New Bag

I Learned to make this bag on Martha Stewart a while ago. Since then I have gotten better! Also I learned a few tricks to make it easier...so buy your canvas at a good fabric store, Joannes is fine. The stuff from Walmart is too flimsy. Next use 100% wool felt, it is costly but you only use a little bit and it is SO much easier to cut. It cuts very smoothly.

I have discovered that by using these supplies the bags are really quite "green". Besides the fact that they are all made from renewable resources... it is also better to use your own bag then the store ones! See how I think. This bag is for my sister. She makes a big effort to be green. I wanted to support that.

So Happy Birthday, Tanya!

Cookie of the Week

Chocolate Rolo Cookies

1 chocolate cake mix

1/2 Cup oil

2 eggs

2 tablespoons flour

rolos, unwrapped

a bowl of sugar for rolling

Combine cake mix, oil, eggs and flour. Roll a ball of dough around a rolo. Roll ball in the bowl of sugar to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until the tops crack.

This recipe was given to me by a friend, Allie from Bakersfield. It is super easy and so yummy! The rolos melt so it is really like a caramel filled chocolate cookie. They are way better warm out of the oven then the next day. Although they are not bad then either! Enjoy them Cameron!

Simple Sunday

2 Nephi 10:23-24

Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember

that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the

way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

Wherefore, my beloved brethern reconcile

yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will

of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after

ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and

through the grace of God that ye are saved.

Hippy Chick

This week is "Say no to Drugs" week at school.

Each day they have done something fun to help the

kids get into the whole spirit of it. I Think

it is a great idea to help the kids see ways they

can have fun, without drugs and alcohol.

Today was "hippy day" ; trust me

the irony was not lost on me!

I have been sick for about 2 weeks, and this

morning when the kids told me they had to dress

as hippies I was not happy. Chad had gone to a

birthday party where he dressed up as a bit of a

hippy, so he wore that. Morgan on the other hand

had nothing....I told her I was sorry but that she

did not have anything. That we could just do her hair

hippy style. She started crying and I started to feel

bad. So I felt bad...and of course HAD to sew her

something....oh man! I don't think it turned out

too bad. What do you think?

Heaven Sent Talent

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com

This Unbelievable Dress was made by a

crazy, super talented woman who can be found at

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com

This is the craziest part...she is giving this dress away!!

You heard me right..giving..away!!

She makes the most incredible clothes...then

gives them away...Go check it out!

Family Tree

This is one of my favorite paper crafts ever. It is so simple.

First you pick a nice background paper. I like the stripey one.

Truth be told the one I am scrap lifting is actually pieced together

with several different papers, little strips glued to one

background paper. I thought there were so many cute

paper patterns that I would just cut out that step. OK, so

I don't have a "Cricut" machine but my friend does. She

generously cute oodles of ovals out for me in each color. The

exact amount is about 20 in each color. Way more then you

imagine you need. Next I used a stamp pad, brownish in color

to edge and distress the leaves. I also folded them in half to give

them even more dimension. Then you just write the

names of your family members on as many leaves

as you need. I just did my immediate family but

extended family would be really cute too.

Then I just free hand drew a tree trunk on the

back of the brown paper. Then I cut it out, next I used glue

dots to adhere the tree trunk to the paper. Then you add

the leaves, making sure to evenly distribute the names

and colors.

Last I added a cute little quote about how

money does not grow on this tree,

that it is a tree where love grows, and finished

it off with our family name and date of marriage!

Kids and Friends

A few days ago my friends Sara took my kids, her kids, and a couple other kids

to Pioneer Village. This was so very nice to her, and maybe just a bit insane!

The kids had so much fun. Especially Morgan, she got to ride

a horse. Chad tells me he is too old for pony rides. Well

poo poo on him for growing up! Morgan made a corn husk doll,

which is super cute and simple. I think that the favorite part

of the day was dipping candles. They both dipped

their own and loved telling me all about it. So we put them in a

cup of popcorn to help them stand up and lit them up.

I think the best part of the day for them was the sense of

satisfaction they both had by making something for

themselves. A good thing to remember.

By the way....they both think we should make our
own candles from now on! Good Grief! One more thing
to try to fit in! Just kidding, we live in 2008
for a reason!

The Table

Do you remember this table?

It's been so long, sorry!

OK....the reveal!

Better?



This is sitting in the front entry. We do not have a formal entry,

it just sort of opens into the living room. So this

serves as the entry table. Right now it has a few of my

fall decorations on it!

I spray painted the whole thing. Having painted furniture

the traditional way and now spray painted...

I would have to say that spray painting is

easier. BUT...I like the finish of hand painting better.

That being said I must admit, I may not be the

best spray painter...maybe there is a trick that

I do not know. Either way I like the table so

much better this color!

Simple Sunday

Mormon 1:7-8

And I do this for a wise purpose;

for thus is whispereth me, according

to the workings of the Spirit of the

Lord which is in me. And now, I do

not know all things; but the Lord

knoweth all things which are to

come; Wherefore, he worketh in me

to do according to his will.

And my prayer to God is concerning

my brethren, that they may

once again come to the knowledge of

God, yea, the redemption of Christ;

that they may once again be a

delightsome people.

A Call for Prayers

I am not sure just how many people are aware of what is going

on in California right now.

I just wanted to do my part in getting the word out.

I grew up in Huntington Beach, CA A really great place to grow up.

I no longer live in California, but it still feels like a huge part of my life.

Most all my family still lives there.

In the year of 2000 Californians passed a proposition which defined

marriage as between a man and a woman only. This proposition

was recently overturned by the CA supreme court, by a vote of 4-3.

Now there is another opportunity for Californians.

This time they are trying to pass an amendment to the

CA state constitution. Again recognizing marriage

between a man and a woman only.

This is a close race, with huge amounts of money

being donated by "Hollywood people". Some of the issues that

the opponents of Prop 8 are trying to sweep under the rug are:

That if this Amendment does not pass then clergy will

be required to "marry" same sex couples.

Even if it goes against their core beliefs. They could

be sent to jail if they do not. They also would have their

non-profit organization status taken away.

Also textbooks would be changed to no longer say,

husband and wife, or mother and father, instead they would read

home community, life partners, and or companions.

Right along with this children would be taught a new version of

health, and or sex ed. Including same sex attraction.

As a parent this scares me on so many levels. I want my children to have

a foundation of good wholesome beliefs. I want to choose what they

are taught. I for one do not think they need to learn about

this lifestyle at such a young tender age.

I was reading my scriptures this morning and the following

verses seemed to really make it clear how God feels about this lifestyle.

Leviticus 18:22

Isiah 3:9 (very poignant)

Romans 1:27

1 Corinthians 6:9

Now I have a request for anyone

reading this. Please pray for the Californians. Please pray that

they will be righteous in their choice. Please pray that those who are

undecided will be swayed in the direction most pleasing to God.

Deuteronomy 6: 13-15

Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt

swear by his name.

Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which

are round about you;

For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you lest the

anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee

from off the face of the earth.

Something is not Right

October 12th, 2008

I have no words.

Well no words that are appropriate to speak,

And I really should not even think them!

Simple Sunday

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word,

neither in tongue;

but in deed and in truth.

Simple Sunday

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.