Boring Life

I've been trying to think of a new post for a week now. I'm completely devoid of any ideas. Our life has been in it's normal routine, I haven't even taken any new pictures! I'm hoping to get some in the next few weeks from our friend's wedding that we went to on Saturday. Somehow both Dan and I forgot to bring a camera and our kids provided ample photographic moments! I'm hoping most for a good picture of Dan dancing with Allison during the father/daughter dance. It made me cry :).
So, until then, or until I can come up with something worth saying, I probably won't have a new post. Sorry to dissapoint you all . . .

Today

Inspired by Tina, here is my list for today:

1. I'm wondering . . . if my neck will ever be back to normal. It has been sore for 4 days, and even after a chiropractor visit, is still that way. Looks like another day for Advil.

2. I'm reading . . . When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch. Someday I will act without wondering or worrying what other's think. I will remember "the audience of One." It may not happen until eternity, but it will happen.

3. I'm feeling . . . overwhelmed. A week without kids and I still didn't finish all my projects and we have a BUSY weekend ahead (again).

4. I'm happy . . . the kids are home. The house was too quiet and I actually got a little lonely during the day.

5. I'm thinking . . . about what to wear to a wedding rehearsal dinner. I suppose my capris and t-shirt that is my daily uniform is probably too casual.

6. I'm hoping . . . to find some quilting bargains at a shop's sale tomorrow.

7. I'm dreaming . . . that I drove a golf-cart into the lake. Seriously, that's what I dreamt last night.

8. I'm going . . . out to the cottage today. With a rehearsal tonight and wedding tomorrow, it just makes sense to stay out there.

9. I'm wishing . . . I could be at the quilt expo today with my friends Debbie and Elizabeth. I really wanted to make it work, but this week was too busy. Next year!!

10. I'm enjoying . . . the time I had to visit with my parents. They are coming again next week, so we'll be able to enjoy them again!

11. I'm planning . . . all the things I need to do today before we leave.

12. I'm laughing . . . at my son's mind. I love the way he thinks.

13. I'm loving . . . my life and my God. I can honestly say I am very content.

14. I'm thankful for . . . His grace and patience. He is changing me, but it is a very slow process sometimes!

15. I'm clinging . . . to Psalm 145:8,9 "The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."

Love Song for a Savior by Jars of Clay

It's been fun, as my walk with Christ deepens and matures, to listen to music that I've loved for a long time. I have abandoned some old favorites because I don't believe the theology they teach, while others have become more meaningful and sweet to me. One such song is "Love Song for a Savior" by Jars of Clay. I'm sure I've owned this CD for at least 12 years, since high school, and even got demerits at Maranatha for listening to it there! It is still one of my favorite Cd's and I've enjoyed the group's changing sound over the years.

So the other day, when I chose Jars of Clay to listen to on my iPod, I easily slipped into just enjoying the music and lyrics without really thinking about what they were saying. And when Love Song came on, I was caught off guard at what a beautiful picture of a childhood conversion might look like. I listened intently and thought about my own conversion, and hoped for a similar experience for my kids. I want them to grow up knowing about God, wanting to love Him until the moment He divinely opens their eyes to His worth.

So enjoy the lyrics, watch the youtube video, and buy the song on iTunes for $.99 if you think you'll like it.

In open fields of wild flowers
She breathes the air flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daisies and the roses
In no simple language
Someday she'll understand the meaning of it all

He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday she'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call her
And she will come running
Fall in his arms, the tears will fall down
And she'll pray

I want to fall in love with you

Sitting silent wearing Sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it
Goes to the people who stare into nowhere
Can't feel the chains on their souls

He's more than the laughter
Or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat
Or a song on her lips
Someday we'll trust him
And learn how to see him
Someday he'll call us
And we will come running
Fall in his arms
The tears will fall down and we'll pray

I want to fall in love with you

McCain/Palin Rally

Dan and I did an adventurous thing today. We took both the kids to try to see John McCain and Sarah Palin at their first campaign stop after the RNC. It was slated to begin at 10, but got pushed back to 11 because of the crowds. One passerby said they only expect 8,000 people, but there was more like 20,000 there. I can't be sure of his statistics, but it sure was crowded.

