St. Patricks Day

The kids scored some serious green loot when I took them to the store today to play a

St. Patrick's Day game (at least that's what we called it). I love it when one can make up

games that really benefit the Mother...let's just say I got my mint pie Rice Dream frozen

goodness that I've been craving...good thing the packaging has green on it.

Here are a few things that I know for sure today:

My kids know the color green.

My kids know how to play in the park.

They love mud piles.

My kids are happy.

Other than that I claim to not know very much more because I'm tired and want to sit

in the corner as a deaf mute reading a book...if you know what I mean.

When kids do not have naps they go to sleep @ seven...heaven.

All is good.

Did I mention that I am glad that I got out of making corned beef with cabbage this year.

{french therapy} La Tartine

Sometimes the best therapy is to get into a car and just drive.  Kids gone wild (not to be confused with Girls Gone Wild), well how about a drive.  Since I was the only one manning the fort this weekend and felt the need to adhere from going insane, I decided to listen to whisperings of the universe telling me to find a French Boulangerie.  Good thing the closest Boulangerie that I fancy was a bit of a drive and not just around the corner because I needed this double dose of therapy.  I packed up the lunches with high hopes to have a perfect day frolicking in the sun with 5 perfectly behaved children.  Not so much...15 minutes @ the park was enough to do me in and when the fountain erupted so did I.  In fact I was strung so tight that it wasn't until I got home, put the kids down that I was finally able to find the comfort that I needed.  That comfort was found in a chocolate filled croissant on a blanket in the back yard.  I have said it before and I will say it again but you have never had a croissant until you've had a croissant from La Tartine.  Must be due to the fact that the owners immigrated straight from France. Now you know who I pay for good therapy & now you know why I had egg pancakes the next morning.

Want to see what else is good therapy but also makes me need therapy all at the same time...

Funny how that works.

Don't let the little dude with the tie an his shirt fool you for one second...he's KRAZY with a capital K.  He sure is CUTE though and that's not with a capital K.

  

Tonight though the real therapy comes from a little picture that has "Frenchness written all over it" Give me those little plants, a baguette and a modern chair paired with an antique settee and we'll call it good.

Tartine:

16650 E. Palisades, #103
Fountain Hills, AZ
(480-816-4222).

A cool, clean & calm home

 

Usually for the holidays I crave a warm, textural, layered, chunkier space but I was going through some of my old magazines and was reminded that somewhere in my split personality I really think this cool, elegant, uncluttered home is beautiful too.  Come Feb. or March I will really crave a very light & clean home.  I'm not trying to get ahead of myself too much here because I can't tell you how excited I am for the holidays.  

Is setting up the tree this weekend too early? 

Anyway want to go inside and tour the beautiful above home located in sunny L.A.......here we go starting in the entrance.

{above photos via Homes & Gardens)

Speaking of a cool, clean & calm home...sometimes not a one of those three qualities exists in my home.  Somebody was asking how I managed my home and I sort of laughed because this is how I manage sometimes...

Want to see?

Imagine 5 kids getting into everything as my wheels just spin in place, trying to problem solve for all of these chitlings who must know we are trying to get out of the house in a timely fashion.  It's past time time of even making it to our destination on time but nonetheless somebody feels the need and even insists on going back to fetch an old zoo hat that is clearly too small and some mittens because 70 degrees is freezing.  I do what any desperate Mom would do and say, "That's it, everybody go line up and sit by the door and don't move until Momma is ready to go".  It sort of worked (at least for 4 of them...the 5th is always attached to my pant leg).  Pls. observe.

{savor, relish, enjoy, bask}

Since my blog is kind of like my happy place that I can use as a place to organize thoughts and things that I can file away for later then I am going to sort a few things out today that are flying around in my head.

First, my kids are really good about teaching me how to slow down even if it is Sunday morning and we are trying to make 8:30 AM church. I decided as long as I am trying my absolute best just to even get there that I am going to be fine with that. No more Sunday knot in my stomach. When I walked out and saw them playing on the 2 green chairs while waiting to load into the car my heart melted. 

  

Secondly, thank you Dad for the delivery of my lovely greenie chairs and thank you to Whitney for taking such great care of them.  It has felt like Christmas early this year with a new couch and chairs.  Did I mention I only paid $28 a piece for the green chairs...we won't mention the price on the sectional though.  Hopefully the sectional will pay back itself with all of the family time spent a snuggling on it.  I love that the chairs go with the artichoke picture.  I love green accents...color of nature.

  

  

  

Don't forget about the colors in the below bedroom to incorporate into the family room.

I've been thinking now that I need to finish dressing up the new seating arrangements which happens to be right up my alley since I love fabrics & pillows (again pls. do not ask husband about our abundance of fabric & pillows...you'll never know when you may need that pillow that was a really great deal) . I already have some fabric that has been hanging out in my closet for a couple a years.  I should probably just use that but between the internet & Home Goods I can't stop thinking about these other options:

{my fabric}

{fabric via LS Fabric}

{1st 5 pillows via here}

Lastly, simplicity & gratitude is where it's at. I love Thanksgiving time. I almost have the Thanksgiving fireplace mantle done & that is making me so happy but still need to make a photo garland.

NOTE TO SELF:  In case I get all grouchy and forget to slow down and feel all of the due gratitude then pls. refer to this season's "buzz words" which happen to be savor, relish, enjoy & bask in the moment.  I love this time of year.

A colorful Sunday

When we go on Sunday walks we always take a map.  Usually it is a big & colorful map so we will not get lost.  Who doesn't bring the Candy Land board on their walks?

Smiley let's us know we are almost @ the end.  Yes he is on the map.

We made it to the Candy Land castle.  

No not really but doesn't this look like an ice cream parlor house...it brings warm & fuzzy feelings as I refer back to childhood memories of dreaming what kind characters lived inside...kind of like Disneyland.  It's pink.

Of course I was crowned Queen Frostine because I always win in my tale.  Wait isn't that the lamp shade I finally finished this weekend.  YEAH, one more thing mark off to finish the girl's room.  I kind of like it.

Here's the rest of the Sunday story.....

HIGHLIGHTS:

Burdens were lifted for a bit as I basked in the uplifting words @ church.

The girls gave a talk & scripture in church.  Made me all happy inside.

Lots of blue teeth from the push up pops Dad rewarded the girls with.

Crock Pot dinner.

Long Sunday nap.

Frolicking outside.

Sunday walk.

Desert.

Sometimes I really like Sundays & sometimes I don't but today I did.

Speaking of Candyland, I wish we had tickets to the below adorable party found here via Party Perfect.