Nothing Like Making Something Out Of Nothing!

I have recently bought my first sewing machine. It's a Verticle Kenmore, and I love it! About a week and a half ago I made my first project with my new sewing machine and it turned out beautiful. I learned A LOT because I haven't done much sewing in my life (on the sewing machine that is) and this was the first item I have sewn on my own. (With only long distance advice from my mother.) It's an apron, and I enjoyed making it so much I think I will make a bunch more. It is so amazing to take a piece of fabric that is nothing in particular and prepare it and sew it up and make something you can WEAR! It's thrilling really! I'm excited to find some fabric and make a shirt I already have a pattern for.
A friend of mine has a tutorial on how to make designs on tee shirts... It's kind of hard to explain so I will just post a picture when I make mine. I came up with a tee shirt design for my husband last night and I'm so excited to make it for him. :)
I've been preparing for Thanksgiving by trying out new pumpkin pie recipes. I'm determined to find the best pumpkin pie recipe ever! :)

The Happiest Halloween Since Trick or Treating

It has been the best Halloween since I could go Trick or Treating! At work we had a Halloween potluck with hotdogs, chips, soda, pasta salad, cupcakes and sugar cookies. After I got home from work Jon and I went to our ward's annual Halloween Carnival all of Jon's family who live in Arizona came including his grandparents. We had Sopapias and cookies and corn on the cob Nacho Libre style (by the way, it's not as yummy as it looks, they use mayonnaise instead of butter!) After we ate we came home and carved pumpkins! I've only attempted carving a pumpkin one other time in my life and it was a disaster and did not work out at all. This year I had a proper pumpkin to carve and it was so fun! Jon made his with one eyeball and jagged teeth and I made a funny face on mine. While we gutted and carved we listened to my Halloween CD and gave out candy to trick or treaters. I wore a big round red nose for a costume. :) The Jacolanterns turned out great! We bake the seeds and we are eating them with candy while watching movies tonight. Happy Halloween Everyone!

Finding My Joie de Vivre

Where have I been! Lately I've busied myself with cooking. About a week ago I receive a package of two Julia Child Cook Books I ordered from Amazon. Besides reading, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" like a textbook, I've been trying new recipes I find online, reading my other book, taking piano lessons, going to job interviews, and working in my church calling. (Along with the everyday life stuff like cleaning and grocery shopping etc.) I just haven't felt like blogging about it much; although, as you can see I have plenty of subject matter. The other day I was writing my mother and I realized I had gotten into a habit of wanting STUFF, and I'm done with that. I want to do constructive things. Stuff doesn't really matter, it breaks or wears out or I realize I don't really use it and then what? All I've done is spent money. Gaining experience and learning new things stay with me forever! I have plans to find the perfect material and sew myself a beautiful apron to keep my clothes nice through all the cooking I'm doing. I hate plain aprons with no style or elegance or personality. Mine will look something like this one I found online the other day. It will be cheaper to make it myself and when I'm done I will always be able to make aprons. Make new aprons when the old one wears out, or make and give them as gifts, and improving my sewing skills (which are always useful) at the same time. I hereby dub it a worthy pursuit.
I love being a wife! I love domestic activities; not that I just love scouring floors and scrubbing dishes, but I love keeping house for my family's well-being, and finding creative ways to conserve money and resources. I love learning how to do it. I love doing little things for my husband I can tell make him feel loved. It makes me feel special and irreplaceable, and really isn't that everybodies' heart's desire? That's how I find my Joie de vivre.. just in doing the little things that make me feel as though I live a charmed life. Soft little kisses, singing while loading laundry, a bright kitchen sink, a long walk while the morning air is still cool, a delicious dinner set at the table, a long distance call to my parents, petting the dog, a quiet read.. I know I'm a romantic, but if a person can't enjoy the little things she does every day -then where will be the joy in life?