We stood in line and the kids were very patient. Unfortunately, our late arrival was our downfall, and we didn't get near the stage and only heard bits and pieces of the speeches, mostly we just recognized Sarah and John's voices over the speakers. About 1/2 way through the rally, we walked around to try to get a better view and actually got some photos of them shaking hands and signing autographs! (At least Dan got the photos. There are advantages to being his height.)

These pictures are a bit deceptive. We weren't close to them at all, but using a 200 zoom lens made it look like we were!

All in all, I was glad we went. Next time we will leave the kids with someone and arrive much earlier to get a seat. Since Wisconsin is supposed to be a battleground state again this year, we should have at least a few more chances to hear the candidates speak.

What I've Been Up To:

I've mentioned before that I've been sewing a lot lately, and a few of you asked to see my projects. So here they are!

This bag was one of my firsts. It serves as a "carry all" mostly for church. I love the black and white lilies and I chose a red batik for the lining.

This has been my purse for a while now. I love the print.

This is a new bag. Very slouchy and casual. It doesn't show up in the picture that well, but the print is a mint green toile.

This was my most ambitious handbag, made from an Amy Butler pattern with her fabric. I love this bag and use it a lot. I made one like it in slightly different fabrics at the request of a friend.

And the BIG project? My first quilt! Made solely with my fave designer's fabrics - Amy Butler. I never intended to become a quilter; I thought I would use my sewing machine for cool handbags and some basic garment construction. Well, it didn't take me long to discover that garment construction is not my calling in life and as much as I love sewing bags, I like the scope and size of a quilting project. So I have already started some others and have a list of more I would like to make!

I pieced this one and then Dan's Aunt Nancy, a wonderfully talented quilter, actually machine quilted it for me (my machine is too tiny for that part!) And then Dan's Grandma put on the binding - so this quilt was definitely a family affair!

This pattern is really simple, just squares and rectangles, but I hope to try some more challenging patterns in the future. For now, accomplishing this was enough to pique my interest in future quilting endeavors.

So that's a sampling of what I've been up to lately. Hopefully I'll be posting some more soon, and possibly opening my own Etsy shop!

Oh great, now I can't enjoy my Diet Coke, either . . .

http://newconnexion.net/articles/index.cfm/2001/03/aspartame.html

Heard at Church Yesterday . . .

"The Gospel is not a check that gets us into Heaven, but the currency of the Christian life."

This makes me never want to drink soda again . . .

I received this info from a newsletter from my chiropractor:

Drinking soda is bad for your health in so many ways; science can’t even state all the consequences. Here’s what happens in your body when you assault it with a Coke:

Within the first 10 minutes, 10 teaspoons of sugar hit your system. This is 100 percent of your recommended daily intake, and the only reason you don’t vomit as a result of the overwhelming sweetness is because phosphoric acid cuts the flavor.

Within 20 minutes, your blood sugar spikes, and your liver responds to the resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts of sugar into fat.

Within 40 minutes, caffeine absorption is complete; your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, and your livers dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.

Around 45 minutes, your body increases dopamine production, which stimulates the pleasure centers of your brain – a physically identical response to that of heroin, by the way.

After 60 minutes, you’ll start to have a sugar crash.

The average American drinks more than 60 gallons of soft drinks each year, but before you grab that next can of soda, consider this: one can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites. Not to mention the fact that it’s also your largest source of dangerous high fructose modified corn syrup.

Here's my question, though. Does all this stuff happen if I drink a Diet Coke?

If you find yourself with a few free moments and are tempted to turn on the Olympics . . . don't. Instead, watch this interview from Larry King Live with the Chapman family and praise God that He is given the glory, even in tragedy.

And have a box of Kleenex close by.

And Even More Pictures

We spent 4 days at a cottage on a lake last week and enjoyed every moment! Elijah made some big strides in his bravery quotient, by choosing to tube behind the boat by himself and to swim in water over his head - with his life jacket on, of course!

Allison got a new life jacket, and chose a Barbie one. She's such a girl. She swam some, but thought the water was too cold to stay in very long.

I snapped a few pics of some really "unique" cottages on the lake. I want to play with the pics a little bit and then frame them for our cottage.
We came home and discovered ripe zucchini in our garden! This was a big moment for us, since this is our first try at gardening and we planted late because of the flooding. I've already picked enough to make 4 loaves of zucchini bread and given some away. Dan thought we should document this momentous achievement on film.

