Simply Country Chic

Havent been here in a while!

2011-11-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

WOW.....Last time I blogged here I was pregnant! Its been forever, but I hope to be back in full swing someday. Just curious if anyone ever checks in here , really?

Im blogging on a new blog.....

2010-06-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

APPLE CIDER ~N~ PUMKINS

Ive moved to a new blog for a while as mentioned in the previous post. Im still working on it and would love for you to follow me and comment there. Ill not bother you with a long explanation as to why, BUT it is a blog devoted to Fall and I will hopefully post some Christmas blogs as well.

Hope you enjoy, and please, let me know what you think!

Blog and Summer Burnout.......New things to come!

2010-06-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

So, its true....my blog posts have been few and far between this spring/summer. I also have a big announcement to shed some light on things. We're having a baby!!!! So I have been sick the last 3 months or at least not feeling the best, which led me to not be committed to my blog like I used to.

Summer burnout out, well, Im tired of the heat. Im loving the pool , but lets face it, you cant be in the pool All the time. The pool is the only thing keeping me cool and dealing with summer right now.

So with Blog and Summer Burnout, what am I to do? I miss blogging! Not sure if its the heat or the pregnancy or a combination of BOTH, but I want to nest.....I want Fall. I want want cool, crsip mornings and evenings. Warm apple cider, pumpkin pie and cinnamon rolls. I want warm glowing candles burning and to be burried under a nice cozy throw.

So my plan is to start a "seasonal" blog of sorts, dedicated to Fall and Winter. Fall is my favorite time to decorate, then Christmas and as much as I love to decorate for Christmas, Im always sad to take down my fall decor. So Ill be working on a fall blog shorthly. I will post a link and will be blogging there for the most part. I would love for you to follow me when Im up and running again. Do you have any ideas? I need input please!

Mud/Laundry Room Colors

2010-05-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, its officially official.....After years of debating, our decision was kind of made for us, whether to build new now OR remodel the olde FARMHOUSE and live in it for several more years. Ill blog later on about what made our desicion for us in another blog, but for right now...Its all about INSPIRATION for fixing up this old FARMHOUSE. I received in the mail yesterday a catalog from CountryCurtains . I rarely by anything from there because most items are pricey, but I did find INSPIRATION for our new FARMHOUSE MUD/LAUNDRY ROOM. At least some pretty colors and thoughts. I definately want bright GINGHAM. Our MUD/LAUNDRY ROOM now is dark, dingey and just down right depressing so its o surprise Im going totally opposite here.

I really like the YELLOW GINGHAM in the first pic, but I do like to change things up, so maybe YELLOW in the spring/summer and the RED in the fall/winter. Then theres the ROYAL BLUE.

I love this BLUE, its very FORTH of JULYish. Guess it will come down to what I can find and the cost.

Hubby really wants a BENCH when you walk in the door to sit down and take his boots on and off. Im thinking something simple along these lines, except painted WHITE of coarse. I found this bench at Through The Country Door .

Well, thats it for now, its a start anyway, cant wait till tearing down and rebuilding process is started and the FUN DECORATING PART begins!

Feeling Domestic

2010-05-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Im feeling really domestic today, but cant get in gear to get things done. I want a spotless kitchen, dinner cooked and a steaming hot pie waiting for dessert. Doesnt sound bad does it? IM gonna try to get something done here in a bit, at least tidy up, dishes and some laundry. Ugh, I wanna , but am in slow motion....hate days like these. lots of inspiration , but 0 in the doing part. Thats how I roll, LOL!

Pies N Things

2010-04-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Its been crazy around here...hubby and I have both been sick with allergies/sinus infections and I havent felt the best, BUT....lately Ive been thinking about PIES. I dont know why, but all of a sudden Ive been wanting to bake a pie, donmt know if Im quite up to that yet, but I can be ready for when I am with inspiration from todays blog.

When I am ready Im making Grandmas Butterscotch Pie. The pic above is from Country Living, well, all of the pics will be, as usual. But anyway, the pie Im wanting to make looks similar to this one...just a little darker and I do whipped cream, not meringue.

So, wheres a girl to go to find "PIE" inspiration??? Heres where I went...of coarse I went to SugarPie Farmhouse and read her blogs and recipes. Theres a Buttermilk pie that looks really good and a lemon pie with a beautiful Blog attatched. Heres the link .

The other place I went is to a wonderful domestic blog , you can find it here . She does Pie Friday and is inspriring me to do the same thing, well, dont know that I can fit that in every week, but maybe come close...sounds like fun anyway. Wait till you see all the yummy pie recipes she has and makes up!!!

Im hoping this will be what mine looks like!

Picnics and Memorys

2010-04-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

This is part 2 of "Where I Come From". I think in the last blog I mentioned picnics as a big memory of mine with my Grandparents. Heres a little more about ours. They were never fancy, sometimes they would be "official" picnics with the picnic table, etc. But most of the time they werent and those were the best memorys of all. My grandpa had a big full size van which he did construction out of. He and Grandma were all about recycling those aluminum pop cans too. So, in order to get me to cooperate and get me to go with them to collect cans they would tell me we were going on a Picnic. They lived right beside the railroad tracks and there were always tons of cans there so they packed up their supplys, our lunch and we would pack in the van and head to the tracks. I would help for a while then I would piddle out and sit in the van for a while. Then lunch time came, it wasnt about the food, but rather the"picnic idea". We were eating outside, roughing it in some sense (though we werent roughing it at all). It was usually a treat sandwich or something like that and I can remember Grandma pouring our drinks out of Grandpas thermos, not sure as to what we were drinking, but Im sure at times it was coffee.Ok, I admit that Grandpas thermos looked NOTHING like this, but if I were to buy one, it would be this, its sooooo cute!

Another memory that I have is having tea partys with Grandma. Of which she brought to my attention last week. After returning from her doctors appointment I came out of the bathroom and she said we're having a tea party. I thought she was joking, but no, she was serious and she started taking about how I loved my tea partys. I asked her if we drank tea and she said yes, BUT most of the time it was coffee and a lot of the time I would drink her coffee before she had time to, LOL!

We also had cookies with our tea/cofffee and Im sure we, well, I was dressed up with Grandmas high heels and jewelry too. Thats such a fun memory as well.

One final memory, of which she shared with me last week is the greatest, most hillarious thing ever.

She said it was a very HOT day that day and I was out in my little blue kiddie pool. Now, when I was there Grandpa ALWAYS brought me and Grandma a candy bar that he would stop and buy on his way home from work. This, I remember.....what I didnt remember was this time. Like I said I was in the pool. When I seen him coming with ice cream cones.....I jumped up out of the pool , threw my hands in the air and said "PRAISE THE LORD"

Thanks for stopping by today, Im posting these memorys becaiuse they are who I am and I never want to forget them.So

"PRAISE THE LORD"

Back where I come from~~~

2010-04-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Im dreaming of a care free week .....but dont see one in sight. Between barn work, Drs. appointments, Easter and the every day, Ive been swamped and Im ready sit back catch up on your blogs and do some blogging of my own......not sure when that will happen....never mind, hubby just called. He was on his way home from work and got called back....SSOOOOO..... I guess Ill do some blogging NOW!

These two top pictures are from the current issue of Country Living , how can you not sink into thoughts of spring and summer when you look at these, I love 'em. They remind me of care free days spent at Grandma and Grandpas house, which is a bit about what my blog is about today!

One of my favorite memories of Grandmas and Grandpas house was the endless gardens, yes, that was plural...not a typo. And they lived in town, well, it was a village actually. They had 3-4 huge gardens a year that were each nearly the size of a football field. They did it all by hand. We lived next door and there was nothing better than sneaking outside with them in the garden. I can remember picking strawberrys and eating them as I picked them. Then there were the times when Grandma would stop to talk to the neighbor lady and I would eat several ears of corn while she was talking, she would turn around and her corn would be gone, Yup, I shucked it right there and nawed away till she was done. It was ssoooooo good and nothing to the day tatses the same since.

So, where am I going with this besides reminiscing ? Well, as you know, I often post pics of inspiration (usually from Country Living). A new house is in our future, but its not definate as to when that will happen, just when we have enough money to get a good start. I took a walk last night and start thinking about why I am so obsessed with the farmhouse style. Yes, I grew up on a farm, but the decor was more of an English hunt style...lots of fox hunt prints, snaffles, deep hunter green and burgandys...getting the picture yet. I love primitives, but even more, I love bright white, blue, red and green. Well, long story short, I figured it out. All this time, Ive been trying to re create my child hood at my Grandma and Grandpas place. Though there were many, many happy, wonderful times at home......the times at my grand parents house were bittersweet. So, yes, Im trying to re create my child hood atmosphere with our decor. Its fitting that right now, we live in my hubbys great great great grand parents old farmhouse (the old home place, its affectionately called). We have talked about renovating this old house and if our funds become too limited, thats probably what we will do.

Well, Ive ran out of time for now, but I will be posting more about my farmhouse theorys and life. Ill leave you with a few "farmhouse pics" in closing. Thanks for stopping by and reading. Please let me know what you think!

Easter Plans are in the making...

2010-03-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Shew, its been a busy 2 weeks or so around here. Between dr. appointment, dog shows, work, laundry, dishes, etc.....I havent had time to blog or even think about it really. Still not positive whether or not we are doing it here or at moms, but we are doin it, LOL! It will be small, just me , hubby and mom.
Actually, I just realized it was a week away this morning when I heard someone say it on tv. I was going to op to do cupcakes like in the first pic, but I realized I have 2 new cake pans that are just itchin to be used before summer roles around. Not sure what kind of cake Im gonna go with yet, but I love the one above.
Also thinking about making some Easter cookies to bunch up in little Easter baggies that I can send with mom for my Grandma and uncle. Which reminds me, I need cookie cutters!
Hubby loves him some deviled eggs, not sure if I will do these or mom, but either way....he will have them. I have an Easter egg dish that mom got for me a few years ago. The colors are very similar to the last table setting pic. Cant wait to use it!
I cant decide if I want to use me new Martha Stewart dishes I got last year or pick something like this (above). My MS dinnerware has never been used, BUT it sure would be nice to cut down on the clean up and they would match the bright colors in that egg dish. So, ok, I just made up my mind. Also, Im gonna see how cheap I can do this and how cute I can make it at the same time.

So far the menu is:
Baked mashed potatos
Ham
A veggie, not sure what yet though
Deviled eggs
Homemade rolls
Cake
and Cookies for favors.

Im sure this will expand and shrink again by the time Easter rolls around, but its a start.

What are you planning/doing for Easter???

