Introducing: May I Suggest-October

October brings with it a new set of bloggers for the "May I Suggest" series. I can't wait to hear from these new lovely ladies. Most of my favorite things came to me by word-of-mouth, and I love hearing all about others' favorite things. Our October faces will be familiar to many, new to some. My first suggestion to you is to check out their blogs. They are incredible and each very unique.

MEG :: This lady is my hero. No seriously...she is. I don't how she does it, but amidts tempests and storms, she is a pillar of grace. Meg was on my must-have list when I first started this series. She is clever, crafty, kind and beautiful. She has a fashion sence that is simple, yet pulled together and stylish. I know I am going to love her suggestions.

MARTA :: Marta is known for her words. Her writing is suberb. She notices the details and makes everyday things seem glamorous. When I think of Marta, I think of high-class. This lady has style! She knows all the best makeup, hair and clothing stores. I know that if I take her advice, I will be happy. I'm thrilled she will be participating!

LINDSAY :: Lindsay's blog is fairly new to me, but I am in love! She takes beautiful pictures! Did you know that I've always dreamed of having curly hair? My straight locks have no wave in them whatsoever, so to say I was jealous when I saw her lovely hair would be a gross understatement.

Check their first suggestions tomorrow. We are going to be discussing all things Beauty!

Giveaway: Guy and Eva

A sweet reader of mine, Jaici, contacted me about doing a giveaway for her fantastic business, Guy and Eva. Flipping through the online catalog was completely delightful. There is something in there for everyone. Jaici sent me the beautiful necklace pictured above, which I have worn and loved! She also sent me some of her beautiful earrings. The pictures don't do the jewelry justice. They are stunning in person and very well-made!

Jaici is generously giving away a pair of her fantastic earrings to one lucky reader!


Please comment on this post by Monday, October 4th to enter.

For extra entries: (A new comment for each entry must be left for these extras to count.)

• Tweet, Facebook or Blog about and link back to this giveaway.
• Become a follower of Sherbet Blossom.

The winner will be announced on this post. 


CONGRATS to tharker!


*Jaici is also offering an awesome incentive to anyone who is interested! Book a party mentioning Sherbet Blossom, and she will give you a free jewelry credit! How sweet is that?

Check out the Catalog
Email Jaici with any questions.
 

Harvest Festival.

Early fall in Utah; my favorite time of the year. The weather is perfect, the food is fresh and fabulous, the sunshine is welcomed and abundant. And the smells! Oh, the smells. Utah's fall aroma is second to none.

We celebrated this lovely, late-September weekend by attending a local Harvest Festival. Farmers and artisans from all around the state gathered in one beautiful location for our shopping enjoyment. The produce was out-of-this world beautiful. The pumpkins were ginormous. My kids spent most of their time hanging around the pumpkin boxes, picking out their Halloween pumpkin. They decided white pumpkins are best.

I love these simple, slow days; my family just enjoys each other's company. These are the memories that will matter.


In other news...
:: I finished Harry Potter #5 in 2 days and have started #6. These books are completely addicting. I become immersed. I have to read when my kids are sleeping because I become a none-present-mother when reading. Not just HP books, any book. My imagination puts me right into the book's setting.

:: I am going to be a little bit of an absentee blogger over the next couple weeks as I prepare to teach at the Art Weekend. Please excuse me. I will be back with a giveaway or two, a new stamp release and May I Suggest posts. You won't even miss me.

:: Am impatiently awaiting my allergy test results. They were supposed to be here on Friday. Called this morning with no luck. Hoping for the results by tomorrow. Crossing my fingers. I'm not sure I'm strong enough to live without wheat.

Sept May I Suggest: Fashion.

I am thrilled that these fashionable ladies are here again to share with us their fashion favorites. It has been such a fun month having these three guest posters. They've given us all some great suggestions. Please be sure to stop by their blogs. They are three of my favorite reads.

I have another set of fabulous ladies lined up to share their secrets with us during the month of October, so please be sure to check back next Friday!

CHRISTINA
As I've mentioned before, I love a good bargain, but I don't want to sacrifice quality just for a great price.  Here are a few shopping tips mixed in with some of my recent favorite finds.

1.  Nordstrom Rack-  All of my other finds will tie back to the Rack, so stick with me as I share my love for this store.  Not that Nordstrom isn't great on its own, but Nordstrom Rack is the clearance store filled with Nordstrom quality but more affordable prices.  One of the most gratifying things to do at the end of a trip to the Rack is add up the original Nordstrom prices and then compare it to what I actually paid.  I've literally had what would have been a $700 purchase at Nordstrom turn into a $150 purchase at the Rack.  The shoe bargains are my great love, but I often find other fun things around the store.  A few tips:1. Don't be discouraged if you don't find anything the first time you go.  Sometimes there just isn't much to be had.  Signs are often posted letting you know when new arrivals will be coming in.  2.  Play the ugly shoe game when you go with a friend.  Enjoy modelling those shoes you'd never be caught dead in, just for fun.  See if you can decide on a winner.  It's always a hit on a trip to The Rack.

2.  Joe's Jeans- I'd been wanting to try these out after recommendation for a friend with similar proportions to me (i.e. petite with a few curves).  The Rack had them for about $100 off retail taking them into the still-a-splurge price range for me, but not entirely-out-of-the-question any more.   It's hard for me to spend too much on clothes when I think about what I do all day which pretty much involves getting messy chasing kids.  At any rate, I love that these jeans have petite sizes that are still long enough, and they do good things for my booty.  Not sure there's much else to ask for in a pair of jeans.  

