a vintage mom

Root Vegetables

2012-02-27T05:45:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to try them.... celery root, rutabaga, turnips... you see on Iron Chef America, the chefs make parsnip puree. It all sounds so good. But I have no idea how to prepare any of them and I am actually scared of what root veggies will taste like.

I tried beets once and they tasted like dirt. I wish I liked beets because they are so healthy for you! I follow a blog, DIY Natural, and today is a post on Root Vegetables! So I'm going to take the plunge and buy some root veggies and try the two recipes. Also in the comments section there is another recipe that sounds so so good. A warm hearty soup. I love soup!

We are expecting a blizzard tomorrow, so I am going to cook some up and watch the snow!

Do you ladies have any recipes with root vegetables? Are they good?

Where Women Create

2012-02-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hello
I have two issues of Where Women Create that I have yet to read. Normally that does not happen. But I have been so busy with the holidays, sickness, hubby traveling....etc.. So I brought both issues on vacation and am flipping through them now, it is absolute relaxation sitting on the beach, with the ocean waves in the background, looking at my favorite magazine.

I am looking at the Feb/Mar/Apr 2012 issue now and it is so inspiring! I have new Lollibag designs turning in my head. I can't wait to get home and start sewing again! I love seeing "studio" spaces and where women design their wares. I am so excited to get my space finished. It is the attic space above our garage. We just put the sheetrock in....stay tuned :)

Aloha!

Stuffed Pasta Shells~ cheesecake~ Just Life

2012-01-30T08:26:00.000-08:00

Remember this recipe? It is sooooo good, that's what I'm making for dinner tonight! What is your family having?

I have been so busy lately, I would sure love to read this post on cooking with cast iron. I have a cast iron frying pan, that I know I am not taking care of properly.

What have I been busy doing? Well a big chunk of my time has been making cheesecakes! I know.... but they are so so good. I am now addicted to cheesecake. But the good thing is there is no grains in cheesecake, well pretend there is no graham cracker crust :) Soon I will post my favorite cheesecake recipe. I have made them all, with sour cream, without sourcream. In a water bath, without a water bath. I've made ginger cookie crust cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, and regular cheesecake.

My sweet children have all been sick, so sick we didn't even celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary and had a LAME party for Lauren's 16th birthday. But I can't complain, how can you, it's just life. And then I found out horrible news on Sunday an old school friend from 6th grade, died of colon cancer. So really I am just grateful to be alive.

With a hint of sadness, I quickly sifted through my maternity clothes...I am passing them on to my cousin who is just starting that phase of life. Me? I am about to turn 40, so that door is closed, and happily so. But I am not sure how I am feeling about this new decade. A part of me is excited, but that is mixed with sadness, gratefulness, confusion....

Sadness because my oldest child will be moving out soon. My next child is graduating and starting college this year. My third is now 16 and driving.

Grateful to God, He gave me those last 2 stragglers! Or I would have had a completely empty nest in the next couple years.

Confused because I am not sure, what now? Of course I keep sewing, but have yet to find those fabulous sale venues here in Minnesota. Am I to keep selling Lollibag's? I sure hope so, I really enjoy it. I will just keep at it, being a wife, mom, baker, sewer, friend.

Advice welcome from those who have gone before me.

DIY homemade granola

2012-01-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

I have always loved granola. My mom used to make it when she was in her "health kick" days, those days started when we lived in Arizona. She took a health food class and came home and bam! The next day we were drinking raw milk with chunks of cream floating in it, eating raw wheat germ on everything and making homemade granola! Looking back, it was kind of "hippyish" of my mom! I am so proud of her for doing that.

So maybe that is where my love of granola started.....I usually buy Cascadian Farms organic granola at Walmart, but it is almost $3.50 a box and I always buy more than one box, so it adds up rather quickly.

I found my mom's granola recipe, but to my surprise there is sugar in it! So I don't want to use that one. I found a recipe online but I changed it a lot, so I guess I'll call this my own.

Homemade Granola

3 C whole rolled oats

a little salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 C organic pure maple syrup

1 C coconut flakes, I use Tropical Traditions coconut chips (so, so good)

1/2 C cold milled flax (I got it from Costco)

You may put a little agave nectar or honey in there if you like it sweet. If you do, you may want to use less maple syrup, you'll have to experiment.

Stir all ingredients together and put on a cookie sheet with sides. Bake at 300-325 for 15 min. Stir and bake another 10-15 min. After it is cool you may add raisins or whatever dried fruit if you like.

This is so easy and so yummy!

friends

2012-01-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

I just chatted with an old friend today, she has something very happy going on in her life right now. I have known her since 4th grade, Tami. As I was thinking back over the years, I realized that in all the states I have ever lived in, God brought me a wonderful best friend. They are all different, we each have different relationships, but they are all best friends.

When I was in 4th grade my family moved down to Arizona from Minnesota. I met Tami and we became fast friends. We only lived in Arizona for 2 years, till we moved back to Minnesota when I was in 6th grade. How could I have possibly made a life long friend in the 4th grade after knowing her for 2 years? It is simple, it was God. After I moved away we wrote letters, lots of letters. When I was 19, I went to visit her in California where she moved. Then when I was 22 she came to visit me in Minnesota. When I was 26 I went to see her when she lived in Tennessee. The last time I saw her was 11 years ago, in Vegas, she had just had her second child, I was pregnant with Portia but didn't know it yet.

Tami got me through my first abusive marriage and divorce. I helped her through her first marriage and divorce, when her husband abandoned her. She helped me through my mom's death. We have had so many life altering experience's in our friendship, I am tied to her for life. We don't talk very often, as a matter of fact it can be years in between our phone calls. But it doesn't matter, I can call her and it's as though we just saw each other a week ago.

When we moved to Oregon in 2002, God brought Heidi into my life. We are just alike, we hit it off instantly. I only lived there for 9 years but they weren't lonely because of her. We were blessed enough to be pregnant at the same time. Our husbands traveled all the time at the same time so we always took the kids out to eat. We would have slumber parties, she even brought her dogs..... We traveled together, she helped me decorate my first home in Oregon, that was just a couple blocks from her house. Then when we moved to the farm, she let me cry on her shoulder.

And of course there is Rach, do I need to say anymore? I have talked about her a lot. I have known her since 2nd grade, but we became best friends in 6th grade. We have certianly been through the wringer together. We went through our troubled teenage years together. She is my prayer warrior, she has prayed me through many, many situations. We always laugh so hard we can't breathe. I just don't know what I would do without Rach.

God is so good to us, isn't he? These 3 women couldn't be more different from each other, but they are all equally important to me. Thank you Lord for girl friends!

SALE AT LOLLIPOOKIESOAP!

2012-01-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

It is my first ever sale. I promise to do this more often now that I know how easy coupon codes are!

Friday, January 20th is my 19th wedding anniversary AND my daughters 16th birthday! So to celebrate I have put up a coupon code for 15% off, now through Saturday evening. Just enter code HAPPY15 at checkout.

You know you want a new Lollibag!

Spread the word!

Pretties

2012-01-18T06:05:00.000-08:00

etsy

I would love a pretty pink cardigan made from this. It looks so soft and warm. I looooove the color.

etsy

These paper party cups are so cute! I imagine them filled with pastel mints.

etsy

I love the idea of using vintage music sheets or vintage book pages to make things and wrap things in. I have used vintage music sheets to wrap etsy purchases in that I send out. It is so pretty and a fun suprise to see when you open the package!

etsy

And if this doesn't make you smile and brighten your day, then nothing will!

Have a great day!

New Lollibag's!

2012-01-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

I am sloooowly getting back to sewing after my winter break. I always take a break sewing over the holiday's. I'm am excited to hop back at it. (And I've been too busy experimenting with cheesecakes to sew).....I guess I like cheesecake, didn't know that.

Here are my three latest Lollibag's :)

This Lollibag is so full of vintage, maybe overvintaged? No, no such thing. The ruffles, lace trim and flower are all vintage fabric. Interior is Heather Bailey fabric and a vintage shell button. I think it's a perfect spring bag, you can never prepare for spring too early!

I love this knit. It is vintage, so retro. It seems familiar doesn't it? You probably had a short sleeve shirt made from it when you were a kid in the 70's. This bag has the same Heather Bailey fabric interior and my favorite vintage button to close it. I have been saving this button because I love it so much, I just couldn't imagine sewing it on a bag. But I think this vintage striped knit calls for it, don't you? Yes! I love it on this Lollibag!

A little Lollibag made from brown corduroy. It has linen ruffles and a patch of vintage 60's fabric on the front. It closes with a green vintage button. I love the orange thread. Do you know a little girl who would love this? Portia already asked for it and I said no you have to many Lollibag's already! But there is NO SUCH THING as too many Lollibag's, what am I talking about???

Are you gearing up for spring? I am, I can't wait! I have new shrubs and flowers in my future!

My Yellow Chandelier!

2012-01-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

Well I finally did it, I found a chandelier. I had discovered this chandelier in a magazine a long time ago and then forgot about it. Until..................after 300 pages of online light surfing, I refound it!

It came in many colors, but I chose yellow. Of course the shades were extra, sometime soon I will get them.

I love it, I think it's me, and it will look even better with shades. If you would like to know where I purchased this light, please e-mail me. It has been quite a fiasco. And this light is not the best quality, by all means I should be returning it, but I love it so much and cannot find it at any other store.

Over the weekend we celebrated Portia's golden birthday, her 10th. It's not really until Tuesday but....
She wanted her barbie cake again and she designed her outfit and hair ribbon. What do you think?

Guess what? I signed up for cake decorating class! For the next 4 Tuesday night's I will be taking a basic cake decorating class and I'm kind of excited. It is hard for me to do this by myself, but I decided to do it! Wish me luck!

DIY deoderant

2012-01-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to use a natural, not bad for you deoderant. I have tried all of the "natural" ones, they just plain don't work. I always have hope when I see a brand I haven't tried, but nope. So I was sure this homemade deoderant would just be another thing to add to my list of tried and failed.

Boy was I suprised! I kept smelling my pits all day, it really works! And you know those days you forget to apply deoderant and you stink? No problem for this deoderant.

Here is the recipe:

6 tablespoons organic coconut oil, I use Tropical Traditions
1/4 C organic cornstarch
1/4 C baking soda

Mix cornstarch and baking soda in a bowl. Then add coconut oil. With the back of a spoon mix ingredients together. Mix for several minutes until you have a very smooth mixture without any crumbling.
This makes quite a bit, I bought two small containers with lids and filled them with deoderant and gave one to my daughter. Apply it with your fingers.

I never have to buy deoderant again! Please let me know what you think!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T06:12:00.000-08:00

I love this question.

The first time I heard it was a few years ago. And for me it always comes back to creating and selling. Putting myself out there even if nothing comes of it.

I have been pleasantly surprised. While raging success is not at my doorstep, I know that women like Lollibag's and that feels great!

I don't know how it got to be 2012 but it is. There are some things I feel I will never accomplish, like loving my husband the way the Bible says to. As in I Corinthians 13. But the good news there is, God is quick to forgive me and help me start new every day, even every hour. Maybe more like every minute.

I want to hear from all of you the answer to that question. No matter how crazy it sounds...What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

Last year at this time I was living in Oregon with the farm for sale and I was wondering if I would spend the next Christmas in Minnesota. Now that year has gone by so quickly and here we are, nothing short of miraculous and I find myself forgetting how much God really has done for my family. I was telling a friend the story of our move and I knew I wasn't remembering some details so I went back to my the move stories and reminded myself and thanked the Lord once again for all He has done, not just in the last year but in the last 9 years.

I was thinking the other day about Jesus being born in a stable, which I would assume is just like a barn. I know our barn in Oregon was always very stinky, sometimes I just could not stand to be in there if the boys hadn't cleaned it. I'm sure they didn't have pressure washers and nice shovels to clean the stables back in Bible times. And I thought about having my children in a clean hospital with medication and comforts. I wondered how Mary did it! I have always thought Jesus birth was some huge deal back then with a bright warm holy light surrounding the clean stable with the softest hay and clean cloths to wrap Him in, isn't that how the Christmas songs make it seem? And a choir of angels to soothe baby Jesus..... You don't think about the details of what a birth is, when you think of Christmas.

Then I thought, you know, I bet it was your average birth, no one brought Mary a hot meal after, it was probably a pretty horrible experience in a barn. They were young and alone. That stable had to be dirty and cold. But I think that is how God works, He takes the average, unassuming person and situation and makes it His own. It was a quiet night.

I am so thankful that Jesus was born just to be a sacrifice for us. It is overwhelming to think about. I am so grateful! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Home!

2011-12-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am home and so glad to be. I feel very blessed that I was able to take this girls trip to Hawaii, but you know how it is, you end up missing the kids. I'm not sure why that happens, you go about crazy needing a break from them but the minute you get one, you start to miss them so much you want to get back to them, and then the second you get home they start fighting and you then remember why you wanted to leave in the first place!!

It was very cloudy there, but that's ok, we had plenty to do. I was just thrilled not to have to cook for a week. The second we stepped off the plane you could smell the flower's and the ocean air.

We went to see my brother-in-law and father-in-law, then stopped at Kailua Beach, hit the store for some water and snacks for the week and hopped in bed at 7:00pm! Jet lag....

All the stores and shopping centers had their Christmas Decor out. I kept forgetting it was Christmas down there since the weather was so warm!

Of course my favorite store was Kate Spade. It was two stories and these lights were over the stairway. It was beautiful!

Here is the Kate Spade scarf I want. I took a couple more photo's inside the store and then I got a scolding from an employee. I'm not sure what the reasoning is for no photo's in the store, but my Kate Spade loyalty waned a bit after that, I mean you guys know I'm a huge fan and there is not a store by me. I guess the scolding could have come in a nicer, friendlier way.

