My Favorite Things

Macrame

2010-10-10T15:30:00.003-04:00

I just want to give a shout out to the decade in which I was born.

Bandana Bag

2010-06-20T18:40:00.003-04:00

My husband has a huge collection of bandanas that he's acquired over the years and he let me peruse them for use in my new bag. I used the butt of two pairs of jeans for plenty of inside storage space. I love it.

I'm currently working on sewing a cloth diaper with the instructions from this book. I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to use it as a diaper, but they make the best burp cloths.

Birthday Fun

2010-05-30T20:16:00.003-04:00

Ok, so the cat's out of the bag for those of you who know when my husband's birthday actually was; you now know how non-recent my posts can be, BUT for the rest of you, we can go on pretending this blog is an up to date report of my favorite things. We recently (eh hem, relative term here) celebrated Jake's birthday along with two of his good friends who also share birthdays around the same time, and significant ones at that (35 is very significant b/c you can run for president). We had a good ole potluck, some marshmellows by the fire and the yummy cake pictured here. I'm excited to see what God is going to do in the next 30 years!

Wet Times

2010-05-02T20:42:00.004-04:00

Although potty training is not necessarily one of my favorite things, this picture is. Maybe his pre-reading mind will receive some kind of osmosis from his reading material.

First Pattern

2010-04-02T20:28:00.003-04:00

I recently completed my first knitting project following a pattern; a toddler cardigan. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned it out and thankful to my model for so graciously donning a girl's sweater for 30 seconds.

Sous Chef

2010-03-30T12:48:00.004-04:00

It's great having a willing and able assistant in the kitchen these days. Yes, it tends to be messier (honestly not by much) and yes, it requires more patience and less "perfection" (and let's be honest again, we could all do with less "perfection"). Here is my little sous chef buttering the tops of Crescent Chicken Bundles, a family favorite!

Games

2010-03-18T20:09:00.004-04:00

Zane has been into games lately and it's been tons of fun. In fact I woke up from a nap on the couch the other day with his face 2 inches from mine, deck of cards in hand saying, "Play this?" Here we are playing Spin and Go. He also enjoys war and just watching me play solitaire (with real cards, not on the computer). I think we'll tackle chess next. Just kidding maybe Memory or Chutes and Ladders.

Granny Squares and the Internet

2009-12-04T11:59:00.003-05:00

What do they have in common? Just that they are the topics of today's post. I figured out how to make granny squares and I've been mass producing them ever since. I'm not quite sure what I will make with them, but the possibilities are exciting...

Here's my very first one.

Now, on to the internet. There is an explanation to the lack of consistent posts, we no longer have internet at home. I sometimes feel at a loss without it. On the other hand I'm pretty happy with what I find myself doing that I know I would not take the time to do if I had internet access to occupy my time. And then there's the debate on the internet community verses "true" community... I haven't come to any steadfast conclusions on that, but as I stopped by a friend's house to tap into her wi-fi, we got caught up on life as we had a chance to chat and I even got a delicious cucumber hummus sandwich to boot. Not bad for building community.

Hat Trick

2009-10-30T16:26:00.002-04:00

I've been on a hat crocheting frenzy lately and thought I'd show you the results. Zane graciously took time out from his snack time to pose with Mommy for the first one. Which one is your favorite?

Backpacking vs. Camping

2009-10-05T17:52:00.009-04:00

We used to explain our vacations as camping. Then we realized that other people's definition was a little different than ours. We don't camp, we backpack. Do you know the difference? We recently took a backpacking trip in the Adirondacks for a week. Here are some highlights. I tell you, this is the way to go for us. Hubby is so thankful that I'm even willing to spend our vacations this way and he's so into it that he loves doing all the work so do you know what I have to do? Absolutely nothing. A true vacation.

Finally...

2009-09-28T14:53:00.005-04:00

Finally a post and finally the after pictures for our yard! It's still a work in progress, but it has come a long way. My problem was I would do a little yard work here, a little there, and there was always a large patch of yard somewhere overgrown and unhappy. This summer I was able to spend an entire day on the yard and finally felt like I was making progress. So I took a bunch of pictures so I could remember what it's like to have everything looking good at one time. It's on my list of things to do to have more days that I concentrate totally on yard work. Wish me luck!

If You Love Paper...

2009-07-31T14:44:00.002-04:00

And I do. I'm also very fond of jars. If you find yourself with the same likes check out today's easy crafty project here.

Perennials are a Girl's Best Friend

2009-07-01T09:09:00.003-04:00

For those of you who don't know, we moved into the house of an avid gardener of about 50 years. The same owners have lived in the house since it was built in the 1950's. Mrs. Miller improved and perfected her gardens throughout the duration of her living in our lovely home. Unfortunately, the last 4 years or so of her living here she was ill and couldn't tend to any of it. Enter the novice gardener into a jungle of LARGE weeds and overgrown everything. Last year my excuses were that I had a new baby, I hate hot weather, and I didn't even know what was weeds and what was the good stuff. I no longer have a new baby, the weather has been mild and now I can identify those nasty weeds in my sleep. Excuses gone, I've been enjoying cultivating, weeding, learning, and transplanting. A major perk of all of Mrs. Miller's years of garden love is that she planted all different perennials that bloom at different points throughout the summer. There's always something beautiful in bloom. The peonies are on their way out and I have a beautiful yellow lily that's just coming out now.

