Pink Paper Peppermints Sweet ♥ Crafty ♥ Goodness

october rain, mushrooms and crafty fabric leaves

It's been very rainy here for the past few weeks which is a welcome relief from the Texas heat.  We are getting somewhat settled in to our new school routine and I have already baked two batches of Pumpkin Gingerbread!  I love the Fall.

I'm working on a fabric leaf garland right now made from fabric and felt scraps from another project and it's turning out pretty cute.  I'll share the patterns and tutorial with you when I'm finished.

Little O has been having so much fun playing in the rain.  I wrapped my camera in a zip-loc baggie, grabbed an umbrella and snapped these photos:

 

Because of all the rain we've been having some super size mushrooms grow in the front yard.  We had lots of fun measuring, snapping pics and imagining the little fairy people that might live in them. :)

 

How is your Fall going?  I'd love to hear about your Fall traditions!

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain."
-Psalm 143:6

five happy things

ONE

My sweet husband just brought me orange juice in a pink glass. 

orange and pink, sweet husband, healthy drink.  happy.

TWO

I just took a photo of my pink glass of orange juice with my cell phone, sent it to twitpic and uploaded it here, all without getting out of my seat. 

happy.  (although my rear could use more getting out of my seat, not less..heh-heh)

THREE

I am finally getting back into the swing of things after a long, lovely summer. 

routine, cooler weather, school with my boys. happy.

 

FOUR

I discovered the 5 Minutes for Mom community.  

moms, blogs, chatting, twittering, sharing, laughing, praying. happy.

FIVE

I'm crocheting pink and orange granny squares.

crochet, pink, orange, granny squares. happy.

 

Five happy things.  Hope you have some happy things today.

Peace and Grace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Day and night I'll stick with God.  I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.  I'm happy from the inside out-- and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed."

-Psalm 16:8-9 (msg)

make your own foam soap refill tutorial!

 
Although being a one-income family has always meant that I have to be creatively frugal, these days, like most mamas, I am trying to cut the grocery budget down even a little bit more. 

One of the ways I've been doing that is learning how to make homemade versions of some things I would normally just purchase new. 

It's not always a huge savings, but often times it's "luxury" items that would just be cut right off the list like paper towels and sugar scrubs and foam pump hand soap. 

So today I thought, "I should really tell my bloggy friends about some of these." (my bloggy friends--that's what I call you guys in my head) and thus "Homemade Homemaker" was born!  And since I can't just do a post about something, I have to make a matching button.....

Ta da:



So this week I thought I'd tell you about foam pump hand soap (and in a couple of weeks I'll tell you my sugar scrub recipe...so easy and so awesome!)



I just love the foamy soaps don't you?  The only problem is that  you can't refill them with regular soap and the "special" refills are absurdly expensive for what they are, but thanks to some crafty experimenting on my part I can now tell you how to make your very own, super cheap refills!

Of course you have to make the initial purchase of the foam soap to get the special little foamy pump (I haven't figured out how to make *that* myself yet...heh-heh).



 
The one I'm using for the tutorial is the kid's soap Kandoo.  My Little-O *loves* this stuff and making my own refills saves lots of cash (and a little nagging from me about only pumping one time!). 

Step One

So the first thing you do when your bottle is empty is to wash it out with warm water. I pump some water through a few times too to make sure there are no clogs.

Step Two



Next fill the bottle about one third of the way full of regular hand soap - any brand will do.  If you have a warehouse type membership you can get the gigantic bottle of liquid hand soap for super cheap.

Step Two
 
Now, slowly fill the bottle up the rest of the way with water.  Do this gently so your soap doesn't foam up on you.

Once it's filled, you want to *softly* tilt the bottle back and forth to mix up the soap & water.  Don't shake it or it will get all bubbly and won't work right.




That's it!  Now you have an almost free, foamy pump hand soap refill!  Neat, huh?  And this works in all the brands I've tried including Bath & Body soap! 



 

Hope you're having a great Monday!  I'm still packing and cleaning and doing laundry and getting ready for our trip.  I'm trying to keep reminding myself that we are only gonna be gone for a week and a half and probably don't need to bring *everything* we own (I tend to over pack...heh-heh).

See you soon!

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"He saved us because of His mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning" - Titus 3:5

summer crochet & such

Well hello there.  I thought I'd pull the dust covers off the furniture and open up some windows here and say hi again.  How are you all?

I've been busy, busy with wrapping up school, church activities, learning new craftiness and all sorts of fun things.

You may remember me learning to crochet awhile back. I'm completely head over heels for it now.  I want to crochet *everything*. 

I found a blog by a lovely lady named Lucy called Attic 24 that is just the most fun, eye-tingling, inspirational place you can imagine. 

The colors she chooses for her pretty crochet-y things are fabulous and she has lots of *free* patterns and tutorials!  She has such a fantastic way of explaining how to do the stitches that I feel like I can tackle the most complicated pattern now! 

I'm in the middle of finishing several of her patterns right now. The most wonderful, amazing, colorful, yarny bag (I'm not quite finished with it yet, but you can see it in the background below) and flowers and flowers and a little granny square pillow!!  It's crafty heaven, I tell you, working with all these beautiful, bright colors!

 

 

 

 

If you've never tried to crochet you have to pop over to Lucy's blog and read through her instructions you won't believe how easy (and addicting) it is once you get going!

Well, I'm busy packing for our summer trip to Wisconsin and looking forward to lots of summery, lake-y, road trip-y fun.  {I'm especially looking forward to another visit to the amazing Red Lead paper art store!)

I need to load up the ipod with lots of crafty podcasts and some good faith-building ones too as it's a long two-day drive up.  Any suggestions of favorite podcasts??  I'd love to find some new ones to listen to.

O-man & Little-O in Wisconsin last summer.

These last few months have been very busy and at times quite trying and I really need the rest.  Some time away to think and pray and visit with far away family that we love so much and see so little...it will do me well I think.

