simple design

LAUGH with ME!

2011-08-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

So, James shared his favorite cartoon with me. And oh my goodness was it funny. I had a definite Sorensen laugh attack while watching this clip. I have been listening to Musicals all day long and am in the greatest mood ever! Life is WONDERFUL. I hope that you take time to laugh EVERYday and enJOY it! Just as in Mary Poppins, "I love to laugh!" Thanks to my family, my awesome boyfriend and each of my dear friends I get to laugh all the time!

Freakazoid Clip that will make you BURST in laughter!

Click on Face ;)

2011-07-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

I love YOUR face.

This little video is adorable. I am so grateful for modern technology so that I can see the face of James Spencer, Lara, Jayson and Jackson Seaver.....love their faces!

2011-07-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

THE JOY OF

Family Roots

When you think of two people joining together in marriage, there is a great history on both sides. I love these artist renditions by Norman Rockwell. I am so grateful for my roots and branches in my family tree. There are so many incredible individuals that I owe my life to.
Thank you for the white legs, the Sorensen nose, the freckles, the ease to laugh, the love for music, the need for adventure, the great faith, the desire to give...endless wonderful things are given to us because of our family roots. How grateful I am for mine!

Covered Bridges in Washington!?

2011-07-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeed, there are.
I was shown by a great friend, James Spencer,
that there are indeed. And I thought they
were only a joy of the east coast. Silly me.
I love covered bridges and think
that they are so quaint and delightful.
While serving in Pennsylvania I grew to love
these monuments of days gone by.
If you want to discover them in WA
click here.

Let the THINGS THAT MATTER MOST take flight!

2011-07-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

So, I have not been on here for a whole year and a half. A bit of catching up to do.

I just finished serving the best full time mission in the world. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The memories and friends I made there will FOREVER bless my life and inspire me to be better every day. I know that life is meant to bring happiness and that is what the mission allowed me to focus on. The important things, of things that matter most and the the things that count! I was able to see miracles of countless measure as I learned to serve the Lord and do His work. When you think of the things that matter most to you, what comes to your mind?

Love
Family
Happiness
Faith
the Book of Mormon
Adventure (LIFE)

Just a few that come to my mind. There is so much to LOVE about LIFE! And I intend to keep filling my bushel with things to love. The FUTURE holds endless possibilities and will come one day at a time. I am excited to see what it brings my way. What does it bring yours?

On the Tenth day of Christmas....

2009-12-11T09:07:00.001-08:00

...I got to make cookies with mom and andy...and get sick...

Mom has a great big piano recital that she does every year with her cute students. It is the Cookies and Carols Concert of the year! So, I helped her make cookies for our 10th day of Christmas. Making cookies really is one of my favorite pastimes. But then I had to get sick as well. I am hoping that it is just a 24 hour quick little head cold! Because I don't tolerate being sick in the least. So, I am acting like I am not sick and still trying to get everything done and enjoy these last days at home.

A few Projects.

2009-12-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to make our Relief Society Christmas invitation this year. It was a really neat project to be in charge of. The theme of the evening is the nativity. They were really a neat project and I loved the painting and quote I found that matched the theme perfectly. I also got to make posters for the event.

The other was a wedding take away tag for my friend David Hefner's wedding. They had Elsie Godfrey make 100's of caramels and then we all helped wrap, bag and tie the whole things together. These tags were really fun to make. A lot of work. But really fun! The theme they wanted was the damask pattern and then the little saying. Then I got to go from there!

On the Ninth day of Christmas...

2009-12-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

...my sisters and I had an evening together!

I treated Andrea and Molly to some Peppermint Cocoa and Gingerbread and a mint brownie. Then we headed over to the theater to view the new Scrooge. It was spookier than any I've ever seen. I think I'll stick with my Muppets :). However, this one did have an amazing animation. It was a very fun evening with two of my favorite ladies! I really do just LOVE Christmas time! It is the most wonderful time of the year! Full of wonderful memories, smells, treats, family and remembrance!

On the Eighth day of Christmas...

2009-12-09T08:14:00.001-08:00

...our Cousins came for an Ugly Sweater Party!!!

We had our Doug and Elizabeth cousins come over in ugly sweaters and enjoy homemade bread, cookies and they brought homemade soup. It was a delicious and cozy dinner! Then we had a fun time decorating cookies together! It was such a FUN night to be together. We LOVE them so much!! It was a really great evening! And then afterwards I gave mom and dad their Christmas presents!

On the Seventh day of Christmas...

2009-12-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

...We had an Unrehearsed Christmas Party!

A bit of silliness, song, chimes, piano and reading filled the night with laughter and fun! We had a few wonderful people over to join us in our Seventh Day of Christmas for an unrehearsed party where we all got to share in celebrating the season. It was an evening of pure delight!

On the Sixth day of Christmas....

2009-12-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

We decorated our Christmas tree, read our new Christmas Book and listened to the Church Christmas Devotional!! It was a wonderful evening together!

On the Fifth day of Christmas...

2009-12-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

...We got our Christmas Tree!!

