Posted by: Robin | May 14, 2009

Baby Sister’s Laundry Room Re~do!

Read to the end…there’s another give away today!

It’s my baby sister’s birthday today! Happy Birthday Deb!!! She’s younger than me and there’s nothing I can do about it!!! While doing wedding prep for her daughter Jamie Brooke last week, I took some pictures of her most recent project…laundry room redo! I love what she did here, her house is sprinkled with vintage and country accents but while antiquing she had accumulated lots of great finds and she did a great job of using them in her laundry room!

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Some are for looks only…just because she loves them~

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I a big fan of the vintage fan! She may want to keep this chained to the shelf next time I come over!

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Other things serve a purpose, like the bread tin holding her detergent

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…and the beeautiful Ball jars holding … well little things!

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I also really like the use of fabric~ the skirt around the sink and the faux window & curtain! Really softens the space I think! A laundry room is a great place to have a little fun with a few of your favorite things!

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Okay, now let’s do a give away! In honor of all Debra’s signs, let’s give away a sign! I love decorating with signs!!!

“HOME Where your story begins”

Just leave a comment telling me what kinds of things you’d use in your laundry room if you were to re-do it! And I’ll let you know who “random.org” picked tomorrow!

I’ve moved to my brand new blog~home!

Oh Happy Day!!! All Things Heart and Home is UP and RUNNING!

I’ve finally moved over to my brand new blog home: http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/

If you’ve subscribed to me here and didn’t get directed over there then I’m soooo sorry! I think you’ll have to subscribe all over again! Just head over there and click on the Subscribe button in the upper right corner! Come on over I’ve got some coffee and something sweet to nibble and we’ll take a moment to inspire each other as we live the legacy we want to leave…one day at a time…

love and can’t wait to welcome you into my cozy new space!!!

Smooches Peeps~Robin

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake!

So it’s Foodie Friday over at Design’s by Gollum and I think today’s theme is CAKE!!!

I am a sucker for a good cake and let me tell you…this is a good cake! It’s Chocolate Chip Banana Cake…

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It’s easy to make and from my experience…it’s a crowd pleaser!

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This icing recipe makes it easy to have a pretty impressive finished product!

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Piece-of-cake

Here’s the recipe…

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3)

3 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, room temp.

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

6 ounces mini choc. chips

Chocolate frosting

Preheat oven to 300 *. Grease and flour 2 round cake pans.

In medimum bowl, mix flour and baking soda and salt. Set aside.

With electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternating with the buttermilk. Stir in the bananas and mini choc. chips. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. When cake is cool frost…

Chocolate Frosting

12 ounce bag chocolate chips

1 cup half and half

1 1/2 cup butter

about 5 cups sifted powdered sugar

Combine the chips, 1/2 and 1/2, and butter in a saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted and combined. Put in mixing bowl and mix in the powdered sugar (it will be thin frosting).Put the bowl in the freezer for about 30 minutes…mix again with mixertil it’s a good frosting consistency. (If it’s too thin…chill some more and mix again)

Try this and DO put the cakes in the freezer when they come out of the oven, this is to make the cake moist…this has been tested and it’s true! The cake really is more moist when it’s put int the freezer!

Have a yumalicious weekend Peeps…TTFN~

15 Comments

Posted in All Things Yumalicious! | Tags: cakes, chocolate chip banana cake recipe, foodie friday

Posted by: Robin | May 6, 2009

Wedding Tablescape!

Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch…and I thought I’d do a Wedding Tablescape~I snapped a few pictures before my niece’s wedding while the reception was completely set up…Jamie and Trey did a “coffee bar” theme…

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Tons of coffees and creamers. And every guest just got a cup and put their name on it to use for the night! Great favors I think!

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This was about a fourth of the chocolate fondu table where there were all sorts of yumalicious tid-bits to dip in chocolate!

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The Grooms Cake was chocolate! Can you tell!!! Trey is a fireman and a pilot hence the firetrucks and the plane!

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The wedding cake was so pretty~

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Publix made both of the cakes and they were AMAZING!

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This is about a fourth of the tables, the theme of the coffee bar turned out so cute!

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Here’s the pretty couple coming into the reception~

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21 Comments

Posted in All Things Decorating!, All Things Entertaining! | Tags: coffee bar wedding theme, tablescape Thursday, wedding reception ideas

Posted by: Robin | May 6, 2009

Is your outdoor space ready?

Outdoor Wednesday! It’s spring time all over the country and everyone’s headed outside! I took some backyard pictures when I visited my baby sister last week and the week before at Todd & Darlene’s. My backyard isn’t fit for public viewing Peeps, but maybe you could get some ideas from these great outdoor spaces!

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Deb and Dean put in a BIG waterfall and pond a couple of years ago! They did this ALL by their little selves! It’s stunning in person~

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Years ago I got a couple of little bird feeders and attached them to my deck, Deb came over and saw the birds and decided she wanted birds…so as always, she researched and just look at her bird area, I feel very sorry for my poor birds! This isn’t her only bird space. She’s got feeders for humming birds, several bluebird houses (is that what you call them Deb?). Birds of all kind flock to her yard. back-yard-2

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And here is Darlene and Todd’s back yard. They have a really fun pool area that I’ll show you more of sometime!

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I love jasmine on an arbor!

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Look at these very happy snowballs! These things are huge! Are you getting your outdoor space ready yet? If so, what are you doing??? (I’m working slow but sure on mine!) snowballs-in-bloom

Okay NOW an UPDATE on Reba and Barbara Jean…

The Husband has been working with our wild cats every night. They are now eating out of his hand! (Yes, it’s grilled chicken breast!)