Perks of Being a Camp Wife (and Mom)

2009-06-30T18:37:00.002-04:00

Here's a shot from the first father/son camp out of the summer. Daddy learned what he now needs to do to make things go a little smoother, so the stage is set for a summer of mommy time, I mean father/son bonding. Really, it's both. I'm enjoying an evening of wi-fi at the local Arby's for the price of a jamocha as Father and Son are on their second camp out of the season. I wonder if Zane will gather a pile of leaves in the tent this time.

A Brave Feller

2009-05-22T12:47:00.004-04:00

When I was a little girl, my dreams of prince charming and my frugality in the making sometimes crossed paths. For instance, I had thoughts like, "If I marry a dentist my family will get their teeth cleaned for free!" or, "If I marry a carpenter, we'll save money on furniture, kitchen cabinets, etc!"

Well, let me share the economic value my rock climbing, repelling, hard core camp husband has brought to our family. He saved us a lot of $$$ by felling 2 big pine trees in our yard all by himself. I was a little nervous, yes, but I knew he knew what he was doing and Zane and I had full confidence in him as we watched from afar.

Easiest Lasagna Ever

2009-05-14T13:04:00.002-04:00

There's something that seems daunting to me about making lasagna. I know, it's not really that hard, but the cooking of the noodles, browning the meat, the assembly... Like I said I don't know why, it just seems daunting. But, alas, I have found the Easiest Lasagna Ever. Actually, the name of the recipe officially is Violette's Lasagna and it comes from here.

8 lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 cup water
4 oz. can sliced mushrooms
15 oz. ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Break noodles. Place half in bottom of greased slow cooker.
Brown ground beef in saucepan. Drain. Stir in Italian seasoning. Spread half over noodles in slow cooker.
Layer half of sauce and water, half of mushrooms, half of ricotta cheese, and half of mozzarella cheese over beef. Repeat layers.
Cover. Cook in slow cooker on Low 5 hours.

Books to Check Out

2009-05-02T13:52:00.003-04:00

Well, things are looking up in the book department. I've come across some great reads as of late and would like to pass them on.

Recycling

2009-04-29T10:08:00.004-04:00

It's time to put away those wool sweaters, or in my case make one into a pillow because I shrank it. Some simple hand sewing was all it took to turn this thrift store cardigan into a comfy addition to our living room! Oh, and an old pillow that had stains on it.

Z-A-N-E

2009-04-24T14:16:00.009-04:00

I was feeling crafty one night and decided to try out my new found hobby of em-
broidery. Found some scrap fabric, got out
my hoop and thread, and framed the results. Zane loves it and is learning to spell his name!

Loving On Your Husband

2009-03-24T13:46:00.003-04:00

I've come to the point where I close my ears when I hear the term " the state of the economy..." Yes, we all know that our economy is in "a state". You won't hear me say one more iota about the subject after this post, I promise. But, this is for those of you dear sisters who, like myself, have been directly effected by "the state of the economy". Tightening our purse strings might be tough and at times downright maddening, but I have a feeling that it's peanuts compared to how it weighs on the souls of our dear hubbies. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom, contribute to the family budget, or even if you are the primary bread winner, I encourage you to take the time to encourage your husband. Let him know it's okay that you shop at the Salvation Army, let him know it's okay that your hair is your natural color right now, that it's fun to make baby wipes instead of buying them at the store. I bet if he knows these difficulties aren't as hard on you as he may think they are, that maybe they won't be as hard on him.

A Garden "Potpourri"

2009-03-03T19:21:00.002-05:00

Yes, it was 12 degrees Fahrenheit yesterday. Yes, it's only the beginning of March. And yes, the ground is still frozen (I tried to pull some weeds last week when the weather was resembling warmth so I know this). But now is a good time to start dreaming, thinking, and planning. I found some sources to get the wheels turning.

Even Etsy is a good resource here.

Of course Better Homes and Gardens has great resources. Check out the garden plans tab at the top of the page.

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere...

And this.

Baby Has a New Bib

2009-03-02T19:44:00.005-05:00

Well, he's becoming less and less like a baby, but that doesn't mean he's a cooperative model. Embroidering the bib was probably easier than getting a good shot of him in it. Here's the best I could do.

Any of you recognize this look of anticipation in seeing the picture on the camera that you're trying to take?

Ok, I'll try holding him and do the self portrait. Drat that didn't work either.

Better, but could we show some enthusiasm?

All right, enough is enough.

So, here it is. I received the bib for my birthday in a cross stitch kit (along with all kinds of other embroidery goodies). I'm not really a cross stitcher so I transferred a pattern from here and voila! It may be ruined in about a week, but it didn't take me that long to do and was good embroidery practice.

Homemade Diffuser

2009-02-28T15:50:00.003-05:00

Ok, I'm cheating. Just posting a link today. Our internet has been temperamental so I want to be quick and to the point while it is appeasing me at the present.