Each year it is a must to go and cut down our tree. This year was really fun! We got a beautiful Grand Fir out in Carnation. I love real Christmas Trees. They are truly one of my favorite smells and memories of Christmas time. On the way home we also got to see a huge valley full of Canadian geese and white swans. It was absolutely beautiful! I love Washington and its greenness!! It was an absolutely lovely day, the perfect day to get a Christmas tree!!

We also got to sneak down to Redmond Lights. Which is the great festival they do with music and lights in our downtown. Andrea, Mom and I swung down there for about 10 minutes and got to hear a bag-piping group and see a huge hot air balloon that they kept lighting up in a big field. It was SO magical. I could've spent all night walking around with all the beautiful lights and music! But then we headed to our Ward Party at Church. It was a wonderful evening. Especially when Thea, our dear friend, came out as Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer! She is so great!

On the Fourth day of Christmas...

2009-12-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

We watched the Muppet Christmas Carol!!

This is a classic, must see, holiday special, heart warming, and wonderful movie. It is a great tradition to enjoy this show each year!

On the Third day of Christmas...

2009-12-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

...My mother made for me...

A great Christmas Breakfast! We have a brunch tradition on Christmas Morning where we get together with friends and enjoy a wonderful breakfast Mama Cahoon style! We did it a little early this year and on the floor by a fire.
It was quite delicious and fun!

On the Second day of Christmas...

2009-12-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

...we made a jolly Gingerbread House...

Making Gingerbread is one of the most fun Holiday Traditions to have. I made a house when I was in college in my baking class and it was thrilling. To come up with a pattern, cut the dough, bake your pieces, glue them all together with frothy white frosting, decorate the home and make it come alive. What could be a more delightful second day, I do not know! It was a blast! Can you spot my sister missionaries :), the Penguin gummies are my favorite part!!

On the First day of Christmas...

2009-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

..my family gave to me...

A night in Seattle watching a Christmas Carol and looking at Gingerbread homes! This is a WONDERFUL family tradition that I treasure! We go and usher at the ACT theater and then get to see the play for free, quite a deal. The play is always amazing every single year! Then we took a jaunt down to the Sheraton Hotel where they have an annual Gingerbread House Contest. This years theme was Classic Movies. My top 3 favorite were: Muppet Christmas Carol, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Charlie Brown Christmas. What a wonderful way to start December. I even got to wear my Grandma Cahoon's old fancy shoes for the classic evening! I just love the olden times and this night was a celebration of them from the classic story of Scrooge to the Christmas cheer of Gingerbread homes decorated and glistening...so wonderful!!

Letter Giving

2009-12-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

I have never really done a "Christmas Letter" update of my own, but I decided this was the year. I wrote up a little letter for all of my extended family and enclosed it into a little envelope package with 3 stationary cards. I am heading out on my mission in just a few weeks and so will be longing for letters coming my way :) So, a little encouragement to those I love was given as a gift. Sneaky, I know. It was really fun to find fun stationary though. For I do LOVE stationary!

Happy Hunting

2009-12-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun finding Matt and Paige's Christmas Present this year. I found one in the summer during a visit to Leavenworth. A box of Forest Animals Cookie Cutters! Like a moose and fish. They were too fun to pass up. Then during molly and I's weekend getaway to Portland I found a great find. In their infamous bookstore I spotted a deer head that can hold toothbrushes in it's antlers and the paste in it's mouth. It was so crazy I had to get it for them. Then I got to do my favorite part...wrap it! I found a Bear ornament at Crate&Barrel to tie on top. And the PineCone paper was at my store and was just perfectly wonderful! Then I used a Top Foods grocery bag to wrap the bottom gift. It was a really fun one to wrap!

Paper HEAVEN!

2009-11-23T15:05:00.001-08:00

I discovered an Italian imported paper store and it is HEAVEN.
I must refrain from stepping into this store too often.

27 Dresses

2009-11-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Molly's 27th Birthday Bash! I got to throw a party to celebrate the 27 years of Molly! We themed it off of the movie "27 Dresses." And I invited as many of her friends as I could, and surprised her with Lara coming home for it! It was quite the event! Mom was the best co-host and little Andrea and Lara were a great help! The party turned out really fun and it was a great group of wonderful ladies!

"Beautiful Girl"

2009-11-15T02:08:00.000-08:00

I am a leader for an Activity Day Group for 12 girls between the ages of 8-11. For the last one we did a Modest Fashion Show titled "Beautiful Girl." I got to make the invite and and the handout for the girls. It turned out really fun! We watched the little clip from "Singing in the Rain" with the song "Beautiful Girl" in it, which the girls loved. We even had the red carpet for them to do the cat walk on :) and I got to be the MC to talk about all their outfits. It was a really great night!

the Bazaar.

2009-11-15T01:50:00.000-08:00

I just had the opportunity to sell at a Craft Bazaar here in Redmond Washington. It was a ton of work but a lot of fun as well. I sold card and stickers of my photography, watercolor alphabets and bookmarks, prints from printmaking, and my "Quotings" which are quotes painted onto canvas. It was a lot of fun to do a fair, because it was a whole new experience for me.

