Happy Birthday Ella Bella!

My niece turned 4 this past week… and my sister threw her a splash/waterslide party. There couldn’t be a more appropriate theme for this girl…she swims like a fish and loves the water. My sister, Jessica, just had a baby at the beginning of June and decided that she wanted an easy, simple party for Ella considering. Let me just take you on a pictorial journey of her definition of “simple”:

{Click on pictures to enlarge and see details.}

Simple, right? I mean, it’s like no planning, forethought or creativity went into this. haha I don’t think “simple” is even in Jessica’s vocabulary. I think what she means by simple… is that she isn’t going to stay up until 4am baking 25 different varieties of desserts, appetizers and edible decor…. as she usually does. Nevertheless, I’d have to say everything turned out superb decor-wise and food-wise.

But we haven’t even got to the best part (for the kids, anyway):

I think it is fair to say that the kids all pretty much lost their marbles for these waterslides!

…which was a good thing considering it was 159 degrees outside. (according to my reading)

Fortunately, I didn’t have any children to watch in the water so I was able to pull the pregnancy card and spend some time with little Owen inside. (Hey, it was 159*, I didn’t want to hard boil Layla! haha)

As for my sister Emily and my Mom… well they pulled the “we’re watching Owen” card, too. haha

Jessica and I setting out the balloons.

(No! This picture wasn’t posed. haha)

And now, for what’s really important. The food.

Jessica had Kenny and DeBran cater a taco bar… which was AH-mazing (as usual).

I made a frozen banana [...]]]>

Happy Birthday Ella Bella!

My niece turned 4 this past week… and my sister threw her a splash/waterslide party. There couldn’t be a more appropriate theme for this girl…she swims like a fish and loves the water. My sister, Jessica, just had a baby at the beginning of June and decided that she wanted an easy, simple party for Ella considering. Let me just take you on a pictorial journey of her definition of “simple”:

{Click on pictures to enlarge and see details.}

Simple, right? I mean, it’s like no planning, forethought or creativity went into this. haha I don’t think “simple” is even in Jessica’s vocabulary. I think what she means by simple… is that she isn’t going to stay up until 4am baking 25 different varieties of desserts, appetizers and edible decor…. as she usually does. Nevertheless, I’d have to say everything turned out superb decor-wise and food-wise.

But we haven’t even got to the best part (for the kids, anyway):

I think it is fair to say that the kids all pretty much lost their marbles for these waterslides!

…which was a good thing considering it was 159 degrees outside. (according to my reading)

Fortunately, I didn’t have any children to watch in the water so I was able to pull the pregnancy card and spend some time with little Owen inside. (Hey, it was 159*, I didn’t want to hard boil Layla! haha)

As for my sister Emily and my Mom… well they pulled the “we’re watching Owen” card, too. haha

Jessica and I setting out the balloons.

(No! This picture wasn’t posed. haha)

And now, for what’s really important. The food.

Jessica had Kenny and DeBran cater a taco bar… which was AH-mazing (as usual).

I made a frozen banana split cake (found here) which was perfect for an outdoor party on such a hot day.

We even had little fishy candy to write on the cake with.

All in all, I’d have to say that the party was a hit!

We all had a whaley good time. (I had to. I’m sorry.)

Jessica has more details and pictures up on her party blog… where she shows the decorations more closely and even lets you in on where she found these items (or how she made them) in the event you are having a similar type party! So be sure to check those out! And you might as well follow along with her blog… she’s always posting her creative parties and ideas. You won’t be sorry you did, rest assured.

Oh, this blog is so cute I can hardly stand it!  Everything about it is so bright and cheery and just adorable!

Allsorts is authored by Jenny B Harris who is just about as creative and crafty as they come. The pictures on her blog just make your heart delight. Not to mention her oh-so-fabulous patterns and tutorials. (My favorite is her Scotty Dog tutorial… I am itching to give it a whirl!) Something about her blog just sparks inspiration inside you to make cute things. Or just drool over the cute things she has made. haha

The blog itself deserves an A+ for colors and design. It is super easy to navigate around…everything is orderly and understandable. And did I mention adorable? Oh, I did? Very well.

It really is a feast for the eyes and a gem of a blog.

And there is plenty to look at in the archives, so head on over there!

Check out her blog and her etsy shop!

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

And now it is time to give a little blogland love and link up your favorite blogs! Go ahead. Don’t be shy.

PS. Don’t forget to grab a button here!

Yes, I may have suffered a heart attack.

I’m still in a catatonic daze.

My life may never be the same again.

So. I was getting ready to run a few errands…nothing out of the ordinary. I had my purse on my shoulder, sunglasses on and keys in my hand walking toward the front door…just like every other time I leave the house. As I swing open the front door, something light and tickle-y brushes ever so softly against my arm.

I’m no fool. My brain is already pre-wired to identify that sensation in about 1.2 nano seconds.

Without fail, my body starts flailing around desperately like a fish out of water…at the same time I’m slapping my arm and sprinting in place. Yes, this was a whole body effort…minus the lack of any sort of coordination. I mean, I was moving in ways that were previously considered humanly impossible.

I slapped my face and told me to get a hold of myself.

And I stood there in complete stillness. Embarrassed in front of myself for such uncontrolled movements, but mostly because I had a mystery to solve.

I began the re-enactment in my mind… looking what I was standing under–the doorway. Re-enacting my arm slaps to see what direction I was slapping said perpetrator off of me. Re-playing the sensation of a light tickle across my arm in my head.

No, it couldn’t have been a flying bug. Or a leaf.

No. It was lighter, leaner, more legs.

Not moving, I started scanning the floor around me…looking in the direction of my slaps.

I zeroed in on legs. Lots of legs. Long, long skinny legs…trying to blend in with the wood floor.

NO! I said in horror and disbelief.

Please no. Anything but that.

The room started to spin around me; I started to feel faint. My mind just replayed the tickle sensation over and over as I now knew how many legs [...]]]> I had such a busy weekend…and I am so behind on posts (and responses)…which I will hopefully get to today and tomorrow…BUT! I have to interrupt my chronological order of posts to announce the pain and suffering I endured yesterday.

Yes, I may have suffered a heart attack.

I’m still in a catatonic daze.

My life may never be the same again.

So. I was getting ready to run a few errands…nothing out of the ordinary. I had my purse on my shoulder, sunglasses on and keys in my hand walking toward the front door…just like every other time I leave the house. As I swing open the front door, something light and tickle-y brushes ever so softly against my arm.

