Baking and Bedding

Yesterday I was the bloggerazzi. I was jumping from blog to blog to blog in search of inspiration. Any kind of inspiration. Jumping to blogs I have never been to and never heard of. At this point of the winter season I get frumpy. Wishing for sunshine and green grass. I am in the mood to paint every room in my apartment neon yellow just to feel some sort of sunny warmth!! Now I love yellow- but not that much. I am sick of the snow, sick of the ice, sick of the cold, and sick of the white ground and grey skies. So Spring- if you are out there- COME ON ALREADY!!

During my blog hopping (which by the way if you haven't tried this- you should! I found so many amazing blogs!) I happened upon a blog called "My Maine Cottage" If you have never been there, I encourage you to go. It is fantastic!! The pictures alone will leave you drooling....and dreaming of living in a little cottage in Maine. As I was reading through the last several posts I found a recipe for "Delicious Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread". It sounded so good I just had to make it. Right then! So, I hopped to my kitchen, pulled in my little assistant and baked some bread! It sounded like comfort food and in these cold months what could sound better!?!
Bella and I went to work measuring and pouring, mixing and prepping pans. She is very good at greasing those pans!! And so focused too!


And of course we had to make muffins too. I think my kids would eat dirt if it was in the shape of a muffin.

And this was our end result! Now if I could only copy and paste the smell into this post you would truly be inspired to make this bread as well!!! My apartment smells FANTASTIC!!

Oh beautiful loaves of delectability!! How do they taste?? Well, all two dozen muffins are gone and when I woke up this morning I found that one of the loaves was missing!! Marc took it to work!! I have never tasted a pumpkin bread that I loved more. So to you, My Maine Cottage, I say THANK YOU for this AMAZING recipe!

This week I found something that I have been searching high and low for. Years of hunting, searching, pining, worrying that I would never find.........................

Perfect, dreamy bedding!!! If you have been following my blog for awhile you will know that my master bedroom has been the source of contention for me. I would go as far as saying complete and utter decorating stress and rage, actually, but I am just not an angry person. My bedroom is............well...............I hate it. I had beautiful bedding years ago. I loved it! I loved my room! But then we decided to upgrade to a King sized bed and I have not been able to find the perfect bedding since. That was five years ago!!! URGH!!!

I am always checking all of my favorite stores on a very regular basis. Nothing. Until yesterday. I was wanting something casual but with a formal touch. Something cozy without being too boring. Something that looked classic- that looks like it could have been around a hundred years ago, but still looks fresh and modern. Something feminine but not too over-the-top girlie. I want to walk in to my bedroom and feel like I have stepped into a fine Bed and Breakfast. I think this bedding fits the bill perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is from JCPenney and is the new Savannah bedding collection by American Living.

The fun part is- this poster bed actually looks almost identical to mine!! I love the entire room they have staged here. From the creamy pale gold walls to the ivory roses on the nightstand.

Oh I am swooning over this bedding! When I saw it online yesterday my heart actually started beating faster!! Isn't that crazy?? The only problem is- it's not my birthday, nor my anniversary. Christmas has already passed and further more we have been house hunting. This bedding is a little pricey. I want the whole package- comforter set, quilt, shams, pillows, sheets and window treatments. I figured it up and if I bought everything I want (including curtains) it would cost over $1,000.00 OUCH! I know that, for bedding, that isn't terrible. But it is terrible right now!! LOL!! So, for now I will keep dreaming- and hope that it goes on sale!! At least I know now that my dream bedding exists!!

Until next time, I hope you are all doing well and finding your own inspiration!!!

~Heather:)

**Photos of Savannah bedding are from the JCPenney website

Decorating and Kids

Before I had children I used to be one of those people that said things like: "My kids will never act like that." "My kids will never tear things up." "I will teach my kids to take care of things better than that." "My house will never look like that!"

