Simple Sunday - Love and Hate



(Crate & Barrel Tall Bedford Cabinet)



Oh why, oh why does everything I love end up having to be so much money? Darned you Crate and Barrel for making me fall in love with your beautiful things then smacking me in the face with your big fat price tags! Maybe everyone will hate these pieces so much that they will go on sale fast and then maybe... just maybe I could talk Critter into these absolutley beeeeeutieeful pieces that would simply be perfection in our antique wood lovers home. I'm not holding my breath though... (on either one). Ugh, maybe I'll just cut out the pictures and hang them on the fridge.  If you really want to know the prices, click on the photos and it will take you to the C&B website where each one is listed for sale if you so inclined to love them as much as I, and feel the need to pay the hefty price tag to have them delivered to your home.



(Crate & Barrel Bedford Chest)

 

Simple Sunday - Milky Way Cake

(Photo Courtesy of the Web)

So I stole this from Glenn Beck and I am not ashamed to say it.  I haven't even tried it yet but I don't think I need to, to know that it is heaven on earth.  Mostly I am just scared right now that it would be a great big calorie no no for me.  One delicious taste and there is no doubt I would eat the entire thing.  I love Milky Ways and I love Milky Way Midnights even more.  So if I made it you can guarantee I would be altering that portion of the recipe. 

If one of you makes it and tries it please comment and tell me what you really think, really! 

************************************************************************

Thank you Glenn Beck! Too dreamy sounding to not pass on....

For all of eternity, man has dreamed of a way to fuse the caramelly yumminess of Milky Way bars, and the moist deliciousness of cake.  Though science has tried and tried, it has failed and failed…until

Live, love, laugh, eat, and fall asleep in the hallway before you can get to your bedroom because you just ingested 45,000 calories in 4 minutes.

(Photo Courtesy of the Web)

1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick unsalted butter

6 regular sized Milk Way candy bars [cut into 1 inch pieces]

Melt the butter and candy bars together in microwave, stirring occasionally.  

Mix well.  

Prepare the cake mix as directed.  

Stir in Milk Way mixture.  

Bake as directed in a bundt pan.

ENJOY!

Simple Sunday - My Parents Were Awesome

I follow a blog called My Parents Were Awesome.  Its very simple really, people send in photos of their parents, before they were parents.  Because before they were parents they had lives, they were young, they were cool, most simply they were awesome. 

Sometimes it isn't until we become adults that we realize how awesome our parents were and still are.  As kids we hit that age where we think its impossible that our parents could have ever been cool.  The sad selfish thing about thinking that is that somehow we think they sacrificed their coolness for us.  Finally somewhere in our mid 20's we realize they really are awesome! Life can be tough and regardless of where they are now and what they are doing they love us unconditionally.  

So yeah... my parents although they went their separate ways when I was 17 they are both still pretty awesome.  What is even better is that I now have a 2nd set of awesome parents, I get to call Critter's parents my parents too!  



(Critter's Parents Circa 1967)





(My Parents in 1972)











 







 

Simple Sunday - Shop Safety

This is not a 'Simple' Sunday post but I want to tell this story today after being inspired by some photos I saw on Facebook this weekend. A former college classmate of mine posted a series of photos of his son's finger that he cut severely with a band saw in wood shop.  By severely I mean he was super super lucky he got to keep it.  It was literally hanging.  Disgusting photos I have to say.  Seeing this took me back to a time when I had my own very close call in my dad's shop.


(Doe - 2nd Grade)



I was 7 and in the 2nd grade.  I was a tomboy (I guess I still kinda am).  As a kid I spent a lot of time with my dad in his shop.  He taught me so much out there.  He is a machinist by trade and has several big machines in his shop.  He has a lathe, milling machine, drill press, table saw, jig saw, grinders... and tons of power tools too.  For as long as I can remember if I could dream it, he could more than likely make it. 

This story, however has to do specifically with the drill press.  My Sunday school class had plans to make mobiles.  My dad volunteered to drill holes in the doweling we needed to make the mobiles.  As usual I was in the shop with him and he was teaching me how to drill the holes.  We marked the dots in pencil where the hole needed to be drilled and I would secure the dowels in the vice, then lower the handle down and put the hole right in.  It was fun for a kid like me who loved not only being helpful but helping out in the shop. 

