It's all good...

Sip and Dip Night with the Girls!

2011-12-17T19:26:00.001-06:00

Lanie, Kimberly and I had our first annual "Sip & Dip" Friday night. What is a Sip & Dip you might ask? Beverage of your choice to sip on and lots of yummies to dip in chocolate and sprinkles! We dipped pretzel rods, marshmallows and spoons into white chocolate, chocolate. Sprinkles, crushed Skor candy bars, crushed peppermints. I can't wait to make goodie plates for my friends and neighbors. xo - Em

Chocolatey goodness!

2011-11-29T08:04:00.001-06:00

'Tis the season for baking! I love the holidays and all of the baking that comes with this time of year. I'm starting to get excited again for the holidays. The past few years have been difficult for my family, we've had our hearts broken with the unexpected passings of several loved ones. I know we aren't alone - but I've just been in a funk. Finding joy in the everyday things, let alone the bigger ones, has seemed pointless to me until recently. I haven't started decorating yet but will soon. Nearly all of the autumn pretties are put away for another year. I expect it will be looking a lot like Christmas in my house next weekend.

Following all of my bloggy friends is so much fun. I can't believe how many creative people there are who generously share with us via their blogs. I came across a yummylicious-recipe via http://www.sweetbakingsupply.com/blog/ and just had to give the recipe a whirl!

Here's how I spent my manic-Monday evening!

Zoey waited impatiently just outside the kitchen - hoping I'd let her in for a bite. Oh no!

These are filled cupcakes with chocolate ganache frosting (since ganache isn't very sweet I also frosted some with chocolate buttercream). Tim must have liked them because he ate three of them before I was done frosting them! Don't they look delish? I hope my co-workers like them - they are my unofficial test market. Check out Sweet Baking Supply - awesome blog. Have a fabulous day. I can't wait to find a new recipe to try for the holidays. xo - Em

Em'sView's photostream

2011-11-20T20:35:00.001-06:00

Em'sView's photostream on Flickr.

Pics from the Farm-Style Holiday Open House at Sisters' Garden and Bloom this past Friday night.

Skunked!

2011-11-05T03:32:00.000-05:00

Puppy dogs - so cute, lovable, fun, friendly, smelly. Smelly? Miss Ellie was skunked while out in the yard a couple of nights ago. The smell was overwhelming, to say the least. After a bath - a long bath with Dawn soap she smells slightly better. As I sit on my loveseat the unmistakable pungent scent of skunk lingers. I think it's coming from her head - I hesitated to wash her head too much - I didn't want to get water in her ears or eyes. But I think I'll be bathing her again.

On a nicer note, I am inspired by something I saw on Pinterest tonight. As usual. It's so easy to get sucked in to Pinterest. Time seems to stop. Only it doesn't. Flies by.

After bath #2, Ellie smells better. Still a little skunky.
xo - Em

Ellie, pre-skunk. :)

Zoey on a walk last weekend. She didn't get skunked.

EmSather's photostream

2011-10-02T21:56:00.001-05:00

EmSather's photostream on Flickr.

New photos from an Autumn day.

Rocky Road Chocolate Cake - Make in Your Crock-Pot

2011-09-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

I wish I had a picture to share with you - this cake is chocolate-heaven! My cousin Amy and I made it together in 2008 and I've made it a few times since. This recipe is very rich so pair it with a basic meal. It's from the October 2008 issue of "Southern Living" magazine. I must tell you that I love, LOVE this magazine - it's always chock full of lovely pictures, travel ideas and tasty recipes. Mmmmm - good!

Rocky Road Chocolate Cake
Makes 8-10 servings
Prep: 15 min.
Cook: 3 hr., 40 min. (you may want to add 10-15 min, to the cooking time)
Stand: 15 min.

Ingredients:
1 (18.25-oz.) package German chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9-oz) package chocolate instant pudding mix
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups milk, divided
1(3.4-oz.) package chocolate cook-and-serve pudding mix
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Beat cake mix, next 5 ingredients, and 1 1/4 cups milk at medium speed for 2 min. with an electric mixer, scrape sides as needed. Pour batter into a lightly greased 4-qt slow cooker.
Cook remaining 2 cups milk in a heavy non-aluminum saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or just until bubbles appear (don't boil); remove from heat.
Sprinkle cook-and-serve pudding mix over batter. Slowly pour hot milk over pudding. Cook and cover on LOW 3 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile, heat pecans in a small non-stick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
Turn off slow cooker. Sprinkle cake with pecans, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Let stand 15 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly melted. Spoon into dessert bowls (serve with vanilla ice cream - optional).

Wedding Snaps

2011-06-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

S'mores cookie bars

2011-05-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

Just made these s'mores cookie bars, courtesy of http://www.lovintheoven.com/2008/12/day-11-smores-cookie-bars.html. Yummy!

Last Prom

2011-04-17T19:09:00.000-05:00

Bittersweet is the word that best describes how I am feeling about my son's senior year. Saturday night was his last Prom. He was handsome, of course, and his sweet girlfriend, Breanna, was princess-pretty - I teared up when I saw her. We and three other couples hosted a dinner for them, Jake and Shelby at Breanna's house. Her dad grilled steaks, chicken and burgers. We served the kids downstairs at a table lit by candles, sparkly little white lights were strung around the room providing just the right amount of light. So as the kids dined by candlelight, sipped sparkling white grape juice and sparkling lemonade, we (the adults and Shelby's sister) enjoyed our meal in the dining room. I hope they had as much fun as we did.

I just love seeing all the teens all gussied up at Prom - shiny dresses and tuxedos. My sweet son even posed for pic with me.

So much to do before graduation: make his grad party invites, send out announcements, plan the party, order the food... I think my head is spinning!

Mehhh...

2011-01-30T16:36:00.000-06:00

Working on Soul Restoration stuff.
Roast in the crock pot.
My youngest Chicklet earned a I rating at State Jazz Band Contest yesterday with his high school band. Woot!!!
Not ready for work tomorrow.
Fighting a nasty cough/headache/earache - woe is me. (LOL)
Preparing for looming snowstorms.

Here's some pics of the Mississippi via Muscatine, Iowa on an unseasonably warm January day.

