Creations ...

My name is Hallie and I am a wood burning addict.... lol

That's what I feel like these days... I get up when hubby goes to work and by 6 I am working on another wooden toy creation and laughing at myself for enjoying it so much!! lol

This little guy is for a swap with BitsofGoodness. I so enjoy these swaps... you could say they are addicting too! :) Anyways, this little guy is hanging out on the play mat I made R a few years ago and he comes with three little discs to help him plant his garden: row marker for carrots, seed packet and shovel!

When you flip them over, you find his garden has grown! There are carrots, tomatoes and a bunny! What garden isn't complete without a bunny competing for the vegetables? :)

And to make him ready for travel, they all fit in this little bag! :)

Not a part of any toy swaps? I made one extra and he's just waiting in my shop for a new home! :)

A gift...

It's funny to me how the universe brings us what we need when we need it.... I've always believed that but sometimes have to be reminded from time to time....

From the time I was little I have had this gift of thrifting... I don't know how I was blessed with it, and feel kinda snobby even talking about it but when it comes right down to it, I really do have a gift when it comes to thrifting and I really do feel blessed  by it... over and over again...

My first experience with it came when I was probably 4 or 5. I was going with my grandparents as they set up at a flea market. I can remember being told to bring a jacket and fighting that I didn't need one. Then my next memory was opening the door and seeing the fog floating across the field of tables being set up and thinking that I had been soooo wrong!! What is it about being a kid and just having to fight what we think are terrible rules? lol Anyways, I can remember thinking that I was going to be sick, it was so chilly and I didn't have any room to complain! My gram took me to look around  while my papa started to set up their tables and I remember bending down to look thru a box and finding a Cabbage Patch blanket for $.75!! What luck!! I had it wrapped around me for the rest of the morning!! I still have that blanket to this day... yes, I know I'm a packrat! :)

From then on, I have always had the best of luck at finding what I need/want at yard sales, thrift shops and even the occasional dump! lol In high school, I even passed that luck on to friends that would take me shopping with them when they needed to find the perfect dress! After I got my first prom dress for less than $20 (new) they became believers in my gift too! lol



I think I must be passing it on to my girls now... I must sound like a terrible parent in the store tho. I can remember my oldest wanting one of those electronic dogs on a trip to Toys R Us. You know the ones... they bark and pant and cost a small fortune? Yeah, as we are looking at it in the store, I told her that in a few months, after Christmas had passed that we would start finding them in thrift stores when the other kids got tired of them and then we could get them and "rescue" the homeless toy dogs... little did I know how true that would be! A few months later, on Freecycle, someone listed not the little dog that we'd been looking at but the $200+ big electronic lab! He even came with working batteries and his very own bone! Now my girls make comments in the stores when they see something they like.... "Guess we'll have to keep our eye out for that one huh Mom?" lol I love it!! :)

If you've been reading my blog for very long, you already know about the newest "treasures" as we call them, that fell into our laps. Again... we are so blessed... But more so, I think that it's all about timing. I think that had I found those tools a few years ago I wouldn't have known what to do with them, or at the very least I would have bought them and they would have set in my closet unused. But to get them now, when I am ready for them? It's amazing!!

I have been a wood burning fool! lol I've been working on toys swaps, and gifts and even a few custom orders from friends! As soon as I get caught up I am hoping to start listing some in my etsy shop too! After years of feeling out of place at our last location, I feel like I can truly feel the glow of God's good favor on us. I know it's probably silly to feel that finding the best tools for our hobbies is a blessing from God, or that he would waste his time on such trivial things is crazy but I really do... We were ready for it and He is opening doors for us....

After having such good luck with the wood working tools, a few days later I got a call from one of my favorite thrift shops in town. They have a wish list board and I had added a reel mower (yes I know I'm crazy) and a spinning wheel. I knew that they were both long shots but figured I had nothing to lose! Well, a few months ago, she did get in a reel mower (which I love by the way!) and then a few weeks ago she had gotten in a spinning wheel!! The price however was A LOT more than I was willing to put out for something I had never tried before! lol  She asked what I was willing to pay for one if she ever got one in again. I explained that I was really just looking for something to try out, not a big investment so I was looking for a cheap one, probably not more than $50. At the time I thought for sure that I had blown it. I would never possibly find one that cheap in a thrift store, and sighed as I kissed my dream of spinning my own yarn away... but wait!! She called again! A lady had overheard her talking to me on the phone. She said that she had a spinning wheel at home that she had used in while and that I could have it for $50!!!! You remember that gift I told you I had about finding what I need/want? I think it's been in over drive lately! lol

So, within a few hours of getting the call I was in at the store and bringing my new "baby" home... :) But just wait... God wasn't finished with me yet.... but that will have to wait for another day! :)



I love learning about the process of things. Whether it's making a recipe from scratch or turning wool from a sheep into yarn that will later keep my kids warm on a cold winters day... the process is the real journey and I'm so glad to be on this adventure....

I was featured!!! Go check out the other amazing creations that were spotlighted... I'm so flattered to be included!! :)

Friday Day dreamin

Becca over at R We There Yet Mom? got me to thinking today... Thinking of a family vacation and taking the time on this fine Friday morning to dream a little dream of a favorite family memory...

I was just talking to someone the other day about how long we've been in our new state... and I knew it was coming up on the anniversary soon but I didn't realize how soon! Looking back on pictures that we taken exactly a year ago today... we were in route to Washington! Gosh how much can change in a year.

A year ago, we were on the road to the unknown....

A year ago, we were "homeless".....

