Gingerbread House - Notre Dame

Another impressive entry at the local BSA Gingerbread Festival















Coming up soon - our own gingerbread/graham cracker house creations.

How are you this fine Wash Day Monday?

Gingerbread House - Falling Water

This is by far my favorite entry from the Gingerbread festival:

Impressive, no? Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water

I tracked down the designer of this entry

Pop on over to learn more about its creation.

And the winner is...(also concert review)

Number 23: Diana! I will be contacting you shortly.

For everyone else, you can still order your own custom embroidered apron and get a 10% discount by entering the code Mrs. Organic at checkout. That's a darn cute apron with your name on it, even, for under $20. That's a steal!

In other news, we took Ty to his first concert tonight to see The Lower Lights. It was awesome. I was nervous to bring him because the facility didn't look exactly wheelchair friendly. And this is why I love Twitter.

I tweeted wondering if anyone knew if the Post Theatre was wheelchair accessible because all I could see were 10 steps leading into the entrance. The band tweeted back to me that they thought it was but if not, they would be happy to help lift him up the stairs. When we arrived, they were expecting us and showed us to our special wheelchair seating spot. These are my kind of people. And then there was the music.

This Little Light of Mine from The Lower Lights on Vimeo.

Lovely, lovely music. I helped Ty to clap along to the beat. He only got stressed out (noisy) a couple of times and we just wheeled him into the foyer until it passed. They closed with his very favorite song, This Little Light of Mine. He absolutely loved it. CJane was there and I really wished they had asked her to jump up on stage and sing it with them -I love how she puts her whole heart into her singing. Afterwards I chased Mindy down and she graciously posed for a photo with Ty.


(Sidenote: He has a whopping crush on her voice and sings out whenever she's singing lead)

This is such a happy, peaceful, feel-good album you will want one for your own family. I'm really hoping they plan to come out with a Christmas CD. Below are a few sample tracks and here is a link to purchase your own copy. You will wear out your iPod with playing it, I promise.



P.S. A link to Mindy's site

Exhibit E

of my mid-life crisis



I am not at liberty to discuss Exhibits A, B, C, and D. Rest assured however, that there will be exhibits F through Z.

If you are interested in obtaining your own Exhibit E, let me know. I can totally hook you up.

Summer Secret

I'm a sun worshipper, it's true. As a teen, I used to hike up to the cliffs behind my parents house and lay out on top. A front row seat to a breathtaking view is seriously the only way to get your tan. I used to wear white shorty shorts because they made me feel extra tan.

Then I grew up (and out) and had 5 kids. Buh-bye shorty shorts, buh-bye tan. The last couple of years I've made my daily sun devotion more of a priority. Nothing makes me feel better than at least 20 minutes a day of good, old-fashioned Vitamin D absorption.

I don't believe in sun screen as a rule (except for my face and unless of course I'm going to be out in the sun for more than a few hours), as I think it can cause more harm than good. I'm not the AMA or anything, so I'm no expert, but there are plenty of articles out there to support my point of view. Anywho, this product is my new fave - you can find it at Wal-meh for somewhere in the neighborhood of $4.


Not bad at all. It's not the best moisturizer, so you'll still need to use a good lotion (dry skin is your tan's worst enemy). It does not make your palms all funny colored after applying it, it smells great, doesn't look streaky, and the color doesn't come off on your sheets. You do need to go out in the sun to activate it. I've never applied it to my face so you're on your own on that one.

Remember to start your sun exposure off slowly: 10-15 minutes a day until you build up a nice base. In person it's nice brownish color and not orangey/fakey at all - unlike that one summer when I experimented with Bain de Soleil (for the St. Tropez tan) - who knew they were all peachy colored in France? Please, let us never speak of this again.

Along the way

These are just two of the sites I see on my rides.

This is usually where I stop to take a breather and drink some water before pushing on. I always feel a bit renewed.

This lane always makes me daydream about what might be around the bend. I mean I know what's at the end of it, but at just the right spot, it's a little bit mysterious and somewhat romantical. I have to be careful not to daydream too hard, or I will be an Asphalt Sundae. And that is not romantic. At all.

