wannabe country chic

So, I have a confession to make.  I am no longer obsessed with craft blogs.  Crazy, right?  I know! But, it's true.  So very true.  First off, I don't have the time/money/space for crafting, let alone reading about it...  And secondly, I just don't care anymore.  I feel like I've entered a new chapter in my life.  Rather than flying high with all the craftistas, I'd rather be getting down and dirty.  As in, I want to plant a (potager) garden and live off of the land.  I want to get back to my roots...  Nowadays I am obsessed with the homestead revival.  I want to live on a farm, not in a boutique.  I want to make homemade yogurt and can peaches, not monster cookies or robot popsicles.  And I want to raise chickens, not divas.

Meet Ginger and Rosemary!  Such clever, cheeky names for such cute chickies ;)

"The Homestead Revival™ Mission: is a challenge for readers to get back to the basics of living closer to the land through homesteading, strengthening the family through homemaking, and building community through sharing [...] to inspire women to joyfully embrace being a keeper of the home and educate the next generation in homesteading skills while encouraging them to adopt these principles as their own."

Never has any other mission statement resonated with me so strongly. I can feel it deep within my bones, and I believe in it with all my soul.  It has shaken me to my core and I can feel of its influence in my every thought and action.  This is my home and I intend to keep it and make it what it should be.  And it is here where I find joy.  *B

picture perfect II

We went to Prescott, again.  It is always such a treat...  We just love them Nelsons!

And I just love my family!  And rustic red backdrops.  *B

live-action

For family and/or friends who want to see what we look (and sound) like in real life, early in the AM and sans showers (etc).

Happy Easter indeed.  *B

the birthday girl

My sweet stinker of a baby little girl turned two last month.  My, how time flies!  I'm sure it's because she's so fun :)  Miss Elsie Rae makes everyone, and I mean every single person who has ever had the pleasure of meeting her, smile.  And she has since day one.  *B

public service announcement

I am pregnant.  But, I am currently in the process of losing it (again).  I figured y'all should know, since my coworkers do (thanks Dad).  How do I feel?  Exhausted.  Fat.  Moody.  Achy.  Hungry.  Sick.  In a word: pregnant.  Yeah, lots of fun.  And in case you can't tell, that's me being sarcastic.  *B

my not-so-little leprechauns

Happy belated St. Paddy y'all :)  My kids have blue eyes, not green.  Festive irises, perhaps?  And can you believe this is the same girl?!  She's much cuter, and looks less like a baby bird and more like a "baby" girl.  She's also much louder, and a lot more fun/frustrating.  And she can still clear a room with her toots...  Anyway, I can't believe March is almost over!  Also, my babies are not really babies anymore.  *B

screenshot II

I was informed early this morning that this week will be a busy one...
I guess I'd better finish sanding that beadboard!  *B

moving mountains

{source}

I haven't wanted to say anything, in fear of jinxing it...  But I believe I have found the secret to successful laundering!!!  This is huge my friends, HUGE.  And on top of that, I've been making my bed E.V.E.R.Y. A.M.  Who is this person???  It's me :)  And it feels soooo good!

When my life feels out of control, I have two choices: let my life control me, or take control of my life.  While wallowing in self pity/loathing, I would despondently stare at my piles mountain of laundry.  I already felt like a failure, and here was proof: my dirty laundry, a metaphor on so many levels.  How ridiculous that my sense of self worth would be tied to a single chore!  But I couldn't do anything right, let alone laundry... When you're already down, everything gets you down.  Negativity breeds negativity.  I can't remember why, or how, but I decided that I had had enough; this dirty laundry needed some air!

I am happiest when my house is clean.  It does not sparkle.  It is not big.  It's quite small, actually.  But it is comfortable, and it is home.  And it's mine.  I am grateful for it.  I am blessed to have it.  And therefore, I should treat it as the blessing it is and do my part in making it "Heaven on Earth."  By keeping my home clean, I am not only inviting the Spirit in, but I am also making sure It's comfortable when It's here.  Because I don't want It to leave.

I am happiest when my house is organized.  It is not spotless.  And there is not a place for everything.  Everything is in THIS place.  My place.  And when my place is orderly on the outside, I feel orderly on the inside.  I love going to bed, feeling like I accomplished something great.   I am home-maker, hear me roar!  My house is my office.  My home is my job.

Sure, life is overwhelming at times.  And it's (real) easy to make mountains out of mole hills, especially when you've been trudging up the same mole hill for the past two years!  But, a chore doesn't have to be a chore.  Sure, laundry is a beast...  But eating that elephant a bite at a time can bring peace and JOY to my home and heart.

Basically, I've reached the summit and I'm not starving.  *B

joy in the journey

Thanks.  Thank you kind strangers.  Thank you loving friends.  And thank you supportive family.  Life is hard.  But it's pretty great, too.  For the most part, I'm an optimistic person...  However, this past month I had had enough.  I was bottling up all sorts of frustrations and I just had to let it all out.  I'm sorry you had to read it.  But I'm glad I wrote it.  I immediately felt better, and every day has been better since :)

I know I'm not alone, not the only one to ever struggle, especially now.  And I know none of us are alone.  Because we have each other.  And we have God.  We have Jesus Christ.  It is the wounded Christ who comes to our rescue.  He descended below all and ascended above all so that He can comprehend all.  I just need a little faith, and a lot of patience.  He has approved of and catered to my challenges so that I can work on both.  God help me; I am grateful.  *B

versatile me

Miss Katie from Katie's How To... found me through my feature on I ♥ Naptime, and she is SUPER sweet :)  Apparently, I'm versatile and worthy of an award!  Which means I should probably post more...

