June and July in Pictures

So we were recently on Vacation at a Beach on the East Coast. We went with extended family and it was extremely fun. We had so much fun we did not want to leave, I have already been asked by Grace when can we go again? I was thinking oh my goodness child we just got back.

I am like her though, I love the beach too. :)
The beach was great, we got to play in the sand and water, go to an aquarium and see mermaids, ride on a farris wheel, go to some shops, and just hang out on the beach again. Except for this mommy getting sunburned on her shoulders only (go figure) we had a great trip.

Some pictures from our trip.

July has been full of fun. We had a great 4th of July celebration and Clifton and I got to explain to Grace about what the 4th of July (Independence Day) is all about, and why it is important. We explained it the best we could for a 5 year old. We have had a fun filled summer, and I hate to see it starting to come to an end with Grace heading to K5 in a month....where Has the time Gone. Hartley is already 3 months old and this summer has just flown by. We have been so busy Its just gotten away from us. We celebrated Grace's birthday in July even though her birthday is actually in June. Well I have been learning a lot myself this summer, as a person, mommy and wife. God has been doing a lot in my life. We have started doing devotions in the evening with both girls, and praying for them, for specific things not just generic prayers of "God Bless my friends and family" Actually specific things. It has helped a lot.

Well I must go now. That was just a quick update.

Love and Peace,
Samantha

Birthday in pictures

So we had our wonderful Birthday Dinner last night with family. It was great we were at Chuck E. Cheese for 2 hours. It didn't feel that long. I got whooped up on in both basketball and ski-ball, but not by my 5 year old. She had a blast going around with family members and playing games, and all the other fun stuff there is to do there. Here are some pictures from her family birthday dinner.

So Grace enjoyed our wonderful dinner and said it was her best birthday ever. Lets wait until we have her party and then see what she says about it.

I bet that will be the best birthday ever then.


Smiles.


Cake


Kisses from an uncle


Chuck E. Cheese


thanks for stopping by.

I have a 5 year old?

So this week my sweet little angel Grace turned 5 years old.

I remember her birth like it was yesterday, what I wore to the hospital, what I watched on TV as we waited for her to be born, the frantic doctors and nurses as we prepared for a scary and rewarding birth.


This was Grace 5 years ago.

Man how time has flown, 5 years already. It seems like yesterday she came into this world in an exciting way, and it has been exciting ever since then. She is a big girl. So today one of the things we did to celebrate her birthday was Build-A-Bear, but instead of building a bear, we built a pink Octopus, which we dressed in a perfectly wonderful Mermaid Outfit! Only my daughter. So now she has a pink dinosaur (we got last year on vacation) named Daisy and she has a pink octopus named Xenia, apparently there is something about pink, and flowers that my daughter must like :D.




Dinner tonight with the whole family will be at Chuck E. Cheese. I will be sure to add some pictures from there. It is one of her favorite places to eat....who knew a kid liking Chuck E. Cheese.

So Grace, Hartley, and I have been doing something new at bedtime. The 3 of us lay in Grace's awesome Big Girl bed. I read both of them a book or two sometimes three depending on time, then we read out of the daily devotional book we have, then a bible story, or verse, then onto prayers. I am learning to pray for them not just "God bless Grace and Hartley" but to really pray for them, for thier future, their faith, their future spouses(That God prepares the heart of the men they will one day marry), their careers, just for their future. One thing I have been praying over Grace lately is for when she starts school in August, for the children she will meet, the experiences she will have, and for her teacher. Just that it is a wonderful experience for her.

Picture of the girls during our new Bedtime Routine.


Something Else Grace and I love to do and take pictures of is make Funny Faces.




So now onto Baby updates.
Hartley who is 9 weeks old can now roll from her back to her left side or right side. Wow how amazing she has been. She is always smiling at me when I talk with her. She is changing and growing so much it is crazy. She is getting so big and I cannot wait to take her to the Doctor on Friday and see how much my little chunker has grown. She was a dainty baby, and now you would never know she was dainty at a whooping 6lbs 14 ounces at birth. I am thinking this little bunny is close to 12 lbs now but we will see.


