Friday, July 30, 2010

Finished Finally

I had all of these bright fun fabric pieces so I decided to
make Ella and Addie some summer skirts.
I used this pattern again
One of the things I love about it 
is it easily adapts to different sizes.

Remember these skirts from a couple of years ago?
I can't believe how much these two little girls have grown :(


I thought it would be fun to make the tops this time too...
and we couldn't leave out "the little man"
so a bow tie for Preston completed the ensemble.

Thanks for the CUTE pictures Marci!

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and the beautiful setting is Diane's house....don't you just love it!


Thursday, July 29, 2010

Thank You Thursday

July 27th was my parents 55th wedding anniversary. 
  Today we went to Fogo de Chao  for lunch.

  The service and the food were beyond exceptional.
First we made our way to the most amazing Salad Bar I've ever seen. 
http://www.yi-ren.net/pics/2008/081002-FogoDeChao/DSCF2732l.jpg

Then we were served the sides: 
crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized banana


http://www.yi-ren.net/pics/2008/081002-FogoDeChao/DSCF2621.jpg 
and some gougère-esque cheese puffs....scrumptious
followed by

the most delicious meats until we could eat no more.......
http://www.thereviewconnection.com/img/FogodeChao3.jpg
or so we thought 
There were so many desserts, we just couldn’t resist.
Our waiter suggested the Fogo de Cho®Signature Papaya. 
via Fogo de Chao
We managed to make room for it and it was wonderful!
My Mom’s Plate was drizzled with raspberry syrup “Happy Anniversary”
Thanks for letting us celebrate your special day with you

Monday, July 26, 2010

Mindful Monday

Encouragement
(a sweet, inspiring story) 
Concert

click picture to view video


Saturday, July 24, 2010

Love These!

I think these are so pretty ~ perfect for your next party!
Hanging Paper Flowers
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2004Q2/ft_apr04msl02_xl.jpg
 via Martha Stewart
Step 1: Fold the bottom of a bag in on itself. Cut above the lower fold, removing the bag's bottom. Trim the top into a petal shape.
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2004Q2/ft_apr04msl04a_xl.jpg
Step 2: Punch a hole about 1/4 inch from the bottom. Repeat process with five more bags. Apply double-sided tape to the front edges of a bag. Place another bag on top, and repeat to stack all of the bags. Draw a length of string through the hole in the stack; knot it loosely.
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2004Q2/ft_apr04msl04b_xl.jpg

Step 3: Pull the top and bottom bags around to form a flower shape and join the end petals with double-sided tape
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2004Q2/ft_apr04msl04c_xl.jpg
Step 4: Suspend your completed paper bag flowers by string.
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2004Q2/ft_apr04msl04d_xl.jpg

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Mrs. Miner's new venture ...

Our daughter-in-law is starting a photography business!

Cheryl Joy Miner

Art & Photography
Her blog is private, so I snatched a few pictures to share ♥

someone put this flag at the dock  by their house....so thoughtful

 DSC_0443 by Cheryl Miner.




 definitely some of her favorite subjects
just in.....
Corbin Partridge Yarbrough
and 

big brother,
Talan Yarbrough
 
 ...a few more for fun
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SvpvfFwzvZI/SrAB_rILCGI/AAAAAAAAAh0/hwW7KE56aEQ/s400/DSC_0080.JPG
She's AMAZING!
You can see more at her  
page.
 
 
Invite everyone to
"like"
her  photography page on Facebook..
 
GO

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Thank You Thursday-Traditions


Family Traditions
"The Little Things are The Big Things"
Thursday night was HFPE (Enrichment)for one of the wards in our stake. I was asked to come and talk about Family Traditions. It was fun for me to gather information and collect ideas to share. 
There are so many great resources out there. I found countless Ensign articles, Conference talks and studies on the benefits of Family Traditions. I've always loved traditions but I didn't fully understand or realize the profound impact they truly have.
I was really inspired from one of my favorite books, 
Strengthening Our Families   
There is an essay by Lloyd D. Newell from his research on Family Traditions.  



He came up with 5 Values Traditions give to families:

1. Traditions are a source of strength.

In a world of chaos, traditions give families a sense of security. Traditions help to instill unity. Researchers and scholars have observed that eating dinner together, praying together, observing holidays together, and holding family celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, and accomplishments bring closeness and unity to the family.