Brave Girls Club - Soul Restoration

2011-01-16T22:50:00.000-06:00

One of my chicklets (daughter Lise) and I are taking the online Soul Restoration workshop from Brave Girls Club. It's a six week class to heal, learn and grow through creativity and journaling. I'm so excited to take part of this life-changing class. We are in week one and I have to admit, it's a little scary to face my personal fears and put light in those dark places of my soul. But even though it's scary and challenging I'm looking forward to quieting some of those monsters and seeking love, healing and truth.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-30T20:36:00.001-06:00

Ahhh... the hustle and bustle of the busy Christmas season is over and here I am reflecting on another year that has come and gone. We had a quiet holiday with the kids. Analise was home for a couple of days and after Christmas dinner we played a few rousing games of Yahtzee and Scrabble - we are bit competitive when it comes to family games! Tim and Taylor tied on Scrabble, which might be a first at our house. Tim usually wins by a landslide!

Lise was playing Yahtzee, playing with her Nook and eating popcorn with M&Ms!

Taylor contemplating strategy?

A lot of thought went into game plays.

As for a new year - I'm excited for new challenges and a lot of changes. Taylor is in his senior year of high school - so next year at this time he'll be a freshman in college. That'll totally change the dynamic in the house - we won't have any kids at home. Goodness, I get a little teary thinking about it.

Beginning January 3, I'll be taking on new responsibilities at work. I've been asked and agreed to be an interim manager at one of our CU branches. It means my commute will be triple for a few months until they hire a permanent manager. But the change will be good and I like a challenge. :)

Lise and I will also be participating in The Brave Girls Club online Soul Restoration class. We are both super-excited to do this. I'll keep you updated during it. Soul restoration - here we come!

New 360 photo blog is being created too! It'll be a year of changes, growing, goodbyes, hellos and creating. xo - Em

Boy, on edge of being a man. His eyes light up like a child's. Tolkien book.

Welcome

2010-12-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

Today was a special day at our house - we adopted a 2-year-old golden retriever, Zoe, from a nice family who is moving. She is loved by them and by us too. The young girls and their parents brought her over this morning, before the winter storm hit.
The girls made an instruction sheet which I'll share because it's so sweet:

To Emma and family
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ZOE REESE
* I got Zoe for my 5th Birthday. Please treat her like family. Her birthday is June 9th, mine is August 9th and Olivia's is July 9th. Her middle name is Reese, just like mine.
* When you open the freezer Zoe will come running and sit and wait for you to give her her favorite treat. ICE CUBES.
* Sometimes when she is in deep sleep she snores!
* Zoe has sensitive ears. She is afraid of loud trucks, horses clomping, and vacuums. (Even though it's funny to watch her run from the vacuums)
* Zoe LOVES family walks.
* When Zoe gets fed she waits for Gracie the cat to eat one of her morsels before she gobbles it down.
* Zoe burps and farts a lot. Please try to ignore the smell.
* Zoe loves her bone. When she is naughty we tell her to get her bone. It is her therapy.
* Zoe has a small bladder just like me. Please don't let her drink water after 7 pm.
* Zoe knows how to shake, sit, jump, and dance on your shoulders with you.
* Zoe's nicknames are Zo, Zo Zo, Zee Zo, or Z. She'll respond to all of them.
* We will miss her a lot. Please send pictures.

You Will Love Her. She Is The Best Dog In The World!

I read this aloud when the girls were here, they are 7 and 10, and I got teary-eyed knowing how much they love her and how hard this is for them. We are so happy and thankful they are sharing her with us.

Happy December night. xo - Em

Christmas spider

2010-12-09T20:06:00.001-06:00

I've been on vacation from my day job this week but stopped in today for a few minutes to find a fun surprise in my mailbox. Handcrafted by Barb - who is Ms Craftylicious!

How fun! How sweet of Barbara to think of me! What's in the sparkly bag?

A lovely little spider and a sweet story about spiders wanting to be present for a visit from the Christ child. Miss Spider now hangs on my Christmas tree. Thank you Barb - you brightened my day. xo - Em

New old treasures!

2010-11-29T23:02:00.000-06:00

I snagged some super-cute vintage ornaments from my favorite shop, Sister's Garden, which is oh-so-close (maybe too close and I live in the country) to my house! I haven't decided how I'm going to use them all yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Just adore the vintage silver garland - it is sooooo long - 10 yards - LOVE IT!

xo - Em

So much to be thankful for

2010-11-25T20:37:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving - I'm sure you are all incredibly busy preparing, eating and enjoying your time with loved ones. We are going to the home of Tim's sister to enjoy the day with her family and since she's hosting - she has the bulk of the work and cooking to do. We got off pretty easy this year by bringing rolls (from an awesome Amish bakery near our home!), pop and a dessert. As I'm writing this I can smell the yummy spices and pumpkin in the pumpkin cheesecake bars that are baking in the oven. Mmmm...

This past Sunday our dear friends Betsy, Marvin and their kids had us over for dinner. I am so thankful to have them as friends. Our sons are the same age - high school seniors, we met and became fast friends when the boys were in Kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday - how fast time goes. Betsy works at a fabulous second-hand shop, The Crowded Closet (a Mennonite thrift store in which the proceeds benefit needy people here and in other countries). It's a fabulous shop if you ever get a chance to stop by! Betsy has a skill in decorating their home with nifty items she purchases at The Crowded Closet. I wish I was half as talented as she is!

Dinner was delicious, of course. Roasted chicken - raised by them, beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, rolls, pie - all so tasty! Good friends, good food, good conversation - can't ask for much more than that.

I'm thankful for so many things this year: my loving healthy family, dear friends, a roof over our heads, food on the table and clothes in our back. We are truly blessed. What are you thankful for this year?

Oh, the pumpkin cheesecake bars are done, here's the recipe if you'd like:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 tablespoons softened margarine
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans (I just chop them - not finely)
8 ounces of cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice (I use Watkins pumpkin pie spice instead)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine flour and brown sugar, cut in margarine to make a crumb mix. Stir in nuts. Set aside 3/4 cup of the mix for topping. Press remaining mix into bottom of 8x8 baking pan and bake in preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes. Cool slightly.

Combine remaining ingredients in large mixer bowl. Blend until smooth then pour over baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved topping. Bake an additional 30-35 minutes. Cool before cutting.

Much love - xo - Em

Pretty pictures

2010-10-18T21:18:00.000-05:00

Want some creative photo inspiration? Then you have HAVE to check out these three eye-lighters: Visual Poetry, Photojojo and Expressive Photography! Love LOVE them!

Oh, and here's a goofy pic of Ellie watching me take pictures of the moon. You can see one of her gazillions of play toys behind her. I thought it was bad to pick up after a toddler but Ellie takes the cake, at any given time she'll have 7-10 toys strewn throughout the living and dining rooms. xo - Em

Aaarrrgggghhhhh...

