Christmas Wishes

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas, if you didn't receive one of these babies in the mail, it's either cuz I don't know you, or maybe because I didn't mail a single one... yeah, me and the mail aren't good friends. Licking envelopes and placing stamps and addressing stuff, just a little bit out of my leauge, so why get a Christmas card made, really I don't know! Maybe only because my kids look so stinkin' cute in these pictures!

So this post is my Christmas card to you all, late per usuall! But heartfelt just the same! And I will be posting a december recap shortly, since blogging has not been in the equation of an already crazy december! Love, peace and joy! Because He came!
Your Old Time friend, Cyndi

Sew Thankful!

Sooo apparently 1000's of you tried to comment on your many turkey mishaps and somehow they were never approved, not that I don't approve, it's just the dumb blogger server that doesn't approve. Well hopefully I'll get it figured out one day cuz I'd love to hear from some of my readers, especially you mom ;)

But in the meantime I'm showing off Emmy's thanksgiving dress which turned into my 2009 mishap... true she tried it on for these pictures, but it never made it with us on thanksgiving day, it just sat on the fence all alone and exposed to the elements, after I lovingly crafted it with care, it was utterly alone!

So instead of pouting, which I really, really wanted to do, I chose to be thankful for about a million, no trillion other blessings in my life.

I actually decided that I was going to direct my thoughts towards all I was thankful for instead and I started to list off everything off, and it got kinda ridiculous! I can't believe how blessed I am, and not having a silly dress for Emmy to wear was seriously dumb to fret over!

So the saying is true, next time you're feeling blue, just count your many blessings... I think there's a saying about that... right?

Thanksgiving mishaps...

I thought it would be fun for people to share some of their horror stories from Thanksgiving's past... not like the time your dog died Thanksgiving morning, that's a little too horrific, I mean like the time you cooked your first turkey... Martha style! And decorated it with crab apples and rosemary and your sweet Mom carried it to the table on a plastic platter, and this happened....

I mean that kind of horror story.... hope you'll share, that way I won't feel as bad about mine...

By the way, we did eat it. I know, I know, but what are you supposed to do!

So the following is a public service announcement: "Ahemm.... when cooking a gorgeous, perfectly golden turkey for your adoring family this Thanksgiving don't place the hot turkey on a plastic platter, in fact just don't use plastic anyways, it's ugly and poisons you :)"
Just doing my part to ensure a really thankful Thanksgiving!

Give more presence this year!

I love how in life you go through seasons, and you don't have to be stuck with those feathered bangs or shoulder pads for the rest of your life! Thank God for that! Or roller blades, seriously, remember how crazy people were over those things! OK and remember finger watches! What the heck! There's a huge list of less than meaningful crapola that we've all purchased, so I won't beat you up with it (treasure trolls) here... but I will say that I'm super thankful that in this season of my life I'm so over being a consumer. Maybe it took the economy taking a turn for the worse, or maybe it was my Cute Kiwi saying to me (way before the recession hit), " you never really need anything, you just want something new." Oh man, was he so right! Or maybe it was God graciously showing me my pile of "good intended for others" next to my pile of "what you ended up spending on yourself." Not sure if you got the picture, but the later pile was huge in comparison... woops...

I'm sure there's a ton of you out there that are actually way more anti-consumerism than I am and could kick my well meaning little butt, but you gotta start somewhere and I'm gonna try to remove the woops from my spending vocabulary. I think I'm finally where it's not all about what I should do to be a good girl, it's actually what I wanna do, I'm growing up I guess. I'm enjoying so much what God has done for me in my life and the life of my family, that I don't wanna focus on myself as much, the things Jesus has asked me to do in His word I want to do because His love compels me! I guess the simple equation for me is "less time spending = more presence I can give" And no that is not a typo, the older I get the more I realize my possessions can be a burden, and it's not more stuff that we need. We being those in the western world wealthy enough to have a computer and Internet subscriptions to read this by... but what we need to give is time spent, being present in others lives, or it's actually giving to someone who is poor and in need. That's the stuff that's gonna last a lot longer than that laser pointer you just had to have!
So as you watch this video, which I hope you do, I hope it won't spark condemnation, but true gratitude for what He has given, and I hope you'll find joy in giving presence this Christmas season!