I'm too excited to wait for the bread.
Our August is REALLY busy, so posting may be sparse. In the meantime, enjoy the last few days of summer before the business of fall sets in!

A Lesson in Brotherly Love . . . by Elijah

"Joseph's brothers were jealous of him. They threw him into a big, deep pit. I would never do that to Alli because I don't know where a big pit is."

More Pictures

Dan's brother Mike and his wife Jennifer and their two boys came to stay with us after Grandma's party and we all went to the zoo.

Alli decided that she would pull her cousin Josiah around in the wagon.Amazingly enough, we were so busy enjoying the beautiful weather while camping (as opposed to other years) that we didn't take many pictures. These were taken the evening that we all headed down to the beach for family pictures. Dan took these.

One more post of pictures and I'll quit boring you! We were able to spend this past 4 days at a cottage on a lake, so we enjoyed boating and swimming - more pics to come soon!

Lots of Pictures

We've had a busy month, and we've taken a lot of pictures. I'll try to update the blog over the next few days with pictures from our hectic life. This is Alli's 2 year pic. A little less than traditional, but I couldn't resist that look and those eyes! We think you are beautiful, baby!

These next pics are from Great Grandma's 80th Birthday party, which we celebrated on the 4th of July.Elijah and Dan and his two brothers, Mike (on left) and Tim (right).

My wonderful Mother-in-Law, Barb, and 2 sister-in-laws, Noelle (center -Tim's wife) and Jennifer (far right - Mike's wife). This isn't the best picture, but we had something like 5 people trying to get a shot of us all at once.

Elijah looking cute.

With these next few pictures, Dan played with the color saturation and made them very vibrant. Between the two of us, we have a lot of fun with our new camera. I like to take photos of people and Dan prefers scenery, but he is much more skilled than I, and has the patience to really work on a photo to make it the best it can be. I just snap away and hope for a decent shot!

Alli is wearing her party dress, a present from her Grandma and Grandpa.

Elijah's feet -hey, they actually look clean here!

Elijah and Alli. Always cracking each other up.

Our week gets pretty busy tomorrow, but I'll try to get some more pics up by the weekend.

"It Smells Like Nothing"

A sad thing happened today. Elijah was trying to describe the scent of car wax to me and said, "It smells like nothing." Cute, to be sure, but sad because he has never, in his 4 1/2 years on earth, said the word "nothing." He has always said "anything." Like after I ask him what is wrong, he pouts and says, "Anything." And when I ask him who taught him something, his answer would be "anyone." I'm sad he figured out the correct grammar.

So, before he gives up all his cute words, I decided to post my favorite mis-pronunciations of my guy.

1. "Sank you" instead of "thank you"
2. "Lose" instead of "use"
3. "Wecause" instead of "because"

Unfortunately, that is all I can think of now, but as he learns to speak more clearly, I am sure I will think of more! And soon I'll be able to post about Alli's cute sayings!

Infidel

We're back from a week of camping, tired and with more than 10 loads of laundry to do, but we had a relaxing time, nonetheless. I had plenty of "down" time to do some more reading, since I have taken a break because of my sewing. One of the books I read was Infidel, the autobiography of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. My sister-in-law recommended it to me and although it isn't the most eloquently book I've ever read, I found it a worthy read.

Ayaan was born in Somalia, but spent most of her childhood moving between Kenya, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and back to Somalia because of the constant political unrest in each country. She was born into a devout Muslim family and chronicles in detail the horrific practices she witnessed and experienced at the hands of those who claim to follow the "peaceful" religion of Islam. Most disturbing was their practice of female circumcision, although I found myself equally disgusted by the overall mistreatment of women in that culture.

Ayaan eventually escapes her destiny of arranged marriage by stealing away to Holland where she lives in a refugee camp and experiences for the first time in her life, civilized society. She chronicles her amazement that city busses arrive on time, to the exact minute, how the government officials actually help her out without bribes and how the police actually protect her, instead of harrassing her. It is amazing to see our every-day life through her eyes. It was shameful for me to think about how much I take these things for granted.

