Expanding Horizons

Ok, So I know I didn’t change the appearance of my blog. To be honest I LOVE this blog and the way it looks. So I have instead made a few changes.
First? I have added to my “About” page. You can view it here.  I have expanded a little about my home life and current goals. I really want you, my readers to understand a little bit more about me before  diving into my world head on!
Second? This blog is now not just about my house and maintaining it, but my life as well. Be prepared to see stories of my life, recipes (both healthy and not) and well any randomness that may inspire me to write. I really think I will enjoy this so much more. Although anything “Nerdy” I will reserve for my other blog Confessions of a Nerd’s Wife. I have really enjoyed trying to keep up with them both!
Third? I have created an Amazon store. Items I link into posts, that I use and love or even some items that are on my wishlist and also desire to share with you I will add to the store. Feel free to browse. ^_^

I think that this will be fun and I hope you enjoy!

It is decided!

I miss this blog. I definitely miss posting here. So I am thinking that Heart Stays Home needs a makeover.  So… Yeah… Stay tuned ok?  ^_^

 

Sometimes time just slips away…

It is well established that I am horrible about remembering to post regularly. I am honestly too afraid to even look at the date of my last post and see how long it has truly been!  I assume however that my last post was sometime before Christmas.  That’s about when things got so chaotic that I lost my sense of reality. I shall not bore you with tales of my chaos though. We’ll move right along into the here and now.
The kids are home for the summer. Our oldest has already spent a week at camp and returned home trying to make up for her lost time in bossiness I suppose. She had an amazing time and while I did miss her terribly and the house felt awfully empty, I am relieved and happy to have her home.  We have some lake time planned for this week and I am really looking forward to it!

My maintaining the housework is pretty lacking right now. I lost track of my routine and I need to find the motivation to restart it.  I really do however, look forward to a time when we have enough space in our house to facilitate our family.
I have started running! About 4 weeks ago. This has been an unimagined blessing in disguise. I find that I LOVE the 30 minutes I spend alone with the road and my music. So far I can pull 2.16 miles in about 30 minutes. I definitely intend to be persistent and improve my time and hopefully add some more distance soon. Although what really matters is that I am feeling better physically and about myself in general.

Who Needs Excersise…

… When you have heavy duty house cleaning to do.
  I have created myself a whole new chore list! It is broken up into Daily/weekly/Monthly sections and I started following through this list on Monday. I have found that as I am going about my “weekly” chores I wind up adding in a bunch of the monthly ones as well.  I suppose that is all well and good considering the house needs a good cleaning anyway. Though, I’m telling ya. I am finding less and less energy by the time the day is done so far.

  My fingers are numb, my back is sore, but the feeling of accomplishment I have right now is completely worth it.

Long Time Away

  I feel so rotten that I haven’t posted in so long. Honestly? Time just got away from me. I suppose that happens to all of us at some point in time.  There really hasn’t been too much that has happened. Life seems to be on a steady (ish) road. At least for now.
   We have been actively searching for solutions to our little “Bad Credit” issue.  I think I’ve said it before. We love where we’re living. But this little 1000 sqft 2 bedroom townhouse is too small for a family of 5. We met with  someone this weekend who is going to help us fix our credit. He said realistically we can look at being in a house of our own by next August. AMAZING!  Sometimes I just really lose hope for change. I think we all do at some point in time right?
  SO with renewed hope I begin to plan. Again.  I have no desire to get caught packing and sorting 5 days before a big move. Perhaps if I have 9 months to plan, sort, de-clutter and save perhaps I can be prepared when the time comes. Well, knowing myself like I do I will likely procrastinate as much as possible until the last possible moment. But there is so much we will need and want.
  So. Once again my focus comes to my kitchen. Poor thing, is so tiny there is hardly any counter space. Let alone storage room for more than what I consider to be a modge podge of the absolute most primitively basic necessities. 
   I truly believe that my most logical actions are to put my safety suit on and properly dispose of the items that currently reside in my kitchen. Well most of it.  My grandmother’s china and my grandfathers mugs that he won in a fishing competition need to find a place of honor worthy of housing such valued sentimental pieces. However most everything else was given to us when we very hurriedly moved into where we are now. So to say they are very used may be the most grand understatement of the year.
    I was using one of my pans today and I found myself thinking “Wow, I can’t believe that I have had these for more than 5 years and they lasted this long!”  We purchased the set at Walmart for $39. All I can say is Never again. I think I’d like to replace them with something I took the time to research and pick out carefully. Of course I feel lost. I don’t even know where to start! But I would like something similar to these: (Sorry I can’t figure out how to add code right this moment -_-  )

