Joy's Hope

Happy Sunday.

2012-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Nutella stuffed peanut butter cookies.

2012-02-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

I quit sugar for 33 days.

Then I fell of the wagon with a vengeance.

I went on a big old bender.

Specifically, a Nutella fueled bender.

It started with Nutella stuffed snickerdoodles. Those were a super gross fail.

Then it ended with these.

These evil, beautiful, delicious, taunting, makes me want to cuss, they are so dang good, Nutella stuffed peanut butter temptresses.

No rocket surgery here.

I just dug my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe out of the recipe box, and introduced it to my vicey-est vice, Nutella. A lot a lot a lot of Nutella.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Nutella for stuffing
White sugar for rolling

Cream together butter and peanut butter. Add both sugars and beat together until fluffy. Add in egg, milk, vanilla and mix until smooth. Sift together flour, baking powder and soda, then add slowly to wet ingredients. Mix until combined.
Place in fridge for thirty minutes.

When dough is chilled, using a cookie scoop, roll each ball of dough in white sugar before placing on a cookie sheet. Don't have a cookie scoop? Stop what you are doing right now and order one. After living my whole life without one, I am pretty sure that I physically cannot make cookies without one. If you like cookies to look all janky, and for your life to be way harder, don't get one. But if you like pretty, uniform cookies, faster and with less mess, treat yo'self.

Speaking of treats, I recently treated myself to a silicone baking mat after wondering what the big deal with them was. I mean how great could they really be?
I GET IT. I get the big deal. The cookies bake evenly, and slide off easier. Everything about it is awesome. Except for the fact that I only have one. Now I have to wait for it to cool between batches.
Sigh... pesky rich people problems. It might be time to treat myself to a few more.

Back to the cookies...

Press your thumb into each cookie making space for the Nutella.

Lots of Nutella.

A big old spoonful of Nutella.

If you think that you have too much Nutella, you don't.

Remember these are Nutella STUFFED cookies. Not Nutella sparse cookies.

You need it. You will like it.

Treat yo'self.

This is what the happy little Nutella mountains should look like.

Space the cookies out pretty far as well.

You will be using a heck of a lot of dough, and it tends to spread out quite a bit.

Next, take an additional sugar rolled, cookie scooped ball of dough, flatten it out slightly between your hands, then press it on top of the Nutella mountain. Smash down the lot of them.

Bake at 350º for 11-14 minutes. (My oven runs an exact 13 minutes.)
They won't look totally done. Take them out anyway. Trust me on this one. You want them to be soft and chewy. Let them chill out on the cookie sheet for five minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack.

Then eat. And eat. Repeat. Then get them the heck out of your house, because they are evil and addictive. Plus, cookies shared, are the best kind of cookies.

Makes 18 big, beautiful, magical, willpower destroying, cookies.

The gift of frozen time.

2012-02-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

Dichotomy is one one my favorite words. Especially as defined here:

division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups: a dichotomy between thought and action.

Perhaps the nerdy English lover in me, or perhaps how it seemingly, perfectly, describes my life.

I am torn between wanting to get through this emotional and tiring season of parenting, and grappling with the desire to soak in every single moment, without squandering even a second.

Time is a thief. I want it to only steal away the memories of the tough times. Lovingly leaving me the sweet and beautiful moments. If only I could control it.

The silliness, the smallness, the friendship, the singing, the love, the beauty that is our little family...
That is what I am holding on to. Through the training, the sleepless nights, the tears. Because all of it, the happy and the sad, it is all, incredibly, wholly, absolutely, worth it.

Drew gave us the ability to freeze time. She captured so perfectly what I want to hold in my heart, today and for all the days to come. When time tries to thieve these moments, dim these memories, we will press play and be back in our little campground by the stream. Where everything stands still. Everything but who we are as a family.

Drew, thank you for this gift. There are no words or actions that could adequately convey how thankful we are to have you in our lives. Thank you for being a part of our beautiful story.

January photo challenge... complete!

2012-01-31T10:15:00.000-08:00

So...
I totally broke up with Twitter for Instagram.
Because let's face it, pictures are pretty and words are, how do I say it... NOISY.

My life is noisy. I wanted less info. More pretty. I like pretty.
Plus I like taking pictures with my phone. A lot a lot a lot. Enough to make my poor big camera all sad and abandoned. Doesn't help that it is still fighting with my computer.

But back to Instagram...

When I saw this little photo challenge come through my feed I thought it would be fun. An interesting way to start the new year. Some structure to the picture a day 365 (or 366 this year) plan that I start every year, then eventually, often quickly, quit.

Some days I absolutely loved it. Thinking of different ways to interpret the daily prompt. Other days I groaned as things like mailboxes, on day four, filled my feed. Really? Mailboxes? Lots of mailboxes? The paranoid part of me did not want to snap a pic of mine, because who knows what murderer is one step away from a Dateline story as soon as they know where I live. Because all he was waiting for was a pic of my mailbox to carry out his evil plan.

Then there was the inside of your fridge day. Ugh... Until I found kindred food friends who had things chilling, like my beloved almond milk, Cholula, and Sriracha. Less murdery. More hungry.

I am fairly certain that I have never actually done something for 31 days straight. It might be a small accomplishment, but for this A.D.D. quitter, it is a big deal. As for the February challenge, I make no promises. But this happy January grid is off to be printed and maybe even put in a little scrapbook.

Unless I quit before that project even starts...

********
Edited to add a little how to for the above collage. A little overly complicated how to. Because I rig stuff. I know just enough about a lot of things to get by. But not enough of one thing, to make it easy. This would be easy in Photoshop if I knew Photoshop. But I don't.

So here you go:

I knew I wanted it to be square, so I mapped it out on a piece of paper.
To break it down, I knew I needed nine 4x4 boxes. I spread out the white boxes strategically.

Then each day I added the text to the photos with the Phonto app.

I made the 4x4 collages with the PicFrame app.

Then I uploaded the nine 4x4 collages to Picnik (R.I.P).

Next, I sent it back to myself, added the January 2012 text with Phonto (totally hate all of the Picnik fonts).

Then I sent it off to be printed as a 12x12.

So you have it. My seemingly way too many step process to make a big old collage. Good luck!

Feel like jumping in and snapping your way through February?
I am going to be using the fun prompts thought up by my friends Erin and April.
Join me!

Check one off the bucket list.

2012-01-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am a kid of the 1970's.
Many of my favorite childhood memories are wrapped up in adventures ventured in my parent's blue VW bubble top camper van.

Jiffy Pop on the stove, curling up with dozens of books under my Winnie the Pooh sleeping bag, up in the loft,

our dog Daisy, campfires, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Dinty Moore stew, the orange canvas Coleman tent, swimming, hiking...

Memories are made camping and road tripping.
Happy, magical memories.

So once in a while I troll Craigslist, checking out prices on VW buses. Dreaming of owning our own. Knowing that we had two too many kids to make it a reality, and the fact that I know ZERO about fixing cars. But I still kept dreaming.

My bucket list has many realistic and a slightly few crazy things on it.

One is to own a VW bus.

Now I can check it off.

I headed off to VW Surfari, wrote a check, and picked up my dream.
He showed me all of it's features, how everything worked, how tricky the ignition was, how different it was to drive than a normal car, then sent me on my way.

Nervously trembling, I drove off.

Stalled even.

But the windows were down, the sun was shining and I was driving what I thought was once an impossibility.

I was the proud new owner of a gorgeous red VW camper.

(For twenty four glorious hours.)

For this glorious shoot with DrewB.
More to come.
(I KNOW!!!!!!!!!)

Happy Sunday.

2012-01-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

Ten.

2012-01-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

Today we are celebrating Joy's tenth birthday.
Wondering what birthday parties are like in heaven.
Pondering what life would be like if she was still here with us.
Thankful for her story, her legacy, and how her short life transformed us in so many ways.

Happy Birthday to our beautiful firstborn!

Hello Monday.

2012-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

Brought to you by the letter S.

Hello Shane.

Hello seven hours of sleep.

Hello sweet dreams.

Hello surviving.

(Thank you so much for your prayers and advice. We have had a few great nights. Last weekend I was ready to run away. This weekend I feel like I can rejoin the land of human beings once again. We changed his probiotics to BioGaia and are giving him looooooong baths every night. He is happier. We are happier. Hooray!!!!)

Say Hello with Lisa Leonard.

I've got nothing.

2012-01-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

Nothing.
I can function on a rather large sleep debt.
But the economy has nothing on how dang gosh darn (I would cuss here if I was into such things) sleep deprived I am.

I know things like the exact second the nearest Starbucks drive thru opens.
My pajamas and I love the guts out of that Starbucks drive thru.
I know what a sunrise looks like. Or more specifically what 100 sunrises look like.
I know that immediately after said sunrise, fifty billion crows fly from the hills to the right of me over to someplace to the left of me as I drive home from my beloved Starbucks drive thru.
A live reenactment of Hitchcock's The Birds is a bit much to take on a few hours of sleep. Believe you me.

This charming boy, with his big eyes and obscenely long eyelashes (same eyelashes that I throw down money to get glued on to my peepers) does not sleep.

He did sleep. He slept brilliantly.
The kind of baby that makes you want to punch a new mom in the face, when you ask how their two month old is sleeping.
He slept. I slept. I got used to sleeping. We had a really good thing going.

Then he got sick.
Bad sick.
Scary sick.
Pertussis sick.

A gnarly baby Z-pack kicked those tiny ugly germs to the curb. But his need for sleep hitched a ride along with them.

When his need for sleep went on vacation, so did my ability to form a coherent thought. Or sentence. Or ability to remember ANYTHING. Or really do much of anything. It's hilarious how many emails are languishing in my inbox. Or how much laundry/ paperwork/ everything in the universe/ is piling up. By hilarious, I mean, totally NOT HILARIOUS. More like scary. Freaky scary. Pull the covers over my head scary. If I could actually be in a position to pull covers over my head. Which would mean sleep. Which would be amazing.

So help a sleep starved sister out...
I am working on a FAQ section of the blog here, and to do that I suppose I need to know what the FAQ are, you know, since I have forgotten them all.

Is there something that you were dying to know?
Something that I have or haven't blabbed about yet?
Ask away.

Just don't ask for baby sleep training advice. Because that is something I suddenly know nothing about. Not a thing. I can get my 7.75 year old to nap just fine. But the baby human in the house has thrown everything that worked previously, violently out the window.

Plus, it will give me something to post. Since as of late, I haven't had much to say.
Besides, you know, HE DOES NOT SLEEP.

P.S. If you are one of those parents who swear that going from three kids to four kids is NBD, I think that you are a dirty rotten liar. Or I want some of whatever you are having. Because it is a VERY BIG DEAL!!!!!

Insta-December

2012-01-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

A peek into what December looked like around here.
A full, happy, busy, month.

Link up your everyday with Insta-Friday's at Life Rearranged.

Happy 2012.

2012-01-01T21:51:00.000-08:00

A new year.
Full of so much possibility.

Let this year be full of beautiful things.

Joy to the world.

2011-12-25T15:41:00.000-08:00

Images shot by the lovely Drew B.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

The stars are brightly shining.

2011-12-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

One step to a simple Christmas.

2011-12-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Get the flu.
That's it. Simple.

I'm sick.

Like siiiiiiiiiiiiick.

The kind of sick that makes you sort of long for a night in the hospital, if just for the drugs and sleep.

But that's a bit crazy, right?