Farmhouse...Random Pics and Thoughts

2010-03-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

What a busy week it turned out to be last week. There was nothing particulary going on, it just seemed to go really fast. AND the fact that the weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, the breeze was warm and I was OUTSIDE, LOL! Guess thats why it seemed like I wasnt here much. I can only imagine laying in that hammock this summer on a lazy afternoon!
Ok, as you may know (if youve been reading my blog), we are planning to build our dream cabin. We have decided that our plan is to build a garage/house first. Sounds like a far cry from a log cabin, huh? Well, in our quest to stay out of debt, we decided we can wait a year, 2 or 3 more. We are going to start this spring building what will first start out looking like a garage, but in the end, will look and be our home for the time being. Why are we going to live in the garage/house, well.....the house we are living in now would need serious renovations, that honestly, if we would start on them, we would have the same amount of money in as the garage. Then when we get enough money saved up in a few years, build our cabin....we will have our garage already up and ready. Plus, lots of the things we use in the garage will be able to continue to be used. We will leave the bathroom, that way when hubby is all greased up from working on the truck, he doesnt have to bring the filth back in the new house. Its a WIN, WIN!!!
Another random thought for the week is that since the weather was SO nice last week, I got side tracked on the spring cleaning. SO, Im gonna get started on the kitchen this afternoon. Dh said if I keep going he wont want to move out of here...UH, I dont think so!
I wish my morning was as serene as this pic looks. I woke up and hour late, victim to the time change. Couldnt find my boots or keys, once I did....my Jeep wouldnt start. Hubby is suppose to check it tonight, thinking its a battery issue, dunno. So I figured I would blog, catch up on everyone elses blogs, then this afternoon work on the kitchen.
Oh, this pic reminds me......I took off the flannel sheets yesterday.....thats right, I have clean, white, fresh, crisp sheets on the bed right now. I cant tell you how good they felt (maybe another reason I over slept this morning)! I am so excited about this, LOL!

The weather is suppose to end up being really nice again thsi week. Though even though everything is damp, cold, wet and gloomy right now.....Im ready for it. Maybe I can get my housework done and by the time the sunshine rools around I can go out and play! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Pretty spring things.....

2010-03-08T09:47:00.001-08:00

I spent the morning outside with the dogs, the sun was shining, it was warm enough to take my coat off....I even may have broken a sweat, LOL! I have some work to do on my kitchen today, but I figured that the dishes and the clutter would still be there this afternoon and I was right, it didnt go anywhere, so, I guess I have to do something about that here shortly. When I came in to eat lunch, I sat down with the computer to browse my favorite site for some pretty spring thing reminders that spring is just around the corner!!!
Too cute, Ive seen cute little Easter boxes like this at Family Dollar and was thinking they would be cute to put little Easter truffles in for our parents this year!
Im in love with this picture, Im not sure if its the color of the eggs or the rooster sitting beside them, its just really pretty to me!

I really like he colors in this one and the chair is so pretty, the storys it could tell.
I really want to have Easter brunch here at the house this year, we had to skip it last year as we had an unexpected trip to Kansas and didnt get back till late the night before Easter, needless to say, I was not in any shape to cook, LOL!

So, we will see how it is all going when it gets a little closer to time. But in the mean time I will enjoy the sites and sounds of the spring to come!

Lets talk about kitchens, for our new home.....

2010-03-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

ive gotten so excited about spring this past week that I havent continued my "room by room" inspirations for our new log home (hopefully, nut not positive, this year). Today, its all about kitchens. Right now its a toss up between this first kitchen and the very last kitchen, with a little bit of all of them thrown in. Since it will be a log home there will be a certain warmth to the entire house, even though I love the warmth I need some cool tones. Heres what Im thinking, dark, but natural base (walls, island, etc.) with a little bit of
I farmhouse charm to livin it up a bit.I want lots of
white pitchers, plates and accents. Ok I know I said it was a toss up between pic 1 and the last one, however, I think this next one is a good in bewteen the two, SO, maybe I picked the wrong one. Now, imagine this next room with all the warmth, charm and white accents in it....THATS what Im going for!
yep, this one is my fave, I just decided! I absolutely do not want natural wood cabinets, I want them white or similar to the the cabinets in this pic. The biggest reason, I think I didnt pick this picture is because of the island, Im not feeling it, definately need something a bit more brighter!
I know what your thinking, well, ok...I dont know, but if you are, I understand, LOL! I love the naturistic feel of this kitchen, the fact that there arent any cabinets on the walls, I dont know, it just seems very clean and simple, which I like! Oh and the little gingham curtains are so cute!
Throw in some vintage flair and Ive got me a purty nice kitchen, LOL! Of coarse Ive got to have me some color and a few vintage signs. I nearly fell over recently when dh said HE wanted to go to the flea market this year. Let me tell you, he IS NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES a flea market going man, hes just that way and I love him bunches!!! We want to find some "old things", like vintage signs, etc.
The biggest things about this room is that I did think about dh when I seen it. Basically because that island is calling his name. He wants to have a counter similar to this.

Now, finally, look at these cabin inspired kitchens, imagine there is a rasberry lemonade candle burning, there are white pitchers with fresh peonys in them, a vintage coke sign hanging and a few vintage dish towels about. Can you see it? Let me know, because I sure can!

Oh and happy 15 days till spring!!!

19 Days of Spring Countdown...

2010-03-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

I figured since spring is "technically by the calendar" 19 days away I would do 19 days of spring. These are things that I think of when I think SPRING. Im so excited about it, I think everyone is though. I had planned on starting on some spring cleaning today, but Mom called this morning and needs me at the barn this afternoon to do some work, SSSOOOOOOO, I will get started tomorrow instead. One of the first things I think about is SPRING CLEANING. I really would like to get a new apron this spring. I seen in Country Living magazine, a new apron that was coming out this March at K-Mart and Ive been checking online, but nothing yet, I cant wait till it does though...just like I cant wait for SPRING. However, I really do like the one above. I found it at CountryLiving and there you can get the info on where to find it.
Its time to pull on the cutest, girly gloves you can find and fight some grime. I have actually started doing some cleaning. We recently moved furniture around and I did the sweeping and cleaning on the baseboards and corners, YAY!
Mending, washing, opening the windows to let the fresh air in, changing the menu......all part of spring time!

Today Im going to look for these Raspberry Lemonade tarts. I seen in a salon window in town recently that they were carrying Candelberry products, YAY! Then tomorrow when I wake up, Ill turn the tart burner on and get started with the SPRING CLEANING.

The gloves above can be found HERE
The candle HERE
The apron HERE

Well, Im off to do more laundry!

Pretty Things Saturday

2010-02-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hubby had to work today :( so I woke up cranked the heat up and jumped back in bed with the computer and found some pretty pics. Im imagining the first pic is the scene outside right now, but when I look out the window, its all white and blah. I think we have a chance of snow everyday for the next week....I dont need snow, I need sunshine!
These are my favorite flowers of the year, well, until peonys come on that is!
This pic has nothing to do with anything!!! I just thought the colors and textures are really pretty to look at!
Aw, Lavender....I can smell it already. Im really wanting a lilac/linen linen spray, but havent found one yet. Ive tested the ones at Bath and Body Works, but it was way too strong for me, I want a more light, crisp scent....just in time for spring. Im actually using a lavender scented fabric softener and a lemon verbena softener right now....they both smell soooo good! I love it when hubby comes home and I can still smell it on his shirts, I miss him right now, but its only a few more hours till he comes home, YAY!

Oh and make sure if you havent yet, to scroll down to the blog below, it has lots of pretty spring pics!

Well, hope everyone has a great weekend and your avoiding the snow, LOL!

~Spring IS coming~

2010-02-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

If your cheeks are red, your toes are cold (like mine) youll enjoy looking through these spring inspired pics from Country Living. I have a link to the page at the bottom of this post. I love that this is all paper plates!!!
I could stand to belly up to this table right now, it looks so warm and cozy....spring is just around the corner!!!
This one makes me want to start planning an Easter brunch...what else is there to do while the snow is still blowing?
Pretty, Pretty!!!
What a cheap project, paint your cans and buy a small bunch of flowers and your done. You can find other spring entertaining ideas here . Sorry, the direct link is HERE . Spring is just around the corner, just not sure how long of a straight stretch it is to that corner.....Think warm, spring, green thoughts!!!

LittleGirlsRoom, Bathroom, Outhouse, whatever ya wanna call it,

2010-02-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

My focal point for today is the bathroom. Our cabin will still have a farmhouse style woven in, it has to. All of the bathroom pics I posted have something in them I like, though I may not like the whole room, there are little things I will take away from them when keeping our "potty" in mind. Of coarse, as usual.....all pics have been taken from CountryLiving.com . The 1st pic I love the colors. I dont, however, love the floor, seems harsh and more modern to me. I do love the tub, the floral print on the white towels and the seemingly draped curtain on the window.

I like the colors in this bathroom.Ive been planning a sink like this for years. I may go for a white dresser though, rather than the bright blue, dont think hubby could swing that one. I would also go for a white mirror, not feeling the bronzy look on this one. We have exposed pipes now, like in the second pic above, but Im so over it.How pretty would this pitcher be on that white sink I described, with pastel pink peonys in it, oh spring, where are you?

So what do you think? What does you"littlegirls room" look like?

*remember, if you havent voted yet, to let me know if you want me to keep the music on here*
@*Also, Ive decided to use the third blog for recipes I find on the web, I may work on that later today if I have time, I have got to get this place cleaned up*@

Laundry Rooms

2010-02-22T10:51:00.001-08:00

Hopefully, we will start building our "dream home" sometime this year. We are aiming for a log cabin, something we have both always wanted. So Im starting to think about things that I really want to do in our new house (honestly, Im always "thinking" about these things and I drive hubby crazy over it. I figure Ill start focusing on these things on my blog and give the poor guy a break. My focus today is of laundry rooms. Ours right now is a catch all.....hubbys tools, mail, dog stuff, laundry....you name it, its in there.
So, Im dreaming of a clutter free area with "pretty things" inside, a place where you want to go and do laundry.I could listen to some Doris Day in the above LR while folding laundry.

Ever notice there isnt a lot about laundry rooms? I found all of the pics and info at CountryLiving.com

*Another thing, Ive been debating on whether or not to keep music posted on my blog or not. I have changed where I get my music from and am much happier with the new one. I know some people are annoyed by music and dont want my followers to feel annoyed with my blog. So, if you would please, answer the pole at the top of the blog and let me know....or leave me a note if if that easier for you.*

Well, here in a few minutes, Ill be off to work on my laundry room, these pics are inspiring me. I got a good start on it this weekend and need to get some more work done.