I’m no fool. My brain is already pre-wired to identify that sensation in about 1.2 nano seconds.

Without fail, my body starts flailing around desperately like a fish out of water…at the same time I’m slapping my arm and sprinting in place. Yes, this was a whole body effort…minus the lack of any sort of coordination. I mean, I was moving in ways that were previously considered humanly impossible.

I slapped my face and told me to get a hold of myself.

And I stood there in complete stillness. Embarrassed in front of myself for such uncontrolled movements, but mostly because I had a mystery to solve.

I began the re-enactment in my mind… looking what I was standing under–the doorway. Re-enacting my arm slaps to see what direction I was slapping said perpetrator off of me. Re-playing the sensation of a light tickle across my arm in my head.

No, it couldn’t have been a flying bug. Or a leaf.

No. It was lighter, leaner, more legs.

Not moving, I started scanning the floor around me…looking in the direction of my slaps.

I zeroed in on legs. Lots of legs. Long, long skinny legs…trying to blend in with the wood floor.

NO! I said in horror and disbelief.

Please no. Anything but that.

The room started to spin around me; I started to feel faint. My mind just replayed the tickle sensation over and over as I now knew how many legs brushed up against me. 8. All 8 of them tickled my bare-skinned arm as it fell from the doorway. And now I knew at any moment this creature was going to make a run for it. I had to do something.

You see, I don’t think I’m making myself clear. It is a true statement that I don’t like spiders. But I don’t dislike all spiders equally. I am absolutely scared silly at the sight of a daddy long legs. And don’t you dare tell me “they can’t hurt you”…because my biggest fear has come true and I will suffer emotionally and mentally all the days of my life. They don’t look like stable spiders as the they perch in their corner webs. I mean, how could they? Those legs are so long and skinny and frail. They walk on stilts. They are just bound to lose their balance and fall at any moment. Case in point.

Now is the time I regain consciousness and begin to recognize the need for a plan. And quick. I already know that I cannot step on the spider. It will crunch. And remnants may be left on my shoe. I cannot whack the spider with an object….frail legs will go flying everywhere. The only rational solution is to go all Roadrunner/Wyle E. Coyote on Mr. Long Legs. Because cartoons teach valuable lessons.

I grabbed the first item I could see without moving…Jon’s sandal. (Sorry Jon. I cannot be held responsible for items left by the front door.) I leaned over the arachnid, holding the sandal near chin level, making visual adjustments for accuracy and dropped! It landed square on top of “daddy”. He never saw it coming.

But that’s not the only lesson I’ve learned from cartoons. I also know that the coyote never dies. He somehow manages to escape the pile of bricks or stick of TNT or fall from the cliff (with the classic YA-HOO-HOO-HOOOOO as he falls 10,000 feet only to make a large hole in ground and to climb out seeking revenge).

Well the same logic applies (in my mind) with the long legs. I just provoked him. He will slither out from under that shoe and seek his revenge. I. MUST. RUN.

Which is exactly what I did.

My legs spun around in a circular blur. Beep. Beep. And I was out of there.

I hopped in my car so fast, I didn’t even close the screen door. The only thing that could come close to calming me down was a Cherry Limeade from Sonic. Oooh! And it’s happy hour! So I found my comfort. Momentarily anyway. I kept feeling more spiders crawling all over me as a drove. Passerbys must thought I was nuts (or had a serious disorder) as I continued to slap myself the whole drive there as I felt little tickles. I even convinced myself that maybe the whole spider family fell on me and I just shoed their father. Or, worse, mother. AHHH! SLAP! Or maybe not. Maybe they were just waiting for me until I got home.

With that, I decided that I couldn’t return home until Jon was back from work and could take a peek under the sandal.

I was forced to browse around Michaels while I waited. I know. The torture.

The moment of truth was revealed when Jon got home: long legs met his demise. RIP Mr. Legs.

Mildly comforting yes. But nothing can reverse the continued tickle sensation I feel across my arm. I would have wished it to be anything else falling from the doorway… a bug, a cat, a wolf… something with weight. Something with impact. At least leave me with a mark so I have physical justification for my paranoia. Not just a tickle.

This is the very thing that my very worst nightmares are made up of.

Oh, the horror.

I actually had two people in mind when I saw what this week’s topic was going to be: my little brother and his best friend who might as well be brother #2. Of course, I wanted to make sure I had their permission before I blogged about them and my brother opted out. Boooo. (Big ol’ chicken! bock bock bock! I’m his sister. I can say that. haha)

But lucky for you single girls, his best friend was willing. Because he is always up for anything and isn’t afraid to live life.

Without further ado, allow me to introduce Jarred.

I picked out a picture that I felt summed him up. Yes, him on a trampoline. haha

Let me explain.

He is a grounded free-spirit, always a willing participant for adventure, spontaneous and fun-loving.

He is light-hearted, laid back and pretty much always the life of the party. He has a witty sense of humor, always quick quipped and always willing to laugh at himself. You never regret inviting Jarred somewhere; a good time will be had by all. With that being said, there is no mistaking that he can hold his own in an intellectual conversation. Or any conversation. He is knowledgeable on current events and actually has an opinion on things. He knows what he believes and isn’t afraid of a good debate every now and then. Intellectual stimulation and conversation are like a rare gem, and this guy’s got it.

Jarred is very dynamic in that he has so many good qualities that make up his personality.

He is dependable and loyal. You can count on him for [...]]]> This week’s edition of “Show us your Life” on Kelly’s Korner is show us your single guys…with the purpose of all her single readers to see who we consider to be a good catch. Now, I’m not usually one to play matchmaker (who am I kidding, if I knew two people who I thought would be great together, I’d introduce them in a heartbeat! haha)…but I feel a sense of duty, a sense responsibility if you will, to give a worthy girl the opportunity to meet one heck of a guy.

I actually had two people in mind when I saw what this week’s topic was going to be: my little brother and his best friend who might as well be brother #2. Of course, I wanted to make sure I had their permission before I blogged about them and my brother opted out. Boooo. (Big ol’ chicken! bock bock bock! I’m his sister. I can say that. haha)

But lucky for you single girls, his best friend was willing. Because he is always up for anything and isn’t afraid to live life.

Without further ado, allow me to introduce Jarred.

I picked out a picture that I felt summed him up. Yes, him on a trampoline. haha

Let me explain.

