Notes from A Cottage Industry

Oh, how I wish I had never discovered these.

Have you tried them?!

They're potato chips melt-in-your-mouth-think-you-died-and-went-to-heaven's answer to kettle corn.

(Sweet Potatoes to be specific.)

Mmmm.

Mmmm.

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm.

If lovin' them is wrong I don't wanna be right.

And, on the eighth day, God created the crock pot.

...or so it would seem. (at least at our Bake Off.)

(And..ehem..yes, we are still rambling on about the fun-and-fabulous Bake Off at my workplace.)

Seriously, what did we do before slow cookers? (If you're old enough to remember the term "Slow cookers" you might be my age.)

One of my friends at work was surprised to see my white crock pot. I explained that I have a thing for white. White dishes, serving pieces...and ..crock pots make that list as well. (I left out the part about having more than one white crock pot.)

By the time we had everyone's chili and mac n' cheese out, we had a minimum of eight crockpots going all through one surge protector.I topped off the sea of crockpots with a couple of my signs...("coz' that's what I do.)

....and one more, by the chili...

and one for my old typewriter...

And one last sign by the desserts....

I will be adding a Bake Off accessory e-kit to my etsy shop later tonight...why don't you plan a Bake-off at your work-church-school-whatever.

As it turns out, the best mac n' cheese ever is a Bake Off winner.

 We held our Chili-Mac b' Cheese-Dessert Bake Off Monday, and it's official.

 

My efforts (and trial run through of the recipe on the weekend) proved to me that the name of the mac n' cheese recipe I used is true.

 

Here it is. (You've gotta try it.)

 

Best Mac and Cheese Ever

 

Ingredients

• 16 oz elbow macaroni
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 2 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 lb Gruyere cheese
• 1 lb Cheddar Cheese
• 24 Ritz crackers

Instructions

1. Prepare macaroni according to package directions. Set aside.
2. In large pot, melt butter. Add skim milk and bring to near boiling over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and sprinkle in flour. Whisk vigorously over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Mixture should be thick and boiling. Slowly add cream, while whisking. Add in salt, pepper, mustard and worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir for about 5 minutes.
3. In food processor, shred Gruyere and Cheddar cheese. Add to pot, stir until thoroughly combined.
4. Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture. Pour into a 13x9 dish.
5. In large ziploc, (or use a food processor, or a Ninja blender) to crush one sleeve of Ritz crackers. Sprinkle over top of macaroni.
6. Bake in a 375 degree oven, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy hot!

 

I won first place in the Mac n' Cheese division of the Bake Off!(I won this teeny-tiny trophy, a $25 gift card, and bragging rights for the next 365 days.)

 

 

First, let me say that we did our Bake Off anonymously with numbers by each entry instead of names or what have you. This way, people couldn't tell who baked what..(Okay, desserts were a bit easier to figure out, as there are a few of us that are always baking things for friends to enjoy...) Voting was done by dropping your vote in the designated jars I had organized...which were counted at the end of the competition by one of our fabulous receptionists.

 

...and...I took first place in the Mac n' Cheese Division.

 

I'm pretty stoked, (can you tell? We are a competitive bunch, down there at work.) I will most certainly be showcasing my teeny-tiny trophy, and initiating the shameless bragging rights for the entire 365 days, thankyouverymuch.

Heavenly homemade mac n' cheese.

So, I told you that I spearheaded a plan rather last minute-like, to put on a Chili-Mac-n'-Cheese-Dssert Bake Off. I myself planned on entering some sort of cup cakes. (That was a given.)

And then I decided to make and enter a mac n' cheese entry. Now, I hadn't ever made mac n' cheese from scratch, so naturally I went to Pinterest and googled up "best mac n' cheese" and about a gajillion recipes and pictures popped up,

After a bit of research, I selected this recipe. (The secret ingredient is crumbled Ritz crackers on top of the mac n' cheese.) I then decided that I needed a practice run at the recipe, just to be sure it was the best, and I ran to the grocery store and bought my ingredients.(In case you haven't made homemade mac n'cheese yourself, it isn't as inexpensive as the kind you make from the little blue box the people at Kraft put out, that's for sure.)

