Why, hello, again! We are back in Ireland – all settled in and prepping for our first guests to come visit us! It’s very exciting. This week I shared the soap dish I found in the creek. No, it did not come home with me because suitcase weight limits on airplanes are no joke. I also went on and on about why this bed frame was our best hidden storage purchase. Oh, and it holds our mattress up too. Here is what’s on my Happy List this week. DIY INDUSTRIAL LOFT BED Other than the fact that I have NO IDEA how I would get up into that bed, I…

Hello!! July is flying by, isn’t it? This week I shared a funny farmer tale and my thoughts on why you should try to give your loved ones a gift that is handmade. I’m not advocating that ALL your gifts should be handmade. That would be nuts. But, at least once, try the handmade route. Here’s what making my Happy List this week. METAL SIDING THAT LOOKS LIKE WOOD The wood siding on this house is not wood, it’s METAL. Can you imagine the possibilities? The maintenance savings? Also, that front door. WOW. Mandi from Vintage Revivals shared this siding tip. It’s made by a company called Longboard. BIRTHDAY CAKE…

Hello, hello! Are you ready for the weekend? My days have felt like one big weekend while we’ve been visiting family and it’s been GREAT! Reality will come knocking soon enough. It always does! This was unofficial Raspberry Week on the blog. Be sure and read about our raspberry pie and margaritas. Next week is unofficial “I’m Not Sure What I’m Writing About Yet” Week. Summer fun and traveling do not help me in the planning-ahead department. The same can be said for autumn fun, winter fun, spring fun… But I still make time for my Happy List! FOOD SAFE STAIN I’ve paid attention to butcher block counters and how…

Happy Friday!! I feel like summer is already moving faster than I want it to! This week I posted about the free souvenir we bring home from trips and how I preserve the memory. I also shared my trash to treasure 4th of July wreath. Here’s what’s on my Happy List today. I COULD LIVE HERE Hello, wood details. Hello, white brick backsplash. Hello, shiplap. Be sure and visit Sita Montgomery Interiors to see more pictures of this kitchen including the detail on the ends of the kitchen island. (image) PISTACHIO, CINNAMON AND YOGHURT BARK Yes, this is a recipe from the UK. Hence the Yog-HURT.  This frozen recipe looks…

First week of summer is in the books. We’ve done museums, play dates and playgrounds. I now remember how much fun grocery shopping is with children in tow. Actually, my kids are eager to help with the shopping and if they are helping they aren’t whining. So, I like to give them something obscure to find – like sriracha sauce – and see how long it takes for them to track it down.  This week I shared what it is like when your kids don’t get a report card for a year. I also shared our latest children’s book list, which features some books we really enjoyed reading last month! Let’s…

Today is the last day of the school year! No more homework. No more keeping track of school uniforms. No more packing (and the dreaded unpacking) of school lunches. No more forcing certain offspring to wear socks AND underwear because that’s what civilized people do on school days. HURRAY! HURRAY! HURRAY! On Monday I’ll probably be saying, “Oh, sweet heavens how long until school starts?” Kidding! That will definitely probably happen on Tuesday. This week I shared the unexpected thing I am so glad I saved after my mom died – sweet, sentimental pieces of her handwriting. By the way, I love you all to pieces. Your sweet comments here and on social…

Why, hello again! I sure am thankful for all of you who keep coming back week after week! I’m excited because we have a 3-day weekend. I have no idea why Monday is a bank holiday and I do not second guess these things. Also, if you want to do anything touristy on a bank holiday weekend in Ireland – forget about it. All 5 million people that live on this island plus a herd of sheep will be in the same place at the same time. Guaranteed. This week I shared how I repurposed my wine rack into a display shelf for my children’s beloved tchotchkes. If dessert soups are your…

TGIF! Finally! Some of my friends are celebrating the last day of school. Or, as I like to say, the last day of packing school lunches! I love seeing all of those first and last day of school pictures pop up in my social media feeds! You guys know I crack myself up right? I’m not even ashamed to say that! This week I shared a funny story about the new vegetable my husband hates. Celeriac. Have you had it? It’s delicious. I also shared an awesome craft, which I’ve aptly called emoji golf balls. My daughter and her friends had so much fun making these. If you have some…

A HUGE birthday shout out to my two kiddos! My daughter turns double digits today (HOLY COW, TEN!) and tomorrow my son turns SEVEN! I have to admit, I got a lump in my throat last night when I tucked my daughter into bed. I told her, “this is the last time I will kiss 9-year-old you good night.” Then I gave her a million kisses until she finally said, “MOOOM!” I don’t want to make this about me, even though I did grow them, birth them and have spent a decade devoted to their whims and whines health and wellbeing. But, really, it’s their day! After months and months of debate, decisions and…

Why, hello again! This week was started out as a blur of gorgeous weather. Today is has fizzled a bit. On Wednesday when the weather was amazing, I shared pictures from my commute in Ireland. It was filled with all the good, the bad, the weird and the pretty that I’ve seen in the last couple of months. On Monday, I shared a 15% off coupon code for Anonymous Jewellry. It’s a subscription service that I tried and enjoyed recently. It would be a great Mother’s Day gift and something you can do last minute for all of you pick-up-a-card-on-the-way-to-mom’s-house types. You know who you are! Here’s what’s on my Happy…