Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Life as a domestic Engineer

I can't believe how many places you are all from. I'm especially blown away by all the people in other countries..........reading a little girl from Arkansas' blog. ha! That was so fun to read about where you live! You really did make me want to come visit you! Don't start listing off the best food where you live or I'll be gassing up the car!

So - I thought I'd share a few things I've done this week besides change diapers and singing nursery rhymes! After all - I'm not just a mom - I'm a Domestic Engineer!

We have this big wall in our dining room and so a few years ago I framed some botanical prints and hung them in a grid. I loved how it turned out - I was inspired by Ballard Designs.

But the prints are near a large window and have faded in color and lost some effect
So I got a new set of prints - they are bigger and brighter and I like them a lot!
Oh and by the way - at Ballard - a framed set of prints like this would be $300-$600.

I got these prints on e-bay for $15 (search for set of botanical prints), the mats came from Hobby Lobby half price (approx $12), frames were at Wal-Mart around $3 each. So I spent around $50-$60. Not bad.

On to meal time........we eat a lot of chicken. I am constantly looking for new ways to fix chicken. One of my favorite things to do is to go to www.allrecipes.com and go to the Ingredients tab and put in what I have on hand and search those recipes. Like last night - I knew I had some artichokes and some Parmesan cheese. I put those items in and I came up with a recipe and it was really good. So I put it on my recipe blog - if you like artichokes (and I really do) - you should try it!

Today instead of a picture of Harper - I thought I would share a little video. (yes I have a southern accent but I'm also talking in my "baby talk" voice so I sound a little crazy! ha!)



Also - MckMama wrote a great post today about a subject I've been struggling with lately - I've had a lot of people ask me about this - about God's sovereignty and our prayers. I couldn't agree with her post more.

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264 comments:

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Danyele Easterhaus said...

you all are so cute!!!! and i love the prints...love to decorate myself.

and i fell madly in love with mckmama's post today too...real words. never truer!

The B's said...

LOVE the Prints...think I might have to get some myself and LOVE the video!! I have finally video'ed Emma praying for Harper and will have to post it for you. You can't see anything because we are in the dark rocking before bed time but it is SOOO sweet. I'll let you know when I post AND I have a super GREAT and super EASY chicken recipe that I'm sure you will love. I just found it!

Buttercup said...

We all love you, too, dear Harper. The video made my day! Your botanicals looks great. I have some up in my bedroom and never tire of looking at them. Bought them for $3.00 years and years ago in a little store in Paris.

Pamela said...

The video made me tear up! Be sure to take a ton...I did some when my little one was that size, but I wish I had done more!

Lynn D said...

Tears of sheer happiness in my eyes as I watched the video. When Harper was so sick I left a comment about looking forward to the future and seeing a video of her - happy and healthy. That future is here and that video is just more proof that God is so good!

Immeasurably More Mama said...

How fun to hear your voice for the first time! Harper is a doll baby and the dining room wall looks great!

Tennille said...

Oh Kelly!!The vidoe is too cute- my 2-year old kept saying "oooo a baaaabeeee"!!
Harper is too cute and growing soo fast.

Angie said...

I love your blog and enjoy reading about your amazing blessing!!

monelle said...

Hi Kelly

Loved the video- I never thought once that you might have an accent. too cute!

You are so creative...

Monelle

caknitter said...

I love it! Thank you so much for sharing such a cute video of your little Princess. She keeps getting more adorable everyday. :-)

Mrs. M said...

I love her little breathing sounds she makes! It is so cute!

Ashley Brooke Designs said...

I love this!! just so cute!

Steph said...

The prints look so good but Harper really stole that post. She is adorable!!!! And as another TX gal, I have to say I couldn't hear an accent at all! :) God bless.

Lauren said...

Be still my heart!!!!! That video was precious and LOVE your southern accent!!!! And those pictures are adorable!!!!! :o)

Jennifer said...

Sweet title! Domestic Engineer, that rocks! Harper is so precious. It's amazing, the miracle of life. So sweet to hear her coo and to see her grin. It must make your heart melt every day that you wake up to her. God is so good. =)
Your accent is adorable! I'm from East TN and have an accent myself. Love it! Nothing like a good ol' southern accent. Just makes the world a better place, us southerners. *wink* God bless!

Anonymous said...