Snow Daaayyyyysssssss........

2010-02-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

Theres snow, snow ...everywhere!!!

Hubby has cabin fever, I think Im getting used to it, which led to re-arranging the house. We swapped rooms.....the living room is now the bedroom and the bed room is now the living room. Its a 200 yr old farmhouse, with itty-bitty rooms, which means we have no room and the only way to make more for when someone comes over is to move them around. So thats pretty much what we did all weekend.

Hubby took me to the barn this morning to clean and by the time we got home a few hours later we had 3 inches of snow on the road. It has stopped for a while now, but is suppose to start again this evening, getting up to 8 inches. I think Im going to have to cancel ANOTHER dr. appointment AGAIN. It just so happens that every time I set up my appointment, we get a snow storm. Maybe I should just wait till spring at this point, I dunno!

So we into town Saturday morning and I got some things for a new project. I started tearing pages out of my magazines last fall......wait, let me back up. I am obsessed with magazines. Home decor are the worst with me and they drive hubby nuts, oh and recipe magazines, too. So I decided last year to rip out my favorite pages and put them in a big notebook. Since then I have decided to make it more of a series of scrapbooks. With seperate seasonal books.......spring/summer, fall/winter, gardening, etc. Now I just need to get started on it. This way when I want some fall decor inspiration, I can go to that book. Ill try to get pics once I get started on it so you can see. Seems like Ill have plenty of time with these snow days!

Happy Valentines Day (on the cheap)

2010-02-09T10:50:00.001-08:00

These images were taken from Vintage Holiday Crafts . You can save the images to your computer, print them and use them for Valentines Day cards. There are directions for how to do it on their site. There are so many cute images there, you have to check them out.

I may do this for Valentines day for hubby and my mom. Ive been snowed in the last few days and unless I want to get up at 6 a.m and get "everything" done that I need to before I leave the house (actually I would have to get up earlier than that, anyway....)so that I can hitch a ride with hubby, Ill be here a few more days. Which means I wont be able to get anywhere to get anyone anything. So I may just do this and bake some cookies, too (heart shaped, red/pink/white of coarse)!!!
I love this one....too cute!

We had planned on going to a dog show for Valentines day, but with the weather the way it is, we probably wont even get to go out to dinner. So I may break down and hitch a ride with hubby early one morning and go rent some movies so that we can stay in and snuggle in the warmth. What will you be doing?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, EVERYONE!!!

Quilts..Thrugh The Country Door

2010-02-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

As we are sitting through the rain and waiting on the 3-6" of snow, Ive been browsing through a catalog Through The Country Door that I got in the mail today. Im still thinking about bedrooms. They have really pretty quilts and they actually look like quilts. Theres nothing worse than ordering a "quilt" and it shows up looking like a bedspread with a few stitches thrown in so it can be labeled a quilt.

I love the mirror...the colors are really pretty and "happy". Ive been eye balling the sheets for some time time. They remind me of waking up on a Saturday morning at Grandmas house.

Im in love with this quilt in particular. The room itself doesnt look farmhouse-ish at all, but I think the quilt would fit right in - in an olde country farmhouse with lots of green and white pillows. Anywho....just wanted to share. All of the items are from Through the Country Door.

As mentioned, we are waiting on "the storm". Lots of rain right now, but thats suppose to change tonight. I went to the store yesterday after work and stocked up so we can nestle inside. I got my new Country Living mag today too, so Ill be cuddled up tomorrow with a cozy blanket (by the window, watching the snow fall) some hot chocolate with marshmallows....just relaxing with hubby....enjoying the snow from inside. Even though Im ready for spring...I can savor the nesting/snowed in feeling for a bit longer...it doesnt last forever....just like spring. Joyce Meyer says we should enjoy where we are at, while we are on our way to where we are going!

Going...Going......Green~~~

2010-02-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

My biggest goal for 2010 is to live a healthier life. I want to live a little greener, nothing crazy, but healthier. I found these "eco- friendly" items at Farmhouse Wares . The image above is a bar of soap, I have developed rosacea and I get seasonal eczema on my hands and occasionally on my legs. This has made me more aware what I put not only in my body, but on it. I recently seen on tv an idea that I tried. They said for dry, sensitive skin to place a layer of honey (the real kind) on clean skin, let rest for 10-15 min. and then rinse. I tried this and I cant tell you how moisturized my face was , even 12 hrs later, not a splotch of dry skin anywhere. Try it and let me know if you do.

I cant remember all the scents, but one was lemon verbena, I think there was a lavender......can you imagine the fresh and clean scent they leave behind on your favorite tee-shirt. I cant wait to purchase these products this spring.....they seem so wholesome and yummy.
Another way Im going green......Im going to the library. Im a magazine-aholic....seriously, I have stacks of them and certain ones I always will. But this year I cut way down on the magazines coming to my mailbox. I found out I can pick up fashion mags, cooking mags, etc. at the library. I can keep them for a week and then take them back. Im in love with Mary Janes Farm magazine. Its made from recycled material and it feels so good, I mean the paper itself, it almost feels like a luxurious, self indulgent thing with this magazine. Cant explain it, you just have to pick one up for yourself!
This is an all-purpose cleaning spray from Farmhouse Wares as well. I really want to try and make these small changes this year and here is where Im starting....wanna start with me?

Bedrooms, whites, yellows, blues and greens

2010-01-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

Im planning on doing a little updating in the bedroom this spring. I love these bedrooms. I just want to jump in the picture and get cozy. Im really loving the greens and yellows in this bedroom.

And the yellow and white in this one, I really like the tiny floral prints!

Are you getting the theme here??? FARMHOUSE AND WHITE!!!

This seems do-able.

I like the richness of the wood with the plain white and nothing else.

Im really in love with this blue and white them. Looks really cool and crisp for the warmer months and looks like it smells like linen and lilac.....a girl can dream!

Lookeee, what I found.....

2010-01-25T14:19:00.000-08:00

This bunny makes me SSSOOOO HAPPY......I ran across these cute papier mache bunnies on the Country Living

website by accident. You can read the full story here

I was browsing snow pictures on the web because it is snowing here right now and I was going to blog about my day and the crazy weather we are having. It started off mild and everything is flooded from yesterdays rain, then it turned bitterly cold with in an hour, then it started sleeting...now, its snowing like crazy. So, these pictures do remind me of the snow, but also reminds that spring will follow in a few months.

We will slowly start to turn to the bright, yet muted pastel tones soon, flowers will be popping up, trees and grass turning green and we will be renewed by spring. I just LOVE these bunnies and the colors...they make me happy! What colors or things are making you happy right now in this dismal weather?

Whats going on here???

2010-01-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

I always have trouble making decisions........and recently I had the urge to start up a new blog about my day to day life, etc. and was going to leave blogs about home decor here. I started it and 7 of you followed me, but now Im thinking Im just going to re-adjust this one...seems much more simple now. Im not sure what Im going to do with the other one, Im thinking I may just use it for recipes for my personal use or something, I dunno yet...like I said, I have a hard time making decisions. So in my spare time Ill be making small changes to this one and eventually I hope to get it where I want it!

PLEASE , VISIT ME HERE....

2010-01-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

Oh, and sorry about the Christmas music om here...youll find out why its still on here when you visit me here!

http://www.goingsonatthefarmhouse.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas, A Visual Gift to my followers......

2009-12-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a few minutes and wish a Merry Christmas to my faithful followers and post some pretty pictures for you.Hopefully you all are nestled in your warm homes that are decorated for the season and some nice warm hot chocolate or tea. Now, if you arent...you should be, this is your chance, grab something hot to drink and maybe a candy cane or cookie and sit back and enjoy some Christmas music and some Christmas prettys. All images came from Country Living so if this wasnt enough for you, you can head over there. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the pics. Ill be spending time with my family for the next several days, so Im not sure when my next blog will be. I will be working on my new blog "the farmhouse happenings" when Im relaxing (Ive got it started) and then I will have a bloggy open house, so I will keep you posted on that. Thank you for each and every follower, whether you comment or not, it means a lot to me that you stop by. So, have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and a great new year, too! Erica

The week ahead....

2009-12-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, there is no real reason for these pics, other than I really like them:).... Anyway, as Im getting ready to head out into the cold today, Im thinking of all the things I need to scurry and get done this evening and tomorrow. Finish that last batch of cookies, laundry, clean, finish Christmas shopping and wrap them (thats the part I love...wrapping).

Oh and mom found me lights that have white snowflakes encased around them that I want to add to the entertainment center for the final days. I was going to make cinnamon rolls from the Farms Chicks book for my mom and in-laws for Christmas morning, but I just seem Amys, from Keepin the sunny side, recipe for monkey bread. My mom used to make this recipe...its great. So, I may do that- to by myself some time, since I have so much to do.Have a great day and stay warm~~~

A Peaceful, Quiet Morning

2009-12-19T06:18:00.001-08:00

Thats it, if the rest of the day falls apart, I will still have had this wonderful morning. When the dog woke me up to go out this morning, I thought there was snow on the ground because it looked brighter out side, through the blinds and curtains and I was right.

Ive been visiting my favorite blogs, looking at the snow and my peppermint candle burning, listening to the silence of a calm morning. I may make some more cookies today, we may have to run to moms to pick up some straw, but thats ok, the snow is pretty, so that will make it ok.

Hubby is still fast asleep, sleeping...not something he gets to do often, so Ive tried to be quiet, havent made breakfast...we may miss breakfast this morning, oh well. I should have turned the Christmas lights on, but forgot...its just as pretty with them off.

I cant believe its almost Christmas and that we may actually get a white one, that would be so exciting. Its stopped snowing here, but Amy at Keepinthesunnyside says its snowing at her house, so Im keeping my fingers crossed that it will start up here again....OH, and I think it might be.

On another note, I may be starting a new blog. This blog is more decor based, I am wanting a blog where I can post about different things, too. I just hate for this one to be jumbled up, with everything on it, but not sure just yet. The other blog would be my mane blog, about my life. What do you think?

Well, enough rambling for now, I need to get started on something, right or wrong!

Mini Christmas Tour, Come inside......

