Apr 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
Spring Break has come and gone…
Here is a breakdown of last week-
Part 1:
We tried to get old house packed out and ready to sell and paint living room and hall at our new house and hang pictures. (Half accomplished anyway, still a lot to do!)
I’ve struggled with paint colors so much at this house- plaster makes everything look different when you get paint on the wall.
With lots of help I settled on:
Sage Tint by Benjamin Moore for living room
(on walls it looks almost like a robin’s egg blue)
Amulet by Benjamin Moore for hallway/stairs
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| Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art |
We managed to squeeze in a quick day trip to Bentonville to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit at Crystal Bridges. I have always been a Rockwell fan, and this was the exhibit to end all- I think all of my favorites were there. Seeing the brushstrokes and sketches really makes you understand the complexity of the paintings. It was absolutely amazing.
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| Maybe my favorite? |
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| Or This? |
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| Max’s fave |
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| Artistic kids (My fave) |
My mom brought my niece and nephews, and my aunt and grandpa met us there for a fun day.
Coming home we stopped in Eureka Springs for dinner at DeVito’s!
What is your favorite Norman Rockwell painting?
Not sure? Go see the exhibit at Crystal Bridges and let me know! 🙂
Apr 5, 2013 | Uncategorized
It’s the simple things that make me really happy,
like a burst of yellow on a sunny day…
A bouquet found,
Rolls hot from the oven,
Or a smiling hen.
Come on and join the fun! This week’s challenge was “yellow/Easter.”
Mar 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
Last month a fun group of ladies started a challenge based on the book
It’s a super concept where you take 7 months,
identify 7 areas of excess in your life,
and make 7 choices each month in ways to cut back.
Our first month was FOOD. (You can insert a scream here.)
I really didn’t participate last month except to try and NOT eat out.
We are always on the go with kids activities and if I don’t plan ahead every day we end up grabbing something for the kids or getting a chicken or other quick fixes from the grocery store.
I’ll have to say I did really good-
and then made up for it this month by already eating out WAY too much.
It’s made me aware of how much money is wasted when a family of five gets anything out (even snacks or drinks.)
This month?
CLOTHING
This I have in the bag.
I AM a jeans and t-shirts kind of gal.
My choices of clothing for the month:
- Pure Charity T-Shirt (Thanks, *Pure Charity!)
- Jeans
- Park Hill T-shirt
- Black Yoga Pants
- Bird Shirt by Erin
- Heifer Project shirt
- Purple tie-dyed shirt
I’m not counting some things like shoes, pjs, or undies-
and not counting jackets because AR weather is crazy and some days I might need one and others not.
The funny thing?
I was apologizing to my daughter for picking her up from dance looking like a bum with paint all over my clothes and she said “OH! I didn’t even know you were doing the challenge, you dress in 7 things anyway I think!” Maybe after this is over I can get a makeover…
What I’m realizing is that even though I try to live
SIMPLY
the fact is that I am accustomed to excess.
We are moving and as I go through the piles of “stuff” that I will never
use I realize that it’s crazy how much we can accumulate over time.
Even giving away an average of 2 bags a month I have a houseful of things I really don’t need.
We got broken into last week and I was almost grateful.
Crazy, I know
but I was thinking
Maybe he will take it all away so I don’t have to deal with it.
Not the right attitude.
So…
I’m baring and paring
Stay tuned…
Rewards Network Promo from Pure Charity on Vimeo.
Feb 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
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| Ross Perot Science Museum in Dallas, TX |
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Go join the fun!
Feb 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
My accomplishment for the week:
Kitchen tile DONE!
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| Stove Area |
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| Sink area |
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| Breakfast Nook |
The countertops need to be re-sanded and oiled now though (I’m a messy grouter!)
