A Relaxing Retreat

So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night, I hate to go and leave this pretty sight. So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, adieu, Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu.

This weekend Mother Dear and I get to go on a retreat! We're both pretty excited, as we'll get to see some ladies from our old homeschool group. It's really a mother's retreat, but since I am a MIT (Mother In Training) I have to go along to practice having fun. :) I'm taking the makings for lavender sachets to do with the few other girls that will be there, so I'll have some good pictures to share with you when we get back!

Mom and I, as well as the babe, will be leaving at two o'clock on Friday for Leavenworth (a small Bavarian town), and get back by three on Sunday. A nice retreat if you ask me!

Free Treats on Your Birthday!

And who wouldn't want those? Check out Free Birthday Treats.com for a list of stores and restaurants near you that give out free stuff for your special day.

Enjoy!

My First Pillowcase Dress

Guess what everyone??? I have just made my very first article of clothing: a pillowcase dress! While I had to work out a couple of kinks in my sewing skills, the dress was pretty easy and turned out super cute.

One vintage embroidered pillowcase + two yards gross grain ribbon

+ this tutorial from EverythingSewing.net

=

~ One Lovely Pillowcase Dress ~

Allow Me To Re-Introduce the Christ...

Bloggy Questionnaire

I've been tagged by Miss Hannah Paige for this questionnaire. Pay close attention; there are questions at the end!

~Your Favorite:~

Color? Pink

Candy? Reese's Peanut butter Cups

Main dish? It varies... right now, a BBQ-ed hamburger with EVERYTHING on it!

Dessert? Warm pie

Drink? Cream Soda

Veggie? Olives

~Do you?~

Go to Starbucks Coffee Shop? Not very often.

Go to the mall a lot? Yeah, every once in a while.

Talk on the phone everyday to someone who is not family? Yes. It seems like someone is calling every five minutes. :)

Read your Bible everyday? YES!

Do lots of reading period? Well, it's certainly spaced throughout the day, but yes. :)

See your grandparents everyday? No.

Bake a lot? Usually.

Clean your room everyday? Well... I really should....

Have to say your sorry to someone everyday? Sometimes.

~A Certain Thing You Dislike Of Each Category~

Veggie? Purple spinach

Color? Pukey Green

Drink? Hawaiian Punch - it's about as fake as you can get

Animal? Rats

~Do You Have A~

Pet? No. Last time I had one it was a fish and accidentally I killed it.

Gift card at the moment? Yes; for Ross.

Sewing machine? Yep... well, it's Mother Dear's.

Big mess under your bed? No. There might be a couple hair bands and a couple more dust bunnies, but that's it!

Pack of gum in your bag or purse? Yes. I'm on my last piece..

Computer in your room? No.

~Have you ever~

Been on a plane? Yes. Only a few times though.

Been out of state? Yes.

Out of the country? Yes. One time I stepped over the border to Canada then stepped right back.

Been in a eight-teen wheeler? No!

Been in a car accident? Yes.

Read about a hundred and fifty page book in about and hour? Probably.

~Your Favorite Place to?~

Go shopping? Hanna Anderson... and the thrift store. :)

Eat out? El Porton.

Go visit? Friend's houses.

Read a good book at? On the homeschool room couch or my bed.

~Random~

What color is your room? Pink and white.

Do you share a room with anyone? Yes. MIT #2.

Have you ever went swimming in a pond? Um... don't think so.

How old are you? Fifteen.

What year were you born? 1993. In the lovely month of July. :)

Are you related to anyone important or famous? Yep. Frank Buckles, the last known World War One Veteran, through my mom's family. Google him. There's tons of info you can find!

Have you ever met a vice president? Yeah. Of like, the school board. :)

Are you getting bored yet? No.

What are you thinking? That I am sick of my playlist songs. I think I'll change them!

Ok, I was kidding. No questions. :) Thanks for reading! If you'd like to do it, go ahead. Just tell me so I can check it out!

I'm Now Transferring You to the Laundry Room

We have been extra busy this week, so I apologize for not posting as much as I should! Mother Dear posted our week in pictures, which you can see here. I know I'm cheating, but it's as good as it's gonna get at the moment. :)

Shabbat Shalom!

How Does A Cavity Happen?

Yesterday I went to the dentist. I wasn't worried because I take pretty good care of my teeth, and as a result, have never gotten a cavity. Well, as you've probably guessed, I've got one. While yes, I was pretty horrified that I am going to have to go and get a shot in my gums (I'm not too worried about the rest - it's not supposed to hurt), I really wanted to know what exactly happened in there.

Then, low and behold, in today's Biology lesson guess what I found? A little article on tooth decay! As a good homeschooler should be, I was pleased. :) I have never really known exactly how the whole cavity thing worked, and it was pretty interesting! Now that I know what exactly happens, and exactly what brushing and flossing does (although I wasn't oblivious to the reasons, I didn't know the bulk of it), I'm much more motivated to take good care of my teeth! On those nights when I just feel "too tired" to brush, or when I reach for a chocolate or candy I'll definitely be thinking twice about how I'm treating my teeth.

