tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35327999365756229552024-03-18T20:40:17.729-07:00Happy-ness Is . . .Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-53759746736126565992013-03-26T09:05:00.001-07:002013-03-26T09:05:18.194-07:00HopefulHello...just like Spring, I thought it was time for a new beginning. Do you like the new orange colors? It is my most favorite color and the sunflower, which is my most favorite flower, is actually a pen that my boy BFF found for me!! ( I'd like to be more computer savvy and resize photos and customize make this space my very own but I don't quite know how . . . yet.)<br />
Right now, I am staring at this:<br />
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But my daffodils persevere.<br />
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I am very done with winter and snow and icy roads and hats and gloves and mittens and heavy coats and wooly socks and yes! Even hot chocolate.<br />
I am ready for Spring. Summer. Swimming pools. Flip flops. Swishy Skirts.<br />
In hopes of warmth, I sewed my favorite skirt from <a href="http://www.annamariahorner.com/Flirting.the.Issue.pdf">Anna Marie Horner</a>. I have sewn 7 or 8 of these skirts, both for me and for the lovely young ladies in my home. Even my Diva has sewn one for herself. The skirts are swishy, flowy and best of all twirly! The elastic is a bit tedious but I think it has a wonderfully slimming effect (and I need all the help I can get)! I have stayed with the voile for myself but for the little ones, I have used cotton. Both fabrics are easy to work with and still look great after a day of playing outside (the little lovelies <i>and</i> me<i>!!)</i>.<br />
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I have also sewn a table runner and napkins from fabric I found <a href="http://www.crimsontate.com/">here</a>. I went on an <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3532799936575622955#editor/target=post;postID=4767125895013519083">enormously fun outing</a> with my girl BFF and I found this fabric. I opened up the fabric on the bolt and half of it was decorated and the other half was polka dot! Wheeeeee!! I bought 2 yards, cut it in half lengthwise, used the decorated half for the table runner and made 6 napkins with the polka dots! Loverly.<br />
(sidenote: I'm not so great at paying attention to who manufactured fabric, what this line is called, etc. . . the fabric picked me and I took it home!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(I love my butter lady!)</span></div>
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I am currently knitting these. They are the flame thrower socks from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Socks-Handpainted-Carol-Sulcoski/dp/1596680989/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364312897&sr=1-1&keywords=knitting+socks+with+hand+painted+yarn">Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn</a>. I have to have them done by Friday night. A birthday gift. Yeah . . . . not gonna happen. But I will have one sock finished! And the birthday boy is my neighbor. A 17 year old that I consider to be my own. He understands the second sock will come . . . . . later ;-)<br />
(sidenote: see above sidenote. Again with the yarn. Not so good at providing information about what type of yarn I am using . . . . this particular sock was given to me for finishing (as in: "I hate this. Take them. Finish them!") a few years ago with yarn already picked and wound and labels off! So sorry!)<br />
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. . . . . and that is my little life in a small nutshell. What have you been up to? How have you been surviving the cold and snow?<br />
Right now, I have a male and a female cardinal resting on the widow ledge 3 feet from me. They are eating out of the front window feeder. It makes me happy to see them taking turns. Eating. Keeping each other warm. Chatting with each other. Like the cardinals, we need to keep each other warm. We need to surround ourselves with loved ones. And we must show care. Like the daffodils, we persevere through our winter storms, even when cold storms may seem endlesssssssss.<br />
Happy-ness is one day closer to warmth and sunshine while we are doing things we love: sewing, knitting, baking, snuggling, kissing our babies.<br />
Enjoy your day!<br />
XOXO<br />
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-47671258950135190832013-02-04T12:52:00.000-08:002013-02-04T12:52:32.060-08:00Oh! Hello!Since my last post . . . .<br />
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Thanksgiving.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(crummy iPhone photosssss!)</span></div>
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It was the first time in my entire little life that I wasn't able to go "home" for Thanksgiving. I worked at the Bux serving coffee and making the best of the day with my co-workers. The weather was warm and sunshiney and most of the customers seemed truly thankful. Later in the evening, we went to my most favorite friend (EVER.) and neighbor and enjoyed a farm fresh turkey, all the fixings and enough dessert to feed a King and all of the people in his castle!! We played Monopoly (did you know the new-fangled Monopoly uses credit cards?!) and we played Apples to Apples and we watched movies until the wee hours of the morning, when we roused ourselves out of our tryptophan slumber and walked back home under a starry sky.</div>
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Four pairs of knitted socks.</div>
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They were knitted Christmas gifts and I am quite certain I did not take photos of all of them. After 8 socks, I was dreaming of running barefoot on a beach in very hot weather.</div>
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The Christmas Season.</div>
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Indianapolis.</div>
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<a href="http://www.drunkenmonkeyknits.blogspot.com/">My BFF</a> and I stomped around Indianapolis on a cold day in early January. We started very early at Waffle House, stopped at a heavenly store called Handspun and arrived at a fabulous new little quilting and fabric store called <a href="http://www.crimsontate.com/">Crimson Tate</a> where we bought some loverly fabric and met David, the best door holder in the world!!! (I maybe . . . . <i>maybe </i>. . . . went a bit goofy on the sidewalk at just the mere sight of Crimson Tate so he came out to greet us and to tell us to hurry up already! and come inside!) We also ate cupcakes at The Flying Cupcake, pizza at <a href="http://www.bazbeaux.com/">Bazbeaux</a> and finished our happy-ness at a very playful toy store.</div>
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And then:</div>
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Strep throat x 4.</div>
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7 boxes of tissues.</div>
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2 bottles of Nyquil.</div>
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Prescriptions for strep-blasting medicine.</div>
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9 swim meets, all attended in various stages of recovery.</div>
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851 spam e-mails.</div>
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127 friendly e-mails.</div>
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3 novels read ("Night Circus", "Gone Girl" and "The Paris Wife") while in various stages of fever or sleep.</div>
