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hi.

January 9, 2012 Filed in family fun

how are ya?

i am good.

really good.

i spent a couple hours at the barn/antique shop this weekend with kimberlee gathering quilts and a few beds.
i went to talby's basketball game.
i went to a birthday dinner with girlfriends and we had a blast.
i saw new year's eve…..it was….fine…..predictable…exactly like valentine's day.

except WHY WHY WHY bon jovi?! 
seriously.
gross.
he was 25 years too old and i do not like his music from the past 20 years.
his song ruined it all for me.
everytime he would come on i completely lost interest…and rolled my eyes…and said things like "OH Puh-leease!"

oh well.

over the school break i took my kids to see We bought a Zoo.

that was good.
i think its not for little kids neccessarily but better for big kids.
and i do not like hearing 7 year olds say bad words in movies….at all.
but it's only once.

i did like the movie.

it helps that matt damon was in it….

🙂

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annie got a set of legos for christmas from her grandma.
she really wanted legos but we had a hard time finding a set that was "her".
until we found the Creator sets.
Lego
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it is the cutest little house with an apple tree in the front yard and a blue roof.
 
A D O R A B L E.

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and unlike sean….she is still working on it.
he would get his legos on christmas morning and have everything built by christmas night.

she has it all on one table and stops by and puts a few more touches to her home and then moves on.
i was surprised at how good she was at following the instructions.

legos are really cool.
even for girls.

 

add a comment

christy - We have this lego set too & it’s a hit! I think my son made 2 of the 3 houses. It even has a basketball hoop. How awesome is that?

kristine cline - Ok, LOVED New Year’s Eve…figuring the couples out…I thought it was cute and entertaining….I’m sappy like that! Legos the great imagination builder…we got several of the architecture series at our house this year…small but cool replicas a famous buildings!!
ps a friend put a urinal in his house BECAUSE he is the only man in his house, surrounded by girls! 🙂

Julie - I totally agree on all of your points about Bon Jovi. It just felt like a miscasting…and the song at Times Square was not at all cool enough for such a party!!!

Briana - Ha, everyone else beat me to it. I was gonna say – Did you know they came out with Lego sets for girls? Wah-wah… I’m defeated & deflated. Meg from whatever… will never know who I am. Haha. That was my in. J/K. Sort of. Haha. 🙂

Pink and Green Mama MaryLea - Just checked in to catch up on your blog and this is too funny!! “E” just added the exact same creator set to her birthday wish list because it’s totally her. We need to be next door neighbors so we can play and craft and eat yummy stuff while our kids all play and build and craft together too!! xoxo MaryLea : )

Carrie - I loved Legos when I was a kid. Loved to build stuff. Which I brought into my adulthood with me. My favorite set was a horse stable. I would make all different kinds of houses out of it. I am so jealous of the creator sets! I am thinking maybe I should buy one… I am surely not to old to play with legos. 🙂

Heather R. - Liked “We bought a Zoo”…didn’t like the curse word…
Have a great day.

mollie's mom - Love your blog. So fun. Where ,oh where, did you find all that glitter duct tape??? I have other designs but must have the glitter tape asap!!!! marcie@madebymolliesmom.blogspot.com

Jenny - Legos???
Funny. I have never heard the term “Legos” until now.
In Australia it is just LEGO. Never the plural. 🙂
Love your blog.

tammy - I LOVE Legos! I’m 36 and still get a little set each Christmas from my husband! This year it was a little boat and the lego person has a life jacket on!

Mindy Harris - i am so “buying story” one of those lego sets.
and i agree about new year’s eve.
i was stumped by bon jovi.
his songs were DORKY.

shasta - Those Legos look fun! My kids are still kinda small for Legos, but I can’t wait until I find little Lego houses all over my house! Love those sparkley shoes Annie was wearing too!!

beth - LEGOs ARE cool for girls!! My girls loves them, too, and it’s so nice that they have the CReator series. Much more varied than StarWars and Ninjago, which my boys love. We bought a zoo looks cute!\.

Lynn - When did Legos become gender specific?

Jenn - Legos are way cool…my son loves playing with them. But for a mom—they sure are a pain in the bum to pick up or when you accidentally step on them in the middle of the night…in the dark…argh! 🙂

Sandy - I saw We Bought A Zoo too….very good! Let’s just say I cried several times. 😉

amy jupin - my mom took anna and josh to see ‘we bought a zoo’ over the break.
when they came home, i asked them what they thought of the movie.
the only thing they said, the ONLY thing, was “they said a curse word!”

Lisa - I wanted to take my kids to see We Bought a Zoo but I read a review that talked about some underlying sexual talk from the dad’s brother I think? Is that true? Thats the stuff I hate exposing my kids too. My older two are 10 and 8. Anyway, just curious to hear from someone who saw it! 🙂

Lindsey@ PiecefullyHome - i stayed away from taking my family to see we bought a zoo since two of mine are 7 and 3, i figured the 10 year would be okay. i heard about the language and didn’t want the younger two to hear it. so we go see the adventures of tin-tin instead….big mistake! great for the 10 year old but WAY to bloody and violent for the younger two. i had to take my 7 year old OUT of the movie b/c it was too upsetting for her and kept shielding my 3 year old’s eyes while we were in there. why oh why can’t there be more FAMILY friendly movies!!

Michelle - I want to see “We Bought A Zoo”! I loooooooooove Matt Damon! I have a favor, no you do not know me so maybe that’s kinda weird but you are an amazing photographer and I would love it if you would stop by my blog as I am doing a 365 photo project. It would be great to get some feedback from someone who knows what they are doing! I am very much a beginner but I love taking photos and have been asked to be the photographer for my brother’s wedding in October. I really enjoy visiting your blog too. If you have time, please stop by. Thanks for listening to my ramblings!!!
Michelle

Jodi - I kind of like that New Year’s Eve was predictable. I think that’s why I love movies like that. Just about everything in my life is unpredictable now a days, so I love predictable where ever I can get it! And, well… I just love Jon Bon Jovi. I can’t help it.
:o)

Melissa - Have you seen that they are introducing Lego sets that are just for girls??? What the heck took them so long???
I love seeing your Annie. She’s such a cutie!

Stephanie - Go to the Lego website, there are a bunch of new kits geared for girls. All pinks, purples and adorable. I think one was a pet shop and maybe an ice cream parlor, super cute! I want one!

Penny - Great photos Meg. My oldest LOVED legos. From the age of 3 until about 13 she played with them every. single. day. She is now an Electrical Engineer. Annie looks so cute concentrating on her building. Brings back memories!

happygirl - You don’t like Bon Jovi??? Umm… this may be a deal breaker. I wish I did not know this about you. Like legos, don’t like the forced marketing regarding buying “kits.” I’d rather have a bunch of legos and make anything I wanted. 🙂

Cecilia Madden - I felt the same way about New Year’s Eve. Bon Jovi and Ryan Seacrest as Dick Clark…yes, there was some definite eye rolling.
And I feel the same way about legos! I’m a little conflicted about the girl-themed legos though. Do girls really need a purple and pink lego bakery in order to find legos engaging? (nothing against purple or pink or baking…i like them too) Your daughter and countless others have clearly been enticed without such pandering. Those Creator sets look awesome!

Jen - I have to disagree about Jon Bon Jovi. He is adorable and I, for one, love his newer songs! Also, I have boys who are so into LEGOs – we are planning that for this year’s birthday party (they’re twins). I saw Wal Mart was advertising some girl centered sets to hit the stores sometime in January. They had purple and pink and girl minifigurines.

PrairieJenn - Liked We Bought a Zoo- except a couple language issues.
Loved the homeschooled girl and how they portrayed her in the movie. Matt Damon is my all-time fave:) I think I’ll pass on Bon Jovi…though I really liked him when I was in ninth grade. How old is he anyway?!
My youngest just asked for one of the Lego Creator sets for her birthday. Looks like fun- she would love it! Thanks for sharing:)

holly - hi meg,
since i have boys and an embarassing amount of legos in my house, we get the magazines. guess what they came up with? legos for girls. about time! you can see it on the lego website.
by the way i am bummed that i didn’t get picked to come to craft weekend. i need a trio somewhere and a trip to go somewhere cold and craft would be the cherries on top!
bye,
holly

Kimberly Dial - Meg, I took my grandgirls to see “We Bought A Zoo” over Christmas break & enjoyed it but I totally agree with you about the language. I did not enjoy (attempting) to explain (while actually trying not to) that the word in question was another word for ‘jerk’, which isn’t a nice thing to call someone but infinitely nicer than the one in the movie. I just love your Annie … I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again, my Emily & her would bond instantly … they’re so alike I’m not sure they weren’t separated at birth! 😉 Thanks for sharing.

Sarah - Abbey would have loved to build those Lego houses-and my Andrew had every set finished by the 26th too! It was like a race against time. Love your photos.

Mrs. - When my girls were young they made a set called “ello”. they loved it, because it wasn’t really legos at all. We recently downsized and those are some of the few toys we saved for future generations.

sam - LEGO rules in our home .. my son just loves it..we have too much ..and i like to play it too haha i’m 32 lol
Have a great day 🙂
Mantha xx

Han - I love Lego! My brother used to get at least one set a year lol. I even asked my Mum for Lego two/three Christmases ago – I’m 25 now! I was like 22 then lol I could spend like an hour in the Lego Store!
I saw New Years Eve with my “little sister”. We really enjoyed it but I’m pretty sure there was a massive plot fail with SJP but I need to see it again to work out if I’m correct lol.

Heather Mattos - Oooh, I can’t wait to see more of the beds and quilts! Chayse got those creator sets too this year, and I am FREAKING OUT over the new Lego Friends sets for girls. So fun!!!

Katie - Jon Bon Jovi was the only decent part of the movie! Even though they made him do lame covers.
Agreed Leslie, the costumes were awful. Halle Berry looked so hot and they put her in an awful pink dress. Katherine Heigl’s blue latex-looking dress?!

