Swooning

I know, you've been waiting anxiously for an update to on the changes to our bedroom ;) I finally cleaned a bit, and decided tonight I'd take a picture to share. I am 100% totally swooning over our new bed, and have been since we got it about a month ago! Like swooooooning. I got the duvet for Christmas, and with the blue and white undertones, I've been loving finally having these colors in our room. The mattress and bed, came a few weeks later, and we are so happy with how it all came together.

As I mentioned in this post, we debated upgrading to a king bed for a while. Now, that we have it, I wish we'd made the change sooner. It completely transformed the feel of our room. I hemmed and hawed over an iron bed, and we love that too! In addition to polishing off our room, we are over the moon about our mattress. We did a lot of research, and extensive testing of different mattresses until we decided on this one, and we can feel a difference already. I don't wake up sore and Brian is getting a better nights sleep. I feel like I'm on a mattress commercial, but its not an exaggeration... Best money we've ever spent, this whole update was a complete win-win!!

I was just about to order my prints and frames for over the bed, when I started thinking something round might be better. We have a lot of straight lines in our room, and I don't know much about design, but I know mixing shapes and textures is suggested. So, I think back to the drawing board on that for now. Any ideas or suggestions welcome!

Night - night!
XO

Love

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Valentine's is certainly a commercial holiday, but I'm not ashamed to say, I've enjoyed the holiday for as long as I can remember. I'm not an overly romantic person, and I don't think of the day as a romantic holiday. To me, it's a day to celebrate the love in my life. Friendships, family, etc. When I was single, it was an excuse to get together with girlfriends and cheers to friendship. Now, it's about celebrating with smiles, hugs and kisses with my family. 

I make a point as often as I can, to tell those closest to me how I feel. It's something that we were open about as a family in my childhood, and I hope to create for our girls as they grown. So hugs, kisses and "I love yous" are important to me on a daily basis, and all the more reason to celebrate on the day of love.  I'm not referred to as a "smother mother" for no reason :P But honestly, it's important to me for the girls see the expression of love between Brian and I, and with them and be open expressing all feelings. 

This year, we had a family celebration and it was perfect. Saturday night we went out to dinner as a family, to one of our favorite burger places. I was planning on a nice dinner at home with the girls, all red food, a red table and candles... but then I sort of lost my motivation. So, a dinner out it was, and I was psyched  :) Then on Sunday, we went over to my parents - where my mom totally spoiled us. Little treats for the girls, an amazing steak dinner for us, good wine, a beautiful table and tasty little desserts - it was awesome! Top that all of with the fact that we didn't have to get up for work on Monday - and the weekend was a real home run!

Hope you had a great weekend!

XOXO

They asked to watch TV in my parents basement and when we checked on them, they'd cuddled up together and were lying like this on the floor:

 

Matching heart pj's - and refusing to say cheese to me

making Valentine's cards for Uncle B

 

Recipe share

I rarely do this, but this recipe is just too good, it deserves a share. I've been making this chili for a few years now, and no matter how I alter the recipe, it's always a crowd pleaser. If you like chili, you must try it, and to be honest, even if you aren't a big chili fan, I'm confident you'll enjoy it. I've had a lot of different chilis over the years, and this beats even the best restaurant versions.

I've made it with beef and turkey and both are as good. Sometimes I do less meat than it calls for, I usually leave out the beer unless I have a bottle of GF beer in the fridge, and I never use bacon. I cook it in the crock pot, and the recipe makes enough for multiple meals worth. So, like Wednesday night, when it was our first day back in the grind after vacation and I was not prepared or in the mood to cook, I pulled it out of the freezer. Next time you are jonesing for chili - give this one a try! Nomm Nomm

Happy Friday! XO