Saturday Morning

Making Cinnamon Rolls with Mom, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

What a crazy week I have coming up. Lots of appointments and commitments. Hopefully next Saturday morning, I’ll be able to make these wonderful cinnamon rolls again. O they are soooo good!

I use the dough from this book, but as Blue Yonder posted last week you can use you’re weekly dough too!

Saturday Morning Cinnamon Rolls
Filling:
4 melted tablespons butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 tablespoons raw honey (do not use honey if serving to children under the age of 1).
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Microwave butter and honey for about 45 seconds (or until melted— every microwave is different). Stir in remainder of ingredients.

I roll out the dough into a 9 x 13 rectangle.

Spread thin over the dough and roll into a log, cut into about 8 rounds. Place with rolls touching in a 9x9 pan or a round cake pan.

Cook for about 25 minutes at 375 or until light brown. After removing from the oven, immediately spread icing over. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Icing:
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon milk
Powdered sugar until makes a pour-able consistency.

Earth Hour -- update!

Well we did it— mostly. Except that we had two sick kids, so the lights kept going on and off to get to them. They both have a cold/virus of sorts. Lots of barking-seal-like coughing and fevers. We made it through thanks to ice cold lemonade, mommy/daddy snuggling-- the kind where they lean their whole weight and suck the life/energy right out of you and you have to peel them off to even go to the bathroom, or to get more lemonade. Plus, ungodly amounts of Barney.

But, 99 percent of our lights were off the whole time. It felt good to be doing something. We’ve even discussed making earth hour a weekly event. Keeping the lights off as a reminder how much we don’t really need to function.

I took a peek at the flickr group. How awesome to be connected to something bigger.

Wishing you a happy and healthy week!

Stylebook: Truman's Room

So I realized today that I have done very little to redecorate my son's room. My friend, Wendy, has done much more! I stole this blanket from her house--OK so technically we traded (:
It's perfect for my vision of his room.
This is the newest addition to his room. His curtain. Which I love, love, love. Truman calls it, "Wendy." He points to his new curtain, and asks, "Whatsat" (What's at?), then answers himself, "ME Wendy." (My Wendy). He loves the real Wendy much more than his curtain.

He also says good night to his curtain, Wendy. Here's the beautiful curtain in all it's glory. I really am in love with it!


This lovely border is from here.

Let's Make: Green Cleaning Supplies

P1012851, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.
Let’s make cleaning products shall we?

Spring cleaning is here and since, I hate the idea of noxious, toxic chemicals around my little people. SO instead I’ve been known to make my own.
So I make wonderful smelling, natural, disinfectant cleaner.

You can get as fancy as you want with it. But the process that I use-- it works for me. You can could organic vodka, chamomile and lavendar to make an organic version.

Camomile vodka poured into borax and water (before mixing).

Lavender Chamomile Disinfectant
2 quarts Hot Water
1/2 cup Borax
1/4 cup Vodka or Chamomile Vodka (See Recipe Below) --- you can use cheap vodka for this.
15 drops of Lavender essential oil

In a big glass jar, or whatever you have, mix hot water and borax. Let set for about 20 minutes, shaking occasionally until all the borax is dissolved. Add vodka and lavender essential oil. ++NOTE: Strain mixture though a sieve or a coffee filter after the borax makes crystals. 

Pour into a spray bottle. I keep the rest under my sink until I need it as a refill.


Chamomile Infused Vodka
1 bottle of Vodka— you can use cheep vodka. We run ours through a brita filter a few times for purification. You can really taste the difference!
6 chamomile teabags, bags removed or whole leaf tea or chamomile dried flowers

Mix in a glass jar. Leave in a dark, cool, dry cupboard for 15 days. Strain with a coffee filter.

Help Send a Message

A month or so ago my mother sent me this email about earth hour. What a cool idea. 

Every person in the world who can. Shut off your lights and/or your power for an hour 8:30 p.m. on this saturday night. 

No matter what your view is on the term 'global warming.' This is a great way to conserve energy on a global scale. Hopefully making clear that the treatment of this earth, by us, it's inhabitants could be better. 

Won't you join me in Earth Hour? We are having a very small get together-- just our family and one other. We'll leave the power off at our house as we go to theirs and turn their power off. I think it sends a strong message about what we can all do together, no matter where you live! 

So share with me what you're going to do for Earth Hour! I'd love to hear about it!

Water Painting

Water Painting, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

Isabel picked up a very large paint brush from the painting day and asked, "Mom can I paint with this?"

