Sunday Sermons

I love God! I mean I truly love God! He is the guiding force of my life, my protector, my hope. Although this may not always be apparent in every aspect of my life, especially when I break down and freak out at my husband or kiddos in that oh so human way, it is what I want the world to know.

Dress: vintage/thrifted ($7), shoes: Bakers (free/gift from mom), belt: Target, gloves:vintage (From yesterday's post), necklace: vintage, bracelet:Christmas gift from Cuban Cowboy, Jacket: Via Spiga (gift), clutch: Coach (I hear it's the Pantone color of 2014). PS: Don't hate on my MJ one glove. I had to take the pic, and I couldn't wear both.

One small, and seemingly frivolous, way that I demonstrate this love for God is dressing up for my weekly date with Him. Yep! I have an extra special date with him each Sunday. Just like the Cuban Cowboy, I hang out with God everyday, but Sundays are a bit extra special. 

For this week, I also included a special piece of Jewelery as the foundation of my ensemble. It is a super cool, vintage cross that I inherited from my Grandma Blanche. What makes this necklace so cool is that there is a teeny, tiny magnifying glass at its center. When one looks inside she sees a scroll with the Lord's Prayer. Super cool! However, I rarely wear it because it is gold, and I am not; nor have I ever been; a fan of gold.

It is perfect with this vintage dress though.

Making this Sunday extra special was another phenomenal sermon. This week talked about keeping ourselves focused on God so as to not drift away. I love the nautical theme, and it reminded me of the Plumb song Drifting.

 If you are not familiar with Plumb, I promise you will love her lyrics (even if you aren't Christian). She sings about life, and she is truly authentic. 

To wrap up the days thoughts: is God your anchor? Is he the shoreline you are aiming for? I pray, in earnest, that he blesses you this week.

Quality Time With my Boys

Friday I had the joyous pleasure of a date with The Cuban Cowboy (that stud). We finally saw The Desolation of Smaug. Although it is disappointing that Jackson shifted the plot line so dramatically, it is a good film. 

Date Night Shoes-Nine West (thrifted this week for $2.50)

Saturday we had some business to attend to with our truck (The Green Machine). We have been battling with it's issues since the fall, but there may be a light in sight. 

Since we were out and about, we first stopped by my parents. The boys hung out with my brother: playing with RC cars, fixing dirt bikes, and playing in the dirt. 

Too much craziness for this chic chick. 

Blouse-Juicy Couture, skirt-Target, bag -Kate Spade

Saturday shoes-Cole Haan Strappy 40s style 

After, we ran by the in-laws to wash up for dinner. Then we went to Cheesecske Factory: nom nom nom. The boys were great. The food was Delish, with plenty to spare for Sunday lunch. 

Oh, yes, and I almost forgot. While at my parents house, my mom unloaded a hoard of my old school work. A family history of our Minnesotan/ Finnish ancestry. And, most importantly, some vintage goodies that belonged to get and my grandma Kumpula. 

It was a wonderful past two days. Praise be to God, oh and the babysitters he places in our lives!

Welcoming In a New Year

We are here to welcome in a new year and a new way of Rockin'

With the new year, I would like to make a shift in this oh so neglected blog. The first aspect of this shift is to actually write (fingers crossed). The second aspect is to focus more on style. 

Bible study outfit (Thursday) scarf-thrifted, shirt-Kate Spade, skirt-Target, necklace-Express, heels-Franco Sarto

This shift toward style is an aim at achieving the first goal. I believe that it is simpler to move through the posts if I have a backbone that drives them, much like the spine of a book holds together such varying details that combine to tell the entire story. 

Awesome thrifted books from this week. 

I have always adored fashion; and it has always been a facet of my blog; but instead of crafting being the center and style periphery, I am going to switch the roles. 

Wednesday Wear (TKD/AWANA)- cardigan-Target, blouse-thrifted, jeans-gift/Ross, tights-Target, necklace-Nordstrom

Since we wear clothing everyday, it is central to our lifestyles. It is the means by which, or rather in which (literally), our lives progress from one moment to the next. It's what we wear to the market, church, Tae kwon do, etc. 

I joined a co-op this week. This is my first haul. Roly Poly ate the apple before we were out; the door of the community center.

This doesn't mean that other areas of my life will not appear. Of course they will; they are the story. The clothes are merely the thread. I hope this changes motivates me. May God bless our lives as we live virtual life together.

Monster did so well his first week back to school, with a new teacher, that he received this awesome shuttle as a reward.

May you have a Rockin' weekend!!!!!

First Fall Rain {What I Wore Wednesday}

IWoo hoo! I am on a role, two posts in a row. So today is a cold and rainy and rainy day here in the California High Desert. A day that warrants a trip to Panera for this yummy lunch. 

Also, today is a blessing to me because I made a new friend, Joshua. He is a soul that God has led me to pray for. I actually met him yesterday when I drove out of the McDonalds parking lot and saw this man struggling to walk because his walker was broken (missing an entire side). 

Immediately God called me to him. Ten years ago I was injured and needed a walker; that walker has sat in my garage on the off chance I might need it again. Well, who cares about off chances? Not me! That man needed a walked NOW! So I pulled up yo him and asked if I could come back in the morning and bring him a walker. He said that would be wonderful; his had broken the day before. 

So this morning, I went our of my way to bring Joshua a walker and several other items out of our blessed abundance. He was glad, maybe even joyous. I have decided that I would love to continue to bless Joshua weekly by providing him with coffee Thursday mornings throughout the cold season. Please pray for me. 

