Friday, April 30, 2010

all {wrapped} up


The last of the orders are packaged and ready to be sent tomorrow.

So if you have ordered something.

Know that it's in the mail :)

I have been overwhelmed with the kind emails that have been sent to me this week.

It's been fun.

Exciting.

And very busy.

So, thank you.

And if you are needing a little something for yourself or your mom for Mother's Day,
I do have a few things all ready to ship ;)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

wildflower {wednesday}


"For this child I prayed;
and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him."

~1 Samuel 1:27~

It has just been fun to receive so many emails the past few weeks.

Some of my favorites have been those ordering a special necklace

for their very first Mother's Day!

And even though I can't hear it in their "voice",

their excitement can't be missed.

I'm sure many have waited a long time.

To be a mother.

And to celebrate this special day with their child.

So with this in mind,

I designed this necklace to honor them.


To enter, leave me a comment...
tell me one thing you LOVE about being a mom
OR
one thing you LOVE about your own mom!

The first twenty people to comment will receive an extra entry.

So go on, tell your friends.

As always,

Followers-one extra entry
Copy my button to your blog-another extra entry
Blog or facebook about this giveaway-another extra entry

That's five possible entries :)

Entries will be accepted until Monday, May 3rd at midnight MST.

A winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday!

Best part,

the winner has their choice of one of the two necklaces pictured above.

Of course, the top necklace with be personalized with your name of choice ;)

And my favorite,

the little "mom" heart...

that's what I'll be wearing on Mother's Day.

p.s. just a note about the necklace pictured first... I must apologize for the quality of the photo :) I missed my opportunity for the best lighting today, so it's a bit difficult to see the detail. The top disc is textured and the bottom disc shiny. The sweetest, pink Swarovski pearl and sterling silver heart charm dangle to the side. If your child is a boy, we'll substitute a white pearl instead ;)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

wildflower {wednesday} winner

~Katy~

Katy is the winner of this week's wildflower {wednesday} giveaway!

She wrote:

"Glad you survived the bird attack and thanks for the laugh!"

"Your story reminded me of my grandma... you see she is deathly afraid of birds. One day while we were all in church, my dad put a fake bird in her purse. In the middle of church she opened her purse, saw the bird, and screamed, or should I say freaked out! Everyone was laughing, even the pastor! :)"

Congratulations Katy!

Remember to check back tomorrow for my next giveaway...
I'm so excited about this one!

Monday, April 26, 2010

counting down...


The weather has been beautiful here today.

I don't know about you, but the countdown to summer has begun

for me.

It's my favorite time of year

and I can't wait.

Just a reminder...

~another countdown, of sorts~

you only have until midnight to enter my wildflower {wednesday} giveaway.

Click here to enter :)

Saturday, April 24, 2010

my {saturday}


A peek at what my Saturday looked like.


It was a day of service.

Quilts that needed piecing...

Blankets and burp rags to be crocheted...

Cards to be made...

And more quilts. But this one, a little different.

A Hundred Good Wishes Quilt of sorts.
But with a twist.

The pieces of this quilt represent each of the women from church...
accompanied by a favorite scripture or verse that has brought comfort or strength.

A way to unite.

And more quilts...to be tied.

Fun journals to be made...

And even more quilts...to be bound.

P.J.'s to be sewn...

And of course, what little girl doesn't love a new bow for her hair?

All to be donated to a new, local children's hospital.

JUST AMAZING

what can be accomplished when a few hundred women come...

with a few hours to spare...

and a heart to serve.

It was a blessing just to be there.

And we even had lunch ;)

Friday, April 23, 2010

{a blessed mother}


It has been such a blessing to partner with Love Without Boundaries in designing and creating this special Mother's Day necklace for them.

Because Mother's Day is fast approaching and also because Love Without Boundaries has sold out of their supply of necklaces, it is now available for purchase directly from Wheat and {Wildflowers}. You will find it listed in my store here or here. I will donate ten percent of the proceeds to the LWB education program.

To learn more about Love Without Boundaries and the wonderful work they do, click here. Such a sweet way to honor all women who provide love and mothering to children everywhere.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

matilda jane and a chance to help


"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
~William James~

I do.

Wanna chance to make a difference?

To make someone's dream come true?

Hurry, you only have a little time left...


Wednesday, April 21, 2010

wildflower {wednesday}


"Earth laughs in flowers."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

My daughter is a ballroom dancer.

