Winter Wonderland

I have not been feeling well the last few weeks...

Tooth pain and a cold that is lingering longer than I would like it to.

Yet, I have not let this stop me from taking time to stop and admire all the beauty that nature has to offer.

Fortunately, I don't have far to go.

At the corner of my street there is a beautiful white New England farmhouse which has a farm with cows.

I have always had a love of cows and have always wanted one. When I was younger I had quite a collection of cow mugs.

So it is a special treat that I get to see these wonderful creatures of God every time I leave my house.

A Blizzard and Candy Land

We are in the middle of a blizzard right now here in Massachusetts!

So what else is there to do?

Play several games of Candy Land!

Have a great evening!

A Christmas Prayer

This is a photo of our favorite place to stay in North Conway, NH.


With Christmas only a few days away, I thought I would take the time to reflect with a prayer. Sometimes with all of the holiday shopping, wrapping, decorating and baking, the true meaning of the holiday season gets forgotten. This is the prayer I plan to say with my family on Christmas:

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate,
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift,
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from the evil by the blessing
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Merry Christmas everyone!

DIY Christmas Gift Tags and Blog Love

I had to edit this post because after I posted it, I headed over to Paige Knudsen's blog, Simple Thoughts, and read her latest post and she has the most beautifully wrapped Christmas gifts with handmade gift tags! I wouldn't even care if the package was empty, I would just be so excited to receive one of her amazingly wrapped presents! And, of course, her post is as beautiful as her presents, speaking from the heart about her family. Thank you Paige for sharing with us.

For anyone who has not finished wrapping all of those gifts and who still needs gift tags, I found a few sites with printable gift tags that are much nicer than the store bought and if you do not have a lot of time to make handmade ones, they are perfect.

I found these tags at http://christmas-clip-art.net and http://christmasgifts.com

Wax Paper Garland

My tree is up and decorated, but I have been going back and forth as to whether I should hang garland until I saw this on Beth's blog: www.thestoriesofa2z.com.

It looks absolutely amazing! I thinking I might try it considering I have a drawer full of wax paper.

DIY Jingle Bell Napkin Ring Holders

We are having Christmas Eve at our house this year, so of course the wheels have already been turning as to how to set the table.

I was at the Goodwill on half off Wednesday and found really cute Christmas plates and matching dessert plates. I got the complete set for $7. I also found Christmas napkins which I will be using.

And I came across these really cute jingle bell napkin ring holders which I have been making one at a time when the girls go to bed. I bought elastic cord and jingle bells at Michaels. I have been stringing 12 bells on each cord and they seem to be the perfect size.

The photo I used is from Pottery Barn and they no longer sell them. Not that I would be willing to open my wallet and pay the price they were asking anyway when they are so easy to make!

The (Mismatched) Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney With Care

We hung our stockings up last night and I have to admit, they are mismatched. But not in a good Pottery Barn sort of way. Simply non-coordinating.

My husband bought us matching stockings when we were dating. Then baby girl #1 came along and got a pink Baby's First Christmas stocking.

When baby girl #2 came along, she got her very own pink Baby's First Christmas stocking and daughter #1 got a pink Princess stocking. And now daughter #2 has a vintage Winnie the Pooh stocking.

What does all this mean? It means I will deal with the stockings this year and wait for the after Christmas sales to buy new ones!

Meanwhile, I will drool over all of the pretty mantels that have coordinating stockings (or at least mis-matched stockings that look good together!)like the red and white one featured here from Linzlu214's Etsy shop!

Thrift Share Monday

I hope everyone had a restful weekend before Thanksgiving and Black Friday!

Did anyone go thrifting? I scored a few things for yself and for my Etsy store.

I went to a local thrift shop this weekend and found 10 vintage holiday napkins for only $2.98 They are perfect for my Christmas Eve dinner table! I even found a craft online to make napkin rings from jingle bells! And three really pretty vintage Readers Digest books and a vintage cross stitch NOEL for my Etsy shop.

