We had a wonderful christmas...hope you did too!

The play kitchen was a huge success...

 I love the sleepy morning eyes...we had to wake them up christmas morning...thank goodness they woke up happy!

 They got a ton of kitchen goodies...they had a blast setting it all up {me too!}

 I made the girls aprons to go with their new kitchen...turned out pretty darn cute!

Yes, I let my kids eat m&m's before 8:00am...figured what the heck it's christmas...right?!?

 I found the cutest mixer at One Step Ahead...it actually works...so cool!

 We left the kitchen downstairs for a few days then the girls decided it was time for them to go to the toy room {thank goodness...}

...thank you everyone for a great christmas!

xo

mar

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!!

xo

mar

sneak peak...

just a few more finishing touches... :)

we signed our refinance papers this morning...we are saving approx $240 a month...much appreciated breathing room!  if you are ever in need of a fab mortgage broker...ours is the best hands down!  he is HONEST {not common in the industry} and works hard to make you happy!  this is the second time we have used him and i can say we will never use anyone else!  

Harris Picoult {503} 726-2299

anywho...

around the house...

 bird and I made spritz cookies...she is such a great help in the kitchen {yes...we do own a brush...doesn't get used much as you can see...}

 last week I decided to take down the hutch piece and create a collage wall.  it's so much brighter and open now...couldn't be happier.  i shouldn't show these since it's not completed but I have no idea when i will get art work...it could be awhile...for the first time ever i'm not going to rush out and get the first thing i see...i want to make sure i get the perfect pieces!  and i'm on the hunt for a great lamp too...i had to steal this one from my desk...and it misses it...

{once i get them filled i will make sure they all get straightened out}

 we went and got birds teacher present at a cute little shop down the street {my mother knows} and i found this cute print in the 50% off area...it is perfect...especially for $11!  

it's beanie, bird, and lucy...i {heart} it!!!  has great meaning for my little girls.  it's made by curly girl designs...i took a look at her blog and found out that her dog's named lucy too...how cute!  be sure to check her out!

you'd think i could clean up a little...you thought wrong...i'm turning over a new leaf...trying to be less concerned with the tidiness of our house...feels kinda good :)

happy thursday!

mar

With the clutter that comes with holiday decorating I have been itching to organize/minimize...and paint!  Our interior needs to be repainted and I'm becoming a bit obsessed with looking at paint colors...yes, we could just repaint using the same color but I think it's time for something that's not builders beige {ours has a pink undertone...yucky}!

I have been leaning towards soft blue gray colors...

{all images bhg}

A bit of everything...

Last Sunday we went to hubby's union christmas party...the girls got to see santa and eat lots of cookies and candy...they love it!

 The other day I asked beanie where her sister was and she said "playing with lucy"...this is what I found...bird decided to dress lucy up...what a wonderful dog for putting up with these children!

 Lucy started her doggy period...can you say YUCK...!  Thank goodness I kept some of birds old diapers :)  We would have had her fixed months ago but our vet said she should go through a heat cycle...let's just say she is scheduled to get in ASAP!

 We made our first gingerbread house as a family...it was a ton of fun... {i love the way bird is looking at her daddy...so precious!}

 I had to run to the store this afternoon and I came home to this...bird was playing hide and seek with hubby and sis...I guess they took a little too long to find her :)

Hope you are having a great weekend!

xo

mar

Christmas cards are starting to arrive :)  most of them are the flat picture cards that can't stand on their own so I had to put on my thinking cap and figure out a way to display them...here's what I came up with...

xo,

mar

The countdown to christmas is well underway...we are counting down three ways...{yes I said 3}.  

First we have the advent calendar from Ballard {always a favorite...I put chocolates and candy canes in the cubbies and I noticed my mom sneaking piggy bank money in there too :).  Second the hanging paper chain that bird made at preschool {beanie did this the last two years when she was in preschool...they loved ripping the paper off each day!} and lastly I wrapped 24 holiday books {thanks mom for finding most of these!} and each night before bed they will take turns picking out a "present" to unwrap then we cozy up in mommy and daddy's bed and read our christmas book.  This is the first year doing the book countdown and it was a complete hit tonight! 

{my pictures decided to not go in the order I wanted...sorry}

xo, 

mar

We got our christmas tree yesterday...usually I'm the one to spot it but this year it was all hubby and he picked out a beaut!  Even though my back hurt like a mother I had to push through for the kids... {and myself too...i love christmas decorating!} I was able to get most everything up...now the house is all cozy colored in red and green...and smells wonderful!

 We have never had a tree skirt...so with left over fabric I decided to put one together...it turned out so cute...just a little too small.  I will make a larger one for next christmas.  I just couldn't bare spending $90 {or more} on a tree skirt...

 I changed out the "summer" pillow covers into my "christmas~y" pottery barn ones...easy and free :)

 the advent calendar {from ballard designs} is up and already loaded with chocolate goodies waiting to count us down to christmas...so fun...

 This will be santa's cookie & milk table :)

 The hutch has been a fun addition to decorate...it never seems to be clean...just keeping it real...

 Stalkings have been hung by the chimney with care and already have a goody in 'em...girls noticed after school today and are going crazy trying to figure out what's in there...

Hope you are finding yourself in the christmas spirit too!

xo,

mar

{happy half birthday beanie!}

Besides my back going out Friday night we have had a good weekend.  Our neighbor works for an equipment rental company and he has been putting up christmas lights throughout the neighborhood using a huge lift...hubby got to go up and help... {each house is donating money for our elementary school...to keep our p.e. teacher}  So many houses are decorated this year....it is so fun!

 Bird had the best {warmest} seat in the house...

 The girls went to grandmas Saturday to play so we could get started on the play kitchen...here are the before shots of each piece {thanks mom for all your help finding the furniture!}  We will post some "mid way" pictures later this week.  

Hubby has done a great job so far {sorry I haven't been any help hubby!}  

Hope you are having a wonderful long weekend!

xo