Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Birthday Invitations


I have been planning Brooklyn's 2nd birthday party for the past year in my mind... I finished up the invitations this afternoon. The theme of the party will be "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", based of the beloved Eric Carle classic. More details to come!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Looky Here

msce.jpg

What a thrill, my very first feature!
 http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2009/09/newspaper-leaf-garland/

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Turning Two



Guess who's turning two years old in less than one month? Oh my.

Showering A Friend...


Yesterday afternoon I was honored to celebrate the impending birth of a dear friend's second child. I met Lauren while we were in the sixth grade. We were the best of friends throughout high school, we even walked in graduation together. I feel so lucky to have her in my life and to have shared so many wonderful memories with her. Motherhood being by far the most important. I believe that within seconds of her telling me that she was expecting, I asked if I could be responsible for throwing her baby shower! She obliged, and I was thrilled. It was a wonderful evening, filled with friends both old and new. Family members attended as well, and Lauren was stunning in her eighth month of pregnancy. Here are some images from the shower. I can't tell you how pleased I am that Lauren enjoyed her baby shower, that the cake was moist and delicious and that I had a chance to use my grandmothers desert china... What a treat.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Inspirational Inverview- Courtney Kendrick

 Many of you reading this probably recognize this lovely lady. You may know her by her blog-land alias, cJane... Her name is actually Courtney Kendrick and she is every bit as sweet and gracious as I had thought that she would be. I started reading cJane Enjoy It, about a year ago. I found Courtney's talent through the talent of her sister and am so glad that I did. Courtney's blog is a realistic portrayal of a woman's life day in and day out. She shares, she reveals and she exposes herself for the world to see. Her ability to write is a gift. Her attention to detail in the order and arrangement of her words is both thought provoking and awe inspiring. She has made me laugh, she has made me cry. If you have not had a chance to meet cJane, today is your lucky day... You are in for a treat.

1. How did you choose the name of your business and or blog?
Way back when (way back when I don't know what) my sister Stephanie created an email address for me and called it cjane. C is for Courtney and Jane is my middle name. I kept it as my online profile, so internetly, I am know as cjane. My blog is called Enjoy It because I started it when I was trying to get pregnant and was NOT enjoying the fact that it wasn't working. If I wrote about the happy moments, the enjoyable moments, I thought I could endure it better. So, "c jane Enjoy It" is the name of my blog.

2. What inspires you?
Innocence, mostly. Also, nature never ceases to inspire me.

3. Favorite day of the week/why?
Thursday, it is the day that brings promises of the weekend. Thursday is deep-breath-almost-there day.

4. Greatest influence?
A Mormon writer named Emma Lou Thayne. I admire everything she pens, even the stuff she has yet to write. I love it already.

5. Earliest childhood memory?
Walking across the street with too tight of jeans on my hips (I think I was five). I've never quite made sense of jeans (I prefer skirts and dresses.)

6. When did you know that you were ready to embark on creating your own business?
 I am forever the stay at home wife with a secret life of blogging and emailing. I don't think I'd make much sense of business.

7. When was the last time that you laughed until your belly hurt?
Last Saturday morning my husband and I were in bed. My mother-in-law had gotten up with our 16 month old so we could advantageously sleep in. While they were downstairs playing, our son somehow escaped. He quickly climbed the stairs, jaunted down the hall, and burst open our bedroom door with an excited "HAAAA!"  There was a definite sly smile on his face. Like, "I caught you!" (He caught us sleeping in, nothing else, I promise.) We laughed for twenty four hours after the moment.

8. When was the last time that you cried?
When I told my husband I wanted to move to a farm so our children could have a simple life of milking and plowing and darning their socks. I know it will never happen, and that is why I cried.

9. How old were you when you gave birth to your first child? 
Thirty one. Thank you very much. In my family of nine, all the women had their first child at 24 or younger. This makes me proud to be an older mommy. Thank you very much (again).

10. Everyday must have?
Quiet time. Me and my brain, alone. No sharing.

11. Most treasured item?
My plastic pink peep toe shoes. I have had them for years, I will have them for eternity. Or however long plastic lasts.

12. Hopes for your future in both business and your personal life?
I want to find a place where motherhood and blogging meet for me. Right now they seem separate and I'd like them to co-exist. I'd like to feel that blogging enhances my mothering and vice-versa.

13. Advise for others who might be contemplating following their dreams?
Don't listen to advice.
(Wait, am I advising?)


14. Chocolate... Dark, Light or white?
Usually dark, but the minute I found out I was pregnant (this time) I could've even smell my drawer full of exotic dark chocolates. These days milk chocolate is my pregnancy sickness redemption. Cadbury milk chocolate. Who needs Zofran?

