Pillowcases with a purpose.

I have thoroughly enjoyed making and sharing scrap banners with this sweet little IG/FB and blog community over the past two months. Y'all are great! I will continue to sell scrap banners in my shop and take custom orders time to time but I want to share with you a new little crafting journey that I am about to embark on and would love for you to come along with me. My mom and I are now creating standard size pillowcases that are completely inspired by and in memory of a friend. Her name is Sara. After a long battle with cancer- multiple surgeries, hospital stays, chemo treatments, hair loss and pain- she went home to be with her Savior.  Sara was PURE joy. Throughout her battle, she wanted God's love to be shown through her.  During her frequent stays at UCSF Medical Center, one way she chose to serve those around her was to deliver fun pillowcases to children that were spending the majority of their time in bed.  I want to remember the joyful sweetness that she radiated, so for every three pillowcases I sell, one will be delivered to children at Seattle Children's hospital. Sara inspires me and I hope her story can continue to spread joy and love; one pillowcase at a time.

 More pillows will be in the shop next week! {the olive grove shop}



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the olive grove shop

I don't have much time to post let alone get a shower in these days (though I do miss blogging and hope to be back at it in due time)! The story of my life these days. So, I will keep this short as I have one kiddo down for a nap, one jumping on the couch and one about to make his way home from school. I have been busy creating a little shop on etsy and selling fabric banners and about to dive into pillow making (I'll be back with more details on that!). I have thoroughly enjoyed crafting and creating and meeting a sweet little community of momma crafters! Here is the link to my shop: THE OLIVE GROVE SHOP ...and some fun pictures from our little photo shoot by my friend Cassie at Simply Cherished Photography. Stay tuned for more!

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Capri Isla

She goes where I go. She does as I do. She eats what I eat. She delights in touching my eyelashes. She watches me blow dry my hair. She finds comfort in sitting on my lap. She celebrates laughter with squeals and flapping of her arms. She hums along with my singing. She is a bringer of joy to this home of ours. She is incredibly loved. She is my daughter Capri, the sweetest little thing I ever did meet.

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the E.Conlee's

Sometimes you are so blessed in this life that you have friends that become like family. Friends that know exactly how to love you. Friends that will take your children off your hands because you are on the verge of a mommy meltdown. Friends that will not only take your kids but feed them, explore the outdoors with them and take pictures of them and then give them freely. These friends are precious to us. They are auntie and uncle status in our books. We love you Emily and Eli!...and miss you dearly.

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Exploring the PNW - Owen Beach

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Timing is everything

Simplifying. I've been working at it for the past year. My personality takes the word "simple" and turns it into "complicated." I love stuff. Not expensive stuff and not even always sentimental stuff (though that is an issue), it's stuff that was free or was a great deal. It's stuff that I could somehow DIY, make into a gift or use "someday".  It's stuff that was threatened to be shipped off to goodwill or pitched into the dumpster and I would kindly say "I'll take it!" It's not good friends. You should see my closets. They are organized. But organized without an inch to spare. No margin. Zip. And the garage. Oh my. Stuff and stuff and more stuff. Stuff I don't need but am going to sell...you know, when I have all that time on my hands. Well, about a month ago I mentioned a book called 7 to two of my close friends who I meet weekly with for accountability. I really knew nothing about the book besides the name of it and something about only having seven items of clothing. I obviously couldn't do that but maybe it could help me pair down to 70 items!? ha. I didn't look into the book even after bringing it up to my friends. Deep down I think I knew if I did look into it, I'd be hooked and in for quite the ride.

