Thursday, April 29, 2010

windows


in case you haven't heard.

i HATE washing windows.

i DOUBLE HATE washing windows
when a toddler is crawling around on top of your feet.

i TRIPLE HATE washing windows
when a toddler is crawling around on top of your feet
and starts chewing on the flowers on your flip flops.

i QUADRUPLE HATE washing windows
when a toddler is crawling around on top of your feet
and starts chewing on the flowers on your flip flops.
then the toddler grabs your windex and runs for the hills.

this is where i found him. little sneaky sneaker!

his usual hiding space. 
i've found him here with hershey kisses, dan's blackberry, my keys....
really any no no items in the house.

ok now back to getting this d@*% house on the market. 
bye now!

spring concert & house update


the concert
coop did well.... with the exception of taking on and off his brand new flip flops during the entire 25 minute program. bad fashion choice mommy! but they are really cute flip flops. check them out here. coop has the lobster ones!

anyway. here are some photos of my little man doing what he does best... performing for a crowd. usually it's dan and i in the family room watching him rock out to the the black eyed peas.... but this day he performed the creation story for all the adoring parents, siblings and grandparents!

very proud of himself. he's in the red.

each row of children were allowed to stand up to blow kisses and wave.
this in hopes they won't do so during the performance.

during the performance.
see how cute he looks in those flip flops. really adorable.


the house
so the house goes on the market in 4 days. yesterday i was down for the count with a horrible cold. luckily my darling husband was able to perform a few miracles and we checked off a few line items from our "to do" list. we cleaned all the carpets, finished off the basement overhaul and finished scrubbing all the kitchen cabinets inside and out.

the list is still a mile long... but dan is taking tomorrow off, so we have three full days to work, work, work. oh, with the exception of gymnastics, 2 t-ball games, t-ball photos and a daisy scout build-a-bear outing!!!!

this morning we met with a painter who's going to paint all our ceilings (a job i'm just not willing to tackle). my job for today is washing all the windows. ugh! wish me luck!

ok. gotta run. max just figured out the baby lock on the under the sink cabinet!!! xo -erin

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

sixth photo

i was just reading russet street reno and i loved sara's post about her sixth photo on her blog. the story that went along with the photo was fantastic.... something about the loony previous owners of her now fantastic home. you can read it here.

anyway.

the post intrigued me and i was hoping my 6th photo was super funny and a good story. just like sara's. it wasn't. darn. but it was a fairly cute photo of my son cooper.

in the post i was introducing my son and telling interesting facts about my coop-a-loop.

 to bad sara didn't ask for my 4th photo, cuz that's a doozy.....
you can read more about this here. the post is called "word to the wise"

random

we have so much going on.
it's crazy. 
between t-ball, daisy scouts, gymnastics, house guests, school and work. 
we are now a few days away from putting our house on the market. 
sigh. 
exciting.  
sigh. 
so tired. 
sigh again.
really exciting.

so now some thoughts and some photos from the far corners of my brain.
 
look what i saw while driving the other day....
i love it for 2 reasons.... 
1. the truck is fantastic and 2. the dude acted as though a parrot in a truck is totally normal.

we're in t-ball season again. the scary thing is my itty bitty reilly
is one of the strongest players. 4 games down 14 to go.
it's going to be a long season!

on another note. i'm missing my new niece kylie. 
we've been so busy, i haven't gotten my baby fix in.
if i don't get a fix soon, i may be fighting the hubs for #4.
only kidding. kinda.

i'm angry at the show 9 by Design.
they keep showing crazy, wonderful interiors and now my taste seems to be changing.
in my new house (if we ever sell this one)
i want to scrap everything i have a start a new.
ugh. unfair.
not going to happen.
find a happy medium erin!

on to gardening.
i really hate it, but i really need to pull some weeds.
kids won't do it because they are the prickly kind.

max is so tired and won't nap.the lights on the baby monitor are going crazy.
i turned the volume off.

i need more coffee, but that would mean i need to make a new pot.
seems like a waste.
wish i had some starbucks via.

my hubby got me a kindle for my birthday.
i can't tell you how much i love it.
it makes school pick up tolerable.

i've fallen in love.
again.
with trader joe's.

so.
my house "to do" list is a mile long.
i've got so so so much to do.
i have to remember, while doing home improvement. 
the house always looks it's worst right before it looks it's best.
right now,
it's definitely at it's worst!
fingers crossed that on monday it will be in tip-top shape.
now i'm off to scrub cabinets and wash windows!

to-da-loo!

