Giveaway by the Naptime Diaries

Updated: Rachael, you have won this giveaway! Email me for details...thanks and Congratulations!
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Are you as happy as I am to have a weekend ahead of you? We have some fun things on the horizon as a family and I can't wait to relish and soak in that time.

Fun things going on here, too! Blogging is an incredible networking tool, blessing me with friendship and inspiration I'd not otherwise be honored to have. That said, let's celebrate new friends and opportunities, and the brink of the weekend, with a giveaway by the Naptime Diaries.
Let's hear from the ever-talented Jessi:

Hi! My name is Jessi and I blog at Naptime Diaries. A little bit ago, I decided I was wanting scripture in front of my eyes all day, but I was tired of littering my walls and fridge with notecards. Naptime Diaries prints to the rescue! I feel really blessed to be able to work creatively with scripture and pray for people as I do it. My prayer is that these would be a blessing to other women (and men! and children!) as they seek the Lord in their home. That in the midst of hard days or great days or normal days, they'd be encouraged by seeing God's Word in front of them. I do mostly 8x10/10x8 prints and can customize orders and I'm also taking custom orders for print including scripture/color requests.

Thank you Mindy for hosting this! Thanks for checking out the shop, friends!

Jessi (who prays for her customers! wow.)
is generously giving away one 8x10 quality print, winner's choice!

Here are my two absolute faves:
Here's how you enter (entries limited to marigoldroad GoogleFriends followers only, so please follow if you don't already):

1) visit Naptime Diaries Etsy shop then return here and state your favorite print
2) follow Naptime Diaries blog through GoogleFriends
3) follow Naptime Diaries on Twitter

For additional entries:

1) follow me on Twitter
2) tweet/retweet, Facebook status update, or blog about this giveaway (comment for each)
3) grab my blog button
4) become a fan of marigoldroad on Facebook

Thanks for participating! Giveaway open to U.S. residents and ends Friday, May 6, 20011.

Make vs buy

Updated to include the weiner (as PioneerWoman says)
of the Rusted Chain giveaway:

Entrant #12, Casey Wiegand (yay, friend!) per Random Number Generator, you've won! Email me for details.

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I've been wanting a cute floral headband for awhile. They are all over the internetz and all the cute bloggers have them.

But I didn't want to drop $12 or even $8 for one so I made this:
I was at my friend's adoption fundraiser/garage sale (locals, click here for deets) all day with hair in a wet pony so it's crazy:
I can't wait to wear it to MAPS tomorrow (little things make me happy).
Happy Thursday. I like writing about not much, for a change.

Hoop art--take a looksie

Doesn't a master bedroom makeover sound wonderful? We need one.

Oh this ceiling and windows!

photo via

I'm currently addicted to fffound!--the images are interesting, artistic, inspiring (and some weird/gross) and make me think of projects, projects, projects!

In terms of projects I created a couple of hoops this week, to relax. I like to craft while Shawn talks to me about everything.
All materials are vintage and I have duplicate materials so I can make more of these hoops, just in different sizes.

They will show up in my shop soon!
Lastly, here's an iPhone pic of our newest addition:

Vintage Emerson stereo hi-fi record and radio player, found by my parents for $3 at auction!

The radio part works but we haven't checked the record player out yet. I just wanted to decorate.

Our Easter 2011

Our Easter included church, an egg hunt, Subway lunch so we wouldn't have to cook and make a mess, then hanging out at home.

Mommy and Daddy frequent auctions in southeast Kansas. They brought these chairs but we didn't have room for them. Someday I will have a store and they can bring all they want!

Oh, and Mommy and Daddy took the kids to the park.
Shawn and I didn't know what to do in a house sans kids, even if it was just for 45 minutes. So I pulled weeds, finished making laundry detergent, and swept/mopped; Shawn also did chores.

What would you have done? Smooched?

Ok we did that once {or twice} too:
Here are some pictures of my 11-month old sunshine love.
I adore her.

Easter greetings!

Happy Easter, friends!

Professional photographer friends and artists, beware! Clip art bonanza and loud, distracting font at your service:
Told ya. Take a deep breath. Now come back to me. You gotta admit those babies are model material. Ha.

