Holiday Decor.

We all know that decorating for holidays/seasons can be quite daunting and expensive. And if your like me in a 900 sq. ft apartment, where are you gonna store all those decorations anyway. Well my friends, I am here to tell you that it doesn't have to be that way. It's actually quite simple. [Oh and if you have forgotten all about simplicity check out what Danyelle has to say about that.] 

Okay Okay whats the secret?... well it's actually no secret at all. You know that decor staple thats on your wall? You know a chalkboard. That will be your new best friend and your newest piece of holiday decor. 

Get creative and add some of your personality to your new holiday decor. Its easy and you can change it every holiday and season. And not to mention it cost nothing at all.  Now thats what I call budget friendly decorating.

Happy Decorating

{Lacey}

Up North

We live in a place that has temperatures, in the winter, I didn't know actually existed, except for maybe in Man vs. Wild or on the surface of Mars!  It's been quite an adjustment for us.  Now,  Finally! our mountain of snow is slowly starting to melt and while most of me, well pretty much all of me, wants to run around outside barefoot out of sheer excitement, there are a couple things I'm going to miss. . . (did I just say that?). . .

Watching her carry her toys to the nearest heating vent, everyday, without fail

The way the sun reflects off the snow

All my babies being so cuddly, even with each other

Getting lost in sweet girly books + putting one little girl to sleep


There's always next year!
Welcome Spring!!  We're so glad you're here coming.   You are coming, Right?.

Danyelle

Yum.

It's your LUCKY day!  I am going to share a top secret recipe with you!!     

I married into this recipe and it's just to good not to spread the love.  I'm sure Grandma Thelma won't mind.

We seriously look for every possible excuse to make these, moist, soft, melt in your mouth cookies.

Hurry and find a reason to make them yourself!

Best-Ever Sugar Cookies

3 cups flour (sifted)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 cup shortening

2 eggs

1 cup suger

2 TBS. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Sift together dry ingredients.  Cut in shortening with a pastry cutter until well mixed.  In a separate bowl beat eggs and then add sugar, milk and vanilla.  Add to flour mixture and mix well.  On a floured surface roll out to 1/4 in thickness and cut desired shapes.  Bake at 350 for 6 min.

Frosting: Mix 1/2 of a bag (1 lb.) of powdered sugar into one stick of melted butter.  Add 1 tsp. vanilla, and a pinch of salt.  Slowly add milk one TBS. at a time until the frosting stays on the side of the mixing bowl.

Danyelle

B & A...what day is it?

I had originally intended on doing a before and after post on the first Monday of every month, ya know?  Obviously that didn't happen.

Life has been a little..., hmm, what's the word??? ... Oh yeah, Crazy! the past couple weeks.  We went out of town twice, the vacuum disappeared in a cloud of smoke, my disposal shorted out, and our very first sweet little apple (computer) died (it really was so sad, especially because she took some of our photos and documents with her :(.)

Feuwe! (I'm pretty sure that word didn't exist until right now)  Anyway, I'm back!, and only a few days, . . . okay, weeks late.

We moved into our house around 18 month ago and really wanted to do some updating.  We didn't have much to spend (still don't) on it, so we've had to be creative.  Here is one of our first projects: 

The Master Bathroom

We replaced and framed the mirror, painted the walls, trim, and vanity and updated the light, for a grand total of $75.  Not too shabby.

   

Danyelle