2011

Happy New Year

December 31, 2011

Today is the last day of 2011 and I can say this has been a great year for our family! If you would have told me last year on December 31st that we would be completing 3 room makeovers by the end of May, deciding it’s time to move in April and then selling our house without putting a sign in the yard, I would have been shocked. Yet that is exactly how the first 6 months of this year played out. The Lord has certainly blessed us this past year, more than I can put into words.

On the blogging front, I’ve learned so much this past year blogging and I’ve had so much fun meeting new friends who share the same passions I do. I am really looking forward to attending Haven this summer and meeting some of my new friends in person, along with all the great speakers and workshops. If you are going to Haven, I’d love know. In the new year, my blog is getting a makeover and I’m also looking at starting up a Link Party as well. For the home I’ll be sharing our goals in another post but we have projects on the brain(s)!

Finally, I am so very thankful for all of you who take time to read my blog and comment. Ok, well even if you don’t comment I still am thankful for you stopping by and I really would love to hear from you!

My mother-in-law and her husband are here visiting us this weekend so we will be ringing in the New Year at home this year. If you are heading out, have fun and be safe on the roads! I’ll be back in a few days to post our house goals and the link party is open until Tuesday, to link up your Year in Review posts. Until then,

Wishing you a Happy New Year and many blessings in 2012!

Source: google.com via Ange@thebloominghydrangea on Pinterest

By ange 9 Comments Filed Under: organizing

2011 Year in Review

December 27, 2011

2011 is coming to a close and looking back I can say that 2011 had a few big changes for our family! This time last year I was blogging under Love From My Kitchen and had maybe 11 followers which were mostly friends and family. I was having fun blogging my recipes and some things about our home but didn’t really have much of a clue as to what I was doing. I thought it would be fun to look back over the past year and see how things have changed.

January I share our 2011 House Goals and we started on the Cloffice.

February Cloffice Reveal

March Playroom Makeover

April Launch of The Blooming Hydrangea & Our Little Boy’s Bedroom Reveal

May Dining Room Reveal and We’re Moving

June I introduced you to Ruby the newest member of our home and I also had some really great Guest Bloggers filling in for me while we were busy moving.

July I shared our Colonial’s never ending siding project minus the front door being painted and I also get a little more personal by sharing about My Miscarriage and Ectopic Pregnancy

August The birth of Roomspiration was born and I was finally able to announce it!

September We worked on the Entryway

and the The Powder Room

October I hosted the Closets and Nooks portion of Roomspiration where I revealed the new Cloffice. which is still not quite done and I also shared the progress I made on Painting our Oak Trim White.

November I shared the start of Our Master Bedroom makeover and I also won a ticket to Haven!

December I shared some of my Favorite Things, participated in the 12 Crafty Days of Christmas where I shared my tablescape and shared the rest of my Christmas decorating here.

We started the year out strong on projects and renovating the Colonial then we moved in June and since then it’s been slow going. We did promise our kids no projects for six months but failed on that. The entryway, Powder Room and Cloffice were all done in about a 4 week period in September but since then we haven’t done much besides painting trim and our bedroom. Is painting considered a project? Not according to the 10 almost 11 year old, she said “I like when you do projects and painting doesn’t count.” I am really excited to get working on Master Bedroom again and also, I have Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations kit sitting in my house just waiting for me to open it!

I’ll be back later this week to post our House Goals for 2012. You can read Our House Goals for 2011 post here and I feel even with moving halfway through the year, we didn’t do too badly! How was your year looking back? Did you blog about your year in review, if so I’d love to read it! Get your posts ready to link up and come join me!

When you link up if you would please either save the above image and include it in your post or leave a direct link back to this party, I’d appreciate it!

I’m linking up here:

By ange 22 Comments Filed Under: Blogging Fun

Christmas Faces & a Link Party

December 27, 2011

My friend Shan at Family Brings Joy is having a fun link up party this week. It’s a Stunned Faces Photo Link up where you can post pictures of Christmas day and the surprise or stunned look on the person’s face as they are opening a gift. I didn’t capture any this year but I did find a few from last year and they do make me laugh!

