Free Handbag

I would love to win this amazing Kelly Moore bag. Check out her site!
@kellymooreclark is giving away a bag! Go enter to win! http://kellymoorebagblog.com/

Dreaming

So lately I have been itching to fix up our room. We just got an amazing new King sized matress that I love, but no actual "bed" to put it on, just the bed frame. The wallpaper in our room is a bit blaa. The couple that lived here at the house had some interesting taste in wallpaper. Our room needs a face lift badly,..but we have always said that it would be the last room we do anything to, because we are the only ones who see it. I was looking (day dreaming is more like it) at some beds online and came across what would be my "dream bed" from Anthropology. Of course it's out of my price range, but a girl can dream!

















I like this bedding from Dwell Studio's







And there are a few wallpaper designs from Graham & Brown that I like. I am not big on wallpaper, but if you only use it for an accent wall, it looks really classy.





















Or one of these two from Scandinavian Design Center:

Oh Canada,.....

This weekend was spent yet again up in the great north. Tom had to transport a server up to the Michigan office, so he invited Liam and I to tag along with him. We spent a lovely night at a very modern business hotel, and spent all of Friday at the local mall where we shopped and walked around for 8 hours. Shopping can be very therapeutic! I picked up a cute green button up shirt for Liam for Saint Patrick's day and a new pair of GAP jeans for myself. Liam was really well behaved and spent a lot of our shopping adventure flirting with the cashiers and taking cat naps while I went from store to store. We then picked up Tom from work and spent the rest of our weekend in Canada. It seems as if ever since Liam was born we try to go out to visit family more often so that they can see the baby as he grows and he can become familiar with his other set of grandparents. Thankfully he is adapting well to sitting in his car seat. The first few trips we took in the car were a bit difficult, but slowly he is getting used to the long car rides. Tom and I have been going back in forth visiting family for years now. This weekend we were talking about our 6th year wedding anniversary that is coming up next month. I feel so blessed having amazing family and friends that I have grown to love. I still remember the first time I ever visited Tom's family and friends in Canada. Looking back at it, we had only dated one week before he brought me out to meet everyone, and I was nervous.....hoping that they would like me. It didn't take long to feel right at home once I finally met everyone. He has had the same two best friends since grade school and any chance the guys can find to get together they will. Just watching them reminisce about growing up, sharing stories and jokes that only they can relate to and laugh at, shows me how much Tom enjoys our trips out to Canada, and how important it is to continue to do so. Canada has become dear to my heart. I have learned so much in these past years about the country and can even sing the national anthem if asked. :) I am proud to be from the U.S., but would like to extend my pride, by hopefully getting my Canadian citizenship one day so I can be duel. Canada has so much to offer,...here is a a list of things uniquely Canadian that I love:
* Anne of Green Gables
* Tim Horton's coffee
* ROOTS
* Hockey games (even though I am still learning the rules to the game)
* Skating on the local pond
* Celebrating May 2/4 weekend
* All Dressed potato chips and Poutine
* Great Big Sea
* Much Music
* Hudson Bay blankets
* Algonquin Provincial Park
* Canadian Tire

Kitchen Adventures

So lately I have been slowly tackling my kitchen. It seems like ever since we have moved into our house I have been saying that I want it to be organized. But I was working full time at the Preschool, and then as a Nanny, and my house has kinda taken the back burner. Now that I am home with my little guy, I have tried to start organizing in steps. I realize that I will be interrupted by a hungry, needing to be changed, pay attention to me child, so it would be unrealistic of me to expect to get it finished quickly. With a clean organized kitchen, I get the itch to bake. Baking has become a new passion of mine. I enjoy cooking, and I would love to become better at it, but baking is just plain fun! Tom has been hinting about how much he enjoys the pies I make. I think I am going to try and make at least one new recipe a month. I hope to share the hits and misses of my new adventures.I took some time yesterday to make some dark chocolate cupcakes with white mountain frosting for the girls at my bible study (wive's group) and thought I would share the frosting recipe. This was definatly a hit! I love how the frosting is a marshmellow consistancy, that peaks like whipping cream. The result turned out looking so pretty. I topped them off with some cute Valentine's sprinkles.

White Mountain Frosting
2 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1.) In medium bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on high speed just until stiff peaks form.
2.) In 1-quart saucepan, stir sugar, corn syrup and water until well mixed. Cover and heat to rolling boil over medium heat. Uncover and boil 4 to 8 minutes, without stirring, to 242°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water forms a firm ball that holds its shape until pressed. For an accurate temperature reading, tilt the saucepan slightly so mixture is deep enough for thermometer.
3.) Pour hot syrup very slowly in thin stream into egg whites, beating constantly on medium speed. Add vanilla. Beat on high speed about 10 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Frosts 13x9-inch cake generously, or fills and frosts an 8- or 9-inch two-layer cake. Makes 3 cups of frosting.

Time flies by,...

So today is the first day of February....
Am I the only one that thinks that January flew by? It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas. I for one haven't yet taken down my (fake) Christmas tree. All the ornaments are tucked away nicely in their red and green boxes, but the tree itself just sits there begging me to take it down. I have been tempted to put some red and pink hearts on it and make it a Valentine's tree. I guess with a baby at home and now that I have taken on the duty of watching a little baby girl (4 months old)as well during the week, everything else just gets pushed aside. Plus the fact that I can't physically drag the sucker up two flights of stairs to the attic by myself. But with all that has been going on, I've been told that I should enjoy the stages that Liam is in, because they go so quickly. In two days, Liam will be three months old! Wow it's amazing how right they were. I am truly taking the time to enjoy him at every little stage he is in. He is starting to giggle now, and loves cooing back in conversational cadence. His smiles just melt the heart and I have to laugh when I see his one dimple (like mine) showing on his cheek. His head doesn't wobble as much and he loves looking around. He has a sweet personality and favors Tom's laid back temperament. It's a relief to know that the curse my mother placed on me "I hope one day you have a kid just like you." didn't stick. Although I better not say that too quickly, because he hasn't hit the talking/walking stage just yet. I guess I was a child who didn't need much sleep and loved climbing out of my bed to see what was going on downstairs. I also talked/sang early (what a surprise!)It's exciting to see what this little life has to offer the world. Will he be shy or outgoing? Will he be an artist or be technical like his dad, fixing computers and things with buttons and wires? Will he like to sing or rather play an instrument? Will he be a good student? Only time will tell. I look back on these past three tiresome months and realize how blessed I am. My dream of one day of being a momma has actually come true. There is no better job in the world. I'll share a few pictures of my little Prince that I took this past month.