I now find those words haunting me. I realize that I had no grounds to make those statements or think those statements because, back then, I had no actual experience. As a mom of three I have learned one valuable lesson...................if you think your kid won't- he will. If you think she can't-she can...................and if you think they would NEVER- because they have been taught better- Oh! They WILL! And they do. Usually when your back is turned, when you are on the phone or somehow otherwise distracted.

Now, I know that kids are kids. And I want them to be kids and explore and discover and figure things out. I also don't expect my home to look like a picture in a magazine (at least not during the hours of 7am and 10pm LOL!!) However, I do find myself envious of those people who have a beautiful, well-kept, well-decorated house AND children. Children who seem to have been born with a certain gene to respect and a knowledge to leave nic-nacs alone, not use curtains as Super Hero capes (while still attached to a curtain rod) and who seem to have super glue on their little bums until dinner is finished and their hands have been wiped clean.

Now, I LOVE my children and I would NEVER in a million years trade them or their personalities and traits. I just think my kids are.......... maybe.................a little more curious and daring than those nic-nac friendly kids I know.

Because as much as I would love our bedrooms and home to look like this..................


Our rooms seem to ALWAYS look like this.................

A few weekends ago Marc and I were up pretty early on a Saturday and all of the kids were still asleep in their rooms..............we thought. I kept smelling something hot and convinced myself it was probably the coffee pot or the college student next door trying to fry eggs during a hangover. After my first cup of coffee the smell seemed to be stronger. So, like a hound dog I went through the apartment with my super sniffing powers and found that the smell seemed to be coming from Bella's room. I opened the door to see Bella quietly playing in her kitchen and smoke rolling from her lamp!!!!!!!!!!!!! I yanked the plug from the wall and went running to the kitchen with smoking lamp in hand. My curious Bella had laid her pajamas on top of the bulb, all curled up in a ball.........................

The bulb ended up busting as the plastic cooled and shrunk and the Strawberry Shortcake pjs??

Well, let's just say I never appreciated the term "flame resistant" more than I did that day.

I was pretty shook up the entire morning. Our apartment wreaked of burnt plastic and the kids got a very long lecture on fire safety and know now that they are not allowed to play with lamps. Bella's lamp- just to be safe- will not be returning to her room.

And then we have Monday's events. We had purchased an armoir for Kyle to keep his clothes in since his new room doesn't have a closet. Monday the kids were in his room laughing and seemed to be having a good time so I went to check on them. Now, most mothers know there are two times that are red flags- when you know you better stop what you are doing and go check on your kids. #1 When they are extremely quiet and #2 When they are laughing and squealing.

When I walked into the room, I was floored! I had to leave the room, count backwards and go back in. What I found was two little monkeys swinging from the last remaining door on the armoir.

What happened to the other door, you ask? Well......................

Yeah. I don't think this requires an explanation. And I think it goes without saying that the two little monkeys had to sit on time out for a very long time. Which, for them, is 15 minutes. Long enough to finger paint the table and the walls with their peanut butter sandwiches.

These are the things my kids get into almost every day. I clean up one mess while they make another. I guess looking at it from a positive perspective I could say that my kids have great imaginations and impeccable motor skills. They are, after all, learning.

As for Cali..............well, she is still innocent and well-behaved. But I think as soon as she learns to walk and swing she will be right in there with the pack of wild monkeys!!! I know that will happen sooner than I think. She is FIVE months old today!!!!!!!!! Five months already!

She loves to watch everything and everyone around her..............just soaking it all in.

She is teething and has mastered the skill of shoving almost her entire hand in her mouth.

She is happy and fun and smiles almost all of the time. She squeals and jabbers and makes a lot of noise. She is still trying to master sitting by herself and she is getting there.

I had her to the doctor for her well-visit last Friday and she weighs 15 pounds and 8 ounces which places her between the 75th and 90th percentile amongst her peers. She is also 26 7/8" long which puts her OFF the growth charts!!! The Dr did detect a heart murmur but with the way she is growing and developing they are not overly concerned. We will continue to monitor it regularly and she should out grow it by the age of two.

Happy Birthday Cali!!!!!!!

