Birthday Tea

I just enjoyed a lovely tea with my mother in law and sister in law.  Linda is such a fan of all things English and she spoiled us with this wonderful tea.  We had a great time chatting and enjoying the tasty treats.  I can't wait to stroll through the new book I got, Junk Beautiful.  I also got some vanilla beans and I plan on making some vanilla sugar and real vanilla with the beans 

I received a package from my mom in the mail.  My mom is so great, she waited in line outside of Target early one morning to get a City Sampler (an awesome CD mix put out by a Minneapolis radio station in a limited quantity)  It's so good!  I'm enjoying the music, new music is always so refreshing and inspiring.

I'm so spoiled.  Sam and I are going out to eat somewhere fun tomorrow night.  I have to get busy making some calendars and baking some pies.

I'm 25 now, so cheaper car insurance and car rental ability!  I think this is the last milestone, now I'm allowed to do everything.

Have a happy thanksgiving everyone!

My Favorite Time of Year- A little Catch Up

I feel so out of sorts.  It's so funny, it seems quite a few people lately have this same feeling.  I think it's just that time of year.  Trying to get organized before the business of December.

I'm trying to do a little catch up on here.  So my most favorite time of year has passed (fall) and we are approaching my second most favorite time of year (ski season)

I love the fall.  We took trips to Green Bluff to pick apples off the trees, drink freshly pressed cider, and then later to pick out our own pumpkins.

We have been going to the Farmers Market each week and have been eating the most flavorful carrots and trying some new veggies (like Jerusalem Artichokes)

I packed a picnic for Linda and Lindsey and we had a good lunch and learned about composting and picked up a free compost bin at an arboretum. 

I found a cast iron grill/griddle for the stove and have been enjoying making paninis.

We took a trip to Sandpoint Idaho.  We checked out some great thrift stores and antique stores and had a perfect cup of coffee overlooking a great view.  We're happy with this new computer.  It is just taking a little getting used to!

I've been decorating and I planted an indoor herb garden.  I love it, it's so rewarding and yummy!

Now it's time to plan for an ugly sweater party

I am thankful Sam was able to recover the hard drive from our old computer, nothing was lost. We now have this new one with the internet.

I'm also thankful that gas is SOOO much cheaper now.  A few months ago it cost around $50 to fill my tank.  I just filled up yesterday for $25!  So crazy!  It's so wonderful!

I've been catching up on here and enjoying all the flickr and blog eye candy.  It's a little overwhelming to do 4 months of catching up!

Thankful

This year I have so much to be thankful for.  I have this little list I keep in one of my journals of dreams and hopes for someday.  It's so good to look back on it and see which things God has blessed us with.  Some are big, some are small.  Sam likes us to do this so I "appreciate it more" uh, if I had a nickel every time he said that!  

I am so thankful I have a room of my own.  I totally need to read Virginia Woolfe's book.  It is so great to have a space all to myself to create things.  I love making a big mess and just shutting the door on it!  So great.  I never thought I'd have my own room.

This is a stupid little shallow thing, but this is a blog- so I must share.  After years of searching, I have found the pair of boots.  Leather boots baby, in size 11!  They will arrive just in time, on my birthday.

Sam and I are healthy.  I think of all the people who have crazy medical bills and have to buy expensive medications all the time and I am so thankful that we are healthy.

We have running water, a toilet, a dishwasher, and a washer and dryer.  That is so cool and awesome.

I am so thankful for having such generous and artsy family and friends.  I have had so much fun lately wearing a different scarf every day.  I think of the person who made it for me, and all the love, attention, and hard work it took.  I must have at least 15.  And I love the quilts that keep me warm at night.  

I could go on and on, but I won't.  What are you thankful for?

And the winner is...

Congratulations Morgan at Mrs. Priss!  I randomly drew your name to receive this little notebook.  It's a moleskine cahier notebook that I hand embroidered and embellished with vintage pearly buttons.  I hope you enjoy!  Thank you so much everyone for leaving such kind and encouraging comments.

Favorite Corner

Well, since you all haven't seen my home, I thought I'd share with you.  I will do a little at a time!  Our living room feels soothing to me.  It's pretty plain, not too much on the walls, but I kinda like it.  

This little vignette I made with 3 mirrors I found g-saling with Amy.  I used a piece of driftwood found on the shore and attached anagrams (found at a g-sale)  I found the frame at Target and put a picture of the crazy guide who led me up a volcano in Guatemala.

**I will draw the winner for the giveaway on Wednesday.

Grand Opening

I just opened an etsy shop!  This has been something that I wanted to do ever since I started this blog, just about 2? years ago.  I have been into making things out of wool felt lately.  You can visit All Things Artsy to check it all out.  In order to celebrate I'm going to have my first give away!  Leave a comment and I will pick someone to receive a felt moleskine notebook cover by next week.  Hmm, I haven't decided on which one yet.  It's getting way too late!  In the morning I will pick something out.  Keep looking, I have many more things up my sleeve to add to this shop.  

Craft Fair

So this weekend was my first craft fair.  It was a great learning experience.  I had a lot of fun.  I went in with someone else from church and that was really nice.  It was fun to have someone else to share this with.  At first, when setting up, I was intimidated because I felt like I had nothing compared to everyone else.  Well, that turned out to be ok.  I sold some stuff, but I definitely have plenty left.  This is good news because it means more things for my etsy shop!  This has been so much fun.  I loved talking to the other vendors and checking out what others had to sell.  It was nice to have many visitors who were friendly faces.  And Sam of course was great in helping with it all, from the loading to getting us lunch.  Hopefully, this is the first of more good things to come!

Check This Out

I'm really bumming that I can't find the cable to hook pictures up to this baby, so I must share this. 

Watch this: 

and then this

and then go here if you want to share

It will make you smile!  I love this sort of thing.

I'm Back

It has been way too long!  I'm back.  After a move, a trip back to the midwest, and a road trip back, now (only 3 months later!) I am back.  We just got a new computer and God willing we will have internet at our own place on Thursday evening.  I am planning on opening an Etsy shop.  I really want to get it started before a craft show I'm entering this weekend.  

It was nice at first to get a break from the internet, but it has been too long.  I am so behind on seeing what is going on in the blogging community!  But, the good news is that I have been very busy and have many exciting things to share with you.  I was going to add pictures on here, but we have a MacBook, which is cool, but I'm looking and I'm not seeing a hole that my memory card fits into- bummer.  I love the Mac so far.  Even me, a computer idiot is able to figure it out, but I am at the library and don't have a cord with me. 

I will share pictures of our new place in Spokane and am looking forward to getting reconnected to the world!