4/6/97 to 4/6/12 {15 years}

 *15 years*
Our Wedding Anniversary.......... is today!
Maybe I will tell you how we met! It all started with a lunch break and the fast food chain's place-mat that said "Go West, it's Better Here"!  The date 1994. To be continued.........

xoxo
{the kids are with their Grandparents} I'm signing off.......

Saturday to Early Monday {in pictures}

 Future home site--someday. My parents took down an old home and bank barn here shortly after they purchased the property 30 some years ago. {My dad say "no way" to digging up the barn's foundation haha }

 The blooms against the field resting until planting season. {Almost here, still too wet to plant the field at this location!}

 We always check my brother's burn piles :) The subjects that are slated for burning removal from the pile are:
:::The door
::: 3 barn beams {attic project}

 We were on the lookout for Morel mushrooms, so reverend here in the Midwest. Kind of like the flurry around Truffles in Europe! Still a tad early to see them, but Luke was looking anyway. The flavor is divine! Last year we found them in our yard, nothing short of a miracle. My mom called these green plants above {look like umbrellas} "May Apples" if I remember correctly.

 Let the Earth spring forth!

 This morning before the bus arrived. My 2 favorite times of day are morning and right before the sun sets. {this was around 8am} The light and the way everything looks is so peaceful & calm.

 Enjoy your day!

Left-handedness & {other very short notes}

 Staples had these notepads for $2.00 each. Happy I bought them, I'm left-handed and the spine is at the top, so it doesn't get in the way.  This 5"x6" pad is the perfect size not too big and not so teeny-tiny. It has perforated sheets and the paper is ivory and is fine quality so the writing is smooth. I'm sold!
Made by Ampad, since 1888!
::::My favorite pen Pilot G-2 07 fine tip. I heart this pen! {does anyone else get excited about their favorite writing instrument?}

Sorting supplies and moving them to this cabinet. Cannot get over how great this feels....since closing the shop {2/2009} and having two babies in two years, I'm so happy to be purging, cleaning and sorting supplies in the office & attic. Finally.  It feels so good folks!

Making simple, no fuss necklaces for Vivian....had everything on hand. Wax twine and vintage components. Seriously easy......as that is all I had time for today! Saturdays are very interesting to me, different schedule from the rest of the weekdays and I never seem to get them quite right.  How about you?

By the Seaside

** sweet memories with family**

Florida 2012

We are having a good time... lots of taking it easy and enjoying family.

The weather is great and it's my first time here. I grew up going to Kansas & Michigan.

Where is your favorite spot to vacation?

{Yesterday we went to Sanibel Island, so quaint and pretty}

"Valentining"

Luke with his "air mail" mailbox--complete with a movable propellor.

Yes, the things we do for our kids. 

I love his class, such sweetie pies! We crafted pipe cleaner rings with the girls,

made famous by Wendy a.k.a "the pipe cleaner lady"!

{and the boys made something not as exciting as the rings!}

Little brother, Zach came along to hang out.

Needless to say he was a happy camper!

No, Ma'am I'm sorry......

 {here she is without drawers put in!}

1.

 but, she won't fit up your stairs! Indeed I had measured the incline of our stairs wrong, very wrong. This piece has kept me busy this week... I spotted her in a favorite digging place, and had a "hold" tag put on her. {Right after I spotted her}  The drawers, all 24 of them are what we need to accomplish some of the store's bigger goals this year. However, the goals need to get finished upstairs in the shipping/inventory room, not in the dining room. Our upstairs windows are big enough for it to go through, however, that will be a chore.for.somebody. Anyway, we swept, wiped down & put a good coat of polish on all of the drawers that seriously keep cloning themselves.

The drawers are what sold this shop girl on her......it's easier to keep organized with drawers. Currently we have stacked boxes and every time you go to get something it's awkward to say the least. Plus, the drawers have glass fronts surround in aged brass, with darling pulls.

What: Vintage Rike's Department Store cabinet with drawers. {Dayton history, love it}
When: Circa 1940's
Where: Dayton, Ohio

love, love old department store display fixtures.

scene from 2/1/09...gathering and delighting in evening lamp glow.

{what is it about the remains of the day? maybe it's grasping all the sweet remnants that are left?}

2.

Friday, 2/10/12, arrived with a flurry of the usual school morning hustle & bustle. I felt a strong urging to get the crock-pot going before bus time. That never happens. {Chicken, sweet potatoes, apples & a surfeit of spices, simple yet tasty. }

 By mid-morning a friend stopped by and we sat and enjoyed mid-winter's frolic by chatting by the fireside. I felt a presence telling me to reach out instead of holding back. What are we scared of anyway?

