“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life—happiness, freedom, and peace of mind—are always attained by giving them to someone else.”
PEYTON C. MARCH (1864-1955; General, US Army)

Arizona Snow

Most people think hot, hot, desert when they think of Arizona. But check out all the snow we got last week!

 

Fill In The Blank Friday

Lauren at the little things we do made a list of "fill in the blank." I'm joining in a day late, but better late than never.

1.  If I weren't a caregiver I'd love to be a contractor.

2.  When I'm super upset I cry.

3.  My favorite thing about myself is my spirit.

4.  If I found a $100 in the pocket of last winter's coat I'd spend it on groceries.

5.  Even though some people might consider this a flaw, I love my sense of humor.

6.  I love the way I feel when I learn to do something new.

7.  I love my hair most when it's just been colored.

A mother's heart never forgets what it felt, the very first time you held your baby.

                                             

I found this beautiful digital stamp at Digital Two For Tuesday. Each week  two vintage digital stamps are posted for artists. To inspire your create side and participate with other artist.

i want these shoes!!!!!!!

I lOVE tiny houses and this one is adorable!!!!

Tumbleweed XS-House $99 Sale Ends Saturday

 Learn more about the XS-House.

Birds in the Brandy

Birds in the Brandy: "
free pattern - click to get larger size and print!

Oh yeah. This bird had a bit too much to drink. This sheet has 6 large designs for kitchen towels. 3 feature the antics of these cute little birds - a mama bird with a baby in a teacup for 'China', a bird admiring its reflection in a silver pot for 'Silver', and this one, with the bird sleeping one off, for 'Glass.' 3 other designs show a puppy with a teacup on its head (for China), a bear holding a champagne flute (for Glass), and a kitten holding cutlery (for Silver). What's oddest about these 3 cute designs is that not only are they cute animals... they're cute animal puppets. On hands. Can it get any stranger or cuter? Now, jog my memory, people - did someone embroider one of these weird hand puppets awhile back? I think someone did, but I can't remember who or where I saw it. Have you embroidered this? Any links would be appreciated!

Also 3 adorable potholder motifs of critters holding signs: the kitten's sign says 'Don't Burn Your Paws', the bear's sign says 'Careful Hot Pots' and the puppy's sign says 'Watch Out It's Hot.' One more small design of the adorable bird burning its feet on a hot pan. My envelope is in perfect shape, and my transfer sheet is complete and uncut.

"

Snack Bars – And A Confession

Snack Bars – And A Confession: "




Snack Mix Bars

Adapted from Inn Cuisine

• 3 cups pretzel sticks, snapped in half
• 2 1/3 cups chex cereal (I used rice, you can use what you like best)
• 2 cups m&ms (use whichever you like best, I did a mixture of plain, peanut, and peanut butter)
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (any kind)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 5 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

In a large bowl, combine pretzels, cereal, m&ms, and chocolate chips. Set aside.

In a large sauce pan, melt together the butter and peanut butter over low heat. Stir in the marshmallows and continue to cook over low heat until the marshmallows are melted.Pour over the snack mix and toss to coat.

Press mixture into a 9×13 pan lined with wax or parchment paper. Firmly press mixture together to ensure that the bars stick together when they have cooled. Refrigerate until the mixture is completely cool and firm. Cut into bars and serve.

One Good Thing Today

I am trying to change the way I think and feel. I feel sad, angry, resentful, lonely, unworthy, ugly, stupid, wierd, unlikeable a lot of the time. I have cried many nights in bed since I was a little girl. I don't want to cry anymore. As a way of helping me replace these thoughts and feelings I am going to write about ONE good thing that I have done, have, or recieved every day.

Today I decided to re-connect with God, what can be better than that?

Why are you getting married?

Getting married is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. Be sure your getting married for the right reasons because getting married for the wrong reasons can have terrible consequences on you, your spouse and your children.

The high divorce rate in North America suggests that too many
people are rushing into marriage in search of happiness while
failing to take enough time to get to know their partner.