He is a grounded free-spirit, always a willing participant for adventure, spontaneous and fun-loving.

He is light-hearted, laid back and pretty much always the life of the party. He has a witty sense of humor, always quick quipped and always willing to laugh at himself. You never regret inviting Jarred somewhere; a good time will be had by all. With that being said, there is no mistaking that he can hold his own in an intellectual conversation. Or any conversation. He is knowledgeable on current events and actually has an opinion on things. He knows what he believes and isn’t afraid of a good debate every now and then. Intellectual stimulation and conversation are like a rare gem, and this guy’s got it.

Jarred is very dynamic in that he has so many good qualities that make up his personality.

He is dependable and loyal. You can count on him for anything.

He is very much a gentleman. Chivalry is not dead with this guy.

He is creative… and can draw exceptionally well. (And paints!)

He is empathetic and has a big ol’ heart.

He is a person of integrity and character.

Most importantly, he has a heart for the Lord.

Random fun facts:

He can run a mile in 7 minutes.

He flosses regularly.

He doodles all over everything.

He has a pet turtle.

He hates onions.

Likes to hike, camp, hunt, travel, go the beach…likes pretty much all music. Wants to take a cross country motorcycle trip one day. The list can go on and on… but I’ll leave you some questions to ask.

And now for the details:

Strong Christian, Blond hair, green eyes, 5’11 ish, 27, works in real estate, lives in Southern California.

And a close up picture to prove he doesn’t have a snaggle tooth. haha

He even caught the garter at my wedding… Proof that it is high time for him being “next”. haha

I can’t speak highly enough about him. And anyone that knows him can vouch that everything I wrote is completely accurate. Understated even. (Friends that read my blog that know him… back me up on this!)

Girls… he’s a catch!

I was looking at different recipe’s for cake/cupcakes for my niece’s upcoming birthday party when I stumbled upon this recipe on PaulaDeen.com. Considering my sister is throwing Ella an outdoor splash party…and we have been in the middle of a heat wave…I thought a frozen ice cream style cake (in lieu of  a traditional cake) would be absolutely perfect for the occasion.

And a recipe from Paula Deen? You KNOW it’s going to be good. And it doesn’t even contain a stick of butter!

Naturally I had to make a trial run… just to make sure all of the praise-filled reviews lived up to my expectations. (And lets just say anything involving hot fudge probably would exceed my expectations! haha Hence, it HAD to be made.)

The Ingredients:

Ice Cream Sandwiches (12 pack if cutting in half or 24 pack if using them whole)

A Bunch of Bananas

A Jar of Hot Fudge

A Jar of Butterscotch Topping

A Pack of Nut Topping OR Toffee bits

A Jar Maraschino Cherries

Cool Whip

Step 1:

The recipe calls for a 9×13 dish to be used… but I used a 9×9. Jon and I certainly don’t need to be eating an entire 9×13 dish of banana split by ourselves. haha And, like I said, this was just a trial run.

Paula recommends using heaving aluminum foil on the bottom of the dish so you can pull it out easily to cut into squares. I didn’t have heavy foil so I used regular foil. Probably not the most ideal but I doubled up.

Step 2:

Unwrap your ice cream sandwiches. Now here is where I deviated from the recipe. My dish wasn’t going to be deep enough to use two layers of full ice cream sandwiches, so I cut them down the middle. In hindsight, I may have just used a deeper dish.

After you cut them in half, put the remaining half sandwiches back in the freezer. (I learned my lesson the hard way…you’ll see.)

Step 3:

Layer the bottom of your dish with the sandwiches (or halves). Cut them to fit the dish.

Step 4:

Slice your bananas and layer them on top of the ice [...]]]>

I was looking at different recipe’s for cake/cupcakes for my niece’s upcoming birthday party when I stumbled upon this recipe on PaulaDeen.com. Considering my sister is throwing Ella an outdoor splash party…and we have been in the middle of a heat wave…I thought a frozen ice cream style cake (in lieu of  a traditional cake) would be absolutely perfect for the occasion.

And a recipe from Paula Deen? You KNOW it’s going to be good. And it doesn’t even contain a stick of butter!

Naturally I had to make a trial run… just to make sure all of the praise-filled reviews lived up to my expectations. (And lets just say anything involving hot fudge probably would exceed my expectations! haha Hence, it HAD to be made.)

The Ingredients:

Ice Cream Sandwiches (12 pack if cutting in half or 24 pack if using them whole)

A Bunch of Bananas

A Jar of Hot Fudge

A Jar of Butterscotch Topping

A Pack of Nut Topping OR Toffee bits

A Jar Maraschino Cherries

Cool Whip

Step 1:

The recipe calls for a 9×13 dish to be used… but I used a 9×9. Jon and I certainly don’t need to be eating an entire 9×13 dish of banana split by ourselves. haha And, like I said, this was just a trial run.

Paula recommends using heaving aluminum foil on the bottom of the dish so you can pull it out easily to cut into squares. I didn’t have heavy foil so I used regular foil. Probably not the most ideal but I doubled up.

Step 2:

Unwrap your ice cream sandwiches. Now here is where I deviated from the recipe. My dish wasn’t going to be deep enough to use two layers of full ice cream sandwiches, so I cut them down the middle. In hindsight, I may have just used a deeper dish.

After you cut them in half, put the remaining half sandwiches back in the freezer. (I learned my lesson the hard way…you’ll see.)

Step 3:

Layer the bottom of your dish with the sandwiches (or halves). Cut them to fit the dish.

Step 4:

Slice your bananas and layer them on top of the ice cream sandwiches. I cut mine “banana split” style… but next time I will slice them in horizontal, thin slices.

Step 5:

Layer the Goodies!!

1. Pour the Jar of Hot Fudge evenly over the bananas

2. Add the Cherries (drained well) and Nut Topping (or toffee bits)

3. Pour the Jar of Butterscotch topping evenly over the cherries

4. Top with the remaining halves (or whole if you are making it that way) of sandwiches.

You can see why I say put your unused sandwiches back in the freezer.

Step 6:

Layer the top with a spread of Cool Whip.

Step 7:

Cover and allow to freeze for AT LEAST 4 hours.

Once frozen, cut up into squares and enjoy!

You can drizzle the top with chocolate or top with nuts… however you would like your presentation. This is pretty much an “anything goes” recipe… add whatever you like on your banana split: Strawberries, Pineapple Topping, Sprinkles… Go hog wild.

