The Northern Lights Quilt

Finally, the little’s quilt is done. While we were in Alaska, she was infatuated with the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, we weren’t there at the right time to see them. The ideal is mid-August through April. We were there at the end of July… so bummer. I told her we’d have to go back sometime in winter. I want to see a REAL snow! Although… recently I heard about looking at it in an icehouse in Finland. Maybe that’s where/how we should see the Northern Lights.

We immediately started working on the quilts when we got home because the little was so excited. We only bought a panel and one piece of material for her quilt while we were there. The rest was either bought locally or was stuff my grandma had stashed in her sewing room. (more…)

The Moose Quilt

Back to quilts for a minute. I swear, 2020 has just brought out a whole different side of life. One where we pick up things that we either A) wanted to learn how to do, B) used to do but never have time anymore, C) very homebody type skills, or D) all the above.

Now, I’ve made quilts before. Not a bunch, but a few. So that’s to say this isn’t anything new to me… But this particular quilt was a fun quilt to master!

We went on vacation to Alaska this year. While we were in Talkeetna, Alaska, we came across a fabric (material) store called The Patchwork Moose. Initially my mom went into the shop to pick up some fabric from Alaska for my grandma. I was in a store next door when she sent someone to find me. The girls and I then went to see what she was up to. She wanted our opinion on fabric for grandma. Little did my mom know that we would walk out with material for both girls a quilt and one for the hubby and me.

When we got home, the little and I took the material down to show grandma. The little then told grandma that she wanted to work on her quilt right then. Grandma had a few free minutes, so off to the sewing room we headed. (more…)

3-2-1 Cake Mix and Cake

This weekend was special. It is our annual Trails for Kids fundraiser. If you have been here anytime at all… you know that usually, we have this ride in April. Also… this year has been “interesting” (to say the least!) so we had to postpone until this past weekend. All summer long we wondered if it would even happen. I mean seriously…

But the time came and it did, in fact, happen! I can’t give away any of the details on the ride just yet but know, it was a MAJOR success! That would be an understatement!

On Friday night of our fundraiser, we have a bake sale. A few years ago I had a chocolate chip cookie in a cast-iron skillet go for $130. Well, this year I had something go for more than that… but that’s another story for another time :). Yup, I’m mean.

Today I want to share a recipe I’ve shared before… BUT… the cool thing is this is perfect for camping. And since this fundraiser involves camping, what better time to share, am I right?

3-2-1 Cake Mix & Cake

Ingredients for Cake Mix Setup:

  • A box of Angel Food Cake mix
  • A box of your favorite flavor of cake (chocolate, funfetti, lemon, you name it!)
  • A ziplock bag

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The Fall Quilt

When we went to Alaska, we went to the cutest quilt shop. Our plans were to make the girls quilts to help commemorate our trip. Well, we bought material for the quilts there that you could only get there… with the plans of getting more “filler” material once we got home. Less to try and pack to get back home. 

Once my grandma and I got the quilt tops done, it was time to find backing. I went online searching for extra wide backing. I found what I wanted for the older’s quilt in Rogers, AR. So since we were already going camping the weekend that I found it, it was a hop, skip, and a jump away to go material shopping. 

In the process, I found this quilt panel.

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Book Review: I Hate You – Ilsa Madden-Mills

I was ready to read about the last firefighter in The Man on Fire Series by Samantha Christy, but the 3rd book isn’t out yet. So that meant I had to venture off and read something different. I had never heard of Ilsa Madden-Mills, but I hadn’t heard of Samantha Christy either. Something caused me to go ahead and take a chance. I’m really glad I did. However, I did find this was a stand-alone that was the third of another series. Stand-alone as in you can read and not miss anything, but I read this series out of order and wished I hadn’t. So news flash, this is the 3rd book. Start with I Dare You and then I Bet You before you read I Hate You.

Now that we have that cleared up… (more…)

Book Review: Sparking Sara – Samantha Christy

After reading Igniting Ivy I was leery to read this next book. While reading Igniting Ivy I kept wondering who was going to be the next firefighter to have a book. I had it narrowed down to 3 candidates and this one was one of my 3 choices. I love that it was Denver in fact. Especially because you saw part of his story in Stealing Sawyer. We got more of the story and we were able to watch it all unfold. I was cool with that! (more…)

Book Review: Igniting Ivy – Samantha Christy

This book ticked me off. In all the female characters and even some of the male characters that Samantha Christy writes, they overthink, over-analyze, and sometimes are just a total pain in the butt. I wanted to scream at Ivy. She really upset me. She was being stupid. I’m glad that she was a book character and not a real-life person. She might need a bitch slap (pardon my language). I’m just glad that there is a man on the cover of this book! And by the way, one thing I love about Samantha Christy’s writing… you see both main character perspectives. (more…)

Book Review: Stealing Sawyer – Samantha Christy

This was an interesting book to me. After reading Catching Caden and Benching Brady, I really wondered what the story was about Sawyer. Now… the name Sawyer always had me believing it was a black guy. No racism there, just that’s how I saw him in my head. Looking at the cover of this book, I’m wrong. I really could have used a description reminder of him more than once while reading this book… haha. (more…)

Book Review: Benching Brady – Samantha Christy

I’m truly ready to see these books made into movies. Janet Evanovich in her first Stephanie Plum book made a car blow up because she said that was “Hollywood.” Well… I saw “Hollywood” in Purple Orchids. I got to thinking earlier today that I wonder if the title of the book will make it or break it for Hollywood? Now granted they can change the name of the book when it gets made into a film, but still… I wonder…

This is definitely one of them I want to see made into a movie. But I say that and then I think back to some of the other books and well… I want them made into movies too.

**Picks up phone

Me: Hello Hollywood, I would like to request these books be made into movies. Thanks!

If only it were that easy. (more…)