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I have also been knitting a scarf and I did sew a table runner and napkins, which I will share very soon. . . . .</div>
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How were YOUR holidays and your New Year? I do so hope you are staying healthy.</div>
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I write this in the midst of another snow storm and I am happy. I am finally healthy; my home is finally healthy. My sweet loverly dog, Keeper, has never left my side. In one lucid moment, I woke up to find her watching me. With clear, sweet, loving concerned eyes she was checking on her mama. I so wish our world and the people living in our world could have the same love for others that one small dog has for me. Life and the things that compose life would be so much simpler. Easier. Nicer. More kind. More caring.</div>
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. . . I shall share more of my knitting and my sewing and my silly thoughts with you sooner. Happy snowy winter day!!!</div>
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Happy-ness is health!</div>
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XOXO</div>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-67929894330301685732012-11-14T08:25:00.000-08:002012-11-14T08:25:17.301-08:00Wow! Napkins and Placements!I had a WOW! Happy! week last week.<div>
<a href="http://www.sewnstudio.com/">My favorite sewing and fabric store</a>, Sewn Studio, offered a class last week called, "Improv Sewing . . . 101 fast, fun and fearless projects" which included a book titled, surprisingly (!)<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Improv-Sewing-Freeform-Techniques-Accessories/dp/1603427406/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352909123&sr=1-1&keywords=improv+sewing+101+fast"> Improv Sewing . . . 101 fast, fun and fearless projects</a>! The class also included all the materials and 3 hours of sewing time. Sewn Studio taught the napkins/placemats pattern from the book and so that is what I made.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTnw6M44HaAvw1fwnpB1coLz4Qms5YIu1zbSqzo3Fr6MpCd0XwswYuSWPGdYwbBgaW2k-WzPvWmjofh2bT_FDhR-XNxt3yq8XAdbYS1P9n7GeHzWNq1hqo8SqHKZjngIoW-mwtvH0gFs/s1600/placemats+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTnw6M44HaAvw1fwnpB1coLz4Qms5YIu1zbSqzo3Fr6MpCd0XwswYuSWPGdYwbBgaW2k-WzPvWmjofh2bT_FDhR-XNxt3yq8XAdbYS1P9n7GeHzWNq1hqo8SqHKZjngIoW-mwtvH0gFs/s640/placemats+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Darling</i> linen napkins and placemats!!</div>
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The class wasn't difficult and it wasn't anything I couldn't have done at home by myself. But I did learn something new, something I've never thought of doing before. My top thread and my bobbin thread were different colors of thread so what is on top of the fabric is not the color on the bottom of the fabric. Coooool!!!!! ALSO, and this may be the best part for me, my sewing lines weren't straight. Purposefully NOT straight!!! WOW!!</div>
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It took me 3 hours to cut and sew four napkins and placemats. The fabric and all the thread (I used 3 different colors) were less than $20. I used a natural colored linen but wouldn't a black linen be fabulous too?! I think that everyone on my Christmas list will be getting napkins and placemats this year . . . . if I can part with them!!!</div>
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Happy-ness is sewing . . . and then being able to gift my handmade-with-love (and excitement and Wow!) to friends and loved ones!! A bonus Happy-ness!!</div>
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Give yourself the gift of Wow! Treat yourself to an afternoon of picking fabric, threads and then sewing napkins and placemats (or even just the napkins!) and gift your home sewn happy-ness too!! Don't forget to share your happy with me!!!</div>
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XOXOXO</div>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-7247733273453490742012-11-11T11:26:00.005-08:002012-11-11T11:26:57.379-08:00A PeaceI have begun knitting again.<div>
Without too much drama and detail, once upon a time ago, my need for knitting was voracious. I went everywhere with my knitting. I knit socks while waiting to check out at the grocery store. I knit sweater sleeves while in carpool lines. I knit while walking through my neighborhood. I worked in a small yarn store and still shopped at many other yarn stores for yet more yarn and more projects.</div>
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And then one day, I stopped.</div>
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It was as if, upon waking up one morning, I decided I don't like knitting anymore.</div>
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My yarn store closed and with it, all other yarn stores.</div>
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But recently, the yarn spoke to me. Gently poking me awake. Nudging me. Reassuring me that I can be at peace with knitting.</div>
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No person is putting upon me deadlines.</div>
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No customer/yarn student/shop owner is picking out projects and yarn for me.</div>
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No one is competing with me; making me feel compelled to knit <i>this</i> sweater with <i>this</i> yarn for <i>this </i>person by <i>this </i>time. No one is inferior or superior to my knitting.</div>
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I can knit for friends. Or even friends of friends. I can knit for me. I can knit for you.</div>
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I can see a beautiful skein of sock yarn and knit . . . . well . . . . socks. I don't have to go above and beyond and turn that beautiful skein of sock yarn into an impossible shawl. My beautiful may be another person's NOT beautiful.</div>
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And I'm okay with that.</div>
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I am sooooooo okay with that.</div>
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I am so okay with yarn that is whispering softly to me.</div>
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I am so okay with spending a quiet afternoon knitting in the sun. Just alone. With my own dreams and thoughts and wants and wishes.</div>
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And so, a few weeks ago, I listened to the yarn and began knitting again. And while I am not a fast knitter and it takes me weeks and weeks to finish just one sock, I'm okay with that, too. </div>
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But still, socks. For a friend of a friend. A mother of a toddler. A woman, who, like me, can't quite give up her flip flops in the winter.</div>
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A perfect sock to wear all winter long with flip flops!!</div>
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The beautiful wood double points and the messy ball of yarn simply add to the comfort. I have found an old friend again!</div>
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Happy-ness is coming to peace with my knitting. Yes. A solace with yarn and double point needles and each stitch formed to make a sock.</div>
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Happy-ness in the hope that my peace will bring a frazzled mother of a toddler a few more weeks in her flip flops.</div>
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XOXOXO</div>
