Category: home

I Scream, You Scream…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay9 Comments
Confession: Chw and I have picked up a hobby… 
While we have entertained the thought of ballroom dancing classes and woodworking ventures we settled on a hobby which reaps truly wonderful benefits… 
We’ve become quite good at ice cream making… Our latest venture was a Blackberry Swirl and it was BY FAR our favorite… SOOOO good! 

Our other deliciousness has included: 
Strawberry Chunk
Vanilla Chocolate Chip
Thin Mints ‘n’ Cream
Cookies ‘n’ Cream
Now that we’ve got the hang of it (and have made the above concoctions more than once) We’re branching out. 
Coming Soon: 
Strawberry Covered Chocolate Chunk 
Smores
White Chocolate Raspberry
What else should we try? 
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My moments…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay6 Comments
The Homeschool Mother's Journal


In my life this week…

A lovely day date with my husband, to celebrate our 17th anniversary. We had so much fun doing the simplest of things like talking, dreaming, boutique browsing, brunch, frozen yogurt, going to the movies, lots of walking, fresh roasted peanuts and sharing a crepe from a local creperie. Just lovely… 


Skyped with Lucas on Sunday which was probably the BEST Mom moment of the week!

I also started a new writing project. I’m not sure, at the time, whether this will be something that is going to be bigger than “just something I need to write, right now” or not. At any rate, it’s a mixed bag of emotions penning it out… 
In our homeschool this week…
We are so close to the end of the school year that our energy is electric. (yep, this is in between the bouts of fits, back talking and whining…) We are already wrapping up a couple of subjects that she’s ahead in (Literature and Language Arts) which frees up more time for the others, and will hopefully lead to being done (for summer) by the third week of May. 
We are studying the weather which means we’ve got to do lots of fun projects. Some of them we’ve done before but it’s fun seeing it all through this stage in Gen’s learning. 


We took a “field” trip to see Soul Surfer. If i set all acting/production criticisms aside I can say I honestly loved it. My little book worm loves the story so I ordered a copy of Bethany’s book for Gen’s Easter Basket. Nothing like the last minute… 
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
this weekend we have our sweet little (turning 5 year old) friend’s birthday party! I am hoping to take some great shots because I think it will be divine! We also have a trip to the Theatre to see Hairspray– which we are SUPER excited about! 
My favorite thing this week was…
I have taken to capturing mental snapshots of moments. It’s my new goal to be super aware, or something. Anyway, we buy our milk from a dairy a couple hours outside of here. When the farmer’s market is closed for season we have our produce delivered through a local organic company that couples with this dairy to deliver milk too. When it’s farmer’s market season though- we have to buy this milk from a local shop. Wednesday Gen and I went in to said shop (which is incidentally an Antique Mall) to buy some milk so we could make fresh ice cream. There I stood, at their old fashioned counter, paying for my glass bottle of milk while Genny was choosing which sort of old fashioned candy stick she wanted. I felt like we’d stepped right through a portal. It was awesome. Then the woman handed me my bank card and latte (see how i failed to mention they also deal in espresso??? ;) ) and my little antique moment was shattered… 

What’s working/not working for us…
this weather… oh my gosh. Rain (and clouds) seriously- GO AWAY! We need vitamin d and sunshine. (and my head needs a break in this barometric pressure!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

