I Haved Moved

After 3 years on the watsonfam2007 blog, I have moved to a new one with an easier address!

iloverosemarywatson.blogspot.com

It will be filled with all the things and people I love, and I hope you join me as we enter in a new year, and a new decade that is sure to be filled with inspiration and creativity! Bookmark the new blog!

New Years Resolutions- Part 1

Is it just me, or by December are you pretty much stretched too thin? With me I lose a lot of the happiness and passion of being a mom/wife and it becomes a repetitive and boring job that I have little will to spice up. I'm sad to say that most of December for me was spent on the couch in sweats and my husband t shirts with no bra, no makeup, and my hair pulled up in a giant knot on the top of my head. My kids pretty much watched tv all day and I feel like there was no excitement in our lives until Christmas came. This may all be due to the fact that I am 6 months pregnant with twins, but it made me seriously depressed to feel so blah. So even though my energy and range of motion is significantly limited, I have vowed to get out of my funk and celebrate life again. I'm going to make my family breakfast instead of pulling out the cereal or yogurt (as I type this, Braden is dishing out yogurt for our kids out of habit.) I'm going to turn the dang tv off and read some books to my kids, and I am going to actually get dressed in the morning and maybe even put some makeup on my face every once in a while. Sounds easy, but it's actually a pretty big deal for me.

One big thing is that I want to cook more and try new things. So, I have searched around and found a handful of food blogs that I am going to share with you all so you can start the New Year with a ton of new recipes to try out and impress everyone with. Hooray for cooking!

Smitten Kitchen is an awesome one that has insane recipes from Homemade Crackers to a Make Ahead Brunch Menu to an evil looking Butterscotch Sauce. She has even made a Kitchen Guide so you can start stocking up on all the tools it takes to make your own Smitten Kitchen. I love lists like these, even if it is going to take me months to save up for her chefs knife. I really love her because she cooks seasonally, so you always have the perfect recipe for things that are in season and they are always practical, like a winter fruit salad and pear bread.

Of course, I love the Pioneer Woman's recipes (I have her cookbook signed, by the way!) since they are so down home and delicious. I have made her cinnamon rolls, garlic mashed potatoes, and steak recipes over and over and over, but I really want to venture out and start making some of the staples she has listed in her cookbook. I mean why haven't I made the Chocolate Sheet Cake or the Braised Short Ribs yet? What is the matter with me? I think I have to make a vow to cook at least one thing from her cookbook every week and cook through the entire book by next year. Yes, I will do it.

If baking is your thing, and you haven't checked out Tongue In Cheeky yet, where the hell have you been? Brooke is darling and her recipes are fun, delicious and well, cheeky. Perfect for kids too. Some really fun recipes I want to try are her Breakfast Syrups & Elixers, and her Triple Decker PB & J's. I'm not even going to go into her cakes & cupcakes (but I will remind you that the Nie Nie Chocolate Mascarpone Cake is her creation.)

And if you really want to get crazy, (I know I do) you can check out Steamy Kitchen's recipes for some delicious looking Asian fare. I have never cooked asian food, and I have promised myself to branch out and be brave. She doesn't just do asian food, but her Broccoli Beef Noodle Stir Fry and the Chinese Chicken Salad look like good starter recipes for my Asian Adventure.

Also, I really want to start getting organized with my cooking and being prepared for my week ahead of time. Braden is only going to tolerate running to the grocery store 3 times for a certain recipe I'm making for so long. I want to have a well stocked pantry so I can whip stuff up whenever I feel like it and have things prepared ahead of time so we can all eat well even if I'm tired. So if anyone knows of any other food blogs that will help us all get more efficient in the kitchen, send them my way!

Hello Again

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. Ours was crazy busy seeing all our family and lugging around the gazillion toys my kids received, but it was great seeing everyone. Honestly, though, I'm just glad it's all over. I always feel like the year really ends with Christmas, and the rest of December is spent preparing for the coming year. I love a fresh start, so I'm excited to announce that I will be moving to a new blog!

