Often times I feel like I need a photo to go with my posts. But since my computer is dying and I can't add any photo's from my new camera, I guess all my Christmas photo's will have to wait. We did order a new computer for Christmas, but it was delayed in shipping and won't be up and ready until the middle of January. Anyways, I was checking out one of my favorite textile designers, Amy Butler, and discovered she is now selling items from her website, http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/. I fell in love with her designs about six years ago when I found sample packs of her first line of fabric in a quilting store in Yuma. I bought the packs for about $15 and that was enough fabric to make a quilt for my best friend, Sabra. (I wish I had a photo of the quilt to show.) Now 6 years later, you see her fabric everwhere... aprons, pillows, purses, bags, stationary, scrapbooking. I absolutely love, love her style (about as much as Ana candles.) She's very popular among ebay, and that's probably the best place to shop for her fabric unless you have a local quilting store that sells it. She states her style as "midwest modern"and I think that fits her designs perfectly. Here's some pics of Amy's creations or items you can create yourself!

I am determined to create one of these bags this year. I absolutely love the bow!

No I did not cover this chair, but if given the opprotunity....

This look just screamed "Amberlee."

I love her stationary!

This was Amy's booth and the International Quilt Show. Wish I could have been there.

I can't say accessorizing a home is what I do best, I really don't like too many trinkets. Due to small children, I try to keep all tempting things out of my little one's sight. That said, my most FAVORITE accessory , my red and white Ana candles, came crashing down off my buffet into little pieces. It really was heartbreaking, almost as sad as when the movers 2 years ago just didn't seem to pack my black and white pair so well. So, I am completely void of Ana Candles in my home and I just feel like I have no style at all now. So sad.

My love affair with these candles began almost 9 long years ago when I discovered them in a small boutique in Ann Arbor. I think I purchased 3 or 4 pairs, giving them away for birthdays over the years and keeping the black and white ones for myself. A few years later, my friend Lindsay, gave me a red and white pair. Since that time I have seen them here or there in boutiques and never seem to have saved my pennies well enough to buy more. Occasionally I would search for them online with no success. Well what do you know, two days before my red and white candles came crashing down I came across the officially website for Ana Candles. I was thrilled to see such a great selection and only five bucks for shipping! I know, I know, they're just candles, but I love their graphic design, yet soft look. Of course I can't take them to heaven with me ( see next post, ha, ha) but while I'm here on this beautiful earth I will attempt to adorn my home with the simple, yet lovely, Ana Candle!

Here's just a little bit of wisdom my sister sent to me this week. Loved it, thought I'd share it!

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coifed, and with long perfectly manicured nails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smidge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

- Sis. Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Because of my usual distaste for Halloween, I was suprised at how much fun we had this year. Lots of parties, lots of treats, and lots of great costumes! Not necessarily our costumes, but many of our friends and family were great show stoppers. I would like to thank Coco for the girls beautiful costume, and Walmart for Taft's.

So now you all know how well I keep a journal... I stink! Consistency is not my thing, even though Brett's life mission is to teach me this fine art. He was born consistent. Anyhow, I've been meaning to update my blog, but.... well, there's really no excuse I can think of right now on why I havn't.

I hate to say I'm sooooooo busy. Like when you ask someone how they are doing and they reply that they're sooooooooo busy. Like their life is sooooooooo important, and yours is sooooooo NOT! O.K. I'm sounding like a valley girl. So I have to say I've been a little busy just being a Mom and trying to be creative on the side. I thought I'd post some pic's from a home boutique I did a couple weeks ago. Nothing special, just fun stuff to fill my "creative need" as Brett calls it. I am so bad at taking pictures of what I make, sorry Meg, no pics of the Ladies aprons.

Just wanted to post some of our fun pics from Fall Break. We went home to the "motherland" (UT) as some call it, and had a wonderful time. We enjoyed the beautiful leaves, visiting with high school friends, and most of all just hangin' out at Coco's. I always love going home to my parents because my children live outside. It helps that their cousins live about 100 yards away and Uncle Cam had made them an awesome quad course. It scares Brett to death, but my kids love riding the quads!
I met up with my dear friends from high School, Brandy and Trish, and Brandy's mom, Brenda! We had lunch together at one of our favorite old time restaurants, Robintino's. Catching up with those gals was the highlight of my vacation!
These are Trish's daughters, Kendall and Aaron... Noelle and Camille hit it off with them right away!
... And it's rare that you will find Taft and I smiling at the same time. Neither one of us are famous for our smiles, usually you just see our furrowed brows!