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And he’s even gotten Reba to play with him!

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Please note: Reba’s belly…I took this picture last Tuesday night. Wednesday night Reba didn’t come to dinner. Barbara Jean came, but Reba didn’t show. Thursday night…no Reba. The Husband got a big flashlight and looked under our porch and the neighbor’s porch…no Reba. Friday night…no Reba. Distressed. That’s what we were. Distressed. TO BE CONTINUED… reba-is-pregnant

ps…I’m launching my brand spankin new website next Monday! (When I say we I mean Jon, my talented son-in-law!!!) More info. to come but I have to tell you, we will be having a little give away every day next week!!!

6 Comments

Posted in All Things Furry!, All Things outdoors! | Tags: Reba, Barbara Jean, outdoor spaces, pond, waterfall, backyard

Posted by: Robin | May 5, 2009

Quick and Clean little Craft!

This is a super easy thing to do for a little gift…for teachers, for the new mom, for your friend at the office! It’s too easy to even call a “craft” ! I’ve seen some people use stickers but you know how I love scrapbook stuff!? I bought these rub-ons that were super cute and then I just … well you know, rubbed them on!

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This one’s going to Baby Elliot’s nursery!

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How about doing the little ones for goody bags for a class going on a field trip!?

I used tiny ribbon and confetti yarn to pimp out the little necks of the sanitizers!

So much you can do with these! Have fun!!!

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16 Comments

Posted in All Things Crafty!

Posted by: Robin | May 4, 2009

Living My Legacy~9~Even in the dark times…

Living the legacy I want to leave, even in the darkest times. While this is the most grueling and painful way I will live out my legacy, I believe it may be the most important.

My parents have done and Daddy continues to do an amazing job at this. The way they lived/live day to day taught me more than words ever could. Many of those lessons weren’t ones they would have chosen to teach. Like how to grieve.

When we lost my brother I watched them go through all the stages of grief. The loss of their only son put them on a long and excruciating journey that won’t end on this side of eternity. But it’s a journey that eventually brought out their beautiful and tender sides. Broken. Forever changed. But not cynical and bitter. I’m fairly certain I couldn’t do the same. But I watched them. And I remembered their journey when just five years later Mom left this earth quite suddenly and all the light went out of my world for a long time.

The dark times are the hardest times to live my legacy. My natural knee-jerk reaction to pain is to kick and scream and curse and numb myself. And I’ve done those things more than once, but always in the back of my mind I knew I was leaving someone else with my anger, bitterness, harshness and even my addiction. Someone is always watching, whether you’re a parent or not, there is always someone watching. Someone who needs you to first be honest with your pain but eventually to move through it. (I don’t for a moment believe in stuffing your pain and pretending it’s not there. My favorite book when grieving my little brother and my precious mother was A Grief Observed. C.S. Lewis was brutal in his honesty with God and that helped me with my own anger and doubt.)

If we live for very long we’ll experience grief, financial devastation, illness, unanswered prayers, disappointment with God, even a loss of faith. The legacy we leave isn’t in escaping the dark times; it’s how we respond while in those dark times. I have a good friend from the blogosphere, Sara, aka, Gitz (her blog is Gitzen Girl) Gitz has a profound impact on my life and I feel a strong connection to her although I’ve never met her face to face. She lives with Spondylitis. Here is her explanation of the disease…” it is an autoimmune disease that usually starts in your early twenties and begins by attacking your joints. It is progressive and systemic,…” (Read more about Spondylitis here.)

Gitz lives with pain. Every day. She inspires me to look for the beauty and grace in my world. She brings life and joy to the shadowy places in my days. When I found her I was still neck deep in suffocating grief after losing my mom, Watching Gitz live her amazing life was key in lifting me out of a self destructive pit. She’s honest and thoughtful and that young woman is living a beautiful legacy. I’m changed forever because of the life she lives and so honored to know her.

I didn’t want to write this. It’s hard for me as I’ve failed time and time again. But buried deep in my heart is the prayer that if and when my journey leads me into the dark, I will even there, live the legacy I want to leave.

This series started here. And all the Legacy posts are under All Things Legacy. Love to you Peeps~

9 Comments

Posted in All Things Legacy | Tags: dark times in life, grief, grieving, living my legacy, painful times

Posted by: Robin | April 30, 2009

Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco De Mayo!!!

And it’s Cinco deMayo Foodie Friday with lots of links over at Designs by Gollum, you’ll be sure to get some great ideas for your Mexican Fiesta! Today I’m posting about an early Cinco de Mayo party I went to in honor of my bud, Leontta! Leontta’s actual birthday is on May 5th! Here she is with her sweet baby Leland~

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We got together over at Todd & Darlene’s my friends who are the BEST hosts in the world! They have this finished downstairs where we usually have our parties…it’s got everything, Kitchen-bedroom-bath-den/game room! All looking out over the pool area! They don’t know it, but that little part of their house is where The Husband and I plan to retire!

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We had Chicken and beef Fajitas…

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Ruthie’s Enchilada’s (Recipe to follow!)

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Ruthie’s homemade Guacamole (Recipe to follow!!)

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My Refried Bean Dip (Julie, is this your recipe or mine?!?!?) We started doing this when we were 19 years old! It’s easy…I’ll tell you in a minute!

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Had to add another picture of that precious Leland and his Auntie Gigi!!!

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Please someone take note, I grilled the chicken and for the VERY FIRST time in my 47 years did not make chicken jerky!!!

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Before I give you the recipes…I had to show you how very helpful The Husband is…Todd are you out there, do you see how helpful your friend Mike is?????

