2013=Simplify

Christmas a giant success-Check.

2013 here-Check.

Kids back at school-Check.

House returning to normal-Check…hmm, maybe a half Check.

Feeling poor and tired. But boy it was worth every dime and extra effort!-Check.

Ready to keep 2013 SIMPLE-Check.

 

Doesn’t the new year make you take stock in what you have and perhaps where you see things going? Yesterday, while on a quiet wintry walk, I realized there isn’t anything huge that I hope to do this year. I’m okay with that. I used to think I had to have some giant new endeavour, but what about going back to simplicity?

How will this happen you ask? I think enjoying what I already have, living more in the moment and choosing where to put time and energy is how I’ll start.

Family is first. We’ve lost our way in the craziness of school and outside activities. Making time for the five of us…games, movie night, dinners together…simple things.

Friends are integral…who else would I be doing Yby5 with?? I want to be better at seeing friends…quiet get together’s and good talks.

As for Yby5…don’t think because I want to keep it simple that we won’t be doing some terrific things this year. We have many fantastic ideas that include you as a result of our successful Get Cozy Sale. We’re continuing to find great vintage finds so that your spaces can reflect you and keep things simple and easy for you!

With my SIMPLE motto for 2013 already taking effect, I swapped out some Christmas decorations for simple easy things I already had in my kitchen cupboards. All of these glass vessels had Christmas balls in them for the holidays, but were changed up with a few things from my pantry.

fresh NY look4

Coffee beans and white beans add a simple fresh look.

  fresh NY look3

 

Green dried lentils add a punch of green to keep the space light and airy.

  fresh NY look

 

fresh NY look2

 

All these beans can easily be found at the store and the best thing is that they are inexpensive. I love the color and the aroma of the coffee beans is my favorite!

 

What changes are you making for 2013?

 Big changes or simple?

Either way Happy 2013! 

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Happy New Year!

 2013

It was a whirlwind holiday season. And perhaps the blog slipped my mind. A bit. Or maybe I simply chose to pretend it wasn’t here. To pretend that it was OK to listen to my holiday music, wrap presents and eat all the cookies I could fit into my mouth and to assume that you all were equally as busy and didn’t remotely have the time to read a blog post.

Seemed reasonable. At least to me.

Coming off the holidays is hard. It makes me sad to say goodbye to the Christmas music. Sad to no longer have an excuse to be out of the house all day shopping and buying over-priced lattes. Sad to no longer see that anticipation-of-Christmas excitement in my kids’ eyes.

But I’m happy the pressure is gone now. No more: Are the the gifts even? Do I have enough? What am I cooking?

Here are a few of my holiday highlights and low-lights:

Highs

  • Having family all around this holiday season. So nice to spend time with everyone and sharing a drink or two.
  • The snow. We got more than a foot on the ground now. It’s so beautiful and peaceful outdoors right now.
  • The eating. I enjoyed every single ounce of weight that I put on this season. (Of course now comes the hard part!)
  • Board-games. We played more games as a family than any other year.
  • My 8 year-old son dressing like Santa for the days leading up to Christmas and ON Christmas. (This could easily be our last “believing” year.)

Lows

  • Having family all around this holiday season. Those drinks were much needed! (I’m KIDDING!)
  • The cooking and cleaning. I felt like I never left the kitchen. I think I wore a hole in the floor and my feet grew two sizes, I just know it.
  •  I ALWAYS break my vacuum- usually the day before I want to take down the tree. Then I’m left with a half-dead needle-dropping tree mocking me out. I swear it’s laughing at me.
  • The kids were sick for a good portion of the break. One at a time of course, limiting our ability to get out much. (Thus the board game time.)
  • I feel hung over. Even though I never had more than three drinks.

And now it’s onto 2013. It’s going to take a few days to get back into a routine and for Carin and I to get ourselves back into the swing of posting. Which is OK. Because I’ve convinced myself that you are all too tired to read our posts anyhow.

Seems reasonable.

Happy New Year, friends!

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Randomness…This & That

We’re full throttle into summer…And loving every minute of it.

Late nights and lazy mornings is on our agenda.

No camps…

NOTHING! 

 A good old fashion summer…You know, the kind you had as a kid?

 

Remember our summer list?

We’ve managed to do about half of our ideas…with a few s’more repeates!

 

Our garden is flourishing…almost.

 The lettuce was decimated despite a fence that we were hoping would keep out  hungry critters. 

Fresh basil-perfect on our grilled pizza.

Get a load of those tomatoes!

 Seroiously, I hope our neighbors like tomatoes since we’ll be sharing the wealth.

If you think I should can some…think not.

I’m all about feeling like I’m Laura Ingalls, but I draw the line at canning!

See that little guy?

Yep, that’s a watermelon that may not be ripe until November :) .

Baby cucumber-GROW!

 I want to eat them with salt & pepper-yum!

 

We bought this sink at a tag sale in hope we could swap it out in our half bath. 

CRAP…it’s a hair too big.

 Onto plan B…

a gardening/potting sink? beverage sink filled with ice and drinks? filled with flowers?

 I don’t really know, but something awesome.

Any other suggestions besides cleaning it first?

We’re having a little fight around here.

If you’re thinking between my girls…Yes, we have had our share!

However, this one is a little more tricky…no one is listening to me and it’s getting me mad!!

We have a broody hen.

Red is causing trouble among the girls!

Doesn’t she look like she’s telling them off?

 They are not happy!

It’s serioulsy impacting our egg production.

 And why they won’t use the other nesting box??

When we pull Red out of the box you should hear the screaming. What a bunch of girls!

Pretty sure they’re cussing her out!

We bought two blue hydranga’s last summer… I love the color and am thrilled to watch them bloom, but they seem smaller this year.

I hope they’re getting enough sun.

All you green thumb folks please share any hydranga secrets you may have.

These are a few things keeping us busy around home.

 How about you?

 Hope you’re enjoying every minute of your summer!