Summer Updates......

picture by Johnnie Snow

Well, where did this month go? I have no idea. Kids got outta school alright. They all got great grades and moved up to their appropriate grades. I now have a 12th grader, a 9th grader and a 5th grader and one college student.

Right after school Johnnie, Maddie and I headed off to girls camp to a place called Taylor Ranch up in Pine, Arizona. I went as a Stake Leader, it was great fun although it is the dustiest, dirtiest place I have ever camped at. The leaders arrived a day earlier and the dust was about 4 inches deep, by the time the other girls get there they had been watering it down regularly so it was a little better. All in all, it was a great time. I am so glad I have been lucky enough to be there with my girls.

We got home from camp and headed to Roosevelt, a big lake about an hour and a half way. We camped with a bunch of our friends for a few days. Had a ball but needless to say, when we got home the girls and I had our fair share of camping. I did not take a single photo to share of the lake. G-o-m-e-r. It is purely a boating trip, it is very hot and you want to be in the water the whole time or you die. You really do, just keel over and die. We are lucky to have friends with boats.

Upon coming home from the lake, we rushed around and got Scott ready to take his Young Men on a 3 day canoe trip down the Colorado river. He loved it, they had a great time. They take off in Blythe and take out in Yuma. I worried about him the whole time and shouldn't have, they were having a ball.

While Scott was gone I decided to have the house painted on the inside. It looks fabulous. It is creams and whites. I am ditching the red and green that I have had for almost 10 years. Yehaw! Now I am gradually putting the house back together. It is going to be a long project! I will have to post updates.

As far as my schooling, I was registered to take a placement test then canceled it because I was feeling overwhelmed. I have yet to reschedule it but I have to do so! I was thrown for a real loop when last month right before I was to leave to camp I got a new calling in church. They put me in today as Young Women's president. What? I was shocked and feel very inadequate but will forge through. They released Scott today, he ended it with a bang and is feeling relieved. I just don't want my calling to interfere with my school! And vice a versa. I am thinking I will just go at a little slower pace! But UGH! I was a lil frustrated! I hope this doesn't make me sound haggish!

Well, that is an update! I am busy planning the Snow family reunion at the end of July, and planning a short pilgrimage up to Idaho and Utah in the middle of July! Happy happy summer! Love to you all! Mamie

Oh Yeah.......

Aren't these wonderful? Sadly they are all spoken for. The Black one belongs to my friend Dawn at Sassy Talk. I had to fix it for her, One is my friend Kates, one belongs to my Auntie Kathy and the rest are headed down to Cali to Bonnie's shop, Junk in the Trunk. I blogged about it in my last post. Hope you are all doing great!

XOXO~ Mamie

Grass Valley California

my sister Connie, me, my grandma and my sister Lori

I haven't taken the time to blog about California yet. Scott and I went at the end of April to celebrate my Grandma's 90th Birthday. She is such a cutie. We had a great time celebrating with my family. My mom's family are a rowdy bunch. They can party with the best of them that is for sure! I think my grandma was pleased. It was fun watching her interact with friends that knew my Grandpa who passed away 26 years ago.

Scott and I took a lot of time together just to be alone. It was nice, we need to do that more often. We walked around the town of Grass Valley, went antiquing. Found some great spoons for rings and found the cutest little shop called Junk in the Trunk. The shops owner Bonnie is the nicest lady who is so talented. She has an eye for vintage and has such a fun way of packaging things. She wraps the item in a pattern instead of tissue and then her bags are paper popcorn bags. Everything in her store was like that. Just, unique, clever and so much fun!

Bonnie is going to start selling my bracelets in her shop as well as spoon rings. I am excited, as I consider it an honor that she approves of my jewelery to be sold in her darling shop!

It was hard to come home, we left the kids on their own for the first time and they did great. We just needed a few more days alone together. Scott take note of this!

Hope you have a great day!

