FLOR

I found FLOR in a design magazine a while ago and then recently found them in a little store in our village. I think they are so cool. Each rug is made of carpet tiles assmbled together. They are green, completely washable, and have neat names like Toy Poodle, House Pet, Shaggy Sheep, Stampede, and many more. They appeal to me becasue this concept makes perfect sense for a playroom or other high traffic areas of a house. I love the idea that I can remove a tile to wash it, or completely replace it. The cost is anywhere form $8 to $25 per tile. I am thinking about the Toy Poodle in Fluffy Fuschia and Go Fetch Green for our playroom, but it is so hard to decide. I love the soft Botanical Bue for our bedroom. Right now I have samples from the store strewn about our house. BP and BB have been playing with them all afternoon. I picked a few of my favorites to show above, but check out http://www.flor.com/ if this concept appeals to you also. (They also have a well organized catalog you can order.)

Lentil Letters

Here is BP is practicing her lower case letters. I was remembering all my secret teacher weapons for learning.

She had fun forming her letters in a tray of lentils. We were out of rice and I am afraid to use shaving cream inside. We will try shaving cream outside when it warms up a little bit.

Craft Project: Spring Banner

This fabric banner is my next project. I found it in Country Living at least a year ago. I tore it out and have been saving it since. I am going to attempt to make this banner for the playroom. I don't want to cover the windows with heavy, formal curtains in any of the rooms of our new house. My reason? #1 because it just is not a formal type of home, and as soon as you hang something and start dressing a window, it makes the room and the home look formal. #2 because it would kill me to block the views from each window. So I think this fabric banner would look so cute in our playroom. It is fun and unique and perfect for a playroom. It also has a bird motif stamped on some of the flags, which with luck I will be able to recreate for the subtle bird theme we already have going on in the room. Wish me luck and I promise to let you know how it turns out. Oh, and if you have any other bird theme ideas please, please share!

Crewcuts Headband

Large pink flower headband $16.50 from Crew Cuts.

Craft Project: Headbands

My girls were not blessed with fast growing, long, luxurious locks. Someday maybe, but for now we LOVE headbands! BP wears them all the time and now BB, who learns so much from her big sis, does too. Yesterday we made six new headbands. I have to give all the credit for this project to my friend Allison who inspired me to do it and also to Design Mom, another blog, which is where Allison first saw the idea.

This was simple, fun, and easy. Oh and did I say simple? So, so simple!

All you need is a glue gun, ribbon, headbands, and something pretty to adorn the headband.

I bought a package of three Goody headbands for $3

Then I wrapped the ribbon, starting from each side and meeting in the middle. I recommend satin or gross-grain ribbon. I used the hot glue just at the ends of the headband to attach the ribbon, not as I wrapped it.

Next attach the flower or button by looking in the mirror or using your child as a model.

I liked the headbands more when the decoration was off center a little.

And that is all there is to it.

Crewcuts, J.Crew's children's line is selling very similar headbands for $16.50. It cost us less than that to make six of them!

Our New Neighbors

Aren't they cute? I think they are called Scottish Highlanders, but I am not positive. They are very furry and looked at me like I was insane when I tried to climb the snow bank to take their picture. So did BB, as she sat mooing in the back seat of my car. Their expression says it all. They are like, "Oh boy, we've got a nutter living up the road." I think these guys will be nice neighbors. Although I thought I saw the white one smirk when I almost lost my balance and fell face first into the snow. Looking forward to warmer weather when we can walk down and visit them.

Sunday Funday

On Sunday our friends braved the snow storm and came for a visit. I give them a lot of credit. I always knew they were adventurous, but they really impressed me this time. The roads were snow covered and slippery. Not to mention our road and our driveway had yet to be plowed. We met them for breakfast in our little village and then came back to our house to catch up and sleigh ride. My friend Jenny (mom to Buby and Bleu, pictured above) is a much better photographer, so I borrowed some pictures from her blog. She is always camera ready and I can never seem to juggle 30 lbs. of BB and get my camera out safely, especially in the snow. Here are all the little snow bunnies enjoying the 10 inches of fresh powder that surprised us on Sunday. Buby and BP were all smiles while speeding down the hill.