Am I the only person who does this, who makes up stories for places? I will show you a few more tomorrow.

In Which we learn that walking is HARD (well, walking AND smiling that is)

I'm sorry to subject you to entries from my closet, but that's just how it is right now. (I will start you off easy by cropping out the head shot). The only thing I like about this dress is the sleeves (which I find useful for stashing my lunch lady arms), but my sisters made me buy it so I'd have a "little black dress." The hemline falls at the least attractive part of my legs, but there you go first "little black dress." Ever.

Sue helped me pick this out and I love it - it's my very first pair of black dress pants. Ever! And I am no spring chicken. Love the splash of color in the top. And the shoes? Love!

Please ignore the fact that I am sporting what Kristina refers to as "grin-stipation" and please to look at the legs - not bad, eh? This skirt hemline falls in just the right place. Also, shoes - Love! again.

This skirt is from my sister's closet (I think I am going to like being able to fit in her cast-offs)

And sorry, but this one just looks best from behind. I aspire to one day have honest-to-goodness ankles. (mental note: straighten jacket next time)

And lastly, another skirt from my sis with two options:
The first is one she suggested

And the second is a sweater I found on clearance. What's your vote - blazer or sweater? I need some shoe suggestions for this skirt. Color? style? How does one smile and also walk? I think I look about ready to pulverize someone with my laser vision in all of these. And clearly my cancer neck is stronger than steel.

Disapparating waists and whatnot

I scored this dress (which has the wonderful ability to make my waist disappear) at my neighbor's basement boutique for a five-spot. I think I can carry it off if I pair it with a black bolero and some ruffle pumps. Or maybe the red shoes?

Can you ever be too old for polka-dots?

Sharing, sharing

Sometimes you find a product so fabulous, you just have to share. Only I didn't find this one on my own, it was recommended by Amelia. And now I second it. I don't usually love products from Bath and Body Works as their fragrances have a chemical smell I can't take. And whenever they have a body wash I fall in love with they discontinue it. Way to build product loyalty, dudes.

But! The True Blue Spa Heel of Approval is a must-have as well as this

Patricia Wexler Under-Eye Brightening Cream. A little goes a very long way with this product so it will last you quite awhile. The pump is self-storing so it's easy to pack up. I was fortunate enough to score a $10 coupon when it was on sale for half price. So it was practically free and worth every penny! I also love the Instant Eye Depuffer (which comes in handy when you've had a particularly restless night as insomniacs are wont to do), it works like a charm.

Disclaimer: the purchase of these products in no way means that I am old, beginning to age, or that I have under eye circles. In no way.

Last One - pinky promise

Let me preface this post with the disclaimer that I am the most conservative person I know (when it comes to fashion). In fact, I've never owned a pair of red shoes, let alone a pair of shiny, red shoes. But. I tried these shoes on, decided they weren't at all practical, and left them behind.

And then I thought about them for two days. I mean they were so shiny! And red! And so hot I even wanted to take me out. And did I mention they're shiny?

What is wrong with me?

I couldn't resist the pull and they now reside in my closet. While I may require a class on how to walk in them so I don't look like Wanda Wiggins, I will admit that I am more than a little smitten. And they do go perfectly with my polish.

Anyway, that's it. I promise. No more shoe pictures.

Binge

Two pairs of shoes (plus some zebra flats) in the past couple weeks, constitutes a greater than average shoe consumption for me. Normally this time of year means cabin fever, and finding myself unable to travel I am apparently resorting to shoes - which is still cheaper than an actual road trip.

These are great with jeans and very comfortable, and 60% off. Bonus!

How do you stave off wanderlust?

Strappy

Because I know your life isn't complete without seeing my toes bedecked in cherry polish and strappy heels, I aim to please-

With Sue's help I found these shoes, a great pair of black dress pants, and a cute new top. Nothing says "Hello, spring" quite like a little hot pink and zebra.

Excuse me, I'm feeling a little shopping afterglow.

