Obsessed! Happy President's Day!

Happy President's Day! For some reason this day made my little mind connect to the word federal. Makes sense though really as the word federal usually pertains to or notes a central government...and we do have a government with a president and with presidents before him.

Anyway on to the REALLY, REALLY good stuff that pertains to federal....you know, the nitty gritty of the above photos. When I first came across the above images I just about did a back flip. I mean I can hardly type right now as they sent me into pleasure overdrive. The title of the article that these images came from is "Inside Lisa Martensen and Don Skipper’s Fabulous Federal-style Home". As I read on I discovered this home was in Texas and how fitting since most people from that state are highly patriotic (understatment..to my understanding they want to be their own nation..I have a few Texan friends:). See this post fits perfectly into the whole President's Day theme. Are you with me..

As I read the article from the "D" magazine I felt an immediate connection to Lisa, the home owner because I aspire to be that good at collecting. I would love to hang out with her any day. Not only is she self- educated on collecting and finding treasures but she a eye and passion for anything thrift, flea, antique, garage sale, estate sale, etc. As I looked through the photos her talent for finding treasures and having an eye for design is evident as you can see the control she has and the curator she is over her meticulously decorated home. Anyway just read the article here. The only thing this article made me long for was pictures of her kitchen.

credits:

above pictures via dmagazine.com

photography by Stephen Karlisch

In the patriotic spirit & collecting, does anybody like federal mirrors? 

So far we have celebrated President's Day with the eating of breakfast on the curb in front of husband's big jeep. They will make their Dad really happy when he gets word of the girls trying to help the Jeep not feel so lonely. I have a few ideas of my own on how to make Jeepy not so lonely....

I don't feel too sorry for Jeepy because he has seen such great places as Jackson Hole, Moab, Hollister and Sedona...just to name a few...and we have flipped him in half of the places.

The girls packed their backpacks with drinks, apples, baggies full of cold cereal and Bear Naked bars. They told me that they even had a 4 minute nap after they made the trek around the culdesac. I especially love that one of my girls is in a sleeve-less dress but insisted upon gloves because it was cold.

It's a good day worth celebrating!

{princess and the green frog} Happy Birthday!!

It was just yesterday that I tried to wrapped these two so ever tightly in their blankets so that they would have a great feeling of security. What a very exciting day when these two were born. Time doesn't stand still no matter how hard I try. When I asked the girls what they wanted to do for their birthday they responded by saying. "We want to have a princess party". We made crowns & went to see Princess & The Frog. My birthday wish to these two is that they will continue to feel that same feeling of security as they are molded and shaped to become bigger princesses. I want them to know of their self-worth while retaining that inner light and love for all those around them.

Now as I have anticipated this week my little brain has somehow connected their birthday to all things green. The frog made me do it and it all started with this cake:

{via Sarah Magid}

Then in honor of those two sweet peas, why not continue the trail of green thoughts because that is how I do it...

{via Regan & Smith on 1st Dibs}

{via Martha Stewart}

{Amy Atlas via Green Wedding Shoes}

{via Simon Upton}

{via Home & Gardens}

Happy Birthday my little princesses!

I like that they wanted to wear last years birthday hats to the movies.  Also it was fun to have the little frog on top of the mailbox and have the girls come running in yelling, "Mom, there is a frog out here, come and look".  They were so excited especially knowing they were going to see the movie later that evening.  I love kids!

How does your mustache hang?

I am so glad the mustache hangs low on the girls. It means they have a while until they actually fit into the glasses/mustache/nose combo thing. Phew I think that means they're still little.

This week we were trying to find things that started with the letter "G" to bring to school for show and tell.  Hence the glasses.

P.S. - If you are a local Arizonian and you like to wear masks, dress-up, buy pretty things, and see lots of nice people then why not consider going here.  Everybody will be there even these fine people.

P.S.S. - I'm thinking about selling the below for Christmas (not the little girl because I didn't make her....my sister did).  Does anybody else like Etsy:-)?  Wouldn't that be funny if somebody did try to sell kids on Etsy..I mean after all they are sort of homeade.

{maintaining & messes}

I really would rather be more like the fairy godmother as opposed to the stepmother but... 

living in such shambles kind of was, well you know.  After all, I could not bear to walk into the girls room one more time in this condition.  "You can only go to Nana's or to the park (equivalant to the ball) IF you clean your room", said I their desperate Mommason.

Seriously though, I like the method my little girl has for cleaning the room with her head in the bucket.  At this rate the room will be clean by the time the clock strikes midnight.  

Perhaps it's time to implement a rewards system..

Look @ these neat tickets that Ambrosia Girl designed.  Go here for the free download.  Thank you Ambrosia Girl!

Here's to maintaining my friends.

Las Vegas..viva full house style

You know the saying, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"...well not in this case. I brought it all home with me 2 girls & a husband in tow.

