Thrifted Owls, Acorns and Famous Australian Children

So I went thrifting, but did not thrift famous Australian children. More on that in a moment...

See my new jammies? I own nothing like them. But when I saw them, they made me laugh, so I had to *splurge*. It's funny because they're actually a children's size, but I knew holding them up that they would fit. In perfect silky turquoise condition, the pants and shirt fit indeed. Extra bonus: all children's clothes were 30% off!

Look at those prints... it reminds me of this owl. I am loving Seattle thrift stores!

Just days ago, I mentioned to my dear H that I wanted salt and pepper shakers. What a curious item for me to want to own, seeing as how I never use salt or pepper. Ever.

Accidentally turning down the wrong aisle, led me to more squirrel/acorn goodness. Behold these simple wooden acorn salt and pepper shakers - unused. Score!

I also bought Charlotte 22 books. At .79 cents a piece, we can go a little crazy. Ok, a lot crazy. I've always maintained that I'll never skimp on books for the children. We don't mind being the "book people down the street with no t.v." ;)

Speaking of books, my husband recently announced the birth of our son, Henry, to an acquaintance. She asked about any older children. Yes, there's Charlotte. "Wow," she replied, "just like the Australian tv show!" WHAT?!

We thought we dodged that bullet by not naming our son Wilbur.

A quick google search helped us find the series of books by author Bob Graham. His series that was turned into a hit tv show. (With no tv, we just didn't know!) See more here. My dear H surprised us by secretly purchasing a copy for us to keep. Yep, more books. We just can't have too many...

And Charlotte (in the book) wears glasses, just like my Charlotte. Gotta love it!

A Birthday Dress Or Two

For my birthday, my husband ordered the japanese sewing book that I've been dreaming about. Isn't he the best?! Here are some highlights:

Tunics, pants, purses...

dresses...

scarves and skirts. This book has it all - except english. I'm hoping that the step-by-step photos speak the international language of "you can really do this."

The rest of my dear family gave me fabric store gift cards. Yay! I have been aching to sew. There are plenty of items in my queue, but without a doubt, some of these dresses now top the list. I'm trying to get prepared for the next whole hour that I feel well, so I can make it to the fabric store.

Thanks to all my loved ones for a very happy birthday :)

Waiting 4 Weeks To Bathe

OK, not entirely. I only have to wait 4 weeks to bathe with this soap. This here is a sneak peek at what currently resides on top of my refrigerator. It's my first ever attempt at soapmaking. The soap takes at least 4 weeks to cure. And with a toddler in the house, just about the only safe place to let these bars sit, is on top of the fridge.

They're not evenly cut, but they smell nice - peppermint, of course. If they turn out well, they'll get us all clean, even in their clunky state.

Through a thrifting treasure hunt, I slowly started accumulating all the necessary soapmaking supplies, including: a stainless steel pot for $4, two utensils at .25 cents each, a hand blender for $2, two soap molds (a mini loaf pan for $4 and a tupperware container for $2,) a pitcher for .77 cents and a leftover pasta sauce jar for measuring the sodium hydroxide.
I found The Soapmaker's Companion by Susan Cavitch at my local library. Essentially, this is the the go-to source for soapmakers. Also handy was this link which showed me how to properly mix my solution to make lye.

We are trying to stay sulfate-free and had been buying fantastic (and highly recommended) Sparta peppermint soap from etsy. But now, at $5 a bar, I thought I'd try my hand at soapmaking. Since 15 bars of soap would run $75 (yikes!) we're coming out ahead with our $50 investment because it includes reusable supplies. And we have soap for a year.

In 4 weeks time, I'll report back to let you know how, and if, my soap turned out. Stay tuned.

Congrats To Katie Jean!

My sweet friend, Katie Jean, contributed some of her crafty ways to this new book. For those of you looking to be crafty with linens, this is the book for you! My own stockpile of pillowcases shows my intentions to put this book to good use. Besides, can a little girl reeeally have too many pillowcase dresses??

Katie Jean makes adorable vintage style girls clothing and organic baby accessories. She's mean with a sewing machine! Be sure to stop by Katie's blog as well, she's giving away a copy of the book.

Congratulations, Katie!

Permission To Eat A Fudgsicle

(image courtesy of amazon.com)

We recently acquired this book in our ongoing pursuit of bettering our health. Mr.Zinczenko has authored a series of these books - including eating out guidelines. This book doesn't make your feel bad about what you eat, just how to choose wisely between brands and why. Easy to read, easy to use, I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy, especially if you want to drop 5 or 10 lbs without changing the type of food you eat.

