Tag Archives: family

All Soap IS Not created Equal!

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We are zooming back in time to the point when shower gels started to come on the market. In fact they were so new that manufacturers were sending samples out to the shower gel poor. I received one of these wondrous samples. I had just had child number two and income was at an all time low. Free was wonderful and any showering I did was super quick and any new soap invention that added pampering to my day was magnificent. I felt re-created, a new being, a Mom able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…..or at least able to fix lunch for the three of us still at home. Flash forward to about seven years ago when I was given a wonderful shower gel set by a well known soap shop. It was a relaxing scented set and I loved it, I loved the lather, the scent, the whole shower experience.  I stepped out of the shower relaxed and ready to get four children into the van with everything they needed and off to school. I would teach art to classrooms of children and get up the next day and do it again. THEN I was introduced to handmade soaps….and…it revolutionized the whole shower thing all over again. It totally changed the whole shower thing all over again. I am seeing why bathrooms have easily become the largest room in the whole house, with such lovely bath products; HOW can you not spend hours in there every day. This past Christmas I treated two of the men in my house to these wonderful hand made soaps and I think that I have created a monster. :0)

This is their favorite. It is called Zinger and is scented with citrus, fresh peppermint, eucalyptus and jasmine petals.

It is a pleasant scented soap that my teenage boy and 20 something son loved.

This one would be the one I buy next for them.  It is scented with the cinnamon, clove, vanilla musk and mulberry and hints of cassia root, eucalyptus, amber, fir balsam, pine and cedar. These wonderful handmade soaps are from Delicate by Nature at Etsy. They create bath and body products that are dye free and made without artificial fragrances. The shop is run by two sisters and each product is made and tested by their friends and family. Check out their shop on Etsy at http://www.delicatebynature.etsy.com.

Talk to you later,
Karen

Wildfires in Texas are continuing to burn: send a kid some comfort!

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The fires in Texas have consumed over 3.5 million acres, that is a little larger than the state of Connecticut. These ladies at Modern day Quilts are accepting quilts for kids that have been burned out of their homes. Can you participate in some way? I am looking into it. I have two quilts in process and one finished. If they are the right size I am going to send them her way.

Here is her article and her address:

Families have lost everything, let us start to rebuild their lives with a quilt

This weekend in central Texas, hundreds of people have lost their homes, families have lost everything. This is where I live.

I want to give every child who has lost everything a quilt to sleep under. One simple, but real thing to help families get back on their feet.

My goal is a quilt for every child who lost their home.

Will you help me?

Heather is in, are you?

Quilts should be at least 45” x 60”, although twin size bed quilts are encouraged.

Please ship quilts to Valli & Kim Quilt Shop, Attn: Wildfire Quilts, 700 West Highway 290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620. If you have questions, please email me at moderndayquilts@gmail.com

If you are in Austin, I’ll pick the quilt up, just send me an email.

Please reblog, retweet, spread the word!

 

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I suggest that you e-mail Valli and Kim at their quilt shop and see if this is something you can support. I am not suggesting that you send quilts blindly to unknown people. So check it out and see what your heart says!

 

Thanks, Karen

Here is the link!

http://moderndayquilts.tumblr.com/post/9865869754/families-have-lost-everything-let-us-start-to-rebuild

 

 

 

Starting Over

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Every so often in life we like “Do-overs” a chance to just begin again. To start with a clean slate with no baggage or reminders of our inadequacies  or failings. An opportunity to remake ourselves into something different. This opportunity doesn’t happen often in our lives. I can only think of a few mile stone times where we truly get to start fresh. A new job where no one knows you, moving off to a new school, possibly going to college away from home, and then moving to a new place to live and starting over with a new job. The problem is that our pasts have a way of influencing our futures. We have recently moved two states from home. This is a huge move to the teenagers in my house. They don’t really remember moving to the old house. We had lived in our comfortable circle for over 11 years. So this is a pretty major move and every one in the family is a little off balance. We have to find new places that we have never gone before and meet new people that even sound differently from those at home. Worse yet, they don’t understand us because we speak a little  differently. The question is always there in their eyes “where are you visiting from” and then this is followed by “Why did you move here?”

The weather is definitely different, trees are different, names of many of the stores are different. There are different cultural things that we know nothing about. Yet, I say that our pasts make our todays.  It feels familiar to me because my pasts have many moves in them.  I remember being the NEW kid at school. I remember moving and not understanding the jokes. I can empathize with them as they worry about meeting friends and what to wear.

The thing they need to remember is that Who they are and What they are doesn’t change even if their accent changes and they start to understand some of the cultural-isms of the new teenagers they are meeting.  The things that make them unique are also their assets in their new home. Strengths are still strengths. The sense of humor that our son has will still help him make new friends. It might temper his rampant sense of humor and slow it down a bit, but it will still be there, thankfully. Our daughter’s caring, quiet, thoughtful personality will still find incredibly fun people to be friends with, as opposites attract. Last but not least the wild exuberance of our youngest daughter will also find quiet friends to hang out with to listen to her almost non-stop chatter.