Theodosia was there as well :) Mom and I helped her get all ready and set up. Mom really was the instigator of it all and really got Thea prepared. She is a total angel in my eyes! Thea got to sell her pine-cone stars and Mango Seed Santas and Donkeys. She did great and it was a really good experience for her!

I got to meet an 88 year old woman who was born and raised in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania :) I bought a scarf and neck warmer from her to use on my mission!

Friday the 13th

2009-11-15T01:33:00.000-08:00

So, for my Friday the 13th I got to work all day at my store and then headed straight to a friends birthday party. Her theme colors were red, white and black. So, while my lunch break I ran and got some red Lindt chocolate balls and wrapped them up in a little box for her birthday.

For the party my mom wore an arrow through her head, my dad did a smashing job creating fake wounds on him pretending to have gotten heavily hurt from racket ball, and I wore a red crab on my head :) We sure are crazy Cahoons, we couldn't just show up for a Friday the 13th Party without doing anything. It was pretty fun!

I'm going on a Mission!

2009-11-15T01:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been called on a mission! I got to open up my call with all my family on site, on phones and on skype to hear where I was going to be headed for a year and a half! I am so grateful for supporting and loving family and for wonderful examples of faith in my life. This will be a challenging and incredible experience for me. I can't wait.

I am so excited to be serving in the US of A!!!! My mission is the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Mission! I love the East Coast and am looking forward to being in the area of the Restoration! I am so grateful for the gospel and can't wait to share it with the people of Pennsylvania.

Could this be true...

2009-10-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

I love getting mail and rarely do, so when a package came from my sister I was so excited. But it was actually for my mother for her birthday. Lara asked me to call her before we opened it. So, I did and she told me to secretly film mom when she opened it because it was a really funny card. Now you know how oblivious and gullible I am... I didn't suspect anything. Watch the video to see what the card contained and to see the great reactions of the family!

I am so glad mom didn't notice me filming, because her candid reaction is just perfect! "Could this be true"...indeed it is true! I am going to be an aunt!! And no I didn't know, this was news to me at this moment as well!

the gift.

2009-10-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

Here is the package containing two fun fall scarfs for my mothers birthday. I love packages tied up in ribbon, it is one of my favorite sights in the world.

Barbara Dear's Birthday

2009-10-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

We just celebrated the birthday of Barbara Dear! The greatest of all women. I had such a fun time spending the day with her! In the morning we went and got her hair cut and shopped for some new clothes. Then she had to teach all afternoon, which gave me the time to create our restaurant meal.

I was so excited to make a fall dinner! And I just had a blast thinking up the menu and cooking it all, I love being in the kitchen. Andrea and Dad helped me out as well because it was a lot to make. It was such a fun day cooking away and dinner was such a wonderful time to celebrate our dear mother!

Pumpkin Delights

2009-10-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

I love Fall! And it is the perfect time of year to have the color orange everywhere. These are some of the most delightful pumpkin ideas i've seen.
They all just make me excited for the halloween season.
Found on Martha Stewart, of course.

The Great East Coast!

2009-10-07T21:11:00.001-07:00

I just got to go on a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks to my very hard working and wonderful father! We got to see NYC, Baltimore, Williamsburg, Monticello and DC. Some of the greatest cities of America! I absolutely love visiting these early sites of America, we got to see and learn so much while we were there! Every time I think about being an American I just get chills of gratitude. It is amazing how our nation was founded. I could just not get enough of these great cities! I loved walking till we could walk no more! This was an incredible trip never to be forgotten!

Highlights:
NYC- Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street, St.Paul's Chapel at Ground Zero, Brooklyn Bridge, Strand Bookstore (where Julie goes to in "Julie & Julia), Going up the Empire State Bldg., Riding the Subway (and spotting 3 rats), Seeing Mary Poppins in the old Ziegfeld Follies Theater, walking through Central Park, eating Magnolia Bakery cakes, BUSY Times Square.
Baltimore- Evening boat ride and dinner with dad, wearing crab hats, the book fair, free art museum, Hiking up the first architectural monument in America with mom, riding in my very first taxi, staying in the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in for 1 night.
Fort McHenry- We ran over here right before they closed and I am so glad. It was so neat to see the site where the star spangled banner was inspired from. I loved seeing this sight and picturing how that day would have been. Pretty miraculous!
Williamsburg- Walking around with costumed people, Going to an evening of dancing, harpsichord playing, and pirates among us! Watching live theater events acting out the events of early Williamsburg, eating at Kings Tavern Inn. This city was SO fun, I would go back any day!
Monticello- Going to Thomas Jefferson's home. This was Incredible!! His home was so neat and it was amazing to see his gardens. They were huge! And it was wonderful to hear more about him.
D.C- we were here for 1 night and morning. We went to the monuments at night which was very fun, I think I have decided my favorite is Thomas Jeffersons. But I do so enjoy them all. Then in the morning we ran to the American History Museum, Natural History Museum and then mom and I ran to the Art Museum (of course) it was wonderful!!!!!

I Love America!!!!

be Nice!