What are your plans this summer?  Have you learned any new craftiness?  I would love to hear what you're all up to.  I've missed you!

Grace & Peace in Him,

♥ Melissa~

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"Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves." -Mark 6:31-32 (the message)

two monkeys and a yo-yo

Random thoughts so far this year:

ONE

For some reason when January comes around each year, it is so hard for me to get back into the routines I had before Christmas.  I have this sort of hazy-fog-of-an-idea of what I had been doing before Thanksgiving came. 

You know like when you walk into a room for something but on the way to the room you start thinking about something else so that by the time you *get* to the room you're standing in the doorway saying...."now what did I come in here for?"....

{other people do that right?}

I'm standing in February saying, "now what did I come in here for?"  This may or may not be the reason you haven't seen me in awhile.  Just sayin'.

TWO

This is interesting.  It's called Typealyzer and analyzes your personality based on what you write on your blog or rather the personality of your blog.

Here's mine:

ESFP - The Performers [ESFP]

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

Pretty acurate I think except for the "tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation" part, but I think that is an anomaly in my personality (one that I'm trying to get rid of actually). 

What's your blog's type?

THREE

The snack of chocolate milk and cinnamon toast mixed with a little prayer can make a bad day seem not so bad after all.

FOUR

I *knew* Jin was still alive.

FIVE

If you need some last minute ideas for Valentines day The Crafty Crow has a marvelous array of them (and I'm not just saying that because I happen to be featured...*cough*).

SIX

I personally am completely unprepared for heart day tomorrow having let it sneak up on me while I was standing in February trying to remember what I came in here for. 

SEVEN

I think that's enough for now.  Life off my computer is quite busy these days with church activities and homeschool activities and house cleaning and organizing.

{actually the last one is just hopeful thinking...heh-heh}

I'll be around (Lord willing), just not quite as often for a little while. 

I hope you're all having a wonderful start to this new year.  Thanks for the encouraging emails as well as pokes & prods to get back here.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
-1 Peter 4:8

old things are passed away

i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that i catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what i said to myself
about myself
when i was sixteen and
twentysix and thirtysix
even thirtysix but
i am running into a new  year
and i beg what i love and
i leave to forgive me

  

--lucille clifton, from Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir 1969-1980

My one goal as I look back over the last year is to let go of  failures and mistakes, release my grip on regrets and instead embrace lessons learned. 

I want to, as Paul so eloquently put it in Philippians 3,

"focus on this one thing: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
 -Philippians 3:13-14

Happy New Year friends, can't wait to see what God has planned for 2009!

His Grace and Peace for you in abundance this year,

♥ Melissa~

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"We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way.  Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between Himself and us, and He has given us the work of making peace between Himself and others."
-1 Corinthians 5:15-18

three minutes that will change your life

Wanna get plugged in?  For three minutes that will change your life, watch this:

If you'd like to hear stories from Brian Welch, Jason Castro, Stephen Baldwin and others who've been plugged in go to:

I Am Second

Happy Christmas Eve!

♥ Melissa~
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"They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this Child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often."

it's the most wonderful time of the year

I'm a little late for the Christmas Tour, but this is what Christmas is looking like around here (mouse over the photos for a description)...

   

 

 

 

 

I'm baking Italian Cream Cake and Chocolate Cream Pie and making macaroni salad and wrapping presents like crazy (even though I told myself I wouldn't wait 'til the last minute this year) and listening to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra sing Christmas carols and having a very merry Christmas...how about you?

Happy Christmas Eve eve...

His Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
-Luke 2:9-12

a Christmas letter from Jesus

An email has been circulating with this letter.  It makes me smile.  Thought you might enjoy it too. 

Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime, how I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.

I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just get along and love one another.

Now, having said that let Me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then put a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.

Decorate a grapevine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If  you have forgotten, look up John 15:1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is My wish list. Choose something from it:

 1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

 2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

 3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family.

 4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

 5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

 6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

 7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one.

 8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

 9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive.  If you don’t know them, buy some food and gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Believer. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

 Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself.  Just love Me and do what I have told you to to. I’ll take care of all the rest.

Check out the list above and get to work; time is short.  I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court.

 Do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:

 I Love you,

 Jesus

Hope you're having a Merry Christmas.

His Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are My disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."
-John 13:34-35

crafty paper angels

I am in the process of getting a new computer!

(well, a "new-to-*me*-recycled-from-someone-who-is-*really*-getting-a-new-computer", computer...heh-heh)

Yay! 

And also...*ugh*...

...because, you know, getting a new computer means...

nothing is where it should be

and things have to be installed and exported and imported and deported or whatever...

and you know...other technical/nightmarish stuff that makes you very cranky with your husband whom you love dearly and with whom you would normally *never* be cranky...

{I mean...for some people that's what getting a new computer means...}

Anyway...since I can't really post photos today and the candy cane paper angel was a hit, I thought I'd give you some links to other lovely paper angel projects.

But first some flickr goodness to inspire you:

1. Joyeux Noel angel ornament, 2. Quilted Angel Ornament, 3. Felted sweater angel ornaments, 4. Angel Party Ornament Favor, 5. angel bear, 6. I will fly..., 7. gorgeous gifts designed and made by rosalie quinlan, 8. angels designed and made by rosalie quinlan, 9. Angel bag, 10. xmas-crafts-in-felt-angel, 11. Angel with a fabric heart, 12. Angels, 13. Singing Angel, 14. white angel, 15. angel ,,

And now for the links:

A wonderful, "flat stanley" type of angel from felt or paper!
Perfect little gift ornament to include with your Christmas cards. (I mean, next year, because of course we've all sent them out already this year, right?...*cough*) 

A sweet little spoon paper angel

Origami Angels

Love this! A kitchen angel with your little one's face!

Cute 3-D angel pattern

A felt, teddy bear angel with a little pocket

Fabulous Paper Plate Angel from Martha

Hope you're having fun this season and making sweet memories...

