Potato Stamping

Doing a bit of stamping and sewing today. Trying to get in gear for this upcoming holiday season.
I really love how much fun printing with potatoes are. I do it so infrequently that I forget how easy and rewarding it is.

Occasional Dumpster Divers

We used to be much more frequent dumpster divers in our younger days (newly married, without kids). Once I found an entire set of antique cast iron skillets being tossed away. We've found really nice yard tools, wooden tables, and chairs in years past. Well its been a while since any of that has happened around here...until last week. Mike came home one day from work lugging in 2 large topiary trees (in his suit and tie, nonetheless) he had found at a Norwalk furniture store. They were moving locations and were getting rid of tons of pillows, cushions, and these topiaries. I think they make a nice addition to our front porch, don't you?

3 months and counting...

Only 3 months to go until baby boy #3 arrives to the Smith homestead. We're excited yet completely unprepared for his pending arrival. There is much to do leading up to his entrance. Clothes to buy, diapers, sheets, nursing gear, etc...

Ah yes, and a name for this little guy would be nice too. That will be an ongoing consideration up till the day, I am sure.

Project Done...Finally

We have finally finished the fall project we started nearly a month ago. We wanted to make fall leaf garland from salt dough leaf ornaments. Sounds easy enough, right? Well overall it is, but each step seemed to take us forever.
Baking the ornaments, painting the ornaments, stringing them on twine, and hanging them was a tedious month long process. Oh well...its done and overall we had a great time making it...and it turned out how we envisioned!

Little Splurges

Budgeting is a big thing around here. We don't necessarily call it "budgeting" but we definitely pinch our pennies and try to do the best with what we make in a one income family.
With that said, we still find it important to splurge occasionally on little things. Today I picked up Canaan from school and he, Ezra and I headed over to the ice cream shop for some ice cream cones.

Part of me was doing the math knowing that I could very well have saved a couple of bucks going across the street to the grocery store and buying a half gallon.

But there is something so wonderful and exciting about an ice cream cone, isn't there? To get to choose your own flavor, choose your cone, and walk out with that very special treat.

Ezra has said "thank you" a million times since we arrived back home. Sweet boy...
I love these simple yet special times and they are worth every extra penny.

I love these barrettes made by fellow blogger Regi


She is selling them for a good cause. Click here for details.

Raising Generous Children

I have no idea how to raise a generous child but I do know we must be doing something right because my sweet boys are just absolutely amazing. Truly...

We decided to take off this morning on a little road trip. While Mike and I were getting ready in the back bedroom I could hear the kitchen faucet turning on and off continually. This usually means Ezra is filling up water bottles, or Canaan is washing his rocks from his rock collection. I didn't think much of it and after about 10 minutes came to the kitchen to see what the boys were up to.



What I walked in to was my sweet Canaan standing at the kitchen sink. He heard me walk in and as he turned to look at me he simply said "I emptied the dishwasher and washed the dishes in the sink for you mom." At that point I burst into tears (I won't mention pregnancy hormones as a reason for that)and ran over to give him a kiss and a hug. Of course he thought I was a bit over dramamtic but how could I help it?

He did it in such a selfless and helpful manner too. He wasn't expecting money or ice cream or extra time playing the Wii. He did it because he truly is growing up to be an incredibly helpful and generous person. And I am so proud and thankful and humbled.

A Simple & Healthy Dinner

Dinner was simple, yet satisfying last night. My new favorite food magazine is
Clean Eating.
I don't subscribe but I love to browse the pages when I am at the bookstore. The grapefruit vinaigrette is by far my new favorite dressing. Ezra loves his apples "marinated" in the dressing for a snack.



Apple, Endive, and Grapefruit Salad


The pasta was dead simple and was full of roasted veggies. I wished I had made some homemade marinara but in a pinch, good quality store bought worked just fine.


Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

I have already started soaking the sticky rice for tonight's thai meal. Satay and sticky rice with mangoes. What will you be having?

Unfinished Projects

Last fall I had grand plans for a fall craft project...it never happened. I have been determined to work on it with the boys this fall in hopes of enjoying it for the fall season. The progress is slow. Weeks, in fact. We are near completion and when it is finished, I'll photograph the final outcome.
This got me thinking about the many unfinished projects I have laying around. It would be fantastic to finish them before the end of the year (albeit a bit unrealistic) and start 2010 with a clean slate of ideas. I have several unfinished sewing projects~ half finished aprons, quilt tops, embroidery, photographs to organize, and paintings to work on.
I am a "completer" by nature (if that is even a personality trait). It irritates me to leave things unfinished. I have been trying, with some success, to retrain my brain to accept these unfinished projects for what they are.
One day when the kids are at college and I am wondering what to do with my time it will be nice to have a stack of quilts and embroidery to finish, right?

