squeezing it all in...

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Breathe.

I have been neglecting this little space of mine...I know, but My time and thoughts have been elsewhere. My sweet brother in law had to have emergency open heart surgery and our family and his have pulled together to love, support, and serve in every way we can. My heart aches and my stomach churns non stop for the trauma my sister has had to endure...I wish so deeply that I could take it away. And this brother in law is not just an in law....he is a brother. The 3 brothers in law I'm blessed to have, have all stolen the little part of my heart where a blood brother of my own never claimed. It is heart wrenching to see his struggle like this, but I'm so grateful he continues to fight. Fight to return to my sister, fight to return to my nephews, fight to return to all of us. We have been so greatly blessed to witness miracle after miracle to save his precious life. He is still in the ICU taking baby steps toward recovery. I'm layingin his dark room right now listening to him breathe....so grateful for his breath.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

thoughts for today...

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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The BEST Sugar Cookies ever...

The boys in my life devour these.

I promise, once you try them...you will never turn back.

Super Soft Sugar Cookies
(altered from a cook book by Julie Jensen)

1/2 c butter
1/2 c margarine
1 egg
1 c powdered sugar
2 c flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream together butter and margarine. Add egg and mix. Add powdered sugar and beat well.
Add remaining ingredients and mix. On a floured surface, roll out dough about 1/2 inch thick. Add some more flour if the dough is too sticky. Cut dough into whatever shape will make you smile. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 min. Cool on a wire rack and frost with a delicious cream cheese frosting.

Delicious Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (3 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
1 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Mix all ingredients together. Color with food coloring if desired.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Genius in the form of moss.

I'm desperately trying to find a place for this...

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Can you just imagine the possibilities?
It's gorgeous.

In your blender, combine:

1 1/2 cups buttermilk
A few handfuls of moss
One teaspoon of sugar.

Blend until the mixture is smooth, and you’re ready to get painting!

You can use a brush to paint your moss onto concrete walls, rocks, or brick. Mist the moss once a day to help it thrive, and soon your green graffiti will take hold!

I'm also contemplating using the above recipe to create something like this little beauty for my bathroom.

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What an amazing way to bring the relaxing outdoors in.
It would make my "little things" list every. single. day.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Change for Change happened....

Do you remember last year when I started the Change for Change project?
I pledged to collect money for The Shine Project Scholarship Fund - dedicated to helping inner city high school students go to college and achieve their dreams.

With help from some of YOU we were able to meet our goal and fill the jar.

I sent our collections to my friend, Ashley, from The Shine Project and then waited patiently to see the faces of the lucky kids awarded.

Well, I was so EXCITED to see the pictures this week!
I wanted to make sure you saw them too.
Click on over to visit Ashley and see the faces of the amazing kids whose lives YOU helped change.Seeing the pictures made me want to reach through the screen and congratulate them myself.

Thank you for helping me help them.
And thank you, Ashley, for letting us be a part of the great work The Shine Project is doing.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

I'm back...

I was so happy to be welcomed home by the delightful squeals coming from my little clan of handsome men...
and sad to leave such a breathtaking paradise.