A Bit of Spring...

I am so ready for Spring.  Even though it has not been a bitter cold winter like last year, I find myself ready for warmth, gardening, dinner on the patio, longer days, and all of the wonderful things that come with Spring.

I picked these tulips up at the market to add a bit of Spring to our home and they did just that.

Tulips are one of my favorite flowers.  I love that they are so fun and whimsical.

Just a few vases around the house remind me that Spring is right around the corner.

This Moment

A moment from the week.

Joining in on Amanda's this moment project at soulemama.com

One of my favorite finds...

I found this lovely little piece of artwork while my husband and I were vacationing in Laguna Beach a few years ago.  We stumbled across a wonderful antique shop (that I unfortunately do not remember the name of).  I walked in and saw this hanging on the wall and knew it was coming home with me.  It's such a versatile piece.  It's been in my kitchen, powder room, and now my entryway.  Every time I look at it I think of our wonderful trip.  Such a special find!

This Moment

A moment from the week.

Joining in on Amanda's this moment project at soulemama.com.  Thanks Amber, at lifeincolorphoto.com for inspiring me!  I am looking forward to starting this weekly project.

Chicken in Herb Butter

A few nights ago, I made this awesome chicken dish for dinner.  It is very simple to make and only includes a handful of ingredients.  This is a wonderful twist on ordinary chicken.  The herbs add such freshness and flavor to this dish.

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts pounded to about 1/4" to 1/2" in thickness and cut into fours

All purpose flour

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 cup white wine

1 cup mushrooms ( I used baby bella mushrooms)

fresh mint and parsley, about 1 tbsp. each

2 tbsp. butter

splash of lemon juice

Sautee mushrooms in 1 tbsp. butter.  Set aside.

Coat each piece of chicken in flour and top with salt and pepper.  Heat oil over medium heat. Cook chicken about five minutes on each side until brown.  Remove chicken from pan and deglaze with wine.  Add 1 tbsp. butter, mushrooms, herbs and chicken.  Simmer for a few minutes.  Add a plash of lemon juice and serve over angle hair pasta or thin spaghetti.

Serves: 4

Charlotte's Artwork

I have been on the lookout for a piece of artwork to go in Charlotte's bathroom.  I found a few things that I liked, but did not love.  Last week I was sorting through a basket of Charlotte's art and thought why not frame a few pieces for her bathroom.  So on a mission I went in search of the perfect frames and found these at IKEA.  They are perfect and were very inexpensive.  I love how they turned out.  Charlotte is a talented little girl.  She is so proud of her art and I am so proud of her.  They really complete this room.     

 The rug is Pottery Barn Kids from last summer.  The paint is by Behr color-Corn Husk Green and I love it.  It is the perfect green.

Random post...

Happy New Year friends!  This is going to be a very random sort of all over the place post.  I have found myself to be very busy this first week of the New Year.  Nothing really in particular, just the normal day-to-day stuff like being a Mom to a very active (almost) three year old whom I love and would not trade for anything in the world.

  I am starting to collect ideas for my daughter's upcoming birthday party in March.  Also we want to get her in a big girl bed (hopefully) by her birthday.  I purchased adorable pink and white polka dot sheets at PB Kids yesterday.  The quilt I plan to us has to be ordered through the catalog.  I am going to have a simple headboard made and slipcovered.  I think I have enough leftover fabric from her crib bedding for a bedskirt.  Very exciting!   I am always up for a new design project.

  I am going to list a few goals I have set for myself for 2012.  Hopefully, I will follow through with at least a few of them.

1.  Get really serious about loosing some of this baby weight I have been carrying around for the last few years.  I need to loose twenty pounds to get back to my pre pregnancy weight.  At this point I would be happy to lose five or ten pounds.

2.  Exercise more, a lot more!  Start walking three times a week.

3.  Sign my daughter up for either a ballet or gymnastic class or both.  She is home with me everyday.  She is not in a Mother's Morning Out program.  I think this would be good for her. 

4.  We plan to homeschool Charlotte and hopefully it goes well and we can continue.  We are going to let Charlotte lead the way.  So I need to really get busy with this.  I want to start pre-schooling her this Fall.

5.  Try to be a bit more laid back.  About my house, Charlotte, really just life in general.  Wish I were more of a go with the flow kind of person.  Need to work on this.

6.  Hire a babysitter now and then so my husband and I can have more date nights.  This is really important and we do not have nearly enough of them.  I find myself really missing time with just the two of us.  Our family of three is very important to us, we love spending time together, but I do need to carve out a few nights a month for just us two.  

7.  Eat more fruit for snacks instead of cookies.  Go back to eating oatmeal for breakfast at a normal breakfast time, instead of a cereal bar at 11:00 am.

8.  Be more of a patient person.

9.  Be crafty and create something, like a simple Valentine garland.  

10.  Get more creative with my cooking. I feel that we eat the same thing all the time.  Find new recipes.  Any suggestions??

 I always like to include a few photos.  Charlotte watched this sweet ladybug for at least an hour a few days ago.

Charlotte hanging out with our dog Bandit.  I told you this was going to be a random post!

I am working on an art project in Charlotte's bathroom and will share photos next week.

Have a great weekend!