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Dear Diary…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay5 Comments
This week I have spent far more time in the kitchen then usual. Part of this is that we are needing to do school in here, for now, so it’s been easier to do kitchen type things… 
But- I confess mostly it’s to stay busy. I’ve baked, I’ve created, I’ve scrubbed and deep cleaned… I’ve organized. While my husband is cheering me on while happily filling his belly, my kitchen is likely wondering what has gotten into me… 
I miss Lucas. It’s not even like I’m used to seeing him all of the time- but still having him state side meant he was “reachable”… Now that he’s gone all international- Army style- well, he feels so unreachable. 
I also, in the spirit of full disclosure, have to admit that this is pretty much a personal issue- in my head- because we’ve been skyping, talking on the phone and emailing. I’ve been able to hear his voice pretty much every day. I’m just super sensitive. 
On that note- I’m really working on not worrying. It feels like a good plan. Often times I day dream about what such a peaceful life would be. at any rate, it’s a goal. 
My favorite moments of this week were family photos because i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it when my kids are with me…{ I used to think my love language was gifts, but now I’m thinking it’s quality time…}
Saddest moment was, of course, taking Lucas to the airport… kinda hated that moment.
Over all it was a pretty ho-hum week. I am really looking forward to:
–  a date, tomorrow, with my husband. CAN NOT WAIT! I feel like our “quality alone” time has depleted to almost nothing. 
– getting a massage. 
– book club.
– Sunshine… (i have faith!) 
What were your best moments, this week? What are you looking forward to?
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Coming to you, from this EXACT location…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay3 Comments
Since I’m showing you a couple of recent projects, along with a peek into our home, I thought I’d show you the room where we pretty much live- next… 
We don’t even know what to call it… It’s just become upstairs… 
Possibly because it’s the only room we have, on our second floor. Even more so though, I think because it has no real name. It’s sort of everything. 
Lucas is home, he bunks upstairs with ESPN keeping him company. 
In the evenings, after Gen’s in bed, Chw and I snuggle upstairs to watch movies, catch up on the tivo or play the wii. 
In the daytime Gen and I are upstairs doing school. 
When I write, whenever that may be- it is my fortress of creativity. 
On the days/evenings Chw works from home- it’s where he is. 
Most days, when I do my quiet time, I am here… 
It is our everything room… Our family room, our school room, our work office, home office, library and so much more… 
 We just redid this chair because we needed one upstairs. 
I am IN LOVE with it… 

 {yes, I realize the BRIGHT green ball doesn’t really accomodate my crafted black, white and harvest yellow room… but it’s so darn addictive to use… and it has no home- just floats around.}

 I seriously love this room… And really, the pictures make me kind of cringe. It’s WAYYY better in person! 
Well… 
Except for this dusty little corner… 

 But, it’s his little world… he loves his corner, and it’s pretty cool on evenings when we are both working because our desks L each other and we get to be there together… 
Lastly, (which was finished AFTER I did these pictures) He refinished a sister chair (matches the one in the beginning of the post- except without arms) for my desk. It’s a bright, school bus yellow (to match everything else) and absolutely cushy heaven for sitting at my desk. I LOVE it! 
In fact, it isn’t even my husband at all, who is responsible for these beautiful chairs adorning my family’s creative space… It is my incredibly gorgeous friend who gifted us with such beautiful pieces!  
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A glimpse of Gen’s world…

Published on by Mae @ Rainydayinmay5 Comments
While I think, dream and obsess over things like household projects, interior design styles, etc- my daughter does the same over fashion design and apparel. It’s really cute, and it’s been a consistently growing thing for a couple of years now. In fact, this time last year we were planning a big “redecorate” fest for her much larger bedroom. Such things as gloriously upholstered dress forms, etc- were in the works. Unfortunately, reality dialed our number and highlighted our awareness to the fact that with said big room came much responsibility and extreme privacy that Gen’s judgement really wasn’t suited for… It all worked out, but it was sad. 
Mostly it was my interior design dreams which took a bruising. Genny’s dad, my abundantly awesome Chw, was so upset over every ugly detail that transpired- that he ixnayed every possible idea of anything cool happening to her room- new small bedroom or huge old bedroom- and sadness prevailed in our little lady kingdom… 
As time passed, I was able to talk him into a few things here and there. We’d already purchased non-refundable bedding, for example… which did NOT go with the lilac paint. (the trim on the bedding is this beet color that the walls are now) So yeah, it’s been more of a work in progress… 
With no room for a dress form, which could be THE saddest fact of all… 
At any rate, one day as I was taking photos of my office (old big bedroom), Gen told me that she LOVES her room and asked me to take pictures of it. She’s so proud of it… In all of it’s tininess… 
So, I thought I’d share… 
 the actual “theme” of the room is Paris… though, she has a few random “tween” like elements which I anally feel through the whole theme off… At any rate-
– the walls are “beet” in color. 
-The picture to the left is actually a print with a collection of Vintage Couture covers… Very cool…
-The picture to the right is a collage frame that her brother and sister gave her for Christmas. It’s an awesome collection of photos of them together, since she’s been a part of our family. 
– ugly pink thing at the foot of her bed is an ugly, god-awful pillow with stupid skulls and cross bones on it. Please ignore it… 
, 
 – please note the pantless American Girl dolls on the top shelf of her book shelf… *sigh*
– if her room were to have a second theme, it would be how much Genny adores her big brother Lucas. She has a picture of the two of them on her nightstand, one on her vanity, one on her dresser, another photo of him on her vanity- and this is in addition to the ones in that collage frame… 
– note- on her closet door, photo booth strips… of her and her brother. Geesh…

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