2010-10-17T00:37:00.000-05:00

Just feeling a little (ok, a lot) frustrated. Lost about 50 pictures on my flash drive today. The real bummer is that I think they were really good. Most of my photos from last night and today uploaded fine, but not the ones I took at a sweet little lake this afternoon. The light was perfect, the setting was serene. Giant colorful fall leaves drifting along the shoreline spotlit by the sun peeking through the clouds. Nice movement along the shore with slow, lazy days waves. Some of the leaves looked like little miniature boats just the right size for a fairy. The water was only a few feet deep along the shore and there were several leaves that were at the bottom of the lake looking upward - small fish swimming over and around them.

Oh it was so lovely today! And I'm sooooo frustrated. I also snapped a couple of photos of this cute home built in 1871 (it's on the National Historic Registry) and is for sale. So super-adorable. But they are gone too. At least the photos Taylor's high school marching band contest turned out ok - not the best, but ok. Here's to a better photo day tomorrow! xo - Em

Mmmmm....

2010-10-14T21:04:00.002-05:00

My dear friend Lanie has been down with health issues recently so I got her a little pick-me-up. She and I took a cake decorating class together last winter (so fun and messy!). Once she's feeling better I hope we can spend an afternoon making some super-cute cake pops! Get better soon my friend.

If you like to bake yummy treats or like some eye-candy ;) - check out the new book from Bakerella!

Pumpkins everywhere!

2010-10-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

Drove to Kalona for breakfast this morning and on the way there's a cute old wagon chock full of pumpkins, gourds and mums! It's a self-serve roadside stand that is set up every fall. So today we stopped snapped away and bought a couple of lovely pumpkins. Happy pumpkin pickin'! xo - Em

Fall Fun - ps: I wore the flower at to the UI football game :)

2010-10-05T22:00:00.002-05:00

Here we are a few weeks into my FAVE time of year - autumn. I love LOVE fall! Football, colorful crunchy leaves, pumpkins, apple cider, marching band, all hallows eve, harvest moon, homecoming, hay rides, crisp cool air, caramel corn, and sooooooo much more!

Started getting the autumnal decorations out and having a little fun with them. Chaperoned the homecoming dance at T's high school last weekend. He and his Miss Thing were lookin' sharp.

Saturday we tailgated with good friends before the UI vs PSU game. Of course our beloved Hawkeyes won! It was Homecoming at the University of Iowa and each section was assigned to wear black or gold. Our section was gold. It was a night game and I LOVE those the best. It was cool out, the stadium looked awesome with the sections alternating black and gold. AND WE WON!!! Go Hawks!

Sunday afternoon I took our dog Ellie and drove up to Cedar Falls to see Lise. She took us on a fabulous walk around her favorite little lake up there. Ellie (who's half golden retriever and part lab) thinks she doesn't know how to swim! But we showed her she does - poor pup - there was a look of pure panic on her hairy little face for a just a second - then she doggy paddled a whole foot until she could touch the bottom again. Good times! She was wore out and slept most of the way home (almost two hours).

Happy Autumn to you! xo - Em

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Art & Flower Festival

2010-09-19T21:29:00.000-05:00

The weather is a'changing and with it brings fun new fall activities. Saturday we checked out the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity 7th Annual Art and Flower Festival at Anna's Cutting Garden in rural Oxford. The weather was cool, an autumn chill in the air, as we took in the sights and smells of the festival. Approximately 15 local artists (a potter, artist, photographer - to list a few) were selling their wares and some even demonstrated their crafts. Music from Court Hill Woodwind Quintet and Marc & Brandi Janssen added to the festivities with the sounds of old-time fiddle tunes, country duets, and early-bluegrass songs on fiddle, mandolin, banjo and guitar. The smell of wood-fired oven pizza and fresh apple cider tempted our tastebuds. Mmmm! Kittens roamed the country garden grounds and fresh flowers and herbs were picked and arranged. We snagged a lovely bread bowl from potter Val Neumann - her pottery is amazing! Also, purchased fab homemade bar of soap from a soap maker - it smells so good! Here are a few photos from the festival. I can't wait for next year! xo - Em

To Flower or Not?

2010-09-14T22:23:00.002-05:00

Do you ever have those moments where you are a little afraid of what other people think of you? I hate to admit that I certainly do. The other day I got caught up in the whole Hawkeye accessories madness - you know what I mean when you have a game or event and want to buy stuff that matches it. It’s similar to buying the cool t-shirt from (insert your vacation city here). So I was at Walgreen’s before the first home football game when I spotted them. Flowers - yellow, white. Pretty. Like candy for your hair! I bought two. One yellow, one white, of course!

Back at the office, I carefully clipped the yellow one in my hair above my ear. I turned side to side, admiring it. Smiled. Then it hit me and the questions started taunting me. “Won’t people laugh at you with that silly yellow flower in your hair? Seriously, aren’t you a little old to wear that? Tacky. Really? Seriously? WOW!”

So, I did the safe thing and took the flower out. Fixed my hair back the way it was. Put the flower away. Calmed those pesky critters in my head who question everything I do. For now anyway.

But last weekend the flowers caught my eye again. The white one sits on my dresser, tag still on. The yellow one was still shoved away in my purse. After work last Saturday I put it back in my hair. I wore it into Carlos O’Kelly’s and to the store where Taylor works. Sweet son - he told me he liked it. Maybe it’s not so bad. Maybe there weren’t too many people who laughed at me. Maybe nobody did. Maybe I don’t care if they did. xo - Em

Goodbye August

2010-08-29T22:48:00.003-05:00

As this last weekend of August was winding down and the sun was setting I grabbed my camera and prepared to head out. But there was no keeping Ellie home. She met me at the back door when she heard me putting on my shoes, tail wagging and all - I had to bring her too. Now I need to say she isn't the best dog in the car. We have leather seats so I put an old flannel sheet down to keep her from sliding around and scratching the seats - she just won't sit still in the car! Of course, summer in Iowa is hot, hot, HOT! With the heat index, temps today were around 90 and it was sticky - that darned humidity! On our drive we alternated between having the air conditioning on and turning it off to open the windows to feel the hot breeze.

We saw a couple of deer, a cat, a few dogs, lots of sheep, goats, cows, children throwing a football in front of an old farmhouse, an Amish girl waved to us, rows and rows of corn, fields of soybeans, fresh cut hay, oodles of dragonflies. We finished our drive by stopping at a nearby enchanted cemetery where we were nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes but got a few pics despite them.