Okay, now to the frivolous part of the post: what I wore today. 

It's a bit different, but that is do me. I have on blue suede heels from Payless, free people knee socks, a cotton dress and cardigan from Target, and a $5 thrifted leather jacket. I topped it with a BP nordstrom scarf. 

I am actually in love with fall layers. I hope you are bundled up too. 

Halloween is in our Midst

Howdy there. I know that, yet again, it has been awhile since I have shown myself, but now I have an I Phone. Hopefully this will help me get back into blogging on a truly regular basis... Let's hope. 

Okay, for today it's all about this years Halloween decor. I haven't created anything new for this year, at least not yet. It will probably come after the big church event on the 18th. 

I have several " mantels" in my house. I have the real mantel.

Those little owls were inherited from my amazing Aunt Melmer earlier this year. 

The top of my awesome thrifted hutch. 

I love this vignette! And including books is a must. Each section has a book, and here's one of our faves: the anniversary edition of The Nightmare Before Christmad

The top of my kitchen buffet. 

The crawling spiders are adorbs, and Archer Farms spice jars are great for making "poison".

And the top of this sideboard in our living room.

Some little crafts from Target are featured here (saved from last year). Plus, you cannot resist the lovely owl warmer from Scentsy. 

There are also many staggered levels of cradles and a lovely apple basket which my late father handmade filled with some Starbucks goodies ( and Barbie).

There are some other touched throughout the house too. 

My Missoni for Target platter and a newly squired vintage candy jar are among items adorning the dining room table. Plus, I couldn't resist the owl Trick of Treat basket; I placed my utensil canister in it for the season. 

We haven't decorated outdoors yet. I am waiting until the Cuban Cowboy has time to help with that, which will hopefully be soon. 

We also need to do a cool countdown. 

Okay, so that's all for today. My you have a blessed autumn. 

Catching Up

Hello there. I haven't been here in, well, let's just say EONS.You may have already noticed that I am making some updates.

 Life has been busy. I have been busy. Tons of crazy things have happened in the past year and a half, including my husband changing careers (not by choice), our youngest swallowing a quarter causing us to be thousands of dollars in medical debt, me working four jobs to pay off said debt successfully in just under five months. That is just the briefest of synopses. 

Roly Poly looks like the cutest hipster EVER

 Little to say, all of this has kept me away from blogging, reading blogs, crafting much at all, and, well, doing much more than being Mommy, wife, professor, Bible study leader, and exam rater.Yes, things have been C*R*A*Z*Y!!!!!!!!!!!

 Good things have happened too. I want to use this summer to share some of those things that I did manage to squeeze in. Also, I will, hopefully, share some new things as well. Today, I just want to give you a glimpse of how my Monster and Roly Poly have changed. These photos are our Christmas shots from December, so they are actually outdated, but too cute not to share.

Monster is becoming such a little man

I did the shoot myself with my Canon Rebel I received as a birthday gift in May 2012 from a WONDERFUL friend. It was her old one, but it is an AMAZING gift all the same. I LOVELOVELOVE it and, more importantly, HER!

The shoot was done at one of our local Super Targets. There are some benches on the south side between the Target and Ross. And, from the first time I saw them, I knew I wanted to do a shoot with the industrial, metal flower arrangements. They are so great. 

We chose a Geek Sheek theme to go with the industrial flowers. We even took some post "work" shots inside the Starbucks at Target afterward. You know ties undone, grabbing a quick drink. 

I hope to get back in the swing of things here. I need me some creativity.

The Henry Shirt

Hey there. To begin, isn;t this a cute picture. It was one of our Christmas card pics.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Gomez Photography

Okay, so now to what I am really talking about today.
In November I won the phenomenal sewing book
Sewing For Boys
by Shelly Figueroa and Karen LePage.

I won it from Stacey over at the amazing blog Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

Then in January I had the honor of guest posting with a project from the book, for an event based on the book, at the very same blog.
Yes, I felt special!!!

She had a series based on the book, and she is having a year long sew along.

The projects are great!

The book is great.

The ladies are GREAT!!!!!!!!

As some of you know, I have two wiggly boys who I love so much.

They are known to the world as Monster and Roly Poly.

We live a Rockin' Life Fueled by LOVE,

and we are making leaps and bounds that keep us busier and busier by the day.

Okay, so on to the project at hand.

I instantly knew that I would be sewing the Henry shirt when my book arrived.

I have some fabric set aside that I really want to use for this shirt,

but as a first try I used some remnants. 

I used material left over from Monster's first birthday party;

it was a Vintage Americana theme because his birthday is Fourth of July.

I also cut up an old sheet for the main color.

The Henry Shirt is found on page 30 of the book.

And, although this pattern is labeled Advanced, 

I found that I was able to complete this project in one LONG night.

There are of course some flaws in my sewing because I am truly an amateur,

but I know that next time I will be able to navigate around these puckers in the fabric.

So, even if you are a beginner,

I say brave this pattern.

Try it!!!

You will be surprised at how much easier it is to follow 

than those silly ones from the sewing section at retail stores.

I am already planning my next project from this book. 

I think I am going to do the patchwork quilt.

Monster is excited that he will be wearing this to his friend's Birthday Party Saturday.

I wish all of you boy moms, grandmas, aunts, and friends

HAPPY SEWING!!!