Lovely Aunt Jackie... and the famous Coconut Cake!!!

My lovely Aunt Jackie, who happens to be a realtor in Idaho if any of you happen to be looking for property up that way, has also posted the famous coconut cake recipe on her blog. I guess we can't get one of the ingredients here out west, but all of you out east can. See check it out. It is DELISH!!! Recipe here.

Amazing Grace...

This movie tells a bit of the story of John Newton (1725–1807), who wrote the lyrics to Amazing Grace. But it is mostly about the movement inspired by the song and by the tireless work of William Wilberforce and others who worked to end slavery.

See this movie. It is brilliantly beautiful.

Also, I think this movie is appropriate for children as young as 8.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that Grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
We have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And Grace will lead me home. (Lead me home!)
The Lord hast promised good to me,
His word my hope secures!
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this heart and flesh shall fail
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be for ever mine

Alexandra...

Alexandra's March Newsletter is Up!!!

The Indian in the Cupboard...

I believe there are four books in this series. The Indian in the Cupboard, The Return of the Indian, Secret of the Indian and The Mystery of the Cupboard. They are wonderful. In fact, one thing that I love about these books is that the series gets better as it goes along. If you haven't read them, or you haven't read them in a long while... look into them. I think if you have a child who is 5 or older, they are perfect read aloud books too.

Do not miss this..

My 200 Things has the coolest art post here.

Little Purple Pansies...

Writing on Pictures...

I finally figured out how. Now if I just had some really pretty fonts like Lilli does...

Charlie and Lola...

Love this fun activity book... See it here...

April Cornell...

Fabulous News! April really is up and running again. See these dresses here...

More Prams...

With the exception of the words and the finish... these are done. Hopefully, I will be able to show them totally complete tomorrow.

The Art of Civilized Conversation...

I have to admit that I am still as an adult quite uncomfortable in social situations, even sometimes with good friends. I just get uncomfortable, awkward or something. One thing that I have learned about feeling uncomfortable is that is the time when things often will go wrong. Poor C has seen me dig a hole all the way to China and bury myself in it. I don't mean too, but...

So.. I am trying to do something about this. I love to find books with really good concrete advice. I like this book because it says, "Don't say..." Now that, is helpful. I first saw this book at Anthropologie and I started reading it in the store and then couldn't wait to buy it cheaper elsewhere... I never do that. But, it was worth it. I love this book! And, while it has some basic elementary stuff like, "if you think you need to shower....then you do." Hopefully, I'm past that stage. I liked the section about how to apologize, side step gossip and how to ask for help although I disagree with the book a bit there because I hate people to say to me, "Will you do me a favor?" I would prefer that people say, "Would you please wash my car?" or something else concrete. My new answer to that is going to be, "I like to be helpful, let me know the favor and I'll see if I can help." I mean ideally I'm going to say that, but then you know why I bought this book...

Granny Chic Cute of the Week...

I love this powder-coated cast aluminum furniture from JC Penney. I think it could be cute inside or out... Also available in black. See it here.

Cary Grant Weekend...

Destination Tokyo is an interesting moving. I think it reflects some of the ideas many Americans still have about war ie. that you fight to save the other guy's country and children as well as your own. The movie also tries to portray a character who is supposedly some kind of womanizer and he is supposed to learn some family values by the end. This plot line did not work for me because while the movie is forever long, there is little time spent in character development and so I didn't really care about this jerk and whether or not he decides family life was for him or not.

The movie is valuable to understand that military service can be lots of boredom followed by too much excitement. And, while I don't know how acurate they made the portrayal of life on a 1944 submarine, the movie did help you to see what risks those men were taking just getting in one of those contraptions. I also thought it was interesting how they portrayed the crews level of education, it seemed low and yet they were determined and brave, but I would be surprised if you didn't find some of the brighter sort running the submarines that are around now. Most of those old war movies could help support a thesis about how the GI Bill educated a nation.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer is a fun movie that is spoiled for me in a few places by really ugly sexist comments. The female lead is played by Myrna Loy. She plays a judge who ends up with Cary Grant's character in her court room. I was intrigued by this movie because of the whole female judge thing. However, they spoil that by having Cary Grant's character and the uncle character say that she needs, "a good sock in the jaw" or something to that affect 2-3 times.

Shirley Temple is as cute as can be and it's fun to see her play a teenage character. The parts where they insist that Cary Grant take her out are uncomfortable and meant to be and that part works.

Both interesting films, but difficult for me to watch just for entertainments sake. I always wonder how much of what I see there is actually how people thought during those years, or how much of it was twisted by Hollywood, just like movies frequently are now.

New Prams...

While they are far from finished... this is how the new baby carriages are coming out...

Chalupa...

Don't miss the Chalupa recipe on Jenni's blog. I made it this weekend and it was awsome!!!

A Yellow Rose...

A loving heart is the truest wisdom... Charles Dickens.....

Buy it here.

Don't miss....

...as my amazing friend Michelle mixes chocolate and chick peas in a successful combination!!!
See it here...

This little chickie went to market...

And he can go wee wee wee all the way to your home.

See him here.

Alicia Paulson's Home...

Thanks to Jenni's friend Gabby.... I found out about this wonderful home tour on Apartment Therapy... Don't miss it.. Alicia's home is one of my favorites. It is very granny chic, full of treasures and I espcially love her studio and her back yard! So fun!

Baby Bluebirds...

Baby Bluebirds of Happiness... These bluebird boxes are the smallest size 1" in height and 1 19/16" width...

Buy it here.