6th of January and I'm Behind Already!

Morning!

Hope your all doing well!

I was hoping to announce today that I'm back from the mini blogging break I've taken over the holidays but sadly, that is not the case.

Let me explain . . .

It all started five day's before Christmas when out of the blue, WHAM!  I was hit by the flu bug - not cool.

Then amazingly enough Christmas Eve morning I woke up feeling great!  Yippeee!  

Packed up the car, the kids, the hubby and headed out for a extended stay at my parents place for Christmas.

Five day's later we arrived back home, relaxed and hung out for a couple of days with the family then we had nice low-key New Years Eve at home. . . awwww just what I needed.

New Year's day was looking promising until early evening when all of a sudden the flu was back - - with a vengeance!

Now it's the 6th of January, fingers crossed, I'm finally flue free and I'm trying not to panic about how far I am behind on all the things I normally have done by now!

Not a single Christmas item has been boxed up ...

The urge for my yearly crazy, obsessed cleaning frenzy hasn't hit yet ...

All of which is normally finished by now, and I am enjoying a nicely cleaned house ready to take on the new year!

But NONE of that has happens yet!

Not that I'm complaining, no not that, it's more like I'm sharing my stress by talking about it in hopes that it helps me calm down about it.

If that makes sense,

So anyways, after that long, and lengthy explanation (sorry to talk your ear off) I will not be blogging the rest of the week in hopes of making up some lost time.

Instead I will be back to my regular posting schedule next week.

See you then!

----------------------------

On a side note, I splurged and ordered myself a new Erin Condren Life Planner (link here) which I am impatiently awaiting to arrive.

In the meantime life goes on and I am using this makeshift, quickly drawn calendar in my notebook . . . 

Sad - - so Sad

Anyone else like me and still new calendar-less?

New Handbags!

I have been on the lookout for a new handbag for over a year and finally while out shopping for girls weekend a couple weeks ago I found not one, but two that I loved!

The one I am currently using is in a gorgeous light grey color which I never thought I would be drawn to but I couldn't stop thinking about.

It's great winter color for a girl like me who likes to accent with white.

I really like the big, chunky handles and the quilt detailing on the sides.

Plus it's the perfect size, large but not too over the top.

The second bag made me gasp when I first saw it (always a good sign!)

It in a charcoal grey color that has a metallic seen  look to it.

I love the shape of the bag also and the small gold accents on the corners.

Both bags have an optional larger over the shoulder strap to add if I want.  Which is a nice option to have.

I found both bags at Charming Charlie in case your wondering!

bye now,

Robin

Yippeee!

You all know how much I enjoy my battery operated pillar candle with timers!

They are fantastic!

I love them, and use them in almost every room of the house to add a cozy touch.

I have been on the lookout for votive sized ones for ages . . . ages I tell you.

Until yesterday, they have been elusive!

But no longer.

This is a BIG deal for me.

So of course I had to share . . . 

I found them in the holiday section of Fleet Farm of all places!

I even squealed a little bit after I had reread the package at least three time - - unable to believe it was real!

My sister thought I'd lost my marbles (maybe you do too!), 

Never thought such a small thing would make me so happy!

bye now,

Robin

Pumpkin Pick'n

Visiting a pumpkin patch is always a fun outing.  It's even more fun when the pumpkin patch is in your very own backyard!

Yesterday I decided that the pumpkins I'd been so lovingly caring for all summer were ready to pick!

Even though I planted late this year I had surprising good luck!

I planted only two types this year, pumpkin pie sized ones and tiny ones (my favorite)

Pumpkins are so easy to grow I'm always grateful this time of year that I took the time to plant some.  With only a few plants in all I normally have more pumpkins than I know what to do with.

I'm off to play with my pumpkins,

Bye now!

Robin

A Farmer's Market Visit

All summer long my sister and I have been talking about going to our local Farmer's Market . . . 

yet it never happened!

That is until this past weekend.

We've gone before, years ago, but never this late in the season.  Naturally we were worried that the selection might be on a little on the skimpy side but we shouldn't have been.

