Help Music Save Lives

As many of you know, Music Saves Lives is a non-profit that is close to my heart. Even if I didn't work there it would still be something I back completely. The need for blood donations in our country is astounding.

- Evey 2 seconds someone in the US needs blood
- 1 blood donation can save up to 3 lives
- 40% of the US population is able to donate blood, yet only 2% do

Music Saves Lives has a goal of collecting 100,000 units of blood this summer. This will help them save up to 300,000 lives. We need tents in order to reach out to the youth of North America who will help us obtain this goal. We simply cannot afford the tents and are asking for your help getting them. As little as $5 can help us reach our goal. Can you help?

Please help us spread the word and put this on your blog too!

Tasty Tuesday - When life gives you lemons

A friend gave us a bag full of lemons she picked from her back yard that screamed to be turned into fresh lemonade. They were so big and juicy I couldn't wait to cut them open!

 This recipe is tart and tasty and would be perfect on a warm summer day, especially mixed with vodka...just saying :). Plus, since it uses Splenda instead of regular sugar it's basically guilt free!

1 serving = 2 cups 

2.5 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice 
1 cup hot water
2 cups Splenda or Sugar (recipe is made with Splenda)
1 Gallon cold Water  
1 lemon sliced thin. Cut slices in half

1. In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves.

2. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed.

3. Place cut lemon in pitcher. Pour into glasses filled with ice.

In the name of the Father

My niece was baptized this past Saturday at our Church's Easter Vigil Service. A family friend let Deanna use her family's baptism gown from the 1840's.

10 Little Secrets

I was tagged by my Cousin, so here goes...10 little secrets/possibly unknown facts about me.

1. I love reading other people's little secrets. There is something I find intreging about how truthful and genuine people are with these posts. I actually miss all of the "Getting to know you" posts people would put on Myspace.

2. I fell off a 40 ft cliff when I was 19, landed on sand a couple feet from a rock that could have killed me. I was put on a back brace, floated into the water, put on a boat, taken to harbor patrol, put on an ambulance and then taken to the hospital. I fractured my 5th lumbar, hairline fractured my breastbone and popped my pelvis like I had given birth to a large baby. I spent 3 days in the hospital, had to relearn how to walk, and used a walker for about 1 month.

3. I have been to every state except Alaska, the one I have wanted to go to the most since I was a little girl.

4. My nieces, Izabella and Abigail, hold a special place in my heart like no one else ever has.

5. The busier I am, the more often my keys get lost.

6. I love my job at Music Saves Lives and can't imagine working anywhere else.

7. I would rather read than watch TV, but never seem to have much time for either.

8. Playing card/boardgames with my friends is one of my favorite things to do.

9. I love being outside Bike rides and hiking are among my favorite activities

10. My friends often tell me I follow direction like a man. I'd rather try to figure something out myself than read directions.

If you read this and feel like playing along, please do so and leave a link in the comments so I can read yours.

A Little Delayed

With all of the other fun things going on I've kind of become behind on posts. I meant to post this one a few weeks ago (when I took the pictures) but never did. So here goes...

I knew that when our seeds started to grow in their egg crates, Izabella and I would need to put them in something else before the ground. While eating my breakfast the idea hit me...Yoplait yogurt cups! They were just the right size and since I eat yogurt for breakfast every morning they would be pretty easy to get a hold of. So, I starting saving them, and saving them, and saving them...until I had about 20. I was even eating the desert flavored one's at night (not that I really mind with light flavors like Key Lime Pie and Red Velvet Cake). I also thought I would turn them in to an art project for Izabella and have her paint/decorate them.

After Izabella painted them, I poked 3 holes into the bottom of each for draining.

The reason we used newspaper under our paint area :)

After they were dry we filled them with dirt

 We used dirt from our backyard and found some fun bugs along the way

 We also put sticky backed felt stars on each one. On the stars I put the first letter of each veggie so we would know which was which.

Since this picture our plants have become HUGE and we will be transplanting them into the ground tomorrow. I will post about that soon...

Monsters for Friends

While flipping through the JoAnn's mailer that came in a few weeks I ago I spotted ADORABLE monsters made out of fleece. I asked Izabella if we should make them, of course she said yes. We decided we would also make one for our friend, Hannah, and my Niece, Abigail, so we headed to the store. We weren't able to find the pattern at the store so I decided to do draw them.

Izabella picked out the fabric (Popsicle for her friends and princess for hers), face parts and what each monster would look like. She also helped me stuff each of the monsters with "snow".

 Monsters in a Tree

Monsters in a bush

 Hannah with her monster

Abigail with her monster

Izabella with all the monsters (her's is in the front)

Tasty Tuesday - Sweet and Savory Roasted Almonds with a Little Spice

I wanted to make my own fuel giving snack for all of the hiking my family did this past weekend in Joshua Tree and this is what I came up with. I ended up adding some raisins to give it a little bit more sweet. It was a huge hit!

1/4 cup = 1 serving

2 cups whole almonds
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp Splenda brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp vanilla extract








1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

3. Spread on a baking sheet and place in oven for 10 minutes.

4. Wait until cool, and mix together once more.

 Separate into 8 individual bags, or leave in 1 big bag, and store for a great snack all week long.

*Don't want the heat? Just take out the cayenne pepper :)

**Want a little something more? Add raisins after the almonds are done cooling. (these are not added in the nut. into)

4th Annual trip to Josuha Tree

Every year my family takes a weekend trip to Joshua Tree to enjoy some of the beauty Southern California has to offer. This year was our 4th year. 22 people came - our biggest group so far. We're already planning how to make next year bigger and better!

At one of our favorite restaurants in 29 Palms, The Carousel

Barker Dam. We had NEVER seen this much water there before!

Petroglyphs near Barker Dam

My Dad and me on our way through Rattlesnake Canyon to the waterfalls

Family friends, Jon and Jennifer, and the first set of falls

The second set of falls

The whole groups for dinner at Edcahadas in 29 Palms

My crazy family

There's more pics of our trip here

Over The Weekend

I remember spending hours and hours and hours and hours at Irvine Park when I was younger. Hiking, paddle boat rides, birthday parties, bike rides, the little zoo, feeding ducks...We went this past weekend for a quick little trip. While most of the "attractions" were already closing down for the day, Izabella had a great time learning about peacocks and playing at one of the many jungle gyms.

How Does You Garden Grow?

Inspired by the garden we had every year growing up and my cousin, Stephinie at Gypsy Forest, Izabella and I have started a backyard garden. Nothing too big or fancy since we don't have a lot of room. Our little area (that already has a trellis behind it!) will have cherry tomatoes, carrots, green beans, peas, cucumbers and maybe some watermelon.

We started our seeds out in cardboard egg crates using soil that was already in our backyard.

Since we didn't have a way to do type markers, I marked the top of eat crate with the first letter from the veggie's name and an arrow pointing to the side it was planted on.

She kept wanting to pour the ENTIRE packet of seeds into each little cup :)

Pushing the seeds in

A completed tray!

We water them with a spray bottle a couple times a day.

They're starting to grow!!

Since it's been really chilly here at night we are currently taking the seeds in and out of the house each morning and night. Izabella loves checking on them. When we had our first sign of life she was SO excited! She loves petting the leaves and talking to her plants, telling them how pretty they are. She started doing this all on her own. I love the kind hearted nature of this kid!

We will be transplanting them into empty, painted and decorated yogurt cups soon. I can't wait to show you those!