If I just knew what the dream is...

"May I have the courage today

To live the life that I would love

To postpone my dream no longer

But do at last what I came here for

and waste my heart on fear no more."

John O'Donahue

Happy Valentine's Day

February - the shortest month - seemed to fly by this year. Maybe it seemed extra short because of the unusually warm weather - that's my best explanation. I enjoyed decorating this year - sometimes I think I won't bother (no kids to decorate for), but I'm always glad when I fill my house with hearts. and love.

I loved my Valentine's Table Runner. I finished it last year after Valentine's Day, so this was my first year to enjoy it. It decorated my kitchen counter along with pink and red candies. I think anyone could easily sew this table runner. The center tumbler blocks are so fun to make - it's magic how you sew those uneven blocks together and they come out in perfect rows. The applique is quick and easy using your machine. (The pattern is available from Kimberbell Designs)

This is Kim's version.

Add here is mine.

I loved using browns, tans, and taupe prints for this project.

I also loved my pillow which was made by my friend Teresa Lewis! Look at those buttons! And the hand embroidery. Teresa is a beautiful, prolific pillow maker. 

I loved loved the sugar cookies our d-i-l Sierra made. Her cookies are my favorite gift from her!

 I loved my handmade card from Becky! The ombre hearts have always been a favorite look and now I have a card of my own. 

I loved the flowers I bought at Sego and took to a friend...especially love that hobnail vase! I picked it especially for my friend because it looks old fashioned and girly. 

sNowflaKe cooKies

It's snowing today! Finally. 

This picture is from before Christmas, and I put it on Instagram, but I love it so much I had to blog it too. Aren't those cookies gorgeous? The frosting decorations were exquisite and you can't see, but they looked glittery and sparkly too. 

For my snowy picture, I knew I had to place the cookies on the perfect plate. I love the white white Waterford china. I bought one dinner plate and one salad plate when Dillards in Logan closed and their china samples were half of half price. Those silver squiggle-swoops are my favorite. 

My daughter-in-law Sierra and her mom made and decorated the cookies. Sierra and Leslie are awesome at things like sugar cookies and caramel apples and holiday celebrations with fancy food to match. For their Chinese New Year party last week, they had Mike cook Japanese food for them, and they had cute decorations and probably homemade fortune cookies. I love how they do things up right! But I'm most impressed with their sugar cookies (because I love to eat them). Leslie's recipe not only looks great but tastes delicious (the icing too). I probably ate most of the cookies myself because, unlike Scott who can forget food, I kept sneaking into the kitchen for one more nibble. 

^ Grammy Camp ^

Summer recap. Memories of Grammy Camp.

All six were here and we had a fun three days. We made cars for what was supposed to be a drive-in movie...though we never got around to the movie part.  

Brookie was a good sport and made her own car with leg holes.

Bailee got artistic with hers. 

Emmett's the perfect age for box cars. Wait, his was a fire engine. 

It's just so fun to drive!

These two year olds are just learning to play together. Suzie fixed their look-alike hair. 

Painting birdhouses in the garage.

Cute Sierra came for a manicure/movie night with the big girls. Giggles galore.

Brooke's project was making curly bows for the little girls' hair. (She's cutting the dowels that she wrapped the ribbon around for the curly effect.)

Tiring the kids out at the park is the best way to have a peaceful night.

Carter was a monkey, scrambling up the climbing wall.

The little girls went up and down the slide a hundred times.

Grandpa and Emmett got out the ever-popular stomp rocket. 

The perfect toy for little boys...and grandpas get a kick out it too!

Suzie taught a dance from her Las Vegas YW girls. Brookie picked it up and taught it to Sierra. They danced for an hour or more. 

Meanwhile Grandpa read the comics to the little ones.

Best part of the day for Grammy. Whew. 

inspiration! red and white dinner

Check out my good friend (and co-Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas author) Norma Olsen's red and white table decor. This is actually from Christmas, but it would be equally darling for a Valentine's Day celebration. I love, love the red rick rack and white buttons.

