Writing Your Love Story

With Valentine's Day knocking on the door, L♥ve is in the air. What a prefect time to reflect, write and share your Love Story. Many people never take the time to write down the details of a love story. We all have a love story....some are fairytale-like and others...well, let's just say lessons can be learned. 

Take the time to sit down write a few words in your journal or "type" them up and tell about how you met, your first kiss, when you knew "he" was the one. Or how about the first time your eyes met? The first time your boyfriend met your parents? Your first date?  Or even your first KISS?  You can't help but have those sweet feelings flood your heart again and put a smile on your face. 

Something fun to do is have your hubby answer the same questions and create a "He said, She said" version of your love story. My hubby and I did this...Oh, it was fun!!! And let's just say we both remember our Love Story VERY differently...but I so remember the day we met in 4th grade.... his adorable perm, checkered Vans, and gray parachute pants with safety pins all the way up his calves.......beautiful....just beautiful!

Take time to remember why, how, where, and who you fell in love with....  

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
--Mignon McLaughlin

Strawberry Pickin' & Jam Makin'

Since I moved to Florida 4 years ago I have found lots of new hobbies and fun things to do....but this by far has become one of my favorite traditions to do each year with my kids and best friends.

We live near the Plant City, Florida area, which is also known as the Strawberry Capital of the world!  It's convenient, close to home pickin' and CHEAP!  Where can you get PERFECTLY beautiful organic grown strawberries fresh off the vine for under 90 cents a pound?!

I'm heading out Friday morning for our annual picking and I'm so excited to try Freezer Jam this year.  Every year I do the traditional jam making that is yummy, but incredibly messy and not that easy with 5 kids running around.  So this year I'm tackling the Freezer Jam.  If you haven't heard of it or you are slightly nervous about making jam, you're going to love this alternative.  It is so delicious.  You get fresh tasting sweet strawberry jam with out the cooked berry taste or the mess...or the hot boiling water...

Strawberry Freezer Jam

• 2 cups crushed FRESH strawberries
• 4 cups  sugar, measured into separate bowl
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 box  SURE.JELL Fruit Pectin 
  
• 5 (1-cup) plastic containers and lids (Clean with boiling water. Dry thoroughly)                       

1. Crush strawberries thoroughly, 1 cup at a time. Measure exactly 2 cups into a  bowl. Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add water and pectin in small saucepan. Bring to boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Continue boiling and stirring 1 minute. Add to strawberry mixture; stir 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and no longer grainy.
3. Fill the containers immediately to within 1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Jam is now ready to use. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 1 year.

ENJOY!

My WORD for 2010

At the end of 2008 I had stumbled on this great idea of having a WORD to define you and move you through the upcoming year.   The first time I saw it was at Ali Edwards's Blog.  Once again, I've been in deep thought about "MY" word.  Last year my word was PEACE.  Looking back, I'm so pleased and proud of myself  becuase I truely found the PEACE I was looking for.  It's funny though, it came in so many different ways, none of which I expected.

This is a little bit of what Ali's blog says:

The idea behind the one little word concept is to give yourself something to focus on throughout the year. "A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow."
 
Also from that same newsletter:

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.

Once again, I found myself pulling between 2 different WORDS....

But after much thought my word for 2010 is Hope.

There are many things I Hope for.  They're important and wonderful things.  I know that by having Faith (which was the other word I was pulled between) and Hope that those things I want most in life will happen.  Hope is a belief and feeling that what is wanted can be had and will turn out for the best.  

We also did this as a family last night and I was so impressed with the words my family picked.  My husband is foucsed on "POSITIVE".  My 16-yr-old's word is "DISCIPLINE".  My 14-yr-old picked "INNER-STRENGH".  My sweet 7 year-old son picked "RESPECT".  And of course my little twins picked "SPARKLE" and "HAPPY".  

Need some help with words?? Check out Ali's List here.

Wordless Wednesday - Family Pictures From "You-Know-Where"

You can see that our VERY first family pictures (which included 7 of us) went VERY well.....

12 Days of Christmas

Previously Posted 12/2/08

Sunday, Dec. 13 is the day start the 12 Days of Christmas if you want it to end on Christmas Eve, and Monday, December 14th will begin the 12 Days of Christmas if want to end on Christmas.

