An Unexpected Choice

In a previous post, I asked for ideas to fill the trifle bowl on my new shelves. I was originally leaning toward fruit before I even posted - what goes better in a kitchen than fruit, right?

But then Rachel posted her suggestion for starfish and/or seashells, and I loved it! I love the beach, and the results do indeed look wonderful with my palette. Some of the shells are from our last trip to visit my grandma on Long Island.

Thank you, Rachel :)

Self Portrait Challenge - Political {Value}

Help us to not get so caught up in

counting the cost of things

that we miss the value of life.
-- Charles Swindoll

to see the final week of political self portraits, click here

There's a story that started on Christmas...

There are a lot of songs about the meaning of Easter out there, wonderful & moving songs. And yet, my favorite one, the one that tells the story the best, is sung by a tiny angel to a zucchini in a top hat.



I hope you and yours have a blessed Easter!

Shoe Girl

I am admittedly not much of a shoe shopper. I like specific styles that I know will fit my foot's shape & be comfortable. I like to have basic colors (black, white, brown) and an occasional fun color thrown in (like my striped Keds sandals), but that's about it. I love looking at beautiful shoes, don't get me wrong, and I gaze longingly at the variety on Endless Shoes and Piperlime, but I never actually buy anything.

Claire, however, seems to love shoes. She loves shopping for them, trying them on, and most of all, she loves wearing pretty shoes! She can't stand the plain black Mary Janes that her practically-minded mother chose for her. Last week she went shopping at Kohl's with me during big sister's ballet class, and this is what we came home with for Easter:

Munchkins by Stride Rite - Tegan in Pink

Get this - I, the practically-minded mother, love these shoes!!! The little sequin details for the rainbows and on the flowers look like boutique shoes. And lest we neglect sensibility, they really will go with so much of her wardrobe. Maybe now that I've crossed the "fun shoe" line, I'll break down and buy these for myself:

Self Portrait Challenge - Political {Green}

Green is my favorite color, which is why my sister gave me this shirt. It was originally for St. Patrick's Day, but I wear it all year long...

Green is also a way of life.
I believe my small choices add up...

use a tote for small shopping trips

use a water filter instead of bottled water

take my own lidded cup to the coffee house (for my tea, of course)

buy organic as much as my budget will allow

open the curtains, turn the lights off

use CFL & halogen bulbs where I can

buy vintage - the ultimate recycling

invested in energy saving appliances when I had to buy new ones

spoke up at city council in favor of recycling (and it passed, not just because of me, of course, but it was a collection of voices that made the difference)

of course, that means I now use my city's recycling program to its fullest extent

collect the runoff water from when the shower is warming up in a bucket, to water plants in the summer

use local, indigenous plants & rocks for landscaping

compost my eggshells and veggie/fruit scraps for my garden


Now I want to know what some of your small choices are. How are you making a difference through small choices? Here's a little kiss for you... small choices make a big difference.




{reuse} {recycle} {repurpose} For more Self Portraits on Politics, click here

Tender Moment

I still can't believe my nephew is one year old. Where does the time go?? I caught this moment between the two cousins today while we were visiting him.

Precious... these tender days are precious.

Something Beautiful

I went to my first Newsboys concert with Melissa. I'd never heard of them, so she assured me that they were great, and she loaned me a tape (a what??) before we went so I could hear their music. It was actually their first and only release at the time.

I was hooked from the beginning. It's hard to believe they are still around making fabulous music 15 years later, when most bands fizzle after a few years. Oh wait, yes I can believe it, because they're fabulous!

Not only that, but this song is lyrically moving on a deeper level than you may think it is when you hear it the first time. The music is peppy, not slow like most profound songs tend to be. But listen past the tune, and you may be moved. I get a catch in my throat every time I hear it. I love it so much, I put it in my playlist in the sidebar, too!

And don't miss the bride's smile -
it is electric, she lights up the room.




God's love for you is something beautiful.
He lights up with a huge smile everytime you walk into a room.
Yes, YOU!

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Please go vote in my poll -
I'd like to know what you think

about autostart on blog playlists.

After you do, take one of these to post on your blog, instead of a real sticker, which you may forget is on your shirt, then put said shirt in the laundry, and when pulling it from the dryer you find the sticker is semi-permanently attached in broken pieces...

Self Portrait Challenge - Political

Left vs. Right?

Isn't it better when both work together

toward a common goal

when something meaningful is accomplished?

to view more Self Portraits on politics, click HERE

Cookies & Milk

Can a cookie be delicious and be good for you at the same time?
These certainly try to be!
OatmealWhole wheat flourHoney instead of white sugarButter instead of shortening (give me the real stuff - my body knows what to do with that!)

My kids love them, especially if I add the chocolate chips (haven't you heard, chocolate is good for you, too!!)




