Opie Dawn

Valentine's Day Card For Kids

2012-02-11T18:16:00.001-06:00

Elise's preschool class is having a Valentine's Day party on Tuesday. For her Valentine we went to our party favor stand by, Oriental Trading Co., and bought pop frogs and a roll of heart stickers. Filling clear plastic candy bags with the items, and then sealing them with a printed folded card and a staple we have a Valentine ready to hand out to her pals.

Here is the completed Valentine

"Hoppy Valentine's Day"

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Linking up here

Catching Up

2012-01-23T22:42:00.000-06:00

Half way through the pregnancy and my how time has flown by! It's different with this pregnancy, but I guess that is no surprise as I did not have a four year old while pregnant with our first. Combine family life with work and things just got a little more hectic. Overall I am feeling good and enjoying the changes that are happening to our little family. Elise for one is so excited and seems to already love her little sis very much. Yes, you read right we are having another GIRL! I am thrilled, hubby is shocked but equally excited of course, and Elise is over the moon about having a little sis.

Backing up a bit...weeks back we went in for our anatomy screening to see how everything is developing with the baby and of course to find out who is in there! Days leading up to the big ultrasound I found myself referring to the baby as she or sissy. In fact when we went to the ultrasound appointment I said to the technician that I hoped we would be able to find out the gender as our first daughter did not show herself until two months before delivery. Right then and there I was thinking girl! The funny thing was in terms of names we had picked out a boys name, had no idea at all for a girls name, and I was drawn to all things little man for nursery ideas. After many minutes into the ultrasound the technician blurts out, it's a little girl! I swear I saw hubby's mouth drop open in shock and he began scrutinizing the image on the screen, searching for what surly was a boy. I on the other hand I could not stop smiling in total delight. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have a little boy but I have always seen myself as being a mom to two little girls. After more routine measuring the technician checked again, just to please hubby I am sure, and there clear as day was our girl.

Next came the hard part, choosing a name for her. With our first I knew fairly quickly that I wanted to name her Elise. I had a slight obsession with the name due in part for my love of the movie First Wives Club (Goldie Hawn's Character's name was Elise). This time around however we were at a total loss for names! We opened up Pandora's box and invited friends and family to give us their best name ideas to try and get some kind of direction. We searched though baby name books and websites, tried on a few for size, but still nothing seemed totally right. Just when we thought we would sign the birth certificate with Baby as a first name, my fabulous Auntie Carol gives us her list. At the top of the list is the name Madison and it started to click that this is our little girls name. Next came the middle name and we went with a name that matches Elise's middle name Ellen, and chose Elaine. Both Ellen and Elaine are a form of Helen (my grandmothers name) and means shining light. We are happy to have a name for our little girl, Madison Elaine!

Now onto the nursery design!!! I am thinking along the lines of Palm Springs/Lilly Pullitzer.

Baby Makes Four!

2011-11-15T12:47:00.002-06:00

We are expecting!

It's been a busy and exciting couple of months, and we are about to get even busier when this little one arrives!

Planning for our new addition has consisted of cleaning out the guest room/playroom and relocating all the toys and dolls. Elise seems very excited to be a big sister and has loving named the baby "Baby Beluga". I hope this is in no way an indication of the baby being the size of a whale!

I had forgotten how many doctor appointments have to be made and how much juggling there is with the good old work week. For me the balance between work and home is at times overwhelming, but I do the best I can and make sure the priority is on the most important. Also, I am brave enough to admit defeat and take time out when needed. This week for example has started with me being home sick. After battling this cold all last week, hosting Elise's 4th birthday party, and teaching Sunday school to 16 almost 4 year olds, I was down for the count and exhausted Sunday night.

We are slowing finding our way through the recent changes and the holidays are a welcome sign of relief, as vacation days are dwindling...

More to come on my ideas for the baby's nursery!

Have a great day!

Let's Dance Part Two

2011-09-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

You may remember this post on our preparations for Elise's first dance class. Three classes later I can happliy report that it is going great! The school is fantastic and she loves every bit of ballet and tap.

One of her favorite parts is getting to have a bun in her hair.

FYI: Goody makes Blonde Bobby Pins!

All set to go with moms old dance bag. The bag is as big as she is, but she loves that it was my bag and now it's hers.

We are so proud of our little dancer! Great job sweetie!

Taste of Fall

2011-08-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

Hubby met me for lunch today, and we made a quick trip to the local nursery/home decorating store. With temperatures in the triple digits (going on 20 days), and absolutely no rain in sight for months, we are so ready for Fall! Here is a little of what I captured on the trusty cell phone. Enjoy!

Soulful Sunday: Worship While Waiting

2011-08-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

You know the moment in which all the focus on life being too hard is trumped by real perspective? Well, true to form, while reading Romans 8:22-25 perspective was delivered, especially verse 24-25.

"24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Click here for The Message translation.

What are we putting our hope in? Keeping up with the Joneses doesn't last, as there is always something to chase after. What will we be remember for? What will matter when all is said and done, What is eternal and everlasting?

⁴ Show me your ways, LORD,
   teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalms 25:4-5

This verse is on a post-it inside my medicine cabinet door. It is a daily reminder of where my hope should be.

"I put my hope and my trust in you Jesus"

Let's Dance

2011-08-07T00:48:00.000-05:00

Today was a milestone day, as we helped prepare our sweet girl for her very first ballet and tap class! I could hardly contain myself as we entered the dance shop, and Elise had a fabulous time. She loved trying on the shoes and leotards and is really looking forward to starting dance...Mommy is excited too!

2011-07-21T23:54:00.000-05:00

So who is addicted to Pinterest? If you have not found your way over to this site, stop now and check it out! Basically Pinterest is a place to "pin" images found on the web to inspiration boards with a click of a button.

Much like a Lays potato chip, you can't pin just one!

Here is a link to my page if you want to see what all the fuss is about.

This is a little something that recently caught my eye

Source: urbanstylevibes.com via Opie on Pinterest

Happy Pinning!

Drab to Fab Spray Painted Frames

2011-07-21T23:38:00.001-05:00

I have been hard at work on a few projects and finally had a minute to sit down long enough to save off the photos. Remember the dining room wall makeover? Well, I took down the brown mirror and replaced it with this!

The mirror was a hand-me-down piece that was just begging for a face lift!

While I was at it, another old empty frame we have had hanging above our bed, was in need of some TLC.

Eventually I would like to add a piece of printed burlap in the frame, but that is for another day. For now I much prefer the fresh white coat of paint on this old beauty.

Soulful Sunday: Art Appreciation

2011-07-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

(Above image features my Grandma's quilt, which has found a home on my daughters bed)

Lord,

Sometimes when I look

At my life

It seems like a homespun

Patch-work quilt...

Quaint, but not quite "together"!

There are bits and pieces of

Cloths and colors,

Scraps of material,

The days of my life...

When you began to put together

The days of my life

You must have know

Where each piece would go...