Making Jam

Earlier last week I decided to go ahead and try to make some jam. It's been nearly ten years since I've made jam! I was so excited and nervous to make it this year because I love doing domestic things like this and because it'd been so long I wasn't sure if I'd know what I was doing anymore. I checked the recipes in a box of pectin and decided I would try my hand at making Freezer Jam this time. I don't have my own kitchen and 90% of my cookware is packed and stashed away right now so I didn't want to create too much mess in a foreign kitchen without my own tools, so I thought Freezer Jam would be easiest on everyone.
I bought all the ingredients and some Freezer canning jars and went to work. It was SO EASY Peasy! Now I know why everyone "prefers" Freezer Jam! It is a hundred times easier to make! I remember over nine years ago when I made Jam and canned peaches with my mother and was so eager to share my beautiful bounty that was so much work to preserve, and feeling a little perturbed at the people who said they liked FREEZER Jam best (before they even tried my marmalade!) I realize now that I had gone to much more trouble to learn to make Jam and preserve, and they probably just felt showed up. (I think my mother eluded to as much at the time of perturbation.) I feel so much better realizing that they weren't just rejecting my delicious marmalade and beautiful peaches that my mother and I had slaved over. Now I have to laugh at myself for feeling hurt.

Well, I decided to make Raspberry Peach Freezer Jam this time since peaches and raspberries are in season and on sale. It took me maybe an hour to complete the task and what a reward; it's delicious and such a pretty color! I'm so happy I was able to make Jam this year and I think I will make a habit of it every year from now on! If sometime again it's inconvenient to cook up a pot of Jam; now I know Freezer Jam is a sweet, no fuss, perfectly acceptable option!

A Letter For Daddy

Last week Superman and I went to visit my sister and her family, and my parents while they were visiting her. We had a great time, and I especially had a great time with my family as I don't get to see them very often because I live far away from them all now. While we were there I had the opportunity to cut my father's hair and it brought back to my remembrance all the times he cut my hair as a little child and all the fond memories I have.
I know Father's Day has passed and so has your Birthday Dad, and I did call, but right now I would just like to write a tribute to you to tell you how much I love and appreciate you, and what a difference you have made in my life over the years.
You taught me how to tie my shoes (I still remember that day,) you taught me how to ride a bike, how to swim, how to walk on stilts, how to pay tithing, how to tie a neck tie, how to drive, how to gain knowledge, and how to see things through. You taught me to have an open mind so that I could learn from others experience and not judge them. You taught me to seek truth and to love the gospel. You taught me how to communicate well with others, which I've found is an uncommon gift.
You have always made me feel like a beautiful princess and protected me from harm as best as you could. You provided a loving home and always managed to provide for our wants and needs without over indulging. I have always felt special and never spoiled. You taught me to value truth and to face truth with courage. As a result; I can't hardly lie, I can't lie because it's lying. Thank you for that. My life is so much easier because I can tell the truth. I can stare truth boldly in the eyes and show others that the truth is okay and it's good; even though sometimes it's not what you want to hear, the truth truly does set you free and I have nothing to hide because of it and that is a wonderful feeling.
You taught me to love and respect nature and all living things. You instilled in me a quick forgiveness that I am ever grateful to have. You taught me that none of us are perfect, we all make mistakes and have weakness, and we all deserve to be forgiven and loved for who we are. I can look at others now and love and respect them as living creatures and children of God just as I am, whatever their faults may be. Even if I am offended at times I can forgive, because everyone has their own point of view and their own reasons for doing things, and you taught me that.
You taught me to dare to be different. It's okay to have my own style and my own way of doing things, and I have learned to be charming about it. So many times people I have associated with have been delighted at my old fashioned ways. I've seen how it has worked as a blessing to me as well as others because I don't have to kowtow to the group all the time. Thank you for teaching me to play by my own rules instead of popular culture and opinion. I can judge for myself what is right and be a leader when needed.
You also taught me to enjoy life. I have had so many wonderful experiences because you taught me to embrace the moment and give new things a try. I have had the courage to go to college, to try repelling, to try rock climbing, to try sushi, to go to social events where I didn't know anyone. My life has been so much fuller and exciting because you taught me to not let fear get in my way. Thank you for teaching me the courage to live life, and to follow my dreams.
I just want to let you know that you were and still are a wonderful Dad. Thank you for always loving and supporting me unconditionally even though I don't always do things the way you wanted. You taught me well how to manage through my difficulties and trials and to work my hardest at what was in my power to do. I love you Daddy with all my heart, you are still my Superhero.
Your Baby Girl. XOXOXO

It's Birthday Party Time!

