Praying Our Way Back to School

You can read about my back-to-school prayers here. What are the ways you get yourself ready for the new school year?

My Latest Obsession

When my sister and I were little, we played this game called "house." But it wasn't your typical "house." We would pretend that we were grownups with husbands and babies. Still sounds typical. We'd gather dolls and doll accoutrements. Still typical. And then, we would sit for hours with the Ethan Allen catalog and "pick out our houses." We kept lists. The whole idea was that when we played house, we were supposed to pretend that we were the kitchen on page 94 or the green and white sunroom on page 112. Hours, I tell you. We spent hours clipping pictures and making lists.

So, a few nights ago I had a text conversation with my sister, who is now a pretty amazing interior decorator with a gigantic fancy house and a sunroom that looks exactly like the one remember in the catalog.

Krysti: Hey. <<snip--chatter ya'll woudln't really understand>>

Me: <<snip. Chatter back>> I was just about to call you anyway. In need of massive redecorating here. Will you help me?

Krysti:  Tell me when. Give me a budget and a color scheme. <huge joke there--"budget" has a different meaning for each of us;-)>

Me: Whenever you can come. Are you still living at the beach?

Krysti: Let me know what types of rooms and color so I can start to pull stuff.

Me: The whole house needs repainting and reupholstering and drapes and probably furniture.

Krysti: What colors do you like?

Me: Handmade by Benjamin Moore. After that, it's all about the bluebells and maybe some red. And there's my pottery.

Krysti: So navy grey with cranberry or tan?

Huh? Who said that? Where's the Ethan Allen catalog? I need a point of reference.

Me:  You have to come see. 

Krysti: Do you have an idea notebook?

Me: Oh. My. Goodness. I do. I'll send you a link.

And so I introduced my sister to the 2011 version of our favorite "picking our houses" childhood game:

 Pinterest

I went to the Fat Quarter Shop and started pinning colors. And now I'm obsessed. With color and with the Fat Quarter Shop. And I don't even quilt. Yet. But I have a quilt design wall on Pinterest. Because I will. Oh yes, I will. I know I will because I had this sense that my sister and I were about a mile off on understanding exactly what I was shooting for. So I googled decorating style definitions and found the one that best suited me. Or the me I want to be:

Country Cottage:

This style is relaxed and casual.  Think cozy farmhouse with warm woods, rustic furniture and antiques  {that's the nicest way to say my house is full of my extended family's very nice hand-me-downs}.  Use colors of red, green, blue and yellow with floral, striped and checked fabrics.  Accessories include quilts, stoneware pottery, twig baskets, embroidered linens and books.

Well, I've got the books, the baskets, and plenty of stoneware. I'm embroidering. Obviously, I must learn  to quilt. And to assemble a lovely collection of floral, striped and checked fabrics. While I'm finding links for Krysti, I might as well plan Christmas projects.

How's this collection for this snuggly throw?

The Fat Quarter Shop is an online quilt shop that specializes in yardage, fat quarter bundles, charm packs, jelly rolls, quilt kits and patterns. And they cater to those of us --ahem--impulsive types who want to start yesterday. They ship every order the same day to customers all over the world!

The Fat Quarter Shop was founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly. An avid quilter, Kimberly began her shop as a side business while still working a corporate position. She was cutting, packing and shipping right out of her house during evenings and nights. From the very beginning, she committed to delivering top-notch service for every single order and customer. As the Fat Quarter Shop’s reputation grew, Kimberly decided to make it a full-time operation. Her husband Kevin joined her not long after, and with his help, lots of hard work, and a tireless commitment, the store began to grow.

Personally, once I get to the site, I sort of get sucked in. Who knew there were so many color and print possiblities? So many ways to make so many pretty things? It's an eye candy feast. 

 (this color scheme for the kitchen and family room? too cutesy?-- )

A great way to keep up-to-date with Fat Quarter's latest sales, specials and giveaways (and so to build a stash) is by following their blog, the Jolly Jabber  or by joining them on Twitter or Facebook.

