Dream Keepers...

I am well into reading the book Bunkhouse Logic by Ben Stein. A couple of days ago I read this passage, which had me really thinking. "If your're a salesman, they'll tell you that you can't be sales manager. When you become sales manager, they'll tell you that you can't be vice president of sales. Whey you're vice president, they'll swear that no sales veep has ever made it to president. And then when you become president, they'll stop speaking to you pure and simple." Ben Stein thinks that this is a symptom of jealousy, I'm not so sure because parents do it to their children all the time and I think it's weird to be jealous of your kids. I want mine to reach for the stars and make it. So does my dad.
My dad has never been one of those CAN'T people. If I came to him as a kid and said I want to run the marathon in the olympics, I know he would have explained to me what it takes.. the hours of training and the pain it would require to get to that place and then he would have said something like, "if thats what you really want, you can do it!"
I have tried to do that with c. She used to want to be an inventor/designer when she grew up and so I told her that she really needed to understand the funamentals of math and science, that she would have to study art in many forms and learn to think differently and learn to be really creative... in other words we better start with times tables and make sure we know those really well! These days she has a hero complex and wants to be an FBI Agent... should I take her to the shooting range? Anyway, I try to follow my dads example and I don't say "can't".
I don't think that children need to be protected from the work it will entail to achieve their dreams and I don't think it's wise to tell them they are the next American Idol if they sing like a screeching cat, but I do believe like Ben Stein does that we don't have all the information when we judge another persons dreams because we don't know how much they want it... and that is the most important thing. If someone really wants something, they will be willing to do the work it takes to get there.
My dad has always encouraged the work part. I remember telling him many times that I've tried this or that and of course I'm not there yet. His attitude is.. keep thinking.. keep trying.. try something new until...
My dad believes that dreams are achievable and so my dreams have been safe with him and my siblings dreams have been safe with him and they have all done some amazing things.
Dreams are important to people. Mine are very close to my heart. I love to be around people with big dreams, some of them will change the world.
Whether or not all of my dreams come true, they are where my mind is when I'm doing the dishes or folding the laundry and they make mundane things sparkle and shine. So, they are worth having and worth tending. And, it is a benediction to be trusted to safely tend the dreams of others.

Bill Bennett's American Patriot's Almanac...

My mom recommended this book to me and I love it! This is such a fun book for kids. It's an on this day in history sort of book. They can look up their birthday and see what happened in American History that day and hopefully then learn more about it. I love this kind of thing.. hooray for Mr. Bennett!

As you can see, I'm experimenting with bears lately...

This one is in ThE SHoP

this morning...

Bar Keepers Friend...

I'm not keeping bar around here, but it gets messy enough that you'd think I was. I have been using this on my porcelain kitchen sink for awhile and been pleased with the results. Today I used it to clean the hard water off the chrome in the bathroom.. amazing. I wish that I had read the label and tried it sooner.

American Flag Box...

This is one of my favorite boxes and after some absence, there are 2 mediums (and I think there are also 2 large ones) back in

ThE SHoP today...

P.S. In the interest of full disclosure... Bernard DeVoto who wrote the quote in the box (When America was created, the stars must have danced in the sky...) was a conservationist from Ogden Utah and a friend of Wallace Stegner, a favorite author of mine. This quote was also used in a speech given by Vice President Dick Cheney... so that's about as politically neutral as you can get around here.. right!?!

Swim Season...

Last year we found that we waited too long to get our Land's End suit and didn't get the one we wanted... so this year we were determined to pick out little c's suit early, but Land's End did have our favorite this year.. We were delighted to see these pretty bright colors over at L.L. Bean. I think suit separates are one of the greatest things for kids and this little swim top will completely avoid the terrible shoulder burns poor c gets almost every time we swim outside. I don't care what the label says.. sunscreen must wash off.

Two Stages...

It probably not weird to you... but to me it's very new to be in two stages at once. I have one daughter who loves Your Personal Penguin and Hippos Go Berserk and another who's into Charles Dickens, Nancy Drew and Twilight (now I'll have to read it too and I don't like vampires..)

I think one of the best things my parents did for me was to introduce me to great books. My mom still loves children's books and she was always really good at finding wonderful picture books that captured the imagination. Some of the best art in the world is found in children's picture books. My dad used to read us poetry all the time... Kipling and Dickinson especially and we loved horse books so he read us all of those. He had the best voice for it. My parents are both really well read and they read really fast and get through more than twice the number of books I can, but I do love books and I still love to be read to. C is reading us The Hobbit.

It amazes me how early babies become interested in books.. before toys and TV if someone will read to them and how if they are not read to in early childhood how difficult it is to have a book capture their interest. I will never forget the most beautiful little foster daughter who came to stay with our neighbors. We all fell in love with her, but one of the many things that made me sad about her life was that she had not been read to before foster care and a book could not hold her attention.