I followed the recipe to the letter, and served it up for my Rock n' Roll Buddy for supper Saturday evening, and sent the rest over to my daughter's home for a repeat performance for her family on Sunday.

Oh. My. Ga.

There are no words to fully describe the near out-of-body experience that occurred when we took our first bite.

One and a half pounds of Gruyere and cheddar cheeses, with two cups of heavy cream (Please, let's not think about the calories here) create the ultimate comfort food.

Oh yes, this recipe lives up to it's name.

Weekly words to live by.

The fairly impromptu Chili-Mac n' Cheese-Dessert Bake Off event.

I am not sure I mentioned that my team at work decided we would take turns by month being in charge of adding fun and value to the team, and the other folks we work with. (Did I share that already? Maybe so.)

Anyway.

I volunteered to take the first month.

(This is right up my alley, and the true sweet spot of my existence!)

I collaborated my a couple of teammates to see if there would be any interest, and threw together a Bake Off to be held this coming Monday. We chose Monday so people could do their cooking on the weekend. We will make entries anonymous and have prizes for winners in all three categories.

I sent out an email yesterday to the departments on our floor and upstairs as well, and the response has already been fun. There are email challenges being thrown around as to who will reign as the first King (or Queen) or Chili.

I am entering a dessert of course, but also have decided to enter a mac n' cheese recipe. I haven't ever done mac n' cheese from scratch, and it sounds so yummy, I can hardly wait to make it.

Last night I whipped out these reminder flyers and sign up sheets to post on the doors of the offices.

Pictures to follow the inaugural event...!

Back by popular demand, more photos of my grand-babes.

I know. It's been a while since I shared pictures of my grands, and you're jonesing to see some.

Right?

(Mmmm hmm. I thought so.)

I got to spend Easter with my sweet grands in the biggest little city, and I have been meaning to share a few pictures.

(Indulge me, please.)

It's hard not being able to see these two cutie-pies as often as I see the ones here in town, and this last visit I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked.

Less than a year and a half apart, they are best friends. She's a little Mama,always wanting to help, and he's a wild man, who isn't afraid of anything. I adore them and they are perfect.

(Just like the rest of my grands.)

(But you know that.)

I love these babies to the moon and back a hundred times.

Let's hear it for the folks on the front line.

Aah yes, the face of the office. (...or Practice, or business, or company.)

The wind beneath any company's wings.

It's Administrative Professionals Day. (formerly known as Secretaries Day, if you were born before they had color TV.)

Whether or not you see this as a holiday created by Hallmark, the admin team are the unsung heroes of the office world. They get-er-done fifty two weeks a year, usually without the pomp and circumstance and high fives that coworkers higher on the food chain typically get, and for that reason alone, I think it's important to take one day and let them know how much we value them.

I know.

(I started out in the working world as a receptionist.)

I made some spice cupcakes with maple buttercream frosting for the four admin in our company, and together with my team, we all chipped in to get them each a gift card.

If you work in an office, or know someone who is an admin, take five minutes today to make sure you let them know how truly appreciated they are.

Speaking of toast. (And my apparent lack of skills at oven-toasting.)

So, I may or may not have eluded to the fact that I am oven-toasting-challenged in yesterday's post.

And that made me think of toasters.

Because I do not currently own one.

And...you might be surprised to know that coconut isn't the only thing I have trouble oven-toasting. I also struggle with toasting toast in the oven.

(Let us pause for a moment to remember yesterday's post and the incinerated shredded coconut.)

Why do I not own a toaster, you ask? Well, I used to, way back in the day, but I haven't had one since...well, since before I became suddenly single. After that, I figured there was no real need for a toaster, because I like toast too much.

It's the old "If you give a Moose a Muffin" theory again.(This theory applies to so many areas of my life. Are you following me here?)

