18 Months Old

Our little Punkin' turned 18 months old this week! Josh decided a little cake was in order...so of course we had to sing happy birthday too. He's getting such a good vocabulary and I love listening to him talk. Some of his favorites right now are "wa-ter" - with a very pronounced 'T' - and "light". We hear those all day long. Today we ran into Home Depot to buy a switch which was in the fan/light fixture department and I thought he was going to blow a gasket yelling "light" over and over, pointing at all the lights. It was really funny!

He has started getting that "two-year old" personality...if you know what I mean. Everything is "mine" and lots of no's. The little turkey started this run-by turning of the dishwasher switch. It's gotten sorta comical, but still a no-no. He'll be running by full speed and practically skid in his socks to stop and turn the switch real fast, then he'll catch my eye and all wide eyed he'll run off full speed again. He knows I'm gonna get him if he hangs around.

And everything is "hot". He waves his little hand to cool it off and blows, even if it isn't hot. He's got the blowing of candles down pat. We lit this one several times!

Always the little boy, he's gotten so good at climbing and loves to explore. He loves to throw rocks and dig in the dirt. It's a losing battle cleaning under his nails anymore.

He uses his spoon like a champ and can shovel in food with the best of 'em. We're working on swallowing before he starts gaging now. Ha.

Yes sir...our sweetie is one big ball of joy. Most days, that is. Just like anything else we have our rough days and it gives me all the opportunity I need to work on my patience and endurance. I always thought I was a patient gal until Joseph came along. Thank goodness we have it as good as we do. He's healthy and happy and learning so much. And that beaming smile...no one can resist it. If every single person had the chance to capture a glimpse just once, it could change the world. I just know it. :)

Everything is all about making my home a haven these days...I can't stop thinking of the next thing I want to do to make it more comfy, beautiful or organized. Goes hand in hand with staying home I suppose. I see this place alllll day long and have all the time in the world to sit and stew on arrangements for the table, pillows for the couch, wishing for this and that...the nesting bug has bitten me hard this year. Then there is Pottery Barn....stupid, stupid, wonderful, sexy Pottery Barn.

I've found a fun new blog called Buzzings of a Queen Bee that I like to check in on every couple of days or so. She had a post recently about copying the wreath above...and I shamelessly copied her shamelessly copying Pottery Barn. It had been awhile since I'd busted out my bitty glue gun and it was high time!

I grabbed a 14" wreath form from Hobby Lobby and a couple bags of Reindeer Moss (from Norway, apparently...). It took way longer than I thought it would, as do ALL my projects. And any of my time estimates, really. Always waaay off. I'll tell Josh I'll be back in 30 minutes and an hour and a half later I come walking in through the door, apologizing for taking so long. He says 'no big deal' that he knew it would take me three times longer than I said. I get that from my Dad...no denying it. I come by it naturally, what can I say?

My Little Helper got a few pieces to help me out with. He was oh so helpful with his eagle eyes and told me when I missed a spot and helped me with the positioning of it all. He's going to make an excellent decorator...er, I mean Doctor or Professional Wrestler...someday!

That glue gun gets so stinking hot. It's ridiculous. They need to have a warning on there. "Even though you've used this tool a hundred times and you think you know what you are doing, please do not touch the hot glue unless you want to melt the skin off of your precious little fingers...and it really really hurts." I mean, I knew it was hot and it would hurt, but when you're gluing down porous fluffy moss...it's bound to happen.

Uh oh, Little Helper has somehow opened the baby proofed utensil drawer. In about three minutes, he puts every single thing in there on the cabinet in a nice little pile then whacks me with the metal garlic press.

Here we are! I thought it turned out perfect! Perfectly springy and fresh! A little spring for spring! A fresh little wreath for a fresh little mama! ;)

Oh nutso! I didn't do the back side in an effort to save time and materials...didn't consider the window in the door though.
"Oh Heather! What a lovely styrofoam wreath form! I always thought you were supposed to cover those but what an interesting take on it! Bravo!"
Take that Pottery Barn! I bet yours was actually covered all the way around! You think you're so fancy!

But from the front...too cute! I think this is my new favorite thing. I went out and saw it this morning and it was so nice hanging there! Simple, fresh and springy. Happy Spring!

P.S. Josh said it looked Christmassy and weird. Good thing he didn't get a vote on it because it would have been vetoed anyway. What do boys know about fabulous moss wreaths anyway?

The List: Hutch - Check!

One of my top ten "house to-do list" things was checked off recently. Of course the real truth is that the top ten to-do's are constantly changing and moving around "the list" depending on what's important at the time, right?! But "the list" gods were looking down on me one gray stormy day as I sat with the computer to pass the time. I sighed as I decided to pull up CraigsList thinking that I certainly didn't need to be shopping, but as always when I pull up CraigsList, I knew that there were bonafide treasures out there just waiting to be discovered for cheap!

Lo and behold...I had to rub the blurriness out of my eyes when I found this ad to make sure I wasn't missing something. Now, it's not the beaute I've been eyeing from Crate and Barrel for years now...and it's not the gorgeous dark stained, leaded glass, craftsman style one that I've been coveting of Summer's...but this was perfect for us! It matches our table and chairs (immediately to the left in close proximity) and it matches the cabinets (immediately to the right...), and it is lighted inside, it does have the coveted leaded glass...and goodness gracious the price is just right! I felt for sure someone was going to snatch it up before us, but the nice guy and gal who were selling it said they would hold it for us until the weekend on just our word that we wanted it. Probably didn't have much interest in it from others or else I'm betting that it would have been first come first serve. Anyway, we hauled out to Flower Mound that Saturday and it was as perfect in person as in the picture online. Welcome to your new home, sweet little buffet-with-hutch!