Last Saturday we celebrated Superman's Birthday. I bought his birthday cake from Cathy's Rum Cake; he asked me to do it a year ago, but I played it off as though I hadn't ordered it so I could surprise him. It worked! Teehee. I invited his family over and we made homemade ice cream and all went to Kobe for tempenyaki dinner while it was in the freezer. Then we came home for cake and ice cream and visited and Superman opened his presents. I gave him a couple new pairs of shorts and a golf Xbox game he wanted.













Later that night my husband and I went to play miniature golf with our friends who are newly engaged. It was fun, and even though I didn't win, I did get 5 holes in one! Superman won of coarse.

Here's a picture of my Hubby Goofy Golfing. ;)
After golfing we went to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the theater. It was a good day!

Two Quarts of Cream..

I bought two quarts of cream recently because it was buy one get one free and now I don't know what to do with all this cream since I don't have an ice cream maker. I've been looking through my "to try" recipes to find the ones that call for cream since I do not buy it very often. Today I made a Coconut and Blueberry Slice; it was originally supposed to be coconut and passion fruit, but I am not a big fan of passion fruit. In the picture on the recipe it looks a bit like blueberries and blueberries go well with lemon so I opted for the substitution. This dessert is sweet, mild, and creamy. A great teatime snack I'm sure, or for a late night treat, but I don't thinks it's an after dinner type dessert. It needs a nice accompaniment like Chamomile tisane to compliment it.
Superman and I babysat our nephew tonight so his parents could have a date night. It was nice to have him over. I love to watch my husband with children; Superman is so loving and playful, he is so conscientious about what is safe or fun for the baby. It's sweet.

Last weekend I finished making the Baby Shower invitations my sister-in-law requested for the shower she is hosting next weekend. We don't know what the gender is yet so I tried to make them as gender neutral as possible. I made 64! Whew!
I love Suzi's Zoo. This is the only Suzi's Zoo stamp I have, but I would love to build a collection of them. I think maybe when I have children of my own I might go with this theme.
I am such a preparedness nut that I want to read all the books and build a collection of educational material so that I'll be all ready when I do start to have kids. Am I the only one like this?
I have several books to read before I'll feel ready, but I figure I'll probably get to read a lot while I'm pregnant too. I'm sure it won't happen for at least a while longer anyway.

Last time I made zucchini bread I used a recipe out of my ward cookbook and neither my husband nor I thought it was very special. So last week I decided to give it one more try before I gave it up all together. I found a recipe from a blog that looked good and I used it. It called for a cup of oil; which sounded pretty gross to me, so I used a half cup of oil and a half cup of apple sauce. I used a bundt pan since I didn't have two bread pans. It turned out pretty good so I won't give up on making zucchini bread all together.
My sweet Hubby took me shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond to use a gift card he bought me about a year ago. He hates shopping so it was really sweet of him to come with me. I bought some silicone hot mits and this set: hot mit, pot holder, and dish towel. I love it! I think strawberries are so cute and fun to decorate with and I love sage green. I am slowly building myself a home piece by piece. I think I'll buy some nice white dinner napkins with the rest of my gift card. I've heard that white dinner napkins and table cloth are ideal because you can bleach them and keep them looking bright and nice. I look forward to entertaining once I have my own home. :)

Plumbing Lessons and Independence Day

Last week Superman's brother came over and helped us repair their mother's water sprinkler system.
This was the problem. A root from the pine tree grew up under a pipe and dislodged it, so we had to re-route the pipes around the tree roots.
First, Superman cut down the lower limbs of the pine tree the previous week and while they finished digging the ditch, I helped dig a little, and filled the recycling can with the left over branches. Then the guys cut into the pipes and we started attaching new pipes around the tree and away from further root interference.

