Stir in style...

Hey Friends! Hope everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend! I can't believe it's Wednesday already! Today I thought I would share a little project I did last week...based on a little pinterest inspiration...Painted Wooden Utensils!

 

I purchased plain wooden cooking utensils at the grocery store, and taped them to my sewing table, taped off where I wanted to paint wit h some masking tape, and painted the ends using a simple acrylics, and ended with a thin coat of clear sealer.

 

I love the subtle nautical feel they have...don't you?

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Savvy Southern Style

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day 

From Our Home to Yours!

little pink paper.

This August, something exciting is happening. My big sister is having her first baby. It's a little lady, and I am so so so ready to meet her!!!

Last week I sent out her shower invites. I wanted them to be handmade, but I kept them pretty simple since I haven't decided on a shower "theme" yet. I love how they turned out, and I thought I would share them with you=)

I just printed out the words on cardstock, used my Martha Stewart circle cutter to cut them out, punched holes in them, and added brads... so easy!

How do you like to invite guests when you party? are you an e-viter? a fill-in-the-blanker? a hand-maker? (is that even a word?)

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35 seconds to breakfast.

Last week I shared a recipe for yummy baked oatmeal that allows for me to eat breakfast before 11am every day. This week I tried another make-ahead recipe that is so good and can be frozen and popped in the micro when needed...
enter Spinach & Cheese Quiche For One.

It's so simple really:

Mix together approximately (I did not break out my measuring cups):
2 cups Frozen spinach (thawed)
16oz EggBeaters
1/2tsp garlic powder (or minced garlic)
1/2tsp italian seasoning (or fresh herbs from garden or grocery store;)
salt/pepper
1/4 cup Bacon Bits or 3oz bag (or more=)
1-2 Real Eggs
2 cups shredded cheese

Spray Muffin Tins with Pam.
Fill cups.
Bake 375.
20-25min.
Let cool.
freezer or fridge.
Pop one in the microwave for 35 seconds.
Enjoy!

*Recipe courtesy of Hunter's wonderful Grammy, my mother-in-law...thanks Grammy!

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Someday Crafts

Savvy Southern Style

granny smith signage.

A few years ago I bought a new "old" sign at Tj-maxx on clearance. I didn't know what I would do with it, but couldn't resist the great price. I have used it a few times since in different spots throughout my house, but I decided that it wasn't quite my style.



So a few days ago, while Hunter napped, I decided to give it a make-over.

First I painted it all brown.



Then I added scrapbooking letters to spell out one of my favorite verses... (kinda looks cool just like that, right?)



Then I painted white over the letters.

Pealed the letters off, and voila, a new sign!



Right now it is hanging out on my kitchen shelf with my beloved granny smiths...

I have to admit, it is a bit more boring than I wanted it to be, and the brown paint reads more black than brown...but I can always add a silhouette or more words to the other side in another color. All in all I am happy with it:)

Have you transformed anything with paint lately?

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Get Your Craft On 

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of little white sweaters...

Hunter's Grammy made him a beautiful sweater last fall before he was born. The sweater is cute and all, but my absolute favorite thing about it is the pom-pom strings, pointy hood and pom-pom on top...ahhh so adorable.
Anyway, Hunter didn't get to wear the sweater over the winter because he was so tiny that it hung to his knees:) and I am afraid that by the time the weather gets cooler he will be to big for it...
So yesterday morning, when the temperature and light was just right, I snapped some naked baby pictures of Hunter sporting his sweater:)

 

Happy Weekend Friends!

little boys and matchbox cars...

There is a little boy on the other side of the world who knows my name. He sends me letters and pictures that he draws in the school he attends. He likes matchbox cars and helping his mom with household chores. or at least he did when he was six. Now he is twelve. His name is Lereko, and other than the little boy taking a nap in the bedroom next to me...he is one of the cutest kids I have ever seen.


He has been my sponsor child through World Vision for many years now. I have watched him grow through pictures and letters that come in bright orange envelopes in my mail. I have his picture on my fridge, and when I look at it, I pray for him.

This morning I was reading a post from the Nester, about a recent trip she took to see her sponsor child in Tanzania (something I have always said I wanted to do), and a thought hit me square between the eyes. "if I had the chance to meet my sponsor child tomorrow, would I be ready?" I am afraid not.


If I could meet Lereko tomorrow, I would look into the face of a little boy I should know well and see a stranger looking back. I would feel badly for only writing 3 sentence letters when prompted by World Vision at Christmas and Easter and on his birthday. Letters that usually say something like this, "Hello Lereko! I hope you are doing well and having a great year in school. Mike and I are praying for you. Merry Christmas! Love, Adriane" I am not one for cursing, but I have gotta say, that is alot of BS.


