Would love some sunshine

In the middle of winter when it is so cold and summer seems so far away, I like to look at my days gone by sunny photo's.

 

 I love the ocean.  I LOVE THE OCEAN.  It is a mysterious thing to me, created by an awesome God!

If I could live by the ocean I would, it is a dream of mine...maybe someday.

 

My little surfer girl hamming it up.  It must be my husbands Hawaiian culture bred into them, they are drawn to the beach and get so dark so  quickly and their hair turns sun bleached blonde.

                                  What do you dream of during the long, cold winter?

3 bits for my younger self

I'm up early today drinking my homemade iced coffee and reading my blog list.  I've recently discovered Gussy Sews, actually I'm sure I've met her at The Creative Connection Event?  I'm sure... I know I've seen her cute products somewhere!  Anyway I'm linking up with her coffee date today...

The question is what 3 things would you tell your younger self?  I'll try to narrow it down to 3!

First is: Be yourself.  You really are beautiful, your just the way God wanted you, embrace who you are.  Forget what others think.

Second is:  And it ties in with the first... You can do whatever you set out to!  Don't be afraid!  Take a risk!  Even if you fail, at least you tried!

Third is:  Please don't settle for that abusive boyfriend... PLEASE dont' marry him!  Being single is OK!  You don't need a boyfriend!  It's ok to make mistakes, pick yourself up and MOVE ON.  Stop carrying guilt from bad choices around!  oops is that 4 rolled into 3?

Which leads me to the realization of what I've been telling my daughter!  I'm telling her to chose the "safe" route, she has grand dreams and I am always there trying to support them but then adding, it really isn't reality sweetie, do you really think you can do that?  Oh shame on me!
I'm going to give her wings and let her fly!

So go join Gussy for coffee.

Scarf anyone?

I am having so much fun crocheting.  I started out with granny squares.... I have about 60 so far for a blanket.  I am not sure how to crochet them all together to make the blanket but I'm sure I'll figure it out!  If anyone knows you can fill me in.

Then my daughter started crocheting infinity scarves, and those were so cute I thought I would try that too!  Only I bought some real thick, heavy yarn and a little bit bigger hook.  The yarn is so, so soft and warm and cozy.  I love it so much!  Only I'm having a hard time finding the colors I want in stock anywhere!  I need 3 of each color to make one scarf and no one seems to have 3 in stock!

So far these are the ones I have made and I decided to list them in my etsy shop.

This pink is so fabulous, it is called Honolulu Pink~ perfect.  It is so bright and cheery!  The scarf is wrapped twice, it is about 60 inches in length, like this.....

Here is a green one, the green is kinda between moss and spinach.

And a mocha brown tweed......

I love making these, currently I am OUT OF YARN!  I am just waiting for my shipment to arrive, so these 3 are all I have in stock.  Thanks for looking and have a great day!

New Lollibag's

Hey gals, stop on by my ETSY SHOP  and check out my new bags!

Aprons, bone broth, blog design, lollibags, sea shells....

Yes I am going to talk about all five!  First off let me say... do you know I still have unpacked bins from the farm in Oregon????  I know!  It's terrible.  But the bins are full of my vintage decor and things I just love but don't have a place for.  I have a huge bin full of sea shells.  I love the ocean and I love sea shells.

I originally started collecting sea shells  because I saw a picture in a magazine ( a loooong time ago) of a wall built out of sea shells.  This guy made a wall by his outdoor shower out of sea shells and concrete.  I fell in love.  I have always meant to build my own sea shell wall someday, somewhere and have yet to get around to it.  But maybe next summer will be the year.

Anyway, I found my bin with my vintage aprons and aprons I made in Oregon.  I love them all but never use them and thought I should put them in my Etsy Shop.  So I will be doing that in the next week.

 

 

 

I've really have neglected sewing lately, because I have been crocheting!  I saw this beautiful picture on Pinterest......

And now I am completely obsessed!  This is called a sunburst granny square.  The squares behind the sunburst are regular granny squares.  This just SCREAMS happiness!  So after watching two video's and reading three different written directions and ripping out no less than 15 tries of granny squares, and wanting to throw my computer across the room,  I FINALLY  got it!  And I have made about 30 regular granny squares and 1 sunburst granny square so far.  So yes, my poor lollibag's have taken a back burner...... but not for long.