3.  Miz Mooz shoes- I've been waiting for the perfect pair of Miz Mooz to come along for a while.  Not that I haven't loved many a style, but I hadn't been ready to pull the trigger on a go-to pair.  Recently while at Nordstrom (shoe-shopping with my kindergarten-er who talked me into the least cute pair of twinkle toes on the market), I saw an adorable pair of flats on sale, but still $56.  Sometimes Nordstrom is great just for inspiration to put me on the hunt for the same items at a better price. I came home and did a little on-line shopping to see if I could find them cheaper, and I purchased the same pair (in a better color, I must say) for $35 through Amazon.  Whether it's through Amazon or Nordstrom Rack, Nordstrom quality without the Nordstrom price tag is fashion success in my book! 

MIRANDA

About a year ago I started my personal mission to "find my style" and "learn to put together  decent outfit for crying out loud."  I have high aspirations of a wardrobe like Zooey in 500 Days of Summer or Chuck in Pushing Daisies.  I have been making progress, but I am definitely a slow learner.  I don't feel at all qualified to tell The Internet anything about fashion.  Mostly because I use blogland as my personal Stacy and Clinton and I'm pretty sure I would never run up to Stacy and tell that I think she should be wearing TOMS instead of whatever sweet pair of stilettos she's wearing.  But since I love Hannah, I'll do my best.

1.  Hair:  Do something with your hair. Okay that's a little general.  One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is to get my hair done.  Trimmed, cut, colored, highlighted, lowlighted, pink-streaked, whatever.  I feel instantly more stylish if my hair is trimmed and glossy.  Figure out what looks good on you and run with it.  There are about a million variations on the bob.  Embrace the fact that hair grows back and it is okay if you get a bad cut once in a while (though I might suggest being honest with your stylist (and yourself) about it or finding someone else).  Color is a great way to change up your look if you don't feel like you can pull off different styles.  A good stylist will help you find colors that look good on you and a really good stylist can help you be more brave if you're wanting something bold.   

2.  Shoes:  I don't consider myself a big shoe person.  I tend to buy shoes and wear them until they are done for.  So...I suppose you could say that I'm loyal.  I'm working on increasing my inventory of flashy flats to go with my skirts and of course I will always need more heels.  But in meantime, I have professed my undying love for the following shoes:  TOMS, Dansko, Chacos, Reef, Earth, and Sseko.  Nothing too flashy, nothing that I would wear to church, and not fancy enough for a night out on the town; these shoes are all built for day-in/day-out.  I realize that these are mostly summer/fall shoes, which is probably because in the winter I either pull on my galoshes or don't go outside.  Of course that will all change this year when I complete my mission of "finding the perfect boot." P.S.  I don't have those yellow striped TOMS that are in the picture but oh how I wish I did.

3.  Skirts:  One of the biggest changes I made to my wardrobe this year was to add more skirts and dresses.  And wear them.  Not just on Sunday.  It was kind of hard at first since I was a jeans and hoodie/T-shirt sort of girl.  At first a lot of people asked me why I was so dressed up but eventually the questions stopped and I started feeling more comfortable.  It helped that I made this transition in the summer when it was so blasted hot that I would have rather died than put on a pair of jeans.  Now I have to stock up on bundles of stockings and find that dang "perfect pair of boots" so that I can keep wearing my skirts into the colder months.  If you're looking to add a little fancy to your style, I have to give a big shout-out to skirts.  There is a flattering shape for everybody, they are fairly easy to make, and are always on sale somewhere.

 HILARY
Before I list my fashion suggestions, I just want to thank Hannah for having me this month!  It has been fun spilling the beans on all my favorites and I have loved reading all of the other suggestions.  It's been a great feature to be a part of.

1.  TOMS shoes ::  I wear these shoes more than any other pair I own.  My brother and sister in law gave these to me for Christmas last year and I have been hooked ever since.  They are my absolute favorite.  Comfortable, versatile and cute!  I currently own the ash canvas pair but have been dreaming of the saffron cord beauties for fall.  They are a little on the pricey side, but you can read about the TOMS shoes movement here and you'll learn that by purchasing a pair of shoes you are giving a pair to someone in need.  That's what I call a win/win.

2.  Target :: This is my go-to place for clothing.  Inexpensive, stylish and great quality.  In fact, I think it's safe to say my son's entire wardrobe is from here.  We love us a good Target trip.

3.  love21 maternity :: Being largely pregnant right now I was so excited to find this new line by Forever21.  I really have a hard time spending money on maternity clothes.  I guess mostly because I know I'll only be wearing them for a short while.  This clothing line is inexpensive and has some cute mix and match items that can make a very pregnant woman feel cute.

HANNAH
Three fashion trends I suggest for fall:

a. TROUSER JEANS. I've been wanting a pair for a long while. This pair from the Gap is calling my name. I've been holding out for a sale, but I think I might just have to run over their with a gift card I was given and buy them full price. I'm worried they will sell out!

b. COWGIRL BOOTS. I am in no way a country girl, but I still love the look of the boots. This pair from Forever21 is so cute. I also love this shorter pair. And with Forever21 prices, why not get both?

c. SKINNY BELTS. I am late jumping on the skinny belt bandwagon, but I haven't really had the waist for it. (Thank heavens pregnancy produces cute kiddos, cause it certainly ruins cute waistlines.) I've never been a Charlotte Russe shopper, but I have recently discovered their accessories. Super cute jewelry and a brilliant belt selection for next to nothing. (Seriously...three belts for under $10? The bargain-hunter in me is overjoyed.)

