Gingerbread House aka Pretzel Log Cabin

I found the idea for this pretzel log cabin here -
http://www.worthpinning.com/2012/12/decorated-pretzel-cabins.html


When it Snows, Ain't it Thrilling

Christmas in the Family Room

I would have to say that our family room is the

 brightest room in our home...

which is weird because it is on the shady side of the house -

the only room without a window on the sunny side.

I snapped this photo during the single moment the sun peeked

through the clouds.

Christmas Living Room

Here is the Long Awaited Home's Christmas living room.

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Christmas Dining Room

This is the second room on The Long Awaited Home's 

Christmas tour.

Welcome to our dining room.

Christmas in the Kitchen

http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/12/show-us-your-holiday-home-linky-party.html

I have finally got some Christmas decorating photos ready.

It has been a while since we had a sunny day on the weekend,

and during the week it is now dark most days when I get home.

Getting photos for my blog is just not easy to do in the winter,

but I managed to get a few (or a ton) on a slightly overcast day

with a few peeks of sun.

Here is my Christmas kitchen...

Holidays & Hurting Hearts

Home.  

One of my favorite words. 

 Is there any place I would rather be? 

God has given our family this wonderful home.

White Kitchen Reveal

I am so excited to show you all my new white kitchen!

We still need to do the countertops, but that may be a while,

so I couldn't wait any longer.

Vintage Fireplace Surround

Now that we finally have most of the basics in place,

there is really only some tweaking to do.

  

Craigslist Kitchen Hutch

We have been lightening and brightening up our home

 over the last year, but with the coming arrival of this little girl here (lying on the floor), we kicked our painting into high gear.  

Dog fur and painting just don't mix.

A Little Late to the Fall Decorating Party

Well, I am certainly late in getting my fall home tour up. 

Earlier I shared the outside of my home,

now here are a few shots of the inside.



Things Are Getting Whiter Around Here - My Painted Dining Table

Ever since I discovered two of my favorite blogs, The Old Painted Cottage and Our Vintage Home Love, I have wanted to whiten up my home.  I love the look of white with wood.  I love neutrals and texture.  The problem was, I didn't own a single thing that was white.  I couldn't imagine ever having a white home without breaking the bank.  But I started slowly.  I will do a full post on that soon, but today I am sharing my painted dining table.  

Our New Puppy

There have been a lot of changes here at the Long Awaited Home.  But the biggest change is our newest family member.

Meet

Harley Quinn.

She is the cutest, most lovable thing ever!

Update to My Coffee Station & 3-Tier Server

I have been loving our coffee bar since we put it in this spring.  

Fall is in the Air

Welcome back y'all!  

I've missed you.

It has been a couple of months since my last blog post.

My computer was pushed to its limit. 

It was FULL of viruses, even though we had virus protection.

Super Daughter

This girl is trying to win a trip to the Amazon.

Please, please, please cast a vote for her.

http://runa.org/contest

Barn Door Table

I found an old barn door at a new shop that opened nearby.  

I had been searching for a rustic outdoor table and when I saw this, 

I knew it would work.

13 Canadian Cottage

http://cozycanadiancottage.blogspot.com/

I want to thank Diane at Cozy Canadian Cottage for featuring my home on her Home Tour series.

Please check out her wonderful blog!

Vintage Ironing Board Entry Table Revisited

I am constantly changing this vintage ironing board that I use as an entry table.  

Vintage Ladder in the Bathroom

My husband and I share a Jack n' Jill bathroom with our daughter.  

It is sorely lacking in style,

mostly because of a lack of moolah.

What's a girl to do on a budget?

Head to some yardsales for some cheap inspiration of course!

Changes to the Living Room

 I made a couple of small changes to the living room.  I am trying to lighten it up for the summer.  I found these great lamps at Cracker Barrel for 40% off, plus I was able to use my employee discount.  I love the texture they bring to the room.  I threw an old coffee sack over this chair.  I really want to replace this chair with a creamy white one, but I will probably settle for a chair cover if I can find one.

Figuring Out How to Be Fabulous in My Fifties

This week I had a birthday.  I am definitely in the second half of my life now - well into it I'm sure.  I wonder where the days have gone. I question what I have done with my life, and where I am going.  I have many dreams and things I want to accomplish.  Often, I wish I could turn back the years.  

The Long Awaited Home Summer Home Tour

 Welcome to The Long Awaited Home

Summer Home Tour

Memorial Day

Remembering all those who have gone before us,

and made the ultimate sacrifice,

so that we could be free.

 The real heroes.  Those that gave everything they had.

