Classic Fall

So, it looks like I’m quickly becoming obsessed with the
Polyvore website!
You really ought to try it!
This fabulous site allows you to mix & match products & clothing you love
in “unique & creative” ways.
I am definitely not a “fashion girl” {in Sophia’s words, not mine}.
I just know what I like, and what I wish I could have
if given the opportunity to go on a mama shopping spree!
If I could only shop at three stores for the rest of life,
they would definitely be…
This dream board was created using items from the Crew.
You just can’t go wrong sticking with the classics, right?!
My dad taught me that {smile}.
Although most days you will find me in yoga pants & tanks {such is life},
this is what I’m wearing… in my head!

Classic Fall

 

Sick but trying to remain thankful

My favorite month of the year came and went with a blink of an eye…..October.

Though we live in Southern California and we don’t have much of a weather change, most of us do notice

a different smell in the air.  A chill at night and the leaves do change on trees here.

This year we encountered a pattern… a roller coaster if you will of weather.  Hot one day cool the next.

This wrecks havoc on my sinuses.  The start of fire season and the Santa Ana winds.

So that being said, I have a sinus infection.  Dreadful yes, even more dreadful being sick as a mom.

There is no down time, but what I can say is that your normal housekeeping skills

are diminished.  Keeping the pounding out of your head while your kids are fighting over a toy

is*******not going to happen.  So today I am going on day 7 of being sick and I have

  been inspired by those whom have decided to log on Facebook and tell what they are thankful for so many

blessings, but during these times when your brain is fogging from sinus medication

one must remember that the laundry can wait, the kitchen can be cleaned later,

the toothpaste on the kids bathroom counter will be wiped up sooner than later.  What life is trying to teach

me is to slow down and be thankful that this is just a sinus infection and all will return to normal

in a couple of days.  I am in good health and thankful.

But while I am recovering a couple cups of coffee or tea are going to help me survive.

To the beginning of the season of Thankfulness!!

Love is a Verb…

Last night, I went to bed before the kids.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a night owl.

The kids tucked me into bed with their soft kisses and gentle “goodnights,”

and made peace with the fact that Daddy was going to have to put them to bed,

without the presence of Mommy {or Mum, as Finn calls me}.

I had a migraine….

and there was slim chance of me making it another minute

with the light and noise involved with the bedtime routine.

I woke when Husby finally made his way into our bed.

Half asleep, I asked if he had stayed up late.

He told me that I had already been asleep for SIX hours, meaning it was after 2 a.m.

My heart sunk realizing that he must have stayed up getting things done around the house for me.

This is what he does.

He feels bad going to work and leaving the kids and I,

especially over the weekend when most families are spending it together.

He explained to me that he had cleaned up the kitchen from dinner,

packed the car for today’s soccer games,

folded laundry…

and cut out most of the black laminated cardstock spiders

needed for one of our son’s classroom door decorations for his upcoming Red Ribbon Week.

Husby quickly fell asleep for the three hours that remained

before he needed to get up and head out for a 48-hour shift at the fire station.

As he left this morning, he kissed me goodbye,

letting me sleep a few more precious moments before the pandemonium of the day ahead began.

During a rare moment of peace,

I started thinking about the book I read so many years ago on the different languages of love.

Clearly Husby shows his love for me through acts of service.

It isn’t unusual for him to stay up to the wee hours of the morning folding laundry

and tidying up the house so I don’t have as much to do the next day.

The funny thing is….

is that we don’t necessarily speak the same love language.

He loves gifts, acts of service {wink},

and words of affirmation, while I soak up affection and quality time with him.

Even though his late night didn’t involve affection and quality time spent together,

I still knew, that what he did was his way of showing his love for me.

Love is not only a noun…. but a verb!

This was his way of loving me!

Maybe someday, when the kids are all grown…

love might look like romantic dinner dates…

dreamy long walks on a stranded beach…

big bouquets of unexpected flowers…

and intimate nights spent in deep conversations

while gazing longingly in each others eyes…

but for now, for us…

love translates into folding laundry,

watching the kids so I can grab coffee with a girlfriend,

unloading the dishwasher,

putting the kids to bed…

and lets not forget,

cutting out endless amounts of awkwardly shaped spiders!

Hmm…

maybe with the arrival of our four little ones,

and our current crazy {but wouldn’t change it for the world} chaos,

my love language has seriously changed!

*************************

Thank you to the most awesome Husby a girl could ever dream of!!!

I APPRECIATE the way you love me!

*************************

P.S. Even though affection and quality time still rank high on my list of priorities

with respect to feeling loved…

this wifey does greatly appreciate Starbucks on your way home from work

{just in case you’re reading this, my handsome Husby}!

*************************

{The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts: Gary D Chapman}

Making Bread

Saturday seemed like a perfect day to stay inside and be warm and cozy.

Drizzle is making a wet blanket on the street outside.  The perfect excuse to use my baking imagination…..

Hmmm, what is this I have underneath the bottom shelf of my pantry, hidden behind mixer attachments….

a bread maker.  Okay, so I knew it was there.  It has traveled from three homes plus a storage unit in the 9 years

I have been married.  It was one of the few things I allowed Shane to register for.  The other was a set and forget it

chicken rotisserie and that, well it did not make the move into this house.

Don’t get me wrong I love bread, but it was not

a top registry priority as I believed I could myself.  I did not need a fancy machine.

My kitchen aid mixer has a dough hook so I thought it would be enough.

So I pulled out the bread maker from below.

I skim the instructions and I think at best the honey wheat sounds amazing and fairly simple.

I take a look for what the recipe entails and chance may have it, I have all the ingredients needed.

The process is fairly simple but precise.  I put together the ingredients and set it to bake

for three and half hours.  Boy did it smell like a French Bakery.

After the small yet satisfying ding of the bread baker…..here is the finished product:

Fantastic Bread.  The smell amazing….but a little bit dense in comparison to bread from the store.

Well, that part could have slightly been prevented.  Maybe my son opening

and closing the machine top played a part in the dough rising.

Minus that the bread machine experience was:

1. Easy to put together (if you have the most of the ingredients)

2. Really set it and forget it.  It does it on its own.

3. Makes the house smell fantastic.

4. Is very healthy like any other baked good you make from home.

5. Probably most important it made the hubby happy.

Thanks to whom ever gave The Lindstrom’s a bread maker as wedding gift!

Hope you pull yours out soon!

ÁBATON: ESTATE IN EXTREMADURA

ÁBATON: ESTATE IN EXTREMADURA

From traditional to modern, Nicole and I both LOVE design and architecture.

Personally, if I were to be a house…..

I’d choose to be this one!

This stunning Estate is located in the province of Cáceres, Spain.

Ábaton Architects did a brilliant job of transforming an abandoned stable into a family home.

They renovated the structure in a way that would be “consistent and respectful with the environment.”

How lovely is that?

Indulge for a moment and view this inspirational house….

Photographs: Courtesy of Ábaton Architects

{xo, sara}