New Tutorials!

I posted two new tutorials in my sidebar that I found yesterday. The fabulous Maya*Made put up a tutorial on how to create the perfect travel pillow. It is so cute!!! I STILL haven't tried out the new sewing machine yet and I think this could be the perfect project. I'm envisioning Christmas presents!!! Find the travel pillow tutorial here.

Right after I had Noodlebug, someone gave me a wipes case with the cutest fabric cover. I always meant to figure out how to make my own but never got around to it. Now, I don't have to!!! According to Kelly listed a tutorial on making your own custom wipes case. I have found wipes to be the most useful thing under the sun but the cases aren't that glamorous. Until now. Find the tutorial here.

Isn't the internet great?

Favorite Things Swap

I have decided to ease my way back into the wonderful world of swaps!!! This fun little gem pairs you up with a partner to whom you will send three of your favorite things. Sounds easy, huh? And fun!!!! Go here for details. Hurry! Signups end this Friday, July 3rd.

Etsy Find of the Day

As a Texas girl, I identify with this sentiment perfectly. Loving this cute little Etsy store called Yeehaw! Find it here.

Weekend Plans

We are going to the county fair tomorrow after our swimming lesson. This will be our third swimming lesson and so far so good! Noodlebug loves the water but is having too much fun to understand how to close his mouth. I figure that this year will just be an introduction to the water and we'll focus on technique next year when he is two.

I'm excited to go to our little local county fair because I can't wait to see Noodlebug's reaction to everything. I have nothing new to say on the subjects of motherhood and children but I will say that one of the greatest things about children is their capacity for wonder. Everything is new. Noodlebug will point at things that I would normally walk past without noticing. I happen to be one of those hyperactive multitaskers and it can be hard for me to sit still. I am trying to take a page from Noodlebug's book and slow down and notice the little things. As Ferris Bueller pointed out, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

So, I vow tomorrow that I will slow down and take in all the fair has to offer from funnel cakes to stinky (but wonderful) livestock.

Hope you all have a slow and wonder-filled weekend!!!

Beth Quinn Designs

I just realized today I have never mentioned one of my favorite vendors nor have I listed her blog in my sidebar. I will no longer be remiss!!!

I just love Beth Quinn's jewelry. I bought the necklace above from her and wore it at Thanksgiving. She has truly wonderful pieces that are actually affordable. I think I have bought necklaces for just about every one of my girlfriends this year. Her treasures almost inspire me to take up soldering. Almost.

You can find her storefront here and her blog in my sidebar.

(photo borrowed from and owned by Beth Quinn)

Anniversary Reflections and A WINNER!!!

In honor of my six-year blogging anniversary, I thought I'd go back and read through all of my posts during my first two years of blogging. I started blogging a year before I met my husband. I seemed to whine a lot. About being lonely and hating my job. It seemed that everyone around me was going through life changes and I felt like I was staying in the same place. Now, six years later, I am living in California with a husband and a child and a very different job. I probably still whine a lot and depression can get me down. However, blogging has become more important to me than ever before. I decided to split my blog into two a few years back and focus my personal blog on life issues and book reviews. I created a separate blog for creative pursuits and little delights that I find. The new blog introduced me to a whole new group of blogging friends. The old blog focused my efforts and connected me to a wonderful world of fellow bibliophiles.

Thank you to my long-time readers and my new friends. You all inspire me so much.

And now for the winner:

"Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

21"


And lucky number 21 is:

"Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...
WOW!!!!! I am glad you are doing some better!!! What a great give-away...m.

June 10, 2009 7:00 AM"

Mary Isabella has been a devoted reader of mine for awhile. She always leaves me supportive comments and prayers for me when I ask for help. Plus, she has a delightful blog herself. So, Mary....I will be contacting you soon about your win!!!

The Life by Candlelight Anniversary Giveaway!!!

***FRIDAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER!!! PLEASE ENTER BY 5PM PST TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAWING!***

To celebrate six years of blogging, I will be giving away a prize package that will include the following items which represent facets of my life:

1) A signed first edition book (I have a few that I will allow you to choose from if you win)

2) A subscription to Sunset magazine

3) Some crafting goodies including ephemera and vintage pieces

4) a vintage children's book (or two)

5) some edible goodies

6) a crafty item made for you by me

7) a few surprises!!!

To enter, leave a comment here. If you blog about my contest, you will receive an additional entry. (just leave me another comment letting me know you posted about it) If you twitter about the contest, you will get an additional entry. (again...leave me a comment telling me you tweeted!)

You can start entering today. I will be drawing the winner on Saturday, June 20. Good luck!!!

New Shoes

As Paolo Nutini sings, "Hey, I put some new shoes on,
and suddenly everything is right!"