A must-read

Today's assignment:

I've read several WWII books, but so far my favorite is "In My Hands" by Irene Gut Opdyke. It tells the story from a holocaust rescuer's point of view. It begins in Poland where Irene is separated from her family and forced to work for the Russians, she eventually escapes and hides out in Russia for a time. For a short while she is reunited with her family and then is forced to work for the Germans. She is able to perform small and great acts of service along the way: feeding, reuniting and rescuing Polish Jews, but it is not without a great personal cost.

I have used many examples from this story as lessons in courage and standing for the right with my family. Please, please read it so we can discuss.

Where I Live In My Head...

I don't know why, but this house has always called to me. I'm not really even that much of a yellow person, but this house (and the big tree just out of frame to the left) are absolutely beautiful in late spring. I want to sit on that bench and read under that tree or water the casacading geraniums she plants in the flower boxes every year. There are a barn and outbuildings to the back of the house and somehow, even though this house looks like it's been here for a hundred years, no one ever got around to pouring a driveway.

I will drive out of my way just to look at this place, I think the color lifts my spirits, like a glass of ice-cold lemonade on a hot summer afternoon. Where do you live ...in your head?

I'm recycling a few posts this week while I get a handle on the garden. Thanks for reading!

Mother's Day Melts

I first saw the idea for these at Amy Karol's blog Angry Chicken. She has lately been playing around with recipes for bath and beauty products. Her bath melts looked so good I thought I'd give them a try. The only thing that isn't organic about mine is the coloring I added. The green are scented with a cucumber melon fragrance and the peach ones are scented with Christmas Spice and Vanilla essential oils. They fizz up in the bath and leave your skin feeling oh so very soft - the perfect gift for a mom who loves a long, silky soak in the tub. (Recipe here)

Next I think I will try a vanilla sugar scrub or the bath salts. What are you doing for Mother's Day? (It's never to early to think about it).

Enjoy!

Saw this from Scribbit (who saw it elsewhere)

25 Things I Hate About Facebook:

Wash your face with the magic of olive oil

A few months ago I read about washing your face with Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Balancing Everything. Jessica explains that the basic concept is that oil attracts oil so it works on oily skin too. It sounded intriguing and I decided to give it a trial run. This is Colavita EVOO, I've also tried Bertolli olive oil (which I'm partial to even though it's a less glamorous oil). I'm not sure how I feel about smelling like a pasta dish when I go to bed, but my skin feels great.

If you'd like to try it, here's how I do it: Pour out about a dime's worth into your palm and gently rub it into your face with your fingertips. It removes mascara really well, too. Let it set (sit?) for a couple of minutes. Then, using a hot washcloth, steam your face for about 30 seconds and gently wipe away the oil. Let your face air dry. If you have any dry spots, pat a little EVOO onto them.

So how has it worked? Well, I have a couple of dry spots on my cheekbones (thank you allergic reaction to NARS makeup) and they are starting to clear up. When I switched over to the Colavita brand, my skin broke out. I'm not sure if it's because the Colavita is working and cleaning my face better or if it's creating a problem. I'll let you know how it turns out. The first two weeks, using the Bertolli brand, I didn't have a problem at all and my skin felt great.

I found this cute bottle at The handmaiden, a needlework store in Salt Lake, but Tai Pan Trading also has some plain bottles available for about $8. If you decide to try this method, I'd love to hear about your results. Stop by Rocks in my Dryer for more Works for me Wednesday tips.

Because I like to share

And you could probably use a good chuckle (the real funny gets started at :59)

Which is better? Part 2

Here are two options for the front entryway

1) with painting (love my picture hanger?)

or,
2) with mirror

Which do you like best?

I like both but they feel very different to me. The mirror could also go above the couch, but I'm not sure I want to be looking at my reflection every time I'm working in the kitchen.

As it will likely be Friday before any of you have time to read this - I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.

So I saw it and read it - The original

but this just cracks me up

best line:
Bella: Since when do white people honor treaties with Indians?
Jacob: I know, right?