Happy Sunday

It is Christmas tree day in the Kunwar household! We will finally be trudging our way to a little tree farm nearby and bringing home a tall and stately but rounded in all the right places beauty to grace our dining room. Then I will able to finish decorating the house! It is so hard to get into the mood of decorating for Christmas without a Christmas tree already in residence and I can't wait to get started. Christmas decorations and cheer always seem to instantly create a comforting and home-y feeling. Although I will admit to being a little concerned with how our tree will fare this year with 2 cats (1 kitten and 1 mature who might as well be a kitten around Christmas trees...) and a 2.5 year old little boy who likes to think of tree ornaments as balls. Yes, that includes the ones that are not round and ball-like. As an extra precation all those that are round, ball-like and expensive will be hanging out near the top of the tree this year.

Another blogger, Deanna Raybourn, posted a question on her blog today that I thought I would borrow and post here as well (I hope you don't mind, Deanna!). What do you do when you get down in the dumps? Is there a special book or magazine that seems to comfort you? Certain spot or location? Favorite snack? Or is it a combination of all of these things? I personally like to snuggle up with Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery or Sabriel by Garth Nix with a bowl of ice cream (mint chocolate chip, preferably) and read uninterrupted. Country Home magazine usually brings an odd sort of peace, as well. :o)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Hello, Fall.

It's fully here! I absolutely love fall. It's so nice to see leaves on the ground and smell backyard fires...It just puts me in the mood for stews, dumplings, and apple cider. I really should know better than to try to lose weight during the summer and fall months!

I started switching things on our living room mantle yesterday. Down came the pictures and up went some Halloween decorations and by the end of the night I was completely frustrated. Something is missing and I just can not figure out what is still needed! I think I might need some gruesome-looking tall candlesticks...I forsee a trip to Goodwill in the near future. Honestly, I don't own a single pair of candlesticks, much less a gruesome-looking pair. Is that bad? I've always felt that a pair of candlesticks is a decorating must-have, no matter what the occasion. Hopefully I can finish the mantle tonight and show it off tomorrow...

Ta ta for now!

I've been...

MIA! I know I have...I'm sorry! We had a super busy week this last week and then this weekend we spent trying to get our house back in order and ready for Fall and Winter. Yesterday was spent cleaning and tidying up our back yard, which had become a little straggly. A portion of our fence was also knocked down during our last big storm and we finally started working on repairing it this weekend. We weren't able to finish yesterday but hope to wrap things up this coming week.



I haven't been able do any scrapbooking due to be being busy but also because I haven't printed any new pictures! I tend to print the pictures I want to scrapbook on a need basis only because otherwise I start feeling pretty overwhelmed! And I don't scrapbook in chronological order so when I do print pictures to scrapbook I usually just pick whatever strikes my fancy at that moment in time. It may sound odd and unorganized but right now this is what works for me! :o)



And since I've posted quite a bit lately about re-decorating Jonah's bedroom I thought I would share the bedding/theme that we have decided to use.

Cute, right?! I love it! And we know that Jonah will adore it. This weekend I was finally able to get some paint cards so we could make a decision on his wall color. I'll be posting pictures this weekend to show you our progress.

Have a wonderful Monday! Ta ta for now!

Houston, we have a problem...

We didn't have any power from about 10:30 this morning until about an hour ago! We had extremely high winds all morning that knocked out trees, power lines (sometimes these two together), roof shingles and basically anything that wasn't tied or cemented down. I discovered before the power outage that my poor little scarecrow girl had simply disappeared from my front steps. I'm hoping that she flew away to some nice new home with scarecrow-friendly owners and didn't get tangled into some random tree or bush upside down with her bloomers showing...I was tempted to do a search-and-rescue mission but I was still in my jammies and didn't want to startle my elderly neighbors (Note: jammies = no brazere!). Anyhoo, there was about a full hour today where I sincerely thought the three of us were going to do some harm to one another. Jonah simply could not understand why he could not watch "doggiesnemobugcar" (translation: 101 Dalmations. These four words are usually crammed together but the word said first indicates which actual movie he wants to watch...I know, it's hard. Not everyone can speak Jonah-ese...), Bishnu wanted to do something other than sit on the couch or dishes and I just wanted everyone to be happy so I could actually get some crafting time in without the distraction of the tv or technology! I started on some projects for Jonah's room so check back in tomorrow for a sneak peak!

