Song of the Heart

Christmas and New Year's, 2011

2012-01-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a little photo recap of our recent holiday happenings...

Grandma, Grandpa, and the grandkids on Christmas Eve

A little gift for Grandma...

...that the boys helped me with.

My pillow project plus Jared's project for me ended up sleep-depriving us both enough to get us his and hers illnesses and antibiotics. LAME

Paint drying on the speakers Jared made for me! LOVE that he can make this kind of thing!

One half of the final product and they sound amazing!

Angel baby couldn't stay out of the manger.

A wise man with his precious gift :).

A sweet moment Oliver had sharing the view of a phone with cousin Reyn.

Oliver loves his new Rody!

The boys could not be more thrilled to have joined the 21st century.

We decided to have a bonfire and cookout on New Year's Eve eve. Zach's face is always like that in pics, huh?

Food and fun with cousins on New Year's Eve.

Some people do consider chess "fun."

Zach and cousin trying to virtually hurt each other.

Baby Girl Nursery Idea (1 of ???)

2011-12-19T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have had a few moments to troll the net for some ideas and here is one I really love. It feels girly but not too princess-y plus kinda cool and vintage. Great combo!

Pics found here

Its time for Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

Can we just say it already? It seems like in spite of the decor being all around since Halloween, no one is ready to say "Merry Christmas" yet! I think its time. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And the lucky winner of all my money is....

2011-11-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

ZARA! Take a look at the following and you will see why. Dear Jared, are you ready for this???

Its PINK!

2011-11-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

We are all in shock. This baby is a GIRL!!!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHHGHGGGHHGHHHH!

My reaction: "I don't know how to do hair!"

Jared's reaction: "How will we protect her!?"

The boys were all super happy. I was tickled with how excited they were.

Then last night Tyson had a concern. "Mom, I feel bad for our baby girl. I mean come on! Who has FOUR older brothers!?" I just told him I can think of several young ladies who do and from what I can tell, they are seriously loved and protected ladies.

I am over the moon, as you can guess. I know I would have been happy for a boy again but come on! Now I will get to shop on the pink side, which has heretofore been known as "the Dark Side."

Total joy. :) :) :)

11.11.11

2011-11-12T15:04:00.000-08:00

Marabeth is obsessed with the number 11. And cupcakes. And she is amazing at getting people together and having fun. Combine those things, consider the date and you have a reason to celebrate! (I work for Hallmark on the side.)

Halloween Happened - 2011

2011-11-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

In spite of my efforts to the contrary, things keep happening. Alas, Halloween was a fun day and here is the proof.

This year was pretty easy costume-wise, thank goodness. Will wanted to be Sherlock Holmes, which just involved teaching him to say "Elementary, my dear Watson" and giving him my tweed coat to wear plus a great hat and a homemade cape. Oh and a magnifying glass. Tyson wanted to be Cookie Monster, purportedly because can do such a great imitation of the voice. He borrowed the hat from a friend, found blue clothing and painted his own face blue with some blue eyeshadow. He insisted on tilting his head down for all pictures... Zach decided to dress as Harry Potter at the last minute. He was very cute and had that fact verified to him by a group of teenage girls, which absolutely left him beaming. Oliver stayed home with me but was dressed in the boys' old froggy suit and was adorable!

We had an awesome crowd at the house and enjoyed food and general silliness. Baby 5.0 and I
are sooooo glad its cider and pumpkin cake season!

And then there is this mildly disturbing photo.

Last but not least, here is what I did with the loot.

I'm not sure how this idea was born but it is working out great for us. First, I told the boys to pick their top ten favorite treats that they could keep and not share and eat at will. This was soon negotiated to 11. :) Then we sorted all the candy and ranked it in order of yumminess. Next, we assigned the candy a Monopoly money value and made a chart depicting how the boys can "earn money." Their tasks are just their everyday things we ask them to do, like practice instruments, do chores, read, etc... I am loving this system because the candy is leaving slower, hence no upset tummies or sugar buzzes. I also love the motivation it added to our daily routine. I was the banker at first and now I just kinda watch and let them work it on the honor system. And yes, there is a parental tax on the candy still. Ha!

Nashville Footloose Premiere

2011-10-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

So I started writing a play-by-play of the screening and the premiere I attended with the Hough family last week and I think I got sick of hearing my own words. So to spare you the same fate, here are the photos I took from the ol' cell phone. I can always give you more details if you wanna know. :)

After-party:

You can see more pics here...

Another round of Name That Baby!

2011-10-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Can you name these two boys of mine?? Hint: The first three are the same kid and the second three are the same kid.

Zach's BCBS Commercial

2011-09-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

YAY! We finally found it! This little commercial spot is even better because the little girl with the magnifying glass is Zach's friend from church. You will see Zach getting his ears checked and also in the white swimsuit with stripes on it as the kids run through the sprinkler.

These commercials kids do require an AMAZING amount of work and patience on their part. The day they filmed, Zach's spot was filmed last so he arrived in the morning and left around 9:30 at night. He truly earned his wages!

I took a few shots of him on set...

About to run through the sprinkler!

On the monitor.

Post-sprinkler run, in the trailer. He wanted this pic because he was just amazed at this motor home!

A few recent photos

2011-09-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

Poor me. I am sick today. Really I am fine, just honestly happy for the excuse to sit right here and not move except for occasionally getting up to grab a snack. ;)

Here is a glimpse of a few recent haps...

Love this pic of Ollie "driving" Dad's car.

I was the "mystery reader" in Zach's class. I'm not sure why, but reading to kids is one of my favorite things ever! Note how Ollie is licking his blanket. Pretty sure that is his bliss.

I've been telling people to watch for me and Zach in the commercials we shot recently. Luckily, someone spotted Zach's and I will get to see it soon but I still am not sure if mine is out. Look for me in a Sylvan Learning Center spot! And please let me know if you see it... even better, record it for me! :)

Thanks--

Guess what Oliver LOVES

2011-09-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

I spy two of my guys!

2011-09-21T09:46:00.001-07:00

Can you find Jared and Oliver in a photo in this commercial?? Look fast!

We must be able to laugh at ourselves..

2011-09-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Teehee... :)

Love even when it looks like no love

2011-09-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes brothers look like they rather dislike one another. But for the record, these boys are great friends.

I shouldn't be surprised

2011-09-04T18:52:00.000-07:00

Honestly, its pretty tough at church right now. Oliver is at that age where sitting still for longer than it takes to drink a bottle is pretty much out of the question. Jared is busy with many obligations so I end up taking Ollie out a lot and leaving the other boys alone, hoping that my ward family will help if they need something or get out of hand.

Since it was fast and testimony meeting today, I reminded Will (somewhat jokingly) that as a middle schooler, he might be more apt to share his testimony. To my surprise, he quickly agreed and marched up to the stand. It was an utter delight and frankly a surprise to hear my boy bear his own testimony in his own words, built upon his own feelings and experiences. The feeling his sweet and true words evoked were so wonderful and divine.

Basically, I am just glad that I was able to have that little moment today, because the rest of the three hours was brutal: me chasing Ollie around, shushing him when he screamed and digging through the diaper bag hoping to find any sustenance for a starving pregnant mommy.

When we got home, I put the baby down for a nap and came down to find the kids looking through the mountain in the corner of my bedroom. They found their baby books (totally incomplete but stuffed with pictures and mementos) and wanted me to sit with them and tell them stories about themselves. We laughed so hard as we looked at pictures of them and read stories I had written down in little books so I wouldn't forget. Will's book was sweet and tender, Tyson's was lively and descriptive and Zach's was pure comedy, which I find so indicative of them as individuals.

Some highlights from Zach's funny stories you might enjoy:

"You think this is your house, Mom, but its MINE."

After learning that we were having another boy, I asked Zach what he thought he might want to teach his new little brother. His response? "To be quiet."