By late afternoon I was in a homemaking flurry of baking this no- knead bread.  {I haven't baked homemade bread in years.} Must be the weather? Luke was asking for it and so wanted to surprise him after a long school day. I had went to the grocery on Thursday and was happy I did. {see why next}

By late afternoon another friend called and her husband was out of town and wanted to do something. Coincidentally, my mother had told me the day before in regards to her being without her hubby this weekend.  I had a tugging at my heart that I should call her on Friday to see if she wanted to come over, and she called me first! Goodness, I had been to the grocery, crock-pot was a simmering, salad ingredients in the fridge and she had a dessert made. Voila! Dinner is served and the more the merrier! {& louder :) }

See? That is what make our days sweeter, brighter and joyful. I can choose to be frustrated or really see how life's days are beautiful. Sweet.

Have a lovely weekend!

Creative Director

{at Matt's parents Christmas 2011}

I think that title is who I am, not necessary in a business sense but what I do on a daily basis as a mom.to.three.kids.
I'm sometimes or always amazed at the end of the day that we actually  get some laundry done,  have food on the table & a somewhat clean house. Being able to juggle all the-going-ons requires lots of creativity.

Christmas was a tad crazy, oh, it was going pretty well the few weeks leading up to it.
Cards printed November 18th. check.
Homemade cinn-y buns done & delivered Dec 15th check.
Christmas shopping done Dec. 21st. check.
Stockings stuffed. check.
Craft project ready for Luke's class. check.
then it all
went DOWNHILL........weeeee!

December 21st Luke was coughing a lot so we kept him home from school. Proceeded to take him to walk-in hours & diagnosis was Pneumonia, so thankful I had  "a feeling" that it was more than a cold/cough. We allowed him to open a Christmas present early as he was pretty upset about not being able to attend his school Christmas party. We felt bad for him and no fun to be sick right before Christmas.


I headed into school to do craft project, lets say I was a sweaty mess after that. I was exhausted-- :) Matt had taken Vivian & Zach to the doctor while I was doing craft project with Luke's class, but without Luke :( Vivian diagnosed with an ear infecton, Zach ok {at that point}. The following week Zach diagnosed with Pneumonia.

Vivian was very fevereish and was up with her for 2 nights. {Are we the only parents that do not own a forehead thermometer?} Note to self : please get thee a forehead thermometer.

Meanwhile----before the sick-ys came on my computer DIED. I haul it down to the Mac Depot & to boot I had an unopended backup drive to be installed that we had bought last July..........................ummm, all was lost they can't recover any data. Uuugh, all our pics since 2008 gone just like that poof. Mad at myself  as I knew very well these things happen. I'm thankful some of the pics are on my husbands computer, the blog & some on Picassa. When I go pick the computer with her new hard-drive, $$$$$, you bet I will install that drive pronto. That is a sore subject, I will stop.right.now.

There were some sweet moments in December:
Time spent with family, a blessing to have my husband home for two weeks.

I picked up a paint brush & did some painting.

Matt worked on our hearth, vintage ceiling tin molding installed!

While kids were napping December 23rd, I put my creative director act into high gear. When they woke up I had candles lit, a nature inspired tablescape & Christmas music playing!

I WON Annie Sloan's chalk paint! What a extra fun Christmas surprise. I have a project in mind for it. More on winning this chalk paint later. Once I get my computer back I can blog easier. I'm using an IPad right now & I'm still getting used to it:)

May your NEW YEAR be Glorious!

{6!}

Happy Birthday Luke.......

xo

Warmth + Love {& attics}

Out of this world Apricot Rosemary Jam with Double Cream Brie.

{Compliments to my mother for the 5 lbs I gained this past week}

I can't believe we don't have a Trader Joe's or a Target in Englewood. We instead have a Murray's Cheese , in the middle of the Deli Department in Kroger. Seriously, cannot believe this famous NYC place decided to permanently camp out in the Kroger I shop at. I shall never complain that we don't have a TJ's closer. Amen. 

I dislike coming up with blog post titles, anyone else? I always think that will be so easy, and well it's not. 

