Raspberry Balloon

how to make Pine Cone Fire Starters {using leftover candle wax}

2014-12-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

I'm getting in to the winter season by sharing with you how I make my pine cone fire starters. Here's a way to recycle all of that old candle wax I've saved. I hate wasting that last 1/2 inch of the candle that doesn't burn, so I end up digging out the bottom of the jar to save the left over wax. I finally figured out what I could do with it! There's nothing better then snuggling up next to a cozy fire to get warm on a cold winter night and now I have great smelling fire starters to help me out!

gather your supplies ...

I gather and save the leftovers from the candles that I burn all year, and keep them in a large glass jar (or two). I usually leave them in the closets until I am ready, and it makes it smell so good in there!

It's very simple to make these fire starters with the pinecones my kids have gathered from around our house here in the mountains, so it's relatively cheap to make these since pine cones are free (thank you Mother Nature) and most of the wax I use is just leftover pieces I've saved. If you do not live in an area that has pinecones, then try a bag from Michaels Craft Store for about $5 per bag (find a 50% off coupon in your local paper to make it more economical). I also found some here, but again, Michaels or Joannes Fabric Store is much less expensive.

Here's what you will need:

1 pound of gulf wax

about 40 small pinecones

leftover candle wax broken in to smaller pieces

a cookie sheet covered with wax paper

tongs to hold the pinecones while dipping in hot wax

double boiler (use a small pot from the thrift store to hold the melted wax incase you can't remove it all)

you can choose to dye your pinecones different colors by adding the dye to the melted wax. For this batch, my wax was actually a golden color because all of my candle scraps happened to be a cinnamon pumpkin flavor. If you choose to have yours colored, then use dye made specifically for candle making.

Directions are simple:

First melt the gulf paraffin wax squares in the pot (keep the flame on "low" heat). The pot should not have direct contact with the flame, since you are using a double boiler. Once the gulf wax is melted, fill the pot with the broken pieces of leftover candle wax. It should melt in to a liquid form in about 10 minutes. Once it is liquid, use the tongs to dip the pine cone. You can choose to only cover the bottom half of the pine cone, or the full pine cone, depending on how far you want the wax to stretch.

There is no need to add any scents or aromatherapy because your left over candles should already smell heavenly! I have mixed many waxes of different colors, brands and scents and it always turns out great.

Lay the pinecones out over the wax paper until they dry. Gather your finished pinecones in a basket and put them on your dining room table as a beautiful accent until you are ready to use them!

Dipping tips

If you dip the pinecones while the wax is too hot it will take forever to build the wax coat
If you dip too cold you can get lumps in your wax and uneven areas, plus it’s hard to do
If your wax gets too hard, remelt it
Strain as much wax off each pinecone as you can
Let your pinecones dry for at least 15 minutes in between each dip
Use your tongs (or wooden spoon) to help you submerge the pinecones
Let them dry on waxed paper
Dip each pinecone 2-4 times (don't be afraid to keep re-melting your wax)
If the wax on your pinecone looks dull, it means it was dipped in cool wax
To get a shinny look on your last coat, use hotter wax

I usually don't use more than 2 to 3 small pinecones to start my fire along with a tiny bit of wood kindling. Please don't pile a bunch of pine cones in your fireplace! This will cause your fire to burn too hot and you could be hurt. Burn them slowly and savor the smell!

Enjoy! and hey, please share if you have any other great ideas that I can use with my leftover candle wax. I would love to hear them!

2014-10-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we keep ourselves bound to our past. Let me re-word that. Sometimes I keep myself bound to my past. Sometimes I need to face myself. face my choices. Do I have any regrets? Do I need to change? Maybe sometimes I need to just open up, let myself out.
lovely.
That shouldn't be a problem at all.

Advertisers do not appeal to our practical side, or common sense. Their goal is to instill inside of each one of us that we will never measure up. So I blame all of my insecurities and issues that roll around in my head on all of the advertisers out there in the world. They targeted me. and it worked.

Imagine being a kid in this day and age with such clever advertising that is intentionally causing people to live beyond their means and end up feeling empty after a hard days work.

"Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment, and especially on their children, than the un lived life of the parents."

