What I am loving lately

Amazon used books. I was looking for this book after hearing her radio show on Sirius Radio Andy, and the kindle version was $9.99. Not outrageous, but I am trying to curb by book budget this year and use the library more. Once I saw that used hardcovers were going for $3.00 with free Prime shipping, I added that to my cart so fast. It arrived in practically brand new condition in 2 days. This might be a new practice of mine!

I had a few minutes in between work appointments, and stopped into Homemakers to look around at furniture and decor. I have been wanting to make a sign just like this for above our pantry, and for the price I got it for, I could not have made it any cheaper {considering I had a gift card for $64.60 after a price adjustment to our bed we bought last year, it came to $64.59!!}. However, I am not a huge Fixer Upper fan, it's alright, but it all ends up looking the same. It gets to be a bit one-note. The Magnolia Home line had a lot of really great pieces that I can work with if I don't pair them all together. 

That's the key. 

Layering and moderation. 

I have had my Grandmothers hope chest since she passed a few years ago. It's been sitting in our garage, and we finally have room for it in the house. After purging some of the kids toys and relocating them to their rooms or the basement, we had this corner that was open, and it fits perfectly. It stores our blankets and it means so much to me to be able to have it in our home. 

Update to Lower Level Bath

Friday Favorites!

We've been binge watching an episode or two most nights for the last few months of West Wing. The politics and alternate universe where Jed Bartlet is our president is much more palatable than the current climate. 

Obama - Biden Forever!

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This is Us

This is just the best show. It's back on after the holiday break and it keeps getting better! #TeamRandallAndBeth

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Recipes

This new to me cookbook is pretty amazing. It has healthy food and meal ideas that I know my family will eat. There are quite a few recipes that use a pressure cooker, which is next on our kitchen wish list. Anyone have a model they love? Some friends of ours got one over the holidays and are raving about it. 

This is a new favorite from the author, that I found on her website. 

http://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-baked-mozzarella-sticks/

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Puzzles! We got this at Christmas to do as a family, and we promptly bought 3 more on Amazon to do as we finished this one in about a week. 

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Gymnastics.

Thank goodness we have a new scheduled activity for the kids on the weekend this winter. Getting out of the house so they can run, jump, climb and burn all that energy is better for everyone in our house!

Just Dance videos also help. 

2017

 Hello, It's me again, your host to this space, Danielle.

I've been neglecting this space, and true to form, I will start the new year on a new foot and try to keep this thing updated. We had a good year for our little family. I know 2016 was rough for a lot of people in a lot of ways, and while things are never perfect for any of us, we were pretty blessed this past year. We worked hard, We got Avery started in kindergarten, Gavin into Montessori preschool, and continue to improve on our home/yard. {kitchen photo is not our home, it's a work photo}

Speaking of improving our home, I am currently working on getting some areas of our home finished. I have decided to work on getting the lower level all 'done'. The guest room is up first, and I am using what I have, trying to get creative, and funding it with Christmas gift cards from Target, Container Store, and Home Goods. 

This is what it currently looks like, and while we use it as a guest room, we also keep the treadmill in there, and have a desk set up for my sewing and craft area. So it is a hard working room, and I would like it to be as pretty as it is functional. 

I'll try to keep this updated, but no promises!