So I have two more sleeps to kick this junkyness or else I won't be crawling downstairs for Christmas.

I really want to crawl downstairs for Christmas.

But what it is doing, is making me ditch all of the to-do list and in a way that is incredibly freeing.

No stressful, hurried, rushing around.

Just laying around watching Christmas movies and nonsense videos with my cute family.

Planning what kind of cake we will make for Jesus' birthday. The current request is cheesecake. Yep.

Nite nite. for now.

Can't handle the awesome that is in this video.

By yo'self day.

2011-12-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

What does it say about me that all I wanted for my birthday was a day alone.

Sad right?
Or dreamy?

Or is it the introvert in me?
The introvert that loves her family. Loves her friends. Loves having her house full of people and her calendar full of events.

But the introvert in me that has been desperate for quiet.

While my dream was to go to a hotel, armed with a stack of books, magazines, my ipod and Starbucks giftcards, with the thought of going to the movies alone, but mostly with the possibility of sleeping uninterrupted, perhaps even past 6am... A cute tiny human has other plans for me. Plans that require I be gone no more than four hours away from him at all times.

So my husband, the epitome of an extrovert, knew what I needed. Even though he doesn't completely understand it, and frankly thinks it's pretty weird...

Sent me off with a new pair of Toms and money with strict instructions to spend on myself.

By Yo'self Day was born.

I ate lunch alone.
And liked it.

I wandered shops alone.
I made some returns.
I did a little Christmas shopping.

Uninterrupted being the key word here.

I bought some treats.

I wished I could buy some other treats.

I came home a better wife, mother and friend.

It might have been the best birthday ever.

In a weird sort of way.

If you had a By Yo'self Day, what would you do?

I'm already dreaming of the 24 hour version come 2012. I don't care if the hotel faces the freeway. Just as long as it has blackout curtains and is within a mile of Starbucks.

Yay for water!

2011-12-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

{Printable made by the rad Mel.

Feel free to right click, save and share.}

You did it!

You spread the word.

You donated.

You funded a well.

A hope and a future for a community an ocean away.

Thank you.

So very very very much.

We are overwhelmed and our hearts so very happy.

{Erin, this is so perfect!

Just like your post.}

Like on a date with fake Ryan happy.

Although many of the giveaways have drawn the lucky winners, the campaign is open through February.

Why stop at one well, right?

***********************
(If your donation qualified for a bonus treat, please get your screenshot and mailing address to me by Wednesday December 21st, so I can send out all packages before Christmas.
charity:water doesn't send me donor email addresses, so I have no way of contacting you otherwise.)

I wanted to make another vlog to share my thoughts (getting crazy), but I have a crummy head cold, it hurts to talk and I can barely form a coherent sentence.

But I did leave Photo Booth open when I skulked off to the kitchen to stress bake cookies.

Someone might have made a dozen crazytown videos.

Someone might be a big fan of Biz's Beat of the Day.

This is life with Lucy.

Love that wacky kid. Not sure where that accent is from... but to translate, she starts it off by saying

"Thanks for getting the money for the well."

Yes. Just like my strange accented daughter says...

THANKS FOR FUNDING ANOTHER WELL!

Unicorns and sparkles.

Happy Sunday.

2011-12-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

And more Ryan Gosling. But different.

2011-12-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

I'm the girl who can be cry laughing about Handmade Ryan Gosling one second, and crying about the world's problems the next.

I'm the girl who wants to just sit quietly and pin pretty things on Pinterest one second, until I come across a pin like this one, and wants to turn everything we are doing upside down.

I'm the girl who has a pity party about ridiculous rich people problems one second, and wants to get rid of everything I own the next.

I'm the girl who is a people pleaser who loves happy things, sparkles and unicorns.
But I have had my heart shattered. Opened up to much more than my beautiful, abundantly blessed, lovely life.
A heart that can't ignore. Can't pretend. Can't just sit at her Apple computer, drinking clean water, in her Starbuck's cold cup, while her much longed for children sleep safely upstairs.

I want more than this world has to offer.

I want to make a dent in the world's water crisis.

I want to use my words for good.
I want to use my blog for a purpose.

I want to see all of us fund another well.

I want to see a community changed. Given a chance at life.

It's not much.
But it is everything.

Everything that we cannot even begin to imagine.
Because imagining it is too scary. There are no sparkles and unicorns in unsafe water.

Donate now.
Every penny of every single dollar you donate goes directly into the field.
Every penny of every single dollar has the ability to save a life.

If Ryan Gosling could give you a hug I bet he would.
I would too. But he is much hotter.

Change the world. With me. With Fake Ryan Gosling.

Unicorns and sparkles.

{More rad giveaways have linked up.
So much goodness out there for water!
Check them out here.}

Hey girl...

2011-12-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

Things have been a little rough over here in La Casa de Carson.

Tiny ugly germs,

insomniac baby,

over-full calendar,

MBD's (mental breakdown days... read this book, you won't be sorry),

general chaos...

Sometimes I just need to laugh like a Jr. Higher,

then do some stress induced cookie baking,

with a little bit of eating of feelings on the side.

Enjoy.

Because who doesn't love them some crafty Ryan Gosling.

Mmmmm. Ryan Gosling.

Random side note:

How I wish I could put him in a time machine, and cast The Notebook era Ryan Gosling as Peeta in The Hunger Games. Yes. Please. The boy with all the right kinds of bread.

You are totally cry-laughing right now aren't you?
Right?

It's okay. So am I.

{All images from Handmade Ryan Gosling,

brilliantly sent to me by the lovely Laura who always makes me laugh.}

Give water. Get treats.

2011-12-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

Are you ready to build another well with us?
Are you ready to tangibly change the face of an entire community half a world away?

My darling friends have come up with some amazing prize bundles, full of happiness and awesomeness.

Each $10 donation to the Project 320 campaign page is good for one entry in one of the prize bundles.

Lovely generous crafters, shop owners, bloggers and just plain rad humans, have dug down deep and donated to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Think of how just $10 can give one person water for ten years. Try to wrap your mind around that.
Think of how you can donate. Perhaps forgo a gift or two and give water instead. We even have a pretty printable on our Facebook page to assist you in gift giving. How easy and meaningful is that?

When I was thinking of what I could do in terms of putting together a prize bundle, I came up with a slightly different plan. I want to support and augment the other generous giveaways. I want everyone to have a chance to win. So I computered, powertooled, painted, sanded and sewed.
For water. For you.

With a $30 donation you will give three people clean water.

Plus two giftable, happy, lovely and joyful, 8x10 printables.

As well as three entries to the prize bundle or bundles of your choice.

With a $60 donation, you will give six people clean water.
The happy printables.

Plus a versatile Days Until countdown sign (shipping included).

As well as six entries to the prize bundle or bundles of your choice.

With a $120 donation, you will give one dozen people clean water.
The happy printables.

Plus a rainbow set of ten Pretty.Messy. flower pins. Ten for you? Or ten gifts...

As well as twelve entries to the prize bundle or bundles of your choice.

Want to see what the prize bundles are?

{New ones are being added each day. Yay!}
Visit each giveaway by clicking the thumbnails below.
After you have donated, send a screenshot or forward your Charity Water receipt to

project320blog {at} gmail dot com.

Thanks for your heart to help.
To share what you have to save and change lives.

All of us from Project 320 love and appreciate you being a part of our passion and dream.

Lets fund this well.
{Bonus treats applies to all donations made by Monday December, 19th.}

Happy Sunday.

2011-12-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

My first vlog...

2011-12-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

I am pretty sure that on more than once occasion I said that I would never do one of these.
But I did.
In artsy black & white. Because everyone is cuter in artsy black & white.
With my new glasses. Which are not sunglasses, although they look like they are. That would be weird.
Weirder than me in my new hipster glasses.
Because given the choice between Sarah Palin professional woman glasses or nerdy hipster glasses, I obviously chose the latter.
Back to the vlog...
In which I talk about some stuff. In my not-sunglasses-glasses.

Visit the Project 320 blog here.

I heart my PackIt!

2011-12-07T08:00:00.001-08:00

This post brought to you by PackIt. All opinions are 100% mine.

What is my perfect day?

Sunshine, hoodies, sand, my family, and a picnic.

Made easier by radtastic (why didn't I invent it?) PackIt lunch boxes!

The ice packs line the actual pack, so there is more room for food and drinks.

More room for food and drinks, means that I no longer have to haul down our big cooler, and let me tell you, less to carry to the beach is a great, wonderful, save the day, kind of thing.

Plus, since the ice packs surround the food it stays cold up to ten hours. Gogurts? Stayed frozen! Chicken salad? Stayed super cold, which is the only way that I will eat it.

I wanted to cuddle this icy little wonder when we were done. It is that brilliant. Brilliantly invented by two moms who wanted an easier way to keep their kids lunches cold. Moms invent the smartest stuff.

My second favorite feature? It folds flat and stores easily in my freezer door. Seriously. Why didn't I invent it? Genius. Genius. Genius.

After our picnic, someone crashed out,

and the girls set out to find heart shaped rocks.

Pretty much a perfect, lovely, sunshiny day.

Visit the PackIt website and take advantage of their buy one get one free offer. Pretty sure they would make a great and practical Christmas gift. What if you filled it with picnic ready food? Hello! That is something I would love to get!

What would you use your PackIt for? Have any favorite portable recipes that you'd like to share?

Our nerdy news family Star Wars style.

2011-12-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

So we might have set the alarm for 5am.
Put on some costumes.
Headed to the Discovery Science Center.
Got on the news.

A lot a lot a lot.

.

I might have been too chicken to put on my costume.
Then spent the morning hiding from the cameras.

Just might have.

But they got me anyway.

Sigh.

Nerdy family part two.

2011-12-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

KTLA wants me to break up the videos in their own separate posts apparently.
So let me spam your Google reader with more of us.
Two more.
Lucky you!

El fin de nerdy family.

2011-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

Watch for baby R2D2 the baby photo bomber and then the news anchor mocking him at the end.

My new favorite holiday cookies.

2011-11-30T08:10:00.000-08:00

Make these.
Now.
Go to Target, walk back to the holiday baking section.
Buy every single pouch of Betty Crocker snickerdoodle mix that they have.
Trust me. It is the unicorn of cookie mixes. Difficult to find, but so magical when you do.

Then rush home.
Preheat your oven to 375º

White chocolate cranberry cream cheese snickerdoodles.

(Long title for a simple cookie!)

Ingredients:
1 pouch Betty Crocker snickerdoodle cookie mix
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon water
1 egg
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips

Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Open cookie mix.
Set aside cinnamon sugar packet.

Add water, egg and cookie mix to cream cheese mixture.
Stir until soft dough forms.
Add in cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Cover & refrigerate 30 minutes.

After that horrible 30 minutes is over, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough into cinnamon sugar.
(Have I told you lately how much I am in love with my cookie scoop? How did I wait so long to finally buy one?)
Roll to coat.

Place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake a 375º for 8-9 minutes until edges are set.
Cool one minute then transfer to cooling rack.

Cool completely then gobble them up.
Or share them with your neighbors and friends.
Totally up to you. But I won't judge you if you don't.
Because it is super hard. They are way too good.

{adapted from my fave Betty Crocker.}

*When I run out of my snickerdoodle stockpile I am going to try making these with the easier to obtain sugar cookie mix and cinnamon sugar. I'll let you know how they compare.

Carapelli olive oil tasting & crowd pleasing pasta salad.

