Looking back on Halloween and Ode to Pinterest

Birthday, Halloween, and Pinterest...all reason to take some serious photos of life.

Sharing a few of what is going on around here.

Pinterest has an adorable pin of a simple masquerade style mask for a cocktail party- but why not add smoky eyes, gloves, and a costume dress for the Halloween party?

Around the house on all Hallow's Eve...

 the mummy is ready to greet

on the Porch

The goodies

the kiddos

(why yes, that is my son in a Bill Clinton mask....why do you ask?)

the click-and-print adorable banner off of Pinterest

I know you can't see it well, but I loved this thing during the season!

We had a great, but extremely busy Halloween Holiday..

we were greeted with snow the next day

so Christmas music is fair game, right?

Random Catch Up

Life is kind of like this in the summer-

I move from one moment to the next and hardly have time to stop and reflect

So, welcome to my random catch up.

I am so in love with the 4th of July,

I really can't say it enough

This year it was all about the food, the folks, and the photography.

A day trip to the "Twilight Zone" (Forks and La Push, Wa)

ended up being a surprise highlight of our trip.

All the men involved were much obliging to my silly photos and squealing. I am not above enjoying a completely pointless book on occasion.

And stomping on the stomping grounds was a fun indulgence.

(When is the next movie out, anyway?)

My niece's wedding gave me a chance to extend my vacation,

and spend some real downtime (16 days!) with my family.

Everything was fairy tale perfect, from the bride and groom, to the candle lit tables,

and all the pretty pinks.

Can I just say....I LOVE WEDDINGS!

On that note, I must simply say how precious my religion is to me at this moment in time.

Not only because of the beautiful weddings and belief

in families being together, as a unit, in the next life, but also because

of the precious gift of freedom and agency.

I feel the world would be a better place if people believed in a higher purpose and a higher power, and lived accordingly.

To love something on the level that most religious people do only means one thing;

it makes sense to share it with others.

For my church, that means two years of service.

What a day it was when my nephew came home from his two tough years in Paraguay.

Our family went from screaming, to crying, and back again,

as he came through that lobby.

It is great to have him back, but he is going through withdraws of not serving others and being back in the 'real world'.

One cool thing that impressed me while waiting there was the applause that spread through the airport as a service man or woman came off the flight.

I think when our eyes are open we see more than enough around us

to know we are blessed

to know we are loved

and to know these gifts must be defended with all our hearts.

Perfect Sugar cookie

It is a Valentines tradition to make a huge batch of sugar cookies for the holiday. I started doing this about 7 years ago, when I found the perfect recipe that even my husband, who is not a sweet tooth by any means, can't resist.

First, the frosting. This is from the Wilton classes, and will taste like a bakery style buttercream. you can tweak the flavorings if you like a different taste, but the cookie is very mellow, so a sweet frosting is perfect on these.

1 cup Crisco shortening

1/2 tsp butter flavoring

1/4 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond flavoring ( all flavors are the clear Wilton bran, for a white icing)

4 tbsp water

3-4 cups powder sugar

Blend the shortening, flavors, one spoonful of water and 1/2 cup powder sugar on low in a medium size bowl. It will make the frosting base. Once it is well blended alternate one tablespoon of water with 3/4 cup powder sugar, until icing peaks. A slightly softer icing is better for the base spreading, and stiffer will work best for the borders. If you use liquid coloring, more powdered sugar may be needed before decorating.

The cookie recipe is as follows

1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
6 tsp baking powder
6 cups flour

Cream together first 4 ingredients, adding milk,powder and flour one at a time after.
Roll out onto floured surface to desired thickness, creating shapes with cookie cutter. Bake at 350* for 8 minutes, cookies will be light but puffy. Let cool 2 minutes and remove from sheet. Frost when cooled.

In our family, it is also tradition to give the kid's teacher a personalized super sized cookie. Our favorite secretary and principal always get a cookie, too. Apparently the secretary screamed with glee when she saw her personalized cookie this morning....that makes me smile....

A few tips:
I have treated myself to using disposable bags most of the time. By the time I am done with the process, I love just cutting off the tip to save and tossing the greasy bag away. Well worth money.
If you don't have any tips just get a good star tip, and a good round tip. You can do most anything with those two tips to pull off a cute cake or cookie.
DO NOT whip your icing. Keep it on low, and take your time, when you beat it too high you whip bubbles into the icing and they pop when you decorate.