They have a user-friendly website that makes it easy to find any collection, designer, manufacturer or theme. And they are super-friendly and super-enthusiastic in the customer service department. If you ever have a question about a fabric, quilt kit or need help just figuring it all out, they are there with expert, friendly accessible help.

(the studio? -- Proper Promenade)

(the kitchen and sunroom and maybe family room?--Gleam Flower Sugar)

So I pin. And pin. And pin. And pin. And my project list grows and grows and grows. I'm secretly hoping for a blizzard that snows us in all winter. Then, I can justify my stash and have plenty of time to create.

(wouldn't this fabric collection make the cutest baby quilt ever? there's a kit for that you know.)

I'm so going to learn to quilt.

Spotlight on Dance and a Giveaway!

Tomorrow begins the week of intensive dance camp at the Joan Izzo Academy of Dance. Mary Beth has been counting the days since the summer began. This is her place, a place she found to be utterly feminine and perfectly wonderful way back when she was the only girl with five brothers. Now, it is home away from home. She works hard to earn money to spend four evenings a week and every Saturday dancing in the company of some of her favorite people in the world.

Dance is a scary world for the mother of daughters. For all the beauty and grace on stage, the backstage scene be rather like a horror show: an obsession with body image, starvation model nutrition, girls being girls in the worst ways possible, long rehearsal nights and stressful demands for perfection. Joan Izzo keeps a watchful eye on all of that. And none of it is tolerated. She expects the girls to behave like daughters of God and she does everything possible to ensure that they do.

The secret to the difference at this studio is that the girls are taught from time they are very little that talent is a gift from God and dance is a way to glorify Him. The studio has served northern Virginia since 1996, providing young people with dance lessons by  highly qualified dance instructors, who incidentally become friends and mentors of the girls as they grow. The school beautifully blends a joyful dance learning experience with an excellent technical foundation which nurtures exceptionally excellent dancers year after year. No matter the genre -- hip hop, ballet, jazz, tap, or dance as a worshipful experience--the girls are taught to do all for the Glory of God. That means that the music is respectful. And costumes are tasteful. The young dancers learn and grow in an environment of mutual respect and camaraderie.

If you live in the northern Virginia area and you are even vaguely considering dance lessons for your daughter, I urge you to give Mrs. Izzo a call. Prepare to chat for awhile--she is passionate about what she does and seeks to get to know each and every student and her family personally. And here's where the giveaway comes in. I promised Mrs. Izzo I'd get the word out. So, call her and let her know you read this. And when you've talked, whether you decide to enroll or not, come back and leave a comment letting me know you called. Comments will close at midnight on Monday, August 22. Everyone who has checked out the studio will be eligible for a drawing to win one of our favorite art and dance picture books, Degas and the Little Dancer :

or an MP3 download or CD of our favorite dance music. 

Since this giveaway is limited to local folks with girls (or boys) who might want to dance, and since there are two prizes, chances are good you'll win.

Now, go call Ms. Joan at 703-327-8402 and come back and tell me all about it!

Sponsor Introduction: JM Handmade (psst--there's a sale)

I'm so pleased to introduce you to Joanne, of JM Handmade. She is a Catholic wife, mother, and graphic designer who learned to sew from her Portuguese mother. She loves to make darling handmade clothing, especially for her little girl. That love spills over into her Etsy shop where she offers beautiful clothing to you. Since she doesn't like to waste any bit of fabric, she makes many dresses and bloomer sets that are one-of-kind treasures.  

And we're getting to know Joanne right in time for her summer clearance sale on ready to ship items. In order to make room for new new fall items, Joanne is further discounting her summer items. She is graciously offering an additional 20% with code "SUMMER20" . The offer does not include made to order items, only ready to ship items that come in 1 size. Hurry! There is a limited quantity of summer super-cuteness over at JMHandmade!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.  Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.