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Ruthie’s Enchiladas

1 3-4 pound chuck roast or good crock pot roast (Cut any fat away)

2 packages of taco seasoning (I use Mild McCormick’s)

1 large can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)

Water

10 small flour or corn tortillas (I use the flour)

1 lb of cheddar cheese graded (you can use light cheese)

Put the roast in the crock pot, cover with taco seasoning and tomatoes. Finish with enough water to cover the roast completely.

Cook for 4-6 hours on high or 8 hours on low until the roast can be pulled apart.

Take the roast out and let it cool. Put the sauce in a sauce pan and reduce until the sauce is a nice consistency. (it will thicken in the oven so do not go crazy reducing, you just don’t want it runny)

Pull the roast apart so that it is shredded. You do not want big chunks. Take a ½-1 cup of the sauce and moisten the meat. Lay all the tortillas out and put a generous portion of meat down the middle. Sprinkle a small amount of cheddar cheese across the meat and roll and place in a 9 x 13 pan. These freeze well.

When all the enchiladas are placed in the dish pour the enchilada sauce you reduced over and top with cheese.

Cook at 350 degrees uncovered until hot all the way through. (Around 20-30 minutes)

Ruthie’s Guacamole

3 ripe avocados

Here is a little trick: cut a ring all the way around the avocado to the seed. Pull apart. Stick your knife in the seed and pull it out. Now hold the avocado in the palm of your hand and using a sharp knife make little slices so that it is minced inside the skin. Then take a large spoon and scoop it out and it is all sliced up!

2 cloves of garlic minced

Recently learned that in a recipe when it calls for a clove that is equivalent to one teaspoon.

1 lemon juiced

1-2 tablespoon (heaping) light sour cream (you can use mayo)

Salt and pepper to taste

Dash of Worchestire Sauce

1-2 Roma Tomatoes diced small

Julie & Robin’s Refried Bean Dip

1 can (31 ounces) refried beand

8 oz. sour cream

1/2 packet taco mix (low salt)

1/4 cup salsa

Mix everything~ sprinkle cheese on top~ Microwave for 5 minutes…

Serve with chips (well, duh!!!)*****You can use Fat Free Beans and Sour Cream & Baked Chips if you want to have a really low fat dip!!!******

Maybe you can get an idea for your dinner on Cinco deMayo!!! Happy Weekend Peeps~ I’m off to help Baby Sister with my niece’s wedding!!! Such fun!

11 Comments

Posted in All Things Entertaining! | Tags: cinco de mayo, enchilada recipe, foodie friday, guacamole recipe, mexican food recipes

Posted by: Robin | April 30, 2009

Living My Legacy~8~Leaving A Legacy of Prayer

Living My Legacy~8~ Leaving A Legacy of Prayer…

If you’ve been reading for a little while you know that I feel passionately about living my legacy. I believe that all of us are living the legacy we will one day leave. Ignoring it won’t change it Sweet Ones, when we’re gone the legacy we leave behind is the life we’re living today. I’m determined to be intentional in living my legacy.

I lost my mom in 2005. If I were to make a list of things I miss about her it would stretch around the world ten times over, but at the top of that list is this: I miss the security of knowing she was always praying for me. I miss calling her and telling her about a burden and hanging up knowing I was covered in prayer. I am so blessed to have my dad praying for me still and I don’t for a moment take that for granted.

The prayer thing hasn’t always been easy for me. There was a time when I thought I had to be all “prayed up” to bring a request to The Father. You know, have my list of things “to do” for God all checked off for at least a week solid. Someone would ask me to pray and I’d want to but the thought of going back and catching up on my One Year Bible reading and asking forgiveness for a hundred things just discouraged me from talking to God. I wanted to be squeaky clean and really have my mind on holy things before I bothered Him with something. I don’t feel that way anymore Peeps. I go to Him just as I am.

When my kids were young it was a bit easier to let them know I was praying. We had nightly prayers before bed and we would bring their requests to The Father almost daily. As they started High School and went to bed later than I did, it was harder. I wasn’t as consistent as I wish I’d been but there were opportunities when big things were going on in their lives and they were hurt or overwhelmed and I actually would stop, hold their hands or lay my hand on their shoulder and pray. After I did that, just to be honest, I’d call my mom and dad and ask them to pray too!

Over the years I’ve tried different things to help my family and friends feel prayed for…here are a few ideas and then I’d love for you to tell me yours,

*Keeping the extended family on an email list and sending out prayer requests.

*I printed out the names of each member of our extended family and laminated them and gave them out to everyone at a family party hoping everyone would use the list to pray for each other.

*I will shoot an email or mail a card sometimes when someone comes to mind and I’m burdened to pray. People have done that for me, my dad in particular, and it means so much.

*Mike and I often pray at the end of the day for our kids and their significant others, just a few minutes but it really feels good to pray together.

*The girls will sometime text me with an issue with work or school and I text back a little prayer.

I have so much room for improvement Sweet Friends. I’d love for you to share anything you do to keep those around you covered in prayer. I get discouraged sometimes feeling I’m not doing enough but my heart’s desire is to leave a legacy of prayer like my mom left.

And having said that, I pray for each of you (and for me) as we live (today) the legacy that we will one day leave…

8 Comments

Posted in All Things Heartfelt, All Things Legacy | Tags: a legacy of prayer, living your legacy, praying over your children

Posted by: Robin | April 29, 2009

Stawberry Cake~Yumalicious~

It’s that time of year Peeps!!! Strawberries abound! Naturally, I took a perfectly healthy berry and sugared it up a little. Time for Strawberry Cake!

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Made it to take to my sweet friend, Leontta’s, birthday party!

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The recipe is super easy, using a white cake mix as the base~

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The icing is easy too! Just butter, confectioners sugar and mashed strawberries!

