Dream and Differ

What I Wore {Sometime in the Last Month}

2013-06-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Fact: I have totally regressed in my WIWW dedication. Fact: Most days you'll find me in yoga pants and a tee shirt. Fact: I did get dressed in something other than the previously mentioned comfies a few times in recent memory.
The proof:

Tee and cardi: Old Navy

Flats and jeans: Target

Necklace: Allora Handmade

I wish I would've bought this necklace in more colors before they were gone! I love it and always get compliments.

Cardi, tee, jeans: Target

Scarf: Lands End

Posy hair clip: The Pleated Poppy

Sandals: Roxy

Tunic, flats: Target

Jeggings: NYDJ

Petal Pusher: The Pleated Poppy

Tee: Target Pants: Gap Cami: Banana Republic Wedges: Macy's

Lately, On Instagram

2013-06-04T08:03:00.001-07:00

It's rainy and cold today; a good day to make cookies and read a book. So that is just what Hunter and I are going to do later this afternoon. It's hard to believe we are wrapping up our school year, but Caitlin is done on Friday. Hunter and I will continue to work on a few things through the summer, but I'll save the details for a "homeschool year in review" post later this week.

I haven't planted any annuals yet, and have barely touched my perennial beds. I've never been this late before! Hopefully it will be nice out one of these days and I'll be able to get digging.

For now, here's what I've been up to on Instagram.

You can follow me here and see all the goofy pics I take of my kids and animals.

The kids were packed in like sardines for our camping trip over Memorial Day. Tent/car camping is a lot of work! It lacks the simplicity of backpacking, and the "luxury" of a camper.

{I'm not sure why we do it, actually!}

We camped on Madeline Island in Lake Superior, so we had to take a short ferry ride. Always a thrilling experience for these land-lubbers. Caitlin gets a bit sea-sick, so we have to roll the windows down, just in case.

It was soooo cold at night. We slept fully dressed; I even wore my hat and gloves to bed.

But when we returned home, spring had well and truly arrived. Our crabapple trees bloomed like crazy for 48 hours before the wind and rain stripped them of their blossoms.

Beauty is fleeting, I guess.

This girl. She is almost done with her elementary years, and she just "graduated" from Sunday School. Now she is part of the "youth". I am not handling this growing up stuff very well!

Sniff, sniff.

She's always got a book in her hand and her hair in a ponytail. Caitlin has the kind of glorious curls most of us dream about, but she prefers to keep them under tight control.

She had a 3-games-in-1-day soccer tournament on Saturday, and her team got first place. They were 3-0 and had all shutouts. So fun to watch!

We had some scary looking skies, but never had any rain thankfully.

Lilacs. My all-time favorite smell. Chris claims he is allergic, but once a spring I have to cut a bouquet for the house.

Have a great Tuesday! I'm off to teach a bit of grammar, bake a batch of cookies, and wash a load of laundry. Livin' la vida loca.

Let's Go Fly A Kite

2013-05-31T19:55:00.000-07:00

When Caitlin was a toddler we took a "mommy and me" dance class. It was all well and good, what with the wee tutus and the sweet twirling... but in the spring we had to perform in a recital. That's "we" as in ME. The moms had to get up on stage and help our little ballerinas through their simple routine. The song? "Let's Go Fly A Kite," from Mary Poppins. To this day, every time I hear that song I break out in a cold sweat. But every time we fly kites, I can't keep from singing it and going through the motions from that long-ago routine. All this is to say that one cold and breezy day a few weeks ago, we did just that: went to the park to fly kites.

Caitlin's sea turtle kite glided easily on the breeze, trailing a string of baby sea turtles behind her {so cute!}. Caitlin hardly had to move; she stood in one spot and sailed her kite with no apparent effort.

Hunter's dragon, on the other hand, swooped and dove dramatically. It crashed frequently, and required constant attention to stay on course. Hunter spent the whole time sprinting to relaunch the kite, while Chris patiently wrapped the string again and again.

It was a such a fun way to spend a lazy afternoon. The kids are anxiously awaiting another sufficiently windy day so we can do it again.

We are off to a big soccer tournament tomorrow. Caitlin's team will be playing three games in one day and the weather forecast is looking rainy and chilly. Wish me luck!

What are you doing this weekend?

