Top 10 Tuesday and Some Linky-Lous

Top 10 Things Going On Around Here

(it''s Wednesday but I'm doing Top 10 anyway)

10) I'm grouchy and having hot flashes.  Hopefully when I go to the Dr. tomorrow she can fix me.  Otherwise my family might just kick me to the curb :)
9) Last night I did Cassidy's homework.  She wasn't even here.  I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.  It had to be done so I did it.  I think I remember my Mom doing that for me on occasion?
8) I'm behind in laundry and dinner making.  Where is the time going each day?
7) I have 20 lbs of hamburger in my fridge.  They are in two long tubes and every time I open the fridge I let out a little EEEK!  It looks so darn disgusting!  I'm not a fan of beef but I got a great deal and who can't pass up a great deal?!  Today I am going to have to man-handle it into 1 lb chunks and freeze it.  Gross.
6) Today Cassidy starts voice lessons.  I'm so excited for her.  I know secretly she's excited too and that makes me happy.
5) I am a secret Royal Wedding watcher.  I remember watching Princess Diana walk down that isle like it was yesterday.  I wanted a long train like her when I got married.  My favorite part so far is seeing all the different hats that people are wearing and going to wear for the wedding.  They are so pretty!  I hope hats make a comeback in the US.  I want to wear one!
4) My car hasn't been washed since last year.  Today's the day people.  I can't stand it for one more minute!
3) Better with You was so so so funny this week!  Did you see it?
2) Tonight after gymnastics, voice lessons, homework and dinner we are going to watch Savannah Smiles.  I loved that movie and am excited for my girls to watch it with me.  I am loving that they are now old enough and game to watch fun older movies with me.  We sit around on the couch eating popcorn and laughing.  It's become my favorite family time (and I'm not a big movie watcher!)
1) A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who sent me their favorite blog links.  Here they are so we can all benefit!

Some new to me Linky Lou's!

C Jane Enjoy It

nienie dialogs

teachin fourth

a little tipsy

cake wrecks

Cannelle et Vanille

delight by design

eighteen 25

ducks in a row

imparting grace

the stories of A to Z

blackberry vine

the wilson world

super saturday crafts

the dating divas

under my polka-dot umbrella

Dejavu*Crafts

making memories with your kids

Shanty-2-Chic

bee in our bonnet

Living with Punks

spunky junky

classy clutter

vintage revivals

the crafting chicks

how about orange

all things thrifty

brassy apple

a girl and a glue gun

the shabby nest

ucreate

make it and love it

V and co.

The Pleated Poppy

Simplify

Mormon in Manhattan

Well, there you go.  A-whole-lot-of-blogging-goodness for you to enjoy today.  I'm so excited to add these to my new (and empty) favorites list.  Thanks again girls.  You made my day!
(if you want to add to the list leave a comment or email me)

I'm Back and Need a Little Help!

I'm back!  I got my computer fixed and plugged in all nice and cozy.  The world is right again.  Ha-Ha.  Seriously, I was missing my lovely desktop.  Laptops are for the birds (sorry laptop peeps).  I love sitting here at my desk, papers and comforts all around.  My quotes and banners staring me in the face.  It's me, it's who I am.   

I am a desktop computer girl.   

Now, I come to you with a plea for help.  When my computer guru fixed my dear friend he didn't get any of my favorites to come back to life.  And since I never really set up google reader I am in trouble with a capitol T!  I don't have my favorite blog lists and my memory is not what it used to be (pre-thyroid and all) so I am asking for you to please, please with a cherry on top tell me who your favorite five bloggers are and of course your blog too ♥.  Hopefully I will get a list of some of my old favorites and maybe learn about a few more.  It's a win-win right?

Here's a few of my favorites:

71 toes

memories on clover lane

dear lillie

miss mustard seed 

house of smiths

Do you read these blogs.  Oh I had so so soooo many more!  Darn! 

I have had so many blog posts rolling around in my head while I have been computer-less.  I am excited to get them out so I can think up some more (my brain can only hold so many things - wink)

Thanks so much for helping....I owe you one!

