Thanksgiving Thursday 91-104

There's a lot to be thankful for this week...even though it was one of those weeks where I was sick.

91. Little lady's lovely birthday
92. Snow. on her birthday, just like her brother had snow on his.
93. unseasonably warm weather...for treks to the park

94. Freebies in the mail (this week it was pure minerals foundation samples and Zevia)

95. InLaws who came over to take care of the kids while I rested after being sick through the night.

96. Exciting news from a friend.

97. Being one step closer to both our vehicles working again. :)

98. Silly silly kids.

99. planning a visit from best friends sometime this summer

100. a hubby who takes care of me when sick.

101. a corner store we can walk to to pick up a few things later today.

102. new motivation for old resolutions

103. exciting ideas to make our backyard lovely

104. new mercies

I'm linking up again with  a punk, a pumpkin, and a peanut for thankful thursdays. :)

Happy Birthday, Grace

My fiesty

silly

demanding

strong

intelligent

dramatic

tender

imaginative

creative

artsy

foodie

FOUR year old!!

I thought you'd be a boy. U/S proved otherwise. God gave me you, Grace.

I thought you'd gaze at me with eyes wide, soaking in the bright lights, but eyes were closed tight and lungs were loud with the sound of life, Grace.

I didn't think you and I would ever bond, your witching hour coming on, everyday the same time. But like a sudden breeze, your nightly crying would soon cease, and we could really get to know you, Grace.

I don't know how to be a mom to a girl, but you sit beside me and demand your nails be painted, and you're so still, not to ruin the lovely shades of pink and orange and blue and purple...my pretty, Grace.

You surprised me and delighted me with your singing, now we sing duets nightly and enjoy sweet hymns, my Amazing Grace.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl with the middle name so appropriate...Grace.

I'm linking, as usual, this Monday with lots of other ladies across the country to Gracelaced Mondays.

Birthday Pyrex Love

We had a party this afternoon...I used some of my yellow daisy cinderella bowls, and my constellation promotional piece for serving, along with a few other pieces....just not pictured. I LOVE using the divided casseroles for serving two different items in one dish.

Thanksgiving Thursday 73-90

73. pyrex arriving parcel post without even a scratch
74. finishing a huge slipper order part 2
75. little lady's super awesome playdate evaluation for preK
76. little man's amazing interview for K

This is what he did in the interview when she said, "Show me the number 6 with your fingers" expecting him to show her 6 fingers!

77. unexpected etsy sales
78. people who are willing to help me get to the post office
79. birthday party plans
80. no more tangles sprays and shampoos
81. sunshine
82. washi tape so pretty
83. catching up on fun shows when children are resting
84. resting children
85. ability to create and give a gift to one in need
86. silly pictures from years ago that still make me smile
87. silly jokes with my best friend
88. mustache humor...."I mustache you a question.."
89. hope
90. great crochet patterns to follow (mostly by http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamachee )


Today I am linking up with  A PUNK, A PUMPKIN, And A PEANUT  for Thankful Thursdays .(Since I've been doing it for a while anyway!! :) 

I'm Not Just A Pinner Pinterest Challenge #1

Today I am linking up to "I'm On My Way's" Pinterest Challenge.

The project I chose were these cookie bars:

Source: everythingtoentertain.com via Brie on Pinterest

But I had to put my own twist on them.
My adaptation:
I used 2 cups almond meal and 3 cups flour
I used 1 cup of stevia in the raw and 1 cup sugar
I used 1 tsp of baking soda
I used 1/2 tsp salt
I added about 1/4 cup applesauce to the butter/sugar/stevia/egg mixture because I was afraid the stevia would dry it out.


I also have no cream cheese, so I had to go with a basic butter cream icing recipe.

The finished product was more crumbly than a typical sugar cookie, and I think the stevia should have been cut to just 1/2 cup. Otherwise, not a bad pinterest do it yourself project. :)

How to Make Your Own Etsy Banner from Picnik

Okay, so Picnik is closing in April, but I *think* will be available through Google+. I'm just not super hip with G+ yet, so I haven't signed on.  I am making all my banners now, and saving them in a file. You may want to do the same.

Here' my template, you can use if you like, basically you need a 760pxX100px


(printable instructions click here)




First go to www.picnik.com
Click get started now
Click Upload Photo
Upload the banner template (760px X100px)
You are in the EDIT Folder. Look at the toolbar and choose EFFECTS
Scroll Down the Left effects until you see TINT
Choose the desired color
You can continue to scroll down to TEXTURE to add a layer of texture on the template
Next look on the tool bar and choose TEXT
On the top left, type in what you want your shop to be
Then click ADD
The text will appear on the image sometimes way huge, and white.
You can change the font color and size...and then scroll down the left bar clicking on different   
     fonts until you find the one you like.
Repeat with any taglines you may wish to use.
Now, if you want to add even more texture, click STICKERS
If you right click stickers, you can do things like send it to the back even behind the texture if you
      prefer.
When you are finished, click SAVE AND SHARE folder
Save to your computer into your prefered file.

