The World Through Sophie's Eyes

 I just found these pictures in our iPhoto folder and they're so funny! Sophia got a camera from her Aunt Kelly for Christmas and I had no idea she put it to such good use! Here are some of her pictures and a couple that Grace took of her. She even figured out how to use the different special effects. Love love LOVE that six year old!!!! (Soon to be seven.)

The pillow pet was her second favorite gift.

Design Sponge at Home

I just pre-ordered "Design Sponge at Home" and I'm so excited!!! Design Sponge is one of my favorite blogs to read daily because of Grace Bonney's fabulous sense of style and her inexpensive and fresh DIY ideas. Right now if you go to

www.designsponge.com/

there's a link to Barnes and Noble where you can, as her reader, get 50% off! So go and get a sneak peek!!! I can't wait to get my book, explore and get crafty! So far my favorite project is the butterfly dome she has shown in one of her previous posts. That might be a project for the girls and I later on today if I can get to the store. She also has before and afters, plus home tours and more. The cover is beautiful as well, no? That persimmon color is my favorite right now.

Quilting is Cool

This is a quilt I made for my BFF Sarah, who is getting ready to have her first baby. It was a really fun quilt pattern that I will definitely use again!

Modest Haute Couture

I  love the fact that Catherine, since becoming an official royal, has chosen the loveliest, most modest dresses and outfits for her royal excursions!

That black and cream lace number is out of this world beautiful! I'm not a good enough seamstress to make that dress, but a skirt?... maybe. She shows that adding texture, interesting prints, and color can make an outfit pop without showing a lot of skin! The green dress at the bottom is my favorite! I wish I was a better sewer. I also wish I was a milliner. Those hats are INCREDIBLE!

Aaaah, the Duke and Duchess... what's not to love?

A Few New Blogs

"THE HOUSE"...I'm pretty sure I found this blog on "DoorSixteen", but honestly can't remember. For all of you renovation junkies, this is a blog documenting the restoration of a lovely English Victorian. It's a fun way to experience a renovation without having to live in it!!!   http://thehousethatkatandfredbuilt.blogspot.com/

"HOW ABOUT ORANGE"... I just found this blog through Lori's "Be Different Act Normal" and I love it.  It's full of fun crafty ideas, including this gem... paint swatch boxes. I don't know what I'd use them for but it doesn't matter! Check her out: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

"MIGI'S KITCHEN"... Migi's Kitchen is a blog I've been following for quite a while. She makes deliciously healthy Korean food  with very simple instructions. Her photos are always beautiful and clear. She also documents her travels with her husband, and occasionally spotlights restaraunts she visits along the way! This is one of my favorites!!!  http://www.koreanhomecooking.com/

"COTTON AND CURLS"... I don't remember where I ran into this blog, but it's great for people who sew and like to refashion thrift store finds. The clothes this gal makes are super cute and pretty modest. She offers tons of free tutorials. http://cottonandcurls.blogspot.com/

I Need a Good Laugh...

... That did it.

Color Inspiration

 If you live in the forest where you can find huge logs to cut into different size tables, you're so lucky!

I've been wanting to redo my family room to accommodate a larger craft/sewing area now. I love both of these desks because they're colorful and super organized! Martha made the little stone paperweights out of pretty rocks with felt glued to the bottom shown above and the birch pencil holders. Both would be fun projects to do with kids.  I also love how she painted her message board that lovely blue color against the cream. If I had 20 foot ceilings and a huge office, I would totally do this!

 For the longest time in our last house, I wanted to convert one of our kitchen windows into a garden window. We never did, but  I did do something sort of like this and it worked beautifully. It's a space efficient and inexpensive way to grow fresh herbs and pretty flowers in your kitchen. Clever Martha!

Okay, so this last idea comes from Jenny at www.littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com. It is my FAVORITE little project that I'm going to copy for sure! She found it here: www.kikis-list.blogspot.com where Kiki (I'm assuming) used fake butterflies from the Martha craft line and mounted them in beautiful frames. Bringing some color into my entryway would be a good thing, and this is just perfect!

I am loving technology and really creative people!

Apple Dumplings Like Oma Used to Make

I love experimenting with new recipes, and I love it even more when they turn out well! My sister sent me a recipe the other day for apple dumplings and it sounded weird enough I had to try! I tweaked it just a little and it turned out delicious! Not only is it easy, but it requires ingredients that most of us have on hand. My whole family loved it, I hope you try it and love it too!

(PS. While it's perfect for fall, it would be beautiful and delicious during the holidays as well. Adding some sugared cranberries would make the sauce a lovely pink color, and served with some vanilla ice cream, it would be an easy alternative to homemade pie.)