This was our family night from last Friday we went on a picnic at the Park and while Daddy and Grace flew the kite Hartley and I just hung out.

Here is one I got of her smiling at me though.


God has shown me a lot about life, patience, andlove through my girls, my marriage, and my everyday happenings. Keep reading for more updates on the girls, myself and my marriage.

Love, Peace, & Happiness always.

~Samantha.

The Joys of June

So far June has been a crazy, fun and busy month for this family. We have had graduation parties, friends coming over, family gatherings, and I even talked the Husband into doing Family pictures. :)





We have had so much going on, we don't get to celebrate G's 5th Birthday until July. :(
Well she doesn't care as long as her 5th birthday gets her tea party birthday party like she wants. I am still gathering decorations and ideas for her party.

Today Hartley turns 2 months. It is crazy. I've been trying to spend time with my girls separate and together. This summer is about making memories as a family, since Grace will no longer be with mommy all day once Fall comes and Kindergarten comes.

One thing I make sure to do with Grace and tonight I did it with both girls, is to read a story, read a bible verse or devotional, and say our prayers before we go to sleep for the night.


So because they were just so cute in Bed I had to snap a picture.

Grace recieved this book from the called Born Yesterday: The Diary of a Young Journalist(She received it before Hartley was born) it is the perfect book. Its about a baby who is born and has a sister who is about to start kindergarten. It makes me think so much of my girls. One of the last pages in the book, the baby decides it wants to run away and be part of another family because it is embarrassed that her older sister found her diary. So the older sister comes home from school one day crying and crawls into the crib with the baby sister, and says "You are my best friend, you don't laugh at me." Makes me have that same hope for my girls, that they will be best friends. I hope that's how my girls will end up.

Trying to figure out what to do for Father's Day for the awesome Father of my girls. He is amazing and wonderful with them.



Well I am out for the night. I can hear Hartley on the Monitor so I need to go soon. Keep checking back for fun pictures of the kids, family, and our awesomely fun filled family summer.

Love, Peace, and Happiness to all,

~Samantha

Another day in May

So it has been over 2 months since my last post. Well when you are preparing for baby #2 it can take a lot out of you.

Grace is really a big help with her sister. She loves being a sister and is always asking to hold the baby. She doesn't understand why she has to be so careful with her though.

A lot has happened in the last 2 months. The pool is now open and Grace is swimming without any help....no water wings or anything. My big girl is getting to big way way way to fast for this Mommy's liking. She also lost her first tooth. This makes me sad. I cannot believe she will be 5, in less than a month, good gracious time has flown by. I remember when she was Hartley's size and she was tiny. She is not so tiny anymore.

No water wings.

Well Grace is also done with Creative Movement for the year. Next year she will be in Pre-ballet and not in the pink anymore.

That's really all thats new.

Hartley is now about 9lbs so she has gained 2 1/2 pounds since she was born.

Peace and Love,
Samantha

Just another March Day

So much has happened lately.

Grace is still working on printing her name, and we are starting to work on sight words with her, so that hopefully she is reading a bit before she starts Kindergarten. She is getting wary about Hartley coming and keeps asking us random questions and doesn't really know for sure what the big deal is. She thinks that as soon as Hartley gets here she will be able to play and run around, I have had to explain to her multiple times that is not the case.

I checked some books out today about new babies and what not from the library. I hope those help her with her uneasy feelings. She likes the baby's room but I think she is still very uneasy and unsure of what this really is. As I write about the baby she has decided it is time to shift her entire body, making it a bit uncomfortable for me, since she wants to put her bottom in my ribs and kick.

