Just Call Me Twilight

Source Unknown The wall art seen in this living room is ingenious!  The circular objects portrayed on the wall is not paint or wallpaper - they are ceiling medallions.   The homeowner took several different designs of medallions, as well as a range of sizes and nailed them to the wall.  They then painted the medallions the same colour as the actual wall.  This simple decorating idea created a unique backdrop to the room.  Pretty, subtle and a design talking point all rolled into one look.  Love it!  JCMT

In January 2008, I was blessed with my Oldest Daughter.  In June 2009, swim lessons with the local city were about to start.  We were so excited to put Oldest Daughter in swim lessons!  As she was barely a year and a half old, the only class she could go in was the Mommy and Me class.  We decided that Handy Hubby would be the lucky one to take her to class.  As a working dad, there just weren't that many opportunities to bond with the wee one, and we felt like this would be that perfect vehicle.  At the time, we had a small baby pool in the backyard that Oldest Daughter just loved being in, so we knew this was going to be a slam dunk! Nope, that was not the case.  Handy Hubby took Oldest Daughter to class every day for two weeks, and for that effort he was rewarded with two weeks of terrified screaming.  At first, we were under the mistaken notion that she would start to enjoy the classes once she ...

A few weeks ago, my mom gave me the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System.  via here  She said that someone had given it to her for Christmas and as it is now August and she has yet to open the box, would I be interested in it?  Heck yeah I'm interested!  I have seen numerous commercials on television regarding this product or a similar one sold by Proactive and have wanted to try it out.  Without actually pricing it, I assumed that it was a little beyond what I would be willing to pay to "try it out".  But if it's free........ This product is fantastic!  It comes with two AAA batteries, a 2-speed cleansing brush, a soft bristle brush head and a small tube of Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser.  Every evening, I will rinse my face a few times so that it's damp, then I massage in the cleanser, turn on the cleansing brush to the lowest setting and then let it do its' job.  For 60 seconds, this cleansing brush...

Today's Fantastic Room is actually on Handy Hubby's to-do list.  I have wanted an outdoor shower for years.  And for years it has been talked about, but so many other house things were more pertinent.  To come right down to it, it is a crazy little luxury.  I envision my outdoor shower to have a small solar water tank, all soaps (including hair products) used would be biodegradable and non-toxic to plants so that the water could be collected and re-used.  In the part of Arizona I currently live in, an outdoor shower can realistically be utilised a majority of the year.  Here are a few examples of fantastic outdoor showers: I love the use of curtains in this shower: Source Pinterest     This one only has three sides.  For privacy issues (I do live in a neighbourhood community), I think I need four sides.  Oops, never mind - now I see the door.     Source Pinterest   I love the w...

  I would suspect that most of you that read this would assume that as I am a stay-at-home mom of two that my favourite part of the day would be when Oldest Daughter is at school and Youngest Daughter is down for her afternoon nap.  I do love these quiet moments, but it is not my favourite time of the day. Or you could make the argument that my favourite time of the day is when the clock ticks 7:45pm.  Both girls are down for the night and we are safely past the point that Oldest Daughter feels compelled to come out of her room for some made-up reason to put off going to sleep.  Yes, I do love that the rest of the evening is just for catching up and spending quality time with Handy Hubby.  But it is not my favourite time of the day. I could try to say that my favourite time of the day is my morning meditation.  Meditation time, for me, revolves around tea.  I love tea and I am a much better person after I have my tea....

I am obsessing over these things this month.    Nashville - The Complete First Season Tour de France Stationary Bike  Via here   Burberry Watch Kindred Spirit Print by Brian Andreas JCMT

Saturday night in our house was homemade pizza night.  I love homemade pizza!  It's so much cheaper than chain pizza and it just tastes better - probably because it was made with love!  Plus, I can have my pizza exactly the way I want it and there is nothing wasted from the things I pick off.  Win/Win!! I make my own pizza dough.  It's pretty easy and doesn't take too much time.  While the pizza dough is rising, I prep the toppings. Once that is done, the pizza dough is usually ready to start rolling out.  The dough can make a bunch of small pizzas or about three larger ones.  That's the fun of homemade pizza - it's all to your preference.     Then you can start piling the toppings on!  First the pizza sauce (on another post I will have to share my pizza sauce recipes), then whatever else tickles your fancy.      We place the pizza on a pre-heated pizza stone.  Really adds to the c...