I love the PINK Royal Hawaiian Hotel. We did not stay there but would love to someday. It is so vintage....

It is so manicured and beautiful! They had pink Christmas trees up everywhere! All the staff are in pink uniforms. I adore it!

In this area there were huge lounge sofa's. This was the view from them. We sat here for quite a while just looking at that view! That was my favorite part of the whole trip. I know it sounds crazy but look at it! And the weather was perfect, the sound of the ocean, the breeze, the music, it was so relaxing.

Even the umbrella's were pink and white!!!

This is the lounging sofa. It was so comfy.

The pink Royal Hawaiian Christmas tree.

We had great food, the Luau salad at Cheesecake Factory is the best. So is the chocolate cake!

We drove to the North Shore and stopped at Waimea Bay. The waves were beautiful. They just finished a surfing contest, we missed it!

December 7th, marked the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. We were so blessed to see men from the Survivor's of Pearl Harbor Association, at our hotel. They were in their 90's. I thanked them for serving our country. It was amazing to think they lived then and are here now and they survived that terrible event.

Here is one of the sweet men we met.... a Pearl Harbor Survivor!

There was also a church service on the beach Sunday morning. A flag was flying and they sang patriotic songs and Our God is an Awesome God! I loved it!

Can you see the flag and all the people gathered?

I do not like birds. Can you tell? I was dying to get that thing off me, BUT I have a best friend who happens to love birds, wouldn't you know it!

I love, love Shave Ice. It is so yummy, I always get Pina Colada.

It was such a great time, so relaxing. I gotta tell you, we did have a few bumps though. On the flight out of Chicago to Honolulu, we were stuck on the tarmac for 2 hours fixing something, then the 9 hour flight, then the movie sound didn't work, so no movies.

We finally made it but, the next day I had a huge infection on my toes, I knew I should not have gotten that cheap pedicure before we left!! I had to go to a hotel Dr. (cha~ching, can't wait to see the bill)..... and wait in the waiting room almost an hour with sick people (germs!) and get antibiotics, strong ones. The sun wasn't out alot and it did rain a bit everyday, but you know what, we had so much fun and that outweighed everything else. I'll let you know how much that Dr. bill is when it comes in......

It is good to be home. I did miss my whiny kids and my sweet husband. He kept the whole house running. Thanks sweetie!!

Girls trip

2011-11-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

What could be better than being at the beach in your flip flops?

It's.... being at the beach with your best friend!!

My best friend and I are turning 40 and we decided to take a week long girls trip. I'm so excited!

Will post some pic's when I return.

Aloha!

Where the Lollibag's are....

2011-11-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sigh, is everyone as busy as I am? I have a never ending ~to do~ list that grows by the second. It didn't help that I was in bed for a week with a fever. I say it every year, but Thanksgiving is already here! I can't believe it!

Have you decided where you are going to Christmas shop this year? Well in case you live in Florida, Washington or Idaho.....your in luck! Of course my etsy shop is open 24 hours a day, but here are the locations of stores that carry Lollibag's!

The Mad Cow
10619 E Trent
Spokane Valley, Washington 99206
509-218-3148

Smitten
537 So. Pineapple Ave
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941-735-7602

Mary Janes Farm Store ~ 2 locations
210 E Sherman Ave
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
208-667-7467

425 S. Jackson
Moscow, Idaho
208-882-2333

These stores have alot of wonderful things for sale, not just Lollibag's. Stop back here and let me know if you shopped!

Smitten, the shop in Florida.... She bought all flower bag's, like this last photo :)

Wreath Giveaway!

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Look at that beautiful wreath! To win this wreath go to Dreamy Whites blog and enter!

I hope I win!

Devil's Food Layer Cake

2011-11-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

My year has been so busy I have let Food Friday go by the wayside. Since Sunday I have had a fever and it's really weird, it's just a fever and I'm really tired. I am so tired of laying in bed that last night I made a dinner of meatloaf, leek and potato gratin (from Country Living) oh and I spent $12 on leeks! (oops, yes I went to target sick). And for dessert I made Devil's Food Layer Cake from my Williams-Sonoma cookbook Comfort Food. I LOVE this cookbook, it's a must have. I woke up still sick today, wondering how long this fever will last. My poor sister has had her fever since last Friday and her's is way worse then mine, close to 105 this morning. Please say a prayer for her.

Devil's Food Layer Cake

cake
Boiling water, 1 Cup
unsweetened natural cocoa powder, 3/4 Cup
all purpose flour, 1 3/4 Cup
baking soda, 1 1/2 t
salt, 1/4 t
sugar, 2 Cups
unsalted butter, 1/2 Cup plus 2 T at room temperature
large eggs, 3
vanilla extract, 1t
buttermilk, 1 3/4 Cups

frosting
confectioners' sugar, 3 3/4 Cups
unsweetened natural cocoa powder, 1 Cup
unsalted butter, 1/2 Cup, at room temperature
vanilla extract, 1t
heavy cream, about 1 Cup

To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350. Lightly butter two 9 in. round cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper. Dust the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.

In a small heatproof bowl, whisk together the boiling water and cocoa powder until smooth. Let cool completely. In a bowl, sift together the flour, bakingsoda, and salt. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium high speed, beat together the sugar and butter until the mixture is light in color and texture, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the vanilla and the cooled cocoa mixture. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with the buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and stopping to scrape down the bowl as needed, beating until smooth.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake the cakes until they begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, 35-40 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool in the pans for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the inside of each pan to release cake. Invert the pans onto the racks, lift off the pans, and peel off the parchment paper. Turn each cake right side up and let cool completely.

To make frosting, in a bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa. Using the mixer on low speed, mix in the butter until it is crumbly. Mix in vanilla, and then gradually mix in enough of the cream to make a spreadable frosting.

Place 1 cake layer, bottom side up, on a cake plate. Using an icing spatula, spread the top of the layer with a generous 1/2 Cup of the frosting. Place the second layer, top side down on the top of the first layer. Frost the top, then the sides, with the remaining frosting. Slice the cake into thick wedges and serve.

This cake is so moist and delicious! And the frosting is like nothing I have ever made! It is amazing. Of course I don't feel the greatest so that will help me not devour the whole thing.

I have been watching nothing but food shows while in bed. I love food shows, and they are making me want to cook and bake!

And I am pooped again, so off to bed I go!

More Lollibag's

2011-10-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

I just cannot get over the sun here in Minnesota! I love it. After spending 9 long rainy, gray winters in Oregon, I am thankful for the sunshine!! It is a bit deceptive, Sophie thinks since the sun is out that means we get to play outside. Most days we do, but now we have to bundle up.

My sewing machine is by a big window in my dining room and when I sew the sun hits me and dare I say, sometimes it's too bright?? I quickly push that thought aside because I would rather have a too bright sun than no sun at all.

This is a chocolate brown corduroy, size small Lollibag. The flower is striped cotton with the edges pinked (my sister's idea).

This Lollibag is made from a fuzzy brown suiting fabric with loads of ruffles in linen and cotton and very old lace on top. It's warm and cozy.

I bought this pink polyester fabric at The Salvation Army, I LOVE that store! I absolutely love this cheesy old fabric. Doesn't it look like pink sherbert?

I got an e-mail from etsy today, I'm sure you guys get them too, but there was a shop featured in the e-mail and I instantly fell in love, with this garland of pom pom's.

Don't you love it? I am I-N L-O-V-E! I actually may have to have one! Her shop is www.millalove.etsy.com

I am seriously thinking of Christmas shopping about now. My best friend and I are hitting a huge thrift shop next week to start. I want to try and buy used or handmade this Christmas. Okay I may get a Wii game for my kids....

Where are you going to shop? I hope you'll stop by Lollipookiesoap!

Fall is quickly turning to winter...

2011-10-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here in good ole Minnesoooota! I really did forget how brutal it is. But this weather has me turning to winter fabrics, cozy, soft and warm.

Fuzzy suiting fabrics, courduroy in brown, suiting in gray. Warm linen's, bright interior's, big coppery button's. Ribbon's in mustard.

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? I have just a tiny tidbit... Fall should go through Thanksgiving right??? It is getting alarmingly cold here, pretty quick. But I know this is quite warm compared to what's in store!

The hallway is ready to show you.....

2011-09-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

You say, is that all that's ready?? Yes, I am afriad so. I still have piles of boxes and things to hang in every room of the house! My dear sweet husband, says he will not be working inside the house while the weather is nice.... while I appreciate what he is saying, that means I will have my piles for a few more months until the weather is cold.

Remember my nice long hallway in Oregon? I had all my pictures there. I am truly befuddled as to what to do with these 12 ft. ceilings I have! Do I decorate up to the top? Do I only do midway? What? Do I get decorative curtains? Great, how much will those cost? So if you know please tell me.

Here is my hallway...

It is so dark in here, I had to turn on my hall lights.

You can kind of see my wall lights, I didn't like what was here when we moved in, so I found these lights at Menards, kind of like Home Depot......you'll never guess how much they were. A box of 2 for $5.99!! At the end of the hall is my laundry room and on the left are the stairs to the basement.

To the right is my kitchen at the end of the hall to the right is the master bedroom. The first door on the left is the pantry and the door right after it is the half bath. I do have that done, I could show you that too!

So from right to left, laundry, stairs to basement, half bath, pantry... I do like my Cotton Balls white, but I am noticing how dirty everything gets. That goes for white baseboard and doors too. But I love it, I would still choose white even with the dirt!

Have a great weekend, and leave me a high ceiling decorating tip, please!

Lollibag's at MaryJanes Farm Stores

2011-09-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to tell you that Lollibag's are coming to MaryJanes Farm stores in Idaho! Last year at the Creative Connection 2010, MaryJane and her daughter Meg, came to my table and bought a Lollibag. This year Meg visited my table again and bought 2 Lollibag's.
Soon after the event was over, I received an e-mail from Meg and she wanted to buy some Lollibag's for their stores and she interviewed me for MaryJanes Farmgirl Sisterhood newsletter "The Cluck".

If you would like to join the Farmgirl Sisterhood please go here. I am a farmgirl sister myself! If you have never heard of MaryJanes Farm, it is a magazine, I subscribe and love it. MaryJane also has a bed and breakfast and a farm school. Lauren and I went to MaryJanes Farm Fair in Idaho a few years back and had so much fun.

So needless to say, I am super happy about this! I will let you know when the newsletter comes out, until then, go visit MaryJanes Farm.

Creative Connection 2012....photo's

2011-09-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm home. I made it. I didn't think I would. But really this year was a whole lot easier, being I live in Minnesota now! I didn't feel the greatest but my sister came with me and stayed the whole time! She was a huge help. Thank you sister!!

Again, I met alot of great women. Really nice women. I will start with the old faithfuls, I'll call them. A couple ladies who I met last year and they are genuine, stayed in touch with me and came by to see me again!

The first is Koralee from Bluebird Notes. Who doesn't follow Koralee? No one. And rightly so, have you been the recipient of one of Koralee's sweet e-mails? You know what I'm talking about if you have. Well she is the real deal. That's not fake. And her hugs are even better!

I like the lady showing her friend a Lollibag in the background :)

Another friend I met last year is Hollie from Funky Junk. She bought a Lollibag last year and wore it right away and in turn all kinds of ladies saw it and came over to buy their own! We have stayed in contact this last year and I was so happy to see Hollie again this year!

A new friend I got to see this year was Deborah from Art & Soul. I love meeting a bloggy friend. Deborah volunteered for Creative Connection, she drove up from Iowa. Let me tell you.... I was not expecting such bubbles, such happiness, she called me sunshine, but that was the exact word I was going to use to describe her!! She is a ray of sunshine. Not only has she sent me encouraging comments on my blog since I met her online, but she is even better in person! Deborah, it was so nice to meet you and hopefully I'll see you again someday!

Holly from Decor8 stopped by my booth!!! My sister and I chatted with her for a bit, she is very nice and she is on a whirlwind book tour. My lands, I don't know how she is surviving the travel. But what fun! She said this was her favorite Lollibag...

I met the ladies from Whippy Cake... a-dor-able. My sister and I were sitting back and just watching the people walk by. This cute tiny pregnant girl is meandering by and sister and I both say... Oh look how cute she is! She had the cutest dress on and her short blond hair was so stylish and she stopped in my booth and picked out 3 Lollibag's! We found out she is from Whippy Cake. Super cute hair accessories. Super. Cute. I got a couple headbands for my girls. They love them. (this picture is the next day...)

This year at Creative Connection there was a new booth called Enchanted Makeovers. I had read about it before the show and knew I wanted to donate a Lollibag. When I got to the show and read what they really do, I was amazed! Terry Grahl, the founder and president, told me they go in to women's shelters make over the rooms so the women feel encouraged that they are worth something to start a new life. Myself, being in an abusive marriage at one time, I knew I wanted to give a Lollibag.

So I grabbed a few Lolli's and went over to her booth and I started crying... great. I said I was in an abusive marriage and thank you for what you are doing! My Lollibag's will go to women and girls who have nothing and maybe it will brighten their day, maybe they can take a Lollibag on a job interview or to school and not feel bad that they are living in a shelter. You really need to check out her website and see the amazing transformations they do. It still brings tears to my eyes. This is what means something! This is what storing up treasures in heaven is, what Terry does!! Please if you create something or can donate time or money, it is such a worthy cause! www.enchantedmakeovers.org The photo below is a bedroom that they are donating to twin girls. That is Terry Grahl.

Here are a few pictures I took of the event and of my booth....

My sister, Jessica, at my booth...

My sister and I. We get alot of..... are you guys twins? ha ha, we think that funny, we don't see how someone could mistake us for twins. Also alot of......OH you MUST be sisters!

