Stop and sit for awhile

I have a thing for chairs. I have since as long as I can remember. I love to cuddle up in them and I love that they symbolize security, safety, and rest. It probably started when I was a little girl and my grandpa made me a chair. I still have it and treasure it; now my daughter uses it and I know Grandpa is smiling down from heaven watching the little girl that is my daughter enjoy the chair.

We bought Bundle a chair for her birthday and we read lots of books there together. It is just her size and very comfy.

 

I think it is important for us to stop and make time in our days for rest. Whether it be to sip a cup of coffee, meditate, visit with a friend, read a book, or in my case, journal and blog. I am realizing the importance of a little bit of quiet time, even if it is only 5 minutes. I want to encourage this in my daughter as well. Spending time with our little girl has caused us to slow down and that is a very good thing.

While I was in Duluth last weekend, I stumbled across a fundraiser for the softball team. It was a garage/bake sale and I found this chair for my little Bundle. It is a perfect it for her! (I unfortunately, do not fit- I tried). And she loves it! I initially planned on repainting it as I am very much into repurposing things right now, but I decided I like it just the way it is. And so does Bundle.

A great bargain for only $3:

My mom and I started exchanging chairs a few years ago and to be honest I cannot remember why, but I have acquired a collection that I am excited to finally have a place to display. Although it is in my laundry room, which is tucked away in our home, I spend a considerable amount of time in there, so I do enjoy them. My collection is complete and proudly displayed.

For my daughter's first birthday, she also got a chair that goes with a table from my mom. Bundle spends so much time at the table, coloring and playing with her letters and numbers. It is a treat to see the tradition continue...

But that is enough sitting for me...I have a lot to get done yet this evening!

~Angela

Finding the Good in Every Day

I think when you have a positive outlook on life, you will notice the good things. And when you have a negative outlook, you notice the bad. I tend to look for the good in every day and life gives me little gifts all the time. Today, for example, I received the wettest kiss ever from my daughter and a homemade dinner from my husband. One of my favorite songs was played at church (Amazing Grace)and I discovered that Kaia can sing many of the words to another favorite song we listen to at night "Thank God for Kids."

Despite the cooler, wet day, I was out planting some fall bulbs and noticed the  "helicopter" sitting like a heart on our patio. It made me smile:)  And reflect on how filled with love my days are.

Although, seeing these on the ground does mean that our gutters are likely housing many of them and are due for their fall cleaning!

~Angela

Super SIMPLE recipe: Italian Pork Shops

I am always looking for ways to simplify my life and cooking easier, healthier, quicker meals is just one area. I am loving my crock pots. Today I have a chicken wild rice soup awaiting us for dinner and yesterday I made

Italian Pork Chops and Potatoes:

package of pork chops
6-8 baby red potataoes cut into slices
packet of Italian seasoning mix (.6 oz)
1/4 C water
onion

Put in crock pot for 8 hours on low.

How easy is that!? And it was tasty!

~Angela

Operation Making All Christmas Gifts is under way!

I love to create things. Although I went to school for an art degree, I realized very quickly that creating things is something I enjoy doing for myself and for others in my leisure time. It is more practical as a hobby than a career for me.

I love homemade gifts. I always have. So this year I am making my Christmas gifts. This is a goal I have been working towards all year, but I am now only 2 months away from. Which means that Christmas is 2 months away! I am realizing what a huge undertaking this is now. I have all the projects picked out and the supplies purchased; I just need to find the TIME to complete them all. But I am no stranger to lack of sleep, so I am confident I will get them all done:)

I cannot share all the gifts that I am making because some of the recipients may check this blog, but I just finished the growth chart I made for my daughter in my woodworking class:

1.  I started with a raw piece of oak.

2. I planed it and jointed it and cut the wood at an angle.

3. I sanded...and sanded...and sanded.

4. Then I drew the tree on the board and paintied it in before adding the measurements along the side. 

5. Then I varnished it 

I am not sure how tall Bundle will be, but I made it 6 feet tall!

I am also working on a dollhouse bookshelf for Bundle.I am making this to look like the Pottery Barn bookshelf (pictured below) that I wanted to order that is currently out of stock.

 So far, I have the boards all glued and planed and jointed together and have assembled some of the pieces, but as you can see below, I have a ways to go.

~Angela

Less sleep, but extra cuddles

It's been a rough week in our home as our little Bundle is not feeling so well. We think she is getting a few teeth and although she's never had an issue while cutting teeth before, this time it's different. Poor girl. I know she's not happy, but I wish I could take that pain away from her.

The sleepless nights are an adjustment for us, that's for sure, but I have been trying to take advantage of the extra cuddles that we are getting with Bundle. This too, shall pass... And once she's feeling better and running again, I know these special times of falling asleep with her in my arms will be something I long for.

It reminds me of the book "Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury. I got this book from my husband last year for Mother's Day and I cry EVERY TIME I read it. Literally, every time. And I've read it dozens of times... A must read for all parents and a great Christmas gift idea too...