Who knew a Lava Lamp could make someone so happy? I love it! We are opening some gifts again on Friday so I might try and capture a few more of these moments!

If you have captured some great expressions on faces this Christmas, head over and link them up. Even if you don’t have any photos to link up, head over and check out the ones that are!

Also don’t forget that Thursday I’m hosting my own 2011 Year in Review Link Party. I hope you’ll join me!

By ange 3 Comments Filed Under: Blogging Fun

The end of the Year and a Link Party

December 26, 2011

Is everyone sad that Christmas is over? I am but we had a great time on Christmas Eve sharing food and fun with some close friends and their children. We then headed to church and later during bedtime and until 11pm we ended up with kids not being able to sleep and crying. We just wanted them to go to bed so we could finish up our gifts for them. The kids had a great time opening gifts on Christmas morning and I’ll be back later this week to share our DIY Entertainment Center turned Play Kitchen. I did post a pic on The Blooming Hydrangea FB page so you can always head over there to see it.

Last night I was thinking back to what I was doing last January and what my goals were for the coming year in our home. I thought it would be fun to do a blog post on the past year to see what I accomplished and all that happened this past year. I’d love to see what you’ve done this past year too so I am hosting a link party starting on Thursday!

Feel free to spread the word, the more the merrier!

What did you get for Christmas this year? I’m waiting for this to go on sale!

Source: costco.com via Ange@thebloominghydrangea on Pinterest

Now we are off to enjoy some more family time, I made everyone clean the house this morning because I can only handle so much Christmas mess strewn around the house like this:

Do you leave the presents out under the tree after they are opened or do you prefer them put away?

By ange 3 Comments Filed Under: Blogging Fun

Merry Christmas

December 24, 2011

I love this simple, beautiful message of Christmas done by Charlie Brown and Linus.

Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Most Happy New Year!

By ange 2 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

Our Christmas Card this year

December 23, 2011

I wish I could send you all a card in person but this will have to do. I have had such fun blogging this year, I’ve learned so much and look forward to learning even more this next year. Most importantly I have loved interacting with you all, hearing from you and hopefully inspiring you! I have some fun things in store for my blog in the new year but for now, I’ll be signing off to enjoy some family time!

May you all have a Joyous Christmas and a Very Happy & Blessed New Year!

By ange 11 Comments Filed Under: christmas

Random Thursday

December 22, 2011

Good Morning my lovely friends! It’s been a while since I did a Random Thursday post and this week just seems like a perfect one to bring it back. I don’t know about you but I am so exhausted from this past week, I am ready to chill in front of the fire with my hubby and have some Christmas music playing and just the Christmas tree lights on and some hot chocolate in hand, doing nothing, not even talking, just sitting and enjoying the moment. Maybe tonight that will happen. Yesterday we were working away at our Covert Operation Christmas Gift and we are close to done but not done yet. We stayed up way too late on Monday night wrapping gifts, like 2:30 am too late. Then we stayed up late on Tuesday night too and by yesterday I was starting to feel the effects of too little sleep, too much sugar and too much left on the to do list.

In some random news, my stenciled tree skirt is being featured over at Tales From an OC Cottage. Go check out her funny post and I need to tell the girl, I did not measure at all, this thing was done in a rather hurry up and be done with matter. Go check her out!

In other randomness, my mother-in-law and her husband sent us a check in the mail for Christmas. We ended up buying this for ourselves.

A router and door hinge kit so we can start buying the six panel door slabs and changing out the doors in our house. We are officially DIYers when you spend your Christmas money on tools and get excited about it. Don’t worry, the kids all have presents from Grandma, we didn’t spend their money on tools.

Yesterday the hubs, the bubs and I spent the morning attending an assembly at our daughters’ school. Two of our daughters received Respect Awards. They didn’t know that they were receiving the awards and that we were going to be there in the audience. ( My pics are a little blurry because I really had to use the zoom). Here is the youngest wearing her Christmas outfit and looking so cute and I love that the assistant principal is down at her level.