Usually I would have said no, but my friend Joni told me that she used to put up brown paper in the garage and let her kids go-to-it with paint.

I am not that brave, and this is my kitchen walls we're talking about. So I gave them a dish of water, a paint brush each and a grocery bag taped to the wall.

It was a day full of fun. When it dried, they came back and painted it again! And Truman even cleaned some of the floor with his 'paint'!

Red Letter Festival

If you would indulge me a little. I want to tell you about a festival that I'm really excited about! Friend and fellow blogger, Jim Ellis, has been working diligently for a cause that is close to our community. He’s running all of this grass-roots PR to get the word out, which I so admire. AND he’s running 61.05 miles for the famed red letter run.


The Red Letter Festival is this weekend, it’s goal is to “raise awareness about negative effects of domestic violence, poverty and homelessness in the lives of women and children in Northwest Iowa.”

The actual festival is this weekend, there are lots of ways to participate. You can find the schedule here and donate your time or resources to help The Bridge in Orange City.

* NOTE: Check out Mr. Ellis and his story here and an article about The Bridge here.

Truman's New Favorite Hangout

Truman's New Favorite Hangout, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

How can you get mad at this little face?

Even when he's climbed up on to the table, which is a major no-no at our house.

But the light was perfect, his chubby legs just waiting to be photographed.

He did get a stern scolding after I took a few pictures. What a confusing Mommy I must be.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder....

Engagement photos by Becky Dau. Design by Mary Arteche.

Here is a design I did for a lovely friend at work for her save the date cards--with all the sensitive information removed.

Her husband-to-be surprised her with those special words in a corn field. A fly by proposal.

Just one of the handful of projects I’m working on. More to come soon!
____

I’ve been a bit absent lately. But lots of creating, walk taking, invitation designing and such.

Eric had a super busy week and had a commitment almost every night. So the kids and I got a lot of two-on-one time (:
Needless to say, no blogging time came of last week.

But, I’ll be back tomorrow for sure for a photographic update of the odds and ends, to get you caught up!

From the Library Bag: Goodies

Now that it’s nicer outside we stroll down to the library at least once a week, our nighttime reading has been very exciting lately. I've also been keeping the Library books in a cloth bag by the door for easy returns, we'll see how long that lasts. Trying to keep my fines to a minimum.

A wise man once told me that libraries should be revered like Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Cathedrals and Ashrams. So much knowledge, time and effort is contained in one place. It should be revered, a link to our past and future. Interesting thought, at the time I remember thinking that was crazy. But now I see how special libraries are-- the people who can't afford books, movies, DVDs, CDs (LIKE ME) can read a wealth of information.

A few books that we’re so glad we found:


My Little Red Umbrella
This little gem has wonderful illustrations and “Mom look there are kitties!”

Bonjour, Babar!
We bought the first Babar book at our local thrift shop for a dime, this book helps us continue the story. And, again I love the illustrations!

The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum
What a wonderful little, dream-like story that tackles some issues like loneliness and friendship. When Izzo realized she was lonely for friends, she asked, “Mom, can she come live with us?”-- so sweet.

The Little House
The story of the little house, the passage of time and how cities expanded over countryside. One of my new favorites.

Derek the Knitting Dinosaur
“Mom, he does the thing with the stick-knitting like YOU do!!” So cool.

We did come home with a few glossy Bob the Builder and Barney choices... Um, not what I was thinking in the way of books, but surprisingly these little classics above, won out for bedtime reading. Seems my children will take beautiful over commercial-based books too! Yay!

Any good books you’re reading/checking out? I’m always looking for more!

Is it Spring yet?

Photos from sxc.hu

I’m the kind of person who wishes away seasons. Or do I just anticipate the next season?
Winter: Is it spring yet, I can’t stand the cold! O and flowers!
Spring: When it’s just a little warmer, we can go to the pool.
Summer: It’s so hot, is it ever going to cool down? I’m ready for the leaves to change.
Fall: I wonder when the snow is coming... (not that I really want it, I just think away the fall)

Kind of crazy when you sit down and think about it. Always on the look out for the next thing. I do like preparing for the next season, however.

Yesterday, was a beautiful day. Doors flung wide open to let all the air in and through the winter-stuffy house. My house is also in dire need of spring cleaning. Izzo’s room got a great deep cleaning the other day. The closet needs to be tackled and the rugs and linens all need a good hang on the line.


O drying clothes in the sun! The best part about warmer weather!

