4.30.2012

Coffee Comfort

I love coffee.  Have I told you?  I'm a relatively new to the coffee routine.  I've only been doing just over two years.  I decided with the birth of my son I was going to need some help waking up and getting to work on time.  So I made a commitment and purchased a coffee maker.

Its a Cuisinart BrewCentral and I chose it because of my friend, Carly.  Its all her fault.  I mean, she made wonderful coffee with it, and she said it was because of the coffee maker (plus whole, dairy farm fresh milk doesn't hurt, either).  So I had to have one.  And I love it.

Now, its a part of my daily routine.  Especially on lazy mornings when I don't have to rush off to work.  Coffee is really a comfort for me,  I find drinking a cup of warm goodness relaxes my soul.  Its a treat I can partake in every day.   I like it strong, but with a good dose of creamer added.

Its so important to me, I have its own station in my kitchen.



I got the tray from Target a year or two ago.  I can't remember.  The mugs are a collection from Target, Starbucks, and West Elm.  I really like Starbucks coffee, and I am currently enjoying their blonde roasts.  My collection of syrups/filters/beans are stored in the cabinet above, along with hot chocolate mixes for my hubby.  He's not a coffee drinker, but loves his hot chocolate on cold nights.


Drinking a cup of coffee is stabilizing, despite my hectic life.  Everyday, I have to have a cup.  Some days, its a leisurely activity done lounging about, or relaxing on the back porch listening to birds.  Other days, its a quick Doubleshot downed in the car speeding to work.  Either way, its my pick-me-up and instant mood lifter.  Its the little things in life that I find joy in.

What motivates you in the morning?  Is coffee your alarm clock?  What's your favorite "little thing"?


4.25.2012

April Birchbox

My April Birchbox has arrived!  I had a few hiccups getting my box this month, but in spite of the post office being slow about forwarding my mail and the delivery confirmation telling my my package was undeliverable, my box only showed up a few days late.  I, however, am just late posting about it because of my own inefficiency.   Anyway, on to the goodies.


This month's theme was earthy and organic inspired products.  Now I'm not the most green person around, but I can appreciate a good, natural product.  I don't like to buy things just because they are natural and organic, the product better be effective and wow me.  This box delivered.

  • Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift.  Ok, maybe not a green product, but it smells great, and my daughter loves it.  Another perfume sample to add to my collection.
  • Zoya nail polish in Lotus.  Its a lovely purple color, no tuolene, camphor, or formaldehyde, goes on opaque in one coat, and lasts at least 50% longer than other nail-polishes.  I really like it!
  • Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer.  Its a nice, light moisturizer that contains natural salicylic acid for acne prone skin.  Its also great for oily skin.  I was pleasantly surprised after trying this product.  I normally don't like things with salicylic acid, I feel they are too drying for me, but this one works great!  
  • Amika Obliphica Nourishing Hair Mask.  I'm a sucker for hair products.  Its my beauty weakness.  I love this stuff.  I've only used it twice, but I can my hair feels softer and the ends don't feel as rough.  I might have to splurge on this product.
  • Dropps Laundry Detergent.  This the "lifestyle extra" for my box.  I am currently washing a load of sheets with it right now.  Individual packets are always nice to keep down the mess with detergent, but the really factor is the scent and stain removal effectiveness. 
So there is my April Birchbox.  Any questions about the products?  Any fabulous new products you've tried recently?

4.20.2012

Weekend Honey Do List

Its time for another list to motivate myself.  I have to work a day, but that still leaves Friday and Sunday to accomplish some things.

  • finish spray painting nightstand
  • hang diplomas
  • hang hooks for cardigans
  • decide on location for coat/shoe collections and hang hooks
  • spray paint wicker mirror and hang in Princess's room
  • hang pictures in kids room (flowers, maps, growth charts)
  • empty boxes in master bed and bathroom.
  • put away clothes in closet
  • play outside with the kids
  • go for a bike ride
  • make meal plan for following week (grocery shopping)
  • go to bank
  • sell stove
Do you think I can do it all?  I hope so!

4.19.2012

The New Place, Tour, Part 2

On with the messy house tour.  Next up, the master bedroom.


Doesn't my bed look dinky?  I'm pleasantly surprised the room is larger that I expected, however I am feeling the urge to buy more furniture.


Master bathroom.  Its probably the most organized counter space.  I feel like the tray contains my beauty clutter and pretty dishes and glassware hold makeup, brushes, cottons balls, hairpins, etc.


Ball pool.


