Hard at work.... Back this Summer! 

Craving a Taste of Mexico

One of the best things about growing up in California, for me, was authentic Mexican food. Whether it was fine Mexican cuisine or a quick lunch from a taco stand, something about it has always appealed to me... {tequila too!}

I'm shocked to learn how few people over here really know and enjoy Mexican food. It's so much more than rice and beans. It can be rich and savory, or it can be light and healthy {I'll take it either way}. 

And with Summer on the way and good health and time with friends on my mind, we've been taking our Mexican obsession to the next level over here! Starting with my favorite eating and drinking holiday, Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo Dinner Invitation

Saturday Morning Breakfast Burritos

Chipotle & Lime Steak Fajitas



Frosty Caronitas with Lime



Skinny Margaritas on Ice

What foods are you craving?

A Garage Fit For Grown-ups: Part One

Back at our old place, we had no garage. It was more of a glorified car port that had not yet been condemned. Inside was a classic convertible collecting dust and hogging all of the available space. It didn’t really matter because the weather would have rusted and ruined the things we might have stored in a garage {you know, if we’d had such a space}.

When we moved here, we dreamed of ample space to park two cars and never scraping ice off of windshields before work again. And with a space this large, we should have more than enough room for all of the tools and “stuff” that we regularly used outside. Right?

So then, what is wrong with this picture?

Is this the space that we always dreamed of?

Every time I open this garage door, I hold my breath and quickly pray that no one will look inside before I have done what I need to do and have it safely closed it behind me. It’s kind of an embarrassment. It’s not the 2 car garage of two handy and otherwise organized people. Sometimes I’d debate that it isn’t even a 1 car garage. It’s really just a catch all…

For gardening…

Tools and work equipment…

Misc. household overflow…

Kids’ stuff and junk to be sorted and purged {someday}

At least it's all seperated into like clusters!

Each time that my husband would go out to look for something, he would come in with a scowl and declare that I should really get started doing something about that garage! ME?!

I had already undertaken just about every space in the house and pretty much claimed them as family space or my own. Surely, if there was any space left in the house for him it was the garage! No? It really didn’t rank very highly {to me} given our busy lives and all of the other things that we’d wanted to do inside the house. I could just keep the door shut and the lights off until it started to really bother me too.

The most energy I had put into the garage was re-stacking the piles of worthless crap stuff that we’d accumulated since living together… over and over and over. So it’s my charge to make this a space worth using instead of a dumping ground to keep hidden.

How does one decorate a garage, anyway?

My wish list would include the following:

1. Ample parking for two cars {and a couple of bikes}
2. Clear floors to be kept swept and neat
3. Vertical wall storage; Hanging storage
4. Shelves to keep things safely out of reach from children
5. Meticulously organized tools and household supplies
6. Easy access to the things we use daily
7. Kids’ items within reach and easily put away

These are some ideas from Better Homes and Gardens that I am currently obsessing over…

So let the fun begin...

Clear and sort and purge and paint... Hope to show you some fabulous results soon!

Home Office: Some Inspiration

We are fortunate enough to have an extra room designated for our home office. 

It's one of my favorite rooms in the house with great windows and a northern exposure that keeps it cool and relaxing all day. It's perfect for someone as intense and OCD as me.

We have changed it around a few times to suit our needs up to now, and once again, our workspace needs have changed- and so must the office!

Here's what will remain in the office space when I am done with it:

1. Ballard Home Office Collection

2. Billy Bookcases w/ Glass Doors

3. MacBook & Thunderbolt Display 

With these as my jumping-off point, I could go in so many, many directions...

I took to Pinterest for some inspiration; looking for home office elements that would make a workplace that is beautiful and personal for the both of us...

Here's my faves...       {all images via pinterest}

Each of them is bright and fresh and utilizes some or all of what must come back into the space. The low horizontal plane of the desk-tops and shelving expand the workspace without looking too busy.

I've seen many versions of my office furniture like this one from Pottery Barn, and for a minute, I was pretty bummed that Ballard doesn't offer the nickel-finished hardware or the clear top for the desk surface. 

However, one saving grace is that Ballard's modular sections fit seamlessly together to look like a single unit!

The spacing between the pieces in this office are a little of an aesthetic nightmare for me in an otherwise lovely home office... 

These are closer together, but I can't imagine how to clean between them. Electronics produce crap-tons of dust! So, although it's beautiful... It isn't practical for me.

Another cool thing is that Ballard now makes a variety of add-on pieces like bookcases, shelving and a return-style desk. Here they are in black. They also come in gray, something they didn't offer back when we bought ours...

I'd love for the walls to have some kind of idea organization system too... 

Some upholstered cork boards can run close to $500. I'm thinking DIY!

Also from pottery barn, these modular organizers are a bit of a budget buster...

Truly, I would absolutely love any one of these offices!

This is something I have been meaning to work on for a while as I'm certain it would increase my organization and productivity, thereby making my life a lot easier and efficient!

Here are my top 3 goals for our home office:

1. Extremely organized throughout
2. Good use of space, vertical and horizontal
3. Aesthetically pleasing, bright and serene

I will keep you updated on my progress...

Bye for now!

Brigitte

St. Patrick’s Day Project for Toddlers

Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Since Jarad is away in Vegas with friends for March madness and St. Patty’s Day this year, I didn’t decorate or cook anything even though it is one of my favorite holidays for getting together with friends. 

But I didn’t want to forget it all together... And with Easter coming so early this year, I don’t want to waste my time getting ready for a lot of nothing.

So I gathered up some supplies on Friday and the kids and I sat down for some fun and super easy activities {while the baby napped}.

Here’s an easy project that we made together:

Apple stamped shamrocks/four leaf clover:

You will need:

• One apple {halved}
• Some Kelly green tempera or other non-toxic poster paint
• One paint brush for each kid {4}
• Plastic palette knife {or popsicle stick} as a handle for our “stamp”

1. Help each child paint the inside half of the apple
2. then “stamp” it on to their paper
3. Rotate the page 1/4 turn and repeat 3 more stamps until you’ve made a four leaf clover {or 3 stamps for a shamrock}
4. Take the paint brush and make a quick stroke for a stem

Let dry and display… Easy, inexpensive and fun!



Some tips for painting with multiple toddlers:

• Prepare. Be ready with all supplies and keep things moving! If they must wait, sing songs that they know to keep them engaged.
• I occupy the other kids with some crayons or paints and brushes so I can help each child individually. They were thrilled to paint anything and they really enjoyed themselves while waiting their turn to stamp.
• Economize. Don’t buy every color of paint in the rainbow. I buy the basics and mix our colors. Re-use plastic baby food containers to keep new colors ready for use. No waste!
• I have a supply of toddler tees and aprons that we use whenever we do a project. Not only does it protect their clothes, but they get excited to get into their “art clothes”
• Cleaning up is easy because I keep wet paper towels on hand for all accidents. Tempera color  and finger paint is easily wiped away if it’s done immediately. Be ready!
• Always do projects right before a meal and nap time. You’ll only clean up once and they’ll nap right after. You’ll most likely need the break!
• Enjoy it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Let the kids create and experiment with different mediums. They’ll never forget it.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
may good luck persue you each morning and night.

~happy st. patrick's day~

Have a great weekend