2009-10-06T19:21:00.000-07:00

I just had the meanest and cruelest woman yell at me on the phone for a mistake made at my work (not by me) and it was horrible! Just remember when something goes wrong in retail to be nice to the worker. It is always an easy mistake and an easy fix so don't lose your temper.

So, I went out and bought myself some pumpkins (a white one and squaty orange one) and ice-cream (Ben&Jerry's) to make me feel a tad happier. And they did! Oh there is no woe that a little piece of fall and good cream cannot fix.

prints that i LOVE

2009-10-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

These are just a few VERY neat prints.
Printmaking truly is such a delightful business.
I think the messages are great as well.
Good for us all to remember!

Temple Typography

2009-10-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

I was browsing for pictures of squirrels :) and found this.
The whole image is made from type!

the Umbrella Skirt

2009-10-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

Check out the clever umbrella skirt

Bring on the rain of fall

the Opera gift

2009-09-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have a dear friend, Jennifer Lowe, who majored in voice at college. She is an opera star! And so I found her this antique book and fabulous card for her birthday. I am so excited for her to get them! How lovely it is when you find the perfect gift for someone you love. This is one of those rare moments. Gift giving is one of the happiest things, it is such a delight to find something you know someone will cherish. And wrapping it is half the fun as well. I love to make the wrapping as fun as the gift inside! For anything worth doing is worth doing with a cherry on top! That is what makes life so wonderful, making things beautiful.

Good luck to School Goers!

2009-09-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

The good luck at school Rachelle package. I attached some scraps from a pansy paper to a deli tote and it just said "Rachelle" all over it! We enclosed items to wish her luck at school.

the Brollie

2009-09-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ok. So I love old fashioned shots...
I had to also include these wonderful "Brollie" photos.
Brollie is what the Scottish use for Umbrella.

I do not think one can overuse a good Brollie,
they are truly a delightful accessory.

More Brollies here.

By the beautiful sea.

2009-09-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

I love these wonderfully classic shots by the seaside.
What wonderful style they had back then!
See more here.

the 22 Cupcake Birthday!

2009-09-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots from the cupcake party! It turned out to be a blast! I had tissue balls lining the drive in and the walk-way into the house. Then tons more hanging inside!

The take-away from the party was a handmade apron. My mom and I made them after an antique apron I had bought years ago. And then at the party we decorated them with buttons and felt.

Oh, how wonderful a little party can be!

Hairdudads.

2009-08-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hairpieces to fill your heart with joy! Found here.

Thanks monica for sharing these.

Have a Laugh!!

2009-08-28T12:11:00.001-07:00

This is my hilarious Grandpa Sorensen and he found this little video.

You will be amazed at what some crazy guys can put their minds to.

Can you imagine?

Take a minute to view.

Cute as a Bug.

2009-08-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Dress-ups are truly the best. These are cute costumes cute as a bug!

You can find them on Etsy here.

Simple Little moments.

2009-08-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

I love when someone can capture the simple little moments on film.

Check out this photographers great shots here.

My 22nd Birthday Invite!

2009-08-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

I am turning 22...

...and I have decided to throw my own birthday party! What a better way (at my age, I suppose) to celebrate life! I get to spend it with a few of my favorite girl friends, eating cupcakes, laughing and partying. I am so grateful that there is 1 day a year to celebrate you and in return thank all those you love. There are SO many that I am grateful for and I hope that you each know that I love and appreciate you!

The invite included a kraft cupcake box with a homemade snickerdoodle cupcake inside (recipe found here). Attached on the outside was fun cupcake paper along with a little hand-stitched invitation to inform each guest of the events happenings. I then folded a recipe for each young lady for them to all bring a different cupcake to the event. Oh how excited I am to try gourmet homemade cupcakes!

Elegance

2009-08-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

E is for Elegance

Elegance is the attribute of being unusually effective and simple. It is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness, particularly in the areas of visual design and decoration. Elegant things exhibit refined grace and dignified propriety.

I love elegant things. I think that life can be made into such beautiful things and I am so grateful for the opportunities we each have to make life elegant!

Flip-Flops and Lemon Drops.

2009-08-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

While my sweet sisters (inlaw) were in town for our family reunion I planned a picnic to celebrate Cahoon women!

I themed it with yellow: flip-flops and lemon drops.
It was a lot of fun to prepare for and plan.

Here is a glimpse at how it went!

the Best Ice-cream stop!

2009-08-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Thenos Dairy

We have an ice-cream shop here in Redmond, WA, that is the best! It is an old Dairy with a plastic cow out front. They create cantaloupe, pumpkin (my favorite!), and eggnog...so delicious! It is a must if you ever come to visit!

My Gift.

2009-08-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

The Gift Give-away!

I was finally able to get my gift to give away done.

I made some "Quotings:" paintings of quotes.

I then got to have a blast getting packaging to mail them off. Painting is something that I need to do more of, because it takes me away from the hustle of everyday life. It is a time when you can just be. To sit, reflect and pause.

Whoops, I forgot my favorite letter!

2009-08-13T22:12:00.001-07:00

" C "

The Letter C is a delightful one! For it is the letter of both my initials and it is the letter that stands for MANY of my favorite things. But I will only list one: Cows! For Cows bring about my favorite foods in the world. Namely Cheese. Yes. Cheese! It is the most wonderful of all things on earth.