Many parts of the book struck me, but I will dwell on just two. First of all, I was appalled at hearing the logic of blaming a woman for being raped, but Ayaan explains it simply: The Qua ran commands women to be modest and the definition of modesty has constantly been tweaked and redefined by whatever group is ruling. And so the women begin to wear the hidjab, which leaves little, if any, flesh showing. Women who do show their arms or necks are subjected to lewd comments and behavior from men on the street. They are groped and attacked and then blamed because men have no responsibility to control their behavior and sexual desire, and thus it becomes the woman's fault for arousing the man. Often, women who are raped or become pregnant out of wedlock would commit suicide for the family's honor. One such woman that Ayaan knew poured kerosene over her head and lit herself on fire in front of her family.

As shocking as that sounds, I couldn't help but think of our tendency in Christian circles to teach obedience to rules without heart change. The Muslim men in Ayaan's world never learn self-control or discernment, so they act out their natural heart's desire. How often have I known people who were raised with strict rules and had no heart change and when left to their own devices, go headlong into sin without any guilt because their desires were left to fester and grow on the inside, while they obeyed on the outside. As a parent, this scares me beyond belief. It makes me question what am I doing to speak to my children's hearts, and not just require rote obedience without heart change.

Islam's worship of Allah is all about submission, which is familiar territory for the Christian believer, but it falls short because their is no heart change and no help from Allah. He is to be feared and worshipped, but there is no mention of love or relationship with him. Life is simply trying to obey more than you disobey his commands and hope that earns you a place in paradise. There is no grace, mercy or atonement for a Muslim.

This was a difficult book to read. It was deep and depressing at times. I long to give the author the gospel. To give her some hope in a God who is loving and kind, and who extends favor to a thousand generations. Unfortunately, Ayaan now considers herself an atheist and sees as her life goal to expose Islam's terror against women and desire to rule the entire world. She is a loud and outspoken critic of Islam and Muslim culture, which has caused her to have to go into hiding to avoid the death threats she receives from her own people. She is cut completely off from her family and after serving for a time in Dutch Parliament, now lives in the U.S.

As difficult as this book was to read at times, I am grateful that I did. It gave me a better understanding of Islam's beliefs and greater compassion for those who live under it's rule. It also helped me grasp the political problems in third-world countries and renewed my thankfulness for the civil order we enjoy in America.

My sister-in-law commented that there is still hope that she becomes a believer. I agree. I pray that God will open her eyes to true faith in Him, that she will know forgiveness of sins now.

I Got to Mow the Lawn!!!!!

Okay, maybe that doesn't sound very exciting to you. Or maybe it even sounds like a chore to you. Well, I enjoy mowing the lawn for a few reasons:

1. We have a riding lawn mower, so it is easy.
2. The hour that it takes to mow is almost guaranteed to be quiet (other than the sound of the mower, that is) and leave me alone with my thoughts and prayers.
3. It gives me a break from parenting and from hearing "mommy, mommy, mommy" (like I am hearing as I type this).
4. I get to listen to my iPod. And I can listen uninterrupted, so my favorite thing to listen to during this quiet time is a good sermon.

That leads me to the point of this post. When Dan said that I could mow last night so that he would be able to work in the garden, I ran next door and borrowed my neighbor's iPod, because she had recommended a sermon by John Piper just the other day.

The sermon is entitled, "A Broken and Contrite Heart God will not Despise" and I will not diminish it's great truths by trying to synopsize it here. Instead, just go and download it yourself and be blessed.

















Really. I mean it. There is nothing else here to read. Go and do it now. You will not be disappointed.

Lessons from Sewing, part 3 . . .

I cannot learn to sew, read all those great books I have on a list, try the new recipes I've had sitting out on the counter for a month, visit the library once a week, hand stamp greeting cards, organize the basement, clear out junk for a garage sale, read up on taking great photographs, take great photographs, weed the garden, write a witty blog post and read everyone else's, research math and language arts curriculum, go for a bike ride, paint the house, make granola and wheat bread, watch TV shows that I have saved on DVR, watch movies I have on hold from the library, manage the finances, dust every surface, vacuum every floor, call every friend I think about and pray for or go shopping for new summer clothes and still exist as a mildly competant wife and mother. I am only human. So I pick and choose what is important for today. And lately, my sewing is winning that contest.