Help Japan

I'm behind in blogging.....way behind.  I took a ton of pictures during spring break but I didn't have any computer time at.all.during.the.break!  Between the husband and two kids I was last on the list.  I will get to them tomorrow and do a HUGE blog catch-up.  But for now I want to let you know about my new blogging friend Crystal B and what she's doing for Japan.

I found Crystal's blog a few weeks ago and I just l.o.v.e it!  She's funny, creative and we are very similar in our likes!  It's fun to make a new friend♥

She posted about her cousin going over to Japan 15 min before the quake hit.  He had been there for 15 min!  She's making earrings and donating all the money and has a link to LDS Philanthropic Services (Humanitarian Services)  where you can donate money too...if you can.  All the money goes to help the people - no one in the organization gets paid.

My husband Tom has a Japanese brother and many, many friends over in Japan who are in need of basic things like food, water and warm clothes.  We have two friends that were here a few months ago who cannot be reached.  Shawn and Shoon were in Sendai when the earthquake hit.  We pray for them and their family.  

Please go to Crystal B's blog and see her cute earrings, or you can pray for those in need, or donate.  

I'll be back tomorrow with our spring break update♥

 

Favorite Holiday Treat Ideas

Thought I would post some holiday treat ideas so when life slows down for me next week I can hunker down, decorate for Christmas (I don't have ONE thing up yet....) and bake.  Until then - enjoy

via food exhibitionist

via soupdejour

via earthboundwinglessdream

via earthboundwinglessdream

via acottageinthewoods

via acottageinthewoods

via jims pancakes

via one charming party

via prettyfoods

Do Not Call

A few years ago I signed our phone number up on the National Do Not Call Registry.
What a life saver.  I hate solicitors on the phone or at the door. I'm not sure what happened but I have been getting an annoying  amount of phone calls with people trying to sell me something.  I try to be nice...I realy do but this morning I have already had four calls from the Human Society, National Breast Cancer Center, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Adobe Air.  The later has been calling three times a week now for a while.
All of these calls came before 10am.  What??!!

That was the final straw....I got online and re-registered our phone number HERE

It was fast, easy and took all of 30 seconds.  It will take 31 days to get the full effects but.......when anyone calls just tell them they are breaking the law because you are on a Do Not Call list.  They will hang up so fast it will totally make your day♥

PS  When solicitors call in the mean time just interrupt their speech and say "please take me off your list" and they have to by law.  Great isn't it?!

Haiti

I had a post all ready to go for today but I came across a blog this morning that opened my eyes and my heart to the people of Haiti and those that are helping over there.  I hope that this blog post touches your heart like it did mine and makes you go home and hug and kiss your family and say a heartfelt prayer tonight for all that we have.  

HAITI......MY AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

by, Justin on amelialyon

His pictures are a work of art and tell a story all on their own.  Don't just look at the pictures though, if you read what he says about each picture you feel like you are right there.  I was so touched by the Haitian peoples faith in God, positive attitudes and smiling faces amid all their devastation.  What an mazing example they are setting.  I am truly touched.

I loved his quote at the end of his post:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, 'The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough to those who have little.' 

Let me know what you think!

xoxo Cara

Thrive

I love this site Wordle. Have you ever made a wordle. It's fun and very addicting and best of all FREE! I love free. The only problem is, I can't seem to make it bigger. I have tried everything with no luck. So if you want to view it bigger just click on it and it will take you to the wordle site where my "wordle" is posted.

I also have a few other sites to share to give you some new year ideas:
1)My friend Anny is doing a picture a day project. I love it. I'm thinking of adding that to my list. You can see her blog HERE and her friends blog who started the project HERE

2)Christine Kane has a blog and I haven't perused it fully yet but she has a great video link and a free download to get you going on your "2010 Word". It's a 5 min. clip but I liked it and thought you might too. You can view it HERE.

3)If you want to pick a word but don't know how to go about doing it - watch the clip in #2 then go HERE for a plethora of words to choose from.

4) and this has nothing to do with words or the New Year or goals but if you want some fabulous eye candy to look at - parties ideas, gift ideas, decorating ideas, go HERE.
Today's Creative Blog told me about her blog and I'm hooked - and she's local! Love it!


I also wanted to say thanks to my Book Bunch Beauty girls for a fantastic birthday lunch and for spoiling me with all your kindness and presents. You really know how to make a girl feel special!♥

Guess What?