2011-11-29T12:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carapelli for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My sister in law recently moved to Italy and it is making me crazy jealous hearing about the delicious food she gets to eat each and every day.

Sigh... I think a visit is in order.

But until that day comes I want a little bit of Italy in my California home.

Thankfully Carapelli offered to let me conduct an olive oil tasting, something that I have never done.

Dipped bread in it? Sure?

Cooked with it? All the time.

But I haven't really TASTED it...

It was fun and I learned so much.

There are a few quick steps to having a true olive oil tasting experience. First, you pour a tablespoon or so of olive oil into a small glass and gently warm it by covering the glass with one hand and holding the bottom of the glass in the other.

Then the four S's come in.

Also known as: swirl, sniff, slurp and swallow.

Swirl – By swirling the olive oil in your glass, you release the oil’s esters, which are the molecules that contain the aroma.
Sniff – Inhale deeply. The aroma is the key to the fruitiness of the oil. Is it intense or is it more subtle?
Slurp – Sip the oil while sipping in a bit of air into your mouth at the same time. This slurping action emulsifies the oil and helps spread it throughout your mouth. Take note of the various tastes and sensations. Is it fruity, peppery, smooth?
Swallow – Once you swallow the oil, it should leave your mouth with no aftertaste. Again, take note of any peppery or stinging sensation in your throat.

Since I have never had a tasting of any kind before it was sort of strange, yet felt sort of fancy.

The rich aroma and deep flavors really caught me by surprise.

I couldn't wait to finish off the tasting part with some warm fresh filone bread.

Oh, to be in Italy...

Want to make a yummy pasta salad that will be the talk of the next get together?

Needs-a-food-blog-Richelle has one of my favorite recipes.

So easy. So yummy.

Bring it to your next holiday potluck.

You better believe that I will.

It's just a cook, saute, chop, and toss type of thing.

You can't mess it up. You can't stop eating it. Good thing it makes A LOT!

Plus you can make it ahead. It tastes even better the next day.

The rich flavor of the Carapelli makes all of the other yummy ingredients shine.

Download a $1.00 OFF coupon at www.CarapelliUSA.com.

Happy tasting!

Insta-Friday. Thanksgiving break edition.

2011-11-26T15:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a..

Beach playing,

wedding attending,

morning news starring,

Thanksgiving hosting,

turkey sleeping,

happy coloring,

outdoor decorating crew feeding,

little hands busy making,

addictive series reading,

sign making,

week.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T11:50:00.001-08:00

Link up! For reals.

2011-11-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

So Jeannett and I wanted to be all stealth and ninja like when we asked you to link up your Happy Day recap posts. But we are just too excited to not tell you why! You see, when some of our amazing talented friends heard about what we were planning they wanted in. Not just in, but IN!!! They wanted to share happiness just like you shared happiness.

I love that!

I love them!

So whether you completed one task, or all seven, please share. We love to read and celebrate the little bits of sunshine scattered all over the world.

One of you super sunshiney linkers will get all of this rainbow happiness.

Winner will be drawn on Saturday November 26th.

Yay!

Doing good is always worth it. Always.

1. $25 shop credit at Rags to Stitches. 2. You Are My Sunshine print by Blossom and Vine. 3. ABC Sampler print by Little Bit Funky. 4. Camera painting in color of your choice by Paint Me a Picture. 5. Print of your choice from Songs Kate Sang. 6. White Rose Earrings by Ragamuffin Beauties. 7. Pearls and Knots Necklace in Houndstooth by Ragamuffin Beauties. 8. Peach Mum Earrings by Ragamuffin Beauties. 9. Chevron table runner by Knitty Bitties. 10. Brick Red Rosette Earrings by Ragamuffin Beauties.

LINK UP HERE.
Thanks darling friends.
Sparkles and unicorns all around.

Hello Monday.

2011-11-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hello edible.

Hello salsa.

So good you don't even need chips. Just a spoon. Make it. Now.

Hello Jedi Training Academy at Discovery Science Center.

Hello happy husband.

Hello Boba Fett's gun.

Hello Star Wars exhibit that we will visit 1,000 times.

Hello cupcakes.

Hello hoodies at the beach.

Hello craft fairs.

Hello favorite collaboration ever.

Goodbye house guests.

We miss you.

Come back soon.

Hello Thanksgiving break.

You are going to be fun!

{Say hello to Monday with the lovely Lisa Leonard.}

Happy Day Project Recap.

2011-11-17T16:55:00.000-08:00

This girl.
This joyful, delightful, charming, little girl.

Each and every day she wakes up with a smile.
With a request for a pretty dress.
Preferably this yellow pretty dress.

Here entire life is one big happy day.

But sometime in the future, that will change.
Sadly, inevitably change.

I don't want it to. I want her whole life to be filled with opportunities to give, to serve, to help, to see those who need a smile, a treat, an encouraging word.

That is what I loved most about the Happy Day Project.
Taking time out of what was a CRAZY TOWN week, to think of others first. To work together as a family to spread sunshine.

To notice ways that we can help. Share. Give. Love.

Thank you for taking this journey. Thank you for taking time to love those who needed love. Thank you for taking the challenge and then making the week more than we could ever had imagined.

I don't want this to just be one week. I want this to be something that we continue to do. That we come back to. In fun and surprising ways. Are you with me?

Share your stories, your tears, your experiences spreading sunshine.
Whether you did one day or all seven. I have a feeling that your heart was changed in some way.
Let's celebrate and encourage each other together.

The Happy Day Project: Day Seven.

2011-11-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

After Leslie from Top of the Page shared her idea of Blessing Bags last year, and assembling them with my family during Thanksgiving, I knew that they would be a great project to wrap up The Happy Day Project.

I just happened to be co-hosting a Pinterest party with no-blog Alicia, and decided to rope my friends into the shenanigans. Crafting plus giving? Yes please.
The Evite potluck list option made it really easy for each of us to sign up for items, and mid-projects, we took a break, spread out everything on the island and began putting together our bags.

During assembly we chatted about how much we take simple things for granted, like Chapstick or cough drops. It might not be much, but each item in the bags will hopefully bring some comfort and hope to those who need it most. Now each of us have bags full of basic daily necessities to pass out when given the opportunity.

(Download today's printable here.)

Leslie and I brainstormed as to what the printable to tuck into the bag should say.
It is not easy.
What is appropriate? What is meaningful?

Inspired by this song, she came up with Love knows your name...

To many the homeless are nameless.

To God they are not.

Let them not be nameless to us.

Share a bag, ask their name.

Let them know that there is love, and love does know their name.

Consider assembling Blessing Bags with your loved ones this Thanksgiving.
We have so much to be thankful for, and it means even more if we are able to share it.
Read more about what to include here.

I am thankful for you. So thankful for taking this challenge.

The Happy Day Project: Day Six.

2011-11-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

Think of how many people spend their lives making your life better and easier.

I bet you could fill up an entire sheet of paper, just listing the number of people each day that in some way serve you.

Who comes to your mind first?

Maybe that is the person who needs it the most today.

Try it.

Let's surprise someone who takes care of us in some way with a little sunshine today.

Stephanie from Homegrown Hospitality (who I know in real life EEEK!!!) made this set of hand drawn doodles, to help celebrate those who make our days full of happiness.

Download the cuteness here.

One of our students is across the country, freezing cold, missing home, at Army basic training. We are so thankful for his heart to serve our country, and extremely proud of him. We thought a little care package of treats would brighten his day.
Who doesn't love happy, yummy, mail?

As an extension of Veteran's Day, we would like to highlight The Wounded Warrior Project.

"With the mission to honor and empower wounded warriors, WWP is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs. Offering a variety of programs and services, WWP is equipped to serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war."

They are there when our soldiers need them the most. Just as our soldiers are there for us when we need them the most.

Consider donating as an act of thankfulness for all that our military and their families sacrifice for us each and every day.

The Happy Day Project: Day Five.

2011-11-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday friends!
How is your week going?

Today is all about refreshment.

Amy from Living Locurto made a super cute set of water bottle tags. Seriously, super cute.
Download your own printable tags here and here.
Take a bucket of waters to a local park, on a walking loop, hey, even in front of Target. Shopping makes one thirsty right?
Who wouldn't want to be greeted with a cold water?

But I got to thinking... these little tags cold fit on say...
A cranberry-strawberry-lime slushie from Sonic?
An iced coffee from Starbucks?
A fountain Diet Poison?
But wait, the goal isn't to get my favorite drinks... but I could roll through Sonic during happy hour, and do a little ding dong slushie-ness to my friend's porches.
Or pay for the car behind me in the Starbucks drive-thru and leave a tag for the barista to slip on the unsuspecting caffeine addict behind me.

Who needs a little refreshment in your life today?

If you know me, I can't talk about water, without talking about WATER.

Clean water specifically. It is the desire and passion of my heart that every single person on this beautiful planet has access to clean, safe, water.
I will keep fundraising, keep advocating, keep talking about it until the day comes when I don't have to. Oh, how I look forward to that day.

My friend jenny, whom I adore, has the biggest heart for the needs of this world. She was able to travel to Kenya this summer and drink from one of the wells funded by our church. For her birthday this year she chose to help Charity:Water fundraiser for their September campaign. All of the September campaigns are going towards funding another drilling rig.

Dare you to watch this video explaining it.

The 2011 September Campaign. Our 5-year-anniversary video from charity: water on Vimeo.

I'd love for you to visit Jenny's campaign and think of how many people lives you could change with even a small donation. About how you could help refresh thirsty people all the way in Ethiopia.

I love water. I love Jenny. I love your heart to help.

The Happy Day Project: Day Four.

2011-11-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

Happy day four!

Who doesn't love a good book?
Surprise someone with one of your favorites today.
Head to your local bookstore (if you still have one), Amazon, or even shop your very own bookshelf. I love passing on my books. I love having books passed on to me. If someone I know loved a book, chances are I will too. As soon as I get a new one, I'll sneak off to bed early, curl up and get lost in it's words. Dreamy.

Heather from Life Made Lovely created these sweet little bookplates for you to tuck inside the books that you share. {Click here to download.}

My sweet Halley chose to celebrate her seventh birthday by collecting books for The Joyful Life Library. It is a project that is near and dear to our family.

Read about the story behind The Joyful Life Library, and consider purchasing a book to donate to one of the participating hospitals through their wish lists. Send the simple love, comfort and escape that can be found in the pages of a happy little book.

Next up: refresh someone.

<a href="http://thehappydayproject.com/"><img alt="happy day" height="125" width="125" border="0" src="http://liferearranged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/happydayrainbowsquare125.jpg" /></a>

The Happy Day Project: Day Three

2011-11-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

I live in a land of excess, gated communities, and real housewives.

Yet hidden in this land are the broken, the hurting, the needy, the unemployed, the homeless.

Each and every time I see them I am undone.

Undone because nobody else seems to see them.

They turn away from them on the corners.

They impatiently will the stoplight to turn green on the freeway exits.

They act as if they are invisible.

They are not invisible.

They have names.

They have stories.

They have dreams.

I do not care how life brought them to the street corner.

What I do care about is THEM.

They exist. They are not invisible.

They were created by God, and they matter to Him.

Something that matters to God, matters to me.

While I cannot change their circumstances, I can give them a hot meal and a snack.

I can look them in the eyes and let them know that I see them.

Actually see them.

That I care about them.

It might not be much, but it is something.

