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Saturday, April 30, 2011

saturday snapshot: father of the bride

Has all the Royal Wedding talk ceased in just 24 hours?
I still have wedding on the brain &
thought I'd share one of my favorite shots
from our wedding day (nearly one year ago).
I will always treasure the words my father shared while this photo 
was taken by our photographer, Meaghan Elliott.
They were thoughtful, loving & witty, a combination
Dad so often embodies during life's important moments.

Don't forget, the giveaway for $20 shop credit to
aPearantly sew ends at 12pm EDT today!

Friday, April 29, 2011

royal tea

I did not awake at 4am EDT to watch the Royal Wedding live.
I haven't even been following the festivities like it's my job,
but I did program the DVR for a pre-wedding special
& of course the event itself.  I am quite fascinated how
Prince William and Kate chose to embrace the media,
especially social media, announcing their engagement via Twitter
and created a Facebook page [among other avenues].
Stephanie much more thoroughly shared just how
the couple has chosen to tell their own story using social media.
Even though I had my own beautiful wedding day,
I love to hear another couple's story & see the details of a wedding.
So why wouldn't I be fascinated by one that's
over 3,325 miles away for a couple I will never meet?
As Islee pointed out, the little girl in me is excited to watch.

Though I don't remember watching (I was barely a year old),
when Prince Charles and Diana wed, my mother was tuned in
and loved an excuse to pull out one of her tea cups.
You can bet I will unwrap one of those precious tea cups 
for my tea as I watch the recorded wedding this weekend.
Cheers to you, Will & Kate!
[Images from Flickr]

Don't forget to enter the giveaway {$20 shop credit}
I'm hosting from aPearantly sew!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

hearty pancakes

My cooking repertoire reached its limit with 
frozen pizzas & nuked veggies [not our usual].
We were without a stove/oven for nearly two weeks due to the move,
so I was anxious to get cooking once our stove was finally installed.
Although relying on a microwave & charcoal grill 
was something my husband & I found a creative challenge at first, 
we were excited to start cooking again. 
The kitchen is still under construction 
[can't wait to share some before & after pics], so
 our food selection was somewhat limited.
So, what did I cook once the stove was hooked up?
Pancakes [and eggs]...for dinner!
I found this recipe & modified based on
what I already had in the kitchen.
It turned out so well [I could tell even from the first ones off
the griddle], I just had to share!
ingredients
1 cup quick cooking regular rolled oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup dry non-fat milk powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup water
directions
Preheat a lightly greased griddle over medium low heat.
In a large bowl, mix quick cooking oats, flour, 
whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, dry milk powder
salt, cinnamon and cream of tartar.
In a small bowl, beat together vegetable oil and eggs. 
Pour into the oats mixture, alternating with water, 
and mix thoroughly, creating a batter.
Pour batter, 1/4 cup at a time, onto the prepared griddle. 
Cook on both sides until golden brown, 
flipping when the surface begins to bubble.
It made more than enough for my husband & I to eat for dinner,
about 15-16 flapjacks [maybe 5" in diameter].
Do you have a favorite pancake recipe?
This one is now mine!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway {$20 shop credit}
I'm hosting from aPearantly sew!


This post is linked to Find a Friend Friday.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

tickle me tuesday

I'm linked up with Sarah today for another edition of

I've got my eye on beautiful kitchens with open shelving lately.
We're in the process of renovating our kitchen &
deciding what kinds of cabinets [among other things] we like.

Love the cottage charm of the wooden beams & lighting. 
{via}

The colors on a white background are so whimsical. 
{via}
This chalkboard & brick wall add character.
{via}
psst...did you enter the GIVEAWAY I'm hosting
from aPearantly sewEnter here!

Monday, April 25, 2011

giveaway {aPearantly sew}: closed

I'm so excited for this GIVEAWAY
from Alison's s handmade shop aPeartantly sew!


apearantlysew

Be sure to check out her blog too.
Alison with her sweet family!
Let's get to know Alison a bit...