What they don’t realize is that friends don’t just happen. They are made over time, with patience and caring. Listening when friends need an ear, or laughing crazily at funny things or just at anything. Friends are grown and who we were before is still pretty much who we are now, years later. They already have the skills it will take for them to make new friends. They have been practicing them for years and they will do fine now.

I just hope I do.

 

What about you? Have you moved a lot or a little? Do you have any tips or suggestions? We have been in our new town two weeks and everyone feels a little raw around the edges.

Karen

 

 

 

I am part of a blog blitz and here are some others to read on different things!

http://mysavior-myheartandwelcometoit.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-honor-of-911.html

http://healthiersteps.com/Blog/tabid/62/EntryId/20/Creamy-Baked-Cauliflower.aspx

http://www.laurastaley.blogspot.com/

More Knitting GONE BAD!

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Here are some more examples of knitting gone bad…

http://www.geekosystem.com/giant-cardigan/

 

Ok these aren’t knitted but they could be…

http://www.smittens.biz/Smittens/Home.html

That is all I can find for today!

Getting ready for a 3 day craft fair and then moving the art studio up stairs. It is going to be a huge week. We will see what happens…

If you are in the Wagoner, OK area stop by and say hi!

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

 

 

Quilts for Kids!

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http://www.quiltsforkids.org/

 

What a great organization! This is just a shout out for them and what they do!

Please take a look at their site and participate or donate to their organization.

 

Children in a hospital for any reason for serious illness breaks my heart. If you are a crafter or seller of handmade items, how does your craft help other people? Are you using your talents and gifts from God to help others? Here is my challenge: Find some way in which your talent or gifts helps others as a gift. Let me know what you find out or what you do. There are so many ways that handcrafts are helping people. From scarves for the homeless to quilts for kids to so many things. Comment back and let me know what you do!

 

talk to you later,

Karen

Anniversary thoughts

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I have been thinking about our anniversary this past week. It was 23 years yesterday… So thankful and pleased and happy that we have made it this far. We will continue on working hard to make this marriage work. I guess that is what I have been thinking about it; the work part. Let’s face it, living with anyone is hard work. You have to decide who is going to do the dishes or who is going to mow the yard, pay the bills or whatever work needs to be done. It is also a lot of deciding to ignore; socks on the floor, laundry not done, picky little things that really bother you. Deciding what is a hill to die on and what isn’t. I hate to tell you but; how the toilet paper is hung or the towels folded or the bed made is not a hill to die on; unless you are female! :0) Then it depends on how you feel at the time. Just kidding! Give the man in your life some slack and lay off the perfectionist tendencies. Allow your spouse some space and give them some grace in this thing that is called living. Who cares if the towels aren’t folded right. What truly matters is how do they treat you and how do you treat them. The bottom line is do you treat them as precious, created by God  and in his wisdom loaned to you for a time, to cherish, love, and most of all respect. Respect them for being different, thinking differently and valuing different things. Allow them to fail while still remaining on their team. Cheer when they do great things, even if you don’t think it is great! Laugh all the time, find common ground and  enjoy your days together even the rough ones. Be their backup and be sure that they know you respect them.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

Going Fishing with items from Etsy!

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Guess what I am getting to do today? See you all later!
Just a few quick posts about fishing from Etsy…
Karen

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74334960/early-morning-fishing-matted-8-x-10-fine?ref=sr_gallery_26&ga_search_query=fishing+&ga_page=5&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62018194/gone-fishin-keyring-holder?ref=sr_gallery_9&ga_search_query=fishing+&ga_page=5&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74355804/french-fishermans-wire-mesh-fish-basket?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=fishing+&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71726583/boat-23-16×20-inch-original-oil-painting?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=fishing+&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=
 
 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67222290/recycled-3pk-bottlecap-fishing-lure?ref=sr_gallery_24&ga_search_query=fishing+&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=
 
 
 
 
 

Thankfulness Challenge! What day is it anyway!

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I have gotten a little off track on posting things for my Thankfulness Challenge, way off track. I am trying to get back on the rails. So three things I am thankful for.

1. Mother’s

Mother’s are wonderful. Mine is not an exception to that rule. She has taught me many things, how to sew, how to cook, how to be consistent, to finish what I start, to try, to garden…this list is endless. Mom and I are best friends, most of the time…unless we are on each others nerves, which happens even with best friends. I love her very much.

2. Friends

Girl friends are essential if you are a married woman, even if you aren’t they are still essential. No man in his right mind really wants to hear about the four hour shopping trip to try on swim suits, how many didn’t fit and how many you actually tried on and then hear that you didn’t buy even one! lol :0)

There is no understanding among the men on that point in my life. They simply walk into the store find the size and color that they want, and buy it! They will sympathize but really never understand the whole crisis.

