the final three

I was surprised (but relieved) to see DeAnna let Graham go last week - especially after what I had said in my last Bachelorette post! I think the three guys left are very strong contenders. I was pleased to see the preview was just a hype to get people to watch for drama - the families were overall quite nice to DeAnna. I loved Jesse's parents!

So, tonight, she's down to the final three. Who do you think it's going to be?

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Post show comment: I am weirded out by the whole "spend the night with each guy" thing. This is the one thing about this show that really bothers me. It complicates things so much more - look at how hurt poor Jeremy was, and I believe it was because he gave his whole self to her. If he had held that part of himself back, and the other guys, too, then they wouldn't potentially get so hurt when she has to let them go. I firmly believe she could make a wise & well-informed decision without the intimacy of spending the night (and all that is implied to occur but never shown). Besides, how weird would it be to know that this girl you're dating for potential marriage is also going to spend the night with two other guys before she decides??

Summer Reading Groupies

**this is a sticky post - it's going to be at the top for a while to give everyone a chance to see - please scroll past this post to read new posts**

I decided that since I expend so much effort on helping my kids with the library's summer reading program, that I would also set a reading goal for myself for the summer. Since when did we outgrow the need to read? Just because we are not children does not mean reading is no longer important to our intelligence or our expanding view of the world around us. Why do we allow ourselves to be so busy that we don't take a little time to grow our minds by delving into the pages of a good read?

So here it is: I'm going to complete 3 books this summer. This is a tall order with our pending move in July. I may or may not make this goal, but I'm certainly going to try!

So join me, won't you? Set a goal for yourself! Maybe it's just to finish a book you've already started, or even read a magazine you've had sitting on your side table. Or perhaps you have more lofty goals than I - 5 books? 10? We'll do it together, sharing about what we're reading as we go, and we can party at the end of August by sharing our completed goals!

Grab the logo & add it to your blog to show you're partipating, and link back to this post so others can join! Post a comment here to let others here know you're participating, so we can come read your Summer Reading posts as well! Invite your friends... the more, the merrier!

It wouldn't be a Summer Reading Program without a prize! On August 31st, I'll draw a name from all participants who post on this thread, and I'll send that winner their own "Anna" bookmark, hand crocheted by me! And if you want to add a prize, post it on your blog, and let me know so I can add it here.

Thank you so much to 5 Minutes For Mom for mentioning the Summer Reading Groupies!

5M4M is a great blog run by Janice & Susan, twin WAHM's with great shops of their own, plus they help promote other WAHM businesses. Check out their sites!

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my book share:

I'll start by sharing about what I am currently reading: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I have an affinity for classics and this one has not disappointed me. It was written in 1847, yet I have been struck by bit after bit of timeless wisdom.

This first quote amazed me in it's forward thinking for the time, in an age when women's lives were somewhat small.

"Women are supposed to be very calm generally. But women feel just as men feel: they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex."

And here is the second, "A thought well-thought"...

"Feeling without judgment is a washy draught indeed; but judgment untempered by feeling is too bitter and husky a morsel for human deglutition"

(I had to look deglutition up: the act or process of swallowing)

We interrupt regularly scheduled packing...

...to bring you the final day of swimming class!

Claire freaked out on the first day of class, and insisted she needed to go back to Level 1 (which she had done for 2 years already!) She sat pouting & uncertain on the side of the pool with her Level 2 class for that first day, while I started to wonder if this was what the next two weeks was going to look like.

However, her teacher, Tommy, was really easy-going and nice, and that made her comfortable. Within the last two weeks she has transformed, and was fetching rings from the bottom of the 3FT. depths, feet kicking in the air with her head & arms completely down at the bottom!

On the last day of class, they get to play and go down the slide (BIG deal with the kids who don't usually get to go down the slide, like Claire, because they can't swim to the side on their own yet.) On the way to the slide, Claire panicked. Another teacher kindly sat with her, explaining that it would be safe & that he would go with her & hold on to her - he did this for 10 minutes! This guy deserves a medal or something!

Here he is, showing her how he'd hold her up when they got to the bottom of the slide, so her head wouldn't go underwater.

Another teacher came to sit with her, joined by another girl who is also afraid of the slide. Meanwhile the guy went to the top - he actually came down, carrying Tommy, held him up & showed Claire exactly what would happen. He deserves more than a medal - I wanted to bake him a cake!

Halfway convinced she went up the ladder. At the top, though, when she saw the rushing water, she had second thoughts. He spent another 5 minutes up there, talking her through it.