We went with Cepac small subway tiles in Vintage Moss Green (I found them online for almost half of what I could get locally.) The border is Cepac mosaic tiles in Abalone. I did find them locally for a decent price, and it didn’t take much to do the border because they came in 12 x 12 squares that I cut into strips. The beautiful handmade Celtic tiles I ordered from Earth Song Tiles. They were so nice and I even sent them samples of my tiles first so they could tell me what colors would look best with them. I think the hardest part of tiling is picking the tile!
Hubby’s accomplishment:
Playroom floor DONE!
We ordered cork floor from Lumber Liquidators. It was floating floor and honestly was harder to put in than we expected. Took him two days. It is beautiful though and the kids have already moved toys in even though there isn’t any furniture in there. (Now for furniture…)
Now on to painting the hallway and living room!
Dec 11, 2012 | Uncategorized
Christmas is almost here!
With the crazy rush of the season I was happy to take some time
to visit with some bloggy friends and taste some goodies from
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| Chef Brian telling us about some of the goodies from their catering menu. |
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We sampled:
- Buffalo sausage bites from Ratchford Farms in Marshall, AR (well, I didn’t try them as I don’t eat red meat, but they looked good)
- Wonderful Coconut Shrimp with Cranberry dipping sauce. (Argenta Market has very fresh seafood flown in weekly from the Gulf- see their website for what’s in this week!)
- Lovely fruit and cheese tray with Honeysuckle Lane Arkansas cheeses from Daley Dairy in Rosebud, AR.
- White Chocolate and Cranberry cheese ball with cookies from a mix by Resident Chef in Maumelle, AR. *I normally don’t like sweet dips but this was so yummy. Like a cheesecake on a cracker!
- Spinach Parmesean dip also by Resident Chef. Everyone loved this but I thought it had a tad too much onion for me. My hubby would love it.
- Croque Monsieur- a lovely Monte Cristo-esque sandwich made on jalapeno cornbread by Arkansas Fresh bakery, with Petit Jean ham, Argenta Market’s smoked turkey (my kids ADORE this,) and chipotle mayonnaise. It’s dipped in an egg wash and panko breadcrumbs and oven-fried. (Again, I didn’t try this but it had rave reviews by fellow bloggers!)
Need fruit or cheese trays in a hurry? I’ve gotten entire fresh smoked salmons for parties that are DELICIOUS. Just give them a few days notice as they smoke meat once a week I believe.
Entire holiday meals are even available!
Small Turkey Dinner (serves 10-12) – $89.99
Large Turkey Dinner (serves 20-24) – $149.99
Small Ham Dinner (serves 10-12) – $99.99
Large Ham Dinner (serves 20-24) – $169.99
Dinners include meat, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing, cranberry sauce and rolls.
Pie is also available (a necessity.)
Call 501-379-9980 to order!
(Ordering information can also be found online.)
For Christmas dinner the deadline is December 14th and pick up by December 24th at noon.
My family adores Argenta Market. It’s on the way to school so if we have time we stop for snacks or last minute dinner ideas. One of those local places where people remember you and
make you feel at home. My kids beg for their smoked turkey.
It’s also a great place for lunch! During the season it’s across from the North Little Rock Farmer’s market (all organic and local!)
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| Our favorite cashier! |
We were given wonderful gift baskets to sample. The baskets are made in Little Rock and contain all Arkansas made products. Beautiful and already wrapped! They have two options available and both are limited so call and reserve yours today! (I’m going to!)
My basket had:
- K-Bee’s Cream Honey & Blueberries– great on fresh biscuits
- My Brother’s Salsa (medium)
- The Resident Chef’s Spinach Parmesan gourmet dip mix
- Stutzman’s Pantry Peach Jam
- War Eagle Mills– Hot Roll Mix
- Southern Girl Soapery’s Home Brew Soap (made with Diamond Bear beer!) Great manly gift!
It was so nice to see my AR Women Bloggers friends again and get great holiday ideas.
Thank you Stephanie and Argenta Market!
For more Arkansas goodness enter for a chance to win a Petit Jean gift basket
on Arkansas Women Bloggers.