It was October of 2011. My mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It sparked a never ceasing conversation that I had within my head as to whether I was living the best life that I could. Not only for me, but for my husband and children also. It made me second guess every decision we'd made up to that point, but only for a minute. I couldn't help but sit at my desk after a really long hard day and wonder, if I knew I only had a short period of time to live, would I still be sitting here? Did I really have to work? I mean, right away I could answer "yes!" because we needed the money. But, did we really need the money or did we really just like the money?

I have always thought of money being a way to have more freedom. What I mean is, if you had a good amount of money in the bank (or invested) you would have more freedom to quit that job you hated or go on family vacations, etc.

But after my mom's diagnosis, I think I had it all wrong.

I started brainstorming all the ways that we could cut back in our lives. Trim the fat. We lived in a large house with TVs and laptops in every room. We had more cars than drivers. More clothes than would fit in one closet. You get the idea.

I've been gardening for years. I wondered if I could now garden with a purpose. That was my first step towards simplifying my life. Once I started to grow a little of the food that we needed then I worked on the closets. I weeded through the linen closets and each of the kids closets and then to mine (yikes!). The problem with living in the mountains is that you really do have four seasons. It's beautiful, but it also means a separate full closet of every type of jacket for each seasons weather, and for each person. That can take up a lot of room!

We bought a small cabin that was built in 1934. Just after buying it, the huge forest fires that raged through our mountains in the fall of 2005, hit our poor little cabin. I can't believe I never got a picture of our sweet little place as it was!

It didn't actually burn to the ground, but it did so much damage that it had to be rebuilt. This is the part where we learned that we did not have the insurance coverage that we thought we had. I think it took us almost 2 years just to get them to pay what little they owed to us under our policy provisions. Sadly, the rest had to be paid in cash as we went along. Slowly. Very very slowly.

So here we are now, 9 long years later, and the house is finally finished.

We have made a lot of changes as we traveled this journey. We decided after years of brainstorming that it really was time to downsize. I love living in our big house where our children have grown up. I'm proud that we stayed in one place and we have so many memories here. I didn't realize my sentimental attachment would be so strong once it was time to pack and leave =(

My daughter and I have been slowly going through each closet and weeding out what we truly don't need. Our little cabin is only 1/2 the size of this house. I'm trying to figure out not only what is most dear to me, but will be practical and actually fit in the new cabin.

How are we all going to live in such a small place? I know we will figure it out. In the end, this is really going to be worth it. It is going to be worth it, right?

Time tells all.

Busy as a Bee - realizing what's important

2014-10-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

We are crazy busy at my house, just like everyone else. Please tell me that you reflect back at the end of the week and wonder where the week went like I do! Since it's not possible to request more days in a week, or hours in a day, I have to resort to the next best thing;

Plan. I have a plan, I always have a plan. Some days (ok-most days!) my plans are changed on a whim. I run around a lot, and always with the little ones in tow. I have organized lists to keep track of other lists. I love my lists! I have to keep lists in order to keep up with the conversations I have with myself in my head. I have many incredibly insightful points that include bullet points and footnotes. I can't let myself forget all of the ideas and things I need to get down as they swirl in my head if I don't write them down. If time gets away from me, it can be overwhelming. I have long term goals written down, and then a list of what I would like to accomplish that day. Lists help me to prioritize and keep important things in check (and the nagging voices at bay). Lists save time when I'm out running errands and I can go directly where I need to be or get in and out of the store quickly. Did I say that I love making lists?

Time management. I am determined to make some changes here. Blogging helps me to keep things in order also. Okay, so if you look to see the last time that I actually blogged it may be a dead-give-away that I have lost control of my orderly-self long ago. Bahaha Well, time to take charge again and make the time I'm needing for the more important things. Reassessing and finding ways to use my time more creatively is definitely a must.

Unplug and reconnect. One thing that helps me to refocus is to unplug. No cell phone. No laptop. No camera<<<the worst one for me, TV off. I can't believe how much time I spend on distractions sometimes. I never feel fulfilled after spending countless hours clicking from one site to the next, even if it is very interesting reading. I love the great ideas on Pinterest, or reading another person's blog or experience. I do. But it seems to detour me from getting my own important things sometimes. So I limit web-surfing (and Pinterest) when I am drained of all inspiration and need a little tiny push.