A few of my Favorite things!

2009-08-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

D is for Dresses!

I am moving along in my ABC's of my favorite things. I really do love dresses. When all the other girls talked about hating wearing dresses to church I just smiled inside! Maybe it is because of my love for old things, and from all of those Musicals I watched and still adore today. I love Audrey Hepburn, Shirley Jones and Julie Andrews. They are the ideal women in my book. And they all wore beautifully adorable dresses! What a joy a fun dress can be! How lovely to be a woman!

LetterPress Shades

2009-08-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

I think that Letterpress pieces possibly are the things that make me happiest in life! I love the blocky, unfinished, retro, handmade, and beautiful look that it gives everything it touches. These lamps and more are found here.

Row, Row, Row...

2009-08-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

Row, Row, Row your Boat!
What lovely and fun juice box boats to float down a stream.
Find directions here.

A world of Photography!

2009-08-12T18:39:00.001-07:00

I love how many ways you can look at the world!
These interesting and fun shots are found here.

"These are a few of my Favorite things!"

2009-08-12T18:12:00.000-07:00

I have decided to include a new list on my blog; the ABC's of my favorite things. There are so many wonderful things to be grateful for in life and I wanted to share a handful of some my favorites. The first two letters would be A and B. So, here goes the beginning of a lovely list of delightful things.

Apples: for their delightful colors, crisp skin, sweet taste, wonderful pie filler and they are the most delicious of all the fruits, orchards, markets, and it keeps the doctor away.
Baskets: for their homemadeness, wonderful way to contain things, fancy storage, on the front of bikes, for throwing together picnics and tossing freshly picked flowers into.

Bon Ape'tit!

2009-08-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

Julie & Julia a delight of a film! It shares a wonderful message of doing what you love, finding yourself, having courage, not losing hope, not forgetting those around you, sharing your joy and just being yourself. Meryl Streep does an incredible job, she is transformed into Julia Childs; like a kitchen oven mit. It is quite amazing. Go and enjoy a bite of it yourself! It inspired me to keep on cooking away! (sneak some truffles or delicious decadent chocolates into the theatre to enjoy during the film :) for what is life without a little chocolate in it!).

Julie & Julia

2009-08-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

I am going to go and see this wonderful show tonight!
I will write a review once I've seen it, it looks like a delight.
A four star show I do think it will be! Can't wait.
Find out some more delicious facts and see photos here.

the Cahoonian Reunion of 2009!

2009-08-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

This was the first of many to come Cahoonian Reunions! We were so excited for all the family to be together. It went by much too fast but we squeezed a lot in while we were together; kite flying at Gasworks Park, hiking to a glacier lake (Lake 22), picnicking while listening to an accordion band, seeing Harry Potter while eating lightning bolt cookies, playing at the Science Center, visiting the Troll, eating really great food, watching old videos and photos, being together the list goes on and on! We did have a great week, we were sad each time we had to say goodbye to family! Till next time!

The Seattle Library

2009-08-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

Books and books lining shelves...red hallways...
slanted walls and stairs...incredible heights...
the seattle library was quite the artistic feat!

Cookies and Scones.

2009-07-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Bakings of the Week

Some of my fun bakings in the past week were scones and cookies. Luna our "sister" from Spain saw pictures of a giant cookie I had made so on our last night we made one together. It turned out perfecto just for her! And then we made little ones with coconut and pecans in them.

Then I just had to make scones on a fine sunny morning before everyone got up. They were so much fun, I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on half I pressed a blueberry into the center. I love scones for breakfast, especially in the wee hours of the morning when the whole wide world is fast asleep.

Thank you Truffles!

2009-07-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

At work I had two wonderful ladies fill in for me when I had a last minute meeting to go to. So, in return I bought each of them a See's chocolate! My absolute favorite is lemon truffle. They put them in little truffle boxes and then I put one of my photographed mini cards on top. It was a fun personal way to say thank you!

Place Cards

2009-07-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

At work we have all sorts of boxes and containers and this one puzzled me for a while. It has two little tabs on top that were just there to pick it up from and I started thinking...what else could you do with that...Place Cards!!! So, I made up an example for work and it has been a hit! It also fits 4 Hershey kisses perfectly.

Sea Necklaces!

2009-07-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

When we took Luna to Edmonds Beach we found some shells with holes in top, perfect to slip onto a necklace!! So, we came home and I helped her paint and modge-podge (that became one of her favorite words) them. Then we tied them to ribbon and I came up with some fun packaging to put them in. Tins and paper were from Packaging Specialties, ribbon from the dollar bin at Michaels Craft store. She is going to give one to her mom, her sister and good friend. And then I made one for her! It was a blast and they turned out so wonderfully adorable!

Oh the Joy of a Bike!

2009-07-22T16:46:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE bikes! They are the only way to travel. A bike allows adventure to start, with the wheels twirling round and round you never know where you might end up. Bikes are the joy of my world!! Someday I will have my very own with a basket hooked upon its front!