If I had a toaster, I would want to make some toast. (I like toast.) If I made toast, I would want jam to put on it. If I had jam, I'd eat the entire loaf of bread...er...toast. And then I'd outgrow the few clothes that do still fit my chubby bum, and if...well, hopefully you get it.

Mmmm, I do love me some toast.

Oh, where was I? oh yes, toasters, or my lack of a toaster in this case.

I would like to have a toaster because I like to make toast for my guests. Mr Rock and Roll Buddy's favorite dinner is breakfast, and that has to include toast.

But....have you looked at toasters lately in the stores? Ca-razy insane expensive if you want a cute one. (and I refuse to buy one that is not cute, because I am all about the charm-factor.) I found one a few weeks ago at William Sonoma that has a feature that actually reads. "A bit more".

(Squeeee!)

Imagine that! A friendly toaster. I thought that was adorable. I knew it was a match made in heaven, until I looked more closely and discovered the downside of this cute toaster is that it cost (on sale, no less...) $129 American dollars.

It's a toaster, people. It simply toasts certain things. Flat things like bread and bagels. (And not coconut.)

I will continue my search for the cutest toaster ever made at a realistic price at yard sales and thrift shops (It has got to be chrome colored, and not all plastic, and well...if it had a button that read "A bit more" that wouldn't hurt either.)

In the meantime, I will continue to work with what I've got, which is Miss Daisy, my harvest-gold-works-like-a-charm retro range that came with my cottage, and maybe I'll master toast-making before the batteries in my smoke alarms die.

Piece of cake. (If you don't count the toasted coconut fail.)

A piece of coconut cream birthday cake, to be more specific.

I had the privilege of baking my daughter's birthday cake this past weekend, and we decided on coconut cream.(I had a craving and she indulged me.)

It was pretty close to perfect, if I do say so myself.

A light and fluffy, yet moist, white cake, with coconut cream filling done the easy way, with a simple package of coconut cream pudding, coconut buttercream frosting covered lightly with shredded coconut, and three variegated sizes of little pearly candy sprinkles for added shimmer.

I had actually planned on doing toasted coconut for the frosting, but I simply cannot seam to master the toasting part to save my life, no matter how many times I try. I always manage to turn away from the oven at just the exact wrong moment. This time, I had a complete brain lapse and put the oven on broil, instead of bake.

(How did I manage to do that?)

(As I said, it was a complete brain lapse....)

I slid the cookie sheet filled with a layer of fluffy white coconut into the oven on the top rack, and waited about thirty seconds. I peeked in...nothing happening yet that I could see...looked again fifteen seconds later (give or take one minute...) and discovered huge flames disco-dancing all over the cookie sheet of blackened-and-charred coconut remains. The flames were literally more than a foot high as I pulled the sheet from the oven, and doused it with water in the kitchen sink. The smoke alarm went off (of course) and it is out for debate as to whether or not my cookie sheet can be salvaged for further baking use.

I then changed my plan to un-toasted coconut out of the package for the frosting, and lit some vanilla candles in hopes of covering the smell of incinerated coconut.

Oh well. you can't be the best at everything.

Onward and upward, I opted for sheet music punched hearts for the cake-top decor, rather than the expected birthday candles. (once you pass a certain age, you are not always as thrilled with seeing that many candles ablaze at one time on top of your dessert, and I for one, had seen quite enough flames for the day, thankyouverymuch.) 

I was happy with the finished product, and I think the birthday girl liked it too.

Weekly words to live by.

 

If you'd like to make a copy of today's weekly words, click here to do so:  Download Happy home quote

As it turns out, even a kitchen drawer can be a work of art.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say, and I find this newly stocked kitchen drawer full of vintage and new textures and tones breathtaking in a peacefully soothing way.

Wow, I sound like a crazy woman.

(But, do you feel it too?)

It looks like something out of Country Living or Romantic Homes magazine, you know? In actuality, it is simply one of the Other Tracey's newly installed kitchen drawers...

filled with her magnificent array of containers, full of flatware, and...well, what appears to be a whole lot of spreaders.