September is calling to us, teasing us with falling leaves, warm colors, football games, apple cider, leaves that crunch when we walk upon them, The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown trying once again to kick the football. Oh Autumn, we await your arrival and embrace the cool air, bonfires, pumpkins. xo - Em

Random snaps from Sunday

2010-08-23T21:00:00.001-05:00

Scenes from my drive to Cedar Falls and then to Kent State Park in Oxford, from Sunday. It was a beautiful summer day - hot and sunny!

Summertime and the Reading is Easy

2010-08-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

What selections are on your summer reading list - are you reading something new or a great classic? Do you read while at a hot sandy beach with waves lapping against the shore in the background? Relaxing in a deck chair next to a busy pool with the sounds of summer serenading you - hot tunes, splashes, kids laughing and the smell of coconut oil? On the patio with a tall, icy glass of lemonade? While sunbathing on the deck with a Diet Pepsi? Or in your favorite chair under the cool breeze of a ceiling fan? Personally, I’ve read in all of those places and love them all the same.

Here’s a list of what I’ve read or am reading this summer (only one month left!):

The current edition of People magazine - cover to cover!
The Girls from Ames - recommend;
Knit Two - the next book after Friday Night Knitting Club - recommend;
Looking for a Love Story - just purchased and haven’t started yet but sounds good!
The Pioneer Woman Cooks - a super-cool cookbook with yummy delish recipes and great photos - highly recommend!
Everyday with Rachael Ray - lots of good recipes, party ideas, tips, fashion - it’s a hip, fun mag;
Somerset Life - inspiring, creative - everything I like to look at and wish I was talented enough to do!
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - intriguing.

So, what are you reading?

4th of July

2010-07-05T20:45:00.001-05:00

We had a busy 4th of July weekend - it began with a super-busy day at work Saturday. That evening we enjoyed small firework displays in our neck of the woods (or more appropriately our neck of the cornfields)! Sunday morning we were praying for sunshine and no rain so everyone could enjoy the 4th of July parade in Coralville. Once again, the credit union had a festive float, complete with four "old guys" (their words-not mine) who played fun music on the route. "In Heaven There Is No Beer" and the Hawkeye fight song were crowd faves. Later we barbecued.
Monday, we didn't do too much - some tidying up, baked a cake, visited with my friend Betsy, Marvin and their son, Landon. But the look on Ellie's face pretty much sums it up - we are pooped and ready for a little rest. She's a little blurry - it was a quick shot and I wasn't steady and was trying to capture her face before she moved. xo - Em

Sock monkey!

2010-06-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

Look what I found at Walgreen's in the pet section - a squeaky toy sock monkey for dogs. Ellie LOVES it! She has proudly removed much of the stuffing and had it altered to her liking but adding holes in the monkey. Silly dog! Right now it's her toy of choice when playing. Will see how long Monkey can survive.

Recipe OD

2010-04-24T17:11:00.000-05:00

Uuggghhhh...I think I have thousands, literally, of recipes. From the ones I've written down, been given to me by family and friends, clipped from magazines and newspapers, to the couple of dozen recipe books I have. Could this be an obsession? Maybe I'm a recipe hoarder? Nevertheless, those tempting pictures of delish delights call to me. With good intentions I clip them out and add them to one of my recipe boxes. Sometimes I try them but usually I don't. Thursday I took on the task of going through one of my recipe boxes. It was an eye-opener! How many chocolate chip recipes does a gal need? Seriously! I even had a few recipes in there more than once - the SAME RECIPE! Oh my! I've pared it down considerably - keeping the tried and true ones my family loves, and the ones I really, really want to try. Maybe in a few weeks I'll revisit the box and see if there are any more I can part with. xo - Em

Handsome boy!

2010-04-18T14:05:00.000-05:00

My son's junior prom was last night. Taylor and his girlfriend looked smashing!

Spring!

2010-04-10T15:55:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited - my perennials are growing quickly and I have a lovely bleeding heart that is already blooming! Tim mowed the grass earlier in the week. I can't believe how green everything is - it seemed to happen overnight.

New on the homefront

2010-03-31T23:25:00.000-05:00

Haven't been blogging in some time. Sorry for the departure but we've had a lot of different things going on - some happy some not so much. On a great note - Taylor was honored to be selected for Individual All State Festival where he performed an Improvisation. He was funny (which of course I think he always is) and received encouraging and useful comments from the critic. Yay Taylor! Here are a couple of pics of his t-shirt from All-State. Cameras weren't allowed during the performances.

Spent a little dough at my favorite shop in Kalona - Sister's where I bought this sweet handpainted Create Beauty sign and a little posy for inside the darling yellow chick. I love spring with the promise of life, pretty pastels, adorable baby animals, chocolate Easter bunnies. Ahhhh...spring.

Here is a picture of the fabric I'm using for my next rag quilt. The main colors are pink and brown. I absolutely LOVE the paisley print Moda fabric! Yummy! What is inspiring you these days? I'd love to hear! xo - Em

What’s going on this weekend…

2010-02-21T17:17:00.001-06:00

Reading through an old Hallmark magazine before it hits the recycle bin – I totally enjoyed that magazine – it’s not published anymore. It was chock full of ideas to Inspire, Renew, Nest, Connect, Nourish and had interesting features. I’m also enjoying Tara Frey’s Blogging for Bliss – great blogging tips, gorgeous pictures and I’m loving the “Meet the Blogger” pages – little glimpses into the worlds of our favorites bloggers. The book is inspiring – thank you Tara for keeping it fresh!
Getting ready to bake a cake for a Wilton cake decorating class I’m taking with a couple of friends. I have the decorating frosting all made up – three consistencies. Not sure I care for the taste – it has a lot of shortening. I think I’m more of a buttercream frosting kind of gal. :) We have to bring an iced cake to class (which is Monday night) for our blank canvas. Honestly I thought we’d be practicing on parchment paper or cardboard. It seems kind of silly to bake a cake each week. I know how to bake – just want to learn decorating techniques to frost a cake! We’ll see what it looks like tomorrow night, I’ll take a few snaps to share.
I hope you are having a blessed weekend. xo - Em

Winter Wonderland

2010-02-14T19:18:00.001-06:00

We woke to a magical winter wonderland Saturday morning. Friday night was extremely foggy and it froze into a thick frosty coating over everything. It was so pretty. So of course I grabbed my camera to capture the beauty. I know I didn’t do it justice but here are a few snaps. xo - Em

Puppy love

2010-02-09T22:05:00.000-06:00

Oh how we love our sweet Ellie dog - she isn't a puppy anymore but we still call her one. She has the shiniest black coat! It glistens! You wouldn't know it by looking at her but she's over half Golden Retriever. Of course she's smart, sweet, cute, funny, cuddly, playful...the list of her attributes is long. Here are a few recent snaps of her. <3

Crisp Oatmeal Cookies for A Chilly Winter Day

2010-01-24T16:47:00.001-06:00

I got this yummy cookie recipe from my cousin Amy and had a hankering to make them on this cold day. Everybody in the house likes them. Can’t think of a better way to chase the chill away than with warm cookies and hot chocolate.