Do you have some fashion suggestions? Please do share in the comment section!

Want to know more about May I Suggest? Click Here to read all about it.
Interested in participating in the future? Please email me.

Beautiful Moments

image via tumbler.

Yesterday, I went to the doctor and received a few items of bad news. Nothing at all serious, but they are chronic problems. I have to take way too many meds. Came home from the pharmacist with 6 new bottles of pills I will need to take everyday. I hate taking pills. My doctor also suspects I'm allergic to either dairy or wheat. Crossing my fingers that the test results come back negative. I was very overwhelmed coming home from the doctor, so I pulled out a piece of paper and began writing down all the things that went right yesterday. I needed to see the beautiful moments.

::  Scale reported I'm down another pound. (6:31 a.m.)
::  Baby D plopped down next to me and gave me a big, slobbery kiss. (7:45 a.m.)
::  E gave me a hug as she ran to catch the bus yelling "I'll miss you every second, Mom!" (8:05 a.m.)
::  C asked me to "be comfy" with him; a rare occurrence. (comfy=hold/cuddle) (9:15 a.m.)
::  Sink is scrubbed to sparkling. Love a clean sink. (11:05 a.m.)
::  Birth announcements designed and approved by client. (12:15 p.m.)
::  Walked in on 5 & 3 year olds with arms around each other, watching a movie together. (1:08 p.m.)
::  Kids see me and scoot apart so I can sit in the middle. (1:09 p.m.)
::  Cuddle with all three kiddos on the couch. (1:10 p.m.)
::  Opened my fridge to find it packed full of healthy foods. Thank you, co-op. (4:30 p.m.)
::  Dinner on the table. Steamed broccoli is a favorite. (5:15 p.m.)
::  Family prayer and scriptures. Kids took turns telling us about their favorite miracle. It was adorable. (6:30 p.m.)
::  Silence. Kids asleep. (7:00 p.m.)
::  Friends came to visit and chat. (7:30 p.m.)
::  Husband finally arrived home. He was carrying bags of groceries. I married well. (9:54 p.m.)

It turned out to be a wonderful day, despite the start-of-day bad news. Being happy is a choice, not a consequence. I need to remember this.

A Bargain to Feed Your Addiction.

I am excited to tell you about something that combines two of my favorite things: bargains and jewelry. I recently discovered ToFebruary and am so happy to now own a few of their pieces. To tell you the truth, I wasn't expecting much. At $5-10 a pop, I was thinking I would recieve something that would break after a couple of wears. But, I was seriously shocked at the quality. The necklaces and earrings I own are really beautiful and sturdy. I highly recommend To February. Their jewelry is mostly asian-themed; very classy and beautiful.

Of the items pictured above, I only own the lock & key necklace. It is my favorite and I wear it all the time. I really adore the bow earrings, though. I would love to buy them next. (At $7.00...it won't take me long to save!)

This Week I will...

...take another drive to see this beautiful view. I shot this picture only 20 minutes from my house yesterday. This time of year is Utah's shining moment.

...send out thank yous. I am a few weeks behind on those. So many people deserve them. I better get started.

...continue on my sugar fast. It's been two weeks, people. I'm not sure I've ever gone that long before without eating a treat. I feel really great, though. My goal is to make it until Thanksgiving. Pie will have never tasted better.

...reconnect with long, lost friends. I feel a long phone call is in order with my high school bestie.

...finish up the invitations I am designing. So excited about these. Also finishing up the December issue of CARDS. (It is so weird to be working on Christmas at this time of year, but that is life in the magazine business.)

...sort through my clothes. Donate at least half to goodwill. It is about time. High school clothes are still hanging in my closet.

...get started on my kids' Halloween costumes. Am also contemplating another Halloween party. Need to get planning if that is going to happen.

...find a lightweight, cordless vacuum for my stairs. I can barely lift ours, so our stairs are often neglected. Am thinking about this one. A stick vacuum would be nice, but I think they are mostly for short carpet and hardwood floors. Any suggestions?

...paint my toes with my new favorite nail polish color. (Nars Arabesque) The website doesn't do it justice. This is a better picture of it.

...finish Harry Potter #5. (I'm a HP Junkie a.k.a Nerd.)

...continue wishing for a Kindle to read my HP & other books. Am strongly hinting for one; my birthday approaches. (Have you discovered the joy of an Amazon Wishlist yet? If not, you should check it out. It's fun to dream.)

...weed my neglected garden. Figure out what do to with my major over-abundance of tomatoes.

...appreciate where I am now. We are going through a hard time right now, but I have so many things to be thankful for. I will squeeze my baby's chubby legs. Kiss my red head's cheeks. Have a dance party with my little princess. I don't want to miss these stages with my kiddos because I am worried about something else.

All Eyes On...Color Misting

Dawn, owner of Wplus9, asked the design team to make a card using color misting. Truth be told, I don't own ANY of the pretty premade color mists. When the deadline came to make project, I had to make my own. And guess what? It was super fun! I filled my mini mister with water, a few drops each of reinker by Papertrey Ink and Stampin' Up, and a bit of Perfect Pearls. When I sprayed my concoction on white paper, I was pleasantly surprised at the pretty color and results. The Perfect Pearls gave it a beautiful shimmer that my camera didn't pick up, but trust me. It is shimmery. I'm not sure I'll buy any of the premade stuff now. This was much too fun.

