Thoughts on a Thursday.

Wrapping up posting for the week. I'm headed to the Casual Blogger Conference and I am so excited. I never thought I'd be the blogging-conference-goer type. But, I guess I AM! I'm going to learn a thing or two, and will be back next week to share it all with you!




Another thing to look forward to next week: One of my favorite stamp companies, WPlus9 Design Studio, asked me to be on their design team for the summer. I am overjoyed. I know not all of you consider yourself crafters, but I'm about to begin my pursuit of persuasion. Ladies and gentlemen, ANYONE can stamp. (No seriously, men. I know some fabulous male card-makers.) You can make cards that are simple and sweet or fantastically elaborate. I usually sit somewhere in between, but I've been known, when I'm in a crunch, to grab white cardstock, a funky color ink pad, a simple stamp and call it good.  I'm going to show you how to make stamping your "thing" next week with Dawn's releases of the fabulous June stamps. Woot! (Thank you, WPlus9, for the opportunity!) Here is an example of a card I made with WPlus9's Woodgrain Silhouettes.

And lastly, June is the beginning of my focus on health. Did you know that I used to be a health counselor? It is true. I used to teach people how to lose weight and how to exercise. And now here I am, three kids later, needing to take my own advise. I'm going to be discussing my journey here on Sherbet Blossom. If anyone wants to join me, I'm going to have a weekly focus and maybe a healthy giveaway. This new focus is NOT about losing weight (although I'd like to); it is about being healthy. So, anyone can join in.

See you next week!

Card Info:
Size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4″
Ingredients: Cardstock: Neenah; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Origins); Ribbon: Offray; Ink: Memento, Stampin’ Up!; Stamps: Wplus9, Hampton Arts
Instructions: Stamp woodgrain pattern on the bottom of a kraft card base. Stamp sentiment in brown on top right corner of card. Attach ribbon using glue in the center of card. Stamp flower on kraft and patterned paper. Stamp butterflies on patterned paper. Cut out and attach to card using foam dimensionals.

Lessons on Motherhood.

Picture taken of my husband and 2 oldest kids at a beautiful, local garden. 

I always seem to be behind the lens, so you'll have to pretend it is a picture of me instead of J. :)

I love to watch mothers interact with their children. Different discipline styles and displays of motherly-affection intrigue me. I watch for what works and what doesn’t work. I am a mother-of-three who still is trying to learn to be a mom. You see, these children of mine, they change so quickly. A strategy that worked one month will fail the next. They are smart and changing; I have to be on my toes. I have a feeling that as soon as I figure motherhood out, they will be out of the house. Is that how it goes, experienced mothers? Will I always feel like I don’t know what I am doing?

I have learned a few things about motherhood, though. Here is my very unsolicited advice:

::Sleep is a valuable commodity. Teach your children to sleep. Put them to bed early. Encourage naps. Catch some zzz’s yourself, whenever you can.

::Stop worrying over little things. Kids spill. Kids are loud. Kids are rambunctious. Kids don’t sit still. Let them play. They will grow up too quickly, so enjoy these moments while you can.

::No matter how hard you try, your clothes will not be clean. Your shoulder will never look the same. Avoid black shirts when you have a bouncing, burping baby.

::Take time for yourself. It will make you a better mom if you can step away, even for a moment.

::Get dirty. Play with the playdough/mud/fingerpaints with your children. I promise you’ll see a twinkle in their eye when you do.

::Babies will completely change your body. (I hear that even adopted mothers experience a little body-changing.) Perhaps it is all the goldfish and fruit snacks we consume ourselves. Or maybe it is that you will no longer have the time you once did to think about yourself. Who knows.

::Your children will break something you love. They will. Be prepared. Leave the room and recover before blowing up.

::After a hectic day with a child, sneak a peek at him sleeping. It will soften your heart and remind you of how much you adore that little rascal.

::Don’t forget your spouse. Nurture that relationship. Continue to date. Dress up for your outings like you used to. Wear his favorite perfume. Motherhood shouldn’t make you forget your love.

::Motherhood will change you. These little people will change your dreams. (I dreamed of being a successful business woman in a fast-moving city. Motherhood has made me wish for a slower, quieter life at home.) You will have a newer and better purpose in life.

