Parisienne Farmhouse Chic

2010-01-10T11:34:00.002-06:00

" These sisters of mine... always kissing on me.. ugh"... hahaha

2010-01-01T10:57:00.003-06:00

First Haircut~ ~ and looking a lot like his daddy today ~

2009-12-19T20:21:00.002-06:00

Dad and Grace practicing and learning to play their guitars~

2009-12-19T13:48:00.003-06:00

The Elves are Busy Baking..... Ho HO Ho... Time to Make the Cookies ! ! !

2009-12-17T08:12:00.001-06:00

Cinnamon Applesauce Dough (for ornaments)

What you'll need:

1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon

1 cup applesauce

1/4 cup white school glue (like Elmer's)

Bowl

Plastic food wrap

Rolling pin

Wax paper

Cookie cutters or a knife

Ribbon or yarn for hanging

Straw

How to make it: Mix cinnamon, applesauce, and glue together in a bowl. The dough should be as thick as cookie dough. Add a bit of water if the dough is too stiff. Remove from bowl and knead. Put it back in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for at least a half hour. Remove the dough, knead again to make sure it's smooth. Flatten/roll the dough between waxed paper until it's between 1/4" thick and 1/8" thick. Cut out desired shapes, use a straw to punch a hole for the ribbon to hang. The circle of dough will pull out with the straw. Gently place the shapes on a piece of clean wax paper. They will take 3-5 days to dry, and you will need to turn them over a couple of times a day for them to dry evenly and flat.

Don't be surprised to see that the ornaments get smaller during the drying process. Keep this in mind when you pick out the cookie cutters for your designs. You will also notice that if you do not turn the ornaments over often enough while they are drying, the edges of the ornaments will curl.

2009-12-14T13:53:00.003-06:00

Three Video Clips from our 2009 Family Christmas Party at Brad & Jen's house... we had fun, didn't we? Brad's Bekae impersonation... maybe too much fun.. haha

2009-12-14T13:36:00.001-06:00

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We had a wonderful time with my husbands family last night.. Tom and Bre thanks so much for helping with such a special gift for Brad, and for the living room live music.. FANTASTIC... great memories and we are so glad everyone was able to be here.

Love,

Brad & Jen

2009-12-08T14:28:00.000-06:00

2009-12-08T12:34:00.004-06:00

Sound asleep at the moment.... however we now have a walking baby boy.. What started out as 2 steps on Thanksgiving has evolved in the past 10 days to full walk across the living room...which is a great thing!! ... only now more to search for, open, pull down etc. etc. This being my only boy I have already learned that boys love to explore and figure out the way everything around them works. I love watching his mind work, and now his feet too! Next, Dad and Mitch need to head off to get that first hair cut, the natural mohawk is starting to really get crazy.. haha

2009-12-08T06:03:00.003-06:00

Very glad that Faith's Christmas Program was last night, considering the weather we are supposed to get today. ( ice and snow) I am also in awe of the fact that I read in the Farmers Almanac back in September that we were supposed to get our first winter storm around the 12th of December...and here it comes.

2009-12-06T11:50:00.011-06:00

The stockings are hung, the tree is up, my menu is finally pinned down.. now just to host.. we are excited and ready for Christmas Dinner with my husbands family next weekend...

I was going to do Rouladin however, the more I have thought about it I am not sure that everyone would like it..so we are still doing a meal with a European taste..

Christmas Menu~

Pomegranate and Pear Salad

Tomato and Basil Soup

Rosemary Pork Roast (and Christmas Chicken for those that do not like Rosemary)

Roasted Winter Vegetables

Mashed Potato and Gravy

Crusty Dinner Rolls w/ butter

Dessert~

My friend Brigette is making a layered white cake for us, to serve w/ peppermint ice cream.

I will also have other sweet goodies.

Sparkling Cider

The guests are bringing the appetizers and wine...

Merry Christmas!

wish me luck, hopefully all the food turns out well :)

2009-12-05T14:55:00.000-06:00

English Countryside Lovely~

2009-12-04T21:14:00.002-06:00

On this Cold...very cold... Friday night I am sitting here wrapped in a long fur throw AND a quilt... (yes, the heat is on:)...thinking about going to sleep so I thought I'd post some comfy looking bedrooms to say " Good Night...and stay warm"

~Jen

2009-12-04T09:22:00.001-06:00

Italian Farmhouse Style Inspiration~

2009-12-02T09:20:00.005-06:00

Our Home is Eclectic~

2009-12-02T08:24:00.000-06:00

Rock Glam / Urban Chic...