As I am typing, my kitchen is full of the most wonderful ArOmA, bone broth. I know it sounds disgusting.  But I just read about it here, so I am giving it a go.  After Thanksgiving dinner I threw my turkey carcass in the freezer with all the drippings and it is simmering away in my crockpot and it smells divine.  It actually smells healthy, if that is possible! And I love, love, love soup.  Love making it, love eating it.  So I will be making soup, soup, soup and more soup out of my bone broth!

On to blog design.  I am lost, I have no clue how to change up my blog.   I have no idea how to do a blog button... these things?  Well it's like I'm reading Japanese.  Will someone please point me in the direction or tell me how to do all this?  Or tell me who to hire or SOMETHING? 
Thanks :)

Black Friday coupon

Hello, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I did, my boys came over, all my kids were home and we put up and decorated our Christmas tree!  Now thru Monday I am having a 20% off coupon for my etsy shop lollipookiesoap.  So shop away!  Just enter code SHOP20 at checkout and have a great weekend!

Ransom

Deuteronomy 6:6-9  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Most nights of the week I read the Bible to my girls and then we discuss what we have read.  Some nights, Lauren is at work or out with friends, so it will just be Portia and Sophie and me.  Those nights we go into Portia's room or Sophie's and read on their bed. 

I truly love those nights, I think Portia opens up a bit more and Sophie sits there and follows along with her finger as if she is really reading too.  They are like little sponges.

Each night we read one chapter or sometimes if it's something they are really getting into I'll read two.  I absolutely love Hebrews and I really love chapter 9, I think it's paints a beautiful picture of the blood of Christ and what that means for us as Christians.

When we got to verses 14 and 15, there is the word ransom.  I stopped and asked the girls do you know what ransom means?  Portia shook her head no.  So I said well this is a sad illustration but, if a little girl got kidnapped, the bad guy would call the parents and demand, oh maybe $500,000 and then when the parents pay the money,  he would set the little girl free.   I said that money is called a ransom.  I could see Portia did not like that illustration, but she said... well, like if I was kidnapped would you pay $500,000 to get me back?

Oh be still my heart, just typing that brings tears to my eyes... I said, with tears in my eyes, YES, I would give all I own , I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE to get you back, I would die for you Portia!  I would die to set you free!

And in that moment, it was a realization that even my 10 year old got and it sunk in just a bit deeper for me as well, that is what Jesus did for us!!  I said Portia how much more is God's love perfect, than my human love for my daughter.  Jesus loves us so much he gave his life for us to set us free from sin! 

And SHE GOT IT.  I saw the click in her eyes.  I looked at Sophie who was on the verge of tears cuz mommy was crying and she just looked at me wide eyed with her Bible in her lap.  I'll never forget  last night. 
We went on to talk about sin and how some people don't think they are really sinful and they are good people and they just don't need a Savior.  How they think, well I've never murdered anyone and never robbed a bank and I help people so I'm ok.  Portia said, but how can they think they don't have any sin?

It's such an easy trap to fall into, well I really am not that bad and I'm better than so and so.  But the Bible says... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God~Romans 3:23.

Last night my daughter realized "the good news", that Christs blood is available to all who choose to receive it as payment for their sins.

This is such good news that we should not keep it to ourselves!!

Isaiah 55:11  so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Big Jewelry

I'm a sucker for big, bright, gaudy, chunky jewelry.  Whether it's a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or a ring it does not matter!

I just got a big JCrew catalog in the mail and I was tossing it because I just toss them and not even look because what is the point, I don't want to waste the money, and it's not a need, it's purely a want.  Besides I can find waaaay cheaper stuff at Target.

But  for some reason I was stopping my  hand from tossing and sat down to real quicksy take a look.

Love, love, love this pink (favorite color),  chunky (favorite shape), bracelet!

I love this necklace too, the color combination is so pretty!  This is also from JCrew.

 

Sparkly big stones!  From JCrew

 

This necklace is actually from Etsy.  Isn't is divine?  I love how bright and chunky and over the top it is!

