Way cute scarf tutorial!

I saw this darling tutorial on Gracie Lou's blog and I think I have everything on hand to make one tonight!


If you are feeling crafty and want to make one for you or some cute little girl then head on over to Oh So Happy Together's blog!

Original Mary Poppins

OK, I didn't know that there was a series of stories about Mary Poppins! Did You?
I must get my hands on them! I have to say that I was quite disappointed in my local library, today they had the nerve to be closed!!! I mean come on people......don't they know that I wanted to read these with my daughter over Christmas break? My daughter sighed when we left the parking lot empty handed saying "now we have to go on a school day!"


On another note, tomorrow we are making papier mache masks for my 7th graders school project and Cami and I are going to finish her American Girl pom pom scarf! It's so sad, her mom can't knit or crochet to save her life but mom's talents lie else where!

I want my own!

So as far back as I can remember I've wanted a lap quilt or throw size just for me made of my very favorite colors.....I think I love every color so a quilt would be a great way to let them shine! In the bleak winter months...ok bleak winter days {I do live in So CA} I find my self wishing and hoping for a super cute quilt of my very own!

Image from Red Pepper Quilts

Image from the fabric shopper

Reading Comprehension and a Lap Book!

My second born son has always had an issue with reading comprehension. In every subject he gets A's but when it comes to remembering what he has read it is difficult. So before this becomes a bigger problem I have discovered a super fun tool called a Lap Book! I think it will be so fun for him to be creative and also will help him to remember what he read and have a visual to go with it! So today we are off to the Library after we pick up big brother. I'll post pics later this week!  Stay tuned

Picture from Homeschool in the woods

The Cutest Wreath Ever!!!

Saw this on TipJunkie. Don't you {say it just like Paula Deen } just luvet? {love it} I have to make one!  

My Latest Etsy Item

So, for Bunco last week I had to bring a prize like we do every month but this time I went for a home decor theme and a guinea pig test......if the lucky winner loved it then I knew it would be a hit! It was a SLAM! I knew I loved it but we all have our own tastes don't we?

Here it is.....the latest Pemberley Court Original

{this is the Salt Lake LDS Temple}

{the Los Angeles LDS Temple}

{the back}

and now they are available in my etsy store. I've already had a custom order for 5! Available with most any temple or favorite photo for that matter applied to the top!  Go on, check it out, Christmas is coming......I know what I'm giving this year!

Oh Where Have I Been? And a Homemade Halloween!

I don't know....life, just gets us all so busy sometimes doesn't it? Well, these three kiddos had a little something to do with it! This past week they were able to bring a favorite stuffed animal to school and so they all brought their BAB's {Build A Bear Workshop}

For FHE {Family Home Evening} last week we went to the Peterson Home. Dori, who is Blake's Sunday school teacher decked the place OUT! She was in costume as the most amazing witch! 

We also decided to go old school and do a homemade Halloween this year. I have to say it was so much more fun than going to the party store or mega halloween store like we have dome many times in the past.

I was a disco ballerina doll..wore a wig and a huge hot pink tutu that I made for $6.

Isn't she the cutest Candy Corn Witch! I have to admit I was a little disappointed in her choice at first but.....we came up with our own cute design. She was a happy lil witch and I was happy with the design and execution.....except for maybe the corset, hey....I made the whole thing with out a pattern, wouldn't suggest that on the corset but 30 button holes later it turned out  kinda cute!

$6.00 including the had...we had the boots and leggings.

S.W.A.T.  {$0}

Oh, you didn't know we had Ozzy with us and David Beckham? That's how roll!

One happy lil ghost! {another home made costume...it was our theme this year}

Lil ghost....$6.00

Just a chuckle....at/with Martha!

Click Here!!!! I love Martha! I am so sad that she is not on NBC anymore and is only on the Hallmark channel which we used to get......now its gone! Hmmmm do I want to upgrade our package??? OK I think the whole thing was staged but still fun! Toile in a college guys bedroom? I love it my self but come ON! LOL

A Hansel and Gretel house and Cake Balls!

Tonight for Family Night we had these........sinfully good! I however, didn't take a picture of my double chocolate confection so I borrowed this one from Bakerella. The Red Velvet looks amazing huh? Thanks to a Stake Leadership mtg last night (they served these there) I was inspired to make some for the fam! Oh and the kids {and their Dad} LOVED them!

Bakerella

The kids tonight.....having quiet time with their library books. Blake is reading his first Book Fair book complete with 3-D glasses. Those sharks are jumping off the page!