Cottage Dining Chair Makeover

2013-05-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

These chairs have been around. I'm not sure how old they are, but they once belonged to my stepmother's grandmother. My wonderful stepmom redid them for herself and used them for many years, but they had been relegated to the basement for a long time. Then they moved to the garage. They were on their way to a bonfire when I snagged them. We had been using a mismatched bunch of garage sale and Ikea chairs, and they were definitely worse for the wear. In fact, they were so beat up we usually had to shuffle the chairs around when company came for fear that if a full-sized adult sat on some of them, they would be reduced to rubble.

It was time for a change. When I saw these babies- six MATCHING chairs- I jumped all over them.

I brought them home and unloaded them in my garage, where they sat for the next six months. I finally got around to tackling the project... and they sat, unfinished, in my kitchen for another month.

But now they're finally done. And I love them.

Behold: the before.

And the after.

I'm not gonna lie. There's a whole lot of wood glue and prayers keeping some of these old beauties together. That being said, they're still sturdier than what we were using. I just might have turned into the chair-police, though, as I am constantly reminding my family to be gentle with them.

I painted the chairs with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White and finished them with her clear wax. It was my first experience with ASCP, and I have to say, I was very pleased. Yes, it was really expensive, but I loved the ease of application and the fact that I didn't have to sand and prime beforehand. I read a lot of reviews and blog posts about ASCP before buying it. The one thing I have to say is that I didn't get the wonderful coverage so many people raved about. It took three coats to fully cover the chairs... I was literally scraping the bottom of the can by the last chair. Obviously, these chairs were stained a dark color and I was going with a very light paint, so that definitely played a role in coverage.

I will definitely use ASCP again, though. Duck Egg Blue speaks to me.

The fabric on the cushions was a clearance find from Calico Corners. It was not at all what I was planning, but I love the simple, classic look of ticking. The only thing I don't like is the light color. Let's just say they will be getting a heavy dose of scotch-guard before we have spaghetti again.

{Ahem. Some people are messy eaters. And by some people, I mean me.}

I added the jute trim as an afterthought. Caitlin pronounced it too nautical looking, but I'm alright with that, matey. Ships ahoy!

I'm linking up here: My Romantic Home French Country Cottage Savvy Southern Style DIY by Design I Gotta Try That Creative Cain Cabin Between Naps on the Porch DIY Showoff Jennifer Rizzo Miss Mustard Seed

Easy Caramel Apple Tart

2013-05-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

I love to bake, but there is one thing I have yet to master: pastry crust. I just never seem to get it right, and I've pretty much given up trying. I usually keep a box of frozen pie crusts on hand for pie-related emergencies. {What? You don't have pie emergencies?}
I had planned to make an all-American apple pie for Memorial Day, but when I saw this simple recipe, I was inspired to tweak it a bit. The result was weeknight simple, but oh-so-yummy.

{This recipe is modified from one I found on the back of a can of pie-filling.}

You'll need:
1 (15 oz.) box of refrigerated pie crust
1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (21 oz.) can of apple pie filling
About one dozen individually wrapped caramels
1T. heavy cream {+more, as needed}

Heat oven to 375.

Unroll one crust in center of un-greased baking sheet.

Place second crust flat over the first, matching edges and pinching to seal edges.

With a rolling pin, shape into 14" round.

Fold over 1/2" of crust border, to form an edge. Press to seal seam.

Prick crust with fork.

Bake 20-25 minutes, or till golden-brown.

Cool completely before adding toppings.

~While the crust is baking~

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl with electric mixer till well combined.

In a separate, small bowl, combine caramels and heavy cream. Melt in microwave, check and stir frequently to avoid scorching. {My caramel got a wee bit scorched, but I was not about to waste it. Hence the brown bits. They add flavor.}

Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled crust.

Spread pie filling over cream cheese mixture.

Drizzle caramel over the top.

*Best if eaten right away, but it can be stored in fridge.

This recipe is fast, easy, and very flexible. It can be as fancy as you want it to be. If you are an awesome pastry maker, by all means, whip up your own light and flaky crust. Use fresh apples. Or strawberries. Or peaches. Try it with a bit of whip cream or some coffee and ice cream. The possibilities are endless!

A-Camping We Will Go

2013-05-23T12:05:00.001-07:00

{image via The Graphics Fairy} Happy {early} Memorial Day, y'all! We are taking a long weekend and heading out to the wilderness for a bit of good ol' fashioned camping. In tents. In 40 degree weather. {As long as it doesn't rain -too much- I'm good.}

I have lots of fun things to share in the coming days; including my {finally!} finished chairs, my thoughts on our first year of homeschooling, and a few great books and recipes. Enjoy the long weekend and welcome to summer!

