…living, learning, and loving it!
Jul 3rd, 2009 by Vanessa
The absolute best guide to living out biblical simplicity is spending time in God’s word. He has given all of the instructions and guidance that we, his people, need.
Beginning my day in scripture, immersed in God’s perfect word, allows that word to penetrate into my thoughts, actions, and ambitions throughout the entire day.
This is the most important part of my simple life. Quality time with my loving Abba.
Jul 2nd, 2009 by Vanessa
We have started a new little tradition in this house for stormy nights (or nights when it is TOO HOT to leave the basement for the night).
We bought these futons for our basement thinking that they would be great as extra beds when my family comes to visit. But on stormy nights when it does not feel safe to sleep on the second floor of our house, we have taken to pulling out a blanket and our pillows to sleep in the basement.
It’s like our own little campout and we think that it’s a lot of fun!
Jul 1st, 2009 by Vanessa
I purchased some really cute laundry day flannel a few months ago at a garage sale. Do you remember?
I decided that this was the perfect material to make myself a pair of comfy sleep pants.
I didn’t have a pattern, but I figured that I could be successful on this simple project with just a little bit of common sense and slow thinking. Here’s what I did….
Choose a pair of pants that you really enjoy wearing. Tape two grocery ads (old, or course) together to make a large piece of paper for your pattern. Trace the pants on the grocery ad. Draw another lines 1/4 – 1/2 inch around the tracing to allow for seams. Cut out your pattern.
Fold your fabric in half. Pin the pattern so that the straight leg side is along the fold. Carefully cut out your pant leg. Repeat this step so that you will have two pant legs.
Sew the legs. Sew each leg piece together from the bottom of the ankle to the turn of the crotch. Make sure to enforce your seams.
Next, (I wish I would have taken a picture of this) turn one leg right side out. Stick that leg inside the other leg (still wrongside out). The two patterned sides should now be touching. Stitch the crotch seam.
Pull the leg out and leave your pants inside out.
Turn up the bottoms of your pants at the ankle. Sew this seam.
Turn down the top of your pants where the waistband will be. Sew around the waste band leaving a pocket for the elastic to slide through. Make sure that you do not sew completely around the outside until the elastic is set inside your waistband.
Thread the elastic through the waistband and sew the seam where the elastic meets.
I don’t know that what I just wrote is a very good tutorial. Probably not. But that was the method I used to make these super cute pants…
Jun 30th, 2009 by Vanessa
MMMM. MMMM. MMMM.
This weekend we made these delicious chocolate mint milkshakes.
We put two smallish size scoops of ice cream, some milk (how much you use depends on how thick or runny you want it), half a tablespoon of cocoa powder, and two or three drops of mint extract in the blender and gave it a spin.
You can also put the ice cream and milk in the blender and try a variety of additional items blended in. Cole likes to blend up a snickers bar. Or you could add oreos. Or chocolate chip cookies. Or strawberries. Or….the possibilities are endless!
It’s super delicious and super frugal when ice cream is on sale; it was on a great sale this weekend and we stocked up!
It cost us less than $1 to enjoy two milkshakes. I do not know of an ice cream chain that can beat that price!
Jun 29th, 2009 by Vanessa
It’s been a while since I last photographed my small container garden. The plants have gotten quite large and are producing fantastically!
We have already eaten a green pepper – delicious! And have several tomatoes which are in the process of turning red and several others that will soon follow.
I am loving this garden and beginning to dream and plan for beginning a garden in raised beds…hopefully next year!