September Update

Well, time has kind of flown by since my last update, so I thought it was time for a new one. My photos get backlogged, and realize it's time to share before moving on. Here is a little snapshot of my life recently. 

I learned how to make this flower granny square garland (I'd never heard of the popcorn stitch) and now I just want to stare at it all day. It will be off in the mail soon, to my garland exchange partner. I'm participating in an adoption fundraiser over at It's Just Emmy. It's pretty cool. You pay $5 to sign up, and then you get sent a person that you will send a garland to. You get to know a few things about them, but that's it, it's a surprise. Super fun!

 So, I know raw chicken is not very appealing, but I made this last night and it was the BEST roasted chicken I've ever made. I like the ones from the store, but they all taste the same. I made a compound butter with fresh parsley, salt, pepper, and butter, and put it under the skin, and on top. It was the juiciest chicken ever!

 I recently remembered that I knew how to print on fabric! Duh! What took me so long?! I'm starting to add printed words onto my Etsy shop hoops (see the sidebar for link), and I love it!

 Fall has begun, and my decor is slowly switching over. I found this old catalog card in a thrift store book, titled, When Autumn Comes. I slid that puppy in front of my Atlas jar faster than you could say "fall". ;)

A couple more of my realization that I could print on fabric...

I updated my iPhone and then realized I couldn't really see the app words on my home screen because my background was too light. I didn't like any of the other backgrounds that I had, so I went to my Rhonna Designs App and discovered she has a chalkboard background! Now I use a blank chalkboard background for my wallpaper, and this as my lock screen. Basic and beautiful. Her app is probably the best one I've ever paid for.

I realized the other day, that Emma would make a perfect teacher. I snapped this photo of her (without her knowing it) while she was reading to Cami and I. I love the way she is holding the book.

Speaking of books! I also snuck up and snapped this photo of her. We were doing family dinner night at a relative's house and while we were all talking and watching football, she was in the study with the door closed, with her book and a bowl of ice cream. Yes, she's wearing a layer on top of her pjs, she'd just gotten out of the shower and hates getting her wet hair on her pajamas. ;)

This is a revelation! I made gluten free fried chicken AND gluten free waffles! And it was fabulous!! Healthy? No, but tasty for sure.

My hubby took the day off a couple of weeks ago, and went with Cami and I up to the children's hospital. She had two big appointments, which went very well! I loved that they had Sully in the GI department waiting room.

 Last, I also participated in the hoop exchange for It's Just Emmy. It dawned on me to use my light box to trace my letters to be embroidered by hand. I love the one I received even more than the one I sent.

Well, that's the update for now. It's been busy up here just keeping up with LIFE! :)

End of Summer Update

So, school has started and life has been BUSY! I officially decided I just don't have what it takes to keep up with this blog regularly. Home school is so incredibly time consuming, I just can't find the time. So I'm going back to my roots, a every-so-often family update and occasional thing I just have to share. Here is our recent update...

1.This is our new favorite meal to share with a crowd. Everything gets a drizzle of olive oil, and sprinkled with lemon zest and basil. Mix all of these flavors together and YOU WILL THANK ME!

2. I went to our local county surplus sale and found this metal drawer marked $4.00, but the checkout guy only charged me half that...yes!

 A fresh coat of mint green spray paint, and it's perfect for storing chapter books!

See!

 
3. Our nephew got married! We traveled to Temecula, which neither of us had ever been to, and got to witness their beautiful vows.

 Of course, I'm the guest that takes pictures of the decor. Shocked? I didn't think so.

 They had the COOLEST photo booth ever, where you control it! It had a touch screen and it gave you a countdown, then took three photos and showed you each one. Then you could walk over to the iPad and tap the ones you wanted to email to yourself!! What?! Instant gratification!

4. We woke up early the day after the wedding to make the hour (or so...WHATEVER stupid traffic) to make good use of our Disneyland passes. It was great, but I'm convinced you have never fully felt 94 degrees until you've been at Disneyland...in the sun...with no wind...in humidity...on concrete. And this is coming from a girl that has lived in the Central Valley (hello, 106 degrees) for the last 13 years.

5. Last week, I went back to the surplus store and found this rolling metal cart for $15, but again, the guy marked it down to $10.

 I painted it the same mint green (not the inside), and it is now storage for our big school books. The shelf at the bottom is currently holding our light board. I just wheel it over to my desk when it's time for school. I love that the books are now out of sight, and I'm not tripping over them. The lid lifts up and then slides down to stay open.

6. Every day after school this week I've been working on adding fall banners to my Etsy shop. I am in LOVE with these, especially this one! (The faux chalkboard printables are free over at Shanty 2 Chic!)

6. We are doing a mold experiment for science and it is GROSS. Enough said.

 7. A friend posted on Facebook that a local vending wholesaler sells the replacement rubber bands for the Rainbow Loom CHEAP. So we went and I may have bought a giant thing of gumballs as a school supply. ;)

 8. I have been dying for a big map. I finally saw them on zulily the other day and snagged one pretty cheap. It is HUGE and came laminated. It's fabulous! I hung it up above my desk and now I can just look up and daydream about what island I'd rather be on when we hit the afternoon brick wall on occasion. ;)

 9. Hobby Lobby has these stretched burlap "canvases" in a bunch of different sizes. They come pre-painted with a cream background and raw burlap edges. I used a half off coupon and made a fun stencil to go over the map. I'm really loving making our school room a bright, happy place.