A Morning Greeting

When I woke up this morning and walked into the kitchen this is what was sitting on my counter! It was dark so I couldn't read the note and I was thinking to myself, "oh look, Pete left me a birthday gift...but why...my birthday isn't for a couple more weeks?". When I turned on the light, I saw my friend Annie had left it for me (she must have left it on our front porch & Pete found it this morning?). Anyway...I was really touched! I LOVE my friends (and I love getting gifts too;o))....and I love this shabby chic picture frame. How sweet!!! Thanks so much Annie!

Ellie's Wall Climb

We were supposed to go camping this past weekend with our church group, but we changed our plans when we saw how horrible the weather was going to be. So one of the things we did instead was have a Family Fun Night on Sunday at Just Kid'n Around in Meridian. It's an awesome indoor play place that is adult friendly too with lots of comfy sofas and tables and chairs. So while the kids played, so did the adults...we enjoyed playing games like Uno Attack, Catch Phrase and ThinkBlot! Ellie did interrupt our (incredibly intense) game of Uno with a request to come see her climb the wall (she's always been a bit scared to try anything like this before, so we were pretty excited that she decided to try it...and loved it!).

A Different Style?

For about the last six months, a struggle has ensued...Ellie and I now officially disagree on her clothing. What she thinks is "stylish" is a bit "far-out" in my world, and what I like is "way uncool" in hers...she actually told me a few weeks ago that she had way more style than I do (I'm afraid she might be right!?). Anyway, I had bought this really cute hat pattern a couple months ago because...well, because I loved it and I thought it was way cuter than the faded pink one she currently wears (Do I sew? Nope...but luckily Ellie has a Mimi who likes to sew!). However, finding fabric to make this hat with has proven to be one of the MOST CHALLENGING things ever. I took 2 trips to Craft Warehouse with her to do this and they both ended....ummm, "not so well". I'd find coordinating fabrics that I thought were wonderful...she would say they were "hideous" (apparently one of her new favorite words) and then go and pick out 2 (we needed five) fabrics that (in my world) totally clashed and insist that we could make the hat with just those two. UGH!  

So a few weeks ago I was out shopping with my friends Annie and Kaytie...they wanted to take me to this new craft store they found in Hyde Park, called Twigs and Twist...and I found the cutest coordinating fabrics that would be perfect for the hat. My dilemma? I knew that if I loved them, Ellie would dub them "hideous". I was about ready to nix the whole idea, when Annie shared an idea..."just tell her that Kaytie and I picked them out"...and I thought perfect (and I'll add in that I think they're "hideous"). Now yes...this would officially constitute lying to my child and I would normally disagree with this whole-heartedly, but I thought maybe (just maybe) that God (and Pete) would forgive me in this circumstance...and frankly, I was at my wit's end...and I spent $7 on this pattern (when I'm usually so cheap I won't spend more than $1) and by-golly I was gonna USE it! So, I got the fabric, brought it home...told Ellie I thought it was hideous, but Annie and Kaytie picked it out for her...and without any hesitation she says "I LOVE IT MOM--it is so cute!!". (uh yeah...I know it is!) So...maybe, just maybe...I do have still have some STYLE!

So...I wanted to share this cute fabric and pattern with you (Mimi, this is headed your way...). Wouldn't this fabric make great patterned paper too?

A Quick, Cute Birthday Card

One of the many things we did over this long Memorial Day weekend was to attend our friend Tiffani's 30th Birthday Party (she's a new friend-a neighbor in our new neighborhood, and we were so happy to celebrate with her!). Here's the birthday card I made her...quickly put together with some scraps of patterned paper (one of them with a punched out border), a K & Co. butterfly sticker (from Target), a Colorbok gem swirl (from Target), and a "Happy Birthday" stamp (also from Target-the dollar bin), and a corner rounder. (Have I mentioned that I love Target?) Super easy...and pretty cute if I do say so myself! And what did we give Tiffani for her birthday? Scrapbooking kits (some ones I got on sale last year at Craft Warehouse)! She's expressed interest in wanting to scrapbook (she has a little girl too) and I really need a "close-by" scrapping buddy!! So...we'll see what happens. 

God is So Good!