----
This weekend was a wonderful one. Saturday, a day spent with my sweet girlfriends, shopping, talking, laughing, eating and movie watching. O and baby holding! Loved every minute! ---We even stopped to pick up a camera and then didn't take pictures.

Sunday the weather was clear and sunny, it feels lovely to take a nap with the shades open and a little person next to you. And to wake up to still nice weather and to go on a much needed walk.
---

A few links to what I’m keeping up on.
Incentive based teaching discussion on visity.

Earth and living’s viking shoes... I think I need to make myself a pair for the summer.

Have a happy day.

Paint!

Boys, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

Yesterday, when I came home, popped open the back door I smelled something.

So this is how the afternoon went. Eric had been home all day with the kids and then the three picked me up from work. We went running around town and stopped in the bakery for a snack. Eric ran down a few doors and picked up two paint brushes to start painting project. We went home and then I discovered that it was to finish a painting project!!

What was that smell?

It was that distinct fresh paint smell! I peeked around the corner in the hallway and saw it was no longer yellow! But, the lightest shade of white/gray. So clean!

Eric had finished the job we had started taping over a year ago. And I am one happy wife. He took care of kids the whole day plus and found time to paint the hallway.

O and when I came home for lunch yesterday. He made me express from our little Italian percolator. Ahhh. Amazing.

I'm in love everyday, but today especially.

:: the picture is of my boys, I don't like to post without a photo and these faces I love best!

Winter Poems

Woodpile, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

Winter-Time
Robert Louis Stevenson
From Child's Garden of Verses

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.

Rainy Day GiveAway Winner

Congratulations to Jane who said:

You've won the rainyday mix.

Just send me you're contact information and it will be on it's way to you!

G r e e n W e e k: Day 4

Green Pants, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

A little bit of green in the high chair.

I love these little jammie pants on Truman and Izzo calls these slippers Buzzer Luzzer (Buzz LIghtyear).

A few places at work where I saw green this week...

Don't forget to comment for your chance to win my rainy day give away!

GIVEAWAY: It's not raining here...

But it is foggy. And I made these CD covers for my sister's rainy day mix...


Follow the directions below to win your own copy of my rainy day mix!


How to enter:
-You have until Midnight CST on Sunday, March 8th to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment. One entry per person, please.
-For an extra entry "follow" my blog
-The winner will be randomly picked and announced Monday, March 9th.

G r e e n W e e k: Day 3

Green Toys, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

Here are some glimpses of green from around our house this week...

G r e e n W e e k : Day 2

G r e e n W e e k : Day 2, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.

A few weeks ago, I was very much seeped in the February Doldrums and feeling very sorry for my creative soul. How was it, that I didn’t get to journal, read, paint, sew, draw.... and on and on, quite a long list developed. Woe as me, I have two kids, a house, a job. All things that are ‘true’ but are a little blown out of proportion.

So I started to pray. Kind of a weird request but, ‘God show creativity around me.’ My prayers are basic, most of the time-- I can handle basic much better than a mouthful of to-be verbs I don’t use any other time of my day.

Then I started to notice, just little glimpses in my funk.

• The imaginative stories that are woven and played out in my house.
• The blankets being knitted for a few minutes.
• New games created— like jumping and squealing on squares of fabric with a friend.
• Collaborating on someone else’s redecorating project--- via phone while my kids we’re fighting over whose turn it was to poop on the Elmo potty. It was quite funny.
• Baking cut-out cookies for a stuffed cat, Leo. While frosting, Isabel said “Mom, you are such a great mom.” Then asked “How do you do it?” Wow. Floored.
• And then there was painting, with Truman and Hello Kitty, Curious George.
• And painting with Isabel. Her paintings were of sunrise and sunset (see above).

So creativity as a parent looks different then it did when I was a college student with time to “create.” I don’t even know if I’m affecting they’re inborn creativity but, now my only goal is to have the tools and facilitate the discovering.

Perhaps, I should not feel sorry for my depleted creative soul— but be energized at the opportunity to view the world through two mindful and creative beings.

I am privileged to be their mom.

G r e e n W e e k: Day 1

Saturday Morning, originally uploaded by TheYellowDoorPaperie.
This week I'll be joining Emily's Green Week.

These snapshots are from a restful and lovely saturday morning. Coffee, pancakes and some of the whole-milk yogurt I made last week. So delicious.
It was wonderful to wake up to the sun shining, even though it wasn't warm enough to play in the sunshine. I did throw open all the shades, and let the light in the house.