A quick little "in the mood for Fall" craft

So, the summer is winding down and the kids are back to school. Our oldest started "real" school at a charter school this year. And the other 2 are still homeschooled and taking support classes 2 days per week for 3 hours each day. 

Which means I get free time! 

Which means I get to go to the dollar tree and put together new crafts for the fall! I love the fall. In Colorado, it's not quite the same thing as back in Georgia but it still gives me a chance to get crafty.

This craft idea came to me as I sat at the computer checking out the new fall crafts over on One Pretty Thing. I absolutely love love love this site! I have this cute little Ikea tray that has been with us for a few years. And when the seasons change so does the decor of the tray. It's my little piece of decoration in our rented place. It's easy to change and it's a great focal point.

So here's the deal, the dollar tree has these awesome little vinyl wall stickers and everytime I walk past them my crafty brain goes ga-ga. I have wanted to do something with them. I've thought of maybe Christmas gifts of signs with these. I'm gonna experiment and maybe that'll come in a later post. So anyways, I saw these 2 and had to buy them. One says "Everyday is a Gift" and the other says "Bless this home with Love and Laughter". Are you not loving the scrolling text?

 

So here's what you do...and it's super complicated. You peel it off and stick it on the tray. Taa Daa! I mean really how pretty is that? And the cool part is that it's suppose to resist moisture and it's re-stickable. So save the little paper it comes on and swap it out from time to time. By the way, the stuff on the tray (I just noticed) was all purchased at the dollar tree. Get out the glue guns and glitter and decorations. It's FALL!

Book Review: The Dragons of Chiril

I usually enjoy Donita K. Paul's books but this one took me a while. It's kind of a slow starter. The cover is what drew me to pick this book. It's beautiful.

I enjoyed the story and the characters but I wouldn't say it's a book I'd read again. (Sorry for such a short review.) I may at some point try the rest of the series but I'm actually not a huge fan of "dragon books". As far as the writing style, it's well written as you'd expect from such a seasoned writer.

If you've read any of Paul's other works you'll really enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I got this book for free to review for Blogging for Books. You can get some great books too! Check out blogging for books (Sidebar ad)--->

Book Review: When Sparrows Fall

What can I say about When Sparrows Fall? I enjoyed every minute of it. I spent two nights reading till 2am because I didn't want to stop reading and break the spell. 

Miranda is a widow with 6 children.. When she finds herself in the hospital after a fall, her long lost brother-in-law becomes the caretaker for his nieces and nephews. Jack is a university professor who gets a taste of culture shock when he shows up to take over Miranda's household. The whole fiasco makes for an engaging story.

When Sparrows Fall takes place in the North Georgia Blue Ridge mountains. Our family lived near there for 9 years and the author has presented the area to a "T". Everything from the accents to the "down home" hospitality and "backwoods" superstition are easily reminiscent of where my husband grew up.

The characters, Miranda and Jack are some of my recent favorite. The author took great pains to make the characters 3-dimensional and the labor paid off. The interactions are believable and the dialogue was very realistic.

This book comes highly recommended. Put this book on the top of your summer reads list!

Just so you know, I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. And you get get free books too through Blogging for Books.

Granny's Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

(source) - this is not a photo of my cookies. I only make them at Christmas, as they are too deadly to have around.

This is an all time family favorite. I make these cookies every year for Christmas and cookie exchanges. I've heard them called everything from "Cow patties" to "PooPoo Cookies" but we always called them Chocolate Oatmeal cookies.

This is the recipe that my Granny always used. I have never had these not turn out right. So here ya go.

Granny's Chocolate Oatmeal "No-Bake" Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of cocoa
1/4 stick of butter (2Tbsp)
1/2 cup of milk
2 cups of oatmeal
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring (I have on occasion used hazelnut flavoring)

Mix sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a pot. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter, then the vanilla and oatmeal. Make sure to to mix it well. Then drop spoonfuls of the mixture on to wax paper/parchment and let them harden. Done!

A couple notes:

1. If when you finish mixing it seems really, really runny (like syrup) add some more oatmeal. 
2. These take very little time to make. However, if you need the setting time to go faster, like maybe you are suppose to be at a cookie exchange in a few hours :) , pop them in the freezer for a few minutes.
3. These things are seriously deadly. Don't keep them around the house because you will seriously eat too many. 

So there ya go. Enjoy!

Free Printable: Tic Tac Toe Board

Well for us the summer has started. And even though we probably aren't gonna be taking any major trips, I know sometimes it helps to have something to keep the kiddos busy when we do. I made this printable for that reason. My middle kid likes to play tic tac toe. So this is for my monkey.  Printable Tic Tac Toe Board

Book Review: Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgson

In this continuation of The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek, we follow the story of Ida Sinclair. Ida is the oldest of the Sinclair sisters. She comes to Cripple Creek to find work the the legendary businesswoman Mollie O'Bryan. And while Ida is not looking for a husband, love seems to find her none the less.

I very much enjoyed this story. Even though I haven't read the first book, I believe this story can stand on it's own. That said it did take me some time to get in to this story. It was enjoyable but took a while to get going. And having not known the characters from the previous book, I felt like I was trying to play catch-up.

I love the character of Tucker Raines. I also have found a love of fiction set in Colorado. When I learned that Cripple Creek is a real life town in Colorado (Just 2 hours from me) I told my husband we just have to visit.

