A New Year........

                                                 {photo: Barn House @ Camas Antiques}


A New Year is almost here, and what are you planning for yourself?? As for me, this year has been a very trying year. The ups and downs have left me breathless like riding a rollercoaster ride. It has been an exciting year don't get me wrong, but whew I need a break..... I knew what I signed up for, but this was the year it all hit me like a ton of bricks. I chaired an auction, ran a bookfair, moved to a new house {to do a complete renovation} my oldest started high school {without knowing a soul}and quit a job. For those who know me, know I believe in community. It makes us who we are. So I donate my time generously. However I ran into something I thought I never would. Resentment. That is a harsh word. But never the less, I did. My family has always been first. Period. Besides God, there is no other. However this year, even he felt like he took a back seat, which is bad. My kids and my husband had finally had it. I have heard it all before, and thought they are just so used to having me around, that they just don't know what to do without me. So when my youngest, didn't want to go to school, and my oldest quit talking to me, it finally sank in. They were done. {and truth be told so was I} I promised each of them no more. We will make family the only priority. So this year it is back to basics. God, family, and then everything will fall into place. {that is my prayer everyday anyhow...} So what is yours?
Thanks for reading.......
xoxo

After the Holiday.......

              So after the holiday is over, what do you do? Do you take down your Christmas tree right away, or do  you leave it up until after New Years?  Our holiday tradition is to get the Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and then take it down the day after Christmas. {the tree is usually pretty crispy about that time!} This is when we time to take stock of our ornament's, and trimmings to see if  have to replace any. Right now is the best time to buy for next years holiday.
             Getting organized right now is the best time rather than shoving everything away. We check our lights, and pack away our extension cords with the lights so we have them ready for next year. My hubbie thinks that the weekend we take our house lights down is the best time to clean the gutters too. {good tip... the ladder is already out so you might as well check them..}  We also,{who am I foolin?? you know its only me cleaning around here...} re-arrange the house, and deep clean everything. Hopefully some of these tips you found useful. And as always thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

 

Well we have a new house that we have been rehabbing for sometime, {since July} and we moved into this lovely house in August.....But as you all know, that my houses are never done.....We tweak, change furniture placement, and paint colors often. Until I feel its right....Here is a taste of what the Christmas tree looks like this year, and a little bit of the dining room........Enjoy!
xoxoxoxo

                                                                                                 {*our Christmas tree last year}
                                                                                                                 

Christmastime ......

Well tis the season, for stress, rushing, fighting crowds, money woes and the like...... Sound familiar?? Well, I have been there and done that. Seriously. A few years ago my husband and I would battle what the kids want for Christmas, and the list would always start with technology or a large ticket item. Now I am a fan of technology, however my wallet, not so much. With 4 kids in Catholic school, the budget isn't very forgiving. So we learned how to get creative and think outside the box! We adopted a new list style a couple of years ago that seems to have made the holiday less stressful. Here are just a few of our ideas:

1. gift of time, you and your kiddo at his/her favorite hang out spot.
2. gift of a treat: something they don't get very often {ie: ice cream treat, Starbucks etc...}
3. e-scrip cards to the movies {most schools offer these to regal cinemas, and other local movie houses}
5. boxed food fun: {this one goes over well in our house..} boxed cereal you wouldn't normally buy, fruit roll ups etc.

So there are 5 to give you an idea. Think outside the box, and you may be surprised how well these go over!

xoxoxoxox,
Em

 ~Back after being gone so long...........

Well, its been a long while since I have made a post, and now that most of the dust has settled, I can get back to what I love best.....taking care of my children, nesting and cooking. We have had a lot happen in our lives since the last post, and I cannot wait to share it all with you. Moving to a new city, chairing an auction, and finding new treasures... Stay tuned for a lot of helpful hints, ideas and decoration.
Its so good to be back.
xoxoxo,
Em

*photo courtesy of Oregon-Live

Farmers Market.


Do you go? When was the last time you went? To tell the truth, I don't buy my veggies at the super market. Why? They have been there for a while for starters, and if you read any labels, most of the produce doesn't come from around here...... Did you get that last bit?? Not from around here..... Here in the Portland/Vancouver metro area we are a lucky bunch. We have lots of Farmers Markets. There is a large one in downtown Vancouver, and in downtown Portland. Then a few years ago, Kaiser started with the Wednesday Farmers Market in North Portland. {like I said a lucky bunch} I strolled the isles of a *will remain nameless large market* here in Vancouver recently, and more than half of the produce came from Mexico. MEXICO. {there is nothing wrong with Mexico, just don't want to eat your strawberries when I live in a place that can grow them...} Then a large quantity of produce comes from California. Again, love the place...... Anyhow, with that said I am no dummy and know that I will have to eat some produce from outside of my state. Avocados=California, Oranges=Florida. Got it. I know that not everything that I eat can be grown here. However the things I can grow but don't shouldn't be an arm and a leg either. Then they import because its cheaper to grow somewhere else. Don't you think it should be the other way around??? I think we as a nation of eaters are missing the point. You need to eat things in season to get the best bang for your nutritional buck, and hot house tomatoes don't fit the bill. What is my point? Pay attention to labels, what are you putting in your body? Quality or quantity? Cheap or good for you? I know I can get cheaper strawberries at a *certain  store that shall be nameless* however, were they drowned in pesticides to get to this point? Are they grown in a hot house? Is it worth it? Nutritionally?? That is what I am getting on my soapbox about. At the end of the day, your feeding these to your babies, and I want mine to eat the very best.