I got to spend some time with some new and some old friends this weekend and I had a great time. I left feeling rejuvenated and ready for more of the hard stuff that life throws at us.

3. I am thankful for my husband.  He is an awesome man!

One thing that I like about myself.

This is still proving incredibly difficult for me. I see opportunities to create in plain objects all around me.

Thankfulness day #14

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Today I am thankful for

1. My daughters, who are growing up to be extraordinary women.

2. My sons that are incredible people. They are thoughtful, (for the most part) exciting, strong young men.

3. The creation of music. What an incredible way to express what is in our hearts.

This is getting increasingly hard. Today I like that I can feel some of the pain of my friends. I guess that means that I am empathetic, not merely sympathetic.

It has been a rough week. We found out that a girl the same age as my daughter died in a car accident on Wed. night and the funeral is on Tuesday. I am not upbeat and cheerful and this is why. The girls were Daisy Scouts together and it is hard to even think about. Please pray for her family and friends.

 

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

Thankfulness Challenge: Following someone else’s lead

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As a part of the Thankfulness Challenge, I am going to tell you about the Dave Ramsey adventure that we embarked on two + years ago. I agreed to go on this debt killing adventure kicking and screaming! No, really… I didn’t want to take his class offered at our church but I did out of respect for Hubs. (That is not his name, his name has been changed to protect the innocent! ) There is not much that he asks me to do for him and this was one thing that was important so even though I wanted to throw the 2 year old tantrum!  Well, I think I did throw the tantrum but then I stepped up to the plate and did the adult thing.  At the time we owed a bunch of $$$ from medical bills, car payment and some credit card bills. Our first step was to save the $1,000 emergency fund. Which of course, we needed within 10 days time. It seemed an unending dance with a horrible date of one step back two steps forward and then two steps back and one step forward and sometimes no steps at all. During that time we paid off the van,  had an expensive rebuild on our septic system, replaced the roof on our house, extensive repairs to the heat and air system twice, and bought 2 cars since we had three drivers and one vehicle. We paid cash for each one of those repairs and had to rely on God to help us pay for them at all. I can’t explain it but when we needed cash it was there.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/3crowns?ref=seller_info

http://www.etsy.com/shop/3crowns

That was two years ago. Last year, we had our debt down to one larger bill. The van and the credit cards payed off. The credit cards were cut up and thrown out, accounts closed. His work started missing paying us on time each and every paycheck. Sometimes it was only a couple of weeks before they payed us. One time it was three months. Our savings dwindled but because of Dave’s snowball plan we were sitting pretty good. Then came a time of about 6 months with no work. Hubs was self employed and working hard at finding more self employed work. Things were tight and the company he was working for closed completely.

He is working now and has been since Novermberish. I forget exactly when he started working the 9-5 job but it pays the bills, was in town, is interesting and has insurance + a regular paycheck.  All things you look for when you are out of work. We would never have made it during that time without some help from family, Dave’s no debt plan and the emergency fund.

Here are some lessons we learned that we have implemented for us.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/StymiepieStudios?ref=seller_info

 

 

1.If we are self employed again we will keep our emergency fund at 2,000 and the business account at 2,000+ as well, until we get all the debt payed off. Then we will save like crazy and increase that savings.

2. Always pay cash for cars and buy cheap cars for your kids, if you buy them a car at all.

3. Pay off the debt, it will set you free.

4. Keep your pantry/freezer stocked with food in case something happens and eat from them so that the food stays rotated.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/hopespantry?ref=seller_info

 

 

5. If someone in your house wants to do something (like do the Dave Ramsey plan) then do it out of respect to them, wholeheartedly.  Face the facts; they are the $$ nerd and you are not. Their wisdom is greater than yours and the peace of mind of not having bills will be overwhelming.

6. God will provide for you if you are obeying him. Had we not gone on Dave’s plan then we would have been in a really, really bad place financially and the stress would have been much more.

7. “nevah, nevah, nevah, give up” in the words of Winston Churchill.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PosterPop

 

 

In August of  last year our oldest lost his job so we had what amounted to  three unemployed adults living in our house with the three younger kids. I will brag on God a bit here: within a three week span of time we went from three unemployed to three employed as Hubs, oldest son and daughter both got jobs. I was even filling out job applications online and I have health issues so that wasn’t really going to work. Granted, the kids’ jobs are fast food, but they get the  hours they want and the work environment is outstanding.  We are again working at paying off the debt snowball. Oldest son is paying off his debt and building his own business. Oldest daughter is saving $$ and has her emergency fund saved and is working on money for a car sometime soon. Yay, all because I was respectful and followed Hubs direction on the Dave Ramsey class. Woohoo, God is great!

We are almost there, our strings are almost gone!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thedreamygiraffe?ref=seller_info