I have a new blog crush.
I haven't blog surfed in a while - no time and all.
Yesterday I was in a rut and didn't feel like doing anything.
So I didn't.
I face booked and blogged most of the day.
I was in my pajamas till 2pm.
That is where I found my new blog crush.
Do you want to crush on it too?
OK I'll share:
Clover Lane

Do you have a blog crush?
Care to share?

House Week - Pantry's

Who doesn't love a well organized pantry.

We all want one yet never can seem to get it the way we want it.

My house has a nice sized pantry that is uncommon in homes today.

It is one of the reasons why we bought this house.

(that and the flooring and huge pool)

Now who has a pantry like this?

Come on! It would be dreamy wouldn't it?

I guess if you were Monk or Jeff Lewis your pantry would look this good.

Not us Mom's who have a house full of kids - which I wouldn't trade for anything!

This pantry is just too darn cute!

I could see myself having this pantry in my old house.

It would have been perfect tucked into one of my nooks.

This new house doesn't have any wall space.

That's what you get with an "open floor plan".

Ahhh - a dream! Love the shelving for the white stoneware and the blackboard painted door. My friend Christi did that to her laundry room door and it is SO CUTE!!!!

OK - now on to my little pantry project.

Saturday Tom got the project bug and decided the pantry was in major need of a redo. Who am I to argue with that? We decided that one more shelf going all the way around the top would help add the extra space we so desperately needed. So off to Home Depot he went while I started de-junking the scary dark hole.
What a difference! I'm sad I did not take before shots. I didn't think it would be such a dramatic change. I find myself going into the pantry just to look around. It puts a huge smile on my face now every time I walk by. No more closing the door when someone comes over to hide that space!
One of my favorite things that I use for most everything are these P.E.T. containers. They are a lightweight plastic containers that comes in different sizes and can be sealed with oxygen absorbers to keep food fresh. Even if you open and use something out of the containers when you seal the lid the oxygen absorber sucks the air back out and reseals the jar. Pretty nifty. I have used these containers for 10 years and LOVE them!!!
I did organize the pantry into sections:
Canned goods, baking supplies, spices, cookbooks, small appliances (like the rice cooker, jar opener, panni maker, waffle maker etc) and everyday staples like cereal, snacks and breads. I still need to organize my P.E.T. containers into groups. My kitchen cupboard space is limited and the extra cupboard space I have is filled with my Grandmothers and Mothers china so the pantry has to house a lot of stuff!
Do you need help organizing your pantry? I found a wonderful blog that has some easy steps to get you started. An Organized Pantry from The Home Executive
You will have to let me know what the status is of your pantry. Clean and organized? Scary and a big black hole? Non-existent? I can't wait to hear!
What are some of your favorite things in your pantry? (and I'm not talking the chocolate you have hidden from the children - wink)
(scroll down - I finally posted some Halloween Pictures)

Fun Friday

I'm in the process of sprucing up the ol' homestead. I'm having book club here in a week and you know how it is when you have a party!? Time to dust things off, do a little re-arrange-y and make old things new again.

I haven't taken pictures....yet. The battery's in BOTH cameras are dead so pictures are officially on hold. That's ok - it gives me more time to primp the place♥
(I know, I keep saying pictures coming soon...and they will I promise!)

For now I'll post a link to pictures of some of my Halloween decorations from last year. They are similar this year with a few new things I'll be posting later.

Halloween Decor 2008

One of my favorite things about blogging is getting decorating ideas. People are so clever! I'm so thankful to have so many talented minds helping me with my decorating dilemmas.

Here are a few of this weeks favorites:
a beach cottage
just beachy
velvet & linen
bits & pieces
u create

Oh and good luck trying to decide on a free desktop calendar this month.
They are both DaRliNg!!

Shabby Princess
Shabby Miss Jenn


Happy Friday!!!
What are you doing this weekend?
Do you have your Halloween Decorations up?
Do you have a favorite book I could pick for book club?

My Little Secret..............

I am house obsessed.
I admit I have a problem.
Did you know that I watched As Good As It Gets last night on MUTE?
Just so I could have no distractions and could fully concentrate on the house?
Yes - there is something wrong with me!

