.mercy house.

LOVE MERCY Canvas found in The Mercy Shop

.mercy house.  I have discovered a new way to shop.  Well two new ways actually, the first is online.  I love, LOVE, L-O-V-E to shop online, it has totally become a new favorite of mine.  A new way, a better way. 

The second is to support shops that mean something.  Buying with a purpose.  I know this totally contradicts yesterdays post - those shops are just for fun really, and I mainly just like to browse through them.  I have, I think, committed myself to buying with a purpose from now on - for most things.  Buying items through organizations where the proceeds will go to something beneficial and real.  I have been on this path for only a little while and I totally give credit to Sseko's for jump starting this way of thinking and buying.  Which by the way I am getting for Christmas and I could not be more excited about.

Along this path of finding shops that have purpose and meaning.  I have found The Mercy House.  The Mercy House exists to provide alternative options for pregnant girls living in the streets of Kenya. The Mercy House will aid them in nutrition, housing, prenatal care, counseling, Biblical teaching and job skills for sustainable living.  It is an organization that will help change girls lives.  It is a safe place for women to go. 

The Mercy House Shop is where the organization gets a lot of its funding.  There you can find items donated by a number of different people, myself included.  The shop is always changing as they sell what is donated.  The items for sale are amazing and the people are talented for sure.  Please go check it out - I am sure you will find something you will like.  And if you are crafty consider donating yourself!  .mercy house.

.christmas shopping.

.chirstmas shopping.  I hope all of you are like me and finished with your Christmas shopping.  I finished so early this year, and I am looking forward to a very merry and festive holiday season.  Ok- I lied, I am not totally finished I have one gift card and a bag of beef jerky to pick up.  Yes beef jerky is a Christmas gift, you know who you are.

If you have not finished yet I have some great online stores that might help you out.  These online sites offer great deals for limited times.  Go check them out today! .christmas shopping.

Rue La La:  Rue La La is... an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where Members discover premier-brand, private sale Boutiques, each open for just a brief window of time. Their focus is a well-edited collection of sought-after offerings from the best brand names in the world - combined with helpful service.

One Kings Lane:  One Kings Lane brings together the world's best designer décor and home essentials, entertaining and travel needs, fantastic gift selections and more – at up to 70% off retail.

Groupon: Groupon is an easy way to get huge discounts while discovering fun activities in your city.  Their daily deals consist of restaurants, spas, massages, theaters, hotels, and a whole lot more in dozens of cities across the country.  Many groupon deals are also valid online and can be bought and used from any city.

.sale.

Martha

I hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving weekend.  I have had a great couple days with my family.  I love celebrating fall with food, football, and more great food.  To celebrate with you, everything in my shop will be 15% off through Tuesday! 

the details.....
If you purchase from simply simon on etsy type in the code givethanks15 at the checkout. 
If you purchase from simply simon on zibbet I will refund the 15% after the order goes through. 

a little reminder of why you should buy handmade from simply simon.....
*15% of all my sales go to compassion international at the end of the year!
and a portion of my sales go toward adoption: more on this in the coming year.  :)

.tonight my sister and I have a date with these three.

image source

and it's going to be nothing short of magical :)

.shop update.

.shop update.  Since the closing of 1000 markets I have not done much with my shop until now.  I have decided to re-open my etsy shop and will be posting products throughout the week.  I have also opened up a zibbet shop.  I am trying them both out to give me more options and to see what community works better for my style.  Please let me know how I can enhance my shop.  Thank you for any advice.  .shop update.

.praising the Lord.

.praising the Lord.  This is a short post.  Short and very, very sweet. 
Because, life around here is capital CRAZY. 
Because, I hosted an amazing Open House last night that I think will become tradition around here. 
Because, I am getting ready for a craft show this weekend. 
Because, I am busy catching up on Harry Potter movies so that I am all set for Tuesday night - because that's when I am going, because I always go with my sister. Because it's our thing. 
Because, I am fighting off a sickness that is going around-I can feel it coming on (I am really hoping I don't get it... but the aching is already setting in - BOO). 

But in this busyness I am still praising God because HE IS AMAZING. 

This deserves praise:  My best friend Mandie and her husband David just got their adoption papers submitted to court.  Which means they will know when they can travel to pick up their son in about 4 weeks.  Praise God.  They have been waiting for three long months just for the submission and it finally happened. 
Please pray with me that the court date would be soon. 
Please pray with me that they will find every last ounce of patience in them to wait out this last part. 
Please pray with me that they will find cheep flights and the cost will be lower then expected. 
Please pray with me that they travel safe to Ethiopia.  Twice.
Please pray with me that the meeting between them and little Malachi is overflowing with LOVE. 
And please pray with me THANKING GOD FOR ALL OF THIS - because he orchestrated it all.  And the story is just beginning.

