Saturday morning a friend of mine gave her daughter a birthday party in the park. It was one of the best birthday parties ever! Not too long, not too short…just right.

I love birthday parties...especially well thought out, planned, and executed ones! The kind I can never seem to manage. Other peoples parties in particular, ones that I just help with!

A birthday is a magical day as a child. Anticipation for that one day of the year this is totally your own. Anything can happen and everything usually goes your way….the universe balancing the world in your favor on your own very special day!

Watching the children anxiously awaiting the next game or craft was such a blessing. They began with face painting…kitties, puppies, and even a monkey. Next they got to decorate bags with stickers, markers, colored pencils, and sticky foam letters!

Then it was time for the puppy chow down! This was the most exciting game as they were eating like puppies, on their knees, hands down…faces in bowl! Children always energize me! They have a way of showing you the world from a fresh pair of eyes…they teach us as much as we teach them. God gave us such a blessing with children, one that returns itself over and over!

I can’t wait for the next birthday party!

Stephanie

The Thirteenth Tale

By Diane Setterfield

A tale delicately spun as if the author had insights from centuries of writing!

The Thirteenth Tale is a unique story told through the eyes of Vida Winter, a best selling British author nearing the end of her life. Choosing Margaret Lea, a younger biographer and book seller who she feels will finally unveil her hidden past.

Vida Winter has spent her life telling tales, it is up to Margaret to draw out the truth from an experienced story teller with a soul scarred from years of pain and false truths.

This story is told from such an original angle it kept me

pining for more all the way till the end! The beautiful English countryside to mysterious gardens, old money, and a family history sure to captivate even the pickiest of readers.

This one will keep you guessing all the way to the end. I can’t wait to see what the next novel will yield!

Stephanie McInturff<a href=”The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel“>

I see many generations of women who came before me. Recently as I was evaluating myself(a complex self diagnostic!) I realized that I am a clone of my grandmother! Like a ton of bricks falling into place all at once a loud resounding gong! You are Wilma Grace!

I love my mother with all my heart! We have a blast when we are together. Our personalities though similar in some areas are very different. It is great to talk through things and listen to what she has to say. I feel like I am with a sister I never had. A road trip to town with my mother(Cathi), my aunt (Brenda) , my cousin (Christina), myself and Wilma Grace will yield an afternoon of nonstop laughter and lessons one can only experience! Grace being the leader of our troop! On any given occasion she will most definately exclaim to one of us ” I am still your mother”! Although this doesn’t really pertain to Christina or I we get the point anyway!!!

The other day when I was visiting my grandmother I notice many similarities in our thought process and patterns of behavior which we always get a good laugh over! It has never occurred to me how much alike we are until this week!

Thursday evening I attended a gathering at a friends house. We decided to all get together, simple, no frills, a few drinks and finger food! It was fabulous! We talked about our lives, told stories, laughed, and reflected on how women should fellowship with one another on a regular basis. Sharing details of our lives connects us and gives us a checkpoint of what other people are feeling and experiencing.

I remember being younger and feeling very disconnected when my kids were babies. I didn’t talk to adults on a regular basis! My concerns and fears seemed to spiral out of control and overwhelm me. If only I knew what the range of normal was for that time period in my life!

My grandparents house was always a place of refuge! On both sides, my mothers and fathers, I had wonderful grandparents! Childhood memories of farm life, creeks, breakfast in bed, homemade hot cocoa, and journeys into town to shop are so vivid I can’t believe that was over 20 years ago! I identify with Wilma Grace so well because I am soooo much like her! My dad’s mom has given me the gardening, cooking, old south genes for sure! My dream for retirement is a farmhouse, large pond, orchard, canning, wide brimmed hat….I’ll stop here! Ha!

Wilma Grace taught my mother, my aunt, and myself so many things! Observing her and laying a foundation for the future without even realizing we were doing so. She is always our checkpoint for how to act in any given situation, including losing our temper! I have recently mended the fence with a neighbor I hadn’t spoken to since last June! I was just telling my mom and grandma it wasn’t a big deal I never see her and aren’t around her enough for it to matter. That day God placed her BAM! right in my lane at the grocery store…unavoidable! We said hi and started chatting as if nothing had passed between us. I looked up and said O.K., O.K., I hear you Lord!

As I carry myself from day to day, I am reminded almost from hour to hour what would Wilma or Mary do? Both my grandmothers seem to handle everything with such beauty and grace...(Wilma’s Grace seems the perfect title for this blog) ! Wilma has always poked fun at her alter ego..(Grace). We have blamed that alter ego for everything from burning rolls to saying inappropriate things to others…including my grandfather! Grace could get away with things that we would never dream of. She would just exclaim it was “Grace”! As we would all laugh until we hurt!

I feel very blessed to know such wonderful people. That they have influenced my life in such profound ways never ceases to amaze me. We can learn so much from the women in our lives. They have lived through it all. The Journey that we are now taking has been traveled by many. On this journey it would only benefit us to listen to the ones who have gone before us and the ones traveling with us.

From this day forward I am listening, gathering, and always learning from them. Pick up the phone, send an e-mail, or drop by the friends and family that shape and have shaped your life….It is the healing we all need to feed our souls!~

Thats all for now…

In Wilma’s Grace

Stephanie

I love to hang out with friendly faces and graze! Last night I was invited to a friends house for a gathering. New friends that I know in passing but haven’t ever socialized with . I was fed spiritually and mentally by sharing stories and thoughts about our daily lives!

We were all commenting on how important it is for us to connect with one  another. Grounding yourself with others who will listen , comfort, laugh, and share advice with is such a blessing!

One that regenerates itself over and over again! A gathering doesn’t have to  be fancy and cost a fortune. We usually wait until a special occasion or feel like it has to be over the top!

