LDS General Conference Makes Me "Happy"

This Saturday and Sunday it's the semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love this awesome opportunity to hear counsel from living apostles of Jesus Christ! I think this video can't help but make you feel "happy" too!

 

Cute Retro Wallet for Cash Envelope Budgeting

Ta da! The finished product.

Several years ago, Mr. Jennifer and I discovered the Dave Ramsey method of financial management, and it revolutionized our lives. We followed the baby steps to get out of debt and be on our way to financial peace.

What's that old anecdote about couples only fighting about money, sex, and kids? Well, we  actually found out that when we were unified financially, we became closer and more unified overall as a couple. One down out of three things to fight about ain't bad. Just kidding, honey!

The basic money management Dave Ramsey advises is using a cash envelope system. It's so easy to overspend and lose track of money when using plastic. Of course you can still use your debit card, but cut up the credit cards and get yourself a cash wallet you can use for many of your daily expenses. Even just making this small change will make a huge difference in your life.

So. My old homemade wallet was falling apart, so when I found a pattern for only $1.50 for this darling little thing on Craftsy.com (I just discovered this website), I decided to take on the project. To clarify, I am NOT craftsy, but I do enjoy sewing. I took a home ec class in high school, but I'm pretty much a self-taught sewer. So if I can do it, so can you! (Keep reading! more pictures below)

The bottom card pocket was designed with a window for
a driver license, but I just made it a regular pocket.

Mother's Day Bingo

For those of us who wish Mother's Day was taken down a notch (or several) and that church would be just a normal day, I offer this slightly irreverent diversion to use during your LDS sacrament meeting. This Mother's Day bingo card was created by Trish Strebel Mercer, a very funny friend I am so glad to have grown up with. I hope you enjoy it as much as I plan to.

Here's hoping you earn lots of chocolate chips!

Better Than...the Bookmobile

Our finished little free library. I love my daughter's bookshelf artwork.

A couple of years ago I was so enchanted when I read about the "birdhouse library" or "little free library" movement. These are small structures people put outside their house (or work or even a park) and fill with any kind of books. The boxes can be fancy or utilitarian, hand-crafted or pre-made.

The idea is to take a book, read it, and then return it or other book(s). But even if they aren't returned, hopefully other readers will donate books. Then you get a nice book exchange going in your neighborhood.

Some awesome Boy Scouts made several little libraries for their Eagle project. When I read about it in the paper, I immediately called to get one. Over the weekend my very sweet husband (and kids) helped me repaint our box, clear a small jungle in the shrub bed, set the box in post mix, put in a bench, and plant flowers. Whew! I think it turned out so nice, though.

When I put in the books on Sunday (a few for grownups and young adults, mostly picture/chapter books), four little neighbor kids ran over and grabbed a book and sat on the bench to read. I wanted to jump up and down! Little readers on my bench!

After church, my family spent most of Sunday near the library. It was a beautiful day and so relaxing to rest and read in the shade under the flowering trees. Curiosity drew several neighbors to stop and chat. I was reaping the rewards already! Another unexpected benefit over the weekend was that preparing the books and the library was fun to do with the family, not just my pet project.

This picture was not posed in any way whatsoever!

Monday came, and since my house is on the walking route to the elementary school, kids stopped to check it out. A free book? Really? Oh, yes! I hope they stay excited to look for a little surprise that is always waiting on the walk to or from school.

As the books started moving off the shelves, I replenished it out of a box of donated books. When I run out, I will get more from thrift store, garage sales, and library/teacher/friend castoffs. (Only the most fabulous books will make it into MY library, though. 'Cause I'm the librarian, so what I say goes!)

William Shakespeare, Meet George Lucas?

Love this illustration from said book. 

I wanted to throw a Shakespeare-dinner party. Not the dress-up kind but the kind where friends could just hang out and munch all night and read a play. But I wanted something a little...snazzier than a regular Shakespeare play. Something more accessible than Literature with a capital L.


When I found Ian Doescher's book William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope, I knew I had just the thing for a perfect party. It sounds like a gag until you see it. Star Wars uses archetypal characters and plot--the whole thing oddly fits with Shakespeare, when you think of it. And frankly, the dialogue couldn't be any worse in a knock-off than the original! Sorry, it's true!

If you've ever wanted to hear R2D2's secret thoughts ("This golden droid has been a friend, 'tis true,/And yet I wish to still his prating tongue!/An imp, he calleth me? I'll be revenged,/And merry pranks aplenty I shall play/Upon this pompous droid C-3PO!) or hear other favorite lines played out in an Elizabethan way, this is the play you are looking for. Doescher works in real quotes from Shakespeare plays for those overachievers who can pick them out (yeah, like me!). There is even a study guide if you want to know more. I love it!


Poking around on the internet and Pinterest, I didn't find much in the way of an awesome party invitation, so I gave in and made my own. I think it turned out pretty great! (I'm sharing all of this so if you are poking around on the internet looking for a fun Shakespeare party idea, you can copy me if you find something helpful!)

Here's the party invite. I found a picture of a star field online. The Star Wars opening title sequence font is the standard Franklin Gothic. I found this cool website where you can generate text in the Star Wars title font.

Here's my ridiculous sonnet in text below. Forced rhyme/meter poetry is always challenging! I was able to weave a couple of actual Shakespeare quotes in, though!