Source Unknown I think I may have to change the name of my Friday post from Fantastic Room Friday to Fantastic Space Friday, as my last few Friday posts haven't necessarily been on rooms but on spaces.  Today is no exception.  I just love this space.  It is dual purpose.  An out-of-the-way nook that just dares you to curl up and read a book, possibly while hiding out from The Littles.  It can also be used as a bed for an overnight visitor.  Drawers underneath allows for extra storage or they can be left empty to be used by the overnight guest.  I also love that these homeowners chose to use this space in an unusual and out-of-the-box way.  Ingenious!  JCMT P.S.  If you enjoy reading my blog, please subscribe to it.  By subscribing, every new blog I post will then go directly to your email.  Subscribing is free and I promise I do not and will never...

So, I have received a ton of emails from concerned folk asking me if I am still blogging and if everything was alright.  Guess I haven't been around much lately, and I have been spotty on blogging the last two weeks.  What I didn't count on were all the wonderful people out there that read my blogs and look out for me when I am a bit absent. June and July have been so over-busy!  My people and I took a short trip to San Diego, got back and had just one week between that vacation and the start of school to cram in all the last minute things-to-be-done, and then Oldest Daughter started Kindergarten.  Kindergarten - just last week!  So now I am muddling through each day, trying to find a routine.  Oldest Daughter has a new schedule, Youngest Daughter has a new schedule and then somewhere in there I have to fit my needs into both of those schedules.  Hasn't been easy, but I am getting there.  A few things, includin...

Source Unknown I love these two rooms!  From this picture, I do not think that this is an overly large home, but these two rooms feel cosy, not cramped.  The furniture are all neutral coloured, and they just feel like furniture that is inviting you to sit down, enjoy a cup of tea and good conversation. The beams lend to the feel that this house has a bit of history behind it.  But the one thing that just speaks to me is the floor.  Bricks.  You have seen bricks in houses before.  On fireplaces or kitchen islands.  Accents mostly.  But it's not often that you see bricks as the floor inside of the house.  I also love that these bricks are a little worn looking.  Makes it feel like these rooms have helped raise generations, but yet still looks fresh and current.  Love it!!!  JCMT

I grew up in a home where my father always said "On time is late - early is on time".  We lived by that code.  We worked by that code.  To this day, when we ask my father to join us at 2pm, he will show up at 1:30pm (sometimes even earlier!).  I love this about him as well as I love that that was an ethic he chose to pass down to me.  And I have learned that lesson well - if my appointment is for 2pm, I will show up no later than 1:45pm. Now just having said that, being the mother to two small children and needing to be someplace by a specific time - these two things do not always mix.  Like never.  Both of my girls are at the age that the world around them is fascinating.  The weed growing between the cracks of a sidewalk must be investigated.  Oh how that has irritated me!! More than irritation, it has stressed me.  I hate being stressed.  I will admit that I have a  slight temper.  And I w...

 Via here  I have always felt that porches, whether they be in the front of the house or in the back, were an extension to your living space.  Here in Arizona, when the temperatures are not unholy hot, our family can be found on our back porch, eating a meal, playing in the yard or just relaxing.  So I am a sucker for comfortable furniture that allows you to take advantage of the outdoors, but still do it in a manner as comfortable as if you were still indoors.  Here, in this photo, is a daybed suspended.  The porch is still simple with just the daybed and a outdoor rug (which could be spiced up a bit, or stay simple as seen here), but it speaks of relaxation.  You could pile several kids on the bed, or just you reading, or you and Handy Hubby snuggling as you catch up from the busy week. What an ideal way to pass some quality time!  JCMT P.S.  If you enjoy reading my blog, please subscribe to it.  By subscr...