I caught Zach about to pick his nose. He quickly yanked his hand back down and stammered, "I... I... I just thought there was a toy up there!"

Ew huh :). Love my boys. Basically they surprise me daily with their abilities and their sweetness but really, why am I surprised? They have an awesome dad who is such a good example to them and they are obviously strong spirits saved for this particular time in history. I really shouldn't be surprised.

Getting to know baby number 5

2011-08-31T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well, for one thing this baby is HUNGRY.

Baby takes ALL of my energy. I have watched a lot of NetFlix stuff lately, trying to keep my many meals down.

Baby will not be here for a looong time.

Oy.

The Brood is Expanding (again)

2011-08-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

Well, since it is already apparent when you see me, I guess I will come right out and tell you that I am expecting baby number five! I have never felt a little spirit so intense about getting here. Now it is his (or her) turn and we couldn't be more thrilled! :)

I am a little over 2 months along which means the baby will come ~~whenever the heck it is ready~~ sometime in March. And now for some real life questions (actual ones from both this and my last pregnancy), followed by my answers.

Are you hoping for a girl? (I am hoping for a healthy baby.)
WHOA! You look like you are just about ready to POP! Are you overdue? (NO. I AM 6 MONTHS ALONG.)
WHOA! Are you SURE you aren't having twins?? (I feel like breaking something.)
Do you always carry so... out there? (Yes. Grr.)
Are your babies enormous? (Not at all. Just me. Please run now.)
Are you sure you should be __________?-fill in the blank (Are you sure you should be asking me that?)

Etc etc. I am coaching myself to be resilient but I fear that these kind of insensitive comments will be too much to handle this time. People. How hard is it to keep those kind of questions INSIDE? If you must ask, ask someone else. I know many who would disagree but I would prefer rudeness behind my back than to my face. Ignorance is bliss.

And every pregnant lady needs all the bliss she can get.

Vintage Printables

2011-08-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

I saw a link on DesignMom's blog and followed it to find this great site. It is a compilation of out of copyright art. Which means it is public and free to print. I found sooo much that I love! Check it out here.

I love this one for Tyson. He is such a little scientist and I know he would love this.

Some others that caught my eye:

Great stuff, huh!

A middle schooler, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader and a lonely little brother

2011-08-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

Back to school. Look how much they have grown since last year!

Since Will leaves an hour earlier than the other boys now, we did pictures separately. Oliver seems a little stunned at the silence in the car and in the house. I feel the same.

And another pic of Ollie with his dad because I love it:

I love how Ollie is just chillin' there, arms hanging down with his rock star glasses on....

Just how awesome is Stacey?

2011-08-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever googled your name? I was just telling my sister in law to google her name just for fun. As an example I googled "Stacey is..." and found a little gem.

To all you Stacey's out there, you are awesome. More so than grilled cheese even.

Click here to find out more of the awesomeness...

Thanks to whoever made this site ;) ;)

Back to School = Mama is broke

2011-08-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

I am feeling amazed at the moment. Amazed at the sum of school fees, school supplies, music group fees, not to mention those nebulous sports fees, the ones I always think about springing for but rarely do. Education can be expensive! Which is why it is unlikely I will ever buy any of the following for my children. Still fun to look at though :).

Check this out - OOTS! Eco friendly lunchboxes. Yes, they are BPA free and all that jazz. Mostly, they are well designed and good lookin'. I would buy these for the kids and probably use them myself :).

Next back to school item of my dreams is a cultural icon in Japan: the Randoseru backpack, by Hideo Wakmatsu. I can really see why it has achieved icon status! Of course, I love it but I would be surprised if my kids would like it.

I also found this navy color and I just had one kid vote yes. Too bad! Too expensive! ;)

Now these are too cool not to share. These are actually mechanical pencils, though they look like wood. Even cooler? They are different colors. Loving it-

Maybe I could do the pencils.

Maybe ;)

Weekly Log

2011-07-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

Loving this great talk by Brad Wilcox tonight... and blogging while my husband does the dishes. ;)
I like this quote: "We are not earning heaven, we are learning heaven." Take a listen:

OK now. Weekly log - -

Origami Log by Jason Ku

Oliver LOVES bananas. He has become accustomed to getting his own banana at the end of our grocery shopping trips. He was VERY vocal about wanting it this time and here is his reaction to finally getting it...

I enjoyed visiting with some ladies at a casual luncheon this week. The food was amazing but I just loved the chance to visit with some extraordinary women. The reason for the luncheon was just to get together and share stories... One gal spoke of her belief that women are our society's "story keepers." She encouraged us to "keep" our stories by writing, blogging, recording, or whatever, just to save, share and preserve them. I have been struck by how my own kids seem to relish the stories Jared and I share with them and they ask about them frequently. For good or bad, our family's stories are part of us and we need to "keep" them. I was really grateful to go and get this great reminder.

We were able to visit the Nissan plant and see it in action this week. It was very exciting for the boys to see these robots building and assembling car parts, sparks flying all over the place. If you can, you really should go on this amazing, free tour. Quite an experience. No photos allowed or I certainly would have taken some!

And last but not least, we enjoyed a fabulous visit from my Uncle D and his family. What a delight to see them after so long. :) Makes me miss my immediate family...

Hope you had a great week too.

Fluffernutter Cupcakes

2011-07-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

I saw this post about these cupcakes from (www.thenovicechefblog.com) and I had to give them a try! They had me at NUTELLA.

I like their pic better than mine:

Basically what we have here is a peanut butter cupcake injected with a shot of Nutella and topped with the yummiest, kinda marshmallowy/seven minute frosting-ish stuff. DIVINE!

I finished the cupcakes before I realized I did not have any piping bags and tips like the recipe recommends for the Nutella injection. So I MacGyvered it with a medicine dropper. HA!

The frosting they listed with the recipe turned out AMAZING and way better than other similar recipes I have used. I will definitely use it for other recipes too!

Finished product:

The verdict was that they needed more Nutella. (Doesn't everything need more Nutella?) I will not be making these again without the proper tools, as it was very difficult to get Nutella into a medicine dropper. :) Still, I hope YOU make them for me and drop them off between 9 AM and 7 PM, any day of the week.

Thanks ;)

I need a sewing basket

2011-07-05T00:15:00.000-07:00

I have never owned a sewing basket to speak of. I have kept my sewing things in a little plastic tote but alas, it cannot hold the amount of stuff that I have. I need something else to help me organize it all. Here are some ones that I like... which is your vote? If you have one, do you love it or pine for something else?

The very cute Chicken Basket:

The Vintage Basket:

The Green Trim Basket with dividers inside:

Or how about this vintage one that comes pre-stocked with sewing notions:

This one is big and has retro needlepoint on top:

Or there is the retro plastic one with great organizers:

Choices choices!!

A poetic prayer for America

2011-07-04T23:38:00.000-07:00

{This is verse 4 of My Country, 'Tis of Thee}

Our fathers' God, to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With freedoms holy light.
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our King!

I love this song and especially this verse. I hope you had a good day freaking out about your kids lighting things on fire like I did. God bless America.

Stripes and Colors

2011-06-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

This may be getting redundant at this point, but oh how I love me some stripes and colors. All from Anthropologie...

OK here are more from a great site I found today called SmallShopStudio.com.

cake, clutch, floor

This corn bread will put you on the map

2011-06-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

Have you ever come up with a recipe so unique and so great that it has made you famous, if only locally? I haven't. But I know those who have and here is one of their recipes:

BEST Corn Bread I Have Ever Had (and its easy!)

1 Pkg. Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (not to be confused with Hot Mormon Muffins)
1 egg
1 cup sour cream
1 cube of butter, melted

Mix that junk together and bake it up at 400 degrees for 20 minutes in a greased 8X8 pan.
Double the recipe if your in-laws are comin' over and use a 9X13.