If you're looking for any ideas on way's you can give presence this year go to http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com and check out some of their great ideas!
And I hope it's clear I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty for spending money! Cuz let's face it, a coupon for a massage for Aunty Mable just wont cut it. But I do want to encourage everyone to think about stepping outside of consumerism, to be thoughtful about different meaningful ways you can give and bottom line: to enjoy doing it!

bye for now

Water for Christmas

Did you know... 1 in 6 people don't have access to clean water! That's 1.1 billion people... and we can do something about it!

I'm so thankful to have learned about this grass roots movement Charity: Water they are a group of selfless and committed people who haven't settled for just lamenting over the heartbreak and suffering in the world, they are doing something about it! and I want to share their wonderful mission with you and encourage you to make your first gift this Christmas to someone who actually needs it, unlike your cousin's boyfriends dog... just saying....

Water for Christmas is a movement bringing both awareness and real "on the ground" change to Africa's water crisis.

They see no reason for 4500 mothers to bury children every day! for lack of clean water. And in most places, clean water flows just below the surface. With a little help, local African communities can tap into safe, clean water. Helping provide clean water and basic sanitation is thus one of the first and simplest steps to ending water-borne diseases and their accompanying cycle of poverty in the world.

All money donated goes directly to charity: water who in turn uses 100% of their donations to drill for fresh water. They'd love for you to partner with them by making donations directly to charity: water, which you can do here.
All donations are tax-deductible.

"There are two primary choices in life; to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." (Denis Waitley)

Isaiah 58: 6-7: puts it this way- “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? When you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Your $10 will buy clean water for one person for 10 years! 10 years people!! I can guarantee no one will be wearing that tie you bought them, or using those fuzzy slippers 10 years from now!

I've purchased my first Christmas gift today and I hope you'll do the same, in light of the economy these days, it seems many us have been awoken from our consumer induced coma and are seeing what is necessary and what is just plain ridiculous, I hope that we will all see how incredibly blessed and RICH we are, and that maybe the kind of fasting that God is asking of us is to not buy a latte today, or the 10th sweater to go with that pair of shoes you know you spent too much on, and do something with our money that counts!

Jesus said to love our neighbor as our selves... I'm pretty sure that if we didn't have clean water to put in our babies bottles or cook our pasta with we would do everything we could to get it flowing into our homes, lets be compassionate and do the same for precious people, created in the image of God who are suffering... remember it's not that we have to help, WE GET TO!

Now go and make me proud... after all who really needs another nose hair trimmer.

Confessions of a Bad Blogger Pt. 1

Last week, you remember... when I was grovelling , hoping someone was still reading, I said that I might tell you later why I had been such a bad blogger... so here it goes.

I guess you could say it all comes down to the fact that I starting praying for my block. Let me 'splain....
This summer our pastor and elders encouraged us to go for evening walks with our family and start praying for our neighbors, in an effort to really start loving our neighbors as our selves....
Well on my walks I really felt like I wanted to start setting aside a couple hours a week to make myself available to my neighbors if there was anything they needed prayer for or just anything in general, little did I know I wouldn't just be doing something a couple hours a week.

The very next week we got the news that my neighbor of 32 years, Frank was in the hospital with pretty serious cancer.
Frank was released a few days later and came home to no one. Frank was a very grumpy guy that had alienated everyone in his life, especially his family.
The first night Frank was home, he said he had never been so scared in his life, he said he had been bombed in WWII and never as scared as he was that night.
Our hearts went out to this man, who for most of my life had been mean, crotchety, vengeful and on rare occasions cordial...
Let me give you a little back round on the cordial part... haha
I remember about 12 years ago Frank yelling across the lawn to me, "Cynthia, you'd be a beautiful girl, if you just learned to push away from the table..."
Or there's the time I made him a pie for his birthday and he told me "Don't ever make me one of those again, I gained 2 pounds..."
So you get the idea.... but we offered to help get him sorted with getting his house clean, a live in care taker, meals on wheels, funeral arrangements... the list goes on... It ended up being much more than a few hours a week.
It was so amazing to see this man, who for most of my life, I had lived in fear of, linger when I hugged him or held his hand... or even tear up when he told me stories of some of his personal achievements or about the day his ashes would be scattered at sea.

