These little toes, combined with ruffled leggings, are tugging at my heart:

This message is so simple, so applicable and so motivating that I can’t quit thinking about it.  We’re talking a lot about it at the dinner table this week.

Speaking of the dinner table, I made this soup last week and it was amazing.  Full of flavor + healthy and it was good for me to cook with ingredients I’m unfamiliar with.  I doubled the recipe and everyone ate it really well.  We only had 1/2 cup left.

I’ve never made a layered red velvet cake.  I’d like to try this one.  Maybe for Valentines Day?  Speaking of Valentines Day, why is it that I have a couple dozen things I’m itching to try/make for the holiday?

It’s been a while since I’ve done much embroidery, but this alphabet sampler has me sorely tempted.  I’m thinking I would stitch it on a dark gray or navy blue fabric.

My sister and I are taking this online sewing class together in February.  I’m really excited to learn how to sew curves and I plan to make this quilt once I’ve mastered them.  Isn’t it pretty?!

Back in December I promised myself that if I finished my Christmas cards I could join pinterest.  Well, they’ve been having problems for weeks now and their “create an account” page always takes me to an error.  I really hope they fix it soon.  In the meantime, I love all of these pins.  So much of my favorite colors in here:  aqua, white, red/pink and lots of vintage.

I’ve never worn perfume because it gives me a headache, but my husband gave me this for Christmas and I love it!  Flowery and fruity but not too perfumey.  I wear it every day and it doesn’t bother me at all!

It’s turning out that this week is much busier than I’d prefer, lots of appointments and such.  I find myself disliking it, not because the busyness is unpleasant, but because I don’t like the disruption from the schedule I’m trying to live.  I feel like I have so little time for things, it’s hard to give up that time!

I hope you’re having a great week!

Jennifer

What are they?  Everyone wanted to know.  Candy cane almonds.  The package says, “Roasted Almonds in Dark & White Chocolate with Real Crushed Peppermint.”

I found them at Walmart on their big seasonal candy aisle.  I was walking down that aisle recently to purchase some Gatorade for my Gatorade-guzzling husband and these caught my eye.  They were expensive enough ($10 for 36 ounces, or just under $5/pound) that I passed them up, but when I was doing some last minute scrambling to pull together the shower I remembered them and splurged.

I know they say you’re only supposed to serve tried and true food to guests, but sometimes it’s nice to try something new when you have a lot of opinions to consult.  Plus, sharing with a large group guarantees that all you’ll do is taste them, which is what we’re all trying to do at this time of year, right?

Here’s what happened.  A few people tasted them,  then told the person they were next to.   A couple of the ladies came back for second helpings of soup or vegetables, but I think all of them came back for more candy cane almonds.  When several of them came to get a hand full to stuff in their pocket before leaving I had to hide my smile.  The more it happened, the funnier it was.  People really liked them!

So I’m doing you a favor and telling you about these delicious little treats so that you can grab a container to have on hand for the holidays.  Maybe you’ll need it at an event you’re hosting.  Maybe you’ll have an unexpected group of hungry teenagers crash at your house for an evening.  Maybe you’re supposed to bring something to share to a Christmas party but you’re running ragged already and have no time to cook or bake.  Maybe you’d like to add something new to your Christmas goodie bags.  Whatever the reason, do yourself a favor and buy one.

This is what the container looks like.  They had eggnog flavor, too, but eggnog happens to kind of gross me out.  So I’ll let you try them if that’s one of your favorite flavors and let me know if they’re good, too.

After the shower was over my sister and I went to the store and we each bought some to use during the holidays.  I’m having company for a week and I’m sure there will be a perfect night to get them out.

Enjoy!

HH

Time to announce the winner of four velvet pumpkins.  I used random.org and the winner was comment #4, Christa.

Christa, I’ve sent you an email and we’ll get them to you!  Hope you enjoy them!

AND, just for fun I decided to pick a 2nd winner, so comment #2, Andrea will also receive some velvet pumpkins.  I’ve contacted you, as well.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Hopeful Homemaker

It’s time to announce the winner of the “Give Thanks” banner.  The winner is comment #7, Janelle Hansen.

Congratulations!  I’ve just sent you an email and am excited to send this Thanksgiving banner to you.

Thank you for all your comments.  I enjoyed reading your thoughts about Thanksgiving, and hearing from some of you.  I feel very blessed.

Don’t forget there’s another giveaway going on for a few more days.  Click here to enter.

One thing I enjoy about this time of year is looking at holiday catalogs for various home decor companies.  Do you do that too?  While there is no room in our budget for splurges of this nature, I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I’m really liking.

First up, Ballard Designs.  I’ve been tempted by this mercury glass cake stand for three years now.  Every year I hope it will get marked down, but it always sells out before that happens.  I don’t have any mercury glass but would love to use this year round.

Also at Ballard Designs is this document gift wrap, which would be so elegant and fun to use.  I can also picture using it for art projects or some ingenious decor project.

And finally, the document ribbon they’ve added this year would be really fun to work with.  I also love their burlap ribbon with red on the edges.