Tuck a handful of gift cards into your glove box.

When the opportunity arises, hand one out with a warm smile.

See those the rest of the world doesn't.

Change their day, if only for a few minutes.

A whole lot of hope can be contained in a few minutes.

Download your printables created by Smallbird Studios here and here.

Want to take today outside of our borders?
As our newspaper and mailbox fills with holiday catalogs advertising the latest STUFF, I wanted my kids to see beyond toys and the latest American Girl outfits.
I wanted them to see what the rest of the world is wishing for Christmas.

Yes, Kit's new holiday dress is adorable.
Rebecca's kittens are super cute.
But for the same price guess what we could buy...

We browsed the Compassion Christmas Catalog, they were brought to a whole new reality.

Suddenly they were more excited about giving gifts, than asking for them.
Give your kids a chance to do the same. I bet their hearts will surprise you.
I know I was.

Acknowlege the invisible. Be the only sunshine someone sees today. Buy a gift from the Compassion Catalog.

Come back tomorrow as we share a book with a friend.

<a href="http://thehappydayproject.com/"><img alt="happy day" height="125" width="125" border="0" src="http://liferearranged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/happydayrainbowsquare125.jpg" /></a>

The Happy Day Project: Day two.

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

How was day one?
I loved that my Instagram feed was filled with people making treats and spreading sunshine.
It is a beautiful thing to be a part of, my heart is so full and happy. Keep the sunshine stories coming!

Are you ready for today's challenge?
Pencils sharpened?
Do you go to ye olde mercantile to pick up ink for your quill pen?
Because today focuses on spreading sunshine through words. Words written the old fashioned way with your hand.
Crazy right?

This one isn't easy for me.
I can sit and type all the live long day, but I am a colossal failure when it comes to writing out a simple card. I don't know why... Perhaps here I can ramble, let words randomly fall out of my brain, but to craft a meaningful paragraph to thank or encourage?
Super hard.

During a creative writing class in college we were required to write a note to someone each and every day of the semester. I bought a huge stack of postcards and worked from A to Z in my address book. Some days it was hard, but it is the most memorable project of my college career. I'm sad that I have become so far removed from that simple habit. I treasure handwritten notes that come my way. I have a dedicated bin that I tuck them into. I love to go back and re-read the words that have been shared with me. I want to write again. Tangible words.

Could there be a more perfect way to send written sunshine than with these adorable note cards beautifully created by Emily from Hope Ink?
{Click here to download your own set.}
Pennants are my love language. Pennants that my girls can color in, even better. We all agreed who our cards would be sent to, and gathered up our bucket of markers and got to work.

It was a great time talking about the recipient and how much they mean to our family. It was great to sit down and just write. Not type, not text, but really, write. Writing with a bit of coloring, that is...

As we addressed our cards, we chatted a little bit about Wren. She is a wife and mama to two boys and an itty bitty girl, who is fighting the fight of her life against stage four cancer. We don't know her, but we are praying for her and her family. Praying that she will be healed. Praying that she continues to keep strong and keep fighting. What do you write to someone battling cancer? I have no idea. Not a one. But that is not going to stop me from trying. It is not going to stop me from tucking a Target gift card in to a little note and send it off to Texas, in hopes that it shines a bit of sunshine to a deep and dark valley.

Will you do the same? Send love to the Horn's. Pray for the Horn's. Beg for healing in Wren's body. Send a gift card to help with daily expenses. Follow updates on their journey HERE.

Send your notes of hope and encouragement here:

Harris Creek Baptist Church
c/o Wren Horn
401 Stageline Drive
Mc Gregor, TX 76657

{Next up: Giftcard to homeless.}

The Happy Day Project: Day one.

2011-11-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

It's here!

How excited are you to start spreading sunshine?

Today we are focusing close to home.

Our neighbors.

Whether you know them, or just would like to know them, know that they will be surprised and delighted by a thoughtful treat.

It doesn't have to be fancy.

Who has time for fancy?

It could be a little stack of Pillsbury break and bake cookies, stacked in a jar, finished off with a cute tag.

Preferably delivered by a trio of girls in their pajamas.

Did I have dreams of making my favorite pumpkin bread?

Plans to deliver it during the daylight hours?

Did I find myself lacking both the pumpkin and the daylight?

Maybe. Because sometimes plans don't always go the way you think that they will.

You know what? My plans don't matter. My neighbor matters.

The darling neighbor, who fetches our mail while we are away, who dotes on my littles like they were her own grandchildren, was happily surprised when those same littles, came smiling and bearing cookies to her doorstep tonight.

Perhaps she is sitting down under a cozy blanket right now with a glass of milk and her jar of cookies.

Warmly knowing that we care about and appreciate her.

Who needs a treat in your neighborhood today?

Mique of 30Days made this lovely tag, reminding us to delight in the little things.

{click HERE to download a printable set and HERE for another adorable version.}

Isn't it the little things that often get overlooked?

Isn't it the little things that when noticed can really get us through the big things?

Today I will choose to delight in them.

Mique's dear friend Sharlie delights in them daily as she fights a hard fight.

We wanted to highlight and support Sharlie's Angels as they help raise money for this wife and mama who is awaiting a heart and double lung transplant.

You can learn about sweet Sharlie here.

Shop for Sharlie here (so many goodies to be had!)

Donate directly to her fund here.

May your find delight as you bless a neighbor today.

May you send love by donating to Sharlie's Angels or by shopping for Sharlie.

{Next up: Handwritten note day. Sharpen your pencils. It's time to get old school.}

<a href="http://thehappydayproject.com/"><img alt="happy day" height="125" width="125" border="0" src="http://liferearranged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/happydayrainbowsquare125.jpg" /></a>

Happy Sunday. (With a printable.)

2011-11-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

(Sized as an 8x10. Feel free to grab and print away.)

The Happy Day Project starts tomorrow.
Yay!
Are you ready?

Insta-Friday.

2011-11-04T23:22:00.000-07:00

Remember these?
They didn't sell at our garage sale.
I have no idea why.
(The nineties called and wants it's ridiculousness back.)

The cutest Christmas fabric in the history of Christmas.
(Found at Joann's. Buy it online here.)
I can't even handle the cuteness. Now what to make...
My first thought was pj pants for the girlies, but they grow so so so fast.
I want it to last and last and last.
Pillow cases?
Pennants?
Ideas please.

Therapy at Homegoods and Home Depot.
It was a good day.

We love rain around here. I have brainwashed the girls to love my favorite weather just as much as I love it. Cute boots and cute umbrellas help of course.

But this little rainstorm has been stressful!
It cannot rain this weekend.
It simply CANNOT!!!!
Because this is happening....
and it is going to be rad. Rad and not raining.
Crazy excited.

Even on the hardest days....
this whole raising a human thing...
it is always worth it.
Always.

ALWAYS.

Link up your simple and sweet moments at Life Rearranged.

Happy Day Project Launch.

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Happy Day Project!
Jeannett and I are so glad that you are here.

How about some background?
We both were inspired by this post and knew that we wanted to do something meaningful leading up to the holiday season.

This whole use your blog for good thing is fun!
So we brainstormed and came up with a little plan.
For one week we will spread sunshine unexpectedly.
Many of the tasks are easy, lots of them can involve little ones.
All of them will be a little ray of light in some one's day.

But we also wanted to make it cute.
We like cute.
So we enlisted super talented friends who donated their time and skill to make printables that go with the day's task.

Then we wanted to make an even bigger impact. Jeannett has a heart to fund raise. I am consistently amazed at how she takes her passions and puts them to work. We have picked a charity to feature each day, to compliment the daily task. A charity that is near and dear to our hearts.

Here is a list of what is in store:

What's next?
We start Monday. Both Jeannett and I will be a day ahead so we are able to post about the daily task bright and early in the morning. Each assignment will have many options so you can tailor it to your family, your community, or your schedule.

At the end of the week we will celebrate the days that were made just a little bit happier with a big linky party and some super fun surprises.

What can you do?
Join in!
Commit to spending the next couple of days thinking and planning what you are going to do. Even better than that, help us spread the word. Blog, tweet, facebook, pin, sky write, about The Happy Day Project. Lets flood the world with sunshine next week.

Yay!!!!

Want a cute button to decorate your sidebar?
Here you go... grab away.

We would love to know if you are joining us. Write a post to spread the word. Feel free to grab any images you'd like. Then link up your post below. (You can link up here or at Life Rearranged, but you don't need to link up both places. We are sharing the linky, so your cute little thumbnail will appear no matter where you start.)

An outsourced, recycled, simple, Halloween.

2011-11-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

What is it about holiday clothes?

I love them so.

I have a bin for each season and I love digging into them year after year.

I made these pumpkin dresses in 2007.
(The fabric is called Pumpkin Party and it is made by Alexander Henry. It is out of print, but with patience I bet you could find it with a good google search.)
They have seen quite a few Halloweens. Last year I made a bigger one for Halley. After this year the littlest one will have to be passed on. Hating the growing again. Hating.

I really, really wanted to recreate the magic that happened last year at the parking lot pumpkin patch.

It might be my favorite picture that I have ever taken.

It didn't exactly happen, but I like it all the more with the addition of someone who wasn't even on our radar or in our dreams last year. How crazy is that. A new human. I love him. I love his candy corn-esque little outfit from Drew and the pumpkin hat that Halley wore her first Halloween in 2004. Bins of holiday clothes, I tell ya. You never know when you will need something again.

The girls keep on asking when we are going to get Disney passes again.
(Probably, maybe, never. Boo.)

But I am pretty sure that this two minute, twelve dollar, rickety boat ride, will hold them over for a bit.

Seriously. They are pretty easy to please.

Considering my fairly controlling nature, one might assume that I was the mastermind behind this little Neverland theme. But no my friends, I have passed down the gene of orchestration to these little ones.

It started with Halley.

She wanted to be Tiger Lily.

Mostly for the moccasins.

My mom was going to make her a costume, but when I saw this Pocahontas one at the Disney store I knew it could work. I snipped off the Pocahontas medallion, took off the belt, flipped it upside down, glued a feather in the back and called it Tiger Lily. Done and done.

Lucy is a real life Tinkerbell.

Strong and tiny, fair and flighty.

She did not need any begging to don the lime green again.

This cute costume came from Kohl's.

Hooray.

I planned to make her a version 2.0 of her little Tink shoes, but instead she chose a rainbow sparkle pair from Walmart, with a green puff hot glued on top. Crazy easy.

Little Miss Wendy is 99% sunshine.

But when you catch the other 1% watch out.

Picture time came during what is supposed to be naptime.

But I still think she is the cutest Wendy I ever did see!

My way too talented mom made this sweet number.

It is just perfect. So cute on this baby Wendy girl.

No trip to Neverland would be complete without Peter Pan. Good thing we added a human to our family this year.
My friend's dear mother in law crocheted this darling hat without a pattern, off just a picture. Oh to have those kinds of skills. It will last his little head through the winter months. Jaunty feather and all.
His costume was based on Make It and Love It's tutorial. It is so dreamy to sew with fleece and felt. Forgiving, no fraying... Just my kind of project.

My goal was to buy what I could, make what I can, and outsource the rest. I have to admit that Wendy and Peter's hat are certainly the Halloween stars. Outsourcing works my friends. That and my cute littles that wear them.

Do something good challenge number one recap.

2011-11-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

Happy November!
This month's challenge will be announced on Thursday and I can't stinking wait.
It is a good one.

