how do you do christmas?

i have been on pinterest {addicted!} looking at christmas decor

so i have been wondering?

how do you do christmas?

all white with an accent color

vintage and colorful

small and understated

accented with silhouettes

in a baby buggy

all are so beautiful yet so different

however you do Christmas may it be enjoyable and beautiful

i'm off to do some of my own decorating.

all images via pinterest

 click on the pinterest button to the right
 to see more of my chrsitmas inspiration board

a cup of tea

i love a good cup of tea

i am also a coffee drinker

 but after my two cups {mugs}of coffee in the morning

i still crave a warm sip of something but i don't allow myself three cups{mugs}of coffee

my heart starts getting racy...it does not feel good.

i especially crave a warm cup of tea during the cold winter months

before going to bed i drink another cup so i thought i would share with you

my favorite teas

i enjoy celestial seasonings

these are my favorites

i drink the country peach during the day when i crave a cup of something warm

this is my habit on my days off when i am home cleaning {blogging}

at night i like to drink the tension tamer or as my hubby calls it my dragon tea

the tension tamer has a peppermint taste that i really enjoy

if i am really tired the sleepytime and the sleepytime extra are good choices

sleepytime is a chamomile blend and the extra has valerian, an herb that helps promote relaxation

having a single cup brewer also makes tea time super easy

i just pop in the tea bag and push the brew button and wah-la

tea is ready in an instant

did i mention that tea is good for you and helps decrease the risk of heart related illness

i know i love it and it does help to relax me before going to bed.

what about you..do you drink tea? what are your favorites?

master bedroom

i took some pictures of my master bedroom for a consultation.

i want to change and add something to our bedroom but haven't really figured out what

so here are some pictures of what my bedroom looks like now

{when it is all clean}

i love the look of the bed

dark and chunky especially since the room is pretty big

{ i know the fan is not nice and pretty, i would much rather have a nice

and pretty chandelier but in california, the summer and fall gets pretty hot 

 and i don't like to have the ac running all night}



i want to repaint the room

the color looks a bit yellow and buttery which i do not care for any more

i also want to get new curtains and maybe even bamboo blinds for the windows

i like looking out the french doors

seeing my roses and the green from the bougainvillea i planted this summer

you can read about it here

did i mention how i want new nightstands that are taller

these are too small but we really have not found any i like

i don't want them to match

ideally, i would like antique dressers, if my budget permits

 {speaking of budgets, i really don't have one, ha!}

and since i am pointing out some of the flaws of my bedroom

 i should address the elephant in the room

yes, our dresser which serves as a media center for the

tv, dvr, dvd player, and wii console

tried to convince the hubby about the tv, no luck

i must confess though that i like having the wii in my room

our house is small and when the kids play and cousins come over

they play and have a good time in the room

while the adults are in the living room

it works out, just doesn't look so pretty

so there you have it,

 our humble master bedroom

i look forward to posting some after photos

edit: i changed out a few things for the holiday

 here are a few more pictures of what my bedroom looks like now

i just really like the look of the white matelasse coverlet with the brown pillows

 my favorite bible verse framed on my nightstand

thanks for stopping by,
i am open to any suggestions, and comments are always welcome!

two years

i have been anxiously waiting two years for this movie

two years ago i read the entire series, fast like in the span of two weeks

for me that is big since it takes me forever to read an entire book

i read the first book and couldn't get enough

 hubby went out and bought me the second before i finished the first,

 when i finished reading the last book i was sad

felt like a teeny bopper

it was great

{though i must confess that i watched the movies before even reading the books,

 i fell for Edward. Yes, TEAM EDWARD, I said it!}

when i first heard of twilight i didn't understand what all the hype was about

i thought it was just another teeny bopper movie,

 i was turned off with the whole vampire thing, who would have known

boy was i wrong {and out of the loop}

 i love a good love story

i am a romantic at heart

unlike the teeny boppers and their mommies, i won't be watching it thursday night a midnight

although i'd like to, i have to work and probably would fall asleep during the movie

so i will be attending the friday night showing,

 i can't wait, all the movies have been great.

my favorite has to be the first.



today i am wanting

 1. a clean and organized house

2. a trip to Paris

3. a master bedroom make-over

4. a sign like this

and since i am at it, a house like hers



(if you haven't met edie, go visit her blog, her house is amazing, her story is awesome!)


not necessarily in that order.

i guess that is not bad, at least for today.

sometimes when i get caught up in what i want or what i don't have

i have to stop and then realize that i do have a lot and i begin to have a grateful heart

though i may not have a lot by other's standards

i am grateful for what i do have:

a great husband and family

financial stability in these times of uncertainty for many

the opportunity to work part time and pursue other interests

a home to clean, organize, and decorate

God is good!

now to get back to my number one item, a clean house!

Have a great weekend!

images via pinterest

whats for dinner?

today i want to make this yummy looking chicken and dumplings soup



i found the recipe here on Edie's blog.

 {I love her blog and her house is amazing! you should check it out if you haven't yet met her.}

I love soup and this one will hit the spot especially since we have had a bit of chilly weather here in so cal.

perfect weather for soup, a warm blanky, and a good movie, and of course snuggling.

i am watching water for elephants, love Robert Pattinson!

I also just started reading the book.

Happy Monday!

pin.ter.est.love

been spending a whole lot of time

{really, lots of time}

on  pinterest

here are some of my newest pins

 i have been diggin these gallery walls

pillow love!

 i love the linen headboard

i think a master bedroom redo is in the works

i have to do more research and if the bugdet allows

i want to consult her

i love her style!