I did these pipes myself!
It went really fast with all three of us working at it. I think once the ditch was dug, it took us less than an hour. My hubby filled the dirt back in later. I'm so excited I learned to do some plumbing! It's not as complicated as I thought, but I can definitely see how it could be difficult on a much bigger project.

For Independence Day Superman and I went to his friend's house and had a barbecue with him and his fiance, and we all went to see Star Trek afterward. It was fun and the movie was good. Happy Fourth of July!

Heritage and Old Fashioned Values

Today I was going through a box of my grandmother's old recipe collection. As I was looking through the cardboard box full of newspaper clipped recipes, books, notepaper, and cards I realized, my grandmother must have liked cooking. She must have always been looking for better recipes and new things to try to have such a large collection. This is an interest that we share and it is fun to realize that we have something in common. I didn't know my grandmother very well, although she died when I was seventeen and old enough for that kind of relationship. She was always very quiet and solemnly attended to her duties as wife, mother, and grandmother. It's peculiar how you can get to know a person better just by rifling through some of her old private things.
I know Grandma was always very well kempt, and she was very particular about her appearance. She always looked perfect and smelled freshly perfumed. ( I have a bottle of perfume that she used to wear, but she wore many scents over the years.) One particular perfume she wore was my favorite, but I never found out what it was. It made her smell like peaches and cream. Grandma had a soft cheek that was comforting when she gave me hugs, and it was all the sweeter when it was wet with tears. She was most always pleasant, but when she was angry you knew it, although she said very little. My grandmother always waited on her family hand and foot and never complained about it. She was a good cook and very precise about it too. No matter what she was cooking or baking, she always used a knife to measure to exactness. She was an old fashioned lady and loved her family with all her heart.
I have heard so many interesting stories about my grandmother. She worked at a candy store once and has been known to make some of the best candy there is. Now, I have her recipes and I intend to do justice by them. I plan to break out her candy recipes and try them all, and then I will teach my daughters in their turn, to make candy like their great grandmother.
Among the recipes and cook books in that dusty box I also found this:
"A clean kitchen is a good feeling." That is just my sentiment. Having a clean organized kitchen and home makes me feel good. It makes me feel successful and comfortable when all is in it place and has an appearance of newness.
Those were the good old values when a woman's work was clear to her. She knew she was too make her home comfortable and comely, to be frugal and resourceful, to be cheerful and supportive, and to nurture the children and bring them up respectably while caring for her own appearance. That's the kind of woman my grandmother was, and my mother is, and that's the kind of woman I want to be. It's easy to become distracted from priorities these days. Living expenses are so high that a family needs two incomes just to get by. Then there are the fashions and fads of outside influences; telling every woman, they must appear a certain way, and they must not be overshadowed by their husband's successes or in caring for children. All the time feeling torn about not having time for household responsibilities or the upbringing of children. It's a good time to look to my heritage at the successful women of my family. The mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers and other great women I have known in my life who have shed the demands of the outside world. To be comely instead of trendy, to be responsible instead of spontaneous, to be frugal instead of impulsive, to be a mother and wife instead of popular. It is a sacrifice, but the best things in life always require a sacrifice and are always worth it.
I love Sister Margaret D. Nadauld's talk she gave in 2000 entitled The Joy of Womanhood, she said, "Daughters of God know that it is the nurturing nature of women that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this divine attribute. Surely when a woman reverences motherhood, her children will arise up and call her blessed (see Prov. 31:28).
Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." This was one of the last talks I heard as a Young Woman before beginning Relief Society. I remember feeling so inspired to a nobler cause of the kind of woman I wanted to become. Years later after trudging thickly through modern influences I find I still have the same priorities as I did then, and now is the time to put them into practice. How exciting!