Monday, April 26, 2010

done, so done, finally done!

sorry for my lack of posts last week! my parents were in town celebrating my.... clear throat.... 38th birthday. yikes!!! AND i had an huge shutterfly.com deadline! holiday, st. patrick's day and valentine's day cards and invitations. here is a little sneak peek of a few items i've been working on.


there are many, many more.... 80+. but this give you an idea of what my new collection will look like!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

100 things... kinda

ok. so i keep reading posts where people write 100 things about themselves. i have no idea if i can even do this. a challenge. oh how i like a good challenge. please don't feel obligated to read this dribble....

1. i'm 37 years old.
2. i'm short (almost 5 ft. 2 in.).
3. i have blue, really gray eyes.
4. i wish i weighed less .
5. my shoe size is 7 or 7-1/2 depending on the shoe. before i had kids i was a 6-1/2 (bye bye to all those cute shoes!).
6. i married dan on august 20, 1999. last year we celebrated 10 years together and he gave me a beautiful diamond eternity band. he's pretty great :).
7. i was married at the carmel mission basilica in carmel, california. our reception was held at the pebble beach club in pebble beach, california.
8. this is my favorite photo of our wedding. behind us are our best man and matron of honor... they are still our best friends to this day.
9. i have three children.... reilly, cooper and max.
10. cooper's real name is thomas, but he goes by his middle name.
11. i was so thrilled when my fist baby was a girl, because then i didn't have to worry about not having a girl. i think all women should have a daughter... well, maybe not all women.
12. 20 is my favorite number. here's why.... dan birthday is march 20th, my birthday is april 20th, my mom's birthday is may 20th, i was married on august 20th and max's birthday is january 20th. kinda weird. right?
13. i have a yellow lab named lucy. she's really white, but i don't think white lab is a breed.
14. i love, love, love coffee, but i never finish my cup.
15. my entire family lives in california, but i will never live there unless i win the lotto.
16. i wanted to go to art school, but my father convinced me i needed a more well-rounded education. i thank him every day for that advise.
17. i went to miami university in oxford, ohio. it's honestly the greatest place on earth.
18. my favorite color is green. i really love lime, grassy greens.
19. as a kid my favorite color was purple, i could never spell it, so i told people it was orange.
20. i make up songs and sing them to my children. i think they enjoy them. max dances when i sing to him.
21. i know i spoil my kids, but i really can't help it. is there a 12 step program for that?
22. whenever my children have a birthday i get sad. i don't want them to grow up.
this is hard
23. my favorite drink is champagne or a cosmopolitan.... i know everyone is over cosmos, but they're so yummy!
24. i never ask (my children) to do anything 3 times. basically the third time i yell loudly. my kids know this and all i have to say is "do i have to ask a 3rd time?" and that always get's their tiny b-hinds in gear!
25. i was born in california, but consider myself a midwestern girl from perrysburg, ohio.
26. i married my very best friend.... the one person in the world that completely "gets" me.
27. i vowed (as a child) to NEVER use a computer.... then graduated from college with a graphic design degree and now my computer rarely leaves my side.
28. i only applied to one college... thank goodness i got in
29. i moved to chicago for a boy, but met the man of my dreams. (they aren't the same guy)
30. i've loved nearly every age of my children's lives, but newborn is by far my favorite. nothing is better than cuddling a newborn baby!
31. i went to an all girls catholic high school.... i don't recommend it.
32. i was a horrible b_tch in high school... i've grown up since then.
33. i have a hard time forgiving.... it's something i work on every day
34. i love graphic design, but dream of being a successful painter.
35. i secretly wish i could raise my kids in my hometown in ohio. i think i had a great childhood. (i guess it's not a secret anymore )
36.  i tend to procrastinate.... it's worse if i don't have a lot to do
37. i come from a VERY small family, but my husband's family is HUGE. it took some getting used to, but now i love the craziness now.
38. i love chicago but hate the weather. winters are to cold and summers are to hot. i only enjoy the fall... which is only 2 weeks long.
39. it bothers me when a church asks for money and it's even worse when they guilt you into tithing.
40. i love to debate politics. the best debates usually happen with my husband... he likes to play the devil's advocate.
41. i love to cook (not bake) but HATE to clean up. i'm a very messy chef!
42. people are shocked when they learn i love camping.
