Snow Day #2

The next day, after a slight melt, Jared informed me the snow was perfect for snowman building. So, once again, we bundled up and headed outside for another fun afternoon in the snow. (Two days in a row of snow play! This might seem like small beans for some but this is monumental for me. Really it is. It was also somewhat therapeutic. You know, sort of coming to terms with it all.) Here is our finished product:

I think this is the only time I have ever
been able to get Mitchell to voluntarily smile
for a picture. He was really excited:

Although I did have fun playing in the snow,
I couldn't help but express my true feelings
about the situation:

All of this snow actually melted a couple of days after our fun. But don't you worry, the ground is covered with about 3 inches again, schools are canceled today and the snow continues to fall. I've attempted to make peace with winter. Now I'm really ready for spring.

(22 days!)

Snow Day #1

If you can't beat it, join it. (The snow, that is.) These pictures were taken about a week and a half ago. I made the executive decision that some fresh air would do us all good so we bundled up and headed outside for an afternoon of fun in the snow. Our original intent was to build a snow man but the snow was too powdery so the boys had fun shoveling, tromping and driving their trucks all around instead.

Spencer yelling, "I'm stuck!"

The boys loved taking their Tonka trucks "off road."

And loved taking turns pulling each other out with a tow rope even more.

The fun of being stuck only lasted so long, however,
so I dug out a little figure eight track for them to drive on.

More pictures of snow day #2 in a moment.

Half Way There

And this is what too many Valentines' cookies gets you! Me at 21 weeks or 5 1/2 months.

(PS Taking a picture of one's own stomach with a bulky SLR is not as easy as it looks. I'm just saying...)

Happy Heart Day

I made some frosted cut-out cookies (my favorite!) for tomorrow...

But it seems unlikely they'll make it that long.
Happy Valentines' Day!

Green Police

I didn't watch the Superbowl on Sunday but I did catch up on a few of the commercials on-line yesterday. Of the ten or so I watched, I'd say this one was my favorite. Very funny. I also thought the Bud Light ad with the plane crash was pretty clever too.



Did you have a favorite Superbowl commercial?

Blah, Blah, Blah...

Yes. One of those little states covered in white is Ohio. It is currently sleeting but 6-10 inches of snow is expected to start falling any minute where I live. The boys and I have already built a fort in our living room and are stocking it with all the necessary supplies for a weekend indoors: raisins, fruit snacks, blankets, books, etc.

I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful.
I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful.
I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful...

Pretty Flowers

Last week I made some pretty, fabric flowery thingys with a template I found on Martha Stewart's web-site. Click here if you're interested in making some too!

Two

Today my blog is celebrating it's second trip around the calendar. It makes complete sense I started blogging on February 3rd, the day after Ground Hog day, in what ended up being the longest, grayest winter of my entire life. And, what started out as simply a therapeutic outlet for winter depression has turned into my little spot, where I can continue to whine about winter, share my photography, inspirations and some of the random thoughts that clutter my head. I'm not really sure who all reads this thing (aside from my mom and those who leave a comment occasionally) but thanks to my trusty sitemeter, I know you're out there! Thanks for reading!

Valentines'

I love a good homemade Valentine. I spotted these adorable ones last year on one of my favorite blogs, Lovely Design. I think her two year old's scribbles inside the heart are a sweet touch and I think glassine envelopes are just cool. However, am I the only one who thinks that some homemade things are just too nice to give away, especially to little kids? Yeah. I think these Valentines' definitely fall into that category. The homemade-things-that-are-too-nice-to-give-away-especially-to-little-kids category.

Off to a Rough Start

I really thought February was going to be different. Really, I did. But then I ate not one... not two...but three cupcakes before 10 A.M. (I was going to go for a fourth but stopped myself.) I'm no expert but I'd say that's comparable to someone who starts drinking adult beverages before noon. The moral of the story is: I'm gross. But it IS winter and I AM pregnant and well, I sort of can't help it.

Also, I'm starting to remember why I've always kind of hated February. It is the shortest month of the year but it drags on F O R E V E R.

47 days to go...still.

Well Hello There February

I like February. Well, I should clarify. I like February better than January. It used to be the other way around but then I realized Valentine's day really isn't all that bad and it's one month closer to spring-(yipee!)

47 days to go...