Wrap tinfoil on a piece of cardboard cut to size for a great give away plate

You can get the Wilton extracts at most craft supply stores, and even Walmart in the wedding supply area. I buy big, because I love to frost things.

There it is. I gave away my secrets. I hope you can use them for someone you love.

We actually had cookies for breakfast this morning....
in my mind, a great way to start a day of love

Inspire Me

Today is a rare day. I have nothing...I repeat NOTHING on my calendar until tonight. Normally I schedule these days to clean up, catch up around the house, or catch up with my DVR. I don't want to do any of that.

I want to look at lovely things that make me feel romantic

I need to find inspiration for my Valentines Swap

last year's Valentines were fun and romantic

And Bergdorf Goodman is inducing day dreams of romantic hair, boots, lacy clothing, and a bike ride in the spring

So, while the house may sit untouched for today

In my mind I have been very productive

Christmas with a camera

A couple of quick shots taken fresh after Santa's visit, the last shots taken in my

"life before the Rebel".

When the first gift you open, upon Santa's strict request, is a camera, the rest of a day is just a blur from behind an unfamiliar viewfinder. (Why yes.....that is my two eldest sons enjoying their new Snuggies, in lieu of Christmas Eve pajamas on Christmas morning!)

You know it's a great Christmas when you can't make it through the day without crashing for a much needed nap

and when the leftovers from the stocking suddenly look beautiful to me

the day is spent tinkering with new gadgets

(these ever cool magnetic "Bucky Balls" kept my 15 yr old busy all day....all week, actually, as he shaped them into all sorts of amazing contraptions.

And later, taking down decorations is suddenly a chance to capture a mix of beautiful tidbits

What began as a few cards pinned to a lovely bow turned into a curtain full

of Christmas greetings. Is it wrong to leave them up longer to enjoy,

although everything else is cleaned up?

Looking through the eye of a camera reminds me of something important.

Our life is full of beautiful images just waiting for us to capture them.

some of these images were inspired by challenges from the Digital Photography School website. Until I can get into a real class, it is just me, these posts, my instruction book, and my Canon Rebel working our way through the world. It is gosh darned fun, too.

We say "Merry Christmas"

Can you even believe this sweet picture?

Snapped at the mall in 2003, I believe this was the last year that all of my little ones still believed the "Christmas Secret". Strange, though, that that fact is not near as hard to live with as I thought it would be. They are sweeter and more grateful with Santa now than they have ever been....(and no more asking for a million dollars)

Christmas Card 2010

It’s all about the little things

This year, like any other, was full of family milestones and accomplishments; football and soccer games, choir and guitar concerts, piano recitals and vacations, church callings and work trips. As we ponder the year, however, we are overwhelmed by the little things….. The everyday things…..

~ The ability to walk into a building and vote ~ to read a book of our choice ~ to turn on a song and dance together as a family ~ to attend a worship service of our choosing each Sunday ~ to open a closet and have choices to make ~ to click on the mouse at the computer and be surrounded by family updates and photographs ~ to turn on the radio and hear voices discuss things that interest us ~ to send our children to a safe school with people and friends we love and trust ~ to have employment and the means to provide and be self-sufficient ~ to live with a roof over our heads and a bed for each of us ~
to gather together as a family and pray ~

As we observe the little things we realize they are not so little at all.

We take this time of year to reflect on the good lives we live and the blessings we all share,

and wish you a Merry Christmas

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”

Isaiah 9:6

Family Festivities

I am one of those gooey, sappy, holiday enthusiasts. I love it. I love the lights. I love the music. I love the fact that my kids still count down the days with me.

