Book Review

This is my latest read. I just finished it up. The back reads:

The roaring twenties come to a very small town... At a time when most American girls are dreaming of bobbed hair and flapper dresses, Hestia Myatt dreams only of becoming a doctor. Stinging from a broken engagement, she heads for the quiet hills of Maiden, North Carolina, to care for an ailing aunt. While there, Hestia becomes reacquainted with her former childhood nemesis, the now-handsome Booth Barrington. Things are going well for her until a glamorous cousin, Selene, arrives from New York under mysterious circumstances and begins to make Hestia feel hopelessly behind the times. Will Hestia be tempted to embrace the lifestyle of her cousin, who can talk of nothing but speakeasies and wild parties? Or will Hestia's maidenly influence convince Selene to give up her worldly ways?

I would give this book an eight out of ten stars (and that's only because I reserve the higher awards for only the best of the best of the best!)

This book (by Tamela Hancock Murray) was cute, grabbed my attention almost right away. It is well written, the story is believable, the characters are like able. It was actually a very good book. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Thanks for reading.

 

-erin-

78/365

78 Make a skirt (This one is for mom! DUH!)

 

So I needed a fuller skirt for activities such as 4-wheeling and motorcycle rides, etc. I didn't really use a pattern, just messed around and made myself a three tiered skirt.

 

Please excuse the awful picture. I don't photograph well.

 

And a closer view of the skirt.

Please excuse the awful picture. I don't photograph well.

I have a couple more skirts in the works and I'll update you as I can! Thanks for stopping by!

-erin-



Doll Progress - Part 10

Look at this fabric! It's so cute!

 



 

Anyway, here is my progress so far. I know it doesn't look like much but it is all the pieces I need to make SIX doll jumpers and SIX pair of panties! 

 

In my opinion the dolls I make look ADORABLE in corduroy with cute little patterns. So I can't wait to get these all sewn up!

 

Once sewn, one will be put on a doll and the other five will be set aside for future projects.

I know this isn't a super fun and interesting update but it's part of the process and it's progress! Now I had less of this fabric than the previous two patterns so this is all I was able to get out of this pattern. No pleated skirts and no vests in this super adorable pattern.  :(

-erin-

3/365

Lay in a Hammock!

 

 

-erin-



Book Review

This is my latest read. I just finished it up. The back reads:

 

Second chances aren't easy to come by in a town named Tombstone. When Christy Gray receives an urgent summons to Tombstone, Arizona, she reluctantly leaves her new life in California for an unseen future. The trip goes from bad to worse when masked men hold up Christy's stage. She finally arrives in Tombstone to find her mother ill and her brother trapped in a life of gambling. Desperate for money to support her family, will Christy bow to pressure from local saloon owners and return to a life she thought she'd given up for good?

 

Nevada King has problems of his own. He's been dodging bullets for years and wants nothing more than to settle down and get married. but hes on the run from outlaws bent on revenge, and the one woman who captures his interest recognizes him from the stagecoach holdup. Will Christy turn Nevada in to the authorities, or will the outlaws on his trail catch up with him first?

I would give this book an eight out of ten stars (and that's only because I reserve the higher awards for only the best of the best of the best!)

This book (by Miralee Ferrell) was cute, grabbed my attention almost right away. It is well written, the story is believable, the characters are like able.There is also more about Christy Gray in the book Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell. It is kind of a prequel to this book but they also both stand on their own so it doesn't really matter what order you read them in. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Thanks for reading.

 

-erin-

Disney Progress - Part 12

It's no secret that my boys and I are all Disney fanatics! Seth has been saving any change he finds along with birthday and Christmas money for the last 4 years already! The other boys have added here and there as well but not quite as diligently. Well we have finally set a general time frame (not exact dates but the month and year that we want to go) so I have started adding money to the fund as I can as well!

I am a HUGE planner type person! So once we set the general time frame I sat down and made this binder. There's all kinds of information in here. There are packing lists, and financial papers to keep track of our saving progress and menus to a couple of the restaurants that we hope to eat at while there.

 

Every two weeks I count up how much we are adding to the fund and record it on a sheet in the Disney planning binder. May 21st we were able to add $168.17 into our fund! That puts us $870.09 cents ahead of schedule!!! (Hopefully we can keep up this momentum and wont have any pay periods where we have to not add anything or not add what I planned to add) If we keep it up we might get to go earlier than I had originally planned!

WE ARE OVER 3/10 OF THE WAY THERE!!!

