Friday, May 30, 2014

Just a Quote for Friday


"A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing.
She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her
destination prepared to be herself and only herself."
~ Maya Angelou

Thursday, May 29, 2014

This Week in my Garden ~ Be the first to say hello.

“Cultivate a good life – be the first to say hello.”
Becky Higgins shared that phrase on Facebook a couple of weeks ago
and I just loved it! I’ve been thinking about it ever since...
For the most part, I’m usually the first to say hello. Yes, I’m the person you should not make eye contact with if you are walking down the street in a totally bad mood and don’t want to be bothered!
But I’m also human, and I have off days like everyone else. On those days I am touched when a random stranger gives me a smile or says hello. I see it as a sweet little gift from the universe – an acknowledgment of my existence and a reminder that I matter.
I am truly blessed and very grateful to say that I am never lonely. I have people in my life to remind me that I matter every single day. Unfortunately for many people on this planet, that's not always the case.
What if the grumpy old guy you just walked past is one of those people? And what if you had taken a second of your day to smile and say hello to him instead of hurrying on past? That may have been the only acknowledgement of his existence that he’s had all week.
I hope the next time you have an opportunity to make eye contact with someone you will give them a smile and be the first to say hello. And I really hope the next time you’re having a rough day, someone will do the same for you!
And here's a little add-on:  The late, great Maya Angelou once said, "If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'good morning' at total strangers."
Something else to think about...

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Judi's Pineapple Cake

On my birthday this year, my friend Judi sent me an apron. I was so touched when I unwrapped it and noticed that she had included a hand-written recipe card, tucked in the apron pocket just like my mom used to do. {If you missed yesterday's post, you can read it by clicking here.}




I couldn't wait to try Judi's recipe, and let me tell you, this one's a keeper! I baked it to take to our friend's house last weekend and it was a big hit. Then I took the rest of it to work the next day where it was gobbled up and the recipe was requested.




This is a moist and dense cake that's very easy to throw together. Wow - you've gotta' try this cake!




Judi's Pineapple Cake

Mix the following together in a large bowl:
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sugar
2-1/4 cups flour
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts
 
Bake in an ungreased 13 x 9" pan at 350° 30-40 minutes (my oven took 30 minutes).
 
For the frosting, combine:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1/4 cup oil (I used butter)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Frost cake while still hot, and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
 
Yum, yum, YUM!!!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Simply a Team Teal Moment

I am in my birthday glory, riding in Carrie's backseat as she drives us to the restaurant where we will celebrate with a nice dinner. She and Doug chat away in the front seat as I happily open my birthday cards and packages in the back.

I have a package to open from a dear friend of my mom’s. Actually, now that my mom’s journey is done, I proudly call Judi my friend. She is a beloved soul and a sweet connection to my mom – something I am oh so grateful for. I tear open the padded envelope with excited anticipation and I pause for a moment to appreciate her pretty wrapping – beautiful pink tissue paper with a bright orange ribbon tied in a generous bow.

"Oooh! Look how pretty!” I say, holding it up for Doug and Carrie to see. Doug admires it in the way a boy admires things like that, but Carrie sternly reminds me that she can’t look right now.
I untie the orange ribbon and pull the pink tissue paper back to reveal an adorable apron. “Oh I love it!” I squeal as I lift it up, allowing the fabric to unfold and reveal the apron front. And then my eye catches a sweet little extra in the apron pocket – a handwritten recipe card tucked there, just like my mom always did when she gifted an apron – with a favorite recipe from Judi.

In this moment my mom is right here with me – a memory tucked inside an apron pocket from a thoughtful friend. Gosh, I love my birthday and the gifts of this wonderful life.
As I link up with Alexa today for her monthly “Simply a Moment” meme, I’d like to express my gratitude to her. After a two-year run, this is the final installment for “Simply a Moment.” Thank you, Alexa, for hosting us and encouraging us to stop and notice our special moments. It’s been my pleasure to join you!
PS: I made the recipe that was written on Judi’s card, and I’ll be sharing that on my blog tomorrow.

