HEY 2018!

happy new year everyone!!!

at this time of year it's only natural to stock - think about what made us happy in 2017 and what plans do we have for the new year. so here goes...

i accomplished my biggest personal goal - getting this site up! woo hoo! thanks so very much to my amazing designer Kelly Christine of Kiki & Co.

there are some things about 2017 i look back on and think oh crap. i totally lost my way with my exercise routine!  Liam and i were walking to and from school - i was achieving a high heart rate walk 5 times a week.  i felt great but, once the rain and cold set in - and the need to get to the market or Target and get on my ToDOList - the walking stopped. ugh! i need to finally stop talking about getting in shape and just freakin' do it! just to be clear friends - my getting in shape is to fit into my clothing better not give up things i love like my daily dose of Prosecco.

i owe to myself and my boys - to take better care of myself.

i'm bummed i only read 6 actual books this year - you all know what a total #bookjunkie i am- so boo on me! gosh i read 18 in 2016 - i must set the technology aside and read more. 

but, speaking of technology

i've mentioned it before but, if you still haven't checked Hoopla out you should. i listened to 8 books this year- mostly while walking - sometimes while cleaning the chalet. if i hadn't flaked on walking there would have been more - i even watched a few videos.

i was blessed to reconnect with my bff. i hope 2018 we'll give us a chance for more time together.  thank god for facetime!

friendships are what sustain us in this life.

a colossal transformation in 2017 was the porch. my hubby redid it! can you believe the after ?!? turning what was outdoor space into interior space is a HUMONGOUS change for the chalet. cantilevered space over outdoor or garage space is never a good idea but, the craftsmen weren't thinking about that in 1924 when the chalet was built as a vacation home. now the bedrooms are warmer and quieter and we gained living space which is invaluable! this is something i can never ever thank Steven for enough.

thank you B xo

goals for 2018. 

some are chalet updates...swapping french doors for windows in Liam's bedroom.  i really want to tackle the basement. the walkout level has all the clutter because we don't have a single thing in our attic. i led the charge a year and a 1/2 ago and carved out a small play area with a tv and toy cubbies - you can see here -  but, we need finished space and another bath. we'll see how far we get on this project this year.

since i'm writing these down and putting them out into the universe i pray i will stick to them.

• using my calendar everyday - to better use my time.

• map out chaletmomma brand production: daily, weekly and monthly.

• to plan meals and make less trips to the market.

• use my crockpot more.

• read more books - hopefully while sitting on the porch.

• exercise.

• clear out clutter quickly.

• take items to the consignment shops regularly.

• iron clothing weekly.

• travel.

• play more games.

• go on more adventures with my boys.

• to always have cheese, humus and yummy crackers in the chalet and ready for friends - anytime they can pop over!

• drink more Prosecco!

by doing the first thing on my list - i can certainly accomplish the rest!!!

what made you happy in 2017?

what do you want to accomplish in 2018?

do you follow me here?

til next time.

CHALET CHRISTMAS 2017

greetings all! i can't believe it's Wednesday already! we're headed off to see The Last Jedi! - can you all hear the screams of my infectious laughter ?1? we are HUGE Star War fans! Liam has watched all the films and as you can image has tons of Star Wars paraphernalia.

here's what the last few days have been like around the chalet!

my family visited Sunday for a lovely celebration - here 's what the tree looked like.

we had a ton of fun! drank and ate and ate some more... exchanged wonderful gifts. Liam had a ball with his cousins. here's my sister and i in fits of laughter... out of thirteen pics i love this one best! it sums us up - to a tee.

five bottles in 28hrs... not too shabby!

headed to bed in my kerchief and pa in his cap!  everything under the tree including the single gift from Mr. Claus in the red Santa paper - a Star Wars glow in the dark Nerf gun! (there's a theme!)