Grace has continued to be an amazing little girl, who everyday makes me wonder about her extraordinary imagination. The other day she was SUPER GRACIE and I was her TRUSTY Side kick Sam. She makes me laugh everyday and I cannot imagine not spending time with her, she makes my day and I worry that when the new one come how will I have joy, and Love for 2 amazing little girls? I know it is possibly but Grace is the center of my world right now and I don't know how I could have 2 that are.

Hartley's room is basically complete. I have yet to take decent pictures so there are none yet. I do have some more recent ultrasound pictures. She looks so much like her sister and her daddy that it isn't even funny. You can see she already has hair......thats why I have such horrible heartburn isn't it? Well I am off, making dinner for a wonderful friend.

Sunny, Cold, Windy Sunday.

I know it has been more than a month since I have posted a blog entry. Man how time flies by when your having fun. I have been tired, working, and well just plain too lazy to write a blog post. We have been cleaning out our extra room slowly making way for Hartley. Her room is coming together nicely. It is an extremely cold, windy, yet sunny Sunday.

Grace has been a wonderful blessing and patient little girl as of late. I am loving it. I am not loving that fact that in a little more than a month I will be registering her for school! I know my baby is going to be 5! I don't want her to grow up but she is blossoming into a beautiful little girl. Her curls, big bright blue eyes, and personality get her attention everywhere we go. I always have people saying "She is a beautiful little girl" I sometimes get embarrassed because I know she is beautiful, and always will be to her mommy, but when perfect strangers come up and tell me that it is sometimes just weird because I don't always know what to say. The weather here has been wonderful as of late, Grace and I have gotten to play outside so much lately. I am so concerned that once she goes to school my sweet little girl, who in my eyes is still a baby won't be that anymore I don't want her to grow up too fast. I now feel like I know how my parents must have felt, and I cannot imagine with 3 kids 2 of them 18 months apart, how fast it must have flown by for them. It is crazy. Grace has the biggest imagination ever, she is so funny and makes me laugh all the time at things she does I'll say something to my mom and she will say "She is just like you" or "That's something you and your brothers would have done" makes me laugh and smile every time.
OH BIG MILESTONE: Grace Printed her first NAME all by herself. This mommy is so proud I just don't know what to say or do. Makes me very very excited.

Grace being silly, she said "Hey mommy look" I looked at her and just laughed with her oreo eyes.

Her name written all by herself, Mommy wrote the one on top, the one on bottom my big girl did.

Preparing for Hartley has been crazy and well interesting, we have been blessed so much already from all the gifts people have already given us. They have been so wonderful. I just cannot believe how blessed we are. It is wonderful that we are having another girl and relatively the same season since we already have baby clothes this will be a piece of cake, at least for the first few months. Grace is ready to be a big sister and to help, she will talk to my belly, hug it and kiss it, she is already sweet and a good big sister I cannot wait to see how she does once Hartley gets here.

This mommy is doing great, morning sickness is gone, now just counting the weeks 31 down 9 to go. :) I am excited but I am also a little scared, I am scared because the last time I was pregnant or had a newborn was almost 5 years ago. I hope I remember everything, I hope I do a good job, I have worries that I think every mommy has. Daddy is just going on about his merry way, I am sure he is nervous he just isn't showing it as much, he has been wonderful with me and Grace during this pregnancy and he will help out in any way he can. He is being great. Well I am going to go I feel like no one probably cares, or is interested in reading this blog. But hey I thought for my family who isn't close by I might as well be able to keep you all updated somehow.

Once we get Hartley's room together I will be posting pictures. I will be writing these more I hope, for my family who lives far away. Miss you all and Love you all.

Just another day in the house, muffins, rests, and Graceisms.

Today is another interesting day in the C household. I am trying something new, I bought Strawberry muffin mix at the grocery store. I mixed 4 large fresh cut strawberries, 1 cup milk, 1 cup old fashioned oats, and 1/4 cup flax seeds, with the muffin mix. Mixed it well and filled 12 muffin/cupcake cups in the muffin pan. I then baked it at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the stick comes clean. They smell delicious as I write this, they are cooling. I have before and after pictures to come soon. Grace and I are going to share one and see how they taste. I hope they are as delicious as they smell. Before going into the oven:

Done and Cooling off:

G eating one, and the taste test results are: They are delicious, G asked for another one.