She was formerly a caterer, you know.

A spectacular one at that.

And, I imagine that's where all of the eighty nine hundred thousand spreaders came from.

*Sigh*

Little things like this cause me to swoon, admiring the vintage patinas, and the organization as well. It makes me want to revamp my own kitchen drawers so I can open them repeatedly, just to gaze at the simple beauty of it all.

(I think I already said that I sound like a crazy woman.)

Anyway.

Yeah, I just might do that.

Walmart; the thrifty woman's Pottery Barn.

Actually, I think it's the smart woman's Pottery Barn.

(Seriously, have you been to Walmart lately?)

Who knew?

I noticed a while back that they had oh-so-Pottery-Barn-or-World-Market fabric lined metal laundry baskets and tubs.

Now, they've stepped it up for summertime entertaining, and I am on totally board. I was cruising through yesterday when I saw these fantastic galvanized and enamel beverage servers Red and turquoise, just like my new bike!) and stands (ta da!) to set them on. Coordinating round and rectangular trays, as well as giant apothecary style glass beverage servers round out the line.

For those of us who love the Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware look but are attempting to live charmed lives on shoestring budgets, these sweet accessories are nothing short of being heaven sent.

I stood, debating over which one I would use most, arguing with myself as to whether or not I could actually justify getting all three. (Did I tell you they were less than %15 for the server, and less than $8 for the stand, making the set less than $23 before taxes.)

Or two or three of one colorway, to use for multiple beverages.

(I couldn't. I am a girl on a budget, in a teensy cottage with nor extra storage space.)

In the end, I chose the galvanized one. (Did I pick the right one for me? I dunno yet, but since I already have a glass beverage server, it seemed to make the most sense, from a versatility point of view, to me anyway.)

What are you waiting for? Get yourself to Walmart before they're all gone!

If you want instant decorating gratification, frame out a window.

I have never fancied myself a carpenter.

I can paint furniture, and do any sort of paper crafty-ish project, and I can bake a wicked dessert, but using power tools, and slinging a hammer?

Notsomuch.

I couldn't imagine it, nor did I feel even the teensiest bit of interest in this.

Then I moved into a 1952 fixer-upper cottage.

And I realized I needed to do quite a lot of updating that clearly would require carpentry work.

And, hiring it out would do ca-razy insane things to my budget.

That's when my daughter, handiwoman extraordinaire, stepped in and assured me that I could do this. Really.

Really?

Really.

I said I would be the judge of that.

She came over, chop-saw and nail-gun in hand, and we did a walk through my gonna-be-so-cute-and-cozy cottage. In the end, we decided the bathroom window would be the project I would cut my carpenter teeth on, so to speak.

My mama-of-FOUR-BOYS-tape-measure-toting-carpenter daughter whipped out her trusty crowbar, and showed me just how easy it is to pop off a window frame from 1952.

We then headed to Home Depot, picked up the wood trim, and got to work measuring the window.

Measure twice (or four or five times, if need-be.) and cut once.

We set up the chop-saw on the garage floor, and jerry-rigged a way to keep the wood straight while cutting (If you try this, do as I say, and not as I did...) because my work bench is still covered in tubs of holiday items from my move last December.

(Oh dear. Has it been more than four months already?)

She had me watch her work the saw. Then, she had me work the saw.

Oh my. How fun was this?!

A whole new creative frontier.

Fast, clean cuts. The smell of freshly made sawdust. Instant gratification. Oh yes, I could get used to doing this.

Mmmmm hmmm.

The nail gun proved to be even more fun.

(As if that were possible.)

In roughly eighteen minutes, first the side boards, then the bottom, and finally the top pieces...

...start to finish, we had nailed up and framed my sweet lil' bathroom window, without breaking a sweat.

Aah-mazing.

All that is left is to touch up the seams and nail holes with caulk, and paint.(and spend a good amount of time outside with a razorblade, scraping off the sloppy extra paint on the windows from a paint job a couple decades ago.) and the job is complete.

Squeeeeeeee!