I have been helping my friend Mindy re-do her house top to bottom.
(Her house flooded then caught on fire)
I have loved every minute of it.
I know it's horrible and hard for her to be displaced of pretty much everything she owns.
But it has been so fun finding and picking out everything new!
I mean - how often do you get to do a complete house remodel for FREE?!

I have realized that I want to do this - all the time.
Build houses, remodel houses, decorate houses, create and beautify.
It's also helpful when I'm doing it with other peoples money (wink)

I was at the molding and trim place finding the perfect door trim.
I told Mindy that she would get a job at Buckle so she could get the discount and
I would get a job at the molding place so I could have access to all the amazing trim.
Seriously I was dreaming BiG in there!
Can you crave molding - cause I was!

Anyway, it has been a fun self discovery learning experience for me.

Helping people - I love
Decorating - I love
Remodeling - I love
Anything that has to do with houses - I love

So if your house floods then catches on fire and you need to re-do everything.
Call me! I'll make it a fun experience I promise♥

here are a few of my new favorite house blogs:
the old painted cottage
the lettered cottage
frugal farm house design
room service

Fun Friday

Since I have pretty much been having fun ALL week, today is going to be spent at home.
(OK...I did already have a Dr. appt and went to a baby shower but hey I was home by 11am)

I have been trying to find a fun thing to make for us to wear/take to the New Moon movie. remember these?Me, Monica and Michelle at Twilight

We can't make another cup. We need to be more creative. Monica has thought necklaces would be fun. I think they would be cute but...hard. She wants to make some like these:

Vampire Necklaces

While searching I have found a lot of fun things. I am loving ETSY and everyones creative blogs. Endless fun if you have endless time! Check out a few of my favorite finds today:

Homemade snow cone syrup
we eat A LOT of snow cones over here with
THIS

Child's Apron How-To

Crap I've Made
love the name! (I saw the blog HERE)

I also saw this amazingly crafty blog there:
Trey and Lucy
She has a fun necklace tutorial that looks fun and easy!

Anyone in Young Woman's at Church? If you are you need THIS blog!!! My friend Shanna is so darn creative I can't stand it. I'm thinking I could still use these ideas but for Primary!

Paper Cakes and Icing

Rain Gutter Book Shelves
these are going in Abby's room!

Anything on Someday Crafts

My Sweet Savannah
I could spend all day on this blog!

Have fun looking♥ Notice none of these sites have anything to do with Vampires. I guess I will have to continue the search!

Hooked on Houses

Have you ever seen this Blog?
Hooked on Houses?

Well, I would have to say it's a blog after my own heart. I swear I am in love with houses! I have ALWAYS been in love with houses for as long as I can remember. I don't care what kind of house it is - I will jump at the chance to go inside and take a peak. This is why I love blogging. I can get into peoples homes without being too much of a Peeping Tom. Well, at least they don't know I'm being a Peeping Tom. Yes, I'm the person that loves to go driving by houses.... at.... night.....so I can see inside the windows. I'm weird I know. You don't have to tell me. I also have a photographic memory when it comes to floor plans, neighborhoods, landscapes. I can tell you exactly what that house looks like from the inside 10 years ago because I went into it as a model home. Yep - obsessed.

I also have a full (and I mean full) file on my computer and in my desk drawer of pictures of homes, rooms, gardens, landscapes, windows, walls, paint colors, themes, you name it....I've got it. I'm telling too much aren't I? Are you scared?

HGTV? I'm it's biggest fan. Extreme Home Makeover? Big fan there too! Home magazines? I should own stock - or I should have owned stock then sold when it was high because now it's low so that wouldn't do me any good would it? Dr's office visits? I don't mind because most of the time they have magazines I haven't read so I can catch up on the decorating goodness inside those pages.

One of Tom's clients is getting ready to build a house. Her DREAM HOUSE! How fun is that? She also wants one of the Realtor's to take her around town looking at homes for sale to get ideas. Um...yeah....can you see where I'm going with this? I have, of course, volunteered my services to come along and "help" her find ideas in said houses. Yep, someone has to do it right? She even has my exact taste in houses. Traditional/Cottage. I have even taken it upon myself to look up a few houses on the MLS for her viewing pleasure (and mine) that we can go see to get said ideas. I have to admit.....I can hardly wait!!!!!

