Arms of the Angels...

I'm a "smiling when it's raining" kind of gal...takes a lot to bring me down.  Today was one of those days.  Here's what is on my mind~

*it was Monday (Monday after vacation)
*I have been praying for two kiddos that we know who were recently diagnosed with leukemia
*my girlfriend's little man is fighting for his life at Boston Children's...God has heard his name a lot lately in my prayers
*a teacher I work with found out her breast cancer came back
*a young girl from our home town took her own life...

I rushed home from work, hugged my two loves at home, and spent extra time tonight tucking in my little man.  Count your blessings, take a breath, slow down, and spend some extra time with your family this week...and above all else, always say I love you to those you love. 

love you all,
xo Sarah

vacation project #1...

Between playdates, movie dates, dinner dates, and alone-time-dates, our vacation has been phenomenal so far!!
We've celebrated birthdays, had friends over, prayed for friends of ours that are going through the unthinkable, and taken time to complete a random act of kindness...

While my son had a friend over earlier this week, I tackled my 1st project of vacation...painting the inside of our built-in hutch in the dining room.  Our home was built in 1890 (love it!), and our hutch is just one of the many cool things in our old home.  I love the neutral tones in our home, and dark woodwork, but our hutch needed something to help make my great aunt's china POP!

Here's what I did...

The inside of my hutch WAS the same color as the walls...

I didn't make a huge change, just a shade or two darker...

I believe my great aunt would love her rose chintz china stacked on one shelf, and my sydenstricker stacked on the next...the darker color adds a little depth to my hutch.  I also hung a painting that I completed in college to the upper part...I hope to add in a wine bottle holder someday.  I love the simple change!  Onto project #2...

xo Sarah

Super Science Fun!

I believe our Super Science birthday party was a huge success...if five kids enjoyed themselves, laughed a lot, and had fun putting their hands in the messes of science, I'd say it was successful!
I'm also gauging my success on the smile on my son's face ~ he definitely had fun with his friends!

We completed 5 different science experiments, and each child went home with a lab book, magnifying glass, safety goggles, and (of course) a small goody bag. 

The kids had to 'scan' to enter the laboratory...

chose their own color safety goggles, and picked up a magnifying glass...

put on a scientist lab coat when they arrived (an oversized t shirt to keep their clothes clean),

...and the experimenting began!!

7~ how can that be?!  I hope to enjoy his birthday parties with him for as long as I can!  Now, for the rest of vacation...

xo Sarah

Hello Monday~

Helloooooooooooo Monday!


What a busy week ahead...love it!!  My kitchen is painted, my son's room has had a redo (science bedroom blog post), so - of course - I'm planning my next home project.  Vacation is right around the corner, which means a little extra time for projects, friend & family get togethers, and a little down time too. 
This week ~ we're celebrating our 100th day of school in first grade, gearing up for Valentine's Day, and my little man turns 7 on Friday (holy moly).  His Science Party is Saturday (winter weather had better stay away...).  I promise to post pics. after the party! 

Have a great week ~ Happy Heart Day!!
xo Sarah

on a science bedroom mission....

This past weekend...we were on a mission.  It wasn't even my plan going into the weekend to redo my son's bedroom, but he has wanted a science themed bedroom since we moved into our home this past summer.  Something came over me Saturday morning, and I said to him - let's go pick out some paint! 

First of all, I was painting over a wallpaper mural that was in his room - I loved it, but it just wasn't for him.  I researched how to do this, and bought Kilz oil based primer to paint over the wallpaper first.  Then,

I put 2 coats of semi-gloss charcoal gray over the primer.  Next, I used my acrylics to create the Milky Way (or any other celestial outer space body - I'm not so sure it really resembles the Milky Way, but I wouldn't know that for sure anyway - & what counts is that my son loves it!). 

He has under-bed storage for all sorts of toys, a moon phase night light mounted above his bed, with a framed pic. of him at the Museum of Science in a space shuttle. 

Here's his dinosaur fossil corner...

And words above each window....

Our mission:  COMPLETE (almost).  I'm going to add 2 black shelves above his bed for his microscope & other science tools to be displayed on.  And, I'd also like a science themed area rug....