Oh, and the top pic I think is our road? Jenny, is it? I love this shot!

Tonight I Love...

1. The sunset I saw outside my kitchen window while making dinner.

2. Breakfast for dinner. We had pancakes with REAL maple syrup and fresh fruit. Delicious!

3. Catching BP and BB playing together. (Now that BB is a little older this has been happening more often.) BP was the teacher and BB was the student, and BB was actually listening and following directions.

4. LAUNDRY. We got our new washer and dryer and they are installed (Thanks Matt and Nicole). I am on my seventh load for today. I am in heaven!

5. The smell of two freshly bathed babies as I rocked and snuggled them to sleep tonight.

6. The beep of my phone as my sweetheart texted me that he is on his way home. He had a late night tonight.

January Day...

These yellow tulips make today, a very frigid cold January day, a little brighter. We woke up this morning to a fresh coating of fluffy snow. From the window it looks beautiful outside, but one step out the door and it is a different story. It is very chilly here!

The Dollar House

Santa brought The Barefoot Princess a green dollhouse, or I mean "dollarhouse" as BP says, to match her new green house. Santa knew she would like it and it would be a special gift. Inside the dollhouse lives a fox family. BP is a huge fan of foxes. She talks about them all the time. So instead of a human family Santa also knew she would adore the little fox family of six. The "dollar house" is in her room where she plays with it and even lets her little sister play too.

Her Prince

BP calls him her Prince and she ADORES him. Hey, who am I kidding, we ALL do!!!

We are three very lucky girls to live with this amazing guy.

I love these pictures of BP and her Daddy just chilling this past weekend.

WW Cookbook

This Weight Watchers All-Time Favorites cookbook has been a great resource for us. Amazon has it for about $20. Every recipe we have tried so far has been a success. Highly recommended!

Pie Safe

I think the proper name is a pie safe and it is the one on the right. I want to thank Cynthia for it. It was a Christmas present from her. BP "borrowed it" (her exact words) because "it is just the right size for Kit's kitchen." She told me this as she dragged me into the dining room and showed me so I could see with my own eyes. She was exactly right. The two pieces couldn't have been a better match if we had actually tried. So Aunt Cynthia, BP and Kit thank you also for the present.

Fun in the Snow

Our neighbors house. Isn't it pretty?

Making snow angels

Our sledding hill

BP and BB having appetizers before dinner on Sunday. They can NEVER, EVER wait to eat. They always act like they are starving, so we have to have our meals in steps. Oh, and how could I forget Bitty, who BP has renamed Claribel, and BB's baby, who is nameless for now.

Cinnamon S'Mores

Yes, S'mores!!! I had to blink twice when I saw this recipe in the Weight Watchers booklet. When all is said and done this desert comes very close to the campfire favorite.

Preheat oven to 425 F

Take two graham crackers (4 rectangles in each)

Break crackers in half so you are making two sandwiches

Spread marshmallow fluff on one side of each sandwich

Sprinkle with chocolate chips and cinnamon (the secret ingredient)

Wrap individually in foil

Bake in oven for about 4 minutes or until hot and gooey

Open packaages carefully and enjoy!

Point Value= 3

Avocado Swiss Melt

Oh how I love this sandwich! The smooth nutty avocado mixed with the sharp bite of the Swiss and the crunch of the fresh veggies. It is heavenly!

This recipe also began its life as a Weight Watchers recipe, but I altered it a little bit. There are so many variations you could do with this. This is for those who are a fan of grilled cheese, but want to shake things up a little bit.

Take two slices of whole wheat bread
Spread low fat mayo on them
Add once slice of low fat Swiss
Then add 1/4 of an avocado sliced thin
Next add shredded carrots
Sprinkle some alfalfa sprouts
Spray a non-stick skillet with Pam and put the sandwich in
Cover and wait a minute or two
Then flip and watch for the Swiss to melt and the yumminess to be ready

You can also use cucumbers, tomatoes, or even turkey bacon. The possibilities are endless.
I think that is why I love Weight Watchers. The food is so delicious and you can be creative. For me eating and food is a lot about color and presentation as well as taste. I love the fresh veggies and fruits in the recipes and the variety of spices and seasonings used too.