I suppose people feel strongly about many things that I have never experienced. I always think that climbing mountains would be life changing and exhilarating. I'm sure a person could become addicted to it. A friend once suggested that I try snow-shoeing and I think I just might do that next winter. Something about walking on snow just sounds great. But to me, books are the greatest adventure. It's good to have a couple going at the same time. It's a great adventure to watch a new person embrace reading and to watch a good reader discover great books and so I am loving the opportunity to be in two stages at once.

Llama, Llama...

Have you read these books? Hilarious.. Poor little Llama has to go shopping with Mama... he's so mad! I love this one and Llama, Llama Red Pajama. If you haven't seen these.. check them out. :)

Oh Christmas Bear...

New to the SHoP

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars...

2 c. flour
2 c. quick oatmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

Stir together flour, salt and baking soda. In large bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add peanut butter. Mix well. Add eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix in flour and oatmeal. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in large greased pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool, cut into bars. Let cool completely before removing bars from pan.
(I recommend making these in a 9X13 pan ... baking for about 25 min and making them the day ahead... because they are crazy delish.. the next day! )

Market Bags New Etsy Shop...

Beth is now selling her marvelous bags on Etsy and they are better than ever with stronger handles etc... check them HERE.

Polar Bears...

A mother's love is peace... ~Erich Fromm

A new box in the SHoP

Giveaway Monday Feb. 23rd...

This box will be part of a giveaway tomorrow..

Click over to Mormon Mommy Blogs and enter the contest. :)

Mom's Brilliant & My Sisters...

Fairy Cakes...
...& Flowers

... & more Flowers

... & more Flowers

... even hanging from the light fixtures...

we love to hang things from the light fixtures...

Things Good Mothers Know...

What a lovely book! I was so excited for this new book of Alexandra's to come out. It was very timely for me and guess what ... I'm mentioned in the book! I was so excited to recognize me in there. I feel immortal!

I hope you'll all read this one.. it's truly a love letter to mothers which recognizes our individuality and our humanity. It encourages each mother to use her unique talents to reach for excellence and take her children with her on the journey.

"No one on earth is in a better position to be a shining example to her child, instilling spiritual and intellectual insights, than a mother. A mother should be an ideal example to her child of what the good life looks like close up. A mother's moral excellence, her sense of decency and honor, her intellectual and spiritual commitment to what is true, beautiful, and good, are more powerful influences on a child than mere knowledge and information." (pg. 188 of Good Things Mothers Know).

The Tie Bar...

I have to say that I have a very good looking husband and I love to buy him handsome things to wear. My mom called the other day and told me about a place where my dapper dressing uncle likes to buy his ties. I was so impressed with the choices and colors that I ordered something right away and it didn't break the bank... most of the ties on the site are only $15 and so if you have a handsome husband who has to dress sharp for work everyday... you might check this out. My order has arrived and the silk woven tie that I purchased is simply stunning.

Did I mention that most of the ties come hard to find tall sizes.... yep!

see The Tie Bar... HERE

Favorite Etsy Seller number 1...

I love Etsy. You can often find a seller who produces the most beautiful work and has the most original products. I've decided that every once in a while I need to feature a seller that I find who does just that truly impeccable, incredible and original work here on the blog. Cassandra Norton is just such a person. Her Fussy Couture shop is fun and original. I have purchased quite a few of her items and they are made with perfect attention to detail and come in a darling package. Neiman Marcus would be lucky to carry these items. Visit Fussy Couture HERE...

Favorite Etsy Seller 2...

The Daily Pincushion sells the loveliest pincushion anyone has ever seen. I love to stop by Cathy's shop.. she is very prolific and there is always another lovely pincushion beautifully photographed to admire. See Cathy's shop here.

Favorite Etsy Seller 3...

Simbiosis is such a fun shop. All the items are very reasonably priced and the pieces are sewn just so. Most of them are made from very fun Japanese import prints... darling. See Julia's shop HERE!

Kipper My Love part 2...

If you know me at all, you know I'm a big fan of this guy! I am hoping he will have as positive an influence on l as he was for c. I have already ordered up a few more DVDs for our collection, but this will always be my favorite I think... Two years ago I wrote the following, which I still firmly believe...

I love Kipper. What a lovely little dog he is. I am one of those people who feels strongly that media very much influences the behavior of children. I am often disturbed when I see that some children are learning their etiquette from Bart Simpson rather than their parents. I believe in the Eliza Doolittle concept; you are a princess when you behave like one.
This is why I give Kipper videos as baby gifts these days and for birthdays through age 6. Kipper is a prince because he behaves like one. Exposure to Kipper is a wonderful influence on a small child. If your child takes to watching Kipper like mine did, you might find them speaking with a bit of an English accent... but it sounds just lovely especially when they are using words like "please" and "thank-you."

Kipper now has his own site HERE...