Fresh Start

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It's been a looooooong time since I've been here.  I've been ignoring this space.  I've been busy with life-nothing grandiose.  Just the life of a wife, and mom to 4 growing kids.  

We finished updating the house, kids are all in school, and I'm on a routine. All is great!  Think I'm going to be back around here a little more often.   

Like Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  And this little space helps me see the little things every day and appreciate them.

And this is sums it up!

Little Things

Hey there! Today is one of those days when I need this simple reminder.  Sometimes life seems so busy and fast-but at the end of the day it's really the little things that make me happy.  Fresh flowers from the husby, a warm vanilla latte from the Starbucks drive-thru, being caught up with all the laundry, a sweaty gym workout, an unexpected napper, and a perfect score.  These are things that I will never take for granted.   Hope I can continue to remember the little things each and every day.

Let's Get Organized

img via Better Homes and Gardens

Happy Monday!  I love, love, love an organized home!  I also love being inspired by other people's organizing tips and tricks. I'm not saying that I am pulled together because I often throw stuff into a pile that quickly becomes a mountain. -But I aspire to be more organized and photos like these help me get excited about spending my time doing just that.  This weekend I tackled some piles and went through some closets so I'm feeling a bit lighter this morning.  Hoping these pics give you the same motivation!  

 img via  I Heart Organizing

img via  A Thoughtful Place

img via The 7th House On The Left

img via The Social Home

img via Pink Peonies

img via Ciburbanity

img via I Heart Organizing

Happy 2015

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Happy New Year!!!!  Hope you all had a fun-filled NYE!  We stayed in with the boys- darling daughter was at a sleepover with friends.  We made a wonderful dinner and cracked open some champagne.  The boys partied pretty hard and were pretty jazzed about staying up late.  Thank goodness everyone slept in!

I love a fresh start and a new beginning.  I went for a crisp and very cold run this morning but it felt great.  Hoping to rev up my runs in the new year and push myself more.  

In the new year I hope to drink more water.  This detox water is my fave!

I hope to read more, get more organized, have more patience, challenge myself, and hug lots!

I hope your new year is bright and filled with lots of love, success, fun and happiness!

Christmas Wrap Up

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Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and days that followed!  I wanted to share some snapshots from the last couple of weeks.  It's such a special season filled with lots of fun but now that it's over I think I need a nice long nap:).

Our visit to The Walnut Room for dinner and a visit with Santa.

Spending a day in the kitchen making a gingerbread house and all of our favorite Christmas cookies.

Caroline performing her solo at Winter Wonder Fest -Navy Pier.

Our festive home.

Kiddos sleeping by the tree.

Christmas Morning!!!!

The day after.-Carlton has the right idea.

We had a wonderful Christmas with family and good friends. 

 It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes and bags.  What if our Christmas didn't come from a store?  What if Christmas, perhaps, meant a little bit more. 

 

Holiday Decor Inspiration

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I just love Christmas time!  Our elf Olivia has been busy keeping watch over the kids. They are definitely trying to be extra good now that she is watching their every move.  None of them want her to give Santa a bad report. :)  So with the extra help, I spent the weekend adding finishing touches to our home decorations for the holidays.   I just need some twinkly lights, soft glowing candlelight, and fresh balsam garland to make me holiday happy!  I also found a lot of inspiration on Pinterest.   I'd love to hear how you have been spending your days this December.

Shop some great items for your holiday home below:

BTW, I was at Trader Joe's the other day and they had fresh boxwood wreaths for $9.99 just like the one on the black door above.  What a steal-yippee!

5 Things to Do In December

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1. Make Christmas Cookies With The Kids.

Check out the cookies we made last year here.

My recipe for sugar cookies is here.

2. Make Hot Chocolate and Watch Christmas Movies.

I love this skinny recipe.

We love watching Home Alone, Elf, and It's A Wonderful Life.

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3. Decorate the house so that it reminds me of a cozy winter cottage.

I love this pillow and this garland from Pottery Barn.

4. Dinner With The Family At The Walnut Room Downtown.

Our annual tradition is to go to dinner and sit by the tree and then visit Santa at Macy's.

5. Make this Roasted Red Pepper Soup 

and have many warm dinners with family and friends.

I love this time of year because it brings us together.  It's a time for sharing and giving and counting our blessings.  I'd love to hear some of your December must-dos in the comments section below.

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