A Little Bit of Grandma Audrey in My Audrey :)

A new house for me means a lot of painting and shopping for new decor.

This time it's different for me. Since we are renting, I'm living with the sponge-painted walls, the flower tiles, the green counter tops, the vinyl flooring and (worst of all) the shiny gold light fixtures.

The last time we bought a house, I painted nearly every wall and ceiling in the house before we started moving our things in. (with LOTS of family help)

I'm feeling bad for my girls. They had their hearts set on neon walls.

In no way was I going to let them paint the entire room neon, but I thought that an accent wall could be fun.

Since painting isn't happening this time around, a project was in order to put some fun on their walls.

Today during the boys nap time, I started a Pinterest project with the girls :)

PINTEREST #2. Paint swatch hearts strung on their wall.

I'm most proud of the fact that they stuck with it and finished the entire project this afternoon. Even though by the end of the project, they had both poked their fingers with needles and band aids were needed.

They both made 3 strands. All on their own. All I had to do was teach and hang.

When we were hanging Audrey's side of the room, I noticed that she had only one heart hung upside-down. It was already on the wall and she looked disappointed.

I remembered something that I believe I heard from Aunt Bobbie, "Only God creates perfection." (It may have not been exactly that, but something close.) It was something that Great-Grandma Audrey used to say. She was an artist and crafter that always created with at least one imperfection.

I told Audrey that story and she smiled and looked at her upside down heart in a whole new way.

•     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •     •

PINTEREST #3. I also made a meal from Pinterest. I made a Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake. I didn't have a plan, so I typed "chicken" into Pinterest, and this recipe popped up on my screen that I knew my family would like and I had the ingredients in my kitchen.

Note to self: Pre-cook the chicken in taco seasoning next time.

And best of all, the leftovers can be used for breakfast burritos  :)

My Pinterest Love Affair

I have a completely addictive personality.

So when I was told about Pinterest, I logged in and within two weeks I repinned over 700 things. I have a few original pins of my own.

I know, I'm sick.

So if you are unfamiliar with Pinterest, it's a site that is full of crafts, food, desserts, home decor, organizing ideas, hairstyles, and all things good.

It's the perfect website for mothers like me who love doing crafty projects and serving fun meals to their family and creating beautiful desserts to show off at parties ... but we just don't have the time to come up with the ideas.

So this year I am going to be using the website to try and have more fun with my year. While also getting organized and becoming a better cook.

Tonight was our first attempt. We made a homemade calzone. We made our's slightly different, because we had pizza last night.

So we made a calzone with barbecue turkey and mozzarella, with the dough made from scratch.

My helpful assistant for the night was so excited about how dinner would turn out.

I've heard from a couple people that there are Pinterest groups being set up and challenges out there on the Internet.

I will be posting my Pinterest accomplishments throughout the year. Don't know how many I'll end up actually doing but I'll number them as I go along, I plan on doing lots and lots!

PINTEREST #1. Calzone - - - here's a link to the pin.

Two weeks ago, the thought of making a calzone had never crossed my mind. Since seeing it on Pinterest, I've thought of nothing else :)

I need to practice making pizza dough. It didn't rise like I thought it should. We also cooked it on the wax paper, which we ended up having to peel of the bottom of our meal.

So, it wasn't perfect, but it was delicious. It's definitely something I'll make again . . . I've just learned a few things this time around.

So if you're not a member of Pinterest, check it out you might find something that you find of interest.

Can a Night Owl Become a Morning Person?

Zoe needs to catch the middle school bus for band practice two days a week. It forces mommy or daddy to wake her up at 6:00 in the morning.

KC and I usually take turns at this task. We've actually played rock paper scissors to see who has to roll out of bed first.

I was a night owl all through college. I'd pull all nighters on a weekly basis.

When KC and I were first married, KC worked 10am - 7pm, so it was late dinner, late night, late morning.

Now, with a house full of children, we have learned to enjoy quiet evenings together. Either catching up on things that we didn't accomplish during the day, or watching our favorite TV shows. Sometimes both at the same time.

It's always been normal for us to be a late night family. It's been our normal.

But with school getting earlier, and 2 year-old twins moving into big boy beds, and a workout schedule I'd like to try to accomplish ..... maybe I should be thinking about getting to bed early, so I can start my mornings more cheery :)

•     •     •     •    •     •     •     •     •    •     •     •     •     •

Today I realized that I got tons done.

I do accomplish a lot on the mornings I am forced out of bed. I feel like I accomplish more throughout the day then usual

Maybe this will help me in my "DO"ing goals.

So I'm going to see if in 2012 I can turn into a morning person ...... the early bird catches the worm, right?!?

A good dose of coffee will help with my cheeriness, while I adjust.  :)

- - - This news will make KC's year, but my hope is that he may choose to convert too, even if it's a couple days a week  :)  - - -

I'm sooo proud of my girls. They are adjusting to moving again wonderfully and being so helpful unpacking & helping entertain the boys while I try to put our home together. Thank you Girls  :)

A New Year Full of So Many Possibilities . . .

"We spend our lives dreaming of the future, not realizing that a little of it slips away every day." - Barbara Johnson


I'm a dreamer. Always have been. Head in the clouds.

I dream of the things I want to do, dream of great ideas, dream of goals, dream of the life I want to live.

Many of them stay just that, dreams.
Either written in a notebook or forgotten as fast as I think of them.

This is the year that I jump into reality . . . and place my feet firmly on the ground.


My New's Year's Resolution this year is to . . . DO

"DO" what I want.
"DO" the great ideas.
"DO" the goals I make for myself.

and most importantly . . . "DO" the life that I want to be living.


Well, I guess, within reason . . . . . "DO"ing with five kids to account for, and that's not an excuse . . . . . it'll just add more "DO"s to my list  :)