Ok, next up is the Pottery Barn catalog.  I’m not one to buy bedding just for the holidays but I would make an exception for this duvet cover.  It would be so beautiful in our bedroom with the aqua walls!

I’m also loving the painted bird boudoir pillow cover that pairs with it.  And while on a pillow note, they have several painted Christmas pillows that are lovely.  They’d be so pretty on a bed or couch.

I must also say that this Partridge in a Pear Tree salt & pepper shaker set is the cutest ever!  It’s already sold out, but I love it anyway.

Williams-Sonoma offers what might be my favorite piece of all, this square aluminum pedestal cake stand.  Anyone who’s seen my pantry knows that I don’t need another piece of aluminum serveware, but this is perfect.  I love that it’s square.  In fact, I just bought a new deep square cake pan for my son’s upcoming birthday and would love to serve it on this platter.  Yes, this is probably the most tempting of them all.  And there’s a rectangular one.  Gorgeous.  In some ways even prettier than the square one because it’s taller and the shape is uncommon.  I’d like them both, please.

Also at Williams-Sonoma, these pie crust cutters are adorable.  I have their leaf set and love to use them (in fact, I played with them just yesterday).  I’d love to use that acorn and the turkey.  So cute!  This set and this set also look like fun.

While I’m on the subject of baking, I noticed an Emile henry pizza stone in the King Arthur Flour catalog.  A few months ago it would have meant nothing to me, but after falling in love with my emile henry pie pan after my birthday I’m a huge fan of the products.   This would be a lot of fun to use.

I’m still liking the curled wood accents out there, particularly wreaths.  This collection of red curled wood accents at Home Decorators is really well priced and ships for free right now.  I’m not sure if I’d choose the square or the circle wreath.

I saw a gorgeous green one somewhere that was breathtaking, but can’t find it.  If I can I’ll add it.  It was so pretty, but more expensive.

The most practical items on my list come from Crate & Barrel.  I’m loving this set of white mixing bowls.  I’d use them every day of the year.  I have a couple of sets of their mixing bowls that I love.  They have all held up well to the wear and tear of a large family.  The price for this set is really good for 5 bowls that are all microwave, oven and dishwasher safe. It’s a good thing I don’t live near one of their stores, because I probably wouldn’t be able to resist them in person.

And if I bought the white set, I’d also have to buy one with a red and white gingham rim.  This might be the cutest bowl I’ve seen in years.  Again, I’d use it ALL. YEAR. ROUND.

And just for fun, wouldn’t some of these or these aqua ornaments be fun to use?  I don’t think I’d pack them away after Christmas.  I also don’t think I’d ever actually buy one.  I’m not loyal to Anthropologie in any way and $18 is a lot of money to spend on a single ornament.  Still, they’re oh-so-pretty.

And finally, what might be the most beautiful items of all come from Wisteria.

The first is this incredible glass urn vase.  I actually have one of these, purchased earlier this year and I’ll just say that it is my all time favorite vase.  I’m totally in love with it and intend to use mine in my holiday decorating this year.  It’s stunning.  I’d love to buy a second one so I could pair them together on a table.

And if I had a beautiful entry in my home with a gorgeous table in it, I’d really love to put this angel weather vane on that table for the Christmas season.  (But since I don’t have that entry or that table, the angel will need to live somewhere else.)  Still, there’s something about it that kind of speaks to me.  I’d love to have a big reminder of the good tidings the angels declared on the night of Christ’s birth.  (After typing this I can’t find it on their website, which must mean it’s already sold out.  Bummer.  I really wanted to share a link and a picture.)

Ok, and here is the last.  It’s probably the least practical of them all but I think it’s beautiful.  It’s one of those items that really doesn’t fit my stage in life but I love it anyway and would love to use it over and over again.  It’s this gorgeous antiqued glass vase in a trophy cup shape.  LOVE it!  It’s waaaay too expensive for me, but beautiful just the same.

As I look back over my little fantasy shopping list, none of the items I like scream “holidays.”  Most of them are things that would be beautiful all year round (except perhaps for the curled wood wreath).  All of them could be used for any holiday or special occasion, which is part of the reason why I like them so much.

So there it is.  My dream list of holiday products right now.  Posting them is almost as much fun as buying them would be.

Tell me, which is your favorite?  Have you got your eye on something else?  If you do, make a comment and share a link!  I’d love to see what other people are liking right now.

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a fun Thanksgiving banner this week.  I hope your November is moving along nicely.  I’m behind, as usual, but enjoying this wonderful time of year.

Jennifer

I found it earlier in the summer at a consignment shop in Newport Beach, California and loved it instantly.  One of the things I love about my kitchen is the soothing color scheme.  Blue walls, white cabinets, dark wood floors, mirrors, silver.  My kitchen chairs are all painted different shades of blue with one bright green in the mix.

While I love this color scheme and am far from tiring of it, I wanted to add a touch of  pattern or something more graphic to the room.  I think this sign does the job.  It’s the kind of thing I fall in love with in magazine pictures.  (Are you like me, always falling in love with the one vintage piece in a room instead of all the things they’re trying to sell?)