You've told me that I am

Fearfully and wonderfully

Made...

And I believe you, Lord,

I do!

I may not be a velvet tapestry,

But even crazy-quilts

Have purpose,

To give warmth and

Cozy comfort and

Color to a room!

Whatever I am, Lord,

You made me...

Lovingly,

Carefully,

Reverently,

And exactly right!

(Author: Joy Morgan Davis)

Psalm 139:14

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Mary Poppins Remix

2011-06-20T00:14:00.000-05:00

For about a year, our sweet girl was obsessed with the Mary Poppins movie, and would want to watch it at least once a day. I very much enjoy the movie, but after the 365th time of watching it, it starts to get old. This remix gives a new sound to an old favorite.

Mini Turkey Meatballs

2011-05-30T17:00:00.001-05:00

These mini Turkey meatballs are a huge hit at our house, and are so easy to make.

Click here for the full recipe.

Sunny Side Up Finds

2011-05-27T00:46:00.000-05:00

1. A 2 Z
2. found here (can't remember where I first saw this image, but it seems to be a popular one)
3. C+S
4. decor pad (love the giant photo on the back wall!)
5. Lee Kleinhelter
6. found here (how cool is this?!)

Italian Quesadillas

2011-05-24T22:42:00.000-05:00

Keeping up with our new family menu, next on the list is this fast and easy Italian take on the quesadilla.

Simple Ingredient list (click here for the full recipe)

4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
9 (8-inch-diameter) flour tortillas
3 cups shredded Fontina
3/4 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, drained well and patted dry
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan, plus 3 tablespoons for garnish

Family Menu Revamp

2011-05-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Recently our weekly family menu has been repetitive and lacking interest, so I am on mission to create a menu plan that is fast, easy, interesting, and above all healthy. To get the ball rolling I found my way over to the food network, specifically Giada's Everyday Italian page. This lady knows how to cook fast, easy, interesting and above all healthy meals! Her videos are easy to follow and cook along with, especially if you prep your ingredients before hand.

Giada De Laurentiis needs no introduction, but just in case you are asking who is Giada, check out her Food Network page here.

The hardest part, as you know, will be to create a family friendly menu that both toddler, mom, and dad will enjoy. With this in mind I will be posting a new menu item each week, so check back to see how the menu revamp project is going.

First on our new menu is Giada's Light and Healthy Penne Pasta dish. It's whole grain, has two types of kid friendly cheese, and spinach. Click here for the recipe, and check out the video below.

Light and Healthy Penne

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

I hope you have a happy Mother's Day!

Toddler Bag

2011-05-07T01:43:00.000-05:00

image found here

What to do when the changing mat and diapers have been replaced by a travel Lysol spray and potty seat covers!

We have been out of diapers for about 3 months now, and it is very freeing in many ways, but has opened up a few unforeseen obstacles. Before, the diaper change could happen most anywhere, anytime, thanks to the trusty changing mat and/or back of the car (we’ve all been there). Now, the hunt is on for the nearest public restroom. The rush of making it in time, and then the germ phobic, gut wrenching reaction to the unkempt toilet! Out comes the trusty travel Lysol can, and potty seat cover (the Princess or Dora print somehow brightens the mood, you know?), and hold on for dear life as that tiny little hiney hovers dangerously close to falling in said toilet. ARGH!! Next is the grand exit strategy, followed by the ever popular statements, “Don’t touch that”, “don’t crawl under the stall door”, and the balancing act of helping a three foot little one wash their hands without wallering all over the cruddy sink. OH! And remember to pray (seriously) for there to be pink soap when you do make it to the sink, because if it’s not pink, we’re in trouble!

So, we’ve graduated from diapers to big kid undies, and don’t find the need to carry the old diaper bag around anymore, but still find a need for a few essentials while out-and-about.

Enter the toddler bag! Here is what I find helpful to have on hand.

wipes
potty seat covers
change of clothes or two depending on where you are at with the newly discovered potty
hand sanitizer
plastic baggie to store wet clothes

Note: Keep the bag compact! Better yet, fit it in your purse, though I find it hard to do still. You will be squeezing into a one person stall most often, as someone has occupied the largest stall. A tip to getting in and out of said small stall: Pick up toddler, turn sideways and slide into the tiny crack of the stall door without running into the toilet paper dispenser, trash can, and of course the toilet, put toddler down and remember the famous statement “don’t touch anything!” close door and begin prepping the toilet, all the while reminding toddler “don’t touch anything!”.

Royal

2011-04-28T23:30:00.000-05:00

Friday morning is the big Royal wedding! How many of you have been following the Will and Kate fairytale, and will watch/record the big event tomorrow? For unknown reasons I have become interested, and in recent days excited about the young Royals. It must be the amazingly fun hats like this one from Annalisa Maria!

Or maybe it all started with this plate from my Mema. It has found a home on our kitchen island in honor of the big event.

Here is my "look alike" Royal ring, that my dad gave me years back. It is not intended to be a look alike, it just somewhat reminded me of it (on a much smaller scale!).

Our sweet girl even got into the royal fun as we played tea party with one of her new Barbie dolls.

And this fork set found here is a must for the cake table!

Click here for a complete Royal wedding rundown and join in the fun!

Image found here.

Mini bunny cakes

2011-04-26T00:40:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a blessed and happy Easter!

For our Easter celebration I wanted to bake up something sweet and of course cute, so I decided on mini bunny carrot cakes.

Using the old whoopie pie pan, I baked a bunch of small round carrot cakes.

Each completed bunny cake used two round cakes, one of which is cut to form the ears and bow tie shown below.

Then, like a puzzle, place the cake pieces to form a bunny shape.

Icing is next and I chose to make a cream cheese icing.

Top it all off with sweetened coconut, chocolate chips, fresh matchstick carrots, and a little strawberry cream cheese icing for the little bunny nose, and you have this.

Bubble Recipe

2011-04-14T22:35:00.000-05:00

Bubble Recipe

12 Cups of Water

3 Cups of Liquid Soap

3/4 Cup of Corn Syrup

Mix together is a large container

Makes 1 gallon of bubble solution

You may notice in the photo above that my bubble solution looks like milk, well that is because I read Corn Starch, when the recipe called for Corn Syrup! Oh well, it still worked beautifully and we had a blast creating giant bubbles.

Spring Must Haves From Pier 1

2011-04-10T09:01:00.002-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Spring has sprung at Pier 1 with a wide variety of products to spruce up the patio and more.

Sit pretty with one of these beauties!

The crisp White chairs are a perfect starting point to add splashes of color. Best of all these could find their way indoor as well.

Featured above:Jardin De Marie Armchair, Jardin de Marie Outdoor Armchair, Santa Barbara White Outdoor Chair, White Outdoor Wicker Armchair

Switch out the white for a pop of color with a sunny yellow or vibrant blue. Pier 1 has a wide variety of accessories right now and a price that is easy on the budget.

