Thoughts from my little Orchard on the Slope…

• Soooo I’m about to get me a groundhog this weekend. WE WERE DOING FINE here in Washington and heading RIGHT into spring until he popped his little head out and called for more winter. Now we are in the teens and getting a foot of snow over the weekend. Just for reference, we have not had a foot of snow ALL WINTER!! I am not ok with THAT!! I am ready for cherry blossoms.

• One of my best friends became a Grandma recently and I honestly cannot stop thinking about it. I am 41 and even though I AM NO WHERE NEAR being a grandma…it makes me feel ancient somehow. Like I need to go buy a hot waterbottle and some heartburn medicine or something…

• This was a busy week on the blog. I shared 20 simple Valentine’s Day ideas to make the big day EPIC. There is still time to make a special but also SIMPLE V-day celebration!! I also whipped up a FREE printable Valentine and a FREE printable treat tag for those yummy Valentine treats. ANDDDD speaking of Valentine Treats, I shared my EXTRA yummy Buttercream Frosting recipe…which goes PERFECTLY with my Grandma June’s Sugar Cookies!!

• After my fun FIREFLY LANE experience last week, I HAD to run out and buy the book ASAP!! Are you a Kristin Hannah fan?? I have not started reading Firefly Lane yet, but it is on my to-do list for this week FOR SURE!!!
• Any book suggestions?!?! I am sick and snowed in…a perfect combo for a new book. Shoot me your MUST READ list!!

Wanna know what I found this week that I CANNOT live without??

1. This bobby pin holder. I never knew I needed a bobby pin holder until my daughter hit the tween years and I started finding bobby pins EVERY WHERE!!! Like LITERALLY everywhere I looked around the house were tiny little piles of bobby pins…ugh. SOOOO now those bobby pins have a home on the Hairpin Pal bobby pin holder. I cannot even express to you how happy this little magnet makes me!!!

2. I found THE PERFECT HOODIE at Target!! It is soft and cozy and A HOODIE…which is my favorite article of clothing of ALL TIME. BUT it is also a slightly LESS casual hoodie. SO I feel like I am completely acceptable to go out and about, run my errands, etc…and I don’t feel like I am still wearing my jammies. BUT I TOTALLY still feel like I am wearing my jammies…whoop whoop!!! I sized up one size for a more comfy fit btw and it is PERFECTION!!

3. I spotted these adorable pillows at Walmart for just $15!! The neutral is calling my name for every day…but that blush color for spring…how do I choose?!?! But for $15 I probably won’t choose…they might all come live at my house.

4. AND another Walmart find this week…Hairitage Hair mask. I need a haircut in a BAD way. I am basically a YEAR overdue for a trim…not even kidding. BUT this hair mask is a life saver for my long dry-ish hair. It says you can shower cap up and leave it in all night. I have not gone that far…you are welcome husband…but just a 10-20 mins at a time adds A LOT of moisture to my long hair. Why does turning 40 have to ruin EVERYTHING…like wrinkles wasn’t bad enough, now I need dry hair too??!!

5. And last but not least…Dr. Teals COCONUT!! You know I have a thing for ALLL things coconut. Mix that with my love of long bubble baths and BOOOM…match made in heaven. Usually I am pretty loyal to Dr. Teals Eucalyptus and Spearmint, but COCONUT wins at life right now!! The coconut scent is DIVINE:)

What is catching my eye over on Pinterest this week??? HINT: SPRING!!!!

Liz Marie nailed it with THIS spring entryway…makes my heart happy!!

THIS tutorial for turning plastic Easter eggs into BEAUTIFUL speckled robins egg is ON MY TO-DO LIST!!! Easy…check. Cheap…check. MY kind of craft!!

Do you follow the blog PUTTING ME TOGETHER?? I have followed her blog for YEARS and her style suggestions are my FAVE. She wears REAL clothes that are momma friendly, can be found at REAL stores, and for reasonable prices. She doesn’t just show herself in cute outfits, she shares HOW to create a cute look!! I cannot wait to see her suggestions for Spring:) But if you are feeling yourself in a fashion rut…I guarantee she will inspire you!!

I am already thinking ahead to Easter…and I adore THIS idea for Rain Boot Easter Baskets. SOOOO cute…and usable…and you wont be stuck with a bunch of useless baskets afterwards. YES PLEASE!!!

These HOMEMADE HOT-POCKETS from Happy Money Saver are ALREADY on my list for the week. Ethan is going to think I am the coolest mom EVER!!

THIS simple Spring Tablescape is giving me ALL kinds of happy feelings. The flowers, the milkglass, the little eggs!! I love that this is completely doable decor…but also GORGEOUS!!

I am swooning over the simplicity of THIS Spring decor!! The cans and baby’s breath would be perfect on a table or in a vignette, but I also love how she created the entire mantel display…simple vintage goodness!!

Spring Cleaning is kind of old school, but I am feeling the need to deep clean the house BAD. I love this Free Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist from the Idea Room. I am thinking if I start now, I can be clean in time for summer…haha. But seriously. Even if I only get to half the list, I will be WAY ahead of where I am now right?!?!

Come join me over on PINTEREST for more inspiration!! I love looking at projects I will NEVER complete…haha!!

And because EVERY week is better with a little ANNE in it…

“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” –ANNE

Happy Valentine’s Week friends. I am setting my mind FIRMLY on this week being the BEST. I hope your week is perfectly perfect too. JESS