If you're going to eat a sugar cereal, isn't it good to know if Reese's Puffs has double the sugar and calories of Honeycomb cereal? (It does. One cup of Reese's Puffs also has 20% more sugar than one peanut butter cup.)

What are some of the worst foods? Say hello to Twix. It's off the charts for sugars and saturated fats. It's the equivalent to eating 11 strips of bacon. (Yes, you'd actually come out ahead by eating 10 strips of bacon - uh, ew.)

#1 worst food: Marie Callender's Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie - over 1000 calories, 64 g of fat, it's darn near a salt lick in a pie crust. It's the equivalent of eating 23 strips of bacon. Geez, maybe I should just eat 2 Twix bars and enjoy a sugar coma instead.

One of the most perfect foods? An apple. Great for an afternoon snack: it increases energy, great for your heart, has soluble fiber and helps control your cholesterol. No wonder Snow White was tempted.

Throw a red bell pepper in your salad and you'll receive 3x the vitamin C in an orange. Plus it's chock full of vitamin A - which is good for your eyes. Who really wants to be on friendly terms with the words "macular degeneration" anyway?

If you enjoy beef, this book tells you the best protein-to-fat ratios in different cuts. Go for flank steak over lean ground or top loin over a porterhouse. The calories will come from either protein or fat, may as well choose protein. You may even see a few pounds drop off. I've seen results from increasing protein intake...

Since I have to watch my sugar levels, I've increased my protein substantially - and without trying - lost 5 lbs. My body was holding on to all the carb sugars because it didn't have what it needed most (protein for muscle building).

Page after page shows pictures of your favorite foods from the grocery store. Some good, some deceiving. My beloved Stoneyfield Farms yogurt got low marks due to unnecessary sugar overloading.

Snack foods, canned foods, frozen foods... they're all covered (Chewy Chips Ahoy over Oreo's). It's a handy guide to eating better with low effort. Sort of a no-thinking diet.

And yes, there is freedom in your fudgsicle craving... only 100 calories and only 2 1/2 g of fat. Permission granted ;)

Welcome to the Gnome Forest: A 2nd Birthday Party

My Charlotte turned 2 years old today. She celebrated with all of her family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. at a Gnome Forest birthday party. I made cupcakes for the very first time...
with a recipe from my birthday cookbook for angel food cupcakes. After two attempts at the frosting, I deviated from the recipe and made my own cream cheese frosting with 8 oz. of cream cheese, 4 tblsp. of butter, 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar, lemon zest and 1 tsp of vanilla.

Martha helped with the red polka dot and brown cupcake wrappers.

The little gnome cupcake toppers were made from photos from this handy book. I found my copy at the local library. And while the pictures were helpful, most of the crafts are a blast back to the 80's. (I really don't feel the need to go back to that era unless I'm listening to music.) I resized the photos and printed out enough for the fronts and backs of our little gnome friend, then glued them onto toothpicks. There were more than 2 cupcakes to start the day, but this is all that remained at the end of it.

Also new, my woodsy cake stand placed upon the red-with-white-polka-dots-simulated-giant-mushroom tablecloth. Stay tuned for more crafty details...

As mothers always say, "I can't belive my baby is (insert unbelievable age here)!" In my case, it's 2. I'm afraid to blink because she'll then be 35. Happy Birthday, Charlotte. You'll always be my baby girl.

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Read It

After seeing so many great books for Vintage Thingies Thursday, sponsored by The Apron Queen, I decided to join the book club and find my own classic to post. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte, appeared in my hands at a yard sale this last saturday.Feeling like my sweaty palms would burn a hole in the book, I tried to walk calmly towards the homeowner to inquire after the price. As I approached, an apron caught my eye. Without missing a step, it too was in my clutches. The woman saw me coming and offered the apron at 25 cents. Done. I'll take it. "And how much for this book?" I questioned. "Oh, you can just HAVE that." she replied. Yes, my mouth was ajar too.

So, my classic copy of Wuthering Heights from 1943 was free at a yard sale. It's a small victory of sorts, when you set out to find a very specific treasure and then it becomes a reality. Now if I could just stumble across a winning lottory ticket...

Sing It: Vintage Thingies Thursday

Back again for another Vintage Thingies Thursday, sponsored by The Apron Queen. I recently picked up this little gem. It's the Everybody Sing Songbook: For the Home School and Community. The copyright date is 1930. I don't own a piano. And I definitely can't sing. But it still called to me. The book is chock full of classics. The first series of songs are all about America. I was sold.

I've never heard of "When The Bees Are In The Hive" but I think I'd like to sing it... ok, in the shower, but still.
There are also hymns and spirituals...

