Just because....

Once upon a time, when I was VERY young, I thought that being a photographer for National Geographic Magazine would've been the best job in the world.  I think the introvert in me would've loved that job.  But the homebody in me would probably have been done after awhile.  I sometimes feel like the Princess and the Pea--I want my bed and my pillow.

Did that photography dream become a reality? No.  Not even close.
I took one photography class in high school and majored in Zoology at BYU. 

However, every now and again I dabble.
Our yard backs up to a pond and so the #wildlifeinthesuburbs gets used on my Instagram quite often.

This guy was hiding under our firepit one morning when my son went to put it away. 
Since he was sitting so quietly and still I decided to take advantage of it.

FYI:  I think this is an American Toad

To dreams realized and unrealized!!
Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

Tall Girl T-shirts

In case you who read this blog haven't figured out by now, we grow 'em tall around here.  I'm 6' 2", daughter #1 is pushing 6' 1" and daughter #2 is 5' 9" at almost 14 yrs. old.  Son #1 is 12 and 5' 6"....anyway, the point is we expect to have tall kids.

We happened to come across these tall girl problems on Pinterest.  We laughed and laughed as we read them as most of them we have experienced first hand.  Or at least thought.  I have always worn heels and always will, much to the chagrin of many people.  Sorry, don't care.  When hubby and I were dating one of his roommates was seriously bugged that I wore heels.  He told me straight up, "You don't need to wear heels."  My response to him, "What do you care?  I'm not dating you."

Some of these funny sayings have been made into t-shirts.  We decided to make our own using some of the quotes that we found.

Daughter #1's top favs:

• Tall boys like midgets.
• People tell me I'm tall like I am unaware.
• The weather is exactly the same up here.

We ended up making this shirt.

And for her BFF

She's a good sport.

My New Normal

My sewing life has changed over the course of the past couple months.
I've had to start wearing reading glasses in order to thread the needles on my machines.
Bummer!
It makes me feel like I am older than I actually am.
Well....maybe I am actually getting older.

Anyway, I'm not particularly happy about it as now I have to make sure I have a pair of "cheaters" by my serger, another pair in my purse so if I need to read something at the store, and another pair by my bed so I can read.  I find that especially at night I need them if I want to read.

But on the flip side, it sure is nice to be able to see clearly where that thread is going and what I am sewing.  My kids also think I look "distinguished" when I wear them.  I'm trying not to feel slightly put out by that comment because when I think of "distinguished" I think of a handsome gentleman with gray or graying hair (like my hubby).  I know they were giving me a compliment, so I guess that I'll just have to accept my new normal.



At least I'm blonde so you can't see all the gray that is coming in too.

Enjoy your weekend!
We are so praying for NO more SNOW!!

Friday Fun Facts: Why We Sew

Leslie:

I started sewing because our mom sewed and just wanted to try it. The reasons why change all the time. As a teenager I sewed for the creativity. I mostly made dresses for dances because I never really liked what was in the stores. And it was much cheaper to sew my own.

I didn't sew all through college and the first years of marriage. I just wasn't into it, but once I got pregnant with my first baby I got the bug again. I love seeing the girls in something I've made them. It is just so satisfying. I guess I've gotten sentimental about it. I want them to have things that their mom made them. I also like that they are one of kind items and almost always better quality than what I buy for them. And there's still the creative part that I love. Deciding on fabric, cutting, the whole process.

Emily:

I started out sewing as a little girl because mom sewed. It was fun and I loved turning fabric into something useful and pretty. As a teenager the only thing I remember sewing were dresses and skirts for church and dances. I had to sew those things because I couldn't find skirts long enough for my liking and dance dresses that weren't strapless/sleeveless. Besides, I could make a dress that was different from all my friends and for WAY less money. That always made me feel good.

When I was newly married (and dirt poor!) I made a few things for my babies, but mostly I made table clothes, curtains, pillows, anything for my house that I didn't have the money to buy. My sewing has evolved over the years based on the things I like at the time. Obviously now I am making quilts more than anything, but I still enjoy making clothes and home goods. The bottom line is: I enjoy creating in fabric no matter the project!