All My Jeans Are Mom Jeans

2013-05-14T20:34:00.001-07:00

While perusing the interwebs the other day, I came across a most startling headline. It read, 'Mom Jeans' Are No Joke. They Are Glorious and Should Be Embraced. {you can check it out here but beware: the author drops the f-bomb with abandon} All hail the return of the Mom Jean!

{These are currently available at Top Shop}

But, I have a ~~rant~~ confession to make about mom jeans... Ready? My name is Jessie, and I wear mom jeans. Actually, for the last 11 years, all my jeans have been mom jeans. I am, in fact, a mom; therefore any jeans I wear are technically mom jeans. Just as any shoes I wear are mom shoes, and any purse I carry is a mom purse. You get the idea. So whether they are distressed boot-cuts,

or ripped and whiskered flares,

or cropped boyfriends,

or indigo-rinsed skinnies,

even if they are high-waisted, wide-legged, and spandex-filled...

...all my jeans are mom jeans.

I'm tired of the denim industry trying to sell me jeans for sweethearts, divas, or rockstars. I'm none of those things. I'm not trying to fool anyone into thinking I'm anything other than a 30-something hockey mom. {even if I was, a pair of jeans ain't gonna do the trick...} I don't want a blinged out behind, a low-rise, or slim-fit-thighs. I just want comfortable jeans that don't show my drawers, that corral my muffin top, and that don't cost a fortune. Oh, and I'd like them to be cute too. If that means I wear mom jeans, so be it.

Spring Into Summer Vignette

2013-05-09T17:10:00.003-07:00

Last week I finally got around to putting away my Easter decorations... six-ish weeks after said holiday. That might just be a new ~~low~~ record for me. But with my Pottery Barn knock-off bunny gone, I was left without anything fun on our open shelving. Enter my cure-all solution for decorating dilemmas: when in doubt, paint it out.

I got out my trusty pot of chalkboard paint, a piece of scrap cardboard, and my chalk markers and voila~ intsta-art.

Along with my grandmother's silver butter-dish, I displayed a few more pieces of thrift-store silver, some creamy white pottery, and a variety of faux greenery. The finished vignette feels simple and fresh. It's a nice segue from late spring into summer.

Peek-a-boo. I see me. And a crooked apple.

One thing I will readily admit: I am no photographer. I always admire the deceptively simple still-life shots I see on other blogs. Not so easy in real life. Everything looks fine from far away... and even through the lens of my camera, it seems fine. But closer inspection reveals a big ol' mess. The devil is in the details, as they say.

Let's take a broader look at things, shall we?

Much better.

I'm linking up here: My Romantic Home French Country Cottage Savvy Southern Style DIY by Design Ironstone Nest Creative Cain Cabin Between Naps on the Porch DIY Showoff Jennifer Rizzo

Crossing a Bridge

2013-05-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

Life: it's full/crazy/busy these days. My new work schedule has taken some getting used to. I work a few hours in the morning while Hunter does his independent work and a few hours late at night while everyone else is in bed. It's great for our family schedule, but not so great for blogging and crafty project time. I'm sorry if posting has been erratic; hopefully it will get better when school is out.
Last weekend marked a big milestone for Caitlin; she became a Girl Scout Cadette.

This was her fifth year as a Girl Scout, and she is really excited about this transition. I can't believe she is one of the "big girls" now. I'm pretty sure just a heartbeat ago she was a Daisy bridging to Brownies.

But on Saturday, after months of hard work, she and her troop-mates received the highest award given to Junior Girl Scouts, the Bronze Award.

Caitlin was very nervous about explaining their service project to the large crowd at the bridging ceremony, but she did a great job.

Naturally, we celebrated the occasion with cupcakes.

I am one proud mama.

{I knew I bought all those Girls Scout cookies for a good cause!}

Casual, Colorful WIWW

2013-05-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hey folks~~ happy Wednesday!

Here's a peek at what I've been wearing this week; my casual and colorful staples.

Scarves, cardis, and pops of color.

{Apologies for the grainy pics.}

Cardi, tee, jeans, flats: All from Target

Scarf: Lands End

Petal Pusher: The Pleated Poppy

Tee: Boden

Jeans: Silver

Scarf: Dress Barn

Sandals: Roxy

Headband: local craft fair

Just wanted to show the cute headband a bit better~ such fun, pretty colors.