*Tips on what to expect:

♥ The bananas are going to freeze and taste just like a… you guessed it… a frozen banana. When (not if) I make it again, I will layer a thinly sliced banana inside and then sprinkle the top with some fresh banana pieces as well.

♥ The hot fudge and butterscotch do not freeze. I was curious what would happen to them while they were freezing. Instead, they are still gooey and heavenly, which is perfect with the ice cream.

♥ Cutting the sandwich in half eliminates half of the ice cream. Originally I thought that two whole layers of ice cream sandwiches might be too much. I may have been wrong. haha I will definitely experiment using whole sandwiches next time. I mean, who doesn’t like an ice cream sandwich? The more the merrier. Amen?

♥ The nut topping was a subtle treat, but I will try the toffee bits next time. I’m not usually a fan of hard, crunchy toppings in my ice cream (like m&ms)… I always feel like I am going to crack a tooth. haha But it might add just that extra little bit of zing to this otherwise heavenly treat!

This is just the perfect summertime dessert. It is super easy to make and your family will love it. Such a treat on a hot day! I must warn you in advance, it is unbelievably addicting. But don’t blame me; it’s all Paul Deen’s fault.

Enjoy!

PS… I made you are recipe card! Save it to your computer or print it out!

Paula Deen’s recipe link: Frozen Banana Split.

Post linked to Friday Favorites at Simply Sweet Home.

It’s only the 3rd week and I’m already breaking bending the rules.  (As if there were ever rules haha) Nevertheless, allow me to explain. You see, I have an arsenal of blogs on a mental list that I already know I want to feature on In the blogLight. Unfortunately (for me) two of those bloggers decided that they will not be blogging anymore… each for their own reason which I completely respect. With that being said, their blogs were/are fabulous and are so deserving of knowing how wonderful they are and how much I appreciated their creativity and uniqueness. And, of course, I encourage y’all to still go over and pay their blogs a visit. There is so much goodness in the archives for y’all to enjoy… it would certainly be worth your while. Without further ado:

Many of you may be readers of Cherry Tree (yes, that is my own mental nickname I have given this blog)… so I’m sure the news of Rachel not blogging anymore is sad for more than just myself. But let me tell you, for those who do not regularly read her blog, her reason for giving it up is nothing less than courageous, compelling and inspiring. You can read her last post here.

Why I LOVE it:

Let me count the ways. First, there is a little bit of everything… from cute vintage finds and crafty goodness to commentaries to daily life. Personally, I really connected with Rachel’s writing. And the topics that she chooses to write about. I guess you can say that I am on the same wavelength… I get what she writes. And what I love is that she isn’t afraid to speak the truth or to have an opinion… both of which are always conveyed with love and never self-righteousness. She gracefully demonstrates that it is okay to be passionate about what you believe, to have independent thoughts and to challenge your readership to look beyond the surface of [...]]]>

Welcome to the 3rd edition of In the blogLight!

It’s only the 3rd week and I’m already breaking bending the rules.  (As if there were ever rules haha) Nevertheless, allow me to explain. You see, I have an arsenal of blogs on a mental list that I already know I want to feature on In the blogLight. Unfortunately (for me) two of those bloggers decided that they will not be blogging anymore… each for their own reason which I completely respect. With that being said, their blogs were/are fabulous and are so deserving of knowing how wonderful they are and how much I appreciated their creativity and uniqueness. And, of course, I encourage y’all to still go over and pay their blogs a visit. There is so much goodness in the archives for y’all to enjoy… it would certainly be worth your while. Without further ado:

Many of you may be readers of Cherry Tree (yes, that is my own mental nickname I have given this blog)… so I’m sure the news of Rachel not blogging anymore is sad for more than just myself. But let me tell you, for those who do not regularly read her blog, her reason for giving it up is nothing less than courageous, compelling and inspiring. You can read her last post here.

Why I LOVE it:

Let me count the ways. First, there is a little bit of everything… from cute vintage finds and crafty goodness to commentaries to daily life. Personally, I really connected with Rachel’s writing. And the topics that she chooses to write about. I guess you can say that I am on the same wavelength… I get what she writes. And what I love is that she isn’t afraid to speak the truth or to have an opinion… both of which are always conveyed with love and never self-righteousness. She gracefully demonstrates that it is okay to be passionate about what you believe, to have independent thoughts and to challenge your readership to look beyond the surface of issues that our society accepts at face value. I most certainly appreciate those posts that encourage such dialog and reflection.

Furthermore, her writings reveal a person of character, a woman after God’s own heart. And that’s not only a rarity, but so inspiring as well. It is so evident that she seeks to please the Lord and is willing to be a person of action. And that kind of spirit is contagious. I will miss her posts, but I’m quite certain God will still use her writing in some way; it is a beautiful gift… and as we know, every good an perfect gift is from above. Whatever path it leads her down next, there is no doubt the Lord will be glorified.

I don’t remember when exactly I found this blog, but goodness me… do I enjoy a ruffle. And stuff. This next blog is just bursting with innovative creativity… the kind that inspires you to actually make things, not just admire them. The blogger’s name is Disney (named after the channel, not the theme park, she explains)… how cool is that?? What a unique name to have!

Why I Love it:

There are some blogs that you come across that just need to be celebrated. Plain and simple. This is one of them. I can’t even tell you how many adorable ideas you will find, all complete with tutorials or patterns or print outs or instructions. It’s not just a “look at what I can do” blog… it is graciously “I will show you how” blog. Trust me, you’ll be thankful for that. There are so many “craft blogs” out there that just seem to want a big ol’ pat on the back for their obvious talent and creativity. And I’m not talking about people who make things to sell and blog for promotional purposes. I love me some handmade and I’m perfectly fine appreciating their workmanship without knowing the magic that goes into it. But when you come across a blog like this that is exploding with fabulous ideas AND the blogger is sweet enough to teach you how to make everything… I do declare that to be a real gem!

The blog layout is simple and sweet… so girlie and feminine… just as the Blog name Ruffles and Stuff implies. It is a cinch to navigate around and browse through the archives. Many projects can be viewed  pictorially by thumbnails at one time. But take my word for it, you’re going to love it all. You’ll want to bookmark just about every project because it is not only darling, but the tutorials are presented in such a way that makes you feel confident that you can make it too! I can’t speak more highly of this blog… just seeing a new post just makes me all giddy. Accordingly, I am so sad that it is coming to an end. Nevertheless, I am thankful that Disney is keeping her blog up for all of her readers to browse the archives of past projects. If you haven’t been to her blog, go check it out. Don’t worry, the archives will keep you busy long enough for us to conjure up a petition to get her back to blogging.