2009-12-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

I had full intentions of going all primitive this Christmas, I was going to make decorations, etc. Then I went to Wal-Mart and found these really pretty brown, bronze and cream colored bulbs and I had to have them, they were so pretty, oh, I said that already. The white glittered houses my mom got me several years back at a primitive store. The tree came from Village Primitives a few years back, it came flocked and has big pine cones tucked in it. I used real pine for everything else. I have a limited decorating space right now:(, but at least I have some space!
My obsession with pip berrys doesnt end, I have them tucked in the pine on the entertainment center, with ribbon that came from the dollar store for a buck!
Bad lighting, but you get the idea. The window came from an old building here from when we first moved in. I busted the last of the windows out of it and gave it a slight touch of white paint , but left it looking old, of which , it is.

On to the bathroom, the tiniest room of all. No, those arent pip berrys, but tiny flowers. They reminded me of pine limbs with snow on them, so I mixed it with more real pine. It smelt really good at first , but not its starting to dry.

The cabinet I added more pine and some red berrys that I already had. The metal bucket came from a yard sale for .75 cents.
I made the snowman several yrs ago with material and a toilet paper roll. Most of the others are old ornaments that I had too.
Well, thats about it for now, I may have more Christmas goodies this afternoon. .......MERRY CHRISTMAS..........

Christmas cookies

2009-12-15T13:51:00.001-08:00

Im having technical difficulties this afternoon. It seems I can not remember how on earth to post my pics from my photo bucket account. Im thoroughly confused now, which isnt much different from any other day. Anywho, Ive been doing laundry and baking today, all the while Ive been listening to Christmas music...yes...the entire day...Christmas music..I love it!

So, I made these truffles for the first time. I found the recipe for them and the following cookie on a coupon leaflet from the store.

Simply Sensational Truffles

2 1/2 pkg. bakers semi sweet chocolate
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
sprinkles or chopped nuts for decoration

1) melt 8 chocolate squares
2)beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy
3)blend in melted chocolate
4)refridgerate till firm
5)shape into 36 balls and place on wax paper on baking sheet
6)melt remaining chocolate and roll truffles in melted chocolate with 2 forks
7)return to baking sheet and decorate, then refridgerate for 1 hour

These were REALLY EASY!

Easy Pudding Cookies

1 cup butter softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 pkg chocolate instant pudding
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 pkg bakers white chocolate, chopped

1)heat oven to 350. beat butter and sugar in lg bowl with mixer till light and fluffy. add dry pudding mix, beat until blended.add eggs, mix well. gradually add flour and baking soda, beating till well blended after each addition. stir in chocolate.
2)drop tbls of dough onto cookie sheet, 2 inches apart
3)bake 10-12 min. or until edges are lightly browned.cool 1 min on baking sheets then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

These are really good too!!!

2009-12-15T13:46:00.001-08:00

Thoughts about Snow

2009-12-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about snow today....why I get so excited about it, especially since snow means ~~~cold~~~, why its so calming and why is it so pretty??? After all, snow is rain and rain is snow and we are suppose to have a mix of both tonight.

Rain, to me, is soothing, especially when its on a tin roof, but its just not snow. Theres nothing better than to wake up in the morning, pull the curtain back and see snow blowing around and sticking to the ground. It instantly soothes the soul, even though 5 min. before it was a normal-ho-hum morning the instant you see the snow the day is suddenly perfect.

Snow is peaceful, you can not here it falling or hitting the ground like you can the rain....there is something magical about snow falling.

Then there are all the things you can do in the snow...sleigh riding, building snowmen and other objects, make ice cream (seen Paula Deen do this once), snow ball fights, etc. We do not celebrate the rain this way....well, ok, the occasional rain dance or so, LOL! I love to go out for a walk when its snowing, to feel it on my rosey red cheeks, smell the cool crisp air that is creating the snow, the crunching of the snow under your feet....you have to admit....when you walk in the rain and step in a puddle it DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME AFFECT AS STEPPING IN SNOW!!!

Then when your inside in your warm toasty home, there is nothing better than to look out the window and look at the beautiful landscape of **~~~SNOW~~~**

I SIMPLY LOVE THE SNOW...............Its a special thing like Christmas music (thoughts on that coming soon in another blog), it comes but once a year, its peaceful, beautiful and magical......ITS SNOW!!!

Please Read......

2009-12-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

My hubby recieved this in his e-mail, please read it and pass it on by way of your own blog if you like.

Remarks from CBS Sunday Morning - Ben Stein

I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late ! !

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Everything You ...

2009-12-11T11:27:00.001-08:00

.... Wanted To Know About How I Celebrate Christmas....

but didn't care to ask...... ( I borrowed this from it's almost NAPTIME!!)

1.Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Im drinking hot chocolate right now. Cant stomach egg nog.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa does both...everyone knows how much santa loves gift wrapping!

3. Colored lights on the tree/house or white.

clear

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

5. When do you put up your decorations?

ASAP, well, ok, not at least close to Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?

all of it!.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

Oh gosh, so many. I guess just the Christmas morning ritual with opening gifts way early in the morning, then going outside top feed the horese(hopefully in the snow) then breakfast.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

when I stayed up all night under the christmas tree to see for myself.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas eve?

Growing up...NNOOOOOO!!! Now, we do Christmas with my mom on Christmas eve, so yes!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

I had a primitive theme going for a while, but this year, I have a brown and silver theme going.

11. Snow. Love it? or Dread it?

Love to look at it, love to play in it, hate to drive in it. LLLLLOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEE!!!

12. Can you ice skate?

I have before

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

my first english saddle

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays to you?

Remembering the true meaning of Christmas, and making

attempts to make it less about gifts, and more about our

Saviors Birth. Family

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

peanut butter blossoms.

16. What tops your tree?

nothing this year

17. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?

Ok people, lets be REAL... BOTH.. HA!

18. What is your favorite Christmas song?
All of teh Charlie Brown cHRISTMAS SONGS AND Ill be home for Christmas

19. Candy Canes, Yuck or Yum?

YUM FO SHO!

20. Favorite Christmas Show?

Miracle on 34th st.

21. Saddest Christmas Song?

Christmas Shoes

If your reading this, feel free to have a go at it, just leave me a message that you are going to so I can have a peek!

If you've gotten this far, and your still awake, and you'd

like to do this on your blog... be my guest. Let me know,

and I'll stop by.

Christmas Quotes

2009-12-10T06:54:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would post a few Christmas quotes today. The snow is blowing outside and Im getting ready to go to the barn, so I thought I would leave you with some Christmas spirit. Do you have any favorite Christmas quotes? If so, please leave a comment and tell us about it.

Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree."
~ Charlotte Carpenter.

To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world."
~ Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), American president. Presidential message (December 25, 1927).

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author. From 'A Christmas Carol'.

Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget."
~ Hugh Downs (1921- ), American newscaster.

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever."
~ Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954), American author, 'Song of Years'.

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."
~ W. T. Ellis

Christmas, my child, is love in action."
~ Dale Evans (1912-2001), American film actress, singer and songwriter. Wife of Roy Rogers.

"Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind."
-- Helen Steiner Rice

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!"
-- Unknown

Im back....

2009-12-09T10:25:00.000-08:00

Im back, oh, I am so excited to have the internet at home again. Its been since September sometime since we had access and Im giddy with excitement...its like Christmas day for me.

Anyway, thank you for all the lovely comments while Ive been away and thanks for checking in while Ive been away.

Im getting ready to decorate my blog for Christmas, so please check back in.

Oh, one other thing. I tried to log in at Sugarpiefarmhouse.com and cant seem to succeed. I even re-did my password, it let me log in with it, but when I went to reply to a personal meaasge, it would kick me off. Anywho, if ant of my sugar pie sistas can help me, please do.....I miss the farmhouse.

Well, Im off to set a Christmas time scene and feel to my blog!

Yes, Im thinking of Christmas~~~

2009-10-07T11:33:00.001-07:00

Though I am thouroghly NOT done with fall and Thanksgiving yet, I have been dreaming about Christmas time already. Im hoping our home will be done by then and I can be decorating. I want to do lots of pine boughs and some dried fruits.

I love all things that glow, sparkle and shine.....ordinarily you dont get that with primitives, but at Christmas time... we have full right to make things sparkle that dont usually....another great thing about this time of year

As I mentioned, Im not in any way trying to hurry along fall, but Christmas is on my mind from time to time and I just wanted to share that with you. Are you excited for this as well?

Isnt this beautiful?

Help with New Projects....Any Ideas?

2009-10-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, since Im home with no internet right now, I would love to start a few new projects in the

evenings. Im thinking I would love to start rug hooking. Do any of you do this or have done it in the past? I did a search in ...well...I googled it, LOL! It seemed fairly simple, but I know once I sit down, it will be a whole different story.

Ive thought about doing some painting on old windows as well. Then I thought maybe I should start thinking about making some ornaments for Christmas.

Basically, I want to know what you guys do for projects? And if you could share with me where to find these ideas on the web. I would so appreciate your help.

Fall Blessings....

2009-10-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

My my my, how time flies. Can you believe September has come and gone. Fall is here, the leaves are changing and falling, the air is crisp and we have even had our first glimpse of frost.

Obviously I do not have my internet back up and running at home yet and yet again Im blogging at the library. I so miss my wonderful blogger friends. I have not had the time I had hoped to come here and read the great blogs I so miss. I know, in time, Ill have the internet back and Ill be blogging daily and reading daily.

We have started working on the old farmhouse, Im so excited about it, I think we are going for more materials tomorrow. Right now we have tarps covering the side of the house (very attractive by the way) and its suppose to be 39 degress Saturday night...BBRRRRRRR!!! So its safe to say that the house isnt very festive looking. Well, the bathroom is anyway. Its the only room Ive been able to decorate.

I received my sign that I won from farmhousecountrystyle
I havent decided where I want to put it yet, its so pretty. Oh and she also sent an envelope of (a sachet of sorts) scented like pumpkin and my vehicle smells sssoooooo good right now. Thanks Dee. Please check her site out, she does amazing work.

Well, guess thats about it, I hope you all dont give up on me or my blog till I get back. I so miss doing this and hopefully soon I will be blogging again. Just like fall, winter, summer and spring we all go through seasons ourself, some better than others and Im having fun with this one.

Have a great weekend my fellow blogger friends.

Im still here, but less...

2009-09-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

Ok ladies , Ill make this short and sweet.....I currently dont have any internet access at home right now, so thats why you have seen less of me. Basically, we werent happy with our service, rates were going up and not for very good service either so for now Ill just have to stop by the library from time to time and check in. Ill be reading your blogs while Im here, today I, just trying to get things caught up via e-mail and such.

Good news....we are starting on remodeling our house soon...Im so excited, when I recieved the Christmas issue of the Sampler two days ago...I even picked out what colors our walls are going to be... I cant wait to get to that point.

So anyway, know that I have not abandoned my blog or yours, things are just in lingo right now and eventually, I will be back in full swing.