I haven't had a chance to share this with too many people...but I really want to because it's so cool! Last fall when we decided that we were going to be part of the church plant in Boise, we were a little worried about finding good renters for our home in Meridian (but God had plans!). So, I put out a prayer request to my "prayer warriors" (a group of awesome ladies who were praying for me and my family during this transition) about praying for good renters...and VERY soon after I sent out that email, one of them (my good friend Vonda, who had recently moved to Iowa) called me and said she had a friend from high school (who she kept in touch with via Facebook) whose family was moving to our area, and actually had looked at another home in our sub-division. So I contacted this gal, and ended up sending her photos of our home. Within a couple hours, she called me back and said they wanted to rent our home (really, I said, even though you haven't seen it in person?....YES!). So the Work Family (Phil, Jennifer, Autumn and Summer) have rented our home from us since September and have been great renters! BUT we found out earlier this month that Phil was offered a promotion and would be moving to California (even though I was excited for Phil, I'll just say I was more than a little disappointed about losing them as renters and having to find someone new!). BUT God had plans. 

With much trepidation, I listed our home on Craigslist...and apparently this is a crazy rental market right now because within the next couple days, we got so many phone calls (one of them from a nice gal named Shelly). Pete and I started praying that God would lead us to the right renters because so many people were interested, and we wanted to make the right decision. After seeing the house twice (thank you Jennifer for showing it!)...Shelly and her husband Keith wanted to meet with us and start the application process. That evening when we met with them, Shelly said "So who do you know who has kids at Cole Valley?" (she had mentioned during an earlier phone call that her son Jacob went to Cole Valley (a private Christian school in the area) and I had told her that I had a lot of friends with kids there). As I went through my list...they knew every one. Then as we continued talking...I found out that Shelly really enjoyed working in the yard (this was something that I had really been praying to God for...silly as it may seem, this was something that I knew would bless that neighborhood too, as there are quite a few older people there who take excellent care of their yards and have beautiful flowers, etc---this was never a huge strength of my own). Plus Shelly admitted that she might be considered a bit anal about her house (Jennifer had said the same thing)...and ummm, I've been known to be that way... "just a little". So...I made Pete swing by their current home (much to his embarrassment...) and their yard is gorgeous!! The next day I called references, etc (even though I knew they'd all be great...but I had to be "responsible":o)). So...can I tell you how excited we are to have the Booker family as our next renters! God had plans for us...and our home. He has been such an amazing provider for us, especially during this hard time of transition! HE is sooooo good!!!!

Our Meridian house

A Lavender Layout

I've still been busy baking cookies (versus doing any scrapbooking)...so this layout is from a couple years ago, but I still like it and thought you might too! I don't use a lot of the color lavender in my scrapbooking, but when you're doing a page about a Lavender Festival with lavender in the photos, then it might be wise to use lavender in layout, right? I also really liked this line of paper...it was from an (older) BoBunny line and I cut all the flowers, leaves and swirls from one of the pieces of patterned paper (then added a little bling to the centers). 

It's Summer (Kinda)...

Wednesday was Ellie's last day of preschool...which means it's now officially Summer Vacation. So how come it doesn't seem like summer? (Sunshine, where art thou?)


Here's a cute photo of her class and awesome teachers (sorry Jolynn...at least I didn't use the close-up one!:o)) We'll both really miss this fun class...I was blessed this year to be able to volunteer each Wednesday, and it was a joy to get to know these kiddos! 

Maddie, Karlee, Ellie, Miss Erica, Ty, Ian, Elise, Miss Jolynn, Aidan, Garrett

Another Awesome Cookie!

I have to start off by saying I'm not a huge peanut butter fan...but I even kinda like these cookies...but EVERYONE else seems to LOVE them!!! I made them for my small group yesterday, and they were a huge hit, and Pete took just a few to work for some co-workers and two of them are begging for the recipe. So I thought I'd share it with you. I got it from a cooking class I went to (my friend Denece from my old church does these monthly classes, and Pete and I go together...she is such a fabulous cook and baker!!)

CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH COOKIES

For the Cookies:

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup flour

1 box Devil's Food cake mix (18.25 oz)

For the Filling:

4 oz cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbsp milk

For the Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly whisk eggs and oil in a medium bowl. Mix in flour and cake mix until well blended. Roll into 1 inch balls and bake for 8-10 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet (I flatten them just a bit with the bottom of a glass immediately after removing from the oven). Cool completely on wire rack.

For the Filling: In a medium bowl, cream together cream cheese, peanut butter and vanilla. Add in powdered sugar and mix till smooth. Add in milk a little at a time until you get the desired consistency (I used all 3 Tbsp). Spread about 1-1/2 Tbsp of filling onto the bottom of one cookie and then place another cookie on top, bottom sides facing in.

