Considering Shared Bedrooms

I'll be sharing pictures of the new house on Friday....but in the meantime I've got shared bedrooms on my mind and am hoping that you will share some of your wisdom and experience with me.

My ideal number of bedrooms has always been three - one for the parents, one for girls and one for boys.  But this situation assumes that there will be at least two boys and two girls to share each room, so no one will be left alone.  The new home has a large bedroom that I'm thinking of putting my oldest boy (age 5) and the two twins (age 3) altogether in.  My twins have always shared and love it so much I can't imagine separating them, but my oldest is starting to feel left out of the nightly fun, so I feel like I should just put them all together.

Do you have any experience with brothers and sisters sharing rooms?  I wouldn't want to do it when they're much older, but for now I'm wondering what pros and cons I should be considering.  Would really appreciate some advice!

With that in mind here's some images of shared bedrooms from my pin board.

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I really love the whimsy-ish feel of this one.

 

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The challenge would be to make it neither too boyish or too girlish but still have some personality.

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Wouldn't this platform bed be so fun.

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Good news is that I found another iron bed like my yellow one on craigslist.  Three cheers for craigslist!  So, I'd just need one more bed...but please do share if you have any experience with your boys and girls sharing a room - I'd really appreciate some insight.   I dream of brothers and sisters that grow into lifelong best friends with lots of happy shared childhood memories. Obviously, a shared bedroom is not the magical solution for that, but I loved sharing a room with my Sister when we were little.  I have sweet memories of that and think it helped us bond and learn to live and work well together.  I want that experience for my kiddos, too.  It's just awkward having three with a mix of boys and a girl.

Did you share with brothers growing up?  Have you tried your boys and girls together?  Any tips for making to work well?  Hoping you have some wisdom for me here : )

love,
cailan

Belated Easter Post

Yes, I know the acceptable time for posting Easter pictures is quite over,

but hoping you will forbear with these for our long-distance family's sake. ; )

An accomplishment.  Almost all the cousins in a picture (minus Baby Ben).

I love how my twins naturally posed their hands exactly the same.

 

 The hunt is on.

 Tried for a family picture.




 Mild success.




Nana's bunny cake - same one she made when I was little.

And then more candy, naturally.
 

Cake and candy. Cake and candy. 

Quality is not great, but I love this picture.  This little gal is not particularly affectionate, so nestling up to Daddy makes for a special day.

Alright, that's all.  Just a little post, to say I did.

Hope you had a lovely weekend.  Were you present?  I truly tried to be...but need to try some more. 

love,

cailan

Be Here Now

So it's looking quite certain that this will be our new home.  The contract has been signed, our old house has been sold.  We just got the appraisal, and marvels of marvels - praise God - it came in at just what we were hoping for.   We've been continually amazed at how smoothly the buying/selling process has gone so far.

Now, I'm itching to post the pictures I took of the inside, but still need to clear it with the current owner.  I just sat down with my kiddos and gave them the picture tour.  It was funny, because my boys were far more interested than my little gal.  My littlest boy even said "oooo" at several points, and both boys eagerly asked to go through the pictures again, but their sister was very ready to move on.

 

 I'm starting to feel that in-between feeling.  You know, that way you feel when you're on the brink of change.   Not staying, but not going yet either.  Anxious for both in different ways.   In truth, the fact of actually leaving Sister and family around the corner is still hard to swallow, but I know I will have to.  So like unpleasant (but good for me) medicine part of me wants to swallow it quick and get it over with.

Yet we're not moving until the end of June and there's lots of plans and projects and packing and little people to take care of before then...

I think this is the best advice I can give myself for the present.

i love katie daisy

Be all here now.  Be all there later.


Hope you have most-lovely, fully-present, completely-enjoyed weekend. : )

love,

cailan

Lovely Variety

I good blogger would prepare back-up posts, just in case something unpleasant like a stomach bug showed up.

So apparently, that good blogger is not me.

Sorry for the absence, but now that my tummy is somewhat back in order there is much catching up to do.  I would feel like quite the delinquent mama if I did not post some Easter pics, but half of them are still on Sister's camera, so perhaps tomorrow.

In the meantime...while convalescing I discovered some shoes....

 

made by the same company that made my happy green pair - Miz Moos.

And would you look at that!? They come in yellow! 

(I've always wanted yellow shoes...well, at least I've always wanted them for the last year or so)

Now, I found my happy greens at Nordstrom Rack, but I did discover that these shoes are currently on sale just a bit - not a Rack price...but Nordstoms does offer free shipping and returns on every purchase.  

And no, this is not a paid advertisement...just trying to pass on helpful information ; )

Brown is always so comfortable and cozy. 

And you better believe I'm having very dreamy thoughts about this blue.
 

Also one last helpful bit - (as if it were even possible that one could decide which color to get) this brand seems to run small.  I'm normally an 8.5 but got my happy greens in 9.5.  