Multitasking. I try make good use of "wait times", like for doctor's appointments or waiting for my daughter to be released from tennis practice. I love to read. Doctor's visits and airplanes are probably the only time I get to read. I love to read almost as much as I love my lists. I recently invested in a Nook book because it's so easy to take along & fits right in to my purse. I've read four books in the past couple of months. (That's pretty amazing for me.) So I guess that was a good investment =) Sometimes I organize pictures in chronological order so it's easier to lay them down in a book when the time comes. Sometimes I see people knitting or crocheting at the doctors office - good idea. Recently, I saw a few women who were wearing "scrubs" and looking like they were on their lunch break at Panera Bread and scrap-booking. Okay, that is determination - kudos to them!!!

Finding time. I remember that years ago I used to get up before the family and use that time to myself. I think I'm going to try that again. Either get up early, or stay up a little later. Even if it's just an hour, it's a great time to re-group or throw that album together. Sometimes just being able to sit in silence watching the fire, and reflecting with gratitude for what's around me, can be satisfying to my soul. One thing I know for sure, I don't want to take any time away from the littles than absolutely necessary.

Picture albums are important. I squeeze out every bit of goodness out of family time as possible. I know these special days won't last forever, and I hope I remember every detail of how heartwarming it's been raising my family when I'm old and my mind is not as sharp. Pictures will remind me of my story and I don't want to forget any of it.

Stay connected. Women can do amazing things together. Having a solid circle of fantastic friends is probably one of the most important things in my life, along with recognizing my spiritual need. I love my daily hikes with Melissa because we brainstorm and bounce ideas off of each other. It really helps keep me sure of things and keeps me connected. Be confident and be connected.
Do the one thing that is guaranteed to make you happy. The best advice when you feel depression sneaking up on you. Figure out what that one thing, your new "go-to" kinda thing that lifts your spirits anytime. Maybe it's going to the park with the kids or just thumbing through an old photo album. Reading the Bible. Diving in to a "self-help" article. Think about it, what is your thing? I have a few "go-to" things....one of my never fail happy things is reading my Bible or related articles. Taking snap shots (successfully) is a sure fire way to put a smile on my face! Okay okay, if you really must know. Drowning something in a tub of chick-fil-a sauce. That is really my secret weapon... it's like heaven-in-a-tub!

She feels a little crazzzyyyy sometimes too!

Laguna Beach [[day tripping]]

2014-06-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Laguna has to be one of the most beautiful beaches we have here in Southern California. The colors in the sunsets are amazing! I took the girls down there for an extended weekend to explore, and what a peaceful time.
Autumn & Carina rented a surfboard - that was interesting! ha I guess it's not as easy as it looks. Our family friend, Holly, came over and we had the most beautiful lunch out at a small outside restaurant right there on the sand. It's always so wonderful to be able to catch up with old friends and re-connect. We see each other more than a few times a year but we never seem to set aside enough time to really sit down and talk.

The Deck had the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich you have ever eaten - it's a must try! Seriously, you heard me right; a.grilled.cheese. So so good!!!

Poor Lilly lived through her first boo-boo of the summer. What a trooper!

Enjoy your summer!

Catalina Island, California [[day tripping]]

2014-06-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Our home in the mountains is so close to the ferry access to Catalina Island, yet, we have only been there once (and that was decades ago). This summer we are making a conscious effort to venture out and discover what's in to our own backyard. Day trippin'. There are so many beautiful places that are easy to get to, but we always seem to be in a rush to get out right out of town!

The weather couldn't have been nicer. It was perfect. The ferry ride out of Newport beach harbor was just right for the little ones because it really wasn't long & they loved the idea of being on a big boat. We saw dolphins as soon as we left the harbor, and sea otters a little ways out. The ferry can be pricey when you have a big family like us. I was lucky enough to find groupons for the adult tickets and then the children's tickets were only about $6. We packed our snacks for the ferry and took plenty of water bottles in the stroller. Food was as expensive as you would expect at any tourist destination.

