Blogs of Interest

Here are a few good blogs that I have enjoyed over the past couple of weeks. So much so, I don't really care about posting anything new on mine.

The first is a fantastic wood working blog I found through Lori's "Be Different Act Normal" blog. It's called http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/. This girl has a passion for building and shares her talent by posting plans for various projects she finds in catalogues such as, Pottery Barn, Land of Nod, Restoration Hardware, etc.... Her plans are super easy to follow and are a fraction of the cost of the original! Check it out, you'll LOVE it!!!

The next is a relatively new blog started by Martha Stewart's friend and Senior Vice President/Executive Editorial Director/Executive Creative Director/ Merchandising for MSLO. His blog takes us through the moving in and remodeling process he's going through in his new, very beautiful apartment in New York City. It's just a fun blog for anyone interested in decorating and classic contemporary style. http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/

Last but not least, http://marthamoments.blogspot.com/. Andrew Richie is one hard core Martha fan.... way more informed and dedicated than I am! He keeps me updated on all the new Martha products, and has a fantastic archive of everything Martha. This is how he describes his blog. "Martha Stewart news, resources and events with original essays on lifestyle topics. Have your Martha moment right here!" AND, this Thursday morning, he will be making cards with Martha Kostyra Stewart, on her show! I can't wait to watch.

The More Things Change...

I can't help but get a little nostalgic around the holidays. Watching the kids open presents and play with their new toys and gadgets brings back so many fun memories of doing the same things with, many of the very same toys and gadgets.... well, modified a bit! Maybe things haven't changed much after all.

Two of the toys I remember most when I was really little are of course, "Easy Bake Oven" and "Sew Easy". These are both available today, again, slightly modified, but still just as fun for kids and just as annoying for parents, because they require constant supervision. Not that I mind playing with my kids, I just think it's more fun for kids to play with other kids, learning together, with other kids.

Underoos were an AWESOME gift, and I especially loved the hard to find "Super girl" ones. The "Wonder woman" underoos were pretty cool too, but came with a bunchy undershirt instead of a bra-like top. Unfortunately they aren't available today, but there are many other cartoon/toy themed underpants for kids to enjoy.... it's just too bad they're not as cool as underoos.

I also loved playing with little dolls and figures. I was obsessed with Barbie, but when I was feeling a little more granola, "The Sunshine Family" was just the ticket. I loved their Walton's-like clothing and creepy round eyes. Today my girls love Barbie as well, but I don't think there's anything like "The Sunshine Family"on the market. Now the stores carry other dolls like those "Bratz" dolls that look like little prostitutes.

-Another one of my all-time favorites were "The Little People" play sets. Most of mine were hand-me-downs, so I had the super vintage cool sets like the barn with the sliding loft doors, but I do remember getting a new set of the Sesame Street figures in the early 80's and loving them! "Little People" dolls are still sold today.

Barbie was probably my most favorite toy ever, but along with the dolls, I LOVED the "Barbie Fashion Maker". Using the embossed plastic plates, carbon paper, and hand crank, you could design a limitless number of high fashion sketches and then color them however you pleased. This toy is still being made, but much improved. You don't need the carbon paper anymore, so there isn't a big mess, with black fingerprints and smudges everywhere.

Most of us at one time or another, ended up with a "Cabbage Patch Doll". These were not my favorites, but I begged my mom for one anyway because, well, everyone else had them. Much like those ridiculous "Silly Bands" or "Web kins" of today.

When I was around 12 years old, we got a Nintendo for Christmas. I vividly remember that morning, opening up the package with my sister and screaming in delight. We then spent the rest of the day playing "Super Mario Bro." and trying like heck to rescue the princess after a couple bowls of "Nut & Honey Crunch" cereal for breakfast. We didn't make much progress, but after several hundred hours of practice, we not only saved the princess, but became hands down, the "Super Mario Bro." champions of the world. Unbelievably, my parents still have this Nintendo and it still works. Once in a while, Candice and I show off our mad "Mario" skills for the family, but most of the time our kids play with it. Funny too, considering with all the high speed gaming systems of today, "Super Mario Bro." on the original Nintendo still rocks the house!