Leslie @topofthepage - saw new years eve on my birthday last week by my big girl self b/c my other peeps were sick and i was making lemonade out of those lemons. sat staring at bon jovi’s RED leather jacket baffled. is this the 80s? 90s? what is wrong with those costuming people? {did you get my email?}

Maria - Bleck…I feel the same way about Bon jovi…why why why?

Kim Garner - My 10 year old daughter loves Legos too…she has the Log Cabin and that same house. I don’t know if you have seen, but on January 1st Lego came out with a set of Legos called “Friends” for girls. They have a few good sets. Just thought I would let you know.

Jill - My girls LOVE Legos! For so long I complained that they did make much ‘girl stuff’ but we love all the houses they have now! For Christmas my Abigail {my 9 year old} got the Lego VW van, have you seen it? I don’t know who enjoyed putting it together more, Abigail or her assistant {daddy}.
xo~Jill

Tanya H - We love legos around here. My son got the log cabin set you showed, becuase we cannot afford the Harry Potter or Star Wars sets he so desperately wants! 🙂

Jennifer - My girls love Legos! We have that same house. I also just found out about the new Lego Friends for girls. One of them is a photographer! Too cute! I actually want them for myself. How pathetic is that?!

Jenn - I love that Annie likes Legos :). I was totally into Legos growing up – I still have all of my sets, in their boxes, with directions… Yes I am a nerd I know! (i am totally not letting my sons play with them till they are a bit more responsible with the million pieces… Though my husband has informed me that no boy will ever be that anal about Legos so I should just give up…). Anyway, keep on encouraging her building, and not just the ‘girl’ sets…! I still don’t think girls get enough encouragement to pursue professions like engineering and science these days. Who knows where her creativity with blocks may lead 🙂

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Meg, tell me it’s not so, Bon Jovi…hello!?!? Super cute. Maybe that’s because I’m so much older than you?! Saw New Year’s Eve with my youngest (15) and every time he came on the screen I tried to not let her know how cute I thought he was, because after all, my hubbie’s so much cuter! She was like, “mom, Bon Jovi’s in this movie, you’re going to really like it” and I did. I will give you he was miscast, I think technically Kathrine Heigle could have been his daughter….yuck! Don’t worry I’ll still follow your blog 🙂

Kristin - i would have loved a set of those legos… always wanted to be an architect. 🙂

Tanya - I like Bon Jovi but I didn’t think he fit at all in that role…
I bought my 4yo a little lego firetruck kit for Christmas.
He was THRILLED.
It was ME who spent ALL day on the 26th building them for him and they were taken apart again within 5 minutes.
He’s asked me to build them for him again.
I said…
no.
😀

Robyn Farmer - We liked “We bought a Zoo” also but felt like it didn’t totally classify as a children’s movie or an adult movie. Still good though.

Alicia @ La Famille - i wanna go to that barn place too!! and legos are SUPER DUPER cool! go annie!!

BON JOVI - But I love you, Meg….

laura phelps - our relationship won’t change if I tell you that I like Bon Jovi, will it???
FYI…I am PEEING over your comment re: games.
GAMES!
GAMES????!!!!!!!!!!!
Sure! Because we NEVER fight when we play games! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

shauna - jake says, “whoa. boooyaaah” (about legos. obvs)
ty says, “LEGOS roooooock!”
i say, “hi megan, i reeeeeeaaalllllly want to go to that barn place. bad.”

Hanni Stones - Thank you for this post. I have a little girl that loves legs and have never seen these. She would love them!

Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - My kids are 3 and almost 1, and my husband has already started a lego collection for them. I KNOW he is secretly looking forward to the day he can play with them and not feel foolish 🙂

keri - forever folding laundry - I miss that store!
I’ve never seen such an awesome quilt selection.
I may stow away in my two NorCal buddies’ suitcases: just to warn you. 🙂

Southern Gal - I’m drowning in Star Wars Legos over here. My only daughter didn’t like Legos. So I missed out on the girly ones.
Thanks for the heads up on We Bought a Zoo. i was considering taking my 9yo. He used to love The Devil Went Down to Georgia, but when we accidentally played the version that doesn’t say “son of a gun” he won’t listen to it anymore. Even when I tell him I’m sure it’s the clean version! Stupid Playlist.

seriously sassy mama - They have lego sets for girls! They are too cute!

Kelly - Legos are great even for girls! I’m sure someone’s already said this but just in case, Lego just released a new girls line. It’s pretty cute. Some of them have adorable little animals in them. My niece used a gift card she got to buy two little sets and she loves them. Lego has also (finally) joined up with DC comics and will be releasing Batman & Superman Legos this summer. 🙂
I’m kind of undecided about going to see We Bought A Zoo. Even considering Matt Damon. I think we’ll wait for Redbox.
Can’t wait to read all about Craft Weekend!

tina - I can’t wait to see the new Marky Mark {please tell me I’m not the only one who still calls him that} movie Contraband!
And my fingers still hurt from the 5,000 pieces of legos i put together after Christmas 🙂

Laura in LA - This is totally off the subject…but have you seen the latest Boden catalog? There are a ton of things you are going to like! Polka dot tennis shoes!

tinycandi - I took my kids to see We Bought A Zoo on New Years Eve…that’s where we were at midnight. 🙂 I thought it was a really cute movie! And we LOVE Legos in this family!

Mindy - Did you know that there are new girl legos out now? Cute ones. I saw a bunch of sets at Target the other day and my hubby saw them advertised on TV. I have no idea why they would wait until after Christmas to put them out but it’s something to keep in mind for Annie for the next gift giving time.

Jenn - So funny how much we are all alike. My oldest has the exact same Silver boots as Annie, both of my girls got the girly pink legos for Christmas and I don’t care for Bon Jovi either.

Claire - I agree with you about Bon Jovi being in New Years Eve – I didn’t like that either. Although I still managed to enjoy it (despite it being predictable and cliche) for it’s feel-goodness. 🙂
I used to love Lego when I was young – it’s good to see they’ve got some sets for girls. I would have loved those houses back then!

Kacy - So funny I was just posting about how much fun Legos are a few days ago :)…even for moms 😀

molly - I think your Annie and my Ellie would make good friends. My Ellie really likes legos too:)

Tami - Did you know that they recently came out with a series of Legos for girls. They had a couple of sets for $5.99 on Amazon. Not sure how many pieces or the details but might be worth checking into for a future present. 🙂

No.17 - I secretly want Annies shoes.

cheryl - If you visit the lego site and put in Valentine they have a valentine box you can buy for the holiday. 🙂

cassie - I felt the same. exact. way about We Bought a Zoo. WHY OH WHY can’t they leave the bad language out? It ruined the movie for me. It’s been a week since we saw it and I’m just now starting to remember all of the good parts. 🙁 It was a good movie, maybe in a few years, when it’s on ABC Family and edited for televsion, it will be a GREAT movie!

Heather - I would have loved those Legos as a kid! My grandparents had Lincoln Logs for me to play with, and I think were originally my uncles’ toys. I loved building houses with them!

Meg D - My son loves legos and my 8 year old daughter has recently become interested too – I just noticed this year at Walmart that they have a series called Lego Friends that are sets geared towards girls. They are compatible with all other lego bricks but are more “girly”. It looks like the only difference is the people are more like little action figures rather than the traditional lego mini figures. They have a lot of cute sets online and also on the lego website. PS – love your blog!! i haven’t commented until now but I’ve been catching up on the last 4 years and loving every minute : )

Terrie - I never thought I’d say this, but I miss having Legos all over the house!
My son would play with them All. The. Time.
He would build the ‘kit’ once and then use his imagination to make tractors, combines, anything farm related! I think he should go work for them!

Betsy Jo from Elizabeth St - Oh, how fun! I have an 8 y/o old daughter who would love a Lego set. Maybe for next Christmas…

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three things

January 7, 2012 Filed in Uncategorized

Pam Garrison was a little overwhelmed by my awesome readers' love for her prints.  
🙂
she said "pick three winners instead of just one"
yeah….she's cool like that.

so here they are:
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Love it. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Susan | January 03, 2012 at 05:11 PM

Oh my!! I LOVE it!!

Posted by: Ellen J | January 03, 2012 at 07:57 PM

whoa nellie. SUPER giveaway! mama want me some prints! 😉

Posted by: the.mrs | January 04, 2012 at 01:40 AM

email me at cdduerksen@yahoo.com  to claim your prizes ladies!  

———————————————————————————-

ALSO…

 

             Creativelymadecollage-900x822

                           jeanne oliver has an e-course that starts on monday, january 9.

                                                                   jeanne says:
        "join me for a four week online class rediscovering the beauty of your gifts." 

                                      all the details can be found here.

               
                                                you should try it!

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lastly….
 
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kimberlee and i had fun today getting stocked up for craft weekend!

sleeping under these cozy, worn, well loved quilts on a winter kansas night = dreamy!!


everyday i get more excited about craft weekend.
and a little freaked out.
but mostly super excited.
i can't wait to meet all the girls coming!

and say "let me show you to your room…."

ha ha ha

happy weekend.
it's almost over already….BOO.

 

add a comment

jennie w. - You definitely need to take Craft Weekend on the road!

Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - Meg! I woke up this morning in a sweat realizing I didn’t even leave you my email address! So sorry about that. But a pleasant surprise to find your comment here, thank you SO much for taking the time to answer my question! There is a quilt I REALLY want for my daughter’s bedroom up on ebay right now, bids are already up to $90. Yikes! It might just be worth it through, i’ll watch it through tomorrow and see what happens. Thanks again. You’re the best 🙂

Meg Duerksen - The most we paid was $65….the least was $20. But Kansas is different from other places. Things don't sell if they are priced higher.
Good luck.
-meg

Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - Meg, I tried to email you through your link on the right but it wasn’t working for me. Anyways, i’ve been searching ebay for awhile now for a patchwork quilt, but I have no idea what a decent price to pay for one is. Would you mind emailing me and giving me a range of all those ones you purchased? If I went to that store of yours it would feel like I died and went to Heaven. I know this is kind of a crazy request, but I would appreciate it sooo much and finding an email from you in my inbox would make my day 🙂 Thank you bunches!

suzka - Woo hoo hooooo hoo hoo hoooooooo! I’m going I’m going I’m going to Craft Weekend!

kristi borden - Oh, love those quilts, wish I could go to craft weekend, sounds like fun:)Crossing my fingers that my name comes up for craft weekend 2012:)

Kirsten P - Meg, I know you like posters and turquoise and I think you like
cupcakes. So I thought you might like this poster for $.98
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Eat-A-Cupcake-Posters_i5242351_.htm
http://www.allposters.com is having a sale and I thought of you when I saw it.
I got this for Christmas from the same website:
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/White-Birch-Lane-Posters_i3363308_.htm
It’s a 12 x 16 photo of birch trees – my favorite tree.

angie - Oh my! I collect vintage quilts and the photos have me swooning!

Maija Lepore - Just looked at the first of Jeanne’s videos- love it so much it gave me chills!!!!

Betsy Jo from Elizabeth St - Oh, those quilts! Lovely, lovely!

Tiffany - crack me up: “let me show you to your room….” WAHAHHAAAAA – when and IF I ever get off the east coast, I’m COMING OVER!!! & bringing dinner so I can negotiate my way in 🙂

Robin Canter - I feel like I’m on the dodge ball team and will get picked last. ha! I hope my name comes up for one of the 2012 craft weekends. I love crafting and would love to visit Kansas!!

Mindy Harris - i’m so hoping i get picked for one of the craft weekends!! can’t wait to see all the gorgeous pics. what a fun, fun thing and amazing ministry, megan!

Rach - So bummed I didn’t get picked but looking forward to all of the pics. Have fun!!

Pat allen - Oh I wish I were going, if only to sleep under those quilts. Meg, please tell us how you came to have so many!
Pat

Katie - I love your photos the quilts are beautiful. I am your newest follower.

Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - Those quilts are heavenly! I’ve been searching for the perfect patchwork quilt for quite some time…still looking 😉 I was dreaming of your craft weekend last night, maybe the stars will align and I will get chosen for one inbetween nursing a baby (almost 1!) and getting pregnant again! Happy weekend!

Breeanna @ a brilliant melody - Too bad I live on the West Coast. The craft weekends sound so much fun!

Tracie - Oh the quilts the quilts! They are so gorgeous! Where do you find them?

amy jupin - SIGH.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - OH those quilts look amazing…esp that darker colored one on the top left(L-O-V-E). Enjoy the rest of your Sunday afternoon:)

Kimberly Dial - Those quilts look so warm & cozy … nothing like sleeping under one (or two or three! 🙂 I wish I was coming to craft weekend … maybe someday … enjoy (& don’t be nervous 🙂

Midwest Magnolia - Melissa Lewis - Oh my, do you have A LOT of quilts. I love quilts and am fortunate enough to have two, one made by my grandmother, Mama C, and on made by my husbands grandmother. But I must say, I am jealous of your 2 massive piles. So colorful and comfy looking.
I wish I could come to your craft weekend. As a recent stay at home mom, that just moved to a new city/region, the thought of having a weekend filled with adults/women and creating/making/gabbing away seems so like… heaven!!!!! Can’t wait to see and hear all about it.

Lori Austin - Quilts – they make me happy and remind me of my Grandma who passed away 7 years ago. I like to think about the history of a quilt: who made it, who slept under it….the stories they could tell.
Have a happy Sunday!!

Carrie - I love quilts. My grandmother is an expert quilt maker and someday I hope to make one too.
Sad I didn’t win… so I ordered a print. Lookout beige walls you’re getting some color!

Elizabeth Walters - I am pretty much in LOVE with the quilt that has the polka dots! I wish so much that I was able to come to your craft weekend!

Wendy - AMAZING quilts! Where do you get such great things?

Tanya - I love to love some quilts 🙂
My great-grandfather was a quilt maker in his spare time. How cool is that?

Emily - Crossing my fingers I get picked to participate in the next craft weekend!! Those quilts look like a big hug from Kansas to Florida:)

sam - Oh those Q U I L T S = the most amazing thing ever ..
Have a great day 🙂
Mantha xx

Jennifer - I want to be wrapped up in those quilts so badly! My mom has always collected quilts and they make me feel at home! Those look perfect! 🙂

Maggie Nunez - How awesome, i wish i could go or that you lived close to California. maybe next time or maybe you can offer a craft weekend in the summer? just planting a seed. I look forward to living vicariously through your craft weekend in pictures.

Laura Phelps - I think she should pick 4 winners…
or 5…
or 520 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh how fun! Those quilts look amazing! Have a restful day tomorrow!

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a little of everything…..

January 6, 2012 Filed in random

um…. hello.

i am so random in my head.
there is a lot going on around here and i feel a little…. tired.

in a good way.

tired isn't bad necessarily….just showing me that i am getting stuff done.

IMG_5249-1-2

yesterday….this room was raining.
water everywhere.
there was a crazy pipe breaking incident and now every towel i own is being washed again.
it was a river in here.

never a dull moment at the duerksen's!

but it was clean water so i was able to check "mop the dining room" off my list.
🙂

IMG_5252-2
 
i took my old curtains that hung here and added the ikea leaf curtains to the top of the old curtains.
the polka dot chenille was from a martha stewart bedspread i bought when we lived in Illinois from kmart.

i think i will hem up the bottom of the curtains.  
unless i forget.

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craig has been painting and painting.
and this was the window i washed….it's blinding in the mornings now.  
but so pretty.
i love that window.
i still need to hang pictures in this hallway ….soon enough.

IMG_5239-2 IMG_5235-1
 
this was the kid's bathroom on wednesday morning.  
old school.
it had a vintage charm/dirty insane asylum kind of style
j/k
it was cracked everywhere and the white would not get white any more…
and the mildew….and the rust.

and this is it now….
IMG_5260-4
demolished.
and that is what the water was from….not because there was a problem….just an accident.

so i have been spending time in the bathroom isles at home depot and am so looking forward to this new space.

um….side note:
while at home depot this week i went to use the bathroom and wasn't paying attention and i walked into the employee lounge….full of people.
DORK!

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my fabric found a happy home.
 
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Coca-Cola sent me this adorable hat!!  
they are partnering with the world wildlife fund to save polar bears.
remember when i went to Coke for the Women in social Media conference?
that was awesome.
i want them to do that again!  it was FUN! 

IMAG0329-1
 
SHEETS!!!
the lady at the checkout said "whoa….that's a lot of sheets!"
i just smiled.
because how do you explain craft weekend in a quick way without sounding like a weirdo?
 
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i picked up some cute new jewelry at Accessory City. (horrible name for a store…as bad as dress barn)

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and i decided to change the rules and declare today to be Sonic Day!
we missed wednesday.

and i needed one.

🙂

what's up for saturday for you?

 

 

add a comment

Elinor Haswell - First of all, I’d like to congratulate you for handling that leak very calmly. If that was me and I was home alone, I’d freak out a bit too, hehe! Second, I absolutely adore your bathroom! Your color combinations are so perfect and vivid. I love it! <3 Great job!

Darryl Iorio - Phoebe’s right. It would be a disaster to have to tear down the tiles again just because a pipe was not placed properly or worst, leaking. You might avoid another flooding disaster if you check on your pipes more often, too. 😉 I love the way you organize your things, btw.

Mallory Dates - It’s hard to believe that the room was filled with water from the broken pipe, it looked so pleasant and well-decorated. It’s a relief that it’s been taken care of. You sure have a great taste when it comes to interior design. I personally love the star and the green curtains in your windows. They’re fabulous! 🙂

Althea Tumlin - Oh my! That’s unfortunate. But the good thing is that the water is clean so there’s not much damage. Anyway, I’m impressed at how you handled it and how quick you resolved it. I like how you redecorated the house while cleaning. You’ve got good taste when it comes to design.

Phoebe Clarke - What a beautiful work of art, Meg! The pictures are very interesting and artsy, and it’s great that you’re having fun redecorating your kid’s bathroom as well. Are you done with the remodeling? Maybe you can put an interesting piece there, like a photo or a mosaic! But before anything else, make sure that all the pipes are sealed and the water ways are clear to avoid future repairs. Damp walls and floors might ruin the artwork you will place there. Good luck with the bathroom revamp. I hope to see another art in progress!

Dwane Zelinsky - It’s funny how you said “raining in that room.” Anyway, it seemed like you were so busy that day that you weren’t able to take photos of the pipes that leaked! Thankfully, nothing important got wet. How did you fix the leak?

Kitchen Benchtops - Fantastic bathroom the colours are stunning! This is lovely!

Zak - If you have a sec, could you let me know the wall color you used in the photo of your fireplace? Seems to be just the right amount of yellow!

Laura Magas - loooove your quilts – and the fabric stash makes me happy!

Courtney M - I always enjoy all the pretty details in your house. Do you mind sharing what the green color is on your wall with the leaf curtains?

Amber L Peters - You are too cute. and i love the architectural details of your house!
Love the curtains! Love your colorful, happy style.

Perkey - I want that you see reaction on my face, when i see this sweet leaf curtains.
OMG! I just fall in love and want to have it so badly.. >___^
Look so fit and good with the green walls.

Jen Harnett - I thought of you when I saw this Christian comedian doing a bit about the “dress barn” and thought I’d pass it on to you. Hope you LIKE it! Thanks for the great blog and honesty. Blessings! ~jen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAu4yG9V7_s

JET_24_ - Hello Meg!
I love the green color of paint used in the above picture! If you don’t mind me asking where did you get it and what is the name of the color? Your home is beautiful and you are SO CREATIVE!
Thanks!