~Heather:)

Another Year.............

Well, another Christmas has come and gone and as much as I hate to admit it................I'm glad it is over. Scrooge! I know!! This holiday was so crazy busy I feel like it went by in a big huge blur and I didn't have time to really enjoy it. With traveling all over Ohio and down to West Virgina we spent so much time in the car with exhausted, cranky kids. What was left after the whirlwind of holiday chaos was a dirty vehicle with hundreds of added miles on the odometer, lots of toys that seem to all make noise and a feeling that my apartment has shrunk in square footage. I want to go crawl in my bed and sleep for a week!! However, New Year's Eve brought a new sense of calm and excitement. The feeling of a new year and new possibilities to explore. The thought of starting anew and making this the best year ever. We have been blessed with a new person in our lives that has opened doors to things we have only been able to dream about until now. He is truly a Godsend...................but that is another post. I will be filling you in as things develop!!
For now, I want to share some of our Christmas holiday. This year we decided to let the kids have total control of the tree decorating. We didn't even get out tree up until 2 days before Christmas................it was buried in storage. And then we never did find the box of decorations. Oh how I long for a house so we can be better organized!! However, it all worked out for the best and the kids had a ball. This is what they came up with...............


A toy themed tree!! They gathered toys from all around the apartment..........

Nothing was off limits.......................

We have Fairies and flowers, dinosaurs and giraffes................

And ornaments the kids made out of stickers...........

Handmade beaded ornaments................

It turned out so adorable! And the kids were so proud of their creation.

Even the FedEx tag made it on the tree!! LOL!!

The candy canes that were used to adorn the branches didn't last long..............

and ended up decorating the kids faces and hands instead!! LOL!!!

On Christmas Eve we went to Marc's Aunt's house. I made 6 dozen cookies and icing in red and green for all of the kids to decorate cookies to leave out for Santa. The kids had such a good time that we decided to make it a new tradition. I made a container of each icing and sprinkles for each child to have their own icing and sprinkles. I didn't want to hear "That's my icing!" and of course we didn't want any cross-contamination when the kids licked their fingers and suck them back in for more!!! LOL!!

Little Betty Crocker herself...............

And my little Emeril................

Bella takes her job so seriously!

Daddy acted as supervisor.......and photographer..............

And the end results were priceless...................

Then we opened gifts. We did a very simple gift giving this year. We wanted to keep it simple and just get together as a family. After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about?

We decided to start another tradition this year. Christmas pajamas. Bella couldn't even wait until she got home before putting hers on. Of course- They ARE Dora the Explorer!!

This is what the tree looked like after "Santa" got it ready.............at 4 in the morning!!

And then Christmas morning it was on and paper was flying!! Bella was excited to get her first Barbie..............

Kyle was excited over his tv and vcr. Mostly excited with the remote!! LOL!!

They even helped each other open gifts!

Wow! Somebody was a very good girl this year! Peek-A-Boo Bella!

Cali got Disney collector's books. Winnie the Pooh of course!

Poor Cali didn't really get the whole concept. She could have cared less but loved the sound of all of the paper!!

And then mommy and daddy brought out the big dawgs!! A Dora ride-on quad for Bella.

And a John Deere ride-on tractor with detachable wagon for Kyle!!

Even Cali got in on the fun..................

A little parade went up and down the hallway all day.....................

Don't worry- we didn't leave Bella or Kyle in charge of riding Cali around.............Daddy was always within inches!!

I honestly think Daddy has had more fun with these things than the kids have!!

Then again, I could be wrong. :)

All in all it was a wonderful Christmas. I'm just going to need a full year to recover!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and have a very wonderful New Year!!

~Heather:)

100th Post Giveaway Winner!!!

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!! I closed out the drawing at midnight Tuesday, and I am just getting around to posting! Bad blogger! Bad! So sorry!

I put all the names in a bowl...............


Had the trusty assistant pull a name and the winner is................

Nikki!!! From The Scarlett Rose Garden. Tell her what she's won Johnny! Nikki is the new owner of this cute little teapot............................