My Bookshelf

2009-02-20T06:23:00.004-05:00

I get good ideas from other blogs all the time and this one I really liked because I love to read. Our "bookcase" is a curio cabinet my grandfather made for me when I was a teenager. He made one for all of his granddaughters. There are only 2 of us out of 12 grandchildren, but it was no small task considering the craftsmanship that went into the curios.

You'll notice I started organizing our books by color until you get to the bottom shelf. Well, as new books came in, I wasn't about to shift all the books on every row downward to make room for a white book on top! Next time I'll remember to leave a little space on each shelf.

The Secret Garden

2009-02-15T16:56:00.005-05:00

What can I say? I'm a sucker for juvenile fiction. I remember watching the movie, The Secret Garden, when I was a lass, but I just have vague memories of a little girl dressed in black, a grumpy older figure and a boy in a wheel chair. And of course, the garden that was forbidden and locked up. This is by far the most delightful book I've read of late. It takes a talented author to have you cheering for the two most disagreeable, spoiled, obstinate children you've ever encountered as the main characters of a book. Maybe it's because I can identify with one of them, the little girl, Mary, that I'm so drawn to the book. If you love gardening, the outdoors, breathing fresh air... any of these, as you know they have the ability to lift your spirits, clear your mind, and set your mind into proper perspective. It certainly is "Magic" to witness this happen to the characters in this book as they discover the secret garden.

Love Exercise

2009-02-14T12:48:00.002-05:00

I used to hate exercise. Then I hated feeling sluggish and tired even more. Now five minutes into any workout I'm always thankful I started. I love jogging, hiking in the woods, and going on walks in the neighborhood, but not so much in the winter time. For one, I find 6am to be a prime time to get an uninterrupted workout accomplished and around here it's pretty dark then and I live on a busy road. Another good option is to exercise during Zane's nap time, which means sticking close to home. I don't have a treadmill or any fancy workout equipment so I turn to the tried and true alternative: workout videos. Here's a list of some of my favorites (none of which I purchased, check out what your local library has).

New York City Ballet Workout I love this one because I tend to be more on the natuarally athletic side rather than the naturally graceful side and who doesn't feel graceful when practicing ballet?
Pick Your Spot Pilates This one has four 10 minute workouts- one for your belly, butt, thighs, and total body. I like it because you have a 40 minute workout or if you just want to sneak in a 10 minute quickie you can.
Basic Training Bootcamp I'm always sore the next day so I know it's working.
Walk Away the Pounds Express- Super Challenge I've done several of her workout dvds and most of them are nice for days when you want a really light workout. This one is one step up from that. I sweat, but it's still nice and light.
Pilates Weight Loss Workout for Dummies I like all the Dummies workouts I've done, but I particularly like this one because it has a 2o minute standing pilates routine in addition to the traditional Pilates floor work. I'm a big Pilates fan and I guess I'm an even bigger standing Pilates fan!

I hope you'll check out some of these dvds and learn to love exercise if you don't already. I'm always looking for new workout ideas to keep it fresh. Leave a comment to let me know what you do for exercise and/or what your favorite workout videos are.

A Forgiving Friend

2009-02-07T11:29:00.004-05:00

You wouldn't know by looking at this picture that underneath all that snow there are weeds waiting to be pulled... a hole ready to be filled... and a pile of bricks waiting to be laid out as a patio. So for that I am thankful for my faithful, forgiving friend, snow for covering up my misdeeds from a season that has past.

Hot Wings In A Bowl

2009-02-06T09:25:00.002-05:00

If you love Buffalo wings and all that go with it; the hot sauce, the celery sticks, the blue cheese sauce, you can have it all with this wonderful soup. I just love it and hope you will, too.

Buffalo Chicken Soup

2,1/4 to 2,1/2 lbs. deli- roasted chicken, skinned, boned and coarsely shredded (or 40 oz. can chicken)
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup coarsely chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 14oz. cans reduced sodium chicken broth
1,1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. bottled hot pepper sauce
1,1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (6oz.)
1,1/4 cups crumbled bleu cheese (5oz.)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (2oz.)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)

In 4-quart Dutch oven melt butter over medium heat. Add celery and onion; cook and stir until onion is tender. Stir in broth, milk, and the 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce.
In bowl toss together mozzarella, 1 cup of the bleu cheese, Parmesan, and flour. Add gradually to soup, stirring after each addition just until melted. Stir in three-fourths of the shredded chicken; heat through. Top with remaining chicken, bleu cheese, and hot sauce. Makes 6 servings.

Hand in Hand

2009-02-05T16:09:00.002-05:00

Thrifting and craftiness go hand in hand. I purchased a skirt from the fifty cent room at one of these stores because it matched my office/guest room. I covered an old pillow with the outside fabric (you can see it goes nicely with the pair of pillows I bought here for a buck). And my next project is to cover another pillow with the lining of the skirt.

Welcome

2009-02-04T09:14:00.003-05:00

During this slushy season we've been directing guests to enter our house through the garage. It's just a little easier to remove shoes and such avoiding sloppy wetness on our hardwood floors. It's not a big deal to get a paper towel and clean up such messes, but let's face it, as a guest you don't want to go sloshing mud and snow into someone's house upon your arrival and I don't want our guests' first emotion as they enter our home to be embarrassment. Enter...

