Flashback Friday: Stacation to Chestnut Mountain

So lately I have been CRAVING going on a mini stacation. It seems post-baby we don't get out too much. Pre-baby we used to go on mini Stacations about once a month and had an absolute blast doing it. In January 09 the husband and I took an adventure to Chestnut Mountain ski lodge and did some shopping in Galena Illinois...No skiing it was too dang cold for that!

We woke up early one morning and on a whim we were out the door. There was lots of snow along the way. I managed to take this one as we were heading out.

It was cold...REALLY cold. I think it was -10 with ridiculous windchills the entire time. Neither of us wore gloves. Bad idea.

The Husband was a trooper and didn't mind me dragging him to 'girly' stores and eating at 'girly' restaurants that served 'girly' food like salads and soup. (I think he is a carnivore)
Not only was it cold outside...it seemed just as bad inside. Our hotel room was crappy and straight out of 1975, the only way to keep warm was with the heat lamp in the bathroom...And bourbon which inspired this photo...

And this photo...and lots of giggling and telling bad jokes.

I Heart:

Is it completely weird that seeing images of pretty stacks of fabric, like this, excite me? Seriously. I have a room full of pretty fabric and a lonely sewing machine. It is all completely covered in saw dust...The sewing room has become the wood floor cutting room and it kinda makes me sad. sigh.

image source

Circus Party Pictures & The Most Handsome Strongman I Ever Saw.

Birthday pictures, finally!! The last few weeks have been hectic, I am sorry for the delay. Here is Luke's Circus birthday party...or should I say Strongman Luke complete with mustache and chest hair!

Here is the table complete with ringmaster mustaches, handmade clown bowties, and plush beach balls.

The bowties were a hit (with the parents) and SO simple to make. No sewing required. I will be posting a tutorial on them soon!

I also sewed up these cute fabric beach balls from a fun little tutoiral I mentioned here.

Another table shot. I tried to keep things as baby friendly as possible. Instead of pop corn we had Puff Corn, Smarties, and animal crackers.

The cake :)Luke loved it!

We had toys and adorable babies EVERYWHERE. I would say it was quite a success!

Barred Owl and a Busy Week

(Taken from me bedroom window)

(I had to sneak outside for a closer look)

(He/she was a bit camera shy)

Have you ever heard barred owls communicate with each other? It is the craziest sound. I have not lived in the woods all that long and earlier this summer I heard them carrying on just outside my bedroom window. Scared. The. Heck. Outofme. They sound like...monkeys...or what I imagine monkeys would sound like if they were just outside my window. (You can hear them here)

This week is going to be a bit hectic. Saturday is Luke's first birthday party. The in-laws as well as my mom and step dad are supposed to arrive on Friday and I may just lose my mind trying to get this house ready for company. With that said posts will probably be a bit slim in the next week or two.

Font Love: FREE FONTS

So, I am totally slow when it comes to advancing on anything...ANYTHING. And as of 11:00pm I am officially a font hoarder. I would have continued missing out on something so wonderful had How About Orange not posted a link to The League of Movable Type.

The League of Movable Type shares FREE yes FREE fonts which is a great way to start a new obsession. Currently they have 15 free fonts available (give or take, I counted and it's 1am so I could be wrong)

That totally made my entire weekend.

I Heart Color!

Have I told you how much I love color?? Well...A LOT.

I am really in love with this rusty orange color. It makes me happy. I am seriously considering repainting the master bedroom in this color. Its fun and kinda sexy at the same time!

I love this rainbow of colors for a kid space
And dont get me started on these fun cushions!
And if you havent noticed already my living room is yellow. I love yellow.
And how about this dining room. I love the deep color on the walls, the wall art, and those curtains. I NEED those curtains!

I lost image sources sorry :(

I hope to share some fun tutorials and pictures of some recent projects as well as a renovation update once The Babe is feeling better and I have time to take some pictures :D

Room Swoon

I stumbled on this room over at House of Turquoise yesterday and I am completely in love. I am working on putting my living room back together and definitely keeping this one as inspiration! I love how cozy it looks and I love that it has STUFF. I like a little bit of clutter in my space. It makes it feel like a home to me.