XOXO~Mamie

Summa's A Comin

[photo from The Old Painted Cottage]

Ahhh, we are revamping our home. It is about time, I haven't really done much since the first year we have lived here. I am in love with this blog. Jenn's style is right up my alley, it's somewhere between Romantic Prairie and Industrial Vintage. I am excited to get going on mine. I splurged on Amazon and purchased this book, this book and this book. I love them all. I will keep you posted on the updates. Paint is first, and Scott is adding some moulding to our living room windows. It should look great! It is cool and stormy here today. I LOVE IT! Feels somewhat normal! Hope you are well!

XOXO~Mamie

Big Announcement......(.At The Bottom of Post)

golden scholar Johnnie

I have been having anxiety lately. More than usual I guess. I feel like I have a lot of irons in the fire, which I come by very naturally. My Dad is the worst at that. I am soooo much like him in soooo many ways, but this by far is our most similar character trait.

I love to create. I really do. I would love to be motivated enough to have one of those amazing blogs that I follow and be able to post everyday interesting stuff that people would love to read and follow me. It would be so fun to be the subject of conversation, "oh I got that idea off of Mamie's" but as nice as that would be, I do not think that is in the cards for me. Lots of reasons why that is, but I will spare you the boring details. You are probably thinking, so....you can still blog but not have to be a famous blogger. That is true, I agree, 100%!

I don't like feeling that I am doing this half way. I don't like feeling like it is not my best and it's not. That is honest.

I love this blog lately. This is what I intended mine to be, but instead I think I will just enjoy the many, many, many resources out their to inspire, encourage and uplift me on a daily basis.

So am I quiting Mamie's?

No, not really. I think Mamie's will probably go towards more of my real treasures and turn into more of my family blog. Because really, my treasures are those guys. I just have to watch myself with this, for being a person whose mouth runs constantly and who lacks a decent filter to say the least. I don't know how much personal I want to share. I know, strange, I don't get it either.

But, you still need to exercise your creative outlet you say?

Yes, therefore my facebook page and etsy shop will stay open. I still make my beautiful bracelets and have so many sitting on my counter right at this moment waiting to be assembled. And the spoon rings that are almost polished are to die for. Having a hard time parting with some!

And now for the biggest and best announcement for me.

This fall I will be going back to school full time. I have been fighting this for years and have had some rather touching, but strong personal revelation just as of late that now is the time to do this.

I don't know what kind of toll this is going to take on us. I am certain however that I need to get in, get out and get it done. I know I am not supposed to drag this out. Hence the full time.

What I am going to be?

A Teacher. I think kindergarten or first grade. I don't know why that age is important to me but it is. I think it is because I secretly still want to nibble their little fingers, although I would never do that. How embarrassing!

That is what I started 23 years ago and that is what I shall be. My patriarchal blessing told me that when I was 17 years old. If you don't know what that is, click here. I always just thought that by influencing children through church or volunteering at the school would be sufficient, but it is not. I am supposed to do more.

Now is the time.

Teacher, teacher, what do you see?

I see children looking at me!

XOXO~ Mamie

Can You Stand It?

I am a HUGE sucker for a royal wedding! I love all the hype and speculation that is made over this handsome couple! However I am out of town this week and am unsure if I will be able to watch the actual event. Hence the reason I just cleared a ton of minutes off of my DVR and have it all set to record. I just need to leave strict instructions for the kids, I can envision Corm coming downstairs and canceling the recording to get his daily Sponge Bob fix. The horror! So I think I may tape a note to the Tele (just getting in the mood) warning any who dare not to cancel The Today Shows 6 plus hours on Friday morning!

It was 30 years ago this July that one of my sisters friend who had HBO let me come over and watch Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in the middle of the night. It pure splendor and what every little girl could ever dream of in a wedding. So glorious, I remember like it was yesterday! I also ached and wept all alone during the broadcast of the same Princesses funeral almost 2 decades later. Scott kept waking up and asking me if I was Ok, it just had an effect on me, I am not sure why, I just felt a certain attachment as did millions of others.

So yes, I am one of many who am anxiously awaiting this royal union. I wish them all the best. I really do hope they have much happiness. Their task is not an easy one that is for sure!