BAM

I bet the owner of this kitchen makes good cornbread. {Southern Living}

New Glasses to Covet -or- Jared Is Going to Get Kissed

2011-06-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Do you know that feeling of finding something that you MUST but shouldn't buy and you think it might be expensive and you really don't need it but you NEED it and it makes your neck tingly and your throat tight? Well. I have that right now:

They are the same glasses the cute gal over at Rockstar Diaries wears. I have absolutely no qualms about copying someone that adorable (and hopefully she would have none about being copied!)

These are from Claire Goldsmith in the Irwin style, Toyko Tortoise color.

Jare says he wants my current frames for his own so this may just work out, depending on how much those bad boys cost. And I think he would look utterly kissable in my glasses, just so ya know. ;) ;)

Color in Modern Art - Flying Cavaries, Stark and Rower

2011-06-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

I have always been a lover of art. I have a giant file on my computer where I store images I find and while recently looking at a few, I noticed some similarities. I love these works of art for their colors and their depth.

This is a sort of fireplace/coffee table by Flying Cavalries. LOVE!

And it really reminds me of the art by Jen Stark (pretty sure I found out about her from Lee Steffen. Thanks Lee!). You MUST look through the images on her site. Her work is nothing short of amazing. Its mostly just paper or foam, a knife, and a LOT of patience and skill.

And a similar effect achieved with paint and gravity, by Horton Rower.

I want to try this! The process looks fun.

Enjoy!

Zach has big feelings

2011-06-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love my Zachy. Jared and I often marvel at him and wonder how it is possible that he is our offspring. He is the sweetest boy but sometimes gets pretty intense, to put it as diplomatically as possible. I love how his love is big, how his anger is big, how he plays so hard that his hair drips with sweat, and how in the right moment, you can catch him simply in the deepest throws of living without one ounce of care for what anyone else thinks. He rocks out to music ten times harder than anyone else I know. He even has a life plan. Here it is (in as close to his own words as I can recall):

When I am 8 I will be baptized.
When I am 12 I will get the priesthood.
When I am 16 I will date and drive a car.
When I am 19 I will go on a mission.
When I am 21 I will be a rock star.

I have no doubt, my Zachy-boy. The first video was taken the other day after I apparently enraged him for saying he could not watch a movie. He started kicking and getting really mad so I decided to give him some options for how to deal with his anger. He could 1. Go jump on the trampoline, 2. Go scream in a pillow, or 3. Do an angry dance. He was intrigued by the angry dance idea. So I got on YouTube and showed him Kevin Bacon's angry dance from Footloose. He loved it. He picked a song from my iTunes and here is the result:

This second video is Zach practicing his rock star antics, flanked by his cousin, who has some serious dance moves.

Color and some random stuff

2011-06-10T21:32:00.000-07:00

Its hot out here in Tennessee!! I gave up trying to go anywhere today... we did not leave the house at all until the heat abated. I am thinking about how I can recreate this fun "kids bike wash" at home. It would have to be portable so as to water my lawn at the same time...

(from SFGate)

Don't you love the colors!?

And speaking of color...

I am loving this Kate Spade china. So elegant and artistic.

Also-

Do you like fabric? I am enjoying this Japanese fabric on Fabric Worm

Remember the cool glasses company, Warby Parker? Well I am digging Tortoise and Blonde too. Super cool!

Are you ready for the most gorgeous vintage dresses? MyFavoriteVintage on Etsy.

* * * * *

OK, bed time for me folks. Send some anti-zitsonmyface vibes for my photoshoot tomorrow. And send the husband some good golfing karma for the morning too. Its the first and most likely last time he will play this year. ;)

3 of 4 and National Donut Day

2011-06-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Had to post for reasons of cuteness

Had a great National Donut Day (thanks Bickmore!) and I hope you did too. We discovered the Oreo donut at Krispy Kreme. Yesssss

I can relate to Cicadas

2011-06-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

EW huh!! These giant bugs are EVERYWHERE right now. I took the kids to the pool today and one hitched a ride on my pinky toe for a while before I realized he was there. Yes I screamed and did a little shaky leg dance at the public pool.

Did you know these pests only show up once every 13 years? Then they just peace out till they are good and ready to show up again. That my friends, is a lot like me. I don't know why cicadas are like that and I can only speculate why I am.

OK, peace out.

Favorite toy from my childhood - Julie doll from Worlds of Wonder

2011-05-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today about a gift to give which got me thinking about one of my favorites that I have ever received. Thanks again Santa for bringing me "Julie" circa 1987.

I LOVED this doll. And even by today's standards this is a pretty cool toy. I wish I still had her!

OK and I also loved these:

Ahh vintage 80's toys. What were your favorites?

Popples
Rainbow Brite and the Sprites
Roller Racer
Snoopy Sno Cone Machine
BMX Scooter
Barbie Fashion Plates
Jem
Barbie and the Rockers
Atari Qbert
My Little Pony

FYI

2011-05-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

In case you have been wondering, silence on the blog means noise at home.

I am spending TONS of time with my four muchachos and loving every minute of it.

2 are sleeping at the moment and 2 are working on science projects.

1 mom is catching up on email and eating Oreos.

We are safe from the storms (knock on wood) though many trees in the area are down and the in-laws' home was without power for a while.

On the horizon: baseball game with friends, visit with Elise, graduation for many of our teenage friends, and attending church in our new building 5 minutes away rather than 30.

Yay!

Things that crack me up when I ought to be in bed

2011-05-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

From http://wins.failblog.org/ ...

hehe ok good night :)

Modest Couture Alert

2011-05-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my sis Mckenzie for the tip about this gorgeous dress Rachel McAdams wore. I had to find a few more current ones, bien sur!

All photos from People.com.

I am loving this trend! And even as I say that, I believe modesty is more than a trend: its a time tested, classic and classy alternative to the allure of exploiting the sacred gift that the body is in the name of fashion. I am just happy when I see modest choices holding their own in spite of the apparent belief that immodesty is somehow more fashion forward or stylish.

Mr. T sings a song for Moms

2011-05-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my awesome brother Tyson for sharing this video on Mother's Day :)

Happy Mother's Day! - 2011

2011-05-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks for birthing and raising me, Mom! And for all the stuff in between and after and in the future. Moms are awesome.

Dang I am a cute baby! ;)

For the record - Tyson had a mullet at birth

2011-05-07T21:59:00.000-07:00

{I see Mckenzie too!}

This is for everyone I have told about Tyson's amazing amount of hair as a baby. I know it is tough to imagine a baby with a mullet so here is a pic to prove it.

He had so much hair that at first, his eyebrows actually connected on the sides right into his hairline.

Do you think the old wives tale about heartburn and the amount of hair your baby has is true? I only had heartburn (or some other crazy internal burning) once with Tyson but it was so severe that I had to go to the hospital and ended up drinking a horrific shot of lidocaine. Hmmm...

Native Kids' Shoes

2011-05-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

So this is a first for me. I am actually kind of liking these rubber shoes for kids! These kinda seem to have it all: slip on, easy clean, no socks necessary, closed toed, & great style. I have never considered Crocs before because to me, they lack that all important last attribute ;). And I once heard of a kid having an issue with wearing Crocs on an escalator...

What do you think about these Native shoes? They seem like a great summer option to me.

Picture perfect boleros from BHLDN

2011-05-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

I am sure many of you have also trolled the BHLDN website, as it has been blogged about incessantly of late. AMAZING stuff!! Oh how I wish it had been around when I was planning my wedding.

It seems I am very often looking for cute ways to make formal dresses modest, whether for myself or for others. I was just stunned at this amazing collection of bolero jackets from the BHLDN line. Gorgeous to the nth degree!