I also met a lady who has a shop in Florida, she bought 6 Lollibag's for her store in Sarasota. She said she is in the process of changing the name, so I'm not sure what the new name is but check out her website or stop in! Buy up the Lollibag's! I hope it's the start of a nice relationship between us!

And there is it girls! Another year gone by. I am going to go collapse on my sofa and read a good book!

My booth at The Creative Connection

2011-09-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

I just got back from setting up my booth at The Creative Connection. This years location is bigger and better. So I got a booth instead of a table!

I have so many bags that some of them are just sitting in my vintage grocery cart.

And that is how my banner turned out.

If you are in town, please stop by and see me and The Crowne Plaza in St. Paul.

I'll post all my pictures from the event next week!

The Creative Connection Event 2011

2011-09-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hi girls, I am really excited to go to The Creative Connection Event again this year!! I had so much fun last year, you can read about that trip here.

I have been so busy sewing and preparing. I think this year is going to be even bigger and better. I will share all my photo's with you next week! Until then!

Lollibag on the red carpet?!

2011-09-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

There, can you see it?? Down to the left of her skirt, it's a Lollibag! This is the sweet lady who bought our farm. She was at the Emmy's and brought her Lollibag!

I gotta tell you, it kind of made my day, maybe my whole week.

Today is my son, Josh's, 21st birthday too.

It is so cliche to say it, but I don't know where the time went! And frankly, I don't feel old enough to have a child that age.

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Remembering

2011-09-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Today is such a sad day. I did not lose a loved one in the 9-11 terrorist attacks, but still my heart aches for everyone lost. I remember the day exactly. I was 6 months pregnant with Portia, my 4th child. I had gotten my older children off to school and was sitting on my bed, I turned on the Today show to see the Twin Towers, one with smoke billowing out of it and the other a plane just flying into it. I was so shocked. I wondered if I should really be bringing a child into this evil world. It was surreal.

I still think of it and think, did that really happen? Do you think like that? Do you ever have a moment where you look at what your doing and think, wow how did I arrive at this place in life? What moments brought me here?

Do you remember what you were doing when you heard about the attacks?

Praying for the families who lost loved ones.

Treasures

2011-09-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Today my 15 year old daughter was on facebook live chatting with some of her facebook friends. Her and I had just gotten done talking......I said to her remember the most important thing is to share the gospel! Ask someone if they know where they are going when they die, and then you can tell them how to get to heaven.

Now...... I said that thinking well, she probably won't do it, but at least I am telling her to and maybe someday she will! Not so, she made quick work of it! She immediately put her status as: Is Jesus YOUR Savior?
And then she asked a boy through live chat if he knew Jesus as his Savior. He responded with curse words and insults and told her she was a whore and what's up with this f'ing Jesus crap...

So I showed her this verse:

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I then explained to her that everytime she tells someone about Jesus, she is "storing" up rewards in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I don't know about you, but my heart is so longing for home. Home with my Savior. I have lots of exciting things going on in my life, but I will gladly leave it behind to go home. But then I think of all my unsaved family and friends and I know there is much work to be done here.

God has been whispering the treasure verse in my mind for months and months, it is always popping into my thoughts. That tells me I need to do more, to be about His work. I pray God will give me boldness to do just that!

Cute Party!

2011-08-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Hi.

I'm sure you are as busy as I am, getting kids ready for school and tying up loose ends before school..... I have a lot to show you but I haven't taken the picture's yet!
My new deck.
My banner for The Creative Connection.
The girls new homework table from IKEA with 3 pink chairs.
Some new Lollibag's.

So don't abandon me just yet. When school starts I will have more time.

So for now, look at this cute birthday party! Go on over to Daisy Pink Cupcake Blog and see the pictures of a Mary Poppins Party. It is so adorable!! Sigh..... why can't I be that creative?

Look at this vintage light!

2011-08-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

Do you love these or what?? I LOVE THEM! My friend went to a shop in Stillwater, Minnesota and e-mailed me this picture. Now I may just have to make a trip out there. The only problem would be the price, they are expensive. But I really like them, I want to see them in person, even if I could only get one. But wouldn't it be pretty to have all three hanging as my dining room chandelier?

That would be the WOW I am looking for!

Thanks Lisa!

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

2011-08-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

I went shopping the other day with Lauren for school clothes. I noticed a Borders going out of business sale, so we went in and looked at the cookbooks. I found a Master Chef cookbook. I really love that show!

This is a recipe from that cookbook and it says: Recipe courtesy of Master Chef kitchen...
These are amazing! Really, be afraid, because you won't be able to stop eating these!

For the scones:
Unsalted butter, at room temperature for greasing the baking sheets
2 Cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the blueberries
1 T baking powder
1/2 t fine salt
2 T sugar
5 T unsalted butter, cold, cut in chunks
1 Cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing the scones
1 Cup fresh blueberries

For the glaze:
1/4 Cup fresh lemon juice, about 2 lemons
1 1/2 Cups confectioners sugar, sifted
Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated
1 T unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets with butter.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Using 2 forks or a pastry blender, cut in the butter to coat the pieces with the flour. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the heavy cream. ( I had to use more than 1 cup of the cream)...Fold everything together just to incorporate. Do not overwork the dough. (my dough was very dry). Toss the blueberries in some flour-to help prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the scone when baked-then fold them into the batter. Take care not to mash or bruise the blueberries because their strong color will bleed into the dough.

Using an ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop mounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Brush the scones lightly with cream. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly brown. Let the scones cool for at least 20 minutes before applying the glaze, or else it will not set.

Glaze: Mix the lemon juice and confectioners sugar together in a microwaveable bowl. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon zest (I didn't use zest) and butter. Microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Whisk the glaze to smooth out any lumps, then drizle the glaze over the top of the scones. Let it set for 5 minutes. Store in a covered airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

I put a second drizzle of the glaze on after the first one set... yum!

Lollibag's & Why Not? moments

2011-08-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I did not find a chandelier................yet. I am not sure when I will, but I'm in no rush. Actually, it is something I would like to check off my list, but what can I do? I have not found anything I'm in love with yet.

I currently have 77 Lollibag's in stock and ready to sell. I would like to have 100 for The Creative Connection Event in 4 weeks. That means I have to make 5.76 bags per week to meet my goal.

You know lovely suprises? I had one, I found some gray linen in my fabric stash! It was used for these Lollibag's.....

They sold out the first night of the show last year, so I was so, so happy to find that linen. I am making a few more of these.

I also found some black linen! I had no idea I had any! I have never sold any Lollibag's with a black flower so I will try that. Well actually I made my best friend a black flower bag, I forgot about that.....

Speaking of my best friend, she had a "Why Not?" moment this weekend... What is a why not moment? It is a moment when you say to yourself......WHY NOT? A moment where you are tired of talking yourself out of things. Can't we all find reasons why we should NOT do something???

I, DAILY, talk myself out of things. But the last couple of years I have been asking myself.... well, Why Not?
Why not try to make money at sewing handbag's?
Why not go on a girls trip to an exotic place?
Why not pray for that thing you don't think will get answered?
Why not move back to Minnesota?

Etc.......

So please don't be mad at me best buddy..... but, her why not moment was on a lake this weekend. She was hot and wanted to swim but didn't have her swim suit. She said to herself.... why not? So she whipped off her dress and went tubing with her bra and undies. Why not? That's what a bikini looks like!
And to her I tip my hat, we should all have more WHY NOT? moments!!!

What is your, why not?

Chandelier Shopping

2011-08-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

That is what I am doing today, chandelier shopping. I have a budget and I am hoping I will find something I like in that budget. What do I want? Well I am thinking something gaudy, dripping with something or other. My high ceilings call for grandiose!

I have always gotten your average black 6 arm plain chandelier. I want to go crazy this time.

Even if it doesn't scream "ME".... I will consider it. The reaction I want would be for someone to see it and be a bit.....STARTLED, by how different it is.

Who knows, maybe the "startled" look is not in my budget.

I am expanding my taste. Normally modern is not something I would even consider. But not so much anymore. If I like it, I will use it.

I'll take that bathtub while were at it too. THAT, I know is not in the budget!

I am not opposed to something simple like this green one, as long as it is COLORFUL while being simple. I am keeping an open mind, to all but price that is....

So wish me luck ladies, or I may just have to make it myself. My husband may walk into the dining room one day and see all of our bowls and silverware hanging from the ceiling!

New Lollibag

2011-08-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing like mad to have enough bags for The Creative Connection Event. I always worry I'll never have enough! I like to think positive that I will sell out. Here is one of my new bags.

The flower is pink cotton from a vintage curtain.

I wish I had rolls and rolls of this pink cotton ruffle, it is so fun to sew with. It was a great find at an antique store in Oregon. I can't believe it is August! Have a great week!

DIY...am I getting crafty??

2011-07-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

I suppose I am a bit crafty, but not like your average crafty blogger. I have always wanted shopping bags for when I sell Lollibag's at shows. But I've checked online and they are expensive and you end up ordering thousands if you want to get the best price.

I have a thing for paper shopping bags. As a matter of fact I save all shopping bags and collect vintage paper products. I used to have a huge stack of shopping bags, but sometimes I look at the pile and think....Prudy! What ARE you doing? So currently I only have a few shopping bags, but don't worry, I plan on shopping in the near future.

Back to the subject at hand. I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for shopping bag's for show's.... So I decided to take my shopping bags.................

And my vintage newspapers, a glue stick and a marker, and make new label's for my old bags.

It was actually fun. I didn't like cutting up the vintage newspaper, but I figured it was just sitting in a bin in my closet, so I might as well use it!

I can tell you exactly what I bought that was in these bags. Is that bad? This is the most darling bag from a store in Hawaii called Cinnamon Girl. Summer shirt.

This bag was from Janie and Jack. When I was pregnant with Sophie I bought her a really yummy pink knit sweater. On the clearance rack of course.

Guess where that bag is from......

That was my retail therapy from Bare Escentuals. Blush and eye shadow.

White House Black Market. Really cute sandals with a bow across the front and wedge heels.

Nordstrom's. After going to IKEA with my sister we stopped to look at Clinique stuff and I walked out with this bag.

So you may not need shopping bags for customers, but you could do this for birthday's or Christmas too! Write whatever you like on the new label.

Come back and tell me what you make!

15 years

2011-07-26T05:38:00.000-07:00

Every year during this time of summer, I am very sad. I don't think I realize why until July 26 hits and I remember, oh ya, my mom died 15 years ago today at 8:30pm.

I have already wrote about that day here. Last night I went down and sat on our dock, alone. It was so nice and peaceful and beautiful. I read a book for a while and I talked to Jesus for a while. The sky was so blue and there were white fluffy clouds. I could almost feel how wonderful it will be someday when I see Jesus and my mom again!

Have a glorious day!

Our new house

2011-07-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Well here it is! I do love the outside of our house, even the color. I love that we are on a culdesac and there is no traffic going by.

I also love the hydrangea's out front.

My best friend's husband is building a deck for us, I am looking forward to drinking my coffee out there in the morning's.

It is REALLY high off the ground. So the railing will be nice. I am afraid of heights.

This is the view from the deck. We are on a small lake and that is the dock with a couple of chairs on it and an umbrella. The sun sets over the lake every night, it is so very pretty! It does help my heart to see that. Yes, that is a swamp between the house and the lake. Oh well, maybe it will dry up some day.

The door to the deck. I wish I had the house all decorated and ready to show you, but I don't. My best friend (Rach) is coming over tomorrow morning, ~early~, for a coffee....then we will decorate!
Thank you Lord for girlfriends. Amen.

struggle much?

2011-07-24T12:21:00.000-07:00

I do. I really do. Probably more than I should. My latest struggle is trying to feel at home here in Minnesota. I don't feel settled.

Will I ever see this again?

I WANT to be here. I know we are supposed to be here. Things are better here. So why do I miss Oregon so much? Well let me explain. I loved living there, but I knew it was the right thing to move.

There, did I explain it?

No, I didn't. Maybe it's the familiarity of {home} I miss.

Sophie keeps saying she wants to go home. Oh it about brings a tear to my eye. I assume she thinks we are on vacation and are going back to the farm. She wants her familiar room, her regular schedule. She knew where to find me at all times at the farm.

She is afraid here, can't be without someone. Won't go to her room alone.

I can't figure out my kitchen yet, so strange to me. BUT.........I do realize these are good struggles to have. I thank the Lord for these struggles and not different ones. I just didn't think I would miss the farm so much.
I really hate feeling this way. What I need is a girls night out! Thank you Lord I have one of those coming up this week........and that is why I love being here. I can call up my bestie and she's right here, not a 3 1/2 hour plane ride away.
siiiigghh

this and that

2011-07-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Just a few tidbits, I am loving this blog. It is so bright and colorful. It is happiness.

Sooooo I have been thinking on and off for about a year of creating a facebook page for Dear Prudence and I finally did it. So will you LIKE it for me? I'm sure you had no idea, Dear Prudence, is actually the name of my business. See! I need to reconfigure some things, I am a bit all over the place.....maybe change up my blog? I don't know.
What to do.
What to do..
Advice welcome.

my sweet mom

Ikea fabric and Lollibag's

2011-07-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

I have a couple things to show you. First this is the giant vintage 'U' I bought at Hunt and Gather.

How great is that? I went to Ikea recently. I forgot they had fabric! Really nice cotton fabric! They had this striped fabric that reminded me of my grandma. She had something vintage in that fabric, I don't remember what, but it was so familiar to me.

I've decided my "new" thing would be double straps on Lollibag's. I really like double straps.

I hope your summer is going by slower than mine. I am not ready for August and all it brings. School shopping, registration.....the end of summer. But my kids are getting bored, are yours?

my heart is happy

2011-07-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

My oldest child has asked me to wake him up early Sunday mornings so he can attend church with the family. Need I say more?

