Homemaker Wednesday: Rainy Day Activities

Happy Wednesday my dear readers! For any of you mothers, nannies or babysitters reading this, my post today is about rainy day activities for children. Anyone watching a child on a rainy day knows how difficult it can be. Cooped up inside, water streaming down the windows and the little one or ONES running wild with too much energy and not enough to do! Yesterday morning was somewhat like this for me. Raining and an energetic little Baby Bird on my hands. So, here are a few ideas, some of which we did, to keep your little ones occupied on those rainy summer days!

Build a blanket fort in the living room

Read all their favorite books

Color a picture (and maybe add some stickers!)

Bake cookies or muffins... or a cake!

Watch an old Disney movie and sing along with all the songs.

And there you have it! Just a few ideas for some rainy day activities with the kiddos. Here's your song!

Enjoy your day my dear reader! Keep those smiles on! Until next time!

"A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods." ~ Rachel Carson

"There is little chance that meteorologists can solve the mysteries of weather until they gain an understanding of the mutual attraction of rain and weekends." ~ Arnot Sheppard

"I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains.  One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness." ~ Adeline Knapp

A Lesson

I hope you all had a good holiday. Mine was pretty leisurely. The past few days I've been kinda down and my mind heavy. And then I found this...

I need to remember this. Just because I'm in a bad mood doesn't give me the right to treat others badly. Heh, and I'm sure I'll need to remember this even more in the future. 


I hope your have a nice day. Keep your smiles on. Until next time.

Feminine Friday: Being Happy

Good morning my lovely readers! How lovely you all look in your smiles this morning. :) And today's post is about just that! Being happy! Personally, I think happiness is something every feminine lady should possess. It's quite essential! It's proven that a smile makes a lady more attractive than a frown. Lately, I've been thinking on the things that make me happy and for today's post, I thought I would give you a list! :) So, here it is! Things that make me happy:

- Silly Baby Bird smiles
- Pretty sunrises
- Good books
- Sunset walks
- Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
- Blog post inspiration
- Dearest Carl kisses
- Country drives
- Long handwritten letters
- Fresh flowers
- Floaty dresses
- Pink toenails
- Delicious recipes
- White houses with big porches
- Cuddling
- Pillow fights
- Old movies
- Date nights
- Lace
- A clean room
- Candlelight
- New shoes


What are some things that make you happy dear reader?

Well I'm off to save the world. Keep those smiles on! Until next time!

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

“Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste.” ~ Charlotte Brontë

“I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.” ~ Jane Austen

Wishlist Thursday: Wardrobe

Happy Thursday my dear reader! Today's wishlist item belongs in my wardrobe. I was quite happy to see the maxi dresses coming back in style this spring and summer! I've looked for them at Goodwill however all they have are the jean jumpers and old 90's patterns that aren't really that appealing (no offense to anyone who likes that style). But now! I walk through stores and my eyes are caught by colors and patterns all over! I recently added two to my closet for a fairly small price and they're my favorite items in my closet. :) One is purple and blue and the other is pink and orange. Bright and lovely! <3 Here are a few other maxi dresses that I like. :)

Simply lovely right? I thought so too. :) Here's your song!

Keep those smiles on! Until next time!

"A dress that zips up the back will bring a husband and wife together." ~ James H. Boren


"Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her." ~ Wilhela Cushman


"The dress must not hang on the body but follow its lines.  It must accompany its wearer and when a woman smiles the dress must smile with her." ~ Madeleine Vionnet

Homemaker Wednesday: Organization Part II

Here we are again my dear readers! It's Wednesday, half way through another week. I don't know about you but it seems to have gone by so quickly for me so far! One thing I do love about my job is getting Friday's off so my weekend is actually 3 days. :) Score! 


Anyhoo, today's post is about organization again. Last week, I posted several ways to organize life. Well, this week I wanted to show you a few ways to organize stuff! :)

Clear plastic boxes to organize cleaning clutter.

Wrack behind a door.

A shelf above a door.

Tin cans turned sideways.

Now I love organizing. I don't know why it's such a thrill but I love finding new ways to make things look nice and clean and pretty! And I also have to start thinking apartment sized organization. These ideas seemed quite clever to me! :) Do you have any special organizing technique for your stuff that you recommend? 

Enjoy your day dear reader! Keep those smiles on! Until next time!

Monday Favorites: Pampering

Happy Monday all my lovely readers! It's another week and I have to say, I'm glad to be back at work. So much happened over the weekend and my mind is very busy with the good and the bad. Honestly, I'm looking forward to escaping into my book when Baby Bird goes down for her nap.