Morning Epiphanies

So last night I was looking for a recipe to use up some cream I bought on sale and instead I found this recipe: Strawberry Coffee Cake . It looked wonderful so I thought it would be nice for breakfast the next day and made it that night.

When I woke this morning it was all cooled and waiting for me to dig in. :) Isn't that a lovely good mornin'?

I love coffee cake in the morning with a great tisane like chamomile, or roastaroma. Mmmm reminds me of those winter Saturday mornings when I'd wake up and smell the cinnamon and the aroma of the tisane. I'd skip across the frozen floors into the kitchen and jumping into a chair, wrestle my icey toes into the warm nooks behind my knees. I'd then devour the steaming drink and cake that warms you to the soul and pulls that satisfied sigh most comfortably out of you, "Hhmmmm." That's living! Mother's are wonderful people for providing those unforgettable moments, not knowing what an epiphany they just created for their greedy little darlings.

Cupcakes for Comfort

I love to bake at night; I find it theraputic, there is no pressure because you are only baking for pleasure and most people are asleep at midnight so you are sure to not be bothered by other duties of the day. I must be a night person because everything is better at night.. well, almost everything. Saturday night I made Funfetti cupcakes (Pillsbury.) I always like to make cupcakes whenever someone is feeling down, they just have a way of making you feel happy and loved. It's something in the aromatic fluffiness and sweet stickiness that makes the world seem like a better place. Superman loves Funfetti cupcakes and so do I, so I don't even try to make them from scratch.

I bought some colorful sprinkles to try, I love them, but Superman prefers just frosting. So the ones with sprinkles are mine. :) Aren't they fun! Sprinkles make me feel like a little kid again because they are completely unnecessary, and just make me feel so special!

Visitors and Breakfast Cookies!

Yesterday morning I woke up at 4:00 AM too overheated and restless to fall asleep again. So I decided to try a new cookie recipe I had discovered the night before and planned to make that day for some visitors.. They made a great breakfast too. You may be exclaiming, "What, cookies for breakfast! Oh my bad health habits!" But these cookies are just about as healthy as any other breakfast. In the future I may omit some of the white sugar since the bananas have natural sugar in them already, but other than that they are probably more healthful than a breakfast muffin or Fruit Loops! I love cookies, and now I can have them for breakfast too! What could be better?
Later on that afternoon my brother would be visiting from Ohio and I served him and his family the Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies and they were a hit with both adults and children alike. Try them with chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped walnuts. SoOo yummy, and I never had that sick overendulged feeling. I think PBBO cookies would be great as a take along snack too!
It was so nice to see my brother and his family again. I hadn't seen them in about two years and the children were so much more grown! We had a nice four hour visit and the kids got to be comfortable with us again. (They had forgotten me and were a little shy at first. :) This was the first time my brother and sister-in-law had met Superman so it was pretty cool. Now I just have to get my other brother and his family to come visit and meet my husband! OR, we just need to go visit them in Washington. That would be a fun trip anyway. :)

A Homemaking Renewal

I think I’m finally getting used to being a homemaker. For me, it's a very different thing to keep house for only yourself than it is to keep house for two. Lately I have been attempting to dust off and perfect my homemaking skills. Not that I haven't been doing things before, but I am becoming more thorough, "making it my own" again. I felt so handy when I fixed (unclogged) the vacuum cleaner last week and had a good vacuum of the house, hooray the vacuum isn't broken after all! I finally found the right picture to display of Superman and I newly married in front of the Mesa Temple (thus displaying a picture of our wedding, and a picture of the Temple, killing two birds with one frame. ;) I've discovered, when you don't have much space, it's very important to add just the right touches and not too much or too little.