Here’s the recipe – yummy! xo – Em

Crisp Oatmeal Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup margarine or 1 cup shortening (I use 1/2 C of each)

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

Add 2 eggs, beaten

3/4-1 cup flour

3 cups oatmeal (I use quick oats – not the old-fashioned kind)

1 cup coconut

1 cup nuts (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together then bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes (my oven cooks hot so I usually bake them for 10-12 min.)

Sometimes I mix in chocolate chips before baking, but these cookies are very sweet so you’d want to use the semi-sweet.

Oatmeal

Sweetened Coconut Flakes

Cookies waiting to be baked :)

The finished product – crispy cookies.

I'm so over winter

2010-01-23T17:21:00.000-06:00

Gotta love Lisa Leonard and her uber-cool jewelry

2010-01-18T18:41:00.001-06:00

http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/2010/01/18/illuminate-giveaway/comment-page-11/#comment-36681

He loves his music

2010-01-17T19:43:00.001-06:00

Taylor loves his music – especially classic rock. His fave band is Pink Floyd. I love my boy!

“Something delicious…with a hint of pineapple…”

2010-01-17T19:34:00.001-06:00

I had nothing planned for dinner this past Thursday. Rang home and asked my son what he would like for dinner. “Something delicious!” Oh really, I’m thinking, my regular meals aren’t delish?I ask him what he has in mind: “chicken and pineapple kabobs, something with a hint of pineapple.” I’m thinking to myself that I probably won’t find kabobs at my favorite meat counter since it’s the dead of winter. Not to mention that my barbecue is on the back deck that is still covered with several inches of snow.

No worries though, at my favorite grocery store Fareway, I told the young guy behind the meat counter what I was looking for. He kind of laughed and asked if it was my son’s birthday or a special occasion. “No, obviously he has too much time on his hands,” I replied. To which he said, “He much be watching the Food Network. That’s always on in my room when I’m at my parent’s house.” He was serious! What a sweetie! No kabobs, but he suggested chicken breasts topped with pineapple salsa.

We feasted on fresh chicken tenders topped with salsa and pineapple chunks, smoked salmon fillets, and shrimp. Yum-O! Taylor said our dinner Thursday evening was delicious. I would have to agree.

365 Day 8 - Ice Crystals

2010-01-08T18:04:00.000-06:00

365 Day 7 - More Snow and High Winds - about one foot of fresh snow!

2010-01-07T19:44:00.000-06:00

We live in Joetown (the Village of Joetown) and here's a shot of Angle Rd. from inside my car on my way home from work. The County was pulling the plows off the roads because the wind speed was over 20 mph. At this time, the roads weren't drifted over but I'm sure they are now. There is two feet of snow on my back deck. I'm soooo over winter!

365 - Day 6

2010-01-07T01:06:00.000-06:00

Sparkly snow!

Day Five

2010-01-05T22:42:00.000-06:00

Days Three and Four

2010-01-05T21:51:00.001-06:00

January 2, 2010

2010-01-02T20:42:00.000-06:00

Project 365

2010-01-02T00:50:00.000-06:00

My daughter, Analise, and I are going to do a 365 days photo project and choose a word for 2010. Our inspiration comes from the following uber-talented and amazing chicks: Ali Edwards, Lisa Leonard, and Shutter Sisters. I know it's already January 1, 2010 and I still don't have my word yet! I'm working on it and will be inspired no later than tomorrow, I'm sure of it! Analise and I agreed we'd have our "word" to share tomorrow.

I did take some pics today - but I'm not thrilled with any of them but I'm going to try not to obsess over perfection. Aaarrrrggghhhh... I did have a productive day though - I took down and put away the Christmas tree and decorations. I always feel bittersweet about doing so. On one hand, I'm happy to have the house neat and tidy again but I miss the charm and sweetness the twinkly lights and festive decorations bring. Thank you Taylor and Breanna for taking the totes downstairs and putting them away!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:21:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas

2009-12-30T22:14:00.000-06:00

I love the holidays - it's a magical time of year. This year here in the midwest Mother Nature gifted us with a beautiful blanket of snow. We had quite a storm but it was sure lovely to look at. Snowglobe snow - that's what I call it when it's snowing big, fluffy flakes. I had the week of Christmas off from work this year (yay for vacation time) and spent time decorating the house and tree, baking, shopping, wrapping and enjoying the season
.

Ellie was watching the birds eat in the front yard but looked up for me to snap her picture.

Out for a stroll in the snow.

Mini-Frosty is having a meltdown!

2009-12-18T11:48:00.000-06:00

Christmas?

2009-12-02T18:31:00.000-06:00

December 2 and we still don't have any snow! It was warm yesterday, upper 50s; cold today, 30s and windy. However, it doesn't feel like Christmas yet so I'm going to post a picture I took in the spring where a little bird stood on our deck and pecked at the snow. xo - emma

Don't hate - appreciate

2009-11-09T11:50:00.000-06:00

Hello lovelies, I just need to say this: mean people suck! I'm going to be a better person thanks to a couple who sits near us at Hawkeye football games. Tim and I have season tickets this year, as do four of our good friends. It's great fun to share in the team spirit and discuss plays, and so forth. Occasionally tickets have been shared with family and friends when one or more of us wasn't able to attend. Several others who sit in our vicinity also have season tickets and we will cheer, high-five, talk and generally just enjoy the sport. It's a great way to spend a lovely autumn afternoon.

Tim and I tailgating before the Iowa/Northwestern game.

However, one couple behind us is a little less than pleasant. It's pretty much a steady barrage of complaints about:

the other team,
the music played during the game,
the marching bands (both the visiting and home team),
selection of music played by the marching bands,
the weather,
the officials,
people who cheer too loud,
fans who don't cheer enough,
how much room they don't have in the stadium (but then bitch about others who leave the game early which gives them more room!),
fans on the Jumbotron ("What a dork!" was just one of her rude comments last Saturday).