2. Traditions mold family and personal identity.

Through traditions, children are able to gain an understanding of what their parents, and family, value. This understanding instills in children a sense of identity. They learn about who they are, where they belong, and what their family feels is good and important. The inclination to loneliness and self-doubt are lessened.

3. Traditions are a source of connection between the generations.
Traditions have the capability to last and remain strong through the ages. Relations and connections are strengthened as mother and daughter, great-grandfather and great-granddaughter, uncle and nephew, participate in an activity that holds significant importance for all.

We all hope that something will outlive us, that a part of us will linger for a while after we are gone. The things of this world will soon be forgotten and turned to dust, but stories and memories, skills and knowledge, can last forever. The present always becomes the past for someone else. If we are wise, and we take the time and make the effort we can leave a remarkable legacy that will teach, inform, and inspire the next generation.


4. Traditions allow families to examine themselves.
Whenever a new family begins, that family needs to evaluate what is important to them. Traditions allow families to adjust and mold old traditions to fit their particular family values and standards.

5. Traditions are laden with meaning.
Family traditions are the practice of passing on significant ideals from one generation to the next. With each generation the exact tradition may change, but the underlying significance rooted deep within remains the same.


 “THE LITTLE THINGS ARE THE BIG THINGS”
(the title for the evening)
Elder Richards L. Evans counseled, “Oh parents, we would plead, give good and happy memories to your children – not pampering or over indulging, not satisfying everything they take a fancy to – but memories of love, encouragement, of peace and harmony and happiness at home – memories that will bless and lift their lives wherever they are, always and forever."
The lavish parties and the expensive gifts are not what we remember fondly from our childhood days.
 It’s the simple family events repeated over and over again that stay with us.
 It’s the little things you do in your family that make it unique and interesting.

It has been said that traditions 
are the we always 
of families.  

This summer I started a new tradition with my little granddaughters, “The Nana Sleepover”  Ella had her turn last week.


We had such a fun afternoon.  I told Ella we could do whatever she wanted for dinner. She wanted spaghetti. She loves to cook and came in the kitchen with me.   

I put the pot on to boil and was reaching for the pasta when Ella said something that was music to my ears! 
She said “We Always” have spaghetti on Valentine’s Day and proceeded to tell me the rest of their fun Valentine traditions.
Good job Marci and Mike
After my presentation Thursday night, we shared experiences from our childhoods, traditions we are doing with our families now and things we had seen or heard from friends and others that inspired us.(Thanks Heather and Heather!)
It was fun pulling up fond memories and it was wonderful to hear so many ideassmall things” we can do in our families.  
Doing these repeated activities and rituals not only strengthens our family connections and blesses us with family values, the best part of all is, it actually simplifies our lives, making it easier on us and more memorable for everyone.
We don’t have to come up with new and different things to do or eat every time we get together when there is a tradition aka "we always" in place!
I've been wanting to do these little trees for years.  I finally found a resource for wire for a tree.  I have a Martha Stewart leaf punch that I thought was the perfect size leaf to hang on the tree.  The little paper mache box is filled with leaves waiting to be counted as a blessing and then hung on the "Thankful Tree".
a new

Thanksgiving Tradition

I love it so much, I've decided to sell 
"Thankful Trees" this year at Etsy and Pineapple Hill


...wanted to give a treat and
decided to share this strawberry goodness.
I bought these cute little sugar cookies and frosted them with
delicious and "sweet" Strawberry Frosting.

I handed out a flier with lists of tradition ideas.
You can get a copy HERE

Elder L. Tom Perry:  “If we build righteous traditions in our families, the light of the gospel can ever grow brighter in the lives of our children from generation to generation  We can look forward to that glorious day when we will all be united together as eternal family units to reap the everlasting joy promised us by our Eternal Father for His righteous children.  Our family activities and traditions can be a beacon to the rest of the world as an example of how we should live to merit His choice blessings and live in peace and harmony until the day He returns to rule and reign over us."

More Resources:
FHE Jars 
Family Tradition Ideas
Establishing Family Traditions
Creating Traditions and Memories
12 Holiday Traditions
St. Patrick's Day Traditions
Elder L. Tom Perry
Righteous Traditions, Cheryl C. Lant
The Family Home Evening Spot
81 Christmas Traditions
Real Simple
Family Home Evening
A Year Of FHE Lessons
Family Reunion Helper
Family Fun Links