Monday, May 26, 2014

My weekend so far...

Hey there friends!
I was going to start this post with a few lines from the song Zip A Dee Doo Dah but I'll refrain. Man, I love a Monday morning that's also a day off work. The past couple of days have been awesome. Come, I'll show you...


We kicked off the weekend with Friday Night Date Night with our sweet sidekick, Carrie. I was in the mood for a burger and Doug was in the mood for a pool table, so we went to Doc & Eddy's where we enjoyed both. Side note: D&E's is where Doug and I went for our first date. :o)

It's hard to believe that the month of May is almost over and our weather still feels like spring. We're usually deep into triple-digit-temps by this time of year but I'm not complaining! I loved being able to be outside this weekend to enjoy a bit of gardening.


Carrie called me Saturday evening on her way home from her dad's to see if I was up for an impromptu shopping trip. Uhhh...let me think...YES! We headed out to our favorite outlet mall and snagged some great Memorial Day sale items. And it's always fun to ride in Carrie's car and listen to her mix of music...

I loved seeing our baby turtle, Casper, out and about yesterday. I swear she eats none of the food we put out for her so I worry that she's not getting enough. But I watched her for a while yesterday and saw her foraging for bugs and nibbling on dichondra grass. Gotta' love nature.

My original plan for this weekend was to do a whole bunch of sewing. I did spend a little time at my sewing machine yesterday afternoon, but that may be all of the stitching I get done this weekend. It was still pretty awesome, and I did complete the project I'd hoped to finish. 
 
Doug headed north yesterday morning to spend time with his brother and play in the woods {read: shoot his new bow and drink a few brews} so I was solo for the day/evening. Carrie and I went shoe shopping, had lunch, got pedicures, then grabbed a coffee before she brought me back home. This next shot of palo verde trees in bloom was taken in the Starbucks drive through. See what I mean about a mild month of May? Usually it's stinking hot by now and these trees are done blooming. Pretty, huh?





Today's agenda: yoga class with Carrie this morning, banana bread to bake, laundry to be done...maybe I'll pick up a pencil and my sketchbook and go outside...



Today as we celebrate Memorial Day, we'll fly our flag proudly as we remember the servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country. May we all take time to be grateful for their sacrifices for our freedom.

Have a lovely week, my friends.
Zip a dee doo DAH, zip a dee A...Mr. Bluebird's on my shoulder...

Friday, May 23, 2014

Just a Quote for Friday


"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."
~ Martha Graham

Thursday, May 22, 2014

My Review of Sketchbook Skool

When Alexa mentioned on her blog that she was going to sign up for an online class called "Sketchbook Skool," I followed her link to check it out. I read through the description and thought about it for a day or two…talked to Doug about it…just couldn’t stop thinking about it…and finally took the leap and signed myself up.

















The term “sketchbook” encompasses so many different forms. I had always admired the sketchbooks that Carrie’s great-grandmother had created – full of the most beautiful pencil sketches I’ve ever seen and accompanied by thoughtful journaling. Seriously, her sketches look like photographs and they are the epitome of family heirlooms.

I’ve kept my own form of sketchbooks over the years {above photo} – filled with rough drawings of ideas I had in my head for projects to make for my mom or friends or family members {photo below}. I knew this class wasn’t going to teach me the basics of drawing, but I had a feeling there would be plenty of creative goodness to absorb. And I was right!




Over the course of six-weeks we learned from six different artist teachers. I loved getting the email on Friday mornings with a link to the new videos for the week. It was so much fun to have a tour of each artist’s own unique sketchbooks – each of them so different and so wonderful – and it was also really cool to watch videos of them actually sketching in their books.



I remember thinking early on that the class was not at all what I thought it would be, but what I ended up receiving from the class was far beyond anything I could have imagined or expected. Little bits of information here and there, and the experience of watching seasoned artists creating really fed my own creative spirit.

