Gray skies bring out the hipster in me.

  

I find it much easier to be fashionable in the winter.  Don't you?  Boots. Skinnies. Shirt. {P}leather coat.  Scarf.  Maybe a hat.  Done.  So what if it only varies slightly each time right? The only person who sees me on a regular basis is Darin.  And lets be honest.  He is stoked to see me in that cuz I don't have sweats on ;) And being monochromatic is very hip of me don't you think?  

Sometimes a pop of color is good though. Yes?   As soon as I saw this sweater at H&M I knew it was coming home with me.  I'm pretty sure I have wanted it all of my life.  It is kitchy, it is coral-y red and the reindeer are perfectly Scandanavian.  Which goes really well with my Scandinavian coloring.   Speaking of which Ivy has informed me that my hair is not blonde.  Sniff.  Its just the Instagram filter sweetie. Don't let the Walden fool you.  Also if you want to feel really good about your *rear view*  just try on clothes at the Washington Square H&M in Portland.  The mirrors will do your body image good.  Seriously.  

And to get Ivy back for the non-blonde comment I'm posting a picture of her five year old fashion sense. This was her awesome church attire on Sunday.   I failed to teach her not to wear socks with sandals.  But apparently she picked up on the whole monochromatic thing. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank You Cards {free printable}

I feel like I am saying thank you so much these days which is a good thing.   I don't mean because its Thanksgiving and we are feeling more grateful than usual.  I am just blessed to have so many great people in my life that uplift, inspire, and help a girl out every once in a while.  I made a thank you card to give to a couple people.  I just printed them out on kraft paper and wrote a little note inside.  Feel free to grab a bag of Cadbury eggs to give along with your card.  Yes I saw them, just today in Christmas colors.   Crack I tell you.  

And since this is my 400th post I thought I would thank you too.  You can download {for personal use of course} your own thank you cards HERE.   Print, cut and fold and don't forget the cadbury eggs! 

Thanksgiving Break Activities

SOoo, hows it going?  We are just hanging out around here.  Really.  Ivy had school yesterday.  And thats it for this whole week.  One day.  And then no school next week. Every kindergartener should have two weeks off for Thanksgiving right?!  Since there is no school I'm gonna have to keep her entertained.  Luckily I can give her a coloring book and she is good for a couple hours so I can get laundry done and clean the bathrooms.  I knew this long break was coming too so I've been hunting for some fun Thanksgiving activities we can do together while she is home.  Of course I found some other fun stuff that isn't so much for kids too.   

Source: ashleyannphotography.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I've been wanting to make these with Ivy for awhile.  I'm thankful that others take pretty pictures to remind me!  DIY Birdfeeders from Ashley Ann.

This cute  printable thanksgiving day pack from Pizzazzerie even has a leftovers tag to send your guests home with leftovers in style!

If you want something a little bit different these free Thanksgiving printables from The TomKat Studio are gorgeous.  I love the brown and white simplicity of the whole thing. 

Fiskars has some fun decorations for the kids table .  I made the crayon holder pilgram hat already.  My budding artist is in love.

This Little Indian Party from Dear Lizzy would be a fun way to spend a cold day inside.  So dreamy.  

I still love this felt leaves garland from A Beautiful Mess.  I bet even littler hands could help with this easy fall decoration.

This gratitude garland from Somewhat Simple is lovely.  

I'm going to use some of our extra time to get a jump on our holiday gifts this year.  We are going handmade this year.  The Craftpack e-book is filled with tons of printables and projects.  I'm thinking the lumberjack breakfast kit would be a great hostess gift.

Hope you are enjoying the calm before the holiday storm this week!

Our Adoption Profile

Three years ago as I watched Ivy open Christmas presents I got tears in my eyes.  I just looked at Darin and said she needs brothers and sisters to share this with.  Over three years I have started and stopped and wished and faltered.  Seasons and years have gone by and it came down to me staring at the computer screen crying because I don't know what to say.   Too many emotions to put in to telling someone PICK US.  Pick us.  Please.  And then Darin says let me have a turn.  And its done.  In ten minutes.  How do boys do that?  

It has taken  us almost three years to finally finish.  Thank you to every single person that has prayed, and pushed and cheered us on to get it done.  Our adoption profile is now online to view.  If you or someone you know is looking to place their baby for adoption, maybe think of us.  We are so grateful to you.  