Today's Graceism, or phrase of the day: Giraffes can clean their noses with their tongues,I want to be able to do that too. Thought about today's Graceism. Where did that come from? How to I talk about this with her? What do u say as an answer to this one? The things my 4 year old thinks about and talks about just make my day everyday.

Christmas time and what this time of the year means to me.

Its the time of year I think most people love, CHRISTMAS time. Christmas has a huge place in my heart. It means so much to me. I have so many great memories of Christmas from the past 26 years.

My fondest memory, or maybe I should say my most vivid memory, I am either combining two or it happened the same Christmas I cannot remember, we lived in Pennsylvania. I remember we got home from Church and were getting our pajamas on, when the phone rang it was SANTA! WOW a phone call from SANTA that was amazing and awesome. He was telling me how he was having trouble putting my brothers Piano in his sleigh and my doll house. It was amazing and wonderful and kept the magic alive in me about that time of year. I remember I could hardly sleep that night I was so excited. I cannot remember if the next part is the same Christmas or a different one. We were all sleeping in my parents room when all of the sudden, we heard footsteps on the roof, and santa laugh, it was great and wonderful and amazing. The joys and innocence of childhood were awesome.

Traditions I Love:
We always can open our stockings when we first awake in the morning. Those are always fun, my mom packs them with fun and silly things.

We ALWAYS have overnight Brunch for Christmas Breakfast

We always separate and open presents in a circle, goes slow but we get to see what everyone got and the joy on their face.

We play board games and just hang out together

I love doing this kind of stuff with my family.

This year I am excited I have done a few crafts with G for Christmas and we are going to do more today. I know its a little late to do some now since Christmas is only 11 days away. But I want her to have memories of doing Christmas crafts with her mommy like I have of doing them with my mommy. Always fun times.

That's not the only thing this time of year means to me. This time of year is important to me as a Christian Woman. It is a time to celebrate the birth of a baby, who saved me from my sins, because his father wanted me to live a life where I could dwell with him and love him and cherish him. I thank God everyday for sending us Jesus to die for me. Little old me what I have ever done that was significant? Nothing really, but God loves me enough that he sent his son for me. That is so hard to fathom. How could anyone have a child whom they love and know that in the end their child would die to save all of humanity? That to me is an amazing parent who could allow that to happen to their child. I love Jesus and this time of year in our household is all about him with little emphasis on Santa, because the real reason for Christmas in our house is CHRIST! Thank you God for sending your son for me.

Well thats my update for today. Hope you all have a joyous and wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season.

Life with a 4 year old.

So living with a 4 year old there is never a dull moment. Grace makes life so amazingly awesome and interesting. Just the other day she said "Daddy, I don't want to kiss you. Your face is like a castick" Daddy asked "Grace what is a castick?" She responded "You know daddy they are prickly and in the desert". Well after that we were definatley able to figure out she was talking about a cactus. It was just hilarious that Grace knew the context and not the word.

With her there is never a dull moment. She always is singing, watching a movie, playing, doing crafts, but the things she says is hilarious. Listening to her play her babies or barbies is hilarious. She makes up stories and she is just an all around funny girl. She sometimes just wants to help so much she is under my feet.

Well thats all for now.

quick update.

Well you all its been more than 2 months since I have had a post. I am just way of, sorts with doing this. Busy working on Grad school projects, subbing, being a mommy and wife. Has taken its toll on my availible free time. But hey I am working on my time management skills.

Just a quick update. 19wks pregnant. 5 year anniversay in 2 days. Wonderful marriage and enjoying motherhood.

Ariel, Singing, and reading.

