Chrissy's Garden Party

I made a Welcome sign to greet all the guests as they entered the yard. I used two old frames I had saved and tied them together with ribbon. I draped flower garland, lace ribbon and butterflies over the edge. Then I hand stamped"Welcome to Our Garden" on poster board and taped it to the frame.

This is our tablescape. I shopped at resale shops for months finding odds and ends for this. I used birds, tins, flower garlands, baskets, robins eggs in birds nests, a tiny watering can, candy filled carrots and butterfly/ flower wands. I covered the table with an old pink flowered curtain I found at a resale shop. I cut the loops off and hemmed it up.I also found the most adorable mouse that had a farm dress on and a basket in her hand, that I used on the food table. I also served the drinks from large glass containers that I wrapped with ribbon and labeled with fruit punch and pink lemonade. We even had a tiny table for two of our littlest guests. I covered it with the same fabric as the other table and put a small basket of flowers in the center.


I made the tissue balls from a tutorial on Martha. They were super easy and adorable! I then put up an old awning we had and strung twine from the center to the edge so that I could drape tulle across it.

I also found an adorable bird house tutorial that I used to make place cards. They held bird seed for each child to take home.


We served turkey and cheese sammies, PBJ's, cheese, crackers, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, pineapple, watermelon and goldfish for the kids. I also set up a separate area for the parents with hot dogs, chips and dip.


My daughters main request for the party was that we have a used book exchange. So with that in mind I gather several gently used books from resale shops. Then I made book bags for each child. I found some adorable pillowcases at the dollar store and cut them into 4 pieces. (in half on both sides) Them I stitched them together and added embellishments and a shoulder strap. I tied one to each child's chair.

We also painted pots that I found in the Target dollar spot. It was a kit that came with the pot and paints for a buck. Can't beat that! I also gave each kid a goody bag filled with flower magnets, candy, garden pencils, bracelets, flower rings, motorcycles and stretchy animals for the boys.

We set up a volleyball net, with plenty of balls, a Jai Lite set, badminton set, ring toss and the swing set.

On the back of my Welcome sign I decided to paint "Thank You For Coming" as a nice gesture as guest were leaving.

This party was so much fun to put together. I think it turned out to be a success. My daughter had alot of fun and I think the other kids did as well. I was a beautiful day and although I was super tired after it was so worth it!

Finally I have pictures!!!

I have been wanting to share pictures of our garden for a while but my computer wouldn't load any pictures. I finally figured out a solution so here are a few. We have squash, zucchini, plenty of cherry tomatoes and slicers, plenty of green onions, beans, cilantro, basil and our okra has grown too. The strawberries got eaten right before we went out to pick them. And those dreadful squirrels are eating all our tomatoes!!! They carry them off. We even saw one in a tree with a big baseball sized slicer in its mouth. When it saw us it balanced it on the limb and hid from us. That dang tomato is still sitting on the limb!

This is our garden. Well part of it anyway. We made raised beds this year but i think next year we won't. The fire ants have been terrible!

This is a picture of our pathway leading up to our BBQ area. The plants are catnip! They were tiny when I planted them. I had brought them home from my grandmas house during spring break.

Here's is a picture of our cherry tomatoes. They are in clumps. We've had quite a few.

Here are some big slicers. They are huge and still not red yet. We have had a few turn red but not many. Don't they look yummy!

I managed to get a picture of a strawberry a few days before it was ripe and eaten by something. Hopefully we will have more and be able to protect them better!

This is a picture of one of my calla lillies in bloom. Aren't they gorgeous?!?! I planted these last summer after a trip to my grandmas house. She sent 6 or 7 and now I have well over 50 probably. Now I'm going to have to dig some up and give them away!

This is my trellis I made from an old box spring. I cute the wood out and painted it. I grew morning glories up it. They are stunning in the morning! I can't wait for it to fill in.

Inspiring me today:

This adorable free printable pictures about at Feed your Soul: Jill Brown Louie

A flower petal project : Ali Edwards

Vintage Product labels you can personalize and print

Printable bird houses I used for Chrissy's party as place cards

Adorable Printable tags : Inspirecompany.com

Today I hope to make a list of random things I want to photograph. Random parts of my life that tell my story. I also want to make a little book to keep all the cute little things Chrissy says written down. I would love to make a mini album out of them.