Im so excited for fall....I hope you are having a blessed fall as well!

My Heart with always be with Primitives~~~

2009-09-10T10:09:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love the pics of this saltbox home in the Sept/Oct issue of the Country Sampler (sampler link in sidebar). This summer I was leaning towards going back to the farmhouse style because I love light airy and sometimes bright colors, which primitives dont always sport. BUT...when I recieved this sampler my heart went home to the primitives. I love the style....the simplicity of it all. The wood and the neutral colors. Cant you just imagine curling up in this chair, listening to the warm crackle of the fire and reading a good book or sampler!!!
Im in love with this dinning room, I love the warm and cool colors together....Im convinced, Im sticking to primitives. They make a room or home for that matter feel warm, cozy and inviting.
This is proof you can add pops of color to your primitive background. I love the color of the pumpkin and the flowers together...their rolls are almost reversed here. I also love the texture of the metal against the wood.

I cant wait to get started on this old house, I know its not permanent, but it will have the feel that I want till we can build our own home the way we want it. These pictures of this house will be inspiration for me.

Today the weather is cooler, there is a fall breeze in the air and it just makes you want to go for a walk and see what nature is doing and changing, then coming in and nesting in the warmth with family.

Tomorrow my mother in law and I are going to the flea market...something that we try to do every year about this time. It kind of starts my fall season, plus its suppose to be even cooler tomorrow so it we will really have the whole fall atmosphere.

The leaves are starting to change here as well, kind of early, but thats ok by me...

Yay, I won my first giveaway contest......

2009-09-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Much to my surprise this morning, as I was trying to wake up and check my e-mails and pms from the past week, I discovered I had won my first blog giveaway. Im so excited to recieve my prizes, in the pic above.

If you havent checked out Dees blog, FARMHOUSECOUNTRYSTYLE , you must do so right away, you can do so here. Look for the link on her blog to her store. She makes the sweetest signs and they are at great prices, so please....check her out. And THANK YOU DEE!

So, Im kind of getting back on track here with blogging or I hope I am anyway, so keep checking back for new posts. Im so excited to get back in a routine again.

Scripture and Thoughts

2009-08-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well....what a whirlwind of a week it has been. We have had ups and downs, things have broken, blown up or just plain didnt work out. Actually, nothing blew up except for plans...so thats ok.

We went to town this morning had breakfast and picked up a few random things we needed. On the way home the sun started shining, the sky was bright blue with white fluffy clouds dotting the pallete. There was a soft, cool...autumn like breeze blowing. Then a song came on the radio and the chorus start out "Its all Right now, baby, its all right now! It felt like a sign, things were coming together at the last minute. Though things arent perfect....its all right now. I felt liek I could breathe and relax for the next week ahead.