Featured above: Outdoor Wicker Stacking Armchair, Metal Lanterns

Set the table with the Tasting Party collection. Dessert buffets and bite size portions are popular for parties, and with so many dish options, Pier 1 has something for every occasion. Don't miss the yummy recipes found here. Featured above: Banana Cream Delight, Classic Cheesecake, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Parfait.

Jardin De Marie End Table, Santa Barbara White Outdoor Table, Jardin de Marie Outdoor Table

Move over porch swing and make way for the Swingasan! Or go for an iconic Papasan paired with a whimsical cushion. The Papasan chair would transition nicely indoor when the weather changes, making it a budget friendly spring addition.

Be sure to check out Pier 1 Tweetups

Happy shopping!

Fun Finds for the Weekend

2011-04-09T02:21:00.000-05:00

Tudor Garden Bench

Birds White Linen Pillow Cover

Have a fabulous Weekend!

Weeds

2011-03-25T23:42:00.000-05:00

March has been one busy month! Truth be told January to present has been absolutely insane, with an abundance of birthday parties, illness, and life in general. Through it all I have felt the stress building...you know what happened next right? Bit by bit, I started to get a little more of God's perspective and a little less of my own.
We have been trying to tame some weeds in our backyard flower bed, and nothing seemed to work. Finally, we just gave up and left them alone. Weeks went by and our sweet girl decided to pluck at some of those pesky weeds, and what she pulled up was not a weed, as we had thought, it was a carrot! Carrots are growing in our backyard, seemingly out of no where! Come to find out, our little one had dumped the entire Veggie Tales carrot seed pack out into the garden, months back...

This got me thinking about all the times I fret over things that are blessings in disguise. The so called weeds, invading our little flower bed, turned out to be a positive, which lead to a sweet after school story time.

Thank you Becky, for the fun oversize copy of The Carrot Seed!

Frilly Little Finds

2011-03-06T00:53:00.000-06:00

I found this lovely image over at Hostess With The Mostess Coco Chanel inspired baby shower.

Which lead me to this sweet little incognito diaper bag:
Juniper Berry Crumb Cake Cameo Clutch from Petunia Pickle Bottom

And got me thinking of the lovely layering Maryam Tank at Anthropologie.

Don't you think this is perfect for adding a little something extra to layering?

To top it all off, I found my way over to Etsy and discovered this beautiful photograph (Paris is a feeling) from isphotography.

Spring Looks to Love

2011-02-18T00:11:00.001-06:00

Janie and Jack's Spring collection is absolutely lovely! Everywhere I turn there is an outfit to squeal about. I don't know about you, but I am so ready for Spring!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T19:50:00.000-06:00

I hope you are having a lovely Valentine's Day!

Valentine Cards & Goodie Bags

2011-02-13T00:51:00.001-06:00

We are in full Valentine prep mode around here! Our sweet girl has a Valentine party at school on Monday, and I signed us up to provide the goodie bags, as well as make the Valentine card to give out to her friends.

Here is the card we came up with after searching the blogosphere and a marathon trip to Hobby Lobby!

Next, is the Party Goodie Bag. I wanted something fun and of course super cute. Between Target (for the bags, Hershey Kisses, and stickers) and Hobby Lobby (for the crazy lip whistles, silly glasses, and smiley face balls (used in the Valentine card above)), I decided on "My Funny Valentine" for the theme.

Here we are trying out the extra goodies!

I hope you have a fun and lovely Valentine's Day!

Linking up at

Fabric Wall Decals

2011-02-10T22:08:00.000-06:00

We have seen a lot of amazingly cute vinyl wall decals, but fabric wall decals?!

Bright and full of whimsy, chocovenyl

Oh so charming, lovemaestore

Fun and modern, Pop and Lolli

Love and Respect for Valentine's Day

2011-02-06T20:17:00.000-06:00

"Here is the secret to marriage that every couple seeks, and yet few couples ever find...

Unconditional respect is as powerful for him as unconditional love is for her..."

Each one of you also must love his

wife as he loves himself, and the wife

must respect her husband.

- Ephesians 5:33

A perfect book for Valentine's Day, Love and Respect For A Lifetime by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Also, look for the Love and Respect Conference. Click here for a listing of live and video conferences near you.

TutuDuMonde

2011-02-06T18:01:00.000-06:00

TutuDuMonde's collection of tutus will make any little girl (and mommy for that matter) twirl with delight! I came across this dreamy collection via Cool Mom Picks and my heart skipped a beat. The colors and textures are beautiful! The price is not for the faint of heart, but maybe with a little saving of rainy day pennies (dollars more like)...

My favorites
Petal in blush/aubergine.

Swirl Top in Peach

Rainbow's End Skirt in Peach

Tutu Du Monde

Squeaky Clean Baby Gifts

2011-02-06T17:37:00.000-06:00

Hoppop Bato

Found at The Land Of Nod-Hoppop Bato is available in Green, Aqua, and Pink $49

Mommy n Me Diaper Cakes

Washcloth Flower Bouquet

Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash

Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

2011-01-25T23:37:00.001-06:00

This recipe is so quick and easy. The entire meal, which included the Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze, Annie's Shell Pasta with White Cheddar, and Green Beans, took 20 minutes to complete.

What you will need:

Start with Salmon fillets, 1/4 cup of Brown Sugar, 2 tablespoons of Dijon Mustard, Salt & Pepper and a little Olive Oil.

Directions:

Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source; prepare the rack of a broiler pan with cooking spray (I used olive oil).
Season the salmon with salt and pepper and arrange onto the prepared broiler pan. Whisk together the brown sugar and Dijon mustard in a small bowl; spoon mixture evenly onto top of salmon fillets.
Cook under the preheated broiler until the fish flakes easily with a fork, 10 to 15 minutes.

The big finish!

Click here for the recipe at allrecipes.com

My Hidden Talent...

2011-01-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

Balloon Art!

It all started when our sweet girl picked out a bag of balloon art balloons at the store. She, like most kids loves balloons and this balloon art bag, with images of balloon dogs, flowers, etc. was the best thing ever! This is when I took to the internet in hopes of finding tutorials on simple balloon art. Well, as you can imagine there is no shortage of videos on creating balloon art.

The Flower was my first success.

Here is my quick and basic guide to creating the balloon flower.

First, I found this bag of balloons and the balloon pump at Hobby Lobby.

Next, inflate one balloon, leaving about a one inch tip at the bottom, and then tie the two ends together to form a loop.

Pinch the tied end into the center of the loop and twist, creating a bow tie.

Fold the bow tie in half, matching the two loops up, then pinch the twisted/tied end into the center of the loops. Now twist at the center point to create the flower top.

It's time for the steam. Inflate another balloon, again leaving a one inch tip at the end. At the tied end of the balloon make a one inch twist to create a small bubble. This will be the center of the flower.