I recommend it! It was a fun read. And I can not wait for the next book. Now off to get the first book.

Check out this video by the author, it made me really wanna go visit Cripple Creek:



Just so you know, I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. And you get get free books too through Blogging for Books. There's a link on the sidebar. -->

Teachers Appreciation: Sticky Note stands

So it's that time of year again. The time when we thank the ladies and gentlemen who work so hard to teach our kids. And even though we homeschool, my kids attend science classes through the local school district. So I thought I'd share what we've made for the teachers this year to show our appreciation.

I've seen these on blog linkies and I'd love to post the link to where I've seen them but I've forgotten. (sorry) If it was you let me know. I'd love to give you credit.

Here's what you need: plastic photo frame, some paper (I used scrapbook paper), sticky note pad, double stick tape, ribbon and I also used a label maker but you can use whatever you want or have on hand.

I got all of this at the dollar tree. Except the label maker obviously. The frames I used were the 3.5 by 5 inch ones. I didn't do anything fancy. Attach the sticky pad to the frame with a couple pieces of double stick tape. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper 3.5 x 5 inches and place it in the frame. I tied a ribbon around the top and I printed little labels with their names. I'm going to place them in see-through goody bags with a colorful pencil and tie them off with a ribbon. These take almost no time and they are so easy.

If you wanted to shake things up a bit you could let the kids draw a picture and use that in place of the scrapbook paper. And here's the finished product in both the vertical and horizontal frames.  What are you making for your kids teachers this year? Leave me a link!

I linked this at Made By You Monday and Craft Catwalk !

Keeping Busy

(source)

What's been keeping me busy lately: Crochet

I've started crocheting. I have this habit of picking up a new hobby, making a few things, losing interest and then a few years later picking it up again. I've had crochet hooks for a long time. I somehow made a little hat for my daughters baby doll and a small shopping bag for her barbie doll and then never picked up a hook again.

Until somewhere between Valentines day and St. Patricks day this year. I found these 2 patterns and I've been making a ridiculous number of crocheted goodies. The first I found at Skip to My Lou it's a really cute shamrock garland. I didn't actually create the garland, just a million shamrocks. Seriously, they take no time and they are so easy! And the other pattern I found at Sarahndipities it's a super cute heart garland. Again, I didn't make the garland just a million little hearts. Same problem: Easy and Fast. Today, I saw that Sarah posted another garland, a crocheted flower garland this time. My house will be blooming by tomorrow.

Also on the list of things I've crochet in the last month are:

• A baby hat for my friends little newborn
• A very bright green beret for myself (I haven't had the gall to wear it yet, lol) Started out as a newboys hat, lol.
• A little headband for my daughter with a shamrock on it (snickering)
• A half finished prayer shawl
• A really cute off-white hat for me that was suppose to be for my 7 year old daughter but something happened with the sizing (more snickering)
• A couple of unsuccessful attempts at granny squares which aren't that hard but I somehow managed to messed them up.
  

My most recent project is Crochet ponytail holders/Scrunchies. I watched this video and it is so easy it's ridiculous. I think I've made six now. My daughter is gonna have one to match every outfit. It's a really easy project if you happen to have had all 4 wisdom teeth removed and you are all but sedated. Just sayin'.

So check out this video and enjoy the sweet accent. By the way, AllFreeCrochet.com  has got some really cute patterns. This hobby is getting out of hand. I'm printing off so many patterns that I'm gonna need to put them in a notebook now. They also have a few ebooks that are free for download.

Book Review: Mine is the Night

Once again Liz Curtis Higgs has created a masterpiece. In her beloved land of Scotland, Higgs retells the Biblical story of Ruth. This book is the sequel to Here Burns My Candle.

In Mine is the Night we catch up with Elizabeth Kerr and her mother in law. Marjory is returning to her hometown with Elizabeth after the sad loss of her husband as well as both of Marjorys sons.

Upon returning they don't find the welcome they expect. They are for the first time in their lives living without means and status. Can they let go of the past and embrace what the future holds?

I very much enjoyed this book. Liz Curtis Higgs makes you feel as though you've been to Scotland. Even a person like me who has yet to get out of the US. I feel I know and have walked the places she writes so well. Having read pretty much every work of fiction by Higgs, I can say without a doubt this ranks in my top favorites. This story feels like it takes place just over in the next kirk from the Thorn in My Heart series.

This book comes highly recommended. With all the action, adventure, and romance we've come to expect of a Liz Curtis Higgs novel, Mine is the Night does not disappoint.

Just so you know, I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. And you get get free books too through Blogging for Books. There's a link on the sidebar. -->

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs and a Contest

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

I've got a review coming soon for Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs, the much awaited sequel to Here Burns My Candle.

I'm really enjoying this book and can't wait to tell you about it. But in the meantime, Waterbrook/Multnomah is hosting a contest.

You can check it out here Mine is the Night Contest

Also, Liz Curtis Higgs is hosting a live video event on April 5th at 2pm (eastern) Liz Curtis Higgs live event

Also, below is a book trailer for the latest book. Enjoy!

I've been a fan of Liz Curtis Higgs for quite some time. I love reading about Scotland and she is able to bring it to life for poor people like me who must read about it until the day they can afford to travel there.