february fun

I still have one more craft weekend post to finish but I thought I'd catch up on some stuff that's happened lately before february gets away from me completely.

february came in so quickly, it's like i blinked and here we are more than halfway through the shortest month of the year.  we've had several snowstorms (enough already), snow days, valentine's day, and now we're in the midst of february vacation week.   i'm already so tired of snow - shoveling (although there's a lot less of that  now that rob has his new snowblower), wet shoes, hats, gloves, boots, etc...cluttering up my back hall. while i love a good snow storm, and as a former teacher, a snow day, i'm ready for spring.  for now, i'll have to be content planning a getaway to warmer climates.  last year, we went to sanibel island during the first week in april and it was glorious.  we're planning the same trip this year with perhaps a couple of days spent at universal studios to start.  i have a hard time making the decisions that go along with planning a vacation but rob is comfortable leaving it to me.  and frankly, he just doesn't have the time to make it happen so i better hop to it!

valentine's day, while not my favorite couples holiday, is one of my favorite days to shower the kids with love!  not that i don't shower my husband with love but we both agree that it's better to show our love for each other all year long, not just on one overblown, consumer driven day that inevitably leaves so many people feeling sad.  but since the kids were little, i've always made a big deal of valentine's day.  this year, maggie and i decorated the kitchen with hearts and i set the table with a festive tablecloth that i got on clearance last year at target.  i usually buy them a heart shaped donut the day before to set out for breakfast, and this year, i added strawberry milk too!  and i buy them little gifts that i get after the holidays or at the christmas tree shop or dollar section of target.  some years, we've had a scavenger hunt for them to find their gifts but we don't usually have enough time in the morning before school so if valentine's day falls on a school day, we skip that part (like this year).  

 one of my favorite things i did this year was telling each person 10 things i loved about them.  i found a free printable (probably on pinterest) and printed it off on card stock.  i tried to come up with different things, unique and special to each of them (rob included).  i was surprised at how much the kids especially seemed to appreciate and enjoy it.  the pictures below show them reading their lists. 

 friday night, matt slept at a friends house so it was just the three of us.  after dinner, we had chocolate fondue.  maggie helped me cut up fruit and some little dessert cakes (the kind you buy for strawberry shortcake) and i just melted some bakers chocolate in the microwave and then put it in the fondue pot to keep it warm.  i got that fondue pot for a wedding gift (13 years ago) and this is the first time i've ever used it.  i know i kind of cheated but it was a lot of fun and i'm sure it will be making another appearance again soon!

back soon with some more february vacation news and my last craft weekend post!  

that time i went to kansas (part 2)

my adventure to craft weekend didn't get off to a very good start.  between airport delays, cancellations, and lost luggage, i was feeling a little defeated.  i was hopeful that a good night's sleep and a fresh perspective in the morning would change my mood.  and really, how could i be unhappy waking up to this?



mornings start slowly at the craft house.  kimberlee gets up early to make us breakfast and people slowly stir, get showered and make their way down to the beautiful bright happy kitchen.  i had another little pity party for myself when i realized that i didn't have any clean clothes, makeup, or toiletries (except my toothbrush and a hairbrush).  i showered anyway and put on my "airport clothes" and my festive scarf from amy (one of the other guests - she has an adorable little handmade shop, ella rue designs) and went down to have coffee and breakfast.  let me tell you, kimberlee knows how to do breakfast.  a sausage and egg casserole, fresh fruit and yogurt, and her famous cinnamon rolls were waiting for us, along with our happy helpers, sara jane and jenny.  those two ladies were awesome and made sure we had everything we needed. and don't even think about clearing your own plate....that's against the rules!

i tried to get caught up on my apron and with the help of the other ladies (especially amy who helped me iron - my least favorite sewing task), i made good progress before we had to leave for our shopping trip to bearly maken it and the barn.  i was so excited to go antiquing in kansas and had my heart set on finding a vintage hand sewn quilt like the ones that meg has all over the craft house.  i was just hoping my suitcase would arrive so i'd have a way to get my goodies home!

we all loaded up in the van, took the obligatory "selfie" and headed of to bearly makin' it.  when we got there, meg informed us it is the "most organized" antique store and that's why it's a favorite of hers.  it's run by marion (the mayor of marion, ks where the store is located) and oggie (?) and boy do they know their stuff.  it was the perfect mid-western shop in the quintessential mid western town.  i loved it!  i didn't find the vintage quilt i was looking for but i picked up a few smaller treasures and just soaked up the whole experience!  the other ladies found some really great stuff too.  we then headed to grab lunch (at pizza hut) - normally, they pack a lunch and we eat at the barn but meg and kimberlee were worried it would be too cold.  it was actually a beautiful spring-like day but the day before had been freezing!  i guess kansas is like new england in that way!

That's Meg and Kimberlee chatting out front after our shopping trip!

our next stop was the barn....oh, the barn!  if i had driven to kansas, i would've gone home with a car full.  larger pieces, with so much vintage charm.  chippy paint, large scale furniture, and so many great pieces!  i didn't buy anything but drooled over leslie's score - a perfect vintage school house map!  she was determined to get that thing back to canada and she wrapped it up right there on the ground in some cardboard they had on hand.  i loved leslie and her enthusiasm and exuberance!  here are some snapshots of the goodies for sale at the barn:

Leslie and her awesome map

I was taking a picture of the train going by (it was like a mile long!) but you can see Leslie in the picture boxing up her map!

then it was time to go home and get back to crafting!  we had a little show and tell back at the house (pardon my dark pictures - i had a hard time getting my camera to cooperate).  i loved seeing everyone's awesome finds and was amazed that we all found such different stuff!  i got back to work on my apron and kimberlee and the other ladies got to work in the kitchen preparing dinner.  she made salad and chili and we all enjoyed eating together and just talking.  one of my favorite parts of the weekend was getting to meet all of these women and talk with them about life, motherhood, marriage...despite our different backgrounds, we all had so much in common.  meg has really created something special with craft weekend.  it brings women together and gives them a break from their every day lives of work, mothering, and life in general.  you feel so refreshed and renewed and creative at the craft house!

above my bed at the Craft House

i've already gone on long enough.... one more post to wrap up our last evening together and the rest of our crafts.  and the finale on sunday, when we take pictures and say goodbyes.