Thank you for reading.
Em
xoxox

             {scored these vintage lovelies at a Church tag sale... .25 cents for the bucket}


Garage Sales........Tag Sales..........Yard Sales........
    Do you go, to these? Flea Markets? What about Antique Markets? I was taught at a young age that all things that are wonderful always come back into fashion. Either by actual fashion, {wide leg pants for instance, and now blue eyeshadow...} or by home trends.   I was always taught that instinct is best, if you love it find a home for it, and always use the precious stuff. With that said, I have sterling silver trays and silver bowls to hold everything, I use my china {that is 100yrs old} every day, and I love love love, my vintage table cloths that have holes from so much use. If you haven't been to a Tag Sale, Yard Sale, or Flea Market. Go. Take the kids, grab some Starbucks, and see what you find. There is always a treasure out there waiting for someone to pick up. Yes you will probably see some junk too, but that is the fun of the hunt. Scoring the antique suede wing back tufted chair and matching ottoman in gorge condition, for 60.00 after looking at a lot of junk....Priceless.

Head out and let me know what you find! Check Craig's list, or look on the occasional street sign pole!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Em

Well its getting close! I missed it last year and this year I won't miss it! I have been chatting about this wonderful event to anyone who will listen to me for longer than 5 minutes. My lovely daughter and I are going to attend, and I might even get Mr. Wonderful to attend. {that is a huge feat people....seriously} If you have never seen these boys in action, you must. They have the most amazing ideas and I love their aesthetic. Its calming, wonderful, and cozy. All things I want in my home.  If your in Washington, on the 28th of July, please try to attend! They are on Facebook and give updates on their page as to price to attend and directions. Hope to see you there! 

Thanks for reading!
      Em 
xoxoxoxoxo




*This image is property of Barn House.

Well its that time again........Summer vacation time! My lovely 8th grader graduated and is now a Freshman.....Where does time go? We have had a whirl wind year, and cannot believe its over. {seriously, I can't.} I remember saying that I couldn't wait for them to walk, talk, run, ride a bike etc....But now I find myself wishing they were little again, and we were in a stroller going to the library. With what felt like endless time before they started school. 
Now that it is summer {officially} my kids are wanting to go to the picture above. They want to go to the beach. In the 14yrs of my kids life, I have NEVER driven to the beach before. NEVER. No, I am not joking. So, that is on my "Summer before High School Bucket List" Drive to the beach. Just me and the kids. Get a map and mark out where we want to go. Here are a few of the other things the kids would like to do.

Disneyland {duh, not happening however..}
Camping
Eat at 4 new restaurants
Clam dig
Go back to Marrowstone Island and ride our bikes down the big hill. {its on Reeder Rd.} 

Just a few things they would like to do. What's on your summer list? 
Em

Spring and Allergies.......

Well, tis be that time again....
 When the hankies come out, Zyrtec gets taken and Benedryl, becomes my best friend.....My kids have horrible allergies. They have had them since they were little. Unfortunately they inherited them from me. I had allergies as long as I can remember. That meant no sleep overs at friends house who had lovely kitties. {super sad face} and no pets. {big super sad face} I learned how to live my  life with out and then as I got older, learned how to keep things tidy {keep the dust down} and what type of vacuum works best for people with allergies. {not the bag-less types, betcha didn't know that!} With spring upon us, here is my go to list that must happen every week:

Monday~Sunday
wash clothes
dust {every other day}
vacuum  {everyday}
change sheets {every Saturday}
change filter in the heater {once a month}
change bag in vacuum {once a month}
as for all of my cleaning products, the list is in a previous blog post. I only use Caldrea and Mrs. Meyers......Good luck all you allergies suffer-res! Wishing you the best!
xoxox

Ktichen Ideas

So, here is what one of my kitchen shelves looks like in my kitchen. We have the standard, "70's Ranch" house and in it is just plain old kitchen shelves. Now my kitchen is super small, and I have no place for display. So what I did, I took the doors off of this cabinet, painted it a lovely robins egg blue, {it matches my china} and put in my sweet chicken...I use this space every day,  for grabbing the two "go to cook books", or using my platters and china... its a nice way to use the space and keep something pretty for you to look at. Try it and see what you think. What's the worst that can happen??? Hmmm? you have to screw on the doors again?! You don't even have to ask your hubby/significant other to whip out the power tools! Nothing better than that!

Where I want to be.....

A clean kitchen is a wonder-us thing. Don't you think? This is a picture of my old Ainsworth house. I like to take before and after pictures so I can get "inspired" to get my "rear in gear" so to speak about cleaning. Since my last post I have gotten a job, pinched a nerve in my back, and then took on an auction for my children's school...... really not much....{ya right?!} try the before and after pic and see what it does for you. And trust me, its a great jump start to where you need to be! {Clean!}