WITH HEARTFELT SYMPATHY
Stamps: Wplus9 (Guiding Light)
Ink: Memento, Colorbox, Versamark
Cardstock: Neenah, Papertrey Ink
Ribbon: Stampin' Up!; Die Cut: Papertrey Ink; Border Punch: Fiskars

I'm sure the other designers are much more of an expert on glimmer misting (I'm not hard to beat, as this is my first time EVER), so you should definitely check out their project:

• Dawn (The lovely owner)
• Elise
• Jinny
• Kerrianne
• Maile
• Savitri

Sept May I Suggest: Entertainment.

I am so excited about today's edition of "May I Suggest." The best books, movies, games and blogs I've discovered have mostly come to me by word-of-mouth. I love receiving recommendations on good entertainment. Thanks again to the three fabulous bloggers participating this month. They've outdone themselves and I'm so pleased with what they've recommended thus far.

 HANNAH
1. Harry Potter. Oh my goodness. I just finished up book #4 tonight. I forgot how good that one is! I'm reading the entire series of Harry Potter for the second time; preparing for the much anticipated movie that will come out in November. (I already have a babysitter for it!  I actually arranged for her to babysit 2 months ago. I will be in line to buy tickets for the midnight IMAX showing as soon as they go on sale. I've never done that before, but I've never been a groupie of anything until now.) I realize that admitting this may put me in the ranking of "Total Nerd."
2. Books on CD. My last baby was a tad bit colicky. (Weird to think about that. As soon as he was 4 months old, he was the most calm and pleasant of any of my babies.) During those hard early months, I would take my kids on drives in the car to make my baby fall asleep. I'd put a movie on for the older two and pop in my earphones. I listened to so many books! (I actually listened to "These is my Words" on Hilary's suggestion. I'll vouch for it. It's fabulous.) While I still love reading printed books, it sometimes makes a book come to life to listen to it read. I recommend listening to "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." Each character is read by a different actor. It is highly entertaining.

CHRISTINA
When Hannah offered a few suggestions for entertainment topics, I instantly thought I'd choose blogs or books or magazines, something I usually opt for by way of entertainment. I don't spend a lot of time watching tv. TV is something I've always said I have no desire to pay for, so we've had the 6-10 channels received by antenna for our entire marriage. I'm not a huge movie-goer and have gone years (!?!) between trips to the theatre. But I decided there is something that is my latest (and definitely late to the party) entertainment find. This summer we added the following two items to our family fun and joined the 21st century. In case you're still living in the dark ages like I was, let me bring you up to speed.

1. Nintendo Wii- I'm not a "gamer" in any sense of the word, but this.is.awesome. When our Wii is in use, it's usually something we're doing as a family, which is an instant plus in my book, and so many of the games are more active than just sitting and pushing buttons. I held out for a long time on this purchase because I'm always on the hunt for a deal. The Wii prices have dropped over the past year with some amazing bundle deals to be found. I'm sure with the coming holiday season there will be even more sales to be had, so start looking around if this is something you've been thinking about. I've had great success purchasing through Amazon who has had several offers for gift cards or credits to use towards more games or accessories.
2. Netflix- Although Netflix is awesome on its own (movies in the mail with no late fees is one of those ideas I think we all wish we'd thought of), my favorite feature is the instant watch available through the Wii. Since we don't pay for cable, this is especially awesome. I suddenly have a few more options for my kids than whatever might be on PBS at the moment, my husband and I can watch old seasons of some of the tv shows we do happen to love or watch quite a selection of movies if we've already watched whatever we've gotten through the mail, and I even have access to a variety of workout videos all to watch instantly on our TV through our Wii console and some magic Netflix disc. I don't know how this stuff works, but I do know that the Netflix/Wii option makes me feel like the Wii was even more worth the money. I love this combo for those nights when watching old episodes of 30 Rock can cure a bad day or when a movie with the family is complete bliss.

MIRANDA

These days, our main source of entertainment is TV.  First of all, it's cheap.  We don't have cable but we get all of the network channels with our antennae, and we stream Netflix Watch It Now through the X-box.  Second, it's all inclusive.  If N8tr0n and I want to spend a little time together and we weren't organized enough to actually find a babysitter and go out, TV is our next best choice.  So I'm going to tell you about a few of my absolute favorite TV shows.  Maybe they will become your favorites too!

1.  Arrested Development—ahh the Bluth family.  I shall never tire of watching your antics.  I would say that I wish I could forget the entire saga so that I could relive the magic all over again, but that really isn't necessary.  Every time I watch this series I am laughing like it's the first time and dying over a brand new favorite character.  I prefer to watch it from the beginning straight through to the end (which is totally do-able because it's only three seasons!) but that doesn't mean I'm opposed to watching a random episode just to pass the time.  This series is endlessly quoted in our household and I swear to you that if I ever have vinyl lettering on my walls it will say something like, "There's always money in the banana stand."

