Get Out And Vote!!!

Get out and vote! We need to get out and let our voices be heard.  Our freedoms are in jeopardy!!  I'll see you at the voting booth;)

Blessings,

Amy Jo



The Expression on Your Face



The expression a woman wears on her face is more important than the clothes on her back.---Dale Carnegie





A Sewing Project or Two

Today has been sooooo beautiful. We were in and out enjoying the 83 degree weather.  But this evening I am starting on a little sewing project. I am making a new skirt.... I hope it turns out. If it does I will show it to you. I also hope to start on the not so fun project of recovering my dining room chairs....:(   I will keep you updated.

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Give A Smile

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.----Mother Teresa



My Vintage Kitchen

This is my hard working little kitchen. Over the years it has seen the most use of any of our rooms. We  bought this house 2 years ago from my parents. This is the home I grew up in. So I have lived on this property for a big part of my life.

This is all of the original tile work. We have not done any updates to this room except, paint the cabinets and walls, and buy a new refrigerator.

My Mom wanted rose tile, so Dad had this tile hand painted for her. I couldn't get by with out my Kitchen aid.

I am collecting plates to go all along the top of the cabinets.

I love having a gas stove and double ovens. It makes cooking so much easier.

My work station....LOL

My mom bought me this napkin holder the matching salt and peppers, and the toothpick holder for my 30th birthday.

This is a close up of the tile. I would have taken more pictures, maybe of better quality but my camera died. It needs new batteries....:(

xoxo,

Amy Jo



Being A Full-Time Mother

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.---Mildred B. Vermont



Completely Vegan Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
4 large carrots
4 celery stalks
1/4 medium onion
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
garlic cloves
vegetable bouillon cubes
1 1/2 cups of macaroni noodles ( I used quinoa)
2 tspns basil
2 tspns oregano
1 tspn thyme
1 to 2 tablespoons sugar ( I used turbinado sugar)
2 tspns salt
1/2 to 1 tspn pepper
1 can green beans

1. chop carrots, celery, onions, and garlic. Set aside
2. Heat water on medium in a deep pot add vegetable bouillon and stir to disolve.
3. Add chopped vegetables, crushed tomatoes, garlic, and macaroni to water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer.
4. Add seasonings stir well.
5. Cover and leave on medium heat for one hour, stirring occasionally.
6. Add green beans and cook 15 minutes more.

This recipe makes a lot. We thought it was good. We added mushrooms as well. You could really play with this recipe and make it with any vegetable you wanted. If you didn't want it to be vegan you could add beef or chicken.

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Guarding Our Home and Making it a Haven of Rest

Lately, when I look at the news and hear all of the happenings of this world, I long to move away. Especially from this big city. Even though we are not in the actual city, traffic is horrible and people are just a little more rude in a place like Orlando. We moved away once, but the cost to commute in  money and time was just to high. Being the romantic that I am I have this ideal in my mind of what life is supposed to be. But, I know that at this point in our life, this is where God has put us. So content I must try to be.

 I believe we can make our piece of the world into what we want it to be. Something closer to what God would have it to be. Our homes can be a little slice of heaven on earth. (well sort of)  We can make our loved ones "feel the love". We can provide an environment, that you just can't get anywhere else.....that "There's No Place Like Home" feeling. What that looks like to me, may not be what it looks like for you. I am all about a cozy cottage type of home with lots of books and lots of chatting going on. Baked treats are a must! Generally there is a Yankee candle burning and a washing machine whirring..... Lots of laughter and a few tears too.... in the evening after dinner dishes are done, it is time to relax.... we may read, or play a game, or watch a show.The sites and sounds, the familiar voices of the people I hold so dear surrounding me, and comforting me. God established the home and put the desire in us to create a beautiful home and atmosphere.
What are some ways we can build our home up and make our loved ones feel cherished?

• We can give each person a space of their own and let them decorate and keep it how they want.(within reason)
• We can include their favorite dishes on our menus.
• We can try to be available to listen and share our time with them, even when it is inconvenient.
• On birthday's I always try to make them feel extra special. This is their day. So whatever they want for dinner I try to make it. They get the cake of their choice. We just try to let them know, we are so happy they are part of our family. We pray God's blessings for them and the new year.
• The most important thing is just letting your family know that no matter what, they are loved and cherished. They are important! Never to be replaced. A precious gift given by God.

May the Lord bless your little piece of the world with that at home familiar feeling!

A Mother is.....

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ----- Tenneva Jordan



New Years Resolutions? NO!!! Goals YES!!

I absolutely love what I am seeing out in blog land, right now.... instead of New Years Resolutions, so many have decided on goals. I like that so much better. I like the thought of having goals. Instead of " I will be a super model stick figure."  It is, " I will strive towards health"... and setting defined goals on what that means. For me that is trying to get in my fruits and vegetables every day. Exercising for 30 minutes. These are goals I can attain. It is not far fetched. I am not setting myself up for failure. No promises of a size 0 in a few weeks. 

