Stewarts in Arizona

Sunday, February 13, 2011

SO EXCITED!

It seriously brings me so much joy to say that I have finally found a few decorating items that I love. For a little while I felt a lot of self imposed pressure to "outfit" my home. We read an awesome article in the Ensign about learning to be content with material things and focusing more on what's really important. And so it gave us courage to slow down and just think differently about decorating our home. We decided to set a budget on home stuff and not be so concerned about getting it all decorated. I was patient, and I finally found some items that really help to beautify our home, and they were all pretty good prices at Target and Ross. Yay for me! There are other things we could get right now, but we're limiting ourselves and making sure it's not our main focus. I know I'm much happier when I focus on raising my two beautiful kiddos! With all that said, these few simple items bring me joy because they add beauty, and remind me that patience and a budget really pay off.

Love these Target pillows. That's probably because I love chevron and quatrefoil patterns with a passion, flowers-especially ones that add texture, and I LOVE all these colors! The other sides of these pillows are awesome too.

Ok, so first you must understand this is at night, so nothing looks as amazing. However, I love this art. I have been searching for some big art for our big walls. I don't like art that means nothing to me, but not everything can be like our pictures of Christ and the temple we have in the front room. I was so excited to find these at Ross because they really bring in a clean, beautiful feeling into my home and remind me of nature and God's creations. Love it.

Love this vase (so natural looking) and these scrumptious flowers. I love pink. It's the "IN" color this year, ya know? But that's not why I like it. So beautiful and natural, and so cheap at Target.

This picture really has weird lighting, but this is an upclose of a napkin/placemat thing I found at Target on clearance. I love the pattern and the yellow color, and think I may frame it someday as a part of an eclectic wall above our couch. For some reason it reminds me of an older fabric, and makes we feel more domestic.

Hmmm..... Quatrefoil. Love it. And love the green. And love the gravy bowl my mom gave me. And love the white.

So, there you have it. Some of my favorite things. And guess what, I don't really have a set color scheme. I have an aqua type blue, pink, yellow, green, neutrals and brown/dark furniture, whites and a white kitchen with gray and white marble countertops. I love it. And I love the freedom that comes from knowing I don't need to stick to one or two colors. It's so me.

Saturday Chores

The past two Saturdays we have implemented Family Saturday Chores. It has been awesome, even and especially in the midst of all this sickness. So nice to have a clean house so you can worry about other things! The kids just LOVE it. I'm not kidding. Ashley couldn't wait until we started cleaning this past Saturday. She has a list, and she must learn each week a little more about vacuuming and cleaning her bathroom. She also folded some laundry, tidied and cleaned all toys, and pulled her sheets and blanket off the bed to be washed. Dallin sort of helps with all the same things. And then they help us with random stuff. We're all working together and right next to each other. It seriously made us so happy. Who ever said Saturday chores weren't fun?!

Our newly and mostly organized toy loft.

We've been sick...

So sick! And we are tired of it. This cold has just taken a hold of us and won't let go. The kids are getting better, but Ashley STILL constantly deals with a face full of dried snot and they both have a very contagious sounding cough (at least that's what I would think if I was the family in front of us in church today.) In my defense, we haven't been to church in forever and it sure seems that after 2-3 weeks we shouldn't be as contagious. Also, everyone has the cold anyway.

We were tested for Strep and the Flu, and it's neither. Just a nasty cold that seems to have made a second wave for me and is just now starting on Brandon. The saddest thing is we have missed out on hanging out with Jerilyn, her mom, a fun date night with choir friends, and an invite to Sunday dinner! :( This too shall pass.

For now, you can look at this cute picture of Dallin when he was feeling sick (but not the worst of it), and Ashley the day after her fever broke. Looking at these pictures I realize they are such good kids, and they try their hardest to be happy. They are both wearing their favorite pajamas. Dallin's is his Harry Potter t-shirt - the smallest size my mom could find!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Lovin' Family Life...

Just thought I'd post some pictures. Our little ones are getting not so little! By the end of this month I will have a 6 year old and a 3 year old! They're both still my babies...

Justin Beiber hair, haha....