I thank you for praying with me.  .praising the Lord.

.31 bits.

31 bits

.31 bits.  WOW!!! I have found two great organizations recently that help women in Uganda.  I am so in L-O-V-E with them both.  The dedication the American women have for, their friends, the women in Uganda amazes me in both organizations.  And the amount of progress being made in Uganda is ultra-cool.  For Christmas I am scratching the list I made, and hoping beyond hope that my family will only shop for me at places that strive to help others.  *Seriously family-this is your hint*  I love both Seeko designs and 31 bits.  I talked before about Sseko's and still really, really want a pair.  Today I am sharing my love of 31 bits. 

31 bits

This organization is way cool.  The women make beads out of scraps of paper.  They then form amazing necklaces, bracelets, and headbands.  I love all the necklaces.  I really do.  There are three that stand out to me, Raven, Juniper, and the Ollie Twist.

31 bits

So What is 31 Bits?
31 Bits is a business using fashion and design to empower women to rise above poverty. They believe that business is one of the most powerful and sustainable approaches to turning scarcity into abundance, and eventually, alleviating poverty completely.

31 bits

This is how it all Started:
Kallie Dovel, traveled to Uganda in the summer of 2007, getting a first- hand look at life in Northern Uganda. While she was there, she met women making paper beads but who lacked a plan to market and sell them. After spending time in their homes and hearing their stories, Kallie knew there had to be a way to give opportunities to her new friends. She brought a box of jewelry back to the U.S., and spent the next year finishing her degree and dreaming up the concept of a development organization. She brought a few friends on board and her ideas quickly evolved into 31 Bits. The girls traveled back to Uganda in August 2008, and selected six women to begin buying jewelry from on a monthly basis. Since then, we have grown to 63 women; each with a unique story of suffering that has been overcome with joy and liberation.  .31 bits.

Shop 31 Bits
Read the blog here.
Learn more about there programs here.

*The last two sections of this post and all pictures are straight from the 31 bits website*

.coffee sleeves.

.coffee sleeves.  Project destash is in full blown mode around here.  I am newly re-committed to not buying more until I have used what I have.  I have a huge drawer full, plump FULL, of fabric.  Leftover remnants from previous projects.  Too little to to do a big project with, but too small to consider throwing away.  As I was drinking my coffee last Saturday I thought of making a bunch of coffee sleeves with them.  Turns out that's what they were cut for.  The remnants I have are the perfect size.  I have fully embraced this project and am working non-stop on making them.  I am making them for my Holiday Open House, which is Tuesday.  And I am making them for a craft fair I am in, next Saturday.  Time flies when your crafting. 

A tutorial may be in the works for these.  However, that is totally dependant on Asher sleeping through the night.  And right now that is no where near happening.  This child is throwing me for a loop - Lydia was so easy to train and was sleeping like a champ at 6 weeks.  Asher is completely different and needs to eat every three hours - AROUND THE CLOCK.  He has only given in to his lack of sleep twice - so we are tired around here.  One more reason for the coffee.  .coffee sleeves. 

.so, so busy.

.so, so busy.  This blog has been put on the back burner.  Just for a little while, promise.  I am busy crafting. More on that later.  .so, so busy.

.celebrating 2's.

.celebrating 2's.  Today we are celebrating 2's.  Asher has been with us for two months already.  It is hard to believe that he has only been here for two months and at the same time that it has already been two months.  Daily he changes and he is not such a little baby anymore he is getting big and outgrowing three month clothes.  I find this hilarious because he will outweigh his sister in half a year - that is my bet anyways.  He is also full of smiles and cooing is one of his top activities. 

Another 2 to celebrate today is Lydia being 20 months old.  She is hilarious and adds humor to our lives daily.  She thinks everything that comes out of a bottle is ketchup or 'sup.  She loves, loves, loves letters and books and reading anything really.  She can tell you what sound P makes & that is very impressive for a 20 month old.  She is also a really good mother to bear-bear and pup-pup and is constantly buckling either one of them in Asher's car seat or her booster.  Today we are celebrating 2's.  .celebrating 2's.

.cheesecake.