Small and simple dream home

2011-05-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

I think a lot about possibly building a home one day. I think its because I don't feel like the home we really want/need is out there. Our current home is great but since moving here I have been surprised at how much room we don't actually need like I thought we would. For example, the boys always want to be together in one room. It pains me that we basically paid for space we don't need. Maybe someday things will change and they will want their own spaces, which is why I vote for a smaller home now with a basement that we could finish, if only a room at a time.

Most homes out there seem to tout granite as a huge, wonderful feature. Yes I know its great but it seems a little too "everywhere" for my taste. Its not that I am above it its just that I would enjoy finding cheaper and possibly more unique options.

I am sure the following wish list will morph over time and as the needs of my family change. I would love to hear some key things you love about your home or that you would like to have in a home.

- BIG pantry.

- BIG laundry/craft/mud/whatever room.

- Open kitchen/eating area.

- Lots of windows! We particularly love the idea of floor to ceiling windows in the kitchen/eating area.

- How cool would a walk-in shower be!?

- A VERY organized master closet! (I may be pushing it now.)

- Upstairs laundry. We had this in one of our homes and we loved it.

- The JareBare (henceforth known as JB) would like a shop. Discussions on the subject lean towards a detached garage/shop that is possibly connected to the side of the house with a breeze way.

- Basement/refuge from tornados! And room enough for food storage. And 32 boxes of Christmas decor.;)

- GREEN. As eco-friendly as we can afford. We have discussed wind power (a windmill), solar water heater, solar power, geo-thermal, rainwater retention, etc... and also using as many existing/sustainable materials as possible.

PERKS:

- Farm style! We love barn homes!!

- Land. Elbow room for growing boys and no neighborhood covenants/restrictions that would preclude us from having chickens or cows or even nudity if we so choose. OK maybe just boys in their Underoos.

- I will spare you (for now) the details of my dreams for the interior of this dream home. But I cannot resist sharing just a few of my favorite pics:

from Elle Decor

from House Beautiful

same home as above

again from House Beautiful

I love this for the windows and for the rough finishes

I want to smooch this picture, I love it so much!

Beautiful simplicity.

Alas, I could spend too much time with this. Night!

Miss A Fashion - a bit late

2011-05-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

I very often think I do things that I never actually do. I think its the effect of an active mind and a lazy body. Who knows.

Here is darling Miss A at one of our recent music lessons.

Oh how I love the glasses!

1/2 Marathon #2 = DONE

2011-04-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ran my second half marathon today. Basically, I am insane.

As I sit here, I am cringing with pain from the ridiculous strain of running 13.1 miles having only trained up to 5. My endurance was great, my body was not so great.

But actually today was sooo fun! I loved having the Jare Bare by my side the whole way. I think I did better because he was with me.

Here are a few pics:

Us with Marabeth

Me with random gentleman who offered me a strawberry

Hordes of people

The pic a stranger took who offered to take a picture of us

No that's not me. She took a pic of herself, on accident presumably.

Night.

For the record - Cardio-kickboxing is funny

2011-04-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

I just have to tell you what a laugh I had this morning. I decided to take a class at the rec center and went in not realizing what class it was. Well, it was cardio-kickboxing, which I have made fun of for years. I used to take a "real" kickboxing class, where you actually sparred with people, wrapped your wrists and used boxing gloves, etc... So when I first heard of a group of girls punching in the air to music, it just really struck me as funny.

But since I had walked into that class this morning, there was no way I was walking out. I tried so hard have an open mind and all was well until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. In my mind I was throwing crushing punches and kicks but the reflection showed a flailing, gangly, pasty red head who looked more akin to Gumby than Sylvester Stallone. This realization struck me as incredibly funny and I lost it and started giggling uncontrollably. (This video is a pretty close replica.)

What has age done to me? Has it afforded me a more honest view of myself or have I just turned to mush after have four kids and eating all their Halloween, Valentines, Christmas and Easter candy all year long?

Please don't tell me you don't know who Gumby is... Just look at him. He was simply NOT made for rhythmic fighting exercise. Neither was I, Gumby, neither was I.

What I meant to post on Easter

2011-04-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Howdy ya'll. Traveling and birthdaying precluded me from posting this yesterday. I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!

* * * * *

He lives -- he lives!

We humbly now

Around these sacred symbols bow,

And seek as Saints of latter days,

To do his will and live his praise.

Hymn #191

I absolutely love that it says to "live" his praise. That makes me wonder how I can do that better.
Enjoy these beautiful depictions of the Savior's life...

Peter's Denial by Carl Bloch

Grey Day in Golgotha by J. Kirk Richards

Gethsemane by J. Kirk Richards

Greatest in the Kingdom by J. Kirk Richards

Love this Mormon Message! - Swashbuckler

2011-04-20T06:25:00.001-07:00

If I could buy any sneaker

2011-04-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

...it would be this one. Apparently, I like things that look old and cost a lot of money.

{from LaGarconne}

Enjoying other people's creativity

2011-04-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Can I have a job collaborating on projects like these?

This is the Karis Boutique near Hiroshima. Yes, those are paper tubes and the concept was the inside of a cave. Cool!

I seriously hope to have a pantry like Emerson's of EmersonMade one day. (I just typed panty like 8 times in a row. Wow.) Actually, I will take her whole house, down to the gun in the corner.

Now, I am dying to know how to access those books up above but I supposed sometimes you might want to display a book too. In spite of the impracticality, I really loved this room! What do you think the curtain area is for?

OK these lamps are just amazing. They don't require batteries or electricity, but are powered by absorbing ambient energy into its photoluminescent pigments to produce that gorgeous glow. I SO want these instead of your typical stake in the ground solar landscaping lights. Found at Inhabit.

Nice jorb, creative people. And here is why I say jorb.

Links for you

2011-04-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

{image via my dear friend Elise}

Recent finds:

A fossil sink! I would waste tons of water using this...

Do you like plaid as much as I do?

I like these for Easter baskets... you could reuse them all year round!

50 fun things to do with kids in Nashville. (We have done 16 on the list so far!)

Eat your yard. I would love to do this!

I want penny round tiles in my dream home.

I am excited about Gickr. If you beat me to it, I wanna see what you come up with!

And who wants to take a trip to a gorgeous looking craft store called Thread that is but a two to three our drive? Elise blogged about it and I can't stop thinking about checking it out myself. Wanna go??

Our week in pictures

2011-04-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Seersucker: Southern style icon and political gap-bridger

2011-04-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

Did you know that each year on a predetermined Thursday in June, the Senate is awash in seersucker? Apparently someone had the idea to bring back an old tradition -and I like it.

In days gone by, Senators donned seersucker to try and beat the heat but the tradition died with the birth of air-conditioning. In the 90's, someone suggested to revive the idea. So ladies and men, Democrats and Republicans all give a nod to the southern summer staple in the Senate. Way to bridge the gap, seersucker.

With that in mind and with my boys needing some new Sunday clothes, I had to make sure we incorporated a little seersucker. I sorta wish I had found all of them their own seersucker suit but it was tough to find good ones that were affordable without making them all matchy-matchy. I found some good stuff nonetheless.

I am hoping to get some pictures of the whole family soon but for now, here is a snapshot of the two eldest boys just before church today. The younger two stayed home with me today because Zach has strep throat... stay tuned for the tiny suits!

Tyson ended up getting the seersucker because I liked how it looked with his skin tone and they had his size. Will got the pinstripes and I am not sure of the fabric but its very light and breathable. I think they are pretty happy with their new suits. (I love how you can see it all over Will's face.)

A few shots of other seersucker suits I like...

{images via The Sartorialist}

Are you a fan?

Addition to arrow trend collection

2011-04-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

Remember the arrow trend? Well I saw this and just had to add it to the list. So cute!

{Heart Spice Spoons found via Refinery29 from virtuchicago.}

I could have cried - Embarrassing moments

2011-03-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I do NOT like to carry around "most-embarrassing" experiences to remember and feel bad about so this will be an attempt and putting them out there to hopefully let them go. Silly things happen all the time and they are usually not that hard for me to forget but recently, two different things happened that make me feel pretty sheepish. Or at least super unlucky and indeed, very embarrassed.

