You can blame Annily

The lovely Annilygreen first clued me in on the completely awesome Fab.com. I'll save you the long-winded explanation of why I love it so much and just say: I am a big fan. Even though 95% of the time I don't buy anything, I still love looking at all of the pretty designs.

Aaaaaanywho. This post is to let you all know that if you join Fab.com through this link: http://fab.com/h2tabt before 7:52 PM, EST tomorrow (that means you have 24 hours) you will get a $10 credit. Wahoo! You're welcome, friends.

New Additions

We have a few new additions to our very fine house that I have been neglecting to tell you about. First of all—and this is a big one—we bought a couch.

Oh how I love my new couch. It is comfy, stylish, and I'm contemplating marrying the color. We have all taken naps on it and while I love sitting on it, sometimes I like to sit across the room so I can gaze upon its loveliness. Here it is in what you could typically expect to see on a lazy summer morning around here (Which we haven't had for like, a month. This picture was taken ages ago in July). Z-cakes finishing up her breakfast getting ready to watercolor, me possibly still in my bathrobe getting ready to write a blog. You know, the rockstar lifestyle.

Next up: A trampoline. A big one. A FREE big trampoline.

We have my brother to thank for this blessed addition to our house. He gave it to Z after he got a screamin' hot deal on it and she's pretty much been jumping on it ever since. I think I've probably jumped on a trampoline more this month than I have the last 12 years of my life.

Finally, we got a rocking horse from my grandpa (who Z-cakes affectionately refers to as
Grandpa Two).

He currently lives in our basement and goes by the name of Maximus for obvious reasons.

Happy Wednesday friends! Do tell, any new additions in your house that make you happy every time you see them?

P.S. My bedroom is 98.5% complete and I'm dying to show it to you. Perhaps I'll share the pictures even though I haven't found the perfect accent pillow of my dreams yet? Especially since I've now started in on Z-cake's room and I want to tell you all about that too. Here's a hint about my bedroom: It looks absolutely nothing like this.

Okay but maybe I'll still go...

{image}

Tonight The Avett Brothers will be playing in Sun Valley, Idaho and I, after an unsuccessful attempt to convince anyone to go with me, will not be in attendance. And this pains me deep within my soul. Can you believe the unfairness of my life? Also? Just five days ago The Avett Brothers were playing at Red Rocks in Denver and for reasons that I can't quite define, that just feels like salt in the wound.

So tonight instead of dropping Z-cakes off at my mom's house and speeding up to Sun Valley by myself (which I have very seriously considered) I will be enjoying a pretend concert in my backyard. You are welcome to join me if you'd like. Unless you have tickets to the show in Sun Valley. Then I would recommend that you go to that instead. And also, how rude of you to not take me with you!

Ahem. There will be homemade quilts for sitting on our dandelion covered grass, popcorn, string lights, and my laptop blasting playlists and YouTube videos of The Brothers. Also there will be Coke. And not Diet Coke either...it is a concert after all.

And in case you can't make it to my pretend concert either...here is a little/giant playlist for you. Because I and love and you.

Headlines

Today is the 12th! Do you have your camera ready?

Here are a few of today's headlines:

Toddler Discovers New Favorite Game—Z-cakes has fallen head over sidewalk chalk for hopscotch. I think she learned about it from Curious George. Every time the sun comes out I hear "Gasp! Should we go play hopscotch mommy?"

Indecisive Woman Chooses Paint Color—We completely repainted our bedroom. The color is Sherwin Williams: Intellectual Gray (I agree with you DW, who names these colors?). I'll share pictures soon but you should know that I am completely in love.

Baby Chicken Probably Going To Make It—One of our little chickies wasn't thriving like the rest of them last week. She was sleepy, listless, and not eating very much. I was worried that she wasn't going to make it but she seems to have pulled through. She's much smaller than the other chicks but I think she'll (probably) make it. I suppose somebody has to be on the bottom of the pecking order, right?

Forecast Calls For Rain and Wind Until You Die—this is my interpretation of the forecast. The weatherman didn't actually say that. He just might as well have.

Local Blogger Declares Rodeos are Still the Awesomest—We went to the rodeo with our family last week. I LOVE the rodeo (Kim agrees), I LOVE a dirt filled arena, and I LOVE hearing Z-cakes yell, "Hold on tight!" and "Ride the buckin' horse!" I also love seeing Z-cakes eat a GIANT popscicle and then immediately ask for another.