Then there's this priceless tune about an ailment.Guess they were running out of things to sing about. Or their joints just really hurt. When mine hurt, I'm usually not singing. Does complaining = singing somewhere?

And I brought it all home for 39 cents!

Got A Rusty Knife? Either Way, Read On

This book found it's way to me via my in-laws and my recent birthday. It's been a good read for the 1-2 minute intervals that my daughter allows me to be away from her. (She's teething and not her independant-self lately.) So, here's a highlight of a few of the great tips that I've come across so far...

1.

Ordinary item: Butter

Extraordinary use: Keep mold off cheese

How: Each time you use semi-hard cheese, coat the cut edge with butter before returning to the fridge. (And who doesn't like buttery cheese?)

2.

Ordinary item: Onions

Extraordinary use: Remove rust from knives

How: Plunge your rusty knife into a large onion several times. (Behold, tears of joy.)

3.

Ordinary item: Rubbing alcohol

Extraordinary use: Shapable ice pack

How: Mix 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water in tightly sealed plastic bag. Freeze. (No more ice block slabs on tender knees.)

For kids...

1.

Ordinary item: Bathtub appliques

Extraordinary use: Non-slip kiddie pool

How: Prevent falls by placing these on the pool floor. (Now what will we film for AFV?)

2.

Ordinary item: Candle

Extraordinary use: Make a secret drawing

How: Children make "invisible" drawings using a white candle. Then cover the paper with watercolor paint to reveal the picture. The wax prevents the paper from absorbing color. (This is day one of CIA training at headquarters.)

3.

Ordinary item: Envelopes

Extraordinary use: Bookmarks

How: Recycle envelopes by cutting off the gummed flap and one end of the envelope. Slip the remainder over the corner of a book page. Kids can decorate these for themselves - or as gifts. (This beats my method of simply shoving an envelope between pages.)

Unfortunately, there are a few dud tips... like, make your own bumper sticker using duct tape and a marker. (There's nothing that I need to say that badly!) Or, use newspaper in an emergency to make a splint. (In an emergency, I'm not looking for a newspaper, I'm looking for a phone to dial 9-1-1!) But, overall, I'm looking forward to more useful discoveries.

And finally, a few tips from my own personal archive.

1. Use empty wrapping paper rolls to pretend you're Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. (Actually my older brother came up with that as a way to make me fight him when we were kids.)

2. Make a pencil cup as a gift using a tin can. It can be covered with fabric, scrapbook paper or (in my case) patchwork Partridge-Family-style squares. (Hey, I was 6 and my dad loved it.)

3. A tablespoon of ammonia in 1 - 2 cups of water in a squirt bottle will get just about any stain out of your carpet. Red wine, mysterious-giant-black-dingy circle from the previous home owners, shoe scuff marks, etc. (Trust me, just try this method first and you'll save yourself a lot of grief.)

Do you have any handy tips to share?

Happy Birthday To Me

Well, it's a belated Happy Birthday to me... and it wasn't just a day. It was a long birthday weekend of being spoiled. It started on thursday morning and lasted through sunday afternoon. (Saturday was the actual day that my mother suffered so greatly those 36 years ago.) There were 5 meals of celebration. And I received this lovely peacock plate from my hubby. We spied it recently at Anthropologie, then lo and behold, it's mine! He also gave me the cookbook that I asked for...

No, I don't particularly like the title "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld, but I think it can be overlooked since the idea is to nourish your family by infusing pureed vegetables into the recipes. It seems that my daughter and my husband have no trouble (yet) with veggies, but it is I who needs the 'deception'. Don't get me wrong. I buy veggies. I look at them. I serve them to my family. But, I poke at them and then fill up on rice. It seems that in my 36 short years here, I've yet to crave broccoli. Ever. And I still don't like to cook, but I asked for a cookbook. Mom, note the day and time.

H also gave me a beloved photo album with photographs from our honeymoon. We had never gotten around to printing out those easy-to-print digital photos. I only expected a paper envelope of pictures at some point, but a black leather album with white stitching was all put together for me...um, us.

Many other wonderful gifts (and food) were received for my birthday. A big thank you to all who celebrated with me. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Angels Watching 'Round My Head

It seems that blog posts grow fewer and farther between in the summer time. It has been a while since my last post, but the Lord knows that I have been busy. Busy at thrifting this book of angel mobiles for $1. It's so beautiful and completely in tact.

The angels segments are precut paperboard, labeled and ready for hanging. There are so many! I may make mobiles... I may use them in decoupage... or scrapbooking if I ever get around to it.

This book brought to mind the bedtime prayer I repeated nightly during my youth: There are four corners on my bed, angels watching 'round my head, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, bless this bed I lay on. Amen.