Tell us about yourself.
I'm a 31 year old wife & stay at home mom to two little guys. 
I spend my days drinking coffee, coloring dinosaurs, 
building with Legos, playing outside with my boys, 
breaking up fights & doing the laundry 
(well, sometimes I do the laundry). 

Why did you get your start blogging &
what's been your favorite thing about it?
I started blogging when I opened my shop. 
My favorite thing about blogging is definitely t
he friendships I have made. 
I never could have imagined all the wonderful people
I would meet and form relationships with through blogging. 

When did you open your handmade shop?
I opened up shop on Big Cartel in October of 2010

Where do you get your inspiration for sewing and blogging from?
I'm inspired by all kinds of things! 
Pretty colors, the great outdoors, my kids, 
beautiful pictures...the list could go on and on. 
I find that one of my greatest inspirations 
when sewing is simply things 
that I want or have a need for. 

What's your favorite city?
Charleston, SC is definitely at the top of the list. 
It's such a beautiful city with so much history. 
I just love it. 

And now for the moment you've been waiting for...
Alison is offering a $20 shop credit.
Check out some of her ah-mazing work:
Tiny Leaf Clutch
Lindsay Clutch in coral
Flower Garden Tote
How to enter
{mandatory entry}
Visit Alison's shop & tell me your favorite item.

Even more ways to enter the giveaway...
2 - follow Alison and me on Twitter [1 entry]
3 - Tweet or blog about this giveaway
and link to this post [1 entry each]
4 - Become a follower via Google Friend Connect
of dot...in the city or let me know if you already are [1 entry]
[Please leave a separate comment for each]

Giveaway runs through Saturday, April 30 at 12noon EST
& is open INTERNATIONALLY.

miscellany monday {6}

Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters
{1}
We started our adventures in home ownership
during an open house one Sunday afternoon in January. 
Everything was documented on a sunny, but brisk
Saturday afternoon in April. 
And we moved in two days later 
& now the adventure really taken off!
{2}
My winnings from a recent Funky Vintage Lovely
 giveaway arrived...and I just love each item!
I wore the ring, earrings & necklace over the weekend. 
{3}
I'm the last to know about who is popular on the radio
and I'm not always too hip with fashion trends.
So, it did not surprise me when I came across Polyvore
and had the "aha" moment of "so that's how they
[other bloggers] make such fun outfit displays using multiple items!"
I'm thinking hoping it will curb my desire to go shopping
[even though I'm pretty sure that's not the point,
...it's more the opposite!]


Are you familiar with Polyvore?
What do you like about it?  How do you use it?
Here is an outfit combo I dreamed up...
prepared for rain

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. 
Come and see the place where he lay.
Matthew 28:6 (NIV)
via
The egg is a symbol of spring as the earth is renewed with growth. 
It was adopted by early Christians 
as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. {source}
via
May you have a blessed Easter!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

saturday snapshot: quiet time

Today, I'm linking up with Kim for another Saturday Snapshot.
It seemed fitting to post a photo from my recent trip 
to Guatemala City where we worked at AbonOrgániCo,
a company that creates compost from organic waste.
I love this photo for the light streaming in &
Chongo intently focused on reading his Bible 
during a break in a metal hut that doubled as green house.

Happy Easter Weekend, friends!

Friday, April 22, 2011

a shower for baby k!

Last weekend I attended a baby shower for my friend, Danielle. 
She's having a little girl next month.
We ate a tasty brunch complete with yogurt parfaits, 
scones, biscuits & jam, quiche, cookies & breakfast punch.
We made barrettes similar to the tutorial here.
We used ribbon, buttons & scrap book decorating supplies.
Several of the women have little girls of their own &
were very excited to learn how to make barrettes for them. 
And Danielle ended up with quite a stash 
of barrettes for the beginning of little baby k's life 
[once she has enough hair for a clip].

This post is linked with Find a Friend Friday.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

grateful girl

I have a lot to be thankful for this week!
Can't believe it's been so long since my last grateful girl post.

