lickey, lickey

Forget that new stainless steel dishwasher.

::my cheaper option::

::there's nothing like wearing lunch and an afternoon snack on your shirt::

shells

I love the beach! Living in Destin for almost 4 years got my juices going for all things beachy. The closest thing to a beach here in Memphis is my girlfiend's backyard sand pit. Hopefully one day soon I will have the sand between my toes on a near daily basis. My dream....an all white, shabby beach cottage somewhere on the Emerald Coast. Ahhh, dreamin' is fun but the price tag is not. I'm addicted to starfish and sandollars...shells just bring some sort of pop to a picture frame or an apothecary jar. Makes me feel at home.

There are some big changes going on in my family's lives. Change is good and usually I'm up for adventure and the curves in the road. This time...I'm a little sad. My parents divorced when I was 17 and they've since remarried and both live WAY far (like as in 18-20 hrs away). But my one immediate family member here in Memphis is now moving. My brother. He has an awesome experience to go to a incredible innovation design school in Chicago. It's one of the top 3 schools and he was accepted. I'm so very proud of him for following his dreams no matter how hard and challenging it is. He is trusting in God fully and whole heartedly. My selfish side wants him to stay here. I guess I feel comfort in knowing he's just around the corner. I still have my grandmother and 2 aunts here but there is something about having him here that brings me peace. I will have to say that I'm totally stoked about going to Chicago and having a free place to stay...oh boy, is he in for a good time when we all crash at his place!

Good luck Uncle Z!!!!

oh ye of little faith

hubby: babe, your blog is really good.
me: uh, have you never looked at it before?
hubby: yea, but it's really good and you're funny. I just wouldn't have a clue how to do all this stuff. (this coming from gadget guru)

So, thanks hun for the vote of confidence! He always thought I was crazy for taking all these random pictures of furniture, crafting, and the kiddos. Now that he sees it all together he thinks it's good. I love him!

without Him

As a child of God, I often wonder where my life would be without my Savior. It's only by His grace that I'm forgiven for my short comings and sins. I'm not perfect and I never will be. Thank goodness for an ongoing relationship. I've slipped and fallen and tried to get right back up and follow Him but sometimes I chose the wrong way. I'm tearful in thinking of God's arms just waiting and calling me back Home. He's there with arms wide open to hug me and tell me how much He's missed me. I am so comforted in knowing that if I fail I will not be shunned. Here on earth I have problems with perfection. Little by little I'm learning to let go but some days I find it ever so hard. Freedom comes on the weight of God's shoulders. Let Him carry it for you...it's amazing what giving it fully and honestly to Him can do for you.

sweet

Today is cookie and cupcake day for the shower. I'm not a baker by any means but thought I'd try my hand at these cookies a couple of weeks ago when my kiddos were craving snickerdoodles...ok, I lie...I was craving snickerdoodles. The boys were just happy to get their sugar rush on. This is the BEST cookie recipe and almost reminds me of those yummy Lofthouse cookies you buy at the grocery. You know the ones that melt in your mouth and are literally covered in icing that boasts a perfect circle. MMM! Ok, so try them!!!!

1c buttah
1 1/2 c sugar
2 lg eggs
2 3/4 c flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Once combined mix your dry ingredients. Chill dough for about 15 minutes. Now, since these are normally a snickerdoodle cookie you scoop out a ball and roll them in cinnamon-sugar BUT I used the dough and rolled it out to about 1/2 in thickness and cut them in squares. I tried a cookie cutter but the dough is so buttery my body heat was making the dough too wet. I used a basic royal icing that I added some bittersweet chocolate too and then made a buttercream that I colored pink.

Buttercream:
1 c butter
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 c powdered sugar

I cream my butter and vanilla then add the milk. Slowly add the powdered sugar so you aren't looking like a ghost from the first swirl!

Sit back with a yummy cookie and a tall glass of cold milk....ENJOY!

happy birthday grammy!

Yesterday my precious grandmother turned 78. She is one of those women that lives for family. She would do anything and everything for you without asking anything in return. Since she has everything under the sun and is hard to shop for, I decided to make her a frame.

Happy Birthday Grammy!

or grandmom, nannie, grandma

no-sew is always bettah!

I don't sew...period. It might be a patience thing but all I know is it's not my thing. Growing up, I lived in Hancock's with my mother. She would drag me to the fabric store so we could get all the necessary items for my bubble suits. {You know you wore them...with your Keds or Sam & Libbys}. Ha! I used to hate all the measurements. Trying pieces of fabric on so it would fit just right. My mother would stay up night after night sewing the most beautiful dresses for me so I could match in our family's Holiday attire. That's right folks, we were THAT family. The ones who wore coordinating outfits. I love her for caring so much! Plus it gives us all a good laugh.

Ok, ok...on to my current state of affairs. These "curtains". Since I don't sew and my budget as of late doesn't call for custom curtains I decided to shake it up a bit. By shaking it up I mean digging into the basket of fabric my mom left me and finding something "new" to satisfy my shopping bug. These were completely made using hem tape. It's my 2nd new obsession...my 1st being spray paint...or is it Mod Podge? Too many choices! Anyways, I envision these curtains with a big monogrammed initial in the middle of the curtain between the ribbon. I'm not digging the ribbon but it's what I could find on a whim. I don't know what it needs but the sheer ribbon just ain't working for me. Any ideas?

pretties for a sweet baby girl

Those who know me well know I live for all things girlie. I love the big bows, smocked bishops, and anything monogrammed. So, since God blessed me with two boys I live for the chance to do anything for those little princesses. Ooh, I get so excited just talking about it. I know I will be blessed with grandbaby girls...right, God?

My sweet friend Sara had Miss Olivia Faith 10 weeks early. Let me just tell you, this sweet angel has pushed every envelope since she was given life. Sara had problems throughout her pregnancy and with every problem she trusted, without wavering faith, that God had Olivia in His hands. It was awesome and powerful to see. Ten weeks early Olivia decided she wanted out and ever since has triumphed. She's gained a little over a lb in a month and is getting cuter by the minute. I really love her. The first time I saw her I cried. I don't know if it was the sheer joy of seeing my girlfriend's dreams come true or the miracle of what God can do. We praise Him daily for his blessings! Keep this precious family in your continued prayers as they've endured over a month with Olivia in the NICU and have about 2 weeks left, God willing.

I think she was about 2 weeks old in this picture.

They had taken all her oxygen and feeding

tubes out to clean her off. Do you see how te-tiny she is?

When she was born she weighed 2lbs 12oz.

On Saturday me and two other gals are throwing Sara a shower so I crafted all day yesterday. Here are a few things I made:

Baby sleeping sign.

Back


Picutre frame for the food table:

Of course it had to have her initial!

I'm going to put this on the mailbox. Balloons are over rated, ha.

I wish you could see how cute this "ribbon" is.

The camera is not being nice!!!!

Sweet plaque. Got the idea from Jen . She is one talented momma.

Check her out!

I used some old little pearl flowers I took off

a hair clip. Look around your house...you'll never believe

what you have hiding!

Can you tell I'm addicted yet? I think I'll use this tag

to adorn the cupcake stand.

Sara lost her mother recently and she loved butterflies. We decided to

do the shower in choclate brown and pink, her nursery colors.

I thought it'd be sweet to add little butterflies throughout

so Sara would feel a little bit of her mom here. I'm

going to hang these from the ceiling above the food table

and hopefully find some baby pink paper lanterns.

I can't wait to post pics of the shower!