I want to tell you more about my time with Frank before he died, but I'll leave it at that for today, but before I go I want to introduce you to a web site that is hosted by CATALYST an organization in IL that is trying to encourage people to actively engage in praying for their neighbors.
It's called Pray 4 Your Block, their aim is to encourage people to be actively praying for their neighbors and when you sign up a flag is raised on the map to encourage you and others of who is praying near you...
As you can see right now I'm the only one in CdM, actually maybe in Orange County, and I know there are many of you already praying so raise your flag!
This has been such an amazing season for our family, in actually doing what we believe and what Jesus asked us to, praying for our enemies, loving our neighbor as ourselves, we have been so blessed... but more on that to come....

Free Books Yippee!

So I told you a few months ago about a free book on Christian Audio.com called Crazy Love, and I have to say, and I know I'm no book critic, but it is one of thee best books on Christian living I've ever read. I was challenged to my core and so encouraged, but it's not free anymore, but whatever it cost, buy it, you'll thank me.

BUT there is another awesome book for free this month called Desiring God, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper... Click Here to check it out, what do you have to lose... it's free and someone will read it to you! win, win!
Just doin' my part to get you cool free stuff... check ya later.

a Pumpkin for your Protection

Ok... I seriously don't believe in stuff like that, but if I did, this is the pumpkin I want out in front of my house... Jesus looks so serious on this pumpkin... My good friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, carved this today for the pumpkin carving contest at our harvest festival for church, which is totally appropriate right? Except for the fact that we couldn't light it and it just looked like a bunch of weird punched out spaces. But then you put the light in and it's like, WOAH, it's Jesus!

In other news, Mike and I were "the kiss" for Halloween... He's so cute, especially when he dresses like a sailor, plays the standup bass, guitar, drums, (really any instrument, except maybe tuba) or kisses my kids!Stay safe, you can always borrow my pumpkin if you need to...

Not that anyone is still reading...

I know, I know... I shouldn't even be allowed to have a blog, since I have so neglected it for the last couple months...
If by some chance you're still reading this, one day maybe soon I'll fill you in on why I've been such a bad blogger...
But for now I offer "the way I am" as a cheerful offering of good faith, that I won't be as bad of a blogger as I've been and thanks for still loving me the "way I am!"

This is my husband Mike and I performing at a friend's wedding... so fun!
My husband's so handsome when he plays the upright bass!
Sorry it's a little dark...

Ben, Josh's Dad interviewed about Tsunami

This is an interview with Josh's Dad, Ben Taufua ... I can't believe how heart breaking this is.
Ben is sharing about losing 11 of his family members and the extent of the damage to the family resort.
Please, please continue to keep the Taufua's in your prayers!

Samoan Tsunami, devastating news, please pray!

Hey guys, I've been doing really bad at the whole having a blog thing lately as my schedule has gotten really full with trying to provide care for my dying neighbor. Ironically that's not the really bad news.
My children's God-parents, Josh and Sara currently live in New Zealand, but Josh is of Samoan decent. I'm sure most of you have by now heard about the Tsunami that has ravaged the Samoan islands, and sadly it has devastated his family.

He has lost 10 family members so far including his Grandfather, Aunties, Cousins, some of who were just babies... And there are still others unaccounted for. One of the horrible stories of his cousin Sina, losing her three children is told Here...