43. i'd rather have a few very close friends than tons of social friends.
44. one of my biggest pet peeves is what i call "pocket trash".... my husband leaves all the stuff he collects in his pockets on the kitchen counter. he knows this bugs me, but i think he can't help himself.
45. i hate words that sound like what they are. for example: moist. the word "moist" actually sounds moist.
46. i always dream about what i would do if i won the lottery, but i never buy a ticket.
47. i like tv to much. those people who claim to never watch tv or don't have time for tv bug me. i wish i could be content sitting my the fire reading or relaxing with a glass of wine, but i always wonder what's on tv.
48. i honestly don't remember life without email, tivo, gps and cell phones. could you even imagine reverting back? what would you do if you ran out of gas or got lost in the car??
49. it bothers me when people completely change who they are once they have children. i believe children should enhance your life not become your life.
oooh 50!
50. i really love english muffins with butter and jam
51. my all time favorite movie is good will hunting
52. i have a type of man that i'm attracted to. aren't i lucky that my husband is my type?
53. matt damon is my type too :)
54. i own a beautiful kitchenaid mixer. it gorgeous and i've never used it. it's been 2 years.
55. everyone thinks i'm a great cookie and cupcake baker, but i use mixes. i'm just really good at decorating them.
56. oreos are the greatest.
57. i have someone who cleans my house every two weeks, but i don't tell people. only a handful of friends and family know. (well, now i guess anyone who reads my blog knows too!)
58. i was really bad about taking prenatal vitamins.
59. i hate gardening, but wish i liked it.
60. i don't mind cleaning toilets, but can't clean a bathtub. physically i can't do it. i think i'm to small.
61. sometimes my kids really bug me. why do they talk so much?
62. i really miss my granny. she died when i was 13.
63. i really, really hope there is a heaven.... but sometimes i worry there isn't.
64. one of my dreams is to own a lake house in michigan.
65. i'm really not a car person, but i do lust after some cars. i think i'm just tired of driving a minivan.
66. i love to redecorate my home. i wish i had the time and money to start over again and again and again.
67. i love getting a good deal on groceries, furniture, clothes, anything.
68. i really don't love talking on the phone. except i talk to one of my friends almost every day and for a very loooooong time.
69. we have a black and white fat cat named roger.
70 we also have 2 frogs named nemo and dory
71. reilly and cooper's first words were "dada". max's first word was "mama". finally!!!!
72. i started to call max "unkie" when he was a chunky baby. it started out as "chunky", but i thought that was mean, so i shortened it to "unkie". now our entire family calls him "unkie". no one really calls him max.
73. nicole kidman bugs me.
74. i'm obsessive about cleaning my kitchen counters
75. my house can be a mess, but it feels clean to me if the hardwood floors are swept and washed.
almost there!
76. i look for new homes everyday and have for almost 5 years. this year, finally, we're putting our house on the market.... may 1st!!! it's go time folks!
77. i don't think i have a favorite food. i just really like food.
78. it took me 7 years to find a good babysitter (someone other than family).
this is getting difficult!
79. i wear glasses
i can't believe you're still reading this.
80. i'm realizing that i'm really not that interesting.
ok. i got a one...
81. i've finally mastered my dad's famous pesto. well, mastered is a strong word. but it's really good. it's never as good as dad's.
82. my kids favorite dinner is pesto pasta and steak. (again, i spoil my kids)
83. i think my parents live on the most beautiful place on earth.... carmel, california.  i'll post on it soon.
84. if my husband had his way, i'd be a golf widow.
85. i want to have a collection, but i don't know what to collect. any suggestions?
86. i love to watch football and tennis. i like to nap to golf. i think baseball is a bore, except in person... a cubs game at wrigley field is the greatest!
87. i am a cubs fan and bears fan... but my dad thinks i'm a yankees fan and 49ers fan.
88. i love fresh flowers... only if they are white. white tulips, white orchids, white roses and white daisies.
89. i hate to unload the dishwasher and fold laundry.
90. i'm a horable speller.... :)
91. some people like to buy clothes, some people like to buy shoes, i like to buy stuff for my house.
92. if i get the hiccups... i will get them another 50 times that day. essentially i hiccup all day. my mom is the same.
93. i
94. really
95. can't
96. think
97. of
98. anything
99. else
100. !
if you made it to the end you are a very patient person. oh ya... 101. i am not a patient person!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

