The Joy of Less

For some time now I've been inclined to be free of stuff; to have less and live more. I've said that I could be a minimalist... if I had less stuff. I like simple. I like peaceful. So I got this book recently, The Joy of Less by Francine Jay, and it has been so encouraging in that direction. Find a neat review of the book here. It was responsible for the eight apple boxes full of things that left our home the other day, and it's beckoning the stack of empty boxes in my living room to be filled and leave forever. It's such a good feeling to me to have only what we use, and be content with that. There are truly innumerable things that I could better spend my time, money, and brainpower on than a bunch of things cluttering my life. Since we moved last summer from our home in MN to our apartment in WA, we got rid of what felt like tons of things. And yet we still have what feels like tons of things. In a few weeks, we're moving from one small apartment to another slightly better but still small apartment, and here's my goal: to move with half our stuff. And I'm serious about it. Let's do this thing.

My Unglorious Return + Chocolate Pie

Alright. I realize I'm terrible at following through with things. Usually it's because I completely forget. That's not good. I wish I had a better reason... something like... I had something way more important to do. Sadly, no. If I didn't do it, I probably forgot. This makes me feel just terrible when I do remember what I was going to do. And now it's been six months since I've posted last, so it's safe to say I've turned out to be an inconsistant blogger at best. In keeping with learning things about me: you don't even want to know how many thank you cards I've started but haven't sent. Because I forgot.  I forgot to get the address, I forgot to buy stamps... and the well meaning thank you note never came to be. I should really just call people to say thank you.


Since I'm back, I thought I should have something awesome to share. And I do. I requires a little work from you or your personal chef, but here it is: my recipe for Fantastic Chocolate Pie. Yep, named it myself. It's almost like a no-bake chocolate cheesecake+french silk pie. You could serve it with another layer of whipped cream on top and some raspberry sauce if you think you need some more calories. That sounds good.


Crust Ingredients: (or use a ready made crust)
4 tablespoons (or more if you think you need it) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups chocolate graham crackers, crushed (that means one package to me)

Filling Ingredients:
2 cups good chocolate, melted (this will only taste as good as the chocolate you use)
8 ounces (1 package) cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup heavy whipping cream

To make the crust: In a small bowl combine the butter and the cookie crumbs till well combined. Press firmly into a 9 inch glass pie dish. Bake for about 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from oven and cool completely.

To make the filling: Melt chocolate in double boiler until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the melted chocolate, cream cheese, and vanilla until lighter in color, about a couple of minutes. In another bowl, whip the heavy cream on high speed until stiff peaks form. Then, gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture until completely incorporated. Spoon this into the crust and smooth the top. Chill till firm... at least a few hours.

I think it's much better when refrigerated at overnight. And use whatever chocolate you like to eat plain. I use half milk Dove chocolate and half dark Dove chocolate. The texture will vary a little depending on the cocoa content of your chocolate. Yummy. Enjoy!

New Issue of LMNOP Out Now

I just love this, so I have to share it with you again. If you have kids or if kids are a part of your life this is for you. Download HERE. Then subscribe so it comes to your inbox in the future. :) Free online magazines are the best.

Caps for Sale

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina has been one of my favorite books since I was a little kid. It's a fun and simple story that uses repetition to capture the attention of kids.  I think the first time I learned of it was while watching Reading Rainbow (one of the best kid shows ever, right along side Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood) and now I read it to my kiddos. Our library has the jumbo version for story time, and whenever the kids and I go there we read the massive Caps for Sale book. But now, thanks to Grandma and Aunt Sarah, Corbin has his very own copy. I must mention that one of the reasons I love this book so much is because of the illustrations. They're minimalistic, stick to a fantastic color scheme, and that color scheme happens to be one of my very favorites.

Community Supported Agriculture... Who knew?

Oh, the invaluable things I learn from my friend Emily. The most recent of these things: Community Supported Agriculture. When she was telling me about this last week I had never ever heard of it before. But guess what? Everyone should know.  The way CSA works is 1: buy a share in a local farm (or half a share, each setup is different), 2: wait for the food to grow, and 3: pick up your box fresh, local, and many times organic food from this farm once a week during growing season. Some of these farms offer even more than just veggies, like meat, eggs, fresh flowers, hay, and compost. I'm so excited to get involved with a CSA farm when we move. Check out the Local Harvest website to do a search for a nearby CSA farm. Way cool. I owe the reality of all my local slow food dreams to you, Em.