The Return of Yard Work and Recipes Worth Trying

2013-04-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Cue the Hallelujah chorus; spring has finally arrived in central Minnesota! I cannot even express how happy we all are to see the mercury finally above the 50 degree mark. Unfortunately, with warmer temperatures and disappearing snow, we were able to fully see the sorry state of our deck after the brutal winter. It wasn't in very good shape to begin with, but we've finally reached the point of no repair. It was no longer safe to walk on and I was always worried that someone would get hurt out there. So, on Saturday the boys strapped on their safety goggles, grabbed their sledge hammers, and went to work.

Our deck is built into two sections, and thankfully we will be able to salvage the larger half. But this lower section was rotten throughout and had to be completely demolished. We are hoping to replace it with a paver-patio of some sort, but we don't have a solid plan yet. A big project is not in the budget, so it may stay in its current state for some time to come.

Hunter thought this was the best weekend project ever. He has always loved to be Chris's helper, but he's now finally big enough to actually be of assistance. I was very impressed with how quickly this demo-crew got the job done.

While the boys were busy outside {and Caitlin was at a friend's} I got busy on my neglected chairs. Yes, they are still unfinished, but I've made progress! They are all painted, waxed, and awaiting their sanding. Sigh, someday they'll get done!

I might have gotten more done, but I kept getting distracted by my stomach. I tried out several new Pinterest recipes this weekend and wanted to share the winners. If you're interested in seeing more of what I pin, you can follow me here. These were all easy and delicious recipes...highly recommended!

Food for Giving: Mocha Sheet Cake

2013-04-25T15:20:00.001-07:00

The birth of a baby. An unexpected illness. A new neighbor. A death in the family.

Whether it's an occasion to celebrate or one to sympathize, we share food to show we care.

One of my favorite foods for giving is this simple sheet cake.

It's easy to make, easy to transport, and chock-full of mocha flavor, making it a very welcome gift.

There are few combinations I like better in this world than coffee and chocolate. But the two united in cake form and topped with a latte-like frosting... and it's bliss beyond measure.

Even better? This cake can be made ahead, and frozen {unfrosted} for up to 3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature and frost when you need it.

{recipe adapted from an old issue of Country Home}

For the Cake:

1 cup butter 1 cup brewed coffee {decaf is okay} 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 2 eggs 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. vanilla In a large saucepan bring butter, coffee, and cocoa to boil, stirring occasionally with a wire whisk. Remove from heat and stir in flour, sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Add sour cream, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla and beat on medium speed until well blended, about one minute more. Pour batter into an ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan (I use a 9x13 Pyrex, but adjust the time by a few extra minutes). Bake at 375 for 23 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. For the Frosting: In a large bowl beat 5 tablespoons softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in a 1-pound bag of powdered sugar a little at a time on low speed until combined. Beat in 3 tablespoons cold brewed coffee, 1 tablespoon milk or cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until frosting is fluffy and spreadable. Add 1-2 teaspoons milk, if needed, to attain desired consistency.

I'm linking up here: My Romantic Home French Country Cottage Savvy Southern Style Between Naps on the Porch Domestic Fringe

Confessions of a WIWW Slacker

2013-04-23T21:22:00.001-07:00

By now, you all know the purpose of WIWW: it's meant to motivate stay-at-home/work-at-home moms to get out of our pjs and get dressed in something cute. The idea is simple; if you look good, you feel good.

And I will be the first to say it works.

But I'm lazy, and have gone back to my slothful dressing habits.

Most days I only get halfway dressed.

I work {late at night and early in the morning} as an online English teacher, and my students only see me from the waist up.

So it's professional on top, pjs on the bottom.

The rest of the day I'm a homeschool mom, so I often don't leave the house...

why bother with pants?

Needless to say, WIWW has suffered.

But I've managed to scrape together a few pictures from the last two weeks.

Denim jacket: Old Navy

Dress: Shade Clothing

Wool leggings {yes, still wearing wool!}: Smart Wool

Boots: Keen

Scarf: made by my aunt

Cardi: Target

Top: Boden

jeans: Joe's Jeans

Pin: The Pleated Poppy

What I wore to Junk Bonanza...