But until then I wanted to wrap up October's challenge.

In the middle of my-pets-heads-are-falling-off week, I knew that I needed a quiet night in the kitchen.
Jason knew that I needed a quiet night in the kitchen.
When life gets crazy and I get crazy I need to cook or bake.

Quietly.

If he comes home from work and I am baking a random batch of cookies, he knows that it has been one of THOSE days.

So he put the girls to bed and took care of Shane while I got myself together.

Honestly, I was the most blessed by it.
The measuring, chopping, stirring, even the cleaning up after, calms me.
(I made the trusty standbys Chicken Spaghetti and Toffee Crack.)
Knowing that throwing together ingredients can be a blessing, surprise, and treat to someone else is one of my favorite things.

It doesn't have to be difficult. It doesn't have to be fancy. It doesn't have to be planned. It just needs to be from your heart.

In fact a sweet friend sent us dinner from across the country right after our car accident. It was like a huge hug in a pizza box and exactly what this shaken up family needed.

Did you make a meal or bring a treat to someone?

Tell me about it. I love to hear happy stories.

Hello Halloween.

2011-10-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

Hello pumpkin patch.

Hello pumpkin dresses.

Hello baby brother.

Hello janky rides.

Hello $12.

Hello candy getting footwear.

Hello tricks.

Hello treats.

Hello Neverland.

Hello jack o'lanterns.

Hello raiding their candy bags.

Goodbye Halloween.

(Saying Hello Monday with Lisa Leonard.)

Happy Sunday. (With a printable.)

2011-10-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday.
Here is a preview of what is in store for The Happy Day Project next week.
Yay!
It is formatted as a 8x10 for your printing pleasure.

Things that are rad.

2011-10-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday.
My favorite day of the week, perfect for sharing some things that are rad. Random and rad in no particular order with no particular theme. Just stuff I like.

I signed up for this class at Homegrown Hospitality. I need to just make something. Just to make it. Something new and different and with an unfamiliar technique. I can't wait!

The kids are LOVING watching Wild Kratts. I'm pretty strict with tv, and the combination of animals and science, plus not making me crazy, means it passes my test. I can't believe how much they learn each episode.

My girls have tangly curly hair with really wimpy scalps. I bought them each a Knot Genie and there are less tears each morning (if there were no tears it would really be a genie).

Speaking of tears, I made two new meals last week and only one family member cried. That is for sure a new record. I highly recommend Crockpot BBQ Chicken (I shredded it and put it on rolls, then used the leftovers the next day for BBQ chicken pizza), and Taco Cornbread Casserole.

More with the tears... Did you see Footloose?
Kid you not, when they were cleaning up the cotton mill and hoisted up the mason jar chandelier I started crying. Like tears burst out of my eyes. To which Jason looked over in confusion and mockery and exclaimed "YOU ARE CRYING OVER MASON JARS????????"
Yes, darling. I am crying over mason jars. Because that, is the most beautiful chandelier that just happened to be hidden and covered in dirt and dust, in a cotton mill that I ever did see.

I'm reading Kisses From Katie and it is ruining me. But in the best way. She inspires me. She amazes me.

Did you catch my little Jedi's hat last week?
Crystal from Little Bit Funky sent it his way. It is so awesome.
As I write I am snacking on one of her Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Bars. Hello!!!
I made them for Jason's tailgate today, but I sort of want to keep them all to myself.

Last weekend's boutique was amazing. It was so fun seeing friends come out to help bring Evie home, as well as meet new ones (hi Summer and Crystal). I have another one coming up around the corner. Love to see you there.

Parks and Recreation. Funniest show on television. There. I said it.

Hello happy. Jeannett and I are working on something exciting. Can't stinking wait for the launch on November 5th.

With that I am off to try my hand at making a baby Peter Pan costume. Wish me luck!

Happy Saturday.

Insta-Friday.

2011-10-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Messy crafts are not my favorite. Fifty billion daily school papers are not my favorite.
This is my attempt to overcome my issues. They got messy. I got organized. Baby steps.

What a week. What a week.
Confession. We have lived here two years this week. Two years. Crazy. Even crazier that our garage was filled with boxes that we had yet to unpack. So with the help of family and friends, we went from candidates for Hoarders to this. It was hard. Really hard. Tough decisions. A huge trip to the dump. But honestly, if it hasn't been needed in two years, is it really needed?
Plus I am parking in the garage for the first time in my life. Love it.
Now on to my closet...
Garage sale tomorrow. Adios stuff. The clean and organized after makes the pain of the before so worth it.

All the cleaning made this date night all the more needed.

Slater's 50/50 lived up to the hype. Exceeded it even.

Vampire dip? Artichoke dip with maybe 1,000 cloves of garlic. It was so stinky and so worth it. It alone would have been worth the drive.

But then came the burger. The weird sounding Peanut Butter and Jellousy. What crazy person thought... I'll take a bun, a patty, two pieces of bacon and top it with creamy peanut butter and strawberry jelly? An genius crazy person. Because it was probably the best burger I have ever tasted in my life.

Notice anything missing on this guy?

Lucy found him. We caught him. He ditched his tail in the process.
It wiggled all detached for more than five minutes.
I cannot unsee that.
I wish I could.

1. Can I say how much I love my dress up, fancy, loving girls?
2. Our student leadership team sent us on a date after church. They took our kids home, fed them, put them down for naps, then detailed our cars, cleaned our house and cooked us dinner. We came home to happy kids, a meal in the oven, and a sparkling clean house and cars. They left this note on our chalkboard. I love our church. Such a blessing.
3. Fun craft from our mom's group. Googly eyes are just so googly.
4. My ode to the siren who makes pumpkin scones.

Link up your little moments at Life Rearranged.

Hello Zoo Talkers!

2011-10-27T15:01:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have to admit that I am sort of a minimalist when it comes to toys. As in toys aren't my favorite. Some find their way to grandma and grandpa's house. Some mysteriously disappear. I know, mean mom. But once in a while I will break my crazy rules for special toys, ones that all the kids can play together, and toys that will last through more than one child and more than one developmental stage.

As a kid I would play with my Fisher-Price Little People sets for hours and hours. I loved them. Just loved. I love that my kids now love the modern day version of Little People®. Especially the little people zoo animals. They are all on an animal kick right now. The Little People® Zoo Talkers are just the perfect toy to take them to their land of imaginary animal habitats. They especially love how their other Little People® animals can play along.

Not so bald baby is learning and imitating (loudly I might say) the sounds of her favorite animals. She often can be seen cruising around the house, the car, pretty much everywhere with one of her favorite animal friends in her hand. Today she is especially fond of the lion. She has the cutest baby roar!

What if not only Little People® Zoo Talkers could send your kiddo to college? How you ask?
Submit a video of your child making their favorite animal sounds- just like the new Little People® Zoo Talkers do- and you could win a $10,000 cash prize that may be used toward your child's education.
The Grand Prize also includes:
-A trip for four to Fisher-Price headquarters for a special photo shoot and an opportunity to have your child featured on a Little People® toy package or website.
-A Zoo Talkers toy prize pack ($100 value) featuring the Animal Sounds Zoo, Safari Truck and Zoo Talkers Animals!
Click here for details.

This happened.

2011-10-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have one of those weeks?
Where five hundred small, lame, bad, annoying things happen?
Add in lingering neck pain from the car accident, and months of just not exactly enough sleep.
Each thing on their own would be NBD. But together.... hello.

I'm pretty sure if we had pets, their heads would be falling off.

Then you drop your phone. The same phone that you have dropped 49 times. But this time, the 50th time, the time you need it NOT TO BREAK, it breaks. Because that is how it goes.

Rich people problems.

So you cry. Like a crazy person on a Lifetime movie, cry. Your kids ask to watch UP. You cry the mommy-what-is-wrong-with-you???????? cry. Not to be confused with the ugly cry. This cry is the ugly cry on crack. (WHY IS THAT MOVIE SO SAD BY THE WAY?)
Then you have yourself a mental breakdown day (phrase taken from Totally Desperate Mom, by the HILARIOUS Wendy Hagen, which every momma out there needs to read).

The remedy?
It is time to treat yo'self.

Tonight I am going on a date. I planned it. It is happening.
I will eat vampire dip. I will try a peanut butter and jelly hamburger. Because I can.

The events of the last week will fade away. I will get a new phone. I will have more mental breakdown days. My pets heads will still fall off.

But tonight, Jason, and my little sidekick Shane, don't care.

It is time to treat ourselves.

Three words for you.

2011-10-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

Treat yo self.
I really want one of these days.
Fine leather goods.

Erin Condren saves the day. Every day.

2011-10-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Nobody would ever accuse me of being organized.
If a list was compiled of 163 attributes and characteristics of me, organization would still not even come close to making the cut.
Perhaps it is because my brain is filled with song lyrics, tv and movie quotes, and random useless facts that would get me far on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, but won't get my kid's homework in on time.

But in the olden days when I was in school, I was probably even busier than I am now, yet I kept all of my commitments and tasks. I think the 18 year old brain helped, but I also think that my big old planner was a huge part of it.

I have tried to keep organized on my phone, on our home desktop, on a big calendar on the fridge, but each worked okay, not well. When I saw Rachel's post on her Erin Condren planner I knew I needed one. But mostly because it was so pretty. Not going to lie. I am a sucker for pretty packaging and design.

However, when my package arrived it exceeded all of my expectations. It is pretty. Too pretty for words. I want wallpaper made out of it. Heck, I'd even wear a skirt made out of it. Beyond the pretty it is endlessly useful. Big spaces to write out your day. Helpful sections to keep all that you need to remember in one place. Encouraging and inspiring quotes. Did I mention how pretty it is?

LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS!!!! (Yes, I am yelling. It is pretty enough to warrant getting my caps lock on.)

Can you handle the pretty?

Can you handle that since I started using it, I haven't missed a commitment?
If you know me, that is a very big deal. Big, big, big deal.

As per Jeannett's recommendation, I keep it on a cookbook stand and refer to it each morning. Then I give it a little cuddle because it is so pretty, and is saving this random girl's brain.

Why am I going on and on about this? Because I love it, and because I love a good deal. A deal I wish that I had when I threw down the big bucks to buy mine.

Plum District has $50 Erin Condren gift cards for the happy low price of $25. Yes, my friends, that means that you can get the pretty for half price. You can gift the pretty to a friend/ mom/ sister/ mailman/ for half price. You can keep your crazy life together for half price.

Or are you one of those jerky people who already have your life together? Or are cool enough to use your phone/ computer/ invisible calendars? Well, why not get the cutest address labels/ cards/ everything else for half price?

Ya. Hello.

Half price.

But actually... more like 60% off. Wha???? They give you $5 just for signing up. For reals yo.
An Andrew Jackson can plan your life. That dude has skillz.

{Edited to add even more awesome to this deal...
Today is the last day. Quick! Use the code spooky30 for 30% off your purchase. Add the $5 sign up bonus to the discount and you get a $50 voucher for $14!!!! That my friends, is sticking it to the man. By man I mean lady, the lady that makes pretty planners.)

Sign up for Plum District here. But go quick. Apparently these dealies sell out super quick. I'd hate for you to miss out on the pretty. I'd hate for you to miss an important birthday. I speak from way too much experience.

Off to hug my pretty planner.

Happy Sunday.

2011-10-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Insta-Friday.

2011-10-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Pictures now.

Words later.

Covered in paint and chaos with last minute boutique prep.