139. We finally closed on our house and moved over the weekend
[you may have noticed fewer posts than usual,
and now you know why].
I don't have any photos to post yet, but I look forward
to sharing more about our fixer-upper!

{via}
140. The trees outside my window at work
are budding...I just love buds in spring!

141. Time with one of my oldest friends this weekend. 

{via}

142. Good friends who helped us move on their day off.

143. Our stove will be installed today--
can't wait have home cooked meals again!

144. Campus Movie Fest "Best Drama" winner.
I love the chance to show off a student's great work, 
especially when I work directly with the him daily.
More BSU films are posted here.

What are you grateful for this week?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

tickle me tuesday: marathon edition


I'm linking up with Sarah today
for another addition of Tickle Me Tuesdays
This week's edition honors the Boston Marathon,
which took place yesterday.
I didn't get to watch it this year, but I always love 
tracking it online, via Twitter or watching clips on TV.
The energy downtown on Sunday was already intense. 

{favorite running shoes}
[image]
{top American finisher}
Ryan Hall finished 4th with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 52 seconds
making him 
fastest American in marathon history [image]
I have never run a marathon, but I admire the many
runners who take on this annual event.

Do marathon runners inspire you?

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday finds

Who doesn't love coming across a new blog?
I haven't had a ton of time to search out new-to-me blogs,
but I have come across some new faves in the past few weeks.
{source}
"It's a celebration of life through - food, photography, design
...a lifestyle blog about crafting and living a good life."



"Adventures in Love & Happiness stashes love, inspiration,
 and adventures in making a home, being in love
 and trying to keep our patience with our Basset Hound."

geeky and sassy
"The Plan-ish"
Mondays - Made it or Messed up
Tuesdays - Trends
Wednesdays - Growth (business)
Thursdays - Shop items, misc.
Fridays - Flashbacks
Saturdays - Series & Snapshots
{love that she has a plan for her blog posts!}

living tall
"life in the west as a pastor's wife"


have you come across any new-to-you blogs lately?

Thursday, April 14, 2011

the waiting game

{source}
We have been doing a lot of waiting this week...
and last week...and even the week before [you get the idea]. 
Sometimes life just does not go according to "the plan."
While I often find myself disappointed & sometimes even growing bitter
that plans don't unfold the way I expect or think they should,
I can look back on the past 30 years I have been blessed to live & 
remember many situations I did not anticipate going the way they did.
I find myself more thankful than not for the experiences I've had.
They shaped me into the woman I am today, and 
today's challenges refine me for who I will be in the future.
I remember good things that came from and because of waiting. 
I see how disappointments & failures 
led to increased patience, confidence and faith in years past.
{source}
So, when I start feeling sorry for myself because life 
hands me some lemons and makes me jump through hoops,
I want to remember the somewhat cheesy lyrics of The Gaither Trio,
"think on the good things."
Because there are a lot of good things to think on:
We celebrate our 11th month of marriage tomorrow.
I have a full time job where I am supported by colleagues.
Our immediate family is relatively healthy.
I will celebrate a friend's growing family at her baby shower.
We have really supportive family & friends.
Our taxes are filed!
The sun is shining today & it feels like spring.

What are you grateful for this week?

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

lovely lemons

Lately, life has thrown a few lemons my our way
so it's had me on the lookout for lemons...
 or really anything that's cheery & yellow!
{source}
{a reminder to twirl}
Twirl Poster Print from Elise Joy
{love this song}
You Make Me Happy from Colorbee
{a reminder to stay calm}
Keep Calm and Carry On from Barn Owl Primitives
Maybe we'll open a lemonade stand!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

tickle me tuesday

I'm linking up with Sarah for another 
edition of Tickle Me Tuesday.



{iPad case}
iPad case in turquoise damask from The Pleated Poppy
{pretty sun dress}
Empire Waist Dress from Land's End Canvas
{flower bling}
Darling Dahlia Wax Flower Ring {Mustard}
from Funky Vintage Lovelies

{house cleaning 101}






{coffee lover}



10% of Ashley's sales this month are part of Handmade with Purpose
What's tickling your fancy this week?