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And here’s the great thing: this cake is so forgiving. I over-cooked the cake a bit (sometimes multi-tasking isn’t a good thing for me!) but even over-cooked, the cake was moist. The mashed strawberries and jello in the mix make for a super moist cake, even my cake was melt in your mouth!

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Next time you’re at the grocery store grab some strawberries and try a strawberry cake. I’ve included my recipe just in case you don’t already have one! (Watch for “***” to see what I do that’s a snibbit different than the recipe!)

STRAWBERRY CAKE

Preheat oven to 350*

1 package white cake mix 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry-flavored gelatin powder

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup water

3/4 cup mashed strawberries

Combine cake mix and gelatin powder in large bowl. Beat in oil, eggs, water, and strawberries. Beat on HI for 30 seconds~then on MED. for 2 minutes. Pour into 2 9 inch round greased and floured cake pans. (Pat bottom of pans gently on counter-tops to even the batter in the pans!)

Bake 350* oven for app. 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

*******I use 3- 9 inch cake pans therefore adjust baking time…start checking with toothpick at about 20 minutes!*********

Cool and frost with strawberry icing…

STRAWBERRY ICING

1/2 cup butter

1 pound confectioners sugar

1/4 cup mashed strawberries

***** I make 1 and 1/2 recipes of icing~ I like to have LOTS of icing!!!)*****

Beat butter and confectioners sugar together until smooth. Add strawberries. Spread between cake layers, then frost top and sides! Decorate with extra (washed & dried) strawberries! piece-of-cake

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TTFN Sweet friends~ Have a BERRY happy Wednesday! And Happy Birthday Leontta~

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15 Comments

Posted in All Things Yumalicious!, Uncategorized | Tags: Strawberries are in season!, Strawberry cake and strawberry icing recipe, Strawberry Cake!

Posted by: Robin | April 28, 2009

A Dream in the Waking World

A Dream in the Waking World…

“Don’t you think a dream would feel shy if she were found walking around in the waking world.”(C.S.Lewis~Till We Have Faces)

I finished this book a few months ago. It’s my daughter, Stephanie’s favorite book. To me, it was a bit like attempting to swallow the ocean. C. S. Lewis was nothing if he wasn’t deeeep.

But this line resonated with me. I wrote it down and have been toying around with it for weeks on end. What about it rings true?

It’s sometimes how I feel. A bit out of my element even in the most routine of days. Sometimes after staying inside myself, inside my thoughts, traveling in the pages of a beloved book or writing my own pages; when I venture out into someone else’s world, I feel a little shy. Like I’m displaced.

I love the person who feels at home anywhere in the great big world. I like to watch those people from the sidelines. Watch how they relate with ease, work a crowd, and go from one stage in life to another without even a hiccup. I love those people but I’m not one of them.

When I was in my twenty’s I tried to be one of those people. They were after all the achievers. The leaders. I wanted to be those things and I so despised my own tendencies. I always felt like the “dream…found walking around in the walking world.”

I spent half of my thirty’s tiptoeing around in the “waking world”, not quite fitting in. Finally, as I was pushing forty I relaxed into my own person. The one God created. I stopped feeling like I was less-than because I wasn’t like other women. I began to see myself through His eyes and actually kinda liked what I saw.

Now, I love and appreciate other women and their strengths. I find myself praying, “Wow God, you did such a great thing when you gave (her) (this or that) strength!” Rejoicing when I see someone with an attribute I admire. Rejoicing, not trying to make it my own.

I’m a slow learner. I was just wondering this morning where you are on this journey? Do you sometimes feel like a dream found walking around in the waking world? Like you aren’t content with the person God made you to be? Or are you relaxed and comfortable in the skin you’re in!?

My prayer today is for all of us to embrace who we are and allow God to use us as He sees fit~ Love to you~

14 Comments

Posted in All Things Heartfelt, Uncategorized | Tags: A dream in the waking world, C.S. Lewis, loving who we are, Till We Have Faces

Posted by: Robin | April 27, 2009

3 Crafty Things!

I love all the paper and cut-outs and do-dads in the scrapbooking section. But alas I don’t scrapbook. So I’m always looking for things to do with all that fun stuff! I found these scrumptous paper flowers on big sale at Michael’s the other day. I had no idea what I’d do with them but most of the time, when I trust my gut and buy something I love I find something amazing to do with it! Then I saw this A-dorable idea over at Hospitable Pursuits and my imagination just went nuts with these little paper cut outs!

First I put them together with these tiny brads (JoAnn’s has a whole line of these little things for a dollar a pack!) Then I cut a small magnet strip from a roll of magnet tape! You have to bend it a bit to adhere to the paper but it worked great!

Next easy craft: thumb tacks! I glued these together with Mod Podge, yes you can use it for projects like this! then put a dot of craft (or jewlery) glue in the center and dropped some little beads on top! Add a nice drop of craft glue on the back of the flower and put a thumb tack smack in the center! Let dry ~

Now for the third easy thing to do with these paper flower cut outs! Book Marks! You know how I adore book marks, I make them all the time! Check out my All Things Crafty Category for some more book mark ideas! But this one may be my most favorite I’ve EVER made!!!

I put the flower together with one of those tiny brads. Fold my ribbon under and using a craft knife I made a little hole in all layers of ribbon then put the brad through and fastened at the back of the ribbon.

To keep the ribbon from fraying I put Fray Check (found in the sewing notions at Walmart) on the edge of the ribbon. But a tiny bit of clear nail polish will do the same thing.

Aren’t these darling…I’m thinking party favors!!! Teacher’s gift tucked inside a good book! Bible Study or Book Club little prize! Oh I love cute things I can give away!