Josh rushed to the airport with his father Ben last night in hopes of getting to their families resort pictured here.
With most of the roads believing to be inaccessible they were prepared to hike through the jungle, very steep terrain to get to his family's village. Some how they managed to make it there late last night, how we're not sure.
Josh sent a text to Sara saying "Power to the whole district is out and it feels like a ghost town. Houses destroyed everywhere. There's nothing left. Nothing left, no houses. I can't believe there are any survivors." I guess all I can say is please pray for Josh and Ben and the Tafua family... Nahum 1:7 came to mind (thanks In 'N Out) It says : "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."

Please pray that Josh and Ben wouldn't lean on their own understanding, but that they would trust in God look to Him for thier comfort and help. Thanks so much

Top 12! Australian Idol!

Seeing as how I am rarely on line these days... I have been totally clueless to the success of my sweet friend Timmy on Australian Idol! Hello!!! Top 12!!! It's so fun to watch him, he's doing so well and is such a gentleman! Go Timmy, we're so proud of you!

Check him out!

Lu Bird Baby: Owl Doll Tutorial with Guest Blogger Cyndi

Since I have so little time at the moment for my blog, I've decided it would be a good idea to blog for others?!
My good friend Kristin has a blog where you can find all things baby and toddler related, she's super driven and talented!
She asked me to share my owl doll tutorial there. So check out Lu Bird Baby and from there you can check out all her cute stuff she has for sale in her Etsy shop too!

I promise, a real a genuine post from the depths of my soul, coming very soon!

Mustache madness

So my Cute Kiwi and his little (but much taller) Kiwi brother had a birthday last week and in honor of their great manliness, we threw a mustache party and ate lots of meat (cuz that's so manly!?), mustache cake and mustache cake pops (definitely not manly)!

So manly!

(did you notice the mustache necklace! She's committed!)

Coolest girls with a stache I know!

(she's a brave lunch lady!)

There were felt mustache pins, and pens if you didn't have your own "stache", there we're even "staches on a stick", if you were too chicken to sharpie your self...

The pictures aren't great, but you get the idea!

Sneak Peak!

There's about to be a whole lotta mustache up in this blog...

Just thought I'd give you a little taste....

At least it wasn't a total loss...

This weekend we headed down to Crystal Cove which, lately has become a bit of a ritual... I get to walk about 4 miles so I can check off the "hobby" from my to do list and the kiddos get in some play time with the aunties.... BUT this weekend there was just no way I was gonna let anyone, even a 30 year old near the water! Dang those waves were scary! Beautiful, but scary!

(This just doesn't do them justice!)

So we walked a long, long way with no relief of the cool clear water for the long, long walk home.

But my good friend Laura brought her camera and captured some great photos!


So it wasn't a total loss...


she loves her uncle K-love...
And he loves her, so cute!

By the way, this is how Emmy winks!

My little buck-toothed beauty...

just where I like her, up away from certain peril!

Judah doing his "baby blue steel"... can't wait to see "magnum!"

If you haven't made a point of going down to Crystal Cove and you live in Southern California, do yourself a favor! I lived here for years and for a long time never bothered, I have no idea what I was thinking.

When you go here, there's definately a feeling of going back in time, it's like a ghost town on the beach, so charming! It has abandoned cottages lining the beach, complete with weathered boardwalk and picket fences!

There is even a little restaurant called the beachcomber, which occupies one of the old cottages, that serves it's food on Fiesta ware under palm leaf umbrellas while playing the tunes of the 40's! Love it!

Free audio books!

I wanted to pass on this valuable piece of information, incase like me you have no way of managing to accomplish all that you'd like to in this life-time. I want to be a reader, I long to be a good reader, but actually having the time to get anything read has proved very challenging for me in this season of my life. But now I have christianaudio.com !!
And they even give me a free book every month! They'll even give YOU a free book too... not cuz you're extra special or cuz I'm extra special, they're just really cool and they do that! They actually have lots and lots of free books and some really inexpensive one's as well... like only $1.98! This month I'm going to listen to "Crazy Love" on my phone when I work out...


