Sew Our Stash - January

I’m super excited for the first Sew Our Stash of the year!  If you’re new around here, one of my 20 Wishes is to sew one thing for myself each month so I can participate in Sew Our Stash!  It is the brain child of Marissa at Rae Gun Ramblings and Bev at Flamingo Toes.  They share what they have made for themselves the last Thursday of every month. It started because they wanted to sew more wearables and needed some accountability.  While I'm certainly not at their level yet, hopefully, my skill sets will be stretched throughout the year!

 

'Gotta be honest.  This first one snuck up on me!  I knew what I wanted to sew, but didn't get around to it.  I guess that's the total point of 20 Wishes.  Making time for what I WANT to do!  So, here goes!  I followed Marissa's directions for making a Maxi Skirt!

 

For these photos, I wore it with red peep toes and my favorite Arkansas Razorback shirt! 

 

Go, Hogs!

 

 

One minor difference when sewing mine was I left a slit in the back.

 

Gasp!  You can see my slip!  (Blush!)

 

The fabric was a total steal from Yards and Yards of Yard Sales.  It is the gray with tiny polka dots in the photo on the right.  The pictures make it look shiny, but it really isn't.  Perhaps the dots are playing tricks on our eyes?

 

 

I'd love some feedback on other ways to wear it!  Patty?   Visible Monday Ladies?  Please help!  Not only do I need to stretch my sewing skills, I'd like to improve styling, too!

 

;-)  -Marci

LINK PARTY! Twenty Wishes 2014

I am so excited and honored to be teaming up with these fun bloggers to bring you

 

Twenty Wishes 2014! 

(Here's my list of  Twenty Wishes 2014 and Twenty Wishes 2013!)

 

 

It's FINALLY here!!! Time to link up and share your Twenty Wishes for 2014!!! You can read more on why we started this project back in 2013 here, but the gist is that life is too short. Too short to not really strive for those things you really wish to do or wish would happen. SO this year we're all going to make a real effort to mark those wishes off our lists! First you'll write and then link up your list of Twenty Wishes here. In doing so you're entered in this month's giveaway! (There will be a new one each month.) Then you'll work on those wishes throughout this year coming back here the last Wednesday of every month to link up and share your progress. Here's a button to add to your side bar to remind you to come back and link monthly, and to serve as a little encouragement to work on marking off your wishes!!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.trulylovelyblog.net/category/twenty-wishes/" title="Truly Lovely"><img src="http://www.trulylovelyblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/TwentyWishesButton.jpg" alt="Truly Lovely" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This year we are doing things a little differently. Mostly in an effort to be more organized than last year... But again, the link up will be the last Wednesday of every month. Each month one or two of our ten hostesses will offer a little something as a giveaway for those that link with us. So, allow me to introduce your hostesses for the 2014 Twenty Wishes project...

Kassi & Kayli @ Truly Lovely

Nay @ Coffee-N-Ink

Jessa @ Life of a Sports Wife

Kate @ Life as I Know It

Sarah @ SaturDIY

Chrissy @ Whimsical Poppysmic

Katie @ View From the Fridge

Bethani @ The Texan Pantry

Kristine @ The Foley Fam

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

 

For this month's giveaway Jessa of Life of a Sports Wife is giving away Ear Warmers from her shop, Pearls N Stitches!!



Cute, huh?

We aren't requiring you to follow anyone, the only mandatory entry is linking up to this party with your list of 20 wishes. BUT the more you do the more entries you'll receive and I can personally promise you if you do follow, like, etc and of these awesome ladies you WILL NOT be disappointed!

So, link your wishes and enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter form below! The giveaway will end at midnight on February 12th. Can't wait to see what you lovelies wish for!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway !-- start InLinkz script -->

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #43

Welcome to another fantastic party! 

Remember to come back tomorrow for the 20 Wishes Link Party!  Get all the details right HERE!

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>  

 

 

 

We're your co-hosts:

 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

Joyce @ It's Your Life!

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!

 
All of you amazing bloggers made choosing features this week TOUGH!  There were so many excellent posts! 
My features this week Homemade Chocolate Nut Butter





From Ragdoll Kitchen.  Mmmmm...  Yummy!
 

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!

;-)  -Marci 

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2014 - One Year, Twenty Wishes

Life is short, right?  Do you ever wish you had more time for the activities you enjoy, but don't actually set aside those precious minutes?  Well, listen up!  I am ecstatic to be part of a wonderful team of eleven bloggers bringing you a monthly link party all about one year of fulfilling twenty wishes. My wishes and your wishes!  This has nothing to do with the daily grind of responsibilities that we all have.  The idea is to make a list of what I WANT to do, not have to do, or need to do, but what I WANT to do this year! 

 

Isn't this a great lil plaque?!  I stumbled across it while choosing my 20 Wishes!



 

I'd love for you to join the fun!  We can cheer for each other throughout the year!  All you have to do is choose twenty things that you would ENJOY doing sometime in 2014.  Write about them and share them with us!  As you check the exciting stuff off your list, post an update and let us celebrate your accomplishments with you!

Click HERE for the January party!

