As you know, because of my schedule I usually post on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturdays. Those are the days when I'm not busy from morning to night! Days that I can actually sit down relax and blog. Well, our family has welcomed a new member this week. Meet Henry!
I brought him home on Tuesday and have definitely had my hands full ever since. Henry is a Yorkie and Yorkies are very inquisitive and need a lot of attention. He is starting to get a feel for what's expected of him around the house. We still have a lot of work to do, but he is a good doggie. So incredibly cute that I just want to play with him all day (which is what has happened and the end result is getting nothing done that NEEDS to be done). The picture above/left was taken while we were eating dinner Tuesday night. He just curled up and took a nap : ) I was afraid he wouldn't like my husband, but it's quite the opposite. He adores him.
So if I'm missing in action in the next few weeks, you'll know it's probably because I'm taking care of our little son.
A few weeks ago, I started paying attention to empty containers that I usually wouldn't think twice about throwing away. That's when I noticed these Simply Orange (and Lemonade) containers. I thought they were lovely. So I began with this....
and ended up with this...
functional and adorable book ends.
I first took off the labels with the help of Goo Gone. Next, I literally sawed off the part that you screw the lid onto. THAT was fun! If you try this, please be careful.
My next step was spray painting them. I used flat white spray paint. You'll need several coats because the light just keeps shining through them if it's not on thick enough.
Then I printed off my letters onto card stock using American Typewriter font. I cut the letters out and Mod Podged them on.
They were still too light to use as book ends, so I filled them with stones. Total cost: $3.78 for the spray paint. I love repurposing and have found myself keeping everything!! I'm so thankful my husband is understanding. Thanks, Babe!!
I wanted to share this granola recipe with you. Fresh, healthy, and easy to make. We made this recipe in one of my cooking classes in college. Yum!
Picture from Southern Living
2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup coconut
1 cup nuts (walnut, pecans, almonds)
1/2 cup sesame seeds (optional)
1 cup cooking oil
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
Combine oatmeal, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, coconut, sesame seeds, and nuts. Combine and boil the cooking oil, brown sugar, water, and vanilla. Pour liquid mixture over dry ingredients and mix. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes on baking sheet. Stir two or three times to keep from burning.
In the days of emailing, texting, and instant messaging, it's a rarity that anyone sends a real-life letter through the actual POST OFFICE anymore. But who saves instant messages? Who sits down and re-reads all of those emails sent with love and care? Who begins to feel nostalgic over a text message!! My answer would be no one.
My mother LOVES beautiful things. Among the beautiful things that she loves would be beautiful stationary. However, my mom doesn't just collect lovely paper...she uses it! I have a box filled with letters my mom has written me throughout the years. I even have a journal that she kept for me when I was a baby. My mom doesn't think herself to be an exceptional writer, but I would have to disagree. I pull out her letters often and re-read them, always amazed at her ability to transform emotion into the written word. These letters are one of my most precious possessions.
I had a teacher in college who would always say that one of the best gifts you can give is the gift of words. You can read about what it means to give a gift of words here.
If you are going to send a letter, special stationery is not a necessity, but it sure is fun. Here are a few ideas to start you out:
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man."
Now who wouldn't love a movie with those kinds of song lyrics? My first introduction to Fiddler on the Roof was through my performance of "Sunrise Sunset" at a piano festival when I was a little girl. I didn't really understand the movie's meaning and I just couldn't see why Tevye was so against his daughters marrying the men they loved. As a grade schooler, all I knew was that the music was fun, made me laugh, and kept me humming its tunes over and over again. Since then, I've come to love the melancholy beauty of "Sunrise Sunset" and the comical wit "If I Were a Rich Man."
A movie's story is told by more than just a series of scenes and actors; it is told by a score...a musical score. Music isn't wallpaper (as my college professor so eloquently put it). Music should be payed attention to. If a movie has a star-studded cast or mind-blowing computer graphics but not an ounce of inspirational music, it will probably find its way to the bottom of my favorites list.
My husband laughs at me because I'm constantly pointing out sections of a soundtrack that I had never noticed the other umpteenth times I had listened to it. "Oooo, oooo, did you hear the oboe?" "Wow, the percussion is amazing!" "Okay," he says, "you're really listening carefully, aren't you." Yes! Maybe it's the musician in me, but I'm amazed at how music latches on to my emotions through its own telling of a story. (Think "Baby Mine" from Dumbo ~ Tears!)
This post wasn't supposed to be about music per say, but I guess it's necessary in order for me to explain WHY I love the movies that I do.
Okay, so down to the real reason for this post: Fiddler on the Roof. If you have never seen it, get the car warmed up because after this, you'll want to be making your way over to Blockbuster.
Song Favorite #1: "If I Were a Rich Man"
Song Favorite #2: "Sunrise Sunset"
I walked down the aisle at my wedding to this song being sung by my brother.
It was in honor of my Dad.
Song Favorite #3: "The Bottle Dance"
Too much fun for words! Listen to that clarinet solo...beautiful!!
And my absolute favorite within my favorite: the knee slides : )
Song Favorite #4: "Tradition"
My dad used to sing this song to us as children. It makes me smile and laugh and sing along.
Song Favorite #5: "Matchmaker"
Song Favorite #6: "Do You Love Me?"
~Sigh~
Song Favorite #7: "Far from the Home I Love"
I can't help but tear up every time I hear this sung. I wish I had a visual as well as audio.
Now you've got to watch it.
Linking over to TCM for their Classic Movie Musicals and Songs Favorites list. Hope you enjoy!
Don't these dainty daisies just whisper spring right in your ear?! And guess where I bought them? Okay, I'll tell you....The Dollar Tree. Yes, every time I visit the Dollar Tree, I just can't imagine them having something that I didn't see the last time I was there. I stand corrected. Eek! I looove spring!!
When it comes to making dinner, I prefer recipes that require few ingredients, little time and preparation, and come out tasting spectacular! And it doesn't hurt if it happens to be healthy at the same time. I stumbled across one of these recipes and made it last night. You must try it!
