Turtle Envy

I think I need to stay away from Pinterest.com - It keeps making me want to start more projects. I found a turtle pattern that I just love. Meet Sheldon. How cute is he?! A floppy head and beady eyes? Plus a removable shell? Adorable! Now, if only I knew how to knit. The pattern doesn't seem very newbie friendly, and I am scared to make an attempt. If I supply the yarn, polyfill, and eyes could someone make this cutie for me? Lol! Yeah right, Ang keep dreaming...

Reasons to Smile: May 2012

    Finding joy in the little things!

• Parades
• This ice cream truck reminded me of the creepy ice cream man that we had one summer. The kids on our block would always quote him whenever we saw his truck. "Would you like a spooooon with that?"
• Loud marching bands - this little girl's reaction was priceless!
• Culvers! I couldn't pass up this delicious treat on our way back from the park
• Remembering the many people who have fought in the military to protect our freedom, no matter what the cost 
• The Bengal kitten and Shi-Tzu that I watched over the weekend
• Sugar cookies are not just for Christmas!
• Living near so many farms and their rolling hills - you may have to press "recirculate" on your car's vent system as you drive past, but they sure are beautiful!

Props!

I am always looking for ways to improve my photography skills. This summer I wish to take a few portraits for a family at our church. I'm very excited (and a little nervous) to be working with children. So, what does every photographer need for a great photo shoot? Props!

We couldn't find any crates, but we found this small step ladder at a thrift store for under 10 dollars. Because I'm only 5'4" I think it will be good for when I need a little height. ;)

We decided to go a store that has nearly everything packed into their small location. We had fun looking at all the miscellaneous objects that this lady collects. I started digging through the items, and found the dairy crate that I had been praying for! It was truly an "ask and it shall be given unto you" experience! The crate was nicely aged, very sturdy, and it had minimal printing on it. We bargained with the owner, and bought two crates for around 18 dollars.

This is my new wooden wagon/train car! I found it while looking at a second hand store in the toy department. I didn't buy it for various reasons, but mainly because I haven't photographed babies. The next day, I could not stop thinking about it. I was given some cash for helping the elderly lady plant her garden, and I went back to look at the wagon again. If it was still on the shelf, it was meant to be! It turns out that no one else shared my love for this little wagon. I happily brought it to the counter and waited in line. When I found out that it was on sale it sealed the deal! Can you imagine a little baby inside it with a fluffy, blue blanket? I think that it would be adorable for a little boy. The top needs a small amount of refinishing, but I'm sure it will be worth it.

A Walk With Mom

We spent Mother's day together at a nearby park

I enjoyed looking at the water as we walked

My perky little puppy!

We saw a couple of ducks swimming around

 I wasn't feeling too photogenic lol!

Guinness had a blast sniffing around the path. Here he is making sure there aren't any animals hiding inside the tree roots.

"What's in there?!"

A Fragrance Dilemma

This weekend we were outside enjoying the nice weather. My mom said that something smelled really good, and I pointed her (along with her sniffing nose) over to the neighbor's front yard. They have a gorgeous flowering tree, and it smells amazing. Once we got closer to examine the tree, I showed her how detailed each flower was. My mom convinced me to run inside our house to grab my camera. Here is one of the pictures I took as a ray of light peeked through the gray rain clouds.

While I played around with camera angles I kept smelling the wonderful fragrance. This lead me to a dilemma that I always have around perfumes, lotions, scented candles, and air fresheners. I start to feel light headed and dizzy if I smell them too much.

I have countless stories about this, but I'll spare you some time and trouble by only telling you one. This winter I had to go to drivers ed class two hours a day, four times a week. They had an air freshener that constantly ran, and it made me feel so sick. When class was over each night, I had the biggest headache. Breathing in the fresh air as I walked to the car helped a lot. It took me a few nights to figure out what was causing me to be in such pain. At first I thought it was just due to stress, but the same thing happened every night. I believe that the vanilla smell was the culprit.