Anyway, today's post is about pampering! I'll admit.... being a girl, I love pampering. I love pampering other people and I love being pampered. Now maybe you're wondering what exactly I mean by pampering. Well, it's exactly what the dictionary defines it as: To treat with excessive indulgence. I love indulging people, buying them stuff, making sweet things for them, writing them letters, making them feel good about themselves. It's awesome. :) And yes, I do like being indulged myself. Getting flowers and letters, going out to eat, surprises, yeah, it's all good. Do you like to pamper people? If so, what do you like to do for them? How do you like to be pampered yourself? :)


Here's your song!

Enjoy your day and keep those smiles on! Until next time!

Feminine Friday: Table Manners

Happy Friday my lovely lady readers (and gentlemen if you're reading this too :) )! Today I wanted to talk about table manners! Table manners are a must for any lady and I'm sure all of you are familiar with many of them. Things like don't chew with your mouth open, put your napkin in your lap and keep your elbows off the table are common knowledge. But I bet you didn't know some of these table manners! :)

- Bread and rolls are broken off into bite-size pieces and butter is spread on each bite as you eat it.  Never use a knife to cut the bread, nor butter a whole slice at once!
- Once silverware is picked up from the table it never touches the table again.  Place it on the outer rim of the plate between bites, but never rest silver gangplank fashion, half on the table and half on the plate.
- Dishes are passed from left to right.
- Set any passed item, whether it's the salt and pepper shakers, a bread basket, or a butter plate, directly on the table instead of passing hand-to-hand.
- Never intercept a pass. Snagging a roll out of the breadbasket or taking a shake of salt when it is en route to someone else is a no-no.
- When your host or hostess picks up their fork to eat, then you may eat.
- Always scoop food, using the proper utensil, away from you.
- Do not use a toothpick or apply makeup at the table.
- Do not push your dishes away from you or stack them for the waiter when you are finished. Leave plates and glasses where they are.

Interesting huh! I admit I didn't know most of these and now that I do, I always notice when I or someone else does them. Good thing I live with normal people and not fancy snobs who would require these manners! :)


Enjoy your Friday and keep your smiles on! Until next time!

"Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson



"Etiquette is the fine tunning of education" ~ Nadine Daher

Wishlist Thursday: Dishes

Happy Thursday my dear readers! My weekend starts tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it because several big things are happening! Maybe I'll even be kind enough to update you sometime then. :)


Today's wishlist items are not really specific but more the idea in general. I've been seeing lots of pretty serving dishes that have little spots for specific things. Like these:

I used to wonder at the usefulness of dishes like these but now that I'm contemplating having a home of my own, I've found that I'd really like to have some! I plan on entertaining many friends of Dearest Carl and I at our home and I'd love to have these for parties and such.... gosh, even just for everyday use! :)

Well, I'd best be off to my lunch. Keep those smiles on my lovely readers! Until next time!

“Eating, and hospitality in general, is a communion, and any meal worth attending by yourself is improved by the multiples of those with whom it is shared.” ~ Jesse Browner

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting. In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea. I liked the Irish way better.” ~ C.E. Murphy

“Be it not in thy care. Go, I charge thee, invite them all; let in the tide Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.” ~ William Shakespeare

Homemaker Wednesday: Organization

Happy Wednesday my dear readers! Today's post is about organization! I am big on organization. I don't like clutter and the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude. And in 107 days, I shall have a whole house to care for! This being the case, I've been trying to drum up some different ways of organization for the different areas of a home. 


First, I've found a planner which I quite like!

For my personal needs, I think I want to recreate this! I can keep all my To Dos in order and my plans organized. However I'll still probably keep a large family calendar on the refrigerator for the benefit of those looking to make other plans. 

Second, I've found the most adorable menu planner!

I just love this idea! However I'm not sure I'll actually make it. What is more likely is a piece of paper with a weekly calendar printed on it, framed so I can write on the glass with a dry-erase marker. But we shall see. 

I think those two planners should cover what I need right now. If I need anything else, well... Pinterest has loads of ideas. :) What about you dear reader? Do you have any interesting planning ideas?

Here is your song. :)

Keep those smiles on! Mine sure is. :) Until next time!

"He who fails to plan, plans to fail." ~ A Proverb

"Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning." ~ Winston Churchill

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." ~ A.A. Milne

Monday Favorites: Flowers

Sooooo as you know, pink has been growing on me. And now, there are all kinds of lovely flowers blooming! Honestly, my loyalty to my pretty daffodils will never waver BUT.... peonies are definitely up there!

Soft, romantic, just simply lovely! What I would do for a beautiful pastel pink and cream bouquet of them in my room! *sigh* Ah well. Here's your song for today.

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!