Love to you, have a wonderful week!

XOXO~ Mamie

Profound.....with a little brag.....

Ok, I am going to brag for a second. I have amazing children. I really do. They can be big pains in the rear sometimes but for the most part they are amazing and thank heavens they got their father's brains because they are all really really smart too.

Ok....enough bragging. I hate to do it. It is obnoxious but I needed to say it out loud. I came across this quote off a program for Ry's school the other day. (she was getting recognized for her smarts) more bragging, sorry, the smarts don't come from me though so is that really bragging?

Anyways, back to the quote.

"Keep people away who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain

Now, here is my spin on that. It is a great saying. But you don't want to go through life keeping "small people" away from you. Or even thinking that way. I don't think it is good for your soul.

Be great enough to be happy, love, encourage and want the best for all who come into your life. Stifle, the "natural" feelings of jealousy that come to you because you are in fact human and jealously is a part of being human.

About once a month or so, I have to do a re-check of my systems, to refuel my soul. If I don't I find it is experiencing feelings of jealously, anger, insecurity and I take offense way to easily.

By doing simple maintenance of my soul, heart and mind I am able to be great. Be happy. And love and support those nearest and dearest to me.

Just some food for thought. Now go have a wonderful day.

XOXO~Mamie

Swim Wear! Veddy Nice!

So Meg's went out yesterday and purchased this adorable swimsuit. She looks sooooo cute in it. It is a little revealing in the front. I told her how flattering it was, but when you are her age and swimming with members of the opposite sex ya kind of gotta watch what you are wearing. Men do strange things when confronted with such situations. She agreed, we were just standing in the kitchen talking and in walks Corm. He sits down at the counter and starts eating. He glances over at Meg.

Another quick glance, then another. Then he shielded his eyes.

Question answered, it could use a little adjustment.


Have a great weekend!

XOXO~Mamie

I'm Still Here!

Don't worry, just some issues with photobucket! I am still here, be posting something soon! Have a wonderful wonderful Wednesday!

XOXO~Mamie

The Apron

The principal of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was easier to wash aprons than dresses besides they used less material but along with that it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears and on occasion cleaning out a few dirty ears. From the chicken coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, chicks and sometimes half hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came those aprons proved to be ideal hiding places for shy children. And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big ol aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over a hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled it carried out the hulls. In the fall it carried in the apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron and the men that were working in the fields knew it was time to come in for dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something to replace that "old time apron" that had so many purposes. ~Author unknown

My sister sent that e-mail forward to me years ago, I hung onto it, knowing there would be a time to share.

I love my aprons, they keep me from looking all crusty. I often put one on about 3 pm and don't take it off until dinner is served or later. For another good article on the apron go here.

XOXO~Mamie

Strawberry Trifle

Tis the season, for strawberries! YUMMO! I can't get enough of these wonderful, beautiful berries! Here is a recipe that I love using these little red gems. I got it years ago from my friend Sharla Wilcox. I have tweaked it a little over the years and think I have finally gotten the perfect sweetness/tartness combination!

You will need the following ingredients: 3 quarts of sliced fresh strawberries
2 packages of strawberry danish dessert *see below
2 Angel food cakes (I like the loaves) cut into cubes
2 16 oz containers of whipped topping
2 cups of sour cream
2 8 0z bars of cream cheese (soften in microwave)
2 cups powdered sugar

Cream together your "white ingredients". Make danish dessert according to package directions. (Not all areas carry danish dessert so if you can't find it, I will have a recipe at the bottom of the post.)
Add strawberries to the dessert. Set aside.

Now, I make this in my largest rectangle Rubbermaid container. I do this when I am feeding lots of people. It doesn't look pretty. If you need to make this for a party or want it to look nice, just 1/2 the recipe and use a glass trifle bowl one that is the same circumference top to bottom. But I have made it in a regular glass bowl and it is just fine!

Start with you cake cubes, place a nice amount of them on the bottom of your bowl. Next you add your red layer, spoon the danish dessert over the cake. Last you add a nice thick layer of your creamy white mixture. Then you repeat 2 or 3 times until your bowl is full.

