Sunshine for your Sunday

Source: goinghometoroost.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Happy Sunday!

Arise and Shine Forth

We needed a new mutual theme poster! Each year our church picks a theme for the youth to focus on.  We loved having a poster of last years theme up in our young women's room so I made a fun and sparkly one for this year.  It is available in the Ruffled Sunshine Shop in several different sizes.  It is also comes in black.   

I hadn't really picked a "word" for this year but after putting this together I think I am going to go with SHINE.   It makes me smile and think of the sun, sparkly things and being a shining light to those around me.  Maybe even help me go out on a limb every now and then.   How about you.  Have you picked a "word" for this year?

Have a fabulous weekend!

PB & J popcorn

  Snow days need a special treat don't you think?

Our favorite popcorn is covered in peanut butter caramel and tossed with peanuts and craisins.  Perfect to snuggle up and play Star Wars Legos with after a hard day of playing in the snow.  Of course its not just for winter days, it disappears before I can turn around when our family comes to hang out any time of the year.  

PB & J Popcorn

16 cups popped popcorn

1 cup sugar

1 cup honey

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup peanuts

1 cup {or more} craisins

Place popped popcorn in a large bowl, big enough to stir everything together in.  In a heavy saucepan, heat sugar and honey over medium heat, stirring constantly.  When it starts to boil, cook and stir 2-5 minutes more.  Less time if you like softer caramel popcorn and longer if you like it crunchy.   Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and peanuts.  Pour the peanut butter caramel over the popcorn, tossing and stirring to coat.  Add the craisins, stirring to mix everything together.   Then spread it out on wax paper to cool.   I like to snack on it while its still warm for the ultra gooey caramel.  Break in to pieces to seve. Store in an airtight container.

I'd make it for those rosy cheeks any day!

Be 2012.

In case you missed it in 2011.  Per your requests I've updated my Be subway art to help you BE in 2012.  

8x10

16x20

Happy Sunday

Source: elembee.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

For my friend C.  Hope you have a better day.  Love you.

Inspire Me. Fitness

Yay for snow days!  We had our first real snow here yesterday and are loving it.  Honestly I was just beginning to think I could get used to this kind of winter we had been having. The no snow kind of winter that just has you biding your time until spring.  Oh well.  We got our sled on and even got the bonus of having Darin stay home with us in the middle of the week.  Today we are staying warm inside and getting a lot done.   

When we were sledding yesterday I was so excited that I wasn't huffing and puffing my way up the hill.  All those early mornings with my friend Mandy have been paying off!  If you are needing a little extra motivation, a new workout or just want to be a little bit healthier here are some things I've been checking out lately.  

U Can Do It is a website that has all different kinds of exercises, motivatition and tips.  Well just like any exercise website I guess.  My fave is 22 Best Exercises for a Perfect Butt.

Source: blogilates.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Blogilates.  

I love her printables.  Do one 4 times or pick four different ones and you have a great workout.  

Source: bodyrock.tv via Jennifer on Pinterest

Bodyrock.tv 30 day challenge.  

Seriously hard core.  I think I'm starting this when I'm done with what I'm currently doing.

Source: singforyoursupperblog.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Green Smoothies.  Are you a fan?  We are.  Ours currently consist of blueberries, a banana, spinach, milk, vanilla greek yogurt and a tablespoon of ground flax.  

My Fitness Pal.  

I have never been one for counting calories.  Or weighing myself for that matter.  Enter Iphone and you want to do all kinds of fun things with all those fun apps.  My sister in law told me about this one and I actually love it.  You can scan barcodes from what you are eating, add your own recipes and track your excercise.  Love it.  You should do it.   You have to be honest though!

Source: imgfave.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Pinterest and my Iphone.

 I love all these photo exercises you can find on Pinterest.  So I saved some to my phone.  Then if I want to add a few more minutes of exercise to my day I can just pick one and do it.  

What are some of the things you have been trying that work for you?!

Five Gratefuls. 1.17.12

Darin's Grandma passed away today after a long battle with cancer at age 91.  So today I am grateful for...

