Kale chips sprinkled with thankfulness!

I'm thankful for Kale chips...delicious, wholesome, healthy chips! They are another lovely thing that I found on Pinterest, my new favorite place to hangout online.

image via [Whole Living Eat Well]

These things are super easy to make and a yummy, healthy alternative to potato chips, which are my nemesis! If it sounds crazy, don't know it till you've tried it! This recipe called for sesame seeds but I left those out, otherwise its the same. I just made some and I guiltily ate one whole pan myself, much to Justin's dismay as he likes them too! Well maybe not so guilty as that whole pan has about as many calories as a handful of potato chips. If you do decide to try them out, I would double or triple the recipe, cuz once you've had 'em its hard to stop eating them!


Okay, okay...enough about my Kale chips....nom, nom, nom! I also have started reading the most wonderful book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It was recommended to my by a friend and I also saw some amazing things about it on Pinterest...told you I loved that site! Its very poetic in its style, a different read for sure, but the message is so beautiful. It has really challenged me to examine more closely all the that I have to be thankful for! As I've started to do that, my eyes have been opened to all the small amazing ways that God puts things into my life for my joy. In some ways its learning to be a kid again as you discover each new thing you are thankful for. I'm this and I'm only 3 chapters in! I can't wait to see my perspective on life when I'm through.

Image via [Christianbook.com]

So those are my are my thoughts for today. Kale chips and thankfulness. I hope you try the chips! And can you think of one thousand gifts you have to be thankful for? I hope so, and that your heart is filled with JOY as you start naming them.

Me and my singer!

I love to craft. Crocheting, scrapbooking, paper crafts and more recently sewing! Justin got me my very own Singer for Christmas and boy have I been having fun. Its amazing what having a brand new sewing machine can mean in terms of productivity. Before my new machine I used an ancient one that came with the house. I spent most of my time untangling thread or hand winding my bobbin. But those days are gone and I'm enjoying trying more complicated sewing projects other than sewing ribbon onto burp cloths! :)

Last year I got onto a website called Pinterest...if you've never checked it out, DO! Its amazing. I found most of my ideas for Jacks bday party on there, not to mention lots of yummy recipes...the list could go on. Most recently I was inspired by some DIY folks who were making their own pillows and since I have a fabulous new sewing machine...well I'm sure you can put two and two together. :) Here is a photo journal of the process (which only took about an hour, if you don't count Jack breaks) I hope you feel inspired!

Stencil, fabric, brushes & paint!

I've been obsessed with canvas and burlap fabrics of late.

I cut a 19.5"x18" piece and sewed it with a 5/8 seam

Just a little opening for all the stuffing that will be added later! Which I back-stitched on either side of where I took out the stitches and ironed so it would lay flat.

I taped the stencil on the fabric at the corners to ensure it wouldn't move then painted away!

Now they just have to dry for 24 hours then I can stuff em and sew them up!

Valentine

via (Eighteen25)

Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful day of LOVE! Justin and I kept it simple this year with a quiet dinner at our new favorite Italian restaurant in Battle Ground called Galeotti's. It has great food, its 10 minutes from our house, and its a local business which supports other local businesses!

Meanwhile Jack got to have a movie night with Grammy & Grampa

Sporting his V-day gift, an Angry Birds blanket...surprise, surprise!

No movie night is complete without popcorn! Isn't that bag adorable?!