I feel like I just got acquainted with cute/feminine shoes in the last year or so.  Since high school I've been a die-hard Birkenstock and Dansko girl.  Both brands I still and will likely always wear.  But I'm finding that some Variety is so nice.  : )

love,

cailan

Preparing for Easter

 I'm not hosting our family Easter celebration, but here's the table I did last year.

 

It was pretty simple, but I liked the contrast of silver flatware with terracotta.

I had just discovered boxwoods.

This recipe for Strawberry Dream Tart makes a pretty wonderful Easter dessert.

I think this is what we'll have.

Or carrot cake. : )

Today we finally dyed some Easter eggs, though I'm improving on last year when I did it the day before, and we had green and purple fingers for Easter pictures.

They enjoy it so much I feel like I should come up with another occasion besides Easter to dye eggs.

We had our house appraised today, so we had a last round of harried cleaning.  This is the last hurdle to get past as we already had the inspection.  I think it went well - so glad it's done!

Now to quiet my heart a little and prepare to remember and celebrate. 

He is risen! He is risen, indeed.

Spring Green

I love the color green all year round, but it seems especially wonderful in the spring. 

Here's a collection of lovely Spring Green I have around.

Green Plants.

These boxwood finally made it home with me.  The first time at Lowes I bought them and then left them at the garden check-out counter with the intention of picking up them up after I walked my three kiddos back to the car.  Two days later I realized I never went back.   Anyway, they were worth the extra trip!  I happily discovered boxwood last spring.  For under $5 a plant they're a great value for a resilient indoor plant full of lovely character

Green Shoes.

It would be quite untrue if I denied that my heart skipped a beat when I spied these lovelies all by their lonesome on the rack in just my size - oh, happy day! My feet have never had so much fun.

Green Pillow.

On the same shopping trip I went back to Urban Outfitters and got another of these darling pillows.  

It packs about the cutest decorating punch possible for around $30.

Green Candle.

Actually just Green candle label :) I first saw this "Peaceful" candle recommended by sweet Alicia and was happy to find it at Target.  The Lavender & Eucalyptus smell would be refreshing and pleasant anytime of year, but I'm especially enjoying it for Spring.

Green Tea.

A cup of tea is so nice for drizzly spring days.  A few weeks ago my husband and I had our first Starbuck's date ever.  Shocking, yes.  But heretofore, he has been neither a coffee nor tea fan.  We both had some Tazo tea.  He "Refresh" and I "Zen", and he actually liked it.  Quite the exciting development.  Even after years of marriage, you just never know what you'll discover you have in common after all. 

Now we have a couple boxes at home.  I like that "Refresh" is bracing. : )

 

Green Shirt.

I'm spoiled to have a J.Crew Outlet nearby (though you can shop outlet online, too) This shirt was one of the treasures I found on the sale racks. It feels just right for spring...and St. Patrick's Day. ; )

Green Grass.

Sigh.  Spring is so lovely.

What spring green have you been enjoying?


love, cailan

Time for Carrot Cake

This weekend I knew some company was coming, so I baked a cake - Carrot Cake.  I really like Carrot Cake.  It's in my top three favorite cakes, and that is saying something.  I love this recipe - it's wonderfully moist, rich, and raisin-free, of course.  

Really, I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe before now, but it's just as well as now you can consider it for your Easter celebration.  Carrot cake always seems just right for spring.

This recipe has been long in the process of dedicated refining.  I started with a basic recipe for a sheet cake and experimented with whole-wheat, which I actually prefer because it gives it a slightly nuttier, richer taste and is a bit healthier I suppose than white.  A friend suggested adding the crushed pineapple (you can just barely taste it), so I cut down on the sugar and oil (don't worry it's still very, very moist and rich and sweet! ).  Then I tried extra-light olive oil and changed up the frosting ratio.  Lately, I've been buttering and sugaring my 9" pans instead of flouring them and layering the cake without frosting on the sides.  It looks a bit prettier and more dramatic, esp. with the three layers I did this weekend.

Everyday Lovely Carrot Cake

Cake:
1 1/4 cups oil (vegetable or extra light olive)
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs, well beaten
1 cup crushed pineapple, undrained
3 cups shredded carrots
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground allspice
1 cup pecans or walnuts
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Cream oil and sugar.
2. Add eggs, carrots, and pineapple and mix well.
3. Mix dry ingredients and add to carrot mixture, a small amount at a time, beating well.
4. Add nuts and vanilla.
5. Divide between 3 buttered and sugared 9" cake pans. Bake at 325 for 15-20, until toothpick tests done.  However, I usually just do two 9" cake layers and bake at same temp for 25-30 minutes.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 8 ounce pkg cream cheese, softened
1 pound powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Beat butter and cream cheese until blended.
2. Add sugar a little at a time. Beat well.
3. Stir in vanilla and spread on cooled cake.

If you want to frost the sides of cake, you'd want to double the recipe. : )

Hope you enjoy. : )

love, cailan

Other Sweet Recipes {HERE}