2009-12-02T07:53:00.002-06:00

Let it Snow... Let it Snow... Let it Snow~ we might get our first snow today.. I'm ready.

2009-11-30T12:06:00.002-06:00

Farmhouse Style...

I am a lover of so many different styles.. suppose it's just eclectic taste.... Last year I saw the last three of these photos of Billy Reid's home in Alabama in Country Living Magazine and fell in love with them.. for more go to www.countryliving.com and look up Sweet Home Alabama..

2009-11-27T21:22:00.002-06:00

Dad and Faith picked out the "perfect tree"... we had planned to go cut one today, but some of our crew went with grandma, some with cousins, mom went and did a little shopping after all and dad and faith went tree shopping... and I must say terrific pick... my favorite tree.. Great job guys!

2009-11-27T17:50:00.000-06:00

Mitchell ~n~ Daddy.. working on Mitchell's First Christmas Tree...

2009-11-27T13:48:00.001-06:00

We had a very nice Thanksgiving with our family at Oma's house.. that... I am most thankful for..

2009-11-25T13:53:00.002-06:00

Boston Alexander~ One Day Old...

2009-11-24T21:03:00.003-06:00

Congratulations Alex and Ashley on your baby boy ~~Boston Alexander....you are very loved....

2009-11-24T08:18:00.005-06:00

Baby on the wayyyy~ Yay~!!!

I am so excited to announce that Ashley is having her baby!! Big excitement yesterday evening with some questionable issues and a call to the doctor and by midnight they were off!! This morning she has had her epi and is feeling much better..shouldn't be long!!! So excited for both of them and praying that all goes well today. Hopefully they will all be back happy and healthy cozied up at home for the arrival of Ashley's mom after Thanksgiving.

So much to be Thankful for!

~Jen

2009-11-23T10:35:00.003-06:00

The look I am loving right now...

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2009-11-23T10:22:00.001-06:00

Let me count the ways that I love this kitchen!

2009-11-23T09:43:00.001-06:00

2009-11-20T22:09:00.006-06:00

Christmas Traditions~ Are you getting ready.. are your children excited?? Mine are...and traditions are important. One of our family's favorite traditions is going to Oma's house on Christmas Eve. Another is decorating our tree together.

Including traditions during the holidays can bring families together and give children something to look forward to each Christmas.

This year, we are going to start a couple more simple additions.

If your family doesn't have a Christmas Eve Tradition, I think this one sounds lovely~

Spend Christmas Eve under the tree. Have a picnic next to your Christmas tree. Get cold cuts, cheese, bread, condiments, and sparkling apple cider at the grocery store. Put the food out on nice holiday platters and lay out a blanket next to the tree. Enjoy a simple dinner next to the Christmas tree as a family. This is something fun that children will love.

The next two are simple ones that I am going to add to our household this year.

Make breakfast together on Christmas morning. Elongate the Christmas experience by having the children help make breakfast on Christmas morning. Wait to open up the presents after breakfast is finished. Cinnamon rolls baking in the oven will make the entire house smell festive.

Put together a puzzle. Get a thousand-piece puzzle to start at the beginning of December and try to finish it before Christmas morning. Work on it together each Sunday night after having a family dinner. Read more: http://homemanagement.suite101.com/article.cfm/start_family_christmas_traditions#ixzz0XSomnZQv//homemanagement.suite101.com/article.cfm/start_family_christmas_traditions#ixzz0XSoVjGOx

2009-11-20T21:38:00.000-06:00

2009-11-20T09:26:00.003-06:00

Family Space ~

I want to do something with our basement.. well or should I say my hubby's basement.. right now it is a finished 700 sq. foot space that one guy watches tv in and plays his video games.. if there were a kitchen down there we'd never see him... seriously!

I think that much finished space should have a few more purposes, don't you?? Craft/wrapping station, homework area, and an office space, game table... all can work there way into that area also..

On the hunt for inspiration..

2009-11-18T09:42:00.007-06:00

These photos are exactly what I am trying to achieve this year in our home's Christmas Decorating .. Dark, Warm, Cozy, Rustic, European, Classic, Farm House. I already have the dark going.. and actually pretty close to the same color scheme in my house. I painted my dining room last night the same dark stone brown that is in our reading room, then stumbled across these pictures this morning.. oohh la la.. as my Opa used to say..or Bow chicha wow-wow.. as my husband would call it!! hahahha. Gorgeous!