And a local Antique shop had a holiday open house where I bought a vintage rolling pin with red handles. The owner had it tied with a really cute Christmas plaid ribbon, so it will look perfect on my kitchen counter for the holidays! I also found a red vintage metal tin with white Santas on it. I plan to put an evergreen plant in it.

I was only able to take a few photos before my battery died on my camera, so I pulled a few photos from other sites too.

Painting, Purging and Preparing for the Holidays

The weather has suddenly turned cold and I have started my nesting by purging things to make room for all of the new things for the upcoming holidays. Does anyone really need 20 sets of sheets? But I am a little sentimental when it comes to getting rid of the girls' toys. I have been searching for some storage system before Santa brings more.

Any suggestions? These are some that I am using for inspiration.


I have to give hubby credit for painting the bathroom. When we moved into our home five years ago this was the only room that didn't need painting and I was able to live with the white until we changed it to a soft yellow.

And I am really excited searching the internet and blogland for holiday decorating inspiration. I have found some great ideas at Southern Living, Country Living and Retrorenovation.

Ventures in Veganism

I loooooove dairy, but it does not love me! Unfortunately, I am lactose intolerant.

I love frozen yogurt sprinkled with jimmies. (Or do you call them something else in other parts of the country?)

A cheese pizza with a bubbly crust. Yummy!

Chicken is the only meat I can tolerate and I am not a seafood lover.

Soooo, I venture over to the Vegan world and find myself really liking what I try more and more.

I have a new love, Falafel! It is packed with protein and sooooo delish! I use it crumbled in a taco shell with salsa. I could seriously eat this every single day!

And, of course, there are my yummy salads with a side of hummus and pita chips.

It Has Been A While

I know it has been a while since I posted last. Why can't I be more like other moms who seem to be able to blog, prepare meals, change diapers and do laundry all at the same time?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. Of course my husband had to work all weekend, so the girls and I stayed busy. The irony of it is that my husband's day off was actually Memorial Day, but because of the parade and the fact that he is in the Honor Guard, he had to work.

So I packed up the girls and we headed to the parade to watch daddy march. And we got to see the American flag from Ground Zero which was very moving.

I hope everyone is having a great week!

I'll take the Self-confidence with a side of Serenity

I have been MIA for a few weeks. A lifestyle change if you will. Or at least to my diet. I have always tried to eat healthy, before, during and after both of my pregnancies. Yet I still managed to gain weight during both pregnancies. ALOT of weight. Sooooo, I have spent a good part of the last 10 months trying to lose weight.

I can honestly say I am FULLY motivated to eating clean. I have a strong desire to be back to healthy weight. But something is not working for me. Hmph!

While I have been gone, I have been trying several new and yummy recipes. Although I can not take credit for them. Many of them have come from this great blog: www.peasandthankyou.com. Great, clean recipes and she is funny too!

I sometimes think I am the only thirty-something year old woman who struggles with her self-confidence. I mean seriously! I am a mommy and wife, not a teenage girl anymore, yet I still sturggle with it. I guess I thought self-confidence comes with age!

Clean Eating

Although I have been trying for some time now to lose the post-pregnancy weight(is is still called that if she is already 10 months old?), I have been on a Clean Eating kick lately.

And one of my new favorites is Stoneyfield Oikos Greek yogurt in Chocolate. It is heavenly.

Another big step for me has been to not have any frozen yogurt in the house. This is a hard one for me. I am not huge on sweets, but I do like frozen yogurt. Of course, I should not be having it at all because I am lactose intolerant, but SoDelicious makes a really good Dairy free frozen yogurt.

And why is everything that falls under Clean Eating or is categorized as healthy SO much more expensive? It is just another excuse to fall off the Healthy Eating Bandwagon for some!

Have a Great Weekend!

Time for a Picnic

All photos from Etsy.com

All of this unseasonably warm weather here in New England has me dreaming of a picnic. And my two year old has absolutely been loving eating her lunch outside on her picnic table! I actually have never owned a picnic basket, but have really been wanting one lately.