Their constant bellyaching and criticism has caused me to look good and hard at myself. Do I sound like that too? At times, yes. Ouch! I'm not proud of that. I certainly don't want to be remembered as the hater or complainer. Arrogance isn't pretty, and seriously - I want to be pretty!

So in this month of thankfulness they've reminded me of a few football season blessings. I'm grateful:

there are strong, young people to play the game,
I have eyes to watch it,
I have ears to hear the music and rousing cheers,
there are vibrant, talented young people to play, march in the bands and inspire me with their gift of music,
for the 70,585 fans that Kinnick Stadium holds,
that as of right now the Hawks are 9-1,
tailgating,
for the camaraderie of old friends and new ones.

You get what I'm saying... ;)

GO HAWKS - and don't hate, appreciate!

Wicked

2009-10-20T12:05:00.000-05:00

My friend Jamie and I ordered tickets to the Broadway touring production of "Wicked" months ago! We were so excited - we got the last two seats together, for the last day of the performance in Des Moines at the Civic Center. Our big day was this past Saturday. We set off early from our designated meeting place in Williamsburg. With visions of green and songs such as "Popular" and "Defying Gravity" swirling in our heads, we looked over all the fun goodies to buy at the Oz Dust Boutique and of course we both spent too much money on souvenirs - but oh well - you only live once! Jamie scored a super-size beach towel with the Wicked logo and picture on it. I came home with a green aluminum water bottle (which I'll use daily!) and a super-cool t-shirt! While waiting for the show to begin, we splurged and pre-ordered Emerald Champagne for intermission - Yum-O! The cast, set, music, orchestra, costumes were all AMAZING! I've only been to a couple of other Broadway shows and they were each fab! ("Beauty and the Beast" and "Hairspray"). I can't wait to see others. I love the feeling of being pumped up and happy when I see a show. I even teared up at the end of "Wicked" but I'm not going to say why, I don't want to spoil the book or show for anyone. ;)

2009-10-17T21:27:00.000-05:00

Taylor buys a jar of apple butter and a homemade loaf of bread every year at the Kalona Fall Festival. Yummy!

Kalona Fall Festival and Autumnal Delights at Sisters Garden

2009-10-02T15:55:00.000-05:00

See you on the other side

2009-09-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

Thirteen years is a long time for a golden retriever to live. I have been blessed to have shared the last thirteen years of my life with Lexi, our sweet golden. She and I have been through a lot over the years. It was fate that brought us together. I had been watching the newspaper ads in my small town for a golden retriever puppy and one summer day I was delighted to see such an ad. Golden puppies for sale. We wanted a female. I called on the ad and was told they had one but she was on her way to meet with a very interested buyer out of town. The woman sensed my disappointment and told me I could leave my name and number if perchance it didn't work out. Thank you Fate - the next day I got the call - he didn't want her! So we headed out to meet the pups. We were greeted by several puppies - happy, playful, healthy golden retriever puppies! There was one roly-poly little guy (ok not so little) who had happily dug himself a cozy bed in the dirt. He was so adorable - lazy and definitely laid back. We couldn't help not showing him some love. But when we met the friendly little gal we knew she belonged in our family. She had the sweetest big, trusting eyes. She was calm but not timid. Oh what a great day that was - we were all so excited to have a new addition to our family. After careful instructions from the breeders we took her home.

Lexi was a quick learner and house training was a piece of cake! I walked her several times a day, teaching her how to heel, walk on a leash, and to sit next to me when a car approached. She was calm and eager to learn. We always walked to a nearby creek so she could play in the water. She LOVED the water! She did the funniest things on those walks. True to her breed, she was a good swimmer and loved to fetch. At the creek I would throw a stick for her to retrieve and oftentimes the stick would float a down the creek. She wouldn't see it floating away so she'd thrust her head into the creek and pull out any old slimy stick she could get her teeth on. It was hilarious! She would proudly bring the water-soaked, soggy stick to me - I'm sure she was oblivious to the fact it wasn't the same one. Good girl Lex!

She was patient and gentle with the kids. They would play together or just chill out in the family room. She did have a bad habit of stealing from them though. Sweet things in the hands of young kids are just easy targets to a watchful dog. Granola bars, toast, and candy were all fair game in her eyes. So were the stuffed Beanie Baby toys. She would carry them around, wagging her tail, looking up at us with those big eyes, then oh so carefully place them down. Her mothering instincts would sure kick in with those Beanie Babies. Christmas, sledding, laying on the sofa, following me around the house (everywhere), going for walks, going for drives, sleeping on the bed, chasing balls, romping, playing with the cat, swimming in the river, lake or her blue kiddie pool in the backyard and then shaking the water off onto ME, rolling in the snow or dewy grass, playing with her BFF and pup Ellie - Lexi did all of these things with pure joy.

During one recent evening as we sat in the living room watching tv and relaxing, with Lexi sleeping in front of the couch , the beginning of her end started. She began shaking violently, and was unresponsive. We knew immediately it was a seizure. I called our good friend who is also our vet, Marvin, and he came right over. She had four more consecutive seizures. Marv and Tim took her to the vet clinic and Marv gave her meds to relax her body. She quieted down for about and hour. Back home we made a bed out of an old down comforter for her to rest on. I laid down on the floor next to her. It was so scary. She didn't rest for long, she began to waken from the valium and wouldn't stay down. But she couldn't really walk - she was weak, confused and somewhat blinded. She crawled into the kitchen and we carried her back to her makeshift bed. Realizing she wasn't going to rest alone, I laid on the couch with my hand on her and tried to keep her quiet. At some point very early in the morning, she wanted water and after quenching her thirst she wanted to go outside. So out we went. I stayed close to her and helped her back inside when she was done. Throughout the night she would stand and sniff me as if to make sure I was me, then lick me happily like she had missed me or maybe to tell me it was going to be ok. I just stroked her fur and talked quietly to her.

The next morning, after a couple hours of sleep I looked down at her - she looked like her old self. Peaceful. She heard me stir and glanced back at me. Immediately she stood up, so I thought she needed to go out again. Wrong - she started into another seizure. I laid her down and woke Tim. We administered a dose of meds that Marvin had given us. It barely slowed the seizure down. Within minutes she started having another... I called Marv and once again he came right over. We cried, stroked her, spoke to her, reassured Lexi that it would all be fine and she wouldn't be in pain anymore. Within a few minutes she was gone, the violent shaking over, her body calm, she looked peaceful. Our family isn't the same. Her pup, Ellie, is sad and mopey too. I find peace knowing she had a great life and hope we made her as happy as she did us. Her kiddie pool is now empty, Ellie doesn't find joy in water like Lexi did. Her collar and tag now sit on the coffee table. We are comforted with all the great memories we have and the tons of pictures we have. We'll see you on the other side Miss Lexi.

