Outdoors please!

The weather has been nice, so nice in fact that Carson asked me if it was summer and even wore flip flops yesterday! As soon as he wakes up he wants to be outside and I don't blame him. His favorite things to do include: riding his plasma car, big jeep or big wheel, blowing bubbles, "working", and playing baseball. He hit 3 balls in a row and then 5 more consecutively, he was so proud! I was too because I know my pitch isn't great so he must have great aim!

Get Organized!

Since January, I have had a looming urge to get things in order. I would call it spring cleaning or nesting but it clearly is still winter and I am not pregnant.

I have always loved order but recently it has given me a new satisfaction. I have been trying to follow this rule; do I use it and could someone else benefit from it.

When I get rid of things, contrary to what you might think, I don't miss them. Things are things. Often people use things as a way to fill something inside of them. People are in the pursuit of something better; a car, a bigger house, fancier clothes, the latest gadget thinking that when they have such things then they will be happy, their loves will be better.

This has always been my favorite quote"

"Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you, but what happens inside of you."
-Harold B. Lee

I like to think of my home as an extension of me so as a result I like my things to all have a place to call home. My first project {at the time I didn't know it was a project that would stem a cleaning frenzy) was after Christmas. It was not easy task finding a home and organizing the toys but once done and order was restored, I was happier. My next project was probably the most useful because it's something that I access several times a day-the pantry! I took my inspiration from this blog although didn't go over the top with it. I didn't take a picture but love the results.

Today I finished cleaning all our windows and screens, believe it or not it makes a big difference...ok mine were really dirty! My next project is completing to purge and organize my closet and refinish the dresser and nightstands in our room. I hope I don't run out of steam because I love feeling accomplished!

Aside from the household cleaning chores that are perpetual and virtually never ending, we can spring clean ourselves; changing even minutely our habits and the way we use our time which can leave us feeling rejuvenated and these changes over time become part of who we are leading to greater happiness inside.

Moroccan Flavor

Friday night we traveled to a far land and went out to Merikash a Moroccan restaurant. Seated on the floor, the server passed out towels to be used as napkins for the evening and proceeds to wash our hands...because there wouldn't be any silverware just our digits as utensils.

The dim atmosphere was cool and after the music was qued out came a belly dancer! She danced around and then in between courses (there were 6!) she taught us some moves! We did our best to imitate her movements. All things considering, we were pretty good!



It was a neat experience but I would have liked to know exactly what I was eating. Andrew and a few others had uneasy stomachs the next day, I was fine. But it wouldn't be a stretch for the place to be unsanitary: dark light, sharing one dish with many hands. Glad we don't live in Morocco!

Burlap Valentine Craft

A couple of weeks ago I got together with some cousins to make this super cute and really easy Valentine Craft that Chelsea found. Most of the supplies we had lying around, the cardboard, newspaper, ribbon. The only things needed to buy was the burlap and coffee filters.

Here's what my wreath looks like!

Here's what you need:

cardboard

newspaper

burlap (4 feet long-- cut into 2 4-inch long sections -- you will have burlap left over)

Brown coffee filters (about 15-2

ribbon-one to outline the heart and one to hang the craft with

hot glue gun and LOTS of glue sticks

You are going to draw a heart onto the cardboard and then cut it out. You will need pretty good scissors to be able to cut this. The great thing is that it doesn't have to be perfect because the edges won't show!

Rip newspaper into strips then modge podge them onto the heart. In case you have never done this before, once newspaper is in place, modge podge over the newspaper strips as well.

Finish the edges of the heart by gluing ribbon on the outer edge. I used rick-rack but it would also look nice to use tan or red colored ribbon as well.

Cut {or rip) your burlap into 4 inch strips. Then with the glue gun attach the burlap starting at the top of the heart. Glue every 1-2 inches or so folded as you go to give it the gathered look. This part for me was time and glue consuming but I wanted it to look just right!

I got a little carried away with the coffee filters. Take each coffee filter and twist into a point and scrunch the middle so it looks like a flower. Apply the first coffee filter to the place you want the point of your heart to be. Keep the filters close together with no gaps. Make your heart as big as you like. I ended up trimming my heart a little to make it look a little more defined.

XOXO