This area used to be where I kept all my cleaning supplies. Not exactly welcoming. I've since added some rugs under the bench and chairs at the suggestion of my husband so that you don't have to step on the cold concrete after you've removed your shoes. Sigh. Much better.

Zane's Top Ten List

2009-01-31T19:38:00.002-05:00

My son has had better luck with books in this past first year of his life than his mama. He definitely has his favorites and if he could talk or write I'm pretty sure he would agree with the list I'm about to present to you, or list it himself.

10. You Are Brave by Todd Snow
9. You Are Important by Todd Snow
8. You Are Friendly by Todd Snow
7. Care Bears Nighty Night by Quinlan B. Lee
6. Buzz Buzz Busy Bees by Dawn Bentley
5. I'll Find You, Kitty by Richard Powell
4. Garden Colors by Anne Geddes
3. Where Is Baby's Belly Button? by Karen Katz
2. Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss
1. I Smell Honey by Andrea and Brian Pinkney

The Salvation Army

2009-01-29T19:22:00.004-05:00

... is my new favorite store. Today I bought 5 sweaters, one short sleeved shirt, and a pair of Gap jeans for $27.43. Of the five sweaters one is from J. Crew, one from Old Navy, one is a mohair wool sweater from Italy. I have to say I don't usually have good luck in these stores, but as I walked through the parking lot I asked God to put a special blessing on my time in the store and to help me find things I would know for sure I wanted. Side note: some of you may know I have a hard time purchasing anything without tremendous calculated thought. Also, to be successful at scoring the jackpot like I did, you need to have patience and a good chunk of time to weed through all the goods to get the goodies. Probably why I never had much luck before, lack of patience. Well, it was well worth it. Retail therapy has hit a new high. There will be no buyer's remorse tomorrow!

Here are some more thoughts on the matter.

10 Reasons I Love My Job

2009-01-28T15:10:00.005-05:00

A Cowl for Your Computer

2009-01-18T19:32:00.003-05:00

My husband has been wrapping his laptop in a tee shirt during its transports. I noticed that this wasn't working too well and when a knitting project I was working on wasn't working out as planned, to save face I decided the project was now going to be a cover for his computer.

Upon finishing the project another idea struck me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the new computer cover can double as a cowl, or as I like to call them, neck gaiters.

Great, now anytime I want to go outside in freezing cold weather and my husband is at home with computer in use, I'm all set. That is of course unless he's doing work with the computer on his lap; it also works great to put under the computer on top of your legs so that your legs don't get hot.

Featured Crafters

2009-01-15T20:10:00.009-05:00

Today I want to highlight some of my favorite crafts on sale at Etsy. Can you see the theme?

pendant by missficklemedia

wristlet by EmiShimosato

headband by Frosting Couture

coasters by 12fifteen

pony tail holders by MaryMarsh

hat by Two Seaside Babes

3

2009-01-14T20:19:00.005-05:00

1. I don't know where I've been, but I just discovered Amazon.com's wish lists. My birthday is in November and Christmas has come and gone, but I'm still dog gone excited about it! I've been browsing the internet adding things to my list left and right like someone's actually going to buy me all these things.

2. Yes, Christmas has come and gone and now I can finally share the handmade gift that I made for all my relatives.

Simply glue the flap part of an envelope to the back of another envelope. Repeat 5 times (or 3 or 4 or 7...). Accordian fold. Decorate, personalize, embellish, and voila. You could use this for many different purposes; keeping wish lists and gift receipts for each member of the family, saving/tithing/spending, the possibilities are endless. Honestly, though I'm not sure that they were a big hit. We'll try again next year.

3. Well, I'm sad to update on my fantasy football league. I turned out to be "that guy" that I made fun of the last two years who midway through the season played players who had byes and just stopped paying attention. Thanksgiving came and fantasy football went down the tubes. At that point none of my players had byes, but I'm pretty sure I didn't play Brian Westbrook the last couple weeks when he was on fire. I made it into the playoffs, so I hear, and played my brother-in-law for 3rd place and I'm such a fantasy football loser that I don't even know if I won that final game. Sigh.

God is Interested in Housework

2009-01-03T20:57:00.003-05:00

As the holiday season dies down and life gets back to normal, usual, maybe mundane, I encourage you to invite God into your mundaneness. I know that's not a word because it's underlined with red little lines right now. A couple weeks ago I was feeling stressed, writing in my journal a list of all the things I had in my mind to do, but never seemed to think of them when I could take the time to do them. I told God that I just can't do it all. I need help. I'm learning to stop and listen when I pray and not just pray and go on with my doings. I could tell you the solution God gave me and how I tried it the next day and I got way more done than I expected to, but the solution for my problem is not the point. It would be a great tip for all, but I would rather you imagine Jesus walking into your house and putting his arm around you the next time you're feeling overwhelmed and gently telling you how you can remedy your stressful situation.