Now that Im home, I sat down to check my e-mail and whiling waiting for it to load I picked a devotions book, Glimpses of an Invisible GOD for Women. I browsed through some scriptures and found the most beautiful verse. It was fitting for the day we are having, so I thought I would share it with you. I had not planned on blogging anymore for a week or so, but after such a blessed morning and brief break..I could resist. Hope you all are having a beautiful blessed weekend as well.

~~~~~THE LORDS PROMISE IS SURE. HE SPEAKS NO CARELESS WORD; ALL HE SAYS IS PUREST TRUTH, LIKE SILVER SEVEN TIMES REFINED~~~~~ Psalm 12:6

Blog Award

2009-08-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you Lorla , for this wonderful blog award. This is my first award on this blog and Im so excited. If you havent checked out Lorlas blog, you definately should.

Im passing this award on to a few others.

Kendra
Nancy

The Next Few Weeks.....

2009-08-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Its been so busy here, I havent had much time to read up on my favorite blogs or blog for myself much. My dear hubby took some time off work to get some things done here at the house (mainly in the camper) and things havent quite gone as planned, things have broke, vanished or simply not worked. I told him its a good thing he took the whole week off, LOL! Anyway, you all know how excited and happy I am for falls arrival and I realized today in the midst of the hussle and bustle that this is the eye of storm "before" it passes...ya know, we have to go through the hard times before we can enjoy the good.

I just wanted to let you all know that I wont be blogging much in the next few weeks. I will be jumping on and reading yours, but I wont be working on mine much since we will be busy around here.
Once things slow back down in a few weeks, I will find my schedule again, start working on this house, painting the LR, finishing the kitchen and probably starting on the laundry room. The with the finish of each room, fall decor will come out and overflow my house. I cant wait to sit back after a long hard day with some cinnamon spiced tea, a good book or movie with hubby, a tart or candle burning with scent of fall...pumpkin spice, sugar cookie, etc and enjoy the warm glow of autumn in my home.
Then before you know it, Thanksgiving will be knocking on our door, hopefully a few snowflakes will too. Then Ill think back and remember how hard we worked to be able to enjoy the holidays and family. We will be thankful for the hard times that have passed and respect the ones that are coming in the future even more. I just cant wait!

New Dinnerwear ~ Thanksgivng~

2009-08-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

I think I will be using these pics from Country Living for the inspiration for our table at Thanksgiving. I really like the colors and the pretty flowers on the back of the chairs. I may have to try that. The biggest reason I am using these for inspiration is that I just got a new dinner set (pics at bottom) and these would go great with the theme above.
Our Thanksgiving is never big, its usually just me and hubby, my mom and occasionally my grandma and uncle. Not sure who is planning on being where this year, but I love these place cards, I can really do those, even we all know where we are sitting....they would be pretty keepsakes. Also, the plate in the above pic is similar to mine, well, mine have the bronze/copper scrolling...not the turkey.
Arent these the best invitations, again, I dont need them, but it would be so much fun to do and I may very well do it!
Too cute and looks super easy, Im gonna try!
And finally my Martha Stewart Dinner Set. We got them at K-Mart on clearance, they were originally 60.00, but we got them for 15.00. I have to admit, when we first got them , we thought they were red and white, but when I opened them up, they are a bronze/copper color . Then we looked at the box again and yep, thats what they were. I could have taken them back, but they were so pretty , I couldnt part with them.

So Im planning a white tablecloth, maybe some white chair covers, with a brown satin ribbon accent. Im wanting some browns, golds, yellows and reds for the centerpice, but not sure exactly what Im going to do. And then of coarse , those super cute invites and place cards. What do you think?

Ive been tagged....You may have been too,

2009-08-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

A dear blogger friend, Nancy tagged me to do a blog. I have to list 6 things about me. I am tagging 6 other people at the bottom of this blog as well.

1) Fall is my favorite time of year, then Christmas almost ties for 1st place.
2) I love Charlie Brown specials.
3) I love Coach bags, but cant afford them, LOL.
4) I scrapbook some in the cooler months.
5) I have a LG VU phone.
6) Baking is a hobby in the fall for me.

Im tagging the following:

Lorla
Kendra
Anna
Amy
LittleRus
GuitarsandPralines

Have camper, will Travel...In Style,

2009-08-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

So we are preparing to go on our little vaca that we go on every year, but this year will be different...we are taking the camper and staying in it instead of a motel room. I cant tell you the amount of money we will save by doing this, plus we are super excited about taking it. We have had it for years with big plans to travel and such, but we never have...how wasteful, well no more.

The first pic is the same lay out (for the most part), the colors are different. We have a cream linoleum floor and a sage carpet and the general color is cream and sage. The second pic is the same style, though not the same company and not the same color, but you get the idea...it has a slide out for more room.

The third pic, youve seen on my blog before. It was the inspiration for my bedroom here at the house, but now Im thinking it will be my bedroom in the camper. We re-did the bedroom , it now has all natural oak wood on the walls and its so pretty. I remembered I have a quilt that is very similar to the colors of the pic above, so Im going to get it out, make repairs and get it washed and ready for the camper. I want to find a red and white checked material for curtains and pillows for a bit of contrast. Im so excited about it. I may even stop at the thrift store for some cheap white accents if they have any.

So when its all finished I will post pics, it will be a few weeks though.

Our vaca wont be a true camping experience, we are actually going to an event that we go to every year, but we will be in the camper, so I guess it doesnt matter where we park it and how many people are there...the people that matter will be there and thats really all that matters, oh and the fact that we will save about 500.00, LOL!

Im so excited, I cant help it~

Caramel Apple, Fall Recipe

2009-08-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well, you new I couldnt resist another fall blog. One of the first things I think about when fall arrives is baking, which when trying to loose some lbs. is a fine science. So I started browsing Country Livings web site for fall recipes and found this wonderful Caramel Apples recipe. I havent tried this before, but really want to try it this fall. Of coarse, the calorie content is a sin, one apple is 1/2 a days worth of calories. All the more reason to grab some celaphane and some pretty raffia or ribbon and make gifts out of them. Or serve them on a cake stand at a get together to serve or send home with guests. Anyway you choose to do it, they are sure to be delicious. The recipe is below. Will you try it?

Recipe taken from Country Living (link to site on side bar)
(makes 12)
12 crisp apples
1 1/3 cups dark corn syrup
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups light brown sugar
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line a baking pan with a generously oiled sheet of parchment paper. Push a candy apple stick into the core of each apple. Combine the syrup, sugars, heavy cream, and salt in a large saucepan over medium0high heat. Simmer until the mixture reaches 270°F – about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the butter and vanilla. Let cool for 6 to 8 minuets, until caramel thickens to a toffee like consistency. Dip and gently swirl the apples into the caramel and place on the prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely.

Nutrition Per Serving
Protein 1G
Fat 15G
Carbohydrate 148G
Fiber 3G
Sodium 220MG
Cholesterol 55MG
Calories 700

Happy Fall Y'All!

Bathroom Pics Update

2009-08-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Nothing much going on here today, but thought I would share a few pics of my bathroom now that its painted.

I went from bright white walls to a creamy, hot chocolate color. Its very warm and has cozy feel, which I was wanting. We tend to spend lots of time in there in the winter taking nice long hot baths.

I made the curtains, which were not what I planned, but I fell in love with the pattern as soon as I seen it, plus, the window is small so when I want I can change it up a bit for a small amount of money and work, like for the holidays or spring/summer, Ill probably go with something more light and airy. Also, the pic beside the curtain a friend made for me, its a crow painted on glass, love it.

The cute thing on the wall beside the mirror is a screen door mom found at the flea market. It has pip berrys and a welcome sign on it. I want it to be my real screen door.

The start towel holder my mother in law got me for Christmas last year. There is also a matching toilet paper holder that isnt shown, I dont think.

The colored mason jars I found a few years back at the dollar store on clearance, I dont think I have much over a dollar in both of them.

Luckily, my husband likes the color so we are planning on going with the same color in the LR.

So, what do you think of our bath? It is, for the most part, done..but Im always making changes and moving things from room to room.

What I Love About Fall/Autumn

2009-08-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Ill be posting more of my favorites soon, the ones below are only a few. Hope you enjoy!One of my favorites things about fall are the pumpkins and gourds and the various sizes, shapes and colors the come in. One of the first things that gets me in the mood for fall are pumpkins, I mean its just not fall without them. You can do so many things with them like, baking breads..cakes and pies. You can set them around your home, inside and out, to decorate for the season. You can carve them, paint them, even make a head for your home made scarecrow. The possabilitys are endless.

Harvest Sugar Cookie is another favorite of mine and its a new scent for me. I found it recently and it smells so good. Just like the scents of tarts and candles, each season has its own scent and fall/autumn is one of my favorites. The smell and sound of the freshly fallen leaves on the ground are so refreshing. It think fall candle scents are the best...pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, sugar cookies, Yum...it just puts you in the mood....ya know, kinda like Christmas music does in December.
Theres nothing like coming home to a warm cozy throw at the end of the day to snuggle up with and maybe read a good book.

Ive always been drawn to these books, but have never read one, so Im planning on buying one this fall and get started on it. Im so excited to read one. Any recomendations?
Long walks on a cool, crisp day are the best, with plenty of natures own "eye candy" all around. It truely makes living in the country worth while!
Speaking of eye candy, this is one of the things that help you to keep summer in your heart when the heat has faded, the petunias have passed and the geranums are gone. Bright beautiful pops of color remind you of summer, yet make you think of fall. They come in so many pretty colors and sizes, you cant help but love them.

Im still obsessing over Autumn, yes, more pics

2009-07-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Keeping in the spirit of the meaning behind the wreath, WELCOME to another blog about Autumn and its many beautys. I love wreaths, I have at least one or two up all year long, then watch out come fall and Christmas. Sometimes, when the season changes and we get snow flurries I cant help but to go out and gather some pine and start making a few wreaths.
I love white pumpkins and they are proof that Halloween doesnt have to be dark, scary or dreary. I dont decorate much for Halloween, more so for Autumn itself, but if you feel Halloween is too dark, you could definately use white pumpkins and paint black cats or a witches hat on them. I love the simplicity of these pumpkins/gourds.
And this is proof that your average pumpkin can be bright, cheery and fun. I dont really have porch that I can do this kind of thing with right now, but Im dreamingof and imagining one with a similar design.
I just really liked the colors in this pic, doesnt really inspire me to do anything in particular, but I love the colors.
Thought this was cute, too.
I love the colors and textures in the pic to the left and simpleness of the pic on the right.
And saving my favorite for last, I think I might add a few brighter pops of color and a strand of clear lights in the pipberrys. This pic is the inspiration for my entertainment center this year.

Well, hope you enjoyed the pics, most of them came from Country Living and the Country Sampler of which I have links to in my side bar.

Hope you enjoy the beauty that we are blessed with for the Autumn season!

Fall/Autumn Inspiration

2009-07-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is for my Super Pie Sistas at www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com and fellow friends yearning for fall/autumn.
Ok, ok, I know its only mid-summer, but I know a few including myself that are itching for a cool crisp breeze (ya know, the kind you can put on a light sweater and feel cozy), the warmth of a hot mug filled with hot apple cider or hot cocoa, the bright and vibrant colors that autumn brings...greens, oranges, reds and yellows, the crackling of the dried leaves underneath your feet, the sweet smell of fall.

Can you not wait to come home to a warm home that smells of pumpkin pie? Yes, thats right, its time to start baking and sharing your goods with family and friends.
Where the days have shortened and you get to spend time with your family again. Time to give thanks and reflect on the years past and be thankful you can do so.
The fall decorations are out and look how easy they are, gather some twigs and sticks, put them in a vase or a hollowed out pumkin and instantly it becomes fall, throw in some color like the apples and your done and how pretty would an orange mum be sitting by those apples.

Its time to go out and clean up the yard from the summer, plant bulbs, carve your pumpkins, maybe even a get together for a hay ride.

Then come and take a nice hot Gingerbread scented bubble bath, put on your most comfy jammies and sit by the warm glow of a candle and read a good book.

Yep, its simply a bittersweet time of year. I know we need to be thankful for each season and with season comes change. I am thankful for each season and the changes they bring. I hope you are too. So, while we are still enjoying summer, we can look forward and plan, being like a child waiting on Santa Clause...waiting with anticipation to see what the next season brings.
~THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. PSALM 118:24.
I hope you all do the same.

Erica

A Few of My Favorite Things from Bath and Body Works

2009-07-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased the Kitchen Lemon scented moisturizing handsoap from Bath and Body Works. The line of hand soap is a regular here at the house. Let me think, right now I have Brown Sugar and Fig, Warm Vanilla Sugar, Wild Honeysuckle and the kitchen lemon. In the cooler months I switch to the moisturizing soap, but the summer I use the regular. This scent is wonderful, its lemony and has a hint of warmness to it. Cant explain it exactly, but its wonderful. Im a bit obsessed with Bath and Body Works products anyway. I will spend way more there on body wash and lotion than I ever would and Wal-Mart.I even have my husband hooked on an item or two. Well, I wouldnt say he is hooked, but he really likes it. Its a C.O. Bigelow product that is a hair and body wash in one. I think there are 3 or 4 scents , but the blue elixir is our favorite. Its a very masculine, clean and fresh scent. Its wonderful, I mean, we have to keep our men smelling good.