If you want someone to honor and love you,
you need to honor and love yourself first.

we can take a
vacation, change our jobs, or take the time for rest, but if we
don't change our attitude, we will end up back in the same place.

Me & God

I've always felt the connection between Me and God, but I have been hurting Spiritually for a while now. I came upon a post today at Life Blessons that has made me want to re-connect. Click HERE To See The Post that inspired me.

May I dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and gaze upon his beauty (from Psalm 27).


Thank you Lord for letting me ALWAYS come back to you no matter how many times I've sinned against you. Please help me be stronger and always do what is right. I don't ever want to do anything that is offensive to you. But you know me I need ALL the help I can get. Show me what keeps me away from you and teach me how to remove these barriers. Give me a forgiving heart, teach me to forgive myself as well. Teach me how to build healthy relationships with others. Please ask those that I have hurt in any way to forgive me, I meant no harm and never wanted to hurt any one.



Thank you for giving me the Gift of Love and letting me help others with a grateful heart. Thank you for the time I've had alone and for bringing me to a new job that I'm excited about. Help me do my work as best as I can. I also want to ask you to bless those that are Care Givers and those that need to be cared for. I ask you to bless my family and give them a caring, forgiving and loving spirit. May they also want to please you and you only. Help me and my family be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord


I pray for all those that are in Haiti and their families. Bless those that are there to care for them as well.


I pray to be a Proverbs 31 kind of wife, that I would greatly enrich his life, and do him good and not harm all of my life.

Psalm 126

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Here are a few more helpful thoughts from Life Blessons.

My new approach to praying for others

Learning to embrace where God was calling me--even when it was the last thing I wanted to do

A Bedtime Prayer to Restore Your Soul Tonight

Unexpected insights from a boring Old Testament li...

Ever wonder how God “talks” or how to “hear” him?

Learning the art of hospitality, one step at a tim...

How I’ve learned to deal with my anxieties

Materials Needed for Egg Carton Fire Starters:

• Cardboard Egg Carton
• Dryer Lint
• Small Pine Cones and/or Dried Pine Needles (optional)
• Old Candles, Old Crayons, and/or Canning Wax
• Small Pot (One you will not use for cooking anymore)
• Ladle (One you will not use for cooking anymore)

Instructions:
Fill each egg carton cup loosely about half full with dryer lint. If you want to use small pine cones and/or dried pine needles, place those on top of the dyer lint. It you use the pine cones and needles, it is okay if the cups are slightly overfilled, just make sure the lint does not get packed in too tightly. Set this aside, on several layers of newspaper or another surface that cab handle hot wax.
On the stove top, add old partially used or broken candles. Canning wax can also be used and crayons can be mixed in too. Don't worry about the wicks, as once the wax melts, they settle to the bottom of the pan. Once the wax is melted. carefully ladle the wax into each egg carton cup. Extreme care should be used as the was is VERY HOT.
The key to making these fire starters is to adhere all the lint and pine cones/needles together. The cups do not have to be totally full of wax, but the items in the cups need to be fused together.
Once the wax is cooled, the egg crate cups can be cut into sections.

I have to make these!

Hot Fudge Sundae Cupcakes

from Joy the Baker by joythebaker

   

Hot Fudge Sundae Cupcakes
Vanilla Cupcakes:
     from The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
     makes 12 cupcakes
     Print this Recipe!
1 cup all-purpose flour
a scant 3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or use a handheld beater and beat on slow speed until the mixture is a sandy consistency and everything is combined. Gradually pour in half of the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated.
Whisk the egg, vanilla and remaining milk together in a separate bowl for a few seconds, then pour into the flour mixture and continue beating until just incorporated. Scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side or the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth. Just a few minutes. Do not overmix.
Spoon the batter into paper lined muffin tins, dividing between the 12 cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until light golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Ganache:
3/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (I used chocolate chunks)
1/4 cup heavy cream
Put chocolate chips in a small bowl.  Bring cream to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan.  Pour cream evenly over chocolate.  Let stand for one minute to soften, then stir until smooth.  If frosting is too loose to spread, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, frosting will continue to thicken as it stands.  
Top vanilla cupcakes with chocolate ganache, slightly sweetened whipped cream, slivered almonds and a cherry.
Serve immediately.

i want to make these for my kids.
i found this @Go Graham Go!