I'll leave you with one last note from Psalm 91:11, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

And mobiles may be a great way to remember this.

Plain and Simple

(Photo by Bill Coleman. See his amish photo gallery here.)

For Mother's Day (I know, I'm a little behind in posting...) my husband gave me a book titled, "Traces Of Wisdom, Amish Women and the Pursuit of Life's Simple Pleasures." He knows me well. It's an enjoyable read. Warning: it may cause you to reflect on your life and passions. It has certainly reminded me of a few of my own life passions that had become foggy in this steam room I call motherhood. I'm currently living in Chapter 47, "Chasing Around A 16-Month Old Until Your Own Legs May Fall Off." Trust me, it's better than Chapter 22, "'I'm so tired.. Who Am I? Where Am I?"

On the surface, I may seem a little bit, um, absorbed by amish things. It's more of a keen interest. Yes, I watched "Amish In The City" a few years back... more than half of a dozen easy-reading Beverly Lewis books have graced my bookshelves... I've been to amish country because my family is from the great state of Pennsylvania... and I've read this book to learn more about their history and beliefs. But, I'm not planning to become amish.

I have a healthy respect for various aspects of their culture. Examples include: simplicity, looking after one another, slower pacing in life and... (I'll just throw in here a bonus point for the amish) they do not observe Daylight Savings Time. God bless 'em. They are a no fuss, no muss kind of folk. Certainly, there are drawbacks within the amish community, but what sub-culture of people are perfect? My focus shall remain on the positive facets as I further tell you about my little gift book.

The author, Loiuse Stoltzfus, is formerly amish. She grew up amish, remains close with the community, but now lives "in the world". She talks about our (us non-amish folks) need for escape on weekends and vacations. To the amish, "pleasure is not about escape," she writes, "it's about pleasantness and togetherness." In essence, they take time to "vacation" each day by enjoying each day for what it is. Less frazzle.

I'm reminded to increase my awareness of those around me. What do others need? Ms. Stoltzfus asks, "Do we know when the person sitting next to us suffers? Do we take the opportunity to reach out? We can still give... even when we receive few thank yous and no reward." If we're giving to get, is that really giving? Have you experienced the great joy in anonymous giving?

And one final little gem: laughter. Too much time passes between hearty chuckles. (And my daughter is very entertaining!) But, the author reminds us to laugh at ourselves. Gloss over your shortcomings with a snicker. (Not the candy bar because then you'll have TWO problems.) She writes that laughter, "moves us from an obsession with the absence of perfection to higher levels of personal acceptance." -- This perfectionist needs a t-shirt emblazoned with those words.

Christmas in April

This photo is copyright to Martha Stewart.

Isn't it lovely? Based on this apple, I had to have Martha's Christmas with Martha Stewart Living - Decorating For The Holidays book. She offers so many amazingly big ideas, but I like the small detail of a decorated apple. This will happen at my house for Christmas. After all, we know I'm probably not going to get around to ice sculpting a dog (page 15) or making a gingerbread gothic cottage (page 82) - although it's stunning. But glitter coat some walnuts and almonds (prettier than you think) - I can do that. Or make some sparkly pinecones, count me in! I think I just like the word sparkle. Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle. Yup, I do like that word.

I also purchased the companion Christmas with Martha Stewart Living - Craft and Keepsakes For The Holidays. This one shows me how gild a bowl (page 54) and make orange-sable dough (page 77). I think I just gained 3 pounds reading the recipe. It also gives me the step-by-step guide to remake the snowglobes for Charlotte's past birthday. Only a few of the favors turned out well, as I didn't use Martha's glue. Most of this information is probably available on her website now because the books are 9 years old. But my, new-to-me, treasures are from the thrift store. These books were never even used because they give that little craaaack when they're opened. Now that's a pity.

No matter how you feel about Martha personally, that girl can craft.

"S" not for Superman

At least I don't think Superman would care to have his "S" hand embroidered, curly style, on linen. Actually, I made this for our home. I'm pleased with my first attempt. There are so many more that I want to try from my new book. When the Compendium of Ancien Artistic Initials for Vintage Style Monograms arrived, it felt like my birthday. Characters, emblems and fonts... Oh My! Where to start? So. Hard. To. Choose.

To me, anything embroidered just feels better. Similarly, my father always said that food tasted better on nice dishes. So, occasionally, we'd pull out ma's good china and light a candle on the dinner table. He was right! Meatloaf, yum. But meatloaf on china, de-li-cious.

Maybe I should hang a bunch of monograms in the kitchen, and when I burn dinner, no one will notice!

{Edit: The monogram is on a five inch hoop.}