Ta ta for now!

10 unfinished projects...

that are DEFINITELY hanging over my head! That is the subject of the 2peas Blogger Challenge today and it did not take me long to fill that list. In fact, on our refrigerator I currently have a list of projects to be completed for each room in our home, yard and garage! Bishnu looks at that list and just groans. I look at that list and can't hep but grin. I love projects! So, here is my current Top 10 To-Do List (not to be confused with my Honey-Do List which is completely separate):

1. Finish all current Jonah layouts that are in progress.
2. Print pictures and scrapbook Minnesota trip.
3. Print pictures and scrapbook Jonah's 2nd Birthday Party.
4. Print pictures and scrapbook St. Louis trip.
5. Email St. Louis pictures to best friends (who were also on said trip).
6. Finish altered gardening book and start planning for next year's garden.
7. Start decorating Jonah's bedroom.
8. Start decorating our bedroom.
9. Organize my scrapbook area.
10. Finalize details for my Young Scrapper's Challenge for Sunday on 2peas.

There you have it, folks. Actually, now that I am thinking about all of this I am slightly daunted. Well, actually, very daunted. Is daunted a word? No? Hhm....

Anyways, I need to get going quick-like on some of this or it will never get done! Thanks for the motivation 2peas bloggers!

Ta ta for now!

I've been doing a lot of...

shopping. Well, window shopping, that is. One of our ongoing projects right now (the one of many, I assure you...) is Jonah's room. We decided not to touch it when we moved into the house, knowing that he would be moving from his crib into a "big boy" bed fairly soon. So all this time I've been keeping an eye out for decorating ideas and found one that would be perfect! I recently found bedding offered at both Pottey Barn Kids and Target that is adorable AND affordable.

This Camp Bed is from Pottery Barn Kids and matches the bedding perfectly. I WILL NOT list the price for this bed (which almost gave me a heart attack) but will say that it is definitely out of our price range. I love the design and color - very boy-ish! And it would suit him for toddlerhood through his teenage years. *sigh* So I have been searching for unfinished wooden beds or a cheaper version of this same style in hopes that I can find something similar. I haven't given up hope but I did find these two (*psst* Look below!). They are Captain Beds (don't you love how they all have names and themes?) and just beyond cool! They have shelves and cubbies and all

sorts of little places to store little boy things. And these would definitely do well into his teenage years, also.

Look at that little door! Adorable! So now you see my quandry...cars theme vs. boat theme? What's a mother to do?! Please let me know your opinions, readers. I need them. Please help!

Ta ta for now!

Wow! It's been almost a week since I last posted...but it's not my fault! I promise! Our internet connection at home has been terrible this past 5-6 days. We will have a connection for about 2 hours and then *poof!* it's gone. Bishnu has been working on it at home and trying to figure out but nothing has worked for an extended period of time.
We went up to Indy this weekend for a bbq at Brea and Stephen's house. Actually, Bret, Jonah and I went up to Indy. Mom and Bishnu had to work and Dad had already decided to go to a dinner/fundraiser for an old work friend. And as usual when Bret, Jonah and I are out together, people assumed that he was Jonah's daddy. *sigh* Dang Bishnu's schedule! Anyways, I'll see if I can get some pictures from others that were there (Bret forgot his camera) and post what I can.

We're searching for a twin size bed for Jonah. I've been pricing them online (cripes! they're expensive!) and of course I would love to get the one from Pottery Barn that they feature with the bedsheets we're getting Jonah but we also wouldn't be able to pay several bills after buying it soooo...I've been trying to find one that is made out of unfinished wood so I could do what I wanted to it but I'm not having much luck finding one of those either. Wish me luck and cross your fingers for me!