Another revisited skill I’ve been working on is laundry. I had a list of “helpful hints” I was given while in Young Women's and I found it a couple weeks ago, retyped it, put it in a protective sleeve and hung it from a laundry room cabinet for convenient reference. I’m very proud of that handy display I’ve rendered in the laundry room and take more pleasure in doing the laundry. I'm so silly, I know, but now that I've made it my own it is much more rewarding for me to maintain.
I now fold the laundry as I take it out of the dryer before I put it in the laundry basket and this saves me from a wade of clean wrinkled laundry to put away later, and it’s so much easier for me to feel up to the task of putting the laundry away when it’s already folded neatly. Plus, this way when I don’t have enough room to hang up the clothes, they sit quite neatly till I’m able to put them away. I knew all this a long time ago, but I had forgotten.
I really want to can some fruit and jams this summer, but I don't know if I'll get the opportunity. That's another skill I want to renew because it has just been so long that I'm not sure I know how to can anymore. It's sad because I really like to can and it seems like it's one of those old fashioned skills that is getting left on the shelf to gather dust now days.
I was reading someone's blog last week and found that she had a tole painted "Country Kitchen" decoration that I was going to make when I first learned to tole paint. It reminded me how I wanted to make it and how much fun I had in the class I took, and I think I will try to get back into tole painting again. I tried Google-ing the pattern for the decoration I wanted to make, but I couldn't find it so I think I will have to make my own pattern and find someone with a scroll saw. :) Maybe my instincts are just kicking in for Spring Cleaning!

Another Success! Hooray for progress!

I made Cinnamon Rolls last week and used a new roll recipe. I haven't had the best of luck with bread in the past, but the rolls turned out really good. I was so elated! Now when I figure out just how much sugar and cinnamon to roll up in them I will totally be rockin' at the cinnamon roll thang.

Tonight I made red chili chicken enchiladas for dinner and an Apple Crisp for dessert. The apple crisp is so easy to make and so yummy, if you haven't made it yet you can find the recipe on my food blog. You are seriously missing out until you try it.

I think Blue Bell is the best kind of store-bought ice cream there is. The Homemade vanilla tastes a lot like my dad's homemade ice cream, and it's a perfect accompaniment to this dessert as well as brownies or pretty much anything you can think of. Mmmm. Superman served his mission in Texas, where this ice cream brand originated, and he introduced me to it. Blue Bell is a bit more expensive than other ice creams, but my brilliant husband found out we can get a dollar off coupon every month by signing up on the Blue Bell website! It IS a, "worth every penny" quality frozen dessert. Now I know what makes that cow sing!

Last night my husband's younger sister, her husband, baby, and his brother and wife came over and I made chicken Masman curry with Thai sticky rice for dinner. (Sorry I don't have any pictures.) This was the first dinner I've had the opportunity to make for my hubby's siblings and it turned out real well. Superman and I have been to both his brother's and sister's homes a couple times so it was fun to have the opportunity to return the gesture. :) The gathering was kind of a spur of the moment dinner, but is was an important step as a newly wed couple. I hope we will be able to host dinners more frequently in the near future; especially for our families. :)

Macaroons and Day Dreams

I love coconut macaroons and I finally found a wonderful recipe for them. Apparently the recipe won a blue ribbon at a county fair. :) I made them tonight for dessert; don't they look delicious! I've posted the recipe on my kitchen blog so you can taste them for yourself.

I was watching some clips from Stranger Than Fiction on the computer yesterday. I just love that movie, and I think a couple of reasons I love that movie is because it has to do with writing a story and baking. I love the part where Anna says, " I just thought that if I were going to make the world a better place I would do it with cookies." Sometimes that's how I feel.

Today I was just thinking that maybe I should start a bakery someday. This is not a new idea for me, so I started writing down all my ideas for it and I even came up with a name. I want to sell lots of things, not just baked goodies, but books and plants and teapots, and I want it to feel imagination pricking and comfortable and maybe a little extraordinary. I want people to come drink tesane, eat cookies and croissants and read books and feel an escape in my comfy cubby, away from the ever busy and crowded world. Maybe I'll get good enough at playing my guitar so I can entertain my customers too. Now that's making a living!