When I am sitting in church and I look to my right and see all my children in a row, and throw in a couple of nieces and nephews..........sigh. Thank you Jesus.

the lo down

2011-07-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

Well I did it, I drove an hour to visit Hunt and Gather. And it was well worth it, it exceeded my expectations in all but one area.

I knew pulling up, it was going to be grand.

There was so much to see, I was overwhelmed. I couldn't focus. Especially since I had Sophie. I had to make sure she didn't break anything. And Lauren and Portia kept saying....

Mom, look at this

Mom, look at this.

Mom, look at this!

I finally had to say, STOP asking me to look at this, I want to look at things too!!!

See those big letters? I bought a big yellow U. Why a U? They didn't have an R or a P. And I fell in love with the U. So what if it means nothing! I love it! There was an I and I may go back to get the I. But maybe not, because I did not have a good experience with the vendor who checked me out.

Everywhere there were things I had to have. But really how much can you spend and drag home? My car certainly couldn't fit much.

There was a couple rooms with just letters. I was in heaven. I love letters, there were paper letters, plastic letters, letter cards, fabric letters, any kind of letter you can think of.

If you are in Minneapolis, you should go!

My experience with the vendor has nothing to do with how great the store is. And the owner wasn't there, so I'm sure she is great. But it was bad enough that it makes me not want to go back. Isn't that sad?

That being said, there is some crazy awesome stuff there!

Hi long lost girlfriends!!!

2011-07-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Oh I do miss you, I know I say that every post lately, but I really do miss this world of blogging.

Today I am taking my 3 girls to Hunt and Gather in Minneapolis. I've heard it's the bomb!! I am searching for "cheap" (ya right) display pieces for The Creative Connection Event in the fall....
I'm scared to death I will have my bigger booth and then nothing to fill it with!! I have wonderful ideas for banners and such, but will I have time to make them??? que music....

I have sewn 4 new bags, (pics later) and have hung almost all my decor in the new house except for the really big things that hubby needs to help me with and he wants to do it NOW, yes right NOW while I'm typing....after he just heard me tell my girls we have to leave for Hunt and Gather by 9:30 and it's already 8:33 and I'm sitting in my jammies talking to you all... sigh.....

I will bring my camera to Hunt and Gather so you can be vicarious!

See ya soon! Here is a cute vintage picture for you, this is my grandma. Love this. She's rockin' those shorts and curlers, isn't she??

BREAKING NEWS: Sophie just came up to me and said....Can I say poophead? I said NO you can't say that!! She bursts into tears, then I look at her and she is carrying her pillow pet. OOOOHHHHH!!!

Can you bring pillow pet?? Yet...(yes) she says. Yes Pillow Pet can go to Hunt and Gather with us, I say.. hopefully it can take a nap in the car when we arrive.

A Vintage School House Light

2011-07-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

Oh how I've missed blogging. I really must get back on here. So much to do still. But I AM getting it done. I'm hanging pictures and decor now. I had my dad (an electrician) come out and hang up some of my vintage lights.

One of them I bought when we were out here on vacation last December. It is a vintage school house light. I just love it. I bought it at an antique store around here and they had 3 of them. 2 of the lights were big and there was 1 small one. I bought the small one, because at that point we hadn't bought our house and didn't know where I was going to put it.
Our new house has 12 ft. ceilings though, so I see that I need to go back and see if the bigger lights are still there.

I put the light in my entry way and I really love it!

I love the old chain and the porcelain globe, well everything about it.

Don't you think that entry needs a bigger light? ha ha, I do too! That's ok, I have to go junking to find display pieces for The Creative Connection Event anyway....
Did I tell you?? I may have, sometimes I repeat myself, I got a booth instead of a table for the event this year!!

Like my husband says: Go big or go home! I am taking a huge leap this year and that is why I feel a tad bit of ANXIETY to start sewing!

I am off to take my two littlest girlies to get haircuts today, this Minnesota humidity is to hot for long hair!

What are you doing today?

Defining Chaos

2011-07-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

Really, what is the definition? I imagine it is moving into a new home in a new state. Wait I do have my dictionary unpacked and right here......
Chaos: a state of utter confusion or disorder. YES! that describes it perfectly. We have seemed to hit every bump along the way, but I am still grateful and in awe of God's awesomeness! We drove out to Minnesota in a motorhome with our 3 girls and our two big dogs. Motorhomes are not my fave nor are dogs in a confined space, especially when they shed and happen to get wet. More on our trip next time, today I wanted to show you a few pictures of when we FINALLY arrived in Minnesota...

OH happy day when I saw the Minnesota sign!

Our boys flew to MN early to start jobs and unload two trailers we sent out early. Hubby and I decided since we had the wood floor refinished and sawdust was EVERYWHERE, we would have a cleaning company go in and give the house a good scrub. It was a foreclosure and the previous owners did a lot damage before they left, so a thorough cleaning was in order.

I arrived thinking I was going to be able to go right in and unpack since the cleaners did the hard work for me. WRONG, I got in the house and literally burst into tears, the kitchen was disgusting, sawdust in every cupboard, caked on food in every cabinet. The cleaners had been there 3 times already! We had them come back a 4th time, and they still didn't do a good job! We won't be paying them.

So I called my sister to let her know we were in town and had a mini breakdown and told her I was on my way to Target to buy cleaning supplies to clean.

She came right over to help and we spent the next 4 hours scrubbing the kitchen and unpacking kitchen stuff.

And this is the crew that helped us our first day. All my nieces and nephews, my sister and her husband and my dad and his wife. We ordered some pizza's for dinner. Not everyone is in the picture.

Thank you Lord for sisters. We sat down on the dock for a rest. It is so good to see my kids play with their cousins.

My niece, Jenna, and Portia. Catching snails in the lake.

I sure do miss my bloggy friends, I hope to start reading your blogs again soon! I feel such a sense of urgency to start sewing again. I only have 2 months till The Creative Connection Event and I MUST GET SEWING!!

But I don't feel like I can sew until my house is in order.

And it's not......

This is our dining room, which is where I'll be sewing. We have way to much stuff, which seems crazy. This house is a bit bigger than the farm, but much less storage space. I have to have a garage sale!

Ok, I must continue unpacking and organizing! Please tell me what you have been up to??

2011-06-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

I really am still
Alive!! We finally arrived in Minnesota and are trying to get settled. The moving truck was supposed to arrive tomorrow (Friday), but now it's not coming until Monday or Tuesday!
But I can't complain, we have a roof over our head, made it here safely, and I've seen my family and best friend already. I'm typing on my phone now, so will be happy when the computer arrives, and my sewing machine!
I am going to be selling at The Creative Connection Event again this year, so I must get sewing!
Will write when were settled. Sure do miss blogging.

Peony

2011-06-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

My favorite, favorite, favorite flower!

These are the two I have at the farm. I am going to fill my new yard in Minnesota with Peony bushes!

I love how the bud is so tight and it slowly opens.

What is your favorite?

A happy picture!

2011-06-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

We finally have a "sold" under our sign! Yippee!!

We leave in 5 days.

Thank you Lord!

Food Friday~Key Lime

2011-06-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

Does that look good or what??? I just got an e-mail from Betty Crocker the other day and it had a bunch of pictures of key lime desserts.... oh joy!! They all looked fabulous!! Search the words key lime on their site for the recipes.

This is the perfect summer dessert for a family get together or a picnic or heck I'll just make it for myself!

We are super busy with the move, packing and cleaning and touch up painting everyday! Making arrangements, getting paperwork, saying goodbye. The list is endless. I can't wait to share photos of the new house with you.

Remember my favorite paint color? Cotton Balls by Benjamin Moore? I painted the WHOLE upstairs that color!! I love it. Or rather I should say, we hired a painter to go out and paint. I was a little disappointed yesterday, I saw the marmoleum I picked for our laundry room on the floor at Cafe Yumm in Eugene. I still like it but for some reason I don't like having the same thing as a franchise. Oh well. At least I got to put a new floor in right?? Yes.

Ok, well back to work, much to do! I hope all of you have a great weekend!!

The Move part 5

2011-06-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

If you have not read The Move parts 1-4, find them under the label "The Move".   I left you with "THE CONVERSATION". Hubby and I were on a walk, which is when we have most of our important conversations, hubby says "I know I'm going to regret saying this, but......." and that is what started it all!
Hubby had taken a boys trip to Minnesota with our sons last summer and talked with my dad about our property, nothing unusual, but one thing led to another and the wheels started turning. So hubby told me his "plan" that day on our walk...... If we could get this much for the farm and find a house for this much, then I could find a new career, maybe go back to school, whatever, etc.. etc.... It snowballed from there and before you know it, we were here.

We started looking for homes in Minnesota online, and we found one that seemed to have everything we wanted and we decided to try and buy it. But God was not having that and it just didn't seem like the wisest move. So we let it go. And boy am I glad we did, because just 4 months later it had gone through foreclosure and we ended up getting it for over $100,000 cheaper than it had been in the fall.
Thank you Lord. But buying it was not an easy process, (aka: trying to get a loan when your home is for sale, government red tape on a foreclosure...).  At times we thought, are we losing it? are we out of our minds??? After all, there has not been even one showing on our farm, but deep down we knew God was going to sell our farm and we knew this was God telling us to move, so we took a leap and bought it.
WHEW, that's over. Now we wait for the farm to sell. We waited and waited and waited. And I'll tell you what, I was a basket case, just ask my best friend, she listened to me fret and despair almost daily. But she always had an encouraging word and prayed for me.

So one day I told God, or rather, I asked God, if it was his will, I would really like to be in Minnesota as soon as the kids are done with school. I wanted them to have the whole summer to have fun and get to know their cousins again before the new school year. But I just didn't see how God was going to accomplish this! I mean that was in April and I knew it would take a long time to close on the farm and would if the buyers had a home to sell? How was this all going to happen???!!!

But sure enough one day we got an e-mail from our realtor saying, I have a couple flying up from California to see your property, on April 30. We were so excited we could hardly stand it! That was two weeks away, how would I get through those two weeks? Would if they didn't want it, then what??

Maybe it's time to start listing the miracles God has done through this whole process.

MIRACLE: hubby and I being on the same page about going back to Minnesota, how about me even wanting to go back..? Yes that is a true miracle.

MIRACLE: after we decided to put the farm up for sale, hubby gets a call from a previous customer in Minnesota offering him a job! They drive their motorhome out for service even though they could have gotten it done in Minnesota and we have dinner and discuss the position. Customer says, I believe God sent us out here to talk to you.

MIRACLE: God provides an incredible deal on a forclosure.

MIRACLE: my oldest son is able to transfer with UPS to Minnesota, a position opened up in the EXACT TIME FRAME we needed. (unheard of) Oh, we flew him out Friday June 3, and he just started today!

MIRACLE: the buyers are cash buyers, no need to wait for them to sell a home or get a loan.

MIRACLE: buyers are willing to close early and let us stay on the farm rent free till the kids are out of school.

MIRACLE: God answered my time frame prayer, it is TO THE DAY, the exact time frame I wanted!

MIRACLE: we have a home to move into, no apartment needed till we find a home.

They are endless, I tell you ENDLESS!    Glory to God for all of this, for all he has done! And it's not because of anything I am or have done, nope... I am just a sinner saved by his grace. I am not super spiritual, I haven't stepped foot in a church in almost 2 years. God is just good.

Thank you for all of you who wrote to me and told me you were praying...it helped more than you know!

We are driving back and we leave June 16, the day after the kids get out of school. So I may be absent for a while, so we can pack up and ship out!

Thank you Jesus.

New Lollibag's

2011-06-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

I am aware it is Food Friday, however my life is not aware of it! I have hardly cooked dinner at all this week, so I will spare you, unless you want to see me throw some unhealthy frozen chicken nuggets on a cookie sheet...

But I can share with you my two newest bags! The first one is from vintage fabric, I have one other bag in this fabric, and it's mine all mine. I am now out of this fabulous hot pink synthetic.

The flowers are made from blue yarn. I do wonder what people from the 60's did with this fabric when it first came out, maybe a maxi skirt?

My next bag is from that fabric I told you about earlier this week. I started to second guess myself, hoping the bag fabric wasn't "old ladyish". But I really do love this bag. I'm going to make more. I put two handles on it and I think that is what I love so much. The top of the strap is in a fun, bright, whimsical floral and the underside is in the old ladyish fabric....

I am so happy it is going to be SUNNY for the next week!! Tomorrow is supposed to be 80!!! Hopefully we can swim in the pool. Our last swim, for sure. We leave Oregon in 1 week and 6 days.

The Move~part 4

2011-06-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

Where were we? Here is part 1 and part 2 and part 3.............
I left you with this post and said more on that later. So in September of 2010, I was asking myself, Lord, is that you? Oh how I wish God would audibly answer those questions, but he does not. So I was forced to just trust and "go with it". I should say we, because hubby was in this too.

When we moved to Oregon from Minnesota I could not have been happier, I had always wanted to go on a big adventure like that and move out of state. Well it was truly an adventure, I had severe culture shock arriving in Eugene. But we really grew to love this place, so much so that I began declaring over the years that I would NEVER leave Oregon, not for ANY reason whatsoever, not even if something terrible happened to my husband and I was left out here all alone......NEVER EVER would I leave such a beautiful place! I am a little over an hour from the coast and the dunes, two things which are my world favorite's! The mountains here, which they call hills, are just a wonder to see everyday.
Not to mention, we left behind us: freezing winters, misquitos, gnats, tornadoes, humidity, boring flatlands, Minnesota accents. Well I don't realize I still have that last one, but everyone still says to me, you must be from the midwest....
So imagine my suprise and shock and horror when in late 2008 or maybe 2009, I began hearing things. I began to have this super tiny, quiet, still small voice in my mind saying. minnesota   I would just brush it off and not think twice, cuz honey this girl ain't EVER going back there! Oregon is it. And a month or so would go by and I would think.............what would it be like to go back to minnesota I just could not figure out what was wrong with me, thinking these things. Because I would literally feel devastated even thinking about having to go back there. That is how much we both love this place.
Hubby and I would say to each other, do you think we will ever go back to Minnesota?  And we were both so adamant that, NO, NOT EVER, NEVER will that happen!!!! We PROMISED each other we would always stay in Oregon.