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Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-13820174499847807142012-10-23T08:28:00.000-07:002012-10-23T08:28:24.719-07:00Apple Pies in Jars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Fall is my most favorite time of year! Cold crisp nights; sunny warm days; the color of the changing leaves; Halloween; baking and looking forward to the upcoming holidays.<br />
One of my favorite gifts to give to friends, neighbors, teachers and family is Apple Pie in a Jar. A friend gave me this recipe when we lived in Indiana and I have used it every year for many, many years. It's another stupid simple recipe with major yums and a bit of impressed ooooohs and ahhhhhhhhs.<br />
A day trip to the apple orchard (I always, always, always find myself in Indiana in the fall so I make a big to-do about going to <a href="http://www.stuckeyfarm.com/">Stuckey's Farm</a>, where I have taken the kids since they were crawling in the pumpkin patch!), a few bushels of apples (I use Jonagold since they are great for baking AND eating!) and you have yourself several quarts of Apple Pie in a Jar. Two bushels of apples gets me 14 pies. Make sure to spend several hours finding the biggest best pumpkin while you are at Stuckey's or your orchard trip is definitely not complete.<br />
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<b>Apple Pie in a Jar</b></div>
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7 qts. peeled, sliced apples</div>
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Syrup: 4 1/2 cups sugar</div>
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10 cups water</div>
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1 cup cornstarch</div>
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2 tsp. cinnamon</div>
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1/4 tsp. nutmeg</div>
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1 tsp. salt</div>
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Combine above syrup ingredients and cook until thick. Add 3 Tbsp. lemon juice. Fill hot jars with peeled, sliced apples. Leave 1" space. Pour syrup over apples. Leave 1/2" space. Process for 20 minutes. Yields 7 quarts.</div>
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You can decorate your pie jar with a label or a ribbon. Attach a note or label that says: "To make pie, pour 1 jar into pie shell. Top with crumb topping or crust.")</div>
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Enjoy the process, from picking apples out of the orchard or from your local grocery store to labeling your jars and giving a favorite friend your apple pie in a jar. If you're extra lucky, your friend will bake the pie for YOU!!!</div>
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Spend today loving each other. Smiling. Laughing.</div>
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Happy-ness is warm apple pie. Fall weather. Handmade gifts to special friends.</div>
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XOXOXO</div>
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-48375739223155597352012-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:002012-09-04T06:47:16.111-07:00The Great Basement Clean-UpOkay. Wow. In showing you these next few photos, I am making myself completely vulnerable to you. I am allowing you into an area of my life in which I can't stand. I am overwhelmed, feel helpless, hopeless and defeated by this area. This is a huge area of the basement which I avoid.<br />
When we moved into this house 10 years ago, we made a "kids' side" and an "our side". "Kids' side" is fun and has a chalkboard wall, a comfy couch, bookshelf full of books to cozy up with, a puppet stage, paints and papers, paper dolls and scissors, a cubbyhole under the stairs with a beanbag chair and several journals, flashlights and other various but much-needed "things". The "kids' side" does NOT have a t.v., a gaming system, a telephone or anything electronic. It is a quiet area for reading, thinking, doing, being. It's messy at times but never out of control.<br />
. . . . . . . Out of control is the "our side". Before I reveal these photos, please know that I'm showing you these photos because this is my huge, overwhelming fall project. I'm going to address every box, every stack and pile. I'm going to wheedle through papers, make new file folders. I'm going to purge. I'm going to clean. I'm going to post photos when I'm finished. And then . . . . . I'll take a nap.<br />
Deep breath. And . . . . . you may look.<br />
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Ahem. I'm really not even going to speak anymore about this.<br />
Happy-ness is a new adventure, if that's what you want to call an overwhelming, almost hopeless, great basement clean-up project!<br />
XOXOWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-73349511940215770782012-08-27T06:54:00.002-07:002012-08-27T06:54:39.607-07:00A Most Delicious Breakfast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Madeleines are a shell-shaped sponge cake originating in France and have a reputation for being a light dessert served with berries or as a treat with a cup of tea.</div>
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In my house, they are breakfast! Warm madeleines before school?! Who would want anything else?</div>
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I use the recipe straight from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewarts-Cookies-Stewart-Magazine/dp/0307394549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346075007&sr=8-1&keywords=martha+stewart+cookies">Martha Stewart's Cookies</a> and it has never failed me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UqfgTGPbkXvHPgvDvEChYgeUyXqxkHC0wOI1SlubYEI6Vr28mSUTmAQADNVcYD641J693zr04kRJk_flIUrQQ8gbpPbZUjIjOqiRTrh7bqH3jjQhj7fNglN2f3qj30d3gGbG2BebHHs/s1600/August+2012+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UqfgTGPbkXvHPgvDvEChYgeUyXqxkHC0wOI1SlubYEI6Vr28mSUTmAQADNVcYD641J693zr04kRJk_flIUrQQ8gbpPbZUjIjOqiRTrh7bqH3jjQhj7fNglN2f3qj30d3gGbG2BebHHs/s400/August+2012+015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Lemon Madeleines</b></div>
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1 1/2 cups sifted cake-flour (NOT self-rising)</div>
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1/2 tsp. baking powder</div>
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1/4 tsp. coarse salt</div>
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3 large eggs AND 2 large egg yolks</div>
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3/4 cup granulated sugar</div>
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1 tsp. vanilla extract</div>
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zest of 1 lemon</div>
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2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice</div>
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3/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for pan</div>
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Confectioners' sugar for dusting (a MUST!)</div>
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1. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.</div>
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2. Put eggs, egg yolks, granulated sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on medium-high until pale and thickened, about 5 minutes (the longer you mix and the lighter in color and thicker the batter, the lighter your madeleine will be---melt in your mouth!) Using a spatula, fold flour mixture into egg mixture. Let batter rest 30 minutes (but I never do!)</div>
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3. Preheat oven to 350 and butter your madeleine pan (but I usually do this first as I never wait my 30 minutes.)</div>