I'm thankful that God didn't make me a super girly girl. I don't think that I could handle wearing perfume all the time. This doesn't seem to be that big of a problem, as long as I don't smell pretty trees too much.

Scrapbook Flower Tutorial

I took scrapbook paper "scraps" and turned them into flowers! I have decided that these are great for Mother's day, but you could certainly keep them for yourself too. :)

Supplies needed

Scrapbook paper

White Card stock - I used 3x5 cards to make it easy

Mod Podge - I used Glossy, but you can use Matte if you prefer.

Buttons

Embroidery floss

Wooden dowels

Ribbon

A small vase

I used some cardboard to make a template for each kind of flower. After I cut the flowers out, I used Mod Podge adhere them to the 3x5 cards. I kept each flower away from the red line because the color started to run and I didn't want pink Mod Podge. Apply a thick layer of Mod Podge over the top of each flower - this will dry clear. Make sure your brush strokes are all going the same direction.

  

Here's a photo of my flowers drying. For a finished look you can apply Mod Podge to the back of the flowers. I ended up doing this after I cut them out, but it would have been a lot easier and less messy if I would have just flipped the 3x5 card over. (You learn as you go! Haha) Note: You only have to Mod Podge the back of the base flowers, because you are building each flower with multiple pieces.

  

I picked out a few buttons from my button collection and tied on some Embroidery floss on them for some added detail.

  

Here are my flowers glued together! I used my finger to slowly bend some of the layers forward to add some dimension. This photo will hopefully help you understand which pieces need the Mod Podge applied to their backs.

Next, I glued the dowels and buttons on the flowers with some hot glue. Because the 3x5 cards have blue lines, they will show through the paper a little. This can be avoided by using plain white card stock.

I finished by cutting the dowels to the desired length and adding a bow. I found this vase at Goodwill for only 99 cents! The entire project only cost me around $2.00 to make!

Reasons to Smile: April 2012

    Find joy in the little things!

• Spring has sprung
• Guinness is a forever puppy
• The fat robin that refused to look at me
• Hannah Brock and Chocolate pie
• Spending time with Lucille
• Having a tea party with the kids I babysit
• Walks with my camera
• Our beautiful church property

Lessons From a Berry

I love making this Blueberry Pound Cake! It is quick, easy, and the whole family loves it. They practically devour the whole cake in one night.

As I stirred in the blueberries I couldn't help but notice how quickly the cream colored mixture turned purple. I learned something from my berries that day. Is that crazy?

Here is the thought that went through my mind. What if I was a blueberry, and the Gospel was my purple juice. Would it affect people everywhere I went? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

When I work with blueberries I am always extra cautious. I know that if they leap off my spoon to an unwanted place, they will make a mess and stain things quite easily. It is always nice when my blueberries do their job (as delicious fruits) and stay where they are supposed to be.

Our lives are a testimony for Christ every day. Our actions will either point others to Christ or draw them away from Him. If we disobey God, our influence will actually have a negative affect on others. As my pastor always says, "The center of God's will is the best place for you to be." If our lives deny Jesus, then our words are irrelevant.

The world should see a discernible difference between us. When people ask us why we are so different, we should be able to tell them that the greatest thing in our lives is knowing, loving, and serving Jesus.

I hope that this post was somewhat coherent. The recipe for the Blueberry Pound Cake is listed below if anybody wants to try it!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup of milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups of frozen or fresh blueberries

• Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix them together.
• Mix the butter and sugar until evenly combined, then add eggs one at a time.
• In a measuring cup combine the milk and vanilla.
• Add a little of the milk/vanilla, mix, add a little flour, mix. Alternate them until both are out.
• Now is the time to add your blueberries into the mix! I add 2 cups but you can add them to your liking. Before this step take them out of the freezer to let them thaw, or microwave them and drain the juice.
•  I usually spray the sides of our bundt pan with a little cooking spray. 
• Bake at 350° F for 30 minutes or longer (our oven usually takes longer to fully bake it - I keep an eye on it until it is golden brown)