Congratulations Nikki!!!! Please email me with you shipping information so I can get this cute gal in the mail to you!!!

Thank You all for participating and for the congrats on my 100th post!!!

~Heather:)

FINALLY!!! 100th Post & A Giveaway!

I thought this day would never come! Finally!! My 100th post!!!I started off so strong and in recent months it............has.............been.........so.............slow. I guess having a new baby will do that to a blogger!! LOL!!!
For my 100th post I couldn't think of anything super creative so I just decided to do the typical 100 things about myself. I'm not even going to call them 100 Interesting Facts because, honestly, I'm not that interesting! So, here goes............

1. I have been happily married to my husband Marc for over 5 years now.
2. Marc and I met at work. He was in the maintenance department and I was a leasing agent for a large apartment complex.
3. Marc and I got married at a Castle which is now a part of a metro park.
4. We have three children. We brought our first child home from the hospital on our one year anniversary!
5. My middle name is Michele. My parents named me after the nurse that helped deliver me. You really get to know a nurse after being in labor for over 24 hours!! My poor mother.
6. I have an older sister and a younger brother. They both mean the world to me.
7. My favorite colors are red and green.
8. I love to dress in black. It hides everything I slop on myself!
9. I love to cook and bake from scratch.
10. I collect kitchen gadgets like people collect coins or stamps. I can never get enough and my husband knows I would rather have a new dodad that a bouquet of flowers!!
11. I own a rolling pin older than I am.
12. I am 31 years old.
13. I am right-handed.
14. I am obsessed with decorating my home "perfectly". I have been known to paint a room 6 or 7 times before it's "just right". And it took me 6 years to pick out the perfect lamps for my living room.
15. However- I can not accessorize a room to save my life. When it comes to the final touches....I get stumped every time.
16. I am allergic to mushrooms and shellfish.
17. I hate hot sauce and foods that are too spicy.
18. When I get really nervous or upset I break out in hives and laugh at inappropriate times.
19. I freak out if we are down to only three rolls of toilet paper in the house. Literally freak out.
20. I have owned 20 vehicles since I was 18. That's 20 cars in 12 years........you do the math.
21. My favorite vehicle of all was my Cadillac STS. I loved that car and called her Baby Caddy.
22. I have asthma. It started around the time I was in junior high.
23. Since my son has asthma too I only use all natural cleaning products in the house. NO bleach or ammonia products. My favorite cleaning products are Method.
24. My favorite actress is Julia Roberts.
25. My favorite actor is John Cusack.
26. My favorite singers are Tim McGraw, M. Ward and Lesley Garret.
27. My favorite designer is Candice Olsen. Candice- if you are out there I need help with my master bedroom!!
28. My favorite shows are Grey's Anatomy and House MD
29. I wanted to be a nurse when I was younger. Now I have a lot of respect for people in the medical field and know that I could never do what they do.
30. I designed a Barbie Limo when I was about 8 years old and my parents submitted it to Mattel. A little over a year later Mattel came out with a Barbie Limo but I never got any credit. Bummer.
31. My sister and I watched a movie once (Three For The Road) and in the movie the actress ate spaghetti while holding the fork with her toes. Needless to say we rushed to the kitchen, made spaghetti and stayed at the table until we mastered the feat. Gross I know. But fun!
32. I have dyed my hair more times than I can remember. When I was too young for my parents to allow me to dye my hair I used a packet of red kool-aid to dye my hair. I never imagined the color would stick to my scalp and not my hair. Oops.
33. I LOVE using power tools! My husband told me that one of the things that attracted him to me was that I came with my own power tools!
34. I made my own sofa table once. Bought the boards and other materials, drew the plan and tah-duh!
35. I used to do all the work on my own vehicles from changing my own tires and oil to replacing alternators and radiators. Now I don't have the time or the space to do it. I can't even remember the last time I had to pump my own gas.
36. My favorite beverage is Pepsi. More of an addiction than anything.
37. I am also addicted to Krispy Kreme donuts. I swear they put something in those things to make people keep coming back for more.
38. My favorite food.............anything Italian.