.cheesecake.  My husband works for Quad Graphics, a printing company.  They print a whole slew of magazines.  One of the perks of him working there is the fact that he randomly brings home magazines.  This month I have received a handful of cooking ones.  The Cheesecakes & More edition from Taste of Home is hands down my favorite magazine he has brought home so far.  It is amazing to look through, AMAZING!!! I mean every single cheesecake looks so good, so good.

Because I had all these new recipes, and because they all look delicious, I decided to make a cheesecake.  I have never made one before and I was not exactly sure how hard or easy it would be to make.  After making one, I think I might be a bit addicted.  It was easier then I thought and I will definitely be making more in the future. 

I followed the recipe for Chocolate-Covered Cheesecake Squares.  Which is basically an original cheesecake cut up and covered in chocolate.  The recipe is simple enough and I am sure that variations of this scrumptious dessert will be made in the future. 

I thought that the hardest part of this recipe was cutting the cheesecake into 49 little squares.  At first I didn't exactly know how I was going to do that to a frozen cheesecake.  And I thought it would all fall apart.  Thankfully it did not.

I modified the recipe slightly.  For the crust I did not add the chopped pecans because I forgot to buy them.  I also did not cover each piece completely with chocolate.  I did not have enough patience to sit and dip each square in the chocolate & nether did Miss. L who was helping me. 

Instead, I lined up each square on the waxed paper and I poured the chocolate over them. This made the final step much faster. And I am pretty sure they taste the same, they just look a little funky with chocolate streaks. Thank you Esther Neustaeter from Alberta!  I will be making these again for sure.  .cheesecake.

*note: I did not take a picture of the final product.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO MAKE:

Yield: 49 squares

CRUST:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1/4 cup butter, melted

FILLING:

2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup sour cream

2 eggs, lightly eaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

COATING:

24 ounces semisweet chocolate

3 tablespoons shortening

1.Line a 9 inch square baking pan with foil and grease the foil.  In a small bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, pecans and butter.  Press into prepared pan; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and sour cream until smooth.  Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour over crust.

3. Bake at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set.  Cool on a wire rack.  Refrigerate until chilled.  Freeze overnight.

4. In a microwave, melt the chocolate and the shortening; stir until smooth.  Cool slightly. *I melted mine on the stove, as I have had horrible past experiences melting chocolate in the microwave.

5. Using foil, lift cheesecake out of pan.  Gently peel off foil; cut into 49 squares.  Remove a few pieces at a time for dipping; keep remaining squares refrigerated until ready to dip.

6. Using a toothpick, completely dip squares, one at a time, in melted chocolate; allow excess to drip off.  Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets; spoon about 1 teaspoon chocolate over each.  (Reheat chocolate if needed to finish dipping.)  Let stand for 20 minutes or until set.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

.the authentic me.

.the authentic me.  There are days when it is hard to make it through the day.  When I feel like nothing is getting done.  There are days around here when my house gets turned upside down and there are piles of laundry, and dirty dishes, and dirty diapers because we use cloth.  There are days around here when pajamas are worn all day, and spit-up shirts and snotted pants don't get changed because of time.  There are days around here when the crying seems to never stop, and timeouts seem to last for hours.  Days when toys are not picked up and crayons are everywhere.  This is life, this is me. 

This week Ann Voskamp wrote a beautiful blog post about how freeing admitting this is.  She wrote about how telling the authentic heals both writer and reader.  Let me tell you it does.  I feel better.  I feel free because I can admit that I am not perfect.  And really, Only one is, and He alone truly heals. 

I am not asked to be perfect.  My maker knows that I am not.  He doesn't expect me to be.  However, he does expect me to come to him when I am covered in baby messes, when I am weary from picking up legos and books.  I am suppose to call upon Him alone when I feel like nothing will ever get done.  I am expected to come to him when I feel like the crying will not stop, and when I feel like the food on the kitchen floor will never cease.  I am to go to Him.  Because He Alone Will Heal My Weary Soul.  He alone has the power to free me.  Thank you Lord for loving me as I am, dirty and tired.  Thank you Lord for loving us all.  And thank you Ann for writing beauty that touches others and heals wounds.  And thank you Ann for inspiring others to be authentic and tell their story.  .the authentic me.

.don't forget to.

designed by Shepard Fairey

.this weekend.

.this weekend.  We did a lot of this:

 While drinking this:

And seeing this:

And because of this, we ended up here:

After passing this:

But because of this:

We ended up here:

To Celebrate this:

.this weekend.

Congrats again Christy & Brad!!!