2009-11-15T13:11:00.003-06:00

Getting ready to go outside and put up a few things.. here is the new front door "wreath" that I made. I had an old picture that had bright colors that don't match my home and loved the frame.. so I grabbed the chalkboard paint and painted right over it and then hung the pine cone swag that I made last night and added "w" for our last name. Easy peasy! ~As soon as that paint cures a little I think I am going to write "Merry Christmas" or "Noel" on the chalkboard part.~

2009-11-14T21:12:00.006-06:00

Let the Christmas excitement begin... I love to start decorating for Christmas.. new ribbons on the wreaths, we made white stockings and cones for the fireplace and my 2 youngest girls are so excited to pull out the cookies for santa plate and decorations.. so fun to watch them.. Faith came up with a whole cookies for Santa plan this year.. I quietly watched her organizing and arranging over and over..

Our tree will go up after Thanksgiving, for now the wreaths and stockings are going up.. truly is the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year"... I love to cozy up with my family on these long nights, now if it would just cool off a bit..

2009-11-08T20:15:00.013-06:00

Hi Dad John,

Brad told me that he just talked to you and that you said that you click on my blog each day, I hope you are enjoying the pictures of the kids and house!

I just want you to know that WE LOVE YOU and are thinking about you each and every day!! We're busy with all of the kids, and I am getting prepared for the holiday time and Christmas, we wish you were closer. We miss you, and the laughter that you always bring with you!

This baby boy of ours sure does remind me a lot of you and Brad, he's a little goof ball already!!

We love you and we all pray for you every night, and Dad... I know we've said it before but I want to tell you again, THANK YOU !!! Thank you for all of the times in the past 20 years that you have been there for us! Thank you for always being a phone call away for Brad or I when we needed to talk things out, work through stressful situations, and for lending a hand when we needed it. We will forever be grateful to you for all that you have done out of love, and your humor that always helped us move forward. I just wanted to make sure again that you know how appreciated you are! We wish that we could be there for you now..the distance is not fun for any of us.

With Love, a BIG HUG,

Jenni

I hate the disease they call Alzheimer's, please pray for a cure!

2009-11-07T12:22:00.003-06:00

I don't remember where I got this one, put it in to my "inspiration" file a long time ago..and just noticed that one of my new favorite Blogs "Home Sweet Home" posted it too... oh I LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT!!! LOVE IT!!

2009-11-06T11:39:00.005-06:00

Is it the weekend yet???

2009-11-06T11:24:00.001-06:00

2009-11-06T11:22:00.001-06:00

Our Old House.. I miss it at this time of the year.. CHARACTER...

2009-11-05T20:08:00.006-06:00

~ Fur Wreath ~

While browsing blogs yesterday I came upon an old post at Nesting Place on how to make a fur wreath..

I made my own today and added a Monogram plaque, and black grosgrain ribbon to it...

And for $15.00 which includes the plaque this is what I came up with.. What do you think?

2009-11-05T09:57:00.003-06:00

From where you are sitting right now reading blogs.. turn around and look... what do you see? This is what I see today.. in my temporary computer spot.. as I am trying to figure out a better mini office placement on our main floor.. hmm... not so easy.. I need a disguising white or black cabinet ... craigslist ?? we'll see :) ( just noticed that I can see "me" reflected all the way down the hall way in the powder room mirror taking the picture .. smile!)

2009-11-04T09:06:00.015-06:00

Hosting Christmas.. and a bit nervous about it..

Hello,

Every day that I walk into my house I honestly love it.. so why is it that as I get ready to host my husbands family for Christmas Dinner I am of course fretting over my house, I get anxious knowing that my style is different then theirs.

I started this blog thinking that I was drawn to Parisienne style, however.. I think my German heritage is actually more of what I long for in my home.

If you have known my Oma and Opa... Ah...as a guest in their home, you know the feeling I am talking about..

An eclectic, cozy, imperfectly perfect, clean old home, with a lot of love, and true to who they are people, that makes you instantly feel welcome.

For 36 years I have attended Christmas Eve at my Oma & Opa's home, we have a large family and almost everyone makes it a point to be there on that night. We have had the same German meal each year with only a couple additions due to new family memebers that might like another option.

The Rouladin, Red Cabbage, Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy, Carrots and a Dinner Roll are always the same and served at 5:00.

We open gifts after 6pm. I remember as a child and then watched my own children run into my Opa to check if we could open our presents and him always making us wait until exactly 6:00 to begin. I lost my Opa a few years back and miss him dearly, but it honestly feels like he is still in my Oma's home, and that is so comforting. We will again be there for Christmas Eve this year.. Oma needs a little help with things but still knows how important it is to her family to come.