Scentsy Sale!

2009-08-09T18:06:00.000-05:00

http://www.scentsy.com/bluemel

10 Things That Make Em Terribly Happy

2009-08-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

1. My family

2. Random hugs from my kids :)

3. A dark, stormy sky

4. The smell of rain

5. Big, fat snowflakes (snow globe snow) falling from the sky

6. Walking on crunchy leaves on an autumn day

7. My sweet dog Lexi - the best golden retriever ever!

8. Going out with Tim - movies, dinner, or just hanging out

9. Feeling the sand beneath my feet

10. The rustling leaves of quaken aspens

10 Things That Make Taylor Terribly Happy

2009-08-01T15:13:00.000-05:00

1. Dogs

2. Mountains

3. Lakes

4. WYOMING

5. Going to concerts

6. Eating pie - yummy!

7. Listening to music

8. Playing music

9. Pink Floyd

10. My cousin Jeffie

Summertime

2009-07-20T12:58:00.000-05:00

July for my family means vacation! This year we were blessed with more travel than usual. Taylor went to Columbus, Ohio for the Mennonite Youth Convention for a week. He had a great time making new friends, doing good work and learning more about God. Analise and I went to Oregon for our cousin Lori's wedding. She wsa married on the 4th of July on the beach - it was perfect! Being around family reminds you where you come from and helps connect the dots. It was a great trip for the girls. :)

After Ohio and Oregon, we left Iowa for Wyoming for two weeks, where are at right now. The weather has been great! Hot during the day and cool at night - typical summer weather here where the elevation is higher. I miss these temps. We haven't seen many family yet but hope to catch as many people as possible this week.

2009-06-26T20:11:00.000-05:00

2009-06-09T22:39:00.000-05:00

I love this old picture of my mom - it was taken in Southern California when she was a teen, in the 1940s. She is gone now - she passed away in January 1983 from cancer. Here though, she is young, vibrant, tan, natural - with her entire life ahead of her - full of possibilites, joy, heartbreak. Born Charlene, she was called Chick or Chickie by everyone (except to her kids - Mom to us!). Chick was brave and smiled through all the good and bad she was handed in life. Here's to you Chickie - I hope I can live life as fearlessly as you did! Love you - Em

2009-05-17T15:50:00.000-05:00

The little birds were hiding their sweet little faces from me.
A few days ago I went out to check on them and whoosh - three little birds flew out of the nest. They were here and gone just like that!

2009-05-17T15:34:00.000-05:00

Baby birds and it's a dog's life...

2009-04-26T21:19:00.000-05:00

Most of the eggs have hatched and there are little fluffballs with beaks in the nest now!

I finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club today. Great book with strong women characters and interesting stories. Sad though. I don't believe heroines need to die to make a great story! I would recommend it to others to read.

My dog Lexi enjoyed snuggling on the lovely throw one of my best friends, Jamie, crocheted for me. It is a sweet shade of lavendar and is so comfy! I have the best friends!

Nesting

2009-04-26T21:14:00.000-05:00

I found this nest in my yard - so sweet! Mama bird is very watchful and stays near it like a good mother!

Pay it Forward!

2009-04-05T12:07:00.000-05:00

PAY IT FORWARD
The Rules:
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!.
2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!
4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!
(I will require that you send me some pictures--not going to say what I am making, lol, but of course knowing me it will be something to do with pictures! :)
SO, REMEMBER... it is good... :) Pass it forward.AND . . . I might feel generous and send something to the first FOUR people, so don't quit commenting at three :)

A little birdie told me...

2009-04-03T16:55:00.001-05:00

It's official - spring is here. The birds are happily whistling and flying around, unfazed by the spring snow we've had.

Emma's Addiction...

2009-03-29T20:39:00.000-05:00

I have an addiction. There - I've said it. My family already knows about it, in fact, they were probably aware of it before I was. It started when I was a teen - the headlines drew me in month after month with promises of thin thighs, hot guys, awesome fashion, trendy new clothes, I was hooked: Teen, Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, People, Glamour, Rolling Stone.

The titles changed as my life did. As a young mom and new homeowner Parents, Family Fun, Creating Keepsakes, Country Living, Country Home, Victoria, Home Companion caught my attention. How-tos on creating the perfect birthday party, Top Ten Toys of the Year, Christmas on a Budget, organize, scrapbook, save money...oh my! I couldn't get enough!
Vanity Fair, Romantic Homes, Oprah, Everyday With Rachel Ray, Real Simple, Marie Claire, Fitness, Martha Stewart Living, People, are my current drugs of choice and can be found in my tote bag, next to my bed or on the coffee table in the living room.

Barnes and Noble lures me in with large magazine racks (a whole wall - YES!). There's nothing like opening a pristine new issue. The pages are tight, the ink is fresh, the perfume sample yet to be opened. So much to read and learn: Scrap A Page A Day! Lose 10 Pounds This Month! Energize Your Life! YES, YES, YES! My favorite fundraiser is the kid who shows up at your door, not with cookies, but with MAGAZINE SALES! She is the lucky girl who comes to my house selling magazine prescriptions - oops, I mean subscriptions.

ipod

2009-01-28T20:47:00.000-06:00

So bummed - my ipod isn't working and I'm not sure what happened to it. Sending it to Apple for service. Also, my summer trip to Cabo has been cancelled. C'est la vie.
A new year has dawned and I haven't done any scrapbooking or photo organizing. I'm way behind and feeling overwhelmed. I'm not off to a good start.

Happy 2009 and Hello Craftylicious!

2009-01-18T18:35:00.000-06:00

Cheers to a new year! 2009 is going to be a year of new beginnings for me. I'm excited to tap back into my creative side - it's been a long time since I've been craftylicious! Last year was a rough one for our family as we lost several family members - close family. Life is short - too short not to embrace your dreams and aspirations - and that is exactly what I plan to do. I've enjoyed surfing some super-cool blogs and sites and will add them to my blog so that you too may be inspired!