~Angela

Duluth!

Duluth is one of my favorite cities. I vacationed there as a child until my family moved there permanently after I graduated from high school. Although I did not "grow up" there, I feel like it is the town I did my growing in. Duluth is where I graduated from college. Duluth is where I bought my first house.

Duluth is where I fell in love and I married my husband. I have great memories all over the city, from trail running on my lunch breaks and picnics by the waterfalls between jobs and as an art student, bring my sketchpad or paints or camera all over the city and catching the views from a new perspective. I adored my husband's place on Lake Superior where we had bonfires and watched the ships come in, where we watched shooting stars and walked along the sandy shoreline as we got to know each other better. I love the shopping, the views, the restaurants, the fresh air, the lighthouses, the trails. It is a special city.

My mom and brother still live in Duluth so I get back there often. While my husband was in Chicago running the Chicago Marathon with his brother, Bundle and I spent the weekend in Duluth. It has been such an adventure to explore the city with my little girl, seeking out the toys stores, the playgrounds, the shorline, stopping so she can smell the flowers in the rose garden and throw rocks in Lake Superior; all the things I still love.

I am not sure who had more fun at the playground- my brother, my little girl or me?!

My brother taking Bundle for a ride on the ship

She's fearless!

My brother had to try out the slide

Bundle LOVES slides. The bigger, the better!

Bundle did not want to waste valuable play time waiting for Mama to get down the slide!

Yay! My brother made it to the top!!

My mom, daughter and I also spent an afternoon at Enger Park, one of my favorite places in Duluth because of it's view of the city. I was excited explore the park with them!

The leaves were gorgeous and it was a picturesque day. Below is the entrance to the park:

I had visions of the three of us linked together walking through the park hand-in-hand...

And for awhile, that's exactly as it was, but my daughter is very independent...

and wanted to explore on her own.

She insisted on climbing to the top on her own, all 75 steps.

She was actually rather upset when we were at the top because she wanted to keep climbing,

She pouted for a few minutes until she realized we could go down all 75 steps we just climbed up! My little Bundle was a bundle of energy!

The view from the top was spectacular, see below:

~Angela

A Beautiful Autumn Day

I enjoyed a gorgeous run with my Bundle last week and took my camera with. I don't think the leaves have been this pretty for several years!

This was a fun time for both of us as Bundle loves trees and leaves and is learning her colors so she helped to point things out to me.

The run was less about getting the four miles in and more about enjoying the warm (such a treat in OCTOBER), sunny, beautiful fall day!

In a life where we're all racing through each day, we don't always make the time to enjoy the view, like the one above...

...or the street that was covered with leaves. We had a blast running (although it was a ton of work pushing the stroller) through these crispy crunchy leaves in our neighborhood.

~Angela

Make the time to enjoy the gifts of fall!

No Need To Cry Over Spilled Milk

As our daughter grows taller, we are realizing that she is able to reach more areas than ever before and we need to be more careful about where we put things. Case in point: One day last week I made the mistake of filling our daughter's milk glass and putting the milk in the fridge before putting the lid on the cup. She reached for the milk and proceeded to dump the entire contents of the cup on herself, then slipped and slided on the milk that fell to the hardwood floors in our kitchen.

Of course I felt terrible for her, but once I realized she was safe, I couldn't help but laugh as the tears mixed with the milk and tumbled off her face. There were lots of hugs and of course a fresh glass of milk, paper towels and the Shark steam mop and within no time, all was well in the world again (or at least our kitchen!)

Often, laughter can help you see through the tears and realize that there is really no need to cry over spilled milk...

~Angela

Enjoying the beauty of Lake Superior

A few weeks ago I had the priveledge of taking a trip with my husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law. We road tripped with them to the Keewanaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stayed at Sand Hills Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast along the shore of Lake Superior, where my husband and I were engaged in May of 2005.

http://www.sandhillslighthouseinn.com/

This is a magical place for my husband and I because we were engaged there. I wondered if my in-laws would appreciate it as much as we do. Of course the memories are what makes is so special for us, but the breakfasts are to die for (although not for those on a diet!) and the evening desserts are something to look forward to all day. The evening piano music after watching the sun set from the lighthouse tower over Lake Superior is the best way to end the day. 

Sunset is my second favorite time of day (second only to sunrise, which sadly to say, I could not drag myself out of bed early enough to see during this trip!) and looking at a beautiful sunrise over water is an ever bigger treat! This picture was taken by my husband from the tower of the lighthouse.
We enjoyed visiting other lighthouses along Lake Superior's shores and shopping at the gift shops along the way. We had great conversations and enjoyed gorgeous fall colors in the car ride to our destination. We also collected rocks and driftwood. It was relaxing and one of the vacations that leaves you feeling rested and full of love...It was only fitting that I found more heart shaped rocks to add to my collection during this trip!

Well, I think my husband's parents loved it as much as we did! I think I even caught tears in my mother-in-law's eyes a few times. She cries like I do when I am overwhelmed with happiness and love:)

~Angela