There. Now you're all caught up on the happenings of my life. Feel free to move on to the New York Times headline feed to read about things that actually matter.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

March is...

{via}

rainy days
making cookies
bedroom painting

wind
spring cleaning
50 degrees
girl scout cookies
dinner with new friends
tricycle riding
visits from best friends
pistachio cupcakes
DIY-ing
flying kites
chickens?
Rango

St. Patrick's Day Dinner

thrifting

skinny jeans

garden planning

craigslist

a blog break

I don't think I've ever been so in love with March. I've been waiting not-at-all-patiently for more spring-like weather and March has delivered. I don't even mind that it isn't sunny as long as the temperature is above the 30's, yo.

I've decided to take the rest of the month off from blogging. It's true. I've been trying since the beginning of the year to get some momentum behind my blog and it just isn't happening. Have you noticed? Since Z-cakes has given up her afternoon naps I've had a hard time balancing my time with her, time online, and time putting together our house. A break from one of those things feels like the right thing to do. But don't worry! I'll be back some time in April. I can't promise when but I can promise I'll be back. Please. Of course I'll be back. Do you honestly think I could tire of tossing out unsolicited advice on the interwebs? I hope you'll be here when I get back.

In the meantime:

you can always reach me via email. I'm not taking an email break because I'm not insane

you can keep asking me (anonymous or not) questions here

you can see what pretty things I'm perusing here

Thank you friends. For being supportive. For being understanding. And for being straight up rad. I'll see you in April.

Are you enjoying March? Have you ever needed a break from blogging?

Dear Spring, Hurry.

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit, Y'all!

Whew. March. You're here. I know that for some of you February passed quickly but for me the last couple of weeks dragged on. I felt remorse one day when I felt that it may be my responsibility to let you all know that time had indeed stopped. That the thing with which we all think speeds so quickly by had actually ceased to be. But then I woke up and it was March 1st so, as I said, Whew.

Today we're welcoming March by taking a field trip to visit my friend Karisa for a Crafternoon and tutorial on backyard chickens! That's right. The keeping of chickens will be happening for us. At least someday. So I'm going to learn all I can right now in order to get things cranking ASAP.

Wish me luck! And it is okay if you think I'm crazy. You know who else thinks I'm crazy? My mom. And probably your mom.

Love,

This post is more like a place holder

Waking up to this

Changed my to-do list from:

Be super productive + do laundry!

to

do laundry. watch hulu.

Yep, even the color and italics changed in my head.

Have a good weekend everybody. I'll see you on Monday and I'll try to bring back the razzle dazzle.

XO

Moving Weekend

{Saturday morning}


{Sunday night}

It happened.
We moved.
Details coming soon....

A few winners

Hello all!

There are a few winners of Handmade Holiday giveaways that I haven't heard from yet! I know, right?

The winner of The Organ Grinder's Wares giveaway was Sarah who said:

I tend to use table cloths and placemats, but I would love to have a runner!

The winner of The Modern Top-Down Knitting giveaway was Anna who said:

First on my list is to finish a scarf for my Mom and then everyone else is getting adorable lil knit corner bookmarks! This book is actually on my xmas list but it would be wonderful to win incase my Mom dosen't get it for me! hee hee
Thanks!

The winner of the More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts giveaway was Greeneyes who said:

Ohh, that wrapping photo has my attention!

Please email me within 48 hours to claim your winnings. Otherwise, new winners will be chosen!

Our big news

It's official. The Walkers have bought a house! {Insert any combination of flowery wording that bloggers use to express extreme excitement here.}

This is a picture of Z-cakes a few weeks ago (before the massive snow) in what was soon to be our new front yard. Can you believe those leaves? I'm so in love with the giant Maple tree out front.

It hasn't really sunk in for me that we have a shiny new house to call our own. I haven't packed a single box which is very uncharacteristic of me. I think I've been too worried about something not working out to do any preemptive packing. Now my mind is racing with paint colors, furniture arrangement, a new kitchen table, and do we want to re-finish the wood floors between we move in? Suddenly all those pictures I've been collecting on Tumblr are actually going to have to act as inspiration. I'm anticipating cold feet. I'm going to be needing a boat load of help from my design inclined friends. You know who you are.

So that's our big news. More details coming along in the following weeks. In the meantime I'll be spending a ridiculous amount of time here. And a little time here. And time sorting through my bookmarked items from here. I'm accepting recommendations for your favorite home decor/home DIY sites.