Juliann Brenner - cute hat – David (4) came up while I was reading and said, “oh, what a cute liddl powlaw bear”. 😉

Diana - I go to Assessory City all the time. My thing is the purses. Lots of fun in that store.
Tons of fabric. Me, too. Thinking of quilting some curtains… or should I say making curtains by quilting. Haha. I’m sure you understand what I’m trying to say.

Breeanna @ a brilliant melody - Wow you have a lot of projects going! I don’t know how you have the energy to do it all. This Saturday I got a new and bigger bed for free! A California King! and a new dresser, so I got to rearrange the bedroom a little! It was a good day.

tara pollard pakosta - I just LOVE LOVE LOVE how you document your days! I have been writing ours down in a 365 + 1 (leap year) journal this year and I love it, but I need to now blog it better! and take more pix!
love your random shots!
tara

Jenna@CallHerHappy - my mom has those curtains. you would <3 her!
jenna
callherhappy.com

Karina - I can’t wait to see what you do to re-vamp the “insane asylum” bathroom, lol!
Is that inlay in your landing floor?? Wow.
And both windows are gorgeous, the bright curtains one and the one with no need for curtains at all.
Note to Andrea with the streaky windows: All you need is a spray bottle of water and a good microfiber cloth. Honest! I am NOT a rep for the company, but I swear by Norwex. I have stopped using Windex or anything like it COMPLETELY!

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Love seeing pics of your house, it’s so darn cute and if I were you I would “forget” to hem your new curtains, I like them long!

Maggie Nunez - love the curatins, i just love all the color you use throughout your house..it makes me happy! Love love love te fabric storage, going on my pinterest!

shauna - i love that a picture of you.
and your curtains look great there.
perfect with that wall.

Heather - What do you do with all your fabric?? It’s so pretty. I want some just stacked up around my house. And I don’t even sew! HA.

LibraryGirl62 - I too declared yesterday Sonic Day! I got my usual Diet Coke with Cherry and Lime..and BONUS…Jenny was back from maternity leave-she makes them PERFECT-not to much lime, just enough cherry-PERFECT! I <3 Sonic 🙂

Meg - We had one of those corner tubs in our old house, only it was PINK! The entire bathroom was tiled pink to match!

April R - window love
window love
window love
Thank you for sharing it 🙂
Happy Saturday!

Cheryl E. - Love, love, love that window, too! So cheery! Where did you get the picture of the bird that is hanging by your fireplace/foosball (??) table in the dining room? LOVE THAT!

se7en - Busy, busy week and I totally love your hat!!! Pinned it!!!

Vera - When I got to the “after” picture on the bathroom my jaw literally dropped open LOL! Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s done!
Our Saturday is nice… birthday party this morning, piano lessons this afternoon, now – Legos.

Vera - When I got to the “after” picture on the bathroom my jaw literally dropped open LOL! Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s done!
Our Saturday is nice… birthday party this morning, piano lessons this afternoon, now – Legos.

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - I can’t wait to see how the bathroom turns out….can’t wait. Ok, I need your secrete on cleaning windows…..we have amazing windows in our kitchen and they are ALWAYS streaked after I clean them…..HELP…your window looks amazing and no streaks in sight!
Wish I was coming to craft weekend! Looks like it is shaping up to be a fun and crafty time! Just my cup of tea.

leonieke - o how i love the reality of your blog! i just visited the yvestown blog, love it, but it’s all so perfect, i’ll never get it this way. and then i visit your blog, and see; family life does that to a house. but i still do like it. ( not the water flowing through the room, not that part).
today i changed our livingroom, and honestly, i’m not sure if it was a good change, but my partner in crime wants me to give it a few days,…mm,. wonder if i’ll change my mind.

Jenn A. - That window is GORGEOUS!!!

Lisa McCracken - Oh, Meg, I love your blog! So colorful! It makes me cheery! Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Have a great day! (That’s alot of exclamation points, huh?:)

Anna Marie - My Saturday will end with something I have not done forever…a date with my husband 🙂 We have reservations at a very nice restaurant (Em Chama’s) and I am so excited!
Can’t wait to see that bathroom all finished!

Elizabeth Walters - Girl, I LOVE your house!! SOOO stinking cute! I am also loving that brick in your bathroom… are you going to do anything with that???

Lisa Goldstrich - I gotta say, I just keep coming back to your blog 🙂 Love it, so authentic. And also, I have serious window and hardwood floor envy. The inlay is gorgeous on those upstairs floors…whoa. Good luck with the bathroom redo (and LOL at insane asylum description…”insane asylum chic”??) Thanks for keeping it real 🙂

Tami V - Just love to read your random posts! That window is gorgeous! And those curtains are so fun! Love the polka dot chenille! Can’t wait to see what you do with your bathroom!

Prudence - I had those IKEA curtains at my old farm house, wish I would have taken them with me when we moved 🙁

Kimberly Dial - Meg, I love all the color you put here & there in your home. So cheerful – so you! Looks like you’ve got a lot done; me, on the other hand, will spend her Saturday putting Christmas away. My oldest son & his family left to go back home to FL this morning so Christmas will leave too. BTW,I don’t think any store will ever be as badly named as the Dress Barn … I mean, really? Why didn’t they such name ‘Big Farm Animal Clothing’? 😉

Bobbie - For the record…. Dress Barn is so much worse. That is all. Love your house beyond belief. Happy Saturday

PrairieJenn - Our bathroom had a vintage charm/dirty insane asylum look to it too. Hmmm… must be an old house thing. Love the remodeling/rearranging/redecorating pics:) We are slowly restoring our old farmhouse, and I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from your blog. We’re adding a craft room now- we really need another bathroom, but I have my priorities!

Lorie S. - Well it is a beautiful day in WV. 60 degrees and I am celebrating my birthday with my family. Doesn’t get any better than this. Happy Saturday to all of you. =)

Lisa A. A. - In a state of demolishment or not, your house is beautiful! SO full of character! When I saw those curtains… I need to do this! So tired of my dark curtains and I even have a Martha chenille bedspread not in use so maybe I’ll get creative, too! Thanks for an awesome blog!!!

Marla Rae - It’s my birthday! The day will be filled with an assortment of things..this morning …taking down Christmas 🙁 (won’t get it all done but I do plan on starting) Then this afternoon dessert and gifts with my hubby, daughter, SIL and GRANDSON!! Dinner out with my loving wonderful fantastic hubby and THEN
*who knows* winkwink!! After all it is my birthday!! 52 wonderful years!

colleen from Alabama - I totally get the pipe thing – we live in a 90+ year old house. We just had to cut a hole in the wall to fix pipes (knobs in shower completely disintegrated)! I was soooo encouraged to see you have plaster walls! I NEVER change what is on my walls because of the hassle it is to patch and paint. You have given me the encouragement i need to switch things up a bit. We’ve redone both of the bathrooms in our house – the first when i was prego with baby #2! CRAZY! I’ll be @ my son’s basketball game, shoe shopping with my daughter and putting away Christmas decor!

Kayla - For the record, I think Dress Barn is a waaaaaay worse name

Laura Phelps - GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL
Ahh..Saturday morning…slept til 7:30 am. That is sleeping in for me! Bitty basketball at 9, Jacks bball g ame at 2, looking at the gym for gymnastics classes for Annie, baking a Kings Cake, Michaels for some project stuff, and lots of cake planning…got a little something in the works 🙂
hmm…maybe you didnt really want to know exactly what my saturday was going to be….
oh well.
love you
miss you
want to craft weekend with you one day….
xo

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Oh, one more thing: in my current choosing to see that it could always be worse attitude: arent you grateful that this leak(AKA waterfall incident) didnt happen during CW? That would’ve been a nightmare. The smallest blessings can be the biggest!:)

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - I still have a patched area of drywall in the dining room ceiling where our master bathroom leaked down into it FOUR times since we’ve lived here. Thats why we’ve been working on the MBath for 2 years now. But Im thankful that its finally taking shape.
Literally three nights before the fire we had painted the walls this beautiful gray color and for Christmas I got the ruffled shower curtain from Urban Outfitters. Now we’re waiting for insurance estimates of our damage. Its such an awful wait but we couldnt get around it with the weekend.
All that to say, I cant wait to see what you do with the bathroom. Im sure it’ll be fabulous(I love that exposed brick behind the tub…very urban looking).
xo

Heaven Bentley - I had a tub like that in my first apartment, but it was pepto bismal pink, and the wall/floor tiles were hunter green. It was such a weird tub – too small for a real bath (unless I’d have had children back then – it would have been the perfect size for a child), but I’d still fill it up and try to take a soak. The radiator was right next to the tub, so I’d crank up the heat and hang my feet out that side and they’d stay toasty warm.
Thanks for the memories.

Amy Lynne - Love you and all the crazy things that happen at your house! I hope you keep making progress on your list!

Jane - Love your blog! I’m from Canada (Nova Scotia to be exact), and we don’t have Sonic. Is it a fast food restaurant? Next time I am stateside (once a year a little trip to Maine), I’ll have to check it out. What do you get there? I always read about your sonic trips and wonder!!! Take care, and your house is beautiful!

Jen - Love it all but especially those glorious wire baskets that you have your fabric stored in! May I ask where you got them?? Happy Saturday! Mine will be filled with basketball games and homecoming dance preparations!!

sam - Just L O V E your blog and your happy family, beautiful homely pictures too, hope the wash room gets sorted soon.
Have a great day 🙂
Mantha xx

nicki - How funny that you mentioned the Coca-Cola gift–one of my coworkers is best friends w/the girl who is in charge of their social media–they are working on a very special HANDMADE gift for you Coca-Cola bloggers come Super Bowl time! 😉

Carrie - I am a week behind. I am returning Christmas to it’s boxes this weekend.

