Another sneak peak

Here is what's been going on in my kitchen lately. Newish counters that I am really loving...

and no floor. That, I am not loving!

However, when it's all put back together I should have some really great before and after pictures to show.

The idea

Genetically, I'm about 95% my Mom. I got her height, build, and a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses. She was even kind enough to share her big bushy eyebrows with me. (totally random side note: Swedish people call uni brows, McDonald's arches. Funny, huh!)

So, what did I get from my Dad? Well, there is my Swedish coloring, or lack of I guess. My thin hair, my small feet, and my great distaste for clutter. Something about "stuff" and garbage piled up and spread out makes my skin crawl. I get annoyed by the laundry piles on the couch and all around angry when my house is a mess.

This means that I'm either a clean freak and my house is always spotless, or I'm annoyed all the time. Can you guess which one it is?

Well, in a boiling state of rage, I decided on Monday that I had had enough. No room in the house was safe, and when all was said and done I had an embarrassing three bags of trash and three bags for Goodwill.

Part of my little story I have to admit is to brag. My house is de-cluttered! But, the main thing I wanted to share is an idea that I got from my Dad a couple years ago.

He was building a house for a couple, and the wife had a binder that she kept pictures in of anything she saw that she might want in her dream house some day. He said it was so nice to work with them because she already knew exactly what cabinets she wanted in the kitchen.

For years now I planned on starting my own binder, but just never got around to it. Until Monday. As I looked at all my stacks of magazines that I had kept because there was a good idea of some sort in there my Dad's little story popped into my head and I decided that it was time.

My binder has a spot for things I may want in my dream home some day, but it also has gift and craft ideas. Holiday decorations, sewing tips, and anything else I decide is a good idea.

Now, instead of saving the whole magazine, I tear out the pages I want and throw the rest away. Thus reducing the madness inducing clutter!

The cute things in life

...turns out my boys are big softies!

I just couldn't

" You will not do anything after school until your room is clean" I roared! There was not a single space on the floor that was not covered with tutus shoes or drawing material.

It was an idle threat. I knew I wouldn't follow through even as the thought was forming in my brain. So why did I bother to breath out such threatening words? Simple. I was agitated by the mess and it seemed like the thing to say.

In reality, I knew that she would come flying off the bus full of excitement about her day. I would ask about every detail, sit all the kids down for a snack, and most likely a Popsicle as well because it is so blasted hot right now, and then exclaim "go, run, play!" OK not really but you get the idea.

When I was little I had a friend who's house I would play at occasionally. We always had a great time, but when we walked in the door after school the first thing her mom would do is sit us down at the table and insist that every piece of homework be completed before we locked ourselves in her room and immerse ourselves in imagination.

I understand the logic of it now. Evenings are crazy enough with dinner, baths, and end of the day grumpies, so throwing in homework on top of that doesn't sound like much fun at all. But here is my school of thought, and I hope I don't offend any of you highly organized moms by saying this, kids need to have some down time after school and making them go from sitting still in a classroom all day to sitting at the table doing homework is just plain mean!

The world is not going to come crashing down if her room stays messy for an extra 45 minutes.

OK lets play!

*Update* OK, so I really didn't think through the timing of this. I forgot the rest of you are still doing the mad dash to get kids ready for school, so I think I better postpone for a little while. Maybe next month when things have calmed down. But, because Lisa shares my enthusiasm for surprises in the mail, I just might make her something special anyway.

I haven't had time to think of a name for this little game because I've barely had time to breathe so if anyone comes up with a good one let me know.

I was looking at a craft blog the other day that was doing some sort of swap and it got me thinking about how fun it would be to not only send a fun package to someone in the mail but also to receive one from someone else. I love getting mail of any kind.

So here is my idea. I'm going to put together a small package with one home made item and a few other little crafting items. For example I might make a bracelet and then throw in some scrapbook paper and some of my new vintage buttons.

If you think you would like to receive a package like this in the mail than just leave a comment including your email address between now and Friday. It doesn't matter if I know you personally or not. Anyone who wants to play is welcome. On Friday at some time (no guarantees as to when) I will randomly choose a winner. I will contact the winner via email to get their address and then send my little mystery package on its way.

Then, whoever wins will repeat the process. Post the game on your blog and send a package of your own to the next lucky winner until there has been five winners. Then, whoever the 5th winner is will send a package back to me (sally.rollins@gmail.com) to complete the cycle. That way everyone who sends something also gets something. Make sense? Yes? No?.

OK, so here are the official rules:

• Think small and simple (shoe box sized packages, and only make things that can be completed in a day or two. We don't want to drag this out forever.)
• Think free. Everything must come from what you already have at home.
• If your not willing to send a package of your own than please don't leave a comment.
• When you post the game on your blog make sure to list what number you are and include the names of the previous winners.

That's it. I think. If something is confusing just let me know so I can clarify for everyone else.

Good luck to everyone! Now I just need to think of something fun to make.

ps. No comments about how it sounds fun but you aren't crafty (Julie) Everyone can put together something! We aren't trying to outdo each other with our crafting skills, just have some fun and see where this random path of people takes us.

I have an idea brewing

I think it's going to be really fun... I think.

If you love handmade treasures and getting packages in the mail than I pretty sure you will think it is fun too. But first, let me work out all the details.

button button who has the button?

I do! A whole tin full of them actually. All vintage. All from my Grandma Morgan.

I love Grandmas!

My family is the greatest!

I really had no intentions of posting today, but I was looking through all my pictures this morning and I got too excited about showing them off.

Before I get to the pictures though I just have to say that I had a great time with my family in Oregon. I wish that Josh and the older kids could have come with me too, but it was kind of fun to have a whole week with just Macy. I forgot how easy it was to have just one kid.


The wedding reception was beautiful. Hot, but beautiful. It was fun to see extended family that I hadn't seen for several years. This is my cousin Shaun and his son Preston. Shaun's wife Janelle was the very talented photographer.


My brother David was the entertainment for the reception. This kid has some very talented fingers. Seriously, his massages are to die for! OK, so he plays the piano pretty good too. Check him out here.

Isn't my grandpa the cutest!!!

Macy and uncle Keith

Well, I did ask where her belly was!

A very tired bride

I had to post this picture because even though my Dad is smiling at Macy and not for the picture he is smiling which is rare to capture in a picture.

This is Sofie, my sister's friend from Sweden. She is such a fun girl and will forever be famous in our family for coining the phrase "looking nice." I won't go into detail about it, but it will go down in history.

My niece Ava getting ready for some serious swimming.

The goggles were a big hit with these girls.

So my sister bought some really cute matching outfits for her girls and we went outside one day and I pretended to be a real photographer. A lot of the photo shoot went like this...

But most of it went like this. Macy is such a cheese ball.

Macy and Ava picking blackberries in my Mom's garden.

Being silly

Ava is the opposite of Macy when it comes to taking pictures, but we did get a few smiles out of her

Sisters

And this is my most favorite picture. Sweet little baby Sadie.

I'm no photographer, butt...

I thought this was a pretty cute picture!

I have tons and tons of pictures to post, but I decided I would rather make cookies tonight instead of blog, so for now check out my cousin-in law's (is that a word?) photo blog to see some awesome pictures of my sister and her husband.

This is where I am

Laughing, smiling, and shedding a few tears. My beautiful sister Krista is now Mrs. Kenny Johnson