Oh happy day!
We’re anxiously awaiting the 5:00 hour, when dad will be home and the weekend begins! We’ve got a four year old turning five tomorrow and plenty of celebrating to do!
Hope everyone has a safe and spunky weekend!
Window Shopping.
Ever get so wrapped up in window shopping that you’ve nearly convinced yourself that you have the income to purchase it all? I do it, all day, everyday. Honestly, browsing the internet/magazines/books etc for inspiration will always be one of my favorite things to do. Dan likes watching sports, I’d rather kick back with 3 new cookbooks and the latest magazines. Now, if you’re not on Pinterest, you may need to push that rock off of yourself, crawl out, and sign up. Pinterest is the obvious mother load of inspiration for every section of life.
Now, with us on the market for a new home, I have gone a wee bit overboard decorating our soon to be forever home (in my mind that is). Oh by gosh by golly, I’ve even tickled with the idea of going back to work part-time just to feed my decor obsession. I know, I know, don’t be so silly Abby. But forgive me, I am a decor lover.
Let’s chat here. Paint colors make me squirm. With sheer delight and extreme fear. With our previous home, painting became a part of our every few month freshen up routine. And while it was nice to give the walls a fresh coat, it was a bit over the top. Our next house, I would like to have less than 4 colors max throughout the home. Not 15 shades of gray sitting in our basement like we did before. I want the decor to speak. The curtains, the art, the bedding. While I do, sincerely love painting trim work, I would prefer that is the only paint well have to refresh every few years.
Decor wise… well my brain is doing cartwheels. To pin down a “style” well, I am just not a fan of that. Modern, traditional, eclectic, country … who cares really. If I like it, love it, want some more of it, I’ll buy it, regardless of whether it fits into a particular category! Let’s face the music here, if you’re an average hard-working family as we, you cannot just re-do rooms left and right. Purchase new furniture at your heart’s content, and make it rain with expensive decor pieces each month. BUT – you can show your house some lovin’ bit by bit. I’m hoping with our next home you will yet again see a transformation happen. With a DIY attitude, you too can make it happen.
Here is a HUGE chunk of my inspiration for our next home (all found via my Pinterest)
KITCHEN
Hallway/Entryway
Bedroom
Laundry Room
Bathroom
Kids Spaces
Family Room
Outside
ALL of these spaces make my heart jump out of my chest. I am excited to start looking for pieces to put our rooms together!
Follow me here @
Abby Thome (abbythome) on Pinterest
to get all of the links to the pictures above!
They Are My Cup of Tea.
My cup of tea this morning is piping hot. I’m nearly to impatient to let it cool. I feel like I have 3 minutes to chug it down before the kids need me. It seems that cabin fever is at an all time high. Gone are the days of playing puzzles, coloring and blocks for hours on the ground. They are so over every idea mom has to keep busy, and so is mom. Tomorrow it is supposed to be nearly 50* – so this family is definitely going to switch the beat and find something (anything) to do outside of the house!
Do you have anything on your list of things you want to do with your family right when the weather gets nice? My list seems to be growing with each snow pounding we get here. These boys are sure to have a fun filled summer!
On a more down to earth note, I have had a few mommy meltdowns this week. Just feeling overwhelmed with all that we left behind, and not being sure about where well be. And then toss in some extreme brotherly bickering and long lists of to do’s, I have had to make attempts to unwind lately. Even if it is 5 minutes sifting through a cookbook.
These stir crazy toddlers have been off the chain lately. Maybe it’s just my kids? Maybe it’s a boy thing? But the second they wake up, till the second they go to bed, it is a LOUD, wall shaking, live reenactment of an action movie. I find myself trying “let them be” as much as I can, trying not to hover. The rule of thumb that if they are playing nice, let them play. Because if I sit and watch every move of these wild men, I am on edge! I need to learn how to step back, and let the boys be boys.
As much as they have been testing everyone’s patience on a day-to-day basis, I think everyone here deep down is loving the extra toddler TLC swirling around these rooms!
They bring quiet a zest of life into the hours of each day.
At the end of the day, when awaiting the minutes until bedtime feels like hours, I love when suddenly my wild boys turn into cuddly, bedtime story listeners. It is a constant reminder lately, that they too are going through all of these changes, and we need to be just as patient with them as well. No matter how crazy our days have been getting around here lately, I would prefer no other little ones by my side. I made these little boogers, I have shaped them into who they are. My corkiness is written all over their smirky little faces. They are exactly my cup of tea.