Kelly - wow, big difference with the bathroom! Glad you’re keeping the tub (looks like), it’s really cool. We hope to re-do our bathroom sometime soon. I joke that when we have our next baby, the bathroom is so small that there is no place to put a baby in a bouncy seat or whatever so how will I ever get to take a shower?!
Right now we are in the middle of redoing out basement, a craft room/family room + home office for the hubs/guest room/library – my amazing hubby made built in bookshelves for one whole wall (!) and a bit of laundry room re-do are all in progress. Whew! So you asked about Saturday, tomorrow will be painting first coats in two rooms, maybe painting the built-ins, deciding how wide I want my horizontal stripes to be in the craft room and what the second color for the stripes is going to be (I want it sort of white on white but you know you still have to pick a white)
Excited to see what you do with the sheets! Happy weekend! Kelly

Jennifer - We are headed to the zoo! It is 65 degrees here in St Louis! Also, are you gonna tell us whats up with all the sheets?! Did I miss something? Lol!

Amber Rae - I love your posts!!!

Stephanie - I take back everything I said about my husbands movies movie picking skills. The movie is “Warrior” and is turning about to be great! Haha

Barbara Nelson - That window is a work of art just beautiful!

Tanya H - Ahhh your house makes me happy! I try so hard to be content becuase our place is perfect for us in this stage of life but maaaan when I grow up I want a gorgeous old home like yours! and then you to come decorate it! 😀

DanaD@BoysMyJoys - So exciting!!!
But… you could always scrap the whole bathroom idea and just sling a couple of sets of bunkbeds in that room for more CW peeps! 🙂
I mean, kids don’t need showers, right?
Just sayin’ 🙂

jackie grandy - Wow, you have been busy!! Sorry about the pipe bursting 🙁 That’s not a fun surprise.
I love your new header and you look adorable in that hat 🙂

Mindy Harris - your house is amazing. are you keeping the hexagonal tile and the big tub? that window is so beautiful!

Lindsey - LOVE what you did with the Ikea curtains. I have the same ones in blue and what you did really dresses them up! LOVE Sonic too, you are so lucky to have one close by!

Melissa l - Woohoo – awesome post. Today’s blog makes me want to sell our house and find an old one. The window is simply amazing! Ps. I’m going to our Ikea tomorrow in connecticut to find some funky curtains like yours!

Melissa l - Woohoo – awesome post. Today’s blog makes me want to sell our house and find an old one. The window is simply amazing! Ps. I’m going to our Ikea tomorrow in connecticut to find some funky curtains like yours!

Wendy - Geeze … no wonder why your tired!

Melissa - Why so many new sheets??

Jenn - Meg, I love your blog! You never disappoint. Always great photos, words and laughter. Thank you!
PS. Have you done anything with the third floor?

Amber - Adore that yellow cart and wire baskets for your happy fabric. And that window?! Crazy amazing. I wanna come to craft weekend! 🙂

Seriously Sassy Mama - I have been at a girl scout cookie rally! I work Saturday like I do all weekends. I am so in love with your old house. Cannot wait to see the bathroom!

Stephanie - Its Friday night and I just sat down with my husband to watch a movie (his pick) I never learn that it is best for me to run to blockbuster or at least go with him:) this is some new release but as soon as I saw the title (something to do with a boxer) I grabbed the iPad before laying down with him to “watch” it. Anyway….I came to your blog first and am so glad that I did. Have I ever told you how much I love your blog:) my absolute fav. Can not wait to see the bathroom redo and also…that window is beyond amazing!
Have a super weekend!

Brooke - Oh boy…bathroom remodel!! We just remodeled our bathroom in our 1939 college hill home last year..i loved looking though all of the pictures of bathrooms in old homes…there are some amazing hex tiled baths out there!!
also..love the pic of you in the hat. How do you pull off looking cute in a coke hat?
Have a great weekend!!

Leah - I wish I had your courage to rip up a bathroom one day and do it myself. I admire you! My husband wants to know if you removed a shower next to the bathtub at some time because she spotted the drain on the floor.

bread and jam - That window in the stairway is amazing. I love the exposed brick in the bathroom re-do.
You make Dress Barn cool.

AshleyAnn - You tore out your bathroom before Craft Weekend!!! You are crazy. Around here we just hang a suitcase on the wall and call it good 🙂 Can’t wait to see it all. And the stairwell all bright white is AWESOME!!

happygirl - Oh my goodness you do a lot of great things. I wish my bathroom could be redone. I hate it. But, I don’t want water all over my downstairs. I just did that with the hurricane damage. LOVE the fact you think Dress Barn is a bad name. I don’t shop there just because of the name. Love the hat. Keep truckin’ girl. 🙂

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progress….

January 4, 2012 Filed in home decorating,pretty

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it's getting there….
coming along….
still not done cleaning the craft room but i have also done LOTS of other things…
like wash some windows (i said "how long have we had that tree out that window?" once it was cleaned…ha ha)
or move furniture in the girls room and go through all their clothes.
or tons of laundry….that machine breaking really screwed up my WHOLE laundry system
and we can't seem to catch up.

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this is my favorite room to clean.
it is so happy even when it's out of control.

i organized my fabric by color this time.

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so pretty in the morning when the sun is SHINING in.

soon everything will find it's place.
it's almost there.

i have watched/listened to two disks of parenthood season 2, you've got mail, love actually and the family stone since i began this cleaning frenzy.
isn't that a great list of movies?
yes it is.

IMG_5248-1

this cabinet was a built-in from the old cruddy basement of our illinois house.
i made sure we rescued it when we remodeled that basement. 
since annie was born it has held her clothes but her clothes were getting too wide for the shelves.
so i slid it across the hall and made it into the craft weekend cabinet.
and now i had a place for all that stuff that was in the other picture on new year's eve.

IMG_5168-1
 
my gigantor 2 page list of all the things i want to get done in each room before CW.
i have added more since i took that picture.
i love when there is a deadline and things get DONE.
it feels good!

so…my thursday is going to be another day of check! check! check!
when you are on a roll you gotta run with it.

:D 

 

 

add a comment

Kerry - I love the Erin Condren Planner! I have it nd love it!! Might I recomend packers tape to reinforce the tabs. 🙂

Diane Pierce - Not sure if you actually reply or answer your comments but I would love to know where you found your planner that is pictured. It looks great and I’d love to find one like that! Pl

patsy - Started a to do notebook too! A wonderfully blessed new year to you and your family! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Kimberly Dial - You go girl! (BTW, your fabric stacks & movie list are pure fabulosity! 🙂

Lisa - Don’t you just LUV “Love Actually”!?! Every time I watch it I cry with/for Sarah, my heart breaks for Mark, I crack up at Billy Mack (thought I have to do the “quick-mute” a few times), and my heart aches for Karen . . . “knowing that life will always be just a little bit worse”. And can I please have Kathleen Kelly’s NYC apt for a girl’s get-a-way spot . . . for real!? Love your movie list!!! Oh, and your craft room 🙂

tara pollard pakosta - yay! it’s coming along!
my goal is to do 2 rooms per month so by the end of the year each room will be de-cluttered! and then some!
to start : my laundry room and then my basement! ick!
tara

Kasey - looks like we both have new headers;-) Love yours….xo

Marla Rae - Meg – take 3 or 5 0r 6 loads of laundry to a laundermat and get yourself caught up! It is the best way to accomplish a ton of laundry in a short amount of time…it feels so good to get back on track! Love your craft room and all of your awesomeness!

Robin Canter - If I lived near you, I would come over and do your laundry because I ADORE laundry. Really. It’s my most favorite household thing. there’s just something about the fresh clean smell and bleaching something until it’s sparkling white.
l-o-v-e- it!

Wendy - Please send some energy … & a cup of coffee to Pennsylvania! 🙂

jen - i took on the challenge myself and was happy to see you were too! i’m painting this weekend – i hope! – and then piecing together the rest to make it a more inviting. love the fabric – what do you use it for?? also how did you make your new top banner? love it! happy cleaning!

Dawn G - That fabric is gorgeous … The thought of sewing makes me break out in hives! :0). Love the crayon banner !

Barbara Nelson - So happy,have fun checking!

brooke - i LOVE your new banner…LOVE!!!

Lisa - Love your blog…I found your link on Pam’s blog. I think I say “whatever” too much and find your blog name hilarious…and I have a craft room just like yours:) Seeing your fabric almost makes me feel sane, but I know my husband would beg to differ on that account.

Cheryl E. - All that fabric in your craft room makes me smile! Love all the color.
And You’ve Got Mail is a fantastic movie!! You have such good taste!! 🙂

Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - The colors in your craft room make me happy. Love your style.

Andrea - Nice! Keep going! My craft room is an utter disaster ALL THE TIME. Then I clean it…then I make a mess! But it’s fun! And worth it!

shelley - i would also love to know where the planner/organizer is from 😎 what a happy crafting space!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - I love that you organized fabric by color. I do that too and it makes it much easier to find something when you need it.
On the downside, we came home from church last night to our big old house full of firemen and police. Long story and Im still really shaken up but we’re safe. Now we deal with the smoke damage. Its awful. Girls and I went to school today reeking of it(trying to keep things normal for them).
So your pictures made me smile on a day when its hard to do that:)
xo

casey - awesome!! Wish I had a craft room to clean! I love cleaning! (I know… sick, right?!)

Michelle - I love that as I was reading this, the song “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” came up on my iTunes. And “Count Your Blessings” is atop your notebook page. Have a great day Meg <3

Melissa - Where’s the wonderful fabric from? I LOVE all the bright colors and patterns!!

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I must be like you and things really only get done when I have a deadline. My hubby teases me that it’s a good thing we have friends that like to come over or the house may never get a good cleaning…HA, it’s probably true 🙂

Lisa Biedebach - I’m on the waiting list and can’t wait to be picked! I figure the more you clean the closer I get. Ha ha so go with it!