Position the bubble on top of the flower and push the steam into the center of the flower petals.

This is a basic flower. Click here for a video on how to create it.

It's amazing what we learn from parenting. Kids have a way of shaking things up and pushing us out of our comfort zone, and sometimes into a silly place like balloon art!

Grandma's Banana Bread and a little Soulful Sunday

2011-01-22T21:10:00.002-06:00

With cabin fever in full swing, and a bowl full of very ripe banana's, I decided to bake up some banana bread. I have never baked banana bread before, and all the recipes I found in my cookbooks required buttermilk, which I do not have on hand. So, a call to my mom provided me with a quick and easy recipe that my Grandma used to bake.

I remember eating Grandma's banana bread and mom would bake it a lot when we were kids. It was always so yummy. Mom would serve it as a snack to us in the summertime and it tasted the best after a long day at the swimming pool (not sure why, it just did).

So my banana bread did not turn out looking so great, but it sure does taste yummy! It probably would have turned out better if not for the other dinner foods cooking in the oven at the same time. Hey, what can I say, a mommy has to multitask!

On a sentimental note, my day of baking got me thinking about my Grandmother and how absolutely wonderful she was. She was beautiful, inside and out and always had just the right words. When I was six years old she gave me a Children's Bible and just inside the first page she wrote this...

"God's word is one of the most cherished possessions you can have. Read it-Live by it."

Cold Weather Colds

2011-01-22T12:20:00.000-06:00

The cold weather moved in and so did colds for for our little family. It has been a week of sleepless nights, Chicken Noodle soup, loads of prayer, and of course mommy has to add a dash of worry (I just can't help it) to the mix!

My go-to cold care

Baby girl camping out in our bed watching T.V.

Hubby has been exiled to the couch! We still love him though.

Hope you all are healthy and have a fabulous weekend!

"This Is The Stuff"

2011-01-14T22:33:00.000-06:00

I literally smiled the whole way home from work after hearing this new song today! It can be so easy to let the little annoyances take the spot light from all the blessings we have. Here's to a fabulous weekend!

Click here for more about Francesca Battistelli.

Welcome 2011

2011-01-09T00:58:00.000-06:00

Welcome 2011

2010 brought a lot of ups, a few downs and countless precious memories. Here's to a fabulous New Year!

Jam to Soup

2011-01-08T23:18:00.000-06:00

While packing my lunch for work I could not find a good to-go soup container, so I grabbed a jam jar that was headed to the recycle bin, cleaned it and poured the soup in. This was the perfect solution as I found that I did not have to worry about the container leaking in my lunch tote and I was able to heat the soup in a glass container, which is a plus!

What's in the Jar?

Well, it's my new favorite cold weather soup, Cheddar-Ale Soup (minus the bacon). Yum!

9 degrees of Charlie Brown Christmas

2010-12-08T21:26:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, our family enjoyed a road trip to the Gaylord Texan Resort on Lake Grapevine, near Dallas, TX. The main attraction at the resort is the ICE exhibit. Charlie Brown Christmas is the theme this year and we braved 9 degree temperature to view it! Armed with mega parkas, we entered the 9 degree facility that housed the amazing ice sculptures created by artisans from Harbin, China.

After our frigid tour, we warmed up in the resort, taking in the fabulous Christmas decorations. It was an amazing sight.

Our Halls Are Now Decked!

2010-12-08T21:08:00.000-06:00

The Christmas decor is up!

First stop is the Americana/traditional dining room. I stuck to the reds and greens in this room, as well as the more traditional ornaments on the smaller tree. Many of the ornaments are passed down, hand crafted, and the ever popular Hallmark ornaments.

For the living room, I went with the bold Peacock theme from last year, but added a little more bling here and there.

Pulling the Peacock theme to the front of the house, is the wreath on the front door.

Hubby has been busy putting up the outdoor lights as well. All in all our home is brimming over with Christmas cheer and I am loving it!

Reason for the Season from Coton Colors

2010-11-28T06:00:00.001-06:00

Share the story of Jesus' birth through these sweet ornaments from Coton Colors

Nativity Platter

Happy Birthday Jesus Ornament

Gifts for the Mommy to be

2010-11-27T22:19:00.000-06:00

Seacliff Diaper Tote from Pottery Barn Kids

Velvet Slippers from Boden

California Baby Calendula Everyday Lotion (good for mom and baby)

Luxury Silk Sleep Mask from Doodlebug's Fun Fabrics

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T23:07:00.000-06:00

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Third Birthday!

2010-11-23T13:02:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was packed with parties, including our sweet girl's third birthday party! The theme was princess and sweet treats were served.

The Birthday Present! Princess bounce house.

The Cupcakes! Double Raspberry Cream Filled Cupcakes

Makes: 27 cupcakes
Prep time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 25 to 30 minutes
Cool time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Raspberry Filling:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 egg
3 tablespoons fresh OR frozen (thawed) raspberries
1/3 cup sugar

Raspberry Frosting:

3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons raspberry jam OR 1/4 cup fresh or frozen (thawed) raspberries
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
1 to 3 tablespoons milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Mix cream cheese, butter and sugar using an electric mixer. Add eggs, milk and almond extract; mix thoroughly. Stir in remaining ingredients. Batter will be stiff.

Grease and flour muffin pans or line cups with paper liners. Fill cups 1/2 full. Batter will be fairly stiff. Make an indentation in the center of each cupcake using the tip of a spoon.

Combine all filling ingredients in medium bowl and beat with mixer. Add a dollop (about 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons) to the center of each cupcake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until done. Let cool 10 minutes in pan. Remove warm cakes from pan and finish cooling on wire rack. Frost cupcakes when cool. Refrigerate cupcakes until ready to serve.

Frosting: Combine all ingredients except milk in medium bowl. Beat with electric mixer, gradually adding milk, until frosting is creamy.

(sorry I can't remember where I got this recipe from. It is so good though!)

Next stop is the build your own ice cream sundae bar. Complete with all the toppings and a very special antique walnut grinder from my Great Grandma Ruby.

Beverage station

Photo party banner. Using photos of our sweet girl, I created a banner showing her progression from last November to this past October.

This morning (her real birthday day) Hubby and I took the day off and treated her to a special trip to Starbucks before school.

Happy Third Birthday!

Hello Dachshund!

2010-11-14T23:48:00.000-06:00

Could this be the next big trend?

Letters to Santa: Christmas Decor

2010-11-06T23:53:00.000-05:00

From the same store that brought such Sweet inspiration in my last post, here we have a more traditional approach. I love the printed couch and pillows, especially the giant '&' pillow! The chair is lovely paired with the tartan ribbon, and don't miss the red hounds tooth ribbon on the tree (not the greatest photo from my phone, but it's there)!

Sweet Christmas Decor

2010-11-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

A trip too the local garden and home decor center revealed a wonderland of Christmas ideas to sweet not to share.