And finally, this is my all time favorite bath and body line. True Blue Naked. I think they are discontinuing it because it was on clearance when I was in there, which is disappointing. I have the body wash, lotion and body spray. It has a clean, refreshing beachy scent to it. My mom got the scrub and said it makes your skin feel wonderful.
So there you have it, you know what myself and family smell like, LOL! Are you a bath and body addict like me? Let me know!

Tagged by Anna, Honest Scrap

2009-07-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

I was tagged my Miss Anna from The Style Diet, well, kind of, anyway.....to list 10 things that you dont know about me.

1) I have a 1/2 sister that I have only known for 5 years or so, Im 30 yrs old.
2) I grew up on horse farm, showing horses every weekend.
3) I drive a Jeep Cherrokee.
4) Im actually rather quiet, you wouldnt know that by the way I ramble on my blog.
5) I love Fall (fave) and Spring (2nd fave)
6) Our mailbox has a cover with an "ugly" turkey on it, gross.
7) When I was young I had long blonde hair, now its short and hi-lighted.
8) I have an LG View phone.
9) I love to get dressed up, but spend most of my time in the barn looking like a hot mess, litteraly.
10) I love hooker boots (as my husband affectionatly calls them, lol) but I cant wear them, I have really big calves.

*** So if you are reading this, you have been tagged. Just let me know if you are doing it as well***

My New Blog Site (fashion)

2009-07-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have a new blog site called Cashmere Dreams www.myquaintcashmeredreams.blogspot.com . Its very different from this blog in that its all about my love for fashion, clothes, jewelry, shoes, the color pink and all things girly. Be prepared when you visit, I do have pop music on my play list, but you can stop it or change the song. Its just a fun place for me (I hope you too). Ill be blogging about things I want, things I buy, beauty finds, hair/makeup, about my style and Im sure to post plenty of pics on my wish lists. So if you are a girly girl,(heck, even if you arent) stop by and spend some girl time with me. It will be fun. Let me know if you do!

Cashmere Kisses, Erica

My Few of My Favorite Songs....

2009-07-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

I am always changing something, even when I dont have time, I am changing something. That being said, I felt the need to change my music on my blog today. I have a thousand other things I should be doing, but Im searching for music.

The music that I chose are songs I love. Some reflect me, where Ive been and some remind me of things or moments in my past. Some have no meaning to me at all, I just love them.

The Dixie Chicks, I love, always have and a few of the songs mean things to me. Cowboy Take Me Away is one of them. I can remember when the song first came out and my husband (then a new boyfriend) asked if I had heard it and said it was song that sounded like me. Wide Open Spaces means something as well as we recently purchased our first piece of land. Landslide, well, we all have those moments in our life when things go astray and not as we would have liked. Walk Softly, well, I just like the song and it reminds me of my husband.

Sugarland is my ultimate favorite country group. Now, the song Stay, Im proud to say has NO MEANING to me what so ever....I just love the song. I really like some of the songs for their moral character, if that makes sense. Some are just feel good songs.

So, I hope some of my new tunes dont scare or run you off. They are just songs I relate to and enjoy. Always remeber you can change songs or stop them all together if you dont want to listen to them or dont like them.

What are some of your favorites? Hope you enjoy!

Oh My, Blueberry Muffins....

2009-07-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

I had a bunch of fresh blueberrys that I needed to use up and Ive never actually made anything with blueberrys before, so I quickly searched for a muffin recipe yesterday and found one by Paula Deen. Of coarse I new when I found one from her, I knew it would be scrumptous, I mean how many recipes have we all tried from Paula Deen that were bad? Thats right, Paula Deen, doesnt produce bad recipes, so I tried it out. They were so delicious it wasnt funny. They arent too sweet and are perfect for breakfast with your coffee or an afternoon snack with a cold glass of milk.

2 C All Purpose Flour
2 TBS Baking Powder
1/2 C Sugar
1 Stick butter melted
1 Egg beaten
3/4 Milk
1.5 C Blueberrys
1/2 C brown or white sugar

1) Preheat oven at 350 and grease or line muffin tin.
2) In large bowl combine flour, baking powder and 1/2 c. white sugar.
3) In another bowl, mix well, butter, milk and egg.
4) Add wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix just until moistened. Batter will have lumps, do not over mix!
5) Fold in blueberrys and spoon batter in muffin tins, about 2/3 full.
6) Bake for 10 min., remove from oven and sprinkle remaining sugar on top of muffins. Return to oven and bake 10-15 more min. or until golden brown.
7) Cool for 10 min. before removing from tin.

* I used brown sugar for sprinkling the tops and it was so pretty!

The Farm Chicks Book

2009-07-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

I love this book! I recieved it a few weeks ago and am so happy I splurged and bought it for myself, which I rarely do. Anyway, its chock full of super cute and easy ideas for the home and recipes.

Ive already made some yo-yos. I made a few just to practice and they were surprisingly easy and now I plan to adorn a few aprons with them.
I also love the labels that they made for their pantry canisters. This is something Im thinking of helping grandma with if she she doesnt get pre-made labels before I get there. And the ric-rac on the cupboard shelves, who would have ever thought of that?!

The recipes look wonderful and I especially cant wait to try the cinnamon rolls and the blackberry crisp recipes. There are so many good ones, I cant remember them all without going back through it again.

Even though I know whats on each page, I cant help but to sit down and rummage through it again and again..

The personal storys of the farm chicks, I found inspirational as well. The up-bringing that they had was charming, times were hard, but you never once heard them complain, which is something Ive been doing a lot of latey.

Which brings me here. I was so focused on getting started on a new house this year, that I forgot about what I already have now in the present. No, its not our dream home , that will come with time and when the time is right. But we do have roof over our heads and it is paid for, which is huge blessing in itself. When we do build it will be with what money we have and when. We dont plan to get a loan for our home, we dont want it constantly hanging over our heads.

We simply want a "simple, back to basics" home life. We have also been talking of building a chicken coup and purchasing some hens for eggs and such. We want to stream line our life, make it as simple , wholesome and as happy as we can possibly make it.

A Crazy, Beautiful Life....

2009-07-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

Im back, well, for a few minutes! Sorry I have been MIA from my blog for a while. Ive been crazy busy and have missed blogging and reading other blogs, which I love to do. Im hoping things will slow down in the next day or two, at least long enough so that I can blog.

We have been working on our kitchen, we have part of the floor down now and will put the rest down this weekend and tear out our old sink and put a new one in.

My kitchen is cream, white and burgandy with a dark hardwood floor. I hope to get pics up when we are finished.

I cant wait to get caught up on all the blogs Ive been missing lately and do some work on my own blog.

Till the next time!

New Blogger Layout

2009-06-18T11:49:00.001-07:00

So I loved the cherry jubilee background that my blog has been sporting the last few months, but it was time for a change. As much as I loved them, I was growing tired of eye balling them everyday. So I opted for a fresh new background thats rather simple and easy on the eye. I also added the Finding Neverland theme songs, which I love. So what do you think of my update? Should I keep it or go back to the old one? Let me know! Thanks for those of you who have chosen to follow me as well! Not sure if I get to blog tomorrow or not, but if not...Have a great weekend everyone!

Purex Complete 3 N 1 Product Review

2009-06-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

I didnt even know this product existed till yesterday, so I was quite eager to try it and blog about it today. It is amazing. I was concerned that it would loose its scent and freshness right out of the dryer, but it didnt..its smells really good and fresh too! The only downfall in my opinion and its not really a downfall is that sometimes the sheet is missing when transfering the wash to the dryer. Its kind of like the socks that come up missing, granted the sheet is somewhere in the clothing, its there, you just dont always see it.

Product Description

Purex® Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheets come in three scents and are available in two package types – a Starter Kit (1 Dispenser + 20 Laundry Sheets) and a value Refill Pouch (24 Laundry Sheets).

The Starter Kit includes a refillable Dispenser that makes it simple to protect and access Purex Complete 3-in-1™ Laundry Sheets. Once you have the Dispenser, simply purchase the money-saving Refill Pouch to fill the convenient Dispenser.

I will definately become a Purex customer from now on, buying this product. Have you tried it, what are your thoughts? Will you try it? Let me know!
* I got the product info from www.purex.com if you would like more info.

Happy Anniversary!!! 8 Whole Years....

2009-06-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been together for 10 years, known each other for 16 years and married for 8 years. Oh my, the thought of knowing each other for 16 years, makes me feel old! You may be wondering why I have chosen to put the picture of the cast of Roseanne....well, let me tell you why. Growing up, I always watched the show, thought it was good. It passed the time anyway as much as any show can pass the time for a teenager. Anyway, I never gave it any thought, ya know, how they lived, how they struggled and how they loved each other. It was just away to pass time. Recently they have put this show on TV Land and it airs every evening. Quite honestly, for lack of anything decent on tv, my husband and I started watching it. I never knew he watched it too, so imagine my surprise when he said how much he used to like the show. Well, we watched a few episodes, not thinking much of it and just going through the motions. We seen a few episodes where we thought, gosh that sounds like us and laughed it off. We have been watching it for the last week or so almost every night. Then we realized, oh my, we have turned into Dan and Roseanne, ok, minus the kids. One episode they were arguing about something and Dan said that Roseanne always bought shirts for him that he never wore because he didnt like them, my husband looked at me and laughed.....ok, so I do - do that on occasion. Well, I mentioned last night about buying him some new shirts (he really needs them) and he just looked at me and started laughing and said no Roseanne, Dan doesnt need any new shirts, LOL!

Whats Im getting at is.... I get the show now and have a new found respect for it. They struggle, they fight, they a little rough around the edges at times, well all the time...but through it all...they are an all american family, trying to survive in this world. Things didint always go as they wanted or expected, but they muttled through it all.

This weekend is my husbands and my 8 th anniversary. And so far we have had more downs than up, but the ups have been so much more than the downs. Times get hard, we have set backs, disappointments and such, but through it all, we make it through happier and stronger than we started out.

Im a bit spoiled, I get to stay home most of the time, I dont have to have a job and yes, Im taken care of. I dont want for much and my husband strives to keep it that way. Its not the "things" its the thoughts that count and matter. I love this little, some times hard life we have made for ourselves thus far and though there are some days when I want to hide under the covers...I wouldnt trade it or the last 10 years for anything. I pray for another 10 years, I love our life!

Friends.....

2009-06-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

This past winter I became pen-pals with someone for the first time in, well, probably since grade school. My pen-pal lives clear across the US in Cali. We have became such good friends and wish we were closer, but we arent. Its so exciting to go to your mailbox and see something in there from her. The fact that sometime took the time to buy you a card or gift and send it to you signed is a really big deal to me. Today everyone is in a hurry, looking for the quickest way to communicate. Im guilty myself, but cherish the times when Im not scurrying around trying to do 10 things at once. Once you get that envelope in the mail, you slow down, take time and cherish the moment...its nice and I love that time. I tend to drop EVERYTHING Im doing when I get an envelope from her, its so exciting. Its also amazing to see how much alike we all are, Im in the country, shes in the city, she has children, I dont...the list goes on and on. Yet, through it all we are so much the same. Our interests are the same despite the differences. I feel as though I have found a BF in someone whom Ive never met. Strange, but true. She sent a little book about friendship that I recieved this past weekend and some tea of coarse (we always send each other tea and sip it while chatting online or relaxing). The book is full of poems and quotes about friends. Thought I would share a few.

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand but touches your heart. Kathleen Grove

One of the most wonderful qualities of true friendship is to understand and be understood.

Beautiful friendship,
by sun and wind;
deurable from the
daily dust of life.

Friendship is the golden thread that ties the hearts of all the world.

Do you have a pen-pal? If not, you dont know what your missing!

Aprons and Women...

2009-06-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Ive always thought aprons were cute, but it never occured to me that I should wear one or even own one for that matter. Many of you know me from Aunt Ruthies forum and as you know she recently did an apron review. That review has inspired me, well, that and everyone elses love for aprons (on that site) for that matter. Anyway, the apron theory has been growing on me. I mean, Im a complete mess when I do anything. Im like the kid that falls in the mud puddle on accident right before going to church...yep...thats me. I cant stay clean for the life of me. So why wouldnt I wear an apron while doing housework or cooking. I mean that alone is common sense, wouldnt you think? Then I here the ladies all chatting about how they feel with their aprons on and what that feeling helps them accomplish. So after I read Ruthies review I thought...Im going to make myself an apron and wear it. While searching the web for apron pics and such I found myself infatuated with them. They were not the images I had in my mind for aprons. These things were beautiful, girly, frilly, yet functional..imagine that. They reminded me of times gone by, that quite honestly I never got to experience yet, well, quite frankly because I wasnt born yet. A simple, innocent time where women were aloud to be women and enjoyed it. Not the high powered executive women of my time, which, is wonderful if you like that kind of thing. But I believe that God made women, well...women for a reason and men to be men. We as women are suppose to be girly, we are suppose to be beautiful, we are suppose to enjoy taking care of our family. We are suppose to be June Clever or Aunt Bea. And quite honestly, as you all know...June Clever and Aunt Bea...yep, they wore aprons and looked like a woman doing it!