Making Space

We live in a quaint home. It is large for us (and most of the world) at 1400 square feet but the American dream~it is rather quaint. We have just one main living space in the house, our family room, which is naturally where our family spends most of the time.
Often I will come in and find the boys have moved furniture around to create more space in that room. Actually, every piece of furniture, including the couch, has felt pads attached to the feet for easy moving by the boys.
This large floor space allows them to use their creativity all the more. Forts are made, games are played, marble mazes are constructed, and yoga dvd's are used for yoga time.
The longer we live in this home and utilize this space I firmly believe that having less has created a much more "full life" experience for all of us. It allows us freedom to move through our home with ease and when necessary~ create space in an instant.
And just as quickly as they can deconstruct the room, they put it back together. In fact, over time I have taught them how to straighten the family room themselves. Nearly each time we leave the house, it is their responsibility to make sure that the room is looking nice (not only does this help me out in the obvious way but it also gives me a few extra minutes to get ready without them begging to get out the door). They LOVE this job. They take pride in laying the quilts over the furniture~ rolling up the yoga mats~ putting away toys. Canaan's new idea is to put one magazine, from our stack of magazines, onto each piece of furniture so it looks like a bookstore (his words).
Although I typically would not drape a quilt over the entire chair or lay all of our magazines out on display it is so heartwarming to see them take care of our home along with Mike and I.
Now if I could just get them to put their clothes away in their drawer..hmm.....

Thanksgiving Day Menu

My Thanksgiving Day Menu is the #1 google search under "Thanksgiving Day Menu"! How fun is that? Here is my original menu from 2006

Each fall I sit down and start gathering recipes for our Thanksgiving Day Menu. This year is no exception. Being pregnant has made a bit of an impression on my menu choices. I am avoiding garlic (so yucky right now), and certain other flavors I find myself steering away from. Nonetheless, I am excited about trying some new recipes, repeating old ones, and having a great day with my family.

Thanksgiving Day Menu 2009

*Most of these recipes can be found online (I'll link to them) and most of the menu is make ahead~ which is my favorite way to cook and entertain.


Starters
Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Sourdough Croutons
Spicy Three Cheese Spread with toasted baguettes (Williams Sonoma recipe)
Crudites


Salad
Apple, Dried Cherry and Walnut Salad with Maple Dressing


Main Dishes
Perfect Roast Turkey
Maple Glazed Carrots
Cranberry Sauce with Cider and Cinnamon (Williams Sonoma)
Peachy Sweet Potato Casserole (I am going to mash this together~opposed to the recipe directions)
Classic Green Bean Casserole (use your favorite)
Mashed Potatoes (also use your favorite)
Pear and Pecan Stuffing


Desserts

Pumpkin Pie
Coffee Pecan Tart (from Once Upon a Tart Cookbook)
Alsatin Apple Tart (Once Upon a Tart)


*Make A Couple of Days Ahead*
Soup~ Cranberry Sauce~ Pie Crusts


*Make A Day Ahead*
Cheese Spread~ Prep Salad and Dressing~ Cut Carrots~ Assemble Sweet Potato Casserole and Green Bean Casserole~ Make Bread for Stuffing~


*Thanksgiving Day*
Prepare Turkey~ Assemble Stuffing~ Assemble and Bake Desserts~ Bake Casseroles~ Assemble Salad~ Toast baguette slices~ Make Mashed Potatoes~ Make Carrots

Fall Mornings with Ezra

Ezra and I have been having great fun playing outdoors, crafting, and enjoying the season. As much as Canaan loves school I do miss having him home to enjoy these days with us.
On the other hand though, I fondly remember my special days with Canaan before Ezra came along and now it is wonderful to have these kinds of days with Ezra before the new little one arrives this winter.



Each family has their own philosophy on having children. Some like to have them close together so they will play well together and grow up together. We have found that we thouroughly enjoy spacing our children apart and having these precious times with each one. It will be quite a difference having a 7 year old and a newborn in the house, but for us it has worked beautifully.





(more on this craft to come...)

Shop Order

After hours of sewing over the past couple of weeks, I have finally caught up on items for the store. It is SUCH a relief! I have sent my sewing machine away on vacation to a dark, quiet corner of the house and cleaned the dining room of all traces of fabric , pin cushions, and spools of thread.
As much as I enjoy sewing, I also enjoy being fully caught up and not having to sew for a while....probably about a week.
So this week, we'll enjoy fun days outside, baking, cooking, organizing the house, and playing games.

Welcome Fall

We took our first riverboat ride yesterday. It was a gorgeous fall afternoon as we drove down to Shaker Village and suprised the boys with a boat ride. The weather seriously could not be more perfect and we had such a fun time as a family.