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - You have a huge fabric collection…I’m totally jealous!!
I’m really looking forward to seeing all the pictures from CW at your home..take lots!
Gemma x

Aimee B. in Oregon - okay, talk about a BEAUTIFUL mess. I want to come over and take in all the wonderful color! yummy!
* I am curious to know more about your notebook you pictured with your list written on it. That looks like something I cannot live without. 😉
Aimee in OR,

Melissa - Curious. What are the stack of plates in that cute white cabinet? Making something?
I love your craft room! I wish I had a room with all of that light!

tiffany gardner - yes…i love love family stone. your craft room makes me happy too.

Katie - Is it weird that I love seeing other people’s messy craft rooms?! The colours are so beautiful. Good luck on the rest of your organizing – have fun!

Ashlyn@Pinecone - I have what amounts to a craft cabinet at the moment – and even it is a mess.
Love all of your fabrics!!! xo

Kimberlee Jost - I am coming over to sun myself every Thursday in the Craft Room.
Not kidding.
I fully expect my Vitamin D levels to go up this winter, thanks to you.
And speaking of Blog Headers—weren’t we?
Shazam. Bam. Boo. That looks fabulous!

Cerissa - Hi there! So I’ve been following your blog for quite some time now (stalker status im sure!) I love to sit down with my cup of coffee in the morning & check in. You inspire me to be a better mom a better christian and a better person. Thank you for always being so real & sharing your heart-and pictures of your gorgeous home!!! Have a beautiful day!!!!

Seriously Sassy Mama - My roll comes in spurts. I absolutely love your list of movies. I am probably the only person int he world that owns only three dvds. That should be a goal for 2012. Buy a DVD a month of my favorite movies. I love fabric! Sometimes I buy scraps just to have the color around the house.

ellen keeton - Hi Meg…my name is Ellen and I love your blog… I may even be your biggest fan! I did’nt realize hoew often I visit your blog until over Christmas break Lily Kate(my 7 yr. old) jumped up beside me and said”hey Mom… what’s Meg up to today?”. Yes she is always that hysterical!! She is a huge crafter just like us!! Would love to know where your planner came from. Thanks for taking the time to blog… you are an inspiration!!

Lori Austin - You go girl! I so need to get busy cleaning/organizing. I can feel I’m getting close to being in the mood (sounds silly, but sometimes it just kind of builds inside and then bam! I’m a crazy cleaning mommma – yeah, corny!)
Love the list of movies for sure. You’ve Got Mail is kind of my life (hubby and I met online – eek!). Family Stone – sigh….always makes me cry but so, so good.
Have a great day!!

Emily Kinsaul - I love all your posts! You inspire me daily. Btw, where did you find your awesome planner/notebook? I’d love to get one myself.

Lorie S. - I soooo wish I had a room like that to work in. Maybe when the kids are grown and gone it will happen. For now the kitchen table will have to work.

Tiffany - I’m liking the fabric sort…and you piced some good movies (love actually and you’ve got mail) two of my all time FAVS!!

Anne - thanks… I needed that. my new year is off to a slow start and I have been searching for motivation. I think I have found it.

Kacy - So true. My “craft room” is part of my laundry, not nearly as beautiful as yours, but that’s ok because I’m not nearly as crafty as you are :). Good luck with your list!

Julie - I would like to live inside your craft room!

happygirl - I’m a list making, checking things off, love it when it’s all done kinda girl, myself. I just wish I didn’t have this crummy 8 to 5 job. It gets in the way of getting things DONE. 🙂

regina - i would love to have a craft room. right now mine is ALL over the dinning room table. i LOVE lOVE how real u are. LOVE it!!!

Jen - last night i had a dream and you brought me and all my friends rainbow colored cookies. maybe i shouldn’t blog before bed. oh yikes!
the craft room looks awesome! mine looks like a disaster zone. keep truckin’

Alicia @ La Famille - you are on a roll for sure, girl!!! GO, meg, GO!!!

tina - what a beautiful collection of fabric… oh how i wish i was a better sewer 🙂

Heather R. - Love Actually. I love that movie. I’m on a roll, too. Keep on rollin’! Have a great day.

Leah - Don’t you just love the planner? I’m so happy with mine. I feel more organized just looking at it! I currently have a craft shelf in the garage that needs organizing. Maybe I can graduate to a craft closet next.

Mae - I don’t know how to sew, but looking at that room makes me wish that I did… Seriously. Unbelievable.

Charity - I just love your fabric choices! I want to buy them all! <3

stephany @ home is what you make it - BTW, what planner do you use? I like it!

Magda - Hi there! I’m Magda from Greece,17. I’ve been following you since last week i think,and i’m in love with your blog already! Actually i so very much adore the tons of energy you have and the way your whole family comes together in order to create and have fun. That’s exactly the type of family I wanna make too,and for that you are officialy one of my role models(does that sound too formal? okay, in other words, I admire you:)) I love crafting and creating sooo much as well. So far i can not take up lots of crafting (although i’d love to) because i’m in my senior year at school and my leisure time is limited. However,i’ve tried the melting crayons one and it was so much fun and turned out pretty beautiful! thanks for that:) oh,and i’m so jealous of your craft room and your fabrics! I’m gonna have a whole craft room on my own when i have my own house! Aww^_^
that was all pretty much. Normaly i’d have sent it in an email,but your email address doesn’t appear.
anyway,have a nice time cleaning up! Oh,and as for the movies, if you run out of idea, try “Burlesque” with Cher and C.Aguilera. Soooo good!
Ciao ciaoo!
(woohoo,that was BIG! Sorry for that)

Cerella M. Di Mondo - Absolutely gorgeous. Wish my craft room looked like this!

stephany @ home is what you make it - I can’t wait to be picked for a craft weekend. I fondly remember visiting my grandma and grandpa in Wichita (from Denver).
I am so green with envy of your craft room (even i it is a mess)…someday I will have one.
Until them I have a small closet under the stairs for storage and my dining room for my drafting/sewing/crafting!
I absolutely look forward to your blog posts everyday. You are an inspiration.
Thank you from Oregon!!
Happy, happy!
stephany @ home is…what you make it
http://homeiswhatyoumakeit.com

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - So true! Roll with it baby!

Terrie G - My craft room is only partially done too…
I also organized my fabrics in RoYGBiv order!!
So Pretty!! Makes me want to do another craft quick!
Problem is I have about 4 I want to do next…
ah, now which one to pick! 🙂

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best of 2011

January 1, 2012 Filed in family fun


****** HAPPY NEW YEAR DUDES.******

THREE
Five
FOUR
ONE
Seven
Six
Ten
Eight
TWO
Nine

                               oh my…..what a fabulous reminder of all God's goodness in 2011.

                              my heart is full to the tippy top today looking at the year in photos.

who is ready for a big year?

2012….i like you already..

***********************************

add a comment

Amy - Love your re-cap in photos! Question, did you create your collage in photoshop? Would love to know if it’s a template. Thanks so much 🙂

tami - Happy New year to you and your family! xoxo Many blessings!

Annika - Happy new year to you, too! I’ve been meaning to tell you: my blog is turning one in February and I was inspired by Whatever… to start writing it! I wanted to try blogging, but never had a ‘proper’ theme for it and thought nobody would be interested. When I saw how much fun you were having just writing about your family, your life and your photography, I felt that that was what I wanted to do, just write about the things that are dear to my heart. If people wanted to come and read, fine, if not, I’d have a diary of sorts. And it’s been so much fun, I’ve come into contact with so many lovely people through blogging, some of which I would even dare to call my friends! So: thank you, Meg, for being an inspiration and doing what you do!

Daniele Valois - What a colorful like you have! I don’t comment here often, sorry..boo, but I love to come visit! (And I was just in SF the other day and took a very colorful crayon pic with my phone and I just posted it and thought of you…and came here to see your colorful blog!)
happy day!

jen - thanks for all the inspiration and happy new year to you as well!!!! can’t wait to see what 2012 brings us all.

Kerry - Fantastic collage!!
Happy New Year sweet Duerksen family,
Kerry & Family in the not so sunny UK 🙂 xx

jennibell - This is great. The kids (and I) have a snowless snow day off today. . .I might play around and try to make something like this for us. . .our walls can always use more pictures!!! Thanks for your awesome inspiration Meg 🙂

Saks2Salvation - Your blog seriously gives me inspiration through imagery. What a year you & your beautiful family have had! My favorite pic is of you in the hat with your friend. Flawless face. Happy New Year!

AshleyAnn - Last year… I told myself to do this for 2011. Forgot. Glad you didn’t. The photo of you towards the middle is stunning..

Tiffany - Your photos made me smile. Now I just wanna collage my crew. To 2012!!!!!

Michelle Versace - Love you, love your blog, love your photos … Truly, for some reason always makes me happy.

tiffany gardner - love the life in your pics. i’m always encouraged by you. xoxo….

Carla G - I forgot about Sunshine the cat (was that his name?) until I saw his (her?) picture . . . whatever happened with the little kitty? Need an update on the cat status, please! 🙂 Your little Talby is getting quite beautiful. Like her mama.

tara pollard pakosta - gorgeous photos!!!
I love seeing all their cuteness little faces!!
Tell Lauren I would love to see more of her beautiful face gracing the family photos in 2012! Teenagers are hard to get photos of unless they are taking themselves with their iphones LOL!
as my girls get older (12 and 10) they are harder to get photos of too! But she’s so pretty and I would think later she is going to really wish she had let you capture her more at this age. TEll her to embrace the camera LOL!!!
tara

Suz - love.

Kimberly Dial - I’m ready!

Katie - Happy, happy! Annie’s “double rainbow” outfit makes me giggle!
Hope you and your sweet family have a wonderful 2012 – can’t wait to see what it brings.

Joy Kinard - That was fun! I love visiting your blog!