Backstory for experience number one. I needed some new clothes and I have been trying to balance buying some classic, quality pieces with my tight budget. In my online shopping, I noticed that boys and kids clothes tend to be a little less expensive than women's clothing. It occurred to me that I could potentially find a nice shirt or two in a size XL from a boys line of clothing that I could use for now and then maybe pass along to Will when he is big enough. Sure enough, I found two very nice boys shirts at Crewcuts that I would wear, a denim shirt and a gingham one.

Feeling pretty cute in my new denim shirt the other day, I took Tyson to his cello lesson. His cello teacher was there to greet us and as I walked up, I saw that he was grinning a pretty huge grin at me. I didn't think a lot of it until I was nearly done with a conversation with him when I happened to glance down and see my shirt in an awkward pucker. I quickly realized that this cute shirt was made for boys and not nursing mamas in the buttonal region. I did a stealthy grab of the purse across my body to hold it closed, finished the convo real fast, and turned and marched out while trying to button up.

That dude never stopped grinning.

At home I of course had to recreate the shirt experience for the mirror to verify the cause of the grin, and sure enough, one button gone awry on this top creates a giant portal into my personal space. Oy.

Got me some new snaps to sew into the shirt now...

Experience number two. Jared took a day off this past week to spend some time with the boys on their spring break. We decided to take them to a local indoor swimming pool. Gathering all the gear necessary for four kids and two adults to take swimming is pretty ridiculous... so imagine me carrying two or three bags and a baby, Jared corralling the other boys and carrying some loot too. We got to the bleachers next to the pool and dropped the bags and sat down with the baby in arm. As I did, I felt my cover-up slip right down. I guess its really not a big deal because I was wearing a bathing suit but instinct directed me to pull it back up.

Well, have you ever sat on something and then tried to pull it up with one hand? As I absentmindedly tried the impossible, the fabric of my cover-up slipped out of my hand and I literally punched myself in the jaw, with blinding force at that.

You can imagine how stunned I was, having just had my trash kicked by myself. I hit myself so hard that the left side jaw muscle instantly cramped and locked and I got a sharp stabbing feeling in my left ear. I completely panicked and tried in vain to tell Jared what had happened.

And OK, I admit it. I totally did cry, just like a baby.

Several Ibuprofens later, it was still too painful to chew but I made it through the night and woke up to no pain at all. Phew.

And now that I told you about it, I feel better. Thanks.

Just sayin'...

2011-03-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

I am shocked by this world we live in. Today I feel like we are living on some alien planet.

Today I feel like so many things that I think about

just aren't important.

I feel the need to focus and simplify and work and prepare.

I think someday the words to one of my favorite hymns will become exceptionally poignant to us:

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When, with a wounded heart, anger, or malice
I draw myself apart searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows?
Where, when I languish?
Where, in my need to know?
Where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately.
Reaches my reaching.
In my Gethsemane, Savior, and friend.
Gentle, the peace He finds
For my beseeching.
Constant He is, and kind.
Love without end.

{J. Kirk Richards}

Spring baby

2011-03-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to have my three older kids' birthdays all back to back and interspersed with holidays and RSV season! I was so proud of the fact that this last time, I planned to have a spring baby so that his birthday would not add to our September to December mayhem.

Well gosh darn it, that baby came early!

And I just realized his first birthday will be on Easter this year.

He's so cute. I will forgive him.

Tyson's new passion - Golf

2011-03-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

He is hooked. Ty had his second lesson today and I can see it in his eyes... that boy already loves the game.

Tennessee springtime - 2011

2011-03-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

Look at this tree! Its so pretty... I had never seen one like this until I moved east of the Mississippi. I do remember seeing something similar but the blossoms were more yellow and green than pink and white. This particular tree is located at Traveler's Rest, a historic plantation here in the Nashville area that Tyson went on a field trip to. I was thrilled to get to go too and to snap this pic.

{yes I took this while driving but no I did not take my eyes off the road}

Springtime is everywhere here right now, with "popcorn trees" aplenty. Even my little tree out front is starting to get some little blossoms. The kids are probably sick of me going on and on about Tennessee's beauty when I drive them to and fro. "Look how green it is! Look at all those daffodils!" Oh yeah, and the kids don't want me to call them popcorn trees anymore. "Bradford Pear Trees!!!!"

And though I love the beauty of springtime, I am inside today fighting allergies.

I am having the boys help me with a plan for Spring Break, which will include trips to the farm and trips to my allergist for more shots.

Yesterday was kite day for the Kindergartners. I handed Zach his kite and he instantly bolted, sending his little kite into the sky. He ran and ran and ran then he finally stopped and panting said, "Phew! My kite is tired!"

Zach just had his first ever soccer practice too. Its so fun to see him learning the game.

Stay tuned for upcoming spring break haps and other randomness via me. ;)

Whoa! It's Miss A Fashion time again!

2011-03-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

OK so life is pretty much bulldozin' me all over the place right now. I cannot believe how fast time flies and still I feel like I am trying to swim through cold molasses...

Anyway, check out this cutie! She was supposed to wear red, white and blue for a school program and I think she pulls it off like a champ.

Love the haircut too!!

Its Miss A. Fashion Wednesday!

2011-03-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

Today's ensemble was cute as always but I mostly love that shock of blue in her hair! Its just a clip in... and she totally rocks it!

I ♥ great music! - I Believe in Christ

2011-03-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

I played this song for my kids in the car this morning as we drove to school. I didn't say anything to them; I just let it play. They all paused what they were doing and saying so they could listen. The whole thing is amazing and as you listen too, you will likely notice that there is more to it than just great music. There are certain songs out there that seem to literally awaken the spirit within. When the song was done, Will asked, "Why does it do that?"

"What?" I asked.

"Why does that song make you feel like that?"

I told him I think its because it is such a simple and beautiful expression of an intensely powerful thing; a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. I told him that I know that when a testimony of the Savior is shared, the Holy Spirit accompanies that expression, witnessing to hearts that hear that indeed, God lives and that Jesus is the Christ.

"It feels like that when I listen to Handel's Messiah too," he said.

"Me too, Will"

I don't very often share the things that are the deepest in my heart. I created this blog as an attempt to do so, as I am often very shy about doing it at all. It felt like an outlet that I could use. But more often than not I realize that I am only sharing my surface feelings and loves with you here. I am sure that will continue to be the norm for me, but I do want it said here and I would like you to know that I know of a certainty that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

I know that we were spiritual beings before we were sent here to gain physical bodies and that we continue as both spiritual and physical today. I see people who are not "religious" still feel the need to pray, if only in times of great pain or trouble. To me, that primal urge to entreat our Heavenly Father is evidence of our nature and a clue as to how we can know truth.

Do you remember September 11th? What did the people of our nation do? I remember how it seemed like everyone hit their knees, religious or not. What does that say? How can anyone think that we are not spiritual beings when in situations of duress our instinct is a spiritual one? Sure, you could try to explain it away but why not try to experiment with it instead?

Humor that spiritual instinct long enough to know. Open your heart to your maker in honesty and sincerity, putting doubts and fears aside, even praying them away if necessary. Better still, be consistent about it. I know from experience that this "seed" can grow into a thriving tree, full of sweet fruit. A seed cannot thrive with one watering only, nor can our bodies be fit with just a week's worth of exercise. Commit to humbly following the admonition to experiment upon the word and to come unto Him.