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow."
-Matthew 28:3

a sweet peppermint angel candy cane crafty craft

This is a super sweet little Christmas craft I came up with for the kiddos to make & give to friends at church, homeschool group, etc.  It's so quick and easy! (my favorite kind of craft)

 

What you need to get started:

 

the angel pattern (download here)
paper (we used scrapbook paper, but you could use wrapping paper, construction paper or even fabric or felt)
scissors
pencil/pen
candy canes
embellishments if desired (sequins, glitter, stickers etc.)

Step One:

Print out the pattern and cut it out. 

 

The pattern should be about 7" long when you print it out.  If it's not, you may need to enlarge it (choose: file: print preview: scale: 125%).

Step Two:

Cut slits on the dashed lines only and fold back the paper.

 

Step Three:

Fold your patterned paper in half with wrong side facing out and trace the angel on the fold.

 

 

Step Four:

Cut out the angel that you traced on the patterned paper.

 

When you cut the slits for the candy canes, only cut the sides of the slits as shown above (not the top part).

Step Three:

Open the angel up and write a message on the back if it's for a special friend.  Or decorate it with glitter and sequins.

Or just leave it plain.

Step Four:

Insert the candy cane from the back in an "over/under" pattern as shown below.

 

Step Five:

Delight friends and family with a sweet treat. :)

(and take photos so I can see!  I love it when ya'll send me photos of the projects you've made with my patterns and tutorials--

Hey, I was just thinking, maybe I should start a flickr group for all the photos you guys are always sending me?  I will work on that tonight & post when it's done!  I did it!  We have our own flickr group now, so if you make the angels go an upload them there--or if you've made flowers or turkeys or any projects featured here upload them to share with us all! yippee! I'm so excited!  Here is the link:

Pink Paper Peppermints -- Readers Get Crafty

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We're on our way to a *very* busy Christmas-y weekend of decorating and church activities and visiting and a ladies Christmas brunch...

{I'm teaching the ladies how to make a little fabric ornament that I'll show you next week.}

Sneak Peek:

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Grace & Peace this lovely Christmas season,

♥ Melissa~
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"May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD."
-Psalm 104:34

are you brokenhearted today?

"The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope."
-Psalm 34:18

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“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
-Luke 4:18-19

a super fun kids craft -- make a scrapbook paper, thanksgiving turkey, place card favor-wahoo!

We've been making turkey place cards and favors over the last few days and having so much fun that I thought I should share.

 
mama's scrapbook version

 
Little O's paper plate version

It looks a little complicated at first, but it's really simple once you make one and they go together pretty quickly so you still have time to make some for thanksgiving! 

Here's what you need to get started:

turkey pattern (download here)
scrapbook paper (I used almost all Elsie's from her adorable Zoe collection.  It's double-sided so my turkey looks just as cute from the back as it does from the front! The brown paper is Over the Moon Press)
paper plates or construction paper
plain white paper
scissors
adhesive
ribbon
crayons

Step One

For little ones who are using a plate you'll want to draw a square in the center of the back side of the plate that is about 2.5 x 2.5 inches.

Then draw lines from the corner of each square, out to the edge of the plate. These are your cutting lines.

If you're using scrapbook paper or construction paper for your turkey then you'll need to trace the paper plate on the back of your paper first and then create the cutting pattern.

Step Two

 

Next, cut your paper or plate on the four lines, stopping when you get to the square.

Step Three

(I'm switching to patterned paper  in the photos for better visibility but the steps are the same for paper plate or construction paper)

Now fold and score each section of paper on the square lines as above.

Step Four

Next you'll want to fold and score each of the four sections in from the corner of the square as in the photo above.

It should look something like this when you're finished:

Step Five

 

Now begin to fold the sides up to form the cup.  The right and left side flaps should be inside the cup.

 

The front and back flaps should be on the outside.

Use your favorite adhesive to attach the back flaps to the inside of the cup.

The front flaps will only be attached on the inside to create wings.

Step Six

Now cut out and trace (or color) and glue your feathers, face etc.  (well not *your* face, I mean the turkey pattern face...heh-heh)

I have to say, I especially fell in love with these turkey legs because it looks like he has the word "art" tattooed on his thighs, heh-heh.

My little guy created his own design on the feathers and plate and then colored them.

(we're learning about the five senses right now, so that's the mat you see under his work surface)

I found with the feathers, that it was easier to lay them out, arrange them, glue them together and *then* glue them to the bird rather than trying to glue them individually.

Step Seven

Now you can make name cards and attach with ribbon...

Or make a little sign with a favorite Thanksgiving scripture or quote for him to hold:

The cup is fairly large and could hold candy corns or snacks (maybe line it with plastic wrap first) or napkins or any number of things you might want on your Thanksgiving table this year.

You could also just make one and use it as a centerpiece.

I think these would be really cute made from felt or fabric too and then you could save them to use each year!

Have fun making these and send me links if you post photos!

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"...singing a song of Thanksgiving, telling of all Your wonders."
-Psalm 26:7

my banner will be clear

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  I have Holy Spirit power.

The die has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. 

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. 

I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. 

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. 

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up the cause of Christ. 

I am a disciple of Jesus.  I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. 

And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me -

MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR.

--Anonymous (said to be written by an African pastor)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"His banner over me is love."
-Song of Solomon 2:4

pumpkin gingerbread, homemade whipped cream* and a reconciliation attempt

My printer and computer no longer wish to be friends with me. 

I don't know why.

I thought everything was going fine and then one day last week, I leaned over to print something and the printer just turned his face away...all like..."I'm really not in the mood right now"...it was weird...

*sigh*

As you might imagine that makes it difficult to do...well...*anything* I need to get done around here...

So for now I'm posting this delicious pumpkin gingerbread recipe that I promised to some twitter friends and hopefully tomorrow, after some counseling, my technology and I will be able to get some stuff done.

(I have the cutest turkey project to show you!)

This bread is the *ultimate* Thanksgiving treat.  Really. You will love it.  It makes your house smell so cinnamony and good.

