More Than the Mulberries

Saving Older Homes

2012-01-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

I love history and especially old architecture. If I had a deep enough pocket book, I would save and restore every old house I ever found!

I was surfing a little online tonight and found these fun photos of downtown Salt Lake City. Then I realized, HEY...I lived here - in that very spot!

South Temple in 1909

South Temple today - Brigham Apartments

South Temple 1909 with the Newhouse mansion

Same view today.

I loved living here when I was a single girl going to the University of Utah. I had a fantastic one bedroom apartment, no roommates and life was good.

(Sometimes I tell Dan I wish I could go live there again for a few days at a time, kids come with a lot of messes and clutter I never had then!)

It seems like downtown is treated like a big playground for building and re-building. As much as I loved that apartment it makes me so sad to see those amazing old homes that could have still been there today had someone stood up for restoring and saving them!

Downton Abbey

2012-01-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Who is watching Downton Abbey?

I started it a few days ago (only seven episodes so far) and I love it! It's pretty much a soap opera with starched collars and button up shoes but I love it. The newest episode starts on Sunday night and I can hardly wait!

If you haven't checked this series out, you should. It's SO good! Even if Dan says he can't understand a word of it. Maggie Smith is perfect in her character as Dowager Countess Lady Grantham:

Lady Grantham: "You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal."
Mrs. Crawley: "I take that as a compliment."
Lady Grantham: "I must've said it wrong."

I just found that a book has been written about the actual inhabitants of the real Downton Abbey or Highclere Castle. It might be on my list for book club...

I'm also, thanks to my new mandatory treadmill time, finally all caught up on my other guilty pleasure - The Vampire Diaries. I was all for Stefan but now I'm hoping Damon and Elena get together, even more fun since they are dating in real life.

What are you watching these days?

Family Movie Night

2011-12-31T16:00:00.001-07:00

First I need to tell you that posting awful pictures of your home really works. I spent HOURS in my office and I am almost ready to post "after" pictures tomorrow. It feels SO good to have it clean again!

We were excited to host a family movie night to watch "Cars 2" with all of the cousins last night.

At your house, this might mean asking 5 people over.

At our house, however, it is asking 50 people over.

My boys really got into the spirit of things by handing out tickets, making signs and being ushers.

Front door

Greg ready at the ticket office

Ready to hand out tickets.

I found cute little tickets at Hobby Lobby a while ago, perfect for a night like this.

We had every one come and get a drink in the kitchen and then Graham took their tickets on the stairs. Lauren had her flashlight ready and escorted people to their seats.

It sounds way more organized than it actually was. But FUN!

I had a table with bowls of popcorn and other treats. It was also the first time Dan's Great Nanny has ever been to our home so that was a real treat too!

It was so much fun that we are hoping to do this with everyone once every few months. We love it when our kids can spends time with their cute cousins! All 20 something of them!

Home Office

2011-12-29T11:42:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of pros and cons to having a home office. My biggest con is that mine is right when you walk in the front door.

What you see when you are standing in my entry way. See? EMBARRASSING!

The plus?

I am on the main floor where I can hear and see everything going on and if my boys want to use the computer, I have full vision and hearing of that activity.

I am not at all a trendy person - but I am considering myself as much because I doing what everyone else and their dog/cats/and children are doing this week - cleaning and organizing!

Master Bedroom done - this is the bag of trash to prove it!

I have ZERO motivation today. Not sure why. My only thought of this mess is "Well, this is embarrassing. I should pick this up."

And so that has led me to posting some pictures.

Coupon binder and mess of coupons. I am actually NOT couponing any longer. It's just too much for me right now. I needed a break.

Paper piles and clothes to list in my ebay store today.

Bookshelves. I see all these pretty blogs with their perfect offices. WHERE do they put their STUFF? Do they not have any? Where do the printer labels, extra paper, and things go? Am I the ONLY one alive who has things? Or do I just have too much?