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4. Pour batter into prepared pan, filling the molds 3/4 full. Bake cookies, rotating pan halfway through, until edges are crisp and golden, 7-8 minutes. Let cookies cool slightly in pan on wire rack. Invert and unmold. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers at room temperature up to 1 day.</div>
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. . . . but instead of storing them, they are BEST SHARED! Warm with the children; warm with best friends over a cup of coffee and good conversation.</div>
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I was hesitant to buy the molded pan because I wasn't sure how often I would make the madeleines. I am sooooooo glad I bought the pan---I make them all the time.</div>
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Happy-ness is warm madeleines!! Come over and we shall bake some together!!!! :-)</div>
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-81008819462394048322012-08-24T08:12:00.001-07:002012-08-24T08:12:41.158-07:00My Summer Romance. . . . . has it really been <i>that</i> long?<br />
And in case you've forgotten me, I'm going to let you in on a little bitty secret.<br />
I've been having a hot romance! With summer! And my three favorite people in the world! My kids! :-)<br />
Here is a smidgeon of what we've done since May:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf8pSgrUq14q0mq5XdD_Jyw5LixkNm1H2vJN9u41UtZfQa6L_R2zs-BqcRii_yWH53kFSI0u_aUjEE9w8UMgepJ1hxeorg2cuIbLpgza1CpK_-oiSBFxuLhO83AdX456U5RICyYS1_G8/s1600/August+iPhone+photos+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf8pSgrUq14q0mq5XdD_Jyw5LixkNm1H2vJN9u41UtZfQa6L_R2zs-BqcRii_yWH53kFSI0u_aUjEE9w8UMgepJ1hxeorg2cuIbLpgza1CpK_-oiSBFxuLhO83AdX456U5RICyYS1_G8/s400/August+iPhone+photos+011.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(See her flippers?! LOVE this picture!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWnBa2lx-bh3r7MVENANXit9K304YosJ2xPq9hd0wtkZJnWmpmXRIIx6r2noWv5P-BC8Kzwc8bpHxUvlVTAIeMYbPzyI2i5_veN6lIf82C6mymWWaqKUoQji1iFcgT4A2Lk6I-gYx0CY/s1600/August+iPhone+photos+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWnBa2lx-bh3r7MVENANXit9K304YosJ2xPq9hd0wtkZJnWmpmXRIIx6r2noWv5P-BC8Kzwc8bpHxUvlVTAIeMYbPzyI2i5_veN6lIf82C6mymWWaqKUoQji1iFcgT4A2Lk6I-gYx0CY/s400/August+iPhone+photos+144.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Library books during the 3 hour daily swim practices!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRWoOCG-B8j0MAsjNLaq1-exaC3SgF21sj-5rVtfIYAbxyXFN9PfAVfEzp7Dd0t1eIVYes7FPcX57QtXkVQtVWtQTHrnWVJ-Z4q-3JuNvcoSd5JF0pufVNhBWHCryzLil7chpt_NTJjk/s1600/August+iPhone+photos+275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRWoOCG-B8j0MAsjNLaq1-exaC3SgF21sj-5rVtfIYAbxyXFN9PfAVfEzp7Dd0t1eIVYes7FPcX57QtXkVQtVWtQTHrnWVJ-Z4q-3JuNvcoSd5JF0pufVNhBWHCryzLil7chpt_NTJjk/s400/August+iPhone+photos+275.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Swimming championships at Miami University)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhJSsatB986XlKrGu7tmQ6UZzg-YAJ9jhVTLfb2yQQQ8NjK34jizqCYOwnP6JcK_qGUw9gs1J3o2LCMbfqcDggAPeFK8GfusxfAC5Q6rHE-vzeZ0Gm8KlJFZ2DSSM5LOjmNVG7hjdJ-E/s1600/August+iPhone+photos+217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhJSsatB986XlKrGu7tmQ6UZzg-YAJ9jhVTLfb2yQQQ8NjK34jizqCYOwnP6JcK_qGUw9gs1J3o2LCMbfqcDggAPeFK8GfusxfAC5Q6rHE-vzeZ0Gm8KlJFZ2DSSM5LOjmNVG7hjdJ-E/s400/August+iPhone+photos+217.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(We lost electricity for an afternoon--the 3 of them playing a game together!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYGz7UoMCeqz2wc_RlC3wJ4zCoUw85F4CRiwP9nWlKfBITiXWEma9ja1mxJ03mXWIj4ZHB50Pkt3ggNg9zmR3GUnGDWl3RidSEm8sL4wlSJV9Hfp6_ZTAkobAiq_tRCrYIgyOvd2PU4A/s1600/August+iPhone+photos+191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYGz7UoMCeqz2wc_RlC3wJ4zCoUw85F4CRiwP9nWlKfBITiXWEma9ja1mxJ03mXWIj4ZHB50Pkt3ggNg9zmR3GUnGDWl3RidSEm8sL4wlSJV9Hfp6_ZTAkobAiq_tRCrYIgyOvd2PU4A/s400/August+iPhone+photos+191.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Napping!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDIYEmicxvIrmATBFGh4o-vraqUIB05oPB420x2S2SpPg688VNVWeWcm_9JEoNKzVG2gbDy37yChVlU7CgOj0IP2Oc0M_zb9r2OV9pqjsZ6vIu-x7Mw7unQUIu6nFjvpKIC1LF1Hlj7Y/s1600/August+iPhone+photos+330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDIYEmicxvIrmATBFGh4o-vraqUIB05oPB420x2S2SpPg688VNVWeWcm_9JEoNKzVG2gbDy37yChVlU7CgOj0IP2Oc0M_zb9r2OV9pqjsZ6vIu-x7Mw7unQUIu6nFjvpKIC1LF1Hlj7Y/s400/August+iPhone+photos+330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Eating at one of our favorite restaurants, The Taste of Belgium)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7QtGq1phVznCDnWbIeVIzzluWjTvM7kKpvBkzO5kVZr17XMn8kZhweBOsUAMChGpWsZ7gWn12cs0s7Uu1-a_vviEZTCXld2nYDseOnfKn-pp2SWFqPQOOBSDzUgaKieiuuFFRqk7wRE/s1600/DSC_0081-1024x682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7QtGq1phVznCDnWbIeVIzzluWjTvM7kKpvBkzO5kVZr17XMn8kZhweBOsUAMChGpWsZ7gWn12cs0s7Uu1-a_vviEZTCXld2nYDseOnfKn-pp2SWFqPQOOBSDzUgaKieiuuFFRqk7wRE/s400/DSC_0081-1024x682.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Body butters, deodorants, lip balms and farmers' markets every Saturday!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB3NrDEFFnYnnpa06TkwiKgrg_f1mKqahPZnLyoulKatm_KpmfW25Rr3GBZu6RpJ6Ic1ZU0ArnyBV-ysJg5T8DjttGo1YRPdcPtezim2tV8fl_xgTaLF9doiF4uMhNhMJmiYf0nD-2bs/s1600/Misc+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB3NrDEFFnYnnpa06TkwiKgrg_f1mKqahPZnLyoulKatm_KpmfW25Rr3GBZu6RpJ6Ic1ZU0ArnyBV-ysJg5T8DjttGo1YRPdcPtezim2tV8fl_xgTaLF9doiF4uMhNhMJmiYf0nD-2bs/s400/Misc+052.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(A little bit of dressing up. The best we can!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(First day of school. Three different schools; three different start times!)</span></div>
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I'm absolutely certain I've had time to blog about my daily happy. I'm certain I should have made more time for friendships, near and far. I should have picked up the phone and called. I should have knitted more. Sewn more. But my summer romance was a whirlwind. I blinked and it was over.</div>
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I spent every waking moment that I possibly could with my three favorite people. We were swimming every day, both for fun and for competition. We played games, watched movies, grilled outside. We stayed up late and took afternoon naps. We savored.</div>
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Because just yesterday my first baby was born . . . but I turned, kissed him on the cheek and sent him with a car full of teenagers to find his way as a Junior in High School.</div>
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And just yesterday my first daughter was born . . . but I turned, kissed her on the cheek and walked in the dark to the bus stop with her so she can rise above mean girls to be a seventh grader.</div>
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And just yesterday my baby-baby was born . . . . but I turned, kissed her on the cheek and sent her with the neighborhood car pool to find herself as a fourth grader.</div>
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I blinked.</div>
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But . . . . with summer over and school starting, I have time. My house is quiet and I am listening to opera with a dog by my side. And I'm blogging again. And planning sewing projects and socks to knit. I am mixing up new fragrances for body butters and perfume sticks. Thank you for my summer romance; let's enjoy each other this fall! :-)</div>
