Kate Spain

Today's post is going to be short, but oh mygosh you guys.



Guess what came in the mail yesterday?



A package from fabric designer extraordinaire herself, Kate Spain. She sent me a mini charm pack of her new line, Terrain. AND it had a handwritten note on it, with my name and everything.

I tried to tell my husband what a big deal it was. He doesn't quite get it, but I knew my blog friends would!

YAY for mail that isn't a bill and Double Yay for fabric mail!

Fabric Gorgeousness

Brand new "Terrain" fabrics by Kate Spain.
I can not pick a favorite colorway!


These are available at The Intrepid Thread's shop. I believe she said she was the first person on etsy to get this in stock! I ordered some Kumari fabric from her before.
It shipped so fast and arrived looking like a present! Nope she didn't pay me to write this post, I just love her and her shop! I know a lot of you use fabrics for various sewing projects, and if you need a trusted place to buy from, this is it!
In November Julie is going to have "Karavan" By Valori Wells in stock. I might not be able to resist those elephants!

P.S. Julie also has a blog. I follow it and you might want to as well. She has projects, new fabric arrivals, and yes, giveaways!

Vehicular Massacre

Both of our vehicles have damage. One backed into the other. Guess who was driving? Guess how much money your insurance will give you if you hit your own car?**




When they get done laughing at you the answer will be "none."

Um. Oops?

*image from this Georgia website
**yes, I recently had another incident while driving. Thanks for reminding me.

Sharing this self-depreciating story here:
A Little Knick Knack
Serenity Now

Graduation on the brain

This week marks a big test for me in one of my classes, as well as a booty-kicking science lab.

I've already written about 4 papers for my classes this week! I just keep plugging along with the thrill of graduating keeping me going!

I found some fun ideas to celebrate with when the big day finally gets here and now I'm sharing them with you!

I love these little party favor treats. They are made using smarties candy. :) We will definitely have these when I walk in commencement! from pinterest

Invitations:

I'm not sure that I'll actually do invites for my little graduation. But if I did, I'd want these!
from pinterest

Super cute graduation cake. I'm thinking once I get the education degree, THIS should be my cake! from pinterest

















College textbooks=pricey. I swear they made me cut off my left arm just to pay for my books this semester. This is a fun centerpiece using some of your textbooks and tying a ribbon around them. If you've got high-schoolers about to graduate you could do this too!



from pinterest

Billy Graham in Quotes

You've heard of Billy Graham right? The famed evangelist and author of our generation? He has on every continent and in over 185 countries! I've never even been farther east than Ohio.

There is a new book out written by Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham, and Donna Lee Toney. It is basically a compilation of tons of Billy Graham quotes over the years. And when I say tons, I mean TONS.

The book came in the mail and I couldn't believe how thick it was! Over 400 pages.

I love books like this, where you can get inspiration quickly with the flip of a page!

In Billy Graham in Quotes, you'll find lots of categories. Including:

• Addiction
• Angels
• Bible
• Children
• Comfort
• Commitment
• Compromise
• Disappointment
• Eternity
• Faith
• Family
• God's Will
• Heaven
• Marriage
• Salvation
• Thankfulness
• Worry

And that is not even all of the categories!

Let me share with you some of my favorite quotes that are featured in the book..

On Anxiety
"Anxiety and fear are like baby tigers: the more you feed them, the stronger they grow."

On The Bible
"I don't think people can live without hope.
What oxygen is to the lungs, hope is to our survival in the world.
And the Bible is filled with hope."

On Comfort
"There are countless opportunities to comfort others, not only in the loss of a loved one, but also in the daily distress that so often creeps into our lives."

On Death
"Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't you believe a word of it!
I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God."

On Grief

"When we grieve over someone who has died in Christ,
we are sorrowing not for them but for ourselves.
Our grief isn't a sign of weak faith, but of great love."

On Heaven
"The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first in Heaven."

On Speech
"We should say nothing that we would not wish to say in His Presence.
We should do nothing that we would not do in His Presence."

Reading Wish List

I have added a ton of books to my Amazon Wish List. Which really I use to serve as a reminder of which books I want to read. I would love to hear from you about what is on your to-read list!

Here are some that are on my list.

To indulge my crafty side and merge it with the part of me fascinated with the underground railroad:

Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad (See all Travel Guides)
A story about the use of quilts in the underground railroad.

