Occasionally, I do write more than 2,200 characters (thanks for the limit, Instagram), and when I do, you will find those words here. I also love participating in Calling It Home’s One Room Challenge, which happens every spring and fall. You can find past rooms I’ve worked on here. Want some help with your own One Room Challenge? Let me know so that we can get planning for the next round!
I am kind of obsessed with advent calendars. Advent is by far my favorite time of year. For me, advent is about slowing down and spending time with family. Wait, what? Did she actually just say that? Yes, I did. I wasn’t always this way. I spent many years missing the whole season, stressed with all the things that I “needed” to get done. The shopping, the mailing, the lists.
Read MoreThis post has been brought to you by the color pink and the letter P. Ok, not really. This post has actually been sponsored by the fine people at Wayfair, and if you know me at all, it goes without saying that all opinions are definitely my own.
Almost ten months ago, I walked into the Wayfair Lounge at Alt Summit and fell in love. I was pretty certain that I needed the “let’s make out” pillow and where had that fuchsia pouf been all my life? Yes, I totally matched the décor (down to my bag propped up against that amazing pink velvet slipper chair), and yes, I totally had a black eye because I attended this conference two weeks after eye surgery. You can imagine how popular I was. But let's get back to the pouf. Was this the answer to my quest for the perfect hot pink chair? Would my husband actually tolerate something pink in the living room if it wasn’t a full size chair?
Read MoreI have seven kids. I get a lot of questions about that, especially during the holidays. Most people want to know how I can possibly get all the shopping done. I start early. But there is another reason that I start early. I love Christmas. But five or six years ago, I had begun to dread Christmas. It was all about the presents. It was all about everyone else’s schedule and agenda. It didn’t look anything like the Christmas that I grew up with. I really loved that Christmas.
Read MoreWhen I talk with people about cooking or my blog, they most often comment about my kids. “That’s so great that your kids are helping in the kitchen. Mine would never help out.” Or “I wish I could get my kid in the kitchen but I really like to keep my kitchen clean as I work.” Or “My kid only eats dino nuggets so I guess I’ll start cooking again once he goes to college.” Or “I’ll definitely have my daughter help cook when she’s older.” It goes without saying if you read this blog regularly that my kids are often in the kitchen. Not just my teens, but my four year-olds help out all the time. They’ve been in the kitchen now for at least two years. They are becoming pro. You’ve seen the photos. You’ve heard the rants. Get those kids in the kitchen.
Read MoreThere are about a billion chore charts floating around the Internet. Just do a quick search on Pinterest and you will find a chart for every age child from pre-school to teen, for every conceivable method of praise, for every week or month or day. The chore chart is not a new concept and I am certainly not here to revolutionize it.
Read MoreMy son Gus is not one to pick a traditional costume. Last year, he was a green apple.
The best part of the apple costume was that Gus helped to make it himself. He helped with the paper maché and the painting of his apple. He even picked out his green jeans and sweatshirt (H&M is wonderful for this type of stuff).
Read MoreIt will surprise no one that we have been talking about Halloween costumes around here since early August. We’ve gone through many iterations (Supergirl, Jesse from Toy Story, Spiderman, a bag of grapes) and for a while there, I was thinking that we might change our minds the night before. This could still happen. However, Théa has probably come up with the best possible costume for her current personality and I suspect that even a superhero won’t change her mind on this one. She is going to be a rock star.
Read More