Archaic attempts to become organized. I love the idea of this. I just stink at it.

This gorgeousness belongs to the a la mode maven, Shelli. I can't really get rid of my black desk at this point, but I LOVE this room. It's just beautiful.

I never said MY blog was one to make you envious!

If nothing else I hope you read this and leave feeling a spring in your step and better about your own situation since you are not in mine today!

I'll report back later...

Wishing you...

2011-12-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

A very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year to you and your families!

We are busy wrapping, baking and giggling...I am cherishing this time with my sweet family and hope you are able to do the same!

Ellie the Elf

2011-12-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

Lauren had her very first dance recital last Saturday. She performed to the song "Ellie the Elf." Such a cute song.

The first 10 times you hear it.

She has been taking ballet and tap for the last 3 months and seems to like it.

She was MOST excited about getting a costume to wear and putting on the makeup though.

I wasn't sure how she would do performing at the packed high school auditorium - but she was great!

She got right up on stage, singing and dancing her little heart out.

The best part was right afterwards when Greg gave her some flowers from him, Graham and daddy. She took them in her arms like the 1000's of princess shows she watches.

It was like she was thinking.."Of COURSE you would give me flowers!"

We got a good laugh out of that!

The boys were miraculously patient with watching this program - especially since I had taken them the night before to go see "The Nutcracker." I insisted Dan do something very "boyish" with them that day to even out all the ballerina-ness they had been subjected to!

Santa Baby

2011-12-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA for awhile I know. I don't really feel like I had anything to say. Or anything I did have to say would be negative or sad. And I don't want to project that "out there." I've been really hard on myself the past few weeks and I need to make a few changes in my life. One involves a total gutting of the junk in my home - that is well underway and I am already feeling better and a lot happier. Baby steps and positive thinking - right?!

I took my three littles to see Santa a few weeks ago. We like to see Santa early to beat the Christmas rush and get lists to him so he doesn't have to shop last minute for us. ;) My friend Emilie of Photos by Emilie takes them and it is a GLORIOUS experience. I take the kids to her studio that is all decorated for Christmas - the kids meet with Santa and it is stress FREE for moi. Love love love.

Here is the proof of Santa cuteness....

Laundry Rooms

2011-11-30T18:18:00.001-07:00

Before putting in our new laundry room, we had considered rearranging our former laundry closet with a stackable washer dryer situation to give us more space. I've seen some really nice ways to do this via Pintrest. (Can I just say I am TOTALLY addicted to that site?!) But it's so much fun looking around at other ideas to see how you want your home to be. I think it would be something to consider, it just depends on your space and how many kids you do laundry for. My three feel like an army of 50 sometimes!

We finally went with the side by sides in a larger room but I can't bring myself to post pictures of it until I find a valance and a nice rug to put in there....and I seem to be slow on finding what I want these days. Is anyone else like this? I know exactly what I want in my head but no one else can manage to design it! Ack.

I'm Still Here!

2011-11-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness - where has this month flown by?

We were so excited this past week to welcome home Dan's sister from her LDS mission to Spokane, Washington. She got to serve in Farm Chick's country - LUCKY! Dan was working from home that day so we took Lauren with us to meet the family and welcome Sarah home!

There she is!

The nieces and nephews running to give Sarah a hug

Seeing mom and dad and her sisters Jaylene and Sheree for the first time in 18 months!

The airport group.

We love Sarah. She is just such a happy girl and always is first to greet you with a big hug and smile. We have for sure missed her presence at family gatherings the past year and a half and we are thrilled to have her home!

Around our house we celebrated a little...

And Lauren has been my number one helper who wants to make cookies almost every day now!

Waiting for me to get my apron on

I'm going to see Breaking Dawn tonight with a few friends - cannot WAIT!

Edward Cullen - yes please.

(And whew - it's not a midnight showing, I'm just too old for that anymore!!)