Just a side note, Jennifer has started tassel mania around these parts and I've been infected by the bug! Now, if you didn't know...there are a whole mess of serious tassel makers out there. I'm talking huge, themed, tassel-on-steroids. Not your ordinary tassel. And not your ordinary price either. But none the less, on a scavenger hunt for some tassels to hang around I came across the cheap tassel mecca. Tuesday Morning had boxes and boxes and boxes of them. I got a couple which I had priced similar ones at $29.99 for $5.99. Score! And found this perfect one for my new hutch.

The next day was Mother's day...and here is my beautiful Mother's Day gift from Josh and Joseph. It's blue depression glass - but I won't be able to know if it's authentic or a reproduction since it doesn't have any markings. I've read some on the depression glass and they started remaking it in the 60's and 70's when it's popularity grew so much. I've been eying this canister at the Antique Store the past few times I've gone, and lucky for me no one else was...so it was there for me to take home Mother's Day. My Mother's Day wish was to make a family outing of my beloved Antique Mall and have dinner at LaMadelines - and boy did that French Onion Soup hit the spot! It was perfect!

This canister is the "Moon and Stars" pattern. I love blue glass and always have - the cobalt grabs me. I love the blue and white dishware too and I just noticed you can see my blue and white Blue Butterflies dish in the back ground behind the canister - newly found at the Antique Mall. In the background in the picture below are our blue and white Japanese finds from a garage sale years ago.

And here is my favorite blue glass piece because my Grandma gave it to me. I think she saw me eying it so much that she decided if she didn't give it to me, I might just steal it. Just kidding, it was in her garage sale and I decided there was no way that sweet little blue jar was being sold to a stranger so she gave it to me. It used to sit filled with German coins...and once my sister used it in a beautiful painting she did at my Grandma's. I'm going to own a copy of that painting someday. It had one of my most vivid memories of my Grandma's old house painted in it...the vintage red and white plastic covering for the cabinet that sat next to the kitchen table. That and the red and white checkered kitchen curtains are two of my most strong memories of the old house. Aren't memories amazing?!

But anyway, I am so grateful to find our little hutch for some much needed storage for extra platters and other dishes. And of course to display my finds. It fills in the big huge wall perfectly too. Hooray Craigslist!

What a rainy morning! We came out of our bedrooms to thunder and an ominous sky. It was one of those "get cozy on the couch" type of rains. So I am having another cup of tea - Lady Grey this time, Chai earlier - and Joseph is walking around hoarding a box of store brand Lucky Charms. They're actually really old and stale, but he likes them as a special treat from time to time, so I'm hoping he'll finish off the bag soon and they'll be GONE. Glad we got out to the park yesterday morning and afternoon with the weather being questionable today. Is it time for some home made playdoh?! I think so!

Yesterday was my last knitting class lesson. It finished up great and I feel a little more confident with my mad knitting skillz. I learned a thing or four and can't wait to FINISH THIS CARDIGAN!! No, I still haven't finished, but am getting closer and closer! I've been so tired lately that when I try to knit during the baby's nap time, I find my eyes getting heavy - it makes me sleepy! And in the evenings after Joseph goes to bed I can manage a little bit before I just want to sit there an vegge. Yesterday I learned how to make a cable - like you might think of a traditional knit sweater having, you know...the twisting cable design? - and it was really easy. It's nice when things turn out like they're supposed to! It was definitely fun times to have the group of women there, chatting away and knitting like we knew what we were doing, all feeling like a real-live knitting circle. Then one by one, we'd start messing up and whisper to our neighbor asking for help. Then someone would mess up real good and show everyone, and we'd all start laughing our heads off at them, swearing that we'll eventually get it! So, for me...I need a lot more time of uninterrupted knitting before I can be good enough to have distractions around. Especially when you are doing a lot of counting or switching back and forth between knitting and purling (the two main stitches in knitting). I've got the CUTEST pattern for a scarf that I can't wait to get going on after my baby sweater.

We just made a little tabouli to start chilling for lunch. We'll see if Joseph likes it. If you haven't had tabouli - I know not everyone's taste is as eclectic as my family's - then you should try it sometime! You can make it from bulgur wheat and add in your own spices or do as I like to do and buy the box kind and just add water and what ever veggies you like. I like cucumbers and tomatoes the best. After Tammy's tabouli post (thanks for sharing, mom *humph*) I had a hankering for it. Mmmm, smell's so good too with aroma of mint and parsley in the air. Try it, try it!!

Looks like the weather is clearing up now. I see some sun...just to make it nice and MUGGY for us! Well at least the yard and plants are looking GREAT these rainy days. Stay dry! Love and hugs to you!

Hello from the Blachlys! I've been fussing at myself for not sitting down and writing you a note sooner...catching you up on all the fun goodness going on over here...so I today I had the great idea to at the very least POST A VIDEO!

This video features a couple of our most fun tricks these days; waving, saying bye, and blowing kisses! (There is a pretty cute "no" in there too!) The bread-speared-on-a-spoon feature is just a little something extra for your viewing pleasure. What a character!

Hugs and kisses and dry umbrella wishes until our next post!