{Wrapping Paper Ribbon Wall Rack}

I came across a blog today called... 33 Shades of Green. If you enjoy wasting time getting lost in idea finding w/ a special emphasis in stylish and functional projects... your behind would be very comfortable being planted at this blog for a really long time.

Mine wasn't planted for too long before I ran into this lovely thing. A beautiful addition to any craft room, I say. I'm a sucker for ribbon. I have oodles of it and yet I still can't pass it by without taking the slightest moment to peruse through a bin or a rack at a store and imagine a card and the right stamp set that would compliment that cute thing.


This set up is perfect. Think of how cute and organized one I could be with two of these next to one another. I could gaze at my ribbon collection at any time rather then string through a storage drawer for hours.

Not only is it visually appealing, but Alissa's step by step instructions make it easy and cheap to duplicate. If you're interested, you can find her fabulous tutorial and blog here.

{Strength Training}

I've had the kids all week while my husband has been away on a mancation. Camping, river rafting and mountain climbing. Doesn't he look rejuvinated?... Surely enough to take the kids by himself for the day (wink, wink)?

I'm glad you had a good time honey!

{Lip Smack'n}

I have this problem.

Only I don't really consider it a problem, it's more like an addiction really.

Have you ever tasted something so delicious that you wanted to gorge yourself... for three days straight? And when I say gorge, I mean like eat that same thing for lunch and for dinner and you could still possibly have it again for breakfast? In my humble opinion, it could be worse. I mean I could be in love with ice cream or cheesecake or... chocolate covered something. (To which I actually am in love with all of these things.)

I'm happy to say that my new obsession is slightly more healthy. It makes a ton (freezes for an easy pull together dinner for another night). And it's.... well, frankly delicious. Delicious. Did I mention, delicious?

It all happened so suddenly. I was talking to my sister on the phone and I asked her what she was fixing for dinner.

She happily replied, Carne Asada.

My brain thought, Fancy Smancy, but my lips said, "What the heck is that"?

I have shocked my sister. "What!? You've never had Carne Asada?"

Okay, now I'm feeling dumb. "Uh, no." What's in it?"

She then begins to utter off a list of healthy ingredients that in combination makes my mouth start to water. I decide right then and there that a trip to the store is of the utmost importance.

And after I've come home from that store can you believe that even before I make this dish, I'm thinking about it all day long. The anticipation of all those things mixed together and what it might taste like is for sure pure agony. And can you believe that in all that agony, I begin to prepare dinner at 4:00 because I just can't stand it any longer? What's wrong with me!? (And nope, not pregnant.)

This is what I heard my sister say...

Carne Asada, it's the meat that's already cut up really thin for you.
Add spices to it and bbq it. But not for very long. Cut it into strips.
Warm tortillas over the bbq.
Add black beans (warmed).
Add cilantro.
Tomatoes.
Avocodos.

My brain also said...
Oh and you could add that yummy pepper jack cheese that you have in the fridge too.
And a dab of sour cream would probably taste lovely too!







Ode to my sister!

{Refabbing}

Several weeks ago I found this great set of table and chairs on Craigslist. You may have heard my silent enthusiasm, here.





I'm happy to say that I'm finished and as promised I'm posting some pics of the final product.





Happy Recycling...

{A Low-Key Summer}

It's hard to believe that August has arrived. It sure would be nice to be able to do a little of this all year 'round.

Hoping you are able to soak up every last bit of yours!

New Terminology

As a mother of two boys, I'm outnumbered in our home. Although I grew up with a brother (and two sisters), my sense of boy-ness is sometimes rusty. Well, let's be honest... I'm a work in progress.

Why should I care if my boys are filthy while camping? I do. But, I shouldn't.
Why should I care if they have peanut butter and jelly on their cheeks as they run to go and play? I do. But, I shouldn't.

Why should I care if my boys wrestle and try to tear one anothers arms off? Their boys. Boys are supposed to wrestle, turn red faced and sweat profusely, right? Still caring here.

Why should I care if my newly swept and mopped floor gets wet and freshly cut grass all over it? I do. But, I shouldn't. It's just grass and water and a few minutes of clean up...

Uh, raising boys is a lot different than raising girls. Dummy, slow mom here is beginning to see that. I've decided that I need to shift gears, take it down a notch and reason in a whole new way.. W.W. Be gone.

The boys got new Razors last Christmas. But this summer, they've taken to them. In fact, we've even watched a video with all sorts of tricks that the boys want to do think they can do. I'm learning things like, "tail whip", "bunny hop", and "stall". Perhaps my new found skater lingo will make me cool? Nah, I didn't think so either.

And so with my new cool, calm and collected tude, I used my energy to snap some pictures of them riding today instead of reminding them to look both ways before they cross the street.

{Reminnising}

It's really a shame that extended families usually only get together for funerals and weddings. There's something about these occasions that bonds families together. I wish they happened more frequently... the bonding, not the funerals.

Damon's grandmother, June Wallace recently passed away. A beautiful person whose character and personality resembled the Savior. I'm grateful for the chance that I had to know her. This event caused us to travel to Spokane this last week.




After the funeral, we headed over to Priest Lake, ID to spend some time in a cabin Damon's grandparents had built with their own hands.

The Outhouse. Although I did most of my business squatting somewhere in the 40 acres.



The Cabin.







Target Practice: The boys first experience with guns.



Before heading home, we visited a little town called, Sandpoint, ID. Ever been? One word... Beautiful.