We're Our Own Worst Critics.....

We had family pictures the other week. 

They were frustrating, exhausting and downright stressful.  I've been on medication that makes my face puffy and causes weight gain.  The only thought I had when I saw the pictures was, "Wow, everyone looks great....but, that fat face of mine."  

Good thing my hubs is so encouraging.  He basically told me to accept who I am and be grateful for a beautiful family.

  So, this is me ignoring my nagging self and posting our family pictures.  

Hopefully the kids will cooperate next year!

Images via Just a Crust Photography (My best friend in the world!)

Audrey Hepburn Tea Party

 I'm so far behind on posting this annual party that my mom holds.  She is an amazing woman.  Every year, my mother plans an elaborate tea party for all of the girls in the family.  Since she has five daughters, two daughters in law, and four granddaughters, it's quite the event.  This years' theme was Breakfast at Tiffany's.  It was so fun!  

All of us had to dress accordingly.  I actually had a shirt with Audrey Hepburn's face on it!  But, I didn't even win the prize...it was messed up.  Anywho, the party was awesome.

We had an etiquette lesson, there was Audrey Hepburn decorations everywhere, the tablescape was gorgeous, and we indulged in loads of food!  Oh, and of course, Tiffany Blue was everywhere!

My Mom worked on this party for hours.  We had fruit tarts, breakfast casseroles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, scones, mini cupcakes, russian tea (basically a hot juice because we had the little girls there and we don't drink tea.), and a bunch more food.  Thanks mom for making this an awesome party!

What The Snow?!

I woke this morning to a day similar to this:

Image via

I'm frustrated and waiting for spring. In fact, it's put in a downright crappy mood.

Anyone else have the winter blues?

Good News and Bad News.

The good news is that I won the giveaway over at Tiptoe Butterfly's Blog!  Yeah!  This is awesome because I've never won anything. So, thanks Erika!   The bad news is also very sad news over the tragedy in Japan.  

 I was listening to the radio this morning and they were saying bodies were washing up on the shore and as many as 88,000 people are estimated to be missing. 

 (They said not dead necessarily, just unaccounted for.)  I hope we all spend this weekend enjoying our loved ones.  I know that I'm counting my blessings and am extremely grateful for my good fortunes.  

Images via Deseret News

Please say a prayer for those who are missing, hurt, or grieving.  They'll need every prayer we can give.

Stylish Blogger and Random Resolutions

Thanks so much to Julia from Belle Vivir who gave me a Stylish Blogger award. I'm oh-so-flattered!

Rules to this award include: 1) posting a link back to the person who awarded you 2) sharing 7 exciting facts about yourself and 3) choosing 10 more fabulous bloggers who you think are Stylin!  4) informing those bloggers that you have chosen them to have the Stylish Blog Award.  Since I already shared my 7 exciting facts about myself, here, I won't bore you with them again!  But, before I name the other Stylish Bloggers I love, I have to get my random New Year's resolutions off of my chest.  Beware, these are totally random and their priority is not necessarily in the correct order.

Get organized

De-clutter

Just one dessert, don’t have four.

 create a new skill such as sewing! 

Hmm...I've got to break in that new sewing machine sometime!

Clean pantry

Purchase extra storage 

(specifically for my daughter's hair accessories.)

Have a house project 

like building lockers for the mudroom.  This means extra time with the hubs.

Donate clothes 

that I do not wear.  In other words, learn to LET GO!

Spend more time with my kids

 ....with patience

 Lighten up.

Let's hope that I can at least succeed in more than half of these resolutions.  Check out these other Stylish bloggers:

Tip Toe Butterfly

Pretty Pink Tulips

Heidi Claire

Little Emma English Home

Hill Country House

Nada Farm Life

Heirloom Philosophy

Bee of Design

Faded Plains

The Little Big House

Happy Weekend!

Click on images for source

Two Small and One Big

 Additions to my Christmas wish list:

Cute satin top to go under a darling ruffley sweater. 

via Charlotte Russe

And some darling earrings to match.

 Via Sole Treadmills

Lastly, an Elliptical Trainer, of course!  I can't do a holiday or birthday without my annual request.
I won't be back until after the holidays so I can spend some family time!

 I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

I Love To Be Stylin!!!

I'm so flattered that Ruth, from The Beautiful Life, awarded me the "Stylish Blogger Award"!!!  How sweet is that?