39. Other than Krispy Kreme donuts I do not like junk food, candy, etc. Give me some french bread or fresh fruit any day.
40. My favorite time of the year is Autumn. I love the colors, the smells, the fluffy sweaters, etc.
41. I only use Biolage or Aveda hair products. If I use anything else my hair starts to fall out more than is considered normal.
42. I can only use Mary Kay make-up. Anything else breaks me out something awful.
43. I can not grow long fingernails. My nails are super thin and I end up chewing them before they have the chance.
44. I am obsessed with Coach handbags. I LOVE them!
45. When I was younger I wanted to change my name to Samantha. (I loved the show Whose The Boss) So much so that I would write Samantha on all of my school papers and ask that everyone call me Samantha. I think my parents actually considered legally changing my name!!
46. I am weird about ice. I only like crushed ice in my water but have to have cubed ice in any other drink. 4 ice cubes to be exact. Why 4? Don't know...........it's just my thing. I have done it forever. I also have mastered the level of water needed to be filled in ice cube trays so that you have a decent size ice cube without filling them so high that all of the cubes end up freezing together and are hard to get out of the tray. Told you it was weird. Maybe borderline ridiculous but again- it's just my thing.
47. I have to have two cups of coffee in the morning. Actually 2 cups of cream and sugar with a little coffee!!
48. My mother bought me a Martha Stewart cookbook a few years back that prompted my extensive spice collection. I am now up to 68 spices with about 10 left that I am on the hunt for. I decided I wanted to be able to open that cookbook- or any cookbook, pick out a recipe and not have to worry if I would have the spice I needed.
49. I am obsessive about organization and am very much anti-clutter. Disorganization literally makes me itch.
50. I am deathly afraid of spiders and heights. I hate hate hate going over bridges.
51. I love quotes. A couple of years ago my sister made me a book with empty pages so that I could write quotes in it. It's full. Hey O Sister Gorgeous One- I need a new one!!
52. I grew up in a family of hunters- we hunt for the right reasons! My family has a great respect for nature and all living things. I got my first deer 5 years ago- a 10 point buck. I will do a post on that story another time. It was memorable for a reason you would never expect.
53. I have always been shy but force myself to be outgoing. I don't want to miss out on any aspect of life- trying a new adventure or making a new friend. I try and "push" my kids in the same way. I would hate for them to ever look back and say " I wish I would have done that but I was too scared". I try and teach my kids confidence by encouraging them.
54. I hate my freckles............and always have. I used to mix up the magic potions to try and get rid of them.
55. I love to sew but don't ever use a pattern. Mainly because I can not follow a pattern.
56. I have moved a lot but have always stayed in Ohio.
57. I enjoy traveling but usually get homesick after just a day or two. I love my home and enjoy being in my home!!
58. I have held several jobs including: basket weaver, office manager for a car dealership, leasing agent, waitress, preschool teacher, etc etc etc. I finally found my place in the world when I became a mom. It's the best job I have ever had.
59. I love my grandparents..........and I am so inspired by them. They have inspired me and set my standards in life, in working hard, in marriage and parenting, and in serving the Lord. They are the two most amazing people I have ever known and I strive to be more like them.
60. I collect milk glass, silver, dishes, antique/vintage linens.
61. I love cherry wood.............and most anything made out of cherry wood.
62. I love the hollow sound that comes from walking on a hardwood floor.
63. I wear glasses and have an astigmatism in both eyes.
64. I have a big scar on my right knee. When I was 8 or 9 I was at my cousins birthday party and we decided to play in the woods. I was swinging on a Tarzan vine and caught my knee on a tree stump. My older cousin had to carry me back to the house. It should have had stitches but I stayed for the slumber party instead.
65. I am a dreamer. The more people tell me something is impossible the harder I try to prove them wrong.
66. I enjoy writing and reading poetry.
67. I love doing laundry but hate putting it away.
68. I would really like to have 4 children.
69. When my kids are older I would love to adopt children with special needs.