Before this class, I had never sat and drawn something just by looking at it – my previous drawings were more like doodling. This class taught me to really look at an object or scene – I mean, really study it – and then put it on paper. I learned about drawing the hard-outline first, paying attention to negative space and light, looking for shadows, and embracing the uniqueness that makes my artwork mine.



My apprehension slowly turned to confidence and I can see how this could take on a life of its own with daily practice. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the meditative aspect of sketching. Putting pencil to paper puts me in a place where there is no time or worry. In fact, time seriously flies when I am sketching.



I’m not sure how often I will blog about my sketching – time will tell, I suppose. But it would have been silly to post a review of Sketchbook Skool without sharing the work I created during its course.


You can read more about the class by clicking here, and the faculty members by clicking here. My favorite teacher was Jane LaFazio and you can see her work here. I love her artwork and her style and the fact that she does yoga poses in public. Awesome!
Do you keep a sketchbook of your own?

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Cupcakes for the Graduate


When I found out that our nephew Cris was going to walk in the ASU graduation ceremonies, I quickly volunteered to bake cupcakes for his celebration. And when his wife told me that his favorite candy was Reese's Peanut Butter cups I was on it!


Carrie had seen the idea for the chocolate graduation caps somewhere (Sorry...I don't know the original source because a Google search provides a plethora of options). I used a hot skillet to touch the peanut butter cups to just so there was a melted surface, then I stuck them to a chocolate square (I used Ghirardelli). Then I piped a line of yellow frosting for the tassel and topped each with a small M&M for the button. They were a big hit! The cupcakes were yummy too - I found this recipe for chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting - perfect with those mortar board toppers.


I also made red velvet cupcakes and created some toppers with ASU logos printed on cardstock, punched and attached to toothpicks. Note the gold star sprinkles - love! The "CONGRATULATIONS CRIS" banner was cut with my Cricut, and the fringe banner was made from a plastic tablecloth using this tutorial.



Oh man, creating this post has me wishing we had just one cupcake left over...

As guests were leaving the party that night I had some cupcake boxes on hand for take-away's. I loved being able to do that!



It was so much fun to make cupcakes for a family function that included my side of the family. Doug's family lives locally so my baking stints are usually for my in-laws. I loved being able to make these chocolate cupcakes for my nephew, Cris. And the red velvets for my niece, Savannah. And Carrie, of course.
 
Who does the baking in your family?

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Officially uninvited to future parties

We have this friend whose behavior can be a little unpredictable at times. Does everyone have a friend like that? That friend that you think about long and hard before inviting them to a family gathering because you just aren’t sure they will be able to behave themselves for the duration of a party?


Well, we knew that it might be an issue, but we included him in our party invites just the same...



And there he is, our little friend Lucky, at the beginning of our nephew’s graduation party last week. Just look at him! So cute, right? All smiley and happy and the blue-eyed center of attention. Everyone loved him and he got so much love and affection during the first half of the party. But once he got a little tired – once he’d had enough – he began to nip at the heels of a couple of nephews.
And then he had the gall and audacity to bite the guest of honor – The Graduate.
Now, we think that Lucky may have been a cattle dog in his life before us, and he’s been known to be a heel nipper on a camping trip before, but he’s never nipped an ankle to the point of drawing blood like he did at the end of the party last week. And even though a balloon popped and The Graduate made a sudden move, it was still no excuse for that extreme behavior.
So unfortunately for our friend Lucky, he won’t be included in the guest list of any future parties held at our house. He’ll be sequestered to the side yard where he will be forced to listen to the party from a distance and not be privy to any falling food scraps or random head scratches.
How embarrassing. We’ll know better next time.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Another weekend for the books

Good day, my friends.
This morning finds me pulling myself together after four glorious days off work. I took last Thursday and Friday off to celebrate our nephew's college graduation, and then we had our typical busy weekend to follow. I'll share more about the graduation party later this week, but today I give you Saturday and Sunday...