We have a goal of $10,000.00 and while that seems like a lot, it covers 2 adults and 4 children. I also don't feel like I have to spend that much as well. I am a bargain hunter and deal shopper, however, I would rather budget too much and have some leftover to go to the next vacation than get there and not have enough to do something that we want to do. Right now we are at $3,089.66! (I know that the total I had last week added with what I added this week does not add up to this total. I recounted the money from scratch and somehow found some extra money!)

As an update for the boy's jars:

Isaac- $1.44 (he lost some money due to bad behavior choices)

Seth- $4.15 (he lost and gained due to good behavior choices followed by bad judgement choices)

Ethan- $0.03 (he lost some due to bad behavior choices)

They started adding the change they find in there as well. LOL!

Under Disney Progress Tuesdays I wont always be posting about money deposits but I also have plans to make some items to take on our trip and I will be purchasing a few items as well so I will post about them as I am able.

I'm also so OCD in my planning that I will plan out the outfits we will wear and what day we will wear them so I will photograph and post those as well.

-erin-

Doll Progress - Part 9

Look at this fabric! It's so cute!

 



 

Anyway, here is my progress so far. I know it doesn't look like much but it is all the pieces I need to make SIX doll dresses and SIX pair of panties! 

 

In my opinion the dolls I make look ADORABLE in corduroy with cute little patterns. So I can't wait to get these all sewn up!

 

Once sewn, one will be put on a doll and the other five will be set aside for future projects.

I know this isn't a super fun and interesting update but it's part of the process and it's progress!

-erin-

46/365

So technically this one is "attend a parade" but the boys were recently in the Opening Day ceremonies parade. I'll let the pics explain them selves!

 

 

 

 

 

-erin-

Book Review

This is my latest read. I just finished it up. The back reads:

Trudie Abernathy is a little inelegant, and she's never had much luck in love. To make matters worse, her thirtieth birthday is fast approaching and her sister, Lane, has decided to "treat" her to a makeover and a blind date. Trudie is about to protest, but then she meets the kind and devastatingly handsome Mason Wimberly. In spite of Trudie's humble manner, Mason finds her attractive, funny, and smart. But there's one obstacle in the way of the budding romance: Lane sudden;y decides she's in love with Mason! Trudie has never been one to compete with her glamorous sister, even when it means giving up the things she wants. Will she be able to stay true to her humble self and find her heart's desire in the process?

I would give this book an nine out of ten stars (and that's only because I reserve the higher awards for only the best of the best of the best!)

This book (by Anita Higman) was cute, grabbed my attention almost right away.It was such a slow read for me and I have no idea why. It is well written, the story is believable, the characters are like able. It must have just been the mood I was in because it was actually a very good book. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Thanks for reading.

 

-erin-

Disney Progress - Part 11

It's no secret that my boys and I are all Disney fanatics! Seth has been saving any change he finds along with birthday and Christmas money for the last 4 years already! The other boys have added here and there as well but not quite as diligently. Well we have finally set a general time frame (not exact dates but the month and year that we want to go) so I have started adding money to the fund as I can as well!

I am a HUGE planner type person! So once we set the general time frame I sat down and made this binder. There's all kinds of information in here. There are packing lists, and financial papers to keep track of our saving progress and menus to a couple of the restaurants that we hope to eat at while there.

 

Every two weeks I count up how much we are adding to the fund and record it on a sheet in the Disney planning binder. May 14th we were able to add $8.55 into our fund! That money came from the boys collecting pop cans and turning them in for money. Unfortunately we aren't in Michigan like we used to be where we got 10 cents a can but at least we can still get money for them and the boys are learning that it is "hard work" to get money.

 

 

This money was from my aunt. I take care of her as she is in her 90's and she was freaking out because she was out of makeup and wouldn't be able to get to the store to pick any up any time soon. I picked it up for her not expecting to get the money back. She insisted everyday for 3 weeks and then I finally relented because I was tired of the same "argument" everyday.

 

WE ARE OVER 1/4 OF THE WAY THERE!!!

We have a goal of $10,000.00 and while that seems like a lot, it covers 2 adults and 4 children. I also don't feel like I have to spend that much as well. I am a bargain hunter and deal shopper, however, I would rather budget too much and have some leftover to go to the next vacation than get there and not have enough to do something that we want to do. Right now we are at $2,900.99!

As an update for the boy's jars:

Isaac- $2.01

Seth- $2.08

Ethan- $2.26

They started adding the change they find in there as well. LOL!

