Fabric stores make my heart go ..pitter.. patter

I LOVE fabric! I could spend hours just walking through wondering, wow HOW can I use this, I MUST have this!! So actually having projects that require me to go into a fabric store are my FAVOrite kind. The furniture I envision - eventually - selling are bright, colorful and funky pieces! I left the fabric store beaming with excitement from some amazing fabrics I found...stay tuned!! Do you have any favorite fabrics? or fabric stores???

I am up at an ungodly hour to enjoy some peace and quiet ....well not quite so peaceful as Mr. Hubs is doing P90x in the room next to me...while I enjoy a brownie heart and cup of joe!:) BUT there are no mommy....mom...screams...and I can sit and type and enjoy some ME time! We have decided as a couple we are going to get up at o'dark 30 to start our day productively ...me bloggins Mr. H workouts! I will let you know if I make it through the day! :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! Us over here at JJ sure did!!

Refurbishing....

The Jackson household had a wonderful weekend! Full of friends, fun and SANDING!! Since I have left working to stay home full time with my kids I have needed some kind of creative outlet. I have tried several things but felt blah about every endeavor! So I took a break and focused on some DIY home improvements! I tried my hand at window treatments and then decided we needed more color in our neutral home!! So....I started painting!! I have sanded painted and distressed now almost every piece of furniture I possibly can in my house!! Some of my earliest projects...SCARY!! BUT I am learning and LOVING the process!

I have been doing "research" this past few weeks (aka ogling at some AMAZING blogs) and keeping the idea on the back burner so someday when we move to my "farm":)..sustainable of course~! I will be READY for my project! Weellll.....I have an amazing neighbor/friend who has continued to be my motivator and support! She called me one day last week and said you have to come meet me!! She had stumbled upon a local lady who...well long story short this lady HAD to sell/get rid of a huge warehouse of solid wood antique furniture!!! So I packed down the truck and my little roller skate and have LOADED our 100 year old row house with furniture!!

As I start this new schizo calling I have been amazed at how much talent I am surrounded by! My brother-in-law, and both of my neighbors have provided to be extraordinary resources! And I can't fail to mention my ambassador of kwan, my paramour, my best friend my husband! (trying to think of a cleaver nickname.....any thoughts!) AnyWHO this affair is off and running! I am hoping to eventually have a new blog or just rename my current one, not yet sure the details...but stay tuned LOTS coming!

New Changes

Well life has an amazing way of putting you RIGHT where you need to be! I LOVE our neighborhood I have developed such wonderful/lasting friendships here! Last night I met with several other mothers and we discussed homeschool and our plans, curriculum ideas and social networking for our little people! The possibilities of this coming year, while still are frightening our getting me super excited too!! Eli is starting to ask when he is going to go to school at home and have "adventures"

I am also starting to dabble a little into some things for me and mental soul well being! I will have more to share on that soon!

To Homeschool or not too...

that is the current Jackson dilemma. Unfortunately we have moved to a WONDERFUL neighborhood and Love it here BUT also a horrible school district!! We have tossed the idea of home school vs private for sometime now, and are pretty certain we will home school Eli for now. Our goal is to home school until 3rd grade and reevaluate the situation. I know gasp...BUT we are also fortunate enough to be in an area with amazing opportunities for homeschooling, even a sports league..but what about the social aspect you ask...well we will be apart of a group and will be able to participate in classes that are taught by teachers through this organization...I KNOW I can't protect my children from every BAD thing they come across in life but I am going to try and provide the most secure and well rounded environment for my family...and you know I won't know until we try it out!! We are super excited and anxious about this change but I know it is the best for our family at this time!! So any of you home school moms out there an advise would be wonderful!! I think we are going to try the Charlotte Mason curriculum anyone used this? If not what curriculum do you use?!!

Monthly goals

Monthly goals for February

1. stick to my weekly budget

2. cancel cable - more activities with the kids

3. workout 5 days/week

4. plan meals and stick to the plan

5. Tell Chris daily how much I love him

6. be patient

Reality

So life if hard...life is AMAZING....life is dull...life IS...These past few months I have been fortunate to spend at home with my children. I LOVE being a mother I love being home..BUT it makes me crazy some days too! The reality of being home is a difficult, sometimes thankless job that never ends. I expected when I started my "new career" that my house would be spotless my children would be so well behaved because I would be patient and kind and we would speak in loving tones to each other. I would be frugal but fashionable our house would smell of homemade bread and love would gush out the sides. HAHA HA!!!HA I am still laughing at this image I have in my mind!! While there is plenty of love to go around in our house we still argue and my children continue to have trouble sharing and I can't seem to be frugal or fashionable!! BUT I love it and it's chaos...most days. =)

Now marriage...luckily I chose the right guy!! It's amazing how hard it is to show how much you love and appreciate your best friend. I have found myself taking him for granted, not expressing my true feelings DAILY...marriage is hard and without daily reminders we slowly loose connection. The only thing Chris truly asks for is for me to allow him to work out at home when he gets home from work. He doesn't want to go out with the boys, he doesn't want an expensive sports car, he doesn't WANT anything he is CONTENT with us with his life.

Content that is my new word. I am content my life is full ...but why is it so hard to feel it everyday? and I can tell you I have EVERY excuse known.."i'm tired, Mia didn't sleep, i don't feel comfortable in my clothes today, the weather stinks, I miss my family, the kids are soo difficult today....blah blah blah...NOT ANYMORE...I am going to stop the complaining stop the whining and JUST BE HAPPY!! I am going to date my husband I am going to patient and accepting of children. I know I am human and I know I am going to have bad days but I am not going to allow myself excuses. I am going to stick to my budget, I am going to MAKE and stick to my monthly goals!! I am going to be happy and content with the choice I made to take a time out from my career to be with my children, for ME and MY family this is what we want and are willing to make the sacrifices that come with that.

Recent pictures

The Jackson family...watching football

story time...


Playing!!
JUBILANT JACKSON'S!