Each booth was full of fresh, gorgeous looking produce.

Both of us ended up toting out two extra heavy bags of goodies.

Fresh flowers are always a must for me from the market and this weeks selection was heavy with gorgeous Dahlia's.

Lots of pumpkins and gourds also . . . 

Yet sadly, not very many white pumpkins to pick from.  

I bought a handful in a variety of sizes from the only booth selling them.

I don't know when my area is going to catch up on this trend of white pumpkins.  I've loved them for years now but every year its a struggle to find any.

I wonder if anyone else has the same problem or if it's just my area?

You can bet I was happy to get my hand on these.

How about you?  Have you been to your local Farmer's Market lately?

There's already talk of going again next weekend!

Bye now,

Robin

I'm Here . . . Really I am

It's been a long time, again, since I've blogged.

Bad, I know!

But now that the kiddos are in their second full week of school I feel as if our lives are back to normal enough to start blogging again.

I'm looking forward to working on some projects I've got lined up and to reconnecting with all of you.

Thanks so much for being so understanding of my need to take a break from blogging this past summer to spend time with my kiddos.  I feel they are growing up so fast, I don't want to miss a moment.

See you soon,

Robin

Home Again

So the family and I have made it through another successful camping trip and are starting to get back into the groove of normal life.  

Unfortunately, the night we returned home I spiked a fever that kept me under the weather for the next six days.  Thankfully I am starting to feel a little more energetic and so I hope to be back to blogging again full time.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share a photo collage from our latest camping trip and a video I've put together of all the fun stuff we did.

Enjoy!

Cruising Vintage Style: A New Bike

Hubby has listened to me talk non-stop over my love of all the vintage style cruisers in the stores the past couple of years.

He must have gotten tired of my daydreaming because come Mother's Day he surprised me with this beauty!

Made by Raiegh, I think it's considered a hybrid cruiser since it has three gears and handbrakes.

Whatever it's called, I'm smitten.

Love that he picked out my favorite color combo of all time for it also - he knows me so well.

Look it even has a "R" on the back for "Robin" - or so I tell my girls.  LOL

With our weird spring weather and my crazy schedule I haven't had much of a chance to ride it.

That is until this past weekend.

The family and I all went to a nearby park reserve that has paved biked trails and had a fabulous time biking around for a couple hours.

It was delightful and something I hope we are able to do alot of this summer.

I'm researching trails and places to go for almost every weekend we have free.  

Hope the family can keep up!  LOL

Bye Now,

Robin

Shhh! Don't Tell Hubby! (Garden Center Haul)

Remember how I said I was working on getting my garden in tip top shape for the summer.

I was simply planning to weed, fertilize, and add some annuals.

Well....it didn't turn out that way.

Instead of simply grooming the garden, I decided to give it a complete overhaul.

That's right . . . I'm crazy!

And the garden is no where near tip top shape.

It's somewhere two steps shy of when I started with a weed infested garden.

Sure the weeds have been dealt with, but then I started digging up plants, moving here and there around the garden or adding them to the compost heap all together.  Now I need to split some other plants, lay down some landscaping fabric to help keep the weeds a bay and then dream up some ways to fill all vacant space I now seem to have.  Not to mention haul in a couple yards of mulch via my trusty wheelbarrow.

Which brings me to why I need to keep my mouth shut!

 I'll share with you of course but so far hubby hasn't figured out that my real intent for the garden means trips to the local garden center . . . and new plants.

I have all my recent purchases lined up by the front door awaiting planting time.

Sure hubby is use to me bringing boxes filled with annuals home this time of year . . . not new perennials which cost so much more.

So I'm being sneaky and grouping them in with the annuals I normal buy!

So far I've picked up four new knock out rose shrubs . . . 

A bunch of pink inpatients for my shady gravel patio. . . 

A handful of pink perfusion zinnia's (my favorite annual of all time) . . . 

A tomato plant, and yet another shrub rose (to replace the one that didn't make it through the winter this year). . . 