Sorry, a bomb went off in the closet.  Luckily, it organized my scarves for me.


Sweaters and cardigans are next on the organization list.

Bonus room/play room.  It's actually pretty clean for a playroom.



I'll try to post the rest of the upstairs soon, but that will require me to take pictures while the kiddos are awake.

4.18.2012

The New Place, Tour, part 1

Wanna see my house?  I'm warning you, its a mess.  We still have a way to go, but I'm operating on the "I have the rest of my life" time frame.

Ok, here is the Dining Room.  Actually, its the box/junk/Idon'twannadealwiththis room.  You like?



My Laundry room.  Functional, but not cute.  That I can change in time, maybe in a few years.


Powder room.  Kid-friendly, guest friendly, and I love it.  It could still use some art, eventually. 


But I love my rug.  A clearance find a Target.  I love it.  It's art enough for the room at the moment.


Family Room.  I told you, its a mess.  The kids are napping and I wanted to snap pictures before someone decides to wake up.  I'm working on having a no-toys-downstairs rule.  Hubby thinks I'm crazy.



Don't you love how hubby's chair directly faces the TV?

Ok, the the real disaster, the kitchen.



I just don't know where to put some stuff.  I'm afraid to put it "just somewhere" and it end up living there for months or years and never have a proper, organized home.  Are you getting a sense of how neurotic I am?  My desire to have things clean and organized is nearly paralyzing me.  Kind of ironic.  Anyone else deal with that?

Well, I'm off to clean the old place and magic erase scribble marks off the walls.  Wish me luck.

4.16.2012

Lemonade

I feel like its been ages since I blogged.  So much has happened, I don't even know where to start.

We are in the the new house.  Its still a mess.  It might be a mess forever.  There is no deadline to have it unpacked and organized by.  No landlord that will want to show it, no impending move, no place to put the junk I shouldn't have moved in the first place.  It still feels weird to own my home and know we will live hear for as long as we want to.

Part of me wants to take this time to slowly savor the moments of making our first house our home.  I should be making memories for my children.  How I decorate and organize things will be how they remember their childhood here.  Plus, we plan on staying here for a while, so I don't want any "quick fixes".  I want to pay for furniture once.  I want the rooms to evolve and now have to be replaced or re-done.  Does that make sense?

However, there is the impatient side of me that wants it all done now.  I don't like living with a room (or three) full of boxes and belongings in disarray.  I don't like bare walls and unused space going to waste.  And I really want to go shopping for all the furniture I've pinned on Pinterest.

My mind is distracted with the two thoughts and I can't concentrate.  So I haven't really done much.  Which I guess is a good thing, considering we've had some unexpected expenses lately.  We purchased a new gas stove to replace the electric one (planned expense) as our first major upgrade to the house.  Had to have it installed by a plumber for larger than expected cost (unplanned).  Internet service needed to be installed in new construction house (planned expense), new modem not able to communicate with router resulting in the internets breaking, house calls, and a new router purchased (unplanned expense).  Detecting a crack in the radiator while getting oil changed in the family car, another unplanned expense.  Do you see a pattern here?  I can go on.  Our cell phones intermittently work at the new house, so we are probably going to have to switch carriers when our contract is up in a few months, or get a land line.  We haven't received forwarded mail yet, the dryer is off balance, and the garbage disposal wasn't hooked up.  It's been a rough few weeks and the stress of moving makes little things feel worse than they actually are.  In another week or two, hopefully things will calm down and our house will start to come together.

Tell me, what have you been up to the last few weeks?

4.08.2012

Moving

We are mostly moved in to our new place, however we don't have internet yet.  Our provider isn't able to come out until Wednesday!  That's a long time to live with out consulting the internets, which I do for just about everything.  Weather, what to eat for dinner, how much money I have, buying shoes for my children, how high to hang the curtains, EVERYTHING.  It's been a challenge and I only have a few more days.  With that being said, you probably won't hear from me for another week, maybe less if you are lucky.  Hope you had a happy Easter!

4.03.2012

Closing Day

We closed on our house last week.  That morning, we had a home orientation with the builder and our realtor snapped this picture on her iphone.  She's pretty savvy for a sixty-something lady!  She was absolutely amazing so when you all decide to buy a place at the beach let me know, and I'll hook you up with her.  Anyway, here's the picture.


We've been packing a moving boxes.  This week, we are moving furniture and the in-laws are coming to help! Yay!  My kitchen has been packed for a week so at this point I'm really looking forward to cooking in the new house.  I'm sure that will only last a few days.