daddy's home!

One of the most difficult parts of relocating a family is often the job holder is expected to begin their new role immediately - long before it is feasible, or realistic to move their family across the country.  Such is the case with us....once again.  Hubby has been working in Portland for the last two weeks.  I was lucky to travel to Portland and see...

fun things to distract me from what i really should be thinking about....

Our family's relocation is definitely consuming much of my time these days.  But in the midst of a brutal Minnesota winter, I find myself dreaming of spring fashions and....... home decor{of course}.  Here are some of the things I am lovin' these days: First, trouser jeans!  They're back for spring, yippee!  For girls like me who are blessed with perfect "birthing hips" they...

....my "to do" list.........

Well, i am back and feeling a bit overwhelmed by......EVERYTHING

Don't get me wrong, it is all good.

Our family, who's mantra has always been "Bloom Where You're Planted", is returning home....being "re-planted" so to speak.  I still can't believe it sometimes. 

But being in Portland last week, visiting schools for my girls, made it REAL.

My "to do" list is long:

1. Meet with yet another real estate agent {no offense to realtors out there, but I strongly dislike the sales techniques of many realtors, borders on used car sales-like tactics!}
2. Meet with the movers - allow them to do a "survey" of all of our STUFF.
3. Clean/de-clutter for photographer coming to take pictures for the MLS listing {oh, don't you worry, I will link when we hit the web!}.
4. Fill out school applications for the girls.
5. Oversee big girl's essay writing for her school applications.
6. Begin REALLY cleaning out closets.
7. Get Minnesota house listed by next week.
8. Workout {I must not let moving get in the way of taking care of me}.
9. See local friends (it is so cold in Minnesota and I can become a bit of a hermit}.
10. Make sure my girls are handling all of this ok.
11. Welcome hubby home on Friday!

I found inspiration today when I read a post by a very good Portland friend who happens to be a professional organizer.  Her words provided some much needed perspective to me as I find myself becoming  increasingly overwhelmed with all that faces our family in the coming months.  I think you all might find it interesting too, go check it out here. 

does size matter?

I am getting on an airplane... tomorrow. I am leaving my two girls in the care of a friend {and not a family member} for the first time.... ever. I am heading to Portland, Oregon to visit private school options...... which will dictate where we will ultimately live. Step one in this move. We are encouraged by the first couple showings we have had {without officially listing our house, yet}. One...

multiple personality disorder....

Relocating back to a community you love and is familiar to you makes things SO much easier.  It is also fun to find out a couple of your former homes are for sale!  You can go here and see when I was in my "bigger is better" phase {also my red phase - yes, I picked out that red dining room wallpaper and the Ralph Lauren plaid in the den/office}.  It was/is a beautiful home but it...

It's going to be ok.....

First, thank you from the bottom of my little heart for all of the encouraging words, well wishes and general support left in the comment section on my last post.  I am blown away by the support from all of you, it certainly helps me muster my mojo! It has been a busy week.  And while I did say in my last post that our girls are excited about the news of our move, that is not to say...

Forever*Cottage~an announcement....

I have written and re-written this post a thousand times in my head during the last couple weeks.  And as I finally sit down this evening to actually write it, with a glass of wine at my side, I still don't have a clever, or more interesting way of saying what I have to say..... How about I begin with some history? I began blogging almost three year ago - hard to believe really. ...

with eyes wide open ~

your days are yourlife in miniature. as you live your hours, soyou create your years.as you live your days, so you craft your life.what you do today isactually creating yourfuture. the words you speak, the thoughtsyou think, the foodyou eat and the actions you take are defining your destiny~shaping who you are becoming and whatyour life will standfor.small choices lead to giant consequencesover time....