Thursday Thoughts: Home Projects and Deliberate Motherhood

The birthday is over and it was a wonderful day. It was pretty much your average day, with the exception of dinner out, but I have a pretty great life so no complaints! Funny enough though, Natalie seemed to sense when my birthday was over. No more special treatment Mommy! At exactly one in the morning she woke up ready to play and wouldn't go back to sleep for an hour and a half. Needless to say, we are both a little sleepy and cranky today.

I have some really high hopes for house projects this year. Brian has some ambitious home improvement in the works and I would like to do some things as well. Inspired by one of mu favorite blogs, Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers, I'm going to try to keep it reasonable and doable and pick one project a month to complete. I've only planned through June, but the current plan is as follows:

January: clean out and organize all bedroom closets- I'm already started on mine!
February: complete the kiddo room switch
March: fix up the yard, plant new flowers in beds
April: clean out and reorganize kitchen and dining room hutch
May: frame and hang new family pictures
June: deep clean house


I still haven't finished the amazing book I was telling y'all about, but I can already say it is a must read if you're a mom. It's incredibly inspirational and full of practical advice for pushing yourself to become a better mother and finding more peace as a mother.

I WILL finish reading it this weekend and share more thoughts. For now, I must get to bed because I am exhausted. Can't wait to share my latest fashion finds tomorrow though! I leave you all with two cute/hilarious pictures of our day:

Thursday Thoughts

First off you should know that Tory Burch is having a sale right now!! I personally cannot afford to buy a thing, but someone should snag these deals while they last.  Here are a couple of things I would love to have:


Eddie Ballet Flat in Magenta - regularly $250, on sale for $175

Marianne Pumps - regularly $350, on sale for $245



First off, I am so thankful that everyone slept well last night.  Phillip slept through the night (as he should!) and Natalie woke twice.  After a night like Tuesday, I'll take that any day of the week. 

Second, I'm thrilled and thankful that my mother in law will be in town this weekend.  Phillip absolutely adores her!  She is also a huge help, so I know I'll get some time to finish up Christmas shopping and maybe even a date night.  I think it's so interesting how almost everyone I know (around our age) has a regularly scheduled "date night" with their spouse.  It sounds great, but Brian and I have just never done that.  After another kid, we may have to start! 

Finally, at the risk of sounding like a huge nerd, I am so thankful for how many AMAZING books I've read lately.  Reading is my relaxation and retreat each day if I can get both kids to nap at the same time.  It doesn't always happen so sometimes it takes me a bit to finish a book!



This book by Barbara Kingsolver, author of the Poison Wood Bible, was unbelievably good!  Great story, really interesting characters.



This book was so good I didn't want it to end.  I absolutely love everything she writes, but this book had me wondering how people think of these things.  Its a really unusual story and you will never guess how it ends.


Okay, that's all for today.  I'd love to hear any book recommendations you have... I'm coming to the bottom of my stash!




Thankful Thursdays

I've decided to link up today over at Loved and Lovely for Thankful Thursday, because I really do have a lot to be thankful for today.

I'm thankful... for my sweet, smart, beautiful son who says so many new things each day and is really becoming a little person before my eyes.

I'm thankful... that my little girl is feeling so much better and sharing her beautiful smiles with us more.

I'm thankful... for our Christmas tree and Christmas music.

I'm thankful... that I get to go out tonight for an hour of mommy alone time and catch up with a friend I haven't seen in a while.

And as always, I'm thankful for the weekend, and hopefully some on on one time with my wonderful husband.