Hopefully have read one of my old posts from last year about how as a child my family was given the "The 12 Days a Christmas".  You can see how this simple and sweet project can not only change the holiday season for another family, but also your own.

Here are some tips and ideas on how to prep this project and get your family excited about the secret Santa project they'll be doing. 

I was bouncing around the internet a few days ago and came across this adorable kit with download-able printouts and directions. It's called 12 Days of Christmas Kit by Sandy. For $2.85, I'm thinking it's money well spent. What I love about this one is the ideas and gifts are homemade and inexpensive. I don't need to remind everyone that money is tight, so leaving boxes of $20 bills probably won't be happening any time soon....these gifts are cute, usable, eatable, and easy to find. With the printouts (very cute!!) the gifts look adorable!

....I must confess....I'm happy that money is tight for everyone, including our family. I'm happy that we're being forced to remember why we celebrate this beautiful season. Maybe we should see it as a tender mercy and a blessing in disguise. Immersing your family in service and holiday projects, starting family traditions, keeping old traditions will remind us and keep us focused on Christmas...

Sorry....back to the 12-days....

So if you can spend the $2.96, go download her cute kit! It has a letter for the first night, all the tags and poems, pictures of ideas, and the gifts are easy and cute! If not...here are some cute ideas!! These are ones that I have done, friends have done, had done to my own family, etc.....

TIP: Wal-mart, Dollar Stores, Dollar Section in Target have everything you need if you need to go out and buy something.

"Anything" items could be as simple as bubbles for kids, microwave popcorn, candy, homemade cookies & treats, ornaments, crafts, nativity pictures, holiday wrapping supplies, fruit, mini puzzles, games, eggnog and dollar mugs, cocoa, homemade greeting cards or stationary....


Day 1 ♥ A partridge in a pear tree: One of ANYTHING, one pear, one basket of pears, dove ornament.
Day 2 ♥ 2 turtle doves: Two of ANYTHING, Dove candies or chocolate turtle candies,
Day 3 ♥ 3 french hens: Three of ANYTHING, anything "French", chicken noodle soup (hen is a chicken ;O), 3 Dozen cookies or treats of any kind.
Day 4 ♥ 4 calling birds: Four of ANYTHING, 4 bags of goodies, "calling" cards.
Day 5 ♥ 5 golden rings: Five of ANYTHING, donuts (my fav), ring pops
Day 6 ♥ 6 geese a laying: Six of ANYTHING, Easter eggs filled with treats, Fixings for omelets, 6 pack of soda or favorite drinks
Day 7 ♥ 7 swans a swimming: Seven of ANYTHING, Bubble bath and bath toys, Ugly Duckling Storybook
Day 8 ♥ 8 maids a milking: Eight of ANYTHING, milk maid caramels, Ice cream toppings, chocolate milk, cow print items, cow ornament...pretty much anything milk or cows!
Day 9 ♥ 9 ladies waiting: Nine of ANYTHING, Ladyfinger cookies, box of art supplies for kids
Day 10 ♥ 10 lords a leaping: Ten of ANYTHING, frog items, I heard this one represents the 10 commandments?? I stick with Ten of Anything...but let me know if you think of something creative!
Day 11 ♥ 11 pipers piping: Eleven of ANYTHING, Christmas CD (download and make it or buy it)
Day 12 ♥ 12 drummers drumming: Twelve of ANYTHING, drum ornament, drummer boy "something", ice cream drumsticks.

So here's a list to get the creative juices flowing! Start getting your items and ideas together now. I like to start on the 13th so our last delivery is on Christmas Eve. If you know the family will be traveling or leaving town, start earlier or finish when they return. Organize and start now because the days will fly by quickly. Plus its fun to get the hubby and kids excited about it. Be sure to sit down this week or by Saturday and plan out your gifts, pick a family or two and prep to begin Sunday or Monday. This is good time to "make" some homemade ornaments or crafts that you'd like to give as well. Please pass on your ideas and share them with us all!

Thanksgiving Tradition - Family Trivia

This traditions requires a little prep work...like today or tomorrow, but it's so worth it and so much fun!  We have to celebrate our holidays without the warmth and loveable chaos that most families do becuase we live 2000 miles away from everyone, but we did this in the past with our extended family and it was the highlight of the day! 