We rented a golf cart (about $140 for 3-hours, seating 6 people) once we landed, but I think you can get better rates if you reserve it beforehand online. We raced around the island all day and had a blast!

I think the next time we are there, I really want to sign the family up for snorkeling. Catalina is said to be the best kept secret for the variety in underwater life. That may be another trip idea for this summer!

seagull vs. otter (the fish won!)

Pumpkins & Apple Picking in Oak Glen, California

2014-05-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age & dreams are forever. " ~Tinkerbell

I was going through some old pictures and came across some really great shots that brought back memories of how much fun our kids had together growing up! All these pictures bring back so many warm memories and I'm so glad I always dragged my camera out even when it was a pain. Because I've been bedridden for so long now (following surgery), I've had a lot of time to really start reassessing the people, relationships, places and things in my life, and what direction my family is headed now. I'm not really sure it all needs reassessing, but what the heck! It's probably time for some dustin' and some cleanin', hugh?

When I thumb through these albums, I realize that Melissa and I really did a good job at keeping our family's together. I'm so happy our kids love each others company and are so close =) I'm so glad we did, and I'm so proud of us for it! I grew up watching chaotic family relationships that had the ups and downs of the worst roller coaster ride around! There came a point in my adult life when we all realized that we are not required to have every single blood relative actively involved in our lives. "Birds of a feather, flock together." I believe that goes for family too. You really are who you're with.

We have all talked about what we want for our kids and how important it is to have peace in our homes and with our relationships whether they are friends or family. Having what we do now was a conscious effort on our part and it actually worked out! So good. for. us.

I couldn't stress enough to my kids how important it is to not only have very good friends in our lives, but to be a really good friend too. Man, we have some great memories with our families together and I am so grateful!

Literally since our kids have been born, we have been going each fall to the farms in Oak Glen. It's a tradition that I hope we never stop. I hope these relationships we've forged and the efforts we've made to truly keep balance and peace in our home will inspire our kids to do the same when they've grown and have a family of their own. I hope their strong friendships with their cousins will be a source of comfort to them in the time of need, and that they have that constant companion who they can confide in and celebrate with through every stage of their lives. I love all of these kids so much, and I think they have each genuinely turned out to be such good people. I can't wait to see what else our futures hold...

what's your story, morning glory?

I blog because I'm not a very good rapper.

2014-04-13T16:30:00.001-07:00

I got that quote from a print that I ordered. I literally laughed out loud when I read it! So I had no choice but to order it for the wall of my workspace that I have been working on. Still in the brainstorming stage, of course. I'm so indecisive as to what I want, and need.
I'm a blogger, but I kinda suck at it. But this is my little space, a little extension of me, and I kinda like that. I really love reading other blogs. This is a place where our stories all meet. The ideas and creative designs that other people come up with are so amazing to me. Inspirational. I love storytelling. I think when my life slows down a bit, and the littles are a little older, I may look in to a writing program or class to help get all that swirls in my head, down on paper.
I've had a pretty active imagination since I was a little girl. I loved pretend. I always loved creating.

My family is something that I am passionate about. Everyone has a story. There are so many things in my life that make me who I am today. Which is pretty much no different than any one else on earth. We all have those things that inspire us, give us passion and inner peace. and heartfelt gratitude.

I've read so many touching stories about cancer, death, addiction, spirituality, beauty. They've all felt so real to me as I took a small part on the road of someone else's journey.

I hope someday I gain the ability to put those swirling thoughts and ideas in a somewhat organized fashion in order to put myself out there and join the ranks. Tell my story. Would anybody listen? Do I care if anybody wanted to listen or not? I don't know if the answer is really important to my story.

I feel such a passion for people, ideas, colors, fashion, textures, photos, emotions, growth and a passion to be creative ... I want to find a way to capture the free spirit that I see in my children and convey it somehow through photography. How do I capture that feeling that swells my heart when I'm listening to the kids outside under the summer sun on our quiet street? I can hear the sound of the wagon roaring by, kids laughing, and the dogs barking as they follow closely behind trying to be included in the fun. I love it all!
Taking photographs is a way to freeze that memory in time. I stalk so many photography blogs trying to feed my passion for taking pictures. I want to do them well. really well.