Jacket: Lands End

Top: Boden

Jeans: Joe's Jeans

Pins: The Pleated Poppy

Scarf: Dress Barn

Shoes: El Naturalista

Gingham top: Old Navy Sweater: Mod Cloth Jeans, flats: Target Necklace: Dress Barn

Junk Bonanza

2013-04-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

One of the things I look forward to every September is going to Junk Bonanza. A few of my girlfriends and I have made it something of a tradition. We spend the entire day browsing, eating, and laughing. It is a blast, and we always find lots of wonderful treasures. We were even featured on the Junk Bonanza blog in 2011 with some of our loot.

But unfortunately, last September we weren't able to make the 2+ hour trip to Shakopee for the Bonanza. I was lamenting the long wait till next fall, when I found out that this year, for the first time, there was going to be a Spring Bonanza! If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you already know that this past Saturday, that's exactly where I was.
We got there around ten, and it was crowded. Once we got through the gates, we were doing the cattle-shuffle and barely moving, but no one minded. There were treasures to look at on all sides.

Terrariums were everywhere, and many of them featured this darling plant called "Baby Tears." It's so delicate and spring-like, perfect for the mini-world of a terrarium. I think I need some!

We always look for weird hands and send pictures of them to our friend, Becky, who could't be there this year.

It's a long story... but we find it immensely amusing.

The vintage wedding display made me want to get married all over again. It was gorgeous, and my iPhone pic does not do it justice.

I bought some of this darling bunting made from embroidered tea towels. I'm thinking it will be perfect for a summer mantel-scape. I also bought 8 unframed Audubon bird prints... but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet. Stay tuned...

Jen, Katie, and yours truly.

Also known as the Chicago South Suburban Dental Society, or the C.S.S.D.S.

And yes, we did sport our official name tags all day.

I'm John Fox.

We capped off the a long day of shopping with spicy Bloody Marys.

I had so much fun and can't wait to go back in September! Will you be there?

Springtime Snowstorm

2013-04-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a brutally long winter {I might have mentioned it once or twice before...} and it shows no sign of abating. We're talking record-breaking snow for April. Yesterday we got got nearly a foot of snow.

We tried to look on the bright side... at least this snow is good for making snowmen and snow forts, and it's not too cold to play outside {as it often is in midwinter}.

The kids and the dog were having a grand old time.

School is closed yet again today, so Caitlin is home.

Hunter got a snow day too.

I tried to make tell him homeschoolers don't get snow days... but when the neighbor kids and Caitlin were all outside playing, I gave in and let him go.

They spent all morning playing king of the hill and trying to push each other off the huge banks made by the plows.

There's 50s in the forecast for next week. I think I will weep with happiness if that actually happens.

One Wink and Fourteen Years Later

2013-04-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Picture this: A ~~keg party~~ crowded room. A shy girl. A handsome young man. Their eyes meet... he winks, she blushes. They strike up a conversation, he offers a ride home... And they lived happily ever after.

~~My Junior Prom, circa 1996~~

~~Our wedding day, circa 1999~~
Today, Chris and I are celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary.

We eloped to Hawaii for our wedding, and always said we would go back for our 5 year anniversary... then our 10 year... but between babies and bills, it never happened.

I've got my fingers crossed that 15 will be our lucky number.

Here's to next year, babe... and a lifetime more after that!

What I'm Reading

2013-04-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

Having been on the library wait-list forever, I recently got notice that several books I reserved were available... all at the same time! Needless to say, I've been burning through the books in order to finish them before their due dates.
Ever since I read "The Secret Keeper," I've been on a Kate Morton kick. In the last two weeks I've read both "The Forgotten Garden"

and "The Distant Hours"

Both of them were thoroughly enjoyable although, for me, neither quite lived up to the thrill of "The Secret Keeper." The twist at the end of that particular book was completely unexpected; that factor alone made "The Secret Keeper" my favorite.

Morton's books are a bit formulaic {single woman untangles mystery from her family's past}, but each story is unique enough that it wouldn't deter me from reading more of her work.

In fact, I'm picking up "The House at Riverton" at the library tomorrow.

Not wanting to limit my reading repertoire by focusing solely on Morton, I've also recently enjoyed "The Light Between Oceans" by M.L. Stedman.

Strangely enough, the story was similar {in some ways} to Morton's "The Forgotten Garden."

However, I think this is by far a superior book. I could not put it down, and the characters stayed with me for weeks after I had finished reading. If you need more convincing, here's a link to the Good Reads reviews.

What have you been reading lately?

