Resolutions

I resolve many things but here are a few I wish to really do!

1. Be better at taking time for me. Sounds selfish but I believe it will help with #2! I am talking about taking time to exercise regularly, take walks alone to clear the mind, put make up on and change things up a little!

2. Be a better mother and wife. I cannot be specific about what this means but I sometimes wake up in the morning and think I could have been better at the whole mother and wife thing. I want to get rid of that feeling.

3. Take a photography class or an Illustrator class. Try a new craft. Embroider more and take photographs of things I love.

4. Clean out the damn garage and be resolute in my desire to get rid of the crap that lies within that place. Let things go!

5. Decorate the house from top to bottom. Not just clean and sort and organise, but decorate. I may be here another 3 years so it would be nice to have a home I love instead of a house I live in.

6. Go on a monthly date with my husband. Enough said

7. Take the kids somewhere fun every week.

8. Be a better correspondent with the family and friends that I love.

9. Be inspired. Beauty is all around me

10. Make friends. This will be the hardest one as I am happiest in my own company or that of my husband and children.

11 - train for a half marathon

12. Count and enjoy all the blessings in my life.

And there you have it - a dirty dozen!

Happy New Year

Pottery Barn Kids AGAIN

Sorry, but I want to live in a Pottery Barn kids catalog. Or have their stylists come and make my house pretty! Just when I think I am out. they pull me right back in! Love the new Valentines collection and I know the constellation wall hanging will be in my sons room at some point. As for the flower chandelier - oh come on! It looks so doable but I know I could not pull it off! Keep it coming PBKids - you make it look so good.

All items and images from Pottery Barn Kids

Cupcake Stands

Thank you Aunt Jen for allowing me to cross another thing off my wish list. I love the cupcake stands and will be using them soon. xoxo

Image from Farmhouse Wares

Elf Soap

Grandma Becky always puts one or more of these soaps in my Christmas Stocking. I love them. From the 'Be Nice' sentiment to the smell to the beautiful box it comes in. Happy soap for me! Oh and it is from Sweden so it helps with that whole Swedish love fest I have going on!!

Working on Resolutions!

I like to make a long list of resolutions. It gives me hope that at least a few will stick. I have many things I want to do in this new year and most of them can be summed up thus - be a better mother, wife, friend and me. I will post a more in depth list later but I think a good place to start would be

1 - blog on a more consistent basis!

Pretty gift tags

I really love this idea. Endless possibilities

Also from Living Etc

Pretty lights

I am loving this tree. I want to try and recreate it in my garden. Simple and pretty.

Image from Living Etc.

Stocking Stuffers

I love Restoration Hardware for cool little gifts and stocking stuffers. I can recommend the smittens as I still have my set from 2 years ago. This year I am thinking tattoos, old school Hypotrochoids, Superhero in a box and a Tonette!!

All items from Restoration Hardware

Wish List #5

Little white cupcake stands




I love these things and think they need to come live with me.
I am having a really hard time coming up with things to even wish for. Boy, I am either a really lucky girl or sadly lacking in imagination!!

Available here

Wish List # 4

Writing Set with four Inks.



Just a beautiful writing set that makes me want to pen beautiful letters to friends and family alike.
Available at Bell'occhio

For the record, there is not much in this store that I would not wish for!!

Side by Side

It is no secret that I love the Camilla Chandelier from Pottery Barn. I want it bad. But I saw another recently that is also a contender.

Top Image from here

Bottom Image from here

Decisions, decisions

Wish List #3

The Architect's Brother





Just a stunning book that I saw at the library and had a really hard time giving back. Would earn permanent spot on my coffee table (if I ever get a new one).

Available here

Wish List #2

Letterpress Kit




I know this is not something any real letterpress aficionado would endorse but the idea of making letterpress at home appeals to me. I will never be able to have areal press and I can never see myself anywhere near a place where lessons are offered but i love letterpress! This seems like an affordable option for me.
Information here

Wish List #1

These are in no particular order!

Pottery Barn wall cubby. I just love this. It looks like an old printers tray but without the stink! I love how it is used as an advent calendar here but I would use it year round to show off my treasures!
Available here

Mrs Meyers Iowa Pine

I am a devotee of Mrs Meyers Geranium scent and I use it all the time in my house. However, I was at Target today and they had the Holiday collection from Mrs Meyer - Iowa Pine! I decided to give it a try and it is awesome. Not year round but for right now, it is awesome! My house smells like Christmas trees!

Christmas Gifts

I was talking with someone today who has canceled Christmas for the adults in her family. This saddens me a lot because from a purely selfish point of view, she gives the greatest and most thoughtful gifts. I completely understand her reasons for not shopping for the adults and I hope she can stand by her guns. When I mentioned to her that I was mad that I wouldn't be getting gifts from her this year, she told me that she would not have a clue what to get me anyway. I thought that odd but then realized that I mainly talk about clothing for children other stuff aimed at children. Hmmmm. Maybe in my mind, I have canceled Christmas too. NAH.

