Apple Pie Spice Soap Bars

Freckles and I bought supplies to try out a couple soap recipes we found on Pinterest, since Autumn is in the air and we like doing seasonal projects... This was so easy....I think it just may be something we will be making as gifts for Christmas etc....

If your interested in making this soap yourself please click here:

Apple Pie Spice Soap Bar

Note the recipe is for Pumpkin Spice Soap...Just do everything the same except use apple pie spice and use a little more red coloring. I used food coloring btw. I also added a 1/4 tsp vanilla extract..You can also add some apple spice essential oil for more apple fragrance.

We also made the pumpkin spice soap and added 1/4 tsp. almond extract. 

Have fun!!

Retro Inspired Oilcloth Lunch bag

Today I sat down in the sewing room to make Freckles
a retro inspired lunch bag for her home school/ performing arts class on Friday's.
She can use it on park trips & picnics or whenever we are out and about to carry snacks.
I found my inspiration on
 The Long Thread.

I changed a few things.
 #1. I used all vinyl oil cloth #2. I made it 11" wide instead of 10". #3. I finished off the bag differently....I can't even explain what I did....Because I was a rebel and didn't follow her directions. ;)
#4. I was resourceful on the handles by using a bag I had from Joann's Fabric...
{I thought it would look cute on Freckles bag}...
So I cut them off the Joann's bag and used them on the lunch bag.
 So happy with how it turned out.

 

It is insulated with soft quilt batting and I added a pocket
inside the bag to store her red gingham napkin.
And...It was a hit with Freckles...
She loves it.
Yay

Fall Fluffing.....

I love this time of year..When the leaves change and fall, the weather cools (except for here),the sense of everything changing around you gets one in the mood to fluff up the house and re-decorate or switch things up a bit. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons....My mind knows it is Fall even though the weather here is still like a hot scorching Summer day...I have been in the mood to change things around in my home creating a sort of new look. I have taken down pictures and artwork and gave them new homes, making some fun whimsical touches like the bunting above. This Fall I am sticking to color...It just makes me HAPPY.

I've been busy reorganizing the kitchen a bit...Well as much as I can in the tiny space I have. The place is even getting a nice scrub down and deep clean. I even packed up several boxes of stuff we won't be needing until we move. I found this cute butter dish this last Summer at Ross for 4 dollars...Isn't it the cutest thing?
My daughters closet is getting a nice organized overhaul as well. I threw out all the plastic hangers and hung her clothes with these darling vintage crochet hangers I found on different thrifting sprees. I love how the clothes don't slip off, and they were handmade by someone which is always precious to me.
 
Oh one more thing to share.
I decided to start a Home Sweet Home Tour Series of talented bloggers that have inspired me along the way. There is so much talent out there...I have enjoyed their blogs so much I thought...Heck. I gotta share this with you all...It will truly be fun and inspiring...And a  huge blessing that these very creative ladies will open their homes & hearts to us and share what makes their  homes a happy home. I am already scheduling & anticipating some delightful ladies starting this October. So get ready to meet some wonderful ladies in our blogger community. Oh and grab this button and put it on your blogs..Spread the love.
 I have also been invited to share my home on Heathers blog:
 Life Made Lovely on her
 Home Made Lovely Home Tour October 18th.
 So excited...Talk about some wonderful inspiration.
There's some great things to look forward too.
Have a Happy weekend friends.

Good Things...

Today after schooling, we spent the late morning/afternoon making good things...like good wholesome healthy snacks. The past couple years i have made dried apples,bananas and strawberries to snack on...I decided to make that and try my hand at fruit leather. I am so happy I did. It turned out delightfully yummy. We made pear and apple fruit leather....no sugar, no preservatives all good.
 
I had Freckles make gluten free granola bars...since we are cutting out wheat and as much processed foods as possible...I found a recipe but switched it up a bit to our liking. We used gluten free all purpose flour, gluten free oats, cinnamon, honey, my homemade applesauce, cashews and almonds,dried cherries and raisins, some cherry chocolate my son brought back from Czech, Almond butter, and apple juice which I juiced myself with our Juiceman.
   
My little me helper mixed up all the ingredients, poured it onto a foil lined
 cookie sheet and spread it out evenly....
  
We baked it on 375 degrees for 30 minutes just as it was lightly browned...Cut them into bars while they were still warm, storing them in an airtight container for snacks or a quick breakfast on the run for my guys.
  
We were pleasantly surprised with the flavor and consistency of the granola bars. I always thought gluten free stuff is kind of bland and the texture would be gross...But no...It was really good...and that's a good thing.

 I love that they are healthy for us too...Hope you get a chance to make them...
Your family will really enjoy the wholesome goodness.

Literary Tea Time...2011

 
Today was the day....Our literary Tea Group has officially come together for the year. There were some changes however.... Our hostess last year is busy with college classes and decided she would not be able to continue the group. As many of you know, who have followed my blog for a time... Freckles and I have grown to love the group so much that I asked our friend if she wouldn't mind if we took it over. She was delighted to pass it on to us. I am so happy to have the opportunity to bless young maidens with this sweet tradition. A group of young ladies and their mothers coming together once a month to enjoy a traditional tea, food, fellowship, prayer and reading from sound Christian literature. I now consider this my ministry in the making to encourage young ladies as the Bible instructs. Our afternoon started with reading a few excerpts from The Valley of Vision, a collection of prayers & devotions.(Thanks Marilee). We then started reading from Little Threads by Elizabeth Prentiss written in 1863. It is a story about obedience. We read about the contrasting lives of Tangle Thread and Golden Thread, one the cause of much grief for her godly mother, and the other the only bright spot in her poor mother's world. Yet, we only got half way through the book. We will look forward to next months tea to finish the rest of the story.

I pray our time together this year will be fruitful and glorify God. I pray this time will strengthen our bond as mothers, daughters and sisters in Christ, that we would grow in our faith together.
    
Of course there was food. The table was set for our young maidens to enjoy the fruits of their labors, since everyone contributed something wonderful to share.
  
There was plenty of tea...
We must have had about 5 pots full.YUM!
  
It was thoroughly a wonderful time spent together. I was blessed by each and every one of these young ladies...and now, looking forward to next month when ...Lord willing we will come together again.
Thank you for stopping by....Have a blessed weekend!