Strawberry Flax Granola Treats
Happy Valentines Day Lovers!
Valentines Day 5 years ago was a much different kind of day. Valentines Day prior to kids usually involved dinner dates, flowers, presents, and getting all dolled up. Fast forward five years later and two children, well, it’s just not the same. In fact, it is 100x better. I don’t have to waste money on a new outfit to impress my partner. Dan’s heart probably races when I wear jeans that are a little tighter these days. It’ll be a treat to myself to take a 15 minute shower and shave my legs and wash my hair, my husbands jaw will drop. I do not need flowers, they die. And chocolates? Seriously people? Who needs a holiday as a reason to chow down? Any day will do.
The sheer simplicity of celebrating the love I have for my family is beyond any bouquet of flowers, or reservations for dinner. Valentines Day is just another good reason to give my kiddos tons of extra kisses and hugs today. Don’t worry, Dan will get just as much lovin’ – can’t leave him hanging!
These Valentines treats were a hit with my boys, both little and my big guy. Taking a basic rice krispie treat recipe, and swapping the cereal for Target’s Simply Balanced Strawberry Flax Granola was a win win. Maintaining the toddler excitement to eat a sweet treat, while I, get the satisfaction of throwing in a chock full of healthy.
Whip these up today in a matter of minutes, and surprise your Valentine!
ingredients:
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- (1) 10oz bag mini marshmallows
- pinch of kosher salt
- 6 cups Target Brand, Simply Balanced, Strawberry Flax Granola (takes 1 1/2 boxes)
- Sprinkles to decorate
directions:
Spray a 9×13 pan with non stick spray, set aside.
On low, in a large sauce pan, melt the butter. Add the mini marshmallows, slowly and constantly stirring until they are completely melted.
Turn off the heat, and stir in the granola. Stir until the granola is evenly coated, and pour into your prepared pan. Spritz your hands with non stick spray, make sure the treats are not to hot, and press down firmly into one even layer. At this point, add your sprinkles to the top.
Let cool, cut in whatever fashion you like. We picked circles, using a small glass cup to achieve the shape!
Chop Chop.
Driving to my former place of employment, white knuckled the entire way. I felt nearly on the verge of having a panic attack. You would have thought I was going sky diving, or getting a tattoo. No, I was going to get my hair cut. This irrational fear of getting my hair cut was so real, and so embarrassingly obnoxious all at the same time.
How can I, a hairstylist myself have such a deep sense of fear for cutting her own locks you may ask?
Well, it stems from the fact that, at that point that day, I had yet to ever give my hair a “real” haircut in over ten years. In high school I screwed up my hair royal and ever since then have been growing it out, and swore to myself that I would never screw it up again.
What is this obsession with long hair? I always wanted it. When I had it, I never wanted to let it go. I told Dan only when I was at least 40, or getting gray that I would give myself that big chop.
After months of complaining about my lack luster locks, I knew it was time to take the plunge. Lucky for me, my best friend Shannon is a fellow hair stylist and I knew she was the only one who would walk me through this snip.
I showed up to the salon, with shaking hands and a giggle all at the same time. Shannon thankful was right there with me cracking up. We always talked about giving me a new look, but never had the guts to do it.
Dan kept saying, “Don’t come home with two inches off.” “Just cut it already!” It was then that I understood that no matter what length my hair was it didn’t matter. My hubs wouldn’t find me any less attractive for it. That long hair desire was quickly slipping from my veins and I was actually getting excited for the cut once I sat in the chair.
Watching the hair fall to the ground was the most liberating feeling. All of that build up, the border line panic attack that almost led me straight out the door before even sitting in the chair melted away. I felt fantastic.
I am in love with my new do’ It is simple to style, so much thicker and healthier. I am so thankful for Shannon, who literally had to hold my hand a time or two through that 45 minutes.
Letting it go and sweeping it into the trash was cleansing for me.
The drive home was full of smiles, and my white knuckles disappeared. A new, fresher me for the new year. A much-needed change, and a new perspective.
Look at that hot mess.
Getting Schooled.
When your four year old yells from another room to “just relax” followed by a “take a deep breath” I can not help but laugh and be amazed all at the same time. He has soaked up every ounce of his dad and I. Taking each word we speak and properly placing it in every situation. It is something to be seen.