It is WAY to comfortable for me to send my $35 a month (which covers ALL his living expenses) and pat myself on the back for doing my part, and shoot up the occasional prayer to God when bright orange envelopes arrive, and leave it at that. I never once have filled a white envelope with pictures and letters and heartfelt thoughts and mailed it off to Lesotho, Africa. I have never prayed for Lereko for more than 5 minutes at a time. And I have never before considered how I might feel if I had to explain to him face to face why I don't write more often. "Sorry Lereko, in the United States we are very busy people."


And I  really think that it is ok to not send mail that often, because we truly are busy people. But there is no excuse for not showering that little boy in prayer. That is the most effective, potent influence I can have on his life, and I am denying him of it. Mostly because I forget he is real. He is half a world away, playing with his friends and learning things in school, and helping his mom around the house, and I forget that he isn't just a picture on the fridge or a financial obligation I signed up for.


And when I think about what it would be like to come face to face with that sweet little boy, I have this thought, "If I had the chance to meet my Maker tomorrow, would I be ready?" or would I have to explain to Him the very same thing, "I'm sorry Lord, but here in the US, we are busy people." It makes me shudder a little to think about that. I spend far too much time focused on things that have no lasting value or eternal weight, and that needs to change.


So for starters, for every prayer I pray for my own sweet boy, I am committing to praying for the sweet boy of a woman in Lesotho who I may or may not ever meet on this side of eternity.


What about you? What has God called you to do with the time you're given?

Cousin love.

Hunter got to hang out with a few of his favorite little people over the weekend.

He's a pretty lucky kid :D

You belong to me...

Dear Mom,
It's 10:00pm on May 13th and for the first time in my life I have not talked to you on Mother's day. I googled the distance between us... it's 9,000 miles, a great big country, and a giant pacific ocean to where you are. 


I miss you from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, but my heart is overflowing with pride and thanksgiving for the Mom that God has blessed me with. 


A mom who is willing to fly to the other side of the world alone to fulfill the call God has placed on her life. A mom who gave up 5 weeks worth of wet kisses, wrinkly forheads and chubby baby cheeks to minister to people she has never met. A mom who rediscovered her love for adventure and chose to embrace it in the latter years of her life... and a mom who loves the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. 


Just so you know, you teach me things even in your absence.


Tonight I found myself humming the tune of a favorite song...one that has significance on many levels...


"See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise from a tropic isle
Just remember darling all the while
You belong to me

See the market place in old Algiers
Send me photographes and souvenirs
Just remember when a dream appears
You belong to me
I'd be so alone without you
Maybe you'd be lonesome too

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me

I'd be so alone without you
Maybe you'd be lonesome too

Fly the ocean in a silver plane
See the jungle when it's wet with rain
Just remember till you're home again
You belong to me..."



Thanks for being a wonderful Mom, friend and role-model for me. I love you!

Oh so yummy!

Most mornings it is around 11:30 by the time I get around to eating breakfast...between getting Hunter and I ready for our day, and doing laundry, dishes, etc...breakfast gets banished to the bottom to the to-do list:) 

Earlier this week I decided to try a yummy baked oatmeal recipe that a friend had given me...and oh my it turned out yummy!

Now each morning I just cut myself a sliver and voila, breakfast is served!

Here's the magic combination:
1/2 cup cooking oil (I used veggie oil)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
3 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk

Mix it all together, spoon it into a pie pan, bake at 350 for 30-35 mins, enjoy!!

I really like mine warmed up with some apple slices or fresh fruit...but if you like it moist, it would be delectable with a little warm milk and almonds on top...or raspberries...or blueberries...or really anything;)

Do you have any favorite recipes that helps to keep breakfast on the schedule in your house?

Paper & Yarn...

Do you have a "go-to" way that you like to wrap your gifts? Do you like to use bags and tissue paper? or do you prefer wrapping paper and ribbons?
Lately my "go-to" method has been simple...paper and yarn. I have two big rolls of paper- one is brown postal paper, and the other is white craft paper... and instead of ribbon I have been using up my yarn scraps, which gives a sweet handmade look to my packages and adds a cheery splash of color!
If the gift itself is too pretty to cover up... leave part of it unwrapped and add a coordinating flower or trinket (in this case miniature faux fruit:) on top! And, in lieu of cards I have been trying to use up some postcards that I have collected from various trips over the years...I like the personal touch that they add:)


What's your favorite wrapping style? Have anything your stuck on using right now?

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