All of these fun finds can be found on Etsy.

The Arian way!

2009-07-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

I am in love with this artists work! It is SO adorable! I think that this style is so unique and has so much character. Find her on Etsy, her name is Arian!

What is grosser than a hair in your food? Here it is!!!

2009-07-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

A FEATHER!!!

So we always joke in our family about "you got the hair" because we have found some winner hairs in food :) (like a black fried one cooked inside a wheat thin...) But this one beats ALL! Andrea bit into this KFC and lo and behold that chicken did not get quite plucked enough! YUCK!! Poor Andrea is the winner!

Packaging Delight!

2009-07-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

This was a project from school where we had to pick a package to re-design. So, I picked the sweet little ANNA'S cookie (the chocolate mint thin was the flavor I did). It was a really fun project to research the company and create a new design for them. The old packaging was almost camouflage looking. They had a great little story to go along with their cookie hidden on their website and so I put it on the new packaging as well. This project really made me appreciate all the little packages out there on the shelves of the world!

The Opera Poster

2009-07-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

This was a little freelance project I did for my dear friend, Jennifer Lowe. She was having her Senior Recital in Voice (OPERA) and I had the privilege to do her posters. I came up with the idea to do picture strips and photos that you would do in a photo booth. So, my room-mate Kristen Thorne and I did a photo shoot and then I got the posters hanging. They were a lot of fun and showed off Jennifer's fun style. The Opera the Opera, what has happened to the Opera!

Poppyseed: the artist cafe'

2009-07-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here is my favorite project from college in Graphic Design. We had to create an identity for a company we created and I chose to do a cafe' bakery called, "Poppyseed." I worked with an Illustrator (Shawna Tenney) for the character and then I got to create the logo, the patterns, the packaging, the signage and overall style guide for the company. This project was one that allowed all ideas of creativity to mesh into one great project. Maybe someday this will be a real cafe' that you can come take a seat and enjoy a salad and cake while enjoying local art work hung on the walls. What a joy that would be!

The "Bird"thay Gift

2009-07-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun wrapping this gift for Andrea's "bird"thay. She LOVEs to birdwatch and so I decided a fun present filled with birdie items would be a lot of fun! So, I wrapped it with paper, ribbon and stickers from work and put little white feathers all throughout it. It turned out very whimsical and fun!

Luna from Spain!!

2009-07-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

We just had an exchange student arrive from Spain and she'll be with us for 2 1/2 weeks. Her name is Luna and she is absolutely ADORABLE!! She ate birthday cake with us and then gave each of us gifts from Spain! She is so sweet and we are so excited to spend time with her!!

The Happy Birthday Song!

2009-07-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

We sang in the morning...

... and in the night!

You can never sing Happy Birthday too much :)

Andrea's Birthday!

2009-07-10T01:09:00.001-07:00

We continued to have Andrea's birthday in her canopy tent! We ate dinner and did gifts, and cake and singing! It was a perfect way to celebrate a wonderful little ladies birthday!! She means so much to us!!! We can't believe that she is 19 years old. It will be exciting to see what this new year might bring for her!

The Birthday Canopy!

2009-07-10T01:03:00.000-07:00

This year for Andrea's Birthday we thought about picnics...but I thought what better thing than a fort with all her animals inside! So, we created an Arabian/Safari tent for her birthDAY!! My mom and I stayed up making it and then we had breakfast crepes in the morning! It is based off of the idea in No Reservations the movie, where they build a fort and eat in it. I just love random and fun times like these!

CUPCAKES and COOKIES!!!

2009-07-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

So I couldn't resist getting a few more things from Bake it Pretty. I am going to have a cupcake making party and so I just had to stock up on a few things. And how could I not pick up a lightning bolt cookie cutter for the new Harry Potter movie coming out so soon! I can't wait to start up the kitchen again!!

Fourth of July Fun!

2009-07-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

For the Fourth of July I decided we should have a she-bang party! I had a lot of fun peeking at Martha Stewart ideas. The templates for the water bottles (she put them on cans) and the little umbrellas are from her. Then I couldn't resist in making some tissue flowers to hang, it was really fun! Then I made some chocolate popcorn cones with my dad that we took to the firework show. I think that I have fallen in love even more with paper!!!

What is grosser than a hair? (in your food)

2009-07-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what this abstract photo is of?

The daddy daughter 50's night!

2009-07-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

I am a leader over 17 young ladies between the ages of 8-11 on Wednesday nights. We get to plan activities for them to be together, learn skills, do service and just have fun. These invitations were for a Daddy Daughter 50's night to celebrate Father's Day! The activity was a great success and the invites were a blast to create for the night!

The BIG Celebration Cookie!

2009-07-03T01:44:00.000-07:00

Being in the baking mood...I made a GIANT cookie for a woman that I visit and teach for church. This was a box and some paper that were going to be thrown away at work and I snagged them to create a big cookie in. My friend is a young mother of 4, and they are moving next week. So, I hope this cookie will make her feel special and be fun to munch on with her kids as they pack up! A cookie and a cold glass of milk always brighten any day!

I Just Couldn't Contain Myself!