Love Love Love

Holiday around the house...

tags made for tag exchange

my outdoor nativity (proud moment: buying a spotlight to light this up at night)

my nativity I bought the first year I was married

a cry for Santa's attention on our porch

a few pictures and nativity made by sweet grandma

Family moments

favorite cookies for dipping and munching (so good....trust me..but very hard to find)

collection of Santas abound

reminder to Believe

boys enjoying a quick snow fall

a tree light up, chirping, calling for Christmas to come

Let me explain: my parents had an electric ornament that chirped like a bird when you plugged it in. When lights went on, the bird began singing. I remember visitors perplexed , trying to find it in the tree. After growing up with the Christmas bird I have missed it in my own home. Although it could be annoying...it was part of Christmas. Last year I bought one, and we hooked it up. It was MUCH LOUDER than my parent's bird...but after figuring out how to open it and cover the speaker this year it is just right. It chirps whenever the lights are on. It makes me feel giddy all over again. I love my annoying bird.

My son performing with the choir. (the handsome guy looking at the camera above the mic)

Makes me cry every time.

I love that he sings unafraid, praises to Christ and songs from the Messiah

so excuse me for loving Christmas and feeling sorry for Hum Bugs.

I have reasons to rejoice...

don't we all?

And the season can start now.....

My brother reminded me that last night was the local sing along of The Messiah, by Handel.

I sang in our high school choir and chamber choir, and was directed by the notable "Mr. D". That man had a way of making us teenagers believe there was nothing more important in the world than a well sung song. Christmas was a blur performances and traveling and watching people dab their eyes as you sang your heart out for them. I loved every minute of it.

This video surfaced this year on You Tube, and the awe of this moment, of proclaiming something like this in public, still makes me cry after watching it at least a dozen times.

Mr D. always had a Christmas concert, and the last song was the Hallelujah Chorus. All the alumni who had sang in his classes before would come up from the audience to join the current choir, as students young and old packed the stage to sing this work by Handel. There was nothing like it.

(me-in the sunglasses- and my choir friends with Mr D. and his wife in Disneyland, where we went for our choir tour. 80's clothes and hair, just a bonus.)

Now when I sing it I can barely make it through the notes, which I still have proudly memorized, without a tear or two of my own.

Add to that equation a son, a teenager no less, who has suddenly picked up this love for singing, singing his part by my side, and excited about the song. We filled the chapel, and then some....shoulder to shoulder, hundreds of voices with the accompaniment of a full orchestra and none other than Mr. D. on the organ.


Moments like this seem almost surreal to me, the cycle that life is, the things that stick with us, the beauties of music and art. I felt truly blessed to experience this work (which Handel produced in it's entirety in a miraculous 24 days) and as we sat down at the end of the song (it is proper to always stand for this number) I leaned over and said to my brother, "Okay, now Christmas can come". He nodded, understanding me exactly.

On our way out of the church we noticed a new inch or two of snow covered the walks. The night was quiet, the feeling so sweet....my son grabbed the shovel at the door and started cleaning the walkway "in case the old ladies come out this way."

Then I returned home to a clean house, Christmas boxes stowed away again, candles burning, dishwasher running, and the tree sparkling and glowing.

And the Christmas spirit is here........

Spooky Scary Windows

A few years ago I saw this idea in Country Home magazine (moment of silence in remembrance), and used it on my windows for Halloween. This year I am changing it up to make it a little more creepy.

You need to find black butcher paper. I got mine at a local party supply store. You will need enough for all your desired windows that you want to cover, but it can be pieced together as well.

With an exacto knife, cut out any shapes you like

You can trace it first with a white crayon, but I prefer to just free hand it. You can also look at a pumpkin carving book for ideas that won't punch out all the way. Then put it up in your window, covering the entire area with the paper.

This photo shows the effect during the day, as the light comes through.

And at night, a peek from outside, on my porch. Cutout door and dollar store Frankenstein with spooky streamers.

Now, I was able to snag some old creepy movie posters that finished off my scary windows. Video stores are not allowed to re-sell these, so if you know someone who works at a video store you may be able to sweet talk your way to a poster of your own.




Movie posters are designed to hang on a lightbox, so the image is reversed from the other side and light can filter through.

I covered two windows, one on the side and one on the front of my house this way.

The window at night, from outside



I love the creepy look on my old house, and have already had a few people comment on the spooky look.

What spooky look are you trying this year?!

Anniversary

Happiness is finding someone to love

Joy is having a family

Growing is making it through the good, and the bad

Fun is seeing the world

and satisfaction is knowing today is as great as every other day
no grand parties
no big trip
no huge gifts

Just enjoying each other

17 years and going.....