So if you are as obsessed as I am with houses. Here are a few of my favorite blogs to get you inspired to spruce up your diggs in your own little masterpiece!

Habitually Chic
Joy's of Home
House #1
House#2
Sadie Olive
Ser.en.dip.i.ty
The Shabby Nest
Toast and Tables
More Ways to Waste Time
Absolutely Beautiful Things
Tori and Dean's House
(I love them and I loved their house!)
Ask Kari & Kijsa
The inspired room

O.K. That's it for now. I have to go get Abby from school. I'm sure some of these are on my sidebar but I thought I would post them here anyway. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

Hey! I have an idea?! Leave a comment with a link to your favorite home or garden site. It could be a website, blog, pictures of your house...whatever! Let's share the house love! I would love to get more ideas from all you fellow bloggers out in blogland. And I know you have a file with ideas too. Don't be shy! Share the love!!! What do you say?

Leave a comment - Share the Love!

Blooger vs. Facebook

vs.

I'm doing a little personal poll.

Is Facebook becoming more popular than Blogger?

I would like to know.

I am a fan of blogger.

I have a Facebook account but would much prefer blogger and no I don't have my blog on my Facebook account. I'm not sure I want all of my past catching up on my present. Not sure why it's o.k. to have strangers catch up on my present.
Hmmm good question.
I guess I'm a little wierd.

So my question is............
Which do you prefer?
Blogger or Facebook?
Why?

Another little question - how many of you out there reading blogs use google reader. I think the blog comments have gone WAY down since google reader. I think google needs to work on that. Aren't comments good for the soul? Pep-me-ups and all?

Just a wondering. Ü

Favorite Blogs

The Nester
Clover Lane
71 Toes
cloud8
eighteen25
Lolly Jane
My Sweet Savannah
House of Smiths
the pleated poppy
one charming party
tomkat studio
p is for party
Centsational Girl
Stack of Plates 
The Inspired Room
Thrifty Decor Chick

Absolutely Beautiful Things
Crazy Mama
Dandee
Everything is Pink
Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
French Garden House

House of Order
my words
kelle hampton
Eddie Ross 
Today's Creative Blog


Journal Ideas

Nienie Dialogues
One Happy Mom
Reflections of Christ
Shabby Miss Jenn

The Old Painted Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed
These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
chikaustin
life.rearranged 
Heidi Swapp
Dear Lillie
Shannon Brown
Fabulous Fun Finds
Modern Country
Biskopsgarden
Audrey Woulard
How Does She

And We Are Led........

I haven't had time this summer to do a lot of blog reading which has made me sad. I feel like I am out of the loop with all my blog friends but my kids come first so I guess until school starts that's just how it's going to be.

However......I have found a new blog thanks to Lizzy. I read the whole blog in one sitting and it has made me so thankful that we have the opportunity to come in contact with people through blogging that we would never have been blessed by otherwise. I am a better person because of her and her prospective on life and death.

All week since reading this blog the song "For Good" from Wicked has been playing in my mind. Here is part of it:

GLINDA

I've heard it said

That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

And we are led

To those who help us most to grow

If we let them

And we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

Because I knew you:

Unlike the lyrics, I do believe this is true. We are all here for a reason and we are here to be an example and share our talents with others to help them and us be better.

This blog.........A Daily Scoop is about a sweet family who has lost their baby due to a drowning. Her perspective on life and death is comforting to those of us who have lost a loved one. She has an amazing testimony of the gospel and an even more amazing way of capturing it in her writing. Like the lyrics to the song, I am a better person with a stronger inner peace because of this wonderful woman. Thank you Stephanie! Heavenly Father is blessing you and others in ways you may not even know!

Cottage Of the Month and a Couple of Drive Bys

I am in awe. I found a site that for me is....AMAZING!!!!

The Old Painted Cottage

I sat yesterday for an hour looking at this site that features 7 cottage gardens all over the country. HELLO!!!! I just sat with my mouth open and my finger scrolling that mouse as I looked at the amazing gardens that we DO NOT HAVE HERE IN ARIZONA!!!!

