made me MAD!

So, I went out and bought a nice camera.

It's nothing too fancy in the camera category. But for me it's super fancy and I love it!

It's the Fujifilm Finepix HS30exr

Isn't it pretty?

I have a lot to learn so I can take good pictures. I've been online watching tutorials and reading a lot of photography tips. I may need to take a class. I'm so excited to finally take pictures of my family that make me happy. So we'll try our family Christmas photo again.

Let's hope my hair will be as cute as it was the first time around.

 

What I'm Reading

Since having a baby my reading time has been drastically reduced. I love to read and could spend most of my waking hours reading. But my family likes to eat and have clean clothes. And that little boy of mine doesn't realize book pages aren't for eating or ripping. So I get to read late at night after the house is calm and the little ones are sleeping. The only problem is that I last about 10 minutes and then I wake up drooling on my book.

 

Here is what I'm currently trying to read...

I just started this one and I already love it. Such good imagery. And it's non-fiction. I've been trying to read less fluff and more books that will improve my live.

I love John Grisham. And I love short stories. So this is the perfect combo.

I've been reading this book for over a year now. I really enjoy it but I keep reading other books that I need to return to the library so this one gets pushed aside. Maybe by next year I'll have it done. That can be my New Year's resolution. I like to make my resolutions attainable.

It's That Time of Year

The time to make Christmas wish lists!!!

I'm keeping my list to all things that can be found locally. I want to help out my fellow Idahoans.

This poster is from Bricolage, located in downtown Boise

 

I really, really want one of these awesome t-shirts.

Check out the other super cool stuff at Fawn and Foal.

 

Anything from Janjou Patisserie that is opening any day now. I'm so excited!!!!

 

Clump-o-Lumps

Yes, it's a toy, but I still want one. I might share this with my boys. But not until I play with it first. You can find these at my favorite toy store, Buns in the Oven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gift certificate to The Chocolat Bar. You can never go wrong with a gift certificate. And a chocolate one at that!

11 Months

I seriously cannot believe that he's already 11 months! I swear I was just in the hospital having him. He's getting cuter by the day and his personality keeps us smiling :)

This one cracks me up! He's so funny.

 



Kitchen-spiration

Our kitchen is an ever-evolving room. I can't wait for the day when it's finished.

 I've been putting my plates on the walls to cover the silicone the previous owners thought would be a genius idea to hold up their tacky goose wallpaper boarder. So smart.

You can see the white under the plates where the paint won't adhere to the silicone residue. The only way to get rid of it is to rip out the drywall or cover it up. The white isn't as noticeable in person so we'll just deal with it until we decide on something more drastic.

 

My next step is to paint the cabinets white! I've been gathering my inspiration...

Photo found here

Photo found here

Photo found here

Photo found here

I think what I love the most about all these rooms is how bright and cheery they are. I want my kitchen to be a fun place that's full of energy. I've got a lot of working to do in it so it needs to be a place I want to be.

 



Vote Today!

Get out and Vote!

For our Family Home Evening last night I had everyone write down goals and predictions for where they see themselves 4 years from now. In 4 years, I will have 3 adult children that will be able to vote. And one in elementary school and one in preschool. Four years doesn't seem like a long time until you think about everything that can happen in that time. Even if there are no changes in government there will be a lot of changes in my family. I can feel it.

If you want change make it happen by voicing your opinion.

Vote!

10 Months

Here's my little explorer!

 

 

He started walking this month!

 Crazy, huh? He still prefers to crawl because it's faster but I know that won't last long. He's into everything. It's so fun to watch him discover all the fun places around our house. And you wouldn't believe the messes he can make! 

Wintry Market

I think I'll hit up this holiday market this weekend...

And if I'm early I might get a bag. I really like bags. I'm going to be early.

 

If you're in the area you should check it out. It's awesome to support local vendors.

Be awesome!

Hulk Love Halloween

Happy Halloween!

This is how we rock Halloween. Hulk Style!



Dish of the Week

Pumpkin Dump Cake

This is Autumn in a bowl.
I found the perfect recipe at Cookies and Cups.
I will probably have this for breakfast. And lunch. And then 2nd lunch. And dessert.

Pretty Party

My amazing friend, JSP, is getting married! And I got to throw her a bridal shower. I always love a good excuse to make yummy food and decorate.

Here are some fancy pics...

 Whipped cream topped mini pumpkin cheesecakes and Chocolate flourless torte.

A sweet berry pie, monogrammed, of course! 

 I love Autumn so I can decorate with pumpkins!

Peanut butter and chocolate mini cheesecakes.

I personalized the sweet mug with a sharpie. Just bake it at 350° for 30 min and it's permanent! 

Set It Up

I watch tv shows and movies more for the set design than the story line. I find myself trying to look around the corner of a room to see more of their house. I was watching a "Friends" rerun and it reminded me of how much I loved Monica's apartment.

 Those purple walls and turquoise cupboards still look bold and fashion forward in 2012. In 1994 they were so daring. And I still want that print above their tv.

 

 My current crush is "Modern Family". Such perfect colors. And comfy! I really want a pomegranate painting in my kitchen too.

 

 And don't get me started on Julia and Joel's house on "Parenthood".

 

Or Adam and Kristina's house?

 Design heaven!