 

The link party will take place right here, the last Wednesday of each month.  Do you need some examples?  Here are my posts from 2013! 

 

My Twenty Wishes for 2013

 

December Update

 

February Update

 

April Update

 

Did I finish everything on my list from last year?  Well, of course not!  Don't be silly!  ;-)

 

2013 Wrap Up!  

 

Are you ready to see my list for this year?  Drum roll, please! 

(Gee, I'm kind of nervous!)  ;-)

1.  Celebrate 28 years of marriage!  WOW!  28 years?!  Time sure does fly!  Here we are with our favorite four year old, who is now our favorite seven year old!

2.  Vacation in Colorado.


3.  Attend concerts.

Fitness Goals - Last year, one of my 20 Wishes led me to a Cross Fit gym.  Working out has taken on a whole new meaning for me and I am usually in the gym five days a week.  Since beginning Cross Fit, I've gone from a size 12 to a size 6, almost to my goal size!!  For the most part, I've worked with two trainers, Chip and Gil.  They deserve a HUGE amount of credit, teaching me the movements as well as motivating me daily and encouraging me to stick with it.  There had to have been some days where they beat their heads against a wall after I left!  ;-)  Thanks, guys!  I couldn't have come this far without you!

4.  I want to be a size 4 by May 1 and maintain it thru the rest of the year my life.

5.  Run four 5ks, one in each quarter of the year.



Where do I get one of these shirts?

6.  Complete an entire workout with REAL Handstand Pushups, no modifications.

7.  Complete an entire workout with REAL Pull Ups, no modifications.

8.  Complete an entire workout with REAL Toes to Bar, no modifications.

9.  Get stretchy enough that I can do the splits again, both sides.  (You might be asking "Why?" on this one.  I have absolutely no idea.  'Just want to.)

'More about this in a later post!



If those get accomplished:  Bonus Goals are Double Unders and Ring Dips.  Oh, and I'd like to know how many grandmothers across our great nation are choosing Cross Fit goals?  ;-)  I'm going to need lots of support and a whole lot of tenacity.  Those are going to be tough to achieve!  If you have any quotes, tips or advice, please send them my way!

Sewing Goals

10.  Complete a quilt for each of my children.

11.  Inspired by Marissa at Rae Gun Ramblings, sew something for myself monthly and join the fun at "Sew Our Stash"

12.  Inspired from Adventures in Dressmaking,  follow Susannah's Sewing Resolutions.  Basically, I should fuss and worry over my pattern and fabric choices for ME just as much as when I am sewing for someone else.  Well, DUH!  ;-)

These goals are being brought forward from my 2013 list!

13.  Take a photography class.

14.  Learn photo shop.

15.  Make my own herbal salad dressing.

16.  Create and write down 3 recipes for artisan cheese.

17.  Re-Vamp my "Herbs:  A Place to Begin" presentation into a one hour program.

18.  Learn more bloggy techy things.

19.  Monetize and grow my blog.

20.  Read and blog about 26 books.

Whew!  I better get busy!  So, what fun goals would you like to set for yourself?

 

;-)  -Marci

I {heart} My Interchangeable Wreath!



Do you remember my Basic Wreath Form?  (I think I'll name her her "Bess"!)




 Well, Bess just got a new outfit!  She's all decked out in snuggly red sweaters, just in time for Valentine's Day!  (It's been so cold here, she needs something warm!)

 

 

I was in Hancock Fabrics looking for quilting fabric and noticed these darling little ornaments in the Christmas Clearance section for only $1 each!  One dollar!  Who could resist?  They came home and became a Valentine's makeover!  I just used T-pin to add them onto the form along with one simple little white bow.  What do you think?

Oh, and can you give me some photo feedback, please?  Which edited photo do you prefer?  Do you like the darker one or the brighter one?  Sometimes I edit photos until I just can't decide!

;-)  -Marci


 



Final Arrangements

;-)  -Marci

LINKY PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #42

Welcome to another fantastic party!

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>  

 

 

 

Are you ready to party?
 

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

Joyce @ It's Your Life!
 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!

 
All of you amazing bloggers made choosing features this week TOUGH!  There were so many excellent posts! 
My features this week are Savory Pesto Swirled Cheesecake

from Jaime at Mom's Test Kitchen!  I have got to try this!  Mmmmm...



Also, an exciting Winter Garden Update

from Blair at Baby for Scale!   Depending on where you are, there are lots of things that can be growing in the winter.

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!



;-)  -Marci 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  

Literary Junkies - What have You been Reading?

Today's the Literary Junkies Link Party!

Here are this month's questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.




I'm actually between books right now.  Hmmm...  What to read next?

2. Out of the 16 books that will be turned into a movie adaptation, which one are you most looking forward to seeing this year? (Article Link)




I am  the most curious about The Hundred Foot Journey as well as Wild.  Hey, there's my next book!

3. What was the worst book you've ever read?

Tough question...  I am very easily bored.  If a book is slow paced or I don't like it, I'll put it down and move on. 

