Visiting The Gardens

Josh called me from work on Thursday, and said he wanted to plan a weekend trip with the girls. So, we started looking at different options, checking the weather, and finally decided a day trip to visit the gardens would be fun. I'm glad we did, because the weather was so perfect! Not too warm, and just enough breeze to make the long walk/hike around the gardnes worth it. Especially, since we were toting Ella in a carrier, and Evie in a stroller.

The gardens are beautiful at this time of year. I also have a speical place in my heart for tulips. They just exude spring with their lovely, dainty blossoms.

I think Evie really enjoyed seeing all the flowers. She would oooh, and aww over the flowers. ;) Of course, I think her favorite part was just having quality time with her dad.

But, man, it's exhausting getting the babies ready, loaded up, and down the road! Haha. ;-) I'm thankful we got to get away for a bit, and enjoy each other. I love my family. And I love the memories.

Simple Woman's Daybook

I'm linking up with the simple woman's daybook! You can learn more here. Happy Tuesday!

Outside my window...

It's a sunny spring day with a cool breeze. I'm enjoying the colorful vibes from the flowers we planted over the weekend, and the pretty patio lights that Josh hung. His mom also gave us a new outside table to pair with our patio chairs. It's a happy little spot.

I am thinking...

There are people who choose bitterness as their poison. And while, at times, it seems impossible to shake off the ugly that they meant for harm, a good dose of prayer & an attitude check on my behalf will work wonders for my heart.

I am thankful...

For the memories we are able to make together as a family. For my hard working husband. For two girls who bring me a lot of joy!

I am wearing...

Yoga pants, and t'shirt. ;) It's pretty much 90% of my wardrobe! Haha.

I am creating...

Our family album (Project Life), Baby books for the girls, craft ideas for the kids.

I am going...

To stay home and catch up with housework/organizing/cleaning. I really enjoy days at home. I always feel more relaxed and at peace when I focus on our family instead of always being on the go.

I am reading...

Home by Julie Andrews 

The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I am hoping...

For a relaxing and quiet evening at home.

I am learning...

To forgive, move on, and let go. To cherish the moments. To live for Jesus. To just be happy with being me. And to stop comparing myself to others. 

In my garden...

Well, we bought a tomato plant, and a rose bush to plant this weekend. :)

In my kitchen...

Planning on breakfast for dinner tonight. Scrambled Eggs, Slices of Cheddar & White Cheddar Cheese, and blueberry muffins.

In the homeschool room...

Colors: We are working blue, green, red, yellow & orange.

Numbers: She likes to count to three. So I've been focusing on those numbers for now! I also let her watch the LeapFrog videos. They have some great counting songs.

Art: I try to set aside time for her to color or paint every day. 

A favorite quote for today...

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

A peek into one of my days...

Yesterday: We were up by 7:30am. We ate breakfast, Evie watched Peg & Cat, I straigtened up the house, we spent some time on the back patio, worked on wooden puzzles, watched the Charlie Brown Movie, ate Indian food for dinner, and played outside when Daddy got home. We also had visitors! I did laundry, changed diapers, and managed to get a few things done on-line. It was a good day. :)

One of my favorite things...

Iced coffee sweetened with brown sugar & cinnamon. Blue skies. Home cooked meals.

SUYL: Favorite Beauty Products!

Today, at Show Us Your Life they are discussing favorite beauty products. I may not be an expert in this area, but I do love me so good products!!! ;-) Now that I have two girls under the age of two, my beauty routine is limited. I've also learned that investing in high quality products that actuall work pays off in the long run!!

It's A 10: This product is the latest, and greatest item in my bathroom. After two pregnancies, I noticed that my hair felt very dry, and dull. I was also dealing with tangles for the first time in my life. I did some researching, and heard nothing but great things about it's a 10!! And wow...does it live up to the hype! I bought my bottle for $20, and it was worth every single penny. It makes my hair super soft, and shiny!! And, it helps with the crazy tangles.

Great Lash: It's probably the oldest, most loved mascara on the market. I've used it off and on throughout the years, but given that I'm a mascara addict, I'm constantly trying new ones from the drug store. And yet, after my last splurge, this was the bottle I wanted. It's the perfect black color, the formula is smooth, and I just love it. Classic, and timeless. And you can't beat less than $5 a pop!

Smith's Rose Lip Balm: Believe it or not, my husband bought this for me one year at Christmas. It is hands down the BEST lip balm on the planet. I have super dry lips. It has done wonders for me, especially during the winter time.

