Yes, It Would!

My pretty sink stayed clean all week, even when I left for the weekend to visit my sweet mother, all clean!  Sunday night after a long car ride, a get-together at my house, unpacking and tired kids and mommy and sick daddy, I still conquered the sink. 

Having a clean kitchen all day just made everything so much easier, well, at least the food things.  Clean up was easier at night for the kids.  Having room to work was so much nicer.  All things considered, I will definitely keep it up.  Maybe not quite so dedicated, but I'll try. 

Would it make a difference

if I cleaned my sink after every single meal?  After one week, we'll see...

Inspiration for Decoration

 Found a new blog, Inspiration for Decoration.  It's just like I like it, not much chit chat (which I always read even though I don't have the time, generally to hear someone pontificate over a pretty picture) and lots of pretty pictures. 

Today I'm thinking about mudrooms or the lack thereof.  I'd love to have this:

But instead I barely have room for this:


But mine isn't nearly as pretty.  Darn.

Lake House Anyone?

Would anyone else like a beautiful lake house with beautiful cedar siding? If you could choose, where would you put your house? By a mountain, by a lake or ocean, in the desert or on the plains, or does it not matter as long as you are in the big city (or near it)? Just wondering.

Playing Catch Up

When the holidays are over, I'm done with them. You have until January 2, maybe the next weekend, then please, let's put it all away. I love every minute up until then. But then I reach a serious limit.

As a result, I just now downloaded all my Christmas pictures from my camera. I posted a few times, but put them back in the appropriate months. If you are a grandparent or otherwise, crazily interested you can see our holiday decor, meeting Santa, Christmas Day, Andrew's little tragedy, going sledding, being tuckered out from the holidays, a cousin's baptism, a new niece's blessing and football party extraordinaire.

Christmas Scenes Around our House

Come on in.

Our new tree decorations I've been collecting at after Christmas sales for a few years.


I finally finished Andrew's stocking. Now where is Charity's?

Our second tree (first time with two trees!) with all the good old standby ornaments that are a tradition.

Dishes and washers

Yesterday, it seemed that our dishwasher was running quieter.
Good.

Our dishes didn't come out clean.
Bad.

I didn't have to load the dish washer last night.
Good.

I had to wash all the dishes by hand today.
Bad.

I get a new dishwasher.
Good.

I'm parting with a good $400.
Bad.

Life.

Yellow house of mine

I wish my little yellow house looked this cute. I need big trees I think.


Via Porchlight Interiors

My dream house - a sunroom

Matt and I dream about adding a sun room on the back of our house. I'm fairly sure it won't happen any time soon (or ever). But I love them. Here is a fun one. I really like the green cushions. Somehow they are ruffly without a ruffle.


And a not very decorated one I saw at the Utah County Parade of Homes.

Oprah's beachfront home

Oooh la la.

My dream house

I like to think about my "dream" house. I constantly refine my image of what it looks like. So I am about to start documenting different parts of my dream house. I'll need your help.

Since it must be perfect, let me know what you need in your dream house, and I'll consider adding it to mine.

Let's start with location.

I think being by lots of family is number 1. If that could happen anywhere, I'd be by the ocean, make that ON the beach, but with beautiful views of big, snow capped mountains. The problem is that the beach must be warm and usable. Does anyone know where these things could coexist happily? Because that is where I need all my family to move. And could I please have 4 distinct seasons? I really need that.

The neighborhood should be happy, walkable, safe, lots of interconnecting neighborhoods, parks, pretty walkways, interesting houses, big trees, biggish lots, lots of kids to play with mine.

Where do you want to live?

I kind of claimed this house for myself while in Maui last year. It certainly has potential.

White color

I am always drawn to white interiors with pretty oaks and fresh greenery. In real life, I need more color, but I think the white is so pretty!

I've been crazy enough to set me heart on white sofas. Is this a good idea with 5 children? Even if they have washable slipcovers?

Cute shelves

It's organized. It's cute. It's even pink! What's not to love?

This post is especially for Paige who likes square things and loves organized things. From Making it Lovely

February room--the boys' room

Well, here are the rough afters of my boys' new room together. There are still a few things to add, pictures, lamps, more toy storage, etc. But at least they are both living together in relative peace and harmony. A few days more and I'll be able to focus on the sweet little nursery for our nameless baby girl.

Before:




After:

MaLM (Make a list Monday) - Dream houses

What I never knew my house needed until last week:

1. Five outdoor fireplaces (yes, all the same fabulous yard)






2. My own bowling lanes

3. My own arcade (with no less than 30 pinball machines)

4. A grand entry bigger than my current house (what else would you do with 21,000 sq. foot house?)

5. An instant-tree for my pergola (complete with light up berries)

6. A red rock view like no other (I always thought an ocean view was necessary)

7. A great view from the outdoor shower, too

8. A rock courtyard with presence

9. My own stage

10. My own art hall on the way to my bedroom

11. A playroom city


12. Bar stools IN the pool (saves low energy folk from the necessity of leaving the pool to get a little drink and snacky snack)



13. An artsy, expensive and useless sink



Yep, that should about do it.

Repainting my "vintage" furniture

As part of my bedroom focus for January I want to paint my bedroom dresser. We received this dresser for a whopping free and was always going to paint it. The color kind of grew on me and seemed beachy. But the hardware never did and well, I think I was just fooling myself. So now the question is, what color and how to paint it.

I'm leaning toward white, maybe crackled, maybe rubbed. I do have a lot of color in my bedroom already, thus the white idea. But blue? or a sandy color? What do you think?

And while I'm at it, I am definitely going to paint this one as well. This is my dear husband's childhood dresser. It is not fine furniture, but it is our furniture. This one will definitely be a non-neutral color, probably blue.



Any bets on when I'll get around to it?

Tradition #16 - Read Christmas books

Tradition #16 - Read Christmas books at night by the tree

"But the Grinch who lived just north of Whoville, did not."

Tradition #2 - lots of lights

Tradition #2 - lots of lights

This may not be exactly the definition of "lots of lights" for you, but we feel pretty good about it. Our real light overload occurs on our indoor tree which has a bazillion lights strung on every branch. That's just how we role.

Crazy house, crazy me

Do you ever feel that you become an extension of your house? When my house is all calm and clean and happy, so am I. When my house is crazy, cluttered, and chaotic, so am I. And that is how it is right now. Boxes everywhere, miscellaneous Christmas decorations without a home lying around, piles of mail mocking me and no end in sight. That is how I feel today. Like my house.

Beautiful

Isn't this the most beautiful and enchanting patio you've ever seen? This would be perfect at my house, don't you think?

From Absolutely Beautiful Things

And what is the only thing that could make me miss summer at this crisp-late hour, a beautiful image like this. From For the love of country.