"Earth laughs in flowers." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


"To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat." ~ Beverly Nichols


"Flowers really do intoxicate me." ~ Vita Sackville-West

Feminine Friday: Mother's Day

Happy Friday all my dear lovely readers! As we all know, the wonderful holiday known as Mother's Day is just around the corner! Only two days away actually. :) Now I just love Mother's Day! Why? Because mothers are so very special gifts from God! They have impacted our lives, biological or adopted, and have blessed us in so many ways, they deserve to have a day of pampering! Now as you may or may not know, I'm a big gift-giver. I just love coming up with the perfect gift for someone and watching their face as they open it and see them enjoy it. Being a big gift-giver, I've come up with a few Mother's Day gift ideas for those of you who may not be big gift-givers! Why not take a little time today or tomorrow and whip up one of these ideas? :)

The Mother's Day Gift Guide

A hand-painted flower pot

A picture of her and you when you were little, to remind her of the good ol' days. 

A pretty mug with her favorite tea (or cream and sugar if she's a coffee drinker)

A bouquet of peonies

A handwritten letter

A Barnes & Noble gift card, so she can purchase a new good read

Take her on a lunch date to Panera or another soup and sandwich place

Maybe you already have an awesome idea for your mom and if so, I applaud you! But whatever you choose, just make sure you let your mom know how thankful you are for her and how special she is! And don't forget to tell her you love her. :)

Enjoy your weekend and keep your smiles on! Until next time!

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." ~ Tenneva Jordan

"Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs... since the payment is pure love." ~ Mildred B. Vermont

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible." ~ Marion C. Garretty

Wishlist Thursday: Vacation

Okay so you know that I have this thing about travel. I do love where I live buuuuuut after so many cornfields and familiarity, I do long for an adventure someplace new. Earlier this week, we had one really hot day and Baby Bird wanted to go outside and play in the water. I don't know what it is but the smell of the sunscreen and the sound of water put together has me longing for the beach!!!

Boy do I have some wonderful memories of vacations on the beach with my family. Morning sandcastles, shell hunting, reading for pleasure, afternoon naps, card games, dinner on the patio, evening walks, sand, sunsets, salt water and of course the always present smell of sunscreen. Oh! And the stars over the ocean are incredible! *sigh* Yeah, that would be nice right about now.

Well, I suppose I'll just have to make do with my own sunshine. Oh well. Enjoy your day dear reader and keep those smiles on! Until next time!



“I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.” ~ Anon.



“I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.” ~ T. S. Eliot



“One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach; one can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few” ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh



“Play in the sand; splash in the water; get dirty; get wet. The beach is the only place my mom doesn’t get mad about me doing that stuff. Of course I love the beach!” ~ Dixie Dykens (age 5)

Homemaking Wednesdays: Summer Goals

Good morning my fair readers! Today I wanted to share my summer goals with you! I have a lot so I'll categorize them for you. Yes I'm that nice. ;) Heeeeere we go!

With Baby Bird
- Have morning devotions with her every morning
- Pray before meals
- Teach her Bible songs (He's Got The Whole World, Jesus Loves Me, etc.)
- Do more crafts
- Get schedule to afternoon naps
- Read more books
- Have picnics in the yard
- Teach her colors and start shapes
- Cook treats with her

Wedding Planning
- Nail down decorations
- Keep my mom and grandmas updated
- Keep things organized
- Make the playlist

Personal Goals
- Finish reading the books on my shelf
- Do some of the hundreds of projects liked on Pinterest
- Make some of the food favorited on foodgawker
- Get more regular with my own morning devotions
- Figure out some breakfast food besides scones
- Get a library card
- Save money

So, there you have it. Goals for the summer. Optimistically, I'l get them all done. Buuuut we'll see. :) Here's your song!

Well I hope you enjoy your day and keep those smiles on! Until next time!

"If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else." ~ Lawrence J. Peter


"Goals are dreams with deadlines." ~ Diana Scharf Hunt


"What is not started today is never finished tomorrow." ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Monday Favorites: An Actress

Happy Monday my dear readers! Today is gray with some impending rain but nothing could possibly ruin my mood today! I look great, I feel great.... I AM great! :D


But enough about me. I have someone else to talk about today! Today's favorite is my favorite actress! This, ladies and gentlemen, would be none other than the lovely Audrey Hepburn! :)

Isn't she just wonderful?! She's elegant and sophisticated and just plan classy! Yeah, if someone asked me for the definition of "classy", I would say "Audrey Hepburn". None can compare! 

Favorite movies starring Audrey: When Paris Sizzles, Breakfast at Tiffany's, How to Steal a Million, My Fair Lady, Charade.... and probably everything else she's in too. ;)

What is your favorite Hepburn flick?

Ahh me. Good stuff. Well, enjoy your day my dear readers and keep your smiles on! Until next time!

“I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!” ~ AH

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” ~ AH