Tried the link to the recipe site and it didn't work. I looked at the link and you're missing a "g" in "blogspot". Put it in and it worked great. I love artichokes and chicken together!
These words never cease to amaze me. Chronologically they were some of the first words of Scripture ever written...praying so from Seattle right now!
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Prayer Bears
My email address

Gina said...

hey kelly-
been following you for a long time--before Harper and prayed through all of those first weeks with her being so sick.
NW Arkansas is the place I call home but currently live in Iowa. This may be my first time to comment but just wanted to say hi.
Great wall by the way. How did you get the pictures all so straight and perfectly spaced?
Go Hogs!
Gina

The Pelhams said...

Checkout www.supercook.com it pulls recipes from about 100 different recipe sites I can't believe how many ideas you get. Same thing, put in the ingredients we have on hand! My favorite site!!

Jennifer said...

I like the new pictures! How fun!

Cute video of Harper!

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

Loved the botanical prints in your dining room. Beautiful!!! The video was great too. It was fun to hear your voice. Don't worry, I have a real southern accent too!
Harper is precious! Love & blessings from NC!

Anonymous said...

Oh my word she is such a cutie!! I love how you can hear her kicking around those little feet. Thats what my sweetpea does, but she stops every time I pull out the video camera. Loved it!! Can't wait to see more Harper videos

mumameee said...

Awwwwww!!!! I want to get on a plane from Australia right now & come play!! Your accent is awesome! :) you make me smile....hugs for gorgeous, delicious Harper!!!!!! xox

C said...

I found your blog sometime around October 2008 and have been following ever since! I have never gone back to read anything before that until tonight. And I came across your February 1, 2008 post. Go back and read it. I bawled my eyes out! You will be putting your precious miracle in her Easter dress this very Easter. Kelly, I do not know you nor do you know me...but you have touched me and God has certainly used you to show that he is SO FAITHFUL and SO LOVING. I am just in total AWE. HE IS SO SO SO GOOD!!!!
Chas in FL

Jessica said...

Aww! Loved hearing your voice, Kelly! And Miss H too! Glad you are doing so well at home. : ) Thinking of you!

Adrienne, Another Ordinary Miracle said...

LOVE the dining room! I am a huge Ballard fan--their lined twill curtain panels are such a good buy, I get many of my decorating ideas from the catalog! I loved the way you made the prints yourself for so much cheaper :o)

Harper is just a doll. I would just stare at her all day long if I were you, and I'm sure you do! Thank you for sharing her with us!

Have a great rest of the week,
Owen's Mommy Adrienne

Jen S. said...

Kelly, Harper is soooo cute! I absolutely LOVED the video... thanks for sharing :)
Your accent is so awesome! I love it! I'm originally from North Dakota, and I definitely still have my North Dakota accent (remember the movie Fargo? That is exactly what I sound like!)
Anyhow, I enjoy your blog so much (& my 10 year old daughter does too!) and we look forward each and every day for your updates. Harper is a doll! Thanks for sharing all you do :)
Sincerely,
Jennifer

Amanda @ mammajoy said...

Love that wall of prints - nice work. Thanks for sharing that video - Harper is just beautiful and you have the sweetest mamma voice I've ever heard!!

Kristin said...

Oh my goodness! What could be better than a video of Harper! Precious, precious, precious! And I LOVE the country accent.....sounds just like my Texan accent. LOL!!

creative gal said...

Beautiful!!! Love the video!!

Anonymous said...

Kelly,

Thank you so much for posting about us! What a blessing.

MckMama:)

Marley and Bech said...

hey kelly!

i live in lilongwe, malawi (my husband and i are doing a year of short term missions here), and found your blog through angies blog (i think?) when harper was just born. i missed the post asking people to comment and tell you where they are from (the internet here is not always so reliable), so i thought i would now. like i said, i live in malawi, which is in southern Africa (between Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania). one of my favorite things about living here is going to the market to buy brightly patterned clothes (satinjis). and i think your daughter is adorable!

marley

Amber said...

That video is precious! Harper was so cute how she was "talking back" and saying hi. :) It was quite fun to hear your southern voice as well! Even if you do say it is your "baby talk" version. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

What and absolutely beautiful precious little girl. She is so sweet!

Julie H. Schaal said...

Cute Harper:)

Are your frames 8x8 square?

Sara said...

Hi Kelly your Harper is so sweet and your voice so gentle. I'm writing from Italy, near Milano. I'm cooking a good lasagna, slurp. We wait you for lunch, ok? :-))))

Sara.

Anonymous said...