Business Card Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-07T18:05:00.001-07:00

I am SO sorry I lied! I was going to announce this on Saturday but it has been a worrisome weekend with my dad in the hospital. But after a week, he's home tonight and recovering so let's celebrate with a winner!

Bonnie at A Wee Meenit - you are the lucky lady!

I'll have my people get in touch with your people (ok, just send me a contact email address to morethanthemulberries@gmail.com and I'll hook you up to business card fabulousness!)

Business Card Giveaway!

2011-11-03T19:36:00.001-06:00

I've been looking around for some new business cards - the ones I currently have are from a popular online site, but I wanted to get something a little different.

I was pleased to get an email from Next Day Flyers who offered to let me try out their site and giveaway 250 business/mommy/blogger cards to one of my readers! Free shipping included - sweet!

The winner can either upload a print ready file (something created in Photoshop, Illustrator, etc) or use their Online Design Center to create their business card layout.

Leave a comment for an entry or tweet about it and let me know for another chance to enter! I'll pick a winner on Saturday!

Christmas Card Love

2011-11-02T22:10:00.001-06:00

Y'all....I am a nervous wreck to go tomorrow to see how my family pictures turned out. So nervous I'm using the word y'all when I should really be true to my school by saying things like: totally, rad, like, and fer sure.

We'll see how they turn out. If I don't like how I look I'll just use pictures of the kids. Easy.

In the meantime, I've been looking at my friend Nat's Etsy shop Natty Sue Designs for Christmas card ideas. She designs the CUTEST cards! Seriously, she is one talented girl. I love yelling at her over the fence and telling her "I need a card for Graham....read my mind and make it awesome."

And she DOES IT - every.single.time!

I'm thinking I need to have a party just to use this card....

SO CUTE!!

And I am loving this Christmas card....

Here is the miracle she whipped up for me in about 20 seconds last year....

This year I am thinking of using this one....

(Are those kids CUTE or what???!!!! If my kids made ugly faces in the family pictures I just might use this picture and pretend this is what Graham Greg and LuLu are looking like these days.)

Or maybe this one?

and this one is pretty fun too....

I'll let you know how it goes!!! Wish me luck and here's to photo shop for making me look thinner!

Don't pretend you don't do that....you know you've at least THOUGHT about it!!!! :)

TRICK or TREAT!

2011-10-31T21:57:00.000-06:00

Preschool parade

Elementary school parade

Trunk or Treat at church

LuLu and her happy pumpkin

Some serious carving going on here!

Cute Grahamer

Me trying

to get

at least one good shot???? I give up.

Cute LuLu with her loot!

Hope you all had a fun Halloween!

Happy 9th Birthday Graham!

2011-10-24T22:29:00.000-06:00

So if someone could tell me

How we went from this to

THIS in a 2 second flash...

Oh my BABY!

I am so happy to watch him grow up but does it give any other mom so much heartache at the same time?

He had a great time with all of his buddies at his birthday party Friday night.

Lauren had the most fun of all....just wait until these boys are 16 and she'll really be glad she has older brothers then!

Seriously, these boys are just cute. And they are so nice. I'm so happy he has GOOD friends, you know?

They watched National Treasure and had pizza and way too much junk food!

Dan brought him McDonald's for lunch today and ate with him and we brought doughnuts for him to pass out to his classmates. After school got out we told him and Greg that we needed them to get flu shots - but ended up at the movies to see "Real Steel."

(Great movie by the way!!)

We ended the day at grandma and grandpa's for cake and ice cream. It was a fun weekend of celebrating for him!

Happy Birthday Grahamer! We love you!

Gardner Village for Halloween

2011-10-19T21:52:00.000-06:00

I had a few errands to run and I still wanted to do something fun with the kids so I took them to Gardner Village to see the witches!

They loved looking around and seeing what all the crazy those witches were causing!

"Make a scary face!"

This was Lauren pretty much the whole, entire time.

The boys thought this was hilarious of course.

I took them into Sweet Afton's for a little treat....

to tide us over....

until we got the the bakery for a pumpkin cookie.

