Making the Change

Thank you all so much for all your feedback yesterday. I am going to make the change! I am so excited. I still have to import this blog into the new, but today I am starting all new posts on twoellie.com. I am ecstatic!!!!

NEW

So I am considering making a switch, but only considering. Hence being MIA as of late. It really is up to you all. To see my potential new home go here. Please, pretty please...

Refining Style

Since I have begun my new journey on living a life of simplicity, I have also begun refining my style. At times I feel all over the place and I am trying hard not to waste and buy smartly. I want pieces and a home that we can grow with and me not tire of in a few sort months or even years. After much evaluation I think I came down to what I am when concerning my home. I think designer Kristen Panitch nailed me right on the head with her gorgeous designs. Her spaces look easy to live in, welcoming, traditional, with a bit of boho here and there. The textures, patterns. and the layering of all her spaces feel like home to me. This is the direction I am slowly going in. I can't wait to share my home soon!

Her goal for every space they design speaks volumes to me... to create homes that will reflect and evolve with our clients’ lifestyle, tastes, passions, and dreams... That is so what I want and am striving towards.

SPRING

Yesterday I had high hopes of taking the kiddos to the zoo. When we arrived there wasn't any parking spots. Yes, you heard me right. It was insane. So in my frantic desire to do something fun with the kiddos without going mad I went to the Botanical Gardens a street away. They ran and explored. We had a blast. I visited the shop Leaf n Petal while there and fell head over heels for the decoupaged wallpaper. The colors were quite gorgeous to say the least. Such an inspiring day it ended up being. Today we are getting up a bit earlier and trying for the zoo once again. Fingers crossed.

*images taken on iphone4

KJ's 4th Birthday Party

KJ's birthday party was a hit, but I must be honest and state that the idea was NOT all mine. He wanted superhero and as I searched online for ideas I came across this party and KJ was smitten with it. I simply down scaled it quite a bit. This party was on the smaller side and KJ made the guest list. We had fun.

KJ picked all the foods for the dessert table. He wanted a cake, m&m's and twizzlers. I added the oreo truffle pops from bakerella.

The cake that we made was adorned with this print out I found on One Charming Party. I thought it was still superhero-y without being a straight out superhero.

A friend of mine loaned us her bouncy house. It ended up being a cold night so we blew it up in our bedroom. It's still there. Ha.

I made the building out of boxes and a plastic red tablecloth I had. I simply drew on the facade. The shirts the kiddos and I made for all the little guests. They are the same ones we made for Sally's boys.

The water bottle labels and banner I ordered from Anders Ruff on etsy. They were also the inspiration for the whole party which I mentioned before.

I made coloring sheets for all the kiddos. Not sure why I haven't done this before. They were so much fun and gave the all the kiddos something else to do.

Here is the birthday boy happy as can be. Still can't believe he is four. I adore him and I am so happy he felt special.

JAPAN

{image via mlive.com}

I could not believe the devastation that took place this past Friday in Japan. My heart completely aches for them. I showed KJ this image so he would know what we were praying for. He thought this was a picture of toy cars and planes all jumbled together. That is what it looks like. I do feel like KJ though, in a way. I find it quite hard to wrap my brain around what has happened.  Every image and story is quite baffling. That very evening was KJ's birthday party. I was incredibly grateful to have our family and friends all there with us and at the same time sorrow for those that do not even know where their family's are. Heartbreaking...

*I will post KJ's party this week, hopefully sooner than later, but for now I am going to just enjoy some time with my family.

Loving Color

This week I have had a dreadful cold that I just can't seem to shake. This has also been one crazy busy week and the two aren't playing quite well with each other. Monday I had some time to sit and do a bit of blog reading and I came across Live Like You. She is a designer who adores color, reusing what you have, and seems to have a heart of gold. Her home is much more bold than I normally gravitate to, but I must say I am smitten. Even my kiddos sat in awe while we went page to page. They seem to love color too, my bad...

Doesn't it just scream joy? I really do adore it. Tomorrow is KJ's birthday party and I am not ready. I am signing off early and will be back next week. I so recommend reading through Live Like Love. It really does inspire. Have a great weekend!

FOUR

Today my little man turns 4. My baby is not quite so babyish anymore. Bitter sweet. Love seeing his personality shining through, he happens to have a lot of it. Friday we are having his party. He wanted superhero, so these are the invites I came up with. He LOVES them. I LOVE him.

Little Reminders

{via House Beautiful photo: Jose Picayo}

My grandparents had the most beautiful set of blue and white transferware. It was stacked high in a corner built in hutch. The above image reminds me of their home. They have since passed, but I still can remember my grandmother pulling pieces out for our special tea time. Today I am over on Mrs. French discussing another use for transferware.

BLUE

There are certain colors I seem to gravitate towards. Blue happens to be one of them. I adore every shade and am excited to be working it into my neutral home this year.

{Bodie and Fou via poppytalk }

The working shutters of the Bodie and Fou french home has me head over heels. There is a local home that is like this, I want to live there, I hope it comes up for sale once we are ready to buy. I simply adore it.

{Les Composantes}

She looks lovely in blue. Love her dark brows and pretty freckles showing through. Now if only I could actually read Les Composantes. Thier images inspire me so. 

{Lonny design by lulu powers}

I am sure you all have already seen this image, but it is one that I can not get enough of. I hope to recreate it one day. So pretty.

This is me, please excuse my awkward arm. The Mr. was testing light for this past weekends wedding and maybe I had an itch? Who knows, but I wanted to share my new favorite shirt. Oh, and a belt would have made this outfit so much cuter, but I forgot it at home.

An Organized Life: Laundry Room

My laundry room is nothing special. It is in an awkward space between the garage and entry. It's extremely tight, but at the same time better than just having a laundry closet. The room only contains things that actually have to do with laundry and sewing. The rug tiles are Flor that I got for a dollar a piece years ago hence why they don't match. I would love to upgrade them to these also by flor.

Again I used Emerson Made's idea of using cookie jars for everything. This makes me happy and keeps certain things in constant reach which I love.

I bought this large jar at a local antique shop for a steal. It is the perfect place to store a few bolts and wrapping paper.

Above the washer and dryer I keep all my fabrics that I have reduced like crazy.

I do laundry a couple times a week. As soon as the dryer is done I immediately fold and hang everything in this little room except for the socks, they get put into a basket and get sorted only once a week. I follow up by putting all the regular laundry away. I then put whatever was in the wash into the dryer. Then repeat till it's all done. It seems to be the only system that works for me.

See nothing special, but it was part of my getting organized and simplifying task so I thought I would share.

A T-Shirt Swap

I was so excited when Sally suggested doing a t-shirt swap with our little ones over Twitter. We actually became twitter friends before being blog friends, which I feel is so rare. She is a wonderful mother and if I could have a touch of her creativity I would be in pure bliss. I can not wait for the day when we get to meet in person, but for now building community from afar is quite wonderful. We did a simple freezer paper stencil. Sally put together a wonderful tutorial. The kiddos had a blast making them and KJ and I came up with the design. He is in superhero mode lately.

Can you believe I spaced taking an after picture. Oh well, I plan to make more of them for KJ's upcoming birthday party so I will be sure to get a photo then. You can see the gorgeous shirts Sally, J, and j made for Ellie and KJ. They LOVE them. Oh, and Sally's packaging put mine to shame. She really can do it all. Can you tell I am feeling quite inspired?