Later during our teen years, I wanted more sophisticated and mature things, like "Jelly Shoes", "Multiples" (that line of versatile clothing that could be a skirt... or a top... or a tube scarf... or a hat... or a belt... or a spaghetti strainer) and cool hair accessories/gadgets. Clairol's "Benders" worked really well on dry permed hair like mine and made it much easier keep my banana clips in. I don't think much has changed. Teens today are still wearing really cool clothes and sensible shoes.

Christmas 2009

Christmas Hats...

Christmas Smiles...

Christmas Coal...

Oh Christmas Tree...

Christmas Nativities...

Christmas Wonder

The Reason For The Wonder

The Christmas season is one of the most wonderful times of the year. However, it is not the gifts, the trees, the decorations, or the food that make this a season full of wonder.

It is when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that the Christmas season becomes truly special.

As we strive to remember our Savior, our desire to live like Him will grow. It is no coincidence that Christmas is the time of the year when people are the most loving, the most giving, the most kind, and the most grateful.

As we try to follow Christ’s example this season and do our best to live as He did, let us find ways to lift up those around us. Let us celebrate our Savior’s birth by being followers of Christ in word and deed.

We testify that as we do so, the desire to follow Him that grows within us at Christmas will continue to develop throughout the upcoming year.

President Thomas S. Monson
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Spirit of Christmas

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for good friends. I got out with Palm Trees and 8 yesterday and we had a great time shopping, eating and venting. I needed it more than I even realized. I've been unloading a lot lately to my friends, and they are always gracious and full of loving advice. I'm going to try to stop though, and be more positive. Debbie Downers can be, well, Debbie Downers, right? Plus, intense bulging forehead veins are so last year.

I am thankful for lovely surprises. A week or so ago, we received a beautiful live wreath in the mail from Scott's Aunt Jean. We very rarely get to see her, and were touched she remembered us during this busy season!!! Isn't it beautiful?!

I am thankful for my new dress form!!! I can't wait to start making clothes that will be ugly at first, but then get better with some practice... you know, once I get my sewing area cleaned up.

I think I'm going to make skirts first, and then some blouses, cap sleeved no doubt, and later dresses. I'm so excited!!!!!!

Easy Christmas Project

Years ago, when my much smaller family had just moved to Germany, we lived in an apartment building on post. It was nice, except my husband deployed to Bosnia a few months later and my nearest family member was a 10 hour plane ride away!

Luckily, I had wonderful neighbors, Debbie and Cathy, who took me under their wing and taught me all kinds of useful things. They taught me how to sew and cook and decorate, all on a tight budget.

One of the coolest things my friends showed me, was how to make simple live garland and wreaths. They always turn out beautifully and take no time at all! If you go to the dollar store or any other discount store, you can find wire garland for next to nothing. Take a few home and lay them out on your table. Then go out to the yard and cut pieces of evergreen and berries and twist the greenery all through the artificial garland. Eventually you'll have a beautiful "live" garland you can swag without having to fool with craft wire and glue!

It really is simple!

ps. I LOVE this picture of Martha's foyer in her old house, Turkey Hill. It totally looks like our foyer in our old Kentucky house, and I loved that house so much... even though it didn't have a garage. Martha sold her house shortly after we sold ours a couple of years ago. We're so separated at birth!!!

The Love of God

Today in church, one of our Young Women gave an awesome talk about repentance. She shared a wonderful story she heard in another talk that illustrated her topic perfectly. So here it is, in a nutshell... and please forgive my memory!

One afternoon, a little boy named "Johnny" was playing in the woods behind his grandparent's house with his new sling shot, trying to get the hang of it. Eventually growing tired, he decided to come back inside, but noticed a duck a little way off. Without thought, he took aim and fired. To his astonishment, he hit the duck and killed it instantly.

His little stomach sunk with the enormity of what he had done, and was terrified anyone would find out. So he quickly decided to hide the evidence by burying the dead duck at the bottom of the wood pile. When he finished however, he was horrified to discover his little sister "Mary" had seen the whole thing. Before he could respond, Grandma called them in for dinner.

After a long and quiet dinner, when Grandma asked Mary to help washing, she replied, "Oh, but Johnny told me HE really wanted to help with the dishes!" She then whispered to Johnny, "Remember the duck".

