Birthday Gifts

For months my husband looked in stores to find a stoneware travel mug that wouldn't adulterate the flavor of his coffee the way a stainless steel mug does. So, being the good wife I am, I simply found him one online for his birthday. (Does anyone else find the ease of finding exactly what you're looking for through the miraculous path of the Internet simply blissful?) But instead of just getting him one, I got him a set. Which is a nice way of saying I took the opportunity and got one for myself, too. And now it rarely leaves my side. It doesn't have a proper name as of yet, but since it's not a piece of electronics, it may not need one. I'll stick with it's given name now, the Element, from Highwave. (Also, check out their beer rings... those were a part of the husband's birthday gift too, and I got major points for that one.) I'm a sipper when it comes to hot beverages, so I love just using a travel mug all the time because they have lids and keeps things hot longer. This would also be good if you have a proclivity toward spilling your beverages. :) Now I'm just craving some fantastic coffee to put in it. I've been ruined by this from Reality Roasters.

Blue Ruffles

I made this yesterday intending for it to be a dress for my Petra. However, since I'm ridiculously bad at making things the correct size, I think it might instead turn out to be a shirt for Mia. The arm and neck holes were just a little too big for the 4 month old.

I made this out of a t-shirt that I got at the local thrift shop for a quarter. It was even brand new... creases still intact! I used another dress as a pattern and simply took a few strips of the leftover fabric to make some ruffles for the front... which turned out a little crooked in the end because I didn't pin them before I sewed them. Whoops. Forgot. I'll do that next time. But they don't look bad like this. I mean, they're ruffles, really. I think I'll make another one today that will actually fit sweet Pete. It was pretty fast to make... I went from start to finish with time to spare while John was practicing his sermon. Pretty sweet turnout for a 25¢ t-shirt, no? Well, I think so.

The Snowman

Books don't always need words. This story is told in 175 beautifully thought out frames... it's such a calming change of pace and a different way than usual for the brain to see a story. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs is another one of my favorites.

The Rainbow Fish

My favorite kid's book since I was small and now one of Corbin's favorite, The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. It's a sweet and simple story about learning generosity and humility.

The Gruffalo

A new category today... Favorite children's books. Starting off with The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. "A Gruffalo? What's a Gruffalo?" "A Gruffalo? Why didn't you know?..."

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Heaven

This is the best peanut butter chocolate chip recipe... ever. It turns out perfectly every time. Mmmmm. We go through a lot of milk when these are in the house. So... they're almost good for us, right? I say, if you're going to eat a cookie (or a half a dozen, we don't judge) it may as well be AMAZING.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C)
2) Cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, peanut butter, and vanilla.
3) Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl, and add to wet mixture gradually. Stir in chocolate chips.
4) Roll into balls about 1 Tablespoon or use your trusty cookie scoop and place on to ungreased cookie sheets or parchment lined cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Flatten them slightly with a fork because they don't flatten much during baking.
5) Bake for 7-10 minutes, depending on how soft you like your cookies. :) Enjoy!

Upcycled Dress for Naomi

Naomi was at our house this weekend, and I decided she needed a new Lauren Kelley original... ha. Seriously, I should get some tags to put into these things... anyway. So, I went on a sewing binge and ripped apart a vintage blouse and made a dress all in less than 45 minutes. I'm not sure why I always forget to take before pictures of my upcycle projects, maybe it's because I'm not altogether confidant that the whole thing will turn out well or if I'm simply overcome with reckless ambition and am to blinded by my sporadic motivation to remember to take the photo, but here are some afters of the dress on the sweet girl. She's such a doll. The flutter sleeves used to be the collar of the blouse. And I love the pin tucks on the front. I love to sew more and more. Nothing is perfect still, but maybe it won't ever be. But it sure is fun.

Summertime Means Sprinklers

In the middle of the day when it's hot outside, we turn on the sprinkler. Corbin loves it. Petra doesn't at all.

Finally, a Photo of them Together

I love my sweet children. And they love each other, too. Most of the time. :) Corbin, 3 years and Petra, 3 months.

50 things, 3 days

It is time again for a purge of material things. So soon? Yes. There is a constant influx of stuff that I can't stop, so I must constantly be at battle continually redirecting other things out. It would be much easier if so many things didn't come into our home to begin with, but since that's not always under my control, this is the way it has to be. Within three days there will be fifty less things in my home. I can almost breathe more easily already.

Top Teas (in no particular order)

Oh, MarketSpice, how I love you. The Original MarketSpice Tea with its recognizable orange-spice taste has stood the test of time and remains to this day one of my top teas. I especially love visiting the MarketSpice store at the market whenever I'm in Seattle. If you can make it through the crowd surrounding the fish-throwing boys and Rachael the pig, you're in for a fragrant treat of tea and spice perusal. I like the loose leaf tea, and I drink it all winter long.Also from MarketSpice, the Seattle Surprise Tea is a great afternoon tea pick. Mango and orange flavors mingle with the huge chunks of pineapple in this black tea. It's great iced, you'll love it. I know you will.OK. One last one from beloved MarketSpice. Their Six Herb Tea is fantastic. A great nighttime tea. A lovely blend with just the right amount of peppermint.
Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Himalayan Green Tea with Lemon My best friend, Emily, gave this tea to me as a bridesmaid's gift on her wedding day. I love it. It's a perfect, simple green tea with just the right amount of lemon grass. With or without a little sugar, I love to make a pot of this for friends. A great compliment to any meal. Also, it came with this fantastic carrying case, which will make the coolest passport bag ever. The strap is even the perfect length. Thanks, Em!


Good Earth Organic - Mango, Peach & Pineapple What is in my mug currently and most often lately - with plenty of honey. Sweet and fresh, it's perfect for summer. I bet this would make a great iced tea, but have yet to try it that way.

10 on 10

10 on 10, an idea I gleaned from Aleah's blog. Take a photo of your life every hour on the hour...(or as close as you can realistically get to it.) It's a photo journal of the day.

9am: Corbin opens the package that came in the mail... it's Daddy's new phone! Yay!
10am: Tea and a bagel. With plenty of real, full fat cream cheese.
11am: Playing in the backyard.
12 noon: This is the view I have when I look directly up in my backyard. Yes, a complete canopy.
1pm: Leftover Chinese food for lunch. Health is not our main concern today, obviously. Boy, is it yummy.
2pm: Grandpa Don hanging out with the grand kids.
3pm: Peppermint ice cream. Oh, yeah.
4pm: Folding sweaters.
5pm: Waiting for veggie burgers to come out of the toaster oven.
6pm: So very sad... because I set her down.

Oh, the Great 4th of July

I Love it When the Mail Pile Looks Like This...

I Have a Little Herb Garden

I have a little herb garden. It brings me great joy. I have a hard time growing anything more because of my severe lack of space and well, I'll just say it... black thumb. Herbs are great because I'm continually cooking and love being able to simply pluck the tasty little leaves at my heart's joyful necessity. I'm feeling a tomato basil salad coming on... Today's featured herbs in order pictured: sweet Basil, Oregano, Mint, spicy Basil, and Provincial Lavender.