So there you have it! 3 fun things to do with these whimsical paper flower cut outs even if you don’t scrapbook!!!

Love to you Sweet Peas and prayers for you to have a productive and joyful day!

I’m linking this to Metamorphsis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch! Head over there to see some great before and afters

8 Comments

Posted in All Things Crafty! | Tags: book marks, magnets, paper flower cut outs, thumb tacks

Posted by: Robin | April 23, 2009

Stephie’s Monster Cookies!

Today is Foodie Friday! Thanks to the amazing Gollum for hosting it! There are loads of links on her site with great food ideas for your weekend!

Also, Hooked on Houses is hosting Hooked on Fridays and I thought really, cookies and Fridays are a perfect combo! Thanks Julia for hosting~

But first let me take a moment to tell you…and I’ll try not to scream and jump up and down…

I was featured on Todays Creative Blog!!! WOOOO HOOOOOOO! If you haven’t visited Kim you have to. I’ve been visiting her for quite some time and I’m not kidding EVERY time I leave there with an idea or fifty! Head over there Peeps, I promise you WILL NOT be disappointed! And really I’m so humbled to be featured thank you Kim~(Did you guys see my amazing button from Kim?)

But on to All Things Yumalicious…Today I’m talking about a BIG, GIGANTIC, ENORMOUS, WHOPPING cookie! When Stephie was pregnant we went to the mall and indulged in this amazing cookie. It was called a Monster Cookie! (I’ve been telling you I had ”Stephanie Pregnancy Weight” to loose, I wasn’t kidding!)

Then after Elliot was born, Stephie and Jon’s good friends Joey and Jen delivered a great dinner along with these…these…COOKIES!!! Jen gave Stephie the recipe, they are called Marcy’s Legendary Chocolate Chip Cookies…

Stephie switched up the recipe just a bitty bit to make them like those yumalicious Monster Cookies, and Stephie, Ellie and I baked them yesterday!!!

Start here~

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Are you ready for this? The recipe calls for 1 CUP of batter for EACH COOKIE!!!!! (These cookies are EXTRAVAGANT. Trust me, everyone grins when they see them! They’re as big as your head!)

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Only 2 cookies per cookie sheet! Wow!

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The recipe only makes 6 cookies!

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A little crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside!

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Need I say more!? But Stephie and I didn’t think the pictures did justice to the SIZE of these puppies, so…

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We put one next to Baby Ellie…she took a look…

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“Gigi do you see the SIZE of that thing???”

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“It’s HUGE!”

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“It scares me a little bit!”

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“I mean…what are we gonna do with that thing?”

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“You’re going to do WHAT with it?”

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“Gigi, if you eat it, YOU’LL be HUGE !”

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“Ahhhh, I can’t do a thing with my Gigi!”

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Here’s the recipe Peeps. We think these would be fun decorated for a kids party(like those cookie cakes). You could give one to each child as they LEAVE your house Love and prayers for your weekend to be restful and lighthearted!!!

Stephie’s Monster Cookies

1 Cup unsalted butter

1 1/2 Cup packed brown sugar

1/4 Cup white sugar

1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 Lg. eggs

1 Egg yolk

2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 Cup (really good) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Cup chopped semi sweet shocolate bar

1 1/4 Cup mini M & M’s

Preheat oven to 350*

Stack 2 baking sheets, one on top of the other. Line the top sheet with Parchment Paper.

Arrange oven to 3rd shelf position.

In Mixer:

Cream butter with both sugars till wll blended. Add vanilla, eggs and egg yolk~ mix

In another bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt together.

FOLD the dry mixture in with the butter mixture. Batter will be thick. Now, FOLD in Chocolate Chips, Chopped Chocolate and M & M’s. It won’t be easy but contine to folding together till they are mixed.

(If batterr is too soft and greasy add 2-4 Tablespoons of flour…ours was just fine and didn’t need the extra flour)

Scoop out 7-8 ounces or 1 full CUP of dough! You can bake 2 per baking sheet. They spread so don’t put them too close.

Bake for 20-24 minutes. We stuck a toothpick into the center to make sure it wasn’t raw in the middle!

Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet for 15-20 minutes…

1 batter makes 6 cookies!!!

(This is the one and ONLY time in my life that I stopped after eating only 2 cookies!! Victory is mine!)

~Enjoy~

28 Comments

Posted in All Things Ellie!, All Things Yumalicious! | Tags: baking, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ellie, M & M Cookies, Monster Cookie

Posted by: Robin | April 23, 2009

Early look into Mother’s Day!

Hi Peeps! Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away. Too early to think about it? No way!!! Just give me a minute of your time…

As most of you know, I lost my my mom very suddenly in 2005..

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She was only 65. I miss her every single day and so wish I could go back and tell her so many things! One thing I did that I’m really thankful for is a box full of some of my memories of her…

I wanted to share it with you with hopes that one of you may consider doing this for your mom…(I posted this idea in more detail here.)

Memory boxes are kind of a big deal these days. When I gave my mom hers, I filled a trunk with little things. This past December I gave my Dad one and used a leather tote to hold some little things that represent my memories of him as my dad.

But I thought it would be fun to cover this box to give you an idea about making your own memory box…

Now, you know how to cover a box! Use your trusty Mod Podge and just wrap the thing…don’t stress if it gives you a few wrinkles! (Use Mod Podge to glue the paper onto the box and as a top-coat on top of the paper once it’s on the box!)

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I added some little birds that I had from my really cute Bird Magnet Craft!