And speaking of buying things cheaper at Target....... they have some really cute sort of gaudy, chunky jewelry out right now.  There is a really cute ring for only $16.99 and I am going to wait till it goes on sale and then pounce.

I won a giveaway!

I'm so super excited to get my Matthew Mead Holiday 2012 book!!  I wanted it, but you know it's one of those things you know you shoudn't spend the money on, after all you have Christmas gifts to get for 5 children....a Thanksgiving meal to buy all kinds of goodies for, etc....

I entered on Bluebird Notes facebook page and lo and behold, I actually won.  Thank you Koralee!  Thank you Matthew Mead!

You both made my day!

Couture Headbands

I've stumbled across something called couture headbands on etsy.  I know I am a bit slow, but I had no idea these existed!  And now I'm obsessed.  My youngest girl is 5, so I may still have time to get some of these glorious headbands for her.  Or I can give them as gifts.  I've ordered a few already....

Then I thought well why can't my girls make these?  That may be fun.  But then I would have to get all the supplies.....we'll see..

Here are a few of my favorites on etsy.

This pink headband is from Kailene's Kouture. 

This one is from Sweetest Things Bowtique and she has MANY lovely designs.

I love the bright colors on this headband.  It is from Bella 406. 

I should really explore etsy more than I do, but where does one find the time??  However I do try to purchase Christmas gifts from etsy every year.  I love to support mom's who make things!

What are some of your favorite etsy shops?

I just read Wheat Belly

I was on a Target shopping trip when I wandered through the book section, I normally don't buy books on my grocery shopping trips but this caught my eye and I flipped through it real quick and I knew I had to get it.

It is quite shocking really.  Wheat is the one thing I have never experimented with.  Because everyone, Dr.s, etc... say whole grains, wheat are good for you.  After all I only buy organic.  But this book says otherwise and it is written by a cardiologist.

I have been wheat free for a couple weeks and it really has not been that hard!  If I want a tuna sandwich I put the tuna in a cabbage leaf.  I will admit I am having a hard time with giving up croutons for my salads, so I still put them on but I find I can eat the salad and only have a couple and when I'm done, I have a bowl of croutons left.  Must be an emotional tie to croutons!

The real shocker is reading labels as you are grocery shopping, seeing everything that has wheat!  Even tomato soup has wheat! 

Anyway my husband is doing this with me also, and I've sort of put my girls on it, you know I don't make them because they have to have lunches for school and sometimes they just need to bring fishy crackers.  One of my girls has Tourettes and I have noticed the less wheat she has the less tic's she has.  Now that is amazing!  Cutting out sugar didn't even do that for her!

Let me know what you think!  Have a great week!

A couple things I bought at Junk Bonanza

A few weeks ago I went to Junk Bonanza, a lot of fun....VERY CROWDED. I think I'll not show up right away next time.  Or wait, scratch that, because my first run through I found a couple things I noted in my mind.  When I went back for them they were gone...
Next time I am just going to buy, buy, buy!

I ended up getting a peice of  *PINK* base board, two pink shutters, an orange lower case 'r' and an old light.

I put the pink baseboard in my daughters room up by the ceiling.  I was just going to have it be a cute accent peice.  But then I was hanging her curtain rod and I noticed her curtains were very long and I had a brilliant idea!

I asked my husband to hang them right on the pink baseboard and I really love how it turned out.

The light from the window does not make for a very good picture, but here it is anyway.  The curtains are from IKEA.

I put the pink shutters in my youngest daughters room along side her corner windows.  I realized after my husband had them up that I had them upside down!  He didn't want to switch them for me so there they stay, oh well.

Again the light is not really great, but hey, I am happy it is sunny out today!!  The shutters are all chippy and old.

And here is my latest Lollibag.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!!!

New Gypsy Tote's Lollibag's....

Here are a few more!  I've been having so much fun sewing..... And I used magnetic snaps for the first time, they are just OK.  They are expensive, and a bit time consuming to install.

This is vintage upholstery, I absolutely love this fabric, it's so RETRO.

A brown velvet heart on the front with a huge hot pink flower.  I love bright colors.