I now get to share 7 facts about myself that you probably didn't know and award 7 other stylish bloggers for you to check out!

Okay, here goes: 

1) I am the middle child out of seven.  There are two boys and five girls and I totally love it. All of us are married except for two girls.  All of us have children who are married except for one daughter.  Whenever we get together, it is raucously loud, due to our massive crowd.  This is usually every Sunday.  I'm very close to my family and funny enough, we even get together during the week just for fun!  I guess we're so loud and intimidating that my brother-in-law, when he first met us, disappeared in the basement because he was so overwhelmed.  In fact, he still hides in the basement every so often to avoid the crowded main floor. (My parents have a large house but, nonetheless, it is crowded with 20 plus people running around).

 

 ( This picture is only of me, some of my siblings, and some of their spouses....missing a couple due to babysitting our children!)

2) I love an expensive, well served vacation as well as anyone else....but, every year I look forward to our family vacation in this cute little "Park City-like" town in McCall, ID.  We always rent a huge house to fit all of us (siblings, parents, and grand kids included).  We go hiking, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, etc.  That said, Like Ruth from The Beautiful Life, I hate to camp.  I freeze my tushi off every time. 

I even went on this vacation fully pregnant because I would be darned if I had to miss something I look forward to so much.  I ended up being in labor a lot of the time and had the baby two weeks later.  It was so worth it!

3)  I'm a gym rat.  I know this is a problem in some cases because Thanksgiving morning I was at the gym at 6:00 a.m. and left at 10:00 a.m.!  Thankfully, my mother is a very svelte, fit woman who instilled the importance of exercise in me.

I HAVE to be extremely disciplined in my eating because I totally love food!  I'm the type that I can't even try anything because I won't stop until it's gone.  So my solution is to not start!  My kids go to the daycare at the gym every morning and love it.  I get my workout time, they get their social time...It's perfect!

4)  I love to bake.  Every night I have a slice of sugar-free, oil-free banana bread for my dessert.  I'm THAT crazy over this bread.

 I'm a total choc-aholic in the worst way. I have literally baked every brownie, chocolate chip cookie, or dessert bar imaginable without butter or sugar so I can add a ridiculous amount of chocolate chips.  I mean a ridiculous amount.

 

  I find baking comforting.  It's a place I can be creative, I'm not wasteful, and it brings my family together.  Almost every Sunday, my daughter and I will make a treat together and it's a time I look forward to.

5)  I'm a cheapo and a remorseful buyer.  I drive a car that runs but, is by no means a luxury vehicle.  I'll buy a lot of clothes or home decor while shopping and then take back at least half of it because I feel guilty over putting wants over needs!

That said, I have asked the hubs for a nice, new car, and I have a lot of nice clothes.  But, I do love a good dollar store or flea market steal where I can find something for an awesome price!


6)  I'm a germ-a-phobe.  I clean constantly.  In fact, someone asked my daughter what I did for a living and she said, "My mom cleans."  I'm sure every mother feels like that.  There's something about a feeling of insecurity if I don't have wet-wipes with me at all times.

It's the times that I don't have them when I need them the most!  I have a ridiculous amount of hair.  I fear that it's going to wipe against a toilet while cleaning or a dirty counter!  I'll do my hair, which takes a while, and pretty much reluctantly yet immediately pull it up because I don't want it touching anything unclean!  I'm sure my cleaning obsession is borderline OCD, but I do feel that my children get less sick than others because I'm sanitizing the home ritually.

and finally....


7) I would love to go on a cruise.  I know it's crazy, but I've never been on one!  We've done some pretty fun vacations, but I would love to go on a huge cruise ship.  I would love to sample all of the delicious foods, go on fun adventures on the shore, and just soak up the sun!

Problem 1:  My husband is a complete whitey.  We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon and decided to go to the beach.  Fifteen minutes later, even after putting loads of sunscreen on, he was fried.  Poor man.  I've never had to deal with that, gratefully.  Problem 2:  I'm somewhat afraid of sharks.....childish, yes.  But, I am!  I know we'll go someday but, until then, I'm dreaming!

 Check out these fabulously Stylish blogs and enjoy your Holiday Season!
Becky from Farm Girl Paints
Jamie from Simply Me Art
The Canadian Cottage
Maria from Dreamy Whites
Sweet Pea Home
A Thing For Roses
Jenn From the Department of the Interior