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Happy-ness is this quiet peace I have after a wonderful summer love!!!</div>
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-55713410437198767132012-05-06T10:04:00.001-07:002012-05-06T10:04:05.958-07:00April Showers Bring . . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ahhhhhhh Happy-ness! May you enjoy your fields of May flowers today!</div>
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XOXO</div>
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-26183228830438367442012-04-30T10:13:00.002-07:002012-04-30T10:13:20.432-07:00Spring KnittingHello, dear friends.<br />
I've admitted to you before, I am a most terrible knitter. Slow. Painful. I am not sure if I'm a process knitter, one who enjoys the rhythm of the knitting, or a finished project knitter. Or not really a knitter at all, but a knitter-wanna-be. Or maybe a little bit of all of that. At any rate, I'm not highly motivated to finish a project. And I do enjoy having a bit of knitting in my hand; but if I'm not knitting, meh, I'm okay with that, too.<br />
Anyway, I have been knitting this silly sweater for too long. I bought the yarn years ago. For the middle child. But now, it will have to be for the Pipsqueak. I find it boring. Tedious. But I want it finished! This is my year of finished projects and inspired knitting! I decided to sit under my favorite loverly tree and, well, knit.<br />
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But it's beautiful outside! And there were distractions.<br />
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And I felt like I was being watched the entire time.<br />
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Hmmmmmmmm it's loverly knitting in the spring sunshine and fresh air. I think Keeper is in the right frame of mind!! And I did manage to knit . . . . a few rows, anyway!<br />
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Happy-ness is distraction and playing!!<br />
Go outside and enjoy your spring romp! Now! Go! <br />
XOXOWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-43017233407001893152012-04-25T07:29:00.002-07:002012-04-25T07:31:58.691-07:00Sometimes SadnessHello, dear friends.<br />
This has been a week of sadness. A day of defeat. I meekly stand and wave my white flag of surrender.<br />
And....<br />
I put on my favorite jeans. And a favorite white linen shirt. And I turn up the Italian opera music so loud even the neighbors can hear it. And I make tea. From a tea kettle given to me by my most favorite person. A birthday gift.<br />
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And I mourn the loss of friends and loved ones with Buckeyes. Not very pretty Buckeyes. But therapy. Remembering. Wishing.</div>
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Happy-ness is one more day. To love. To be loved.<br />
XOXO<br />
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-34793776945210478772012-04-23T07:27:00.000-07:002012-04-23T07:27:34.790-07:00Be True!It has been too-too-too long since I have posted anything!<br />
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I have been busy. And lazy!</div>
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There was a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to visit family.</div>
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Spring Break.</div>
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A few sick days.</div>
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Lots of sewing.</div>
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A little knitting.<br />
Wine drinking.<br />
Dinners with best friends.<br />
Lunches with good good friends.<br />
And a business launched.<br />
You can see me <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/betruebathandbody?ref=seller_info">here on Etsy</a>.<br />
I have always been about the natural body, home, lifestyle. In this day of ultra conveniences and throw-away mentality, I embrace the simple even more. Clothes drying on a clothesline. Books borrowed from the library. Handmade (everything!). Fresh (air! food! everything!).<br />I have been making my own deodorant for years, I have been sewing since I was about 9, which is not so many years ;-) and I have been using essential oils to freshen (the house, the laundry, everything!) and to cure what may ail the body (the big teenager had a very big, very nasty blister on the bottom of his foot; so nasty and big that it was making me woozy just to look at it! I used the magic combination of essential oils to soothe over the blister and it was gone the very next morning!)<br />
So . . . . . when my friend (and business buddy!) approached me about starting an Etsy business, I don't think I hesitated even a fraction of a second. I jumped up, gave a war cry and ran with it! And, me being me, she did all of the leg-work/prep-work while I did all of the cheerleading! And some sewing. Stephanie is fabulous! Her cafe mocha sugar scrub is out of this world!<br />
Visit our shop! Check us out! Support two moms with a love for the all-natural, healthy, holistic, simple lifestyle!! You will find my deodorant, Stephanie's sugar scrubs, eye masks that relax with lavender or soothe a headache (hangover?!) with peppermint. I have an indulgent body butter that I will be adding; new things are being made and added daily! Leave your comments; let us know what you think!<br />
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Happy-ness is being a mom; a woman business owner; empowerment; doing and being the person I'm made to be! Be true to yourself today!!<br />
XOXO<br />
<br /></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-21820200423621190072012-03-06T09:56:00.000-08:002012-03-06T09:56:09.425-08:00The Hope Of Spring<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;"><i>It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;">Charles Dickens</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e5e5dd; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUIFZpbwaJZktH_C5OCU-gJRGWD2aX-AjlA3g0uD3wm-cN43WC_m9GQIO8SzruE4b1a11Ext6xmt_JUz-pzIbijW6Wj1ntLKiu3chH3G7y-66sMk6nEPt96yUb1DPhbUlHkn6Ntz-Yfw/s1600/birthdays+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUIFZpbwaJZktH_C5OCU-gJRGWD2aX-AjlA3g0uD3wm-cN43WC_m9GQIO8SzruE4b1a11Ext6xmt_JUz-pzIbijW6Wj1ntLKiu3chH3G7y-66sMk6nEPt96yUb1DPhbUlHkn6Ntz-Yfw/s640/birthdays+032.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDqX9DGC_GxsH1V3AXXigjyqvs5l0IWETwGizOLy9wor4yNKcRWx4TZvJstfFr88RMbBLKMX3WYxFQGjPdGzjBo3mvNKQE7-gnUQywqbs3mxTBsMwNLeWa207Qlg43NK3H9cZPugbf9U/s1600/birthdays+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDqX9DGC_GxsH1V3AXXigjyqvs5l0IWETwGizOLy9wor4yNKcRWx4TZvJstfFr88RMbBLKMX3WYxFQGjPdGzjBo3mvNKQE7-gnUQywqbs3mxTBsMwNLeWa207Qlg43NK3H9cZPugbf9U/s640/birthdays+027.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e5e5dd; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;">Happy-ness is the hope of Spring and all that it brings. Flowers. Fresh Air. Clothes blowing and drying on a line outside. Skirts and flip-flops worn with a favorite schleppy sweatshirt (which has been my Spring wardrobe for a week or so now!) </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;">Summer in the sunshine; winter in the shade. May you enjoy your Springtime!</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-left;"><span style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-71461657442863731772012-03-01T11:56:00.000-08:002012-03-01T11:56:56.672-08:00Rrrrrrruffles!I found this ruffle fabric at <a href="http://www.sewnstudio.com/">my favorite sewing store</a> and decided the Pipsqueak needs skinny ruffle capris. I found <a href="http://www.izzyandivydesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/pollys-playclothes-1.jpg">this pattern book</a>, also at my favorite sewing store. The pattern book is fabulous! And my requirements for any pattern, book or otherwise, are really very simple:<br />