Cute video. What a happy little girl.

Ps.
I tagged you in meme on my blog today.

Sharon said...

Love the new botanical prints. It's great when you make a little change and it just makes such a difference. I thought at first that they were going to turn into prints of Harper on the wall!! that would be oh so cute too! You must have a million great shots of her and I love the look of black and white photos as well. I have a set of four large ones with prints of old sailing boats (because we live near the ocean) Everyone always comments. I think the repetitive framed prints is winner. I must take a photo tomorrow and put it on my blog. I am the slackest blogger in history. Haven't blogged since Australia Day 26th of January.. Love catching up on everyone else's though. We also eat a lot of chicken I have two international students staying at the moment, one from Brazil and one from Germany and neither of them eat red meat which is a little tough to just work with chicken and vegies and come up with new meals all the time.

Colleen said...

Oh Kelly, that video just made my day! Harper is so precious and beautiful!

Love your pictures in the dining room!

HappyascanB said...

Thanks so much for sharing your creative secrets with us! I love that they're cheaper than the real deal, too! When I grow up, I want to be a Domestic Engineer. I hear they work harder than any high paying job around. But the rewards are out of this world!!!

Rachel Johnson said...

Hey Kelly! I love, love, love your blog and your sweet little girl. I love her name too!

My name is Rachel and I am in Kansas City. I have twins, Cash & Riley who will be two in April and a 4 month old named Tripp. I stay home with them.

I cracked up when I read your post about Harper sleeping in the bouncy seat b/c Tripp does as well...still and he is 4 months old and a little over 19 lbs. I have tried to put him in the pack n play next to my bed, but I always end up putting him back into the rocker. He also sleeps so much better when he feels like he is kinda being held I guess. I will keep working on it!

Anyway, I am usually a lover of fall weather, but I am so excited for this summer! I guess that is due to my kids needing to get out of the house and do some fun things like go to the park, the petting zoo and other things like that! We have a great petting zoo here call Deanna Rose Farmstead. Its awesome! They have all the farm animals you can think of, they have a fishing pond, a gold panning mine, an old school house where you can sit at a desk and write on those old chalkboards, a teepee, and they are building on so hopefully they will have some new stuff there this summer! We have Crown Center with Fritz's which is a restraunt where the train brings you your food. My friend and I are taking our boys there on Friday. I know they will love it.

KC just seems to have a lot of fun things for children and thier families to do together. I love raising my kids here! Just thought we'd share. You should visit!

Have a great day!
Rachel

Ellis Kathryn and Charlie's Mommy said...

I LOVE reading your blog everyday! What an inspiration you are! Would you mind adding Jessica Boone to your prayers? She is a wonderful Oklahoma teen who loves her God and loves her life. She was badly hurt in a skiing accident a week ago and is battling neurological issues in a Colorado hospital. www.carepages.com/carepages/jessicaboone

Thanks!

Stephanie said...

Oh I love those prints...such a great idea!!!! I might have to steal that one..I'll give you the credit though :)

Love LOVE Harpers video...you even got a coule of little smiles out of her. I'm so thankful she's doing well!!!!

Rachel @ Moments With My Miracles said...

I've been following your blog for awhile now but never commented! Sorry!! I always LOVE to get comments on my own blog so I don't know why it's taken me so long! Probably because I'm checking it when I'm feeding my own little one (4 months old). Anyway, Harper is beautiful...we almost named our baby that, so of course I love her name too. I'm from Tuscaloosa, AL and love being a southern girl just like you!!! I also love big bows and smocked dresses and decorating!!!

The redo on your pictures look great! Don't you just love Wal Mart for a good deal? I ALWAYS get my black frames from there!

Rachel @ Moments With My Miracles said...

Oh, and we have the same zebra pillows on our couch as you do! Also, this year for my 2 year olds bday in february, we did a zebra "wild one" theme. It turned out so cute!

Lauren said...

Isn't it fun being a domestic engineer? I love decorating! We are moving to a new house in May, so I am going to have a lot of empty walls. I may do something like what you did. Such a great idea and great price too!

Lauren

The Shabby Princess said...

Love Domestic Engineer!!! You have such great taste--I love the wall of prints. Please come decorate my house!! I'm not that far--I'm in Dallas!! Seriously, I just love when you post pictures of your house, it's so beautiful. I hope that one day I can get better at home decor, I'm not very good with having a "vision".