The title KEPT coming to mind. Daily. And did I mention I really knew nothing about it? I had no idea it was more than ridding of clothes. Clothes, shopping, food, possessions, media and stress - an experimental mutiny against excess. Yikes. Just last week I finally got to connect with one of my best friends on the phone and ironically (maybe not the right word but it sure did feel ironic) she brought this book up and said she just read it. Say what?! Okay, it's official, I'm buying the book. What a clear sign. She told me she got it on sale through ibooks. I downloaded the app and it wasn't on sale. The Dave Ramsey in me said to just wait. THEN I went to MOPS and the gal I co-lead a table with started talking about Jen Hatmaker who is the author of 7. I asked if she read it and she said not yet. This book KEPT coming to my attention. Okay, it's official, I'm really buying the book (take two). I went about my day after MOPS and whadda ya know? The book went on sale for 2.99 - just what my cheap, I mean thrifty self needed to say "I'm all in." Timing is everything for me. I bought it and started reading. OH.MY.IT'S.SO.GOOD. I am only 30 pages in and I know it's going to rock my face off. I will be back with more of it's goodness because I already know it will forever change the way I look at things.

Buy it. You won't be sorry. It's for sale RIGHT HERE.


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Be still my heart

{9 months}

We are absolutely smitten with our sweet Capri and are doing our best to soak in her baby days that are seeming to go by way too fast.

 Slow down my little love.

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Breakfast Cookies for my littles

Warning:  Do not think this is a substitution for a true cookie. It's a good breakfast cookie and tastes healthy. I wouldn't give up my chocolate chip cookies for them...just sayin'. I am a die hard chocolate chip cookie lover. That being said, I do enjoy eating these and think they taste good but I would say my kids make a much bigger deal about these than I would. :)

I blogged a year or so ago of a breakfast cookie I made for a quick grab and go breakfast with the option of freezing them for later. I found a breakfast cookie recipe recently that I tweaked that I'm more of a fan of than the one before. My 5 & 3 yr old and even 9 month old all approve!

3 mashed bananas (I often use frozen ones and give them a spin before the rest of the ing. go in)
1/3 cup apple sauce
2 cups uncooked oats (I love using the Snoqualmie Falls oats)
1/4 cup skim milk (I use 2 %)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp sugar (or any other sweetener you prefer)
3/4 cup raisins (see variations if raisins don't appeal to you)
1/3 cup coconut (optional - see variations)

Mix it up. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min on a greased cookie sheet (I use my pampered chef stoneware so I don't need to grease it).

Variations: Substitute the raisins for cranberries or do both (maybe half of each), add in chopped nuts, add flax seed, chocolate chips, coconut, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Tips: Mash your bananas first so the dry ingredients don't fly out of your mixer. 17 minutes in the oven seems to be the golden number for me..

I make a big batch of these by doubling the recipe and freeze them and pull a few out the night before if I know the morning is going to be busy. I love a recipe that has simple wholesome ingredients and ones that I know I always have on hand. What kid doesn't love a "cookie" for breakfast?!

Bon Appetit!


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Bear Valley {Christmas 2013}

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Book Wreath DIY

I love wreaths. My mom made one similar to this that hangs over her mantle that I have been inspired by for quite some time. I decided it was time to try it out and taught myself along the way. I completed it in a couple hours while Sterling was at wrestling practice with a cup of coffee and an episode of Arrow to pass the time. It really is easy peasy...don't let it intimidate you. Happy gluing!

Materials:

a wreath

a book

&

a hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Tear out all the pages to your book. I think I used around 100 or so pages.

2. (Optional) Cover the back of your wreath with strips of book pages just to ensure you won't see any wreath showing through.

like so....

3. Make book petals

I highly recommend making ALL the petals first and then applying them to your wreath base once they are done. It makes for quicker production to get the tedious part out of the way all at once.

 4. Flip you wreath over on it's front and glue your first layer of petals on. (back )

 (front)

5. Then start layering the petals. You shorten each layer by an inch or so by gluing more of the stem down. By the time you are in the middle you wrap your petal all the way around to the back. 

 6. Finish it off by giving it a hook or something for it to hang. I used the title page and some more hot glue. (You can see the tips of the inner layer of petals in this picture that wrapped around to the back)

And voila! I will probably go back and fill in some gaps but for now it's nice to have off the dining room table where my little people could mutilate it in second and on the wall in somewhat of a safety zone. You can make it as full as you would like with adding a couple more layers on the inside. I left room for a pair of antlers to come out of the middle....just another project on the horizon.

Happy Crafting!

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