Eating these is serious business!

All was well until the sugar kicked in and then this happened:

SPLAT.

My kids went CRAZY of their own.

Graham on sugar is like a someone fed him speed.

Blurry pictures because he can't stop moving! Then, Greg follows his big brother's awesome example!

STOP!!! STOP IT!!!! NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!

We made it outside without anyone breaking anything (success!)

And Graham gave us all a very educational speech on how waterwheels work and what they are for.

It was a very nice way to spend a fall afternoon. I'll just do the cookies LAST next time!

Not to worry anyone, but I've had a few medical scares over the past few months. Tomorrow I am heading downtown for a big ta-do type of test (not looking forward to the IV, yuck!)

Dan took the day off to be with the kids while I go get this taken care of and hopefully everything will be okay. But if you feel like sending some positive thoughts my way I would sure appreciate it!!

Fall Family Pictures

2011-10-18T09:37:00.000-06:00

So I finally talked myself into doing nice family pictures.

Do things like this stress you out?

They stress me out big time. Planning what everyone is going to wear, my hair, getting there on time, looking 20 pounds thinner, my hair, you get the idea. But we haven't done one in years and so I threw my vanity to the wind and made the appointment.

It went really well. I am not kidding though, we were up in one of the Wasatch Mountain canyons and it was COLD!

Dan was a great sport even though he was cracking jokes like, "We ALWAYS hold hands and walk up the sides of mountains at 6 p.m., don't we?"

Greg and Graham did great and smiled nicely as long as the potty jokes kept coming. When they didn't, the faker smiles came out and Greg couldn't look into a camera lens to save his life.

The scenery/backdrop was fabulous....so maybe everyone will notice that instead of the fact that I could FEEL my hair going flat and frizzy. Poor Lauren was just a cry baby the whole time she was so cold! Sad!

LuLu had on a little velvet shruggie with a fur collar....and she wouldn't strike one pose. Of course we get home and she strips down and the posing begins as soon as she sees my camera. What???

Me giddy with the thought of not having to do this for another 7 years. (Ok, maybe sooner....) But still, SO glad it's done!

My Memories Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-12T19:34:00.000-06:00

Lauren has pulled a name out of her hat for the My Memories Suite Giveaway winner......

Congratulations to EMILY!!

And don't forget....

They are also offering a Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store

Just use STMMMS97297 as your promo code for the discount!

I've been a busy girl this week so I've only played around with it a little - but I can already tell you - HOLY COW! It is SO EASY! I am thrilled for this great chance to giveaway this awesome product and start getting my pictures together!

Emily, I'll be contacting you!

Laundry Turned Mud Closet

2011-10-10T18:06:00.006-06:00

Fall is here and we've been starting to break out our sweatshirts and I'm looking through the kids winter gear to see what is needed. I am absolutely giddy that I now have a place to put things!

Dan the man has been hard at work again! We originally had our laundry upstairs on the main level. IN THE HALL CLOSET. A man MUST have designed that! Who DOES that? This being our first home and moving in with only three of us, it seemed like a non-issue.

Original Hall Laundry Closet

It became a huge issue when we added two more children to the mix! Laundry overflowed into the hallway and was often piled up in our master bedroom.

Super romantic, right?

With doors open. The builder couldn't even put a light in there, Dan added that shortly after we moved in!

Now that we have a new laundry room downstairs in the basement (*pictures to come next week I hope!) We decided to use this space for much needed extra storage.

My new mud closet!

Dan installed bead board backing and we carefully covered up all the laundry access. With a master on the main, if we sold this house to an older couple & they ever wanted a main floor laundry, it could be converted back.

Lauren, Greg and Graham each have their own shoe basket, section of hooks and cubby above to store hats, gloves, dance bags, etc.

Cute hooks from Lowe's - can I tell you how much I love that store?

We also picked up some pine corbels for dividers there. I had wanted some chunkier ones but it just took up too much space. So we went with the skinny ones.