*Note: Denece did suggest that since I wasn't a big peanut butter fan, I could try using a Vanilla cake mix (instead of the Devils Food) and lemon curd (instead of peanut butter). So I'm definitely going to try that soon (as I love lemon!).

Some Shabby Chic Antique Inspiration

A couple days ago I went and checked out Forget-Me-Not Antiques. It's a newer antique store in the Hyde Park area of Boise (they've only been open since October). And although I didn't really need anything, I just wanted to go see what they had. And...I loved the things they had! And even though all I ended up buying was a few big, wooden dominoes, I felt inspired! The store was a bit different in that there wasn't a lot of color...almost everything they had was neutral in color, and it made for a really unique look! (sorta reminded me of Rayette's "White Out" Challenge from the Craft Warehouse Blog Party this past weekend) Anyway...here are a few examples of  why I love "shabby chic" antiques...(check out the cool newspaper dress on the wire dress form and the paper wreath in the 3rd photo)...

An Oldie But A Goody...A 2-Page Birthday Layout!

Knowing that I wouldn't have time to scrap (I've been too busy baking cookies!), I went through some of my older layouts to see if there was anything "scrappy" I could share with you. I did this layout a year and a half ago, but I still really like its simple composition and the bright colors (can you tell I'm drawn to bright colors?!)

My Favorite Sugar Cookies (Seriously...They Rock!!!)

These are a specialty of mine...one of my most favorite things to bake. And, every time I make these, people say "these are the best sugar cookies I've ever had". I got the recipe years ago from a friend, and have had a ton of people ask me for it. So, I wanted to share it here too.

I used to use canned frosting, and they were still delicious. But recently, my friend Kaytie shared her buttercream frosting recipe with me, and now that I've been making my own frosting, the cookies are even more delicious (really, really seriously delicious!)

THE BEST SUGAR COOKIE EVER

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

5 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cream of tartar

I use my KitchenAid, but you can also use a hand mixer. 

Cream butter and sugar. Add oil, eggs, salt and vanilla and mix. Add 1 cup of the flour, the baking soda and the cream of tartar and mix. Then gradually add the other 4 cups of flour until it's thoroughly mixed in. Roll into balls (I use a cookie scoop--it makes it so easy!) and bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes (you don't want them to get brown at all). When you take out, flatten them (with bottom of a glass) just a bit. Frost if desired (they're really good even without frosting). This recipe makes 5-7 dozen cookies depending on size of balls you make.

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1-1/2 cups butter

6 cups powdered sugar

1/8 cup water

1 Tbsp vanilla

Start with the butter-beat till fluffy. Slowly add sugar, then water and vanilla. Blend until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. This makes a lot of frosting so you can be pretty generous putting it on your cookies:o).

Really Great Faith Blog Hop!

Through Jen (the leader of our Craft Warehouse Design Team), I came across this awesome Faith Blog Hop. There are so many inspiring, creative ideas based on Proverbs 31. Take a peek...start here at: Paper Treehouse Faith Blog Hop.

Craft Warehouse Design Team-It's Official!

YAY-I'm officially on the Craft Warehouse 2011 Design Team now! They've just posted the new team's profiles and photo slide shows...you can check it out at the CW Design Team Page. And that means that I can now show you my entries. We had to submit 2 layouts, 2 cards and 1 "project". Here are photos of my winning entries:

I love this photo of Ellie and her good friend Gabi! I used a bunch of different manufacturer's patterned paper on this one, American Crafts foam Thickers for the title and assorted buttons from my stash. I love the pleated ribbon (I just used mini glue dots to make the pleats)! 

I used K & Co's (Carolyn Gavin) Greenhouse line for this one, plus some felt flowers that my sweet MIL made for me with her Cuttlebug and flower dies. The title was made with my Cricut (Street Signs cartridge) and so was the little "sunshine" tab (I just used the "left-over" scrap and put some PP behind to show through, and I stamped the "you are"). The brads are from Lasting Impressions. And I used the new spray bottles from Close to My Heart and an ink refill to make the ink splotches (you could probably also use a darker Glimmer Mist to get the same kind of effect).  

This card was made with Kraft cardstock and assorted brands of patterned paper. I used my Cricut for the letters (I did the same thing for the "Happy" tab that I did for the "sunshine" tab in the above layout). I used a little flower punch to make the flowers and some bling from My Mind's Eye for the centers. I added some white ric-rac from my stash. 