Another goal I have for myself is to read one chapter a day in my Bible. This is a breeze... I can always find time for one chapter. As a homeschooler we read much more of the Bible than that on any given school day, but this goal is for me. I will read a chapter a day, alone or with my husband. Every day. This gives me time to process....meditate..... and just simply enjoy my time with God. This is something I so often don't do. My time alone with God is so fulfilling. It makes me happier and I am way more content with my life. Which leads to my next goal.... Contentment.


Sometimes I really struggle with this. I look around and I say "o.k. I want this and that." And I have this and that but...... I want a better this or that. It is wrong. Dead wrong. I know this in my heart. But, here I am wishing for something better than what God has given. I am striving for and determined to be content. I do not want to disrespect God and be unhappy with the blessings He has so bountifully given me and my family. Another goal is to rid myself of anything that I don't love. This is ever changing for me.... I have a great start on this goal. I have 3 trash bags already filled and ready to give away. And I have one more started......So these are my basic goals for this year. I have a few more in regards to my family... I will share those thoughts with you later.

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Vintage Finds

Over the weekend, my daughter and I went out to do one of our favorite things.... Antique shopping. Now I never go out with an idea of buying, but some how, I always find something. :) These prints were in a booth and I don't know why, I just fell in love with them. What am I going to do with them you ask? I haven't a clue... but eventually they will find a home in my house.

I actually could see them in a bathroom. They are really quite large and have presence about them... aren't they darling?

I got this book for 3.00. It had such lovely pictures in it and I have been wanting to grow my own cottage garden...

maybe one like this....

 or this.....

Yes it would be wonderful!

 I also picked up this children's book. I love old children's books. The illustrations are just wonderful.

What a lovely depiction of Jesus with the children.

Thy kingdom come Thy will be done;

This is my favorite illustration in the book.  I like to display these so anyone can pick them up and get a little inspiration.

Blessings,

Amy Jo

Feminine Friday and Pumpkin Bars

1/2 cup oil                 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/3 Cup honey               1 Cup mashed cooked pumpkin
2 eggs                  3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons whole wheat flour             1/3 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. baking powder     1/3 cup chopped pecans.

combine all ingredients in bowl; mix well.

Spread in 9x13  baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until tests done.

Cool on wire rack.  You can eat it like this or add cream cheese frosting.

I added the cream cheese frosting....
8 0z. of cream cheese softened      1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup butter softened     1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 to 4 Tablespoons honey

Beat cream cheese and butter in mixer bowl until fluffy. Beat in honey to taste. Add vanilla and pecans; mix well. Store this in the refrigerator. This is a healthy sweet. If you are craving a sweet but are concerned about sugar, this is a great alternative.

This is my daughter and I in the kitchen getting dinner ready. My husband decided to catch us unaware and snap a few photos.

It didn't take Savanah long to strike a pose!

Boys waiting on dinner...



Bentley watching the birds in our yard.

Bentley really tired from playing football and chasing my daughter on her roller blades. But he's on the fence.... Should he come in and miss the action? Or stay outside and play? Life is tough for him.....:)

Blessings,

Amy Jo

How To Make A Beautiful Storage Box

Today I thought I would show you how to make a beautiful storage box.  I made this one years ago... I got the idea from a Joanne fabrics calendar.  You start with a cardboard storage box of your choice.  Acrylic paints in the colors of your choice. I used opaque and old parchment.  You will also need a sheet of paper  to cover the top of the box. I used scrapbook paper. You could just sponge the top if you wanted.

Using Modge Podge I glued the paper to the top of the box and exacto knifed off the edges.

Then using a natural sea sponge. I sponged all around the bottom of the box.

Then I took ribbon and hot glued it around the edge of the top. I added buttons to give it extra appeal.

To add a handle I took a heavier gauge wire and poked to holes in the top of the box.  I added pearl bead to it. and formed it in the  shape I wanted. This is the not on the under side.

Then came the fun part adding the buttons to the top. I glued and glued. I did do this randomly. You could do it however you choose.

This is a close up of the handle.



This is my finished box. You could make this as a gift box as well.  Because I did this so long ago I didn't have the opportunity to show each step with pictures. But, if you have any questions feel free to contact me....

Blessings,

Amy Jo

Savanah's Bedroom



This is Savanah..... Today I wanted to show you her bedroom.  Her bedroom is a continuing work in progress. As is most rooms in our house.

She loves shabby chic and soft neutrel colors. She also likes glamour. We have redone her bedroom(s) more times than I care to count.  She finally has settled on this look. She tweaks as she goes.

This is her calendar for 2012. Vintage pin ups.

Once upon a time it was butterflies and fairies......

A vintage picture of her great-grandparents. Mirrors to reflect lots of light.

Collections of vintage perfume bottles.

Old frames with some sparkle added.

Vanity tray with a few of her favorite perfumes...

The vanity that her and her friend refinished...

Antique bed  layered in fluffy white bedding.... Oh so cozy....

Sparkly chandeliers...

 A cozy glow.

A vintage picture of every girls dream.... to one day be married to your one true love.....

That finishes out the tour of her room.... I hope you enjoyed it.... Thanks for having your room all clean Savanah... ha ha :)

xoxo,

Amy Jo