70. I love storms. The rolling thunder, flashing lightening and pounding rain always relaxes me.
71. I have always been a night person but would love to be one of those people that wakes early enough to watch the sunrise.
72. My ideal moment of relaxation is laying on the floor on a cool summer day with a breeze coming through the windows and listening to opera.
73. I hate paying full price for anything. I am a bargain Queen- always on a mission to find cheaper or the ever better deal!
74. I am addicted to Craig's List! Actually I stalk Craig's List.
75. I love the sound of a clock ticking.
76. I enjoy gardening but have never been good at it.
77. The summer I was pregnant with Kyle Marc and I planted an entire garden on the rooftop of our apartment building. We would walk to the garden and pick lettuce, tomatoes and peppers for a fresh salad anytime we wanted!
78. I am a peace-maker and a fixer. Usually I put needs and feelings of other people before my own.
79. I often do not stand up for myself.........I try and avoid confrontation or am too afraid to hurt some one's feelings.
80. I can write in a perfectly straight line without looking at the paper.
81. I get angry when people do not take responsibility for their own actions.
82. I also get angry when people judge others without getting to know them.
83. I love chandeliers and would hang one in every room if my husband would let me. :)
84. I despise late night talk shows.
85. It drives me crazy when you are carrying on a conversation with someone and they answer their cell phone without even excusing themselves.
86. I love my home so much that it takes a lot to motivate me to leave sometimes.
87. For some reason I love the song Golddigger by Kanye West. I love the beat of the music and it puts me in a good mood.
88. I used to vacation in Florida every summer with my family. We would go to visit my Grandpa- my Dad's Dad. I miss him so much.
89. One year my parents took my sister and brother and I to Hawaii. They paid us a dollar to climb to the top of Diamond Head. Looking back I think we got ripped off!! Actually, that was the summer before my 4th grade year and I can still remember the view from the top. Well worth the climb.
90. I hate basements. They totally creep me out. If I buy another house I would prefer it doesn't have a basement. I really hate going into basements.
91. I drive a minivan. A black Chrysler Town & Country. Not exactly a cool vehicle but I can haul a sectional sofa if the back seats are down! It's perfect for yard sales and flea markets. hee hee
92. I color-code the clothes in my closets. I alphabetize my spices, books, videos, etc. It drives my husband crazy........mainly because he never has an excuse that he didn't know where to put something.
93. I am typically the last to get the joke. Sad really.
94. I had my navel pierced 7 or so years ago. I took good care of it but my body didn't like it. It ended up so infected and the skin grew around it to the point that my friend had to pull it out with a pair of pliers. OUCH.
95. I am deathly afraid of needles. My kids do better than I do when it comes to shots or getting blood drawn.
96. I do laundry to relieve stress. If I am really stressed and run out of laundry I will wash things that are already clean. There is something soothing about folding clean clothes.
97. I have always wanted to buy an old house and do a complete renovation.
98. When looking to buy a house I start looking at the century homes but always end up falling in love with a ranch. My husband tells me I always fall in love with the ugliest house we look at. I just think houses want to be loved and feel pretty- just like ever girl does.
99. I want a tattoo. Anyone that knows me laughs when I tell them that.
100. I love buying high heels. Problem is I never wear them because I can not walk in them.

Now, if you have made it through reading the entire list I am impressed. I'm also assuming that you must be incredibly bored and have nothing better to do with your time. If you skipped reading the list altogether to get to the giveaway- I don't blame you at all! LOL!!!

Now, for the giveaway- all you have to do is leave a comment on this post to be entered into the drawing. If you do not have a blog- no problem. Just make sure I have contact information so that if you win I can let you know.

This is what you will win........................

Isn't it cute? This adorable vintage teapot is so much cuter in person than the picture shows. All dressed up in red and white she is just waiting for a good home! So, just leave me a comment! I will draw the winner this coming Tuesday!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Heather:)