The last 48 hours just about did me in.  But I keep coming back to that famous saying, “That which does not kill you sends you to the madhouse.” 

You see, I got this phone call many weeks ago. I was just returning home from Tahoe, and heard a voice on my answering machine, saying something about a magazine and “. . . your home is lovely and we’d like to talk to you about a photo shoot . . .”  I listened and listened and thought, oh geez, one of my friends is crank calling me, ha ha ha ha. 

Then I listened some more and this lovely voice sounded completely legit.  So I picked up the phone, and guess what?  It was Better Homes & Gardens.  Wow.

So for the last two months, all my Christmas stuff has still been up in my house. 

I’m convinced that my neighbors must think I’m absolutely cuckoo.  I can hear them now.  “What’s wrong with that family?  It’s February, for goodness sake, take your Christmas tree down!” 

So I’ve suffered the shame of the neighborhood for a photo shoot in BH&G’s ‘Christmas Ideas’ magazine, taking place in my house on Thursday!  “Excited” does not begin to describe.

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I really really enjoy Superbowl Sunday.  I love the excuse to sit on the couch eating game day food and watching the big showdown.  I’m usually bored by the halftime show (this year was no exception), but I always look forward to the commercials.  This year’s commercials were unfortunately a big disappointment, but one in particular made me laugh. 

I think it’s because I can’t get enough of a good ‘Before’ and ‘After’ ~ this is a clever take on all those HGTV shows I love. 

“It totally opens it up, we gave it a fun vibe, clearly this is a room people want to hang out in!”

Watch for the pan from ‘Before’ to ‘After’ ~ loved it. 

I think many men wish it would be just this easy! 

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers! 

Do you watch the Superbowl?  What did you think?

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I was determined this month to spend very little time, and absolutely no money, bringing the feel of fall into my home.

Why should I rush to the retail stores when the autumn leaves that were starting to turn on the branches in my own backyard provided all the inspiration and free fall decor I truly needed?

Over the summer, there was a lot of unnecessary *stuff* that had accumulated around our house.  I think this happens to most of us, regardless of our ‘clutter free’ intentions.  

The *stuff* in my home clung to baskets, and hid in dark corners where it thought it could hide. 

The *stuff* was wrong.

Several weeks ago, I purged my home of all things unnecessary in my continuing quest to live simply.   I find that when my home is clutter free, organized, and clean (a rare trifecta, to be frank), the pace around here flows a lot smoother.  Piles of meaningless *stuff* always overwhelms me.   Taking care of the *stuff* takes me away from taking care of my family, and that I cannot stand.  

As I scoured my home during the purge, I marveled at how much *stuff* seemed to find its way indoors.  In a merciless two day cleansing sweep, I brought all that was meaningless to the garage, keeping only what was beautiful, sentimental, or useful.

After a successful yard sale a few weekends ago, I’ll admit, I’ve been enjoying the bliss of a decluttered home.  A home filled only with the things that I love, or that I’ve collected over time.  The things that are nostalgic ~ the things that I’ve treasured for years.

That includes holiday decorations from years past.  I was determined this autumn season to not focus on spending.  To not run out and buy accessories that I simply didn’t need.  To appreciate, and use, what I already have. 

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I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired in my life.  My brother and sister-in-law deposited their three children on my doorstep last Friday.  Grinning ear to ear, they promptly departed, and didn’t return to pick up their darlings until this past Tuesday afternoon. 

I’m totally wiped.  I’m completely beat.  And I bow to any Mom with more than two children in their custody, especially if they are rambunctious adolescent boys.  

That said, I do declare I love being an Auntie.  To me, being an Auntie must be like being a grandparent. 

I get to spoil them with treats and delight in their mischief, then happily hand them over to their parents at day’s end.  Now that I enjoy.

There’s a local novelty sweet shop they beg me to visit.  Call me irresponsible, but I indulge them. 

There they buy very boyish treats like monster gummy snakes.  I marvel how they possibly digest them, even if snacked on over the course of a weekend.  

My nephews live for harmless pranks to play on obliging older cousins.  

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