::Motherhood is a joy. Enjoy the little, everyday things. The chubby fingers. The late night feedings. The darling giggles and trusting eyes. Motherhood is a blessing. There is no greater calling and no love comparable.

Coconuts.

I belong to a produce co-op. It is mostly local-grown produce. During this time of year, however, there IS no local produce, so they bring in produce from other places. I love the surprise factor when picking up my basket every Saturday; I never know what I am going to get. I often have to do research on how to cook/eat things. A cooking challenge. Just my cup-o-tea!

This week, we had a coconut in our basket. My husband lived in Brazil for two years and drank coconut milk almost every day, so he was so excited when I came home with one. He immediately ran to get his tools. I'm not a huge fan of fresh coconut milk, but this was super sweet and delish! Mmm!

And what's better than coconut cupcakes? Getting the meat out of the coconut can be a challenge, but these babies are worth it! This is my new favorite recipe. You should really try it!

COCONUT CUPCAKES (via the Barefoot Contessa & my friend, Kelly Moody)
3/4 lbs unsalted butter, room temperature
2 c. sugar
5 xl eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
 3 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 c.  buttermilk
14 oz sweetened, shredded coconut

Frosting:
1 lb cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 lbs unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 lbs powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

You Make Me Smile.

Still enjoying time with my parents and trying to finish designing the August issue of CARDS magazine. Thank you for indulging me in this blogging break. It was much needed.

Today I had lunch with some beautiful bloggers. We ate cookies provided by Mrs. Fields. Well...not THE Mrs. Fields, she's retired. I think. Anyway...they were yummy.

When I was driving home, I turned up the radio. (I listen to music way too loud in the car.) A song by Uncle Kracker came on. I turned it up louder; I love country music. It makes me want to drive with the windows down through a hay field. And eat watermelon. I grew up in Texas listening to Garth Brooks and The Judds, and I always dreamed of marrying a cowboy. And I did. At least...he is from a town with lots of cowboys. And he owns boots. Real leather, dirty cowboy boots. And a cowboy hat. And he even worked on a farm. K..fine. He isn't REALLY a cowboy. But he did introduced me to a thing called a "Rodeo" after we were married. I now LOVE Rodeos.

Oh, my. This post was going to be about the embedded song, but here we are.

I'm signing off for the weekend to bid farewell to my parents. They fly back to Hawaii on Sunday. Boo. All you lucky girls who live close to your mothers, please don't tell me about it for a few days. I'll cry.

Absenteeism.

My parents are in town from Hawaii. We are having a blast together, hence my lack of blogging. They flew in for my baby's blessing in my church. (Well, that and some work meetings for my dad. But I like to think that it was all about me. hehe.) I'm still enjoying their company this week. Oh, how I envy people who can drive to see their parents. I hate living so far away. I'll be back soon with some fun posts and recipes.

Here are some pictures of us after Baby D was blessed. A special thanks to all our family members and friends who made their way down/up to see us.

After all the guests left and the day's events were over, Baby D was exhausted and hot. As soon as we took off his sweater vest and heavy clothes, he napped for a few hours. Isn't he a sweetie? We are so, so happy to have him in our family. I feel so overwhelmed at times with how blessed I have been to have such sweet children.

12 on the 12th...er...13th.

Inspired by Miranda who was inspired by this site. I've always thought this looked like a fun project, but it took me until May to actually whip out my camera on the 12th. I may just do it again next month.

A Day in My Life: (un-chronologically)
01. Lilies from Mom's Day opened today. Thats what I love about them. They take a few days to strut their stuff. It's always a welcome surprise.
02. Cute little toesies. These digits receive thousands of kisses a day.
03. Papa! My daddy arrived from Hawaii.
04. Meet my dog, Maggie. She's a character and enjoying the sunshine.
05. Rows of pretty buttons. Spent some time organizing the colorful buttons I inherited from my grandma in cute little IKEA spice jars.
06. Dad shot this picture of me and sleeping Baby D per Great-Grandma's request. I'm not sure why I keep posting my unmakeuped self on the internet. Maybe because pictures of me a few and far between. (I think about 6 were taken of me in 2009.)
07. Crazy son received a black eye from doing a daring stunt. He is very proud. I keep catching him smiling at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
08. Proofs! Went into the office to review the July issue of CARDS. It is a fabulous issue!
09. Bought some fabric at IKEA. Actually, they are dishtowels, but I am going to use them to sew something else. Maybe a bag?
10. Stopped into Michaels. Looking for something that wasn't there. Bummer.
11. My princess. She is really into dressing herself. Wish you could see the whole ensemble because it is a sight to behold!
12. Came home from work to find a fajita dinner prepared by my husband. What a sweet surprise. Delish too!

