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Thursday, December 31, 2009

it's that time...






...time for a few quick new year's resolutions:



live in the moment



plan for the future



be grateful


enjoy your kids. embrace who they are and let go of who you think they should be.



save some cash



create more, buy less



make new friends



be a better friend to the ones you already have



don’t worry, be happy (sorry, but it's true)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Saturday, November 21, 2009

$75 bathroom remodel ~ before and after...

On the bright side...moving into a house that was built (and decorated) in 1970, is that you have lots of opportunity for improvement. We did quite a bit of remodeling when we moved in: installed lots of recessed lighting, removed nine (yes nine!) different wallpapers, removed arches in the living room and replaced with an entryway pony wall, and painted the whole place. The bathrooms were more of a challenge. In the kids' bathroom, we've done two rounds of remodeling - the first when we moved in two years ago, and the last just this week. Here's what we did:
Here are the Before Before pictures - note the lovely wallpaper and dark tile:
For our first go-round we removed the wallpaper, resurfaced the walls, painted, removed the medicine chest/mirror (which hid a huge hole in the wall), replaced the light fixture, towel rack and toilet paper holder:

Last week I (yes, just I, by my little ol' self) pulled out the old baseboards, put down new flooring, put in new baseboards, painted the vanity and changed out the vanity knobs:

The new flooring is kind of the same color, but so nice and clean and - even though it's peel and stick vinyl planks (better for a bathroom as it is water-tight) - really looks like wood and feels like real wood under the feet.

Note the lighter vanity and new brushed nickel knobs.


Pretty new baseboards make such a difference! Chiseling out the old baseboards and mitreing the new ones was the most challenging part of the job...but fun!
Paige likey!

Friday, November 20, 2009

when it rains it pours...

Ok, sorry...one more thing to share:



HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

bad blogger...

OK OK...I've been a slacker blogger lately. And I don't have anything exciting to post right now (but stay tuned for pics of my "remodeled" bathroom!). So I'll leave you on this lovely Fall afternoon with some images of aspen leaves from around the Flagstaff area. We don't get much a "Fall" in Tucson...and the leaves changing in Flag are so beautiful...





Wednesday, October 21, 2009

for granny...

These pics were taken a long time ago...like maybe last Summer. An eternity when you're four. Mom was babysitting, and here's the email I got from her:

"You will, of course, want specifics on how P and I got on while T and M were at the dentist. She appeared to be taking requests so I asked her to draw a picture of me, which she did. Notice the hair, ears, hands, slender legs. When it was done she said she forgot to put in my smile (notice smile, added)."





{Editor's note: Granny also appears to have boy parts in the portrait above. Just sayin'.}


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

lunch for dinner...

I hope my DH isn't reading this...
Last night I packed lunch for my DD and DS. DD stayed home sick and DS forgot that he'd brought his lunch and bought lunch in the cafeteria instead. Both kids have short days for the rest of the week (with no lunchtime) so...what to do with their uneaten lunches?
LUNCH FOR DINNER!




Friday, October 9, 2009

i {heart} friday...


...this Friday I {heart} Nie Nie the most. Just saw a portion of her interview with Oprah. Missed it on Wednesday, and there's only a tiny snippet on You Tube. With Spanish subtitles, and a comment from the poster sending her love out to Nie Nie and family in any language. So cute.


I'm afraid that Harpo may ask You Tube to take it down soon, but just in case...here's the link:


Nie Nie on Oprah


She is, I think, a hero and an inspiration!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

i wish wednesday...

I know, I know, it's Thursday. Still...I wish I was sitting right here:

The Lauder House Terrace from Architectural Digest

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

i wish for...

...one of these...
...or one of these...
...but what I really wish for is one of these...
...with one of these...
...so I can take pictures like this...

from Smitten Kitchen


or this...
from Sandi Henderson




or this...
from Darby Fly Through My Window




or this...
from Nienie

{who, by the way, is one of the most beautiful, inspiring bloggers i've seen...go visit her!}


and by the way...what is the deal with spacing on posts on blogspot? i can't seem to get it right and it makes me crazy!


Friday, September 25, 2009

i {heart} etsy friday...

Michelle Brusegaard does it again. I just happened to be cruising etsy looking for things orange and aqua for my "library" decor and when I searched "oil painting aqua," this lovely print by Michelle came up. And I had just featured her pretty tea towels in a previous post! It must be love!





Saturday, September 19, 2009

awww...

...look what I just found on my computer:


My son is the best! xoxoxoxo!!!!!!!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

i {heart} etsy friday...

So, I'm approaching my 50th post...should I do a giveaway? Hmmm...

In the meantime, I am loving these dish towels and aprons from etsy sellers:

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

mmmm...macaroons!

My husband has mentioned an intervention. My kids wonder where I've gone when I disappear, then reappear smelling of coconut. I was on Weight Watchers - but they've forgotten my name by now. Yes, I'm obsessed with these macaroons. I know that admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. So there you have it. I admit I have a problem. I'm actually typing this with one hand - there's a macaroon in the other hand. Now I must go...the kitchen timer is buzzing...
{want the recipe? see below...}



So easy and yummy - these are a variation of a recipe from Sam the Cooking Guy (who, if I were the kind of girl to have a celebrity crush, would be my guy).
All quantities are approximate and you may adjust as you see fit!
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 bag flaked (or shredded) coconut (Sam's recipe calls for unsweetened, but I've only been able to find sweetened in my grocery store, which suits me just fine)
handful of chocolate chips
about 10 pecan halves, broken up
Cook for about 10 minutes at about 350 degrees.
Sam recommends that you wait until they cool to eat them, but I say DIG IN!!!!!! ...just try not to burn your tongue.
Bon Apetit!