{Every Knee Shall Bow, by J. Kirk Richards}

Alma 32:27-28 - But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breast; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Mathew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Be consistent. The spiritual knowledge and strength seems to grow exponentially, a witness of the goodness and generosity of our Heavenly Father. I strongly feel that there will soon come a time in our world where the voices and influences for evil will be so loud and convincing so as to cast a shadow over faith and hope. So grow your light and make it strong! Even the smallest light can pierce the darkest dark. I cannot say strongly enough that the need to be well trained in hearing the Spirit is immense. I know that our choices now to stay close to the spirit and invite the spirit into our hearts can even make our break us in the coming tests of time.

Listen to this song... Great music is one of many ways to invite that spirit in. Notice the feeling and make a mental note. Then listen and feel for it again and again. I believe this ability to be "in tune" is powerful beyond our comprehension and can even save lives.

I am especially fond of the key change around 3:30. Gorgeous!! Thanks for reading & listening!

-Stacey

I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.

I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”

I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.

I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

Copycat Fashion - Miss Pandora

2011-03-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

I am not an original fashionista at all. But I really appreciate those who are and and today wanted to sincerely flatter Miss Pandora with my little imitation. I spotted her on Refinery 29 and of course I like her red hair and Ray-Bans. :) I would love to find a flowy, pink or peach dress like hers but I have to work with what I have, which is just a flowy, ruffly pink top from Target.

Here is me, photo credits to the Jare Bare:

For me, fashion is fun. Its a delicious little distraction that I love. So while you will rarely see me dressed like this during the week, I love to play dress up from time to time. Blame it on Barbie Fashion Plates...

And here is cute Ollie, doing his best "Risky Business:"

{Post Edit} - -

Per request, a photo of the accompanying shoes that nearly killed me...

The mood of a country via music

2011-02-28T21:38:00.000-08:00

Just how do you take the pulse of a country? Obviously, you analyze the music it is listening to! I heard about this story and it intrigued me so here it is...

Considering the unrest and political happenings in the world right now, a website that is presumably a branch of last.fm has compiled a list of several country's top downloads and it is very interesting that you can get a bit of a sense of the feel of that country via a song, its feel, and the key it is in.

For example: just how is Bahrain feeling at the moment? What would you guess? I was thinking maybe Rage Against the Machine or maybe something Wagner-esque. Actually, its a band called "Fate's Warning." Check it out here:

Give a little listen if you want. Its what I call "death metal." Sounds like fighting music to me!!

Fashion by cute Miss A - my Wednesday piano student

2011-02-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

This little gal is such a fashionista! She amazes me with her darling outfits each week and I asked her mom if I could show her off a little. I hope to post more of her in the future... and maybe you will start to look forward to her adorableness just like I do!

Cute, huh!

List of fun stuff to do on a snow day - By Zach

2011-02-19T23:28:00.000-08:00

On a recent snow day, Zach made a list of fun things to do. I thought this was very sweet and really a great list of ideas. Way to go Zachy!!

1. Sled

2. Snowball fight

3. Walk up the driveway on the ice

4. Hot chocolate

5. Play upstairs

6. Draw on Dad's computer (its a tablet pc, don't worry :)

(7. *to be clarified later by Z* "special car....??)

Warby Parker coolness - Genius glasses/website

2011-02-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

Dudes. Gents. Listen up. The monocle is back and its hotter than the pocket watch.

Look at how dapper this man looks! He could be wearing a sweaty basketball uniform and still look dapper! That monocle is magical! {Found at Warby Parker.}

Now I love my Ray-Bans but I am sorta wishing I had found these a few months earlier...

Ahh how I love all things simultaneously classic and funky.

Did you know that at Warby Parker you can virtually try their glasses on? SUCH a cool feature. Check me out:

Hehe I kid, I kid. But that really is me...

Hmmm maybe I need an extra pair, just in case...

Speaking of monocles and also recently of baby Oliver's "hello, ladies" smile, you may now enjoy my favorite Old Spice man video:

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T05:13:00.000-08:00

I know you were dying to see more pics of our 90's garb. I aim to please... ;)

Happy Love day! The JareBare and I had a night out this weekend for the occasion. Did you know that we were engaged 12 years ago? Its a little anniversary that we always remember and celebrate.

I did get my love a splitter for the MP3 player but I resisted buying the heart version at the last minute. I think he appreciated that.

Now I'm off to prepare for three Valentine's Day parties that I will somehow magically attend at the same time! Wish me luck...

Penelope and Coco

2011-02-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

Having not purchased any new shoes for myself in an exorbitantly long time, I am starting to troll the interwebs for some great ones. Specifically, boots and/or oxfords. Alas, I have found a place that specializes in both. VERY great but not affordable at all (for me at least. You Midas-types go right on ahead.) But I can dream right?? Behold:

Penelope and Coco

Penelope and Coco: Classic Boot Collection from Penelope and Coco on Vimeo.

I NEEEEEED these boots:

I. Just. Need. These.

{the Millet}

Also very noteworthy:

Classic.

Kinda hipster/mermaid, huh!

Sweet. Slightly punk too though with gold studs and red lining!

Ahhhhh. OK, back to work.

D*S's Valentine Arrows

2011-02-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

Did you see this over at Design Sponge? A great addition to the Arrow Trend post...

Click on over for the tutorial!

What if ad agencies planned kids’ birthday parties?

2011-02-08T12:56:00.000-08:00

This cracked me up! I saw it at the highly entertaining Swiss-Miss blog, via IDDesign.

Trend: Arrows

2011-02-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed this cute little motif popping up everywhere like I have? I am definitely a fan of the arrow, especially pre-Valentines. Its a little beyond hearts and X's and O's...

1. Vintage Ring

2. UO Arrow Light

3. Arrow Clips

4. Heart and Arrow Necklace

Have you noticed them anywhere else?

Oliver at 9 months

2011-02-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

Well hello, ladies...

I laughed sooo hard when I saw this pic of Ollie! The rest invoked your typical mommy-awwwws.

I could go on and on, but I will spare you. Unless you are related to me... you folks can look forward to about 10 pics each in the mail. They really gave me a LOT of prints!

Check out what I won!

2011-02-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

I am such a lucky duck! I just won a giveaway over at Designmom for a gift card to The Vintage Pearl! I am now gleefully browsing their website... what should I get??

{A few of my favorites...}

I'm serious! What should I get???

A few recent happenings

2011-01-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

This may be the first family photo we have had taken since Oliver was born. I swear I will get some real ones done someday... This was a special occasion though - the day Tyson was baptized. The memories feel too sacred to me to recount here, though I am happy to share them one on one. They are kept in my journal. Suffice it to say that it was incredibly sweet and memorable and that I am very honored be the mother of these four wonderful boys.

On my last birthday, we went as a family to Chattanooga to the Tennessee Aquarium. We purchased the family membership thinking we would come at least once more to get our money's worth out of it. So that's what we did on MLK day. Such a great place!

And a few cute pics of the latest snow day (before the thrifting expedition. I should have added that to Zach's list...)

Thrifting score of the day

2011-01-26T19:35:00.000-08:00

Did you know I have always been pretty obsessed with thrifting? I really do love the hunt through the random junk until I find that one special thing at an amazing price. Such was the case for me today.

Snow day. AGAIN. Roads looked clear enough so I tossed the kids in the minivan and headed for the Goodwill. We made quite the entertaining/dorky game of saying "good" and "will" as many times as possible. Will held the door for me. We all said "Good, Will!!" Hehehe

To the point: check out this amazing mirror I found! I adore it! It is two feet across and very heavy and I have been trolling craigslist for something similar. It was $40 and I honestly balked at paying that much, not because I didn't think it was worth it, I am just a cheapskate. It wasn't until I got it into the car that I saw the label on the back: Williams Sonoma Home. Fancy, huh!! Similar mirrors on their site are, uh, a lot more than $40.

I even found it online on somebody's blog...