Serve a big, thick slice of it, warm from the oven, with a dollop of homemade whipped cream* and you will be in Thanksgiving Heaven!

Pumpkin Gingerbread

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups sugar (play with this amount. it can handle 3 cups if you like it sweet or 11/2 to 2 cups if you don't)
1 cup vegetable oil (or replace 1/2 c oil with applesauce)
4 eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

1 1/2 Tablespoons ground ginger
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground allspice

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour if you have it on hand)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans. (or you can use a sheet pan but you'll need to reduce the cooking time)

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs; mix until smooth. Add buttermilk and mix until well blended. Stir in pumpkin.

3. In a medium bowl, combine spices, flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and blend just until ingredients are mixed.

5. Divide batter between prepared pans.

6. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick comes out clean, about 45 minutes to an hour. (this really depends on your oven, so keep an eye on it.)

That's it!  Slice and enjoy.

*the astrixical situatuion:

Alright people look...

You *must not*  buy that tub of whipped, frozen, chemical, fake, fat this year, ok?? 

Really. 

Do you know how easy *real* whipped cream is to make?

so. easy. 

Come on.  Try it:

Homemade Whipped  Cream

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tablespoon to 1/4 cup powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or other flavoring as noted below)

I'm only giving you those ingredients so you won't be scared.  The truth is I don't even measure any more it's so easy.

Tips:

-The first thing you want to do is make sure your mixing bowl, beaters (or whisk if you don't have a mixer), and cream are icy cold.  

-I pop mine in the freezer for about 10 minutes before I'm ready to whip.

-Next pour your cream into the bowl and turn the mixer on (slowly at first or you will be wearing the cream- guess how I know that?)

-Gradually increase the speed until you get to med-high. 

-I have found that if I let the cream whip for about 30 seconds to a minute before I put the sugar in it whips up with more volume.

-Now add the sugar in a little at a time and then drizzle the vanilla in.  You can use any extract you like for this part depending on what you're serving your cream with. 

-Try making Lemon Whipped Cream or Orange Whipped Cream.  Add a little cinnamon or cocoa powder in with the powdered sugar for Cinnamon or Chocolate Whipped cream! (Cinnamon is especially good with my pumpkin gingerbread recipe up there.)

-If you want a soft whipped cream look for soft peaks to form, for a thicker, fluffier whipped cream look for stiff peaks to form.

-Whatever you do, stay right there and watch so that you don't *over whip* it or it will curdle and get weird and gross and liquidy. (again, you probably don't need to guess how I know that.)

-That's it!  It takes like 3 minutes and the first time you taste your own fresh, homemade whipped cream on a piece of pumpkin pie you will never go back!

-A cup of cream makes about a cup and a half of whipped cream and you can store it in the fridge for a day or two, but I think it tastes best fresh, so I try to make mine right at the last minute if I can.

Hope you are all having fun planning your Thanksgiving holiday with your families.

Peace and Grace,

♥ Melissa~

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"And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."
-Ecclesiastes 3:13

when fear knocks let faith open the door

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
-2 Timothy 1:7

"I sought the LORD, and He heard me,and delivered me from all my fears."
-Psalm 34:4

"Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer."
-Daniel 10:12

'But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying,  "Fear not, only believe."'
-Luke 8:50

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"We walk by faith, not by sight."
-2 Corinthians 5:7

applique, embroidery, and inexperienced tote bag sewing

I'm working on a tote bag right now and I truly have no idea what I'm doing.  I'm bold like that.

(actually I'm usually afraid to try new things with pretty supplies, but I'm trying to get over that)

I've been wanting to try applique (but not the nice, neatly stitched applique, the raggedy edged, "rustic" applique, because you know "nice and neat" is not my gifting.) and I had these tea towels that I bought on clearance at Target for .74 cents (uh-huh, that's right) so I started thinking,

"Hey, I could make a tote bag out of these and try some applique and embroidery on it."

Oh did I forget to mention that I want to learn to embroider too?

So anyway, ask me if I know how to make a tote bag? 

No. I do not.

And do I like to (or even know *how* to)  follow a sewing pattern?

Um...also no.

But I really want to make a tote bag with applique and embroidery on it.  So here I go. 

Let's re-cap, I don't know how to sew, applique, embroider *or* make a tote-bag.

heh-heh...fun stuff.

I just said a little prayer and started cutting fabric and sewing and trying things...

and it was *so* fun!

It's not nearly as cute as it looked in my head.

But that's ok (I tell my mean, perfectionist side) because I'm *having fun.*

Here's what I have so far:

I need to wash it to get the edges of the letters all fuzzy & cute and it's pretty wrinkly right now, but I'm kinda liking it.

For the embroidery part, I picked the chain stitch to learn first and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

I really like writing with fabric and thread.  There is something so cool about that, especially when you're writing theWord.

(even if it is all crooked and uneven)

Now I have to figure out how to...you know...turn it into a tote bag...

I want to line it and put handles on it

(oh, handles...aug..ugh...my head wants to explode just thinking about it, measuring and ugh...)

and you know do tote-bagish things to it...

And I'm gonna say another prayer and be brave and just try it.

So hopefully that's what I'll be working on this weekend. 

And some Thanksgiving craftiness too.

Hope you have a fun and crafty weekend!

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"I am the LORD your God.  I am holding your hand, so don't be afraid.  I am here to help you."
-Isaiah 41:13

don't let a suitcase full of cheese become your big fork and spoon

There are some days when I only have a minute and really want to post something clever and creative and well...it's just not happenin'...ya know?

Nothing.

So here's something interesting I saw this weekend.  I can't decided if it's the coolest thing ever or a colossal waste of time and resources...what do you think?...

(I'm leaning towards cool)

This lady got tired of looking at this old gas station so she got some people together and they stitched a giant "gas station cozy" for it and the pumps.

The whole story is here, including tips on how to do this yourself if you want to.... heh-heh... I can't even finish the bible cover I'm working on so I'm pretty sure a *building cover* is not in my future... you never know though, it's all about God's timing isn't? 