We're moving... to WA!

Image by Steve G. Bisig

I'm extremely excited to say that there is an extraordinarily full phase of life swiftly approaching. At the end of July, we'll be moving the family to the Pacific Northwest (my first love) and taking root. The reason we're moving is this: we're going to be involved with Whitewater Church, a church plant (new church) in the preparation to continue our church planting (starting a new church) calling. I'd tell you all about it here, but there's no reason. John and I will be keeping a blog specifically about our planting adventures, so if you're interested in finding out more, that's the place to start. Find it yonder.

I know...

I know... I've been away for a very long time. I promise, I'll soon be back en force and with big deal type news. Yes, this is just as much a promise to myself as it is to you.

Novice Nation Album

Corbin's godfather has a band, Novice Nation, and John and I did the artwork for their new album. I did photos and John did all the other design work. You'll have to buy the actual album to see the rest of the way-cool packaging complete with a mini-vinyl looking disc, but you can check out their music on lala, buy their album at DFJams, or stalk them via their myspace or facebook fan page.

I bought myself this book for my birthday last week because I loved it the moment I saw it. I simply couldn't put it back on the shelf. It is too awesome. I have a thing for hand written and drawn books, and this one is full of smart ideas and ways to become a more keen observer of the art and joyful details that exist in life. It encourages creativity, resourcefulness, documentation, collection, constant observation, comparison, and a general astuteness of mind. It also has a bunch of guides and suggestions for exploration projects, and all of the ideas for activities in this book are free, which is fantastic. I love this book. I love it so much, in fact, that I'll be using it as a a loose textbook for a kids' art class I'll be doing this summer.  This is a book that has something to teach to people of all ages.

More Uno Party

Ah, Uno. (Continued from the first Uno post.) What a great theme and such a fun game. Check out this awesome Uno deck. We made party hats and then ate... there were corn dogs, beer battered fish, aunt Darlene's awesome broccoli salad, mini caramel apples, cotton candy, all manner of melon, Red Vines, Skittles from the candy dispenser that used to be John's grandpa's, orange chocolate cupcakes, and sparkling lemonade. Yes, crazy too much sugar.

What?  Time for gifts?

My babies are Converse babies.  I'm pretty sure they're the only shoes Corbin could walk in now.  Well, Chucks and mud boots.

The thoroughly overwhelmed birthday boy.  Notice his hat?  Not one, but two 4s.  And nothing else.

I LOVE that my mother in law knits sweaters for the kids.  Corbin is cool like Mr. Rogers. And that's saying a lot, I love Mr. Rogers.  Corbin's favorite gift by far from the party?  The green fold-out T-Rex card that came with Aunt Darlene's gift.  He's been carrying it everywhere and the night of the party he slept with it under his pillow.  There was almost an incident when he brought it into the bathroom and Petra splashed it after he bath.  That was a close one.

Petra found her own presents and dug through them, stopping only to read books and play with this pop-up card from Auntie Karen.  She got this beautiful dress from my sister.

She stood for the longest she ever has and she seemed very pleased with herself... but she still wouldn't walk to mama Tasha.

Sweet happy birthday girl.

Well, crazy straws really are the best.

Those who were willing to expose their age showed it with Uno cards. That's my daddy.

I scanned my Uno cards and made little prints that I taped to toothpicks for cupcake toppers.  I've got files of scanned Uno cards if anyone wants them.

Corbin had a green 4 on his cupcake, but Pete needed help blowing out her Uno.  Petra's trick candle was the only one that kept re-lighting.  Corbin got a kick out of that.

SMUSH...cupcake time.  She did NOT like the super sweet frosting, and Corbin only ate his frosting, so Petra ate both cake parts.  First sweets?  Yeah, right.

Snuggles with grandma Tricia, it's tiring being the center of attention.  And what are John and his dad doing?

Still going strong, much later.  Nice baby.

I really love balloons.  Such simple decorations... so cheap and beautiful.  It was a great party, fun was had by all.  But even my new party-sized table doesn't hold parties the size we have, apparently.  That's why we have zillions of other chairs.  Sometimes it looks very strange having all the chairs when our house isn't mid-party.  Another year passed... it hardly feels like it.  But things are well at the Kelley home.  Very well indeed.