15. Middle name?
Didn't I already answer that?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Miniature Banana Bread Loafs


When I saw these miniature bread pans, I knew that I had a few people that I needed to surprise with some homemade goodness. I hope the recipients like banana bread as much as we do. If you like banana bread and would like the most simple and delicious recipe, here it is... 

Preheat you oven to 350 degrees.
Spray bread pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl combine the following ingredients.

3 ripe bananas, the browner the better
1 egg
1 cup of sugar
1 and 3/4 cups flour
A pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix on high speed.
Pour batter into pan and cook for 1 hour.

This is sure to be the best banana bread that you have had, and your house is sure to smell divine. Enjoy!


Beautiful Tuesday


In the most simple of moments and the most uneventful of days, I am often taken back by the joy and the beauty that my life has been blessed with.

Fun Food





Bring a pot of water to boil. Stick uncooked spaghetti noodles through cut up pieces of hot dog, veggie dog, turkey dog etc... Place the hot dog/noodle combinations into the boiling pot of water. Remove and strain as normal when noodles are fully cooked. Serve them up and watch them go... quickly! I didn't offer a dip or a sauce, although I suppose that you could. If you would like another hot dog involved, fun food idea...Try this. It's another one of our favorites. Enjoy!


Monday, September 21, 2009

A Birthday Bash



This past weekend we celebrated with one of Sebastian's oldest and dearest friends... We have kown this little girl since she was a twinkle in her father's eye, literally. I can hardly believe this little lady is six years old. Happy Birthday Honey.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Inspirational Interview- Elisa Kennemer

So get this. I started reading ElisaLou about a year ago. I stumbeled upon it as I was scouring the internet for a fashionable cover for my camera strap. In one false swoop I found the camera strap, a huge source of inspiration and an enjoyable  place to retreat to in the midst of my own hectic life... I love Elisa's photography, her images leave me inspired and reaching for my own camera. I love her simple and honest narratives of every day life. I love that she felt that she had room in both her heart and her home for more than her husband, dogs and three boys, and decided to adopt and add a baby girl into the mix. I love the color, the fabric, the texture and the beauty of her creations. The accumulation  is stunning, take a peek for yourself...

1. How did you choose the name of your business and or blog?
  My name is Elisa but my dad has always called me Lou.  When it came time to name my business it seemed like the perfect idea to combine the two.

2. What inspires you?
Color.  I love it.  I look for it everywhere.  I love being inspired by other artists.  I recently attended the Country Living Fair and came home so refreshed and ready to dive back into more projects.  I also have a huge love of photography, my major in college.

3. Favorite day of the week/why?
         Friday.  Time to relax.

4. Greatest influence?
I wish I could list them all, but truly I am inspired by so many people- and not just the crafty ones.  I think I am inspired by every single person in my life, in one way or another.

5. Earliest childhood memory?
          At the beach, with my little plastic camera.  I wish I had still had it!

6. When did you know that you were ready to embark on creating your own business?
          After the birth of my first child,  I knew that I would be my own boss.  There was no going back.

7. When was the last time that you laughed until your belly hurt?
          Last night at a cookout with friends

8. When was the last time that you cried?
          A few minutes ago while watching a movie on HBO

9. How old were you when you gave birth to your first child? 
            27

10. Everyday must have?
          Coffee

11. Most treasured item?
          For work- my industrial sewing machine.  For everyday life- my camera


12. Hopes for your future in both business and your personal life?
I hope that I can continue to do what I love.  I have 4 kids that are my number one priority, my biz always takes 2nd place.

13. Advise for others who might be contemplating following their dreams?
I know everyone says the same thing but you really  just need to believe in yourself.  I have also       learned that you really really have to love what you do, or it just won't work.

14. Chocolate... Dark, Light or white?
          dark

15. Middle name?
          Kiser (my maiden name

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Puppy Love


Look at what emerged out of Sebastian's backpack this morning... This makes my entire day. Happy Saturday!

Lunch Box Secrets

Another lunch box secret is that I added this magnetic frame to the  inside of Sebastian's lunch box lid and change the picture out every day or two...  He loves this, he told me so. I found the tin lunch box sometime last year and the magnetic frame was bought at Michael's craft store for .99 cents. 

Ribbon Pumkins

I thought of this idea about three years ago and have enjoyed decorating miniature pumpkins
ever since! Shop for the cutest autumnal ribbon that you can find, warm up your hot glue gun and have fun! This is a simple yet effective way to add a bit of whimsy to a little corner of your home! Enjoy!