Year End Book Review

2008-12-29T19:50:00.004-05:00

I've kept track of how many books I've read each year for the last 4 years now. I went from 43 in 2005 to 57 in 2006 to 67 in 2007 to this past year's whopping 29. I don't know if adding a person to our family had something to do with it or maybe that it took me about 5 months to read one of the books. I thought I'd compile a list of the top ten of the year, so I went down my list and marked ones that stood out to me with the intention of going back and narrowing down my big top ten. I shouldn't be surprised to find that I had only marked 9 because throughout the year I kept having a sense that I just couldn't find a good book. So here are my top 9 reads of 2008.

The Breastfeeding Cafe by Barbara L. Behrmann~ The old saying goes that sex, religion, and politics are subjects that are off limits. Breastfeeding should be added to that list. With my very first newborn whenever asked if I was nursing or bottlefeeding I felt like asking, "Who wants to know?" It seemed there were few who didn't fall into one of two groups: the lactivists and the bottle feeders who have all been scorned by the lactivists. In all the hub bub surrounding how I fed my baby, this book was an encouragement filled with stories of many moms in their nursing ups and downs. Of course there is a strong lactivist bent (I believe there was a reference to formula as "crap in a can"), but it served as additional humor to me along with the anecdotal struggles in the moms' stories.
What is a Family? by Edith Schaeffer~ Edith Schaeffer is a personal favorite of mine so I eat up anything she writes. The title is pretty self explanatory. This is a good companion book to another one of hers, The Hidden Art of Homemaking.
A Light Affliction by Maureen Hay Read~I don't miss a day of writing in my journal, so the format of this book resonates well with me (it's mostly her journal entries). I also found it very interesting because the author was my high school English teacher. She journals through a time of sickness when I was her student. I remember her taking a long leave of absence and knew she was very sick, but had no idea the horrors she was going through. The rest of the book, covering a span of about 10 years, is encouraging and challenging as she faces the trials and struggles of everyday life.
Mistaken Identity by Newell Cerak, Whitney Cerak, Susie Van Ryn, Colleen Cerak, and Don Van Ryn~ It's one of those books where you feel like you're invading someone's privacy, a People magazine cover story, but they wrote the book and it's an amazing story. God sure does work in mysterious ways.
The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems by Tracy Hogg~ No, not everything did come naturally as a new mother. I had my intincts about some things and stuck to them and I had situations where I wasn't exactly sure what to do. This book helped give some direction and steady ground on those issues I was a little unsure of.
To Own a Dragon by Donald Miller~ It's about growing up without a dad. I grew up with a dad, but just wanted to read it because Donald Miller wrote it. As expected he didn't disappoint. You'll just enjoy chewing on his thoughts.
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp~ This is one I want to own and keep as a reference for all time. Probably one to read once a year. I mean, sheperding your child's heart; what a responsibility and privilege! Wow, I have a high calling.
To Train Up a Child by Michael Pearl~ A good companion book to Tripp's above. This one is more about training your children in the first year(s); training vs. discipline which is covered more in Shepherding a Child's Heart.
Hundred Dollar Holiday by Bill McKibben~Highly recommended to anyone who is sick and tired of the rat race of the holiday season and is seeking something simpler. Our family is celebrating the 12 days of Christmas this year as a result of this quick little read because it's not all about the big day of presents. Don't worry, it's point is not to abolish gifts altogether, but to get you to think about the kind of traditions you want in your family for this time of year.

So there you have it; the 9 books I read this year that I truly enjoyed. What was your favorite read of 2008?

Egg Nog Tea Cookies

2008-12-28T20:41:00.000-05:00

If you love egg nog and all 440 calories per cup, you'll love these cookies.

My Precious China

2008-12-22T17:36:00.005-05:00

For the first time today, I shall post a video. I recently had to rearrange some things in my kitchen because of the antics of my son. We decided to capture his mischief and let him go at it since the plan to revamp was in place. We don't have a formal dining room in our house, so no hutch to put my china in. I rarely use it, but love it none the less, and had it stored in the corner cupboards; out of the way I thought. Enjoy.

Stocking Stuffers

2008-12-21T21:20:00.002-05:00

This year my hubby and I decided to make origami coupons for each other's stocking stuffers. It's something we could make together yet not know what the other is writing. If you're not familiar with giving coupons as gifts, you write on a piece of paper something like "Free back rub" or "I'll do the dishes for a day", etc. The recipient then turns in the coupon when he/she wants it redeemed. We decided on origami because it fills up the stocking more than a coupon book. There's nothing like a full stocking and spending $0 to get it that way.

A New After Picture

2008-12-19T14:32:00.004-05:00

As you can see from this previous "after" picture, there's something missing to the left of the refrigerator; shelves! Well, no shelves no more! My hubby's handy juices were flowing and he put up the shelves that I've been longing for.

Zane seems to like the addition as well.

Calling All Bread Makers

2008-12-06T13:43:00.002-05:00

If you live near me and would like an Amish friendship bread starter, I'll be ready to divide and distribute on Tuesday. If you're really interested and miss this time around I will always keep a portion for myself, so maybe you can catch me on the next round. Or the next.