Saturday morning begged for time outside, so I spent a little time sketching at our patio table. I will share more about my sketchbooks later in the week with a review of the online class I recently completed. I.Loved.It!

There was also time spent at my sewing machine...


And a really cool yoga class Saturday afternoon with my girl C...

 Sunday morning coffee and breakfast on our patio...

 And then a Sunday afternoon barbeque with our dear friends, Tim and Bev...

I'm always envious of Bev's beautiful tablescapes but resisted the urge to go too blogger on her and take a bunch of photos. When she mentioned it to me after we'd started eating - giving me permission to shoot away - I took a few photos to share.

It's a bit of a road trip to get to Tim and Bev's, but so worth the drive to spend time with our friends and also to see some of the house remodeling they've been up to. The wood slats on their patio cover are new, and the stain finish was done by Doug. It's just so pretty - and it was such a nice breezy afternoon to be outside.


And just like that, it's Monday morning and time to get back into our daily routines. There will be lots to catch up on at work for me as we make our way to next weekend - which, by the way, is a holiday weekend with three-days off. Nice!

I hope this week holds lots of sweet surprises for us all ~
be sure to look for them along the way.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Just a Quote for Friday


"You can, you should, and if you're
brave enough to start, you will."
 
~ Stephen King

Thursday, May 15, 2014

A Quilt Square for my friend Deb

It's time for another Friendship Quilt update.
:o)
I'm participating in Fiona's Friendship Quilt Project, and each month we create a quilt square to send to that month's designated recipient. May belongs to Deb{s14}.




I knew I wanted to create a strawberry quilt square at some point during this exchange, and when I saw that my friend Deb had requested the colors pink and green I knew she'd be the one to receive it.



My mom loved strawberries {her kitchen was decorated with them}, and Deb was a sweet member of Team Teal, so it felt even more right that she would receive this square. And! The best part? All of these fabrics came out of my mom's scraps!




I created strawberry and leaf shapes and traced around them on the back of fabric after I'd ironed on some fusible webbing. Here's a little tip if you use this fusible stuff - it's tough to peel from the edges without fraying your fabric a little, so I take a straight pin and scratch the surface in the center. That makes a nice little cut that you can work your fingers into and peel off from the center of the shape.




And speaking of fraying, I also use this handy stuff called Fray Check on the edges of my squares that I will be handling more than normal. I knew I wanted to do a little hand stitching on this piece, and I didn't want the edges to look frayed and tattered, so I added a little Fray Check to the sides to keep them neat and tidy. This stuff is also great for the ends of ribbons that tend to unravel.

I loved making this quilt square for Deb, and I know my mom would be so very pleased that I was able to use her fabrics to make it.

{You can see other quilt squares I've made for this exchange by clicking here.}

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Scrambled eggs and me

Thanks so much for your sweet and thoughtful comments on yesterday's post. Today I have another little story about the one and only time my mom ever forced me to eat something I didn't like. Ah, yes, something else I need to work on forgiving her for... {just kidding!}

We were staying at my aunt and uncle's house - I'm going to guess that I was about four years old - and my aunt had made scrambled eggs for breakfast. All I really remember is that everyone else had left the table and I couldn't be excused until I'd finished my scrambled eggs which, by that time, were cold and yucky. I sat there for what felt like an eternity...

For the longest time I couldn't even look at eggs, and I'm still not a huge fan. Don't even think about asking me to eat cold scrambled eggs now that I'm the boss of me! But I do like them hot out of the pan, the way Doug makes them with cheese mixed in, a dash of salt and lots of black pepper...some sliced avocados on the side if we've got 'em.

I don't remember ever forcing Carrie to eat something she didn't like, which may be the reason she grew up to be such a picky eater...I don't know...

Did your mom ever make you eat junk you didn't like?
And if so, did you learn to like it later on? 
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