I have to say, I love that this room redo made his room look so neat & organized!!

xo Sarah

Hello Monday…

Monday’s simply sneak up on me…
Hard to believe another week has gone by, and here’s to a new one beginning.  This week holds a few new things in store for us ~
My son continues his art class after school, and begins taking piano lessons this week – we’re so excited! I always hoped to have him learn an instrument at an early age, so here we go…hopefully he’ll enjoy it.  I’ll keep you posted.  And of course, we have indoor soccer too.  Our schedules are a bit crazy, but we’re having fun!!
Here’s my front door ~ ready for Valentine’s Day!  The dusting of snow that we got tonight looks so pretty on the front porch, and I’m happy to say that’s all the snow that fell!  

Happy week ahead! 
xo Sarah

One month until <heart> day!!

With one month to go, I decided it was time to begin decorating for Valentine's Day. What better place to begin than with the mantle! I left my silver & red berries from Christmas, and a few gold & silver stars too. I placed some heart shaped plates that I have gotten as gifts over the years, from my mom and mom in law ~ love them! I stacked a few lovey~dovey titled books, put out a Valentine that my son made me a few years ago, and that is my "thankful tree" from Thanksgiving in the middle...I took off our thankful tags, and hung the clay hearts that my son & I made last year.

What do you think?  xo Sarah

Hello Monday~

Monday, again, already...
I'm home from work today, as we prepare for another foot surgery for my husband.  I'm stripping beds, packing an overnight bag for my son (sleepovers with grandparents are the best - even on a school night), folding laundry, and simply preparing for surgery #???.  I believe we're up to #10 now.  I'm really just trying to make the time pass by today, so we can get to the hospital and get this done.  It's the waiting that drives me crazy!  My husband is resting now, so I'm sipping some tea, & sending out this blog. 
Keep him in your prayers today please.

xo Sarah 

Our song for the moment...

Music is such therapy!!  I have music on my ipod for working out, cleaning the house, relaxing (I rarely listen to this music, but it's there), and for rockin' out with my almost 7 year old.  Sometimes I'll hear a song, and remember a moment in the past that I listened to that song & where I was.  Do you ever do that?  ...a middle school dance, my wedding, a song that reminds me of my grandpa...

This particular song is one that my husband and I have been cranking lately - powerful, meaningful for what we are going through right now..."every storm cloud runs out of rain..." 
We're waiting for our storm cloud to run out of rain, but we also know that there's always a reason for life's difficulties.  We are a much stronger couple, our son understands the importance of family, and that disabilities can effect people physically, but don't hold us back.  It's been another emotional week for us, but once again we are pulling together ~ thank goodness for the love of our family & friends.  What would we do without them all!!

To my husband & son ~ Our storm clouds bring us closer!
xo Sarah

Ahhh, New England…

Do you have a favorite place on earth? Do you have a place that you simply love to escape too?  That place would be the Cape for us…I love the clouds in this picture, and the ocean looks like a wintery one.  Brrrrr…

This week, perhaps the weather will make us THINK SPRING, even if just for a short while…makes me think I should put “buy flowers” on my list of things to pick up this week.  Our dining room table could use a bunch, to bring spring into our home!  Enjoy the weather, New Englanders!!

xo Sarah

Helllooooooooooooo Monday...

This Monday brings a five day week with my kiddos at school,
My husband tackling a doctor's appointment alone (unfortunately)~ wish I could have been there for support,
A meeting after school,
Facing homework with my little man again (we've been on a homework hiatas for the last couple of weeks & it's been nice),
Dropping off a few ordered scarves to a dear friend,
Finishing the tin backsplash in our kitchen & painting another wall...
Wow, & it's only Monday!  What will the rest of the week bring!?

I'll leave you with this~ dedicated to my amazing husband, who could use a little lift right about now...love you babe!

xo Sarah

family pieces~

My favorite pieces in my home have been handed down from family...furniture, dishes, paintings & nic~nacs.  This was my Grandma & Grandpa's bureau in their Cape Cod home in Harwich, before they passed away.  It was stored, relocated, and fortunately became mine when they both left this earth.  We used it as a bureau in our first home...but I love it's use much more now!