If you are local, come say hi.

Deets below.

Two months.

2011-10-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

How is this even possible?

For all you font snobs.

2011-10-18T17:24:00.001-07:00

I try not to.

I really try.

But I just can't help it.

Sorry.

It's exhausting.

It would be so rad to not care.

Issues.

Have font insecurity?

Don't know where to start?

Here is a recipe for font success.

Follow it and eyes won't bleed.

Judgey Judgerson won't judge.

Hello beach.

2011-10-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

A day with no school.
Apple picking plans gone awry.
The beach called our name.
We answered with a hello.

Inspired by and linked up with the lovely Lisa Leonard who finds such beauty in her Mondays.

Happy Sunday.

2011-10-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Insta-Friday. Embracing fall and Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies.

2011-10-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

So it is as hot as the face of the sun, this week flew by, I am feeling better since our car crash adventure, and fall is making it's way into my summer loving heart.

How was your week?
Don't tell me that you wore a scarf. Because that is just plain mean.

Checking one thing off of my Less Pinning. More Doing. list.
{Sort of.} I am a great starter of projects. Pretty poor finisher. This little leaf garland would be finished and hanging someplace festive if I bought the proper needle. Don't grab the crochet needle in the yarn section. It will only poke through thin air. You will lose a thumb or other important digit if you ask it to go through a simple piece of lowly felt. The nerve. As soon as I get a sharp, weapon-y needle, a rainbowesque cascade of felt leaves will greet me each day. For now the dumb dull needle is just taunting me. Jerk.

BTDubs, or "by the way" for you people that like using proper English...
The app I use to make little collages for Instagram is called PicFrame. It is super easy and has tons of cool options.

I have been collecting heart rocks for what seems like forever. My sweet girls find them for me each time we are on a walk or at the beach. I love that they think to do that. I love that reminders of love can be found if you just peek around. While out the other night, they found this little heart leaf. Sigh... I have never loved a leaf more.

Ready for a yummy fall-ariffic recipe?

One that won't be thrown in the trash like my pumpkin debacle last week?

I made these last night and they just made me happy.

A brilliant and creative nine year old boy dubbed them Sugar Burgers.

I believe that will be the working title for them in our house from now on, but the given name is

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies.

(Adapted from my fave Betty Crocker)

What you will need:

For the cookies:

1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix

1 tablespoon flour

1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1/3 cup butter, softened

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 egg

For the filling:

2/3 cup marshmallow creme

1/3 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375º

Stir together cookie mix and flour.

Add remaining cookie ingredients and stir until combined into a thick dough.

Place 24 blobs (what would you call them?) of dough on ungreased cookie sheet two inches apart.

Lightly press tops of cookie blobs with powdered sugared fingertips to flatten.

Bake 8-10 minutes until set. Cool two minutes on pan before transferring to cooling rack.

Allow to cool completely.

While cookies are cooling, make the yummy filling by beating all three ingredients with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

When cookies are cooled, spread filling on one, top with another, press together.

Sprinkle with a little bit of powdered sugar to make them pretty.

Enjoy pumpkiny fall goodness.

Store any leftovers tightly in the fridge.

They make a lovely accompaniment to your morning coffee as well.

I made mine in a lovely, totally frivolous, yet brilliant whoopie pie pan.

I love it. Love. My mom gave it to me for my birthday last year and it is just one of those kitchen gadgets that is totally unnecessary, yet super fun. I especially love how it made each side of the whoopie pies, perfect, lovely and even. You don't need one to make this recipe, but it sure doesn't hurt. Nor does the cookie scoop that I finally caved in and treated myself to. Where in the world has it been all my life? Seriously. Baking bliss I say.

BTDubs again... I just came across this fancy little recipe to make your own pumpkin pie spice, and believe you me, as soon as my jar is gone, I will be playing spice mix-a-lot in the kitchen. Because I love me some pumpkin pie spice, yo.

With that I bid you adieu. The pool is calling my name. The pool and a whoopie pie, of course.

Link up your simple cell phone moments over at:

Link your Pinterest adventures at:

Thankful.

2011-10-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Monday started off beautifully.
Big girls at school.
Jason, the little ones and I at the beach.
Sand toys and a picnic lunch.
Deserted. A little foggy. So peaceful.

A quick trip to Costco, then off to the school to pick up Lucy.

While stopped at a light we were rear ended.

Shaky and unsettled, I checked on Shane and Janey while Jason checked the car and the other driver.
Everyone except me escaped unscathed.
My injuries are minor.

But I am thankful.
Thankful for our big and sturdy SUV.
Thankful for safe carseats that protected my babies.
Thankful for kind doctors that are helping me heal.
Thankful for quality car insurance that is taking good care of us.
Thankful that it wasn't much, much, worse.

Besides, our love story sort of began with a car accident.

Happy Sunday.

2011-10-09T21:05:00.001-07:00

Insta-friday.

2011-10-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

My computer is back!
Yay yay yay yay!!!
It hasn't taunted me with it's rainbow torture, and it didn't crash when I uploaded these pictures.
It is a happy day.

How was your day?

Here is a peek into our week through my iPhone lens...

Things that are pretty but actually yucky.
1. Mean computers. 2. Local Goodwill that smells like cats and death. 3. & 4. Two recipes from Pinterest that were a total fail and have been subsequently unpinned.

1. & 2. I love my Bumbleride stroller. Love it. But when I bought it I obviously thought that we would just keep on having girls. I try to convince myself, that since I, a girl, am pushing it, the color doesn't matter. But it is all kinds of pinky pinkness. 3. I love that my husband has the patience to buy real books and real cd's. I don't. But there is something to say for the actual cd artwork and booklet and the ability to pass along a book when you are done. Amazon Prime one day shipping doesn't hurt either. 4. Squinkies. Oh Squinkies. The things that kids like just baffles me. The girls have dozens of them. But if one goes missing, which happens ALL THE TIME because they are microscopic, tears flow. So much drama and anguish caused by one teeny little rubber creature.

1. Rain is my favorite weather. A rainy pj day is my favorite day. 2. This kid is a BEAST on the soccer field. Her little five year old league is hard core. Elbow throwing, pushing, kicking beasts. The lot of them. It's nuts. 3. The occasional dress up day is a really big deal to this uniform wearing duo. Big big deal. Big enough to lure me into the stinky Goodwill searching for outfits. I succeeded. Thankfully. 4. This kid is a beast on the drums. A cute, noisy, little beast. There has been talk about setting up Jason's old set in the house. Send help. Please.

Link up your simple, sweet, memorable moments over at Life Rearranged.

Four stages of Rainbow Wheel grief.

2011-10-05T04:38:00.000-07:00

1. SERIOUSLY??????????????
2. Major teenager eye roll.
3. Fury.
4. Resignation.

For my mental health, and the health of those around me, this naughty and disobedient computer is going to take a little vacay at a resort called the Genius Bar.
I may or may not have contemplated punching it in the face. One hundred times.

Rich people problems.

Until it returns, adios muchachos.

Do something good challenge number one.

2011-10-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

After having a week to digest and process all that I learned at Blog Sugar,

the underlying theme for the evening was the truth that

your blog is not all about YOU.

It might be about your life, but it isn't all about you.

This has proven true more times than I can count.

Honestly, I find myself rather boring and exhausting.

But when I use this little web address for more than my daily nonsense, beautiful things happen.

With that in mind, I decided to start a little monthly challenge.

A bit of doing something good for someone else.

Using your heart, your hands and your passion to share sunshine and love.

This month's challenge involves one of my favorite things.

Feeding people.

Once this month, (or more for you honor students) bring someone a meal. Someone who would never expect it, yet really needs it.

It is so easy to rally together and feed families after babies are born, loved ones are in the hospital, or when a relative passes away.

But how about the family that is struggling financially?

The single momma who is working way to hard?

The friend who is trudging a difficult season and could use a little bit of extra care?

With a little extra planning, it really isn't difficult at all.

Just make extra of what you are making your family.

Need some ideas of what to make?

Here are some of my favorites:

Chicken enchiladas

Santa Fe soup

Brinner (a.k.a. breakfast for dinner: breakfast bake and monkey bread)

Cheater baked ziti

Chicken and biscuits

Chicken spaghetti

Ordering pizza (great option to bless someone who doesn't live close by. Papa John's has frequent specials, is delicious, and nationwide.)

While you are at it, throw in a yummy dessert like toffee crack, lazy cookies or cobbler. Make you sweet gift even sweeter.

So friends, are you in or are you in?

Think about who you can feed. Think of who needs a little extra love.

Then do it. Cook, bake, order take out. Share. Get the little ones involved.

Let me know how it goes.

I'm really excited!

Happy Sunday.

2011-10-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Insta-Friday.

2011-09-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is October?

Seriously?

I can't handle it.

At all.

So I will cling to the last few moments of September as I say adios summer. Hola fall.

{As seen through my iPhone and the Instagram app.}

1. The Back Porch Quilters sent me a text of Shane's quilt. I did a little dance. Then began stalking my mailman until he brought it home to me. 2. Giant cardboard letter from Joann's mod podged randomly with scraps from said quilt for... 3. This beautiful day with Drew. 4. The final flames of my last summer candle. Bring on Creamy Pumpkin, Leaves, and Pumpkin Caramel Latte.

1. Our dear friends ding dong donut-ed us. Pretty much the coolest Saturday morning suprise ever. Dare you to hook someone up tomorrow. They will be stoked. I promise. 2. Could my little soccer players be any more neon? 3. The gigantic Star Wars Blu-ray set finally arrived. A certain boy has never been happier. That certain boy does not fit in a carseat. 4. My darling Aqua Apron Sisters had a beautiful brunch to celebrate Shane. I love them so much. Even more than I love puffs.

1. Our friends are hosting a craft fair to help raise funds for their adoption. I will have a little booth filled with signs and fun goodies. If you are local and would like details, or are interested in selling alongside me, let me know. It will be super fun. 2. I love you Yogurtland and My Melody. 3. I love you coral shoes from Ross. 4. I love you flea market shopping. I love you new Instagram update.

I love you summer and I don't want to let you go.

But maybe I will drown my summer-is-over-sorrow with some pumpkin bread, candy corn pumpkins, and a candle...

Link up your little moments with Life Rearranged.

Be free.

2011-09-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

There is a whole lot of potty training going on in this joint.
Sigh... It is not my favorite. At all. I can hardly complain, considering that my mom did the majority of the hard work when the girls stayed with my parents this weekend.
But still I do not like it. A lot a lot a lot.
I am paying her successes in candy corn. It was candy corn pumpkins, but I was so stressed out with the whole deal that I ended up eating them.

But I want to leave you with a little tip that I wished that I knew two kids ago.
Buy more underpairs (what my kids call underwear, and I can't bear to correct them) than you could possibly imagine needing.
Because you do not get paid enough to wash accidents of the number two variety.
Not enough at all.
The trash can is your friend, my friends.
I am a advocate of frugality, hand-me-downs, and I am a fan of the earth.
But sometimes you just need to break your own rules.
Because seriously, you don't get paid enough.

Milk, cookies, and a baby brother.

2011-09-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

On Drew's first day back from maternity leave, she was sweet enough to meet us in a field for a little session with the girls and Shane.

All of my favorite things in one place...

Sunshine, a tent, handmade dresses, daisies, a quilt, and cookies.

Not to mention my super cute kids.

The girls mauled him, as usual.

Drew was able to coax some happy smiles from Mr. Serious.