Let refrigerate at least 4 hours but overnight is best!.

Enjoy! It is such a fun desert to serve at Easter or any springtime event!

Homemade Danish Dessert- this works just fine!
1 cup sugar
1 cup 7-up
4 TBSP. strawberry jello
2 TBSP. cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

Heat 7-up with sugar stirring constantly. mix together cornstarch and cold water add while stirring to the sugar mixture. Cook until slightly thick. Add jello and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and let sit before adding berries.

Have a wonderful weekend!

XOXO~Mamie

LGO Indie Shopfest

Yesterday Meg's, Millie and I headed into Phoenix for a boutique sponsored by La Grande Orange. Nie Nie tipped me off to LGO a few years back and I have found that it's food is just a heavenly as she described it. So yummy, my favorites on the menu. Margarita pizza and their Thai Chicken salad. Oh boy, that salad just tingles your taste buds! I can't get enough of it!

The boutique was a fun and fresh as the restaurant. My friend Kate was there with her Vintage rose wraps. Love, the wraps. (smile) I know you've heard me say that before! There were some more fresh and funky vendors that I will share with you. They all have etsy shops, which is so great because you can shop the same cute things that I saw yesterday at the shopfest! Gotta love Etsy!

There was flipped bird. I love these bags and accessories. Marci has been a favorite of mine for a while but lately she is expanding her product line and it is to die for! Check her out!


Megan and I fell in love with Jody from Art Wonders. Her jewelery is so cute! And priced so reasonably! There was so much to love but this owl necklace captured my heart! You will love Jody's shop as much as we did I am sure!

Grace from Finley and Oliver is genuinely on of the sweetest ladies I have ever met. Her T-shirts are so adorable! She has said she would customize and make them in ANY size, Megan is itching for a mustache T.

Well there you have it! Now go and have your own little boutique, virtually!

XOXO~Mamie

Good Things come in 3's

Photo courtesy of vintage rose wraps

I am easing myself back into the blogging world.

I had my 2nd daughter Johnnie help me with my etsy shop! Finally! It is up and running! check it out. I will be paying her to list my items for me, so helpful! So hopefully my lil shop will stay busy and full of cute items.

For today, I wanted to share somethings that truly make my life joyful. The neat thing about this is that 2 of the 3 things I am sharing are owned by 2 of my closest friends. Coinicidence? Yes, I racked my brain all day long thinking of 3 of my favorite things and these were my top 3.

Vintage rose wraps- I have a headband obsession in general, but these have proven to be my fav. They are most comfortable and fit by big head. They dress up or dress down any outfit I have. As gross as this sounds, they help me with sweating also. I wash them often. These goodies just work for me. Honestly, I wear them probably 5 days out of 7. Kudos to you VWR, I love ya.

photo courtesy of bloomingmill

Fresh Flowers, I am addicted and spoiled. I have to admit my house doesn't feel right without them. I am lucky enough to have Bloomingmill on speed dial. Stef and Jodi are good friends and always have the most beautiful, freshest flowers. They are so good to me. But they have created a monster. I gotta have fresh flowers.

If you aren't lucky enough to live here. Try keeping a small jar of mums, or daisy's around. Just for the fun of it. They brighten any dull day, and make your house feel so clean! I like white mums (they last forever) in a plain glass jar. So simple, yet fresh.


Citrus & Basil cleaner and hand soap from World Market. I have tried all the flavors but there is something about this one that makes my counters and kitchen smell so fresh and clean each time I use them. I love them and am addicted to them. They are both under 5$ so they wont break the bank but you will love them!

Well there you go! My top 3 favorite things! I would love to know yours! Please share!

XOXO~Mamie

Im Back!!!

It's been a long time I know. My life has gotten the best of me lately that is for sure! I have missed my blog and my crafts. I have filled orders for bracelets here and there and that is about it. I can't really say I have been depressed more of just busy and overwhelmed. Megan cam home in February, that has been an adjustment. Tax season has been in full swing and we are anxiously awaiting the end of that!