Mary Kay Lip Gloss: It's one of the few lip glosses that I will wear. It's not sticky, and it smells good. Plus, I love their color options!!

So, what are your favorite beauty products?

Kiddie Book Club Vol. 2

I've had so much fun hunting for new board books to add to our collection this last month. Most of my book finds are thrifted, although, I'm not afraid to pick up a few here & there from retails stores. Having a wealth of books for the girls to enjoy means so much to me. It such a simple way to encourage their imagination, and while your at it, it is also a great way for them to have quiet time!

The first book I want to share is the Muddy Hippo, a play book, from Usbourne. I picked this up for less than two dollars at a consignment sale. I love busy books that allow interaction for the kiddos. It gives  broader scope for creative learning, and another bonus? Fine motor skills! Evie loves it.

The second book that I really enjoyed reading to Evie this month was One Spring Lamb. I've already written a review when I hosted the giveaway, but I should probably mention another great aspect: It encourages learning numbers! She's really into her numbers right now.

For my birthday, Josh took me shopping. One of my main stops was Barnes & Noble where I purchased another baby lit book to add to our growing collection. This specific title, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, encourages color learning. Beautiful, and simple. True to the Baby Lit style!

Last, but not least, I found a copy of Ten Tiny Toes. This specific titles encourges both imagination & creative play through interaction. Kids can learn about certain body parts: eyes, ears, mouth and nose! Super cute, and simple enough for young toddlers.

Those those are my favorite kiddie book finds of the month! What are yours?

Happy Homemaker Monday Vol. 16

We had a beautiful Easter! Did you? I was blessed by our worship service. It's so easy to become calloused to the Resurrection, but yesterday, I was reminded at how humbling a reality it is that Jesus gave all so that we may have the gift of salvation! We are so blessed.


The weather...
The sun is shining, and it feels like spring outside!

Right now I am...
Sipping on my coffee. Today, I'm drinking it iced with whole milk and a dash of cinnamon.

Thinking... 
About getting back on a regular schedule & cleaning routine. Whenever life gets a bit overwhelming, sometimes I'll give myself a break, and lots of grace. But, by the looks of the house at the moment, it's time for a few simple routines to be put back into place. Just keeping it real, hehe. :D

On my TV...
We watched a couple of movies this weekend. One was Larry Crowne, and the other was About Time. They were pretty good. But honestly, would it be possible for them to make a comedy flick without so much language?? Am I just becoming more and more old fashioned? It gets old. :\

What I'm Reading...
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Home by Julie Andrews
Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner

On the menu for this week...
Italian Chicken Bake with Wild Rice
Buffalo Chicken, Bake Broccoli, and Mashed Potatoes
Grilled Cheese & Avacado Salad
Scrambled Eggs, Fruit & Sliced Cheese
White Bean & Kale Soup
Blackened Salmon, Green Beans & Mashed Potatoes

On my to do list...
Load & Unload Dishwasher
Make Bed
Speed Clean
Wipe Down Bathrooms
Make Batch Burritos
Clean Out Car
Clean Out Purse

Looking forward to this week...
Relaxing at home with Josh & the kiddos
Visiting a community garden later this week

Verse... 

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” ~Ephesians 5:14

5 Scripture Memorization Goals

With Easter week half way through, I found myself being challenged to really know God's word. It is easy to sit down and read a verse or two. But, am I applying it? Am I saturing my soul with it? The simple answer was no, and so with my Bible, and journal in hand, I decided to remedy that. My goal is to focus the rest of the year on memorizing the following verses:

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 

Matthew 4:4

"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 

1 John 4:8 

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law." 

Galations 5:22-23

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

2 Timothy 1:7

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 

1 John 5:13

What verses have you memorized that comforts you?

Touches of Spring

I've been adding a few touches of spring here & there around the house. My favorite addition is a pretty white hobnail vase that I found at a loca thrift store for $3. I found some hydrangias at Kroger that seemed to fit the vase perfectly. I don't buy fresh flowers very often, but it's fun every once in a while!! :)

I added some Easter books to our basket by our couch. I like to keep themed books out around the house as Evie enjoys playing with them. Lends to the festive mood!

I love scentsy, and buy new scents each season. I was introduced to Bamboo Yuzu last year, and it was my favorite! It smells like spring to me! Very fresh, and makes our home feel more cozy.

So, there's a little glimpse at our home during spring. Happy Tuesday!