Cookies were devoured.

Milk miraculously wasn't spilled.

But I totally cried happy tears when I saw how Drew captured the love and bond between our four gifts.

Thank you Drew for continually capturing the beauty of the moments that go by much too fast.
You are our fave!

See more happy pictures here.
Seriously. Go. It is so worth it.
While you are there tell Drew that she's rad. Because she totally is.

Candy necklaces for bribing purposes.
Dresses from Blue Corduroy.
Tent tutorial from Cakies.
Tie tutorial from Crap I've Made.
Best photographer in the world, DrewB.

Facing fears at Blog Sugar.

2011-09-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't know what to expect at Blog Sugar.

I honestly tried not to think about, because the more I thought about it, the more I would have to think about the whole speaking thing.

Deep breath.

But it was a beautiful, inspiring, part of a full, beautiful inspiring weekend.

My house was filled with some of my favorite friends, doing my favorite thing, sitting around my kitchen table, talking, eating, laughing, crying from laughing, crying from crying. So, so, so, so good.

They get my crazy.

They encouraged me.

They loved on my baby boy.

They saved me from a panic attack when the thought of the evening became just too much.

They prayed for me.

Because of that I was able to stand up with a shaky smile in front of these women.

These women who want to use their blogs, their words, their passions, their gifts, for something bigger than themselves.
I pray that God's love shined through me in spite of me.
That they were able to find some sort of encouragement, some sort of challenge, through my words.
That their blogs are about so much more than they know. That the ripples of what they share will extend so much further than they could ever dream of.
That they each have a very powerful voice. Whether they have 10 followers or 10,000, what they write matters.

Each and every one of them were worth facing my fears for.
So worth it.

I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Over the next week or so I want to share what was on my heart that night. What I learned. What I wished I said.

Until then, visit the many beautiful recap posts on the Blog Sugar site.

Love, love, love.

2011-09-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

Sweet Mique from Thirty Handmade Days and Jess from Allora Handmade came together to help their dear friend Sharlie who is awaiting a heart and double lung transplant.

Together they opened up a shop full of printables, tutorials, and ad space, with all of the proceeds going to Sharlie's medical fund.

I created this set of three love printables, because from everything that I have heard about Sharlie, she embodies so much beauty and grace and love.

Click on the button below to be led to the shop. Be inspired. Try a new project. Host your ad. Print something pretty for your house. Help to be a part of Sharlie's story.

Want to know of more ways to pour love on Sharlie?

Click here to find out how your hands can help.

There was a girl...

2011-09-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

So...
There was this girl. A girl who had a blog. A girl who liked a lot of things. Who liked to write.
Who one day was asked to speak at a conference.
But you see, this girl although she liked to write, she did not like to speak.
But for a moment she forgot and said yes.

Her topic is about using your blog for good, which is the reason why this girl said yes.
Her passion about the subject was greater than her fear of speaking.

Now this girl is working on her speech and is 50% at peace/ 50% totally freaking out.

What does using your blog for good mean to you?
What type of things would you like to hear from this girl?
What advice would you give her?

If by chance you will be attending Blog Sugar this weekend, say hi to this girl. She would love to see your friendly, smiling face.
(She may or may not be trembling in the corner at the thought of the whole speaking thing... Pull her out of the corner if you see her there.)

Insta-Friday. Bass Lake Edition. Take two.

2011-09-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Jason, the littles and I ventured back to Bass Lake, our happy place for a little vacay.

The trip was up in the air this year because of that whole having a baby thing, but said baby is super chill and we trusted he would be a grand traveling companion. We were right. Phew. Because six hours in a car with an angry baby is brutal. I'm talking to you newborn Halley and newborn Lucy.

I am so glad that the iPhone weather app is ALWAYS wrong. Because when you are going on a Saturday - Wednesday trip and your phone says thunderstorms on those exact days it gets a little dicey.
There were some storms and gloom, but cool storms. Super quick dramatic ones, that were just long enough to entertain/ scare the sand off of the kids as they swam storms. Not the ruin your whole vacay type of storms.

Shane and I just chilled on the beach while the girls collected fools gold, swam and built sand castles. It's a rough life we lead.

A day trip was in order to Yosemite. We visited the ever so charming Wawona hotel and I imagined what it would be like to live in an old house with a porch. Sigh, California with your stucco tract houses, my porch dreams will most likely never come to fruition.

We celebrated our thirteenth anniversary with a swim at sunset. I look at my sweet family and realize that we had no idea what life would hold as we stood at the altar saying our vows, but what a lovely life has been lived in the past thirteen years. Thirteen. Just like that. Crazy.
On the way home I crazily thought that I would be able to run in to the Fresno Target and grab myself one of the ever so popular Missoni blankets. Being away from the madness and in the forest left me totally clueless of what an impossiblity that would be. I ended up with a bag of candy corn pumpkins as a consolation prize. (One of the few things I like about fall...)
We have a portable dvd player that only comes out for trips to Bass Lake. It's pretty old school, but the girls love their one movie that they get to watch each way. As they watched, Jason and I shared an iPod. Can you say dorky? Or LA traffic survival?

We came home to real life, school, soccer and lots and lots of makeup homework. But our five days at the lake mean so much to us as a family. I dream of living there all the time, but for now we hold on to the memories made and the time invested when we are all there together.

Link up your simple and sweet memories at Life Rearranged.

Happy Sunday.

2011-09-18T22:43:00.001-07:00

A perplexing conundrum

2011-09-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

I tried to avoid it.
I knew I would get addicted.
I knew that my minutes are sparse and precious.

So I held off.
I stood firm.
I resisted many an attempt to get me to try it.

But then Drew invited me.
She convinced me.
I accepted.

I fell in crazyaddictedcan'tbelievehowmuchitcompletesme love.

Oh Pinterest.
I love/hate you.

I love how pretty you are.

How many ideas you give me.

How you organize my unorganized mind.

(Totally found this font and learned how to make this printable

on Pinterest. So I suppose I did do a bit of doing. Word.)

But I find that when I could actually be making/ cooking/ baking/ creating all that you show me, I instead sit and find more things to make/ cook/ bake/ create. A few minutes with you and all is right with the world. Except I have nothing tangible to show for it.

Hmmmmm....

Chatting with no blog Alicia, she told me about a group of girls she knew who had a Pinterest Party.

They each brought supplies for everyone to make a project they had pinned, and while they worked ate yummy food that they had too found on Pinterest.

I think I needs me a Pinterest Party.

Or an intervention.

What are your favorite pins lately?
How can you pin less and do more?

Off to comb through my boards to find what would be at the top of my list....

I want to follow you... So I can pin more things to do/ not do.
Leave your Pinterest link in el comments por favor.

Mascara alert.

2011-09-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

When Beth (my brilliant music guru) sent me this video, she failed to warn me not to watch it if I was wearing mascara.

Because I was. Until I watched it. Then my cheeks were wearing it.

So good. So sad. So true.

Happy Sunday.

2011-09-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

Insta-Friday

2011-09-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Friday. It is so nice to see you again.

How was your week?

Ours was big and little all at once.

Soccer season is in full swing.
Practices at two different parks. Games at two different fields.
How, wise sports parents do you do it? Because it all seems a bit daunting. Any wisdom you could throw my way would be much appreciated.

The girls wonder all summer what their team colors will be.
Neon green and fluorescent yellow weren't exactly on their top ten list of choices, but you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
Unless of course you are the sucker who volunteers to make the bows for all the girls on both teams, and your eyes start bleeding from all of the neon hot mess that is covering your cutting board.
My shopping cart at Joann's looked CRAZYTOWN!!!!
But they will be cute. Perhaps even attract a few million bees...

1. Jason is reading through the Chronicles of Narnia to the girls each night. It's the best. The time he spends with them, their little imaginations growing and stretching, magic.
2. Narnia played into our own little lazy Sunday. It only would have been more perfect with some Mr. Pibb and Red Vines. Crazy delicious.
3. The project I started and abandoned a few weeks ago is finished. The Pottery Barn letters require a degree in quantum physics to hang up properly. In my old house they sat upon a shelf. Sadly the shelf was destroyed in the move. I had to come up with something that I could glue them to, since I a sadly lacking the whole pesky degree. I like. A lot a lot a lot.
4. 5. & 6. I also like my dear friend Cholula, sour cream, my beloved kitchenaid, and sweet friends who bring treats. Thanks Maureen. They were ridiculously good.
7. Pandora gets me. It knows just what I need to hear, just when I need to hear it.
8. Fun (not fun) fact. Don't sew over fabric paint. Unless you like broken flying needles. Shane is conveniently hiding the area that the sewing machine ate.
9. I'm thinking of re-opening the shop. Maybe. On a limited basis. Or not. Or yes. Hmmmm....

That's it for this fine first week of September. Family, soccer, school, food, powertools, C.S. Lewis, music and sewing. That is what my favorite days are made of.

Link up your favorite simple days with Life Rearranged.

What will the school year bring?

2011-09-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

Back to School Eve started and ended in the pool.
Isn't that how summer should be?
Especially when it is melting outside.

We talked about what the year would bring.
Who they were excited to see again.
What they were looking forward to most.
We prayed for their teachers and their friends.
We ate macaroni and cheese.

Lucy is crazy excited about COMPUTERS!!!!

Halley can't wait for SCIENCE!!!! (My future nerd training is working. Hooray!)

Loving, love, love, the crazy missing tooth smile. I hope that the big teeth take their sweet time, because this is just too, too good.

Shane even joined the festivities.

An after dinner swim was in order to combat the heat, but they were quickly lured out with the promise of cheesecake.
Dreamy, creamy, ridiculous cheesecake. Makes you wish you didn't eat a bite of dinner so you could have more room for cheesecake, cheesecake. Go to the store now and get the ingredients to make your own cheesecake, cheesecake. Seriously, go. Right now.

Every minute of the night was great. Just being together, doing something extra, letting them plan, it got them ready and excited for what the year has in store. I am just as excited as they are. Pretty excited about the leftover cheesecake too, not going to lie...

Back to school eve.

2011-09-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow begins another school year.
Tonight we celebrate.

It is a beautiful tradition inspired by Bringing up Burns and something that the girls have been anxiously awaiting. They got to pick the menu and the night's activities.
On the docket:
Swimming
Mac & Cheese (from a box please, not your fancy kind, Mom.)
Cheesecake (not from the store, your fancy kind please, Mom.)
No-heat curls to look "super pretty" for the first day.
Watching Rio with kettlecorn.

Goodbye summer.
Hello Kindergarten and Second Grade.

Insta-Friday.

2011-09-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Do you ever think that it's the wrong day?
Because I could have bet money that today was Thursday.
I guess my mind isn't ready for summer to end.
I am both craving and dreading the routine that school brings.
I can't wait for school to start and I wish it was still June.
Issues.
What's new?
Here is a peek into our week:

1. After breakfast I tried the No Heat Curls on Halley.
2. After nap they were a smashing pretty success. Way easier than foam rollers. Way healthier than a curling iron. Super cute all Jazzercise style while they are setting. Thinking this is our new go-to style.
3. After living her for nearly two years (what in the world? Two years? Crazy.) I am finally ready to work on the daunting picture wall that currently only exists in my mind. A trip to Ikea was involved. A few more trips are on the horizon. I will conquer it. How could I not when it will be filled with images shot by the lovely Drew B?
4. I have decided that printer ink is made from unicorn tears. What else would justify the cost? I hate buying it. That and pull-ups. I'd be fine if those things were permanently off of the Costco list.
5. Deep breath. Grace for the Good Girl is undoing me. It is so rich. So challenging. So what I need. I like it when a book can mess me up in the best possible way.
6. Washi tape. Rolls of happy, happy, possibilities.