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If I was doing this one for my mom, I would tuck in some little things that reminded me of the ways my mom showed me love…

I did this 15 years ago when I gave her the trunk full of memories…here is what I tucked into her box then along with the little notes I put with each thing…

This may seem like a trunk full of random things Mom, but each of these little things represents a significant way you have impacted my life…

The Spatula … this is a pleasant reminder of lazy Saturday afternoons when you would bake up a batch of wonderful chocolate chip cookies…the aroma, the taste, the warmth of home. You passed that along to me…the warmth of home.

Spools of colored thread…this makes me remember all of the clothes you’ve sewn for me over the years~ In second grade my teacher told me that I was the best dressed little girl in the whole class! Now, I love to sew for my children. It’s one way, I can show them love. Thank you for teaching me how…

Candle ...this makes me think of the many nights you spent awake with a sick daughter. Ice chips for a nagging cough, a humidifier for a stuffy nose, Vicks Vapor Rub for congestion. I always knew that I could call on you, even in the middle of the night if I needed you, and you would be there.

Potpourri…this reminds me of the beauty you brought into our home. Like the potpourri made with a mixture of flowers, herbs, fruits and oils, there was a mixture in our house too, beauty with attention to detail. You taught me how to make a house a home.

Candy dish…makes me think of the many confections you made for us. Divinity and fudge at Christmas time, beautiful cakes on every special occasion…you were never afraid to attempt anything. I loved watching you even in the kitchen you were creative…

Wool Scarf…makes me think of the warmth you showed during my childhood and beyond. Remember all the times you’ve talked me through a crisis? Remember all the times you were with me when I was most vulnerable? I can always count on you. Thank you

Dish towels…make me think of all the hard work you did when you kept our home clean and neat. So much work for one person. I was always so proud to have my friends over. I want my home to say welcome and be a place my children are proud of…

The Sunflower…You’ve always planted flowers and vegetables and this pretty sunflower can serve as a reminder of that. Flowers are one of my passions and it was your love for them and how you always had them arranged so beautifully here and there throughout the house, that made such an impression on me~yet another gift you passed along…

The Nativity…By far the most important gift you gave me…your faith. For as far back as I can remember, your faith has been strong. To live your life required a strong faith and you passed that faith on.

Thank you for all the gifts you’ve given me.. Those gifts, which became the very threads of my essence. God hand picks parents just as surely as he creates the child they give life to … I’m glad God picked you for me. I love you mom~

This really is an easy thing to do and I think something your mom would be so happy to get…and I can promise you, you won’t regret doing it. Just a thought Peeps…love to you today and prayers too…

13 Comments

Posted in All Things About My Mom, All Things Crafty!, All Things Heartfelt, Uncategorized | Tags: memory box, Mother's Day, showing your mom you care

Posted by: Robin | April 22, 2009

Living My Legacy~7 Making My House a Home

Today is A Beautiful Life Friday over at Inspired Rooms. Thank you Melissa for hosting~ I’m linking this, the latest post in my “Living My Legacy” series because I believe that all of us, every day, are living the legacy we will one day leave. I’m determined to live mine with beautiful intention. Blessings to you today Peeps~

Have you ever spent time in someone’s home and when you left there you carried a bit of it with you? I have a friend, Darlene, who is an entertaining queen. She and her hubby Todd have this amazing home and when they entertain…they really entertain. Darlene is…what’s the word? Exuberant! Darlene’s house feels exuberant. When I leave Darlene and Todd’s I feel exuberant too! Giddy, happy, hopeful. She has a gift. She builds people up. Pours positive energy into them. She loves on you from the moment you walk in the door. And no kidding, I take that with me when I leave. That’s what I mean by I want my home to be a place you leave and take the heart of it with you… I have a sneaky suspicion that when we visit family or friends we always take the heart of their home with us. And that’s not always a good thing. Ever been somewhere and left feeling torn down? Disliked? Less than? Small? Oh, Sweet Ones my deepest desire is that no one will ever feel that way when they leave my home. I want the heart of my home to be hopeful. Positive. Accepting. Loving. I want them to feel better about themselves than when they came in. All of my decorating, baking and making little things isn’t without purpose. I’m: setting the stage for more important things…things like making people feel loved right where they are in life. I never want to make someone feel less than or bad about themselves. This post is less about accouterments like decorating and menus and more about attitude. My bud Darlene has a beautiful home with lots of beautiful things. All the bells and whistles, hers and Todd’s house is the epitome of my ‘dream home’. But never, ever once have I felt the least bit of snobbishness or “I’m better than you” from Darlene or Todd. They have this way about them that focuses on you. Builds you up. Makes you feel content where you are. It’s darn weird really, but I have said more than once, “I’m so glad God blessed Todd and Darlene. They can so handle it.”A gracious attitude focused on the other person goes a long way. Kind, gentle, loving words poured into those who are in your home gives them something to take with them when they leave. That’s what I continually pray I do in my little home… and what I so desire to do here in my tiny corner of the blog world peeps. Love to you and prayers as we are living the legacy we want to leave…one day at a time~If you would like to meander around the other posts in this series go to All Things Legacy~

25 Comments

Posted in All Things Heartfelt, All Things Legacy, Uncategorized | Tags: being a gracious hostess, living my legacy, making my house a home

Posted by: Robin | April 21, 2009

Graduation Banner Tutorial!

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Congrats Emma!

My baby is graduating from KSU next month and we’re doing an open house to celebrate! Way to go Emma! This is the picture that is going on her graduation announcement…isn’t it awesome! Her friend Joseph took it on the day she and Tim were having their engagement pictures taken by the one and only Daley Hake…have you seen his work? You gotta run over and check him out. The guy has mad camera skills! Anyhoo, this picture is the flavor-flav I want the Graduation Open House to have…

emma

I wanted to make a banner for the open house…but as always, I’m on a budget. I found these (not exactly right colored) letters at Archives (my local paper store) for $1.99 a pack!!!! I bought 2. I had no idea what exactly I’d do with them to make them work but I was pretty sure I’d figure out something!