(I know exactly what building I would cover up in my neighborhood too, only it's not abandoned...heh-heh...)

Off to spend the day in a very stinky, sweaty gym with my boys for homeschool basketball. 

I'm taking pink crochet to work on so I think I'll be ok.

Have a terrific Tuesday my crafty friends.

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Just at the right time, the Lord will send showers of blessings."
-Ezekiel 34:26

it ain't over 'til it's over

"You are of God, little children,
and have overcome them,
because He who is in you
is greater than
he who is in the world."
-1 John 4:4

"I can do all things through Christ
Who strengthens me. "
-Philippians 4:13

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"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us."
-Romans 8:37

thank goodness it's over

Well, no matter what your political preferences I'm sure you'll agree with me that it will be a relief to not turn on the tv and see ad after ad about some senator who likes to torture puppies and tazer seven-year olds in his spare time (Brian Regan fans will get that - click here to see the bit - so, so funny).

I read a quote this morning that sums it up for me:

"As disappointed as I am that we have lost the election, I can't help but feel that many courageous leaders of the civil rights movement look down from heaven tonight with a smile that the day has come when a man is elected without regard to his color."
-Mike Huckabee

Me too.

As for the rest of it.  Well, God is still on His throne and as Psalm 37:25 says,

"The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.
 He delights in every detail of their lives.
 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
 for the Lord holds them by the hand.

 Once I was young, and now I am old.
 Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
 or their children begging for bread.
 The godly always give generous loans to others,
 and their children are a blessing.

 Turn from evil and do good,
 and you will live in the land forever.
 For the Lord loves justice,
 and he will never abandon the godly."

And the best part is now I can quit thinking about politics and get back to crafty stuff! 

(Not that I ever stopped doing crafty stuff.)

Last week I checked out the book, Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori, from the library and I love it!  It has so many fun easy projects in it.

Meet my little glove bunny:

 

Isn't she cute?  Seriously, now I am like a crazy person looking for socks and gloves on sale everywhere. 

I just want to make every little animal in this book.

And guess what?  I found some free patterns for the bunny and the doggy on Martha Stewart! 

So you can become obsessed with socks and gloves too if you want!

Here's the link:

Sock and Glove on Martha

If you put "sock and glove" into google image search you'll find all kinds of photos of the cute things people have made from this book!

So forget about politics for awhile and go make a glove bunny, k? 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance
through the knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord,

♥ Melissa~
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“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."
-Jeremiah 17:7-8

and we know what to do about it

As you know I love all things forties, especially cartoons. 

This one, although a little bit cheesy (in the greatest kind of way) made me laugh and well....tear up a little bit... to be honest....

If you watch it until the end I think you'll find it eerily foreshadowing...just sayin'...

My favorite line:

"...and we know what to do about it...."

 


Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short."
-Proverbs 24:14

joy unspeakable and full of glory

   "The people the LORD has rescued

   will come back singing

   as they enter Zion.

   Happiness will be a crown

   they will always wear.

   They will celebrate and shout

   because all sorrows

   and worries

   will be gone far away."

-Isaiah 35:10

Have a blessed Sunday my friends.



Grace, Peace and Joy,

♥ Melissa~

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"The joy of the Lord is your strength."
-Nehemiah 8:10

reason # 5,711 that God is so cool - Caddo Lake

As promised here are some photos of our camping trip to Caddo Lake.  If you think there are too many you should have seen them before I edited...heh-heh. (I took 464 photos this trip,a small number for me really.)

This place is so gorgeous!  In the mornings this ethereal mist rolls across the lake and you feel like you're in a movie.

Makes me think of this hymn:

How Great Thou Art (second verse)

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art!  How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Snapped a pic of an early morning canoe-er here.

 

What a way to wake up Starbucks and this view!

The fall colors this time of year are spectacular.

 

We saw lots of wildlife on our weekend adventure including this mama & baby turtle with their mossy backs.

 

I tried to use my digital zoom to get a close up of this woodpecker that we heard while having coffee around the fire one morning.

It came out a little blurry, but look at that red head!  Doesn't he look just like Woody?

 

We took a tour of the lake on this amazing steamboat called "The Graceful Ghost"

The boys loved it and learned that Caddo Lake is a protected wetland ecosystem. (yay, homeschool...uh, campschool.)

I crocheted by the campfire every night! Super crafty, campy-ness!

And of course we had s'mores.

 

All in all it was a pretty wonderful weekend. 

 

Hope your weekend is lovely and peaceful.

His Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"We look at this Son and see the God Who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment."
-Colossians 1:15-16

ten on tuesday

ten random thoughts on tuesday (on thursday)

*I'm thinking maybe I should change the name to just "time for ten" or something, huh?*

one
Remember this post? and this one?  According to sitemeter I had visitors from Fannie Mae and Target Corporation on those two days.  Weird, huh?

two
I think it is time to give up the ghost on these little turkey candlestick holders, what do you think?

I love them so much because they were some of the first holiday decorations I ever bought when I was first married.  I have such a warm feeling and fond memories when I look at them.

Well, I did until they became headless and tail-less.

I think the head may be rolling around in the thanksgiving box somewhere. 

Maybe I'll glue it back on and give them one more year.

three
I was right about the candy problem.  Right now there are three different bags of candy in the kitchen. 

The orange slices are calling my name.

four
Sometimes when I pray I think I must sound like a five year old little girl to the Lord.  I can just manage to get out, "oh please, oh please, oh pleeeeeasseee Lord."  

I don't think He minds though.  He did say we're supposed to come as little children.

five
I'm not telling you what the above prayer was in reference to.

six
I've been working on a really fun project this week.  I'm a member of the Christian Paper Artists group and every couple of years, 52 of us get together and design a deck of cards around a scriptural theme.

Last time the theme was "proverbs".  Here's my card from that deck:

The edges are square when we send them in, but the card company prints them on rounded cards. 

