{dining room update}

Remember awhile back when I blogged about our dining room and the awkward space next to our fireplace that I couldn't figure out how to fill?

Yep...it looked something like that. Of course that was before we removed the fireplace doors and gave the mantel, hearth and brick a fresh coat of white paint.

Well guess what friends? I finally figured out what to add to that awkward little corner...and it is making me smile big time.

I bought Dan a record player for Christmas, and when I saw Elsie's cute record player corner, I knew right away what I wanted to do...

I've had this vintage typewriter table for years...it was a $12 antique shop find. And it is absolutely perfect for the record player. The little shelf is so great for storing our records, and the table is one of my favorite pieces to begin with, so I just love how this little nook has turned out.

The artwork is a free printable you can find here.

And here is the mantel in its current January/Valentine's Day state...

I didn't go overboard with the Valentine's decor, but I did add a cute crocheted heart garland. The hearts are from my friend Jaime's shop Raising Up Rubies.

Hopefully this spring we will finally get this room painted, hang some curtains, and do some much needed work to the kitchen. Always a work in progress. :)

Linking up with...

{cultivating creativity}

It is a very rare occassion that I get to spend one-on-one time with my boys.

Don't get me wrong, I love being with both of them, but the rare moment when it is just me + Ben or me + Landon is really special.

Last night, Dan needed to go to the grocery and Landon wanted to go, but Ben wanted to stay home, so I had over an hour of really special bonding time with my Benny.

What was the first thing he wanted to do? Break out his new water color set. Of course this put a HUGE smile on my face because any time I see the boys' creativity come out it makes me so proud and excited that they want to make things.  

I don't know where they get this from. *wink*

This was the first time Ben had painted with water colors but he was a pro from the first stroke of the brush.

He cranked out at least five paintings and each one was unique and beautiful. I got tears in my eyes as I watched his little hand dip the brush in the water, and then carefully in each individual pot of color.

He described what he was painting to me as he went along...."this is a rainbow Mom"..."this is a brachiosauraus!"..."It is fantastic!"

He was so thoughtful about his brush strokes and how he mixed the colors. I don't think I've loved a moment alone with him more than watching him paint last night. I could see the pride in his little eyes as I told him what a great painter he was, and how much I loved his creations.

Isn't that one of our most important jobs as parents? Cultivating our children's talents? Encouraging them...praising them...planting a seed of "you are great at that!" in their little minds? I know that I wouldn't be the almost fearless creator I am now if my parents hadn't done the same thing with me.

I can't wait to grab a few pictures frames and display his masterpieces in the house. You can't put a price on this kind of art.

{pinterest picks}

If you are like me, you have pinned dozens and dozens, {OK...2,491 to be exact} ideas on Pinterest. But how often do you go back and look through all of them? Me...not so much.

So I decided to pick one of my boards, look through all of the lovely pins, and share my top picks...to inspire myself and hopefully offer up some inspiration your way as well.

Today I've chosen my Kitchen Dreams board. Because, well, I'm dreaming of a new kitchen.

The mix of the modern cabinets, white counter, and cool greens in this kitchen make me swoon...

Source: housetohome.co.uk via Mandy on Pinterest

I love the pop of orange in this space mixed with the natural wood counters...

Source: bhg.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Who wouldn't love to have this cute coffee station in a corner of their kitchen?

Source: thecreamtomycoffee.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Layla and Kevin from The Lettered Cottage kill me with this chalkboard wall...

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Mandy on Pinterest

I love the absence of upper cabinets in this space...

Source: lonnymag.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Brick wall + open shelving + chalkboard sliding door = shut up!

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Mandy on Pinterest

So what do you think? Could I get away with adding a brick wall, chalkboard door, open shelves and a coffee station to my kitchen? Yeah...I know...that would probably be *a bit* too much. :)

Which one of these spaces is your favorite?

{instagram friday}

So I'm looking forward to this weekend for a few reasons...

1. Movie night tonight with my boys. I look forward to this every.week.
2. Crafting day tomorrow with some of the most fun girls in the world. My December Daily will be ressurected AND completed. *fingers crossed*
3. During said craft day my parents are taking the boys out, which means some free time for the hubs, which he really needs.
4. And its the weekend...what else needs to be said really. :)

And of course since it is Friday, I'm linking up with Life Rearranged for another fun Insta-Friday...



