it is unexpectedly, beautifully white and begs for no color

We do still have a lot of stuff, that's for sure.  It's hard to be a crafter and a DIY-er without it.  Once you throw away that spool of vintage mustard colored thread it is a sure bet that it is exactly the color that matches the mustard corduroy pants you're trying to patch.

It doesn't really bother me - I've never found a comfortable seat on the extreme minimalist's bandwagon.

I know that "stuff" doesn't make us happy, but I just don't buy that it makes us unhappy either.

But boy, you sure are forced to look at your stuff when you have to pack every little paper clip, playing card and shishkabob stick to move across the state.  We had to give away a lot of stuff.  Some of it stung.  Some of it made us just laugh and gaffaw at the idea that we even owned it in the first place.  And all of it probably needed to be gone.

But this new house loves it.   I don't know what it is about this house - and I have to wonder if I just have a mother's eyes for it but this simple home loves the simple decor.

It's the professional model that you see featured in a magazine without her makeup and realize she is more beautiful natural.  It is the bare chocolate cake that you're hesitant to taste because it lacks frosting and sprinkles - yet ends up being the best cake you've ever tasted.  It is the small bundle of daisies picked from a wildflower field when you thought you liked red roses.

It is unexpectedly, beautifully white and begs for no color.  It is mostly stone and wood and wears natural ivy around its neck.  It is simple, and natural, and close.  Most importantly, it feels like ours (for now), and I am very grateful for it.

Little Bit O' Progress

So, some of you have asked if I'm making progress on the craft room. 

Of course, those of you who haven't actually voiced your curiosity, are undoubtedly on the edge of your seats.   :D

So, here's a little picture of some of the progress being made.

I was excited to find the thread organizer at a thrift store for half of what Wal-Mart was asking.  Plus, I picked up those great jars for $3 each. The filing box is another great find for $12 at an antique store.  I really geeked out about that, and still get weird looks from people every time I get overly enthusiastic about a box.

Unfortunately the drawers will have to stay that way for a while.  It will be a bit of an investment to paint them and buy new hardware.  I don't mind - it will give me something to look forward to.

This little painting is what Maggie created here.

I probably just need a little more thread to fill in my organizer.  I'm sure it'll fill in as I go.  Any suggestions on other things that might fit nicely on those little wooden rod dealies?

All right, I'm going to go get back to it.  You lovely folks out in that thar cyber world have a good 'un!

If You Have Ever Wondered What a Cat Would Look Like With an Eyepatch...Your Search is Over.

Hello everybody!

My girls and I received some delightful mail the other day from our very talented friend, Laura.  Among the package, these very fun paintings.

Check. it. out.

(The elephant is sad.  Why is he sad?  I think it's because he ran out of yogurt raisins.  That always makes me sad.  Why do you think he's sad?)

Wait for it.............................................................................

BOOM BABY!!  Cat with a bathingsuit and an eyepatch!  Very nice.

Thanks, love!  We will absolutely cherish them.  And here's a couple pictures of how they look in the girl's bedroom.

Laura is also a talented photographer.  She took FOUR of the pictures that you see in my header (I'll give you a hint: they're the four best ones).  You can see her work at her Laughin' Lalo blog, and where she displays her professional work: Loupey Lalo.

Oh, and I'm certain you can feel free to download these if you so desire.  I won't even ask her.  She's just cool like that. 

Best Value on Jars

Hi guys!

I've been taking note for some time which items I could buy in the grocery store that have the best bottles for using at home.

I don't have to tell you guys what we can use great bottles for, right?  Drinking, vases, crafts, storage, even measuring.  The great thing is, they all come with their own lids, too - so unlike their less useful  cousins, glasses and cups - they're much more portable and versatile.

So...jars = good, yes?  Groceries = necessary and good.  Conclusion: Groceries and jars in one = Good the the power of 2?

With this indisputable equation in mind, I narrowed it down to four of what I think are the best VALUE for grocery/jar combo.  Value being the key word here, because you can buy $16 bottles of olive oil with fabulous bottles, but that's not my bag, so I'm sticking to best value here.


Let's start with my overall favorite for practicality and price.  For around $2 you get pasta sauce, (which, of course, is something that is always handy to keep stocked in our pantry).  Plus, a large drinking glass with a lid - so you can use it for storage, canning, take it with you, or use the lid to shake up recipes, etc.  plus, a handy measuring cup in the case that your other measuring cup is dirty or MIA.  They even say, "Atlas Mason" on them, which I'm not really sure what that means, but I think it kind of gives them some character as opposed to a completely clear, undecorated jar.

These next ones are fun.  The Marketside brand salad dressing has different dressings to choose from, and they totally look like vintage milk jugs, don't they?  They just make me happy when we have neighborhood kids over and I give them each some chocolate milk in one of these little jugs.  I fancy myself a frugal 50's housewife giving the children fresh milk just delivered by milk man that morning....................(except in reality I get the jars at Wal-Mart, and instead of wearing a cute 1950s style dress and apron, I'm wearing black yoga pants and a "Star Wars" sweatshirt.)

These next ones are Martinelli's apple juice jars.  As for now, we just use them for drinking, but they're the smallest and therefore the easiest to grab and put in my purse when we're on the go - but with the little leafy designs around the lip, these would also make a cute little vase to accent a shelf or an end table.  They are small enough that you can just stick a clipping from a house plant in there and you won't even have to buy or pick flowers. 

This last lovely lady is a $4-5 large bottle of apple juice.  These are also Martinelli's apple juice, but in a bigger jug, rather than the smaller travel sized ones.  I know $5 is a little pricier than some apple juices out there, but look at the great bottle you get out of it.  I still think it's a great value.

 Here's another picture of the apple juice jug turned vase:

And finally, here are all the jars together as I currently display them on our open shelving:

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

10 on 10

I recently read about this project called "10 on 10" , and thought it'd be a lark (and also a cheap and easy stab at getting more traffic on the blog...).  You can read more about it in the link provided, but the idea is simple.  The gist of it is to take 10 pictures out of 10 hours of the day (yes, on the 10th of the month), specifically targeting the fun and beautiful things. 

Well, I spent the whole day doing this; but when I went back to the website to join the link party, the party had been CLOSED and I felt like this:

And yet I still felt consolation in knowing that I could still force you guys could still see them. 

It was a fun day.  Some of these images happened quite naturally as I was going about my day, and others I spotted before my hour was over, and thought to myself, 'I'll come back to that when my hour is up' - so, not so natural. 

I think some of them are obviously beautiful, and others I just enjoyed the way the light came in or they speak to me personally, and you might not particularly find them beautiful.  Suffice it to say, I had a hard time picking JUST 10, and ended the day feeling very grateful that things didn't get ugly while I was "finding beauty".

Do you see him?

And finally...the REASON projects like this exist.  Because as all this was going on...THIS was going on:

And this...

But those are KID-made messes, right?  They're almost whimsical messes with all their bright colors and fun toys taking you back to your carefree childhood.  Did you see through my rouse of showing you my messes without ACTUALLY showing you my messes?  Well, here you go, you bloodthirsty troll!

Oh yes.

Phillipians 4:8