My Baby Turns 2

I can't believe it has already been 2 years since God graced you to our family. You have been a constant joy to us, Alli, and we love watching you turn into such a little girly-girl. I cherish watching you play dress-up, caring for your babies and making pretend meals for your daddy and me. You have grown into quite a social lady, although you still know how to be shy and how to bury your head into mommy's shoulder when you want to. You are going to be a "go-getter" and afraid of nothing, I think. Those traits are from God and can be used to His Glory, or for your own. We pray that you come to cherish Christ and to seek to spread His Fame.

We love you, Allison Keona. Happy 2nd Birthday.

Lessons from sewing, part 2 . . .

All cutting and sewing of fabric should be performed while children are sleeping or being watched under the careful eye of their other parent, leaving the seamstress free to concentrate. Otherwise one will inadvertently cut with the wrong measurements or cut in the wrong direction, thus rendering fragments of fabric that are useless. Unless, of course, one is extremely creative and can make new projects out of the scraps.

(and if you fall in that category, leave a comment - because one who posts such advice might need it herself)

Lessons from sewing, part 1 . . .

. . . the seam ripper is my best friend.

Storm Front

We've had a weekend of crazy weather. Thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes and flash floods have all gone through our area over the last two days and the forecast for this week doesn't look much better. Dan took this picture tonight just minutes before we got hit with thunderstorms again. He emailed it to a local TV news station, we are waiting for the 10 o'clock news to see if it's featured!

It certainly isn't hard to see God's handiwork in the fury of the storm. Even though this weather can be dangerous, I always pause to thank Him for such beautiful signs of His power. No matter what happens in the storm, I know Whose hand controls every cloud.

Looks like Someone knows her birthday is coming up . . .

Yes, that's an American Girl doll catalog. You know, the one's with $100 dolls. I think she will need to wait until she is older than 2 before we invest in a doll like that!

5 Things

Five Things About Me Meme
Morning Rose tagged me to do a Five Things About Me Meme.


The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
Each player answers the questions about themselves.
At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.


What were you doing five years ago?

1. I was finishing up my first year of teaching 4th through 6th grade at a private Christian school.
2. Dan and I went to Maui on our first exotic vacation!
3. I was pregnant with Elijah.
4. We travelled to Washington state to attend Dan's brother's wedding.
5. I was enjoying my first summer vacation not working! (I have stayed home since ending that school year)



What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

1. Finish laundry
2. Research sewing machines
3. Try to get the house back to normal after a crazy weekend with houseguests and cookouts
4. Finish watching "Becoming Jane"
5. Did I mention all the laundry?

What are five snacks you enjoy?

1. anything chocolate
2. cheese and crackers
3. ice cream
4. fresh strawberries
5. chips and dip

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Give most of it away - it would consume me.
2. Redo our kitchen and basement, or . . .
3. Move to a home on the lake.
4. Travel, especially to foreign countries where we know missionaries.
5. Invest and live off of the interest (okay, that's Dan talking)

What are five of your bad habits?

1. Worrying
2. Being critical
3. Being obsessive compulsive about things
4. Wasting time
5. Picking at scabs. Disgusting. I know.

What are five jobs you’ve had?
1. Shoe salesman at Sears
2. Telecounselor for MBBC
3. Pharmacy tech
4. Manager of health and fitness club (anyone who knows me will find this very ironic.)
5. Teacher

What five people do you want to tag?
1. Sarah
2. Gretchen
3. Karen
4. Tina
5. Elizabeth

Healthy Eating?

I'm not sure these 2 recipes fall under the strictest definition of healthy eating, but if you are trying to avoid hydrogenated oils and MSG, then they definately help you do it. Since it seems all pre-packaged food has one or both of these nasty ingredients, I say cut it out where you can and then you feel a bit better when you indulge in Ritz Crackers.

So here are 2 make-ahead mixes that help you on your path to healthy(er) eating . . .

Taco Seasoning
2 tsp instant minced onion
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp crushed dried red pepper
1/2 tsp instant minced garlic
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground cumin
Combine all ingredients in small bowl until evenly distributed. Store in a foil bag or plastic container in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. Makes about 2 T. Use 2 T for every pound of ground beef.
*I triple this recipe and it fits nicely into an old spice container. Then you always have it on hand when you need it.

