Craft Weekends - Paper Plate Tambourine

We got our kitchen table!

Hubs and I weren't looking forward to our first family meal as much as we were looking forward to crafting together as a family here.

It didn't really go as planned.

G was wasn't feeling well and wasn't too into the craft this time but we still had fun.

 Hubs can always make G smile.

 See? G was super sinusy. As in "I lub u, Bobby" but he was in a good mood. He usually is.

I'm so spoiled. Man, he's cute. Even with the Einstein-y bed head.

 G was super into the process but didn't want to do it himself.

So both Hubs and I wound up talking our way through it, all T.V. style.

It made us laugh. Next time I think I'll be Martha Stewart and Hubs will be Guy Fieri.

 I love how much Hubs got into this. He's so down for anything.

 This is G "helping". "Look, Bobby, I helping!".

 Voila! Paper plate tambourines!

 Have you ever tried uncooked rice? You'd probably make this face too.

So there you have it. Our first craft together on our new table!

I know. You're stoked.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow. Hubs and I exchanged gifts this evening.

We don't normally exchange gifts. We never really have, even for Christmas. But for some reason, we both got each other gifts this year. I like this. I think we should continue on with the gift giving. :)

Today got up to 65 degrees. AND it was sunny. Hats off to ya, God. How did you know I needed that?

I don't usually drive with the windows down. My hair blows everywhere and it's so annoying.

 I'm so high maintenance.

But today I drove with the windows down. It messed up my hair and I didn't care. It felt divine. 

Happy Sunday!

Go-To Noodles

This is my go-to meal. Simple Sesame Noodles from PW.

Nom nom nom

Okay, here's what you'll need.

 12 oz of thin noodles, cooked and drained

1/4 cup Soy Sauce

2 TBS Sugar

4 Cloves Garlic, Minced

2 TBS Rice Vinegar

3 TBS Pure Sesame Oil

1/2 tsp Hot Chili Oil (notice I used what was available from the store at the time. Mongolian Fire Oil works just as awesome.)

4 TBS Canola Oil

2 TBS Hot Water

I leave out the 4 Green Onions, sliced, that the recipe calls for. They are awesome and they add a little kick and some crunch but we never have this in the house. I have all the other stuff, so I do without and it tastes just as good.

 It tastes extra good when you have a helper.

 Said helper can get a little too aggressive with the whisk, however.

 I just want to eat him up.

 Okay, back to it. Whisk all the ingredients together while the noodles are cooking. Adjust ingredients to taste. I like mine a little sweeter, so I usually wind up adding a bit more Soy Sauce and Sugar.

But that's just me.

You do what you want. Go on wit yo spicy self.

 Ta da! I don't have any action shots of me making this tasty dish. I have this toddler, you see.

 He likes to jump on bar stools, you see.

You may think you won't have enough sauce for the noodles. Trust me, the recipe makes plenty.

Trust in PW. She will never steer you wrong.

Enjoy! 

Tests, Gum, and Lists Oh My

Today I wore the T-Shirt I was wearing the day I found out I was pregnant. It's an old Guinness shirt of Hubs'. I will never forget that moment. It had almost become comical, the pregnancy test taking. But one day I was feeling particularly down and I wanted to take another test. Why, I don't remember.

I sat there as the lines showed up and I just went numb. Then I screamed.

 I screamed until no more sound came out.  

I was by myself but my mother was on her way to our house because she and I were going to go out for a bit. She walked in the door and heard me screaming upstairs.

What an unexpected moment of mother-daughter joy that became.

I have a favorite gum at the moment.

Extra's Mint Chocolate Chip.

A-Yum

If you see it, nab it. I had my doubts but it's awesome.

This past month, G has come to HATE bath time. Since birth, he's been such a little fish but lately, nope.

Until tonight.

Tonight Mama used bubbles. Dude made bubble snow men, had a bubble-hawk, and a bubble-stash. It was so nice not to literally have to work up a sweat just to knock the stink of my son.

Have you ever heard of IHeart Organizing?

I just adore this site. Jen has a really amazing eye for design and organization.

I have taken on several of her ideas for home organization but this, by far, is my favorite.

It's the Allen Family Chore List! 

There is a column for daily, weekly, monthly, and annual chores. I love crossing things off a list, so this is just perfect for me. Hubs does his chores in the morning and I do mine in the afternoon. It's super easy and it is happily housed on our fridge, right next to the grocery list.

Jen also has a great Etsy store where you can find all her amazing lists and charts to make your home run smoothly.

Good night, Internet.

I'm off to enjoy an adult beverage and help get Hubs going with his new blog.

Maybe I'll have two adult beverages.

Kidding kidding.

Virtual Coffee Break - Feelskies, Admiration, and Dinners On The Floor

I like the idea of the Virtual Coffee Break. 

I'm not sure how to link up quite yet but I'm gonna go ahead a take one. A break, that is.

Virtual Coffee is better for me anyway. I hate coffee.

Maybe I'll call it my Virtual Hot Cocoa Break.

Yeah. That's better.

If we were having hot cocoa together, all cozied up in fluffy chairs I'd tell you that I'm happy at this moment. I have newly painted nails rap-tapping on my keyboard. When Hubs got home tonight I went out to get a manicure. I never do this. For some reason I always feel like things of that nature are suited for other women. I'm not fashionable. But when I do go ahead and get a manicure or pedicure I really have a little spark of pretty that goes off way down deep. 

Hubs said that my nails make me look thinner. 

Then he went in for a feelskie. 

Whatever. :)

I like my pretty nails. They make me happy.  

I'd also tell you that I've had this feeling lately. I'm really happy with where my professional life is going and how that will positively affect my personal life as well.

For the first time in years I have my passion back. My drive.