Final Thoughts:

The blog world has had so much to celebrate with Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane and Ruffles and Stuff. It’s sad to lose such gems, especially when you’ve just found them. But just like the seasons of life, nothing is permanent and things are bound to change. All I know is that if either blogger changes their mind, we’ll all welcome them back with open arms.

Best of luck to both of you girls! xoxo

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

PS. I’ve made buttons! A few different ones to choose from. Small ones for your blog’s sidebars and bigger ones for your posts, if you would like to participate.  I even have one to display if you’ve been featured. Yeah, I went button crazy. I couldn’t stop myself. haha Go to the button page HERE to grab a button.

Just typing those two words makes me anxious. It’s as if I’m about to find a few more things to add to my list of things I should be worrying about. So I start to stress because I don’t need more to worry about. My plate is already full.

What a viscous cycle.

And I have a feeling I am not alone in this.

This week’s message at church was “A Strategy for Reducing Stress”.

Yes please. And I would like seconds on that, too.

♥  ♥  ♥

I’m not normally a note taker. Never have been. I’ve always been under the impression that I’m a pretty good listener. And, when given multiple choice, I have pretty good memory recall…which got me through college just fine. Unfortunately, real life is not multiple choice. And sometimes you hear things that you need to remember. For me, this applies to the lessons being taught at church. Perhaps God is trying to get something through to me, and I hear it, but never truly put it to practice. Not because I am purposely being disobedient, but because I forget what I’ve heard when it comes time to make that lesson applicable in daily life.

Church isn’t a tool to entertain or an obligatory time-filler in order to fulfill some sense of duty to God. He wants to speak to you and for you to listen with an receptive heart and to teach you His ways. He wants you to know that there is a better way for your life than what this world has to offer. Realizing this, really realizing this, I’ve decided I’m going to become a note-taker. So I don’t forget. So I can look back on my notes during the week and stew upon what I’ve learned, apply it to daily situations and start using church messages as a tool for spiritual growth. Amen?

Fortunately for me, my church hands out an outline for the message… for you to fill in the major points, highlighting the verses that are being taught. Beyond that, there are margins to write anything else that speaks to [...]]]> Stress and Worry.

Just typing those two words makes me anxious.
It’s as if I’m about to find a few more things to add to my list of things I should be worrying about. So I start to stress because I don’t need more to worry about. My plate is already full.

What a viscous cycle.

And I have a feeling I am not alone in this.

This week’s message at church was “A Strategy for Reducing Stress”.

Yes please. And I would like seconds on that, too.

♥  ♥  ♥

I’m not normally a note taker. Never have been. I’ve always been under the impression that I’m a pretty good listener. And, when given multiple choice, I have pretty good memory recall…which got me through college just fine. Unfortunately, real life is not multiple choice. And sometimes you hear things that you need to remember. For me, this applies to the lessons being taught at church. Perhaps God is trying to get something through to me, and I hear it, but never truly put it to practice. Not because I am purposely being disobedient, but because I forget what I’ve heard when it comes time to make that lesson applicable in daily life.

Church isn’t a tool to entertain or an obligatory time-filler in order to fulfill some sense of duty to God. He wants to speak to you and for you to listen with an receptive heart and to teach you His ways. He wants you to know that there is a better way for your life than what this world has to offer. Realizing this, really realizing this, I’ve decided I’m going to become a note-taker. So I don’t forget. So I can look back on my notes during the week and stew upon what I’ve learned, apply it to daily situations and start using church messages as a tool for spiritual growth. Amen?

Fortunately for me, my church hands out an outline for the message… for you to fill in the major points, highlighting the verses that are being taught. Beyond that, there are margins to write anything else that speaks to you during the message. Needless to say, my outline is full. Had I not written things down, I probably couldn’t recall much more than the topic and a brief synopsis of the overall message. And this message was important for me.

I want to share some of my notes with you because I know this is a topic most women (and men, too!) struggle with. Here is what I’ve gathered from the message (paraphrasing in my own words, not quoting the pastor…so don’t hold him responsible haha) based on my outline of notes:

The main verses we studied were Philippians 4:4-8…which will be broken down line by line.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philipians 4:4)

Sounds easy, right? Not quite. Having an infiltration of any negativity in your mind automatically steers you into the direction of NOT rejoicing. At least for me it does. And that is not to say that nothing bad is going to happen to you or that you are not allowed to feel crabby some days. But it is a true statement that many of us see ourselves enduring life instead of enjoying life. How sad is that?

Step 1: Worry about nothing.

Stop laughing. No rolling of the eyes. It’s true. And yes, it is going to be hard. But here is what God says:

Do not be anxious about anything… (Philipians 4:6a)

Note the word anything. Don’t be anxious about anything. Don’t stress about anything. Don’t worry about anything. Worry is “assuming responsibility that God never intended for you to have.”  Isn’t it funny how we worry the most over situations that are completely out of our control? In essence we are trying to control the uncontrollable. It reminds me of Matthew6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Isn’t that the truth. Worrying is pointless; it accomplishes nothing.

And to add a little Psychology/Science to the mix:

A study done by Dr. Walter Calvert, funded by the National Science Foundation, revealed some startling statistics about human beings and worry. Here’s what he found:

• 30% of our worries are about events in the past
• 40% of the things we worry about never happen
• 12% of our worries are unfounded health concerns
• 10% of our worries are over minor and trivial issues
• Only 8% of our worries are real, legitimate issues

8%! Seriously now. And that 8 percent of legitimate issues doesn’t indicate that those are even situations that we can control by worrying.

Repeat after me (say it out loud or write it down; this is important and you need to remember it!):

Worry cannot change the past. Worry cannot control the future.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:34:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.”

Step 2: Pray About Everything

“…but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philipians 4:6b

Keep in mind that a petition = a specific detailed request.

Sometimes we forget that God created us to have relationship with us. He doesn’t want us to just go through the motions. He wants us to talk (prayer) to Him. He wants us to share every detail of our lives… our emotions, feelings, thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams. Often, we justify that “He is all-knowing, hence, He already knows what I’m feeling, fearing, etc”. Right you are. He does. But He wants us to tell Him any way because in doing so, we are participating in a relationship with Him. He wants us to ask Him for what we need and to depend on Him for it.