This card was made with white CS and assorted brands of patterned paper. The gem swirls are from Colorbok (Target) and the green bling is from My Mind's Eye. I used a scalloped border punch for the strips of PP along the bottom. The Happy Birthday stamp is from PaperTreyInk. 

This one is my favorite! I have it displayed proudly in my craft room! The photos make me smile (amazing how quickly kids grow up, huh?). And I know...Ellie isn't quite six, but I needed a photo! As for a supply list...ugh (where do I start?). The printer's tray I purchased at Craft Warehouse.  I cut all the numbers and letters with my Cricut (Street Signs again---I only own this one cartridge, so it's getting lots of use!). Again...lots of different brands of PP. For the "ONE" block- the tree diecut is from My Mind's Eye and I added the orange brads, and the cloud was made with my MIL's Cuttlebug (thanks Carol!). I made the sun with a circle punch (and added Diamond Glaze) and hand-cut the "rays". For "TWO"--the butterflies are from K&Co. and I added bling from My Mind's Eye. The gem swirl is from Colorbok. For "THREE"-I handmade the pinwheels and attached a brad (Lasting Impressions) to each middle. I used toothpicks for the handles. For "FOUR"-I handmade the rosettes (there's great online tutorials online on how to make these!), punched out the circle centers, and added some bling. For "FIVE"-I used a punch-out chipboard banner from My Mind's Eye (Fine and Dandy line) and added MME bling too. For "SIX"-I used a punch for the hearts and then added Diamond Glaze for some shine. Then added a few buttons with floss. 

Craft Warehouse's "Your Story" Layout Challenge

As part of the Craft Warehouse Blog Party this past weekend, we were challenged by Laura Cook to create a layout about ourselves. I have NEVER done this before, as I'm not a big fan of being in front of a camera (I much prefer to be behind it). But what did appeal to me about this challenge is that I thought it would be nice for Ellie (especially years from now) to know a little bit about me at this time in my life (as my scrapbooks will eventually be passed on to her). So here's the result:

First I want to thank my friend, Anissa Hayes (AH Photography) for taking my photo (you're awesome Anissa!)--she took it because I needed a head-shot for the Craft Warehouse Design Team page, and it worked out great for this layout too! My layout was also inspired from a layout in "52 Scrapbooking Challenges" by Elsie Flannigan. I loved her use of bright strips of ribbon and patterned paper as her entire background, and I wanted to try it. I just used strips of ribbon and paper from my "scraps" stash (a great way to use them up!)...and I added flowers by Making Memories (pink and blue) and Prima (orange polka dot) and a brad from Making Memories. The photo corner punch is from Stampin' Up. If you've never done a page like this I really encourage you to...it's kinda fun thinking of all the different things you love! 

Here's One for Papa Dan...

So after sending Dan (my awesome stepdad and Ellie's Papa) an invitation to check out my blog, he emails me back and says, "very nice...but I think you need a few more pics of Papa Dan". So I thought because he's such a great Papa, and because he'll probably be the only MALE to few my blog on any kind of regular basis, I would oblige (even though I'm pretty sure he was kidding):

Here's a photo of Ellie and Papa Dan before setting off for a (much anticipated, yet albeit very short) bike ride this Spring (she went & visited during Spring Break). Mimi and Papa Dan got her this cool pink Princess bicycle just to ride at their house when she visits.

A Craft Warehouse Scraplift Challenge

This weekend, I really enjoyed participating in Craft Warehouse's Blog Party.  One of the challenges was to use Elizabeth's layout and "scraplift" it (use her idea, but make it your own on a layout). Here's Elizabeth's layout:

And here's what I came up with:

Scraplifting is one of my specialties...so I had a lot of fun with this! On this layout I mainly used Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday paper line (except for the green plaid paper which is from Echo Park). The ticket is from My Mind's Eye, the ribbon from May Arts, the circle edger punch from EK Success, and the buttons from my stash:o) including some from Doodlebug. 

There's still time to participate in the challenges and have a chance to win prizes. You just need to post your work--per the instructions on the blog before midnight PST on Tuesday night (the 24th). 

And if you're reading this after the fact...there's still some great inspirational ideas...so check it out!

A Favorite Easy Potluck Dessert

I wanted to share one of my favorite dessert dishes to bring to potlucks...with summer fast approaching, this is one recipe that you'll want to keep on hand (trust me...it's a hit every time!). It's delicious...but the best part is how easy it is. It's called Dump Cake (not the loveliest of names, but it alludes to how easy it is to make...you just dump everything in the pan!). It's basically a 4-ingredient (how cool is that?) fruit crisp that my step-mom (otherwise known as Ellie's Oma:o)) used to make quite often. So here's the recipe, and a photo (notice the "gas" stove...it's new (to us) and Pete is so excited to finally have a gas stove...he's wanted one for years!!)