The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep.
~E. Joseph Cossman

I came across this quote at the Y a couple of weeks ago... I've been meaning to post it since then. I had to chuckle when I read it because Brett (o.k., and myself) think I am basically disfunctional at night. Truth be told, I am impatient, unreasonable, and just plain tired. With that said, the morning always offers a new day to start over and try again. I remember reading my Grandmother Mary's journal and she would write about how at the end of the day she felt hopeless... after tending to 15 children I'm sure she was exausted. But, she always closed her evening remarks with a bit of optimism, usually referring to her witness of the Lord's hand in her life or stating that tommorow was a new day and she would be refreshed, invigorated, and motivated to improve herself and the lives of others. I'm sure so many Mothers have felt this way... so put your kiddies to bed early, avoid controverisial conversations with your spouse, and most of all, don't beat yourself up as you lay in bed, just rest assured that tommorow will come with a beautiful sunrise and a fresh start!

I just can't stand it any longer... I hate to be a show off, but I just had to post these pics of my family. Like most of the pictures on this blog, these were taken by my good friend, Megan, who is an amazing photographer. She does such awesome work! Noelle's the dramatic poser in our family (I'm sure you'll be able to see) and for Camille, well she fell backwards off the couch before we began shooting and we're happy she's wearing something other than a swimsuit... as for Taft, well at least he's looking at the camera. Shout out to Meg!!!

These photo's were taken by my great friend Megan Holdsworth.
She's a photographer and you can view her work at
megaphotoblog.blogspot.com

I can feel the season change in the air and I love it! I love fall... it reminds me of our days in Michigan. The leaves, apples, breezy weather, and fall colors were such a delight. I miss those days, but plan on heading home to the "motherland" (UT) for fall break and I know I'll get my Autumn fix then. But as we say goodbye to our summer days I thought I should post some of my favorite summer pics. Most of our summer days were filled with swimming and turning ourselves toasty brown... well as toasty brown as our pasty white skin can get. Of course, sunscreen is best, but sometimes a healthy glow just looks and feels so good!

Here's Jr. Miss Chili Sauce 2007! Camille and I have been peeling, chopping, and stewing tomato's for about the last 24 hours. Camille would slip the skins off the warm tomato's and then I would chop them. She was a great helper and loved being included in one of Mom's many projects.

By the way, this ain't your Grandma's county fair. I can't say much about what I preserve. Nobody cares today how well your peaches are peeled or how precise your tomato's are cut. Simply getting dinner on the table ( Ramen, Mac n'cheese, cheese crips,) hopefully will win me the crown. Sometimes ya just have to say "Get er'done!"

Making chili sauce is a tradition in my family and I'd like to continue it for as long as I can. For those of you who don't know what chili sauce is, it is like a sweet and tangy salsa. If you go to Dave's Diner you just have to have it on your tatties and eggs!

Here's some pics of my favorite things... Flowers! I love them, especially a beautiful rose. Some of my favorites are cherry brandy, king kong, sterling and jade roses. I love creating, but most of all I love creating with my sisters. Their the best even when I create something really ugly, they pretend to like it. If any of us really want the truth, we can always ask Coco!

Tonight we returned from Logan, UT where Brett and I were at a funeral for our friend, Jolleen Iverson. It's been heartbreaking to watch Brandon and his children say goodbye to her. I've cried every tear in my soul today. Jolleen's death really has had a strong effect on me. Maybe it's because she was so young or because she was a mother of young children. I don't know, but I just can't stop thinking about Brandon raising those two precious little girls all by himself. I'm sure I don't have the answers for so many of the questions that keep running thru my head, but I do know that when tragedy strikes us from behind we have more strength within ourselves that we ever would believe. Jolleen's funeral was beautiful and so much of what was said really touched my heart and has given me much to ponder upon. As I go to bed tonight, I offer all my prayers and thoughts in behalf of Brandon,his girls, and so many of the people who's lives were touched by Jolleen.