Happy Birthday D.

darin birthday from Darin Warnick on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday D.  I fall in love all over again with you every day.  So much of my triumphs come from you supporting me and cheering me on.   You step in and take over when my heart can't handle it any more. I am forever grateful for that.  Thank you for being the dad Ivy needs and the husband I always dreamed of.  I can't wait to spend forever with you.



photo credits...
Foto Novella
Stacy Marie Photography
Speckled Hen Photography

music... Ingrid Michaelson I can't help falling in love with you

Pumpkin Granola with Flax

Probably the question I get asked the most when talking about the 24 day challenge is What the heck do you eat?!!  And I always say uhhhhhm.  I don't know?  I think when your thoughts about food have shifted, what you are eating isn't something you get too excited about.  It is more about fuel and getting enough protein for me these days.  But I know it helps to get some new ideas from people when you are starting out eating clean so here is how my typical food diary looks.  I kind of rotate between the choices

Breakfast::

toast and a smoothie

oatmeal with either apples or craisins and sliced almonds

either kashi or pumpkin granola

english muffin with egg and avocado 

Snack::

cottage cheese and fruit

greek yogurt and fruit

Lunch:

Peanut butter and honey sandwich

salad

soup or chili

pumpkin granola

Snack::

carrots and cheese or almonds

Dinner::

fish and veggies

chicken and salad

toasted tuna

hamburger something

some kind of mexican thing

Snack:: 

frozen banana

If I have toast for breakfast I don't eat a peanut butter sandwich that day to cut out carbs.

I have been eating 5 meals and 300-400 calories a meal for so long I kind of have it down.  I mix these all up during the day too.  I am not opposed to eating breakfast for dinner.  Just not dinner for breakfast :)

Anyways one thing that I've been LOVING lately is Pumpkin Granola.  I make it from scratch every 10 days or so.  

Ingredients

2/3 cup natural applesauce

1 cup pumpkin puree 

1/3 cup pure maple syurp

1 tsp vanilla

4 cups quick cooking oats

4 cups old fashioned oats

1/2 cup organic dark brown sugar

1/2 cup ground flaxseeds

2 tsp ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp nutmeg

sliced almond

craisins

In a small bowl mix together applesauce, pumpkin, maple syrup and vanilla.  In a large bowl mix together remaining ingredients.  Add in  wet ingredients and stir until thoroughly combined.  On 2 lined cookie sheets spread out granola.  Bake at 300 for 40 minutes, stirring at 20 minutes.  After 40 minutes mix in almonds and craisins.  I just add a couple handfuls of each until the ratio looks about right.  Cook 20 minutes more.  Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.  

Enjoy!

Day 2:: Family as friends.

For the past 3 years I've done an I'm Thankful week with guest posts on this blog.  It was first one week, then two.  This year I'm making it easy on myself and posting each day!  Haha but its just going to be me this year.  If you want to follow along on instagram I'm joining lots of people in #thankfulnovember with the gals at eighteen25.  If you need some photo prompts for the month you can get them lots of places like The Idea Room , Fat Mum Slim and #novphoto366 from April Walker.  

Happy November!

Day 2:: Family that makes the best kind of friends. 

This is the why we live here.  And why we love it.  Cousins as friends.  Surrounded by em.  10 within 4 miles of us.  Probably 25 within 25 miles of us.  I lose count after that.  Second cousins and first cousins just so you don't freak out.   I suppose thats what happens when you are surrounded by farmers kids!  I'm thankful that Ivy can have friends that I know are good kids and I can trust at any time to help me out.  

Day 1:: The Library

Today I'm thankful for the Library.  Especially on rainy days.  And especially for books about whales and animals.  Ivy has decided she is going to be a marine biologist, specifically studying orcas.  It sounds so grown up of her, doesn't it.  Sigh.  She is in heaven at the library and obviously makes herself right at home when we are there.  She discovered the beginnning reader science section today and we came home with a big stack of books about dolphins and whales.  I think we will be experts by this time next week!  

{I'm joining the gals at eighteen25 for #novemberthankful on instagram this month.  You can get all the details and read about their fun idea to make a thankful book at the end of the month here.}