And yes, after you look at these you will know what I am talking about. Can you guess which one is my fav? Post a comment and tell me and I will give the winner a prise Ü !!

I also found this amazing blog:

The Inspired Room

Which by the way has a great idea. She does drive bys of peoples yards! I do drive bys but never had the guts to take pictures. I also love to do drive bys at night so I can see inside peoples houses and see how people live. You know decorating styles and such. I'm not a "Peeping Tom" I'm a "Style Junky". My favorite was when I did this in San Fransisco. Every window had something AMAZING inside! It was pure bliss!

My favorite thing about The Inspired Room and it's drive bys were seeing how everyone had a different front door. Everyone in my neighborhood has the same boring front door and these pictures inspired me so much!!! I loved how each homeowners personality came through in some way or another just by doing something to their front yard that they loved. Yes people, we can live in the desert but we don't have to look like we live in the desert! (well to some degree that is)

As you can probably tell I love blogs that inspire me, teach me something, give me a creative idea, have beautiful things to look at and that make me laugh. I have a whole sidebar full of fun blogs and I just want to say Thank You to everyone out in blogging land that make my day each and every time I log-in!

Cute New Blog And Hair-do For Abby

O.K. I admit

I have been a bad blogging friend lately.

I haven't looked at anyone's cute blogs for WEEKS!!!

Shame on me.

I promise to do better.

Life has gotten in the way.

This is my lame excuse.

Forgive me.

I was getting back into the swing of things today and found this:

she does hair

The cutest blog with a bonus.........

How to do cute little girl hair do's.

Endless styles, with detailed instructions

and

PICTURES!!!

I love How-To-Blogs.

I am in LOVE with this blog.

I am very visual and need pictures to help me do anything.

I am lacking in the creative hair do department.

Not anymore people!

Check this out..........

So what do you think???? Did I do good????

New Found Creativeness

I came across recently the cutest girls with the cutest blog.

I just had to share it. I could not keep it to myself any longer.

And yes, I know them personally and they are just as cute in person as their blog is on the net.

Some of the reasons I love this blog are:

1. It's totally darling in every way possible. The banner at the top, the little side tabs,

the name, and the colors are oh so perfect.

2. They have the neatest pictures on there to inspire you to get creative.

3. With your new found creativity they will make whatever your heart desires!!!!

4. I can't wait to place my order. I have a list of a few things I have been wanting and am not going to wait anther minute. Plus they have inspired me to put my heart out on a wall or a door or a window or a..............

So what are you waiting for? Go on over and check out:

Lolly Jane Boutique

And The Winner Is................

Lizzy!!

Congratulations Lizzy!!! I will be bringing you some of my favorite brownies from The Brownie Connection. If you haven't had these you are missing out. The owner is my friends sister and they are soooo yummy! You can order them online and have them shipped anywhere and for any occasion! They also have a cute little store locally where you can pop in for a little treat or a big sundae. Go check them out here: The Brownie Connection.


O.K. now for the good stuff: The answer to my question of, "What 3 things did I change on my blog?"

1. I added my signature - you can too at My Live Signature.com
It was very easy and you can even put the signature on your e-mails. I haven't figured that out yet but plan to!

2. I added borders around the different areas on my side bar. It wasn't hard and I even had a border around my posts but it was a bit much. You can play around with it on your blog if you want by going to Mom's Who Blog. This site is full of informational goodness and I spent a lot of time reading and learning from them. In fact all 3 things I did to my blog came from this web site.

3. I think Kimmurs is the only one that came remotely close to getting this one right. I think I might send her a prize anyway for getting them all right. And this one was very, very hard to notice.

**I changed the font colors on my blog. But NOT with the dumb/boring font colors that blogger provides but fancy new colors that I got off this web site-Web Color Chart and this web site - Hues Hub. By using their color codes I was able to perfectly match my fonts to my cute blog banner. The greens are the same and the pinks are perfect!!! Yes I have a color matching problem - I like things to match - Don't judge me!!!

So there are all my secret tips. Nothing too fancy but a lot of fun for me. I think I am becoming a computer geek because I get all excited when I come across new fun things to add to the blog!