***disclaimer**** to my family... Of course I missed you all terribly, my heart would ache that I could not go shopping or to lunch with my sister and that my kids could not go to grandpa's house for a visit, and not to forget my best friend, I missed her so very much.

So I never said a word to hubby about these whispers because I knew they were just passing thoughts and nothing more.    I wonder if God will ever send us back to minnesota someday? Nope, I knew that answer right away. Even in September of 2010 after I got back from The Creative Connection Event in Minneapolis, I said to hubby, ugh, yuck, I do not want to go back. This was after hubby and I had "THE CONVERSATION" that opened the floodgates and we both knew the second the words were said, that we had crossed a line.........more on that in part 5. I was in such    minnesota   denial.
All during 2009 and 2010 the events of my other posts, begin to happen and I am not linking anything together in my mind at that point, because I am not giving those tiny thoughts any time of day, because it's not what I want.
But a real turning point for me, was the Lord, is that you? post. It altered the way I think, to say the least and slowly everything started to make sense.....only STARTED to. I do not understand God or his ways.

There has to be a part 5 because, hubby and I, well we thought this was all going to go rather smoothly and easily. I mean don't things go smoothly when your in God's will? Or you THINK your in God's will .....right?? Were the whispers of    hawaii   the ones I was supposed to be listening too?

New Fabric

2011-05-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

I know I am supposed to be packing.... I have been. Nothing but packing. I am running out of things to pack!

I went to the fabric store yesterday and was looking for a certian fabric, that I did not find. But I found these 3 instead. I am putting them all together on one Lollibag! I have the image in my mind, now I just need to do it. I want to come up with a new pattern, but now of all times, I just don't have the time. But I really, really want to, so I may just go ahead and do it.

Which one do you think will be the interior? The flower? The bag? The handles?
I better get working!

Food Friday~Super Fudge (it's healthy)

2011-05-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

When I was in 4th and 5th grade my family lived in Arizona. During that time my mom had gone to a health food class. And our lives were instantly transformed, I mean that in a funny way....

We went from eating Doritos to wheat germ, from drinking pop to raw milk.

Now that I am older and know the benefits of that I really appreciate all my mom did. But I don't think we stuck with it very long. Probably to many complaints from the family, just like I hear.

And now you can't even get raw milk anywhere, it's illegal!! Which is ridiculous.

This recipe is from my mom's health food days. I have such fond memories of it, I'm not sure why, I do love it though. The original recipe calls for peanut butter, but since Sophie is allergic to peanuts I used almond butter. But it's better with peanut butter.

Super Fudge

1 C honey

1 C chunky peanut butter

1 C sunflower seeds

1/2 C raisins

3/4 C carob powder ( I used organic cocoa powder)

1 C sesame seeds (I used less)

1 C unsweetened coconut

Heat honey and peanut butter till smooth on low heat.

Quickly add rest of ingredients, which have already been mixed together.

Pour into greased 9x9 pan and chill.

Cut in pieces.

I adore this recipe, for many years I didn't have it and I searched my recipe files for it but could not find it. Then I wrote a letter to my grandma and asked her if she remembered this fudge and she had the recipe!!

Please pray for me, I am super duper stressed. I am grateful our farm is sold, but the stress is giving me migraine after migraine and I cannot function with them. We have to be out of the farm in 3 weeks and there is oh so much to do! And to top it off I have sick children. Portia was sick last weekend and Sophie this weekend. Sophie even got a trip to the ER. I'm not sure she really needed it but the nurse on the phone sounded very sure of herself when she told me to rush her to the ER even call an ambulance if I have to. Which scared me............. I am grateful that she cared, but now I have the ER bill. Oh well we would do anything for our children, wouldn't we? Yes.

She has a double ear infection, fever, maybe starting migraines, sore throat, and lets top it off with barfing, YES!!!

Well we must be thankful in the good times as well as the bad.

So thank you Jesus for all these things and for all you are doing behind the scenes that I cannot see. I am grateful I cannot see it all, because I may just go off the deep end if I did.

Amen.

and amen.

A Lollibag Giveaway!

2011-05-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Bella Vita is having a giveaway!

Go here to win lots of goodies, including this LOLLIBAG!

Share the love with your friends too!

I would love to see one of my followers win.

hey guys, I'm really having issues, I cannot comment on other blogs!! And if I try it says I am anonymous and keeps making me sign in, but never publishes my comment, do you know how to fix this?

The Move~part 3

2011-05-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

If you missed it, here's The Move part 1 and The Move part 2...........Ok so part 2 wasn't really about "the story", but I called it part 2 anyway.

Well the closing has already moved from May 31 to June 1. Not bad, only one day, but I don't like that. I don't like it one bit. This is such a huge ordeal for us that I want each and every detail to stay neat and tidy in the appropriate boxed section it was meant to be in!!

PLEASE no more changes, PLEASE! But, alas, I know there will be more changes to come, little bits of testing. Shall I call them "opportunities to grow"? Or how about "character building"? Or should I just stick with my "lessons"?
And why do lessons have to be so darn painful? I am getting off track, lets continue..........

Almost a year ago, I wrote this. Now some of that angst, I knew, I knew, I knew was God. So that gave me a sense of peace. I don't know how I knew it, but I did, in the pit of my being, I knew my changing relationships were God doing something, something BIG.

So on the one hand I was ~~crying~~ weeping over changing friendships and leaving my church, but on the other hand in my spirit I was excited, thinking ok, God would not be doing this, unless big changes were coming!

OH little did I know.

So not even a month after I wrote the above linked post, I wrote this. More on that, in The Move part 4.

New Lollibag's

2011-05-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a new bag I made, I'm calling it a market tote because it would be perfect for that.

It is made from vintage linens. The lining comes out over the top of the bag and the straps are made of jute. This bag is huge!

This lollibag, I made for the lady who is buying our house. This is her "color". I thought it would be fun to suprise her when she comes up in June for a final walk through. The hot pink flower is linen and the bag is made from the gray suiting fabric I used last fall.

I made another one just like it, and I was going to list it on etsy, but when I was cutting through the button hole, I accidentally sliced all the way through, even though I had a pin over the top... ugh! I have no idea how it happened!!! I put the buttonhole over the first layer of pink flower so I had to repair the flower and the top of the bag. It did not slice through the whole petal just past the top of the buttonhole. I just thought it was tacky to sell. It is all repaired but still I hate to send out a Lollibag that had a mistake like that.

What do you think?

Food Friday~Chicken Spaghetti

2011-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

hi, so sorry, this is late today, Portia stayed home from school with a fever, then I started cleaning and packing and well you know........

This is Pioneer Woman's recipe and it is really really yummy comfort food. As always I switched it up a bit and I'll let you know when I changed things.

Chicken Spaghetti

1 cut-up fryer chicken (I used 2 chicken breasts)
1 pound thin spaghetti, broken into 2 inch pieces
One 4 oz. jar diced pimientos, drained (eewww, left out)
1 small onion
1/4 C finely diced green bell pepper (I only had red, so used that)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (eeewww again, I used cr. of chicken)
2 1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1 t seasoned salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/8 to 1/4 t cayenne pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350.
Add the chicken to a stock pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the chicken is cooked, about 25 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the water using tongs or a slotted spoon and set it aside on a plate to cool.
Remove 2 cups of broth from the pot and set aside.
Bring the remaining broth back to a boil and add the spaghetti. Cook al dente. (ok, I tried this but for some reason the remaining broth bubbled over before I even put the spaghetti in, and then it wasn't enough, so I had to keep adding more water cuz 1 pound of broken up spaghetti is alot.)
Drain the spaghetti, discarding the cooking liquid. Set aside.
Shred chicken or cut in chunks. Drain the pimientos.
Dice the onion and pepper.
Place cooked spaghetti in a large bowl. Add the cream soups, add 2 cups of the cheese.
Then add onion and pepper and pimiento.
Add the salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Use less cayenne if you don't like the heat.
Add chicken broth that was saved. Stir together well, then taste to check seasonings.
Pour the mixture into a large baking pan, and top with the remaining cheddar. Bake for about 35 minutes until bubbly.

So if you like this you should just go buy her cookbook, cuz I have loved everything I've made so far!

The Move part 2 Goodbye part 1

2011-05-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

You can't move without saying goodbye can you? The sun is out today and as I walked out back to see just how warm it was the realization hit me...............I have to say goodbye to all this. And while we want to move and believe we are in God's will by moving... it does not make it easy.
And I am starting to count "my last's".

This is THE LAST time my hubby and son's will put out the irrigation. Yes, yes, yes, we have had our fair share of arguments over farm work and how it's done, actually SEVERE arguments over this issue, but it is still a bittersweet last.

Goodbye small pasture, you are bumpy and full of ruts from the cows, but we faithfully irrigated you to keep you green and growing.

Goodbye beautiful view of the "hills". I will miss you most. In the soon to be 9 years we have lived in Oregon, I have never tired of these hills, it has never grown old or just....oh ya there are the hills again. Nope I have thanked the Lord thousands of times for how beautiful they are.

Goodbye magnolia trees, I have enjoyed the huge saucer blossoms every year. Although my children have not enjoyed picking up your leaves day after day. I don't care, I love you!

Goodbye passion flower vine. You faithfully came back every year from new shoots that started. I finally had to make up a huge trellis for you out of an old bedspring and an old barn gate. I sure hope the new owners keep my set up!

Goodbye bush, I don't know what you are called but I love you too, you are my favorite, especially when your branches bloom with tiny yellow flowers!

Goodbye river rock path, that I painstakingly put in one rock at a time, while I was 8 months pregnant with Sophie!! You are my favorite too. That is why I planted you with steppables, my favorite plant!

Goodbye river rock. We brought you up load after heavy load from the McKenzie river. I wanted to do so much more with you, like build a river rock wall out front.......sigh, that is not to be.

Bittersweet from websters says: 2. both pleasant and painful or regretful: a bittersweet memory 5. pleasure mingled with pain.

I'd say that sums it up perfectly.

FOUND!

2011-05-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

I follow the blog Dreamy Whites, I found it one day after I had decided to go with all white in our new home. Today I found these fabulous pillows through a link on her blog. I love them!

So in my new house I am painting almost all the inside, Cotton Balls by Benjamin Moore, 'cept Benjamin Moore is to expensive so the painter is color matching and I hope, I really do, that the color match is MATCHED. Because I am IN LOVE with Cotton Balls!! I don't know why, but I am. Why you ask am I hiring a painter when I can paint myself? Because our new house has 12 ft ceilings and I am afriad of heights, that's why. AND, my husband is tired of seeing paint all over our baseboards.

I have also found that eggs, fresh from a neighbors chicken, are fabulous! There is absolutely no comparison!!! Look, there is even a blue egg! And there was a white feather on one egg! The yolks are a bright, bright orangy yellow.

And this egg had a double yolk! I screamed when I saw it, for some reason I was super excited, it made my day. See it doesn't take much to make me happy! My hubby isn't so sure though.....

Look what I found on my driveway! A 3 year olds impression in chalk of a cow. LOVE it.

Said artist.

Then I turned around and found her dancing, oh if only we could all be so carefree and tra la la-ish as a 3 year old little girl. They are dreamy and sing songy and full of wonder.

And I get all sing songy and happy just watching her play outside in the sunshine!

What have you found lately?

The Move~ part 1

2011-05-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have waited so long to be able to say these words, and those of you with a house for sale KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING!!! I have several blogger friends that are selling, have just sold or have moved into the new house and are still waiting to sell the old. It is a gut wrenching, hand wringing, trust testing, emotional experience, no?

Well, here goes......we are closing on our farm on May 31, and I would really like to be able to tell this story in that time. But it cannot be in one post, there are to many miracles to share. And when I say miracles I'm not talking parting the Red Sea kind, it's the little occurences, that you almost have to do a double take to make sure you read/heard/thought right.

Now, mind you, there are HUGE things occuring here, but it's the little things that are the biggest sometimes. I am going to link up to old posts now and again, because God has seemingly woven this tale together over quite some time and I hope I don't lose you as I am trying to tell it. It is all there in my mind, but sometimes I don't convey my thoughts exactly right. I have to remember that you have no idea what has been happening. I've wanted to shout it from my farmhouse rooftop, and at times whine and complain about all this waiting and trusting. OH wait I did whine and complain didn't I?

I have experienced Mt. Everest highs and Death Valley lows in the last few years, I say few because honestly I don't even remember when this all started, but the further into it I get, the more I realize, God started this process long before I had any notion of it at all!

Remember this post? This is a precious gift from God. It may be neither here nor there as to what is happening now, but I did always wonder why God sent us to Oregon. I don't know if this is only part of the reason or the whole reason, but it meant the world to me to discover this.

And that is where I'll begin........

pending

2011-05-13T18:55:00.000-07:00

I know so many questions, right? I promise I'll have a LENGTHY story in the weeks to come. Until we are closed I can only show you this happy picture! The things God has done over the last 6 months are truly miracles.

VitaMix Giveaway!!

2011-05-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

Holy Cow, what a great giveaway! Go here to enter.

waiting

2011-05-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 30:18

¹⁸ Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
   therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
   Blessed are all who wait for him!

