December 2009 Big Island Slide Show

Handmade Home

I made this purse over the last few days. I am pretty proud of myself. I made the rose out of trim. I just kept rolling it and sewing it in the back. Then I hand sewed it onto the purse when I was done.
I used canvas on the bottom from a drop cloth I got for painting. The other fabric is the same fabric I used for the Boppy cover and the nursing cover. I got the directions from the blog Made by Rae. My next sewing adventure is to make some clothes for me. I picked out some very exciting fabric. I hope it turns out okay.

On a side note. I am not happy with my hair. Brian doesn't see that I need a haircut because I am growing it out again. I disagree. I just want to fix it up a bit. So I am excited because in April I am going to my Sister-in-law's place to get my hair done!

Things That Make Me Happy

I went thrifting the other day and picked up this old flour canister. Thrifting makes me happy. I put one of the zoo tools that I have in it. Now I can see it instead of it being hidden in a drawer. The green canister that Jenna made makes me happy too. I am appreciating handmade items a lot more lately. Of course the engagement pic my dad took makes me happy. I like having it near the stove.
My Mom made me this tile. I just put it up behind the stove where I can see it better. I love this little pig timer. I found it at TJ Maxx. It's made by the Joie people.
Mikey makes me happy. He was doing this the other day. Just hanging over the side. He is so funny. I know a couple of Mikes and they are very entertaining. Our Mike is following suit.
The sun has been shining and melted all of our snow. That makes me happy. It has been warmer outside so we went out. There have been a lot of cats around the house. The girls are looking for them. When they work together and are happy, I am happy.

Celebrating the Irish

We celebrated St. Patrick's day with rainbow jell-o (which took me forever), Corned beef and cabbage (courtesy of Brian), and of course...

Green cupcakes. The cupcakes were very addicting. I asked Brian what it was and he said, "The frosting. The frosting. The frosting." It was the Betty Crocker Rainbow chip. Yummm!!!
I set the table with recycled brown paper for our guests to color on. I drew four leaf clovers under the glasses. Oh the small things that get me excited. The girls really liked the Jell-o. I think we have some new traditions.

Contest

I am posting about a new blog, "Women Who Do It All" that has an awesome giveaway. I hope I win. You can go to the blog here.

My Talk

Today I gave a talk in Sacrament. I had heard that the original speaker was ill so I volunteered. I prayed for guidance as to what Heavenly Father would have me say. I kept thinking about a question that someone had asked me. This friend had asked me why other people in other churches seem to be happier.

Here is the talk I gave. Keep in mind that all that I had said in Sacrament is not here because I was prompted to say other things and I did not write them down or remember what I said. I also write my talks more like notes instead of a word for word speech.

I felt the Spirit so strongly when I was speaking. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to speak. I know that some of the members were touched. I am grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that this is the true church and we get to enjoy the blessings of the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you Mom and Dad for not giving up on me.

What I have been doing

I have been busy trying new things and developing talents. I made this mac & cheese concoction the other day. I made my own cheese sauce with half sharp cheddar and half Monterrey jack, added sweet turkey sausage, and some diced tomatoes. I served it with corn. Brian and I mixed the corn in and it made it just right. Sounds weird but I was using what I had on hand.

I seem to have an abundance of grocery bags. I use them for garbage bags in the bathroom and in our room. I also use them to dispose of Lexi's diapers. I got tired of not having a place for them so I made two of these holders. I used burlap and cut up woman's stocking. I also used freezer paper to make a stencil and then painted the word on them. I think they are pretty neat. I will be doing more freezer paper stencils in the future.

I forgot to take a before picture of this chair. This was a little metal folding chair that we saw at a thrift store. Ellie was taken with it and it was only two dollars. So I picked it up and then spray painted it and then mod podged a piece of scrapbook paper on the seat. Ellie loves it and I like it too.

I made this boppy cover all by myself. I took a cover that I had and used that for a pattern. I sewed my first zipper. It took me awhile to figure that out, but I did it and I was so proud. I gave this to a friend who blessed their son last Sunday. He is so beautiful!

I made this two days later. Another friend of mine had her first baby last Saturday. She really wants to work on breastfeeding. So in supporting that decision I made her a cover. I really like mine. I got the directions from this website.

I have a bunch of other things that I am working on. I will share them when I am done. Mikey is growing and just started clicking his tongue. Ellie might be on the verge of potty training. Alexis continues to love her grandmas and all the activities. We miss our family very much and we love you.

OOOh Weee!!!

I was doing my regular blog reading and my name was on a blog that I love, Prudent Baby. I get a lot of my inspiration from them. Anyways, I got all excited. I didn't win the drawing but it was still cool. I made someone laugh on the west coast and I am not related to them.

On another note I won another contest. I entered over at Spors in the Desert for an art easel. I posted about it here. I got the email today. I am so excited!

Catching Up

I got Ellie some sun glasses for the summer. She thought she was I mean is pretty hot stuff.