And now, the article I read this morning at 11:15 out loud to Creative Genius who was doing his handwriting beside me [which is half one size and half another - sorry about that. Blogger problems]...

The Life and Death of Teeth

God designed permanent teeth to last a lifetime; therefore, with proper
nutrition and good dental hygiene, your teeth can remain strong and
attractive. The ages from thirteen to eighteen are a critical time for
oral health because decay, which occurs most often during these years, causes
the permanent teeth to be damaged. Tooth decay, or dental
caries (commonly known as cavities), is the most common disease in
man. The decay process begins when sugar mixes with plaque, a sticky, colorless film of bacteria (Streptococcus
mutans) that is constantly forming on and between the teeth. Bacteria
in plaque break down the sugars in foods to produce energy, forming lactic acid
as a byproduct; the acid is trapped against the surface of the teeth by the
sticky plaque. (Starches such as breads and crackers can also cause tooth
decay if left in the mouth for long, because the mouth's digestive enzymes
break down the starches into sugars that the bacteria can use.) After many acid
attacks, tiny holes may be formed in the enamel, allowing the acid to attack the
much softer dentine beneath the enamel. Once the protective enamel is
penetrated, cavities may be formed relatively quickly. A toothache will
occur when the decay reaches the nerves at the core of the tooth.

It is not primarily the amount of sugars consumed which causes
dental caries, but rather how often they are consumed and how
long they remain in the mouth. Each time sugar-rich foods are
consumed, more acid forms on the teeth. Sweet foods which remain in the
mouth for long periods of time - such as hard candy and sugar-sweetened chewing
gum - allow acid to remain on the teeth even longer. Sticky sweets such as
raisins and other dried fruits, mints, toffee and caramel desserts, and peanut
butter and jelly sandwiches are very harmful if they are allowed to remain on
the teeth; acid could be attacking the teeth all day long. If
sugar-sweetened soft drinks are sipped in small amounts throughout the day, the
sugars may likewise allow bacteria to attack the tooth enamel all day.

Plaque is even more harmful if allowed to remain on the teeth for
twenty-four hours; extended neglect or improper oral hygiene can result in periodontal [gum] disease. Any plaque which is not
removed by daily brushing and flossing begins to build up and form a hard
deposit called tartar (known medically as calculus). When plaque and tartar accumulate, the gums become
tender and inflamed and are likely to bleed easily when the teeth are
brushed. This periodontal disease is known as gingivitis;
if left untreated, the infection can cause periodontitis, as
disease in which the gums detach from the teeth and eventually the boned
supporting the teeth are destroyed.

Healthy teeth and gums are important for good nutrition, and good nutrition
is important for for healthy teeth and gums. A poor diet can weaken the
gums and bones which support the teeth, making them more susceptible to
periodontal disease. If sugar-rich foods are limited to mealtimes, the
saliva which is flowing readily by the end of a meal helps to dilute the acid
caused by bacteria. Brushing your teeth immediately after every meal to
remove acid-forming plaque will also help preserve your teeth from decay; loss
of teeth from periodontal disease can be prevented by regularly flossing your
teeth and visiting the dentist periodically to have any tartar buildup
removed. If you remove plaque daily, eat a balanced diet, and reduce or
eliminate the consumption of sugar between meals, your teeth can last a
lifetime.

Taken From Biology - God's Living Creation

Written by Gregory Parker, Keith Graham

Delores Shimmin & George Thompson

Published by A Beka Book

Rag Curls

The other night I decided to try a hand at rag curling my hair. I'd never done it before, so I wasn't sure how it would turn out with my hair-that-hates-to-stay-curled. :) Well, I gelled it up and gave it a whirl, and this is how it turned out!

*Sigh*

It's fun to be a girl!

Airplane Cake Tutorial

Remember when I made those three cakes in March? Well, this airplane cake was one of them. It was a fun and very easy cake to do, so I thought I might use it as a tutorial for any ladies who are interested in cake decorating, have the basic supplies, but aren't quite sure how start. This cake is very simple and doesn't take a ton of time, but also gives you good practice and, of course, a cake you can blog about in the end. :)

Here's what you're going to need. I suggest you make the cake and icing and set out your supplies a day ahead of time just so you don't get overwhelmed, and so that when you go to decorate you'll have a nice clean area to work in. :)

• A cake - I used a 9 in. one
• Icing - Go here to get the icing recipe I use.

Make one recipe in thin consistency (It says do milk or corn syrup, but I suggest you do both.) Color it light blue.

