I am really loving the Muffin Tin Monday idea. I see the genius in it for kids, but also on an adult level too. I think I might try it on Sam, we’ll see how weird a look he gives me the first time! (via Polka Dot Creations)

Remember a few months ago when I told you about the free courses that iVillage holds each month? They just came out with this month’s coursesfor anyone that’s interested. I signed up for Getting Organized, Personal Networking Skills, and Business Networking - anyone joining me?

I’ve started getting more and more nostalgic lately for simple things that remind me of my childhood. That’s just a part of aging I suppose. I had a great wave of nostalgia at the end of last year when making the Cup Cozies that were a staple of my childhood at both my parents’ and grandparents’ homes. They’re so cute and useful.

Recently I’ve had thoughts about how useful little stools (that my great grandmother made out of juice cans) were. When I was little we would put a tray on them and eat off of them, we’d sit on them, we’d use them to reach something tall, to rest our feet…. I remember her making some when I was younger, but I don’t think I was ever around to see her make one. Unfortunately she passed away some years ago so I can’t learn from her directly. At Easter dinner I asked my family how she made them and got pretty good direction. Finally this weekend I took the time to sit down and make one. I’m REALLY happy with how it turned out, almost exactly how I remembered. It really warmed my heart to think that I was crafting something that my great-grandmother once made. Now I have something useful that will remind me of my family every time I make use of it. Plus, I think it’s totally cute too!

The other day we were over at Sam’s parents’ house and his mom went “Oh, I have something for you!” (to me). She ran into the other room and came back with this:

Sorry for the privacy whiteout!

How cute is that!?! It’s a shirt that Sam decorated and wore when he was like 4 or 5. So cute!

I’m so glad she gave it to me. Now I’m just trying to figure out what I should do with it. I’m thinking about possibly trying to figure out a cute way to display it, I hate to just keep it in a closet somewhere.

You need to head over to the Thompson Family blog and see the gorgeous paper flowers and garlands she’s made. Go now. So pretty.

I’m a total purse addict. I don’t know what my fascination with purses and getting new ones, but I’m always changing up my bags!

Lamb: The Gospel According To Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal
by Christopher Moore

I really wasn’t sure about this book at all. Sam had wanted to read it, but I was hesitant because I thought that it would be a lot of Jesus bashing/making fun of which I am not into at all. I told Sam he could give me a review after he read it. Shortly after he started reading it, I began reading the good reviews at GoodReads. Sam chimed in with good reviews and I promised him I would read it when he was done.

This book is obviously fiction. The author, in the afterword, emphasizes this himself. It does take liberties with events and such (as any good fiction does) but honestly, I didn’t feel like the book was offensive at all (to me). Lamb takes a look at the life of Jesus (especially those years before He began his ministry) through the eyes of Biff, his best friend. Biff is a bit mischievous (who doesn’t have one of those friends) but is always there for Jesus. It’s a humorous, charming, adult (Biff does enjoy, um, “adult activities”) book that I would recommend to anyone, Christian or not. I enjoyed it.