Happy Weekend Everyone! Please don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway if you haven't already. It closes tonight at 10:00!

Attention Denverites

This is a little public service announcement for all of my friends in Denver. The annual Fancy Tiger Holiday Handmade alternative craft fair is this weekend! You can read more about it here.

Friday, December 3rd, 5 - 9pm

Saturday, December 4th, 10am - 4pm

at the
Sherman Street Events Center
1770 Sherman Street
(on the southeast corner of 18th and Sherman)

I'm sure it's quite obvious that I highly recommend this event. Be sure to take your list of people you want to give gifts to this year because there is bound to be something for everyone at this fair.

I'm so sad that I won't be in Denver to attend this year. If any of you are interested in paying my airfare I'd happily be there in two shakes.

Warm and Happy

Home again, home again, to a house fully barricaded by snow. It's true. All of the snow that fell on our little town after we left has been blown, pushed, and plowed until it formed a perfect barrier between us and the house. We trudged up to the front door in knee deep (for those as short as me) snow thinking of how glad we were that we decided to spend the night at my parents' house instead of coming all the way home last night. N8tr0n is out shoveling the driveway right now trying to find our other car. I feel a bit guilty sitting in the warm house while he shovels, but apparently not guilty enough to quit writing this post and get out there myself.

I'd be lying if I said that I have no problem adjusting to the weather here at home. It's going to take me a while. Right now I'm remembering the balmy temperatures in San Diego where we celebrated Thanksgiving and quite frankly, it's frickin' freezing here. I don't even care that my car is completely buried in snow because tomorrow, I'm not going anywhere. I'm declaring a two-day vacation detox which will entail approximately 90 loads of laundry, bread baking, book reading, and knitting. Call it my own little form of weather Stockholm, but I'm happy to be a warm prisoner in my house all day.

Unfortunately, when I sat down to write this post I realized that I left my camera at my parents' house. So the pictures of our Thanksgiving splendor (Including pictures of the cake that Laurel and I made. Ahhh the cake! I can't wait to tell you about the cake.) will have to wait until next week. In the mean time I will say that our Thanksgiving was absolutely wonderful. It was the perfect reminder of how much we have to be thankful for. I hope your celebration was equally warm and joyous.

Tomorrow I have another exciting giveaway for the Handmade Holiday Series! Be sure to stop by and enter. Until then, I'm off to dump the contents of our luggage into the washing machine.

XOXO

I don't think "like how" is grammatically correct

All our bags are packed and we're ready to go. Our little family is giddy with excitement over our Thanksgiving plans. I hope that you are equally as excited about yours. I'll be posting very lightly over the next couple of weeks but I wanted to take one more opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for making the Handmade Holiday series so much fun. Thank you for your comments, emails, and enthusiasm. I'll be posting a few more series posts over the next few weeks, but the majority of the series is coming to an end. Whew.

And I must say, as much as I loved putting together this series, I've missed regular old blogging. I've missed being able to ramble and tell you about all of the random, unimportant stuff going on in my life...

Like how last weekend when I had grand plans to write all of this week's series posts I promptly got sick. As a dog.

Like how Z-cakes wants a pillow pet for Christmas. And I promise I'm not the one who suggested them.

Like how our family has some exciting news (that does not involve babies even though I said I was sick a few lines up it wasn't that kind of sick).

Like how I'm ready to tackle my "comma problem."

Like how I had a peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks the other day and suddenly the Holidays were rushing in.

Like how everyday now Z-cakes says, "I need to ask Santa for a pillow pet after Thanksgiving."

Like how I'm getting reeeeally good at not rolling my eyes at the things toddlers want for Christmas.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Up To

Today I will be,
:: baking bread
:: folding laundry while watching Season 3 of Project Runway
:: getting the yard ready for winter
:: working on my upcoming blog series.

Are all of these tiny hints getting you excited for the series? I sure hope so. Tune in tomorrow to hear all about it!

What are you up to today?

MIA

Whoa. I honestly didn't mean to completely disappear for an entire week. Obviously my grand plans of blogging while on vacation did not work out. I would feel worse about ditching blogland if I hadn't been having such a wonderful time in Denver. Ahh, Denver...I miss you already.

While I'm here: Big fat THANK YOU for all of the birthday wishes that came via email, blog, phone, and facebook on Monday. You all know how to make a girl feel very very special.

Happy Friday everyone! I'll be back on Monday. I have a recipe that you're going to want to bookmark.

XOXO

Tinkering

I spent way to much time last night tinkering with the little elements of this blog. Hence the slow start to my day this morning. I was happy to get the new banner up but quickly became obsessed with spacing and font color and titles. Things that I'm sure nobody will notice but me—which I'm totally okay with. There are a lot of little details about my home that nobody notices but me but I do them anyway because those little details are what make a house your home. Don't you think? And what is a blog other than another version of home? Tinier. And more verbose. And much more frequented by visitors. All the more reason to tinker with the details.

Okay that is enough rambling. I need to go feed my kid breakfast. I am positive I will spend more time today fiddling with the sidebar but feel free to tell me what you think so far. I feel so official now that I have actual pages linked over there. And have I mentioned how much I hate putting together "about" bios? Really and truly. I hate it.

P.S. Thanks you SO MUCH for your kind words about the Makes Me Happy series. Your comments are so kind and I am giddy over the fact that a few of you have decided to join me! Your comments and blog love make me very very happy.

It all starts tomorrow

I can't believe it. I just realized—just now—that tomorrow is the first day of October! I can't believe it. October is my very favorite month, in case you hadn't already guessed. I have a few fun things planned for the blog which include but are not limited to:

the little things that bring a smile to my face

my favorite fall cookie recipe

a cake making video tutorial (yep, I'm doing it for reals)

my amateur photography tips (have you been waiting for this one?)

My family will be enduring enjoying my list of "things we must do in October," starting with watching General Conference + making doughnuts this weekend! Homemade from scratch doughnuts my friends. If all goes well, I'll tell you all about it. Actually, I'll probably tell you all about it however it turns out. That seems to be what I do.

We'll be taking a trip to Denver and celebrating my birthday while we're there. We'll be raking leaves, harvesting fruit, and finding our winter hats, scarves, and gloves which are absolutely and completely lost. Somewhere in the basement, I fear.

What will you be doing this month?

Holy crap you guys, I'm so excited! It all starts tomorrow with my first "makes me smile" post. See you then.

Miss you already

Don't you just love this picture? I actually pumped my fist when I captured it. I think it is the perfect reflection of the end of the fair and the end of the summer tied up with a magic balloon, and a daddy who loves his daughter. I love documenting the little sweet moments between these two. There are so many of them.

I'm signing off for the week, friends. I've been feeling under the weather and haven't felt much like writing. I'm hoping that after the weekend getaway we have planned I'll be renewed and ready to talk your ear off once again.

Please don't forget to check in with Hannah's May I Suggest series tomorrow to read my final contribution—for reals this time. Hannah, thank you so much for letting my share my favorites with you and your readers. I had a fabulous time.

Miss you already. Have a wonderful weekend!

Hello Friday

I've been keeping a rotating bouquet of roses on my table for about a week now. Every time one wilts, I step outside and cut another. It is a nice reminder that all the attention and hard work I devoted to the roses in my yard actually paid off. Isn't it nice when that happens?

I also love the way it looks on our table.

Don't forget I'm over at Hannah's today as part of her "May I Suggest" series. Can you believe she only wanted to know my three favorite things from the kitchen? Three. I know, right? Anyway, check it out. It might not be what you expect. Or it might...I've never claimed to be that unpredictable.

Also. Be sure to enter the giveaway! You have until Sunday night to cross your fingers that those pretty little flowers will be perched atop your head. Go enter!

Happy Weekend. What will you be up to? Me? I'm going to the state fair. That's right...two fairs in one year. Don't you wish you were so lucky?

Blog Discussion Wrap Up

Wow.

That's pretty much what I've been saying all weekend about your insightful comments and caring remarks. Seriously, wow. This is exactly why I blog.

I was happy to learn that the dilemma of how to blog the tough stuff is an issue that all of you think about and struggle with. I agree that there is a fine line we walk between sharing and complaining, and that in the end, our attitudes are what define our intentions. If we share our hardships with an attitude of faith and hope, we can reach out to others who may be struggling with similar issues. We can also create an environment of healing and invite our friends to bolster us up when we need them.

Although this blog discussion was partially brought on by some hard times, I really really did just want to hear what you had to say. It is something I've thought about since day one of starting this blog. Mostly, I don't want you to worry about me. I'm constructing a post that will make all of this make more sense, but in the meantime--I promise--don't worry. Also, if you haven't gotten a chance to read all of the comments, please do so. It's great stuff.

xoxo to all of you and happy Monday!