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!