DELICIOUS DUMP CAKE

1 large (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (undrained)

1 can (20 oz) pie filling--you can use any pie filling you want--I use cherry or blueberry

1 box white cake mix

1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter (helps if it's frozen)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9x13 pan, dump crushed pineapple and spread out in pan. Then dump (and spread out) the can of pie filling. Then dump the box of cake mix and spread out evenly to cover entire pan. Then cut margarine or butter in thin slices (to get them as thin as possible use very sharp small knife) and lay them out over the top. Bake for approximately 45 minutes (till it gets a nice golden color). You can serve warm with ice cream, but it's great cold too. Enjoy!!!

Join Me for Craft Warehouse's Blog Party!

First, I am very excited to announce that I've been invited to be part of Craft Warehouse's 2011 Scrapbook Design Team. I entered the contest about a month ago, and got a phone call on May 5th saying I'd been chosen. I'm really honored, as I know there were many talented scrapbookers who entered. 

So, if you're not familiar with Craft Warehouse...they have 8 stores throughout Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Their stores offer a great scrapbooking department, but also have great jewelry/beading, framing, and fabric/sewing departments...as well as cute home decor items, fun games and great crafts for kids. It's one of my favorite places to visit!

Anyway, this weekend (Friday, May 20th through Sunday, May 22nd) some of their current (2010) design team is helping to host their first ever Blog Party. I'll be participating throughout the weekend, and I hope you'll join me! Click on this link: Craft Warehouse Blog to join in the fun...they'll be challenges (that you can participate in through Tuesday, May 24th at midnight) and prizes. One of the easiest ways to be a part is to post a comment on the Photography Challenge (you'll then be entered into that prize drawing). But if you ALSO participate in the other challenges and provide a link to your submission (there's rules and instructions on the blog), you will be entered for that specific challenge's prize drawing too. Plus the challenges will be really fun, and maybe even motivate to try something new that you've never tried before!

An All-Time Favorite!

This layout is one I did just about a year ago, but it is still one of my very favorites! Why? Because Ellie (who even back at age 4 took much better photos than I did--and yes, this IS still the case!) took each one of these photos. And it lets me see things "thru her eyes", and what things she loves and thinks are "pretty". The design is pretty timeless too as I kept things very simple using only chipboard alpha letters and rub-ons as embellishments--it keeps the focus on her awesome photos! I think this will always be a favorite of mine! 

While I Was Sleeping...

Ellie's preschool class had a field trip on Wednesday morning to Zoo Boise, but I was sick all day Wednesday with the flu-YUCK! Lucky for me, Pete had already planned on coming along with us and had asked for the time off from work...so he ended up taking her by himself. We hadn't been to the Zoo for a couple years, so I was really looking forward to going, and I'm really sorry I had to miss it. I guess they have a giraffe now (and Ellie says she has a baby too) and quite a few other new animals. So anyway...while I was at home sleeping...here's some photos of what Ellie, Pete and her class were doing.

Ellie "acting" like she's feeding the parrot (her idea!)

Ellie sliding down the "giraffe" slide

Ellie, Elise, and Karlee 

A Final Layout for the Day!

Here's a final layout to share with you today. This one was also inspired by the Got Sketch? blog (Sketch #107). Hope this motivates to get out your supplies and start scrapping!

The little frog was punched out from a tag off some dollar bin item from Target (way to stretch my dollar, huh?).

Two for You!

These two layouts were also both inspired by the Got Sketch? blog (Sketch #76 and Sketch #102).

I was excited to be able to use the cute 3-D fish stickers from K & Co. that I had gotten awhile back. This was not how I had originally intended to use them, but they worked great for this page!

A Fun & Simple Layout!

Here's a cute and (fairly) quick layout. Ok, I'll be honest and admit that none of my layouts are really ever completed that quickly, but this one was one of the quickest ones I've been able to put together (I did it in about an hour and a half)...and I really like its simplicity. 

More Layouts to Share...

I am always so inspired by other scrapbookers, and this first layout was based on a sketch from one of my favorite blogs to go to when I'm lacking inspiration of my own...Valerie Salmon's Got Sketch? blog ( Sketch #104).

A "close-up" view...

And another fun layout...