All of a sudden, she had a snap moment of courage, and jumped in his lap. He didn't wait - he shoved off immediately and off they go! He made sure they went very slowly. Tommy was waiting excitedly at the bottom for her.

He held her up just like he said he would... and she was smiling!

And just like that, it was over. And she loved it, just like we all knew she would.

Only problem was it took so long to conquer her timidity, that class was over right when she was climbing out, so she didn't get to go down again. Maybe next year!

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And here's a note about what Nicole's been up to - she designed her own necklace combining her craft beads with some of mine, put it on an elastic thread (for easy on & off) and now has a beautiful choker! I told her she just might have a future as a jewelry designer, to which she replied that I would need to share more of my beads for her to do it again. Hmmm... maybe it's time for her to head to Joann's with her own money.

chocolate what??

I took a break from packing to run out to get packing tape. Funny how you run out of supplies when you've gotten into a groove...

Why does WalMart have to put the candy in the same aisle as the packing supplies? My kids were all over the place with excitement at an entire aisle of candy (and they hadn't even had any sugar yet).

I agreed to buy a treat, as they had really been very good all morning. So look what I found:

That's right, Chocolate Skittles.

Perhaps you've seen these, so you're not surprised. However, I normally avoid even looking at the candy aisles and racks at the checkout, the temptation is just too great. But since I had agreed to get a treat, I thought I might as well make it something newly interesting. Here's my review:

- The Vanilla tastes just like Jello Instant Vanilla Pudding.
- The Chocolate Caramel & Smores don't really taste like their namesakes, they were kind of odd - more like Jelly Belly Jellybean flavors
- The Chocolate Pudding and the Brownie Batter look & taste about the same as each other - there's not much color or flavor difference. They do taste like chocolate.

Overall, I'd say you get what you asked for when you buy these - they are chocolate-flavored candies. If you're wanting chocolate but don't want the fat, this might be a good choice. But if you want the satisfaction of chocolate, get some M&M's.

momentary absence

I may not be around much - I'm packing up our family of 4 to move out of our home into a 2 bedroom apartment in 10 days. It's hard to believe it is almost here! It is with mixed emotions that I am packing... we've been in this house for 9 1/2 years, both of our girls were born here, and I've never lived anywhere as long as we've lived here. Moving into an apartment for 6 months - ugh! The future in the new house is exciting, though, so I just have to keep that in mind.



I did start my second book for my Summer Reading Groupies goal - Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl. I have wanted to read this book since for years, so I decided to make it happen, and found it at the library last week. I've read about 30 pages, it is fascinating and I have to keep reminding myself that she was a real girl!

F L i R T

New ooak listing on etsy -

a vintage-patterned dress & bloomers

for those in the size 2 range

click here to go see...

what I'll be watching tonight

I have been hooked on this season of The Bachelorette since the first episode aired back in May! I don't usually watch this type of show, but I did watch the season end of the Bachelor when both DeAnna & his other final girl were let down by Brad, and he went home empty-handed. So I was really excited when I saw DeAnna was the new Bachelorette, she is so honest, sweet, lovely & an all-around nice girl.

The biggest reason I think I like this show is that it is so different watching a house full of men than the usual house full of women on The Bachelor. The men aren't catty, vindictive, nasty, or, dare I say it, high-school-crush-not-really-serious-just-want-a-gorgeous-date like the women often come off as. Men on this show really are serious about finding someone to be committed to.

So tonight is the hometown dates. I'm not sure I want to watch these moms & siblings giving DeAnna a hard time the way the preview suggested. Good grief, lay off, people, just get to know the girl.

I never seem to pick finalists for things like this right. Never. It's embarrassing, really. Maybe I'll get brave & post who I think she'll pick when we're down to the final 2.
So for now, I'll say what I like instead of who I think is going home:

Jason - solid family man, honest, has a wonderful smile, seems quiet & steady
Jeremy - good-looking guy, all along has been focused on DeAnna and has not held back
Graham - I'm actually not fond of Graham, he seems brooding and immature to me (so watch, he'll probably be the one she picks)
Jesse - fun-loving, life is never boring with this guy! and he's got an expressive, serious side, too

y u m

Another treasury from me...

this time, it's all chocolate, no calories!

silver lining

I received some beautiful new treasures from Erin the other day... not only did she make two pairs of beautiful earrings for me (one of which I'm wearing right now!), she also custom-made this cuff bracelet with the phrase of my choice.