I also want to work on my homeschool summer calender. I want to write down all the things that are available to do in the summer as well as the subjects I plan on working on. One of my good friends told me about HomeSchoolShare.com. It is the best site ever for free unit studies!! I'm totally using these this summer. They are amazing and in depth for a 1st grader for sure!

Also, on the way to visit family this weekend, we passed by Lakeshore Learning. I told my husband that on the way home I'd like to stop by.OMG! Can you say AWESOME!?!?! There was a ridiculous amount of things for schooling. I mean I can't even put into words how happy it made me to see so many things I could use. Now if I can just find the money to get some of it we will be in great shape. I did pick up a couple of posters though at an awesome price.

Ok, off to water our garden. Oh, did I mention that we have had lots of cherry tomatoes and zucchini and squash and even an okra is sprouting. Ha. Its wonderful! Oh and right in the middle pf the garden sprouted up the strangest thing. A HUGE sunflower. Love it. It was so random but oh so beautiful.

Till next time....

Last Day of Kindergarten

I can't believe this day has finally come! It's my baby's last day of Kindergarten. Where did the years go? It seems just yesterday we were holding her in our arms looking at her tiny hands and toes. I miss those days. But with equal joy , my days are now filled with backpacks, homework, food preferences, books galore, dress up, barbie, girly stationary and sponge bob square pants. LOL

I miss the baby stage but life is extra sweet now too! I love waking up in the morning and seeing her beautiful smile and laugh. I love giving her a piggie back ride to the kitchen table every morning (which BTW is getting harder to do). I love playing babies and finding her cutsie clothes. I love her ideas and her energy. I love her girly ways. I love having a little girl! I love this stage. Soon though, I will be missing it too!!

Sp for tomorrow I wanted to do something special for the first day of summer break. Since in a couple of weeks we will be starting our homeschooling, I want to make our summer extra sweet. So you don't think I'm the most terrible mom in the world for cutting summer short, we will be starting homeschooling but also getting the full summer experience as well. I want to do bubbles, sidewalk chalk, ho scotch, lemonade, picnics, catch fire flies, jump rope, paint, go to the beach, go to the pool, go to splashtown, go to the museums, to the zoo. We have alot to plan. But I want tomorrow to be extra special. I'm just not sure how to do it yet! Got any ideas??

Adorable Summer

I found all these adorable summer picnic ideas at Country Living. Love Love Love the ice cream cone idea. You just take the cone and dip it in White or dark chocolate then roll it around in chopped nuts, mini marshmellows, butterscotch or chocolate chips. Scoop some different flavor ice creams in clear containers and serve as an ice cream bar.

These I also thought were equally adorable! You could serve any type of salad (corn salad, potato salad, pasta salad) in individual personal sized containers. Love these jars!
Ok, I totally fell in love with this idea. Probably because I have an old lunch box that was my aunts back in the day and have struggled with good uses for it. I just couldn't ever bring myself to get rid of it. I used to use it to store Chrissy's crayons but now it has a whole new purpose. Its going to be a snack box. You make little paper dividers or use little paper bags. Perfect for a picnic or day playing in the yard. Super cute!

Ok, im back going back to work. Been up all morning working on stuff for Chrissy's party. Im super excited. Im working on bird houses, handmade books bags, tissue pom poms for hanging decor over the table, tags for the drink containers, tags for the book bags, wrapping the books for the book exchange and more. Wow, I better get going again.

Favorite Bread Recipe

This is such a super yummy bread recipe! Kneading is the key! Knead it for 10 minutes at the very least. If you don't the bread will be dense but when you knead it right it is fluffy and soft. Sooo good! I use it for sandwiches and french toast and toast and jelly. Its just that delicious. But hey Im a bread fanatic.