Brian was outside taking pics and Ellie got outside too. Doesn't she understand cold? I guess this is what happens when you are born in Michigan.


As a Hawaiian friend said, "That is how the locals do it." Brian was sweeping the snow off of our walk way in his shorts.

I made these Valentines for our mothers. I intended them to be bookmarks, but Mom in Hawaii said that she was going to make them into magnets for the fridge. Why didn't I think of that? Then everyone can see them. Mom's are clever.
We have had visitors at our bird feeder. Mostly squirrels foraging on the ground but this was a new bird we hadn't seen around our house before. We will definitely be doing this again next year. We like looking out our window and watching our visitors eat our treats except in the summer and it's our garden.



This is Alexis during a Family Home Evening. We were dancing and she didn't want to participate so she went into the kitchen but she couldn't stop the beat. There is more about Alexis at her blog. She got glasses and participated in this year's swimming Special Olympics.

All About Mikey

I just wanted to blog about Mikey. He looks so cute naked. Poor baby got the bad Rackham dry skin genes. He loves it when I put lotion on him. He giggles a lot. I have been having trouble getting him to sleep through the night. He has gotten used to eating through the night and I give in and keep doing it. I don't like to hear him cry. It doesn't help that he sleeps in our room. I am ready for a bigger house, but that will come in time. This week I am going to get him to sleep. I will be sleep deprived and will probably end up on the couch. Oh well. Wish me luck.






He is so stinkin' cute!!!

Handmade Home

I have seen on a couple of other blogs making leggings made out of woman's knee length socks. I thought I would give it a try. I found theses at Target in their Valentine Clearance section. So I cut them off right at the ankle and then I sewed a hem where I cut them off. Wha la! Leggings! Ellie loves them.

Sorry for the fuzzy pic. Our camera with working flash was out for repairs.

I WON!!!

A while ago I entered a drawing on this blog. Well, you can guess by my title that I won. I was so excited to see my name. At first I could not believe that it was me. I had to read it a couple of times. I got to pick out a treat for Ellie from Stephanie's Wonderland. I picked the turquoise peony tutu with matching headband. Ellie loves it. I love that she likes to dress up.

Ellie is also wearing her favorite t-shirt. It has a monkey playing a guitar on it.

Celebrating Love, Snow and the Year of the Tiger

For Family Home Evening last week we talked about the two greatest commandments. We read Matthew 22: 36-40. We made Valentine votives out recycled baby food jars, old tissue paper and mod podge. We put battery operated tea lights inside and then attached the scripture on a heart with ribbon. We gave them away today to Grandma Val (It's her birthday!), to a few of the widows from our ward and an older Brother in our ward. He was so giddy to receive a Valentine. He said that he hadn't gotten one since he was a little kid. Brian and I liked this service project and will be doing it again next year (a new family tradition).



Brian took me to see Leap Year. It was cute. He also took the girl's and made me this Valentine. If you click on it you can see it larger and read it a little better. It brought a tear to my eye and touched my heart. I love my family!!!


For the girls I made these felt cupcakes. My first attempt. I think it turned out pretty well. Lexi saw the box and asked if she could have one. I said go for it. She tried to be careful to take one out and then she went to take a bite and was sad to discover that they were fake. I then gave one to Ellie. She took a bite and glared at me with her signature pout. It was funny.



We took time to celebrate the snow. Brian really wanted to take the girls sledding. I stayed in the van with Mikey other than taking the photos.


We had company on Friday and of course I had to try a new recipe. I made Easy Raspberry Chicken with Coconut Rice. It was so yummy and our company asked for the recipe. I love when that happens. There wasn't any leftover because Brian kept piecing on it after we had finished dinner and our company had left.


Happy Chinese New Year!!! This is the year of the Tiger. Grace bought Alexis a jacket and Ellie an outfit that I thought would be great to wear today to celebrate. Thank you Grace. Brian and I wore red for the New Year and for Valentines.


Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!

A contest

I entered a contest over at Spors in the Desert. I found this blog through her other blog Walk Beside Me. She has Montessori info on there that I find helpful and inspiring. I was also excited to learn that she is a member of the church. I hope I win.

Burp Rags, Thai Food & The Black Plauge Song

I made these burp rags for a friend. I gave them as a gift at her shower. I am going to try to give only handmade gifts from now on. It makes me feel good and accomplished. Plus I plan on recycling as many materials as possible. My next projects will be to make Brian some slippers and Mikey some bibs and blocks.



In our culinary adventures, I tried to make Pad See Ew. It is a Thai dish that we like to order when we go out to a Thai restaurant. It turned out alright. I would love to go to Thailand and have someone teach me how to cook some of their dishes.






Ellie was playing Ring Around the Rosey with some friends earlier in the week. She loves this dance song. She can get some pretty good air on her falls too. This was this evening while Brian was out and about doing his Priesthood thing. I sang the song over and over and over and over. Brian had a good giggle when he watched this. I hope you do too.