Bear with me while I work on my blog! It needed some fresh and sassy revamping!

So here I am, filled with the desire to create. Needing an outlet. Hope this spring brings good things for you,

XOXO~Mamie

I am hooked on this, I need to go get some more today. It is so yummy! The citrus basil is my fav. Just a thought!

Holiday Highlights

Annual cutting the tree trip. Snow was very deep, it was bitter cold. Made for an interesting tree this year.


Well, I was very neglectful with the camera this year. I pretty much sucked. I am going to have to mooch from my sisters. I don't know what I was thinking, we have so many cute babies in our families and I have 0 pictures. Loser.

I already recapped Meg's surprise, even that my pics kind of stunk. Hmmmm, I think a good resolution for me should be concentrating on better picture taking. Can you tell this is bothering me?

This little guy was a Christmas visitor. We kept him, neutered him, gave him shots. And his owner turned up this past Saturday. Oh well, he's been back to our house twice. I think we will end up sharing him.

We went to the Mesa Temple lights with one of our favorite families. The J's. As always it was fun. Wouldn't be Christmas with out a trip to see the lights. Aidan was so cute, we love that boy!

Although I hate how fat I am. I love this picture of us. He is such a sweet guy. He is my world.

The hooligans at the lights, and Preston Maddie's little friend. We really like him too. He's a cute kid.

Well, that is it. Can you believe it? It was a great Christmas, however I am really excited about the New Year. I hope it is a good one!

XOXO~Mamie

[coming soon, Mamie's future plans]

Surprise!

[Happy Birthday, sweet Meg]

[so, Meggie, were ya surprised?]

[step aside, big momma's comin through]

[total look of "what"?]

I'm too lazy to fix these in chronological order. Sorry.

This past fall has been one of the most difficult in our families 20 yr. history. Meg left to school and let's just say, it has been a struggle. She had a hard time, our communication was poor, things just weren't going like any of us had thought they would. The future is up in the air at the moment, but that really isn't what this post is about. Nevertheless, she got a great job 1 block away from her house 10 hrs a week at a vet clinic. She was so excited about it. There was was HUGE set back though. She HAD to be able to work over Christmas. When she told me this, she was trying to be so brave, I just shelved it, couldn't process it, total denial. We all were. She went ahead and took the job. We made arrangements for her to come home December 29th. We would just celebrate Christmas again with her. And her birthday. That girl was born on December 24th. Best Christmas ever. She would be spending it working, all day, and the next and the next and the next. Yikes. It was going to be rough.

Half way into November, on a Sunday evening I was listening to Josh Groban's version of I'll be home for Christmas. I love that song. I started crying, as I am right now typing this. I looked and Scott and said we had to go up. We couldn't afford it, we were already leaving up there for Thanksgiving, but more importantly my nieces wedding, hence the reason we couldn't just flip holidays for the year and go up for Christmas. We needed to be there for Thanksgiving. Make sense? I asked Scott what he thought, he agreed and we began to plan the big surprise.

Heres how it went down: OPERATION MEGAN'S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

Location: Wok on Wheels Chinese restaurant, Logan Utah.

Date: December 23rd- note this is a day earlier than her birthday because she had to work all day on her birthday.

Main Conspirators: Amie[mom] Norma [Meg's Grandmother]

Plan: We flew into SLC late the 22nd, drove to Logan and stayed at my sisters house. Megan was staying at her grandparents. My mom planed Meg's birthday lunch for all of my family to attend at WOW[wok on wheels] We arrived early and were waiting for her. We were sooooo excited! When she got there she just looked stunned. She cried, and laughed and cried some more. It felt sooooo good. It was a wonderful, amazing surprise. It was a gift that will last forever, I am so grateful we choose to go.

XOXO~Mamie


Coming soon- Holiday Highlights

2011.....Come on Down!

Coming soon! More fabulous bracelets, New Years resolutions and the great surprise unveiled!

XOXO~Mamie