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Romans 8:23-25

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry.

Are you waiting for something? I am. I think it is safe to say we are all waiting for something. I decided to see what God says about waiting.   I guess I am supposed to be doing it patiently. I would also assume that means, no complaining or being negative while I wait. So I'm thinking I will have to keep learning this waiting lesson.

Help me to wait on you Lord, and to trust you.

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day mom, I sure do miss you!

The baby in her arms is me and the toddler is my sister.

Hope I turn out as beautiful as you mom.

Love, Prudy

Food Friday~Salmon Burger

2011-05-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Do you think this looks good? I do! I LOVE SALMON!
So I have not actually tried this recipe I am sharing today. I just got my new issue of Coastal Living magazine and a recipe for salmon burgers was in it. I just thought it looked so yummy, but this is not the actual photo of Coastal Livings salmon burger either.

Salmon Burger

1- 14.75 oz. can salmon, drained
1/4 C sliced green onion
1/4 C diced pimientos, drained ummm, yuck, won't be using those
1/2 t lime zest
2 T fresh lime juice
2 t dijon mustard
1/2 C plain greek-style yogurt
1/2 C panko (japanese breadcrumbs)
1/4 t salt
1/4 t freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 T vegetable oil, I'll use coconut oil
4 whole wheat or poppy seed buns
garnishes: lettuce, tomato slices, onion slices, cucumber slices

Combine first 11 ingredients in a bowl, and form mixture into 4 large patties about 1/2 in. thick. Patties will be soft.
Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add patties, and cook 5 minutes on each side. Serve on buns; garnish, if desired. Makes 4 servings.

So either you guys never try my recipes or you don't like them or you never come back and give me feedback. COME ON GIRLS!!! Let me know how you like it!

Mother's Day gifts?

2011-05-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

Every year around Mother's Day I start thinking...............if I had a mom I would buy her this or make her that, I would purchase this card and take her to lunch, I would tell her these things.......

Do you love these vintage glass turquoise beads? I am going to put them on a charm bracelet. If mom were here, I know I would have already made her a charm bracelet AND a handful of Lollibag's!

I also bought this vintage flower pin. I am going to put it on a Lollibag. Isn't it so cute and cheery? I bought these two items from here.

I would also take my mom to lunch at The Good Earth. I love that place, it reminds me of her so much!! My mom and my sister and me would go there, ( I know I've told this story before, but...) mom would always get the chicken cashew salad sandwich with an ice tea. After mom died, sister and I have gone there and gotten the same thing. It's just comforting some how.

So let me live vicariously through you, what are you doing with your mom or for your mom on Sunday?

Sometimes I look up a word in the dictionary to make sure I am spelling it right..... I just looked up vicariously. Here's the meaning:
Felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others.

Perfect!

.

Monday, what are you doing?

2011-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

A post without a picture? So sorry, the weekend has been a whirlwind. The showing on Saturday went great. I found out the people that flew in are.....kind of a big deal. We had a family come out Sunday to walk the property also.
Can I tell you, how tired I am of keeping the house spotless??? I know I shouldn't complain, because this is what I want, showings. Thank you Lord for the showings.

The new Where Women Create magazine is out at Costco. I'd like to pop over and get it, but I have so much to do. I have to list all the new Lollibag's on etsy that didn't sell at the show.

I have some new Lollibag idea's percolating in my head, that I would like to get started on. Let's not forget my daily going's on of laundry, children, cooking, more cleaning, taxi for a teenage girl, bills to pay, e-mails to write, and certianly not least....coloring with Sophie.

I assume you guys are doing the same?

This and That

2011-04-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what to call this post, titles have never been my strong suit. But anyway, this is what my area looked like at the Bliss handmade show last night.

I just love that vintage shopping cart, and it's really light weight, so I thought why not bring it??

This is so awful of me, I sold a couple Lollibag's but I hated to part with one, because it was my favorite one! It had the cutest red and white vintage button. I should have kept it for myself! It was this one.

Ya know what? I think I have one more of those button's, I will make myself that same bag.

Go here and see if you can find a Lollibag pictured. And the video at the end is good too. It was from last year's Creative Connection Event. I am super excited for this year!

And finally, we are getting action on the farm. I know beggars can't be choosy but I really want a nice family to live on our farm and love it as much as we do. I want them to swim in the pool on a hot day, tube down the Mohawk River, fly fish with their dad, grow a garden where I have attempted to, walk on the trails, basically, love this place like we have, and ya know what? I want them to buy our cows too, I want the cows to be able to stay, especially our beloved Bob the bull who has fathered every single one of our calves. I want lots of kids here, and I want them to have our sheep and watch baby calves be born and pick out a Christmas tree that we planted!

I think God can do that!

So far we have had business people interested in the farm for either environmental or business opportunities. However we may have a family, just like I imagine will live here, interested. I pray God will do his will and whoever is supposed to live on our farm will buy it. Please let it be a family Lord!

Anyway our "business" showing is tomorrow, stay tuned.

Food Friday~Rainbow Ribbon

2011-04-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

When I was little I used to look at my mom's cookbooks and there would always be a Jello one. I would beg my mom to make a Jello dessert. They all looked so fun and I thought if only I could eat those creamy lemon cups right out of the lemon or drink that Jello shake, I would be so happy!

The pictures were so MAGICAL!

Well I think I understand now why my mom rarely if ever made Jello desserts, at least the complicated ones. I made this recipe last fall or maybe it was before Christmas. It was difficult only because I had never made it before and I didn't know exactly how long to let it set or firm in the fridge before each additional layer, you know it never is as simple as the recipe says.

That being said, it was super fun to look at and super fun to eat. Just as I imagined as a kid.

And I hope my kids thought it was magical too.

Rainbow Ribbon

5 pkg (4 serving size) Jello gelatin dessert, any 5 different flavors

6 1/4 C boiling water

1 C sour cream, plain yogurt, or vanilla ice cream (I used yogurt)

Dissolve 1 pkg Jello in 1 1/4 C of the boiling water.

Pour 3/4 C of the Jello into 8 C ring mold. Chill until set but not firm.

Another side note, my mold was to wide, I needed to use a taller thinner mold to achieve the tall mold, but as you can see mine is quite shallow.

Chill remaining Jello in bowl until slightly thickened; gradually blend in 3 T of yogurt. Spoon over gelatin in mold. Chill until set but not firm, about 20-25 min.

Repeat with remaining Jello flavors.

Chill until firm, about 4 hours or overnight.

To unmold, dip mold in warm water for about 10 seconds. Gently pull gelatin from around edges with moist finger. Place moistened serving plate on top of mold. Invert mold and plate; holding mold and plate together, shake slightly to loosen. Gently remove mold and center gelatin on plate.

Ahhh if only it were that easy!!

It was very good! As you can see mine was not as tall and perfect as the cover photo!

Well I'm not a professional.

I am going to try more recipes from here........... someday, maybe.

New Lollibag's

2011-04-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hi
So I've been working on just "a few more bags" for the show on Thursday night. I always do this, even though I don't have time, I just want "a few more bags". Because by all means, would if I sell out and there are none?
I have a little tip too, I'm really not a tip girl, and most likely any tip I give will have been discovered long ago and it's really not a tip anymore.......... but I'll say it anyway.

This is one of my new Lollibag's. It is made from all vintage fabric. The bag is a vintage drape. And the flower is vintage white cotton, that was pristine, spotless when I cut the strips and hemmed them, and gathered them by machine and then by hand. So when I was sewing on the strips, I was taken back, yes taken back, I really was...... by the INK SPOT, or so I assume it was a tiny ink spot.
Had my 17 year old son walked past with a pen in hand while it was hanging over the back of my sewing chair????
He was doing homework while I was sewing, I don't know. But said strip was already sewn on the bag. The bag almost done, and how do you get ink out anyway?
I had found a tiny hand crocheted flower that I was going to use to decorate a bag anyway, so I thought, why not sew it over the tiny black spot, on my flower?

Good idea Prudy! Can you even tell in the above picture where it is?

Well there you go. This has turned out to be my most favorite Lollibag that I have made in the last couple weeks. It is in my new size. I think the flower on the flower is cute!

And here are a couple more Lollibags. One more in the new size and two little lolli's.

I had some left over brown fabric from last fall, I know it's not exactly a spring color. But I have found out that people's taste's are all different. Lollibag's that I thought would never sell, have sold the quickest. And some of my favorites are still with me. Does that mean I have bad taste?
I don't think so, I think everyone likes their own style and we are all different.

Have a great week! Oh it's supposed to be sunny on Saturday, keep praying! If you missed yesterday's post, we have people flying in from California to look at the farm on Saturday! I'm not getting my hopes up, no I'm not.

Waiting for Summer

2011-04-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

I am longing for warm weather. This year, the rain is just hanging on and lingering, it is so unwelcome. So when there is ONE nice day in the midst of 6 days of rain, I have to celebrate.

It was so nice on Saturday, I said to the girls......Girls, lets go play by the river! And that is what we did.

We packed up some snacks and drinks and started off walking. Dad was already down there, so he came to pick us up in the Ranger.

But not before we walked down through the Christmas trees.

Our first stop was at "the beach". Sometimes the boys camp out here with their tents. They build a fire and fish for their dinner.

A view up the McKenzie River. It is so beautiful and such a clean river.

The girls have a lot of fun playing here at the beach, they usually take sticks and draw in the mud. They just run around, finding sticks and rocks. Who knew it could be so much fun to find a stick??

Then we move up river to our "bench spot". Hubby brought my rocking bench down here and made me some tables from a tree that went down. I love to bring a book down here and read while the girls play. It is so relaxing just staring at the river and listening to it too. It is so much better in person, I wish you could come and sit with me.

The view down river from where we just were.

I love the river rock. We have brought tons of it up to put in our yard. If you follow the McKenzie River east it is the most beautiful site. There are places where the river dries up and the whole river bed is huge river rock! I love to take that drive, it is absolutely breathtaking. There are so many places in Oregon I still have yet to see.

The boys rode up, thumbs up kid, is Nic's friend Kenny. Nic is in the middle and Josh is on the right.

Sophie ran up and down, up and down, up and down, so many times I lost track. She would yell, GO, GO, GO!

There are lots of fishermen on the river.

We took the scenic route back up to the house and saw the new baby cows, soaking up the sun.

I didn't want to go back to the house, but the girls were excited to color easter eggs. I could have sat down in the sun for hours. So back, we went.
Please pray for sun on Saturday, we have people flying in from California to see the farm! They want to walk the property and that is no fun in the rain.
Thanks friends, I know you will.

Have a great week!

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter friends!

2011-04-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Terrible Cross by Selah is one of my favorite songs. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend and know that Jesus Christ died for YOU and he rose again. Please accept this wonderful gift today, for today is the day of salvation!

Colossians 2:13b-15
God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

lunch, a new book and a....fight at Costco

2011-04-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

My new book arrived today, it's Ted Dekker's latest novel. I can't wait to get lost in it!

This is what I have for lunch

every

single

day.

My version of Jeans Salad:

spring mix

red peppers

red onions

walnuts

craisins

turkey

balsamic vinagrette

croutons

Okay, so the croutons are a grain, but I've cut so far back, I actually am seeing results!!!

My migraine was very mild this month.

And I've been much less irritable and grouchy, hubby even noticed!

So far.....almost grain free/sugar free has been getting results.

I still am waiting for more huge results, so will keep at it!

So here's my ........Costco sitch....

I came out of Costco today and pushed my cart, with Sophie in it, around a car waiting up front. Then I noticed an old man standing to the left of it facing the drivers side window. So I had to go between the man and the car to get to my car. I pull up by the drivers side window, and notice it is rolled down and the driver, is YELLING and CURSING up a storm to the old man standing.

So I stop my cart with myself in between these two old men and I give the driver a dirty look and I said..... HEY! Like you would say to your kids when they are being moron's. He gets more mad and SHOVES his car into park and opens the door and gets out, my cart is in the way, so he goes around it.

But I head him off and shove my cart in his path so he can't move. He then goes around it again.

So I walk in between him and the other old man again and I put both my hands up to stop him, (cuz he looks as though he is ready to pummel the other old man) and I say, STOP!

I say, You can't do this!!

He keeps trying to have at the other guy and I keep stopping him. So finally he says to me, well I was just giving him a hard time. (I'm sure this went much faster in real time, it felt pretty slow)

UM, ya right!

The other old guy who just stood there not really knowing what the heck was going on, he said in his defense.... I'm a cripple!

ha ha, that was kinda funny...

So I walk away and notice 3-4 people just watching and I am thinking........

Incredible! Incredible that people, some are men, are watching me stop this fight, while my 3 year old is in the cart, and we are standing in the flow of traffic in front of Costco!

I ask you.... where are the good humans??

Where are people who are willing to help, who will come to the aid of an elderly person?

I don't know where they are. They certianly don't go to Costco.

In all my life I have NEVER seen people act the way they do in the Costco parking lot. I've heard it's notorious for fights. Why?

I did have to chuckle though, I really could have taken the old man out, if he didn't back down. But still, no one knew if I knew this old man or if he was going to stop, I was physically stopping him from going after this other man, and all I got were gaukers!

I think a Costco gift card is in order, don't you???

More Vintage Memories from Childhood

2011-04-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

The other day I sat down to watch the 1979 movie Kramer vs. Kramer. Remember that? Of course I was only 7 when it came out, but I do remember seeing it on TV before. One part in the movie, the dad takes his son to the grocery store and you can see all the vintage products on the shelves, ooooohhhh I loved that!!

So that got me on another search for vintage products from our childhood. Remember these products? Well I found a few more things..........

Here is what your mom's grocery cart may have looked like. Love this! Maybe you got to go to McDonalds after grocery shopping.