And how cool is that, to find a sign that says “Old School House”?  When I bought it, the shop owner asked me if I am a teacher.  I said, “No, but I do have eight young children.” Her response, “Close enough!  You’re a teacher 24/7!”

Today I’m enjoying a new vintage touch in my kitchen.  What are you doing today?

Hopeful Homemaker

After a trip to the Balboa Candy store in early June, my mom placed a package of C. Howard’s Violet mints in my hand.  My brother had told me his wife really likes them and my mom thought I might, too.

The first one I tasted reminded me a little bit of … soap.  I tried a second one and this time the taste was more flowery, like tasting a piece of lavender.  I noticed that they really cleansed my palate, like ginger.  By the end of the package (which came far to soon) I was hooked.

A little research taught me that these mints were first marketed in the 1930′s and the recipe is still the same.  I love the silver and violet colored wrappers, the shape of them, everything.  When we visited Balboa Island ourselves a week later I took my kids to the Balboa Candy store.

Don’t you love that sign?

All the children chose a treat and I got mints.  C. Howard’s also makes violet gum, which we tried.  The wrapper made me smile.  The advertisement that it “refreshes after eating, smoking or drinking” is certainly reminiscent of times now gone.  I’m really not a gum person so I prefer the mints but my husband liked the gum a lot.   We also got a pack of the lemon mints but my children ate them so fast I have no pictures.

Now I’m all stocked up on my favorite mints.  Yum.

Hopeful Homemaker

While in California a few weeks ago I went to Trader Joe’s  for the first time (and naturally forgot my camera).  It’s always interesting to walk into a place you’ve heard about but never visited and see how it lines up with what you imagined.

I loved their cut flower section.  The selection in Newport Beach was gorgeous.  I wandered around and picked up a few things here and there for us to try.

When I was down in Escondido, this is what I went back for:

When I was a missionary years ago I lived and worked with many Korean people and grew to love them very much.  For lunch we would often eat seaweed and rice.  The seaweed was paper thin, small enough to eat a sheet in one big bite, and we would wrap it around a bit of rice with our toothpicks.  Call me crazy, but I remember it as one of the best meals I’ve ever enjoyed.  Simple but delicious.  I’ve never been able to find seaweed since that is as thin and tastes the same as what I remember eating.  Until now.

I’m excited to have found one of my favorite snacks again.  At 99 cents per package, I brought 20 of them home with me to savor over the coming year.  My two oldest boys also love the taste of it and beg for it daily but the rest of the family grimaces when we get it out.  Even my husband, who loves sushi, wants nothing to do with it.

That’s fine with me.  It merely means I get more!

Have you ever been to Trader Joe’s?  If you have, what’s your favorite thing to buy there?

Hopeful Homemaker

Don’t you love those red labels?  They had me at first sight.

I bought these bottles at a yard sale years ago and we’ve used them countless times.  They’re perfect for birthday parties, barbecues and the 4th of July.   I bought an entire crate of them,  24 bottles in great condition.

I store them in my pantry with a towel over them to protect them from dust.  They’re ready to pull out at a moment’s notice.  After using them I simply run them through my dishwasher.   I’ve learned that the easiest way to use them is to serve drinks in a large dispenser with a small spout for easy refills.  We add straws and have fun!

A simple drink table becomes a festive spot with the addition of these bottles.

While in Denver for Memorial Day weekend, we couldn’t resist hitting some yard sales on Saturday morning.  We drove into town around 2:30 a.m. but my eyes popped open at 7:30 and I was wide awake, ready for the fun.

It was fun to see which of my children were interested in joining us.  These two brought plenty of humor to our morning.

I scored two awesome deals that morning.  The first was these four vintage chairs for…. $15.00!

This kind of chair was the only thing on my wish list.  I was hoping for two, but would happily have settled for just one, and I expected to pay a decent amount for them because they’re rather popular right now.

I would happily have paid that price for just one, but a set of four for only $15?!?  Rather than let my chin hit the floor when they told me the price, I put the cash in their hands fast so they couldn’t change their minds.  They’re in great condition and the caning is still perfect.  Wow, talk about a deal!  I am so excited to refinish them.

The other amazing find was this vintage dresser, still wearing its original paint.   It was a steal at $15.00.

It’s so beautiful.  (To me, that is.  My husband, who came with me for the first time EVER, was NOT impressed with the “junk” I was hauling away.  It was kind of a funny moment, and perhaps I should have yielded,  but I knew I’d never see another piece like this.)

I love the oval detail on the front of the piece, and the hardware is amazing.  It’s missing one piece, and the bottom drawer is damaged, but I’m still in love with it.  I also love the detail on the bottom and the legs are beautiful.

Our van isn’t built for the kind of maneuvering and hauling that yard sales require, so it was kind of a pain to be driving it.  We also kept the back seat in, which meant we had no room for the dresser (another reason for my husband’s disgust with my purchase).  Gratefully, my sister and her husband graciously packed it in their truck for a crazy, windy drive with a big load to their home in Logan.  Now it’s waiting for me there, and I just have to find time to go and get it.

Can you believe it:  five awesome pieces for $30 total.  Fun, fun, fun!  Welcome summer!

Hopeful Homemaker