Now you are ready to upload your shop banner.
Once you sign in, hover over “Your Shop”
Choose Info and Appearance
Next to Shop Banner Image,  Click Choose File
Find your new banner in the folder you saved it in and upload.
Save changes.
Admire your handiwork.






Here are a couple I made myself.

Foodie Friday-Mudslide Fudge Cookies Pinterest Recipe Review

Source: foodrenegade.com via toastycrow on Pinterest

Looks nommy? Well, I made them today, and they are quite tasty!  Mine however, weren't as flat, (perhaps too much cocoa powder to egg white ratio? I measured, but did use two different brands for measuring cups.

The flavor really is dependent upon the quality of the items you use. I used TJ's cocoa powder, and for the chocolate chips, I used mini nestle chips because that's what I had on hand.

Extremely rich, not bitter, not overly sweet either. These will be a good go to when I am having a horrid craving for something carbarific, but don't want to walk that road.

Here's a pic of mine:

Momma, Watch Me

Boy I love this little "princess ballerina." She came downstairs dressed in her dress up clothes and did the craziest little dance for me. :)

Grace in Goodwill Hunting

I enter the thrift. My path set before me, I know exactly what I'm looking for. I know exactly where I am headed and you cannot pull me to the right or the left. I'm focused. My eyes are on the prize.
My eyes scan up and down back and forth, bottom to top...I'm looking for the ever elusive vintage retro ugly pretty unchipped uncracked pyrex glassware.

Many trips end with disappointment.
Some end with a nugget...maybe a coffee mug or canister.
And some end with me smiling from ear to ear...pretty pyrex wrapped in newspaper tucked in bag.

This weekend was all of the above. Friday, nothing. Saturday morning, a pyrex canister that I wasn't thrilled about, but was happy to find, some crazy daisy mugs...mostly Corelle Livingware and two Pyrex ones. But Saturday night was my score. I dragged Mr ToddlerWhisperer to one more thrift while we were on a child free excursion. And on a cart...they hadn't even made it to the shelf...3 beautiful Woodland casserole pieces. The prices were not amazing, but I was so happy to find pretty, shiny pieces. When I got to the register, the lady surprised me and gave me such nice discounts on each piece...I think she couldn't believe the asking prices for ugly ol' dishes...so I paid only about $3 each piece.

So, how can I find grace in  my Goodwill hunting?

I think I need to look at my walk with Christ as I do my treasure hunts to the thriftstore. It's exciting, a thrill, I'm on the hunt! I can go to the thriftstore five days a week, and you know what? There's always something different there for me. I almost always find something new there. A nugget...or the grand prize, it's about perseverance and returning. And seeking. Had I not made the choice to turn into the parking lot on Saturday night, I would not have walked away with the treasure I was seeking.

Now, if I can approach my morning Bible time with that same enthusiasm!! Thrilling over insights that the Holy Spirit reveals in the Word. Seeking Him with a fervor that can't be swayed to the right or to the left.

Isaiah 55:6 says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near." A little more insight into this verse is found in Wesley's notes on this passage:

55:6 Seek - Labour to get the knowledge of God's will, and to obtain his grace and favour. While - In this day of grace, while he offers mercy and reconciliation. Near - Ready and desirous to receive you to mercy.

It's not always easy to seek. There may be obstacles that are in the way of making it a daily habit. But press on, do the work. He's present. He's offering his mercy and reconciliation. Receive it.

This post is part of a link up to my friend over at Gracelaced. We're finding grace in the every day...and you can too.

Quick 'N Easy Lucky Clover Free Crochet Pattern

Printer Friendly Version Click HERE
Happy Friday!!
I have a fun pattern for you. I need a couple lucky four leaf clovers for a pair of slippers I'll be making this weekend and decided that I didn't feel like looking for one all over...so I wrote a pattern up while watching Bambi....and wouldn't you know it, there's even a scene when Thumper is being scolded for not eating the clovers and only eating the flowers!

It's cute, huh?? Depending on how tightly you weave the center, it will kind of pucker...I kind of love it that way.

Quick 'N Easy Lucky Clover

Supplies Needed G hook worsted weight yarn yarn hook Skill Level Easy Abbreviations ch  chain sc  single crochet dc double crochet sl st  slip stitch cluster: sc,3dc,sc 3dc in same stitch Directions Ch 5 join to form ring ch 1 sc 12 into the ring sl st in 1st sc. ch1 sc in same stitch as join, 3dc,sc, 3dc in that same beginning stitch  (this is all in the same stitch that joined the last round)  sc in next, sl st in next, cluster in next st, sc in next, sl st. in next,  cluster in next, sc in next, sl st in next, cluster in next, sc in next, sl st in last stitch. Ch 6, sl st back down the chain, join w/slip stitch in the last st.  Finish off and weave in ends Copyright Jennifer Kaye 2012 you may make and sell products from this pattern,  just don't pass off the pattern as your own.  A link back would be appreciated for online selling of finished products.