Sometimes It Ain't Purdy

Can I get an amen?

please...can I get one?

and can I get a hand with all this laundry?

The Playroom Is

messy

tidy

organized

cluttered

mostly primary colors (i've noticed)

a reading room

a battlefield

a castle

a extravagant tea party location

actually just a third bedroom

carpeted

a place to share

a place to fight

a place to hide

used for quiet time

where bored minds go to get lost in imagination

and sometimes,

a place to dream and find midnight sleepy solitude from a teething baby brother

A Sneak Peak

Some people get rid of some pretty awesome things up here in Rochester, New York.

This city is full of people who don't appreciate their own diamonds in the rough.

It's a good thing I moved to town.

Let's call this the "before stage" of the most awesome gift I could think of to give my home.

Merry Christmas Vaisey family living room;)

(stay tuned)

Halloween Isn't My Favorite Holiday

I usually skimp or skip on the spooky decor and go for a minimalist spread of generic fall stuff.

I am constantly standing in the entryway of a room with my head caulked to one side making sure it's not too cluttered with "things".

I think my nature is to overdo. I love patterns and color, but constantly find myself torn between eclectic & bright and clean & minimal. I don't even know what I would call my home's contents.

Borrowed ideas smattered with affordable/painted Ikea?

That sounds about right.

But that's something I pride myself in- nothing costs much around here.

And so it's that time of year again when I re-think absolutely every room and get the itch to change every last thing.

It's when you can find 3 bins of laundry waiting to be put away, among other waiting household chores while I'm busy painting a frame/table/mirror/dresser or perusing craigslist for my next treasure to makeover.

If Esq. got on board, I'd probably sell everything and start fresh once a year.

Hey, Juje, you want to come help me paint my kitchen? I've got plans for the space and I will bust if I can't paint something.

Who wants to come over and buy some of my stuff?

I willing to bet it's in your price range.

This post started out about fall decor or my lack of and turned into how I want to change everything about my home and its contents.

blogs.

ya know?!

To Get You (Me) Through The Week

Touché Gordon B. Hinckley, touché.

Well, Did You?

find this print here

Meals at the Mini

In our house, the children eat their breakfast and lunch together, at their own rad mini table (that I bought at IKEA and gave a white & turquoise makeover) in the kitch.

It teaches them to sit and share and get along.

Sometimes they kick each other under the table.

Sometimes they steal nibbles off each other's plates when the other one isn't looking.

Sometimes, when I'm unloading the dishwasher, I can hear them talking and laughing and putting food in their cups of water making a colossal mess for me to clean up.

But at the end of the day

-the mini table is good.

P.S. Do you have those brightly colored plastic plates/cups/cutlery from IKEA? It seems like everyone I have ever met with kids (that has been to IKEA) has them too.

NM

Not much is happening around here.

Besides hiding from the meter reader guy. I was in my pajamas and no bra. Plus, I hate those guys, don't you?

and the officer of the law knocking on my door the other night informing me of the burglary that occurred next door. Apparently they stole some of her precious jewels from, you know, her bedroom. Upstairs.

That was awesome.

***

We're laying low and keeping the Christmas decor minimal this year (note the slim tree, on loan from Babajuje), because of Disney World. No big deal.

Except it IS a big deal and I am way more excited for the family fun than I ever expected to be.

And as an extra seasonal perk, I am pregnant for the holidays and loving life.

Oh the foods I will eat. And oh the remorse that shall not accompany.

A Bear Mask and Two Coats of Bold

We're involving ourselves in a preschool co-op this year.

April (first mother up to bat) has set the bar high.

She spoke right to Lena's heart when they made this bad boy:

all poor-ish quality photos courtesy of the iphone using two different camera apps

A bear mask, that she uses to scare us.

all.

day.

long.

And a very special bonus debut of the very yellow painted armoire. When I finished slaving away, I slapped a few new knobs on her from Anthropologie. (I've got my eye on some of their new ones I need to find a home for)

But, I told you it was cheery. Didn't I tell you? I believe the paint can said "confident yellow". Go bold or go home they say.

So I one up-ed them and went bold whilst IN my home. Mind bomb.

Deja Vous

With all this running around like chickens with our heads cut off the Vaisey compound has suffered a bit. Maybe that's an understatement. Let's just say that yesterday Jeff came home and found a bumGenius chillin' in the kitchen sink. The kitchen sink, people! Truth be told- I've been avoiding it like the plague. Maybe that's an understatement. So, I declare today:

Spiffy-Up-the-Joint-and-Nothing-Else-Day.

I will love and tend to the children between bouts of scrubbing frenzies and bleach sprays.

Why do I have the feeling my dirty house comes up a lot?

It's time.

If you were here, you'd agree, and since you're not, you'll have to take my word for it.

Project Mode

It has begun and is in full swing. I (along with my trusty sidekick, Juje) painted the living room late last night and most of today. It was quite the task.

It's finished and I am very pleased with the final product.

We were beat by the end of the day, so the hanging of the frames, mirrors, etc. will be saved for tomorrow.

Now for the finishing touches on the entertainment center. I think you're going to like it. I know I sure do. It makes me feel cheery (that is a hint of what color it is) Any guesses?

Stay tuned, for photos are to come.

For now, here's my nephew, Owen- squishy thighs, edible cheeks and all:

I sure wish you lived in Rochester dear sister of mine. Your kids make me smile when I see pictures of them. I wouldn't mind having you around either;)

Indecision is like a stepchild: if he does not wash his hands, he is called dirty, if he does, he is wasting water

My (new) favorite place to sit in the house is in the red chair (remember when I brought her home, she is lovely).

See me in it? It helps me think. and it provides me with a good two-room view of my children's mischievous doings.

(nie inspired mantle working at its best)

recover those chairs in there, and maybe new rugs? brighten the place up a bit?


it is here where I often sit and decide what to do next with the house. Paint something? Hang something? Re-cover something (yes, definitely) Tear it all up and start fresh? The latter thought creeps into my brain too often. My wallet keeps my desires of demolition modestly at bay.

I am indecisive. Especially when it comes to home decor. Once something goes up, give me 3 months or so of staring at it, from my red chair of course, and I'm ready for something new.
So while I sit here and cook up some ideas, today I will also add to the list of things to think about: what we will be doing tomorrow. For tomorrow, mi amigos, it will be hot and sunny.

H
O
T

&

SUNNY!

Whatever it is, it will be spent outdoors.

Now excuse me, I need to go squash some Amish Friendship Bread. Want some?

Danish Update

sadly, she was sold today, despite my pleasantries directed at her owners. join me in a moment of silence...

:(

Scandinavian Beauty

We recently got a Svan high chair, and it is nothing short of a beaut! It has proved thus far to be worth the investment. We love it, Lena loves it, what more could we ask? We took a few snapshots with her in it for your viewing pleasure...looks good on you baby!