When There Is No Room For a Bedside Table

I love our home.  It is small and cozy.  The rooms are small too, but at this time in our lives we don't need a big sprawling house (we have a big, sprawling yard, and that may be the death of us).  Our  bedroom is tiny and this doesn't bother us at all, usually.  The only problem is that there is absolutely no room for any kind of a bedside table.  And I love to read.  At night.  In my bed.  The bed is pushed up to a window, so I use the ledge for my cell phone, glasses, book light, chapstick, lotion, etc.  After reading I put the book on the floor beside the bed.  My dear hubby usually makes the bed (he works nights and is often still in bed when I leave for work).  He pulls the bed out to make my side, and there he picks up my book from the floor, has to get the cell phone cord out of his way, and hopefully does not knock anything off the window sill.  It's one of those little things that bugs him every morning.  I needed a solution, so I went to where I always go for inspiration - Pinterest.  I couldn't find anything I really liked or that worked for me so I went to Plan B.  An idea of my own!  

Sunday Family Time

This past Sunday was one of those stunningly perfect spring days.  Often in New England we go straight from winter to summer,

and skip right over spring.

It was a relaxing day with nothing really planned.

We hung out as a family

(minus Nick).

 \

Yard Sale and Poison Ivy

This week I've been on April vacation from school.  

It has been a working vacation as we had (have) tons of

yard work to do.  We started cleaning out the many overgrown

beds of perennials on the property.

Apparently one of those beds was a bed of poison ivy.

I am covered.

I'll spare you the photo.

One of the fun things I did is go yardsaling.
I found these two great baskets for $3 each.

Yard Sale Coffee Bar

I hit my first yard sale of the year, and I struck gold.

I have been wanting to create a coffee bar for a while now.

I have been inspired on Pinterest by the many beauti

ful ideas.

I knew what I wanted, I just had to find it -

at Goodwill, or even better a yard sale.

I found exactly what I was looking for.

Tragedy at the Boston Marathon

Yesterday our family spent the day in Boston.

Spring Banner

Bowl Full of Spring for Easter

I found a large wooden bowl at Goodwill for $3,

and right away I knew I would fill it with flowers.

And fill it I did.

Spring Wreaths

Today is the first day of March, and I am so ready for spring.  

Easter is in March this year,

Very early, but I'm ready.

I really wanted some Easter/spring themes wreaths for my doors,

but they are so expensive.

Even the cheapest ones are $20.

We are tightening our budget (even more than we already were)

so $40 for door decor was out of the question.

Photo Gallery Wall

 For Valentine's Day, my husband gave me 2 gallons of Moonlight White paint and various painting supplies,

along with the promise to paint the stairway walls.

Now that may not sound very romantic to you,

but to this girl, 

Hubby earned major points.

Some Special Birthdays

Today is my hubby's birthday.  This morning the kids took him out to breakfast while I was at work.  Since we all work such crazy shifts, we will celebrate this weekend.  We got him a very special present and I know he's gonna love it!

This is a photo taken on his 34th birthday (I think), 

 about 18 years ago.

While today is a day for celebration, tomorrow is a tougher one.

It is the birthday of both my niece and my best friend.

But they are both spending their birthday's with Jesus.

Ashley 

Easter

After the Storm

Well, we weathered the storm.

And had a lot of fun too.

We had the day off from school and work 

so we spent the day preparing.

Blizzard Nemo

We are expecting a blizzard here in southern New Hampshire.  They are saying this could be the biggest storm in 10 years.  It is also the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of 78.   I was 15 years old that year.  My family was very poor and we lived near the ocean in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  This is where the movie "The Perfect Storm" takes place.  I can remember how unprepared we were back then.  We didn't have much food, and we had even less money.  I am so thankful for what my family has now.  The wood is piled high in the mudroom.  The fridge is full.  We don't have a generator, but we can always put the food in coolers outside and cook on the grill.  I feel safe and snug.  Of course, I don't know if I'll feel the same when the toilets won't flush anymore!  

See that little purple oval below.  That's us.  Right smack dab in the middle of it!  That yellow arrow is pointing almost directly at my house!
 


I love living in New England.  I love the weather.  The snow, the cold, the humid summers and gorgeous falls.  I can't imagine living anywhere else.  So bring it on.  We're ready for you Nemo!

Menu Plan Monday

Another week, another shopping trip.

My goal is to budget $150 a week for groceries for 3-4 people.

This week, I spent $150.

Except for the $35 that my daughter spent yesterday,

picking up some of her expensive healthy foods.

 

 

Boxwood Around the House

It is the middle of January and the house is feeling a little dreary.
The place needs a little zing, and my budget is zilch.

Boxwood Winter Wreath

 



I miss the greenery that filled my home during the weeks of

December.

I wanted to use some fresh greens around the house,

but without the Christmas feel.

Menu Plan Monday

I went grocery shopping today.

I am trying to put myself on a strict budget.

I shop for my husband, daughter, and myself.

My husband and I like everything.

Our daughter wants only healthy foods.

We compromise.   Sort of.

  

My budget today was $120 (in cash).

I spent $138.51.
(I should leave my debit card at home).

Good-bye Christmas 2012

Hello again blog.

Somehow, I took an unplanned break.

  

No, nothing really broke,

I just got busy...

doing nothing.