etsy finds

Do you subscribe to the etsy finds newsletter? I do, and each day I get an email full of amazing things that talented people make, delivered right to my inbox. Today I really loved some of the finds:

portable fly desk station

tender wagon conversion

baby tender bedding

convertible play kitchen/ end table

rocking Italian scooter deluxe

to school or not to school?

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I have this dream of finding a perfect abandoned school house, buying it, and renovating it into a charming home for our family. Aren't these lovely? (All found on flickr. Image credit given under each photo.)

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We've been a homeschooling family on and off for years. Mostly on. This year, our oldest is attending a local Waldorf Methods school. We love it. Their philosophies and the things they do are a lot like what we do at home. I'm not big on pushing academics hard core. I'm all about teaching to the whole child and doing a lot of things with hands on experience rather than using text books. Last summer we decided that the Waldorf school would be a good fit for our family, since I was working in the mornings. The only problem was that they didn't have room for Zeke. It's a small school and they only have one class per grade. There was room for Brooklyn, but I've still been homeschooling Zeke this year. It has not been easy. Or necessarily very good. I'm tired when I come home from work (I get up at 3am) and don't give his schooling my best.

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The school offers two years of kindergarten, so Mercy could go this Fall. We've been thinking it would be great if all three school kids attended this next year, leaving just Judah home with me. Mercy is registered and Zeke is now first on the waiting list for his grade. Having some in school and some at home for school is not working very well for us, so we've been saying that if Zeke doesn't get in, we'll keep them all home again next year.

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I miss having them at home. This week Joe is in Colorado with his mom, as she's recovering after breaking her neck a few weeks ago. (She is getting better but has to take it easy for a while. It's a miracle she's not a quadriplegic and we thank God that she's going to be ok!) Since I work in the mornings while he's home, I took the week off too, so I could be here when the kids wake up, give them breakfast, take Brooklyn to school and do all the other morning mommy things that I've been missing.

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I'm loving it. I wish Joe were here too, and I do enjoy my job... but there's nothing like being at home. Yesterday was a non-school day for Brooklyn and today she's sick, so we're just home. And it feels right. I like not rushing off in the morning to take her, or having to wake Judah up from his afternoon nap to go pick her up. (Her school is about 20 minutes away.) We're not relying on my income as much anymore and I'm working to replace my income with my Jenuine Ruby business. So maybe it would be great to keep them all home again.

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There are challenges and blessings with both scenarios. Having three kids in school could give me more opportunity to make things and work on my biz. It would also probably make it easier to be more involved in their classrooms.

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But if they're all home, we can make things together. And have more freedom for day trips and special outings and learning together.

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Both options are good. We just need wisdom to know which one is right for our family right now. So for now I'll be praying about it and making the most of the rest of this school year.

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And I'll keep dreaming about living in a little old school house.

Labels: family, school

April goals

I admit I was a bit ambitious when I posted my February goals. That list turned into February and March goals. Some were done, some are continuous, and some just didn't happen. I've decided for this month I'll just post some of my business goals. I'm taking an Indie Business class that is blowing my mind with awesomeness every single day. I've said this to the teachers, but I might as well let you know here too... I'm pretty sure taking this class is the best money I've spent online. Like ever. Seriously, it's that good.

I'm in also in a business sharing/ accountability/ goals meet up group here, and it's great to see what everyone is accomplishing and posting goals publicly makes me want to make them happen. Here's my list for this month, as scribbled earlier today:

As far as my other goals, things on my list for the year and my 40x40 list, I'll just post pictures and updates as they're completed

Labels: goals

tagging

I'm doing a little blog spring cleaning today... sprucing things up a bit. I've decided to add a categories list on the sidebar, to make it easy for you to find things you've seen here before or to look at more posts that you might be interested in. This means I have to go back and edit some past posts. I'm hoping this doesn't mean that if you subscribe to my blog's feed, you're getting multiple emails about new posts. I apologize if this is happening and I'm working to do this once and from here on out, tag posts as I go. Please pardon any inconvenience! xo

fruit pizza

For your springtime sweet tooth pleasure, I bring you....
Fruit Pizza!

This recipe was given to me by my mother in law Nancy, who is currently in the hospital in Denver recovering from surgery after breaking her neck last week. She is doing better every day but still has several weeks of recovery ahead. (prayers for her complete healing and quick recovery are so much appreciated!)

EVERYONE loves this dessert. It's always a hit at potlucks and parties, and it's the perfect thing to welcome the colors and flavors of spring. (It's easy too, which is always a plus!)

Fruit Pizza

crust:

1/2 c. butter

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1 c. flour

Mix like a pie crust and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Cool completely.

cream filling:

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1/3 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and spread over cooled crust. Place fresh fruit over cream cheese mixture. (I usually try to go for lots of color. My favorites to include are strawberries, banana, kiwi, blackberries, raspberries, green or purple grapes and peaches. You can also use pineapple, blueberries, etc. Pretty much anything goes.)

glaze:

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

1/2 c. sugar

1 c. fruit juice

1 tsp. lemon juice

Boil sugar, fruit juice and cornstarch until syrupy. Add lemon juice and pour glaze over fruit.

Enjoy!

(note: This is the recipe as I received it. I usually double the amounts of everything for the crust and the cream cheese layer.)

I had a little help making this yesterday!

This is before the glaze layer: YUM!

Labels: recipes

three wishes

Over on Freckled Nest, Leigh-Ann (love her!) had a fun wishing game post, and I thought it would be fun to play along. Imagine a genie granted you three online shopping wishes. Here's what I'd choose:

this charming house found on zillow

this cheery vw bus found here

and I've always wanted a movie theater style popcorn popper like these.