Under Disney Progress Tuesdays I wont always be posting about money deposits but I also have plans to make some items to take on our trip and I will be purchasing a few items as well so I will post about them as I am able.

I'm also so OCD in my planning that I will plan out the outfits we will wear and what day we will wear them so I will photograph and post those as well.

-erin-

Doll Progress - Part 9

Look at this fabric! It's so cute!

 



 

Anyway, here is my progress so far. I know it doesn't look like much but it is all the pieces I need to make SIX doll vests! 

 

In my opinion the dolls I make look ADORABLE in corduroy with cute little patterns. So I can't wait to get these all sewn up!

Once sewn, one will be put on a doll and the other five will be set aside for future projects.

I know this isn't a super fun and interesting update but it's part of the process and it's progress!

-erin-

5/365

Go Swimming!

 

 

 

-erin-

Book Review

This is my latest read. I just finished it up. The back reads:

What can a California girl do with a few dusty acres of land in rural Nebraska? So Kennedy Blaine wonders after she inherits a ranch in the small western-style town of Valentine, Nebraska. As Kennedy makes arrangements to sell the property, she finds herself drawn to the ranch and to its attractive manager, Derek Sterling. She decides to spend the summer in her ancestral home and reconnect with family members. But soon Kennedy is subjected to harassment by someone who clearly wants her to leave Valentine. Depending on God's protection and Derek's assistance, she sets out to discover whoever is behind the offenses. But when her search reveals painful details about her family and raises questions about Derek's own past, will Kennedy still want to know the truth? 

I would give this book an nine out of ten stars (and that's only because I reserve the higher awards for only the best of the best of the best!)

This book (by Irene Brand) was cute, grabbed my attention almost right away.I really connected with this book because...well maybe it was the cowboy fantasy every girl haves but this book also had just the right amount of suspense as well as an unexpected twist at the end. Pick it up sometime! Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Thanks for reading.

I've also noticed that I don't so much "review" the books as tell you what the back says, give it a rating and if anything jumps out at me I pass it along. Maybe I should rename it "What I've been Reading". Any votes out there?

-erin-

A Birthday Gift...

Now that the best guy friend's birthday has passed (yesterday) I can show you what I made for the Star Wars fan in my life...

 

I even let Isaac get in on the photo soot and there were so many cute ones I couldn't narrow them down!

A closer view of the fabric and pattern.

The throw pillow has a zipper so the slip cover can be removed and washed. 

This was made for him to use in his camper (although he can use it other places too) so there is also a curtain to divide the front of the camper from the back of the camper as well. Sorry this post was so picture heavy. Thanks for dropping in!

 

-erin-

Disney Progress - Part 10

It's no secret that my boys and I are all Disney fanatics! Seth has been saving any change he finds along with birthday and Christmas money for the last 4 years already! The other boys have added here and there as well but not quite as diligently. Well we have finally set a general time frame (not exact dates but the month and year that we want to go) so I have started adding money to the fund as I can as well!

I am a HUGE planner type person! So once we set the general time frame I sat down and made this binder. There's all kinds of information in here. There are packing lists, and financial papers to keep track of our saving progress and menus to a couple of the restaurants that we hope to eat at while there.

 

Every two weeks I count up how much we are adding to the fund and record it on a sheet in the Disney planning binder. May 7th we were able to add $153.17 into our fund! That puts us $870.09 cents ahead of schedule!!! (Hopefully we can keep up this momentum and wont have any pay periods where we have to not add anything or not add what I planned to add) If we keep it up we might get to go earlier than I had originally planned!

WE ARE OVER 1/4 OF THE WAY THERE!!!

 

We have a goal of $10,000.00 and while that seems like a lot, it covers 2 adults and 4 children. I also don't feel like I have to spend that much as well. I am a bargain hunter and deal shopper, however, I would rather budget too much and have some leftover to go to the next vacation than get there and not have enough to do something that we want to do. Right now we are at $2,883.44!

As an update for the boy's jars:

Isaac- $2.01

Seth- $2.08

Ethan- $2.26

They started adding the change they find in there as well. LOL!

Under Disney Progress Tuesdays I wont always be posting about money deposits but I also have plans to make some items to take on our trip and I will be purchasing a few items as well so I will post about them as I am able.

I'm also so OCD in my planning that I will plan out the outfits we will wear and what day we will wear them so I will photograph and post those as well.

-erin-