Stuff and Nonsense

2013-04-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

I've been in a bit of a funk lately. Nothing is wrong really, I just feel kind of blah. I blame the weather. It's hard to be cheerful during a never-ending winter. I mean, a foot of snow in mid-April?!? Come on. That's just mean.

The kids made the best of it.

They were trying to build the biggest snowman ever, but got a bit too ambitious and couldn't move their creations very far. So they used them as perches instead.

I decided this morning the best way to get over my funk was to get out of the house. So we loaded up the kids for a bit of a road trip. Nothing too exciting (well, it was exciting for me, just not so much for Chris and the kids) and drove an hour to our nearest Annie Sloan Chalk Paint retailer.

I got the first coat on as soon as we got home, but these chairs are old and quite wobbly. I keep finding bits that need more wood glue or other repairs, so it's slow going.

We also went to Calico Corners to look at some of the fabric choices I mentioned in this post. Thank you all for your input! I had taken your advice and settled on the funky floral. However, when we got to CC, I decided the pattern was too large-scale for my chairs. It would've been a pain to try and have it centered nicely on each cushion. So, naturally, I went with something totally different.

A simple and classic ticking stripe.

To cap off our little day-trip, we stopped at Sonic. The closest one is more than an hour away, so none of us had ever been there.

I got a strawberry limeade and it was wonderful. Just what I needed to put me in the mood for spring.

Now if only the sun would come out!

{It's not going to though. More snow in the forecast for tomorrow.

So we're going to an indoor water-park.}

Choosing Fabric is Hard!

2013-04-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

I mentioned the other day that I am in the process of redoing 6 hand-me-down dining room chairs. I am painting them and re-covering the seats.

I had hoped to get them done this weekend... but that was before I changed my mind 3 times on fabric. I even went so far as to buy fabric and bring it home, only to decide as soon as I walked in the door that I didn't like it. It has since been returned.
So help a girl out... Which fabric do you like?

The classic toile?

The funky floral?

Or the romantic floral?

Nothing like having wildly different choices, huh?

The chairs will be painted a creamy white or taupe color, and I have a lot of red/aqua/cream/gold in my house already so I know that any of these choices would work. But I would love some input and opinions. I am terrible at making decisions. Help me out or I will probably just choose something plain and boring out of frustration!

What I Wore Wednesday

2013-04-09T18:22:00.001-07:00

Hey, hey, it's Wednesday and you know what that means... Time for me to make lame excuses for only having two grainy iPhone pictures to share with you. But, surprise, I actually have a good excuse! I've been busy giving these lovelies a makeover.

Hopefully, I will have them finished up this week and will be sharing them soon.

On to WIWW~~ I will be linking up here:

My uniform: jeans, tee, cardi. Repeat.

Cardi, tee, flats: Target

Jeans: Lucky

Petal Pusher: The Pleated Poppy

Substitute slacks for the jeans and I'm ready for church!

Cardi, turtleneck, wedges: Target

Slacks: Gap

Petal Pusher: The Pleated Poppy

Volcanoes, Aqueducts, and Sunbathing

2013-04-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

Question: what do volcanoes, Roman aqueducts, and sunbathing have in common?

Answer: they're all part of an average week in our homeschool.

While I normally shudder at the mess that accompanies large-scale kid projects like this, I figured Hunter earned it. He is working hard, and continues to LOVE science and history. We found a volcano kit at the local craft store and decided it would be perfect for a Friday afternoon. We are studying Earth science and geology, as well as ancient Rome/Pompeii, so building a volcano tied in nicely with science and history. Plus, we painted it... so that's kind of like art, right?

{Just agree with me please. I have been slacking in the creative arts area!}

We had put red food coloring in to make it look more authentic, but for some reason the foam remained white. It was still very exciting, however.

If I was reluctant to build a volcano due to the mess, I must have been crazy to try the next project: a sand-dough Roman aqueduct model. We tried to follow the directions from The Story of the World, but found them a little confusing. This may have been due to the fact that we had 3 other kids helping, so it was a bit chaotic.

As you can see, our aqueduct was not built quite as solidly as the originals.

Aside from history and science, Hunter's other favorite subject is reading. Whether it's time for independent reading or our read-alouds, he can be found happily ensconced on the living room floor, basking in the warm sunshine. However, he usually has to fight the cats and dog for the prime sunbathing spots.

Usually, the animals win.