A competitive ballroom dancer.

And last month was the National Dancesport Competition.

Let's just say that jitters and nerves were in overdrive as the week finally arrived.

For her. For me. For all of us.

As a senior, this competition was a culmination of YEARS of training, sweat and tears.

And I should say, a lot of fun too.

But this event would be the deciding factor for a dance talent scholarship to college.

Her dream.

Something she had given everything to.

Finally, the day arrived. Preliminary rounds for team events were to be held that night. Her bags were packed and our list had been checked MANY times...heel guards, eyelashes, hair nets. You name it, we had it. We are talking suitcases of stuff people.

I dropped everyone off at school and headed to my favorite stop for a bagel and a drink. As I waited in the long drive-through line, I opened my window, took a deep breath and decided to check for messages on my cell phone. With my head down, I suddenly heard the strangest, loudest noise right by my ear. Thinking it was a big bug or something, I began swinging my arms wildly around my head.

As I looked up, I saw it.

And seriously could.not.believe what I saw.

A bird...IN my car.

The biggest robin I have ever seen.

Not kiddin'.

There was flapping. And feathers. And poopin'.

The bird, thank you very much.

And there I was.

Stuck in a drive-though with several cars ahead of me and behind me.

I opened the windows. But, no luck.

Just windshield crashin'.

Finally, I jumped out of the car armed with a hanger.

Since I had just left the dry cleaners. Thankfully.

And after several minutes of flailing, I was able to guide that bird back to freedom.

Luckily for me, the cars in line behind me had tinted windows.

And I was spared some humiliation in not seeing their hysterics as I wrangled a crazed bird from my car.

I laughed the rest of the day.

After the poops were cleaned up, that is :)

What has made you laugh lately?

Leave me a comment telling me what made you laugh lately, and you will receive an entry to win my wildflower {wednesday} giveaway.

The first twenty people to comment will receive an extra entry.

So c'mon, don't be shy.

Followers-one extra entry
Copy my button to your blog-another extra entry
Blog or facebook about this giveaway-another extra entry

That's five possible entries :)

Entries will be accepted until Monday, April 25th at midnight MST.

A winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday!

"The person who knows how to laugh at himself
will never cease to be amused."

~Shirley MacLaine~

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

wildflower {wednesday} winner


~Cindy~


Cindy is my very first wildflower {wednesday} winner!

Try to say that three time fast :)

She wrote:

"My daughter who's 4 today was riding w/ me in the car and I was listening to a rock radio station called The Hawk, they make a sound like a hawk squawking between songs and I don't even hear it anymore. Well my daughter did and says "I hear a hockey eagle!" I didn't get it at first then realized she meant a hawk/eagle! I just had to chuckle at her observation, she doesn't miss much and is always making us laugh, what a blessing."

~Congratulations Cindy~

Monday, April 19, 2010

my {shooting} star


Oh, these sweet star charms!

When they came in the mail, they immediately made me think of Kris.

And her TOO-CUTE-daughter, Ellis Gao Mei.

And their beautiful and amazing story of becoming a family.

I have been blessed as I watched their story unfold over the years.

I think you will be too.

Kris was kind enough to share this link for you to read.

It was written many months before she found Ellis
and saw her face for the very first time.

And just so you know, there is more to the story.

And it has the most beautiful ending...

or should I say, beginning?

And another new design...

I {wished} upon a star for you.

With a star to represent each one of your kidlets :)

I will be adding these to my store.

A favorite, anyone?

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway for my {wheat and wildflower} necklace.
Entries accepted until midnight tonight.
A winner will be randomly selected and announced tomorrow.

You can enter here.

extra entries for "following"...
adding my button to your blog...
and/or writing a little blurb on your blog/facebook about Wheat and {Wildflowers}...

just make sure to comment here and let me know what you've done :)

happy monday!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

for your {drooling} pleasure


Wow. I never knew I l.o.v.e.d. pie so much or could talk about it for so long.

I promise, I'll stop.
After today.
Or maybe tomorrow ;)

But I have a little something for you.
You'll thank me.
I know you will.
Trust me.

My good friend, Susan, gave me these recipes.

She's one of the best cooks I know.

And if she says something is good, you know it gonna be GOOD!

So since tomorrow is Sunday, and a perfect day to enjoy dessert with your family, I thought I'd pass these along and share something yummy with you.

You can thank me now.