I like to get indoor portraits done for at least a few of the kids' milestone ages. As a girl, I loved looking through my baby album to see how I grew. We have beautiful pictures taken on our camera, but I'm terrible at printing them off. Thinking of doing an iPhoto bound book.

That was a tangent.

Today was very good. Mommy and Daddy were here and we went to our church. I praised Him without pride. It was freeing.

A month or so ago I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to watch The Passion in preparation for Easter. I hadn't watched it yet and was pretty determined to fight the Lord's leading in this area (just telling the truth!). I didn't think I could handle the violence. I grappled, wrestled, for days until it became very apparent that I was supposed to watch it. Here's why: I had the honor of helping my friend sort things for her upcoming adoption garage sale.

While rummaging through boxes, having laugh after laugh at the ugly sweaters, pointy shoes, & obnoxious toys, we found a bunch of DVDs.

And there it was. Unopened. The Passion.

Okay, Lord. Your desire, not mine, but I will obey.
The film was very moving. Very difficult to make it through; I had to mute and look away some. I lost it during the flashback of Jesus as a child. I am in that mode of life so it shuddered the wholeness of my heart.

I recently read something that said there are lots of good ideas and principles to live by...but we should challenge those who don't know Jesus to find another being or prophet that actually died for them.

There isn't one.

We are all sinners. It's really heartbreaking that perfect Jesus had to be broken and nailed to a cross to save us from those sins. It had to be something big like that for redemption to have the power that it has. I am thankful for what the Father and the Son did for me. It's my heart's desire that my actions will always point to my gratitude and acceptance of their gift. And that my heart will be in rejoice-mode that Jesus is RISEN.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20

I can't wait to kiss Jesus' hand wounds in heaven.

Giveaway by the Rusted Chain!

I'm so excited to feature The Rusted Chain's gorgeous jewelry!
I am a total sap for Beki's work...she's the owner/designer of The Rusted Chain and if you do not own one of her necklaces, then, I just feel sorry for your neck. And your outfits.
I have purchased three pieces from her, two of which I gave away. The one I kept is a custom-ordered turquoise leather strap with stamped charm and red heart bead (love turquoise/red).
I purchased this for my friend who is adopting.

And this for my photographer friend.

I love that Beki is local {to me} which means I might get to meet her one day! Cool dude. She is a woman of character & faith, which is even more rad.

Okay, on with the show.

Not only is Beki offering a Mother's Day discount of 20% through April 24th (click here for details) but she is graciously giving away a $25 gift certificate to one of you!

Here's how to enter (you must be a follower of my blog to enter):

1) visit Beki's shop then come back here and tell me what you love
2) follow Beki's blog (her photography will woo you)

For additional entries:

1) follow me on Twitter
2) tweet/retweet, Facebook status update, or blog about this giveaway (comment for each)
3) grab my blog button
4) become a fan of marigoldroad on Facebook

Thanks for participating! Giveaway ends Thursday, April 28th, 2011.

How To Make Easter Candy Bark

I may be in big trouble for admitting this, but I rarely read the Pioneer Woman's website because it makes me feel a) overwhelmed and b) little? Like my blog is little. But her blog is simply beautiful and she is a talented writer. I love her. I do!

When thinking of Easter dessert ideas, I went straight to PW's site, and of course was led to another site, Gingerbread Bagels, that has this make your mouth water easter candy bark recipe.
Here's how you make it, per Gingerbread Bagel's original recipe.
(all photos this post are mine)

Easter Candy Bark

8 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips
8 ounces milk chocolate chips
7 ounces pink candy melts

1/2 cup Spring Oreos -cut in half (they have a yellow center)
1/4 cup Easter Candy Corn
1/4 cup Mini Cadbury Eggs – cut in half (the hard shell ones)
1/4 cup Mini Robin Eggs (malt balls/Whoppers)
1/8 cup M&Ms (You can use whatever kind you like)

Measure out the candy and cookies. Set aside.

Lay out a large piece of parchment paper. You’ll use this to make the Easter Candy Bark on.

Put 8 ounces of semi sweet chocolate chips and 8 ounces of milk chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Melt the chocolate chips but be careful not to overheat the chocolate.

