finish this | week 8

What a week! It seems like life has been all over the place this week.  It's fun to take a little break and "finish this" :)


1. My favorite comfort food is
Lasagna! Lasagna! Lasagna! That ooey-gooey-cheesy-metly goodness is just oh-so-hard to resist.  Hubsy's recipe is my favorite, he uses cottage cheese instead of ricotta.  And it's a rare treat too because he doesn't make it very often.

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2. My most memorable birthday was
my first birthday party with school friends.  My birthday is in the summer so I never got to celebrate it in school with my class and one year my parents had a party for me at our house with the whole class invited.  It was awesome for me at that young age and it really made me feel super special to be able to have a party with kids other than my cousins.  Most birthdays these days are pretty quiet, definitely no party involved.   Hmmm...maybe I need to remedy that ;)


3. The best karaoke song is
every song!  I am a singer, albeit a terrible one.  I love to belt out pretty much anything.  I used to get embarrassed when I was younger and I would be out running errands with my mom and she would start singing whatever song was on in the store.   I was all 'I don't know this lady, I just happen to be walking beside her'.  She would always laugh at me and tell me I would do the same thing to my kids one day.  And I totally DO!  I love to sing along to any song that's on and watch them roll their eyes at me.  Oh and Hubsy just loves it too, he's always telling me that "Karaoke night isn't until tomorrow" while he tries to mask himself behind his glasses/hand/hat whatever he can find to hide behind. 

4. Boots make me feel
sassy.  Whether it be fashionable knee high boots or hiking boots, they make me feel like I can tackle anything.

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5. I am grateful
for God's faithfulness this past year.  I used to suffer from TMJ pain pretty much daily.  After years of nothing my dentist or doctor recommended working, I finally pursued chiropractics and it has been a literal God-send.  I then began to suffer from significant fatigue and inability to focus.  I finally listened to the inner voice in my head telling me it wasn't just normal "mom-tired".  Went to have blood-work done and found out I was low on iron and been taking supplements ever since which has helped a good bit.  And just when we thought we had no hope of selling our house and moving to our humble hilltop homestead, God stepped in and found a way.  I prayed fervently in all of these areas and God answered, maybe not right away like I wanted ;) ...but in His time.  I am so blessed and so very very thankful for it.

Happy hump day!

link up here!

industrial farmhouse | wall decor

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As more and more painting gets completed at our little country house, we are finally starting to embark on the final touches of decor.  When it comes to making a house feel like a home, it's not until the wall decor begins to go up that it really comes together and feels like your sanctuary.  At least that's how I see it.

Farmhouse style is all about the richness of texture.  The more worn the better!  So I'm sharing some of my inspiration with those of you who enjoy this style of decorating as well.  Got a favorite?

1. DIY LOVE sign
2. old barnwood art
3. fine art photography - autumn
4. aqua bottle wall decor
5. farmhouse wreath
6. primitive candle sconce
7. hanging lantern

Happy Monday friends!
Make it a great week!

DIY body butter

Remember my post about eliminating?  I'm talking toxins here :)

Beauty products are at the top of the list as far as toxic exposure to your body.  I used to think of my skin as armor essentially.  But no, anything that goes on your skin get absorbed directly into your blood stream and bypasses your liver altogether!  Which is why your toxin exposure from beauty products is even more concerning than the ones from the foods you eat. 

Hey beauty products,, you've been warned!  You are first on my list to attack and reclaim health for my body.  Today I thought I'd share a great DIY and all natural (organic even) alternative to body lotion.

Behold the body butter.

It could not be easier and only consists of two ingredients...

 * 1 cup coconut oil (organic if you can)
 * 10-12 drops essential oil of your choice

That's it.  Easy right?  Put the coconut oil in a bowl, add your drops of essential oil (I used eucalyptus for a little pick me up), and mix on high for 6-7 minutes.  Whipping the coconut oil helps to give it a much smoother buttery texture.  The essential oil adds some lovely fragrance and depending on the one you pick can have additional health benefits as well!  Win-win.  Then get yourself a pretty little air-tight jar to keep it in.  I think this sweet mason jar works well don't you? 

Let me know if you give it a try, I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

finish this | link up week 6

This is my first link-up with Nicole {Three 31}, Lisa {The Coastal Chicster}, Becky {The Java Mama}, and Jen {The Arizona Russums}) for the weekly series called Finish This.  And with this being Valentine's week, the prompts are all about love-y dove-y stuff :)

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 1. I celebrate Valentine's Day by...

making some sort of love notes or something handmade.  Usually Valentine's Day, while important, does not get any room in the budget for gifts, so my instincts are to go to something handmade or service-y to show my love.  This year I made coupon books for my boys with little coupons for one-on-one time, extra video game time, and even a mandatory family dance party :)  Hubsy is getting little love notes hidden around the house, in his car, etc.  It will be fun to see how long it takes him to find them all :)

2. My heart goes pitter-patter for...

eyes that express adoration.  You know...."that" look.  The one Hubsy gives that says "you are awesome, I'm so hooked on you".  Yep...that one.

3. When looking for romance, my best advice is...

initiate.  Since I've been with Hubsy for almost 20 years, my advise is more for those already in a relationship.  Hold hands, even if your just running errands.  Be sure to hug him and take a moment to re-connect when he gets home from work.  Even just for those few seconds.  Give his bum back a little rub when you pass by ;)

4.  My favorite love story (real or fiction) is...

The Notebook...enough said.