Saturday we had the opportunity to visit The LDS Los Angeles Temple's Visitor Center. It was so fun! Totally interactive and we LOVED it!

After lunch at In and Out, dessert at Diddy Riese with friends our family went to check out this awesome Storybook style house in Beverly Hills. It was built in 1921 in Culver City and then moved shortly after to its present location.  This is where Walt got his inspiration for the Seven Dwarf's house! 

The kids infront of the Witches house! 

Cami was ready to move in! Isn't the gate adorable?

The Friendly Beveryl Hills squirrel/chipmunk? Who knows the difference? Anyone??

He just came right up to the 6 of us..kids and all! The kids freaked!

Meal Planning

Do you do it? I can't live with out it! Do you dread when it is 4:30 in the afternoon and you have no idea what you will have for dinner? Take out? Left overs? Cold cereal? For me, its panic time if I don't know what we are having for dinner. 5 hungry people asking you whats for dinner can be a little overwhelming when you are not prepared!

So.....I scour the internet all the time looking for ideas, stock blogs, put it on my FB status that I need an idea for dinner {sometimes i even post some of my own} and call my sisters and good friends and ask: "whatch makin for dinner tonight?"

The trick to good meal planning is: set a budget, how many days will you plan for? Then, I borrowed the Food Nanny's idea and added a theme for each night. This makes it sooo simple to plan and organize when you know what type of food you will eat that night. {We eat A LOT of Mexican food in our family. Can't get enough. All 4 of my babies were made on that cheesy spicy goodness.}

I will usually ask the kids and my husband what they feel like for the week (or 2 weeks if I'm doing it that way). It's usually the same things but they appreciate that I ask them what they want. I do like to change it up every so often and will throw in a new food or recipe on Wednesdays. They are now really liking Tilapia!  Try it with season salt and dill! Delish!!

New Items in My Etsy Shop This Weekend!

This is one of my favorite new things!!! The T-Shirt Scarf. So very comfortable and versatile.  I made one with twisted flowers (above) and then one with ruffle trim (below).

Fun new head bands with ric rac flowers. One on a gorgeous brown velvet band and the other on a gross grain band. Love them both!

This one I made today and it just came together while I was watching Mansfield Park.

Some fun with photo shop on this one.

Wanna see more? Visit my etsy store {here}

Summer fun!

So at the beginning of the month I took all the kids to UT for lots of time with their cousins before our family had our reunion....there are 4 boys and 4 girls in my family so we have a reunion with just our little families all together every other year. This year we went to UT to my mom and dads! On our way we stayed in Las Vegas. This is what we did first! The kids love the pool at Aunt Cathy's and Uncle Jeff's.

If you remember the Jack and Jill hat from a previous post....this is where the original pattern is sold.

Isn't the store adorable?

I LOVE trims and I am really into ric rac right now. Check out the SIZE of these!!! They were like an inch wide!

So, I went to Gracie Lou's to get the Jack and Jill pattern and guess what? They were all SOLD OUT!!!!  Well, my sister says the gal behind the counter "you know my sister came all the way from Cali to get this pattern?!" Next thing I know they call the office down the way and the pattern designer her self is hand delivering a pattern to ME! She was so dang sweet....she has a name, Mona! 

She was so great to take a picture with me! Thanks Mona!!!

Took the kids and some of their cousins to the water park there in town. Can I tell you it was only $4 bucks to get in??? What a deal!

Next day, we went to Provo and shopped at a really cute boutique. It was originally a women's gym and it is still carved in the top of the bldg. Anyway,they turned it into a great shop literally  filled to bursting!

This is my cami and her cousin Taylor....you will see her in the future sometime playing on the Olympic Volley Ball Team. She is that good. 

My Gavin waiting for his burger at the Creamery on 9th. Was great food!

We got a ton of ice creams...I think like 13? for only $15!

Provo LDS Temple. Beautiful views there!

The old Utah County Court House

Restroom Floor

I love that it says "Ladies"

Inside

I read about an old Pharmacy that still has a Soda Fountain in my Country Living Mag I think it was in the June Issue? Anyway, it is in Springville, UT and it's called S.O.S. in case you want to visit. Since they were featured, they have had people come from all over.....even from VA! 

So very reasonably priced! We are talkin about a$1buck for each person to have a float! You can't beat that or their friendly service!

Do you know what she is? The sweetest Soda Jerk ever! 

My sister Linda and me!

        

All of our kids plus two other cousins.

If you are ever in Provo....You MUST visit this place!

Fun at the lake!

Jeff and his cousin Jason on the water trampoline