We had two Thanksgiving's in one week. Last Sunday, my brother's girlfriend came out {or is it "up"?} from Virginia and my mom had a scrumptious spread. I was more than excited that we had peanut butter pie instead of pumpkin. Pumpkin pie does not have me jumping up & down. I'm a cobbler & icing- on- the- cake kind of gal. The only 2 pies on this earth that I get excited about are peanut butter pie & black raspberry cream pie and well, my mother's white Christmas pie. So, that makes 3, hmmm, there are others that are surfacing right at the moment---maybe I like cream-y pies?!

The second Thanksgiving involved ham and a creative spin on the Thanksgiving meal. {Just thought you wanted to know that.} We had a pumpkin/praline cheesecake and that my dear friends is a very good spin on the typical-I-don't-care-for pumpkin pie.

 My 2 turkeys figured out they could fit in the play oven. Luke kept tumbling out and exclaiming, "the turkey isn't done yet"! I love watching children playing using their imaginations. {it's also free entertainment}

 "Look, the turkey has ginger hair!"

 PROJECT! {cackle, cackle laughter} Attic room it is time to tackle you. You have great potential nice big room, 2 windows and a place to build built ins for tubs, out-of-season clothing & games. Nice big area to spread out legos, train tracks and a place for the kids to play while it's a blowing snow outside.

I only gave one view the area where it's cleaned out! You really didn't think I would show

you plastic tubs stacked up?? :)

Pros: 

We can close the door on the mess while it's getting worked on. 

It has the original wood floor, minus some missing pieces when the previous owners installed can lights in the kitchen. 

Main pipe already installed for a bathroom. We did that when we put water lines in the new laundry room, so it made sense to run one up to the attic. 

Electric was installed by the previous owners.

Pinterest! Love that I have been able to "pin" ideas for the attic! 

Cons: 

What were we thinking--why did we not at least refinish the floors and put spray foam insulation when we moved in 7 years ago? We had no kids and the attic was pretty empty. 

The biggest annoyance is finding a place for all our stuff we have stored up there. My husband started working on that and it's moving slow. Don't want to make the rest of our upstairs a huge mess with tubs, etc. It will be easier having everything moved out so we are not moving things to & fro in that room while construction dust is flying.

Have a lovely weekend.........

xo

Miles I've Covered.......

 I helped behind the scenes for a shower-- a teensy peek: wooden forks & kraft trays for the apple cake with rum sauce.  Bamboo picks for the cheese & dried fruit.

 DIY garland and maps "stating" where the bride & groom are from.

 My grandmother, Irene passed away last week {91 years}. We drove 16 hours to a teensy town in Kansas. Kansas will never be the same again without her.  I will miss her cheery, always wanting to sit-a-spell & chat- with- me grandma. I loved her letters she wrote me, when she ran out of space she would just write all around the card then finish on the very back! :) I'm thankful I saved a very important letter from her when I moved from Ohio to California in 1994. Happy to tell you she knew Jesus Christ as her Savior.

 I spotted this old service station in one of those wee towns and wanted to packed it up and bring it back with me. I think it would be cute for a store in my yard. It even had built in cupboards. I wonder if I should've just taken those doors home?

 Metallic golds & silvers are beckoning me these days........

1. I found the very cool vintage coin purse at Sylvia's for a mere 50 cents. It's in great condition and I love the zipper opening on the bottom, an all-in-one coin purse! 2. Letterpress card in golds & blacks. 3. A delicious caramel with sea salt, a brand new company debuting soon! The proprietress is one of my customers and has very good taste. Literally.
3. Vintage pharmacy measure jars, because vintage glass is always "in"! Found at one of my favorite places to dig. 4. Paper tape from Martha Stewart.

 1. Gold $1 coin  2. My favorite pencils, Verithin in metallic gold.

 What to get the guys this year? I found these via Garret Wade and they were a steal on sale at $14.95, regular $29.95. Perfect to tuck in with this at RH. These screwdrivers are the berries. Read some fun reviews by Garret Wade customers......{Oh, I think they are pretty too!}

Real Tools for Real People
Reviewed By:	David A. (San Francisco , Ca.)
Shaped like a zeppelin , tough as a tank and worthy of building or maintaining both . One solid piece of cold hard steel runs form the tip, all the way up the shaft where it slips into your palm as though it's hardwood handle were created for your firm grip . Old school and mean looking . So tough the first time I went to use it the screw got scared and twisted itself in . Set of four , one each of six , eight , ten , and twelve inches ... depending on preference or who's measuring . History Reviewed By:  Jeff F (Clarksville, OH)  I believe these were originally made by the Irwin Tool Co., in Wilmington, OH. (Home of the infamous Irwin Auger Bit.) Subsequently sold to American Tool, then to Rubbermaid. No longer located in Wilmington, OH (near Martinsville where it all began.) These screwdrivers are real brutes. The kind of tool you want in your truck toolbox if you're stranded somewhere.