So I have been extremely horrible at posting lately about the latest in my life or that latest "Gracism" as I like to call them. The latest Gracism is that she is Ariel. She does not always want to be called Grace. She will say "But mommy, I am Ariel" so then I ask her if "Ariel wants lunch?" I think she enjoys me referring to her as Ariel, her favorite princess currently. She has a favorite princess for about 2 or 3 months then it switches, usually based on which movie we watch and how often. For a long time she was stuck on the Tangled movie now its Ariel 1,2,& 3 as she calls them, instead of using their real names.
Grace's other new/ongoing thing is she is loving to sing everything. When I say everything I mean everything. Just today she was singing "I am playing with my bar-bi-es in my play-ay-ay-room. Bar-bi-es, I Lo-ve You" and repeat like 10 times. I think it is cute and tell her, they are beautiful songs. One thing she got from me though....she is tone deaf, and well cannot carry a tune if she had too. Oh well like mother like daughter right? We will just sing very loudly and off key together, if that's what makes us happy.
The last new thing I am going to write about tonight simply for the fact that it is 9:30PM and I am tired is that she is trying/wanting to read everything. She doesn't even know all her letter names yet but she wants to read. She is following along her fingers on everything from pictures with letters to books we read together, she is using her fingers when she says a word and sounds it like she is reading it. She also wants to know what sound every word begins with. She has trouble with words that have blends at the begining like chair, but we are working on that. She is ready to learn.

Love, Peace, and Happiness.
Samantha

Sorry such a long break...

Sorry everyone I had you wait a week and a half for a new update. Totally not like me. A lot has happened. I have found out I am going to be having Baby#2 due in the spring. Totally awesome, wonderful, and scary all at the same time.

My daughter today we were working on the L sound, she is having slight trouble and still making the W sound for words that begin with L. She is however now overexaggerating the L sound but I would rather her do that for now than later.

She is super excited for the baby and demands we have a brother. I don't know if that is going to happen or be the case. I have been sick off and on the whole time.

I am off now more tomorrow.

My hilarious Preschooler

I have to let you all know, how hilarious my preschooler is. She is amazingly smart, which in turn usually turns into something funny being said. I was doing my hair and she said. Mommy, why do you do your hair, you are pretty already. I said, sometimes mommy likes to do her hair and she said "When I grow up I am not going to do my hair ever." I was thinking just wait until Middle School and she will want her hair done all the time.

Sorry so short today.

Latest Graceisms, Homeschooling, and Life

So I know I usually blog about my daughter and my family and the crazy things that happen. Well I am going to do that today, but I am also going to tell you what I got out of my quiet time. Today has been upside down and backwards already. I usually don't do my quiet time until Nap time and I usually don't blog until much later in the day. Homeschooling is partially done for the day, we are taking a "Lets play" break and well it was needed. She accomplished a lot this morning. Read on, its many topics today.


Latest Graceims: So the latest Graceism is "But thats okay mommy" She tells me something and then says "But that's okay mommy." Or I tell her to do something "Grace go clean up your toys" Response "But that's okay mommy, I can do it later" She is pretty funny. Her other new one is she will mess up purposely and say "Oops Sorry!" She has been using the word presume a lot lately and trying to say something like "Does that sound like a deal?" She is being very very hilarious lately I am loving it.

Homeschooling Day 2 Update:
1. So we sang our song about days of the week, months of the year, Jesus, and we did the pledge to the flag, Christian flag, and the bible.
2. We did a couple of mazes to work on staying in the lines and fine motor skills. Grace told me this part was her favorite
3. We looked at the pages we did yesterday, we starting writing the letter A and little a. She did really good. You have to give her cheats almost to write A. It is something we have been working on for a while and I am slowly working on using less and less prompts. Same with the a. We say you draw a circle and attach a stem, it helps her and she remembers it.
4. We identified letters in the alphabet. She is doing really good. There are a few letters she doesn't know or mixes up and it surprises me she always calls J an L and an L a J. I can understand that mistake.
5. We worked on counting and writing the number 1. That is probably the easiest number of all to write though.
6. I then had her tell me a story while I wrote it down we had like 5 characters and 1 thing happened so we need to work on story development just a bit.
7. It was play time, and well teats where we are now. We still have Science, Art, Bible, Social Studies, and Outside play to do today. Those are going to happen after we eat lunch and are done with our play break.
8. Science today we are going outside and talk about the weather, what season it is and what that means. Art I am having her draw or paint a picture of her favorite thing to do outside. Social studies we are talking about community helpers. Doctors, police, firemen, ect. Then when it cools off after lunch and rest time, we will go outside and play for a while.