Obviously Brody + Owen have seen mom and dad on a bit of an edge this past month. Certainly the past few weeks with house hunting + offers swirling around our head, they can feel it and were trying to keep it all compressed.
Thank goodness for sweet words like these. I did, just what he said. Relaxed, took a deep breath. And it worked. It held me over perfectly until Owen had a complete meltdown over his pez dispenser being empty. Where than I had to imitate the mind of my four year old and put myself in check!
Love these kids. Love their phrases. Love their faces. Love that they know just how to rub us the wrong way. Just to quickly recover with a quick remark.
We’re doing alright as parents. We certainly aren’t experts. Not even close. But we’ve gotta be doing something right when our four year old can school us every now and then!
One Box at a Time.
Look at those two studs! Can you handle how big they have gotten?!
I can guarantee this post will not be the only one where I talk about our move. Truth is, everything and anything I have to talk about usually involves this house. So, it is a strange realization that all that we know and are familiar with is not going to be ours any longer.
Our walls are naked. Brown boxes are in stacks. And my OCD tendencies with cleaning has to be left at the door. Nothing is in order, which is driving me crazy. We do not have a new house picked out just yet, which I think is one of the main things making this move a little bit more stressful.
I have picked up the pace with packing. Seeing as we are days away from closing the door on this house. With each box packed I get a little excited for our next step as a family. In the same moment I feel overwhelmed and sad to be moving out of a house that we put SO much love into.
The boys are troopers, though. Doing their best amongst all of the chaos. They often talk about the excitement of buying a new house, which helps us as parents feel a lot less guilty about selling our current home.
Everyone keeps asking if we’ve “gotten sad” yet. The thing is, that would be like opening the flood gates. We are trying not to sit and think about “losing” this house. We are so lucky that we do not feel like we are “leaving” behind memories here. This blog the past few years has captured SO many memories that we will hold dear.
Certain spots in this house have gotten me choked up here and there. The littlest things that bring on a wave of emotion, that remind me of the roller coaster this house had sent us on. I was cleaning our wood floors after removing rugs and nearly cried at how pretty they looked. For anyone who saw before pictures, recalls that it took WEEKS to get the floor in good shape. I had to get my act together before Dan thought I was crazy for crying over flooring!
I am putting together a fun video so you can see the story of our house, and all that we went through making this house into a home. I wish the buyers knew its story, because it’s a good one!
What am I worried about?
Finding a home that sparks that same type of emotion in us. We found one a few weeks ago, that needed a lot of TLC (just how we like it), and it hit all of those sweet spots in our heart. We were attached and hopeful. Unfortunately, with two counter offers, the owner would not budge on the price at all. We had to walk away. I keep hoping we’ll have a moment like we’re on HGTV and well get a phone call with a change of heart from the seller. Ha. Yes, wishful thinking. We have been searching since we walked away, and unfortunately, nothing has struck the same cord.
We do not want to replace this house by any means. But we do insist on finding a house that we, as a family, can grow into and stay for a very long time. That “forever home” has to be out there for us!
During this crazy house hunt, were trying to keep ourselves grounded. Trusting that when the right one comes along, it’ll all work out.
I’ll be updating you guys frequently on our journey house hunting. Wish us luck!
Brody’s on a Roll …
Brody has always had a brain the equivalent of 10 sponges. Sometimes, he doesn’t know how to correctly use the words he hangs onto in his head – leaving mom and dad cracking up and others feeling uncomfortable. Other times, his timing with words puts our jaws on the ground.
Dad has an iphone. It’s screen is split down the middle, but still completely usable. Brody likes to ask loud and clear…
“Dad, can I use your crack phone?”
Let’s face it, tuning your kids out when your trying to get something done is a challenge. Brody’s latest attention grabbing phrase …
“Earth to mom!!!!”
Manners are a must. Pre-k seems to be drilling that in more than ever. Brody the butler loves to step in when he sees us struggling to do something …..
“Allow me”
Boys fart, truth be told girls do to. Owen and Brody were taught a saying from their Papa John (Dan’s dad) that makes heads turn in public settings …
“Oh! I farted!” followed by … “Stink Bomb!!” and of course … “Mom, Dad, put your gas mask up!”
Gigi (my mom) got the kids a checkers game for Christmas. Brody now constantly is asking me …
“Mom, come on, let’s play Tic – Tac – Ho.”