Allora.

I went to Jessica's house yesterday to pick up these cute, cute earrings she made me. They aren't too big or too small. Perfect size to make a statement. Thanks, Jessica! I love them.

I am dying to get one of her headbands next. I have always loved them, but once I saw them in person, my self control was gone. I'm off to talk my husband into letting me spend more money.

Home Sweet Home.

I'm back from the crafty girl's weekend. We escaped to a snowy tundra in the Uintahs. So snowy, in fact, that the road was closed. We were within 10 miles of the cabin when we were asked to turn around. The other access was two hours away. It didn't get us down. The getting there is half the fun. Kiddos were not allowed. Well, except for Baby D; he and I are pretty attached. It is so nice to be needed in that way.

Check me out in my lounge-wear, my uniform for the vacay. I am making a bright pink washcloth for my daughter with my knitting buddy. Yes, I am still in the washcloth stage of learning to knit. I rather enjoy making mini-projects like that. They are quick and I can test out new stitches without worry. Speaking of knit washcloths: a cotton washcloth works as a great exfoliant. I'll never go back to those harsh face-washes. But, I digress.

We spent the weekend doing all sorts of crafts. We made simple, pretty stamped mini-cards; perfect little thank-yous to attach to a plate of cookies. I can't wait to use them. My mom gave crochet lessons; she is an expert, you know. I knitted my heart out. The brightly colored cottons I picked up at Michaels made me feel giddy.  We made bracelets. Mine is purple and green and silver. Can you imagine? It is pretty and perfect and chunky. I'll do a show-n-tell later. Sarah's was gold and purple; the royal colors fit her. Mom's was aqua and white, a bracelet perfect for her home in Hawaii. We are all such different souls, and yet we need each other desperately.

We made gourmet food. Oh, the food. I happen to be in a family of fabulous cooks. Lucky me. Sarah spoiled us with brie, turkey and apple paninis. I'm still dreaming of them. Oh, and the kale and barley soup was divine! We woke up to crab eggs benedict. Mmmm.mmm.mm.

It was a perfect weekend. Special thanks go out to my adorable husband who watched the crazy older kids all by himself. As a stay-at-home mom, I know it wasn't easy. We women-folk came home to a clean home and a Mother's Day dinner that was surprisingly spectacular. The men outdid themselves this year!

I was so happy to be home on Mother's Day. I know that many women want it to be their day off, but I like Mother's Day to be my day on. I want to celebrate the kids that made me "mother." I feel like buying them a present every year to say "thank you." We cuddled and laughed and played. It was marvelous.

Hope your weekend was equally spectacular. Happy belated Mother's Day to all you women who influence for good.

Oh...and I decided on the gray shoes.

Thank You For Your Generosity

 I made this card for the CARDS blog. Get more information on it here.

Size: 4 1/2 x 5 1/2″

Ingredients: Cardstock, stamps, ink, twine, buttons: Papertrey Ink; Bakers Twine: Divine Twine; Ink: Memento, Stampin’ Up!; Flower punch: Stampin’ Up!; Brad: Making Memories

Instructions: Stamp dots and leaves onto a cream cardstock block. Punch 21 flowers from vintage bookprint. Punch scalloped border on a green paper block. Adhere to the bottom of the cream block. Knot baker’s twine between the cream and green cardstocks. Mat the entire stamped on the front of a brown cardstock base. Pierce a hole through the center of 7 flowers and then attach layers with a brad. Crinkle petals to create a 3D effect. Repeat with the next 2 flowers. Stitch buttons to center of flowers. Adhere flowers.

