Happy List: #102
Hello, friends! I know you are busy and I’m thankful you are here today. This week I shared a recipe for biscotti that will change your life. Perhaps also your pants size, but I’m not responsible for that. I also wrote about one of my favorite new towns called Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. It has a little something for everyone and it is worth a visit. Now, let’s get on to The Happy List! POTTERY BARN INSPIRED BASKETS I love this clever idea from Angelica at Once Again, My Dear Irene to add handles to a regular basket. The idea was inspired by a Pottery Barn basket she knew she could…
Almond and Anise Biscotti
Have you ever baked something so mouth-wateringly delicious that you realize you should probably NEVER EVER EVER bake it again? Hear me out. If you bake it again it means you’ve thrown caution to the wind. You’ve chucked your self-control out the window. You may end up binge-eating that baked good just to get it out of the house. And it’s worth every bite. That’s how I feel about this Almond and Anise Biscotti recipe. In fact, I had to move to a foreign country where one of the ingredients wasn’t readily available just so I wouldn’t be able to bake this biscotti. That’s not exactly true, but it was…
Travel: Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
I hope you know by now I wouldn’t recommend taking a trip to visit a small town in the middle of nowhere without good reason. When I say small, I’m not exaggerating. (Not this time!) And when I say good reason, I have more than one! Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, is a historic Victorian town (population 4,633) in the Pocono Mountains. It is situated approximately 1.5 hours from Philadelphia and 2 hours from New York City. (Unless you are leaving on a Friday night at 5 p.m. Then it might take half a lifetime a little longer.) If you don’t like 19th century architecture, great restaurants, quirky shops, eye-opening museums, outdoor recreation…
Happy List: #101
Happy New Year! It’s so nice to be back here yakking your ear off after the Christmas break. Did you miss me? I thought so. Our Christmas break was a blur! We spent a few days adventuring, but other than that we spent our time close to home. We didn’t know what day it was and my kids stayed in their pajamas most of the time. Handy Husband kept asking me if it was garbage day and after I looked at my phone I would say, “No! It’s Sunday!” Or Saturday. Or any other day that wasn’t garbage day. Then on the actual garbage day…we forgot. This week I shared…
Presents My Kids Played With Longer Than 5 Minutes
I challenge you to find me one parent on the face of this planet that didn’t hear their children say at some point after Christmas, “I’m bored.” In certain dialects it could have also sounded like, “I’m booooored.” You find me that one parent and I’ll show you a person with their pants on fire. Or a parent who is wearing earplugs because they are so much smarter than me. Yes, yes. There were moments this holiday season that were magical. Joy-filled. Melt my heart. Worthy of a Hallmark card. Those are the moments I hold close to my heart while I let electronics babysit my kids because the week…
Merry Christmas 2018
So this is Christmas. And what have we done? Well, we took one family picture this year. So, that’s something. Ha! Seriously though, this year has been a full one and I can’t believe it’s already coming to a close! From our family to yours, we wish you all the best – not just today – but in all the days to come. I also want to say thank you. Thank you for following along on this journey and being a part of my world. Thank you for sharing part of yourself with me. I’ll be taking off the rest of the year to spend time with my family and…
Happy List: #100
Holy cow! I’ve done 100 of these Happy Lists. Time sure does fly by! We are in hardcore countdown to Christmas around these parts. My kids have a half day of school today and then they’ll be home through January 1. I’m getting ready to head off to a class party with the sweetest bunch of 3rd graders, so wish me luck! This was basically Christmas week on the blog. I shared some DIY ornaments and how I’ve decorated our living room and kitchen for the holidays. Here’s the Happy List! WARMER IN THE WINTER If any of you Dancing With the Stars fans miss Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas,…
Christmas Touches in the Kitchen and Living Room
For the first time in my life I have discovered the worst best feeling to have. Yes, I typed that sentence how I meant it. I am done shopping for Christmas. I’ve been done since December 12. I even wrapped all of the presents. WHO AM I?!?! I should feel amazing. I should be humble bragging right now. Maybe just flat out bragging, but I’m a mature adult, so I won’t do that. I’ll blog about it instead. Instead of relishing in the self-satisfaction that all of this forward-thinking and advanced prep work created, I. AM. FREAKING. OUT. Not on the outside, of course, because I don’t do that. On the…
Color Blocked Wood Ornaments – Tags and Balls
It wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t feel the need to make some ornaments. Someone check my temperature if I ever decide not to be crafty at Christmas, okay? This may turn out to be the longest running fever on record. Seriously though, making ornaments the last few years is something I oddly enjoy. Is that a hobby? Guys, did I finally find a hobby? Nah… This year I wizened up an created ornaments that can be made over when I change my mind on colors or styles in the coming years. There’s something very freeing in the idea that you can change your mind later. I highly recommend this…
Happy List: #99
Hello, hello! I sure hope you’re enjoying the Christmas season. This week I shared two equally awesome things on the blog. One was free. The other wasn’t. If you missed it, read about my new artwork here and my new tree here. Guys, my introvert streak runs deep, but I love it when you comment on the blog or connect with me on social media. I’m on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest too. Now, here’s the Happy List! FANCY DOORS I’m assuming these doors are quite expensive. However, I think they could also be DIY’d. See more pictures of this home in My Domaine. (image: My Domaine photo: Lisa Romerein; design: Jute Home) GYM…