Here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

2. Answer 10 questions

3. Pass it along to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy

4. Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award

And the 10 questions are:

1. Why did you create your blog?

Which one???  I started the Summers Camp blog to keep in touch with family and friends :)  Beth's Mess because I (really) love (good) food, and The Stitchy Niche because I adore any/all kinds of stitching.

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?

I follow the blogs of family and friends, and a lot of DIY/crafty blogs.

3. Favorite brand of make-up?

If/when I wear any, Bare Minerals

4. Favorite brand of clothing?

Whatever I can afford ;)  But if I were rich, I would buy clothes from Anthropologie, J. Crew and Banana Republic.  Yeah, I've got expensive taste...

5. Indispensable make-up product?

Mascara?

6. Favorite color?

RED!!!

7. Favorite perfume?

I like the scents from Gap: Pink, Dream and Grass

8. Favorite movie?

Anything fantasy, because I'm a total nerd...  I'd have to say some of my favorites include Stardust and Coraline.  And The Nightmare Before Christmas.  I like strange.

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

The British Isles.  It speaks to my soul.

10. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?

Blush, for sure.  Because, I don't need any.  My cheeks are naturally rosy.  True story.

The 7 blogs I'm passing this on to in no particular order:

Your Daily Bran

Ink'd: Life on Paper

The Ray Family

Really Quite Lucky

Be Well

Kali Lu Photo

These Are the Moments

Thanks again, Katie!  And thanks to (m)any who continue to read my silly wee blog(s)...  Sometimes it's nice to have a voice in the world, no matter how small that voice or part of the world might be.  *B

happy

Sorry for being such a downer...  Hope your Vday is dreamy!  *B

poor me (a pity post)

We are struggling.  Big time.  And I'm tired exhausted.  And very frustrated.  In short, we are the poorest people I know.  Oh, I know there are those who are much poorer.  But, I don't know them personally...  I honestly don't know anyone poorer than us.  And it's hard.  Real hard.  I don't want to be rich.  I just want to stop worrying about tomorrow.  I want to be able to pay our bills (on time), and put food on our table.  And while I'm whining, let me just say that it's not fair that other people have real jobs/careers and get to live in real houses.  Or that only the successful breed success.  Why is it that behind every successful business woman there's a successful business man?  When is it our turn to be successful, at anything?

Then I start to feel super guilty.  Because we really are so blessed.  We're not living on the streets.  And thanks to our parents and/or the government, we have food on our table and clothes on our back.  But it's still not enough...  It never is.  And I am so very tired of asking.  Of wanting.  It gets worse: I start to wonder if God really answers our prayers, or if He ever will.  I know He hears us.  And I know He answers other people's prayers.  But lately I wonder why I even bother.  Because it's not getting better.  It's getting worse.  And so I'm tired.  I'm tired of the struggling.  And I'm tired of being selfish.  But I can't help but feel bitter.  I just wish it would stop.  Or at the very least, I wish I knew that it will stop.

If the only thing I can change is my attitude, then so be it.  It'll have to do.  *B

check it

My buddy Kali is having an awesome giveaway on her awesome site!  Need I mention she's an awesome photographer ;)  Check it out and enter to win!  *B

screenshot

Cute, huh?  I think so :)  I love "blue" and red together!  Such a happy combo.  *B

and then

So, our beadboard is almost done!!!  Huzzah people, huzz.ahhhhhhh :)  And then half of our kitchen will be somewhat complete.  And I've brought back the "dine in, not out" challenge.  And I've restashed my Etsy shop!  And because I must be insane, I've started a NEW blog!  Where I've published my first pattern!  And I am now completely exhausted.  *B

the more the merrier

Behold, my other (glorious) Christmas present:

I don't think there's such a thing as too much beadboard...  Many (many) thanks to my mother :)
I can't wait 'til it's done!  *B

a little late

Like my new wood floors???  Best present EVER  :)

Yeah, we celebrated.  *B

washed clean

"His coming long had been foretold.

Signs would precede His birth.

A Son of God to woman born,

With power to cleanse the earth."

--Boyd K. Packer

 

Thanks to Elsie for reminding us the reason of the season.  *B

a recap sans photos

in no particular order...

• runny noses, ringing ears, etc.
• (unfinished) Christmas projects
• empty pockets
• full hearts
• a trip to Leavenworth (aka. winter wonderland)
• the death of my beloved grandfather
• tooting my own horn (literally)
• school drama
• Bones marathons
• playing hooky
• new callings
• making/eating cookies
• steeping/drinking tea
• decorating
• designing
• shopping
• wrapping
• cleaning
• broken dishwasher
• wood floors!!!

Pictures coming in the near future.  *B

rest assured

I am alive.  I have not quit you, dear blog.  Be back soon.  Real soon.  *B