Warm Glow Candle Co.

2009-06-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in an earlier blog how much I loved the Candleberry Co. That still rings true, but I do have another love as well. The Warm Glow Candle Co. Outlet Store in Indiana. It is near our vacation spot and I stop if I can. I didnt get to go last year, but am looking forward to it this year. One of my favorites there is the Carmel Corn scent, its great for the fall. The outlet store is full of wonderful things besides all of the candles and smell goodies. They have unique home decor that is in every nook and cranny of this huge building, you just want to take it all home. Just wanted to share since Im a bit excited about going this year. Have you been here before?

Oh and my dear friends on SP, I have not forgotten about you, for some reason I can not get on the site. So as soon as I can I will be back, just pass the word on to the other girls on the LAFL team. Love ya!

Cynthias Cottage Design Blog Giveaway...

2009-06-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

So I came across this blog, I believe I found her on Sugar Pie Farmhouse, though Im not certain. Anyway, here is the link to her site....I love it, have I said that already, sorry because Im sure youll here me say it again, lol. www.cynthiascottagedesign.blogspot.com , its wonderful...you have to check it out if you havent yet. She is having a blog giveaway, so check out her blog and sign up. These are pics for her giveaway, I want this stuff so bad, LOL! Seriously, she has a beautiful site that you must check out, you wont regret it! I LOVE IT!!!

My 1st Bedroom Pic

2009-05-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have a picture. I have to go back and shrink a few more to fit and I will get them posted. This room ended up a mix of my living room last year and my bedroom last year, LOL. Long story short, this is what I have ended up with. The shelf is special since my grandma gave it to me last year. The peonys on the left side of the bed I picked from the front yard, but unfortunately they are just about gone....the rain has been beating them up. Most of the stuff in this room either my mom or friends got for me. Some of it I purchased. My husband bought the quilt for me and we both are real pillow hogs and we do use all of them, LOL! So what do you think so far?

My Product Review...

2009-05-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Candleberry Candle Co is my favorite I think. The smell lasts quite well and isnt over powering in any way. I generally use candle/tart warmers, I feel they are much safer than lighting a candle. My 3 favorite scents from Candelberry are Hot Maple Toddy, Molasses and Pink Sugar. Do I know what pink sugar smells like? Does it truely have a scent? I dont know, but its true to its name...it smells like pink sugar. I highly recomend this brand. The cake tart shown at the top has 6 slices that you break off and it truely looks like a cake, plus at 6.99, its well worth the price. Heres the link, you can find a retailer in your area. Hope you like it!

www.candleberry.com

Its official, Another year!

2009-05-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well, building a new home is off till next year. We are running out of time and its just not going to be possible this year, period. So Im making plans for this small house. Its not that I dont love it, it just needs lots of work and we dont want to invest all the money to restore it, so we want to make it livable for the next year or so. Im planning on taking out our kitchen table (not sure what we are going to do with it, though) and replacing it with an island, which will give us more room and more cupboard style space to store/hide things in.

I also think my style is migrating to a farmhouse type of style. I absolutely love this cover of the new Sampler this month. I find it very inspiring. Its a bit bright for my taste, but Im so in love with it. I could tone it down a bit and have the same effect. However it happens, Im going to make this house a comfy home that feels warm and inviting in every room.

I also am finding Aunt Ruthies "Sugar Pie Farmhouse" site so inspiring right now. There are so many wonderful women there with great ideas.

Wed.

2009-05-20T04:50:00.000-07:00

Busy week here! Im off to work again today, its already 10 min till 8 and dh has already called here and ran out of gas on his way to work. Im foncused as to why I can not post my pics, but when I get time,...whenever that may be, Ill have to figure it out. Weather is still beautiful. Im ready to relax! Anyone know why I can not post my pics?

Monday

2009-05-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Well, Ive spent the last half hour or so trying to upload the pics of my bedroom, but for some reason, they just wont upload. I guess Ill try later. So dh has been haggling me about fixing him some fried chicken, I plan on fixing that for dinner tonight and making a strawberry pie also.
The sun is shining and its in the 60s, its so nice. So tonight after dinner I think I will take a walk and plant my flowers, as Ive gotten my bedroom done, and just enjoy the nice weather.
Ill also try to load my pics again later, its got me frustrated now. It acts as though it is uploading and it just does nothing. Anyone else have that problem?

Off to the Barn

2009-05-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Well, Im getting ready to head to the barn this morning. Its suppose to be warm and really humid today and so far my allergies are kicking my butt. Sneezing, stuffy, eyes running, nose running. Ihavent sneezed this month in the past month. Usually, I just get lots of congestion, so the sneezing actually feels good.
Hubby gave me some promising news last night, but Im afraid to get excited, almost seems like one of those too good to be true things, we will see. We have a few weeks before anymore info, so Im not mentioning what it is...I dont want to jinx it, LOL!
I wish I could stay home and plant some flowers since the sun is out now, but maybe I can tomorrow since I think we may make a quick run to the greenhouse today when we get done in the barn.
Oh no, just talked to mom, shes been to the amish bakery, you know what that means...doughnuts, doughnuts everywhere, LOL!

Sugar Pie Farmhouse

2009-05-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

I admit, Im obsessed, only after a few days of finding this site, www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com , Im addicted. This has to be the cutest, sweetest site I have ever seen. It is all things homemaking, cleaning, cooking, sewing, if its domestic...its there and in the cutest way. Love it!

Comfy Living Room...

2009-05-13T12:29:00.001-07:00

As Im typing this I can smell the mulberry scent burning in the candle warmer....it smells so good and I can imagine sitting in this room smelling that, too.I also got this pic from Country Sampler while browsing there. I would love this room with the cream walls like the pic in the previous post...cream with white trim. I really like the warm color of the coffee table and the reds in this room against the cooler walls. It should be very doable in this house once we get started.

Ya know, I mentioned the scent thing earlier. Im addicted to candles/tarts. Though I rarely burn candles, I nearly always have a candle or tart in the warmer. Luckily, my hubby has only ever complained of one scent and though I liked it, in his defense, it was strong. Guess you could say Im a "scent" person. Doesnt matter if the house hasnt been cleaned yet, it better smell good! What are your favorite scents?

Ideal Colors...

2009-05-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

I soon fell in love with this color scheme in this home in the Country Sampler magazine. I love this entry way/stair way and the color play. I really want those cream colored walls with white trim and a beige or brown carpet of sorts, its all very neutral and would allow me to play with the decor. Its very warm and inviting, yet cool enough for the warmer months with lots of light coming in. Well, yes, Im still dreaming and scheming in my head for the time when I can be turned loose to decorate our home, whether it be this old house or a new one and Im guessing it will be this old one for a few years, but Im ok with that, too. Im just ready to do it already!

Vision Board, Inspiring Kitchens

2009-05-07T13:20:00.001-07:00

Inspiration for Living Room/Kitchen/Dining

2009-05-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

This is another pic for my vision board. My living room last year was very similar to this picture, now that room is my bedroom, but that is a whole other, long story. So anyway, I really like this room and feel that it could be shabby chic and country cottage with a few additions. I will probably use this theme for my living room and kitchen. We plan to have an open floor plan, so this would be easy for me to do. I will, more than likely, opt for cream colored walls instead of white and the wood will be a natural in color. I also like to incorporate items that arent strictly Americana themed, I like a variety and well, I like what I like. I will eventually look for great finds at flea markets that I can bring home, clean up and make my own. Oh, and pip berrys...I love them. Of coarse, fresh flowers in the spring/summer and some softer colors will soften for the spring/summer months as well. I can just imagine this room in the cool months with the warm soft glow of candles and cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. Mmmmm, smells like home! Cant wait.
This pic came from a home tour on the Country Sampler site. I first seen it in the magazine, another one of my favorites.

My Romantic Country Bedroom

2009-05-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

I found this bedroom on the Country Living website, www.countryliving.com. I was going to do a vision board of sorts with a friend, but decided to do it here. We are both in a place in our lives where change is imminent and we are trying to look forward while we are going through the storm, so to say. So thats what brought up the vision board. I will, hopefully, be in a new or possiblly remodeled home by the end of the year. The house, if new, will not be finished by any means, but will probably just be livable till we get the money to finish it. So, Im looking for inspiration in different places now and just trying to keep my chin up and praying it will all work out in the end.
I have a mixed taste of sotrts for my style when it comes to home decor. I have a love for PRIMITIVES, SHABBY CHIC, COUNTRY COTTAGE and FARMHOUSE STYLE. My theory or plan is to have a primitive base in my home. Lots of wood, probably distressed to some extent with a warm, comfy feel that flows through out the home. I figure in the cooler months I will bring out more of my primitive style items, warmer colors (such as deep reds, navys, burgandys and browns/blacks). Then in the warmer months I would opt for a lighter, softer feel with fresh flowers, lots of white and still have that warm country feel. The pic of this bedroom is ideal to me. The wood planked floor, natural wooden dresser and bed. Then the soft feel of the floral wall-paper and the white and cream colors mixed add a coolness, a feminine feel to the room, yet it is masculine enough for the hubby. Also, the warm red bed clothes add a warmth to the room along with the wooden items. All of these things encompass the style Im craving.
This is just an ideal bedroom for me. Its like a nice, comfy, inviting space to come home and relax, read book or my favorite magazine, Country Living.
Will my bedroom look like this? I doubt it, but it will have the same feel and be based on this room for sure. I hope to share my room with you one day, when its finished and from the beginning to the end!

Updates

2009-04-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

So Im trying to work on my blog page when I have some free time and I actually had some free time this evening. I found this wonderful site www.thecutestblogontheblock.com where the have the cutest backgrounds, banners, etc. I will probably change my page often so check back often. Let me know what you think!

Things that are inspiring me right now...

2009-03-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Heres a link to country living. I seen this home in the magazine and find it very insprirng, well, with the exception of the room with the deer thingy on the wall. It was a little too masculine for me, but I love the other rooms and her garden.

http://www.countryliving.com/homes/house-tours/colonial-farmhouse-0409

Making Plans (in my head)........

2009-03-30T12:47:00.000-07:00

Well, the weather is nice here today, but am afraid it will be short lived as more rain is moving in Wed. If I get a good day in by the end of the week I plan on working on mulching the area in front of our porch. No flowers this year as the porch may be coming off. So just going to clean up and mulch. May put do some pansies in containers though, will have to see.

Also, Im buisy making plans in my head with this house. Everyday and sometimes many times a day Im coming up with ideas and sharing them with dh. I think hes getting tired of my ideas, LOL! But hes going to have to live with them for now. They are what is keeping me going right now (ideas).

Our immediate plans this spring/summer are to tear 2 rooms off and replace, adding about 5-6 extra feet of space. The laundry and bath will be the ones to come off and then they will become our living room. Then we need to do some foundation work as well and re-do the bath and laundry in another room. And kitchen will need some immediate work as well.

Im already making plans on de-cor, too. I want to brighten the inside up quite a bit. Right now Im thinking the kitchen will be a tan/beige with white trim. I will probably do this through out the house for the most part. Maybe Ill search some sites (this week) and post a few links as to what Im thinking of doing.

Change of Plans

2009-03-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well....what a difference a few months make. We have been planning all summer to build our new home, we've been saving, we've been dreaming, lusting, wishing and planning some more...and for what, well, nothing now. Since we had a few hi-cost truck repairs and such, our house money is spent. We have been planning this for years. Each year we tell ourselves..next year we will get started, but then each year comes and passes without the first sign of a new home. I have yet to smell, the fresh cut lumber, fresh paint, the pounding of the hammer, dh cussing, LOL! Lets just say this year, we came to our senses and realized that next year could very possibly be the same , SO, we decided to do some renovations on this old place and live in it for several years, or as long as we need to for that matter. I have no problem fixing this place up, but we were looking forward to the new house. Since we have decided to go this route, I realized I can re-decorate sooner, get my flower garden going sooner and soon I will be happier! Yes, I was upset in the begining, but once I started using my head, its not so bad after all!

De-Winterizing

2009-03-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I just finished bagging up some winter coats and sweaters for the season. I did leave some out for fear thats its not over. Of coarse I completely just jinxed myself by doing so, but I couldnt resist and I want to clean in there (laundry room) anyway, so it needed to go.

Im so ready for warm weather, birds chirping and flowers everyday. This is spring however and it always seems to rain a lot, which I guess is a good thing as the dried grass is starting to turn green and grow. Which means a lot of lawn mower riding for me, YAY! I think, well, its good for the tan anyway. Anad hopefully with me mowing this year and not dh, things wont get "mowed over"...so aggrevating. I can not list all of the flowers and such he has ran down. Oh well.

Of coarse last week I took the flannel sheets off the bed and we froze so I put them back on and then the temp went back up, so we will see if I have really jinxed myself or not!

New to Blogger

2009-03-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I was introduced to this site by a few cyber friends so right now Im trying to figure everything out here. Bare with me!