A year ago, we were carefree.... There is something to be said for being in limbo...Today I am daydreaming of a time when I didn't have a house to clean, a growing pile of laundry to fold or a kitchen to cook in!:)

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

One berry, two berry, pick me a ....

Blackberry!!

I know, that's not how it's supposed to go but right now I am not thinking about blue berries ( I just buy them in bulk at the store!). I've got blackberries on the brain!! Everytime I leave the house I have to drive by the mass amounts of berries that are growing down our road! And I thought last year was amazing... I think this year is going to leave last years totals in the dust! lol

To bide my time, I am working on new wood creations and felt toys! I see craft shows in my future and LOTS of berry picking... just in time... we're out of jelly! :)

It won't be long....

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.ourbrokenroad.blogspot.com" title="Our Broken Road"><img src="http://i974.photobucket.com/albums/ae228/wpooh_9/button.jpg" alt="Our Broken Road" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Thanks to my friend Kim over at The Davis Daily Dose, I finally figured out how to make a button for my blog! Woo hoo!! So if you would like to... I'd love it if you share it! :)

Not your average pharmacy...

Giggle, giggles, giggling...

I just asked my daughter what she thought we could do to gear up for the fall and the germs we are sure to come in contact with at group events in the near future... her answer? Apples, carrots and cucumbers! lol I know, not exactly what you had in mind right? lol But there is some truth in that and I'm glad to know that she has actually been listening to some of the things I have been trying to teach her! lol

Although I know that we are just getting our first real taste of summer here in the Pacific northwest, we are also well aware of the fact that fall will be upon us before we know it, and with the start of school and more outings will also bring the contact with more flu bugs and colds... ugh! I know this first hand as I think I picked something up from my week long fun at VBS! :) My day yesterday and today has consisted of many of the things on my list below... and on day two now, I am starting to feel much better!!

To help ward off yuck in our house, you won't find me running to Walmart to buy a bottle of magic potion to clear to my head but rather some good ol' fashioned home remedies, or in my opinion, common sense stuff. Even my girls know our "go to" things for building up our immune systems and for flushing out the yuck if we happen to get it... here's just a few of the things we consider must haves in our house!

1. Tea- I have read that a cup of hot drink will help wash away some germs before they have a chance to make you sick. We are huge fans of all sorts of teas and it makes for some great chatting time with my girls in the mean time. When we do happen to get sick, our first go to tea is Cold Care

2. Netting Pot- Ever since I saw this on Oprah a few years ago, this has been a staple in our house! My daughter started using it when she was 2!!! As soon as a nose starts getting stuffy in our house, or even when we just know the allergines are high... we all go straight for it!! My husband was skeptical but even he is on board now.

3. Vitamin D- This is one of our preventatives...Good for your immune system along with elderberry syrup and homemade black berry cordial!

4. Vinegar!-Are you aware of the healing qualities it has? Just a little bit diluted in a pan of water is our number one cold remedy... just warm it up in a pan and breath in the steam!! You'll smell like a salad but boy will you feel better!

5. More tea :)

6. chicken soup- That's pretty much a given right?

7. warm pillows/ heating pads/ hats.... I am a firm believer in staying warm. Keeping your body heat in with something as simple as gloves, a scarf and hat will help your body not have to work so hard and keep the natural body temp in!

8. Fresh Juice! (hence her answer of apples, carrots and cucumbers!)

9. Clorox wipes... for door handles, phones, computer keys and anywhere else little fingers might touch!

10. and last but not least REST!!! Why push it and take the chance of sharing your nasty cold with someone else or even worse, catching something worse yourself while your defenses are down!!

In addition to these, there are the obvious preventative things like taking the time to get your eyes checked on a regularly basic. ...

About Eye Didn’t Know That!


Transitions Optical created the Eye Didn’t Know That! program to help people of all ages learn more about healthy vision. The program was developed by a team that includes eyecare professionals, science and education experts, and Transitions Optical, Inc. The Eye Didn’t Know That! website offers materials for children, parents, teachers and eyecare professionals to use to teach and learn more about eyecare basics and the importance of eye health and regular comprehensive eye exams. The information includes fact sheets, games, quizzes, lesson plans and free downloadable materials. To learn more and to find out what makes your friends and family say “Eye Didn’t Know That!” visit www.eyedidntknowthat.com.



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I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Transitions Lenses blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Friends that last...

The life of the military is all I know. Having been raised as an "Air Force brat" I've had my fair share of moves, starting new schools and having to make new friends. And now as an Air Force wife, I find myself still having to deals with the trials of moving around and starting our lives all over in a new location. I've had some people actually say that they feel bad for me because I don't have friends like they do that they have known all their lives... but that's just not true! Just because I've moved around alot don't mean that I haven't had lasting friendships... it just means we've had to work harder at it! :)

I believe that soul mates come in many shapes and forms, the most accepted usually being a spouse (which mine definately is) however I was luck enough to meet my first soul mate when I was in the 5th grade attending school on Edwards AFB, in California. Heather and I were in different classes but knew of each other because we both liked the same boy! It wouldn't be until 6th grade that we would actually like each other and realize that boys are only trouble! 

It's crazy to think of all the moves we have both endured... her going back east, and then to the other side of the world and back while I bounced back and forth across the United States only to find ourselves both in the same state again many years later in Texas. I was surreal to see her again... both of us were married with little girls.... and we only had a few days to spend with them but it was like we had never been apart. She is my sister by name only but in my heart forever....

 So to those who may feel bad for us having moved around and left so much behind each time.... please don't... we are one of the lucky ones!

I wrote this as an entry into this contest!