Isn’t change one of the biggest culprits of stress and worry? Especially when something has been eliminated from our lives? Our job, our finances, a friendship, our comfort? So often we focus on what has been removed instead of seeing it as an opportunity for God to fill it with something better. When change happens, get excited… God has something in store. Ask for it!

James 4:2 says …“You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

John 16:23-24 says… “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Step 3: Thank God for ALL Things

Having an “attitude of gratitude” is the key.

“The root of joy is gratefulness…It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” - Brother David Steindl-Rast (I saw this quote on a facebook friend’s status yesterday and thought it was just perfect timing for me!)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.“ 1 Thess. 5:18

Just stop for a moment and re-read that. How many times do we question ourselves and ask what God’s will really is for us? And then we get our answer: to be grateful. to have gratitude. to give thanks in ALL circumstances. The truth of the matter is, no matter what we are going through, no matter what we are facing… we can still find something to be grateful for. Just knowing there is a God who loves us, that cares for us… that the Creator of the entire universe even thinks about us… should top the list.

A list, you say? On the days were you don’t want to be thankful… you know, the days where nothing seems to be going right, everything is falling a part, you can’t imagine how things could get worse… take a few minutes to sit down and write your list. What can you thank God for, despite the day you are having? The gift of prayer? A roof over your head? Your health? Your family? The fact you have food to eat and clean water to drink? The list will go on and on; we are blessed beyond measure…far more than we deserve. It will change your perspective, your attitude and your outlook.

Which leads to the next step:

Step 4: Think About the Right Things

You are given the freedom to choose the things you think about. Stew on that.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8

What you think affects how you feel. How you feel affects what you think about.

What we put in our minds affects our lives, be it positivity or negativity.

“As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7

What do you allow into your mind? Check it against these 7 things:

Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it excellent and worthy of praise?

If you answer NO then change the channel in your mind. You have the power to do that.  Turn the worry off. Tune out the stress. There is no question that it will be very difficult at first and every time you think of something else, your mind wanders back. Keep changing the channel. It will get easier over time.

If you apply all of these steps to your daily life…

The Results:

“If you do this you will experience God’s Peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.“ Philippians 4:7

Wow. I like God’s alternative to stress: Peace that will transcend all understanding…knowing that God is guarding our hearts and our minds. He is giving us rest by trusting in Jesus.

Your Parting Gift:

I made a card for you! So you don’t forget this important lesson. Save it to your computer. Print it out. Make it a note card size and put it on your dash in the car. Hang it on the refrigerator. Put it on the bathroom mirror. Place a copy in your wallet or purse. Use it as a bookmark. Send it as a postcard. You get the idea. Put it where you will see it all week.

But wait! That’s not all folks! There’s more!

You can print this next one separately or print it on the back of the first card. It’s our memory verses.

Jon’s Granny once said, “If you can memorize your TV guide and remember what time all of your favorite shows are on… then you can learn a Bible verse.” Amen, Granny, Amen.

Learn these. They are battle weapons to be recalled and used when stress starts creeping it’s creepy self back into your life. Read them when you first wake up before the day gets crazy. Read them at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Read them before you fall asleep at night. Constantly remind yourself that God wants JOY for your life. Not stress. Not worry. Not anxiety. That is the truth. Don’t you dare let yourself believe otherwise.

Have a joy-filled, stress-free day!

It has been almost 5 years since my Grandma passed away. In some ways it feels like 5 whole, long years, but in other ways it feels like just yesterday. As most people who have lost a loved one know, you never stop thinking about that person; they are never less important to you. Time doesn’t necessarily heal your pain or make you miss them any less, it just teaches you how to cope in their daily absence.

Today would have been my Grandma’s birthday.

And even though I think about her all the time, I want to share her today.

Because she is a person worth celebrating.

Grandpa and Grandma.

♥ My Grandma was the best cook. And the best baker. Anything her hands touched turned into pure magic in the kitchen. She made the best carrot cake and the best sugar pie at Christmas time (or any pie for that matter), and oh those holiday magic bars. Every time I stayed with her, I remember picking fresh vegetables out of her garden and then putting them into our tuna sandwich for lunch or our spaghetti for dinner. It was always her joy to make sure you were fed…and fed well. And just when dinner couldn’t have gotten any better, she’d bring out dessert. Fresh Chocolate Chip cookies, Pinwheel Cookies…you name it… and we’d always have our dessert with a cup of black coffee. I never really liked black coffee, but I wanted it so bad while I was at Grandma’s house because that’s what they would drink. And because they’d let me have it. haha

Truth be known, my cooking aspirations and baking endeavors are fueled by the memories I have of my Grandma in the kitchen. I have photo-copied many of her recipes (which my mom has) because hand-copying them wouldn’t be the same. It is such a treat to see her handwriting while baking her recipe; it is like she is right there with you…guiding you with love. Because [...]]]> “Death is not extinguishing the light from the Christian; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
- Author Unknown

It has been almost 5 years since my Grandma passed away. In some ways it feels like 5 whole, long years, but in other ways it feels like just yesterday. As most people who have lost a loved one know, you never stop thinking about that person; they are never less important to you. Time doesn’t necessarily heal your pain or make you miss them any less, it just teaches you how to cope in their daily absence.

Today would have been my Grandma’s birthday.

And even though I think about her all the time, I want to share her today.

Because she is a person worth celebrating.

Grandpa and Grandma.

♥ My Grandma was the best cook. And the best baker. Anything her hands touched turned into pure magic in the kitchen. She made the best carrot cake and the best sugar pie at Christmas time (or any pie for that matter), and oh those holiday magic bars. Every time I stayed with her, I remember picking fresh vegetables out of her garden and then putting them into our tuna sandwich for lunch or our spaghetti for dinner. It was always her joy to make sure you were fed…and fed well. And just when dinner couldn’t have gotten any better, she’d bring out dessert. Fresh Chocolate Chip cookies, Pinwheel Cookies…you name it… and we’d always have our dessert with a cup of black coffee. I never really liked black coffee, but I wanted it so bad while I was at Grandma’s house because that’s what they would drink. And because they’d let me have it. haha

Truth be known, my cooking aspirations and baking endeavors are fueled by the memories I have of my Grandma in the kitchen. I have photo-copied many of her recipes (which my mom has) because hand-copying them wouldn’t be the same. It is such a treat to see her handwriting while baking her recipe; it is like she is right there with you…guiding you with love. Because cooking is one of the ways she showed love the most. I can only hope my children and grandchildren will have such memories through my cooking for them. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.