The deck came out so, so pretty last time.  52 little works of art.

seven
This year the theme was love.  I chose Romans 8:39 as my scripture.  One of my favorites:

I printed the scripture on the back of a pink ticket. I have to say I was pretty excited when it worked without jamming up my printer...heh-heh.

eight
We also vote on our favorites for the back of the card.  I entered this design:

It's a compilation of all the love scriptures that everyone chose.  Just reading those all in a row will bless your socks off!

nine
If you're interested in purchasing a deck of these cards let me know and I will get you in touch with our group leader.  She's taking orders right now.  I gave some out for Christmas last time and they were a big hit.

ten
Finally here is a fun freebie for crafty types and homeschoolers! 



DJ Inkers is giving away a "Vote 2008" set of clip art and borders!  One of the sheets would make a great notebooking page. 

Here's the link:

DJ Inkers Freebie

Hope you're all having a blessed week.

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:38-39

did someone set my clock forward early?

I was at basketball practice with my boys for fourteen hours today.

Then it took me four hours to drive home.

Then hubby called me with a dead battery and it took me three hours to pick him up.

Now it's like 3 am or something.

Ok, I may be exaggerating a tiny bit on the hours...but where does the time go??

Still working on posting those gorgeous Caddo Lake photos.

In the meantime, here is my new favorite quote...

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,
or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and
our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

- Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Whom the Son has set free is free indeed."
-John 8:36

ten things God wants you to remember

I will give you rest.


I will strengthen you.


I will answer you.


I believe in you.


I will bless you.


I am for you.


I will not fail you.


I will provide for you.


I will be with you


I love you.

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"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  -Jeremiah 29:11

even more stuff about me

100 things part 3

71 I'm not really a "pet" person, but maybe I will be when my boys are grown.

72 I took ballet lessons, tap lessons and piano lessons as a child.

Me (in the center) during a ballet recital in the seventies.

73 I can't dance or play the piano now.

74 I'd like to try again with those lessons someday.

75 And the samba. (it just looks fun)

76 In junior high my mom wrote me a note to get out of school early so I could come home and watch Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital.

77 I may occasionally still watch General Hospital (especially if Laura is making a guest appearance), but I will never admit it.

78 I was a "wench" at medieval times for a very short time.

79 It was one of the hardest jobs I've *ever* had (and in a somewhat demoralizing costume no less).

80 I'm a very visual person.

81  I can read something a thousand times and not get it, but show me a picture and voila! (I know...don't say voila)

82 I ♥ photography

83 I love love love trees

84 I have pale skin, green eyes and freckles from my Irish heritage and straight, thick black hair from my Cherokee Indian heritage.

85 My first job was teaching preschool in South Africa.

86 Those kids are in their twenties now.

87 That cannot be true.

88 I swore I would never get married when I was a teenager and now I cry when my husband goes out of town and have an overwhelming urge to go stay with a friend 'til he gets back. I guess I like being married after all. :)

89 I was home skipping school and watching tv when the news broke that President Reagan had been shot.  My dad called the house looking for my mom and we talked about it and he never asked me why I was home.

90 That combined with #77 makes it sound like I skipped school a lot, but really I didn't.  Junior high was just a nightmare...and then in high school I became a homeschooler...and there is no skipping when you're a homeschooler...*LOL*

91 I am not very good about writing back to people, keeping up with email, etc.

92 It's something that I really need to work on.

93 I have an obsession with old black & white photo booths.

94 I just think they are so cool.

me in a photo booth at Amy's Ice Cream in Austin, TX

95 I would love to have one in my living room someday. Wouldn't that be the greatest?

 

96 I love my morning coffee, very, very strong with cream and sugar.

97 I love my husband & kids more than anything else in this world.

98 I once was lost, but now I'm found.

99 His grace has set me free.

100  I love my life.

----

Whew, so a hundred things you now know about me.  I hope we're still friends.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His,"  -2 Tim 2:19

more stuff about me

100 things part 2

34 I used to teach scrapbook classes; first in my local store (which is now closed and still makes me sad to think about) and then at conventions like CKU, GASC and ME.

35 Because of the above I attend some crafty trade shows which really was one of the funnest things I've ever done.

36 My friend and I saw the guy from 24 at the JFK airport on the way home from one of the trade shows (the NY stationery show).

37 It was right after 911 and he was getting frisked.  He was wearing all black and looked very annoyed.

38 That's pretty much my only brush with fame.

39 My most favorite holiday in the whole wide world is Christmas (I also love valentines day a lot).

40 I don't really like wearing make up, never wear it at home, but if I'm going somewhere I'll put a little on.

41 For extra self-indulgence on a rough day I will go for a Wendy's Chocolate Frosty Root Beer Float (sounds gross, but oh so good)

42 Speaking of self-indulgence, I have never had a massage.  I'm not sure I would like some stranger's hands all over me like that.

43 My brother and his wife are both police officers I am so proud of them.

44 I normally don't watch the news, but during the elections I have watched *way* too much of it.

46 I love to go camping with my family (with qualifications, we have an air conditioner in the camper and campground bathrooms have to be semi-clean and bug free, the second doesn't always happen).

47 I think tivo and air conditioning are two of the best inventions *ever*.

48 I love going to the movies, but rarely go because they're mostly garbage (expensive garbage at that).

49 Favorite non-garbage movies: Singing in the Rain, Mr.Smith Goes to Washington, It's A Wonderful Life, (I'm sure there's more but those are the ones I can think of right now).

50 I enjoy reading, love books, my favorite all time fiction series is the Black, Red, White series (aka The Circle Trilogy) by Ted Dekker. Changed my walk with God. seriously. read them.

51 Madly in love with my husband after ten years of marriage.

52 Absolutely love going to thrift stores and garage sales and flea markets.

53 Love anything from the forties.

54 Chips & salsa is my all time favorite snack.

55 I got on an airplane eleven days after 911 to teach at a scrapbook convention in Denver, Co.

56 It was one of the eeriest and yet strangely unifying experiences I've ever had.

57 I've never seen so many determined people being so quietly defiant in all my life.

58 There was just this feeling of, "go ahead and try something." in the air. I don't think I'll forget that day.

59 I have a love/hate relationship with spell check (see #31)

60 My greatest desire is that people would see Jesus for who He really is and get to know God in a meaningful way.

61 It's the main reason I keep coming back to blogging.  Because I'm able to reach out to people who I would never meet in person.

