Photo credit: Pottery Barn
Ever wondered what life would be like in the perfect homes in the magazines? With spring cleaning going on for most of us (which seems to make more messes), those serene photos look even more appealing!
Catalog Living blog has made me laugh so many times at the hilarious captions that go along with our favorite catalogs. Click here to see what I’m talking about…
Today is my sweet husband’s (and my mother’s!) birthday. In his honor I’d like to share his portrait drawn by our 4 year old daughter. She is the only child I’ve ever known to draw forehead wrinkles on everyone just because her daddy has a few.
Happy birthday honey! You’re getting more handsome every year.
Y’all, we’ve been having some long, hard days around here. When that happens….it’s time to find some funny videos. Enjoy!
Photo by Alicia Hicks www.aahphotography.net
Our son just celebrated his 10th birthday on Sunday. Yep, he’s a Valentine baby. {smile}
This year we discovered the joy of a simple birthday.
Pizza and salad after church.
Family gathered around to sing to the birthday boy and a whole set of R. M. Ballantyne books that everyone gave him.
I’ve started an new blog at Beautifully Feminine!
Here’s a portion of the about page:
This is a place where I want you to find encouragement to enjoy being a woman. I’ll share practical tips on how to apply makeup, find frugal fashions, budget friendly spa recipes and so much more.
To kick off this new blog I’m hosting a giveaway for Pretty Stinkin Green.
Hannah and Deb are giving away this beautiful red rose pillow!
Here are the new cupcake paintings I just finished yesterday!
It can be used on any print in the store!
The code is: TRUE LOVE (hurry because it won’t last long).
I’m joining in with the pillow party going on at Rose Colored Glasses!
I’d like to introduce you to my new favorite pillow and her creator…
Rose Red the pillow and Hannah
Hannah and her friend Deb (Deb is the co-owner) make one-of-a-kind pillows and scarfs from reclaimed wool. Beautiful and eco-friendly, a win-win. (See her shop here.)
Take a look at one of her beautiful scarves…
Handmade and only $25!
My 3 year old daughter walked up to me and said…
3 Year Old Speak: “Mama, I need some lotion on my arms because I have ruffles.”
Grown Up Translation: “Mama, my arms are rough and I need some lotion.”
Don’t know about you, but I like the ruffles better! 
Dear microwave maker,
Why do you make the microwave door close so loudly? Do you not understand that I need to make a late-night snack for my husband and myself?
When the loud beep signals the end of the warming cycle, I can’t shut it off fast enough. I have sleeping children just down the hall! Please look into making a quiet door and a way to turn off the loud beeping.
I really enjoy making these late night snacks. I just don’t like thinking about having to tell my children why I’m holding a bowl of ice cream and hot fudge at midnight.
My sincerest thanks,
Laryssa
I grew up eating wild mushrooms called Morels. They are some of the most delicious things you will ever put into your mouth!
They grow better in the Northern states, but we still find a few in Middle Tennessee.
This is Matthew, our son, holding a Morel mushroom we found in our yard last year. One of two…not quite enough to eat!
I had been doing some research on edible plants and mushrooms in our area, so Matthew and I went on a search in the woods around our house to see what we could find. We found a tree that had fallen, but the large stump was still standing. On that stump we found… Oyster Mushrooms! There are no look alikes in the US, so we were sure that we had the real deal.
This is what we harvested…about four pounds of free, tasty, gourmet mushrooms!
The best way that we have found to eat Morel and Oyster mushrooms is to gently pan fry them in butter.
After we harvested them, I put them in salt water to get rid of any bugs. I rinsed them off gently and carefully. Next I put them into a zip-top bag and coated them in flour. Then I fried them in butter and salted them to taste. They were so good!
The next time you go to the grocery, look at the gourmet mushroom mixes. I bet you’ll see small oyster mushrooms in there!
For more information check out these sites:
(Time for the disclaimer: Do your own research. Make sure you are harvesting in a clean area, not by a road, because mushrooms absorb heavy metals and toxins. Don’t eat any mushrooms that you aren’t ABSOLUTELY SURE are safe.)