2.  30 Rock—I started watching this show because of my undying love for Tina Fey.  I kept watching it because of Tina + Alec + Tracy.  I don't have the words to do this show justice.  You're just going to have to watch it.  Plus it's not too late to jump on the 30 Rock Bandwagon (trust me, it's never too late).  The season premier in next Thursday!  I wait all Summer for this show to come back and I refuse to leave the house or take calls on Thursdays from 7:30-8:00 PM.

3.  Dr. Who—I can't believe I'm telling you this but, I love Dr. Who.  The new series.  I'm sure the old ones are great too but that's not what I'm talking about.  I refused to watch this show for months while my friends were all freaking out about it because I am not a sci-fi girl.  My attention literally switches off when I see outer-space and the grey-blue corridors of ships.  But somehow—and I don't even remember how—I got sucked in to Dr. Who just like everyone else.  It is witty, suspenseful, scary, hilarious, and charming all at once.  There are still moments when I'm watching some kind of giant dripping alien thing hanging from the ceiling and I think, "Wait.  Why am I watching this?  This is too weird for me."  And then The Doctor says something about "ripping a hole in the fabric of reality," and I think, "Oh that's right.  I'm watching it because it's The Doctor.  Man I love the Doctor.  I wish I had a sonic screwdriver."  If you watch this show, please let me know, then we can talk about how adorable the current Doctor (Matt Smith) is and how I wish I had hair exactly like Amy Pond.  (You can find the first four seasons on Netflix.)

4.  Friday Night Lights—I can't leave it off the list. It's more than a show about high school football you guys. I recommend that you trust me and start from the beginning.

HILARY

My top entertainment picks for today range from "best movie ever made" to "completely and embarrassingly addictive phone game".  I highly recommend all three, with the exception of the phone game as I am afraid to suggest something that will take up way too much of your time and cause you to go to bed way later than usual.  Here we go:

1.  Inception by Warner Bros :: Holy crap.  Those were the only words I was able to form as we walked out of the theater after watching this movie.  My husband and I both decided it was the best movie we had ever seen.  It kept us entertained and thinking through the entire 2 hours and 28 minutes.  This really is a must see!

2.  Angry Birds by Rovio :: There is a reason this game is currently the #1 paid for app for iPhone.  It is incredibly addicting.  I have pushed my bedtime back one too many nights playing this game.  I dare you to try and just play this game once.  It's not possible.  Thankfully I don't have an iPhone and the only time I can play is when I can sneak my husband's away from him!  

3.  These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner :: This book is one of those that is impossible to put down.  I was completely sad when I was finished reading, only because I wished it could go on and on.  Sarah is such a great character.  Besides being stubborn, strong and good with a gun, she is also very lovable and oddly relatable.  Captain Jack Elliott, in my opinion, is who everyone should be swooning over rather than that vampire Edward guy from Twilight.  It is one that will be a favorite for a long time and has been placed on my re-read list.

Found any good blogs? Read any great books? Watched an amazing movie? Let us all know in the comment section!
Want to know more about May I Suggest? Click Here to read all about it.
Interested in participating in the future? Please email me.

Wplus9 September Color Cue.

I'm thrilled to be part of yet another Color Cue Challenge! Dawn's colors choices were fantastic! Still loving Dawn's newest stamp set. It can make any card look beautiful.

THE HEART BLOOMS WITH LOVE ingredients:
Stamps: Wplus9 (Ever After)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Cardstock: Neenah, Papertrey Ink
Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up!; Markers: Copic ; Ribbon: Papertrey Ink

I'm so excited to see what all the other designer's did with it. You can check out their blogs here:

• Dawn (Owner and stamping extraordinaire.)
• Elise
• Jinny
• Kerrianne
• Maile
• Savitri

A Lovely and a Thank You.

Adding this darling necklace to my birthday wish list. (True that my birthday is still months away, but there is no crime in dreaming.) I love the pretty flowers and the gorgeous colors. Yes, please.

Also, I want take a moment to thank all of you for your well-wishes and prayers. The emails, comments lifted me more than you could know. (I received a loaf of bread from this lovely lady because of that post. Holy cow, Meg! You are too good to me.) I'm always amazed at this blogging community. You are all so nice.  I never post expecting anything in return, but you are always so supportive and uplifting. Seriously. You are the best.

Thank you.

My Saturdays.

Saturdays are reserved for family in our home. We spend all day together, usually going to a park, on a hike, or playing games. It is the highlight of everyone's week.

In the morning, however, we do food prep. We belong to a produce co-op and pick up our basket every morning at 8:00 am. It is a LOT of produce, but because of this prep time, we eat it all! It makes my meals during the week quick and easy...and healthy! It involves a lot of washing and chopping on Saturday, but we do it with a movie going or music playing. The kids love it, and so do J and I!

We reuse the plastic baggies. They only hold fresh, clean produce, so they are easy to rinse out and clean for the next week. The kiddos love having carrots and mushrooms to grab whenever they need a snack. I love having all the shucking, cutting and peeling done when dinner time rolls around.

I also make baby food on Saturday mornings after we pick up the produce. It is easy and fun to do. And...it tastes WAY better than the prepackaged kind. (Christina and Sarah inspired me to start making my own.) This week, we got an ENORMOUS butternut squash. Half was cubed for a pasta dinner later in the week; the other half was made into baby food.

The Super-Simple Instructions:
1. Cube the butternut squash. Steam until soft.
2. Drain and add butternut squash meat to food processor. Puree.
3. Pour puree into ice cube trays. Freeze.
4. Once frozen, remove from trays and put into gallon-sized freezer bags.
5. Defrost a few at a time for a delicious baby-food lunch.

