dancin' to back in black!

Today we just relaxed because we have had a ridiculously busy past 3 days. But as usual the kids still had WAY to much energy so I told them to dance to one of Josh's favorite songs- Back in Black.....it was quite entertaining

Annual Winter of my Discontent

Winter in Chicago is GLOOMY. A few girlfriends and I were talking about how this grey of winter makes you want to put butter on everything you eat and not get out of your pajamas! Usually I have a hope of California sun one time during the winter and that has sufficed to get me thru, BUT since that is not an option this year (for various reasons) I am forced to get creative and enduuuuuure! I have spoken with a few people about this recently and many of them have said, "This is the time of year i ask myself- WHY DO I LIVE HERE?!". This is a luxury I am not afforded because I know EXACTLY why we live here and moving is not an option. Thus I must figure out how to not just endure, but POSSIBLY find a way to enjoy the winter (my stomach turned as I typed that). But I have faith that I can creatively enjoy my life despite the dreadful grey of winter!
So I have made it a mission to figure out things to do.........I will keep you posted.

3 IDEAS:
1. One thing I have already discovered is "Zumba"! I have done this with my girls this week and it TOTALLY put a smile our faces:)

2. Be spontaneous!! Lucy was having a "cry about everything" kind of day. And I was feeling claustrophobic from the grey outside. So I said "LET"S GO THE MOVIES!!". Mind you this is not something we normally do and when we do it is always a special treat because the movies cost an arm and a leg now a days. Luckily my husband got us on the $5 club for our movie theater so we got in for way less. The girls were SO surprised and we just put comfy clothes on and were out the door in 10 minutes- it was so fun to just DO IT.

3. THANKFULNESS!!!!!! We can waste so much time thinking about what we don't have and miss enjoying all the things we DO have.
Psalm 100

No more paper towels!

I read an article that was about a lady making her kitchen "paperless" and I was intrigued because we blow thru paper towels like water and the cost adds up!

Here is the article - "how to create a paperless kitchen" and I am GOING FOR IT! I bought 2 bunches of towels(16 total towels total) from target for about $8 all together. 

I usually buy the big bundle of paper towels for about $13. So we are already saving! I am going to collect a bit more over time, but it will not compare to what I usually pay for paper towels twice a month. The article explains basically the method I am gonna go for. I have had them for about a week and it has worked quite well, I am pleasantly surprised! 

By the way: the article is from a new site I discovered and have been enjoying- simplemom

First time antiquing

So my husband went out of town for the week and I always seem to do some big project while he is gone to keep myself busy so the time goes by faster. Last time I painted our whole kitchen a different color. This time it wasn't so dramatic, but still a descent endeavor. A wonderful friend came over to help and showed me how to antique a bookcase I have! She and I painted it cream first and then went over it with this amazing teal that I LOVE. After she left I waited for it to dry, got my kiddos from school, made dinner and then got crazy and FINISHED the whole bookcase!

I roughed up the paint with sandpaper then added a few stencils in gold.

Then I HAD to cover up the back of the bookcase. I was trying to think of what I had that I could use so I wouldn't have to go purchase anything else! So we have 2 copies of a story that our family adores- The Chronicles of Narnia. So I Modge Podged the pages of our cheaper version to cover the back. Fun and easy!

I am pretty excited about how it turned out:)

Thank you Gretchen for introducing me to the world of antiquing!