5-Piece Enamel Cast Iron Red Cookware Set

KitchenAid Gourmet Aluminum Nonstick 10-Piece Cookware Set, Red

And Don’t even get me started on bake ware! I think I might just have a slight addiction. I have a slight obsession with Vintage Jadeite. I would fill my kitchen with it if I could afford it!:

Le Creuset Heritage Stoneware Baking Dishes
Bonjour 3-1/2-Quart Covered Round Casserole
Camp Chef Home Seasoned Cast Iron Bread Pan
Rada Cutlery Stoneware Cookie Sheet, Made in USA, 12 x 15 Inch
Calphalon Classic Bakeware 12-Cup Nonstick Muffin Pan
Old Stone Oven Pizza Stone Round

 Goodness, Can I express how much I love to use my kitchen!? Cooking, baking they are so much fun! Mixing bowls? I prefer stainless steel. Mainly because when I am making lemon curd or melting chocolate I like to have the ability to stick the mixing bowl directly in a pan of boiling water.
Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowls

Misc Kitchen Tools? Yeah Like a kid in a candy store, I can NEVER make up my mind:

Progressive International Silicone Spatula 3-Piece Set, Red

Core Bamboo 2971 3-Piece Colored Utensil Set, Strawberry

Oxo SteeL 11-Inch Balloon Whisk

Taylor Classic Instant-Read Pocket Thermometer

CDN TCG400 Professional Candy & Deep Fry Thermometer

Progressive International Stainless-Steel Magnetic Measuring Spoons, Set of 5

Measuring Cups – 7 Piece Stainless Steel Set by RSVP

Oneida Wing Corkscrew, Chrome Plated Cast Zinc

Ironwood Gourmet Acacia Wood Large End Grain Prep Station

Ginsu Kotta Series Japanese 420J2 Stainless Steel 16-Piece Cutlery Set in Bamboo Storage Block 4816

Coffee!!!

Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Mill Grinder

Le Creuset Stoneware 27oz. French Press, Truffle

Geez and this isn’t even everything… I think I’ll take a break!

 

 

 

 

Trendy Tuesday: A Very Pink Day

I cannot believe it is already Tuesday again! How does this happen? I’ve no clue.  Perhaps it’s the curse of summer. At the end of every day and think to myself:  “Self, today passed by way tooo quickly. Tomorrow I will be more productive!”
It’s a vicious cycle.

I am in a very pink mood today. Pink happens to be my favorite color, but it takes a special mood to wear more than an accessory or two. I also have a great love for cupcakes and well, any other sort of baked good that happens to be both sweet and tasty. So today I combine the two things:

Untitled #6 by erynnenicole featuring a silver glitter nail polish

This week’s outfit includes:

• A cute black tank top.
• Some of my most favorite jeans I’ve found. (These WILL be in my wardrobe one day)
• Pink shoes that happen to have cupcakes and icecream cones on them! (LOVE THESE!!!)
• A Very cute pink watch
• The most gorgeous cupcake necklace I have ever seen!
• Cute cherry earrings (Cherries definitely go with cupcakes!)
• Some of the most awesome sunglasses I have ever seen!
• Amazing pink and silver glittery nailpolish.  Glitter and pink almost always go well together!
• Imagine smokey eyes with pink and black shadows? Yes please!
• Last but not least: pink lip gloss! Love love LOVE!

Trendy Tuesday- A night out

I find myself longing for a night where I can dress up in something classy and be escorted around town by my fabulous hubby (who also happens to be my best friend)

 

Untitled #21 by erynnenicole featuring a lace dress

I love this outfit because it is classy and I LOVE the red accents of the shoes and bag:

• A classy updo. Not too complex but nice enough that it doesn’t clash with the style of the dress.
• Natural Make-up
• A Nice red shade of lipstick. (Sometimes that is absolutely a must!)
• Beautiful red heels to contrast the neutral colors of the dress
• a GORGEOUS red bag to accent the shoes. (You know they have to match!)
• A sexy pair of over sized sunglasses.
• Lots of pearls.  I am personally not a huge wearer of pearls, but sometimes they are just the perfect accent to an outfit!