The drawer that was removed is tucked under my bed with sweaters in it...until I come up with another idea. 
I believe my grandparents would enjoy knowing that I have many pieces from them in my new home. 

xo Sarah

New Year, New Look, New Focuses~

Hello~  I've been focusing a great deal of my time on my two greatest loves...my family & my classroom!  But, new year & I'm back!
I'm looking forward to a year filled with newness, excitement, promises, times filled with loved ones & lots of memory making! 
I wish you the best in 2013!!  Please be sure to check in soon to follow me on my new year's goals, dreams, and plans. 


Best wishes for an amazing new year!

xo Sarah

Our Thankful Tree...

I have sooooo much to be thankful for...
A warm, cozy home, a loving & supportive family, an amazing husband (& chef), and a son who lights up my life. 
We started this month with making our own Thankful Tree in our dining room...each night, after dinner, we talk about what we are thankful for in life, write our thoughts down on tags, and hang them on our tree. 

"Thankful Tree"

aka ~ branches in a vase

 

A few of our tags read:

Earth, Basil (our black lab), Church School, Family...

 

This is a family tradition that we will continue for years to come!!

Happy Thanksgiving my friends...be thankful for the little things in life!

 

xo Sarah

Friendship, good food & drink...

 

We shared laughter, stories, and wine....

We sipped cider, and soups that made our insides warm...

 

 

We discussed hobbies, photographs, and tried on soft-winter-scarves...

And most of all...

 

 

We thoroughly enjoyed one another's company! You are all such an amazing part of my life...

Another Soups, Sauces & More success story!

 

We'll have to do that again SOON!

xo Sarah



Soups, sauces & More Party...

 

Love, love, love it when we have a Soups & Sauces Party!!

We're planning, prepping, shopping, cooking, printing labels, and filling our frig and freezers with many varieties of soups & sauces for our friends and family to order.  We are having a sampling of soups & sauces, and of course some wine...

I love watching my husband do what he does best in the kitchen ~ cook!

I'll post some pics of tomorrow night's party!

 

Here are a couple pics of my handmade cards, with my favorite photographs on them...

Pamet River, cape cod dinghies, hydrangeas, garden flowers, just to name a few. 

These are for sale at our home party, also.

Looking forward to a night hanging out with friends & family...not to mention sipping some amazing soups!!

 

xo Sarah

Halloween decorating

Hello...I've been swamped with first grade ~ making lots of games, learning new curriculum, and basically doing a great deal of cutting and laminating at night instead of posting to my blog!!

My son has kept me focused on our new home, as he loves Halloween, and all of our decorations have managed to appear just about everywhere.  Our porch is decorated, our staircase, mantle, and living room too.  We have these neat, yet simple, ghosts in a few of our windows.  We call them Toohil-ghosts, for our friend that first introduced us to them.  Simply cut window sized ghosts out of large white paper, and hang them in your windows.  I must say, they do look great when you drive by our home!  I'll try to post more pics of what they look like from the outside. 
Happy October!!

xo Sarah

Fall mantel~

We decided this weekend to bring out our fall decorations, go pumpkin picking at our local nursery, purchase some cornstalks, and plant some mums...

I should have taken a close up too, but didn't...
                                       I decorated with baby pumpkins, ghords, my aloe plant, bunches of faux leaves, and a needlepoint of wheat that my mom made back in '74 ~ love it!!  I love mixing the old with the new. 

How are you decorating for fall?  I'll share pics of our front porch soon!
~xo Sarah

abundant garden!

These beautiful veggies are from my dad's garden.  Aren't they amazingly beautiful?!  I think I'll put this platter on my dining room table tomorrow as a centerpiece for our family gathering.  LOVE summer veggies ~ what do we do without them over the winter? 

Hope you're enjoying this labor day weekend...we certainly are!  We've accomplished some yard work, organized the play room & found items to donate to our church auction.  Tomorrow we host family at our new home - can't wait to have everyone over!

xo Sarah

Cape Cod Map

My grandparents purchased this map a looong time ago, and used to have it in their Cape Cod home.  When my grandparents passed away, it was the one item that I asked for.  We hung it in our last home in our den/computer room, but I couldn't unroll it all the way because we didn't have a wall that was large enough...well, now we do! 

After hanging it in our spare bedroom, I got a little teary~eyed & wished my grandparents could see it hanging in our new home.  (don't mind the bed...all the tools are laid out for hanging the map just so)

Thinking of you Gram & Gramp!!
xo Sarah