She was right, I can do this! (And I will.)

Step aside Bob Vila'. Gramma Cupcake's gat a nail gun, and she's not afraid to use it.

Work of art in progress.

I scored a new-ish dressform at the Goodwill a few months back, and am finally tackling the project of reinventing her to be a fabulous part of my bedroom to hold necklaces, and add a little vintage feel. I began by giving her a couple of coats of paint over her fabric cover. I painted her a soft dove grey, and now just need to antique her with a warm brown glaze. Her bottom edge is kind of wonky, so I will most likely add some vintage trim, or a tulle skirt or something like that.....

You might recall that I've done up this type of dressform before, way back here, here, and way up on a high shelf here.

This one came missing her cap for the neck hole, and I have been looking fr just the right vintage item to turn into her finishing touch. This is harder than you might think, because the neck hole is a bit larger than most jar lids and random toppers. As it turned out, I found the most perfect topper for her by using an inverted mini- angle food cake pan. (I am unsure if I will antique it as well, or leave it be.)

)What do you think? Is that topper working? Tell me your honest opinion.)

I am planning on painting her base a weathered white very soon, but for now I could not resist putting some of my jewelry around her sweet neck. 

Just think, all this wonderful-ness for less than twelve dollars. I know, I'm a lucky girl.

Because when it rains, you need a bread-bowl of chowder.

....and we have returned to rain here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Lucky for me, baked potato chowder is ready in a New York minute from the deli counter, and the sourdough bread bowls are fresh at the bakery counter.

I added a bit of fresh cooked bacon, some scallions, and build a fire in the fireplace.

Oh yes-indeedy, we've got comfort food, for sure.

Bedmaking 101, Tracey-style.

Several readers have asked me how I go about creating my inviting bed-scapes, and since I had stripped my bed and did laundry today, I thought it might be the perfect time to snap some step-by-step pictures and walk you through my easy little process.

I am all about adding charm to the everyday (and night) moments in life, and that includes making my home a haven. I'd have to say that the top two things I do for myself would be having a luxurious bath in the evening, complete with candlelight and lots of bubbles, and making my bed as cozy as a cloud.

I'm a nut for freshly washed sheets; flannel in the cooler months, and crisp cotton (with a ruffled edge, like these) in warmer weather months. I wash my sheets at least once a week, (usually about every four days...) and I love to use linen spray each day as I make the bed, to keep that fresh feeling.

(Coming out of my bath and sliding into the fresh covers with oodles and toddles of fluffy pillows surely has to be what heaven feels like, don't you think?)

So, here is my step by step system, which takes me less than two minutes each morning. (I promise.) I love seeing the bed made when I come home from work. Likewise, an unmade, messy bed just isn't inviting to me at bedtime.

I put the bottom and then top sheet on the mattress...

.....followed by a coordinating quilt. (Right now I am enjoying my white on white on white look for my own room) I like to fold the quilt down about a foot...

....followed by the top sheet being folded over it...

I then place the bed pillows that I actually use to sleep with on the bed....

...and then place my two euro shams upright on top of them...

...I then place one set of shams in front of the euros (still on top of the bed pillows)...

...and then a second set of standard sized shams in front of the other pillows....

....then I like to add a toss pillow or two...

Now, for the duvet. (I don't wash my duvet every week.) To make the bed, I simply place the duvet at the foot of the bed, with the end that buttons or zips, or ties at the very foot of the bed, not hanging down at all, but just to the end.

I then fold the duvet in thirds, so it basically forms a "Z"...does that make sense?

I like this multi-layered look of the different weights and textures, and then at night, I pull it up for that fluffy warm cloud feeling, as I sink into my fluffy pillows and soft sheets.

Now, a couple of great tips for making your duvet look aaah-mazing, and easy-as-pie to put your comforter in on laundry day, or when you're changing covers....first, for putting your comforter into the duvet without breaking a sweat, I use the Burrito Method.

Have you heard about it?!