Ingredients:
5/8 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans




Directions:
Layer the ingredients in a 1 quart or 1 liter jar, in the order listed.


Attach a tag with the following instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until fluffy. Add the entire jar of ingredients, and mix together by hand until well blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Cool on baking sheets, or remove to cool on wire racks.

I found this at Clean Jokes and Pics and had to share it....too funny.

A little girl asked her Mom, "Mom, may I take the dog for a walk around the block?

Mom replies, "No, because she is in heat."

"What's that mean?" asked the child.

"Go ask your father. I think he's in the garage."

The little girl goes to the garage and says, "Dad, may I take Belle for a walk around the block? I asked Mom, but she said the dog was in heat, and to come to you."

Dad said, "Bring Belle over here."

He took a rag, soaked it with gasoline, and scrubbed the dog's backside with it and said, "Okay, you can go now, but keep Belle on the leash and only go one time around the block."

The little girl left, and returned a few minutes later with no dog on the leash.

Surprised, Dad asked, "Where's Belle?"

The little girl said, "She ran out of gas about halfway down the block, so another dog is pushing her home."

Taco Soup:
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
1 14oz. can corn
2 14oz. cans pinto beans
2 14oz. cans stewed tomatoes, pureed
1 packet Taco Seasoning ( or less for not as spicy)
Mix all together in a large saucepan. Simmer for 8-10 minutes.

Tank top totes – six pockets or gathered

I need to get a sewing machine and learn how to sew, so I can make these bags. I love them!

Before you pack away your summer clothes for the winter, you might want to set one of your tank tops aside to make one of these easy totes. The best kind of tank tops to use for this project are ones that have front and back necklines that are the same height—or very close. Otherwise, your tote bag will be lopsided. The brown tote is reversible, so the pockets can be on the inside or outside. I made that tote small because the straps were thin and wouldn’t hold a lot of weight. The magenta tank top had a gathered neckline in front and back, so a gathered bottom was ideal. A pink store-bought flower pin finished it off.

Tank top tote with six pockets

Supplies and tools

• tank top
• straight pins
• water-erasable fabric marker
• sewing machine and thread
• fabric scissors
• seam ripper
• sewing gauge or ruler

1. First remove the tags with a seam ripper or scissors.

2. Turn the tank top inside out.

3. If your tank top has a bra liner, cut the elastic off the bottom of it.

4. Fold so that the straps lie on top of each other.

5. Fold the bottom of the tank over itself. This will become the pockets.

6. Pin in place, making sure the seams line up. Mark where you want the seams in between each pocket with pins or an erasable fabric marker.

7. Using a stitch that stretches with knit fabric, such as the triple straight stitch, sew the seams that divide each pocket. Make sure the bra liner is lying flat before sewing. Back-stitch to lock the seams.

8. Sew the bottom together about 1/4 inch from the edge. Back-stitch to lock the seam.

9. Turn the tote bag inside out so the the pockets will be on the inside—or leave it as is.

Gathered tank top tote

Supplies and tools

• tank top
• straight pins
• water-erasable fabric marker
• sewing machine and thread
• fabric scissors
• seam ripper
• sewing gauge or ruler
• flower pin

1. First remove the tags with a seam ripper or scissors.

3. Fold so that the straps lie on top of each other. Measure and mark where you want the seam to be. I placed mine five inches from the bottom of the tank top.