1. The pictures have to be awesome.<br />
2. I need to understand the directions.<br />
3. The directions need to contain no sewing grammar at all. Patterns need to have words that I understand. Also words that make me feel like it is speaking directly to me. (Read: dumbed down. A lot. For me.)<br />
4. I need to feel confident that I will use several of the patterns in a book or that I will use the pattern over and over and over again.<br />
5. Dumbed down. A lot. For me.<br />
I love to sew. <i>I love to sew</i>. Probably more than kintting. Which is saying a lot. But I don't have a lot of confidence because I don't know what "bias" means. "Basting stitch"? Why bother?! I also hate to cut. I hate to think that I spent money on fabric and before it even gets to the sewing machine, I have ruined it by cutting it wrong. "Cut on the grain" . . . . . ???? And quite honestly, my method of sewing would make my mother cringe. I mostly wing it. I can see it in my head so I usually just skip a lot (A. LOT.) of the steps in written patterns to get to that finished piece. Not so with the skinny ruffle capris!! 5 steps. That's it. (And, since it's me, I did it in 4 steps!!)<br />
It took me 90 minutes. Including running out to Michaels to find a white t-shirt to applique the cute little heart with the extra ruffle fabric. 90 minutes from laying out, cutting, sewing, running to Michaels, appliqueing to finished.<br />
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[Side note #1: So tickled with myself, I took pictures with my iPhone and showed them to everyone at work. I showed the pictures to one of my favorite friends, Jason. He is a 35 year old single man, never been married. Only goes to the grocery store when he runs out of laundry detergent or toilet paper. Love him to death and have knit socks for him and given him soups and casseroles just because. As I was showing him how cute (!!!), I said, "I wish they made them in my size!" He laughed out loud. Belly laugh. And said, "Did you seriously just say that you wished they made them in your size?!?!?! YOU MADE those pants!!!!" *giggle*]<br />
So in love with this outfit are we, I went out and bought more fabric. Just one more color. It had to be orange.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MxCjxJSX1yJAchHbRQm796xmc4pos8VhOxoSQhR8eMbIC3_Bpjf0mCW65cnru9buF8OQnFdgpCiALJxi2h_eGU2al7jdQu7uc-1FHWeMD3NRKfaUnx8DC5VNAc-cJDGyen-1J6UQkXE/s1600/ruffles+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MxCjxJSX1yJAchHbRQm796xmc4pos8VhOxoSQhR8eMbIC3_Bpjf0mCW65cnru9buF8OQnFdgpCiALJxi2h_eGU2al7jdQu7uc-1FHWeMD3NRKfaUnx8DC5VNAc-cJDGyen-1J6UQkXE/s640/ruffles+003.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Blurry photo?!?! Ugh. . .)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>[Side note #2: Pipsqueak is days away from being 9 years old. I used the size 6 pattern. She's a . . . well, pipsqueak! I teased her that she will have Big Bird legs in her orange ruffly pants! Because, hey! It looks like legs that Big Bird might wear! And she said, "The great thing about Big Bird is that he's . . . . . BIG!!!" Poor little Pipsqueak. . . . ]<br />
Happy-ness is RRRRRRRuffles!!!!!!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-85403428921815275702012-02-27T09:50:00.000-08:002012-02-27T09:50:33.918-08:00BirthdaysMuch birthday-ing in February!<br />
Mine:<br />
I decided that since it was my 24th birthday (yeah, don't argue. Don't even question. I'm 24 . . . . ) . . . . since it was my 24th birthday, I would treat myself to my very own store-bought bakery cake. I have a twin brother. We always shared a cake. Then I baked my own birthday cake. And since I am now 24, have been fighting a cold for a month, have been working crazy weird and toying with an Etsy shop (details soon! OMG Excitement!), I would treat myself to my very own store-bought cake. A raspberry torte. With a not-buttercream icing (I forget the icing!) and roses. My very own roses. I will admit, it was very, very hard to pay $32 for a cake. For me. And I almost changed my mind. But I'm only 24 once, right?! (wink-wink!)<br />
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A few of my favorite gifts:<br />
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</div>My best friend gave me a new tea kettle but that will be another day :-)<br />
And my big teenager also celebrated a birthday. 15! (Again, don't do the math. Don't question. Don't argue. He is 15 and I am 24. . .)<br />
He requested chocolate. Anything chocolate.<br />
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He raked in the cash, scored some good gift cards and enjoyed a case of Mountain Dew. I'd say not bad for a birthday!!!<br />
Happy-ness is feeling forever 24! Celebrating birthdays with loved ones. Really living your days and making every day a celebration with loved ones. Finding love in each day . . . .<br />
Enjoy this moment of your day. Enjoy the warmth and sunshine. Surround yourself with your friends and loved ones and laugh today!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-23632570583871654492012-02-14T14:39:00.000-08:002012-02-14T14:39:59.016-08:00TodayMy new favorite happy place. 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab. Over The Rhine. Cincinnati. I'm speechless. It's fabulous.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD3mxeiuQsgj8wi32ENyhxLMi2GJXySR0pmzYTQIjLqWTMaySkbJRtO-T91-0BsWBGJP_O5TObteQ5k4zYr0EbjPo95QTjeckFj89NchXnriC07SnQXm4KuomagCzDaN-3FdNKOvkyT4/s1600/1215+Wine+Bar+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD3mxeiuQsgj8wi32ENyhxLMi2GJXySR0pmzYTQIjLqWTMaySkbJRtO-T91-0BsWBGJP_O5TObteQ5k4zYr0EbjPo95QTjeckFj89NchXnriC07SnQXm4KuomagCzDaN-3FdNKOvkyT4/s640/1215+Wine+Bar+004.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>OMG! The espresso machine! See the steam?!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0H_0N8yZNq413mXFViZPff_F3YIuVdDGtUfbOXtU09yYJkzgwsT1ay74r747FXbStR6M-LN1wJJdmSshKQH05zBchUap3NwN7wulJ62EWfdGfhBfSiWsC3ebFzeO-xcF5hrB3QiRwZU/s1600/1215+Wine+Bar+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0H_0N8yZNq413mXFViZPff_F3YIuVdDGtUfbOXtU09yYJkzgwsT1ay74r747FXbStR6M-LN1wJJdmSshKQH05zBchUap3NwN7wulJ62EWfdGfhBfSiWsC3ebFzeO-xcF5hrB3QiRwZU/s640/1215+Wine+Bar+006.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>The cappuccino was amazing! And look at the foam art!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4GZQN2TPbjgEifUp_hzUJe-d1uviq6d6VvDGMgRbclXJ0h3v31ybOGuUr_NnZSeJ_bmYPoUhdXD1oh0Y0w9qeO28sEzHTUlkmTl5ndxEOrBFkIlyH1aSpVuuHskWl6YbABV5xpopQZ0/s1600/1215+Wine+Bar+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4GZQN2TPbjgEifUp_hzUJe-d1uviq6d6VvDGMgRbclXJ0h3v31ybOGuUr_NnZSeJ_bmYPoUhdXD1oh0Y0w9qeO28sEzHTUlkmTl5ndxEOrBFkIlyH1aSpVuuHskWl6YbABV5xpopQZ0/s640/1215+Wine+Bar+008.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>I swooned over this brioche. It's an almond chocolate chip brioche. Warm. And I dipped the crust into the espresso like a biscotti.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9oQ_ZpZ-TmQ0VTesH7mcQeUyH99sOQAju0rs7DDjdcZ4WqqEw_dcEiurmW2sdqq74z9vYYCYn7gxTiLRBu1PBFBeeAHgHMz4Rp40I6-dGOSgiSF9luY0Q0hs2NXuLyg0_lxfbmkWyBA/s1600/1215+Wine+Bar+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9oQ_ZpZ-TmQ0VTesH7mcQeUyH99sOQAju0rs7DDjdcZ4WqqEw_dcEiurmW2sdqq74z9vYYCYn7gxTiLRBu1PBFBeeAHgHMz4Rp40I6-dGOSgiSF9luY0Q0hs2NXuLyg0_lxfbmkWyBA/s640/1215+Wine+Bar+011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>And the atmosphere?! Quiet and loverly!! Delightful and divine!!<br />