Points Value: 4 points
Note: Turkey Bacon would add and additional 2 points

Cous-Cous Dinner in a Pot

This was originally a Weight Watchers recipe that I altered a little to suit the needs of The Barefoot Family. I highly recommend it. It is quick, like five minutes, tasty, and very healthy.

I bring a cup of orange juice (any kind), two tablespoons of EVOO, and the cous-cous seasoning mix (optional) to a boil in a sauce pan
Then add the cous-cous (one box store bought), stir, and remove from heat
Also add a handful of craisins, yellow raisins, slivered almonds, and 1 cup of roasted chicken breast (I recommend the kind you buy right in the store, it's easy and saves so much time), stir all ingredients together, and cover with lid
Let the ingredients sit for five minutes and then fluff everything with a fork
Grate fresh Parmigiano Reggiano on top and ta-da (as BP would say) you have a healthy, delicious meal in no time at all.

You can also add green onions sliced very thin for extra flavor and color


My girls love this dish and I know when they are whiny and starving which happens quite often, you should be in our house at around 5:00, this is my best bet for dinner.


EVOO= Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Points Value= 6 points + chicken add 2 points (for anyone who cares about points)

A Peek...

at BB's new room. Also a work in progress. (We have been very hesitant to put a whole in the walls.)

New Room...New Bed

Here is BP's new room and new bed. When the room was completely empty she asked if her bed could go in the middle of the room and under the window. She also asked for a metal bed. (I think because Kit Kittredge has a metal bed.) She has the design thing going on at an early age because it looks really good and the openess of the metal headboard does not block the view out the window. We added a stuffed chair from IKEA (love the price and the replaceable slipcover) and now she just needs a dresser. BP's room looked kind of empty when we first moved. All of her old furniture was inherited by BB. She needs the changing table and rocker / glider and BP, who has changed into a little lady before our eyes, no longer needed those pieces of furniture. It was time for a change for BP and a more grown up look for her room. It is still a work in progress...pictures to hang, etc.. but I think it looks really cute.

Hope this makes you laugh like it does us!
Can you see this in her senior yearbook someday?

Worth the Wait

I have decided not to post any pictures of our new house. It's just not us to do that. And besides I want everyone to come visit us and see our little piece of heaven on a big mountain. We are pretty much unpacked and we have been comfortable since our first night. I am so comfortable that I never want to leave "my mountain". My sweet husband actually said to me this morning, "Your car is right there (pointing out the kitchen window) do you want me to show you how to turn it on?" I had to take BP to shcool this morning and run some errands with BB. I laughed at him and said, "No, I should be ok, but you could clean the snow off for me." We all are amazed by how fast our new house became a HOME!

The above picture I took from the front porch as the sun rose this morning. I can walk around the house and look out each window and take in a breathtaking view. Mountains, valleys, farms, deer, wild turkeys, and the other day I saw my first ever bald eagle. We watch the sun rise, the sun set, the storms blow in, the storms blow out, the fog roll in, the fog roll out. It is all so different from on top of a mountain. Oh, and I cannot forget to mention the wind. Wow, do we have some crazy wind up here! I saw the listing agent in the grocery store just an hour ago. He lives across the hill from us and he said, "Are you getting used to the wind yet?" When I laughed he quickly added, "even on the hottest day in July there will be a beautiful breeze". Well that is a pleasant and reassuring thought. The one good thing with the wind is that it blows all the snow off the mountain and we never seem to have as much snow as everyone else. I just cannot put BB down outside or she will also blow away!

Our new home was definitely worth the wait!

Catching Up

I have been a total blog slacker. I apologize. I am very sorry. My excuse, besides the craziness of our move, is that my camera battery died and I could not remember where I packed the charger. I found it today in one of the last few boxes that needed to be unpacked. I was determined after looking on canon.com and seeing the price of a new charger. Anyway, here are two of my favorite pictures from Christmas. I wish I had more, but my camera battery died Christmas morning. That will teach me to have a back-up battery.