Uno Party

Here are the kiddos, wild haired and ready for their big Uno birthday party tonight in the shirts I made them.  I thought I'd take some photos while they were still clean.  That's right, thinking ahead. Petra turned one on Tuesday and Corbin turns 4 on Tuesday. So, either before they care or to get them used to it (haven't decided yet) we're doing a double party. I saw the idea for an Uno party at the Made blog and thought it would be perfect. I also used her 90 minute shirt tutorial and freezer paper stenciling technique to make the shirts.  Corbo's all time favorite color is green, so he's a green four. And well, Pete is Uno. More from the party after it happens. :) I should probably go make cupcakes instead of posting this right now.

Honey Pot

Why do I love shopping at thrift stores? Because it's like treasure hunting. Because I love all things vintage. And because I can find exactly what I was looking for... for $1.99.

Etsy Shop

Well, it's official.  I have an Etsy shop.  :)  Yay!  Visit the shop.

First Sale... and Other News

There it is. My first official sale, ready to be wrapped up and sent away to it's new owner. This sale, which happened quite out of the blue at a coffee shop while John and I were in Chicago last week (news about Chicago to follow soon), has inspired me to grow my love of sewing into an (ideally) thriving and profitable home business. Starting within a few days, my handy-dandy and earth friendly little coffee sleeves will be available for purchase at the Wired Bean, a local coffee shop... more selling locations to follow. :) Also, as soon as I decide on a name (my first choice was already registered as a username, drat!) and get myself branded, I'll be up on Etsy. Yay! Progress is good. 

$0 Per Gallon

I like my kids in t-shirts. Especially if they have something awesome on the front like a patch from Microcosm. I just used one of Petra's shirts to make the pattern and whipped up this little number in just a few minutes. No, I didn't mean to put the patch on crooked, as my husband asked me when I showed him. And yes, I did catch the fabric a little when I sewed on the patch. But it was my first try. And it's not half bad.

Lent

I have never given up anything for lent before this year, but I was inspired by my pastor Jeff and the sermon he gave recently on radical generosity. He suggested that rather than simply give up something for Lent, give it up and take the money you would have spent on it during that time and give it away. You can find the sermon I'm talking about under the media page here and you can check out an additional post about giving on Jeff's blog.

I'm giving up sweets and deserts of all kinds. I don't spend an especially large amount of money on this, but I do enjoy it quite a lot... so through these 40 days my body is likely going to thank me. It might be very difficult, but sacrifice isn't supposed to be an easy or flippant thing. And I get the opportunity to be reminded to pray each time I want a sweet treat. I do have one exception: I get my honey in my tea. It's really required. Come to think of it, I probably need a new honey pot... mine has been gone for a long time. Maybe this honey pot?

Either way, I've got it easy. John is giving up coffee.

Baby Leg Warmers

I've made about a zillion pairs of these fantastic little guys.  I firmly believe that they are one of the most important and functional pieces of clothing a baby or toddler can have.  But why pay $12 for Babylegs?  I have NO idea.  Instead, you should make them in just a few minutes for a dollar or two (completely depending on how much you paid for the socks).  There is a great tutorial at Sew Much Ado if you want to learn how to DIY your baby leg warmers. These are one of my go-to baby shower gifts... simple, inexpensive, and awesomely useful.  Note: always use knee high socks, calf length are way too short.  Happy sewing!

Parasol Issue 6 has Arrived!

Issue six of Parasol magazine is out online. :)  I especially love the mobiles by Royal Buffet. Check it out and download it for FREE here.

Reusable Coffee Sleeve

Inspired by the new opening of a coffee shop that actually makes good coffee (they get their coffee from the same semi-local roaster we get ours from at church... and we're a church full of coffee snobs), I recently made some reusable coffee sleeves with this tutorial from House on Hill Road.   Two for birthday gifts for friends, one for myself. :)  The tutorial is great, so simple.  I used two layers of upcycled wool instead of two layers of cotton and one of batting.  I find that the fewer components there are in a project, the fewer opportunities there are to make a mess of things. They took a matter of minutes to make and I must admit that I like whipping it out of  my purse when I go out for coffee.  I'm thinking I should probably make these and sell them at this new coffee shop.  Now all I need is a logo from my fantastic logo-designing husband.  Are you reading this, husband?  I love you.

Printable Valentines

My favorite free printable valentines of the year... way cute.  Print them, sign them, give them.  I just made Valentine's Day so easy for you.

Tea Bag Valentines

Anatomically Correct Heart Valentines

Love Big Elephant Valentines