The next day, the family wanted to go to the movies, but Grandma needed help there at home with various chores. Mary was asked to stay, but said, "Oh, but Johnny REALLY wanted to stay and help Grandma." and again whispered "Remember the duck". So Johnny stayed instead while the rest of the family went to the movie.

Soon, Johnny grew tired of his sister's manipulation and found the courage to confess to his grandmother. He tearfully told her the whole story.

Grandma listened patiently and then lovingly replied, " I know, I saw the whole thing from the kitchen window and I've already forgiven you. I was just waiting for you to tell the truth."

Our sweet YW then reminded us that like Grandma, when we make mistakes, our Heavenly Father sees everything and is just waiting for us to repent. We can lift the burden of sin in our lives, by ignoring the manipulations of the Adversary and humbly going through the repentance process. I know that because of the Atonement of Christ, we can gain forgiveness and move on, doing good things, and trying a little harder!!!! What a wonderful gift, not only at Christmas, but every day of the year!

GO ARMY BEAT NAVY!!!!!

It's the good guys vs. the good guys at 1:00pm, today!

Ugh, the good guys lost.

Brrrr

It's 12:00 in the afternoon and only 28 degrees..... whaaat?!!!!!!

UPDATE:

It's now 5:50 in the morning and 19 degrees in Tennessee. No no no no no no! Must be all that Global Warming.

UPDATE:

8:00am, and 15 degrees.

More Hefty Than Hefty

My oldest son Oliver did a science experiment last week, and I thought you all might be interested in the results.

He decided to figure out which of these 5 kitchen trash bags is indeed the strongest: Hefty, Good Sense (recycled), Costco's Kirkland brand, Walmart's Great Value brand, and Glad.

He then found cans and weights and went to work. He held each bag up 10 seconds after adding more weight, standing on our kitchen chairs to avoid smashing his toes. Smart!

Aaaah, sweet relief when the bags finally busted!

And the WINNER is..... Good Sense Recycled bags holding over 50 pounds!!!!

Good job Oliver!

The Big Parade and Clara

This weekend was a crazy one. In all the hustle and bustle, we missed a few fun activities, but in December, you have to pick and choose, right?!

One of the things we were able to do is get Grace to the couple of "Nutcracker" activities she participated in. She was so excited to get her "Clara" a.k.a. "Marie" costume out again this year, and on Saturday night, she was in character for our city's Christmas parade.

Well, because of our crazy schedule, I wasn't as prepared as I should or could have been, taking into account the freezing temperatures she'd be exposed to. So we layered and layered, used those "Hot Hands" and "Hot Feet", and in one hour, I was able to make some matching winter wear to cover her ears, neck and hands! Hot Glue is my new best friend.... sorry Velcro.

Shiny Happy People

A survey called the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index reveals which states are happiest. Study researcher, Jason Rentfrow of the University of Cambridge in England and his colleagues came to their conclusions by analyzing data collected from more than 350,000 individuals who were interviewed between Jan. 2 and Dec. 30, 2008 as part of the Gallup Organization's Well-Being Index. The index includes six types of well-being: overall evaluation of their lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors (such as whether a person smokes or exercises), and job satisfaction.

Here are, according to this study, the top 20 "happiest" states:

1. Utah: 69.2

2. Hawaii: 68.2

3. Wyoming: 68

4. Colorado: 67.3

5. Minnesota: 67.3

6. Maryland: 67.1

7. Washington: 67.1

8. Massachusetts: 67

9. California: 67

10. Arizona: 66.8
11. Idaho: 66.8

12. Montana: 66.7

13. New Hampshire: 66.7

14. Vermont: 66.6

15. Virginia: 66.5

16. Nebraska: 66.4

17. New Mexico: 66.3

18. Oregon: 66.3

19. Connecticut: 66.3

20. Alaska : 66.2

If I ever moved away from Tennessee, the state that appeals to me most is Virginia, aka number 15. It's so beautiful with it's rolling hills and beaches, but is also close to a lot of fun stuff... and by close I mean within 10 hours of driving. I love Tennessee though, even if it didn't make the top 20.