Concours d Elegance 2012 weekend in review

I remember the first time Mike took me to a Concours event, we had been dating for a year or so and his sister was catering the event dinner and needed some extra help, so we worked that evening knowing we would be getting up the next morning to attend  the show. At the time I had no real idea how much energy it would take to attend the weekend. Well over the years I have been to quite a few of the shows including 2002 when I was very pregnant with our first son and it was almost 100’ in the shade and then 2005 when I was again very pregnant with son#2 and it was crazy muggy.  In 2003 Mike began driving his truck as the “trouble truck” for the Vineyard and Lake car tour. He has driven all the tours and I ride along (on most of them). This year we did the Tour along with over 50 vintage cars including one of the cars Mike had in his shop 2years ago.

We visited Elk Cove Winery outside of Gaston Oregon and tasted a lovely Riesling from the vineyard while enjoying a nice variety of appetizers. After the nice tasting and light lunch we toured down to Haag Lake.  While many of the car owners road in the wooden boats  around the lake, Mike set up a vintage music collection on his sound system just outside the car trailer , and I took a nap in the back of the truck. After my nap, we followed the tour to Oregon’s Sakary just outside Forest Grove for tasting and the end of the tour celebration.  Thankfully Mike did not have to rescue anyone during the tour and we were able to join his family for dinner and prep for the next day’s activities.
This year’s Concours weekend was also my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary so we were really pushing to get it all done.  I couldn’t help set up the tables and chairs since my shoulder strength hasn’t fully returned so I joined my sister-in-law to prep food. Note to self (sometimes it is easier to hire a caterer)
Mike and I had made arrangements to leave the boys at my parents’ house overnight so we returned home to a quiet but very warm house. 
The next morning we decided to go to church and lunch before heading over to the show with a plan to pick up the boys on the way to the Anniversary party.  We enjoyed the show, especially since one of my favorite cars was in attendance.

This 1935 Cadillac is one of my favorite Cadillacs. The lines, the reflections in the paint, and the original interior.  Pat and Pat Brothers are good friends and run an auction company Pat n’ Pat where they put together amazing fundraising auctions all over. They also race in the Great Race to raise money for Autism research. They are just great people and fun to be around. They also received 2 awards this year with this car. They received a 1st in class as well as the Larry DeRoux award.
Mike and I enjoyed watching the awards ceremony which we don’t normally do. This year it was extra special because Mike knew one of the guys running sound for the event,so he sat and visited with him while we watched the awards ceremony (waiting to see the 1935 Cadillac go across the stage).
After the show we headed to pick up the boys and get to the Anniversary party.

The cake table included their wedding album along with a simply elegant cake from Perfection Bakery and my Mother-in-laws wedding veil.

I had my first large scale experience with setting up cheese trays and adding touches to cheeses. We rolled goat cheese in course black pepper  and another goat cheese in raisins. Both added an elegance to something as simple as Goat Cheese.

I know there are very few family pictures of my husband’s family  so we didn’t miss an opportunity like this.

The weekend was a success although tired we had a great weekend.

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DIY Hat and Hair decoration thanks to Dollar Tree

Getting ready to go out can sometimes mean taking it to the next level. Recently I attending a car tour with my husband and decided to wear my favorite dress. I needed some accessories though. I decided to wear my straw hat , but I really didn’t think the flowers on it matched the dress much less anything in my wardrobe.  So I hit the local Dollar Tree and picked up a couple of bunches of orange and white flowers, a headband , and some ribbons. I spent $5 and ended up with extras after the fact.

Anyway, here is my quick hat fix and headband

1 roll of grossgrain ribbon is usually more than $1 so I was happy to find 5/8” ribbon in white.

1 very plain straw hat, I removed the old blue and ivory bud flowers

My hot  glue gun doesn’t see near as much time as it use to but sure comes in handy when I need to do something quick.

I lined the end of the ribbon up on the patch where the previous flowers were to cover up the left over bits.

I placed the first flower and worked out from there.

I added 3 more flowers in white and orange to balance it out.

The finished product. I love the over the top flowers on the simple straw hat.  Read through the rest of the article to see me in the hat.

Now, I knew I would have 2 events to attend the weekend I made the hat for so I decided to mix it up a bit and do simple headband while I was at it.

I  decided to go with an orange headband to keep it a little more subtle instead of the bright white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took 1 flower off its stem and flattened it the best I could, then a bit of hot glue and attached it to the headband.