This used to be such a daunting task, but, once I heard about the burrito method, it became a breeze! The only thing I do differently than the Youtube video in my hot link, is that I use not one feather comforter inside my duvet, but two of them.

Yes, you read that right, I said two. 

(I heard somewhere that this is how places like Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware make their bed displays look so incredibly inviting!)

(...and, I can tell you that it certainly does.)

Also, I can tell you that it feels even better than it looks.

It's truly like what I imagine sleeping in a cloud must feel like. 

Well, there you have it. My version of bed making 101. Do you have any tricks for making your bed? Do share!

Weekly words to live by.

**Thank you again for all of the continued prayers and good thoughts for both my daughter and my brother.

My daughter is doing great after having her gallbladder removed, and my brother is scheduled to be going home from the hospital today!!!

Gramma Cupcake got some new-old-school wheels.

Oh, yes I di-id.

An award for a team mate who is raising the bar on remarkable.

I work for a company that has over 150 employees, and many different departments. I am not sure if I have shared this but, I am a recruiter (We call them Talent Acquisition Managers…sounds much more fancy, doesn’t it?)

Anyway, we have lots of funnier-than-fiction stories and events that unfold as we are working to fill various positions, and a few months back, we decided to start sharing the funnier stories with one another, and then awarding the best one each month or so. We call them “Come on, Man!” stories. (One of my favorites was a person that listed their previous job experience as a “Cow Milker” when applying for a front desk spot in an ENT’s office.)

We recently came up with the idea to share stories of the opposite end of things, and I came up with the idea to call it the “That’s what I’m talkin’ about” stories and award.  Over the past few weeks, one team mate in particular has helped me with a new project and event I proposal I was working on. She gave me some stellar advice and guidance, and I am now moving forward with it.  

I decided to thank her in a big way, and presented it to her with a loving cup trophy from Goodwill, spruced up all Tracey-style....

...at the start of a two department meeting. I had a friend cue in pomp and circumstance on the computer for my background music, and I read my dedication to her in front of the group: (Now remember, you need to read this imagining the graduation march playing in the background, like we did at our meeting...)

The Audigy Group TAM Team Presents the inaugural "That’s what I’m talkin about" award.

Today we salute you, Ms. Theater major turned Talent Acquisition Ninja gal.

For going above and beyond the call of Senior TAM, showcasing your rebel style. Are you ashamed of your rules-are-all-about-interpretation attitude? Hardly. You embrace your think outside of the box attitude with jazz hands enthusiasm.

Talent Acquisition is a game of extreme mad skills, and strategy, and you’ve shown us all that a little bedazzled sweater-vest with a feather flower pin doesn’t hurt either.

Sure, anyone can throw together a cheesy PowerPoint, but only you have the moxi to walk a team mate through the tedious process to score her an audience with the President of the company.

(You’re a star.)

Yours is a magical world, Ms. Bloom, and we are feeling mighty lucky to have you on our team.

. . . . . . . .

She loved it, and so did everyone else.

Oh, how we need to remember, it takes so little to make people feel valued.

A little added incentive to help me remember to drink my water each day.

Okay, maybe you won't see it as incentive, but for me, making the everyday things...especially the hard to stick to things....more appealing, makes them ever so slightly easier to do.

Does that make sense?

I am trying to drink more water these days, and I am failing miserably. I usually add some fruit to mine (when I remember to drink it) and that makes it so much prettier. (and it smells oh-so-spa like!)

Still, I forget.

So now, I have made myself some little water-tracking cards.

Ridiculous, I know.

(But, kinda cute, no? It's part of living a truly charmed life on a shoestring.)

I can mark off the circle as I drink a glass. (I do not even bother to focus on ounces, since drinking any amount is an improvement for me.)

If you like my little cards, please feel free to grab a PDF right here, and print some for yourself: Download Water cards 

(Enjoy!)

So, what little tricks do you use to try and stay on the smarter health choices bandwagon? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks! Please, do share!

Saying thank you doesn't seem enough.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude for the many, many prayers, and thoughts, and kindest words from you!

