All decked out for the holiday weekend!

Hope everyone had a beautiful holiday weekend.....

we had over 200 friends and family over for a party on Saturday....

lots of work goes into getting the home and farm ready for that many people.

Still recovering from the exhaustion....(in a good way).....and still trying to clean up!

~Kim

Our Valentine's Coffee Room with some help from Bee Haven Acres

Valentine's Day is almost here...and since we have a "Snow Day" here in the midwest, the BaileyFamily took full advantage and decided to get a little "crafty". I haven't decorated for this particular holiday in quite some time...but I was inspired by a quilt one of my blogging friends, Bee Haven Acres, had made.

And guess what? It is now MINE!  I knew it looked a little Valentine-y, and my mind started to think how I could use it. And why not in my Coffee Room?....It's the first room that my sweetheart and I use every day....and Feb. 14th will be no exception! 

Isn't the quilt GORGEOUS? Bev from Bee Haven is one talented lady!! 

(and she loves her farm as much as I do)

Let's face it...this is a holiday that we are allowed to be "a little cheesy". So bring on the CHEESE!!!

I left the twigs and lanterns up from our Christmas Mantel. And we made paper hearts and hung them from the branches.

These cookies will be replaced with muffins, brownies, or bagels in the mornings, I like to have something sweet with my coffee.

I don't have much red and pink around our home usually....but thought this is fun (short term). 

Every morning, this is where you find us...his and her chairs.....

Happy Valentine's Day to MY SWEETHEART.......

Hopefully when he gets home from snow-pushing he doesn't think our coffee room looks TOO cheesy!

But the kids and I had fun....now we are destroying my art room by getting a head start on their valentines for their class parties! Thanks Mother Nature for this SNOW DAY!!

~Kim

Homemade Christmas gifts

I love everything homemade, handcrafted, repurposed, reimagined....

And Christmas time is the perfect time for that!

I made these letters for my sister-in-law. We have this tradition of giving "Homemade" gifts with Baileyhusband's side of the family. And while it has been challenging in some years, this year I knew that I wanted to give letters.  These are a different take on the letters that I posted about {here.} This is their last name...and I used all found material (bark, moss, pinecones, and branches).

 But of course, being that Baileyhusband is much more talented and gifted with tools and can make just about ANYTHING....he had to show me up! Here is the table that he made for last year's gift, but it needed to cure (or dry out) for a wee bit longer than we anticipated....so his sister received it this year. And sadly, I forgot to take a picture of it actually finished! UGH!!!!

Everyone on Baileyhusband's side is very talented, and the gifts are coveted by all!
There are homemade quilts, benches made of birch, woodburned signs and pictures, mirrors, chalkboards, lamps...believe me...I love them all!!!!

And this year's gift the ever-so-talented man of mine made a beautiful (reclaimed wood) table....here it is unstained:

And the table all finished, with the sweetest little Izzy (our niece) underneath!

Believe me, I want to keep everything he makes!! That husband of mine is quite talented!! And because I'm such a good wife, and he loves me....he made me some homemade gifts this year.....

A barn-board frame for our family picture we had taken this past summer. 

This was one of 3 frames he made me. Such a sweet fella......but I secretly think he was just tired of hearing me complain that I needed frames.

Whatever the reason....this BaileyWife was happy on Christmas morning!

Now we I have been coming up with plans already for next year. I have asked my sisters if we could do a homemade Christmas too....much less costly, and MORE meaningful!  

~Kim

2012-Year of CHANGE- Part 2

                                     GOOD-BYE 2012

When I gave birth for the first time (in 1994)...the year 2012 was already etched in my mind.

This would be the year that my sweet baby girl would become an adult.....

she would graduate high school....and possibly leave the comfort of my arms for that great big scary world out there!

And then it DID happen.....2012 came: she DID become an adult, she DID graduate from high school, and worst of all.......SHE LEFT MY ARMS FOR THAT GREAT BIG WORLD OUT THERE!

Her dorm room

Have I mentioned that I don't like change? 

So, 2012 was very bitter-sweet for us. BaileyHusband (as macho as he is), 

does not like change much either. 

Our family has learned how to funtion on a daily basis...but her holiday homecomings are all the more special....

Good-bye 2012....I MADE IT THROUGH YOU. 

From starting a new career path....and letting my baby girl join the world....

I have really high hopes for 2013, and hope our family and farm continue to prosper in HIS light.

Happy New Year EVERYONE! 

~Kim

Christmas Around Our Home 2012

Deck the Halls with boughs of holly....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Tis the season to be jolly.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Don we now our gay apparel......FA LA LA  LA LA LA LA LA LA

Toll the ancient Yuletide carol.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

See the blazing Yule before us.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Strike the harp and join the chorus.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Our downstairs "Charilie Brown" tree...all decked out with the kids' ornaments

Follow me in merry measure......FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

While I tell of Yuletide treasure.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Fast away the old year passes......FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

Sing we joyous, all together......FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA 

Heedless of the wind and weather.....FA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA

These were really the only spaces that I focused on this holiday season. Time and money constraints! But I actually like the more "simplified" theme this year....well, simplified for me anyways! :)

Besides our mantel in the Coffee Room and our front room being all Christmas-y...I let the kids decorate their own rooms for the holiday....and I showed you a pic of my son Gunnar's tree (decorated by him of course:)

While the upstairs is the style I most gravitate towards now...natural, found items....I go old-school in the basement (for the kids!)

I show my ever-growing Santa collection, and homemade gifts from years past. We DO spend Christmas morning in the basement...this is where Santa delivers his toys!! 

And here are some quick snapshots of how I chose to display our holiday cards....

burlap and clothespins of course!

I hope everyone has a MAGICAL Christmas this year!! 
I know that I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!
~Kim

Our Christmas Mantel 2012

In true Baileywife fashion....I am NEVER done decorating!

I tweek, I re-do, I OVER-THINK....

Our "finished" (for now) Mantel 2012

Sweet little Cowboy Santa given by my mama

With all the technology overload that is becoming "normal" (and fun!),

like Pinterest, blogs, etc.....I am even more perplexed on how to decorate for Christmas this year!

Not that my home will ever get into the pages of a magazine, or Martha Stewart will ever come and visit MY home....but someone inside me wants it to be perfect...FOR MY FAMILY. I want it to reflect who we are, and show what matters to US. 

I have become OBSESSED with "natural" decor, re-purposed items, and doing all our decor on a very tight budget. The only new item I have purchased for this holiday decor season is wrapping paper! :)

I had my boys cut some grapevine from our fence rows, and stuck it here, there, and everywhere.

And made a garland with some twiggy stars that I've had and jute twine that I have purchased by the truckload! 

Here is how my mantel started out...I actually thought I wanted a very "simple" look this year, and contemplated just throwing up the stockings and calling it good.

My not-so-merry start to decorating this year

My children begged me to add "more Christmas" to the room and fireplace. And to be honest, I just wasn't feeling it either....and needed that extra nudge to re-think and get more creative. 

I am so happy that I did...and looking into this main focal point of our Coffee Room, I am pleased with the result, and the fact that I did not spend a dime!

These are the Parties I have linked to....check them out!

~Kim