9 by design

did you watch it last night? i watched it on dvr this morning and oh what a ride. i would have killed robert if he were my husband. really! moving in 3 days and he's lying to his wife about finding their family of 8+ a temporary apartment.... all while courtney's 8 months pregnant! AND she ends up finding the new apartment! i hope he got his due once the she viewed the episode.

doesn't that make you wonder.... what are these people thinking? they're filming a reality show, yet lying to their wife? hmmmmm.... don't they realize that lying won't work.... it WILL be shown on tv. duh!

anyway.

even though robert and courtney are a little nuts... they're really good at what they do. check out their home. omg... fantastic!

this is the front of the 5 story building

 kitchen... check out that garage door that opens to their outdoor space!!!!

 i have no idea what this space is but i'm lovin the orange

bedroom... the artwork, light fixture and textiles....wow!

what little girl would love this space? the bed, the lights, the art.... swoon!

 i adore the boys room... just fantastic

not just any bathroom. i love the blue, white & orange combo.

seriously? how wonderful is this???
all courtesy of sixx design

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

maybe i should switch to orange juice!

*** please note, i have changed the names of reilly's first grade buddies... you know, to protect their identities, blah, blah, blah ***

yesterday, i was picking up reilly from daisy scouts. a darling mother approached me and asked if reilly mentioned anything to me about bloody mary? a little shocked, i said no.... why??? then the mom proceeded to tell me that lanie (her daughter) came home from school last week a little frightened. apparently another little girl, we'll call her claire, told lanie & reilly the (very disturbing) story of bloody mary.

lanie's mom went on to say.... once claire finished the story, lanie was visibly scared. then reilly, trying to comfort lanie, announced....

"don't worry lanie, bloody mary isn't real, it's only a drink!"

yep... that's my girl!!

a special thank you to lanie's mom, this story made my day. oh how i love my bootsy!

reilly enjoying the springy weather!

Monday, April 12, 2010

i spy....

i spy with my little eye... 2 old fortune cookies, a banana peel, a trader joe's receipt, a cracker, an easter themed coloring sheet, a 10% off coupon and..... MY iPHONE!!!!!!


it's makes for an interesting day when your garbage starts ringing....... MAX! enough said.

Friday, April 9, 2010

lucky girl

 *** please prepare for a little bragging... i honestly can't help it ***

so. this morning, i went into the bathroom to brush my teeth & found a tiny note from Dan (my darling hubby). then as i moved though the house i found more & more tiny, lovely notes. i found one in the car (when i dropped the kids at school), in the cabinet, on the window sill, in my purse, in my shoe... they were everywhere. what a great morning!

 aren't these sweet?

every mama needs to hear this... especially when you've had a long week with the munchkins. which i have!

oh come on... it doesn't get much better than this... as i sit here un-showered & in my jammies!
thanks dd. you made my day... week...  year... life! i love you!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

he's a max, he's the monster max

honestly, i forgot how sneaky toddlers can be! now that max is 14 months old, he's a little sneaky sneaker!

last week i found my darling max hiding behind our living room chair snacking on a hersey kiss. hands & face covered in chocolate. he knew he was doing something naughty & hid! then a few days later, i found him hiding behind the living room sofa with my husband's blackberry! all crouched down frantically pushing buttons!! once caught, he gives you a coy, heart-melting smile. inevitably you can't resist him & want to gobble him up right there on the spot.

here is another recent incident with the paper shredder. i caught this one on camera.

i know, i know... a paper shredder, that of all things should be kept out of reach of children. trust me, no child was injured & i've learned my lesson!


i didn't know what fun a little shredded paper could be. needless to say once the mess was made, i allowed him to enjoy it for a bit. it's kinda hard to get upset when he's such a doll-baby!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

wish list addition

after reading this post from home & harmony... i've decided to add one more anthropologie item to my birthday wish list from yesterday's post!

pure & good hand soap

first of all the bottle is fantastic and i will refill time & time again. yes, i'm green :)
second of all the scent is lemon tarragon...yum!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

wish list

april is my birthday month... i thought i would put together a new wish list. hint, hint (hubby & kiddos). 

anyway.

i figured i would make my list easy this year... it's one stop shopping! all of these items are from anthropologie. easy peasy! right?

sun-ripened apron

love it... so cheery for the spring & summer. plus i'm kinda into aprons these days. 

 okigu knobs (4 please!)

these are perfect for my master bathroom cabinets! 

eye of time desk clock

a cute addition to my family room shelves or maybe my living room table. not sure yet.

dining room measuring spoons

i've loved these since the moment i laid my eyes on them. don't know why. must have them.

triton headband

in the summer, i wear a ponytail. every day. this will add a little pretty, you know, for my dress up ponytail.

earliest buds blouse

cute & just my style. breezy & cool for those sticky chicago summer days.

 astrid chair, naive tropical

i know, i know, i will never get this beauty, but a girl can wish. can't she? this would be perfect in my master bedroom. sigh.

cuckoo rug

i really, really want this rug for my entryway. in the winter i place a dark rug in the space... what with snowy boots and all. but. during the spring & summer i remove the rug in order to lighten things up a bit. wouldn't this be perfect for the warmer months!?

hello, goodbye knob


i'm sure why i find these so funny. but i do.