Back to the same problem; I have the vision but I need the knowledge it takes to be really good. Unfortunately, it's not a possibility yet for me to invest the time or the energy it would take. In the meantime, I can keep "pinning" and gathering my ideas for creations to help when the time comes!

All I can think of as I write this is my friend Joy's new T-shirt she designed that says, "stop wishing and start doing". Maybe this should be my new mantra?

Note to self: I think before I can accomplish any of this that I need to regain my balance. I always seem to put the cart before the horse. Why is that? I need to find the time to re-gain my footing and spiritual balance. It so easy to get distracted in this busy busy world.

I live in the mountains and we are raising our family here in order to keep centered. Block out the noise. But sometimes it's noisy up here in the forest. The sky is majestic at night. Millions of stars shining down on us. Sometimes I forget to look up.

Whats the point of all of this? I'm just letting my mind run free.

Do you have any wild thoughts or dreams?
I've been thinking about that too. You know what would be pretty darn cool? To own a farm and rescue horses that are about to be sent off to slaughter. And to photograph. Take really good photographs of the journey. There are so many lessons that I could teach the Littles along the way. That's more of an unrealistic dream, but a fun dream just the same.

You know what else? Taking a year and traveling the USA on a road trip with the kids and homeschooling them along the way. Instead of reading about the places in books, take them there to see it first hand. And photograph the journey. Wow, what a learning experience that would be huh? I hope someday I will refer back to this post and I can say, "now this is where it all started!".

I saw an inspirational quote today: everyone dies. but not everyone lives.

Well, I don't know how true that is - I think we all do the best we can with what we have but none-the-less, it made me stop. and think.

Hey, Hey Ski Town USA!

2014-02-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

The littles are a year older now and it's a good time to teach them to ski, even though this winter season hasn't brought much of a winter!

Mission accomplished!

Mammoth Ski Trip

2014-02-10T14:43:00.001-08:00

We finally got to see Mammoth Lakes in the winter time. The summer time is beautiful but the winter landscape there is amazing! I was so excited that I couldn't even sleep the night before. I had butterflies in my stomach as if we were heading to Disneyland!!! I wish I could have captured more memories on film, but, we were blessed with a blizzard with white-out conditions. The only shots I got were inside the gondola. At least I got a couple =) The littles did great skiing but the littlest of the littles was not having any of that wind! She and I ended up dominating the hot chocolate machine by the window to watch our biggy-little race on the shred team. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Mammoth.

On the gondola and headin' up the mountain

Never stop exploring,

Where you go, I go ...

2013-10-08T15:57:00.001-07:00

I looked down from the second story window this afternoon to check on Lilly, and this melted my heart. These are the kind of moments I hope I never forget. Lilly is so adorable as she follows Colby around everywhere. She scurries around with her chunky little legs as fast as she can so she can keep up with him. You can see his heart melt for her. He must look huge to her when she is starring up at him! It is so sweet how bonded these two are. I love watching them when they don't see me. It's sweetness at its very best!!! It warms my heart that all of my children have turned out to have such gentle sweet hearts and are so good to others, especially little ones.

it's usually not long before she's in his arms

or up on his shoulders ...

It makes me think that I can't wait to have a dozen little grandchildren running around here, (but not too soon!!!!) ...

Kennebunkport, Maine

2013-07-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Kennebunkport was the last stop on our East Coast family road trip. WOW, what a way to wind down! I wish we would have made our reservations for a few days longer just to relax and soak up the scenery in this little town. I could really see myself living here someday. It was that great! It's a really small town and we were there before the "season" started so we had the whole town practically to ourselves. We ate clam chowder at the little tavern and I loved the lobster rolls at the local deli. I am dying dying dying to go right back there!!! The hotel was so pretty and their grounds were pretty incredible too. It was called the Nonantum Resort. It was so peaceful and friendly, that I can't help but stay here over and over. I did see a pile of paddle-boards they were bringing out and dusting off that were calling my name too! Next time, that will be a must for us.

I hope your summer is filled with family fun and travels near or far!

I [[heart]] New York!