62 I love reading the Bible so much.  It's amazing how God will show you something different every time you read a passage. 

 

A picture I took of my Bible while camping last year.

63 When I gave my life to Jesus, it was like I was handed this special decoder ring that makes the Bible make sense in ways I never expected. 

64 I wish *everyone* would give their lives to Jesus and get that ring! It is so cool!

65 I love anything and everything crafty.

66 I'm learning to sew and crochet and embroider.

67 I want to learn to knit and quilt next.

68 I love to cook, but I'm still learning.

69 I'm not very good at housekeeping, but I'm working on it. (thank goodness for flylady)

70 I absolutely *love* homeschooling my boys and wouldn't even consider any other option.

             

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Stay tune for the final installment tomorrow.  (If you can stand it)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you"  -Jeremiah 1:5

more than you ever wanted to know

In honor of my 100th post (which went by many moons ago):

100 Things About Me

1 I love Jesus and have for 25 years. Before that I just didn't know Him, but I would've loved Him if I had.

2 I met my husband thirteen years ago in a christian chat room called "net central" .

3 I feel awkward telling people that.  It sounds so cheesy.

4 I haven't been in a chat room since shortly after we met.

5 I lived in Africa with my family for almost four years when I was in high school.

6 It was absolutely some of the best memories of my life so far.

My brother and me at a church service in Africa.

7 I spent the summer in Italy when I was 16.

8 I had a 110 camera and still cringe when I think of the missed photo opportunities.

9 It was so beautiful though and I hope to go back with my husband someday.

10 I won a coloring contest when I was in elementary school and the prize was that I got to be in the Ringling bro circus. It was pretty cool for a little kid.

11 I don't enjoy the circus now and will probably never take my kids to one.  I think it's mean to the animals. It makes me sad.

12  I used to teach cake decorating and make elaborate cakes. I even owned a cake decorating business for awhile.  You cannot believe the amount of money some moms are willing to spend on a birthday cake.

13  I was a preschool director for a few years.  It was not an easy job, but I loved those kiddos so much.

14 I was an elementary ed major, but if I could go back (when?) I would (will?) be a photography/graphic arts major. Is that a major?

15 I would rather be cold than hot.  If you're cold you can always get warmer.  You can snuggle with someone, put on a jacket, start a fire, wrap up in a warm blanket.  When you're hot you can pretty much just get naked and then you're still hot...and naked...which in itself could be uncomfortable.

16 I graduated from bible school, Christ For the Nations Institute, before I went to college.

17 I feel like I should know more scripture due to number 16

18 I'm also a homeschool graduate (and shockingly I'm not socially stunted or inept at life).

19 My family and I lived in Memphis when I was five and I have been told that my two best friends were the mayor's daughter and Jerry Lee Lewis' daughter. I can't really remember that though.

20 I love a hot chai latte, even homemade with *egad* a mix.  There is something so soothing about a cup of warm spicy tea.

21 The style of decorating that I love and the way my house actually looks in most rooms are worlds apart.

22 Sometimes I get sad about this, but then I just remind myself that it's a process and everyday and every trip to an antique store or flea market brings me a little bit closer to my vision.

23 I am not a mall person.  I really just like being home, but if I'm going to go somewhere the mall is absolutely my last choice.

24 I overuse exclamation points and ellipses (and apparently the words "just" and "so")

25 I am not a grammar fan

26 In spite of what the two above may imply I love the English language and words.

27 I love the color red

28 I love the color pink

29 I really love pink and red together (and sometimes orange and aqua blue)

30 I refuse to pay money to watch a movie with a sad ending (actually I won't watch a sad movie for free either -  ha!).  I mean isn't life sad enough for a lot of real people without me paying to cry about a fake person's fake life??

31 I hate when I misspell a word so badly that the spell check offers me choices that aren't even *close* to the word I was trying to spell.

32  I could eat Mexican food everyday for the rest of my life. Fajitas are my favorite.

33  I love being a stay at home mom, more than I ever dreamed I would

---

Stay tuned for part 2.  (or if you are bored beyond belief just come back Monday...heh-heh)

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and You know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven You discover my thoughts."
-Psalm 139:1-2

so this is what it's like to be a rock star

I wasted an obscene amount of time playing with this yesterday:

 

 

My favorite is the Target one.  But I really like the Warhol one of my mom and me too.

Here's the link if you want to play:

Photofunia

(Warning:  Some of the choices are not entirely appropriate for family viewing. Just so you know.)

We're off for a long weekend of camping!

I thought I'd post my "100 Things About Me" post while I'm gone.  Hope it's not too excruciating to read.

(I don't know who started the "100 things about me on my 100th post" thingie, but...um...do people really want to know 100 things about me??  Not sure, but who am I to buck tradition?)

Thank you all for your warm "welcome back" messages. I apologize for not writing to everyone personally, but my computer time is pretty limited right now. Please know that I really value every one of your comments and emails and,

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..." -Philippians 1:3-4

Hope you all have a fantastic rest of the week/weekend!

His peace and grace to you,

♥ Melissa~

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"The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
-1 Samuel 16:7

feeling fallish

Today I felt very fallish (like lemurish, but more pumpkin spicy, heh-heh)  I got all the fall decorations out and started planning pumpkin spice bread and pumpkin cranberry muffins and other wonderful fall baking moments.

 

I think what started it all was this little glass turkey I found at Jo-ann this weekend.

Isn't it sweet?  My grandmother had one like it, (or maybe it was my great-grandmother, sort of  hard to remember now) and I just felt all mushy when I saw it. 

(Plus it was 60% off and I had a coupon so they practically gave it to me.

