It just keeps getting better

Yesterday was my birthday. I have never in my life felt as loved as I do on this my 27th birthday. As I ease into my late twenties it's hard not to notice how much more comfortable I am with myself than I once was. As far as birthdays go, this year had to be the best one yet. 

A few days before my boys made me some new Halloween decorations

thanks boys!

My sweet husband took me out to my very favorite Creperie (after dropping the boys at school). Oh that giant hot chocolate was AMAZING, le sigh! 

We came home from breakfast to find that my sweet daddy had sent me some beautiful flowers, Thanks Daddy!

Then Jess got to work finishing making my little decorative shelf over my baking area in the kitchen. It looks kinda jumbled now but once I paint it all a creamy white it will look perfect

My friend and neighbor brought me a warm apple pie, you know you have some seriously awesome friends when they bring you pie! I was more than happy to have them and a few other friends/neighbors over for cheesecake and pie later. It is so nice to live in the same neighborhood with 3 of my very good friends!

Tonight I'm going out to dinner with another one of my favorite girls and a few of my co workers. I'm gonna wear these, my other gift from that wonderful hubby. 

Today my mom and I have to get to work getting ready for our kiddo Halloween party on Friday. I also have to finish making someones Lego Luke Skywalker costume. 

I hope you all have a great day!

of leftover pie for breakfast

Wow, it's been a busy few weeks! I apologize for not being around much but first grade is looming just around the corner and I have been trying to pack in as much fun as possible before school starts. When last we left off this momma was checking activities off our summer bucket list like crazy. we have just a few left and after we go camping this weekend will be almost done, and with almost a month to spare! here's a few things that have been going on the last few weeks...

I finally got around to putting chicken wire into this old window frame so the boys have there own place to hang their treasures. There room is slowly coming along, now I'm just looking for dresser.

We need a new dresser because this guy is officially potty trained! I cannnot get over how much easier it is the 2nd time! We no longer need the giant dresser/changing table so I'm looking for something that will fit better. please ignore the slipcoverless sofa and toy strewn living space in the background :)

I have been on a "make it myself " kick and have been making all my own jam, cottage cheese, butter, bread, root beer and so on. I usually prefer to make rather than buy but I've recently attempted things I've never tried before, like butter!

I found this blog called The Italian Dish, where the author has an amazing recipe for really fast, really delicious bread dough with out kneading!  Although skeptical, I decided to give it a chance and can honestly say that it will forever change the way I make my dough. You seriously mix up the dough and put it in the fridge, then just take it out and bake it when you want fresh bread. I have now made everything from beautiful crusty loaves, to pizza, to cinnamon rolls and not one of them took longer than a few minutes! Honestly it almost makes me angry when I think of tall the time I've spent kneading and trying to make a perfect dough when this is sooo easy!

Farmer's market pizza, recipe to follow in a few days

Cranberry pecan cinnamon rolls

Well, I'm off to pack up for our camping trip. 4 days of  tubing, s'mores, swimming, and sleeping under the stars with our very best friends! Hopefully I'll be able to get some good family portraits while we are on the river, fingers crossed!

& Smokey campfires!

What a week!

My new porch came in the mail yesterday, I'm so excited!
We have been wanting to build a covered porch or pergola or something since we moved in but currently we are up to our eyeballs in projects and it's just not an option right now. So what's a girl to do? I ordered myself a new porch off Amazon. something like this...

Via

Well it's kinda a porch... well okay, it's a huge shade sail but it will take my currently overly exposed deck and make it a comfortable shady wonderland. Long story short it was less than a $100 and it will cover the back deck and it has a 10 year warranty. I was told by my darling yet fed up husband that I was not allowed any more projects and a covered porch is definitely a project, but this as simple as installing hardware and tightening ropes.

Because when you look like this your not allowed to play out in the sun for too long before you crazy mommy makes you seek shelter form the sun.
That's right, with the exception of trips to the river or pool I completely refuse to put sunblock on my kids! Yep I'm crazy I know, but neither of them has ever had a sunburn!

Tangets aside, I am very excited to get it all hung up, I'm also pushing for a hammock but that idea has been shot down, the nerve!

 We are still yet to get dirt into our raised beds, so there they sit looking like empty coffins in my backyard, beckoning to my children to climb in and use them as all sorts of imaginary race cars, ships, and airplanes.
Apparently 1/2 c.Yard of organic soil is hard to find in these parts, which means we get to buy 13 bags of soil at about $10 bucks each! Ouch!

Next week is the boys spring break and they are going to Camp Gramma's for the week. I hope to get a lot of projects done to make up for my lack of creativity this past few weeks. So check back, I promise I'll actually do something interesting at some point!

Well that's about it for the random and mundane news report, have a great day everyone! I can finally breath through my nose and have stopped sneezing constantly so things are really looking up for me.

Peace and cold tea on the porch!