Meeting Goals

Since I haven't blogged in almost 2 months, going over my 31 before thirty-one list seemed like a good way to catch up:

4. Write out my testimony of accepting Jesus Christ.  -DONE!
27. Be tan before the summer family reunion.  -DONE!
28. Fly in a plane.  -DONE!
29. Buy a new bathing suit.  -DONE!
30. Go swimming.  -DONE!

And there are a few more in the works that will hopefully be coming to fruition in the next couple months:

3. Make a family spending plan/budget.
6. Save $1000.
10. Pay off a credit card.
16. Get my passport renewed.
17. Build a sand castle.
26. Host a party.

Check out my other blog, Parsonage Project to see what else has been going on :)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Due to my lack of Mexican heritage, I view Cinco de Mayo as yet another excuse for me to eat tacos... like I really need the motivation

(I love tacos!!)

But this was a nice twist and I wish I had know about it before today, because then everyone, and I do mean everyone, would have gotten one of these delicacies:



Courtesy of RecipeGirl.com



Margarita Cupcakes!!  Olay!

  

Tea Party

This past weekend was the annual Mother's Day Brunch at my church and this year we incorporated a tea party theme to the festivities.  Everyone was invited to bring their favorite tea cup and we had a little table and little chairs set up for the little girls to have a tea party with apple juice and chocolate milk.  It was so incredibly adorable and we all loved it.  I was also asked to speak and that was a very challenging experience (I get so nervous) but also quite rewarding as I overcame my fears.

With regards to crafting and creativity, the day made me think that I really should acquire a functional (yet elegant) tea set and have ladies over for crafting and tea get-togethers.  I also was thinking how amazing it would be to actually paint china!  I can't draw or paint, but what an amazing skill to have.



Courtesy of Roses & Teacups



Royal Wedding Giveaway!

My friend Katie over @ *explanation required is hosting a wedding giveaway... royal style!!

Click here and follow her directions to be entered into her giveaway

Good Luck :)

Yummy in My Tummy

If all goes according to plan, this is what I'll be baking tonight...



Picture courtesy of Zoey Cakes



I stumbled across this fabulous idea from Cupcakes Take the Cake so check out their blog.  This is from a local upstate New York bakery Zoey Cakes and I have every intention of making a minimum of two dozen Cadbury creme egg filled cupcakes!  Maybe more, depending on how far I can stretch the cake batter.  Pictures to come later!! :)

For the Love of Royalty

Ok, this just made me smile:



Patterns available in paperback or electronic download

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding by Fiona Goble

Now I really don't think I'll be taking the time to knit an entire royal wedding scene, but if someone else does then more power to you and I really want to know! :)  With pictures, please send me pictures!

And if someone out there wants to get really creative and make a video with your knitted royal wedding participants, go for it!  Don't forget to post it on YouTube, it might go viral.

Memorial

In memory of Gillian Brown, who would have been 12 years old today, I wanted to share this organization that was so encouraging to my cousins during their time of sorrow.

Their mission is to 'touch the little lives' of need premature and newborn infants in Ohio, to do all that they can to give families, free of any charge, the necessities that every newborn needs.  The volunteers make quilts, blankets, caps, booties, gowns, undershirts, afghans, bibs, sleepers, and other articles.

Unfortunately there is one additional need that is sadly met within the communities.  For reasons known only to God, many children arrive into this world prematurely, weighing less than a pound.  These tiny babies are called to join their Heavenly Father.  Instead of being able to rejoice at this new life, the sad reality is that the families must now provide for a single outfit in which to lay their precious child to rest.  At this difficult time, when parents should be happily shopping at toy stores for rattles or toys for their child, they are instead looking for doll clothing small enough to fit.  Volunteers respond during this time of grieving by providing burial layettes to these families for their child.

Each year literally hundreds upon hundreds of premature and needy babies are admitted to the local Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).  The extremely small size of many of these infants makes it difficult to find clothing that fits, and when it can be found, is often beyond the affordable range of many families.  Every item provided is completely free of charge and no one in this organization receives any salary or compensation for their work.  Every penny donated is spent on providing for these little lives.

If you think you can help make something, even just this once in memory of Gillian, check out the website: http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/help.html