4. What foods or beverages have you spilled on a book while reading? Anything good?
Coffee.  Lots of coffee...

5. Do you pictures characters as popular film or tv actors? Or do you create a whole new person in your head?




I generally create each person inside my head.  Oh, and if I don't like the ending of the book, I'll invent new endings for my favorite characters.

6. Out of all the authors you've read books by, who's brain would you want to pick the most?




The first author that comes to mind is Louisa Mae Alcott since I like her quote "She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain".  Although, I wonder if Nancy Mitford would be too well mannered to mingle with the likes of me?  ;-) 

Please join the fun and answer at least one of these questions in the comments below!

;-)  -Marci

Gourds - What inspires me!



 Today, let's talk about gourds! They are easy to grow and fun to decorate!


(First of all, I have to send a special thank you to Linda Ashmore my mentor in gourd decorating!)


  Thanks, Linda!  ;-)

There are so many sizes and shapes. 

 

With all the different varieties, gourds can be grown just about anywhere.  They do need something sturdy to climb.  We use cattle panels attached to T-posts.



They are truly beautiful plants!  I usually purchase my seeds thru Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

 



Once the gourds are grown and harvested, just toss them in a spot where they can dry.  We have an old milk barn on our property and we just pile them on a box in the corner.  The better the gourds are ventilated, the quicker they will dry.  Once dry, give them a good scrub and it's time to be creative!

The possibilities are absolutely endless!  Below are some of my projects.  Just click on the link to see the entire DIY post.

My First Class

 

Experiment with Color

 

 

 Antique - ing

 

 

 Lacing with Beads

 

 

Ombre' Stripe

 

 

Ghoulish Gourd Gang

 

 

Even Jewelry

 

 

Check out these Gourd-o-Lanterns by Angie at God's Growing Garden!

 

 

Fun stuff, huh?

 

 As you plan your gardens for Spring, find a spot for gourds!  In the meantime, come over to my Stone Cottage!  I have plenty.  We can make all kinds of crazy things! 

 

;-)  -Marci

 

 

Book Review: Fear in the Sunlight

A new mystery featuring Josephine Tey and Alfred Hitchcock, by Nicola Upson.

 

 

Bas Bleu describes the book like this: 

 

In this intricate novel, author Josephine Tey is celebrating her birthday at a Welsh resort when she crosses paths with another celebrity guest. It seems Alfred Hitchcock is in town scouting film locations, all the while plotting an elaborate prank to test the mettle of the actors he's brought with him. But a gruesome double murder puts a hasty end to the revelry, leaving Josephine's best friend, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose of Scotland Yard, to uncover just who among a group of very likely suspects are telling the truth -- and who is acting.

 

The book is very well written.  It opens with a letter from the murderer to a trusted friend describing the motivation behind one of the crimes.  So, immediately I am guessing about the criminal and this particular victim.  I love the opening chapters as the author introduces each character, their likes and dislikes, along with how they are connected with the rest of the cast. 'Gotta be honest though.  There's a reason I generally don't read murder mysteries.  I don't like the part where the murders are being described.  Blech!  Also, I prefer books to end with "and they lived happily ever after".  This novel does not end that way, so the ending wasn't really for me either.

 

My favorite line in the book:

 

"The director laughed.  'On the contrary,' he said.  'Fear of the dark is natural, we all have it, but fear in the sunlight, perhaps fear in this very restaurant, where it is so unexpected - that is interesting.'

 

If you enjoy murder mysteries, you would probably enjoy this one!  In general, though, they just really aren't for me.

 

What are you reading?

 

;-)  -Marci

Charming Snowman

Happy New Year!

 



 

Can you believe January has arrived?  We've already had a couple of winter storms.  What do you like to do when it's snowy and cold?  Sometimes, I can get a little bored staying inside.



 

Fortunately, I found this little wooden snowman in the Christmas clearance aisle and brought him home with me.  After spending an afternoon with him and some paint, he became the centerpiece of this little vignette.

Charming Gentleman, don't you think? 

 

;-)  -Marci

LINKY PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #41

Welcome to another fantastic party!

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>  

 

 

 

Are you ready to party?
 

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

Joyce @ It's Your Life!
 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!

 
All of you amazing bloggers made choosing features this week TOUGH!  There were so many excellent posts! 


My features this week are Dehydrating Apples on a Wood Stove













from Christy at The Homestead in the Hills of Tennessee!  I have got to try doing this on one of these cold winter nights we've been having!



Also, this Coconut Oil Body Lotion

from Wonderfully Messy Mom!  BTW...  If you are using any type of lotion that is petroleum based, you REEEALLY should read this post and consider switching to something plant based.

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!



;-)  -Marci 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  

Garden Guest: Snowbirds

The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  You can do the same by providing food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young.  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I've begun a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

If you would like to see more, check my Gardening Page! 

This tiny friend is what we call a Snowbird, one of its common names.

 

It's actually a Dark-eyed Junco.  Here in Arkansas we only see them in Winter.

 

 

They like to be under some kind of cover as they feed.  Leave the spent foliage in your flower beds until Spring so the Snowbirds feel protected.

 

My music choice this week is the theme song from Tuck Everlasting.

 

 

 Warm wishes from our home to yours!

;-)  -Marci

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