I hope you enjoyed this “Trendy Tuesday”! I truly hope it inspires you to go out and make yourself feel beautiful!

One Long Week

 Ever have one of those weeks that flies by faster than a bullet? This week has been one of those.  I found myself lost somewhere between the the lines of weariness and screaming children. However, I am not sure where between those lines I find myself currently.
  I am sure of the fact that my house is a disaster but the kids are sleeping, Hubby is out with a friend and the house is completely silent. What an oddity. So that being said I have come to the conclusion that I shall make the most of this time. No, not by cleaning but just enjoying the silence. I shall write a blog post or two and then find one of my many books that are on my phone and lose myself in literature.
 I love to read especially classic authors like Hemingway, Lewis Carroll, H.G. Wells.
Do you like to read? What does your reading list look like?

Chaos Revisited

Wow this weekend went from crazy to crazier! I did eventually finish my baking.  I even had fun doing it AND recieved an offer of help from my hubby.  I didn’t take it but it was nice that he offered.  The oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies were a great hit at the guys night thing.  I had several of the men come up to me after church commenting on how they had never seen anything like that before and it was AMAZING.  Just the reaction that makes me giddy. Luckily I made a double batch and took some to the potluck where they went over equally as well.

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie

I also made Butterfinger Brownies. When I went to cut them after they had cooled I realized I had blackend on the bottoms. Which resulted in  me bursting in tears. That was really the second time I’ve ever burned anything. However I became suddenly inspired when I realized that the bottom was the only thing burned. So I rolled the salvagable parts of the brownies into balls and dubbed them “Brownie bites”!  They went over famously well also.

Last but not least I also made Bacon wrapped jalapenos that were stuffed with cream cheese.  I cannot tell you how painful this one was.  It seems my skin does not at all like jalapeno juice. So by the time I had halved and de-seeded 40 jalapenos my hands looked like they were sporting bright red fingerless gloves, and they felt like they are on fire. FINALLY I think I have rid myself of the burning.  Let me tell you, the burning was well worth it. I took 80 peppers to the potluck and came home with a dozen.  They were a huge hit! I was really surprised.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Over all great weekend. Yesterday I found myself caught up with sorting and editing all the pictures I managed to take around the event.  It took me the better part of the day.  How was your weekend? Did you take a relaxing route for your plans? Or maybe a more filled and busy route?

Whew!

   This week feels like it has just flown by. I’ve definitely lazed around since the 4th.  I am usually a great lover of holidays. They are an excuse to get together with family and friends to have a good time and make happy memories. I don’t know about you but I really like happy memories! This 4th of July was unusually lazy. J had to work, my original plans fell through, my sister was at camp and to be honest I was feeling kinda down. So what did I do? I talked to my mom.
    I ended up taking the kids to Mom’s and we still did absolutely nothing, but we did nothing with other people.  My  mom cooked, my step-father grilled and J met up with us over there for dinner after he got off work. We had a good time but missing family members were definitely missed.  By the time we should have left to go watch fireworks none of the adults felt like going anywhere. So we let the older kids (17- 19 year olds) take the littles out back to light sparklers. While all us grownups sat around the table and talked and joked.

   This is my crew, don’t let the cuteness fool you. From left to right: B (3), G (8) and A (10).
Yesterday I took my crew to the lake and I  layed on the beach while the older two kids swam and the youngest played on the beach making sand pies and bird baths. I am determined to make my legs not so white. So far it’s a success just a little slow.
   It was a very pleasant and relaxing afternoon. It surprises me when I take all three kids out in public and we don’t end up having to leave early. They actually listened with minimal complaining when I asked them to play with B for a little bit. I mean really I didn’t have to threaten to sell them to the gypsies once! This is what I call progress.
  Today we are continuing on with the theme of “Lazy”.  The kids and I are spending the day watching movies and then when J gets home tonight I am going to make chicken wraps for dinner and we will pack it up  picnic style and head back out to the lake and spend family night out there instead of in the house. We havn’t told the kids yet, they’re in for a surprise since J is generally not a fan of anything outdoors!  I think it’s a nice change-up and since J will be with us I think I will take my camera along and snap a few nice photos.

  How was your holiday? Did you do anything special? What is the happiest memory you made on this 4th of July?