Just got these new kicks and I'm loving them! I've worn them five times so far so my cost per wear is going down. (justification, right?)

(Shoes by Gee Wawa)

Thought for the Day

Daddy Blogger Signs Book Deal

I have had Matt Logelin's blog in my personal blog sidebar for awhile now. I found him through one of those "six degrees of separation" situations. Matt and his beautiful wife Liz had their baby girl about a month before I had my son. Liz saw Madeline one time. She died of a freak pulmonary embolism 27 hours after Maddy was born. Matt has been chronicling his grief and his life with Maddy on his blog. He is honest and open and posts absolutely gorgeous photos of Maddy every single day. It is hard for me to read the blog sometimes. Since becoming a mom, I find my emotions can run high. I don't even know these people and yet I get so upset at the injustice of Liz never getting to experience this beautiful little girl with her loving husband.

Matt recently signed a book deal. Here is the announcement from Publisher's Weekly:

"Maddy & Me

Pitched as The Last Lecture meets Marley & Me, Matt Logelin’s Adventures with Maddy: A Memoir of Love, Loss and the Extraordinary Community That Healed Us, went at auction to Amanda Englander at Grand Central. Rachel Sussman and Eve Bridburg of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth brokered the deal for North American rights. In the book, Logelin, who started a blog and founded the Liz Logelin Foundation after his wife died 72 [sic] hours following the birth of their daughter, offers advice on, and his own experiences, dealing with grief and loss. Per Grand Central, the auction was “heated,” with seven publishers vying for the book."

I am so looking forward to reading it. Matt's blog posts make me laugh and cry every time I read them. I'm sure his book will do the same thing. Do yourself a favor. Go check out his blog.

Also, Matt has created a foundation for widows and widowers with small children needing financial assistance. He encourages people to donate on the 7th of each month. I feel so blessed that I not only have a beautiful healthy child but I am around to see him grow up and my husband is as well. That is all the treasure I need.

Inspire Co. Goes Etsy!

The delightful Amy Powers has opened an Etsy shop called Sugarville!!! Her teeny tiny creations are just wonderful. I purchased the one above. I had to choose "Harold" because my little town is famous for its chickens.

Get your own miniature creation here.

(photo owned by and borrowed from Amy Powers)

Treasured Blogger Award

This little beauty comes from the delightful Cottage blog (aka Tinkered Treasures). Isn't it delightful?!

I'm going to give this one to all of my dear blog readers who fill me with inspiration and joy every single day. Thank you everyone!!!

Sunset Celebration Weekend

This past weekend was the Sunset Magazine Celebration weekend in Menlo Park. It was a beautiful day so we had to drive down to check it out. The property is just beautiful!!!




There were absolutely spectacular flower beds everywhere. These oranges were very tempting but I resisted picking any:



We watched a demonstration by Joey Altman, author of WITHOUT RESERVATIONS:




Noodlebug REALLY wanted to get in the flower beds and roll around but I tried to convince him just to LOOK at the flowers. (Did I tell you he started walking during Memorial Day weekend?)



It was a really nice weekend. Sunset Magazine and Country Living magazine have become two of my new favorites. FYI---I will be giving away a subscription to Sunset magazine as part of my anniversary prize package.
Thank you to everyone for your support over the last few weeks. Your prayers and good wishes have definitely lifted me up. Things are better but it's going to be a slow process.

Coming Soon!

I started blogging in June 2003 with my personal blog "Life by Candlelight." Hard to believe I'll be celebrating six years of blogging at the end of the month!!! So, I will be hosting a giveaway in honor of this big event. The goodies will be posted soon and I'll let you know how to enter.

Summery Goodness

I have decided to try and lift some of the doom and gloom from this blog.

My friend Gary who is a terrible blogger but a wonderful friend bought me this necklace from E's Beads for my birthday. Doesn't it look summery and fun? I could spend all day on Etsy. Really.

Bliss

This is what keeps me together.

John 1:5

I have to be honest. My family is in crisis right now. I don't know what the future will hold but this past weekend we worked on healing. Life often develops in unexpected ways. Truths that you hold onto sometimes turn out not to be true in the end. Expectations fail to be fulfilled and daily pressures create fissures. It can be increasingly hard to hold things together and sometimes you simply can't.

I still believe in the power of prayer. Some of you know how my father died. At the moment of his death, a traffic helicopter owned by a local Christian radio station happened to be circling overhead. The pilot said over the radio that he was witnessing an accident and that it looked to be bad. He asked listeners to pray for the individuals involved. To this day, I believe my father was carried away on the prayers of strangers. So, thank you for your prayers and well wishes. You don't know what it means to me.

I may be a bit sporadic in my posts but I am here and I am reading all of your blogs. Thank you!