What do you do on Saturdays?

Sept May I Suggest: Kitchen.

I love to cook. I love food. And I LOVE the suggestions for today. These ladies all know their way around a kitchen, and their favorites are phenomenal choices.

HILARY
To start, I must state that I am not an amazing cook.  It is something I am definitely working on and slowly but surely getting better at.  One thing I have always loved doing however is baking.  Cookies being my main specialty.  (We won't mention the fact that my almost 3-year-old can pretty much make cookies by himself, eh-hem).  Nonetheless, here are a few of my favorite gadgets and tools I use in the kitchen.

1. Nonstick 3-piece Baking Sheet Combo by AirBake.  These cookie sheets are just plain awesome.  I was first given the large one for my wedding.  It is the only baking sheet I have ever used to bake my chocolate chip cookies.  For our anniversary one year, my husband got me this 3-piece set knowing how much I loved my first one.  They bake so evenly and clean off insanely easy.  I also use these to bake breadsticks and homemade pizza.

2. Stainless Steel Spring Action Scoop (2 tbsp) by Norpro.  I can't function in the kitchen without this awesome gadget.  This cookie scoop makes perfectly round cookies and cuts the time it takes to bake cookies in half (well, at least for me).  I made cookies at my in-laws once and they didn't have a scoop.  It was such a pathetic mess as I tried to use two regular tablespoons instead!  I always give this paired with the baking sheets above at bridal showers along with my chocolate chip cookie recipe.

3. Koncis Garlic Press from Ikea.  My mom has always had this awesome garlic press from The Pampered Chef that I have envied.  One day while perusing through Ikea I came across this super cheap but equally functional version of it.  Everyone needs a garlic press in their kitchen and this one is very affordable!

4. Mrs. Anderson's Pie Crust Shield.  I grew up in a cake eating family.  Meaning, we had cake for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and any other celebration you can think of.  My husband, however, grew up in a pie eating family.  This was a huge change for me when he requested pie for his birthday the first year we were married.  I didn't know what to do.  I had never made a pie before, and had only had a slice here and there during Thanksgiving.  I have since become a pie maker, and this pie crust shield does an awesome job in preventing burnt or overcooked crust!  It's been a life saver in our marriage. 

CHRISTINA
I love food.  Cooking, entertaining, and eating are all things I find great joy in.  Narrowing down this list was hard, but I chose three products I use regularly that have never let me down. 

1.  Cheese Grater (or Chosigt if you speak IKEA)-  Who would've thought that a store known for their inexpensive wares would have a product that would make my top three?  I purchased this grater on my first IKEA trip while in Long Island almost 8 years ago, and I can't count how many times I've used it.  I love that the grater fits right onto a container so there's no fumbling with an unstable box grater.  I love that the two different grater lids plus the container and storage lid all fit together so neatly.  My favorite feature is that the container has a storage lid so whatever I've grated can go straight in the fridge. 

2.  Pampered Chef Measure-All Cup-  My mom used this same measuring cup when I was growing up, and it was one I knew I needed to have in my own kitchen.  For sticky ingredients (particularly things like peanut butter, shortening, honey) this measuring cup is a must own.   The sides scrape clean as you push out the ingredients you've measured.  They've also added a liquid measure feature, and it handles dry ingredients as well.  This measuring cup along with some cookie sheets and a favorite peanut butter cookie recipe would make a great shower gift. 

3.  Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker-  This was one of the best wedding gifts we received, especially for a girl who's proclaimed ice cream as her favorite food for most of her life.  The fact that I can enjoy homemade ice cream without the mess of rock salt is a wonderful invention indeed.

MIRANDA
I could write all day about the things that stock my kitchen. Seriously, I could. Instead, I'll tell you about three things that always make me happy when I use them. These are the things that always seem to make my cooking/baking experiences all the more pleasant.
1.) Microplane Zester--oh how I love thee. This baby is so sharp it makes zesting lemons a snap. It also shaves a brick of Parmesan into delicate beautiful ribbons and makes quick work of grinding a whole nutmeg. Everyone should have one. I mean it.
2.) Parchment paper--but not the kind that you buy in the roll at the grocery store. These pre-cut pieces of parchment paper fit perfectly into my cookie sheets. No cutting, no rolling up at the sides, just easy peasy. Plus you can use them more than once so one pack lasts forever. They even have half sizes for your smaller cookie sheets!
3.) Maldon Salt-- okay, I admit it...I have a lot of different kinds of salt in my cupboard. But this...this is my fancy salt. I use it to top homemade French Bread or pretzels, any special desserts that call for a pinch of salt on top or really, anything that I want to be extra special. This salt is so pretty and flaky I get all giddy when I open the box. I bought mine at the Savory Spice Shop in Denver but if you happen upon some in a specialty store, snatch it up.

What kitchen items are YOU loving this month?

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Makeup Love.

I have many loves: family, graphic design, crafting, cooking, and reading are a few. If you've read my blog for a while, you may also know that I love beauty supplies. I'm like a kid in a candy store in Sephora. I love playing with colors and creating new "looks" with make-up. My husband calls it "face-painting." It kind of is, I guess. I think it is the designer in me. I love color, and I can never have too many eye shadows. I'll wear anything from bright to neutral to dark. I especially love a good, dark smokey eye.