Buttermilk Pancake Mix
2 c. dry buttermilk powder
8 c. flour
1/2 c. granulated sugar
8 tsp. baking powder
4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt
Combine, stir with whisk until evenly distributed. Makes 12 cups and use within 6 months.

Pancakes: 1 egg beaten, 2 T. oil, 1 cup water, 1 1/2 c. mix. Combine egg, oil and water. With wire whisk stir in mix until blended. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in more water for a thinner batter if desired.

Really? The Office?

I was shocked as the next alum, but laughed anyway. Dan and I have told almost everyone we know about this video, and this seemed like the easiest way to direct them to the link. Enjoy!

The Admission's Office

Bitten

I've been bitten by the sewing bug. It all started out so innocently. I had a mounting pile of clothes that needed mended, and my #1 seamstress had just had a baby, so I decided to try to tackle some of them myself. Only I didn't know what I was doing. This realization led me to ask my good friend Debbie to teach me to sew. You know, just simple stuff like hemming pants and maybe a decorative pillow or two.

Well, after surfin' the web to get some project ideas (after all, to learn to sew you must have projects) I was so overwhelmed and excited at the sewing possibilities that I went kinda crazy. Debbie lent me her machine and I went to town. Here are a few of the things I have made so far . . .

This was my first project. Seeing how simple it was caused me to want to try something more challenging.My first handbag! Okay, okay, I realize it is small, but I did it, and that makes me very happy. I tackled this one on my own, with the help of this great tutorial.
Did you know that you can buy these dresses on the bolt and all you have to do is stitch up the back, hem and attach straps? Alli was very excited to try it on. I'm still deciding what to do with the straps. Alli also desperately needed a belt since even toddler pants are low rise now. This was easy-peasy, so I made one for myself, too.

I found this idea on www.Joann.com. It's an organizer that hangs on the back of your car seat for the kids to put their books and toys in. This is Elijah's (obviously) and I am currently working on one for Alli.

And I have some baby gift ideas, since our church is continually reproducing, so I should stay busy for a while. Dan is excited and very supportive, but is worried that I might get burned out. Who suffers from burnout when there are such a plethora of good ideas out there?

Baby J

This little guy was so happy! We didn't have to work too hard to get some great smiles out of him. He has an infectious laugh. How can you resist this?

I'm loving this one. See those two bottom teeth? They just embody a classic baby picture.

By the way, have you ever noticed that taking a baby's clothes off almost always results in pure happines? This was fun. What can be better than spending time with friends and making their babies smile?

2 Cute Babies!

Before I left for the week, I got together with my friend Sarah, who has her own nine-month-old and babysits another one! I had so much fun trying to follow these two around to get some pictures. They both are extremely happy and busy! So here is a sneak peak of baby A for her parents, baby J's pictures will come tomorrow.

I hope you love them! I know I do!

While the Cat's Away . . .

Apparently this is the mouse's idea of "playing" . . .

You see, we knew we had some carpenter ants at the front of our house, and apparently they love damp wood, which we had because of a gutter problem, so they decided to feast on our cedar siding, as well as the infrastructure beneath.

Dan thought they had damaged just a small area (like 2 or 3 boards) and thought he would take advantage of the time I've been away to complete a couple of projects. Needless to say, this one is gonna take a while.

**Aaahhh - you gotta love owning a home**

Shop till you drop!

Remember when I mentioned that I would have a post on a new company I found,
peas&carrots? Well, here is that promised post! I first heard about this great company when my friend, Summer, took pictures for their marketing. After drooling over their bags and fabrics for long enough, I decided to purchase the two products that I loved the most:

The Quick Change - great for running around town. It holds 3-4 diapers and wipes and is perfect for when you need changing supplies with you, but you don't need to cart around a whole bag. I love it! And I love the fabric, which you get to choose! And one of their unique handbags - they offer 6 different styles, all available to customize with your fabric choices. I really could have bought all of them!

Well, shortly after I recieved my purchase in the mail, peas&carrots unveiled a new little product, the "zippy," which you can get in the matching fabric for your bag. Now how cute is that?!?!

Check out their site - you will definately find something you love, even if you don't have a baby anymore. The bags make great purses, and she also makes some stuff for older kids, too! Not to mention the baby shower gift option . . . Leave a comment and tell me what you like!

Enjoy!