I want my children to have the same memories with all of their family.

I am excited and stressed about hosting,but on that day.. I want no stress.

I really hope that everyone feels welcomed, comfortable and loved when they are here at our home this year, just as we feel at my Oma's.

I am going to try my hand at my Oma's Christmas Eve dinner.. with a few additions for maybe different tastes.

I want it to be fun.

With Love,

Jen

2009-11-03T13:42:00.007-06:00

As I am reading all of the other blogs I see that I am not the only one that is taking a peek at the Christmas decor that that has been boxed away for 12 months. Like casually laying my ticking stripe stockings on the magazine rack..with the Ballard Designs Christmas Edition peeking out.. I am taking them down.. but yes I confess my tree is always up about a week before Thanksgiving..... I love Christmas!

2009-11-01T21:03:00.004-06:00

~Cozy Corner~

The baby is in bed, the girls are all asleep, and as I am getting ready to settle into my favorite quiet spot to read several new Christmas magazines.. I thought I'd share my cozy corner with you.. I hope that you to have time and a cozy spot this week to snuggle up in with something inspiring to read and maybe a nice warm cup of hot chocolate.

God Bless You,

~Jen

2009-10-31T16:18:00.004-05:00

Hope you all have a fun evening with your little ones what ever it may be that you are doing.. We will be doing a little family party at home as both of our little Candy Cane Witches to be and our little spider.. are not feeling well.. So Dad went to rent movies, mom made snacks, and for the first time we have a sign on our bowl outside our door full of popcorn balls to take one and enjoy.. and a very unhappy 9 year old.

2009-10-29T22:42:00.002-05:00

9 Months!!!

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2009-10-25T11:49:00.004-05:00

Day 2 ~ Mitch helping Dad ~

2009-10-24T18:42:00.006-05:00

I do not remember whom on my blog roll had a post on her stair re-do.. I know she took off the carpet that was bugging her and she and her husband said, that they wanted an older home look to their new construction home..but that their contractor really didn't "GET IT"...WEll, I GET IT.. I love it, and I feel the same way!! Character of an older home is well .. "ME" ... Anyway, my husband didn't "get it" until I started blogging. He now see's that what I am talking about is not just my thing.. a lot of other feel the same way about charm, age, and imperfectly perfect charm. I have a fantastic husband who almost always has let me do as I please with our home because he knows how much I love to fiddle. However, something like ripping carpet off, and going for a farmhouse stair...well.. probably never would have happened with out YOU.. Blogger Love ~Jen

Here we are in the first step of farmhouse'n our stairs.. will post progress as we sand, putty, caulk .. sand some more.. paint and put on a runner.. How is it that this is so EXCITING to me.. haha well if you know me... you know ;) ~Jen

2009-10-22T18:29:00.002-05:00

2009-10-22T16:42:00.002-05:00

Faith has the right idea on this rainy Thursday in October!! :)

2009-10-20T13:17:00.001-05:00

Super cute blog.. love the fashion series.. to see it click here Sweet as a candy

2009-10-17T18:07:00.003-05:00

Ready to leave for Homecoming 2009!

2009-10-17T17:28:00.007-05:00

Wow!! I'm glad I'm not a GURL!!! :) all this running around today .. makes me laugh at how goofy they are!! ~ Love ~ Mitchell ( well, I think that's what he'd say anyway!!)

2009-10-17T17:24:00.005-05:00

2009-10-16T16:50:00.002-05:00

Thank you so much Brad and Dan for working so hard Labor Day Weekend laying this new tiled floor!! I really love it :) You both are awesome! Color on the wall is Stone Brown by Benjamin Moore.

2009-10-15T19:51:00.001-05:00

Mitch waiting for Dad :)

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2009-10-15T19:23:00.001-05:00

8 1/2 Months

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Topiaries~

2009-10-04T07:38:00.001-05:00

Italy

2009-09-29T21:55:00.000-05:00

Chateau's

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France

2009-09-29T09:18:00.000-05:00

Take me to Southern France

2009-09-29T09:07:00.000-05:00

New Blog List Addition

2009-09-28T08:33:00.000-05:00

I came across a blog this morning that made me cry...out of frustration that my father in law is so far away. I just added it to my Blog List it is called Moving Forward With Alzheimer's. http://movingforwardwithalzheimer's.blogspot.com

BLACK, WHITE, GRAY, CHOCOLATE & CREAM ~ My homes color scheme~ few more weekender inspirations~enjoy!