2009-07-03T01:34:00.000-07:00

I had a blast creating these fun little bottles of homemade strawberry jam and banana nut muffins for those whom I love. I created a little set of cards to go with it that I attached on the outside. Delivering them to my dear friends was such a treat! I am so grateful for all the wonderful people in my life! I truly have been blessed! Thank you to ALL who have touched my life in so many countless ways, I adore and love you all!

Jam tomorrow Jam yesterday!!!

2009-06-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

So, after all that strawberry picking we had to make lots of jam!!!! Mom and I had a blast cutting, mashing, mixing and pouring jam in to bottles. I had to put a movie in to keep me going on ALL those berries, they seemed to never end! The empty box in the photo is 1 of 3 boxes we filled with berries. But it sure is worth it because the jam is SO good and we have lots to share with others! And then mom and I made this strawberry tart for Father's Day! It was delectable!!

The Dog Sitter!

2009-06-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

We have been watching our good friends pug for them while they are gone for 2 and 1/2 weeks in Europe. Her name is Meesha, and Andrea does a great job watching her. We all have grown to love her even with her sneezing and snoring! It has been good prep for when Andrea gets her own dog this summer. I also am hoping to get Andrea started with a little dog walking business for her to earn some money.

Cookie Day at Work!

2009-06-26T17:16:00.001-07:00

I am currently working at Packaging Specialties and we just had a Cookie Day where each of us workers got a recipe from a Martha Stewart cook book we were selling. All of us made at least 2 dozen (I made about 4) and brought them to the store. We sold them for a $1 to donate to the Ronald McDonald Fund. And everything that was used for packaging was 20% off that day! It was a lot of fun, and I got to use my new cookie cutters!! The Cookie that I made was the "Chocolate-Ginger Acorns and Leaves." As you can see I did an owl and a squirrel instead of a leaf. All the ingredients smelled so good together, ginger really is quite the spicy and delicious ingredient!

Dippin dots from the sky!

2009-06-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

So, on Father's Day we had some crazy weather!! We had a hail storm along with buckets of rain. It was quite the weather, our deck and front porch were just covered in little white balls of ice. It looked like dippin' dots raining from the sky!! Seattle weather sure keeps you on your toes!

"Whatever will be, will be!"

2009-06-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is one of the songs the little duet played at the Restaurant we ate at in Leavenworth. Mom was singing along with it! She told us that Uncle Harvey hates this song, so she dedicated it to him. The spanish singer was awesome, we think Matt should follow in his footsteps :) It was so much fun to have live music as we ate! I think that makes a restaurant the best when it has live musicians playing for you!

A Friday in Leavenworth!

2009-06-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

So, we also went to Leavenworth last weekend! All of last week they were doing an accordion festival. I thought it would be a blast to go so we went on Friday and heard some great accordion playing, ate Goolash? at a restaurant called Andrea's while listening to live music, tried on hats at the hat shop, went and got gingerbread, walked and enjoyed artwork, got toys (me-a puppet king, andrea-beanies!) and just had a blast being together! It is such a fun little escape because it feels like you have gone off to Germany or Switzerland but you are only 2 hours from home!

Flowers for a stolen purse!

2009-06-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

My dear Mother had her purse stolen this week! What a horribly wretched thing to have happen to a perfectly wonderful woman! She had gone to a late night show with Dad and left her purse in the theatre. When they called they said it was not there! So sadly she lost EVERYTHING in her wallet, her GAP purse, her sunglasses, her new bath and body works pouch with sanitizer, lip stuff.....endless! Women know what it means to lose their purse! So, I decided to run get her flowers. I got her these Gerber's and then some really fun orange and red flowers. A flower ALWAYS brightens my day and so I knew this would be a little help for a rotten day!

Drive into the Hoh Rainforest

2009-06-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

This little video is of us driving through a part of the Hoh Rainforest! We just loved all the Moss! We hiked through an area called the Hall of Mosses! It was a lot of fun, it felt like Lord of the Rings! We kept thinking an elf or dwarf should appear amongst all the green!

The most BEAUTIFUL state in the USA!

2009-06-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

For the past 3 days I have had the opportunity to explore the western most point of the most beautiful state in the USA! The Olympic Peninsula of Washington! My mom, little sister Andrea and I got to explore, hike, see, meet and watch the most beautiful things! We drove out to Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Island, Neah Bay, Forks, La Push Beach, the Hoh Rainforest, Lake Crescent, Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountain range, and to the Dungeneus Spit. We stayed in the Makah Maiden Bed and Breakfast with a Native American who sang us a song while drumming on her handmade drum. We saw Bald Eagles, Deer, Chipmunks, Puffins, Seals, LOTS of seagulls, starfish, and a big banana slug. Flying kites in the windy sky at La Push Beach was a blast! We hiked through amazing canopies of moss, white logged beaches covered in smooth stones, over board walks, and into forests of millions of trees. We had so much fun being together and seeing so many incredible and amazing sites in the Northwest! We truly do live in the most Beautiful state in the USA!!

What's your favorite color?