Laura Phelps - I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO READY!
I know what you are talking about…FULL HEART…
I am BURSTING today!!!!
SO EXCITED for a NEW YEAR!!!!!
And so thankful for 2011…
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ashley - Happy, happy New Year! I hope 2012 is full of new and amazing blessings!
The boys got me a phone cover for Christmas that reminded me of you– rainbow colored Mickey Mouse. It’s so cheery! (My five year old loves to look at your blog with me.)

Julie - Great pictures, looks like a great year! Happy New Year Meg!

Bobbie - Your new header is super cute. Love the crayons!

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - Meg….this is why I love to read your blog…..always bright and colorful….you make me smile……and pictures of waffle don’t hurt either!!!!!

amanda - These are great!

carol78 - i follow your blog for some time now and really enjoy it! wish you all the best in 2012 for you and your family
Carol

tina - happy new year!

Sarah Wolfe - so full of life, all these photos… happy new year!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - So many happy memories in this post. My faves? Annie in the superwoman costume and Waffle with his new haircut:) Happy New Year!

sandy toe - What great photos!
sandy toe

amy - i am beyond ready fro the new year. yay! happy new year!

Hannah - Looks like you had a beautiful year!!! Happy 2012!!!

Annette - Awesome collage… what a colorful 2011 you and your family had! Looking forward to reading your blog in 2012.
Do you use Big Huge Labs mosiac maker for your collage? Thanks!
Happy New Year!

Becky - I too, would love to know how you put your pictures together! So cool.

Denine - You are a wonderful, inspirational woman. I opened up my “Popular Photography” magazine and there you were inside the front cover.
Thanks for all the great ideas for 2011.
I can’t wait for what 2012 has to hold.
God bless
Happy New year.

Theresa - Meg, These are beautiful pictures. I hope that you have a wonderful 2012. I love reading your blog. Thanks for sharing your life, crafts, and amazing photos.
I saw this on etsy and thought of you.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/89328666/whatever-hoop-made-to-order

jessicakiehn - I just want you to know…that when I look at you I see a hard-working, extremely devoted, loving, real wife and mother. I know your kids are young and have no idea how much love and work you put into everything to make it beautiful, meaningful, and fun, but one day they will look back and thank you from the very depths of themselves for what great parents they had. You inspire me to put my family first and know that God will take care of me and my needs, so I don’t have to.
If you ever feel like you’re not “cutting it” in the mother department…know that it is a lie from the devil himself, because let me tell you…I am Spirit-filled and the moment I looked at this collage and saw the pictures of you I saw you for who you really are and it leapt in my spirit…you are an amazing Momma.

Laura Putnam - Great recap – please do tell how what you used to put all your pictures together like that?! Thanks, Laura

happygirl - I see your 2011 was pretty good. My 2011, not so much. I’m looking forward to 2012. The bar is set pretty low, so I’ll bet it will be even better. 🙂

Sheri - Made your cheesy potatoes today – they totally rocked! Thanks for sharing.

Amy jupin - This is beautiful.
Much like YOU.
Happy new year meg!

Regina - i LOVE the photo recap. meg you are beautiful! your pics, realness, outlook, fun colors & home decor, commitment to the Lord & his people are all so encouraging. i always look forward to your posts!

Lisa - Glorious! The photos are amazing.
Happy New Year!

No. 17 - this makes me happy too.
happy 2012 to you, friend.

Dana @ Bungalow'56 - Love this idea Megan, I think I might be stealing it : )
Dana

Kacy - Love it – love your pictures, love your kids, love you! I hope your 2012 is even better than 2011!

PaisleyJade - Love your blog! thanks for your inspiration. happy new year!

Leah - Beautiful photos! Happy New Year, Meg!

Holly - great year! I am super excited about 2012!

Kat - Beautiful! Love you, your family & this blog, though I don’t know you. 🙂 You inspire me and bring joy to my world. Thank you.

Sarah @ Redhead in Ruffled Flats - Happy new year!!! You had quite the colorful year, as always. 🙂 I’m looking forward to another year of reading your blog.
Just a question – how do you get the photos into the squares? Do you do it by hand or is there something that does it for you?

Margo - Love it! I hope you have a fabulous 2012!!

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and that is it.

December 31, 2011 Filed in Uncategorized

where in the world did this year go?

it was SPEEDY.

really really fast.

i traveled more than ever….did some BIG fun stuff.

i loved this year.

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all the christmas decorations are put away.

i cleaned out my closet today….and cleaned my room….and my bathroom….hours of cleaning.
as much i hate cleaning….i love when it's done. 

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four bags to donate…three bags of trash.

now for my new year's eve celebration….i am going to clean the craft room.  
i haven't gone in there since september.  
no joke.
it is an avalanche waiting to happen.

IMAG0319-2 IMAG0321-3

but i NEED it for craft weekend prep.

and that is in 26 days!!!

so i will be a busy busy girl this month.

………………………………………..

by the way….

i have received the nicest emails and gifts this month from blog readers!!
that is so cool.

i have such awesome readers.

that is YOU.

YOU are awesome.
thank you.
so much.

i hope you are doing something way cooler on this new year's eve than cleaning a mountain of junk.
but if not….and you are chillin' at home….browsing pinterest….eating cookies….

HI.

happy new year.

it's gonna be a really good one. 

 

add a comment

Jyotsna Kandpal - Merry Christmas Meg !!! You know I am the same kind of person… When I make up my mind for cleaning everything then I just do everything in one shot.. Though it takes a lot of hours as you mentioned… And I love everything after that.. But this feeling lasts for 2-3 days and I am back to lethargy again… Eveything in my house also looks like this.. I wish there was someone I could hire to just clean the mess after me… lol…

Lisa - I’m still in Christmas mode! We just celebrated our last Christmas gathering of the year with my siblings and families New Year’s Eve! We had a wonderful time! And so, my Christmas decorations are still up . . . . never want to take down the lights, my favorite part of the holidays. I wish I had a room for crafting – instead I have a folding table in the corner of my bedroom, and some supplies stashed in my closet. But I’m already feeling that need to clean out, make room, get re-organized . . . and your descriptions of what you’re doing helps me, too! Thanks!

Jacci in Ohio - Happy New Year!!! I’m impressed you got your Christmas stuff down already. I always get a little down when vacation ends, so I leave mine up just until I get back in the swing of our normal schedule. I know you’re getting ready for craft weekend, but I thought I’d mention one more time that the neutral background vlog idea thingy is still something I think would make a really great post 🙂 you know, in your spare time 🙂

merran tatum - oh, meg. i just love you! thanks for a great year of blogging. i check in on you every day and think of you as a good friend. you inspire me and make me laugh all the time. PLEASE post a picture of your craft room all clean and organized whenever you finish up. mine is looking a lot like your soon-to-be-avalanche, and i’d love to see how you tidy it up. i think i need the inspiration to tackle mine! hugs to you and thanks for all the hard work and time that you put into your blog. it makes my day!!

mary - Thanks so much for always sharing your real life. It’s nice to see I am not the only creative soul with piles to go through and organize. Here’s to another year of more piles to make and more to clean up!

Tracy Fisher - I am so excited to see that someone else’s craft room looks like mine. haha. I am already saving money and praying that one of these Craft Weekends will work for me. I want it so bad. That will be my gift to myself this summer.
Blessings to you and your family in 2012.
Tracy

Mrs. Jones - My craft room looks exactly the same. Thank you for showing me that photo. 😉 I feel better now.
~Heather

Heather R. - Happy New Year! All the best.

April R - inspired.
again.
🙂
Happy New Year!

Marla Rae - Happy New Year. love your blog. love the pics!

Holly - You have no idea how glad I am to see that your craft room looks as bad as mine!

DanaD@BoysMyJoys - What happened to the ‘Meg of old’? 🙂
I think I remember a post from one of the first years I read your blog, where you were taking down your Christmas decorations near the end of January!!!
WooHoo!!!
You are off to an amazing start!!!
Here’s to a super productive 2012! 🙂

Sarah Wolfe - I have yet to put my Christmas stuff away. It’s going to make a big mess, and I dread that. With cleaning, it looks worse before it looks better, so you’re headed in the right direction. Happy 2012!

Alisa - In the midst of my mess….your picture of your craft room was a gift. Thanks.

sue - Happy New year to you and your family. You have entertained me all year with your blog. I thank you for that and look forward to seeing what you get up to this year.

amanda - Enjoyed reading you posts another year! Looking forward to 2012 🙂

Amy - Thanks for showing your craft room. Mine looks the same and I really need to get in their and do something so I can create in peace and calm. Happy New Year!

Christine Ishmael - I love that you cleaned/organized for New Years…I’m doing that next year! Get the Christmas stuff down and the house organized makes for a great start to the New Year! Happy 2012!

Siobhan - Ha! That craft room is epic! As much as I hate clutter I love to organize that looks like its gonna be fun;) I hope you have an awesome new years even if your cleaning! You have blessed me so much this year by your blog I cannot Thankyou enough for all of your encouragement and lifting of my spirit! You are such a blessing to me and so many others!

Jenny B. - At home. Drinking frappuccino. Reading your blog. 🙂 Hi back!

Shannon - happy new year Meg! you rock! yep so we went to our friends/neighbors down the street this year with our three littles. the best part of the night, or worst, was me walking through their darkened kitchen (where the fondue pots, one with chocolate in it) were still set up. i dipped a few chips in chococlate and came out like nothing had happened, or no one had seen me. except that my chewbeads necklace dipped in the chocolate and i didn’t know it. until my friend pointed out a huge
smattering of chocolate all over my bright white v-neck shirt from the now chocolate covered chewbeads. it was embarrassing but they know me well enough to know that i would totally do that. so we laughed a lot about it. later, i almost choked on a too big mouthful of chips. sa-weet! happy new year!