Let me know if you ever want to hit a thrift store with me! I would love it. :)

Budget friendly Valentine's gift ideas

2011-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

{Simplesong Design}

Its that time of year when everyone pretends that Valentine's Day is super lame and they care nothing about it but we all know better... DUDES. GET SOMETHING FOR YOUR WOMAN. Small and thoughtful counts, yes, even homemade. (At least in my book.)

And yes, V-Day is pretty cheesy. Embrace the cheesiness. Its fun.

This year, my man promised to run the half-marathon with me at my speed which I think is pretty nice and loving of him. So I thought it would be fun to get this little item for him. Its a splitter. You plug it in to your MP3 device and then you can run two sets of headphones from it. Jared and I will be running side by side to the same tunes this year and to me, that is love. :) - $14

Next is an old standby that I remember hearing about in my college days. Behold, the appropriately named "Smitten":

That's right, you can now hold hands with your love in the same mitten! *awww!* Make your own here or buy it here. - $10.95

Now, if you still searching for that special someone, maybe you could give others a subtle hint but donning this ring. I can't imagine something that says "looking for love" any better (and cooler) than this. - $10

And you must check out Simplesong Design, one of my all time favorites on the web.

{card - $5}

{pencils - $8}

Now if you are able to get a little more fancy (AKA spend more), check out Simplesong for some awesome customizable note card sets. And make it even better with a custom stamp from Paperwink. Like this one that I bought...

What are your favorite (budget or not budget) Valentine's gift ideas?

If you know what this means...

2011-01-21T22:06:00.000-08:00

...then I would like to give you a high five and have you over to watch some re-runs.

{failblog.org}

When technology and creativity meet

2011-01-21T13:25:00.000-08:00

Did you see this over at Design Sponge? This is so cool! It is an interactive window display. I would bet it was well worth all the marketing dollars... look how EVERYONE who happens by stops and checks it out!

Interactive Display Window from Marcus Wallander on Vimeo.

Modest Couture A-Plenty at the Golden Globes, 2011

2011-01-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

Modesty made itself known in stylish circles this year! Well, sorta. I think these are great but I would have still made a few adjustments to pretty much all of them. But its so fun to look at these...

And I had to include this one, though strapless, because I love how it looks like she took a dive through the cosmos to acquire this dress. Its amazing! And also because I love her 'do.

Which is your fave? I love the last one but I would choose the peach short sleeved one for myself. {second pic}

Maybe I am a mother

2011-01-18T20:15:00.000-08:00

Are there any words for the love of a mother? How can I show my boys how my love for them is woven through each fiber in the tapestry of my heart? Their similarities, their differences. The things about them that make me laugh and also the things that make me mad sometimes. I love them all.

Did you know my boys laugh with me daily? Did you know its hard for me to refrain from trying to crack them up during church?

Will is mellow and reliable. Will would drop ANYTHING and instantly at that to obey or help out. He will even do it over and over. Will is a magnet for kids and babies. He knows it too. It kinda freaks him out but also touches his heart. He is a serious fan of the best music. He likes it all but he would choose Handel over all the rest. He says he loves how he feels when he listens to it. He will be in MIDDLE FREAKING SCHOOL in September! @#*&@#)($&#)@($*#@(!!!!!!!!

Tyson is deep and sensitive. I am good at hiding my feelings from EVERYONE in this whole world except for this amazing 8 year old. He is always right on with gauging my feelings. There is nothing Tyson can't do. He really believes that and so do I. He can cook. He can build things. He can make the baby laugh like a wild hyena. He has an extraordinary aptitude for spatial design and I think he would be a great architect. He wants to be a pro golfer.

Where did Zach come from?? He is wild and adorable. Every night he gets crazier minute by minute, until we finally make him get into bed. He then says he can't sleep then starts snoring within seconds. He is 6, ridiculously gifted in music and also in art. He says he wants to be a graphic designer. To others I think he comes across as a rough and tumble kind of boy. He is really more like a teddy bear on crack. :) But since you shouldn't relate illegal drugs to children, suffice it to say that he has a lot of boundless energy and simultaneously, boundless sweetness and tenderness. And drama.

Baby Oliver. The oldest baby ever. He is a little man. It feels like I have known him forever. He likes his hands touched and will randomly give giant, open mouth kisses. I hope this is a phase. ;) I am so thrilled to be able to be home with him. He has expanded my heart to new depths.

Today I practiced singing lullabies while the kids were at school. I imagined singing to them and rocking them to sleep, one by one. Maybe I am crazy. Maybe I am a mother.

{Zach, asleep under the piano, sometime in the middle of a Christmas party}

Excuses I Tell Myself

2011-01-15T21:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the many excuses that go through my head everyday for not wanting to get out and train for the Half-Marathon...

1. I can feel my baby-belly fat moving when I run.

2. Mother once told me that too much running could make your uterus fall out.

3. Someone will see my gimpy running gait.

4. I just ate and I don't wanna puke.

5. I stayed up too late last night watching Netflix movies.

6. Its too hard to arrange for the kids to be cared for while I run.

7. I used to think I might have asthma.

8. If I do run the Half, I will get into shape and then I will no longer have an excuse not to buy the Imogene and Willie jeans I want. I will have to spend MONEY.

9. I HATE "fitness" music.

10. I fear crazy drivers, stray dogs, and magpies.

11. I always forget sunscreen and my dermatologist told me pasty-whites like me will wrinkle earlier without it.

12. I will wear out my cute new shoes.

13. I am not a runner! I hate running and I can't run! I will fall down! I am a MUSICIAN!

blah blah blah BLAH

Honestly... thanks, Jared, for encouraging me to take a run this morning. It was supremely refreshing and beautiful outside!

Poll Results Revealed!

2011-01-14T23:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, you 6 people you! Drumroll please!!!

How many outgrown, stained or just plain ugly T-shirts did I remove from my kids' drawers?

The answer is 37!! 2 of you guessed correctly.

How many pairs of jeans with holes in the knee did I remove from my older three boys' drawers?

The answer is 7!! And I think there may be 7 more now after 4 snow days in a row!! 1 person was right.

Your prize is... knowing you guessed correctly. Way to go.

My favorite Nashville shop

2011-01-14T23:22:00.000-08:00

Imogene and Willie

I cannot get enough of this place. This is the real deal... artisan craftsmanship right here in our town. The vibe of it, the ideals and of course, the style are simply sublime.

Here is what I am saving for...

I am always looking for anyone who wants to pay a visit with me... let me know if you do! Its a short walk away from Las Paletas, the fabulous popsicle place! They have amazing flavors and some crazy sounding ones too. I hear avocado is delish. I tried the coconut one and I NEED another.

Look for an Imogene and Willie collaboration with J. Crew soon...

Choosing Simplicity

2011-01-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Isn't the idea of simplifying so complex?? To me it is. But still, it seems like when life gets too busy and crazy that somehow I let go of the extra stuff instinctively. I just wish I would not take so much on in the first place. I am learning though...

{from here}

Ever heard this wonderful poem?

To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not, rich;
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard;
to think quietly, act frankly,
talk gently, await occasions, hurry never;
in a word,
to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--
this is my symphony.

WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING

Love love love that poem!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

2011-01-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

For me this is not as much flattery but a personal obsession: SNOWBOARDING and 90's looking PLAID. Yesssssss....

Remember this??

Well, look what I found!

Close enough! What's that you ask? Am I going to buy it? No. I already did. Its in my closet now. {From AE.com}

I've always loved the mountains

2011-01-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

...just not mountains of old clothes.

Ok this pic did not come from my house but it really looks like it may as well have.

I love the New Year and what it inspires. I have, like so many others, felt the urge to get rid of all the unneeded excess we stash around here. I was rather taken aback at the quantity so I thought it would be interesting to see your guesses as to how much clothing waste was actually lurking in my older three boys' drawers and closets.

Place your vote to the right and I will check back in later to see how close your guesses are.

Happy cleaning!

