Valentine's Party Ideas

This week will be one with lots of parties in our home. Some good friends will be visiting from Sweden and our gathering promises 14 kids 6 and under, and 10 adults. Wow!

Friday we will be having our 2nd annual Valentine's party for the girl's from our youth group. Last year we had a marvelous time and I loved going all out for them!

Last week I finally succumbed to Pinterest because I was in need of a way to gather up ideas for this party. I have been enjoying it a bit and am so looking forward to this years Valentine's Party.

Last year I made these sugar cookie pops. Everyone LOVED them, as did I :) I am not normally a fan of sugar cookies- they are just too plain for my taste. But decorated with white chocolate these became my top favorite sugar cookies. Not to mention how cute they look on a stick!

Source: theidearoom.net via Mrs. Grin on Pinterest

So while I continue gathering my ideas together, making lists and beginning my baking. Tell me, what are you doing special for Valentine's Day?

Mommy Stress - Part 1

Being a Mom is one of the most rewarding positions a woman could ever hold. But this very same title and the responsibilities and emotions involved can bring on some of the most intense stress a woman has experienced or will ever face.

It has been on my heart to write about Mom stress for a time. And yesterday I just happened to run across a program on Focus on the Family that again brought this to the light in my thoughts.


What are your areas of stress as a Mom?

For those of us with young kids (mine are 4 , 2 and 9 mos) your stress might look something like mine:

1. Lack of sleep (leading to impatience, frustration, difficulty controlling emotions)
2. Lack of personal time and space (no time for me and my hobbies and taking care of myself)
3. Frustrations over kid's fighting, whining, etc. 
4. Naptimes
5. Worry over the health, education, discipline of our kids. 
6. Worry about my relationship with my husband (do we make time for each other, do we communicate well, are we on the same page regarding our kids,etc. 

The list could go on and on.  But you get the idea, as Mommies we are continually faced with stressful situations.

What do you do? How do you cope? How do you get beyond the stress?

The fact is that as women our "stresses" are so interconnected they all add up to such a load that without some kind of "help" we will eventually explode unless we have a way of dealing with these things.

For me, my greatest hope is my relationship with our Saviour- Jesus. His word gives us all kinds of messages of hope. James 1: 5 says that "If anyone lacks wisdom he (or she) should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. . . "

I  find great peace in the knowledge that God will provide me such an amazing wisdom- it is available for me, and you!

There are lots of practical things we can do to deal with the stress we face as Mom's and I would love to hear how you do so.

Until another day!

We like ours local

Today was a day of running errands, getting groceries, etc.

It has been a long while since I had been to our local market- literally an outdoor market with vendors. The meat and dairy section is indoors. But in all truth this market has changed little (as far as I recall) in the past 16 years.

I really enjoy going to the market, both here in my small town and in the capital. That is a cultural experience in and of itself for any American :)

Today I was in need of potatoes, and produce (green onions, dill, lettuce) . The man selling me produce offered me delicious cucumbers from Estonia. I kindly refused him, telling him I would wait for our own Latvian cucumbers.

Perhaps it was just me, but I am quite sure they smiled in quiet agreement. And again I was reminded how Latvians put such a high value on locally grown produce.

Growing up in America I never remember being particularly interested in where my potatoes, apples and greens came from. I cared about what they tasted like and that was the key. But in Latvia it is important, and it seems that people pay a good deal of attention to this. Knowing how things are grown in various countries plays a part in our choices of produce.

We would much prefer,  I dare say , to buy apples from Poland when local ones are sold out. Believing their views on pesticides and natural growth habits to be closer to our local style than that of some more southern countries.

And those of you Latvians who read my blog, may correct my ignorance if I am mistaken. How about you, do you pay attention to where you your fruits and veges come from? Do you care? Why or why not?

Emma- 2009

Being a fan of classic literature- it is of course a given that I would prefer that type of movies as well. 

A couple years back I saw this version of Emma for the first time. Romola Garai does a fabulous job as Emma. And it was this version of the story that made me actually want to read the book. 

I just loved the book and would recommend this TV mini- series to anyone who enjoys classic literature and that type of movies. 

You can just imagine my further delight when last week I learned that another actress in the movie is a distant relative of mine- by marriage. Now this movie holds an even dearer place in my heart! 

Mask Ball

The days leading up to my husband's huge work party were full of fun experiments making masks. I got some great ideas online on how to make masks. And made about 10 in the process because I started having so much fun experimenting. The kids loved having masks of their own too. 

We had a wonderful evening in our disguises- and I was pleased my husband agreed to wear the hat. He was rather skeptical on that one. But his colleagues didn't even recognize him in this get-up and he lots lots of compliments. 

Having never been to a mask ball it was an interesting experience- I have no idea what they are normally like. But we had fun on our evening out as a couple- and that is what counts, right?! We even got to put to practice our dance steps we had learned this Fall in our dance lessons.

Have you ever made a mask for a mask ball? I would love to see photos! 

Jewelry Organizer-DIY

For some time now I have been wanting to make something to keep my earrings tidy and easy to find. I had found some great ideas on the internet and was just waiting for inspiration to finally strike to make my own. 

While in America I was given some sewing supplies that belonged to my Great-Grandmother. These things being dear since they belonged to her and vintage as well- I wanted to do more than just stash them. 

Yesterday I started toying with some ideas for my organizer and become so inspired that I decided to just plug ahead. This is what I have so far, and I am so in love with it that I just had to share it. 

The orange lace from my Great-Grandmother

The lace heart is leftover lace from my wedding dress.

The eyelet lace is perfect for a place to keep stud earrings.

Should you want to make one of your own these are the materials I used: 

• Pegboard, or bulletin board
• Hot glue gun
• Cotton fabric to cover bulletin board
• Lace of various kinds. 
• Buttons for decorations ( haven't yet attatched these- they were also my Great-Grandma's). 
• Any other pretty little decorations. 
• Tacks

New Bakery-

Someday I dream of having my own cafe/bakery. Where people will eat my yummy sweets and the atmosphere will be so cozy and wonderful that it will be a favorite for everyone. But since my children are small and the dream is still only a dream I was delighted when this new bakery opened. I feel as if this new bakery is just as cute as any I would have hoped to have and that brings me joy. I take great pleasure in sitting here, and just enjoying the homey, coziness. Lovely! 

Tea with a friend.

Another evening at my favorite bakery with my man.