Or later :)

BANANA CREAM PIE

Pastry for 9-inch crust
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup + 1Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups milk
4 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp butter/margarine, softened
1 Tbsp vanilla
4 oz. white chocolate baking chips
2 large bananas
1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
chocolate curls, if desired

Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil 1 minute. Gradually stir at least half of the hot mixture into egg yolks, stir back into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in margarine, vanilla and white chips. Press plastic wrap onto filling in saucepan. Cool to room temperature.

Slice bananas into pie shell. Pour filling over bananas. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. Beat whipping cream in chilled small bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff. Garnish with chocolate curs. Cover and refrigerate any remaining pie. Makes 8 servings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FRESH PEACH PIE

Pastry for 9-inch 2-crust pie
5 cups sliced fresh peaches (about 9 medium)
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter or margarine

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pastry. Mix peaches and lemon juice. Mix sugar, flour and cinnamon; stir into peaches. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate; do with margarine. Cover with top crust that has slits cut in it; seal and flute. Cover edge with aluminum foil; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking.

Bake until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, 35-45 minutes. Serve with ice cream.

BROWN SUGAR PEACH PIE - substitute 3/4 cup packed brown sugar for the granulated sugar.

CANNED PEACH PIE - substitute 2 cans (29 oz each) sliced peaches, drained, for the fresh peaches and decrease sugar to 1/2 cup.

FROZEN PEACH PIE - substitute 3 packages (12 oz each) frozen sliced peaches, slightly thawed and drained, for the fresh peaches; decrease sugar to 1/2 cup.

If you have a recipe you'd like to share, send it to me in an email and I'll post it here for everyone to enjoy!

p.s. I've been busy working on some new designs that I plan to share very soon!
Just love 'em!

Friday, April 16, 2010

the {winner}

Congratulations
~Marty~

...your "favorite pie" entry won!

Send me an email and I'll get your prize in the mail.

(Maybe if we're lucky, she'll send me her recipe for her favorite chocolate cream pie.)

And I'll post it here for everyone!

But really, no pressure :)

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter my very first giveaway!

You still have until Monday night to enter to win my {wildflower wednesday} pendant.

c'mon don't be shy...

Just scroll on down to the post titled {wildflower wednesday}.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

isn't it time?


for this...

It was beautiful today.

And it's suppose to be in the low 70's tomorrow.

Ahhh...


Can't wait.

Are things bloomin' at your house?

Remember that today is the last day to enter the giveaway for {a mother's heart}.

Entries will be accepted until midnight.

Scroll on down for the scoop.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

{don't forget}

Today is the last day to enter Jennifer's giveaway at My Adoption Website. Make sure to check it out! Click here to enter... Just scroll on down towards the bottom of the page.

And tomorrow is the last day to enter my {mother's heart} giveaway. Enter by leaving a comment on "a {giveaway}" post. C'mon, it's easy as pie :)

wildflower {wednesday}


If you've had a minute to look around a bit, you may have read my "about" link and how Wheat and {Wildflowers} came to be.

With all of that, I wanted to create a place that would be fun,
uplifting and a blessing to others.

A place that would remind all of us what's important.

And what matters most.


I think most of us would agree that happiness is found in the little things.

A good ol' laugh with a friend.

A sleeping child...really, is there anything sweeter?


Receiving a unsolicited and spontaneous love from your baby.

You know what I'm talking about...

The simple things that really make us stop for a moment...

And realize that it's all worth it.

Slowing down long enough to recognize our blessings.

And to be grateful for them.


Wildflower {Wednesday} is a chance to share.

Nothing big. Just a little something.

Something you are grateful for...

Something that made you smile...

Something that made you laugh...

Or even squeal with joy...

Because, in the end, that's really what matters.

And of course a chance to win something is always nice too :)

So, leave me a comment telling me something that made you stop and smile or even made you laugh out loud this week. If you do, you'll be entered in a drawing for my {wildflower wednesday} necklace.

Entries will be accepted until Monday, April 19th at midnight MST. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Tuesday.

Something that makes ME smile every. single. day is picking Sophie up from school. As she makes her way to the curb with her teacher, I see her scanning the line of waiting cars and minivans. When she see me, the biggest smile spreads across her face, and in her excitement, she starts JUMPING up and down and up and down. The whole time shouting MOM, MOM, MOM! And you know what? She doesn't stop until my car comes to the front of the line and it's her turn to get in.