♥ Equal to her gift in the kitchen, Grandma could knit and crochet like nobody’s business. She was always making afghans and sweaters, many of which we’d get as gifts for Christmas. I treasure those gifts so much now. I was about 7 years old when she first taught me how to crochet. She helped me get it started and every time she came over, I would pull it out and work on it some. I can always remember crocheting through fall and winter, when the weather was cold or raining… we’d sit on the couch with our crocheted afghan project covering us like a blanket. It was so warm and cozy. I really only worked on my afghan when she came over to visit…and I finished it a little after my 18th birthday. That is one of my fondest memories I have because every time I see my purple afghan, I am reminded of all of the days I spent working on it together with her.

♥ Grandma was always so affectionate. She loved to cuddle up with you on the couch, she was always giving you a hug or rubbing your back. She had the softest hands of anyone you’d ever meet. Every now and then my mom or sisters and I will reminisce about her hands. Always pretty and painted nails and always so unbelievably soft. I wish I had asked her secret about that… but I’m sure it was just a little moisturizer and a whole lot of good skin.

♥ Every time I eat raisin toast, I think of her.

♥ Every time I hear someone say War-shington or I am going to go War-sh the dishes, I think of her.

♥ I dream about her often and only once in a while will she look how I remember her. In most of my dreams, she is a version of herself that I never knew… maybe 25 years old. I recognize her from old pictures, however, that is the way she appears in most of my dreams… Young. Healthy. Happy. Beautiful.

♥ I was so excited to be able to do a “vintage” photo shoot in your wedding dress. I was stunned at how similar our dresses were! Besides the length and the sash I added to mine and minus the lace jacket on hers, they were almost identical! Same sweetheart neckline, same lace, even the same antique off-white color.

♥ Oh, how I wish my Grandma could have been at my wedding and my shower… and more than any of that, I wish she could have met Jon. I know she would have loved him. (I met Jon a month after she passed away) And I wish I could tell her all about Layla. One day, I will.

♥ Grandma was the epitome of what it means to be giving. She was always so concerned about everyone else; she never wanted anyone to “fuss” about her. She was happy when everyone else was happy.

Grandma with my Mom.

I am so thankful that God gave me her as a Grandma. There is an abundance of lessons to learn from her… but the most valuable is that people may not always remember everything you did or said, the things you loved or disliked… but people will never, ever forget the way you made them feel. And my Grandma made you feel loved, special, cared for, happy and important. She was kind, genuine, loyal, giving and joyful. She was such a blessing in my life, such a wonderful role model as a wife, mother and woman. Yes, Grandma is definitely is a woman worthy of celebration.

I will always think of her when I hear this song…

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Pardon my 1970s bowl cut, I’m currently growing out my hair and there is only so much a stylist can do to help you through this stage. But my hair is not the only thing growing! Miss Layla Mae is growing like a weed. Or more specifically a banana to a spaghetti squash at the moment (according to Babycenter.com). My little peanut is now a spaghetti squash…sigh. Where does the time go?

I’m now 22 weeks (almost 23) and more than half way there. I’ve been extremely fortunate… aside from no complications, my 2nd trimester has been very kind to me. Granted, sleeping is not as comfortable (and I am told it is only going to get worse) and normal activities are not as convenient… but I’m not about to complain about that! I am rarely nauseated these days and almost completely have my appetite back. (Which might not be a good thing for my trunk. haha)

I have a full anatomy scan for the baby on Monday… I guess to make sure everything is growing according to plan. And another monthly appointment with the OB on Wednesday. I’m excited to see the baby again since I know it will probably be the last time for a little while. Although she is constantly letting me know she is here with her kicks, punches and, on a good day, I might even get the people’s elbow:

“Do you smell what Layla’s cookin’?!”

If you grew up with a brother, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Sometimes I really lose my marbles when I stop and think… oh my goodness, that is her little feet kicking me. Or her little fingers or little bottom while she does a cartwheel. (Yes, I just make up random body parts that seem to make sense. I really have no clue what part it is. haha) But still. I just can’t wait to get my hands on those little feet and her cute little legs! And heaven help me, just [...]]]>

Pardon my 1970s bowl cut, I’m currently growing out my hair and there is only so much a stylist can do to help you through this stage. But my hair is not the only thing growing! Miss Layla Mae is growing like a weed. Or more specifically a banana to a spaghetti squash at the moment (according to Babycenter.com). My little peanut is now a spaghetti squash…sigh. Where does the time go?

I’m now 22 weeks (almost 23) and more than half way there. I’ve been extremely fortunate… aside from no complications, my 2nd trimester has been very kind to me. Granted, sleeping is not as comfortable (and I am told it is only going to get worse) and normal activities are not as convenient… but I’m not about to complain about that! I am rarely nauseated these days and almost completely have my appetite back. (Which might not be a good thing for my trunk. haha)

I have a full anatomy scan for the baby on Monday… I guess to make sure everything is growing according to plan. And another monthly appointment with the OB on Wednesday. I’m excited to see the baby again since I know it will probably be the last time for a little while. Although she is constantly letting me know she is here with her kicks, punches and, on a good day, I might even get the people’s elbow:

“Do you smell what Layla’s cookin’?!”

If you grew up with a brother, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Sometimes I really lose my marbles when I stop and think… oh my goodness, that is her little feet kicking me. Or her little fingers or little bottom while she does a cartwheel. (Yes, I just make up random body parts that seem to make sense. I really have no clue what part it is. haha) But still. I just can’t wait to get my hands on those little feet and her cute little legs! And heaven help me, just wait until I get a cute little bonnet on that noodle noggin of hers!

She seems to come out an play a lot at night time… that is when she apparently thinks it is time to bounce around. It may sound silly but I can’t help but laugh when she really gets going. It’s almost like a tickle sensation but from the inside. I know, I know… I’ve lost my cotton pickin’ marbles.