A cucumber plant, a handful of annual salvia and two new pink phlox for the front garden.

And for some reason a couple grasses.  Not sure where I'll put them but they just sort of popped into the cart all by themselves!

I am hoping once I'm finished splitting the plants I need to most of the empty space will be filled in . . . . but who am I kidding, I'm sure at least one more major splurge at the garden center will be needed.

I splurged on pre-potted geraniums for by the front door this year.

Not something I normally do, but to tell you the truth as much as I enjoy gardening, planting is my least favorite thing to do.  

Pre-potted flowers seemed like a good choice and a time saver so I can spend more time on my garden overhaul.

And since I was congratulating myself on all the time I saved by purchasing my geraniums ready to go . . . . my next Costco trip produced another one for the front garden - - this time a hot pink number.

If all goes according to plan, hubby will comment a month from now on how nice the garden is looking this year!

I'll nod my head and say "yes it is honey, yes it is!"

Mission Garden Overhaul Complete!

Robin

Hello! Anyone There?

I sort of disappeared on you, didn't I!

Didn't mean to of course, really I didn't.

A nasty cold kept me away for a week,

then the obsessive need to spring clean my house hit me so hard there was no way I could put it off which kept me away for another week.

And now the weather is so nice outside I'm enjoying every second I can outside in the garden, walking the dog or bike riding with my kiddos.

Which brings us to week #4 and I feel as if I need to give my garden my undivided attention in an attempt to bring it up to par before my established plants get too big.

I'm hoping some pretty photos and a heart felt apology to all my loyal readers for my lack of attention to my blog will make up for yet another week of being absent.

Although I have not been posting, my project have been progressing nicely and I have a lot of fun thing to share with you....

but that will have to wait until next week.

Hope you all are doing well and I'm looking forward to catching up with each and every one of you very, very soon.

See you next week,

Robin

How to Maximize Storage Space In a Small Bathroom

The main bathroom in our home is very small.

Much too small for three daughters.

So lately I have been trying to use whatever I have on hand to make the room function better for everyone.

Storage, as you can image, is at a premium so I have come up with a few way to maximize the storage we do have.

The first thing I did was build a simple shelf out of scrap wood to take advantage of the wasted space beneath the sink - our one and only cabinet.

The shelf took no more than five minutes to put together and doubled our storage space.

Labeled, clear plastic shoe boxes worked great to sort and organize hair accessories and tools.

Miscellaneous other baskets helped corral cleaning supplies, makeup and other bathroom items.

On the doors, I hung simple wire shelves to hold even more.  

Baby wipe container work perfectly to help items from falling through the cracks.

On the other door, I hung a metal basket to store my daughter #2's most used makeup items.

I few years ago I installed peel and stick tiles inside the cabinet and I still love how helpful they are.

It's easy to keep clean plus the baskets slide nicely across the surface.

Another way we added some storage to the room was by filling in an awkward alcove with shelves.  

I finished this project years ago and thought it gave the room some character. 

 Years later I'm loving the fact that it add extra space to store all the stuff my girls accumulate.

Now bins corral hair products, mouth wash, etc. and glass containers hold items like q-tips and cotton pads.

Not to mention, toilet paper is within easy reach - - looks pretty all stacked up - - and doesn't have to take up much needed space in our only cabinet.

These simple changes have made a world of difference.

  Nothing beats a well organized space!

Have a great day,

Robin

My Makeup Must Haves

I have a confession to make. . . 

I'm becoming a makeup geek!

It's been a slow transition for me that's taken place over the past two maybe three years . . . but now it's a full fledged condition.

I can't seem to go even a couple of weeks without adding just a little something new to my ever growing makeup collection.

Even though new items are fun, I have handful of items that I reach for everyday and I start to panic a bit when they start running low. 

These are the products I'd like to share today.

My Go-To items that I can't seem to be without.

Here goes . . .

My Makeup Must Have's by thesuperwife


Most of the products I reach for are you could pick up at the drugstore but a few are not.  

If you haven't tried any one of these products I strongly encourage you to pick yourself up one to play with.  Who knows, maybe it will become your new favorite!