Honet Wheat Bread Recipe:
2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus a little honey
1/3 cup vegetable oil
5 cups all-purpose flour


DIRECTIONS:
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add honey, and stir well. Mix in whole wheat flour, salt, and vegetable oil. Work all-purpose flour in gradually. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for at least 10 to 15 minutes. When dough is smooth and elastic, place it in a well oiled bowl. Turn it several times in the bowl to coat the surface of the dough, and cover with a damp cloth. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Punch down the dough. Shape into two loaves, and place into two well greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise until dough is 1 to 1 1/2 inches above pans.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes.

Fun from my Childhood

My new book Living Artfully has really got me thinking about ways to improve not only my creativity but my daughters as well. The last chapter I read helped me to reminisce on the things we used to do as children in the summer. Things I loved and cherished each year. These were the things that brought us joy and filled our days. Nowadays, its TV and video games for kids. What happened to plain old fashioned outdoor fun? What happened to occupying yourself with creative fun? Here are a few fun things we used to do. Things I hope to share with Chrissy this summer. Hoping to make as fond of memories for her as I had.

I Love lemonade stands. Even though now you can't make one here without serious requirements by the health dept. I think we can swing one for the family! I always thought it would be the most awesome thing to make one. Considering there isn't heavy traffic on our street (like maybe less than 10 cars a day) it wasn't our 1st choice activity. None the less I always wanted to try.

Sidewalk chalk: We used to play with this stuff for hours on end!! The whole road in front of our driveway would be full of pictures, doodles and words! Best stuff ever!

CREDIT: Vachon, John, photographer. "Farm Boys Eating Ice Cream Cones." July 1941. America from the Great Depression to World War II: Black-and-White Photographs from the FSA-OWI, 1935-1945, American Memory collections, Library of Congress.

What happened to eating ice cream at HOME?? When you get those cheapo cake cones and scoop some ice cream and sit outside on the tailgate of a truck or on the porch and let this stuff drip down your hands in the hot summer sun.

Jacks: Well we usually played these at my Nanny's house during Spring Break or Summer Vacation. She had them in an old canvas bag. Come to think of it, they are still in that old canvas bag at her house.

Hopscotch was a game I also spent hours playing with my friend down the street. I loved this game.

I remember the first time I ever caught fireflies. It was also at my Nanny's house, one summer night. She gave me and my older brother jars and told us to go catch some lightening bugs. We hopped and jumped around that yard trying to catch them. Then we would sit and watch them, let them go and try to catch more. It seemed to amaze us that a bug could light up.

So plan some wholesome activities for your kids this summer to make fond memories that they will hold onto for a lifetime. I know I'm going to try my best.

Living Artfully

Today I was out and about looking for inspiration for Chrissys Bento Box and there in a random place on the self I saw this book. For some reason I knew I had to read it! It is really pretty good so far. It makes you see your world in a whole different light! It makes you realize how creative you are on a daily basis without realizing it. That even in a slump you are creative without knowing. I always knew I loved art. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew it would play a role in my life. I never realized how extensive that part would be. It's amazingly wonderful!

A few creative things I've been working on:

• Paper bird houses -stuffed with birdseed to use for place cards at Chrissy's B-day party
• A Welcome Sign for the party made from 2 tall rectangle frames (its too cute)
• Kids book bags -made from pillowcases
• Bento lunches for Chrissy
• A Custom Planner-hand sketched/stamped
• Landscaping(an ongoing project and new family hobby)

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by all the projects but its so much fun and makes me feel full of life! I will share some pictures soon.

In the next few days we will be putting together an awning and making twine rungs across the top to drape tulle across. Im so excited about the whole project! I hope her Garden party turns out the way I envisioned it! I've been planning for a couple months now.

Im so loving the cooler weather we've been experiencing for the past few days. It's beautiful! It's even more beautiful walking through the garden in the early morning and seeing the big green tomatoes and picking green beans and cutting green onions. Its wonderful! I love fresh veggies. I'm still so amazed at what you can grow for such a tiny seed.

Ok, till next time...