Girls!

Mom, sister and I are headed to a girls weekend at the cabin. We're going to be crafting, cooking and laughing. Can't wait!

Check out this cake my sis made in honor of our girl's weekend away. WOW!

Have a wonderful weekend!

You Make Me Smile

I finally broke out my Lawn Fawn stamps last night. Oh, they were so fun! Such cute little designs. I can't wait to make more cards with the set! I decided to go simple and bright...my favorite combo. This set comes with a lot of different mini-flowers. I wanted the colors to pop without it looking too busy, so I just used one style of flower and stem. The colors make me happy.

Size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

Ingredients: Cardstock: Neenah, Papertrey Ink; Stamps: Lawn Fawn, Papertrey Ink; Ink: Memento; Markers: Copic, Punches: We R Memory Keepers, Stampin' Up

Instructions: Cut pink cardstock to 4x2.5". Scallop the bottom edge and round the top corners. Cut a piece of white card stock slightly smaller. Stamp stems, flowers and sentiment with black ink. Stamp flowers on another piece of white cardstock with blank ink. Color in the petals with bright markers. Cut out flowers and adhere to card using dimensional foam adhesive.

Handbags, Shoes and Decisions.

I am in need of a bag for summer. I wanted something a little more fun than my normal, leather handbag. Here are four I am thinking of buying. All cheap. All cute. I'm being indecisive.
Slouchy Eco Tote
Mixed Media Bag
Felicity Shopper
Slouchy Washed Hobo

I've also finally decided to buy some Toms. Or...I am asking for them for Mom's Day. (Remember how I wanted to buy them 2 years ago?) I want basic. Can't decide between navy and gray.

I'm leaning towards the gray shoes and the mixed media tote.

I think I need to hire someone to make decisions for me.

JetPens.

I love a good pen. When JetPens told me that they'd like me to do a review, I was so excited! I have a little obsession with writing lists and a good pen makes it so much more satisfying.

I wanted to show you my normal handwriting. I wrote out the names of the pens quickly; I like efficient pens.

Pilot Latte Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Pastel Color Series - Mauve This pen reminded me of the Gelly Rolls that were so popular in my high school years. It is a short pen, about 4 inches long. It occasionally needed some coaxing to get the ink flowing freely, but overall, it was a fun little pen. I'd like to own the set. Such pretty colors.

Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen - 0.25 mm - Basic Colors - Black This is a very basic pen. I usually don't like extremely thin-writing pens because they tend to be scratchy. This one, however, is really nice to write with! It flows smoothly. It is my new favorite thin pen.

Uni-ball Signo DX UM-151 Gel Ink Pen - 0.38 mm - Bordeaux Black Truthfully, I wasn't a huge fan. I am prejudice against thin pens and this one didn't wow me like the hi-tec-c. I thought it was a little too thin and wasn't smooth enough for my taste. My mom, however, loved it and stuck it in her purse. Can't please everyone, I guess.

Zebra Disposable Brush Sign Pen - Super Fine I've never tried a brush pen before, so I definiteley need some practice. This pen has beautiful, dark black ink and you can change the thickness by changing the pressure of the tip on the paper. I think this would be great for doodling and sketching.


Pilot MultiBall Liquid Ink Marker - Fine Point - Blue This was probably my least favorite of the bunch. It seemed scratchy and didn't flow as well as I'd like.

Pilot Fabric Marker Pen - 0.48 mm - Black I didn't try this on fabric, but I can't wait to. I loved the way it wrote on paper. It was inky and smooth. Now I need to find a craft where I can use this for its intended purpose.

Pilot Plumix Fountain Pen - Medium Flat Italic Nib - Purple Body I obviously don't know how to write with fountain pens. I failed miserably in my initial attempt. (I was using the wrong side of the tip...silly me.) My second attempt wasn't much better. I also wasn't a huge fan of the blue color. It seemed too casual for a fountain pen.

Pilot Envelope Address Writing Gel Ink Pen - Extra Fine This was my favorite! It flows very similarly to my favorite pen. It is a very dark ink and dries super quick. It doesn't bleed, like I expected it to. I think this earned a promiant spot on my desk. I'll use it often. (They are only $1.80, too! Nice price! I think I might buy a few more to place around the house...)