To learn why I chose this phrase, read here, and check out the first book in my book list on the left. Now I have a daily reminder.

I know you want one for yourself now - go to Erin's store to order one!

Finished!

I suppose the idea of starting the Summer Reading Groupies whet my appetite for reading more than I had expected it would. Before I had children, I would sometimes read an entire book in a day - start when I got up (sometimes in my pajamas), break only to grab something to eat at meals, then go to bed late after finishing. I haven't done that in, well, eight and a half years. My enjoyment of devouring a good story has been dormant under the surface, though.

While I didn't forsake laundry or fixing meals or other stuff that a mom has to do, I did squeeze as much reading as I possibly could into the last few days, and managed to finish Jane Eyre this afternoon!

It is a moving story. Things I especially liked:

• Jane manages to make decisions based on what she knows in her brain is the right thing to do, despite her emotions almost getting the better of her
• She sees past the visible parts of a person to who they truly are - the outside is not as important as the inside to her
• Mystery & drama!
• The use of words you'd never hear your friends using: indefatigable, hitherto, impracticable, chastisement, unreverberating, pertinaciously, alas!
• Justice eventually finds those who deserve it, but so does happiness and kindness

The closing words of this book surprised me, but if you have read all 432 pages, seen the havoc humanity can cause by their selfishness or closed-heartedness, contrasted by the simple ways one heart can touch another by small unselfish acts, these words seem a fitting, bittersweet conclusion:

"My Master," he says, "has forewarned me. Daily He announces more distinctly, 'Surely I come quickly!' and hourly I more eagerly respond, 'Amen; even so come, Lord Jesus!'"

Now, I think I am ready to once again see the movie!

summer dessert

Yesterday was Chad's birthday. He doesn't make a big deal about his birthday, being a low-key guy. But I made one of his favorite desserts anyway... and I ate some, but just to show him how much I care.


This recipe came from a Clyda, a lovely lady my mom knew from her newlywed days. It had no name, actually, because Clyda "came up with it" herself - so mom calls it Eclair Cake. I prefer to call it Clyda's Dessert. Once you make it, you'll call it Easy; once you taste it, you'll call it Delicious.

It is perfect to make in the summer, because after all, who really wants to have the oven on to bake a cake for 30 minutes when it's 100° outside? You still get chocolate frosting, so no complaining.

Easy. Delicious. Dessert.

Tip: Make this recipe a few hours before you plan to eat it, so the graham crackers soften up and become pastry-like.

Another Tip: For cleanest cutting of each serving through the layers, lay all of the crackers' layers the same way in the pan for each layer - either lengthwise or width-wise.

One box of graham crackers
2 (3 oz.) boxes of instant vanilla pudding
3 c. milk
8 oz. Cool Whip

Break the graham crackers at the perforations to be small rectangles. Lay them in a 9x13 baking dish to create a single layer covering the entire bottom of the pan.

In a large bowl, beat the milk & pudding mixes. Fold in the Cool Whip.

Spread half of the pudding mixture over the graham crackers. Lay out another layer of graham crackers over the pudding, and pat in gently, just a bit. Spread the remaining half of the pudding mixture over the crackers, then make one final layer of graham crackers on top.

In a small saucepan, stir together:
2 (1 oz.) bars of unsweetened baking chocolate
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. milk
2 Tbsp. white corn syrup
2 tsp. vanilla
Stir constantly over medium heat until chocolate is melted completely. Immediately remove from heat, and stir in 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar.

Drizzle frosting back & forth over the dessert, until you've used it all. Then gently spread it out with a knife or spatula.

Cover & chill for several hours before serving.

decorating tips from a 5 year old

We met my parents & sister at a true Tex-Mex restaurant for Father's Day lunch yesterday. The rustic decor was very much on the Tex side of things - tree halves for ceiling beams, animal heads on the walls, horseshoe prints in the polished cement floors, wagon wheel chandeliers.

So I had to take Claire to the little cowgirls' room... as we walked in and she surveyed the varied decorations on her way to a stall, she says:

C: How come everything here has to be cowboy stuff?

Me: This is a cowboy kind of place, so they decorate this way for fun!

C: It's not fun for me.

Me (surprised, thinking maybe the wild boar head on the wall out in the restaurant had scared her or something): Why not?

C: I don't like it so much.

Me: Why don't you like it?

C: If it were half princess stuff and half cowboy stuff, then I would like it much better.