A quick and easy  headband  and I’m ready to go. I like it simple and easy, and simple feminine touches can make such a difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something old, well maybe not , just from the archives

I realized that I haven't been crafting alot lately, partially because my old office/ craft space is a disaster and partially because homeschooling 2 boys takes most of my time.  I need to get back to my scrapbooking and art journals. While searching  playing on pinterest today, I came across several Project Life posts and realized I could easily create myself a small portable space to craft again.
While I think about how I am going to set up and get organized on a budget of, well , $0 I thought I would share some of the fun scrapbook stuff from my previous blog.

All 3 of these are digital cards that I printed and added to my Scripture Scrapbook I honestly don't remember where I got the embellishments but they sure are simple.

I made this page using the Creative Memories Paisley punch and vellum printed on my inkjet printer. Can't recall which  Creative Memories paper pack this was from .

This was part of a digital kit page challenge back when I was on design teams. I don't remember who the designer was, but I do know I loved working with this kit. Nathan would have been 2 in these pictures, he will be 7 next month.

I hope to get back to creating again soon so I can share some more fun stuff with you all. 

Play Time gives Mommy so Free Time at Imagine: Play

As a Mom blogger I love finding new things for the kids to do that gives Mom a little free time to blog or create. I recently found a new option locally for the boys. 

Imagine: Play is a new indoor play and party center in McMinnville where I recently took the boys to enjoy a play date with their cousins. 

The summer pricing is very reasonable at only $5 for kids age over 3 years old.  Even the regular pricing of $6 is a great deal. She also has punch cards (buy 3 get 1 free) or Monthly passes. 

I love the fact that even my 9 1/2 year old had fun playing. He was able to guide some of the activities and helped the little ones stay more on task and move from one area to the next without over lapping toys.
After our first adventure to Imagine Play we decided to go a second time with just my 2 boys. I took my blogging and lesson planning activities and found a picnic table to sit and work at while Cameron and Nathan enjoyed playing. We have decided to go again before the month is up, so since Tuesday is their later hours the boys have asked that we do picnic dinner at Imagine Play. That is the plan.. I'm thinking pizza from one of the local pizzerias and an evening of play is in order for the boys.

Another awesome advantage to Imagine Play is the party feature, from private to semi private parties. They also offer themed parties with amazing costumes for the kids to play dress up (yes even the boys). I am really  considering this for one of the boys' birthday parties this year.
This is the first of several posts about local companies I love to support.
If you are local to Yamhill County, what is your favorite local business that could use a little extra attention? Leave a comment about your favorite business so we can all help out our local favorites.

***This post is not a sponsored post, just me supporting a local business that I really enjoy***

4th of July fun facts

With all the fun and fireworks of the 4th of July now over, here is an interesting look at some real numbers about our country and the holiday. Looking back on yesterday and last night's activities I feel blessed to live in this country even in the current state of affairs. I truly am blessed to live somewhere that I have the kind of freedoms we have here.
Independence Day should be a day to reflect on how lucky we are and remember those that have fought for that precious freedom over the last 236 years.

Click image to enlarge

Via: MilitaryVALoan.com

Strawberries , Sun, and Salad with a Mission for Organic

June and July in Oregon means one thing, Strawberry season. OK maybe a few other things, but the strawberry season in Oregon is a welcome event. Local strawberries are super sweet and hit the spot.  When we were asked to try out the new Mission brand Organic tortilla chips I knew I was going to have to use Strawberries in there somewhere.  The other thing that goes perfectly with summer in Oregon is local produce and grilling. With that in mind I created a grilled vegetable salad and a strawberry chips sundae for dinner one evening when we actually had a break of nice weather.

I started the evening with grilled peppers, onions, asparagus, and sausage on a bed of salad topped with cheese, salsa , and yellow peppers and trimmed with Mission Organic Blue Corn chips. The perfect combination of warm, cool, soft, and crunchy.

We followed that with 2 choices for dessert.... Strawberry / rasberry sundaes with blue corn chip trimming or

Coffee ice cream with cinnamon sugar and corn chips .

This was the perfect combination of crunchy and healthy along with a not so healthy moderate ice cream treat. The sweet flavor of the blue corn added to the mix in a perfect blend. Even the boys who weren't sure about chips and ice cream loved it.  I love the Organics side of the mix as I was able to get most of the salad and veggies from local markets or the organic section of our local Safeway store.  As the summer rolls on we will be able to enjoy garden fresh veggies and more fruits and will be watching for more of the Mission Organics to go along with our salads and treats.
For more great recipe ideas check out Mission on Facebook

Thank you to Mission for sending us the bags of chips to create these treats in exchange for our recipes and opinion. No monetary compensation was received.