Ahhhhhh Linen

I have a new love.
Shhhh...don't tell Bill.
Let's just keep this a secret.
Ya know...between me and you~
Some things in life are just not meant to be shared.
What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

RIGHT???

So are you ready for my new love to be announced?
Try to keep it on the down low OK?

Ok.....so here I go...

My new love is:

Linen aprons.

I was just poking around Etsy and this is just a few that I found.

Front

Back

This has to be the cutest skirt/apron I have ever seen in my entire life.
If you want it go here.
*sigh*

Doesn't this apron make you want to get your kitchen dirty with flour.
Just imagine all the yummies that could be made while wearing this amazing piece.
If you love it you can find it here.

Seriously, I just love the pink string with the cream lacey pocket.
Find this darling apron here.
As an added bonus...it's on sale. YAY!!!

Oh no...how do I get all three of them without Bill noticing a thing.

This is the convo I was having with myself.

Ok, Maisy, this is how it's going to roll...
You are going to have some self control.
You are going to step away from your computer.
You are going to go hide all your plastic.
You are going to breath.
Yes, Girl, in your nose out your mouth.
That's good.
Ok, Maisy, How do you feel???

I WANT AN APRON!!!

The BIG surprise will be what I end up ordering.
Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe........

Happy Monday to all and to all a GREAT day!!!

Keep Out

This is a post I have given great thought to.

My blog is very personal to me.
It exposes me.

It brings you into my HOME.
It brings you into my FAMILY.
It shows photos of my KIDS.

You probably don't know this but....... I am actually a recluse.
I like to stay home.
I LOVE privacy.
Have I ever mentioned that I am wired pretty funky??
However, the older I get the more I just enjoy being ME!
The more I'm willing to just accept who I am....not the person I have spent almost 40 years creating...but the actual person I was born to be....THE HAPPIER I AM!!!!

Now with all that being said....
I know there are people out there who read my blog that are no longer part of my life.
This blog was not meant for them to keep tabs on me.
It was meant for ME!!!....and of course all my new super duper blog land friends.
Some of you I actually just call my friend.
It was meant for me to have some sort of outlet as I continue to work through some of life's tough stuff.

So, to all the people out there...and you know who you are....who are not a part of my life, my kids lives or my families life, once and for all BUTT OUT!!!!

I was going to change my blog name but decided this is MY blog.
You are MY friends.
This is MY life.

I am so happy you are here with me.
I'm so happy that I have some incredible women in my life that we can all go on this roller coaster of life together.

Have a great weekend and THANK YOU for allowing me to continue to KEEP IT REAL!!!

I SAID...DON'T TOUCH!!!!!!

Am I the only one??
Honestly, I have a hard time believing I am.
Well, since I did say honest in the last sentence I wouldn't be shocked if I was.

There are things in my house that are off limits.
That's a weird concept for the other member of my family.
They don't get it because we are a "no need to take your shoes off, kick your feet up on the furniture....even with shoes on and no need for a coaster on our tables" kind of family.

This took them by surprise...

I now have items that CANNOT be used for their purpose....
or any other purpose than to look nice.

For instance:






Don't even consider opening this french lemon water.
I had to lay the law down with my brother-in-law when he was in town from California a few weeks ago.

Test me on this family.
If these towels get used there is going to be some real hell to pay.
I know they are right outside the shower door.....
If you can't handle it try using YOUR bathroom for a change.
Sheesh

These are just the most darling sale & pepper shakers that I picked up at Target.
I actually place them in my kitchen like they are being used as s & p shakers.
This one actually has me wondering about myself.
(sorry about the dark photo...not sure what happened there)

NOOOOOOO these are not Bingo balls.
NOOOOOOOOO they are not marbles with letters on them.

They all really don't get it.
Thank God they love me and just look past all my little weird things.

What does your family look past??

I am going to do an entire post about this.
They really are a patient group of people.
To think...they actually like me.

Another Baby

Ok, so I had my baby....the Kitchen.


Now Bill get's his baby.
A new patio.

I have to be honest.....
I'm also really excited about it.
Oh crap, I didn't want Bill to know that.
Sure hope he doesn't decide to have this be the day to stop in and read my blog.

I can't wait to see what it is going to look like finished.

We just want it to be done for the Fourth of July.
We want to have the christening of the patio on that day.
I can just imagine it now....
Lot's of people....lots of food and lots of drinks.
I think I have to use that jar.

My last thought on this though is....
My baby is about half the price of what Bill's baby is.
Does that mean I get to just make up the difference with more painting????
Let me know your thoughts.