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790 American Founding Father & Scientist)

‎"Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life." ~ Charlotte Mason

‎"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." ~ John Dewey

What I learned from God today:
I read my 1 Corintians 1:25 to the end and Chapter 2. I learned that no matter how strong I am, God is always stronger, no matter how wise God is always wiser. This good because sometimes as a human my flaws get the best of me and I think I know what is best for me and it is not. I am the one who needs to listen to God and have him direct my life.
1Corinthians 2:1:

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God.

This showed me that it doesn't matter how much of the scripture I know I need to be sharing the testimony of God whereever I go whether in my actions, words, or deeds. Show his love and his mercy in his life. After reading a friends facebook status yesterday I had an overwhelming desire to help out at the local preganancy center. I am going to volunteer, Its the center for unplanned pregnancy and supports teen moms and their lives. I now have a desire to start a bible study/mentoring program with some of these girls. It is amazing to me how things like this can speak volumes into your life.
God told me very bluntly today:
Proclaim it, Share it, Live it. Talking about his word and the way I need to live my life. I am writing this down and putting it on my fridge and a bunch of other places I look daily. I Love how God told me to just Proclaim it, Share it, Live it. This is another reason I want to share the word and Love of God with others.


Peace and Love,

Loving the little things in life......

I have a lot to talk about today:

I have had a unique week, especially in my quiet time. I have learned a lot about myself and what I can do. To think before I speak, and be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. It something I have been trying to live by for a while. I have noticed lately I am not doing as well in the area as I should. God gave me this verse a lot this week. James 1:19-20 states: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.There were some things that happened this week with someone whom I consider an amazing person and a good friend. Immediately after I said something to them this verse popped into my head. Its amazing how God can use the tiniest verse you may have only read one time in your life and give it back to you 15 different times in a week. This verse made me realize I need to be more patient with my daughter, friends, husband, family, anyone whom I may come into contact with. This week has been a huge work on ME week. Something I tremendously needed, it is something that is ESPECIALLY hard for me to do, for many reasons But I am learning.

Yesterday while in the car with my daughter, she was talking to her little toy dog. I was just listening to music on the stereo and singing along to the praise band. She stopped in her tracks and said "Mommy, when are you going to have a baby?, because Makayla's Mommy is going to have one." Explaining to my 4 year old a lot lately that just because her aunt is going to have a baby doesn't mean mommy and daddy are. She continuously tells me things she thinks we (me and my husband) did when she was a baby, we ask her where she comes up with some of these things and have to correct her about a lot of things. She keeps telling me she wants a baby brother, I tell her you don't get to pick. She is asking when she will get a baby. Our only answer we know to tell her is When God wants us to have one we will. She seems satisfied with that at the moment.

So I have been knitting a lot,I MEAN A LOT! of baby hats and toddler hats lately. I am in the knitting buzz. I have a lot of friends having babies so what a great way to celebrate than hand made baby hats right? Perfect I know. I have been using this thing called a Knifty Knitter and I am knocking them out left and right. I am having fun and I can still carry on a conversation with my husband, watch TV, or listen to music at the same time I do this. It is consuming a major part of my free time. It is simple and I love it, so what can I tell you. I am signing off for the night.