Let's start at the top with the tree topper. The various ribbon choices used to create the whimsical bow, tie all the sweet colors together.

The tree and chandelier were dripping with sugary sweet ornaments!

Check out these giant cookie pops and other sweet surprises.

Taking it all in

We've hardly entered into November and I am already wanting to break out the Christmas decor! Must resist!

Silhouettes

2010-10-14T21:22:00.002-05:00

Go visit This Blessed Nest for mega silhouette inspiration and enter to win a fabulous bag from her shop!

I have a little collection of stationary I have been designing here and there. These flat cards are a few from my silhouette line. Someday soon I hope to get my Etsy shop up and running and share more fun things with you. Enjoy the party!

A Perfect Day

2010-10-11T22:13:00.000-05:00

Sunday (10-10-10) was a perfect Fall day! We enjoyed a wonderful morning at church, then visited the local pumpkin patch.

We finished the day at an outdoor movie at church. Monsters Inc. was the flick and we had a great time relaxing under the stars.

It was a perfect day!

Vegetarian Chili

2010-09-29T22:56:00.001-05:00

My Vegetarian Chili is a Fall favorite at our house. It's full of hearty goodness and a little spice.

click here to see my secret ingredient.

(This is enough to fill a large crock-pot that will serve well over 12 guests.)

You will need one large crock pot

measuring spoons

and combine all ingredients at will (there is no method to the madness here). I cook this for 6 hours.

Ingredients:

8 cups (2 cartons) of Pacific Natural Foods-Organic Vegetable Broth

1 can of my secret ingredient...click here

2 cans of garlic and onion roasted diced tomatoes. Muir Glen diced tomatoes with garlic and onion

1 can of tomato paste. Muir Glen tomato paste

1 can of rinsed and drained black beans. HEB Organics or Eden Foods brand

1 can of rinsed and drained garbanzo beans. HEB Organics or Eden Foods brand

1 can of rinsed and drained kidney beans. HEB Organics or Eden Foods brand

1 bag of Birds Eye Steamfresh Southwestern Style Corn

2 bell peppers, 1 red, 1 yellow

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon of paprika

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Toppings:

Plain Greek Yogurt

Chopped Cilantro Leaves

Sweet Onion

Avocado

Fritos

Shredded Cheese

Happy cooking!

Weekend Re-Cap

2010-09-26T23:54:00.000-05:00

Friday after work/school, Elise was surprised by her "potty present"! Yes, you heard it, a "potty present". She has been doing such a fabulous job at potty training, we bought her this princess castle.

On Saturday we saw the Veggie Tales live in concert. It was unlike anything I have ever seen! Giant dancing and singing veggies, and silly songs. Our days of rock concerts (not that we went to so many in the first place) have been replaced with singing veggies and the like! We had a blast and enjoyed watching our sweet girl at her first concert.

Sunday, Elise and I enjoyed cupcakes in the back yard while hubby tended to some yard work.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Soulful Sunday

2010-09-19T01:46:00.000-05:00

From Beth Moore's, Breaking Free Day by Day (A year of Walking in Liberty)

The time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:3

A rebellious child prefers pleasant illustration over truth. We crave messages that make us feel good. When we are living in rebellion, the last thing we want is to confront the Holy One of Israel.

So the apostle Paul was right in his warning to young Timothy. If we strongly prefer certain teachers and preachers over others, we are wise to ask why. If our basis is anything other than balanced biblical teaching, we could be in rebellion while occupying our pews every Sunday. Let's make sure we are not looking for people to scratch out itching ears and hide us from the truth.

Pumpkin Decorating Kits

2010-09-19T01:34:00.000-05:00

No carving, scooping or mess with this little pumpkin decorating kit! Find this one at Chasing Fireflies.

You can also find a slightly different version of the kits at Target. We picked one up a few weeks ago in the costume section. I can't wait for our little pumpkin to decorate her Princess Pumpkin!

Not to leave out the little men, here is the Pirate kit.

Happy Decorating!

3 Step Dessert

2010-09-16T23:02:00.001-05:00

With all the Fall prep going on, I thought I would make a quick and easy cobbler for dessert tonight. I had one can of pop biscuits and a bag of frozen berries, just enough to make up a cobbler.

I pressed a few raw biscuits in the bottom on a baking dish and sprinkled with Cinnamon and Sugar. Next I filled the dish with frozen berries and drizzled with honey. Last I topped the berries with more pressed raw biscuits and Cinnamon and Sugar. Baked at 350 for about 30 min. When I checked the cobbler, the top looked great, but the bottom was still doughy. I made this whole thing on on the fly, so to try and cook it longer without burning the top, I placed the glass cover on the dish and baked for another 30 min. That did the trick and turned out fully cooked. We served it up with a little ice cream.

Tasty treat on a wannabe Fall day! Hurry Fall, hurry!

linking here

Sweet Fall Treats

2010-09-14T22:57:00.003-05:00

Hubby treated me to a sweet surprise of roses and the Halloween edition on Better Homes and Gardens.

When I think of Fall treats, piping hot apple pie comes to mind. This cheddar-crusted apple pie from Martha Stewart is on my must bake list.

and how about this pumpkin spice creme brulee from Better Homes and Gardens?!

Can't wait for the local pumpkin patch to open. Click here to locate a pumpkin patch near you.

Fall Favorites

2010-09-07T23:08:00.001-05:00

Our fall baby is all ready to decorate for Halloween/Fall, and it did not take much persuasion for me to get into the change of scenery. This weekend hubby unloaded containers of Fall decorations from the attic. Here are a few fall favorites that have found a home in our house.

Linking here

here

Vintage Halloween Finds

2010-09-06T19:38:00.000-05:00

1. Halloween Hang-ups-Martha Stewart

2. Hostess Apron-Great Goods on ETSY

3. Table Setting-Pottery Barn Kids

4. Placemats-PotteryBarn Kids

5. Plates and Cups-Pottery Barn Kids

6. Pumpkin-Vintage Green Limited

7. Decorative Blocks-Gongy and Squish

Detox Part One

2010-09-01T23:22:00.000-05:00

Today was a good day! I took a day off from work for a "me day" and went to a doctor appointment, ran errands that have been put off, and enjoyed the good company of my mom. It was defiantly good for my soul, especially my unhurried devotion time this morning. As I read I realized that I was meant to be reading this devotional at that exact moment! For months, our little family seems to be operating at "hold on for dear life" speed. I have been incredibly run down and my immune system has suffered for it. Here is a little from the devotional that grabbed my attention.

"Our bodies are created with a pace of their own. While disease, heredity or a physiological breakdown may throw that pace out of whack, more often than not our bodies are responding to the environment we create for them. If we create a fast-talking, hard-working, overindulging, clock watching environment for ourselves, overconsuming our physical and emotional resources, we can expect to feel lousy. It will become a way of life-the logical consequence. We are effectively choosing to create our pace of death."