A fellow boat passenger offered to take a photo of all of us. I love how the sun reflected a light right on my belly~where sweet baby boy #3 is.

Life These Days...

Soccer practices



homemade cheese



crafting



sewing



long walks in the backyard

Wool Christmas Stockings

I find it nearly impossible to find good quality 100% wool at our local fabric store. I have been wanting to make wool stockings each Christmas but have been frustrated by my lack of supplies to do so. This weekend I decided to venture out to a few thrift stores and see what ideas came to mind.
What I came home with was 1 wool sweater, 1 pair of plaid wool pants, and 2 wool skirts. All which now have become these...







I also have scraps leftover to make some patchwork pillows.




The stockings were incredibly easy. I used a simple McCall's pattern and had four done within 2 hours (after cutting the fabric). Plus it is nice to know that the materials are re-purposed and thus I am "eco-friendly girl!!"
These, along with alot of other things, are headed up to the shop today. I am busily getting ready for the upcoming holiday shopping season.
My project list includes:

1. wool mens scarves
2. more aprons
3. vintage fabric necklaces
4. throw pillows
5. notecard packs

I'd better get busy!

Poverty of Purpose is Far Worse Than Poverty of Purse

A few years ago I came across this book at a resell shop. I really love it. I have never read it cover to cover, but its one of those little gems that I enjoy picking up from time to time and reading. It gives all sorts of homekeeping advice from a 19th century womans perspective. It really is such a fun and interesting book.
The other day I grabbed it off the shelf and turned towards the back of the book. In the authors final remarks she writes these challenging words:

"There is for each of us a place of perfect self-expression. It is a place in life that only we can fill, no one else will do, and we are happiest when we are in the center of it. Many of us have no idea what this perfect self-expression is, or we doubt that we are worthy of such a blessing. I believe that each person has some talent which is unfulfilled or developed, even though many live their entire lives unaware of it. But it is there, for each of us, designed by God to be our life's work. This "life work" will be so completely absorbing and satisfying that it will seem more like play. Your soul will long for it....

We must ask God to manifest His plan for our life. As we consistently ask Him, God will release the genius within each of us. He will guide us to our destiny if we but ask for it and stay ever watchful for new experiences and opportunities. When we realize that there is an invincible power that protects us and all that we love, and brings us to every righteous desire of our hearts, we can relax and all things fall into place.

Dear children: We are not here merely to make a living, or exist for our own amusement. We are here in order to enrich the world and lives of others, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. And poverty of purpose, is far worse than poverty of purse."

Fall Mantle

(click on picture for a larger image)

I already added this picture to the header but I thought I'd share it in a post. Each season I like to change around our fireplace mantle. The trick is doing it on a limited to no spending budget. This year I spent $10 on the leaf garland (50% off at Michaels) and the rest are items from around the house. Most things, like the gourds get re-used year after year. This year I added the sconces which were a thrift store find about a year ago. I changed the color from black to silver with spray paint.

The painting is something I did one afternoon while painting with Ezra. It is VERY simplistic and almost childlike. No fancy painting techniques. I had an old frame in our spare room and decided to use it to frame this little fall tree painting.

I have been collecting lots of pine cones to start making a winter garland for the fireplace mantle. Shouldn't cost a dime...

Apple Picking

Each year we trek out to an off-the-beaten-path orchard in Paris, Kentucky. Its a gorgeous drive through horse farms, rolling hills, and tree lined winding roads.





We love this gorgeous orchard and each fall they put on a fantastic little apple festival complete with FFA kids hosting a petting zoo of their animals as well as my favorite part...the line dancing team that comes out each year and puts on a great little show.



The weather was amazing~just cool enough for some old OshKosh overalls and jean jackets.

Weekend Projects

First order of buisiness is to tell you that you have three days left to sign up for the Holiday Apron Swap. Oh how I hope you will join us! Head over here for all the details.
And invite you friends and fellow blog readers!

This weekend was a busy yet fun weekend. We spent Saturday at the Art Museum with the boys and did a bit of thrift store shopping. After a long week of rain, we were able to finally get outdoors on Sunday. We have a million projects going on at once around here...all the time. Is it like that around your home too?



Canaan and Mike have been working to restore Mike's old rusted out childhood bike. They've been sanding it and finally this weekend were able to start painting it.



We took the shutters off the house and have been priming those for a fresh coat of paint as well.




Mike found an old door on the side of the road that he brought home and we are now prepping to make it our new coffee table. (notice the spilled can of primer all over our driveway?)

This week I hope to start decorating for fall indoors. I love changing up our mantle for the seasons and our current mantle decor is way overdue for a change.