Harper is so freakin' cute! Could you talking to your daughter be any sweeter? I mean seriously!!! I just about died. :)

Tricia said...

Oh my gosh, that baby girl is too beautiful for words. I found your blog when little Harper was sick and someone was asking for prayers. I wanted to let you know that I really love it and especially loved your post on becoming a stay at home mommy. That brought tears to my eyes. It really hit home. I have been home with my little ones (who are now 10 and 6 - not so little anymore!) for ten years and although there are days when I would love to use my mind for other purposes again - I am so glad that I did. I see my children blossoming and I know that being home has made a difference. And it has been a sacrifice at times, but I will never regret it. Now that my little one is in first grade, I am going back to my old job of teaching elementary school - so it's worked out really well. I would never judge a working mom - I only have admiration for them, but I loved that post of yours. It affirmed something in my choice. Thank you! I wish you many, many happy moments with that little miracle of yours.

I am Irish born, just to chime in on your asking where people are from, I lived in South Africa much of my life. I also traveled extensively and lived in London for six years. Now I am in N.VA just outside Washington DC and have been here for almost fifteen years. (married to an American). The blog world makes it a small world though right?
Enjoy being home and it will get easier - the sleep thing and the monotony of it all - she is already getting such a little personality - what a smile! Enjoy her and treasure this time, as I know you will. :)

Tricia :)

The Stockton Crew said...

That is so funny that Harper likes her Pack and Play! My daughter is now 15 months and has slept in her pack and play right beside my bed now for over a year! She started out in the bouncy too because of acid reflux. She loves to spread out in her "bed"!! Also, it was so neat to hear your voice and Harper's too!! :)

Makila said...

Love the video. Harper is ADORABLE. Simply adorable and not all babies are adorable! :) She completely makes me smile everytime I see her cuteness!

Real Simple said...

hi...you are amazing. i am a 50 year old mom of a 16 year girl and 24 year old girl. i try my best to be the mom God has designed me to be...but sometimes i am just me. My girls love God, Praise! My husband loves God, Praise! I love Him and need His Will to be my life. You are amazing! love, loved your wall art. I want to try...don't have that tall of ceilings...(I am in Fl.) Bought the Jillian "trouble zones" my sister swears by it! we will see!
keep up what you are doing. My oldest was born in Dallas. take care and stay sweet to your blessings...your hubby, your sweet girl, and your family. love on your parents...as i learned they won't last forever. my mom passed away 3 years ago this April 26th...i miss my best friend very, very much! enjoy your mom!

Molly said...

That was the cutest video EVAH!! I read your blog daily and am so glad your family and Harper are doing so well. Have a great day!!
~Molly P

His Amazing Grace said...

Kelly,
I love your southern accent!! We have a daughter whom we adopted from the GREAT state of TX and we love, love, love the south. We're from Washington and can't wait to get back to the south to visit again soon! I love your blog and all of Harper's bows!!! What a great Mommy you are....love and lots of prayers!
...April :)

Lauren said...

I LOVE your wall! It is so nice -- I am definitely going to have to look for some similar prints. BTW -- I have been reading your blog since before Harper was born and I have always wondered what your voice sounded like haha! Hope you had a wonderful day!B

Rathi said...

Thanks for sharing that video! Harper is just too cute!!

DreamTNM said...

Oh Harper is just so sweet! (love your voice too ;)

Sarah said...

Oh.My.Goodness!!!!

Harper is so precious, and very alert and active for her age! Happy Birthday to Scott, too. :)

Robyn said...

Wow-post more videos..she is adorable!

Caroline said...

Oh my gosh, you have the cutest little girl! I was darned near crying at the end - you all have been so blessed! :)

xoxo

Candi said...

Thanks for sharing a video of your beautiful girl! She's such a cutie.

'MJ said...

Awww sweet baby girl! It's easy to assume you are LOVING your new job, huh!!? She's beautiful as ever!

xoxo

Kayla said...

Harper is beautiful! But from one Arkansas mama to another, we sound just alike!!! lol The southern draw and all!

Lindsey said...

LOVE all the prints. Very cute! And that sweet little baby is PRECIOUS!!! Love the accent. I have one as well!!!;)

kaetrn said...

your home looks so relaxing and peaceful, and happy. all the things a real home should be!

Kristi said...

OK, crazy question, but....what color is the paint on your walls in the dining room?? I've been looking for a great color to put on our walls in the dining room, but can't decide. I love this color! Thanks!

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