2013-07-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

We were really lucky this year to be able to travel and see so much. I absolutely LOVE road trips!!! Our first stop was to New York City where we met up with my family from the East Coast (New Hampshire). I got to see my high school friend, Janine, after all of these years! What a great great trip!!! Janine suggested the ferry since it was a little drizzly outside and because parking spaces are so rare in the city. What an excellent idea! I would recommend it to everyone to cover all of Manhattan Island, and then you can walk to parts you know you love. My Mom has difficulty walking these days, so the ferry turned out to be a blessing to us =) We got to have a pie with Janine right out there on the streets of New York and bought all of the trendy trinkets from one of the gifts shops. We shopped at the biggest Victoria's Secret that I think I have seen in Times Square too. It was so much fun, we really had a great time!

After New York we drove up to Kennebunkport, Maine to stay at a nice little lodge on the bay. Wow. That's all I can say; WOW! I can't wait to post pictures from that part of our journey too...

Until then,

Lake Powell House-boating trip

2013-07-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Exploring ...

I think these are the most pictures I have posted of anything here on my blog and I could have done a million more. If you haven't been to Lake Powell, then I think I would tell you to add it to your bucket list. I'm not normally a fan of any desert, but, this place was AMAZING! The sunsets were incredible and waking up on the lake was pretty awesome too. We settled in a cove area (which there are plenty) and the kids were able to explore about or swim or whatever they wanted. Even the big kids couldn't resist playing in the sand =) My sister came out with her two from the East Coast and I think we were all in awe. We actually took this trip in May, so the weather couldn't have been more perfect. I am sure in the summertime they deal with some pretty high temperatures, (which I doubt I would have been able to handle).

We are definitely going to do this trip again next year! We only stayed 5 days this year, and I want to stay a few days longer next year. The lake borders Utah and Arizona and is enormous. We didn't even see one-eighth of the lake! I think next year it would be best to circle the entire lake first in the houseboat to explore before settling in. There is a waterfall at the far end that I have heard is very beautiful, but only flows after a rain. I think I want to check it out whether it rained or not.

I hope everyone is having a safe and "cool" summer!

Until next time, enjoy!

Kayaking on Big Bear Lake

2013-06-22T15:05:00.002-07:00

We decided to take a trip to the lake to try out kayaking. It was a smash!

Here's what Lilly thinks of strangers saying she is cute =)-

Autumn with Nikki

and what's a trip to the lake without a little exploring?

Colby and Levi

hard at work ...

little Miss Morgan too!

Lunch time is always the best time =).

What a great send off to start our summer vacation!

Sticky Buns (Pecan Roll) Recipe

2013-05-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

My goal this summer is to begin putting together a recipe book for my daughter with all of her very favorites from over the years. I want to teach her to bake each one, together, as we add them to her book. I've used this sticky bun recipe for probably 20 years now. I hope your family loves it as much as mine, and nothing beats a home filled with the aroma of home-baked buns.

Sticky Buns

Dough:

1 pkg. of active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

2 cups flour+

2 Tbs. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cup warm milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

2 Tbs. unsalted butter (softened, but not melted)

Filling:

1 1/2 Tbs. unsalted butter (melted)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup raisins (optional)

Glaze:

2 Tbs. unsalted butter (melted)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 Tbs. dark corn syrup

Dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it rest for a few minutes.

Combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Then add the yeast mixture, warm milk, egg and soft butter to the flour/sugar/salt. Mix thoroughly. Turn mixture out on a floured board and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and silky. (Add a little more flour if it's too sticky.) Return to the bowl, and cover with plastic. Let it rise in a warm place until it's doubled in size, (about 1 1/2 hours).

Punch down the dough, and place it on a floured board. Let it rest a few minutes. Next, roll it into about a 6" by 24" rectangle. Brush 1 Tbs. of melted butter evenly over the surface. Mix the brown sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle it to cover the doughs surface. Follow with the chopped pecans and raisins.

Starting at the 6" side, roll the dough up tightly. Using dental floss (or a thick quilting type thread), slice it in to 6 large pieces or 12 smaller pieces - depending on the thickness your family loves.