Ellie's Great School News!

So back in August we moved across town (well, really from a different town...Meridian) to help start a church plant on the Boise Bench with five other families (it has been quite an awesome adventure!). With the move, we decided to still drive the 30 minutes twice a week to take Ellie to the same preschool she had attended the year before because she loved the teachers (my friends Erica and JoLynn, who I must say are awesome!) and would have some of the same classmates. 

But we knew we'd have to make the decision on what to do with kindergarten for this coming school year (2011-12). Boise School District has open enrollment (meaning if you want to go to a school outside of your district, you can apply to get into a lottery and if your child is lucky enough to be chosen, you're in). So, with God's guidance, we decided that we would try to get her into the Dual-Language class (half English-half Spanish) at Whitney Elementary. We felt like this would be an awesome opportunity for Ellie to continue on with the Spanish she has already been learning in her preschool, as well as an awesome ministry opportunity for her in the future (and this is the school where half of our families kids attend...and at our "district school" she would have been all alone). We figured that if God really wanted her there then she would get in, and if not that would be ok too.

Well...today I just got a call from the secretary at Whitney saying Ellie got chosen in the lottery for the Dual Language class-YAY!!! We're super excited (and so is she...especially to be at a school where she knows quite a few other kids) and we can't wait to see what God has in store for our amazing little girl at this school. 

Ellie, upon hearing the GREAT news!

-

A Favorite Layout

I wanted to share one of my favorite scrapbook layouts with you. It was inspired by Robyn Werlich's layout in the August 2010 issue of Scrapbooks Etc. (my favorite magazine!). I made some changes such as adding the "tags" to the butterflies...and adapting it to make it fit my one photo. I was very happy with the results!  And, also really inspired to keep doing this as Ellie celebrates a birthday each year (asking her for a certain number of "favorites")...meaning I will do a "Five at 5" layout (yes, she's five now...which means I'm a little behind) and a "Six at 6" layout, etc. 

The Inspiration...

My take on it...

Ellie's New Do

Ellie has been wanting to get her hair cut for quite awhile now, but ever since the whole tragic "daddy haircutting experience" three years ago (don't ask!), I have not been too excited about the idea of anyone cutting her hair. But then we (ok, Ellie mostly) decided that she wanted to donate her hair to Locks of Love, and so we had a goal that as soon as it got long enough for donation (10 inches), we would do it. So...yesterday I took her to my new friend Dawn Maglish in Eagle. She did such a good job, and Ellie was beaming the whole time. Here's some before and after photos...

I think it turned out really cute despite the fact that she really doesn't look like my daughter any more...but she's still awfully cute! And she LOVES it (which is all that really matters, right?).

Here she is with her friends Grace and Gabi (who just got her hair cut a few days ago too). See...she's still beaming!!

What a Hoot!!!

When we go to Spokane to visit family, we always drive out to Rockford and visit Hurd Merchantile...I love that place (it's a bit on the expensive side, and so my mom and I go out to get decorating inspiration more than to actually buy anything). They also have a great kid's section up in their loft, and on our last trip Ellie and I both fell in love with this cute little Tooth Fairy pillow made by Maison Chic (I have a thing for birds and owls!)...and since she was almost to that age...and since I'd been looking for a cute little "tooth" pillow...yes, I forked out the $10 for this cute little critter. Isn't it adorable???

Some Card Inspiration...

Here are a few cards that I've made fairly recently. I make cards to sell at my parent's jewelry store in Spokane, Washington (it's a lovely store...if you're ever in that area and looking to get some jewelry, stop by Austin's Jewelry). These were some that I sent off to them awhile back. I apologize that the photos aren't the greatest...as I never really intended to share them (they are all in clear envelopes...hence the glare, and they all have envelopes included...hence the white edge around all of them)...but I hope they can still give you some inspiration to make a special card for that special someone!

My New Blog!

Welcome to my new blog! Till now I've only been part of "blog world" from a safe distance. Meaning, I love checking out other people's blogs especially for ideas and inspiration, but I thought that having my own blog would be too much work and take up too much time (and so far, at least in the setting up process, that's proving to be true thanks to being very techno-challenged...but I must also give a shout out to online tutorials for their helpfulness in this process), but despite all this I've decided to give it a try anyway. My goal with this blog is to be able to share BITS of my daily life (this is especially a way to help my family and friends feel connected), BAUBLES I love (meaning things I have created that I want to share for inspiration plus things that give me inspiration), and BLISS I experience (sharing things that bring me joy).