I'm just sorry the crummy iPhone pictures are offensive to how extremely wonderful 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab truly is!!<br />
Happy-ness is today. (Even if it is Valentine's Day!)Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-15569581839446414932012-02-05T07:17:00.000-08:002012-02-05T07:17:29.206-08:00Life Imitating Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALUsRLLc66cr6c-uDISIZnwIeCh1yqAt7BSRNMk-1pgkIjMvq_99yXfhmdQ20joU3IQ3706r6Zq3Y5YTZL5THUrmW3Q-GimrIr8-iWPuLf4H-JkIOqnuoUMl2Xx9q1mERaKdw0-wS3qE/s1600/art+imitating+life+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALUsRLLc66cr6c-uDISIZnwIeCh1yqAt7BSRNMk-1pgkIjMvq_99yXfhmdQ20joU3IQ3706r6Zq3Y5YTZL5THUrmW3Q-GimrIr8-iWPuLf4H-JkIOqnuoUMl2Xx9q1mERaKdw0-wS3qE/s640/art+imitating+life+007.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
It's true.<br />
Happy-ness!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-51417470234909891622012-02-03T13:24:00.000-08:002012-02-03T13:24:39.034-08:00CupcakesSome days just require a LOT of woodland fairy cupcakes. Baked and decorated by woodland fairies, of course.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-twlUIH4HlFnDf6ZQmblZsSmiybjflcjLZW-b9GXRKDlTF0ZoL4A1TBj_EDIWZPejSzTCtvz9ynVJ8IB76ybXhKP0CJoxi4zdhvPqGZ5zkHPZG_7U3EE0XEq9T0h8b1iU7Ja4Yr3U0q4/s1600/woodland+fairy+cupcakes+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-twlUIH4HlFnDf6ZQmblZsSmiybjflcjLZW-b9GXRKDlTF0ZoL4A1TBj_EDIWZPejSzTCtvz9ynVJ8IB76ybXhKP0CJoxi4zdhvPqGZ5zkHPZG_7U3EE0XEq9T0h8b1iU7Ja4Yr3U0q4/s640/woodland+fairy+cupcakes+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's been a week.<br />
. . . . . but there's always next week!<br />
Happy-ness is a cupcake my 8 year old is over the fairy moon for!Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-35959319318142094282012-01-24T09:09:00.000-08:002012-01-24T09:09:21.100-08:00Finished ProjectsA few years ago, I started <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2009/03/knitty-success.html">this pattern</a>. I knit. I re-knit. I bought buttons. I returned buttons. I knit sleeves to length. I shortened sleeves. I knit sweater longer. I made sweater shorter. This is finally what came off the needles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzuvQIiI-GNxNxc-1KvbQVSedIGwLhEym8g7lGYLiYrmlYQ7K8iRYn67j0iYbPSBo8YvMbv5CCklNYh4jYok7u6dUrGfBFtBboAuD625cr1t_lLqi3EtDo2anju02XkLx_wrLQfai7tM/s1600/garter+yoke+cardi+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzuvQIiI-GNxNxc-1KvbQVSedIGwLhEym8g7lGYLiYrmlYQ7K8iRYn67j0iYbPSBo8YvMbv5CCklNYh4jYok7u6dUrGfBFtBboAuD625cr1t_lLqi3EtDo2anju02XkLx_wrLQfai7tM/s640/garter+yoke+cardi+004.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI55sM0M5xWyJBUjai4dLTyqFt19cIN9MxEzJGE3hJpO-8tDd-PSoS0W5i8ZRJWG9SAnQ0TiUaFusv73gDIcJbiQR37AZu8biRZhonSwskTzEyr6pVuV-9kixINWaQ0ZPO_K9WJ3gHt4k/s1600/garter+yoke+cardi+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI55sM0M5xWyJBUjai4dLTyqFt19cIN9MxEzJGE3hJpO-8tDd-PSoS0W5i8ZRJWG9SAnQ0TiUaFusv73gDIcJbiQR37AZu8biRZhonSwskTzEyr6pVuV-9kixINWaQ0ZPO_K9WJ3gHt4k/s640/garter+yoke+cardi+003.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTXHQ0Q62Du175fBBIr7JdtL-6nPABAMple9E3Sjbti122ut5aA88OQUUujac-rJnC09g-8dyIM8k9g_GLhKO6jtopBslXOAxCqEz8BNdItGPJ30gADqryzOkgWzr0qcoG3rBFawLhLo/s1600/garter+yoke+cardi+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTXHQ0Q62Du175fBBIr7JdtL-6nPABAMple9E3Sjbti122ut5aA88OQUUujac-rJnC09g-8dyIM8k9g_GLhKO6jtopBslXOAxCqEz8BNdItGPJ30gADqryzOkgWzr0qcoG3rBFawLhLo/s640/garter+yoke+cardi+001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used the pattern that Amanda Blake Soule used, The Garter Yoke Cardigan, from the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Knit.1 Magazine. I used Rowan Felted Tweed and I have 6 skeins left (anyone want them?!) Unlike the incredibly talented Soule Mama, this is NOT my favorite sweater. In fact, it is being shipped to a long-lost, new-found dear friend of mine in Indiana (happy day!)!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I have decided that this is just the year. The year to finish the years-long projects and give them to homes where they will be loved and worn! I have begun to think boldly! Outside the box, even! I have "allowed" myself the option of actually ripping out almost-finished sweaters to start newer, more exciting projects (gulp!)! Projects that I may actually <i>want</i> to finish! That does make me think, though, that I am a process knitter and not a finished project knitter. Otherwise, I would be more motivated to finish and wear the darned things!! It's true.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a side note, I was sitting at the orthodontist's office this morning and I invented an "app"!! I was reading a magazine and I wanted the recipe for the french onion soup that was causing my many fantasies. And I thought, "Huh. Too bad I can't invent an app where I can just hold my iPhone up to this page and scan this recipe into my phone . . . . . " I even talked about my new invention to the other moms and even the orthodontist staff. They all agreed that I was almost a genius! Except . . . . . . it's been invented already. But I'm not paying $6.99 to get it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy-ness! It's finishing projects! Connecting with very good friends again! It's inventing apps, even though they've been invented already! Make and enjoy your own happy-ness, too!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love love!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-88623424764200807982012-01-16T12:05:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:05:19.802-08:00Warm Woolen MittensJust in time! Our wishy-washy weather decided to bring winter and stay awhile!<div>The pattern is The Very Cabley Mittens found<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-cabley-mittens"> here</a>. A pretty quick knit and definitely very fun. There will be more of these to come . . . .<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNGptXVXJdpT74ZkMVG81Wkt4RKdjF3L-ajOHuOnV2dVE9y36lNje8BkrgNeIbQmDu-34f8CCF0OLBNzBhjQZyWCuYPLtrZKI1QpmwmE7xUcjkKe__cGQ_wUHzYRMLdevJ3gW_TdCG-Y/s1600/mittens+and+waffles+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNGptXVXJdpT74ZkMVG81Wkt4RKdjF3L-ajOHuOnV2dVE9y36lNje8BkrgNeIbQmDu-34f8CCF0OLBNzBhjQZyWCuYPLtrZKI1QpmwmE7xUcjkKe__cGQ_wUHzYRMLdevJ3gW_TdCG-Y/s640/mittens+and+waffles+001.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div><div>Happy-ness is very purpley very cabley warm woolen mittens!</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-84959081882455028602012-01-10T10:02:00.000-08:002012-01-10T10:02:38.149-08:00My BFFI spent an entire Saturday with my <a href="http://www.drunkenmonkeyknits.blogspot.com/">BFF</a>! Oh it was glorious!<br />