Send out a questionnaire to everyone that will be attending Thanksgiving together...even those who may not attend in person.  Plan questions so that they answers will reveal funny tidbits of your family history that not everyone has heard before.  Make sure everyone brings their answered questions to Thanskgiving so you can have yourselves a Family Trivia game! 

Need some question help?  www.families.com has a great list of questoins and ideas!!  See below -

Family: These questions should be about family members, alive or deceased, their accomplishments, favorite things, or birthplaces. Second cousins and great greats can be included in the harder questions.

History: Look at your children's history homework for ideas. Also consider questions about historical places you've visited on vacation, like the Alamo, or history about your state. Family history can also be incorporated.

Science: Again, your children's homework will help here. Consider questions from museum exhibits you've attended or movies you've seen. How about kitchen science? Garage science? Computer science? Questions about favorite family animal shows would also be appropriate.

Literature: Books you've read together, or favorite childhood books are wonderful sources for literature questions. Who wrote a favorite book? Who are the main characters? Movies are also a good source of questions. For instance, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a movie, but it's also a book. Questions about the story, sequels, or C.S. Lewis would be appropriate.

Art: Have you and your kids

visited an art museum? Have you read art books? How about that print in the living room? If it's famous, questions about the artist would be great. Questions about colors and color mixing, different media, and even book illustrators will work well.

Geography: Vacations! Questions like, "How many states do we cross to get to Florida?" and "Which states do we cross to get to Florida?" will be customized just for your family. Have you worked a country or world puzzle together? Use questions about the puzzle. Even questions about your city's streets are appropriate: "Main street runs in which two directions?"

Sports & Liesure: This is a topic your entire family will love because it can be so personal. How many years has Suzie taken ballet? What was her first performance? Johnny plays soccer, but does anyone know the score to his last game? What sport did Mom play in fifth grade? Dad won first chair in the high school jazz band playing which instrument? If Jenny could play any instrument in the world, what would it be? What was the first song June and Henry danced to at their wedding reception? 

Image from -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lapstrake/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Holidays In Hand with Jessica Sprague

Don't miss out on this wonderful FREE class given by Jessica Sprague... Holidays In Hand.

The FINAL class of 2009 began this morning, but there's still time to toss your hat into the ring!  

FREE registration will end tonight at 11:59pm, so go claim a spot!

This class will help you capture the hopes, memories and wonderment of the holidays.  This class helps us focus on what's important during the holidays.

We'll be making a great project to help you tell your holiday stories both past and present.  This class is for EVERYONE. Since you don't have to know Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, grab a friend to join you in class!
Registration is easy and free!

• Go to JessicaSprague.com.
• Copy this code by highlighting it and typing Ctrl-C (Cmd-c on your Mac): HIHFREE2009

Wordless Wednesday - Anyone Seen My Cupcake?

For more Wordless Wednesday visit www.5minutesformom.com

I'm Back....

I'm back...

Life has gotten chaotic-busy in wonderful ways and blogging was taking a backseat. I'm here now...in and out...still busy, but hoping to keep up on my all my blogging. I have so many saved posts and ideas. I haven't even had time to try and post one up. But hopefully in a day or two I'll be moving along.

I do have some great holiday giveaways planned...I owe that to you! I can't wait to give some presents away! ♥

I did finish the pettiskirt...

Go me! It was HARD! I'm not going to lie....tedious! But she was so cute as our little Autumn Fairy.

Homecoming was a blast...we had 20 kids over for a candlelight dinner. My girl is growing up! Makes me happy-sad...

Genealogy has become a big hobby for me lately...I could go on and on about that! What an amazing experience that has been... Found my long lost family that had been forgotten.

So much more has been happening in our little world, but with all the craziness I have managed to be creative and create...which has probably kept me SANE! I'll share some of my fun with you soon....

Sew...Busy! Adorable Pettiskirts!!!

I'm at it again... My dear friend keeps showing me adorable projects to sew. Well, we're working on this right now....

You can veiw a tutorial and at Martha Stewart.

Our girls are going to be "ballerinas". My little one is actually a "ballerina-fairy-princess". I have to get this done by Wednesday night, so hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon.

And I also made a skirt with NO pattern. EASY EASY EASY! You can make it in less than an hour. So I'll post about that too once I get this project done.

HOW CUTE ARE THOSE!?!?!?!