I can't wait to actually get some "reading" done! It's not like no one's ever heard of an audio book, it just never really registered in my mom brain that it was an option for me in this busy season, so just incase you forgot that this kind of technology exists... bye for now

Hi-Ho! Cherry-O

A few years back, I found myself waiting in a very, very long line to get into what was going to be one of the biggest scores of my life... A rock concert where you met the Cute Kiwi, you ask? Nope... Must have been at an amusement park, and the Cute Kiwi was the ride attendant... Nope! (He would never ever be the ride attendant at an amusement park) No offense, I'm just not into Carnies...
Strangely enough I was waiting with tons of other people, who were also chomping at the bit, to get into one of the best rummage sales I've ever been to! And let me tell you, this one was a score! I love, love, love old people who never throw anything away, they make my life so much fun!

Well at this particular rummage sale, I was able to pick up a 1940's Gabardine Western Ware skirt with sequins and all! A 1950's Pendleton ladies coat, a 1950's wool coat and bonnet for Emmy, a 1950's Cookie maker set, 1940's Salt and Pepper Shakers, and the first edition of High-Ho! Cherry-O.... What a fun day... there were lots of other scores, but I won't bore you with the details

Fast forward 3 years and Emmy is finally old enough to understand the principals of playing a game, and playing to win...haha!

So all this morning we've played and we've played and now I remember why I loved this game so much as a kid!

Primary colors, cute little cherries, a spinney wheel with cute little pictures on it, and simple good ol' fashion competition! What fun!

what a little point and shoot can do!

I often find my self frustrated by the limitations being a frugal person presents me with, but then I get creative and I make do... and sometimes when I make do, it actually turns out great and I save myself a $1000 to boot! And this last week is no exception, for a long time I've been tempted by the idea of purchasing an SLR camera but have realized it's just a whim and not something that I really, really need.... I guess ever since I've been exposed to the blog world, I've realised the blogs I love the most have great photographs and I've longed to create my own great shots and express my self in that way... But then I started thinking to myself.... "self, you don't need a fancy camera, you live in 2009, where there's a answer for everything!" So I started googling "point and shoot tutorials" and found a few really helpful sites that have guided me in taking better photos... Here is one of the many I found....Photography Tutorial Point and Shoot Camera Layers Magazine ... Pioneer Woman Photography is also a great resource for learning lots about taking pictures, she uses an SLR but I've found that a lot of the principals are the same no matter what you're using... So scour and devour all her great knowledge that she passes on!

So I'm getting to know my little camera a lot better I actually kinda know what the different settings do now, and I'm starting to understand the importance of light and shadow in a good shot... so I'm reading more, learning more and trying and trying again... And this last week I got some really great shots! Yeah for frugality, creative resourcefulness, google and good lighting!

I got a little sweet gaze
a look of amazement at how awesome his mommy is

a coy smile

he thinks my canon's awesome!

she can't resist the squishy face either!

So the moral of the story is, if you can't afford a sweet SLR with lots a fancy lenses... learn more about your little point and shoot and keep trying, you might surprise yourself with what you can come up with!

Little Homestead in the City

There seems to be a shortage of Cyndi going around... Everyone is feeling the affects! My new hobby has been monopolizing my free time, thus if you need some Cyndi time, you might wanna put on your running shoes! Unfortunately I have not figured out an exercise to preform whilst watering my garden (any ideas?), thus it has never looked worse... Sorry Mom! At least I've harvested a few measly veggies and it wasn't a total write off... but when I start to feel sad about my little weed plot in the city I head over to Little Homestead in the City and I dream and I wish and I hope that one day I will manage to have a garden like the Derveas family... they are a family of 4 living on 1/5 of and acre in Pasadena CA that have cultivated 1/10 of their acreage and are managing to grow 10,000 pounds of produce a year! Hello people! 10,000 pounds on 1/5th of an acre... I'm a serious under achiever! Head on over to to check out the write up on a documentary that has been filmed about them and learn some more about this inspiring family! So until I manage to muster up some old fashioned gumption and add at least 6 more hours to the day... I'll have to pretend that the tomatoes I buy at the store that say vine ripe are actually vine ripened.... not just exposed to gasses while still atached to their vine... so sad...

My new hobby

Paper mache you ask... why no.... oh then, model plane making??? why never entered my mind... then surely it must be underwater basket weaving, Heck no! I haven't got time for any sort of shenanigans!
It's really just a ironic way of saying that I'm dieting again and I can't wait to exercise each and every day! Yeah! Well it is my number 1 well... number 4 priority... which for me is pretty high up on the list! And surprisingly once I get going, I do really enjoy myself, which for some reason my brain blocks out from any sort of rememberance even the very next day... why do you do this to me brain??? Exercise good, french fries bad.... say it 10 times! So anyways, my new favorite tool to help me maximize my new "hobby" is gmaps pedometer, Yeah! Check out my walking route in the town where I live... And who knows maybe you can make a route of your own if your thinking of taking up a new hobby! They've made it very simple to record and even save your favorite walking routes... but if you're anything like me, you need variety, so I use this little puppy to map out where I think I'll go on a given day and see if I've got enough muster in me to make it... another favorite route of mine is to Trader Joes down in Crystal Cove, but I think I may be a few weeks away from that one... I might need to replace some cheese on my thighs with muscle to power me that far to buy some more cheese... it's really all just a vicious cycle isn't it!
Exercise good, french fries bad.... say it guys!

A song for the Cute Kiwi

About a million years ago, at least it seems like it... my cute Kiwi of a husband and I were living in Australia, and he was not yet my husband or even close! We weren't even dating... but oh man did we wish we were! I've decided to post about our story here soon, it's cute, maybe encouraging and yes even romantic... (Mike sighs) so stay tuned for that, but in the mean time you can tune into a song I wrote for him Here . A friend helped me record it when I was home for a break, a whole ocean away, wondering if I'd ever see my cute Kiwi again... oh puppy love...

Oh that T-shirt, what ever happened to that T-shirt!

20 Second Testimonies

So I have been off the blogosphere radar for a little while now, with my computer crashing, my ministerial duties and a my children's god-parents in town from New Zealand it's been CRAZY! Seriously I think I'm making use of every single minute in the day to maximize my potential as super mom, it's really ridiculous, and I'm happy to say won't be carrying on this way forever!


BUT all that is to say, I couldn't wait to get online this morning and share with you all this new little "activity" (thanks Speeds) that I came up with.... I called it a game and I was reminded by my dear friend Speeds after we had completed my game that really it was an activity... so the idea... I think lots of us struggle with how to cultivate a culture where we talk about our faith and what God is doing in our lives freely, so I came up with 20 second testimonies.... Hebrews 10:23-25 was my inspiration...



Hebrews 10:23 NLT - Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 - Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. 25- And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.


So next time you're in a group setting or even one on one with someone, ask your friends to share in 20 seconds a neat story of God's power in their lives or a lesson that they've been learning recently. It's really a non threatening way to share what God has been doing in their lives... any one can manage 20 seconds... right? And most people once they get going can offer way more than 20 seconds... It's so important to build up one another and I think we can get really cynical and doubt God sometimes, but when we hear what He's doing in our friends lives, it can be so encouraging... Soooo stir it up... get the love and the faith flowing! Have the courage to present your friends with 20 second testimonies... you'll be so blessed and you'll help your friends remember what it's really all about!

CRASH!

I've always hated dust! I hate that moments after I've dusted my old house it has returned, I dust and I dust, and I'm dusted! And now I have even more reason to hate it! My computer has crashed! And the reason is DUST! So now, I'm going to be swallowed whole, by re-configuring my new computer with my old stuff.... argh! It's so inconvenient to have all this convenience!
So blog, I'll see you around sometime...