Dear Santa

2008-12-05T13:13:00.010-05:00

As some of you may know, every year around Christmas time Oprah Winfrey hosts a special episode of her show where she gives away her favorite things to every member of the studio audience; Oprah's favorite things. If I were to do such a thing for my readers this is what I would give to you all. Two differences between Oprah's favorite things and Bethany's favorite things: 1. Oprah actually gives things away, I would just really like to give them away. 2. Oprah gives away things that she personally owns and loves, whereas the one qualifier for this list of things I'd love to give you all is that they're all things I want! So enjoy perusing this list of prizes you would get if I were rich and if you're looking for gift ideas for a certain thirtysomething, crafty girl....

Crock Pot Macaroni

2008-12-01T19:37:00.004-05:00

Here's a recipe for the easiest, best tasting macaroni and cheese ever! Well, that could be disputed but I sure like it.

3 Tbs. butter, chunked
2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp cheese
24 oz. small curd cottage cheese
2 cups boiling water

Place butter chunks in bottom of crockpot. Add next 3 ingredients and pour boiling water over all. Do Not stir. Cover. Cook for approx. 2 hrs. Stir just before ready to serve. Can be baked in 350 degree oven for 1 hr. (I sprinkle macaroni with salt). Enjoy!

Christmas Is Coming

2008-11-22T20:18:00.004-05:00

Christmas is coming and I'm getting ready! This year I'm making everyone's gifts and to make it simple I'm making the same thing for everyone, personalizing each gift. I can't share with you now what I'm making because some of you will be the recipients of these gifts! So for now, just take a look at my desk as I'm in the midst and know that this elf is a busy beaver.

If You Like Color...

2008-11-16T18:58:00.005-05:00

I found these great instructions for crocheting a blanket full of hexagons. I suppose if that much color is too shocking for you, you could use the same 4 colors for each hexagon. Enjoy!

Autumn

2008-11-15T18:31:00.003-05:00

Fall is my favorite season! I could go on and on about why I think it's the best, but today I have a list from a friend of some of her favorite things about fall. Thanks, Emily!

making caramel apples
pecan pies from the neighbors
the Iron Kettle pumpkin farm with the kids
corn mazes
leaf piles with little boys
my gingerbread scented candle
and of course apple picking!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-11-10T17:00:00.005-05:00

Birthdays are still my favorite, though 31 is not quite as exciting as 30. My hubby did great this year, he watched Zane so I could work on the yard uninterrupted (that's what I wanted) while he installed these under cabinet lights above the stove.

Before

AfterWe ordered in Chinese, also what I wanted, and he bought me these snazzy slippers.

And best of all he watched Zane while I took a 3 day road trip to Pittsburgh to visit my longest friend and her new baby.

Freezer Jam

2008-11-04T19:50:00.004-05:00

I love feeling like I'm domestic and there's nothing more fun than being domestic with a friend. Today, I went to my friend, Anca's house, and we made grape freezer jam. It 's so easy. A single batch can be made in ten minutes. Just follow the recipe that comes in a box of this and you've got it!

Mask Night

2008-11-02T20:38:00.003-05:00

If you have a good health food store near you, you might find this amazing facial mask that actually makes your face pulsate. It's a powder that you can mix with either water or apple cider vinegar. It's definitely one of my favorite masks.

The Nursery and the Office/Guest Room

2008-10-30T20:24:00.005-04:00

Here it is, folks, the final before and after pics of the house.

The nursery with orange shag carpet with pink flecks. I actually loved it and planned on making area rugs out of it, but it was just too old and nasty.

If you look closely you can see the shape of every frame the previous owner hung on these walls.

After. A great surprise to find gorgeous hardwood floors under the shag.

If you ever come to visit us, this is where you'll stay!

The Master Bedroom

2008-10-29T19:46:00.005-04:00

Before. Oh darn it, I cut off the cat border.

After.

This dresser was given to my grandmother when she got married.

Her initials and the year she got married are on the front.

Zane in the womb, rocks from the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada, and a doily my Great Aunt Lydi made.

The Living Room

2008-10-22T16:03:00.007-04:00

Before. No, the fireplace is not real, but the heart border is.

After.

In Defense of Art

2008-10-20T09:39:00.002-04:00

In the beginning of October our church hosted an art show and Saturday night they hosted a "coffee house" with live music and the art from the art show was displayed for all to enjoy. On Sunday an art pastor from Austin, Texas, spoke during the service and if you are at all passionate about any form of art I highly recommend listening to it. Even if you just "merely" enjoy art, which you have to admit if you're breathing you probably do, I recommend listening to it. It encouraged me and reminded me that God is not only interested in that which is practical, useful, and purposeful, but that He enjoys and wants me to enjoy those things that have no function other than to bring joy.

The Kitchen

2008-10-19T13:57:00.008-04:00

Blankets

2008-10-17T20:15:00.007-04:00

Tis the season for curling up in a nice cozy blanket, especially if you have a frugal, energy saving husband. My favorite kind are of the homemade variety especially blankets made by someone special. Here are my favorite.

My mom had me pick out all the fabric for this one. It took her 2 years to get to it, but then she completed it from start to finish in one week (the week before Christmas). Go Mom.

This is one my mom knitted when she was a teenager. She thinks it's the only thing she's ever knitted. Pretty impressive.