(We're More Than Physical Creatures by Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen)

This reading combined with 1 Corinthians 3:17 got my attention and I knew we had to make a change. We are detoxing our home and part one begins with our attitude.

Have you seen the Family Rules linky party over at The Pleated Poppy?

(image from The Pleated Poppy)

This is exactly what I have in mind for part one, establish a solid set of family rules and post them in the house as a daily reminder. When I say attitude I don't just mean keep the negativity to a minimum, I mean towards daily living. Making the right choices in priority, nutrition, actions, etc. We are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we need to keep this front and center. Hubby and I have a date to sit down and write the rules of the roost this week. I will post the final project.

My personal goal is to take a little more "me time" and remember that if I am not good for myself, I can't be my best for others. Now, it's off to bed for some much needed sleep!

Trip To Wonderland

2010-08-29T20:58:00.000-05:00

We made a small getway to Dallas this past weekend, where we enjoyed time with our dear friends and celebrated a birthday.

Friday night we all attended the Mad Hatter's Tea Party at the Gaylord Texan resort.

We had a wonderful time!

Wedding Shower Details

2010-08-23T01:56:00.000-05:00

We have had a fun filled party packed weekend at our house. As I mentioned a while back, I have been planing a tropical themed wedding shower, with a fellow co-hostess, for our dear friends. Everything came together to form a multicultural tropical party and fun was had by all.

Let's start with the inspiration board for the party.

The main colors were pink and orange.

Welcome to Paradise!

Dining room

Paper lanterns were hung from green ribbon all throughout the house.

For the guest book I printed 1 Corinithians 13:13 in all the different languages that represent the couple. Guests were encouraged to write a message to the bride and groom on the mat board surrounding the print.

sign-in table

Guests wore Hawaiian leis

The dessert and coffee table

Drink area (before the ingredients were added)

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Follow The Bouncing Ball

2010-08-17T01:22:00.001-05:00

We are starting a new year of teaching the bible to two-year olds, and I wanted to make our praise and worship time even more interactive, so I thought of this...

Using a bouncy ball from Target and a permanent marker, I transformed this into our sing along ball.

It is so simple, but received rave reviews from our sweet girl, who found it and squealed with delight upon finding the new ball.

Linking here at Blue Cricket Design

Writing On The Wall

2010-08-17T01:01:00.002-05:00

The chalkboard wall project is complete and is already getting a lot of use. We added another element to the board by priming it with a magnetic paint before painting over it with chalkboard paint.

Before

After

Linking here at Domestically Speaking
and Sixty-Fifth Avenue

Chalkboard Wall Coming Soon!

2010-08-13T00:14:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned for the final result!

Good Food, Good Company

2010-08-12T23:54:00.000-05:00

Dinner Before

Hubby sneaking an olive!

Dinner After

On the menu:

Asparagus with Tortellini topped with a Carrot and Cheddar Cheese sauce (aka: Ferrer Carrot soup).

Hubby enjoying the olive!

(sorry honey, I could not resist! ha! Love you.)

Story Time with Gigi

2010-08-10T00:24:00.000-05:00

Elise and I took a trip to our local Christian bookstore after school, for a special present. We are in the midst of potty training. Today at school she used the potty twice! This may not seem like a highly sucessful potty day, but for our sweet girl it was big. She had a hard time adjusting to her new school, especially with the potty training being done at school too. Today was cause for celebration and for her potty present she picked out lamb stickers and a wonderful little book called "Gigi, God's Little Princess".

If you have not been introduced to this lovely book, you are missing out! We read it tonight and Elise loved it! It kept her attention and she enjoyed the illustration.

Here is the summary from Sheila Walsh's website. "Parents and children alike will be won over by the lovable innocence of Gigi, a little girl who just knew she was a princess. But where were the castle and royal jewels? With a little help from Mommy and Daddy, Gigi realizes that she is not just any old princess—she is the daughter of the greatest King of all"

Gigi is a keeper in our house! Happy reading.

Dining Room Wall Makeover

2010-08-07T15:45:00.001-05:00

See how I used these five items shown below to create a new look for our dining room.

By using the needle, thread and small paint brush, I was able to create the large circles on the wall. Thread the needle and find where you want the center of the circle to be. Once you pick the spot, push the pin into the wall, just enough so it is secure. Extend the thread out to the desired width of the circle and tie the small paint brush to the end of the thread.

Next is the tricky part. (It helps to have a partner holding the paint can)

Dip the brush into the paint. Stretch the string out straight and close to the wall. Hold the paint brush perpendicular to the wall and draw the circle. You will need to reload the brush several times, this is why it helps to have a partner holding the can. Repeat until you have all the circles you want on the wall.

I wanted the lines to be thicker than the results I saw from the small paint brush, so I went back over all the lines with a 2" angle brush.

Last I wanted to add a few small circles and did this by using the red charger plate shown above. Simply trace the plate on the wall and go back over the lines with the 2" angle brush.

Not having internet at home for the past two weeks got my creative juices flowing. Happy painting!

linking here

I'm Back!

2010-08-05T23:24:00.001-05:00

Hello dear friends!
I have been out of pocket lately, but I am back and have so much to blog about.
First, you may be wondering where I have been. Well for nearly two weeks now, our little family has been trying to get our house back in order, after a near miss at our home. Monday, July 26th my sweet girl and I arrived home, to find our neighborhood without power. It had been storming all day with harsh lightening. The garage door would obviously not work, so we parked in the driveway and made our way to the front door. We open the door to a powerless house and the alarm on it's back up battery. I disarmed the alarm and we proceed to walk further into the house. It was a few seconds after we got into the house, when I noticed an odor. The smell was distinct and it was everywhere, it was natural gas! Remembering that one should leave the house to call for help, we quickly went back outside. As we waited outside for the fire department, the power came back on in the house. I was so worried that any moment the house would blow. I have never had anything like this happen before and have to admit, aside from knowing to leave the house to call for help, I did not know how else to handle the situation. Meanwhile Husband arrived home along with the fire department. We could smell the gas as we stood on the neighbors front porch. The firemen enter the house and quickly turned around for more gear. They located the problem and put an end to the looming tension. So what happened? Lightening hit our house! Due to the builder using an electrical contractor, that obviously did not know what they were doing, the so called grounding feature to the home was compromised. When lightening struck, the gas line leading to our stove top was hit causing a hole in the line, resulting in the gas leak. Most all the electrical, including the AC components were fried as well. Angels were watching over us on that day. I still get emotional thinking about what could have been, then overwhelmed with how protected we were. It has been a difficult few weeks. So glad to be getting back to normal.

I hope all is well with you!

All best,
April

Reflect

2010-07-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By his love and power controlling

All I do and say.

May the word of God dwell richly

in my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only through his power.

May the peace of God, my Father,

Rule my life in everything,

That I may be calm to comfort

Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me

As the waters fill the sea.

Him exalting self abasing:

This is victory.