Every year Norma goes all out for her Christmas Eve dinner. She chooses a theme and enjoys making it a surprise for her family. When the kids were little, they went skiing or bowling with Herm (Norma's husband) so she'd have time to get everything ready. She blocks off the kitchen and dining room with a blanket over the door so the beautiful decorations are a surprise. This year, Norma got inspiration from a post on the Cut The Crazy blog. She said that when she looked at our blog post, the ideas started to click. Soon she had a darling table to go with her wonderful meal. Suzie and I ran into Norma at the store, and she invited us to come over and enjoy her surprise.

Norma loves vintage and antique things - mixed with modern "finds."

She used dishes she had and added a few new pieces that worked with her theme.

She stayed with a red and white theme.

Even the chairs were decorated. I love that the wreaths are tied on the back of the chair.

The red berries were in Norma's yard!

The centerpiece was so simple yet elegant.

Norma hunted around and found the red and white old-fashioned bottles at antique stores.

The red rick rack had buttons scattered along it and went all the way down the table.

Even the antique high chair (a family heirloom) is decorated.

new year's day

1 - 1 - 11

so cool

I love to read Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project blog and website. She wrote a book that started out as a blog and became a New York Times bestseller.


I'm thinking about making some New Year's resolutions - just for the sake of tradition - and because the date 1-1-11 just requires it.

Here's Gretchen's resolution-making advice:

Five questions to help you make effective New Year's resolutions.

Forty-four percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, and I know I always do. I’m more inclined to make resolutions than ever, in fact, because if my happiness project has convinced me of anything, it has convinced me that resolutions – made right – can make a huge difference in boosting happiness.

So how do you resolve well? This is trickier than it sounds. Here are some tips for making your resolutions as effective as possible. Remember, right now, you’re in the planning stage. Don’t feel like you have to do anything yet! Just start thinking about what would make 2011 a happier year.

1. Ask: “What would make me happier?” It might having more of something good – more fun with friends, more time for a hobby. It might be less of something bad – less yelling at your kids, less nagging of your spouse. It might be fixing something that doesn’t feel right – more time spent volunteering, more time doing something to make someone else happier. Or maybe you need to get an atmosphere of growth in your life by learning something new. (These questions relate to the First Splendid Truth.)

2. Ask: “What is a concrete action that would bring about change?” One common problem is that people make abstract resolutions, which are hard to keep. “Be more optimistic,” “Find more joy in life,” “Enjoy now,” are resolutions that are hard to measure and therefore difficult to keep. Instead, look for a specific, measurable action. “Distract myself with fun music when I’m feeling gloomy,” “Watch at least one movie each week,” “Buy a lovely plant for my desk” are resolutions that will carry you toward those abstract goals.

3. Ask: “Am I a ‘yes’ resolver or a ‘no’ resolver?” Some people resent negative resolutions. They dislike hearing “don’t” or “stop” (even from themselves) or adding to their list of chores. If this describes you, try to find positive resolutions: “Take that dance class,” “Have lunch with a friend once a week.” Or maybe you respond well to “no.” I actually do better with "no" resolutions; this may be related to the abstainer/moderator split. A lot of my resolutions are aimed at getting me to stop doing something, or to do something I don’t really want to do -- such as Don't expect gold stars. There’s no right way to make a resolution, but it’s important to know what works for you. As always, the secret is to know your own nature.

4. Ask: “Am I starting small enough?” Many people make super-ambitious resolutions and then drop them, feeling defeated, before January is over. Start small! We tend to over-estimate what we can do over a short time and under-estimate what we can do over a long time, if we make consistent, small steps. If you’re going to resolve to start exercising (one of the most popular resolutions), don’t resolve to go to the gym for an hour every day before work. Start by going for a ten-minute walk at lunch or marching in place once a day during the commercial breaks in your favorite TV show. Little accomplishments provide energy for bigger challenges. Push yourself too hard and you may screech to a halt.

5. Ask: “How am I going to hold myself accountable?” Accountability is the secret to sticking to resolutions. That’s why groups like AA and Weight Watchers are effective. There are many ways to hold yourself accountable; for example, I keep a Resolutions Chart. Accountability is why #2 is so important. If your resolution is too vague, it’s hard to measure whether you’ve been keeping it. A resolution to “Eat healthier” is harder to track than “Eat salad for lunch three times a week.”