Our family then and now

2011-01-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

Me & my Love - -

THEN

{I apparently was flaunting my neck tendons and baggy jeans. JB looks hot. And 12.}

NOW

{I cannot believe we have no recent pictures together! I will need to remedy that shortly. I am thinking me & the JB look like we have seen a few things and travelled a few miles since the first pic, no?}

Will - -

THEN

NOW

{Well, sorta now. This was September with a much shorter 'do but I had to go with the S'mores theme.}

Tyson - -

THEN

NOW

{CUTE! And little ladies, he has the world's most kissable cheeks.}

Zach - -

THEN

NOW

{Ahhh this pic just captures the essence of Zachy!}

Oliver - -

THEN

NOW

{Now now. As in, while I'm blogging now.}

Very Helpful: T-Shirts and Pomegranates

2011-01-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

AMAZING tips for folding t-shirts and for getting the seeds out of a pomegranate. By my standards at least. :) Watch and be amazed...

(Sorry you're going to have to follow this link for the next one!)

I'm dreaming of a home office re-do

2011-01-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

Check out some of these lovely Etsy items I found...

From Paperdoll Woodshop--

Local shop, Vintage Obscura--

From lacklusterco--

Reclaimed wood desk caddy from PegandAwl--

Martha is amazing of course, but I seriously envy that giant roll of brown paper.

Vintage New Year's Greetings

2011-01-01T19:58:00.000-08:00

My son Will always asks why I love "old" things. Well, Will, I am not sure. But I really do. Take these images for example...

I wish you all a Happy New Year! May the "old" influence and inspire us as we create, live, and love anew.

He gave all he had - The John Tanner Story

2010-12-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

I am amazed that I can call John Tanner kin... he would be my great great great great grandfather. This short movie highlights some of the most significant details of his life.

(For some reason I cannot embed this particular video. You can watch it here.)

He is the epitome of love

2010-12-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! Take a moment and watch this sweet video about our Savior, whose birth we celebrate today. I love these accounts of how He can change us and how his love is light that cuts through the thickest darkness.

My husband spoke in church last Sunday and focused his message on the miracle of the change of heart that only Jesus Christ can facilitate. He pointed out that the concept of change is a theme that we seem to focus on at Christmastime, whether consciously or not. Think about a few Christmas movies and can you see how a change of heart is very often the theme?

I am grateful for his birth, his life and his love.

I hope you have a wonderful day!
-Stacey

The one thing I want

2010-12-22T23:50:00.000-08:00

Funny how our wants change over time. Our changeableness is beautiful to me. Sometimes its painful of course but ultimately it proves that we are not necessarily destined to be anything but that which we choose to be. I like that.

For example. When I was little all I ever wanted seemed to arrive on Christmas morning. Barbies, new clothes, My Little Ponies, and a banana seat bike.

I love the memories but oh how my wants have changed. My boys keep asking me what I want for Christmas and they are bummed that they get the same, seemingly boring answer time and again.

I want to see them smile. Can words express how much I love being a mom?

What one thing do you want above all this year? From the gut, first answer that pops into your head. Please share!

Christmas Tree Inspiration - 2010

2010-12-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with this Anthropologie window display and thought that it would be fun to try and recreate it on a Christmas tree.

Well, it was fun and I do like my tree but I reaaaaally wish I had been able to find some of those orangey bulbs. The closest I got was a peach/pink color. Let me know if you ever see them anywhere! I tried to get plenty of white bulbs but I thought I needed more so I brought in a strand of white bulb lights that I had. I like how it looks personally.

The other challenge was to find those honeycomb paper balls. They are all over the net but not the right color or size. And they were surprisingly pricey too. I found a three pack of white wedding bells at the dollar store and simply cut them before opening them up. I was unable to make them into circles but the oval shape kinda grew on me.

The boys helped me to make "groupings" where they combined random colors and shaped of bulbs with several strands of ribbon that I had on hand. Each grouping shared one hook. The paper garland was easy of course and I only used around 12 sheets of paper.

{yay toy camera effect}

On to something totally different next year!

Pile of Life

2010-12-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hello.

I am writing this from underneath a giant pile of faux Christmas tree branches, boxes of ornaments, baby food containers, messy crockpots, unfolded laundry and four sleeping children to report that I am alive and well and that I found a bag of chocolate chips in here, so no need to worry.

I do have my cell phone and I am intermittently placing calls with a very placid and calm voice, reassuring various committee counterparts that things are clipping along and getting accomplished. I am very aware that my greatest skill may not be to oversee committees but rather my ability to KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON in spite of it all.

Highlights of my day:

-Witnessing a rather intense 3-boy verbal battle about who "did it."
-Reading The Friend magazine to my kids and enjoying a sweet Christmas story, but not before we played a "make up your own caption to this picture" game. (ie: "Dad, why is there a giant dialogue bubble coming out of your mouth? Ack, its happening to me too!) Try it. Its fun!
-Watching baby Oliver beg for more sweet potato puffs by clapping his hands together and chanting, "mo mo mo mo mo mo."
-Jared home from work. Always my fave.

Yeah there were more but its hard typing with one finger from under this here pile.

Old friend and sweet vintage pics

2010-11-21T22:38:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to my dear friend Sarah. We met around age 2 when our families moved next door to each other. What luck to have such a great friend right next door! While my family has moved all over the place, her family is still in that house where we played as kids decades ago.

Love you, Sarah! Happy birthday!

Now I just can't pull out vintage pics without posting a few of my mom. I see lots of "old" elements in these pics that are totally modern and in style today! The Polaroid has enjoyed a resurgence of its popularity, her awesome, cheek protecting glasses, her pullover, the light fixture, etc...

Gratitude - 11/16

2010-11-16T21:02:00.000-08:00

Enumerating all the things I am grateful for could literally take a lifetime, so lets start there. Life. I am grateful for my life. For the chance I have to take a whack at this big pinata that we call home.

{Such a pretty pinata! Found at http://ruffledblog.com/Images/posts/DIY-wedding-pinata.jpg}

Isn't a pinata a fun metaphor for life? I like it at least. You are blind, you swing wildly while hoping for a lucky strike, and when you do make contact, awesome stuff often comes out. And you leave it mangled... OK maybe not. :)

Many of the things that I am most grateful for are most likely obvious. Here are a few things I cherish that are a bit beyond my short list.

The silence in between notes of music.
The choice we have when we look at something to decide if we will find beauty in it.
Hearing your mom's voice when you open your mouth. For good or bad :) it makes me feel connected.
The sound of my kids squeaking away at their instruments when they are first learning.
That yummy, smoky smell of fall.
Learning. Realizing what you "knew" was incorrect and feeling your heart and mind bend to the change.
Dreaming in color.
Random memories. Like a big icicle hanging off a corner eave at my adolescent home.
Toiling through life then taking a pause to look back and realize how guided you have really been.
Protein and the way it makes that hypoglycemic feeling go away.
The turkey sandwiches Jared makes for me when I am in a hurry. He always tries to make it extra yummy with spices or deli mustard or something. :)
The way Will asks politely EVERY DAY if he can use my shower though I don't think I have ever said no.
Tyson's insanely soft, kissable skin. I can see myself fighting off young ladies with a stick when they discover it one day.
The way Zach loves the shape of numbers rather than loving numbers for what they are intended to be.
Oliver's smile for every single person and the number of smiles he gets back. Love.

OK, I'm gonna blow a gasket if I keep thinking this way! That's enough gratitude for tonight.

Thanks for reading... :)

Not normally a fan of diaper bags...

2010-11-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

I saw a few of these beauties at a local boutique and again saw them on Bakerella's blog. Not only are they super pretty, but the details and quality are impeccable. They are kinda fluffy/girlie for my taste but again, decadent and pretty to the max. I love that they come with so many useful things too, like a fold out/removable changing pad and matching wipe container. Not a huge fan of their name though: Petunia Picklebottom. Wha???