Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Just Because

When was the last time you tied on an apron for no reason ...

... or put your feet up even just for a few minutes?

How about making breakfast a little more special this morning?

Using special things - always makes me feel connected to the past!

Wrapping banana bread in a sweet towel just adds a little something special!

Enjoying our new porch always makes us smile!

My family is worth the little bit of extra effort to create this
kind of beauty and nourishment! And, I am too!

$1 finds bring smiles to little faces ...

... and homemade bubbles produces laughter and chasing feet to try and catch them!

What will you do today - just because?

19 comments:

Bevy @ Treasured Up and Pondered said...

I love this post, Monica.

Makes me want to sit down and enjoy some "just because" time with you. ;) Your apron is so sweet.

I noticed your butter crock/glass lidded jar. Do you do anything special to your butter - like mix with Olive Oil? I've tried that and have wondered if anyone else has tried it... and what they've thought.

I also noticed your milk jar. Do you get your milk in jars? Or, do you just do that. I'm an advocate for milk in glass jars. Stays colder, fresher and it's more nostaglic. We have a local place around here that that's how it comes. Wonderful.

And, one last thing. Bubbles, bubbles everywhere. That's what it's like around here at our house, here of late. We ran out of bubbles the other day... so I just did concentrated dishsoap with water and it worked "well enough". Then I found a recipe that called for sugar. This recipe/link you shared says glycerin. I'll have to try that...and see what happens.

Julian said...

beautiful:)i needed that this am as a mom of 6.God bless

christina

Mom said...

Dear Monica, you have a gift for taking an ordinary day and making it extraordinary! And your photos tell the story for the rest of us -- thanks for sharing!

I'll be at work most of the day, of course -- but I think I'll make some vanilla kiss cookies tonight -- just because!! :)

Love you, Mom

Elise said...

Love this post. I'm gonna try not to sweat today. ;) Just kidding!!
I have been wanting to make those homemade bubbles-thanks for the recipe link. I think today, after the grocery store that I am going to let the kids make candleholders{mason jars with tissue paper glued to them}.
Elise

Heather's Blog-o-rama said...

Great ideas...I don't have kids but I can do all of this for my dad...He likes bubbles...and it still makes him laugh at 59 :) :)...me too, for that matter :) :)
Oh I loved the glass milk bottle I would pay more for milk in a glass bottle if someone sold it that way here!!! I love how it reminds me of the 1950s and even earlier. My dad told me that's how he and his family used to get their milk when he was a kid...The milkman would deliver to their door.
What a great post and some great ideas again :) :) :)
Love, hugs and greetings from Oregon, Heather :)

~katie~ said...

Heartwarming post, indeed, Monica. I think I will say "yes" a little more to my little ones (like I've been reading over at Melissa's ~ too cute) and try to not sweat the small stuff today. I think maybe a special homemade ice cream treat is in order...just because. :-) Bless you!

angie said...

You are so right--our families are deserving of our extra efforts. I want to let my kids choose what they would like me to do "...just because." It will be interesting to hear their choices.

Monica Wilkinson said...

The milk jar is a thrift store find from my aunt! I pour milk into it often! I have two of them each hold 1/4 of a gallon of milk. I just love how cold it stays!! If I had a place to buy milk in glass bottles - I would love to support that!!

As for the glass butter dish - it is just plain margarine. I don't do anything to it except spoon it from the tub to a cute dish! :)

Heather's Blog-o-rama said...

The butter dish looks reminds me of these glass storage containers you can buy from this company called Lehman's in Ohio :) :) You make everything look better :) :) I'll have to try this too :) :)
I'm going to ask around and see if I can purchase milk in a glass jar somewhere!!!...seriously!!Greetings from Oregon,
Heather :)

Kristin said...

I just posted a blog about making bubbles yesterday. :) I look forward each morning to check if you have written a new blog entry. I love all the great ideas I've found in your blog and the encouragement to make memories with my "littles". God Bless you and your family!

rachel@thecupcakesprinklesinlife said...

We picked strawberries and raspberries today...

this afternoon we'll make jam.

Heather said...

I've been wanting to sew again, so today I'm going to start an apron for a friend.

Thanks for your encouragement today. :)

Anonymous said...

great title and great post!

i wear an apron just about every day. i love the way it makes me feel, and it somehow connects me to my grandma.

we have eggs for breakfast often, especially since banning cold cereal last december! our milk is also in glass containers and i put my butter in a glass bowl that was my mother's - which she only used on holdays. i love using "special" things for every day. after all, every day IS special - right?!

enjoy your day.
connie

Heather said...

P.S. Monica, I bought the Doorposts Mighty Acts of God book that you mentioned a while ago, and our family just used it today. We had such a wonderful time acting out the story of Adam & Eve! Thank you for the recommendation. (I blogged about it today & linked to you. :) )

Jenny said...

We love home made bubbles.

Davonne said...

I LOVE the new look on here!! Awesome job!

Today we went to a free movie at the Pheonix Theatre (great deal they're having all summer. Go here for details and locations: http://www.phoenixtheatres.com/summerkids.html )

We also made French Toast for lunch, just for fun.

We went swimming in our tiny backyard pool for two hours in the early evening, and had fun reenacting various Bible stories that had to do with water (Peter walking on water, Jonah and the whale, Jesus calming the storm, Moses in a basket and crossing the red sea...).

Then after warm baths and dinner on the porch, we snuggled under a tent of blankets in the living room and listened to "The Secret Garden" on CD for over an hour until we were so calm and drowsy that we dozed off.

Thank you for the inspiration - I am loving the long days of summer, and feel like we have so much free time since we're not doing school right now.

Mrs. K said...

We had dinner outside - for only the second time since we moved in six years ago! My husband said we used the picnic table once and I know for a fact it's been gone for at least four years! http://coveredandprayingtowngirl.blogspot.com/2010/06/just-because.html

Tim and Susan said...

Love all your beautiful pictures of everyday life that make it feel and look so special!!

Susan

Beth Moore said...

This is the very type of post that makes me love your blog. I love how you try to make the simplest of things special. Your children and husband are SO blessed! Thank you for reminding me that it just takes a little extra effort now and then.