I wonder a lot if I am going to miss having a little baby in my belly after she is born. Part of me thinks I will be so happy to be back to normal… but another part thinks I will definitely forget about the nightmare that was the 1st trimester and will want another one. Maybe not right away, but let’s be honest, I’m no spring chicken. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what the Good Lord has in store for us. In the meantime, I am just as happy as a gopher in soft dirt… just pleased as punch that my little Layla Mae is a healthy, growing baby.

Ok, ok. I know. Another duh.

Who hasn’t heard of The Pioneer Woman?

But let’s be real here; She isn’t as popular as she is by good luck alone.

Her blog has substance. Meat and potatoes. And I would be concerned with anything less from a Cattle Rancher’s wife.

How I found it:

Early in my blogging days (because I’ve been at it so long, haha) I used to see this “Pioneer Woman Cooks” blog on all sorts of blogrolls. I clicked on it a few times and saw some fantastic fixins… just delicious looking recipes. The pictures looked professional and my automatic thought was it must be a professional website with a blog…and a team of writers…and a team of cooks. And that was that. Little did I know that “The Pioneer Woman” really was ONE person with a story on becoming a “Pioneer Woman”.

Why I LOVE it:

I’m not sure at what point I began clicking around the site… but I soon discovered that she was more than just a good cook. I started reading through some of her Confessions posts… and just about lost my marbles. She is cotton pickin’ hilarious! She is the type of person that you would choose to be your BFF. I totally “got” her humor… there is nothing forced or fake about it. Just clever, quick quips that leave you in a constant state of appreciation for her writing. And, of course, leave you wanting to read more.

One day, I started reading her “Black Heels to Tractor Wheels” … the love story of her husband (known as Marlboro Man) and her. All right. Let me tell y’all, I couldn’t stop reading. No, we are not talking a couple posts here. We are talking hours of storytelling that I could not get enough of. I finally had to be peeled away from my computer screen by my husband so we could leave for our pre-scheduled plans. Surely I would not have made those plans had I known there was such a story that needed to be read! [...]]]>

Welcome to the 2nd edition of In the blogLight!

Ok, ok. I know. Another duh.

Who hasn’t heard of The Pioneer Woman?

But let’s be real here; She isn’t as popular as she is by good luck alone.

Her blog has substance. Meat and potatoes. And I would be concerned with anything less from a Cattle Rancher’s wife.

How I found it:

Early in my blogging days (because I’ve been at it so long, haha) I used to see this “Pioneer Woman Cooks” blog on all sorts of blogrolls. I clicked on it a few times and saw some fantastic fixins… just delicious looking recipes. The pictures looked professional and my automatic thought was it must be a professional website with a blog…and a team of writers…and a team of cooks. And that was that. Little did I know that “The Pioneer Woman” really was ONE person with a story on becoming a “Pioneer Woman”.

Why I LOVE it:

I’m not sure at what point I began clicking around the site… but I soon discovered that she was more than just a good cook. I started reading through some of her Confessions posts… and just about lost my marbles. She is cotton pickin’ hilarious! She is the type of person that you would choose to be your BFF. I totally “got” her humor… there is nothing forced or fake about it. Just clever, quick quips that leave you in a constant state of appreciation for her writing. And, of course, leave you wanting to read more.

One day, I started reading her “Black Heels to Tractor Wheels” … the love story of her husband (known as Marlboro Man) and her. All right. Let me tell y’all, I couldn’t stop reading. No, we are not talking a couple posts here. We are talking hours of storytelling that I could not get enough of. I finally had to be peeled away from my computer screen by my husband so we could leave for our pre-scheduled plans. Surely I would not have made those plans had I known there was such a story that needed to be read! When I came home, I continued to read… laughing, crying, totally invested in this story. I finished the rest the following day and I wanted a sequel. I had to hear more. I was practically family now. And, accordingly, I should get some input, right? Make this into a movie. Hello Hollywood!? Are you listening? This is box office GOLD, right here!

The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, has such an appeal to her writing as she can brilliantly weave genuineness with opinion, authority with humility, and real-world (city slicker and all) relevance to life on a cattle ranch. Now I’ll tell you what, I find life on a ranch to be so intriguing and romantic and idealistic. And that statement alone should serve my point in proving to you that I don’t know a cotton pickin’ thing about ranching. haha With that being said, I love Ree’s observations and documentaries of ranching life in all of it’s glory and all of it’s hardships. Simple snapshots of life on a cattle ranch coupled with storytelling filled with subtleties, wit and heart. The cookin’ may have brought me in, but her writing keeps me coming back.

But, oh my, the cookin’. I can tell you honestly, I have never made a PW recipe that I didn’t love. And I will tell you how fond I am of her recipes… I was at the Barnes and Noble the day the book came out. And they already sold out. You can read about my devastation-turned-triumph (and my complete review of her cookbook, pictures and all) here.

Get Your Copy Now on Amazon!

Final Thoughts:

Yes, I’m a little nutty about The Pioneer Woman. I even considered driving 5 hours, by myself, to one of her book signings. But I chickened out. Because I’m a big chicken sometimes.

I love her because she is real. She doesn’t try to portray an unattainable model of perfection; She can laugh at herself, which makes you love her all the more. I read her photography blog and I don’t even own a nifty camera (yet. snivel, snivel). I read her homeschooling blog (and I’m certainly not in that boat). My point is, you can read anything she writes and not only enjoy it… but somehow feel as though it pertains to you.

And, girlfriends, don’t even get me started on her giveaways. Like, we are talking Kitchen-Aid mixers and Nikon Cameras. Nevermind the 53,000 entries to win these things. Pay no attention to that. You just enter and hope. And pray. And pray some more.

Don’t be intimidated by her fabulously professional and the commercial appearance of her blog. I know a lot of people want to read blogs with a small readership… and that is fine. It is just personal preference. But I’m telling you, don’t overlook this gal… or you’ll really be missing out on a big ol’ honkin’ gem.

I’ll leave you with two words.

Cinnamon. Rolls.

You can thank me later.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

Now. For my McLinky doodle dandy thing. I’d love to hear all about your gems! I’m in the process of making a button you can copy onto your blog/post for In the blogLight. Stay tuned for that.

Wait you say? What the heck is this “In the blogLight” all about? You need more explanation? Go here.

If you would like to participate but don’t have time to write up a post or if you don’t have a blog… We’d still love to hear about your favorite blogs in the comment section.

And just so y’all know, I love and appreciate each and every one of you that reads my blog. Your comments are such sunshine to my day. Truly. xoxo

Now, the Mclinky link link.