The Swatch

I have held on to this piece of fabric forever, intending to eventually buy enough to make curtains for my bedroom. Does anyone know where I can find this online?

New Earrings

I put another new pair in the shop. I got a few opinions about the background color, but I'm still not sure, because with warmer metals the light background seems to work best and with cooler metals the darker background... I want my pictures to be somewhat consistent, but at the moment I'm feeling overwhelmed. For this one, I just did both. What do you think?

Let's Make Paper Airplanes

There are not many sweeter things than a father teaching his sons correct paper airplane folding techniques.




It makes me want to buy them this book or any of these.

A Huge Announcement

We are pregnant! With twins! Can you believe it? Click on the comments to see what we are thinking of naming them.

Bijougirl Designs

My dear, dear friend Kristen sent me (all the way from Vail) a Nikon Coolpix camera that I can use. Hooray! So, here are some new earrings. But before I post them in my shop, I need to know, do you like the white background? or do you prefer the dark one that I have previously used?

The Secret Lives of Bees

I have just finished The Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It was a pretty fast read and I enjoyed reading it. I loved being in the time period when my own mother was a little girl and some of the passages gave me pictures of how her life might have been. And although I would recommend this book to anyone, I have to attach to it a disclaimer. There were some religious ideas that conflicted with my beliefs in this book. In a particularly touching moment, an older woman touches the heart of the little girl and tells her that everything she needs in life she will find within herself. Well, if that's true, than I am disabled, dysfunctional and pretty much defunct because left all alone I am nothing and have nothing. The only way I can reach in myself and pull out any power is because Jesus lives in me and he told me that if I "remain [in Him, he] will remain [in me.]" (John 15:4)
Even if I didn't know enough to desire Him to live in me to be my source for everything, I would still need others (and do, because God uses them for His purposes in my life) in order to survive. No wonder there are so many people dealing with the bane of "addiction to co-dependence;" for we have been hard wired to need something or someone other than ourselves, otherwise our search for truth or God wouldn't be needed. He has made us needy so that we will search for Him and He will be found by us.
So anyway, that's what I thought.
I also did a collage based on the book. I know, I'm such a dork. I did it when I was bored.

Old pics

Here are some cute back-photos of Seth and the baby. I love going through old pictures and finding ones that I missed. Happy weekend everyone!

One more thing...

Eeee-gads! I almost forgot one of the most important parts of my kitchen idea! I really want to incorporate some clear glass tiles - perhaps for a back splash. I love the recycled glass look of these "cloud nine" colored ones.


P.S. Can you tell by the many posts today that I am procrastinating doing things that need to get done around the house?

Camera's last shot

I'm still going through old photos since I can't take any new ones at this moment. This shot is of one of my favoritest friends, who is going to be so mad at me for posting a picture of her beautiful self, but I don't care because she's gorgeous and this is one of the very last pictures my poor broken camera took. Gotta memorialize....

Pen pals are fun

I was going through old pictures looking for something to post when I ran across this photo of a package that my kids got in the mail from a pen pal (someone we hooked up with via the blogging world.) I fully meant to post about it when they were doing it, but it got lost in the mix.
Anyway, they were so excited to get a letter from a boy around their age with a little package of stuff from where he lives (salt water taffy, sea salt, Utah brochures - oh, and I can't forget the ever special Pokemon cards.) It also gave my kids good practice to write a letter telling about themselves to someone else (although our package paled in comparison to this one.) Yay for pen pals!

Kitchen Inspiration

Our kitchen is one of the rooms in my house that I sit and daydream about re-doing. It is going to have to be one of those projects that get done little by little, but I have been collecting ideas so that I don't forget what I want to do. That is why I came up with this inspiration board. Next time we get a little bit of money to put into the kitchen, I'll have my ideas at the ready. It might not be as far away as I think!

Vote on tips for a more organized life

Self magazine is giving away a gift certificate to the Container Store. All you have to do is enter a tip that you use to better your life and let others vote on it! I entered one about keeping the car tidy. If you like it, vote "great tip" for me. Let me know if you enter a tip, too - I'd love to hear about your answers for a more organized life!

A lovely room

Since I can't take pictures of any new jewelry right now I have turned my attention to projects that might be awaiting me on the home front. I was inspired by Domino's top ten decorators in this month's issue. (Click on the link to see the other designer's rooms.)
I especially love these tall white curtains with the neutral walls. I've already done some crisp white panels, but I'm thinking of carrying that idea throughout the house.

My camera is broken!

I don't know what to do. The lens won't retract and it's making a funny noise. It won't take pictures either. I'm so sad I could cry.

Computer Art

I used some of Seth's sketches (and some other stuff) to create this collage on Polyvore. Man, that site is addictive.

Jeremiah Goodman

I've always been fascinated with interiors, and that's why the master interior illustrator Jeremiah Goodman is so interesting to me. I decided to get this book, Jeremiah: A Romantic Vision, after reading an article about him in Veranda magazine.

Happy Easter!

He is risen!

(image from flickr)

Resurrection Cookies

I've been wanting to make these cookies with the kids for a couple of years now, but something always happens on the day before Easter and I never get around to doing it. This year is no different because Emet is throwing up, so I sent the big boys to their grandparent's to keep them from getting it. Here's the recipe if you wanna try it:
Ingredients
1 cup whole pecans
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 pinch salt
Directions
1. Read the whole recipe before beginning, try to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
3. You need: Mixing bowl, Wooden spoon, Bible, Zipper baggie, Waxed paper, Cookie sheet, Tape.
4. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
5. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
6. Read John 19:1-3.
7. Let child smell the vinegar.
8. Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl.
9. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
10. Read John 19:28-30.
11. Add egg whites to the vinegar.
12. Eggs represent life.
13. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
14. Read John 10:10-11.
15. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.
16. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
17. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
18. Read Luke 23:27.
19. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.
20. Add 1 cup sugar.
21. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.
22. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
23. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
24. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
25. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
26. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
27. Fold in broken nuts.
28. Drop by tsp onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.
29. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
30. Read Matt.27:57-61.
31. Put cookie sheet in the oven.
32. Close the door and turn the oven OFF.
33. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
34. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
35. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
36. Go to Bed!
37. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
38. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
39. Read John 16:20 and 22.
40. On Resurrection Morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie!
41. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.
42. The cookies are hollow!
43. On the first Resurrection Day, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
44. Read Matt. 28:1-9.
HE HAS RISEN! HALLELUJAH!
recipe by Dianac.

Toys, toys

I've been trying to take pictures of toys laying around because if I find a nice photo it makes me feel less out of control about the total chaos that I am always battling around here. Mess can look nice too...right? That's what I've been trying to convince my clean and neat self so that we can live compatibly in the same body. Because clean and neat will never occur in this house for more than five minutes...and that's o.k.

I always like jewelry with words...

These personalized skinny stacking cuffs are really cool, from Aquabeet. Visit her etsy shop here. Thanks for the introduction Coleen!