I looooove paint! It makes everything better! And to give them a grungy look I outlined them with a brown watercolor pencil and then wet my finger and smeared away…

Then I cut out flags from great looking paper!

And then I did what I always do with almost any craft…I got out the Mod Podge…The letters were supposed to be sticky but they were heavier than the paper flags so…Mod Podge to the rescue! I got carried away and also spread Mod Podge over the entire flag once the letters were glued on…it was great! They dried feeling almost plastic!

After the letters on and the fronts of the flags were dry(this doesn’t take very long) I folded a bit at the to of the flag, trimed the 2 corners and used a funky yarn to hang them on…

You guessed it, I used my Mod Podge to glue the flags to the yarn, spacing about an inch apart. (I also used 4 strands of the yarn and cut it REALLY long. you may need lots of extra yarn on each side depending on where you hang it!) Oh and ribbon or twine would work great depending on what flavor-flav you are going with~

Now…I thought they needed a little bling…so some scrap-book cut-outs and flowers and a button here and there was perfect! Have fun with this part!

Here are some close ups of the bling! (My paper store has die-cuts that you can use for absolutely free. So I take my paper scraps in there every so often and leave with lots of fun shapes! But you can also buy shapes at the craft stores!)

I found a pack of these fun flowers at Michael’s on big sale!

Oh and I forgot to mention my AMAZING almost son-in law Tim is also graduating from KSU in May! I had to make a TIM flag!

tim

So there you have it! Since they are getting married in September this banner may just show up at a couples shower this summer!

finished-product-1

oh and I have to show you a few of Daley Hake’s photos of Tim and Em’s engagement shoot

Loves me some Daley Hake and some Tim & Em!!!!

done

12 Comments

Posted in All Things Crafty!, Uncategorized | Tags: Daley Hake, graduation banner, how to make a banner, paper crafts

Posted by: Robin | April 20, 2009

Coffee Table Re-do!

I’ve been looking for a coffee table forever! We had an old trunk we used for years but it wasn’t big enough or comfortable. Then Stephie and Jon found this great old table and didn’t have room for it in their apartment, so we kept it for them until they moved into the house! We loved this coffee table. It’s huge. It’s roughed up so no need to worry about coasters! Everything about it was perfect for us. It is the coffee table that all coffee tables will forever be compared to. We thought seriously about moving and not telling them where we were going just so we could keep this coffee table!

I haven’t been able to find one even close to this one…

jon-and-stephs-coffee-table

In my desperation I settled. I found this one for a hundred bucks at a second hand store. My thought was that I could mess around with the finish and make it look better…Coffee tables are pretty important… The Husband and I are empty nesters, sometimes we eat on our coffee table! When the kids come over we use the coffee table for playing games or propping our feet up while we’re watching a movie! (So the height of the coffee table is important. Check it out with the height of your sofa.The Husband chopped off about three inches from the legs of this one!)

before-21

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I sanded it and used primer…

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Then painted it with Plantation Beige, a color I used in the house somewhere…Then The Husband rubbed stain all over and wiped it off..

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We used this same technique on our cabinets, doors and trim downstairs.

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Here’s the finished product!

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done-2

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Bella likes it! How’s that for a metamorphosis!? Head over to Between Naps on the Porch for some more before and afters!

bella-likes-the-bird

25 Comments

Posted in All Things Decorating!, All Things Home DIY!, Uncategorized | Tags: coffee table re-do, painting and antiquing wood furniture, refinishing furniture

Posted by: Robin | April 17, 2009

Texas Caviar 2 ways!

This is a fun and super easy dip that you can make for cheap! Not to mention that it’s not too fattening and feeds a million people! We had this at our Southern Comfort Food Couples Shower last week and it was so good I wanted to make it again for The Husband and I!

This recipe comes from my daughter Bethany, but you can find TONS of slight variations of this online!

4 cans Blackeyed Peas ~ Drained

2 cans white corn ~ Drained

1 med. can diced tomatoes ~ slightly drained

24 oz. Salsa

1 small zesty Italian Dressing

1 large Vidalia Onion ~ chopped (if you don’t have Vidalia’s …I’m sorry, use any sweet onion!)

1 large Green Pepper ~ chopped

Mix and refrigerate overnight ~ Serve with big freetoes or baked scoops!

This full recipe would feed maybe 40-50 people as an appetizer. I cut it in half for The Husband and I and will take some to Stephie and Jon …

Didn’t I tell you it was easy? Just mix…

And serve…(after it sits in the fridge overnight!)

Bethany is getting married at the end of May and like the rest of us around this fam, she’s on a Wedding Diet! She told me that with the left-overs from the shower, she’d been making turkey wraps for lunch…I had to try this! So I found good ole Bob Green’s “Best Life” whole wheat flatbread…

Some turkey breast, sharp provolone cheese and added a bit of the dip…

I’m not fond of the photo of the wrap, but let me tell you it was good!!! And if you leave off the cheese well I’m pretty sure you’d burn a few hundred calories eating it! (This is me in denial!)

Happy Friday Peeps! If you want some more yumalicious food ideas head over to Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday!