For Professional Education:
Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation (See all Urban Sociology Books)

Kovol explores poverty in the United States and the effect it has on education. Specifically the South Bronx where the median income is under $8,000 a year.

Prop Box Play: 50 Themes to Inspire Dramatic Play (Gryphon House Book) (See all Child Care Books)

This one really strikes my fancy as for one of my classes this semester, I am required to make my own prop box!

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys (See all Emotions & Mental Health Books)


As a mommy of 3 boys this really strikes a chord with me!




And for pure, unadulterated enjoyment:
Mini Shopaholic: A Novel (Shopaholic Series) (See all Contemporary Literature)

The Shopaholic series of books are hilarious, I can not wait to read this latest installment!

Those are the books on my list right now. What have you read lately that I should add?

*Disclaimer: Yes, the links in this post are amazon affiliate links. If you happen to click them and then purchase that book I earn a few pennies. We are hoping that at this rate our children can go to college in the year 2089. :)

Giveaway: Digital Scrapbooking Software from My Memories!

Do you scrapbook digitally? I was just starting to think about switching to digital when I heard from the MyMemories company. Destiny.photo card you can make using My Memories

They offered to let me use their software in exchange for writing a blog review AND doing a giveaway. Yep, that is right. You could win their digital scrapbooking software!

It is an easy download valued at $39.97!

PLUS, everyone gets a coupon code worth $20! Holy Moly!

Your code will get you $10 off the purchase of their software, and $10 extra to spend on their website. MyMemories has lots of great deals, that $10 will buy a lot! Your code to use is: STMMMS68309

Now check out the stuff you can use making the My Memories suite!

More Photo Cards:
Calendars:

This October page is the cutest thing!

Photobooks:

Scrapbook Layouts and Embellishments:

I know you all have some pool pictures from this summer that need scrapbooked!
Um. These Cub Scout/Boy Scout layouts are adorable!!





Cute Christmas designs!

I made this layout featuring our dog, the corn thief. I was able to pick the background, add the purple ric-rack, the scalloped circle, the dotted circles, the mat around the photo, and the golden bow. So many options!

Buy It: Remember that this code STMMMS68309 will get you $10 off the purchase of My Memories V2 software AND a $10 credit to spend on their other products!

Win It: Remember that each entry must be its own comment.
Mandatory Entry must be done before other entries count.

Mandatory Entry:

• Visit My Memories and let me know what your favorite NEW KIT is.

Additional entries:

• If you follow my blog you get a bonus entry!
• Tweet about this giveaway (leave comment with URL to tweet. worth 1 entry no matter how many times you tweet)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your username)
• Leave a comment on any of my OTHER blog posts and leave a comment here telling me which one you commented on (worth 1 entry no matter how many posts you comment on. Although I greatly appreciate every comment!)
  

Good luck! Winner will be drawn in one week!

Fall Inspiration

Have you started decorating for Fall yet? To be honest, there are still a few Easter eggs on my mantle. I should have put them away by now. Don't call the Mantle Police. Think of my children.

I'm determined to get some fall decor going around here. Check out these inspirations I found, they will get you in the spirit!

I have got to do this on our mantle (once I remove the eggs).

from here

Loving this too, with the contrast of the white pumpkin and the dark holder thingy. I'm thinking mantle, but this would work on a bathroom vanity too!

found on pinterest here

Oooh I want these for by my front door! Except I fear that our furry beast would eat them. This is the same reason I can't have light up Christmas decorations in the front yard. And why we have nightmares about the UPS man leaving packages by the door.

Enough pretties for today folks. I have to hit the books!

Happy Fall Decorating!

Linked at: Saved by Love Creations

Super Easy Sandwiches

My husband claims these look disgusting. But I made him try one for lunch on Saturday and he loved them!

Circle of Life Sandwiches (Named this because my friend makes them for funerals and new babies)
1/4lb ham
1/4lb turkey
1pkg sliced swiss cheese
1pkg Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
1 onion-chopped
about 1/2 stick of butter
several Tablespoons ketchup and mustard

Cook chopped onion in butter.

Cut open each Hawaiian roll and one piece ham and one piece turkey inside. Add slice of swiss cheese.

Mix equal parts ketchup and mustard to form a sauce. Spoon over tops of sandwiches (they should be in a 9x13 now).
Pour onion/butter over top.

Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy! Sandwiches will be soft and gooey, I prefer to eat mine with a fork.