I decided to make myself a ridiculous challenge and find 25 things that I would love to open one day. They can be indulgent, practical, cheap or extravagant fantasy gifts but they must be aimed at me. Not my children and not my husband but ME. Okay then , here we go....

Cool Clock

I like this clock for the kids playroom. It is happy and bright and cool. I wonder if I could make it myself but I am pretty sure it would be easier to just buy it and know the job is done right!

Available from Pottery Barn Kids and on sale right now.

Donna Hay Seasons

I want this book so badly. I want it so badly! However, it is only available in Australia right now and the cost of shipping is prohibitive to me. I cannot justify spending more on shipping than the actual cost of the book. So I will wait patiently and hope that it comes to these shores soon. This book shall be mine, oh yes, it will be mine!

Cute Advent buckets!

I really love these buckets from Garnet Hill. They are so cute and a different spin on the whole 24 days of Advent thing. I grew up always having advent calendars and I really want to keep up the tradition with my children. Anticipation building is a good thing! I know this could be done very easily myself but I am not sure I would make the time for it! Maybe I could put it on next years to do list.

Available at Garnet Hill

Snowy Village Cake Pan

I think I need this! I can see it being a part of Christmas and I know my son would love it. Available at Williams Sonoma

Chandeliers

Pottery Barn has a little sale on chandeliers right now and boy am I tempted. I have long (talking years here) loved the Camilla 6 arm chandelier. It is everything I love in a light fixture. Not too formal, not too fancy, just beautiful. Perhaps now is the time. I think it is time to jazz up the dull light fixture that came with the house we rent. We will be here a few years yet and I want to look at it everyday! A few other chandeliers have caught my eye but they are just fleeting fancies. The Camilla may be that one true love!

From Pottery Barn

Olive Juice

I am loving the latest catalog from Olive Juice. So many things that I would put my daughter in and that in itself is a refreshing change. I love all the greys they are showcasing. Makes me want to dress her up and go for long photo op walks! I am also a fan of the shoes. Oh the shoes. I love the Asters and they also stock Supergas. Too much!

All items and images from Olive Juice

Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home

I received this book last week and thought it looked interesting. I made my first recipe from it this evening and it was outstanding. I chose Sausage in Red Wine Gravy with Rosemary Yorkshire Pudding. The whole meal came together in less than an hour and probably 30 minutes total hands on time. I served it with Broccoli and both my children and my husband cleaned their plates. Very easy, very tasty and very successful. I am making the braised chicken in Marsala sauce next.

Overall the book is beautiful to look at and easy to reference. I love that each recipe has a photo and I also love the time line given for each menu. Definitely recommend this book to both the novice and more experienced cook.

Adams Scary Apples

I also saw these over at Matt Bites and want to try them too. The black looks so cool and shiny. I think I will make them this weekend too! Instructions here

Pie in a Jar

I cannot begin to tell you happy this makes me feel. Individual pies frozen in jars and then removed and baked when the mood strikes. Genius and bliss. I am going to make some this weekend. Get all the details and instruction at Our Best Bites - Awesome.

Banoffee Pie.

An oldie but goodie from the recipe files! This is a pie I do not make too often but whenever I do, it always elicits compliments. Very simple to put together and the only time consuming part is the making of the toffee component.

Make or purchase 1 graham cracker crust. Take one or two (depending on how rich you want it) cans of sweetened condensed milk and place in a pan of boiling water. The can needs to always be submerged in boiling water. I keep my electric kettle full at all times and just top off the pan as needed. You need to boil the can of milk for 3 hours. This is the time consuming part! After three hours, remove from heat and let cool a little. Then carefully open can or cans. Toffee will ooze a little at this point. Pour and spread the toffee in the prepared crust. Slice 2 or 3 bananas and place slices on top of toffee. Then take whipped cream and cover the entire pie in th cream. Chocolate curls or cocoa powder are optional garnish. Refrigerate for an hour or until ready to serve. Enjoy and do not think of calories ingested!

Pretty Beverage Jars

I saw two beautiful Beverage jars at Target yesterday. Excuse the photo - it was taken with one hand and with a lady trying to ram her cart in my bum! This photo is of the straight sided jar but they also have a curved jar too. $20 and it can be yours - great deal.

Cade Martin

I could look at this photo all day. See more stunning images here

via Black Eiffel

Worlds best lasagna.

I kid you not. I have made this lasagna 3 times now and each time the groans of contentment become louder. It is easy to make, quick to make and delicious. Cannot say that enough - delicious! Ina Garten, you are awesome! Turkey Lasagna is just one of those great meals that goes into the permanent rotation. I use the Johnsonville farms sweet Italian sausage that you can find in any supermarket.

Recipe here

Oh for the love of butter...

I hate margarine or any of those other spreads. Way too many ingredients and way too weird a taste. If I am having a slice of toast, I want real butter on it. And ladies and gentleman, this is the butter I want.

A round of applause for possibly the greatest butter I have tasted on this side of the Atlantic.




Vermont Butter and Cheese Company cultured butter with Sea Salt. It is everything a butter should be. I am in heaven. Oh and the packaging is something to behold - blue and white gingham paper and nestled in a little basket - awesome.

Details here