Changing the Vision

I have gotten so much done today and I really love my home right now.  I'll let you in on a secret...I've been wanting to move for about 5 years now. We've been in our home for 10 years and there's that little part of me that yearns for change and a backyard.  It's not happening right now.  And I think I finally understand that.  I'm not even sure I wanted to move, or I just liked the idea of it.  For five years, however, I've been at a bit of a standstill in my decorating.  During the first five years, we were newlyweds and working away from home most of the day.  After my children were born, I invested in warming up their rooms, but never really expanded to taking care of other parts of the house.  I wasn't loving on it.  An unloved home is a very sad home, indeed.  Something lately has started a change in me.  I'm not sure if it's the realization that we're here for another full two years at least, or maybe gaining strength and not getting any terrible colds for five months or even just wanting my daughters to always have warm memories of being at home.  I have the cleaning bug and the desire to fill the house with warmth and beauty and love.  My love for our home has increased as well.  I love being at home.  My girls enjoy it more now too.   I find an absurd amount of satisfaction in making their beds and rooms up.  My oldest, who is an A type like her daddy, squeals whenever I organized something in her room.  She hugs me almost every day after making her bed.  Who couldn't be inspired by that?

I think children's artwork and pictures of family and friends is one of the least expensive ways to warm up the house and add color.  Frames don't have to be expensive, they can just be bought at Goodwill or Value Village.  Not being a crafty person in the past, I actually have several unopened frames that I will introduce to the house this next week.  I'm so excited to do this.  While not crafty, I do love photography.  I haven't gotten it all figured out yet, but I expect it to be fairly easy and meaningful.  I have some other ideas too, and I will update next week with pictures of the finished products.

I think my next project is me.  I know that sounds funny to some, but I think most stay at home moms can relate.  Taking care of yourself is the hardest on the list.  I'll be perfectly frank too.  I haven't had my hair done since May, and I can't remember the last time I bought clothes or shoes.  My kids are dressed and combed beautifully, but myself....errrr....not.  Not all of it is saving money, either.  Do you want to go shopping with two little ones in tow?  I think not.  Finding the time is difficult and when I do find the time there are just other things I'd rather be doing.  At five foot nothing, I can't exactly just order something online and being thrifty and buying secondhand doesn't usually work out for me for anything other than t-shirts.  Atlas...I will make a date for myself at some point in the next month or two.  After I've budgeted properly of course.  But I will follow through.

Colors of Fall

Muffins, bread, banana bread and blackberry jam....that was a lot of work.  Never did I think the wild blackberries that grew next door would yield seven pints of jam.  Really, I was just hoping for a small bowl of berries.  I also cleaned more dishes than I've seen this year, but it was worth it.  I love blackberry jam.  There is something so magnificent about something so sweet and useful with only three ingredients.

(Recipe straight from Sure-Jell)

3 cups of mashed blackberries (don't blend...unless you want syrup)

5.25 cups of sugar

1 packet of fruit pectin

Mix the fruit and sugar and let sit.  Heat pectin and 3/4 cup of water to boiling.  Mix in with fruit and sugar...stir well and pour into containers.  Freezer jam is so easy.  I may never can again.

I love fall.  Some people spring clean, but I fall clean and bake and cook like crazy.  I love the smells in the air...the colors...even the cold and crisp feeling it gives.  I spent parts of my day organizing and I'm ecstatic to clean this week.  And bake.  And bake again.  And put homemade blackberry jam on fresh homemade bread.

Sometimes I'm not winning, but still I'm not losing...

Ah, I have been quiet this week.  This has been our first week of school for the girls with a new busy and pretty crazy schedule.  I will update how the week went tomorrow...  I did have a small crash this week.  My husband told me I would crash and crash hard, but not really.  Let's just say that fluffy coffees can really help one cope with the many stresses of a new schedule and an occasional dessert out with the girls is necessary.  The dessert was planned far in advance and well worth it.  Peets coffee is incredible.  Still, third weekend in a row, so far, of not going out to eat.  No fast food or anything else. I don't feel that self righteous.  This month has been a bit spendy so far, and I really don't feel like I'm saving us money yet.  Maybe after the next two weeks...

I still need to improve in the planning department.  Especially making plans that doesn't make life too hard on me and allows me to make quick, easy and healthy breakfasts and lunches so that I can focus on spending time with my kids and not just feeding them.

Prepping for the weekend

I have so much on my plate tomorrow.  I really want to make things as easy on myself as possible for our weekend at the coast, and I really don't want to spend the whole weekend cooking so I will be doing food prep tomorrow.  I hope to make the clam chowder for Friday night, make some pesto with chicken to pour on pasta Saturday night and make a loaf of banana bread.  I also have to take my youngest to her first half day of school, meet the folks halfway to drop off our dogs and go to parent orientation at the girls school tomorrow night.  All this and I'm going to get the girls to nap, right?  If I can do all this, I may just be a superhero in disguise.

Everyday should be Sunday

Yesterday I made an incredible beef coconut curry dish, so please be patient with me when I admit I made mac and cheese tonight.  It WAS Annie's organic.  So junk food as it may be, it is organic junk food.  That makes it okay, right?  Truth is, we had plenty of leftovers in the house, it was hot and I didn't feel like cooking.  I know tomorrow we're going to eat healthy at the granfolks house, so I'll cease worrying about it.

I thought about my commitment to this today.  Pure fun to me is sushi.  No sushi for awhile.  I suppose I could get desperate and learn to make it, and we'll see.  No soda or coffee for awhile either.  I don't drink coffee as a general rule unless I go out, but it can be such a nice way of pampering myself.  At home I make milky sugary chai, and I'll keep making that, thank you very much.  I'm also going to be bringing water with me where ever I go.  I know most people probably do this already.  I'm good about bringing water for the girls, but for me not bringing water is an opportunity to buy a soda or iced tea.  Yes, I admit it.  Today, my errands ran longer than expected and I found us in town at lunch time.  In the past, I would have stopped to get the girls a snack or food and completed my trip.  This time, however, I went home and fed them lunch.  It's a good opportunity to teach them how important it is to sit and eat, anyway.

I took the girls to the dollar store where they bought five puzzles with their hard earned allowance, and played with them throughout the day.  Later in the day, my hubby melted my heart by taking out his guitar (which he never does) and playing twinkle, twinkle little star for the girls.  I actually found it less stressful staying in and not going out to eat at all.  I think sometimes we go out to save ourselves work, but going out is work in itself.  Slow day.  No real chores...Did I mention I love Sundays?