Even though I love to wear a bright aqua eyeshadow every once in a while, I'm really quite a neutral kind-of-girl. On most days, I switch between a light/nude-ish eye and a brown, semi-smokey eye. The new Urban Decay Naked Palette is my favorite sidekick in my everyday "face-painting." My husband gave it to me on our anniversary. He knows me too well.

This palette is incredible. The colors are out-of-this-world. The pigmentation is spectacular. These are ten full-sized eyeshadows. (Mac-eyeshadow size!) There are matte and shimmery neutrals. Light and dark. Everything you need. I think anyone would love this palette. Very high quality. And only $44. A steal for ten top-of-the-line, beautiful eyeshadows!

*The UD Naked Palette is extremely hard to find right now. I bought mine at Sephora, but it is out of stock right now.  I have seen it in Ulta recently, though. It is a permanent item, so just keep your eye out if you want to buy one for yourself.

Downeast Home.

Haven't heard of DownEast Home? Oh my goodness. You are missing out! DownEast Home is a fast-growing retailer of stylish and affordable home furnishings and accessories. They carry their own furniture as well as some from major high end retailers. (I can't mention their names, but I wish I could. Go in and see for yourself.) They make it possible for me to afford some of those items I've been coveting in my favorite catalogs. You never know what you are going to find in there. The hunt is half the fun!

DownEast Home invited me to their store for a private tour. They want to get the word about about their awesome inventory, and I'm so thrilled that I get to help them do that. I was so impressed with the selection. I'm in the market for a kitchen table and a makeup vanity. I now know where I'll be buying them! I loved so many things.

From Friday, Sept. 3 through Saturday, Sept. 11, DownEast Home stores will host their annual Labor Day Sale with even greater bargains on a range of already amazingly priced items. This is a wonderful time in particular to save big on summer and outdoor furnishings, many of which will be at half off! Exciting! I'm heading there tomorrow!

Just Keep Swimming.

I'm back from a rather indulgent blog break. Am ready to pull out the pen keyboard and write. Blogging usually comes easily for me. I always have something to share and say. But, I've had a bit of a blogging-motivation problem as of late.

My little family received some awful news two weeks ago and I've been really down. Blogging hasn't been high on my list of to-dos. Moping has been #1. Crying #2. My priorities have been all askew.

All of us are hit with hard news at times. "It's not fair" moments are not unfamiliar to anyone. My family, however, seems to have more than our share of them. We've been changing life directions so often, and for so long, because of bad news that I'm downright dizzy. I'm ready for a little stability. A little bit of boring. Boring sounds nice.

Anyway, blah. I'm just feeling blah right now. Two weeks of blah. I wonder how long blah will stick around. I hope not long.

It's funny how life doesn't stop during such sad times. Even when I'd like it to for a little while. I feel like I'm treading water. I fool myself to thinking escape will make me feel better, but running away never does. Happy moments bring the fresh air in. I just have to tell myself to keep swimming. To search out those special moments and to hold them close. They are what I want to remember; not the sad. They will keep me afloat.

Amidst the blah, some exciting things have happened. First, my oldest is now a public schooler. Yes-sir-ee. I can barely believe it. And miracle of miracles, I didn't cry as she loaded the kindergarten bus. I thought I was going to, but I was strong. I watched her load the bus, but then hopped in my car and followed it all the way to the elementary school because I was worried. So, maybe I'm not THAT strong. She was in heaven, however. Complete and utter happiness to be in class with her besties from the neighborhood.

Also, the Scottish-Hawaiian wedding happened last weekend and was a huge success! The bride was beautiful, the food was fabulous, the kiddos were a darling, hilarious handful. It was the event of the year, let me tell you. My handsome boys looked adorable in their kilts. I designed menus and place cards for the luncheon; they looked pretty next to my mom's Hawaiian centerpieces.

The only bad thing was that I had a horrible case of the stomach flu. And then I handed the flu off to my brother, the groom, who was very sick on his wedding night and over the first honeymoon days. Oh, my. I feel so guilty. I want to call him to see if he is feeling better, but I think calling on the honeymoon would only add insult to injury. Crossing my fingers that it didn't last long.

And crossing my fingers for brighter days ahead.

COMING UP ON SHERBET BLOSSOM:
Some fun giveaways.
A Formspring-requested Outfitting post.
A fun & easy jewelry tutorial.
My new makeup & beauty favs.
Some seriously fun cards.
Another "May I Suggest" all about kitchen.

Sept May I Suggest: Beauty.

MIRANDA
When it comes to beauty and a personal maintenance routine, I tend to keep things pretty low key.  However, I do happen to have three favorite things that I think everyone should know about.
1.  LUSH Angels on Bare Skin Facial Scrub. Heaven on my face!  Or, angels on my face, I guess.  Anyway, this stuff makes my skin glow and it smells amazing.  Don't be put off by the price--it lasts for months and months and months.
2.  Olay facial cream.  Complete All Day UV Moisturizer for sensitive skin, to be exact.  This lotion is plain as plain can be.  And cheap.  I love that it is gentle on my skin, not greasy, and has UV protection so that I can stop prematurely aging my skin already.  Also it has a hint of that classic Oil of Olay smell that reminds me of my stylish grandma.
3.  Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer. (Fig is my favorite color.) I kind of think of this as a "lazy girl's lipstick."  Even if i accidentally leave the house without a stitch of makeup, I can put a little of this on and feel like at least I'm attempting to look presentable.  As an added bonus, it feels awesome on my lips.

