House a Home Challenge and Giveaway is here!

If you haven't read about my House a Home Challenge and giveaway yet, go here and check it out.

I had a lot of fun thinking of the top 10 things that make my house a home. It was actually more difficult than I expected but it made me stop and reflect on the memories we've made in our home and the special things that are attached to those memories. In no particular order...

1. The fireplace. We absolutely love our fireplace. We use it as our primary source of heat for the most part. I think this winter we (I) only turned the baseboards on once. I often forget to keep the fire going during the day when I'm working at home and find myself shivering my buns off so I have caved and turned the heat on a few times. But aside from a cheap way to heat our home, the fireplace offers a very relaxing atmosphere in our wee home. In the fall, I look forward to having our first fire. Many of my best memories involve being curled up on the couch under a warm blanket, drinking mint hot chocolate and laughing with the hubby.


2. Rooster measuring cups. The theme in my kitchen is roosters and these measuring cups came from my Grandmother's kitchen. My passion for cooking, baking and all things domestic was strongly inspired by this amazing woman and so it is only fitting that I would prominently display something of hers in my own kitchen. They remind me daily of the lessons she taught me.


3. Our dining room table. This table is more than a table to me. This is the place where I feed my family and my friends. This is the place where my husband and I meet at the end of the work day and discuss our day's events. Because we live in a small apartment, this table has become very multi-functional. This is where I do my homework all day, play games with my SIL and friends, scrapbook and eat.This is also one of the first of many projects that the hubby completed for our home. See the chair cushions? He covered them with the fabric from the curtains at our first apartment. Good thing one of us is handy.


4. The garden. Last year we planted a garden for the first time and quickly decided that it is something we'd like to do each year. There is such a sense of accomplishment to harvesting your own vegetables. I am eager to get a much larger garden planted this year so that I will be able to preserve food for the winter months as well as share our bounty with our loved ones.



5. Magnetic weekly calendar. Yes, I'm serious. This made the top 10. I'm sure you've mostly all gathered by now that I'm an organizational freak. Being organized makes me so happy. This calendar is one of the first purchases I made when we took possession of our first apartment and I have loved it ever since. It cost a ridiculous amount, I think. I can't remember but something tells me I paid like 24.99 for it or something crazy like that. But, it has been worth every single penny. Each section is its own piece, so at the end of each week, I wipe it off and move it to the bottom. I love always having the current week at the top and having an entire month at a glance. So now if you're looking for me at any time in the next month, you will know where to find me.


6. The beloved bread machine. In one of my Q&A posts I revealed that this is my most loved kitchen tool. Since I started making all of my own bread products in the new year, I have come to rely on this baby so much. I use it anywhere from 2-5 times per week. I get so much joy from trying new recipes. Being in the kitchen is like therapy for me. When I am stressed or overwhelmed, it helps me to take a few minutes to be by myself in the kitchen baking something. This bread machine has become a real part of our home.


7. The hope chest and quilt. For many many years, long before we were dating, the fabulous dude promised me that someday he'd build me a hope chest. This year for Christmas he did just that. The love and time that he put in to building this is incredible. It is something I will truly cherish for the rest of my life and that I will hope to pass on to future generations. On the end of my bed just above the hope chest is my favourite quilt, that he also gave me as a gift. It says "Home Sweet Home", "Home is Where the Heart Is" and "There's No Place Like Home" around the border with pictures of houses on it. It is cozy and warm and captures the essence of the way I feel about my home. I really feel that these two pieces go together because they are symbolic of the home that we have made together.

8. Deacon's Bench. The bench pictured below was built for us as a wedding gift by my Grandfather. There is something about a hand made piece of furniture that is so special. Nothing can top this. My grandfather passed away a few months ago and instantly the value I place on this bench has increased. Like the measuring cups from my grandma, this piece reminds me of my grandfather's strength and love everyday. It is something I will cherish for the years to come and will pass on to my children and their children along with stories and memories of my grandpa. It is located near the entrance to our apartment and is coupled with our wedding photo, a stone sculpture we got on our honeymoon and a stand that says "Love Life". This area of my home reminds to me stop and think about what's really important everyday. (This photo also made me realize that the wedding picture is a wee bit crooked).


9. Scrapbooks. My scrapbooks document so much of our life together. They are symbolic of all the memories we have made as we have grown together as a family. (P.S. I am always eager to show them off, so for any of those who know me in real life, I'd love to show them to you at ANY time).

10. My family. My home would not be complete without my family. And, although my family is very small right now, I look forward to adding to it as the years go by. Right now it's just me, the fabulous dude and Nika. My hubby is my best friend and my partner in everything. We have laughed, cried, suffered, fought, loved and learned in the few short years that we've been together. We have welcomed a teeny tiny puppy into our home who is no longer so teeny tiny. We have moved. We have started new jobs. We have graduated. We have gone back to school. We have failed. We have achieved. We have lost. We have gained. We have learned so much from each other and made so many memories here -- and that's what makes this house a home.

(Yes we actually dressed her up like this and made her sit for a photo. Then the hubby thought it would be funny to photoshop himself in there. So, thanks to my bro for this lovely photo. They look alike, don't you think?).

So, there you have it. Those are the things that make my house a home. Now let me see what you all have come up with. Mr. Linky will be open until next Wednesday, April 22 at 9 pm. At that time I will draw the name of one lucky winner to pick their prize (which can be seen here).

Here are the rules:
1. Write a post documenting the top 5-10 things that make your house a home.
2. Linky directly back to this post (I'm sorry - but I will delete those who don't).
3. Leave a comment and let me know if you have placed my button on your sidebar and/or written a post advertising this giveaway (one extra entry for each).