2009-06-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

So, everyone always asks, "What's your favorite color?" right! And every time I get asked that I say, "I don't really know I love EVERY color!!" Well, after I have delved deeper into me I have discovered that blue and yellow are, I think, my favorite color(s). I still debate adding green and orange into that as well, but I decided you must have a good amount of two instead of my endless list of favorites :) I still do LOVE EVERY COLOR, but I have made the executive decision and the vote is clear, Blue and Yellow are the top two.

Strawberry Fields Forever!

2009-06-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

Strawberry picking!! Oh what fun!! Today Andrea, Mama Cahoon and I went strawberry picking in a huge field underneath a beautiful blue sky with puffy white clouds! We are very excited to start making jams, sauces, pies, ice-cream and whatever our hearts desire might be with them!

Cards that will make you SMILE!

2009-06-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

Letterpress is one of the most wonderful things ever to be created! I love the feel of a letterpressed card! There is something about it that makes my heart warm and all happy inside! These lovely little cards and invitations are found from: Night Owl Paper Goods. Adorable huh! And they have squirrels!!! I'm a definite fan!

The joy of a wrapped package!

2009-06-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have had a blast wrapping gifts lately! These two gifts were a double effort from one wrapping paper. The paper is from the store I work at, Packaging Specialties, and it is double sided!! Oh how joyful a thing is double sided paper!! The first package was a gift for my adorable little sister Andrea who just graduated from High School. I attached a purple tissue flower I made at work. The second gift was for my dearest friend, Jessica Bean, for her 22 birthday!! I used a card I had made for my college open house to match the green! This wrapping paper is probably one of my most favorites!! Pride and Prejudice on one side and modern green on the other!!! What a terrific delight!

My Bake It Pretty Delivery!

2009-06-08T15:44:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to begin using all of these fun purchases! How adorable to be delivered in "Brown Paper Packages tied up in strings" these are a few of my favorite things! All the inspiration to buy these items was the mustache chocolate mold and all the many wonderful squirrel items!!! In honor of the fat squirrel in "Sword in the Stone."

Cutest Cupcakes EVER!

2009-06-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here we go on the Baking Spree! This site is called Bake it Pretty and I LOVE IT!!! I have already made orders and we'll post what i am excited to use from them. But these cupcake liners caught my eye!! What fun to bake in such pretty little liners! Take a peak at their site!

Strawberry Rhubarb Delight!!

2009-06-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

I love to bake and I am hoping to do LOTS more of it this summer! Pies are such an old fashioned and wonderful thing and I have been testing out our rhubarb in the backyard with pies. This is the second one I have made here at home and we got to enjoy it with Grandma while she was here! Baking is quite a joy, I would love to open up my own bakery someday!!!

Grandma Cahoon Weekend!!

2009-06-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

We have had a blast having Grandma Cahoon up here in Washington! She came to visit for Andrea's Graduation from High School and it has been so much fun having her here! We have gone to the Zoo, ate at the Cheesecake Factory and Rubies Diner, had a breakfast picnic at our favorite park under the Emma Tree and have just had a wonderful time with her while she stayed! These are just a few shots of our fun time at the zoo! (G-Ma tried dippindots for the first time with us :), they were great!), and the penguins loved Andrea's stuffed animal!!

First Five

2009-03-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice, for you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
What I create will be just for you.
It’ll be done this year (don't worry it will come at some point)
You have no clue what it’s going to be … it may be cards, a poem, a bookmark, something yummy or a complete surprise to you (and me) … who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
I reserve the right to do something extremely strange, exciting and random!
Most importantly, you must offer the same deal on your blog - the first 5 people to comment on your blog (or if you do not have a blog, facebook) get something made by YOU!

In order to qualify you need to tell me in your comment on my blog that you have posted this on you blog as well - and I will come and check up on you! :) Have a wonderful day!

2009-03-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to the Great Dr. Seuss!! Some of the favorite stories of mine are:
Too many Daves
Green Eggs and Ham
the Sneetches
and so many more...

Enjoy the world around you!! May it be from a simple snowflake or a delightful dust speck on a dandylion. Just enjoy it!!!

The Cahoonian Reunion, 08

2008-07-14T12:58:00.001-07:00

The Disneyland world! We had so much fun here in the land where dreams come true. Our fun Cahoon side headed down to California to have a reunion. It was a blast running from ride to ride and being with all the crazy cousins and adorable grandma!

Ferrel McQuarter, 2008

2008-07-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

The leaf ladies! This summer has been full of fun times and hilarious memories. I have been very naughty about posting all of these many events and have been chastised by my dear sister lara to write and update. So, here goes :) I will try and mend my ways as best as I can. These shots are from a sister picnic at Ferrel McQuarter Park in Redmond. We got jambas and picniced under the "Emma Tree" as I call it and then walked around enjoying the funny animals and crazy tire swing. I then found this leaf and thought it was the neatest thing I'd ever seen so made each of us have a candid camera shot with it :) This is pretty much my favorite park and my favorite peaceful place to just sit and enjoy life. This is a definite must see if you come through Redmond, WA.

2007-11-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

Decorating the apartment for Christmas was a blast! We did all the tree decor for Family Home Evening! I love this season!!