Before and After

I saw this on Design Sponge this morning and just had to post it. It seems like every yard sale has at least one outdated TV stand they're trying to get rid of. I've never given them a thought because I had no vision I guess.

Click here to get the how to: http://giggleberrycreations.blogspot.com/2009/11/millas-kitchen-handmade-by-papa-grandma.html

... and then

... and then someone does something, out of the blue, to say thank you, and you feel loved and appreciated. I really do have some fabulous friends, and will remember this as being a golden time in my life. I love it here.

(ps. M.S., this is totally what I'm downloading... do you think Z. will like it?!)

Brandon, an Inspiration

I've been feeling a tiny bit sorry for myself in the past week. With a sick family, the all nighters and other daily responsibilities have left me a little drained. I loved teaching at church yesterday, not only because the lesson was on gratitude and appreciation, but because I was able to hear what the yw are thankful for and what they've been doing to show it.

This video of yet another amazing teen helps me to remember and put into perspective all of the things we are faced with and asked to do. What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to provide service. Is there ever a better feeling than to know you've helped someone right when they needed the help?

I just love this kid!!!

Brilliant.

Fun and funky flats and pumps are all the rage right now, but who has the money to buy every must have color? Well Lori from the famous "Be Different Act Normal" blog has done it again! She's found a way to re purpose an old outdated pair of shoes by SPRAY PAINTING THEM.... that's right, spray painting them. Krylon is magic!

So, as soon as my family stops throwing up, I'm headed to Goodwill to buy me a pair of 80's flats and experimenting because $2.00 shoes + $3.00 spray paint = the smartest thing I've seen in a long time!

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2010/11/spray-painted-shoes.html

The McRib Returns

I saw this headline on Yahoo and squealed with joy...

"THE McRIB RETURNS"

Seriously, SERIOUSLY?!!! OK, so I admit to being a bit of a food snob sometimes, but in this case I can't help myself! This is as close to manna from heaven as you can get. Juicy porky goodness, wrapped up in a soft white bun with little bits of spicy onion, swimming sweet BBQ sauce... yum. I'm so ready for my fix!

"It's like running through a field of four-leaf clovers. It's like finding a unicorn chillin' at the fountain of youth. It's like a hundred Christmases slathered in barbecue sauce. It's the return of the McDonald's McRib sandwich.

The McRib phenomenon is something special in fast food. It's an incredibly popular pork sandwich (cut to look like a short stack of ribs) that only appears once every so often. Despite fans clamoring for it to become a full-time member of the McDonald's menu, the folks at the Golden Arches unleash its pork-flavored fury only once in a while. That time is now.

The McRib (which contains 26 grams of fat, FYI), will appear at every Mickey D's for six weeks.Why is it so popular? An excellent article from Sharon Bernstein quotes one Brian Goodman, 27, of Grand Forks, N.D., talking about his devotion to the sandwich: "I am a huge fan of the McRib, and I am glad to have it back," he said. "I just happen to find this really gross, deformed pork patty to be delicious." That pretty much says it all.

Indeed, the McRib's cult following is something that many acknowledge, but few can explain. There may be basic psychology at play -- people want it all the time because they can only get it every so often. It's like a sandwich that plays hard to get."

- Mike Krumboltz writes for Yahoo!.

I have a funny memory of being big time pregnant with Spencer back in 98 and trying to order at the downtown Hanau, Germany McDonalds. The lady behind the counter kept pretending she couldn't understand what I was saying, even though McRib is pronounced "McRib" in German. I just kept saying it over and over... "McRib bitte, McRib!!!,... etc" She kept saying "Vas?" I got super hot under the collar so she got her manager to help me. I said "McRib bitte?" and he said, "Ya Ya, McRib" all disgusted. But you know he was thinking, "OK you, größe, ugly Amerikorean, I hope you choke on your McRib." I didn't though, I loved every bite!

Masculine

I just love this Texas duplex Martha is featuring in the home tour section of her website. I don't know if I could really live with so much grey, but the pops of color seem to balance things out and all of the light helps as well. Practical or easy to clean????... probably not (too much open shelving and hard surfaces), but it's nice to look at. Those postcards are a fun idea. I wonder if they hang the Mickey Mouse Disney Cruise ones or the "My best friend went to Aruba and all I got was this stupid postcard" ones. Probably not.

The orange is so pretty with the white. White linens and towels are my favorite because they're the easiest to wash.

If my laundry room felt like that, I'd do laundry all the time! All that light, and storage!!!

10 Things to Remember About This Week

Middle child Spencer got the first pin at the first wrestling meet in his school's history. He was super excited.

