Storage solutions

Most of you have been in my house and know the lay out of my kitchen area. Since living here, I haven't found a good storage solution for our mail, papers, junk that you come home with, etc. We have that big island-like counter where all the stuff collects and it drives me crazy! I've tried baskets to just throw everything in. I've tried sorting everything before I got to bed or right after I wake up but it seems as though it's just never tidy. I've even shoved everything in a drawer and pretended it wasn't there. (but it bothered me because I knew it was :) So I would love some suggestions on what you all do and if you've found a system that works. I'm limited because our kitchen is small. There's very little counter space. Can't wait to hear some of your ideas!

Gearing up for Fall

I told a friend yesterday that this is the first year I'm actually really excited for Fall. I think most years I just concentrate on being sad Summer is over and try not to pay any attention to the leaves on the ground and the cooler days. But this year it's different. I am enjoying the cooler weather, by cooler I mean low 80's :) I wish it could be like this every day! And last week we slept with the windows open, that was some good sleep!
And more so this year than any other year, Fall is inspiring me to be more creative. I don't necessarily want or am able to buy new things, I want to see how I can decorate using the things I already have. I have 3 very small little projects under my belt thus far and we'll see what else I can come up with. I welcome any ideas you all have!!
Ok, on to my first project. I did this one yesterday. Some of you may remember the little blueish-teal picture frames we had hanging near our fireplace with mine and Steve's pictures in them. I painted them right after we got married. I took them down about 6 months ago and have wanted to find some way I could use the frames again. I always see this project on a ton of websites around Fall but have never tried it so I gave it a whirl.

I repainted the frames, distressed them with a stick pin while they were wet, (but you can do that when they are dry too) picked out some scrapbook paper for the background and stuck in the leaves I had pressed the week before.

I placed them above the shelf we have by the front door. I think they look pretty cute.

I noticed after taking this that our selection of outerwear is looking kinda Springy. Almost time to get the scarves and mittens out!

On to my next project which I did last night and this morning. I was inspired after taking a tour of a vineyard while in Williamsburg, VA last weekend while visiting the in-laws. They had one of these for sale for like $30 or something ridiculous. And of course I thought, "Hey! I can do that!" And so I did! Note: these corks were saved over a 3 year period :) We originally just stored them in a wine carafe but they look so much happier framed!

They found the perfect home in our kitchen

This isn't really a "project" per se. This little wrought iron N hook I found at Hobby Lobby last week for $4. Since it's heavy, I needed to hammer in those plastic thingies first to make sure the hook didn't get ripped off the wall. Then I screwed the screws in using the handy dandy electric drill. I felt pretty successful since I completed this small task, hook lined up straight the first time!!

And of course I couldn't complete the post without some pictures of my little spark plug!! Here she is putting on her rain boots.

Ok, this one is kinda random. I got this cradle for Audrey at the Salvation Army yesterday. I think it's just too cute!! But I'm debating painting it. It's going to be her Christmas present. Any suggestions/opinions on what I should do? Paint or leave it?

Here she is giving the leaf a taste :) I'm amazed at how many leaves have fallen from the tree in our backyard already! I feel like the last few years it's been well into October when the leaves fall. Oh and for those of you that don't know, Audrey finally took her first steps last week!! Video to come soon!

And here are my two loves, watching Saturday morning cartoons. I love them so!! Happy Fall Y'all!!

16 months

My little string bean was 16 months old yesterday!! These pictures were actually taken last month (courtesy of Kathryn Flanigan, thanks girl!)

Audrey continues to be a little spark plug!! The infamous question lately has been, "Is she walking yet?!" And no, she's not. We are not concerned, just a little impatient with wanting her to! But we know she will in her own time!! She's so content "walking" on her knees for now. :) She's such a girlie girl, "walking" around carrying her bag filled with toys, holding her baby and sometimes even her cup all at the same time! She already knows how to multitask! She laughs and cries on cue, mimicking her baby that makes noises. She is so motherly.

She has always enjoyed reading books but has been especially interested with them lately. I will ask her where things are and she will point to them, including shapes. She's trying new words every day. Even if she can't say them, they are usually pretty close. Dada is her favorite at the moment. Everything is DADA! She gets so excited when I say "Daddy's home! Go see!"