Wendy - Love the pics of your craft room … looks like my upstairs.

jen marmen - Hi Meg-Happy New Year! I love your Christmas dishes and was wondering where you got them?

Su@TheIntentionalHome - oh my craft room looks like your pics above. . .please post pics when it is all clean. .. and tell me how many hours it takes.. .so I can be inspired and motivated to do the same. . .I tell you. . my craft room is suppose to be a place that nourishes but all it does is suck the life out of me. . .I love to create but never put anything back. . .my own fault I know. . .but agh.

Ali - D’you know how envious I am of the phrase ‘All the Christmas decorations are put away”?
Guess what’s on my list for today….
Happy New Year!

Leah - Must have been the end of the year because I was a mad cleaner and organizer too. I organized my daughter’s old clothes for giveaway and keep. Got rid of trash and shredding. It feels nice to be organized. Happy New Year to you!

Kari - You are in good company. I have spent this evening updating my blog since I have been neglecting it for the last 6 months… working on a small business: facebook.com/redpoppydesignsbykk. But of course, due to my crazy, quirky tendencies I couldn’t ring in the new year without being up to date! (Oh, and my mom has been begging for recent pictures…) Anyway, happy new year to you and your family! Thanks for the entertainment in 2011 – looking forward to more to come!

Terrie G - Happy New Year Meg!! Can’t wait to see what you cook up in the craft room for us this year!
Thanks for the inspiration, for being REAL, for sharing your heart…for challenging us to give in ways we may have never known about! I’m cleaning my craft room this week too. I think I need to take pics to remind myself that it can be clean…at least long enough for pictures! LOL!!
Hugs!
Terrie
PS Now that the holidays are over…I’m heading back to Pinterest for more inspiration!!

Tami - Post pictures of your craft room when you get it clean so I can be inspired. Love your blog. Keep it coming in 2012.

Kerstie - Thanks for another year of great posts. Hope you have a terrific 2012. And, YES I was browsing Pinterest. 😉

mel @ the larson lingo - Happy New Year Meg! So thankful for you & meeting for real this year! Blog sugar was a highlight for me this year! Here’s to a great 2012!

Kacy - happy new year! 2011 FLEW by!! I’m excited to see what 2012 will bring. I wish you, and everyone, health, happiness, and peace.

Tiffany - Happy New Year Megs, of course your readers are awesome. Your awesome!! Thanks for sharing your colorful life with us. Big things in 2012.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Im enjoying the QUIET on my couch, girls are asleep and waiting for hubby to get back from our churchs New Years Eve service.
I had no plans of cleaning up Christmas but it totally happened over the past 2 days and Im relieved its done since we go back to school on Tuesday here. I wont have to worry about doing it after I get home. Ive also been cleaning and hoe-ing out, rearranging furniture and it feels good! Fresh looks, pared down, living simply.
Happy New Year! Im thankful to have met you IRL this year:)

karen - HI meg!, yup. at home browsing pinterest and my favourite blogs. happy new year!!

PaisleyJade - Happy New Year!! It’s nearly dinner time on 1st Jan here in NZ and I still haven’t packed up my Christmas stuff!!

Jen Brandt - Totally browsin’ Pinterest and Facebooking. Drove 979 miles in last two days. Back home from Christmas in TX with in-laws. Christmas at home with our kiddos tonight, Christmas at my mom and dad’s tomorrow/New Year’s Day dinner. Just told hubby I am blog stalking Meg and he said, “Tell her I said, ‘Hi'” 🙂 Here’s to a great 2012!

Holly - its only 10:15 here. Not sure I am going to make it to midnight!

Oberheu.wordpress.com - Ha! I’m cleaning my craft room tonight too! Just took a break to peek at fb and see what everyone is up to. New Years always makes me want to clean things up – get a fresh start! Enjoy your cleaning -your right it feels so much better when its done!
Back to work now:)!

Laura Lee - cleaned, chillin’, and lovin it! Happy New Year, thanks for keeping me entertained all year 🙂 And inspiring me! you rock!

kelli - I was browsing pinterest….eating cookies….
Freaky…. Yikes.

Lori Austin - I envy your cleaning frenzy. Dragging my feet here. :-/
Comfy on the couch in my jammies with the husband snoring in his
chair. We are living it up this New Year’s. Ha!
Happy New Year Meg!!

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gingerbread house 2011

December 29, 2011 Filed in christmas,crafts & art

i forgot to share these!

my friend GB makes gingerbread houses that you can purchase.

i tend to burn things…..
i do.
and i thought if i wanted a memory of the house with the kids….
it would be best if i don't try to bake it AND cut it AND decorate it.

so i asked GB for a big house that i could decorate with my family.

IMG_4849-1

IMG_4853-3

IMG_4859-4
the three youngest were the only ones who wanted to help.
no surprise there.

everyone got one side ….. and me too.

🙂

IMG_4863-5

IMG_4881-7

IMG_4871-6
that was my side….. i like candy.
it's fun to craft with.

and snack on too. 

IMG_4963-1
talby covered the roof with fish and gumdrops.

IMG_4966-2
sean covered his roof with licorice and wrote fish in fish.
so funny.

so sean.

and i didn't get a picture of annie's side.
???

i just missed it.

i know it's past christmas….
BUT
if you would like a gingerbread house made by my friend GB to decorate with your kids over the school break
send me an email and i will get you her contact info.

 

 

add a comment

Kristopher Diss - I didn’t know gumdrops and fish candy can make great shingles! The licorice twists certainly would ensure a water-free interior! Great and creative bonding experience with the kids!

crystal beutler - If you were to ask my kids about their favorite Christmas memory, this would be it — making gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. We do it every year — except this year. This year it was about the Christmas lamp, and a hotel. 🙁 They were mad at me.
I’d have to say this is one of my favorite memories too — of my dad, and my grandma.
You can never go wrong with a gingerbread house.
Yours turned out really cool!
P.S. If you tend to burn things, try building houses out of sugar cubes. Super fun, but not as fun as gingerbread. 🙂

Three-generations.blogspot.com - OMG!!!! I love your gingerbread house!!! so bright and colorful!! the swedish fish are a cute touch! 🙂

Sharla - Love the snowmen too 🙂

Jessica Johnson - #1. i want a friend that makes gingerbread houses. #2. can’t WAIT to see you in just a few weeks!!!!

Kacy - Cute gingerbread house! I just wanted to say that I love your blog!!! You’ve inspired me to be crafter (is that a word?) with my kids and start my own blog (kacyseveryday.wordpress.com). Have a great new year!!

julie - merry (belated) christmas! for christmas dinner i made your chicken enchiladas and served your mom’s margaritas to the adults. for dessert i made pam’s delicious cheesecake. YUM-O! on new year’s eve i am making your artichoke dip and for the second year in a row, rainbow cake. i cannot wait! thanks for sharing all of your wonderful recipes in blogland!

Amy @ www.littleforalittlewhile.blogspot.com - That is one sweet gingerbread house! Beat ours for sure, although ours was decorated by a three year old, so that can be pretty sweet too 🙂 Great pics!

Ryanne - Talby is very talented. All of the things she creates seem to be very pleasing to the eye. Her crafts are always my favorites.

Ruth H. - If you tend to burn things, don’t feel bad. Every time I burn something, I think back to one of my all-time favorite movies, the original, black and white Sabrina (with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart). There’s this line, where one of Sabrina’s fellow students at cooking school tells her in his charming french accent, “A woman who is happy in love, she burn the food. But, a woman who is unhappy in love, she forget to turn the oven on.” See? It’s all because you are happily in love! Congratulations!

Laura Phelps - this was the year I was going to make a huge gb house from scratch.
oh well.
next year maybe.
sean kills me.
love that kid.

Chrissy Boerman - i love how much candy you put on your house very festive

Lori Austin - Love the big house. Turned out so cute.
We did the graham cracker village. I actually hot glued the houses together and then gave each of my kiddos a ziploc full of icing to cover them with candy. Worked out great.
I can’t bake gingerbread either – just not happening.
Btw, I introduced a friend to your blog over Christmas break and she is now addicted. Your welcome. 😉
Happy New Year!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Last year was the first year that I thought to make one with my girls. We bought a kit on super sale from Michaels and went to town. The girls loved it and were begging for one this year which we never got around to doing.
Then on Pinterest or a blog(cant remember which) I saw someone making one with their kids…an entire village actually using graham crackers! Yes, much smaller scale but way more likely to get made in this house:)
And I just have to comment how much I love all of your red bowls. Theyre so fun & festive! I have a set of red dishes from my grandmother(whom I never met) and theyre really special to me.

Valerie Ransom - I love that! So sweet. We made a tiny one with our 2 year old today – I had to resist the twitches that came from the insane icing amounts being dolloped on! It turned out great, though!

Alicia @ La Famille - so fun! i want to eat those swedish fish. bad!!

Leah - This looks awesome! Was hoping you’d have a gingerbread house post this winter. I did the same thing last week – that is bought the house pre-assembled and we decorated it. Here’s the post that chronicles our house: http://leahsthoughts.com/2011/12/23/the-house-that-sugar-built/

Trish - my mom made a gingerbread house replica of her big old house. it was so cool and so fun!

Holly - very cool!

Tere - I love this tradition. Would you share your camera setting for such bright pictures in your home. I’m assuming it was at night. Much thanks!!

karen gerstenberger - If I lived nearby, I would love to do that…but my kiddo is too old to participate. I’m glad that your three youngest still enjoyed it with you!
Happy New Year to you and your family!

happygirl - I’ve never done a gingerbread house. It looks like so much fun. I just can’t bake, so it’s never happened. LOVE the licorice roof. I’ve never seen those colors of licorice. 🙂

Terrie - Never made a Gingerbread house in my life…
I feel very deprived!!
Must do this with my Grandson one day!

Quin - Oh boy, Sean’s fish side is too funny… Looks like you guys had fun!

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