Latte Bowls. Door knobs. Cardboard Trees.

Ever so often, a mom needs a break. A break from the chaos. The noise. The hustle and bustle. The constant conversation over breakfast about super heroes and dinosaurs.

My break came on Tuesday. I left behind the basement fun and dropped the boys off with my mom. I ate lunch ... by myself ... and it was heavenly. Albeit ... there was a massive downpour of water from above that caused my pants and shoes to be soaking wet ... but the silent meal was lovely - nonetheless. (And to eliminate any confusion, that downpour actually came from the sky ... not the basement window. Remember ... I had left the homeland).

I wandered the streets. I hit up a few antique stores ... finding little to catch my eye. I was a bit disappointed at my lack of treasure finding luck when I remembered the gal at Anthropologie had told me to come back on Tuesday. Tuesday was markdown day. Anthropologie and markdown might be two of my favorite words ... in the same sentence :) So ... I went.

The place was silent. Apparently the world is not privy to the markdown Tuesday information. I took my time. Glanced at everything ... for as long as I wanted. And then ... a sales gal walked into the "kitchen room" and was showing off their latest bowls. I looked up. And there she was ... we struck up a conversation about latte bowls. I confessed that she is the reason behind my slight obsession with them. We chatted about the colors. The fabulous new shade of slate blue they just got in stock. We both agreed you could never have enough. I calmly walked to the dish towels and when the coast was clear texted the only person I believe would care as much as I did that I just mingled with Nie over latte bowls.

I meandered a bit more and then we ended up at the checkout counter ... together. She noticed the book I was buying. She came over and told me her boys would just LOVE that book. We looked at the illustrations. I explained that my J How was really into dinosaurs. And couldn't stop talking about fossilized dinosaur poop (I'll save that story for the another day) and I was really hoping we could move beyond dinosaurs and into other worlds ... like .. .OUTER SPACE!

She bought a zillion more latte bowls in greens and blues and in the end ... she looked up from wallet and said, "It was really nice meeting you." I agreed and left ... with a smile.

She really is beautiful. And it was a fun moment for me to chat with her ... just about the things we love ... like our children and those fabulous latte bowls. If she still lived in town ... I think we'd be best friends :)

Back at the ranch ... I went to work on the house. I switched out knobs (my reason for hitting up Anthro in the first place) ...

and love what the $3.95 clearance purchase did to my yellow desk.

The kids spent the night at my mom's so I did projects well into the night. I started off with the cardboard tree. Another Anthropologie purchase that I've had for MONTHS ... just waiting to piece it together. It took me all of American Idol to get it looking right ... but I love how it turned out.

Then it was downstairs to tackle the boy's room.

The walls are pure white on top and blue on bottom. I wouldn't normally choose to put that much white in a room ... but it's in the basement and while there is good lighting ... it's still needs all the help it can get. Just looking at the bedding, is a give away for their different personalities. Plain and crazy. One stuffed animal on How's bed. A box of toys and about 13 "friends" on E's.

A family portrait I made a few years ago.

E's side of the room with a picture Ben painted in elementary school ...

And ... the TREE! (And the $10 Craigslist velvet brown chair). And the best part about their room ... is they're in there together! Hope they still love sharing a room as much in 10 years as they do right now!!