Kate B. Wilkinson

Ephesians 3: 14-21

Yummy Kitchens

2010-07-22T00:38:00.000-05:00

1. Rustic Romance

2. Turquoise Kitchen

3. ABC

4. Merged Spaces

Keep Calm

2010-07-21T23:44:00.000-05:00

Our sweet girl loves her princess bandages, but how about these for mommy!

Keep Calm and Carry On Bandages from Paper-Source.

Barn Owl Primitives, Keep Calm and Carry On, hand painted on pine board.

Something About Silver has a lot of pretty pieces including this cute Keep Calm and Carry On necklace.

Want to know more about the slogan? Click here.

I Spy

2010-07-16T01:08:00.000-05:00

I have been home sick for the past two days, and believe it or not, just cracked open the old lap top!

Let's play a game of I Spy.

First, I spy a great party game and conversation starter from MSweddings.

A photographic scavenger hunt for little wedding guests! This could be used as a fun game at a kid or adult party as well.

I knew you when... This will get party guests talking, as they pin point the year they first met the honored guest(s).

Next, I spy Ginger the Dollie at I Sew Lucky.

I just love the pink and green polka dots!

I spy these wonderfully charming Family Rules over at Signs of Vintage

Last, I spy this peculiar house via Design Sponge.

I hope you all enjoyed playing I Spy.

"Mommy, that is not good for my mouth!"

2010-07-07T23:28:00.000-05:00

I have been so very convicted this week about keeping on track with my goal for healthy weight. The holiday weekend was killer for the diet, but Monday brought renewed motivation as I read the bible lesson for this coming Sunday. (As many of you know, hubby and I teach Sunday School to an awesome group of three year olds). The Lesson is on Daniel 1: 1-20, "I can make choices". Here is the basic breakdown for the kids.

God loved Daniel and took care of him. God helped Daniel grow and learn.
Daniel learned to do the things God told him to do.
Daniel chose to eat foods that would help him grow.
This was Daniel's way to show he loved God.

We are supposed to talk about taking care of ourselves, making good choices, while this past weekend was packed with cupcakes and Nutella! To top it all off, our sweet girl thankfully does not share in my love of sweets, as she turns her nose up at most everything loaded with sugar. She hit me with this lovely quote when offered a cupcake..."Mommy, that is not good for my mouth!". Oh, that hurts! hahaha. You have to love the honesty of a toddler.

America The Beautiful

2010-07-04T03:20:00.000-05:00

The origins of July 4th & Independence Day

2010-07-04T03:10:00.000-05:00

This is a very special post written by my hubby! He is the biggest history buff you will ever meet, and has put together a little history lesson on "The origins of July 4th and Independence Day". Thank you sweetie!

The origins of July 4^th and Independence Day:

April 19^th, 1775 the first battle at Lexington, VA “the shot heard round the world” and at Concord, MA; begins six years of war for Independence from Britain.

June 11, Congress appoints a committee to draft a declaration of Independence. Committee members are Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Livingston and Roger Sherman. Jefferson is chosen by the committee to prepare the first draft of the declaration, which he completes in one day.

July 1, 1776 one representative, Caesar Rodney despite being ill and bad weather, rode 80 miles by horseback from Dover, Delaware to reach Philadelphia.

July 2, 1776 Caesar Rodney voted with McKean and thereby allowed Delaware to join eleven other states in voting in favor of the resolution of Independence. Twelve of thirteen colonial delegations (New York abstains) vote in support of Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate on his resolution for Independence.

On July 4, 1776 the Congress formally endorses Jefferson's Declaration. Copies of the Declaration to be sent to all of the colonies, the actual signing of the document occurs on August 2, 1776 as most of the 55 members of Congress place their names on the parchment copy. This is declaring Independence from Britain; we have not won our Independence yet.

The war would effectively end at Yorktown, VA. British troops under Gen. Charles Cornwallis had been driven out of the Carolinas and into Virginia. The French fleet under Admiral Francois de Grasse bottled up the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay while an American and French army under Washington marched south to confront Cornwallis. For Cornwallis, surrounded and outnumbered, he had no choice on Oct. 19, 1781 he surrendered.

The fighting was over, and the rebellion was successful. It would take two more years to get a peace treaty signed in Paris, but long before that, the British began making plans to evacuate America.

The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War and was signed on September 3, 1783; those 13 colonies have now gained its Independence from Britain and those United States of America became one Nation under God.

So on July 4th we not only celebrate our Independence we celebrate the Declaration of it and we declare our Independence from tyranny, Government monopoly, and our freedom as a Nation under God.

The Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life (Genesis 2:7), Liberty ( II Corinthians 3:17), and the Pursuit of Happiness (Ecclesiastes 3:3)".

The coin representing Delaware, "The First State," shows Caesar Rodney on horseback.

Independence Day was not declared a legal holiday until 1870.

For a free copy of the Declaration of Independence / The Constitution of the United States.

http://www.askheritage.org/

To Purchase a parchment replica.

http://store.ushistory.org/showcat.asp?cid=36

Tie The Knot

2010-07-01T22:36:00.000-05:00

My dear friend is getting married soon and I am having a blast helping her plan for the big day. I am also co-hosting a couples shower for her that is going to be full of tropical glitz! I will have to share details for this after the party, as I don't want to give away the surprise.

While playing wedding, I came across these fun finds on Etsy.

Perfectly preppy for a summer wedding. I love this save the date from 'I do' it yourself

Tie it together with this adorable wedding cake topper from Together Forever!

Send thanks to the guests via message in a bottle from Miniature Rhino.

Father's Day Weekend

2010-06-24T23:53:00.000-05:00

What a busy week! I just realized that it has been a week since my last blog post! Our sweet girl started a new preschool (not an easy transition, but getting better each day) and work has been draining to say the least. Last weekend we celebrated Father's day by hosting a BBQ on Saturday and visited hubby's family on Sunday.

We stared off Saturday morning at the lake in our neighborhood for a little fishing.

After fishing we played in the park.

Saturday night we had a Father's Day BBQ. Here is the centerpiece I put together. It's simple and not too frilly for Father's Day. I filled glass votive holders with sunflower seeds and tied a striped ribbon around each.

It was a fun weekend.

What's on the agenda for this weekend? Hopefully rest and relaxation!

Father's Day BBQ Prep

2010-06-18T00:00:00.005-05:00

We are hosting a Father's Day BBQ this weekend for my family.

I chose to use Pingg for the invite

Did you know that you can send Pingg invitations via snail mail, e-mail (with a digital envelope option), etc.? Click here to find out more.

On the menu we have

Veggetable Kabobs

Roasted Corn

Potato Salad

Ribs

Baked Beans

Watermelon

(all food photos from MarthaStewart.com)

I hope you have a great time celebrating dad's this weekend!