Have a great day now, 

Robin

Fake Flowers To The Rescue!

You all know how much I enjoy gardening.  

Filling my home with fresh clipping from the garden is something that is hard to give up over the winter months.

Spring fever and the craving for fresh flowers has hit me head on the last couple days.

But I've resisted . . . mostly because those pretty petals cost a pretty penny this time of the year if you'd like anything other than stock flowers from the super market.

On a quick trip to JoAnne's the other day to pick up some thread, I just so happened to find myself drawn to the faux flower aisle like I was on autopilot or something.

It was there that I found these beautiful fake Peonies.

Seeing as Peonies are a springtime favorite of mine, I was giddy with delight at how life-like they seemed.

I picked up two bunches of white and two bunches of pink, plus a few bunches of fake boxwood branches.

I could hardly get home fast enough to arrange them in a pretty dish for the dining room table.  

I only had enough time to arrange the white Peonies before the kids arrived home from school, but soon I'll have the pink ones somewhere in my house too!

For now, 

the fake version of the originals are doing a fabulous job of keeping me content!

Thank goodness!

Bye now, 

Robin

Linked to:
Tuesday's With A Twist
Tweak It Tuesday

Ikea Haul

Morning!

Remember earlier in the week when I talked about going to Ikea with my sister?

Well...we had a fabulous time, spent over three hours shopping and spent way more money than we probably should have but it was all worth.  Ikea's always a fun place to shop but with my sister it's even better.

A few of you express interest in what I was going to pick up so I thought a quick haul post was in order.

My sister had a list of things to look for and pick up, I on the other hand was along for the ride and just hoping I would find something to bring home with me.

The first item I decided on was this small, white garbage can to be used to hold doggie food.  Let me tell you this is a big improvement over it's replacement...a ice cream bucket!

I'd say this is much more stylish and charming to have tucked into the corner of the kitchen.

It's the perfect height too!  Shelby is just slightly too short to be able to stick her nose in there and steal food.

For this next find let me just say I don't know where I've been all these years. 

 In past trips to Ikea I've always skipped over the pillow section for some reason, not realizing the gems they have!

I picked up two 20X20 inserts and two covers.

All four items together where just under $18!

I'm still in shock I think.  

Have any of you bought Ikea pillows before?

I'm curious about how they will hold up . . . did I just find the best place ever to purchase throw pillows or will they turn out to be ho-hum?

I stood in the pillow section for a very long time trying to figure out which slipcover to pick up.  In the end I just couldn't walk away from this cute flower print.  

For now I have them adding a little softness to my metal chairs in the kitchen. 

 Soon I'm sure reality will set in and I'll move them somewhere else in the house where they won't end up on the floor quite so much.

For today, I'm loving the softness they add to the eating nook.

And then of course there are the curtains.

I picked up a new set of semi-sheers for the living room.  They have a nice cotton feel to them and I love the way they diffuse the light with a soft glow even on a cloudy, gloomy days like today.

They have a pretty raised stitched design on them that make them a little more interesting than a simple panel.

I love them.

I picked up another set of curtains just for the fun of it.  

As you can see I haven't opened them yet since I really have no idea where I'm going to use them right now.  

These are simple lace panels with a scalloped edge.  Truthfully, I have never in my life owned a pair of lace curtains so I'm sort of stepping out of the box with this one but for some reason I was drawn to them.  They may end up in some sort of project instead of in their traditional role - - we'll see.

And last but not least, I fell for another set of pillows.

I saw these during our walk through the idea's area.  They're what prompted me to search out the pillow section to begin with.

A little more spendy at $32 for both covers and inserts but still a pretty good price I think.

 I love the linen like fabric they are made from.  The pretty detailing in the middle and the sweet ruffles along the sides make them easier to love also.  LOL

So there you go . . . my Ikea haul.

Not that exciting I guess if your not into curtains and pillows.  

Being that I'm on a big pillow kick right now you can imagine I'm one happy lady!

Have a great day now,

Robin