Birthday Wishes to Auntie Erin!

To the best aunt, sister and film dynamo: Happy Birthday Erin!
To the one who's never tired of ocean swimming, who enjoys exercising and eating those veggies, who plays the guitar, who is thoughtful and considerate of others, who is thrifty and finds cute things second-hand she actually wears, who got me into most of my youth activities (i.e. jazz dance lessons, Parks and Rec. softball, Rainbow Rockers, Girl Scouts), who was the first from our family to join Pasco High music groups, and who is just an enjoyable person to be around! I wish I could take you to lunch today. (I promise to make it up to you by a little surprise here in Cleveland when you're here next week!)

Best Wishes for a Fabulous Birthday Erin!

Follow-Up

Remember back when I was in Pasco and I was trying to decide what color to paint the master bedroom of the duplex I was to live in soon?
Well, here's the pictures of what color I (we) chose. (Ignore the mess and chaos of my room right now). I rather liked it. Nice job, everybody!

What should I do with the windows? I hate mini-blinds and I want something to block out the light in the mornings... (I am thinking something cost-effective, too).

Goofy Goes to Preschool

I can't believe little Finn-Bob is old enough to go to a playgroup/preschool. It's only one day a week, and it's a co-op, but still!

Inside that bag is a Duplo airplane, for sharing something that starts with A.

Daddy's Lil' Helper

I love watching Finn think he's helping his dad. I don't like it when Finn "helps" me sometimes. It's cute, but also annoying.

Monday Ramblings

Lucy is near-crawling these days.

I thought since we spent so much time and energy refinishing the hardwood floors (and to save myself some cleaning), I would have guests remove their shoes. Emily gave me a lovely calendar and one of the pictures went perfectly.

Do you find signs like these bothersome?

Everyone's Invited...

...to our house...
....for a special treat...
...cinnamon rolls and black bean soup!

Who's comin'?

And the Boxes Came

We got two big boxes yesterday from France...
...and these were inside.
Zack used the box for a fort...
...while Riley and Finn used theirs for a little house.
Here's how they look 'round the board.

How could I make this table look better with these chairs?

This is why I'm so tired this morning...

Before

After

I put the kids to bed in our bedroom and painted until 1 AM. It's the same color as the main parts of the house (Ramie).

Shrieks of Joy

I Dream of Rugs

I had a hard time going to sleep last night. I was thinking about the beautiful rugs I'm showing here.

I'm looking for one to go in my living room, fairly high traffic area.
Which one would you suggest?

Organization: Crafts

It was fun arranging this little "craft corner" just now. Still not a place for everything, but we're getting there...

And now, I bring you zee trim

So Labor Day, yesterday, Travis and I finished the kitchen trim, baseboard and toekick. See that you can't see the undercabinet lighting now?
I would like to note that I did the toekick (underneath the cabinets) and the molding behind the barstools ALL BY MYSELF! Travis had to go study and so I decided I couldn't handle another unfinished project. I still have to paint the molding.
Above the stove microwave shelf. Still have to put switchplates back on.
A close-up of the toekick. Haha.

That's it from the Chicken Coop. Is it still the chicken coop?

100% Recommended Daily Allowance

I decided to start Labor Day off right. What have you done to give yourself that extra boost?

Photo Album---Sunday and Saturday

I spotted this moment from my kitchen window. Finn was sitting still, so quietly, with his doggie and teddy bear in the wagon.
Little tendrils of golden hair....
...from this child. I accidentally cut too much off the back and had to cut the top. Oh well. I miss his curls, but they'll grow back, right?

T. Schuller cutting his own beard.

This applesauce is really tart and tangy!

T. Schuller putting in the microwave shelf above the stove.
Me painting the microwave shelf.
Can you tell which phase Lucy is in? It's called everything-goes-in-the-mouth-phase.
Ditto.
Man, this applesauce is really sour!

Whaddayathink?

Would it be overkill to hang these two paintings in here (see above, excuse the mess, ahem)...
... and then on this wall (above)......hang this one? I love these paintings that Emily did last Summer, but I don't want it to be overkill to have three huge paintings hanging.
And, while I'm at it, what sort of window treatment can I do here (above)? The shelves come so close to the window that it would be hard to fit a panel along that side. Any ideas?

Frugal Finds

I found these cute little birthday candles at a yard sale this morning. I have been looking for chubby birthday candles for a long time! For 10 cents a box, you can't go wrong!
I got these at the same yard sale for $1/all four. I'm gonna use them to organize my sewing stuff, I think.
Several weeks ago, I bought this lovely Caslon green sweater at a yard sale for 50 cents. Today I bought...
... these buttons to replace the missing button.

Thrifty-nifty!