Make Your Mark

2010-06-17T00:00:00.001-05:00

Our sweet girl has started a new preschool and we have been labeling items right and left! Check out this tip from Martha Stewart. Using a rubber stamp (printed with your child's name) and some permanent fabric ink, the task of labeling seems to be a whole lot easier.

I heart Louis

2010-06-16T23:53:00.000-05:00

From the grand Louis furniture style to the comfy curvy Rococo, I am drawn to it! If you were to visit my home you would find an eclectic style with a hint of Louis.

When it comes to nursery design reflecting more of an adult style on a mini scale, this "Versailles chic" changing table/dresser from Genius Jones caught my eye.

How about the crib!

I have got to have this Louis armchair from MetroSofa! Perfect for a hip little girls room.

Remember Elise's big girl bed project? This was our attempt at a little Louis style for miss E's growing big girl room.

Rainy Day Fun

2010-06-15T01:01:00.001-05:00

(Lovely yellow rain boots at Ralph Lauren)

Rainy days can put a damper on summer fun. There is always indoor trips to a museum or movie, but what if the thought of loading up the kids in the yucky weather does not appeal? Here are my best tips for a rainy day.

Get Crafty

Remember the project from Kindergarten where you write your name in glue, then apply beans or glitter? Check out this mega bean mosaic project!

Paint an umbrella to be used when jumping in the puddles!

Teaching Moments

Leave them wanting more while waiting for their homemade rain guage to fill up. Make your own rain guage here.

Noah's Ark puzzle

Tell the story of Noah's Ark. Endless rainy days make a great time to learn about Noah!

Games

Scavenger hunt

Hide and Seek

Flash light tag

Acting Up

Talent Show

Parade

Crazy Clothes day

Make musical instruments out of stuff around the house

Have an indoor camp out

Make sock puppets and have a puppet show

I hope this helps to squash cabin fever during rainy days!

Flag Day Finds on Etsy

2010-06-14T23:51:00.000-05:00

PaperEclectiques

krispybanana

SewnNatural

Boden

2010-06-08T00:04:00.002-05:00

Boden clothing is charming and packed full of color! I love these looks for Mommy and baby.

Dressing Up Dessert

2010-06-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

I am going to try this decorative plate trick for our next party. The design on the plate was made using powdered sugar, food coloring, water, and a rubber stamp. The design dries on the plate so the plates can be stacked if needed. I think it is a great idea to give a little flair to desert. Go to the Paper Source Blog for the how-to.

Summer Berries

2010-06-06T00:14:00.000-05:00

The new Cooking Channel has some delicious info. on fresh summer berries.

After reading up on berries check out this no-bake lemon berry tartlet at Sur la table. YUM!

Take a Seat

2010-06-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

Beidermeier

Steel Frances Elkins Chair Bellechase

Varenne

Bring the outdoor look in with these fabulous designs.

Personalized Placemats

2010-06-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

School is out but the learning never stops! Check out this cute handwriting placemat from La Plates.

FRONT

BACK

For The Birds

2010-06-02T23:49:00.000-05:00

This little wooden birdhouse would be a great "daddy and me" project for Father's Day.

An interesting find from Genius Jones. The Totem Tree is made of recycled paper and is 100% biodegradable.

Birdcage mobile

Memorial Day Recap

2010-06-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend!

Soulful Sunday

2010-05-30T00:00:00.004-05:00

See to it, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:12-13

Recently Elise has started singing a song that goes like this..."What's going to work? Teamwork! What's going to work? Teamwork!" She will repeat this over and over. It is so sweet to hear her little voice sing such encouraging words. You know the old saying, "teamwork makes the dream work". As a family this is especially true. We have to produce an environment of encouragement and teamwork to keep each other going. Home is our refuge towards what can be a very discouraging world. But the encouraging attitude should not stop with our families. What if we approched each day with encouragement towards all we meet? Maybe people's hearts would soften a bit and they too would pass on the positive to all they meet.

Wednesday night we attended the children's choir musical at our church. We thought it would be fun for Elise to see and we wanted to support and encourage the kids. It was a great production and the kids did a fantastic job! Here are a few photos from the night.

Summer Time & The Living Is Easy!

2010-05-29T11:25:00.001-05:00

Outdoor entertaining should be easy too.

Present salad in single-serving lidded jars. Not only is this a unique way of serving up your favorite summer time salad, but it keeps bugs out of the buffet. Eying the lovely salad? Find the recipe here.

Give place cards a twist by writing guests names on fresh lemons.

Give the old boxed lunch some flair by packing it in Oilcloth Lunch Bags.

Learn how to make your own at marthastewart.com

Crudite anyone? It's a centerpiece and Hors d'Oeuvre platter in one! Learn how to put this together here.

By the sea? Keep it clean by using this watering can shower idea.

Creative Juices Sewing

2010-05-27T23:08:00.000-05:00

It has been about four years since my sewing machine has seen the light of day. Hubby bought the sewing machine for our second anniversary, because I just knew I would become a master seamstress and kept hinting at buying one. My motivation lasted a few months, and ended with a disastrous t-shirt attempt! Up until the t-shirt project, I had successfully made a few pillows, hemmed curtains, nothing major. I don't know what I was thinking when I set out to sew a t-shirt, but I tried and failed miserably! This past weekend I decided to put my basic sewing skills to use and make a valance for Elise's bathroom. I found some old fabric, and ribbon, and started piecing it all together.

Here is the final result.

It's not perfect, but I had fun and best of all, it did not cost anything to make.

For my next trick, I am going to make some pillow shams to go with our new DwellStudio coverlet from Target.

Blue finds at Etsy

2010-05-26T00:06:00.000-05:00

Willywaw on Etsy

reiter8 on Etsy

Soulful Sunday

2010-05-23T23:08:00.000-05:00

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Luke 12:48

Last Sunday our church celebrated 40 years of God's provision. We also celebrated our newest building additions, which include an AMAZING kids building. It is such a blessing to have a church to call home!

Fun Finds

2010-05-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

Puppy Antique Toy Pillow found at Gretel

Circus inspired room via Minor Details

Lovely lemonade stand from Land Of Nod

Mad About Plaid @ Zulily

2010-05-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

New Today! Taylor Joelle Designs

Up to 50% off | Ends 5/26

@ Zulily

New Today! PAPABEAR

Up to 40% off | Ends 5/26

@ Zulily

Take Cover at Janie and Jack

2010-05-17T22:55:00.000-05:00

Protect those cute little heads from the summer sun with hats from Janie and Jack.

Pinkalicious!

2010-05-13T17:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday after work Elise, Hubby and I whipped up a batch of pink strawberry cupcakes to go along with one of Elise's favorite books, Pinkalicious! Pinkalicious is the story of a little girl who loves the color pink. She and her mom bake pink cupcakes, and the little girl eats so many, that she turns pink! This book is all girl and so much fun.

As we read the book the three of us had a feast of pink cupcakes!

Today, Elise shared a batch with her class. She was so excited to share the Pinkalicious cupcakes with her classmates!