This one Jake's grandmother (Nana) made for Zane as shown below.

Toys

2008-10-15T20:56:00.004-04:00

Today, I'll just leave you with a link to a list of some great staple toys for the kiddos.

The Seventies

2008-10-11T15:01:00.004-04:00

Oh the inspiration of the seventies. Here are some more house pictures I promised, but you'll have to come back for the after pictures. While you wait in anticipation, think about what you would do with such a kitchen as this and post a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts. The after pictures are coming I assure you.

A Carrot Addiction?

2008-10-10T16:02:00.005-04:00

Generally, when I crave something it's along the lines of say chocolate, pastry, a big cheeseburger... but lately I've been craving and eating carrot casserole like it's nobody's business. Here's the recipe and a picture of the dish after day 3 of eating the leftovers.

Carrot Casserole

4 cups carrots sliced (a 2 lb. bag is 4,3/4 cup)
1 cup mayo
3 Tbs horseradish (my hubby prefers mustard here)
melted butter
ritz or saltine crackers

Cook carrots, mix with mayo and horseradish, put in greased casserole dish and top with crackers mixed with melted butter. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Yum.

This was originally introduced to me as part of a meal delivered to me after I had Zane. Thanks, Mary, it's a keeper.

Evidence

2008-10-08T19:36:00.005-04:00

I'm a pretty neat person. There's a place for everything and everything is in its place in my house. At least for the most part, but I would not give up for anything the little signs that there is someone in the house who can't even say the word, "neat".

A Work In Progress

2008-10-02T18:22:00.011-04:00

A few of my friends that don't live near me have been wondering what my house looks like, how I decorate, what styles I like, etc. All the before and after pictures would be too much for one post so I'll give a little taste here and there of what my humble abode is like. Plus, I don't have all the "after" pictures taken at the moment. So I'll start with the curb side view to which there will not be an after picture for who knows how long because.... well, that would be a whole other post entitled Excuses.

We have cut off a lot of the lower branches on the two pine trees in front so you can actually see the house now. There's a big back yard and a lot of work to do so maybe I'll still be doing this blog when I have an after picture and you can see it.

Now here is an actual before...

And after of the bathroom. It's tiny so this is the best way I could get a view of most of the room.

Sour Cream Spice Cake

2008-09-29T12:00:00.005-04:00

Yum. I made this yesterday and am enjoying the fruits of my labor right now. It's a Betty Crocker recipe but I'll share it the way I did it. I omitted some non-essentials. Also, I halfed the recipe and baked it in a loaf pan because I only had a half cup of sour cream. Enjoy.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1,1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1,1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 large eggs

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease 13x9x2 pan with shortening.
2. Beat all ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

It's a Hard Knock Life

2008-09-28T17:58:00.005-04:00

I use this title for my post because I've been listening to this lately. And when your hubby has had a long hard day on his feet, the items pictured above can make it not such a hard knock day. A wash cloth, towel, some liquid soap, foot creme, a candle, a bucket (not pictured) and a willing spirit (also not pictured) is all it takes to get out all the tension in his feet. Plus, chances are if he's been working hard on his feet all day, you'll enjoy the smell a lot better if you do this for him. See, everybody wins!

Librarian Perks

2008-09-20T15:56:00.008-04:00

As I was talking to my brother-in-law about the perks of working at a clothing store, he kind of laughed at my feeble attempts at saying that free books and getting paid slightly above minimum wage to be surrounded by books, books, and more books could actually be justified as perks. Mainly because it's only a slight step up from what anybody using the library can take advantage of. Well, to add to my list of perks, I do not get charged with late fees, I can check out more than the 20 items allowed to "regular" patrons, and I can order more than 4 books at a time from other libraries in our system. What a life!

As it stands I have 47 items checked out which includes exercise dvds, a few episodes of the second season of The Office, board books for Zane, books on fig trees that my husband is studying, Anna Karenina, and these four beauties-

Also, I can suggest books for purchase and I'm in love with the Discover America State by State series from this publisher. Check it out.

Yogi Berra

2008-09-16T17:20:00.018-04:00

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from a baseball and anecdotal legend.

"It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much."

"Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting."

"A nickel isn't worth a dime today."

"Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded."

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."

"I made a wrong mistake."

"I always thought that record would stand until it was broken."

"If the fans don't come out to the ball park, you can't stop them."

"Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel."

"The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."

Words to the wise...

Vacation

2008-09-14T21:11:00.012-04:00

Vacation is definitely one of my favorite things. And when you feel relaxed and glad to be back to your life at the end of a vacation, it was a vacation well spent. Here are some visual highlights:

Zane waking us up at the crack of dawn so we don't miss the sunrise

Zane playing with rocks on the beach of the ocean, I mean Lake Superior

Zane sleeping in the tent while we enjoy the the sunset

Taking naps outside the cabin

Playing on the beach

Canoeing on Burntside Lake

Wilderness Escape

2008-08-20T22:05:00.009-04:00

As I started packing for vacation to Minnesota, I thought back to our first 2 years of marriage living there and all the wonderful memories...

canoeing...

winter camping...

camping out on Lake Superior...

and so much more. Cross country skiing, polar dips, building quinzees, BWCA trips, the list goes on. But I tell you, were it not for these books, I don't know if I would have been willing, let alone eager to experience all this stuff. I wanted to be a pioneer woman ever since I was a little girl reading these stories . Turns out I married a pioneer man at heart and we lived the first season of our marriage in this beloved cabin pictured below with no plumbing, an outhouse 10 yards away, and a lot of warm, cozy memories.