I Love Your Style

I saw this book awhile back in the J.Crew catalog and I think it's right up my alley. Defining/refining my style is a goal I have for post pregnancy. I have always had an interest in clothing and fashion but the trouble with me is, I'm all over the map when it comes to dressing myself. (I think I'm all over the map in a lot of things but I'll just leave it at personal style for now.) I say this because I'm drawn to a little bit of everything: classic to bohemian, super feminine to tomboy-ish, bright colors to all black. I need to figure out a way to rein it in while at the same time making practical choices for my lifestyle. Afterall, I am a stay-at-home mom who could technically stay in my pajamas most days. Anyway, I thought this book might help. I also have some really stylish friends who have their own definite style and always seem to look really put together. Perhaps I'll solicite their advice and post what they have to say on the topic here on the old blog. Does anyone out there have any great style advice? Please share! In the meantime, I'm going to try to hunt down this book at the library.

Good Brown Bread

There is nothing quite like the aroma of homemade bread baking in the oven. (There's nothing quite like the taste of it either!) I got this delicious recipe awhile ago from my friend Marnae, who is a really good cook and has the best recipe for pretty much everything. This wheat bread recipe is no exception:

Good Brown Bread
4 C. warm water
1 C. brown sugar
4 T. white sugar
4 T. butter
1 T. salt
2 T. yeast dissolved in 1/2 C. warm water
4 C. Whole Wheat Flour
7 C. White Flour

Mix water, sugars, salt and butter. Add yeast dissolved in 1/2 C. warm water. Stir in 4 C. wheat flour and mix well. Add the white flour gradually until dough is easily handled. (You may need more flour is the dough is sticky.) Knead until smooth and spongy. Cover and let rise until double. Form into 4 loaves (I only get three loaves from this recipe so it might depend on the size pan you are using.) Let rise in pans for about 20-30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. Enjoy!

Plate Collection

Around this time last year I started a plate collection which has been slowly but steadily growing. (You might remember the inspiration I blogged about here.) All but one or two of the plates were thrift store finds including the two newest additions: the white one at the top with the scalloped edge and the one blue and white one directly below it. I love searching for just the right pieces (the best collections are built over time, right?) and the way they look when they are grouped together into a little display.

Pom Pom Goodness

For the love of all that is fluffy and good in this world! I tell ya, Anthropologie's styling gets me every. single. time. I'm thinking the time has come again to make a few of these and hang them around my house. It could definitely be the cure I need for the winter doldrums.

P.S. You can see the tutorial I posted awhile back (right here) if you are interested in making your own pretty poms.

(Image via Anthropologie)

The Hide-A-Bed

Currently providing hours of entertainment for my kids. Not only does it function as a full-time couch, it also moonlights as a trampoline, a fort, a ship, a bunk bed, a bear cave, a tent and a wrestling ring, just to name a few.

And there are 57 days until spring.

Flock Print

For the past year or so I've been seeing this modern bird print all over the web. Most recently on this Flickr stream, (which is full of all manner of thrifted home decor goodness, btw.) If I had an extra 35 bucks lying around, I'd definitely snatch one up for myself.

Books

So far I'm doing really well with my resolution to read more books. I'm nearly finished with the top two in the picture and I have a small stack of others waiting in the wings. In the past, finding/making the time to read was somewhat problematic. However, since Jared is gone late studying most nights, I have a couple of hours to myself after the boys go to bed and I now find myself looking forward to cozying up with my cup of hot chocolate and a good book!

Another Taste of Spring

I'm not sure why I am even bothering to look at pretty clothes since the only thing in my fashion forecast is maternity-wear. Whatever. I still wish this is what I would be wearing when the snow melts and the temperature begins to rise. With that being said, I think it's about time I added a cute blazer to my wardrobe arsenal.

(P.S. 66 days until spring.)

(Image via Anthropologie.)

Resolutions

I know I'm a little late in blogging about this but it's the time of year for making resolutions! I like to make mine as clear and concise as possible. I don't do well with resolutions that aren't very definite or measurable (for example, be a better person, eat less sugar, blah blah blah.) Last year one of my goals was to make a throw quilt for Jared and I's bed. (I finished it mid-December, just in the nick of time. Phew!) Although I have many on-going goals, this year there are two things I really want to make priority.

1. Read more books. My goal is five. I know that doesn't seem like a lot but I like to set the bar well within reach. :) I am planning to put my GoodReads account, that has been neglected for quite some time, to good use!
2. Go on a date once a week with Jared. This won't be the first time we've made this a goal but I'm determined to make it a priority this year. I love spending time with my kids but I also love spending 2-3 hours alone with my hubby-whether it's for a vicious game of Scrabble or a quiet dinner at a new restaurant.

What are your resolutions for 2010?