All I have to say is good thing husband ate 10 plates of food @ the seafood buffet (in which he took his merry old time finishing I may add) because he needed all that food to make him strong. Little did husband know but he would need all of his strength to rush two little girls off a crime scene on the Las Vegas strip. "The crime", you say....Treasure Island changed their pirate show. No more little family friendly pirate stunt show. With the girls hoisted up onto our shoulders, we stood there waiting patiently for the show to begin all while packed into a tight little crowd. It was earlier in the evening & I had everything planned out. Early dinner, hit the pirate show, the volcano, Belagio water show & then back to our non-LV strip hotel with plenty of time to swim before bed. Surely we would be safe from any foul scenes because it was only 7pm & the kids (or parents) would love all of this free entertainment...not so much. We made as far as the first 2 minutes into the apparently new & changed pirate show before we realized all of our Las Vegas dreams (haha) were going to be crushed right there within the first 10 minutes of arrival. Apparently in the new pirate show the pirates were really lonely & needed some lady friends if you know what I mean. The whole show was cheesy & a party foul if you ask me & thats even if we didn't have under-agers in our party. Well it didn't matter that we were packed into the crowd like a can of sardines because there was no getting in husbands way as he forged a little path for his precious little chicks to high tail it back to the chariot. I could hardly keep up & that is the reason for all of the blurry photos as I tried to document a protective Dad in action.

Lesson learned though...outside of Circus Circus there is a reason why there are hardly any kids in sight on the Las Vegas strip...no matter what time of the day and if I can save anybody from wasting their time, energy & eyes from seeing the new pirate show that used to not be so bad..then mission accomplished. Or was the old pirate show really any good? After all I am trying to recall events that happened 7+ years ago & I'll admit my little brain isn't as crisp as it used to be pre-kids, I mean I think I used to also think the buffets were good too. Man, things have changed.

The below is a common sight to behold. Little girls love their Dad.

Couldn't get out of there fast enough but we've finally made it to the car.

Husband made us get out to observe the progress on the bridge that will soon change the travels over Hoover Dam as we know it. It's a part of history his says because 20 years from now when the girls travel to Las Vegas they would not even remember the old route. I wish I were better @ being more sentimental as husband. If it were up to him we would have a history tour every time we travelled up to see Grandma & Papa. He especially loves any historical sights that have to do with Butch Cassidy..I know go figure.

Have I mentioned how much I do love the Arizona State flag?

Glad that we got to go but glad to be back home.

A room frozen in time...

As the story goes, There were 2 princesses who shared a bedroom & it sat frozen in time for over 2.5 years.  Their Momma started out decorating a new big girl when the news of their cribs needing to be put to use else where at the arrival of 3 new little brothers.  Mom worked hard & even recruited Baca to put paper up behind the beds.  Being 3 has it's temptations because some little princesses found great joy in ripping the paper off of the wall even though their Momma said NO THANK YOU.  Then Momma decided to wait the princesses were a little older & much more mature to repair & finish the room to avoid any harsh feelings because surely they would mature when they hit 4.  Now Momma has to paint the bookcase, make a chalkboard, have Nana sew some bolster pillows, make & hang the new light shade, make a cushion for vanity chair & repair the paper behind the beds.  Then & only then when Momma is through then all parties involved can all be whisked off to the ball.

Seriously I am hoping that if this blog is good for anything then it will be good in the accountability sector.  I really need to get motivated to finish the girls room.  I thought that if I threw it out there I would surely have to come back & report on the status.  Probably sooner than later, right?

At least I got the mirror frame painted & ready to be converted to a chalkboard.  Next is the cushion for the vanity chair....

While painting the frame a dragonfly showed up again.  I think this is a sign of great decorating luck.

Time to get crackin...

{nostalgia & tradition}

According to my mom, on my third birthday I opened all of my presents and the only present I was interested was a big fluffy dress.  I'm pretty sure Mom didn't teach me to love dresses @ the ripe age of three.  I am convinced I just came that way.  Don't worry though by the third grade I was wearing high-tops, playing kick ball with the boys & getting kicked in the stomach because a male classmate was ticked off that I had won him in knuckles.  If anybody knows me well then they can attest that I haven't lost my love for dresses even though I love sports & talk radio.  In fact I don't own very many pairs of jeans as I feel completely comfortable in skirts & dresses.  Well I hadn't connected many of those past memories until yesterday when I told the girls they could pick a treat for having such a great week @ preschool.  Without hesitation little "M" wanted to go to Goodwill to pick out a necklace.  "Where does she get this?", I thought.  Then a flood of memories came rushing in about the days when my Mom would let is pick out some jewelry @ DI when I was young.  Next time if I start to worry about my girls being so small & already loving to dress up in all of my clothes & jewelry then I will just have to remember the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. 

Why is it that everybody wants to lay all over the white chair?  Probably because they all know how much I love white stuff.  Shoot so does my Mom, it's all starting to make sense now...you know with the whole apple from the tree thing.

Here's the loot that the girls pickrd out from Goodwill.  Not too bad for under $4.00.  Did I hear it is 50% off day @ Goodwill on Sat.?  Who's in?

The fact that the girls request herbal tea in the morning (with lots of honey) warms my heart too because my Momma used to make it for us as a kid....see I'm all wrapped up in getting all nostalgic & it feels so good.  Thanks Mom for all of the memories.

Speaking of tea...I am so excited for the briskness that comes with Fall.  Here we come seasons of tea...and tights & more snuggling to keep warm.

Who's in for Fall?