Rounded shelves - I have mine with a basket for this and that.

The rest will be holding kitchen appliances like my food processor that I use a lot, but don't really want out on the counter all the time.

Individual spaces above for each child. Baskets from Target to hold their gloves, hats, Bey Blades, etc. I'm going to get some holders for their books and paperwork that come home from school.

Above those you can see a really high long shelf. I'll be storing a few of my front door wreaths up there.

BEFORE:

AFTER!

I think I'll be quiet for awhile and let Dan work on his basement speakers before I come up with a new project for him! I'm just so happy to have this done before winter!

Linking up to:
Coastal Charm
Savvy Southern Style
Type A
Show and Share
Stuff and Nonsense
French Country Cottage
Addicted 2 Decorating
Whipperberry
Tatertots and Jello
Tip Junkie

Digital Scrapbooking Anyone?

2011-10-04T22:56:00.001-06:00

Do any of you do this? I used to be REALLY into scrapbooking until Graham was about a year old. (Hmmmm...which was when he started walking!) I take a gazillion pictures and they all just seem to sit here in my computer.

I've been wanting to do something about this for the longest time - so I was SUPER excited when I was contacted by My Memories about their scrapbook software. They have scrapbook layouts, cards, calendars, you name it.

They have been so generous in allowing me to download their program to try it out. And guess what? They are letting me giveaway one of their My Memories Suites to one of my readers!

They are also offering a Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store

Just use STMMMS97297 as your promo code for the discount!

To enter the giveaway for your own My Memories Scrapbook Software program, go to My Memories and tell me what your favorite layout is!

I'm so excited to spend some cold snowy days this winter catching up on my children's photos!I'm thinking I could make some cute Christmas crafts with these...

Or make a mini recipe book for neighbor gifts with these....

I am already in love with this program!

I'll announce a winner on Wednesday, October 12th!

Promises

2011-09-30T21:45:00.001-06:00

Dan took the day off today to fulfill a day FULL of promises that he and I needed to make good on. You know the ones, "we will take you there when school is out" or "If you get a good report card we'll do XY and Z with you."

It started out with the school Jog-a-Thon. Dan was a champ and ran the longer race with both boys.

They ran about 3 miles I think...both of my boys are pretty good runners. But it was fun cheering for them and seeing their "turbo boosters" as they call them kick in as they would hear their names and run even faster!

We hurried home after and we all headed up to the canyon for a hike. The fall leaves are changing and it was just gorgeous up there!

Starting out....

Lauren was a big cry baby who was upset about walking, dirt and rocks in her shoes. I am sorry to say that I have passed on my non-love of the outdoors to her. Although I kept telling Dan how great this hike was....seriously. We had the best time.

It was so quiet and peaceful.

And the views!!! If this wasn't the perfect fall day I don't know what is!

At the beginning of summer I made this big mural on the landing. I told the boys that if they reached a certain number of books read before school started, that we would take them to the new rec center swimming.

I totally would've taken them anyhow but sometimes them learning what goals are and earning things is good, right?

This was their chart mid-summer...they did a GREAT job of reading. Lauren earned fish whenever the boys or mom and dad read a book to her.

So after jogging, haircuts, hiking and lunch, we of course went swimming!!

Dan and I are tired and the shirts we picked out for the kids for family pictures next week are these:

But at least all promises have been made good on!

Firsts

2011-09-22T23:55:00.000-06:00

Greg is getting to be such a big kid! He's doing so well in school and is my happy little 1st grader. I love being with Greg, he is silly and always makes me laugh. He mowed the lawn (with supervision!) for the first time last Saturday....look at that concentration!

And he finally lost his first tooth!

The look on his face was priceless...shock and disbelief when it fell right out of his mouth and into his hand! The Tooth Fairy brought him 2 $1.00 gold coins..there was even fairy dust on the windowsill!