My final, final thought is this...
when we moved into this house a little over two years ago Bill and I had a conversation that went like this:

Bill: If we move into this house is there anything that needs to be changed?
Maisy: Nope. How about you....do you think anything needs to be changed?
Bill: Nope. That's great. LET'S MOVE!!!!
Maisy: WOO-HOO...we're moving... !!!

Since we have moved we have finished the basement, gutted the master bathroom (it was leaking into our kitchen), bought new family room furniture, painted the entire back of the house, just finished a landscaping project and to top it off put in a new patio.

Phew......
When this patio business is done I'm gonna just put my feet up and relax....until next year I'm sure.
Bill and I love projects.
We say we don't but I really think we do.

DO YOU LOVE PROJECTS?????

Done....BUT....Not Quite Finished

WELL............
It's finally frickin' done...
At least the painting part.

I'm ready to unveil the new Maisy Kitchen.
It's been a whole week since my last post....I know...I know..stop givin' me crap in your thoughts.

What I couldn't do while waiting for my space back:

1) cook dinner....shucks..
2) Enjoy my computer time with all you amazing people. That really did suck.
3) Relax in my family room. Didn't want the painter to think I lay around and watch TV all day.
Some of my secrets are meant to be kept for my girls only.

Speaking of the painter....
It's a bit Jerry Springer.....he is my husband's ex-wife's second ex-husband.
Did ya follow that???
He's a great guy. Wouldn't have had anyone else do this type of job. He's a perfectionist!

Sorry for the side story....
annnnnd I'm back.....

4) Have any private time for myself. I don't know about you but I need Maisy down time. BADLY!!!!

5) Cook dinner..,..shoot...how I hated that~
wait a minute....I said that one already.
6) Take a bath in the middle of the day just because.
7) I couldn't list anything at Maisy's Market. That was hard...Now I have to scramble to get all the amazing new things listed.
8) Finish the Twilight Series....Hang on...Hang on.. Hang on....I DID DO THAT!!! HAHAHA
(and I watched the movie 2X)

Anyway...you have all certainly waited long enough.....here I go.


BEFORE:
Bland and boring.

Very earth toney...( I just made up that last word. Pretty good huh??)

BOOOOOOORRRRRRING!!!!!!!


AFTER:

Bright and cheerful.
AHHHHHH!!!!

Perfect.

I'm going to line this bay window with pillows.
It will be so fun to sit here and watch all the storms that blow through Chicago.

This is what I see as I walk into my kitchen.
*sigh*

White, white, white....just the way I wanted it.
I still can't believe Bill agreed to this.
He's quite the guy.

I have never had a window above my sink.
In this house I do. With the sweetest of sweetest curtains it looks perfect.

I'm still lovin' this canister set.....

Now....onto the next project....
Photos coming soon.

This is the year to get things done...
Next year will be my time to sit and enjoy it all.

Until then, have a wonderful Monday.

Thanks for waiting for me for a whole week.
Did I mention how much I missed you?
If I didn't...this is a huge hug coming to you all the way from Winfield, Illinois!!

Sneak Peek

Just a quick peek into the new and improved kitchen.
I would show you the whole thing but it's not done.
DARN IT!!!!

So....I thought I would just tease you a bit.

Did ya notice...I added another piece to my inspiration piece.
She was loney. She wanted a mate. She wanted someone to talk to when no one is looking.
She wants a partner to pour water with. She hates being soooo pretty all by herself. She doesn't like being the center of my attention (too much pressure.)

As you can tell the lighting is different in every square inch of my kitchen.

It's on the list, Baby. Just add it to the list. You see, I think if I have lists there is more meaning in my life....I will have to do a whole post about that. That is way tooo much for this sneak peek.

Seriously, I will take tons of photos on Thursday afternoon when my house has just been cleaned by the cleaning lady. I'm too busy with meaning in my life to clean my house.

Well.....happy Monday.

ps..as soon as I find out what my meaning in this life is you will be the second to know..
HEY....settle down...I want to know first!
*sheesh*

~It's The Other Way Around~

You see, I thought it was the kids that drove us parents to the edge most of them time.

I think not.

This is how The Little Man feels about:




Eating his breakfast...

Cleaning up his toys....

and feeding the dog.






However, when I asked him how much he loves his mama...
he said......

THIS MUCH!!!