Goodbye forever my sweet

2008-10-29T00:30:00.000-05:00

I'm in Oregon for my dear Aunt Pat's funeral. It has been a tough year and there have been too many goodbye forevers said. My Aunt Pat was quite a gal - she lived a full life in her 81 years. It wasn't easy - she buried her only son shortly after he was married when he was just barely in his 20s. She also buried her only granddaughter who couldn't face her demons anymore. Aunt Pattie watched her only sister slip away from cancer too young; then almost two years ago said her final goodbye to her baby brother. No, life wasn't easy but she was a tough cookie. There were many, many wonderful, funny, poignant times in her life. She worked hard and expected the same from those around her. I miss her red hair, her raspy voice, the wisdom that only comes with age and experience. She was all of five feet tall - maybe, but a firecracker at that. She was there for me when my mother died. We spent many hours talking, walking, sharing, just being together at her Seaside cottage. God - how I love her and will miss her. Rest peacefully my sweet.

Autumn is here!

2008-10-13T19:27:00.001-05:00

Spicy apple cider, bonfires, burning leaves, cool crisp air, hayrides, apple pie, candycorn - all splendid reminders of my favorite season - Autumn. This season is rich with color, scents, a true treat for the senses. I'm currently watching an episode of Martha Stewart and she has a vintage Halloween collectibles dealer on with an interesting array of antique Halloween decorations, games, books - from the very early 1900s. Very cool stuff and worth a lot of money! Look in your grandmother's attic or local antique/junk shop and you might be able to score some sweet bank or a start a cool collection of your own. This past Saturday, my friends Robin, Jackie, her daughter Rachel,and I met at Sister's Garden - just down the highway from my house. Sisters and Bloom are two totally awesome vintage/antique/new stuff/junque shops where I LOVE, LOVE to shop. I bought a cute freshly picked pumpkin for outside of my house and a cool, shabby/chipped picture frame that I'm going to makeover. LOVE IT! I'll post before and after pictures. After we shopped we met up in Kalona at the Tuscan Moon for dessert and drinks on their outdoor patio. Very fun. Enjoyed some girl time. Jackie lent me her copy of The Other Boleyn Girl which I'm reading before I watch the movie. That's it for now. Life in the Kalona countryside in Autumn. Makes me smile.

2008-09-24T20:46:00.000-05:00

Visited Analise at UNI last Sunday. It was fun to meet her roomie Breanna - she is super-sweet! Went to lunch with Analise, Justin and Taylor - fun to visit with them!

2008-09-07T18:35:00.000-05:00

No new news about Analise's Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Her endoscopy didn't give her doctor any answers. She took some biopsies from her esophagus but we haven't heard anything. She had an infection in her esophagus again so her doctor suggested she meet with an immunologist. That appointment is this coming Tuesday. Who knows what will happen! She is still throwing up every week. She hasn't missed any classes at college because of it but when I talked to her this morning she was sick again. Aaarrrgghhhh!

Yesterday we had a 50th anniversary party for Tim's parents in Sigourney. I think everyone enjoyed it. There was a nice turnout of their family and friends.

Lazy Labor Day weekend in Iowa

2008-08-31T22:43:00.000-05:00

Labor Day weekend - not much going on. Tim and Taylor went to the Hawkeyes football game Saturday, the Hawks won and the guys had a good time. Go Hawks! Analise is home from college for the weekend which is nice. She's only been gone two weeks but it's fun to chat and hang out with her. I've been in a funk for a few weeks and can't seem to shake it off. Not important though. Missing family - stuff like that. My good friend Betsy and her family are away for the weekend and my kids and I have been enjoying checking on their Visla puppies - they are SOOOO cute! Betsy's yard is so peaceful and quiet. I'm going to post a few pics. I haven't taken any of the puppies yet - there are 10! Maybe tomorrow.

India Bazaar

2008-08-24T19:03:00.000-05:00

2008-08-14T00:57:00.000-05:00

Analise has another endoscopy Thursday. She had an MRI last week. I sure hope we can get some answers as to why she is so sick all the time. She had another episode this past Monday. I'll talk to her pediatric GI Thursday to see if she has any results from the MRI and blood tests. Silly goose needs to be feeling good at college. Aarrggghhhh - she leaves Monday and of course we aren't completely ready yet. I have a touch of insomnia and can't sleep so I'm writing random notes on this blog. Maybe I'll make some chocolate chip cookies. I use this delicious vanilla from Watkins that my sister gets me. LOVE IT! Maybe tomorrow.

If you know anything about cyclic vomiting syndrome please let me know. That is Analise's diagnosis, unfortunately she hasn't responded well to meds.

Scentsy, kids, etc!

2008-08-12T21:14:00.000-05:00

Wow! The weather has been awesome here in Iowa the past few days - I've even been able to open the windows at night for fresh air. Usually it's so hot and humid in August it isn't even an option. I'm so excited - today I got my Scentsy order! I've been waiting somewhat impatiently. My super-great friend Jamie in Wyoming introduced me to Scentsy last month when I was visiting. Scentsy offers these cool electric candle warmers/night lights. The one I have is "embellish" and I ordered several different scent bars. LOVE IT! Jamie bought Analise one for college (they can't have candles in the dorms for obvious reasons) - she has the "retro chic" warmer. So cute! Thank you Jamie!

Tim's sister Luann, his mom Bonnie and I spent all day Saturday looking for decorations for Bonnie and Leland's upcoming 50th Anniversary Party! We had so much fun shopping all over Iowa City and Coralville. If anybody has ideas for a 50th please let me know!

Taylor just finished marching band camp - he is so tan from being outside so much. They have a great line-up of music this fall. I can't wait to go to football games and watch them. Analise will also be in marching band this year - in college! Yay! I won't be able to see her as much but we have plans to go to parent's weekend at UNI.

One night last week, after dinner, when the evening light was just right I took our golden retriever Lexi to this super-old cemetery down the lane to see if I could get some good pictures. It was fun experimenting but I didn't get the shots I really wanted so I'm going back soon.

That's it for now! If you need any Mary Kay products for fall just let me know - I'll be placing an order soon.
xoxo -Em

Vacation!

2008-07-30T19:53:00.000-05:00

Wyoming was great fun! Hung out with family and friends. Went to Lagoon - spent the day at Lagoon-A-Beach - we left when the park closed. The kids had so much fun. Enjoyed an afternoon at the Fort Bridger Historical Site - my sis Katie hadn't been there in several years and Taylor's girlfriend had never been there so we thought we'd check it out. We kept busy this trip - that's for sure. The kids were in their dad's wedding - it was a lovely evening and the bride was glowing.