I'm linking up here:

The Summons to Hogwarts

2013-04-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

In a family of dedicated Harry Potter fans, one's eleventh birthday carries special significance. It is the magic day when the Muggles are sorted from the magic-folk; it is the day you receive your Hogwarts acceptance letter.

This week, my Caitlin turned 11. Naturally, she was anticipating a special letter to be delivered via Owl Post. And thanks to her sweet Auntie {my sister, Jacki, who is as big a Harry Potter fan as they come}, she got an official letter welcoming her to Hogwarts.

After a family dinner at her favorite restaurant, Caitlin gleefully spent her birthday money on more Potter-paraphanilia for her collection.

Of course, no 11th birthday is complete without a replica of the cake Hagrid made for Harry {including Hagrid's unique spelling}. I made my Best-Ever Chocolate Cake, but frosted it in the appropriately garish shades of pink and green.

The kids finished off the evening with a heated game of Wizard's Chess and a viewing of The Sorcerer's Stone.

It was a simple birthday celebration, made magical by Caitlin's delight in everything. To paraphrase Professor Dumbledore, I've just a few words before we go: "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

Easter Recap in an {Egg}shell

2013-04-01T16:53:00.001-07:00

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

We had a wonderful Easter this year. Lots of family and lots of good food. Naturally, we started the day with our annual pre-church portrait... which quickly descended into silliness.

Excuse me, we "mustache" you a question.

Do this facial hair work for us?

I can't believe how big the kids look in these pictures. Caitlin turns 11 years old tomorrow! Sniff, sniff. When did they get so big?!

After church, we rushed home to get ready for our guests. My mom, step-dad, and two of my sisters and their families joined us. I think we had 12 people total.

Our kitchen/school table was all dressed up with our wedding china and Chris's grandmother's silver. Pretty fancy for this low-key family!

The menu was a group effort and included:

Smoked Ham with a Bourbon-Brown Sugar Glaze {made by me}

Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus {made by Caitlin}

Cheesy Hash-brown Potatoes {made by my mom}

Strawberry Salad with Candied Almonds {made by Chris}

Pasta Salad with Marinated Shrimp and Artichoke Hearts {Mom again}

Broccoli Salad {made by my sister, Andrea}

I made the desserts because I am a crazy person and can never choose just one thing. So, for dessert we had:

Easter Sugar Cookies {made using this recipe}

Holiday Cookie Salad

Banana Cream Pie {found this recipe on Pinterest and it is divine!}

Raspberry and Lemon filled Cake with Fluffy Sour Cream Frosting

Orange-Scented Carrot Cake with White Chocolate Frosting

{recipe was in the most recent issue of Victoria magazine}

No one went hungry, that's for sure! We ended the day with a viewing of "The Hobbit." It was a perfect day,despite the cold weather. Today, we are enjoying a lazy day of left-overs before heading back to real life tomorrow. Hope your Easter was wonderful!

Happy Easter!

2013-03-29T09:22:00.001-07:00

In the midst of the busy-ness and preparations (both physical and spiritual) of Holy Week, I wanted to take a quick moment to wish you a blessed Easter.

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We are hosting our family for Easter lunch, so I am up to my eyeballs in cleaning, menu-planning, cooking, and shopping. But I love doing it all because I know it will culminate in a joyful celebration of our Savior's resurrection.

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These pictures of the kids from last year crack me up. I don't even know where they got the ears, but they wore them the whole day {minus church!}.

May the hope and joy of Easter touch every moment of your year.

Have a wonderful Easter!

What I Wore During the Winter That Never Ends

2013-03-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to What I Wore Wednesday. This special edition chronicles my continuing battle to usher some spring into the winter wardrobe which nature won't let me put away. Easter is just days away, but the weather still feels like Christmas. So I've resorted to incorporating color into my outfits for an extra pop of springtime.

Top: Boden, Scarf, Flats: Target, Pin: The Pleated Poppy

Cardi, Tee: Target, Jeans: Silver, Shoes: El Naturalista

Everything: Target

Dress: Lands End, Scarf: Dress Barn, Boots: Naturalizer

Cardi: Gap, Pins: The Pleated Poppy, Tee: Target

Sweater: Lands End, Scarf: Dress Barn, Shoes: Target

I hardly ever wear my hair straight, but did so on a whim today....

Whaddya think? Should I stick with my usual big hair, or go with the straight version now and then?

I'm linking up at The Pleated Poppy.