Here she is talking with the other kids who also received the award that day:

Here’s the middle daughter receiving her award. This is a big deal for her being able to stand in front of the all the kids and some parents. Last year she hated assemblies and worried about throwing up in front of everyone even though she was never the center of attention. She didn’t even want to sit in the gymnasium for assemblies because of her irrational fear. I am so proud of her!! She didn’t worry at all and did a great job!!

The teachers have to say why the student is respectful and here she is, reading her award and what the teacher wrote about her. I love this picture, I can tell she is proud of herself!

I love those principals, they are really awesome! They are out playing with the kids at recess, pushing them on swings and playing some football. The motto of our school is Respect, Responsibility, Safety but above all, BE NICE! You can tell that they really reward those behaviors and make it something that the kids believe in as well! So thankful to be at such a great school!

Some other fun for the day yesterday, my oldest daughter and I made these owl birthday invitations that we found on Pinterest. These are the Pinterest ones.

Source: acrossthebranch.com via Ange@thebloominghydrangea on Pinterest

Ours looked more like this, we decided to make the owls a little smaller and glue them to the front of a 5×7 piece of card stock and put the info on the back of the card. I think they still turned out cute and we managed to do 10 cards in about an hour and a half, maybe a little less.

During the month of January, we have three birthdays in our family in a matter of 5 days. It gets a bit crazy here. Originally the two girls were going to have parties at the bowling alley. That is until we found out it would be around $250. Yes, $250 for people to bowl for an hour, eat some cake and watch our daughters open gifts. So the new plan is birthday parties at our home. Did you just see me shudder at the mere mention of birthday parties at my home? Not my idea of fun but I will do it to save some cash. The oldest daughter is going with an owl theme so I’m going to be hitting up Pinterest for some more ideas. The youngest daughter wanted Hello Kitty which was easy enough. Do you do birthday parties for your kids? Do you have them at home? Do you enjoy it?

I will post on Friday with (hopefully) pics of the finished Covert Operation Christmas gift and our Christmas Card. Until then…………

By ange 6 Comments Filed Under: random thursday

Christmas Cookies 2011

December 21, 2011

Last week we spent a few hours making cookies together as a family. It was fun and we even tried out a new to us recipe. The deadly Peanut Butter Cups which are surrounded by yummy Peanut Butter Cookie cup goodness. I used this recipe if you want to make these too but don’t blame me when the scale has an extra few pounds on it.

We also made our old standby, Spritz Cookies.

The kids favorite part is the sprinkling of sprinkles on the ~~pan, floor and counter~~ cookies.

Then we made another batch of these easy peasy minty magical thingys because mommy ~~ate all of the last batch~~ really likes them! The recipe is found over at Six Sister’ Stuff.

Friday is frosting and decorating the Sugar Cookies day. Hopefully the kids & I ~~survive~~ have fun!

I have a feeling after all the sugar we consume in the next few days, my kids might look like this:

Source: facebook.com via Ange@thebloominghydrangea on Pinterest

If you have some great cookie recipes you can link them up with Kate at Centsationalal Girl, she’s having a Cookiepalooza Party.

Hopefully I can sneak back on before Saturday and update you on the Covert Operation Christmas Gift. Hubby is in the garage as we speak working on it and I need to go join him. This is his look for the mission, the kids won’t recognize him, I’m sure.

Source: gublernation.tumblr.com via Ange@thebloominghydrangea on Pinterest

Ok, obviously I’ve had too much sugar and it’s time to quit mixing Pinterest with Pleasure. HA!

By ange 8 Comments Filed Under: christmas

The Blooming Blogger: Decor and The Dog

December 19, 2011

Good Morning! I can’t believe it’s the last Monday before Christmas! Where oh where did this month go? Are you all done shopping? I am, I can’t believe it but we are done with our Christmas shopping, this is early for us, we are usually out on Christmas Eve getting some last minute things. Ok, who am I kidding, I’ll probably still end up doing that, never fails.

Today’s Blooming Blogger is Michelle from Decor and the Dog. I’m not even sure how I found Michelle’s blog but I’m glad I did. She’s funny, has a super cute dog, a beautiful home and is a fellow mid-westerner. What’s not to love, right? Take it away Michelle!