We Eat Spaghetti. A lot.

On busy days, which are more frequent than I'd like in our home, we eat easy meals. Most often, that meal is spaghetti. There are a few reasons for this. First, I grew up with a Dad who cooked spaghetti whenever it was his turn to make dinner for the fam. It was his choice of a quick-fix meal. It is mine too. (Yes, my dad occasionally cooked dinner. He also did the laundry every week. He is amazing.) Second, I have a daughter who is the pickiest eater on earth. I'd challenge anyone who thinks their kid is pickier. This girl eats about 3 things. Really. It is bad. One of those three things is spaghetti. She wont even let me put butter on it. Plain-jane, whole-wheat spaghetti. Third, and perhaps a bit shameful, spaghetti is one of my favorite dinners. Yes, I know it is boring. I still love it.

Here is my favorite spaghetti recipe. We usually serve it with a side of steamed broccoli or a green salad. It's easy and delisch:  a combo that should be on every housewife's recipe repertoire.

PASTA AMATRICIANA
2 tsp olive oil
1 slice canadian bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup water
1/2 lb whole-wheat spaghetti
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until heated through. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook, covered, shaking the pan occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, ground pepper, and water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, toss with the sauce, and sprinkle with the parsley.

Blogging and Motherhood: Finding Balance and Setting Boundaries

I love to blog. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t still be here. I had to make that choice a few weeks ago when I was going through a rough stretch. I was worried about how I was spending my time. Worried that I would wake up one morning with my children grown with me wondering how I’d missed it. My biggest fear is having regrets. I am terrified of not taking advantage of the time I have with my sweet children. I had to make a choice.

A few weeks ago, I was up late worrying while my family slept. You see, I am a worrier and an expert fretter. Hours can go by without my notice while I stew about something. And I had something on my mind that night, which meant that sleep wasn’t going to happen. I tried to be productive with my sleeplessness, but I was mostly sitting by my desk, thinking in silence. That was, until I heard my chat application beep at me. It was Hilary. (Bless you, Hilary, for talking with me that night. Ironic that the very medium that I was worrying about brought me a heaven-sent conversation.)

I expressed to Hilary my worries. Was I missing out on playing with children because I was busy tweeting about what I was eating? I didn’t want to be like that. We talked about Twitter and Facebook and Formspring. We both decided that we needed to reevaluate our time. At the end of the conversation Hilary said, “Because of our chat tonight, I'm going to set a limit for myself.” The next day, she canceled her Twitter and Formspring account. She’s inspiring. I followed her lead.

Through all this refocusing, I have found true joy in real life and am at peace with my virtual reality. Right now, I::

:: don’t tweet, formspring or buzz. I didn’t know how much time I wasted on those sites until I deactivated them! And, miraculously, I don’t miss them one bit.
:: whittled down my google reader subscriptions. In the past, it was common for me to find 150+ unread posts every morning. Now it averages 15-20. It was hard to make so many cuts, but I had to limited it to blogs that inspire.
:: refuse to plan my life for my blog. My friend Christina and I agreed over dinner last month that you can tell which blogs plan a party just so they can post about it. I refuse to be that way. My posts will be genuine me. I will party because I like to party.
:: am determined to enjoy every second with my children. Even if my blog suffers. In the end, I know I will be grateful that I gave up chatting with online besties to be a good mother.

I am not writing this to say this is what all mothers should do; every situation is different. But, for me, deleting those social marketing accounts was a relief. I am now present; ready to serve my children. (I even have more time for crafting!) I am determined to make these good days.

For now, blogging will be my one and only online hobby. You can find me HERE and HERE.

It's May! It's May! The lusty month of May.

Happy May Day...and Mother Goose Day...and Hawaiian Lei Day...and National Scrapbook Day. Did I miss any random holidays? I hope you are all ready for this month. I, for one, am a little terrified. Our calendar is already packed. We have work and school and trips and holidays and baby blessing and birthdays and conferences and meetings.

Just checking in tonight to give you the monthly goal calendar. (Click, save and print.) One of my goals is to plant my garden. Am super excited; it's the highlight of my spring.