Part 2 -- What Makes a House A Home

I have moved a LOT in my life! 5 times in my first 5 years of life while Daddy was in the Army, then I lived in the same small Indiana town in the same house till I flew the coop for college (living in 5 different dorms/apartments during this time). After my college sweetheart and I married, we have moved 8 times and are getting ready for our 9th (and final) time!
I think that I could qualify as an "expert"!! :) LOL!!!

So, what makes a HOUSE a HOME?

When you first move into an apartment or house, it can be exciting! You look around at bare walls, start to wipe out cabinets, and begin to unpack those brown moving boxes, excited to re-discover all of your belongings again underneath the bubble wrap and newspaper. You may dream of a new decorating scheme, thoughtfully arrange your furniture just so, and begin rolling fresh paint on the walls. This house begins to feel more comfortable with each passing day...more "you"...more "homey".

Family heirlooms and artwork from your kids or grandkids get placed about and hung with care. A birthday is celebrated with candles and cake! First steps are taken, a tooth is lost, and lively dinners with friends and extended family occur. You decorate a little more, plant a tiny garden, and watch the neighborhood children play in your yard! Friends are welcomed with open arms for pie and coffee and great conversation. You may be sad sometimes here, or filled with joy here, or be gone for a while and realize that you miss being here. You live and laugh and love here.

And before long, you realize that you are HOME!

"Home" happens when memories are made.
When you love and are loved by friends and family in return.
When your shelter from the elements becomes a "shelter" for the heart!!


Next time, in Part 3 of our little series, I'll share some more specific ideas on making a HOME for your family! :)

Going From A HOUSE to A HOME

www.artbythomaskincade.com

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke

In starting a new "mini-series", if you will, of posts on
Going From A HOUSE to A HOME
I'd first like to know from YOU:

What truly makes YOUR house a HOME??

Family? A favorite item? Good cookin'? A certain place? A certain feeling?


Please share with us in the comments!

ps...Click on the Creating a Welcoming Home link under "Inspiration" in my left sidebar for more "HOME" ideas and inspiration!! :)

Yum, Yummy, Yummers!

Welcome to the yummiest, richest, most buttery-golden-crisp, and easiest Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies EVER!

I found this recipe while browsing a wonderful food blog/gluten-free blog written by Shauna of Gluten-Free Girl. She is an amazing writer, and a good food lover, and also a gluten-free eater. Though, I dare say that anyone who swoons at a farmer's market over the abundance of fresh, in season goods will love her blog!

Last night my Hubby made these AMAZING cookies for us to enjoy!
If you want the recipe, click HERE for Gluten-Free Girl's Peanut Butter Cookies.
{side note: it doesn't say to do this, but we did the fork criss-cross thing on top before baking}

They were so good, that I might have had them for a snack this morning.
Right after my breakfast of Cocoa Pebbles.
Sue me. :)

That gave me an idea that was so good, I actually did a little happy dance!

Oh, yeah....

Peanut Butter Cookie & Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches!!!

Soften that vanilla ice cream up, and spoon it between 2 cookies.

Roll in chocolate chips (in retrospect, mini choc chips would probably have worked better, but you work with what you have...), and if they fall off, just smoosh them back on!
Place in a freezeable dish or plate, and freeze.

Oh, so good!!!
*insert licking of lips in anticipation*

And since this wasn't enough chocolate for me, I just added another dollop of ice cream on top and smothered that in choc chips!
Double sue me!!

Hubby and I are going to enjoy these later after lunch!

I hope that you enjoy!!
Thanks to Gluten-Free Girl again for the recipe!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Kid Stuff

Getting kids toys organized is no easy feat! Especially if you are trying to sell your house!


Here is what our "playroom" (our bonus room/4th bedroom) looks like:

It was furnished with things we already had, hand-me-downs, and some inexpensive newer items. The black hutch was given to us FREE by my sister. We just took the ugly frosted glass doors off the top. Now it can display some cute things on the shelves, and holds dress-up clothes in the bottom!


Does anyone remember having a console TV like this? Ha ha!! This TV has to be at least 25-28 years old! I should know, since I grew up with this TV since I was a kid! (And if you want to think that I am, say, 27 years old, who am I to stop you! LOL!!!) This TV will. not. die. And we aren't buying another/2nd TV till it does! The kids pretty much can't hurt the thing, so they have it to watch some TV and movies on.

Where are all of the toys?
Well, the majority of them are hidden neatly away in the red fabric bins flanking the TV!
When we moved here, I bought these inexpensive wire storage units from Target for like $14.99! You can configure them however you want. I also got the fabric bins there. (They still carry both of these items, and in different colors, if you are wondering!)
Each type of toy has it's own bin. For example, coloring books and crayons in one, Groovy Girls in another, and My Little Pony in a third. This makes it SO easy for the kids to put their toys away!


I also have a closet in this room that I put these same wire storage cubbies into, pretty much floor to ceiling! The kids' books, movies, games, craft items, etc. are in there, along with some of my extra decorating items filling out the top tiers!


I have honestly been amazed how neatly the kids have been keeping things! They have been really good helpers since we put the house up for sale! Our rule right now is, one type of toy/game/activity out at a time, and they must put that away before getting something new out to play with. And it's actually working!! Whoo-hoo!!! :)



I realize that most homes aren't able to have the luxury of a separate play space for kids. This is the first (and probably last) house where we've been able to do this!

In our other homes, we've used baskets on the bottom 2 shelves of bookshelves in our family room. And we've used storage items that can also work as end tables in a family room too! My philosophy is that a family room should be just that, for the whole family!! Many people also keep a toy box or small bookshelf for toys and books in the kids' bedroom.


A child just needs to have a dedicated space to keep play things, wherever works for your family.

How do you keep your kids' playthings organized??
Let us know!! :)

"Hello, My Name Is Stacey....

....And I'm A Moron."

Do they have help groups for this?
If so, sign me up!
I'm doing an intervention on myself!! :)

Remember when I was hurrying and not paying attention and did this:

Yup, sewed my own finger (which has healed quite nicely, thank you)
while making these bedskirts for my daughters:

Well, I've done it again.

(Nope, all of my fingers and toes are safe and sound.)

This time, I've hurt my house!

I got a call the other day that someone wanted to show our house.
Yippee!!!

You see this thing below?
It's my daughter's bathroom shower curtain.

Isn't it all cute and stripey and cheerful?

Now, this shower curtain is attached to a spring-loaded rod.

Did you know that this rod also has another use?

It can hold clothes and towels that are air drying.

But did you also know that if you are feeling sorry for yourself because you think that no one wants to see your house and buy it, and you don't do your daily checklist for getting the house in order,
that THAT is the exact time that someone will want to see it?!!

And that you will rush around,
and just GRAB those clothes off of the shower rod?

And that THE ROD WILL FALL OFF
and DO THIS:

It will take a nice big chunky CHIP out of the tub.

And now you have to call and pay for some kind of tub repair person to fix your dumb mistake.

Seriously, people.
*sigh*
You would have thought I had learned to slow down and pay attention after I had
"The Sewing My Finger Incident".
But it seems that I am hard-headed and don't learn very well!! :)

Now I am definitely going to:
1. Be prepared. (Good motto. They should really teach that to kids...;)
2. Take a breath and get things done in a timely manner.
3. Pay attention to what I'm doing.

Otherwise, I may drive us into debt with medical and home repair bills!!! LOL!!



Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to call a tub repair person and then eat some ice cream.
Ice cream makes everything better, doesn't it?!!