Flower Pins

When I was home last month, my sisters taught me how to make these cute flower pins. Go here for the instructions. The plaid one is made from the Grant tartan that I bought in Edinburgh and has a gold golfer button that I got from one of my sisters. Isn't it so preppy?

Boots No.7

Boots, the UK pharmacy, is now selling beauty products at Target. The only thing that we got at Boots in England was an adapter for the electrical outlets, so I was excited to see their things being sold locally. So far I've bought some makeup and face wash, and they're great (except the brush sheds)!

Friday Featured Art: Lascaux Cave

Here's an example of what we've learned about so far in my Art History I class (prehistoric-1400). There are some incredible cave paintings from the Upper Paleolithic Era. Lascaux Cave in France has many sophisticated images and a fantastic web site that lets you explore the cave. Check it out.

Thursday Text: StoryPeople

Brian Andreas is an artist from Iowa who created StoryPeople. They're unusual little line drawings with intriguing sayings. Here are a couple of quotes.

They came to sit & dangle their feet off the edge of the world & after awhile they forgot everything but the good & true things they would do someday.


She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.

Tiger Stripe Ice Cream

One of our favorite things about the end of summer is going to the Missouri State Fair. The University of Missouri always fills a building with various Mizzou goods and information. We like to visit the ice cream counter, where they serve Tiger Stripe ice cream. It's a specialty of Buck's Ice Cream Place on the campus of MU. French vanilla with a dark chocolate swirl - delicious.

The Shop Around the Corner

Last week we watched The Shop Around the Corner - the Jimmy Stewart movie on which You've Got Mail is based. I really, really love You've Got Mail, but The Shop Around the Corner was delightful and quite funny. It's worth watching.

Bron's Bee Company

Last week we made the trek over to Whole Foods and found a fun surprise. An Illinois company called Bron's Bee Company makes honey with cocoa added to it. The best part is that it comes in a really cute, round glass bear jar.

Friday Featured Art: The Old Barn at Whitchurch

(Sorry for the delay - we've had some internet issues!) Today's artwork is another George Price Boyce: The Old Barn at Whitchurch, which I saw was sold at auction last November for over $13,000. It's a nice autumn-looking piece. I wish fall would come soon!

Thursday Text: Women's Conference

Last Sunday, we had a fireside for the Relief Society women in our ward. The topic was Julie Beck's talk from Women's Conference. It is an inspiring talk. Here's one idea (below). Go here to read the whole thing. (You will be glad if you do!)

"women are like lionesses at the gate of the home. Whatever happens in that home and family happens because she cares about it and it matters to her. She guards that gate, and things matter to that family if they matter to her."

Marv n' Joe

Now that (really good) tomatoes are in season, I've been thinking about a Marv n' Joe. At Utah State, there was a bread place in the food court, and I would always see people walking around with these yummy-looking pieces of bread with tomato and melted cheese on top. It took me a while, but I finally figured out that you had to ask for a "Marv n' Joe" to get one. Delicious! Check out the link to see exactly how they're made.