EASY Apple Dumplings:

2 large Granny Smith Apples peeled and cut into 8 wedges
2 packages of refrigerator crescent rolls
1 C butter
1 1/2 C white sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp flour
1 1/2 C Sprite

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cook until it's completely incorporated all of the butter. Pour over the apple dumplings. 
4. Pour Sprite over the dumplings.
5. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes uncovered in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
6. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes so the sauce can thicken up and serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!

Holland, MI 2011

We had such a WONDERFUL vacation a couple of weeks ago in Holland, Michigan. We rented a lovely house on Lake Michigan with Scott's family and enjoyed spending tons of time together on the beach. Lake Michigan is such a sweet summer vacation spot for so many reasons. 1. Crystal clear water, 2. No salt, 3. Great weather (no scorching hot temperatures), 4. Absolutely beautiful, 5. Gorgeous beach houses, 6. Picturesque coastal towns to explore, 7. Clean, sandy beaches, 8. No tide, 9. No jellyfish, seaweed or sharks 10. Manageable waves, 11. Fresh berries and fruit, 12. Bike trails, etc..... In a nutshell, it's a great vacation destination and we highly recommend visiting!  Here are some of my favorite photos:

The girls were thrilled that Uncle Gary brought his tents. We've been promising a camp out for a while and this was the perfect night for it! 

BEAUTIFUL!

One stormy night I was able to catch a lightening strike on the water. I was pretty impressed with myself.

 Scott's uncles are incredibly generous, one giving us a tour and ride on his incredible yacht and another letting us zip around on his wave runner all afternoon! Super super nice.

 My brother-in-law made the bean bag toss game and it was a huge hit. The cottage we rented has a big back yard so we were able to play lots of games... and by "we" I mean the kids and other adults who are actually fun.

 Our home away from home. Not bad!

Aaaaaah.... this is where I spent most of the week and have no regrets. Zero.

Cousins, Cousins, there were never more amazing Cousins...!

Frozen custard is the perfect end to a perfect week and Culvers is simply the best... It's better than all the rest. So if you haven't had it, you are missing out because it's dreamy delicious! Such friendly service as well.        







(All the photos were taken with my Canon s95 point and shoot. Thanks to Sarah, my cousin-in-law for the excellent recommendation. It is most perfect!)

Mini Mode

Ha!, I have finally figured out the much anticipated (only by me) mini mode on my camera. Here is a sample, with no editing or fine tuning, because I don't know how to do any of that yet and don't have the time to figure it out! I am, however, addicted, so whenever I finish my homemaking duties for the day, hash out the YW stuff that's stressing me out, take the kids to the pool, etc... I'll crack open the instructions and learn, learn, learn! Look at me all learning.

Deviled Eggs... Perfect 4th of July Picnic Appetizer

When it comes to bringing an appetizer to a party, I know I can never go wrong with deviled eggs. The last time I brought a double batch of them to a party (48 servings!), people started rushing me…but not to say “Hi,” give hugs and kisses, etc. Instead it was more like a stampede with exclamations of “Oh my gosh, you made deviled eggs!” People were grabbing the little puppies straight off the platter—it was clean 15 minutes later." By Jessie Price, Deputy Food Editor for EatingWell Magazine


My Deviled Egg Recipe:


Eggs
Miracle Whip
Salt
Pepper
chili powder
paprika
chives


Boil eggs for 8 minutes and then let them sit with a lid on for a while. Then pour cold water over them after cracking and soak until they're cool. This makes peeling a cinch! Then peel and cut them in half, reserving the yolks in a bowl. Add Miracle Whip to the yolks and whip until it is super creamy. Salt, pepper and a dash of chili powder to taste. Fill the egg white halves with the yolk mixture and garnish with paprika and chives. It's a really pretty recipe. People enjoy eating pretty food I think, but not if tastes like garbage! It's all about the balance.

Independence Day

Happy Birthday USA!!! I've had a harder time lately feeling patriotic, not because I don't love my country, I guess I've just allowed myself to become discouraged. Growing up, I was blessed to live all over the world and it gave me some perspective. I've now been back in the US for almost 10 years (the longest I've ever lived here in one stretch) and I suppose I've become jaded as well.

So while it's not "Thankful Thursday", I just want to take a moment to say how thankful I am to be an American with all of the freedoms my family and I are able to enjoy everyday. I'm thankful for our Founding Fathers, I'm thankful for the efforts and sacrifice of our early settlers and pioneers! When I think about all of things that have fallen into place to make way for the past miraculous 235 years, I'm humbled and determined not to take things for granted!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!