Tessa & Sherbet

Some new designs listed on etsy this weekend! Just use the link in my sidebar to go to my shop, or click {here}

First is a OOAK stripwork dress & capri set from the last of my Simplicity fabrics...
Sherbet

Next is a very special custom line -
Tessa

Tessa is the daughter of Erin from thevintagepearl.
She modeled these special pieces for me, and was my inspiration for the colors & softly sweet designs. Momma Erin's pictures turned out beautifully! Thanks, girls :)

cutie!

the Apron Top, the Ruffled Dress & the Capris

the Apron Top's reverse side

the Capris & Ruffled Dress

Please be seated...

Yesterday I finished the chair I previously posted about starting to refinish. Here's a refresher of how it looked before:

Here it is after a lot of red paint and the cushion recovered with a vintage tablecloth piece:

my own resell

Today I've listed this little set I made for Claire 2 years ago. The top was only worn twice, the pants were never worn. It makes a nice transition set - wear the top over a short or long-sleeve tee when the weather is cooler.

I started it at 99¢ with no reserve - trying to clear out before the move!

The Lot

We have big news - we're moving! Chad started working from home back in February, and since then, we have been looking at houses so he could have a home office. Currently he is using our bedroom for that purpose - it has worked out okay, but is not easy.

We're building a new house that is literally across the highway from our current neighborhood, so we're not going far. We're very excited!!

Not only are we excited about the new house, but we signed a contract to sell our current house last week - one day after putting it on the market!!! God has amazingly laid out this entire path for us step by step - we sought His direction daily, when we were so unsure, confused, overwhelmed, and did not want to step outside His will on this whole process, and in trusting Him we have been shown once again that He is trustworthy. So to those of you who are in a situation that has you feeling the same way, let me say this - He is trustworthy, and He will come through for you. Wait on His timing - it is perfect.


So here we are at The Lot - in 6 months our new house will be on this dirt :)
Here's the girls, jumping for joy...

Here's me - self portrait for the week...

And here, I stood at the back line of the lot, looking at our van in the street. Yes, our lot has had the honor of being the port-a-potty lot for the building of the surrounding homes. Hopefully that honor will move to another lot soon...

I'll post more as things progress. At this point, it looks like we'll be moving into an apartment (right between the two neighborhoods) in early July when we close. The girls are excited about the pool there, so hopefully that will help with the whole temporary down-sizing squeeze!

Pinwheel

Newly listed on eBay today:
(click titles to go to the eBay listings)

Pinwheel Dress

Pinwheel Capri Set

Treasury

I just happened to be on etsy at just the right time to score a spot for creating my own Treasury! Treasuries are collections handpicked by members, along whatever theme they want, and it is from these that the admin's pick out treasuries they like best to go on the homepage. They only allow so many at a time, so you have to wait until enough expire to score one...

Here's mine, but it's only available for 2 days, so go take a peek quickly, and leave a comment if you feel so inclined...

clean humor break

I found a treasure trove of clean cartoons & jokes over at the Reader's Digest website. I love to read their magazines just for the funnies! We could all use a little silly chuckle today :)

I'll start with this one, because it requires a little more thinking...

soft colors...

Newly listed on eBay, custom for sizes 2-5

Beachside

brown & blue

Fun With Upcycling

I took a break from my "normal" designs, and had some fun creating some little tops by upcycling garments that were in great shape except for one small flaw. You know, the piece of clothing that you love, but then it gets a stain in one spot that you just can't get out. You can't stand to throw it out because the rest of it is still in great shape, but what else can you do with it? Upcycle it!

I've listed both tops on etsy - use the links in my sidebar to go see!

Second Rambling Rose Set

I've listed a second set that will mix & match nicely with the other I have currently listed.

Rambling Rose Wrap Top Set

Expert Diagnosis

Today on the floor, surrounded & propped up by pillows, I am pretending to be the patient, as Claire takes care of me (excellent 5 year old doctor that she is.)

C: (calm, soothing voice) Oh, my dear, you will be alright. I will be right back with something to help you.

Me: (continues to lay still, thankful for a few minutes to actually do nothing under the guise of playing)

C: Here you go, my dear, I have some water for you. Drink this, it is your medicine, you will feel much better.

Me: Thank you so much... sigh! (sipping water)

C: (gently pats me & covers me with a blanket) There, there...

Daddy enters the scene, and seeing my sad state, joins the play...
D: Oh my, what is wrong?

C: She's sick and has a fever, Daddy, but it's ok. I am taking care of her.

D: Oooohhhh... that's good. What's the matter with her?

C: It's bad, she's very, very sick... she has ginger-vitis.