1940s House

I just finished watching a BBC program called 1940s House . If you haven't seen this amazing social experiment, it is worth every minute of it's 3 hours! I can say that I was truly ignorant of how life was for people during the war... I think for me I've always looked back with such an idilic perspective, I knew that people had to sacrifice and work hard, but I really had no idea to what lengths people went to make it during WWII! In this miniseries this family, the Hymers, applied to live in a house that was completely restored to late 30's early 40's fashion, which of course was better than disneyland for me! And they we're all given clothes and haircuts... no detail was missed. They even set up a store for them to shop at (which by the way, rarely had much in it!) and they had to make a bomb shelter and do regular bomb raiding exercises... it was wild!
The biggest reason I wanted to post about this show, was how incredibly inspiring it was to see how people went above and beyond the call of duty whilst living on practically nothing. This family, the Hymers, we're totally surprised by how hard things were and from time to time wanted to quit. But they stuck with it, and they were definately changed by the experience!

I've always thought that I would have been a totally awesome home front wife, but man I can't believe how hard it was for them... I have this idea that it would be so awesome to have my victory garden and make every meal from scratch everyday... all in my cute little house dress with my snood on and my red lips... (which they called the red badge of courage)
But I totally had the picture all wrong... imagine getting called in to your bomb shelter 17 times in one day! Try making a meal that day, let alone from scratch... so your in your bomb shelter for the 10th time that day and all you've managed to eat is some gray bread from the day before and your kids are crying that they're hungry and you can't get in to make them anything else... and then it hits you that you need to go to the bathroom... all while you hear bombs going off in the not too far distance....oh man!


I've always known that if a senario like WWII were to errupt today, we would be in serious trouble, because there are not many left today that would sacrifice like people did back then... but now after seeing this I know that we could do it, it's just a matter of buckling down and pushing hard through tough times...

So great! Get it on Netflix you won't be sorry... and you WILL look at your grandma and grandpa differently after this!

Proof!

So I had mentioned before that I had a fruit stand in front of my house, and any of you who have been over in the last few months, know that I'm not a bold face lier... but for the rest of you, here's the proof....

See you CAN trust your Old Time friend... and now you can buy fruit from her too! I know it's crazy! But maybe we'll cure world hunger with the proceeds or send Emmy to swim class so she doesn't "drain"...

Let's be real!

So I'm a girl who's committed to being transparent and I think in most situations I'm pretty uncomplicated, but I know for some people I can be overwhelming, which is sometimes complicated, but here's the deal, I like to be real and I love people who are willing to be also!

My sweet Mum-in-law is here visiting from New Zealand and we we're talking about a certain trend in where Mom's and wives can maybe give off the impression that they are accomplishing a little more that what's realistic... I mean who can make all their meals for the day from scratch in their perfectly gleaming house with a baby on thier hip and the other arm tied behind there backs (that's hard, I wouldn't recommend trying this) while they sew their 6 children's clothes without a pattern ;) ... and I'm not saying they can't do it, but are we being real here?

I'm not saying I don't like it when my friends jokingly call me Betty Crocker or Martha, but I don't ever want to give off the wrong impression that it's soooo easy and that I don't need any help... Let's face it, if you happen to be invited to the Weeks' for supper, I WILL have thought about what I'm gonna make for days and I will have spent extra time cleaning up my house than usual and I will spend most of that day preparing for you to come over... and hopefully I won't act like that's how we roll everyday...
I do have a really sweet friend, Janell and with her there's no pretense, if you're invited over your gonna eat what their family would eat every night and the house is gonna be like it always is, and I LOVE that about her, I love being invited over to be part of the family!

Now that doesn't mean that I'm pretensious, I just like to put my energy into making it really special for people to come over... It's an outlet for me I guess...

So I'm letting the cat out of the bag, I can't write 10 blog posts a day, bake fresh bread, make chicken piard for dinner and sew 5 slings in a day while doing crafts with my perfectly behaved children... Not saying that I wouldn't love to! I wish there was 50 hours in a day, I'd rule the world! But since that's not likely to happen I just have to pick and chose from day to day where my energy's spent and some days that's on cleaning and other's it on blog posts or sewing... but I just wanna keep it real for all you moms out there, we can't do it all... so don't feel like you have to convince everyone that you can! I mean I love the idea of the perfect 50's housewife, but she doesn't really exist, only in our imaginations...

Just keepin' it real...