What would you choose?

Labels: just for fun

this week

Quilt Bug, originally uploaded by pamelalong.

Today is National Quilt day! I haven't quilted anything lately, but isn't this bug super cute! I wish I had seen and had time to make this. I bookmarked it to come back to.

This week has sure had its ups and downs.

Joe has been working 7 days a week for over a month. Business is picking up, which is great... but working 5 days a week locally and 2 days in Monterey (two hours away)... we're tired.

But he had his last night working his second (or is it third?) job as a bouncer in a hip night club. Some mornings he'd be coming home just as I was getting up to go to work. We've been passing ships for a while, and it's taking its toll.

I open at Starbucks 5 days a week. This is my first time working in over 12 years. I do enjoy my job. I love my customers and the people I work with but I miss mornings with my kids. I miss getting them ready/ excited about special days. (On Wednesday I left a note on the bathroom mirror that said, "Happy St. Patricks Day! Wear green!) I was sad not to be there.

But we had Lucky Charms for dinner that night because that's Irish, right?

We had tough conversations.

We got a scary phone call from Joe's brother in Colorado. My mother-in-law had been home from work, sick with the flu and passed out. She was hurt but she was somehow able to call Rob (Joe's brother) for help and he called for an ambulance and met them at her apartment. She was taken to the local hospital and then later transferred to a trauma center in Denver. Basically she broke her neck. She broke the C5 vertebra and C6 was shoved 30% into the C7. She had surgery Wednesday night and they say it went well. She has no paralysis (thank God!!!). They did another c-scan this morning because she had been very lethargic and was falling asleep mid-sentence, so they wanted to rule out a head injury.. but it came back fine. It's so hard to be far away when things like this happen. Joe's sister (who also lives in CA) is there and will help take care of her for about 2 weeks and then Joe will go for one week. So sad/ scary... but we're thankful that she's going to be ok! We'd appreciate your prayers for a speedy and restful recovery.

A very special member of our church family passed away this week. He finally got to go Home after his battle with cancer. This man played Jesus in our Easter plays for several years. He showed such love and compassion, especially in the scene where he extended his arms and said, "Let the little children come unto me." (All the little children in the play would run up to him and sit at his side or in his lap.) He also played guitar for our worship team. He definitely has looked like it was taking a lot out of him lately, but you just knew he wanted to be there. Even last Sunday, just a few days before he died, he was on stage, playing his heart out in worship. I remember him coming to the coffee shop at our church (my favorite place to volunteer ever)... he always wanted 2 splendas in his latte, and he wanted to warm the cream cheese packet in his hands or under his arms while his bagel toasted. He leaves behind a wife who truly adores him, two grown (in their 20s) children, and a church family who will miss him very much.

giveaway at Inspired Mess!

My bloggy friend Jamie has been posting videos on her blog Inspired Mess this week for Multiple Sclerosis awareness. I've learned a lot. She's also hosting giveaways every day, with orange (for MS) goodies from various donors. Today the giveaway is for one of my prints fromthe Retrieval Project called "New Beginnings", and an orange pincushion, which was made following this tutorial by Leigh-Ann on her blog Freckled Nest. I encourage you to check out Jamie's blog to learn more about Multiple Sclerosis, enter the giveaway, and maybe even make a pledge for her upcoming MS walk.

Labels: featured creatives

a warm mug

We sometimes listen to a Christian radio station called the Candle. In the afternoons, they always have a "kid fact" of the day, an interesting bit of information. I have no idea where they get these kid facts, but today as we were driving home after picking Brooklyn up from school, we heard the kid fact of the day. This is not word for word, because I was driving and couldn't write it down, and couldn't find it online... but it said that when you have a warm mug of coffee or tea, or some other favorite drink, you're more likely to be friendly, patient, and generous.

I have to say, I think they're on to something. I know I feel happy, more friendly and probably more generous when I'm holding a steaming cup of comfort (coffee, tea, chai, hot chocolate, whatever).

It got me thinking. I should try this with my kids. My mom used to make friendship tea. I haven't had it in a long time, but I know I always loved it, and I think our kids would too. I think I'll make a batch tomorrow. On days when they're not getting along very well, maybe I'll hand them a warm mug of friendship tea and see if it helps!

Here's my mom's recipe:

Friendship Tea

2 c. Tang

3/4 c. instant tea

1 pkg. lemondade mix- with sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1tsp. ground cloves

Mix all ingredients together and store in an air-tight container. Put 1 heaping teaspoon in a mug and add hot water. Adjust to taste.

Ok, not the healthiest mix, but a little here and there won't hurt. Especially if it evokes friendliness and generosity! =)

(I've also heard this called Russian Tea.. it's the same thing, as far as I know.)

Labels: recipes

renegade!

I just did something pretty scary + exciting! I applied to be a vendor at Renegade San Francisco!!! Ahhh!!! I know there are lots and lots of applicants, and only 225 spaces, so I have no idea whether I'll be accepted.... but I feel like it's a big step for me to even apply!

I thought about not sharing this unless I get accepted, but this blog is my space to record and share my journey, which will inevitably include both opportunities and closed doors... so I'm letting you in on my excitement/ nervousness as I wait out these next few weeks for a decision.

I'm am going to be a vendor in a smaller, local event happening in May... and I'm pretty excited about that too!

What scary/exciting things have you been up to lately???

Labels: craft fairs