What a gift.

But lately I feel like I can see my future...that next chapter...and it's awesome but it seems. so. far. away.

And then, out of nowhere, I get an email.

From a photographer that I admire. She doesn't know I admire her. Because I'm so blog-stalky.

She likes my work! She wants to meet with me and talk. Just talk.

WHAT?! Wait...who? Me?

Someone once told me that the photography world is cold.

I'm feeling rather fuzzy at the moment.

I haven't responded to her email. I got it this afternoon. I've been walking around all afternoon and evening wondering...how do I respond to something like this?

How do you tell someone that just by standing up and saying...hey, you do good work and I can tell it comes from someplace genuine...you've just sparked something to help spur me on.

A little validation.

How do I tell her that and not sound so utterly UNCOOL?!

What a gift.

If we were chatting over hot cocoa right now I would also tell you that I'm psyched because this Saturday Hubs and I are getting our very first kitchen table for this house!

Let me explain.

I think I've mentioned that our house is small. So small, in fact, that there is no room for a kitchen table. And no dining room to put one in either. We just sort of sit on the floor. Lame.

We've done this for 4 years and I'm so over it.

Last weekend we purchased an old gateleg table, which is just too perfect for our needs.

Fold out for dinner. Fold in when done.

Nice.

Hubs is excited too, which is awesome.

We can't wait to just be together as a family around a kitchen table.

What a gift.

Well, thanks for the break.

I'm going to go respond to that email now then spend some time with Hubs if he is willing to stop watching Spartacus.

Happy Wednesday!

Simple Fix - The Little Things

It's about the little things.

Crayons and where they are stored.

Take G's crayons. They are stuffed in this wee little plastic container.

Notice no lid.

That's because there are too many crayons for this container.

Should I get a bigger, yet still ugly plastic container?

 Or should I fork over a whole dollar at the antique shop and get an old Mason Jar?

See? Much better.

AND I can head out this weekend and get him more crayons because there's more room! 

AND I can have this cute jar out on an open shelf (enter tiny house and no storage) and not have to worry about ugly containers. Double points.

Am I being silly? Maybe. But for me, it's about the little things.

 The simple fixes that make life just a little bit easier and prettier.

 Even if it's a jar full of crayons.

An Ordinary Day

It's still cold outside. Really cold. We still have about 5 inches of snow on the ground,

 ice under that, and more snow on the way.

Ick.

I heard this morning that our normal highs for this time of year is in the 40s.

Not 20.

Needless to say, we haven't been just running around outside lately.

It's okay. We make our own fun. No matter how small.

 G was very proud of his "Daddy, Mommy, and Baby" dump trucks.

 Toddler toes.

Climbing, exploring, getting into trouble.

 G's big toe is shaped just like Hubs. The others are shaped like mine. I love that.

 Every part of him is such a blend.

 This is a big N-O. G can pull himself up on to the exercise bike and he gets quite proud of himself when he does. Normally, I have to yell and then pull him off of this thing while he kicks and screams but today I just got some pictures. Because he really is super strong. And he has this crazy sense of balance.

 We've kid-proofed our home, as in we've put locks on the kitchen cabinets and covers on in the outlets but we've never had a stair gate or anything. Never padded the edges of furniture corners. He's just always done so well. It's scary sometimes but I'm always right there.

Yeah, it's difficult to let him try something that scares me but that's going to happen for the rest of my life.

 Don't you just adore the look of intense concentration on kid's faces?

 Do you have one of these?

This is my inspiration book. It's not a journal. Just a book. I write down random notes, thoughts, and ideas.

Mainly, ideas for this blog.

I am actually calmer and happier when I can dump my brain into this book instead of having all these thoughts and ideas rattling around in my head.

 Today G learned - all on his own, mind you - all about blowing bubbles into his drink.

Oh. The. Look. Of. JOY.

We have been a nap-less household for several months now.

*sigh*

But G started this really awesome habit recently of wanting to lay on the couch for about an hour in the late afternoon and watch TV. He wants his frog pillow, Froggy, apple juice, covers and he's good to go.

And I get a chance to rest.

 Just sit on the couch and blog stalk while he watches TV. 

Today was a good day.

No major drama to deal with.

No big expectations.

No huge deadlines.

Just simple fun.

Speaking of simple, I'm going to start posting "simple fixes". I live in a VERY VERY tiny house. It's a townhouse, which means the layout kind of sucks too but spending time here has also helped us a lot in the pack rat department. Both of our parents are pack rats and we have that tendency ourselves but when there is just. no. room. there is nothing else to do but simplify.

My simple fixes are just that.

Making the super small and simple problem easier, prettier, and just better.

Instead of just dealing with it.

Happy Monday!

Getting Started

Hello, Internet. Thank you for stopping by and seeing life through my lens.

I started a personal blog in 2007. You can find that blog here.

I started it as a way of documenting my kiddos. Mainly for my sister, who lives far far away.

I wanted that blog to become so many different things and it never seemed to work for me so I wanted to start fresh.

Come on, meet my family.

 This is G. He is my busy little boy.

 This is R. She lives far away too and we don't get to see her often enough. Doesn't she have the best smile?!

 Me and Hubs.
(Photo by Lindsay DiTore)

 Hubs is the best man I've ever known. He's patient and kind and gentle but crazy fun.
And he's super funny. Just ask him. ;)
(Photo by Lindsay DiTore)

(Photo by Lindsay DiTore)
This is what I do.

I've recently started a photography business. You can find that blog here.

I have always loved taking pictures.

I love my family.

I love cooking and baking.

I love thrifting and creating.

I love DIYing.

I don't love our too small house.

I love blog stalking.

I have a lot to say.

Follow me, won't you?