In just 10 days my little Sophia's managed to pick up strep AND the stomach flu!

I "speed socialized" (youth activity) for the first time last night, and it was awesome. I learned 99.9% of teenage boys' favorite color is blue (imagine that) but I'm the only person, when stuck on a deserted island, who would choose chap stick as their must have item.... the others would all bring a boat.

We did not hand out Halloween candy on Sunday, and heard a disappointed kid scream "Spencer!!!" when he read the note on our door. I guess he thought we were big time party poopers. It was funny.

I've been given the opportunity to FINALLY pull out my embroidery machine to help a friend. I love this friend. She's one of the very best.

I had car troubles for the first time in a lot of years, and am so grateful for that.... the trouble free years, not the repairs. We have an old van that smells like, well, old van/football gear/feet and occasionally rotten banana peel or apple core that gets "lost" under a seat, etc. but is completely paid off. This is such a blessing and I was reminded of that when I didn't have the old thing around for two days.

Elections, tea party, national debt, economy etc.

We've had the best weather of the year this week and it makes me so happy. I'm a little obsessed with weather, but now that we have an irrigation system, maybe I can focus on something a little less geriatric.

I ordered some winter boots a few days ago. I've had the same big black rubber boots, that I love btw, for about 6 or 7 years. They're awesome but a little hard to walk in because they weigh something like 30 lbs. So these new ones are my favorite early birthday present... so far. Optimism.

I showed up at a birthday party 24 hours late and it WASN'T the most embarrassing thing I did that day.

It's NOT Just Me

I'm somewhat notorious for being a curmudgeon when it comes time for school fundraisers. I'm not the most eloquent either, so when people inevitably ask me why I'm not a school fundraiser team player, my explanation usually sounds something like this, "Because they're a big fat waste of time and I hate them." BAM. I've had PTO members actually turn their backs on me during meetings because I didn't think hiring a DJ at a 5th grade graduation was worth peddling horrendously overpriced wrapping paper to my elderly neighbors and friends, who typically, are trying to sell me the same junk for their kid's school/sport of choice. There's got to be a better way!!!

So when I read this article written by Sarah Lorge Butler for CBS MoneyWatch.com, I thought EUREKA, a kindred spirit!

"Last week I unzipped my daughter’s backpack and found a catalog for Yankee Candle. That same night I heard from a friend in Seattle, seeking guidance on pricing items she was required to donate to a silent auction for her daughter’s school. The next day, a friend in Connecticut e-mailed, selling chocolate bars for her child’s preschool.
It’s a fact of life, I’m learning quickly, that schools have to fundraise. Early and often. Public school, private school - it doesn’t matter. Budgets are tight. Families of preschoolers are not exempt.

But it’s time for parents and principals to wise up. Because there are effective fundraisers, which benefit schools and raise a lot of money with little work. And there are terrible sales schemes, which raise some money for schools, but do more to pad the bottom line of the companies marketing cheap goods. Katherine Wertheim, CFRE, a professional fundraiser in Ventura, California, spelled it out for me here.

Buyer Beware:

Restaurant fundraisers: Eat at this Friendly’s or that California Pizza Kitchen between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and your school will earn 15% of sales! “That means that for the school to earn one dollar, you have to spend roughly seven,” Wertheim points out. “People should sit down and do the math.” On a $35 bill, the school earns $5.25. The only time it makes sense is if you were going to eat out anyway.

Product sales: Popcorn, wrapping paper, cookie dough, pasta or candles. The school might get half of the sales. So a parent has to spend $23 for a Yankee Candle for the school to receive $11.50. Why not just write a check for $23 to the school?
What’s worse, many of these companies visit the school and pull the kids out of class for a “presentation” detailing the prizes kids can win if they’re top sellers. Wertheim once bought $42 worth of gift wrap from a boy raising money for a school trip. “I asked him what he needed it for, and he couldn’t articulate why they were going on the trip and what it cost,” she remembers. “But he could beautifully articulate how much wrapping paper he needed to sell to get special bonuses from the company. I’d rather write a $25 check straight to the school.”

Silent auctions: Take care if you’re buying items to donate to the auction, because the average item gathers two-thirds of its retail value. If you spend $120 on wine for an auction, as Wertheim once did, and the highest bidder pays $80, you’d be better off donating $80 straight to the school.