Bento Lunchboxes

All year last year and this year I searched for cute ways to make Chrissy's lunch so it was different and unique and fun. Im telling you I REALLY searched and then today I found these here, here, here and here. These are so awesome!! FUN! If you go to Wendy's blog, Wendolonia, you will find more than 175 photographed Bento lunches she made for her son for preschool! Isn't that awesome?!?! The top 2 lunches I pictured are for her son. What an awesome mom!!

Ahhh, Im in love! LOL These are my kids dream lunches, trust me! She loves anything cutsie I do for her lunch. She comes home talking about it. Its so stinkin' cute.

Totally trying this!

Oscar is such a sugar fein! He always wants dessert. Sometimes even before dinner. I'm not much of a sweets kind of person for some reason. But I try to satisfy his sweet tooth once in a while. Mostly I don't eat things that are sweet because they makes my tummy sick. Hence the fact that I don't like chocolate. My favorite sweets of all time though are light pastries like strudels or bagels. Yummm! That must be the German in me coming out. My Oma LOVED stuff like that.

These look so yummy but I bet they will be rich! I hope that the cupcake will be light and more bread tasting so I can have one without the frosting. But mmm, don't they look good?

Butter Pecan Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting

2 cups cake flour, stirred before measuring
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed, muscovado if possible
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup (6 ounces) milk
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

***Brown Sugar Frosting***
1/2 cup (4 ounces) butter
1/4 cup half-and-half or milk
1 cup light brown sugar, packed, muscovado if possible
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparation:Heat oven to 350°. Line 18 to 21 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat 6 tablespoons butter and 1 cup brown sugar until light. Beat in the egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract until well blended. Add about half of the flour mixture and about half of the milk, slowly beating until blended. Blend in the remaining flour mixture and milk, then fold in pecans.

Fill paper liners 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes, until the cupcakes bounce back when lightly touched with a finger. Cool in pan on a rack; remove from the pan, then frost with brown sugar frosting or dust with sifted confectioners' sugar.
Frosting:In a saucepan over medium-low heat, slowly bring 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup half-and-half or milk, and 1 cup light brown sugar to a boil, stirring frequently. When the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and set aside to cool to lukewarm. Sift 2 cups of confectioners' sugar into the lukewarm brown sugar mixture and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a little more confectioners' sugar if needed, or beat in a little hot water if the frosting becomes too stiff. Frost the cooled cupcakes.



On the home front, we have decided to try homeschooling Chrissy this summer. I'm going to set a schedule for us and make a lesson plan and see what happens. If it works out then we won't send her back to public school next year. At first I was so adamant about her going to public school. Now, I see too many areas our schools are lacking in. I don't like it and after reading ridiculous amounts of books on it, I now know that I can do something about it. Homeschool! I'm truly excited about it. There are so many things out there that she can learn about that she isn't getting the chance to learn at public school. I also love the idea that she can learn so much in a shorter amount of time. Then she can have more free time to explore other things.

Chrissy's kinda a sleep girl. I can empathize with that one, truly! When she finally gets home from school, alot of the time she sleeps for hours. Sometimes even through the night. That leaves her virtually no time for anything but school. I hate that! She needs time to be a kid and explore the outside and play, learn to ride a bike. Which btw, she just learned this weekend to ride without training wheels. Yah!

So, wish us luck! I really hope it lives up to all my hopes and expectations! I have prayed on it so much and I truly feel like God is leading us toward this. Till next time...

Spring Break '09

Chrissy playing in the river. Look how shallow it is. They are in a severe drought!

Me and Chrissy taking a ride in Granddads Mule. Man that thing is rough & tough! So funny cuz we were bouncing everywhere and Chrissy actually fell asleep. I couldn't believe it!

On the way home, we stopped and took a picture in the bluebonnets.
There were better patches but no where to pull over. It was still beautiful!
Beautiful flowers and a beautiful girl!


Here's me driving home. Refreshed and renewed and with a new hair do. I kinda like curly!



We had an amazing time in the Texas Hill country! I decided that instead of spending a week at home we would go spend it with my Nanny. I thought time with just us girls would be so nice and it was! It was wonderful weather! We spent the days talking and cooking and digging up plants and taking walks. We had a bonfire and weenie roast down by the pond. We waded in the river across to an island and picked up rock after rock. We found ones shaped like tear drops and hearts. We even had a few new experience too, that had me laughing so hard. We made memories I wouldn't trade for anything in the world! It was our first girls only trip anywhere. Hopefully there are many more to come!