Brody lately has a habit of adding “er” to the end of some words. When describing the shapes on some of his toys, he proudly said to Owen …
“Owen, meet my hooker friend”
This nearly 5 year old boy has us all laughing, all the time. I hope he carries his sense of humor through all of his years!
Welcome to the Club.
With 2014 here. Saying goodbye to 2013 has to be the easiest thing ever. We had a year full of extreme highs, followed by some low blows.
This blog is meant to be an open book to our lives. I think I have done an excellent job sharing each bit and piece of our lives along the way. I don’t know how many of you follow other bloggers. I have TONS that I check up on daily. I have found my favorites, the bloggers that keep it real! I appreciate that more than anything.
It is so easy in a world full of social networking to get caught up in what people share with others. Most of which consists of the highlights of their life. Posting their new threads, the cutest of drool worthy outfits that I day-dream of being able to afford or even know how to put together. Their house that is decorated to the T, remodeled with the best of the best as I jump up and down for a table runner I snagged for 5$ at Target.
Of course bloggers want to share the good stuff. Showing the bad stuff can make you feel sluggish and unappealing. In my eyes though, as a reader of other bloggers, it makes me feel more connected and more normal than ever. Which leads me to the real reason behind the post. The elephant in my head that I cannot ever clear away, but needs to be addressed to lighten my load.
Nearly a year and a half ago I posted this post My Bucket List
It was a post full of all the things I wanted to do before we started trying for another child. Just a few short months after writing that post, a long year (ish) followed of not feeling 100% myself (stomach issues mainly). I was in and out the doctors left and right. Never really getting a direct answer, always just a guess as to what was happening. It took me until this past summer to start feeling better. It was the longest year ever.
This past September Dan and I were over the moon excited to start trying to get pregnant. The time was right, and I was feeling so much better. We anticipated that the “trying” part would take a while, since our last pregnancy (Owen) was nearly 7 months of trying to conceive. Luck was on our side though, and in October we found out we were expecting! We were shocked, and feeling extremely blessed. The anticipation to tell our parents was through the roof but with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the bend we figured we would wait till we were at a safer point to share the news.
Within a week or so of finding out I started feeling cramping. Which, I had with both pregnancies, and it only lasted a short time frame. I called my OB, went in for urine tests, did everything to “double-check” that nothing else was going on. Just for reassurance. I spent everyday convincing myself to stop thinking the worse and not to worry!
It was so difficult keeping the amazing news from friends and family. We are around our loved ones constantly, there were at least 30x I nearly spilled the beans.
Dan and I talked names, nursery details, and truly couldn’t contain our happiness for expanding our family. The boys had no idea. They knew mommy and daddy were “praying for a baby”. It melted our hearts as at random points of the day the boys would put their hands on my belly and ask to pray for a baby brother or sister. Dan and I would grin knowing that their future baby brother or sister was already on it’s way!
November 11, we were planning a cook out for Dan’s side of the family. It was a beautiful day out and we wanted to soak up whatever warmth Cleveland had left. After errands were run, and food was prepped, my cramping continued, so I made sure to kick up my feet and play it cool. Keeping my mouth shut – and trying to not be obvious. I had stopped drinking months earlier (so relatives wouldn’t jump to assume I was pregnant when I didn’t have a glass of wine in my hand) I had been taking prenatal vitamins for months in preparation. I knew I was doing everything I could to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
The doctors told me not to be alarmed with the cramping, if I started to “spot” (blood), not to panic just call. Sometimes that can be normal. Dan went outside to start grilling, and I sat alongside family chatting away. My cramping increased, and I was getting really uncomfortable. I went upstairs to use to bathroom, and within seconds, I knew exactly what was happening. Blood in amounts I couldn’t describe… pain that was radiating through my lower back. Much like labor pains. I hurried downstairs and outside to pull Dan aside to tell him I knew I was miscarrying. My voice trembled, my hands were shaking, it was all I kept thinking about the past few days in my head, and now it was happening far to quickly to grasp.
Dan looked shocked, upset, and angry all at once. He looked devastated. We knew I had to get to the ER. We had a house full of family and food 1/2 cooked on the grill. Everything could still be okay, or everything could be going all wrong. I knew we had to ask for help watching the boys, and this is the last way we wanted to announce our pregnancy to everyone.
Inside we walked, and asked for everyone to keep an eye on the boys, tears started falling quicker than I could hold myself together, “We were pregnant, we didn’t want to tell you this way, but now I think were miscarrying”. I don’t even remember anyones reactions, I was completely out of my head at the moment. We left, arrived at the ER, and were taken back immediately. With a few tests and an ultrasound later it was confirmed that we had indeed lost the baby.