Spread the melted chocolate onto the parchment paper into an 8 by 11 rectangle. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect.

In a microwavable bowl, melt the pink candy melts. (you can use whatever color you like). Be careful not to overheat the candy melts. Drop the melted candy melts on top of the chocolate.

Using a knife, swirl it up and down. Then swirl it back and forth.

Place the candy and cookies on the melted chocolate/candy melts. Press down lightly.

Allow the Easter Candy Bark to dry for at least 3 hours. Cut into pieces and enjoy!

Now that I understand the basics of "bark" I just might be hooked on making it all the time. Please note I refrigerated mine overnight, as it wasn't hardening up enough on the counter. Also, I used a baking sheet because I was out of parchment. It broke/popped out just fine.

And because no holiday is complete without cupcakes, W & I whipped up some cupcakes. He "helped" decorate by putting his finger into the frosting (and licking it) each one. Guess we can't share now.
Shoot.

Little kindnesses

Have you read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman?
Shawn and I read this even before we were married and my love languages are still the same, nearly 8 years later.

Here are the love languages: quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, & physical touch. Want to know what your primary one(s) is? Click here for the quiz.

Gifts is my top love language followed closely by a tie between quality time and acts of service. I took the quiz today just to make sure they hadn't changed.

Here's what the website says about gifts (because I feel awful admitting that's something that makes me feel really, really special and loved...to me a gift can be the gift of time, or a sticky note on the mirror, or a Snickers, or a card; Shawn would be in trouble if he spent $60 on flowers!...).

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous–so would the absence of everyday gestures.

Perhaps this is why Christmas stresses me out? I always have to find the "perfect" gift for someone else even if it's not their preferred love language.

So where am I going with this? I think love languages also spill over into our friendships. So when two sweet kindnesses graced my life during the last two weeks, I have to share about it!

beautiful garden flowers from my friend

adorable hand-made sign for the front door, from my friend

Lastly, if you were to stop by my kitchen on this Tuesday you'd see that I'm whipping up some Easter goodies:

This calls for fro yo!

Wanted to do something special for Shawn on his birthday so got together some friends for dinner out, then Orange Leaf frozen yogurt:
We were home by 11. I guess we are getting old! That and when there's a sitter to pay, we don't stay out as late.
The self serve yogurt reflected our "couple" personalities:
Thanks for blessing us with an awesome time out, everyone! For more pictures from our evening, click here. Ian got some awesome shots on his fancy camera.
There's some new hooptie hoop in town. Look for it in my shop soon:
Have a groovy day, peeps.

His birthday

2002?

2000?

last night

I love the man who asked me to marry him.

I love that we met at the age of 14 and became fast friends.

As fast of friends as you can be in junior high.

I love that we have grown up together.

Sometimes it is sad to think of how quickly time warps.

We were kids when we got married.

Now we have our own kids.

The seasons of life come in and out, in and out.

All the more reason to soak in

All that life has for us.

In a blink, it will be gone.

Happy birthday, Shawn. You are so many of the things I wish to be.

Tiptoe through the tulips

photo by me, and is unedited except for text
no need to edit what God did
botanica, 4/2011

Got some questions in yesterday's comments so here are my answers!

Do you do your makeup every single day?

No, but most of the time, yes. If I'm off to the grocery store or park with just the kids, it's usually no makeup (or just concealer/powder). If I'm off to see friends or shop at Old Navy, or church, then yes, I wear makeup, but not the "full face." For MAPS, girlie outings, & date nights I will wear a full face.

Can I have the egg wreath?

Sorry, but no. I have plans for it; it has been collecting dust in the basement, waiting for inspiration.

You are not out running out in the burbs at night are you? My long weekend runs are "down by the river." Other nightly runs (about 2x per week) are had on the treadmill.

And the Sod & Stubble book is not ours: the bookshelf photo is of Shawn's grandparent's shelf. I loved that book in middle school and remember being floored at her ability to pop out kids every year.

This is what's for dinner.
This post on blogging popularity contests was inspirational and challenging.
This wreath is still for sale.

Some pictures from Wednesday's hububb of backyard playdate and trip to Botanica, to tiptoe through the tulips:
What have you been up to this week?