As you can see from my 2nd grade photo above I had bangs and two ponytails just behind the rest of my hair hanging long in the back.  Although you can't see it in this photo the length of my hair was almost to my little skinny waist.  Dad was standing just to my left at the workbench and I was on a stool drilling holes.  I got hot, so I wanted to take my sweater off.  Instead of switching off the motor as my dad taught me, I accidentally turned off the machine's light switch instead.  As I turned to step off the stool I flung my head around and my hair flew out, my left ponytail getting wrapped up in the still spinning machine.

I screamed and my dad turned and to his worst horror sees his child up against a spinning drilling machine.  He turns off the motor and picks me up.  I was horrified and my dad completely freaked out.  He ran me into the house where my mom was giving my little sister a bath.  Mom got my sister dressed and we all got into the car and headed to the hospital.  There wasn't much they could do for me.  The nurse gave my mom scissors and she started to chop off my hair (I was kinda excited about this as I had been begging to get my hair cut short.)  I guess they also gave me a tetanus shot and then sent us home.  I had a scratch on my upper cheek, (you can still faintly see the scar if you really look) a bump on my forehead at my hairline and a little scratch in the now bald spot where my ponytail used to be. 

(My Bald Spot)

I don't remember crying although I am sure there were some tears.  I am pretty sure however that most of the tears came from my dad.  He was devastated and I cannot say I blame him one bit.  Thank the Lord above that it wasn't worse than it was.  My dad still has some little hairs on that drill press to act as a reminder of the dangers of machinery.  The moral of all of this being... you can never be too cautious or careful around machines.  The whole experience hasn't kept me out of the shop, it think it just made me stronger.  I did eventually get my super short tomboyish haircut but I refuse to post those photos.  I had no idea how bad short hair looked on me.  I should've stayed with the shoulder length locks like in these photos.  (See the little scratch on my cheek?)

(The new fancy do)

(My 2nd Grade Comb Over)

The owner of the local beauty school fixed me up with a, yep, you got it, a comb over!  Ha!  My mom would braid my hair over the side to cover the bald spot then eventually as the hair grew out I got a short hairdo that I didn't end up growing back out until the 8th grade and its been long ever since!  You'd never know today, my hair is as thick and long as ever. 

Simple Sunday - Decor Designs

My post today is needing to be way more lighthearted after the bomb I put up yesterday.  Hence the reason Simple Sunday follows Current Event Saturday.  With current events you never know what you are going to get.  So... here we go with today.  I was on Etsy one of my most favorite sites EVER, so I'm on it quite a bit.  I adore having one of a kind things and unique items you won't see your friends showing up having too.  You can guarantee if its not something someone else has, I'll probably want it.

I draw much of my inspiration from the ideas of others, but I love to take those things and do something to make them different, find ways to make them personal to me.   

My find for this Simple Sunday post is Etsy vendor, Decor Designs.  There is no doubt Critter wouldn't at all like these awesome vinyl wall art creations I found, but that doesn't change my mind one bit.  Oh the extra bedroom/future baby room ideas that have been coming into my creative mind... I think its pretty obvious I like deer and I have always had a love with trees in art.  So here are some of the favorites I found at Decor Designs' shop.


(Deer Herd)




(Drinking Doe)



(3 Deer Heads)



(Winter Trees)



Simple Sunday - Doe & Buck

I simply adore these mounts.  I think they would be super fun in a kids/baby room maybe someday soon...???  That is if I can find them again, sadly I didn't save the site name where I found them.  Figures! 

Anyway, kids are on the list for Critter and I so baby room ideas are always loosely floating around in my head.  Definitely a cute idea to hang on to until the time is right. And what will we a have, will it be a little doe or a young buck? ;)  If God decides we are to be parents someday eventually we'll find out.

I can visualize a baby room that is contemporary yet whimsical and adds a bit of rustic charm.  You can't visualize it, well someday maybe I'll get to show you! 

(Doe & Buck)

Simple Sunday - Vintage Hunter's Wife

(Vintage Hunter's Wife)

Like most of you probably are, I am exhausted from all of the Christmas hustle and bustle and I am seriously holding this post to its name.  I just love this picture, to me it simply is a vision of a 1940's era hunter's wife in my mind.  Had I been my age (mid thirties) 70 years ago I probably would have resembled this woman.  Seriously, how cute is she? I wonder what I would've been like born in my grandparent's era... hmmm...