Not only did my brother come through his surgery incredibly well, but once inside, the doctor's determined things were not nearly so bad as anticipated, and only had to perform a single by-pass, where we were expecting a triple or even more serious, a quadruple.

Can I get an Amen?!

He's not out of the woods just yet, as the days following surgery are critical, but we are all praising God for the blessings so far, and keeping the faith that good progress will continue.

Thanks you, thank you, my sweet friends. Thank you ever so much.

Prayer request.

My brother is having a very serious heart surgery today and if you're a praying sort of person, he (and my family and I) would hugely appreciate your prayers for him, and for the team of surgeons working on him, more than you can ever know.

His name is Harry, (Hairy-Dog, as his voicemail says...)but I will always and forever call him Butch. He's just barely 57 years old. He has been a guitar-playing-folk-country-rock-singer, a teller of tall tales, a better-than-most fry cook, a father-of-three-boys, a sometimes rebel-without-a-cause, and my younger (and only) brother, for my whole life, minus thirteen months.

Surgery is Tuesday morning and is expected to take six or more hours.

Now, if you're not a person of faith, I understand that too.

(Actually I do not really understand that at all, but I do firmly believe we're all entitled to our own views, and beliefs.) I know that not everyone believes and thinks the exact same way that I do, and I would never hold that against someone.

What I mean to say is, if you are not a person who believes in the power of prayer, or sends good juju, or healing vibes, or whatever, that's okay. Just please don't judge me for asking those who do.

(I'll take all the prayer warriors I can get, thankyouverymuch.)

My long-time-friend, Dawn, over at the feathered nest, shared her faith last Sunday in her Easter post, and was quite stunned and saddened when she lost some subscriptions to her blog the following day.

Haters gonna hate, I guess.

Sad (and puzzling) to me that sharing your heart (and faith) poses such a risk, even here online. This being said, if you're feeling so inclined, please take a moment and say a little prayer for Butchie-boy today.

Thank you, my friends.

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A perfect little creative space.

I am getting ready to tackle organizing my craft room. (Doesn't it have the most delicious light?)Of course I still need to paint the room, and I am thinking that might happen next weekend. (...although I seem to be dragging my feet in the paint department of my home renovations.)

My cottage is a three bedroom, with one for me, and one for guests, and then there is this sweet little room off of the middle of the hall. It's quite cozy, measuring only about ten by seven or eight feet, and, like the rest of my cottage, it has the original hardwood flooring. (squeeeeeee!)

Here is how the room looked after I had the floors refinished, and was getting ready to move in....

It has the rather charming original light fixture (I think it's charming, anyway.) that I think I will be keeping.

My pine bookcases fit on either side of the sunny window like they were made for this room, and my worktable sits equally perfectly between them.

Across from this vignette I have a vintage white dresser that holds my printer and the drawers currently crammed full of punches, ribbons, paper and various other crafty supplies. I'm hoping to organize it all this week, at least to the point that I can share it with you in a more completed state, and so that I can finally get my new inventory and shipping center ready for my etsy shop.

I'm excited to jump on this project, and I will be sharing progress as it unfolds!

Weekly words to live by.

Because if a girl's gonna work out, it stands to reason that she needs cute workout shoes.

Oh yeah, Mama got herself another new pair of (workout) shoes.

What?

You didn't know I worked out?

Until recently, I didn't.

True confession: I've struggled with developing my inner workout diva since Jane Fonda put out her first VHS tape and I ran out and bought leg warmers to go with my high-top Reeboks.

I always seem to think that if I get the right fashion accessories for the workout, I will...well, work out. It seems to me that they should could might go hand in hand.

"How's that working for you?" you wonder in your head, using your best Dr. Phil voice.

Historically, not terribly well. (but there's always next time, right?)

Here is how I see it: God created two kinds of people. Ones that like to workout, and love physical activities, and those that do not.

Obviously, I am in the latter group. (I am pretty sure I got this genetic tendency from my grandmother on my Dad's side, along with her large earlobes, and chubby elbows.)