Fundraisers Worth Trying:

Walkathons: At least the kids are getting some exercise. And 100% of the pledges they collect go to the schools.
Scrip: If you’re going to be buying groceries or gas anyway, might as well have a small percentage of that purchase benefit the school. Programs vary, the easiest ones allow you to register your credit cards and loyalty cards to track your purchases.
Just Ask: Businesses might be interested in paying to hang a sign on the baseball field fence; they’ll consider it an advertising expense. Approach local service clubs with a well-reasoned pitch for why the school needs money. You might be surprised how easily you get a $500 or $1,000 donation for the school. While you’re asking, teach kids how to make the fundraising case too, and have them write thank you notes.

Bottom Line...
Parents unite! Here’s Wertheim’s take: “I think the parents need to go to principals and say, ‘There will be no more product sales to our children, and no more catalogs. Tell us what you need and make the case why you need it. We will make the case to other people why we need it. We don’t mind walkathons, but you are not going to have our students taken out of class to view a presentation by a corporation that is going to make at least 50% on the dollar from kids selling their schlocky products.’”

So I'm not saying schools shouldn't raise money period, but there are smarter, more efficient ways of doing it. I also completely disagree with the reward assemblies idea and excluding children who don't sell from parties and other activities, but that's a whole other blog post.

Have I successfully alienated all of my friends? Maybe?

Yes or No?

I've been wanting to stencil a cool pattern on an accent wall in my dining room, but I can't decide what to do. My pretty friend Sarah M. gave me some plastic sheets months ago to cut out a pattern on, so I'm ready to do this thing!.... I think.

What do you think about a modern geometric pattern like this zigzag? I really like it, but I don't know.

I could also do a floral or damask pattern. Damask was my original choice, but I'm afraid it'll look too stuffy.

So, yes or no to stenciling, or a particular pattern... what do you think?

Maybe I should go super Martha and do a faux bois pattern? That wouldn't be a stencil project though, and I really don't want to buy anymore craft supplies.

More Family Tree Fun

I'm scrambling to find a legitimate Personal Progress project. As previously mentioned, I am not so great at doing any kind of genealogy work... so, it seems right, and quite possibly a sign from above that I keep spotting all of these new and fun ideas for family trees. Of course in order to make one of these bad boys I would have to do actual research and figure out all of the who's and whens and all of that. That's the most important part I guess.

I really like this one.

Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime"

Who (over 30) doesn't feel like this sometimes? It's just one of those mornings.... rainy days and Mondays.

Ooooh, Aaaah, Ohhhhh

I'm just about ready to start decorating a couple of bedrooms and have been, as always, looking for some inspiration! I got a giant dose earlier today when blog surfing on Design Sponge. My favorite is this bottom room with the trellis wallpaper and black and white curtains. This is exactly the color palette I've been looking for, for my girls' room. Love it! Not too babyish, but still bright and cheery.

Canadian Thanksgiving

I forgot all about Canadian Thanksgiving until the other day, and just now, when I read Andrew Richie's blog (aka. Canada's #1 Martha fan). I've always liked Canadians, with their accents and Quebec City (on my list of must go and see)... plus, all of my Canadian friends have been really cool as well. So, I did a little research to learn a little more about the how's and why's and what's of Canadian Thanksgiving. Here's what I found on Wikepedia:





Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day (Canadian French: Jour de l'Action de grâce), occurring on the second Monday in October (since 1959), is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season. Although the original act of Parliament references God and the holiday is celebrated in churches, the holiday is also celebrated in a secular manner.
On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:


“A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.”


Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with Columbus Day in the United States and the Dia de la Raza in most of Latin America. As a liturgical festival, Thanksgiving corresponds to the English and continental-European Harvest festival, with churches decorated with cornucopias, pumpkins, corn, wheat sheaves, and other harvest bounty, English and European harvest hymns sung on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, and scriptural selections drawn from biblical stories relating to the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.[citation needed]


While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, Canadians might eat their Thanksgiving meal on any day of the three-day weekend, though Sunday and Monday are the most common. While Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with a large family meal, it is also often a time for weekend getaways. The Thanksgiving weekend, given that it invariably falls at the very end of the summer, is traditionally a perfect time to put away the patio furniture, close the cottage and pull the boat up, thus getting ready for the long cold winter.

It's a lot like American Thanksgiving, only in October. I think it's kind of better because they get can get their Christmas decorations up lickety split after Halloween, and leave them up for a long time too!

So the next time you're talking to our "brothers from Canadian mothers" on the second Monday of October, you can confidently wish them a Happy Thanksgiving, or "Heureux d'action de grâces" and maybe even answer a little trivia. Fancy! I would just say Happy Thanksgiving though because whenever I try to speak a foreign language to a person from whatever foreign country, they 1. act like I'm hurting their ears and 2. get all uppity and condescending about it. Even my Korean language Rosetta Stone program! "SANDOOWICHEE", OK?????!!!