Card Making Again ~

I've been card making again for all the many birthdays we have in May, so I thought I'd show them off a little. ;) I always like to use others' ideas for inspiration so I think it's only fair if I share mine.

My nephew is obsessed with Spiderman and asked me specifically for a card like this. I found this image online and printed it out. I was going to cut Spidy out and make my own background, but I didn't want to encroach on the artist's work.

... And this is my trademark.

A Letter to Momma- Happy Mother's Day!

Since I could not call my mother today, I wanted to send her a Hello where I knew she'd find it... In church today they asked us to recall and share a special memory about our mothers. I sat and thought for a while of what I could share; mostly because there are so many things I could have said, but I needed to keep it short. When it came to be my turn I said that I would just pick one and that my mother taught me Charity, she was always reminding me that those around me are children of God too, and how to empathize with others. She would always tell me to put myself in the other person's shoes and ask how I'd feel or how I'd react if it were me in his or her place.

My Darling Mother, I owe you everything good that I am. You taught me to cultivate my talents, and supported me in anything I wanted to learn or do. You believed I could do anything I wanted and encouraged me to grow and learn every skill I had an opportunity for. Mother, you taught me to step up when I was needed, and to go the extra mile to make a difference. You have taught me how to learn, and to love books and education. You showed me by example, and inspired teachings to have a strong character, to love God, and to have strong Faith. You are a huge advocate for that which is ethical and you are the most unselfish person I know. You taught me how to be selfless, and the joys of selfless service.
Mother, you always told me, "pretty is as pretty does," and I learned that it doesn't matter how beautiful or charismatic a person is if he/she has an ugly attitude. Another common phrase was, "sometimes we have to do things we don't want to," I took this to heart and learned self-discipline (something that I continue to work at and still hear your voice in my head.)
One of the most important things you have taught me is something you told me everyday as I headed out the door to school, "remember who you are!" I once asked what it meant and you told me I should always remember that I am a child of God and to act accordingly. As I have grown older it has come to mean so much more. "Remember who you are," now means to remember where I come from and what I was raised to be: I am a girl from a small town with good morals and character. I have wise parents who have taught me to be frugal and to value that which is most important in life rather than the material things. I have a great legacy of beautiful women in my family who have taught me how to care for my body and to have a wholesome appearance. I have come through a linage of warm southern hospitality and gracious generosity. I come down through a long line of good cooks and self sufficient living. I've been taught to value good culture, literature, music and art, and I come from a family thick with talent. I've been taught to use common sense and logic and not just follow common opinions or fads. I've been taught to be a good example and to take resposibility seriously. I've been taught to be a good mother, wife, and a strong woman.
I love you Mother; you are still one of the most important and valued people in my life, and I hope to be just like you someday! You never cease to inspire me to be a better person, and to strengthen my resolve to do so! Thank you for taking the time to teach me about life and how to be a good person, and for all the sacrifices you made for my happiness and contentment. You are my hero. With Endless Love and Admiration, Your Youngest Daughter. XOXOXO

A Happy Easter and a Happy Birthday

Okay I know this is late so I decided I have put this off long enough so here goes..

This month I had my 27th birthday, we celebrated Easter, and we had a visit from Superman's sister and her family.

Here are the cakes for the birthday party my husband's brother-in-law shared with me, and here is our nephew taking a huge bite of a purple rose from my cake. My cake was white with apricot mouse and cream cheese frosting. (Yummy) Superman bought me a Mortar and Pestle for my birthday and I love it! I was so excited because I've wanted one for a very long time. Anyone who knows me knows that I like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so I LOVE new kitchen gadgets that I can try new recipes with. :)

For Easter my husband got a bunch a Reese's Easter Eggs and Cadbury Cream Eggs because they're his favorite, and I got Marshmallow Cream eggs and SweetTarts because they're my favorite. :)

Yes, that is a crocheted chicken nesting those delicious eggs. My mother made them when I was little and those chickens have been a family Easter tradition for as long as I can remember. Superman was so surprised and excited for his Easter treats. Isn't he the cutest!