See those tiny vintage hardware parts? I'm thinking of selling them. Well, about selling things I need to take photos today as once again I'm behind even more so.

{when I get all caught up ;) this looks like an interesting book about Catherine the Great.}
xo

Here, There & Everywhere......

Ginger hair and a mouthful of Smarties. Smarty pants.
Zach Ellington, at the tail end of age 2.

 it seems!

musings of the last few weeks. ...

*Dum Dum lollies & Smarties are a must on photo shoots that involve kids.

{I kid you not, as soon as we plunked them down on their stools, they started crying.all.of.them.

including the mom so that made 4 of us.} Out of the 400 I think there are 3 good ones?

*I have been bitten by a major procrastination bug as I have a zillion photos to upload of new product. They must be up by Nov. 1st. We all know I have a deadline as there is a twelve pack in the pantry so I can get this project done. I mean a 12 pack of coke. classic coke, not diet either-- that's cheating. Onward, ho!

*Don't get me wrong there's been a cheery note here & there, I had coffee with Darcy one evening by ourselves, that's monumental.  Matt & I had an evening out with our oldest & then we toted all 3 kidlets this past Saturday on a fall drive. {think driving on Ohio's back roads, kettle corn, outlet mall without a stroller, & Chick-fil-A-----fun times for the kiddos} Plus, Jill of sew a fine seam popped over on a rainy, cold day.

*Helping my mom plan a shower,  behind the scenes stuff. I want to take a few pics of some of the things we are doing for that.

*& go here for the most inspiring photos; walnut groves in France-----I love her blog, Stephmodo.

Have a good & blessed week and I'll try to pop in again........soon! {famous last words}

xo

Miss Viv & Shoes

Vivian figuring out what shoes are all about--goodness she hasn't worn them much. All summer long, barefoot it was. {who can resist wee feet?} She cried the first time I put her shoes on. Miss Viv now thinks they are ok. Speaking of shoes, I have a story and it tops all shoe stories {I think}. True story and I should tell it to you.....sometime.

xo

Vivi's 1st Birthday Party

Vivi Miette almost one, August 22nd. I took her pics a wee bit early, when you're a mom to 3 it's just that way--otherwise 5 years would fly by! :)

When it comes to parties I have lots of ideas, but only 2% of them get executed. Crepe paper looks fine

rolled up on the table. Ribbon is peachy draped through the chandelier. Dollar General finds look great with Trader Joe's goodies. { Thank goodness I went to TJ's on Monday that task was done early.}

The day of the party, Saturday, I went to the grocery to get some basics that were needed. Big mistake and I know this! Always do your grocery shopping 1 day ahead.  I flew after getting home. Don't have time to wrap your daughter's present? Display it! Arranging containers of Dollar General assorted candies is quite fun. No time for treat bags? Let them bag their own. A young fellow at the party asked if he needed to pay for the candy. Story goes my Luke was playing candy store!

 No time to bake a cake? No worries, chocolate torte cake  compliments of TJ's! Add some hydrangea petals and they sing! Don't have time to finish the laundry? Don't sweat it!  Good friends don't mind the pile of laundry in the bedroom, just post a "no trespassing" sign on the door! {I didn't really stick a sign, other moms totally understand laundry piles!}

The table was set and the food was out in a jiffy & we had cake!

We sang and celebrated her first year.......

Our one-year- old happy as can be--

she is a joy, a blessing from above! 

 Remember my baking episode in trying French macaroons for the first time. Well, my dear friends I

think TJ's French macaroons make up for it. Since they are about .45 cents a piece, I just might truly throw in the towel and forget about making them again!

Childhood is magical. The joy they get out of simple things; running, blowing plastic whistles and party blowers do just the trick.

Miss Viv liking her cake and about ready to get a bath.

{and the dress a dose of stain remover!}

Zach enjoying every bite, that evening.......

Hop & a skip, blink-of-an-eye they grow up.

Evenings like this make time stand still.

From Grandma Karen--the bakery where I discovered that Miette was a girl's name.......Meg Ryan's creations all in a book that has scalloped pages. Thanks Meg! {hmmm, there is that recipe in there for French macaroons, just maybe I will try again!}Maybe.

xo

Kara