Knowing this, I am purposefully focusing on making some changes to my craft-table-potato lifestyle, so that I have a better chance at keeping the good health God has blessed me with. (You see, I am doing this fabulous new program one of my favorite teammates at work has created, and I am newly inspired to be accountable for my own health like never before.)

And that's why I needed these new workout shoes. (with coordinating athletic socks.)

Wish me luck.

Just like at the Olive Garden restaurant, when you're here, you're family.

You know, most out-of-town guests don't bring a big, bulky robe when they come to visit, and so they end up having to get dressed right out of bed in the morning. Because I want all of my house guests to feel completely comfortable when they come stay at my cottage, I like to have a cozy robe hanging in the closet for them to wear.

Each fall, Walmart puts out their robes and jammies, and that's where I usually get mine. They are so soft, and fluffy, and ca-razy inexpensive.

I found the sweetest sock-slippers online a couple of months ago, and bought an extra pair to go along with my guest robe. (How cozy is this ensemble?!)

So far, my only house guests have been my grandsons, but I'm getting ready for the other Tracey to arrive in early June, when we will head out from my cottage to make our way to the Farm Chicks show, and I'm ready for her.

Care package.

One of my daughters had her gallbladder removed this week, and while it was outpatient surgery, it still has quite a little bit of recovery time.

Especially when you have a one and two year old at home.

And everyone in your house has had the nasty flu and then colds this season, and you're ready to be doing something fun, but instead, you find yourself having your gallbladder taken out.

When it rains it pours sometimes.

I wanted to do something to make things better. To help things run more smoothly. I'm taking the day today to help with the little men. (Really, it's to get my Mom/Gramma Cupcake fix)

Anyway, you feel helpless when someone you love so much is going through this kind of rough patch, and all I know to do is...cook. (....or bake.)

So....I made my Hunny Bunny and her family a batch of my homemade spaghetti sauce, and added a pack of noodles. I picked up a nice baguette of french bread, and I added one of my sweet little Weck jars filled with shredded Parmesan cheese. I  finished off my basket with a potted hydrangea and a couple of new dish towels. (Just because.)

Tonight's supper will be easy, and yummy, 'coz a whole lot of love that went into it.

This is the reason I really shouldn't go to World Market on my lunch break.

Ever.

The girls at work like to run over to World Market on our lunch break every two or three weeks. Lots of days we work through our lunch hours, and so it's a nice mini-lunch-break-sized-teeny-tiny-mental-vacation.

It's always a wildly fun and fruitful little excursion. It begins with  three or four of us piled into one car, driving the half mile over to this store filled with the most random cute things none of us actually need, but that are so over-the-top fun-cool-colorful-you-fill-in-the-blank that we holler out to one another to come see from across the department. It ends with all of us making some sort of purchase in a bag (or two or six) that we would never have imagined ourselves making two hours earlier in the day.

Yesterday's purchase for me included this cooler than cool looking bottle of wine with an awesome oiled bronze number one somehow attached to it, (Who knows if the wine is good? We all know I am a sucker for marketing.) some printed parchment paper (That actually caused the baker in me to squeal with delight out loud, picturing springtime baked goods in a box lined with it.) and finally, these cupcake slash muffin liners that look oh-so-french-bakery...oh, and they were on clearance, which somehow justified them jumping into my cart. Twenty-four dollars and some change later I was back at my desk, wondering how the heck that happened.

Mmmm hmm.

I simply cannot escape this shop without some sort of purchase being made that I have no rhyme or reason for. I leave with my bag in hand, torn between a feeling of euphoria over the adorableness of who-knew-I was-gonna-find-something-that-cute and oh-my-ga-I-said-I-wasn't-gonna-buy-anything-and-I-still-need-to-buy-more-paint-for-the-livingroom.

It's like kryptonite is pumped into the air, and I am powerless once I walk through those automated doors. Do you have a store that has this kind of power over you? A shop that renders you helpless to use the good sense God gave you?

Please, tell me I am not alone on this one.