But even with all the fun we had, I was sure glad to get home to my man! Love you babe!

Homeschool or Public School??

This has been the question for me for awhile. I sent Chrissy to public school because I felt like that's just what you are supposed to do. I went to public school, my husband went to public school, my parents went to public school. Of course, I felt the only place for Chrissy to go was...Public School!

It started off okay at first, I guess. I had my reason for being frustrated but eventually would let them slide. This year it has been severely down hill. She comes home with stacks of worksheets and no other work, she can't tell you what she's learned and I know why. I began volunteering at the school so that I could see for myself what the school atmosphere was like. I was not impressed to say the least. I felt like they spent most of their time doing worksheets, sitting waiting for the teacher to use their smart boards or discipline a student or going to the restroom. Not really what I want my 5 year old spending 8 hours doing. She should be learning not sitting being bored or given worksheets to just occupy her time.

While volunteering, I was copying worksheets for the teacher and a few times I was told to copy the same worksheet I had already copied for her on another day. Chrissy has several of the same worksheets done more than once. I don't feel that in necessary or helpful. Also, she hasn't done any projects this year. I don't know of any science they have worked on. I'm just utterly disappointed with the system!

I have been spending lots of time lately researching home school. A good friend of mine home schools her children and its going great for her. I also have known kids that home schooled in the past that did excellent. Although there is a stigma that comes with homeschooling, I feel that in the more recent years there has been giant leaps in the homeschooling community. People have come out of the woodwork and started support groups and coops for homeschooling. It has become so much more advanced and their is so much more information and so many more resources for you to use.

I have been very concerned about Chrissy's social skills being developed in the home school environment. I have read a few books and many articles written about it. From what i can understand there are many people that have this same fear. But from the studies and statistics done on home school children versus public school children, home schooled children seems to actually develop better and with a higher self-esteem and self concept. They say that they do better because their parents have a direct hand in their discipline and learning throughout the day. They also have more time to develop family values and morals.

To tell you the truth, after reading so much into it, It makes me wonder what I was thinking putting her in public school when I had the ability to home school her. Don't get me wrong, I do realize that Homeschooling is not for everyone. There are several different schooling methods. It just depends on your family and the teaching methods that are best for your child. I'm not bashing public school but I just don't know if its the best choice for our family.

If you home school, are you happy with your choice? Has it been a struggle? What curriculum or teaching method are you using? Are you involved in a support group or co-op? Let me hear from you!!

White Chocolate Orange Dream Cookie

So if you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of sweets. One huge thing about me is that I HATE chocolate. At Christmas time I went to a cookie exchange and tried these amazing cookies. They taste exactly like a dreamsicle. So for my brothers wedding last Friday I decided to make them for the cookie table. (post pics of that soon too). While reading the recipe to gather ingredients I was surprised to learn they had white chocolate chips in them. While I only use half a bag instead of a whole one, there is still chocoalte in them and I still LOVE THEM! They are soooo good. Try em! Oh and you can put them on a cookie sheet in dollops and freeze them for later use too.

Sherelle's White Chocolate Orange Dream Cookies

-1 c. butter
-2/3 c. firmly packed light brown sugar
-1/2 c. white sugar
-1 large egg
-1 Tbs. grated orange rind
-juice from 1/2 orange
-1 tsp. orange extract
-2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
-3/4 tsp. salt
-1 pkg. white chocolate chips

Beat butter and sugars on medium speed until creamy. Add egg, orange rind, juice and extract. Mix well. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in white chocolate chips. Roll or scoop into balls and bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes. ENJOY!

I want to begin freezing them so I can just pop some on a cookie sheet when Chrissy or Oscar would like a cookie. That way I don't have to make a whole batch everytime. We can use them more sparingly and I think they will last a little longer too. Like Sherelle said it makes you feel like the best mom ever! So please post a comment with your favorite cookie recipe! Can't wait to try some of them!