Place the cut sides down in a large bun pan, pressing in the centers lightly. Cover with plastic, and let rise (about 20 to 30-minutes). Bake at 375* for about 25-minutes, (or until rolls are brown). Remove from the oven and let the rolls rest for a minute or two. Losen the sides of the buns and carefully remove them from the pan.

Prepare the glaze by combing all of the above listed ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Spoon on the buns while they are still hot. Buns are best when served fresh and warm!

Yield: 6 large buns or 12 smaller buns

Time: about 2 1/2 hours

Enjoy!

Happy Monday, from the land of the crazy!

2013-05-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Our house is always buzzing in the summer time with kids everywhere, of all ages. I can't tell you how much I love it! I can't wait until school finally let's out for summer vacation so that we can plan our beach days, pool time, and campouts. The littles are finally comfortable in the water (water-wings-in-tow), so it's going to be especially fun now! Disneyland is calling to me, again! I love the new Cars Land. Oh, and yea, the kids kinda did too =)

Chase says he's really ready for the summer fun to begin!

I literally left her for about one minute to find my coffee. This little is the quick one!

She was very impressed with herself!

Covered from head to toe with fun! (Before) Thank goodness she cleans up well ...

(after) ...

and life is always better with a dog, don't you think?

Happy Summer Vacation to us all!

Oh HAPPY day!

2013-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

It really is the happiest place on earth!!!

What would you do if had no fear?

2013-04-11T09:38:00.001-07:00

Good question. What would I do? hmmm. I would set a week aside and get down to the bare essentials. Live simply. The less you have, the less there is to worry about.
Since I would be so carefree after ridding myself all of that baggage and expense, I would take my kids on the longest road trip ever. I would stop to see everything! From the Carlsbad Caverns to the largest ball of yarn in the world. I want to go up through Canada, throughout the state of Alaska, and all the way over and down the whole east coast and back again! Wouldn't it be great to homeschool your kids by hitting the road and actually showing them everything they are seeing in the books?

If I had no fear, I would dive in to photography and just go for it! And I've always wanted to design a line of children's clothing from vintage material. Okay, I could go on and on! There are so many things I think I would do if "fear of failure" and the limits of time (and money), were not a factor.

I think when it comes down to it, I wouldn't be truly satisfied if my life wasn't centered around recognizing my spiritual need, and making sure I live an honorable life. Keep it simple. This summer my main goal will be to get back to basics! I don't think fear will be holding me back from that, hugh?

See you around,

Hey, Look at Me!

2013-03-28T11:28:00.006-07:00

I'm finally three! Chase had so much fun this winter sledding, and learning to ski. I can't wait to take him back to DisneyLand and see his reaction to all of the characters. He's a little bit older now so I think he will understand what is going on around him a little bit better. There is a children's forest camping area close to our home and I can wait to take the kids there for their first campout. I can smell the marshmallows now! Having little ones in the house (even if it's only temporary) is so much fun. It reminds me of how great it was when mine were all little ones running about the house. Now they have turned in to fun big kids =).

I need to figure out a way to occupy him so that I can get more of my projects done that are sitting around, just staring at me all day.

Enjoy,

Learning to Watermark Photos using Photoshop

2013-03-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to finally find a site with instructions so simple to watermark photos that even I could follow them! I absolutely love to take pictures. You could say that I am an avid hobbyist. So it only seemed fitting that I learn another aspect of photography. I have seriously thought about learning more and really buckling down to take in as much as I can about the science of photographing, but, I am not sure I would have the time right now. Plus, this way I have no pressure to please anyone else and I don't ever fear that I would do a bad job and have photos that I took cause disappointment. I have to admit, thinking of ways to pose people so that they still look relaxed and natural is the hardest part! I like to be creative but sometimes the person just looks downright uncomfortable - haha.

So I hope things are going well for you. I am at a pretty happy place in my life and I feel like I can look back and I have really accomplished so much. I hope to keep moving forward and posting so much more.

Talk to you soon,

Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.

2012-09-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Eye Pop.