And on my last note - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGGIE! *smooch* Hope you had a good one!

Ta ta for now!

Seek and Find Consignments

Several weeks ago Mom, Bishnu, Jonah and I were in Evansville for a shopping day when we came across this nifty little consignment shop, Seek and Find Consignments (http://seekandfindconsignments.com/). The shop itself is located a little out of the way of the main E-ville shopping region but it is worth the extra gas. Their website doesn't have nearly half of their invitory posted but has just enough to give you a taste of what treasures lay waiting inside their store. They only take items that are in very good shape and carry great furniture. The way they price items is a little different - the item is given a price when it first enters the store. A month later that price is slashed by 15%. After 2 months it is cut by 30% and cut 50% after 3 months. If it still hasn't been bought by month 4 it is donated to charity. I don't know about you guys but that is a pretty good deal considering some of the items in the store are brand new...The day we were there I spotted a cute little table and matching chair that would be perfect for my scrapbook space and I'm praying that it is still there when I go next. I highly recommend all of you (all 2 of you!) to at least go and visit this shop. You just might find something that suits your needs. Just don't go and buy my table and chair. :o)

Well, I've finally got some updated pictures of the house that I can post on here. Sorry it took me so long but we've just been crazy busy! We've painted the living and dining rooms and we finally got our stove this past Thursday. We still have a lot of things to do around here but I figure if we do a major project every year for the next couple of years we'll get there slowly but surely and without breaking our bank accounts. Here's the front of the house...We haven't changed a whole lot up here because the landscaping in the front was already done when we bought it. We've added the mailbox and a few potted plants on the front step and really, I think that's all it needs right now. It's simple but cute. I would like to add planter boxes at some point but they'll have to wait until we get some of the major projects done. I also would like to get some patio furniture for the front porch. It is such a nice space and we want to utilize it as much as possible. Don't you love these built-ins and fireplace? I do! I'm pretty sure these are original to the house. The fireplace is gas and we're going to have to have it inspected before we try to use it (not that we'd be using it anytime soon!) but it's going to wonderful to have during the fall and winter months. It's a shame that we have to put the tv where it is right now but we're wanting to get a wall-mounted one to hang over the fireplace. It's amazing...Bishnu and I both agree on a design/decorating element! Who knows when that will happen again....lol! Anyhoo, the couch is positioned on the opposite wall and the paint color actually looks darker than this. It's called 'Crisp Toast'. I haven't put any pictures or decorations on the walls yet. And <--- this is our dining room. Well, part of it anyways. There's not a whole lot in here right now because we don't have a dining room table yet. The corner that I stood in to take the picture holds our conputer desk and chair. Don't you love this blue? We do! It's not quite this intense in real life. I can't wait to get the table in here and start decorating. There is also a big bay window in this room so I'll be able to put up beautiful drapes. The light fixture came with the house. Aren't we lucky? :o) Just to give a feeling of the flow of the house - Jonah is standing in the living room in this picture. The other doorway leads to our bedroom (turn right), the upstairs bathroom (keep walking straight) and Jonah's room (turn left). Now if you were walking from the living room and wanted to go to the kitchen, you would just walk straight through the dining room and voila! There it is! Our kitchen is a really good size considering the house was built in 1920-something. This picture was taken before our lovely stove was delivered this past week so just imagine it in the lower left-hand corner. The curtains came with the house also but I'm probably going to change them because although the kitchen looks just fine the way it is, I'm going to be painting in here too! I'm thinking either a yellow or green for the walls, white for the paneling and I haven't figured out what for the countertop yet. I'm loving the ideas of concrete countertops right now. They are pretty affordable and the concrete people can add color tinting or recycled glass for a little sparkle. The recycled glass is where I'm kind of leaning and *surprise!* Bishnu agrees on that with me too. Man, we're on a roll here...But the concrete countertop will have to wait also because really, there is nothing wrong with the one we have other than it's blindingly white.

Well, I believe that's all for now. Bishnu just brought me pancakes and they're screaming at me from the plate. Have a nice weekend all!