So, Minnesota, here we come! We've missed you and can't wait to play again!

Football Fever

2008-08-18T21:10:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year, my favorite sport is about to start. In fact my husband is flipping back and forth between the Olympics and the pre-season game on ESPN as I write. This will be my 3rd season doing the fantasy football thing, something I had wanted to do for a long time. I've been the only female in my league the last two years and though I've not ended out the season winning the championship (yet, watch out, boys), I have to say I've given them quite a run for their money at times. If you follow football at all I recommend this fun passtime to dabble with this coming fall and winter season. Go Eagles and go Woodburners (my fantasy team)!

No Strings Attached

2008-08-17T20:55:00.002-04:00

Ever go on a walk with a little one in a stroller? Ever spend more time picking up the toys that precious little one chucks to the ground over and over than you do walking? Well, that may be because you have no strings attached to your stroller! Here's an idea that is so simple that most of you may have already thought of it, but if you're like me sometimes the brain foregoes the obvious. Simply tie a fairly thick string on one side of the stroller, loop some toys onto the string and tie the string to the other side of the stroller. Happy walking!

Simple Pleasures

2008-08-15T13:40:00.004-04:00

Talk about simple, I love toiletries. I'm always curious at the combination of toiletries that people have and like. Here are some of my favorites right now.

My shampoo (only 99 cents on Tuesdays at my local grocery store)
My body wash (I love lavender)
My face wash (it makes my face feel very soft)
My deodorant (I like the apricot scent plus no antiperspirant means no underarm stains)
My foot cream (great for summer)
My pore strips (these work great)

Also check out my sister-in-law's sister-in-law's products at the link for Simply Pure under my favorite websites. Yes, I said that right, my husband's brother's wife's brother's wife would be another way to say it. So what are some of your favorite toiletries?

Pillow Project

2008-08-13T09:21:00.007-04:00

A finished project can be oh so satisfying, but sometimes the project can be so overwhelming that the finished product is a long time coming. Here's an idea that breaks up the project into small parts that you can feel satisfied about every time you complete a section and then multiply that satisfied feeling when you're all done!

What I've done is knit or crocheted 8 squares and then hand sewed them all together, four on front, four on back. I used a different stitch for each square. The stuffing is an old pillow I had as a child that is thread bare beyond repair, so it has sentimental value. This is also a good way to use up yarn that you don't have enough of for other projects.

The Ranch

2008-08-12T13:34:00.012-04:00

How many wives get to hang out at their husband's place of work all day every day if they want? I don't know, but even though his work hours are long and sometimes it's hard, I feel very blessed to be able to share in what he's doing and have my son around so many fun activities and people. It's one of my favorite things to spend a day at the ranch.

Activities like...

the Alpine Tower,

games on the ball field,

hanging out at the pool,

watching the horses,

and just enjoying the scenery.

And of course there are the people...

Porch Thoughts

2008-08-11T16:25:00.003-04:00

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

I'll let this speak for itself and only add that it is one of my favorite things that God does when He points me to exactly what I need to hear.

Cooking Marathon

2008-08-09T19:32:00.008-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is cook a bunch of meals in a day and freeze them for later. If you have a place like this nearby it's quite convenient and extra fun to do with a friend. I've also done it at home and have found that it costs about the same. Doing it at home makes for a long day and a lot of clean up, but on a day like today when I can reap the benefits, it makes it all worth it. Here's what the hubby and I had tonight:

Shepherd's Pie

Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 Tbs olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 lbs. ground meat
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2/3 cup hummus
3 Tbs butter
1 squash, julienne
1 zucchini, julienne
2 sweet potatoes

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place sweet potatoes in oven and cook for 35 minutes. Saute' onion in olive oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Add meat and mushrooms, cooking until done. Stir in hummus and set aside. Saute' squash and zucchini in 1 tablespoon of butter until just tender. Take sweet potatoes, peel away skin, and mash with 2 tablespoons butter. Grease a 9 x 9-inch casserole dish with butter. Spread the meat mixture evenly in pan. Cover with vegetable mix. Spread mashed sweet potatoes over top. Cover and freeze. When ready to eat defrost and cook in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and let cook for 5 minutes.

It's not your typical Shepherd's Pie, so if it's usually not your thing, you just may like this dish after all. I got this recipe from Jordan Rubin. And when it's all said and done, whether it's your big day of cooking, or cleaning up after any meal, I like to use this to do one of my not so favorite things: the dishes.

Pajamas

2008-08-08T21:48:00.009-04:00

Today my favorite thing is staying in my p.j.'s all day while playing with my boy and enjoying the fall like weather. While I don't recommend living in your pajamas, every now and again it's good to tone down any trace of Type A personality you might have and just relax. If you need convincing, read this.