“Lost the baby” Such a strange way to describe this scenario. I kept my composure the majority of the time. I have had friends and family experience miscarriages. And have known many of women who have lost their babies much further along in their pregnancies. I remember laying on the table for my ultrasound and running through lines in my head as if I was already writing this post. “I always wondered what it would be like…” and “welcome to the club” Not that it’s a club you want to belong to. I just have a strange way of bringing humor into uncomfortable situations, it makes things easier for me. I was now a mother who had lost a baby. I now did not have to wonder what it would be like. It’s not a club you want to join, but there is comfort in knowing others who have gone through it.
Our third child is one that Dan and I never got to meet. We never got to see the baby on the ultrasound screen and see it’s heart beat. We were grieving a baby we never would get to hold. It is the most difficult thing to process. Still to this day I cannot wrap my head around it all.
Towards the end of our hospital stay, I broke down a few times. Trying to gather my tears and remember how fortunate we were to have two beautiful boys back at home and that we did everything we could have. I remember saying “If we would have told our families sooner, maybe they could have prayed for us” It was so difficult to call my mom on the way to the hospital and tell her the good and bad news all wrapped into one. I could hear the sadness in her voice and I could hardly get the words out.
The first week or so was extremely difficult. Some may think “You were only 7 weeks, it was early” At the same time all I was thinking, was Brody was 7 weeks at one point, so was Owen, and they were celebrated just the same. This baby just didn’t make it the whole way. There was no difference to me. Our sweet baby #3, one who we will meet again someday deserves just as much recognition as any of our other children.
Overall, I have been doing great. I know and firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. I count my blessings each and every day for what we have as a family. We have a little angel with us at all times. It’s easier to think of the miscarriage than it is to start thinking of the baby. As if it is two different things. When I hear of women who are expecting this coming summer, it reminds me that our baby would have been here this June as well. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but we must keep reminding ourselves that we are healing a day at a time.
I sit here crying as if I haven’t thought about it in a long time. And really, I have done my best not too. I still do not understand how to deal with it all. If I should or shouldn’t be thinking about it everyday. If it’s okay to be okay with it, or I should be in tears each time I think about it.
Now I know, looking back, that Brody and Owen were praying for a reason, they were connecting with their baby brother or sister far more than I could have imagined.
We are sad. We are blessed. We are looking onto brighter days, knowing we have a little angel we will one day meet again.
Thank you to all the friends and family who sent sweet messages during that rough time. We know things will happen when and how they are supposed to. Our journey as a family is in much bigger hands.
We pray for those who are pregnant, awaiting the arrival of their new addition. We pray for those who are trying to expand to their family, whichever avenue you take. I hope this new year brings a lot of light and love into your homes! Sending hugs your way!
XoXo Abby
Greek Hummus Dip
Happy hump day! We are counting down the days to officially moving out of our house. My days are split between mommy-hood and multitasking packer. Boxes are being stacked, rooms are emptying piece by piece, and I am working up an appetite! I promised more lunch/dinner ideas for 2014 … I need to add snacks to the list! This greek hummus dip is SO delicious, and even more simple to make. We kept this on hand, in the fridge, covered for 3 days until we ate every drop. This greek addition to your hummus is a nice switch up for your afternoon munchies!
By using a 10oz container of Sabra classic hummus, a handful of tomatoes/black olives/cucumbers and a few extra add in’s, you’ve got a great dip for yourself, or to bring to your next gathering (double/triple recipe). Not to mention the brilliant idea to keep the “topping” on hand separate through the week to add to your hummus as you like.
ingredients:
- 10oz container Sabra classic hummus
- handful grape tomatoes, quartered
- handful of olives, quartered
- 1/2 cucumber diced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
- pinch of salt + pepper
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- feta cheese (as little or as much as you please)
directions:
Prep all veggies. (tomatoes + olives quartered) + (cucumber diced). Mince garlic and shallot. Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Take the entire container of hummus and spread a thin circle on a platter. Place tomato topping on top, and sprinkle with feta cheese! We use organic blue corn tortilla chips to dip.
*If you are doing this dish ahead of time, on a larger scale, simply make the topping the day prior (minus the feta) and assemble when you are ready to serve*
for all my vegan loves… just do this without the cheese. Owen would 🙂
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