2009-09-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

www.rejuvination.com

2009-09-25T23:49:00.001-05:00

www.rejuvination.com Classic Light Fixtures and Restoration Hardware!!! ooh..I could go crazy and buy a bunch of new door knobs and plates and fixtures.. very cool stuff! Check it out!

2009-09-24T13:27:00.000-05:00

house beautiful-closet

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Mrs. Limestone home office

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ikea

Beautiful

2009-09-23T22:05:00.000-05:00

paint guru, pure design, mansion21, & Laurel Ridge Homes

Belgian Pearls ~

2009-09-23T21:39:00.000-05:00

I just started following a fabulous blog called "Belgian Pearls".. Fantastic PHOTOS OF THE CASTLES and that whole style is so what I love... check it for yourselves ~ Fab~

more gorgeous pictures to inspire today

2009-09-22T08:26:00.000-05:00

pictures from decor pad

more inspiration.. marley & lockyer

2009-09-22T07:09:00.001-05:00

Christmas On My Mind...

2009-09-21T21:11:00.001-05:00

Just added a Christmas Countdown Counter... oh my.. 94 days until Christmas! That doesn't seem possible.. where did summer go?? I know I am ahead of the game a little (I know, I know..tomorrow is the FIRST day of Fall) However, we are hosting my husbands family this year, which I am excited about!!! And with Five children at home this mom needs to check the budget a few times and start asking what are those top gift wishes.. we all know they change every other week.. so I need to be on the look out for the "repeats" ;) My sweet husband has been working hard on a few honey-do's here and there, thanks hon! (and a special thanks to Dan too!!) and already trying to figure out the Christmas game plan. So if you see Christmas posts/ideas popping up.. now you know.. that's where my head is at already.. skipped right over Halloween and Thanksgiving.. OH~! and if you know of any great idea sites please share! ~Jen :)

Sending Special Thoughts and Prayers kisses and a hug to my niece Rosie (4) as she has kidney surgery today..

2009-09-18T09:15:00.000-05:00

In Love with These Chairs..

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Ballard Designs

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~Inspiration~

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not sure where I saved these from, if it's yours please let me know and I'll give you credit.. LOVE THEM!

House Beautiful

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and this too ..

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I LOVE THIS!!! From Ballard Designs ~

2009-09-16T11:09:00.000-05:00

We Had Fun at the Zoo

2009-09-14T12:08:00.001-05:00

NCHS JV 2009-2010 Kenzie and Cheer Squad

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Mitch 7 months now, and big sis Maddie

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First NCHS Football Game ~Kenz Cheering

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Glad to put this week behind us.. hopefully for good

2009-08-30T19:23:00.001-05:00

We are happy to have our sweet little Faith home and feeling much better!! What started out as a normal Monday morning turned into a three day hospital stay for Faith. She came home from school around 11:30 with a headache and a sore neck.. no fever.. Normally, would have just had her lay down and rest.. Well Monday morning a little girl I babysit for had a seizure and to the hopsital.. So I called the Dr. to see.. he wanted to see her, by the time we drove an hour to his office she had began to get a fever.. threw up in parking lot 3 times and they put us directly in a room, with Dr. T to follow right away. Within 5-6 mins he said we are admitting her. HUH? ok.. so into the wheelchair and up to the Peds floor we went. Right away temp now up to 103.3 and then to x-ray, then blood tests and an IV. okay.. so this mom was pretty scared and still not really sure what we were looking for. Ended up she had somehow gotten Strep into her blood stream and also had pneumonia.. no cough and no symptoms until we were at the hospital. All in all a very scary 3 days trying to keep her fever at bay and on 2 Iv Antibiotics and an oral antibiotic. I am so thankful that God brought her home out of a few very scary moments in the middle of the night, when mom wasn't there but dad was...scary enough that the nurses were still talking in the morning about it and daddy cried. Faith we are so happy that you are home, although I know you thought it was pretty cool to be waited on hand and foot! We love you!!!

Mom & Dad

Where has the summer gone ??

2009-08-10T23:04:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has enjoyed the summer, we have loved the 70-80 degree weather that we've had so much of this year! It's gone too fast though, school begins in 9 days...

Grandparents ~ we love you all ~

Fellow bloggers.. I am hoping to get some projects going when the girls are in school.. so hopefully there will be something that is of interst to you soon ;) ... family... I know you love all of the pics, but I'm sure non-family are bored with us~~ ha

God Bless

~jen

Momma's Boy!

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Mom & Mitch 6 1/2 months

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6 1/2 Months...Mitch

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McKenzie & Hailey

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