... eternal families.  Just about 6 months after her hubs passed away Grandma is reunited with the love of her life in Heaven.  That makes me happy.  

... that we were able to go up to Royal City to see Grandma on Sunday one last time.  To see her with her quick wit in her final moments are good memories to treasure.  Reminding me exactly why we moved here.

... That Ivy gets to know her great grands on this earth.  Even if its for just a little bit.   And that she can have photos like this to remind her.

...That I was able to know such an amazing woman who was a perfect example of faith, determination, hard work, and how to love the Lord.  She was a tiny little thing who had always surprised me with her strength {riding horses in her 90's!} and her sassy sense of humor.  La la love you Idris.

...

Random Me.

{ I think there is an in between about everyone.  Here I share mostly the surface stuff and sometimes I spill my guts with the deep stuff.  The middle stuff, not so much.  So here is some random-ness about me in case you were curious about my in between.} 

I don't really wear much makeup.  I just don't really care.  Although now that I'm in my thirtys { ACK!!} not just 30 I probably should care more.  The one thing I can't go without is mascara.  One time I bought a really expensive one and promptly got pink eye so I had to throw it away.  Then a couple of years ago I got some eyelash extensions from my cousin.  Wouldn't you know I'm one of the very few is is allergic to the dang glue.  No fun.  So yeah I stick to the cheap stuff.  I guess it keeps me humble.  Right now I'm loving Maybelline Illegal Lengths.  Best part?  It comes off SUPER easy.  

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I've had the same wallet for 12 years.  Its an old Hurley one that has a leopard  H.  It is perfect and I can't find another perfect one to replace it for the life of me.  I've looked.  Good thing its holding up well.  Like surprisingly well.  Its probably one of the things I have owned the longest in my entire life.  

+++

I play the piano.  Surprise!  Sorry friends, its just not something you go around telling people at church.  Then they ask you to play at church.  So don't go telling anyone at church.  

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People ask me all the time how I got into sewing.  I got a sewing machine for Christmas about 6 years ago and when I was pregnant with Ivy I started by sewing blankets.  Straight lines are the easy part, but the best part is the fabric!  That is what really got me excited about sewing.  I found a cute little fabric store down the road from our house in Denver and it opened a whole other world of fabrics outside of JoAnns {which for the record has come a LONG way in the past couple of years}.  Then when Ivy was a baby I started making clothes for her.  My Mom and my MIL are both excellent seamstresses so they were a big help every time I had a question.  Its actually one of my New Years goals to get back to sewing a bit more this year.  

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Pizza is my most favorite food.  Ever.  Of all.  Even more than apples which are my favorite fruit.  And even more than licorice, my favorite candy.  And just so you know Hot Lips in Portland is the best place to eat pizza.  

Five Gratefuls | 1.9.12

Today I am grateful for

... the most wonderful time of the year.  The holidays were magical and I savored every minute.  I'm sad to see them go but I'm excited for a new year and lots of new adventures! 

... Ivy playing with my hair.  I LOVE it when someone plays with my hair, and having someone volunteer to do it?  Even better.  

... my husband not losing his patience with me at how long it is taking me to get all the Christmas decorations down.  It just seems so bleak after its all done.  Although the new rug that I ordered for my birthday way back in October should FINALLY be coming this month.  {Its been backordered forever!}

... seeing the sun.  It can get pretty grey in the winter and seeing the sun make an appearance always makes me smile.

... results.  They are the perfect motivation to keep going!!

Happy Monday!

Inspire Me. Fonts

Hello!  How was your holiday?!  I hope it was magical.  We are just getting back in to the swing of things after being on vacation for a week and a half.  Which mostly means I have tons of laundry to do.  I really need to tackle that but instead I'm searching for fonts.  Apparently a girl can't have too many.  If you are looking for some new ones here are some I've downloaded in the past few weeks either from Font Squirrel or Lost Type Co Op.  

Blanch | Sofia | Matchbook | Homestead | Wisdom Script 

{p.s.  Yes, Sophia is Sofia}