9 Comments

Posted in All Things Yumalicious! | Tags: appetizers, dip, foodie friday, Texas Caviar

Posted by: Robin | April 16, 2009

Wedding Shower~Southern Comfort Foods~

My niece Jamie is getting married in May and we just had her couples shower. I thought I’d share in case you may be able to get some ideas…

This is the beautiful couple…Jamie & Trey

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This is my favorite picture of the day! I’m throwing it in here because I reeeally like it! I took it with my camera and Trey’s dad’s fancy lens…

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The theme for the day was Southern Comfort Food which I stole from another party~(At least I’m honest when I steal great ideas!)

And Darren & Bethany once again opened up their beautiful home~

~The Menu~

Texas Caviar

Spinach Dip

Barbecue Sandwiches

Baked Beans

Macaroni and Cheese

Peach Cobbler

Banana Pudding

Cake Ball Bites

Lemonade and Sweet Tea

And the Party Flavors were:

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

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And here’s my 2nd favorite photo of the day…I promise this is the last one like this…

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I found these at JoAnn’s aren’t they adooorable???

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You know how I love to try out Bakerella’s latest Cake Ball creations…

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These are the “Bites” she made when she visited the Pioneer Woman, recipe here!

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This wasn’t at the shower, this was in my dinning room right after I made the yumalicious little nibbles.

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And I racked my brain for a party favor…I can not stand to throw a party and not send everyone home with a little somin~somin…

Suddenly it came to me…Strawberries…

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dipped in this deliciousness…

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And we’re off…

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I slipped the berries into little bags and tied with ribbons and used this little daisy ribbon for accents. (These glue dots come in so handy. They were perfect for adhering each daisy to the ribbons!)

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Here’s how we put them out at the shower, right next to the front door~

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Could you read that? It said :

Party Flavors (Yes, I meant to say Flavors)

Take one home and nibble just before bed-time

~Sweet Dreams~

Okay, I completely forgot to get pictures of the Macaroni & Cheese, which is a work of yumalicious art…but I remembered to snap the baked beans before we left home…

The Baked Beans are almost a meal in themselves…they have ground chuck and bacon along with all the other lip smackin good stuff I put in!

Also, when the tables were set up I was rushing around doing things and didn’t get ANY pictures of the finished table-scape before it was ravaged by the hungry guests…I get soooo distracted!

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There will likely be no ideas forthcoming from the following pictures…I’m putting them in for no reason at all…

My Baby Emma, giving me a smooch (we’re a huggin, smoochin kinda family!)

Emma makes me feel very short when she’s in heals and I’m not…

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My one and only Daddy & The Husband…

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My one and only Baby Sister and her 1st granddaughter…Ava Morgan!(Just look at how Ava is gazing at Debra!!!)

Ellie can’t be around crowds yet so she hasn’t gotten to meet her cousin Ava but they are going to be buds just as soon as Ellie gets a little more chubilicious!

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Me huggin on Brenda…I told you, we’re huggers!

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Bethany holding Baby Ava

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Emma and Jamie…two of the Brides to Be …

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Jamie and Trey opening prizes!!!

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Me and my Baby Sis

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Prayers for Trey and Jamie’s life together…Blessings you two~I love you both to pieces…smooches and hugs~Auntie R

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14 Comments

Posted in All Things Entertaining! | Tags: Bakerella's cake ball bites, couples shower, entertaining, southern comfort foods, wedding shower

Posted by: Robin | April 15, 2009

Living My Legacy~6~Home…a place to touch base

Living My Legacy~6 Making My House a Home…Touching Base…

My “Legacy” series started with a simple “Trip to the Grocery Store”. I believe that all of us are living our legacy every single day and I’m determined to live mine with intention. I made a list of ‘how I would want Mike to remember me if I was gone’ and started figuring out how to change my life to make those things happen. When working down my list to making my house a home I asked myself…what is “home” to me? Number 4 on that list is: Home is a place where my family or friends can touch base… What I mean by touching base comes from my experience as an adult daughter and from being a mom of four adult children.

I moved out of my parent’s house before my 18th birthday! But always have loved going back for holidays and visits. It’s nostalgic. A feeling of touching base. As we’ve gotten older my sister and I have taken on the holiday get-togethers. I also feel completely at home at Baby Sister’s house. She and Dean have one of those homes that make you feel loved and like you belong.

As a parent I understand that things change drastically when a child leaves home, but I’ve always wanted them to feel a familiarity and peace when they come back for any reason. We may move from their childhood home one day, but that’s not the point. It’s the anchor of having somewhere for them to come to on holidays or for no reason at all. A safe place for them if they need comfort. “Come in”, I want to say without saying it…”grab a pup and snuggle in! We’ll order pizza or grill out and there will most certainly be something yumaliciously sweet to nibble on. Wanna talk? Dad and I are here to listen. Wanna just sit and be quiet? We can do that too. Breathe, relax, laugh, you’re home.”

When you have that kind of atmosphere in your home it isn’t only family that benefits. My bud Ruthie and her hubby Keith are the most hospitable people I’ve ever known. If you go to Ruthie’s she’ll welcome you with open arms. She’ll always feed you, make sure you’re comfortable and listen if you need to talk. Ruthie makes it look easy. I love to go over and sit at her kitchen bar and watch her move around the kitchen without so much as a thought. She puts together the best food while carrying on a conversation, setting the table and helping Candy with homework! Touching base at Ruthie’s house is therapeutic for me and I know for so many others.

Creating a home where friends and family can come and touch base then go and feel renewed, strengthened and hopeful is what I deeply desire…Okay, now it’s your turn. Do you have a place where you feel you can go and touch base? What makes it feel that way for you? Love to you my precious peeps…I’m praying for all of us as we live the legacy we want to leave.

Visit Melissa over at Inspired Rooms for links to give you ideas for living A Beautiful Life~ She also has an amazing giveaway going today, a digital photo frame! Just comment to enter~