4. Baste two rows (about 1/4 inch apart) along the line you marked. Do not back-stitch. Then pull the bobbin threads tight as you slide the fabric inward to gather it. Then use a straight stitch with a shorter stitch length and sew between the two basted seams. Back-stitch to lock the seam. Pull out the basted seams.

5. Cut off the excess fabric about 1/2 inch past the seam.

6. Turn the tote bag right-side out.

Teaser Tuesday: The Time of Singing by Elizabeth Chadwick

Teaser Tuesday: The Time of Singing by Elizabeth Chadwick: "

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read


• Open to a random page


• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)


• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This is the story of Ida de Tosney, mistress to Henry II of England. Here’s a quote from the page I’m on now:

Henry had intended sailing to Normandy to deal with pressing affairs, but until his wound healed, he had no choice but to remain in Winchester; thus he was not only feverish, but grumpy too. He was in no mood for bed sport, for which Ida was glad, but she knew she might be summoned at any moment to adjust his footstool, plump his pillows, sing to him, or just sit in his chamber.

And from a couple of pages further on:

In the warm summer evening, the court was taking its ease in the gardens and dining informally in the open air. A string of attendants ferried salvers of dainties from the kitchens, including marinated fruits, little balls of almond paste stuffed with dates and crisp hot fritters, oozing with melted cheese.

I’m reading this book for:

"

I want this!

Bird House Salt & Pepper Shakers

$24.00 from Pottery Barn

I want to make this....I find such good recipes at Eat at Home all the time. And I love her pictures.

Pineapple Carrot Bread

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, undrained
• 1 cup grated carrot (2-3 carrots)
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup nuts, optional

Stir together the dry ingredients in a mixer bowl.  Add the others in the order listed, mixing between each.  Pour into 2 loaf pans that have been greased and floured very well.  I like to use Baker’s Joy No-Stick Spray with Flour.  Bake at 325 degrees (that’s not a type, the temp is really that low) for 1 hour.  Remove from the pans immediately.
The ingredients call for only 1 cup of crushed pineapple.  I could only find a 20 oz can.  I just dipped 1 cup out with a spoon.  The rest could be used in another recipe or fruit salad.

These are easy and Yummy!

Mini Pecan Pie Muffins
(recipe courtesy of Jane Doiron, Make-Ahead Meals)

1 c light brown sugar
1 c pecans, chopped
1/2 c flour
2/3 c butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten


Spray 20 mini muffin cups with nonstick spray (I used butter); set aside. Preheat the oven to 350.

In a medium bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups evenly.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. The edges will be crispy. Do not overbake. Remove the muffins and cool on a wire rack.

~Freeze~
When the muffins are completely cool, place them in a freezer bag and freeze up to 2 months.

Genius

"The reason someone is a genius and knows things you do not know is because he has opened his mind to contemplate the "what if's," the outrageous thoughts, the thoughts of brilliance that go beyond the limited thinking of man. He has allowed himself to entertain and reason with these thoughts, whereas you have rejected them. It is very simple to be a genius. All you have to do is think for yourself." ~ Ramtha

i love avacados

this is something good to eat when i just feel like having a snack.
 

Easy Guacamole

• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 tbsp. chopped jalapeno
  
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit.
2. Scoop out the inside and mash.
3. Combine mashed avocado with other ingredients.
4. Serve with corn chips

Candy

I want to make these! Found at The Cooks Next Door

NUT CLUSTERS
(I adapted this slightly from my friend, Micah!)

12 oz. can of salted peanuts
6 oz. Semi-sweet Chocolate chips
6 oz. Butterscotch chips
2 oz. White Chocolate or vanilla chips
Milk or cream

Melt the semi-sweet and butterscotch chips in the microwave. Stir in peanuts and drop on waxed paper. Melt white chocolate chips with a splash (less than a tsp.) of cream or milk to thin and drizzle over finished clusters.

(I often double this recipe and use 2 cans of peanuts, 1 whole bag of semi-sweet chips and 1 whole bag of butterscotch chips – I think they are 11 oz. each.).