Simple Living

Photo courtesy of www.theprojectgirl.com

I have given a lot of serious thought to simple living this weekend. I prefer to eat organic and consider my lifestyle fairly healthy. Of course, there is always room for improvement. And although I try to be frugal, I can become lax about this as well, especially when it comes to buying food.

So while I was searching for Weekly Menu Planner Templates to help me plan my meals for the week (and hopefully cut back my grocery expenses!) I found this wonderful site: www.theprojectgirl.com. She has great craft ideas as well as free templates to download.

Here is to a week of living simply!

Postcard Exchange

I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but (aside from bills) I LOVE getting things in the mail. Since I have two little ones , both two and under, it is difficult for me to go shopping, so I do what any girl would do, shop online.

So when I came across this blog, I decided this was something I would be interested in doing. A postcard exchange with other bloggers across the country. If you are interested, please check it out. Http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/02/24/youve-got-mail/

All Things Pink and Girly

I have two little girls and it is hard to believe that my little baby is going to be one in June. Actually, it is harder to believe that her big sister is only two. I have already started to think about her first birthday party. I am one of those moms who likes to choose a theme for the party.

I am leaning towards teddy bears as the theme. But as I have been searching blogs and other websites, I am also loving a ladybug, bumblee bee and pig themes. Of course, All Things Pink and Girly, with whichever one I choose.

I was just on Martha's site and found the above pictures for inspiration.

Soul Searching

A few weeks ago I was reading a blog post that eerily could have been my own words, because it expresses EXACTLY how I have been feeling lately. One of the things I have been trying to deal with is realizing the fact that I have grown apart from many of my friends. We no longer have the same interests and goals. And I have been feeling sad and lonely.

I though once I grew up, had my husband, home and two children, I would not feel this way, but I do. I feel like a school girl trying to be accepted by her peers.

So many of my fellow bloggers, GET IT. But so many of you live far away. In other states. Across the country. You and I have the same interests.

We love thrifting, decorating, crafting, laughing, drinking coffee, sipping tea, talking to God, just having fun. And I don't get to share that with nearby friends, because that is not who they are.

And so, as one friend who does GET IT puts it, I am soul searching. I am reading Calm My Anxious Heart and So Long Insecurity. I didn't think a 30-something stay at home mom would need this, but you know what? I do and that is ok.

And I keep praying to God that I find my Soul Sisters too!

Outdoor Garden Furniture

Photos and others from harvestmoon.co.uk, wilshiregardenmarekt.com, housetohome.co.uk, patiofurniture.guidetobuy.com, homeportfolio.com, stylehive.com

Since moving into my first home five years ago, I have been dreaming of having an outdoor French bistro style table and chairs in my backyard.

This year I hope to get one. I do not want one that looks like it is brand new. Besides, I am frugal like my blog name, so I will hopefully start scouring thrift shops and yard sales when spring finally arrives.

I was wondering if anyone else has one or dreams of having one?

Happy Weekend!

Spring Cleaning and a Blog Giveaway

I am really good at giving things away to charity. Really, I am! I just end up finding more things to buy (at really good prices!) when I am out thrift shopping.

And, of course, I add to my collection of "things" with my stash for my Etsy shop. I really enjoy shopping for vintage items and thought my shop would be a good outlet for me to make a little money. Yet somehow, most of the items I have bought recently have ended up in my own home decor. Like the photos above which are all recent additions to my buffet table.

So I decided to once again do some Spring Cleaning and tomorrow the Vietnam Veterans of America will be stopping at my home for boxes and bags full of clothes and table linens and other little treasures.

Of course, this means I have room to add to my collection again. And I am hoping to win one of TWO giveaways from the lovely Susan at http://homewtowngirl.blogspot.com. She has some really cute things for the giveaways.

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Photo from thestrollerguide.com


We are getting rain here in New England.

Alot of it.

My husband and I would normally make the best of it.

But not this time.

This time, it decided to find a new home.

In our basement.

But good news, tomorrow we will see the sun again!

Time To Spring Ahead

Photo one is from Sovietvintage and the others are from Clockwork Universe, both on Etsy.

It is time to Spring Ahead and turn the clocks forward one hour on Saturday night.

Have a great Weekend!