I have been working on this for about 2 years and I think I have finally gotten it (I think). Thanks to the help of a great article that I read about how to achieve the best looking eyes ever without editing. She has photoshop actions (that I can not wait to buy and try someday very soon), and also gives advice for those who want to improve. Hey, that's me! I am by no means a professional, but taking pictures is absolutely my favorite passion in life. The pictures below were pictures taken by me as I was trying to teach myself how to get that "eye pop" ... I was so proud at the time but now that I look back at these, I see I didn't really get it after all. Once I read the article, it was really easy (pictured above). Now I just hope I can keep doing it. Heaven knows I have the perfect model here =) Isn't she precious? I see lots and lots of pictures in her future - haha.

I promise you, it will be much better in the end if you learn who you are, and show the world the way you see it. You want to be you, not someone else. If you need help figuring that out, take the time. It's worth it.

Autumn in September

2012-09-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

I have been practicing photographing with natural light. I really love taking pictures in the forest. Green is my favorite color so I think that's the easiest place for me to practice. I really wish I could find a cool place with water, like a stream, and that would be beautiful!

Well, until next time ....

"Around the World" themed Baby Shower

2012-08-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

Paper mache hot air balloon

Baby Peanut's shower cake

"Jam packed with Joy" Raspberry Jam party favors - Individual Berry Trifles

Joy is getting some practice holding Lilly.

Joy's baby shower turned out just as I had hoped. I have been making all of the decorations for a couple of months now & I finished everything on time. What a great surprise! I chose the theme "around the world" because Joy is from Santiago Chile, our friend Ivy made it in time to come to the shower, (she's from Buenos Aires, Argentina), and the rest of us are just good ole Americans. We are now blessed to have Joy with us here in the United States for good. (Well, I guess until she & Kenny get the fever to plant their roots somewhere else ... you never know!)

I made the hot air balloon out of paper mache. I cut up a world map and used moge podge to glue it to canvas. I drink frappicinos like mad so I saved the glass bottles and recycled them to use as our drink cups. I made the clouds out of leftover paperbags, and I made the raspberry jam with berries from my garden. (Joy had to help me with the labels.)

I LOVED the cake pops! I used paper straws with ribbons for the sticks. All of the cakes were made by Shannon, in Crestline. Isn't she awesome?

Everyone seemed to have fun & Joy was happy so I guess that's a wrap.

Until next time,

I'm Planning a Baby Shower!

2012-08-24T16:53:00.001-07:00

Inspiration Board

I love throwing parties...food, decorations, I love it all! I have been planning and working on ideas for Joy's Baby Shower for weeks now. Therefore, I have been pinning like crazy =) So many good ideas, the talent in this world is just overwhelming. There are just too many terrific tutorials for just one party so I hope someone else has another baby soon. Or something! I just love love love turquoise and red together, (can you tell?). Or cream with a buttery yellow would be pretty too, hugh? I am cooking and baking feverishly today for the Shower this weekend. I hope everything turns out as good as the vision that's been living in my head.

See ya soon,

Tea Tree Oil Liquid Hand Soap Simple Recipe

2012-08-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Liquid Hand Soap Recipe

2-quarts of water

2-tablespoons of glycerin

4-bars of shredded or grated Tea Tree Oil soap (from Trader Joe's)

Bring water to a boil and add glycerin with shredded soap until dissolved. Let it cool. (It takes a little while to cool down and will thicken as it does.)

I filled around six of my 14-ounce containers with this one batch. You can reuse your empty soap pump containers and store the leftovers in a Tupperware-type container in the fridge. Think of all of the money you will save and how easy this is to make.

This is a basic simple recipe that I had written down from long ago and always wanted to try. I do have to say that I found out that the results may vary according to which particular bar soap brand is used. Dove is not the ideal choice and I just avoid using it. It has too many moisturizers and ends up too watery for this recipe.

I like the tea tree oil soap because it has very few ingredients, (which is my goal here; ingredient control). The reason I don't make this particular recipe completely from scratch is because using lye around little ones makes me a little nervous. So for now this will be just fine.

If for some reason the end result is not thick enough, here is a suggestion to help:

Dissolve 3-tablespoons of table salt in about 8oz hot water and add to mixture using a hand mixer.

Here are a few other sites that have recipes to make soap completely from scratch:

Crockpot Castle Soap
Fimby

Enjoy,