Simple Sunday - Dark Kiss & Pink Sugar

(Bath & Body Works, Dark Kiss Shower Gel, Body Cream & Body Spray)

I used to frequent Bath & Body Works on a regular basis.  I really haven't gone there much latley but was feeling the need to check in there and see what some of their new scents are.  Plus I really love the Vanilla Bean Noel and tis' the season!  I found some yummy men's line scents for Critter Twilight Woods for Men, from Santa of course!  I picked up the Vanilla Bean Noel I was dying for, got some yummy hand soaps to refill the soap dispensers in the house and low and behold found my new favorite, Dark Kiss. 


Simply & perfecly this is the yummiest smell I have come across in sometime.  Then to add to it my awesome Christmas gift from my mom came in the form of a big box of goodies from one of my most favorite stores, Ulta.  Unfortunatley we don't have an Ulta (yet if I can change that I will try) in the Tri Cities.  Inside the big box of deliciousness was a perfume sample called Pink Sugar.  It pairs perfectly with Dark Kiss.  It smells so amazing that I could seriously just eat it up.  Critter loves them both on me and simply I think I have found my newest rage.  Please don't all want a piece of me at once just because I smell like cake, haha.  Yum!

(Aquolina's Pink Sugar)

Simple Sunday - Ellembee

I love, love, love Etsy (more about Etsy someday soon)!  And I love, love, love this simple white screenprinted hoodie.  Here is the Ellembee link to the Etsy shop where there are other simple items of clothing.  Check it out!!  If you are a simple girl like me you will love the things you see!

(White Berrylicious Pullover Hoodie)

Simple Sunday - Outfit

Critter and I don't spend much money so I haven't purchased a new outfit in quite sometime.  However, if I was to get one, something like this is what's on my mind.  Simple, neutral, comfortable, classic.  Not only do I love this outfit but Ann Taylor makes it easy to find all the pieces.  Go here and see how they put together outfits for you. All you have to go is click the picture of the one you like and wahlah, there you are, order page for each piece is right there all on one page.  Simplicity at its best right where I love it most, shopping.  Now if only to do something about those prices... coupon please! 

                                                           

Simple Sunday - Grandparents

I love my Grammie & Grampie so very much.  On Sunday my sister, cousins and I decided to spend the day with them to help them decorate their Christmas Tree.  Their old tree was broken so after a quick online shop and a stop at Lowes to pick up the new purchase my sister and I headed to Costco to pick up a couple of their yummy pizzas to feed us all for lunch.  Here is our efforts for the day.  All about making life just a little bit more simple for two of the most wonderful people I know.

Simple Sunday - Boots

There are 7 pages of boots on Anthropologie's website.  7 pages!  Although Critter would not be happy if I bought a pair, that doesn't stop me from looking and admiring.  I was dreaming of which ones I would buy if I could actually convince Critter to agree to my purchasing a pair. 


I determined the answer is simple, I couldn't pick just one pair.  So no pairs was a better option.  Truth be told, there were only about 6 pairs or so that weren't quite my style.  Gosh, my style has nothing to do with Simple Sunday now does it? Ugh.... well anyway,  Here are a just a few to peak some interest.

Simple Sunday - True Beauty

(McNary Nat'l Wildlife Refuge)

Everyday we go about our regualr everyday things.  How often do we actually take the time to enjoy some of the natural beauties of our surroundings?  I'd say not nearly enough!  Today I spent some time at the McNary Wildlife Refuge.  I took some family photographs there, which is a location I suggested knowing that the Refuge was naturally beautiful. I knew it would be a perfect photo backdrop.  I honestly took for granted just how beautiful it is and how amazing the fall colors are.  To top it off an early morning rain followed by sunshine surely saturates colors and draws out true beauty of  foilage and brings out natural wildlife right here where I grew up.






(Mallard)



 

(Migrating Geese)

   



(Geese)

 

(Wildlife Refuge)





(Path to the Photo Blind)



 

(Native Bird)



(Birdfeeder)