Hometown Girl

Winter.

"Perhaps I am a bear, or some hibernating animal underneath, for the instinct to be half asleep all winter long is so strong in me." ~ Ann Morrow Lindbergh

I hope you all have a chance to hibernate just a little bit. A chance to spend time with your friends and family, read a good book or curl up on the couch with your kiddos and watch a movie. Whatever you do, enjoy your weekend!

                                                      ~Susan

Paper Poms on Houzz

My latest idea book was published on Houzz. An easy how to on creating paper poms.

See you soon!

Suz

Did I Ever Show You My Wedding Photo?

I don't think I've ever shared our wedding photo with you. Looking at all the wedding magazines & sites there are so many amazing ideas. It got me dreaming of things I would have done for our wedding.

In keeping with my style our event was very simple. My dress cost under $300 (13 years ago). We didn't have a photographer. If there had been one of the amazing photographers that take all these creative photos I would have for sure. We both disliked all the lined up, posed photos weddings were known for back then so we opted for friends taking them. We had a very small cake and a big sundae bar. I had simple flowers, no bridesmaids, just a maid of honor and she got to pick out her own dress.

Cocktail hour was outside on a Friday night. The weather was perfect, we got lucky. Our nieces and nephews wandered around on the lawn it was so fun.

Dinner was stations as we didn't want a formal dinner. I probably would have done a few things differently but as I go over it in my head it was very much me. One of our dear friends desribed our wedding as simple elegance. I think he got it!

I would have bought some fabulous shoes instead of the safe ones I wore. I would have wore my hair down in those beautiful loose curls that are in now.  I would have carried a bouquet of peonies and I would have made some pretty favors.  I would have had the reception in a beautiful old barn covered in white lights.

But all in all it was a lovely day.

Thanks for letting me reminisce.

See you soon,

Suz

My Word for 2012.

It's taken me a long time to come up with my word for this year.  After a lot of thought and prayer I picked "Believe".

I think for many reasons it suits where I'm at. I need to whole hearted-ly believe in myself, God, the good of human kind.

I need to believe I can accomplish all the things I'd like to. All the things I want to be as a wife, mother, daughter & friend.

So my word for 2012 is Believe.

Image via Pinterest

I  hope to incorporated my word into some posts over the course of  the year.

Have a beautiful week!

Susan

p.s.

Menu is super simple this week.

Tacos.

Goulash.

Pasta.

I have so  much going on this week! I hope to be back in a day or two.

Thank you for coming by.

It's Thursday?

Hello friends!

Well I never got around to my menu post, I'm sorry. It's been a hectic week here and I've been working on some new idea books for Houzz.

I started collecting some photos using the color of the year, Tangerine. I thought I'd share a few with you.

All images via Pinterest

I hope you have a beautiful weekend! Hope to be around to see you soon.

xo Susan

the Power of Prayer & a Package.

Well I've prayed to Saint Anthony twice in the last few months to help me/my family with lost items.

First it was my glasses. It's really to the point where I can't read anything small without them and reading a book they are must have. I looked everywhere. After a month of frustration I actually went to the Dollar Tree with the intention of buying a pair but I couldn't do it. As my daughter and I left the store I said St. Anthony please let me find my glasses. About an hour after we got home my daughter came down with my glasses in hand. She decided all on her own that she would clean up her room. She has a chair that collects lots of clothes and my glasses were in the chair! I had set them down when she was sick a few weeks earlier. I couldn't read the Advil bottle!

Just recently our son lost his Ipod. Missing for 10 days he began to get upset over not finding it. I really looked, and looked. I  moved things, looked in every drawer. Finally last night I said maybe we should say a prayer to St. Anthony and ask him to help us find it. This morning my husband was brain storming places that maybe we hadn't looked. He mentioned the pantry and snack cupboard. I didn't think much of it, drove the kids to school and began my morning routine of cleaning the kitchen up. As I was loading the dishwasher a little voice said you never checked the snack cupboard. I started with bottom shelf, no luck, the middle shelf no luck. Getting discouraged I moved the candy kisses he had bought the kids on a trip and there it was! His little ipod just hanging out among the snacks.

I realize these items are not life altering (the glasses might be) but it was causing us stress over losing them. And just like that we found them. Thank you Saint Anthony, I'm a believer!

Thank you if you made it through this post. I thought it was worth writing. And as if making my son happy wasn't good enough this lovely package ended up on my doorstep today. I won the sweet Victoria's giveway!

Sorrry Menu Monday will be a day late. It was a busy day.

See you soon. Susan

p.s. The idea book I wrote about my winter table with some photos that I never published is up over at Houzz  if you want to check it out.

Real Life.

I know when I'm reading all these beautiful blogs I wonder if their houses are ever messy and SO lived in like ours.

Here is what our mudroom looked like today :) Pure joy! The rink is finally frozen. This weekend was the first time we were able to skate.

See you with my menu tomorrow!

Susan

Handmade Home, Create a Table Runner.

My second idea book was published on Houzz. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to contribute to such a great site!

Please stop over to see the whole idea book.

Thank you! Enjoy the weekend!

Susan