After several years of a very tight budget which didn't allow for any home-improvements/repairs.  I am finally able to have a small decorating budget. Yay!

So many things need to be worked on in this 70 year old house that it's overwhelming to know where to start!

One of my husbands customers is a contractor and we have already talked with him about remodeling the bathrooms.  I will post pictures of before/after shots when we get started with everything.  Although I'm not sure if I want the "before" shots out there so to speak.  The interior is so shabby/ugly that it still amazes me that we have lived this way for three years. :)

One thing we want to do in the master bedroom is buy a smaller bed.  I LOVE our king bed but it is way too much for our tiny space!  Buying a new bed does get me excited about new linens, pillows, curtains...

I am loving these ikat panels from West Elm.

I love this repurposed night stand from IO Metro.  The photo doesn't do it justice...it is much cooler in person.

I love this quilt from Pottery Barn.

And I think a floor mirror would make the room look bigger. :)

I'd better slow down...I think I just spent my whole budget in one room!!

If you were doing some remodeling to your home which room would you tackle first?

amelia

summer fun

I don't remember a summer as fun as this one has been!

Our boys are at the perfect age. Long gone are the strollers, diaper bags, and changes of clothes.

If we want to go somewhere we just get in the car and go.

And we have been going...going...going this summer!

Thank goodness for all our generous friends who have a pool or a lake house.  We have managed to go swimming sometimes several times a week. :)

The boys a getting to be quite the little swimmers.  And my youngest has started jumping off the high dive!

I would say our theme for this summer is: water

Food is still front and center in our lives, but this little food blog has been much neglected.

What have you been up to this summer?

amelia

frosting for the cause *a guest post*

Today I have whipped up a yummy batch of blueberry cupcakes with maple butter frosting.

I made them lovingly for those who have fought or are still fighting cancer.

I am sharing them for a wonderful cause which unites bakers from all over the US and Canada who want to help find a cure for cancer.

I you are interested in Frosting for the Cause I encourage you to check out their blog.  Read about the project and how you can help.

If you want my yummy recipe go here.

Have a great day!

amelia

graduation day!

Our youngest is graduating from Kindergarten tonight.

He woke us up at 6:45 this morning yelling "Graduation! Graduation! It's my graduation day!"

I love his joy and exuberance and passion for life...everything he does is with an exclamation mark!

I asked him what he wanted for graduation and he said a big chocolate cake!

So, I've been up to my elbows in chocolate today (not a bad place to be).

I have been  could eat this frosting with a spoon. :)

Chocolate Frosting:

1/2 c. butter melted
2/3 c. cocoa powder
3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla

mix melted butter and cocoa powder together in a big mixing bowel. gradually add the sugar and milk alternating between the two until it's a good spreading consistency.  add the vanilla.  spread over a chocolate cake to indulge your kindergarten graduate!

enjoy.

Do you have any graduates at your house this year?

amelia

finding contentment

We have been in Small Town for three years this July.

Sometimes it feels like time is just flying by...like when I think of my oldest turning 8 this summer, or my baby graduating from Kindergarten.

And sometimes it feels like time is dragging...like when Spencer and I have a conversation about living in our tiny house for TWO MORE YEARS.

I want to get my things out of storage.  I want a dinning room table and more than one usable bathroom.

I want a laundry room like this:

(Better Homes and Gardens)

But, mainly I want to find contentment with my circumstances and blessings in the everyday.

amelia

mother's day blessings

My boys had a great Mother's Day planned for me.

Peach strudel from the fayetteville farmer's market and scrambled eggs and hot coffee started my day.

Then a hike and picnic lunch with the boys.

We finished off the day with a fire and roasted marshmallows in the backyard (of course I paired my marshmallow with some dark chocolate.

(have you seen these jumbo marshmallows? So good) :)

I'm so blessed to have such a great family!

amelia

lovely date day

Yesterday Spencer and I went to a cooking class.

Before our youngest son left for school he asked if we were going on our wedding.

Uhh, you mean date?

Yes, are you going on your date today?

I could eat him up, I love him so. :)

Anyway, we went to the culinary school at Silver Dollar City (I DO hear you snickering behind your hand) :)

Before you judge...it's not all deep fried and smothered in gravy!  Check out the schedule here.

(photo credit)

After that we stopped by a gourmet food store. Yum.

Before we went into the store I asked Spencer what the limit was.  He replied:  $200?  In the form of a question.

I hate being the voice of reason.

Anyway, we foraged through the store and found enough for a lovely supper of cheese, crackers, olive tapenade, smoked salmon, wine and dark, dark chocolate.

We rounded the day out by helping the boys write a haiku for their teachers for teacher's week.

And then we planted our little vegetable garden (more on that to come).

What a great day!

amelia