No. Really. They said, "Please, take this turkey and here's five dollars too"...

well, you know what I mean.)

The coupon I had was a teacher discount coupon.  If you're a homeschooler did you know that you can sign up for the teacher discount program at Jo-ann?

I don't  know about you, but I buy a ton of supplies there for school projects and crafty educational things.

There are all kinds of specials for teachers and you get a card for 15% off *all* your purchases!  You need a homeschooler I.D. card (like from your support group) to sign up in the store.

Or you can get an access code from PEAH (Parents Educating at Home) here if you want to sign up online. Neat, huh?

While I'm on the subject, another great place for homeschooler bargains is the Homeschool Buyers Co-op.

We've been able to get lots of great deals on educational supplies through the group buys they set up.  Plus they have a field trip database and free printable student/teacher I.D. cards for members. And it's free to join!

So back to my fall feeling.  I thought I'd share one of my family's favorite fall recipes and a little flickr inspiration too.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:

3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil (can be replaced with applesauce)
2 eggs
1 15 oz can of of pumpkin (not pie mix)
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup of chocolate chips plus a tablespoon of additional flour.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Prepare muffin pan with grease and flour or use paper tin liners. (look at these cute ones! Or maybe you are the eco-friendly type!)
3. Mix sugar, oil and eggs.  Add pumpkin and buttermilk.
4. In a separate bowl mix together the baking powder, baking soda, flour, spices and salt.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
6. Add tablespoon of flour to chocolate chips and stir (the flour keeps the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom of your muffins.) Add chips to batter.
7. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full with batter.
8. Bake in pre-heated oven for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on your oven.

And here is more fall decorating inspiration for you.  My favorites from flickr:

1. Fall Centrepieces, 2. Candle Light Glow, 3. Pumpkin Centrepiece, 4. Centerpiece, 5. Pumpkin Centerpiece, 6. more pumpkins!, 7. fresh pumpkin and white chocolate cupcakes, 8. pumpkin pie pumpkins, 9. Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins, 10. A Sea of Pumpkins, 11. Pumpkin Pecan Cupcakes, 12. Scarecrows guard pumpkins at Matices Riversbank Farm Blenheim, 13. Thanksgiving Table, 14. Thanksgiving Table Detail, 15. thanksgiving decorations, 16. Thanksgiving Decorations, 17. Pumpkin family, 18. DSC07468, 19. autumn decor, 20. Cute pumpkins in Mishawaka, 21. Fall Cookies, 22. Fall Decorating, 23. Autumn's Bounty, 24. Fall Decorating

So have you started decorating for fall yet?  What are some of your favorite recipes or traditions?  I'd love to hear about them!

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"...the Word of God makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do."
-Psalm 1:2-4

so where were we?

It's a beautiful, crisp fall day outside; my boys are finally humming along in their new learning routines and I have received what must be the millionth (though probably just the ninth or tenth) guilt-inducing (and very sweet) email inquiring about my well-being.  So I thought I had better get to posting again.

Thus:

Tuesday Ten Returns in Triumph (with an extra three and photos no less!)

*posted on Saturday for old times sake*

one

I could go the rest of my whole life without hearing the names fannie mae and freddie mac *ever again*, how about you?

two

I wish the phone book people would stop leaving their 5 lbs of instant garbage on my doorstep. 

Seriously, phone book people...have you heard of the internet? Save a tree why don't you?

On second thought, maybe I should do this with it.  heh. heh.  pure marketing genius.

three

I'm teaching kindergarten and high school this year.

four

My head hurts a lot because of number 3.

five

I'm wondering why every time I blink it's almost Christmas again.

six

I'm so appreciative of all of you who have written and left comments inquiring about my demise.

seven

The rumors of number six have been greatly exaggerated.

eight

Socialism seems to be making a comeback.

nine

My head hurts a lot because of number 8.

ten

Here's a question, has anyone read Animal Farm lately???

(If you haven't  click here and read it for free.  I have no doubt you'll find it enlightening.)

eleven

I've been thinking about starting a bakery business because obviously I have nothing else to do with my time.

Plus I have some recipes for cakes, muffins and cookies that people offer me large sums of money to bake for them. (really...huge sums....)

twelve

And I figure, as long as I don't make more than $250,000 a year I should be super successful, huh?

Ok, sorry.  I'll drop the politics now. 

*think crafty*

thirteen

I've learned how to crochet!  Oh my gosh, so fun!  I'm just at the beginning stages, but I am *crazy* about yarn now! (just what I need a new crafty supply to hoard!)

Some of my flickr crochet faves:

 

1. Crocheted blanket halfway done!, 2. Pink and white granny, 3. sweet peas, 4. crocheted ripple blanket, 5. Mitten edging, 6. Irish crochet necklace, 7. Multi-colour Moebius, 8. Crochet baby blanket, 9. Crochet flowers, 10. Crochet tea cups, 11. crochet bottle cover - detail, 12. Colorfull Cushion, 13. now comes the oh so enjoyable task, 14. Aqua red Crochet, 15. wool crochet flowers, 16. colored crochet, 17. Crochet Bird, 18. Crochet Flower Garland, 19. Crocheted Ripple Throw, 20. My favorite crochet rug, 21. crocheted heart valentines card, 22. Granny triangle blanket wip, 23. crochet scarf, 24. longer trousers

fourteen

I used these free online lessons at Crafty Daisies combined with looking up video tutorials on youtube for stitches about which I was confused.

It took me quite a few squares that came out completely crooked and strange before I figured it out, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now. 

I'm making a pink & white (of course) afghan for my first project. These are the squares I've finished so far, all stacked up & pretty.

Look at this texture!  Isn't it wonderful?  I can't wait to curl up under this with a good book.

 

If you haven't tried crochet before you really should.  It's so easy once you get the hang of it and very relaxing.

Okay that's my ten fourteen...Hope you're having a fantastic weekend! 

Thanks again for all the sweet emails.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Jesus said to them, 'Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.' "
-John 14: 1