Cheap-Date's Views on Life: Strike a Pose

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Strike a Pose

Travis finally had his Christmas concert at school...in Mid-January! Jingle Bells en espanol never sounded so sweet. He was happy to find us in the crowd, as you can see by his silly grin.

Today was a snow day! More snow! The kids and I were home from school and John was not scheduled to work. Family time (after nap time of course)! Travis and Chelsea decided to do their favorite thing...dress up. The princess and the super hero were full of life at our house this morning!

Travis decided to strike a variety of classic super hero poses! He told me "This is how they do it, Mom! They look like this all the time!" Okay! Who am I to argue with a super hero???

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Decorating (and living with) Reality

I am a mom! I have two small children who have tons of toys and very little place to play. We live in a small house with only two bedrooms. Wanting to have our children close by when they play, we gave up the dining room and turned it into a playroom. A whole room designed around toys and playing...yet my children still insist on playing in every other room in the house! As much as the constant chaos and mess can be overwhelming at times, I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world!

I am also an avid fan of decorating magazines, decorating shows, decorating catalogs, decorating blogs, and decorating books. While my tastes have always been in the realm of country, lately I find myself drawn to primitives. I have dabbled in cottage style and shabby chic. I enjoy reading the articles about these people who decorate their "small homes" (since when is 1800 sq. ft. "small"???!) in pure primitive or colonial style. The pictures look so warm. The decor is so simple. The furniture is aged to perfection. But each time I wonder... where do these people keep all their junk??? Where are the Lego's and the princess dolls and the Little People? Where are the piles of school papers and bill stubs? And are those sparse looking straight back chairs and sofas comfortable? Is this reality?

It is not mine. I have to be satisfied for a few vignettes scattered throughout my home that dictate the style I like. I have to slip-cover the sofa to hide the stains made by malfunctioning sippy cup valves and spit up and other unpleasantries that come with kids (and clumsy adults). Sometimes it is frustrating. Kids scribbling on the kitchen table with marker does not add "patina". It adds MESS! Putting a wet glass on your grandmother's hand-me-down hutch does not make it look pleasingly distressed. It leaves an unsightly white ring that no amount of polish or patch-up will fix.

That is MY REALITY! And to be honest, I am alright with that. Actually I am better than alright with it, I am thrilled with that. My kids love being home. They love standing on the sofa (no matter how many times I tell them not to) to push the buttons on the TV. I have made some trusty friends in Resolve Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, Windex, and Pledge. I am actually contemplating becoming the proud owner of the "ShamWow" (as seen on TV) to fray the cost of papertowels. Someday I may have a magazine-spread-worthy home. For now I am going to bask in the fact that my kids are happy and active and comfortable scattering themselves and their belongings throughout my house! Don't get me wrong. They treat our nicer things with respect and, mercifully, I have had very few of our "treasures" broken. But they definitely aren't pussy-footing around the place, either!

An email I once received read, "Dusting...a house becomes a home when you can write "I love you" on the furniture." I like this philosophy. However, I also enjoy looking up from my magazines and finding the little places where my love of primitive country knock-offs shine through the clutter and bustle of everyday life (antiques and originals around little kids? Uh-uh!) . Now I will share some of these little eye-retreats. Keep scrolling....

Things I Miss When They Stop

When Chelsea stops telling us that everything is giving her a headache!
When Chelsea starts calling Santa by his real name. Right now she calls him "Mimas Tree"
If my kids stop being entertained by simple things
When my kids stop climbing into bed with me in the middle of the night (although right now it drives me stark-raving-mad!)
When Chelsea stops copying everything Travis does (although this drives him stark-raving mad!)
When my kids stop showing excitement when I walk into a room
When Travis stops being obssessed with Trains (if he stops)
When I ask Chelsea if she is my "big girl" and she says "No. Baby!"
When my kids stop talking with lisps
When Travis gets so excited that he hugs and kisses us while laughing and telling us he loves us
When they say "Carry You Me" when they wanted to be lifted up

Hooray for Home Depot!

This is a souvenir from a monthly event at Home Depot. On the first Saturday of each month, they have a free workshop for kids. They build simple projects. On their first visit they get an apron. On each subsequent visit they get a badge to put on the apron. My son made a little race car with the Home Depot logo on it. He loves the thing! It must be pretty special, as it ranked important enough for him to take the car, badge, and apron into preschool for show and tell. That is an honor he doesn't bestow on just anything. It has to be a real treasure!

A Recipe for the Kitchen-Phobic with a Finicky Family

In my family the big joke is that I am not interested in cooking (eating yes! cooking no!). My philosophy is that once you learn how to cook, people think you are going to cook! Luckily I married an excellent cook. We work opposite schedules and have two kids so I have had to pick up a few tricks to feed the kids and I when daddy is working. I have learned you can cook an amazing amount of dishes using Lipton Soup Mix. This is one of our favorites:

Mom's Chicken Potato Casserole
Cut up the following ingredients into 1 inch cubes and place in a 9ish by 12ish Pyrex pan:
-some boneless chicken
-some potatoes (skin on or off)
-a few vegetables of your choice (some suggestions that I have tried include green beans, zucchini, carrots, peas, summer squash, tomatoes (canned, frozen or fresh)
Coat all ingredients with Olive Oil.
Add Lipton Savory Garlic and Herb Soup Mix (Onion Soup Mix and minced garlic also works) and stir.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and stir.
Bake in oven at 400 F for about 40 minutes or until Potatoes are done to your liking (stirring occasionally) .
Dish out and sprinkle more Parm to liking.
Enjoy.

I need to separate the chicken, potatoes, and veggies for my kids or they will not eat it. I eat it all together like a stew. It is a big hit with all who have tried it. And it is even after it has been frozen and reheated!

Cheap-Date's Views on Life

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Strike a Pose

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My AT HOME AMERICA Site

Decorating (and living with) Reality

Welcoming Front Door

Let There Be Light!

The Catch-All Bench

The TV's Hideaway

A Mish-Mash of Country Accents

The Little Shelf

Happy with Hand-Me-Downs

Bittersweet on the Breakfront

Our "Make-Do" Fire Place

Grandpa Ernie's Chair Make-Over

Kitchen Counter Displays

Mil's Hutch

2008 Impulse Buy

FAVORITE LITTLE SHOPS

Things I Miss When They Stop

Hooray for Home Depot!

My Porch

My Retreat from Life!

The baker's rack holds lots of treasures and is right next to our front door.

Bits of Summer

A Recipe for the Kitchen-Phobic with a Finicky Family

Popcorn Anyone?

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