What a sweet, loving, hilarious, fun, expressive girl the Lord has blessed us with!! And how blessed I am that I get to spend each day with her!!

Let's make a pizza Mom!!

Audrey and I made English muffin pizzas the other night. The last week or so she's been very interested in what I'm doing in the kitchen. She always wants to "help" me take dishes out of the dishwasher and "help" me cook. So I usually let her close the dishwasher door all by herself. She always gives me a big, proud smile from a job well done. I've also let her stand on a chair next to me so she can watch me cook. On Saturday, I thought maybe she could help make the mini pizzas. I put the cheese in a bowl for her to easily grab the cheese. I showed her once what to do and she immediately grabbed a huge handful of cheese and threw it on the first English muffin. A natural I'd say :) On the next pizza (see video below) instead of sprinkling the cheese, she takes a handful of the sauce that's already on the muffin and gives it a taste. I know I say it all the time but boy do I LOVE having a little girl!! She is SO MUCH FUN! We look forward to sharing future baking/cooking experiences with you!

Mom, you do the sauce and I'll do the cheese

Sprinkling on the cheese

I snuck some!

Shoving in some cheese

All done!

Concord Creamery

We went to the Concord Creamery a couple weeks ago with our friends Mary, Caleb and Crystal (Augustine in tow :) I didn't get any pictures of us eating icecream but I got a bunch with the kids playing. And if you do go there to get icecream, try the banana pudding flavor. It's amazing!!

Smiles all around

The pictures above were taken a couple weeks ago before we had dinner at Boardwalk Billy's. Don't they look just alike?! They are my favorite subjects ever to photograph!! And they just keep getting cuter every day!!

Waving hello

Thanks Jungs for a good family picture!

Look at those big eyes! She just melts my heart!!

CHEESE!

This is typical Audrey as of late. She carries her little bag around along with one of many babies and in this picture she's carrying an American Eagle shopping bag. 100% girl!!

Shopping diva!!

15 months

Here's Audrey playing (or hiding) under the exam table at the pediatricians office this morning. It seems as though she may have known what was to come in the very near future, shots. It rips your heart out a little to hear your child make a cry like no other, the owwwwwie cry. But other than that, the appointment went great. The Dr. quizzed her on her facial features. She was impressed Audrey knew where her hair was and laughed when she showed her where her tongue was, she stuck it way out. She said kids don't usually learn features such as hair and tongue until at least 18 months. I told her about the week or two that she went on the potty and that she still goes every once in awhile. I told her she even goes "poop". When Audrey heard me say that, she held her breath and grunted as though she had to "go". The Dr. said that was one of the funniest things she's ever seen! That's my girl! :)

The Dr. did seem a bit disappointed that she wasn't walking yet but she's convinced it will happen very soon. She watched as I walked with her while she only had hold of one of my fingers and walked around the room. She said she thinks she can walk on her own she just doesn't have the confidence yet. But she did stand on her own, no hands! And she learned how to crawl up and down the stairs a few weeks ago which I would think would be harder to figure out than walking but I guess she'll do it when she's ready. I'm going to try to enjoy the last little bit of this crawling stage while I can!

Overall, she's still one happy, healthy and full of life little girl!! Her hair is getting curlier by the day!! She is continuing learning sign language, she can sign about 10-12 signs. And she's talking more too!! She can say Mama, Daddy, Baby, nigh nigh (night night) and her favorite of all bubbo (bubble) She can make the sound for a dog and an elephant (she makes kind of a blowing sound and puts her arm in the air like a trunk :) She seems to understand everything we say. She knows what she wants and does her best to tell us exactly that! She continues to be such a joy to us! She really does make me laugh to tears almost every day! Here's her 15 month stats:

Weight: 21 lb 14oz (25-50%)

Height: 31 1/2 inches (75%)

Head: 18 1/2 (75%)

Here she is trying to eat like a big girl at the table

Watching TV and eating Cheerios in her easy chair

It's official and in stores now. She's on the box of the new Combi jumper!
Look Mom! It's me!