Wow. I love being her mom.

And, to answer your question.

No.

My boys are not nearly as excited to see me pull up in the carpool line ;)

What's your wildflower this week?


Tuesday, April 13, 2010

giveaway {love}


If you have been blessed by adoption.

Or know someone who has.

Chances are you know Stefanie.

She's the mama to nine beautiful kiddos.

With five inspiring and absolutely amazing journeys to China.

She's open and honest. Sweet and funny. And is so good at keeping it real.

She knows what matters most.

And shares it with everyone.

She's a hero to me. Has been for a long time.

And when I grow up, I wanna be just like her ;)

So...in honor of Stefanie, Jennifer over at myadoptionwebsite is hosting a giveaway to celebrate their five years in business. (Just scroll toward the bottom of the page.)

Jennifer and her husband, Joe, create personal adoption websites for families.

Such meaningful keepsakes!

So head on over and enter. Jennifer's giving away two necklaces to honor Stefanie's big 'ol heart and the work she does for the orphans in China.

And if you're really lucky,
you just might win a gift certificate to Stefanie's store...Wild Olive Tees!
Love 'em!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

a {giveaway}


"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."

~Tenneva Jordan~


I can't think of a better way than to kick things off with a giveaway!

So with Mother's Day just around the corner,
I'm giving away my very favorite mom's necklace...

{a mother's heart}

It's just sweet! And simple.

And perfect for you or a special mom in your life.

A small, hammered tiffany style heart is handstamped with the word "mom". It is layered on top of a sterling silver disc that has been handstamped along the edge with the word "blessed". A freshwater pearl and sterling silver heart dangle freely to the side.

I love it!

Want to enter?

It's easy...

And yes, it's for everyone...my sisters and sisters-in-law too.

You can earn up to five entries by doing one or even all of the following:

To enter...

Just leave me a comment on this post telling me what you've done...

1~take a peek at the Wheat and {Wildflowers} store. come back and leave me a comment telling me your favorite necklace=one entry

2~become a follower of Wheat and {Wildflowers}=one entry

3~grab my button and post it to your blog=one entry

4~post about Wheat and {Wildflowers} on your blog or facebook page
=one entry

5~tell me your favorite kind of pie. you know, the one you didn't get a piece of:)
=one entry

Now how easy is that?

Entries will be accepted until Thursday, April 15th, at midnight MST.

A winner will be randomly selected on Friday.

Coming up soon.

My very first...

Wildflower Wednesday
I promise, you won't want to miss it!

an {introduction}


Welcome to Wheat and Wildflowers
{the blog}

a note about how it all began~

In September 2008, our sweet daughter, Sophie, joined our family through the blessing and miracle of adoption. She is our baby. Or if you asked her, our "mei mei". We adore her. All of us do. It's really as simple as that. Our journey to her was long. Maybe even longer than most. One that began seventeen years before we actually held her in our arms. The path of adoption seemingly, and often unknowingly, grew in our hearts over those many, many years. Today, I can look back and so clearly see how pieces have come together. And how questions have been answered. It's a story I love. And one that I know only a loving Father in Heaven could orchestrate. It's a beautiful journey that has left me forever changed. And I'm so glad that it has.

Over the past few years, I have been humbled and amazed as I have witnessed many women reach out to those in need...determined to make a difference in the lives of orphans. I have realized that even when individual contributions may appear small or insignificant, when many come together, wonderful things happen. Wheat and Wildflowers grew out of a desire to do my part. To give what I can to help those in need. Even if only in a very small way.

Months ago, as I was deciding on a business name, I was reminded of a talk I had recently heard during a meeting at church. The speaker, David A. Bednar, said the following:

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes--none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting."

This passage spoke to my heart. It said what I was feeling, and I knew that somehow I would incorporate this image into the name of my business. I also love that in the scriptures, wheat is often used figuratively to represent followers of Christ. It is what I strive to be. What I try to do. Even though I stumble my way along. A lot.

I have always loved wildflowers. They are a gift of nature and given to everyone. And with the hundreds or maybe even thousands of different varieties, each is unusual and beautiful in its own way. Wildflowers sometimes grow together in big fields and other times are found growing alone. But whatever their circumstances, they color our world in their own unique way. They are here for us to enjoy. They make us happy. And to me, wildflowers represent the sweet moments with those we love that bring beauty, joy and meaning to our lives.

thanks for stopping by...
be sure to say hello!