But before I get to that, can I shamelessly ask for your vote in the Circle of Mom's Top 25 Fashion and Beauty Mom Blogs contest? Right now I'm hovering at #16 and there is some really amazing competition. You can vote once a day through January 23rd...just click the cute little logo below!


OK...now that I've got the self-promotion out of the way let's take a peek at my past week through my little phone camera, shall we? :)

On Saturday I finally got all of our Christmas decorations put away and pulled out my trusty chevron canvas for the mantel. I took to Instagram to ask for my friends' opinions on how I should arrange it...

#2 won but just barely!

I always love watching my mother-in-law read to the boys...it really is magical...

I shared my DIY one little word necklace...

And I'll be sharing an easy tutorial with a giveaway soon!

Scored some really lovely and super comfortable Lucky Brand skinny cords at TJ Maxx...

Enjoyed some fun fashiony reading thanks to my friend Sara from Simply Swank...

Watched a little Wii golf tournament...Ben chose to go sans pants...the best way to play, right?

The hubby and I had a date night Wednesday and after dinner I couldn't resist going into this place...

And I'm glad I did because they were having a huge sale...I snagged a pair of light grey skinnies for $7!

And then that night I got on this thing to make sure those skinnies will still fit me!

But then I ate a bunch of these so now I need to get on the treadmill again...

I added a bit of Valentine's Day cheer to our dining room...

And learned an important lesson from my chocolate...

What did your week look like?

Also linking up with...

{Christmas recap}

I know...I know...I'm SO late with this.

But as usual, things have been a bit crazy around here. Lots of fun things coming up on the blog {including a few giveaways!}, work is super busy, and I've been very preoccupied, so I totally forgot to post Christmas pictures.

So this is either for those of you that love lots of pics of kids unwrapping presents, or it is just for my sake. :)

Either way...here we go...

Opening gifts with Aunt Erica, Uncle Eric and their new baby Aubrey...

Aubrey in her new hat from Aunt Mandy...

On Christmas Eve we let the boys open their gifts to each other {wrapped in paper they decorated...so cute} and of course put out some cookies for Santa...

Why yes...Dracula DOES celebrate Christmas ;)

Blurry shot of Ben's new Chuggington trains.

And Landon got a nutcracker...just what he wanted. :)

Super blurry brother hug!

This is the first year that the boys bought presents for each other, and it was one of my absolute favorite memories.

The boys put out cookies and milk for Santa and contemplated what he would be bringing them...

Then once they were in bed...in 5 minutes no less!...we put the rest of the presents out and took it easy...

I had a lot of fun using washi tape on the gift tags this year...

Christmas morning... {zero pics of the hubs and I because we were both super sick}

I put this Star Wars Angry Birds game together for Ben about eleventy bajillion times...

Finally by Friday and Saturday were were all better and were able to celebrate with my parents and the hubby's family...

The boys got a Melissa and Doug castle block set, and some magnetic blocks...I love watching them use their imaginations to create. And yes...they do live in their pj's some days. They absolutely LOVE these footies. :)

Mom and Dad with their gifts...

My hubby always gives the best gift faces :)

Loved watching my Dad build castles with the boys...the best memories.

Christmas at Mom #2's house...

Triple trouble...and the boys are in real clothes! ;)

Lots of owl goodness for me...

I was really spoiled this year. My family GETS me. :)

Landon got a mixer, blender and toaster from Gigi...someone is going to follow in his daddy's cooking footsteps...

And Ben received the highly coveted Millenium Falcon...or as Landon likes to call it, the "American Falcon"...

It was a really wonderful Christmas. Despite the stomach bug. Really. I mean Christmas Day was dreadful. I haven't cried for my Mom like that in a long time. It just wasn't what Christmas Day should be. But then when we all felt better and were able to truly celebrate, it was even better than if we hadn't been sick. Not that I am glad we got sick. You know what I mean. Having rough days like that makes you even more appreciative for the blessings in your life. And oh how blessed we are. 

Did you make it to the end?

If so, you deserve a prize. Come back tomorrow and I'll have a chance for you to win one...seriously! :)