And get a happy meal. Back then McDonalds had the purple character, what was it's name? And Hamburglar. Also, I remember every year at St. Patricks Day my mom would get my sister and I, shamrock shakes. They still have them, I should have gotten one this year, shoot.

Remember what the McDonald's high chairs used to look like?

I think those are much more fun, rather than what they have now. So what kinds of cleaning and household products did your mom buy? My mom always had Comet around.

That is probably why I use it. She always cleaned the toilets with it and the kitchen sink. Hmmmm, I don't clean my toilets with it, but I do clean my kitchen sink with it.

Maybe your kitchen looked something like this? I'm so sorry if it did....Mine looked a bit like this, we had the super dark cabinets.

Did you bathroom look like this? Have mercy, what were they thinking back then? When I was 5 we lived in a house on Yakima Street and the bathroom in that house was black and yellow, a mustardy yellow. The counters were black with gold streaks in them. My mom had the wrought iron towels bars.

Maybe your house was decorated more like this? It is a tad better, but not by much...

Did you eat Quisp cereal? I vaguely remember this stuff. We ate alot of peanut butter.

Some products now are going back to their vintage packaging. I LOVE THAT! Some cereals are and Doritos has for a little while. It really is good marketing, because it makes me want to buy that product!

Whatever happened to this lipgloss? Was this more in the 80's? I remember buying this at Woolworth's. Woolworth's isn't around anymore is it?

Did you have a speak and spell? I think I did, I remember playing with one, but not sure if it was mine or a friends.

Now THIS is what I always wanted to have. I never did get one. Maybe that is why my girls have had so many doll houses.

Did your mom get you Tupperware toys? I loved these!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE... vintage Tupperware! I see it at thrift stores like goodwill, but I will admit, I have a hard time buying it, because I just feel like it's to full of cooties. I do shop at goodwill and get clothes there too, I don't know why, I just can't get myself to buy the Tupperware, but I will wear the clothes, weird......... Look at the salt and pepper shaker in the picture, love that!

What are some of the products your mom used to buy? Are they still around?

Food Friday~Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Buttercream

2011-04-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

So here is the recipe I promised, it is a Paula Deen recipe. If I had to make it over I would not add the cream filling. But I will give you the whole recipe and you can decide. They are addicting!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Cream Filling & Coffee Buttercream Frosting

2 1/4 C all purpose flour
2 C sugar
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 C vegetable oil
1 C strong brewed coffee, cooled, I used instant~ easy
3 large eggs
1 8oz. container sour cream
1 t vanilla extract
Coffee cream filling, recipe follows
Coffee Buttercream, recipe follows

Preheat the oven to 350. Line muffin pans with paper liners and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add oil, coffee, and eggs. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in the sour cream and vanilla.

Spoon the batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, for 16-18 minutes. Let them cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely on wire racks.

Spoon coffee cream filling into a squeeze bottle with a long narrow tip. Insert the tip into the top of cupcake and squeeze about 1 T of filling into center of each cupcake.
OKAY....WHOAH Paula Deen. Not so quick and simple. I didn't have a bottle like this, I used this:

And that didn't work to well, for some reason my nozzle kept getting clogged, maybe it was to small and it was very hard to squeeze out, and after I thought I had been squeezing half the tube in, I still had no way of telling how much was in there, except to break the cupcake in half and see for myself. Of course I had to eat those test cakes. (I made this a couple months ago before I started, my grain/sugar free diet).

Spread the coffee buttercream frosting evenly over the cupcakes and garnish with chocolate covered coffee beans, if desired. That would have been good, but I didn't have any chocolate covered coffee beans, and I found that these cupcakes and the coffee frosting were pretty coffee flavored, which I love, but the bean would have been to much.

Coffee Cream Filling

1 (3 oz.) package of cream cheese, softened
1/4 C coffee flavored liqueur, ok I didn't have this and don't remember what I replaced it with!
1 (8 oz.) container frozen chocolate flavored whipped topping, thawed. I had regular flavored cool whip and squirted some chocolate syrup in it.

In a small bowl, whip the cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add the liqueur and fold in whipped topping. Cover and chill.

Coffee Buttercream Frosting

1/2 C butter, softened
3 C confectioners sugar
1/4 C strong brewed coffee, I used instant again.

In a medium bowl, beat the butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the confectioners sugar, beating until smooth, then beat in coffee. I think I added more confectioner sugar to make mine thicker.

These are extremely delicious and would be still amazing without the cream filling.

The Jess Bag

2011-04-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

OK, it really is a Lollibag. But just this once, I will call it by another name. Only because...........I have been trying to make these flowers that two shades of pink Jessica makes. The problem is hers are fluffy and chiffony, because they are chiffon................ I don't have any chiffon.

So I was trying to follow her tutorial from the Mothers Day corsage flowers but it wasn't working with cotton. And bless your heart Jessica, because those flowers really are a labor of love, as you say. You really worked your heart out on those wreaths!

I used some scraps of Amy Butler fabric I had, and a yellow cotton bow that came off of a vintage dress.

Inside is that vintage white cotton I found the other day, thrifting. When I ironed it, it smelled so good! The Jess Bag has one pocket inside. The strap is extra long so you can wear it across your body.

I'm not sure how this flower is going to wash up but, I guess we'll see! The Jess Bag will be for sale at the bliss handmade show. I am featured on the bliss blog today so go check it out!

So what do you think? Do you like my new bag?

Food Friday~Larabar

2011-04-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with Larabar's.

I am obsessed with Apple Pie Larabar dipped in almond butter.

Here are the ingredients in an Apple Pie Larabar:

dates

almonds

unsweetened apples

walnuts

raisins

cinnamon

Do you see why I am so excited?

It's actually good for you!

I think I started dipping them in almond butter because I am also obsessed with almond butter.

Wouldn't you be too, if you haven't had peanut butter for over a year?

And you can never have it again because your baby girl is allergic?

So when Sophie was cleared on tree nuts on Monday, oh boy, that's all I can say.

I've been gorging myself on almond butter.

Almond butter plain.

Almond butter on stuff, food, any food.

I even dripped almond butter on the Larabar wrapper, and I knew it was obsessive but I licked the wrapper clean.

I'm not even an apple pie girl, except if it's real apple pie, ya know?

I don't get into apple pie flavor things.

But this Larabar is da bomb.

New Lollibag, this, that, update, etc......

2011-04-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

WELL! I have been on this grain free/sugar free eating plan for almost a week. I did slip up, on purpose, yesterday. A couple nights ago I made Pioneer Women's chocolate sheet cake for a neighbor who is going through chemo, it is so so large I sent half over and kept half for the kids, yes really the kids.
But of course I could not resist. Every time I had a smidgen, I would within 30 seconds get a headache and feel yucky, but did that stop me? Heck no! The cake is to dangerous! So all day yesterday, I just had little smidgen's and this morning I woke up with a migraine!

This is promising, because I can see how sugar is affecting me, so back on the no sugar. I am eating a yummy chicken tortilla soup I made from scratch, right now..... That will be on a Food Friday soon.

In other news, I've been sewing. I am in a show called bliss handmade at the end of the month. I am sewing more Lollibag's with long straps to wear across the body. This one has ruffles from one of my most favorite retro vintage fabrics, EVER...........

It really IS NOT neon in real life, my camera, bless it's heart, is getting wierd on me. I love this 60's fabric, I found it at a thrift shop a few years back. I also love the big vintage orange button.

Good news: I had Sophie tested for tree nuts and she is NOT allergic to them! YEA!! But at the end of the testing, I looked at the allergist and said "I'm scared". And she nodded, yes. She says, it's up to me, but she would not allow Sophie to have tree nuts just yet, not for a few more years, till she is old enough to tell me how she is feeling after eating certain foods. I am going to follow that advice.

But the good news is I can have almond butter and stuff like that in the house. AND, we can now buy products made in a factory that processes tree nuts. It opens up a huge new range of foods.

Thank you Jesus!

Sad news, I think Sophie is showing signs of tourettes, but I'm not gonna stress over it. I love that little girl, as is.

House update: the interested party is no longer interested. BIG SIGH.... I have a strange sense of calm though. I can only attribute that to God. But I will tell you I am oh so excited by what I *think* my future holds, but my lips have to remain sealed for now, after all, God may not agree with those plans of mine!

Is that it? Are we all caught up now? How about you, what's been going on in your life lately?

Found

2011-04-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning the sun came out! I said to Sophie.... should we go out today? She agreed. We went to the thrift shop and here is what we found....

I love vintage 100% cotton sheets. Not the synthetic cotton, these are the real deal, crisp, clean, 100% cotton. I found this stack of them! And a couple of pink towels, yes I washed them on the sanitary cycle.

I also found a couple 2010 House Beautiful magazines for .50 each and a vintage coloring book for Sophie. A new sundress for Portia too, for only $2.47.

So in my quest for a sugar free, grain free, dairy free (sort of), caffine free life..............I found this herbal coffee. No caffine, no acid, it's really yummy! And LOOK, coconut milk coffee creamer!! It's so yummy I can't even believe I'm sacrificing real coffee and creamer! It's also a good way to get off caffine, you just add in more and more herbal coffee everyday till that all your drinking. Make it in your regular coffee maker.

Look at these luscious cupcakes. Ok these are full of all things bad, would you like the recipe? Maybe on Friday!

I found these pictures on my camera.............

That was my favorite find of the day. The weather has turned against me, I woke up today to a forcast of SNOW for tomorrow! Oh I hope it's not true, it's maddening. Lord, please send spring.

GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-04-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

I love to enter giveaways!

Here is a good one.

You may enter the giveaway at Tammy's blog, She Wears Flowers .

What you are entering for is.........

An adorable felt playhouse, valued at up to $200!

Aren't they sweet?

There are boy designs too, but my little ones are girls, so these are my favorites.

Check out Julie's other designs at Miss Pretty Pretty.

Love this pink one!

Hurry on over to enter!

She Wears Flowers

Love this....

2011-04-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

Love Love Love

It smells so so good.

Target deals what I hate about Target

2011-04-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

I really do HEART Target and I am starting to learn the coupon ropes.

I'm not up to top secret special forces level, but I'm getting there.

Listen closely girls, today at Target I spotted quite on accident the Annie's Macaroni and Cheese sale of the century! It is only $1 a box! Then I saw the Annie's canned Cheese Ravioli for only $1 a can!

What a deal, what a deal, if you guys have purchased Annie's at any point in your life, you know what a deal that was! I literally cleaned the shelves. I bought a total of 40 boxes and cans of Annie's!

Another thing I love at Target is their "buy 2 items get a $5 gift card" deals.

Every time I go, I shop these deals and there is always a coupon for those items in the paper or online to be printed. Target.com has great online coupons you can print.

So does http://www.couponmom.com/.

Also at http://www.target.com/ you can print a Neutrogena coupon for $1 off and at the store the Neutrogena natural line? Have you seen the new line? If you buy a cleanser you get a lip balm free! Plus I had the coupon.

Plus I used my $6 coupon from the pharmacy mishap last week, so I saved a total of $65.64 in coupons at Target today!

Now what I HATE about Target. They are becoming more like Walmart every week. The workers at Target could care less about customers. I always, always go to Target on Sunday morning, and it NEVER EVER FAILS, they are redoing or restocking shelves in the toiletries/makeup/pharmacy section.

And they are rude, rude, rude.

They have their big red carts full of product blocking all the aisles , there is LITERALLY no way in or out, and if you need something down one of those aisles, your screwed.

Today however, one Target worker said can I help you find something? In the midst of the chaos of red product carts and about as many workers, I said "A clear pathway would be nice".

I didn't get much response. I had to push my cart down an aisle that had a two tiered red stocking cart with a huge garbage bag hanging off the top pole, filled. My cart pushed the garbage bag out of the way, I'm lucky it didn't hit me in the face. Two workers in the aisle I was trying to access, didn't bat an eye, didn't turn to look, didn't move to help. So I manuevered around one worker on the right, only to be met by another worker on the left and behind her was another stocking cart, so the end of the aisle was completely blocked. I needed something in the blocked area.. I sat there for about 5 seconds, worker bee did not look, move, nothing.

I finally said "could you please move your cart?" She did so without looking at me, without a word.

Like I was the one bothering her. There was no, Oh I'm sorry, let me help you... nothing.

Let me tell you something Target worker, without customers, there are no shelves to stock!

And your out of a job.

Target, get it together!

Food Friday~ Orange Juice Plus

2011-03-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

Happy April Fool's Day.

The only April fool I get a kick out of is making my husband think we've had another SUPRISE!!

But I've done that joke so many times, he ain't falling for it anymore.

Otherwise I'm really not into jokes, I mean cruel jokes that make someone look stupid.

I had been pining away for a VitaMix FOREVER... they just seemed healthy, ya know?

So anyway I got one a long time ago and when I finally purchased it I went to the VitaMix website and bought one of their refurbished ones.

It is so much cheaper than the new ones and I also did that when I purchased my Kitchen Aid mixer.

Refurbished means it was a return and they put a new whatever on and slapped on a full warranty and sell them cheap!

So a cookbook came with my VitaMix and I just love it, one of my favorite recipes is:

Orange Juice Plus

2 medium navel oranges, peeled and quartered

1/4 C water

3/4 C ice cubes

1/4 t vanilla

1 T sugar or other sweetener to taste (optional)

Place all ingredients in VitaMix (or your blender) container in order listed. Secure lid (duh).

Then it goes on to tell you how to do the speeds on the VitaMix, but you get it, turn your blender on and blend away!

Serve immediately.

There is supposed to be 2 1/2 servings in this recipe at 1 C each.

And it only has 52 calories!!

Sometimes I use milk and lately I use coconut milk in place of the water and I put honey in place of the sugar, you could use stevia too.