How did you chose the name of your blog and does it have any special meaning?

Picking a name for my blog was extremely hard. I wanted something unique…but not too unique. I also wanted it to be easy to remember. After much struggle, it came to me! It should named after two of my favorite things…Décor and the Dog!

How long have you been blogging?

My blog celebrated it’s first birthday last week. They grow up so fast…

Favorite website for shopping?

I’m a sucker for West Elm and Crate and Barrel for my home. I like JCrew sale items for me! (I don’t look at anything other than the sale section. I’m not fancy enough for non-sale items.)

Share your favorite room or project that you’ve completed recently?

My most favorite recent project would be our farmhouse table…

I love that we now have a piece of furniture built by my husband and finished by the two of us. I love furniture that has a story!

How do you balance blogging and home life? Any tips?

I work 40+ hours a week. I don’t have access to my blog or others during the work day. To balance, I write most of my posts on Sundays. This allows me time during the week to read other blogs (at night) and live my life! It’s easy to get sucked into all things blogging. It took awhile for me to find the balance.

If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go and why?

Fiji. It looks warm and beautiful. Did I mention warm? Bring me my sunscreen and floatie mat!

via

One gift you wouldn’t mind finding under your tree this year?

I think this post is about dreaming big so I am going to go with the Fossil Vintage Re-Issue Weekender. Isn’t it pretty?…

via

Thanks to Ange for letting me take over her blog today!!

Thanks Michelle for stopping by and sharing with us! I’m loving that bag by the way, in case anyone hasn’t purchased my Christmas gift yet. Make sure to stop over and say Hi to Michelle and also Ike, who occasionally wears some cute outfits.

On a quick side note, The Blooming Blogger series will be on vacation for the holidays but will return again on January 9th.

By ange 8 Comments Filed Under: blooming blogger series

Christmas Entryway & Banister

December 16, 2011

Can you believe there are only 9 days until Christmas? I haven’t felt much like decking the halls here at the new place, mostly because I am too focused on putting rooms together, like our Master Bedroom which is still in an incomplete state and let’s not forget all the oak trim waiting to be painted! Well and having four children to shop for at Christmas time might not help either.

The other night I was visiting the At the Picket Fence girls and loved some pics of their beautiful bainsters. They inspired me to redo my banister and put some effort into it besides wrapping garland around it. By the way, if you have never been to their blog, head over there, they just hosted a rocking Christmas Party! They are some of the sweetest, friendliest and most helpful bloggers around! I love how they are like blogger cheerleaders for all of us.

I am linking up with the Nester’s 2011 Christmas Tour of Homes where you will find tons of eye candy as well! Don’t you just love that, it’ doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful? What a breath of fresh air! Both of these parties are going to be full of goodness you don’t want to miss!

Seeing as it was already 9pm when I got this hair up my behind to redo the banister, I tried to use what I already had at home. I had burlap, garland, ornaments, a wreath that was on it’s way to Goodwill, craft paint, felt, ribbon, jingle bells and some stencil letters. I was surprised by the amount of crafty goodness I had on hand.
I made NOEL with my stencils, burlap and red craft paint. I strung the letters on some twine and then used clothespins to clip the burlap letters on to the garland. I then strung some Christmas bulbs on red ribbon and tied it to the garland.

I had no idea what to do above the shelf area. Maybe a wreath? I had this snowman wreath in my pile for Goodwill.

Thankfully inspiration struck, I pulled him out of the pile and made him into this burlap beauty instead. I found the tutorial for the Poinsetta felt flowers on Pinterest which is by At Home with K. She has a lovely blog that I started following a few weeks ago so I was happy to be redirected to her for the tutorial. If I had more time this year I would’ve added some more to the shelf but for this year, it works. Not bad considering I paid $3 for the different wrapping papers from the dollar section at Target, otherwise I had everything else on hand already. I printed off the scripture trees from Pinterest, had the window sitting in my garage and the picture frames in my basement.

I didn’t do much with the entryway table area. I painted these chipboard letters I had in storage and just taped them to the mirror. They might be from a few of my kids’ names that I was planning on using in a craft.