This is also vintage upholstery in mocha brown with a mustard velvet heart, coral flower and peices of vintage quilt.

This is vintage olive green and blue checked fabric, the ruffles are vintage drapery sheers and a heart in vintage upholstery.  I think the coral flower gives it a nice POP of color :)

I thought my Lollibag's were getting a bit expected and boring, so I hope this spices them up a bit!

Happy 1st day of October!!

New Gypsy Totes!

I have new lollibag's coming out called Gypsy Totes.  I know these aren't too crazy but I'm going to stretch myself and make some crazy gypsy bags!  I have great vintage fabrics and trims  I want to use and will be on the hunt for more...

Off to the sewing room!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Just some new Lolli's....

With the weather getting colder, I have been spending more time inside sewing.  Here are a few of my new Lollibag's.

My hubby is out of town again, so I am thinking I should be painting something!!  I would love to put a few big chevron stripes on one wall in Sophie's room.  Her room is bright bubble gum pink, and I already have the white paint.....We shall see!

1/2 bath redo

When my husband goes out of town for work, I usually redo something in the house, it's just easier that way.  I have my own methods.  Recently hubby (lucky guy) got to go to Australia, so I tackled the 1/2 bath.  And when I say tackle, that is exactly what I mean.  I have to take a running leap to tackle these 12ft. ceilings.  It is beyond me why a person would need 12ft ceilings, I don't know what the builders of this house were thinking and we really didn't put much though into them being a problem..... until I ordered window coverings, we started paying to heat and cool that extra space, and I decided I wanted to paint!

My dad  brought over his 10ft ladder for me to use.  That sucker is heavy, I have never used so many muscles in my body.  I had to constantly lift and turn the ladder to reach the different walls, oh and I'm afraid of heights, oh and there is no room for a paint tray up there so up and down up and down I went.  The bathroom is small so the ladder never fully extended and that was another issue but oh well.  I got a good workout!

So here is the before picture, above...  My plan  was to stencil a  really cool design over a dark color.  I chose frosted plum for the base.

I really liked it at first.....

And then I got the whole room done and it was sooooo purple I was a bit worried.

But I knew the stencil would break it up a bit.  I went to the store and got a cream color called wax figure or something.  I put up my stencil and started.... and right away I knew this was not going to work.  I mean, OH MY LANDS, this was not going to work.  It was near impossible to balance myself atop  a 10ft ladder while not getting excess stencil paint where it should not be, while the blue tape held it's stickiness, and not to mention the corners, this stencil did not want to go easy into the corners, and after the first two stencil area's and strings of not so nice words I was done.

I thought oh great!  I cannot leave these walls all purple!  So not to overdo the stripe theme, but what choice did I have???  I decided to put big stripes up and then I decided well lets do all different sizes of stripes then I won't have to be so "precise".  Cuz  let me tell you it was a good 20 degrees hotter at the top of that room and sweat was dripping off me and it's dark up there and I'm balancing and trying to get a straight line with my level, every couple feet I had to get down and lift and turn that ladder.

Sorry I'm whining so much.

So I taped up my stripes and painted the creamy color, and I got that done......and I don't have a picture of that color done, but this is why I do this when hubby is out of town... I HATED THE COLOR!

The cream just looked so dirty, I was going for a clean crisp look.  Sigh.  Back to Home Depot for the 3rd time, I picked up falling snow, a nice crisp white!  I had to RE-TAPE the cream and start the stripes over.  But I ended up loving this new white.

I had one more stripe in the cream color at the top of the walls and I said oh heck no, I ain't taping that sucker again!!  So I purpled over the very top stripe.

Most importantly, my hubby like it!  That was a relief.  So he wasn't too upset when he found out I had ordered a new light that he had to install.

I had to take the picture with the light off, because it was so bright.  When we took the old light down, there was so much dripped painted and lines, I had to sand the wall to paint so there would not be lumps.

So this was the project that never ended but in the end I am very happy with how it turned out!  Now I need to find a gaudy white framed mirror and some decor.  I am not sure what type of decor though.

Next week I am going to Junk Bonanza, so hopefully I will find something there!