Call up some old and new aquaintances , invite them over for a glass of wine or Pitcher of Margarita’s! Simple mingling sharing experiences and laughing at life can be such an outlet or “Therapy” if you will! We are planning on making this a monthly event! Very casual, come if you can and if you can’t ….no pressure!

Here is a recipe I took to the gathering!

Tex Mex Chicken Dip

2 cans white meat chicken breast

1 can rotel

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 block velveeta cheese

Cumin powder ( 3 shakes)

cayenne pepper powder ( 3 shakes)

Shredded Mexican cheese blend

Chopped green Onion

Cube Velveeta and put in microwave safe mixing bowl.

Add Mushroom soup, rotel, and chicken….stir

heat until thouroughly smooth! add cumin and cayenne powder.

Sprinkle cheese over the top, thick layer!

Sprinkle chopped green onion over the top.

Add black olives…any topping appealing to you!

Gather, Graze, and Enjoy!!!

Stephanie…over and out!

This Spring’s hottest

trends

are

explodingwithcolor!

Ralph Lauren

Bright yellow, very flowy!

Shirt dress….New staple!

Big and bold bracelets

This season rocks with chunky heels, jewelry, and attitude!

Dresses are flowing and feminine. Sheer and metallic fabrics are seen all over the runways. The high waisted pant has made a return, worn with a wide leg to balance it!

Hemlines for shorts and minis are very short for those who dare….Not me! I love the look of heavier heels, accents of neon, and chunkey jewelry. I know you can dig into your eighties stuff and pull out a winner!

Blazers, shirt dresses, boyfriend jeans, skinny pants, and layered rffles are all in the mix as well! Enjoy! Signature colors for this season are touches of neon shades, and PINK…PINK…PINK! All shades of Magenta will be everywhere!

Check out Discounts on the hottest spring

fashions below!

CLICK HERE

Thanks Again,

Stephanie

Serving others is a vital part of my life. I love to help someone with a problem, a project, or just listen! In the last few years I really understand that in serving others I am actually serving myself!

What a great revelation! In serving others I am healing myself! YAY!!! Thinking about the movie “Pay it forward” , it is so true. You could almost get out a notebook and document the change in your life as well as in others from the moment you take the first step!

Listening to the sermon in church this morning……

I thouroughly enjoyed every word spoken. The sermon was about how God doesn’t want your money, he wants your heart! How true! He wants you to follow his lead and open your mind to his will! In doing so you are trusting in him every step of the way.

This week take time to walk with him, listen to what he has to say, and pay it forward. Even in the smallest increment you will see a dynamic effect on those around you! One random act of kindness will be a chain of events that renews itself over and over again.

I challenge you this week to start a domino effect with one random act of kindness and see where it leads you!!!

Thanks for listening to my rant!

Stephanie

mailbox into beautiful pieces of art!

Paper can be anything! I can get really carried away with the many ideas that ramble through my mind day and night!

You can find pictures with step by step instructions all over the web! About. com is a good place to start! Picture frames, craft projects, pinata’s for various occasions, party favors, beads and much much more!

Here are a few examples of simple designs that any level of crafter can create!

Paper Beads

Paper mache frame!

Click for Paper Mache recipes!

My next few projects I am planning napkin rings and an abstract piece of art. Chicken wire, cardboard boxes, tubes, anything you can imagine can be formed into a base for your paper mache art!

Children enjoy creating their own masterpieces! Working with paper is a simple , environmentally friendly, and economical way to challenge that creativity!

Recycling materials for projects may be a great way to introduce children to the benefits of reusing otherwise useless materials.

I will post pix soon, pick a project and follow through!

Stephanie

Spring has almost sprung!

I love to make things look unusual! My favorite thing to do is use something not for purposes intended. Decorating, planting, and even sewing with things you would not generally use for that purpose.

As spring has forced us to move forward I look to new ways to freak  my garden inside and out! Here are a few recipes for aging Terra Cotta that yield amazing results.

Age Terra Cotta

1 cup Lime powder ( from your local garden center)

2 cups water

stir  and brush over entire pot. After pot is completely coated spray with water bottle on stream setting letting the lime solution run off.

Allow to dry and sand lightly here and there until you reach desired effect.

Moss Method

Plain Yogurt

Moss Spores ( local garden center)

Stir gently and apply thin coating to entire pot. Allow to sit in the shade for about 10 days. You will see moss beginning to grow!

Stain Method

Liquid or gel stain in a darker color ( Walnut is recommended)

old rag or t-shirt

Dip cloth into stain, rub into pot. Wipe away any excess stain. Continue rubbing into pot until desired effect is achieved.

A collection of pots in various stages of aging will warm up your garden and make visitors feel like they have been there for years!

Also, find unusual containers for planting to add interest to your garden or centerpieces. My next project I am using an old wagon the kids tore up and placing it on top of my entertainment center for an herb garden! Aging smaller clay pots and planting my favorite herbs in them. This will be an ideal sunny spot and be visually unique!

Check out this link for more gardening ideas!

Home Hydroponic Gardening

Thanks!

Stephanie

Makes 6 to 8 servings

1 (32-ounce) package beef and bean burritos, El Monterey
1 (14-ounce) can mild enchilada sauce
1½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese, Sargento®
1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
1½ cups diced tomato
4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce (about 1/2 a head)

1. Line burritos in a single layer in a 13-by-9-inch microwave-safe dish. Microwave burritos on High, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until heated through.
2. Pour enchilada sauce over the burritos. Sprinkle cheese over enchilada sauce. Microwave burritos for 1 to 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Spread olives, tomato and lettuce evenly over burritos.
Serve immediately.

My family has really enjoyed this recipe! I hope you will too.