Falltastic Giveaway

Go to:

http://fromanigloo.blogspot.com/2010/10/bright-street-giveaway.html

for an awesome giveaway! Bright Street Design is giving away a beautifully repurposed/ redesigned piece. This dark blue sweater is my favorite! I really hope I win, but you should still enter if you want to I guess.

Really Tasty Biscotti and Hot Cocoa for Dipping

I've been experimenting with different biscotti recipes lately (I don't know why) and have found the most delicious combination of crispy, sweet, nutty and rich. It's pretty easy, but be warned, it makes a TON! Here's the recipe...

Biscotti:

12 ounces butter (4 sticks)
1 3/4 cups white sugar
6 eggs
2 teaspoon anise extract
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 C sliced almonds (I'm going to try pistachios next time)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F ( 165 degrees C ).
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time; beat until fluffy. Stir in the anise and vanilla extracts. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; Add them to the egg mixture along with the chopped almonds. Beat on medium speed for a few minutes, scraping the bowl.
Divide the dough into 4 parts. Roll each piece into a log about 15 inches long. Place logs onto cookie sheets, 2 to a sheet, the long way. Flatten the logs out until they are about 3 inches wide with a slight hump going down the middle. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, loaves should be firm. Let cool for a few minutes. Cut the loaves into diagonal slices 1/2 inch wide, place the slices onto the cookie sheets and return to the oven. Toast on one side, then turn them over to do the other side. This will take about 7 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

AND, if you need a tasty cocoa recipe for the fall and winter, this one is fool proof!!!

Hot Cocoa:

1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

3 cups whole milk
3 cups boiling hot water

Directions:
In large saucepan over medium heat, combine sweetened condensed milk, cocoa, vanilla and salt; mix well. Slowly stir in water (mix well) and then milk. Heat through, stirring occasionally. Do not boil. Store covered in refrigerator.

Biscotti can be made with other things too, like craisins or added cocoa for chocolate biscotti. One of my favorites is biscotti dipped in or topped with melted chocolate. White chocolate macadamia would be delicious!!!

Mod Nursery

Jenny at http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2010/09/tobys-nursery-part-1.html has posted part 1 of a client's nursery redo. I love everything from the sailboat mobile to the hand painted pull down shade (she painted it herself, btw). I also love the long, flowy curtains and the little picture gallery above the crib.

She'll have part 2 posted soon, but for step by step instructions of what you see now, check out her blog at the link above. She's an awesome decorator!

Under Pressure

This is a great song to wake up to.

Free Template and a GREAT Idea

This is another great little project from Lori's "Be Different Act Normal" craft blog. It's two different treat baskets made out of patterned card stock. This is perfect for Visiting Teaching and so easy. You can change the card stock to coordinate with different seasons/holidays and other than the teeniest bit of ribbon, that's all you need!

Ooooh, you can also make a matching card and envelope!

Here's the link... http://thenshemade.blogspot.com/2010/09/tiskit-tasket-little-green-paper-basket.html

... party favors filled with candy as well? The possibilities!

What Do You Do?

What do you do when you're so angry you feel like your head might explode? Count to 10?????,.... walk away..... run for 5 minutes.... sing a hymn.... punch someone in the face...... seriously, WHAT DO YOU DO?!

Cool Quilts

I'm trying to decide on a quilt pattern for my girls' beds. I made yellow duvet covers for them the other day and am now looking for "non-matching" bedding at Grace's request. She's a double digit and does NOT want to have the same pattern or fabric as her little sister and I don't blame her.

So I've been searching for some modern quilt patterns and have found quite a few really pretty ones. The problem is, I don't have a lot of time, so cutting out tiny little individual squares or strips or whatever just doesn't appeal to me. It's definitely not my season for that!

Here are a few less time consuming patterns I've found recently...

Sarah Richardson's quilts are very charming, but not too country. I love how graphic and colorful they are. Happy colors too!

This zig zag pattern is from mmmcraft blog and is actually a duvet she's making for her daughter. This is a great way of using extra fabric or fat quarters. It's beautiful!!!

The bookshelf quilt is so cool isn't it?! Stacey H. sent me a link to Urban Patchwork a while back and I checked out her blog. All of her quilts are amazing! I don't think this would be hard to recreate or even applique bookends or pictures on the shelves. Such a great pattern!

This pattern looks neither simple nor quick, but it's lovely isn't it?!

Maybe for a pillow or doily? Ugh, maybe not... still too ambitious.