 6:48am!

we three in our matching Star Wars pj's had a stellar morning. my boys blessed with delightful gifts. Liam gave me the most gorgeous pine tree snowglobe - and since snowy is theme around here - it will be enjoyed year round. fred popped in to sit on some wrapping paper and get some cat treats!

Liam thought it was just really so nice of Santa to put his scooter together that Aunt Reen and Uncle Bobby gave him! HA!

my hubby found some unique additions for my collection!

we attended a joyous Christmas Mass Celebration then traveled to my Mother-In- Law's.

look at Marge's amazing Christmas decor.  no room is left untouched - she's a creative marvel!

here is the stunning living room tree!

Marge is a partner in a real estate staging business Stage N Sell they stage to sell or for holidays - based in Warwick, NY, but they will travel to accommodate clients needs. check out their site.

as you can image we spent yesterday sitting around getting over our food comas!

the boys were having a ton of fun playing Space Invaders!

more beautiful trees belonging to loved ones.

hoping your holidays were everything you dreamed of.

thank you so much for all your support. i truly appreciate your time - popping in here and for signing up for the mailing list. it means so very much to me. xoxoxo

happy new year!

til next time.

tis the season

as i look around the chalet i think about the Christmases of my youth - i'm so very lucky to have so many bits that belonged to my parents that bring back so many marvelous memories. while Mommy didn't decorate to the extent i do -  she did do quite a bit - both the trees on my sideboard and in the bath were hers and are in the very same rooms she had them.

the mantel 1970- if you saw my IG feed last week - you know the littlest stocking was mine. Mommy always had real pine and holly boughs along with poinsettias and mistletoe. a lovely large pinecone decked out with mini ornaments my sister made held pride of place on the coffee table every year.

i love the choirboy candle holder from the 1950's - his sweet face makes me so very happy.

our 1984 tree! we always had a real tree - you can see my little stocking became an ornament!

our nativity - Mommy picked it up for a $1.00 at a rummage sale! maybe i get my thrifting gene from her! ha!

some of our most treasured possessions are the original shiny brites my parents bought for their first Christmas in 1955. we do have a bunch on our tree but, i love to showcase some of the extra specials ones in my favorite wooden bowl.

here's a collage from around the chalet! since the porch redo - we placed the tree out there this year.  you can see we have mittens as our stockings, but i do have a good number of different stockings as decor here and there. since we have a 6ft decorator tree - i love to light my Thyme Frasier Fir Candle and drink in all the yummy scent.

this astounding display isn't too far from the chalet... it's our own local "Griswold House". as you can image with a 6 yr old - we drive by often! ha! i read a fun idea in the latest the Magnolia Journal so friday night we surprised our son by putting him to bed and quickly saying -"only kidding" we piled in the car in our pj's and drove around town looking at all the wonderfully decorated homes.  it was so fun - i highly recommend!

the adorable santa mug and bell were my parents. i rotate the books on the end table during the season. tucked into the stack is a Little Golden Books copy of the Nutcracker - i adore that ballet - and my favorite composer is  Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  check out the skaters on our local pond from 1948. i really try to place not only Christmas decor around the chalet but, seasonal as well.  this sweet cabin is actually a card my hubby found and gave me well before thanksgiving - knowing i'd want to frame it. the ceramic nativity is a new/old piece. i just picked up last week shopping at Valley Vintage.

well here's my mother Rita sitting on the floor Christmas 1980 - i'm sure she's telling some tale - she was very funny, saucy and much adored! her sister Marion is laughing on left as is her friend Angie on right and look i was finally upgraded to a proper stocking - she had knit one for me too!

enjoy one of my favorite scenes from A Christmas Carol  when Scrooge's nephew Fred brings some holiday cheer to lowly Bob Crachit. " A Cheering Warming Goodly Wine..."

i wish you and yours a very happy Hanukkah, a blessed Christmas, a marvelous Kwanzaa and a brilliant New Year! i hope we can all stop and really savor this time - it goes by so quickly!

tell us about your holiday traditions -

til next time.