We met at <a href="http://www.hankyarn.com/">Hank</a>, a new yarn store in Hyde Park, Cincinnati, and oohed and aah-ed over yarn and projects.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa36h7-yRzT6swqK5i47hKlw0cIKJoM8a-3o3vkG9r83f8hKYr-iHmsSJdRldsPldWt75sFGkIJmhLkiR2RG78_yOhXX4c7EyYv6YQRXr9NF41odA5NyGRH87c6eyvEPIPnz6ZeHOMo0/s1600/yarnstore+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa36h7-yRzT6swqK5i47hKlw0cIKJoM8a-3o3vkG9r83f8hKYr-iHmsSJdRldsPldWt75sFGkIJmhLkiR2RG78_yOhXX4c7EyYv6YQRXr9NF41odA5NyGRH87c6eyvEPIPnz6ZeHOMo0/s640/yarnstore+068.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvmh2fpBj6F6sBShKcWM6gdLXkaDdWTVxzX2Wbx_dgcTOJUrGguqAYS7xps1-FLUN_-qFntXYz2ABXFg-NQzZTGrcCe488GyjfuNeM5s5_qC8DplT3wJJ8YeMAKAg3Ak7WR9qALmbiPE/s1600/yarnstore+066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvmh2fpBj6F6sBShKcWM6gdLXkaDdWTVxzX2Wbx_dgcTOJUrGguqAYS7xps1-FLUN_-qFntXYz2ABXFg-NQzZTGrcCe488GyjfuNeM5s5_qC8DplT3wJJ8YeMAKAg3Ak7WR9qALmbiPE/s640/yarnstore+066.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Projects were started. I am making the Very Cabley Mittens, found <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/very-cabley-mittens">here</a>. I am using Malabrigo Rios, which is a heavenly soft superwash wool. I started and finished the first mitten; however, my friend that I am making these mittens for has 2 hands (!!) and so I shall start the second mitten!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnApjkD1JtdNnoVf9Ph0c9_bdcf7oxnFhphtRSQV96X-2MxUAufMBuWrKIu9Xili51FHZJpWV8WzLkw7bkdwuRWxG6-8TriXxFM42vhLHUz7t53cmqGb3ReLVS7vgdGjysjLVLM0cLlf8/s1600/yarnstore+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnApjkD1JtdNnoVf9Ph0c9_bdcf7oxnFhphtRSQV96X-2MxUAufMBuWrKIu9Xili51FHZJpWV8WzLkw7bkdwuRWxG6-8TriXxFM42vhLHUz7t53cmqGb3ReLVS7vgdGjysjLVLM0cLlf8/s640/yarnstore+059.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">BFF Brooke also started a project.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgluBG3nqEZTQf0czdh8yF3r0TbMbg9MWUeZS2t3wQBJYDe29ifUGbgbS1pfcolBFyAjvYLji0hVySktpGRwO5BjXKZEyH97NYsl8FtFABVu-BozqjGZoqfnvfUzqX3MovhXZu91cG7g/s1600/yarnstore+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgluBG3nqEZTQf0czdh8yF3r0TbMbg9MWUeZS2t3wQBJYDe29ifUGbgbS1pfcolBFyAjvYLji0hVySktpGRwO5BjXKZEyH97NYsl8FtFABVu-BozqjGZoqfnvfUzqX3MovhXZu91cG7g/s640/yarnstore+063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Something orange. And maybe a pair of French Press slippers. Or something. For someone's birthday. Maybe. (Pictures when I get them! Yay!)</div><div style="text-align: left;">We decided that after 5 hours of knitting, we were maybe getting hungry. We ate lunch and then went to my very <a href="http://www.sewnstudio.com/">most favorite-est fabric store</a>. OMG.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzfibAc-Y00HcWQQEEWfUatTVwG-9YjWL38xl13Z_pHkT0jJo3oK31g0YV71-V7THQVPS9a-mvaCRrmToWj8MykLlzBwjAu_7CdJzJ6SQIGS1qsMtS7mX7oNq5n6O42G4SL7VcuY_48c/s1600/yarnstore+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzfibAc-Y00HcWQQEEWfUatTVwG-9YjWL38xl13Z_pHkT0jJo3oK31g0YV71-V7THQVPS9a-mvaCRrmToWj8MykLlzBwjAu_7CdJzJ6SQIGS1qsMtS7mX7oNq5n6O42G4SL7VcuY_48c/s640/yarnstore+078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After spending several hours swooning in the fabric store, we drank bubble tea! And went to Barnes & Noble for more knitting and talking and hugging and laughing . . . . can we do it again tomorrow?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy-ness is sooooo my BFF!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-15353105150624292152011-12-21T12:22:00.000-08:002011-12-21T12:22:12.851-08:00A Belly Laugh!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I came home from a late night at Starbucks and he was waiting for me in my favorite chair. He looks like a cartoon dog that drank too much and passed out! I laughed out loud! And then I passed out, too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy-ness is a passing out with a smile on your face! *giggle giggle*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrJUhzgfGK3PJW9_P7OGVveVFv1-lpz55I_BySfNvy9jrtKMK1hPqaTcvlsgfh3eh0wvmMYjadlUsJiuV4bCyWpprPhuZY6oFyDhksNexS2SvNy0nwu3LQfn4Erz2mnY_48xb4-lCIU8/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrJUhzgfGK3PJW9_P7OGVveVFv1-lpz55I_BySfNvy9jrtKMK1hPqaTcvlsgfh3eh0wvmMYjadlUsJiuV4bCyWpprPhuZY6oFyDhksNexS2SvNy0nwu3LQfn4Erz2mnY_48xb4-lCIU8/s400/IMG_3302.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-30526568160960915482011-12-19T08:38:00.000-08:002011-12-19T08:38:52.299-08:00A Warm Puppy"Happiness Is A Warm Puppy" is a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Puppy-Peanuts-Charles-Schulz/dp/1933662077/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324311766&sr=1-1">book</a> written by Charles Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown. The book features the Peanuts characters and gives reminders of the small little happys in our day-to-day life.<br />
My warm puppy is Keeper. She is a rescue dog afraid of everyone and everything. We've had her for several years and she has been a very good dog. We call her "Happy Wagger" and many other terms of endearment that get Keeper wiggling and barking and leaping into the air with joy. Unfortunately, we had to leave her home while we went to visit family during the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend. We left Keeper in the care of best friends while I pleaded with them to love her! Play with her! Don't let her be in her crate all weekend! Love her! We came back from our weekend and she seemed played with and loved and very well taken care of! She wiggled all over when we got home and she seemed . . . . fine. Normal. Happy.<br />
A few days later, Keeper started bothering her elbow. A lot. Licking the elbow and trying to bite the elbow. Lots of panting, pacing and worrying. Not to mention Keeper!<br />
I took her to the vet.<br />
Our vet is wonderful and did every kind of test possible. Several skin scrapings to rule out every kind of mite known to man, blood work and poop tests. So . . . . . it was a huge relief when the vet came back to report that Keeper is perfectly healthy. I almost cried because I had been worrying about how I was going to tell the kids that the dog had cancer/some other terminal illness and wouldn't live until Christmas. . . .<br />
But the vet was hanging around. Looking uncomfortable. And I got uncomfortable. And dog Dr. says, "Um . . . . . I'm going to bring Mindi in. She's our behavior modification specialist!" Behavior modification?! For a dog?!?! As it turns out, behavior modification for <i>ME!!</i><br />
$240 later I learned how to get Keeper excited about being in her kennel while we are gone; how to give Keeper confidence in herself; how to teach Keeper new tricks. All while I am learning new tricks, too . . . . we'll see . . .<br />
Happy-ness is a warm puppy. Indeed!<br />
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</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3532799936575622955.post-29368493502039106252011-12-16T15:31:00.000-08:002011-12-16T15:31:28.767-08:00Getting To Know YouJust like Anna in The King And I, I would like to get to know you! And I would like for you to know me as well.<div>I am happy. I am fun. I have a slightly naughty sense of humor (I love the "that's what she said" jokes and try to put myself into situations where I can actually use that joke often!) and find amusement in almost everything that I do. I have three "spirited" children (which, as many of you know, "spirited" really means . . . um . . . . wild. I prefer to think of them as highly imaginative, interesting, intelligent children; you know . . . . spirited!) and a very neurotic dog that we rescued from certain doom. I am a(n old-ish!) barista at Starbucks, a job which I love maybe a bit too much! I love to knit and to sew but I'm not great at either of those hobbies. I don't design my patterns and I take forever to knit anything. In fact, I just finished a sweater that took me almost 8 years to knit! *giggle* I am also a semi-professional photographer; when I started getting actual money for the photos I was shooting, it turned more into a job and less into a fun creative outlet.</div><div>I will share the adventures of my "spirited" children and neurotic dog with you; I will regale you with tales of work at Starbucks; I will impress you with my talents at knitting and sewing and I will make you smile at the simple amusements of life! I am starting this blog in the hopes of getting to know you, too! Let's have some fun!</div><div>Happy-ness is getting to know you!</div>Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945572833675701874noreply@blogger.com1