5. The best relationship/love/dating advice I ever received was...

Hmm....this one is a toughie.  I don't think I've really been given much in the way of relationship advice but here are a few things I find to be true and inspiring.

Wishing you all a love-filled (in all its various forms) Valentine's day!

industrial farmhouse | lighting

When I first got married, I wanted everything in my home to be "just so" and look very "adult".  I think I was trying to convince myself that I truly was all grown-up ;)

Now I find myself gravitating to decor pieces that are constructed from substantial materials and perhaps a bit worn looking.  A reflection of how I view myself now ten years into marriage?  Maybe so!

I'm sure moving to the country has a wee bit of something to do with it as well.  Open fields, old barns, and run down bridges can be very inspirational!

One thing our sweet new abode needed was some new lighting.  And let me tell you, when it comes to industrial farmhouse style...the lighting is where its at!

Just look at these drool-worthy fixtures....such texture, such character!

1. chicken wire lantern
2. wrought iron sphere
3. classic bell pendant
4. harlowe wire and glass pendant
5. nautical lantern
6. whitney pendant


A unique light can make a huge impact on the feel of a room.  If you follow me on IG you'll know I went to my favorite source, Pottery Barn and chose this Rustic Glass Pendant.  Ain't she a beauty?!

Rustic Glass Pendant

I had so much fun picking out new lighting. 
Are you in the market for some new lighting? I hope these provide some inspiration for you as well!

in a word

Whew!  Moving can take a lot out of you and leave you drained.
Hubsy and I completed all of our move entirely ourselves, just us two.  And I. Am. Exhausted.
Our holidays were crazy hectic with the move smack dab in the middle plus being "homeless" for a week but there was still joy to be had and we cherished it!

So now we are starting a new chapter of our lives right in conjunction with the New Year.
Change is all around me.  Some welcome, some...not so much ;)
So amidst all this change and preparation for the future, my word for 2014 has been embedding itself deeper and deeper into my mind.

e·lim·i·nate [ih-lim-uh-neyt] 

to omit, especially as being unimportant or irrelevant; leave out:

It may seem a little weird that I chose this for my word.  Most people pick more inspiring sounding words but this is the one that speaks to me.   Folks, it's time for the unnecessary to go.  And believe it or not, our lives are filled with way more excess than we think.  I'm not ready to chuck it all and head for a hut in the wilderness (I like indoor plumbing thank you) but I am ready to seriously reduce all the "what-not" I've got in my life.  The truly unimportant things as well as some seriously important but bad-for-you-and-gotta-go things.  And in a big way, this move was the first step. 

I mentioned before that we have downsized in home space.  At first I was relieved to be getting rid of some things that I felt obligated to hang on to because it was a gift or it helped to fill up a room that hardly got used anyway but now that we are on the other side of the move I'm finding that even more needs to go.  And that's not always easy or relieving.  What if I need that pretty bowl one day?!  What if I want to have two gray sweaters so I don't feel like I'm wearing the same thing all the time?  Well, there just isn't as much room and I refuse to live in cramped feeling quarters just to fit in what really is a luxury and not a need.  Don't mistake, our new home is plenty big enough, it's just that Hubsy and I have collected so much "stuff".  Learning to simplify has been on our hearts for some time now and we are slowly starting the process.

I also want to eliminate the unnecessary busy.  My time is precious and it's time I started treating it that way.  Include some quality "me" time.  Rekindle my time with the Lord.  Connect with my kids.  Take time to "create" on various levels.  More to come on this.

  
If you follow me on Pinterest (you can follow me here) you might have noticed some of the health related pins I've been pinning lately.  Eliminating toxins from my life (as much as I can reasonably do).  Eating clean and organic, detoxifying, healing our hormones....these are all topics that I've begun to feel quite passionate about and will begin to share some of my journey here on the blog as well.

  
Did you pick a word for 2014?  What was it?

Happy hump day friends!

 

trimmings & trappings

I think everyone would agree that moving at Christmastime is something you try to avoid at all costs.  Unfortunately sometimes it can't be avoided.  It's hard to feel festive when your walls are bare and there are boxes everywhere.  We did manage to put up our Christmas tree, Santa needs somewhere to bring presents don't ya know ;)  We are doing our best to get into the spirit despite the fact that our home is becoming increasingly barren.

There is something to be said for preparing your home and making it a joyous reflection of the season.  Giving your children the wonder of Christmas magic, the sparkly lights, the heartwarming smells, showing them the significance that something really big is about to happen...celebrating Christ our Savior's birth.  Showing His love through so many ways.

So while there's not much festive decorating, cookie baking, twinkly light hanging, etc going on for us this year, I've decided to live vicariously through these beautiful images from my Holiday Cheer Pinterest board.  Follow me on Pinterest here!

Let's get to it shall we?

how I would love to walk up to this front door, real live greenery is my fav

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can a kitchen sink get any cuter

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absolutely making these lighted Christmas "presents" for on the front porch next year

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how about these sweet nests full of presents

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epsom salts make the perfect snowscape

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simply and adorable

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I think we could all use a little more jingle in our lives...am I right?

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December 2014...it's so ON baby!

How will you be decorating this year?  I truly hope all of you are having joyful holiday season and letting your creative juices flow!

I've also asked all that follow on IG to share their posts that mark the Christmas spirit with #holidayjoy, will you join in the fun?  Follow me on IG here.

Have a wonderful week my friends!