Make another recipe of icing, this time doubling it and making it medium consistency. Take about a cup and a half out of the bowl and set it aside, labeling it "medium consistency". Now, add 3 1/2 Tbsp. more milk to your icing in the bowl and blend it up. Take about a cup and a third of icing out of the bowl, setting it aside and labeling it "thin consistency".


Now, take out a cup and a half, color it dark blue. Lastly, set aside 3/4 cup of icing, and color it orange. You'll have some icing left over, but it'll be good to have for Just in Case. :)


As for supplies, you'll need

• A spatula for spreading frosting
• A decorating bag (four would be great, but not needed)
• Star tip number 21
• Star tip number 18
• A number 3 tip (two of them would be nice, but again, you only need one)
• A number 5 tip
• A paper outline of an airplane, the size of how you'd like it on your cake. I printed an airplane coloring page off the internet, then cut the airplane out.
• A clean, small paint brush
• Some wax paper
• Piping Gel
• A toothpick
  

Start with your cake.

If you want to keep the icing off the plate while you decorate, put down some strips of wax paper on the plate, then place the cake on top. Frost it, using your recipe of thin, light blue icing.

Let the cake stand for a little bit, letting the icing form a little crust. While you're waiting, make your airplane "stamp". Cover your paper airplane outline with wax paper, and tape it to the table so it doesn't move. Put your tip 2 in the decorating bag, then fill it with about 1/4 cup of piping gel. If you like, you can use the clear decorating gel that comes in the tubes from the store.

Now, carefully trace the airplane onto the wax paper, using the gel.

Your cake should now have a little crust over it (meaning you can lightly touch it and not mess up the icing). Carefully turn over the wax paper with the gel outline on it, and place it in the middle of the cake. Take your little paintbrush and lightly trace the gel, putting a little bit of pressure as you trace so that the gelled outline is applied to the cake.

Slowly peel the wax paper off the cake, revealing your clear airplane outline.

With your dark blue icing and tip 5, pipe icing lines over the places where you want it to be blue. Then, do the same with the orange icing.

Using your small star tip and dark blue icing, start filling in your airplane.

Do the same with the orange icing.

Now it's time to do the clouds. Trace some cloud shapes all over the sides of your cake. You can do it like I did and strategically place them, to cover up any messy spots. :)

Start filling in your clouds. I traced the edge first, and then filled the whole thing in.

You're almost done! Pipe a reverse shell border, using your star tip 21, onto the bottom of your cake (if you were using wax paper underneath it, now would be the time to take that off). Before I started on the cake, I did a few shells on a plate just to give myself a little practice before actually putting them on the cake.

Now, with your smaller star tip (you can use the bigger one if you don't have one that's smaller), pipe another reverse shell border on the top of your cake, right on the edge.

You're done!!

If you want to, you can use your leftover thin, white icing to write a message.

Enjoy your cake!

Love,

Anti-Feminism... A Lovely, Godly and Feminine Thing

Beware Feminists... there is a whole army of women out there effectively fighting against you! Go here to see what Miss Lizzy has to say about them.

Coconut Macaroons - Perfect for Passover!

For snacks we like muffins and cookies, fish crackers and Fig Newtons, snack mix and granola bars (of course all of them always pared with something fruitish :); So you can imagine that it is somewhat a challenge for us to find good Passover snacks. For the past few years, along with trail and dried fruit mix, macaroons have been a delicious snack staple. They're great because they contain no flour (which has natural leavening ingredients) - so they're perfect for Passover! If you've never made them before, or maybe aren't even celebrating Passover, you should definitely try them out! Here is a wonderful, melt-in-your-mouth recipe that we've been using for a few years now.

Coconut Macaroons

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Dash of salt

2/3 cup sugar

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

Grease a cookie sheet. Beat egg whites, vanilla and salt till soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating till stiff peaks form. Fold in coconut. Drop from a teaspoon 1 1/2 inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet (they'll grow!) Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. If you like, you can drizzle them with chocolate, but we like them plain! Makes approximately 20 cookies.

The Kings Firecrackers - Jump Roping Taken to a New Level!

Ever seen the Firecrackers before? Pretty cool jump roping team if I do say so myself.

(To see the video in a better form, go here.)

Our Big Passover Dinner

Well, I can hardly believe it, but it's already been two days since our Passover Sedar! It was a lot of work, but it all payed off when we sat down to a beautifully set table and immaculately clean house. :) Of course after all the talking I've been doing about it I've got to share pictures! I credit these to Mother Dear and Active Boy...

There were a good amount of children at the Sedar this year, eleven in all. Of course, we were six of them, but it was nice to have some other little ones there too.

Here is a friend and I who got to sing Kadosh together at dinner. It was a hit. :)

Some more Kodak moments...

At the end we had dishes up to our eyeballs! Every counter in the kitchen was full. Still though, we're enjoying our leftovers. :)

If you'd like to hear more about our Sedar, you can see what Mom had to say about it here and here.

Enjoy your weekend!