It is so yummy!

I promise I won't bore you to death with updates about my grain/sugar free experiment, but I did good today!

No sugar.

I really struggle around 3pm and I have been having one slice of

Ezekiel sprouted grain bread (I know, I know....GRAIN)..... but it is a flourless bread.

Anyway I toast it and put butter on it and that gets me to dinner and I am struggling with no dessert after a meal, but somehow I am abstaining!!

I'm already miserable

2011-03-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

I have a headache, a stomach ache, crabby, the day is looking dismal.

Pretty bland without my latte with milk in the morning, or a cookie.

I can make it till about 3pm and then what to snack on.... a carrot stick?

For some reason my beloved coconut milk ice cream and coconut flakes are giving me tummy aches.

What is that?

Coconut milk ice cream literally has coconut milk and agave nectar.

You can pry that from my cold dead hands.

Can I do this for 3 weeks?

Not looking promising but you can rest assured I won't lie to ya, I'll let you know if I screw up.

Health and the food you eat

2011-03-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Remember when I went to the dr. and to make a long story short she said I have PCOS?

And then I just wasn't sure if I should believe her? Well I have been researching and reading tons of information online.

I receive Dr. Mercola's newsletters through e-mail daily and I usually read at least one article.

Today I read this article...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/07/14/insulin-part-one.aspx

It's long but well worth the read and it's actually by Dr. Rosedale. It was so eye opening on insulin, insulin resistance, and the role that plays in disease and the foods you eat.

I just kept thinking....HOLY COW!

Anyway all the websites I read and articles and snippets and pages and blogs agree and the common factor is.... grains and sugar, bad bad bad.

If you are like me your panicking right now and getting angry, there is no way your giving up sugar and grains. But that is the one thing I have never been able to do and everything else I've tried , has never worked.

Once I did do the, only once slice of bread a day and veggies and fruit and protein only, and you know what I felt good, but I didn't keep up with it and I never thought treating myself to a few cookies a day , ok make that a dozen cookies a day, what harm could that do?

I'm getting off track. I just had my cholesterol level checked again and it is way up from last year. I just could not figure out what the heck???

Again, research has shown me that high cholesterol is not the problem, why do I have high cholesterol? High cholesterol is caused by inflammation in your body, and your body is putting out more cholesterol to try and reduce inflammation...I'm just paraphrasing what I've read, so don't quote me, look it up for yourself :)

Anyway what kinds of foods cause inflammation?? You guessed it, sugar and grains. What happens when your body is in a constant state of inflammation?

Just to name a few:

headaches

migraines

acne

skin tags

insulin resistance

diabetes

heart disease

cancer

fatigue

the list goes on and on.

So I searched for anti-inflammation foods and diets online and found this site.

http://www.level1diet.com/

I have been reading there a while and it is really quite interesting.

I have nothing to lose but some weight and hopefully my migraines and cholesterol.

I'm gonna give it a go, so if I'm a tad grouchy and negative, please don't take it personal!

It's just that I am not going to be eating sugar and grains.

Another intesting tidbit from that article, when you eat sugar your body cannot store it and so it needs to burn it right away. (again I'm paraphrasing).... So if you are constantly putting sugar into your body, your body never burns the fat you have stored!

And when people say sugar I usually think, donuts, hard candy, pop, twinkies and I say to myself, whew! I'm in the clear I don't eat any of that......hardly...

Well here's some things sugar is in:

flavored yogurt

honey

ketchup

salad dressings

bbq sauce

crackers

potatoes turn to glucose (sugar)

protein bars

granola bars

jelly

etc...

I'm not trying to sound negative but, really I'm talking to people who like me, are struggling with an issue that you can't seem to get rid of, like migraines or whatever it may be.

SO WHOSE WITH ME??? I need a buddy!

Lollibag's for Spring

2011-03-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

I just listed 3 new Lollibag's in my etsy shop!

Two of them are my new size. Kind of in between a Lollibag and a Little Lollibag and the strap is long so you can wear it across your body. I had a custom order for a long strap on a Little Lolli and it was so cute!

I love the pink and white check material, it's so springy!

Who doesn't love Amy Butler fabric?? If I could I would have STACKS and STACKS of it in my fabric cupboard. I know she has some new prints out, have you seen them?

I need to get sewing, as these are my ONLY new bags!

OH MY GOODNESS!! I just took my own advice and snooped around Amy Butlers new spring 2011 collection and she has WALLPAPER! How cute is that???

I really really hate wallpaper, but this may change my mind!

It's the little things

2011-03-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

You may think that it's the BIG things that are grand, that leave a lasting impression, that happiness clings only to those occasions.

Maybe that tropical vacation you know will change your life, if you could ever go on it. Or if only your husband would make a grand gesture and proclaim his undying love in a letter or daily swoon over you. Maybe an exceptional child who becomes a doctor....... And I know those things would be terribly nice, but really, hopes pinned to the grand things make you miss the sweetest tiny things.

I forget who was over the other day, maybe it was my "showing" that finally showed up, but I was sitting on the sofa and little Sophie was standing behind me, her arms wrapped around my neck. She was like a sweet garland of grace. She whispered in my ear..... oohh I lub you mom... .... and kissed my neck, all the while making affectionate noises, like you would do as you are seeing a precious little puppy. I wanted to reach around and grab her and return the favor, but I was listening to an adult talking to me, and I knew if I did scoop up my little girl I would have shed a tear for how precious she is. And I kick myself thinking about it, forget manners, I should have done it, who cares about an adult going on and on about themselves, my little girl was showing true love!

And then you have the day that is not going so well, you know, one thing after another, it seems to become a way of life. I went to pick up my migraine medicine at Target, got home, changed, got comfy, started to do my "home stuff", went to put away my medicine.....thought it felt a bit light, checked the box, only 2 of the 6 tablets were in the box! OH no, I had to drive back.

I wasn't too happy, but I got in the car and put in one of my favorite CD's and I drove slow and listened to some hymn's sung by Selah. Fairest Lord Jesus, Beautiful Terrible Cross, My Jesus I Love Thee, I Have Decided.........Instead of getting madder that I had to waste time and gas money driving back to the store, I listened to words of peace and God's love and was reminded of all my Saviour has done for me.

I rested.

Then I got to the store and they were so sorry, they gave me two $3 coupons to use off my next visit to Target. That may not seem like something to celebrate, but to me it was!

The little things.

Who doesn't love the sunshine? It is warm, bright, healing, it is happiness in a ray. In Oregon after it rains all winter and your spirit is so low and hopeless that the weather will ever change, there it is, the sun will peek out and oh the JOY!

Who would have thought a tiny ray of sunshine would bring such extreme happiness. It's the best in the springtime, when you are longing for warm, dreaming of summer, you think you will just die if a warm day doesn't show up soon. It's like filling up your gas tank (only for free). If only the sun would come out for a few hours you could make it till June.

Is this a secret I'm just discovering? Or have I known it all along, only to get sidetracked with so much bad news, bad moods, bad circumstances and rain that I just cannot see clearly for a while, really till I dig myself out? I think that must be it, I've always known it's the little things, but there are times when they are easy to see and times when I am lost and it takes a great effort to find them.

These little things are staying with me longer too, I will think of them days later. I think of Sophie hugging me and it still makes me smile. Last week I woke up to see my hubby going out to get the Sunday paper for me, see he never used to do that, and I complained about it and now he does that for me, every rainy Sunday.... that is what makes me feel loved.

And I am still over the moon that my little girls accepted Jesus as their Saviour last week, but that is not little that is HUGE.

I wish for you to have a little thing brighten your day!

Food Friday~Butter free, Sugar free cookies!

2011-03-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

I was experimenting last night and came up with this cookie.

If you don't like really sweet cookies, you may want to use less honey.

But I am overly sensitive to sweetness (cuz I'm just so sweet....ya right) so this may be fine for you.

Prudy's Cookies version 5,298

1C coconut oil

1 C honey

2 eggs

2 t vanilla

1 C coconut flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

3 C oatmeal

enough flour to make them thick

1 1/2 C chocolate chips

With a hand mixer, mix coconut oil and honey. I warmed my oil a bit in the microwave to make it softer.

Then add in eggs and vanilla and mix again. Now your done with hand mixer.

Add coconut flour, salt , baking soda. Stir.

Add in oatmeal, stir.

The batter was to wet for my taste so I add about 1/2 - 3/4 C flour.

Then add chocolate chips.

Put cookie drops on baking sheet and bake at 350 convect which puts it down to 325 and bake for 9-10 min.

So for me they tasted a bit to much like honey, so I will use less next time.

This is what I want to do today.....

Maybe not, maybe I will read. I love to read and am currently reading about 5 books at once.

Spring break is almost over and what did I do this whole week??

I cleaned everyday, because we had a "showing" that couldn't decide what day they were going to come out. Everyday was going to be "the day". And then it wasn't.

FRUSTRATING

One day this week (after getting the house ready for the 3rd time) I got an e-mail from my husband saying, well not today....again......so I wrote him back and the e-mail had a bunch of these symbols...............#$%^&*@.

Then, I went in the bathroom and cried. Then I went to Costco and cried all the way there too.

I think maybe I will be on cleaning strike this weekend!

Our showing looks promising, they are a non-profit group who wants to save the river and habitat around the river. We live on a unique piece of property on the confluence of two rivers. So we'll see what happens.

This is completely in God's hands, I really am helpless in the situation. And that is nice, but I do have to remind myself a couple times a week not to worry. I'm getting better though, I used to worry daily!

It is a good feeling to know God is in control and I'M NOT!

Enjoy the cookies and let me know if you come up with a better recipe, I'd love to hear it!

MaryJanes Farm

2011-03-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

I received my latest issue of MaryJanes Farm magazine over a week ago, I had forgotten about it till I past by it today. I paged through it while I ate my lunch. Normally I don't read the "readers write" sections.

Today I did and I really enjoyed it. As a matter a fact you should go pick up a copy just to read these stories.

Sister Act a Helping Hand by Kameron DeWulf

Neighbors by Christine Anderson

Recipe for Disaster by Kathleen Everett

I even teared up at the end of Recipe for Disaster.

I am just being silly, I'm sure. But in the story the writer tells how often women make bread or soup or something for friends or family or even strangers who are sick, sad, busy.....etc.

And one day her daughter texted her and said mom, my friend just broke up with her boyfriend, should I make her cupcakes or a torte?

And that is what I thought was so sweet, and I hope SOMETHING will be passed down to my daughters like that.

Today I am making Pioneer Woman's Mocha Brownies and for dinner her recipe for Lasagna.

Last week I made Pioneer Woman's macaroni and cheese, I'm sorry to say I did not like it one bit.

Two of my kids liked it, that's it. The rest of us thought it was pasty and gluey.

Spring break is here, and I will be enjoying having my kids home from school!

Have a great Sunday!

Little Children

2011-03-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

A couple nights ago, I was reading Proverbs to the girls, it's just so full of practical wisdom..... We started talking about when they accepted Jesus as their Savior. Portia couldn't remember saying the prayer and I remember she did, but regretfully I don't remember much else. So I said, well would you like to pray again? She said, Yes!

So I held her hand and she repeated after me.....

She believes Jesus died on the cross for her sins, and rose again 3 days later.

She asks forgiveness for her sins and for Jesus to be her Savior.

And that she will live her life for Him.

You know I'm not perfect and I dont' know the perfect prayer but I know her heart was willing and wanted to. She was so excited after we said Amen. I said Portia your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

And everyone in heaven is celebrating you!

So we were done and Sophie came up to me all sweet like. Her countenance was so tender and calm....she held out her hand and said, I want to.

I about fell to tears it was so precious!

I said, ok.

Sophie held my hand and closed her eyes REAL TIGHT.

She repeated the prayer after me and she smiled the whole way through.

Now I don't know if she will remember it and maybe when she is older I'll say,

remember when...........

and we will pray again.

But I do know, that every child is precious to Him and we are to be like children in our belief in God.

I am so happy that I have been beside each one of my 5 children when they have become saved.

It is the GREATEST JOY to know my children are saved.

I pray for them all the time that they will turn to God and never forget Him.

Food Friday~Sweet Saltines

2011-03-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning to the devastation in Japan. The images are horrifying.

You feel so helpless, yet the same time so grateful it was not where you live. But my heart goes out to all the mothers of lost children and spouses of lost loved ones. It seems a day does not go by with something happening. So it feels not right posting a fun recipe, my life goes on as usual while they are suffering :(

Sweet Saltines

I must warn you before you make this, you will be pulled in, you will be not be able to control yourself, so BEWARE!

40 saltine crackers

2 sticks unsalted butter (I used 1 1/2)

1 C light-brown sugar

8 oz. chocolate chips (about 1 1/3 C)

Preheat oven to 425. Line a large rimmed cookie sheet with aluminum foil and saltine crackers.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar.

Bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour over crackers, covering them evenly.

Put cookie sheet into oven and watch closely. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until just bubbly.

Mine were just bubbly after 2 1/2 minutes, so you really do have to watch them closely.

Remove from oven and pour chocolate chips over crackers.

When chips begin to melt, spread them over crackers with a knife.

Transfer pan to freezer for 15-20 minutes, or until completely cold. The chocolate covered crackers will form a solid sheet; break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

I'm telling you, no I'm warning you again, these are evil! I am not used to this much sugar, so I would get a tad bit of a headache after eating them, but that didn't matter, I kept going back!!

So next time I make these, if there is a next time, because they are THAT dangerous........

I will cut back on the butter and sugar, as you can see, I had a heavy coating of the melted butter and brown sugar. I may even cut back on the chocolate chips. These are the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Also you can use graham crackers for a sweeter snack. I was also wondering how pretzels would taste in this, or potato chips?

Let me know!! What would you use in this recipe?