Handmade Bread Cutting Boards

2011-09-16T13:24:00.005-06:00

I have been like a busy bee around here trying to get my house looking more like FALL! The pumpkins are out, leaves and acorns here and there, muffins for hungry boys after school are in the oven and it's perfect rainy weather outside to boot!

My dad has recently taken up wood working as a hobby and he loves buying all his new machines and supplies. I decided to enlist his help with a little project....some handmade bread boards!

We made a set of 4 - these are done in Ash. I drew the pattern and dad got to work cutting and sanding.

A little dark stain and some food safe seal, they were good to go.

This little set is off to a special friend in Georgia for her birthday. I hope she will love them! Even more so because they were made with love just for her!.

These were so fun to make! We are making a set for my table now, but I think even a single one would be so cute to give as a gift with a yummy loaf of pumpkin bread on top all wrapped up as a hostess gift. Don't you?

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Linking up to:
House of Hepworths
Coastal Charm
Tatertots and Jello

Blog Remodel - About Me

2011-09-08T20:52:00.003-06:00

I've had some things going on at home that have caused my inner worry wart and stressfulness to come out. What better time than to dive right in this weekend and do some blog remodeling? I know nothing about it. AT ALL. I just know I'm too broke to pay anyone to do it.

But in the meantime I want to join in one of my favorite blogs, Sawdust and Paper Scraps About Me party. She is amazing and ~~I have~~ Dan has, already copied one of her projects:

Not too shabby!

I'm Kristen - this is me on a good hair day:

Which was 10 years ago, but I am totally still riding on that high.

I am a wife to Dan (10 years this month!) whom I decided to marry the night of our first date. Good decision. We have three cutie tooties, Graham, 8 - Gregory, 6 and Lauren Bridgette, 3.

I live 12 houses away from my mom and dad, (we built AFTER them...my mom always wants me to make that disclaimer) and my life wouldn't work nearly as smoothly without them. I have 1 brother, 3 brothers in law and 9 sisters in law. I've lost count of the nieces and nephews. There are a lot.

I love history and old houses. I love thinking I am organized when it's a struggle for me. I love Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., decorating and traveling. Sadly I married a man who hates traveling so I'm stuck here in Utah 99.9% of the time.

I am a wedding floral designer, garage sale lover, couponer (I am VERY frugal!) and as a native of Southern California, I have flip flop wearing in my blood.

I am obsessed with sandwiches. Love them. Might explain the reason why I have been on a diet since I was 8.

Having a clean house, red and pink, Issy Miyake perfume, a trip to the craft store, iced mochas, peonies and gardenias are things that make me smile.

I am a novice gardener, I love to cook, I'm overly sensitive and have WAY too high of expectations for situations and people.

I'm not opinionated but I have better ideas. ;) I dislike rules.

Really, I forget sometimes, but while there are improvements I am always needing to make, I am truly blessed.

UPrinting Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-08T12:16:00.000-06:00

Have you ever heard of Rick Dees on KIIS FM?

I grew up listening to him - now he has a national show with the Weekly Top 40.

It's a joke on his show that he's never had more than 7 listeners.

I had 7 entries for this giveaway so I'm laughing at myself that I'm on the same playing field as Mr. Dees himself.!!

The winner of the 16x20 rolled canvas is :

Mary Ann

Congrats and send me an email with your contact information so I can give you details!

morethanthemulberries@gmail.com

Are You a Farm Chick?

2011-09-03T14:13:00.002-06:00

Lookiloo at what came in my mailbox this past week...

Happy Mail from the Farm Chicks!

I am doing my best to plan out a trip to Spokane next spring to visit the Farm Chicks show. The more I look into it, the more excited I get!

I am also very excited about this lovely (well, not yet but eventually) space....

The old yuck of a hallway laundry room. Dan has made some beautiful plans for a mud room type of closet. Think shelving, shoe baskets, and BEADBOARD! I can't wait!

Ps...Have you entered my rolled canvas giveaway yet? Only 2 sweet friends have entered so far, so your odds are GOOD! ;)