HILARY
These are three of my new favorite beauty product finds this year.
1. Strike Gold by Bath and Body Works - This stuff only comes out once a year (usually right before the summer season) so grab it when it's available and stock up! I love this self tanner as it does not leave you looking like a tangerine and it has a super light, fresh scent. It is the perfect shade of bronze that will help your summer tan last into the winter months without people wondering if you used orange spray paint. I usually just use this on my face to keep away that washed out look on days when I don't have a lot of time for make-up.
2. Taming Elixir by Sebastian - This hair serum is seriously my favorite product find this year. My little sister is attending hair school at the moment and as a result has some awesome suggestions for new products. She bought this for me, knowing how much I struggle with my naturally curly hair and it's fly-aways. A quarter size drop of this and my hair is tame. I use it along with some mousse when I leave my hair curly, and I also use it when I straighten my hair (it is super light and makes my hair feel sleek and smooth!). Love it.
3. The Colossal Volume Express by Maybelline - I am a big fan of big lashes and let me tell you, this mascara delivers! I feel like if you don't have time for anything else, a little bronzer and some awesome mascara will do the trick. I love the brush on this mascara as it seems to get every single lash and pumps them full of volume.

CHRISTINA
I'm so excited to post some of my favorites on Sherbet Blossom this month! It's kind of hilarious to think that I have something to offer by way of beauty advice, but I do love finding high quality products that work for me. Without further ado, here are three I can't live without.
1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser- I love this soap and have used it for years. It removes make-up easily and leaves my face feeling clean without any sort of residue. Now that I'm a mom, I often use this soap on my kids' sensitive skin. I also love that when I run out I'm not making a special trip to the make-up counter for face wash- I can find it easily at the places I go regularly (translation: Target, Costco, the grocery store).
2. Mary Kay Timewise Microdermabrasion Set- As I've started to get a little older I've noticed that my smile lines are showing up even when I'm not smiling. That definitely doesn't make me smile, so I started to look into age-defying products to try to fight some of the fine lines. This microdermabrasion set leaves my face feeling softer than any other product I've used. Days when I'm trying to fight looking like a tired, old mom I pull this out and instantly feel a little better. Or maybe my face just feels so soft it distracts me from the fact that I really am a tired, old mom.
3. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion-Sin- This is my latest splurge suggested by my beauty savvy sister-in-law, and I'm definitely in love. It's replaced my MAC primer hands down. There are a couple of different hues available, but the Sin leaves a goldy shimmer which is perfect for days when I don't have time for eye shadow. The staying power it gives my eye shadow is better than any primer I've used before. When I wash my face at night I feel like my eye make-up looks just like it did that morning, and with all that goes on in a normal day for me, that's saying a lot!

HANNAH
1. OPI Nail Polish in Ski Teal We Drop. This is the newest polish in my smallish collection. It is a beautiful not-quite-navy color that I am excited to wear throughout the colder months. It is semi-dark, but very wearable!
2. EOS Shave Cream in Pomegranate Raspberry. My favorite chapstick brand now makes shaving cream. Yes, the packaging is pretty, but the product is even better. It comes out of the bottle with a lotion consistency rather than a foam, so it is very moisturizing. You can use it wet or dry. Amazing stuff. And it smells good too! It is right around $3.50/bottle. (Target) A bargain in my book.
3. Urban Decay All Nighter Spray. This spray comes with a little bit of a price tag, but it lasts a long while. I use it when I want to keep my makeup nice for a long time. It will hold you face in place ALL day!

What beauty products are YOU loving this month?

Want to know more about May I Suggest? Click Here to read all about it.
Interested in participating in the future? Email me!

Introducing: May I Suggest

I'm am so excited to introduce you to Sherbet Blossom's newest feature: May I Suggest! I love telling you about my current favorites: products, movies, craft supplies, etc. I also love reading about YOUR favorites. Things you are currently digging. That is what the May I Suggest series is all about. Sharing our favorites with each other! Finding the best of the best.

May I suggest will take place on most Fridays. I've invited 3 of my favorite bloggers to kick start the series. They will be sharing some of their favorite items each Friday for a month; each week being about a different topic. (We will be covering everything from our favorite beauty supplies to our favorite books.) Every month, I'll ask a new group of bloggers to participate. (If you'd like to participate, please email me!)

I will be participating whenever I have something I'm dying to tell you about...which will probably be most weeks.  I can't wait to get started! Tune in tomorrow!!


September Participants:
HILARY: My darling sister-in-law. Whenever she gives a recommendation, I take it. She has fantastic taste in everything from music to shampoo.
MIRANDA: This lady has some serious style. From her crafts, to her clothes, to her parties. She knows what's hot.
CHRISTINA: The first word that comes to mind when I think of Christina is "Classy." She is the epitome of elegance and good taste.

September Goal Calendar.

Here is a September Goal Calendar for those of you waiting.

I have some exciting things planned for my blog this month and I can't wait to get started. One will be introduced tonight and started tomorrow morning. It's going to be fun.

The Art Weekend.

I was over the moon when Nicole Hill Gerulat contacted me about teaching at the Salt Lake Art Weekend in October! It is going to be a great event. I'll be teaching all about customizing your Blogger blogs. All of the other classes look fabulous as well. I'm hoping to learn a little more about calligraphy and sewing. So fun.

I hope to see some of you there! Make sure to say "hi."