Wheaton's French Market

    When Saturdays are free and unplanned (a rare and beautiful treat) around here we often wander over to our local French Market. I had a vision of me pouring over each stand, smelling the countless bunches of flowers, purchasing little cartons of berries, grabbing a hot coffee and walking home feeling very "French" indeed. In reality it went nothing like that at all. This week it was whining kids (actually just one, who kept reminding me it was not fun for him to be doing this) hot weather and overcrowded aisles. If my little family of five stopped for one minute it felt like a tidal wave of people were pushing us onward, either with their bodies or their glares. Not the best time I have ever had. But, but, we did get some delicious doughnuts and that must count for something!

 

 

Once again, doughnuts saved the day...I mean look at those faces:)

Kiddos

 

 

 

Plants, your decorating friend

   I use to think plants were for outside only. This thought might have stemmed from the fact that every time I had a flowering plant it died days after coming in my front door no matter how much or little I watered it. It might have come from the strange fear I have of having living things (besides children)that require attention and upkeep. I do not know where it came from but I am glad that belief has been debunked.

   About a year ago I remember asking my husband if I could go to Home Depot and purchase a large number of house plants. My darling husband rarely says no to me when I ask for things (please know I don't often ask for things....truly) so he suspiciously said yes and asked me, "How much is a large number of house plants?" The man knows me too well.  Off I went. I had almost as much fun that day shopping for house plants as I would shopping at Anthropologie. Home I came, trunked filled with greenery that had me daydreaming where I would place it in our home. 

   I instantly learned two things as I experimented with my load of plants. One, everything looks good with a pop of green on it. And two, height variation adds visual interest. Even with the large number of plants I purchased I found myself struggling to decided just where each of them should go. They looked good everywhere. In the end it helped that a few of my rooms are for small children and the thought of having plants sitting in dirt just waiting to be knocked over eliminated some of the desire to have them in there. If you have never tried to have a plant in your house before I highly encourage you to give it a go! The price point of plants is reasonably cheap, I'm talking $2-15 dollars each. Add in the bonus that it cleans the air and you are doing yourself a major favor. Here are some of the places I have used plants to decorate inside my home. Enjoy.

Just looking at these pictures makes ME want to go get more plants. Hmmmmm. Plotting.

Current Favorite: Book

The other evening I was having dinner at my friend's house and noticed this book on her coffee table. It of course caught my eye with the fun typeface and cover styling. I commented on it and asked how she liked it. She (being the giving person she is) offered it to me to borrow. I declined. I have this odd issue with borrowing things from people. I dread that I will somehow destroy it or forget to ever return it and I really like to own something for myself.  I did however go home and reserve it at my local library (to see if it was worthy of a purchase)....6 holds before me so my hope was to be reading it by mid-January. Perfect.

 

The next day I am sitting on my couch as Isabelle came running in holding this very book. "Mommy, someone left this for you on our porch." Before even looking at the card that accompanied it I knew that my sweet friend had gone out and purchased me my very own copy. And I was right.  I am one of those people whose love language is gifts....which always makes me feel like I am really vain or selfish, it seems lowest on the totem pole of love languages...but I really do feel loved when people give me gifts. When I received this book from my friend it made me feel so loved. She thought of me and knew I would devour this book page by page (as I have). She knew I would love owning a copy of my very own rather than borrowing it from the library. She knew.

 

Decorating is a passion of mine. Houses are a passion of mine. Imperfection being perfection is a passion of mine. This book has it all. Read it, but be warned there are 7 holds on it at the library.

Homemade Pretzels

I have been having a real (pregnancy??) craving for big soft pretzels dunked in a spicy cheese sauce. Discovering my new favorite YouTube star had a simple and straightforward recipe for them was all I needed to dive in head first. Making them was much easier than I thought it would be and every bit as delicious as I hoped for. I highly recommend every one trying this at least once in their life, though I assure you once will not be enough. Recipe here.

Soooo delicious.