Feb 23, 2010

{you gotta run right back to the start}


i read today the words of solomon in ecclesiastes: do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" for it is not wise to ask such questions.
when your window is lit each morning [& each morning after that] it must always be treated as if it were the beginning of something. it is rather tiresome to feel as if we were always just starting off. yet still, this is true; it is vain to say "why were the old days better than these?"
the only reasonable thing is to resolutely say "today will be the best day ever" & resolutely act upon it in trust that it will be so.

Feb 19, 2010

I have been wanting to make a dress... If I could only make one that looks like this.

Fabulous Grosgrain. So inspiring. She is hosting a give away, and I wish she could also teach me her many tricks.
Cherry Pop Refashion Frock Give Away!

Feb 18, 2010

The Reason I like Chocolate

A poem:

The reason I like chocolate
is I can lick my fingers
and nobody tells me I'm not polite

I especially like scary movies
'cause I can snuggle with Mommy
or my big sister and they don't laugh

I like to cry sometimes 'cause
everybody says "what's the matter
don't cry"

and I like books
for all those reasons
but mostly 'cause they just make me
happy

and I really like
to be happy

Nikki Giovani

Jan 25, 2010

Brownie Face

Making brownies, or anything sweet for that matter, is a magnetic activity. When once you set the bowl and whisk on the counter, the whole collection of young people in the house will, rest assured, surround you in a matter of moments.
And when the batter is poured, leaving a delicious coating on bowl, spatula, and whisk, there will be a general consensus that "I asked for the bowl first." In the end all will receive their fair share of batter and , joy! There is always the pan of brownies in the oven, repeatedly forgotten, yet still to be eaten as soon as dinner comes to a close.

Behold, this precious brownie face; evidence of the aforesaid facts.







Jan 8, 2010

i <3 faces - photo challenge


i heart faces is a blog that holds photography contests. This weeks contest is in honor of their first birthday, so it involves inserting their logo somewhere in your photos. These are my entries:

“I am submitting this photo into the I Heart Faces logo photo contest. By entering, I am granting I Heart Faces LLC permission to consider my photo for use in the marketing and promotion of their website.”

Nov 24, 2009

I <3 Faces Photo Challenge - Sun Flare


{click on the picture to view full screen. It looks way better at full resolution.}

I love faces is a photography site where they hold contests in a different category each week. This week is Sun Flares, and this a picture of my little brother that I took on halloween.

Oct 9, 2009

My April Snow

I recently found My April Snow's etsy shop, which was 100% the inspiration for the earrings I made, (posted this past week). I had forgotten where I found this treasure, but I just remembered that it was from this fantastic giveaway!

My April Snow GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Yay for Grosgrain. Always inspiring!

Oct 8, 2009

Problem... solved.

I was home, holding down the fort this morning, while my dad took my mom and brother to the airport... I made a nice little lunch and the kids then had a nice little dessert of vanilla wafers with leftover whipped cream on top. Seeing that the canister was nearly empty, Nathan had the sudden urge to shoot it with his pellet gun and witness the foreseen explosion. He forthwith took his pellet gun and target outside, and all the little one watched as the can fulfilled his expectations.
The girls who hadn't liked the idea to begin with, set up a loud wail, crying "He wasted all the whipped cream!" Bethany even went so far as to say "I could have made a meal out of that!!" *sniffle* ...and believe me, they were serious... crying over spilled milk? The figurative idiom was manifested quite literally before my eyes.
I figured the best solution would be to let them burn off some steam, rather that beat them over the head with common sense. However, as the boys continued to play outside in their midst, the girls found sufficient fortitude to carry on for quite some time.

Now I thought to myself, "Is a tablespoon of cream such a precious resource? We have sitting in our fridge at least a quart of the stuff, with no immediate purpose."

I then poured a tablespoon of the heavy whipping cream from our fridge onto a pretty little saucer and called my resentful little sisters inside, saying, "Here on this plate is the same amount of cream that was 'wasted'. Eat it, then go outside and play."

Problem? Solved.

Oct 3, 2009

What to do on a free day...

On Thursday of this week, I had a day at home with no little siblings, or parents... only free time! I sat down to make some jewelry, greatly inspired by looking through My April Snow's etsy shop, and these are what I came up with!


The curly-que is made from an unwound and rewound paper clip...
The chain is a segment of necklace chain...
And the beads and earring hooks are just out of the supplies that I've accumulated over a long time.


What do you think? Would you wear them?


Posted by Picasa

Sep 29, 2009

An apple pie a day, keeps the doctor away...

Yesterday I made a candy apple pie. And today I made another candy apple pie! They are super easy and one of the best recipes for our orchard apples. I'm sure I will make a few more this apple season.


These apples are fresh picked straight from our orchard!

Apple corer, peeler, slicer. Thank goodness. Such a time saver.


Dripping with cinnamon sugar. (measurements for about 8 apples - aprox. 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon)


Topping Ingredients:
1 cup Brown Sugar (I used white sugar with molasses because we didn't have brown)
3/4 cup Flour
3/4 cup Rolled Oats
1/2 cup Butter (one stick), melted

I also like putting some cinnamon in the topping.



Mix these together thoroughly and spread evenly over apples in a 9x13 pan.


Bake for 1/2 an hour at 400 degrees.


You will end up with just such a beautiful dish of goodness...


Though I have to add... that one of the best parts was my dad's homemade vanilla ice cream... nothing compares.