The blog address is a little easier to remember, and it's going to be filled with all the things I love the most! I figured it was time since I spent the last 3 years at this one. Wow, time really flies when you have kids. Anyway, I'll be posting there on New Years Day so remember to switch over your bookmarks so you can keep up with all the fantastic stuff I have planned for next year!

I probably won't post tomorrow, since it's my birthday and everything (I'll be 25, crazy!) but Monday I'll be here getting ready for the big move and for my sister's wedding on New Years Eve!

Christmas Break

I'm going to be pretty quiet here until Christmas, trying to get my life organized before all the craziness ensues. I'll be back next weekend though, with lots of big announcements so remember to stop by on Christmas!

Until then, I'll leave you with some awesome Christmas craft/decor ideas that can carry through to the New Year and beyond! I've made a few of these, and am in the process of others, so once it's all put together I'll put pictures up so you can see my version of all this stuff! I am so into the vintage book page decor lately, and I have seen so many gorgeous things all over the internet. Enjoy.

I made this wreath from Living with Lindsay and am waiting for my large vinyl frame to come in so I can hang it up in the center.

Braden hates it, but what does he know?

I also hung up some cute paper chains in our kitchen bay window and they look darling. However Braden broke it yesterday when he was trying to swat a fly in our house, so here is what it looked like before the destruction:

photo from Domestic Bliss

I plan on making these modge podged glass ornament with my old book paper. Margie made hers with tissue & vintage text paper, which is cute too. I think I'll add some of Martha's clear glitter to mine as well.


Speaking of Margie, her e-book Vintage Hip Christmas Crafts looks so amazing, I want it so bad. Actually, I'm going to buy it once I'm done with my post, since it's $6. What a steal


Oh, and check out these darling paper mirrors. I saw these at Blissfest and about died. The tutorial is here


And of course, Rhonna has done a TON of cute things with book pages. I love these rosettes she made. I have a bunch made up for a banner I'm finishing. Again, once done, I'll post some pics.


The great thing about this whole vintage book paper thing is that is can carry on to other holidays or even jsut everyday. I know I'm keeping up my stuff for a while, and adding this for Valentine's Day.


I can't remember where I found this picture, but it's a great idea so I have to share. If you've seen any other awesome paper crafts, send them over to me! I'm determined to cover my house in them (even though my husband thinks they're dumb).

Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String

Or with cute Christmas-y labels.


If you need to mail anything out, feel free to use these cute little labels I whipped up using House of 3 Christmas brushes.

Packages to Auntie Mel, Auntie Jen, & Amanda are on their way so make sure you guys all check your mailboxes for some sweet Christmas packages! Love ya!



And, if you really love brown paper packages tied up with string, you should check out Divine Twine's shop. They have THE most fabulous butcher's twine- I want every color. These will last me all through next year for so many different crafts!

***PS: Dear Santa, the price for my lime green VW bus has just been dropped a thousand dollars. Just sayin.

Dear Santa:

My Christmas List consists of the following. Please feel free to pick any or all and stick them under my tree on Christmas Eve night.

A Silhouette Digital Cutter


A Wacom Bamboo Craft Tablet



A Yudu Personal Screen Printer


This bedding


This Apron


This giant food processor (for pie crusts)


And last but not least, this VW bus to tote around all my babies.


Many Thanks,
Rosemary

Christmas Vacation

Due to the fact that I have a loaded schedule now until January 2nd, I've decided that our Handmade Parade Etsy shop will be going on vacation until Monday, January 4th.


So, we will be having another 50% off sale now until Monday, December 14th for all items that are in stock and ready to ship! Act quickly because you won't be able to order after the 14th!



And don't worry, the shop will re-open with a bang in January with a whole bunch of fabulous new things that you will fall in love with!