The moral to the story is this...
We drive them just as crazy as they drive us.
We want some slack....give them some slack.
We want them to be patient with us.....be patient with them.
We want them to feel sympathy for us....feel sympathy for them.
We don't want them to think we are perfect....don't expect them to be perfect.
We want lots of hugs....give them lots of hugs.
We want their love.....GIVE THEM DOUBLE LOVE!!!

That is not how this post was suppose to be.
It was suppose to be about how much I can drive Bradley crazy.
Then somewhere in the middle of it all that came out.

Oh well, sorry!!

Now I must go.
I have lots of slack, patience, sympathy, hugs and love to give.

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!

~Heck Ya~

I have been boo-hooing since about February that my sweet, darling, precious, ADHD son is going to all day summer camp for 7 weeks this summer.
Well, I am now on day 4 of......



This is what I have been doing......

Have I mentioned that this serious kicks some serious butt???
I completed one book yesterday and I am now a third of the way into the second book.
Wait...what was I suppose to do???
Laundry, pick up the house, call friends back, take the dog for a walk...
Heck no...these books trump everything!

Maybe, just maybe I will do some of this....considering this is exactly what I look like while laying hidden behind the bushes in my backyard.
I don't want the neighbors to be jealous. It would be awful...don't ya think??

I'm definitely doing some experimenting with these.
It's kind of my new passion.
Not only to find the worlds best cupcake
(just ask the girls that I went to the Farm Chicks show with....I had two while there)
but to bake the WORLDS BEST CUPCAKE!!!!!

I just don't think I can stay away from this store.
The last 2 days I have had to talk myself out of going.
Not sure how today is going to go.
I just can't seem to get enough of this place.
I always walk in not NEEDING anything...
I always walk out convincing myself I needed everything I bought.
I do that at Costco too.
Those darn big box stores.
They LOVE me~

I am also very committed to doing some gardening.
This type of gardening is right up my alley.
I don't have to worry about a single weed, rabbits or if it's getting enough sun.
Just pluck and eat.
Now that is complete perfection.

I will for sure do some of this...of course once the kitchen is done.
I actually think this photo is funny.
What the heck is she cooking....water with salt & pepper.
At least she has kept her families expectations low.
Now anything that she whips up they are happy with it.
Awesome strategy!!

and of course.....a few of these!! Nothing like ending a day of cooking, gardening and sunbathing with an ice cold, minty Mojito!

This is how I feel everyday.
It's a whole new beginning for me.
I have had my Little Man with me everyday for 6 years.
I get to start to reclaim my life back.

What would you do with your free time???
Please do tell....I need some ideas.
Can't ya tell???

Happy Thursday~

~A Peek Into Maisy's World~

Since the kitchen is getting painted we had to take the doors off the cabinets.

One word for you......WOW!!!!!

I have so much crap that doesn't match.
It's in the wrong places.
Maisy needs to get organzized.....in a BIG WAY~





On a light note...I love the color yellow!

Does any one family with only 2 kids in the house REALLLLLLLLY need to have that many water bottles?? Sheesh. You would think we were active or something??
Almost as if we go on long bike rides together just to get to the local ice-cream parlor.

To think that we actually fondue every New Year's Eve.
That's right, cheese..meat and chocolate fondue!!!
Jeez....we are so old school.
Does anyone else do that?

I really need to simplify and just get all white serving pieces.
"No Bill, seriously, I'm just doing everyone a favor so I don't confuse the kids when they unload the dishwasher that one special time a year."

Nothing like a cabinet for cookbooks, crayons & coloring books. Now, let's throw in some energy bars, Chuck-E-Cheese tokens (yes, that is what I do to expose Bradley to every germ in the world possible) and phone books.
Oh wait...I forgot garbage sticker and the dogs flea and heartworm pills.
Wow...I can't believe I almost forgot to mention the gardening books for the pond and the manuals that came with the house when we bought it.
I like to think of this cabinet at the "One Stop Shop" cabinet.

Keep in mind that every time I cook I swear like a sailor because I can NEVER find the spices I'm looking for~

This is hilarious.....Just look at that.
Pie pans, colanders, protein powder, baggies, muffin tins and of course the water jug.
Seriously, why do we need a water jug if we only drink beer, wine, coffee and pop?

Apparently, it's a bit much for me to stack my pans in a neat and orderly fashion.

This cabinet actually makes it look like I clean.
Nope, I have a cleaning lady~

Thank your lucky stars that I didn't even show you what was inside the drawers.

This is my family room empty.

I better get going...there is a lot to do around here.

Happy Tuesday....

I'm so happy to be back with all of you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!