Love and Happiness,

Yummy treats for the family, cereal bars, trail mix, fruit roll ups

So my husband got me a dehydrator at a yard sale like 2 weeks ago. Let me tell you I used it for the first time yesterday it was delicious I am going to paste my recipes as well as some pictures I have of them on here so here we go:

Cereal Bars
2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups flour(I used all purpose)
1/4 cup Brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup pureed peaches (can use any fruit you like or applesauce)

Pre-heat the over to 375.
Spray a pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl mix all the ingredients above together.
Spread them evenly into the pan.
Cook for 30-40 minutes until desired texture is reached.
Cut the bars and let them cool.

Going into the oven

Grace liked it

Finished product


Trail Mix:
I used the above recipe for the trail mix:
I had some that crumbled. So I took the crumbles, added them in with some Mixed peanuts I bought at the store and some dehydrated pineapple, mangos and bananas. Mixed it all up and put it in an airtight contained. Made a delicious snack.

Cereal bar crumbles, Dehydrated fruit, and mixed nuts:-D make an awesome treat,


Fruit Roll-ups:
I pureed some peaches and put them in the dehydrator on a piece of plastic wrap for almost 24 hours they turned out delicious and my daughter loves them.

Live~Laugh~Love,

Aimless Rambling......not like the others I promise.

So I got my mom's old sewing machine. Let me tell you I am ready and raring to go, but there is one slight problem. I am missing the bobbin cover. I went to TWO different sewing centers in Spartanburg today do either of them have the piece I need? NO, it is a small piece of plastic, you have be kidding me right? No they are not. To order online it is going to cost $4.00 for the piece and $5.00 for shipping. A piece of plastic that weighs probably 1/2 an ounce is going to cost how much? Really Singer, you have got to be kidding me. Even to order from one of the sewing centers its going to cost about the same amount UGH!It is amazing how one little piece of plastic can cost so much. I am really wanting to sew. I have a few things I am going to make for my sister in law who is due to have a baby this Fall. I cannot make them if I don't have that piece. The baby is going to be my guinea pig, I also want to also refashion some of my things that are either to young for me, or lets face it too small into stuff for Grace. This will never get done if I cannot find the piece. I also didn't have a manual for the sewing machine. So again I went on the singer website and looked up the owners manual for my sewing machine. Well the PDF was free but to order the actual book was $15 seriously singer what are you thinking charging someone $15 when they can save the PDF and print it off for prob. 15 cents, I am telling you this is crazy.

Well I am signing off, I just had to rant and rave a little bit.

Peace, love, and smiles.
~Samantha

Vintage, Retro, and what I'll make.

Today is a beautiful summer, Sunday morning. Some of my favorite. It has been a while since I've been posting consistently, but hey that's life and I have a 4 year old. I have been going to Thrift shops/2nd hand shops a lot lately I have decided I love Vintage sheets/glassware basically anything vintage I Love. I also love new things that have a vintage look. I am loving it. I don't know if the older I get the more eclectic my taste is getting, or if I am just realizing the beauty in things of the past. I don't really know. I found some awesome thrift store finds however, and Grace is getting much better at being patient when it comes to being still while mommy shops at the Thrift stores.

Here is a picture of the glassware I got:

One of the pillowcases:

Casserole Dish I bought:

Have a great day. I am loving vintage retro so much!

2 weeks really?

Hey all. Wow it has been like 2 weeks since I have posted. I have a busy 2 weeks. With VBS last week and just a whole bunch going on, I haven't found time to just sit down and write about updates and life. I have to tell you though in the last 2 weeks Grace has done something everyday to make me feel better in a certain situation or she has just shown me so much love and wanted to do everything I do. She has brought a SMILE to my face every single day.

Yesterdays smile/enjoyment was when we were watching tv together while I waited for the meat to cook for dinner, she was sitting next to me on the love seat. She leaned over, hugged me from behind and said "Mommy, you are the best, I love you bunches" that was my happy moment yesterday. Like I said there have been tons over the last 2 weeks I don't even know where to begin. I have been having an amazing time with her. Well I am off. I must go visit with my mom.

I just thought I would give you a bit of an update.