Happy Homemaker Monday Vol. 15

The weather...
Spring is finally here! And with it came a bit of a cold snap...BUT it's a beautiful day outside, and the skies are clear blue. Can't complain! ;)

 Right now I am... 
Sipping water, enjoying the lull of late afternoon, listening to curious george in the background...

Thinking...
About the faithfulness of God. It has been a tough two years, and honestly, every day is simply a gift. 

On my TV...
We are looking for a new show to watch. We've tried several new shows and they just don't seem to fit our taste buds. Any suggestions?

What I'm Reading...
Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman
Little Women

On the menu for this week...
Leftover Corned Beef, Colcannon, Irish Soda Bread & Sald (we had a big Irish themed dinner over the weekend)
Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Asian Slaw & Green Beans
Thai Chicken Soup & Rice
Turkey, Baked Broccoli & Mashed Potatoes
Soup & Salad

On my to do list...
Speed Clean
Workout
Answer E-mails
Work on Baby Books

In the craft basket...
Artwork project with Evie

 Looking forward to this week...
Quality time with friends & loved ones.

One Spring Lamb (Book Giveaway!)

I love working with Tommy Nelson Mommies! They offer some of the most precious books for kiddos, and One Spring Lamb is no exception. It is filled with gorgeous illustrations, pops of color, and a sweet storyline. It is a perfect book to read during the spring season.

As always, I'm a fan of the board book quality. It's perfect for Evie to carry around the house, and have her "reading" time.

Congratulations to Shannon R! You will receive an e-mail from me shortly. :)

I'm giving aways one copy tomorrow afternoon at 3pm. Please leave me a comment and tell me what children's books are your favorite! You can also check out my Facebook page, and tell me your favorite aspect of the Easter season! Open to US residents. Void where prohibited.

Thank you to Tommmy Nelson for a copy of my book in exchange for an honest review.

Cotton and May

Shortly after Ella was born, I found out I had won a beautiful baby blanket from my blogging friend Laura. She too is a wife & mother, and writes a gorgeous blog over at A Spoonful of Joy. When I saw her contest announcing her new etsy shop, Cotton and May, and baby blanket giveaway, I knew I had to enter!

The best part? The baby blanket that I won matches her room perfectly. I love that it's also a reversible blanket (the inside is white with pink polka dots!). I've had fun using it as a backdrop for my photography (you'll see another début of the blanket in my next blog post, hehe). I'm thrilled to support a blogging friend, and share her lovely work. You can learn more about Cotton and May at her coordinating blog, as well.

A heartfelt thank you, Laura, for such a lovely blanket for Ella. I think of you when I swaddle her in it. Best wishes with your new venture. :)

Hello, there!! (SUYL)

Eek! I remember linking up with Show Us Your Life years ago, but it's been a while. Well, it's being resurrected, and I wanted to hop on board. The theme this week is simply an "intro post" so you can get to know new bloggers.

(This is the only family photo we have since Ella has been born, ha!)

Hi there! My name is Heather, I'm a wife, mother & Arkansas native. I've been married to Josh for almost seven years now. He works in architecture, and does graphic design on the side. We have two daughters, Evie (Eh-Vee) who will be two this summer, and Ella who just turned two months old. Both of my girls were born at 36 weeks, but Ella ended up in the NICU for six days. She's now a happy, healthy, two month old sweetheart. Evie is our spirited little lady, who loves to dance to music, watch Curious George. She keeps us in stiches with her antics!

I've been a stay at home mom now for nearly two years, and I've loved every minute. I'm a bit on the nerdy side and enjoy all things homemaking related: cooking, cleaning, organizing, decorating, budgeting, etc. I also enjoy keeping up with my passion of blogging which provides me an outlet to pursue two of my other passions: photography & reading.

I love traveling! Pre-kids we traveled extensively (5 countries & 12 states together). France & Ireland were two of my favorite trips of all time. We are planning a mini vacay for our Anniversary next month, and I am SO excited. I love watching Disney movies, consignment sales, iced coffee, flea markets, sunflowers, Project Life, and dressing my daughters up! I'm also an avid fan of Downton Abby, Parenthood, and Gilmore Girls.

My faith is a huge part of my life. I am thankful for salvation through Jesus Christ. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for Him. I'm also thankful to be surrounded by friends who challenge me in my daily walk with Christ. I'm currently working through two Beth Moore Bible studies (Breaking Free & Audacious). I also recenlty started Bible Journaling, which has been a great creative outlet for me. 

Thanks for visiting, and I can't wait to "meet" you all through SUYL!!