1. This has been the summer of growth and bravery for the big girls. In June they wouldn't even get their feet wet. Now they are charging waves. It makes my heart swell to see them grow in confidence. Next year we surf.
2. After a long day at the beach, and naps at home, we ventured back. It's the last week of summer, how could we not?
3. Shane was unimpressed by the glorious sunset,
4. But two little Jawas thought that God's glory is pretty grand.
5. I sent Shane's quilt off to Back Porch Quilters. I can't wait for it to come back and am hoping that it shows up in time for his two month pictures. But more than anything I can't wait to wash and dry it. The crinkles!!! The wondrous crinkles!!! My favorite part of quilting.
6. My sweet biggest girl has had two loose front teeth all summer. ALL SUMMER. Then poof. Both of them fell out in one day. Again, the jerk time is messing with me. Where is my little baby? Who is this kid with NO FRONT TEETH? I can't take it!

Next week I will have a kindergartner and a second grader. Summer will be over. Soccer practice and games will be filling our days. I will cry. But it will be good. Good and difficult all at once.

Link up your simple cell phone cammy moments at Life Rearranged.

A little secret.

2011-08-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have been playing with some washi tape and thinking about how in the world Mrs. Duggar does it.
Seriously, how???
While I will never ever be able to figure out that riddle, given it may or may not have to do with wearing denim skirts, I am comforted in knowing that for the most part, nobody has it all together.

At least I know that I don't.
Best be getting some denim skirts.

Happy Sunday.

2011-08-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

Insta-Friday.

2011-08-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

A little peek into the simple and happy of our week.

1. My husband the comedian. Yes that is Taylor Hicks. Of whom I am not a fan. Yes, it led to an awkward conversation with one of my girls: "Mommy, what does hot mean?" Ugh. On the fridge no less. 2. A drive thru Chick Fil A run and a get the wiggles out at the fountain session is one of our favorite summer nights. 3. Vote with me: which is more horrid? Moon Sand? Or ginormous stuffed animals?

4. Quilting! Not quitting! 5. Because this guy is tired of laying on a girly quilt. 6. My goal was to finish the top by his one month pictures. Goal accomplished. Now on to finishing the backing and sending it off to the long arm quilter. Yay!

7. Things I have learned from the OldBooth app: I am easily entertained and I will never cut Halley's hair short. Ever. 8. We have been doing a little bit of pre-sewing lessons with these sweet lacing cards. 9. I decided to start an outdoor project on the hottest day of the summer. Thus the outdoor project moving indoor and taking over the kitchen. Smart, I am.

1. Otter Pops. They are exempt from my popsicle ban because they have no sticks. But they are not exempt from my food coloring OCD. They are relegated to consumption in either the pool or bath. Issues. 2. We all had a VERY VERY BAD day. The kind of day that can only be cured with cookie baking during naptime. BAD DAY. Good cookies. 3. Really good cookies. The kind that make you forget that you dropped an egg on your foot and the floor. Or that your baby didn't get the memo that it was nap time.

4. Late night and early morning feedings have led to informerical watching. Informercial watching has led to infomercial buying. The Ninja 1100 just came and let me tell you, WE ARE IN LOVE. Crazy stupid love. With an appliance that actually is just as great as the infomercial states. I don't work for them, but I totally would. It is epic. Like a ninja. 5. Bakers twine. I could marry it. It makes everything prettier. 6. Tell me you fill cupcake tins with batter in a Ziploc. Because if you don't, you should. No mess.

7. Rolled tacos are fun to make for five people. They are CRAZYTOWN to make for thirty. One job I hope to never, ever, ever have is that of fry cook. Those guys do not get paid enough. 8. Pancake art is a happy way to start the day. Inspired by Ashley Ann's pancake post. 9. Cake batter and sprinkles. Yes. Blondies. Hello.

Happy weekend to you. Have anything fun planned?

Link up your little moments each week at Life Rearranged.

Never too early.

2011-08-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest, all of your planners, you super organized people, filling your Pinterest boards with fall and winter inspiration make me crazy.

Let me live in summer for a few more weeks. Fall will come in all of it's drabness soon enough. Then right on it's heels will be the crazy that is Christmas.

I'm just not ready.

But when my sweet Star Wars loving friend Marcela, told me about this beauty, all of my protesting flew out the window.

Yes. A Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar.
Which is en route to this very house as we speak.
(Can I get a what what for internet shopping? How did we survive before it? I can't even seem to haul myself to the grocery store to buy milk, but I've got our Advent plans all worked out.)

Would I have bought it last year?
Maybe...

But now we have a really good excuse.
Yay!!!!

By the way, can you handle the Jedi awesome on my little guy?
Ashley Ann and Angi are my nerdy favorites who hooked him up!

One month.

2011-08-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

How in the world is this guy already one month old?

Seriously! How?

This month has been a blur.

A busy, beautiful blur.

He is a dreamy baby.

Cozy, sleepy, cute and serious.

So very serious.

I don't know if it is a boy thing, or a Shane thing.

But he seems to be in a constant state of deep thought and concern.

Perhaps thinking of ways he will survive the attention of his sparkly, noisy, helpful sisters.

I am slowly beginning to feel human again.

C-sections are not all rainbows and unicorns.

Repeat, repeat ones are especially unicorn free.

But this guy is a pretty great reward.

Now if I could just figure out a way to slow down time and freeze this little, snuggly, serious little baby.

Happy Sunday.

2011-08-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Insta-Friday.

2011-08-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hello again Friday.
So nice to see you.
Here is a recap of our uneventful adventures via Instagram.

1. Crunchy noodles are a great time passer. 2. I keep meaning to post the color of our kitchen. It's called Surfer by Behr. I could totally marry it. 3. Worst fortune ever. Made even more worse when opened by my sensitive seven year old who CAN READ what it says. Fail. Drama. Tears. Confusion. Apparently it's a Ghandi quote. But it still should not be a fortune. (It reads First they ignore you, then they attack you, then you win. Wha???????)

4. Flat tire number seven on the Swagger Wagon. We have really good luck. If there was a competition to run over nails I WOULD OWN IT. 5. Took the little guy on a date to the tire shop. Starting to do manly things with him early. 6. Jeannett. Killing me with a text mistake. Killing. Anyone have a size 0-3 months purple velvet coat and fedora with feathers?

7. I did not burn down the kitchen and I did cut glass. Boom. 8. Love this piano girl's skillz. 9. Shane's quilt is cut out. This is the sixth quilt I have started. I have only finished two. Quitter. Not quilter. That needs to change.

10. Wet sidewalk chalk is rad. If you like messes. I struggle with messes. A hosing down was involved. Then a toss in the pool. Serenity now. 11. Night swimming. It only costs 99¢ to be the cool mom. 12. Freshly sharpened pencils is one of the best smells. It should be a candle. You hear me Scentsy?

That's that.

Link up with Life Rearranged.

Because she called my baby a pimp.

Bring their art on the go. {WWYM tutorial}

2011-08-17T05:02:00.000-07:00

When you get asked to participate in something so fun as What would YOU make? hosted by Lil Blue Boo, you don't say no.
You just don't.
You get a little scared. A little intimidated. Then you dig through your brain to come up with a project worthy of the gorgeous fabric that landed on your doorstep.

I hope that this little project quailfies. It sure makes me happy, but most importantly, it makes my girlies happy.

We are on the go a lot.
A lot a lot a lot.

The girls color a lot.
A lot a lot a lot.

We have been using cookie sheets as little lap desks in the car forever. Useful? Yes. Cute? Not so much. Plus the pens and crayons fly off and fall under the seats. All the time. If I have to mediate another THE PINK MARKER FELL BETWEEN THE SEATS MOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!! meltdown, I just might have a meltdown of my own.

So what is one to do with cute fabric, spray paint, glue and some magnets?
Change car art forever.

Here is what you will need my friends:

A large-ish cookie sheet. Big enough to fit a full size piece of paper or coloring book.
Spray primer (not pictured but MANDATORY.)
Spray paint.
Magnet discs.
A can.
Strong glue.
Fabric.
Mod Podge.
Foam paintbrush.

First you need to prime your cookie sheet.
I didn't. Dumb mistake. Usually I have great luck with just a coat of spray paint, but the nonstick nature of the cookie sheet had other plans. If you are a little OCD and like your projects to be durable do NOT SKIP THIS STEP. I on the other hand am impatient and ADD and am just chocking the chippy paint to the shabby chic vibe.

After the primer is dry, paint the edges and bottom of the cookie sheet with your happy color spray paint.
I am a huge fan of Rustoleum Ultra Cover. It is by far the best spray paint out there.
Trust me. I've tried them all.
Let dry.

While the cookie sheet dries, get working on the can caddy.
It will be the saver of your sanity and the keeper of the pens, crayons and pencils.

If your little one is more of a crayon user, look for a shorter wider can, as opposed to a soup sized can. Perhaps a nut can, which have the added benefit of an attached lid.

Remove the label. Measure the can and cut a piece of fabric accordingly.
Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the can and smooth the fabric around it.
When dry, brush another smooth layer on top of the fabric.
Set aside to dry.

I decided to make the can magnetic, instead of gluing it permanently down, so multiple sheets could stack together compactly.

Take four magnets and glue each one to the bottom of the can.

Let dry.

By now the cookie sheet should be dry. Measure the interior and cut a piece of fabric accordingly.
Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on the cookie sheet. Smooth fabric over it.
When dry brush another layer of Mod Podge on top of the fabric, as well as over the painted areas of the cookie sheet. It will dry clear and be an extra layer of protection from coloring accidents and crazy children.

Pair it with a coloring book, cute journal, or if you are the sewing type (or would like to become the sewing type) stitch up a matching personalized composition book cover.
They are really, really easy. Pinky swear.

Then throw in a rainbow set of sparkly new markers that thankfully won't fall under the seats. Yay on all levels!

This happy set would make a very special and affordable gift for the young ones in your life.
Plus I have a feeling that their parents would love your forever for it.
Road trips have never been easier, when my girls are armed with a fresh composition book and new markers.
They have even been utilized on hurried morning drives school to finish up last minute homework assignments. I mean, other people do that....

DVD player? Who needs one?

Thank you so much Ashley and Lisa for asking me to participate. It was so much fun!
Visit Lil Blue Boo to see the other amazing projects and for a chance to win two yards of this gorgeous fabric!

What would you make?

Stuff. Getting done.

2011-08-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Source: google.com via Julie on Pinterest

It so does.
Not taking over the world stuff, but little things. Snuck into naptimes, squeezed in during quiet early mornings.

Laundry.
Too many batches of toffee crack on crack.

A car seat tent to keep the sunshine and tiny ugly germs off of the little man.
(Contemplated using his sister's. That got shut down.)

Made something fun for Lil Blue Boo's What would YOU make? Here is a sneaky peek.

Arrived at to church (early) with all four kids. BOOM!
Reading. Pinning. Instagramming.
School supply shopping.
Surf camp. (Without the surfing or camping part.)

But mostly I am sitting on the couch with a happy hungry baby.
Life is pretty rad.

Happy Sunday.

2011-08-15T09:28:00.000-07:00