Renae:

I am pretty sure that sewing started for me because even as a younger person I wasn't able to find clothes that fit. Currently I am 6'2" tall, but I have been at least 6' tall since I was 15 years old. And for most of those teen years I weighed about 120 lbs. Yeah, think major beanpole. (Oh to be closer to that weight now.....sigh....O.K. moving on.) I'm reliving some of that again with my almost 14 yr. old daughter who is currently 5'11".

However, what started out as a necessity has turned into something that I really love to do. I sew to get better fitting clothes and to have more modest clothing than what I could buy. I sew because I love to create things. That probably has turned out to be the main reason I sew--Creativity! It doesn't hurt to know that I won't be seen in the same outfit as someone else. I also sew because I love the challenge of being able to duplicate something I've seen and do it better (unfortunately there is some shoddy workmanship sold out there in stores), or less expensively. Hubby says I'm an addict----probably true, but there could be worse vices.

So why do you sew?

Friday Fun Facts: Our Favorite Mags

Leslie:

I'm a full blown magazine junkie. Here's a list of what I get each month. (the ones I can think of anyway)

Pottery Barn
Pottery Barn Kids
Pottery Barn Teen
West Elm
CB2
Crate and Barrel
Anthropologie
JCrew
Boden
Mini Boden
Parents
Body and Soul
Marie Claire
Baazar

My magazine rack:




Emily:

The only two magazines that I get right now are Runner's World and Country Living. I used to get a few more, but realized they weren't doing it for me anymore. If my dreams ever became my reality it would be a cross between these two magazines. I'd be able to do daily long runs, be fast, and have a body like the cover model, all the while coming home to a house that looked like the ones featured in Country Living. Right now I'd settle for any daily run and a clean house! :)

Renae:

I must be a closet gossip--because I love People magazine--a.k.a. the "smut" magazine around our house. However, I don't buy it. My friend Cindy passes her back issues along when she is done reading. So does that make Cindy my enabler??! Anyway....

I've recently let my Family Fun subscription lapse after having that for years and years. I figure my kids are getting big enough now and I have enough back issues that I can find stuff for us to do, if need be, without too much difficulty. (However, their website STINKS! in my opinion).

I just started receiving Better Homes and Gardens again. I think I wanted it again because we are trying to redo some things in our own home and I'm open to ideas. I like the variety in their magazine--food, garden, home dec., etc.

But probably the one I find most useful and motivating at our house is The Family Handyman. This magazine walks you thru lots of DIY projects, which is right up our alley. These have real projects, not so many "outta-my-price-range-and-we'll-never-be-able-to-do-that-in-our-small-home" ideas (i.e. This Old House over budget by $50k projects). We also LOVE the Great Goof stories at the end of the magazine!

Tell us what magazines you can't live without!

Friday Fun Facts: What's on your nightstand?

Here's what we're reading...

Leslie:

Honestly, I haven't read a book since Eat, Pray, Love which I thought was super snooze-ville. (Tried to finish it, but just couldn't get interested in her meltdown). I blame my lack of reading on my current life phase of new babies because I used to be an avid reader.

But here is what I want to read and is actually sitting on my nightstand:

The Intentional Family given to me by one of my favorite peeps
Crucial Conversations
It Takes A Mother to Raise A Village borrowed from my sister
Parenting with Love and Logic
The Maker's Diet from my sister in law

Emily:

My husband bought me a Jane Austen collection for Christmas. I am one to start at the beginning of a book and never skip ahead, so since Sense and Sensibility was the first book, that's what I'm reading. But I am anxiously awaiting the finish so I can start Pride and Prejudice ~ One of my favorite movies!

I'm also reading Ella Enchanted with my eight year old.

Renae:

I just finished reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.

This is book #2 in The Hunger Games trilogy. This had been sitting by my bed for a week before starting it. I had checked it out from the library and since the request list was a long one for this book I had to hustle up and finish it. I waited a VERY long time to get this book, so I didn't want to drop back down to the bottom of the list. I think I read this in about 3 days time. Now I have to wait until later this summer for the final book to arrive. ARGH!!!

Next I am moving onto The Scarlet Pimpernel--recommended by Annette at her Book Barn Blog.

(Leslie, I just have to add that until maybe a year ago I hadn't read anything fun for myself in I don't know how many years. Seriously, for just the very reason you stated--the raising babies phase of my life.)

Now that you know what we're reading, we want to know what's on your nightstand! Do tell...