County Fair

I spent a little bit of time wondering around the fair this weekend. It was not very eventful but the lights sure were pretty. No rides for this lady. I used to love rides but seeing some of them make my stomach turn just thinking about them....not to mention the fact that they were put up in a matter of hours and are taken down just as quickly! (...I am turning into my mother)

Birthday Invitation

So I debated posting this here since I just said I was moving baby things to the baby blog...but I thought it was on the line of being 'crafty' since I designed it. It makes me happy so I had to share. :D

New Baby Blog

Red Planet was initially a crafting blog that, after the arrival of The Babe, turned into a baby blog. I realize my original followers didn't sign up for all my gooey baby rambling so I have decided to separate crafting/pretty things and babies and started a new blog dedicated to The Babe. Feel free to stop by!

Treat for ME!

Being the momma of a grabby baby I have officially decided to completely retire the dangle earrings until the grab and pull stage phases. Which has lead to my first Etsy purchase for MYSELF.

Look at these adorable little posts! AND the design is hand drawn AND ON TOP OF THAT they were only $14 shipped! I will be sure to brag about them again once they arrive!

I Heart: Book Clutter.

"Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house." Henry Ward Beecher"A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it." William Styron
"These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice... and just as the touch of a button on our set will fill the room with music, so by taking down one of these volumes and opening it, one can call into range the voice of a man far distant in time and space, and hear him speaking to us, mind to mind, heart to heart. " Gilbert Highet

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I am in love with book clutter. I have been opening up old boxes of books and trying to find a home around the house for them. At first I was reluctant to pull them all out but after falling in love with these spaces I will let them clutter my home and I will love it.

Post 245: Flashback Friday: One Year Ago Today

I can't believe this was me one year ago! (Fancy photography skills huh?) I was still only anticipating dirty diapers, sleepless nights, and walking around with pureed pears in my hair.

Little did I know how some little boy was going to take over every aspect of my entire world. (example: this blog, haha)

Post 244: Little Musician.

I have a crush on a musician...

Isn't he dreamy?

Post 243: Fourth of July

The husband and I are still adjusting to baby life. Usually, for the 4th we take the 8 hour drive south to be with family on the lake in Oklahoma. This year we couldn't pull it together so we stayed home and enjoyed the local festivities. The Babe loved every second of it despite the fact he had only one short nap yesterday. He is quite the people watcher and loved watching all of the other kids play. Sometimes he would join in with a little hoot or squeal.

I was excited to play with different settings on the new camera.
We drove to a small town just north of here expecting something small. The firework show ended up lasting an ENTIRE hour!

Lucas was enthralled. By the end of it all we had him saying a new word. "BOOM!"I was so delighted that he really enjoyed it. It makes my heart happy to show him new fun things in this world.

I am ready to do it all over again next year!

Post 242: Playing Hookie

Over the weekend the boys and I played hookie from everything-- church, dinners, social outings, bills, showers--everything. So we could work on the floors I have been complaining about for months.

By noon The Babe was turning into a crank so we decided to pack up and head to the park for lunch and some much needed time on the swings...all work and no play...well, you know.
The Babe was a bit skeptical at first. He had been strapped down all day (highchair, jumper, exersaucer, repeat) and he was ready to feel the wind in his...hair?
Mr. Mom.We had a lovely little lunch in the park. Then it was on to the swings! The Babe was not so sure about it...

Once he got going he was a giggle machine. He LOVED it. He has been on the swings a million times but is so surprised with the outcome EVERY. TIME.We swung, blew bubbles (which he is completely not interested in yet), and swung some more until it was obviously nap time . I'm not sure who had more fun, The Babe or me and The Husband! I am glad we have a good excuse to act silly in the park and not seem quite so crazy..

(my head doesn't look that huge in real life....really)