Oatmeal Cookies

1 1/2 sticks of butter, room temperature
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. honey (or granulated sugar if you must)
1 egg
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. water
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 c. uncooked oatmeal (rolled oats or quick cooking oats - either is fine)


In a mixing bowl, beat the 1st 6 ingredients until creamy. Add the dry ingredients, one at a time & in order; blend well. Drop by spoonfuls 2" apart onto cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes so they can solidify before you remove them from the tray, or they will fall apart.


For variety, you can add one or more of the following:
1 c. chocolate chips
2/3 c. raisins
1 c. nuts, chopped
1 c. butterscotch chips
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 tsp. cinnamon & 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Party!

Starting today, through March 14th,

5 Minutes For Mom

is hosting the Ultimate Blog Party!

Lots of fun, prizes, and meeting new friends!

Go on over to their site to join in.


If you're new to my blog, first let me say,

"Welcome!"
Here are a list of a few things you might like to know, to get to know me a little:

1. I'm a homeschooling mom of two fun-loving girls
2. I run a small boutique business from my home where I design & create girls' clothing - Sunnybrook Farm Designs
3. I have a great husband, really really great
4. I take ballet class, including pointe
5. I am so blessed to be part of a church that is focused on each person "growing up, not just showing up", and my friends are like no other I've ever had
6. I am busy, just like everyone else seems to be these days, but I also enjoy relaxing, reading, cooking, photography, and an occasional board game!

And now, what party would be complete without...
Pizza!!


Everyone who finds out I make my own pizza seems either overwhelmed or confused. Why would you want to do that? That is too hard, right? Wrong.

Homemade pizza is economical, healthier than store-bought, and fun, not to mention easy (it took me 10 minutes to whip up the dough & sauce, and another 5 to top it & put it in the oven).
So here's my recipe... use whatever toppings you have on-hand - I used pepperoni tonight!

Pizza Dough
4 1/2 c. whole wheat flour (divided)
1 package rapid-rise-style yeast
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. very warm water (120-130°) (it's important to have the temperature correct, warm enough to activate the yeast, but not too hot to kill it)
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. honey or sugar


Combine 2 cups of the flour, yeast, baking soda & salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the water, oil & honey. Stir in the remaining flour. Knead in the bowl for a couple of minutes (by hand or with a kneading attachment on your mixer) until the dough looks smooth & elastic. Separate into two balls, place on pizza pans dusted with cornmeal, and let them rest & rise for a few minutes while you get your toppings & sauce ready.

I prefer to use one ball for pizza the night I make the dough, and I wrap the second ball in plastic wrap & put it in a zipper storage bag. Then I place it immediately into the freezer, to be kept until the next time I want to make pizza, when I just thaw the ball in the fridge for a few hours before dinner. But if you have a big family, make both pizzas tonight!

Easy Pizza Sauce:
1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 6 oz. can of tomato paste
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder -or- 2 cloves minced garlic
Stir together in a container with a lid, so you can freeze the rest for the next time you make pizza

Now, roll or pat your pizza crust out on a 14-16" circle pizza pan, or to the edges of a rectangular jelly-roll pan or cookie sheet - dust the pan with cornstarch first. Top with sauce, cheeses (I like to use mozzerella & parmesan), and any toppings your family likes. Put it in the oven to bake at 425° for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese starts to turn golden around the edges & is melted in the center.

As you can see, I love to use my Pampered Chef large round stone - it makes the best pizza crusts I've ever created, and they don't burn (what a relief!) Their extra-large sized pizza cutter is awesome, too - I've had it for 5 years, and it still cuts like a dream.

**Party Update - go here for cookies for your dessert after the pizza!**

Now, I'm off to catch up with some blog reading, over at 5 Minutes For Mom!

Oh, and have you seen their prize list? Lots of goodies!!
I'd take these, in any particular order: 20, 32, 70, 92, 100 or 114!

Pink & Blue

I have just listed the next dress in my line of Simplicity designs, this one is in shades of pink & blue:

Click here to see the listing on eBay.

Don't miss the matching Pink Rose Hairclips:

Wonders Never Cease

I really thought winter was over for us. We had no snow before this week for this entire winter, despite a few good freezes - not one single flake. We have just had weeks of short-sleeve weather, with the trees even budding and blooming. I has packed away our winter coats earlier this week.

God is so kind to point out to me how little I really know.

We had about 6 inches of snow today, and more is expected tonight.

My snow angels:

Two doves on my neighbor's fence:

Crisp and clean...

The snowman my neighbor built with a little help from her daughter and my girls:

My neighbor's daughter... she stopped to smile when she saw my camera - what a cutie!

Sweetbriar

I just listed a new ooak dress

Sweetbriar

along with a pair of matching rose hair clips: