SNOW DAY!!!!!

Ok--well-it's been snowing FOREVER.  The kids have never been so excited to find out yet AGAIN, that school has been let out early.  Popcorn and drinks, they are ready to be STUCK in the house (until I kick them out).

--no, I didn't edit to add snowflakes...they are huge! What a contrast to a few months ago...(same view)

~but isn't it pretty now??  All "Christmasy" (is that a word????)

It's part of my lovely snow covered pot that we made earlier!!  Christmasy!!

...and I am off now to spend some quality time with my other love.....The one I simply can't live without.

Ohhh poor neglected blog...

What was I thinking trying to declutter around the holidays??  Ok, Ok...I did get the drawers and some cupboards in my kitchen cleared out--but then holiday festivities began and all goes awry. 

It's all good though.  Some really great memories were made amidst the clutter~like N~who spent twice as long as his brothers carefully perfecting his cookie before devouring it.  It's all in the details for N. 

Or how about a small girl in a pink dress?  She grins when being told by her brothers that she is PRETTY...mommy also likes to tell her that she is SMART!

and the tree....late is better than never-right?

In the middle of all this-I managed to bake 10 loaves of English thyme artisan bread yesterday-(teacher gifts), made the rosemary sea salt butter-I finished off the treats for a cookie exchange on Friday, nearly finished this dishcloth

and made another little taggie minky for Miss M~

so...I've been been busy--but a good busy  Lots of homemade gifts going out this year~consumable things for others.  I feel better about that.  I hate the accumulation of "stuff" which is why I am mildly nervous about the holidays...
Peace~

How many spoons....

We just recently returned from vacation where we rented a townhome that had what they called a "fully stocked" kitchen.  It had 8 plates, bowls and cups...8 forks, spoons, knives...that kind of thing-basic can opener, one slotted spoon, one regular...you get my drift.  Well, I found myself using and washing and putting away...it was marvelous-it was peaceful and I didn't once feel overwhelmed.  Calm.  I had what I "needed."  Now-if I were to be having a dinner party there, it would have been trouble-but how often do I have dinner parties?  ummmm--hardly.  Seriously--this kitchen was darn near perfect.  Containing only what was needed (other than the ugly chicken in the corner of the counter)-and only HIGH QUALITY stuff! (I LOOOVE the plates above the sink-wish I had a plate holder like that!)

For the last few months I have felt chaotic.  I wondered if it was the addition of our daughter (who just turned one and is toddling about) or it was the older kids getting adjusted to school starting again, or the fact that we probably have too many animals and well...just too much STUFF.

I think it is a combination of things-but mostly the STUFF that I feel is out of control.

I have been on a minimalist journey for a while now-and while I have made some great strides in certain areas, other areas REALLY have been neglected....LIKE MY OWN KITCHEN!  ohhh baby-check out those cabinets!-and in case you were wondering....yes that is my Mod Podge in my cabinet with my dishes...OMG.

The plus is that the crystal drinkware in there used to go unused.  I finally decided "saving it for a special occasion" was dumb. Everyday is a special occasion! :)

Random?

So, I get home and my cupboards are spilling over with dishes, tupperware...stuff.

I will proceed with photos of progress as I am culling my clutter and things we don't need. 

-so...........how many spoons/knives/forks does a family of 6 NEED???????????  Certianly not TWO sets like I have here.   (oh and this is just one drawer of my stuff.  I complain that I don't have enough SPACE in my kitchen.  MY kitchen is TWICE the size of the one at the rented townhome. Somethings not right.

All this being said-the kitchen is one of my most difficult areas to declutter because I was raised by my mother who is a SAVER.  She saves EVERYTHING...Lots of positive self talk going on here-I can do this.

The Princess Pink's first birthday~

A year in the making.  A sweet girl turns ONE~and a big party ensues!!  My mother cooked up a storm, my sister and I crafted away...and the Dol table (traditional Korean 1st b-day party) was a success!  Happy birthday baby!

Now we move on to our oldest son J who will be 9 in November.  Having his "friend" birthday this coming weekend-so we can take the kiddos to the haunted corn maze!!!!  (there is a plus for celebrating in Oct rather than in November!!)

This week's agenda will be to ready myself for this with Halloween decor!!  I started with the guilded pumpkin display in the dining room....my camera didn't take great photos...made the dessert stands with a little spraypaint, candlesticks and plates from the thrift store! 

And am putting finishing touches on the ribbon wreath.....with a little help from R

....and I bought my BOO letters to become a doorhanger...mod podge--oh where did I put you???

Sweet Baby girl.....are you really one and 1??

As a mom of boys...three wonderfully active smart and funny boys....I was shockd to find out that growing in my tummy, was a baby GIRL.  Ummm....Yeah.  Girl.  I didn't know we could "make" a GIRL!!  I actually didn't believe the ultrasound tech when she said, "I don't SEE any boy parts...."  so I quick made that 4D ultrasound appointment! 

(no this isn't a pic of the girl parts...I thought that was better left alone LOL)  She was sucking her thumb!

Then I gave myself permission to knit something GIRL SPECIFIC!!!

Sweater and hat--feather and fan pattern--for baby's "coming home"

Then our little pink package arrived--just in time for Halloween!

and a SHORT year later-and now taking a few steps on her own...we will be celebrating a first birthday this coming weekend!!!  Happy Birthday my sweet daughter...we are all so completely in love.

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Time, oh time...where are you?

I marvel at the blogs I read.  So many FABULOUS ideas.  So many things I could do.  Where do you all find the time? 
Sometimes I have to sit back and give myself a little pat on the back and say--"It's ok...you have 4 kids and a job, and pets and obligations here and there....

Sometimes...just sometimes, I have a little time.  Time to cook something fabulous from scratch.
lemon basil pasta--and yes the pasta was from scratch....

Or-I carve out the time to make something that has me standing back and smiling...

Crochet lace  and beaded crochet on the edges of the "Pink's" socks (we call her The Pink because she is the only girl in a sea of boys and ohh so kissable!)

It's ok...Mostly Sunny~ you do what you can with your time. 

Whoo to the Hoo!

Long time coming for me.....

~Wow, nobody told me that having three boys and the princess peach would take up so much time!  I really meant to get my new blog up and rolling as a personal goal.  My little slice of the blogosphere...my public yet private spot.  Since I have not done it myself, I spent spare time scouring over other peoples nesty crafty homemaking blogs.  Dreaming of when I would have the time to finally put my nesty crafty homemaking and sometimes copycat things down for....well, at least ME to see :)  And don't get me wrong, I will still be scouring my google reader for all my favorite updates!!!

I am so satisfied with my garden.  Mr Sunny and the boys built it for me at the beginning of the season, and hubs--I am eternally greatful!

And I remember when it stormed so bad--if he wouldn't have built it a "raised bed" (his idea)...it would have washed out completely!  awwww...I love you!


Yes...that is the lake that was my backyard!

And how proud I was when  it started producing...

And all of the fabulous things that came out of it....

Dear Garden...it's been a fun ride--still a little bit left in you, but soon, you will sleep under a blanket of snow.  Not too soon though I hope.